GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, URGENT ACTIONS!

FROM PAGE (Progressive Action Global Exchange):

There is much be thankful for this week: two attorneys general have filed a suit against the president for emoluments violations (along with 200 lawmakers); the Muslim ban has been blocked again; a federal judge blocked the US Dept. of Justice’s efforts to deny immigrants legal counsel; a judge ordered a new environmental review for DAPL’ effects on the rights of Standing Rock and Cheyenne River tribes; the Southern Baptist convention denounced white supremacy; journalists retained access rights at the Capitol….and the Rhode Island teacher of the year is kind of awesome.

But there is still a lot left to do!

Priority actions:

• Speak out for quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans.
  • Read about what the Senate Trumpcare bill does against Medicaid, vulnerable people, women’s health, and for increasing costs.
  • Call/email key senators to voice your opposition to the Senate bill. Use the daily updated call script to one of 11 Senators in 10 key states, or a general script if you are not a constituent of one of these Senators. 
  • Tweet the president. Script: Thanks, @realDonaldTrump. I agree that the #AHCA healthcare bill is mean. #MAGA @SenateGOP

Cops arresting a woman protesting proposed legislation to radically cut Medicaid, the US government program that provides healthcare services for the poor and disabled.

• Show your support for yet another woman who keeps persisting.
  • Learn about how women who speak out are consistently shut down or threatened with violence. Read The Guardian’s piece on comments on female journalists’ articles, and engage with local women’s rights groups where you live. 
  • Thank Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) for her tenacious, focused questioning in Sessions’ hearing. We see your leadership and your care for our country, and are very grateful. #shepersisted
• Stand up against discrimination.
  • Read up about the fear that Muslims are facing while praying during Ramadan.
  • Educate yourself on police brutality and shootings against people of color, and start following the news on how juries vote. Read and share the ACLU’s community action manual for fighting police abuse.
  • Listen to Bryan Stevenson (Equal Justice Initiative) talk about race, poverty, and incarceration in the US.
  • Sign a petition on Organize For, an online platform for petitions dedicated to building the political voice of black people.
  • Advocate for employment fairness for formerly-incarcerated Americans (hat tip, and another). Call: Your 3 MoCs (lookup or leave message). Script: Hi. I’m from ZIP and calling to ask NAME to support S. 842 (Senate)/HR1905(House), which prevents discrimination in hiring. Can I count on him/her to give formerly-incarcerated people a fair chance?

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN!
As American citizens, how does living outside of the US affect our perspective? Here are this week’s recommendations, based on my own musings about leaving home, going back, and what I’ll find when I get there.   — Kathy Sherretts

Article:
Vox Media: Those who leave home, and those who stay by Alvin Chang
We often talk about the rural-urban split in America — between country folk and city folk. Researchers study a different split: the clear and emerging disparities between people who left home and those who didn’t. There are real disparities — political and economic — that emerge from the decision to move away, or not. 

Podcast:
NPR: Hidden Brain, Episode 64: I’m Right, You’re Wrong
There are some topics about which it seems no amount of data will change people’s minds: things like climate change, or restrictions on gun ownership. Neuroscientist Tali Sharot says that’s actually for good reason: as a general rule, it’s better to stick to your beliefs and disregard new information that contradicts them. But this also means it’s very difficult to change false beliefs. This podcast discusses how we process information, and why it’s so hard to change our views. (23 min.)

Article:
The National Review: We’re Not in a Civil War, but We Are Drifting Toward Divorce by David French
Our national political polarization is by now so well established that the only real debate is over the nature of our conflict. Are we in the midst of a more or less conventional culture war? Are we, as Dennis Prager and others argue, fighting a kind of “cold” civil war? Or are we facing something else entirely?