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193 episodes with michigan politics
77 episodes with michigan politics
24 episodes with michigan politics
25 episodes with michigan politics
15 episodes with michigan politics
7 episodes with michigan politics
7 episodes with michigan politics
5 episodes with michigan politics
5 episodes with michigan politics
The host breaks down the rising wave of extreme and violent rhetoric from Democrat candidates! From Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed campaigning alongside controversial figures to shocking resurfaced clips and statements from Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong, see the crazy moments taking over the election cycle. Abdul El Sayed, Francesca Hong, Election 2026, Michigan Politics, Wisconsin Politics, Political News, Trump Commentary, Political Commentary
Why could the upcoming Michigan Democratic Senate primary signal a seismic shift about the Democratic party and U.S. policy on Israel? As Michigan Democrats prepare to choose a nominee for the U.S. Senate, Dan Senor sits down with political journalist Mark Halperin to discuss why this race has become a flashpoint in the debate over Israel, progressive politics, and the future of the Democratic Party. They examine why progressives are demonizing Israel and AIPAC, the role of The New York Times and other media in shifting the debate, and why Abdul El‑Sayed's campaign may have implications that extend to the 2028 presidential election. ______ Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going. Become a Subscriber - Inside Call me Back This episode is sponsored by Citizen Cafe: Schedule your free intro session with Citizen Cafe today. ___ In this episode: 1. Why the Michigan Senate primary matters more than ever 2. How Israel became the defining issue in this race 3. Surprising changes inside the Democratic coalition 4. How The New York Times and social media impacts the narrative 5. Who is Abdul El‑Sayed and what's behind his success 6. Why El-Sayed could be more influential than Mayor Mamdani 7. Implications of an El-Sayed victory for 2028 Democratic politics Links mentioned in this episode: -Mark Halperin's recent article in the Free Press How Israel Became the Biggest Litmus Test in American Politics -Halperin's live video platform 2Way and 8 for 28 presidential picks More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to Ark News Daily Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What's Your Number? Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer's book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo
I've been watching Michigan politics for a long time, and this Abdul El-Sayed vs. Haley Stevens primary feels like the front line of a bigger national reckoning. With Norris Howard and Devon O'Reilly, we unpack the pissed-off electorate, Whitmer's data-center problem, and how PAC money and billionaire money are backfiring with voters. Many think that Michigan is a purple state, full of moderate ideas; and we talk about how voters are more angry than anything else. We talk about Trump's underwater numbers, Mike Rogers' vulnerability, and why running against the Democratic establishment might be the only way Democrats win in November. If you're trying to read the Petoskey stones on where American politics goes next, Michigan is a good place to start. Follow the show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942
Are radical political movements in America connected to extremist organizations? In this episode of The Tudor Dixon Podcast, Tudor is joined by terrorism expert Steve Emerson, founder of the Investigative Project on Terrorism, to examine claims surrounding the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, radical Islamic movements, and their alleged influence on American politics. They discuss recent political candidates, media coverage, national security concerns, higher education, and the growing debate over extremism in the United States.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 16, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Lloyd Jackson discuss Michigan politics with U of M Professor Rusty Hills, who argues that Republican candidates must prioritize local economic plans over national political alignment. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has abruptly ended his independent run for governor, blowing up Michigan's 2026 race less than six months before voters head to the polls. In this emergency episode of Daily Detroit, Jer, Devon and Norris break down why Duggan says "the numbers just aren't there," how national headwinds shifted after Trump's second-term agenda, and why independents are stampeding away from the GOP this cycle. We get into what Duggan's exit means for Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's path to the governor's office, the clown car situation on the Republican side, and how this all reshapes the map heading into the Mackinac Policy Conference. We also kick around some speculation on Duggan's next move — including strong rumors about the presidency of the University of Michigan — and why his "fixer" skill set might be headed from city hall to collegiate head. As always, be sure to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to shows.
In this episode of The Tudor Dixon Podcast, Tudor Dixon breaks down President Trump’s recent visit to Michigan and the major economic news the media glossed over. With 5,000 new manufacturing jobs announced and strong support from autoworkers—especially in the auto industry—Tudor explains why Trump’s message resonates so deeply with working Michiganders. Joined by The Midwestener's Kyle Olson, the conversation also tackles the media firestorm over a heckler exchange, questioning why corporate outlets focused on theatrics instead of the real economic wins. Tudor and Kyle explore how this pattern of coverage distorts public perception and shields Democrats from accountability. The discussion expands to immigration, public safety, and law enforcement, including the backlash Border Patrol agents faced after confronting gang members in Portland. Tudor critiques sanctuary city rhetoric and argues that Democrats are increasingly defending criminals while undermining those tasked with keeping communities safe. The episode wraps up with a look at Michigan’s political future, spotlighting U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin and what her actions signal for upcoming elections. Find more from The Midwesterner HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
December 17, 2025 ~ Bill Ballenger, political analyst and founder of The Ballenger Report, joins Chris, Lloyd, and Jamie to recap 2025 Michigan politics and look ahead to 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Age of Anxiety: Political Media, Dementia, and the Boomer FearIn Michigan living rooms—from Flint to Saginaw to small towns up north—older Americans watch political news that feels less like reporting and more like a public trial of aging itself. Every stumble, verbal slip, or moment of confusion by national leaders is clipped, replayed, and mocked. For older viewers, this coverage is not abstract or partisan. It is personal.This investigative audio essay examines how constant media focus on age and cognition quietly harms older adults, especially in aging, post-industrial communities. Drawing on research in psychology, aging, and media studies, it explores fear of dementia, stigma, loneliness, and how political spectacle fuels anxiety, withdrawal, and disengagement from democracy.As Michigan approaches critical elections, this episode asks a deeper question: What happens to a democracy when aging itself is treated as entertainment—and dignity is the cost? #TheAgeOfAnxiety #InvestigativeAudio #AgingInAmerica #MediaAndDemocracy #MichiganPolitics #BoomerGeneration #CognitiveHealth #PublicWellBeing We would like to hear from you! Send us a Text.The Mitten Channel is a network of podcasts.
Jesse Jaymz and Outcast from the Dangerous INFO Podcast join this episode and we have much to discuss. Fasting, Michigan Politics, the current and past school environments, and how the waking up is still working on endless people. Dangerous INFO Podcast: https://rumble.com/c/DangerousInfoPodcast?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o Recent Substack: https://theamericanclassroom.substack.com/p/arrested-for-noticing Book Websites: https://www.moneytreepublishing.com/shop PROMO CODE: “AEFM” for 10% OFF https://armreg.co.uk PROMO CODE: "americaneducationfm" for 15% off all books and products. (I receive no kickbacks).
July 18, 2025 ~ Craig Mauger joins Rocky Raczkowski and Paul Glantz to share the latest on with Michigan's loss of the semiconductor plant and the Detroit Mayoral race.
Join Aaron McIntire on the A.M. Update for Friday, May 23, 2025, as he unpacks a tragic DC shooting by radical leftist Elias Rodriguez targeting Israeli embassy staffers, exposing hate-fueled violence. The House passes Trump's budget reconciliation bill, sparking debate over fiscal wins like defunding Planned Parenthood versus green energy concessions, while the Maha report reveals shocking truths about childhood chronic diseases. Elon Musk's cryptic retreat from political spending and Pete Hegseth's Pentagon prayer meeting round out a packed week—plus, your Ask or Tell Me Anything submissions! Follow @RealAMUpdate on X and Instagram
May 21, 2025 ~ The DeVos family is reportedly establishing a new political operation in Michigan to support Republican candidates. Detroit News State Politics reporter Craig Mauger talks with Lloyd, Jamie, and Chris about this signaling a renewed effort to reshape Michigan Politics.
April 29, 2025 ~ Congressman Bill Huizenga joins Kevin after he spoke with President Trump about the state of Michigan Politics.
The latest candidate to enter the race for Michigan U.S. Senate is Mike Rogers who lost a close race last fall. The election to replace Senator Gary Peters is in November 2026. WWJ's Jackie Paige and Chris Fillar have your Monday morning news briefs. (Photo credit Mike Rogers for Michigan)
In this episode, Tudor interviews Detroit-based reporter Sam Robinson, who discusses the importance of community representation, local issues, and the political dynamics in Michigan. They explore economic concerns, particularly in the auto industry, and the regulatory challenges that affect community development. Sam shares insights on the future of Detroit, the role of local journalism, and the need for political authenticity in campaigning. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network. For more visit TudorDixonPodcast.com Check out Sam's Substack HERE #Michigan #politics #localjournalism #community #issues #economicdevelopment #politicalrepresentation #Detroit #SamRobinson #TudorDixon #campaignstrategies #mediainfluenceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Tudor is joined by John Ashbrook and Michael Duncan from the Ruthless Podcast. They discuss the current state of the Democratic Party, highlighting its leadership crisis and disarray. The conversation shifts to the importance of authenticity in politics, contrasting figures like AOC with traditional politicians. They also delve into the disconnect between Democratic leaders and voter concerns, particularly regarding manufacturing and national security. Tudor shares her political aspirations and the significance of trade schools in rebuilding American labor. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network. For more visit TudorDixonPodcast.com Check out the Ruthless Podcast HERE #RuthlessPodcast #TudorDixon #DemocraticParty #AOC #politicalauthenticity #Michigan #politics #manufacturing #tariffs #American #labor #nationalsecuritySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send us a textIn this episode, we dive into the inspiring journeys of Muslim students who are stepping up to run for positions within the Michigan Democratic Party. Join us as we explore their motivations, the challenges they face, and the impact they hope to make in their communities.Our guests are Ali Hassan, Mahmoud Muhiesen, Jenna Sukkar and Inam Mustafa.We'll discuss the importance of representation in politics and how these young leaders are advocating for issues that matter to the Muslim community and beyond. Our guests will share their personal stories, the support systems that have helped them along the way, and their visions for a more inclusive political landscape.Whether you're a student interested in politics, a community member looking to engage, or simply curious about the future of political representation, this episode is for you! Tune in to hear how these trailblazers are paving the way for the next generation of leaders.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more episodes on political engagement and community empowerment!This show was sponsored by:-Jabal Coffee House -Malek Al-Kabob-Juice Box -Hanley International Academy-Royal Kabob -Holy Bowly-Wing FellasYouTube post:Follow us on social media:- Instagram: @motivateme313 or @ozmedia313- Website: ozmedia313.com- Facebook: ozmedia313-TikTok: @ozmedia313-Apple Podcast: ozmedia-Spotify Podcast: ozmediaThis show was sponsored by:-Holy Bowly http://www.myholybowly.com-Jabal Coffee House jabalcoffeehouse.com-Malek Al-Kabob malekalkabob.com-Juice Box Juiceboxblend.com-Hanley International Academy Hanleyacademy.com-Wingfellas thewingfellas.com-Royal Kabob #MuslimStudents #MichiganPolitics #DemocraticParty #PoliticalEngagement #YouthLeadership #DiversityInPolitics #RepresentationMatters #Empowerment #CommunityVoices #FutureLeaders #CivicEngagement #PoliticalActivism #MuslimVoices #ChangeMakers #MichiganDemocrats
#podcast #Michigan #Politics #news #DanaNessel #ProgressivePolitics #Progressives #Democrats #Agriculture #Farming #Economics #WorkingClass #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #ElonMusk #Trump #Republicans #MAGA #USAID #LeftOfLansing Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for February 14, 2025. President Elon Musk and Dear Leader Trump are selling-out America's farmers, and all of rural America. With Dear Leader's crippling tariffs, and President Musk's gutting of government agencies, such as USAID, America's farmers are feeling the pain caused by this unelected billionaire and the puppet President. They're doing all of this out in the open for everyone to see, but it's up to all of us to open our eyes to see it happening. Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well! leftoflansing.com NOTES: "With Trump and Musk driving U.S. policy, Kansas farmers have been played for suckers." By Ben Palin of the Kansas Reflector (via Michigan Advance). "Weather agency caught in Musk's crosshairs." By Arianna Skibell of Politico "Michigan AG Nessel leads multistate suit seeking injunction against Elon Musk, DOGE." By Beth LeBlanc of The Detroit News
In announcing her bid for Governor, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says schools and education will be one of her top priorities. WWJ's Jonathan Carlson and Jackie Paige have your Wednesday morning news, including some Detroiters without heat as the bitter cold lingers. (Credit: © Sarahbeth Maney / USA TODAY NETWORK)
In this episode, Tudor and Steve Gruber discuss the evolving landscape of media, politics, and public sentiment. They discuss the accountability of the media, and Donald Trump's changing relationship with journalists. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced by political figures like Gretchen Whitmer and the importance of authenticity in leadership. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize the need for collaboration and understanding in politics, highlighting Trump's unique ability to connect with the public. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network. For more visit TudorDixonPodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Donna and Orlando sat down with the Founder and Executive Director of What About Us Inc., Tammara Howard and, a rising star in Detroit's music scene, Niko NoirTogether, they unpacked the emotional aftermath of the 2024 Election while navigating how love and hope can sustain us in uncertain times. Community organizing takes center stage as they dissect varying political narratives and the quest for power among minority communities.What About Us, Inc. (WAU) is a resident-led, grass-roots organization founded in 2015 and is dedicated to building neighborhood connectedness and capacity to lift up the voices of residents who feel marginalized. Founder and executive director, Tammara Howard, is committed to strengthening the physical, mental, and emotional health of Detroit youth and their parents through the services of WAU. Tammara shared her remarkable journey of transforming neglected spaces into beacons of hope, emphasizing inclusivity for disabled individuals and the LGBTQ community. Niko Noir is an artist, performer, songwriter, vocal producer and producer hailing from Detroit's east side. Niko offered insights into the challenges faced by independent artists in a competitive music scene. Her tales of community love and appreciation emphasize the enduring power of family and collaboration. Click here to learn more about What About Us, Inc., and keep up with Niko Noir's musical journey here!FOR HOT TAKES:DEMOCRATS OVERESTIMATED DETROIT TURNOUT. WHAT HAPPENED? Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
On the eve of the 2024 Election Day, Donna and Orlando sat down with the Executive Director of Building Community Value (BCV), Chase Cantrell.BCV is a Detroit-based non-profit organization dedicated to equipping residents with tools to shape their neighborhoods.They recently announced the launch of their first-ever online course, “Real Estate Development: Building Value in Your Community.” Hosted on Coursera, the course aims to teach aspiring real estate developers the fundamentals of real estate development, including development stages, team building, project feasibility, social impact, and financial modeling. This innovative online course, developed in close collaboration with the University of Michigan Center for Academic Innovation (CAI), marks a significant shift for BCV. Traditionally focused on in-person training for residents of Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park, the online course is now accessible to learners worldwide, fostering real estate and community development skills on a scale far beyond SE Michigan. To learn more about Building Community Values' online course, click here!FOR HOT TAKES:DETROIT STRENGTHENS SECURITY AT SITES WHERE BALLOTS ARE COUNTED LATE RESULTS, VOTING MACHINES, AND MORE: DEBUNKING MICHIGAN'S ELECTION MISINFORMATION Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
In this episode, Tudor, Kyle Olson, & Sara Broadwater dive into Michigan's political landscape, focusing on Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's actions against election misinformation. Tudor criticizes Benson's directive for residents to report neighbors for spreading misinformation, likening it to divisive COVID-19 tactics. Kyle Olson highlights a case where a woman received a cease and desist letter for factual election-related posts, exemplifying government overreach. The discussion also touches on Tim Walz's connections to China and the implications for national security, emphasizing the need for vigilance and free speech protection. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast. For more visit TudorDixonPodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mifepristone remains legal after major Supreme Court ruling | Trump lackey running for Michigan's state supreme court | Nebraska's competing abortion petitions | Kansas Farmers Faced With Major Water Shortage | South Carolina Ripe For Full Abortion Ban | Missouri begins major project to improve Interstate 70 | Indiana musician hitting the scene in a big waySHOW NOTESMifepristone remains legal after major Supreme Court rulinghttps://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/13/breaking-u-s-supreme-court-rejects-attempt-to-limit-access-to-abortion-pill/Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote the opinion in the united ruling from the Supreme Court, with Justice Clarence Thomas writing a concurring opinion.“Plaintiffs are pro-life, oppose elective abortion, and have sincere legal, moral, ideological, and policy objections to mifepristone being prescribed and used by others,” Kavanaugh wrote.The four anti-abortion medical organizations and four anti-abortion doctors who originally brought the lawsuit against mifepristone have protections in place to guard against being forced to participate in abortions against their moral objections, he noted.“Not only as a matter of law but also as a matter of fact, the federal conscience laws have protected pro-life doctors ever since FDA approved mifepristone in 2000,” Kavanaugh wrote. “The plaintiffs have not identified any instances where a doctor was required, notwithstanding conscience objections, to perform an abortion or to provide other abortion-related treatment that violated the doctor's conscience.”“Nor is there any evidence in the record here of hospitals overriding or failing to accommodate doctors' conscience objections,” he added.Trump lackey running for Michigan's state supreme courthttps://michiganadvance.com/briefs/deperno-announces-michigan-supreme-court-run-amid-election-related-criminal-charges/Matt DePerno, a Republican lawyer who ran for Michigan Attorney General in 2022 with the support of former President Donald Trump, is running for the state's supreme court while facing charges for reportedly tampering with voting machines after the 2020 presidential election. Michigan's 4-3 Democratic majority state supreme court is falling short of doing its duty, Deperno said in an emailed statement to Michigan Advance.“After watching the abuse of our legal system both here in Michigan, as well as across the country, it is clear that the Michigan Supreme Court needs members that are committed to following the constitution and rule of law,” DePerno said. “Activist judges, prosecutors, and attorney generals are using their power to prosecute their political enemies. This has to stop. And that is why I am running for Supreme Court.”Nebraska's competing abortion petitionshttps://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/13/sorting-through-nebraskas-abortion-ballot-initiatives/Nebraska voters who want to weigh in this November on the future of abortion in the state have three petitions to consider signing.One group that is circulating petitions wants to make abortion a state constitutional right. Two other groups circulating petitions both oppose abortion. But their petitions approach the path to further restrictions differently.Organizers of all three petition initiatives have until July 3 to turn in signatures from 10% of Nebraska registered voters, or about 123,000 people, to the Secretary of State's Office. Of those, signatures are required from at least 5% of registered voters in at least 38 counties.Kansas Farmers Faced With Major Water Shortagehttps://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/13/time-for-a-reckoning-kansas-farmers-brace-for-water-cuts-to-save-ogallala-aquifer/After 50 years of studies, discussions and hand-wringing about the aquifer's decline, the state is demanding that local groundwater managers finally enforce conservation. But in this region where water is everything, they'll have to overcome entrenched attitudes and practices that led to decades of overpumping.“It scares the hell out of me,” farmer Hugh Brownlee said at a recent public meeting in the district on the changes to come.Last year, Kansas lawmakers passed legislation squarely targeting the Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District, which spans a dozen counties. Unlike the two other Kansas districts that sit atop the crucial aquifer, this one has done little to enact formal conservation programs that could help prolong the life of the aquifer. The new law aims to force action.South Carolina Ripe For Full Abortion Banhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/13/south-carolina-abortion-banThe right to legal abortion in South Carolina is in a “dire” condition, said the state senator Penry Gustafson, who lost her seat on Tuesday to a primary challenger prepared to vote to ban abortion at conception.Gustafson is one of five female lawmakers dubbed the “sister senators” who blocked legislation to outlaw abortion from the point of conception in the state. The three Republicans among them – Gustafson, Sandy Senn and Katrina Shealy – each drew male primary challengers who competed for conservative primary voters seeking more restrictive abortion access.Missouri begins major project to improve Interstate 70https://www.missourinet.com/2024/06/13/shovels-come-out-to-break-ground-on-missouris-historic-i-70-expansion/A groundbreaking ceremony was held today to celebrate the start of construction for the Improve I-70 project, which will widen the interstate to at least three lanes each in both directions from St. Louis to Kansas City.Construction on the $2.8 billion Improve I-70 Program is set to begin in July. The first phase of the project begins in mid-Missouri, with the interchanges of U.S. Route 63 in Columbia and U.S. Route 54 in Kingdom City.Gov. Mike Parson was on hand to commemorate the occasion. One of his top priorities throughout his tenure has been to improve Missouri's infrastructure system.“What we're doing in infrastructure in this state is going to set us apart from many, many other states and it's just, for the future of our state, I can't even explain how much of an impact it's going to have. But it's fun. It's exciting to finish up your term on a high note like this,” he told reporters.Indiana musician hitting the scene in a big wayhttps://www.stephenwilsonjr.com/Stephen Wilson Jr. is a singer/songwriter from rural Southern Indiana. Self-described as “Death Cab For Country,” Stephen Wilson Jr. draws upon indie rock, grunge and country to create a distinct sound that is influenced by artists as diverse as The National, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Nirvana.Wilson was raised by a single father who was a boxer and had him boxing from age seven through adulthood as an Indiana State Golden Gloves finalist. The self-taught guitarist moved to Nashville to pursue a degree in Microbiology at MTSU, where he started indie rock band AutoVaughn after finishing his degree. After five years of touring the world as lead guitarist with AutoVaughn, Wilson turned his creative focus toward songwriting and singing. After the band, Wilson relied back on his education where he worked for several years as an R&D scientist at Mars until signing a publishing deal with BMG Nashville in 2016. His songs were soon recorded by acts like Caitlyn Smith, Brothers Osborne, Old Dominion, MacKenzie Porter, Sixpence None the Richer and Leigh Nash.SOURCES: Missouri Independent, The Guardian, Michigan Advance, Nebraska Examiner, Kansas Reflector, Missourinet.com, Stephenwilsonjr.com @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Threads)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Threads) 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/
Mifepristone remains legal after major Supreme Court ruling | Trump lackey running for Michigan's state supreme court | Nebraska's competing abortion petitions | Kansas Farmers Faced With Major Water Shortage | South Carolina Ripe For Full Abortion Ban | Missouri begins major project to improve Interstate 70 | Indiana musician hitting the scene in a big waySHOW NOTESMifepristone remains legal after major Supreme Court rulinghttps://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/13/breaking-u-s-supreme-court-rejects-attempt-to-limit-access-to-abortion-pill/Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote the opinion in the united ruling from the Supreme Court, with Justice Clarence Thomas writing a concurring opinion.“Plaintiffs are pro-life, oppose elective abortion, and have sincere legal, moral, ideological, and policy objections to mifepristone being prescribed and used by others,” Kavanaugh wrote.The four anti-abortion medical organizations and four anti-abortion doctors who originally brought the lawsuit against mifepristone have protections in place to guard against being forced to participate in abortions against their moral objections, he noted.“Not only as a matter of law but also as a matter of fact, the federal conscience laws have protected pro-life doctors ever since FDA approved mifepristone in 2000,” Kavanaugh wrote. “The plaintiffs have not identified any instances where a doctor was required, notwithstanding conscience objections, to perform an abortion or to provide other abortion-related treatment that violated the doctor's conscience.”“Nor is there any evidence in the record here of hospitals overriding or failing to accommodate doctors' conscience objections,” he added.Trump lackey running for Michigan's state supreme courthttps://michiganadvance.com/briefs/deperno-announces-michigan-supreme-court-run-amid-election-related-criminal-charges/Matt DePerno, a Republican lawyer who ran for Michigan Attorney General in 2022 with the support of former President Donald Trump, is running for the state's supreme court while facing charges for reportedly tampering with voting machines after the 2020 presidential election. Michigan's 4-3 Democratic majority state supreme court is falling short of doing its duty, Deperno said in an emailed statement to Michigan Advance.“After watching the abuse of our legal system both here in Michigan, as well as across the country, it is clear that the Michigan Supreme Court needs members that are committed to following the constitution and rule of law,” DePerno said. “Activist judges, prosecutors, and attorney generals are using their power to prosecute their political enemies. This has to stop. And that is why I am running for Supreme Court.”Nebraska's competing abortion petitionshttps://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/13/sorting-through-nebraskas-abortion-ballot-initiatives/Nebraska voters who want to weigh in this November on the future of abortion in the state have three petitions to consider signing.One group that is circulating petitions wants to make abortion a state constitutional right. Two other groups circulating petitions both oppose abortion. But their petitions approach the path to further restrictions differently.Organizers of all three petition initiatives have until July 3 to turn in signatures from 10% of Nebraska registered voters, or about 123,000 people, to the Secretary of State's Office. Of those, signatures are required from at least 5% of registered voters in at least 38 counties.Kansas Farmers Faced With Major Water Shortagehttps://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/13/time-for-a-reckoning-kansas-farmers-brace-for-water-cuts-to-save-ogallala-aquifer/After 50 years of studies, discussions and hand-wringing about the aquifer's decline, the state is demanding that local groundwater managers finally enforce conservation. But in this region where water is everything, they'll have to overcome entrenched attitudes and practices that led to decades of overpumping.“It scares the hell out of me,” farmer Hugh Brownlee said at a recent public meeting in the district on the changes to come.Last year, Kansas lawmakers passed legislation squarely targeting the Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District, which spans a dozen counties. Unlike the two other Kansas districts that sit atop the crucial aquifer, this one has done little to enact formal conservation programs that could help prolong the life of the aquifer. The new law aims to force action.South Carolina Ripe For Full Abortion Banhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/13/south-carolina-abortion-banThe right to legal abortion in South Carolina is in a “dire” condition, said the state senator Penry Gustafson, who lost her seat on Tuesday to a primary challenger prepared to vote to ban abortion at conception.Gustafson is one of five female lawmakers dubbed the “sister senators” who blocked legislation to outlaw abortion from the point of conception in the state. The three Republicans among them – Gustafson, Sandy Senn and Katrina Shealy – each drew male primary challengers who competed for conservative primary voters seeking more restrictive abortion access.Missouri begins major project to improve Interstate 70https://www.missourinet.com/2024/06/13/shovels-come-out-to-break-ground-on-missouris-historic-i-70-expansion/A groundbreaking ceremony was held today to celebrate the start of construction for the Improve I-70 project, which will widen the interstate to at least three lanes each in both directions from St. Louis to Kansas City.Construction on the $2.8 billion Improve I-70 Program is set to begin in July. The first phase of the project begins in mid-Missouri, with the interchanges of U.S. Route 63 in Columbia and U.S. Route 54 in Kingdom City.Gov. Mike Parson was on hand to commemorate the occasion. One of his top priorities throughout his tenure has been to improve Missouri's infrastructure system.“What we're doing in infrastructure in this state is going to set us apart from many, many other states and it's just, for the future of our state, I can't even explain how much of an impact it's going to have. But it's fun. It's exciting to finish up your term on a high note like this,” he told reporters.Indiana musician hitting the scene in a big wayhttps://www.stephenwilsonjr.com/Stephen Wilson Jr. is a singer/songwriter from rural Southern Indiana. Self-described as “Death Cab For Country,” Stephen Wilson Jr. draws upon indie rock, grunge and country to create a distinct sound that is influenced by artists as diverse as The National, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Nirvana.Wilson was raised by a single father who was a boxer and had him boxing from age seven through adulthood as an Indiana State Golden Gloves finalist. The self-taught guitarist moved to Nashville to pursue a degree in Microbiology at MTSU, where he started indie rock band AutoVaughn after finishing his degree. After five years of touring the world as lead guitarist with AutoVaughn, Wilson turned his creative focus toward songwriting and singing. After the band, Wilson relied back on his education where he worked for several years as an R&D scientist at Mars until signing a publishing deal with BMG Nashville in 2016. His songs were soon recorded by acts like Caitlyn Smith, Brothers Osborne, Old Dominion, MacKenzie Porter, Sixpence None the Richer and Leigh Nash.SOURCES: Missouri Independent, The Guardian, Michigan Advance, Nebraska Examiner, Kansas Reflector, Missourinet.com, Stephenwilsonjr.com @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Threads)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Threads) 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/
Missouri's House Speaker accused of absolute obstruction | Sarah Huckabee Sanders Podium Continues To Dominate | Michigan GOP can't take a hint on right-to-work | While Trump's In Court, women put his policies on trial in Wisconsin | Another GOP Congressman is headed for the doorThe Heartland POD, Friday April 19, 2024: Flyover Friday Learn more about our shows and sign up to become a PODHead Patreon supporter today by visiting patreon.com/theheartlandcollective - sign up today for extra shows and access including a member's chat, and more. 1. Missouri House Speaker Plocher The Blockerhttps://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/15/speaker-dean-plocher-accused-of-absolute-obstruction-in-house-ethics-investigation/BY: JASON HANCOCK - APRIL 15, 2024 9:34 PMOn Monday of this week, bipartisan leaders of the House Ethics Committee alleged that Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher obstructed an investigation of his official acts through pressure on potential witnesses and refusing to issue subpoenas.Some potential witnesses allegedly refused to speak out of fear Plocher would use his power as speaker to retaliate against them. And Plocher refused to cooperate with the attorney hired to collect evidence for the committee. A report laying out findings from the ethics committee's months-long investigation that was released Monday night concluded the committee lacked direct evidence of ethical misconduct in Plocher's advocacy for a six-figure software contract, in his firing of a former staffer, or in years of filing false expense reimbursement reports. But Republican state Rep. Hannah Kelly of Mountain Grove, the committee's chair, and Democratic state Rep. Robert Sauls of Independence, the vice chair, said the report demonstrates “absolute obstruction” that hindered the committee's efforts to get to the truth. Plocher, a candidate for secretary of state, declined to comment. The report recommended a formal letter of disapproval for Plocher, that he hire an accounting professional to manage his expense reports moving forward, and that he refrain from retaliation against any legislator or House employee who cooperated with the committee. The report also recommended further review by the House into allegations of threats made against legislative employees during the course of the investigation. The report states Plocher's actions “substantially impair public confidence in the General Assembly,” Plocher's troubles spilled out into the public in September, when he was accused of engaging in “unethical and perhaps unlawful conduct” as part of a months-long push outside the normal bidding process to get the House to award an $800,000 contract to a private company to manage constituent information.As part of that contract push, Plocher allegedly threatened the jobs of nonpartisan staff who raised red flags. A month later, The Missouri Independent reported Plocher had on numerous occasions over the last five years illegally sought taxpayer reimbursement from the legislature for airfare, hotels and other travel costs already paid for by his campaign.As for the threats against nonpartisan staff, there was also no direct evidence implicating the speaker, though the report states that several employees testified under oath about threats and a “negative work environment.”The attorney hired to collect evidence for the committee marveled at the overarching fear of retaliation among House staff, saying “I have not encountered more unwilling witnesses in any investigation in my career. The level of fear expressed by a number of the potential witnesses is a daunting factor in completing this investigation.”2. Speak into the mic Mrs. Sanders, The People Paid Good Money For ithttps://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/04/17/podiumgate-audit-sarah-huckabee-sanders-arkansasAlex GoldenThe Arkansas Legislative Audit this week wrapped up its investigation into the purchase of a $19,000 podium by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' administration.The audit report reveals the governor's office may have broken state law in several instances, including:Applying the purchase to operating expenses when it didn't meet criteria.Not notifying the Department of Transformation and Shared Services, therefore preventing the purchase from being properly recorded.Not seeking an exemption from the state procurement director for disposal of state property.Shredding the delivery noteAltering a public record. Auditors found three versions of an invoice, two of which contained a handwritten notation made after the record was entered into the Arkansas Administrative Statewide Information System.Transformation and Shared Services also may have violated state law by excluding multiple invoices paid for with the governor's office credit card.Days before the release of the report, state Attorney General Tim Griffin said the governor is not subject to two state laws that if she were, could be problematic. The AG says the laws do not apply to the Governor of Arkansas. 3. Michigan GOP Is Gonna Try Again On Right To Workhttps://michiganadvance.com/2024/04/17/house-gop-announce-plans-to-bring-back-right-to-work-snyder-era-economic-policies/BY: KEN COLEMAN, SUSAN J. DEMAS AND KYLE DAVIDSON - APRIL 17, 2024 5:18 PMA day after state House Democrats won two special elections to regain a majority, Republicans on Wednesday announced a plan “to grow local economies”. Bringing back so-called Right to Work - a policy meant to reduce the power of labor unions - is one of the GOP's top priorities. Last year, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation repealing the 2012 Right to Work law that had been on the books since 2012. The controversial law allowed workers to get all union benefits without having to pay dues. 4. Women harmed by abortion restrictions campaign against Trump in Wisconsinhttps://wisconsinexaminer.com/2024/04/17/women-harmed-by-abortion-restrictions-campaign-against-trump-in-wisconsin/BY: BAYLOR SPEARS - APRIL 17, 2024 5:45 AMTwo women, who said their states' abortion restrictions exacerbated their experience with medical difficulties during pregnancy, told their stories Tuesday while campaigning for President Joe Biden at a round table event in Madison.Their visit is one of four stops they are making this week in Wisconsin — a battleground state that could play a decisive role in the 2024 presidential election. Democrats are focusing on abortion as an issue that could help drive voters to the polls. Amanda Zurawski of Houston, Texas said she underwent “grueling” fertility treatments for a year and a half. She and her husband, Josh were “over the moon” when she finally became pregnant. While her first trimester was pretty easy, she said she suffered from “catastrophic complications” at 18 weeks. She said she needed an abortion, but her state's abortion ban made it illegal.“My doctor would have been at risk of losing her license, hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of fines and even jail time, so I was told to just wait until I got so sick that my life was considered in danger, which is one of the rare exceptions in Texas,”. She waited three days before she developed sepsis — a potentially fatal condition resulting from infection — and doctors finally provided her care, stabilizing her and ending her pregnancy with the baby she named Willow. She was in the intensive care unit for several days afterwards. Zurawski said she realized in her “dark and lonely hospital room” that she was “actually lucky because I lived and I knew others might not be so lucky.” “What I went through was nothing short of barbaric and it did not need to happen,” said Zurawski, who was a lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against Texas due to its abortion ban. “It was completely avoidable. It was completely preventable, and it happened because of Donald Trump.” Kaitlyn Joshua of Louisiana, said that she and her husband, Landon, were thrilled to learn that she was pregnant. They already had one daughter, who was 3, and it made sense for them to add to their family.Early in her pregnancy, Joshua said she started experiencing cramping and spotting, and at 11 weeks, she experienced major blood loss and pain. She sought care at a Baton Rouge emergency room, where she was told she was experiencing a miscarriage, but was provided no support.She said, “We're simply asking for the most basic level of internal health care but because of Donald Trump's laws, we are being denied basic care.” (Baylor Spears | Wisconsin Examiner)“Because of the state's abortion ban, the health care team was afraid. They instead sent me home, sent home on prayers. I remember the young lady said ‘We'll be praying for you and you're just gonna have to handle this at home.'” Joshua went to a second hospital where she was also told to wait. She said it took her almost a month to complete the miscarriage on her own. Women across Louisiana and across the country are having similar experiences.“Because of abortion bans, physicians simply cannot do their job and practice medicine based on their training expertise. We're simply asking for the most basic level of internal health care, but because of Donald Trump, we are being denied basic care.”Former President Donald Trump has said in recent weeks that abortion policy should be left to the states. He has also said that he would support a 16-week nationwide ban.The U.S. has been left with a patchwork of abortion laws with many states having implemented bans due to the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.Abortion services were halted completely in Wisconsin until recently, due to an 1849 law that many thought was in force on the reversal of Roe.Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) said, “We didn't have abortions available in Wisconsin for a year. Due to a court decision, right now they're available, but we know how fragile it is, we know that that can change at any time. We also know that if Donald Trump is elected, that will almost certainly change.” 5. KS Congressman Jake LaTurner turns toward home. Andrew Solenderhttps://www.axios.com/2024/04/18/jake-laturner-retire-house-gop-kansasA 36-year-old House Republican who has served in Congress just three years said Thursday he will not seek reelection in November.Rep. Jake LaTurner's (R-Kan.) retirement is a stark addition to a trend of House Republicans sprinting for the exits after a year filled with infighting and discord.Two House Republicans told Axios they expect more retirement announcements in the coming weeks.LaTurner, who was first elected in 2020, said "the current dysfunction on Capitol Hill is distressing." LaTurner makes nearly 20 House Republicans who have left or are planning to leave Congress without immediate plans to run for another office. Another five are seeking higher office.Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), a 40-year-old onetime GOP rising star, is planning to resign in the middle of his term to take a job in the private sector.Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), the 48-year-old chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who reached the zenith of his political career last year as the House speaker pro tempore, is also retiring.The retirements come as a growing number of right-wing hardliners are threatening to join an effort to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).Johnson is moving ahead with plans to hold a vote on a foreign aid package that includes aid to Ukraine, which Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has said would trigger a vote to remove him. The three-week speaker vacancy last year spurred a wave of retirements, particularly within the GOP.LaTurner has $676,000 cash on hand and no Republicans were running against him; this sets up a likely wild primary and maybe even a flip opportunity for Democrats.SOURCES: Michigan Advance, Wisconsin Examiner, Axios, Politico, The Missouri Independent,Pro.STateaffairs.com, Kansas reflector, @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Threads) 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/
Missouri's House Speaker accused of absolute obstruction | Sarah Huckabee Sanders Podium Continues To Dominate | Michigan GOP can't take a hint on right-to-work | While Trump's In Court, women put his policies on trial in Wisconsin | Another GOP Congressman is headed for the doorThe Heartland POD, Friday April 19, 2024: Flyover Friday Learn more about our shows and sign up to become a PODHead Patreon supporter today by visiting patreon.com/theheartlandcollective - sign up today for extra shows and access including a member's chat, and more. 1. Missouri House Speaker Plocher The Blockerhttps://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/15/speaker-dean-plocher-accused-of-absolute-obstruction-in-house-ethics-investigation/BY: JASON HANCOCK - APRIL 15, 2024 9:34 PMOn Monday of this week, bipartisan leaders of the House Ethics Committee alleged that Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher obstructed an investigation of his official acts through pressure on potential witnesses and refusing to issue subpoenas.Some potential witnesses allegedly refused to speak out of fear Plocher would use his power as speaker to retaliate against them. And Plocher refused to cooperate with the attorney hired to collect evidence for the committee. A report laying out findings from the ethics committee's months-long investigation that was released Monday night concluded the committee lacked direct evidence of ethical misconduct in Plocher's advocacy for a six-figure software contract, in his firing of a former staffer, or in years of filing false expense reimbursement reports. But Republican state Rep. Hannah Kelly of Mountain Grove, the committee's chair, and Democratic state Rep. Robert Sauls of Independence, the vice chair, said the report demonstrates “absolute obstruction” that hindered the committee's efforts to get to the truth. Plocher, a candidate for secretary of state, declined to comment. The report recommended a formal letter of disapproval for Plocher, that he hire an accounting professional to manage his expense reports moving forward, and that he refrain from retaliation against any legislator or House employee who cooperated with the committee. The report also recommended further review by the House into allegations of threats made against legislative employees during the course of the investigation. The report states Plocher's actions “substantially impair public confidence in the General Assembly,” Plocher's troubles spilled out into the public in September, when he was accused of engaging in “unethical and perhaps unlawful conduct” as part of a months-long push outside the normal bidding process to get the House to award an $800,000 contract to a private company to manage constituent information.As part of that contract push, Plocher allegedly threatened the jobs of nonpartisan staff who raised red flags. A month later, The Missouri Independent reported Plocher had on numerous occasions over the last five years illegally sought taxpayer reimbursement from the legislature for airfare, hotels and other travel costs already paid for by his campaign.As for the threats against nonpartisan staff, there was also no direct evidence implicating the speaker, though the report states that several employees testified under oath about threats and a “negative work environment.”The attorney hired to collect evidence for the committee marveled at the overarching fear of retaliation among House staff, saying “I have not encountered more unwilling witnesses in any investigation in my career. The level of fear expressed by a number of the potential witnesses is a daunting factor in completing this investigation.”2. Speak into the mic Mrs. Sanders, The People Paid Good Money For ithttps://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/04/17/podiumgate-audit-sarah-huckabee-sanders-arkansasAlex GoldenThe Arkansas Legislative Audit this week wrapped up its investigation into the purchase of a $19,000 podium by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' administration.The audit report reveals the governor's office may have broken state law in several instances, including:Applying the purchase to operating expenses when it didn't meet criteria.Not notifying the Department of Transformation and Shared Services, therefore preventing the purchase from being properly recorded.Not seeking an exemption from the state procurement director for disposal of state property.Shredding the delivery noteAltering a public record. Auditors found three versions of an invoice, two of which contained a handwritten notation made after the record was entered into the Arkansas Administrative Statewide Information System.Transformation and Shared Services also may have violated state law by excluding multiple invoices paid for with the governor's office credit card.Days before the release of the report, state Attorney General Tim Griffin said the governor is not subject to two state laws that if she were, could be problematic. The AG says the laws do not apply to the Governor of Arkansas. 3. Michigan GOP Is Gonna Try Again On Right To Workhttps://michiganadvance.com/2024/04/17/house-gop-announce-plans-to-bring-back-right-to-work-snyder-era-economic-policies/BY: KEN COLEMAN, SUSAN J. DEMAS AND KYLE DAVIDSON - APRIL 17, 2024 5:18 PMA day after state House Democrats won two special elections to regain a majority, Republicans on Wednesday announced a plan “to grow local economies”. Bringing back so-called Right to Work - a policy meant to reduce the power of labor unions - is one of the GOP's top priorities. Last year, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation repealing the 2012 Right to Work law that had been on the books since 2012. The controversial law allowed workers to get all union benefits without having to pay dues. 4. Women harmed by abortion restrictions campaign against Trump in Wisconsinhttps://wisconsinexaminer.com/2024/04/17/women-harmed-by-abortion-restrictions-campaign-against-trump-in-wisconsin/BY: BAYLOR SPEARS - APRIL 17, 2024 5:45 AMTwo women, who said their states' abortion restrictions exacerbated their experience with medical difficulties during pregnancy, told their stories Tuesday while campaigning for President Joe Biden at a round table event in Madison.Their visit is one of four stops they are making this week in Wisconsin — a battleground state that could play a decisive role in the 2024 presidential election. Democrats are focusing on abortion as an issue that could help drive voters to the polls. Amanda Zurawski of Houston, Texas said she underwent “grueling” fertility treatments for a year and a half. She and her husband, Josh were “over the moon” when she finally became pregnant. While her first trimester was pretty easy, she said she suffered from “catastrophic complications” at 18 weeks. She said she needed an abortion, but her state's abortion ban made it illegal.“My doctor would have been at risk of losing her license, hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of fines and even jail time, so I was told to just wait until I got so sick that my life was considered in danger, which is one of the rare exceptions in Texas,”. She waited three days before she developed sepsis — a potentially fatal condition resulting from infection — and doctors finally provided her care, stabilizing her and ending her pregnancy with the baby she named Willow. She was in the intensive care unit for several days afterwards. Zurawski said she realized in her “dark and lonely hospital room” that she was “actually lucky because I lived and I knew others might not be so lucky.” “What I went through was nothing short of barbaric and it did not need to happen,” said Zurawski, who was a lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against Texas due to its abortion ban. “It was completely avoidable. It was completely preventable, and it happened because of Donald Trump.” Kaitlyn Joshua of Louisiana, said that she and her husband, Landon, were thrilled to learn that she was pregnant. They already had one daughter, who was 3, and it made sense for them to add to their family.Early in her pregnancy, Joshua said she started experiencing cramping and spotting, and at 11 weeks, she experienced major blood loss and pain. She sought care at a Baton Rouge emergency room, where she was told she was experiencing a miscarriage, but was provided no support.She said, “We're simply asking for the most basic level of internal health care but because of Donald Trump's laws, we are being denied basic care.” (Baylor Spears | Wisconsin Examiner)“Because of the state's abortion ban, the health care team was afraid. They instead sent me home, sent home on prayers. I remember the young lady said ‘We'll be praying for you and you're just gonna have to handle this at home.'” Joshua went to a second hospital where she was also told to wait. She said it took her almost a month to complete the miscarriage on her own. Women across Louisiana and across the country are having similar experiences.“Because of abortion bans, physicians simply cannot do their job and practice medicine based on their training expertise. We're simply asking for the most basic level of internal health care, but because of Donald Trump, we are being denied basic care.”Former President Donald Trump has said in recent weeks that abortion policy should be left to the states. He has also said that he would support a 16-week nationwide ban.The U.S. has been left with a patchwork of abortion laws with many states having implemented bans due to the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.Abortion services were halted completely in Wisconsin until recently, due to an 1849 law that many thought was in force on the reversal of Roe.Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) said, “We didn't have abortions available in Wisconsin for a year. Due to a court decision, right now they're available, but we know how fragile it is, we know that that can change at any time. We also know that if Donald Trump is elected, that will almost certainly change.” 5. KS Congressman Jake LaTurner turns toward home. Andrew Solenderhttps://www.axios.com/2024/04/18/jake-laturner-retire-house-gop-kansasA 36-year-old House Republican who has served in Congress just three years said Thursday he will not seek reelection in November.Rep. Jake LaTurner's (R-Kan.) retirement is a stark addition to a trend of House Republicans sprinting for the exits after a year filled with infighting and discord.Two House Republicans told Axios they expect more retirement announcements in the coming weeks.LaTurner, who was first elected in 2020, said "the current dysfunction on Capitol Hill is distressing." LaTurner makes nearly 20 House Republicans who have left or are planning to leave Congress without immediate plans to run for another office. Another five are seeking higher office.Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), a 40-year-old onetime GOP rising star, is planning to resign in the middle of his term to take a job in the private sector.Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), the 48-year-old chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who reached the zenith of his political career last year as the House speaker pro tempore, is also retiring.The retirements come as a growing number of right-wing hardliners are threatening to join an effort to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).Johnson is moving ahead with plans to hold a vote on a foreign aid package that includes aid to Ukraine, which Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has said would trigger a vote to remove him. The three-week speaker vacancy last year spurred a wave of retirements, particularly within the GOP.LaTurner has $676,000 cash on hand and no Republicans were running against him; this sets up a likely wild primary and maybe even a flip opportunity for Democrats.SOURCES: Michigan Advance, Wisconsin Examiner, Axios, Politico, The Missouri Independent,Pro.STateaffairs.com, Kansas reflector, @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Threads) 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/
Friday News Roundup for Feb 16, 2024Missouri Supreme Court again says state can't deny Medicaid funds to Planned ParenthoodBY: ANNA SPOERRE - FEBRUARY 14, 2024 3:46 PMhttps://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-supreme-court-again-says-state-cant-deny-medicaid-funds-to-planned-parenthood/for the second time in four years, Missouri's highest court rebuked lawmakers's efforts to ban abortion providers and their affiliates from receiving Medicaid reimbursements.The legislature included a line in the 2022 state budget to spend $0 for any Medicaid-covered services if the provider also offers abortions or is affiliated with an abortion provider. Abortion is illegal in Missouri. The two Planned Parenthood affiliates operating in the state – Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri – no longer provide abortions in Missouri, though their counterparts in Kansas and Illinois do.In a decision Wednesday, the Missouri Supreme Court once again ruled the legislature's attempt to defund Planned Parenthood through the budget was unconstitutional. The state's Medicaid program, which serves low-income and disabled Missourians, has long banned funding for abortion, with limited exceptions. Medicaid has reimbursed Planned Parenthood in the past for reproductive health services that do not include abortion, including STI and cancer screenings, as well as contraceptives. Planned Parenthood has said it hasn't received any state funds for nearly two years as this legal fight played out in court, though the organization's clinics continued to treat all patients, regardless of insurance.Advocates for Planned Parenthood have said cutting off Medicaid funding only hurts those most in need of care. in a joint statement, Yamelsie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, and Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, called the ongoing efforts to defund Planned Parenthood “cruel and irresponsible.”“Today, the Missouri Supreme Court again reaffirmed our patients' right to access critical care like cancer screenings, birth control, annual exams, STI testing and treatment, and more at Planned Parenthood health centers. Over and over again, the courts have rejected politicians' ongoing attempts to deprive patients of their health care by unconstitutionally kicking Planned Parenthood out of the Medicaid program. But the fight for patient access is far from over.”Kansas bill would require abortion seekers be asked for reasons before terminating pregnancyBY: ALLISON KITE - FEBRUARY 15, 2024 9:45 AMhttps://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/15/kansas-bill-would-require-abortion-seekers-be-asked-for-reasons-before-terminating-pregnancy/Kansas abortion providers would have to ask patients why they are terminating pregnancies under legislation critics argue represents an effort to “harass, intimidate and shame” pregnant women.A Kansas House committee heard Wednesday from anti-abortion groups — who argued collecting data on abortion patients would allow policymakers establish programs for those who are pregnant — and abortion-rights groups that questioned the motives behind the bill.The legislation, requested by a group called Kansans for Life, would require providers have patients rank their top reasons for seeking an abortion, such as financial difficulty, a threat to their health posed by pregnancy, or the pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.Providers would also have to collect demographic information, including age, race, marital status, state or country of residence, highest level of education, educational attainment, and whether the patient has reported domestic violence, has a safe place to live or received financial assistance from an organization that supports individuals during pregnancy. If a patient declined to answer why they sought the abortion, the provider would be required to record that.The bill would apply even to minors.Taylor Morton of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes said “Kansans have made it abundantly clear that they do not want politicians in their exam rooms,” referencing Kansas voters' overwhelming rejection in August 2022 of an amendment that would have removed the right to an abortion from the Kansas Constitution.“All the legislation would do, is undermine the relationship between patients and health care providers. There's no reason for the state to demand and collect this deeply personal information from patients.”“Patients seeking literally any other form of necessary health care are not and would never be subjected to such intrusive and personal questioning, nor are pregnant people subjected to such questioning when they decide to carry a pregnancy to term.”Rep. Stephanie Clayton, D-Overland Park, questioned how patients' privacy could be protected if they reported being a victim of domestic violence or rape in a publicly released report. If a child seeks an abortion following a rape, she asked, and there aren't many such incidents reported each year, could someone connect the dots and identify them?“If someone is the victim of that terrible crime as a child, they should be able to go on, week therapy and heal and live a full, adult life without having their privacy invaded because they were the victim of a crime,” Amber Sellers, director of advocacy for Trust Women Foundation, argued the legislation would be unnecessarily burdensome.She said the right to an abortion required no more justification than the right to free speech.“These questions are confusing, and they're stigmatizing. They lack relevance, and they're medically unnecessary. They're deeply invasive.”Ban on sale, transfer of ‘assault weapons' back at Colorado CapitolBY: SARA WILSON - FEBRUARY 14, 2024 2:29 PMhttps://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/ban-on-sale-transfer-of-assault-weapons-back-at-colorado-capitol/ Two progressive Denver Democrats are backing an effort to ban the purchase and transfer of semi-automatic weapons in Colorado, a second attempt after a similar bill died in committee last year.Reps. Elisabeth Epps and Tim Hernández are the prime sponsors of House Bill 24-1292, which was introduced Tuesday. Epps also sponsored last year's version. As introduced, the bill has 14 other House Democrats signed on as sponsors.the bill's legislative declaration reads, “Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines are disproportionately used in public mass shootings, and the reasons are both obvious and irrefutable. Assault weapons are uniquely lethal by design. They entail tactical features designed for warfare, refined to maximize killing large numbers of people quickly and efficiently,” The bill would prohibit the manufacture, sale, import, transfer and purchase of many semi-automatic weapons. It would define “assault weapon” as a semi-automatic rifle that can accept a detachable magazine and has at least one of the following characteristics: a pistol grip, a folding or detachable stock to help conceal the weapon, a muzzle brake, a grenade launcher, a shroud on the barrel that lets the user hold it with their non-trigger hand and not get burned, or a threaded barrel. The bill includes a page and a half of specific examples of would-be banned weapons, including AK-47s and all AKs, AR-15s and all ARs, and all Thompson rifles.It would also ban the sale and purchase of certain .50 caliber rifles, semi-automatic pistols and semi-automatic shotguns.Additionally, the bill would ban the possession of trigger activators that greatly increase the rate of fire.It includes exemptions for members of the military and police officers. Gun dealers who still have an inventory of the defined assault weapons by August could sell them to a non-Colorado resident if the transfer takes place out of state.People who already own these types of firearms would be allowed to keep them.Ten states and Washington, D.C., have some sort of assault weapon ban, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Virginia's Democratic-controlled Legislature recently passed an assault weapons ban similar to the Colorado bill, but its future is uncertain as it lands on Republican Gov. Glen Youngkin's desk.Suicide is on the rise in OhioThis article is about suicide. If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.BY: ROB MOOREhttps://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2024/02/15/suicide-is-on-the-rise-in-ohio/Five Ohioans die of suicide every day.This is just one of the many data points released in a new publication by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. Here are some of the top findings from the release.Suicide is a leading cause of death for working-age Ohioans.Over 1,400 Ohioans died from suicide in 2022, the most recent year we have data for. This makes suicide the fifth-leading cause of death for working-age Ohioans, after cancer, heart disease, COVID-19, and unintentional deaths like drug overdose and motor vehicle crashes.Suicide rates were highest in 2022 for working-age adults, higher than the rate for young adults, retirement-age adults, and children. Suicide was most common in Appalachian counties, with 15 of Ohio's 22 counties with the highest suicide rates located in Appalachia.But Suicide is on the rise for nearly everyone.Since 2007, suicide rates have increased for men and women, white, Black, and Hispanic Ohioans, and Ohioans in every age group. The only major demographic group that has seen a flat suicide trend are Asian and Pacific Islander Ohioans.Risk factors for high school students are also becoming more common.Compared to 2019, female Ohio high school students were more likely in 2021 to feel sad or hopeless, seriously consider suicide, make a plan to commit suicide, or attempt suicide. The increase in suicide rate is driven by firearms.Suicide deaths involving a firearm increased 60% from 2007 to 2022. This accounted for 75% of the total increase in suicides over that time period. If you or someone you know needs help, call 988, the national suicide hotline.Michigan State University students ask lawmakers how they will prevent the next school shootingBY: ANNA LIZ NICHOLS - FEBRUARY 15, 2024 8:23 PMhttps://michiganadvance.com/2024/02/15/michigan-state-university-students-ask-lawmakers-how-they-will-prevent-the-next-school-shooting/A year after the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of three students on Michigan State University's campus, students are still healing and trying to honor everything they lost on Feb. 13, 2023.And as the MSU, Northern Illinois University and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School communities deal with painful anniversaries of shootings at their schools this week, a mass shooting on Wednesday during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory celebration injured more than 20 people, with one death confirmed as of Thursday.There have been 49 mass shootings in 2024 so far.A Michigan State student speaking at the Capitol steps said, “It's everywhere. It's all the time. We can't escape it. No words can really describe what the past year has been like, but I can say that despite the anger, sadness, grief, confusion, and just trying to be a college student, we never stopped showing up. I'm proud of the tireless work of students who showed up right here at the Capitol a year ago, and every day since to demand change.”MSU student and gun violence prevention organizer Maya Manuel recalled meeting with lawmakers last year, including state Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), saying “I remember looking at you, directly in your eyes and saying that the next one is going to be on you. And you took that and you went to your colleagues and you pushed out those bills just two days later.”The new laws, written in response to the MSU shooting, require gun owners to safely store firearms from minors, implement universal background checks when purchasing a firearm, create extreme risk protection orders and expand prohibitions on firearm ownership for those convicted of crimes involving domestic violence.But more progress is needed to prevent gun violence in Michigan, Manuel said. @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/
Friday News Roundup for Feb 16, 2024Missouri Supreme Court again says state can't deny Medicaid funds to Planned ParenthoodBY: ANNA SPOERRE - FEBRUARY 14, 2024 3:46 PMhttps://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-supreme-court-again-says-state-cant-deny-medicaid-funds-to-planned-parenthood/for the second time in four years, Missouri's highest court rebuked lawmakers's efforts to ban abortion providers and their affiliates from receiving Medicaid reimbursements.The legislature included a line in the 2022 state budget to spend $0 for any Medicaid-covered services if the provider also offers abortions or is affiliated with an abortion provider. Abortion is illegal in Missouri. The two Planned Parenthood affiliates operating in the state – Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri – no longer provide abortions in Missouri, though their counterparts in Kansas and Illinois do.In a decision Wednesday, the Missouri Supreme Court once again ruled the legislature's attempt to defund Planned Parenthood through the budget was unconstitutional. The state's Medicaid program, which serves low-income and disabled Missourians, has long banned funding for abortion, with limited exceptions. Medicaid has reimbursed Planned Parenthood in the past for reproductive health services that do not include abortion, including STI and cancer screenings, as well as contraceptives. Planned Parenthood has said it hasn't received any state funds for nearly two years as this legal fight played out in court, though the organization's clinics continued to treat all patients, regardless of insurance.Advocates for Planned Parenthood have said cutting off Medicaid funding only hurts those most in need of care. in a joint statement, Yamelsie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, and Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, called the ongoing efforts to defund Planned Parenthood “cruel and irresponsible.”“Today, the Missouri Supreme Court again reaffirmed our patients' right to access critical care like cancer screenings, birth control, annual exams, STI testing and treatment, and more at Planned Parenthood health centers. Over and over again, the courts have rejected politicians' ongoing attempts to deprive patients of their health care by unconstitutionally kicking Planned Parenthood out of the Medicaid program. But the fight for patient access is far from over.”Kansas bill would require abortion seekers be asked for reasons before terminating pregnancyBY: ALLISON KITE - FEBRUARY 15, 2024 9:45 AMhttps://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/15/kansas-bill-would-require-abortion-seekers-be-asked-for-reasons-before-terminating-pregnancy/Kansas abortion providers would have to ask patients why they are terminating pregnancies under legislation critics argue represents an effort to “harass, intimidate and shame” pregnant women.A Kansas House committee heard Wednesday from anti-abortion groups — who argued collecting data on abortion patients would allow policymakers establish programs for those who are pregnant — and abortion-rights groups that questioned the motives behind the bill.The legislation, requested by a group called Kansans for Life, would require providers have patients rank their top reasons for seeking an abortion, such as financial difficulty, a threat to their health posed by pregnancy, or the pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.Providers would also have to collect demographic information, including age, race, marital status, state or country of residence, highest level of education, educational attainment, and whether the patient has reported domestic violence, has a safe place to live or received financial assistance from an organization that supports individuals during pregnancy. If a patient declined to answer why they sought the abortion, the provider would be required to record that.The bill would apply even to minors.Taylor Morton of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes said “Kansans have made it abundantly clear that they do not want politicians in their exam rooms,” referencing Kansas voters' overwhelming rejection in August 2022 of an amendment that would have removed the right to an abortion from the Kansas Constitution.“All the legislation would do, is undermine the relationship between patients and health care providers. There's no reason for the state to demand and collect this deeply personal information from patients.”“Patients seeking literally any other form of necessary health care are not and would never be subjected to such intrusive and personal questioning, nor are pregnant people subjected to such questioning when they decide to carry a pregnancy to term.”Rep. Stephanie Clayton, D-Overland Park, questioned how patients' privacy could be protected if they reported being a victim of domestic violence or rape in a publicly released report. If a child seeks an abortion following a rape, she asked, and there aren't many such incidents reported each year, could someone connect the dots and identify them?“If someone is the victim of that terrible crime as a child, they should be able to go on, week therapy and heal and live a full, adult life without having their privacy invaded because they were the victim of a crime,” Amber Sellers, director of advocacy for Trust Women Foundation, argued the legislation would be unnecessarily burdensome.She said the right to an abortion required no more justification than the right to free speech.“These questions are confusing, and they're stigmatizing. They lack relevance, and they're medically unnecessary. They're deeply invasive.”Ban on sale, transfer of ‘assault weapons' back at Colorado CapitolBY: SARA WILSON - FEBRUARY 14, 2024 2:29 PMhttps://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/ban-on-sale-transfer-of-assault-weapons-back-at-colorado-capitol/ Two progressive Denver Democrats are backing an effort to ban the purchase and transfer of semi-automatic weapons in Colorado, a second attempt after a similar bill died in committee last year.Reps. Elisabeth Epps and Tim Hernández are the prime sponsors of House Bill 24-1292, which was introduced Tuesday. Epps also sponsored last year's version. As introduced, the bill has 14 other House Democrats signed on as sponsors.the bill's legislative declaration reads, “Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines are disproportionately used in public mass shootings, and the reasons are both obvious and irrefutable. Assault weapons are uniquely lethal by design. They entail tactical features designed for warfare, refined to maximize killing large numbers of people quickly and efficiently,” The bill would prohibit the manufacture, sale, import, transfer and purchase of many semi-automatic weapons. It would define “assault weapon” as a semi-automatic rifle that can accept a detachable magazine and has at least one of the following characteristics: a pistol grip, a folding or detachable stock to help conceal the weapon, a muzzle brake, a grenade launcher, a shroud on the barrel that lets the user hold it with their non-trigger hand and not get burned, or a threaded barrel. The bill includes a page and a half of specific examples of would-be banned weapons, including AK-47s and all AKs, AR-15s and all ARs, and all Thompson rifles.It would also ban the sale and purchase of certain .50 caliber rifles, semi-automatic pistols and semi-automatic shotguns.Additionally, the bill would ban the possession of trigger activators that greatly increase the rate of fire.It includes exemptions for members of the military and police officers. Gun dealers who still have an inventory of the defined assault weapons by August could sell them to a non-Colorado resident if the transfer takes place out of state.People who already own these types of firearms would be allowed to keep them.Ten states and Washington, D.C., have some sort of assault weapon ban, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Virginia's Democratic-controlled Legislature recently passed an assault weapons ban similar to the Colorado bill, but its future is uncertain as it lands on Republican Gov. Glen Youngkin's desk.Suicide is on the rise in OhioThis article is about suicide. If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.BY: ROB MOOREhttps://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2024/02/15/suicide-is-on-the-rise-in-ohio/Five Ohioans die of suicide every day.This is just one of the many data points released in a new publication by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. Here are some of the top findings from the release.Suicide is a leading cause of death for working-age Ohioans.Over 1,400 Ohioans died from suicide in 2022, the most recent year we have data for. This makes suicide the fifth-leading cause of death for working-age Ohioans, after cancer, heart disease, COVID-19, and unintentional deaths like drug overdose and motor vehicle crashes.Suicide rates were highest in 2022 for working-age adults, higher than the rate for young adults, retirement-age adults, and children. Suicide was most common in Appalachian counties, with 15 of Ohio's 22 counties with the highest suicide rates located in Appalachia.But Suicide is on the rise for nearly everyone.Since 2007, suicide rates have increased for men and women, white, Black, and Hispanic Ohioans, and Ohioans in every age group. The only major demographic group that has seen a flat suicide trend are Asian and Pacific Islander Ohioans.Risk factors for high school students are also becoming more common.Compared to 2019, female Ohio high school students were more likely in 2021 to feel sad or hopeless, seriously consider suicide, make a plan to commit suicide, or attempt suicide. The increase in suicide rate is driven by firearms.Suicide deaths involving a firearm increased 60% from 2007 to 2022. This accounted for 75% of the total increase in suicides over that time period. If you or someone you know needs help, call 988, the national suicide hotline.Michigan State University students ask lawmakers how they will prevent the next school shootingBY: ANNA LIZ NICHOLS - FEBRUARY 15, 2024 8:23 PMhttps://michiganadvance.com/2024/02/15/michigan-state-university-students-ask-lawmakers-how-they-will-prevent-the-next-school-shooting/A year after the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of three students on Michigan State University's campus, students are still healing and trying to honor everything they lost on Feb. 13, 2023.And as the MSU, Northern Illinois University and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School communities deal with painful anniversaries of shootings at their schools this week, a mass shooting on Wednesday during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory celebration injured more than 20 people, with one death confirmed as of Thursday.There have been 49 mass shootings in 2024 so far.A Michigan State student speaking at the Capitol steps said, “It's everywhere. It's all the time. We can't escape it. No words can really describe what the past year has been like, but I can say that despite the anger, sadness, grief, confusion, and just trying to be a college student, we never stopped showing up. I'm proud of the tireless work of students who showed up right here at the Capitol a year ago, and every day since to demand change.”MSU student and gun violence prevention organizer Maya Manuel recalled meeting with lawmakers last year, including state Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), saying “I remember looking at you, directly in your eyes and saying that the next one is going to be on you. And you took that and you went to your colleagues and you pushed out those bills just two days later.”The new laws, written in response to the MSU shooting, require gun owners to safely store firearms from minors, implement universal background checks when purchasing a firearm, create extreme risk protection orders and expand prohibitions on firearm ownership for those convicted of crimes involving domestic violence.But more progress is needed to prevent gun violence in Michigan, Manuel said. @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/
Friday News Flyover, January 19, 2024Oil train delayed | Abortion rights advocates speak with Senators | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and GOP-dominated legislature's priorities | and OH Sen. Sherrod Brown and MO Rep. Jason Smith make big bi-partisan deal on Child Tax CreditIf you're new to our shows make sure you subscribe and leave a 5 star rating wherever you listen. You can also find Heartland POD content on Youtube and on social media @ THE heartland pod, and learn more at thehearltandcollective.com This train is not leaving the stationForest Service withdraws key permit for controversial Utah oil-train project opposed by ColoradansProject would dramatically increase hazardous shipments through Colorado communitiesBY: CHASE WOODRUFF - JANUARY 18, 2024 9:18 AMA controversial Utah oil-train proposal opposed by Colorado communities and environmentalists was dealt another blow this week when the U.S. Forest Service withdrew a key permit for the project.In an announcement published Wednesday, Ashley National Forest Supervisor Susan Eickhoff blocked the issuance of a permit to the Uinta Basin Railway to construct 12 miles of railroad track through a protected area of the national forest in northeast Utah. The stretch of track in question is part of the proposed railway's 88-mile connection between the oil fields of eastern Utah's Uinta Basin and the existing national rail network.The project has drawn fierce opposition from Coloradans. A federal “downline analysis” estimated that 90% of the resulting oil-train traffic — as many as five fully loaded, two-mile-long trains of crude oil tankers per day — would be routed through environmentally sensitive and densely populated areas in Colorado, en route to oil refineries on the Gulf Coast. The oil trains would more than quadruple the amount of hazardous materials being shipped by rail through many Colorado counties.Colorado's Eagle County and five environmental groups sued to overturn the Uinta Basin Railway's approval, and in August 2023 a panel of federal judges ruled that the approval process contained “numerous” and “significant” violations of the National Environmental Policy Act. The ruling vacated portions of the project's environmental impact statement and ordered the federal Surface Transportation Board to redo its analysis of key environmental risks.Because the Forest Service's decision in August 2022 to grant a right-of-way permit to the project was based on that flawed analysis, the agency has withdrawn its decision pending further proceedings at the STB.Ted Zukoski, senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the groups that sued to block the project. “This is wonderful news for the roadless forest in Utah's Indian Canyon and the wildlife who call it home. It's a victory for the Colorado River and nearby communities that would be threatened by oil train accidents and spills. If the oil train's backers attempt to revive this dangerous scheme, we'll be there to fight it again.”In a press release, Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, who had urged multiple federal agencies to put a stop to the project, applauded the Forest Service's move.“A derailment along the headwaters of the Colorado River could have catastrophic effects for Colorado's communities, water, and environment. I'm glad the Forest Service has taken this important step to protect the Colorado River and the tens of millions of people who depend on it.”U.S. Senators and Abortion Rights Advocates Discuss State Abortion Access LimitationsBY: JENNIFER SHUTT - JANUARY 17, 2024WASHINGTON — During a Capitol Visitors Center briefing, abortion rights advocates and Democratic U.S. Senators called for reinstating legal and safe abortion access nationwide. The nearly three-hour session featured physicians discussing the difficulties faced in states with restrictive abortion laws following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.Dr. Austin Dennard, a Texas OB-GYN involved in a lawsuit against the state's abortion laws, spoke about the validity and personal nature of each abortion decision. He highlighted patients' fears about family planning in states with restrictive laws, noting the adverse impact on what should be a joyful life chapter.The briefing preceded the annual anti-abortion March for Life, with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Chris Smith scheduled to speak. Senate Democrats criticized efforts to limit abortion access and discussed two upcoming Supreme Court cases with significant implications.One case focuses on mifepristone, a key medication in abortion and miscarriage treatments, while the other revolves around the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). The Biden administration argues that EMTALA should protect doctors performing abortions as emergency medical treatment in states with strict anti-abortion laws.Dr. Serina Floyd, a Washington, D.C. OB-GYN and Physicians for Reproductive Health fellow, expressed confusion over Republican efforts to target EMTALA, emphasizing the potential life-saving importance of emergency abortion care. She noted research indicating severe consequences for patients denied abortion access, including health risks, economic hardship, and staying in violent relationships.Dr. Floyd advocated for non-interference from the government in medical decisions, stressing that patients are capable of making informed choices about their health and lives with their healthcare providers.Senator Patty Murray of Washington highlighted her state's influx of abortion patients from restrictive states like Idaho. Murray and other senators at the briefing expressed concern that residents in states with abortion protections might not realize the impact of a potential nationwide abortion ban or Supreme Court decisions.Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan pointed out that even states with constitutional reproductive rights, like Michigan, are not fully shielded from the effects of a national abortion ban. After hearing doctors' testimonies, Stabenow expressed astonishment at the challenges facing both physicians and women needing abortion access, questioning the progress made in women's rights, asking, “is it 2024 or are we back in 1984?”Kansas Legislature Fast-Tracks Tax Reform Opposed by Governor KellyBY: TIM CARPENTER - JANUARY 17, 2024TOPEKA — Kansas Republican legislative leaders are expediting a tax reform bill focusing on income and sales tax changes, including a single-rate state income tax of 5.25%, which Democratic Governor Laura Kelly has threatened to veto.The bill, bypassing regular committee processes, is set for early-session debate in the Senate. The proposed tax overhaul would lead to a state revenue reduction exceeding $1.5 billion over three years, surpassing Governor Kelly's proposed $1 billion cut. The plan to implement a flat tax rate of 5.25%, replacing Kansas' three-rate income tax structure, has been met with opposition from Governor Kelly because it disproportionately benefits the wealthy.The bill also proposes eliminating the state income tax on Social Security benefits, aligning with Kelly's proposal. Additionally, it seeks to remove the state sales tax on groceries starting April 1, advancing the timeline from the previously set January 1, 2025. The measure includes an exemption for the first $100,000 in state property taxes from all Kansas homeowners for school finance purposes, adjustable for inflation.Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, both Republicans, view the bill as a compromise, claiming it addresses issues faced by retirees and families while tackling inflation.Governor Kelly vetoed two major tax reform bills in 2023, which the Republican-dominated Legislature couldn't override. “We must get that money back into Kansans' pockets — and we will — in a fiscally responsible and targeted way,” Kelly said. “In a way that doesn't threaten progress on all the other issues Kansans care about. Unfortunately, that's exactly what one proposal — the flat tax — would do. ” Kansas' Governor Kelly calls for hearing on Medicaid expansion bill that would cover 150,000 KansansBY: RACHEL MIPRO - JANUARY 17, 2024 2:35 PM TOPEKA — A Medicaid expansion proposal has been enrolled into state House and Senate committees despite continued opposition from top legislative Republicans. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who has spent the months leading up to the legislative session rallying across the state for Medicaid expansion, called for a hearing on the bill by Jan. 29. “It's easy to sum up the Cutting Healthcare Costs for All Kansans Act: health care coverage for 150,000 Kansans, cost savings for everyone else. We protect our rural hospitals, and Kansas taxpayers pay nothing extra,” Kelly said in a Wednesday announcement of the proposal's enrollment. “The legislature should listen to the over 70% of Kansans who support Medicaid Expansion and give this bill a hearing by Kansas Day.” Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, introduced the bill in the House Appropriations Committee and on the Senate side, Sen. Pat Pettey, D- Kansas City, introduced the bill into the Senate Ways and Means Committee. “Medicaid expansion is not only popular, but it saves lives, creates jobs and saves our rural hospitals. Hardworking Kansans shouldn't die because of legislative inaction,” Miller said.Medicaid expansion would unlock $700 million in annual federal funding and could potentially save 59 rural hospitals at risk of closing. Kelly unveiled her latest Medicaid expansion package in December, but Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins remain opposed to expansion, calling the move a way to expand the “welfare state.” Lawmakers last came close to expansion in 2020, when former Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning worked out a bipartisan deal with Kelly. But the deal fell apart as Republicans, outraged by a Kansas Supreme Court ruling that established a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy, focused on placing a constitutional amendment on abortion before voters instead,Child Tax Credit and Business Incentives Merged in New Tax ProposalBY: ASHLEY MURRAY - JANUARY 16, 2024WASHINGTON — Leading members of Congress released a bipartisan, bicameral tax proposal Tuesday, promising a middle-path deal to help low-income families and provide incentives for businesses as Trump-era tax breaks expire.The framework led by U.S. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Republican Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri would raise the child tax credit incrementally through 2025 and restore tax relief for affordable housing projects.The three-year proposal would also make exempt disaster payments to wildfire victims and to those who suffered losses after the massive train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Sen. Wyden, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said in a statement that “(f)ifteen million kids from low-income families will be better off as a result of this plan, and given today's miserable political climate, it's a big deal to have this opportunity to pass pro-family policy that helps so many kids get ahead.”Democrats have been pushing to permanently raise the tax credit that low-income families receive per child after a temporary increase during the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated significant reductions in child poverty. Wyden also praised the deal's potential to spur affordable housing construction and said that his goal “remains to get this passed in time for families and businesses to benefit in this upcoming tax filing season, and I'm going to pull out all the stops to get that done.”Rep. Jason Smith, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said “American families will benefit from this bipartisan agreement that provides greater tax relief, strengthens Main Street businesses, boosts our competitiveness with China, and creates jobs.”“We even provide disaster relief and cut red tape for small businesses, while ending a COVID-era program that's costing taxpayers billions in fraud. This legislation locks in over $600 billion in proven pro-growth, pro-America tax policies with key provisions that support over 21 million jobs. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation,” Smith continued in a statement Tuesday.And for those who file 1099 forms, a provision tucked away in the framework would increase the threshold to file to $1,000 from the current $600.The proposal won praise from across the tax policy spectrum.Business Roundtable, an advocacy organization representing a wide range of U.S. CEOs, described the deal's pitch to revive expired pro-business policies as “critical to strengthening America's global competitiveness.”Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat and key supporter of the child tax credit, urged his colleagues to pass the deal, calling it a “win-win for Ohio families and Ohio manufacturers.”Sen. Brown said, “The deal's expansion of the Child Tax Credit will help parents keep up with the rising cost of living and ensure that their hard work pays off. The business provisions will support American companies that invest in our nation's research and manufacturing. The deal also ensures that residents of East Palestine won't get hit with a surprise tax bill for payments they received from Norfolk Southern after last year's derailment.”Pretty, pret-ty good. Welp that's it for me, from Denver I'm Sean Diller. Stories in today's show can be found in the Missouri Independent, Ohio Capital Journal, Kansas Reflector and Michigan Advance. 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/
Friday News Flyover, January 19, 2024Oil train delayed | Abortion rights advocates speak with Senators | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and GOP-dominated legislature's priorities | and OH Sen. Sherrod Brown and MO Rep. Jason Smith make big bi-partisan deal on Child Tax CreditIf you're new to our shows make sure you subscribe and leave a 5 star rating wherever you listen. You can also find Heartland POD content on Youtube and on social media @ THE heartland pod, and learn more at thehearltandcollective.com This train is not leaving the stationForest Service withdraws key permit for controversial Utah oil-train project opposed by ColoradansProject would dramatically increase hazardous shipments through Colorado communitiesBY: CHASE WOODRUFF - JANUARY 18, 2024 9:18 AMA controversial Utah oil-train proposal opposed by Colorado communities and environmentalists was dealt another blow this week when the U.S. Forest Service withdrew a key permit for the project.In an announcement published Wednesday, Ashley National Forest Supervisor Susan Eickhoff blocked the issuance of a permit to the Uinta Basin Railway to construct 12 miles of railroad track through a protected area of the national forest in northeast Utah. The stretch of track in question is part of the proposed railway's 88-mile connection between the oil fields of eastern Utah's Uinta Basin and the existing national rail network.The project has drawn fierce opposition from Coloradans. A federal “downline analysis” estimated that 90% of the resulting oil-train traffic — as many as five fully loaded, two-mile-long trains of crude oil tankers per day — would be routed through environmentally sensitive and densely populated areas in Colorado, en route to oil refineries on the Gulf Coast. The oil trains would more than quadruple the amount of hazardous materials being shipped by rail through many Colorado counties.Colorado's Eagle County and five environmental groups sued to overturn the Uinta Basin Railway's approval, and in August 2023 a panel of federal judges ruled that the approval process contained “numerous” and “significant” violations of the National Environmental Policy Act. The ruling vacated portions of the project's environmental impact statement and ordered the federal Surface Transportation Board to redo its analysis of key environmental risks.Because the Forest Service's decision in August 2022 to grant a right-of-way permit to the project was based on that flawed analysis, the agency has withdrawn its decision pending further proceedings at the STB.Ted Zukoski, senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the groups that sued to block the project. “This is wonderful news for the roadless forest in Utah's Indian Canyon and the wildlife who call it home. It's a victory for the Colorado River and nearby communities that would be threatened by oil train accidents and spills. If the oil train's backers attempt to revive this dangerous scheme, we'll be there to fight it again.”In a press release, Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, who had urged multiple federal agencies to put a stop to the project, applauded the Forest Service's move.“A derailment along the headwaters of the Colorado River could have catastrophic effects for Colorado's communities, water, and environment. I'm glad the Forest Service has taken this important step to protect the Colorado River and the tens of millions of people who depend on it.”U.S. Senators and Abortion Rights Advocates Discuss State Abortion Access LimitationsBY: JENNIFER SHUTT - JANUARY 17, 2024WASHINGTON — During a Capitol Visitors Center briefing, abortion rights advocates and Democratic U.S. Senators called for reinstating legal and safe abortion access nationwide. The nearly three-hour session featured physicians discussing the difficulties faced in states with restrictive abortion laws following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.Dr. Austin Dennard, a Texas OB-GYN involved in a lawsuit against the state's abortion laws, spoke about the validity and personal nature of each abortion decision. He highlighted patients' fears about family planning in states with restrictive laws, noting the adverse impact on what should be a joyful life chapter.The briefing preceded the annual anti-abortion March for Life, with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Chris Smith scheduled to speak. Senate Democrats criticized efforts to limit abortion access and discussed two upcoming Supreme Court cases with significant implications.One case focuses on mifepristone, a key medication in abortion and miscarriage treatments, while the other revolves around the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). The Biden administration argues that EMTALA should protect doctors performing abortions as emergency medical treatment in states with strict anti-abortion laws.Dr. Serina Floyd, a Washington, D.C. OB-GYN and Physicians for Reproductive Health fellow, expressed confusion over Republican efforts to target EMTALA, emphasizing the potential life-saving importance of emergency abortion care. She noted research indicating severe consequences for patients denied abortion access, including health risks, economic hardship, and staying in violent relationships.Dr. Floyd advocated for non-interference from the government in medical decisions, stressing that patients are capable of making informed choices about their health and lives with their healthcare providers.Senator Patty Murray of Washington highlighted her state's influx of abortion patients from restrictive states like Idaho. Murray and other senators at the briefing expressed concern that residents in states with abortion protections might not realize the impact of a potential nationwide abortion ban or Supreme Court decisions.Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan pointed out that even states with constitutional reproductive rights, like Michigan, are not fully shielded from the effects of a national abortion ban. After hearing doctors' testimonies, Stabenow expressed astonishment at the challenges facing both physicians and women needing abortion access, questioning the progress made in women's rights, asking, “is it 2024 or are we back in 1984?”Kansas Legislature Fast-Tracks Tax Reform Opposed by Governor KellyBY: TIM CARPENTER - JANUARY 17, 2024TOPEKA — Kansas Republican legislative leaders are expediting a tax reform bill focusing on income and sales tax changes, including a single-rate state income tax of 5.25%, which Democratic Governor Laura Kelly has threatened to veto.The bill, bypassing regular committee processes, is set for early-session debate in the Senate. The proposed tax overhaul would lead to a state revenue reduction exceeding $1.5 billion over three years, surpassing Governor Kelly's proposed $1 billion cut. The plan to implement a flat tax rate of 5.25%, replacing Kansas' three-rate income tax structure, has been met with opposition from Governor Kelly because it disproportionately benefits the wealthy.The bill also proposes eliminating the state income tax on Social Security benefits, aligning with Kelly's proposal. Additionally, it seeks to remove the state sales tax on groceries starting April 1, advancing the timeline from the previously set January 1, 2025. The measure includes an exemption for the first $100,000 in state property taxes from all Kansas homeowners for school finance purposes, adjustable for inflation.Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, both Republicans, view the bill as a compromise, claiming it addresses issues faced by retirees and families while tackling inflation.Governor Kelly vetoed two major tax reform bills in 2023, which the Republican-dominated Legislature couldn't override. “We must get that money back into Kansans' pockets — and we will — in a fiscally responsible and targeted way,” Kelly said. “In a way that doesn't threaten progress on all the other issues Kansans care about. Unfortunately, that's exactly what one proposal — the flat tax — would do. ” Kansas' Governor Kelly calls for hearing on Medicaid expansion bill that would cover 150,000 KansansBY: RACHEL MIPRO - JANUARY 17, 2024 2:35 PM TOPEKA — A Medicaid expansion proposal has been enrolled into state House and Senate committees despite continued opposition from top legislative Republicans. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who has spent the months leading up to the legislative session rallying across the state for Medicaid expansion, called for a hearing on the bill by Jan. 29. “It's easy to sum up the Cutting Healthcare Costs for All Kansans Act: health care coverage for 150,000 Kansans, cost savings for everyone else. We protect our rural hospitals, and Kansas taxpayers pay nothing extra,” Kelly said in a Wednesday announcement of the proposal's enrollment. “The legislature should listen to the over 70% of Kansans who support Medicaid Expansion and give this bill a hearing by Kansas Day.” Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, introduced the bill in the House Appropriations Committee and on the Senate side, Sen. Pat Pettey, D- Kansas City, introduced the bill into the Senate Ways and Means Committee. “Medicaid expansion is not only popular, but it saves lives, creates jobs and saves our rural hospitals. Hardworking Kansans shouldn't die because of legislative inaction,” Miller said.Medicaid expansion would unlock $700 million in annual federal funding and could potentially save 59 rural hospitals at risk of closing. Kelly unveiled her latest Medicaid expansion package in December, but Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins remain opposed to expansion, calling the move a way to expand the “welfare state.” Lawmakers last came close to expansion in 2020, when former Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning worked out a bipartisan deal with Kelly. But the deal fell apart as Republicans, outraged by a Kansas Supreme Court ruling that established a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy, focused on placing a constitutional amendment on abortion before voters instead,Child Tax Credit and Business Incentives Merged in New Tax ProposalBY: ASHLEY MURRAY - JANUARY 16, 2024WASHINGTON — Leading members of Congress released a bipartisan, bicameral tax proposal Tuesday, promising a middle-path deal to help low-income families and provide incentives for businesses as Trump-era tax breaks expire.The framework led by U.S. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Republican Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri would raise the child tax credit incrementally through 2025 and restore tax relief for affordable housing projects.The three-year proposal would also make exempt disaster payments to wildfire victims and to those who suffered losses after the massive train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Sen. Wyden, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said in a statement that “(f)ifteen million kids from low-income families will be better off as a result of this plan, and given today's miserable political climate, it's a big deal to have this opportunity to pass pro-family policy that helps so many kids get ahead.”Democrats have been pushing to permanently raise the tax credit that low-income families receive per child after a temporary increase during the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated significant reductions in child poverty. Wyden also praised the deal's potential to spur affordable housing construction and said that his goal “remains to get this passed in time for families and businesses to benefit in this upcoming tax filing season, and I'm going to pull out all the stops to get that done.”Rep. Jason Smith, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said “American families will benefit from this bipartisan agreement that provides greater tax relief, strengthens Main Street businesses, boosts our competitiveness with China, and creates jobs.”“We even provide disaster relief and cut red tape for small businesses, while ending a COVID-era program that's costing taxpayers billions in fraud. This legislation locks in over $600 billion in proven pro-growth, pro-America tax policies with key provisions that support over 21 million jobs. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation,” Smith continued in a statement Tuesday.And for those who file 1099 forms, a provision tucked away in the framework would increase the threshold to file to $1,000 from the current $600.The proposal won praise from across the tax policy spectrum.Business Roundtable, an advocacy organization representing a wide range of U.S. CEOs, described the deal's pitch to revive expired pro-business policies as “critical to strengthening America's global competitiveness.”Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat and key supporter of the child tax credit, urged his colleagues to pass the deal, calling it a “win-win for Ohio families and Ohio manufacturers.”Sen. Brown said, “The deal's expansion of the Child Tax Credit will help parents keep up with the rising cost of living and ensure that their hard work pays off. The business provisions will support American companies that invest in our nation's research and manufacturing. The deal also ensures that residents of East Palestine won't get hit with a surprise tax bill for payments they received from Norfolk Southern after last year's derailment.”Pretty, pret-ty good. Welp that's it for me, from Denver I'm Sean Diller. Stories in today's show can be found in the Missouri Independent, Ohio Capital Journal, Kansas Reflector and Michigan Advance. 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/
Charlie LeDuff is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who has worked for the New York Times, Detroit News and Fox 2 in Detroit. He also hosts a weekly podcast,"No BS News Hour with Charlie LeDuff." Charlie joins Tudor for a deep dive into Michigan Politics. Hear about the lies and spin you're being fed every day! The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network. New episodes debut every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday. For more information visit TudorDixonPodcast.com Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Charlie LeDuff is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who has worked for the New York Times, Detroit News and Fox 2 in Detroit. He also hosts a weekly podcast,"No BS News Hour with Charlie LeDuff." Charlie joins Tudor for a deep dive into Michigan Politics. Hear about the lies and spin you're being fed every day! The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network. New episodes debut every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday. For more information visit TudorDixonPodcast.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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