How we know journalism is good for democracy

“When respondents have the least information, candidates of color—particularly Black candidates—are disadvantaged, among respondents across party, ideological, and racial attitude lines.”  #Media [Link]

American Democracy doesn’t need saving — it needs creating

“But when we shift our perspective and begin to see our task as creating and cultivating democracy, more accessible and meaningful options become available to ordinary people and the institutions that represent them and are meant to serve them.”  #Democracy [Link]

State of the nation

My colleagues at The 19th just launched our first nationwide poll: In the weeks leading up to the 2022 midterm elections, The 19th and SurveyMonkey teamed up to conduct a poll to find out what women, particularly women of color, and LGBTQ+ people think about politics, politicians and policy. It’

Lindsey Graham's national abortion ban has exceptions that won't work, experts say

“But exceptions for the life of the pregnant person are notoriously difficult to receive; physicians have said the requirement of providing abortions only in an emergency can force them to wait until a patient is in dire condition before providing them needed care. And the rape and incest exceptions written

It's hard to imagine better social media alternatives, but Scuttlebutt shows change is possible

“Because it’s not a company, Scuttlebutt doesn’t need to make a profit. There is no persuasive design trying to keep you hooked, no advertising, and it doesn’t collect, process or sell users’ personal data. Instead, data are stored and controlled on users’ own devices.”  #Technology [Link]

Quality Is Systemic

“If your team is producing defective code, consider that it may not be because they all suck at their jobs. It’s probably because the environment isn’t allowing them to produce quality software.”  #Technology [Link]

Patagonia Founder Gives Away the Company to Fight Climate Change

“Rather than selling the company or taking it public, Mr. Chouinard, his wife and two adult children have transferred their ownership of Patagonia, valued at about $3 billion, to a specially designed trust and a nonprofit organization. They were created to preserve the company’s independence and ensure that all

The Reactionary Geeks Are Mad About 'Rings of Power'

“The refrain “Go woke, go broke” offers a tidy summary of this argument, wokeness gone mad being a useful euphemism for a demand like “resegregate popular entertainment,” which might turn people off.”  #Culture [Link]

U.S. Approval of Labor Unions at Highest Point Since 1965

This feels like a sign of progress to me (and also a sign that ordinary workers need help).  #Society [Link]

Welcome to the new Verge

“We also thought about where we came from and how we built The Verge into what it is today. And we landed on: well shit, we just need to blog more.” Love.   #Media [Link]

Launch House, a tech startup incubator, sold entrepreneurs on the promise of community

This is a cult.   #Technology [Link]

The world is not designed for equitable parenting

So far, I’ve been the primary nappy-changer in my child’s world. That’s not virtue signaling or trying to make a point: it simply seems fair that, given that I’m biologically incapable of breastfeeding or carrying a child to term, I help out where I can.