Zócalo Public Square

1 week ago | zocalopublicsquare.org | Joe Mathews

In this dark moment of American dictatorship, California has turned on a small democratic light. It’s called Engaged California, and it’s an online, nonpartisan tool for Californians to deliberate with one another and engage with their government. At first glance, it might not seem like much.

1 week ago | zocalopublicsquare.org | Rick Wartzman

“We’re standing up for the American worker,” Donald Trump said from the Rose Garden during his “Liberation Day” address announcing sweeping new tariffs. That’s no surprise. Upending the global trading system is a major goal for a key part of his political base: those walloped by free trade with low-wage countries—among them Mexico and, especially, China. These workers have been thirsting to bring back the good jobs they (or at least their parents) once had. If only.

2 weeks ago | zocalopublicsquare.org | Joe Mathews

Meet the real president of the United States. His name is Gavin Christopher Newsom. He is the chief executive of America’s richest and most populous state, having been elected by more people than any other governor. And in this peculiar moment, that makes him the real president, by default. Sure, there’s a guy living in the White House who some people call president. But real presidents swear an oath to execute the laws and to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.

1 month ago | zocalopublicsquare.org | Joe Mathews

We are all undocumented now. We Americans no longer have undeniable legal status in this country. Our rights, our organizations, our jobs, our health, our schools, our laws, our constitution—all are now provisional, subject to the whims of the White House tyrant who calls himself “the King.”None of us can count on the power of citizenship anymore. The U.S. Constitution may say that all persons born here are citizens. But the King says he may cancel the Constitution by executive order.

1 month ago | zocalopublicsquare.org | Gwen Muranaka

In the frantic final month before the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) pavilion closed for an extended renovation, the museum rushed to stage an exhibition of Mario Reyes’ work.  For years, Mario had been the photo editor of the Rafu Shimpo, the Los Angeles Japanese American daily newspaper. Now, his health was failing. In late September, he summoned me and his longtime friend Darlene Kuba to his Boyle Heights home.