Top 5: Democracy

+ the new human stock market

A daughter visits her mother for the first time since the COVID-19 lockdown in London. Image credit: Hannah Mckay/Reuters.

Top 5 Articles for your week:

1. “What is Democracy For?” and “The Inevitability of the People’s Rule” (Wisdom of Crowds)

   Because Wisdom of Crowds is teaming up with Premises, a public philosophy project that brings journalists, academics, and policy professionals together for seminars and events. The founders of the effort, Samuel Kimbriel and Osita Nwanevu, each wrote an essay to frame up six months of content from the group on the topic of “democracy.” (full disclosure, Michael is a member of the original Premises reading group based in DC)

2. “Two Decades After the ‘End of Welfare,’ Democrats Are Changing Direction” (NYT)

   Because we appreciate this analysis from Jason DeParle and Jim Tankersley, who detail the major, major shifts in how Democrats are approaching poverty — changes not seen since the New Deal. Michael wrote about this shift in Monday’s political brief, if you missed it.

3. “How Facebook got addicted to spreading misinformation” (Technology Review)

   Because this longform piece chronicles the history of how Facebook’s algorithms, drive for growth, and obsession with AI welcomed hate groups and extremists to the platform, thus increasing misinformation.

4. “Derek Chauvin and America’s Racial Reckoning” (Project Syndicate)

   Because the conversations around racial reconciliation after the large protests of Summer 2020 still persist, and this particular essay looks at the role of institutions and other countries’ efforts toward reconciliation in post-conflict situations.

5. “For Creators, Everything Is for Sale” (NYT)

   Because Taylor Lorenz explores the “human stock market” that is taking shape in influencer communities on social media.