Cultivate opinions. From authentic voices. With some shelf life.
Belgian Awful
The latest European terrorist attacks redefined nuclear security.
A Greener Leap Year
Try to devote a few of those bonus hours in 2016 to picturing life after fossil fuels.
Scalias Ghost Cant Save Oil, Gas, and Coal
The Clean Power Plan probably got a reprieve when the arch-conservative jurist died.
Natural Gas Becomes a Fracking Mess
The Porter Ranch disaster may erase the industrys undeserved reputation as a clean energy source.
Drowning the Oil Industry
The Iranian gusher means prices wont rebound anytime soon.
Slurp, Baby, Slurp
Donald Trump is pandering to Iowa voters and the ethanol industry.
Obama Takes a Walk on the Greener Side
As Nevada short-circuits its solar boom, the White House gets more committed to renewable energy.
We Shouldnt Take Their Oil
Donald Trumps slippery slogan is delusional.
Enstrictly Speaking, 2016 Could Be a Trailrazer
Trumpalist isnt a word, at least not yet.
A Green and Dirty Gift
The GOP-led Congress rushed to help the Obama administration meet U.S. commitments under the Paris climate deal.
Dont Be a Fossil-Foolish Investor
The purely financial case for ditching oil, gas, and coal is getting stronger.
A Big Fat Radioactive Lie
Billionaires are hyping nuclear power as a magic cure for climate change.
Why Justin Trudeau Makes Me Jealous of Canada
The new prime minister is championing inclusivity and tolerance.
John Kiriakou Wins Big Honor
Hell receive the 2015 PEN Center USA First Amendment award on November 16.
Who Can Follow This Climate Leader?
President Obama rejected the Keystone XL pipeline while backing increased oil, gas, and coal production.
Big Oil Cant Go On Like This
The industry is scaling back to keep investors happy.
Trying a Fossil Fiend
Villains like former coal CEO Don Blankenship make it easier to get riled up over climate change.
The Great Pumpkin Shortage Is Coming
Spooky weather patterns are disrupting specialty crops.
Will This Documentary Change Everything?
The new film's creators aim to spark conversations about global warming.
Francis Gets Served the House Specialty
Lawmakers passed an anti-environmental bill right after the pope urged Congress to protect nature.
The GOP’s Cant-Do Attitude
Refusing to address climate change could drown Florida.
The Insult Generator
Donald Trump ought to give a Jewish custom a shot.
Hurricane Francis
The Peoples Pope will shake up Washington before addressing the UN General Assembly and meeting with prisoners.
Greening Americas Energy Workforce
The solar and wind industries are generating new jobs as fossil fuel companies fire thousands of workers.
Byline Inequality Matters
The editorial service I run has gotten less male but remains too pale.
The Drill Is Gone
GOP hopefuls are paying close attention to energy policy even if theyre mum about it.
A Driving Force
Electric vehicles are on the verge of disrupting energy markets.
Dont Get Burned by Coals Demise
Everyone, including pension fund managers, must dump their holdings in the bedeviled industry.
A Slick Maneuver
The Iran deal could trigger an end to restrictions on U.S. crude oil exports.
Lighting a Legal Fuse
People from Seattle to Fiji are filing lawsuits over global warming.
Losing Their Grip
The Supreme Courts affirmation of the right to marry and its rainbow-striped afterglow unleashed conservative tantrums.
How Would Francis Invest?
Heed the popes call to tread more lightly upon the Earth by making your money fossil-free.
Taking Our Sweet Crude Time
World leaders are resolving to stop cooking the planet after theyre dead.
A Green-Energy Founding Father
Scott Sklar fights for independence from fossil fuels by being whimsical and wonky.
Faking It While the World Burns
Words alone wont hinder climate change.
A Fossil-Fueled Fantasy
Coal-burning power plants that capture carbon arent worth the expense.
Virginia Is for Dirty-Energy Lovers
Dominion is skimping on solar and wind as it aims to build a fracked-gas pipeline and another nuclear reactor.
Converting the Fossil-Fuel Fundamentalists
Pope Francis is redefining the ongoing transition to greener energy as a moral and spiritual obligation.
Coals Collateral Damage
The industry is still wrecking the Appalachians as it withers.
The Divestment Dividend
Investors who refuse to put their money into oil, gas, and coal may reap financial gains for doing the right thing.
Its Not Easy for Obama to Prove Hes Green
Hillary Clinton would probably stick with his counterproductive energy policies.
Blowing Past Political Turbulence
Dawdling lawmakers wont snuff out the wind industrys growth.
Talk Climate to Me
Florida Governor Rick Scotts henchmen punish staffers who utter the words climate change.
Edisons Bright Idea
The inventor wished the sun could power his inventions.
World Capital of Weather Wimps
When the going gets cold, make the most of it.
Going off the Rails
Theres no safe way to haul oil by the trainload.
King Coal Catches Black Lung
Companies large and small are hurtling toward bankruptcy.
Green Believers
Dumping fossil fuels requires scrapping outdated opinions about renewable energy.
A Sweet Spot
Chocolate is a food group in my home.
Fudging the Future
How could oil experts miss the crude crash?
Obama Tips His Hat to FDR
He has nothing to fear.
Pipeline to Nowhere
Cheap oil is bankrupting the financial rationale for building the Keystone XL.
Tilting at Turbines
Market forces are sparking solar and wind energy growth.
Washington’s Slow-Motion Thaw
I reported on the imminent normalization of U.S. relations with Cuba 20 years ago.
A Lump of Coal for Fossil Fuels
Plunging oil, gas, and coal stocks make it a fine time to divest.
These Boots Were Made for Waiting
Delay and denial are standard operating procedures when it comes to how the government cares for vets.
Too Big to Ignore
The gap between rich and poor has grown so vast that even Fed chief Janet Yellen suggests its un-American.
The Fracking Rush Hits a Pothole
Oil and natural gas gluts are driving prices so low that drill-baby-drillers may have to hit the brakes.
Cashing In on the ISIS Crisis
No matter how pointless these wars prove, Americas military-industrial complex makes a killing.
Blocking the Vote
Lackluster Democratic campaigns, coupled with vote-suppressing maneuvers, gave the GOP its edge.
The Unbearable Politeness of Being Gus Speth
Environmentalists have excelled at building big green groups while failing to protect the planet.
Driving Government Out of Business
If the Republicans gain a Senate majority, they'll try to topple these four pillars of public service.
Paying for Cheap Chocolate
Upgrading Halloween treats might take a bite out of child labor.
Here Come the Rain and Drought
Many coastal regions must start bracing for frequent floods as key freshwater sources are drying up elsewhere.
The Not-So-Good News about the Border Crisis
The Obama administration is making it harder for Central Americans to get refugee status.
Snooping on Everyone While the Big Box Thieves Get Busy
Congress is still dragging its feet on fixes more than a year after Edward Snowden's alarming revelations first came to light.
Forcing an Island of Peace to Host a Billion-Dollar Military Base
Uncle Sam is wrecking a great deal of South Korea's top tourist destination.
A Simpler Solution to Climate Change
Naomi Klein wants everyone to join forces and just pull the plug on oil, gas, and coal.
Bombing at a Press Conference Beats Mindlessly Flexing Military Might
The hottest conflicts raging at the moment defy easy answers.
Greasing the Path to Military Intervention
As the Kurds have learned, oil can instantly heal longstanding rifts.
Solar Power Gets Hot, Hot, Hot
It's hard to rig the rules against increasingly competitive green energy options.
The Class War Goes Retail
Why does Wall Street tank on news portending economic gains for most Americans?
Hard Times Too Pervasive for Republicans to Ignore
The down and out just popped up on the conservative radar screen.
Hillary Clinton’s Real Scandal Is Honduras, Not Benghazi
Her Central American foreign policy blunder ought to darken her presidential prospects.
The End of Pot Prohibition As We Know It
Without federal leadership, you can count on marijuana legalization to keep spreading one state at a time.
A Deluded Consensus on Discrimination
Cliven Bundy and Donald Sterling made it clear that bigotry still flourishes.
Brazilian Order and Progress
The World Cup host country now has a more level playing field.
Hamster-Wheel Economics 101
Given the bleak outlook, it's a relief to see growing momentum for raising the minimum wage to livable levels.
Recipe for Ripoffs
Deals that amount to NAFTA on steroids benefit corporations and hurt the rest of us.
Forging a Secret Legacy
Barack Obama's government is either the most tightlipped since Nixon or ever.
A Gust of Nuclear-Powered Hot Air
As prospects for building new reactors grow dimmer, the industry is posing as a climate solution.
Saved by Swing
There's no way I could sit out Frankie Manning's centennial.
Rowing Hard against the Tide Can’t Get You There from Here
Reproductive rights foes are winning plenty of battles but losing the war over American opinion.
Devaluing Work and Workers
While the rich are getting richer, the rest of us are falling further behind.
Brown’s Bittersweet Legacy
Public schools are more segregated today than they've been since 1968.
Paying for the Climate Change Pivot
The Pentagon needs to put its money where its mouth is.
Death by Stalling
The aid-in-dying movement is slowly gaining traction.
Behind the GOP’s Unhealthy Attack
Could those taxes on the richest Americans that are helping to pay for the Affordable Care Act be fueling this madness?
Good News and Bad News about News
Business is better but some coverage is too skimpy.
Washington Gives Peace a Chance
The Crimea crisis offers President Obama a chance to retroactively earn his Nobel Peace Prize.
A Recipe for Better Disaster Movies
Keeping track of all the latest chemical spills and other devastating events is impossible.
The Rigged Housing Market
The homeownership rate is declining while rents rise and hedge funds snap up thousands of foreclosed homes.
The War on Veterans
Congress and the White House are much better at starting wars than cleaning up after them.
The Way Forward: Tax and Spend
This strategy would reduce joblessness and inequality while stimulating the economy.
Reading the Tea Leaves on Iran
Americans are sick of war and ready to move on.
The Ultimate Captive Market
We'd all save a bundle with real sentencing reform.
The Unaffordable WeDon’tCare Act
The GOP's belated solution to the nation's health insurance challenges just makes working families pay more.
Short-Circuiting the Future
Fracking is a bridge to nowhere.
Obama’s Taxing Problem
If everyone paid their fair share there would be plenty of cash to go around.
The Clear and Present Danger of Pentagon Contractors
The military's yes-sir culture serves the needs of deep-pocketed and wasteful companies.
The War on Ourselves
Since when do sheriffs get to choose which laws to enforce?
Winning and Losing the ‘Great Game’ at the Same Time
China is content to let the United States spend itself into military-induced bankruptcy as the Soviets did.
Every Step You Take
Our emails are being tapped, our phone messages tracked, our cell phone locations mapped, and our license plates photographed.
Marriage Equality Hits Critical Mass
Already, 38 percent of Americans reside in a state that grants gays the freedom to marry or recognizes the validity of gay marriages conducted elsewhere in the nation.
Just Say No to the Drug War
This boondoggle won't die quickly or quietly.
A Better Grip on Climate Change
There's plenty that you can do about it.
Upgrading Our Clunker Economy
With the traditional highway to success down to two lanes, it's time for some innovation.
Why Politicians Shouldn’t Fear Getting an F from the NRA
Only a third of U.S. households possess guns, down from 50 percent four decades ago.
Food Stamp Cuts Will Stoke Hunger
Demand for SNAP benefits won't retreat until the economic recovery stops benefitting only the richest Americans
Every Day is May Day at McDonald’s
Abusing workers hurts the economy.
Charting a Better Path for Our Public Schools
Even middle-class students no longer get a fair shot at a solid education.
How to Honor the March on Washington’s Legacy (or Not)
There's a big disparity between which communities have or lack health insurance coverage.
Forging Ahead at 50
Not every think tank could weather FBI infiltration, scapegoating by right-wing extremists, and even a car-bomb assassination.
Haiti’s Hard Place
Foreign-funded mining operations may not be enough to alleviate the scourges of cholera, displaced people, and corrupt leaders.
The Nuclear Industry’s Meltdown
The former chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission says every single reactor in the nation should be shut down, starting with the riskiest.
Unfit to Print
Suddenly, all self-respecting billionaires need to own at least one newspaper.
Just Follow the Oil
Washington's fuss over Iran has more to do with its natural gas and oil reserves than anything else.
Muslims Aren’t Cornering the Terrorism Market
What do you call the people responsible for the disasters in Texas and Bangladesh?
Syrian Dead End
How can the United States afford to keep proving that it's bad at bringing peace to conflict-ridden Middle Eastern countries?
Fair Elections, RIP
The Supreme Court's Shelby ruling aids a Republican plan to win more elections without winning support from more voters.
Locking Up Our Future
The logical fix would require putting more money and effort into securing jobs, transitional housing, and drug treatment for ex-offenders.
Egging On North Korea
The saber-rattling is mutual.
Cleaning Up Our Portfolios
A new movement is putting pressure on people and institutions to dump their investments in dirty energy companies.
Our Stake in Guatemala’s Genocide Trial
Thirty years after Ros Montt's atrocities, U.S. military policy in Latin America remains a human rights disaster.
The Pot Prohibition Runs Its Course
Now that most Americans support the legalization of marijuana, some Republicans back the right of states to stop banning it.
Under-Taxing the Rich Is Uncivilized
We all pay for those cuts down the road.
The Military-Industrial Threat to the Nation’s Well-Being
It's time for some serious spring cleaning at the Pentagon.
Stalling the Incomplete Recovery
Sequestration is likely to throw many lives off course, but it may also mark the beginning of the end of the bloated Pentagon budget.
What Post-Racial America?
It will take more than President Barack Obama's tenure to vanquish American prejudice and racial injustice.
Uttering the G Word
Conservatives will miss gay-bashing as an electoral strategy.
7 Progressive Steps Obama Should Take in His Second Term
This cheat sheet will come in handy in case he wants to get back in touch with his inner anti-war community organizer.
The Public School Business
High-stakes testing and charters won't fix what's wrong with America's educational system.
Donald Kaul Un-Retires Again
I won't be writing regularly but I intend to fire off a volley on an issue of the day from time to time.
Dodging the Fiscal Swindle
With a little creativity, we can easily balance the budget without cutting Social Security.
Letters to the Editor: Readers Respond to Donald Kaul’s Departure, Part IV
Yet more of the columnist's devoted readers urge him to write again when his health improves.
Just Don’t Say Climate Change
Global warming can't be legislated away.
Labor Day Special: Week of August 27-September 2, 2012
This week, OtherWords is featuring a wide range of commentaries addressing worker rights.
The Lineup: Week of August 20-26, 2012
Sam Pizzigati and Scott Klinger explain how American taxpayers are subsidizing runaway CEO pay.
The Lineup: Week of August 13-19, 2012
Robert G. Gard, a retired lieutenant general, urges Congress to take action to avoid the upcoming "fiscal cliff."
The Lineup: Week of August 6-12, 2012
Jim Hightower describes Wall Street's latest efforts to extract the earnings of college grads.
Letters to the Editor: Readers Respond to Kaul’s Departure, Part III
Readers from Wisconsin, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, California, Maine, Michigan, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Washington state, Arizona, Missouri --and of course Iowa--urge Don to write again when he recovers.
Washington’s Democratic Double-Standard
Uncle Sam isn't making much fuss over Latin America's law-breaking lawmakers.
The Lineup: Week of July 30-August 5, 2012
This week's OtherWords editorial package features Sam Pizzigati's first column.
Letters to the Editor: Readers Respond to Kaul’s Departure, Part II
The columnist's devoted readers describe his impact on their lives and urge him to write again when his health improves.
Letters to the Editor: Readers Respond to Kaul’s Departure
We've heard from dozens of readers as far away as Poland but hundreds of emails were probably lost.
The Lineup: Week of July 23-29, 2012
Donald Kaul explains his indefinite hiatus in his own words.
Donald Kaul’s Breather
With all that ink running in his veins, no stupid heart attack could interfere with a deadline.
The Lineup: Week of July 16-22, 2012
Donald Kaul weighs in on New York City's pending ban on supersized drinks.
The Lineup: Week of July 9-15, 2012
Daphne Wysham says Washington's recent storm and heat wave underscored the need for wiser energy choices.
The Lineup: Week of July 2-8, 2012
Stacy Mitchell explains why no one should cheer Walmart's 50th anniversary -- aside from Sam Walton's billionaire heirs.
The Lineup: Week of June 25-July 1, 2012
William Barclay explains why we need a Robin Hood tax on financial transactions.
The Lineup: Week of June 18-24, 2012
Matias Ramos weighs in on President Obama's new immigration policy.
The Lineup: Week of June 11-17, 2012
Robin Broad and John Cavanagh explain why a Canadian company's lawsuit against the government of El Salvador threatens democracy everywhere.
Letter from the Editor: Kaul’s Colson Column
His take on the Nixon aide who became a conservative Christian leader after serving time generated many letters to the editor.
Focus on Food: Week of June 4-10, 2012
This week's OtherWords editorial package tackles several challenging food issues.
The Lineup: Week of May 28-June 3, 2012
Salvatore Babones calls for a flat tax on Social Security that would enable the government to make the payroll tax cut permanent.
The Lineup: Week of May 21-27, 2012
Margot McMillen explains why the opposition to a new kind of genetically engineered corn is growing as fast as the hardy superweeds it's supposed to destroy.
The Lineup: Week of May 14-20, 2012
Sam Pizzigati puts Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin's discarded U.S. citizenship into context.
The Lineup: Week of May 7-13, 2012
Sarah Anderson underscores the dangers posed by Wall Street's lightning-speed computerized trading.
The Lineup: Week of April 30-May 6, 2012
Emira Woods puts Charles Taylor's war crimes in Liberia and Sierra Leone into context.
The Lineup: Week of April 23-29, 2012
Jamin Raskin explains why Romney's choice of Robert Bork as a top advisor is troubling.
The Lineup: Week of April 16-22, 2012
Donald Kaul connects the racist dots linking the Supreme Court's strip-search ruling and the Trayvon Martin case.
The Great White Mancave
A study of three prominent op-ed sections highlights their byline diversity problem and the conservative tilt of the nation's top columnists.
The Lineup: Week of April 9-15, 2012
In this Tax Day special, Matias Ramos explains how immigrants face taxation without representation.
The Lineup: Week of April 2-8, 2012
Chuck Collins explains what's behind the "99 percent spring."
The Lineup: Week of March 26-April 1, 2012
Salvatore Babones debunks Rep. Paul Ryan's Medicare concerns
The Lineup: Week of March 19-25, 2012
Jim Hightower lauds the residents of Keene, New Hampshire who don't want their town to get its own tank.
The Lineup: Week of March 12-18, 2012
Martha Burk weighs in on Rush Limbaugh's ill-timed attack on Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke and its aftermath.
The Lineup: Week of March 5-11, 2012
Jim Cason says that Washington's new reliance on drone warfare is too dangerous.
Corporations Commit Atrocities, My Friend
The Supreme Court is weighing a case with major ramifications for corporate accountability.
The Lineup: Week of Feb. 27-March 4, 2012
John Feffer predicts that many political candidates will resort to anti-Islamic rhetoric between now and Election Day.
Somebody vs. Someone Else vs. Obama
Two months into 2012, the presidential race is unusually unpredictable.
The Lineup: Week of Feb. 20-26, 2012
Raul A. Reyes points out the dangers of "self-deportation," Mitt Romney's plan for resolving the nation's immigration challenges.
The Lineup: Week of Feb. 13-19, 2012
Bartlett Naylor calls on the government to fulfill a commitment to curb reckless behavior on Wall Street.
Kaul’s New Super PAC Draws Donor
This bazzilionaire, alas, only has her golden sense of humor to offer.
The Lineup: Week of Feb. 6-12, 2012
Tiffany Williams reality-checks "The Help."
Karen Dolan Weighs in on Romney’s Latest Gaffe
The "ample safety net" that Mitt referenced during an interview with CNN's Soledad O'Brien would be shredded if his policies were to be enacted.
The Lineup: Week of Jan. 30-Feb. 5, 2012
Donald Kaul unveils his new Super PAC in this campaign finance special edition.
The Lineup: Week of Jan. 23-29, 2012
Donald Kaul explains why it was hard to notice the official end of the Iraq War.
The Lineup: Week of Jan. 16-22, 2012
Andrew Korfhage underscores the dangers of natural-gas fracking following Ohio's recent spate of earthquakes.
The Lineup: Week of Jan. 9-15, 2012
Marc Morial offers his top 10 wishes for 2012.
The Lineup: Week of Jan. 2-8, 2012
Raul A. Reyes explains why Gov. Robert Bentley is considering changes to Alabama's draconian immigration law.
The Lineup: Week of Dec. 26, 2011- Jan. 1, 2012
If you're one of the many readers who eagerly await Donald Kaul's weekly column, or a newspaper editor who would panic if we suddenly stopped showing up in your inbox, please make a tax-deductible contribution today.
The Lineup: Week of Dec. 19-25, 2011
Donald Kaul explains why he never participates in the supposed war on Christmas.
The Lineup: Week of Dec. 12-17, 2011
This holiday season, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to OtherWords.
The Lineup: Week of Dec. 5-11, 2011
Jim Hightower lampoons a luxury tent Neiman Marcus is marketing to the uber-rich this holiday season.
The Lineup: Week of Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2011
Janet Redman sizes up the latest reasons for the international community to take bold action to halt climate change.
The Lineup: Week of Nov. 21-27, 2011
Sarah Anderson suggests concrete steps toward a more balanced budget that would make the U.S. economy healthier, more equitable, and sustainable and rein in runaway military spending.
The Lineup: Week of Nov. 14-20, 2011
Tom Israel provides a roundup of progressive electoral victories at the ballot box that could serve as a "signpost" for the 2012 elections.
The Lineup: Week of Nov. 7-13, 2011
William A. Collins, Donald Kaul, and Gerald Scorse look at the intersection of wealth and taxes.
The Lineup: Week of Oct. 31-Nov. 6, 2011
Deborah Burger calls for a new Wall Street tax and Libby Reinish reports on the quiet consolidation underway in the coverage of local TV news.
The Lineup: Week of Oct. 24-30, 2011
William A. Collins and Khalil Bendib offer their takes on Occupy Wall Street, while Donald Kaul and Phyllis Bennis address the big news out of Libya.
The Lineup: Week of Oct. 17-23, 2011
Salvatore Babones says that without a steady decline in earnings, American households wouldn't be so saddled with debt.
The Lineup: Week of Oct. 10-16, 2011
Sarah Anderson and Chuck Collins explain why Congress shouldn't give a tax break to corporations that hoard profits in overseas tax havens
When IPS and the Heritage Foundation Agree that Something’s a Bad Idea, It Probably Does Stink
A bipartisan Senate bill that would grant corporations a tax holiday is slated to be introduced tomorrow, just days after the progressive and conservative organizations released reports about how these tax giveaways don't spur job growth.
The Lineup: Week of Oct. 3-9, 2011
Marc Morial and Khalil Bendib address capital punishment's "long shadow of doubt" in the wake of Troy Davis's execution.
The Lineup: Week of Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2011
Matias Ramos describes his latest immigration ordeal.
The Lineup: Week of Sept. 19-25, 2011
Karen Dolan explains why we need to preserve the nation's safety net.
The Lineup: Week of Sept. 12-18, 2011
Raul A. Reyes explains why Rick Perry isn't likely to garner much of the Latino vote
The Lineup: Week of Sept. 5-11, 2011
Three op-eds reflect on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The Lineup: Week of Aug. 29-Sept. 4, 2011
In this Labor Day special, Sam Pizzigati casts a light on corporate consultants who recommend gutting the pay of America's most experienced and skilled workers.
The Lineup: Week of Aug. 22-28, 2011
Ann Mesnikoff hails the government's plans to strengthen fuel-efficiency standards and Jim Hightower laments a "loopy crusade" against energy-efficient light bulbs.
The Lineup: Week of Aug. 15-21, 2011
Matias Ramos explains why states should allow undocumented immigrants who have graduated from their high schools to pay in-state tuition.
The Lineup: Week of Aug. 8-14, 2011
Sam Pizzigati relays how President Franklin D. Roosevelt deftly handled his debt-ceiling standoff with conservative Republicans.
Budgeting for the Great American Train Wreck
Our economy needs a new stimulus package, not a poison pill.
The Lineup: Week of Aug. 1-7, 2011
Donald Kaul underscores the GOP's intransigence over raising the debt ceiling.
The Lineup: Week of July 25-31, 2011
Marge Baker sums up the Supreme Court's tendency to rule in favor of corporations in an op-ed accompanied by a Khalil Bendib cartoon.
The Lineup: Week of July 18-24, 2011
Janet Redman addresses the relationship between increasingly harsh weather events and climate change.
The Lineup: Week of July 11-17, 2011
Chris Toensing calls for an "honest national conversation about Iraq" and John Franco highlights some of the latest political outrages in Wisconsin.
The Lineup: Week of July 4-10, 2011
Raul A. Reyes says that Alabama's controversial new immigration law scapegoats children and Tiffany Williams explains why a new caregiving movement is emerging.
The Lineup: Week of June 27-July 3, 2011
Peter Certo explains why he's not buying a shiny new iPad and William A. Collins says that big business is trying to keep climate change out of the news.
The Lineup: Week of June 20-26, 2011
John Feffer says that Sen. Jim Webb would make a great Secretary of Defense, and Donald Kaul explains why Michele Bachmann isn't a serious presidential candidate.
The Lineup: Week of June 13-19, 2011
Wenonah Hauter calls for a ban on gas "fracking" and Jim Hightower miraculously finds the humor in the GOP's efforts to kill Medicare.
Newt’s Campaign Implosion
Gingrich proves again that "his friends hate him."
Explosive Nuclear Spending
How about shifting the $1 trillion per decade the world spends on nuclear weapons to more important priorities?
The Lineup: Week of June 6-12, 2011
Donald Kaul says Jon Huntsman isn't likely to clinch the GOP presidential nomination and Jim Hightower wonders what it will take for the Catholic Church to recognize the severity of its pedophilia problem.
The Lineup: Week of May 30-June 5, 2011
William A. Collins sums up the nation's health care woes and Martha Burk calls for corporate boardrooms to stop doubling as old boys' clubhouses.
The Lineup: Week of May 23-29, 2011
Kate Colarulli calls for an end to oil and gas tax breaks.
‘Womanizer’ Isn’t a Synonym for ‘Sexual Predator’
Dominique Strauss-Kahn's not in trouble because of his libido.
The Lineup: Week of May 16-22, 2011
Raul A. Reyes explores Mitt Romney's Mexican roots and Andrew Korfhage urges Americans to ditch disposable plastic bags.
Crossing the Lexicon
Did Navy SEALs "assassinate," "murder," or "kill" Osama bin Laden?
The Lineup: Week of May 9-15, 2011
Jim Hightower writes about a company that's trying to override Vermont's decision to shutter a nuclear reactor and Peter Weiss explains why torture doesn't "work."
Special Lineup: Osama Bin Laden’s Demise
OtherWords is running commentaries about the al-Qaeda mastermind's death on our blog this week and we have posted our next cartoon five days early.
The Lineup: Week of May 2-8, 2011
Marc Morial weighs in on Donald Trump's "birther" obsession and Donald Kaul assesses Michele Bachmann's potential for a serious White House bid.
The Lineup: Week of April 25-May 1, 2011
William A. Collins puts the Libya intervention in context and a cartoon depicts a retirement home for dictators.
The Lineup: Week of April 18-24, 2011
Our Earth Day special edition features three commentaries and a cartoon addressing Obama's "dirty energy" policy and the BP oil disaster, as well as the dangers of nuclear weapons and reactors.
The Lineup: Week of April 11-17, 2011
John Feffer argues that the war on Libya shouldn't translate into yet another budget increase for the Pentagon.
The Lineup: Week of March 28-April 3, 2011
Phyllis Bennis underscores the risks posed by the U.S.-led military intervention in Libya.
The Lineup: Week of March 21-27, 2011
An op-ed by Alice Slater, a column by Donald Kaul, and a cartoon by Khalil Bendib put Japan's nuclear emergency into context.
The Lineup: Week of March 14-21, 2011
Sanho Tree explains why adopting Colombia's failed anti-drug policies in Mexico is a mistake and Donald Kaul says we should stay out of Libya.
The Lineup: Week of March 7-13, 2011
William A. Collins laments the dangers that the nation's health care system poses to our health while Robert Alvarez explains why managing nuclear weapons should be the Pentagon's job, instead of an Energy Department task.
The Lineup: Week of February 28-March 6, 2011
Tracy Fernandez Rysavy underscores concerns about radiation from cell phones, Donald Kaul weighs in on Wisconsin's uprising, and Mary Anne Hitt puts the GOP attack on EPA funding in context.
The Lineup: Week of February 21-27, 2011
Michael B. Keegan expresses concern that Rep. Peter King's upcoming hearings on domestic terrorism will exploit widespread fears of Muslims in a newfangled version of McCarthyism.
The Lineup: Week of February 14-20, 2011
Sarah Anderson reflects on her great-grandfather's experience as a Civil War veteran and Donald Kaul remembers why he liked Ike.
The Lineup: Week of February 6-13, 2011
Chris Toensing argues that Democrats and Republicans alike have long wished that Egypt and other U.S.-allied Arab states would forever remain docile dictatorships.
Justice for a 9-Year-Old Girl’s Killers in the Courts and in Print
Everyone should have heard about the murder of Brisenia Flores by now.
Renovating The New York Times Op-Ed Section
A former Martha Stewart Living executive editor gets a pivotal job at the Grey Lady.
The Lineup: Week of January 31-February 6, 2011
Jim Hightower highlights a mountaintop removal mining breakthrough and Donald Kaul reviews GOP proposals for slashing federal spending.
SOTU: Smoked Salmon on Wonder Bread
Obama's second State of the Union address sandwiched crummy policies between slices of inspiration.
The Lineup: Week of January 24-30, 2011
Marian Wright Edelman underscores the importance of preserving America's landmark health care reform and Dave Saldana warns about Comcast's potential to "throttle competition and stifle innovation" with its imminent takeover of NBC.
The Lineup: Week of January 17-23, 2011
Donald Kaul and John Feffer reflect on the insane national context for the tragic attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson.
The Lineup: Week of January 10-16, 2011
Jim Cason explains what's wrong with the unmanned drones the United States is deploying in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The Lineup: Week January 3-9, 2011
Janet Redman compares the recent lackluster climate talks in Cancun with a car wreck and Donald Kaul takes exception to latest trend in Republican flag waving.
The Lineup: Week of December 27, 2010-January 2, 2011
William A. Collins reviews the gun lobby's gains and Jim Hightower urges readers to move their money to small, locally based financial institutions.
The Lineup: Week of December 20-26, 2010
Sanho Tree points out some under-reported risks posed by the latest WikiLeaks document dump.
The Lineup: Week of December 13-19, 2010
Anupama Joshi and Robert Gottlieb weigh in on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act while Donald Kaul offers his take on Obama's controversial deal with the GOP on the Bush tax cuts.
The Lineup: Week of December 6-13, 2010
Marc Morial addresses school funding inequality and Chuck Collins looks at how Congress might spend the $700 billion in potential revenue from letting Bush's tax cuts for the richest Americans expire.
The Lineup: Week of November 29-December 5, 2010
As global climate talks get underway in Cancun, Miriam Pemberton calls for more parity in spending on climate and military security and Diana Bronson warns that "geoengineering" fixes for the world's climate problems could do far more harm than good.
The Lineup: Week of November 22-28, 2010
Tiffany Williams calls for raising the minimum wage and Lisa Hajjar highlights the recent conviction of Omar Khadr, a Canadian Guantanamo detainee.
The Lineup: Week of November 15-21, 2010
Sarah Anderson highlights the dangers of letting financial wizardry distort our food supply and John Steel makes a call for bringing back American manufacturing.
The Lineup: Week of November 8-14, 2010
OtherWords columnist Donald Kaul marvels at the GOP's "magical" gains in the midterm elections and FCNL's Joe Volk urges the Senate to ratify the New START nuclear weapons treaty before the year ends.
Speaker Bachmann?
Here's a snapshot of three huge stories currently buried by breaking electoral news.
Turning Right into a Dead End
I don't buy the notion that our country is abruptly or eternally shifting rightward.
The Lineup: Week of November 1-7, 2010
John Feffer ponders a new sitcom that treats outsourcing as a gag and Larry Cox calls on the state of Georgia to not execute Troy Davis.
The Lineup: Week of October 25-31, 2010
Donald Kaul muses about this year's "screwball" elections and William A. Collins calls for making the rich pay taxes instead of averting them with sneaky yet routine ploys.
The Lineup: Week of October 18-24, 2010
Andrew Korfhage calls on Congress to get chocolate companies to stop using suppliers that rely on enslaved child labor while Jim Hightower explains that Afghanistan remains the world's biggest producer of poppies--the main ingredient in heroin.
The Lineup: Week of October 11-17, 2010
Terry O'Neill reminds us that Alan Simpson is still co-chairing Obama's deficit commission weeks after his unbelievable Social Security gaffe and Sam Pizzigati points out the government is redistributing wealth in a way that makes the rich richer.
The Lineup: Week of October 4-10, 2010
Marge Baker weighs in on a "new breed of congressional candidate" and Donald Kaul puts this trend in historical perspective.
The Lineup: Week of September 27-October 3, 2010
Donald Kaul defends Keynes, Jim Hightower asks readers to help him overcome his loss for words, and William A. Collins shines a light on the government's domestic surveillance programs.
Pledging Allegiance to the Rich
OtherWords contributor Karen Dolan isn't just smart. She's funny.
The Lineup: Week of September 20-27, 2010
Our latest editorial package includes an op-ed by Karen Dolan outlining policies that would reduce the startling number of impoverished Americans.
No Happy Ending in Honduras
The Central American nation's woes continue to rage despite Secretary of State Clinton's insistence to the contrary.
The Lineup: Week of September 13-19, 2010
Our latest editorial package includes an op-ed by Joy Zarembka about a young woman who perished in a Washington car bombing long before 9-11.
The Lineup: Week of September 6-12, 2010
Our latest editorial package includes an op-ed by Jason Salzman about the tea party's desire to scrap the Department of Education.
The Lineup: Week of August 30-September 5, 2010
Our latest editorial package includes an op-ed by Kevin Shih regarding CEOs who unnecessarily slash jobs.
Rotten Egg Farming
Dirt-cheap protein is a fine ideal that it isn't worth risking our lives.
The Lineup: Week of August 23-29, 2010
Our latest editorial package includes an op-ed on the upcoming and lackluster U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and a column by Donald Kaul about unlikely advocates for ditching the Bush tax cuts for the most affluent Americans.
The Lineup: Week of August 16-22, 2010
This week's editorial package includes an op-ed by Daphne Wysham about an innovative concept for slashing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings while helping to avert some of the fallout from the coming commercial real estate crisis.
Social Security in the Eye of the Beholder
The biggest threat to the nation's primary retirement program isn't fiscal.
The Lineup: Week of August 9-15, 2010
This week's editorial package features an op-ed by Dedrick Muhammad on Glenn Beck's cynical plan for the upcoming anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a Dream" speech.
Dying Patients Deserve Better
The majority of terminally ill patients would have a better quality of life in their remaining days if they were left alone.
The Lineup: Week of August 2-8, 2010
This week's editorial package features an op-ed and a cartoon on the WikiLeaks controversy.
Corporate Negligence by any Other Name
Resurrecting the Amoco brand would be just a cynical ploy at a time when we need to move forcefully into a new economy that doesn't ravage the environment.
Letters to the Editor: Debating Mexican Immigration
Responses to Manuel Perez-Rocha's op-ed range from thoughtful to bigoted.
Speculation Tax
The levy Rep. Stark has proposed isn't likely to wallop your wallet or portfolio.
The Lineup: Week of July 19-25, 2010
The latest OtherWords editorial package features an op-ed by Manuel Perez-Rocha and a cartoon by Khalil Bendib about immigration.
Letters to the Editor: Antibiotics, Jobs, War, and God
A long-term unemployed worker responds to Karen Dolan's op-ed.
Private Broadcasting Service
PBS runs a documentary about former Secretary of State George P. Shultz and exposes a double standard.
The Lineup: Week of July 12-18, 2010
This week, Donald Kaul channels how other presidents might have reacted to the BP oil disaster.
Immigrants Don’t Hog Farm Jobs
United Farm Workers uses a creative campaign to build support for reform.
Atrazine on the Rocks? No Thanks
Questions arise about the reliability of data in company-produced studies the EPA considers when determining whether drinking water is safe.
Letters to the Editor: Kaul on Barton and God
One column continues to either fascinate or irritate religious readers who apparently don't appreciate Don's sarcasm.
Raking it in at Walmart
The CEO makes in an hour what his workers earn in a year.
The Lineup: Week of July 5-12, 2010
We've posted everything a few days early due to the Independence Day holiday.
Narco-Subs: Another Reason Why the Drug War is Futile
Drug traffickers have moved well beyond hidden underwear pockets.
Letters to the Editor: Kaul’s $50 Bill Column
One reader says she's having "a hard time imagining spending money" bearing President Reagan's picture.
Pentagon Plans $100 Billion in Spending Cuts
The Obama administration seeks military savings over the next five years.
Petroleum and Silly Putty on the Menu
McDonald's uses chemicals in the United States that it manages to do without in its British restaurants.
The Lineup: Week of June 28-July 4, 2010
Here's what you'll find in this week's OtherWords editorial package.
Letters to the Editor: Kaul on Kagan and God
It's always nice to get mail from our fans in these days of instant everything, especially when they have a sense of humor.
Pelosi Protest Followed by Cautious Optimism at Progressive Gathering
Demographics point to a brighter future for America's left.
Arkansas and America’s Future Now
Progressives gather in Washington to chart a stronger strategy.
The Lineup: Week of June 7-13
This package features op-eds about Israel, budget cuts, and the NBC-Comcast merger.
Time for a Job Surge
National Urban League crunches numbers on joblessness and outlines solutions to the long-term unemployment crisis.
Kentucky Adopts Civil Rights Resolution
State senators reject Rand Paul's controversial comments.
Pollan Digests the Latest Food Politics Books
Michael Pollan's new essay highlights the diverse schools of food activism takes as well as unifying themes.
Pundits Cheered Drilling Shortly Before BP Oil Disaster
Many of America's prominent commentators ran on fumes when they opined about oil.
Financial Reform Bill Could Stabilize Commodities
New rules may rein in speculation that distorts the market for agricultural futures contracts.
Monsanto Seed Delivery Angers Haitian Activists
Farmers object to the pesticide-laden donation.
Racial Wealth Divide now a Vast Gulf
Overall, white families see growth in their net worth while African Americans experience stagnation.
This is Your Brain on Pesticides
Research finds that consuming pesticides may make it more likely that kids will develop ADHD.
Trillion-Dollar War Tab
The Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts are nearing a big milestone.
Angry about Arizona
Cities boycott Arizona to protest its immigration law as the state cracks down on ethnic studies.
Europe’s Sick of U.S. Nukes
Stockpiles undercut, instead of enhancing, security.
Assessing the BP Oil Disaster
The Sierra Club calls warns against more offshore oil drilling.
Terrorists’ Right to Bear Arms
Two GOP senators say they wouldn't support a bill to stop suspected terrorists from buying weapons.
Priority Check
The military claims more than half our taxes.
Letters to the Editor: Kaul’s ‘Enduring Literature’
Donald Kaul's take on the GOP hits a nerve.
The Other 95 Percent
Nearly all Americans got a tax cut but don't know it.
Remembering Benjamin Hooks
The civil rights leader broke down many barriers.
GAP Files Complaint Against World Bank Agency
A watchdog group alleges unethical behavior by the World Bank's "institutional integrity" department.
Lying with Statistics
Bill O'Reilly falsely claims respected medical journal is on his side.
What’s Next?
IPS wants to know what you think should be the next top legislative priority.