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.
Proposed California bill would make cosmetic products safer for all
We are all in the market for clean beauty products free of harmful or toxic chemicals, but with mile long ingredient lists and complicated names, it can be hard to navigate choosing safe options. Fortunately, new legislation could make beauty products safer for all. The California assembly has Read More...
Colorado passes statewide police reforms
Earlier this week, we discussed police reforms taking place in cities like San Francisco, and even on the federal level. This past Saturday, the state of Colorado passed one of the most comprehensive police reform bills in the country. The bill, which Gov. Jared Polis has said he will sign Read More...
San Francisco police won't send officers to respond to non-criminal calls
Cities across the US are finally seeing some tangible police reform and defunding changes. San Francisco is joining the movement with their recent announcement that police officers will be replaced with trained, unarmed professionals to respond to calls for help on non-criminal matters involving Read More...
Three times more voters turned out for Georgia’s primary in 2020 than in 2016
Georgia’s primary elections made headlines last week for all the wrong reasons. However, despite long lines, lack of ballots, and voting machine malfunctions, three times as many votes were cast compared to the 2016 presidential primary. As of last Friday, 91 percent of votes were in for a Read More...
Landmark US Supreme Court ruling protects LGBTQ+ workers
In 1964, the Civil Rights Act outlawed workplace discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or national origin. Yesterday, the US Supreme Court upheld and added to that declaration with a landmark ruling that employers cannot discriminate against employees based on sexual orientation or Read More...
Online shopping for food assistance programs can improve health equity
Online grocery orders have spiked during the pandemic, but for those who rely on food stamps and assistance programs, online shopping hasn’t really been an option. Fortunately, late last month, California’s food stamps program, CalFresh, began allowing beneficiaries to buy groceries online at Read More...
Eliminating this federal program is key to demilitarizing the police
In 2014, the ACLU reported that police departments in Arizona had collectively amassed a military arsenal that included: 712 rifles, 64 armored vehicles, 42 forced-entry tools, 32 bomb suits, 704 night-vision items, 830 units of surveillance equipment, and, in at least one department, “a .50 Read More...
Global study estimates COVID-19 shutdowns prevented millions of new cases
Earlier this week we shared a story about a new study detailing how Europe's rapid lockdowns helped prevent millions of deaths. Zooming out of Europe, an even bigger study now shows us just how necessary and effective global shutdowns were and still are in saving lives. The new study, published Read More...
Democrats introduce sweeping federal police reform bill
After two weeks of protests for racial justice, the movement seems to be taking hold in governments of cities such as Minneapolis and Los Angeles where propositions for police defunding and stricter police regulation are gaining momentum. Earlier this week, Democrats in Congress took action and Read More...
Check out these posters to imagine alternatives to heavy policing
If you experience intimate partner violence, your only option for immediate help may be to call the police, even though an arrest may not do enough to get you out of your dangerous situation and keep you safe in the future. What if instead you could text a number and meet with a trauma-informed Read More...