Michael O'Neil, U.S. Communications Manager for the Green Party, joins T.J. O'Hara, host of the Deconstructed podcast from IVN, to discuss the Green Party's past, present, and future. Michael O'Neil has over 15 years of political communications experience and has served the Green Party in a variety of capacities for the past 12 years, including roles as Assistant to the Campaign Manager for Dr. Jill Stein's 2016 presidential campaign and co-manager of that campaign's Brooklyn, NY Office.
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Trump takes first steps to enact his sweeping agenda
Jan 21, 2025
On his first day in office as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump began to implement his agenda for reshaping the nation's institutions.
He signed a flurry of executive orders, memorandums, and proclamations.
Here are five notable Trump’s Day 1 actions:
Evening Shot of Border Wall Between El Paso Texas USA and Juárez Chihuahua Texas at Puerto Anapra with US Border Patrol Vehicle in the DistanceGetty Images//Stock Photo
1. Immigration
President Trump issued an executive order regarding birthright citizenship, which restricts federal agencies from issuing certain documents typically available to U.S. citizens.
This order affects children born after the measure takes effect, particularly in cases where the parents are unlawfully present in the U.S., or the mother is temporarily in the U.S. on a visa, and the father is a noncitizen.
Logo of the World Health Organization WHO with the WHO headquarters in the background in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo by Lian Yi/Xinhua via Getty Images)
2. Withdrawal from WHO
Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), marking a substantial decision to sever ties with the U.N. public health agency. He has previously criticized the WHO, and the formal withdrawal process had begun during his administration amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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Jan. 6 investigation goes primetime Brent Stirton/Getty Images
3. Pardons related to January 6
In a significant move, President Trump pardoned nearly all individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack, which includes about 1,270 people.
He also directed the Justice Department to dismiss approximately 300 pending cases and ordered the release of a smaller group of 14 defendants involved in the most serious sedition cases.
This action was more extensive than many expected, including some of Trump’s own advisors and GOP allies.
Sun, Global warming, Global boiling from the climate crisis and the catastrophic heatwave, Climate change, the sun and burning Heatwave hot sunGetty Images/Stock Photo
4. Paris Agreement Exit
President Donald Trump signed an executive action to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, mirroring his decision during his first term. The Paris Agreement is an international accord to address climate change, with nearly 200 countries committed to limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius and ideally below 1.5 degrees.
Each participating country is responsible for creating its own plan to meet these climate goals.
The speech Joe Biden won’t give Anadolu/Getty Images
5. Biden-era executive orders revoked
Trump revoked several executive actions from the Biden administration, including the decision to remove Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, sanctions on Jewish settlers in the West Bank, and measures aimed at mitigating risks associated with artificial intelligence.
These reversals were part of a larger effort to overturn Biden-era policies and were signed at Capitol One Arena shortly after Trump's inauguration.
Trump reportedly intended to sign as many as 200 executive orders on the first day of his second term. By comparison, he signed one order on Inauguration Day 2017.
Hugo Balta is the executive editor of the Fulcrum, and the publisher of the Latino News Network.
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As Trump policy changes loom, nearly half of farmworkers lack legal status
Jan 19, 2025
The nation’s agriculture sector, which relies heavily on undocumented workers, could face a significant challenge when President-elect Donald Trump takes office this month amid promises to enact stricter immigration policies.
The percentage of undocumented farmworkers — those without legal status — dropped from 54% in 2020 to 42% in 2022, according to the USDA and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Trump said his mass deportation of undocumented immigrants would start with the “criminals,” but that “you have no choice” but to eventually deport everyone in the country illegally, according to a December interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Mary Jo Dudley, director of the Cornell Farmworker Program, emphasized the potential consequences of such policies, telling Investigate Midwest, “If we lost half of the farmworker population in a short period of time, the agriculture sector would likely collapse.”
“There are no available skilled workers to replace the current workforce should this policy be put into place,” she said.
As Trump policy changes loom, nearly half of farmworkers lack legal statuswas first published on Investigate Midwest, and was republised with permission.
Mónica Cordero is a Report for America corps member and part of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk team. Her expertise includes data analysis with Python and SQL, and reporting under the Freedom of Information Act.
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Bird Flu and the Battle Against Emerging Diseases
Jan 17, 2025
The first human death from bird flu in the United States occurred on January 6 in a Louisiana hospital, less than three weeks before the second Donald Trump administration’s inauguration. Bird flu, also known as Avian influenza or H5N1, is a disease that has been on the watch list of scientists and epidemiologists for its potential to become a serious threat to humans.
COVID-19’s chaotic handling during Trump’s first term serves as a stark reminder of the stakes. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, last year, 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu were reported in the United States. That is a significant number when you consider that only one case was recorded in the two previous years.
Bird flu was first detected in domestic birds in 1996 in Southern China and has since spread to wild birds, mammals, and humans worldwide, with a fatality rate reaching 50% in some cases. In the U.S., cases have been mostly mild, affecting primarily poultry and dairy workers, until this recent death in Louisiana.
In the spring of last year, bird flu showed up in cows. When a pathogen—any organism that causes a disease—jumps species, scientists get nervous because its genetic makeup can reconfigure and become more transmissible or lethal. The fact that humans are now being infected is a red flag. Though human-to-human transmission of H5N1 has not yet happened, it does not mean it can’t.
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“That’s our concern — the more shots on goal that we give the virus, the greater chance of there being a mutation of some sort that precipitates a much larger situation,” said Dr. Nirav D. Shah, principal deputy director of the CDC. “But we’re also equally interested in the scientific finding that thus far, in the current outbreak, cases have been milder than what we’ve seen historically.”
Since the health of animals is directly linked to that of humans, the federal government took swift action. In a joint op-ed in USA Today, Xavier Becerra, secretary of Health and Human Services, and Tom Vilsack, secretary of Agriculture, said, “As heads of the federal departments responsible for human health and animal health, we quickly stood up a coordinated response organized around four key priorities: monitoring and stopping transmission, protecting workers and the public, keeping animals healthy and ensuring the safety of our food supply.” Drinking raw milk, for instance, is especially risky now.
The key question is whether the new administration has the political will to prioritize Americans' health. Trump’s nominee to lead Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy Jr., is a vocal vaccine skeptic critical of federal mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, Dr. Dave Weldon, the nominee for CDC, has questioned the efficacy of vaccines and public health measures to control disease outbreaks.
For an in-depth conversation on the role of Health and Human Services, listen to this 1A podcast episode with host Jenn White by clicking HERE.
Rebecca Katz, Director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University and author of The Outbreak Atlas, reminds us that bird flu is the latest threat to human health. This past year alone, the world witnessed a Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, Mpox in central Africa, and a resurgence of measles worldwide, primarily driven by diminished confidence in childhood vaccines.
“There are death, taxes, and emerging infectious diseases. You can guarantee that there will be more diseases,” Katz told the Fulcrum, adding there is a collective tendency to pivot from cycles of panic to neglect. “We had the biggest generational disease event five years ago. Now, we are in the biggest valley of neglect. There's no money, no workforce, and no confidence. We're going to have to fix that.”
On January 3, President Joe Biden’s administration announced US$ 306 million in additional funding for the H5N1 response. However, experts such as Katz believe there are still insufficient resources allocated towards long-term pandemic preparedness. Despite the likelihood of future outbreaks, Trump has suggested disbanding the Office of Pandemic Preparedness, established in 2022, which would hinder coordinated national responses. Making childhood vaccines optional could further erode collective immunity and prompt insurers to stop covering them.
“The reason why vaccines are so readily available to people is because of the Affordable Care Act and the vaccine for children program,” said Sam Bagenstos, former General Council to HHS under President Biden, on the 1A show aired January 8 on NPR. “If the CDC Director were to take vaccines off that list, vaccines would instantly become effectively unavailable to most people in the country. There is a very substantial risk that even without taking away the approval of vaccines, even without any regulatory changes, a new administration could make it much harder for people to get vaccinated.”
Managing outbreaks, says Katz, is complex and requires coordination at all levels. While the CDC, as a federal agency, is tasked with the genetic sequencing of a virus, two things must be prioritized locally: disease surveillance and public awareness. However, “if I had to pick one priority investment, it would be people,” says Katz. “I am deeply concerned about our workforce. We don't have enough people, and the ones we have are not sufficiently supported to be able to do their jobs effectively.”
The lack of trust and outright threats directed at U.S. medical personnel and public health officials at the height of the pandemic prompted many to resign, leaving behind a demoralized and weaker workforce. Mistrust is fueled by rumors and inaccurate information. But disinformation, which is false and deliberately intended to mislead the public, plays an even greater role in undermining trust.
The Outbreak Atlas, co-authored by Katz and Wellcome Trust scholar Mackenzie S. Moore, uses global case studies to explain outbreak preparedness, response, and recovery. It aims to educate people with the tools to make informed decisions during disease outbreaks, regardless of federal actions.
“I'm a professor, so I believe in increasing public literacy,” says Katz. “The more people know, the more they're able to understand, the better they're able to digest and make sense of the information that comes out around the next threat.”
Incoming administration officials would be wise to read The Outbreak Atlas. When George W. Bush was president, he urged his top officials to read The Great Influenza by historian John M. Barry, recognizing the need for a national strategy to prevent another catastrophe like the 1918 flu pandemic. His foresight was a model of preparedness. Why wait for bird flu—or any other infectious disease—to spiral out of control when the time to act is now?
Beatrice Spadacini is a freelance journalist who writes about social justice and public health.
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Trump's Cabinet Pick: Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Jan 14, 2025
The Senate will vote on Trump’s nominees once they are formally nominated after he takes office, but senators have already begun meeting with the expected nominees. They may also hold hearings ahead of Trump’s inauguration, to expedite the confirmation process.
Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR5), a freshman member of the House who just lost reelection, is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to replace Acting Secretary Julie Su as Secretary of Labor. The position requires confirmation by the Senate.
Chavez-DeRemer was defeated in November’s general election by Rep.-elect Janelle Bynum. The 47% to 45% margin marked one of the closest House races in the country.
Right when Chavez-DeRemer’s next career move seemed most uncertain, Trump announced he would nominate her for his Cabinet. The selection raised eyebrows for her unusually pro-union stances in Congress. Indeed, it may be Democrats who put her over the majority threshold for confirmation.
PRO Act
For example, she was one of only three House Republicans to cosponsor the Richard L. Trumka PRO (Protecting the Right to Organize) Act, the main pro-union bill from Democrats in the current Congress.
Named for the late head of the AFL-CIO, its major provisions would include:
- Banning employers from interfering with union elections, most prominently done in recent years by Amazon.
- Making it harder for employers to classify employees as “independent contractors” instead of employees, most famously done in recent years by rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft.
- Increasing penalties and fines for violations.
The two other Republican cosponsors are Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA1) and Chris Smith (R-NJ4). it hasn’t been brought up for a vote in the Republican-controlled House.
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The House previously passed it under Democratic control in 2021, before she took office. Five Republicans crossed party lines to vote for it then, while one Democrat opposed it. The Senate never voted on the measure, despite Democrats controlling the chamber at the time.
Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act
She was also one of eight House Republicans to cosponsor a somewhat-similar bill focusing just on public sector employees, such as those who work for the government or schools.
It hasn’t been brought up for a vote in the Republican-controlled House, though prior 2019 and 2021 versions didn’t either, despite Democrats controlling the chamber both times.
Lead sponsor
She’s been the lead sponsor of 25 bills during her two years in Congress. Most were on unremarkable subjects, such as her SWAT Act to increase funding for research on the spotted wing drosophila insect pest.
But a few of her bills have a more tangible connection to labor or the workforce. Here are three.
Recover Pride in Service Act
From 1994 until its 2011 repeal, the military policy nicknamed “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” banned Armed Forces members from serving while openly gay. Around 13,000 were expelled under a status other than “honorable discharge,” meaning they weren’t eligible for veteran benefits or pensions.
In February, Chavez-DeRemer introduced a bill to proactively upgrade those discharges to “honorable.” It never received a vote in the Republican-led House.
However, the issue became partially moot a few months later. In October, the Defense Department completed its own proactive review and retroactively upgraded more than 800 people to honorable discharges.
Veterans Affairs Opportunity for Women-Owned Small Businesses Act
For three decades, the government has established a goal to award 5% of all contracts to women-owned businesses. Congress enacted that goal in the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994, or FASA.
However, the VA has been falling short of that 5% goal. So Chavez-DeRemer introduced a bill to add women-owned small businesses to “Tier 3” of the VA’s hiring priority list, behind only the existing top two tiers: small businesses owned by veterans who were disabled because of their service, then small businesses owned by veterans who aren’t disabled.
Chavez-DeRemer is the only House Republican sponsor, while the other nine are Democrats. It awaits a potential vote in the chamber.
Opioid Crisis Workforce Act
In 2014, Congress enacted the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a provision of which established National Dislocated Worker Grants. Chavez-DeRemer’s bill would redirect more of those grants to workers in areas suffering from heavy substance abuse, particularly the opioid epidemic.
While the bill didn’t receive a standalone vote, it was incorporated into the 334-page A Stronger Workforce for America Act. The House passed it in April by an overwhelming and bipartisan 378-26. It awaits a potential Senate vote.
What Congress is saying
Democrats could be amenable to this nomination. No less an economic progressive than Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) recently indicated possible openness to voting for Chavez-DeRemer. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and National Education Association President Becky Pringle both expressed cautious optimism as well.
Vice versa, more traditional conservatives have expressed concern about Lori-Chavez. The Wall Street Journal editorial board called her nomination “regrettable,” while Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) said of her: “There’s some questions that need to be answered.”
The Senate will vote on Trump’s nominees once they are formally nominated after he takes office, but senators have already begun meeting with the expected nominees. They may also hold hearings ahead of Trump’s inauguration, to expedite the confirmation process.
A break from tradition
Trump’s two Labor Secretaries during his first term, Alex Acosta and Eugene Scalia, adopted more “traditional” business-friendly conservative Republican approaches towards unions. For example, both encouraged states to adopt so-called “right to work” laws.
Indeed, Democrats mostly opposed Acosta by 9-38, while they unanimously opposed Scalia by 0-44. Both nominees were nonetheless approved by the Senate, controlled by Republicans both times.
Chavez-DeRemer signals a different direction, one whom some have speculated could even earn more Democratic votes than Republican ones. Why the change?
Unions, long considered in the Democratic camp, have been moving to the right in recent years, particularly in Rust Belt swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. For example, the Teamsters union – which had long supported Democrats for president including the Biden-Harris ticket in 2020 – instead declined to endorse either major candidate in 2024. The group’s leadership didn’t want to run afoul of their members, many of whom supported Trump.
Jesse Rifkin’s writings about politics and Congress have been published in the Washington Post, Politico, Roll Call, Los Angeles Times, CNN Opinion, GovTrack, and USA Today.
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