Today's Liberal News
Rev. William Barber Calls for a “Third Reconstruction” to Lift 140 Million People Out of Poverty
Reverend William Barber, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign and president of Repairers of the Breach, says the United States needs a “Third Reconstruction” aimed at lifting 140 million poor and low-income people out of poverty.
Above the Law? Review of Police Killing of Andrew Brown Jr. Demanded After DA Calls It Justified
We speak with Reverend William Barber, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign and former head of the North Carolina NAACP, who is in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, to call for an expedited independent investigation into the police killing of Andrew Brown Jr., the 42-year-old Black father who was killed there last month by a bullet in the back of his head after seven deputies blocked him in his driveway while serving an arrest warrant.
Jailed at 14, Shot Dead at 17: The Story of Obaida Jawabra’s Childhood Under Israeli Occupation
Israeli forces shot and killed Obaida Jawabra, a 17-year-old boy, earlier this week in the al-Arroub refugee camp located near the occupied West Bank city of Hebron. Obaida was shot in the chest, and witnesses say Israeli soldiers blocked an ambulance from reaching the teenager. He was taken to a local hospital by private car and later pronounced dead.
“We Want Real Dignity and Freedom”: Gazans Welcome Ceasefire But Demand End of Siege & Occupation
In Gaza, thousands of people have taken to the streets to celebrate after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire, ending Israel’s 11-day bombardment of the territory. At least 243 Palestinians, including 66 children, were killed in the airstrikes and bombings. Rockets fired from Gaza also killed 12 people in Israel. Raji Sourani, director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza, welcomes the ceasefire but stresses Palestinians demand more than just the end of bombing.
The Man Who Is Actually Getting a Free Krispy Kreme Vax Doughnut a Day Explains His Quest
“This is actually good for me.
The Only Mayor in America Having Fun Right Now
He rode a roller coaster! He ate a burger for breakfast! His rival is under investigation!
My Partner Was Scammed for Thousands—and I’m Questioning Our Future Together
I tried to warn him, but his desire to get out of debt overrode his judgment.
What’s *Really* Going On With Inflation and Jobs
You may have seen some slightly concerning economic reports. Here’s why you shouldn’t worry too much.
The GOP Governors Kicking People Off Unemployment Are Doing a Crap Job Vaccinating Their States
And that’s not the only reason their push to get people back to work is premature.
J&J vaccine production could restart in U.S. ‘within days,’ Emergent executive testifies
Restarting Emergent’s production of the J&J shot would revitalize efforts to get the single-dose vaccine to many Americans.
Texas governor bans schools, local governments from requiring masks
Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, hasn’t shied away from controversial pandemic policies.
Supreme Court pulls Biden into an abortion fight he didn’t want
By placing the issue front and center, the high court immediately forces his administration to reconsider its measured strategy.
Mask controversy spurs CDC to rethink its pandemic response
The changes include creating a clear reporting chain from the new director of the agency’s vaccine task force up to Rochelle Walensky.
CDC’s second-in-command Anne Schuchat to step down
Her decision reportedly comes after clashes with agency director Rochelle Walensky.
The Real Reason UNC–Chapel Hill Is Withholding Tenure From Nikole Hannah-Jones
She’s the most recent victim of the right wing’s war on universities.
Tax the rich? Executives predict Biden’s big plans will flop
Corporate executives and lobbyists say they are confident they can kill almost all of these tax hikes by pressuring moderate Democrats in the House and Senate.
Biden pressed to send clear message on economy as warning signs flash
The White House’s reaction to unexpected jobs and price data has opened the administration up to GOP attacks.
Lockdown mentality still holding the economy back, banking official says
Neel Kashkari of the Minneapolis Fed says things should get better as people overcome fears related to the pandemic.
Mark Carney on Canada’s economic growth: ‘It’s going to take more than one budget’
“There were elements of growth in the balance from what I can see and understand,” Carney said in a long response that didn’t directly answer the question.
“Show People the Video”: DA Finds Andrew Brown’s Death “Justified” But Won’t Release All Footage
In North Carolina, the Pasquotank County District Attorney’s Office has found the April 21 police shooting of Andrew Brown Jr., a 42-year-old Black father, in Elizabeth City was justified. Meanwhile, Andrew Brown Jr.’s family and their attorneys have said body-camera and dashcam videos of his killing show it was an “execution” and that he was not a threat. Andrew Brown Jr.
News Roundup: Federal judge says Betsy DeVos has some ‘splaining to do; DHS cancels ICE contracts
Welcome to Thursday! A lot is going on as the Republican Party tries its darnedest to talk out of both sides of its mouth. The Biden administration continues its two-pronged mandate to fix what was broken while progressing forward past where we once were.
New swing state poll shows rural voters aren’t grasping the (cash) benefits of voting Democratic
Is there a word for being really shocked and alarmed—and yet not at all surprised—by a new piece of information? Maybe something from German with, like, 80 letters, seven umlauts, and a couple Klingon-worthy expectorations?
Judge orders Betsy DeVos to sit for three-hour deposition to explain rejecting loan forgiveness
Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has been ordered to sit for a three-hour deposition for lawyers handling a class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit, brought on behalf of around 160,000 student loan borrowers, came from the students defrauded by numerous for-profit colleges across the country. These were organizations like Trump University, where Trump settled a civil lawsuit for $25 million in November 2016.
This Week in Statehouse Action: Sign o’ the Crimes edition
While Biden was driving a cool truck and congressional Republicans decided they’re against a commission to investigate the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, GOP lawmakers in GOP-controlled legislatures were partying like it’s 1999 … by which I mean they were busy passing a slew of retrogressive bills that have no place in the 21st century.
GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert Concedes People Think He’s The ‘Dumbest Guy In Congress’
Then he made a point about SAT scores and the Department of Education that’s contradicted by test data.
Five Oregon counties vote to consider joining ‘Greater Idaho,’ which also is friendly to the idea
It’s becoming increasingly self-evident that Republicans no longer support democracy because they know they can’t enact their right-wing agenda through normal democratic means—that is, by persuading a majority of their fellow citizens to join and vote with them.
Podcast: Dealing With Post-Pandemic Trauma
We’ve all been suffering during the coronavirus pandemic in one way or another, and as the U.S. starts to emerge, we’ll need to reckon with that. The Atlantic’s Ed Yong discusses his piece on pandemic trauma, how to think about it, and what he’s learned through talking to psychiatrists and other experts.
Ted Cruz’s Tweet About Russia Army Makes ‘EmasculaTED’ Trend
The Texas senator angered people on Twitter by suggesting the Russian army was better prepared than America’s “woke, emasculated military.