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.
German city builds sleeping pods to shelter homeless people from the cold
In the German city of Ulm, 75 miles west of Munich, people who don’t have a roof over their head can now benefit from a thoughtful initiative — the installation of a series of pods around the city for homeless people to be able to sleep in. Called Ulmer Nests, the sleeping pods are made of Read More...
The public now has a direct say on climate matters in Washington state
Oftentimes it feels like regular citizens have little to no say in national or state-level politics. That’s why we’re excited to share news out of Washington state where a new assembly is being formed that will allow 80 randomly-selected members of the public to have a direct say on climate Read More...
How the US Treasury can promote a greener economic future
As the new U.S. Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen will have to navigate the US economy not only through the devastation of the pandemic, but also towards a more sustainable future. Rachel Kyte, Dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University and former World Bank vice president, has shared key areas Read More...
Empty retail space could be the solution to California’s housing crisis
According to the California Housing Partnership, the golden state needs at least 1.3 million affordable housing units to truly begin to address the mounting housing crisis. Many lawmakers and activists see California’s underused big box stores and strip malls as a solution to this problem and Read More...
US to rejoin Paris climate accord
In a victory for climate activists and environmental action, the United States has committed to rejoining the 2015 Paris climate accord. Although this is the easiest step in a long road of climate action ahead, the re-entry demonstrates to the US and the world that climate change is once again a Read More...
US court strikes down coal-friendly climate rule just before inauguration
In 2019, the administration of the (now former) President of the United States attempted to relax restrictions on power plant greenhouse emissions. In a move that could only harm the environment, the administration’s EPA lawyers filed a lawsuit that argued that the federal government does not Read More...
Dr. Rachel Levine will be first openly transgender health secretary
Dr. Rachel Levine, the current secretary of health in Pennsylvania, is leading the fight against Covid-19 in the state. She will take on an even bigger public health leadership role and break down barriers as the newly-nominated assistant secretary for the Department of Health and Human Read More...
Why West Virginia’s nursing home vaccine rollout has been so successful
As particularly vulnerable hot spots for covid-19, nursing homes have been prioritized to receive the vaccine, but most states fell short of their goal to vaccinate nursing home residents by Christmas. One outlier, however, is West Virginia. On December 30, the state celebrated the completion of Read More...
Ivory Coast designates first-ever marine sanctuary
Grand-Bereby is a tiny western town on the Ivory Coast home to mangroves, reefs, and important nesting grounds for sea turtles. It is also home to the Ivory Coast’s first-ever marine protected area. The 1,000 square mile area is the first of five that the Ivory Coast government has Read More...
New River Gorge, West Virginia becomes America’s newest national park
As a part of the Covid-19 relief bill that was passed on Dec. 27, lawmakers have created the first national park in the state of West Virginia. New River Gorge, which is located in Fayetteville, has officially changed from a national river to a national park, becoming the nation’s 63rd national Read More...