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Virginia’s 2020 ratification marked the 38th state to approve the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), fulfilling the constitutional requirement for adoption. The American Bar Association and leading legal scholars concur that all necessary steps for ERA’s inclusion as the 28th Amendment have been completed. Therefore, the Amendment is deemed ratified and legally part of the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing equal rights regardless of sex. This action upholds the will of the American people and fulfills a constitutional duty to ensure equal protection under the law.
President Biden criticized Republican economic mismanagement while acknowledging Democrats’ shortcomings in communicating their legislative achievements to voters. He cited missed opportunities to highlight Democratic involvement in popular programs like infrastructure projects and the American Rescue Plan’s stimulus checks, noting that better messaging could have improved public perception. Biden attributed this communication gap to an overemphasis on policy over politics, referencing President Trump’s successful use of personalized stimulus checks as a contrasting example. He ultimately concluded that a more robust political strategy was needed to showcase the Democrats’ positive impact.
Donald Trump’s promised repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act would overturn a law disproportionately benefiting his own base, including numerous red states and districts. Despite Republican opposition, the Act has spurred significant clean energy investment and job growth in these areas. A Louisiana community, exemplified by Cynthia Robertson’s nonprofit, faces uncertainty regarding crucial funding for climate change resilience projects due to this potential repeal. The pending decision impacts numerous grant applications, leaving communities vulnerable to future climate events.
President Biden has declined to enforce a law mandating TikTok’s divestment or ban, deferring implementation to President-elect Trump. This law, passed last year, requires TikTok’s parent company to divest by January 19th or face a US ban. Trump is reportedly considering a 90-day delay via executive action, while the Supreme Court is reviewing a challenge to the law’s constitutionality. Supporters of the ban cite national security concerns regarding user data access by the Chinese Communist Party, while opponents raise First Amendment concerns.
President Biden, in an Oval Office interview with Lawrence O’Donnell, expressed serious concerns about the state of American democracy. The conversation covered a range of topics, including the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and the Biden presidency itself. A central theme was Biden’s warning of a burgeoning oligarchy within the United States. The interview touched on the President’s assessment of threats to democratic institutions. Further discussion explored the implications of these concerns for the future of the nation.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Scott Bessent, President-elect Trump’s treasury secretary nominee, opposed raising the federal minimum wage, deeming it a state and regional matter. This stance contrasts sharply with calls for a living wage and drew criticism for prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy over wage increases for low-income workers. Bessent’s economic plan, focusing on deficit reduction and GDP growth, reportedly necessitates cuts to anti-poverty programs and potential tax hikes for the middle class to achieve its goals. Critics argue his nomination prioritizes the ultra-wealthy, potentially harming middle-class families.
ABC News’s $15 million settlement with Donald Trump, stemming from a lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos’s accurate but technically imprecise use of the word “rape,” exemplifies the media’s self-censorship. This capitulation, far from an isolated incident, reflects a broader trend of media organizations prioritizing appeasement of Trump over defending press freedoms, as seen in various instances of self-imposed restrictions. This self-censorship allows Trump to effectively silence dissent without needing legal changes, rendering the media complicit in eroding its own First Amendment rights. Ultimately, the future of press freedom depends on the public’s willingness to reject media outlets prioritizing self-preservation over truth.
President Biden’s recent address warned of a burgeoning American oligarchy threatening democracy and equal opportunity, echoing historical struggles against concentrated wealth. His message, while fundamentally important, is seen by some as arriving too late in his presidency to effect significant change. The speech highlighted the need for holding the wealthy accountable, not through punishment, but by enforcing fair rules for all. Whether this message will resonate and shape future Democratic strategy remains uncertain.
John Q. Hosedrinker
Freezing Temps Expected at Trump’s Second Inauguration
President Trump’s second inauguration will be significantly colder than his first, with a projected high of 23 degrees Fahrenheit—20 degrees below the historical average. This would mark the coldest Inauguration Day in four decades, surpassing even the 7-degree temperature recorded during President Reagan’s 1985 swearing-in. In contrast, his 2017 inauguration experienced a relatively mild 48 degrees with light rain. While the day itself is expected to be dry, pre-inauguration snow or rain is possible.
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