politics

A majority of Democrats in the House of Representatives rejected the bill on Tuesday out of fear that it could grant President-elect Donald Trump the legal tools with which to target his ideological foes, but Republicans are swiftly pressing ahead.

“This bill was designed to criminalize organizations and activists who oppose the U.S.’s unconditional support of Israel’s genocide of Palestinians and the slaughter of Lebanese civilians,” read the statement, which was signed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, American Muslims for Palestine, and others. “We will continue to stand firm in protecting all organizations’ freedom to speak and operate without fear of political retribution.”

With pro-Israel groups lobbying for the bill, it gained popularity among House Democrats, in part due to a provision providing tax relief to Americans held hostage abroad.

Ultimately, 144 Democrats voted no, along with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., barely meeting the threshold to block the bill from fast-track passage. Voting in favor were 204 Republicans and 52 Democrats. The narrow loss — with so many Democrats supporting the bill, opponents had no votes to spare — provoked outrage from supporters of the bill like Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., who had spoken in favor of it prior to the vote.

The bright spots of the first Trump era came as movements not only rallied large numbers of people in defensive battles against the White House, but also carried forward popular energy by organizing around a positive vision for change. Here, the model offered by Bernie Sanders was very important. Sanders achieved far greater success in his 2016 primary challenge to Hillary Clinton than anyone in the Washington establishment could have imagined by running on a resolute platform of Medicare for All, free higher education, and confronting the power of corporations and the rich. Whether or not “Bernie would’ve won” in 2016 had he been in the general election, as many of his supporters believe, the senator was nevertheless vital in pointing to a model of how Trumpism could be combatted with a progressive populist vision, rather than a retreat to the center and the adoption of “Republican-lite” versions of policy

Groups motivated to build active support for such a vision — which included progressive unions, community organizations investing in electoral work in a more concerted way than ever before, and new or re-energized formations such as the Democratic Socialists of America, Justice Democrats, Our Revolution, the Working Families Party and the Poor People’s Campaign — entered into contests that gave rise to the Squad at the federal level, as well as an unprecedented number of movement champions taking office locally.

This time around, we must be more clear than ever that our goal is to win over a majority of Americans. Movements should not be afraid to engage in polarizing protest, but they should be mindful of the challenge of producing positive polarization that reaches out to include more people in the fight for justice, while minimizing negative polarization that pushes away potential supporters. Crucial to this is always seeking to expand the coalition of allies, engage in political education to bring in newcomers, and not accept the myth of the righteous few, or the idea that the path to victory is through demanding ever-greater levels of moral purity among those we associate with, even if that means ever-greater insularity.

Summary

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary, faces scrutiny over a 2017 sexual assault allegation.

A complaint to Trump’s transition team details an alleged incident at a California Republican conference, investigated by Monterey police but resulting in no charges. The accuser signed a nondisclosure agreement, and Hegseth’s lawyer denies wrongdoing.

The transition team is reportedly frustrated over inadequate vetting.

Trump has expressed support for Hegseth, despite concerns his confirmation could face resistance in the Senate, mirroring controversies surrounding other Trump appointees, including Matt Gaetz.

The new Trump regime threatens millions of immigrant workers in the U.S., including farmworkers, many of whom are undocumented. Beyond mass deportations and workplace raids, there’s the prospect of regulatory rollbacks around heat and pesticide protections and the ramping up of hyper-exploitative guestworker programs like the H2A program.

At the same time, farmworkers in the U.S. have a proud and defiant organizing tradition, and the entire U.S. food system rests on their labor. Truthout spoke to representatives from three farmworker organizations across the country to get their initial thoughts on the election, the challenges ahead, how they plan to defend their members and communities, and how they are staying hopeful and determined going forward.

Rossy Alfaro is a former dairy worker in Vermont and organizer with Migrant Justice, which organizes dairy farmworkers in Vermont and oversees the worker-driven Milk with Dignity campaign. Jeannie Economos is the longtime pesticide safety and environmental health project coordinator for the Farmworker Association of Florida, which has organized farmworkers for over four decades. Edgar Franks is the political director of Familias Unidas por la Justicia in Washington State, an independent union of primarily Indigenous Mexican farmworkers that formed a decade ago. All three organizations are members of the Food Chain Workers Alliance, a coalition of worker-based organizations in the U.S. and Canada organizing to improve wages and working conditions for workers along the food chain.

Transcript of Interview with Alvaro can be found within the article

Summary

Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort has become the chaotic hub of his second-term transition, resembling a royal court.

A parade of loyalists, including controversial figures like Matt Gaetz (nominated attorney general) and vaccine denier Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (health secretary), seek favor amidst unorthodox cabinet picks.

Elon Musk, named co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency, has become a constant presence, influencing policy decisions.

Critics highlight Mar-a-Lago’s chaotic atmosphere, security concerns, and ethical issues, while Trump capitalizes financially on the resort’s high demand and inflated government billing practices.

What had been just a theoretical blueprint for an authoritarian takeover of the federal government is now a looming reality, with trans individuals squarely in the crosshairs.

Although there was extensive reporting about the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, the 922-page mandate that promises to overhaul government agencies and “restore the American family as the centerpiece of American life and protect our children,” and its multiple connections to President-elect Donald Trump, it failed to sway a majority of American voters.

But among the groups who are alarmed at the prospect of a Project 2025-driven agenda, are trans individuals, particularly trans kids.

...

Summary

Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign failed to connect with low-income workers due to a perceived lack of listening, according to AFL-CIO, the largest federation of labor unions in the US.

While union members largely supported Harris, many low-income voters backed Trump, swayed by his messaging on economic insecurity.

Despite Biden’s pro-labor policies, including infrastructure investments, the AFL-CIO now faces challenges under a likely Trump presidency.

AFL-CIO emphasized labor unions’ resilience and commitment to fighting rollbacks while advancing organizing efforts.

With public approval for unions at a near 60-year high, the labor movement plans both defensive and offensive strategies to protect workers.

Summary

Donald Trump’s second-term appointments reveal four key factions shaping his administration.

“Deep State disruptors,” including Matt Gaetz, Tulsi Gabbard, and RFK Jr., aim to challenge government norms but may bring conflicting agendas.

“Border hardliners” like Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem focus on aggressive immigration policies, risking clashes with Democratic and Republican states.

“Tech libertarians” Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy plan massive government cuts, though Trump’s spending priorities may limit them. Lastly,

“China hawks” Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz signal a tough stance on Beijing, potentially complicating Trump’s inconsistent China strategy.

This is an article written last year about a fascist-in-progressive-clothing festival in Vermont called 'Libertystock'. This thing is going to be happening again Dec. 12-14 at the Bellow Falls Opera House in Bellow Falls, VT under a new name: the "Liberty Food Fest". People are more than annoyed by this thing and not only want to get the word out, but also show exactly the kind of people that would gravitate to the likes of a Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for example.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/22077561

“I’m not interested in anyone who is moving further away from the center,” said Cindy Bass, a Pennsylvania committee member from Philadelphia. “The center is where we have to be.”

They're not going to change a thing unless people make them.

Find your local state delegate and personally tell them how you feel a centrist is only going to guarantee another Republican victory. They are listed here: https://ballotpedia.org/Democratic_National_Committee

Bernie Sanders is working behind the scenes to get a progressive in there but he can't do it alone.

Summary

“He wants to be seen as having say in everything (even if he doesn’t),” one person in Trump’s orbit said.

Elon Musk’s growing influence in Donald Trump’s orbit is reportedly irritating members of the former president’s inner circle.

Since his efforts helped secure Trump’s reelection, Musk has been highly visible at Mar-a-Lago, taking credit for Trump’s victory and acting as if he’s a “co-president.”

Musk has joined key diplomatic calls and even attempted to broker peace with Iran.

Despite his appointment to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, some close to Trump feel Musk’s overreach and need for attention may jeopardize his position, as Trump dislikes sharing the spotlight.

Summary

A federal judge in Texas blocked a Biden administration rule that would have expanded overtime pay to millions of salaried workers.

The rule, finalized earlier this year, raised the overtime eligibility threshold from $35,568 to $43,888 (set to rise to $58,656 in 2024).

Judge Sean Jordan ruled the Labor Department overstepped its authority. Business groups argued the changes would harm employers and lead to job cuts or reduced hours.

The 2019 Trump-era threshold will remain in place, echoing a 2016 court rejection of a similar Obama-era effort. Appeals are uncertain.