Nation in the News

Katrina vanden Heuvel: Real Change Must Come From Real People

Nation in the News on February 6, 2012 - 1:26pm ET

In this appearance on CUNY TV’s Eldridge & Co., The Nation's Katrina vanden Heuvel discusses how movements such as the Occupy movement have transformed American discourse—and even politics, or aspects of it—in a relatively short period of time. But those in Occupy, pushing for the dismantling of what they consider an illegitmate system corrupted by money, will have to follow models of previously successful grassroots efforts, such as the civil rights movement, she argues. Ordinary citizens are crucial to effecting change, but so are principled politicians who can fight for change within the system. Watch more to learn how these ideas play out in the age of Obama.

—Elizabeth Whitman

John Nichols: Governor Walker and the Koch Brothers Are Behind Arizona's Fight Against Unions

Nation in the News on February 3, 2012 - 11:20am ET

In an appearance on The Ed Show last night, The Nation’s John Nichols the web of supporters behind Arizona's push to eliminate collective bargaining for public employees—and it involves Arizona Governor Jan Brewer teaming up with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and the Koch brothers.

With the crackdown on unions in Arizona well underway and with Arizona's current status as a “right to work” state, unions don’t have the strength to fight back, but Nichols also points out at least one option for Arizonans who want to counter the assault on collective bargaining. To learn more about Walker’s role in Arizona’s attack on union rights, read Nichols’s related blog post.

—Elizabeth Whitman

Katrina vanden Heuvel: Creating a Viable Progressive Movement

Nation in the News on February 2, 2012 - 2:13pm ET

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The Nation’s editor and publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel appeared on Voices from the Frontlines Radio to discuss what it would take to build a progressive grassroots movement and bring about actual change in America.

Vanden Heuvel lists some of the many challenges a successful movement would have to overcome, from building political support to bridging the partisan gap. Yet she also cites causes for optimism, such as the Occupy movement, which she calls “the most serious and sustained national conversation we’ve had in too long,” and the significant impact Occupy has already had on President Obama and our political discourse.

—Elizabeth Whitman

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Iraq Vet Derek McGee: 'The Most Unlikely Occupier'

Nation in the News on January 31, 2012 - 4:36pm ET

In this episode of Countdown with Keith Olbermann, guest host Bill Press calls Iraq veteran and former Wall Street banker Derek McGee “the most unlikely Occupier.” But that hasn’t stopped him from speaking out. While McGee originally felt little in common with the Occupy protesters, he says that “what got me to go down the first time was simply having an understanding of what went wrong in the financial crisis,” as well as the absence of promised regulation that would prevent similar crises from occurring in the future.

For more by Derek McGee, see his article “An Iraq Vet’s Journey From Wall Street to OWS,” which appears in this week’s print edition of The Nation.

—Erin Schikowski

Katrina vanden Heuvel on Stephen Colbert's 'Great Available Panel'

Nation in the News on January 27, 2012 - 5:40pm ET

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Katrina vanden Heuvel, hailed by Stephen Colbert as one of “the finest liberal minds…who answered my phone call,” guest stars alongside CNBC’s John Harwood and David Cassidy on The Colbert Show’s first ever “Great Available Panel,” a new feature that takes its cues from Sean Hannity’s “Great American Panel.” The venerable panel weighs in on Newt Gingrich, the race for the GOP nomination and East New Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo, who recently drew fire for saying he “might have tacos.”

—Erin Schikowski

John Nichols: Did Governor Walker's Election Campaign Break the Law?

Nation in the News on January 27, 2012 - 5:31pm ET

Former staffers of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker could be facing prison sentences over a scandal involving tax-payer money being used to pay for time these staffers were secretly working for the governor's election campaign. The Nation's John Nichols joined MSNBC's Ed Schultz last night to explain just how deep this scandal goes at the governor's office.

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Katrina vanden Heuvel: The GOP's Radical Vision for America's Future

Nation in the News on January 23, 2012 - 3:34pm ET

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The Nation’s editor and publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel joined William Galston and Robert Shrum on WBUR’s On Point this morning to share a progressive take on the Republican race for the nomination. Vanden Heuvel compares President Obama’s words and ideas regarding class and inequality with those of Republican candidates Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, arguing that right now, Americans have a rare opportunity to discuss two dramatically different visions for the future of the United States.

—Elizabeth Whitman

Katrina vanden Heuvel on the GOP Primary Race and the Fundamental Unfairness It Reveals

Nation in the News on January 23, 2012 - 10:13am ET

What can we make of the scattered GOP primary results? On ABC’s This Week, Katrina vanden Heuvel identifies old patterns that have re-emerged in the Republican presidential race and argues that the candidates are taking the country into a “poisonous abyss” of old grievances at a time when we desperately need new solutions.

—Erin Schikowski

Katrina vanden Heuvel and The Young Turks: Mobilizing Against Corporations

Nation in the News on January 20, 2012 - 5:09pm ET

Individuals have to take back their government and end corporate influence in electoral campaigns so that the government remains one for people and not for corporations, Nationeditor and publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel says in this clip from The Young Turks’ “The Point” web series.

TYT’s subsequent discussion delves deeper into vanden Heuvel's message, exploring the issue, its history and its impact, as well as further possibilities for addressing rampant corporate influence in politics and elections.

—Elizabeth Whitman

John Nichols: Governor Walker Is a Desperate Candidate

Nation in the News on January 20, 2012 - 4:05pm ET

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was “absolutely blindsided” by the unprecedented success of the recall effort against him, John Nichols explained on a recent episode of The Ed Show. Now, as our attention turns to his bid for re-election, the current estimate for spending on both sides of the campaign stands at $100 million.

—Erin Schikowski