Politics & Government Good News

Ways that people, organizations, and governments are fighting to strengthen democracy in the United States and around the world

A photo collage of a person holding a disposable vape, a carved pumpkin, a wildlife refuge located from Minnesota to Illinois, a pumpkin, and three people inside a climate lab at the University of Chicago's Climate Institute

Good News This Week: November 2, 2024 - Vapes, Trees, & Pumpkins

Your weekly roundup of the best good news worth celebrating...

A shot from above, looking down at the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico

7 years after Hurricane María, FEMA continues aiding crucial nonprofits in Puerto Rico

In Puerto Rico, a food program and a therapy center both received a much-needed boost from FEMA for infrastructure repairs.

Two photos side by side. On the left, a pumpkin is carved with the image of a fat bear. On the right, a pumpkin is carved with an image of a bison tossing a tourist in the air

New national park pumpkin carving templates depict beloved species and wildlife warning

The templates remind visitors of the beauty of the parks — and some key wildlife safety tips.

Two images side-by-side. On the left, Allyson Felix wears a red dress and tan hat while holding her toddler daughter. They are in a desert environment. On the right, a pile of "I Voted" stickers sits on a table.

Need Election Day child care? Olympian Allyson Felix has your back

The decorated track star is using her mom power to help elevate free child care opportunities for voters across the country.

Kate Barr, a white woman with short blond hair, sits in an office. She wears a cerulean blue sweatshirt, which is covered in white text that reads: "Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can't win."

North Carolina woman runs state senate campaign 'built to lose' to shine a light on gerrymandering

Kate Barr is running for office in North Carolina. Her biggest opponent? Gerrymandering.

Yellow painted eggs with various facial expressions

Happiness swings votes — and America's current mood could scramble expectations of young and old voters

Since the 1960s and the election of President John F. Kennedy, younger voters have supported Democratic candidates, while older voters leaned Republican. But that dynamic has been evolving.

Four college-aged people stand facing the White House. They all wear an orange t-shirt that reads "Love God. Love your neighbor. Act on climate."

Evangelical environmentalists ramp up faith-based climate activism in final weeks before election

This bloc of evangelical environmentalists hopes to inspire their communities to get out to vote in November.

Two women stand side-by-side at a climate protest. One holds up a cardboard sign that reads "change the system, not the climate" in black and red marker. The photo is cropped, only making the women's hands and torsos visible amongst the crowd.

New study confirms public pressure can lead to shifts in climate policy — even among anti-environmental officials

University of California San Diego researchers studied the public pressures faced by the Brazilian government in the wake of wildfires in 2019.

Three screenshots of a TikTok, side by side. On the left, a young woman in her twenties wears a blue and pink tie-dye shirt and a backwards baseball cap. She speaks directly into the camera in her kitchen, saying "guess what, it's election season." In the center, the same woman appears smaller on screen, with a screenshot of a Hinge conversation behind her. On the right, the same woman is speaking in her kitchen again, saying "like, how to get involved."

TikTok users 'go undercover' in swing states, convincing their dating app matches to vote in November

By changing their locations, these TikTok influencers used their dating apps to reach matches in swing states.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz sits in a park next to his dog, Scout, a Black labrador mix. Behind them are luscious green trees. Walz wears a khaki hat that reads "Minnesota Grown," with a black quarter-zip shirt, as he pets the dog, who wears a black collar.

Tim Walz says his rescue dog's 'sense of empathy' has made him a better leader — and human

The Vice Presidential hopeful joined WeRateDogs for a walk in the park with his rescue pup, Scout.

President Jimmy Carter smiles at Egyptian President Anwar Sadat at the White House, Washington, D.C.

Jimmy Carter at 100: How his faith influenced his public service and human rights advocacy

On Carter’s 100th birthday, as journalists and historians consider his legacy, this prelude to Carter’s campaign offers insight into how he wanted to be known and how he might like to be remembered.

A road in North Carolina is destroyed after Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene will impact survivors' mental health. The Disaster Distress Helpline provides free, multilingual support

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, this national helpline is providing crisis counseling to those in need.