What a year it has been since the dark night when the Democrats lost to Trump. And now, still lacking a serious vision, the Democrats will use the promise of impeachment as an election strategy to try to take the House in 2018.
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
Democracy in Crisis: Trump’s flirtations with racism are making the alt-right more palatable
In the same way that Breitbart launders the extremist views of the Daily Stormer, the Trump administration is acting as a bridge to legitimize Nazi and Confederacy sympathizers.
Posted inOpinion
Democracy in Crisis Podcast: Tariq Touré on sports and the national anthem
In this week’s episode, Brandon Soderberg talks with poet and activist Tariq Touré about his poem “For the Love of the Game.”
Posted inOpinion
Democracy in Crisis Podcast: Reporter Alec MacGillis on Jared Kushner, Ben Carson and Mitch McConnell
This week, co-host Baynard Woods talks with ProPublica reporter Alec MacGillis about Jared Kushner’s rental properties, Ben Carson’s Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the machinations of Mitch McConnell, whom MacGillis wrote about in his book ‘The Cynic.’
Posted inFeatures, Food & Drink, Opinion
Discussing food mediation through the lens of a burrito stand in Portland
Food and identity are inextricably linked. This is both cliché and absolutely true. It is not surprising then that people get angry when others appropriate the foods that they identify with culturally. If you don’t believe me take a look at the Kitchen Sister’s wonderful series Hidden Kitchen: War & Peace & Food. But what exactly is appropriation? Is using an ingredient from outside your own culture an act of respect or aggression? Put simply, is it okay for me to use Szechuan bean paste when I make dinner? (I’m not Chinese.) What if I use it in an inauthentic way? (I’m quite fond of putting it in tomato sauce.) Would it be okay for me to open a Szechuan restaurant? Where is the line between culinary borrowing and theft?
Posted inFeatures, Opinion
Opinion: What does it mean for a straight white man to become aware of sexual assault?
Meditation practices distinguish attention and awareness. One simple way to distinguish them is to understand attention as a mental or conceptual activity — one’s thoughts — and awareness as what falls outside of the mind — perceptions, sensations, attunements. President Trump issued a proclamation on March 31 declaring April Sexual Assault Awareness Month — the […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: Showing Up for Racial Justice opposes unnecessary, discriminatory voter ID laws
A voter ID law and other election-related bills put forward by Republican lawmakers pose a major threat to Iowans’ voting rights. Voter ID requirements, restrictions on identification documents, eliminating same-day registration and curtailing early voting opportunities would make it harder for Iowans to cast their ballots. As an organization committed to equal rights and racial […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Reach out to Iowa legislators in support of the Iowa Cultural Trust
Today, perhaps as early as 1 p.m., the Iowa House will be considering HF 118, a financing bill that proposes cutting funding to many arts initiatives in this state, including the Iowa Cultural Trust. The threat to the Iowa Cultural Trust is something that affects all Iowans who have an interest in the culture of […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Dakota Access Bakken Oil Pipeline Nearing Finish Line in Iowa
By David Goodner Construction of the Dakota Access Bakken oil pipeline along the Iowa portion of the route is nearing completion, according to a statewide construction report from Dakota Access filed with the Iowa Utilities Board late Wednesday. The embattled $3.8 billion infrastructure project would move hydro-fracked crude oil from the Bakken oil fields of […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Op-ed: Non-partisan group The Political Party aims to ‘cultivate new leaders’ via event series
By Misty Rebik and Ravi Patel As a business leader and a non-profit leader, we have different areas of expertise and focus, but we both look around our community and see so many overlapping social issues that affect our own lives, the lives of those around us and the future lives of our community. We […]
Posted inCommunity/News
King responds to backlash: ‘Thanks for all the brilliant tweets’
US Congressman Steve King — the man who likened immigrants to puppies in a litter, the man who defended dogfighting and other forms of animal cruelty with an amendment to the Farm Bill, the man who wants to keep abolitionist Harriet Tubman off the $20, the man who keeps the symbol of slavery on his […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Op-ed: How the word of God can inform our citizenship
I sometimes wonder if the United States of America is a failed experiment. I can say that, because I have lived in two countries besides this one and often draw some stark comparisons and conclusions. I also say that as a patriot, because I love this country. But at the same time, I often find […]
