Take It From a Poll Worker, the System Isn’t Rigged

The People Who Staff Voting Precincts Put Aside Their Opinions So That You Can Express Yours

Recently, Donald Trump issued a typically bombastic call for supporters to go to polling stations and watch for voter fraud, strongly suggesting that the only way he would lose the presidential election would be through Election Day “cheating.” Compared to his other highly publicized campaign trail comments—about women, immigrants, Muslims, and Hillary Clinton—this sentiment appeared relatively unremarkable. Observing polling places is already a pretty common practice.

Though seemingly innocuous, in many ways this suggestion is one of Trump’s most dangerous because its intent is not to preserve the …

By Sara Harrison | August 19, 2016

In Attacking Immigrants, Republicans Repeat a Century-Old Mistake

The GOP's Nativist Politics in the 1910s and ‘20s Made the Democratic Party Great Again

By Gary Gerstle | August 4, 2016

Much like today, the 1910s and 1920s were a time when the fear of immigrants convulsed American society.

At the time, the world was reeling from geopolitical instability and economic …

Americans Have Been Fed Up With the Presidential Nomination Process for More Than 200 Years

And No Matter the Reform, the Primary Pendulum Between Elite Power and Voter Influence Will Keep Swinging

By Martin Cohen | July 22, 2016

Americans love to argue about the rules of picking major party presidential nominees. But no matter the method, these contests are essentially the same: They pit party elites against the …

Make the Supreme Court’s 4-4 Split Permanent

An Equal Number of Conservative and Liberal Justices Would Promote Compromise, Not Stalemate

By David Orentlicher | June 24, 2016

Since the death of Justice Antonin Scalia earlier this year, the U.S. has obsessed over how and when to fill his sizable void on the Supreme Court. Much is at …

Why the Politics of Nostalgia Are Dangerous

Trump’s Pledge to ‘Make America Great Again’ Is a Recipe for Resentment—Even Revenge

By Gregory Rodriguez | April 25, 2016

Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be. Once upon a time, I considered longing for a long-lost past a relatively innocuous exercise. I don’t really go for the iconic schmaltz …

Think Tanks! What Are They Good For?

In a Democracy Desperate For New Ideas and Nonpartisanship, They Might Plan Our Future

by Andrew Selee | October 9, 2014

In The Comedian, Jerry Seinfeld’s movie about his craft, Seinfeld reveals he always wanted to do a skit about think tanks. The comedian, keen to deconstruct meaning, defines think tanks …

American politics

Take It From a Poll Worker, the System Isn’t Rigged

The People Who Staff Voting Precincts Put Aside Their Opinions So That You Can Express Yours

In Attacking Immigrants, Republicans Repeat a Century-Old Mistake

The GOP's Nativist Politics in the 1910s and ‘20s Made the Democratic Party Great Again

Americans Have Been Fed Up With the Presidential Nomination Process for More Than 200 Years

And No Matter the Reform, the Primary Pendulum Between Elite Power and Voter Influence Will Keep Swinging

Make the Supreme Court’s 4-4 Split Permanent

An Equal Number of Conservative and Liberal Justices Would Promote Compromise, Not Stalemate

Why the Politics of Nostalgia Are Dangerous

Trump’s Pledge to ‘Make America Great Again’ Is a Recipe for Resentment—Even Revenge

Think Tanks! What Are They Good For?

In a Democracy Desperate For New Ideas and Nonpartisanship, They Might Plan Our Future

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Why Hand Counting Votes Makes Every Vote Count

From Maine to Alaska, Manual Tallies Bring Trust and Transparency to Nerve-Racking Elections

Vulnerable Voting Machines Are Putting America at Risk

How Antiquated Equipment Could Imperil Democracy Itself

I’ll Vote, But First, Let Me Take A Selfie

Snapping and Sharing a Photo of Your Ballot Is Good for Democracy

Five Ways To Keep Your Vote From Being Wasted

Don’t Be Among Those Perfectly Intelligent People Who Make Surprising Technical Errors

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