therealnews--2020-11-10--Dehumanizing the disabled won’t end with a Dem in office

Kim Brown has been covering national and international politics for over 10 years and has been a sought-after voice on @ @ @ @ @ .

Dehumanizing the disabled won’t end with a Dem in office
People with disabilities have loudly pointed out the ways our society and our healthcare system are made inaccessible to them. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the cruelty of these systemic exclusions and injustices, and we can no longer ignore the fact that denying disabled rights means denying human rights.


therealnews--2020-11-10--This is Not a Drill: The Transition from Trump to Biden

Hosts Adam Gold and Rishi Awatramani return to discuss these post-election themes with guests Jon Liss from New Virginia Majority @ @ @ @ @ Law Lab , Branden Snyder from Detroit Action , and Philadelphia City Councilmember Kendra Brooks @ @ @ @ @ of groups that movements entered into this year to defeat Trump dead already ?
Or @ @ @ @ @ the basis for the progressive majority that many aspire to build ?
Organizers are celebrating @ @ @ @ @ role in defeating Trump at the voting booth .
And they are gearing up for @ @ @ @ @ transition , and the long fight that follows .
What lessons can we take from @ @ @ @ @ our groups have played , and where do we stand in relationship to the voters @ @ @ @ @ we allied with , and with one another ?
Are we prepared for the non-electoral @ @ @ @ @ ahead ?

“The popular front is dead. Long live the popular front.”
Hosts Adam Gold and Rishi Awatramani return to discuss these post-election themes with guests Jon Liss from New Virginia Majority, Purvi Shah from Movement Law Lab, Branden Snyder from Detroit Action, and Philadelphia City Councilmember Kendra Brooks.
Is the broad front of groups that movements entered into this year to defeat Trump dead already? Or does that broad front represent the basis for the progressive majority that many aspire to build?
Organizers are celebrating after playing a likely decisive role in defeating Trump at the voting booth. And they are gearing up for the chaos of the Presidential transition, and the long fight that follows.
What lessons can we take from the election about the role our groups have played, and where do we stand in relationship to the voters we moved, the groups we allied with, and with one another? Are we prepared for the non-electoral and electoral battles that lie ahead?
Studio: Dwayne Gladden
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therealnews--2020-11-10--AOC: Beating Trump is not enough

AOC: Beating Trump is not enough

Progressives say Joe Biden ’ s victory over Donald Trump , who has refused to accept the result of the election , is not enough to address the record surge in COVID-19 cases , soaring inequality , the growing threat of climate change , and an epidemic of police violence .
Biden is expected to roll out a slew of executive actions to undo many of the Trump administration ’ s policies on day one of his presidency , taking steps to get the coronavirus pandemic under control , rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement , and reverse some of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are growing calls from progressive Democrats for President-elect Biden , who is reportedly considering Republicans and corporate insiders for key cabinet positions , to reject corporate lobbyists .
While Democrats have taken the White House , they so far have failed to secure a majority in the Senate .
A Republican-controlled Senate can prevent Biden from following through on progressive policies and block appointments , which would likely result in disaster for Democrats making a case for reelection in the 2022 midterms and 2024 presidential election .
Republicans currently maintain a narrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina and Alaska uncalled , and both of Georgia ’ s Senate seats headed to a runoff election after no candidate secured 50 % of the vote .
Biden maintains he wants to work with Republicans , even as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke on the Senate floor on Nov. 9 to back Trump ’ s baseless claim that voter fraud cost him the election .
Meanwhile , Republican Utah Sen. Mitt Romney , who broke with Trump and recognized Biden ’ s victory , told CNN he believes he can work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressive agenda : “ I want to make sure that we conservatives keep on fighting to make sure we don ’ t have a Green New Deal , we don ’ t get rid of gas , coal , and oil , that we don ’ t have Medicare For All , and don ’ t raise taxes.
” Democrats can secure a Senate majority if Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock can defeat incumbent Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the Jan. 5 runoff election in Georgia—and if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alaska , where only 58 % of ballots have been counted .
If Democrats can pick up two of those three seats and the Senate is deadlocked 50-50 , Vice President-elect Kamala Harris can cast decisive tie-breaking votes .
Further raising the stakes is the 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court , which could strike down any progressive legislation .
A majority of justices indicated they supported upholding key provisions of the Affordable Care Act , such as protections for preexisting conditions , during a Nov. 10 hearing .
However , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on other upcoming arguments .
If Democrats secure a Senate majority , progressives say they should “ pack the court ” and create a new liberal majority .
Meanwhile , progressive Democrats are being attacked by their colleagues who blame them for election losses .
Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger , a former CIA analyst , criticized some of her fellow Democrats for supporting policies such as defunding the police , according to multiple news reports .
And on Meet the Press , House majority whip Rep. Jim Clyburn blamed Jaime Harrison ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s red-baiting attacks on the ‘ Defund the Police ’ slogan , a key demand of the Black Lives Matter movement .
But progressives like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fired back , noting on CNN that “ every swing seat member who co-sponsored Medicare for All won reelection.
” Meanwhile , all 93 co-sponsors of the Green New Deal also won reelection , Earther reported .
Trump won Florida , where five Democratic congressmen lost reelection bids , but a majority of voters passed a measure to raise the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 2026 .
Waleed Shahid , spokesperson for the Justice Democrats , a group that backed progressive primary challengers who unseated incumbents , like Ocasio-Cortez did , noted on Twitter that “ Defund The Police peaked in June .
Harrison peaked in October only for [ Senator Dianne ] Feinstein to commit the unforced error of hugging Lindsey Graham a few days later , ” alluding to Democrats ’ disastrous performance in the confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett , which resulted in a majority of registered Democrats supporting Barrett ’ s appointment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polls .
In the New York Times , Ocasio-Cortez criticized Democrats ’ claims that issues such as Defund the Police , Black Lives Matter , and Medicare For All created problems , saying the party must understand that “ their base is not the enemy.
” Protests against the police killing of George Floyd correlated with a doubling of registered voters under the age of 25 in Georgia , according to one analysis , where Biden is poised to become the first Democrat elected in more than 20 years .
Ocasio-Cortez is among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cabinet position to former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel , who has been accused of covering up the killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by Chicago police .
Progressives know they have their work cut out for them with Biden , who has said he would veto Medicare for All if it crossed his desk , supports giving police more funding , and won ’ t ban fracking .
Facing a likely Republican Senate majority for at least the next two years , addressing the immense challenges facing the nation will require mobilizations on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Activists need to devise strategies for shaping the policymaking process in the interim , as bleak as things seem—to plan not only for the next two to four years , but the next two to four months , ” New Republic staff writer Osita Nwanevu argues .
“ It should be obvious by now that direct action , on a scale and at a pitch this country hasn ’ t seen in half a century , will be absolutely critical .
”

Progressives say Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump, who has refused to accept the result of the election, is not enough to address the record surge in COVID-19 cases, soaring inequality, the growing threat of climate change, and an epidemic of police violence.
Biden is expected to roll out a slew of executive actions to undo many of the Trump administration’s policies on day one of his presidency, taking steps to get the coronavirus pandemic under control, rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, and reverse some of Trump’s most draconian immigration policies. There are growing calls from progressive Democrats for President-elect Biden, who is reportedly considering Republicans and corporate insiders for key cabinet positions, to reject corporate lobbyists.
While Democrats have taken the White House, they so far have failed to secure a majority in the Senate. A Republican-controlled Senate can prevent Biden from following through on progressive policies and block appointments, which would likely result in disaster for Democrats making a case for reelection in the 2022 midterms and 2024 presidential election. Republicans currently maintain a narrow Senate majority, with races in North Carolina and Alaska uncalled, and both of Georgia’s Senate seats headed to a runoff election after no candidate secured 50% of the vote.
Biden maintains he wants to work with Republicans, even as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke on the Senate floor on Nov. 9 to back Trump’s baseless claim that voter fraud cost him the election.
Meanwhile, Republican Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, who broke with Trump and recognized Biden’s victory, told CNN he believes he can work together with the president-elect to thwart a progressive agenda: “I want to make sure that we conservatives keep on fighting to make sure we don’t have a Green New Deal, we don’t get rid of gas, coal, and oil, that we don’t have Medicare For All, and don’t raise taxes.”
Democrats can secure a Senate majority if Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock can defeat incumbent Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the Jan. 5 runoff election in Georgia—and if Democrat Al Gross wins his race in Alaska, where only 58% of ballots have been counted. If Democrats can pick up two of those three seats and the Senate is deadlocked 50-50, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris can cast decisive tie-breaking votes.
Further raising the stakes is the 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, which could strike down any progressive legislation. A majority of justices indicated they supported upholding key provisions of the Affordable Care Act, such as protections for preexisting conditions, during a Nov. 10 hearing. However, the court could still overturn Roe v. Wade based on other upcoming arguments. If Democrats secure a Senate majority, progressives say they should “pack the court” and create a new liberal majority.
Meanwhile, progressive Democrats are being attacked by their colleagues who blame them for election losses. Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA analyst, criticized some of her fellow Democrats for supporting policies such as defunding the police, according to multiple news reports. And on Meet the Press, House majority whip Rep. Jim Clyburn blamed Jaime Harrison’s loss to Sen. Lindsay Graham’s red-baiting attacks on the ‘Defund the Police’ slogan, a key demand of the Black Lives Matter movement.
But progressives like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fired back, noting on CNN that “every swing seat member who co-sponsored Medicare for All won reelection.”
Meanwhile, all 93 co-sponsors of the Green New Deal also won reelection, Earther reported.
Trump won Florida, where five Democratic congressmen lost reelection bids, but a majority of voters passed a measure to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026.
Waleed Shahid, spokesperson for the Justice Democrats, a group that backed progressive primary challengers who unseated incumbents, like Ocasio-Cortez did, noted on Twitter that “Defund The Police peaked in June. Harrison peaked in October only for [Senator Dianne] Feinstein to commit the unforced error of hugging Lindsey Graham a few days later,” alluding to Democrats’ disastrous performance in the confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett, which resulted in a majority of registered Democrats supporting Barrett’s appointment to the Supreme Court, according to polls.
In the New York Times, Ocasio-Cortez criticized Democrats’ claims that issues such as Defund the Police, Black Lives Matter, and Medicare For All created problems, saying the party must understand that “their base is not the enemy.”
Protests against the police killing of George Floyd correlated with a doubling of registered voters under the age of 25 in Georgia, according to one analysis, where Biden is poised to become the first Democrat elected in more than 20 years.
Ocasio-Cortez is among the voices urging Biden to not offer a cabinet position to former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who has been accused of covering up the killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by Chicago police.
Progressives know they have their work cut out for them with Biden, who has said he would veto Medicare for All if it crossed his desk, supports giving police more funding, and won’t ban fracking.
Facing a likely Republican Senate majority for at least the next two years, addressing the immense challenges facing the nation will require mobilizations on an unprecedented scale, progressives say.
“Activists need to devise strategies for shaping the policymaking process in the interim, as bleak as things seem—to plan not only for the next two to four years, but the next two to four months,” New Republic staff writer Osita Nwanevu argues. “It should be obvious by now that direct action, on a scale and at a pitch this country hasn’t seen in half a century, will be absolutely critical.”
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therealnews--2020-11-09--Rappers can’t make Black capitalism work for Black people

Jacqueline Luqman : The economic situation for black Americans was dire before the pandemic .
But since then , it is absolutely apocalyptic .
And if the way the government responded to our losses in the last recession are any indication , we won ’ t get a bailout that will make any real difference to our abysmal material conditions this time either .
Given the fact that capitalism itself has proven to have failed us all , it should be clear that black capitalism won ’ t free us from oppression and can not be reformed , not even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favorite rappers .
This is Jacqueline Luqman with the Real News Network , and I am here with Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly , assistant professor and Mellon faculty fellow of Africana studies and political science at Carleton College to dig into why that is .
Dr. Burden-Stelly , thank you so much for joining me .
Dr. Burden-Stelly : Thank you for having me .
Jacqueline Luqman : The very idea that capitalism can produce economic equality is a dubious one at best just starting off with this discussion .
But these kinds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entrepreneurial focused economic plans have been presented over and over again to address the persistent marginalization of black people in this country .
Politically , where did this idea of black capitalism framed as public policy in response to inequality that black people endure come from ?
When did the shift in the focus from equality and justice for black people to black power to support investment and entrepreneurship happen ?
Dr. Burden-Stelly : Well , so that ’ s sort of two related questions .
I would argue that there has long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or black entrepreneurs being the leadership of the black race since at least the 1700s , right ?
As long as black people have been participating in the US economic system , there has been this idea that those who are the most affluent should lead or shall rule .
And this is closely tied to the idea of racial uplift and it ’ s sort of social ideology of politics of respectability .
But in terms of the shift to black power , often people mark this shift with the rise of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he harnessed black power to black capitalism because as some scholars argue , the idea of black collective mobilization and black socialism was very threatening to the US economic order .
But when you append blackness to capitalism , it sort of neutralizes the specter of subversion or destabilization that is often associated with blackness .
More over , in the mid 1960s , but especially after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968 , there are all of these urban uprisings .
So this idea of black capitalism or black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if there ’ s some economic development in urban areas or in ghettos , that this would quell the unrest .
And so there is a strong historical connection between the idea that the black petty bourgeoisie should be the persons to set the agenda for the black race and that their particular interests are representative of the interests of black people in general .
Of course , we know that this historically has not been the case .
The other sort of irony of that is that black business as an industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we know , there have been very few black corporations , most black businesses are small or medium sized firms that employ few black folks .
And that face , because of structural racism , face a lot of discrimination in terms of getting viable loans , in terms of getting cheap land , in terms of getting access to primary and secondary materials .
And so that exploitation gets passed onto the employees .
So there ’ s all sorts of contradictions with this idea of black capitalism except for the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacqueline Luqman : That ’ s I think a very , very important point , the function that it serves , the managerial function , because when we talk about the petite bourgeoisie and the capitalist class , doctor , we always leave out the managers in this discussion .
We always talk about those at the very top , the 10 % , the 1 % , and then the business class , but we leave out this sort of middle management kind of layer of gatekeepers that really does play a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that really is not helpful to the black masses .
And the current conversation around these ideas , I think is a good example of that because several very popular and famous rappers have gotten involved in politics , which is not a bad thing .
That ’ s great .
And they ’ re seeking to speak for black America by presenting plans that they say would benefit all of us to whichever political party would listen .
And I think the anger at who any of these people speak to is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s what people are very angry about , that Ice Cube has spoken to the Trump campaign and who is speaking to this other campaign or whatever .
I think that ’ s less important than what ’ s in the plans themselves , what the plans advocate .
And I think that ’ s just as important in regard to the Trump platinum plan as it is in regard to the Biden administration ’ s ridiculously titled Lift Every Voice plan .
So if the purpose of either one of these plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by disenfranchisement and oppression , how do these plans that are heavy on the ideology of black capitalism accomplish that , or maybe the better question is , do they ?
Dr. Burden-Stelly : No .
Next question .
I ’ m kidding .
But I don ’ t necessarily think that plans is to uplift the masses of black people .
Again , I think that they ’ re meant to , as I always say , put a couple of chips in the cookie to give the valence or the propaganda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improvement at the same time that you build up the military and police state to control the overwhelming majority of black people .
And so I happened to take a look at the contract with black America , and it is a contract with black bourgeois America , right ?
So there ’ s this idea of more access to loans , more access to credit .
And what was really striking is that there ’ s a sort of last plank in there that ’ s about , all right , well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then basically the black poor and the black mass need to act right .
We need to do our part .
Dr. Burden-Stelly : We need to quit engaging in crime .
We need to , essentially adopt the right attitude , this long played out narrative of black deviance , which is black , poor deviance because there ’ s no critique of the black petty bourgeoisie .
There ’ s no critique of the black elite and the white collar crime in which they ’ re engaging , it is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s being put on display as something to be eradicated in exchange for these crumbs from the government .
And I think it ’ s really telling who the contract with black America is really with .
And it is not for the most exploited and oppressed of black folks .
Jacqueline Luqman : Wow .
That is pretty shocking , I ’ m sure for some people to hear .
And I love the way you put it that black people need to act right in exchange for these crumbs because when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , isn ’ t that what a contract is ?
You will do this , we ’ ll do this for you if you do that .
And the dos that that we ’ re supposed to subscribe to is behave ourselves and be perfect , upright , upstanding citizens .
And I always , Dr. Burden-Stelly , bring up whenever people have this response about the misbehavior of the black masses .
I always bring up a book that I read probably two , three years ago , maybe a little bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khalil Gibran Muhammad , which is called , The Condemnation of Blackness .
Jacqueline Luqman : I ’ m a student of history .
I love history , but this particular book blew my mind because it outlined the way in which just this very thing you ’ re talking about , criminalizing and pathologizing black crime and black misbehavior was not done to immigrants from Europe who exhibited the same behavior because of the social conditions that poor people were forced to live in .
They received assistance from the government and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive condemnation of their behavior because they ’ re black .
So yeah , we do need to put these breadcrumbs in these conversations when we have them to point people to another step in the process to get us a little closer to deconstructing the way that we ’ re indoctrinated to think about ourselves and our own behavior in this society that has basically built this foundation off of profiting , off of saying that we ’ re just a bunch of criminals and we don ’ t know how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure , doctor , that there are some black people who would benefit from something in each of these plans .
But I think the question remains , how much would these plans affect the material conditions , not necessarily of the working class and the poor because we ’ ve seen that that ’ s not true , but even the entrepreneurial class , how much do these plans help them ?
Dr. Burden-Stelly : Well , I think that it ’ s a fact , again , if you look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelming majority of black businesses fail .
And so it ’ s this , and because the discourse of the United States and the American dream is sort of equality of opportunity , if it is that these loans and this access to credit , and this favorable lending environment is constructed and the business has failed nonetheless because of the ways in which they ’ re unable to compete with large corporations , they again , have less access to things like primary materials , the government can then say , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s a failure of will .
It ’ s a failure of adopting the right attitude.
” And so I think that while there may be some businesses that are successful and some people who are able to accumulate well a modicum of wealth , the overwhelming majority of businesses in general fail .
And it ’ s sort of like , we ’ re essentially asking the wrong questions , right ?
If this is really about uplifting , not only the standards of living and the structural material realities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then we can not start the idea of black business saving us .
It ’ s just not , it ’ s not correct .
And of course , you recently had a conversation with Dr. Jared Ball who talks about the myth of black buying power , black consumerism , black entrepreneurship starting in the middle in that way is just , it ’ s simply not the solution to improving what are pervasive , deteriorating conditions of the overwhelming majority of black people .
It does not resolve the crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the housing crisis .
It does not resolve the erosion of the public sector and the welfare of state .
None of these things are resolved by increasing the entrepreneurial spirit of black folks .
Jacqueline Luqman : And so I think the next question for me is , do we finally have to get to the point in this conversation about what is going to free black people from oppression ?
If we are talking about advocating for freeing all black people from oppression , including the black masses , the poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are we finally going to have to have that really uncomfortable conversation about class amongst ourselves that we seem to not have an honest and full conversation about , or maybe it ’ s just too painful to deal with ?
Do we finally need to just have that conversation about class to move this issue forward in a way that actually met some kind of results for the black masses ?
Dr. Burden-Stelly : The question is painful for whom because really the evasion of that class conversation is about an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that because of racism or white supremacy , the outcomes or the realities for black people are the same across the board , but as we know , violence and suffering a cruise around particularly class black bodies more so than any others .
So when Skip Gates experiences discrimination from the cops , number one , he leaves .
And number two , he called Barack Obama .
We do not see that… Regular black people , poor working class black people do not have that same access and they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is really how we ought to describe police .
They ’ re meant to keep people in where they belong and to keep them out where they ostensibly don ’ t belong .
And so I think that the class conversation is very important .
And a lot of research shows that since the 1970s , there is an increasing class divide in the black community and that there ’ s much less identification between the black middle and upper classes and the black working poor than there was historically because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways in which the black community , even though there ’ s conditions of re-segregation , there ’ s not the same ways in which black people , irrespective of income and irrespective of occupation have to live together as there was during Jim Crow .
Dr. Burden-Stelly : So to make a short story long , we absolutely need to have that class conversation because oftentimes racism not withstanding , white supremacy not withstanding , are the questions that we ask and the ways in which we frame the problem are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which we experience material lack and the ways and the forms of domination and oppression , and exploitation that we experience are not the same .
And even parts of the petty bourgeoisie and the ruling class to understand that ought to be willing to have that conversation .
But that conversation necessarily requires redistribution and it necessarily requires a shift in focus from allowing the most qualified or the most deserving blacks to participate in the capitalist system to a conversation about like , how do we actually stop negotiating the terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improve the lived realities of all black people ?
Jacqueline Luqman : I can ’ t help but think of two things from your comments .
One is the fact that we are talking about people who are presenting themselves as advocates for the black masses who themselves are a part of the petite bourgeois class and maybe they don ’ t even realize that that ’ s where they are .
People like Ice Cube and certainly 50 Cent who just came out and said , “ I ’ m not supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay more taxes.
” Now , this is not an endorsement of Joseph Biden , but that I think is a reflection of the class allegiance that some people , not all , not all entertainers , but some entertainers who some people may be looking to for some type of political guidance who they should vote for , that ’ s the kind of class allegiance that some of them have .
And so I think it ’ s very important that we understand the class divisions that we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve bought into some of us .
And we need to also deconstruct that in the framework of this system .
But I also can ’ t help but think about Dr. Gary Kushner ’ s comments just a few days ago about this platinum plan that came out of this coordination between Ice Cube and the Trump administration where Kushner said that black people have to want to be successful but the president , Donald Trump can ’ t want them to be successful more than they want to be successful .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ same voices challenging that kind of narrative coming from the people that they ’ ve commiserated with on this plan .
So how , Dr. Burden-Stelly , how do we push the powers that be in the direction of truly listening to an honest and clear , I hate to say conversation because I think we ’ re beyond continuing to talk about these issues .
How do we push this issue to getting actual results for our people , for the black masses apart from continuing down this path of advocating for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be an unpopular perspective , but I don ’ t think we need any more black leaders .
I think that we really need to turn to the people who are in the street protesting and organizing , and engaging in mutual aid and who are sort of gesturing toward the type of approaches that we need to sustain our communities .
I think that we need a strong black political party or some sort of way in which we can vote as a block not just objectively defect to the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , but actually have accorded a way in which we strategically cast our votes in national and localized election where we have an agenda that is based on dialogue , and debate , and discussion between ordinary black people .
I really think that the role of the black elite and the black petty bourgeoisie is to redistribute their wealth and take a step back so that people , collectives of people can actually have their concerns and their voices heard .
And it ’ s really a question of how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Because in the final analysis , this is a white supremacist , capitalist , imperialist society , perhaps another unpopular opinion .
And so anything that they ’ re willing… So one might argue that anything that they ’ re willing to give is going to have dire , dire consequences .
That being said , I think that we need to continue to mobilize and put pressure on the state pending other forms of political strategy .
Jacqueline Luqman : This society , this capitalist , white supremacist , imperialist society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also have to be very clear that we can ’ t trust the people who created the debt in the first place to fix it without there being some serious , serious pushback and a lot of strings attached .
So I think we have to be a lot more strategic and very careful in not just the demands we make , but as you said , in how we go about making them .
I ’ m going to give you the last word , Dr. Burden-Stelly .
How would you like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue past this election ?
Dr. Burden-Stelly : I would like for the conversation to… Number one , another unpopular opinion , but the vote mongering and the vote shaming , that needs to stop .
I think that people should vote if they choose to vote , but I think that the positioning of voting as the way to save this democracy and the final frontier of justice , I think that that is , it is a mystification of voting as a strategy among many others .
And I think that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on television .
Perhaps we need to do less speeches and really get to craft or take our own spaces to have these conversations in ways that can ’ t be co-opted and that can ’ t be manipulated by those in power .
So after the election , whichever way it unfolds , I would like to continue to see the protests in the streets in whatever form they take .
I would like to continue for us to have more broad based collective conversations perhaps that won ’ t be tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but that are happening nonetheless .
Jacqueline Luqman : Just because an opinion is unpopular , it does not mean that it is not actually true .
And I thank you so much for all of your opinions , whether you think they ’ re unpopular or not , I actually agree with them .
I appreciate your time and your input today , Dr. Burden-Stelly .
Thanks you so much .
Dr. Burden-Stelly : Thank you for having me .
Jacqueline Luqman : And thank you for watching .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the belly of the beast , Washington , DC .

Rush transcript:
Jacqueline Luqman: The economic situation for black Americans was dire before the pandemic. But since then, it is absolutely apocalyptic. And if the way the government responded to our losses in the last recession are any indication, we won’t get a bailout that will make any real difference to our abysmal material conditions this time either. Given the fact that capitalism itself has proven to have failed us all, it should be clear that black capitalism won’t free us from oppression and cannot be reformed, not even when it’s promoted by our favorite rappers. This is Jacqueline Luqman with the Real News Network, and I am here with Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly, assistant professor and Mellon faculty fellow of Africana studies and political science at Carleton College to dig into why that is. Dr. Burden-Stelly, thank you so much for joining me.
Dr. Burden-Stelly: Thank you for having me.
Jacqueline Luqman: The very idea that capitalism can produce economic equality is a dubious one at best just starting off with this discussion. But these kinds of investment heavy, texts break friendly, entrepreneurial focused economic plans have been presented over and over again to address the persistent marginalization of black people in this country. Politically, where did this idea of black capitalism framed as public policy in response to inequality that black people endure come from? When did the shift in the focus from equality and justice for black people to black power to support investment and entrepreneurship happen?
Dr. Burden-Stelly: Well, so that’s sort of two related questions. I would argue that there has long been a push toward black business owners or black entrepreneurs being the leadership of the black race since at least the 1700s, right? As long as black people have been participating in the US economic system, there has been this idea that those who are the most affluent should lead or shall rule. And this is closely tied to the idea of racial uplift and it’s sort of social ideology of politics of respectability. But in terms of the shift to black power, often people mark this shift with the rise of Richard Nixon and the ways in which he harnessed black power to black capitalism because as some scholars argue, the idea of black collective mobilization and black socialism was very threatening to the US economic order.
But when you append blackness to capitalism, it sort of neutralizes the specter of subversion or destabilization that is often associated with blackness. More over, in the mid 1960s, but especially after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968, there are all of these urban uprisings. So this idea of black capitalism or black power was harnessed to the idea that if there’s some economic development in urban areas or in ghettos, that this would quell the unrest. And so there is a strong historical connection between the idea that the black petty bourgeoisie should be the persons to set the agenda for the black race and that their particular interests are representative of the interests of black people in general.
Of course, we know that this historically has not been the case. The other sort of irony of that is that black business as an industry has not been that successful. As we know, there have been very few black corporations, most black businesses are small or medium sized firms that employ few black folks. And that face, because of structural racism, face a lot of discrimination in terms of getting viable loans, in terms of getting cheap land, in terms of getting access to primary and secondary materials. And so that exploitation gets passed onto the employees. So there’s all sorts of contradictions with this idea of black capitalism except for the fact that it serves a managerial function.
Jacqueline Luqman: That’s I think a very, very important point, the function that it serves, the managerial function, because when we talk about the petite bourgeoisie and the capitalist class, doctor, we always leave out the managers in this discussion. We always talk about those at the very top, the 10%, the 1%, and then the business class, but we leave out this sort of middle management kind of layer of gatekeepers that really does play a part in continuing to perpetuate an idea that really is not helpful to the black masses. And the current conversation around these ideas, I think is a good example of that because several very popular and famous rappers have gotten involved in politics, which is not a bad thing. That’s great. And they’re seeking to speak for black America by presenting plans that they say would benefit all of us to whichever political party would listen.
And I think the anger at who any of these people speak to is a lot less important because that’s what people are very angry about, that Ice Cube has spoken to the Trump campaign and who is speaking to this other campaign or whatever. I think that’s less important than what’s in the plans themselves, what the plans advocate. And I think that’s just as important in regard to the Trump platinum plan as it is in regard to the Biden administration’s ridiculously titled Lift Every Voice plan. So if the purpose of either one of these plans is to uplift black people left behind by disenfranchisement and oppression, how do these plans that are heavy on the ideology of black capitalism accomplish that, or maybe the better question is, do they?
Dr. Burden-Stelly: No. Next question. I’m kidding. But I don’t necessarily think that plans is to uplift the masses of black people. Again, I think that they’re meant to, as I always say, put a couple of chips in the cookie to give the valence or the propaganda of black success and of black economic improvement at the same time that you build up the military and police state to control the overwhelming majority of black people. And so I happened to take a look at the contract with black America, and it is a contract with black bourgeois America, right? So there’s this idea of more access to loans, more access to credit. And what was really striking is that there’s a sort of last plank in there that’s about, all right, well, if this contract is implemented, then basically the black poor and the black mass need to act right. We need to do our part.
Jacqueline Luqman: Wow.
Dr. Burden-Stelly: We need to quit engaging in crime. We need to, essentially adopt the right attitude, this long played out narrative of black deviance, which is black, poor deviance because there’s no critique of the black petty bourgeoisie. There’s no critique of the black elite and the white collar crime in which they’re engaging, it is the behavior of the black masses that’s being put on display as something to be eradicated in exchange for these crumbs from the government. And I think it’s really telling who the contract with black America is really with. And it is not for the most exploited and oppressed of black folks.
Jacqueline Luqman: Wow. That is pretty shocking, I’m sure for some people to hear. And I love the way you put it that black people need to act right in exchange for these crumbs because when we’re talking about a contract, isn’t that what a contract is? You will do this, we’ll do this for you if you do that. And the dos that that we’re supposed to subscribe to is behave ourselves and be perfect, upright, upstanding citizens. And I always, Dr. Burden-Stelly, bring up whenever people have this response about the misbehavior of the black masses. I always bring up a book that I read probably two, three years ago, maybe a little bit longer than that, but written by Khalil Gibran Muhammad, which is called, The Condemnation of Blackness.
Dr. Burden-Stelly: [inaudible 00:09:08].
Jacqueline Luqman: I’m a student of history. I love history, but this particular book blew my mind because it outlined the way in which just this very thing you’re talking about, criminalizing and pathologizing black crime and black misbehavior was not done to immigrants from Europe who exhibited the same behavior because of the social conditions that poor people were forced to live in. They received assistance from the government and acceptance into society where black people continue to receive condemnation of their behavior because they’re black. So yeah, we do need to put these breadcrumbs in these conversations when we have them to point people to another step in the process to get us a little closer to deconstructing the way that we’re indoctrinated to think about ourselves and our own behavior in this society that has basically built this foundation off of profiting, off of saying that we’re just a bunch of criminals and we don’t know how to act.
But I’m sure, doctor, that there are some black people who would benefit from something in each of these plans. But I think the question remains, how much would these plans affect the material conditions, not necessarily of the working class and the poor because we’ve seen that that’s not true, but even the entrepreneurial class, how much do these plans help them?
Dr. Burden-Stelly: Well, I think that it’s a fact, again, if you look at the data around black business, the overwhelming majority of black businesses fail. And so it’s this, and because the discourse of the United States and the American dream is sort of equality of opportunity, if it is that these loans and this access to credit, and this favorable lending environment is constructed and the business has failed nonetheless because of the ways in which they’re unable to compete with large corporations, they again, have less access to things like primary materials, the government can then say, “Well, at least we tried. It’s a failure of will. It’s a failure of adopting the right attitude.” And so I think that while there may be some businesses that are successful and some people who are able to accumulate well a modicum of wealth, the overwhelming majority of businesses in general fail.
And it’s sort of like, we’re essentially asking the wrong questions, right? If this is really about uplifting, not only the standards of living and the structural material realities of the black community as a whole, then we cannot start the idea of black business saving us. It’s just not, it’s not correct. And of course, you recently had a conversation with Dr. Jared Ball who talks about the myth of black buying power, black consumerism, black entrepreneurship starting in the middle in that way is just, it’s simply not the solution to improving what are pervasive, deteriorating conditions of the overwhelming majority of black people. It does not resolve the crisis of unemployment. It does not resolve the housing crisis. It does not resolve the erosion of the public sector and the welfare of state. None of these things are resolved by increasing the entrepreneurial spirit of black folks.
Jacqueline Luqman: And so I think the next question for me is, do we finally have to get to the point in this conversation about what is going to free black people from oppression? If we are talking about advocating for freeing all black people from oppression, including the black masses, the poor and working class and oppressed black masses, are we finally going to have to have that really uncomfortable conversation about class amongst ourselves that we seem to not have an honest and full conversation about, or maybe it’s just too painful to deal with? Do we finally need to just have that conversation about class to move this issue forward in a way that actually met some kind of results for the black masses?
Dr. Burden-Stelly: The question is painful for whom because really the evasion of that class conversation is about an obfuscation. It’s this idea that because of racism or white supremacy, the outcomes or the realities for black people are the same across the board, but as we know, violence and suffering a cruise around particularly class black bodies more so than any others. So when Skip Gates experiences discrimination from the cops, number one, he leaves. And number two, he called Barack Obama. We do not see that… Regular black people, poor working class black people do not have that same access and they’re much more subjected to the occupying forces, which is really how we ought to describe police. They’re meant to keep people in where they belong and to keep them out where they ostensibly don’t belong.
And so I think that the class conversation is very important. And a lot of research shows that since the 1970s, there is an increasing class divide in the black community and that there’s much less identification between the black middle and upper classes and the black working poor than there was historically because of black flight and because of the ways in which the black community, even though there’s conditions of re-segregation, there’s not the same ways in which black people, irrespective of income and irrespective of occupation have to live together as there was during Jim Crow.
Jacqueline Luqman: [inaudible 00:15:10].
Dr. Burden-Stelly: So to make a short story long, we absolutely need to have that class conversation because oftentimes racism not withstanding, white supremacy not withstanding, are the questions that we ask and the ways in which we frame the problem are not necessarily the same because the ways in which we experience material lack and the ways and the forms of domination and oppression, and exploitation that we experience are not the same. And even parts of the petty bourgeoisie and the ruling class to understand that ought to be willing to have that conversation.
But that conversation necessarily requires redistribution and it necessarily requires a shift in focus from allowing the most qualified or the most deserving blacks to participate in the capitalist system to a conversation about like, how do we actually stop negotiating the terms of our immiseration and actually begin to improve the lived realities of all black people?
Jacqueline Luqman: I can’t help but think of two things from your comments. One is the fact that we are talking about people who are presenting themselves as advocates for the black masses who themselves are a part of the petite bourgeois class and maybe they don’t even realize that that’s where they are. People like Ice Cube and certainly 50 Cent who just came out and said, “I’m not supporting Biden because I don’t want to pay more taxes.” Now, this is not an endorsement of Joseph Biden, but that I think is a reflection of the class allegiance that some people, not all, not all entertainers, but some entertainers who some people may be looking to for some type of political guidance who they should vote for, that’s the kind of class allegiance that some of them have.
And so I think it’s very important that we understand the class divisions that we’ve been subjected to and that we’ve bought into some of us. And we need to also deconstruct that in the framework of this system. But I also can’t help but think about Dr. Gary Kushner’s comments just a few days ago about this platinum plan that came out of this coordination between Ice Cube and the Trump administration where Kushner said that black people have to want to be successful but the president, Donald Trump can’t want them to be successful more than they want to be successful. And we don’t have the same voices challenging that kind of narrative coming from the people that they’ve commiserated with on this plan.
So how, Dr. Burden-Stelly, how do we push the powers that be in the direction of truly listening to an honest and clear, I hate to say conversation because I think we’re beyond continuing to talk about these issues. How do we push this issue to getting actual results for our people, for the black masses apart from continuing down this path of advocating for black capitalism?
Dr. Burden-Stelly: This might be an unpopular perspective, but I don’t think we need any more black leaders. I think that we really need to turn to the people who are in the street protesting and organizing, and engaging in mutual aid and who are sort of gesturing toward the type of approaches that we need to sustain our communities. I think that we need a strong black political party or some sort of way in which we can vote as a block not just objectively defect to the Democratic Party because FDR, whatever the argument is, but actually have accorded a way in which we strategically cast our votes in national and localized election where we have an agenda that is based on dialogue, and debate, and discussion between ordinary black people.
I really think that the role of the black elite and the black petty bourgeoisie is to redistribute their wealth and take a step back so that people, collectives of people can actually have their concerns and their voices heard. And it’s really a question of how much can we negotiate with the federal government? Because in the final analysis, this is a white supremacist, capitalist, imperialist society, perhaps another unpopular opinion. And so anything that they’re willing… So one might argue that anything that they’re willing to give is going to have dire, dire consequences. That being said, I think that we need to continue to mobilize and put pressure on the state pending other forms of political strategy.
Jacqueline Luqman: This society, this capitalist, white supremacist, imperialist society owes us a debt, but we also have to be very clear that we can’t trust the people who created the debt in the first place to fix it without there being some serious, serious pushback and a lot of strings attached. So I think we have to be a lot more strategic and very careful in not just the demands we make, but as you said, in how we go about making them. I’m going to give you the last word, Dr. Burden-Stelly. How would you like to see the conversation about these issues continue past this election?
Dr. Burden-Stelly: I would like for the conversation to… Number one, another unpopular opinion, but the vote mongering and the vote shaming, that needs to stop. I think that people should vote if they choose to vote, but I think that the positioning of voting as the way to save this democracy and the final frontier of justice, I think that that is, it is a mystification of voting as a strategy among many others. And I think that perhaps we need to do less talking on television. Perhaps we need to do less speeches and really get to craft or take our own spaces to have these conversations in ways that can’t be co-opted and that can’t be manipulated by those in power.
So after the election, whichever way it unfolds, I would like to continue to see the protests in the streets in whatever form they take. I would like to continue for us to have more broad based collective conversations perhaps that won’t be tweeted and that won’t be televised, but that are happening nonetheless.
Jacqueline Luqman: Just because an opinion is unpopular, it does not mean that it is not actually true. And I thank you so much for all of your opinions, whether you think they’re unpopular or not, I actually agree with them. I appreciate your time and your input today, Dr. Burden-Stelly. Thanks you so much.
Dr. Burden-Stelly: Thank you for having me.
Jacqueline Luqman: And thank you for watching. This is Jacqueline Luqman with the Real News Network in the belly of the beast, Washington, DC.
Studio: Will Arenas
Post-Production: Will Arenas
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therealnews--2020-11-09--Young people must take hold of their political future

Tunde : The season finale for America , aka the 2020 election , is finally here .
We made it .
Yay .
Full disclosure , this is actually pre-taped , so I have no idea if we actually made it or not .
But , we ’ re about to talk about millennials , zoomers and bears .
Okay , maybe not the bears , but oh my , and damn it , we ’ re going to have some fun with it , or at least as much fun as one can have in a looming apocalypse .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she off on a cruise when tasked with talking about however this election breaks loose tonight .
Now , for the youngins , the millennials , the zoomers , as they ’ re called for some reason .
Genevieve : Cool .
Cool .
I ’ m down .
I ’ m down .
How are you spending election night though ?
Tunde : Drinking , heavily .
How about you ?
Genevieve : Well , I just dropped off my mail-in ballot after using it as a place mat for the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how that ’ s going .
Now I ’ m just watching the election results come in .
Tunde : Yeah , this whole thing is like deciding whether you should eat a Double Down or a Baconator , in either case , heart attack is sure to follow .
If only we had someone who could speak to our fears about a Trump or Biden presidency .
Cue , special guest , the one and only Briahna Joy Gray .
Briahna Joy Gray : I think the most insidious aspect of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m fearful will happen going forward , is that young people , struggling people , marginalized people , will be convinced that they don ’ t deserve something better .
Tunde : Well said .
We deserve something better , whether it ’ s a Trump or a Biden presidency , it ’ s a loss for all of us .
For young people , it ’ s an even bigger loss .
Genevieve : For sure , and none of these candidates are prioritizing systemic issues that young people care about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tunde : Like Trump , issuing an executive order barring racial sensitivity training , or Biden supporting more funding for police ?
Somehow ?
Tunde : Like Biden saying he ’ d veto Medicare for all , or Trump ’ s starting from the place of “ Who knew healthcare was so complicated ?
” Tunde : Like Trump , cutting environmental protections during the pandemic , or Biden saying he ’ s going to continue fracking .
Genevieve : Just to name a few .
Tunde : I can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps the Democrats keep giving young people the stiff arm because of that highly dependable , moderate Republican light voter , I don ’ t know .
You ’ re going to have to help me with this , Briahna .
Briahna Joy Gray : I think a calculation was made , a really concerted , purposeful decision was made by the Democratic party about who they needed to win this election .
What they decided was that they could win with the help of older voters and what are commonly described as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that those are actually conservative voters .
Conservative Democrats , never Trump Republicans , right ?
Because when we talk about moderate , when we talk about the middle of this country , what we should be talking about is the fact that overwhelming majorities of Americans across the political aisle actually agree on policies which are routinely described as progressive .
We ’ re talking about 88 % of Democrats who support a single payer healthcare system , and a slim majority of Republicans who agree with them .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanting to legalize marijuana , something that is a really bipartisan preference .
We ’ re talking about majorities of Americans wanting common sense gun reform .
We ’ re talking about overwhelming majorities of Americans supporting a minimum wage increase , right ?
So the question becomes , why is there so much distance put between the interests of the Democratic party and the people that they ’ re supposed to represent ?
Tunde : But one specific area that isn ’ t talked about nearly as much , but greatly affects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of June 2019 , the national student loan debt sat at $ 1.6 trillion , that ’ s higher than both credit cards and auto loans .
Genevieve : This debt impacts about 42 million people , about 42 % of all 18 to 29 year olds have student debt .
Both of these candidates have contributed to this crisis , as opposed to fixing it .
Tunde : Biden had a hand in creating this crisis by backing the 2005 bill that strip students of bankruptcy protections and left millions in financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s administration calling for an end to the popular student loan forgiveness program for public sector workers .
Tunde : And drowning in student loans means that the choices of what you do with your life can be very limited .
Briahna talked to us about this very scenario that she found herself in .
Briahna Joy Gray : I went to college , I went to law school , I went to work at a big firm .
I thought I could do this for a few years and make enough money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go be a writer or do something that I really wanted to do .
But then the recession happened , my final year , and the prospects after graduation changed pretty dramatically , and it became clear that I was going to have to work at a law firm for a decade .
I looked down the barrel of being 40 years old and still doing this kind of work that was really soul-sucking and not contributing to society , and didn ’ t really pare off my interests .
I realized I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choices because who else was going to pay me enough to keep up with those loans ?
Tunde : So like we said , whether we ’ re talking Biden or Trump , they ’ re both terrible on issues that young people care about , but we ’ re not without hope though .
Here ’ s a little playbook that young people can follow in order to , not just talk about power , or to it , but in some cases , take it .
Genevieve : As terrible as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can do is use fucked up situations we have experienced to our advantage .
Take COVID-19 , the wildfires , police brutality , school shootings , these events are all part of larger systemic issues that underline problems within our society , and show perfectly how issues that we care about need to be addressed .
Tunde : Another play from the playbook is self-education on history .
Turns out , this guy Christopher Columbus , a little bit of a shady character .
I know , crazy .
Genevieve : And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebrands or reboots of the old way of approaching politics with just being satisfied with lip service .
We have to be skeptical not just the moments , but of the systems that produce those moments .
Going back to that normal isn ’ t going to work .
Briahna Joy Gray : The more that you focus your critique , not on Trump being a Cheeto , or the fact that you just want to return to normal , but the fact that normal really , really was inadequate for millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ignore when you have a handsome , smiling liberal president , who knows well enough to embrace certain symbols of progressivism .
The challenge before us is how to keep people ’ s feet to the flame , when so many folks have articulated that they want nothing more than to go back to [ inaudible 00:07:28 ] .
Tunde : Another part of the game plan for how the young can grip more power is by organizing , which can take many different forms , one of which is by organizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important on a local level because you can feel the direct impact .
Genevieve : Join a group , or start one if one doesn ’ t exist for an issue that you ’ re passionate about .
Tunde : Last but not least , run for office .
If there ’ s anything that the AOC ’ s of the world have taught us is that no matter what your age or background , anything ’ s possible .
Genevieve : Not that there aren ’ t typically barriers , they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even ideological , but what were once considered barriers are now changing , as Briahna puts it .
Briahna Joy Gray : For years , for decades , the status quo in my mind has always been , well it would be nice to have X , Y , and Z , but if a politician were to run on those things , they wouldn ’ t be able to win anyway , so we have to be moderate .
We have to be incrementalist .
We have to meet them halfway .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , yes , Senator Sanders , and more recently , the members of the squad , that reality is different .
Tunde : So there we have it .
Long-term game plan for how young people can not just talk about power or to it , but perhaps take some of it , especially in the face of these potential administrations that have clearly demonstrated they don ’ t give a shit about dealing with issues that young people actually care about .
One last question , that ’ s the long-term game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ term ?
Establish political order definitely lives to play the short term power play .
Genevieve : This means that we need to invest a lot of energy into pushing and shaping our short-term goals to lay a strong foundation for accomplishing our long-term goals .
Tunde : So what ’ s the short term game plan ?
I don ’ t know .
You tell us .
We don ’ t have all the answers .
Probably according to some of you , we don ’ t have any of the answers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What ’ s your plan ?
For tomorrow ?
For the next day , or the day after ?
” Because trust me , with whoever wins , the establishment definitely has one .

Genevieve Montinar and Bababtunde Ogunfolaju

Rush Transcript:
Tunde: The season finale for America, aka the 2020 election, is finally here. We made it. Yay. Full disclosure, this is actually pre-taped, so I have no idea if we actually made it or not. But, we’re about to talk about millennials, zoomers and bears. Okay, maybe not the bears, but oh my, and damn it, we’re going to have some fun with it, or at least as much fun as one can have in a looming apocalypse.
Okay, G money, why is she off on a cruise when tasked with talking about however this election breaks loose tonight. Now, for the youngins, the millennials, the zoomers, as they’re called for some reason.
Genevieve: Cool. Cool. I’m down. I’m down. How are you spending election night though?
Tunde: Drinking, heavily. How about you?
Genevieve: Well, I just dropped off my mail-in ballot after using it as a place mat for the last two weeks, so that’s how that’s going. Now I’m just watching the election results come in.
Tunde: Yeah, this whole thing is like deciding whether you should eat a Double Down or a Baconator, in either case, heart attack is sure to follow. If only we had someone who could speak to our fears about a Trump or Biden presidency. Cue, special guest, the one and only Briahna Joy Gray.
Briahna Joy Gray: I think the most insidious aspect of the 2016 primary race, and what I’m fearful will happen going forward, is that young people, struggling people, marginalized people, will be convinced that they don’t deserve something better.
Tunde: Well said. We deserve something better, whether it’s a Trump or a Biden presidency, it’s a loss for all of us. For young people, it’s an even bigger loss.
Genevieve: For sure, and none of these candidates are prioritizing systemic issues that young people care about, like civil rights and racial discrimination.
Tunde: Like Trump, issuing an executive order barring racial sensitivity training, or Biden supporting more funding for police? Somehow?
Genevieve: Healthcare.
Tunde: Like Biden saying he’d veto Medicare for all, or Trump’s starting from the place of “Who knew healthcare was so complicated?”
Genevieve: Climate change.
Tunde: Like Trump, cutting environmental protections during the pandemic, or Biden saying he’s going to continue fracking.
Genevieve: Just to name a few.
Tunde: I can’t speak for the Republican party, but perhaps the Democrats keep giving young people the stiff arm because of that highly dependable, moderate Republican light voter, I don’t know. You’re going to have to help me with this, Briahna.
Briahna Joy Gray: I think a calculation was made, a really concerted, purposeful decision was made by the Democratic party about who they needed to win this election. What they decided was that they could win with the help of older voters and what are commonly described as more moderate voters, but the reality is that those are actually conservative voters. Conservative Democrats, never Trump Republicans, right? Because when we talk about moderate, when we talk about the middle of this country, what we should be talking about is the fact that overwhelming majorities of Americans across the political aisle actually agree on policies which are routinely described as progressive. We’re talking about 88% of Democrats who support a single payer healthcare system, and a slim majority of Republicans who agree with them. We’re talking about two thirds of Americans wanting to legalize marijuana, something that is a really bipartisan preference. We’re talking about majorities of Americans wanting common sense gun reform. We’re talking about overwhelming majorities of Americans supporting a minimum wage increase, right? So the question becomes, why is there so much distance put between the interests of the Democratic party and the people that they’re supposed to represent?
Tunde: But one specific area that isn’t talked about nearly as much, but greatly affects young people, student loans. As of June 2019, the national student loan debt sat at $1.6 trillion, that’s higher than both credit cards and auto loans.
Genevieve: This debt impacts about 42 million people, about 42% of all 18 to 29 year olds have student debt. Both of these candidates have contributed to this crisis, as opposed to fixing it.
Tunde: Biden had a hand in creating this crisis by backing the 2005 bill that strip students of bankruptcy protections and left millions in financial stress.
Genevieve: And Trump’s administration calling for an end to the popular student loan forgiveness program for public sector workers.
Tunde: And drowning in student loans means that the choices of what you do with your life can be very limited. Briahna talked to us about this very scenario that she found herself in.
Briahna Joy Gray: I went to college, I went to law school, I went to work at a big firm. I thought I could do this for a few years and make enough money to pay off my loans and then go be a writer or do something that I really wanted to do. But then the recession happened, my final year, and the prospects after graduation changed pretty dramatically, and it became clear that I was going to have to work at a law firm for a decade. I looked down the barrel of being 40 years old and still doing this kind of work that was really soul-sucking and not contributing to society, and didn’t really pare off my interests. I realized I didn’t have a lot of choices because who else was going to pay me enough to keep up with those loans?
Tunde: So like we said, whether we’re talking Biden or Trump, they’re both terrible on issues that young people care about, but we’re not without hope though. Here’s a little playbook that young people can follow in order to, not just talk about power, or to it, but in some cases, take it.
Genevieve: As terrible as it might sound, one thing we can do is use fucked up situations we have experienced to our advantage. Take COVID-19, the wildfires, police brutality, school shootings, these events are all part of larger systemic issues that underline problems within our society, and show perfectly how issues that we care about need to be addressed.
Tunde: Another play from the playbook is self-education on history. Turns out, this guy Christopher Columbus, a little bit of a shady character. I know, crazy.
Genevieve: And that leads us to questioning everything, no rebrands or reboots of the old way of approaching politics with just being satisfied with lip service. We have to be skeptical not just the moments, but of the systems that produce those moments. Going back to that normal isn’t going to work.
Briahna Joy Gray: The more that you focus your critique, not on Trump being a Cheeto, or the fact that you just want to return to normal, but the fact that normal really, really was inadequate for millions of people in a way that is easy to ignore when you have a handsome, smiling liberal president, who knows well enough to embrace certain symbols of progressivism. The challenge before us is how to keep people’s feet to the flame, when so many folks have articulated that they want nothing more than to go back to [inaudible 00:07:28].
Tunde: Another part of the game plan for how the young can grip more power is by organizing, which can take many different forms, one of which is by organizing around ballot initiatives. This is pretty important on a local level because you can feel the direct impact.
Genevieve: Join a group, or start one if one doesn’t exist for an issue that you’re passionate about.
Tunde: Last but not least, run for office. If there’s anything that the AOC’s of the world have taught us is that no matter what your age or background, anything’s possible.
Genevieve: Not that there aren’t typically barriers, they’re usually financial, racial, or even ideological, but what were once considered barriers are now changing, as Briahna puts it.
Briahna Joy Gray: For years, for decades, the status quo in my mind has always been, well it would be nice to have X, Y, and Z, but if a politician were to run on those things, they wouldn’t be able to win anyway, so we have to be moderate. We have to be incrementalist. We have to meet them halfway. Because of the efforts of trailblazers like, yes, Senator Sanders, and more recently, the members of the squad, that reality is different.
Tunde: So there we have it. Long-term game plan for how young people can not just talk about power or to it, but perhaps take some of it, especially in the face of these potential administrations that have clearly demonstrated they don’t give a shit about dealing with issues that young people actually care about. One last question, that’s the long-term game plan, what’s the short term? Establish political order definitely lives to play the short term power play.
Genevieve: This means that we need to invest a lot of energy into pushing and shaping our short-term goals to lay a strong foundation for accomplishing our long-term goals.
Tunde: So what’s the short term game plan? I don’t know. You tell us. We don’t have all the answers. Probably according to some of you, we don’t have any of the answers, but the real question is, “What’s your plan? For tomorrow? For the next day, or the day after?” Because trust me, with whoever wins, the establishment definitely has one.
Studio: Tunde Ogunfolaju
Post-Production: Tunde Ogunfolaju
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therealnews--2020-11-09--Big Oil loses out on Election Day and other climate crisis wins, explained

Welcome back to the Climate Crisis News Roundup , elections postmortem edition .
Election Day has come and gone .
At the presidential level , after days of anxious ballot counting , we finally have a declared winner : This Saturday , at 11:25 a.m. Eastern Standard Time , the Associated Press called the race for Joe Biden .
But many other races—and , in particular , ballot initiatives—got a vote and results last Tuesday .
On climate and environmental issues , progressives got some big wins in some unexpected places .
If you have a story you think deserves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story pitches in general , get in touch with me at steve @ therealnews.com or on Twitter at @ SteveAHorn .
You can read the previous edition here .
In Orange County , Florida , home to Disney World , the state ’ s waterways won a major victory by a wide margin .
The Right to Clean Water Initiative—called Question 1 in official terms—grants affirmative legal rights to the county ’ s waters against their pollution .
The 30th largest county in the United States and fifth largest in Florida , Orange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunshine State ’ s history to enact rights of nature , and the largest ever to do so in the United States .
Orange County now joins a list of about three dozen municipalities in the United States that have granted rights to nature within their borders .
While Joe Biden won by a margin of 68 % to 31 % in Orange County , the ballot measure won by an overwhelming 89.2 % to 10.8 % .
During TRNN ’ s live election night show , Chuck O ’ Neal , director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nature Network , spoke about the resounding victory and vote tally .
“ This is a non-partisan , bipartisan issue : the right to clean water , ” O ’ Neal said .
“ It ’ s nice to see an issue that transcends partisan politics .
The right to clean water today has exerted itself in the public domain of Florida as being what the voters of Florida want.
” Thomas Linzey , senior legal counsel at the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights , a group that assisted with the measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press release .
“ This is an important step forward in Florida , with the adoption of the first rights of nature law in the state , ” Linzey said .
“ We look forward to assisting the people of Orange County to enforce and defend this measure , and to helping people across Florida to adopt similar measures to protect Florida ’ s threatened rivers , streams , bays , and watersheds.
” But there is still a major hurdle to clear for O ’ Neal ’ s group .
As O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s pre-election show , Election Day is the “ regular season , ” and the ongoing litigation surrounding the ballot initiative ’ s language will be the “ playoffs.
” A few months after the initiative made it onto the ballot , the Florida Legislature passed a law halting municipalities from enacting “ any legal rights to a plant , an animal , a body of water , or any other part of the natural environment.
” The law received lobbying support from the Florida Farm Bureau , Florida Ag Coalition , Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Home Builders Association .
Watch the segment here at 7:29 : The Florida Rights of Nature Network has challenged the law in state court , and the case is in its early stages .
Ultimately , the end result of that litigation will determine the fate of the Right to Clean Water Initiative .
The fight in Florida is part of a broader international rights of nature movement .
Proponents of enshrining such rights in law say that , compared to environmental regulations , it is a far stronger way to protect biodiversity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even the atmosphere itself from climate change .
“ I think people have been frustrated with conventional environmental regulations for a long time , ” Linzey said on TRNN ’ s election night show .
“ People who are told to trust the state and federal government on environmental protection issues are starting to see through that scam and that the system is rigged and is not taking care of those problems.
” Another southern state known for its support of Big Oil also saw the industry face a big loss on Election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a ballot initiative that would have essentially stripped the ability of local governments to collect property taxes from manufacturing companies based in the Bayou States , lost by a count of 63 % to 37 % .
It was a crushing defeat for the oil and gas industry , which got the amendment on the ballot to begin with .
Louisiana does not have direct-democracy ballot measures , but constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot if voted on by the state legislature .
Amendment 5 , voted on during an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as SB 272 , was the product of years of lobbying and legislative dealmaking by the owners of the Cameron LNG facility .
That fracked gas exports facility is co-owned by the San Diego-based Sempra Energy , the French company Total , and Japanese companies Mitsui & Co. , Mitsubishi and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha .
Sen. Ralph Abraham , a Republican who represents the district in which Cameron LNG is located in Cameron Parish , authored and voted for the legislation that put Amendment 5 on the ballot on Election Day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the oil and gas industry throughout his tenure in the state legislature .
The amendment would have benefitted Cameron LNG by allowing the joint venture to enter into a payment in lieu of taxes ( PILOT ) deal , which means paying an agreed-upon lump sum upfront and then never having to pay property taxes again .
Cameron LNG had initially entered into a PILOT agreement with Cameron Parish in 2016 , but it was thrown out by Louisiana courts in 2017 .
Had Amendment 5 passed , its scope would have gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language of the amendment says that “ property eligible for this exemption shall be limited to property of a new manufacturing establishment or an addition to an existing manufacturing establishment.
” That would have applied to any new oil , gas , or petrochemical facility ; any manufacturer of other goods ; and any significant additions to existing facilities .
After the amendment was defeated , Mary-Patricia Wray , founder of Top Drawer Strategies , a progressive lobbying and political consulting firm based in Baton Rouge , Louisiana , pointed to the unlikely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Amendment 5 passed the legislature with a big majority in a COVID vacuum and without public input , ” said Wray , who worked for the Louisiana Taxpayer Education Fund to defeat the measure .
“ But it failed in all 64 of Louisiana ‘ s parishes on Tuesday night , with almost as many Louisiana voters rejecting Amendment 5 , 1.22 million , as voted for President Donald Trump , 1.25 million , in ruby-red Louisiana.
” Wray added that it took a years-long effort to fend off the measure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most influential industry lobbying forces in the state .
According to a 2017 presentation given by lobbyists for the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association and the Louisiana Chemical Association , the oil , gas and petrochemical industry lobbying groups successfully pushed to get a PILOT amendment introduced in the Louisiana Legislature in 2017 .
Sempra is a member of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association .
That bill died in the Senate .
Voters in Cameron Parish definitively voted against Amendment 5 , 60 % to 40 % .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill for giveaways to companies that hurt our families and fail to create or maintain well paying jobs , ” Wray said .
“ Our people want good roads , schools , and well trained public safety officials .
Together grassroots community leaders and faith officials , along with a well funded , polished media campaign , educated voters for a big victory.
” Only 58 % of the vote on it has been counted as of the morning of Nov. 9 , but an industry-related taxation ballot measure in Alaska that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extraction tax rate for drilling appears destined for defeat .
Known as the Fair Share Act , the measure would compel the oil industry to pay higher taxes for drilling happening in the state ’ s North Slope , where 80 % of Alaskan drilling takes place .
Over 56 % of voters have rejected the Fair Share Act so far , though , and it has a steep hill to climb to achieve victory .
BP , ConocoPhillips , ExxonMobil and Hilcorp spent over $ 25 million to defeat the referendum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a business coalition called OneAlaska , which has over 400 private-sector members .
If Measure 1 did pass , it would close a state budget shortfall of $ 1 billion per year .
That shortfall began , in part , due to the passage of the More Alaska Production Act ( Senate Bill 21 ) in 2013 in the Alaska Legislature , which created a scaling oil extraction tax rate based on the global price of oil .
That means that when the price of oil goes down , Big Oil pays less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenue from one of its biggest industrial sectors .
When the More Alaska Production Act debate happened , “ its backers made four promises : More oil production , more jobs , more money in the Permanent Fund , and economic growth in Alaska , ” wrote the coalition supporting the Fair Share Act on its campaign website .
“ All four [ promises ] proved false : oil production has continued to decline , oil jobs have decreased , Permanent Fund Dividends have been cut , and budget cuts forced the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides an annual payment to Alaska residents via tax revenue generated from oil extraction .
A case in point of how the price of oil impacts the fund , this year residents got a check of about $ 900 amid the COVID-19-related global oil price collapse , while last year residents got $ 1,600 .
Alaska Sen. Bill Wielechowski , who represents residents in Anchorage , said on TRNN ’ s election night show that the state is actually paying more in tax subsidies than the industry pays back to the state in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ve actually paid them to take our oil , ” he said .
As a result , there have been cuts in public education , higher education , road construction , cuts to snow-plowing and other basic infrastructure .
“ Historically we ’ ve gotten about 12.5 % tax on our oil … The Republicans took over in redistricting in the last cycle and they passed a bill that … lowered our tax rate to about 4 % at most prices , ” Wielechowski said .
“ And so , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after this happened , we plunged into a recession—the longest recession in the state ’ s history.
” The US officially exited the Paris Climate Accord on Nov. 4 , the day after Election Day .
However , President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to reenter the agreement .
But the reality is that Paris , with a goal of limiting the global temperature increase to “ well below ” 2°C over pre-industrial levels , has also failed to deliver the goods since the Climate Accord was adopted in Dec. 2015 .
A Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC ) found 75 % of pledges by participating countries fell far short of what climate science dictated .
The report added that “ because the climate pledges are voluntary , technicalities , loopholes , and conditions continue to postpone decisive global action to reduce emissions and address climate change.
” The website for the Biden-Harris transition team says Biden will “ go much further ” than merely reentering the United States into Paris , pledging “ to lead an effort to get every major country to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate targets.
” The next attempt at doing so will take place in Nov. 2021 at the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow , Scotland .

Welcome back to the Climate Crisis News Roundup, elections postmortem edition.
Election Day has come and gone. At the presidential level, after days of anxious ballot counting, we finally have a declared winner: This Saturday, at 11:25 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, the Associated Press called the race for Joe Biden. But many other races—and, in particular, ballot initiatives—got a vote and results last Tuesday. On climate and environmental issues, progressives got some big wins in some unexpected places.
If you have a story you think deserves a spot in the Roundup, or story pitches in general, get in touch with me at steve@therealnews.com or on Twitter at @SteveAHorn. You can read the previous edition here.
Rights of Nature Gets Biggest Win
In Orange County, Florida, home to Disney World, the state’s waterways won a major victory by a wide margin. The Right to Clean Water Initiative—called Question 1 in official terms—grants affirmative legal rights to the county’s waters against their pollution.
The 30th largest county in the United States and fifth largest in Florida, Orange County is the first municipality in the Sunshine State’s history to enact rights of nature, and the largest ever to do so in the United States. Orange County now joins a list of about three dozen municipalities in the United States that have granted rights to nature within their borders. While Joe Biden won by a margin of 68% to 31% in Orange County, the ballot measure won by an overwhelming 89.2% to 10.8%.
A WIN in Orange County… is a win for the entire nation- Great job Florida Rights of Nature Network for all the hard work there.https://t.co/omIi02U9IW — Florida Rights of Nature Network (@FRONN2020) November 4, 2020
During TRNN’s live election night show, Chuck O’Neal, director at large of the Florida Rights of Nature Network, spoke about the resounding victory and vote tally.
“This is a non-partisan, bipartisan issue: the right to clean water,” O’Neal said. “It’s nice to see an issue that transcends partisan politics. The right to clean water today has exerted itself in the public domain of Florida as being what the voters of Florida want.”
Thomas Linzey, senior legal counsel at the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights, a group that assisted with the measure, echoed O’Neal in a press release.
“This is an important step forward in Florida, with the adoption of the first rights of nature law in the state,” Linzey said. “We look forward to assisting the people of Orange County to enforce and defend this measure, and to helping people across Florida to adopt similar measures to protect Florida’s threatened rivers, streams, bays, and watersheds.”
But there is still a major hurdle to clear for O’Neal’s group. As O’Neal said previously on TRNN’s pre-election show, Election Day is the “regular season,” and the ongoing litigation surrounding the ballot initiative’s language will be the “playoffs.” A few months after the initiative made it onto the ballot, the Florida Legislature passed a law halting municipalities from enacting “any legal rights to a plant, an animal, a body of water, or any other part of the natural environment.” The law received lobbying support from the Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Ag Coalition, Florida Chamber of Commerce, and the Florida Home Builders Association. Watch the segment here at 7:29:
The Florida Rights of Nature Network has challenged the law in state court, and the case is in its early stages. Ultimately, the end result of that litigation will determine the fate of the Right to Clean Water Initiative.
The fight in Florida is part of a broader international rights of nature movement. Proponents of enshrining such rights in law say that, compared to environmental regulations, it is a far stronger way to protect biodiversity, clean air, clean water and even the atmosphere itself from climate change.
“I think people have been frustrated with conventional environmental regulations for a long time,” Linzey said on TRNN’s election night show. “People who are told to trust the state and federal government on environmental protection issues are starting to see through that scam and that the system is rigged and is not taking care of those problems.”
Big Oil State, Big Oil Loss
Another southern state known for its support of Big Oil also saw the industry face a big loss on Election Day. Louisiana’s Amendment 5, a ballot initiative that would have essentially stripped the ability of local governments to collect property taxes from manufacturing companies based in the Bayou States, lost by a count of 63% to 37%. It was a crushing defeat for the oil and gas industry, which got the amendment on the ballot to begin with.
Photos I shot at a #BlackLivesMatter protest march against Amendment 5 last month in LA's Cancer Alley organized by Rise St. James. If you are voting in LA & want understand Amendment 5 before you vote, check out Together Louisiana's post: https://t.co/l5Q3yunHLV pic.twitter.com/dLl2I02L7E — julie dermansky (@jsdart) November 3, 2020
Louisiana does not have direct-democracy ballot measures, but constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot if voted on by the state legislature. Amendment 5, voted on during an emergency session of the legislature in May as SB 272, was the product of years of lobbying and legislative dealmaking by the owners of the Cameron LNG facility. That fracked gas exports facility is co-owned by the San Diego-based Sempra Energy, the French company Total, and Japanese companies Mitsui & Co., Mitsubishi and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha. Sen. Ralph Abraham, a Republican who represents the district in which Cameron LNG is located in Cameron Parish, authored and voted for the legislation that put Amendment 5 on the ballot on Election Day. Abraham has received over $191,000 from the oil and gas industry throughout his tenure in the state legislature.
The amendment would have benefitted Cameron LNG by allowing the joint venture to enter into a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) deal, which means paying an agreed-upon lump sum upfront and then never having to pay property taxes again. Cameron LNG had initially entered into a PILOT agreement with Cameron Parish in 2016, but it was thrown out by Louisiana courts in 2017.
Had Amendment 5 passed, its scope would have gone far beyond benefitting Cameron LNG. The language of the amendment says that “property eligible for this exemption shall be limited to property of a new manufacturing establishment or an addition to an existing manufacturing establishment.” That would have applied to any new oil, gas, or petrochemical facility; any manufacturer of other goods; and any significant additions to existing facilities.
After the amendment was defeated, Mary-Patricia Wray, founder of Top Drawer Strategies, a progressive lobbying and political consulting firm based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pointed to the unlikely political dynamics that defeated the amendment.
“Amendment 5 passed the legislature with a big majority in a COVID vacuum and without public input,” said Wray, who worked for the Louisiana Taxpayer Education Fund to defeat the measure. “But it failed in all 64 of Louisiana‘s parishes on Tuesday night, with almost as many Louisiana voters rejecting Amendment 5, 1.22 million, as voted for President Donald Trump, 1.25 million, in ruby-red Louisiana.”
Wray added that it took a years-long effort to fend off the measure. That included going toe-to-toe with some of the most influential industry lobbying forces in the state.
According to a 2017 presentation given by lobbyists for the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association and the Louisiana Chemical Association, the oil, gas and petrochemical industry lobbying groups successfully pushed to get a PILOT amendment introduced in the Louisiana Legislature in 2017. Sempra is a member of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association.
That bill died in the Senate. Voters in Cameron Parish definitively voted against Amendment 5, 60% to 40%.
“Louisiana families are sick of footing the bill for giveaways to companies that hurt our families and fail to create or maintain well paying jobs,” Wray said. “Our people want good roads, schools, and well trained public safety officials. Together grassroots community leaders and faith officials, along with a well funded, polished media campaign, educated voters for a big victory.”
Alaska Votes to Boost Taxes for Big Oil
Only 58% of the vote on it has been counted as of the morning of Nov. 9, but an industry-related taxation ballot measure in Alaska that would mandate the oil industry pay a higher extraction tax rate for drilling appears destined for defeat. Known as the Fair Share Act, the measure would compel the oil industry to pay higher taxes for drilling happening in the state’s North Slope, where 80% of Alaskan drilling takes place. Over 56% of voters have rejected the Fair Share Act so far, though, and it has a steep hill to climb to achieve victory.
BP, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Hilcorp spent over $25 million to defeat the referendum, officially known as Measure 1, spearheading a business coalition called OneAlaska, which has over 400 private-sector members. If Measure 1 did pass, it would close a state budget shortfall of $1 billion per year.
That shortfall began, in part, due to the passage of the More Alaska Production Act (Senate Bill 21) in 2013 in the Alaska Legislature, which created a scaling oil extraction tax rate based on the global price of oil. That means that when the price of oil goes down, Big Oil pays less in taxes and the state generates less revenue from one of its biggest industrial sectors.
When the More Alaska Production Act debate happened, “its backers made four promises: More oil production, more jobs, more money in the Permanent Fund, and economic growth in Alaska,” wrote the coalition supporting the Fair Share Act on its campaign website. “All four [promises] proved false: oil production has continued to decline, oil jobs have decreased, Permanent Fund Dividends have been cut, and budget cuts forced the state into a recession.”
The Permanent Fund provides an annual payment to Alaska residents via tax revenue generated from oil extraction. A case in point of how the price of oil impacts the fund, this year residents got a check of about $900 amid the COVID-19-related global oil price collapse, while last year residents got $1,600.
Alaska Sen. Bill Wielechowski, who represents residents in Anchorage, said on TRNN’s election night show that the state is actually paying more in tax subsidies than the industry pays back to the state in the form of extraction taxes. “We’ve actually paid them to take our oil,” he said.
As a result, there have been cuts in public education, higher education, road construction, cuts to snow-plowing and other basic infrastructure.
“Historically we’ve gotten about 12.5% tax on our oil … The Republicans took over in redistricting in the last cycle and they passed a bill that … lowered our tax rate to about 4% at most prices,” Wielechowski said. “And so, it’s not a coincidence that shortly after this happened, we plunged into a recession—the longest recession in the state’s history.”
US Exits Paris Agreement
The US officially exited the Paris Climate Accord on Nov. 4, the day after Election Day. However, President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to reenter the agreement.
Today, the Trump Administration officially left the Paris Climate Agreement. And in exactly 77 days, a Biden Administration will rejoin it. https://t.co/L8UJimS6v2 — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 5, 2020
But the reality is that Paris, with a goal of limiting the global temperature increase to “well below” 2°C over pre-industrial levels, has also failed to deliver the goods since the Climate Accord was adopted in Dec. 2015.
A Nov. 2019 report by scientists involved in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found 75% of pledges by participating countries fell far short of what climate science dictated. The report added that “because the climate pledges are voluntary, technicalities, loopholes, and conditions continue to postpone decisive global action to reduce emissions and address climate change.”
The website for the Biden-Harris transition team says Biden will “go much further” than merely reentering the United States into Paris, pledging “to lead an effort to get every major country to ramp up the ambition of their domestic climate targets.” The next attempt at doing so will take place in Nov. 2021 at the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland.
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therealnews--2020-11-06--The race for the White House was close because America loves racism

The race for the White House was close because America loves racism
American voters doubled down in 2020 on white supremacy ruling from the White House. We talk about why the election was so close and whether the Democratic Party’s insistence on courting right-leaning white voters instead of leftist voters was the right strategy.


therealnews--2020-11-05--Hope and havoc in Baltimore politics

Hope and havoc in Baltimore politics

Lisa Snowden-McCray has been working in news for over 15 years .
She specializes in reporting on race , policing @ @ @ @ @ She is also the editor of Baltimore Beat , a nonprofit news outlet in Baltimore @ @

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therealnews--2020-11-05--There is no democracy without felon voting rights

Eddie Conway is an Executive Producer of The Real News Network .
He is the host of the TRNN show @ @ @ @ @ is Chairman of the Board of Ida B 's Restaurant , and the author of @ @ @ @ @ : The Life & Times of a Baltimore Black Panther and The Greatest Threat : @ @ @ @ @ COINTELPRO .
A former member of the Black Panther Party , Eddie Conway is an @ @ @ @ @ over 43 years , a long time prisoners ' rights organizer in Maryland , the @ @ @ @ @ a Friend mentoring program , and the President of Tubman House Inc. of Baltimore .
@ @ @ @ @ international speaker and has several degrees .

Editor-in-Chief
Ten years ago, I was working 12-hour days as a warehouse temp in Southern California while my family, like millions of others, struggled to stay afloat in the wake of the Great Recession. Eventually, we lost everything, including the house I grew up in. It was in the years that followed, when hope seemed irrevocably lost and help from above seemed impossibly absent, that I realized the life-saving importance of everyday workers coming together, sharing our stories, showing our scars, and reminding one another that we are not alone. Since then, from starting the podcast Working People—where I interview workers about their lives, jobs, dreams, and struggles—to working as Associate Editor at the Chronicle Review and now as Editor-in-Chief at The Real News Network, I have dedicated my life to lifting up the voices and honoring the humanity of our fellow workers.
Email: max@therealnews.com
Follow: @maximillian_alv