By Brad Swanson: Prominent historian Nancy MacLean warned Wednesday night that America faces an “existential threat to democracy” from a secretive plan by right wing plutocrats led by Charles Koch to subvert our political institutions and undo a century of…
Category: Issues
Sex trafficking: a mother’s story
By Wallicia Gill and Brad Swanson: Part II of a three-part special report on teen sex trafficking in northern Virginia. Part I gave background on the problem. Read it here. Janet B. has lived through a nightmare that no parent…
It’s all business in Wexton-Comstock debate
By Stephanie Witt Sedgwick: State Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-33) faced off against Rep. Barbara Comstock (R- 10) on Sept. 21 for the Congressional candidates’ only debate so far in the campaign. In a discussion restricted to business issues, Wexton attacked…
Early Voting increases Democratic votes – and you can help
By Todd Thurwachter: Early voting is key to maximizing Democratic turnout nationwide because many of our voters can’t easily vote on election day. But Virginia doesn’t have early voting – at least not technically. To vote early, Virginians must first…
Kaine, Stewart on opposite sides on climate change
By Karen Kirk: Virginia’s candidates for U.S. Senate Tim Kaine and Republican Corey Stewart have different takes on climate change: Sen. Kaine believes that human activity is causing significant climate change and we have an obligation to do something about…
Fairfax Democrats explore racism within their party
By Brad Swanson: Fairfax Democrats looked inward on Wednesday night – and were not too happy with what they saw. About 60 members of the Fairfax Democratic Committee (FCDC) attended a Racial Equity Workshop and most gave their party low…
Climate crisis draws Kaine and Stewart to a public forum on Tue Sept 18
The climate crisis is bringing together Sen. Tim Kaine and his Republican rival for the Senate, Corey Stewart, for a discussion on climate change — with a focus on Virginia — on Tues. Sept. 18 in Vienna, Va. The Virginia…
Emerge is changing the face of politics in Virginia
By Jessica Swanson: A training program for Democratic women preparing to run for office is making a big impact in northern Virginia. As of now, there are at least seven elected officials in Fairfax County who are alumnae of the…
Prize-winning author presents radical right’s plan to steal democracy on Oct 3
By Brad Swanson: Celebrated author Nancy MacLean visits our region on Wed. Oct. 3 for a free presentation on her prize-winning book “Democracy in Chains:The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America ” . MacLean’s book has won prestigious awards…
Judge blocks Trump punch at federal workers — but appeal likely
By Sheldon Friedman: A district court judge has blocked, for now, a gut-punch delivered by the Trump administration to federal workers in the form of a trio of harsh executive orders (read them here, here and here). These executive orders…
Virginia could be the 38th state to ratify the ERA
By Susan Laume: Virginia’s vote could be the last state vote needed to allow the United States Congress to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which would become the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. VAratifyERA Sunday — Women’s Equality Day…
Fairfax Democrats prepare to challenge themselves on race
By Sean Perryman: Following the election of Donald Trump, the Democratic Party at both the local and national level continues to grapple with race and the role it should or shouldn’t play in its platform and organizing. In that vein,…
Suffragist memorial in Fairfax County halfway to funding goal
By Diane Weeks: A new memorial in southern Fairfax County celebrating the courage of suffragists under brutal treatment by prison guards at Occoquan Workhouse (later known as Lorton Reformatory) is halfway to its funding goal, and on track for completion…
ICE has no place in Fairfax County public schools, says school board member
By Karen Keys-Gamarra: No parent should ever have to fear that sending a child to school is risking immigration enforcement. In fact, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency better known as ICE, has no place in Fairfax County public…