The Fourth Branch: How State Government Can Save Our Union

Former New York state senator Squadron debuts with an energizing call for more left-wingers to engage with state-level politics. Drawing on his own experiences as well as those of legislators from other states, Squadron spotlights the oft-overlooked power and impact state governments have on everyday life, and argues that the federal government has much less power than people assume. (His wide range of case studies include minimum wage laws, housing regulations, Medicaid expansion, gun control efforts, and reproductive rights.) Explaining that Republicans have long understood that states are the prime movers in American politics, Squadron recaps how, through organized efforts like those of the American Legislative Exchange Council, the right has garnered increasing power in state legislatures while Democrats have been asleep at the wheel. Interviews with legislators from Alaska, New Hampshire, and Nebraska highlight that each state has a unique legislative structure, even as they all face the same mounting threats, particularly increased gerrymandering that reduces the possibility of bipartisanship. Squadron’s personal anecdotes can run long, but he offers direct, clear guidance on how to get involved on the state level. The result is a plausible path forward for progressive activists hoping to curb the country’s rightward trend. (June)