AlterNet.org: Coverage Areas

Thomas Frank Talks to Joshua Holland About the 'Hard-Times Swindle' and the Unlikely Comeback of the Right

Editorial Staff, AlterNet — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:00:01 PST

Frank talks about Communism, the Tea Party and his new book, "Pity the Billionaire."

How Conservative Elites Stoke Racist Anxieties to Gain Power and Split Blacks and Whites

Chauncey DeVega, AlterNet — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:00:01 PST

Conservatives have created a story of white victimhood, because it is easier than critically engaging the real problems facing America.

Are Conservatives More Fearful Than Liberals?

Emily Badger, Miller-McCune.com — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:00:01 PST

The GOP seems to understand a psychological phenomenon that researchers are studying: conservatives appear to be motivated by fear in a way that liberals are not.

Black Power Mixtape: The Civil Rights Battle Ignored by the U.S. Media

Roger Catlin, Salon — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:00:01 PST

The documentary "Black Power Mixtape" tells a counter-history of the 1960s, through the eyes of foreign journalists.

Fighting Banks, Helping 100s of Families: 'Occupy Our Homes' Is One of the Occupy Movement's Great Success Stories

Amy Dean, TruthOut.org — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:00:01 PST

Occupy Our Homes takes the Occupy movement's general critique of inequality -- something often expressed in abstract charts and tables -- and makes the issue concrete.

5 Important Lessons from the Komen/Planned Parenthood Fiasco (Don't Mess With Women's Health)

Lauren Kelley, AlterNet — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:01 PST

The big win here is that an anti-choice power play failed in the court of public opinion.

Why Young People Are Fleeing Conservative Evangelicalism

Eleanor J. Bader, RH Reality Check — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:00:01 PST

Some leave because they oppose the church's doctrinal stance. Others are turned off by its hostility to science. Others reject the limitations placed on sex.

5 Signs the Christian Right Still Wields Too Much Power in America

Peter Montgomery, AlterNet — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:00:01 PST

This political and cultural movement will not be sinking beneath the horizon anytime soon -- despite media reports to the contrary.

Why You Don't Need God to be Good: the Rise of Atheist Charities

Alex DiBranco, AlterNet — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:00:01 PST

Charitable organizations geared towards non-believers are growing.

Robert Greenwald and Reporter Michael Hastings Take on the Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War Machine

Robert Greenwald, AlterNet — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:00:01 PST

Hastings, in his hard-hitting new book, discusses "politically correct imperialism," why the military is obsessed with its legacy, and why we're stuck in post-9/11 thinking.

Shocker: Is Our World Becoming Less Violent?

Joshua Holland, AlterNet — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:00:01 PST

Many believe the 20th century represents the pinnacle of human violence, but psychologist Steven Pinker argues that the opposite is true.

Bill Clinton's Unreality: Tinkering With Unpassable Ideas, when Transformation is What We Need

Dave Johnson, AlterNet — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:00:01 PST

Clinton's prescription offers incremental change, at exactly the time so many are realizing that we need need transformational change.

How the GOP Is Resegregating the South

Ari Berman, The Nation — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:01 PST

Republicansâ€”to protect and expand their gains from 2010â€” are diluting the minority vote in swing districts held by white Democrats.

7 Privacy Threats the Constitution Can't Protect You Against

Tana Ganeva, AlterNet — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:01 PST

When it comes to a spate of new technologies, our privacy protections are wildly outdated.

New York Muslims Fight Back Against Police Department's Institutionalized Paranoia About Islam

Alex Kane, AlterNet — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:01 PST

Muslim community leaders say Islamophobia is deep-seated in the New York Police Department.

Has the Market Rejected the Religious Right's Hateful Social Agenda?

Tina Dupuy, AlterNet — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:01 PST

It's clear from advertising that the market does not favor the GOP's social agenda.

The 5 Most Offensive Celebrity Endorsements

Lauren Kelley, AlterNet — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:01 PST

Celebrities really should have turned down these endorsements, for our sake and theirs.

Paula Deen: Populist Cook or Diabetic Scam Artist?

Lynn Parramore, AlterNet — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:01 PST

Tradition doesn't need to be thrown out, but adapted as we learn about the body and adjust ourselves to the more sedentary ways of modern life.

The 10 Most Seductive Drugs -- And Their Fascinating History

Jacqueline Detwiler, The Fix — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:00:01 PST

A brief journey through time, from ancient Sumeria to modern New Jersey, uncovers the mysterious origins of the world's most beloved substances.

Why is the Obama Administration Suddenly Fixated on Stomping out Medical Pot?

Paul Armentano, AlterNet — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:00:01 PST

At the same time public support for marijuana legalization reached record highs, Obama shifted from one time medicinal cannabis sympathizer to White House weed-whacker.

Amend the State Constitution, Legalize Pot? How Advocates in Montana are Sticking it to the Feds and Local Republicans

Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:01 PST

Provoked by federal raids and Republican attempts to eradicate medical pot, activists are rolling out a campaign for a constitutional amendment to legalize pot in Big Sky County.

Runaway Greed Is Destroying America: Should There Be a Lid on How Much Someone Can Make?

Sam Pizzigati, AlterNet — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:00:01 PST

Today we take the idea of a minimum wage for granted. Who knows what tomorrow may bring?

Wired Magazine's Embarrassing Whitewash of Apple's Electronics Supplier Foxconn

Yves Smith, Naked Capitalism — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:00:01 PST

An attempt to assuage the guilt of gadget-owners over Foxconn's suicide-inducing work conditions does not pass the smell test.

Charles Murray's New Book 'Coming Apart' Shamelessly Blames the Victims of Our Economic Collapse

June Carbone, Naomi Cahn, AlterNet — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:00:01 PST

The self-appointed moral Czar condemns working people for lack of character while ignoring economic realities.

Will the Young Rise Up and Fight Their Indentured Servitude to the Student Loan Industry?

Bruce E. Levine, AlterNet — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:00:01 PST

The solution to class exploitation and abuse is always the same: Get conscious, get angry, get energized, and get organized.

Why Is Public Education Being Outsourced to Online Charter Schools?

Rania Khalek, AlterNet — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:00:01 PST

Virtual charter schools are educating kids on computer screens, instead of in classrooms.

IQ Blackout: Why Did Studying Intelligence Become Taboo?

Anneli Rufus, AlterNet — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:00:01 PDT

Somewhere along the way, the very idea of intelligence became politicized. An IQ blackout descended.

Obama Campaign Copies Gingrich -- Decries Then Embraces Super-PACs

Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:01 PST

The 2012 money race is on, with both sides looking to secretive groups to fuel their ad wars.

How a Few Ãœber-Wealthy Donors Helped Buy Republicans a Presidential Field They Hate

Joshua Holland, AlterNet — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:01 PST

In the era of Citizens United, early money from deep-pocketed donors played a major role in shaping the GOP field.

Why the Right Wing Is Petrified of Letting Voters, Instead of the Electoral College, Pick Presidents

Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:01 PST

A movement to reform the Electoral College and elect the president based on the national popular vote has half the states it needs.

5 Amazing Places in the US in Danger of Being Destroyed by Dirty Energy

Erik Loomis, AlterNet — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:01 PST

We've won a temporary reprieve from the Keystone XL Pipeline, but there are still places greatly at risk in the country.

One of Congress's Most Damaging (and Racist) Budget Cuts That Flew Under the Radar

Peter Montague, Maria B. Pellerano, AlterNet — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:00:01 PST

The fund for lead-poisoning prevention was almost entirely eliminated. And here's why this is such a big deal.

Profiting From Catastrophe: If Fossil Fuel Companies Burn All Their Reserves We're Undeniably Screwed

Bill McKibben, TomDispatch.com — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:00:01 PST

Here are the facts: The business models at the center of our economy are in the deepest possible conflict with physics and chemistry.

Should Sugar Be Regulated Like a Controlled Substance? Why Some Folks Are Saying Yes

Ari LeVaux, AlterNet — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:00:01 PST

An opinion piece in the journal Nature suggests ways the government could regulate added sugar, including a sugar tax, distribution controls and age limits.

I'm on Food Stamps: My Shame and Pride in Signing up for the Most Stigmatized Benefit

Christopher D. Cook, Salon — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:01 PST

I call myself frayed white collar -- part of the privileged poor. I'm a semi-accomplished, mid-career journalist and writer, but now I'm hurtling precipitously toward poverty.

The Dark Side of Chocolate: What Our Love Affair With Cocoa Means for the World

Ari LeVaux, AlterNet — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:01 PST

In addition to labor issues, chocolate plantations can be responsible for deforestation. But it can also be empowering to farmers and relatively healthy for the environment.

Knocked Up: Republican Presidential Candidates' Plan for American Women

Adele M. Stan, AlterNet — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:00:01 PST

Birth control is under attack by all of the candidates competing for the Republican presidential nomination.

Son of New York Police Commissioner Accused of Rape, Media Smears Alleged Victim

Mary Elizabeth Williams, Salon — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:00:01 PST

A prominent New York TV anchor is accused of rape -- but the tabloids smear the accuser. What's so dismaying about the coverage is how pathetically typical it is.

The Invisible War of Military Women

Holly Kearl, Ms. Blog — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:00:01 PST

A new documentary called The Invisible War reveals the heart-breaking truth about sexual assault in the military.

More and More States Introduce Costly Anti-Immigration Bills

Seth Hoy, Immigration Impact — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:00:01 PST

Despite the devastating consequences of state immigration laws in Alabama and Arizona, legislators in other states have introduced similar enforcement bills this year.

After Nevada Caucus, Democrats and Republicans Bet on the Latino Vote in November

Maribel Hastings, Huffington Post — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:01 PST

Republicans bet that Obama's failure to pass immigration reform will cut his Latino votes, while Democrats bet that Republican anti-immigrant rhetoric will work in his favor.

Civil Rights Groups Call on Alabama Automakers to Oppose Harsh Anti-Immigration Legislation

Elena Shore, New America Media — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:01 PST

Civil rights groups are turning to a new potential ally in the fight against Alabamaâ€™s harsh immigration law: the stateâ€™s top automakers.

Thanks to Citizens United, Multinational Mega Lobbyist Firm Salivates Over $4 Billion in Campaign Cash

Lee Fang, AlterNet — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:00:01 PST

The WPP Group is perhaps the most important lobbying corporation you've never heard of.

How Pay-Pal Squeezes Merchants with Unfair and Likely Illegal Business Practices

Simon Waxman, AlterNet — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:00:01 PST

A class-action suit charges Pay-Pal with some shady practices that leave small businesses in a jam.

How Bank of America Covered Up Fraud by Silencing Whistleblowers

Michael Hudson, IWatch News — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:00:01 PDT

Countrywide made life hard for an internal investigator, and a court ruled that when BofA took over, she was illegally fired in retaliation.

Join Us: AlterNet Expands its Coverage of Labor and Workers' Rights

Don Hazen, AlterNet — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:01 PST

Conservatives' anti-worker crusade will not go unchallenged. We're ratcheting up our worker coverage by establishing a unique Labor special coverage area.

Crashing the Gates: How a Handful of Progressive Activists Brought Liberal Talk-Radio Back to the Nation's Capitol

Joshua Holland, AlterNet — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:01 PST

DC is the most liberal region of the country, but until now all the talk on the radio dial skewed right.

Major Media Blackout to Protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)

Amy Goodman, Democracy Now! — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:00:01 PST

Here's what you need to know about two controversial internet anti-piracy bills moving through Congress and the massive backlash against them.

Are You Being Tracked? 8 Ways Your Privacy Is Being Eroded Online and Off

David Rosen, AlterNet — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:00:01 PST

A series of ongoing battles delineate the boundary of what, in the digital age, is personal, private life and information.

Obamaâ€™s Unprecedented War on Whistleblowers

Peter Van Buren, TomDispatch.com — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:00:01 PST

From Manning to Kiriakou, critics are aggressively targeted as the White House turns a blind eye to abuses.

The New Culture War: How Right-Wing Politicos Scare Their Constituents to Death

Ira Chernus, AlterNet — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:01 PST

The old culture wars are quieter these days, but the right still conjures up an endless array of enemies.

Is Mitt Romney's Candidacy Part of 'The Eternal Plan' of the Mormon Church?

Sally Denton, Salon — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:00:01 PST

The seeds of Romney's unique brand of conservatism were sown in the secretive, acquisitive, patriarchal, authoritarian religious empire.

What Progressive Criticisms of Anarchists in Occupy Don't Understand: A Response to Chris Hedges

Susie Cagle, TruthOut.org — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:00:01 PST

Chris Hedges' "Black Bloc" takedown is only the most recent in a series of critiques bashing anarchists within the national Occupy movement. Here's why they're not helpful.

Black Bloc: The Cancer in Occupy

Chris Hedges, Truthdig — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:00:01 PST

Black Bloc adherents detest those of us on the organized left and seek, quite consciously, to take away our tools of empowerment.

Why #OWS Needs to Denounce Violent Tactics on Display at Occupy Oakland

Tina Dupuy, AlterNet — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:00:01 PST

Occupy is not an armed conflict â€“ it's a PR war. And images of violence undermine the movement.

The Fascinating Scientific Reason Why "Money Doesn't Buy Happiness"

David McRaney, You Are Not So Smart — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:01 PST

No matter how you turn it, research says once your basic needs are taken care of, money and other rewards donâ€™t make you happier.

Should You Give Up Yoga? Experts Respond to the New York Times' "Yoga-Can-Wreck-You" Controversy

Alison Pace, AlterNet — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:00:01 PST

Experts debate whether yoga is really good for you.

4 Creepy Ways Big Pharma Peddles its Drugs

Martha Rosenberg, AlterNet — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:00:01 PST

Big Pharma uses ads that sow hypochondria, raise health fears and sell diseases to adults and their children.

Ellen Stands Up to Right-Wing Gay Bashing Group

Mary Elizabeth Williams, Salon — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:01 PST

"One Million Moms" is angry JC Penny is sticking by Ellen, their spokesperson. Ellen had some choice words for them in return.

The Making of Gay Marriage's Top Foe: How Maggie Gallagher's College Pregnancy Made Her a Traditional Marriage Zealot

Mark Oppenheimer, Salon — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:01 PST

Maggie Gallagher has devoted herself to stopping same-sex marriage.

Sex Therapist Shares the Secret to Hot Sex (Hint: It Has More to Do With the Mind Than the Body)

Tracy Clark-Flory, Salon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:01 PST

Sex therapist Marty Klein's message is antithetical to the sex advice found everywhere from self-help books to the supermarket checkout line.

America Has Woken Up to the Reality: Inequality Matters

Bill Moyers, Michael Winship, BillMoyers.com — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:00:01 PST

While police have cleared many Occupy encampments, a collective cry, loud and clear, has gone up from countless voices across the country: Enough's enough.

How Can You Have a Tea Party If You Won't Share the Pie?

Kerry Trueman, AlterNet — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:00:01 PDT

"You know what's really dragging our country down? The Tea Party's selfish, misanthropic mindset."

Thousands Rally in New York for Showdown with Wall St.

Alexander Zaitchik, AlterNet — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:01 PDT

Over 10,000 protesters gathered in New York's financial district to demand financial reform.

Will Obama's New "Made In America" Ideas Be Enough To Bring Our Jobs Back?

Scott Paul, AlterNet — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:01 PST

Obama's latest ideas for kick-starting American manufacturing are a good start, but there's plenty more we can be doing.

Why Going 'Back To Normal' Is No Longer An Option for the American Economy -- And Where We're Headed Now

Sara Robinson, AlterNet — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:00:01 PST

Stop waiting around, because "normal" as we know it isn't coming back.

New Rules for Radicals: 10 Ways To Spark Change in a Post-Occupy World

Sara Robinson, AlterNet — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:01 PST

The world is changing quickly, and we need to help steer it according to our shared values -- our vision of what might be.

Was Lou Gehrig's ALS Caused by Drinking Water?

Wendee Holtcamp, Miller-McCune Magazine — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:01 PST

A toxic molecule found in pond scum may trigger neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Parkinson's. A group of scientists could hold the key to a cure.

3 Ways Laws Are Stacked to Favor Fracking Companies -- And How We Can Change That

Peter Montague, AlterNet — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:00:01 PST

The U.S. legal system is strongly biased in favor of economic growth, even if it harms human health and the environment.

One More Day to Act: Gas Drilling May Begin in New York Soon

Sabrina Artel, AlterNet — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:00:01 PST

It's down to the final wire for public comments on the proposed regulations to allow for industrial gas drilling and fracking in New York.

New Evidence Reveals U.S. Has Used Drones to Target Rescue Workers and Funerals in Pakistan

Amy Goodman, Democracy Now! — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:00:01 PST

A report found that since President Obama took office between 282 and 535 civilians have been reported as killed in Pakistan, including more than 60 children.

Why Closure of the Strait of Hormuz Could Ignite a War and a Global Depression

Michael T. Klare, TomDispatch.com — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:00:01 PST

The Strait of Hormuz--through which one-fifth the planet's oil supply travels--is suddenly the site of tensions between the US and Iran.

Could Ecuador Be the Most Radical and Exciting Place on Earth?

Jayati Ghosh, Comment Is Free — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:00:01 PST

A decade ago, Ecuador was a banana republic, an economic basket case. Today, it has much to teach the rest of the world.