How a simple electoral reform can make debates tolerable and productive — Debates are important. From election-winning one-liners to campaign-ending gaffes, debates can be turning points for candidates and they have decisively shape our political history. Many of us can recall, “Where’s the beef?” …

The 18 charts that show why you should vote Democrat — “a division of the republic into two great parties … is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil.” — John Adams It’s the ultimate question, right? Modern American political dialogue fundamentally boils down into one binary decision: whether to vote for Democrats or Republicans. We know it shouldn’t be…

Democracy isn’t radical. It’s our right. — The Difference a Vote Can Make The winner of 2018’s Macon County, IL Sheriff race got 19,655 votes. The loser? 19,654. One vote, or just 0.0051% of voters, separated glorious victory from humiliating defeat. A few days before, and a few miles east in Champaign County, my cold fingers were covered in blue ink from newly-printed…

Environmentalists are split on whether to capitalize on the moment. — Cowritten by Ben Chapman and Charlee Thompson Dolphins are frolicking off the shores of Venice. Swans are surfing on Italian canals. And elephants are getting drunk in Chinese tea gardens. Chances are, you’ve heard one of these uplifting stories of wildlife gleefully adjusting to a less human-dominated world. They offer…

I organized with Pete Buttigieg’s Iowa campaign. Here’s what we did. — I’m writing this introduction from the corner of a coffee shop called The Rustic Brew in Hampton, Iowa. If you’re ever in Hampton, as unlikely as that will ever be, The Rustic Brew is worth a stop. With its modest storefront that belies a comfortable interior square footage, it’s a…

The call for a better primary process is roused again — 14 states vote on Super Tuesday. 1,357 delegates are awarded based on the persuasion of those voters. The results of Super Tuesday set the stage for the final length of the primary and often give a strong hint of who will continue to the November contest. Ranked choice voting would…

What we’re giving up for Bloomberg’s vanity campaign — Mike Bloomberg is rich. Very rich. He’s not “well off,” or “upper class.” He’s not euphemism rich. He’s rich rich. Forbes estimates his worth at $64 billion, giving him a slot in the top 10 richest people alive. His wealth is something most Americans can’t fathom. …

Harris supporters and endorsers will likely flow to Warren — For a struggling Warren, Senator Kamala Harris’ departure from the 2020 field offers some much needed good news. Data shows that Harris supporters will likely find a new home in the Warren camp. In one of the most interesting polls of 2020, voters were given the opportunity to rank candidates…

Data sheds light on how ranked choice voting would change 2020 — In a YouGov poll running from September 2nd to 6th, Democrats were permitted to rank their favorite 2020 Presidential candidates in order of preference. This marks one of the first instances of ranked choice voting being used in a poll for President, hinting at increased momentum for the reform. …