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Five Political News Sites
Astra Taylor
Astra Taylor directed the 2005 documentary Zizek! and is currently editing her next feature, Examined Life. With Laura Hanna she founded Hidden Driver, a New York-based production company specializing in feature-length and short-form documentaries that explore intellectual, cultural and political issues.
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The Nation
The Nation is America's oldest weekly magazine. It's also the first place I go whenever I need to get my head around a current political event, especially anything campaign-related. In this world of "fair and balanced" corporate spin-zone crapola, it's good to be reminded what real journalism looks like.
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FAIR
Speaking of corporate crap news, the good people at FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting) scan it with a fine-tooth comb, uncovering and exposing innumerable instances of media bias and creating action alerts so you can help make a difference. Essential reading, especially during election season.
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Grist
The ecological beat covered with panache. Grist is a good place to visit if you want the green word on everything from picking out solar panels to choosing a political candidate.
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Left Business Observer
Given all the worry about recession, I recommend checking out Left Business Observer, the work of economist Doug Henwood, a man with the rare ability to make the dismal science compelling (who else in his field has been called a "wicked genius" by sexpert Susie Bright?). Though not a conventional news site, the archive of Henwood's list-serv, lbo-talk, is a great place to lurk and learn. As if that weren't enough, once a week Henwood posts his excellent hour-long radio show, Behind The News, for your listening pleasure.
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Feministing
According the mainstream media the F-word is out of style, but Feministing shows it just isn't so.
