It is of vital importance that all progressives support the Democratic presidential nominee as well as Democratic candidates straight down the ballot in 2016.

Despite Bernie Sanders' big win in New Hampshire, both he and Hillary received the same number of delegates. Why? There are two different types of delegates in the Democratic Party Presidential Nomination Process; Pledged Delegates and Unpledged/ Superdelegates. During an interview on CNN, Jake Tapper asked DNC chair and Florida congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz about the difference between to two delegates. Tapper asked Schultz, “Hillary Clinton lost to Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire by 22 percentage points, the biggest victory in a contested Democratic primary there since John F. Kennedy, but it looks as though Clinton and Sanders are leaving the Granite State with the same number of delegates in their pockets because Clinton has the support of New Hampshire’s superdelegates, these party insiders. What do you tell voters who are new to the process who say this makes them feel like it’s all rigged?” Schultz replied, “Well, let me just make sure that I can clarify exactly what was available during the primaries in Iowa and in New Hampshire. The unpledged delegates are a separate category. The only thing available on the ballot in a primary and a caucus is the pledged delegates— those that are tied to the candidate that they are pledged to support, and they receive a proportional number of delegates going into our convention. Unpledged delegates exist really to make sure that party leaders and elected officials don’t have to be in a position where they are running against grassroots activists. We are as a Democratic Party really highlight and emphasize inclusiveness and diversity at our convention, and so we want to give every opportunity to grassroots activists and diverse, committed Democrats to be able to participate, attend, and be a delegate at the convention. And so we separate out those unpledged delegates to make sure that there isn’t competition between them.” Tapper responded, “I’m not sure that that answer would satisfy an anxious young voter..." Tapper is correct. As an anxious young voter myself, I am concerned that the Superdelegate process of the Democratic Party is undemocratic. If, Party elites are the ones who ultimately get to decide who the nominee will be, then what's the point of casting a vote for a candidate? I my view, the American people are the ones who should decide, not the Party elites. Please sign and share this petition, demanding that the Democratic Party abolish the Superdelegate system and restore the power to the American people.

Since the arrival of Mr. Andrew Lack to the MSNBC News division, a number of not so honorable events have taken place. Mr. Lack has a public history of dismissing people of color unceremoniously. However, for some strange reason, MSNBC and Comcast executives have a theory that no one is watching. Comcast suspended Mr. Brian Williams for 6 months. Mr. Williams, it turns out is a habitual liar. This revelation brought unbearable shame to the network. However, instead of being let go, Mr. Williams was brought back with opened arms, almost like nothing had happened. Mr. William's former boss Ms. Pat Fili-Krshel, the ex-chairwoman of NBCUniversal News Group was banished to some obscured position. Over the last year, MSNBC has banished or undermined people of color from its on-air personality lineup. Therefore, the question must be asked to MSNBC executives, are you telling the public that MSNBC would rather give a habitual liar a second chance then an employee who simply fought for her staff’s participation? We call on MSNBC to immediately reinstate Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry back to her show and to publicly apologize to her fans for what is clearly an overreaction by the executive team at MSNBC.

Gun violence kills 90 of us every day. Congress stopped funding research on the causes and effects. Why hide from knowledge?

As a person in long-term recovery, our community treatment providers played an essential role in saving my life. We should be supporting them - and supporting recovery! People without insurance also deserve access to treatment. Taking money from treatment providers and giving it to HMOs would be a death sentence for those who cannot afford health insurance. Under-served populations are not expendable. With the proper support, we do recover!

Please support proposed NY State MITO legislation S3250/ A5174

Vermont Rail System cleared 19 acres of forest to make way for a planned rail spur and storage facility without seeking state and local approval. The proposed road salt storage facility site is a stone’s throw from the LaPlatte River and is largely surrounded by Nature Conservancy land, which the environmental organization says is home to a number of threatened plant and animal species as well as crucial floodplain forest. Residents have vowed to fight the project and help town officials hold the railroad to account.

Lands's End should be encouraged to restore Steinem to the website and catalog. People should care because this is the central message of feminism: treat men and women alike. Flawed men are in ads all the time.

Because real change in this country can only happen when people are allowed to vote, without discrimination or red tape.

Rainier Beach Community Club submitted a proposal for funding from the Neighborhood Parks and Street Fund, which has advanced to the second round in the selection process. To demonstrate community enthusiasm for this project, Rainier Beach residents need to demonstrate to the City of Seattle their interest and commitment for occasional and regular use of the outdoor exercise gym. Please sign this petition and show your support on Monday, March 21, 2016 (6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.) at the Southeast Seattle Senior Center, 4655 S Holly St, Seattle, WA 98118. A sub-committee of the Southeast District Council will be reviewing each of the eleven applications. We will give a 5 minute presentation of our proposal and testimony from supporters will be heard.

We Black people want our own award shows.

Over the last several years, Congress and the U.S. Sentencing Commission have reduced the penalties for drug trafficking and have released tens of thousands of convicted drug traffickers from prison early. Congress has also stopped the distribution of money to state and local law enforcement agencies through the asset forfeiture sharing program—money that is vital to the ability to fight drug cartels, gangs, and other serious criminals. Over the past five years, the Department of Justice has reduced federal prosecutions of violent offenders, drug traffickers, and those committing firearm and other serious federal felonies by 25%. Meanwhile, murders, rapes, and other violent crimes are spiraling upward at rates unprecedented in recent times, and our Nation faces the worst opioid epidemic in our history. State and federal law enforcement officials are under attack by media outlets and organizations with anti-law enforcement agendas. Shockingly, Congress is considering legislation that will further seriously weaken the federal criminal justice system. If passed, this legislation will reduce the penalties for armed career criminals, serial violent offenders, armed drug traffickers and repeat drug traffickers, and it will make thousands of these previously convicted offenders eligible for early release from federal prison. The legislation will substantially undermine truth-in-sentencing (currently one of the strengths of the federal system) by giving some federal offenders as much as one-third off their sentence for receiving prison-provided training. Other legislative proposals will make more difficult law enforcement efforts to forfeit the ill-gotten proceeds of criminal activity and limit or eliminate the sharing of forfeiture proceeds with state and local law enforcement agencies. It is time for Congress to support law enforcement efforts that preserve public safety and reject so-called reforms that undermine our federal criminal justice system. If you are a leader in law enforcement (or a retired leader), please sign our petition and provide your title and law enforcement agency in the comments section along with any comments you think appropriate. More information on the myths of sentencing reform can be found on the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys’ webpage: http://www.naausa.org/site/index.php/sentencing-reform