In OtherWords: December 28, 2016

In OtherWords: December 28, 2016

Here at the end of the year, I hope you’ll pardon me for a longer than usual intro note. (Don’t worry, you can still skip ahead to the commentaries below.) If there was anything that defined 2016 — besides the passing of beloved celebrities and the rise of...
No More Holiday Gifts for Repressive Regimes

No More Holiday Gifts for Repressive Regimes

While the world has been transfixed on the epic tragedy in Syria, another tragedy — a hidden one — has been consuming the children of Yemen. Battered by the twin evils of war and hunger, every 10 minutes a child in Yemen dies from malnutrition, diarrhea, or...
Reducing Inequality in the Trump Era

Reducing Inequality in the Trump Era

In a lot of ways, 2016 was a big year for reducing inequality. Five states raised their minimum wage through citizen-led ballot initiatives. A job-killing free trade agreement, the TPP, was blocked as a result of massive public demonstrations against it. More...
I’m Not Cheering the End of 2016

I’m Not Cheering the End of 2016

If you thought 2016 was bad, I have bad news: Buckle up. Hopefully 2017 won’t bring the deaths of more beloved celebrities, and I doubt we’ll see the killing of any more famous gorillas. But one element that made 2016 terrible isn’t going anywhere....