A new one from me about school vouchers, but also the politics of disconnection and how it enables sweeping cruelty. And, finally, how in such a world small kindnesses serve as an act of rebellion. #NHPolitics

"Individual disconnection enables large cruelties — and this country is more disconnected than it is divided. In such a place, there is nothing small about small kindnesses." Commentary from @danawormald.bsky.social #NHPolitics

"The idea, reflected in the state and national policies of tax cuts for the wealthy and simultaneous cuts to supports and services for everyone else, is that wealthy people deserve to keep their full wealth and poor people deserve to keep their full poverty." Commentary from @danawormald.bsky.social

A new column: How committed are New Hampshire Republicans to wealth inequality? From the infamous tax repeal to universal vouchers to “Don’t Mass Up New Hampshire,” the answer is “totally.” #NHPolitics

There is one overriding political problem, from which all others follow. Until it is addressed, every policy advanced by governments is window dressing. www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...

Just 0.001% hold three times the wealth of poorest half of humanity, report finds

Commentary from @danawormald.bsky.social: "Expansive, policy-driven inequality is the Republican Party’s guiding light, whether you call it Reaganomics, or neoliberalism, or Trumpism, or trickle-down economics." #NHPolitics

"As just about any working-class American family will tell you, the real 'distortion of reality' is the idea that a family of four can do anything but suffer on $32,150 a year." Commentary from @danawormald.bsky.social #NHPolitics

Here's a new one from me, on America's screwy perception of what it means to be "poor" and "middle class." #NHPolitics

Beautifully written piece on a beautiful film

A new column, in lieu of saying grace. Happy Almost Thanksgiving, and best wishes to you all.

What does New Hampshire Republicans' renewed attack on the Office of Health Access (formerly the Office of Health Equity) reveal about this political moment in America? Just about everything. #NHPolitics

INVESTIGATION: In December 2022, the Weidlichs heard a knock on their door. Police were there to tell them their disabled son was found dead in the woods behind his care home. Read more in Part II of "A System of Harm," an investigative series by me for @NewHampshireBulletin.com: buff.ly/FeJJu5G

A new column, this one on Maggie Hassan, Jeanne Shaheen, and the price of bailing on a stand. #NHPolitics

THREAD: When Lucas Houle, who has intellectual and developmental disabilities, was pinned to the ground and beaten by his own caretakers, he screamed, “Please stop, don’t beat me up.” His story and others are told today in "A System of Harm," an investigative series by me. (1/10)

Just two days until Stories From The States launches! Listen to a teaser for our new weekly podcast and subscribe here. www.newsfromthestates.com/episode/excl... #FairFearlessFree #LocalJournalism

A new column, this one on those lucky devils known as the poor who Republicans say are doing quite well for themselves. #NHPolitics

My column this week focuses on a couple of ideas. One, that a simple life worth celebrating is prohibitively expensive for most and, two, that the right's response to that fact is the damaging lie that to provide opportunity for one it must be seized from another. #NHPolitics

Commentary from @danawormald.bsky.social : The simple life has never been so hard — and that's not even the worst part. #NHPolitics

A new one from me: Behold, another nonsolution to New Hampshire’s school funding nightmare. #NHPolitics

Granite Staters who took to the streets Oct. 18 in Concord said concerns about health care, immigration, racism, disability rights, free speech, and more motivated them to join that day’s No Kings protest. From Molly Rains #NHPolitics

No Kings is officially underway in Concord. Here’s the scene on the State House side of Main at noon.

“I'm an eighth generation New Hampshire native. I was raised a Republican, fiscally conservative, socially responsible, protectors of the environment, party of Lincoln, and so now I'm a very active Democrat,” said Meredith resident Sandy Mucci in Concord. Photo by Molly Rains/New Hampshire Bulletin

Still a half-hour out from the official start of the #NoKings protest, a growing row of signs elicits steady beeping on North Main St. in front of the State House in Concord. #NHPolitics

An hour before the No Kings rally is set to begin in downtown Concord, protesters have started arriving on the State House grounds with signs, slogans, and a few guitars. #NHPolitics

Credit to @statesnewsroom.com for making a big commitment to cover this enormous #NoKings story. Live coverage across the country. That's a big deal. (Also: there's a State Newsroom digital outlet in your state- find it at the link below, sign up and support. It's free, no paywall.)

States Newsroom is covering today's No Kings protests throughout the nation. Follow the national live feed here:

"We should have known that our ever-dimming enlightenment would open the door to the most strident champions of our basest instincts." What a mess we've made: Commentary from @danawormald.bsky.social #NHPolitics

A new column, this one on the mess we've all made and how we can get out of it, maybe. #NHPolitics

Here’s a new one, on what 100 imaginary villagers can teach us about economic inequality. (And also, NH needs an income tax and the US needs Medicare for All.)

A new column, this one on how entrenched racism, moral panic, and economic policies that favor the wealthy have given Republicans all they needed to win and hold power in New Hampshire and the nation. #NHPolitics

Commentary from @danawormald.bsky.social : To understand why Republican lawmakers in Concord and Washington are willing to deplete a popular program like Medicaid, just consider their core political philosophy. And then follow the money. #NHPolitics

A new column on the two ideas of government and which one is winning, by a lot. #NHPolitics

“What these [obscene] dollars actually buy is the carving up of the electorate. ..our back and forth majorities, our do nothing congresses, our career politicians, and the same domestic problems year in and year out.”

A new column, this one on a potential Sununu-Pappas contest and our very expensive (and therefore broken) elections. #NHPolitics

How expensive will New Hampshire's U.S. Senate race be? Very, and that's one of America's very biggest problems. Commentary from @danawormald.bsky.social #NHPolitics

I read this thoughtful little piece 3 times in a row. I’ll be thinking about restlessness realized as grace vs restlessness realized as grievance for a while…

You won't see something this insightful from the Washington Post or the New York Times. Not on CNN, CBS, Meet the Press or Morning Mika. It wouldn't even get a single one of Jake Tapper's patented curious puppy head-tilts. All of the @statesnewsroom.com affiliates are worthy of your attention.

My parting thoughts on my time as the @alaskabeacon.com editor:

This week, I wrote about the politics of grace and grievance — and how each influences the degree to which the electorate in New Hampshire and beyond accepts the policies driving vast inequality. #NHPolitics

Here's a new one, on the easy movement from grace to grievance in New Hampshire (and American) politics. #NHPolitics

This is a good, brief overview of the higher ed catastrophe in NH. More horrible news is coming, at least from Plymouth (my school). Massive cuts to programs, staff, faculty. NH has disinvested from all public goods.

A new column, this one on New Hampshire's public higher education problem and the price we all pay — and will continue paying. #NHPolitics

"It seems like not-so-great fiscal management to give piles of taxpayer cash to well-to-do families who were going to send their kids to private school whether the state chipped in or not." Commentary from @danawormald.bsky.social #NHPolitics

As New Hampshire reaches its 10,000-student cap for universal "education freedom accounts," here's a new column about various elements of the voucher push and the role of blind spots. #NHPolitics

A new column, this one on how nothing we're seeing is a distraction — but why the perils of distraction remain. #NHPolitics

I wrote about the effect AI hype is having on workers and students: It's preparing them to do more for and accept less from their employers.

A new column, this one on Republican bootstrap mythology and why zooming out on policy — nationally and in New Hampshire — is more important than ever. With thanks to @elishabrown.bsky.social and @darrickhamilton.bsky.social for the prompt. #NHPolitics

A new column, this one on Gov. Kelly Ayotte's wise vetoes and what those rejected bills say about the state of her party. #NHPolitics

A new column on New Hampshire Republicans' barbershop test for which policies are important and which ones — like Medicaid reimbursement rates — aren't. #NHPolitics