The 2018 elections will shape our politics until 2032. Since the election of #NotMyPresident Trump, we have seen a huge wave of activism on the Left. Groups like Indivisible, SwingLeft, Flippable, and too many others to name have popped up. Citizens are calling Members of Congress in unprecedented levels, shutting down the Capitol switchboard. The ACLU raised five times its annual budget in one weekend. Everyone is asking, What Can I Do?
The problem is, what we’re doing feels insufficient. We are so desperate to take action, so desperate to right the wrongs happening every day, that we waste time sending postcards to Paul Ryan in a futile effort to be heard.
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I have spent the past week talking to friends, colleagues, donors, and progressive activists about where we go as a party and a movement. To my delight (and, I must admit, surprise) not one person said, I’m done. Across the board, people are ready to re-commit themselves to our progressive values.
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I've become a Podcast devotee. I can quietly listen to something without that little screen serving as a Mom and baby distraction.
There are several new political podcasts. Here are a few I recommend:
- Off Message: Glenn Thrush of Politico does excellent long-form interviews with key political figures.
- Keepin' it 1600: Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer, Obama White House alums (and former colleagues of mine on the Kerry campaign) offer funny insights into the week's news.
- The Axe Files with David Axelrod: President Obama's former right-hand strategist interviews politicos and other prominent leaders.
- Politico's 2016 Nerdcast: Not as informative as I had hoped but some good analysis.
- The Pollsters: Bi-partisan duo Margie Omero and Kristen Soltis Anderson discuss new polling in politics, business, pop culture, and the like. Funny and informative on a wonky topic.
- The West Wing Weekly: a new-ish podcast devoted to re-capping episodes of The West Wing with former castmate Joshua Malina and superfan Hrishikesh Hirway; often has other cast members and writers featured.
In all the debate and hoopla over playing the women's card and voting for Hillary because she's a woman, it's easy to lose sight of key down-ballot races.
I'm fortunate to work with Electing Women Silicon Valley, part of the Electing Women Alliance. In 2016, we're focused on electing more women to the U.S. Senate. There are an unprecendented number of qualified women running this cycle -- 10 total -- representing some of the most competitive races in the country. Many are also women of color. EMILY's List and others also work to raise money for these incredible candidates.
Below are some additional articles:
There's a fascinating new study from NextGenDonors about Millennial donors. It highlights preferences for giving as well as differences between those who created vs. inherited their wealth. As young people inherit $40 trillion in wealth and continue to become the next generation of self-made millionaires, understanding their unique characteristics becomes increasingly important.
This article, with insights from the Women's Philanthropy Institute, is of particular interest to me, given my work with Progressive Women Silicon Valley, a political giving circle.
A key takeaway: "Pockets of very powerful women at the community and grassroots level are forming their own giving circles, their own collective giving models, their own modes of engaging in philanthropy, to make powerful changes in their own communities and across the globe," said Mesch.
