Politics
Having a difficult time finding positive news about national and global politics? Search no further! From public policy to positive leadership to democracy efforts, find the latest good news stories in the world of politics at The Optimist Daily.
More US states and cities are boosting minimum wages in 2026. What does it mean for workers?
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As the federal minimum wage remains frozen at $7.25 an hour, unchanged since 2009, cities and states across the United States are taking matters into their own hands. In 2026, 88 jurisdictions will raise their minimum wage rates, offering millions of workers Read More...
Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation regains ancestral lands near Yosemite in major cultural restoration
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Nearly 900 acres of ancestral territory have been officially returned to the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, marking a major milestone in Indigenous land restoration efforts in California. The property, which borders Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Read More...
India’s social experiment: how paying women directly reshapes welfare, autonomy, & politics
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Across India, millions of women now receive a modest but unwavering deposit each month into their bank accounts. The money is not tied to a job, a poverty line, or a performance requirement. It arrives because state governments have decided that women’s Read More...
EU greenlights 100 hydrogen projects in major energy transformation plan
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a sweeping move to modernize its energy infrastructure and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, the European Union approved 100 cross-border hydrogen and electrolyzer initiatives, laying the groundwork for one of the continent’s most ambitious green energy Read More...
Australia’s bold move to ban kids under 16 from social media sparks important global debate
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Starting this week, on December 10th, Australia will become the first country to ban all children under 16 from having social media accounts. This is meant to be a sweeping law that covers TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Threads, and other Read More...
Europe's low-carbon future: Denmark’s North Sea oil field is now a carbon storage site
Once a symbol of fossil fuel extraction, the remote Nini oil field in the North Sea is preparing for a new role: storing millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide beneath the ocean floor. Chemical giant INEOS, through its Greensand Future project, is preparing to launch what will become the European Read More...
Not all marine parks protect sharks. Here’s what works (and what doesn’t)
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The global push to safeguard oceans is gaining momentum. With the United Nations’ target of protecting thirty percent of the seas by 2030, marine protected areas (MPAs) are being established at a record pace. But a new study from the eastern tropical Read More...
Italy officially recognizes femicide as a crime punishable by life in prison
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a powerful and symbolic move, Italy’s parliament passed a historic law that formally recognizes femicide as a distinct criminal offense. The law, approved on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, imposes life sentences for Read More...
Brazil expands Indigenous territories as COP30 protests spotlight the stakes
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Brazil, a country at the heart of the world’s climate future, has taken a major step by creating 10 newly recognized Indigenous territories. The announcement came at a moment of heightened emotions and protests both inside and outside the COP30 conference, Read More...
Scotland lays out new road map to reach net zero by 2045
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Scotland took its next step toward reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, releasing a sweeping draft climate action plan that outlines how the country intends to reduce emissions across transportation, energy, agriculture, and land use over the Read More...