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.
We could eradicate malaria by 2050, but it will take three crucial steps
Mosquitos can be a pesky summertime problem, but for countries who have not eradicated malaria, they can be more than an itchy nuisance - they can be deadly. The good news: according to the Lancet Commission on malaria eradication, we have the technology required to eradicate the disease, and if we Read More...
Yesterday was National Voter Registration Day, are you registered to vote?
Yesterday we shared a story about how college voter turnout doubled between 2014 and 2018, but in light of yesterday’s National Voter Registration Day, we are here to remind you that everyone’s voice should be heard on election day! Voter Registration Day was established in 2012 to encourage Read More...
Climate change could push Florida to vote against climate deniers in 2020
With climate change coming to the forefront of political movements, cities such as New York and Atlantic City, which are highly vulnerable to climate change, may see the issue transforming their statewide politics. Number two on the list of cities most vulnerable to climate change is Miami. In Read More...
Doubled voter turnout rates show college students are ready for political change
If you have been on Facebook lately, you have likely seen the platform’s voter registration initiative. Theirs is not alone, many programs, especially on college campuses, have been urging young voters to register. And it's working. According to the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education at Read More...
Setting half the earth aside for nature? More than half say YES!
Protected natural spaces serve as animal sanctuaries, places of research, and great family vacation destinations. These spaces offer the unique experience of viewing nature in its undisturbed state, but how much of our planet should we set aside as protected natural spaces? Biologist E.O. Wilson Read More...
Little Rock, Arkansas is giving its homeless people a chance to earn a buck
In Little Rock, Arkansas vagrants are given the chance to work their way out of poverty through an initiative that pays them to pick up litter. Dubbed Bridge to Work, the program has been paying vagrants $9.25 an hour – two bucks more than the federal minimum wage – for keeping the city’s Read More...
Landmark CA bill drives home more benefits for Uber and other gig workers
Uber and Lyft employees used to have to work 50 hour work weeks to make a livable wage as independent contractors. This week, with the passing of senate bill AB 5, these workers will get fairer labor conditions and even healthcare coverage. The bill requires companies to hire these workers as Read More...
Ireland will ditch single-use plastics to tackle its heavy pollution problem
Plastic plates and food containers could become a thing of the past for Irish people, as the country’s government announced recently that it plans to ban single-use plastics in an effort to reduce the amount of waste in its landfills. The nation’s Minister for Communications, Climate Read More...
25k Protestors Demand Change from Automakers in Frankfurt
Protests alone don't create solutions. Protests with highly organized, coordinated efforts, with effective demands and a message clearly delivered can be the start of something good. That's exactly what happened at Frankfurt's International Motor Show (IAA). In a coordinated effort to demand an Read More...
Americans waking up to the seriousness of climate crisis, a new poll shows
In a new poll conducted by CBS News, two-thirds of Americans agree that climate change is either a crisis or a serious problem. More than half of those surveyed also said they wanted immediate action to deal with the effects of this climate change. This is big news, because although the rest Read More...