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.
San Francisco police won't send officers to respond to non-criminal calls
Cities across the US are finally seeing some tangible police reform and defunding changes. San Francisco is joining the movement with their recent announcement that police officers will be replaced with trained, unarmed professionals to respond to calls for help on non-criminal matters involving Read More...
Three times more voters turned out for Georgia’s primary in 2020 than in 2016
Georgia’s primary elections made headlines last week for all the wrong reasons. However, despite long lines, lack of ballots, and voting machine malfunctions, three times as many votes were cast compared to the 2016 presidential primary. As of last Friday, 91 percent of votes were in for a Read More...
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...