Category: Uncategorized
-
20 Things You Can Do to Throw Sand in the Gears
As the authoritarian regime continues its march to undermine constitutional democracy, it is clear that only through solidarity and action can we have a hope of retaining the American way of life. We need to get off the sidelines and take action. Writing in postwar Germany in 1951, poet Günter Eich wrote a 5-play cycle,…
-
The Impotence of Norms
There was a time when shame played an important role in public life. It kept the system intact. A leader might lie or spew hate, but not without cost. The collective would respond. A rebuke, a cold shoulder, a quiet, forced resignation. Shame had teeth. It made norms real. That time has passed. Today, to…
-
The Quiet Yes
I have been thinking about the quiet yes. This week, I faced choices that tested me. There were challenges. At such times I have learned to strive for acceptance. The universe is inexorable, and fighting it can lead to despair. Over and over, life has taught me: acceptance is the key. But there is a…
-
Understood the Assignment: Challenge Accepted
The New York Times reports that the Trump administration, in its effort to purge the federal government of anything that might be seen as “woke,” has issued a list of problematic terms to avoid. I thought I might try to use them all. The administration may not like this piece. Democracy is Inclusive Democracy is…
-
Welcome to The Stakes
Over the past few months I have had the honor of hosting a number of interviews for the Kettering Foundation with high-profile newsmakers where we talk about an important and timely aspect of inclusive democracy. I’m happy to announce that we have named this series The Stakes and collected them all at our website. We…
-
The Power of Daily
Since May 4, I have been practicing yoga every day without fail. A longtime yoga practitioner (I started in 2010), I’ve pursued a very wide variety of approaches to fitness and wellness — but I always come back to yoga because it makes me feel amazing, clear, and present. I have always gone through more…
-
Luttig and Katyal: Trump v. US Unconstitutional
I have had the honor over the past few months to do a number of interviews with newsmakers on key topics in democracy (Ilyse Hogue on the Supreme Court and abortion; Christine Todd Whitman on the rule of law). Most recently, I featured Kettering senior fellows Neal Katyal and Judge J. Michael Luttig talking about…
-
Sharon L. Davies at the Emerging Issues Conference: Bending the Moral Arc
I have the privilege of working closely with the president and CEO of the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, Sharon L. Davies. In office since April 2022, she has shown herself to be a force of nature. As moderator of our recent Emerging Issues Conference in Washington, DC, I sat with her to ask her a…
-
Promoted at the Kettering Foundation
I am honored and delighted to report that I have been promoted at the Kettering Foundation, to the newly-created role of Director of External Affairs and DC Operations. This move is part of a larger set of promotions along with good colleagues and friends: Paloma Dallas is Senior Program Officer for International Programs; Joni Doherty…
Brad Rourke 