The Fair Representation Act has been re-introduced in Congress. This bold solution can stop gerrymandering and make Congress work for every American.

The Fair Representation Act can solve partisan gerrymandering, make every congressional district competitive, and encourage politicians to represent all of us instead of just their base. It does this by combining three reforms:

• Multi-member districts. In three- or five-member districts, nearly every voter will elect a candidate they support. Voters like Massachusetts Republicans and Oklahoma Democrats will be represented in Congress. Gerrymandering will become nearly impossible.

• Ranked choice voting for all U.S. House and Senate elections. RCV frees voters to support their favorite candidates, and encourages candidates to reach out to more voters for second-choice support. When RCV is used in multi-member districts, it is a form of proportional representation.

• Uniform rules for congressional redistricting

The Fair Representation Act can be passed without a constitutional amendment. It truly has the potential to transform our political system and create a more inclusive and deliberative government which respects and empowers all voices.

President Pedro Sánchez announced on Monday that he will continue to lead the Spanish government, after five days of speculation about his future.

Last week, Sánchez announced that he would cancel all his official engagements after a court opened an initial investigation into his wife, Begoña Gómez, over accusations of influence peddling.

Sánchez, who has been in power since 2018, called the accusations a harassment campaign orchestrated by right-wing media.

“My wife and I know that this smear campaign will not stop, we have been suffering from it for 10 years,” Sánchez said. “We can handle it,” he added.

His decision last week to take time away from office to reflect on whether he would continue to lead the government came as a surprise even to people in his own Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE).

The accusations against Begoña Gómez were presented by the organization Manos Limpias, led by a man linked to the extreme right named Miguel Bernad.

The complaint

The complaint admitted by a court in Madrid against Begoña Gómez states that "taking advantage of her relationship with the president of the government, she would have recommended or endorsed by letter of recommendation with her signature to businessmen who bid for public tenders."

The document also points out that one of the companies that obtained public funds organized years later a master's degree in a university program that she directs and that another of them, the airline Air Europa, agreed to allocate funds for an innovation center in Africa that was also charge of Sánchez's wife.

When the complaint was made known, the president assured that his wife will defend herself in court against "facts as apparently scandalous as they are inconsistent."

On Thursday, the Madrid prosecutor's office asked that the investigation be archived due to lack of evidence.

Manos Limpias also acknowledged that the allegations could be incorrect because they were based on online newspaper articles, one of which has already been proven false.

Manos Limpias has gained notoriety by filing judicial complaints about alleged cases of political corruption that have frequently ended up being archived.

In his speech on Monday, which lasted about 10 minutes, Sánchez thanked the messages of support he received, which, he said, weighed on his decision to continue in the government.

He also ruled out that his five-day “reflection” period was a strategy. He noted that he decided to stop out of “conviction”, in order to change the course of politics in Spain.

And he said: “It's about deciding what kind of society we want to be. Our country needs this reflection. We have been letting mud contaminate our public life for too long.”

Sánchez emphasized that his decision "is not a full-stop."

"It's a paragraph, I guarantee it."

If Sánchez had resigned, he would have become the first president to leave office in the middle of a term since 1981, when Adolfo Suárez did so.

There are always two sides of the story.

The president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, announced this Wednesday the suspension of his public activities to consider his possible resignation from office after a Madrid court accepted a complaint against his wife, Begoña Gómez, for a possible traffic crime. of influences.

In an open letter to citizens, Sánchez stated: “I need to stop and reflect. "I urgently need to answer the question of whether it is worth it, whether I should continue leading the Government or give up this honor."

The leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) attributes the complaint against his wife to “an operation of harassment and demolition” of the “right and extreme right” with the aim of making him “faint politically and personally by attacking” his wife.

And he points to his opposition rivals on the right of the political arc, the leader of the conservative Partido Popular, Alberto Núñez-Feijoo; and the far-right Vox, Santiago Abascal, as “necessary collaborators” of a campaign that seeks to “dehumanize and delegitimize the political adversary through complaints that are as scandalous as they are false.”

Sánchez assured in the letter that she published on her X social network account that she "lives helplessly with the mud that is spread over her day in and day out" and announced that she will appear next Monday to announce her decision regarding her continuity in the post.

The content of the complaint

The complaint admitted by the Investigative Court Number 41 of Madrid against Begoña Gómez states that, "taking advantage" of her relationship with the President of the Government, she would have recommended or endorsed by letter of recommendation with her signature to businessmen who bid for public tenders." .

The letter also points out that one of the companies that obtained public funds organized years later a master's degree in a university program that she directs and that another of them, the airline Air Europa, agreed to allocate funds for an innovation center in Africa that was also at the same time. charge of Sánchez's wife.

The Spanish president assured that his wife will defend herself in court against “facts that are as apparently scandalous as they are inconsistent.”

The complaint was filed by the Colectivo de Funcionarios Públicos Manos Limpias, an organization often involved in controversy because its founder is a former far-right militant and which has gained notoriety by filing judicial complaints about alleged cases of political corruption that have frequently finished archived.

In the case of Begoña Gómez, the investigating judge Juan Carlos Peinado has so far limited himself to ordering the opening of proceedings and summoning as witnesses the directors of the media that have disseminated the journalistic publications on which the complaint is based, some with an editorial line very critical of the Pedro Sánchez government.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the Partido Popular, the main opposition force, accused Sánchez of “dereliction of duties” for announcing that he is taking a few days until Monday to decide whether to continue in office.

"If you have nothing to fear, why don't you explain?" Feijóo asked him, who also reproached him for what he considered an attempt to "victimize" himself.

The support of the independentists

Hours before Sánchez's letter was made public, the PP had demanded explanations from him in Parliament, to which the president of the government responded by saying that "on a day like today and after the news that I have learned, despite everything I continue believing in the justice of my country".

Spanish media reported that Sánchez had left Parliament this Wednesday heading to his Madrid residence visibly upset.

Sánchez's decision to suspend his public events comes at a tense time for the PSOE, ahead of the European Parliament elections in June and elections in the Catalonia region next month.

Sánchez was precisely due to participate this Thursday in the start of the socialists' campaign in Barcelona ahead of the Catalan elections on May 12.

The Spanish president managed to be sworn back into office a few months ago with the support of two Catalan separatist parties, which agreed to give him their votes in exchange for an amnesty for those accused and convicted of the independence process in Catalonia that culminated in a referendum of independence in October 2017.

Without the support of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) and Junts per Catalunya (JxCat), he would not have been able to remain in power.

Opposition parties are outraged by the amnesty, which also means that former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont can run in the May 12 elections, seven years after he escaped from justice by moving to Belgium.

Puigdemont still faces a terrorism case, but believes the amnesty will allow him to return to Spain.

Google Translate

A 49-year-old man has been arrested. Imanol Pradales leaves the hospital and attends the debate on Basque television with the other six candidates for 'lehendakari'

A person has attacked the PNV lehendakari candidate, Imanol Pradales, with pepper spray. The attack took place after seven thirty in the afternoon this Tuesday, when Pradales was leaving the rally he had given in the Biscayan town of Barakaldo to go to the ETB headquarters. Pradales has been treated at the Cruces hospital and is currently heading to Basque public television, where he plans to participate starting at 10:15 p.m. tonight in the electoral debate with the rest of the candidates for the Lehendakaritza.

The attack on Pradales was recounted at the beginning of his speech by the president of the PNV EBB, Andoni Ortuzar, at that same electoral event. As he explained, when the lehendakari candidate "was leaving to prepare for the ETB debate, a person approached him and sprayed him with pepper spray and they had to take him to Cruces to clean his eyes."

The Ertzaintza, minutes later, confirmed that the attack was carried out by a 49-year-old man who is in custody. The individual threw pepper spray at Pradales when he was going to get into the car that was going to take him to the Basque television headquarters in Bilbao, next to the San Mamés football field. A companion of Pradales has also been affected by the attack and has required medical assistance.

Although Ortuzar has called to "not worry" about Pradales' condition, he has shared his concern about these events with the supporters present at the rally. "We don't know what it is, but in any case, I think that this type of behavior, this type of events, has to lead us as a society to reflect on whether all of this that we are experiencing, of stretching, of tension, of creating division , to create tension, is the way for a society like the Basque one. Of course, in the opinion of the PNV, no, that is not our way," he stated.

The PP candidate for Lehendakaritza, Javier de Andrés, has expressed his "most resounding and energetic condemnation" of the attack suffered by his electoral rival. "The condition of Imanol Pradales is pending after the pepper spray attack of which he was a victim this afternoon. I trust that he will be perfectly well as soon as possible. My most resounding and energetic condemnation," Javier de Andrés wrote on social networks.

The President of the Government has expressed himself in the same sense. "I want to convey all my support and solidarity to Imanol Pradales. In democracy there is no room for aggression. Never. To anyone. I wish him to recover soon so that I can continue with the final stretch of the electoral campaign," Pedro Sánchez wrote in a message distributed on social networks.

The ad was released hours after Trump said he believes abortion laws should be left to the states, sidestepping the national ban some of his supporters want. Link to video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wInNjr\_9D28

> > > Despite a widening rift with the Israeli government, the Biden administration continues to authorize the transfer of 2,000-pound bombs and other weapons > > > > The Biden administration in recent days quietly authorized the transfer of billions of dollars in bombs and fighter jets to Israel despite Washington’s concerns about an anticipated military offensive in southern Gaza that could threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians. > > > > The new arms packages include more than 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs, according to Pentagon and State Department officials familiar with the matter. The 2,000-pound bombs have been linked to previous mass-casualty events throughout Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. These officials, like some others, spoke to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity because recent authorizations have not been disclosed publicly. > > > > The development underscores that while rifts have emerged between the United States and Israel over the war’s conduct, the Biden administration views weapons transfers as off-limits when considering how to influence the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. > > > > “We have continued to support Israel’s right to defend itself,” said a White House official. “Conditioning aid has not been our policy.” > > > > The Israeli government declined to comment on the authorizations. > > > > (...) > >

In what may be some of the most horrifying footage yet from the extremist forced-birth movement, undercover video from Hood County, Texas Democrats Chair Adrienne Quinn Martin shows several Hood County Republican officials attending a presentation by Abolish Abortion Texas (AATX), a group that advocates for the death penalty for abortion and IVF, including for pregnant minors.

Hood County Constable Scott London, Hood County GOP Chair Steve Biggers and Hood County GOP Chair candidate Greg Harrell are seen at a meeting featuring AATX hosted by the group True Texas Project, which has been labeled as an extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and has ties to white nationalist Nick Fuentes. True Texas Project has hosted events with Ted Cruz and disgraced Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

AATX also advocates for the outlawing of contraception and abortion even in cases of rape and incest. Scott London and Steve Harrell, along with multiple other Texas Republicans, have signed an AATX pledge to outlaw abortion in all cases.

Crossposting with OP's permission:

https://kbin.social/m/memes@lemmy.ml/t/918772/It-just-gets-worse-the-more-you-read#entry-comment-5869680

Crossposting with OP's permission:

https://kbin.social/m/memes@lemmy.ml/t/918772/It-just-gets-worse-the-more-you-read#entry-comment-5869680

Yes, the right to freedom of speech is a great achievement of the bourgeois-democratic revolution. Indeed, such a right contributes significantly to the political and economic development of the state. I understand this well due to my age, experience serving in the Soviet Army, and my status as a historian. I have lived from the era of the dictatorship of the proletariat to the era of “decaying capitalism” and understand the importance of freedom of speech. A Soviet Army officer, having subordinates, was obliged to explain to the personnel, including the officer corps, the external and internal policies of the state. Political classes were held with all personnel for two hours twice a week. For the officer corps, classes on Marxist-Leninist training were conducted according to a specific program. Thus, the army’s leadership was obliged to be well-versed in the politics of the party and government.

The information war against socialist Russia, against the USSR, began from the moment of their formation. And, in my opinion, we were losing from the very beginning. We did not have a picture of the true attitude of the peoples of these countries towards us, towards the world’s first state of workers and peasants. In 1941, I was 11 years old, and I was convinced that German soldiers, these workers dressed in military uniforms, would not fight against us based on the slogan: “Workers of all countries, unite.” It turned out they fought, and not only the German proletariat but the proletariat of all Western and Eastern Europe. And they fought fiercely. And we, based on the reports of our press, considered the proletariat of these countries our brothers.

The information war against the USSR, after the war, unfolded with new force. What we hear and see today, how neo-fascism is unfolding in European countries and no one condemns them, they insult the monuments to military leaders, fighters of the Red Army, and this is even encouraged by the leaders of European countries, there is no need to be surprised or outraged. The beginning of all this filth lies in the post-war years. We believed that we were liberating them from the fascist yoke. They, however, regretted that fascism failed to defeat the world’s first socialist state, and it turned out the other way around. For them, fascism is closer and more understandable than socialism. And here it’s not about socialism. European countries, without exception, hate Russia. They sought to establish relations with Russia as with any African country. Let’s analyze the history of relations between European countries and Russia. Only animosity, enmity, hatred. Take the year 1812. No Bolsheviks, no socialism. Russia saves Europe from the international bandit Napoleon. Russia deserves this victory at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives, at the cost of our cities and villages ravaged by Napoleon. And what? The fruits of this victory are appropriated by European countries, and for Russia, zero benefits. I think that Russia is also to blame for Europe’s condescending and contemptuous attitude towards us. We are too soft on them. At the end of the war, did we take contributions from those European countries whose troops were part of the armed forces of fascist Germany and killed our people, destroyed our cities and villages? No. We limited ourselves to Germany. And with that, we still provided all kinds of assistance. That’s why they sit on our heads. We should treat others as they treat us. And we are all polite and gentle, as now we all try to help Georgia, Ukraine, the Baltics. My firm opinion is that those who declare us enemies should be treated as enemies, and no one should be pitied. Only then will these dwarfs respect us.

All these countries that joined the so-called socialist camp, the "Warsaw Pact," in reality, all aspired to break away from our union. I remember very well that during the existence of the socialist camp, very serious crisis situations constantly arose in almost all the countries that were part of the socialist camp. But, since there was no freedom of speech in our country, we learned about all this from enemy voices that conducted combat operations on the fronts of the information war around the clock. And we constantly lost on this front because we did not have freedom of speech, democracy. Of course, one could understand the Soviet power. Freedom of speech would have destroyed Soviet power even earlier. Yes, life was bad under Soviet rule, and not only the power itself was to blame. We survived the revolution, the civil war, and had to transform from a backward agricultural country into a mighty industrial power capable of withstanding and defeating fascism, which was preparing to destroy us. And this had to be done in a very short historical period. All this required resources, and no one gave them to us. And all this we did at the expense of the inhumane exploitation of our people. There was no other way out. If it were up to me, I would erect a monument to the unknown peasant and the unknown worker of the thirties of the last century. It was their selfless labor that saved our country. And during World War II, all of Europe tried to inflict as much damage as possible on the Soviet Union. And we did not even take contributions from them. That's why we lived in poverty. And in the press, everything was fine. And this absence of freedom of speech played a cruel joke on us. Rumors, suspicion, distrust of the press, and from there, distrust of the government. I think that the absence of freedom of speech in the 60s of the last century created an entire stratum of intelligentsia that later seriously undermined the foundations of Soviet power and helped destroy the USSR. The Twentieth Congress of the CPSU and the ban on the publication of the Gulag in the USSR prepared the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In other words, both democracy and freedom of speech can save or destroy a state. It all depends on the goals set by both the proponents of freedom of speech and the adherents of democracy. For democracy also breeds dictators. Yeltsin, Putin, Medvedev were chosen by the most democratic means. And what's the use? What good have they done for the people? Yes, early Putin seemed to try to do something. He saved Russia from obvious collapse. But personally, I do not consider this a particular merit. The people chose you to save the country from all kinds of dangers. Saving the country is the duty, the obligation of the president. But why does the president allow that for 7 years now, the people become poorer every year? Why are there so many billionaires in our poor country? Explain to me why in a country where there are hundreds of millions of arable land, millions of hectares of forests, a huge number of rivers, lakes, seas, inexhaustible sources of minerals, there are 22 million poor people? Mr. President! Lately, you have been quite sarcastic about the Soviet period of our life. In the Soviet period, you received a free university education and prepared to become president. Then we did not have 22 million poor people. I would advise the president to better study the experience of state management by Soviet power. Why then was such massive robbery of the Russian people not allowed, and the government, the Supreme Soviet, did not consist of citizens of foreign subjects? Interestingly, they criticize the cult of personality and actively create a cult of personality. A disgusting TV program has been created: "Moscow Kremlin Putin." TV programs start with Putin and end with Putin, to show how healthy he is. So, should we keep him because he is healthy!? But we, the ordinary people, are quite tired of him. It’s time for Vovochka to leave. One must leave the ring before getting knocked out.

> > > On 11 and 12 January 2024 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) held public hearings on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel). On 11 January, South Africa presented its case and on 12 January, Israel staged its defence. > > > > As part of its defence, the Israeli team presented visual material, including maps, videos, images, and annotated diagrams. We have sourced the elements of evidence from the recording of the Israeli legal team’s presentation at the ICJ as found on the United Nations website. > >

> > > We found eight instances where the Israeli legal team misrepresented the visual evidence they cited, through a combination of incorrect annotations and labelling, and misleading verbal descriptions. These instances are presented and explained in this report. > > > > Our study also reveals that the Israeli legal team presented single instances of alleged Palestinian military use of civilian infrastructure as blanket justifications for the systematic and widespread attacks on civilians, shelters, schools, and hospitals. > >

(...)

Jon Stewart weighs in on the war in Gaza and offers up a solution for ending the conflict.

The decision is not a surprise. McDaniel previously said she'd step down after the South Carolina primary, which was held Saturday.

> > > One of Chotiner’s best interviews ran this past November. A leader of the militant West Bank settlement movement told him that Jews have a sacred duty to occupy all the land between “the Euphrates in the east and the Nile in the southwest,” that nothing west of the Jordan River was ever “Arab place or property,” and that no Arabs, even citizens, should have civil rights in Israel. > >

> > > Even the most learned and thoughtful observers of Israel and Palestine miss a basic historic foundation of the crisis. > >

> > > Chotiner asked, “So rights are not some sort of universal thing that every person has. They’re something that you can win or lose.” The settler answered, “That’s right.” He followed up: “When you see Palestinian children dying, what’s your emotional reaction as a human being?” She replied: “I go by a very basic human law of nature. My children are prior to the children of the enemy, period. They are first. My children are first.” Chotiner responded with incredulity: “We are talking about children. I don’t know if the law of nature is what we need to be looking at here.” The settler, nonplussed, repeated herself: “I say my children are first.” > >

> > > I USE THE WORD “FASCIST” in the literal sense. Do not flinch from it. The founders of Revisionist Zionism certainly didn’t. Respect them enough to take them at their word. > > > > In 1928, a prominent Revisionist named Abba Ahimeir published a series of articles entitled “From the Diary of a Fascist.” They refer to the founder of their movement, Ze’ev Jabotinsky (his adopted first name is Hebrew for “wolf”), as “il duce.” In 1935, his comrade Hen Merhavia wrote that Revisionists were doing what Mussolini did: “establish a nucleus of an exemplary life of morality and purity. Like us, the Italian fascists look back to their historical heritage. We seek to return to the kingdom of the House of David; they want to return to the glory of the Roman Empire.” They even opened a maritime academy in Italy, under Mussolini’s sponsorship, for the navy they hoped to build in their new Israeli state. “[T]he views and the political and social inclinations of the Revisionists,” an Italian magazine reported, “are absolutely in accordance with the fascist doctrine … as our students they will bring the Italian and fascist culture to Palestine.” > (...) > >

Donald Trump owes legal penalties totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in two civil cases recently decided in New York, raising questions about how he'll pay the amount.

The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law, a decision critics said could have sweeping implications for fertility treatment in the state.

The justices will consider whether to hit pause on a federal rule designed to reduce air pollution that drifts across states and can cause health troubles.

> > > Israel must end its brutal occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which it has maintained since 1967, said Amnesty International, as public hearings begin at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to examine the legal consequences of Israel’s prolonged occupation. > > > > The public hearings are taking place in the Hague from 19 to 26 February after the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in December 2022 to request an advisory opinion from the ICJ on the legality of Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and the consequences of Israel’s conduct for other states and the UN. More than 50 states, the African Union, the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation are scheduled to participate in the proceedings. > >

> > > “Israel’s occupation of Palestine is the longest and one of the most deadly military occupations in the world. For decades it has been characterised by widespread and systematic human rights violations against Palestinians. The occupation has also enabled and entrenched Israel’s system of apartheid imposed on Palestinians,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General. > >

> > > ‘Perpetual’ occupation > Under international humanitarian law, occupation of a territory during a conflict is meant to be temporary... > >

> > > Life under occupation > Palestinians living under Israeli occupation are subjected to a myriad of human rights violations, maintained by an institutionalized regime of systematic domination and oppression... > >

> > > A draconian system of control > Israel’s draconian system of control over the OPT includes a large network of military checkpoints, fences/ walls and military bases and patrols as well as a string of repressive military orders... > >

A survey of historians and presidential experts ranks President Biden in 14th place all-time, just ahead of Woodrow Wilson and Ronald Reagan. Former President Donald Trump came in last.

Lower courts have said it's unconstitutional to punish people for sleeping outside if no shelter is available. Cities say these rulings have paralyzed their efforts to manage growing tent encampments.

Judge Engoron just handed Trump 355 million reminders that he is not, in fact, above our great city's laws.

I am 1,000% going to vote for the Democratic nominee in November, because I don't want the world to end. I just want to make that clear because I know some people may be rightly suspicious of this type of post, for oh you know the reasons.

But after reading this excellent Ezra Klein editorial and watching the better-than-excellent Jon Stewart show on the topic, I'm actually somewhat convinced that maybe another nominee would be better. Like Klein I think Biden's done a fantastic job so far. Just, someone else might do better in the election, and beating Trump in the election is pretty important.

So, what can I do? I'm about to vote in the Democratic primary, but his two primary challengers don't seem likely to spark victory either in the primary or the general. Voting for them seems unlikely to change anything. And I am nobody of importance to call up the DNC and tell them to put up another candidate.

So what can I do? Is there anyone else who feels this way?

High-functioning autistic people should come out of the shadows.

They should openly say that they are best suited to rule and have the best ideas, i.e. libertarian ones.

This should not be an insult to Korwin or Mentzen that they are autistic (Asperger's), it should be an open advantage, and only such people should be admitted to the party.

\#confederation #freedom #korwin #mentzen #libertarianism #psychology #autism #asperger #politics

Autyści wysokofunkcjonujący powinni wyjść z cienia.

Powinni otwarcie powiedzieć, że najlepiej nadają się do rządzenia i mają najlepsze idee, czyli libertariańskie.

To nie powinien być przytyk do Korwina czy Mentzena, że to autyści (aspergerowcy), to powinna być otwarta zaleta, i tylko takich się powinno przyjmować do partii.

\#konfederacja #wolnosc #korwin #mentzen #libertarianizm #psychologia #autyzm #asperger #politics