The Bad-News Echo Chamber of Pro-Democracy Substack The Bad-News Echo Chamber of Pro-Democracy Substack
How many pro-democracy Substack authors over-focus on gloom and doom and ignore organizing, and who’s bucking that trend.
Mar 27, 2026 / Micah L. Sifry
The Rapid and “Unprecedented” Collapse of American Democracy The Rapid and “Unprecedented” Collapse of American Democracy
The V-Dem Institute, the world’s chronicler of democracy and autocracy, has determined that the United States is no longer “a liberal democracy.”
Mar 27, 2026 / Column / Sasha Abramsky
Donald Trump Is Losing the Iran War Donald Trump Is Losing the Iran War
Despite his constant declarations of victory, the truth about this conflict is clear.
Mar 27, 2026 / Séamus Malekafzali
Trump’s TV-Warped Brain Is Putting the World in Danger Trump’s TV-Warped Brain Is Putting the World in Danger
The president is experiencing the Iran War almost entirely through misleading video clips—and that’s very bad news for all of us.
Mar 26, 2026 / Chris Lehmann
Mamdani Asked Tenants to Tell Him Their Problems. Hundreds Did. Mamdani Asked Tenants to Tell Him Their Problems. Hundreds Did.
What it's like at one of the mayor's "Rental Ripoff" hearings.
Mar 26, 2026 / Prajwal Bhat
Mamdani’s Master Class in Impression Management Mamdani’s Master Class in Impression Management
New York’s mayor continues to showcase his command of political symbolism as he prepares to reckon with some difficult real-world choices
Mar 26, 2026 / D.D. Guttenplan
Are Plastics Poisoning Us? Are Plastics Poisoning Us?
A Netflix documentary exposes plastic’s health harms but misses its climate connection.
Mar 26, 2026 / Mark Hertsgaard
Water Infrastructure in Texas Is Failing. A Surge of New Funding Can Fix It. Water Infrastructure in Texas Is Failing. A Surge of New Funding Can Fix It.
As the state promotes industrial expansion and costly seawater desalination projects, advocates want to prioritize fixing aging pipes and supporting public health.
Mar 26, 2026 / StudentNation / Lajward Zahra
The Data Center Revolt The Data Center Revolt
Laura Flanders speaks with Faiz Shakir and John Cassidy on the grassroots fight against the AI oligarchs.
Mar 26, 2026 / Q&A / Laura Flanders