Americans are heading into the July 4 holiday after a beleaguering few weeks of news from the border and beyond.
This week in OtherWords, Fizz Perkal argues that ICE was established to make people safe, but has turned instead to terrorizing vulnerable people who pose no threat. The growing calls to abolish the agency, Fizz says, are rational, not radical. George Goehl, meanwhile, points out that the administration’s broader agenda won’t just hurt kids on the border, but in every state.
Other tough news? Another mass shooting, this time at a Maryland newspaper. In a valuable piece this week, Norah Vawter — herself a gun violence survivor — digs into serious research and concludes that guns are bad news for public and private safety alike. Take a look!
Also this week, Sarah Anderson tells the story of her union organizer ancestor in Pittsburgh to show that unions have survived tough times before, so they can bounce back from a bad Supreme Court ruling today. Ebony Slaughter-Johnson digs into data from a UN report on poverty in America. And Khalil Bendib quips darkly on outgoing Justice Anthony Kennedy’s legacy.
Finally, I get it: Most of this news is a drag. It’s a hard thing to process day after day. This week, Jill Richardson has some advice about when it’s a good idea to tune out for a bit, even when you care deeply about the news. I might take her up on it for today.
Happy Fourth from all of us at OtherWords.
New This Week
- Abolishing ICE Isn’t Radical — It’s Rational | Fizz Perkal
ICE is supposed to keep Americans safe. Instead, it’s terrorizing refugees, families, and small children. - There’s an All-Out War on Children, and Not Just on the Border | George Goehl
What we’re witnessing at our border is one part of a war against all children — whether by cuts to schools, child nutrition, health care, safe air and water, or family-supporting jobs. - Guns Don’t Make Us Safer — And Here’s the Proof | Norah Vawter
As a victim of gun violence myself, I’ve never liked guns. But I thought the issue deserved some serious research. - Unions Have Survived Tough Times Before | Sarah Anderson
The Supreme Court just dealt unions a crushing blow, but they’ve endured worse — and come out stronger. - Knowing When to Turn Off the News | Jill Richardson
Ignoring bad news won’t make it go away. But when bad news hurts your ability to act, take a break. - Poverty Won’t ‘Make America Great’ | Ebony Slaughter-Johnson
A recent UN report on international poverty highlighted an unexpected crisis area: the United States. - Swing Vote | Khalil Bendib
Justice Anthony Kennedy’s legacy after 2018.
In Case You Missed It
- The Supreme Court is a Slurring, Undemocratic Mess | Peter Certo
The court’s been popping off far-right proclamations like a drunk uncle at Thanksgiving. - Being Separated from My Child Nearly Destroyed Me | Jeremiah Jaynes
Lives need to come before law, especially when a law is unjust. - Corporate Wage Theft Is on the Rise | Sam Pizzigati
Executives have a powerful incentive to cheat their workers: to pad their own exorbitant paychecks. - The Public Has Been Ignored for Too Long on Pipelines | Todd Larsen
The government’s own watchdogs agree: Regulators have been ignoring local communities and siding with industry way too often.
