Democracy
Trump continued his long exhausted list of false claims about vote-by-mail in the 2020 election last Thursday, going so far as to suggest that the election be “delayed”, despite having no authority to do so. Trump’s suggestion prompted lawmakers from both sides publicly rejecting the suggestion and Trump’s false claim that mail-in ballots would result…
Read MoreLast week marked the end of statewide eviction moratoriums in more than 30 states, including North Carolina, that had protections for renters in the CARES Act. More than 40 million Americans may lose their homes — almost four times the amount seen during the Great Recession. In North Carolina, Gov. Cooper mandated a months-long statewide…
Read MoreAs Congress debates how to shape the next phase of coronavirus relief, the extra $600 federal unemployment benefits that were legislated through the CARES Act have now expired for millions across the country. The last payment rolled out this past weekend, as the House and Senate are considering different economic stimulus packages. Instead of extending…
Read MoreNumerous moratorium on evictions across the nation, including in North Carolina, are set to end in the coming days. According to a Census Bureau survey, almost 24 million Americans say that they don’t expect to be able to make their next monthly rent or mortgage payment, as the blockage of utility charges and the eviction…
Read MoreAs the U.S. hits 4.3 million COVID-19 cases, medical experts are urging leaders to consider shutting down the country and start over to contain the pandemic. Since the early months of the year, the Trump administration missed or ignored the mounting signals of the impending crisis. Yet, while Trump fumbled our nation’s response and assigned…
Read MoreThis week, millions of North Carolinians and people across the country will see a drastic reduction in unemployment benefits as the additional $600 federal UI is set to stop at the end of the month. In March, the federal government agreed to send an additional $600 to unemployed workers from the CARES Act. Talks of…
Read MoreLast week, the Trump Administration stripped control of all COVID-19 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and has ordered hospitals to send the information to the Department of Health and Human Services through a private company. Since the pandemic began, the CDC has regularly published data on availability of hospital beds,…
Read MoreThe General Assembly adjourned on Saturday, with lawmakers coming back into session on Sept. 2. In its most recent legislative session, Republican lawmakers did not set aside politics on many issues, but rather ignored public health officials and sought to force the reopening of the state. During an unprecedented moment, the demands of the wealthy…
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A few weeks ago in an opinion editorial by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, Tillis claimed that he will remain committed to,“my work of listening to the concerns, opinions, and experiences of North Carolinians”. But since 2014, the senator yet has demonstrated a pattern of dodging voters’ concerns during his town halls and in his decisions.…
Read MoreThe North Carolina General Assembly concluded its session Friday without approving a proposal to increase weekly unemployment benefits, among other unmet needs. Amid the pandemic, the legislature refused to address vital needs such as Medicaid expansion, increasing teacher pay, public school funding, unemployment benefits and systemic racism. Rather than address long-standing issues, Republican lawmakers have…
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