📰 Trusted Voices for a Turbulent Time

Columnists and commentators on democracy, justice, economics, peace, climate, culture, and media.

Nov 14, 2025

Most news consumers know the difference between reporting and opinion — but not all opinion is created equal. The writers and hosts in this guide offer fact-based analysis and opinion, grounded commentary, and clear reasoning. They draw on history, law, data, lived experience, and deep reporting.

This list is organized by topic so readers can find the voices that speak most directly to the issues they care about — from threats to democracy, economic inequality, and peace to cultural change, climate policy, media literacy, and life here in the Pacific Northwest.

Democracy, Law & Authoritarianism

Jamelle Bouie – The New York Times
Sharp political and historical analysis on democracy, race, and American identity.

Elie Mystal – The Nation
Legal analyst explaining civil rights, justice, and the Constitution with clarity and conviction.

John Nichols – The Nation
Veteran political correspondent chronicling democratic reform, elections, and political movements.

Jeet Heer – The Nation / Substack
Writer who blends politics, history, and cultural analysis to expose the roots of today’s democratic struggles.

Heather Cox Richardson – Letters from an American (Substack)
A historian connecting today’s politics with America’s political past, she occasionally draws connections to U.S. foreign policy and Cold War legacy.

Timothy Snyder – Thinking About… (Substack)
Historian offering fact-based commentary on authoritarianism, democracy, and the lessons history teaches about political danger.

Rachel Maddow – MS NOW
Host and author providing deeply researched, historically informed commentary on extremism, corruption, and threats to democracy. Notable books: Blowout, Drift, Prequel

Ari Melber – MS NOW
Attorney and commentator blending constitutional analysis, accountability journalism, and accessible legal explanations. Host of The Beat with Ari Melber.

Economy, Inequality & Money in Politics

Robert Reich – Substack & Public Commentary
Economist exposing inequality, corporate power, and the threats facing working people.

Judd Legum – Popular Information (Substack)
Investigates money, influence, corporate pressure, and political manipulation with relentless sourcing.

Charles M. Blow – The New York Times
Analyzes identity, inequality, and political power through a moral and personal lens.

Paul Krugman – Substack
Nobel Prize–winning economist explaining inequality, fiscal policy, and political economy.

Peace, War & U.S. Power Abroad

Andrew Bacevich – TomDispatch
Retired Army colonel and historian who critiques American militarism, global overreach, and the ideology of endless war.

Michael T. Klare – The Nation
Defense analyst who connects military policy, climate change, and fossil-fueled conflict.

Katrina vanden Heuvel – The Nation / The Guardian
Editor and columnist advocating for diplomacy-first foreign policy and nuclear disarmament—and commenting on U.S. politics.

Also: Heather Cox Richardson and Bill McKibben
See columnists who occasionally address foreign policy, militarism, and U.S. power abroad.

Identity, Culture & Social Justice

Michelle Goldberg – The New York Times
Progressive commentator examining feminism, culture, and the modern right.

Katha Pollitt – The Nation
Columnist with decades of feminist, cultural, and political writing that still feels timely and sharp.

Joan Walsh – The Nation
Veteran journalist offering grounded, pragmatic political analysis with a strong social justice lens.

Climate, Environment & Sustainability

Bill McKibben – The Crucial Years (Substack)
Environmental author and activist connecting climate politics with community resilience—and ecological destruction with militarism.

Naomi Klein – The Guardian
Writer bridging climate, capitalism, and social transformation with systemic clarity.

Media, Disinformation & Information Integrity

Mark Jacob – Stop the Presses (Substack)
Veteran editor explaining how propaganda, extremism, and media failures shape public understanding.

Margaret Sullivan – The Guardian
Media critic analyzing how journalism, misinformation, and political coverage influence public understanding and democracy.

Jeet Heer – The Nation / Substack
(Also appears above) Writer breaking down media narratives, political framing, and the intersection of press and power

John Nichols – The Nation
(Also appears above) Covers media accountability, political communication, and threats to journalism in the U.S.

Judd Legum – Popular Information
(Also appears above) Investigates disinformation networks, political influence campaigns, and the media’s role in amplifying or challenging them.

Also: Brier Dudley – The Seattle Times
Below, the editorial columnist leading the Save the Free Press Initiative.

Regional & Local Voices – Pacific Northwest

Danny Westneat – The Seattle Times
Insightful, pointed commentary on politics, policy, daily life, and Northwest culture.

Jon Talton – The Seattle Times
Economics and civic-affairs columnist exploring Seattle’s growth, development, and long-term regional challenges.

Knute Berger – Cascade PBS / Mossback’s Northwest
Historian-journalist exploring regional culture, history, and identity.

Brier Dudley – The Seattle Times
Editorial columnist leading the Save the Free Press Initiative, where he champions independent local journalism and highlights practical solutions to protect press freedom.

Post Alley – Seattle
A collective of veteran Seattle writers—such as Joel Connelly, Jean Godden, and Morton Kondracke—offering commentary on local, regional, and national issues from a Seattle/Northwest perspective.

Plainly, Garbl

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