What’s new at Daily Kos? Read about what you might have missed in July

July tends to be a slower month for us at Day by day Kos: the solar is shining, summer time is in full swing, holidays are taking place, and our employees and readers are taking benefit. Regardless of all that, we’ve nonetheless received some new issues brewing that I’d like to focus on in case you missed it final month.

With the delta variant on the rise, there was loads of protection about COVID-19 on the positioning in July, and these tales have been extensively learn—4 out of our 10 prime tales have been about COVID-19 or vaccines. Typically, our readers have been much less centered on COVID since 2021 started compared to 2020, for apparent causes: many of us have been vaccinated, public areas reopened, and the celebration in cost truly believes in science. However now with the delta variant and varied restrictions as soon as once more altering in response, individuals have understandably been searching for extra info and information about COVID. Together with COVID, huge subjects this month continued to incorporate the previous occupant of the White Home (32% of our prime 50 tales centered on Trump), ongoing protection of the the January 6 fee and first choose committee listening to, and Simone Biles’ choice to drag again from the Olympic Video games for psychological well being causes. 

Day by day Kos continues to combat the ridiculous Robert Kennedy Jr. lawsuit. When you haven’t heard, Day by day Kos is being sued by Robert Kennedy Jr. at hand over the title of one in every of our nameless customers who wrote a narrative about Robert Kennedy Jr. becoming a member of neo-Nazis for a COVID protest in Berlin. In fact, we’re preventing this lawsuit tooth and nail—Day by day Kos would by no means willingly hand over the non-public info of our customers, and this is able to set a harmful precedent. Earlier within the month, Markos shared his response and an replace on how we’re now preventing this lawsuit in not one, however two separate states—New York and California. Markos additionally dove into the hazard Robert Kennedy Jr. poses to public well being, as one of many main individuals accountable for spreading vaccine misinformation on social media. When you’re interested by chipping in to assist us proceed this combat, click here.

Our Group Contributors crew, led by Jessica Sutherland, welcomed Chitown Kev as our newest group fellow. When you don’t know and love him already, Chitown Kev is a longstanding lively member of this web site—author of Abbreviated Pundit Roundups, Black Kos contributor, a part of the Readers and E book Lovers group, and far more. Now you can discover his APRs up on the highest of the entrance web page on Thursdays and Sundays, and shortly you’ll be seeing some longer type tales from him as effectively. Emily Epstein-White additionally joined Jessica’s crew as Senior Editor to assist us proceed constructing extra help for group writers.  

Different highlights from July:

• The group wrote lots of the most-read tales this month. Seven of the ten most participating tales, and half the highest 50, got here from the group. The three most participating tales have been Unvaxed Trump supporter who unfold coronavirus conspiracy theories dies of COVID-19 by DannyB, Ron DeSantis fed COVID crow by physician he’d ridiculed on Fox Information by Aldous J Pennyfarthing, and Roger Stone attacking Ivanka and Jared, did any individual flip on Daddy Douchebag? by Upstate NYawker.
• These group tales have been the tales with the most first commenters: Unvaxed Trump supporter who unfold coronavirus conspiracy theories dies of COVID-19 by DannyB (18 individuals signed as much as touch upon this story), Eric Clapton says he will not play venues that require COVID-19 vaccinations, due to course he did by Aldous J Pennyfarthing (11 individuals signed as much as touch upon this story), and I’d like to speak about introversion…. by canadiangal (10 individuals signed as much as touch upon this story … and it was this author’s first story ever!).
• We had some glorious unique reporting. Dave Neiwert attended the Crimson Capsule Competition in Montana, a gathering of conspiracists and pro-Trump Republicans, and wrote concerning the expertise. Moreover, Laura Clawson reported on the Frito-Lay strikers in Kansas, counting on unique footage, pictures, and quotes from our Group Organizer Christopher Reeves.
• We introduced the disbursement of the second installment of Black Solidarity Grants, fulfilling our pledge to to grant 1% of our income to organizations preventing for Black liberation. Day by day Kos Liberation League oversaw these efforts.
• The Transient coated the fight to win rural voters with J.D. Scholten and John Ray, Democratic women voters and 2022 with Emily Cain, and polling with Civiqs Director Drew Linzer. The Transient can be streaming on the next platforms: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcast.
• Our Day by day Kos/Civiqs ballot this month confirmed that half of Individuals blame Trump and Republicans for the assault on the nation’s Capitol on January 6. It additionally confirmed 39% nonetheless imagine the 2020 election was stolen from Trump, 96% of Individuals imagine the historical past of slavery must be taught in faculties, lower than half of Republicans imagine it’s essential for kids to obtain vaccinations for ailments aside from COVID-19, and extra.
• Our Activism crew has been working with exterior coalition teams to maintain the stress on Congress to make the American Jobs & Households Plan huge, daring, and inexperienced. Now we have a historic bundle that rivals the New Deal and Nice Society, however we want all fingers on deck to get it by way of a carefully divided Congress. You’ll be able to assist by urging Democrats to get the job carried out right here.
• Our Activism crew has additionally centered on judicial advocacy campaigns and dealing with the Honest Courts Job Drive coalition, working to verify daring, progressive nominees to the federal bench. We’re additionally working with a small group of organizations to reply to the brand new Brett Kavanaugh revelations relating to the botched FBI investigation and getting ready for a doable Supreme Courtroom emptiness. Click on right here to demand hearings on the Kavanaugh sham investigation. 
• We produced a video explaining all that we do at Day by day Kos. It’s usually arduous to clarify the various issues we now have to supply to of us who won’t be conversant in us. This video does an excellent job of breaking it down in simply two minutes.

What have been your highlights this month? Huge tales you adopted? Favourite feedback? Shoutouts to group members? Something you suppose deserves extra consideration? Pontificate under!