Newsletter 6.4.19

Hi all,

Hope your unofficial start of the summer is going well. Here's this week's newsletter for your enjoyment. Look out for our new episode that drops tomorrow! 

--- Marco, Nima, Adam, and Florence 

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God, Gas, and Cash: How Texas Fell in Love With Israel — and Then Trampled on the Constitution Alex Kane, Nashwa Bawab, The Intercept (June 1, 2019)

An ALEC-funded trip of Texas Republican politicians going to Israel is the most recent example of the state’s growing alliance with the Israeli government. Texas businessmen are interested in Israel’s oil and natural gas and Texas Republicans believe supporting Israel fuels will mobilize their Evangelical base. In order to further forge these ties, Texas lawmakers have cracked down on the growing BDS movement.  

Architect of GOP Gerrymandering Was Behind Trump’s Census Citizenship Question, Ari Berman, Mother Jones (May 30, 2019)

The deceased GOP operative behind many illegal Republican redistricting efforts found that a citizenship question in the census would reinforce white voting power. It was also revealed that the operative recommended that the Trump Administration take up the citizenship question and the proposed language for the question closely mirrors the language that he drafted.    

A Million Extinctions Eclipsed by One Royal Grandbaby Janine Jackson, FAIR (May 31, 2019) 

A grave U.N. report showing that one million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction did not get the national attention it deserved. Media watchdogs found that major media outlets instead focused on the birth of a royal grandbaby, which happened on the same day as the report was released.

The World’s Most Annoying Man Nathan J. Robinson, Current Affairs (May 29, 2019)

Steven Pinker presents himself as a devotee of logic and reason who is merely stating the facts whenever he tells the Left to stop complaining and realize the world is currently great. However, Pinker makes his arguments by minimizing the pain of people who fall beneath cracks of society and by presenting a false dichotomy where the world needs to be great just because things were worse in the past. 

The Racist Origins of San Francisco’s Housing Crisis Lexi Pandell, The New Republic (May 31, 2019)

San Francisco’s housing crisis can be traced to zoning laws developed after the 1906 earthquake which regulators used to segregate the city. Later zoning plans would enforce the racist goals of these original plans. Wealthy, ostensibly liberal San Franciscans are now fighting to enforce zoning laws that preserve the current order at the expense of building affordable housing.  

Trump’s Charges Against Julian Assange Would Effectively Criminalize Investigative Journalism  Bruce Shapiro, The Nation (May 31, 2019)

The Trump Administration’s 17 charges against Julian Assange of violating the Espionage Act could have chilling repercussions for press freedom. The Administration abused a loophole in the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Pentagon Papers to target a foreign journalist that published U.S. secrets. If successful, the Administration could have a new weapon to use against publishers of leaked info.

What Makes Illinois’ Marijuana Legalization Bill So Progressive Ramenda Cyrus, In These Times (May 31, 2019)

A bill to legalize recreational marijuana that passed the Illinois House and Senate has many progressive measures to attempt to address the damage of the drug war. The bill will introduce an expungement process for marijuana convictions, more socially equitable licensing practices and community reinvestment.    

American Airlines Mechanics Are Threatening the “Bloodiest, Ugliest Battle” in Labor History Michael Arria, In These Times (May 30, 2019)

After American Airlines launched a lawsuit against its mechanics claiming that they intentionally slowed down work, mechanics are threatening to start the uglies battle in labor history. Mechanists claim the lawsuit is an intimidation effort meant to get the government to require the ratification of a contract without union support.  

The Trump Administration Wants to Make It Harder for Transgender People to Access Homeless Shelters Camille Baker, The Intercept (May 23, 2019) 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a rule to allow homeless shelters to discriminate based on gender identity. The rule changes an earlier Obama mandate that shelters accept people based on their gender identity. 

What Just Happened in Europe? David Adler, The Nation (May 29, 2019)

The European Parliament elections brought bad results for many leftist parties, and while far-right nationalist parties did not become the majority as they threatened to, they did make troubling gains. 

Abortion Rights Are More Popular Than You Think Paul Heideman Jacobin (May 31, 2019)

In the wake of a spate of draconian anti-abortion bills signed into law in several states, polling analysis reveals that such extreme abortion restrictions are a minority opinion while support for unrestricted access has been trending upward. Data also shows that a gender gap on abortion is less prevalent than an education gap.