Message to teachers: Sit down and shut up. NOTE: The location of Brooke Harris’s pretermination hearing, which is now closed to the public, has been changed. See update below. In April of 2012, Brooke Harris, a teacher at the Pontiac Academy for Excellence charter school, was fired for attempting to assist her students hold a fundraiser for the family of […]

[Please see the update below] Last week, I questioned whether or not Michigan Senator Joe Hune is actually intelligent enough to be a senator. Today, that question is just as pertinent as we learn that Senator Hune is adamantly opposed to marriage equality in Michigan, despite the sea change happening in the opinions of Michiganders. In a recent article in […]

Ahhhh… I’m sitting here sipping on my water bottle this morning, the last piece of My Socialist Independence Day Vacation: it’s filled with the deliciously pure water from the D.H. Day Campground just outside of Glen Arbor, Michigan. Anne and I spent the past week there and I always return refreshed but also reminded that one of our greatest national […]

Chief Justice John Roberts, the man who appointed ALL of the judges to the FISA court Even before this session the Supreme Court, the Roberts “Citizens United” Court had already demonstrated an frightening willingness to rule on the behalf of corporations whenever possible. Senator Elizabeth Warren recently noted the 70% win rate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — America’s […]

As some debate whether this country has become more like George Orwell’s 1984 or Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, keep in mind that for millions of Americans who have no time to debate such a lofty question, actual oppression exists. This oppression isn’t a overwhelming fear of the Thought Police or even a steady drugging that manufactures consent. It isn’t […]

Despite urging from Democrats, citizens, businesses and healthcare professionals, Republicans continue to stall. Senate Republicans said they would hold a hearing on Medicaid expansion on Wednesday. But despite the many citizens who came to be heard — packing the committee room and overflowing into the lobby, according to Whitney Mich, Government Relations Coordinator for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan — […]

Join Wednesday’s day of action and sign petitions urging Senate Republicans to vote now. July 3 could prove to be a big day for Medicaid expansion in Michigan. At least, that’s what supporters of Medicaid expansion hope — and every voice can make a difference. Senate Democrats will be urging their Republican colleagues to vote on HB 4714 to expand […]

Dude, do your JOB! I had a look at the state senate district maps recently and was horrified to learn that, after working hard to get solidly progressive Rebekah Warren elected to the senate, she’s actually no longer my senator. Instead, thanks to the flagrantly gerrymandered 22nd senate district, I’m now if he’s reelected, I’ll be “represented” by Joe Hune. […]

“When you let creatives be creatives, magic can happen.” I finished reading Lizz Winstead’s book Lizz Free or Die (purchase it HERE) a couple of months ago and, via Twitter, she agreed to an interview. Realizing that Netroots Nation was coming up and that we would both be there, I sent her a direct message saying, “What’s the chance I […]

Change is coming fast

U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman ruled today that a case being brought by a Michigan lesbian couple challenging Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriages can move forward. Earlier this year, Judge Friedman suggested that the lesbian couple, Jayne Rowse and April DeBoer, who were suing to be allowed to adopt each other’s children, broaden their complaint to challenge the same-sex marriage ban itself.

However, on March 6th, Judge Friedman decided to delay his decision until the U.S. Supreme Court gave their rulings on California’s Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act. During that hearing, he repeatedly challenged the notion that there is some rational government purpose in preventing same-sex couples from marrying. Now that that the Supreme Court has ruled decisively on the side of marriage equality, Judge Friedman is prepared to allow Rowse and DeBoer to challenge Michigan’s ban.

Click through for details.

All eyes are on Texas

My pals at Burnt Orange Report have published a new website where you can follow all of the goings-on in Texas in the Republican’s War on Women. It’s called STAND WITH TEXAS WOMEN.

Their announcement after the jump.