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Posted in Energy Food Op/Ed

The energy and food crisis is far worse than most Americans realize

Whenever there’s an energy crisis, it can quickly become an everything crisis. by Richard Heinberg May 18, 20212 Everyone who owns a gasoline-burning car has noticed that fuel prices have shot up in recent weeks. And…

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Posted in Climate change Environment News

Kelly, Manchin join GOP in passing motion to bar Biden from declaring climate emergency

“Our political leadership is out to kill most of us,” lamented one climate justice advocate. by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams May 5, 2022 Two right-wing Democrats, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Mark Kelly of…

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Posted in News Taxes

Intuit will pay millions to customers tricked into paying for TurboTax

State attorneys general just reached a $141 million settlement with the Silicon Valley juggernaut. Victims will receive up to $90 each. by Justin Elliott, ProPublica May 5, 2022 ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom.  Millions…

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Posted in Housing

How your shadow credit score could decide whether you get an apartment

The vast tenant screening industry is subject to less regulation than credit scoring agencies, even though experts warn that algorithms could introduce racial or other illegal biases that can prevent people from getting housing. by Erin…

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Posted in Analysis CyberSecurity War

Ukraine conflict brings cybersecurity risks to US homes, businesses

by Richard Forno, University of Maryland, Baltimore County February 24, 2022 All cybersecurity is local, regardless of the world situation. That means it’s personal, too – in Americans’ homes, computers and online accounts. As violence spreads…

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Posted in Analysis Corporate Influence Politics

5-Minute video summarizes Joe Manchin’s obstruction

The West Virginia Democrat “repeatedly timed his key attacks on Biden’s agenda to occur at events with his largest corporate donors,” according to the video. by Kenny Stancil, Common Dreams February 4, 2022 Although Sen. Joe…

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Posted in Analysis Minimum wage Workers

Restaurant owners got 30 times more federal Covid aid than workers

“If the subminimum wage for tipped workers persists, the restaurant industry is unlikely to recover from its growing labor crisis, regardless of how much money the federal government hands out to business owners.” by Kenny Stancil,…

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Posted in Investigations News

Eric Trump invoked 5th Amendment 500 times during 6-hour deposition

Longtime Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg refused a similar number of questions, citing his right to not self-incriminate. by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams Wednesday, January 19, 2022 Former President Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump invoked the…

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Rancher Jon Pedotti walks on the cracked remains of a parched lake bed of his 1,561-acre ranch located along San Simeon Creek in the Santa Lucia Mountain foothills of Cambria, California during a drought on October 1, 2014. (Photo: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Posted in Climate change Politics Water

Groups call on CFTC to shut down water futures market

“In this time of global-warming-induced drought in California, the last thing we need is to gamble on our precious water resources.” by Julia Conley, Common Dreams December 21, 2021 Warning Wall Street against commodifying what has…

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Consumers shop in a Target store on September 28, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Posted in Analysis Wealth

As executives hike prices, US corporations rake in biggest profits since 1950

“Prices are high,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown, “because corporations are raising them—so they can keep paying themselves with ever-larger executive bonuses and stock buybacks.” by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams November 30, 2021 New data released by…

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Ross, a resident of the Castaway Inn in downtown Reno, was forced to move out after the motel was bought by the developer Jeffrey Jacobs. Jacobs plans to demolish the Castaway.
Posted in Evictions Homelessness News

Reno developer plans to demolish motel that serves as housing lifeline

Jeffrey Jacobs has been buying and demolishing Reno motels for years. He promises the low-income tenants who live there he’ll find them a better place. Displaced residents of the Castaway Inn paint a fuller picture of…

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Bricks piled in a dirt lot where the Town House Motor Lodge once stood near the Sands Regency Hotel Casino in downtown Reno. The casino is owned by the developer Jeffrey Jacobs.
Posted in Evictions Homelessness Real estate

He Tore Down Motels Where Poor Residents Lived During a Housing Crisis. City Leaders Did Nothing.

by Anjeanette Damon, photography by David Calvert, special to ProPublica November 12, 2021 Co-published with Reno Gazette Journal  For most of his life, Ernest Block has managed to stay one step ahead of homelessness. When he…

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Posted in Corporate Influence News Politics Restart 2021

West Virginia constituents decry ‘Immorality’ of Joe Manchin

“West Virginia has been locked into an economy that forces workers into low-wage jobs with no hope for advancement, and after decades of this our hope is dwindling,” said one West Virginian. “The cuts that Sen….

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Posted in Investigations News

Scammers are using fake job ads to steal people’s identities

From Facebook to LinkedIn to Indeed, ads are popping up that promise well-paying jobs — if applicants provide their Social Security numbers and other details up front. Scammers then use the information to apply for unemployment…

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Posted in Investigations News

The Trump Administration used its Food Aid program for political gain: Congressional investigation

The Food to Families program, touted by Ivanka Trump, gave tens of millions of dollars to unqualified firms and was also used to promote then-President Trump. by Bianca Fortis, ProPublica October 25, 2021 A $6 billion…

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Posted in Corporate Taxes Restart 2021 Wealth Tax

As ‘unhinged’ Sinema blocks corporate rate hike, demand grows for billionaire tax

“It seems truly unhinged to look at a country full of working people struggling to get by… and decide that it’s more important to preserve low tax rates for billionaires and corporations than it is to…

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Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) hobnobs with attendees of a May 17, 2019 event hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/cc)
Posted in Campaign finance Corporate Influence News

Sinema Collects More Pharma and Finance Funds

New Filing “This is what someone who’s bought and paid for looks like.” by Brett Wilkens October 18, 2021 U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, the right-wing Arizona Democrat obstructing her party’s $3.5 trillion Build Back Better bill,…

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New polling from CNN and SRSS found that 75% of Democratic respondents favor a Build Back Better bill with more ambitious social and climate spending. (Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Unbendable Media)
Posted in Analysis Infrastructure Restart 2021 Workers

75% of Democrats want party to go big on social spending, climate action

“The people delivered Democrats the House, Senate, and White House. Now it’s time for us to deliver them paid leave, child care, climate action, lower healthcare costs, pre-k, community college, affordable housing, and so much more.”…

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Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) hobnobs with attendees of a May 17, 2019 event hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/cc)
Posted in Dark Money News Politics

While roadblocking Party agenda, Sinema absconds to Europe for fundraising

“She might as well start fundraising for McConnell at this point.” by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams Thursday, October 14, 2021 With President Joe Biden’s popular legislative agenda hanging in the balance largely due to her obstruction,…

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Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) hobnobs with attendees of a May 17, 2019 event hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/cc)
Posted in Analysis Dark Money Guest Column Restart 2021

So-called ‘centrists’ are really incredibly dangerous extremists

Their supposed “seriousness” poses a serious threat to everyone but the small group of elites whose short-term interests they actually represent. by Peter Bloom Tuesday, October 5, 2021 After a half decade of progressive political gains,…

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Posted in Infrastructure News Restart 2021

Progressives deliver message to Democrats on infrastructure: ‘Don’t f**k this up’

“The problem in American democracy today,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, “is that people have lost faith in us, in government, that we actually will fight for working people.” by Jon Queally, Common Dreams September 30, 2021…

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Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) hobnobs with attendees of a May 17, 2019 event hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/cc)
Posted in Arizona News Restart 2021

As Dems fight for bold agenda, Sinema to fundraise with its corporate opponents

‘Cartoonish Level Corrupt’ “Sinema is setting her political future on fire,” said one Democratic organizer. “If she doesn’t change course drastically and soon, it will be too late.” by Brett Wilkins, Common Dreams September 28, 2021…

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Posted in Accountability Columns Environment Wade Rathke

Environmental money scams

by Wade Rathke September 27, 2021 Pearl River    No question. Climate change is a big deal. For every hurricane alert, storm warning, and sudden street flooding, environmental consciousness is rising as quickly as the wind…

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Sen. Joe Manchin opposes making Washington, D.C. the nation's 51st state through the legislative process, arguing that a constitutional amendment is needed for the popular move. (Photo: Al Drago/Washington Post via Getty Images)
Posted in Campaign finance Dark Money Guest Column Politics

Democrats need to stand up to corporate extremists in their own party

Wall Street Democrats are not just resisting progress but putting freedom and democracy in jeopardy. by Peter Bloom September 27, 2021 The progressive optimism that the Biden presidency might lead to real change is quickly fading…

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