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Category Archives: Government
The new name for Defense–The Department of War
Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson Today President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War, although the 1947 abandonment of the Department of War name was not simply a matter … Continue reading
Posted in Government, Law, War
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Original Medicare to use AI companies to evaluate need for health care services
By Daily Actions on September 5, 2025 (thanks to Mary M.) Donald Trump and Dr. Oz want to let Artificial Intelligence (AI) choose which procedures Medicare will cover for individual patients — with AI companies being paid based on how … Continue reading
Posted in Ethics, Finance, Government, Health
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Medicare Will Require Prior Approval for Certain Procedures [for those with Original Medicare]
A pilot program in six states [including Washington State] will use a tactic employed by private insurers that has been heavily criticized for delaying and denying medical care. By Reed Abelson and Teddy Rosenbluth in the NYT (thanks to Mary M.) Like millions … Continue reading
Posted in Ethics, Finance, Government, Health
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ACLU Know Your Rights Training
Thanks to Mary Jane F. Friday, September 5, 2025 8:00 PM ET As we speak, President Trump has deployed thousands of National Guard troops, federal agents, and local police forces to the streets of D.C. to target Black and Brown residents, … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Government, Justice, Law, protests
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Okanogan County protests highlight rural impact of Trump policies
Organizers in the north-central Washington Republican stronghold want to call attention to how recent cuts could hurt the region’s poorest residents. Mai Hoang Sep 2, 2025 in Crosscut One recent Saturday morning, Twisp was full of activity, typical for the … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Government, Immigration, protests
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We Ran the C.D.C.: Kennedy Is Endangering Every American’s Health
By William FoegeWilliam, Roper, David Satcher, Jeffrey Koplan, Richard Besser, Tom Frieden, Anne Schuchat, Rochelle P. Walensky and Mandy K. Cohen – in the NYT Opinion Section The authors previously led in the C.D.C., as directors or acting directors under Republican and Democratic … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Government, Health, History
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‘Damning audit’ begs the question: Who is protecting taxpayer interests in King County?
By The Seattle Times editorial boardIf there was ever a wake-up call for local government, this is it. In a disturbing report released Tuesday, the King County Auditor determined that grant funding from the county’s Department of Community and Human … Continue reading
Posted in Finance, Government, Housing
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DRAINING THE SWAMP: “ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ” SINKS UNDER ITS OWN CRUELTY
From Substack – Thanks to Pam P. For once, Florida’s Everglades delivered something other than corruption, mosquitoes, and humidity that feels like punishment. The notorious immigration detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz” — Trump’s swamp-side monument to cruelty — is finally collapsing. … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, environment, Government, Immigration, Race
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A conversation with Gavin Newsom
Posted in Government, Politics
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The carnage in D.C. continues
Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson The image of National Guard troops, some of them from as far away as Louisiana and Mississippi, in Washington, D.C., spreading mulch around the cherry trees at the Tidal Basin and picking up trash, illustrates … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Government
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The Crazy Comes for Clean Energy
by Paul Krugman (thanks to Diana C.) I do three things every morning: I start a pot of coffee, I feed the cat, and then I fire up my laptop. The first two are calming routines. The third is a … Continue reading
Posted in Climate, Economics, energy, Government, Mental Health, Politics, Science and Technology
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The Nineteenth Amendment
As right-wing Christian nationalists supported by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth are calling for an end to women’s right to vote, it seems crucial to remember the history of the drive for women’s suffrage in the United States of America. … Continue reading
My Family Lives in the Shadow of the American Dream
By Andrew Tait (thanks to Pam P.) I live in Shenandoah County, Virginia. I’m a factory worker, a farmer, and a father of two girls, one still in diapers. I get up before the sun, and most days I don’t … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Business, Economics, Government, Insurance, Law, Morality, Social justice
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The “conflictedness” of RFK, Jr. seems never-ending
Thanks to Mike C. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made money from his anti-vaccine advocacy through several channels tied directly to his public stance on vaccines:
Posted in Government, Health, Vaccines
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Vote of No Confidence in Our Federal Governments
From Robert Reich, (thanks to Pam P.) Here’s a document I’ve [Robert Reich] just signed. You may want to add your name, and share. We, the People of the United States, declare a vote of no confidence in our current … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Government, Justice, Law
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Fascism and Narcissism go hand in hand
Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson This morning, J.D. Wolf of Meidas News pulled together all of Trump’s self-congratulatory posts from Sunday morning, when the president evidently was boosting his ego after Friday’s disastrous meeting with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump … Continue reading
Posted in Government, Politics
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A summit to nowhere for a photo op
Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson on August 16th Yesterday, military personnel from the United States of America literally rolled out a red carpet for a dictator who invaded a sovereign country and is wanted by the International Criminal Court for … Continue reading
Posted in Government, War
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Gerrymandering possibility in California
Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson Today, flanked by California’s Democratic elected officials and union leaders, California governor Gavin Newsom responded to Trump’s attempt to strongarm the Texas legislature into redistricting the state to give Trump the five additional congressional representatives … Continue reading
Posted in Government, Politics
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Rep. Schrier questions RFK Jr. in Congressional Hearing
Posted in Advocacy, Caregiving, Government, Health, Morality
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Why did Senator Cassidy, a physician, believe RFK Jr.?
Thanks to Ed M. Answer: Could it possibly have anything to do with $en. Cassidy’s desire to be re-elected? SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: …If you are confirmed, do you commit that you will not work to impound, divert or otherwise reduce … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Government, Health, Morality
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Sunday thought: Working for the Good
By Robert Reich (thanks to Pam P.) Friends, Over the past several weeks, Trump and his MAGA stooges in Congress have passed legislation to strip health care from 10 million people; cut food stamp benefits for 40 million Americans, half … Continue reading
Word with a Past: Gerrymander
from History in the Margins – (thanks to Pam P.) If Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814) had played his cards right, he could have been a minor but respected figure in American history. He signed the Declaration of Independence, helped draft the … Continue reading
Posted in Government, Politics
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“Killing the messenger” when unhappy with the facts
Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson President Donald J. Trump’s firing of the commissioner of labor statistics on Friday for announcing that job growth has slowed dramatically has drawn a level of attention to Trump’s assault on democracy that other firings … Continue reading
Posted in Government
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Be warned: the financial bubble will soon burst
by Robert Reich Friends, This isn’t an investment letter and I’m not an investment advisor. But I want to warn you. The financial economy — stocks, bonds, and their derivatives — is in for a big reality check, and I … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Finance, Government
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Democratic legislators exit Texas to prevent gerrymandering
Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson Today, Democratic lawmakers from the Texas House of Representatives left the state to deny Republican lawmakers the quorum—the number of legislators required to pass legislation—they need in order to push through a new district map … Continue reading
Posted in Government, Politics
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