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In Los Angeles, CA, armed, masked agents of the state are snatching and disappearing immigrants off the street, peaceful protestors and journalists are being attacked with tear gas and rubber bullets, National Guard troops and active-duty Marines have been deployed to police and intimidate American citizens. Fear and uncertainty have gripped America's second largest city as a barrage of misinformation obscures the reality on the ground; nevertheless, Angelinos continue to defy the Trump administration's attacks on immigrant communities and authoritarian crackdown on civil rights. In this episode of Working People, we take you to the streets of LA and speak with multiple on-the-ground eyewitnesses to the events of the past two weeks to help you better understand what's actually happening and where this is all heading.Guests:Sonali Kolhatkar is an award winning journalist, broadcaster, writer, and author; she is the founder, host, and executive director of Rising Up with Sonali. She is the author of Talking About Abolition: A Police-Free World is Possible and Rising Up: The Power of Narrative in Pursuing Racial Justice.Javier Cabral is the editor-in-chief of the award-winning, independent outlet L.A. TacoMichael Nigro is an award-winning filmmaker and multimedia journalist who is among the numerous journalists to have been assaulted by police while reporting on assignment in LA.Additional links/info:Tim Javier Cabral, L.A. Taco, “A ride-along with Union Del Barrio, L.A.'s leading community patrol against ICE”David Folkenflick, NPR, “Press group sues L.A., alleging police abuse of reporters at ICE rallies”Luis Feliz Leon, In These Times, “Trump has put a target on SEIU, and the labor movement is fighting back”Featured Music:Jules Taylor, “Working People” Theme SongCredits:Audio Post-Production: Jules TaylorHelp us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Sign up for our newsletterLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterDonate to support this podcast
Workers at Group Health Cooperative rally to demand union recognition, leaders from the Meriter Hospital nurses and Harvard dining hall workers discuss their successful strikes and the power of solidarity in the workplace and in the community, the president of SEIU California is among union members targeted in protests against ICE abductions, we hear voices from Take Kids Fishing Day, a former Google employee fired for his activism has an update on that company's stake in military and policing projects, and No Kings Day protests will occur in Madison and around the country.
Following Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May, Kimberly Kam, Senior Vice President and Sales Director for Union Commercial Services at the Amalgamated Bank of Chicago (ABOC), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast. She discussed her journey as an Asian American in the financial sector, strategies for overcoming cultural challenges and her involvement in empowering entrepreneurs in low-income countries. Jacqueline Cañola, Professional Development & Technical Assistance Program Manager with the Service Employees International Union Education and Support Fund, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the challenges faced by family child care educators, support efforts through the We Empower Providers Assembly (WEPA) Conference and progress made through collective bargaining.
Emails and a talk with the National Right To Work folks...union SEIU head seen at the riots and arrested. D62 quiz, open phones, Open for Business with Cheriesse at No Wires Nows, and more of your calls.
7:08 — Evelyn Zepeda, organizing director of Western States Regional Joint Board 7:33 — Dez Fonseca, a UCLA PhD student organizer 7:45 — Carol Sobel, a civil rights attorney in Los Angeles The post SEIU President Faces Federal Charges for Protesting ICE Raids; At Least 42 Arrested in Los Angeles ICE Protests appeared first on KPFA.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in an effort to restore public trust in the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, released the 17 current members of the committee. Democratic PACs and leftist groups are attempting to pressure federal lawmakers to demand an end to workplace ICE raids. The Massachusetts chapter of the 50501 Movement, a leftist anti-Trump protest group, was among the outfits that heeded the call of the SEIU, directing fellow travelers to take to the streets. In addition to massing demonstrators in Boston, the 50501 Movement is promoting a nationwide uprising on June 14 called “No Kings.”Gavin Newsom was dealt a judicial defeat after he requested an emergency motion to halt President Donald Trump's order to use the military to oppose the Los Angeles riots. United States District Judge Charles Breyer temporarily allowed the order to the National Guard to continue until Thursday, when the motion would be reconsidered after the defendants answered and the plaintiffs responded.Governor Gavin Newsom accused President Trump of making up a phone call between them before Trump called up the National Guard. President Trump called Gavin Newsom a “liar” and then sent the receipts to John Roberts of Fox News, who then shared a screenshot of the call records on X.ICE busted more than 100 illegal alien workers in a workplace raid at a Nebraska meat-packing plant, enraging protesters who pelted federal vehicles with rocks. The federal law enforcement agency carried out the largest raid in the state since President Donald Trump took office at Omaha's Glenn Valley Foods.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is threatening to “mobilize” the country against a Republican proposal that would impose a tax on money sent out of the United States by foreign nationals. Sa'ad bin Atef al-Awlaki, the emir of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, has directed American Muslims to assassinate President Donald Trump, calling assassinations “the greatest form of jihad today.”Become a supporter of Tapp into the Truth: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tapp-into-the-truth--556114/support Tapp into the Truth on Rumble. Follow, watch the older shows, and join the live streams.“Remember Pop Rocks? Now, imagine they gave you superpowers.” Please let me introduce you to Energy Rocks! Born from the grit and ambition of a competitive athlete who wanted a better, cleaner way to fuel the body and mind, without the hassle of mixing powders, messy bottles, or caffeine crashes. Energy Rocks is a reimagining of energy into something fun, functional, and fantastically effective. A delicious popping candy energy supplement that delivers a rapid boost of clean energy and focus — anytime, anywhere. No water. No mixing. No bulky bottles. Just open, pop it in your mouth, and get ready to rock. Making any time the right time to “Get in the Zone, One Pop at a Time.”If you love high-quality jerky, you need to check out Jerky Snob. They deliver small-batch, artisan jerky straight to your door every month—no MSG, no nitrates, just premium cuts and bold flavors. You can choose from 2, 4, or 8-bag subscriptions, and every delivery brings something new and delicious. One of my favorite things is the variety—spicy, smoky, sweet, all from different craft makers. It's like a jerky-tasting adventure every month. Plus, it makes an awesome gift! Grab your subscription at tappintofood.com and treat yourself to better jerky. Take This Quiz To Find Out The Best & Worst Foods To Avoid For Joint Pain!Do you wake up in the morning with stiff joints or pain in your hips, back, knees, or elbows? Then, chances are you're feeling the effects of chronic inflammation taking its toll on your body. The good news is that it is NEVER too late to help get this under control. And the best part is certain foods help you do this naturally, without the need for prescription medications.If recent events have proven anything, you need to be as prepared as possible for when things go sideways. You certainly can't count on the government for help. True liberty requires self-reliance. My Patriot SupplyDiversify and protect your hard-earned wealth. Use America's Premiere Conservative Gold Company, Harvard Gold Group. Use promo code TAPP.Support American jobs! Support the show! Get great products at great prices! Go to My Pillow and use promo code TAPP to save! Visit patriotmobile.com or Call (817) 380-9081 to take advantage of a FREE Month of service when you switch using promo code TAPP! Morning Kick is a revolutionary new daily drink from Roundhouse Provisions that combines ultra-potent greens like spirulina and kale with probiotics, prebiotics, collagen, and even ashwagandha. Just mix with water, stir, and enjoy!Follow Tapp into the Truth on Locals Follow Tapp into the Truth on SubstackHero SoapPatriot DepotBlue CoolersKoa CoffeeBrainMDDiamond CBDSauce Bae2nd SkullEinstokBeanstoxBelle IsleMomento AIHoneyFund"Homegrown" Boone's BourbonBlackout Coffee Co.Full Circle Brewing Co.Pasmosa Sangria
In this emergency broadcast, Michael Savage discusses the violent riots that set Los Angeles ablaze this weekend. Savage blasts the radicals in the Democrat Party and LA Mayor Karen Bass. Savage calls for the investigation of these figures who have incited these violent protests. He exposes organizations such as the ACLU and SEIU for their roles in fomenting unrest. He calls for busting the ACLU using RICO statutes. He advocates for strong law enforcement measures, including military intervention, to address the riots and immigration issues. Savage warns that these events indicate a civil war instigated by the Left. He compares the current situation to past conflicts and urges immediate government action to restore law and order.
TODAY: Alex details a rough workweek and the strange case of his employer having more volume and business than the shareholders would prefer. Due to overwork grievances and disciplined work methods from drivers, the company was forced to hire an additional 5 full-time drivers. Likewise in Minnesota the union wins 30 new full-time positions to fight company-wide layoffs and building closures. ALSO: The Battle of Los Angeles. Thousands of LA residents rise up against ICE raids on their neighbors, protesting the violence and cruelty wielded by the militarized agency. An SEIU labor leader is injured and arrested, and Teamsters voice their support. We argue for the dignity and protection of all workers and respond to some reactionary and nativist union sentiments. Get a bonus episode every week by signing up at http://patreon.com/miniondeathcult for only $5/month Music: Pelican - Specific Resonance Mr. Flash - Eagle Eyez
Meriter Hospital nurses in Madison represented by SEIU Wisconsin end their five-day strike and win a new contract, SEIU Wisconsin workers at Gundersen Health Care in LaCrosse have a new settlement, UAW Local 291 continues its strike a Cummins Incorporated in Oshkosh as the rank-and-file rejects the latest company offer, and workers at Anodyne Coffee joins the Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Union after a unanimous NLRB-adjudicated vote. THIS IS A PLEDGE WEEK EDITION.
We start with some check-ins Starbucks' war on workers, the fight by workers at Butler Hospital, and the continuing cruel attacks on workers by the Trump Administration. We've also got headlines this week from Duke, Western Washington University, Sutphen Corp, Golden Gate Nursing Home, and UPMC. Canadian port workers in British Columbia are fighting attempts to replace their jobs with robots. Farm workers in New York are fighting the brazen refusal of farm owners to abide by their legal contract. A recent piece in Labor Notes reports on efforts by both the SEIU and the Machinists to return their union siblings home after being abducted by ICE. Finally, video game workers have been organizing in bigger numbers every year, and this week saw workers at Zenimax reach a new milestone with a first contract. Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter, John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee
Nurses at UnityPoint Health Meriter Hospital in Madison go on strike, the rank-and-file of UAW Local 291 will look at the latest management proposals as the strike continues at Cummins in Oshkosh, Labor Radio talks to Christine Vitel of AFGE 777 representing TSA workers, unions organize to resist federal spending cuts, mental health workers of the National Union of Healthcare Workers in Southern California reach an agreement with Kaiser Permante after striking for over six months, an immigration judge orders an SEIU member released from ICE detention in Washington State, and GM workers in Mexico fight to organize.
Grant Williams joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his career as a long time leader at the SEIU and how he's recently been working on close elections in Michigan and Wisconsin.
From the Trump administration's 'skinny budget' that aims to cut $12 billion from the US Department of Education to the latest version of the state budget which underfunds Ohio's public schools by $2.75 billion in the next two years, threats at the federal and state levels make it more important now than ever the educators stand up for the supports and resources our students need. There are also opportunities to make our schools even better, including proposed legislation to support school meals and to provide financial support for student teachers. OEA Director of Government Relations breaks down some of the big issues, and tells us what we can do to make a difference right now.TAKE ACTION NOW | Click here for the OEA Action Alert to contact your state lawmakers and tell them to fully and fairly fund our public schools in this state budget. Click here to sign a petition to protect Ohio's classrooms and support the Fair School Funding Plan. Click here for a flyer with QR links and information to help encourage others to take action, too. TELL YOUR STORY | Lawmakers need to hear from Aspiring Educators and active educators about what working full time as a student teacher while paying full tuition and receiving no compensation has meant in your own life, and why things need to change. Please contact OEA Government Relations if you have a story to share when HB 205, the Future Educators Support Act, comes up for proponent testimony. LEARN MORE | Click here to see how your school district would benefit under a fully funded Fair School Funding Plan. Click here to see much your local school district will be shortchanged under the House-passed version of the state budget. Click here for fact sheets about the school districts in each Ohio legislative district to help in your conversations with your lawmakers. Click here for more resources from the All in for Ohio Kids coalition to help you engage your local school board and your state lawmakers on this critically important issue. SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS | With Congress on recess from May 27 through June 2, now is the ideal window to meet with your U.S. Representative and Senators in your home district. In-person meetings during recess are one of the most powerful ways to make our voices heard. Here's how to get started:Find your members of Congress – Visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov to look up your district's Representative and Senators.Request a meeting – Use their online “District Office” scheduling portals or call their local offices directly.Prepare your message – Oppose proposed federal cuts: Explain how rollback of Title I, IDEA, ESSA and other critical education programs would widen opportunity gaps, undermine supports for students with disabilities, and force cuts to classroom staff and school services. – Highlight equity impacts: Emphasize that reduced funding disproportionately harms low-income and rural communities, jeopardizing after-school programs, mental-health services, and resources for English learners. – Call for investment: Urge them to protect and increase federal education funding so every student has access to qualified teachers, up-to-date materials, and safe learning environments.Bring allies – Invite fellow educators, parents, or community members to join you for greater impact.Provide feedback – Use OEA's member lobbying feedback form to let us know how the conversation with you elected officials went and what subjects you discussed. Please also indicate if your requests went unanswered using OEA's feedback form. Featured Public Education Matters guest: Dan Ramos, OEA Director of Government RelationsDan Ramos is from Lorain, Ohio, where he attended school at St. John the Baptist and Lorain Southview High School. After graduating high school in 2003, Dan obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, International Affairs and Philosophy from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, OH in 2007. Through the 2008 presidential election cycle, he joined the Obama for America campaign, working to help elect President Obama in northeastern Ohio. In 2009, Dan was hired by the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) District 1199 WV/OH/KY. Initially working with SEIU as an Administrative Organizer, representing and negotiating contracts for SEIU's state employees' division, he became SEIU 1199's Political and Legislative Liaison in late 2010. In 2011, Dan worked with fellow labor lobbyists and attorneys in the effort to stop Senate Bill 5 while it was in the General Assembly, and then lead SEIU's efforts field in Central and Northeast Ohio to collect signatures referendum and then defeat SB 5 on the November 2011 ballot. In 2012, Dan moved to the Ohio Education Association. Dan has served as OEA's Political Advocacy Consultant, where he was responsible for growing OEA's member political action and legislative advocacy, increasing OEA's PAC membership, the Fund for Children and Public Education, and assisting in OEA's political coalitions, such as LEAD Ohio and the America Votes Coalition. In 2018, Dan Ramos moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he served as a Labor Relations Con...
Today's top stories:Two Israeli Embassy staffers killed in shooting in Washington DCMan arrested in Bakersfield allegedly in possession of cache of weaponsInmate at Kern Valley State Prison dies after attack by two other inmates: CDCRGang member stabbed 2 people then led officers on pursuit: court documentsJaw Fire at 60% containment, Firefighters continue work on containment of Democrat FireKern County Public Health encourages water safety for young childrenCounty and SEIU come to tentative agreement on new contractHouse of Representatives passes Trump budget billCentennial High School student awarded Mayor's TrophyBakersfield substitute teacher honored with Golden Apple awardFor more local news, visit KGET.com.
Amidst an ongoing labor dispute between SEIU and Care New England at over Striking Butler Hospital Worker/Union Delegate Beth Iiams joins the show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sponsored by: Set for LifeSet For Life Insurance helps doctors safeguard their future with True Own Occupational Disability Insurance. A single injury or illness can change everything, but the best physicians plan ahead. Protect your income and secure your future before life makes the choice for you. Your career deserves protection—act now at https://www.doctorpodcastnetwork.co/setforlife____________In this episode, host Dr. Bradley Block welcomes Marisa Powell and Gabrielle Hanley, to demystify physician unions. They explain how unions empower employed physicians to improve working conditions, protect professional autonomy, and advocate for patient care. The discussion covers why physician unions were rare historically, who is eligible to unionize (non-managerial employees), and the legal nuances under the National Labor Relations Act. Marisa and Gabrielle share real-world examples, including a Washington State urgent care strike over PPE access, and discuss strategies like collective bargaining for better contracts and public advocacy to influence hospital policies. A must-listen for physicians considering unionization in an increasingly corporatized healthcare system.Three Actionable Takeaways:Identify Common Issues Across Specialties – Start union conversations by finding shared concerns among colleagues in different specialties to build a unified front.Leverage Collective Advocacy – Use coordinated efforts, like public campaigns or media outreach, to pressure employers on issues like patient safety or workplace policies, even before formal negotiations.Research Union Options – Contact organizations like Doctors Council (doctorscouncil.org) to explore unionization, but ensure strong colleague support for sustained impact.About the Show:The Physician's Guide to Doctoring covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!About the Guest:Marisa Powell and Gabrielle Hanley are lead union organizers with Doctors Council, part of SEIU Local 10MD. They spearhead physician union campaigns and collective bargaining efforts nationwide, helping doctors advocate for better working conditions, patient care, and professional autonomy in both private and public healthcare settings.Website: https://www.doctorscouncil.orgLinkedIn - Marisa Powell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-powell-b31110b4/Gabrielle Hanley : https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-hanley-747013113/About the host:Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts The Physician's Guide to Doctoring podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physiciansWant to be a guest? Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more!Socials:@physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook@physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube@physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let's grow! Disclaimer:This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.
This episode features Hun Taing, an executive leader, innovator, coach, and Cambodian genocide survivor, sharing her extraordinary journey of building a career at the intersection of justice and healing. Drawing from over 20 years in labor rights, public health, civil rights, and organizational transformation, Hun opens up about personal resilience, the power of humanizing conflict, and practical strategies for meaningful impact in turbulent times. Why Take a Listen Hun's story as a Cambodian genocide survivor and refugee—and how her lived experiences instilled a lifelong dedication to equity and healing. Actionable insights on entering and advancing in social change careers, including labor organizing, conflict transformation, DEI, and public service. Navigating challenges to equity and inclusion in today's climate, and strategies for advocating sustainable change in bureaucratic systems. Hun's career trajectory from activism and the labor movement (SEIU, ACLU) to systems-level inclusion and leadership consulting via Training for Transformation. The transformative role of mindfulness, art, and community-based programs (like healing gardens for refugee elders) in building resilient organizations and individuals. Advice for selecting values-aligned advanced education and tips for job seekers managing uncertainty in competitive markets. Resources on healing, art, and reconciliation, including Hun's master's thesis and research in Cambodia. Practical encouragement for working within, on, or around systems, and tools for sustaining yourself and your community in uncertain times. Featured Resources Mentioned in the Podcast Memories of Cambodia (Hun's Story on YouTube) Training for Transformation (consulting and coaching) SEIU (Service Employees International Union) ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) School for International Training (SIT) “The Way Out Is In” podcast (Thich Nhat Hanh/Plum Village) Connect with Hun on LinkedIn About Hun Taing: Hun Taing (she/her) is passionate about building healthy and effective organizations to lead meaningful change. For more than twenty years, she has served in executive leadership roles, driving organizational transformation in labor rights, environmental justice, civil rights, and public health. She finds fulfillment in coaching social change leaders to identify and transform behavior patterns that are hindering their goals. Her work centers on aligning policy, people, and practice to build inclusive, mission-driven institutions. She is a Chinese-Cambodian genocide survivor and refugee, married to a Black man from Oakland, and raising three children. Joy comes from mindfulness, gardening, and deep connections with people and nature. PCDN Resources Subscribe to the PCDN Career Digest Curated global jobs, funding, and resources for social impact careers https://pcdn.global/subscribe Listen to More Episodes Conversations with over 180 changemakers in 30+ countries https://pcdn.global/listen Subscribe to the AI for Impact Newsletter Tools, jobs, and insights at the intersection of AI and social good https://impactai.beehiiv.com
Quantum Nurse: Out of the rabbit hole from stress to bliss. http://graceasagra.com/
“This week, the global stage is on fire—and at the center of it is Donald Trump. After wrapping up high-stakes stops in Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Qatar, Trump now heads to Istanbul, and this isn't just another handshake tour. In Saudi Arabia, he sealed $600 billion in AI and energy investments—with U.S. tech giants backing the kingdom's ambitions to lead in artificial intelligence. In Qatar, he witnessed the largest aircraft deal in Boeing's history. And in Syria—shockingly—he lifted all U.S. sanctions and met with the new president, pushing Syria to join the Abraham Accords. But now: Istanbul. On paper, Trump is attending a reception at Trump Towers Istanbul. But in the backdrop? Vladimir Putin's sudden call for Ukraine peace talks. So is this a genuine push for peace—or a global power play? Turkey, as a NATO member that's kept close ties with both the West and Russia, is the perfect stage for a strategic pivot. Trump showing up in Istanbul right now, at a site that bears his name, may signal he's ready to step in as a deal-maker—or a kingmaker—in the Ukraine conflict. Is he positioning himself as the only one who can broker peace between Ukraine and Russia? Or is this about optics, leverage, and legacy? We'll be unpacking all this and more in this episode—don't miss it.” Quantum Nurse https://graceasagra.com/ http://graceasagra.bio.link/presents Freedom International Livestream Thursday May 15, 2025 @ 9:00 AM EST Featured Guest: Joaquin Flores Topic: “Peace or Power Play? Dissecting Putin's Call for Ukraine Talks in Istanbul” https://t.me/NewResistance - Xoaquin Flores https://twitter.com/XoaquinFlores https://www.patreon.com/JoaquinF Bio: Joaquin Flores (author, analyst and curator of the New Resistance Telegram channel): Channel description as follows: Save the Republic: Pure comedy and never real news or analysis) with Xoaquin Flores. The channel delivers a global geostrategic overview with a focus on breaking developments in Ukraine, the breakdown of the liberal rules-based order, Jesuitical operations in Mongolia, Latin American historic dynamics and the faction fight waged by opposing groups of the American elite. Educated in the field of IR and IPE at California State University Los Angeles; previously served as a business agent and organizer for the SEIU labor union; has published internationally on subjects of geopolitics, war, and diplomacy; serves as the director of the Belgrade-based Center for Syncretic Studies, and is Chief Editor at Fort Russ News. Contributor: https://strategic-culture.su/contributors/joaquin-flores/ Special Guest Hosts: Tim Kirby Telegram: Tim Kirby Russia Hardcore -- https://t.me/timkirbyhardcore YouTube: Tim Kirby Russia - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWjox2j8QnpUBanF7jTEg3A https://americanvillages.ru/ Drago Bosnic BRICS portal (infobrics.org) Telegram -CerFunhouse www.GlobalResearch.Ca Dr Reza John Vedadi – LinkedIn - Instagram Creator Host: Grace Asagra, RN MA Podcast: Quantum Nurse: Out of the Rabbit Hole from Stress to Bliss http://graceasagra.bio.link/ https://www.quantumnurse.life/ Bichute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/nDjE6Ciyg0ED/ TIP/DONATE LINK for Grace Asagra @ Quantum Nurse Podcast https://patron.podbean.com/QuantumNurse https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FHUXTQVAVJDPU Venmo - @Grace-Asagra 609-203-5854 WELLNESS RESOURCES Optimal Health and Wellness with Grace Virtual Dispensary Link (Designs for Health) 2https://www.designsforhealth.com/u/optimalhealthwellness Premier Research Labs - https://prlabs.com/customer/account/create/code/59n84f/ - 15% discount - 15%_59N84F_05 Co-Host: Hartmut Schumacher https://anchor.fm/hartmut-schumacher-path
Shameka Burnette-Matthews from1199 SEIU tells us what nursing home workers are fighting for as a strike deadline nears.
Labor Radio speaks to workers affected by federal cuts in the Americorps program and in public broadcasting, how US Labor Department cuts will affect workers, there are new directors of the Social Security system and of the postal service, a federal judge orders the release from ICE captivity of graduate student and SEIU member Rumeysa Ozturk and her union is there for her, the Rick Smith Show remembers the anniversary of the death of UAW leader Walter Reuther, and the United Way of Dane County is hiring.
Email Us:dbahnsen@thebahnsengroup.comwill@calpolicycenter.orgFollow Us:@DavidBahnsen@WillSwaim@TheRadioFreeCAShow Notes:Trump's circle tries to soothe investors' frayed nervesWhat to make of Trump's big plans for AlcatrazThe Tariff Impact on Main Street Trump's First 100 Days Have Shattered California's Left-Wing IllusionsCalifornia overtakes Japan to become world's fourth-largest economy. But tariffs pose threatHouse Votes to Block California's Plan to Ban New Gas-Powered CarsWhy California recently revised its clean air regulations for zero-emission trucks | OpinionIn a Wildfire-Ravaged L.A. Suburb, Red Tape Snarls the Rebuilding: ‘Everybody's Forgotten About Us'Santa Ynez Reservoir in Palisades must be drained again after more leaks foundDems go to Krell and back on sex traffickingKill new housing with regulation, but blame mathIs California doomed to repeat pension history?California cancels vacation payouts for state workers over budget concernsTrans high school track star sparks fury after winning girls' triple jump by staggering 8 feetSheridan Karras, California Policy Center:SEIU 721'S strike affects county services while union pushes for bigger payoutsMark Mix, National Right to Work:Mark MixEmployee of LAX Foodservice Provider Slams Unite Here Local 11 With Federal Charges Detailing Intimidation, Harassment
On the Line Jimmy Williams Interview: https://www.laborontheline.org/p/episode-25-jimmy-williams-jr-labors Happy May Day everyone! We start with headlines from Starbucks, Amazon, UPS, Duolingo, and the NHS. Next we discuss the sudden dissolution of the UAW's long standing reform caucus, the UAWD. A report from the American Prospect this week details the attacks on workers at the VA from inside testimony. Hotel workers in Buffalo are fighting back against illegal firings and racist retaliation in their struggle for a union. This week also saw May Day, and we discuss the history of International Workers Day and some of the many events held to commemorate it and continue the struggle around the world. Finally, public workers in LA organized with the SEIU held a massive two day strike this week in their fight to afford the soaring cost of living. Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter, John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee More info on the show at http://workstoppagepod.com/
This Week on the Labor Radio Podcast Weekly: From San Francisco to South Africa, this week's show brings you powerful stories of labor resistance, solidarity, and organizing across borders. WorkWeek Radio takes us to a San Francisco ICE rally demanding the release of detained student activist Mahmoud Khalil, then dives into the fight for Medicare and Medicaid with Dr. Ana Manilow ahead of a national day of action for single payer on May 31. Work Stoppage rounds up headlines from workers organizing at PetSmart, Kroger, the Port of Casablanca and more, with a deep dive into the misclassification crisis in construction and the continuing contract battle at Starbucks. On Union Talk, AFT President Randi Weingarten joins three professors and union leaders to expose Trump's assault on higher ed and what it means for academic freedom and student rights. BCTGM Voices highlights union-made sugar from beets, with two local union presidents in Idaho sharing what union contracts mean to their work and their families. Tales from the Reuther Library features Dr. Justine Modica on the Seattle-based Worthy Wages childcare movement, where SEIU workers organized for equity in early childhood education. And in Buwa Basebetsi, Moss Manganyi remembers the massive May Day strike of 1986 in apartheid-era South Africa—a turning point for worker power. Plus, on Shows You Should Know, Harold Phillips brings us a special spotlight on building trades podcasts—featuring new voices from the United Association, Laborers' International Union, and more—plus stories from firefighters and educators pushing back on anti-worker policies. Help us build sonic solidarity by clicking on the share button below. Highlights from labor radio and podcast shows around the country, part of the national Labor Radio Podcast Network of shows focusing on working people's issues and concerns. @labormedianow @WorkStoppagePod @aftunion @BCTGM @ReutherLibrary #LaborRadioPod @AFLCIO Edited by Captain Swing, produced by Chris Garlock; social media guru Mr. Harold Phillips.
ICYMI: Hour One of ‘Later, with Mo'Kelly' Presents – A look at Santa Monica residents' issue with Waymo AND the Los Angeles Union Workers plan to go on a limited strike…PLUS – Thoughts on the rollout of LA Metro's new weapon screening technology in Norwalk with KFI Reporter Michael Monks - on KFI AM 640…Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app & YouTube @MrMoKelly
Dr. Justine Modica discusses the Worthy Wages movement centered in Seattle from the 1980s through the 2000s. Affiliated with SEIU, daycare directors and childcare workers in childcare centers and home-based daycares joined together to raise public awareness of the underfunding of daycare and lobby for increased state childcare subsidies, hoping to increase the wages and … Continue reading The Worthy Wages Movement for Childcare Workers
April 15, 2025 - Politico New York health care reporter Maya Kaufman shares her findings from a deep dive into the spending of 1199 SEIU. Her reporting exposes how the union's president, George Gresham, and his close associates have personally benefited from the organization.
As of February 2024 around 42% of New Yorkers across the state are enrolled in a Medicaid or Essential Plan. While some funding is state tax dollars, impending threats of an $880 billion cut to federal Medicaid spending over 10 years by the current administration will create a significant hole in NYS resources to serve the community. With federal cuts and the risk of eliminating entire public health systems, Jasmine Westbrook of the Healthcare Education Project/1199 SEIU joins us to discuss their fight to save lives.Tune in to learn about the statewide federal advocacy led by the Healthcare Education Project to protect medicaid and public health in New York.Get Involved:Tell Congress to Fight for MedicaidShare your Healthcare StorySign Up for "Hands Off Medicaid" Lawn SignsThe New York Alliance for Healthcare Justice is fighting to end the Medicaid funding crisis in New York. Continuing to underfund Medicaid not only means severe cuts in mental health services while children and seniors on Medicaid experience difficulty accessing needed health care service.To learn more about our work, visit our website at ppgbuffalo.org. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at info@ppgbuffalo.org. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!
HANDS OFF - national mobilization opposing Trump & Musk SATURDAY APRIL 5. Sponsors include Indivisible, MoveOn, Third Act, Our Revolution, Common Cause, People for American Way, Planned Parenthood, UAW, SEIU, many more. Need motivation? Here's my 2019 conversation with ERICA CHENOWETH, Professor at Harvard's Kennedy School and author of WHY CIVIL RESISTANCE WORKS: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict. She's done the research and run the numbers. When nonviolent mass protests involve 3.5% of the population, regimes are nearly always overthrown.
In this episode, Fran Spielman interviews Stacy Davis Gates, President of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), discussing the recently approved teachers' contract. The civil war between the Chicago Teachers Union and SEIU has fractured Mayor Brandon Johnson's progressive union coalition continues—so much so that it endangers Johnson's political future. It centers around CTU President Stacy Davis Gates failed attempt to have the CTU take over classroom assistant jobs held by SEIU Local 73.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
WBZ NewsRadio's Mike Macklin reports.
Hundreds including union members rallied and spoke at the state capitol for reproductive health rights and for electoral support of a labor-endorsed candidate in the April 1 Supreme Court race, some Democratic state legislators are holding "listening sessions" on the intricacies and problems of state budget proposals and some others have sponsored a labor-supported bill that could cover state budget gaps due to Trump-Musk federal funding cuts, and SEIU health care workers in contract talks at Columbus Health and Rehab are asking for community support in their wage proposals, THIS IS A WORT-FM PLEDGE WEEK EDITION.
SEIU Researchers Admit $20 Wage Law Caused Fast Food Job Losses Please Subscribe + Rate & Review KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson wherever you listen! --- KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever else you listen. --- Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson – KMJ’s Afternoon Drive Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 & 105.9 KMJ DriveKMJ.com | Podcast | Facebook | X | Instagram --- Everything KMJ: kmjnow.com | Streaming | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SEIU Researchers Admit $20 Wage Law Caused Fast Food Job Losses Please Subscribe + Rate & Review KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson wherever you listen! --- KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever else you listen. --- Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson – KMJ’s Afternoon Drive Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 & 105.9 KMJ DriveKMJ.com | Podcast | Facebook | X | Instagram --- Everything KMJ: kmjnow.com | Streaming | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On February 11, the NYS Legislature held its state budget hearing on health care. The Governor is seeking to increase health care spending, largely for Medicaid, to $134 billion, a increase of over 7%. Almost all of that is for Medicaid, with the federal government expected to pay $70 billion of the cost. Medicaid enrollment is projected to remain about 900,000 enrollees higher than pre-pandemic levels, with a total population of seven million enrollees through March of 2025. However, President Trump has made it clear that he wants significant reductions in federal funding of Medicaid, which is likely to create major revenue problems for the state. We hear from Helen Schaub , Vice President of 1199 SEIU, the largest and most powerful health care union; Mia Wagner of Health Care for All NY; and Lara Kassel of Medicaid Matters New York. We finish with hunger advocates, Rev. Dustin Longmire of the Schenectady County Food Council Advocacy and Empowerment Working Group; and Natasha Pernicka of Alliance for a Hunger Free New York. Noticeably absent was a strong call for NY Health, a single payer proposal. This has been Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.
UFCW Solidarity Pledge: https://www.ew4d.org/blog/solidarity-pledge We start this week's episode with headlines on UnitedHealthcare, Starbucks Workers United, the SEIU, pension fights in Panama and Belgium, and port workers in Kenya. 10,000 workers in UFCW Local 7 in Colorado remain on strike at King Soopers against attempts to gut their retirement benefits. 20,000 workers at the University of California prepare to strike for fair pay later this month. The fight to organize Amazon continues, even after this week's disappointing election loss in North Carolina. We do our best to keep up with the flurry of attacks on federal workers and the organized fight back against them. Finally, workers are responding to massive layoffs at Alamo Drafthouse with strikes. Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter, John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee More info on the show at http://workstoppagepod.com/
2.12.2025 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: 1st DOGE Hearing Gets Heated, Unions Sue DOGE, Tulsi Gabbard Confirmed, Is Our Democracy At Risk? The first DOGE subcommittee meeting got a bit heated. Instead of focusing on the "war on waste," the Democrats used the hearing to highlight Musk and DOGE's recent actions in the executive branch. We'll show you some highlights from today's hearing. April Verrett, the President of SEIU, will explain why labor unions are partnering to sue DOGE to protect personal data privacy. The GOP-controlled Senate has confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence. New York Congressman Gregory Meeks will join us to discuss the risks our democracy faces with the MAGA majority in each branch of government. #BlackStarNetwork partner: Fanbasehttps://www.startengine.com/offering/fanbase This Reg A+ offering is made available through StartEngine Primary, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment. You should read the Offering Circular (https://bit.ly/3VDPKjD) and Risks (https://bit.ly/3ZQzHl0) related to this offering before investing. Download the #BlackStarNetwork app on iOS, AppleTV, Android, Android TV, Roku, FireTV, SamsungTV and XBox http://www.blackstarnetwork.com The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ralph welcomes Constitutional law expert Bruce Fein to analyze Congress' abdication of power in the face of President Trump and Elon Musk's actions to dismantle the federal government, and whether any of it is legal. Then, Ralph is joined by Norman Solomon from RootsAction to discuss the new Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Ken Martin, and whether we should be optimistic about his agenda for the Democrats.Bruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law. Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.What I think shows the clear (what I would call malignant) intent, is even though he has Republican majorities in the House and the Senate, he's never contemplated going back to Congress and saying, "Hey, I want you to do X. I want you to do Y. We need to do this in the proper way."Bruce Fein[Trump's] boogeyman is DEI. So he claims that a crash between a helicopter and airplane in Washington, D.C. is a DEI problem. Of course, it's amazing that somebody who has such contempt for meritocracy with his own cabinet appointments suddenly blames, “Oh, well, DEI, it's watering down standards.” Well, he doesn't have any standards himself, so it's kind of ironic there.Bruce FeinImpeachment is not a criminal prosecution. Impeachment is what Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional Convention said— it's the civilized substitute for tyrannicide…And if you're impeached, it's because you have undertaken attempts to subvert the Constitution so the people no longer view you as a trustworthy steward of our liberties and the rule of law. That's what it is. You don't go to Siberia, you don't go to the guillotine, that's it. And there have been, of course, many federal judges (probably as many as a dozen) who've been impeached, removed from office. And you know what? They still survive. There's not a graveyard of them…So this idea that impeachment is somehow some enormous volcanic eruption on the landscape is totally misleading and wrong.Bruce FeinThere are two informal checkpoints I want to run by you. [Trump] is afraid of the stock market collapsing—and it could well collapse because chaos is the thing that really gets investors and big institutional investors scared. And the second thing he's afraid of is a plunge in the polls, including among Trump voters who represent families that have the same necessities for their children and their neighborhood as liberal families.Ralph NaderNorman Solomon is co-founder of RootsAction.org and executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy. He is the author of War Made Easy, Made Love, Got War, and his newest book, War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine.Especially when there's not a Democrat in the White House, the leader of the Democratic Party de facto is often the chair of the Democratic National Committee. And we now, of course, have the Democrats in minority in the House and the Senate. Biden's out of there in the White House. And so, really, it falls to the chair of the DNC to ostensibly at least give direction to the Democratic Party. And we've suffered for the last four years under Jamie Harrison as chair of the DNC, who basically did whatever Biden told him to do, and Biden told him to just praise President Biden. And we saw the result, the enabling process from the DNC was just a disaster for the Democratic Party and the country.Norman SolomonLiterally and figuratively in a sense, there needs to be a tearing down of the walls that have been surrounding the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Activists (thousands of us, really, in recent years) have discovered and rediscovered that the DNC is like a fortress. They have the moat, the drawbridge is locked, and we can't even get inside to have a word in edgewise compared to the lobbyists and those who are running the DNC. This is really just remarkable, how difficult it has been for strong Democratic Party activists, if they're not on the DNC (and even if they are, quite often) to get a word in edgewise for the corporate-oriented so-called leadership of the DNC. That might change now.Norman SolomonAlfred Bridi is a U.S. immigration attorney associated with the law firm Scale LLP who specializes in employment- and family-based immigration law. Prior to joining Scale LLP, he practiced law at major international law firms and also worked with leading international organizations on global migration and transparency issues.These executive orders and these executive actions have really created a tension in terms of enforcement officials trying to understand what these mean; in terms of the judiciary and and legal activists contesting a lot of the foundations and the arguments made; in terms of our legal system and our constitutional rights; and I think more than anything, they have had a signaling effect to ordinary Americans and immigrant populations that, “You're not welcome here, and we are going to come after you.” And I think the difference that we've seen is a broadening of the enforcement net and a removal of any sort of refinement or targeting. We've seen American citizens and military veterans being arrested and detained. We've seen Indigenous people being detained. And it's created a sense of terror and panic across the country that I feel is absolutely deliberate, and in line with the campaign promises of this new administration.Alfred BridiNews 2/5/251. The New York Times reports President Trump has ousted Rohit Chopra, the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau who was “known for his aggressive enforcement and expansion of consumer protection laws.” During his tenure, Chopra cracked down on junk fees, particularly bank overdraft fees, and sought to remove medical debt from individuals' credit histories. As the Times notes, Chopra “improbably hung on for nearly two weeks [after Trump took office, and]…used that time to impose a $2 million fine on a money transmitter and release reports on auto lending costs, specialty credit reporting companies and rent payment data.” In his letter of resignation, Chopra wrote “With so much power concentrated in the hands of a few, agencies like the C.F.P.B. have never been more critical,” and “I hope that the CFPB will continue to be a pillar of restoring and advancing economic liberty in America.”2. In more Trump administration staffing news, AP reports the Senate Finance Committee voted 13-14 along party lines Tuesday to advance the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician by trade and member of the committee who expressed grave concern over Kennedy's stances on vaccines and other health-related matters, said during the hearings “Your past, undermining confidence in vaccines with unfounded or misleading arguments, concerns me.” Ultimately however, Cassidy voted “aye.” Kennedy's nomination will now advance to the full Senate, where the GOP holds a comfortable majority thus almost ensuring his confirmation.3. Speaking of Trump and health, CBS is out with an update on the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio railroad disaster. According to this report, Vice President JD Vance visited the crash site on February 3rd and vowed that the administration would hold Norfolk Southern accountable for “unfilled promises of settlement money and training centers.” That same day, residents of East Palestine filed a lawsuit alleging that Norfolk Southern's actions resulted in the wrongful death of seven people, including a one-week-old baby.4. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has successfully negotiated a month-long delay of Trump's proposed 25% tariffs. According to CNN, the deal reached between the two North American heads of state includes Mexico deploying 10,000 National Guard troops to its northern border to help stem the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., while Trump has reportedly agreed to help end the deluge of American guns moving South. In her regular Monday morning press conference, Sheinbaum said “For humanitarian reasons, we must help the United States address its fentanyl consumption crisis, which is leading to overdose deaths.” Sheinbaum has been roundly praised for her ability to both stand up to and placate Trump. Reuters quoted Jorge Guajardo, a former Mexican ambassador to China and member of the opposition Partido Acción Nacional or PAN party, who had to admit “President Sheinbaum played it…Masterfully.”5. Democracy Now! reports a group of Quaker congregations have filed a lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement in response to the Trump administration's order “allowing federal agents to raid…schools, hospitals, shelters and places of worship.” This lawsuit alleges that “The very threat of [such raids] deters congregants from attending services, especially members of immigrant communities,” and that therefore this order infringes upon the Constitutional “guarantee of religious liberty.” The Quakers have historically been among the most progressive Christian sects, having been leaders in the fight to abolish slavery and to oppose war.6. Reese Gorman of NOTUS reports that so far approximately 24,000 federal employees have accepted Elon Musk's proposed “buyout,” meaning they will leave their jobs and should receive eight months of severance pay. This purge of the federal workforce has been among the most prominent initiatives of Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Less prominently touted however is what the administration plans to do once these employees have been purged. Recent comments from Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Bloomberg however are enlightening. Rubio, commenting on the “potential reorganization” of the Agency for International Development or USAID, indicated that the reduction in the size of the workforce would be paired with greater use of private contractors. Most likely this means farming out government services to Trump lackeys, cronies, and assorted grifters – all on the taxpayers' dime.7. Front and center in combatting Musk's quiet coup is Public Citizen. On Monday, the public interest watchdog announced they are suing the Treasury Department for its “unlawful disclosure of personal & financial information to Elon Musk's DOGE.” Their legal complaint, filed alongside the Alliance for Retired Americans, the Association of Federal Government Employees and the SEIU, reads, in part, “The scale of the intrusion into individuals' privacy is massive and unprecedented. Millions of people cannot avoid engaging in financial transactionswith the federal government and, therefore, cannot avoid having their sensitivepersonal and financial information maintained in government records. SecretaryBessent's action granting DOGE-affiliated individuals full, continuous, and ongoingaccess to that information for an unspecified period of time means that retirees,taxpayers, federal employees, companies, and other individuals from all walks of life have no assurance that their information will receive the protection that federal law affords.”8. Turning to the Middle East, Drop Site News reports “Over 100 journalists…sent a letter to Egyptian authorities on Sunday requesting access to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.” CNN, NBC, NPR, CBS, ABC, AP, Reuters, BBC, Sky News, the Financial Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times France 24, Le Monde, El Pais, and others, including Drop Site itself, are signatories on this letter. The letter states “We understand that the situation is fluid regarding the border crossing, but we ask that permission for journalists to cross the Rafah border be at the forefront of the…No international journalists have been able to access Gaza without an Israeli military escort since the war began in October 2023. We request that permission be granted on an expedited basis while Phase 1 of the ceasefire is still in effect.” As Drop Site notes, “Egypt has not allowed journalists to cross Rafah into Gaza since 2013, when Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took power in Egypt in a military coup.” This has meant all journalistic access to Gaza must go through Israel.9. Our last two stories have to do with the Democrats. On February 1st, Ken Martin was elected the new chair of the Democratic National Committee. Martin previously led the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and the Association of State Democratic Parties, per POLITICO. WPR reports Martin's victory was decisive at 246.5 out of 428 votes; the second-place finisher, Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, won only 134.5 votes despite endorsements from House and Senate Minority Leaders Jeffries and Schumer, among many other high-profile elected Democrats, per the Hill. Other candidates included Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Bernie Sanders' 2020 campaign manager Faiz Shakir, though he entered late and without substantial backing. Martin's reputation is mixed, with one DNC member telling POLITICO, “he's a knife-fighter.” Perhaps that is what the party needs to turn things around.10. Finally, Variety reports former President Biden has signed with the Creative Arts Agency, or CAA, one of the premier talent agencies in Hollywood. CAA also represents Barack and Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, per the BBC. With the White House once again occupied by a creature of showbusiness, the symbiotic relationship between politics, media and entertainment has never been clearer. In the words of George Carlin, “It's a big club, and you ain't in it.”This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Big Philanthropy and the so-called “good government” groups that it funds have a “solution” (I'm making air-quotes) to partisan gerrymandering: The “independent redistricting commission.” With funding from left-of-center groups like the Sixteen Thirty Fund, the National Redistricting Action Fund, the SEIU, the NEA, and the Quadrivium Foundation, a supposed political neophyte named Katie Fahey (whom […]
Big Philanthropy and the so-called “good government” groups that it funds have a “solution” (I'm making air-quotes) to partisan gerrymandering: The “independent redistricting commission.” With funding from left-of-center groups like the Sixteen Thirty Fund, the National Redistricting Action Fund, the SEIU, the NEA, and the Quadrivium Foundation, a supposed political neophyte named Katie Fahey (whom media reports placed at Hillary Clinton's 2016 Election Night event) campaigned to establish one in Michigan during the 2018 election. Fahey won, and then 13 citizens went about drawing Michigan's congressional and state legislative districts after the 2020 Census. Joining my Michigan-based colleague Ken Braun and I to discuss her experiences inside Michigan's redistricting commission is Rebecca Szetela, who served as the Commission Chair from September 2021 through March 2022. Links: Michigan's Racist Redistricting “Reform”Michigan independent redistricting commission members on opposite sides of Ohio Issue 1Voters Not Politicians (VNP)The State of Redistricting 2022: The Coming CommissionsFollow us on our socials: Twitter: @capitalresearchInstagram: @capitalresearchcenterFacebook: www.facebook.com/capitalresearchcenterYouTube: @capitalresearchcenter
Trump begins second term with series of sweeping executive actions; Addressing Ohio's youth care crisis; Winter Storm Enzo brings rare snow, ice to Gulf Coast; Report highlights needs for GA energy efficiency; Union rep: SEIU joining AFL-CIO will help OR workers.
In the immediate aftermath of the mammoth fires in Los Angeles, Ralph welcomes Douglas Heller, Director of Insurance at Consumer Federation of America to fill us in on what to expect from the industry and how to get the most out of your fire insurance claims. Then, our resident constitutional scholar, Bruce Fein, returns to present a list of constitutional crises to expect upon the second coming of Donald Trump.Douglas Heller is a nationally-recognized insurance expert and Director of Insurance at Consumer Federation of America. In addition to conducting research for and providing expertise to consumer rights organizations, Mr. Heller is a member of the U.S. Department of Treasury's Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance, an appointee of California's Insurance Commissioner, serving as a board member of the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan, and he serves on the Executive Board of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.A key thing for everybody to know is that the premiums that we have paid over the last several years here in California—and this really goes across the country, but in California in particular—have put the insurance industry in a perfectly healthy position to deal with the claims, as dramatic and as severe as these fires are and the amount of damage that they caused…For the insurance companies to cry poverty in the wake of the buildup of capital over the last several years would be outrageous, and so we're going to be watching for that.Douglas HellerThe story around the country was that California was already a terrible hellscape for the insurance companies to do business in. When in fact, they were doing far better than the rest of the country. One of the big trade journals that reports on the industry has said that State Farm has been kept afloat by its performance in California over the last couple of years. And it was more a kind of a climate opportunism—after ignoring the potential (and then, growing) impact of climate change on property risk for years and decades, the insurance companies finally had this kind of revelation that oh they can talk about climate change as a new risk and a justification for demanding whatever they want.Douglas HellerBattle lines seem to be drawn—at least in my opinion—between the “Drill baby, drill. All we need to do is rake the leaves” camp versus “Hey, this is another wake up call to the climate crisis.” Because this was a severe weather event. And there were four major fires at once, and no fire department, whose main daily job is medical emergencies, is equipped to deal with that. Especially since the first two days the winds were so high—hurricane force winds—they couldn't get helicopters and airplanes into the air to make the drops in these canyons. And I don't think there's any amount of brush clearing that would have stopped these winds from whipping up these embers to send them into these residential districts.Steve SkrovanBruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law. Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.The Trump regime has a high probability of being the most lawless dictatorial regime in American history. All presidents violate laws, but Trump has taken this to a new, boastful level of variety.Ralph NaderThe reason why it's more likely that Trump will use this dragnet in a more abusive ways, is because he and his FBI nominee have said openly that they're going to do everything they can to persecute, to go after their enemies list…The only limitation on abuse is that they don't have the manpower to actually use it all.Bruce FeinWe're the guardrails—not Congress anymore. It's the people who have to stand up and protest and not send scoundrels back to office if they're not discharging their obligations under the United States Constitution. If we aren't the guardrails, there aren't any out there.Bruce FeinNews 1/15/251. In Gaza, CNN reports a ceasefire deal has finally been reached. This comes on the heels of negotiations between the warring parties, attended by envoys of both President Biden and incoming President Trump, with Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Under the terms of this deal, Hamas has agreed to free the remaining 33 Israeli hostages in their custody, while Israel will “free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.” Trump's apparent demand for an immediate settlement with this many Israeli concessions comes as a shock. Israeli journalist Erel Segal, widely seen as a Netanyahu proxy, is quoted saying “We're the 1st to pay a price for Trump's election. [The deal] is being forced upon us… We thought we'd take control of northern Gaza, that they'd let us impede humanitarian aid.”2. In more foreign policy news, the American Prospect is out with a piece on the gifts received by senior foreign policy officials in the Biden Administration. According to this report, Bill Burns – Director of the Central Intelligence Agency – has in the past year received “an $18,000 astrograph, an $11,000 Omega watch, and a ceremonial Saudi war sword.” By comparison, Secretary of State Antony Blinken received $600 worth of memorabilia and “several acrylic landscape portraits.” As this piece notes, individuals cannot keep these gifts – they become public property – yet the disparity in these gifts does reflect the difference in perception toward Blinken and Burns. As one State Department official put it, “When you want someone to drink champagne, you send Blinken. When you need someone to actually fix s**t in Brazil, the Middle East, or Russia, you send Burns.”3. And in the final days of his administration, AP's Matt Lee reports President Biden will reverse Trump's decision to designate Cuba a state sponsor of terror. The state sponsor of terror designation resulted in Cuba facing even harsher sanctions than they had during the decades-long embargo and led to multiple critical shortages of essential goods like fuel. Since the designation was announced in 2021, many have called for it to be reversed, including New York State Senators and representatives in New York, Massachusetts and Minnesota, as well as local representatives and labor unions like the UAW, UE, and others, per People's Dispatch. It is unclear why Biden is taking this action now and Trump can reverse this move as soon as he takes office.4. Turning to labor, NBC reports the Services Employees International Union (SEIU) will rejoin the AFL-CIO, 20 years after leaving the labor federation. With SEIU back in the fold, the AFL-CIO will represent over 15 million workers. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler is quoted saying “We are the, probably, only institution in the country that has an infrastructure in every city, in every state, in every workplace, that is a mobilizing machine…And as they say, outside power builds inside power.” This move is widely seen as an attempt to consolidate worker power ahead of Trump's return to office, though the unions have resisted saying so explicitly. The Teamsters left the AFL-CIO around the same time as the SEIU, but have made no moves to rejoin the labor federation and have instead opted to strategically align themselves with Trump. It remains to be seen which strategy will yield better results.5. In more labor news, Fast Company reports servers at Waffle House franchises around the country claim “the chain forces them to do janitorial work and dishwashing for [sub-minimum] tipped wages, robbing them of up to $46.8 million.” As this piece notes, “Wage theft…is a common practice. As of 2017…workers lose $15 billion annually in minimum wage violations alone.” Moreover, “From 2021 to 2024, the Department of Labor recovered more than $1 billion in back wages and damages for 615,000 employees in the U.S.” Waffle House is a particularly egregious offender, with 90% of workers surveyed reporting they had experienced some form of wage theft in the past year. The state minimum wage in Georgia, where Waffle House is based, is a meager $5.15 per hour, yet the tipped minimum is even lower at just $2.13 – a starvation wage. One worker, Melissa Steach, is quoted saying “Corporations can't keep throwing us around because we make all this money for them…And what are they really doing with it? They are not supporting their workers. They can't keep screwing us around. We're here. We're worth it.”6. On the other end of the spectrum, Apple CEO Tim Cook's staggering compensation package hit nearly $75 million in 2024, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Converted to an hourly wage, this equates to roughly $600 per minute. This is a substantial increase from his 2023 total of $63.2 million, but still lower than the nearly $100 million he received in 2022. In October, Apple reported its services business, including Apple Music and iCloud, hit a revenue of $24.97 billion for the quarter, a “new all-time high for the company.”7. In more tech news, the Intercept reports Meta – parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – is relaxing their content moderation rules as they relate to hate speech. The Intercept received leaked training materials to this effect, which explicitly outline what users are now allowed to say. These officially permitted statements include “Immigrants are grubby, filthy pieces of s**t,” “Jews are flat out greedier than Christians,” and simply “I'm a proud racist.” The Electronic Frontier Foundation's international freedom of expression director Jillian York is quoted in this piece saying, “While [Meta's previous censorship regime] has often resulted in over-moderation that I and many others have criticized, these examples demonstrate that Meta's policy changes are political in nature and not intended to simply allow more freedom of expression.”8. In a more positive story of social progress, EuroNews reports that the Italian Bishops' Conference has issued new guidelines all but clearing the way for openly gay men to enter the priesthood. According to the newly issued report, titled "Guidelines and norms for seminaries,” "When referring to homosexual tendencies, it's… appropriate not to reduce discernment only to this aspect, but, as for every candidate, to grasp its meaning in the global framework of the young person's personality.” In 2023 Pope Francis told the AP that “being homosexual isn't a crime,” and has endorsed the church “blessing” same-sex unions. Women remain entirely excluded from the priesthood.9. On the domestic front, Axios reports Justice Democrats – the progressive insurgent group – is planning a new wave of primary challenges to unseat “corporatist” incumbent Democrats. While the group's number one target seems to be George Latimer, who ousted Congressman Jamaal Bowman from his newly redrawn seat last cycle, spokesperson Usamah Andrabi told Axios the group is, “keeping every deep blue district on the table.” However, many of the prominent House progressives are shying away from this effort. Pramila Jayapal, former chair of the Progressive Caucus said “I think given what's at stake we feel really urgently that we need to protect all incumbents,” while Ilhan Omar said "There are folks who endorse against their own colleagues, but I don't."10. Finally, Public Citizen co-presidents Rob Weissman and Lisa Gilbert have written a letter to the chairs of the Trump Transition team asking to be named members of the Department of Government Efficiency, aka DOGE. In this letter, Weissman and Gilbert express their “concerns about DOGE's structure and mission,” particularly with regard to its proposed leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who “hold financial interests that will be directly affected by federal budgetary policies,” but also makes the key argument that DOGE's mission to “slash excess regulation” and “cut wasteful expenditures” must be tied to the other “half of the picture: more efficiently regulating corporations to better protect consumers and the public from harmful corporate practices.” They argue that their “appointment to serve as members of DOGE” would enable them to serve as “voices for the interests of consumers and the public who are the beneficiaries of federal regulatory and spending programs.” Rather than an earnest plea for an appointment, this letter is more likely meant to expose a key issue with the DOGE project: those in charge of cutting supposed government waste are riddled with conflicts of interests. They have too many fingers in the pie. If Trump were serious about reducing government spending generally – and corruption specifically – he would appoint people like Weissman and Gilbert, not Ramaswamy and Musk. And they would start with the unbelievably bloated, unauditable Pentagon budget.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
We're fully into the new year and bosses are doing all sorts of new horrors. We start with updates from the UFW, the Utah Ski Patrol, CIR-SEIU, NYU, and Amazon. In our first major story, the ILA have reached an agreement on a new deal just a week ahead of a new shutdown of East Coast ports. Next, in a major shift in the labor landscape, the SEIU have rejoined the AFL-CIO after 20 years independent. As fires ravaged Los Angeles this week, companies sent their workers into the smoke with no regard for human life. Thousands of doctors, nurses, and other caregivers have hit the picket lines in Oregon's largest healthcare strike ever. Finally, the UAW have filed for another massive union vote in the South this week, this time to represent battery plant workers in Kentucky at BlueOval SK. Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter, John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee More info on the show at http://workstoppagepod.com/
Today's Headlines: Wildfires in Los Angeles continue to devastate the region, forcing 180,000 evacuations as federal aid is deployed. Jimmy Carter's state funeral was held in D.C., with President Biden delivering a heartfelt eulogy. Donald Trump faces sentencing in his New York case today after failed legal maneuvers, while a phone call with Justice Alito raises ethical concerns. The AFL-CIO and SEIU announced a powerful union merger, and a federal judge struck down expanded Title IX protections for transgender students. Finally, Pope Francis appointed Sister Simona Brambilla to lead a major Vatican office, marking a historic first for women in the Church. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: AP News: Los Angeles wildfires live updates: At least 10,000 structures have burned in the fires WA Post: Jimmy Carter returns to Plains, Georgia, for final burial CNN: Eyes on US Supreme Court as NY's highest court rejects Trump's bid to postpone sentencing in hush money case WA Post: Trump asks appeals court to block entire special counsel report WA Post: Trump call to Alito sparks demands for justice to recuse from sentencing case Axios: Two powerful labor groups combining ahead of the Trump administration NY Times: Judge Rejects Biden's Title IX Rules, Scrapping Protections for Trans Students AP News: Pope Francis has named the first woman to head a major Vatican office, choosing an Italian nun Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
-Fascists blame minorities and immigrants for L.A. wildfires -AFL-CIO and the SEIU affiliate together to take on threats to labor -In defense of Israel's genocide in Gaza, House passes bill to sanction ICC -Rich Dick with a perm
Tonight on The ReidOut, Joy Reid leads with the utter devastation in Southern California as hundreds of homes are destroyed by wildfires, with the worst likely still to come. Meanwhile, Attorney General Merrick Garland is prepared to release Jack Smith's report on Donald Trump's election interference investigation, but Trump's favored judge is currently blocking the way. In a desperate bid to avoid becoming the first convicted felon in the White House, Trump is seeking refuge in his safe space: the U.S. Supreme Court. Plus, Joy brings you breaking news in her exclusive interview with the presidents of the SEIU and AFL-CIO labor union organizations.
It's Casual Friday! Sam & Emma speak with Jeet Heer, national affairs correspondent for The Nation, to discuss the upcoming stories to watch in 2025. First, Sam and Emma run through updates on the House vote over the GOP Speakership, Trump's transition team, Biden's blocking of the Nippon Steel's takeover of US Steel, GOP judges killing Net Neutrality, the identities behind the attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas, California captive audience ban, Bird Flu, SEIU action, and Social Security retirement age requirements, before expanding on today's big Speakership vote as Mike Johnson begins to feel the heat. Jeet Heer then joins, diving right into today's ongoing fight over the Speakership, unpacking why, despite all the groveling, the GOP is likely to stand firm in line, just as they do with Trump. Next, Heer, Sam, and Emma parse thoroughly through the OTHER ongoing fight amid the GOP over the validity of H-1B Visas, a work visa for immigrants that puts their rights and wellbeing entirely in the hands of the corporation that employs them, unpacking the pro-H-1B (let's exploit immigrants) and anti-H-1B (no, we hate immigrants!) arguments on the right, before diving deeper into a genuine leftist critique of how these visa's work to lower rights for both workers and immigrants writ large, and the right's desire to use them as a part of their Social Darwinist vision. Jeet also expands on the failing tactic among progressive Democrats to work within the DNC power structure, tackling the potential for a new progressive movement to build up power in the House and Senate outside of the party infrastructure, and the growing possibility of said movement as we enter an era of seemingly anti-system electorate, also responding to some pushback about the mutual-exclusion of being a party outsider while still working with the party, before wrapping up with a brief conversation on Jordan Peterson, Pierre Poilievre, and the state of Canadian politics. And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma parse through the ongoing discourse from the GOP over H-B1 visas, as the embrace of the exploitation of immigrants comes in conflict with the rejection of those immigrants themselves, with Charlie Kirk's crew helping to add some “DEI” dog-whistling into the mix. They also watch Mike Johnson sulk his way out of Congress until his ultimate victory in the speakership vote, and Sam walks the audience through the absurdities of Social Security's income cap, plus, your calls and IMs! Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Follow us on TikTok here!: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here!: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here!: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here!: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Join Sam on the Nation Magazine Cruise! 7 days in December 2024!!: https://nationcruise.com/mr/ Check out StrikeAid here!; https://strikeaid.com/ Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! http://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: http://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 20% off your purchase! Check out today's sponsors: Factor: Eat smart with Factor. Get started at https://factormeals.com/majority50off and use code majority50off to get 50% off your first box plus free shipping. That's code majority50off at https://factormeals/majority50off to get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box. Ridge Wallet: If you're tired of bulky wallets like I was, I highly recommend giving Ridge a try. It's truly changed the way I carry my essentials. Go to https://ridge.com/majority and use code MAJORITY for 10% off! Thanks Ridge for sponsoring this episode. Sunset Lake CBD: Sunsetlakecbd is a majority employee owned farm in Vermont, producing 100% pesticide free CBD products. Use code Leftisbest and get 20% off at http://www.sunsetlakecbd.com. Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech @BradKAlsop Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on Youtube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder - https://majorityreportradio.com/
For the final days of the year, we're rebroadcasting some of our favorite shows from 2024. Jessica Bartholow has worked behind the scenes at the state Capitol for years. She's known for her fierce anti-poverty advocacy and budget expertise, as a lobbyist and more recently as chief of staff to East Bay State Senator Nancy Skinner. Bartholow now works for SEIU, the state's largest and most powerful union. She joins Scott and Guy to talk about the revolving roles she's played inside and outside of state government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ralph welcomes Vani Hari, also known as “The Food Babe,” to tell us about her campaign against Kellogg's to stop using artificial dyes in their cereals that have been linked to various health problems and have been banned in Europe. Plus, noted labor organizer, Chris Townsend gives us his take on the AFL-CIOs obeisant relationship to the Democratic Party.Vani Hari is an author and food activist. A former corporate consultant, she started the Food Babe blog in 2011, and she is the co-founder of the nutritional supplement startup Truvani.It is a game of whack-a-mole because we get these corporations to change, or they announce that they're going to change, and then they go back on their commitment. And that is what's happened with Kellogg's.Vani HariChris Townsend is a 45-year union member and leader. He was most recently the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International Union Organizing Director. Previously he was an International Representative and Political Action Director for the United Electrical Workers Union (UE), and he has held local positions in both the SEIU and UFCW.These workers who have been betrayed, lied to, wrecked, destroyed, poisoned, all of these things—this becomes the breeding ground for Trumpist ideology. And the Democrats won't face this.Chris TownsendOur media largely ignores the labor movement. Our small labor press—left press—generally subscribes to the “good news only” school of journalism. So these endemic problems and even immediate crises are never dealt with. Now, some of that is because the existing labor leadership generally is not fond of criticism or is not fond of anyone pointing out shortcomings (or) mistakes.Chris TownsendWe're a cash cow—and a vote cow— to be milked routinely and extensively by this Democratic machinery… The leadership today in the bulk of the unions is an administrative layer, business union through and through to the core. The historic trade union spirit that always animated the unions in various levels is not extinguished, but in my 45 years, I would say it is at a low ebb. In the sense that we just have been sterilized because of this unconditional and unholy alliance or domination by the Democratic Party. And there's no room for spark. There's no room for dissent. There's no room for anyone to even raise the obvious.Chris Townsend[Leaders of the AFL-CIO are] basically bureaucrats in that building on 16th Street, collecting their pay and their nice pensions. Completely out of touch with millions of blue collar workers that have veered into the Republican Party channels—the so-called Reagan Democrats, which have spelled the difference in election after election for the Senate, for the House, for the Presidency.Ralph NaderIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 11/20/241. In his new book Hope Never Disappoints, Pope Francis writes “what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of genocide,” and called for the situation to be “studied carefully…by jurists and international organisations,” per the Middle East Eye. These comments come on the heels of a United Nations committee report which found that Israel's actions are “consistent with characteristics of genocide,” and alleged that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war. The Catholic pontiff has long decried violence in all forms and has previously criticized Israel's “disproportionate and immoral” actions in Gaza and Lebanon, per AP.2. On November 14th, the AP's Farnoush Amiri reported that more than 80 Congressional Democrats sent a letter to President Biden on October 29th, urging the administration to sanction Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Only made public after the election, this letter called for sanctions on these individuals “Given their critical roles in driving policies that promote settler violence, weaken the Palestinian Authority, facilitate de facto and de jure annexation, and destabilize the West Bank.” This letter was principally authored by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, and in addition to dozens of House Democratic signatories, was signed by no less than 17 Senators.3. Another remarkable post-election Israel story concerns outgoing Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who was ousted from his seat by a flood of AIPAC money. In an interview with Rania Khalek, Bowman relates a remarkable anecdote about the presidential campaign. Bowman says he specifically requested to campaign for Kamala Harris in Michigan – where he was so popular his AIPAC-backed primary challenger disparagingly said “[Bowman's] constituency is Dearborn, Michigan” – but the campaign ignored him and instead deployed surrogates that seemed almost designed to alienate Arab-Americans: Liz Cheney, Ritchie Torres, and Bill Clinton who went out of his way to scold these voters. These voters were likely decisive in Kamala Harris' loss in that state.4. On November 13th, Senator Bernie Sanders announced that he intends to bring Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to the Senate floor. As Sanders writes in a press release, the “The JRD is the only mechanism available to Congress to prevent an arms sale from advancing.” Unlike previous efforts however, Sanders no longer stands alone. According to Reuters, “Two of the resolutions, co-sponsored with…Senators Jeff Merkley and Peter Welch, would block the sale of 120 mm mortar rounds and joint direct attack munitions (JDAMS). A third, sponsored by Democratic Senator Brian Schatz, would block the sale of tank rounds.” Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Van Hollen have announced their intention to support the JRD. Certain heavy-hitting Democratic-aligned institutions have also bucked precedent to back this effort, including the massive Service Employees International Union and leading Liberal-Zionist group J Street.5. In the House, Republicans and many Democrats are pushing H.R. 9495, a bill which would grant the executive branch the power to unilaterally strip non-profit organizations of their tax-exempt status based on accusations of supporting terrorism. As the Intercept notes, “The law would not require officials to explain the reason for designating a group, nor…provide evidence.” The ACLU and over 150 other “civil liberties, religious, reproductive health, immigrant rights, human rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+, environmental, and educational organizations,” sent a letter opposing this bill in September, and celebrated when the bill was blocked on November 12th – but it is back from the grave, with Nonprofit Quarterly reporting the bill has cleared a new procedural hurdle and will now advance to the floor. Yet even if this bill is successfully blocked, little stands in the way of Republicans reviving it in the next Congress, where they will hold the House, Senate, and the Presidency.6. Back in October, we covered Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib's letter to Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen expressing grave concern over the company's decision to roll out facial recognition-based price gouging technology. According to Tlaib, Kroger has stonewalled Congress, so she is leading a group of House Democrats in a new letter demanding answers to the critical questions that remain, such as whether Kroger will use facial recognition to display targeted ads, whether consumers can opt out, and whether the company plans to sell data collected in stores. This letter is co-signed by progressives like AOC, Barbara Lee, and Eleanor Holmes Norton, among others.7. In new labor news, the NLRB has issued a rule banning anti-union “captive audience meetings,” per the Washington Post. This report notes that these meetings, in which employers warn workers of the risks in unionizing, are considered highly effective and are commonly used by companies like Amazon, Starbucks, Apple and Trader Joe's. According to the Post, Amazon alone spent more than $17 million on consults to do exactly this between 2022 and 2023. On the other hand, Bloomberg Law reports a federal judge in Texas has blocked a Labor Department rule that would have expanded overtime eligibility to four million mostly lower-level white collar workers. This was seen as among the Biden Administration's key achievements on labor rights and foreshadows the rollback of worker protections we are likely to see in a Trump presidency redux.8. Donald Trump has signaled that he will nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy will likely face a difficult confirmation process; his past environmental activism is anathema to Republican Senators, while his more recent vaccine-skepticism is unpopular among Democrats. Yet just as Donald Trump emerged as an improbable RFK ally, a surprising opponent has emerged as well: former Vice-President Mike Pence. In a “rare” statement Pence writes “For the majority of his career, RFK Jr. has defended abortion on demand during all nine months of pregnancy, supports overturning the Dobbs decision and has called for legislation to codify Roe v Wade. If confirmed, RFK, Jr. would be the most pro-abortion Republican appointed secretary of HHS in modern history…I…urge Senate Republicans to reject this nomination.” As with other unpopular Trump nominees, many expect RFK to be appointed on an acting basis and then possibly installed via the recess appointment process.9. In some positive news, Drop Site reports that in Sri Lanka, the Leftist president Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who wrested the office from the corrupt clique that has ruled the nation since independence has won a resounding victory in the recent parliamentary elections. Reuters reports that Dissanayake's coalition won a “sweeping mandate,” with enough seats to pass his anti-corruption and poverty-alleviation agenda. More shocking is the fact that Dissanayake's coalition ran up the score in the Tamil-dominated north and east of the country. As Drop Site notes, only 15 years ago the Sri Lankan government crushed the Tamil Tigers and carried out large-scale massacres of the Tamil minority. Dissanayake has vowed to end the occupation and release Tamil political prisoners, as well as take on the International Monetary Fund which is seeking to impose economic control on the country in exchange for a fiscal bailout. Neither goal will be easily achieved, but the size of Dissanayake's victory at least provides the opportunity for him to try.10. Finally, AP reports that three of Malcolm X's daughters have filed a $100 million lawsuit against the CIA, FBI, and NYPD. This lawsuit alleges that these agencies were “aware of and…involved in the assassination plot,” and that law enforcement was engaged in a “corrupt, unlawful, and unconstitutional [relationship with]…ruthless killers that…was actively concealed, condoned, protected, and facilitated by government agents.” Two of Malcolm X's alleged assassins were exonerated in 2021 after an extensive re-investigation found that authorities withheld crucial evidence, per AP, and new evidence reported earlier this year by Democracy Now! supports the theory of an assassination plot involving collusion between the FBI and NYPD, if not others.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe