Richard Florida Can’t Let Go Of His Creative Class Theory. His Reputation Depends On It.
By Frank Bures Photo by Garrett MacLean When Richard Florida’s new book came out earlier this year, I saw some [...]
Bezos, the Koch Brothers, and the Waltons want to save the Rust Belt, but only on their terms
By Elizabeth Catte In JD Vance’s latest chapter as champion of America’s forgotten heartland, the Hillbilly Elegy author yesterday announced [...]
What Hillary Clinton Is Still Getting Wrong About Appalachia
It’s fitting that in Hillary Clinton’s new memoir, What Happened—a postmortem about her failed 2016 bid for the presidency—she gives the title “Country Roads” to a chapter about West Virginia.
Trump Isn’t Pittsburgh’s President
First he came for the cast of Hamilton, but I did not speak out, for I am not in the cast of Hamilton. Then he came for Meryl Streep, but I did not speak out, for I am not certified national treasure Meryl Streep.
Rustoration: How the Rust Belt Can Show America What it Really Means to be Great
By G. M. Donley Americans sure love to vote for celebrities: Shirley Temple, Ronald Reagan, Bill Bradley, Jack Kemp, [...]
Why Shame Coal Country’s Progressives?
By Elizabeth Catte To all Appalachians, but particularly West Virginians, New Republic columnist Kevin Baker has come with some [...]
The View from Pittsburgh: The Media’s Role in the Election
We talked with Eric Boyd, editor of Belt's Pittsburgh Anthology, about the role the local and national media played in the [...]
How To Support Good Journalism
Anna Clark, editor of Belt's A Detroit Anthology, has some great suggestions for how to support local journalism: "I’m thinking [...]
Journey to the Epicenter of Something: Cleveland Meets RNC
“This is the Johnny Manziel of conventions.” That quip has been ringing in my head, a very Cleveland one-liner shared by a friend a few days before I set off to spend a week at the Republican National Convention.
Airheads in Public Square: Does Cleveland Have The Money for The RNC?
The scene in Public Square was downright idyllic in the hours before the RNC began. As Belt editor Martha Bayne and I lounged on a picnic table in the shade Sunday afternoon, I watched happy kids playing in the new fountains.
What’s A University For? Case Western Suddenly Shuts Down To House Riot Police
Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) prides itself on being the leading research university in Northeast Ohio. Imagine my surprise, then, when [...]
What’s The Q: LeBron, Trump, and the RNC
For the RNC, the California delegation is staying at the Kalahari Resort and Water Park in Sandusky, Ohio, 62 miles from Quicken Loans Arena, also known as the Q, where the convention will be held.