Rights and Democracy
Who Can Corral the Crazy Caucus?
House Republicans are in turmoil. House Speaker John Boehner gave up his position because he couldn’t stand the job anymore. Next in line was Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who started running but quickly backed off. Rep. Paul Ryan says he’s thinking about taking the job, even...
Oddballs Like These Make Hillary’s Odds Good
Eight years ago in New Hampshire, when the question of Hillary Clinton’s likability came up during the Democratic presidential debate, Barack Obama said, memorably: “You’re likable enough, Hillary.” That condescending comment earned him the scorn among some liberals...
What Clinton Got Wrong About Snowden
Hillary Clinton is wrong about Edward Snowden. Again. The presidential candidate and former secretary of state insisted during the recent Democratic debate that Snowden should have remained in the United States to voice his concerns about government spying on U.S....
Your Internet Provider Is Distorting Free Speech
Earlier this year, the Newseum Institute asked 1,000 Americans to name their rights under the First Amendment. A clear majority listed freedom of speech first — before freedom of religion, assembly, and other core civil liberties. And that makes sense. Protecting free...
The Sad Fate of America’s Whistleblowers
What is it about whistleblowers that the powers that be can't stand? When I blew the whistle on the CIA’s illegal torture program, I was derided in many quarters as a traitor. My detractors in the government attacked me for violating my secrecy agreement, even as they...
The Reverend Who Won the Airwaves
Toward the end of his life, civil rights champion and Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall was asked how he wanted to be remembered. "He did the best he could with what he had," Marshall replied. That's really the most any of us can do, and those who achieve it...
Jeb Bush Blows It on Race
The Republican Party has struggled for years to attract more voters of color. In a recent campaign appearance, candidate Jeb Bush offered yet another useful case study of how not to do it. At a campaign stop in South Carolina, the former Florida governor was asked how...
A Pilgrimage for Love, Justice, and Dignity
One hundred women walked 100 miles to welcome Pope Francis to Washington. Their goal? To bring attention to the U.S. immigration crisis — and to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders. They started their pilgrimage outside the immigration detention facility in York,...
You Can’t Fire Us, We Quit
One by one the Republicans are falling away. First it was Rick "Oops" Perry. Maybe the former Texas governor hoped his new horn-rimmed glasses would make him look smarter after his flop in 2012. Alas, he still became the first of the 2016 candidates to walk the plank,...
Junipero Serra’s Unsaintly History
I greeted the pope's visit with enthusiasm. I might not be Catholic, but I appreciate Francis for his humility, his kindness, and his call for action to address the climate crisis. Then I heard the shocking news: During his visit, Pope Francis canonized Father...
