In 2013, a new nonpartisan group called CROWDPAC launched a new fundraising model for potential political candidates. Similar to Kickstarter, CROWDPAC allows candidates to raise money through financial pledges. The pledges are not collected unless the candidate actually decides to run, giving them a chance to see how much support they have before making their decision. As an example, Kathryn […]

It’s been a bit difficult for me to blog these past few weeks with everything going on in the world. Fortunately, the poet in me has regained her inspiration to create. April is one of my favorite months of the year. It’s a month that encourages me to celebrate poetry every day. It’s a month where poetry isn’t just an add-on, […]

FYI: Fully funding research for autistic people of all ages would help a lot more than just sporting a pin Who can be mad at something as gauzy as “awareness,” especially when it’s tied to a serious disability like autism? Given that we’re faced with an administration who is looking to cut everything the government does to aid our physical […]

Last week, the Koch brothers-funded group American for Prosperity held a “Day at the Capitol” event in Lansing, Michigan where they spelled out their corporatist agenda for Michigan (you can see the agenda HERE.) Numerous Republican legislators were on the agenda: House Speaker Tom Leonard Speaker Pro Tempore Lee Chatfield House Majority Floor Leader Dan Lauwers State Representative Lana Theis […]

Two years ago, after privatizing Michigan’s prison food services to a company that then set out to prove what a fiasco this sort of thing is with scandal after scandal after scandal after scandal), Gov. Rick Snyder finally fired Aramark. He then hired another private firm, Trinity Services Group. Since that time, Trinity hasn’t fared much better, racking up $2.5 […]

Every day, every week, every month of the year, Eclectablog is here, championing progressive causes and holding those in power accountable for their actions. Day after day, the writers here at Eclectablog are providing essential analysis and advocacy, spreading word of the valuable work of progressive activists and groups, and holding elected officials’ feet to the fire. This year, we […]

Let’s save the nostalgia Understanding conservatism is Corey Robin’s specialty. His book The Reactionary Mind: Conservatism from Edmund Burke to Sarah Palin — which Robin is updating for a reissue this spring — posits that the defining thread the movement that now defines the Republican Party is “the felt experience of having power, seeing it threatened, and trying to win […]

I’m a big fan of artist Michael D’Antuono and have featured his amazing paintings here at Eclectablog in the past. His latest piece, “The Elephant in the Room”, it outstanding. It captures the capitulation of Republicans to the subservience of Donald Trump to the man he serves, Vladimir Putin: Here’s D’Antuono’s artist’s statement: Republican Reluctance To Truly Investigate Trump Unveiled […]

All Sam Brownback has to do is stop being Sam Brownback for a minute Republicans have a long history of sabotaging the ACA to the determent of their own constituents. About 5 million people could have health insurance right now if Republican states would just say “um, yeah” to Medicaid expansion. To punish Obama, red states including Texas, Florida and […]

The Ford Motor Co. announced today that it is expanding operations in three Michigan plants and will spend over a billion dollars in the process: Ford Motor Co. will invest $1.2 billion in three Michigan facilities to prepare for production of the all-new Ford Ranger and Bronco, and to support the company’s expansion into mobility. The company said Tuesday it […]

The State of Michigan settled a federal lawsuit this week that allows them to avoid having to make home deliveries of water to Flint residents without safe drinking water but compels them to spend $47 million in an attempt to do right by the beleaguered city.