My Weekly Recommendations
What you should catch up on this weekend!
This time of year always flies by, so here are some recommendations for what you might have missed this week.
Dan Harris: How to Survive the Election
Dan Harris, a former news anchor who has written an important book called 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story, has become an expert on what it means to be both a skeptic and to want to improve your quality of life. I asked him to share tips on how we can all survive the next few weeks of election season.
An Update From the Road
A lot of you have been wondering what it’s like to be on the road. I share some pictures and also give a hint about what I am working on next.
Can American Politics Be Unbroken?
I recently spoke with the co-founder of Substack, Hamish McKenzie, about the upcoming election and our political system, and I surprised him by saying I think Kamala Harris is the more conservative candidate in this election. Watch our interview to hear why.
Dark Money in the Election
A handful of billionaires are shoveling wads of cash into Election 2024. Who are they?
What I’m reading…
2024 Election: Presidential, Senate and House Races Forecasts and Analysis
By Randy Yeip and Danny Dougherty, The Wall Street Journal
Control of the House, the Senate and the presidency are all up for grabs in the 2024 elections, a rare instance of Republicans and Democrats battling for all three levers of elected power in Washington.
Can Trump and Harris turn out the voters they need? A key county has clues.
By Hannah Knowles, The Washington Post
The county that has voted for the winner of almost every election in the past 100 years is an example of the challenges both candidates are facing.
Right-wing influencers hyped anti-Ukraine videos made by a TV producer also funded by Russian media
By Alan Suderman and Garance Burke, The Associated Press
An investigation by The Associated Press also provides insights into the shadowy and profitable world of political influencers who are not required to disclose who is paying them, raising transparency concerns about their political endorsements in the largely unregulated realm of social media.
The Secret Service has ‘two dragons.’ Should the agency abandon one of them?
By BetsyWoodruff Swan, Politico
A new report on the July 13 assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump says the agency has been hampered by its dual mission of protecting top political figures and investigating financial and cyber crimes. The agency should consider narrowing its focus to just protection — but defenders of the agency say no.
Conversations I had…
Madang: Educator and Podcaster Sharon McMahon, author of The Small and the Mighty
I talked to Grace Ji Sun Kim about my book, as well as Alexander Hamilton, enslavement, WWII, education, Quakers, and more.
Sharon McMahon is ‘America’s Government Teacher’ | WGN-TV
I went on WGN Morning News to discuss why I’ve made it my mission to help people better understand how our government (and our society as a whole) works, and why I wrote The Small and the Mighty.
The Learning Leader Show: Sharon McMahon - A Masterclass In Making American History Fascinating & Fun (Creator of Sharon Says So)
I loved talking to Ryan Hawk about what we can learn from FDR, Lincoln, and Teddy; breaking down echo chambers, and how the best Americans are not the critics, they are the doers.
What I am watching…
Inside a Field Hospital in a North Carolina Mountain Town
By Ang Li, Dillon Deaton, Axel Boada and Emily Rhyne, The New York Times
After Hurricane Helene hit, a group of doctors and nurses quickly built a field hospital in Burnsville, N.C., to tend to patients and provide them with medical care.
What I am listening to…
America’s Deadliest Election with Dana Bash
Here’s Where It Gets Interesting
How did America’s Deadliest Election change the future of democracy? I was joined by CNN's Dana Bash to discuss a lesser known chapter of history and how this pivotal moment forever changed the course of history.
How to run an election
NPR Politics Podcast
Voting looks a little different in 2024 than it did during the last presidential election. In this encore of a September episode, we explore some of the changes & challenges as voting begins, alongside NPR's voter registration guide.
What you should do…
We’re about two weeks away from this year’s election! There is so much more to vote on than just the presidential candidates, and everyone should make sure they are registered and have a voting plan.
Early voting has started in most states. That means that you should:
Check your registration
Make a plan if you want to vote early or in-person
Know the voting requirements in your state
You can find out all that information and more at: https://sharonmcmahon.com/vote
If we want to make changes to our democracy, we need to make our voices heard, and that starts with voting.
The article about the Secret Service was enlightening. Although I may have heard about it at some point, I had forgotten about its investigative mandate, and it was interesting to read about how it supports their protective work. Thanks for sharing that!