In a war, it’s not uncommon to get more heat than light from our leaders. So this week in OtherWords, as President Trump launches strikes on Iran, Khury Petersen-Smith sheds some crucial light on the facts behind America’s newest war.
One may have little sympathy for Iran’s authoritarian government, Khury acknowledges, but it’s ordinary Iranians who pay the price for these strikes. As the conflict threatens to spiral out of control, Khury pokes holes in the rationale for war. “Whatever criticisms one may have of Iran’s government, they do not justify this illegal war,” he argues. Don’t miss this one.
Meanwhile, federal budget cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP are leaving state governments in a bind. Adam Shah explains how “bad business fees” — new taxes targeting low-wage companies that force their workers to rely on those programs to survive — could help patch the hole while also encouraging employers to give workers a raise.
Also this week, Farrah Hassen reports on the bipartisan resistance to ICE warehouses sweeping the country. And Suzan Erem calls on rural communities to unite against the threat of “robotic farming.”
New This Week…
Five Things Americans Need to Know about the U.S. and Iran | Khury Petersen-Smith
Whatever criticisms one may have of Iran’s government, the Trump administration is the aggressor in this illegal war.
Federal Safety Net Cuts Are Hurting States. A ‘Bad Business Fee’ Could Help. | Adam Shah
By taxing companies that pay poverty wages, state and local governments can help cover federal cuts to the safety net programs low-wage workers rely on.
ICE’s Appalling Warehouse Scheme Draws Bipartisan Protests | Farrah Hassen
Even communities that supported President Trump are pushing back on cruel plans to detain immigrants in warehouses.
Rural America Needs to Band Together Against Corporate Greed | Suzan Erem
New schemes for fully robotic farming could push the last remaining farmers — and their communities — to fold.
In Case You Missed It…
Stealing Students’ Dreams to Give Billionaires Tax Breaks | Satra D. Taylor
I’m a first-generation college student. I’m worried other young people won’t get the financial aid that made my education possible.
Don’t End TPS for Our Immigrant Neighbors | Jordan Liz
The Trump administration is trying to expel lawful immigrants to countries facing political turmoil — while also cutting aid and destabilizing many countries further.
What Critics Still Get Wrong About Marijuana Legalization | Paul Armentano
Cannabis re-legalization is a work in progress. But it’s here to stay — and by and large, we’re mostly getting it right.
Beware of AI Swill | Jim Hightower
AI billionaires are polluting our communities with glossy PR promoting their water-guzzling, utility-bill-raising data centers.
