Note from the editor
The National Discussion is the home of opinions on American politics and policy. We’re here to give everyone a platform to share their perspective and contribute to the discussions of issues they find to be important.
Editors
Writers
writer
Eric MedlinI’m a writer interested in the intersections of history, ideas, and politics. I publish every week.
Writer
R. Justin FreemanCreator of The Unbothered Father: Calm, contemplative fatherhood for the thinking dad. Fluff-free, no-nonsense, information rich articles to be a prepared papa.
Writer
Steve RussellEnrolled Cherokee, 9th grade dropout, retired judge, associate professor emeritus, and (so far) cancer survivor. Memoir: Lighting the Fire (Miniver Press 2020)
Herbert Dyer, Jr.
Freelancer since the earth first began cooling. My beat, justice: racial, social, political, economic and cultural. I’m on FB, Twitter, Link, [email protected].
Joe Thomas
Medium is my sandbox. Author of The Wealth of the Planet, While We Were Charging, and Martian Economics
Manny Otiko
Manny Otiko writes about race, politics and sports. He has been published in Salon and LA Weekly. Follow him at .bsky.social
Writer
Chris DobroVolunteer organizer. Humanist. Pragmatist. Public health advocate. Global citizen. Living that ADHD life. Part of the Greatest Generation (Millennial).
Writer
Brian Scott MacKenzieHistory, politics, education, music, culture. Award-winning high school teacher, former principal. College instructor. Seahawks Diehard. Twitter:
Susan Brassfield Cogan
I write self-help, life coaching, and political opinion. I am a creativity and mindfulness coach
Writer
Jan M FlynnNovelist, essayist, inner space explorer. GRIFFIN SPEAKER, book one of a middle grade fantasy series, coming from Disney-Hyperion in spring 2026.
Carolyn Bertolino
I write about personal well-being and national issues. Read more from me and others at http://jeetwincasinos.com/@carolynbertolino/membership
Janet Nance
Former Washington journalist, now an online scribe. Visit my site at washingtoncurrent.substack.com for news reports every day.
Ryan Limbag
Freelance writer. Blogger. Minnesota sports-homer. Musician-adjacent. Future philanthropist. Proud father. “Once a cook, always a cook.”
Michelle Monet
Musician. Author. Poet. Seeker. Currently writing Showbiz Memoir and Broadway style Musical. My 5 books are on Amazon. Contact: [email protected]
Writer
Tim Libretti, PhDProfessor of Literature, Political Economy enthusiast, Dad, always thinking about the optimal world
Kelsey L.O.
Texan/Norwegian = Texawegian. Forever dwelling in the realm of possibility and curiosity. Editor of The Lucid Prose. Find me on instagram:
Writer
Bryan WinchellA Serious Fool who writes about: Personal/collective growth, politics, love of Nature/Humanity, Japan, podcasting, humor, and being a hippie in Service to Life.
Kevin Donovan
Where there is great fear, there is no empathy. Where there is great empathy, there is no fear.
David Chinook Bean
Digs Environmental and Monetary sanity, Politics when talking with the Other guy, Gregory Bateson- mentor, CO, Edits Flippin Obvious. [email protected]
Jenna England
I’m a professional writer (mainly Technical and Proposal Writing) based in the California Bay Area. I recently finished my first novel.
Elwood Watson, Ph.D.
Historian, Syndicated Columnist, Public Speaker, Social-Cultural Critic. Professor of Black Studies and Gender Studies, at East Tennessee State University.
Brian E. Wish, PhD
I do a lot of things. Some of them I even do well. But what I really want to do is share ideas. Check brianewish.com or
Emile Levisetti
Avid consumer of Politics, Television, Film, Good Storytelling in all forms. I’ve been in the TV biz for over 20 yrs. Rehabilitated Conservative.
Conor Kelly
Conor Kelly is a political scientist, writer, and progressive activist┃Sign up for the newsletter here:
Tyler Piteo-Tarpy
Essayist, poet, screenwriter, and comer upper of weird ideas. My main focus will be on politics and philosophy but when I get bored, I’ll write something else.
Dave Buckner, PhD
Associate Professor of History & Humanities at Mountain Empire Community College in Virginia.
Dave Olsen
Political and policy analysis | Former Ops Director, politika.org.uk | BA PPE, University of Oxford | Incoming MSc IR, LSE | twitter.com/dave_olsen16
Scott Farris
Husband, Father, and Creative Content Constructor @ "Because Words Matter.” Find more about my musings on daily life at .
The Parrot
A researcher, former journalist, and tech marketing exec, I write an occasional article to shine light on what’s right in front of all of us.
Steve Rodriguez
I am a retired high school English teacher, as well as a retired Marine Corps officer. My opinion pieces have recently appeared in the Times of San Diego.
Dave Petri
Retired Naval Officer who is quite concerned about what's going on. My oath to the Constitution didn't end upon retirement. I will continue to defend it!
Heath Brown
Heath Brown, associate prof of public policy, City University of New York, study presidential transitions, school choice, nonprofits
Melinda Crow
30-year freelancer. Found on: Newsweek, The Points Guy, Cruise Critic, MSN Travel, Writing Cooperative. Falcon Guide author.
Nikita Bogdanov
Nikita holds a BA in philosophy from Stanford University and is currently an MA student in English literature at Columbia University.
Matt H
Millennial international educator interested in science, the environment, politics, social justice, and language learning.
Dan Feininger
Frequent flyer thinking radically about politics, personal finance, and a future Middle East.
James R Duncan
Former options market maker, author of “The Independent’s Guide,” “Blood Republic,” and host of independentriot.buzzsprout.com ()
Nikhil Mehta
Geopolitics, history, and whatever comes to mind. Stand up comedy in NYC. Freelancer based out of NYC/Cincinnati
Gustavo Munoz
Writings on politics, history, and the interplay between the two. UC Santa Barbara graduate.
David Spero RN
Alive in this place and time to help Make Earth Sacred Again. Write about Nature, economics, health, politics, and spirit from Earths point of view.
Björn Jóhann
A queer, herbivorous, leftist Viking. I write about society, justice, and popular media. UChicago grad.
Lester Golden
From Latvia & Porto I write to share learning from an academic&business life in 8 languages in 5 countries & seeing fascism die in Portugal&Spain in1974 & 1976.
Walter Harrington
Ph.D. | Postdoctoral fellow studying the influenza virus at St. Jude. Disciple of Christ. I write primarily about science and religion. walterharrington.com
Erica Velander
Freelance writer and mama to a wild one. I cover intriguing places, lifestyle, parenting, food, and feminism. “Writing is a form of personal freedom.”
Katy Ferry
Katy Ferry is a writer and former expatriate. She’s a Southerner living in Washington, DC with a husband, two daughters.
Andrew Jazprose Hill
I write about Art, Culture, and Race in The Jazprose Diaries on Substack. My short stories are there too in The Fiction Fix. Read me, Seymour, read me.
Ilene Zeldin
Former Joe Biden speechwriter | Former Senate Communications Director | Clinton Administration alumnus | piano and clarinet hobbyist | proud Buckeye
Libby Winkler
Freelance writer who loves exploring the messiness of humanity, while poking around in nooks of life and shining light on all the things that make us complex..
Vanessa Torre
Top 10 feminist writer. Writing, coaching, and relentlessly hyping women in midilfe. linktr.ee/Vanessaltorre Email: [email protected]
Meister Käßner
I have been reflecting and writing about the stories, people, and places Northwest of Boston for thirty-five years. I also teach history and manage forest land.