2022.03.01 by Justin Mason (originally published in The Click) Biden has yet to make good on his promise to address student debt [Credit: Franco Folini] (BATTLE GROUND, Wash.) — President Joe Biden took the podium for his first State of the Union tonight, with Congress gathered to hear his address. The specter of war in […]
Criminal Injustice
Violence in Politically Polarized America, the Capitol Coup Attempt, and Democracy in Peril 2022.01.06 by Just Mason It probably comes as no surprise that [today] is the anniversary of the January 6th coup attempt in Washington, DC. Everyone in America saw the chaos erupt that day, and has seen the footage replayed time and again; […]
Just Mason’s Favorite Books of 2021
A Predominantly Political Plethora of Vigorously Veritable Volumes 2021 saw the release of a number of books that seek to explain the multitudinous crises faced by humanity. The following are my picks for the most insightful, incisive and influential efforts from some of the best journalists and academics in the world. They range from novel […]
Just Mason’s Favorite Albums of 2021
2021.12.11 by Just Mason This year saw some absolutely amazing releases…so many, in fact, that I had a hard time narrowing my list down to 50 outstanding albums. This is easily my most deep, diverse, and dynamic annual playlist yet. For those who don’t have the time to sit down and listen to each album […]
The COP-out in Glasgow (Week 2)
2021.11.13 by Just Mason The first week of COP26 was characterized by the divide between the Global North and South, the exclusion of those most vulnerable to climate change from policy decisions, and continued inaction by the world’s worst polluters. The second week has helped to clarify the roots of those problems, as leaders of […]
The COP-out in Glasgow (Week 1)
2021.11.06 by Just Mason On 31 October 2021, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), ostensibly tasked with “preventing ‘dangerous’ human interference with the climate system”, convened its twenty-sixth Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland. Initially, the annual conference was supposed to happen last year, but was suspended due to the COVID-19 […]
Donziger vs. Chevron
2021.10.11 by Just Mason On October 1, human rights lawyer Steven Donziger was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison for criminal contempt of court. The sentencing is the latest in a years-long effort to punish Donziger for his work in securing an historic settlement for the people of Ecuador in their case against Chevron’s […]
The Anti-Democratic Role of the Senate Parliamentarian
2021.09.21 by Just Mason Elizabeth MacDonough has held the office of Senate Parliamentarian for nearly 10 years, since being appointed by Senator Harry Reid in 2012. She is only the 8th person to have held this office since it was created in 1935. Ostensibly, the role of the Parliamentarian is to resolve conflicts between prior […]
Justice for the Future
2021.09.20 by Just Mason The concept of environmental justice has garnered a fair amount of attention over the last 30 years. The movement had its beginnings in communities of color taking a stand against the disposal of toxic pollutants generated in wealthier areas (Warren County African American History Collective 2021). Today, the people of island […]
Climate Madness
2021.09.19 by Just Mason A number of studies in recent years have focused on the relationship between global climate change and mental health. Particularly concerning is the effect the crisis is having on the world’s youth. As unfortunate as this trend is, it should not be terribly surprising. The deleterious impact humans are having on […]