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The United States of Resistance is a weekly industry newsletter sharing the top news from across the resistance. Please share with others! Sign up here.
THIS WILL BE A SPRING TO REMEMBER
Forecasts predict that the next two months will be among the most political dynamic seasons in generations. April kicks off with a bang, so get your marching shoes on. Make things easy by setting up your own personalized RISE People's Calendar - it can sync with your Google Calendar and automatically populate with the most exciting events near you.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit."
Unbelievable...that was Flynn's lawyer saying that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn is now willing to talk about Russia if offered immunity.
We remember Flynn telling a different story last year when he said, “When you are given immunity, that means you have probably committed a crime." What do you all think? Should he get immunity or not?
CAN'T MISS MEDIA
This is the most powerful video we at RISE Stronger have seen in some time. A Holocaust survivor confronts Trump's ICE Director about the horrors of targeting people based on their race, ethnicity, and religion. "History is not on your side" he warns.
A HOUSE DIVIDED
The House is crumbling right under Speaker Ryan's nose. Trump and the Freedom Caucus are out to get one another.
Late last night, Trump tweeted, "Where are @RepMarkMeadows, @Jim_Jordan and @Raul_Labrador? #RepealANDReplace #Obamacare" The Freedom Caucus' response this morning: "@RealDonaldTrump We are where we've always been: committed to keeping our promise."
ERASING OBAMA
Trump's obsessions with repealing anything related to Obama stretches far past health care. 11 Executive Actions, 10 Cabinet-level Agency Decisions, 7 Congressional Review Acts, 28 Rules Canceled. All in 3 months. {source}
This includes issues ranging from climate change, to science, to diversity in education, to internet privacy, and more.
SHH! DON'T SAY THAT WORD.
Climate Change ladies and gentlemen...yell it from the rooftops. This week, Trump signed sweeping orders doing away with much of the progress on climate change and energy related policies. And it's all really complicated. Check out this Vox explainer to understand the realities of these new policies.
RUSSIA. A SPRING CLEANING?
Seems the plot continues to thicken. On one hand, you have the House Intelligence Committee, which is literally combusting under our very eyes. First, Committee Chair Devin Nunes closes the hearing to the public, then he shuts it down entirely - perhaps all in an effort to avoid testimony from Sally Yates? {source}
On the other side, you have the Senate Intelligence Committee, who as of now is presenting a united front between Democrats and Republicans.
Then you've got Flynn, who just yesterday announced he would be willing to testify if only he was given immunity. The Senate Intel Committee shut that request down real quick.
A BIG, BEAUTIFUL BORDER WALL
...with a price tag that's making some Republicans stop and think twice. The Trump administration requested $1.5 billion earlier this week to cover approximately 62 miles, including repair of pre-existing fence. {source} In true Trump form, he wants this money now, and is requesting that it make its way into the spending bill that needs to be passed by end of April in order to avoid government shutdown. {source}
And if that's not enough, an open design process has begun for building a “big beautiful, border wall." Here are the specs for contractors to keep in mind.
COMING DOWN THE PIKE
We know we're constantly on our toes with what's to come, so here's our look at the 4 big things on the horizon. Keep checking our Facebook page for daily updates and calls to action.
Gorsuch showdown on April 3. Right now, Neil Gorsuch's SCOTUS vote is scheduled for Monday. Democrats are claiming they will filibuster Gorsuch until a special prosecutor is appointed to investigate Russia. On the other hand, Republicans are threatening the 'nuclear option' - i.e. changing long-standing Senate rules to circumvent the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Instead they would allow confirmation with a simple majority. {source}
Tax reform. This is certain to be the next big item the Trump administration tackles.
Budget showdown. The government shuts down on April 28 if Congress and the President do not sign a budget before then. With just four weeks, and two weeks of April recess, there is not much time to get this done. Complicate things even more by looking at the list of must-have items being requested by key players, and the reality begins to look a bit dim. {source}
Refugee/Muslim ban appeal ruling. Yesterday, the Trump administration filed an appeal on the Hawaii court's ruling which temporarily halts implementation of the administration's ban. A ruling on the appeal could come down at any time. {source}
A LOOK AT NORTH CAROLINA'S BATHROOM BILL
RISE Stronger Policy Working Groups track legislation, provide in-depth analysis, and weekly summaries. All are published at www.risestronger.org/newsroom/policy.
This week, RISE's Civil Liberties and Civil Rights group summarized the controversial repeal bill, HB 172, which takes the place of HB 2 - the 'bathroom bill'.
HB 142 is the newest compromise in the attempt by Democrats to repeal North Carolina's controversial "bathroom bill," HB 2, which was passed last year. HB 2 made it illegal for a person to go into a multi-stall bathroom in a school or public agency facility if that person's biological sex was different than the gender allowed in the particular bathroom. It was a bill targeted against the trans community and caused public outcry. Read more here.
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