Part one: our regular check in with Scott Braddock the editor of the Quorum Report, the Voice of Texas, the dean of the Austin Press Corps
We begin with a discussion about Juneteenth: activists across US inherit a historic battle for racial justice .First celebrated in 1865, the holiday marking slavery’s end is both a painful reminder and a celebration of freedom fighters. Galveston Tx was the city that the announcement was made in. Prior to June 19, 1865, the news about the end of slavery and the end of the civil war was not universal in the U.S.
It is notable to remember that the first Chairman of the Texas Republican party was a black man.
We also discussed the Supreme Court’s ruling on DACA: Trump cannot eliminate DACA protections in an “arbitrary and capricious manner.” This was a surprising decision by the court.
Texas has a rising rate of Covid-19, not helped by the opening up of the state. The Governor’s reluctance to acknowledge that the opening is not going well is frustrating to many.
Further Reading:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/18/juneteenth-celebration-events-protest-activism
Part two: our bimonthly check in with Dr Politics aka Professor Steffen Schmidt, political science professor at Iowa State.
The US Supreme Court took up DACA, and the opinion on sex discrimination, but there were many cases that the Court refused to take up.
We discussed Bolton’s book, still to be released officially, though segments have been discussed. There are issues that are raised among people, regarding the meaning of patriotism, treason, money-making. Republican lawmakers are re-examining Trump, and some are starting to peel away, in consideration of their own chances of re-election.
We discuss the Trump rally scheduled in Tulsa, OK. Though Oklahoma gave Trump a victory in 2016, many people in the state do not want him to come this time, due to the pandemic, Juneteenth, and because ot the history of a massacre of black people in Tulsa on June 1,1921, when “Black Wall Street” was burned down, 800 people were killed or injured. Mass graves are still being investigated. The Jacksonville Republican rally is being held on the 60th anniversary of a KKK race riot in that city. This is known as “ax handle Saturday” when more than 200 white people, armed with bats and ax handles, chased down and beat blacks.
Tulsa attendees are being told to sign an agreement in advance to not sue Trump or the Republican party if they contract Covid-19.
More readings:
Why Juneteenth is a celebration of hope. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/06/juneteenth-celebration-hope/
Does Trump want a second term?https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/17/us/politics/trump-2020-election.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
Police reform is necessary but how do we do it? https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/13/magazine/police-reform.html
Demonstrations Force America to Reckon With Contentious Past https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/us/george-floyd-rayshard-brooks-protests.html
Fearing Trumps rally in Tulsa https://ktul.com/news/local/some-in-tulsa-fear-trump-rally-could-spark-violence
Tulsa brings back the racial massacre and the issue of reparation https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/18/trumps-visit-tulsa-spurs-renewed-call-1921-racial-massacre-reparations
How to keep police reforms going?https://www.wsj.com/articles/police-reform-protesters-seek-ways-to-keep-movement-going-11592040600?st=1fb93chk2q2fj0k
Progressive groups launch $59m vote y mail effort https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/503336-progressive-group-launches-59-million-vote-by-mail-effort
DOJ trying to stop release of book https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/503280-doj-expected-to-seek-temporary-restraining-order-blocking-bolton-book
Schumer and police reform https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/503308-schumer-faces-tough-choice-on-police-reform
Bolton: I don’t think Trump is fit for office https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/503335-john-bolton-on-trump-i-dont-think-hes-fit-for-office
Bolton: Putin thinks he can play Trump like a fiddle https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/503332-bolton-putin-thinks-he-can-play-trump-like-a-fiddle
why are covid cases rising in Florida? https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/06/covid-cases-florida-rise.html
police reform GOP style https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/06/senate-republicans-police-reform.html
Because of Sex https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/06/title-vii-because-of-sex-howard-smith-history.html
WHO halts trial of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-hydroxychloroq-idUSKBN23O2T0
Claims of a mutating virus spook Beijing Asia Times (Kevin W)
Terrifying chart shows how Covid-19 patients who end up in hospital may be almost certain to die if they have a vitamin D deficiency Daily Mail
Pence has lost all credibility https://www.huffpost.com/entry/washington-post-editorial-board-mike-pence-coronavirus_n_5eeb0dbbc5b6eab8ed9c5851
Coronavirus: Chinese firm says its vaccine candidate passes phase two clinical trialsSouth China Morning Post (resilc)
Moving Personal Protective Equipment Into the Community JAMA (MA)
Demand for face shields looks to be heating up as Canadians seek summertime COVID protection CBC (MA)
Florida, Texas and Arizona set records for daily COVID-19 cases The Hill
Florida bars and restaurants close just a week after reopening Independent
Montgomery Council votes down mask ordinance to doctors’ disgust Montgomery Advertiser (furzy).
#WalkAway founder removed from flight for refusal to wear mask, as US airline trade group threatens to blacklist violators RT
An Unstoppable Movement’: Sanders Praises Grassroots After Target Announces $15 Minimum WageCommon Dreams
There’s A Huge Gap In How Republicans And Democrats See Discrimination FiveThirtyEight
Judge Orders Trump Administration To Give Tribes Their COVID-19 Relief Funds HuffPost
U.S. plummets to 10th spot in World Competitiveness Ranking CBS
Why America’s Institutions Are Failing https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/06/why-americas-institutions-are-failing/613078/
