A log of my longer-form journalism around the Internets
The Charter Barter - The American Prospect
On
education -- and every other social policy issue -- the Obama
administration must play referee among competing experts. Is it up to
the task?
The Wrong Side of the Mommy Track - The American Prospect
"The
Good Wife"? More like "The Get Back to Work Wife." CBS' new drama is
less about political marriage and more about a generation of opt-out
women who are headed back to work.
Could Healthcare Reform Prevent Another Octomom? - Double X
How Obama’s plan could affect genetic testing and fertility treatment
Revenge of Ron Paul's Army - The Daily Beast
Three-quarters
of the way through 2009, it is fringy Ron Paul, more so than John
McCain or any of his other primary opponents, whose ideology is setting
the conservative agenda.
Shaking Up Suburbia - The American Prospect
The
Obama administration has told affluent Westchester County it can't
continue to segregate low-income and minority housing. Is it the end of
the all-white suburb?
Behavioral Theory - The American Prospect
Can Mayor Bloomberg pay poor people to be "good"?
A Woman's Guide to Health Reform - Double X
How abortion, contraceptives, and maternity care might change.
Aborting Health Reform - The American Prospect
Without reproductive-health coverage, any public insurance plan is doomed to fail.
A "Uniquely American" Abortion Debate - The American Prospect
The
notion that tax dollars shouldn't pay for abortions is an international
aberration, an example of American exceptionalism run amok.
Playing the Abortion Card - The American Prospect
Conservatives
are crying "abortion" in their efforts to derail health reform. But
progress for reproductive rights is far from assured.
Testing Testing - The American Prospect
Beneath the feel-good press releases about national education standards lie unresolved policy differences.
Recession Depression - The American Prospect
The authors of Womenomics
are telling employees to demand work-life balance -- or else! But in a
bleak economic climate, most women workers lack real bargaining power.
Hands Off the Hijab - The Daily Beast
The French president’s decision to ban the burqa is a rash act at a time when diplomacy with the Middle East requires more delicacy than ever.
Iran's Women's Revolution - The Daily Beast
Women are leading the way in the Iranian protest movement. Why Iran’s feminists decided they’d finally had enough.
Many male-dominated professions are suffering an epidemic of job loss. But women aren't faring so well in the recession, either.
Exit Strategy
A new study assessing the withdrawal method finds it is nearly as effective as condoms. Should we teach it to teenagers?
The Next Step Toward School Integration
On the 55th anniversary of Brown v. Board, there is real evidence that integration -- still -- matters.
Sex Work
Two new biographies -- one of Helen Gurley Brown and the other of sex researchers William Masters and Virginia Johnson -- offer cautionary tales about mixing sex and the workplace.
The XXX-Files
Porn industry lobbyists feel out Capitol Hill in a time of economic crisis.
The Questioning Spirit
Hebrew schools have long discouraged American Jewish children from
thinking critically about Israel. This Passover season, it is time for
a change.
Is Merit Pay a Distraction in the Fight for Meaningful Education Reform?
Merit pay is the hot topic in education policy. But the history of
American education reform suggests we should be skeptical of
single-faceted solutions to multifaceted problems.
All Work, No Pay
Should the first lady earn a salary? Yes.
The Education Wars
Teachers' unions and reform advocates are locked in a fight over the
future of schools. Now the battle lines have started to blur.
Getting Ahead of Congress
Yes, the economy and Iraq must be President Obama's first priorities.
But portraying social issues as the "wrong things" -- as oppositional
to economic and security issues -- is unhelpful and almost guarantees a
stalemate on key civil-rights goals. Misgivings from conservative
Republicans and skittish Democrats should not drive Obama's agenda.
Rather, the president must begin reaching out to Congress to build
support on key social issues right away. If he doesn't lay the
groundwork now, future opportunities will be lost.
No Education Silver Bullet
In the United States, the education debate has been framed as a zero
sum game. But a look at Finland, whose schools rank number one in
global surveys, shows that a shared national commitment to education
can neutralize political debates over school reform.
Street Fighter
Since Mayor Michael Bloomberg's congestion-pricing plan failed in New
York City, his transportation commissioner has taken a piecemeal
approach to reclaiming streets from cars.
Advocating for Urbanism
Obama has promised to create a White House Office of Urban Policy. What will it look like? Who will run it?
The Identity Politics Election
Race, gender, and their discontents never went away, but thanks to this
election, we're actually discussing them again. That's progress.
Third Term's a Charm
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's quest for a third term may signal a
turn against the term-limits enacted around the country in the early
nineties.
The Strange Case of the Colorado Labor-Business Coalition
In this Rocky Mountain swing state, business leaders are working
alongside unions to defeat a right-to-work ballot initiative. Inside one of the
wackiest political compromises in American history.
Taking the Initiative
Ballot initiatives are just another weapon in the public-policy wars. Progressives shouldn't fear them.
Interview with McCain heckler and Iraq war vet Adam Kokesh
Kokesh is the guy who interrupted McCain's acceptance speech at the RNCC.
The Conservative Case for Urbanism
Republicans may have an uneasy relationship to global warming, but some
are finding reasons to embrace government projects close to
environmentalists' hearts -- like public transit.
The Elephant in the Room
Women at the Republican convention react to Bristol Palin's pregnancy
and offer a stark reminder of how limited conservative ideology is in
its views of sexuality, education, and choice.
What Hillary Means Now
Hillary Clinton's speech showed that in defeat, she has become a sort of patron saint of the Democratic Party.
Sherrod Brown on How Blue-Collar Voters Can Go Green
TAP
talks to the Ohio senator about how Obama can appeal to white union
members, talk about the loss of manufacturing jobs, and promote green
jobs.
The Democratic Education Divide
A pre-convention education event was full of anti-union rhetoric, even
as teachers' union members remain among the most loyal of Democratic
constituencies.
It's His Party
Barack Obama might be running on a post-partisan platform, but he is
more focused on building the Democratic Party than any other candidate
in recent history.
Business Schools - The American Prospect
Edison, once the brand synonymous with for-profit education, has
largely given up on making public schools profitable. Running schools, it
turned out, wasn't a cash cow. The company now hopes that selling
technology products to schools will be.
Gender, Jobs, and the Working Class Family
Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam believe public policy should start at home, by using
the tax code to "re-stigmatize" out of wedlock birth. Stigma, though,
shouldn't be the goal of our public policy -- creating jobs should be.
Janet Napolitano and the New Third Way
Arizona's governor has contained Republicans, reinvigorated Democrats,
and provided a new model for progressive politics in the West. And here's a transcript of my interview with the lady.
The Abortion Counseling Conundrum
Pro-choice activists have come to embrace the idea that many women
who've had abortions can benefit from non-ideological counseling. So
why are the groups that provide such counseling having so much trouble
raising money?
Feminist Groups Prepare to Back Obama
Are angry feminists defecting en masse
to the McCain campaign? Far from it. Behind the scenes, many women's
organizations are preparing to fight for an Obama victory in November.
June 17, 2008 | | web only
What Hillary Did for Women - The American Prospect
We don't have to wait to see how Hillary Clinton's campaign changed the
role of women in politics. From the vice-presidential competition to
punditry to Netroots activism, we're already seeing positive results.
The Battle of the Blogs- The New Republic
Will the fight between Daily Kos and MyDD have longer lasting implications than its founders realize?
Pedal Pusher
As gas prices rise and congestion worsens, cities and commuters alike are starting to embrace bicycles.
The Case of the Missing Education Policy - The American Prospect
Want
to know what John McCain's plans are for fixing America's education
system? Good luck. His last major statement was during his 2000
campaign.
The Pope's Free Pass - RH Reality Check and The American Prospect
American
politicians missed a chance to criticize the pope for the church's
opposition to the use of condoms to stem the spread of AIDS.
Should Clinton Consider Albany? - The American Prospect
The
decline of Hillary Clinton's presidential prospects does not change the
fact that she is a singularly hard-working, policy-focused politician.
Now that Eliot Spitzer is out, perhaps she should consider running for
governor of New York.
War With Ourselves - RH Reality Check
The
prevalence of sexual violence against American women fighting in Iraq
and Afghanistan is a national shame. U.S. servicewomen today are more
likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire.
When Obama Voted "No" - RH Reality Check
Obama’s opposition to the “Born Alive Infant Protection Act” serves as the basis of anti-choice rhetoric against his candidacy. But BAIPA isn't really about protecting infants; it is anti-abortion rights legislation crafted by the hard right.
Canada Imports "School Choice" Ideology - The American Prospect
Toronto's current debate over whether to create Afrocentric public schools looks suspiciously like arguments over private school vouchers in the United States, with the same charged rhetoric and misleading data.
Fractures on the Far Right - RH Reality Check
Catholic anti-choicers were among the first members of the religious
right to flock to the McCain campaign, in part because of suspicions of
anti-Catholicism within Mike Huckabee's evangelical movement. Now McCain's
Catholic supporters are incensed by their candidate's solicitation
of an endorsement from a man who has long derided Catholicism
What's Missing From Democratic Exit Polls? - RH Reality Check
By including questions about abortion on Republican exit polls, but not
Democratic ones, pollsters guarantee the media pays attention to how
conservative, anti-choice voters feel about the issue, while
overlooking the majority of Americans' support for broad access to
abortion and contraception.
Obama's Demographic Problem - The American Prospect
Even some supporters worry that Obama is doing little to retool his
message to reach the demographic groups that have challenged him --
working-class whites and Latinos.
The Fight for the Latino Vote - The American Prospect
Super Tuesday has brought the power of the Latino vote to the forefront of the campaign. Clinton and Obama are once again sparring over a slice of the demographic pie.
Whither Edwards Supporters? - The American Prospect
John Edwards has dropped out of the presidential race. The new questions is where his supporters -- and the candidate himself -- will go next.
Baby on Board - The New Republic
John McCain's adopted daughter, the great
symbol of dirty tricks in 2000's South Carolina primary, is now being
used by McCain himself in a ploy to woo evangelical voters.
The Real Caucus Coverage - The American Prospect
If more members of the national media left the safe confines of the campaign parties to cover how Iowa really chooses a nominee, maybe America would be more critical of the process.
The Appeal of the Second Tier - The American Prospect
Joe Biden supporters are wild about the senator's experience on the world stage. And deluded enough to think he can win the Iowa caucus.
Iowans Debate the Merits of Edwards' Populism - The American Prospect
Will the Iowa caucuses be a referendum on John Edwards' populist rhetoric?
Ladies Choice - The New Republic
Barack Obama's attempt to mount a feminist challenge to Hillary Clinton.
Reparations Anxiety - The American Prospect
Brown
University announced that it will give a $10 million endowment to local
public schools to atone for its involvement in the slave trade. But
reparations alone will not address the ongoing segregation of the
American education system.
Left Behind? - The American Prospect
Ossining,
New York, was at the forefront of school integration. But as American
law and public opinion turn against race-based programs, can the town
continue to use racial targeting to close the achievement gap?
Race-Baiting on the Ballot - The American Prospect
Immigration isn't the only explosive racial issue facing voters in the
coming election year -- the anti-affirmative action movement is pushing
2008 ballot initiatives across the country. Is economic populism the
antidote?
Conservative Women and the GOP Gender Gap - The American Prospect
The
Republican candidates' female staffers seem more concerned with one
particular woman -- Hillary Clinton -- than with the American woman
voter. It's hard to imagine them closing their gender gap any time soon.
Stupid White Men - The Guardian
The Democratic party shouldn't abandon its progressive agenda in
pursuit of white male voters. For one thing, it doesn't need them.
Jenna Bush Reconsidered - The American Prospect
Forget
the stories about drinking and partying. With her new book on the
problems of poverty, AIDS, and sex abuse in Latin America, Jenna Bush
seems to be growing up -- and outgrowing her family's conservative
politics.
Segregated Schools Leave Children Behind - The American Prospect
NCLB
ignored a key underlying sociological problem -- segregation -- that
contributes to the achievement gap. We've known for a long time that
separate cannot be equal, but as NCLB's supporters well understood, it
is doubtful the bill would have passed had it imposed on privileged
white people any substantive responsibility for the achievement of
minority students.
Newt's New Spin on the Iraq War - The American Prospect
Think
again before you tell your friends you've located one of those rumored
"principled conservatives." When it comes to the Iraq War, Gingrich has
a long history of flipping, flopping, and then flipping again.
The Motivations of Monsters - CampusProgress.org
An interview with author Tara McKelvey about torture in Iraq
GOP Moms: Between a Rock and the Hard Right - The American Prospect
A
Republican Congresswoman describes her life as a working mother to a
room full of young conservative women. Mixed messages abound.
Will Conservatives Leave Education Reform Behind? - The American Prospect
At
an American Enterprise Institute event yesterday, conservatives
considered whether to throw their support behind reforming No Child
Left Behind, or let the law continue to hobble along as an unfunded
mandate.
Dr. Yes-Man - The American Prospect
Dr.
James Holsinger doesn't inspire confidence that, if confirmed as
surgeon general, he would be independent enough to withstand Bush's
political and ideological pressure.
Genetic Disorder - In These Times
Parents with limited incomes are being denied access to genetic tests and the counseling that experts say should accompany them.
Second Tier Candidates, First Rate Ideas - The American Prospect
Good ideas on public education, criminal justice reform, and
international law from second-tier Democratic presidential candidates.
Hillary and the Chick Factor - The American Prospect
The competing demands
of identity politics were very much on the minds of young voters who
came out to see Clinton in downtown Washington, many of whom described
themselves as torn between the gravitas of Clinton's health care and
diplomatic experience and the excitement surrounding the Barack Obama
campaign.
Circumcision Promotion Divides AIDS Activists- In These Times
Many activists are concerned about extrapolating
prevention methods for American high-risk men, many of whom are
bisexual or gay, from the African circumcision studies, which were
conducted primarily among heterosexual groups. Meanwhile, others
question how a male partner’s circumcision affects a woman’s
susceptibility to HIV.
Rally for the American Dream - CampusProgress.org
At
an immigrant rights rally in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, the diverse
grassroots movement that surfaced last year in a spate of street
demonstrations reunited with clear legislative goals.
The Mommy Mantra - The American Prospect
Pelosi
and Clinton's pandering to outmoded gender stereotypes doesn't assuage
doubts about women ascending to the highest reaches of power. It
reinforces them.
Her Next Bold Move - CampusProgress.org
It’s difficult for me to overstate the influence Ani Difranco had on my adolescence...
Anti-Choicers Get a Life - CampusProgress.org
I run into Sam Brownback at the Blogs4Life conference.
Five Minutes With Andy Stern - CampusProgress.org
The labor leader tells me about his plans to bring young professionals into the movement.
It's the Politics Stupid - The American Prospect
I got some crap for this piece, but I do still believe that the lack of women in electoral politics contributes to the lack of women in political opinion journalism.
Speaking of Choice - CampusProgress.org
The fetus is not the issue. The woman is.
Momma Said Help Me Out - CampusProgress.org
In the "mommy wars," men should do more than observe.
Very Civil Disobedience - CampusProgress.org
Behind the scenes of a new type of protest.
Not So Social - CampusProgress.org
Do young people support private accounts? I went to an empty room to find out
