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Book Review: “When Companies Run the Courts” sets off red alerts for the structural injustices we live among

Brendan Ballou's 2026 book critiques forced arbitration as a tool that undermines constitutional rights, shielding corporations from accountability while disenfranchising individuals. Through compelling case studies, he highlights the prevalence of one-sided arbitration agreements and the systemic bias in favor of powerful corporations. Book Review: “When Companies Run the Courts” sets off red alerts for the structural injustices we live among is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

The two faces of the beautiful game: World Cup fever lights up Seattle amid systemic, fiscal, and border friction

The World Cup is a deeply flawed spectacle, operating at the complex intersection of global politics, heavy public spending, and exclusive domestic systems. But standing on the banister at Pacific Place, watching the city explode in celebration as the whistle blows, you are reminded of why we care. The two faces of the beautiful game: World Cup fever lights up Seattle amid systemic, fiscal, and border friction is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

Washingtonians disapprove of the cuts to education that the Legislature made in the 2026 session, Civic Heartbeat poll finds

55% of likely 2026 general election voters recently surveyed by Emerson College Polling for the Northwest Progressive Institute said they disapproved of the decision by the Legislature and Governor Ferguson to reduce funding for priorities like Transition to Kindergarten, Running Start, and K‑12 public school transportation in the budget, rather than raising taxes on large corporations to avert the cuts, while only 29% approved. Another 16% were not sure. Washingtonians disapprove of the cuts to education that the Legislature made in the 2026 session, Civic Heartbeat poll finds is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

65% of Washington voters support an “away for the day” ban on mobile phones in all K‑12 public schools, with just 27% opposed

NPI's research finds that most voters are on board with Superintendent Chris Reykdal and Governor Bob Ferguson's plans to propose legislation to require all K-12 public schools to generally prohibit mobile device use during the school day, which experience suggests can reduce distractions and enhance student engagement even if it doesn't spur a big improvement in academic outcomes. 65% of Washington voters support an “away for the day” ban on mobile phones in all K‑12 public schools, with just 27% opposed is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

Three months after Donald Trump resumed attacking Iran, 75% of Washington voters say his policies are increasing their prices

As gasoline and diesel costs surge following the widening war with Iran, NPI's spring 2026 Civic Heartbeat survey finds concern about Trump-driven price increases spreading across every region of Washington — and dividing the voters who backed his return to power. Three months after Donald Trump resumed attacking Iran, 75% of Washington voters say his policies are increasing their prices is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

64% of Washington voters disapprove of Donald Trump’s job performance, a new record in NPI’s Civic Heartbeat polling

Even more striking, the percentage of voters in the Evergreen State who approve of Trump's job performance fell to 30% in NPI's spring survey of the Washington electorate, which is 4% less than the previous low. Nationally, Trump's job performance rating is also declining, with Trump's war of choice in Iran and increasing prices alienating even his own voters. 64% of Washington voters disapprove of Donald Trump’s job performance, a new record in NPI’s Civic Heartbeat polling is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (June 1st-5th)

The week's major votes included Senate passage of a big Republican fiscal bill to give ICE and CBP more money and House passage of an Iran war powers resolution along with the Ukraine Support Act, both via discharge petition that circumvented Trump enabler Speaker Mike Johnson. Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (June 1st-5th) is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

Netroots Nation 2026 closes with calls to organize, protect voting rights, and engage young people in progressive causes

Speakers at the final Philadelphia plenary urged attendees to convert energy into action, with Maxwell Frost, Jamie Raskin, Nikema Williams, Justin Pearson, Nan Seymour, and Jevin Hodge emphasizing grassroots power, youth engagement, trans dignity, and democracy’s survival in their podium remarks and panel appearances. Netroots Nation 2026 closes with calls to organize, protect voting rights, and engage young people in progressive causes is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

“Clutch time” in the struggle to keep the republic: Frederick Haynes headlines stirring NN26 Friday evening keynote

Friday evening’s keynote at Netroots Nation 2026 brought together Philadelphia City Councilmember Rue Landau, Reverend Frederick Haynes, and three members of Congress (Summer Lee, Delia Ramirez, and Analilia Mejia) for a spirited discussion about building shared power and governing responsively to stop modern-day fascists from destroying American democracy. “Clutch time” in the struggle to keep the republic: Frederick Haynes headlines stirring NN26 Friday evening keynote is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

Spectator 2026-05-28

Spectator 2026-06-04

Second NN26 keynote celebrates return to Philadelphia with a call for radical community resistance, persistence, and joy

Speakers at the second Netroots Nation 2026 plenary session, including Helen Gym and Austin Davis, emphasized collaborative movement sustainability, urging engagement at the state and local level to enact structural changes for working families. Second NN26 keynote celebrates return to Philadelphia with a call for radical community resistance, persistence, and joy is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.