... in the rites of the moneychangers, where greed, laziness, and envy were assumed to move all men's acts, even the terrible became banal.” ― Ursula K. Le Guin
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| BUDGET |
Trump, McCarthy look to cut billions from budget deal they just passed
Republicans Mulling Budget Gambit to Avoid Spending Some Omnibus Funds
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| READ |
As You Wish FICTION
Liar’s Poker NONFICTION
The Cookie Cutter Legacy: a multi-generational novel
Literary Wonderlands: A Journey Through the Greatest Fictional Worlds Ever Created (Literary Worlds Series)
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| BORDER WALL |
Durbin: New border wall plan lacks legal authority
Could Trump Actually Use Military Funding for His Border Wall?
Some lawmakers don't want military involved with the border wall
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| U.S. AGRICULTURE |
New U.S.-China partnership lays groundwork for dairy export growth
NAFTA termination could cause visa woes: A new report argues that U.S. jobs and economic gains will be
lost without access to visas covered by NAFTA, as the trade pact increased
accessibility to visas for some nationals from the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
NAFTA created what's known as a TN visa, which has allowed scientists and
veterinarians from Canada and Mexico to enter the U.S. to help the dairy and
cattle industries [POLITICO's Morning Agriculture, April 5, 2018]
Trump Pushing for Preliminary Nafta Deal by Mid-April, Sources Say
TRUMP REVIVES HIS OLD NAFTA THREAT: In
other Easter Sunday news, Trump took to Twitter early in the day to attack the
United States' southern neighbor, warning that a failure to secure an adequate
immigration deal could lead him to withdraw the United States from NAFTA.
"Mexico is doing very little, if not NOTHING, at stopping
people from flowing into Mexico through their Southern Border, and then into
the U.S.," the president wrote. "They laugh at our dumb immigration
laws. They must stop the big drug and people flows, or I will stop their cash
cow, NAFTA. NEED WALL!"
Timing is everything: Trump's threat is far
from new, though it is interesting to see him unleash such harsh words on the
same weekend that the three NAFTA parties had been hoping to conclude a deal.
Canada, Mexico and the United States had set an informal deadline of wrapping
up negotiations by the end of March, though that date passed on Saturday with
little acknowledgement that the the talks remain far from over. Officials had
signaled at the end of the previous round in Mexico City last month that there
would be an eighth round of negotiations held in the Washington area beginning
next week, but USTR has yet to issue any formal guidance or confirm that that
is still the case. [POLITICO's Morning Trade, April 2, 2018]
LIGHTHIZER'S ISDS GAMBLE: Lighthizer
is showing no sign of shifting his position on a proposal that would render NAFTA's
investor-state dispute settlement mechanism useless for American companies,
according to administration sources and outside advisers close to the issue.
That's already leading some in Congress to start considering how jettisoning
the controversial dispute mechanism might affect the whip count.
The same congressional aide said there's "no question"
that some Republicans might withhold their support for a final deal if
Lighthizer's proposal becomes reality - it's just a question of how the other
aspects of the agreement shake out. The U.S. is proposing that countries be
able to opt out of the controversial dispute mechanism. Canada has already said
it will pursue its own bilateral ISDS setup with Mexico.
"I think there are going to be aspects of the deal that
members are going to like, but I don't know if there's anything members are
going to jump out of their seats for. Once you start taking out key priorities
like ISDS, it puts it on much shakier ground," the aide said. "It
does worry me looking ahead at the possibility that we may be trying to move
this through committee and then across the floor. No ISDS to me is a big
concern."
ISDS, which has emerged as one of the more controversial aspects
of the NAFTA talks, sets up ad hoc tribunals under which corporations can seek
monetary damages for any perceived violations of the agreement's investment
rule. Lighthizer has suggested that U.S. participation in the process be
voluntary, but Hatch, Brady and dozens of other GOP lawmakers sent a letter to
Lighthizer late last month urging him to maintain ISDS in NAFTA.
"That was kind of the key to the letter, trying to make the
point to Lighthizer [to] keep in mind what the calculus will have to look like
to get this through Congress, and this is a definite step in the wrong
direction," the aide said. [POLITICO's
Morning Trade, April 2, 2018]
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JEFFERSON BEAUREGARD SESSIONS III
Attorney General
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Marijuana-friendly states want meeting with Sessions
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| POLITICS |
Why This Liberal Couldn’t Support Bernie Sanders or Jeremy Corbyn
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| CYBERSECURITY |
Understanding Federal Cybersecurity
Global Digital Policy Declaration
FTC to Launch Campaign to Help Small Businesses Strengthen Their Cyber Defenses
US housing department adviser quits amid questions of fraud and inflated biography
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| BERNIE SANDERS |
Congress, Not Trump, Has the Authority Over War OPINION
Jake Novak Tries To Burn the Bern
BernieCrats now hold seats in all 50 states!
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT.) to JAKE on CNN'S
"STATE OF THE UNION": TAPPER: "I want to ask you.
This week, President Trump has been on Twitter hammering Internet giant Amazon
and its owner, Jeff Bezos. On Saturday, the president tweeted -- quote --
'Amazon must pay real costs and taxes now.' Now, you said this week that you
are -- quote -- 'absolutely concerned' about Amazon's -- quote --
'extraordinary power.' Do you think Amazon has gotten too big?"
SANDERS :
"Yes, I do. I do. And I think this is -- look, this is an issue that has
got to be looked at. What we are seeing all over this country is the decline in
retail. We're seeing this incredibly large company getting involved in almost
every area of commerce. And I think it is important to take a look at the power
and influence that Amazon has." [POLITICO
Playbook, April 1, 2018]
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| CANDIDATES |
I’m Congressman Mark Pocan. In addition to representing my constituents in Wisconsin, I co-chair the Congressional Progressive Caucus. And one of my most important jobs with the caucus is helping elect great candidates who will work with us to pass a progressive agenda.
So I’m proud to say that we’ve joined the PCCC in endorsing
Randy Bryce (WI-01), Liz Watson (IN-09), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Mike Levin (CA-49),
and Brent Welder (KS-03).
These inspiring progressives are leading the charge to take back
Congress so Democrats can hold Trump accountable, stop his disastrous agenda,
start repairing the damage done by the Republican majority, and show the
American people a progressive governing agenda that will inspire and motivate
them in 2020.
Saturday at midnight is a critical fundraising deadline the
media will use to pass judgement on which candidates can go the distance.
Past candidates-turned-members of Congress supported by PCCC --
like Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Jamie
Raskin (MD-08) -- have entered the Capitol and become leaders on day one.
They’ve shown up week after week to lead special orders on the floor, to
sponsor legislation on issues like debt-free college and Medicare for All, and
to help raise money for other progressives.
These game changing candidates will help build progressive power
inside the halls of Congress.
Republicans squandered their chance to show the American people
they can govern. They refused to serve as a check and balance on the Trump
administration and focused all their efforts on enriching their billionaire
donors and big corporations. And they totally ignored the needs of everyday
people.
The New York Times reports
that when it comes to gaining control of Congress this year, “The math favors
the Democrats.”
That’s thanks in large part to candidates like Randy, Liz, Andy,
Brent, and Mike, who are running on big progressive ideas and aren’t shirking
from the fight or hiding their values.
Randy Bryce (WI-01) is a veteran, a union
leader, and a cancer survivor who is taking on none other than Republican
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. Bloomberg reports:
“Paul Ryan Isn't Safe From Randy Bryce Challenge in November”
Liz Watson (IN-09) is campaigning on the
kitchen table issues that matter most to voters like good manufacturing jobs.
As a former policy director in Congress, she wrote first-of-its-kind
legislation to give employees more certainty around their work schedules,
making it easier to arrange child care or hold a second job.
Andy Kim (NJ-03) is a former diplomat
who helped fight ISIS and talks about climate change as a “national security
crisis.” Andy is also a Rhodes scholar and an advocate against homelessness.
He’s running to unseat the Republican who led the charge to repeal the
Affordable Care Act.
Mike Levin (CA-49) is running to replace
Republican Darrell Issa. Mike is a clean-energy entrepreneur who will fight for
Medicare for All, debt-free college, and a $15 minimum wage. He’s also a
creative grassroots organizer, who is building on the resistance to create
electoral power.
Brent Welder (KS-03) is an experienced
organizer who is running because “billionaires and giant corporations have too
much control over our government.” Senator Bernie Sanders nominated him to the
Democratic National Platform Committee, where Brent wrote an amendment to ban
corporate money from elections.
Each of these candidates are running on progressive issues like
Medicare for All, a $15 minimum wage, and expanding Social Security benefits --
several of the cornerstones of the legislative agenda progressives can move
forward if we lead the way to Democrats taking back Congress. Having them in
Congress will strengthen progressive leadership and have a big impact on
Democratic priorities.
Every dollar helps them reach more voters and share their
message. And every dollar before the deadline at midnight Saturday shows the
media they have the grassroots backing to win in November.
Thanks for being a bold progressive.
-- Mark Pocan, Congressman and Congressional Progressive Caucus
Co-Chair
March 31, 2018
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| HEALTHCARE |
Patients Overpay For Prescriptions 23% Of The Time, Analysis Shows
Vermont transparency pricing law may show big price hikes, but disappoints lawmakers
Pfizer in talks with P&G on sale of its consumer business, though they are far apart on price
Hershey to invest $500 million in cocoa growing regions
What's Your Passion? High School Enlists Businesses to Help Students Decide
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| ACTIVISTS |
In Vietnam, Honoring ‘the Backbone of the Anti-War Movement’—U.S. Soldiers
Activists hope anti-gun movement tackles violence in poor communities too
'We share the stage': white suburban liberals and minority activists fight together for gun reform
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| TECHNOLOGY |
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| BANKING |
Investors Ask Banks, Gun Makers, and Gun Retailers to Cut Ties with NRA
From Big Oil to the NRA, Wells Fargo has been funding -- and profiting from -- destructive industries for years. Inspired by the hundreds of thousands of people who rallied in the streets for the March for Our Lives, it’s time to take further action.
Tell Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan to stop funding gun violence and climate destruction.
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Thanks for standing up for the health and safety of our communities,
Karissa Gerhke Director, Sierra Student Coalition Sierra Club
March 30, 2018
NOTE: The news sources here vary. Not all sources have the same credibility, but in an effort to share some different perspectives, they are included here. This compendium itself cannot claim to be unbiased. Please take into consideration where these different perspectives originate in assessing their value. Thank you
NOTE: I have no official connection to any organization from which information is shared.. Occasionally, I post informational material and/or an opportunity to donate or join as a "community service" announcement. These again are shared for their varying perspectives. Any books listed are random or topic-related to something else in the post. Think of these as a "library bookshelf" to browse. They are shared for informational or entertainment value only, not as being recommended |
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