The MoJo Daily newsletter, Monday through Friday. [View in browser]( [Support our nonprofit journalism]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter]( July 29, 2024 Hi readers! This is Jeremy Schulman, an editor in the MoJo DC bureau. A couple weeks ago, I asked you all what you thought about Sean O'Brien, the Teamsters union president who gave perhaps the second-most significant speech at the Republican National Convention. O'Brien [didn't endorse Trump](, but he did praise the GOP nominee while also criticizing corporations and giving voice to a number of organized labor's key demands. The Biden administration was [reportedly furious]( at O'Brien for lending legitimacy to Trumpâa billionaire whose [presidency delivered]( a host of anti-labor policies and appointments. That war of words has continued. Today, the White House [released a statement]( hailing President Biden's ongoing use of Covid relief funds to [protect the pensions]( of hundreds of thousands of Teamsters. At the time, I said I thought O'Brien's speech was probably a good thing. From the responses we got, it looks like roughly half of you agreed. "Any time a person can speak the truth to a large gathering, & seek to build understanding is good," wrote Ardyth. "Workersâ Rights should be bipartisan." "I think Sean OâBrien was very smart to accept the opportunity to speak at the RNC and delivered an awesome speech on the importance of unions," concurred Barbara. "Donald Trump did not see Sean coming and I love it." Others disagreed strongly. âI can't fathom why a union leader would kiss up to the GOP when like Lucy in [Peanuts] they hold the football and pull it away at the last minute," wrote one reader. "The GOP has done zero, nada, zip for the unions; the Democrats have done everything they could from saving the American auto industry and its workers to Biden taking to the picket line." Many readers argued that even if it would be smart for unions to reach out to Republicans in other years, 2024 was different. "OâBrien made the wrong choice," said David. "It is one thing for a labor leader to speak to a Republican Party that supports democracy, it is entirely another to accept the invitation of an authoritarian, anti-democratic, racist, sexist, proto-dictator." One reader's criticism wasn't limited to the Teamsters leader. "What O'Brien did is opportunism and disgusting," opined Joe (not that Joe), before turning his attention to what I had written. "I don't call the article [smart, fearless journalism](. I call it scab journalism and hopefully Mother Jones will never let the author write for the magazine again." Sorry, Joe. âJeremy Schulman P.S. [This week's episode]( of the Reveal podcast follows one mother's bid to keep her son off the streets as he deals with mental health struggles. Reporters from the [Lost Patients]( podcast by KUOW and the Seattle Times tell this story to examine why it remains so difficult to get treatment for serious mental illnesses in America. [Make sure to listen]( wherever you get your podcasts. Advertisement [House Subscriptions Ad]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [Bidenâs Call for Supreme Court Reform Is Long Overdue]( "The White Houseâs endorsement is a crucial first step toward holding this MAGA Court in check and restoring Americansâ trust in the judiciary.â BY ARI BERMAN MOTHER JONES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE DONALD TRUMP & DEMOCRACY Youâre a Mother Jones Daily reader, so you know the stakes and you know reporting like ours matters so freaking much in these next few months (and beyond). About that: We need [the support of our newsletter readers like never before]( to vigorously fight back against the existential threats American democracy and journalism face. Weâre running behind our targets and urgently need all hands on deck. We canât afford to come up shortâwe have no cushion; we leave it all on the field. Please help with a donation if you canâeven just a few bucks helps. A [monthly gift]( would be incredible. [Donate]( [Trending] [Kamala Harris raised $200 million in her first week campaigning]( BY JULIANNE MCSHANE [Why a Kamala Harris victory could prove critical for the health of the planet]( BY NITISH PAHWA [The childless cat lady memes are flowing as JD Vance keeps digging]( BY ARIANNA COGHILL [Usha Vance reportedly loathed Trump]( BY JULIANNE MCSHANE Advertisement [House Bookshop Ad]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [Joe Arpaio still hasn't made peace with his own demise]( Why is the 92-year-old former Maricopa County sheriff running for mayor of his hometown? Maybe because he canât stop. BY TIM MURPHY Did you enjoy this newsletter? Help us out by [forwarding]( it to a friend or sharing it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate](
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