IdeaLog
The right-wing base is worse than you thought
Posted on November 1, 2023
A very reliable pollster, PRRI, just released a study finding that about half of Republicans support an authoritarian state, rather than one controlled by the rule of law. And most of them say “true...
Don’t say “conspiracy theory”
Posted on October 18, 2023
The MAGA movement is based on anti-minority and anti-science lies. The biggest and most pernicious of these lies are often called “conspiracy theories.” Don’t use that term. MAGA is a cult of white victimhood....
Why create your own progressive agenda for 2024?
Posted on October 4, 2023
In every jurisdiction, progressive lawmakers and advocates should thoughtfully develop a package of about five to ten bills to introduce and promote in their 2024 sessions, with the idea of helping shape the debate...
Six reasons to fight for proactive policy even in red and purple states
Posted on September 20, 2023
If there’s one thing that the Public Leadership Institute stands for, it’s proactive strategy and policy. Instead of being mostly reactive and defensive, we urge lawmakers and advocates to create a strategic policy agenda...
Why do right-leaning Americans believe disinformation?
Posted on September 5, 2023
Recent polling shows that Republican primary voters believe Donald Trump over nearly anyone else. And yet, it’s more complicated than that. They hardly believe what anyone tells them, including Trump. Let’s look at the numbers...
The banality of evil in Georgia
Posted on August 23, 2023
The Georgia prosecution of a broad conspiracy against democracy, involving dozens of people on the national and state levels, serves many important purposes. One of them is to warn us all about the banality...
How to talk about the very latest Trump indictment
Posted on August 8, 2023
Finally, Trump was indicted for his illegal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election. He and his allies responded with a flurry of excuses and lies. We’ll all be talking about this for the next...
Reject the anti-teacher narratives
Posted on July 26, 2023
If you listen to the advocates for decreased rights for teachers and increased standardized testing, you will hear a series of narratives or stories that underlie all their arguments. Although these stories are a...
Five new words to frame the right wing
Posted on July 12, 2023
In politics, we’re always looking for new ways to express our opinions, preferably using words that both grab attention and frame the message. Here are five suggestions for your consideration and, sure, not everybody...
Five words that progressives should avoid
Posted on June 27, 2023
Too often, progressives argue a right-wing or both-siderism frame, repeating that language. Here are five examples that you should avoid using because they obscure the truth. (1) Don’t say “ethics” when talking about the...