Lawmakers strike deal to end ‘surprise’ medical bills
They’re hoping to include a deal in a year-end package after previous efforts to shield patients from large bills fell apart.
Today's Liberal News
Hopeful Images From 2020
This has been a year like no other, and moments of joy were difficult to come by. The few happy events that took place did so despite harrowing circumstances—or, in many cases, as a response to overwhelming adversity. Health-care workers took on enormous burdens, saved countless lives, and earned the gratitude and admiration of millions. Celebrations and public events were modified for safety, but many still took place. And new vaccines against COVID-19 are starting to roll out.
The Books Briefing: What Stories About Immigration Reveal About America
When he decided to write a memoir, the journalist Jose Antonio Vargas faced an overwhelming challenge: crafting a story that was particular to him while knowing that some might believe it represented a much broader narrative about immigration. In Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen, he makes clear that he speaks only for himself. But he also fills the book with reporting on the many challenges other undocumented people face.
The Next Six Months Will Be Vaccine Purgatory
Editor’s Note: The Atlantic is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers. Find the collection here. With the FDA’s emergency authorization of the first COVID-19 vaccine imminent, the biggest and most complex vaccination campaign in the nation’s history is gearing into action. Planes are ferrying vaccines around the country, hospitals are readying ultracold freezers, and the very first people outside of clinical trials will soon get shots in their arms.
Andrew Bacevich on Why Retired General and Raytheon Official Lloyd Austin Should Not Head Pentagon
Joe Biden’s nominee for defense secretary, retired four-star Army General Lloyd Austin, would make history as the first African American to lead the Pentagon if confirmed by the Senate. But Austin can only be confirmed if he secures a waiver from Congress due to laws designed to preserve the civilian control of the military, and several leading Democratic senators have indicated they would oppose granting a waiver.
U.S. Recognizes Morocco’s Occupation of Western Sahara in Latest Betrayal of Sahrawi People
We continue to examine the U.S.-brokered deal between Morocco and Israel to normalize relations. As part of the deal, the U.S. will become the first country in the world to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, which Morocco has occupied since 1975 in defiance of the international community.
Palestinian Official Hanan Ashrawi: Trump’s Morocco-Israel Deal Legitimizes Land Theft & Occupation
In a deal brokered by the Trump administration, Morocco and Israel have agreed to establish diplomatic relations. The United States has also agreed to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over occupied Western Sahara, the first country in the world to do so. Morocco has occupied much of the resource-rich territory since 1975 in defiance of the United Nations and the international community.
Colonel Sanders Was, in Fact, Very Horny
Lifetime’s new “mini-movie” about the KFC founder isn’t making that part up.
The Dark Side of GoFundMe
Critics say the platform enables fraud and exploits holes in the social safety net.
We’ll Be Stuck With Trump’s Postmaster General for a While
Louis DeJoy is likely to last well into the Biden administration.
Mitch McConnell’s Relief Offer Is Actually Worse Than Doing Nothing
The majority leader wants to send Americans a big lump of coal.
Trump’s drug-card plan smacks into another roadblock
A key panel raises objections to the president’s campaign-trail promise of $200 in discounts for seniors.
U.S. could face months of vaccine shortages amid global competition
Most Americans’ best hope of getting a shot by spring or early summer may rest on vaccines that have not yet been proven to work.
FDA says Pfizer vaccine is safe and effective
Pfizer is seeking authorization to use the vaccine in people 16 and older.
Trump’s health nemesis gets a new starring role: Reversing Trump’s policies
Xavier Becerra, the California attorney general and former House lawmaker, would enter Biden’s HHS without traditional health or management experience – but with immense power to undo Trump’s actions.
States defer to health providers on who gets first vaccines
Governors will let providers sort out thorny questions over who should be first in line.
The 6-Year-Old Girl Whose Hair Caught Fire at Bill Clinton’s 1993 White House Hanukkah Party Remembers It All
Clinton put out the flames with his bare hands.
Are the Teachers Unions Really to Blame?
Their conditions for reopening schools are not unreasonable.
Cancel Holiday Cards This Year. Do This Instead.
In 2020, I couldn’t keep up my longtime tradition—but I did get a better idea.
Biden top economic adviser facing accusations of mismanagement, verbal abuse
A former high-level employee at Heather Boushey’s think tank publicly aired the accusations on Tuesday night.
Biden backs up Tanden as Republicans attack her tweets
“That disqualifies almost every Republican senator and 90 percent of the administration,” the president-elect said of GOP criticism.
How climate change could spark the next home mortgage disaster
Taxpayers are backing more than a trillion dollars in home mortgages, but the agencies buying them are neglecting to consider climate risks.
Deese to be Biden’s top White House economic adviser
Brian Deese is an executive at investment giant BlackRock.
Biden unveils diverse economic team as challenges to economy grow
The president-elect intends to name Cecilia Rouse, Neera Tanden and Wally Adeyemo to senior roles in his administration.
Thursday Night Owls: Backers of Haaland for Sec. of Interior irked she’s being called ‘unqualified’
Night Owls, a themed open thread, appears at Daily Kos seven days a week
41 DAYS UNTIL JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE
Julia Conley at Common Dreams writes—Climate Action, Indigenous Rights Groups Among Those Championing Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary:
The national women’s rights organization UltraViolet on Wednesday became the latest group to call on President-elect Joe Biden to appoint Rep.
Firings at Fort Hood are an important step, but advocates still demand #JusticeForVanessaGuillén
In a historic move Tuesday, the Army said it fired or suspended 14 officers and enlisted soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, and ordered policy changes to address chronic failures of leadership that contributed to a widespread pattern of violence, including murder, sexual assault, and harassment. A separate probe was also ordered into the base’s Criminal Investigation Command unit that is responsible for investigating crimes at Fort Hood.
ICE backpedals, says it won’t try to enforce subpoena against BuzzFeed News—for now
BuzzFeed News reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has backpedaled from its attack against the outlet for its egregious crime of factually reporting on the out-of-control agency’s policies, saying it won’t try to enforce its subpoena demanding it reveal its sources. For now.
Trump Administration Executes Brandon Bernard After Jurors Plead For His Life
Bernard was an accomplice to a crime at age 18. He is the ninth person to be executed as part of the Trump administration’s end-of-office killing spree.
This Week in Statehouse Action: Away In A Legislature edition
Happy December to all who observe!
I confess, I’m finding it a little difficult to get into the holiday spirit this year.
On one hand, we’re about to leave this crap year behind us.
But on the other, so many lousy things are still happening, like, all the time.
… including (but in no way limited to) Trump continuing to attempt to use GOP-controlled state legislatures to help him overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.