Alyssa Bowen

May 7, 2024 | msmagazine.com | Ansev Demirhan |Alyssa Bowen

The Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling that reinstated a draconian 1864 near-total abortion ban reveals the disingenuous nature of the “leave-it-to-the-states” positioning of some Republicans—who are concerned about abortion restrictionsonly so much as they are proving exceptionally unpopular with most Americans. In response to the state Supreme Court’s decision, Democrats spearheaded legislation to repeal that law, which was recently signed by Gov. Katie Hobbs (D).

Jan 27, 2024 | znetwork.org | Ansev Demirhan |Lisa Graves |Alyssa Bowen

The last week of every January, right-wing groups like Charles Koch’s Americans for Prosperity promote “National School Choice Week” (NSCW). Unlike other commemorative national weeks or months — such as Black History Month or Pride Month — NSCW did not emerge from an organic grassroots movement. Though touting a misleading notion of equal access to education, its billionaire-backed policy agenda pulls money away from universal public schools.

Oct 2, 2023 | rethinkingschools.org | Alyssa Bowen

High school senior Saleh Walton stepped before the audience of some 100 New Jersey middle and high school students and educators in the Seton Hall University auditorium on April 27, 2023. Ushering in the first day of the second annual “Model Gary” student convention, her words echoed through the hall, evoking approving grunts and snaps, before the crowd broke into applause. . . . I’m still trying to figure out what we do to you.

Sep 17, 2023 | truthout.org | Jimmy Cloutier |Alyssa Bowen |Lisa Graves |Zach Despart

This story was originally published by Open Secrets in collaboration with the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO. Independent political groups backed largely by “dark money” organizations and wealthy donors have spent nearly $1.7 million on Virginia candidates this election cycle, raising concerns about transparency and the influence of outside money in the tightly contested battle for control of the General Assembly.

Aug 15, 2023 | truthout.org | Kwolanne Felix |Alyssa Bowen |Pranav Jani

The College Board, the nonprofit that devises Advanced Placement (AP) courses, recently announced its AP psychology course was effectively banned by the Florida Board of Education. The course discusses psychological concepts aligned with current research about gender and sexuality that violate Florida’s abhorrent “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The College Board has rightly refused to censor science for Florida politicians’ ideological agenda.