This Week at TheNation.com: An Essential Guide to Our Civic History. Plus: Two New Videos. This Week at TheNation.com: An Essential Guide to Our Civic History. Plus: Two New Videos.
By now you may have seen Peter Dreier's feature for The Nation, "The Top Fifty Progressives of the Twentieth Century." As Peter writes in his introduction, "The radical ideas of one generation are often the common sense of the next. When that happens, give credit to the activists and movements that fought to take those ideas from the margins to the mainstream. We all stand on the shoulders of earlier generations of radicals and reformers who challenged the status quo of their day." In this moment where the word "progressive" is often used as a slur, we thought it valuable to remind readers of the great and inspiring contributions progressives have made to this country. The list isn't perfect and there are plenty of worthy progressives left out. That's why we're counting on you, starting Monday, to weigh in with your own nominations - both for progressives that should have made the list, and for the most influential progressives of the 21st Century. As we head back to school and into an increasingly challenging landscape for the teaching of our civic history, I hope you'll tweet, email, pass along and share this essential guide. Also this week ... VIDEO: GOP Women and Abortion The "mama grizzly" phenomenon may be real, but what does it mean for women's right? On Rachel Maddow last night, our Melissa Harris-Lacewell looked at the Republican women running for office this year, and where they stand on choice and reproductive rights. Watch the video here. PODCAST: The Breakdown with Chris Hayes In April, President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed the New START Treaty, the biggest nuclear arms pact in a generation. The treaty, the first of its kind in almost ten years, would diminish both countries’ nuclear arsenals and allow for greater transparency in nuclear policy. Although the treaty has been met with strong objections from some members of the Republican Party, the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee has recently approved the treaty. New START now faces the Senate floor for a full vote. But what exactly is the New START Treaty, and what would happen if it did not pass? On this week's edition of The Breakdown, DC Editor Chris Hayes and non-proliferation expert Joe Cirincione try to answer these questions and the long term implications for the New START Treaty. Listen here. NEWS FROM IRAN: Hiker released You likely saw that Sarah Shourd, one of the three American hikers held in Iranian prison since last July, was released this week. We have followed this story closely, reporting in June that the circumstances of their arrest differs from what Iran originally reported. Shane Bauer, a Nation contributor, and Joshua Fattal remain in custody; we will continue to follow this story and hope for their swift release - and that Shourd can shed some light on the situation. Read more from The Nation Institute's Esther Kaplan here. ENDORSEMENTS: Schneiderman wins! Last week I wrote enthusiastically in support of Eric Schneiderman for New York State Attorney General. On Tuesday Schneiderman narrowly defeated his opponents, securing the Democratic nomination. The Nation's endorsement - and progressive support for Schneiderman - is already part of the story; the Times yesterday mentioned our support in a profile of the race. This will be a tough general election campaign; I encourage all New Yorkers to get involved if they can. VIDEO: A Conversation with Naomi Klein Columnist Naomi Klein was in New York last weekend for the Brooklyn Book Festival, and sat down Monday with Laura Flanders for a segment on The Nation on GRIT TV. The topic was the future of the left: how a vibrant, independent left is possible. It's an important segment - I hope you'll watch and share. Coming up next week on The Nation on GRIT TV: Nation Books author Roberta Gratz about her new book on Jane Jacobs and Robert Moses, "The Battle for Gotham." - - - - - Finally, out this week is a new book from Nation Contributing Editor (and my husband!) Stephen Cohen, "The Victims Return: Survivors of the Gulag After Stalin." During Stalin's reign of terror in the Soviet Union many millions died in his gulag of torture prisons and forced-labor camps; but millions of others survived to be freed after his death in 1953. For over 30 years Steve has been researching the lives of those victims who were released; "The Victim's Return" is the first book that chronicles the remarkable stories of their return to society. It is also a book about the role Stalin and Stalinism continue to play in Russia's politics and society. For Steve (and for me) this is a deeply personal book, tracing the stories of people who are victims but also friends, and a living reminder of an often ignored part of history. I hope you'll read the book; we will also be doing a discussion at Barnes and Noble on 82nd & Broadway in New York on October 6th, followed by a series of event in D.C. and the West Coast. As always, thanks for reading. I'm on Twitter - @KatrinaNation - and welcome your comments below.
Sep 17, 2010 / Blog / Katrina vanden Heuvel
Time for a Real Economic Debate Time for a Real Economic Debate
Fifteen million Americans are unemployed. Poverty is up. One in four homes is under water. It's time for a serious debate on the nation's economic direction.
Sep 16, 2010 / Blog / Katrina vanden Heuvel
Neocons, AFL-CIO Both Blast China: Want Obama to Act Neocons, AFL-CIO Both Blast China: Want Obama to Act
In different ways, both the neocons and the unions are demanding that the Obama administration take strong action to punish, isolate and sanction China.
Sep 16, 2010 / Blog / Bob Dreyfuss
The Soros Syndrome The Soros Syndrome
George Soros's gift of $100 million to Human Rights Watch doesn't come without strings attached.
Sep 15, 2010 / Beat the Devil / Alexander Cockburn
After Summers Comes the Fall After Summers Comes the Fall
Lawrence Summers should be fired for the part he played in bringing about the financial crisis that cost so many Americans their jobs.
Sep 15, 2010 / Robert Scheer
In Memoriam: Ella May Wiggins, Southern Labor Activist In Memoriam: Ella May Wiggins, Southern Labor Activist
When the lens is turned on Southerners, it's often the ignorant ones, like Pastor Terry Jones, that we see. That makes it doubly important to remember the brave radicals, like 1920...
Sep 14, 2010 / Lived History / Ashley Sayeau
Robert Scheer Knows Who to Blame for the Financial Crisis Robert Scheer Knows Who to Blame for the Financial Crisis
Robert Scheer knows who's responsible for our tanked economy—and in his new book, he's not afraid to name names.
Sep 14, 2010 / Video / Robert Scheer
What Obama’s Presidency Needs: A Big Reset What Obama’s Presidency Needs: A Big Reset
Some free advice for President Obama: take a deep breath, admit the Democratic Party has failed to grasp the enormity of economic upheaval in this country—and start using gov...
Sep 13, 2010 / William Greider
Major Student Loan Mistakes, and Ways to Avoid Making Them Major Student Loan Mistakes, and Ways to Avoid Making Them
The economy's long nosedive has done more than raise unemployment rates and housing foreclosures—it's also contributed to a devastating increase in the amount of student debt. Following a recent Education Department report on debt repayment figures, Gawker compiled a list of the top ten universities for student debt, which is topped by NYU's staggering $659 million total. This year also marked the first time in history that outstanding student loan debt exceeded outstanding total credit card debt, with student loan debt nationwide increasing at a rate of about $2853.88 per second. It's a grim landscape for students who've borrowed money, and one that is rife with ways to exacerbate the amount owed. In light of this, Sarah Deveau has provided a helpful list of tips and practices to avoid via the San Francisco Chronicle. Highlights from the pieces, "The 6 Worst Student Loan Mistakes You Can Make" include smart warnings against tempting practices like falsifying information on a student loan application, spending loan money on non-essential purchases and missing payments. "Some experts suggest that your monthly student loan payment should be no more than 10% of your expected salary," Deveau writes. "Calculate your monthly loan payments based on a 10-year repayment schedule, including interest, the find out the average starting salary for your career choice. If your loan payments will be higher than 10%, look at reducing the amount you borrow, either through producing more income or switching to a less expensive program." The bottom line, she says, is this: A student loan is often the first large sum of money a young adult must manage themselves. Avoiding common money mistakes when it comes to financing your college education is crucial to graduating with only good debt, and as little of it as possible. Some of it seems fairly no-brainer, but Deveau lays it out in concrete, practical terms that should make a lot of sense—especially to students taking on loans for the first time.
Sep 10, 2010 / StudentNation / Carrie Battan
This Week at TheNation.com: 1000 Shares. Plus: Two new videos, and a new series starts Monday. This Week at TheNation.com: 1000 Shares. Plus: Two new videos, and a new series starts Monday.
It was back to work this week at The Nation and in D.C., with President Obama and the Democrats in Congress grappling with how critical jobs and the economy are to their chances in November. In my web column for The Washington Post this week, I challenged Wall Street over their recklessness in attacking President Obama's relatively mild efforts at reforming the financial system, after being made whole and profitable again by the bailouts. The reality is that Wall Street's unwillingness to lend or to accept reforms has put the economic recovery at risk. I made a similar argument in this video conversation with Laura Flanders from The Nation on GRIT TV: Class warfare is not, as John McCain would have you believe, overturning Bush's tax cuts for the rich. "Class warfare is when you have corporations sitting on $1.8 trillion." Watch the segment here. Also this week ... Video: The U.S., The U.N and The World The Nation's United Nation's Correspondent Barbara Crossette joined Laura for a conversation about the role of the U.S. in global human rights - specifically our relationship to the U.N. But as President Obama embraces reforms abroad, are we applying the same principles to economic justice at home? Its a thoughtful conversation; watch the video here. Podcast: The Breakdown With Chris Hayes How can the Fed help the economy? Chris Hayes explains the role of the Federal Reserve in the economic recovery, with Neil Irwin of The Washington Post. Listen here, or subscribe in I-tunes. 1000 Shares Contributing Writer Jon Weiner was prepping for a radio interview on KPFK with columnist Katha Pollitt (available here) when he noticed that her recent column, "It's Better Over There," had hit 1,001 "shares" on Facebook. The article is now at 1,045. It's been remarkable to watch the growth of social networking as a tool to spark discussion around Nation content; we always appreciate the shares and re-tweets, and sharing a Nation article is one of the most significant things you can do to help the magazine - and independent journalism. The State of the Race Next Monday we're starting a video series on Election 2010. Our Monday segments from "The Nation on GRIT TV" (posted here each Monday afternoon) will look at one facet of the midterm election, along with a dispatch from one of our reporters out in the field. This week, Melissa Harris-Lacewell and Laura will look at the impact that race is playing on the election: is the GOP race-baiting their way back to a House majority? And we'll hear (via skype) from reporter Dan Bischoff, who is covering the Rand Paul-Jack Conway Kentucky Senate race. Videos are at thenation.com; full episodes are at GRITTV.org. Election Day is Tuesday A reminder that in many states, Tuesday is Primary Election Day. Here in New York, the big race is for Attorney General. I encourage you to get out and vote, and give some thought to my endorsement of Eric Schneiderman before you go. - - - That's all for this week. As always you can keep up by following The Nation on Facebook here, or follow me on Twitter - I'm @KatrinaNation.
Sep 10, 2010 / Blog / Katrina vanden Heuvel