This week, we’re looking back at our top stories from a wild year. Today’s newsletter features articles about the politics and economy of 2020 — both of which were heavily shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workers Were Struggling Before the Pandemic. Is it Time for a Jobs Guarantee?
June 26 | The heart of our nation’s jobs crisis — both before and during the pandemic — is, indeed, the lack of well-paying jobs. Solving it might require the government to create some.
The Marriner Doctrine: How a Utah Banker Tackled the Great Depression
June 19 | Marriner Eccles’ diagnosis of the Depression’s cause and his prescriptions for revival deserve our attention during the coronavirus-induced downturn.
Donald Trump is not the Future of the GOP. Mike Lee is
November 3 | It’s unclear what the future of the Republican party holds after Trump leaves office, but one issue often discussed by the Utah senator unites both mainstream Republicans and Trump’s acolytes: diluting democracy.
Can Michelle Lujan Grisham Save New Mexico?
April 17 | The circumstances the New Mexico governor faced early in the pandemic offered a valuable perspective on what awaited the West.
Western Governors Relied on ‘Personal Responsibility’ to Stop COVID-19. It Failed
November 17 | Brad Little and other GOP governors in the West opted to forgo strict social distancing measures, targeted business closures, and mask mandates. Instead, they placed the burden of accountability on their residents — to disastrous results.
Could the Coronavirus Yield a More Robust Northwest Seafood Economy?
August 28 | With restaurant demand for seafood plummeting, small-scale fishers are seizing on an opportunity to create a stronger, consumer-based regional market.
This Group is Building a Latinx-led Climate Movement
July 17 | By focusing on local environmental issues and the democratic process, members of the group Chispa are gradually nudging the environmental movement in a more just direction.
This New Mexico Town is the Next Adventure Hub. Can it Quit Fossil Fuels?
October 2 | Many small towns reliant on logging, mining, or drilling have looked to outdoor recreation after downturns. That’s the case in Farmington, New Mexico, but some town leaders want to hang on to the area’s coal economy, too.
Work or Stay Home? It’s a Matter of Survival
May 15 | Throughout the pandemic, many workers have had to face a difficult choice: Going to work increases the risk of catching COVID-19, but staying home could mean economic calamity.
Washington Latinos Are Pushing For Ranked Choice Voting to Boost Equity
October 30 | Ahead of a heated election in which voting access for communities of color was a flashpoint, plaintiffs in a Washington lawsuit argued a new voting system could make elections more fair.
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