Two-party system
For the time being, and for the foreseeable future, we live in a two-party system. That means that Democrats are the only political party that can check the power of Trump, MAGA and Republicans who choose to bow to a fascist regime. It also means that Democrats have to win in the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 general election.
This is a tall order given all the woes that currently beset the party: no clear leader, lousy messaging, an inability to connect with young people and, perhaps most importantly to recognize with the recent observance of Labor Day, the loss of working class voters including low-income and low-propensity voters.
Yet this could also be an opportunity. To paraphrase NASA’s Gene Krantz during the Apollo 13 crisis in 1970, “This could be our (Democrats) finest hour.” Labor Day can serve as a reminder to us that working people have the power to drastically alter the political environment. We have seen this time and again in our country’s history: think of the conditions that led to the New Deal, the civil rights movement, and the war on poverty.
As Bishop William J. Barber from the Poor People’s campaign has noted, the combination of working people, moral leaders, and strong allies coming together can “reconstruct democracy”.
– Ward Kanowsky
International affairs
National security is of utmost importance; foreign aid is how we secure it.
National security and foreign aid are often seen as tangential entities. National security conjures images of large, marching militaries or closed, concrete borders. Foreign aid is seen as a nonprofit undertaking, one carried out by large organizations like UNICEF or smaller local enterprises.
These vivid images are not completely stereotypical, but they don’t paint the whole picture. As an intern at the Borgen Project, I learnt a very vital dogma: foreign aid secures national security.
There are pronounced correlations that prove that focusing on non-combat, diplomatic strategies can alleviate poverty in developing countries while securing America’s borders.
The most dangerous countries in the world are also the poorest. Families who cannot afford expensive education send their kids to religious schools, which, while providing an avenue for education, can also be a breeding ground for extremist ideology.
In the late 1980s, Charlie Wilson pleaded for Congress to build schools in Afghanistan after their war with the Soviets. The consequences of his failed plea can be seen in the rise of extremism in Afghanistan in the following years.
The solution to this cause is best summarized by former secretary of defense Chuck Hagel:
“America’s role in the world should reflect the hope and promise of our country, and possibilities for all mankind, tempered with a wisdom that has been the hallmark of our national character. That means pursuing a principled and engaged realism that employs diplomatic, economic, and security tools as well as our values to advance our security and our prosperity.”
— Atheeth Ravikrishnan
Teen’s nonprofit brings music education to kids
As a high school student, I’m proud to share the work of Youthtones, a nonprofit I started with a team of teen volunteers to bring music education to kids in the Bay Area. Our mission is simple: connect young musicians with children to provide free or affordable music lessons.
Through YouthTones, our team helps students develop not only musical skills, but also confidence, creativity, and a sense of community. What makes this program special is that it’s entirely run by teens — our volunteers aren’t just teaching music, they’re mentoring and inspiring the next generation of young musicians.
Watching the students grow, overcome challenges, and find joy in music has been incredibly rewarding. Many families in our area don’t have easy access to music lessons, and YouthTones helps fill that gap.
I hope our story inspires others to recognize the power of youth leadership and the impact a group of motivated teens can have in their community. Music has the power to bring people together, and our team at YouthTones is dedicated to making that power accessible to every child who wants to learn.
— Henna Lam
AI ethics
When I began studying artificial intelligence as a college student, I learned how AI could be a tool for social good, helping us understand climate change, improve public health and reduce waste through smart automation. I still see that potential. But the way we are building AI today is taking us further from that vision.
Like many students entering tech, I first saw AI as innovation. I was taught to celebrate breakthroughs in machine learning, natural language processing and automation. But it did not take long before I started questioning what was missing from those conversations.
The environmental costs of large scale AI models are enormous. A 2023 MIT report found that training a single large language model could emit over 626 thousand pounds of carbon dioxide, equal to five cars over their lifetimes. These models run in data centers that consume massive electricity and water, often in areas already strained by climate change.
These facts are not minor. They are just ignored. Something we also overlook is the labor behind AI. Thousands of underpaid workers in countries like Kenya, the Philippines and Venezuela label toxic content so others can have so called safe systems. Their trauma goes unseen.
In school, we barely talked about climate or workers. That needs to change.
AI can support climate action, but not if it causes harm or worsens inequality. We cannot build sustainable solutions on extractive foundations.
I still believe in AI. But belief is not enough. If we do not build ethically now, we may not get a second chance.
– Aadya Madgula