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How ironic that Bill Nemitz calls progressives the language police (Warning to those on Portlands payroll: Keep your criticisms to yourself, Oct. 8) when, in fact, progressives were responding to Robyn Baileys own policing of the language of others.

In her email to the City Council that was brought to the school boards attention, Bailey calls for two charter commission members to be held accountable for their social media posts (saying they would be done, gone, and trashed if they were not people of color). If that is not policing language, I dont know what is.

Nemitz also gets wrong why progressives object to Baileys letter. It is not that she had the gall to question the local progressive movement. Raising questions in good faith is welcome. The problem is that Bailey, a school administrator, minimized the problem of racial bias in Portland and attacked two women of color, claiming they were given a pass because of their race. One had referred to a city official as a white supremacist. Frankly, combating white supremacy is vastly more important than criticizing someone for using the term. The other woman had tweeted lightheartedly a couple of times about bodies and sex. So what.

Finally, it seems relevant that Bailey wrote this letter after her husband lost the election to the charter commission, and these two women had won. Nemitz might have delved into her motives for looking through their past social media posts.

Abigail FullerPortland

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Letter to the Editor: Progressives were not the 'language police' - Press Herald

I have a confession to make. Im hopelessly behind the curve. Excuse my language, but Im old-fashioned. Im one of those Neanderthals who is so unwoke that I actually believe forgive me again, please that only women can get pregnant and have babies.

But at least Im open to new ideas and trust me, there is no shortage of new ideas about whos capable of childbirth.

Lets start with the progressives in lefty-land at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). They quoted the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader GinsburgRuth Bader GinsburgThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Altria - Jan. 6 panel flexes its muscle Why do progressives want to cancel women? Couric says she edited Ginsburg interview to 'protect' justice from criticism MORE on abortion, but instead of quoting her accurately, this is what came out of the ACLUs woke sensibilities:

The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a [persons] life, to [their] well-being and dignity.

Justice Ginsburg wrote about women, not persons. So the ACLU apologized for tampering with her actual words. But the folks over there apparently know something about who can and who cant bear a child that I dont know. Theres a line in a great old love song about how The fundamental things apply, as time goes by. Dont bet on it.

And the ACLU is hardly alone in noticing that people not just women should have the right to an abortion.

In September, House Democrats introduced a bill that states its purpose is To protect a persons ability to determine whether to continue or end a pregnancy, and to protect a health care providers ability to provide abortion services.

Note the word persons, instead of womans. Then, a little further down into the bill, the Dems explain their reasoning: This Act is intended to protect all people with the capacity for pregnancy cisgender women, transgender men, nonbinary individuals, those who identify with a different gender, and others.

Im not saying I disagree with any of that. But I am saying that, after reading those words, I have a headache.

Then theres the Department of Justice (DOJ), which put out a brief against the Texas abortion law a brief that refers to any individuals who become pregnant. Im not cool enough to understand why the DOJ didnt simply say any woman who becomes pregnant.

And the folks at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) want everyone to know that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant people.

The White Houses 2022 fiscal year budget replaced the word mothers with birthing people in a section about public health funding. This prompted Jessica Anderson, of the conservative Heritage Action, to tweet, Why does [President] Biden want to cancel mothers?

Theres even a Birthing Peoples Bill of Rights. No fooling. I found it on the web.

And on a website called Parents, I read an essay by someone named Amber Leventry who wrote that, Transgender men (men who were assigned female at birth based on their biological sex) and nonbinary folks like me (those who don't identify as either male or female) can and do get pregnant.

Nicole Ault, who writes for the Wall Street Journals editorial page, says that, Language and the law are inseparable. If we erase sex-specific words from our language, we erase, too, what it means to be a man or a woman. Where does it stop? There are people you can look it up who identify as not human. Is person an insensitive term?

I did look it up and heres what I found on the University of Cambridges website: As social beings, a sense of identity plays an important role in our relations and in our own happiness. But identity doesnt have to be narrowly human.

In the article was a picture of a young woman who obviously doesnt identify as a human, with this caption: When people ask me How does it feel to be a cat? Im like, How does it feel to be a human?

Im so confused! I used to believe all the birds and bees stuff. But then, Im a pathetic cisgender man, so what do I know? Actually thats a rhetorical question because I do know this much: The fundamental things no longer apply as time goes by.

Bernard Goldberg is an Emmy and an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University award-winning writer and journalist. He was a correspondent with HBOs Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel for 22 years and previously worked as a reporter for CBS News and as an analyst for Fox News. He is the author of five books and publishes exclusive weekly columns, audio commentaries and Q&As on his Patreon page. Follow him on Twitter @BernardGoldberg.

The rest is here:
Why do progressives want to cancel women? | TheHill - The Hill

Happy Thursday and welcome to On The Money, your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup.

Todays Big Deal: Progressive Democrats want leaders to go broad and dare Republicans to let popular programs expire. Well also look at a sharp decline in jobless claims and climate concerns.

But first, congrats to the woman who found a giant diamond in a state park!

For The Hill, Im Sylvan Lane. Write me at slane@thehill.com or @SylvanLane. You can reach my colleagues on the Finance team Naomi Jagoda at njagoda@thehill.com or @NJagoda and Aris Folley at afolley@thehill.com or @ArisFolley.

Lets get to it.

Left doubles down on aggressive strategy

Emboldened progressives are doubling down on their aggressive strategy after an early victory over centrists, suggesting they see that approach as a winner in the intraparty fight.

Liberal lawmakers in the House and Senate are calling for social safety net programs to be as universal as possible, pushing back against centrist Sen. Joe Manchins (D-W.Va.) calls for programs to be means-tested and targeted toward the lowest-income households.

They also want programs that provide benefits to families to start as quickly as possible, rather than have a delayed start date in an effort to minimize the price tag.

The background:

They argue that priorities such as child care and education will be popular with the public, so lawmakers will feel pressure to extend any temporary programs once they begin.

"If given a choice between legislating narrowly or broadly, we strongly encourage you to choose the latter, and make robust investments over a shorter window," Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) leadership said in a letter to Pelosi Wednesday.

Naomi Jagoda and Scott Wong have more here.

LEADING THE DAY

Jobless claims fall below 300k for first week since lockdowns

New weekly claims for jobless aid sunk to a pandemic low last week, according to data released Thursday by the Labor Department, falling below 300,000 for the first time since COVID-19 shattered the economy.

While job growth fell off sharply in August and September amid surging cases of COVID-19, the continued decline in jobless claims this month suggests businesses have been able to avoid widespread layoffs. I explain why here.

UNBREAK THE CHAIN

What you need to know about the supply chain bottlenecks

Supply chain snarls and labor shortages are driving prices higher and creating shortages as the economy struggles to adapt to a new phase of the coronavirus pandemic.

After slashing prices and laying off workers at the onset of COVID-19, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers have struggled for months to meet the quick rebound in demand unleashed by unprecedented federal aid and highly effective coronavirus vaccines.

While the Biden administration is scrambling to ease the problem, Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at audit and tax firm RSM, warned that only time will fully normalize supply lines.

At this point there's not much that the federal government can do to what can accurately be described as a behavioral shock, Brusuelas said.

Heres what you need to know about the supply chain challenges.

TOXIC CLIMATE

Moderates split over climate plans in Democrats' spending package

Climate change provisions in a sprawling Democratic spending package are dividing moderates, creating major obstacles to getting the legislation across the finish line.

Key aspects of the House package would make sweeping changes to address climate change, through tax credits for clean energy and electric vehicles, a fee on methane emissions from oil and gas, and a program that seeks to switch electricity to clean energy sources through a combination of grants and fines.

But the divisions among moderates largely reflect regional interests, underscoring the challenges to getting the moderate wing of the party on board with the multitrillion-dollar spending package. Naomi and Rachel Frazin have more here.

Good to Know

Prices charged by producers rose at a slightly slower rate in September despite supply chain snarls and shortages that have driven up manufacturing and shipping costs.

Heres what else have our eye on:

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On The Money Progressives play hard ball on Biden budget plan | TheHill - The Hill

The leaders of dozens of grassroots progressive advocacy groups joined their congressional allies late Tuesday in calling on Democrats to reject "false choices" posed by right-wing lawmakers and ensure that all of the party's key prioritiesfrom child care to Medicare expansion to climate actionremain in the final budget reconciliation package.

"What we are talking about is not simply a laundry list, a wish list. It is the needs of the American people."

"It is beyond absurd that we are talking about choosing between child care and elder care or tax cuts to families and free community college,"Rahna Epting, executive director of MoveOn, said during Tuesday night's #TimeToDeliver town hall, a virtual event that brought together activists and top progressives in Congress, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

"We have more than enough resources to do all of it. We're the richest country on earth," Epting continued. "This is not a time for politics as usual or tired and outdated austerity policies. The ultra-rich and huge corporations have made massive profits in the middle of this pandemic. Simply making them pay their fair share will be more than enough money to cover these essential policies. This is a once-in-a-generation moment for Congress to act and to act boldly to meet this moment."

The town hall came as Democratic leaders continued their efforts to secure the votes of a smallbut, given the slim margins in Congress, powerfulnumber of corporate-friendly lawmakers who are refusing to support a popular $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. While the right-wing Democratic holdouts have repeatedly declined to publicly specify the programs they want to cut, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) signaled Monday that some of the party's priorities may have to be axed to lower the bill's top-line price tag.

Politico reported last week that the Biden White House is "seriously entertaining the idea of across-the-board haircuts to most items" in the reconciliation package as well as the removal of entire programs.

But progressives are pushing back against that approach, warning it would be morally and politically disastrous to impose artificial constraints on spending in the midst of a deadly pandemic, economic recession, and worsening climate crisis. According to a recent analysis by the Economic Policy Institute, Sen. Joe Manchin's (D-W.Va.) proposal to cut the reconciliation bill's price tag by $2 trillion over a decade would support two million fewer jobs each year than the full Build Back Better plan.

"Slashing investments that will create millions of good-paying jobs and make child care, healthcare, and housing more affordable is a recipe for a weak recovery and inequitable future," said Claire Guzdar, a spokesperson for the ProsperUS coalition. "Congress should pass the full Build Back Better agenda without delay. We can't afford not to."

Jayapal, the chair of the 96-member Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), said during Tuesday's event that progressives in the House and Senate are "united in our insistence that these prioritiesclimate action, the care economy, housing, roadmap to citizenship, expanded healthcare, and tax fairnessare included and funded in the final bill."

"We have to insist that the will of the 96% of Democrats in the House and the Senate, the leadership of the president, and the majority of the American people is not ignored for the misplaced priorities of 4% of our colleagues who aren't yet on board," she added.

Sanders, chair of the powerful Senate Budget Committee, echoed Jayapal on Tuesday, declaring that "now is the time for us to stand up for the working class of this country and tell the billionaires that they're going to have to start paying their fair share of taxes."

"What we are talking about is not simply a laundry list, a wish list," Sanders said. "It is the needs of the American people. We will no longer continue to have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on Earth... We are going to make sure that no family in America pays more than 7% of their incomes for child care. We're going to make pre-K universal and free. We're going to deal with the affordable housing crisis because we are tired of seeing half a million people in this country homeless, sleeping out on the streets."

"We're going to deal with climate," Sanders continued, "because we know we have the moral responsibility to address that so that the planet we leave for our kids and grandchildren is healthy and habitable."

Earlier Tuesday, as Common Dreams reported, Jayapal and Sanders both indicated that a proposal to expand Medicare benefits to cover dental, hearing, and vision is "not negotiable"a position they staked out amid reports that the plan is on the chopping block due to opposition from right-wing Democrats.

"As part of the reconciliation bill, Americans want to lower prescription drug costs (88%) and expand Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing (84%)," Sanders tweeted Tuesday, pointing to recent polling. "Both proposals are strongly opposed by drug companies and private insurance. The Dems must stand with the people, not fold."

Late last month, members of the CPC acted as a bloc to ensure that the reconciliation package and a Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill remained linked, a strategy progressives believe is necessary to get the Build Back Better Act to President Joe Biden's desk intact.

"Progressives in Congress held the line, but we're not done yet," Jayapal stressed Tuesday as Democrats rush to complete the reconciliation bill by the end of the month, a tall task given ongoing disputes over the bill's top-line cost as well as its specific provisions.

Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, said during the town hall that "it is well past time for Congress to deliver and pass an inclusive reconciliation bill through both the House and Senate."

"Progressives made clear they will not allow conservative Democrats to gamble away the policies that will expand healthcare coverage and lower prescription drug prices, [create] tax fairness, build a pathway to citizenship and include immigrants in recovery provisions, invest in clean energy and climate action, and meet needs like child care, paid leave, and affordable housing," saidGreenberg. "It is time to deliver for our families, our communities, and the planet."

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Progressives Push Democrats to Reject 'Outdated Austerity Policies' and Pass Bold Agenda - Common Dreams

The nationwide state congresses of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, which was held on Saturday, experienced a huge setback as a result of divisions within the party.

SaharaReporters learnt that in Lagos State, the ruling party APC had three parallel congresses with one of the factions led by a former governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.

SaharaReporters gathered that the national leadership of the party under Yobe State Governor, Mala Buni, recognised Ambodes faction and his list of executives which is part of a coup and ongoing efforts to weaken the influence of the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu.

Top sources revealed that Ambode's faction was sponsored by Buni, who is the Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee so as to weaken Tinubu in his perceived stronghold.

Lagos APC had three separate congresses; the people elected in Ambodes faction and congress are backed by Buni. It is a coup against Tinubu, a top source revealed.

SaharaReporters obtained the list of the state executives elected by Ambode's faction; they are; Beatrice Omotayo Tugbobo, Chairman; Alhaji Dauda, Vice-chairman; Hon. Prince Adedeji Osho, Secretary; Hon. Akewushola Onoyemi, treasurer; Balogun Adekunle Hameed, Publicity Secretary; Youth Leader, Buhari Babajide Jimoh and Woman Leader, Ashafa Salawat.

Others are: Financial Sec, Prince Moruf.A. Anibire; Organizing Sec., Olamiji Alilu; Auditor, Adeosun Iyiola Abiodun; Legal Adviser, Wasiu Adeyemi Sulaimon; Youth Leader, Adelaja Moruf; Welfare Officer, Olusegun Moruf Bello; Ex-officer 1, Ibrahim Misbau Omoniyi; Ex-officer 2, Babatunde Collins Davies.

SaharaReporters had last weekend reported how ailing Tinubu quietly returned to the country after months of extensive medical treatments in the United Kingdom and the United States.

It had also been reported that the APC in Lagos State had sent out a circular to its leaders across the state informing them that the Sunday welcome party being organised for Tinubu would not be held as earlier scheduled.

SaharaReporters had learnt that the APC sent the circular, signed by Alhaji Tunde Balogun (APC State Chairman), and Alhaji Maroun Are (GAC Secretary) to the party leaders believably at the ward and local government levels, without giving a specific reason for the change of plan.

SaharaReporters, however, gathered that the cancellation was due to the exclusive report published by this medium, which forced them to abort it abruptly.

In the circular obtained by SaharaReporters, the APC leaders were told that a new arrangement for welcoming Tinubu would be announced later.

Dear leader/GAC member, you are hereby informed of change in plans/arrival of our National Leader billed for Sunday. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the plans/arrival have been put on hold. A new plan/arrival will be unfolded soon. Sorry for any inconvenience this hold may have caused. Thank you, the notice had said.

SaharaReporters had reported that Tinubu confirmed that he went through a challenging health crisis, saying his physiotherapy was gruesome.

Tinubu said this while addressing members of the House of Representatives northern caucus who visited him in London last Friday.

The former governor, who had been in the United Kingdom for the last three months since undergoing knee surgery, told the gathering, Because of God and people like you, I am well. It is just the physio (physiotherapy) that is gruesome.

Since his departure, Tinubus London home has become a mecca of sorts as he has been visited by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Governors Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano),

Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

SaharaReporters had reported that Tinubu underwent knee surgery at the John Hopkins University Hospital in Maryland, US.

The APC chieftain, it was learnt, left the US for the United Kingdom on crutches, a few days after the surgery.

Sources close to Tinubu told SaharaReporters that he wanted the surgery in Paris, France but changed his plan after rumours of his death spread in Nigeria.

Tinubu had his second surgery at John Hopkins University in Maryland recently. He was accompanied by a popular Nigerian doctor in Chicago. He had wanted the surgery in Paris but when rumour was rife about his death, he hurriedlyleft for Nigeria and went to John Hopkins, one of the sources had said.

"He left the US for the UK on crutches," another source revealed.

SaharaReporters had on July 31 reported that Tinubu, who has had several medical trips this year alone, had surgery about two weeks earlier and could be billed for another one.

The APC National Leader has been off official and party functions in the country for a while, amidst talks that he is being positioned for the 2023 presidency to succeed the incumbent repressive regime of Buhari.

The APC state congress which held nationwide on Saturday did not hit a crisis only in Lagos but in most states of the South-West.

Earlier today, two persons were said to have sustained injuries from gunshots fired by some unidentified persons who invaded the venue of the state Congress organised by a faction of the All Progressives Congress in Osogbo, Osun State.

The incident happened around 12.50 pm after the congress organised by the Osun Progressives, a faction of APC backed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, had commenced the process of electing new executives.

A car with about five occupants that were armed with guns was seen driving along Osogbo/Gbongan Road towards the entrance to the venue of the Congress.

The vehicle was eventually prevented from advancing to the entrance to the venue of the Congress held at Ladsol Bus Stop, Ogo Oluwa, Osogbo, by another group leading to an exchange of gunshots between the two groups.

Also, in Ogun state, the Ake palace in Abeokuta was cordoned off by police officers believed to be from the Ogun State Police Command and officers of the Department of the State Security Services.

The officers had allegedly been sent by the faction of the APC loyal to Governor Dapo Abiodun to lock up the venue of the parallel congress of those members loyal to former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, preventing party faithful from gaining access.

Many people believed to have been mobilised for the parallel congress were seen loitering around the palace, and unable to enter the venue.

Meanwhile, the national leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress suspended the congress in Oyo over irregularities.

More here:
REVEALED Crisis Hits All Progressives Congress As Chairman Buni Backs Ex-Governor Ambode's Faction In Lagos To Weaken Tinubu's Influence -...