A Call to the Media: Let's Go Beyond "Preserving Democracy"

[t]   Wednesday, March 21, 2018 [t r u t h o u t] [View Recent Newsletters]( [Tell a friend about Truthout!]( [Donate Today!](   Truthout is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; donations are tax deductible.   BuzzFlash Bureau of Land Management Employees Become Propaganda Tools for Commercial Exploration Mark Karlin, BuzzFlash at Truthout: An oil derrick should be the new symbol of the Bureau of Land Management. [Read the BuzzFlash Commentary](   Donald Trump Has Never Been More Dangerous Than He Is Now [Read the Article at New York Magazine](   A Culture of Violence That Starts at the Top [Read the Article at BuzzFlash](   Illinois Republicans Just Nominated a Holocaust Denier to Run for Congress [Read the Article at Mother Jones](   Lt. Col. Ralph Peters Says He's "Ashamed" of Fox News, Leaves Role as Analyst [Read the Article at The Los Angeles Times](   The "Trump Slump" in Gun Sales Doesn't Negate Industry's Enormous Economic Impact on the US [Read the Article at BuzzFlash](   Yes, This Is Going to Be Worse Than Watergate [Read the Article at The Daily Beast](   HUD Secretary Ben Carson Blames His Wife for Dining Room Purchase [Read the Article at Slate](     Friends, our fundraising campaign is off to a slow start and we could really use your help. Can you take a moment to support Truthout's independent journalism? [Donate Now]( [A Call to the Media: Let's Go Beyond "Preserving Democracy"]( Maya Schenwar, Truthout: In the face of Trump's theatrics around "fake news" and "the media," it's easy to forget that mainstream media have themselves long served the forces of state-sanctioned violence and white supremacy in the US by helping to maintain the inequities that make democracy impossible. Moving forward, let's make journalism flourish as a force for dismantling and creating, rather than preserving the dusty old normal. [Read the Article]( [Rep. Keith Ellison: "Why Shouldn't There Be a Maximum Wage?"]( Sarah Jaffe, Truthout: When a corporation like McDonald's resists paying workers $15 an hour but pays its CEO $3,000 an hour, it's time to have a maximum wage, says Rep. Keith Ellison. While at the Congressional Progressive Caucus conference, he sat down to discuss the new push for Medicare for All, and how we should be looking at racism as a major enabler of economic injustice in this country. [Read the Interview and Listen to the Audio]( ["The Battle for Paradise": Naomi Klein on Disaster Capitalism and the Fight for Puerto Rico's Future]( Amy Goodman and Juan González, Democracy Now!: Six months since Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico, the island is the site of a pitched battle between wealthy investors -- particularly from the technology industry -- and everyday Puerto Ricans fighting for a place in their island's future. Best-selling author and journalist Naomi Klein discusses the forces at play in Puerto Rico. [Watch the Video and Read the Transcript]( [Trump's Tariffs Throw US Workers Under the Bus, Yet Again]( Clara Herzberg, Truthout: Contrary to what Trump claims, his tariffs will not revive the aluminum industry. Instead, they are certain to wreck diplomatic relations, invite retaliation and boost the profits of aluminum executives, who will be able to charge higher prices. Most importantly, the tariffs will destroy jobs in the US. [Read the Article]( [In Venezuela, It's "Democracy" if US-Backed Candidates Are Empowered, "Tyranny" if They Are Not]( Steven Chovanec, Truthout: The US has systematically branded political action within Venezuela illegitimate and dictatorial whenever it's unfavorable to the interests of the US-backed opposition. The Western media, meanwhile, have largely fallen in line with this cynical and strategic portrayal of Venezuelan politics, ignoring the opposition's attempts to seize power by anti-democratic means. [Read the Article]( [Martin Shkreli Is Going to Jail Because He Forgot There Are Consequences for Hurting the Rich]( Bobbi Dempsey, TalkPoverty.org: The frat boy of pharmaceuticals, Martin Shkreli, was sentenced to seven years in prison this month for securities fraud and conspiracy. After four years of earning millions by controlling the supply of certain medications, he was convicted of defrauding hedge fund investors in a Ponzi scheme. [Read the Article]( [The Fast Food Labor Movement Has Gone Global]( Rebecca Vallas, Off-Kilter: In this interview, Annelise Orleck discusses her new book -- We Are All Fast Food Workers Now: The Global Uprising Against Poverty Wages --  which tells the story behind the growing global labor movement through workers' eyes. Other discussions include how the Trump administration is preparing to impose an income test to keep out low-income and working-class immigrants. [Read the Interview and Listen to the Audio]( [Is the Justice Kennedy Retirement Rumor Simply a Campaign Stunt?]( Robin Marty, Care2: According to endangered Nevada Republican Sen. Dean Heller, there's about to be yet another vacancy on the Supreme Court in the near future. This time, Heller claims, that vacancy will be left by moderate conservative Justice Anthony Kennedy. If Kennedy does, in fact, announce his retirement this summer, the timing couldn't be any better for the Republican Party. [Read the Article]( ["Neglect and Bureaucracy": Six Months After Maria, Trump Condemned for Failed Response in Puerto Rico]( Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams: Thousands of residents of Puerto Rico still lack electricity or are unable to return home. This situation illustrates how the Trump administration and Congress have failed to adequately address the crisis that followed the devastating storm in September. [Read the Article]( [Want to strengthen Truthout and help us plan for the future? Click here to become a monthly sustainer.]( [The Newspaper Guild] Please add messenger@truthout.org to ensure you receive our messages Truthout is a proud member of the Newspaper Guild/CWA, Local 36047 [Subscribe]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy](