Another day, another attempt by the Republicans to fully undermine Social Security. This time it’s Senator Ron Johnson insisting that “social security be eliminated as a federal entitlement program” and that it become a program that requires annual approval by Congress.1 Of course, this is just a Republican dog whistle for defunding and eventually dissolving one of the most helpful and popular social welfare programs in the country. How long have the Republicans been fantasizing about abolishing Social Security? So long we’ve almost become deaf to their threats. We cannot let our guard down though. Now more than ever we must fully safeguard Social Security from scheming Republican Senators. Democrats can ensure those protections once and for all by passing the Social Security 2100 Act. Sign the petition: Help Demand Progress apply the pressure to finally get this critical legislation passed! We NEED the Social Security 2100 Act! We all know how critical Social Security is. We know that around 65 million Americans rely on its benefits.2 In fact, Social Security has been so effective at keeping seniors out of poverty it’s easy to forget that eldery poverty was close to 80% in 1940 and has dropped to about 10% today. This is a MASSIVE success.3 This is why we need to recognize the variety of tactics Republicans deploy to attack it. Words like “discretionary”, “privatize”, and “sunset” – these are recurring dog whistles that all seek one thing: the eradication of Social Security as we know it. There is a way to defend against all of these attacks. It’s called the Social Security 2100 Act and Democrats cannot delay in passing it. Sign the petition: Tell Congress to pass the Social Security 2100 Act! Sources: 1. Washington Post, “Sen. Johnson suggests ending Medicare, Social Security as mandatory spending programs,” August 3, 2022. 2. SSA, “Social Security Basic Facts,” June, 2022. 2. The Conversation, “Social Security helped slash elderly poverty to 9.2 percent in the 20th century – that triumph is now in jeopardy,” November 26, 2018.

SC women cannot leave their health care decisions up to Republican men. We must make our own decisions for our own bodies and health.

To restore these educative pages to alleviate false reports and cyber attacks

The Twitter whistleblower’s allegations are totally damning. It’s time for a Congressional investigation into the tech giant. Twitter’s former head of security Peiter “Mudge” Zatko made a nearly 200-page disclosure to the federal government alleging that Twitter mismanages users’ private data, is vulnerable to foreign surveillance and hacking, is negligent with spam accounts, and habitually lies to the federal government. Twitter’s alleged negligence may be putting us all at risk. Congress must investigate the tech giant for its shady behavior — and for whether it’s putting the rest of us at risk. Congress must investigate the new whistleblower allegations against Twitter! The whistleblower reports that the company’s internal security rules allow Twitter employees to easily access and tamper with users’ private data. This policy caused a huge scandal in July 2020, when hackers compromised the Twitter accounts of Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Kanye West, Elon Musk and others. Twitter made public statements claiming it had addressed this problem, but Zatko’s claims suggest this may not be entirely true. According to Zatko’s filing, in January 2022 over 4,000 Twitter employees were “authorized to access the live production environment and sensitive user data. Twitter lacked the ability to know who accessed systems or data or what they did with it in much of their environment.” This isn’t the first time Twitter’s security policies have come under scrutiny. In 2011, the FTC investigated Twitter for reckless handling of users’ private data. As part of the settlement, Twitter agreed to establish “a comprehensive information security program” designed to protect private user data. Twitter further agreed not to “misrepresent in any manner, expressly or by implication, the extent to which [Twitter] maintains and protects” private user data. According to Zatko, Twitter hasn’t upheld its end of the bargain. Congress must investigate Twitter’s alleged abuses and lies — just the latest tale of Big Tech recidivism. It’s just one piece of holding Big Tech accountable. Congress must investigate the new whistleblower allegations against Twitter!

The way Congress treats its own workers sets an example for the rest of the country. Last year, one in eight Congressional staffers didn’t make a DC living wage. Beyond low wages, Congressional workers face other indignities. A group of Congressional workers recently wrote for the New Republic: “We deal with abusive bosses, constant pressure, and brutal burnout from 60-, even 70-hour workweeks. We work in an environment where discrimination abounds and where we’re made to feel powerless when responding to sexual or psychological abuse by management. One year after a mob of domestic terrorists and white supremacists attacked our workplace, many of us do not feel safe at work.” Congress must commit to the well-being and human dignity of its staff — including by ensuring all staff are paid a living wage. In May 2022, the House of Representatives set a new minimum wage of $45,000 for all staff. It’s time for the Senate to follow suit. The Senate must fund, and mandate, a $45,000 minimum wage for all committee and personal office staff for the fiscal year beginning September 2022! Working conditions for Congressional staff have deteriorated to an alarming degree since March 2020 between exposure to COVID-19, the January 6 insurrection, and ongoing threats of political violence. Many staff have reached their breaking points. Staff are telling their horror stories and making their voices heard. In May 2022, House staff finally won the right to collectively bargain and a guaranteed living wage. But Congressional bosses are a tough opponent — especially Senate bosses. In the Senate, the same minoritarian rule that has blocked much of President Biden’s agenda is blocking Senate staff from securing livable work conditions. The rest of us need to stand in solidarity with Senate staff against Senate bosses — aka, senators. The road to Senate unionization and fair working conditions may be long and winding — but the Senate appears amenable to ensuring a minimum wage for all staff this year. We need to keep the pressure on to make sure that happens. Democrats on the Senate appropriations committee have included enough funding in their proposal for next year’s budget for every senator’s office to pay its staff a DC living wage. Now, the Senate must pass a spending bill that mandates all senators actually use that money to fairly compensate their staff. The Senate must fund, and mandate, a $45,000 minimum wage for all committee and personal office staff for the fiscal year beginning September 2022!

Let’s get our voices heard! We need to stand up for our children and protect them.

Girls have been following the rules and being to scared to wear what they want for the longest time! I think it’s time for the girls (or guys) to take back the right of having control over their bodies! Girls shouldn’t have to hide because others don’t like it! Everyone is beautiful! It’s apart of nature to wanna change it up a bit and go out of your comfort zone! So I say LETS DO IT!

Everyone uses the internet and carry cellular devices. Also for emergencies. The whole state has coverage except this area. What’s up with that?

Our community needs to come together to express to our school system how important we believe it is that our youth have the creative outlet of art classes for 7th and 8th grades.

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Families can't afford to pay these prices and should not have to worry about such a dramatic increase during these times. This is outrageous and a 400% increase should be illegal.

As a result of the Trump administration, our country has become more divided and divisive; we have lost integrity around the world; the right to vote has been restricted; free and fair elections are being challenged without evidence and our institutions are being infiltrated by those who fabricate conspiracy theories. These are only a few risks before us and they cannot be condoned if we want to save our Democracy. Failure to prosecute, convict and impose the strictest sentence under the law will compromise our democracy, promote increased corruption in our politics and send a clear message that we no longer have separate branches of government. As recently stated by Senator Cheney, "We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation."