Op-Ed

December 1, 2023 – In response to news that Israel and Hamas resumed fighting, IfNotNow national spokesperson Eva Borgwardt released the following statement: We’re deeply dismayed to see that, just hours after Secretary Blinken met with political leaders in the region, Israel and Hamas have reignited a war that has already cost over 1,200 Israeli […]

November 20, 2023 – Many Americans are unhappy about the likely 2024 choice being offered them for president – Joe Biden versus Donald Trump. But two third party alternatives surfaced recently: Jill Stein of the Green Party and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who appears to be seeking the “No Labels Party” nomination. They join […]

November 14, 2023 – For the last two years, the debate on the economy has centered around inflation. After reaching a 40-year high last summer, inflation as measured by economists is now approaching normal levels. But despite the rapid slowdown, millions still feel squeezed by a decades-long affordability crisis. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans struggled […]

November 8, 2023 – Hear it? What’s that sound? “Whoop-whoop-whoop.” It’s Washington’s revolving door, allowing corporate interests to come directly inside Congress to pervert public policy. That door is now spinning fast, because there’s a new boss operator in Congress. He’s Mike Johnson, who was recently unanimously chosen by Republicans to be their Speaker of […]

On Saturday, Hamas committed a shocking crime whose horrifying dimensions are slowly becoming clear. Hundreds of Palestinian militants entered Israeli territory and opened fire indiscriminately, killing hundreds of civilians and injuring thousands. They burned down homes with the occupants inside and kidnapped more than 100 people – including children, women and elderly people – to […]

WASHINGTON (September 8, 2023) — Today, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) released the Global Stocktake synthesis report, which offers the most comprehensive overview of climate action since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015, as well as a roadmap for governments moving forward. The first of its kind, the UNFCCC report […]

August 14, 2023 – The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law a year ago this week. It is widely seen as the crown jewel of the “industrial policy” agenda of the Biden administration. While no piece of legislation is perfect, the full potential of the IRA to deliver a radically better future is […]

July 27, 2023 – As John Mellencamp sings: “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” True. And here’s an equally true twist on that aphorism: “If you stand for everything, you won’t amount to anything.” In a remarkable achievement, a newly formed political organization calling itself “No Labels” has managed to fall […]

Voters and politicians are reshaping America’s marijuana laws for the better. The possession and use of cannabis is now legal for medical purposes in 38 states and legal for adult recreational use in 23 of those.  Unfortunately, antiquated and discriminatory drug testing policies often haven’t kept up with these changes. It’s reasonable for employers to expect sobriety on […]

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Opill, a progestin-only birth control pill, for over-the-counter use for people of all ages. Opill will be the first birth control pill offered over-the-counter in the U.S. In May, an FDA advisory committee unanimously recommended the birth control pill be made available without a […]

July 5, 2023 – “The greatest statement of equality is in the Declaration of Independence, written by a slaveholder.”—Ruth Bader Ginsburg This quote by the late Supreme Court justice should inspire us to critically examine the notions of independence, freedom and equality this week and every week.  This is the second Fourth of July since Roe v. […]

Americans United for Separation of Church and State President and CEO Rachel Laser issued the following statement in response to today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis:  “In America, everyone should have equal access to goods and services, regardless of who they love, who they are, how they worship, or what they […]

June 29, 2023 – When you think of Americans whose music has made a lasting difference, you might think of Scott Joplin, Woody Guthrie, Maybelle Carter, Harry Belafonte … or Roger Payne. Who? I came across Payne in a June obituary reporting that he’d died at age 88.  Yes, I occasionally scan the obits, not out […]

June 29, 2023 – In response to the Supreme Court ruling striking down affirmative action on college campuses, the Center for Constitutional Rights issued the following statement: This loss, while devastating, is unsurprising. The Roberts Court has arguably been the most hostile to racial justice and Black civil rights since the post-Reconstruction Plessy Court, which […]

June 27, 2023 – You’re read­ing The Brief­ing, Michael Wald­­­­­man’s weekly news­­­­­­­­­let­ter. Click here to receive it every week in your inbox. Sanity prevailed today at the U.S. Supreme Court. In Moore v. Harper, six justices issued a near total rejection of the “independent state legislature theory” — a bogus and ahistorical reading of the Constitution that would have […]

June 22, 2023 – Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade one year ago, abortion has been banned or is unavailable in 14 states and many others have enacted restrictions. Beyond even the loss of access to abortion care, these new laws have had a wide range of negative impacts on obstetric and gynecological care. Pregnant […]

June 12, 2023 – United States Congress members are introducing legislation today to help address the longstanding problem of child labor on US farms. Their move, on World Day Against Child Labor, comes as the US grapples with a rise in child labor. I’ve interviewed many children involved in hazardous child labor on US farms over the last […]

Washington D.C. May 30, 2023— Following weeks of negotiations to avoid reaching the debt “ceiling” of federal spending, US leaders released a debt ceiling bill on Sunday that majorly limits environmental and social programs and fast-tracks the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.  Jeff Ordower, 350.org’s North America Director, responded: This debt ceiling bill is […]

May 9, 2023 – “He raped me whether I screamed or not.” So testified E. Jean Carroll in the civil case she has filed against Donald Trump for defamation and battery about why she didn’t cry out while being raped by him.  What Carroll and others may not realize is that the “cry out” rule […]

May 9, 2023 – Recent reports indicate that the debt limit “X-date” could come as early as June 1. On this X-date, the U.S. Treasury will no longer have enough cash in its accounts at the Federal Reserve to meet all the legal spending obligations legislated by Congress. These obligations include paying holders of U.S. Treasury […]