Progressives and Obama

Progressives and Obama

A panel discussion on progressive change in the Obama era, with Eli Pariser, William Greider, Patricia Williams and Lawrence Korb.

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Barack Obama won a resounding victory in November, but was it a victory
for progressives? With the new administration now into its first 100
days, The Nation and Air America Media convened a panel of experts,
activists and journalists to debate the role of progressives in the
Obama presidency. Held at New York University on January 28, the panel debated when progressives should work with the new administration, and when they should
mobilize for change. Topics ranged from Afghanistan, affirmative action
and Social Security to the economic crisis, partisanship and the
restoration of the rule of law.

The panelists were journalist William Greider, columnist and legal
scholar Patricia Williams, foreign policy expert Lawrence Korb and
Eli Pariser, executive director and co-founder of MoveOn.org. The panel was moderated by Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor and publisher of
The Nation and Mark Green, president of Air America Media. This podcast
provides audio of the full event, including audience questions.

Listen here:

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With the midterm elections now firmly upon us, the question is whether Democratic candidates will do more than merely occupy ballot lines as mild alternatives to the red-hot crisis that is Donald Trump.

As Trump spends over $1 billion a day on a globally destabilizing war on Iran and admits that he doesn’t “think about Americans’ financial situation,” millions across the country are struggling with the surging costs of essentials. Democrats must seize this moment and advance bold, small-“d” populist ideas—not settle for cynical caution that once again snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.

The Nation elevates progressive ideas, movements, and elected officials achieving real change across the country into the national conversation. At the same time, our journalists are exposing how crypto and AI-funded super PACs are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to knock out candidates they oppose, reporting on the devastating impact of the Supreme Court’s evisceration of the Voting Rights Act, and sounding the alarm on attempts by red states to quickly redraw electoral maps, disenfranchising Southern Black voters.

We can play this critical role because of support from readers like you. This June, we’re raising $20,000 to power The Nation’s independent journalism in the run-up to November’s immensely consequential elections.

It’s in our power to build a more just society, and your support at this critical moment brings us closer to that bold vision. I hope you’ll donate today.

Onward,

Katrina vanden Huevel
Editor and Publisher, The Nation

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