Newsletter 3.3.20

For our American supporters, Happy Super Tuesday. For everyone else, it still affects you unfortunately, because we're a violent and capricious empire. Sorry. 

Anyway, here's this fortnight's newsletter. Enjoy, and as always thank you for your support! 

-- Nima, Marco, Florence, Adam and Julianne 

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Coronavirus Spending Bill Could be Used to Cement Spying Authorities Ryan Grim, The Intercept (February 27, 2020)

House and Senate leaders are considering attaching reauthorization of the Patriot Act to the massive coronavirus spending bill in order to ram the reauthorization through Congress. The Patriot Act grants the surveillance apparatus powers to surveil Americans and some are considering using coronavirus to speed through congressional critics of the intelligence community’s spying power. 

The Agony and the Ecstasy of Chris Matthews Luke Savage, Jacobin (February 27, 2020)

MSNBC host Chris Matthews announced that he was retiring after years of sexist comments had come to surface. Right before his departure, his paranoid and delusional coverage of Bernie Sanders’ Nevada caucus win highlighted how the hollow media and political establishment that he represented were colliding with the popular desire to upend those systems.

How Insulin Became the Poster Child for Medicare for All Natalie Shure, The New Republic (February 27, 2020)

The cost of insulin has become the face of Medicare for All for many people. The high price of insulin has forced many people with diabetes to ration their supply to the detriment of their health. While most health plans aim to address the price of insulin, only Medicare for All could fully ensure that nobody slips through the cracks.  

Tech Companies Are Helping Bosses Monitor Everything You Do at Work Nicole Aschoff, Jacobin (March 1, 2020)

Tech companies have developed software that employers can use to monitor the web usage of their employees take in digital office spaces and warehouse employees are given commands on their exact movements through headsets. These methods of controlling employees are a part of capital’s effort to force obedience from workers and squelch any organizing.

Media Stoop to ‘Russian Assistance’ to Explain Sanders’ Rise Alan MacLeod, FAIR (February 28, 2020)

After Bernie Sanders had strong performances in the first couple of states, a Washington Post story was published from a third hand source claiming that Russia has been assisting Sanders’ campaign. The article kicked off a new round of fear-mongering over Russia’s supposed preference for Sanders in an attempt to delegitimize the strength of his campaign. 

Progressives See Super Tuesday as a Chance to Transform Los Angeles  Daniel Nichanian, The Appeal (February 28, 2020)

Los Angeles residents have several options to change their criminal justice system on Super Tuesday. Measure R would design a plan to reduce the prison population and invest in community services. Jackie Lacey, the LA County District Attorney, is also facing competition from two challenges who are promising to reduce incarceration and reduce the criminalization of the marginalized.    

In Texas, Prosecution Gets Privatized Sarah Lustbader, The Appeal (February 27, 2020)

The Harris County District Attorney is using pro bono law firm attorneys to help prosecute misdemeanor cases after she was denied funding to hire more prosecutors. Contracting out prosecution leads to inexperienced attorneys trying to make their mark off of the suffering off of defendants. Privatizing prosecution also presents several ethical issues for a position that is supposed to be in the service of the people.

Our Revolution, Accused of Dark-Money Spending for Sanders, Took Only Six Donations Over $5,000 in 2019, None Larger than $25,000 Aída Chávez, The Intercept (February 26, 2020)

Democratic candidates have accused Bernie Sanders of using dark money groups to help fund his campaign in order to deflect from questions about their own seedy donors. These “dark money” groups include PACs for the Sunrise Movement, the National Nurses union and the non-profit Our Revolution. Our Revolution disclosed that there were only six that were over $5,000 in 2019 and none were over $25,000. 

There Have Been 21 Debate Questions About Paying For Social Programs, Zero About Paying For War Sarah Lazare, In These Times (March 2, 2020)

Over 10 debates, moderators have frequently played the role of financial scold by asking Democratic candidates about paying for ambitious social programs. These same moderators get to act like they are making common-sense critiques of progressive legislation while they fail to question how the country pays for brutal conflicts in other nations. This framing suggests that while attempts to improve the lives of Americans must be scrutinized, the costs of war are necessary.