Progressive Briefing for Thursday, August 16, 2018

Intellectually bankrupt GOP, California cities pledge to oppose offshore drilling, White House revokes security clearance of ex-CIA director, and more.

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NationofChange Staff
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Image Credit: Civilized

Sheriff resigns after arrested for conspiracy to sell drugs and extortion

Arrested by FBI agents last week for protecting and extorting a local drug dealer, a Mississippi sheriff resigned Tuesday and was granted house arrest instead of pre-trial detention. According to federal prosecutors, Tallahatchie County Sheriff William Brewer had been profiting from illicit drug deals while protecting a dealer for at least 15 years.

‘Bankrupt intellectually,’ GOP no match for energized Democratic voters inspired by Progressive vision, says Sanders

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont—who handily won the Democratic Party primary in his state on Tuesday night even though he will continue to run as an Independent—appeared on CBS This Morning on Wednesday where he described the Republican Party under President Donald Trump as “bankrupt intellectually” and urged Democratic leaders to recognize that the future of their party is its energized, progressive wing and with candidates running on bold policies like Medicare for All, tuition-free college, a $15 minimum wage, and an end to corporate rule.

‘Very likely’ White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders ‘will not stay through the Year’: Ex-Trump campaign manager

Sarah Huckabee Sanders will not remain “behind the podium” for White House briefings after the November midterm elections, according to former Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewnadowski.

“Sarah Huckabee Sanders will not stay through the year,” Lewandowski said. “I’d say that’s very likely.”

Lewandowski noted it can be very difficult to defend the president “from behind that podium.”

White House revokes security clearance of ex-CIA director John Brennan citing ‘erratic’ criticism of Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan on Wednesday, accusing Brennan of using his access to classified information to “sow division and chaos” about the Trump administration.

Brennan, who was director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency under Trump’s predecessor, Democratic President Barack Obama, has been a sharp critic of Trump, frequently appearing on cable television news shows to attack his foreign policy positions.

65 California cities, counties oppose Trump’s offshore drilling plan

At least 65 California cities and counties have taken action opposing new fossil fuel leasing in the Pacific Ocean since President Trump proposed a massive expansion of drilling in federal waters last year. That ongoing campaign now represents communities with 21.3 million Californians—more than half the state’s population.

ALEC sets the table for gerrymandering, union busting, protecting fossil fuels, and privatizing schools

When the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) convenes its 45th annual meeting of legislators and corporate lobbyists at the swank Hilton New Orleans Riverside hotel on August 8, it will serve up a veritable banquet of union-busting, gerrymandering, pro-fossil fuel, and school privatization proposals for lawmakers to take back home.

So what does ALEC’s menu of policy proposals at the New Orleans conference include?

Hundreds of newspapers denounce Trump’s attacks on media in coordinated editorials

More than 300 news publications across the country are joining together to defend the role of a free press and denounce President Trump’s ongoing attacks on the news media in coordinated editorials publishing Thursday, according to a tally by The Boston Globe.

The project was spearheaded by staff members of the editorial page at the Globe, who write: “This relentless assault on the free press has dangerous consequences. We asked editorial boards from around the country – liberal and conservative, large and small — to join us today to address this fundamental threat in their own words.”

Union ironworker, Randy Bryce, wins democratic primary in Wisconsin to possibly replace Paul Ryan

Randy Bryce, a union ironworker, came out victorious in Wisconsin’s democratic primary this week making him one step closer to replacing Paul Ryan, who announced his retirement from the House. Gaining 59 percent of the vote, Bryce, 53, better known as “Ironstache,” beat out his opponent local school board member and teacher Cathy Myers, 55.

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