Our take
Everyday the government makes decisions that affect our lives; from the water we drink, the food our kids eat and how much money we bring home. Being informed is one of the first steps in building our power and creating change in our communities.
The New York Times: A White House Long in Denial Confronts Reality
Last Saturday’s White House event unveiling Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, has been marked as one that has resulted in positive COVID-19 tests of at least eight attendees, including Trump himself. Few attendees wore masks or kept their social distance in both the indoor and outdoor gathering, resulting in a recipe for a “super spreader” event. …
Associated Press News: In big states, tiny counties, Trump attacking voting rules
Litigation over absentee voting in North Carolina has taken quite a few twists and turns over the past few weeks. The cause? Republican state lawmakers and Trump’s campaign intervening in the voting lawsuit that would have eased absentee voting rules. Through letters, tweets, disinformation and lawsuits, the Trump campaign and its GOP allies are going…
Citizen-Times: Census fight could have big implications for North Carolina’s political, financial future
Last week, a federal judge halted the Trump administration’s efforts to conclude the 2020 Census count a month early, but the Trump Administration quickly appealed the ruling — further complicating what could be the deadline for this year’s census. While the case continues to play out in court, the Census Bureau and officials continue to…
WRAL: Make North Carolina count by completing the census
The deadline for the 2020 Census is fast approaching and approximately 4 million North Carolinians still need to fill out the census. There’s roughly $16 billion of federal funding at stake for North Carolina if citizens do not participate by the September 30 deadline — in addition to state funds. Our response is critical as…
After fourth COVID-19 cluster students, prominent faculty and medical experts call for UNC-Chapel Hill to go online
Just a month ago, current and former faculty from across the UNC system sent a letter to top UNC System leadership and the UNC Board of Governors, urging them to join other university systems in making online instruction the default for the coming Fall semester as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Despite their concerns, the BOG…
Trump’s attacks on voting-by-mail and the Post Office
In a long list of false claims and furious objections to voting-by-mail, Trump admitted on Thursday that he’s willingly blocking proposed federal aid for the U.S. Postal Service in an attempt to make it harder to expand voting by mail. For years, the Postal Service has struggled to stay afloat, and with Louis DeJoy, a…
The Hill: Senate adjourns until September without COVID-19 relief package
Last Thursday, the Senate adjourned until September 8, without reaching a deal for the next round of coronavirus relief legislation. The lack of a deal leaves millions of Americans in financial peril, as the $600 per week federal unemployment benefit, the nationwide moratorium on evictions and the window to apply for Paycheck Protection Program small…
NPR: Census Cuts All Counting Efforts Short By A Month
Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that its ending all counting efforts, including door knocks, responses by mail, over the phone and online, for the 2020 census on Sept. 30 — a month sooner than previously announced. The last minute change imposed by the Trump administration, could threaten the accuracy of population numbers, especially…
WRAL: Relief packages should be about helping Americans, not just boosting Trump’s reelection
On Saturday, Trump signed three memoranda and one executive order at his exclusive New Jersey golf resort, ahead of any stimulus bill agreement between the House and Senate. In an attempt to appear to come to the nation’s rescue, Trump’s measures would provide $300 per week in federal unemployment assistance with another $100 a week…
Congress leaves town without a coronavirus stimulus deal, allowing $600 unemployment benefit to end
Another round of coronavirus relief package talks began today, as Congress adjourned for the weekend without coming to any deal on the program or a larger emergency stimulus package. The $600 weekly unemployment benefit that helped 32 million Americans stay afloat, officially ended on Friday — leaving unemployed Americans in limbo while Congress continues to…