Karin Chenoweth
@karinchenoweth.bsky.social
Founder, Democracy and Education, which provides information and a community to school board candidates and their supporters, particularly if they are facing extremism. democracy-education.org
Stalin purged a lot of his generals in the 1930s. If you ever wonder why so many Russians lost their lives in World War II, think about what effect it has to lose people who actually know how to lead a military.
Greg Jaffe@gregjaffe.bsky.social · last mo.Hegseth has purged at least 10 percent of the military’s top brass and shows no signs of slowing. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/u...
If we are to salvage and strengthen democracy, it will be because people see that their voices and choices actually matter. And the easiest way to see that is locally. Which is why this is your periodic reminder to pay attention to your local races, especially the often overlooked school board
A regular reminder that school board races are happening all the time--in New York State, you have elections coming up in May, for example. If you are interested in saving democracy, focus on those local races--see if there is a pro-public education candidate, and then support him or her. It's easy.
We have a lot of work to do to strengthen our democracy. One often overlooked key is to prevent right-wing extremists from destroying our public schools. And one way to do that is to ensure we have strong school boards who are working to expand opportunities for all students. You (yes, you) live in
Remember how this guy lobbied hard to get a pardon for a war criminal who slaughtered children? Turns out that’s literally his entire philosophy of armed conflict
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 7mo agoHegseth: "The only ones who need to be worried right now are Iranians who think they're going to live"
Here's someone everyone who cares about democracy can do. You live in a school district. Look and see if you have a school board election coming up this spring or fall. If you do, see if there is a pro-public education candidate. If you do, help that person. Put a sign in your window or yard. Hold
The cuts were not because of "DEI." They were because the programs help uplift all students, especially the less privileged. They were because community schools make public schools more valuable and effective. They don't want voters to support public schools. #GiftLink
Services cut. Staff laid off. New Trump cuts hit schools in 11 states, D.C.
Halfway through the academic year, the administration canceled $168 million in community schools grants.
wapo.st
I flew down to south Texas today to do my job - investigate why people are dying in ICE detention centers. I was just illegally denied entry to Dilley Detention Center. Because they have something to hide.
Sure. But but it was way better for your career, and the esteem of many of your highly placed professional peers, to be wrong about this and so many people were. They’re doing great btw www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/o...
Opinion | The Resistance Libs Were Right
nytimes.com
I know there's a lot of passion to help fix what is ailing America. Here's one thought. You live in a school district. See if your district is holding an election for school board this year. If so, find out if there is a pro-public education candidate. If so, do something to support--put up a
"...a white mob that, with the help of federal troops, killed hundreds of black sharecroppers in the town of Elaine, on the eastern edge of Arkansas." It's history that we never teach. The review opens with the story of a Black woman who had grown up in Elaine & had never heard about the massacre.
The New York Review of Books@nybooks.com · 9mo agoThe Elaine massacre of October 1919, writes Atul Dev, represents “a pivotal episode of American history, consigned inexplicably to the margins.” https://go.nybooks.com/4s3ui6p
The American response to mass shooting was to argue there were too many doors and that we must protect the innocent guns
NBC News@nbcnews.com · 10mo agoAustralia will launch a national gun buyback scheme following the mass shooting in Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says, as hundreds of surfers and swimmers paddled out at Bondi Beach to honor victims.
It’s good to see local superintendents and media saying the thing I have been saying for years. The Missouri GOP supermajority has schemed to defund public schools and send the money to private religious schools. This will close the rural schools in my state.
You're wondering what to do to shore up democracy? You live in a school district. See if there's an election for school board this year. If there is, find out if there are any candidates. (Many elections have none.) If there are, see if anyone is pro-democracy and pro-public school. If so, do
Now is when you should be looking in your school district to find out if there is an election this year. If so, ask around--is there a pro-public education candidate running? If so, that person needs your help and support. If not, find someone to run--maybe it's yourself! democracy-education.org
Our country voted to become sicker, poorer, dumber, and meaner.
Diane Duane@diane.dianeduane.com · 10mo agoThere is NO FUCKING EXCUSE for this to be happening. I had a baby die in my arms of pertussis some fifty years ago. It was a HORRIBLE death. But my fellow nurses said to me, "It's almost stamped out now, they're all getting the shots, we won't be seeing this again." HOW THE FUCK ARE WE HERE. 😡
This is your regular reminder that you live in a school district. Look around. Is there a school board seat up this year (could be as early as May!)? Are there candidates running? The way many extremists get on school boards is through unopposed races. If you have a pro-public education candidate
Supporting Democracy Begins in School: Why School Board Races Matter and How You Can Help grassrootsconnector.substack.com/p/supporting...
Supporting Democracy Begins Where You Live
Why School Board Races Matter & How You Can Help
grassrootsconnector.substack.com
An interesting take. Thanks, Josh.
Josh Cowen@joshcowenmi.bsky.social · 11mo agoWith Tucker Carlson back in the news, reposting my piece @slate.com about my time working with Tucker @cnn.com years ago. The change from impish sarcastic conserva-bro with a bowtie to…whatever this is…mirrors so much of the Right’s own trajectory over time. slate.com/business/202...
This billionaire is trolling hardworking educators—and making jokes about gutting supports for special needs kids.
This is my semi-regular reminder that if you're looking for something to do to push against authoritarianism, you might have to look no farther than your very own school district. Extremists want to take it over and cause havoc. Don't let them! See if there's a sensible pro-public education
geez
Rachel Maddow@maddow.bsky.social · 11mo ago"Federal agents fired a pepper round that struck the pastor of the College Heights United Church of Christ. The impact caked his face in orange powder... “I’m in a lot of pain,” the pastor texted from the emergency room, “He clearly was aiming for the face.” www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
What struck me about Reagan's talk was how he was trying to convince people of his point of view. What a refreshing thing for a president to do. We've heard so much bluster and "trust me, I'm smart" from this president.
Ben Franklin’s Ghost@davidaritter.bsky.social · 11mo agoI love source documentation! Thanks @sifill.bsky.social for sharing. 👇👇👇
Violating schools, churches, and hospitals is a way to say that there is no safe space. Teachers, clergy, doctors, and nurses can't help you. There is no one to trust, no place to go.