Progressives applauded news Tuesday night that Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), and Ro Khanna (Calif.) all won seats on the powerful House Oversight Committee, which is gearing up to launch investigations into the Trump administration’s seemingly countless conflicts of interest and other possible violations of federal law.
“This is extremely exciting for anyone who wants to see a bunch of badass young progressives interrogate members of the Trump administration over the next two years,” wrote Splinter’s Sophie Weiner in response to the new appointments, which were unveiled by Oversight Committee chair Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.).
In a statement to Politico, Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) — a member of the Democratic steering panel that selected the appointees — expressed excitement about the new committee roster.
“I want people to be aggressive, especially on that committee. It’s good to have people who aren’t afraid,” Kildee said. “They’re going to be dealing with some pretty important stuff.”
After news of their appointments broke, Tlaib and Pressley — both of whom have said President Donald Trump should be impeached — signaled that they are ready to take full advantage of their spots on the powerful Oversight Committee.
“Tick tock,” Tlaib wrote on Twitter.
Tick tock 😉 https://t.co/dFEcEdcO4o
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) January 23, 2019
Coming to a committee hearing near you soon: pic.twitter.com/ZUALguSult
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) January 23, 2019
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.
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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.
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