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Despite much lofty rhetoric portraying the United States as a democracy (in which the people rule), this nation, in fact, has often resembled a plutocracy (in which the wealthy rule).

The confusion owes a great deal to the fact that the United States, at its founding, was somewhat more democratic than its contemporaries.  In the eighteenth century, European nations, governed by kings, princes, and other wealthy hereditary elites, usually provided a contrast to the more unruly, less hidebound new nation, where some Americans even had the vote.

Even so, the overwhelming majority of Americans didn’t have the vote, which was largely confined to property-owning or tax-paying white males―about 6 percent of the U.S. population in 1789.  Women (comprising about 50 percent of the population) were, with very few exceptions, denied voting rights.  And slaves (about 18 percent of the population) lacked both voting rights and citizenship.

After over a month of withholding information surrounding public investments in Israeli Bonds, the Franklin County Treasurer’s Office finally released the county investment reports for February and March of 2025. These reports, alongside discussion at the meeting of the Investment Advisory Committee (IAC) on April 17, 2025, confirmed that Treasurer Cheryl Brooks Sullivan has decided not to reinvest holdings from Israeli Bonds that matured on February 1, 2025 into additional Israeli Bonds. 

Video of meeting

What’s it like to be the wife of a leader who forces you to live in his shadow and ignores your political advice? The President’s Wife answers that question with its feminism-informed biography of former French first lady Bernadette Chirac.

But don’t expect a sober-minded piece of historical revisionism. The film, directed and co-written by Lea Domenach, refuses to take itself too seriously, and it’s clear from the first scene that we shouldn’t, either.

As Bernadette (the legendary Catherine Deneuve) makes her way to a confessional booth for a heart-to-heart with her priest, the church choir informs us that what we’re about to see is based only loosely on reality. In fact, the singers warn us, it’s a “work of fiction.” 

Still, it’s hard not to hope that what follows is least partly true, because it’s a delicious story of self-reinvention and political comeuppance.

Tuesday, April 22 @ 2:00 PM 
On Tuesday, April 22, Indivisible Central Ohio is hosting a Congressional recess event outside Representative Mike Carey’s Columbus office. To date, Rep Carey has been avoiding conversations with constituents, so we will meet at his office and ask again for a meeting with Carey or his staff.  

Residents of Ohio’s 15th Congressional District have logged countless calls and requests for meetings with Rep Carey or his staff, but Carey’s office has been avoiding these calls and requests. Concerned Ohioans need access to communicate directly with their elected representatives and Rep Carey and his staff are not honoring this part of their responsibilities.

During this office visit, if Rep Carey and his staff refuse to meet with constituents, Indivisible Central Ohio and constituents in Ohio’s 15th Congressional district will bring signs to show their representative they demand to be heard and will picket outside.

Members of the media are invited to attend to cover this event. 

Monday, April 21, 6:30-7:30pm, this on-line event requires advance registration

The Amos Project’s Black Women’s Health Initiative (BWHI) will host a special town hall featuring Congresswoman Joyce Beatty on Monday, April 21 at 6:30pm. This important community event aims to address critical health issues affecting Black women in Ohio.

Congresswoman Beatty, a longtime advocate for healthcare equity and women’s health issues, will discuss recent legislative efforts and will answer questions from community members about the ongoing healthcare challenges facing Black women.

“This town hall provides a vital opportunity for direct dialogue between our community and Congresswoman Beatty on health issues that disproportionately impact black women. We encourage all interested community members to attend and participate in the important conversation.” — Joscelyn Clarke, Organizer, The Amos Project

RSVP for this event by using this link.

Watch the video here

 On April 19th, the 50501 movement mobilized for a National Day of community-focused Action. State and local groups across the nation rallied an estimated four million people to participate in marches, rallies, food drives, teach-ins, mutual aid pop-ups, voter registration events and more to best meet their communities' needs. 

A Day of Community Solidarity

Despite reports of heightened police and federal presence at the events, We (the People) Dissent has compiled a list of over 900 events in about 850 cities that were part of the National Day of Action. In Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, California, and Hartford, Connecticut alone, over 6,500 pounds of non-perishable food, baby supplies, hygiene products and more were collected and donated to local food banks and mutual aid organizations by our organizing teams.

Saturday, April 19, 2-4pm
El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant, 3230 Olentangy River Rd.

Facebook Event

Every year, WGRN 91.9FM radio commemorates our Earth Day Birthday to celebrate our first broadcast in April 2016.

This year, we will partner with WCRS 92.7/98.3FM community radio to hold a special celebration at El Vaquero with food, drinks, an awards ceremony, and more!

This event is free and open to the public.

We will honor the following people.

Producer of the Year:

• Evan Davis, producer of “Conscious Voices” and “Your Music” and a long-time supporter of community radio in central Ohio.

Volunteer of the Year:

• Juanita Brown, producer of “The Pink Pill” and WGRN board member.

During this event, we will give our attendees an opportunity to record a station ID, promo, or PSA for WGRN. If you have a nonprofit organization or event to promote, please write up a promo and record it here with us!

Friday, April 18, 2pm
Thompson statue, OSU oval