July 8: The start of the Texas special legislative session. Republicans will try again to pass a sweeping bill restricting voting.
July 9-11: CPAC, the premiere political conference for the right. Speakers include Trump, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), and Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL).
July 15: The next major FEC deadline. Every member of Congress, including those that voted to overturn the election, will disclose their receipts for the second quarter of 2021.
Today, however, I want to hear from you. What's on your calendar? What's on your mind? What topics would you like to see this newsletter take on?
You can leave your thoughts in the discussion thread linked below, starting now. I’ll be dropping by to participate in the discussion and answer your questions at 1 PM Eastern, for about an hour.
A programming note: Popular Information is taking a couple of days off and will return to your inbox on Tuesday, July 6.
The climate emergency! Why don’t people yet see that all of us must drop everything and focus on this existential crises for our species?!? If we don’t deal effectively, universally, with this now, all the rest is moot. The earth will go on but our children and theirs may not. Our house is on fire and we’re still talking, talking, talking. Are we so numb, dissociated that we will just continue to sit around talking and writing while our water is drained off by agrabusiness irrigating all day every day depleting the soils, evaporating from scorching temperatures, drained to build fossil-fuel infrastructure, pipelines that inevitably leak, poisoning the rivers, lakes, oceans. Extractive mentalities allow extractive practices to continue as we hand-wring about politics. All our bodies are needed today to physically block extractive businesses, bring this crazy empire to a standstill before it eats us alive. If I sound extreme here it’s because my hair is on fire. So is yours. Do something.
Linda here, 72 year-old mother, grand-mother, retired lawyer, pastor, just back from Line 3, intending to return there. As soon as I can.
The planet now has 8 billion people to feed using unsustainable agriculture. Shortly people will be fighting for water and food as the water rises. The planet can sustain 1 to 2 billion people and we are way over that now.
I’m concerned about big corporations in agriculture. A few companies control our food supply. There is a lot of corruption and dirty dealing to crush competition. The recent report in the Washington Post about Sonny Perdue’s bargain basement real estate deal with ADM is just one thread.
I’m concerned about recent news..South Dakota National Guard going to TX border. Funded by Willis and Reba Johnson Foundation. Charitable foundations are tax exempt… so in essence, aren’t all taxpayers funding this? Isn’t this a misuse of foundation funds? Who (IRS or DOJ) holds them accountable for spending.
Top it off, Trump intends to go to Texas border too. And now all taxpayers are paying for that — with his Secret Service protection. The grift continues
DeSantis skipped out most of the day from the Surfside crisis to see off Florida NG to go to the border. Shows what's really important to him. Hopefully it can be cannon fodder when the gov election comes up.
DeSantis is the BIG gun voter suppressor. He & _ICK __OTT (rickscott) the bought-bot are the main reasons FloriDUH is a red state. Via tRumprot appointed judges, they’re barbaric overthrow of the people’s vote to allow felons (w/exception to certain crimes) vote is why FLORIDUH IS DUH-RED ( Bigotcontrolled).
I enjoy getting your newsletter and appreciate your well cited investigations. I wish there were a way to donate in lieu of paying the subscription rate. Since I subscribe to other newsletters such as Heather Cox Richardson et al and the NYT, WA Post & Detroit Free Press the fees are beginning to strain on our budget (we’re seniors trying to stay informed). We are also donating to our favorite causes & candidates. An option for a donation would be helpful.
Love this newsletter, Judd. What I would love to see covered by you (and probably others have suggested this as well, but I am at work and unfortunately don't have time to read the responses) are what is being done by the Democrats (IF ANYTHING) to go after the Congressional seditionists of January 6th, such as Gosar, Brooks, MTG, Cawthorn, Jordan, Boebert, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, etc. They should not be able to just walk away from what they tried to pull that day. Life should not just "go on" for them, IMHO.
As well, I would love to see some concrete ideas on how to get Senators Manchin and Sinema to fall in line with respect to voting rights. This is nothing less than the issue of our time. Republicans realize that they lost the battle of ideas, so they have figured out that the only way for them to win elections is to keep Democrats away from the ballot box, and they have been remarkably successful in these efforts. My frustration with Manchin and Sinema is beyond words at this point, because the "bipartisanship" that they want on this issue will never happen. Moscow Mitch has said so in not so many words. Do they not realize or care that their intransigence on this issue will have the practical effect of consigning their party to permanent minority status in much of the country?
I don't know the answer to this but I think the experience in Texas has been instructive. Put as much focus on the issue as possible, force as many difficult votes as possible, and see what happens.
Thank you for your muckraking. I agree with the comments I have read. One thing I have not heard anything about is the use of sonic/acoustic sound weapons being used by the MN police against the peaceful protestors of line three on Tribal land. These are the weapons that the US is justifiably upset by their use by Russia against US diplomates. Why did I not see an outcry about their use against US citizens by Tarsand funded police? These weapons cause permanent body damage!
Great! I look forward to reading about your take on the issue. And let me know if you are interested in speaking with someone/a few (white americans) who were recently arrested in MN. I can't promise their interest in/permission to speak with you but I can ask.
Also there is Mark Trexler's Climate Web if you really want to dig deep into the subject. Maybe you have already used it. Both Mark and I are "into" databases. https://www.theclimateweb.com/
I second Fry’s request to cover the use of sonic/acoustic sound weapons in MN AND the general lack of coverage of this important protest and Enbridge funding of and military equipment of MN police. Great work, Judd.
I also subscribe to HEATED, and/but I figure the more the better. And Judd might have a slightly different take on it... But thanks for bringing up the HEATED newsletter.
Judd is particularly good at getting stories picked up by the mainstream media. There is a good story there about public police becoming de facto private security for big business interest. Line3 is extra powerful as American water protectors are harassed/arrested to protect a Canadian company.
I am very happy with the work you're already doing, but if you're asking about other topics, I think your "follow the money" approach would fit the climate emergency.
America's outdated and unfair tax system needs in-depth reporting as the wealthy and corporations have lobbied over the years so that now they pay little or no tax. Unfair and untenable.
From The Washington Post yesterday: "South Dakota Gov. Kristi L. Noem (R) will deploy up to 50 National Guard troops to the southern U.S. border, her office said Tuesday, with a highly unusual caveat — the mission will be funded by a “private donation” from an out-of-state GOP megadonor billionaire."
Is this really legal? Does this mean that another (or this) governor could send troops to Washington. DC if another billionaire (or Facebook/any corporation) doesn't like what Congress is doing and is willing to pay for the deployment? This is scary beyond belief.
Jane Goodall quote, " Here we are the most clever species ever to have lived. How is it we can destroy the only planet we have ?" As our biosphere is collapsing around us, we are not paying attention to the planet. Attention so some species - honey bees, Monarch butterflies, Texas horned toad, North American birds- reaches the news, but the implications of the collapse of these species is not portrayed as an emergency.
I'd love to see you investigate campaign finance of Senator Manchin, Senator Sinema, and any Dems who aren't in line with For the People Act and modifying the rules to allow it to pass.
I believe I've mentioned that Manchin received support for the first time from the Chamber of Commerce, which opposes (and is lobbying against) the For the People Act. It's a relatively small amount of money but it could later translate into significant independent expenditures later on. It's certainly something to keep an eye on.
Voting Rights, accessibility, S1 For the People, John Lewis bill, political / campaign / lobbying reform; anything threatening our democracy; climate change; healthcare; racism- These are the most important topics to me, in the order written (more or less). All these things are absolutely interrelated. But here's the thing, until our government truly represents 'For the people / by the people / one person-one vote, etc., our government will continue it's downward spiral to authoritarian / fascist rule. That downward spiral is primarily driven by big money / corporate interests. Those interests have little to do with human welfare, quality of life, or justice and equity for all. It has everything to do with selfish power mongering by an extreme minority of U.S. citizens. Minority rule (which is becoming the norm, ala Mitch McConnell / GOP / conservatism) is the antithesis of democracy.
whose pockets Manchin/Sinema are in (Filibuster). Biden getting weak on campaign promises about Climate change (and why). The national security implications of climate change.
This is very interesting to me, especially Biden's climate push, or lack thereof. We're talking about complete marine collapse in the next few decades, and yet no one really seems to be actually, really talking about it.
There are many folks talking about it. Most not likely to ever be mentioned in any kind of mainstream publication. I created earthsayers.tv to surface through curation those voices who are addressing topics such as this in several special collections including oceans, climate change, climate justice, and plastic in our oceans which cover many keywords associated with this issue. This video is particularly relevant to the collapse of the oceans. http://www.earthsayers.com/special_collection/Collapse_Of_The_Oceans_with_Joshua_Jackson/10/93740
I am interested in a close up analysis of what's happening with voter suppression in my state of Pennsylvania. We even have a state rep who was at the capital on 1/6. on video. unrepentant. Would you investigate my state? Thank you.
I'm a voter for 40+ years. PA is one of the most corrupt states in the U.S.. Our legislature is controlled by self serving GOP nut jobs, hypocrites, and corporate big money lackeys. PA is perhaps the biggest 'All Star' when it comes to how many traitors have been arrested for involvement with the 1/6/21 insurrection.
With you in PA, there are several reps including Scott Perry, a Paul Gosar wannabe, in York County. York also seems to have huge meth problem, Confederate and Q flags flying from trailers etc.
Please continue your current work. I think you should have a laser focus on voting suppression and corporate contributions to those who want to undermine democracy.
Great work - I admire what you all are doing. Would love to see you all follow the money to show how politicians, lobbyists and industry are keeping us tied to regressive and/or harmful environmental policies. We’re already seeing climate change consequences- the building in Miami built on wetlands and standing in rising sea levels, extreme heat in the Pacific NW, a longer and geographically broader hurricane season etc. Yet so much in the US is set up for us to make poor environmental decisions — about solid waste, food waste, water use, energy use - and increasingly we are being required to remain entrenched in these systems rather than progress to more sustainable ones.
When I tell people, even activists, that the Koch organization funds the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which coordinates oppressive state law-making across the nation, AND that Koch makes Dixie Cups, Brawny paper towels and Georgia-Pacific everything, why doesn't this turn into a catch-fire action boycott?
Wealth taxes. On their own or in support of infrastructure are a dead end road.
I would like to see Warren shift her energy to eliminating loopholes rather than pushing a lost cause like a generalized wealth tax.
Tax loopholes have a “dirty” cloak around them but they are specifically engineered to provide corporate and personal advantages that most citizens do not have and should be hard to defend.
An initial analysis should point out the most ones then Biden/Warren should put forth bills that eliminate or reduce the loopholes.
Sunset clauses should be built into any loophole that happens to survive so they don’t become the gift that keeps on giving.
Biden has signaled his desire to pursue this but given the failure of other budget initiatives he should get moving on this now.
We live in a cause-and-effect world but we don't require our democracy to commit itself to an accountability culture based on cause and effect reasoning. The business community has to make this shift, the public has to make this shift, and both political parties have to make this shift. (My wife and I took our Maryland home entirely off fossil fuels. Now we've moved to Iowa and have to do the same thing here.) For a fascinating tour of American ineptitude in the face of a looming pandemic, read Michael Lewis' latest, "The Premonition." His story tears the CDC apart for the blinders it wears. For a sample of what I mean by cause and effect reasoning, check out my YouTube video "The Earth's Natural Cooling System," runs 11 minutes plus, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOK1XGOSZb4 and thanks, Judd, for everything! Steve Johnson.
Whole I appreciate the extraordinary heat in northwest getting coverage I wish a little attention were also given to my corner of northern NM where, instead of hot dry June normal, we have had socked in grey cold rain for over a week and no projected end in sight. 43 degrees at ight in June? Not more than for daytime high? Obviously also climate change, coming behind fist sized hail that punched holes in roofs for the rain to pour in through. Roofers are giving September dates as their earliest to make repairs. Not good for us elderly and vulnerable folks.
Keep up the great and relevant reporting. Please continue to periodically summarize the legal upshot of the January 6 insurrectionists that have been charged. Also, many would be interested in ideas on how to hold accountable the elected Congressional seditionists of January 6th.
Thank you for everything you do. I have two suggestions. 1) Louis DeJoy’s continued employment and the associated damage not only to the USPS overall but by using the USPS to facilitate voter suppression through mail-in ballot delays. 2) Open, provable lies in the media and why little to no action is taken.
Keep the focus on companies funding insurrections, election security, AND call out news media who pretend to care about democracy, BUT their corporate parents contribute to insurrectionists (e.g. CNN is owned by AT&T). Their "shows" about the insurrectionists ignore that their employer fund insurrectionists.
As always I am concerned about the Republican held state legislatures. Often by reading comments on here I see there are a few folks who don't get what is going on here in America in the big picture or grassroots. Can you contrast and compare?
As usual, I am busy this afternoon when you are on. Please be sure to read what I sent you via email that detailed the changes in K-12 curriculum mandated by the VDOE concerning the 1619 initiative and CRT from Monday. It's 27 Pages long and was presented at a June School Board meeting to the chagrin of conservative commenters. It will give you a clear picture of what is on the table in Virginia School Divisions.
There's a program from the Obama era called the P.A.C.E. Program that is being used by unscrupulous contractors. They are using it to make 'repairs" through this "loan program" to do work on unsuspecting homeowners that ultimately can put a tax lien on properties that may cause their tax bill to increase to unheard of amounts and thus their homes are being seized for non-payment of a tax bill.
It's not being used in every state so far but that can and likely will change in the near future unless the faults of this program are exposed and people are protected. It should be eliminated.
You do GREAT work. There are so many issues at play now and I am at a loss about what I can do. I think one of the pressing issues is climate change.
For this country I believe campaign finance needs reform. Large corporations have far greater influence than voters, in fact they not the voters decide governance. I would like some input about what we, the voters, can do to effect change.
I'm very concerned about fair elections and the people's right to vote. I have used your research and articles many times to counter many false arguments and comments. I'm so grateful for all you're doing. We know the right wing is going to take on the "border issues" as an election smear and CRT ... so anything that can prepare us to do battle with the extreme right wing and protect our right honest information and voting.
Think you need to keep following the money. Companies that support candidates whose ideology is all about voter suppression and limiting democracy ought to be outed and have their feet held to the fire. There may not be much we can do but a simple letter or email expressing dismay can be effective. I’m not calling for boycotts of products and services as that may not be realistic, I just think more people should reach out and express their displeasure with some of the divisiveness that seems to abound.
Why not realistic to boycott? In many cases the power of the purse may be the only power we have especially in light of the aggressive attempts at voter suppression. Many life long purchasers of Toyota vehicles have reported directly to Toyota that they will longer buy from them because of their "behind the scenes" support (donations) of candidates supporting voter suppression laws.
I find myself increasingly concerned about the Delta and Gamma variants of COVID. I'd appreciate knowing how messaging concerning vaccination is going, especially in those areas in which vaccination is still relatively low.
I have mentioned this before but please interview Tim Cook at Apple regarding their support of voter suppression.
I’m not sure what they have said in the past but Apple is on the verge of adding 5,000 new jobs in Texas. 10,000 will be going to NC. Plus many thousands more throughout the US. This is an intentional strategy to have political power with all states (perfected to a fine art by military contractors; they build parts of planes in several states not efficient but oh the power it wields.
Tim Cook should be calling up Gregg Abbott and tell him that there ain’t no way those jobs are going to Texas if he proceeds with voter suppression.
Now to tell you the truth I think Abbott is a big enough a**hole that pressure from Cook won’t mean a thing and he will still sign a VS bill. But Abbott will pay dearly at the ballot box for that obstinance as will anyone who support him on this.
If Cook were to challenge him and Abbott goes ahead, Cook must stick to his gins and either hold the jobs in stasis or move them to a state that supports voter expansion.
I really think Apple has the muscle to make this happen. We just need to remind them of their moral duty.
I would love to interview Tim Cook! My reporting, as you've probably gathered at this point, relies more on digging through documents and interviewing rank-and-file workers than celebrity executives. Companies in Texas and elsewhere mostly seem unwilling to exercise their power in defense of voting rights.
Is there more to Biden's balking at student loan forgiveness and bankruptcy reform? It seems like a political no-brainer to take action before the midterm elections. With Rich Cordray recently appointed as head of the Federal Student Aid Chief Operating Officer in the US Department of Education, I was expecting to see action on this issue given his background as the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CEOs of Navient, FedLoan, and other loan servers make millions in compensation along with their lobbyists, and it's obvious they will not want their jobs to disappear.
I would like to see a progressive analog to the CPAC. While they have lost much of their support when a leak exposed major corporations and many of those corporations quit. But many still remain and CPAC's secretive nature doesn't allow us to see if those companies rejoined or new ones have joined. Their functions (action plans, Bill mills, etc.) however should be replicated on a progressive manner to coordinate progressive action among journalists, activists, positions and corporations.
Pro sports punch above their weight in US culture. Are NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL owners as “woke” as they claim or are they funding regressive politicians (as I fear).
What does the 2022 race look like? Will it be feasible for the Dems to overcome their Manchin/Sinema issue with won seats? Is it always a given that the incumbent loses seats in the first term?
As others have noted, the media needs to be held accountable for underplaying the seriousness of Republican undermining of our democracy. I imagine many of you saw the recent PBS "Rise of the Nazis" that had so many parallels to what is happening now. Some fought against that rise, and others, including the media, provided little resistance. I know this is not the type of investigation you do or may have the resources for, Judd, but I find it helpful when it is pointed out how much time the media, such ABC, CBS, and NBC nightly news devote to different topics. I would like to see an ongoing analysis of how many minutes each program devotes to the continuing attack on our democracy (beyond what happened on Jan. 6) COMPARED TO the number of minutes that are devoted to the royal family, the weather, explosions, planes falling out of the sky, etc. Those numbers need to be shoved in the face of the media on a regular basis. They need to be asked why repeatedly.
Some positive examples of who is doing it right, like Dan Price w/ regard to employee pay/treatment, which politicians (any?) are divested of controversial personal and campaign finances. In other words, who is leading by example, and how.
I want to know why the POTUS, who has access to the highest levels of classified information, does not have to undergo the relevant background checks. For 11 years, until retirement, I worked for a company that provided R&D for various branches of the US government, & military. Every single employee who worked on any classified projects had to undergo the relevant background checks, and our responsibilities were to protect classified information. When we worked on a new project, we were “read in”, or briefed on the project & had to sign a document agreeing to protect the information, which included *not sharing information with anyone not read in to said project*. Anyone caught not securing classified information/documents could lose their clearance/s, which likely would lead to being fired. (My experience was that 3 such infractions would lead to loss of clearance. Not sure whether that’s universal, but it makes sense that it would be.)
I don’t know whether not having to submit to a background check is true for VP & Congressional candidates, WH aides, Cabinet appointees, etc., but IMHO, *all of the above* should be cleared. I can’t imagine that lil trumpy would have made it to the 2016 election had his background been sufficiently checked! Just sayin’!!
I think it's because if someone is democratically elected there is no basis to deny them the presidency or a seat in Congress regardless of what a background check revealed.
Went thru that also. Top secret clearance meant contact with family, neighbors etc. and recertification every five years. Any trouble put that clearance in jeopardy so you towed a straight line.
Whatever allowed Trump to ignore the inability of Jared to circumvent his clearance should be analyzed and the loophole eliminated.
I was proud to have my clearance and pi**ed as hell when Jared bypassed this.
What’s crazy is Jared will use all those state secrets in business dealings and probably write a book when he should never have been allowed to function in the manner he did.
I'm no expert on journalism in America, but it seems to be a dire situation. Dearth of local reporting, monolithic agencies that are driven by clicks and ad revenue (or worse), and content that is purposefully polarizing, one-sided, and sometimes make-believe. These things have always been true in America, conflating conflict to drive more profit. Squelching truth when it doesn't fit ownership's agenda.
I'm not blaming media members per se, but the profit motive is harming the ideals of journalism as much as the politicians. Yes, old news, but what could we do to fix it? How do we retool journalism to face off against those who will will use any means to protect their riches, whiteness, religion, etc.
Your conclusions in your stories do not always impress me, what impresses me is the work that you put in, work that much wealthier organizations could be doing, but aren't (and why?) If we had had trusted news organizations for the last five decades, perhaps the things we have written about here in comments would not have gotten this bad: extreme politicians would have been sussed out and isolated, trickle down exposed as myth, money pathways rigorously investigated, scientific knowledge and limits better understood, and the general populous would be more educated on basically every topic.
Recommendation: be transparent. What are your policies? Where do your donations come from? What forces drive your reporting? What forces (editorial?) counter those forces? How can you grow? How can we support real reporting simply, safely? If you are successful (are you?), how can we use what you have done as a blueprint so that other homegrown teams will also be successful and not be beholden to money influences rather than hard work and truth? Can all your small team peer organizations stand together somehow so your reading public can subscribe one place without worrying about lining the pockets of the protectively rich? Can you support one another by linking to each other's stories more than you do the profit monoliths?
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I consider this newsletter to be a success but that's just an opinion. I hope these answers help.
Why is it that no one is talking about passive solar? I have been living in a passive (and active) solar, off grid house which I designed and built myself using mostly recycled materials, for about 15 years. I have less than 20 K$ in it. Why are others not doing the same?? Because they have been conditioned and brain washed by the Big Boys for 100 years. Period. ldfranklinxx@yahoo.com
I would appreciate seeing Climate Change Denying Senators' financial backing exposed. It is shocking that the immensely damaging, yet solvable challenge of climate change is denied by most R Senators, and some D Senators, stalling necessary and urgent action.
Why don't powerful senior moderate Republicans that dislike Trump (Collins, Romney, et al) and the current direction of the GOP start working with Democrats? Is Schumer doing enough to keep his troops in line and offering enough to moderate Republicans to change the Hill's dynamics? Dem leadership always seems so overwhelmed, outraged...and ineffective unless it has a strong majority. Could they even get a liberal justice on SCOTUS if the need arises or would they be stymied yet again and wring their hands and wag their fingers?
What can grassroots activists do in their communities and their home states to hold corporations accountable to their public statements in support of high principles? Specifically, we know who the CEOs are who signed the letter on behalf of their businesses in support of democracy. You've reported on those corporations/CEOs who are now quietly resuming donations to GOP elected officials who supported the insurrection. What can activists do expose this hypocrisy?
The climate emergency! Why don’t people yet see that all of us must drop everything and focus on this existential crises for our species?!? If we don’t deal effectively, universally, with this now, all the rest is moot. The earth will go on but our children and theirs may not. Our house is on fire and we’re still talking, talking, talking. Are we so numb, dissociated that we will just continue to sit around talking and writing while our water is drained off by agrabusiness irrigating all day every day depleting the soils, evaporating from scorching temperatures, drained to build fossil-fuel infrastructure, pipelines that inevitably leak, poisoning the rivers, lakes, oceans. Extractive mentalities allow extractive practices to continue as we hand-wring about politics. All our bodies are needed today to physically block extractive businesses, bring this crazy empire to a standstill before it eats us alive. If I sound extreme here it’s because my hair is on fire. So is yours. Do something.
Linda here, 72 year-old mother, grand-mother, retired lawyer, pastor, just back from Line 3, intending to return there. As soon as I can.
The planet now has 8 billion people to feed using unsustainable agriculture. Shortly people will be fighting for water and food as the water rises. The planet can sustain 1 to 2 billion people and we are way over that now.
Here to support Linda's post!
I’m concerned about big corporations in agriculture. A few companies control our food supply. There is a lot of corruption and dirty dealing to crush competition. The recent report in the Washington Post about Sonny Perdue’s bargain basement real estate deal with ADM is just one thread.
Yes! This too!
I’m concerned about recent news..South Dakota National Guard going to TX border. Funded by Willis and Reba Johnson Foundation. Charitable foundations are tax exempt… so in essence, aren’t all taxpayers funding this? Isn’t this a misuse of foundation funds? Who (IRS or DOJ) holds them accountable for spending.
Top it off, Trump intends to go to Texas border too. And now all taxpayers are paying for that — with his Secret Service protection. The grift continues
DeSantis skipped out most of the day from the Surfside crisis to see off Florida NG to go to the border. Shows what's really important to him. Hopefully it can be cannon fodder when the gov election comes up.
DeSantis is the BIG gun voter suppressor. He & _ICK __OTT (rickscott) the bought-bot are the main reasons FloriDUH is a red state. Via tRumprot appointed judges, they’re barbaric overthrow of the people’s vote to allow felons (w/exception to certain crimes) vote is why FLORIDUH IS DUH-RED ( Bigotcontrolled).
I enjoy getting your newsletter and appreciate your well cited investigations. I wish there were a way to donate in lieu of paying the subscription rate. Since I subscribe to other newsletters such as Heather Cox Richardson et al and the NYT, WA Post & Detroit Free Press the fees are beginning to strain on our budget (we’re seniors trying to stay informed). We are also donating to our favorite causes & candidates. An option for a donation would be helpful.
Please keep up the great work.
Love this newsletter, Judd. What I would love to see covered by you (and probably others have suggested this as well, but I am at work and unfortunately don't have time to read the responses) are what is being done by the Democrats (IF ANYTHING) to go after the Congressional seditionists of January 6th, such as Gosar, Brooks, MTG, Cawthorn, Jordan, Boebert, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, etc. They should not be able to just walk away from what they tried to pull that day. Life should not just "go on" for them, IMHO.
As well, I would love to see some concrete ideas on how to get Senators Manchin and Sinema to fall in line with respect to voting rights. This is nothing less than the issue of our time. Republicans realize that they lost the battle of ideas, so they have figured out that the only way for them to win elections is to keep Democrats away from the ballot box, and they have been remarkably successful in these efforts. My frustration with Manchin and Sinema is beyond words at this point, because the "bipartisanship" that they want on this issue will never happen. Moscow Mitch has said so in not so many words. Do they not realize or care that their intransigence on this issue will have the practical effect of consigning their party to permanent minority status in much of the country?
I don't know the answer to this but I think the experience in Texas has been instructive. Put as much focus on the issue as possible, force as many difficult votes as possible, and see what happens.
Thank you for your muckraking. I agree with the comments I have read. One thing I have not heard anything about is the use of sonic/acoustic sound weapons being used by the MN police against the peaceful protestors of line three on Tribal land. These are the weapons that the US is justifiably upset by their use by Russia against US diplomates. Why did I not see an outcry about their use against US citizens by Tarsand funded police? These weapons cause permanent body damage!
Definitely merits investigation. I haven't had a chance to look into it yet.
Great! I look forward to reading about your take on the issue. And let me know if you are interested in speaking with someone/a few (white americans) who were recently arrested in MN. I can't promise their interest in/permission to speak with you but I can ask.
This is an interesting TEDTalk/Berlin on the subject of sound as weapon. http://www.earthsayers.com/special_collection/Using_Sound_to_Claim_Space_and_as_Weapon_by_Nik_Nowak/39/22623. You might find earthsayers.tv the archive interesting to identify sources on a wide range of voices that I have curated from YouTube using a sustainability taxonomy. We recently created a search engine to the archive at earthsayers.org.
Also there is Mark Trexler's Climate Web if you really want to dig deep into the subject. Maybe you have already used it. Both Mark and I are "into" databases. https://www.theclimateweb.com/
I second Fry’s request to cover the use of sonic/acoustic sound weapons in MN AND the general lack of coverage of this important protest and Enbridge funding of and military equipment of MN police. Great work, Judd.
Check out the HEATED climate newsletter. She’s done several pieces on Line3 and Enbridge’s extensive funding of the police there.
I also subscribe to HEATED, and/but I figure the more the better. And Judd might have a slightly different take on it... But thanks for bringing up the HEATED newsletter.
Judd is particularly good at getting stories picked up by the mainstream media. There is a good story there about public police becoming de facto private security for big business interest. Line3 is extra powerful as American water protectors are harassed/arrested to protect a Canadian company.
You said it better than I - YES! A super important story and a great and important journalist.
Please investigate the links between some Congressional Republicans and White Nationalism
Yes please.
I am very happy with the work you're already doing, but if you're asking about other topics, I think your "follow the money" approach would fit the climate emergency.
This is something that is definitely on my agenda.
America's outdated and unfair tax system needs in-depth reporting as the wealthy and corporations have lobbied over the years so that now they pay little or no tax. Unfair and untenable.
From The Washington Post yesterday: "South Dakota Gov. Kristi L. Noem (R) will deploy up to 50 National Guard troops to the southern U.S. border, her office said Tuesday, with a highly unusual caveat — the mission will be funded by a “private donation” from an out-of-state GOP megadonor billionaire."
Is this really legal? Does this mean that another (or this) governor could send troops to Washington. DC if another billionaire (or Facebook/any corporation) doesn't like what Congress is doing and is willing to pay for the deployment? This is scary beyond belief.
Jane Goodall quote, " Here we are the most clever species ever to have lived. How is it we can destroy the only planet we have ?" As our biosphere is collapsing around us, we are not paying attention to the planet. Attention so some species - honey bees, Monarch butterflies, Texas horned toad, North American birds- reaches the news, but the implications of the collapse of these species is not portrayed as an emergency.
This!!
I'd love to see you investigate campaign finance of Senator Manchin, Senator Sinema, and any Dems who aren't in line with For the People Act and modifying the rules to allow it to pass.
I believe I've mentioned that Manchin received support for the first time from the Chamber of Commerce, which opposes (and is lobbying against) the For the People Act. It's a relatively small amount of money but it could later translate into significant independent expenditures later on. It's certainly something to keep an eye on.
Yes, and I caught that. Thanks. The more I learn about the fellow, the more I distrust him.
Are we looking for conservative organizations trying to twist them to the right or progressive organizations trying to twist them to the left.
Manchin is playing out a god complex.
Sine RMA is just a bitch.
I would love to see an explanation of Joe Manchin. What makes him tick? Or is the simple explanation of his intransigence just a power trip he is on?
Agree
Me too!
Please just keep doing what you’re doing!!! Great work!!!
Voting Rights, accessibility, S1 For the People, John Lewis bill, political / campaign / lobbying reform; anything threatening our democracy; climate change; healthcare; racism- These are the most important topics to me, in the order written (more or less). All these things are absolutely interrelated. But here's the thing, until our government truly represents 'For the people / by the people / one person-one vote, etc., our government will continue it's downward spiral to authoritarian / fascist rule. That downward spiral is primarily driven by big money / corporate interests. Those interests have little to do with human welfare, quality of life, or justice and equity for all. It has everything to do with selfish power mongering by an extreme minority of U.S. citizens. Minority rule (which is becoming the norm, ala Mitch McConnell / GOP / conservatism) is the antithesis of democracy.
whose pockets Manchin/Sinema are in (Filibuster). Biden getting weak on campaign promises about Climate change (and why). The national security implications of climate change.
This is very interesting to me, especially Biden's climate push, or lack thereof. We're talking about complete marine collapse in the next few decades, and yet no one really seems to be actually, really talking about it.
There are many folks talking about it. Most not likely to ever be mentioned in any kind of mainstream publication. I created earthsayers.tv to surface through curation those voices who are addressing topics such as this in several special collections including oceans, climate change, climate justice, and plastic in our oceans which cover many keywords associated with this issue. This video is particularly relevant to the collapse of the oceans. http://www.earthsayers.com/special_collection/Collapse_Of_The_Oceans_with_Joshua_Jackson/10/93740
I am interested in a close up analysis of what's happening with voter suppression in my state of Pennsylvania. We even have a state rep who was at the capital on 1/6. on video. unrepentant. Would you investigate my state? Thank you.
I got into the PA legislature a bit in this piece and am hoping to do a follow up: https://popular.info/p/corporations-expand-donation-freeze
I'm a voter for 40+ years. PA is one of the most corrupt states in the U.S.. Our legislature is controlled by self serving GOP nut jobs, hypocrites, and corporate big money lackeys. PA is perhaps the biggest 'All Star' when it comes to how many traitors have been arrested for involvement with the 1/6/21 insurrection.
I have to counter that claim. I’m from Floriduh. I think we’ve got you beat on all counts, unfortunately.
With you in PA, there are several reps including Scott Perry, a Paul Gosar wannabe, in York County. York also seems to have huge meth problem, Confederate and Q flags flying from trailers etc.
Yes, their majority in Harrisburg is definitely not serving MY community.
Agree!
Pennsultucky the area between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia I see is doing as good as ever. I spent a year in Enola only seemed like 5 years.
Yes
Please continue your current work. I think you should have a laser focus on voting suppression and corporate contributions to those who want to undermine democracy.
Great work - I admire what you all are doing. Would love to see you all follow the money to show how politicians, lobbyists and industry are keeping us tied to regressive and/or harmful environmental policies. We’re already seeing climate change consequences- the building in Miami built on wetlands and standing in rising sea levels, extreme heat in the Pacific NW, a longer and geographically broader hurricane season etc. Yet so much in the US is set up for us to make poor environmental decisions — about solid waste, food waste, water use, energy use - and increasingly we are being required to remain entrenched in these systems rather than progress to more sustainable ones.
When I tell people, even activists, that the Koch organization funds the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which coordinates oppressive state law-making across the nation, AND that Koch makes Dixie Cups, Brawny paper towels and Georgia-Pacific everything, why doesn't this turn into a catch-fire action boycott?
So simple, but 'meh' response.
Puzzled in Vermont.
Keep spotlights on dark corners where ALEC and other non profits flourish.
I haven’t bought any of their products for years. There’s a free app on the Apple App Store called Buycott https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buycott-barcode-scanner-qr-bar-code-scanner/id585933440 That helps with this type of campaign.
Thanks for the tip and the link.
Thanks
How is ALEC legal to begin with?
Not just legal. I believe they function tax free as a nonprofit.
Guess ALEC is no different than the legalized bribery we live in. Thanks for replying.
Also, check out CREW’s tracker here: https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-reports/this-sedition-is-brought-to-you-by/
How is ALEC legal to begin with?
❤️
It’s not free. $1.99. I just checked.
Wealth taxes. On their own or in support of infrastructure are a dead end road.
I would like to see Warren shift her energy to eliminating loopholes rather than pushing a lost cause like a generalized wealth tax.
Tax loopholes have a “dirty” cloak around them but they are specifically engineered to provide corporate and personal advantages that most citizens do not have and should be hard to defend.
An initial analysis should point out the most ones then Biden/Warren should put forth bills that eliminate or reduce the loopholes.
Sunset clauses should be built into any loophole that happens to survive so they don’t become the gift that keeps on giving.
Biden has signaled his desire to pursue this but given the failure of other budget initiatives he should get moving on this now.
We live in a cause-and-effect world but we don't require our democracy to commit itself to an accountability culture based on cause and effect reasoning. The business community has to make this shift, the public has to make this shift, and both political parties have to make this shift. (My wife and I took our Maryland home entirely off fossil fuels. Now we've moved to Iowa and have to do the same thing here.) For a fascinating tour of American ineptitude in the face of a looming pandemic, read Michael Lewis' latest, "The Premonition." His story tears the CDC apart for the blinders it wears. For a sample of what I mean by cause and effect reasoning, check out my YouTube video "The Earth's Natural Cooling System," runs 11 minutes plus, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOK1XGOSZb4 and thanks, Judd, for everything! Steve Johnson.
Whole I appreciate the extraordinary heat in northwest getting coverage I wish a little attention were also given to my corner of northern NM where, instead of hot dry June normal, we have had socked in grey cold rain for over a week and no projected end in sight. 43 degrees at ight in June? Not more than for daytime high? Obviously also climate change, coming behind fist sized hail that punched holes in roofs for the rain to pour in through. Roofers are giving September dates as their earliest to make repairs. Not good for us elderly and vulnerable folks.
Deep dive into who the biggest recipients of PPP were and what happened to the money.
This 👆
Keep up the great and relevant reporting. Please continue to periodically summarize the legal upshot of the January 6 insurrectionists that have been charged. Also, many would be interested in ideas on how to hold accountable the elected Congressional seditionists of January 6th.
Thank you for everything you do. I have two suggestions. 1) Louis DeJoy’s continued employment and the associated damage not only to the USPS overall but by using the USPS to facilitate voter suppression through mail-in ballot delays. 2) Open, provable lies in the media and why little to no action is taken.
Keep the focus on companies funding insurrections, election security, AND call out news media who pretend to care about democracy, BUT their corporate parents contribute to insurrectionists (e.g. CNN is owned by AT&T). Their "shows" about the insurrectionists ignore that their employer fund insurrectionists.
As does CBS owned by Comcast. A true news organization should not be shy about reporting the misdeeds of their parent company.
As always I am concerned about the Republican held state legislatures. Often by reading comments on here I see there are a few folks who don't get what is going on here in America in the big picture or grassroots. Can you contrast and compare?
As usual, I am busy this afternoon when you are on. Please be sure to read what I sent you via email that detailed the changes in K-12 curriculum mandated by the VDOE concerning the 1619 initiative and CRT from Monday. It's 27 Pages long and was presented at a June School Board meeting to the chagrin of conservative commenters. It will give you a clear picture of what is on the table in Virginia School Divisions.
Would you be so.kind as to forward the 27 pages to me? I too want to counter conservative misinformation re CRT ..........Thanks Much!
I am taking my older friend to a doctor's appt. I will send it after I get home.
send me an email catbel8@aol.com.
There's a program from the Obama era called the P.A.C.E. Program that is being used by unscrupulous contractors. They are using it to make 'repairs" through this "loan program" to do work on unsuspecting homeowners that ultimately can put a tax lien on properties that may cause their tax bill to increase to unheard of amounts and thus their homes are being seized for non-payment of a tax bill.
It's not being used in every state so far but that can and likely will change in the near future unless the faults of this program are exposed and people are protected. It should be eliminated.
https://youtu.be/UcuL2gihPtc
I subscribe. Keep up the good work. Reconciliation SHOULD do a separate gerrymandering bill ASAP. Florida
You do GREAT work. There are so many issues at play now and I am at a loss about what I can do. I think one of the pressing issues is climate change.
For this country I believe campaign finance needs reform. Large corporations have far greater influence than voters, in fact they not the voters decide governance. I would like some input about what we, the voters, can do to effect change.
I rely on your newsletter for up to date reliable well researched information. Thank you.
I'm very concerned about fair elections and the people's right to vote. I have used your research and articles many times to counter many false arguments and comments. I'm so grateful for all you're doing. We know the right wing is going to take on the "border issues" as an election smear and CRT ... so anything that can prepare us to do battle with the extreme right wing and protect our right honest information and voting.
Prison reform
Think you need to keep following the money. Companies that support candidates whose ideology is all about voter suppression and limiting democracy ought to be outed and have their feet held to the fire. There may not be much we can do but a simple letter or email expressing dismay can be effective. I’m not calling for boycotts of products and services as that may not be realistic, I just think more people should reach out and express their displeasure with some of the divisiveness that seems to abound.
Why not realistic to boycott? In many cases the power of the purse may be the only power we have especially in light of the aggressive attempts at voter suppression. Many life long purchasers of Toyota vehicles have reported directly to Toyota that they will longer buy from them because of their "behind the scenes" support (donations) of candidates supporting voter suppression laws.
Keep up the good work! The financial investigations you undertake reveal info not reported elsewhere. Good job. Em & Al must be proud.
I find myself increasingly concerned about the Delta and Gamma variants of COVID. I'd appreciate knowing how messaging concerning vaccination is going, especially in those areas in which vaccination is still relatively low.
Judd
I have mentioned this before but please interview Tim Cook at Apple regarding their support of voter suppression.
I’m not sure what they have said in the past but Apple is on the verge of adding 5,000 new jobs in Texas. 10,000 will be going to NC. Plus many thousands more throughout the US. This is an intentional strategy to have political power with all states (perfected to a fine art by military contractors; they build parts of planes in several states not efficient but oh the power it wields.
Tim Cook should be calling up Gregg Abbott and tell him that there ain’t no way those jobs are going to Texas if he proceeds with voter suppression.
Now to tell you the truth I think Abbott is a big enough a**hole that pressure from Cook won’t mean a thing and he will still sign a VS bill. But Abbott will pay dearly at the ballot box for that obstinance as will anyone who support him on this.
If Cook were to challenge him and Abbott goes ahead, Cook must stick to his gins and either hold the jobs in stasis or move them to a state that supports voter expansion.
I really think Apple has the muscle to make this happen. We just need to remind them of their moral duty.
I would love to interview Tim Cook! My reporting, as you've probably gathered at this point, relies more on digging through documents and interviewing rank-and-file workers than celebrity executives. Companies in Texas and elsewhere mostly seem unwilling to exercise their power in defense of voting rights.
The quality and importance of these questions is a testament to the intelligence of your readership, and the high value of ,your work! Congrats all
Thanks Bruce! I agree.
Is there more to Biden's balking at student loan forgiveness and bankruptcy reform? It seems like a political no-brainer to take action before the midterm elections. With Rich Cordray recently appointed as head of the Federal Student Aid Chief Operating Officer in the US Department of Education, I was expecting to see action on this issue given his background as the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CEOs of Navient, FedLoan, and other loan servers make millions in compensation along with their lobbyists, and it's obvious they will not want their jobs to disappear.
I think there is still time for student loan forgiveness although it clearly was not at the front of the line.
I would like to see a progressive analog to the CPAC. While they have lost much of their support when a leak exposed major corporations and many of those corporations quit. But many still remain and CPAC's secretive nature doesn't allow us to see if those companies rejoined or new ones have joined. Their functions (action plans, Bill mills, etc.) however should be replicated on a progressive manner to coordinate progressive action among journalists, activists, positions and corporations.
Pro sports punch above their weight in US culture. Are NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL owners as “woke” as they claim or are they funding regressive politicians (as I fear).
What does the 2022 race look like? Will it be feasible for the Dems to overcome their Manchin/Sinema issue with won seats? Is it always a given that the incumbent loses seats in the first term?
As others have noted, the media needs to be held accountable for underplaying the seriousness of Republican undermining of our democracy. I imagine many of you saw the recent PBS "Rise of the Nazis" that had so many parallels to what is happening now. Some fought against that rise, and others, including the media, provided little resistance. I know this is not the type of investigation you do or may have the resources for, Judd, but I find it helpful when it is pointed out how much time the media, such ABC, CBS, and NBC nightly news devote to different topics. I would like to see an ongoing analysis of how many minutes each program devotes to the continuing attack on our democracy (beyond what happened on Jan. 6) COMPARED TO the number of minutes that are devoted to the royal family, the weather, explosions, planes falling out of the sky, etc. Those numbers need to be shoved in the face of the media on a regular basis. They need to be asked why repeatedly.
I think this is important but it's probably more in the wheelhouse of an organization like Media Matters which is set up to do this kind of analysis.
Yes. Keeping do you!
Some positive examples of who is doing it right, like Dan Price w/ regard to employee pay/treatment, which politicians (any?) are divested of controversial personal and campaign finances. In other words, who is leading by example, and how.
I wrote a bit about Patagonia, which is one of the few national corporations taking a clear stand on important issues like voting rights.
I want to know why the POTUS, who has access to the highest levels of classified information, does not have to undergo the relevant background checks. For 11 years, until retirement, I worked for a company that provided R&D for various branches of the US government, & military. Every single employee who worked on any classified projects had to undergo the relevant background checks, and our responsibilities were to protect classified information. When we worked on a new project, we were “read in”, or briefed on the project & had to sign a document agreeing to protect the information, which included *not sharing information with anyone not read in to said project*. Anyone caught not securing classified information/documents could lose their clearance/s, which likely would lead to being fired. (My experience was that 3 such infractions would lead to loss of clearance. Not sure whether that’s universal, but it makes sense that it would be.)
I don’t know whether not having to submit to a background check is true for VP & Congressional candidates, WH aides, Cabinet appointees, etc., but IMHO, *all of the above* should be cleared. I can’t imagine that lil trumpy would have made it to the 2016 election had his background been sufficiently checked! Just sayin’!!
I think it's because if someone is democratically elected there is no basis to deny them the presidency or a seat in Congress regardless of what a background check revealed.
My point is that it should be mandated that candidates *must*!submit to background checks as soon as they announce their candidacy.
Went thru that also. Top secret clearance meant contact with family, neighbors etc. and recertification every five years. Any trouble put that clearance in jeopardy so you towed a straight line.
Whatever allowed Trump to ignore the inability of Jared to circumvent his clearance should be analyzed and the loophole eliminated.
I was proud to have my clearance and pi**ed as hell when Jared bypassed this.
What’s crazy is Jared will use all those state secrets in business dealings and probably write a book when he should never have been allowed to function in the manner he did.
I'm no expert on journalism in America, but it seems to be a dire situation. Dearth of local reporting, monolithic agencies that are driven by clicks and ad revenue (or worse), and content that is purposefully polarizing, one-sided, and sometimes make-believe. These things have always been true in America, conflating conflict to drive more profit. Squelching truth when it doesn't fit ownership's agenda.
I'm not blaming media members per se, but the profit motive is harming the ideals of journalism as much as the politicians. Yes, old news, but what could we do to fix it? How do we retool journalism to face off against those who will will use any means to protect their riches, whiteness, religion, etc.
Your conclusions in your stories do not always impress me, what impresses me is the work that you put in, work that much wealthier organizations could be doing, but aren't (and why?) If we had had trusted news organizations for the last five decades, perhaps the things we have written about here in comments would not have gotten this bad: extreme politicians would have been sussed out and isolated, trickle down exposed as myth, money pathways rigorously investigated, scientific knowledge and limits better understood, and the general populous would be more educated on basically every topic.
Recommendation: be transparent. What are your policies? Where do your donations come from? What forces drive your reporting? What forces (editorial?) counter those forces? How can you grow? How can we support real reporting simply, safely? If you are successful (are you?), how can we use what you have done as a blueprint so that other homegrown teams will also be successful and not be beholden to money influences rather than hard work and truth? Can all your small team peer organizations stand together somehow so your reading public can subscribe one place without worrying about lining the pockets of the protectively rich? Can you support one another by linking to each other's stories more than you do the profit monoliths?
I'll try to answer some of these questions:
1. All of the funding for the newsletter comes from individual readers who purchase subscriptions. There are no other revenue sources.
2. Popular Information's reporting is driven by my own thinking about what's important and is informed by feedback from readers.
3. I've recently hired an editorial intern which will grow our team to three people.
4. The newsletter supports myself, a full-time research assistant, and now an intern
5. Growth is primarily driven through the quality of the reporting although I'm always exploring new ways to market the newsletter. Recommending Popular Information's to friends is a big help.
I consider this newsletter to be a success but that's just an opinion. I hope these answers help.
Why is it that no one is talking about passive solar? I have been living in a passive (and active) solar, off grid house which I designed and built myself using mostly recycled materials, for about 15 years. I have less than 20 K$ in it. Why are others not doing the same?? Because they have been conditioned and brain washed by the Big Boys for 100 years. Period. ldfranklinxx@yahoo.com
I would appreciate seeing Climate Change Denying Senators' financial backing exposed. It is shocking that the immensely damaging, yet solvable challenge of climate change is denied by most R Senators, and some D Senators, stalling necessary and urgent action.
Why don't powerful senior moderate Republicans that dislike Trump (Collins, Romney, et al) and the current direction of the GOP start working with Democrats? Is Schumer doing enough to keep his troops in line and offering enough to moderate Republicans to change the Hill's dynamics? Dem leadership always seems so overwhelmed, outraged...and ineffective unless it has a strong majority. Could they even get a liberal justice on SCOTUS if the need arises or would they be stymied yet again and wring their hands and wag their fingers?
What can grassroots activists do in their communities and their home states to hold corporations accountable to their public statements in support of high principles? Specifically, we know who the CEOs are who signed the letter on behalf of their businesses in support of democracy. You've reported on those corporations/CEOs who are now quietly resuming donations to GOP elected officials who supported the insurrection. What can activists do expose this hypocrisy?