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Carmen Schools of Science & Technology Northwest Comes to the Harambee Neighborhood
More than 300 people came out on Saturday, July 25 to welcome Carmen Schools of Science & Technology Northwest to the Harambee neighborhood. The free block party attracted community leaders, neighbors, students, families, and alumni to the school’s new campus at 3215 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Carmen Northwest Principal Ashlei Miller cut […]
Milton Keynes youth mayor inspired by sister's political journey
Tito Adeyale, 16, will attend civic and community events over the next 12 months in Milton Keynes.
Low bid count on zoning rewrite sparks debate on city's business climate
Morton City Hall at 909 Davis St. Last month, the city revealed that, despite six weeks of advertising, its request for proposals seeking a consulting
Empowering the Next Generation of Civic Leaders
Young Californians often feel disconnected from the political process. A recent event focused on inspiring civic engagement among California’s youth and highlighted the importance of civic education.
Delaware’s $2 billion corporate franchise is good business for all Delawareans
Civics 101 Special Series: The Corporate Capital In so many ways, there’s no better place to be than Delaware. That’s certainly true for about 2.2 million businesses who continue to call our state home, even as other states work to claim Delaware’s title as the nation’s corporate capital. After decades of dominance as the preferred […]
Seizing the Semiquincentennial: Developing a Science of Civics and the Renewal of American Citizenship
In a recent seminar hosted by Philanthropy Roundtable, Senior Director of American Values & Policy Philanthropy Clarice Smith explored this question. She was joined by two leading voices in civic education: Victoria Hughes, founder and first president of the Bill of Rights Institute, and Dr. Wilfred McClay, faculty chair at Hillsdale College and author of “The Land of Hope.”
Why Hybrid Healthcare Is a Business Imperative for Employers in Nevada
The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement.
Why Hybrid Healthcare Is a Business Imperative for Employers in Nevada
The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement.
VHC Health’s plans for S. Carlin Springs facility face questions from local residents
Future neighbors of a planned behavioral-health and rehabilitation compound on S. Carlin Springs Road are pressing for more details about management and oversight. Representatives of VHC Health and Lifepoint Behavioral Health met with local residents during a July 16 meeting convened by the Glencarlyn Civic Association to discuss the proposed 146-bed facility. Under the plan moving
‘Good Trouble Lives On’: ICE protestors rally at Liberty Square Park
Utahns joined in on a national movement called “Good Trouble Lives On” Saturday, honoring former Congressman John Lewis and his legacy of nonviolent civic action, education, and advocac…
Not everything in northern Minnesota is on fire. Many businesses are safe and open.
Civic leaders acknowledge a delicate balance in trying to get the word out that many vacationers shouldn’t cancel plans.
The Evolution of Politics: From Civic Virtue to Realpolitik
While people claim they want the "virtuous" state with citizens to match, what we really get is realpolitik, whether we want it or not.
Carmen Schools of Science & Technology Northwest Celebrates New Home with Ribbon Cutting and Community Block Party
MILWAUKEE (July, 2026) Carmen Schools of Science & Technology Northwest will officially celebrate the opening of its new campus with a ribbon cutting ceremony and community block party. The free event will welcome students, families, neighbors, alumni, partners, and community members to mark an exciting new chapter for the school on Saturday, July 25 from […]
How Americans are engaged with news, politics, religion and civic life
The Briefing ☀️ Happy Thursday! The Briefing is your guide to the world of news and information. Sign up here! In today’s email: 🔥 Featured story German regulators said this week that the country’s media laws apply to content generated by artificial intelligence after a court ruled last month that Google is liable for inaccurate […]
Younger and older Americans engage in public life in different ways
Older adults are more likely to participate in civic activities like voting, donating or attending religious services, while younger adults engage more in online spaces.
How Americans Are Engaged With News, Politics, Religion and Civic Life
Americans’ engagement with others is not one-dimensional. Instead, they sort into four distinct groups that reflect different patterns of participation in society.
Kenya's 'political gangs' fuel election fears
Violent disruptions of political and civic events are raising concerns about the use of hired gangs as Kenya heads toward elections in 2027.
High-Level Educational Tour in Poland Reveals Lessons in Democratic Resilience | Pomona College in Claremont, California
Professor of Politics Mietek Boduszynski and his sister, Monica Chellam ’04, recently organized and led “Poland’s Democratic Journey,” an educational tour in Warsaw for senior American political and civic leaders focused on democratic resilience.
David I. Backer on the Hidden Politics of School Finance | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.
The author of As Public as Possible: Radical Finance for America’s Public Schools talks about why we must begin to look at the dismantling of public education not just from a cultural and racial standpoint but from an economic standpoint to truly understand the innerworkings of school financing.
SPAG workshop to focus on small business refinancing Wednesday
The West Texas Small Business Summit is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.
The civic consensus beneath America’s political divide
New survey data suggests Americans remain more united in their civic identity than today's polarized politics would imply.
Trump makes himself central to America’s 250th anniversary
The president has blended patriotic spectacle with campaign-style politics, reshaping a civic milestone around his leadership and worldview.
America’s next 250? A revival of civic virtues might hold the key.
Democracy requires civic engagement – and it can sometimes seem to be falling short. But the seeds of renewal are visible, from potluck dinners to youth programs.
Democratic socialist Melat Kiros poised to become the first Gen Z woman in Congress
Kiros, a political newcomer, topped 15-term-incumbent Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary in Colorado's 1st Congressional District, a reliably blue House seat.
Peter Grove, award-winning science educator and lifelong environmentalist, has died at 82
He arrived in Philadelphia in 1972 and spent the next 44 years teaching science, horticulture, and civic responsibility to students young and old.
Science and Technology Must Deliver for the Public
The United States has never lacked for scientific ambition. What we need now is a renewed civic commitment to ensuring that talent is harnessed for the benefit of all people. Science can work for everyone. Join us as we build a broader coalition committed to that vision.
After 40 years in Congress, Nancy Pelosi to help create institute to train leaders of the future
The former House speaker plans to help create an institute at UC Berkeley that will concentrate on civic engagement and research
Civility advocates look for ways to restore 'Iowa Nice' to campaigns, public discourse
A group of former and current officeholders are looking to encourage civility by encouraging civic participation and civil interactions.
Science Over Tradition: Plymouth South Middle Schoolers Advocate for Later School Start Times
PLYMOUTH - June 15, 2026 - In a powerful demonstration of student advocacy, a delegation of eighth-grade students from Plymouth South Middle School presented compelling, science-based research to the School Committee, urging district leadership to push back school start times to improve adolescent mental health, well-being, and academic performance. The presentation sparked immediate commitment from the administration to formally evaluate the district’s schedule over the coming school year. Subscribe The Full Story The final in-person meeting of the academic year opened with a celebratory outdoor ceremony honoring dozens of elementary, middle, and high school student artists whose work was chosen for the biannual Central Office Artwork Awards. However, the evening’s primary policy focus quickly shifted to student-led civic action when eighth graders Sophia Scarini, Skye Togun, Leah Mansfield, James Moore, Avery Mahan and Lily Simpson took the podium. The students revealed that their presentation was the culmination of a year-long civics project involving local community assessments, interviews with former officials, and extensive literary analysis. The research sharply highlighted the biological mismatch between adolescent sleep patterns and current school schedules. Under the district’s current framework, Plymouth High Schools open at 7:20 a.m., Middle Schools at 8:12 a.m., and Elementary Schools at 9:05 a.m.. “The high school start times directly contradict students’ natural sleep patterns,” student Leah Mansfield explained, noting that the teenage brain does not naturally produce melatonin until around 11:00 p.m.. The student presentation underscored a harrowing correlation between sleep deprivation and severe mental health struggles, citing data that adolescents with insomnia are ten times more likely to develop depression. Conversely, data shows that just one additional hour of sleep results in a 28% reduction in students reporting feelings of depression or sadness.
Benton Harbor business celebrates Juneteenth, honors past civic leader
Juneteenth jubilees were held across our area as people came together to celebrate the freedom of African Americans.In Benton Harbor, one business found a speci
Türkiye’s Democratic Breakdown: Authoritarian Consolidation and the Sources of Resilience
Lessons from Global Democratic Resistance is a public panel series that brings together frontline activists, civic leaders, institutional actors, and field‑informed scholars to examine how democratic actors have resisted, responded to, and learned from democratic backsliding across countries. The series aims to identify practical lessons and comparative insights for those defending democracy today and is organized by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in collaboration with the Ash Center for Democratic Governance at the Harvard Kennedy School; the Cornell Center on Global Democracy; Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania; the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame; the Democratic Futures Project at the University of Virginia; Stanford’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law.
Why I Use a Business School Model to Teach History (Opinion)
Students who can see themselves in historical figures learn how to debate respectfully.
The Politics of the NBA Finals
Aside from basketball, this year’s NBA Finals showcased civic identity and political power. Shea Serrano, author of Expensive Basketball, once argued that
In Retrospect: Poland, Russia, Europe
In April I spent a few days with Zryw, a Polish non-profit organization that recruits young people to enter politics and public life. Their aim is to build a new generation of civic leaders in Poland. I’ve followed their evolution from the beginning; my son is one of the founders. (“Zryw” means “impulse” or “burst of speed” in Polish). Julie Chmielewska, one of Zryw’s leaders, interviewed me at the event. Here is the conversation, lightly edited for grammar and context: Julia Chmielewska: Assuming that culture shapes institutions, could we conclude that some cultures are more prone to authoritarianism? Anne Applebaum: I don’t think so. Every culture, every nation, and every country has the potential for change. When we look at history, we can see that nations do change. Poland has changed, for example, from the 1980s to today. There’s a completely different mentality here than the one I encountered when I first visited, in 1988. The current generation sees the world through a different frame. So no, I don’t believe that certain nations are doomed to authoritarianism, or to anything. Of course, there are political and cultural traditions, but they can always be challenged. JC: So do you think there’s something intrinsic in human nature that pushes people to democracy, freedom? AA: I think there is something in human nature, a deep instinct, that pushes people towards freedom, yes. People who live in authoritarian countries – and I’ve heard this from them over and over again – sooner or later find themselves angered by a feeling of helplessness. They can see the unfairness of crooked courts, irrational political decisions. They naturally dislike the fact that somebody has all the power while they have none. In those circumstances, people who have no political background at all sometimes are politicized just by that frustration. I’m thinking of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, for example, who was a Belarusian housewife, until the circumstances of her husband’s arrest forced her to become a politician. I met a woman who is a Uyghur from China, and who had come to live in Turkey. After several of her family members were arrested, she too was propelled into a political role. These kinds of experiences make people interested in democracy or political reform, even if they thought they didn’t care. I also think that the opposite is true: some people instinctively prefer homogeneity, order, hierarchy. They don’t like the confrontation of opinions or the noise of debate, and they lean towards a single leader or a unified regime. I think that most of modern history is shaped by the clash between those two different sides of human nature. JC: Which force do you find more powerful today? AA: I think they both have a lot of power and there’s no way of predicting who wins. Even in countries that seem very shut off or stuck in an authoritarian system can change. We’ve seen that happen. And vice versa, I think democracies can also begin to fail and slide into authoritarianism. So it’s very important not to be complacent in either direction. JC: I want to go into your history and your experiences. You’ve lived in Russia during a time of incredible change in the late 80s, and then you came back to do research in post-Soviet Russia. AA: I was a student in Russia just before the collapse of the Soviet Union. I then traveled and worked there extensively in the 1990s, and I met people who really were full of hope. They hoped that Russia could become a democracy, or at least a place that guaranteed freedom of speech, freedom of the press. These weren’t ideas that came from Washington. Although now the narrative in the Kremlin is different, I met many people who were working towards exactly that kind of transformation. A friend of mine ran a series of seminars – once a year, and then later several times a year, in cities all over Russia – designed to get people to discuss politics in new ways. She invited young politicians and journalists, as well as foreigners. I went to many of them, in Moscow as well as Volgograd and Novosibirsk. Over two decades, hundreds of people came to these seminars, and all of them wanted Russia to be different. I remain convinced that many Russians still want Russia to be different. It’s just that the old system, in the form of Putin, a representative of that system, returned. The KGB reimposed their power. And this wasn’t because of something to do with culture, this was to do with money and politics, and who was in charge. JC: You’ve partially answered my question... I wanted to ask whether that excitement of the 1990s was an exception from the Russian historical norm which has been rather authoritarian? AA: Of course, if you look at the history of Russia since the 18th century, there have always been liberal groups, reformers and revolutionaries. There were the Decembrists, in the early 19th century, and the rural populists later on, who tried to organize the peasantry. A significant group of liberal Russians appeared at the turn of the 20th century, people like the father of the writer Vladimir Nabokov, who was a Russian politician before the revolution. These groups were small in number, but sometimes had a broader significance. The Russian dissident movement in the 1950s and 1960s actually invented the modern human rights movement. It was their idea to hold the leaders of the Soviet Union accountable for the language they used, to remind them of the treaties they had signed and the promised they had made. They created the Helsinki group, for example, that held Soviet leadership to the language of the Helsinki Treaty, which formally ended the Second World War and which contained guarantees of human rights, at least on paper. That idea spread to Eastern Europe, and similar tactics were used here in Poland. (Benjamin Nathans recently wrote a great book about the Soviet dissidents, To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause) JC: But seemingly, even if they do ever get power, they could never hold on to it. AA: We don’t know, because they have never really had power. But in any case, we also don’t know what will happen in the future. There is no reason to assume that Russia will forever be condemned to totalitarianism. Even during the first fifteen years of Putin’s regime there was some form of democratic politics. Only when the full-scale war began did he bring everything to an end: he shut down all remaining independent organizations and killed his most important opponent, Alexi Navalny. But does that mean he is popular, that he enjoys legitimacy? Even now, we don’t really know what Russians think about him, or about the war. There is no way of doing real polling in Russia because nobody will answer an independent pollster over the phone. JC: Do you think that the flock of young people, especially young men, who fled Russia after the start of the war represent a continuation of liberal movements that refuse to partake in the authoritarian state, or do you think they are moving for the sake of self-preservation – “I don’t want to go to the army, so I leave”? AA: I’m sure it’s both. I actually know many people who left Russia for political reasons either in the very last years before the war, or else just after the war began. JC: And do you see a change in the young generation versus the old one that have fled? AA: It’s hard for me to say because the people who I know were mostly already politicized. I do know some younger people who left, but most of them were already either active in the opposition, or working as journalists. Many of them very self-consciously think of themselves as maintaining Russian culture abroad, just as in the 20th century the Soviet dissidents or the anti-communist White Russians once thought of themselves as people who maintained the true Russian culture, outside of Bolshevik Russia. JC: Let’s move on to Poland. One of your first experiences with Poland was reporting on Margaret Thatcher’s first state visit, in the autumn of 1988. You followed her around the farmers’ market. AA: She was making a symbolic gesture. She wanted to welcome free markets, but the only one she could really visit was the farmers’ market at Hala Mirowska. JC: And I want to talk about this area because today you can look out of any window in that district, Mirów, and see rows and rows of skyscrapers. How does it feel to see a country built from the ground in such a short time, both politically and economically? AA: You know, when you’re living in a period of dramatic change, it’s always hard to know whether the change is positive or negative. The transformation in Poland created winners and losers, as well as new classes of people, new political movements of different kinds. At the time, it sometimes just felt like turbulence. Now, we can look back at the 1990s and early 2000s in Poland and see in retrospect that the country was headed in towards prosperity and European integration. In around 2009 or 2010, I remember speaking to a woman who worked cleaning government offices, and who asked me if her daughter should study in Amsterdam or in London. This seemed to me to be a real transformation, and it happened very fast: within a few years, Poles stopped feeling like second-class Europeans, and a generation of younger Poles appeared who had no qualms about crossing borders. JC: We again live in turbulent times. Do you think we’re heading towards positive outcomes? AA: I can’t make predictions, because everything that happens tomorrow depends on what people do today. Also, history doesn’t have a trajectory. It doesn’t move in a particular direction. You only think it does afterwards. As I said, you can look afterwards at Poland in the 1990s and you could say this was a period of great progress. But not everybody at the time saw that. Sometimes people are very wrong about a given country’s trajectory. I remember people writing about Ukraine in the 1990s, about how dangerous it was that Ukraine was independent, that this was going to be an anti-semitic state, that Ukrainian nationalism was going to come back... and although you can say many bad things about Ukraine, the country made many bad choices, actually it became a pretty tolerant state which now has a Jewish president and until recently a Muslim defense minister. JC: In the 1990s Poland’s and Ukraine’s GDP were roughly similar. Ukraine was even a bit richer. So the starting point was similar for both of these countries, but they’ve turned out very, very differently. Even if we stop in 2014. Why do you think Ukraine “chose East”? Was it external influence? AA: No, I think Ukraine was in a different position. First of all, central and eastern Ukraine had been part of the Soviet Union since the 1920s, and had therefore experienced a longer period of occupation, repression, Sovietization and even Russification. Ukraine did not have, as Poland did, an alternative elite: a large cadre of economists and politicians, who already had some experience in opposition politics and in independent thinking. In Poland, the transformative finance minister, Leszek Balcerowicz, had already thought about how an economy might be decentralized before he took office. We can argue about how successful he was, but at least he was prepared to try something new. In Ukraine, people weren’t prepared. For one, there hadn’t been much space even for an illegal opposition in the previous couple of decades. Ukraine was also in many ways still emerging from colonial occupation. For the previous couple of centuries, many of the most capable Ukrainians had moved to Russia, and the first generation of leaders in independent Ukraine tended to be former Soviet apparatchiks. They didn’t immediately seek to become closer to western Europe. Instead, they looked for some kind of economic and political “third way” and an accomodation with Russia. Ukraine became stuck in this position, half-in, half-out and became pretty profoundly corrupt. JC: The Polish alternative elite had a vision of where they wanted the country to go. I think the general perception now is that this vision ends with the next election, right? Is this a natural process of gaining power? AA: Their vision, and it was shared by the time by politicians who now call themselves both left and right, was that Poland should join the EU and NATO, as fast as possible. My husband (Radek Sikorski) was in the very first government that said it wanted to join NATO. At the time this was taken very badly in Washington: the demand for NATO membership absolutely came from Poland, not from the US. But even then, in the early 1990s, many Poles already understood that the Russian sphere of influence would grow once again, that it was important to become part of the transatlantic alliance and an integrated Europe as fast as possible: NATO, the EU, the Council of Europe, all of the trading and security alliances. That consensus lasted through several different governments and over many years, even governments containing former communists. For twenty years, right, left and center disagreed about many things, but they all agreed on the direction that the country should go. In retrospect, that consensus created the basis for prosperity in Poland. JC: And regarding the Polish-Ukrainian relations. We know that antagonisms, e.g. the myth of Wołyń [a massacre of Poles that took place in what is now Western Ukraine, in 1943] are increasingly used in Polish political discourse today. In Ukraine, nationalist historians make heroes out of UPA, the Ukrainian revolutionary army, which is held responsible for this tragedy. Where do you see a start for burying the hatchet? Is the reconciliation of our nations possible? AA: So here’s a strange thing: For more than a decade after they both gained independence, Poland and Ukraine participated in a number of projects that were designed to solve exactly these kinds of Polish-Ukrainian differences. Books were published that were jointly written by Polish and Ukrainian historians, monuments were built. These projects were successful: If you’d asked me this question in 2010, I would have said that there are no real historical issues between Poland and Ukraine, that the two countries had mostly reconciled. For a number of reasons, this began to shift. In Poland, children and grandchildren of victims of the Wołyń massacre felt their tragedy hadn’t been fully recognized. In Ukraine, nationalist groups wanted the UPA partisans who had fought against the Soviet Union recognized for their heroism, despite the fact that some in this broad and not well-defined group were also linked to Wołyń. In both eastern Poland and western Ukraine, the memory of the ethnic cleansing that took place there in the late 1940s - Poles were moved West, Ukrainians East - to accomodate new borders has left feelings of displacement and bitterness. The wave of Ukrainian immigration, which started before the war, may have provoked some of this. But don’t underestimate the role played by Russia, which has always wanted to create discord between Poland and Ukraine, and pumps out propaganda to that effect in both countries. Vandalism on both sides of the border, damage done to cemeteries and monuments, is sometimes carried out by provacateurs working for Russia, just to create bad feelings. The Polish-Ukrainian conflict also hides a different reality: although there are real grievances and bad memories, the truth is that the biggest tragedies both nations experienced in the twentieth century were inflicted by the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. That should unite these two countries, not divide them. JC: This week (19.04.2026 – Ed.) in Hungary we saw that using historical narratives to create grievance has no longer worked. Are you optimistic about the direction after Orban’s loss? AA: The Hungarian election was really important because it shows that people can actually resist powerful, dominant propaganda. The ruling party Fidesz controlled all of the TV, 90% of the newspapers, the constitutional court, the bureaucracy... and yet people had the nerve to vote against it and resist it. It’s also an important election because Hungary created a huge network of well-funded think tanks and foundations that were funding other far right groups and projects. So that loss is going to have a knock-on effect in other places too, maybe even in Poland. JC: What you’ve said about resisting propaganda reminds me of one of the interviews you did about talking to Russians in the post-Soviet era who claimed that people knew that the system was lying. Why do people choose to believe in these regimes anyway? AA: Because it’s useful. Stephen Kotkin, an American historian, once described how people would learn how to “speak Bolshevik”: It was just a language that you needed to use in order to get by in society. If you didn’t talk the way the regime wanted you to talk, then you might have problems, or lose your job, or your kids would not get into university. It was a way of getting along. Communist Poland was similar, at least in the early years. When I was writing a book about the Sovietization of Eastern Europe after World War II, I met a lot of people who wanted to talk a lot about the war, when many of them had done really heroic things. But almost nobody wanted to talk about the decade afterwards, between 1945 and 1956. This was when you had the short period of terror, violence and Polish Stalinism. To stay safe, people felt the need to just go along with what others were saying, or stay out of politics, or use communist jargon without necessarily believing it. I don’t judge them for it, and I wouldn’t describe all of those people as collaborators. It’s easy to feel moral certainty in retrospect, because we know that communism ended. But if you were living in 1949, it might not have been clear to you that communism was going to end. In very repressive societies, maybe about 10% of people who are really evil – collaborators, torturers. Maybe 10% of people are really brave and who find ways to resist. And then around 80% of people have kids, they have parents, they have to have jobs and they’ve had to get through it somehow. Strange though it may sound, I’ve found that the work I did on that book is now very useful in explaining some of what’s going on in the United States today. There are plenty of members of the Republican Party in Congress who know perfectly well that Donald Trump says many things that aren’t true. But they avoid criticizing him because it’s inconvenient, because they would get in trouble, because someone would attack them on the internet. So actually you don’t even need mass terror to get people to conform. JC: Is Gen Z reinventing agency? AA: We’ll see. In any generation you can find groups of people who want agency. If you live in a society that’s unfair, for example where a tiny number of people have captured most of the wealth, then at a certain point people rebel. This is always easier for younger people, who have you have less to lose. The question now is how the internet will affect the relationships between citizens and the state, and how it will change organizations. The “Twitter revolutions” people spoke about as early as 2008-9, mass protests organized online, have often proved to be very superficial. Although you can easily join something just by clicking, the work of creating a real movement requires physical participation. Successful mass movements of the past, for example the Civil Rights movement in the United States, were built by people who had spent many years together. They had participated in non-violent workshops together. They practiced and prepared. Just using the you can get everybody to show up at a certain moment, but then when the protest is broken up, nothing happens. It’s also true that the repressive regimes have more recently learned how to use the internet to undermine leaders and movements. Most of all, they now understand how to make people cynical. The form of propaganda that most modern authoritarians use - and I think the Russians really pioneered this - deploys sneering cynicism. Instead of praising the rulers, the regime propagandists mock the opposition movement leadership for being supposedly corrupt or sexually degenerate, with the goal of undermining any kind of idealism. JC: MAGA grew on the internet? AA: MAGA is a real grassroots movement. They had symbols, red hats, they showed up at rallies. But you’re right that the cynicism, the sarcasm and the distrust that the movement embodies came originally from the internet, and this is different. Fifty years ago, most European political parties had a social base in real organizations, in trade unions for Social Democrats, in church groups for Christian Democrats. As people stopped going to church and as the trade unions became smaller, the social base of these parties disappeared. Now people who wouldn’t have known one another in the past meet on the internet and create new movements, many of which don’t last. JC: Is history ending? Going in stale circles? AA: History never ends. In truth, human beings want contradictory things at the same time: order and freedom, stability and change. These things are never resolved, and when a society swings too far in one direction, people always push it the other way. But each time that happens, the result is different. Certainly it is true that we are now in a period when old philosophers and ideas from the 1930s are undergoing a revival. Carl Schmitt, who was a philosopher who was very influential on the Nazis, is back as an influence on both the far left and the far right, once again inspiring people to think that all politics has to be existential, that all politics is about defining and defeating enemies. In the US, some are also bringing back dominionism, the idea that we need a Christian and not a secular state. It’s also true that we are living through a more fundamental shift. The old left-right divide, which was mostly about the size of the state, is much less important now. Instead, we are arguing about more fundamental things: what are our rights, what protects our freedom. Or how much power do we want to give small elites, versus how much power to give ordinary people. In America a small group of very wealthy people now control information, because they control the social media platforms and AI, which means they determine what people will read and learn. Finding a way to preserve preserve zones of autonomy and independent thinking, this is going to be the main task for the next generation. JC: What is the one book that a person interested in Central Europe should read? AA: You could read my book “Iron Curtain: the Crushing of Eastern Europe” which tells the story of how the Soviet Union imposed its culture on the region. Or read Tim Snyder’s history of the region, “The Reconstruction of Nations: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus 1569-1999.” And everyone should read “The Captive Mind” by Czesław Miłosz, which describes exactly the phenomenon we were talking about: why do people collaborate? I joined Scott Galloway and the brilliant Fiona Hill in a discussion about the wars in Ukraine and Iran, the future of global power, and what these conflicts reveal about America's role in the world. Scott told us that this was the 400th edition of his podcast, which is quite a number: My friend Francesco Chiamulera runs a brilliant series of literary events, Una Colline di Libri, A Hill of Books, in the Prosecco Hills, a region of vineyards and elegant hill towns in the Veneto, north of Venice. We did an event in Vittorio Veneto and also drove and biked around the countryside. Buy Autocracy Inc Buy Iron Curtain Open Letters, from Anne Applebaum is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Longtime business, community leader Howard Shotwell dies at 83
George Howard Shotwell, 86, local business and civic leader, died on the morning of June 6 at his home. The longtime Hurst resident served his
Tiffany accepts donation from business owner he’s helping to purchase national forest land
Last July, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany authored legislation that will allow a Forest County concrete supplier to purchase 14 acres of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Richard Freeman, Jr., New Orleans business and civic leader, dies at 88
Richard West Freeman, Jr., a civic leader and business executive who ran Louisiana Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and in retirement became a successful horse breeder, died Wednesday at Lambeth House in
I On Politics
DUTCH KILLS ASSN MEETING JUNE 11: The Dutch Kills Civic Association will hold their final General Meeting of the season on Thursday, June 11 at 7:00 pm at the Growing Up Green school, located at 39-27 28th Street in Long Island City. Officers from the 114th Precinct will give updates about the community. QUEENS HOMEOWNERS
This new progressive faith and labor coalition is hoping to shake up Fresno politics
The new nonpartisan coalition brings faith, labor and civic leaders across the Central Valley to mobilize around the issues most important in their communities. The new nonpartisan coalition brings faith, labor and civic leaders across the Central Valley to mobilize around the issues most important in their communities.
‘Do your civic duty’: Election day begins in Clark County
Clark County polling places open to steady stream of voters.
Business Leaders Gather to Hear Economic and Business Outlooks at the 16th Annual DuPage County Regional Business Outlook Event
/PRNewswire/ -- More than 600 of the region's top business and civic leaders gathered Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the 16th Annual DuPage County Regional...
These teens are vying to win Trump’s civics contest. Some have mixed feelings about patriotism and the president
Earlier this year, Ishant Jawali, a 16-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, was scrolling on Instagram when he stumbled upon a little-known way to win money for college: The Trump administration was putting on a national civics contest for America’s 250th birthday.
The MAX welcomes daughter of Medger and Myrlie Evers for film screening
Prior to the screening, the Meridian chapter of the NAACP will offer a civic engagement workshop for Meridian-area youth about opportunities to participate as active citizens in a democracy.
Half of teacher preparation programs align with the science of reading, report finds
The share of teacher training programs aligned with the science of reading has doubled in the last few years, the National Council on Teacher Quality found.
Opinion | Why repealing Minneapolis’ bathhouse ban could be a public health win
"History has shown multiple times how invocations of a particular concept of morality can be weaponized against queer people with ramifications on public health and civic good," two professors write.
Politics, Pubs, Parades, and the Parish: Joan Quigley
Quigley reflects on her upbringing in an Irish-American family in Jersey City, her early involvement in civic activism
Nicholas M Ryan
Industry: Real EstateAge: 70 (Crain's estimate)Undergrad: Rose Hulman Institute of TechnologyProfessional/civic: National Multifamily Housing Council; Institute for Community
From Belfast to America: Learning to Prevent Political Violence and Heal Division
U.S. faith and civic leaders travel to Belfast with The Carter Center and Rethinking Conflict to learn how to prevent political violence, heal division, and strengthen democracy.
FEA calls lawmakers out of touch, says budget shortchanges public schools
'This budget puts politics above people.'
NEA Business Notes: NYITCOM marks 10 years - Talk Business & Politics
In the early 2010s, a group of leaders from the education, healthcare and civic communities in Northeast Arkansas set out to help find a solution to the physician workforce shortage...
Democrats use profanity to go viral. It won't persuade voters.
The rise of profanity in politics is both a symptom of declining civic culture and a poor political strategy.
Blue Cross foundation looks to address Mass. health care problems
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation and law/consulting firm Manatt gathered around 20 business and civic leaders to discuss goals.
Lawrence Welk players brought wholesome entertainment to Rochester
The Mayo Civic Auditorium performances showed off a classic culture durinng counterculture years.
Andre Dowell: Palm Beach’s philanthropic power grows beyond campaign politics
Palm Beach philanthropy increasingly shapes America’s civic and political future.
Inside the program shaping Ascension’s next generation of leaders
For 30 years, Leadership Ascension has worked to develop the next generation of civic and business leaders in one of Louisiana’s fastest-growing parishes, pairing leadership training with hands-on community impact projects. The Ascension Chamber-affiliated program, which runs from January through November, accepts a class of roughly 30 to 36 participants each year representing businesses of […]
Business leaders launch new marketing campaign
If Boston has a 'marketing problem,' civic leaders hope this new marketing campaign will help.
2026 Short Course: Designing Civically Engaged Political Science Pedagogy -
Designing Civically Engaged Political Science Pedagogy Half Day Short Course | Register here 2026 APSA Annual Meeting & Exhibition — Boston, MA 9:00 am – 1:00 pm This short course is designed for political science [...]
Texas Businesses Leaders Promote Civic Engagement And Voting
During election years, business owners can play an important role in promoting civic engagement and voting. Here is what two chambers of commerce in Texas are doing.
FSU pushing for increased civics teaching in schools to reconnect with Memorial Day meaning
FSU educators are concerned that a recent poll shows only 48% of Americans know why Memorial Day was established.
Choose Your Heavily Depreciated Fighter: $43k AMG GT53 With An Inline-6 Or $69k AMG GT63 With A V8
Is a heavily depreciated AMG GT63 worth paying a premium that would buy a brand-new Honda Civic to get the V8 over the I6?
Sports promoter Barry Hearn to receive civic honour
The sports promoter and founder of Matchroom says he is "honoured" to be awarded the title.
Sprawling new entertainment complex coming to Southern California city, with hotel, venues and ‘Jewel Plaza’
The project would overhaul the city's sleepy, parking lot heavy civic campus from the 1970's into what leaders hope becomes a bustling, action-packed destination.
Data center politics and Kirk Bangstad’s attention-seeking run for governor (with Emily Mills!)
Dan Shafer is a journalist from Milwaukee who writes and publishes The Recombobulation Area. In 2024, he and the publication joined Civic Media, where he is currently a Contributing Editor. He’s written for The New York Times, The Daily Beast, Heartland Signal, Belt Magazine, WisPolitics, and Milwaukee Record. He previously worked at Seattle Magazine, Seattle […]
Dallas Business & Civic Leader City Hall Redevelopment Series – Salim Asrawi, Texas de Brazil
Texas de Brazil co-founder Salim Asrawi says Dallas should keep sports, restaurants, jobs, and entertainment downtown as the City Hall redevelopment debate continues.
Carson aims for hotel, entertainment, and housing in Civic Center revamp
Earlier this year, the City of Carson adopted a new specific plan aiming to guide the redevelopment of its 1970s era Civic Center. Now the City begins the hunt for a development team to execute that vision.
Chicago power families: Who holds influence now
These 14 families wield influence across Chicago and Illinois through business, politics, philanthropy, sports and civic institutions.
Power Families of Chicago: Velasquez
With second-generation leaders in Azteca Foods and a history of philanthropy and civic activism in Pilsen, the Velasquez family is among Chicago's most powerful.
AMERICA 250: The Tavern, the Print Shop, and the Small Business Roots of America’s Founding - Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
By Karen Kerrigan – Long before America became a global economic powerhouse, local entrepreneurs and small business owners helped build the civic culture, communication networks, and spirit of independence that made our nation possible. As America marks its 250th anniversary, it is important to note that the nation’s founding was shaped not only in legislative […]
A Year Ago, Experts Worried About NAEP’s Future. Now, the Test is Expanding
The results would drill down on what students know in their senior year, as well as in civics and science.
Proposed VHC Health facility needs more public input, County Board candidates say
The three Democratic candidates for County Board are all in favor of extensive community input on a proposal for a new behavioral health facility in Glencarlyn. "You need to listen -- it needs to be community-first," challenger Julie Farnam said at a debate hosted by the Arlington County Civic Federation on Tuesday. Farnam and James DeVita
Why a lack of civic education is making US politics toxic
A lack of civic education is making American politics toxic, leading to polarization and even justifying political violence.
Jackson to host third annual business expo: It 'is a win-win'
The City of Jackson is gearing up to host its third annual Business Expo at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, a free way to connect with local vendors
Campaign finance disclosures should fight corruption, not fuel political voyeurism
At a time when civic participation is already under strain, expanding the public exposure of ordinary political activity risks discouraging it.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson gives remarks at small business conference
The 2026 Mayor's Small Business Conference occurred on May 6, 2026 at the Savannah Civic Center.
CAIR Releases Analysis of Anti-Muslim Oklahoma Politics
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released a new analysis detailing a multi-front effort to push Oklahoma Muslims outside the circle of the state’s protected civic and religious life — through legislation, thro
New certificate focuses on civically engaged health equity
The Department of Biobehavioral Health in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development has launched a new undergraduate certificate in Civically Engaged Health Equity, designed to prepare students to work in and with local communities on efforts related to health equity. The certificate is ideally suited for students interested in public health, healthcare, health promotion, social epidemiology, and other community-oriented careers, but it is open to all undergraduates at Penn State University Park.
Connecting climate science and storytelling at Mission Hill Middle School
Working with seventh grade science teachers Sallie Corbin and Christy Fairbairn, Lookout developed a science communication workshop to support students’ climate change research projects and help students think about how complex scientific ideas can be communicated clearly and meaningfully. The visit introduced students to the basics of journalism, storytelling and audience engagement, with support from UC Santa Cruz science communication graduate student and Lookout intern Cassidy Beach. Students later presented their climate change projects at Mission Hill’s Climate Change Symposium through creative formats including videos, games, comics, sculptures and interactive activities. The partnership marks one of Lookout’s first middle school classroom visits as part of its growing educational initiative focused on media literacy, civic engagement and local journalism.
Nevada City Chamber of Commerce 2026 Business & Community Awards, “Long Table” dinner celebration on May 16
Nevada City, CA — The Nevada City Chamber of Commerce proudly announces the recipients of its 2026 Business & Community Awards, honoring exceptional contributions to the local economy, culture, and civic life. This awards ceremony has been held for 124 years and celebrates the individuals, organizations, and businesses whose creativity, dedication, and leadership strengthen Nevada […]
Michigan marks Small Business Week as startup growth booms
The Great Lakes State is home to almost 950-thousand small businesses, accounting for almost all businesses in the state.
Science Night, Civic Engagement Bridge Kids, College
Kalamazoo College students leading a program serving youths at Interfaith Homes will bring those kids to campus for Family Science Night.
Letters: San Diego’s fiscal and civic health in free fall
Can we endure two more years with this mayor in charge?
Angel to business startups and civic causes is 2026 Tri-Citian of the Year
The successful tech entrepreneur is winner of the top community honor.
Civics with civility? Bredesen, Haslam discuss state of TN politics
What's ahead for Tennessee? Two former governors discuss politics ahead of the 2026 elections.
Opinion: Betting on politics hinders legitimate civic engagement
Platform Kalshi allows users to bet on politics, pop culture and global events. Our columnist warns this normalizes gambling habits that raise serious ethical risks for society and civic behavior.
San Francisco State University Partners with UC Law San Francisco to Expand Downtown Presence - UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings)
SFSU’s Lam Family College of Business will use classroom and office space at 198 McAllister Street to establish a new downtown campus. San Francisco State University (SFSU) and UC Law San Francisco have reached an agreement that establishes a new downtown home for SFSU’s Lam Family College of Business at UC Law SF’s Academic Village. The agreement places SFSU business students in close proximity to leading employers, industry partners and transit hubs, enhancing opportunities for internships, networking and career advancement. The UC Law SF Academic Village is a shared-campus model designed to foster collaboration among higher education institutions and contribute to San Francisco’s ongoing revitalization. San Francisco State University (SFSU) and UC Law San Francisco have reached an agreement that establishes a new downtown home for graduate business programs from SFSU’s Lam Family College of Business at UC Law SF’s Academic Village. The agreement creates a new downtown campus location for SFSU, giving students direct access to San Francisco’s thriving business environment. Beginning in Fall 2026, graduate business students will take classes at the UC Law SF building at 198 McAllister Street, at the nexus of the Civic Center, Mid-Market and Tenderloin communities. Under the agreement, SFSU will occupy 3,200 square feet of exclusive teaching and office space and will share additional classrooms with UC Law. The move positions students in close proximity to leading employers, industry partners and transit hubs, enhancing opportunities for internships, networking and career advancement. “This partnership is an example of the growing strategic collaborations that expand opportunities for our students,” said SFSU President Lynn Mahoney. “By situating graduate business programs in the city’s urban core, we will help students build connections, gain experience and achieve their goals for meaningful careers and upward mobility.” Students enrolled in select Lam Family College of Business graduate programs will have access to the Academic Village’s modern classrooms, conference facilities, library, study spaces and resident and event support services. The site also includes lounges, on-site dining and newly built, fully furnished, apartment-style housing for students and professionals. As institutional partners, SFSU College of Business students and alumni are eligible for tuition discounts if they enroll in the UC Law SF Master of Legal Studies program, designed for professionals whose work intersects with the law. “San Francisco State University is an excellent addition to our Academic Village, and we are excited to have the Lam Family College of Business join us in the fall,” said UC Law SF Chancellor & Dean David Faigman. “The partnership advances UC Law SF’s commitment to collaborate with California’s other great public schools and adds vibrancy and energy to the heart of the city. Our students and programs will benefit from the interdisciplinary opportunities that will arise.” The UC Law SF Academic Village is a shared-campus model designed to foster collaboration among higher education institutions and contribute to San Francisco’s ongoing revitalization. The Lam Family College of Business will begin occupying its new space there in July 2026, with classes beginning in August. The move continues SFSU’s longstanding presence in downtown San Francisco and reflects a broader effort to align academic programs with the needs of both career-minded students and the region’s expanding and evolving workforce. For more than 60 years, the Lam Family College of Business has delivered high-quality, AACSB-accredited business education across the San Francisco–Silicon Valley region. Its graduate programs — including the MBAand the STEM-designated Master of Science in Business Analytics and Master of Science in Accounting and Analytics — are designed to help students develop the skills they need to navigate the complex challenges of a global, data-driven economy. About San Francisco State University San Francisco State University is a public university serving students from the San Francisco Bay Area, across California and around the world, with nationally acclaimed programs that span a broad range of disciplines. More than 20,000 students enroll at the University each year, and its more than 304,000 graduates have contributed to the economic, cultural and civic fabric of San Francisco and beyond. Through them — and more than 1,300 world-class faculty members — SFSU proudly embraces its legacy of academic excellence, community engagement and commitment to social justice. For more information, visit sfsu.edu. About UC Law SF UC Law San Francisco is a public law school of the University of California, founded in 1878 as the first law school in the UC system. Located in San Francisco’s Civic Center, it offers a comprehensive legal education with a strong emphasis on experiential learning, public service and professional preparation. Through its Academic Village, UC Law SF brings together students, faculty and partner institutions in a collaborative campus environment in the heart of the city. Other Academic Village partners include UC San Francisco, UC Davis, the University of San Francisco and the University of the Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry. For more information, visit www.uclawsf.edu.
New entertainment zone likely coming to Walnut Creek
A draft plan envisions a zone bound by North California Boulevard, Civic Drive, North Broadway and Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
New entertainment zone likely coming to Walnut Creek
A draft plan envisions a zone bound by North California Boulevard, Civic Drive, North Broadway and Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
Eugene Civic Alliance, Kidsports complete $48M campaign for Civic Park sports complex
A years-long effort to turn the former Civic Stadium site into a community sports complex has reached a major milestone in Eugene, with organizers announcing th
CommUnity Conference to spotlight civic health, engagement across Wisconsin and beyond
The University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh will bring together students, community members and civic leaders for a day of dialogue, learning and connection at the upcoming CommUnity Conference, focused on strengthening civic health at the local, state and global levels.
Campus Politics in City Hall: The Civic Culture We Tolerated in Universities Is Now Shaping How Cities Are Governed.
New York does not need less debate. It needs a restoration of civic norms. The question is no longer what we tolerate on campus. It is what we are willing to accept from the people who govern us.
How an unusual coalition is rebuilding — and honoring
Seattle's Memorial Stadium once hosted sports, concerts, civic events and even water skiing. Why the Kraken are helping to build a new stadium might surprise you.
The Politics of Loving Kindness: Insights from a Birth Equity Initiative | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.
What might happen across our country if those working to make life better for our neighbors embraced the politics of loving kindness? What if we were explicit about caring for all people, more than corporations or profit?
Civic belonging in the social media era
Gen Z is politically aware online, but this doesn't always translate to real-world engagement or voting, leading to burnout and fear.
NEPAL: ‘Voting on Discord was a very Gen Z way of doing politics’
CIVICUS discusses Gen Z-led protests in Nepal with Abhijeet Adhikari (Abhi), a lawyer and political activist who took part in the protests.
Civic Entertainment Group acquires Wave Kilo
The deal marks Civic’s first acquisition in the PR space.
Blake Dowling: Delilah app aims to simplify legislation, boost civic engagement
People in The Process: Legislation? There is an app for that; meet Joseph Visconti and Delilah.
A simple step to support Minnesota’s small businesses
To show a commitment to owners of small businesses, Minnesota should extend the pass-through entity tax election.
I On Politics
DUTCH KILLS CIVIC ASSN MEETING APRIL 9: The next general meeting of the Dutch Kills Civic Association will be held on Thursday, April 9, at 7:00 pm at the Growing Up Green school, 39-27 28th Street. Joseph Ottomanelli from the NYC Sanitation Dept will be the guest speaker discussing the bin mandate going into effect
3 Things to Know: Brands and Social Issues, Adult Recreational Sports League Participation Rebounds, and Sports Betting Partnerships
CivicScience has the world’s largest proprietary database of real-time declared intent, allowing brands to activate high-performing advertising that drives up to 80% better performance. See how our partners achieve superior marketing outcomes here. 1. Consumers hold mixed expectations on brand activism, with Democrats more likely to switch or boycott based on personal values, while Republicans [...]Read More... from 3 Things to Know: Brands and Social Issues, Adult Recreational Sports League Participation Rebounds, and Sports Betting Partnerships