Bernie Horn

Group Identification, Rather Than Policy, Explains The 2016 Election

June 22, 2016

Donald Trump connects with a certain group of voters not through the policies he espouses, but by the language he uses to say "I'm on your side." He is the living, breathing caricature of that group.

Can We Do Anything About Murderous Assault Weapons?

June 13, 2016

The murderer in Orlando used an AR-15 assault weapon. The story is so awfully familiar. What is an assault weapon, what makes them so dangerous, and why can't we get rid of them?

American Culture Is Threatened by Hate Speech

June 6, 2016

If we allow Donald Trump to radically alter our national culture, to make the unacceptable acceptable, it will be nearly impossible to change it back. Crudeness and bigotry will become mainstream—the new normal.

Dear Justice Kennedy: Stand Against This Assault On The Constitution

March 1, 2016

The Supreme Court hears arguments Wednesday on the constitutionality of a Texas anti-abortion law (HB 2). This case is the result of a constitutional crisis, and the court's ruling will determine whether or not that crisis is resolved.

Can We Talk About Assault Weapons?

December 8, 2015

We all know that some guns should be banned or severely restricted. What about assault weapons like the AR-15 used to murder 14 in San Bernardino, Calif.? There is more reason to ban this weapon than almost any other.

Did Arne Duncan Just Surrender on Standardized Testing?

October 26, 2015

The Education department, in a dramatic policy shift, admitted it has encouraged an overreliance on standardized testing in schools. But aside from the astonishing new rhetoric, what will the department actually do?

What Can We Do About Guns?

October 5, 2015

Americans favor—and have always favored—strong legislation to oversee and restrict gun ownership. So why are politicians afraid of promoting gun laws and what can we, as a practical matter, do about it?

Pope Francis Suggests a Progressive Freedom of Religion

September 28, 2015

Conservatives hoped and expected Pope Francis would praise their hard-line opposition to abortion, contraception and LGBT rights. But they could not have been more disappointed in what he actually said.

What’s Behind All Those “Violent Crime Increasing” Stories?

September 21, 2015

The media have been reporting a sharp increase in murders across America's cities. Is the story entirely accurate? And where violent crime problems exist, what's the cause and what can be done?

Common Core “Results” Aren’t Actually Test Scores

September 1, 2015

In the near future we can expect a flood of stories about "scores" on the Common Core tests. But these will be wildly misleading because the numbers that will be released are not actually test "scores."

Key Progressive Victories in States and Localities

August 28, 2015

Progressive lawmakers are leading cutting-edge policy debates and enacting a series of innovations, protections and reforms. Here are some of the top progressive legislative accomplishments of 2015.

Time to Kill the Death Penalty

August 25, 2015

On the surface Americans still favor the death penalty by a margin of two to one. And yet, progressives should now feel comfortable on this issue, especially in a primary election.

The Flag That Offends 100 Million Americans

June 22, 2015

The horrific massacre at the Emanuel AME Church signals that It's long past time to take down the Confederate flag. If the Charleston murderer understands that that flag represents his racist cause, why doesn’t everyone?

Data Smokescreen Covers Up Real Problems in Public Education

June 12, 2015

The testing/data mania in education is not only failing to measure how well schools are serving their students, it is acting as a smokescreen that covers up the real problems in public education.

A Golden Opportunity to Strengthen the “Progressive” Brand

April 19, 2015

“Progressive” is our nation’s most popular political term, but most voters don’t really know what it means. We can help Americans understand and appreciate the progressive philosophy as we work to pull Hillary Clinton in that direction.

The Indiana Law Promoting Discrimination Is a New Low

March 30, 2015

Last week, Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed into law the so-called “Religious Freedom Restoration Act.” Now Pence is complaining that the law isn't much different from 20 others. But, unfortunately, it is.

Gun Ownership Is Declining, So Why Is The Gun Lobby So Powerful?

March 16, 2015

Last week, the General Social Survey reported that gun ownership has declined to a record low. So why does it seem like the gun lobby is strengthening while their numbers are weakening?

Promote “Fair Markets,” Not “Free Markets”

March 9, 2015

To say the words “free markets” is to perpetuate a dangerous right-wing myth. There's no such thing. So promote “fair markets,” not free markets. We must reinforce the progressive concept, not the conservative one.

There’s No Such Thing As “Free” Markets

March 1, 2015

Voters are less familiar with—or think less about—the many government programs that the rich and powerful use to warp markets in their favor. Let us count the ways.

The Right-Wing Surge in the States

February 23, 2015

In state legislatures, 2015 is the right wing's best chance to enact the most extreme legislation. The right has made clear three overarching goals: weaken labor unions, suppress voting, and satisfy their religious extremists.

The Science of Political Persuasion – Part Two

February 9, 2015

Knowing the science behind political stubbornness, here's what's going on inside the minds of persuadable voters and five rules for dealing with confirmation bias and negative triggers.

The Science of Political Persuasion – Part One

February 2, 2015

When deciding whether to agree with you, people rely on emotion and ingrained beliefs far more than facts. Let us explore why people’s brains work this way and use the information to restructure our arguments to make them more effective.

Progressive Wedge Issues for Cities and States

January 26, 2015

For years, conservatives used “wedge issues” to split moderates from progressives. It's time to promote some progressive wedge issues and our best opportunities for both publicity and passage are in states, cities and counties.

The State of the States and Localities

January 20, 2015

Due to the ghastly 2014 elections, the GOP controls more state legislative bodies than at any time since the 1920s. The best defense is a good offense; progressives need to go on the offensive with smart, populist legislation.

Let’s Be Clear: It’s The “Republican Congress”

January 12, 2015

Democrats suffered a shellacking in part because voters didn’t know who to blame for the dysfunctional do-nothing 113th Congress. Progressives now have the opportunity and duty to make clear who’s at fault.

Top 10 Legislative Victories of 2014

January 5, 2015

While legislative efforts to advance economic and social justice were thoroughly frustrated in Congress, there were true progressive victories in states and localities across America. Here are the Top 10 for 2014.

Hope Is in the Cities and States

December 17, 2014

Over the next two years, Washington will be a horror show. But that doesn’t mean we can’t win progressive victories in 2015. We can dramatically change policy by focusing on cities and states.

About Bernie Horn