Democrats Outsmart Mitch McConnell With Surprise Reconciliation Deal
The Kentucky Republican said the Senate wouldn’t pass a computer chip bill if Democrats pursued budget reconciliation, but it did and they are.
Today's Liberal News
In significant shift, most Massachusetts voters support driver’s licenses for undocumented residents
Massachusetts Republicans want to make roads less safe by calling for the repeal of a law that will allow undocumented residents in the commonwealth to apply for driver’s licenses and drive legally. The Work and Mobility Act was passed in June and doesn’t even go into effect for another year, but state Republican officials and candidates are backing an effort to get a repeal on November’s ballot.
Fox News Sours On Carrying Trump Speeches Live, Gives Airtime To Mike Pence
The former vice president got 17 minutes of airtime while giving a speech the same day as Trump, who was appearing a mile away.
California militia group exploits massive Oak fire to give its public image a veneer of legitimacy
From their very beginnings in the 1990s, “Patriot” militia groups have tried to portray themselves as civic-minded defenders of their communities who show up at natural disasters as well as for “communist” threats to their well-being. Over the years, they’ve posed as flood rescue workers, volunteer border watchers, and anti-pedophilic “groomer” watchdogs—but in reality, they always have been nothing but unaccountable thugs with gun.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: ‘Toxic Masculinity’ Should Be Top Military Requirement
“They should be like, ‘Are you a toxic male? Please sign up,’” the Georgia Republican said.
New York Inches Towards ‘Congestion Pricing’ Toll Plan
The tolls aren’t expected to be implemented until late next year at the earliest.
Biden administration expected to soon declare monkeypox a health emergency
The people with knowledge of the matter said the declaration is expected as soon as the end of the week.
Trump Meets His New Brain Trust
This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.Donald Trump returned to Washington, D.C., for the first time since leaving office in a show of support for the organization trying to make MAGA more than just vibes.But first, here are three new stories from The Atlantic.
Kamala Harris’s Blue Suit
Yesterday Vice President Kamala Harris briefly caused a significant portion of the social-media world to think that she was hopelessly liberal or simply out of her mind. At a recorded roundtable event in the Eisenhower Executive Office building, she introduced herself by saying, “I am Kamala Harris; my pronouns are she and her, and I am a woman sitting at the table wearing a blue suit.
Is It Worse to Ban a Book, or Never Publish It?
This is an edition of Up for Debate, a newsletter by Conor Friedersdorf. On Wednesdays, he rounds up timely conversations and solicits reader responses to one thought-provoking question. Later, he publishes some thoughtful replies. Sign up for the newsletter here.Question of the WeekIs there class prejudice in the United States? If so, describe how it works.
Melville. Faulkner. Spider-Man.
The slow embrace of the comic-book medium by elite audiences is a history with its own particular milestones, each marking a moment of sudden approbation by previously disapproving constituencies. George McManus received a congressional dinner and warm words from Franklin D. Roosevelt in celebration of his comic strip, Bringing Up Father. Mid-century-modern artists like Roy Lichtenstein adapted (okay, lifted) images and panels from comic books.
CDC set to make monkeypox a nationally notifiable condition
The move can offer the agency a better understanding of how far and fast the virus is spreading.
Richard Wolff: Fed Rate Hikes Are “Body Blow” to Workers Reeling from Pandemic, Growing Inequality
We speak with Marxist economist Richard Wolff about how experts forecast another economic recession in the United States, with inflation at a historic high and a federal minimum wage that hasn’t changed for 13 years.
Economist Jayati Ghosh: Global Debt Crisis Is Perfect Storm of Unrest, Economic Disaster, Starvation
We look at the looming possibility of a global recession amid rising inflation, the pandemic and the Russian war in Ukraine. World financial institutions and wealthier countries should take stronger actions such as writing off debts that are crippling developing nations, says Jayati Ghosh, economics professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “This is just completely lack of political will. It’s not because we don’t know what to do.
A Pelosi Visit to Taiwan Could Inflame Tensions Between U.S. & China, with Little Benefit to Taiwanese
China warned that there could be serious consequences, including a military response, if U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi follows through on plans to visit Taiwan in August, according to the Financial Times. If the trip happens, Pelosi would become the most senior U.S. official to visit Taiwan in 25 years.
Indiana statehouse swarmed by protesters as lawmakers debate new abortion ban
Indiana is the first state legislature to take up a sweeping new ban since Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Hospitals struggle with staff shortages as federal Covid funds run out
Public health experts fear the workarounds they’ve found could degrade the quality of care over time.
WHO declares monkeypox an international health emergency
There are over 16,800 cases reported globally, with nearly 2,900 in the U.S.
There’s one hopeful sign for the Fed on inflation. Really.
Slower wage growth could help bring down prices and ultimately mean less sting for the average worker.
U.S. inflation reached a new 40-year high in June of 9.1 percent
Lower-income and Black and Hispanic Americans have been hit especially hard.
No recession here: Hot jobs market tames fears of slump
Biden officials have repeatedly touted the jobs numbers as evidence of the economy’s underlying strength, but slowing the labor market is essential to helping tame consumer prices.
Failure ‘not an option’: Fed vows all-out fight on inflation
Fears have mounted that the central bank might trigger a recession sometime in the next year with its aggressive rate action.
“Aftershock”: Film Explores Disproportionate Black Maternal Mortality in U.S., Could Worsen After Roe
With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the battleground for abortion access now shifts to the states, even as the U.S. faces the worst rates of maternal mortality among all rich nations, with Black maternal mortality three to four times higher than the national average. Now a new documentary examines the crisis of Black maternal mortality through the families of two young Black women who died after giving birth.
News Roundup: Justice Department coup probe slogs on; Republicans fall in line behind ‘disaster’
The news that a federal grand jury heard testimony from former Vice President Mike Pence’s top lieutenant reminds us that yes, the Justice Department is technically doing something to investigate the Jan. 6 coup attempt—we just don’t know what.
Ukraine Update: Russia is seemingly recalibrating around Izyum; Kherson’s bridges are falling down
Lots happening today, so bonus update!
On Monday I briefly addressed rumors out of pro-Ukraine Telegram that Russian forces had abandoned two key villages near Izyum, the site of a pontoon bridge and a key supply route for forces pushing toward the twin fortress cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
Unfortunately it’s not likely true.
Fox & Friends commit open heresy against Trump. Has Murdoch finally tired of his rabid dog?
Maybe, after all is said and done, promoting an irritable bowel with a Sriracha beer bong attachment as your party’s standard-bearer isn’t such a great idea after all. For years, Donald Trump was to Fox News what Jared was to Subway: the face of the franchise. The only difference is, Fox knew all along what an odious lump of id Trump was but decided to make him their mascot anyway.
That may all be changing.
Russia is pulling out of the International Space Station, but that’s not the end for ISS
In December, President Joe Biden extended the operation of the International Space Station (ISS) through 2030 as part of the Space Frontier Act. A month later, NASA set an explicit end date for the last crew to leave in January of 2031. Then in February, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin initiated an illegal, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Trump’s Former Defense Secretary Calls B.S. On National Guard Claim
“There was no order from the president,” former Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller testified.
Doctor Who Provided Abortion To Raped 10-Year-Old Gives First TV Interview
“I’m not the only provider who has taken care of young children needing abortion care,” Dr. Caitlin Bernard said on “CBS Evening News.
After shamelessly airing Pride promo, Fox spent nearly every day of June attacking LGBTQ people
It is a fact that the Fox propaganda channel is virulently anti-LGBTQ. In just one example, Daily Kos’ Marissa Higgins has previously reported how the right-wing outlet has played a significant role in re-popularizing the Anita Bryant-era “groomer” slur against LGBTQ people.
Oh, but that’s just outright false, Fox might rebut. We honored LGBTQ Pride month just a couple weeks ago, it might insist.