In his open letter to President Trump, who is visiting California this week, Governor Jerry Brown highlighted the "world-class train system under construction."

That Gov. Brown would publicly laud a project that will likely be 40% over budget and perhaps a decade behind schedule has many scratching their heads.

https://twitter.com/JerryBrownGov/status/973181826545176576

Dear Clarissa,

Well, Sweetie, it’s almost here. Tomorrow is the day that you join young people all over the country and walk out of your classes for 17 minutes to protest the prevalence of gun violence in our society and to honor the 17 lives lost one month ago in Parkland, Florida. As someone who has done a fair bit of protesting in his life, I have a few pieces of advice that, like all of my advice, you are free to do with as you choose.

Collectively, there are thousands of organizations and funders already working to improve our country. So why does our country appear to be a mess?

The weakest part of our country is our willingness to live in a narrative/news stream that confirms our own bias and demonizes others. We could make our collective work exponentially more effective by fostering strong relationships among people of different viewpoints.

We are only three months into 2018, but already big things are happening within the independent movement -- especially in Colorado.

Unite America (formerly the Centrist Project) recently launched with an ambitious goal: to elect enough independents to shift the balance of power in several states and in DC away from the Republican and Democratic Parties, and give a voice back to the people.

This week, T.J. is joined by Debra Hanby, the mother of an opioid addict who found her life’s purpose through her son’s experience.

T.J. is the host of 'Deconstructed,' formerly titled 'A Civil Assessment.' You can follow IVN's podcast channel on iTunes or SoundCloud!

In an unusual move, President Trump, citing national security concerns, has issued an executive order blocking Broadcom Ltd. from acquiring San Diego based Qualcomm Inc.

The move by the president effectively kills the  $117 billion deal that had been subject to U.S. government scrutiny on national security grounds.

We decide who we are, as a country, every day, and announce it to the world by both our words and our actions. We continually declare our values, our priorities, and exactly what “We The People” stands for, both to ourselves and to all of our global neighbors.

But has that declaration, and those decisions, included your own voice? Have you had a meaningful role in helping shape the very definition of what the United States of America stands for? What is a country, anyway?

Medical marijuana legalization is making its way through the Commonwealth of Kentucky's legislature with House Bill 166, which enjoys the support of both Republicans and Democrats in the Kentucky legislature, and would allow patients with certain conditions to consume the plant or products made from it.

In the immediate aftermath of the Parkland mass shooting, a new element was incorporated into our collective response. The survivors, and families of those killed, began demanding change.

Student leaders from Parkland emerged, and these young people channeled their emotions into activism. They insisted that the Parkland school shooting be the last, and directly engaged politicians responsible for ensuring schools be safe.

Read about what really matters from the news last week. We provide you the least-biased news about current events so you can go about your day informed, not brainwashed.