I never knew I was being so subversive, riding a DEI bike lane as a white man. 🤔 newrepublic.com/post/212853/...

Trump Secretary Says Bike Lanes Are DEI

Apparently the Trump administration is just calling anything it doesn’t like “DEI.”

newrepublic.com

💥Big Life News: It’s time to start a new chapter. Or in this case, many new chapters. On July 31, I’ll step down as Co-Executive Director of @peoplepowered.org, to write a book on the future of democracy. www.peoplepowered.org/news-content...

Leadership Transition at People Powered — People Powered

On July 31, Josh Lerner will step down as Co-Executive Director, and Greta Ríos will remain as Executive Director. Read for more details.

peoplepowered.org

One week left to apply for up to $25,000 in climate democracy funding. Deadline: July 3. Our June newsletter also includes three impact stories, an open call for visual storytellers, and a new action agenda to change how the world talks about democracy. www.peoplepowered.org/news-content...

June 2026 news: 1 week to apply: Up to $25,000 in climate democracy funding + more! — People Powered

People Powered members are changing health policy, climate spending & air quality. Join them!

peoplepowered.org

📢Calling All Creatives! Do you have ideas for what democracy should look like in the future? @peoplepowered.org just launched an open call for visual content (videos, illustrations, graphics) that tells a compelling story about democracy. $1,000 prizes. www.peoplepowered.org/news-content...

What does the future of democracy look like? We want your stories — People Powered

We're looking for creators who can tell compelling stories about voice, power, and collective decision-making — with up to $1,000 in awards.

peoplepowered.org

@frameworks.bsky.social just released essential resources on how to talk about democracy in the US, to push back against authoritarianism while building a more democratic future: Validate people’s frustration, connect with their values, propose big ideas. www.frameworksinstitute.org/resources/fr...

From Protecting the Status Quo to a Vision for Change

frameworksinstitute.org

In Belgium right now there’s an active campaign and political debate calling to replace the national Senate with a permanent citizens’ assembly. To replace an outdated elite branch of government with a new branch of government by the people. 👏🏼 www.g1000.org/en/news/your...

Your Voice Deserves a Seat: Launching Our Campaign for a permanent Citizens’ Assembly

Your Voice Deserves a Seat: Launching Our Campaign for a permanent Citizens’ Assembly

g1000.org

Upcoming talk: May 7 at Northwestern University! We’ll explore the global decline in what we call “democracy,” and how we can move beyond this current crisis to build the democratic future that we want and need. Please share with anyone in Chicago/Evanston. www.eventbrite.com/e/elliott-sp...

Elliott Speaker Series | The Future of Democracy Is Participatory

Join us for an Elliott Speaker Series talk with Josh Lerner and Vijayendra (Biju) Rao.

eventbrite.com

My new video with Mayor Mamdani just dropped 📼 Our partnership has shown that politics doesn’t have to be sour or ego-driven. It can be a team sport in pursuit of values and our hopes. ⬇️

The end is nigh.

Once again, it is local governments that are forging ahead on climate action. Amsterdam is set to become the first capital city in the world to ban meat advertising in public spaces, part of a broader effort to promote healthier, lower-emission, plant-based diets. Hopefully other cities will follow.

Amsterdam set to become first capital city to ban meat advertising in public spaces

Amsterdam will ban meat advertising from 1 May, signalling a major shift in European food policy towards plant-based diets.

newfoodmagazine.com

⏰ 3 days left! Ticket sales for the People Powered 2026 Convening close on Feb 2. March 2–5 in Nairobi: workshops, site visits, and democracy practitioners tackling climate, inclusion, and narrative change. 👉 peoplepowered.org/2026-convening-program #PeoplePowered #PPNairobi26

People Powered 2026 Convening: Program — People Powered

peoplepowered.org

While old models of democracy fall apart, participatory budgeting continues to grow. #PeoplePower

The Christian Science Monitor@csmonitor.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Rebuilding two-way trust, city by city

reminder:

Come work with me! People Powered is hiring for two positions. Please share with anyone interested in building a more participatory democracy, while working with a fun and growing global community. 🙏🏼

People Powered@peoplepowered.org · 7mo ago

We’re hiring! 🌍⚡ People Powered is recruiting for two remote roles: • Community Manager (full-time) • Systems and Data Intern (paid) Help support participatory democracy and people power worldwide. Apply by Feb 6: www.peoplepowered.org/news-content...

We cannot let this president drag us into more endless wars that risk the lives of American service members and civilians abroad. The attack last night on Venezuela was unnecessary and unauthorized. The President’s actions are reckless and illegal.

Tulsi Gabbard in 2019: "The United States needs to keep our hands off Venezuela... end these destructive and wasteful regime change wars... proven to cause more problems, increase suffering, increase instability for the people in the countries where we wage these wars. In Latin America especially".

“If Zohran Mamdani is serious about delivering on his promises, he needs more than policies — he needs institutions that empower working people. Popular assemblies offer a way to build a new, bottom-up political culture in New York City.” jacobin.com/2025/12/mamd...

Zohran Needs to Create Popular Assemblies

If Zohran Mamdani is serious about delivering on his promises, he needs more than policies — he needs institutions that empower working people. Popular assemblies offer a way to build a new, bottom-up...

jacobin.com

📰 New Strategies for Renewing Democracy Faced with rising attacks on democracy, the EU has raised a Democracy Shield. But marching into battle with only a shield is a recipe for defeat. To reverse democratic backsliding, we also need new strategies for expanding democracy👇🏼 philea.eu/opinions/bey...

Beyond defence: New strategies for renewing democracy - Philea

Democracy is under attack, but defending the current system of democracy is not enough. To reverse backsliding, we also need to embrace new strategies for renewing and expanding democracy.

philea.eu

Applications are open for our Democratic Innovations Accelerator (DIA)! ⏰ We'll be supporting 40 selected participants working on youth-led participatory programs with free mentoring, training and tools. Apply by Nov 30: nets4dem.eu/democratic-i...

Congratulations to @celinasu.bsky.social for launching her new book Budget Justice in NYC tonight! Go read it! Lots of insights into #participatorybudgeting and other movements to build public power over public money. ❤️ press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

I'm shaking almost too hard to type. I entered SLC airport and heard screams and cries for help. I could see people gathered around, watching. I sped over to discover this woman face down on the floor, four grown men pushing her down, while she cried "HELP ME" and pled for her child.

Why don’t Democrats create visual imagery to change the #shutdown story? For example: 1️⃣ Set up a negotiation room with chairs for the key players. 2️⃣ Show up every day. 3️⃣ Take pictures and video, of Democrats literally at the negotiation table, and Republicans absent. 4️⃣ Share & repeat. Be creative!

This isn’t government efficiency. It’s putting people’s lives at risk, by cutting the essential government services that they rely on.

Affordable Housing Left Vulnerable After Trump Fires Building Inspectors

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development cut its inspection team two weeks after a public housing building partially collapsed in the Bronx.

bloomberg.com

As democratic practices decay in the United States and elsewhere, the tendency is to defend existing institutions. But building new paths is just as important. Read more from @joshalerner.bsky.social nonprofitquarterly.org/three-emergi...

Three Emerging Strategies for Renewing Democracy - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly

As democratic practices decay in the United States and elsewhere, the tendency is to defend existing institutions. But building new paths is just as important.

nonprofitquarterly.org

New Article Alert: Looking for better ways to defend/protect/promote/renew/expand democracy? In @npquarterly.bsky.social I lift up three of the most promising strategies for renewing democracy from around the world. Try them out! nonprofitquarterly.org/three-emergi...

Three Emerging Strategies for Renewing Democracy - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly

As democratic practices decay in the United States and elsewhere, the tendency is to defend existing institutions. But building new paths is just as important.

nonprofitquarterly.org

The real highlight of #TheLifeofaShowgirl is how it reminded me to listen to #BRAT again. 🙏🏼

Another violent attack by an ICE officer on a civilian at 26 Federal Plaza—this time on a journalist, who had to be carried out on stretcher. Another attack on the First Amendment, our neighbors, and our democracy.

I was back at 26 Federal Plaza today, where an ICE agent violently threw this bereft woman to the ground in front of her kids. She had not touched him. She did not pose any threat. She had to be taken to the hospital. (🎥: Elias Eliahu)

From a 2 million-strong online petition in France to new insights on Euroscepticism, crowdlaw and disinformation, there's plenty happening in democratic innovation. Learn more in the latest Nets4Dem newsletter 👇 bit.ly/47M5eZM

“Democracy is, in the beginning and in the end, a belief that we can live together despite difference and choose the future together.” @anandwrites.bsky.social 🙏🏼 open.substack.com/pub/anandwri...

ESSAY: A turning point

On Charlie Kirk, civic contempt, and the endangered idea at democracy's heart

open.substack.com