Stay Informed

There are many excellent news sources covering the state of our democracy and of the world. This is not a complete list, but these are sources that some members of ICO recommend. The list is divided into sections for YouTube/Podcasts, Substacks/Newsletters, Non-Partisan News Aggregators, Readings, and Other Websites.

YouTube/Podcasts:

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (insights into how Congress works behind the scenes)

• James Talarico (Texas State Rep who discusses White Christian Nationalism)

• Meidas Touch Network (independent pro-democracy news network)

• Legal AF (Michael Popok, legal commentary on Meidas Touch Network)

• Brian Tyler Cohen (progressive political commentary)

  • Democracy Watch w/ Marc Elias, top voting rights lawyer and Democracy Docket founder

  • The Legal Breakdown w/Glenn Kirschner, former federal prosecutor

• Justice Matters (Glenn Kirschner, analysis and insight into legal issues of the day)

• The Bulwark (Tim Miller, a never-Trump Republican, and others providing political commentary)

• The Politics Girl (political commentary and analysis)

• Luke Beasley (snide and humorous political commentary)

• Tennessee Brando (commentary from a rural POV, part of the Midas Touch Network)

• Crooked Media (multiple podcasts and activism opportunities from former Obama staffers)

• Mr. Global (oil and gas expert with insight into global affairs)

  Substack/Newsletters:

• Democracy Docket (Marc Elias, top voting rights lawyer and Democracy Docket founder)

• Letters from an American (Heather Cox Richardson, historian)

• The Bulwark (pro-democracy posts from Sara Longwell, pollster, and others)

• The Contrarian (Jen Rubin & Norm Eisen, journalism in defense of democracy)

• Democracy Defender (anonymous federal employee writing about what public servants are doing to save democracy)

• Grassroots Connector (reporting on innovative grassroots projects and the latest research on voter contact strategies)

• Chop Wood, Carry Water (Jess Craven, with easy, effective political actions to take to stave off despair)

  Non-Partisan News Aggregators:

• Ground News (shows how different media are reacting to news events and stories)

• Straight Arrow News (SAN) (“fact-based reporting and hearing from both sides”)

  Readings:

• Indivisible, a Practical Guide to Democracy on the Brink

• Pranksters vs. Autocrats: Why Dilemma Actions Advance Nonviolent Activism

  Other Websites:

• Alt National Park Service on BlueSky, Facebook, and Instagram (park service employees discussing environmental issues and protecting public lands)

• Center for Constitutional Rights (dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the Constitution)

• How to Vet Companies' Political Leanings (Google Doc)

• Websites for Fact Checking

• Daily Kos (news and commentary devoted to electing more and better Democrats)

• The Brennan Center (crafts innovative policies and fights for them in Congress and the courts)

• Ohio Capital Journal (local nonprofit news organization)