The story of Thanksgiving has evolved over the years as we have recognized that the tale taught in elementary school wasn’t true to the contributions of native peoples and their treatment by Europeans. At its best, our current Thanksgiving tradition reminds us that we are a nation of immigrants who owe at least a debt…
In the past year, Donald Trump has gone from historically unpopular candidate to historically unpopular president, with an approval rating consistently under 40 percent. In four congressional special elections this year, Democrats rode that anti-Trump sentiment to better performances in Republican held districts, but no victories. On Tuesday, Democrats claimed their first major wins since…
The revelations about Harvey Weinstein have spurred discussion about harassment and assault in the workplace. While it can happen anywhere, there are some common threads among the worst industries. The victims are often seeking employment with some level of “desperation”, either for a job at all or for a break toward advancement. This is in…
I understand you are in need of a new secretary of health and human services (HHS). I would like to apply. Like former Secretary Price, I am an MD. That is where our relevant similarities end, and you should realize that is a good thing for your administration. I grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, a…
President Trump’s approval rating hovers near 40 percent. Polls of the generic congressional vote show Democrats leading by eight points. Historically, those conditions predict Democratic gains of 20-30 seats in the House of Representatives and four to five seats in the Senate in 2018. Democrats have been openly optimistic about winning the 24 seats they…
“Sometimes when I try to understand a person’s motives, I play a little game … What’s the worst reason they could possibly have for saying what they say and doing what they do?… How well does that reason explain what they say and what they do?” – Lord Petyr Baelish, Game of Thrones After watching…
San Diego County is in the midst of a Hepatitis A outbreak. It started in November of 2016, and as of Tuesday accounted for 333 cases, 232 hospitalizations and 11 deaths. For a county of 3.3 million that may not sound like much, but it should give us pause. We have the tools and information…
Last summer, I had numerous conversations about the continued relevance of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Marriage equality was the law of the land, Obama administration policies were advancing equality in the workplace and schools and Justice Merrick Garland would soon solidify a progressive Supreme Court majority. With President-presumed Hillary Rodham Clinton running on an…
On Monday, Sens. Mike Lee and Jerry Moran went on record as the third and fourth votes against the Senate’s latest version of Obamacare, denying Republicans the 50 votes they needed to proceed and effectively killing the bill. By Tuesday morning, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced he would introduce the repeal bill passed by the…
In 2010, the Tea Party used congressional recesses to hammer members of Congress on the evils of “Obamacare.” Though it eventually passed, energized activists carried Republicans to sweeping victories in the midterm elections, and have kept repeal (and replace?) at the forefront of conservative politics ever since. Having ridden the same wave to become majority…
