WARNING: Blind Allegiance to Spooks is Never Good

As a life-long Democrat, I am increasingly perplexed by elected Democrats who appear to align themselves unflinchingly with the CIA and the most hawkish members of the Republican Party.

I don't have anything profound to say about it beyond the simple fact that it is "odd."

Is it possible that Democrats simply have a new affinity for, and trust in, the intelligence community?

John Oliver Misses Prime Opportunity to Discuss Better Solution to Gerrymandering

On HBO’s “Last Week Tonight,” John Oliver tackled an issue that many consider the most pressing threat to our democracy: gerrymandering. As he often does, Oliver explained the intricacies of this complex policy issue with wit and humor, much to the alarm of voters everywhere. After explaining how politicians help their own party win seats by “packing and cracking” voters into districts, Oliver left viewers with a glimmer of hope by introducing the idea of independent redistricting commissions.

AP Report: Nearly 2,000 Allegations of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation by UN Peacekeepers

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, AP notified followers that an investigative report revealed broad and damming allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation over the last 12 years by UN peacekeepers around the world. In total, AP uncovered almost 2,000 allegations.

https://twitter.com/AP/status/852084955219996672

Sri Lankan peacekeepers are accused of being involved in a child sex-ring in Haiti.

https://twitter.com/AP/status/852129269190930433

Judge: Ballot Access Barrier in Montana Special Election is Unconstitutional

Independent and minor party candidates in Montana were handed a bittersweet victory in their bids to replace former Congressman Ryan Zinke.

On April 8, Federal Judge Brian Morris ruled against Montana Secretary of State Cory Stapleton, finding that the signature requirement placed on non-major party candidates "severely burdens the constitutional rights of ballot access for independent candidates and minor party candidates."

The Centrist Project to #HackTheSenate for Independents

This week host T.J. O’Hara is joined by the Centrist Project’s executive director, Nick Troiano. The two discussed Nick’s 2014 run for Congress, the bipartisan policy campaign The Can Kicks Back, and the Centrist Project’s latest venture: #HackTheSenate.

The campaign focuses on the fulcrum strategy to “hack” the senate, and works to create a network of supporters and potential candidates ready to run as independents.

The Computer Algorithm Designed to Save Democracy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRCZR_BbjTo&t=1s

Imagine if there was a computer algorithm that could redraw legislative districts in a purely nonpartisan manner. Imagine this algorithm could give courts a measurable way to determine what constitutes "too partisan" in the drawing of electoral lines. Imagine it could end partisan gerrymandering for good.

Well, that may now be closer to a reality.