Fighting the dark side? Trusted guide you will use.
Take a trusted guide whether you're fighting Darth Vader destroying galaxies or the dark forces attacking American democracy. Yoda is busy, so use one these twelve trusted guides instead:
Letters from an American
Heather Cox Richardson is a distinguished professor of American history. She writes about today’s political landscape, from the perspective of the Constitution, and laws, and the economy, and social customs. Her newsletter beautifully explores what it means, and what it has meant, to be an American.
Popular Information
Judd Legum researches the forces and dark money behind things in Popular Information - “News for people who give a damn”. The name comes from a letter by James Madison, “A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both.”
Selected Wisdom
Clint Watts offers analysis and lessons learned regarding a range of national security, technology and social media topics. Clint is a distinguished fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and a senior fellow at the Centre for Cyber and Homeland Security and a non-resident fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy. He has served as a US Army infantry officer, an FBI agent, a consultant to the FBI’s counterterrorism division and as a counterterrorism analyst. He is known for testifying on the involvement of Russian hackers in the 2016 US presidential election.
#Disinformation
Wonderful newsletter by Dr. Rand Waltzman which explains propaganda, subversion and other forms of manipulation with real world examples. Rand is the Founding Board Member of Information Professionals Assn. He has decades of experience performing and managing research in Artificial Intelligence applied to domains including social media and cognitive security in the information environment. He is formerly Deputy Chief Technology Officer and a Senior Information Scientist at the RAND Corporation
Democracy Docket
Democracy Docket is the leading progressive media platform dedicated to providing information, opinion and analysis about voting rights and more. It was founded in 2020 by Democratic voting rights attorney Marc Elias, Democracy Docket delivers expert opinion and commentary on voting, and offers detailed information about important litigation and policy.
Disinformation Review
Disinformation Review is published by the European External Action Service which is a combination of the European Union foreign and defense ministries. It provides the latest cases of news articles carrying key examples of how pro-Kremlin disinformation finds its way in international media, as well as news and analysis.
In The Loop
This newsletter is from Tactical Tech, a nonprofit that works with engaged citizens and civil society actors to investigate and mitigate the harmful impact of technologies on society. It also provides free resources including:
- The Glass Room on Misinformation - Explores misinformation, influencers and their tactics.
- Data Detox Kit - How to control your digital privacy, security, and wellbeing.
- Exposing the Invisible - Free investigative tools used by experienced investigators.
- Data, Politics and Activism - How personal data is used to manipulate public opinion and voters
Digital Politics Podcast
Karen Jagoda started Digital Politics Podcast in 2007. This non-partisan podcast features thought leaders and industry pioneers with insights about innovative approaches to political campaigns, voter engagement, mobilization, fundraising, persuasion, and GOTV. Topics include the power of mobile devices, leveraging social networks, message testing and targeting, cross-media advertising, grassroots organizing, and big data.
DemList
A free national daily political column and resource site dedicated to the mission of educating and informing Democrats, allies and followers about the issues, politics and the players.
Cagle's Cartoons
Cagle Cartoons features the cartoons of sixty editorial cartoonists and a dozen columnists to more than 800 subscribing newspapers including over half of America’s daily, paid-circulation newspapers. Daryl Cagle who is a past president of the National Cartoonists Society started it in 2001. His newsletter is a refreshing and insightful take on politics and society.
Words To Win By Podcast
This podcast by Anat Shenker-Osorio takes us around the world to understand how we won progressive campaigns and lessons learned to apply to the next ones. Anat has led research into how to persuade and mobilize on issues ranging from tackling right-wing race baiting to promoting clean energy and from honoring the rights of immigrants to reforming criminal justice.
Democracy Labs Bulletin
Newsletter on innovative technologies and storytelling apps for activism and politics. The blog features free/affordable solutions along with over 600 case studies of how Democratic and progressive groups are using them.
TakeAway: "Stay informed. Or not. There is no try", as Yoda might say.
Deepak
DemLabs
Image credit: StarWars / Lucas Films
