
Three-judge panel blocks Alabama’s congressional districts, ordering new lines drawn
Democracy itself scored a major victory against Republican fascism with a federal court's decision to block a newly-devised Alabama congressional map, AGAIN, because it failed to create a second majority-Black district like they previously told them to. They just...didn't do it. The judges stated that they were “disturbed” by the actions carried out by the Republican-controlled state government, which is definitely in the running for "understatement of the year." Currently, white voters hold the majority in six of the state's seven congressional districts even though 27% of the state is Black. With this ruling, that stands to change for good. [RETWEET THAT!]
Take Action: Demand jurors be protected from Trump's threats!

VIDEO OF THE DAY: Trump's disqualification over 14th Amendment surges into spotlight
The disgraced and seemingly endlessly indicted former president may end up behind bars for his crimes but even if he ultimately wriggles out of prison time, he may still find his 2024 dreams dashed by an amendment that explicitly forbids insurrectionists from holding public office.
Take Action: Impose ethics standards on the Supreme Court!

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Ken Paxton begins his impeachment trial with a loss
The impeachment of Texas' embattled Republican attorney general over stunning corruption and bribery charges got off to a rocky start as the state’s GOP-majority Senate refused to throw out any of the 20 articles of impeachment brought against him. The vote gave the first indication of where senators stood ahead of trial, and the results don’t bode well for Paxton, who’s accused of using his office to call in special favors for a big-bucks donor.
Take Action: Tell Democrats to keep fighting for abortion rights!
New York AG Letitia James asks court to sanction Trump, his eldest sons, and attorneys
Fed up with their repeated efforts to reuse the same rejected and absolutely preposterous legal arguments, James has proposed a $10,000 fine for the defendants as well as a $10,000 fine for their defense attorneys as punishment for their "frivolous conduct," which is legalese for "being stupid and annoying in my courtroom." [RETWEET THAT!]
Take Action: Demand Trump's trial be televised!

Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio gets 22 years, longest Jan. 6 sentence yet
The man described by the judge as the "ultimate leader of the conspiracy" carried out by the militant fascist Proud Boys on Jan. 6th received less prison time than the 33 years requested by prosecutors, but that should come as cold comfort to Tarrio since he will still spend over two decades behind bars. Sometimes, justice is served.
Take Action: Tell Congress to pass gun reform laws ASAP!
Warner Bros. Discovery says actors and writers strikes will cost it up to $500 million this year
Proving that corporate greed is a monster that ultimately destroys itself, the colossal Hollywood studio has revealed that thanks to its stubborn refusal to pay writers and actors what they deserve, they'll be taking a half of a billion dollar hit — an expense that would have more than paid for the strikers' demands. Being anti-labor is just bad business — which makes it clear that this isn't about the money at all but about power, control, and the egos of billionaires.

Secretaries of State weigh Trump disqualification in 2024
No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen: This could be big...
How Warren Buffett’s billionaire son took over an American city and made it his personal playground
The city of Decatur, Illinois offers perhaps the clearest illustration to date of the pernicious power billionaires wield when they bring their immense wealth to bear. Over the last few decades, Howard Buffett has pumped over $200 million into a shrinking city of 70,000 people to reshape it to his specific preferences, with little consideration for the people who live there. Much of this slush fund has gone to strengthening the city's law enforcement in the form of upgrading the jail, gifting a full-body scanner, police cars, guns, and ballistic vests — an indefensible waste of money given the pronounced problem this country has with police brutality and thin blue line authoritarianism. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Gloria Johnson, of Tennessee Three, looks to unseat Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn
Democratic state Representative Gloria Johnson gained national attention along with Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson in March when she joined thousands of pro–gun control protesters in the state Capitol in the wake of a school shooting in Nashville. Republicans accused all three lawmakers of violating House decorum rules and voted to expel Jones and Pearson, both of whom are Black. The GOP fell one vote short of expelling Johnson, who is white. The experience has inspired Johnson to take aim at MAGA extremist Sen. Marsha Blackburn's Senate seat.
Disney tickets, PS5s, and big-screen TVs: Florida parents exploit DeSantis' school vouchers
According to an investigation of private Facebook group messages, Florida parents who homeschool their students are taking gross advantage of an expanded school voucher program championed by DeSantis. The program provides about $8,000 annually to thousands of homeschooled students which they are in turn using on taxpayer-funded theme park passes, big-screen TVs, and other items with little connection to education. Ironically, the Republicans supporting this flagrant grift are the same people who are constantly whining about wasting money on welfare programs, which unlike this program actually put food in peoples' mouths!
PragerU’s right-wing propaganda videos infiltrate another state’s classrooms
Oklahoma has decided to take after Florida and flush its educational system right down the toilet by subjecting students to misinformation videos — which run the gamut from climate change denial to overt racism —pumped out by arch-conservative Dennis Prager's white supremacist propaganda outfit.

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