VOICES

COMMENTARY - The Southwest strike has given me renewed hope that Americans have not become complete doormats. In recent times as a society, we seem to be more concerned about tiptoeing around China, whether it’s bad to call it “China virus”, instead of actually solving the problem of a worldwide pandemic.

CHILD POVERTY - American families have struggled for decades to make ends meet with stagnant wages and a decimated social safety net. The U.S. now spends less on children than nearly any other wealthy nation.

CLIMATE WATCH - It's taken too long, but the mainstream media—finally and haltingly—seems to be realizing that the climate crisis is a story that can no longer be ignored.

LGBTQ NATION - Over a hundred students held a walk out at a high school in Missouri in support of a gay student who has faced constant bullying and violence this year at school.

WH PRESS CORP - White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had to tell a far-right reporter to stop yelling about a conspiracy theory during the press briefing yesterday.

DEMOCRACY & JUSTICE - On Tuesday, Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

PEACE VOICE - Conventional wisdom tells schoolchildren that the US was the first modern democracy, modeled to some degree after the Greek experiment from a couple thousand years ago. 

 LGBTQ NATION - A heartwarming video has gone viral for showing a father embracing his son after he discovers his son putting on makeup. The video has gotten over 10.4 million views on TikTok so far.

ECONOMY WATCH - Right now, corporations and the ultra-rich are spending millions to derail President Biden’s Build Back Better plan.

PEACE VOICE-In the first few weeks of class I usually ask students: can you think of any part of your daily life that is not regulated? 

COMMENTARY-Big garbage is big money, and for decades the City of Glendale has been profiting from a dump that overlooks the community of Eagle Rock in northeast Los Angeles. 

COMMENTARY-Reports of generals testifying before Congress that Biden withdrew the military from Afghanistan faster than they had recommended seems to smell a lot like after-the-fact CYA and self-serving in the extreme. 

IMMIGRATION WATCH - Susie Lujano, 28, envisions herself living in Houston forever with her soon-to-be husband and the child they’re expecting.

FINANCIAL MELTDOWN - Mitch McConnell just had Republicans in the Senate declare a filibuster against a simple piece of legislation that would raise the debt ceiling to keep the federal government running, telling Democrats if they want to avoid a massive and destructive government shutdown they're going to have to raise the debt ceiling using reconciliation.

THE COUP ATTEMPT -  “There is an unfolding assault taking place in America today,” President Biden said in Philadelphia on July 13. “An attempt to suppress and subvert the right to vote in fair and free elections, an assault on democracy, an assault on liberty, an assault on who we are — who we are as Americans.” 

IMMIGRATION WATCH - On the cover of Richard Slotkin’s classic study Gunfighter Nation’s 1998 edition is a painting depicting cowboys fighting Native Americans.

COVIDIOT WATCH - Despite the apparent existence of a free, handy, plentiful vaccine that can keep you alive, right-wing anti-vaxx buffoonery is still at lethal work, and it's not a pretty sight.

CONNECTING CALIFORNIA - It’s hard to think of a better bargain in our high-cost state than the failed recall election against Gov. Gavin Newsom.

VOICES-To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to express my concerns regarding the news of the State of California Bar appointing George Cardona as Chief Trial Counsel. 

COMMENTARY-If you are a man living in the Lone Star State today, there are a number of challenges you could face on your way to an abortion. . .

ANTI WAR HAUL - As the US after 20 years finally began its withdrawal from Afghanistan, the story dominated TV news.