The California state legislature wrapped up its 2022 session on Wednesday, capping months of debate over bills to address housing, labor, reproductive rights, climate, energy, and more. Democrats control both chambers, with a 30-9 majority in the Senate and a 60-19 majority in the House. Furthermore, with a Democrat in the governor’s seat, the state […]
Background The federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) requires that hospitals that accept Medicare payment appropriately provide emergency care to all patients. Failure to comply with EMTALA can result in fines of $100,000 per violation and civil liability. Following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, overruling Roe v. Wade, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) […]
“The path to save the nation is very simple — it’s going to go through the school boards,” former Trump adviser Steve Bannon said on his podcast last year. Rightwing extremists’ newfound focus on schools, their boards, and their curriculum was inspired by parental frustration over pandemic closures. The GOP capitalized on the lack of societal support […]
Felony disenfranchisement 5.2 million voting-age Americans cannot legally vote due to criminal convictions. That’s 2.3%, or 1 in 44 citizens, who have had their right to participate in civil society revoked—often even after serving their time in jail. Only Maine, Vermont, Washington DC, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico do not restrict the voting rights […]
Mississippi Five citizens of Lexington, Mississippi, filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city’s police department and its chief for “habitually subjecting Black citizens to harassment and brutality, in violation of their constitutional rights.” Lexington, which has a population of about 1,800 people, is 85% Black. It is located in one of the nation’s poorest counties – […]
Housekeeping: HOW TO SUPPORT: If you are in the position to support my work, I have a patreon, venmo, and a paypal set up. No pressure though, I will keep posting these pieces publicly no matter what – paywalls suck. NOTIFICATIONS: You can signup to receive a weekly email with links to my posts. If former president Donald Trump dragged authoritarianism […]
Housekeeping: HOW TO SUPPORT: If you are in the position to support my work, I have a patreon, venmo, and a paypal set up. No pressure though, I will keep posting these pieces publicly no matter what – paywalls suck. NOTIFICATIONS: You can signup to receive a weekly email with links to my posts. Threatening hospitals The conservative Twitter account “Libs […]
Forced birth for teenagers The Florida State Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday that a pregnant 16-year-old with no parents is not “sufficiently mature to decide whether to terminate her pregnancy.” Florida law requires that a parent or legal guardian provide consent for a minor’s abortion. In the absence of consent, a minor may petition the courts […]
Fulton County Lindsey Graham A federal judge ordered Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to testify before a Fulton County grand jury investigating Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. District Judge Leigh Martin May, an Obama appointee, ruled on Monday that Graham’s position as a senator does not shield him from the subpoena: “Individuals on the […]
The 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is best known for abolishing slavery after the Civil War, freeing three million Confederate slaves from servitude. Less well known is the second phrase of the Amendment that allows prisoners to be required to perform labor or else face punishment while in custody. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except […]
