The Electoral College has certified Joe Biden’s presidential victory. As this polarizing administration comes to a close, it’s worth pointing out a few fitting bookends.
Trump, Jill Richardson recalls this week, launched his bid for president in 2015 with a litany of racist lies about the alleged criminality of Mexican immigrants. Now, the most exhaustive data to date shows once more than immigrants are significantly less likely to commit crimes than native-born Americans. As Jill writes, politicians have always told lies about marginalized communities. Let’s hope this one ends with Trump’s presidency.
Latino voters themselves played a significant role in ousting Trump from office, Lizet Ocampo adds this week, which should show both parties that their community deserves meaningful engagement — especially with control of the Senate still up for grabs while a brutal pandemic disproportionately hurts their community.
In another sign of transition, the U.S. is moving forward with distributing COVID-19 vaccines. Cartoonist Khalil Bendib notes the role Muslim immigrants — whom Trump once sought to ban wholesale — played in developing them.
Also this week, Thom Hartmann argues forcefully that Mitch McConnell’s stalling of COVID-19 relief to get corporations immunity from safety lawsuits should be the scandal of the year. And Jim Hightower shares his Christmas list.
We’ll get out one more newsletter this year if we can manage it. If not, let me wish you a safe and happy holiday season now. We’ll be back in the New Year.
New This Week…
Mitch McConnell Wants to Let Corporations Kill You | Thom Hartmann
The Senate GOP leader’s refusal to pass COVID-19 aid without corporate immunity should be the scandal of the year.
Learning the Lessons of the Latino Vote | Lizet Ocampo
Georgia will determine control of the Senate. The votes of Latinos, who have suffered badly during the pandemic, could be decisive.
Trump’s Lies About Immigrants Should End With His Presidency | Jill Richardson
New data confirms what’s been true all along: Trump built his brand selling fear-mongering lies about immigrants and crime.
My Christmas List | Jim Hightower
The special gifts I’ve arranged for special people.
Immigration Problems | Khalil Bendib
We need to stop admitting immigrants who… develop COVID-19 vaccines?
In Case You Missed It…
We Need an Essential Workers Bill of Rights | Janie Grice
Walmart’s owners are seeing their wealth surge while my former coworkers there go without hazard pay. That has to change.
Get the Feds Out of the Way of Cannabis Reform | Paul Armentano
The House just took a huge step toward repealing the marijuana prohibition. What’s next?
Mass Incarceration Is Declining — But Not for Women | Robert P. Alvarez
The next administration needs to address this crisis and the war on drugs driving it.
Failing Students Need Support, Not Blame | Jill Richardson
Students don’t fail because they are lazy. They fail because something is wrong in their lives — and right now, so much is wrong.
