John Edwards Faces Indictment
According to The Associated Press, federal prosecutors have finished a comprehensive investigation into John Edwards' political operation and could indict the former presidential candidate within a few days, though Edwards could strike a plea deal to avoid it. The investigators have been looking into Edwards' ethical behavior during his time in the US Senate and whether he used campaign donations to support mistress Rielle Hunter. Edwards' attorneys have said they are confident the former senator, who represented North Carolina, did not violate campaign finance laws.
Cantor Blocks FEMA Funds Until Other Government Services Cut
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Virginia) today blocked emergency relief funds for victims of the Joplin tornado, saying other government services would have to be cut to offset the amount spent in disaster aid, ThinkProgress reports. The House Appropriations Committee yesterday passed an amendment by Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Alabama) to add $1 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) disaster relief fund, which they offset by cutting $1.5 billion from the Department of Energy's clean cars program. “When you talk about cutting clean energy programs versus cutting subsidies for big oil, let's have that debate here in Washington,” Cantor said. “But not on the backs of the people of Joplin.”
Snowe to Vote Against Ryan Budget Proposal
Sen. Olympia Snow (R-Maine) said Tuesday that she plans to vote against Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wisconsin) budget proposal when it comes up for a vote in the Senate, according to The Hill. The moderate Snowe, who is up for re-election in 2012, gave Ryan credit for creating a proposal, but said she disagrees with its stance on Medicare. “I am going to vote 'no' on the budget because I have deep and abiding concerns about the approach on Medicare, which is essentially to privatize it,” Snowe said. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) is expected to hold a vote on the plan soon, possibly later this week. Snowe joins fellow centrist Republican colleagues Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts in opposition of the budget plan.
Help us Prepare for Trump’s Day One
Trump is busy getting ready for Day One of his presidency – but so is Truthout.
Trump has made it no secret that he is planning a demolition-style attack on both specific communities and democracy as a whole, beginning on his first day in office. With over 25 executive orders and directives queued up for January 20, he’s promised to “launch the largest deportation program in American history,” roll back anti-discrimination protections for transgender students, and implement a “drill, drill, drill” approach to ramp up oil and gas extraction.
Organizations like Truthout are also being threatened by legislation like HR 9495, the “nonprofit killer bill” that would allow the Treasury Secretary to declare any nonprofit a “terrorist-supporting organization” and strip its tax-exempt status without due process. Progressive media like Truthout that has courageously focused on reporting on Israel’s genocide in Gaza are in the bill’s crosshairs.
As journalists, we have a responsibility to look at hard realities and communicate them to you. We hope that you, like us, can use this information to prepare for what’s to come.
And if you feel uncertain about what to do in the face of a second Trump administration, we invite you to be an indispensable part of Truthout’s preparations.
In addition to covering the widespread onslaught of draconian policy, we’re shoring up our resources for what might come next for progressive media: bad-faith lawsuits from far-right ghouls, legislation that seeks to strip us of our ability to receive tax-deductible donations, and further throttling of our reach on social media platforms owned by Trump’s sycophants.
We’re preparing right now for Trump’s Day One: building a brave coalition of movement media; reaching out to the activists, academics, and thinkers we trust to shine a light on the inner workings of authoritarianism; and planning to use journalism as a tool to equip movements to protect the people, lands, and principles most vulnerable to Trump’s destruction.
We urgently need your help to prepare. As you know, our December fundraiser is our most important of the year and will determine the scale of work we’ll be able to do in 2025. We’ve set two goals: to raise $115,000 in one-time donations and to add 1365 new monthly donors by midnight on December 31.
Today, we’re asking all of our readers to start a monthly donation or make a one-time donation – as a commitment to stand with us on day one of Trump’s presidency, and every day after that, as we produce journalism that combats authoritarianism, censorship, injustice, and misinformation. You’re an essential part of our future – please join the movement by making a tax-deductible donation today.
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