Progressive Sites

This page lists the top progressive and liberal websites plus many smaller sites. Note that the news section in this list is mainly intended for a U.S. audience.


Major U.S. Organizations

The Democratic Party -- the oldest political party in the United States, tracing its heritage back to Thomas Jefferson

AFL-CIO -- coalition of labor unions

Move On -- has more than three million members

National Organization for Women -- this leading feminist group was founded in 1966

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) -- has won many major legal battles since its formation almost 100 years ago

CREDO Action -- major progressive group with four million members

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) -- a pioneering organization, founded in 1909

Common Cause

Young Democrats of America -- founded in 1932

Americans For Democratic Action -- founded in 1947, one of the oldest liberal activist organizations in the United States

Progressive Democrats of America

UltraViolet -- large women's rights organization

Black Lives Matter -- has rapidly gained prominence

Center for American Progress

People for the American Way -- a leading activist organization

All On The Line

The Green Party of the United States -- a federation of state Green Parties committed to environmentalism, non-violence, and social justice.

Democratic Socialists of America -- has chapters in dozens of U.S. cities

Campaign for America's Future

Democracy Alliance -- major network of donors working for progressive causes



News and Opinion Sites

This category contains some of the largest and best-known progressive websites. Although every type of news may be covered, the focus is often on U.S. social and political issues.

The Huffington Post

Daily Kos

Alternet

Common Dreams -- Very popular and informative site. Ad-free.

Political Wire

The Atlantic -- storied liberal publication founded in 1857

Raw Story

Mediaite -- focuses on the news media

Daily Beast

The New Republic -- founded in 1914 but still very progressive

Crooks and Liars

Slate Magazine

Axios

Salon

The Progressive -- one of the oldest U.S. liberal publications (1909)

Mother Jones -- the original print magazine was launched in 1976

Talking Points Memo

MSNBC

Vox -- news and commentary

Daily Intelligencer

McClatchy News -- the original newspaper began publication in 1857

The Nation

Semafor -- wide-ranging news coverage

Progressive Review Online Report -- print magazine was launched in 1966

Nation of Change -- covers U.S. progressive activism

Democracy Now!

Drudge Retort -- a good retort is better than a false report

Reader Supported News

Jezebel -- U.S. politics as viewed by progressive women

The Root -- covers activism in the U.S. black community

Latino News

News of the United States -- launched in January 2024

The American Prospect

Capitol Hill Blue

The Washington Monthly -- web home of the well-known liberal print magazine

The Bulwark

Insider

National Memo

19th News -- named after 19th Amendment; covers political gains of women

PolitiZoom

The Daily Ripple -- aggregator of news stories from liberal sources

The American Independent

Democratic Underground -- latest breaking news forum

Wonkette -- very combative

PoliticusUSA

More News and Opinion Sites: A Supplemental List


The Problem of Bias in Mainstream News Coverage

Conservatives often accuse mainstream U.S. news organizations of having an intentionally liberal bias. Actually the opposite is true -- most mainstream news coverage in the United States has a distinctly conservative slant.

This conservative slant mainly stems from the business interests of the large corporations that own these news media. Increasing the audience size and keeping advertisers happy are the top priorities, but the political views of top corporate executives can also have an influence. In these circumstances I want to give credit to some of the organizations that still retain a degree of independence in their reporting. Here are links to six of them.

New York Times National Public Radio
Washington Post Associated Press
Los Angeles Times Politico


The Fight for Truth

Conservative politicians and allied interest groups relentlessly bombard the American public with lies and misinformation. Conservative interests control at least one major cable news channel, as well as numerous radio stations, newspapers, and websites. In addition, thousands of internet "robots" and bogus accounts are used to spread false information on facebook, twitter, and other social media. And much of the Republican success in recent U.S. elections has been due to negative television "attack ads" filled with fabrications and distortions.

Right-wing voters are mainly motivated by hate, especially by their hatred for truth.

Unfortunately the mainstream American media, evidently afraid of alienating part of their viewership, makes no effort to correct even the most blatant Republican lies. Thus it is left to progressives to take up the fight for truth and justice. The following list shows some of the leaders in this fight.

Washington Post Fact Checker

Politifact

Media Matters -- covers bias and dishonesty in the news media

FactCheck.org

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)

Right Wing Watch

Truth Out

ProPublica Investigations

Independent Media Institute

HateWatch -- monitors the activities of the American radical right

WhoWhatWhy

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting

Political Research Associates (PublicEye.org) -- exposes the activities of violent right-wing extremist groups in the United States

Center for Public Integrity -- investigative journalism

Muck Rock -- specializes in the use of the Freedom of Information Act

TruthDig

Open Secrets (Center for Responsive Politics) -- tracts the flow of money in U.S. politics

Committee to Protect Journalists -- defends freedom of the press

SourceWatch

Advance Democracy

NewsHounds -- covers a major conservative news network

Snopes

News Match -- supports small independent news organizations

Hamilton 68 -- monitors Russian interference in American politics

Press Watch

Poynter Institute

Free Press -- covers attempts to restrict free speech

CounterPunch

Project Censored



Election Campaign Groups

These organizations are primarily focused on the goal of electing progressive candidates to public offices, at both the national and local levels. Other activities include the registering of new voters and the sponsoring of liberal ballot initiatives. Control of state and local governments, as well as the presidency and the congress, is essential to moving toward a better American society.

The progressive coalition, which provided the votes for President Obama's two victories, includes women, minorities, young people, worker groups, and traditional liberal democrats. Unfortunately these groups are still badly under-represented in government, mainly because of extensive gerrymandering and voter suppression efforts by office-holding conservatives.

Note: Many of the organizations listed in the first category on this page provide assistance to the campaigns of democratic candidates.

Progressive Change Campaign Committee

Ballot Initiative Strategy Center

ActBlue -- helps state and local liberal candidates raise money from small donors

EMILY's List -- helps fund the campaigns of liberal women candidates

State Innovation Exchange

Priorities USA Action -- supports candidates of the democratic party

League of Women Voters -- formed in 1920 shortly before women gained the right to vote

Democracy for America

National Committee for an Effective Congress -- founded in 1948 by Eleanor Roosevelt to help elect progressive candidates to the U.S. Congress

Women's March Coalition

NextGen America

Project Vote

American Bridge SuperPAC -- Major SuperPAC does campaign funding and opposition research

America Votes

House Majority PAC -- supports democratic candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives

Senate Majority PAC

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Rock the Vote -- strives to increase the political awareness of young people

Our Revolution

National Popular Vote -- a movement to elect the president by the popular vote

Latino Victory Fund

National Democratic Redistricting Committee -- takes legal actions against attempts at voter suppression and gerrymandering

All On The Line

Fair Vote

The Collective PAC -- helps elect black candidates

SuperMajority

Voter Participation Center

Emerge America -- provides training for progressive women who run for political office

When We All Vote

Bold PAC -- supports liberal Hispanic candidates

Onward Together

Red Wine and Blue -- organization that focuses on surburban women voters

Independence USA PAC

For Our Future

Progressive Punch -- shows voting records of members of Congress

Aggressive Progressives

National Redistricting Action Fund

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee -- works to elect Democrats to U.S. state legislatures

Black Voters Matter

SixteenThirty Fund

Democracy Docket -- fights attempts to restrict voting rights

iVote

Fair Elections Legal Network -- provides legal assistance to voter mobilization organizations

BlackPAC

VoteSaveAmerica

Blue Dog PAC

League of Conservation Voters -- supports candidates who will help protect the environment

Rapid Resist

Voto Latino -- encourages young people to become more politically involved

SwingLeft

Elect Democratic Women PAC

Flippable

Activate America

Vote Vets -- promotes candidacies of liberal U.S. military veterans

Working Families Party

Run for Something -- recruits and supports first-time progressive candidates

Real Justice PAC

National Democratic Training Committee

Electing Women Alliance

Rural Organizing -- progressive organization that works in rural communities

Fair Fight

Blue America

Free Speech For People -- defends the core democratic principles embodied in the U.S. Constitution

Netroots Foundation

Voters Of Tomorrow

Demand Progress

Climate Hawks Vote PAC

Secular Values Voter

Really American PAC

Justice Democrats

Vote.org -- fights attempts to suppress the vote


Election Polls and Predictions

The Downballot   DecisionDesk (Live Results)   Crystal Ball

Princeton University   FiveThirtyEight   Real Clear Politics



Activist Resources

These websites provide online resources that can help individuals or groups organize demonstrations, public protests, and boycotts.

Action Network -- offers online tools for taking rapid actions

Indivisible -- movement to resist the radical right-wing agenda

PeoplePower

Corporate Backers of Hate -- organizes campaigns against corporations that profit from hate-based Republican policies

The Petition Site -- online petition campaigns

Democratic Coalition Against Right-Wing Politicians

Salsa Labs

RootsAction

Left Action

Ballotpedia -- provides detailed information about the results of past U.S. elections as well as the scheduled dates for future elections

Civiqs Public Opinion Trends -- historical charts of the public's shifting views on major social and political issues. Updated daily

Roll Call Election Campaign News -- covers state and local elections



Discussion Board Forums

Many liberal activists become members of online communities where they can discuss current political, social, and environmental issues. In addition, in some forums the discussions often center on strategies for achieving progressive goals.

Democratic Underground -- very active well-known forum

Reddit: Progressive

Thom Hartmann Message Boards



Blog Sites

Because there are hundreds of progressive and liberal bloggers on the web, it isn't practical to include most of them in this list. Also, many people who start a blog will abandon it within one or two years because they don't attract many followers or simply aren't able to continue doing the work it takes to keep making new posts. So for these reasons, this list is limited to established blogs and blog hubs. Also, please note that many of the best-known writers can be found at the news and opinion sites.

Political Wire -- by Taegan Goddard

Paul Krugman -- well-known New York Times blogger

Brad Blog -- by Brad Friedman

The Plum Line -- Greg Sargent's blog (Washington Post)

Robert Reich

AMERICAblog -- a hub of progressive bloggers

Robert Kuttner

Balloon Juice

John Nichols

Eschaton

Driftglass Blog

Hullabaloo (Digby's Blog) -- well-known blog of Heather Digby Parton

Empty Wheel -- by progressive blogger Marcy Wheeler

John Avlon

Smirking Chimp

Shakesville -- feminist blog

WhoWhatWhy -- A major hub of progressive reporters and bloggers

Chris Weigant

Amy Walter

Jay Bookman

Mark Sumner

Amanda Marcotte

Blog of Charles P. Pierce

CounterPunch

Jane Mayer

Tom Nichols

Lawfare -- examines legal aspects of major social and political issues

Monkey Cage

Egberto Willies

Sonali Kolhatkar

Angry Bear

BillMoyers.com -- web hub of several progressive bloggers

Brian Beutler

Ebony Slaughter-Johnson

Sarah Kendzior

Green That Life -- blog about living a green lifestyle

Lawyers, Guns, and Money

First Draft

Emily Shugerman

Rude Pundit

Free Press Blog Hub -- covers attacks on the freedom of the press

alicublog

Dan Pfeiffer

Little Green Footballs

David F. Ruccio -- includes good political cartoons

Progressive Populist

Angry White Men -- covers activities of white supremacists

The Immoral Minority

Shooting the Messenger

David Remnick -- writes for the New Yorker

TomDispatch

Matt Bai -- national political columnist for Yahoo News

Eclecta Blog

No More Mister Nice Blog

Greg Palast

Ms. Magazine Blog

Down with Tyranny

Living Blue in Texas -- because facts have a liberal bias

The Mahablog

The Daily Howler

The View From Here

Consortium News

The Hechinger Report -- a blog about issues regarding U.S. education

Joe.My.God

Heather Cox Richardson -- history behind the news

Leonard Pitts -- Miami Herald columnist

Rubber Hose

Surburban Guerrilla



Progressive Humor

Not only can humor produce laughs, it can also be one of the most effective ways of pointing out flaws and inconsistencies in the belief systems of U.S. conservatives. The use of cartoons has a long tradition in American politics, going back to the pre-revolutionary era, and humorous slogans have played an important role in many election campaigns. The following websites are especially good at using satire, parody, and ridicule to advance liberal ideas, and for this reason are among the most popular progressive sites on the web.

The Comic News -- political cartoons

The Onion

Ironic Times

Wonkette

The Nib -- political satire site includes work by many different cartoonists

Mike Luckovich Cartoons

McSweeney's Humor -- news parody

Funny Times

Brian McFadden -- BigFatWhale

GoComics

Clay Jones Cartoons

The Halfway Post -- satire on current news events

Wanda Sykes

Steve Sack -- cartoons for progressives

This Modern World -- by Tom Tomorrow

Doonesbury

DailyKos Humor Section

Mark Fiore Website

Ward Sutton -- political cartoons

The Borowitz Report

Black Cartoonist Keith Knight

Jen Sorensen Comics

Clickhole

Fundies Say the Darndest Things

The Liberal Redneck



Audio and Video

One of the best ways to make progressive views known to the American public is through live television and radio broadcasts. These shows often include interviews with well-known activists, and most allow viewers or listeners to call in and make comments and ask questions. Some liberal media personalities also reach large audiences by means of podcasts. One primary purpose of these shows is to fight the flood of lies and misinformation continually being put out by conservative political groups. Humor and satire are sometimes also used for this same purpose, as well as to provide entertainment for the audiences.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of the shows and podcasts in this category can be found on sites such as tunein.com, stitcher.com, itunes.apple.com, and castbox.fm. But because these shows tend to move around, and are often available at more than one internet location, some of the links in this list point to a personal or company web page where you can find the latest scheduling information.

Rachel Maddow -- tv show and podcast

The Professional Left Podcast

The Stephanie Miller Show -- humorous live TV and radio broadcast

David Pakman

The Real News Network

Progressive Voices -- major progressive web radio station

The Young Turks

Kagro in the Morning -- a DailyKos Radio Webcast

The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell

Randi Rhodes

Crooked Media -- showcases progressive voices

Best of the Left Podcast

Thom Hartmann Show -- liberal talk

Bob Cesca

Mike Malloy

Ring of Fire

The Majority Report

Rick Smith

Slate Political Gabfest

Netroots Radio -- webcast

The Daily Show

Pacifica Radio

WCPT Chicago's Progressive Talk

TED.com

Democracy Now! -- daily news show

Hopping Mad

The Laura Flanders Show

American Urban Radio Network -- African-American owned radio stations

John Oliver

Norman Goldman

White Rose Society -- has historical archives of many discontinued progressive podcasts

The Leslie Marshall Show

The Zero Hour

Redacted Tonight -- with host Lee Camp

Counterpoint Radio

The Sane Progressive

WooCast Election Coverage -- podcast about U.S. election campaigns

The Humanist Report

Alternative Radio

NowThisNews

UNFTR podcast -- covers U.S. politics from a progressive perspective

Empire Files

Democracy at Work

Talk Nation Radio

Free Speech TV -- a progressive television network

The Intercept / Podcasts



Social Justice

Numerous organizations are working to bring an end to the many forms of discrimination in the United States. The protection of basic civil rights for all members of society is a main priority, but many subtle forms of intolerance also need attention. Although much progress has been made in the past, old attitudes don't die easily, and a number of discriminatory practices are still common. The main victims include racial minorities, immigrants, women, and GLBT groups. In the worst cases, extremist hate groups commit acts of violence against their chosen targets. We've come a long way, but much work still needs to be done.

Advancement Project -- multi-racial civil rights organization

Leadership Conference on Civil Rights -- a coalition of more than 200 U.S. organizations

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

National Organization for Women

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) -- founded in 1909

UltraViolet -- major women's rights activist group

Black Lives Matter

National Congress of American Indians -- the oldest and largest organization created to serve the needs of Native Americans

National Women's Law Center -- fights for women's equality and opportunity

Truth Wins Out -- counters anti-gay propaganda

Urban Institute

UnidosUS -- a leading defender of the rights of Latinos

League of United Latin American Citizens -- the oldest Hispanic organization in the United States

Southern Poverty Law Center -- uses legal actions to fight hate and bigotry

Alliance for Justice

Highlander Center -- a pioneering organization established in Monteagle, Tennessee in 1932

Highlander Center Bookstore -- sells books that express the views of the down-trodden

National Urban League

Color of Change -- has more than one million members

Demos

Open Society Foundation

Human Rights Campaign -- largest U.S. LGBT advocacy group

Children's Defense Fund

Indigenous Environmental Network -- Represents native Americans

Center for American Progress

Equal Justice Initiative -- works to correct racial and economic injustices

Southern Coalition for Social Justice

American Atheists -- fights government policies that discriminate against non-Christians

National Action Network

Communist Party USA -- founded in 1919

The New Civil Rights Movement -- advocate for LGBT rights

National Council of Negro Women -- founded in 1935

Native American Rights Fund

United We Dream -- large immigrant youth-led organization

Human Rights First

Organization of Chinese Americans

Feministe -- web home of some progressive feminist bloggers

Rainbow Push Coalition

American Indian Movement (A.I.M.)

America Action -- provides assistance to immigrants

America's Voice

Kids in Need of Defense -- protects unaccompanied children who enter the U.S. immigration system

Future Forward USA Action

Freedom for All Americans

National Lawyers Guild -- provides free legal services to activists

Secular Woman

Know Your IX -- promotes efforts to end gender-based discrimination in schools

The Sanders Institute

American Federation of Teachers -- founded in 1916

United Negro College Fund

Knight First Amendment Institute -- defends freedom of speech and freedom of the press

National Immigration Law Center

New Poor People's Campaign -- The original campaign took place in the 1960s

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Americans United for Change

Generation Progress -- youth-centered activist organization

Sunlight Foundation

The New Agenda -- a national women's advocacy group

Council on American-Islamic Relations

Drum Major Institute for Public Policy

Women's Media Center -- works to increase the role of women in U.S news organizations

Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism

Race Forward

Mass Freedom Project

Campaign Legal Center -- takes legal actions against gerrymandering and attempts by conservatives to restrict voting rights

Young Invincibles

National Stonewall Democrats -- a voice for LGBT Americans

Prison Reform Initiative

Ms. Foundation for Women -- tries to advance social, cultural, and economic changes in women's lives

Democracy Fund

Their Future - Our Vote

Immigrant Legal Resource Center

Survival International

Association for Women's Rights in Development -- progressive group that focuses on attaining gender equality.

Smash Racism DC

The Arc -- advocates for people with disabilities

Women Against Registry Family Foundation

Waging Non-Violence

Towleroad -- LGBT rights

Shadow Proof -- works for prison reforms


Active Opposition to the Alt-Right

These progressive organizations are thwarting the cowardly misfits who want to destroy our democracy.

Rose City Antifa

Torch Antifa Network

One People's Project

Anti-Fascist News -- in-depth articles

NYC Antifa



Nature and Environment

Human activities have already done enormous damage to the earth's natural environment, and undoubtedly will cause much more harm in the future. But many organizations are working to protect what is left. Preservation of the world's remaining forests is especially important, because trees and other plant life remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and this helps to fight global warming. Another area of major concern is the release of toxic fumes into the atmosphere and the dumping of poisonous chemicals into waterways. Some scientists believe that we have reached a critical stage in the history of the earth, and that another mass extinction of animal and plant species has begun.

The poisoning of our air and water lowers everyone's quality of life and adds billions of dollars to the cost of medical care in the United States every year. Numerous studies show that some environmental poisons can cause cancer and other diseases, as well as adversely affect the growth and mental development of children. Yet many conservative politicians have repeatedly fought efforts to clean up the environment and protect it from further damage. Many conservatives even oppose the conducting of scientific research on issues such as climate change, endangered species, and environmental damage.

Greenpeace USA

Sierra Club

Natural Resources Defense Council -- a major environmental organization with three million members

Friends of the Earth

American Forests -- oldest U.S. conservation organization, founded in 1875

EcoWatch

Environment America

350.org

Earth Justice -- takes legal actions to protect the environment

Environmental Defense Fund

The Climate Reality Project -- founded by Al Gore

League of Conservation Voters

Tree Hugger -- a large green blogosphere site

Grist -- a top environmental website

The Ruckus Society

Clean Water Action

The Nature Conservancy

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society -- protects wildlife in the world's oceans

Beyond Pesticides

Wilderness Society

Inhabitat

DeSmog News -- covers environment-related politics

Center for Biological Diversity

Conservation International

Earth911 -- a guide to recycling

Climate Central -- news about the environment

Arbor Day Foundation

National Audubon Society

Rainforest Trust -- buys and protects rainforest land

Defenders of Wildlife

Environmental News Network

Sunrise Movement -- youth-led climate organization

Wilderness Watch

Hazardous Waste News Archive -- Includes air pollution, toxic chemicals, health issues, and much more

Gaia Foundation

Energy News Network

Earth Island Institute

Climate Disobedience Center -- activist group

The Center for Plant Conservation

Oceana

The Xerces Society -- Founded in 1971 to protect bees and other insects from pesticides and habitat destruction

Union of Concerned Scientists

High Country News

American Rivers

Climate Power

OilChange International -- promotes the use of clean energy

Southern Environmental Law Center

NRDC Action Fund

As You Sow

Rainforest Alliance

American Prairie -- Purchases prairie land to protect critical natural habitat

Our Children's Trust

Wildearth Guardians

Coalition to Protect America's National Parks

Green New Deal

Food and Water Watch

Environmental Voter Project

Dogwood Alliance -- protects southern U.S. forest lands from commercial exploitation

Pesticide Action Network

Grand Staircase Escalante Partners

Forest Stewardship Council


The Shift to Clean Energy
Another progressive cause is winning out

For decades U.S. progressives have been advocating for greater use of clean renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and water power. The use of these sources is obviously much less harmful to the environment, and much better for the health of the American public, than is the use of coal and other fossil fuels.

Despite opposition from some conservative politicians, the Obama administration was able to adopt several policies that helped accelerate the shift to clean energy. As a result, by the end of his presidency more than 15% of U.S. electricity generation came from renewable energy sources, and the industry was one of the leading creators of new jobs in the American economy.

For more than 200 years, progressive causes have been winning out against conservative resistance and bringing improvements to American society. This shift to clean energy can be added to the list.

Green for All -- works for a green economy

Vote Solar Initiative

Inside Climate News -- reports on renewable energy projects



Economic Injustices

For many years the inflation-adjusted wages of ordinary workers in the U.S. have been declining, although average productivity has steadily increased. During this same period Republicans in Congress have repeatedly blocked proposed increases in the minimum wage that would have helped millions of the poor keep up with inflation. Meanwhile the wealthiest members of society have gotten an ever-greater share of the total income. Many corporate executives receive huge and totally-unjustified salaries, often continuing to do so even after making stupid management decisions that hurt the prospects of the company and sometimes put thousands of people out of work.

Other job-related problems include the lower pay rates for women and minorities, unsafe working conditions, and the exploitation of undocumented workers. Unnecessary government assistance to certain industries, particularly the subsidies to energy, agricultural, and healthcare companies, is another area of concern. Many companies also benefit from special tax breaks and loopholes. All of these are examples of the economic unfairness that has led to the uneven distribution of wealth in the United States and the widespread poverty found through much of the country.

United for a Fair Economy

Jobs with Justice -- fights for workers' rights

National Coalition for the Homeless

Working America

AFL-CIO

Fight for a higher minimum wage

People's Action

Coalition on Human Needs -- represents low-income families

Inequality.org

Industrial Workers of the World -- militant labor organization founded in Chicago in 1905

Progressive Labor Party

The Greenlining Institute

Institute for Policy Studies

Not One Penny -- opposes tax policies that favor the wealthy

Talk Poverty

Time's Up Legal Defense Fund

People's World -- formerly the Daily Worker

Center for Popular Democracy



Healthcare

Most of the problems in the U.S. healthcare system stem from the horribly inefficient bureaucracies of the big insurance companies. The inefficiency at these companies is the main reason why healthcare costs in the United States tend to be several times greater per person than in countries that have national healthcare systems, even though the overall quality of medical treatment is often worse in the U.S. Not only does the bureaucratic bloat of these private insurance companies add directly to the costs, the necessity of dealing with their complicated rules hinders the work of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

The big pharmaceutical companies also contribute to the problem, often charging far higher prices for their drugs within the United States than in other countries. Although the Affordable Care Act of 2010 has led to considerable progress in controlling costs and improving treatment, many improvements are still possible.

World Health Organization

Planned Parenthood

Reproductive Freedom For All

National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association

Rewire Healthcare News

Protect Our Care -- Families USA

Center for Reproductive Rights

Health Sherpa -- helps people find medical insurance

URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity

National Abortion Federation

Community Catalyst Action Fund

Access Matters

Physicians for Reproductive Health

National Nurses United

Whole Woman's Health

ReproAction

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Action on Smoking and Health -- takes legal actions to protect non-smokers' rights

TrustWomen

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Physicians for a National Health Program

Medicare For All PAC

Shift Stigma

American Medical Women's Association



Gun Violence

According to government statistics, gun violence kills about 30,000 people in the United States each year. To put this number in perspective, it is about five times greater than the total number of American lives lost in both Iraq wars combined. It is also a far higher rate of firearm-related deaths than is found in other developed western countries, all of which have much stricter gun control laws.

Efforts to reduce gun violence in the U.S. have been thwarted by the lobbying activities of the powerful National Rifle Association, which is actually controlled, not by recreational gun users as is claimed, but by firearms manufacturers. Gun making and gun selling are highly profitable businesses, and nobody should be surprised that companies in this industry fight so hard to protect "gun rights".

Whenever individual states and cities have managed to enact tighter gun control laws, the number of firearm-related deaths has always fallen significantly. But the gun lobby spends large sums of money to oppose such restrictions, and it takes a lot of effort to make any gains in this area.

Gun Violence Is A Problem We Don't Need to Have -- good article

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

Giffords Law Center Coalition to Stop Gun Violence

Gun Violence Statistics

The Trace -- excellent coverage of news related to gun violence

Mayors Against Illegal Guns

March For Our Lives

Gun Violence Archive

Americans for Responsible Solutions -- news about U.S. gun control legislation

Women against Gun Violence

Texas Gun Sense

Joyce Foundation

Sandy Hook Promise

Violence Policy Center

EveryTown for Gun Safety

Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America



Corporate Crimes

The administration of George W. Bush had little interest in enforcing many of the laws intended to protect the American public from corporate criminal activity. Many companies were allowed to violate environmental protection laws, and fraud in the financial industry eventually led to a severe economic crisis and the worst U.S. recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Although some of the guilty corporations have since been fined, greed is one of the strongest human motivations, and problems in this area will continue to recur.

Corporate Crime Reporter

PR Watch -- conducts in-depth investigations into corruption

Corporate Crime -- article

CorpWatch -- exposes corporate greed and corruption

Exposed!

In These Times -- reports on struggles against corporate power



Religious Freedom

Some conservative American Christians don't want a separation of church and state. They repeatedly attempt to use government resources and taxpayer money to help support Christian churches and schools, and they repeatedly try to pass laws that would impose their ideology on all Americans. But despite their efforts, U.S. society is becoming more secular. The recent growth of atheism in the U.S. has been particularly noteworthy.

Because of conservative attitudes, the burden of defending the freedom of religion mainly falls on progressives. The following groups work to preserve the right of every individual to hold his or her own beliefs without fear of being persecuted for them.

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State

Freedom From Religion Foundation

American Humanist Association

Openly Secular

Atheist Voter

Truth and Transparency -- news about corruption within religious institutions

American Ethical Union

Secular Coalition for America

Military Atheists and Freethinkers -- fights for religious freedom within the U.S. military

The Center for Freethought Equality -- promotes secular views


Political Exploitation of Religious Groups

Religion often plays a very detrimental role in American politics. The most obvious example is the exploitation of evangelical Christians, who tend to vote as a bloc, and often base their voting decisions on their religious beliefs rather than on what is best for society.

Some cynical Republican politicians use the votes of working-class evangelical Christians to get elected, but then pursue policies that benefit the wealthy and hurt the working class. In recent decades this has become one of the main obstacles to the efforts of progressives to improve U.S. society.

Dispatches From the Culture Wars

Pew Research Center Studies

Religion and Politics -- in-depth articles



Legalization of Marijuana

Many thousands of people are serving long sentences in U.S. prisons because of unreasonable prohibitions against the use of cannabis and other recreational drugs. The groups in the following list fight to eliminate the unjust laws and policies that have brought about this tragic situation. In fact in recent years there has been considerable progress toward this goal, and the recreational use of marijuana is now legal in some states.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) -- founded in 1970

Marijuana Policy Project

Drug Policy Alliance

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Drug Truth Network

Cannabis News

The Weed Blog -- covers the marijuana industry

Drug Policy Facts

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)

Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Hood Incubator -- helps minorities participate in the legal cannabis industry

Stop the Drug War

Merry Jane -- marijuana political and legal news

Drug Sense



Consumer Protection

Every year millions of Americans become victims of fraud and other dishonest business practices. This form of criminal activity is especially prevalent in the financial, healthcare, and home repair industries. To try to protect consumers, progressive law-makers have managed to enact various regulations and provide the means for enforcing them. Corporate interests and Republican politicians almost always oppose these protective measures and continually try to weaken or eliminate them, and to cut the budgets of the enforcement agencies. Even where strict enforcement of the laws is possible, attempts to evade or defy them never cease.

In addition to the work of the government agencies, numerous outside activist groups also try to uncover and expose fraudulent practices, and to fight for consumer rights and protections.

Bureau of Consumer Protection -- an agency of the U.S. Federal Trade Commision

USA.gov Consumer Complaints Website

State Consumer Protection Offices

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau -- a special government agency created to fight financial fraud

Food and Water Watch

Consumers Union

Public Citizen

Consumer Federation of America

U.S. PIRG -- federation of state Public Interest Research Groups

FoodSafety.gov

Electronic Privacy Information Center

U.S. Right to Know



International Issues

The goals of these organizations include preventing and stopping wars, protecting basic human rights, and giving aid to refugees.

AntiWar.com

Amnesty International

Human Rights Watch

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Peace Direct -- has reports from war zones

Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism

Informed Comment -- blog of Juan Cole

Oxfam International -- organizes famine relief efforts around the world

EarthRights International -- reports on human rights and environmental abuses from all over the globe

Aljazeera News -- provides a middle east perspective

CodePink: Women for Peace

Reporters Without Borders

Avaaz -- promotes progressive causes throughout the world

Brookings Institute

Global Witness

Equality Now -- organization fighting for women's equality worldwide

International Institute for Sustainable Development

Women for Women International

V-Day

Haaretz News

International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

Women Under Siege

Open Society Foundation -- promotes democratic governments

Global Exchange

World Socialist Web Site

Amnesty USA

Women's Refugee Commission

Committee to Protect Journalists

Peoples Dispatch -- news about working class movements around the world

WorldPulse

International Justice Mission

teleSUR English

Women's Earth and Climate Action Network



Other Websites

These are some useful resources that don't conveniently fit into any of the other categories on this page, but might be of interest to progressives.

New Economy Coalition

The Center for Inquiry

Skeptics Society

Fight for the Future -- opposes government and corporate efforts to control the internet

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals -- founded in 1866 to fight against the mistreatment of animals

National Coalition Against Censorship

World Central Kitchen -- provides emergency food relief to people affected by disaster

Charity Navigator

Secular Community

Science.org -- News -- political aspects of recent scientific advances

Social Security Works

Americans for Tax Fairness

Change.org -- enables anyone to start a petition

Medium -- top social journalism website

Democracy for Beginners -- a good guide to basic resources



More News and Opinion

This is a continuation of the list located near the top of this page. Some of these are mainly article sites that aren't updated as often as most news sites.

Independent Media Center -- global news

The Palmer Report -- notorious for its extreme bias

Optimist Daily -- an ad-free site that reports positive developments

Reveal News

Yes! Magazine -- culture and politics

Oped News -- includes views from the political fringe

Black Agenda Report

Popular Resistance -- traditional firebrand progressivism

Citizen Truth

The Progressive Network -- a constructive take on today's news

Z Communications

Jacobin -- this website provides a historical perspective on current news events

Popular.Info

Progress Pond

The Conversation -- detailed coverage of major U.S. political issues

The Emancipator

RadioFree News -- Independent Journalism. An ad-free website

The Guardian -- U.S. edition

RT U.S. News -- from the Russia Today international news network

The Chicago Defender -- trailblazing African American newspaper founded in 1905

Mint Press News

Dead State -- coverage often includes scandals involving religious leaders

Rolling Stone Politics Section

Dame Magazine -- news and commentary about feminist issues

Washington Press

People's World -- descended from the Daily Worker newspaper, the well-known voice of the U.S. Communist Party

Vanity Fair Politics

DC Report -- a non-profit liberal news site with no ads

Think Progress -- previously important site but now inactive

Republic Report -- exposes corruption in government

Splinter News

Left Voice -- international activism

Diversity Inc

Dissent Magazine -- founded in 1954, covers both U.S. and global politics




Two of My Other Websites

List of Atheist Websites -- another directory

Weird Religious Beliefs -- my newest site




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