DAVID ATKINS – Why Millennials Don’t Like Clinton—And What She Can Do About It

Hillary Clinton has long struggled with younger voters, but the problem now threatens to cost her the election. Clinton’s address to millennials this week underscored her awareness of how crucial they are to her chances in November. But her support from voters ages 18 to 35 has declined by double digits since August, raising an urgent question for Democrats: Why are millennial voters so …

Leid Stories—Election 2016: What’s Shaping/Shaped Your Political Choice?—09.12.16

The post-Labor Day campaign push customarily is an all-out effort to lock down votes in the final stretch of a presidential election. But election 2016 has been, and is, no ordinary presidential election. The duopoly’s leading candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, are intensely disliked and distrusted, but have been the mainstay of media coverage as essentially the dominant choices in the race. (They do, after all, account for the lion’s share of pay-to-play advertising dollars flowing into the media’s coffers this political season.)

Lynn Stuart Parramore – The Zentrepreneur: Ayn Rand in Lotus Position?

You’ve seen the entrepreneur game-changing up a Silicon Valley storm. Perhaps you’ve met more recent additions to this can-do tribe: there’s the micro-entrepreneur, eagerly hopping along Task Rabbit with dry cleaning deliveries, and the social entrepreneur, hacking world hunger with a single app. Now there’s a new market maven in town. He levitates on puffs of peace and profundity, eager …

Exposure to chemicals released during fracking may harm fertility

COLUMBIA, Mo. – More than 15 million Americans live within a one-mile radius of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) operations. UOGs combine directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” to release natural gas from underground rock. Scientific studies, while ongoing, are still inconclusive on the potential long-term effects fracturing has on human development. Today, researchers at the University of Missouri …

Ian Anson – A tale of two GDPs: Why Republicans and Democrats live in different economic realities

Back in 1992, Democratic strategist James Carville uttered his famous recommendation to Bill Clinton ahead of the 1992 election: “It’s the economy, stupid!” Political scientists beat Carville to the punch, though: As far back as the 1950’s, scholars were uncovering evidence that presidential candidates of the incumbent party tend to win when the economy is strong on Election Day. Presiding over a gloomy economy, in contrast, …

DAVID DALEY – The Real Way the 2016 Election Is Rigged

Hillary Clinton has put the Electoral College into checkmate. She’s closer to Donald Trump in many red states like Kansas and Texas than he is to her in key swing states. As her lead swells, naturally, fired-up Democrats and a restless media have turned their attention to a more exciting story: Can Democrats retake the House of Representatives? But the …

Meditations and Molotovs – 08.15.16

Today, Vince is joined by artist, public educator and community organizer,Thomas Frank. Thomas is leading the research team that’s examining the situation in East Chicago, Indiana, where over 1,500 residents and students are being forced to move from their homes and schools as a result of lead and arsenic poisoning.

Janet Allon – 10 Political and Psychological Observers Who Think Trump May Have Gone Off the Deep End

Donald Trump has triggered more than one anxiety attack in the American electorate, and new speculation about his mental stability is not likely to help. But at the risk of stoking more sleepless nights, an increasing number of politicians, psychologists and political observers are questioning not just the mental fitness of Republican presidential nominee, but his mental health. Trump has …

The Dr. Peter Breggin Hour – 07.27.16

Dr. Michael Corrigan, my friend and a professor at the Ohio State University is an outstanding scientist in the field of assessment and evaluation of children’s services and, at the same time, a tremendous advocate for children and critic of the medical approach to their problems.   He’s a leader in the field worth listening to.  Download this episode (right click …

Alternative Visions – Trump’s Speech: Pandering to Working Class Discontent – 07.22.16

Jack examines in detail Trump’s acceptance speech and its non-traditional Republican themes criticizing Free Trade, US national debt, NAFTA, China, offshoring, taxes, military spending-NATO, and related topics. Trade issues are paramount but represent pandering to working class discontent over the loss of jobs, wage income decline, and chronic US economic insecurity since 2000. Trump’s specific proposals for trade are dissected, including his claims to ‘tear up’ NAFTA, impose 35%-45% tariffs on Mexico and China, stop China currency manipulation, offshoring, anti-immigration wall, etc.—all of which represent pandering to working class discontent. Trumponomics = ‘Law and Order First’ economic recovery plan. How Trump is cleverly targeting disaffected working class voters in key swing states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida as key to an electoral victory in November. Jack predicts the election outcome will depend on who, Trump or Clinton, is able to turn in those states the white working class, un- and under-employed 20-something youth, Hispanic, and independents voting blocs in those key states. Who has the bigger base, and who (Trump or Hillary) can turn out more of that base in these key states will determine the outcome. Trump has the advantage currently in turnout, Jack concludes as Hispanics and disaffected youth may sit home during the election. Trump could win. Much will depend on the TV debates.