America is in the middle of a contentious debate about race. What constitutes necessary reform in policing, and can it be achieved? How much do new voting laws disadvantage people of color? Is the Republican Party of Donald Trump too willing to play the race card? Is the Democratic Party […] Read more »
Have Democrats reached the limits of White appeasement politics?
There is a flip side to the White grievance of the right — and it’s one of the most important but under-discussed aspects of American politics. … The Democratic Party, to its credit, has remained committed to civil rights. It wants to be aligned with people of color. But Democrats […] Read more »
Why voters rejected plans to replace the Minneapolis Police Department – and what’s next for policing reform
Precincts around where George Floyd was killed voted in favor of disbanding the Minneapolis Police Department. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Michelle S. Phelps, University of Minnesota Voters in Minneapolis rejected a measure that would have transformed the city’s policing 18 months after the killing of George Floyd thrust the city into […] Read more »
The Powerful G.O.P. Strategy Democrats Must Counter if They Want to Win
The Virginia election results should shock Democrats into confronting the powerful role that racially coded attacks play in American politics. No candidate would think of entering an election without a winning message on the economy or health care. Yet by failing to counter his opponent’s racial dog whistles, Terry McAuliffe […] Read more »
Who Will Show Up To Vote Next Year?
One significant piece of conventional wisdom that got turned on its head in 2020 was that higher turnout — especially among voters of color in states like Texas, Floria and Nevada — would solely benefit Democrats. Instead, many of these new voters, often younger and not typically engaged in politics, […] Read more »
Racing Apart: Partisan Shifts on Racial Attitudes Over the Last Decade
… The 2020 election took place amid a remarkable shift in attitudes about issues related to racial, ethnic, religious, and national identities. After decades of relative stasis in racial attitudes, Democrats and independents became dramatically more liberal on these issues. This leftward shift was already underway as of the 2016 […] Read more »