American History Is a Parade of Horrors — And Also Heroes

Stephanie Coontz Los Angeles Times
Some folks celebrate American exceptionalism and resist dwelling on horrors like slavery or settler colonialism. Others primarily see a centuries-long saga of white supremacism and oppression.

"Will We Become Our Enemy?": Rare Salman Rushdie Address

Renowned Indian British novelist Salman Rushdie is in critical condition and faces a long road to recovery after he survived an assassination attempt Friday morning. We feature Rushdie in his own words, a 2004 speech on freedom of expression at a  PEN America event. "Will we become our enemy or not? Will we become repressive as our enemy is repressive? Will we become intolerant as our enemy is intolerant, or will we not?" Transcript.

Campaigns, Inc.

Alan Bresloff Around the Town Chicago
Based on the true story of Leone Baxter and Clem Whitaker, who formed the first political consulting firm in U.S. history, "Campaigns, Inc." is a hysterical and jaw-dropping inside look at the underbelly of politics through the lens of two of the undeniable founders of “fake news.

What’s Missing From Voting Data? Race.

Steve Phillips The Nation
Despite a mountain of evidence affirming the centrality of race in US politics, it is essentially ignored in almost all electoral analysis.