Luke Baker

In a world in which global opinion reigns, public diplomacy rooted in nationalism and propaganda will not save us from pressing crises.

Climate change is an existential crisis. If Americans cut just one hamburger from their diet every week, it would be like taking 10 million cars off the road every year. After cutting energy use, less meat and more plant-based food add up to the easiest--and healthiest--way to reduce your carbon footprint. From the land and water needed to raise feed and the methane produced at the end of digestion, “Cattle are actually mini fossil-fuel, greenhouse gas producers.” So says Sujatha Bergen, head of health campaigns at the NRDC. As her title suggests, eliminating beef from your diet--in addition to pork and lamb-- is also better for you. She explains the trade-offs for helping to reduce climate change and says, “Starting with your fork is much less daunting for many people.”

When Gavin Newsom signed AB387 into law today, he ended 16 years of unsuccessful attempts by daycare providers statewide to unionize.

The House of Representatives appears to be moving toward impeachment of President Trump.

Despite mounting evidence, Republicans in the House and the Senate are defending President Trump or keeping their heads down. Veteran GOP conservatives accuse them of sacrificing morality for short-term political gain. Meantime the Trump Administration calls the impeachment inquiry “unconstitutional,” while legal scholars point out that it’s part of Article II. And how did Ukraine, an obscure former Soviet republic, become so important? Money.

Democrat Monique Limon announced she will run for Hannah Beth Jackson’s coveted state senate seat.

In 1950, America had the richest middle class in the world, but now U.S. workers face wage stagnation and historic wealth inequality.

The two international giants are linked in inextricable ways, and yet Americans’ understanding of China consistently lacks nuance.

What did President Trump do this time?