Big 3 buckled as stand-up strike spread
The Auto Workers (UAW) now have agreements with each of the Big 3 automakers
by Dan DiMaggio | Labor Notes | Oct. 31 | tinyurl.com/Iguana1737
A roundup from Labor Notes on the end of the strike and what’s in the tentative agreements.
Gaza and the Empathy Gap
How we Americans feel about Gazans living under Israeli bombs does matter, since we’re the ones financing it
by Ryan Grim | The Intercept | Oct. 23 | tinyurl.com/Iguana1717
Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7 was terrible and should be condemned, but Israel’s response has been horrifying. Even so, many Americans, and the White House, unwaveringly support Israel. But what if we put ourselves in the shoes of Palestinian civilians? To imagine how it feels to see unconditional support being given to a military operation that is killing thousands upon thousands of innocent people, how it must feel to see calls for a humanitarian ceasefire attacked as not just wrong but “repugnant” — not from a college student group, but from the podium at the White House. How we Americans feel about all this does matter, since we’re the ones financing it.
If the GOP speaker circus fails Trump, this centrist group has a plan to save him in 2024
Trump has convinced these supposedly principled centrists that corrupting the election is perfectly reasonable
by Heather Digby Parton | Salon | Oct. 25 | tinyurl.com/Iguana1719
The GOP has an array of dirty tricks ready for the 2024 elections. One that hasn’t had much attention (yet) is running a strong (enough) third party to keep anyone from winning 270 Electoral College votes, in which case the President would be picked by the House of Representatives, on a state-by-state basis (meaning a Republican-dominated vote) — and a false-front group called “No Labels” has a plan to do just that.
Laura Jane Grace receives key to the City
City of Gainesville, Florida held presentation at the City Hall Plaza on Oct. 27
video (14:00) by City of Gainesville | YouTube | tinyurl.com/Iguana1736
Laura Jane Grace of AgainstMe! receives the key to the City of Gainesville. In her acceptance speech, she gives a shout out to Joe Courter and the Civic Media Center.
Speaker of the House
is the manifestation of exactly what MAGA Republicans want
video (4:15) by PoliticsGirl | YouTube | tinyurl.com/Iguana1727
Who is Mike Johnson? The manifestation of the MAGA Republicans’ ideal candidate—average, white, male, conservative, Christian, inexperienced—and he’s now third in line for the presidency. PoliticsGirl provides a crisp four-minute analysis.
The case for re-writing the Constitution
If the left doesn’t seriously consider updating the country’s founding document, it will bind us to an undemocratic future
by Chris Edelson | The Progressive | Oct. 18 | tinyurl.com/Iguana1729
The current Constitution was enacted more than 230 years ago, so it’s no surprise it is in need of an overhaul. It failed to prevent Trump’s authoritarian threat and, more broadly, it makes the federal government unable to act as truly representative of the people. It’s time to outline a bold, long-term vision aimed at advancing equality and social justice.
The Dean Obeidallah Show
Mary Trump discusses Donald’s mental decline, his fear of prison and more
video (25:36) by Dean Obeidallah and Mary Trump | YouTube | tinyurl.com/Iguana1728
Mary Trump discusses Uncle Don’s dangerous mental decline, his fear of prison, why he cares about the NY fraud case, and more.
‘The world is failing forests’: Report finds leaders way off track from halting deforestation by 2030
‘We are investing in activities that are harmful for forests at far higher rates than … in activities … beneficial for forests’
by Olivia Rosane | Common Dreams | Oct. 24 | tinyurl.com/Iguana1730
Despite promising to halt global deforestation by 2030, world leaders have not done enough to protect forests, a new report found. The 2023 Forest Declaration Assessment calculated that human activities destroyed 6.6 million hectares of forests in 2022, which means the world is 21 percent off track from meeting the 2030 deadline.
We can’t fight the Republican party’s ‘big lie’ with facts alone
Agreeing to Donald Trump’s claims about the ‘rigged’ 2020 election ensures your fealty by making you complicit
by Peter Pomerantsev | The Guardian | Oct. 29 | tinyurl.com/Iguana1726
Do people fall for conspiracy theories (such as Trump’s Big Lie™ of a stolen 2020 election) because they lose their roots in local community?