Commentary
Why inflation will likely stay sky-high regardless of which party wins the midterms
Soaring inflation is the top issue for a lot of voters heading into the midterms, with most saying Republicans would do a better job of handling the problem. Indeed, Republican candidates are taking full advantage of voter concern about inflation by hammering Democrats on the issue and pushing their own ideas to fight inflation, such […]
America is amusing itself to death and hack politicians are taking advantage
In 1985, Neil Postman’s crowning achievement, “Amusing Ourselves To Death,” provided the most prescient analysis and forecast of the current lobotimization of American public discourse. Postman’s work drew a distinction between the Orwellian vision of a totalitarian government seizing individual rights and Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World,” where freedom and rights were voluntarily sacrificed in […]
Let’s Do The Timewarp Again
Saw an ad the other night that made me wonder if perhaps I had time-traveled. It was a GOP attack ad on the Nevada Congressional Democrats – Dina Titus, Susie Lee, Steven Horsford, Catherine Cortez-Masto. The ad wasn’t about them. And it wasn’t about reality. It was run by a group called Citizens for Sanity, […]
Republican plan to raise Medicare’s eligibility age would be a step in the wrong direction
If Nevada Republicans April Becker, Sam Peters and/or Mark Robertson win their races for the U.S. House, they will find that House Republicans have already made a commitment to the following policy: “To address the increased demands on Medicare, the RSC Budget proposes aligning Medicare’s eligibility age with the normal retirement age for Social Security […]
Young voters are more likely to skip midterm elections than presidential races
Midterm elections typically have lower voter turnout than presidential elections, but there is another crucial difference beyond just how many people vote: how old they are. If past turnout patterns hold in 2022’s midterm election, most demographic groups will be represented as much as they are in presidential elections, with one major exception. People ages […]
Fearmongering, the IRS, and folks who think ‘fact’ is a four-letter word
Fearmongering politicians claim the IRS is hiring 87,000 agents, arming them, and ordering them to kick down the door at Meemaw’s trailer home to scare the grits out of her if she’s behind on her taxes. That’s a terrifying scenario or would be if it were true. Which it’s not. To these folks, “fact” is […]
Role of secretaries of state in administering fair elections is changing – and not in a good way
The state officials who administer fair, accessible and secure elections have historically operated quietly without garnering much public attention. Elections happen, votes are counted, the winners are declared and democracy moves on. But since 2020, secretaries of state and other state officials who oversee elections have come under increasing scrutiny and been exposed to increasing […]
The price of gas doesn’t care who you vote for
Voters tell pollsters their top concern is inflation, and the rising cost voters point to most frequently is the price of gas. The price of gas is also the problem elected officials can do least about. Republicans contend Biden Administration policies are to blame for gas prices, because a clean energy agenda has thwarted energy […]
Why the battle for the soul of ‘character conservatives’ in these midterms may center on Utah
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee is seeking reelection in Utah – a typically uneventful undertaking for an incumbent Republican in a state that hasn’t had a Democratic senator since 1977. But he faces a unique challenger: Evan McMullin. The former CIA operative, investment banker and Republican policy adviser left the GOP in 2016 because of Donald […]
Their election denier is your election denier
Some states are comparatively isolated from the most damaging influence of democracy haters. California, Washington, Maryland, Delaware, Colorado — they are likely to avoid the misfortune of election deniers in high office in the near future, or they operate with voting laws meant to expand, rather than restrict, voter access. But while such states act […]
Anti-abortion politicians think they can play games with Nevadans’ rights
Abortion bans have real-life consequences. But you wouldn’t know that listening to Republican politicians in Nevada. Since June, we have seen tragedy after tragedy unfold as patients are forced to travel hundreds of miles for care if they have the resources, self manage their abortions outside the medical system, or are even forced to go […]
Leftist teachers union? As if.
“Radical socialist leftist teachers unions” is a thing Republicans and the right like to say. Alas, if only t’were true. The Clark County Education Association, the largest teachers union in the state, is just cold refusing to endorse anyone for governor, evidently because Democrat Steve Sisolak didn’t do exactly what he was told. Fortunately for […]