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.
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...
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...