Alabama just doesn’t like its people it seems
by Wade Rathke Little Rock There’s nothing new about states, particularly blood-red states, trying to suppress the vote. The Republican strategy continues to be not to change one iota in their far right, white grievance,…
US Military confirms bayonets were issued to troops responding to George Floyd protests
“It is insane to issue bayonets to soldiers for crowd control.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, July 3 “Are they supposed to stab protesters?” That was Rep. Ted Lieu’s (D-Calif.) response Thursday to a letter…
Contracts show Trump giving Big Pharma free rein to price gouge taxpayer-funded Coronavirus drugs
“The amount of money the government is throwing at companies is unprecedented. Normally when you write bigger checks, you should have more leverage, not less leverage.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, July 2, 10:30am MST…
Boycott Facebook
by Wade Rathke Little Rock The old saying that “arrogance comes before the fall,” doesn’t set the clock on when it happens, just the inevitability. Facebook, the social media giant and communication hub for the…
How social media amplifies political activism and threatens election integrity
TikTok teens and the Trump campaign by Anjana Susarla, Michigan State University Thursday, July 2 The lower-than-expected attendance at President Trump’s rally in Tulsa on June 20 was attributed, at least in part, to an online…
He built a privately funded border wall and it’s already at risk of falling down.
Trump supporters funded a private border wall on the banks of the Rio Grande, helping the builder secure $1.7 billion in federal contracts. Now the “Lamborghini” of border walls is in danger of falling into…
New Communities and community land trusts
by Wade Rathke Greenville Reading in Harper’s about New Communities farming land trust in Georgia celebrating the 50th anniversary since its founding, my memory is playing tricks on me. I keep thinking that I met…
In Arizona race, McSally makes health care pledge at odds with track record
“Of course I will always protect those with preexisting conditions. Always,” — McSally in a TV ad released June 22. Martha McSally, who was appointed by the governor to take over John McCain’s Senate seat in…
As Arizona coronavirus cases surge from early reopening, Indigenous nations suffer not only more COVID-19 but also wrongly from blame
At the Navajo Nation town of Fort Defiance, Arizona, staff pack food boxes. The Navajo Nation now has the highest per capita COVID-19 infection rate in the U.S. (Getty Images/Mark Ralston) by Lisa Hardy, Northern Arizona…
FEMA warning states not to use COVID-19 testing kits ordered for them.
The faulty lab equipment sold by a company whose owner has faced fraud allegations is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general. by Ryan Gabrielson and J. David McSwane June 26, 2020 The…
Top CDC official gives grim assessment on Coronavirus containment
CDC principal deputy director Dr. Anne Schuchat said we’re “not even beginning to be over this.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer The number two official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave a grim…
Reparations qualifications and confusion
by Wade Rathke New Orleans As a Nikole Hannah-Jones fan, I followed her arguments carefully and approvingly in a recent piece in the New York Times as she demolished one quick fix after another that…
Dismantling the false paths to equity
by Wade Rathke New Orleans I’ll never forget the surprise on a colleague’s face who was working to build a nonprofit community development organization in the Mississippi delta several years ago when we first met….
Should environmentalists embrace Universal Basic Income?
Cash payments from the government could help ease the transition to a climate-safe economy and weather the natural and economic storms to come. by Tara Lohan, The Revelator Sunday, June 28 If you had…
Judge orders release of children held by ICE
Advocates are calling on the agency to also immediately release parents. by Eoin Higgins, staff writer Saturday, June 27 A federal judge ruled Friday evening that immigrant children held in ICE detention must be released by…
Head of CDC warns US cities could face ‘Apocalyptic’ future as country sets record for new Covid-19 cases in one day
The number of infections could be 10 times the 2.4 million confirmed cases, says the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Friday, June 26 Some U.S. cities and…
Police condemned for charging peaceful environmentalists with ‘Terrorizing’ in Louisiana
“This is a clear instance of the law and law enforcement being used to protect corporations, profit, and property over people.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Friday, June 26 At least 40 U.S. climate and…
Analysis warns devastation will follow if GOP cuts off $600 unemployment boost
“It would be a catastrophe to let these turn off and replace them with nothing.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, June 26 A leading progressive economist warned Friday that devastating job losses and income cuts…
Signs of Caution and Hope from Conservative Critics
by Wade Rathke New Orleans Watchwords for all of us in this work have always included “know your enemy” and “keep them close.” It is impossible to keep up in these days and times with…
As coronavirus cases and unemployment in the US climb, 39 groups launch coalition for clean energy and healthy communities
“The Covid-19 pandemic has made clear that the health of nature, the health of people, and the health of our economy are all deeply connected, and this fact should guide and inform the U.S. government’s response.”…
Packed bars serve up new rounds of COVID contagion
Jordan Rau, Kaiser Health News and Elizabeth Lawrence June 25, 2020 As states ease their lockdowns, bars are emerging as fertile breeding grounds for the coronavirus. They create a risky cocktail of tight quarters, young adults…
State Coronavirus Data Doesn’t Support Trump’s Misleading Testing Claims
The Trump administration has doubled down on its claims that coronavirus case counts are up because the U.S. has increased testing. However, a closer look at graphs of testing numbers and positive cases shows that this…
The Indian Health Service wants to return 1 million KN95 masks it bought from a former White House official
The former official, Zach Fuentes, is refusing to take back the masks even though IHS said they did not meet FDA standards. His company’s lawyer says the IHS is trying to cancel the order for “political…
Betraying ‘bedrock principle’ of due process, Supreme Court allows fast-tracked deportations
“This decision means that some people facing flawed deportation orders can be forcibly removed with no judicial oversight, putting their lives in grave danger.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Thursday, June 25 The ACLU warned Thursday…
Editorial/opinion
Views from the Plateau
As Arizona coronavirus cases surge from early reopening, Indigenous nations suffer not only more COVID-19 but also wrongly from blame
Around the U.S.
