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June 11, 2019
Karen Bass Aims to Contain Ebola Outbreak, Verónica Escobar Probes Abuse of Pregnant Migrants, and Michelle Luján Grisham Sues Trump
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BATTLE WON… Kind of. The DOJ on Monday began providing Congress with “interview notes, firsthand accounts of misconduct, and other critical evidence” collected by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. THE WAR GOES ON… Congress will vote today on a measure that would empower the Judiciary Committee to take Attorney General William Barr and other subpoena-defying witnesses to court. Tomorrow, the House Oversight and Reform Committee will vote on whether to hold Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in contempt for failing to comply with congressional subpoenas. HEADSLAPThe Trump administration has named anti-immigration hardliner Ken Cuccinelli as acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services -- the agency in charge of legal immigration. THIS FOOLWhite supremacist Congressman Steve King (R-IA) is introducing the Diamond and Silk Act, named for the shucking and jiving Trump-supporting duo. The bill would redistribute funds for sanctuary cities to programs benefiting the homeless. FREE FROM FREEDOMCongressman Justin Amash (R-MI) has opted to quit the House Freedom Caucus after supporting moving forward with impeachment proceedings against the president. FINDING YOUR GATES… Historian Henry Louis Gates is on Capitol Hill this morning. Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is hosting him at Democratic Caucus meeting, where Gates is discussing his new documentary, Reconstruction: America After the Civil War, and its relevance today. LET’S MOVE… Former First Lady Michelle Obama will join James Corden in London when he presents The Late Late Show in the British capital, and the pair will play an international game of dodgeball. THE REAL MVPThe Warriors’ Kevin Durant was forced to leave last night’s game after suffering an apparent right Achilles injury. But it didn’t stop them from beating the Toronto Raptors, 106-105. Toronto leads the series three games to two. Game 6 is Thursday. NOW WALK IT OUTA reporter documented the 2020 presidential candidate’s walkout songs from Iowa over the weekend. There was some of everything from Mary J. Blige to Bruce Springsteen. But no Cardi B? OKURRR, TIME FOR OUR DOPE BEAT… We’re kicking off your Tuesday with this...
  • The Supreme Court will hear case involving Entertainment Studios Network owner Byron Allen and Comcast.
  • Mid-level actors got hit by the Trump tax cut. Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) wants to help.
  • Eric Holder tapped to review #MeToo issues among architects. Read to the bottom!
  • After visiting Flint, Julián Castro unveils a sweeping plan to address lead poisoning.
  • Governor of New Mexico, and former Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair, sues the Trump admin. Read to the bottom!
  • Catch The Beat DC’s Tiffany D. Cross on SiriusXM ch. 126 today at 1:20P EDT. She’ll be Keepin’ It Real with Rev. Al Sharpton.
CBS’s Gayle King at the Gordon Parks Foundation Dinner in NYC last week.
ABC-San Francisco affiliate reporter Luz Peña last week in the Bay area after winning two Emmys for Best Talent and Best General Assignment Reporter.
Verónica Escobar Wants Answers About Reported Mistreatment of Pregnant Migrants
There have been recent reports detailing the mistreatment of pregnant migrant women in federal custody. Advocates told Rewire.News that some asylum seekers in Texas who have given birth while in custody were forced to hand over their newborns to the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services. Some women have reportedly been shackled while giving birth. Congresswoman Verónica Escobar (D-TX) wants Congress to investigate. She and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) called on their colleagues on the House Committees on Oversight and Reform, Judiciary, and Homeland Security to hold hearings investigating the treatment of these pregnant migrants seeking asylum in the U.S., endangering the lives of both the women and their children. The lawmakers wrote that advocates said Customs and Border Protection officials, “seem to be choosing pregnant asylum seekers as their sacrificial lambs.” They went on to write that, “many pregnant women are reportedly experiencing lapses in prenatal and gynecological care that endanger both them and their child.” Rewire.News reported that reuniting migrant mothers with their newborn hinges on their release from federal custody and whether they can access legal help to navigate the child welfare system. Women who find their way to advocacy organizations appear to be reuniting with their newborns, but the outlet was unable to verify what happens to the children of women who do not have access to legal help. More here.

Karen Bass Aims to Contain Ebola Outbreak with New Bill
Ready for some scary news? The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo -- which began last August -- may take up to two years to end, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said Thursday. Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, introduced legislation to help contain the virus. The Ebola Eradication Act would authorize the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to assist with Ebola eradication efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 1200 people have died. “The rising numbers of new Ebola cases demand our attention and action to ensure we do not face another epidemic,” Bass said. “This outbreak is at risk of becoming a pandemic if it is not brought under control. Despite the use of preventive tools and new therapeutics, the number of cases continue to rise.” Ebola is extremely infectious but not extremely contagious -- it’s not airborne. Humans can be infected by other humans if they come in contact with body fluids from an infected person or contaminated objects from infected persons. Humans can also be exposed to the virus, for example, by butchering infected animals. The disease reached America in December 2014. Eleven cases have been reported, including seven cases medically evacuated from other countries. WHO warns that one in four Ebola infections in the Congo may be going undetected. There is now a risk of Ebola spreading across the border into neighboring countries. To further examine this issue, Bass and the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa hosted a hearing last week to examine the scope of the Ebola outbreak and what can be done to combat it. Watch it here.

Judy Chu Pushes a Tax Fix for Actors and Other Entertainers 
Thousands of mid-level actors and artists saw an increase in their taxes this year because of Trump’s massive tax cut, which took away their ability to write off miscellaneous itemized deductions for expenses they incur to stay in the business and to find jobs. Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) introduced a bipartisan bill last week to address this. The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act, which she introduced with Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL), corrects this problem by updating the thresholds of the Qualified Performing Artists Deduction to allow more lower and middle-income artists to utilize it. “Expenses like head shots, transportation, and more force professional artists to spend up to 30% of their gross incomes just to stay in business each year,” said Chu. “For years, these expenses could be written off in their taxes, but that deduction was lost in the new tax law, requiring artists to spend thousands more. This is an untenable hit to working families that hurts our economy and communities.” Actors’ Equity, which represents more than 51,000 actors and stage managers working in live theater, said: “While tax reform did not harm high-income artists who have the resources to operate corporations, Equity has heard from scores of members who faced massive tax increases because they lost the ability to deduct miscellaneous itemized deductions. Professional actors and stage managers are often employees, not contractors, who unlike typical workers spend 20%-30% of their income on necessary expenses — such as to pay for travel to auditions or a talent agent — to stay in the business and to procure employment.” Given that Donald Trump most recently hailed from the world of entertainment, he may actually sign the bill. But first, the measure must make it through the Democratic-controlled House and then the GOP-controlled Senate. More here.

ND state Rep. Ruth Buffalo, Center for Native Youth’s Nikki Pitre, Stanford University student Kendra Becenti, and NAWA’s Mikel Johnson in Atlanta last month at the National Crittendon conference.
Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA) with a WWII vet in Normandy, France last week in observance of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
Raúl Grijalva Intros Bill Focused on Supporting Middle-Grade Students and Teachers
Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) is aiming to ensure that the professionals who educate middle-grade students have the resources they need to succeed. He and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) last week introduced the Success in the Middle Act, legislation they said would better equip and empower teachers with the tools, funding, and resources to improve student success. The bill would significantly invest in middle-level education across the country by creating a grant program that would allow middle schools to identify and implement best practices to improve student outcomes and increase high school graduation rates. “Despite success in the middle school years being one of the most pivotal indicators of future success and achievement, middle grade education remains grossly underfunded in school districts across the country,” said Grijalva. Students who fall behind academically in middle school have a harder time recovering in high school. The effects are even more pronounced in high-poverty areas, where middle school achievement strongly impacts high school graduation rates, college readiness, and future achievement levels. According to the ACT, the level of academic achievement that students attain by 8th grade is directly correlated with both college and career readiness. “This legislation remedies historic underfunding, invests in local solutions to improve educational outcomes, and will help equip teachers with the tools they need to prepare students for high school and beyond,” Grijalva added. More here.

Jimmy Gómez Wants to Invest in Women’s Health and Preventive Screenings
The science is clear: education, preventive screening, and early detection increase the chance of surviving cervical cancer. Yet, Hispanic women are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with and 30% more likely to die from cervical cancer than white women. Congressman Jimmy Gómez (D-CA) wants to help preventive services to more women. He and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) last week introduced the Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women’s Health Act -- which is named after a former Obama WH intern and Gómez constituent who became a health advocate for women before losing her battle with cervical cancer at age 32. “Jeanette Acosta represented the very best of her generation, one that cares deeply about the rights and health of people across the United States,” said Gómez. “Not only did she understand preventative cancer screenings save lives, but she also recognized such critical services are the most effective when they’re accessible to every woman – regardless of race, ethnicity, zip code, or socioeconomic background.” The legislation would expand access to preventive, life-saving women’s health screenings at healthcare providers like Planned Parenthood by creating new grant and pilot programs to expand access to preventive services and better train health practitioners, especially in treating low-income women and women of color. More here.
Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick and Endeavor's Bozoma St. John in Brooklyn last week.
Actress Tichina Arnold planting a smooch on WaPo’s Jonathan Capehart last week in DC at a screening of The Last Black Man in San Francisco.
Julián Castro Unveils Sweeping Plan to Eliminate Lead Poisoning Following Visit to Flint
Presidential candidate Julián Castro, the former HUD Secretary under Barack Obama, unveiled a dedicated plan to eliminate lead poisoning. We told you Monday that Castro was the first 2020 candidate to visit Flint, MI, over the weekend, which is still grappling with a water crisis. “I’m putting forward a plan to combat lead exposure across the country, and to ensure that no families experience what those in Flint have had to endure,” Castro said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. He is proposing to set up a presidential task force, which would be charged with eliminating lead poisoning as a major public health threat. The plan would include a national assessment of communities at risk of lead poisoning. A 2017 Reuters report revealed that more than 2,600 areas in the U.S. have lead poisoning rates at least double those recorded during the peak of the Flint crisis. Castro would ask Congress to allocate $5 billion per year for 10 years to replace lead pipes and address lead contamination in paint and soil in areas of highest need, as well as an additional $100 million per year toward preventing lead poisoning in children, BuzzFeed reports. For people whose blood has high levels of lead, the former San Antonio mayor’s plan includes provisions for treating lead poisoning under universal health care. Castro is also calling for mandatory lead testing for children under two years old, and support services including counseling, tutoring, and education on nutritional needs. Lead affects children more than it does adults potentially causing neurological effects and mental retardation. At least four million households have children living in them that are being exposed to high levels of lead, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. People with prolonged exposure to lead may also be at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and reduced fertility. More here.
Healthcare Lobbyist Wants to Rep Florida’s 13th in Congress
Republican Amanda Makki has jumped into the race to challenge Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL). Makki is a former Capitol Hill staffer who previously worked for Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) for seven years, specializing in health policy. She left in 2014 to become a lobbyist for Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk and later joined K&L Gates lobbying firm as a partner in their DC office. What’s her connection to Florida? None as far as anyone can tell. The Tampa Bay Times reports that there is currently no record of her owning property in Florida’s 13th Congressional district, which isn’t a disqualifier to run for Congress. "I am fighting to give Pinellas a voice in Washington and a stake in the future of our country. By working together, we can bring effective and principled leadership back to the 13th District,” she states on her website. The 41-year-old University of Maryland grad completed law school at Catholic University in 2005. Makki is a former George W. Bush appointee to the Army General Counsel at the Pentagon. She was born in Tehran and immigrated with her family to the U.S. when she was an infant in 1979. The district is 79% White; 12.27% Black; 3.63% Asian; 9.83% Hispanic;and 0.28% Native American. More here.
Healthcare Exec Explores Flipping California Congressional District
Democrat Bobby Bliatout is aiming to unseat Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA). Bliatout was the third-place finisher of the 2018 primary against Nunes. He hasn’t officially kicked off his candidacy but did form an exploratory committee last week. The 42-year-old son of Hmong immigrants is, so far, pushing an “impeach Nunes” message. Bliatout said that he decided to run in the last cycle because Nunes made health care into a "political football" in the Obamacare fight. Bilatout started a nonprofit health care organization 16 years ago and is now the top executive of two organizations that employ 300 and have treated 100,000 patients. "Ninety-five percent of Congress has never worked in health care," he said. "I'd be able to run circles around everyone else on that." The California State University at Bakersfield graduate also favors free college and believes repayment of college loans should be based on the ability to pay. California’s 22nd Congressional District is majority-minority. The District is 42.4% White; 2.8% Black; 7.3% Asian; 44.8% Hispanic; and 2.8% other. Latinx voters outnumber white voters by a 46% to 40% margin. Financial planner Phil Arballo and small business owner Dary Rezvani are also running. More here.

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay celebrating Denzel Washington’s Lifetime Achievement Award from AFI last week in Los Angeles.
Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-NM) with WWII vets in Normandy, France last week in observance of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
Byron Allen V. Comcast Heads to the Supreme Court
Byron Allen, the owner of the Entertainment Studios Networks (ESN), is heading to the Supreme Court to square off with Comcast. Regular Beat readers will recall that Allen alleged that Comcast refused to carry ESN’s channels due to racial discrimination, violating the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Comcast appealed a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling from November, which held that Allen’s accusations were plausible, and merited a hearing in district court. Allen’s suit had been dismissed three times at the district court level, but the Ninth Circuit ruling revived the complaint. The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear Comcast’s argument, which the company’s attorneys called “facially absurd.” Comcast argued that Supreme Court precedent, and the rulings of other appellate districts, held that racial discrimination had to the “but-for” factor in causing harm in order to be barred by federal law. “Unfortunately, Comcast continues to mislead the American people and its subscribers. This case is NOT about African American-themed programming, but IS about African American OWNERSHIP of networks,” Allen stated. “Unfortunately, the networks Comcast refers to as ‘African American-owned’ are not WHOLLY-owned by African Americans, and did not get ANY carriage until I stood up and spoke out about this discrimination and economic exclusion. Comcast — one of the biggest lobbyists in Washington, DC — will continue to lose this case, and the American people who stand against racial discrimination will win.” Allen filed the $20 billion claim in 2015, alleging that Comcast had worked with the NAACP and Rev. Al Sharpton to “whitewash” the company’s discriminatory practices. Comcast did carry networks only partially owned by Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Sean “Diddy” Combs. More here.
Medium Officially Launches New Publication Focused on Women of Color
Online self-publishing platform Medium on Monday officially launched ZORA, their new publication centered on the experiences of women of color. Last month, we told you that Medium had brought on a slate of new editors to help it manage four new original content verticals it was launching. One of the new hires was Vanessa DeLuca, who is running ZORA as editor-in-chief. “In ZORA, women of color will write and read pieces that encourage us to speak our truths and remain resilient in spite of the challenges we face,” DeLuca said in a post announcing the launch. “Women of color are often marginalized because of our status as minorities; add to this the intersectional issues of age, gender, race, sexuality, and disability, and there are even more barriers to economic, social, and political empowerment. Clichés and misrepresentation in the media play a role in this: diversity is underrepresented, and of those portrayals that do get visibility, most are stereotypical and racially biased.” The first content offering featured pieces by actress-activist Yara Shahidi, who wrote about what she’s learned by reading James Baldwin; an essay by award-winning author Vanessa Hua on how her dad helped her connect with her culture; Feminista Jones on how Gen Xers are grappling with what hip-hop has become; Elaine Welteroth on why she left her top job at Teen Vogue; and Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) with an op-ed on equal pay. More here.
NYT Executive Editor Bans Reporters from Opinionated Shows
NYT executive editor Dean Baquet has asked his reporters to refrain from appearing on opinionated shows, and he used MSNBC as an example. Here’s the backstory: NYT finance editor David Enrich got a request from a producer at MSNBC to appear on Rachel Maddow’s show last month -- she has one of the top-rated shows across cable. Enrich had a front-page story about anti-money-laundering specialists at Deutsche Bank flagging suspicious transactions involving Donald Trump and Jared Kushner. But he was forced to cancel. Why? The Times felt the show is too opinionated for straight-down-the-middle journalists. Vanity Fair reports that Baquet has felt that opinionated cable-news shows are getting more opinionated, and he’s concerned that if a Times reporter were to go on one of these shows, their appearance could be perceived as being aligned with that show’s political leanings. “We have always had a rule saying reporters should be wary of going on very clearly opinionated shows,” Baquet told The Daily Beast by text message on Friday. “It isn’t meant as a commentary on any show, just our view that hard-hitting stories like the ones we are doing should stand on their own.” It’s unclear on what other shows NYT reporters are banned from appearing, but CNN’s Don Lemon thinks the whole thing is a bad move. “I do not get the sense that they are banning reporters from my show. But, I don’t work for the Times so I can’t be sure,” Lemon said. “However, it would be extremely shortsighted if they are when journalism is under attack. We should support each other. Period.” Of course, the argument can be made, that some newsroom guidelines are out of step with the rising majority of the country. For example, some outlets forbid reporters to call racist comments, well, racist. The overcorrection has arguably created a disconnect with consumers. And an important note -- a number of high-profile NYT journalists have landed political-analyst gigs at both CNN and MSNBC. More here.
Texas Observer Names New Editor in Chief
Andrea Valdez has been named the Editor in Chief of the Texas Observer, the Austin-based nonprofit news organization whose reporting has prompted congressional investigations and hearings. Valdez is currently the editor of WIRED.com. Before WIRED, the Houston native worked at Texas Monthly for 10 years, first as a fact checker, then as a columnist, and, ultimately, as the editor of texasmonthly.com. The University of Texas at Austin graduate, who holds a Master’s from Northwestern University, is the author of How to Be a Texan: The Manual. “I am thrilled to be part of a storied, important institution in a state I love so dearly, where there are more stories than you can shake a stick at,” said Valdez. More here.

MSNBC’s Richard Lui, The Hill’s Scott Wong, and NBC-DC affiliate's Cary Chow in the Adams Morgan 'hood in DC last week.
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) hosting one of his regular “Congress on Your Corner” sessions last week in the Bed-Stuy area of Brooklyn.
Eric Holder Tapped to Address #MeToo Issues Among Architects 
The architecture industry has been embroiled in a series of #metoo-related scandals, and they have enlisted the help of Eric Holder to help address them. As revelations about once-revered designers emerge, Archpaper reported that organizing bodies have grappled with whether they should revoke the awards given to offenders. Holder, via the law firm Covington &  Burling, will help the American Institution of Architects (AIA) review the selection processes for its Honors & Awards and Fellows programs. The AIA’s working group and Holder, President Barack Obama’s former Attorney General, expect to present recommendations within 60 to 90 days. The AIA Board will then vote to adopt them or not. Any enacted recommendations will only affect future recipients of awards; they will not apply to previous recipients accused of harassment or be used to strip awards from them. More here.

Elaine Chao Ensnared in Scandal
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is the latest member of the Trump administration to be ensnared in several scandals. The NYT detailed last week connections between her family’s shipping company, Foremost Group, and Chao's husband, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and the Trump administration. Foremost’s 33-ship fleet is worth $1.2 billion today before factoring in debt. The Times detailed how the secretary's government positions have benefited her family’s company, which is run by Chao’s sister. The company’s ships sail under flags registered in Liberia and Hong Kong. According to Forbes, the company does the vast majority of its business in Asia, with its ships traversing paths through the South China Sea from South Korea to Australia. In the past year, some ships have stopped in Oregon, Virginia, and Louisiana, according to global ship-tracking database MarineTraffic. The U.S. Maritime Administration, which oversees ships that sail under the U.S. flag, falls under Chao’s purview as secretary of transportation. From the NYT: “Over the years, Chao has repeatedly used her connections and celebrity status in China to boost the profile of the company, which benefits handsomely from the expansive industrial policies in Beijing that are at the heart of diplomatic tensions with the United States, according to interviews, industry filings and government documents from both countries.” This week, Politico reported that Chao designated a special liaison to help with grant applications and other priorities from her husband's state of Kentucky, paving the way for grants totaling at least $78 million for favored projects as McConnell prepared to campaign for re-election. And from 1989 through 2018, 13 members of the Chao family gave a combined $1.66 million to Republican candidates and committees, including $1.1 million to McConnell and political action committees tied to him, according to the FEC. It’s a complicated web. More here.

Ajit Pai’s Plan to Thwart Robocalls Approved; Senate Dems Push Back on Admin Proposal to Allow Unlimited Debt Collection by Text and Email
Americans now receive roughly five billion robocalls per month, but that could all be about to change. The FCC last week voted to make clear that phone service providers can now block unwanted robocalls -- before they reach consumers. "There is one thing in our country today that unites Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, socialists and libertarians, vegetarians and carnivores, Ohio State and Michigan fans: It is that they are sick and tired of being bombarded by unwanted robocalls," said FCC Chair Ajit Pai. "My message to the American people today is simple. We hear you, and we are on your side." However, FCC Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Jessica Rosenworcel said they are concerned carriers could charge customers for robocall blocking -- something the new policy doesn’t cover. It’s not all good news. Recently, the Trump admin proposed a rule that would, for the first time, allow debt collection companies to send unlimited texts and emails to consumers. Democrats in the upper chamber led by Senators Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) last week led a group of colleagues in calling on Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Kathy Kraninger to reverse the proposed rule. In a letter to Kraninger, the Senators wrote: “By allowing debt collectors to send consumers unlimited text messages and emails without first receiving affirmative consent for such a method of communication, the proposed rule permits collectors to overwhelm consumers with intrusive communications.” And because the new CFPB would not require debt collectors to use free-to-end-user text messaging, the cost burden for users without unlimited text messages would be passed onto the consumer. “Given the number of American families harmed by abusive debt collection practices, we request that you reconsider this rulemaking and pursue more meaningful reforms that put consumers, not the debt collection industry, first,” they wrote. Just last year, often-abusive and threatening debt collection tactics have led to some 82,000 consumer complaints to the CFPB and nearly 458,000 to the Federal Trade Commission. See the letter here.

Congressman Andy Kim (D-NJ) supporting gun violence awareness last week in his district office.
Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and NM United soccer forward Devon Sandoval following a United game last week.
Michelle Luján Grisham Sues the Trump Admin
Governor Michelle Luján Grisham on Monday announced her office, on behalf of the state of New Mexico, is suing the U.S. government in an effort to halt the Trump administration’s indiscriminate practice of releasing migrants in communities in the state’s borderland area in violation of the federal government’s “safe release” policy. The lawsuit claims the federal government failed to inform or ask for input from impacted communities about the new policy. The former Congresswoman claims the new policy burdens local governments and non-profit organizations with caring for people who are seeking asylum. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, seeks to have the policy change overturned. It also asks that a judge force the federal government to reimburse the state and cities for the costs incurred by the new policy. “The Trump administration has consistently and flagrantly failed in its response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis at our southern border as well as in addressing legitimate border security concerns,” Luján Grisham said. “The president has shown time and again he is interested only in demonizing the vulnerable people who arrive at our border, stoking unfounded fears about national security while taking no action to substantively and proactively protect immigrants and our southern border communities from human- and drug-trafficking.” The former Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus says long-term remedies are needed. “This legal action is intended to protect, in equal measure, New Mexicans and local governments in the southern part of our state as well as the asylum-seeking individuals from Central America and elsewhere who have been treated with neglect by decision-makers in Washington.” More here.
BLAH BLAH BLOGS
FOMO
Today, 6:30P: LatinoJustice PRLDEF hosts their fourth annual Southeast Regional Awards Reception in recognition of individuals working toward resolving human and civil rights issues in the Southeast region of the U.S. Bass Museum, 2100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL. Click here for more information
Wednesday, June 19th, 8A: LatinoJustice PRLDEF hosts their 10th annual Latina Trailblazers Breakfast to honor the achievements of Latina women who have paved the way for future Latina leaders. Tribeca Rooftop, 2 Desbrosses St, NY. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, June 19th, 6P: Muslim Public Affairs Council hosts its 6th Annual Empowering Voices Awards. This year's honorees include political commentator Mehdi Hasan, Yemeni American educator and activist Dr. Debbie Almontaser, and the Department of Justice's Eric Treene. Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave, N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, June 26th - Sunday, June 30th: The National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women's Annual Legislative Conference, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders for thought-provoking conversation around real issues that directly affect Black women and their families. Chicago, IL. Click here for more information.
Thursday, June 27th, 7P: Management Leadership for Tomorrow’s 15th Anniversary Awards Gala Dinner, celebrating underrepresented minorities who are advancing to senior leadership roles in their organizations and communities. The evening honors those working to advance African American, Latinx, and Native American women and men. Grand Hyatt, 109 E 42nd Street, NYC. Click here for more information.
Tuesday, July 9th, 6:30P: The Multicultural Media Correspondents Dinner. Honorees includeCongresswoman Val Demings (D-FL). National Press Club, 529 14th St N.W., DC. Click here for more information
Saturday, July 20th - Wednesday, July 24th: The 110th NAACP Annual Convention, convening policymakers, activists, and organizers to strategize about the work NAACP has to do to ensure that the integrity of our democracy and shape the wellbeing of our communities. Cobo Center, 1 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI. Click here for more information.
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