Being a member of Congress has many perks, but padding your stock portfolio shouldn’t be one of them. But right now, members of Congress can trade stocks in any number of companies — while voting on legislation that can increase the profit margins of the very same industries those laws govern. Take just one example: Every year, about HALF of an $800 BILLION Pentagon budget flows directly to weapons contractors like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and more. The lawmakers responsible for signing off on that astronomical amount? Many of them hold investments in the same weapons makers. That’s why what’s happening now is so important. A bipartisan group of senators has set the stage to dismantle this broken status quo with the “Ending Trading and Holdings In Congressional Stocks” or “ETHICS” Act. This groundbreaking bill would end the war profiteering by banning congressional stock trading altogether — and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs just pushed this urgently needed legislation past a crucial hurdle. Now, the stage is set for the ETHICS Act to go to the Senate floor, and when that happens, we need to make sure it passes with the resounding majority it deserves. Your senators' support is a crucial piece of the puzzle — and that’s why we need you to speak out today.

During his first term, President Trump left in place for nearly two years most of the Obama opening with Cuba.  A key actor in creating maximum pressure against Cuba and Venezuela was the now hostile and alienated former National Security Advisor John Bolton.**   For more than sixty years US and Cuban national interests and human well-being have been paralyzed by a conflict over sovereignty, self-determination and freedom with two centuries old roots.***   The historic transformation begun by Barack Obama and Raul Castro was virtually destroyed by Donald Trump in the second half of his first term and only partially rebuilt by Joe Biden. By President Biden restoring mutual engagement, he can rebuild trust and open the door for the second Trump Administration to act positively.  Ending all travel restrictions (including on normal tourism), dismantling the UN condemned unilateral embargo and returning the Guantanamo base and prison that was obtained as a condition for independence, the US can give Cuba space and resources to find more creative national solutions to economic, social and political problems.  It can also create the possibility of US and Cuban cooperation with efforts by Brazil, Colombia and Mexico to find a peaceful solution to the political conflict in Venezuela. Resources: * Trump's Venezuela and Cuba policy in focus in Bolton speech in Florida By Roberta Rampton, Reuters   October 31, 2018    https://www.yahoo.com/news/trumps-venezuela-cuba-policy-focus-bolton-speech-florida-155235539.html Current economic problems in Cuba https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2024/08/analysis-of-economy-government-reversal.html ** Then Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power announces US abstention on the embargo resolution https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2021/05/ambassador-samantha-powers-address-to.html *** The underlying historical problem between the US and Cuba https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2019/05/louis-perez-cuba-as-obsessive.html Links between Irish and Cuban nationalism in 19th century New York   tinyurl.com/CubaIrelandNY   

As residents of Baltimore City, we all deserve to live in a community where safety and justice are upheld. Unfortunately, the alarming rise in brutal assaults committed by juveniles threatens the well-being of our neighborhoods and the peace of mind of our families. These violent crimes leave lasting physical and mental scars on victims and their loved ones, creating a climate of fear and insecurity that no one should have to endure. By signing this petition, you are standing up for the rights of assault victims who have been left to fend for themselves. You are demanding that juvenile offenders be held accountable for the serious harm they inflict on our fellow residents, OUR FAMILIES! It is not enough to offer rehabilitation without justice—victims deserve to see those responsible for their suffering face appropriate criminal charges that reflect the severity of their actions. Moreover, this petition calls for a stronger, more visible police presence in our communities. The current lack of officers on our streets means that many crimes go unanswered, leaving victims isolated and vulnerable. We need a city where our police force is adequately staffed and equipped to protect us, where we can rely on timely responses when our safety is threatened. Joining this petition is more than just adding your name to a list; it is a powerful statement that we, as a community, will not tolerate violence, especially when it targets our most vulnerable. It is a call for a safer, more just Baltimore—a city where we can all live without fear. Together, we can make our voices heard and demand the change that our city so desperately needs. Join me in supporting this petition to ensure that all residents of Baltimore are protected and that victims receive the justice they deserve.

Most people are unable to attend a 2 pm meeting during the day.  Thank you.

Musk has made it abundantly clear that he is willing to go to any length to chip away faith in our election system in order to tip the scales politically and elect Trump. He repeatedly claims that foreigners are being flown in to commit voter fraud—a well-debunked lie. He called on the elimination of electronic voting for dubious reasons. He publicly avows his support of right-wing conspiracy theorists and influencers who have made clear their distrust in our political system and democracy. Enough is enough.  Our government should not award any future funding to the same conspiracist who is actively undermining its own integrity.  Let's be clear: It's not just us who recognize how problematic it is that billions of our tax dollars are being given to Elon Musk. In fact, some members of Congress have publicly shared these concerns. Add your name now to tell the DOD no new contracts to Musk Photo Credits: Getty Images

I urge you to take this seriously, and truly exercise your right as a United States citizen, and help us restore power to the people, and truly make serving your country an honor and privilege instead of having people serve who are only there to serve themselves.

Please join me in getting the town of Union and the village of Endicott’s attention on these pressing issues. We can’t keep living this way!!

We must do something massive and unprecedented, or American democracy is doomed.

Local governance is a time honored American tradition.  Local governments know what is needed and what is best for their communities.  HB 2127 is extreme government overreach and should be repealed.

As you join this effort by spreading awareness of hate groups in CT and working towards engagement of state leadership, we will improve our chances of dismantling hate and racism!

Project 2025 is a dangerous 900-page proposal by the Heritage Foundation that would harm communities across the U.S.  It is a blueprint for rolling back all of the important roles that our governments can play in supporting and affirming healthy and prosperous communities. Project 2025 would slash government funding for numerous programs. It would dramatically cut funding for environmental protection and give a future White House unchecked power to hurt working people, cut Social Security by raising the retirement age, fire civil servants and replace them with presidential loyalists, eliminate abortion, and roll back our rights.  Project 2025 would also block many of the programs that help fight discrimination in our communities. City and county officials across the U.S. can take immediate action to unmask the threats posed by Project 2025 to our communities. Read the Freedom Forward Action Plan and Draft Resolution for city councils and county boards of supervisors:  https://freedomforward.org/2024/08/01/stopproject2025signup/

Deepfakes pose a significant threat to democracy as we know it. It's the FEC’s job to make sure our democracy and elections remain untainted from exactly these kinds of threats and the FCC’s job to ensure that the way people are engaged with is clear and accurate on digital and radio platforms.  There are massive elections year this year, House races, Senate races and the Presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. A deceptive, AI-generated deepfake could swing these pivotal races in 2024. Or an onslaught of deepfakes could leave voters completely at a loss as to what’s real and what’s not. For the public to continue to trust and believe in institutions, this cannot happen.  The integrity of our elections is at stake. It's clear that we cannot assume people will try to speak to the American people authentically and honestly, because we've already been at the mercy of Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans who refuse to accept election results that are not in their favor. The FEC needs to take substantial action and ban deepfakes on social media to counteract bad actors before our nation's consequential elections in 2024.