Author: From the Wire
‘Stop Nickel and Diming the American people’: Anger grows as Senate Democrats move to deny relief checks to 17 million
“While you’re quibbling over who you want to exclude, people are suffering. SEND THE CHECKS.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer March 5, 2021 The decision by the Senate Democratic leadership and President Joe Biden—for no…
With jobless benefits to expire in 9 days, Republicans pull out all stops to obstruct relief bill
“When Sen. Johnson voted to cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans, he didn’t force staff to read the bill. But now that working people need help, he’s forcing a delay.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday,…
Meatpacking industry fought feeble Covid-19 safeguards under Trump
“These documents show that the industry actively pushed back against the few steps the Trump administration took to try to ensure the safety of meatpacking workers and federal inspectors.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Thursday, March…
As Manchin yells he will ‘Never…Jesus Christ!’ vote to kill filibuster, Warren and Sanders demand end to Jim Crow rule
“Moderate Democrats in the Senate have a choice to make: They can either defend democracy and the Constitution by passing H.R. 1 or they can save the McConnell filibuster. They can’t do both.” by Jake Johnson,…
After a wave of violent threats against election workers, Georgia sees few arrests
For nearly a year, election administrators across the country weathered the pandemic while facing attacks and threats — leading many officials to resign or retire. In Georgia, little was done to prevent it from happening again….
Indivisible launches For The People Project to ‘unrig our democracy and make it work for all’
“We’re holding nothing back as we work to make D.C. the 51st state, protect the rights of voters, and root out corruption in our government.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Wednesday, March 3, 2021 In…
Supreme Court hears Arizona voting law case with national implications
“If you can’t vote because you are a Native American or a non-Hispanic in areas where car ownership rates are very small, where you don’t have mail pickup or mail delivery … or you happen to…
Rural Americans in pharmacy deserts hurting for Covid vaccines
by Markian Hawryluk March 3, 2021 As the Biden administration accelerates a plan to use pharmacies to distribute covid-19 vaccines, significant areas of the country lack brick-and-mortar pharmacies capable of administering the protective shots. A recent…
How inequity gets built into America’s vaccination system
People eligible for the coronavirus vaccine tell us they are running up against barriers that are designed into the very systems meant to serve those most at risk of dying of the disease. We plan to…
A Las Vegas Judge approves $1.4 million payment to wrongfully convicted man who served more than two decades
The Wrongfully Convicted Forced Into Plea Deals Fred Steese, who spent decades behind bars for murder — despite the fact that Nevada state prosecutors had documents showing he was in another state at the time of…
Grave warnings as Texas Gov. Abbott lifts Covid restrictions
‘Endangers the Entire Country and Beyond’ “Make no mistake: opening Texas prematurely will only lead to faster Covid spread, more sickness and overcrowding in our hospitals, and unnecessary deaths.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Wednesday, February…
Cancel all coal projects to have ‘fighting chance’ against climate crisis, says UN chief
“Phasing out coal from the electricity sector is the single most important step to get in line with the 1.5 degree goal.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Wednesday, March 3, 2021 Emphasizing that the world…
Millions set to receive surprise tax bills for pandemic jobless benefits
‘We Should Be Taxing the Rich, Not the Unemployed’ Democrats are facing pressure to act fast to stave off an “easily avoidable political disaster.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer March 2, 2021 With tax season…
GOP lawyer admits to Supreme Court that easier voting puts Republicans at ‘competitive disadvantage’
Blaring quiet part out loud “The mask is off. Republicans want to steal your right to vote and pulverize democracy because they don’t think they can win elections on ideas or humanity.” by Jake Johnson, staff…
‘It’s like nobody cares’: After two weeks without running water, Jackson, Miss. pleads for help
“Water is a basic necessity and it just brought a lot of frustration, anger, and disappointment,” said one of the city’s residents. “If you don’t know when it’s coming back, what is being done to help…
A huge, huge deal’: Biden issues public statement of support for unionizing Alabama Amazon workers
“We haven’t had this aggressive and positive of a statement from a president of the United States on behalf of workers in decades.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Monday, March 1, 2021 Declaring that all…
The Gift of Ecological Humility
These Afro-Indigenous practices challenge ideas of human supremacy. “I love to think of nature as unlimited broadcasting stations, through which God speaks to us every day, every hour.” —George Washington Carver, Tuskegee University, 1930 by Leah Penniman…
FCC approves program to help poor families overcome digital divide during pandemic
‘Life-Changer for Millions’ “As the pandemic nears its one-year mark, it’s only gotten harder for many people to afford essential internet connections to the remote learning, work, and healthcare services they need.” by Jessica Corbett, staff…
Trump-appointed judge strikes down pandemic eviction moratorium
‘The CDC Must Appeal Immediately’ The pause on evictions was put in place to help stem the spread of Covid-19. by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Friday, February 26, 2021 A Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas on…
There was a time reparations were actually paid out – just not to formerly enslaved people
by Thomas Craemer, University of Connecticut Friday, February 26, 2021 No guessing who in this 1864 depiction may have been compensated after slavery ended. API/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images The cost of slavery and its legacy of…
Lawsuit Reveals New Allegations Against PG&E Contractor Accused of fraud
Former PG&E employees are accused of taking bribes to funnel business to a waste-hauling company. by Scott Morris, Bay City News Foundation Co-published with Bay City News Foundation. Feb. 26, 5 a.m. EST Utility giant Pacific…
Nevada lithium mine kicks off a new era of Western extraction
The hastily approved project went forward without comment from the Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone Tribe. by Maya L. Kapoor, High Country News February 18, 2021 the Great Basin Desert of northern Nevada and southern Oregon, Thacker…
Congress must fight for a better democracy and pass the For the People Act
Republicans and Democratic voters agree: We need to make sure leaders actually represent “we the people.” by Ben Jealous Thursday, February 25, 2021 More than 230 years ago, the founders of the United States enshrined their…
Sanders rips Netanyahu for sending Covid vaccines to foreign allies as Palestinians denied access
‘Outrageous’ The U.S. senator from Vermont denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for sending spare vaccines overseas “while so many Palestinians in the occupied territories are still waiting.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, February 25,…
