The rise of the ‘progressive prosecutor’

In early December, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris dropped out of the presidential race after months of attacks ... [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 20 December 2019 [The Conversation]( [Support The Conversation in 2020 with a monthly gift]( [Nick Lehr] A note from... Nick Lehr Arts + Culture Editor In early December, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris dropped out of the presidential race after months of attacks from the left for her “tough on crime” record as attorney general. A decade ago, the idea that this could be a political loser – not an asset – was unthinkable for both parties. University of Southern California law professor Jody Armour explains why criminal justice has become a central campaign issue, and how a growing crop of district attorneys are being elected precisely because they want to dismantle the government’s traditional approach to crime and punishment. Armour had reasons – both personal and professional – to doubt that a government prosecutor could ever be a compassionate advocate for redemption and rehabilitation. Now, [that’s starting to change](. Also today: - [ACA ruling and the undoing of the ‘American state’]( - [Three telling quotes from the Democratic debate]( - [Why fewer babies are born on Christmas and New Year’s Day]( Top story Kamala Harris’ campaign fizzled as her past as a prosecutor haunted her candidacy. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu [How being ‘tough on crime’ became a political liability]( Jody D. Armour, University of Southern California More and more district attorney candidates are running on reversing the government's traditional approach to crime and punishment. And they’re winning. Health + Medicine - [How undoing ‘Obamacare’ would harm more than the health of Americans]( Simon F. Haeder, Pennsylvania State University Obamacare has been under siege since its passage in 2010. A ruling by a three-judge panel on Dec. 18 further chopped at the law by saying a key provision is unconstitutional. Economy + Business - [Impeachment overkill, the USMCA’s impact on jobs and the power of imagery: 3 quotes from the Democratic debate, explained]( Aradhna Krishna, University of Michigan; Sarah Burns, Rochester Institute of Technology; Stephen Onyeiwu, Allegheny College Scholars explain important moments in the Democratic presidential debate on Dec. 19. - [Why are so few people born on Christmas Day, New Year’s and other holidays?]( Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University December 25 is the least popular day to give birth in the US, Australia and New Zealand, and second only to Boxing Day on Dec. 26 in England, Wales and Ireland. Politics + Society - [From Vietnam to Afghanistan, all US governments lie]( Gordon Adams, American University School of International Service US officials have consistently lied over decades about progress in the Afghanistan war. The lies are no surprise, writes a foreign affairs scholar – but they have profound consequences. Arts + Culture - [Exploring the data on Hollywood’s gender pay gap]( Roberto Pedace, Scripps College A new analysis of over 400 actors shows that gender discrimination plays a major role in Hollywood salaries. From our International Editions - [‘They put a few coins in your hands to drop a baby in you’ – 265 stories of Haitian children abandoned by UN fathers]( Sabine Lee, University of Birmingham; Susan Bartels, Queen's University, Ontario The voices of young victims in Haiti can now be heard for the first time thanks to a groundbreaking new research project. - [Why you should think twice before buying that new TV set]( Alberto Cardaci, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main Recent experimental results suggest that distortions in the perception of wealth are linked to fast, inattentive thinking. - [MDMA-assisted couples therapy: How a psychedelic is enhancing intimacy and healing PTSD]( Anne Wagner, Ryerson University MDMA is better known as the party psychedelic Ecstasy or Molly. Used clinically, together with psychotherapy, it reduces symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and shows promise with couples. Today’s chart - [Enable images to see the chart]( From the article: [Exploring the data on Hollywood's gender pay gap]( [Roberto Pedace] Roberto Pedace Scripps College [Help fight misinformation and science denial. Support The Conversation.]( [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111