In our divisive national moment, it feels like there’s little enthusiasm to celebrate this country’s upcoming 250th birthday on July 4. The president’s splashy planned celebration fell apart as musical guests dropped out one by one, and now the whole thing has dissolved into a partisan rally most Americans won’t pay attention to.
The lack of enthusiasm, argue Meg Bostrom, Michael Chameides, and Elaine Mejia this week, may reflect another issue: Ordinary Americans simply aren’t feeling very empowered. But they also point to a more hopeful story in communities across the country where regular people are fighting back — and often winning — against data centers, toxic pesticides, pollution, and more. And with that agency comes something else we’ve been sorely missing: a sense of belonging.
“As we celebrate our country’s 250th birthday,” they conclude, “the most patriotic thing we can do is remember whose hands this country is supposed to be in: ours.”
Also this week, Sonali Kolhatkar calls out the GOP for spending Pride Month attacking LGBTQ people rather than addressing anything Americans are struggling with. Chuck Collins warns against the emergence of a trillionaire class. And on the two year anniversary of a Supreme Court ruling that greenlit local police crackdowns on unhoused people, Farrah Hassen says it’s clearer than ever that we can’t arrest our way out of homelessness.
New This Week…
This July 4, Celebrate the Idea That the People Are Supposed to Be in Charge | Meg Bostrom, Michael Chameides, and Elaine Mejia
As we celebrate our country’s 250th birthday, the most patriotic thing we can do is remember whose hands this country is supposed to be in: ours.
While Families Struggle, Republicans Are Fighting Pride Month | Sonali Kolhatkar
Costs are rising. Instead of confronting those problems, some GOP officials turned June into a culture-war campaign.
Musk’s Trillion-Dollar Fortune Is a Flashing Warning Light for Democracy | Chuck Collins
The planet’s first trillionaire is not a sign of economic health. It’s an indicator of extreme inequality and the dangers of concentrated power.
The Cruelty and Futility of Criminalizing Homelessness | Farrah Hassen
Two years since the Supreme Court greenlit crackdowns on homelessness, it’s clearer than ever: “The solution isn’t a cell. It’s a front door.”
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The World Cup Has Always Welcomed the World. Not This Time. | Nicolas Garon
The Trump administration has made it difficult for fans and others to participate in this year’s games.
Congress Should Fund the Safety Net, Not ICE | Jordan Liz
The same administration that says we can’t afford Medicare or Medicaid just approved another $70 billion for ICE.
It’s Possible to End Corporate Influence in Politics | Sonali Kolhatkar
There’s more money in politics than ever. But some state governments are finding ways to fight back.
ICE: The Mental Health Emergency We Can No Longer Ignore | Sindy Benavides and Dr. Cheryl Aguilar
Anti-immigrant policies are fanning the flames of a youth mental health crisis. Here’s how governments can respond.
