California voters on Tuesday roundly defeated an effort to recall Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose ouster likely would have resulted in right-wing radio host Larry Elder—a longtime climate denier who recently said the ideal minimum wage is $0—becoming the leader of the most populous state in the U.S. By Jake Johnson Common Dreams Faced with two ballot questions—whether Newsom should be […]
The following remarks, as prepared for delivery, were given by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Tuesday, August 10, 2021 as the Senate began consideration of the FY 2022 budget resolution and reconciliation instructions: Unprecedented times require unprecedented action. I’m LIVE on the Senate floor NOW as we start debate on the most consequential legislation […]
Shortly after the Senate passed a $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure package on Tuesday, the Congressional Progressive Caucus said a survey of its nearly 100 members showed that a majority of respondents are prepared to withhold their votes for the newly approved legislation until the upper chamber also greenlights a sweeping reconciliation bill. By Jake Johnson Common Dreams In […]
As the United States Senate on Saturday voted to advance a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package, progressive lawmakers warned that they will not vote for the proposed legislation if it does not adequately fund human needs such as healthcare, housing, and climate action. By Brett Wilkins Common Dreams Saturday’s 67-27 Senate cloture vote on the 2,700-page Infrastructure Investment […]
If Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential election victory was a political earthquake that shattered norms and expectations, the 2018 midterm wins by four women of color ought to be seen as a similarly earth-shattering occurrence. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota won seats as […]
A fire that raged for hours in the Gulf of Mexico Friday offered the latest illustration of the climate emergency and the urgent need to end fossil fuel extraction and invest instead in burgeoning renewable energy industries. By Julia Conley Common Dreams An underwater gas pipeline controlled by Mexico’s state-owned oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos, also known […]
Hundreds of activists with the youth-led Sunrise Movement marched through the streets of Washington, D.C. and converged on the White House Monday to make clear they have no intention of dropping their call for an infrastructure package that includes robust investments in green energy and public works, particularly a New Deal-inspired Civilian Climate Corps. By Jake […]
Clean transportation supporters in Congress joined with environmental and labor advocates for a Wednesday rally to demand funding for high-speed rail, a call that was echoed in a new letter from five Democratic lawmakers amid ongoing infrastructure talks. By Jessica Corbett Common Dreams The letter is spearheaded by Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as well as […]
An analysis released Monday by advocacy group Friends of the Earth says that eliminating an overlooked loophole included in the Republicans’ 2017 tax legislation amounting to fossil fuel industry “welfare” could help fund renewable infrastructure while advancing smart climate policy. By Andrea Germanos Common Dreams “One of the biggest presents [former President Donald] Trump ever sent […]
The past year proves that a lot of conventional economic wisdom is neither true nor wise. By Jim Hightower Otherwords For example: 1) “We don’t have the money.” The power elites tell us it would be nice to do the big-ticket reforms America needs, but the money just isn’t there. Then a pandemic slammed into […]
Just before heading home for the 2020 holidays, the U.S. House and Senate passed a massive omnibus package. The package, which includes COVID relief and government funding, is also “the most significant energy legislation in more than a dozen years,” Politico reports. President Trump signed it Sunday night. By Flannery Winchester Citizens’ Climate Lobby “The agreement […]
President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination of Democratic Rep. Deb Haaland to be secretary of the interior—the successful culmination of a campaign waged by a broad coalition of social and environmental justice advocates—was met with applause on Thursday. By Kenny Stancil Common Dreams Climate justice and Indigenous rights advocates commended the decision to put the progressive Native American congresswoman […]
Ho ho ho, wait till you hear about the gifts I gave to some of America’s power elites for Christmas. By Jim Hightower Otherwords To each of our Congress critters, I sent my fondest wish that from now on they receive the exact same income, health care, and pensions that we average citizens get. If […]
The Center for Biological Diversity on Thursday called on President-election Joe Biden to make good on his pledge to not “just tinker around the edges” of solutions to the climate and planetary crisis, releasing a report detailing 50 steps Biden can take without relying on Congress to address biological diversity, pollution, environmental injustice, and the […]
Trump may have lost his bid for reelection, but many will still wonder: How has America turned so right-wing that a narcissistic, wannabe-dictator like Trump was even in the running? A vocal of minority of the president’s supporters may be racist, xenophobic, and misogynistic. And a bunch of uber-wealthy corporate profiteers are making a killing from […]