Thanks for reading this free post from the Lowdown! If you enjoy what you’re getting here, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription— here’s why other folks have made the jump to support our work: “Jim is the voice of the underdog and for honesty, integrity, and fairness.” —Dahlia, Oklahoma "Jim Hightower's folksy, country style progressive political viewpoint is a refreshing respite from the the commentary of mainstream political pundits." —MR, Florida “I enjoy Jim’s work because there's always humor and hope.” —Donna, Illinois Paid subscribers get full access to all posts, the ability to comment on everything, invitations to live events with Hightower, and a fuzzy glow from helping in the fight for genuine, “small-d” people’s democracy. We’re glad to have you with us!   Jim Hightower's Radio Lowdown In 2025, Have Faith in the Po… 0:00 2:10 In 2025, Have Faith in the Power of Democratic Ideals Jim Hightower Dec 31 One of the most perverse political gambits this year has been pushed by foam-at-the-mouth, right-wing extremists. They’ve been trying to convince Americans to close their minds to all efforts promoting our society’s democratic goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. “Don’t Be Woke,” they bark. Hello, numbskulls! From 1776 forward, being wide awake to oppressors and exploiters is literally what made America… and continues to advance it. Our diversity, our national striving for equity, and our persistent struggle to include all in our historic democratic experiment are three core pillars that sustain the USA. My workaday father expressed this unifying reality to me in these profound words: “Everybody does better, when everybody does better.” But a group of self-proclaimed “Anti-Woke” crusaders has surged from the fringes of autocratic, xenophobic, racists politics, demanding that schools, corporations, churches, and families shut our eyes, ears, and minds to our own DEI values. All this would be a depressing end to this political year, EXCEPT that people across the country are rebelling, openly scoffing at the “Don’t Be Woke” hokum. Even the petty autocrats governing states like Florida and Texas can’t stop local school officials from looping around official “bans” against teaching the obvious virtues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Also, while a few corporations have bowed to the right-wing drumbeat, nearly all have continued their DEI programs this year… or even increased them. Why? Because the programs make sense, their workers and shareholders support DEI values, and not all CEOs are suck-ups to right-wing goofiness. So let us not head into 2025 with political fear, but with a recommitment to the persuasive power of democratic ideals. Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Workers Plan to Shutdown Amazon Over Christmas

 

More Perfect Union

1.24M subscribers

SCOOP: Amazon workers in NYC are going on strike right before Christmas — the company's busiest time. The first unionized Amazon warehouse is going to shut down in a historic walkout. Workers plan to hit the company where it hurts to win their first union contract. ----- More Perfect Union’s mission is to build power for working people. Here’s what that means: We report on the real struggles and challenges of the working class from a working-class perspective, and we attempt to connect those problems to potential solutions. We report on the abuses and wrongdoing of corporate power, and we seek to hold accountable the ultra-rich who have too much power over America’s political and economic systems. We're an independent, nonprofit newsroom. To support our work:

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Amazon Labor Union - International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1 (ALU- IBT Local 1) is on strike alongside Amazon facilities across the country. These are their demands of Amazon: Stop breaking the law and come to the bargaining table. No retaliation towards any workers for taking protected collective action. All workers who engage in collective action are guaranteed a safe return to work, free of harassment and disciplinary action. Sign on to show your support for Amazon workers nationwide and stand up to Amazon’s corporate intimidation. SIGN ON NOW » In April 2022, workers at Amazon’s JFK8 facility in Staten Island voted to unionize with the Amazon Labor Union, marking the first and only successful unionization at a U.S. Amazon facility. This win at the country’s second-largest employer was seen as a big step for the workers and the U.S. labor movement. However, Amazon has failed to recognize the union or negotiate with them in good faith since then. Staten Island’s facility is the largest unionized workplace in New York — meaning that what happens there will impact Amazon workers nationwide. Despite workers striking during the busy holiday season, Amazon has still refused to come to the bargaining table — ignoring its legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Act. In fact, Amazon is actively seeking to abolish the National Labor Relations Board – showing its blatant disregard for the law and its workers. Amazon workers at select facilities across the country are now striking to send a message that corporate intimidation and violation of workers’ basic rights will not be tolerated. Sign on today to support the strike! SIGN ON NOW » Thank you, Democratic Values

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2024: The Year in Review

Joyce Vance Dec 31

To mark the final day of 2024, here are some of my favorite columns from the last year. They are favorites in the sense that they remind me of where we’ve been, the ups and the downs, but also favorites because I hope there are ideas that will inspire us in the coming year. I can’t offer the message of hope and accomplishment I would have liked to be sharing today. The simple truth is that we lost the election, and Donald Trump’s reelection says some devastating things about our country. But I remain hopeful that we can all stick together and get important work done. I still think that civil discourse is the path forward, even though our progress as a nation is not linear.

That said, here are some columns that stand out for me as I think about the past year:

• In March, I wrote We Need To Talk About This after Donald Trump posted a video of a truck that had a picture of Joe Biden, bound and gagged, on its tailgate. It’s an important reminder of the unprecedented ways Trump is willing to flirt with violence, always laughing it off or claiming that’s not what he’s doing.

• In September, Trump decided late one night that he should tell American women how they feel and what they should do. Unfortunately, too many of them apparently listened to him. I wrote Trump’s Happy Vision for Women at that time, but misogyny was a recurrent theme this year, even before Kamala Harris became the Democratic Party’s nominee. In July, I wrote We Need To Talk About Misogyny.

• The Supreme Court was a disappointment this year, just like they were last year, and on so many different fronts. The Court’s decision in Loper Bright is going to have a long-term impact as Trump 2.0 tries to do away with the part of the “administrative state” that they don’t like—the parts that protect the environment from big business and billionaires, for instance, or kooks who don’t believe in the Polio vaccine. Why You Should Be Concerned About Loper Bright.

• After the election, I wrote about The Importance of Information, the role misinformation and disinformation played, and the need to address how we handle this problem, which isn’t going away, in the coming years to strengthen democracy. 

• In late November, when so many of us were down, and a lot of people were out, I wrote Not Broken. If you’re still feeling that way, this might be the right New Year’s read for you, especially towards the end of the piece. “Donald Trump has not broken the rule of law. He has tortured it and stretched it out of shape insofar as it applies to him. But he has not broken it, and he has not broken us. He cannot do that unless we let him, and I don’t intend to.”

• Where we’re headed: The Democracy Index, my focus in the coming year (years?) on helping us understand what is happening in a manageable way so that we can avoid the burnout and numbness that characterized Trump’s first administration for so many people. Yes, there is an election in 2026, and we need to be ready.

• And, of course, there are chickens (with good pictures!) and the importance of Encouraging Civil Discourse.

Toot (with the lovely red headdress) apparently had something serious to say to Ruth. If something is on your mind, I hope you’ll leave it in the comments.

Thanks for reading Civil Discourse and here’s to a Happy New Year!

We’re in this together,

Joyce

If you believe that independent journalism is more important than ever as we head into 2025, I hope you’ll consider upgrading to a paid subscription.

Watch now   Russia Shuts Down Trump In An Instant…Humiliates Him Donald Trump’s claims of ending the Ukraine war within 24 hours are exposed as empty promises, with Putin asserting dominance in the so-called “negotiations.” Ben Meiselas and MeidasTouch Network Dec 31 In a new video report, MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas dismantles Donald Trump’s claim that he could end the Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office. Recent developments show Russia already rejecting Trump’s reported “peace deal,” with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissing the plan as unsatisfactory. Trump’s proposal reportedly included delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership for 20 years and introducing European peacekeepers—terms Lavrov outright rejected while asserting Russia’s dominance in any negotiations. We are providing this report to our Meidas+ Substack subscribers ad-free. If you are able to support our reporting, consider joining as a paid subscriber today! Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In the report, Meiselas highlighted how this isn’t the first time Putin has humiliated Trump. From Russian state TV airing nude photos of Melania Trump during his presidency to secret Oval Office meetings where Trump leaked classified information, Meiselas illustrates how Trump has repeatedly been outmaneuvered by the Kremlin. Putin’s message to Trump has always been clear: “I own you.” Trump has already severely weakened his negotiating position—and Putin is playing him like a fiddle. Setting arbitrary deadlines only empowers adversaries like Russia to exploit his desperation for results. Trump’s lack of a concrete plan and weak stance not only embolden Russia but also send troubling signals to global powers like China, which may take cues from this dynamic in their own pursuits. Meiselas warns of Trump’s allies, like Elon Musk, supporting pro-Putin regimes worldwide, further advancing authoritarian interests at the expense of democracy. Trump claims to be a skilled negotiator, but he’s already been outplayed by Putin at every turn. Watch the full report ad-free exclusively on Meidas+ above!