A diverse coalition of faith leaders flocked to Capitol Hill Wednesday for a day-long vigil to demand President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better agenda be passed, as it encounters significant roadblocks in its home stretch of negotiations. Invoking doctrine and scripture, representatives from groups including Bread for the World, Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, Interfaith Power &...
Trump’s new social media platform won’t allow users to ‘disparage’ it
Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced he’s launching a new social media platform, named “TRUTH Social,” that he said is meant to “fight back” against “Big Tech,” which he accused of trying to “silence opposing voices in America.” But ironically, given the name of the operation, the terms of service that users must agree to in...
Federal Bureau of Prisons could allow first gender-affirming surgery ever
A transgender woman could receive the first ever gender-affirming surgery provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons if her court case, currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, is successful. On Tuesday, the court heard Cristina Nichole Iglesias’ testimony in favor of a preliminary injunction, which would allow health care professionals with...
GOP governors tout lower unemployment rates under Biden
Nine months after President Joe Biden took office, jobs numbers are way up — and even Republican governors are taking notice. In recent days, several have bragged about the low unemployment they are now seeing in their states. “Today I announced that West Virginia’s unemployment rate is now the lowest recorded in state history!” tweeted Gov. Jim Justice on Wednesday. “This...
Every Senate Republican just rejected a bill to protect voting rights
Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a voting rights bill that would have thwarted a number of GOP-driven voter suppression laws across the country. Wednesday’s vote on the Freedom to Vote Act — which was merely to start debate on the legislation — fell far shy of the 60 votes necessary to break the filibuster. All 50 Republican senators voted against the legislation, while 49 Democratic...
Founders of ‘Campus Free Speech Caucus’ want to ban teaching about racism on campus
A group of Senate Republicans who have pushed to limit what professors can teach about America’s history of racism announced on Wednesday that they will form a new Campus Free Speech Caucus that they say is aimed at protecting diverse views at colleges and universities. In a Fox News op-ed, Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Tom Cotton of Arkansas wrote, “A democracy that...
Anti-vax House member backs bill that would force businesses to return relief funds
Anti-vaccine Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) co-sponsored a bill last month that would force any entity that requires vaccination for its employees — be it a state college, small business, or food program — to return pandemic relief funds to the federal government. On Wednesday, Rep. Scott Perry’s own alma mater announced it was joining the ranks of those who would be impacted by the bill. Perry...
McCarthy slammed for telling House GOP to vote against holding Bannon in contempt
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) blasted her party’s House leadership on Wednesday, accusing Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) of continually trying to block efforts to probe the events of Jan. 6, 2021. Cheney’s comments came during a House Rules Committee hearing, which was set up to decide whether or not to put a criminal contempt referral for former Donald Trump aide Steve Bannon on the House floor...
Republicans resurrect ‘War on Christmas’ rhetoric for the COVID era
With more than two months to go until Dec. 25, Republicans are already trotting out their yearly complaints about the “War on Christmas,” the disproven idea that throngs of people are skulking about, looking for any opportunity — whether it’s targeting holiday card greetings, school choirs, or supermarket displays — to snuff out public celebrations of the holiday. All month...
Liz Cheney pleads with House GOP members to hold Steve Bannon accountable
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) made an impassioned plea to her GOP colleagues on Tuesday night to hold Steve Bannon in criminal contempt of Congress. House GOP leaders have already recommended that caucus members vote “no” on the measure, CNN reported on Wednesday. The U.S. House of Representatives is considering holding Bannon, former President Donald Trump’s chief strategist, in...