There's a thread running through some of today's stories that bears attention: so many of our current problems trace back to Russia, but not necessarily in the way you might think. Sure, we know Russia has interfered in our elections and takes every chance it can to thwart democracy at home and abroad. But even worse, Russia has successfully exported its tactics on disinformation, corruption, and the politics of division to the U.S. And it's been wildly successful, with generous help from our own leaders in government, certain members of the media, and, often unwittingly, the American people. It's time for us to acknowledge this more broadly, and to take back our country—not from each other, but from foreign adversaries who seek to do us harm. —Melissa Amour, Managing Editor
Roger Wicker represents Mississippi in the U.S. Senate. Ben Cardin represents Maryland in the U.S. Senate. They are co-chairs of the U.S. Helsinki Commission.
I'd like to see Stand Up Republic push for a national voting day, which would be a paid day off so people can vote. Most other countries do it on a Sunday, but I'm not sure how that would fly here. At least it would eliminate the problem for shift workers and others who have a hard time getting to the polls. —Read G., Utah
The views expressed in "What's Your Take?" are submitted by readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff or the Stand Up Republic Foundation.
Got feedback about THE TOPLINE? Send it to Melissa Amour, Managing Editor, at [email protected].
CARE ABOUT DEMOCRACY? SHARE SOME DEMOCRACY.
If you love THE TOPLINE, share it with your friends and reap the rewards—from a shoutout in an issue of TL, to exclusive swag, to a call with Evan and Mindy.
Your Dashboard has everything you need to easily share THE TOPLINE
and track your progress.