Trump's Budget Cuts Keep Mothers Behind Bars Past Release Dates

[t]   Friday, December 8, 2017 [t r u t h o u t] [View Recent Newsletters]( [Tell a friend about Truthout!]( [Donate Today!](   Truthout is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; donations are tax deductible.   BuzzFlash Senate Republicans Pack the Courts by Flouting Traditions Mark Karlin, BuzzFlash at Truthout: A rush is underway to pack the bench with right-wing judges. 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[Donate Now]( [No Longer Home for the Holidays: Trump's Budget Cuts Keep Mothers Behind Bars Past Release Dates]( Victoria Law, Truthout: Budget cuts to the Bureau of Prisons have led the agency to not renew contracts with 10 percent of the halfway houses that hold prisoners temporarily after their release. For many of those on the verge of being released, it means postponement of their reunion with families until long after the holidays. [Read the Article]( [Watchdogs Say US Chemical Safety Board Is "Flying Blind"]( Mike Ludwig, Truthout: As per a 1990 congressional mandate, chemical plants must report any dangerous substance released during accidents, so first responders and others in the vicinity can take precautions. But under pressure from the industry, the federal watchdog agency charged with investigating chemical accidents never finished instituting the rule, and has failed to investigate the vast majority of accidents that fall under its jurisdiction. [Read the Article]( [Hey, Trump: Navajo Elders Aren't Your Political Props]( Jacqueline Keeler, YES! Magazine: Acting by fiat has been a hallmark of this presidency. On Monday in Salt Lake City, President Trump announced he was reducing the Bears Ears National Monument by 85 percent, from 1.3 million acres to 201,876 acres -- despite it being unclear whether he has the legal right to do so under the Antiquities Act. The heads of state from the five Indigenous nations protested outside. [Read the Article]( [Republican Politicians Got Away With Ridiculous Claims to Defend Their Tax Bill -- and It's Trump's Fault]( Liz Posner, AlterNet: Donald Trump has paved the way for Republicans to get away with statements that are nearly as outrageous as his own. Take the shameless claims the Republicans have used to push for the tax bill over the past two months. The only question that remains is, are GOP lawmakers saying these things because they truly believe them? Or are they pandering to Trump's base? [Read the Article]( [Jeff Sessions Wants to Crack Down on Legal Weed -- Will Congress Let Him?]( Amanda Marcotte, Salon: In all the budget and tax negotiations frantically being hammered out on Capitol Hill, one small amendment that might get lost in the shuffle could have huge ramifications. The expiration of the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment would open the door for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to launch a federal war on states that have partly or completely legalized marijuana use. [Read the Article]( [Ousted Honduran President Zelaya Says 2009 US-Backed Coup Led to Election Crisis]( Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!: In an exclusive interview, former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a 2009 US-backed coup, says US actions led to the current political crisis in Honduras. The government continues to withhold the results of this November's presidential election. Massive protests erupted after the government-controlled electoral commission stopped tallying votes when the count showed opposition candidate Salvador Nasralla ahead. [Watch the Video and Read the Transcript]( [Moore Is Less: Alabama, the Senate and the Nation Will Suffer]( Michael Winship, Moyers & Company: National Republicans pay far more heed to poll numbers than to Moore's Ten Commandments. That's why we've witnessed the appallingly cynical backflips on his behalf from Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Republican National Committee. Trump and his many accomplices, including and especially Roy Moore, only succeed if we keep letting them. [Read the Article]( [Strong Job Growth Continues in November; Prime-Age Employment Rate Hits New High for Recovery]( Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Research: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported somewhat stronger than expected job growth in November, with employers adding 228,000 jobs. This brought the average for the last three months to 170,000. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1 percent. [Read the Article]( [Economic Update: Revolt Against Sexual Abuse]( Richard D. Wolff, Truthout: This week's episode includes discussions of what the tax bill means for graduate students, how the myth of "recovery" clashes with current levels of foreclosure, the way in which worker co-ops are stoking innovation, Starbucks' anti-worker policies, and more. Additionally, this episode features an interview with Dr. Harriet Fraad on the revolt against sexual violence. [Listen to the Audio]( [Want to strengthen Truthout and help us plan for the future? Click here to become a monthly sustainer.]( [The Newspaper Guild] Please add messenger@truthout.org to ensure you receive our messages Truthout is a proud member of the Newspaper Guild/CWA, Local 36047 [Subscribe]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy](