When It Comes to Tech, Politicians Are Doing a Terrible Job

When It Comes to Tech, Politicians Are Doing a Terrible Job

That’s why Brianna Wu—a video game developer and cyber security expert—is running for congress.

John Nichols
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Flipboard
Pocket

Every week on Next Left, we talk to candidates who break the mold, who do politics differently and who, we think, have something to say about where campaigns and elections are headed. Many of these candidates come at politics from different directions than traditional contenders—that’s certainly true of Brianna Wu.

Born in West Virginia and raised in Mississippi, she came of age in a conservative environment. But then she got into video games, and her life changed. She became a gamer, and a designer of games. She cofounded the company Giant Spacecat and developed game concepts featuring female protagonists. She found success. But she’s also had to battle sexism in the industry and society.

Her experiences have made Brianna Wu a savvy risk taker. So it wasn’t a total surprise that, after Donald Trump became president, she took the risk of entering politics. She challenged an entrenched Democratic incumbent in a Massachusetts congressional primary. Wu did not win. But she learned a lot, and she’s back in the running again for 2020.

On this week’s episode of Next Left, we talk with Wu about video games and political games—and find a few unexpected connections.

Subscribe to Next Left on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

* * *

Show Notes

I Ran for Congress. I Lost. I’m Persisting. Quitting Is Not an Option in the Trump Era. Marie Claire, Brianna Wu

Senator Warren is onto something: The best way to protect the tech industry is to break it up, Boston Globe, Brianna Wu

The Vicious Attacks of GamerGate Are the Norm for Women on the Internet, In These Times, Sady Doyle

Gamergate and Its Victims Hated the Law & Order Gamergate Episode, Jezebel, Anna Merlan

Thank you for reading The Nation!

We hope you enjoyed the story you just read. It’s just one of many examples of incisive, deeply-reported journalism we publish—journalism that shifts the needle on important issues, uncovers malfeasance and corruption, and uplifts voices and perspectives that often go unheard in mainstream media. For nearly 160 years, The Nation has spoken truth to power and shone a light on issues that would otherwise be swept under the rug.

In a critical election year as well as a time of media austerity, independent journalism needs your continued support. The best way to do this is with a recurring donation. This month, we are asking readers like you who value truth and democracy to step up and support The Nation with a monthly contribution. We call these monthly donors Sustainers, a small but mighty group of supporters who ensure our team of writers, editors, and fact-checkers have the resources they need to report on breaking news, investigative feature stories that often take weeks or months to report, and much more.

There’s a lot to talk about in the coming months, from the presidential election and Supreme Court battles to the fight for bodily autonomy. We’ll cover all these issues and more, but this is only made possible with support from sustaining donors. Donate today—any amount you can spare each month is appreciated, even just the price of a cup of coffee.

The Nation does not bow to the interests of a corporate owner or advertisers—we answer only to readers like you who make our work possible. Set up a recurring donation today and ensure we can continue to hold the powerful accountable.

Thank you for your generosity.

John Nichols John Nichols is a national affairs correspondent for The Nation. He has written, cowritten, or edited over a dozen books on topics ranging from histories of American socialism and the Democratic Party to analyses of US and global media systems. His latest, cowritten with Senator Bernie Sanders, is the New York Times bestseller It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism.


Ad Policy
x