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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Latest on the Trump bill Rep. Julie Johnson commented on this morning: https://www.reuters.com/business/us-stock-futures-dip-bond-yields-climb-trumps-tax-bill-standoff-unfolds-2025-05-21/El Paso is seeing more adult measles infections than those affecting children - due possibly to high vaccination rates in kids, and older Texans who may be more vulnerable than they thought: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-el-paso-measles/SB 2880, the bill ramping up penalties surrounding abortion medication and against people who seek abortion care outside of Texas, is seen as a model that other Republican-dominated states will follow: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/05/new-texas-abortion-ban-pill-sb-2880.html...Meanwhile SB 31 - the "Life Of The Mother Act" - which was suspected of allowing by technicality the additional restrictions that SB 2880 proposes outright, is set for a House vote today: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-abortion-exception-save-mothers/Environment Texas provides a rundown of the current status of the remaining environmental and energy related legislation still active in the closing days of the session: https://environmentamerica.org/texas/articles/17-days-to-go-where-things-stand-in-the-texas-legislature/Democrats have a real shot at taking the U.S. Senate in 2026, and John Cornyn's longtime seat is seen as central to the opportunity: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/democrats-have-a-real-shot-at-retaking-the-senate-in-2026.htmlWe look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Julie Johnson talks about the term “romantasy” in relation to her gorgeous debut on the traditional publishing scene, with THE WIND WEAVER, and how the song "Rhiannon" inspired what will be your new favorite series.
March 26, 2025: Julie Johnson, Executive Director of the Center for Research Informatics at the University of Chicago, explores the current state of healthcare data and advancements aiming to transform patient care. How can organizations democratize data while maintaining appropriate governance? Julie shares insights on her partnership with MDClone, describing how this tool helps clinicians and researchers "fail fast and pivot quickly" rather than waiting months for critical information. Key Points:01:57 Data Utilization and Governance03:44 Addressing Data Bias and Sourcing05:26 Future Prospects and Innovations08:23 Navigating HIMSSX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
This week a Democratic lawmaker became the first to officially call for the senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, to step down. The veteran Democrat angered many in his party last week when he backed a Republican funding bill that averted a government shutdown. But this is just one example of a party in crisis trying to oppose the Trump administration, with very little power in Congress.This week, we hear from representatives Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Ro Khanna of California, Julie Johnson of Texas, and Maxwell Frost of Florida on how they would like their party to move forward. Plus, Jonathan Freedland asks the senior Democratic strategist Waleed Shahid what the party's strategy should beSend your questions and feedback to politicsweeklyamerica@theguardian.comHelp support the Guardian. Go to theguardian.com/politcspodus
If you listened to last week's episode, you heard me dispel some myths around Zinfandel and sing this grape's praises! This week you're coming along to a Zinfandel-centric tasting at the beautiful Tres Sabores Winery in St Helena, CA. Tres Sabores is a boutique organic winery owned by winemaker, Julie Johnson and they are celebrating their 25th year making gorgeous wines in the Napa Valley.Join my dear friends Anne, Joan, Ericka and I, as our wine educator, Jim Olmos, shares Zinfandel in 4 different and exciting wines. You'll hear their reactions and the story of this special winery and why it drew me in the very first time I visited over 15 years ago. Listen to our impressions of:Rosé of Zinfandel (is it White Zinfandel?)2022 ZinfandelA special Library vintage of Zin (hint- it blew us away...)My favorite Zin driven blend "Porque No?"You can order these beautiful wines or plan your tasting visit to Tres Sabores Here. When in St Helena, be sure to visit one of my favorites, Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch and bring your Tres Sabores Zinfindel for some fantastic pairings! Did you know I make my own wine here in Sonoma County? My 2021 Sollevato Sangiovese is available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off. It's a delicious, medium bodied, aromatic red wine that is perfect with pizza, pasta and your charcuterie spread!You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine and get a shoutout on a future episode.Please leave a RATING or a REVIEW (on your podcast listening platform), or thumbs up and subscribe (on YouTube!)Questions? Comments? Guest requests? nikki@sipwithnikki.com
Whether you're pitching an idea to leadership, leading a meeting, or delivering a keynote at a conference, they're all forms of presenting. Within each method, you're presenting your ideas, guiding other's ideas, and aiming to inspire action within people. All of it can be stressful. Whether you speak to 5 people,15, 50, or 500, your palms may clam up and suddenly you've lost your train of thought, derailing from your perfectly crafted script. But here's the thing — you don't need a script to efficiently communicate. What you do need is your authentic, confident voice, which Julie Johnson will teach you to hone in this week's Your Brilliant Difference Podcast episode. Julie Johnson is the CEO of XY Communication and a leading authority on intergenerational and gender communication. As a current member of the esteemed Forbes Coaches Council and a former Barron's winning SVP with UBS (CFP & CIMA), she has devoted her career to helping professionals and teams build trust, engagement, and loyalty. Specializing in psychological safety and conflict navigation, she is a Certified Behavioral Finance Trainer, a Certified Facilitator in Adam Grant & Ray Dalio's PrinciplesYou program, a Certified Brene Brown Daring Way Facilitator, a Globally licensed member of the International Coaching Federation, and a Certified Global Speaker through The National Speaker Association. Listen to this episode and learn from Julie as she teaches you how to tailor your communication to meet people where they are. You'll also learn how to apply techniques to help you refine your big idea and voice it with confidence, authenticity, and influence. The Agenda for Today's Episode: What exactly is an authentic, confident voice? PrinciplesYou Assessment overview and how it informs workplace communication. How to overcome presentation anxiety. Presentation tips and best practices. How Julie's public speaking and presenting experience has impacted her career. How to leverage LinkedIn to amplify your authentic, confident voice and build a brand that drives your career. Connect with Julie Johnson Julie Johnson on LinkedIn Career Advancement Report Coming December 13th! For the first time ever, Finka Jerkovic is publishing her first Finka Inc. Career Advancement Report, informing you about what to focus on in 2025 to rise and shine at work. Join her Find Your Brilliance community newsletter and get a copy delivered right to your inbox as soon as it's released. [Sign Up for Release Day Delivery]
Send us a textOn this episode of Oncology Unscripted, patient advocates Julie Johnson and Katie Coleman and radiation oncologist Dr. Matt Spraker host Dr. Michelle Hirsch, MD, PhD. She is a pathologist and Chief of the Genitourinary Pathology Division at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard University.In this episode, we cover all things pathology! We kick off by discussing the role of the pathologist in the cancer care team. How do these doctors train and what do they do each day? Then we discuss the process of pathology. What happens to a patient's tissue once it is removed from their body? A lot! We review different techniques pathologists use to make a diagnosis and terms that patients may find in their pathology report. We also share ideas for how patients can better understand their report. We close with a discussion of pathology second opinions. Here are some other things we discussed during the show:Microtome (Wikipedia)A stock image of a pathology blockH&E and IHE staining (Wikipedia)PathologyOutlines.comCollege of American Pathologists websiteWHO Classification of Tumors (Blue Book) OnlineOncology Unscripted Episode: Second OpinionsOncology Unscripted is a Photon Media production. Intro and Outro music by Emmy-award winning artist Lucas Cantor Santiago.Additional content from Matt Spraker can be found on his website, https://www.sprakermd.com/.Additional content from Katie Coleman can be found at her website, https://www.katiekickscancer.com/. This show and our opinions are meant for general informational purposes and are not medical advice. We encourage you to reach out to your doctors to discuss your individual case.
You probably know a few women who “wow” you. But what makes these women so memorable and inspirational? Why are we in awe of them or interested in learning what makes them tick? Do they have something in common? Or is because they do uncommon things? Julie Johnson, host of the Women Who Wow podcast, shares her thoughts on has spent several hours digging into the lives of tech industry movers and shakers. So, we sat down with her (on her own show) to find out what common threads she sees in the most impressive women. Let us know if you agree with her => https://www.zebra.com/us/en/blog/posts/2024/what-makes-the-women-who-wow-us-so-memorable.html
Julie talked about the Open Class at the fair.
Send us a Text Message.The boys come back from Grand Rapids, Michigan with some tea. They talk about the Florida Smash vs CA Black Bears drama, the paddle testing failures and all things MLP Michigan. Let us know if there are any topics we should discuss. —————————Website: https://www.tylerloong.com/Use Code "KOTC" for Huge Savings at Pickleball Central: https://pickleballcentral.com/Use Code "KOTC" for $100 Savings on C&D Pickleball Nets: https://bestpickleballnets.com/ Use Code “KOTC” to save at Stack Athletics: https://stackathletics.comUse Code "KOTC" to save 10% on Modballs: https://modballs.com/products/modballsUse Code "KOTC" for Savings on Holey: https://holeyperformance.com/passwordUse Code "KOTC" for Big Savings on Vulcan Gear: https://vulcansportinggoods.com/pages/vulcan-pickleball-paddlesNEW KOTC DISCORD https://discord.gg/YFmxb8qVyHCheck out our NEWSLETTER: https://kotc.beehiiv.com/subscribeInstagram: Tyler's IG - / @tyler.loong Jimmy's IG - / @jimmymiller_pbKOTC IG - MM/ @morekingofthecourt Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/p/Tyler-Loong-100042239451857/0:00 Intro5:08 Grand Rapids Recap8:22 Florida Smash vs Black Bears Drama29:32 Challenger League Recap35:48 Premier League Recap1:01:49 Paddle Testing Issues1:04:07 Q&A
After receiving a life-altering rare breast sarcoma diagnosis in 2019, Julie embarked on a journey of discovery, immersing herself in cancer literature, connecting with patients and physicians, and identifying resources to enhance her well-being despite the diagnosis. This transformative experience sparked a perspective shift that resulted in a career pivot from marketing professional to a dedicated patient advocate and active contributor to the cancer community. Whether co-hosting her podcast "Oncology Unscripted," networking with patients, or collaborating with various non-profits, Julie leverages her own patient experiences to advocate for improved resources, support, and care for those impacted by sarcoma and other cancers. IG and Twitter @solongsarcoma Email Julie at johnsonjm314@gmail.com To hear Julie on her podcast, Oncology Unscripted, visit - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oncology-unscripted/id1679839386 Non Profits Mentioned in the Interview: Sarcoma Alliance Jamie Leandro Foundation _____ To learn more about the 10 Radical Remission Healing Factors, connect with a certified RR coach or join a virtual or in-person workshop visit www.radicalremission.com. To watch Episode 1 of the Radical Remission Docuseries for free, visit our YouTube channel here. To purchase the full 10-epidsode Docuseries visit Hay House Online Learning. Click Here, to learn more about health coaching with Liz or Karla. Follow us on Social Media: Facebook , Instagram, YouTube.
This is a must watch! Now available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/s_-nIDDM9DI Ready to witness the pulse-pounding action of Major League Pickleball like never before? Join us as we celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary with a special recap of the MLP Summer Slam Exhibition match between the Dallas Flash and the Orlando Squeeze. Hear about the unique dynamics of the game, featuring standout performances from JW and Jorja Johnson, Tyra Black, Tyson McGuffin, and Vivienne David. Add to that the exciting appearances from guest substitutes John Isner and Samantha Parker, and you've got an episode bursting with high-energy pickleball action.Curious about the behind-the-scenes strategies and team chemistry of top-tier MLP teams? We delve into the challenges and triumphs of building cohesive units with limited practice time, and how community activations play a vital role in expanding the sport. Listen as we share insights on the MLP draft process and discuss what it's like competing against formidable teams like the Texas Ranchers and DC. Get up close with seasoned players like Julie Johnson and Hurricane Tyra Black, and uncover the secrets to their success on the court. We also get insight from Ed Chao and Ameen Hafez, the GM's for the Flash and Squeeze, respectively.Our episode also features a captivating conversation with Robert Slutsky, an up & coming figure in the professional pickleball world who transitioned from professional Ultimate Frisbee. Discover his journey, including the moment his viral diving ATP shot took the internet by storm. We also chat about the camaraderie of doubles play, the intensity of women's doubles "firefights," and the nuances of player techniques, especially for taller athletes. With anecdotes from pros like Tyson McGuffin and reflections on the joy of witnessing high-caliber pickleball, this episode is a can't-miss for any pickleball enthusiast.Special thanks to Crown Pickleball for their support and sponsorship! Don't waste money on balls that break, Crown pickleballs rarely crack, are more visible and have a higher spin rate than the competitors.Use our link to receive a discount on your next purchase! https://crownpickleball.store/blazingpaddles Have a suggestion for a guest or topic you'd like to see us address?Hit me up at john@dink.pro or shout out on social:InstagramTwitter
On this episode of Oncology Unscripted, patient advocates Julie Johnson and Katie Coleman and radiation oncologist Dr. Matt Spraker host physical therapist Dr. Hillary Hinrichs and researcher Dr. Kelley Wood (@kcwood_phd on X) to discuss exercise and cancer rehabilitation. We kick off our discussion with an important question. What is cancer rehabilitation, and how is this different than exercise? Then, we discuss how patients can find out how cancer rehabilitation and exercise can play a role in their care. How can you ask your doctor whether you need a cancer rehab evaluation? How are doctors learning how to best use exercise and cancer rehab in their treatment plans? We close the discussion by examining the benefits that cancer rehabilitation can provide throughout a patients course of diagnosis, treatment, and beyond. Also, we review the risks and restrictions that may be important in the context of a cancer diagnosis. Here are some resources that can help you find a rehabilitation therapist, such as a physical, occupational, or speech/swallow therapist:American Physical Therapy Association - Find a Physical Therapist or Specialist Therapist Lymphology Association of North America - Find a Lymphedema TherapistReVital Cancer Rehab – Find a locationCheck out the ACSM Exercise Is Medicine, Moving Through Cancer website, it's a great patient resource! Here are some other things we discussed during the show:Schmitz et al., Exercise is medicine in oncology: Engaging clinicians to help patients move through cancer. (free access)Pergolotti et al., Impact of Real-World Outpatient Cancer Rehabilitation Services on Health-Related Quality of Life of Cancer Survivors. (free access)ECOG Performance Status 6-Minute Walk TestTimed Up and Go TestOncology Unscripted is a Photon Media production. Intro and Outro music by Emmy-award winning artist Lucas Cantor Santiago.Additional content from Katie Coleman can be found at her website, https://www.katiekickscancer.com/. This show and our opinions are meant for general informational purposes and are not medical advice. We encourage you to reach out to your doctors to discuss your individual case.
On Episode 219 of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we interview Julie Johnson! Many will best know Julie for lending her voice to the character Baby Bop in the long-running Barney franchise, including the Barney & Friends TV series and many home videos, concerts, albums and more! Aside from Barney, she performed in musicals such as Amnesia, Hairspray, Come from Away and Beauty and the Beast and acted on-camera in the films Pure Country and The Apostle!
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, PRess Play deviates from its typical structure in this special episode to tackle an issue that touches many but is often shrouded in silence: anxiety. According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the US, affecting over … Read More Read More
Welcome to the first of a monthly series of six discussions of reproductive freedom in Texas - the Republican trampling of that freedom, the dire threat that denial of basic human rights poses to women and pregnant people across our state, where the GOP is likely to go next should they gain power in November - and what YOU can do to stop them. Dallas State Rep. Julie Johnson - a Progress Texas endorsee in her outright primary win in her run for the U.S. House, can be found at https://juliejohnson.com/. Second-term Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis can be found at https://www.austintexas.gov/department/district-8. Democratic nominee for U.S. House District 8 Laura Jones can be found at https://www.laura4tx.com/. There are many ways to join the fight to restore reproductive justice in Texas! Learn more at http://roevolution.org/.
On this episode of Oncology Unscripted, patient advocates Julie Johnson and Katie Coleman and radiation oncologist Dr. Matt Spraker subject each other to an "Ask Me Anything"! Here are the questions we asked each other:1. What do you wish doctors and other people without cancer knew about how the diagnosis actually changed your day to day life? 2. What do you wish more patients knew or did early in their diagnosis? 3. What is one thing you'd like to see changed or improved in medicine in the next 3 years? 4. Do they teach you how to cope with death and losing patients in medical school?5. How do people address you in the hospital? Who calls you Dr. Spraker and who calls you Matt? What about a third party, like a business meeting?6. What do you think about doctors' behavior and activity online, for instance an argument or comedy skits online?Oncology Unscripted is a Photon Media production. Intro and Outro music by Emmy-award winning artist Lucas Cantor Santiago.Additional content from Katie Coleman can be found at her website, https://www.katiekickscancer.com/. This show and our opinions are meant for general informational purposes and are not medical advice. We encourage you to reach out to your doctors to discuss your individual case.
Ok All you 10-ers this week we are tackling the biggest sports phenomenon on the planet... PICKLEBALL. It's all the rage with us midlifers and has become a huge social beacon for us all. Who better to discuss dinking, lobbing and the dreaded “kitchen” than Julie Johnson, 2021 number one female player on the APP tour and top ranked senior player in the world. Both of Julie's children play professionally and her son is the current reigning National Singles Champion and her 17 year old daughter is a top 10 female player. Simply put, the Johnson's are called “The First Family of Pickleball”, and continue to build their brand in America's fastest growing sport. This family affair is a beautiful chapter in their story that no one saw coming, but all of the Johnson's are embracing.Laurie and Michelle will discuss all facets of the sport and what's to come. Let's Go!Get Ready To Be Inspired, Educated, Empowered and Entertained! For more information visit us @shesa10times5. https://instagram.com/shesa10times5
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: A helicopter crash Friday at the border killed three service members: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/2-soldiers-border-patrol-agent-dead-helicopter-crash-texas-mexico-bord-rcna142589 A lawsuit filed by Texas against a federal program for immigrants from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela has been thrown out: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-rejects-texas-lawsuit-against-immigration-policy-biden-border-strategy/ Hundreds protested SB-4, set to take effect this week, at the Capitol over the weekend: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/protesters-rally-against-sb4-at-texas-capitol/ A judge has decided against the National Labor Relations Board, who wanted to improve conditions for franchise employees to unionize: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/federal-judge-texas-blocks-us-labor-board-rule-107998334 Colin Allred sees disarray within the Texas GOP as a good sign for his chances to beat Ted Cruz: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4522776-colin-allred-says-texas-republican-party-is-seeing-an-internal-civil-war/ ...While Cruz says he's courting...Democrats? https://www.statesman.com/story/news/columns/2024/03/10/texas-elections-senate-race-ted-cruz-colin-allred-win-support-of-democrats/72880265007/ Julie Johnson credits the women of her district for securing her win and prioritizes abortion rights in her first term: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/lgbtq-advocate-gives-women-credit-helping-her-win-congressional-race-outright-avoid-runoff/287-7cfa7124-2fce-4f6e-969d-908fafe06049 The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has developed a reputation for defying the U.S. Supreme Court: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/11/us/supreme-court-texas-death-penalty.html Voting success for Abbott and Paxton's revenge tours represent a further empowerment of the radical right fringe in Texas: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-primary-election-far-right-victory/ ...While out of state money, misinformation and Donald Trump were more influential on voters than vouchers or the impeachment: https://texasruralreporter.substack.com/p/zero-zilch-nada-the-border-trump?r=2dg05g&utm_medium=web ...And Democrats in safe blue districts need to renew efforts to back the statewide progressive cause: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/an-open-letter-to-the-democrats-in March is Women's History Month! See a new analysis of what that month really means in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/inspire-inclusion-celebrating-international-womens-day-2024-texas Thanks for listening and have a great weekend! All about all we do, and several fun ways to support our work, can be found at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Amplify Austin Day 2024 is on through 6pm Thursday night! Most solid news is behind paywalls, while misinformation and propaganda are usually free. Help us keep our solid reporting accessible with a donation of ANY amount - thank you! https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute Progress Texas endorsee Julie Johnson is set to make history by becoming the first openly LGBTQ member of the U.S. Congress, not only from Texas but from the entire South: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4510622-julie-johnson-poised-for-victory-in-texas-primary-set-to-be-first-lgbtq-congress-member-from-the-south/ Lauren Ashley Simmons goes to a runoff against embattled HD-146 Rep. Shawn Thierry - we look forward to pushing her to victory: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/shawn-thierry-houston-democrat-primary-legislature-simmons/ Congrats and thanks to all of our primary endorsees: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progressive-wins-and-losses-texas-super-tuesday-primary Many other Democratic runoff elections set for May 28: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/primary-election-results-2024/ Many more GOP runoffs, main event being Dade Phelan vs David Covey: https://apnews.com/article/paxton-texas-primary-revenge-abbott-phelan-3d991ae09585726f98c515455b015a3e Ted Cruz learns lessons from his near-miss with Beto O'Rourke and will come out swinging early against Colin Allred: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/06/colin-allred-ted-cruz/ Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine barely avoids a runoff and now faces Democrat Christine Weems: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/john-devine-brian-walker-texas-supreme-court-primary/ Mineral Wells GOP Rep. Glenn Rogers, run out of a job by Governor Abbott's voucher crusade, rails against Republican corruption: https://mwareanews.com/2024/03/06/glenn-rogers-pens-response-to-election-loss/ Republican turncoat Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is super proud to announce he voted for Donald Trump on Tuesday: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/03/06/dallas-mayor-eric-johnson-says-he-voted-for-donald-trump-for-president/ The State Of The Union Address is tonight at 8 - and you can play along with our SOTU Bingo Cards! Grab 'em here: https://progresstexas.org/blog/bingo-win-big-biden%E2%80%99s-state-union Thanks for listening! Learn more about Women's History Month, hit our web store, and help us continue our important election year work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Join us on this inspiring episode of the Nob$ Wealth "Money Mindset Series" as we dive deep into the heart of financial planning with the extraordinary Julie Johnson. With a career spanning over two decades, Julie brings a wealth of knowledge, empathy, and innovative strategies to the table, challenging the traditional norms of the industry. This discussion isn't just about wealth management; it's about understanding the core of what makes financial planning truly meaningful — building genuine relationships and fostering emotional connections.
The Heartland POD for Friday, February 23, 2024A flyover from this weeks top heartland stories including:Primary voting is underway in Texas | Kansas Medicaid expansion update | Illinois Gov J.B. Pritzker lays out priorities as a progressive pragmatist | Missouri Democrats filibuster ballot candy | KS Gov Laura Kelly's veto will stand Primary voting is underway in Texashttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/21/julie-johnson-brian-williams-congressional-district-32-colin-allred/BY SEJAL GOVINDARAOFEB. 21, 2024WASHINGTON — In 2018, Rep. Colin Allred flipped Texas' 32nd Congressional District, turning the Dallas-based district into a blue stronghold. Now, as the Democrat vies to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a crowded field of 10 Democrats is lining up to replace him.Dr. Brian Williams, a trauma surgeon, and State Rep. Julie Johnson, of Farmers Branch, are leading the field in the Democratic primary with their fundraising efforts, each amassing about a million dollars in campaign donations since their campaigns were registered at the beginning of last summer.Ideologically, Williams and Johnson are aligned. They both rank health care a top priority if elected, and have touted their ability to work across the aisle.Johnson, a trial lawyer in her third term in the state House rode the 2019 blue wave to unseat hardline conservative incumbent Matt Rinaldi, by 13 points. Rinaldi now chairs the state GOP. In her three terms, at least 40 of the bills Johnson has co-authored or joint-authored have been signed into law.As a Democrat in the Republican-dominated state Legislature, Johnson has played a lot of defense trying to kill bills she and other progressives deem harmful. Johnson, who is gay, said she and other members of the House's LGBTQ caucus have had success in killing anti-LGBTQ bills by mastering the rules of procedure and “being better at the rules than the other side.” In 2019, she took down a House version of the so-called “Save Chick-fil-A bill” on a rule technicality. The bill was a response to a San Antonio airport kicking out the fast food restaurant over criticism of its religiously affiliated donations to anti-LGBTQ groups. It was revived in another bill and passed into law.If elected, Johnson would be the first openly LGBTQ member of Congress from a Southern state. She's drawn notable endorsements from Beto O'Rourke, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, EMILY's List, Equality PAC, and several labor unions.Matt Angle, director of Lone Star Project, a Texas group that works to boost Democrats, said Johnson is the frontrunner in the race, but Williams is a formidable challenger.“Make no mistake about it though,” Angle said. “Julie Johnson has a voter base within the district not only from her old district, but also just from years of being an active Democratic activist and a donor and really a couple of just outstanding terms in the legislature.”While he may be new to the Texas political arena, Williams is no stranger to the halls of Congress.Williams was a health policy adviser to U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy — who endorsed him — to help pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022 – the farthest reaching gun safety legislation in decades. The legislation, crafted in the aftermath of the shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo New York, allocated millions of dollars to expand mental health resources, strengthens background checks and tightens the boyfriend loophole. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn was a lead negotiator on the bill with Murphy, and Williams worked closely with Cornyn's office. In his role as a health policy advisor for Murphy, he worked across the aisle with Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana on mental health legislation.Williams also worked with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California to pass federal health care legislation related to pandemic preparedness and reducing health care costs.Williams said his experience as a trauma surgeon — operating on victims of gun violence and women experiencing reproductive health emergencies — has fueled his priorities to fight for gun restrictions and increase access to abortions and other womens' health. Williams added his perspective as a Black doctor seeing racial disparities in health care will resonate with the district's diverse constituency, given that the district is now a majority-minority district with a 37% Hispanic or Latino population, 22% Black population and 8% Asian population.“They're excited that there's someone that looks like them that can represent them in Congress,” Williams said in an interview.As Allred opted to stay neutral in the race to succeed him – Williams said he had pursued his endorsement while Johnson said she had not – the tension between Johnson and Williams has been heating up.Williams has publicly criticized Johnson for a vote she took that would have made some changes and tweaks to the state's Alternatives to Abortions program, which provides information about resources to women seeking the procedure.“I draw contrast between myself and Representative Johnson about how I am the better candidate,” Williams said.Johnson, who is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, said Williams misrepresented the vote, which she said she cast to bring the already-funded program under the scope of the Health and Human Services Commission so it could be subject to public transparency. Her campaign published a fact-check on her website, likening Williams' misrepresentation of her record to “Trumpian-style, false attacks.”Planned Parenthood was critical of the legislation.Johnson said women's health is also a priority for her, and she stands by her record.“Texas leads the nation of uninsured folks, and in maternal mortality, and in infant mortality. Obviously, we're leading the nation in an attack on women's freedom for women's reproductive health, and I've been a champion of a lot of these issues,” she said.Other candidates vying for the open seat in the March 5 primary include businessman Raja Chaudhry, tech entrepreneur Alex Cornwallis, former Dallas City Councilman and real estate broker Kevin Felder and attorney Callie Butcher, who would be the first openly transgender member of Congress if elected.If no candidate gets a majority of the vote, there will be a runoff in May. The winner of the Democratic primary will face off against the winner of the Republican primary in November but is likely to win given that the district is solidly blue.And, from Dallas we go to Houston whereAfter bruising loss in Houston mayoral race, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee faces her toughest reelection yetJackson Lee faces off against Amanda Edwards, her most formidable congressional opponent in three decades.https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/19/sheila-jackson-lee-amanda-edwards-democratic-primary-houston/BY SEJAL GOVINDARAOFEB. 19, 2024In 1994, Sheila Jackson Lee, then a 44-year-old Houston city councilwoman, unseated four-term U.S. Rep. Craig Washington in the Democratic primary, securing a seat she'd come to hold for the next 30 years.This March, former Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards, 42, is hoping to replicate that political upset as she faces off against Jackson Lee in the Democratic primary for Congressional District 18.Jackson Lee, who did not respond to requests for an interview, has only drawn four primary challengers over her 14-term career, all of whom she defeated by landslide margins.She's a household name in her Houston-based district, known for her frequent visibility at constituent graduations, funerals and baby showers.But last year she ran for Houston mayor against then-state Sen. John Whitmire. It was a bruising primary — unfamiliar territory for Jackson Lee — and her campaign was roiled with negative media after audio of her berating her congressional staffers was leaked. She ended up losing the race by 30 points and then immediately announced she was running for reelection to the U.S. House.Amanda Edwards, a former intern in Jackson Lee's office, initially announced she was running for Houston mayor until the congresswoman threw her hat in the ring. At that point, Edwards pivoted — endorsing Jackson Lee as mayor and beginning her own bid for Congress.By the time Jackson Lee announced she was running for her House seat again, Edwards had already gained momentum. In the fourth quarter of last year, Edwards outraised the congresswoman 10 to 1 — $272,000 to Jackson Lee's $23,000.Mark Jones, Baker Institute fellow in political science at Rice University said, “This could be the year that Congresswoman Jackson Lee loses. And given that as a safe, Democratic, seat whoever wins the primary will be headed to Washington in January of 2025”Jackson Lee holds a narrow lead in primary polls, while 16% of voters remain undecided. Edwards, a native Houstonian, said her commitment to public service is propelled by her father's battle with cancer when she was a teenager, where she learned firsthand about the cracks in the health care system and how “policy could be a matter of life and death.” She served as an at-large Houston City Council member from 2016 to 2020, where she represented a constituency of more than 2 million people.In her race to beat Jackson Lee, Edwards has garnered some notable endorsements including the Harris County Young Democrats, and the Harris County chapter of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats – both of which endorsed Jackson Lee in past races.The Harris County Young Democrats rescinded its endorsement of Jackson Lee in the mayoral race — citing a “zero tolerance policy” for staff abuse.Lenard Polk, Harris County chapter president of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, said Jackson Lee's leaked audio tape controversy also factored into the committee's decision to not endorse her. On the recording Jackson Lee berates a staffer for not having a document she was looking for and calls two of her staffers “Goddamn big-ass children, fuckin' idiots who serve no Goddamn purpose.”He said endorsement committee members were still “quite upset” over the tape and it “wasn't a good look” for Jackson Lee. The leaked tape fueled discourse about Jackson Lee's reputation as an unkind boss on Capitol Hill – she regularly makes Washingtonian Magazine's worst of Congress list and her office has high turnover rates.Polk added that voters felt abandoned by Jackson Lee, who jumped into the mayor's race without endorsing someone to take her place, only to file for reelection a day after losing.Jackson Lee's battle to retain her seat is made tougher by 2021 redistricting, because the 18th district now includes more young white professionals who do not have the same level of loyalty to her as longtime district residents.But despite any damage she may have incurred from her mayoral run, Jackson Lee remains a powerful political force in her district.County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who is backing Jackson Lee, said he doesn't know anyone in local politics with her “energy level,” and that Jackson Lee has secured meaningful federal grants for her district – most recently $20.5 million to Harris County Public Health Department's Uplift Harris Guaranteed Income Pilot project. He also said she has a reputation for being a reliably progressive voice in Congress.Jackson Lee has a long list of powerful endorsements from House Democratic leaders like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Minority Whip Katherine Clarke. She's backed by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and other members of Texas' Washington delegation including Democratic Reps. Lizzie Fletcher of Houston, Lloyd Doggett of Austin, Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Joaquin Castro of San Antonio.Ellis said Jackson Lee may not be a strong fundraiser but she will benefit from her incumbency advantage.Linda Bell-Robinson, a Houston Democratic precinct chair, said she is fighting for Jackson Lee to retain her seat because seniority in Congress is important and Edwards would be learning the ropes as a freshman if elected.“We need fighters,” she said. “We don't need people trying to learn how to fight on the battlefield. We need people who are already fighting and know how to fight their fight.SEAN: Super interesting race. For my part, I don't have any problem with members of Congress being extremely tough to work for. I have problems with lying, fraud, criminal activity, and squishy voting records. Congresswoman Jackson Lee has 100% ratings from Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and AFL-CIO. She has a 95% rating from League of Conservation VotersNew estimate predicts Medicaid expansion would serve 152K at no cost to stateA $509M federal incentive would help offset state cost for first eight yearsBY: SHERMAN SMITH - FEBRUARY 22, 2024 4:22 PMhttps://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/22/new-estimate-predicts-medicaid-expansion-would-serve-152k-at-no-cost-to-state/TOPEKA — The Kansas Health Institute on Thursday unveiled its analysis of Gov. Laura Kelly's proposal to expand Medicaid, predicting 152,000 Kansans would enroll in the first year with no additional cost to the state government.The Democratic governor has made passage of Medicaid expansion a top legislative priority this year, following her statewide campaign to promote the policy last fall. But Republican leadership in the Legislature opposes the policy and has blocked hearings on Medicaid expansion for four years.Kansas is one of just 10 states that still haven't expanded Medicaid since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in 2010.The state-run version of Medicaid, called KanCare, provides health care services to low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities. Currently, those who earn less than 38% of the federal poverty level are eligible. For a family of four, the annual income limit is $11,400.Under the ACA, also known as Obamacare, the federal government offers to cover 90% of the cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty rate. The annual income threshold for a family of four would be $41,400.Kelly's proposal includes a work requirement with exceptions for full-time students, veterans, caregivers, people with partial disabilities, and former foster kids. Her plan also would add a new surcharge for hospitals.KHI predicts the change in income eligibility would result in 151,898 people enrolling in KanCare — 106,450 adults and 45,448 children. Those numbers include 68,236 adults and 16,377 children who are currently uninsured.About 68.9% of the adults are already working at least part-time, according to the KHI analysis. Of the remaining 31.1% KHI determined 19.1% of the unemployed adults have a disability, 16.1% are students and 3.8% are veterans.KHI calculated the cost to the state for expanding Medicaid over the first eight years would be fully offset — mostly because of a $509 million incentive included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Other savings would come from the federal government picking up more of the tab on existing services, as well as the new surcharge on hospitals. The Kansas Sunflower Foundation on Thursday released findings from surveys that found 68% of Kansas voters, including 51% of Republicans and 83% of small business owners support Medicaid expansion.Steve Baccus, an Ottawa County farmer and former president of Kansas Farm Bureau, said in a news release that expanding Medicaid was about “investing in the well-being of our communities.”Baccus said “Our rural communities are often struggling to keep Main Street open and to continue to offer the necessary services to the surrounding agricultural enterprises. A community that can offer a total health care package has an advantage in maintaining a viable town.”The findings are consistent with a Fort Hays State University poll that was released in October.With budget proposal and fiery address, Pritzker paints himself as progressive pragmatistThursday, February 22, 2024Governor's spending plan advances progressive-backed policies in tight fiscal landscapeBy HANNAH MEISELCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.comhttps://capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/with-budget-proposal-and-fiery-address-pritzker-paints-himself-as-progressive-pragmatistSPRINGFIELD – In delivering his annual State of the State and budget address on Wednesday, Gov. JB Pritzker cast his administration as both progressive and pragmatic – a balance he's worked to strike as his national profile has grown.Some elements of the governor's proposed spending plan, like using $10 million in state funds to eliminate $1 billion worth of Illinoisans' medical debt, are hardline progressive ideas. Others, including a goal to achieve “universal preschool” by 2027, fit in with a more traditional liberal platform.But Pritzker has also defined his success in traditional economic terms, putting particular stock into how New York City-based credit ratings agencies view Illinois' finances, while also positioning Illinois as a hub for emerging technologies like electric vehicles and quantum computing. As Illinois faces an influx of migrants from the southern U.S. border Pritzker has leaned into a leadership style that prioritizes progressive ideals while projecting an image of fiscal responsibility.As he outlined a proposal to add $182 Million toward the state's migrant response, Gov. Pritzker said, “We didn't ask for this manufactured crisis, But we must deal with it all the same.”“Children, pregnant women, and the elderly have been sent here in the dead of night, left far from our designated welcome centers, in freezing temperatures, wearing flip flops and T-shirts,” Pritzker said. “Think about that the next time a politician from Texas wants to lecture you about being a good Christian.”The governor was met with big applause from Democrats in laying out his proposed “Healthcare Consumer Access and Protection Act,” which would, in part, ban “prior authorization” requirements for mental health treatment.Pritzker characterized the practice of prior authorization as a way for insurance companies to deny the care that doctors have prescribed.Pritzker is also proposing spending $10 million in state funds to buy Illinoisans' past-due medical debt that's been sent to collections. Partnering with national nonprofit RIP Medical Debt, which buys debt for pennies on the dollar on the same market that collections agencies purchase the rights to the debts, the governor said Illinois could “relieve nearly $1 billion in medical debt for the first cohort of 340,000 Illinoisans.”The governor spent time noting two key places he said Illinois fails its Black citizens: maternal mortality and disproportionate rates of homelessness. To combat Black maternal mortality rates, Pritzker proposed helping more community-based reproductive health centers to open, citing Illinois' first freestanding nonprofit birthing center in Berwyn as a model.He said, “Black women in our state are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.” Pritzker proposed spending an additional $50 million on the state's “Home Illinois” program launched in 2021, in part to “attack the root causes of housing insecurity for Black Illinoisans.” He cited a statistic that Black people make up 61 percent of Illinois' homeless population despite only being 14 percent of the state's general population.Additionally, the governor proposed a $1 million pilot program for free diapers for low-income families, as well as a $5 million increased investment in an existing home visit program “for our most vulnerable families” with babies in their first year.His budget also includes $12 million to create a child tax credit for families with children under three with incomes below a certain threshold. Among the successes Pritzker pointed to, perhaps the most salient is his claim that Illinois' new “Smart Start” early childhood program – proposed last year in the governor's second inaugural address – had exceeded its first-year goals.The program aimed to create 5,000 new preschool seats last year, but ended up creating 5,823, Pritzker said – a 15 percent overperformance. “As a result, right now we have over 82,000 publicly-funded preschool classroom seats – the highest number in our state's history. Staying on the Smart Start plan, we will achieve universal preschool by 2027.”Echoing his 2022 election-year call for a temporary pause on the state's 1 percent tax on groceries, Pritzker on Wednesday proposed nixing the grocery tax altogether.He said “It's one more regressive tax we just don't need. If it reduces inflation for families from 4 percent to 3 percent, even if it only puts a few hundred bucks back in families' pockets, it's the right thing to do.”Even while proposing a series of progressive expenditures, the governor also sought to cast himself as a pragmatist when it comes to state finances. The state has seen strong revenue performances in the past few years, But in November, the governor's own economic forecasting office predicted a nearly $900 million deficit in the fiscal year that begins July 1.“Our FY25 budget proposal makes some hard choices,” Pritzker said Wednesday. “I wish we had big surpluses to work with this year to take on every one of the very real challenges we face.”Illinois' once-paltry “rainy day” fund now has $2 billion socked away, the governor noted, and the state has paid off high-interest debt during his five years in office.To mitigate Illinois' previously projected deficit, Pritzker is proposing to more than double the tax rate paid by sportsbooks on profits – a change that would bring in an estimated $200 million annually. He also proposed extending an existing cap on operating losses that businesses can claim on taxes, which could help generate more than $500 million, the governor's office claims.Another revenue generator proposed by the governor: raising $101 million by capping a sales tax credit retailers are allowed to claim. But business groups on Wednesday signaled they'd put up a fight. In his first few months in office in 2019, Pritzker used his fresh political capital to muscle a $15 minimum wage ramp through the legislature – a long-fought-for progressive policy goal – followed closely by a trip to New York City to meet with executives at the influential big three credit ratings agencies.When Pritzker took office, Illinois' credit ratings were hovering around “junk” status after a two-year budget impasse under his predecessor, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. And though Illinois suffered a final credit downgrade in the early months of COVID, the state has since received nine upgrades.The governor on Wednesday held those upgrades in high regard, saying“My one line in the sand is that I will only sign a budget that is responsibly balanced and that does not diminish or derail the improving credit standing we have achieved for the last five years,”Andrew Adams contributed.Missouri Senate Dems Hold The Line In Ballot Fighthttps://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/20/democrat-filibuster-forces-removal-of-ballot-candy-from-senate-initiative-petition-bill/BY: RUDI KELLER - FEBRUARY 20, 2024 5:15 PM A Democratic filibuster that stretched more than 20 hours ended this week when Senate Republicans stripped provisions critics derided as “ballot candy” from a proposal to make it harder to pass constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petitions.Ballot candy refers to language designed to trick voters - into thinking the initiative is about ensuring only citizens vote, for instance - when that's totally irrelevant to the question voters are deciding.By an 18-12 vote, with nine Republicans and nine Democrats forming the majority, language that stated non-citizens could not vote on constitutional amendments was removed, as were sections barring foreign governments and political parties from taking sides in Missouri ballot measures.The Senate then, by a voice vote, gave first-round approval to the bill that would require both a statewide majority and a majority vote in five of the state's eight congressional districts to pass future constitutional amendments.The proposal would alter the way Missourians have approved constitutional changes since the first statewide vote on a constitution in 1846.Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo of Independence, a Democrat, said, “All we're asking for is a fair fight. And the Republicans know if it's a fair fight, they lose, which is why they have to pump it full of ballot candy and mislead voters.”Meanwhile, the House spent much of Tuesday morning debating legislation that would make changes to the signature gathering process for initiative petition campaigns.Among numerous provisions, the bill would require signatures be recorded using black or dark ink and that signature gatherers be citizens of the United States, residents of Missouri or physically present in Missouri for at least 30 consecutive days prior to the collection of signatures.Its most sweeping provision grants new authority to the secretary of state and attorney general to review initiative and referendum petitions for compliance with the Missouri Constitution.The effort to make it harder to get on the ballot and harder to pass a constitutional amendment has been a GOP priority for several years. In the past two election cycles, voters have expanded Medicaid coverage and legalized recreational marijuana, circumventing the GOP majority that opposed both. The push to raise the threshold on amendments proposed by initiative has taken on a new urgency for Republicans as abortion-rights supporters move ahead with a signature campaign to make this year's ballot.The results on abortion amendments in other states has Missouri abortion foes anxious about whether they can defend the state's almost total ban in a statewide election. Voters in Ohio last year rejected an effort to increase the majority needed to pass constitutional amendments before voting 57% in favor of abortion rights. And in 2022, Kansas voters defeated an attempt to restrict abortion rights by a landslide vote.Gov. Kelly Keep Kansas GOP In Linehttps://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/20/kansas-house-republicans-fail-to-override-governors-veto-on-massive-tax-reform-bill/Kansas House Republicans fail to override governor's veto on massive tax reform billBY: TIM CARPENTER - FEBRUARY 20, 2024 12:41 PM TOPEKA — The Republican-led Kansas House failed Tuesday to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly ‘s veto of a tax reform bill anchored by implementation of a single, flat state income tax rate of 5.25% in addition to elimination of the state sales tax on groceries and creation of a tax exemption for all Social Security income.The GOP holds supermajorities in the House and Senate, but there was skepticism that both chambers could muster two-thirds majorities necessary to rebuke Kelly given opposition among conservative and moderate Republicans to parts of the three-year, $1.6 billion tax cut favoring the state's most wealthy. Kelly said the decision of House members to sustain her veto was a win for working-class Kansans who would have seen “little relief under this irresponsible flat tax experiment.” The Legislature should move ahead with her proposal for reducing $1 billion in taxes over three years.The governor said “I urge legislators to work together to cut taxes in a way that continues our economic growth and maintains our solid fiscal foundation while benefitting all Kansans, not just those at the top,”.Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita, said the cost of the tax reform bill could reach $600 million annually when fully implemented, and the plan didn't do enough for the middle class in Kansas. He said a married couple earning $42,000 to $75,000 per year would only see an income tax reduction of about 75 cents.Rep. Trevor Jacobs of Fort Scott was among Republicans who opposed overriding Kelly's veto. He said the flat tax would force the state's working class to carry a larger burden of the state tax load. And the 2024 Legislature had sufficient time to develop an alternative that provided tax relief to all Kansans rather than just a select few.Good thinking! See it's not just Democrats who think KS Gov Laura Kelly knows what she's doing. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Stories in today's show appeared first in the Missouri Independent, Kansas Reflector, Texas Tribune, and Capitol News Illinois. Thanks for listening, see you next time. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Post) Sean Diller (no social)The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today!JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium http://www.americanaquarium.com/
The Heartland POD for Friday, February 23, 2024A flyover from this weeks top heartland stories including:Primary voting is underway in Texas | Kansas Medicaid expansion update | Illinois Gov J.B. Pritzker lays out priorities as a progressive pragmatist | Missouri Democrats filibuster ballot candy | KS Gov Laura Kelly's veto will stand Primary voting is underway in Texashttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/21/julie-johnson-brian-williams-congressional-district-32-colin-allred/BY SEJAL GOVINDARAOFEB. 21, 2024WASHINGTON — In 2018, Rep. Colin Allred flipped Texas' 32nd Congressional District, turning the Dallas-based district into a blue stronghold. Now, as the Democrat vies to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a crowded field of 10 Democrats is lining up to replace him.Dr. Brian Williams, a trauma surgeon, and State Rep. Julie Johnson, of Farmers Branch, are leading the field in the Democratic primary with their fundraising efforts, each amassing about a million dollars in campaign donations since their campaigns were registered at the beginning of last summer.Ideologically, Williams and Johnson are aligned. They both rank health care a top priority if elected, and have touted their ability to work across the aisle.Johnson, a trial lawyer in her third term in the state House rode the 2019 blue wave to unseat hardline conservative incumbent Matt Rinaldi, by 13 points. Rinaldi now chairs the state GOP. In her three terms, at least 40 of the bills Johnson has co-authored or joint-authored have been signed into law.As a Democrat in the Republican-dominated state Legislature, Johnson has played a lot of defense trying to kill bills she and other progressives deem harmful. Johnson, who is gay, said she and other members of the House's LGBTQ caucus have had success in killing anti-LGBTQ bills by mastering the rules of procedure and “being better at the rules than the other side.” In 2019, she took down a House version of the so-called “Save Chick-fil-A bill” on a rule technicality. The bill was a response to a San Antonio airport kicking out the fast food restaurant over criticism of its religiously affiliated donations to anti-LGBTQ groups. It was revived in another bill and passed into law.If elected, Johnson would be the first openly LGBTQ member of Congress from a Southern state. She's drawn notable endorsements from Beto O'Rourke, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, EMILY's List, Equality PAC, and several labor unions.Matt Angle, director of Lone Star Project, a Texas group that works to boost Democrats, said Johnson is the frontrunner in the race, but Williams is a formidable challenger.“Make no mistake about it though,” Angle said. “Julie Johnson has a voter base within the district not only from her old district, but also just from years of being an active Democratic activist and a donor and really a couple of just outstanding terms in the legislature.”While he may be new to the Texas political arena, Williams is no stranger to the halls of Congress.Williams was a health policy adviser to U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy — who endorsed him — to help pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022 – the farthest reaching gun safety legislation in decades. The legislation, crafted in the aftermath of the shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo New York, allocated millions of dollars to expand mental health resources, strengthens background checks and tightens the boyfriend loophole. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn was a lead negotiator on the bill with Murphy, and Williams worked closely with Cornyn's office. In his role as a health policy advisor for Murphy, he worked across the aisle with Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana on mental health legislation.Williams also worked with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California to pass federal health care legislation related to pandemic preparedness and reducing health care costs.Williams said his experience as a trauma surgeon — operating on victims of gun violence and women experiencing reproductive health emergencies — has fueled his priorities to fight for gun restrictions and increase access to abortions and other womens' health. Williams added his perspective as a Black doctor seeing racial disparities in health care will resonate with the district's diverse constituency, given that the district is now a majority-minority district with a 37% Hispanic or Latino population, 22% Black population and 8% Asian population.“They're excited that there's someone that looks like them that can represent them in Congress,” Williams said in an interview.As Allred opted to stay neutral in the race to succeed him – Williams said he had pursued his endorsement while Johnson said she had not – the tension between Johnson and Williams has been heating up.Williams has publicly criticized Johnson for a vote she took that would have made some changes and tweaks to the state's Alternatives to Abortions program, which provides information about resources to women seeking the procedure.“I draw contrast between myself and Representative Johnson about how I am the better candidate,” Williams said.Johnson, who is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, said Williams misrepresented the vote, which she said she cast to bring the already-funded program under the scope of the Health and Human Services Commission so it could be subject to public transparency. Her campaign published a fact-check on her website, likening Williams' misrepresentation of her record to “Trumpian-style, false attacks.”Planned Parenthood was critical of the legislation.Johnson said women's health is also a priority for her, and she stands by her record.“Texas leads the nation of uninsured folks, and in maternal mortality, and in infant mortality. Obviously, we're leading the nation in an attack on women's freedom for women's reproductive health, and I've been a champion of a lot of these issues,” she said.Other candidates vying for the open seat in the March 5 primary include businessman Raja Chaudhry, tech entrepreneur Alex Cornwallis, former Dallas City Councilman and real estate broker Kevin Felder and attorney Callie Butcher, who would be the first openly transgender member of Congress if elected.If no candidate gets a majority of the vote, there will be a runoff in May. The winner of the Democratic primary will face off against the winner of the Republican primary in November but is likely to win given that the district is solidly blue.And, from Dallas we go to Houston whereAfter bruising loss in Houston mayoral race, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee faces her toughest reelection yetJackson Lee faces off against Amanda Edwards, her most formidable congressional opponent in three decades.https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/19/sheila-jackson-lee-amanda-edwards-democratic-primary-houston/BY SEJAL GOVINDARAOFEB. 19, 2024In 1994, Sheila Jackson Lee, then a 44-year-old Houston city councilwoman, unseated four-term U.S. Rep. Craig Washington in the Democratic primary, securing a seat she'd come to hold for the next 30 years.This March, former Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards, 42, is hoping to replicate that political upset as she faces off against Jackson Lee in the Democratic primary for Congressional District 18.Jackson Lee, who did not respond to requests for an interview, has only drawn four primary challengers over her 14-term career, all of whom she defeated by landslide margins.She's a household name in her Houston-based district, known for her frequent visibility at constituent graduations, funerals and baby showers.But last year she ran for Houston mayor against then-state Sen. John Whitmire. It was a bruising primary — unfamiliar territory for Jackson Lee — and her campaign was roiled with negative media after audio of her berating her congressional staffers was leaked. She ended up losing the race by 30 points and then immediately announced she was running for reelection to the U.S. House.Amanda Edwards, a former intern in Jackson Lee's office, initially announced she was running for Houston mayor until the congresswoman threw her hat in the ring. At that point, Edwards pivoted — endorsing Jackson Lee as mayor and beginning her own bid for Congress.By the time Jackson Lee announced she was running for her House seat again, Edwards had already gained momentum. In the fourth quarter of last year, Edwards outraised the congresswoman 10 to 1 — $272,000 to Jackson Lee's $23,000.Mark Jones, Baker Institute fellow in political science at Rice University said, “This could be the year that Congresswoman Jackson Lee loses. And given that as a safe, Democratic, seat whoever wins the primary will be headed to Washington in January of 2025”Jackson Lee holds a narrow lead in primary polls, while 16% of voters remain undecided. Edwards, a native Houstonian, said her commitment to public service is propelled by her father's battle with cancer when she was a teenager, where she learned firsthand about the cracks in the health care system and how “policy could be a matter of life and death.” She served as an at-large Houston City Council member from 2016 to 2020, where she represented a constituency of more than 2 million people.In her race to beat Jackson Lee, Edwards has garnered some notable endorsements including the Harris County Young Democrats, and the Harris County chapter of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats – both of which endorsed Jackson Lee in past races.The Harris County Young Democrats rescinded its endorsement of Jackson Lee in the mayoral race — citing a “zero tolerance policy” for staff abuse.Lenard Polk, Harris County chapter president of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, said Jackson Lee's leaked audio tape controversy also factored into the committee's decision to not endorse her. On the recording Jackson Lee berates a staffer for not having a document she was looking for and calls two of her staffers “Goddamn big-ass children, fuckin' idiots who serve no Goddamn purpose.”He said endorsement committee members were still “quite upset” over the tape and it “wasn't a good look” for Jackson Lee. The leaked tape fueled discourse about Jackson Lee's reputation as an unkind boss on Capitol Hill – she regularly makes Washingtonian Magazine's worst of Congress list and her office has high turnover rates.Polk added that voters felt abandoned by Jackson Lee, who jumped into the mayor's race without endorsing someone to take her place, only to file for reelection a day after losing.Jackson Lee's battle to retain her seat is made tougher by 2021 redistricting, because the 18th district now includes more young white professionals who do not have the same level of loyalty to her as longtime district residents.But despite any damage she may have incurred from her mayoral run, Jackson Lee remains a powerful political force in her district.County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who is backing Jackson Lee, said he doesn't know anyone in local politics with her “energy level,” and that Jackson Lee has secured meaningful federal grants for her district – most recently $20.5 million to Harris County Public Health Department's Uplift Harris Guaranteed Income Pilot project. He also said she has a reputation for being a reliably progressive voice in Congress.Jackson Lee has a long list of powerful endorsements from House Democratic leaders like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Minority Whip Katherine Clarke. She's backed by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and other members of Texas' Washington delegation including Democratic Reps. Lizzie Fletcher of Houston, Lloyd Doggett of Austin, Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Joaquin Castro of San Antonio.Ellis said Jackson Lee may not be a strong fundraiser but she will benefit from her incumbency advantage.Linda Bell-Robinson, a Houston Democratic precinct chair, said she is fighting for Jackson Lee to retain her seat because seniority in Congress is important and Edwards would be learning the ropes as a freshman if elected.“We need fighters,” she said. “We don't need people trying to learn how to fight on the battlefield. We need people who are already fighting and know how to fight their fight.SEAN: Super interesting race. For my part, I don't have any problem with members of Congress being extremely tough to work for. I have problems with lying, fraud, criminal activity, and squishy voting records. Congresswoman Jackson Lee has 100% ratings from Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and AFL-CIO. She has a 95% rating from League of Conservation VotersNew estimate predicts Medicaid expansion would serve 152K at no cost to stateA $509M federal incentive would help offset state cost for first eight yearsBY: SHERMAN SMITH - FEBRUARY 22, 2024 4:22 PMhttps://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/22/new-estimate-predicts-medicaid-expansion-would-serve-152k-at-no-cost-to-state/TOPEKA — The Kansas Health Institute on Thursday unveiled its analysis of Gov. Laura Kelly's proposal to expand Medicaid, predicting 152,000 Kansans would enroll in the first year with no additional cost to the state government.The Democratic governor has made passage of Medicaid expansion a top legislative priority this year, following her statewide campaign to promote the policy last fall. But Republican leadership in the Legislature opposes the policy and has blocked hearings on Medicaid expansion for four years.Kansas is one of just 10 states that still haven't expanded Medicaid since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in 2010.The state-run version of Medicaid, called KanCare, provides health care services to low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities. Currently, those who earn less than 38% of the federal poverty level are eligible. For a family of four, the annual income limit is $11,400.Under the ACA, also known as Obamacare, the federal government offers to cover 90% of the cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty rate. The annual income threshold for a family of four would be $41,400.Kelly's proposal includes a work requirement with exceptions for full-time students, veterans, caregivers, people with partial disabilities, and former foster kids. Her plan also would add a new surcharge for hospitals.KHI predicts the change in income eligibility would result in 151,898 people enrolling in KanCare — 106,450 adults and 45,448 children. Those numbers include 68,236 adults and 16,377 children who are currently uninsured.About 68.9% of the adults are already working at least part-time, according to the KHI analysis. Of the remaining 31.1% KHI determined 19.1% of the unemployed adults have a disability, 16.1% are students and 3.8% are veterans.KHI calculated the cost to the state for expanding Medicaid over the first eight years would be fully offset — mostly because of a $509 million incentive included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Other savings would come from the federal government picking up more of the tab on existing services, as well as the new surcharge on hospitals. The Kansas Sunflower Foundation on Thursday released findings from surveys that found 68% of Kansas voters, including 51% of Republicans and 83% of small business owners support Medicaid expansion.Steve Baccus, an Ottawa County farmer and former president of Kansas Farm Bureau, said in a news release that expanding Medicaid was about “investing in the well-being of our communities.”Baccus said “Our rural communities are often struggling to keep Main Street open and to continue to offer the necessary services to the surrounding agricultural enterprises. A community that can offer a total health care package has an advantage in maintaining a viable town.”The findings are consistent with a Fort Hays State University poll that was released in October.With budget proposal and fiery address, Pritzker paints himself as progressive pragmatistThursday, February 22, 2024Governor's spending plan advances progressive-backed policies in tight fiscal landscapeBy HANNAH MEISELCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.comhttps://capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/with-budget-proposal-and-fiery-address-pritzker-paints-himself-as-progressive-pragmatistSPRINGFIELD – In delivering his annual State of the State and budget address on Wednesday, Gov. JB Pritzker cast his administration as both progressive and pragmatic – a balance he's worked to strike as his national profile has grown.Some elements of the governor's proposed spending plan, like using $10 million in state funds to eliminate $1 billion worth of Illinoisans' medical debt, are hardline progressive ideas. Others, including a goal to achieve “universal preschool” by 2027, fit in with a more traditional liberal platform.But Pritzker has also defined his success in traditional economic terms, putting particular stock into how New York City-based credit ratings agencies view Illinois' finances, while also positioning Illinois as a hub for emerging technologies like electric vehicles and quantum computing. As Illinois faces an influx of migrants from the southern U.S. border Pritzker has leaned into a leadership style that prioritizes progressive ideals while projecting an image of fiscal responsibility.As he outlined a proposal to add $182 Million toward the state's migrant response, Gov. Pritzker said, “We didn't ask for this manufactured crisis, But we must deal with it all the same.”“Children, pregnant women, and the elderly have been sent here in the dead of night, left far from our designated welcome centers, in freezing temperatures, wearing flip flops and T-shirts,” Pritzker said. “Think about that the next time a politician from Texas wants to lecture you about being a good Christian.”The governor was met with big applause from Democrats in laying out his proposed “Healthcare Consumer Access and Protection Act,” which would, in part, ban “prior authorization” requirements for mental health treatment.Pritzker characterized the practice of prior authorization as a way for insurance companies to deny the care that doctors have prescribed.Pritzker is also proposing spending $10 million in state funds to buy Illinoisans' past-due medical debt that's been sent to collections. Partnering with national nonprofit RIP Medical Debt, which buys debt for pennies on the dollar on the same market that collections agencies purchase the rights to the debts, the governor said Illinois could “relieve nearly $1 billion in medical debt for the first cohort of 340,000 Illinoisans.”The governor spent time noting two key places he said Illinois fails its Black citizens: maternal mortality and disproportionate rates of homelessness. To combat Black maternal mortality rates, Pritzker proposed helping more community-based reproductive health centers to open, citing Illinois' first freestanding nonprofit birthing center in Berwyn as a model.He said, “Black women in our state are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.” Pritzker proposed spending an additional $50 million on the state's “Home Illinois” program launched in 2021, in part to “attack the root causes of housing insecurity for Black Illinoisans.” He cited a statistic that Black people make up 61 percent of Illinois' homeless population despite only being 14 percent of the state's general population.Additionally, the governor proposed a $1 million pilot program for free diapers for low-income families, as well as a $5 million increased investment in an existing home visit program “for our most vulnerable families” with babies in their first year.His budget also includes $12 million to create a child tax credit for families with children under three with incomes below a certain threshold. Among the successes Pritzker pointed to, perhaps the most salient is his claim that Illinois' new “Smart Start” early childhood program – proposed last year in the governor's second inaugural address – had exceeded its first-year goals.The program aimed to create 5,000 new preschool seats last year, but ended up creating 5,823, Pritzker said – a 15 percent overperformance. “As a result, right now we have over 82,000 publicly-funded preschool classroom seats – the highest number in our state's history. Staying on the Smart Start plan, we will achieve universal preschool by 2027.”Echoing his 2022 election-year call for a temporary pause on the state's 1 percent tax on groceries, Pritzker on Wednesday proposed nixing the grocery tax altogether.He said “It's one more regressive tax we just don't need. If it reduces inflation for families from 4 percent to 3 percent, even if it only puts a few hundred bucks back in families' pockets, it's the right thing to do.”Even while proposing a series of progressive expenditures, the governor also sought to cast himself as a pragmatist when it comes to state finances. The state has seen strong revenue performances in the past few years, But in November, the governor's own economic forecasting office predicted a nearly $900 million deficit in the fiscal year that begins July 1.“Our FY25 budget proposal makes some hard choices,” Pritzker said Wednesday. “I wish we had big surpluses to work with this year to take on every one of the very real challenges we face.”Illinois' once-paltry “rainy day” fund now has $2 billion socked away, the governor noted, and the state has paid off high-interest debt during his five years in office.To mitigate Illinois' previously projected deficit, Pritzker is proposing to more than double the tax rate paid by sportsbooks on profits – a change that would bring in an estimated $200 million annually. He also proposed extending an existing cap on operating losses that businesses can claim on taxes, which could help generate more than $500 million, the governor's office claims.Another revenue generator proposed by the governor: raising $101 million by capping a sales tax credit retailers are allowed to claim. But business groups on Wednesday signaled they'd put up a fight. In his first few months in office in 2019, Pritzker used his fresh political capital to muscle a $15 minimum wage ramp through the legislature – a long-fought-for progressive policy goal – followed closely by a trip to New York City to meet with executives at the influential big three credit ratings agencies.When Pritzker took office, Illinois' credit ratings were hovering around “junk” status after a two-year budget impasse under his predecessor, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. And though Illinois suffered a final credit downgrade in the early months of COVID, the state has since received nine upgrades.The governor on Wednesday held those upgrades in high regard, saying“My one line in the sand is that I will only sign a budget that is responsibly balanced and that does not diminish or derail the improving credit standing we have achieved for the last five years,”Andrew Adams contributed.Missouri Senate Dems Hold The Line In Ballot Fighthttps://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/20/democrat-filibuster-forces-removal-of-ballot-candy-from-senate-initiative-petition-bill/BY: RUDI KELLER - FEBRUARY 20, 2024 5:15 PM A Democratic filibuster that stretched more than 20 hours ended this week when Senate Republicans stripped provisions critics derided as “ballot candy” from a proposal to make it harder to pass constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petitions.Ballot candy refers to language designed to trick voters - into thinking the initiative is about ensuring only citizens vote, for instance - when that's totally irrelevant to the question voters are deciding.By an 18-12 vote, with nine Republicans and nine Democrats forming the majority, language that stated non-citizens could not vote on constitutional amendments was removed, as were sections barring foreign governments and political parties from taking sides in Missouri ballot measures.The Senate then, by a voice vote, gave first-round approval to the bill that would require both a statewide majority and a majority vote in five of the state's eight congressional districts to pass future constitutional amendments.The proposal would alter the way Missourians have approved constitutional changes since the first statewide vote on a constitution in 1846.Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo of Independence, a Democrat, said, “All we're asking for is a fair fight. And the Republicans know if it's a fair fight, they lose, which is why they have to pump it full of ballot candy and mislead voters.”Meanwhile, the House spent much of Tuesday morning debating legislation that would make changes to the signature gathering process for initiative petition campaigns.Among numerous provisions, the bill would require signatures be recorded using black or dark ink and that signature gatherers be citizens of the United States, residents of Missouri or physically present in Missouri for at least 30 consecutive days prior to the collection of signatures.Its most sweeping provision grants new authority to the secretary of state and attorney general to review initiative and referendum petitions for compliance with the Missouri Constitution.The effort to make it harder to get on the ballot and harder to pass a constitutional amendment has been a GOP priority for several years. In the past two election cycles, voters have expanded Medicaid coverage and legalized recreational marijuana, circumventing the GOP majority that opposed both. The push to raise the threshold on amendments proposed by initiative has taken on a new urgency for Republicans as abortion-rights supporters move ahead with a signature campaign to make this year's ballot.The results on abortion amendments in other states has Missouri abortion foes anxious about whether they can defend the state's almost total ban in a statewide election. Voters in Ohio last year rejected an effort to increase the majority needed to pass constitutional amendments before voting 57% in favor of abortion rights. And in 2022, Kansas voters defeated an attempt to restrict abortion rights by a landslide vote.Gov. Kelly Keep Kansas GOP In Linehttps://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/20/kansas-house-republicans-fail-to-override-governors-veto-on-massive-tax-reform-bill/Kansas House Republicans fail to override governor's veto on massive tax reform billBY: TIM CARPENTER - FEBRUARY 20, 2024 12:41 PM TOPEKA — The Republican-led Kansas House failed Tuesday to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly ‘s veto of a tax reform bill anchored by implementation of a single, flat state income tax rate of 5.25% in addition to elimination of the state sales tax on groceries and creation of a tax exemption for all Social Security income.The GOP holds supermajorities in the House and Senate, but there was skepticism that both chambers could muster two-thirds majorities necessary to rebuke Kelly given opposition among conservative and moderate Republicans to parts of the three-year, $1.6 billion tax cut favoring the state's most wealthy. Kelly said the decision of House members to sustain her veto was a win for working-class Kansans who would have seen “little relief under this irresponsible flat tax experiment.” The Legislature should move ahead with her proposal for reducing $1 billion in taxes over three years.The governor said “I urge legislators to work together to cut taxes in a way that continues our economic growth and maintains our solid fiscal foundation while benefitting all Kansans, not just those at the top,”.Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita, said the cost of the tax reform bill could reach $600 million annually when fully implemented, and the plan didn't do enough for the middle class in Kansas. He said a married couple earning $42,000 to $75,000 per year would only see an income tax reduction of about 75 cents.Rep. Trevor Jacobs of Fort Scott was among Republicans who opposed overriding Kelly's veto. He said the flat tax would force the state's working class to carry a larger burden of the state tax load. And the 2024 Legislature had sufficient time to develop an alternative that provided tax relief to all Kansans rather than just a select few.Good thinking! See it's not just Democrats who think KS Gov Laura Kelly knows what she's doing. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Stories in today's show appeared first in the Missouri Independent, Kansas Reflector, Texas Tribune, and Capitol News Illinois. Thanks for listening, see you next time. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Post) Sean Diller (no social)The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today!JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium http://www.americanaquarium.com/
John is joined by Julie Johnson and Katie Jones to talk about the "Livable Lyndale" campaign to fix a terrible, no good, super fast, dangerous, hostile to humans, neighborhood street. Right now in 2024 is our once in a lifetime chance to fix a street that hasn't had a full reconstruction since the 1930s. Hennepin County, who controls this street, is scheduled to publish design options soon. They need to hear from you. Final approval of a layout is expected this summer. Don't wait another 90 years to get involved! You'll be dead by then! The time to fix Lyndale Ave is now. We talk about the recent history of activism on the street, inspired by Ted Ferrara, who died crossing Lyndale on foot after getting out of a car; the 2022 4-to-3 lane conversion that worked despite years of naysaying from the county and other opponents; how Lyndale's super wide dimensions make it easier to fit pedestrian, bike, and transit amenities; and how you can get involved. For more information on the Livable Lyndale campaign: https://livablelyndale.org Engage with Hennepin County's Lyndale Ave reconstruction project page: https://www.hennepin.us/residents/transportation/lyndale-avenue-safety Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgelive Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/wedgelive Support the show: https://patreon.com/wedgelive Wedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
On this episode of Oncology Unscripted, patient advocates Julie Johnson and Katie Coleman and radiation oncologist Dr. Matt Spraker start to discuss how patients might pick their doctor. Here links to some things we discussed during the show:United Health Care, 7 tips for choosing a primary care doctor.US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Choosing a Doctor: Quick Tips.Blue Cross Blue Shield, Five tips for choosing a new primary care physician.WebMD.com, How to Choose a Doctor.Oncology Unscripted is a Photon Media production. Intro and Outro music by Emmy-award winning artist Lucas Cantor Santiago.Additional content from Katie Coleman can be found at her website, https://www.katiekickscancer.com/. This show and our opinions are meant for general informational purposes and are not medical advice. We encourage you to reach out to your doctors to discuss your individual case.
In our Best of 2023 Part II, Rory brings together more great moments and insightful commentary from leading minds in accounting, wealth, and behavioral finance. The episode features a look into vulnerability and leadership with keynote speaker Amy Vetter and Intergenerational and Gender Communication specialist Julie Johnson. Listen as folks like Jody Padar, "The Radical CPA," talk about how AI is revolutionizing professional services. Discover why attorney and legacy planner Matthew McClintock thinks there is potential for a dawn of a new era in Bitcoin. You'll hear John Fenton discuss the power of discovering your "Why" to better connect with colleagues and clients. Hear from Dr. Kristy Archuleta discuss how we can use a more holistic approach when working with clients and why the "Sassy Septuagenarian," Keena Pettijohn believes we can all become more Sympathetic, Memorable, and Empathetic. Join us as we revisit the most impactful episodes of 2023.
The Breakdown is live w/ guest Rep. Julie JohnsonOn this week's episode of The Breakdown, hosts Tara Setmayer and Rick Wilsonw welcome State Rep. Julie Johnson. Rep. Johnson represents the 115th district in the Texas House of Representatives. Join Reed and Rep. Johnson for a discussion of this week's political craziness and the fight for democracy in Texas.Watch now, share on social media, and follow The Lincoln Project below. Join the fight at LincolnProject.us! FOLLOW Julie JohnsonTWITTER: @juliejohnsonTXFOLLOW LINCOLN PROJECTTWITTER: https://bit.ly/3zwZFva INSTAGRAM: https://bit.ly/31yyrHR FACEBOOK: https://bit.ly/3zCBHhT PODCAST: https://apple.co/3G7zr4L
In this episode, Rory along with guest co-host Julie Johnson, speaks with Keena Pettijohn, a pioneer with experience in FinTech, Insurtech, and Age Tech Solutions. They discuss how financial professionals can assist people in living more fulfilling lives, highlighting ways to work with clients in their 70s and 80s. Keena introduces the concept of S.M.E. - Sympathy, Meaning, Empathy - as a method for advisors to deepen client relationships. She shares her unique approach to longevity planning, highlighting the seven essential components that intertwine financial health with overall well-being. Discover how Keena uses storytelling and personal narratives to foster genuine connections, and learn about the transformational role of vulnerability in building meaningful relationships. Are you curious to find out how you can help those retirees who may be suffering silently in loneliness? Do you want to learn how you can craft your personal story? Find out the answers to these questions and more with the Sassy Septuagenarian Keena Pettijohn!
Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett joins Marc to discuss voter suppression in Texas, the cowardice of Republicans to stand up for democracy and what gives her hope. Plus, her thoughts on George Santos' expulsion from Congress. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@democracydocket.com. Follow Democracy Docket! -X/Twitter -Post -Facebook -Instagram -TikTok -Subscribe to our free newsletters Resources: -Profiles in Cowardice by Marc Elias -Santos, McCarthy and the Shameless Republican Party by Marc Elias -The Real Reason Why Texas Republicans Are Criminalizing the Vote by Delilah Agho-Otoghile-Battling for Democracy in the Lone Star State by State Rep. Julie Johnson
In this episode, Rory and guest co-host Julie Johnson speak with Susan Doty, founding director of the Center for Economic Education and Financial Literacy at the University of Texas at Tyler. Listen as Susan breaks down her 'Economic Way of Thinking,' highlighting why everything we value is scarce, why we can't have it all, and how this means we have to make choices. Learn about Susan's "First Responder Finance" course, that provides finance and economics education for social workers and criminal justice majors. Learn about the Gen Z trend of "soft saving" and how the younger generation is prioritizing life experiences over traditional long-term retirement savings. Curious about how we can start to have the financial literacy conversation with kids at a younger age? Are you interested in the learning education, social work, criminal justice, and traditional finance? Do you want to know ways you can get involved in P-20 education to improve financial literacy in our education system? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Professor Susan Doty!
Oncology Unscripted co-hosts Julie Johnson, Katie Coleman, and Dr. Matt Spraker welcome Dr. Breelyn Wilky, MD to discuss immunotherapy for sarcomas and other cancers. We start by explaining some general details of immunotherapy and how it works, then dive in to the unknowns surrounding the exciting therapy. We discuss what biological features of tumors and patient tissues may predict response to immunotherapy, "immune hot versus cold" tumors, and how immunotherapy may be combined with other therapies like chemotherapy or radiotherapy. We close with a discussion of how the gut microbiome may interact with the immune system to fight cancer, and whether diets can help treatment. Oncology Unscripted is a Photon Media production. Check out our YouTube Channel for video content! Intro and Outro music by Emmy-award winning artist Lucas Cantor Santiago.Additional content from Katie Coleman can be found at her website, https://www.katiekickscancer.com/. This show and our opinions are meant for general informational purposes and are not medical advice. We encourage you to reach out to your doctors to discuss your individual case.
In this episode, Rory Henry, with guest co-host Julie Johnson, interviews Christine Simone, CEO of Caribou Wealth. They delve into the vital role of healthcare considerations in financial planning. Christine, leveraging her extensive healthcare background, discusses the importance of integrating healthcare planning into financial advisory, especially for retirees. The conversation explores the complexities of healthcare systems and how financial advisors can assist clients in navigating healthcare costs. Christine stresses the necessity of healthcare planning in financial advice, particularly in retirement planning, addressing Medicare and marketplace insurance intricacies. They also examine how healthcare costs significantly affect retirees' financial stability. This episode offers invaluable insights for financial advisors and individuals interested in the intersection of healthcare and finance, highlighting the need for comprehensive planning in today's financial landscape.
In this episode, Rory is joined again by guest co-host Julie Johnson to discuss the world of impact investing with special guest Toussaint Bailey, the CEO of Uplifting Capital. They dive into the role of values-based investing in both public and private markets, highlighting the growing demand for aligning investments with personal values. Toussaint shares his journey and the inspiration behind starting Uplifting Capital, emphasizing the importance of purpose and fulfillment in investment decisions. Discover why there is an increased focus and shift for families, foundations, and institutions to incorporate mission-aligned investing into their portfolios. Find out the process behind identifying impact companies and why Toussaint uses a 3 bucket breakdown of People, Planet, and Economy. Are you looking to find out more about how to make an impact as an investor? Are you looking for a greater Return on Fulfillment? Don't miss this Impact Investing episode with Toussaint Baily of Uplifting Capital!
The Fifth and Mission team is not producing any new episodes this week. Instead, we are sharing some of our favorite past episodes that exemplify what we've loved about making this show. Today's pick is from producer Keith Menconi. Wildland firefighting has long been recognized as dangerous, dirty work. Now, there is growing evidence that it can also cause serious long-term health problems. Chronicle reporter Julie Johnson spent six months investigating the impacts of wildfire smoke on firefighters, and spoke to a dozen men and women diagnosed with grave diseases who all suspect that smoke was a factor. She tells host Cecilia Lei that for decades fire agencies have struggled to provide meaningful protection for their workers, but that progress could be coming. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, comment, question? Email us: fifth@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's spooky season, bishes! We're doing two spook-ish books this year and the first one is Bad Luck Charm by Julie Johnson. When an animal sacrifice is left outside her beloved aunt's shop in Salem, Massachusetts, Gwendolyn Goode is expectedly shocked. To add insult to injury, her childhood crush—a man she now hates—has been brought in to consult in the ensuing investigation. Can Graham Graves protect her against her will? Or will dark forces get to Gwen first? Also discussed: these delicious pumpkin waffles (which Veronica may have forgotten to actually mention, but they're delicious), the Morning Owl Coffee Bar, and spooky season! Up Next: An Inheritance of Monsters by Cate Corvin What We're Reading: Love Interest by Clare Gilmore Her Greatest Mistake by Hannah Cowan Man Cave by Vanessa Vale What We're Listening To: We're Here to Help SHOW INFORMATION: Spotify: Follow us! Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3S3WA12 Website: www.chicklitbookclubpodcast.com Merch: https://chicklitbookclubpodcast.threadless.com/ Instagram and Threads: ChickLitBookClubPodcast TikTok: ChickLitBookClub Pinterest: ChickLitBookClubPodcast Youtube: @ChickLitBookClub Email: chicklitbookclubpodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chicklitbookclub/support
On this episode of Oncology Unscripted, patient advocates Julie Johnson and Katie Coleman and radiation oncologist Dr. Matt Spraker continue The Insider's Guide to Radiation Therapy! Here are the figures/graphics we referenced during the show:The first figure we discussed, demonstrating the Bragg Peak and the difference between proton and photon (x-ray) beams. The second figure we discussed, comparing 3D photon (x-ray) radiation, intensity modulated radiotherapy with photons (x-ray), passive scatter and intensity modulated proton therapy.Here are some other things we discussed during the show:Relative biological effectiveness in radiobiologyA video about "IMRT for proton therapy", or pencil beam scanning proton therapy, from manufacturer IBA.Brada review of proton evidence, questioning whether the US should open so many proton centers so quickly. Goitein and Cox response to Brada, arguing that the benefit of proton therapy is self-evident.Glatstein, Glick, Kaiser, and Hahn, arguing that trials are needed to prove the benefit of proton therapy.Liao et al., randomized phase II trial of proton versus photon (x-ray) radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.RTOG 1308, randomized phase III trial of proton versus photon (x-ray) radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Now filled, awaiting results!Lin et al., randomized phase IIB trial of proton versus photon (x-ray) radiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer.NRG GI-006, randomized phase III trial of proton versus photon (x-ray) radiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer, enrolling now!Oncology Unscripted is a Photon Media production. Intro and Outro music by Emmy-award winning artist Lucas Cantor Santiago.Additional content from Katie Coleman can be found at her website, https://www.katiekickscancer.com/. This show and our opinions are meant for general informational purposes and are not medical advice. We encourage you to reach out to your doctors to discuss your individual case.
In this episode, Rory and guest co-host Julie Johnson interview Danny Lohrfink, co-founder and chief product officer at wealth.com , as they discuss the innovative technology that is modernizing the estate planning process. Danny shares how their platform facilitates the creation and ongoing optimization of estate plans, providing a frictionless experience for advisors and their clients. They also discuss the importance of holistic financial planning, including tax and estate planning, and how wealth.com enables financial advisors and CPAs to work with clients across generations. Discover the reasons behind Sinead O'Connor instructing her kids to contact her accountant before calling the paramedics in the event of her passing and the business issues surrounding Prince's estate. Danny highlights the benefits of using a trust, such as avoiding probate, maintaining privacy, and preventing family members from dealing with the headache of the courts. He also explains how wealth.com's machine learning technology can help analyze estate planning documents, provide projections, and an integration with Zillow that streamlines the updating of estate planning documents when clients move states. Gain valuable insights into the future of estate planning and how CPAs and financial advisors are leveraging the technology to provide a Family Office Level of Care.
Listen to Part 1 of this story about the killing of Richard Oakes. The 1972 killing of Richard Oakes, the face of the Red Power movement, still sticks with the people who worked on the case. The detective who was at the scene of the killing remembers feeling suspicious of Michael Morgan, the man who shot Oakes. The prosecutor remembers the holes in Morgan's story that he shot Oakes in self-defense. And yet, Morgan was acquitted of manslaughter charges. Today, they admit that the trial was botched. In Part 2 of our two-part episode with San Francisco Chronicle reporters Julie Johnson and Jason Fagone, we talk about missteps in the investigation into Oakes' death, and how the justice system in Sonoma County was stacked against him. Read the full story on Richard Oakes' death in the San Francisco Chronicle. Episode transcript
On this week's episode, Teresa and Katie delve into Julie Johnson's spooky romcom, Bad Luck Charm. They discuss everything from Gwen's humor and Graham brooding and the explosive sparks these two finally give in to. If you are looking for a romcom this spooky szn please pick up Bad Luck Charm - however, we do suggest checking trigger warnings as their are mentions of animal sacrifices, murders, and childhood trauma from an abusive parent.
Richard Oakes was the face of the burgeoning ‘Red Power' movement when he led the famous Native occupation of Alcatraz Island in 1969. But like other civil rights leaders at the time, he died too soon. In 1972, Oakes was gunned down in in rural Sonoma County. His killer, Michael Oliver Morgan, stood trial for manslaughter and was found not guilty. The official story of Richard Oakes' death, and the circumstances surrounding Morgan's trial, are part of the reason why Oakes' legacy has been largely erased from mainstream history. Oakes' family and friends, meanwhile, never got closure. All this time, they have believed that Oakes' death, and Morgan's acquittal, were racially motivated. Now, thanks to new reporting from the San Francisco Chronicle, we know details about this story that have been kept secret for decades. In Part 1 of a two-part episode with reporters Julie Johnson and Jason Fagone, we discuss the events that led Oakes to rural Sonoma County, and the encounters that foreshadowed his killing. This is Part 1 of a two-part episode. Part 2 will publish on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Read the full story on Richard Oakes' death in the San Francisco Chronicle.
In 1969, Native activist Richard Oakes led a group representing several tribes to occupy Alcatraz Island, claiming it as the site of a new Native nation. Three years later, the charismatic face of the Red Power movement was dead, shot by a white neighbor in rural Sonoma. What happened? And how did Oakes' killing change the course of Native activism? Reporters Jason Fagone and Julie Johnson dug into the past to uncover truths that have been buried for 50 years. They join host Cecilia Lei to share what they found. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, comment, question? Email us: fifth@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Oncology Unscripted, patient advocates Julie Johnson and Katie Coleman and radiation oncologist Dr. Matt Spraker continue The Insider's Guide to Radiation Therapy! This four episode series will cover radiation 101, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and proton therapy!In this episode, we discuss SBRT, alternatively called stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR). We also discuss a related treatment, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).Here are some links to things we discussed during the show:Rare Cancer Research FoundationPattern.orgCount Me InJAMA Oncology SBRT/SABR patient pageCyberKnife information from the manufacturer (Accuray)GammaKnife information from the manufacturer (Eleckta)The patient-led Remove the Mask CampaignHere are some clinical and scientific publications mentioned during this show:Original Timmerman study of SBRT for early stage lung cancerDiscovery of the SBRT "No Fly Zone" in the chestInternational Radiosurgery Consortium of the Kidney (IROCK) meta-analysis of SBRT for primary kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma).Here are some resources that may be of interest, but were not discussed in this episode:An excellent video on Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) versus Whole Brain Radiotherapy (WBRT) for brain metastases from our friends at PRIMRRTOG 1112 Trial: Benefit of adding SBRT to Sorafenib in locally advanced liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). (conference abstract only)TRENDY Trial: Suggests that SBRT is superior to trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for early liver cancer (haptocellular carcinoma).MD Anderson Cancer Center Phase II Trial: Suggests that SBRT may be used to defer systemic therapy in patients with oligometastatic kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) Oncology Unscripted is a Photon Media production. Intro and Outro music by Emmy-award winning artist Lucas Cantor Santiago.Additional content from Katie Coleman can be found at her website, https://www.katiekickscancer.com/. This show and our opinions are meant for general informational purposes and are not medical advice. We encourage you to reach out to your doctors to discuss your individual case.
Julie Johnson, a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, recently examined the overlooked health crisis facing California's firefighters. While the public takes precautions against wildfire smoke — from wearing masks to closing schools — firefighters are alarmingly unprotected. Her reporting revealed that, despite evidence linking smoke exposure to long-term health risks like cancer and dementia, there's a glaring absence of protective measures or federal studies.
Wildland firefighting has long been recognized as dangerous, dirty work. Now, there is growing evidence that it can also cause serious long-term health problems. Chronicle reporter Julie Johnson spent six months investigating the impacts of wildfire smoke on firefighters, and spoke to a dozen men and women diagnosed with grave diseases who all suspect that smoke was a factor. She tells host Cecilia Lei that for decades fire agencies have struggled to provide meaningful protection for their workers, but that progress could be coming. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, comment, question? Email us: fifth@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Oncology Unscripted, patient advocates Julie Johnson and Katie Coleman and radiation oncologist Dr. Matt Spraker continue The Insider's Guide to Radiation Therapy! This four episode series will cover radiation 101, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and proton therapy!In this episode, we complete radiation 101, covering 2 more important points to understand radiotherapy:1. How are radiation plans created and delivered, and how has this improved over decades?2. Who are the workers in the Radiation Oncology department and what is the workflow that patients experience when getting treatment?Here are some other things we discussed during the show:Explanation of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), UCLA HealthMultileaf Collimator (MLC) video, Phoenix CyberknifePercentage depth dose curveAn "old" radiotherapy block, Vishal Majithia on FlikrOncology Unscripted is a Photon Media production. Intro and Outro music by Emmy-award winning artist Lucas Cantor Santiago.Additional content from Katie Coleman can be found at her website, https://www.katiekickscancer.com/. This show and our opinions are meant for general informational purposes and are not medical advice. We encourage you to reach out to your doctors to discuss your individual case.
On this episode of Oncology Unscripted, patient advocates Julie Johnson and Katie Coleman and radiation oncologist Dr. Matt Spraker kick of The Insider's Guide to Radiation Therapy! This four episode series will cover radiation 101, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and proton therapy! Radiation 101 covers the basics you need to know in order to understand how oncologists think about and use radiotherapy to kill cancer. In this episode we discuss two important points:What is radiation and how does it kill cancer (and affect other tissues)?How is radiation therapy used in medicine?Here are some links to things mentioned in the show:Matt on "Ask Me Anything" - Radiation Therapy for Sarcoma (YouTube)Electromagnetic energy figureA nice written history of radiotherapy - cancer.orgSpoon of Sugar Podcast - a very nice, detailed overview of radiation therapyHow Do X-Rays Work? - HowStuffWorks.comOncology Unscripted is a Photon Media production. Intro and Outro music by Emmy-award winning artist Lucas Cantor Santiago.Additional content from Katie Coleman can be found at her website, https://www.katiekickscancer.com/. This show and our opinions are meant for general informational purposes and are not medical advice. We encourage you to reach out to your doctors to discuss your individual case.
Plugged In's Adam Holz does further analysis of "The Barbie Movie," breaking down the text of the movie (what everyone sees) and the subtexts of the movies (what people think they see and what it means). He also looks at the theology of the video game series "The Legend of Zelda." Also, when it comes to getting people ready for marriage, we have sex ed when they're young and premarital counseling before a couple marries. But Michael and Julie Johnson of Future Marriage University talk about the importance of "love ed": helping young people grow in the understanding of how to give and receive love well so they're ready to date and marry well. Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here
Julie Johnson Gets Us Ready For The Cave City Watermelon Festival
On this episode of Oncology Unscripted, patient advocates Julie Johnson and Katie Coleman and radiation oncologist Dr. Matt Spraker discuss Julie and Katie's recent trip to ASCO 2023. Here are some things that were discussed during the show:Katie's Twitter thread on ASCO 2023Info on ASCO's Patient Advocacy MembershipSARC TrialsASCO VoicesOncology Unscripted is a Photon Media production. Intro and Outro music by Emmy-award winning artist Lucas Cantor Santiago.Additional content from Katie Coleman can be found at her website, https://www.katiekickscancer.com/. This show and our opinions are meant for general informational purposes and are not medical advice. We encourage you to reach out to your doctors to discuss your individual case.