Oakland Teachers Strike, Joining #RedforEd Movement on Picket Lines

Thursday, February 21, 2019 [| Keep truth alive: Support Truthout! |]( [Oakland Teachers Strike, Joining #RedforEd Movement on Picket Lines]( Candice Bernd, Truthout Teachers in Oakland, California, are joining their #RedforEd counterparts in Los Angeles and across the nation in striking for better working conditions and fully funded schools on picket lines across the city today. As in LA, Oakland educators face ballooning class sizes and dwindling resources as billionaires seek to expand charters at the expense of public schools. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [It's Hard to Sue a President. Can Trump Be Defeated in Court?]( William Rivers Pitt, Truthout Successfully suing a sitting president is a hard hustle, especially in this situation. Once the merits are established in this case, if they are at all, the question will turn to the powers vested in a president by the Emergency Declarations Act, which are vast and not thoroughly defined. Get ready for another long, hot summer. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [What Happened to the Struggle for Socialism in Latin America?]( Anton Woronczuk, Truthout Is the decline of the Latin American left solely the fault of U.S. imperialism? Or were there fundamental problems in the "pink tide" governments that came to power at the beginning of the 21st century? Mike Gonzalez, author of The Ebb of the Pink Tide: The Decline of the Left in Latin America, explains how left governments have recreated the popular discontent which brought them to power in the first place. [Read the Interview →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Even as the mainstream media betrays the struggle against Trump, we are determined to fight alongside you, offering news and analysis that will keep our readers armed with the truth. Will you join us in the fight by donating to Truthout right now? [Donate Now →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [As Racist Attacks Soar Under Trump, White Nationalist Plotted Massacre]( Julia Conley, Common Dreams Just as a new report was released showing the continued rise of hate groups in the United States, federal authorities say they have thwarted a plan by a white nationalist to begin widespread, violent attacks on President Donald Trump's perceived political opponents with the aim of establishing "a white homeland." His list of targets included Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Is Drilling and Fracking Waste on Your Sidewalk or in Your Pool?]( Melissa Troutman, Truthout Wastes from oil and gas operations are exempt from rules that govern other hazardous substances, so they are routinely used for commercial purposes, such as treating swimming pools and de-icing sidewalks. Despite finding that the waste contains substances that endanger human health and the environment, the EPA has made it possible for toxic "frack salt" to be tracked into the spaces where we live and work. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Pennsylvania Prison Lockdown: Public Health Crisis or Powerplay?]( Valerie Kiebala, Truthout Around the time of the National Prison Strike last year, Pennsylvania placed all 25 of its state prisons on lockdown, citing a public health crisis among prison staff caused by exposure to illegal cannabinoids. Using that excuse, it has since stepped up monitoring and control of the nearly 50,000 prisoners in its charge, prompting a series of lawsuits, including one federal case that began trial this week. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Supreme Court Rules Against High Fines and Civil Asset Forfeiture]( Amy Goodman and Nermeen Shaikh, Democracy Now! The Supreme Court unanimously ruled to limit the practice of civil asset forfeiture -- a controversial practice where police seize property that belongs to people suspected of crimes, even if they're never convicted. On Wednesday, the court ruled the Eighth Amendment protects people from state and local authorities imposing onerous fines, fees and forfeitures to generate money. [Watch the Video and Read the Transcript →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Saudi Arabia and UAE Fund Think Tanks That Drive US Foreign Policy]( Ben Freeman, TomDispatch Every year, foreign governments pour tens of millions of dollars into U.S. think tanks, though such donations often turn out to be anything but charitable gifts. Foreign contributions generally come with critically important strings attached -- usually a favorable stance toward that country in whatever influential work the think tanks are doing. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [How Will the Courts Handle the Trump Emoluments Cases?]( Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, Brennan Center for Justice In both CREW v. Trump and D.C. v. Trump, plaintiffs have argued that Trump is violating the Constitution's foreign and domestic emoluments clauses by taking in prohibited monies from foreign kings and domestic states. Trump maintains that he is allowed to accept both types of emoluments if they flow to him through his business. What we don't know yet is how these cases will resolve this issue. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- In Case You Missed It --------------------------------------------------------------- [Trojan Horse Legislation Could Derail Single-Payer in Massachusetts]( Michael Corcoran, Truthout A devious piece of legislation introduced in Massachusetts appears on its surface to usher forward the fight for single-payer health care in the state. In reality, the special commission to study single-payer implementation places health industry lobbyists in charge -- the very people who profit tremendously from the current multi-payer system. This death-by-task-force tactic is yet another way the powerful health industry can undermine single-payer health care. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [The Arms Trade Is Intensifying Under Trump]( Peter Castagno, Truthout The global arms trade is experiencing its greatest boom since the Cold War, fueled by horrific wars in the Middle East and revitalized power rivalries among China, Russia and the United States. The Trump administration's commitment to advancing arms sales is apparent in a cabinet rife with conflicts of interest, as well as its directives in official arms export policy. To fight back, we need to initiate a real public debate on the arms trade. [Read the Article →]( --------------------------------------------------------------- We still need 76 people to make a monthly donation to Truthout. Will you be one? Just choose 'monthly' on our 30-second form. [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](