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.
This program is focused on improving 911 responses to mental health issues
All too often, emergency calls related to issues of mental health are inadequately addressed by the police, instead of a specialized social care worker. But in Dallas, that’s not necessarily always the case. If you call 911 in certain neighborhoods in Dallas, a licensed specialist at the Read More...
Newark’s peaceful protests offer hope and an example of strong leadership
This past weekend our Emissaries received our Optimist View: Why civil disobedience and ahimsa (nonviolence) triumph in the face of injustice. After sharing some of the philosophies and leaders of nonviolent activism, today we focus on Newark, a city that is serving as a nonviolent beacon of hope Read More...
Minneapolis to disband its police force and adopt community safety model
These days, we find ourselves writing stories that would have been unthinkable just weeks ago. Yesterday we published a groundbreaking story out of Los Angeles where Mayor Eric Garcetti recently announced that he was defunding the police department. By defunding the police, what is really meant is Read More...
Singapore joins New Zealand in openly considering a four-day work week
Just a couple weeks ago, we shared a story coming out of New Zealand after prime minister Jacinda Ardern had suggested shifting the country to a four-day working week after the pandemic. The idea was that it would help employees address persistent work/life balance issues, while encouraging more Read More...
These countries are using COVID-19 to tackle climate change
Although COVID-19 shut downs gave the environment a brief respite from emissions and pollution, the fight against climate change is far from resolved. As we move forward and begin to reopen our economies, we look at case studies in South Korea, France, and Italy where policy makers are taking Read More...
Ferguson, MO elects first African American and first female mayor
Six years after the shooting of Michael Brown by police which sparked protests and solidified the Black Lives Matter movement, Ferguson, Missouri has elected its first black mayor. Ella Jones took 54 percent of the vote this Tuesday and is also the first woman to hold the office. Jones has Read More...
Thought leader series: Why good leaders make us feel safe
Think about a leader you admire. Maybe it’s a teacher, a manager, or your local political representative. Why do you like them? Why do they inspire confidence? As part of our new thought leader series, The Optimist Daily founding impact investor, Rinaldo Brutoco, launches into what makes a Read More...
Period poverty: New Zealand to provide free sanitary products to schools
Period poverty is a term that describes where girls or women are unable to afford or access sufficient menstrual hygiene products. It is often seen as a problem confined to developing countries, but several studies have exposed that period poverty impacts millions of people in the world's Read More...
Why one California city is extending their UBI experiment
In the winter of 2018, the city of Stockton, California chose 125 residents to receive a basic income of $500 a month. The experiment is part of the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) program designed to measure the effects of universal basic income (UBI). We shared an article Read More...
Answers to commonly asked questions about rights of protestors
The First Amendment guarantees the right of all Americans to protest peacefully, but many of us still have questions about what our specific rights are at these protests. If you plan on taking part in protests, here are some most common questions answered by Timothy Zick, a professor of Government Read More...