Courts Stand Up for Citizenship, Oregon's Microgrid Revolution, and Workers Unite for Fair Wages

In this episode of Good News for Lefties, host Beowulf Rochlen brings you a series of inspiring stories that illuminate hope and progress in the face of adversity. We kick off with a significant legal victory as a third federal court blocks Donald Trump's executive order aimed at restricting birthright citizenship. This ruling reinforces the constitutional guarantee enshrined in the 14th Amendment, demonstrating the resilience of our judicial system in protecting fundamental rights.

Next, we celebrate a temporary win for voting rights advocates as the Supreme Court intervenes to preserve the ability of private parties, including Native American tribes, to challenge discriminatory election maps under the Voting Rights Act. This decision highlights the ongoing fight for fair representation and the importance of safeguarding democratic principles.

In Los Angeles, we discuss the challenges federal prosecutors face in securing indictments against anti-ICE protesters, reflecting the community's support and the complexities of politically charged legal actions. The low indictment rate showcases the judicial system's reluctance to pursue cases perceived as politically motivated.

We then shift our focus to the striking DreamWorks Animation workers in Glendale, who are advocating for fair wages and better working conditions. Their action underscores a broader movement toward labor rights within the entertainment industry, emphasizing the essential contributions of all workers behind the scenes.

Listeners will be inspired by Oregon's pioneering legislation establishing a comprehensive framework for microgrids, enhancing energy resilience and community self-reliance in the face of climate-related challenges. This ambitious policy aims to empower local governments and tribes to maintain essential services during emergencies.

Finally, we delve into a recent study revealing that a majority of Americans prefer a more ethnically and religiously diverse society, challenging prevailing narratives of division and highlighting a widespread aspiration for inclusivity.

Join us for this empowering episode filled with stories of resilience, unity, and the belief that positive change is not only possible but actively unfolding around us!

If you have thoughts, ideas, or more good news to share, we’d love to hear from you! Call or message us at 202-656-6271 or drop us a line at [e-mail].

You can find more about this week's stories here:

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5421154-court-blocks-trump-birthright-citizenship-nationwide-injunction/


https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5418738-supreme-court-halts-appeals-ruling/


https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/la-grand-juries-refusing-indict-135108921.html


https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/dreamworks-commissary-workers-strike-amid-171706994.html


https://stateline.org/2025/07/17/oregon-approves-nations-first-framework-for-microgrids/


https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/diversity-in-america-study


More good daily news for democracy on Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram.

Thanks to Rosabelle Heine and Aaron Watson for production assistance.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/good-news-for-lefties-and-america-daily-news-for-democracy--6256627/support.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
Good News for Lefties and America. Hello, Hello, Hello, and
thank you for joining another episode of good News for Lefties.
I'm Beowulf Rockland, here to help you swap out doom
and gloom for some genuine hope with uplifting stories for
democracy defenders, progressives, liberals, socialists, leftists, and anyone who believes

(00:28):
in making America a better place for everyone. It's no
secret these are challenging times. The disappearing of immigrants and citizens,
are government aiding and abetting a genocide in Gaza, and
the wholesale destruction of critical government agencies. Today's headlines often
overwhelm us with troubling news, making it all too easy

(00:49):
to lose sight of hope. That's why it's vital to
highlight the positive, real world progress that's happening every day,
progress that too often gets drowned out by the negativity.
Despite the setbacks, there's genuine movement toward a better America.
So let these stories serve as a reminder that change
is not just possible, it's happening. Carry this hope with

(01:11):
you and share it with others. Okay, let's get started
with some good news headlines designed to brighten your day.
A third federal court has blocked the implementation of Donald
Trump's executive order aiming to restrict birthright citizenship, marking another
major setback for the administration's efforts to change this long

(01:32):
standing constitutional guarantee. On Friday, US District Judge Leo Surriken
issued a nationwide injunction against the order, concluding that no
narrower remedy would sufficiently protect the plaintiff states from harm.
This decision follows the Supreme Court's recent ruling to limit
nationwide injunctions, but preserves exceptions in cases where only broad

(01:56):
relief can prevent harm to the affected parties. Judge Surrican,
referencing the Supreme Court's June decision, stated that the record
showed no feasible way to protect the plaintiff states and
their residents short of a nationwide bar. His ruling keeps
in place a ban on Trump's directive, which would have
denied citizenship to children born in the US unless at

(02:18):
least one parent held permanent legal status, contradicting the principle
of birthright citizenship enshrined in the fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.
The executive order has been uniformly found unconstitutional by every
federal court to consider it. So far. Other courts have
similarly moved to ensure nationwide relief, including by granting class

(02:42):
action status to affected individuals, which allows broad protection beyond
immediate plaintiffs, which allows broad protection beyond the immediate plaintiffs
in the lawsuit. In New Hampshire, a federal judge recently
entered a nationwide injunction and a class action challenged to
the brig Right Citizenship Order. Though the decision was temporarily

(03:04):
paused for appeal, the federal government has not sought an
emergency stay, allowing the block to remain in effect. New
Jersey's Attorney General, Matt Platkin, whose state led one of
the challenges, praised the latest ruling as reinforcing that American
born babies are American, just as they have been at
every other time in our nation's history. The series of

(03:27):
court judgments underscores a president cannot unilaterally erase constitutional rights
by executive order, a position repeatedly affirmed by the judiciary,
even in the face of recent Supreme Court limits on
the scope of federal court injunctions. The Supreme Court has
also temporarily halted a recent appeals court ruling that would

(03:49):
have significantly limited enforcement of the Voting Rights Act by
barring private parties from challenging discriminatory election maps in seven states,
including North DAKOTDA. This emergency order preserves the ability of
groups such as Native American tribes and other private entities
to bring lawsuits under Section two of the Voting Rights Act,

(04:10):
which protects against racial vote dilution and discrimination in redistricting efforts.
The case originated when two Native American tribes represented by
civil rights groups, challenged North Dakota's legislative map, alleging it
diluted their voting power and denied them a fair chance
to elect preferred candidates. The Eighth U. S. Circuit Court

(04:33):
of Appeals panel had ruled two to one that only
the Justice Department, not private parties, could bring such lawsuits
under Section two. The Supreme Court's pause blocks this ruling
from taking effect while it considers whether to review the
case fully. Although the Supreme Court did not provide an
explanation for the emergency stay, conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito,

(04:56):
and Neil Gorsich dissented, indicating the they would have allowed
the appeals court ruling to proceed The Full Court is
expected to revisit related legal questions in an upcoming Louisiana
redistricting case next term, which could further impact the scope
of Voting Rights Act enforcement. For now, the Supreme Court's
intervention is viewed as a significant though temporary win for

(05:19):
voting rights advocates, especially Native American communities in affected states.
It maintains the crucial legal tool of private enforcement under
the Voting Rights Act, a pillar of civil rights legislation
enabling challenges to racial discrimination and voting that has been
central for decades. Before we get back to the news,

(05:39):
I want to tell you about an important podcast called
This Week Again, hosted by Suzanne Posel. It takes a
humorous look at politics and current events one week at
a time. It's a funny, angry, progressive, sarcastic, hilarious podcast
that drops every Sunday, and, in my opinion, is the
largest single repository of creatively insulting names for Donald Trump.

(06:04):
Mango Mussolini, and Orange Julius Caesar are just the beginning.
So if you want to recap of the week and
you want a laugh into the bargain, listen to This
Week Again with Suzanne Posel on this platform or wherever
you listen to podcasts. That's This Week Again with Suzanne
Posel s us A n N E pos e L

(06:26):
This Week Again Listen, laugh Repeat. In Los Angeles, federal
prosecutors under US Attorney Bill Aesaley are facing significant challenges
securing indictments against protesters who are demonstrating against ICE operations.
Despite attempts to bring felony charges against at least thirty

(06:47):
eight individuals involved in recent anti ICE demonstrations, grand jurys
have refused to indict most of them, granting indictments in
only about seven cases so far. This is notable because
grand juries only need to find probable cause to indict,
a lower threshold than required for conviction. Reports indicate that

(07:08):
Asslee expressed extreme frustration and was reportedly heard yelling at
prosecutors after the grand juries refused to indict certain prosecutors,
including one accused of assaulting federal officers. Legal experts suggest
the low indictment rate may stem from weak evidence and
questionable allegations, with some claims potentially based on unreliable testimony

(07:32):
from ICE agents. This judicial pushback comes amid a politically
charged environment. Where the Trump administration sought aggressive immigration enforcement
in Los Angeles, including deploying the National Guard and Marines.
The grand jury refusals highlight local legal institution's reluctance to
fully support prosecutions that may be perceived as politically motivated

(07:55):
or insufficiently substantiated. Community support for the protesters and questions
about the legitimacy of the charges also contribute to the situation.
Dozens of DreamWorks Animation commissary workers at the Glendale campus
took a stand on Thursday by striking to demand fair wages,
improved healthcare, and better benefits. Represented by Unite Here Local eleven,

(08:19):
these dishwashers, cooks, cashiers, and other cafeteria staff highlighted their
essential role behind the scenes of a major Hollywood animation studio.
The strike spotlights their call for dignity and a livable
contract while they sustained the daily operations that support the
creative talent producing beloved films like Kung Fu Panda, How

(08:40):
To Train Your Dragon and Shrek. The workers' union emphasized
that despite the long standing tradition of free meals at
the studio, a cherished perk dating back to DreamWorks founding
in nineteen ninety four, the employee's wages remained barely above
minimum levels, with some workers earning as low as seventeen
dollars in sca seventy five cents an hour. Many face

(09:02):
significant financial hardships, including the rising cost of rent, which
outfaces their current incomes. Veteran worker Ingrid Lopez, who has
served DreamWorks for more than twenty years, voice the frustration
that fuels the strike. I am struggling to keep a
roof over my head, and my rent is only going
to go up. This action reflects a broader movement towards

(09:26):
unionization and labor rights across the animation and entertainment industries.
Recent years have seen production workers at DreamWorks and other
studios organized under strong unions like the Animation Guild, securing
voices in contracts on vital issues from fair wages to
job security and protection. From fair wages to job security

(09:47):
and protection from unchecked technological disruptions such as generative AI.
These collective efforts underscore the growing solidarity among workers seeking
a future where creativity and fa treatment go hand in hand.
The strike at DreamWorks signifies the power of unity and
the demand for respect for all workers. Who contribute to

(10:09):
the magic behind the scene. As these workers picket, they
bring attention to the fact that Hollywood's success depends on
their labor, urging Compass Group and Bona Petite management to
meet their commitments and honor a contract that truly values
these essential employees. Their stand demonstrates a hopeful move toward

(10:29):
equitable labor practices in a vital corner of the entertainment world.
Up next, a listener suggested story back in a minute,
and now a listener suggested story from Mary in Albany, Oregon.
Oregon has taken a pioneering step in energy resilience by

(10:49):
passing the nation's first comprehensive regulatory framework for microgrids through
two recently approved bills, HB twenty sixty five and HB
twenty five sixty six. These laws empower local governments, tribes,
and private entities to plan, build, own, and operate microgrids,
localized energy systems that can operate independently from the main

(11:13):
grid during emergencies such as wildfires or other power disruptions.
This strategic move aims to keep critical facilities like hospitals, schools,
and community centers powered when the larger grid is down
bolstering community safety and reliability. Under HB twenty sixty six,
the Oregon Public Utility Commission is tasked with creating detailed

(11:36):
regulations to enable private and community owned microgrids to connect
to the public power grid. The law also allows local
governments to designate microgrid zones with specialized land use regulations
to streamline project development. Meanwhile, HB twenty sixty five addresses
regulatory bottlenecks by permitting public utilities or third party consultants

(12:00):
to expedite the review and approval process for microgrid interconnections,
which is expected to accelerate clean energy project deployment across
the state. This legislation is hailed as the most ambitious
microgrid policy in the country, going beyond earlier efforts like
California's twenty eighteen microgrid policy by establishing a clear market

(12:23):
and framework legally for microgrid ownership and operation. The laws
are technology agnostic, supporting various clean energy sources such as solar,
micro hydro, biomass, and battery storage. These features are especially
critical for Organ's rural and tribal communities, which face frequent

(12:44):
outages and structural challenges. By enabling locally controlled energy assets.
The state is enhancing grid resilience, reducing reliance on costly
transmission infrastructure, and helping communities maintain essential services during extra
streame weather events and wildfire related grid shutoffs. While utilities

(13:05):
have expressed some concerns about third party connections to utility infrastructure,
proponents emphasize the urgency created by climate related emergencies such
as wildfires, heat waves, and snowstorms. Advocates argue that microgrids
offer a vital tool in the toolbox for adapting to
these challenges and ensuring reliable, affordable energy. With bipartisan support

(13:31):
and Governor Tinacotec's anticipated signature, Oregon's laws could serve as
a model for other states aiming to boost clean energy
resilience and community self reliance across the West. Thanks so
much for that story, Mary. If you have thoughts, ideas,
or more good news to share, we would love to
hear from you. Call or message us at two zero

(13:52):
two six five six six two seven to one. Drop
us a line at beowulf at two squared Media Productions
dot com. Were sended to us at good News for
Lefties on Facebook, Instagram or blue Sky. A majority of
Americans today prefer a more ethnically and religiously diverse society
than what currently exists, according to a recent representative study

(14:16):
published in the journal Ethos. The research, conducted by teams
from the University of Copenhagen, Yale University, and the University
of Chicago, surveyed nine hundred eighty six US citizens and
found that two thirds want greater ethnic diversity and more
than half desire increased religious diversity. This preference cuts across

(14:38):
various demographic groups, including white Christian Americans, who were often
stereotyped as resistant to demographic changes, but were shown to
largely support greater diversity as well. The study shows that
only a small fraction of Americans one point one percent
for ethnic homogeneity and three point two percent for religion homogeneity,

(15:01):
wish for a uniform society. Despite the widespread political discourse
often highlighting divisions on identity, migration, and multiculturalism, the data
indicate a broad popular support for a multicultural US. The
lead author, Shamous Power, emphasized that acceptance of diversity is

(15:21):
a fundamental part of how many Americans envision their country's future,
showing that multiculturalism remains a deeply American ideal. Interestingly, the
research points out that Americans generally overestimate the current and
future proportions of minority groups in the population. Even so,
the aspiration for inclusivity and cultural variety remains strong across

(15:45):
political and religious lines. The findings challenge the assumption that
diversity is a contentious issue for the majority of Americans
and suggests that fears of demographic replacement do not reflect
prevailing public attitudes. Hope this clearer picture of public opinion
can help reduce polarization around issues of identity and belonging.

(16:07):
By recognizing that a vast majority of Americans value diversity
rather than uniformity, conversations about the nation's multicultural character might
shift toward a more unified and inclusive dialogue. As Power concludes,
multiculturalism is perhaps more American than apple pie, highlighting the
deep rooted support for diversity as part of the national identity.

(16:31):
And that's it for today's episode of Good News for Lefties.
If these stories brighten your outlook, please help us spread
the word. Share this episode on social media wherever you post.
Thank you so much to our production team, Rozabel Hine
and Aaron Watson for making all of this possible behind
the scenes. I'm Beowulfroucklin weird name good news for lefties

(16:55):
and America.

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Speaker 1 (17:46):
And in case you missed it, here's this good news headline.
The Congressional Progressive Caucus CPC has launched an ambitious new
campaign to energize and mobilize working class voters ahead of
the twenty twenty six midterm elections. CPC leaders unveiled four
newly formed task forces, each dedicated to advancing policies that

(18:09):
directly address the economic challenges facing everyday Americans and to
winning back control of the House of Representatives. The move
comes as progressives are determined to make the case that
the Democratic Party must be the party of the working people,
not powerful special interests. The four task forces will focus
on central pillars, lowering costs for families, fighting government and

(18:32):
corporate corruption, ending corporate greed, and ensuring better pay and
benefits for American workers. These initiatives respond to frustration over
rising costs, stagnant wages, and as system perceived to favor
the wealthy and well connected over ordinary people. Believe me,
it's not just perception. Representative Dave Minn, a Democrat from

(18:54):
California who will chair the Task Force on Corruption, noted
Americans are fed up with an economy and a government
that are rigged while failing to serve people. Chairs for
the other groups include Representative yasmin Ansari leading lowering costs,
Representative Beca Balant on ending corporate greed, and Representative Emily

(19:15):
Randall focusing on better pay and benefits. CPC polling and
recent public surveys reveal widespread cross partisan support for progressive
economic reforms such as raising the minimum wage and lowering
the cost of essentials, measures that are now central to
the CPC's twenty twenty six strategy. Progressive leaders emphasize that

(19:38):
the upcoming elections offer a clear, hopeful contrast with recent
Republican proposals, which have included tax cuts for the wealthy
and rollbacks to food and healthcare assistance for working families.
Our four new task forces go directly at those big
problems facing Americans, fighting corruption and corporate greed in order

(19:59):
to lower costs and win better pay for benefits, said
CPC Chair Greg Czaar of Texas. In a show of
growing momentum, the CPC announcement coincided with the launch of
a new political action committee by dozens of labor and
civil society groups aiming to put working class issues front
and center in competitive districts nationwide.