Progressive Activists Are Winning in Red States

Sunday, December 9, 2018 [Progressive Activists Are Winning in Red States]( Michael Arria, Truthout Progressive wins in several Republican-controlled areas this fall were achieved not as a result of outspending conservative rivals but by dint of tireless organizing over the course of several months. By moving away from traditional top-down organizing, the progressive movement was able to mobilize massive numbers of volunteers and put in place an infrastructure that changed the conversation and could lead to future victories. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Big Tobacco Won't Take Menthol Ban Lying Down]( Clara Herzberg, Truthout Of all the Food and Drug Administration's efforts to curb Big Tobacco, the battle against menthol will be the toughest to win. The industry's public relations arm has already begun a counteroffensive -- questioning the science and evidence behind the ban and creating fears of a black market in menthol cigarettes. But in the interest of public health, especially of teenagers, regulators should not back down. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Shark Fishing Tournaments Devalue Ocean Wildlife and Harm Conservation]( Rick Stafford, Truthout Shark fishing tournaments target endangered species and impose negative effects on marine ecosystem. The broader consequences of the message this sport conveys about our relationship to nature are stark. With our planet already under siege from a multitude of human-caused environmental crises driven by profit and unfettered consumption, we cannot afford to endanger our marine ecosystem further with this unnecessary and cruel sport. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- We deliver stories that fuel resistance, 365 days a year. Please join us in the fight to keep real journalism alive. [Donate Now →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Judge Rules Against Pre-Construction Work on Keystone XL]( Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams Opponents of TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline celebrated a win in court after a federal judge ruled on Friday that the fossil fuel giant cannot conduct pre-construction work on the pipeline until the full environmental review ordered last month is complete. Critics of the Keystone XL continue to battle it in court and on the ground. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Swept Up in France's Yellow Vest Protests]( Chris Brooks, Labor Notes Hundreds of demonstrators first took to the streets in France on November 17 out of resentment over a hike in the price of diesel gas announced by President Emmanuel Macron as part of his efforts to address climate change. The protesters represent a broad section of working-class France, and their anger is wholly understandable in light of Macron's tax cuts for the wealthy and attacks on labor. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Carbon Emissions Will Reach a Record High of 37 Billion Tons in 2018]( Pep Canadell, Corinne Le Quéré, Glen Peters, Robbie Andrew and Rob Jackson, The Conversation Carbon emissions have now increased sharply for the second consecutive year. The increase will further slow progress toward the goals of the Paris Agreement, which requires a decline in greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible. Strong growth in emissions from the use of coal, oil and natural gas suggests CO2 emissions are likely to increase further in 2019. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Philadelphia Just Passed the Strongest Fair Scheduling Law in the Nation]( Bryce Covert, In These Times The poorest big city in the country just enacted the most sweeping bill yet to give low-wage workers some control over their schedules. Phildelphia's new law, which passed the city council last Thursday, will require businesses with more than 250 employees and more than 30 locations worldwide to provide employees their schedules at least 10 days in advance. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [North Carolina's Election Fiasco Is About Voter Suppression, Not Voter Fraud]( Kevin Morris and Myrna Pérez, Brennan Center for Justice The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted unanimously not to certify the 9th District's US House race because of irregularities in the district's absentee ballots. In understanding what happened, let's be clear. First, voters are not the problem. Second, this was voter suppression, not voter fraud. And third, we need to investigate whether this was the tip of the iceberg. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- In Case You Missed It --------------------------------------------------------------- [Can the Nation's First Charter School Strike Transform the Industry?]( Candice Bernd, Truthout For the first time, charter school teachers are striking. Over the past week, a strike at Chicago's largest unionized charter network gained steam, with 15 schools closed since Tuesday. Illinois state representatives also joined more than 550 Acero charter network teachers and support staff on strike in Chicago to announce a series of bills designed to reform the charter industry. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [What Marc Lamont Hill's Pro-Palestine Message Means to a Palestinian]( Osama Alkhawaja, Truthout CNN fired Marc Lamont Hill because he stepped outside the spectrum of acceptable debate regarding Israel. But all of his statements were valid criticisms of the Israel, which continues to deny Palestinians their rights while calling itself a democracy. CNN has deliberately misconstrued and mischaracterized Lamont Hill's remarks to facilitate his firing. He should be reinstated immediately. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Like what you're reading? Support Truthout's independent news and analysis by making an automatic monthly donation. [Donate Now →]( Connect With Us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Donate]( Truthout is a reader-supported, nonprofit organization; donations are tax-deductible. Truthout is a proud member of the Newspaper Guild/CWA, Local 36047. Please add messenger@truthout.org to ensure you receive our messages. [Subscribe]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy](