Today's Liberal News

How the “Abolition Amendment” Would End Constitutional Loophole That Allows Forced Labor in Prisons

After President Biden signed legislation this month to create a federal holiday commemorating June 19 as Juneteenth, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Georgia Congressmember Nikema Williams reintroduced what is being called the “Abolition Amendment” to amend the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which banned slavery and involuntary servitude “except as a punishment for crime” — a clause that has allowed the widespread use of forced prison labor.

Maya Schenwar’s Sister Died of an Overdose. She Says Defunding the Police Might Have Saved Her

As the U.S. marks 50 years since President Richard Nixon declared a war on drugs on June 17, 1971, we speak with journalist Maya Schenwar, editor-in-chief of the news website Truthout, whose sister Keeley died of a drug overdose in February 2020 at the age of 29. Schenwar says her sister’s death came after “a long cycle of criminalization” that made her chances of recovery much harder.

The Internet Is Rotting

Sixty years ago the futurist Arthur C. Clarke observed that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. The internet—how we both communicate with one another and together preserve the intellectual products of human civilization—fits Clarke’s observation well. In Steve Jobs’s words, “it just works,” as readily as clicking, tapping, or speaking.

News roundup: Select Committee on Jan. 6 is coming, Arizona fraudit is a joke, and Gosar is scum

In the news today: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi introduces legislation for a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol after Republicans tried to brush it all under the rug. Naturally, Republicans are now sobbing about this investigation being partisan. The joke of an “audit” in Arizona may be backfiring on Republicans. Good news from the Supreme Court on an anti-trans bathroom bill.

Andrew Giuliani thinks he’s ahead in the New York governor’s race. Aww, that’s adorable

Andrew Giuliani, a scion of the Giuliani Goofball Dynasty, picked a great time to run for governor of New York. His only conceivable asset is name recognition. He has it, but so does syphilis.

Unfortunately, Giuliani Giunior’s chances leaked out of his father’s oleaginous dome like goopy brain-parasite effluent months ago. He’d be better off right now if his dad was Barry Zuckerkorn.

COVID-19 vaccine developer gets a proper hero’s welcome at Wimbledon

In a heartfelt moment, loud cheering and a standing ovation were given to one of the British scientists behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at this year’s first match at Wimbledon. According to the Independent, Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert and her colleagues were invited to the Royal Box Monday for the first day of the tennis tournament. She was surprised when she and her colleagues were met with applause and cheers from other match-attenders.

‘Please stop:’ New Jersey police officer shown on video attacking Black father

A white New Jersey police officer still has his job more than a month after he was accused of falsifying a police report and shown on video attacking a Black father frustrated about what he said was a lack of access to his children. Stephen Finch, the officer, was charged with aggravated assault, official misconduct, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, and tampering with public records in the incident on May 26, the Paterson Times reported.

Biden admin reportedly planning review process that could bring back deported immigrants

Julia Preston reports that the Biden administration has, “with little public fanfare,” been planning a review process that could set the stage for returning to the U.S. some immigrants unjustly deported by the previous administration. While President Joe Biden announced a review of military deportations after taking office (some already have been allowed to return), this expanded review could mean reunification for many others.

The Walrus Who Love-Clapped So Hard, He Damaged His Flippers

When Sivuqaq the walrus wanted a mate, he let it be known, loud and clear.Each year, as winter turned to spring, the marine-animal center at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California, would reverberate with his come-hither calls—a nonstop orchestral mélange of whistles and warbles, barks and bellows, even clacks and clangs.

The Horror of Surfside

Just as Americans began returning to life in public again, disaster struck the people of Champlain Towers South at home.