Empowering Communities, Challenging Authoritarianism, and Clean Energy Gains

In this episode of Good News for Lefties, host Beowulf Rochlen takes us on a journey through the inspiring stories of resilience and activism that are shaping a brighter future for America.

We begin with a powerful display of solidarity from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who stood alongside Texas House Democrats to combat a Republican redistricting plan seen as a blatant power grab. Hochul's commitment to defending democracy and fair representation resonates as she vows to match Republican tactics with equally bold actions, setting the stage for a proactive approach to voting rights.

Next, we explore a new poll indicating that a majority of Americans hold Donald Trump responsible for rising living costs, revealing a growing economic anxiety that could impact the upcoming midterms. This sentiment is echoed in his plummeting approval ratings, highlighting the urgent need for accountability in leadership.

In a significant legal development, Pennsylvania has joined a coalition of states in filing a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging its intimidation tactics against healthcare providers offering gender-affirming care for transgender youth. This case underscores the importance of protecting healthcare rights and the autonomy of families in making medical decisions.

We also celebrate the impactful grassroots climate activism that is making measurable strides across the U.S. From offshore wind farms to local heat pump installations, community-led initiatives are proving effective in combating climate change, often at a fraction of the cost of top-down approaches.

Listeners will be inspired by the remarkable story of Jesus Morales, who is uplifting migrant day laborers in Los Angeles by treating them to fun outings and raising funds to support their livelihoods. His efforts exemplify the power of community and compassion in challenging times.

Lastly, we discuss the ongoing strike by union members at Boeing, as skilled workers demand fair compensation and better working conditions, highlighting the persistent labor tensions in critical industries.

Join us for this enlightening episode filled with stories of hope, activism, and the unwavering belief that positive change is not only possible but already happening across America!

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].

More on today's stories here:

https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/new-york-governor-stands-with-quorum-breaking-texas-democrats-pledges-to-fight-gop-fire-with-fire/

https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/08/trump-responsible-for-rising-prices-high-cost-of-living-most-americans-say/

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2025/08/pa-is-among-states-suing-trump-for-intimidating-hospitals-on-trans-healthcare.html

https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/local-climate-activism-works

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/31072025/inside-clean-energy-solar-and-batteries-lead-us-power/

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/boeings-st-louis-union-workers-175051078.html

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, and thanks for
joining another episode of Good News for Lefties. I'm be
a Wolf Rocklin, your host, ready to help you swap
out doom scrolling for hoop scrolling with uplifting stories for
democracy defenders, progressives, liberals, socialists, leftists, and anyone who believes

(00:29):
in making America a better place for everyone. It's no
secret these are challenging times. The disappearing of immigrants and citizens,
the FBI trying to arrest democratic lawmakers from Texas, and
the wholesale destruction of critical government agencies. Today's headlines often

(00:50):
overwhelm us with troubling news, making it all too easy
to lose sight of hope. That's exactly 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.

(01:12):
So let these stories serve as a reminder that change
isn't just possible, it's happening. Carry this hope with you
and share it with others. Let's kick off with some
good news headlines designed to brighten your day. New York
Governor Kathy Hokeel offered a forceful display of solidarity and

(01:32):
leadership this week, standing shoulder to shoulder with Texas House
Democrats who broke quorum to block an aggressive Republican redistricting plan.
Addressing the press in Albany along six of the fifty
seven Texas lawmakers who left the State House tostall what
she called an authoritarian power grab, Hockel made it clear

(01:54):
that New York will not remain silent as democracy comes
under attack in states across the count Calling the moment
a war to save democracy. Hokeel praised her Texas colleagues
as brave public servants defending not just their constituents, but
the fundamental right to fair representation nationwide. The gloves are off,

(02:16):
she declared, vowing that New York would match Republican tactics
with equally bold action rather than seed ground. The gloves
are off, she declared, vowing that New York would match
Republican tactics with equally bold action rather than seed ground.
She squarely criticized Texas's Republican leadership for resorting to intimidation,

(02:37):
highlighting Attorney General Ken Paxton's threats to arrest the legislators
as part of a pattern of anti democratic authoritarian behavior.
Rather than play defense, Hokl announced that New York Democrats
are proactively reviewing the state's own redistricting rules with Assembly
Speaker Carl Heasty and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stuart Cousins.

(02:59):
She is waying the repeal of the state's faltering independent
Redistricting Commission and is considering mid decade map revisions to
restore fairness and serve as a counterweight to GOP gerrymandering
efforts elsewhere. If Republicans are willing to rewrite these rules
to give themselves an advantage, then they're leaving us no choice.

(03:20):
We must do the same, Hockel asserted. Governor Hockle's message
was clear. Democratic led states will not stand idle while
Republicans tilt the rules. Instead, they are ready to fight
for voting rights and represent government. Energized by public frustration
with chaos, cruelty, and the relentless assault on democracy ahead

(03:41):
of the twenty twenty six midterms, New York's leaders are
signaling a new era of assertive pro democracy action, demonstrating
to voters that they are prepared to fight fire with
fire and reclaim the promise of participatory government for all.
The poll finds that a majority of Americans blame Donald

(04:03):
Trump for rising prices and the high cost of living,
with six and ten respondents holding him responsible for their
financial struggles. Polling data gathered by the Century Foundation and
Morning consult aligns with this view, showing deep concern over inflation,
housing costs, and the impact of tariffs. Forty nine percent

(04:24):
believe Trump's tariffs will make goods more expensive, and nearly
seventy percent expect them to drive prices up. These public
sentiments are reflected in Trump's approval ratings, which have recently
hit some of the lowest marks of his presidency. As
of August twenty twenty five, his net approval on the
economy is negative twelve point six, and on inflation it

(04:46):
has plunged to negative twenty five point eight. According to
Silver Bulletin Average, Nationally, Trump's overall approval rating stands at
approximately thirty eight percent to forty four point five, with
his disapproval rating reaching new highs and ranging from about
fifty two percent to fifty eight percent depending on the poll.

(05:08):
Surveys consistently report widespread dissatisfaction with his handling of inflation, trade,
and consumer prices, with nearly eighty percent of Americans expressing
concern over essentials like groceries and rent. The polling reveals
economic anxiety cutting across demographic groups, but it is especially
pronounced among younger, lower income people, women, and communities of color.

(05:32):
Many Americans now report relying on credit cards to cover
basic costs and spending significant amounts of time each day
worrying about their finances. The negative perception of Trump's economic management,
particularly his use of tariffs and budget cuts to healthcare programs,
has emerged as a defining challenge for his administration, and
analysts suggest it is likely to be a major liability

(05:56):
for Republicans heading into the twenty twenty six midterms. Pennsylvania
has joined a coalition of seventeen states and the District
of Columbia in filing a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration,
alleging it is unlawfully intimidating hospitals and health care providers
into halting gender affirming care for transgender youth. The lawsuit

(06:19):
was prompted after major hospital systems, including Penn State Health, UPMC,
and others in states where gender affirming care remains legal
announced they were curtailing or restricting such care due to
threats from the federal government. At the center of the
suit is a Trump administration executive order that threatens funding
cuts and even civil and criminal prosecution for providers who

(06:43):
deliver hormonal or surgical treatment to transgender people under age nineteen.
In July, the Justice Department began issuing subpoenas to hospitals
and clinics, seeking information and launching investigations into alleged health
care fraud, despite there being no federal law that prohibits
gender affirming care for minors. Plaintiffs argue these aggressive probes

(07:06):
and threats lack any legal basis and are being used
as intimidation tactics to force a defacto national ban overwriting
the rights of states to regulate medical care. Pennsylvania Governor
Josh Shapiro and other Democratic officials contend that these federal
actions amount to illegally interfering with the doctor patient relationship

(07:28):
and infringing on parental and local decision making. The freedom
to make health care decisions should be between parents, their children,
and their doctor, and I will not stand by while
the federal government tries to infringe on the rights and
freedoms of Pennsylvania families, Shapiro said in a public statement.
The lawsuit notes that none of the hospitals or medical
authorities have cited medical concerns with gender affirming care for

(07:51):
their decision to withdraw services. Rather, all point to the
legal risks created by the Trump administration's threats. The plaintiff
succeed making federal intervention to block the administration from using
civil or criminal enforcement powers to threaten providers or halt
care legally permitted by state laws. This legal challenge highlights

(08:12):
the growing patchwork of access to transgender healthcare in the
United States, with recent federal actions prompting urgent treatment disruptions
even in states where protections for gender affirming care are
enshrined in law. This case is now progressing in federal
court in Boston. Local grassroots climate activism is delivering major

(08:33):
measurable results across the US, and a new report offers
the data to prove it. From offshore wind farms in
New York to mass heat pump installations and Maine and
the defeat of the Keystone EXL pipeline. Community led campaigns
are cutting carbon at scale, often at a fraction of
the cost of top down approaches. These bottom up strategies

(08:56):
are gaining momentum as federal climate leadership falters, highlighting the
power of local organizing and advocacy to drive real progress.
The report, produced by Redstone Strategy Group evaluated dozens of
law protest and clean energy projects in the US and
Canada to quantify the climate benefits of community based efforts.

(09:18):
The numbers are striking. New York's offshore wind farm is
set to prevent seven point seven million metric tons of
CO two emissions by twenty thirty at a philanthropic cost
of just three cents per ton. A solar project on
the Moapa River Indian Reservation in Nevada delivers similar results,

(09:39):
avoiding four point two million tons for twelve cents per ton,
all while improving public health by reducing fossil fuel pollution.
Perhaps the most dramatically, the cancelation of the Keystone Excel
pipeline after a decade of resistance led by local environmentalists,
indigenous nations, and farmers, will keep an estimated fifty two

(10:00):
due to one hundred five million metric tons of emissions
out of the atmosphere by twenty thirty, all for two
to five cents per ton invested in advocacy. Beyond supply
side victories, state level campaigns have been transformative. Maine raised
past its heat pump goals two years early and is

(10:20):
now aiming for two hundred seventy five thousand units by
twenty twenty seven, projected to side step one point two
million metric tons of CO two. In New York, persistent
grassroots advocacy led to the groundbreaking Climate Leadership and Community
Protection Act, which is already slashing emissions by tens of

(10:40):
millions of tons while laying the groundwork for a one
hundred percent clean electricity future. Cities are proving to be
just as important as states. San Jose, California, for example,
became the largest US city to require all new low
rise homes to be built without gas hookups, shifting households
toward cleaner electric cooking and heating, and preventing almost nine

(11:04):
hundred thousand metric tons of emissions by twenty thirty for
just one million dollars in community investment. Experts say it's
not just about the carbon savings. These campaigns also bring
improvements in health, job creation and quality of life benefits
that resonate far beyond political divides. Crucially, the report found

(11:25):
that climate policies built through local engagement and equity sweat
the hard work of grassroots coalition building tend to endure
longer than programs imposed from above. With states and cities
stepping up in the absence of consistent federal leadership, the
message is clear, persistent people powered climate action works, and

(11:45):
its impact is only growing.

Speaker 2 (11:49):
Up.

Speaker 1 (11:50):
Next, a listener suggested story back in a minute, and
now a listener suggested story from Dan in Phoenix, Arizona.
Despite the Trump administration's aggressive push to promote fossil fuels
and nuclear power, the vast majority of new US power
plant capacity in twenty twenty five has come from utility

(12:11):
scale solar, battery storage, and onshore wind, with virtually no
new coal or nuclear facilities added in the first half
of the year. More than half the new capacity was
utility scale solar, followed by batteries and wind. All natural
gas additions lagged behind, and coal and nuclear fell to zero.

(12:32):
This divergence arises from several key factors. First, most large
scale power projects completed in twenty twenty five were initiated
years earlier, mostly during the Biden administration, when incentives for
clean energy were robust. Building power plants is a lengthy process,
so recent policy changes take time to influence project mix

(12:54):
and construction timelines. Second, although the Trump administration favors fossil
fuels and rolled back many renewable incentives, these policy changes
only began affecting new project starts in twenty twenty five
and have not yet shifted the composition of plants coming
online today. Furthermore, solar and battery projects remain easier, quicker,

(13:16):
and more cost effective to deploy than coal or nuclear,
especially as electricity demand rises due to data centers and electrification.
Many developers now combine solar generation with battery storage to
address intermittency, improving grid reliability and making renewables more attractive.
Despite federal policy headwinds. However, limits on fossil fuel expansion

(13:39):
exist due to supply chain issues, fluctuating fuel prices, and
growing opposition. While recent regulatory rollbacks on offshore wind and
solar grants may slow renewable growth after twenty twenty five,
they are unlikely to halt the momentum built by projects
already under way in short market forces, cost advantages, and

(13:59):
ongoing dens and growth continued, driving a clean energy transition
that outpaces federal fossil fuel goals, though the long term
outlook depends on sustained policy support and investment trends. Thanks
for that story, Dan. If you have thoughts, ideas, or
more good news to share, we'd love to hear from you.

(14:21):
Call or message us at two zero two six five
six six two seven to one, drop us a line
at Beowulf at two squared Media Productions dot com, or
send it to us at good News for Lefties on Facebook, Instagram,
or blue Sky. About thirty two hundred union members from
the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers IAM in

(14:44):
the Saint Louis area and nearby Illinois began striking after
rejecting Boeing's latest contract offer. These highly skilled workers assemble
Boeing's fighter jets, including the F fifteen and the FA
eighteen models, as well as the T seven training aircraft
and the MQ twenty five aerial refueling drone for the

(15:04):
US Navy. The union turned down a revised four year
contract proposal that Boeing said would have delivered approximately a
forty percent average wage increase, including a twenty percent general
salary hike over the period, a five thousand dollars ratification bonus,
increased vacation time, and improved sickly. However, the company's offer

(15:25):
retained current overtime scheduling policies, a sticking point for workers,
and included pay raises benefiting primarily senior employees. The voting
union members were clear that this offer still did not
meet their expectations for fair compensation that reflects their expertise
and critical role in national defense. IAM District eight thirty

(15:47):
seven's business representative, Tom Bowling emphasized the worker's commitment and
their demand for a contract that truly recognizes their vital contributions.
This strike follows last falls ThReD thirty three thousand worker
strike at Boeing's commercial division, which ended with a contract
providing a thirty eight percent wage increase. While smaller, this

(16:09):
current work stoppage by defense workers signals ongoing labor tensions
at Boeing as employees push for fair wages, better schedules,
and benefits in an industry critical to national security. The
union and Boeing remain engaged in negotiations with hopes to
resolve the impasse and avoid prolonged disruption. That's a wrap

(16:32):
for today's edition 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. A
big thanks to our production team, Rosabel Heine and Aaron
Watson for making all of this possible behind the scenes.
I'm Beowulf Rocklin, weird name Good News for Lefties and America.

(17:08):
Stay tuned after this commercial break for more of me,
your humble and obedient servant, as I speak with Jen
and Dan of the band camp podcast.

Speaker 3 (17:18):
The John Peeple Sang Podcast is now available six times
a week with me John Fugelsang, I've been murdered on CSI,
picketed by Westboro Baptist Church, and host tell me Everything.
On Serious XM Progress one twenty seven. You will hear authors, politicians, actors, filmmakers, rappers,
rock stars, journalists, activists, unhinged callers, and way too many comedians.
They all have a place of the John Fegal Sing Podcast,

(17:39):
and so do you. The John Figle Sing Podcast Fair
and Biased. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher for
wherever you listen to bods.

Speaker 1 (17:48):
And Now an excerpt from a recent episode of the
band Camp Podcast where I speak with hosts Jen and Dan.
Then go listen to the full show The band Camp
Podcast That's Banned with two who ends bandcamp podcast dot
com And just a quick trigger warning here there may
be some clips of Donald Trump played in this next segment.

Speaker 4 (18:12):
It's time for bandcab News.

Speaker 1 (18:14):
True Speaker, News Speaker, they will freckin. It's a weird name,
but he's got good news because he can't down the truth.

Speaker 4 (18:23):
He's broadcasting live from the good News for LEFTI Studios,
buried deep inside his social safe house, hidden somewhere deep
in the Oregon woods. He is Babe Wolf Rockland.

Speaker 1 (18:35):
Because he can't Hello Jen, Hello Jen, and Hello scary
book people. I have some good news today and it
involves migrant day laborers. Now, most of the news around
that topic is not so good, but this is very positive.

Speaker 4 (18:52):
Now.

Speaker 1 (18:53):
When Zeus Morales, also known as jueksay On TikTok, drives
down a street in Los Ange, was excitedly honking and
shouting a hearty amigo. The migrant day laborers in the
area are waiting for a chance to pick up some work.
They have no idea what they're in for. Morales has
been supporting street vendors, day laborers, and housekeepers in his

(19:15):
community for the past three years, paying them to take
the day off and join him on viral outings, or
buying out their street cars so they can take a
week off.

Speaker 2 (19:24):
I've seen is this the guy who took them to Disneyland.

Speaker 1 (19:27):
This is a guy. It wasn't Disneyland, it was a
water park. He took two guys from home depot. They'd
get in the back of his car. They say where
we're going, and he's and he gives them two hundred
and fifty dollars each, gives them some swim trunks, and
they ride an inner tube down a water slide at
a water park. They sat the whole day there, They

(19:50):
document it, they film it, they have a great time,
and then afterwards he hands them one thousand dollars more
in cash. And beyond that, like his his GoFundMe online
for them has raised an additional twenty five thousand dollars.

Speaker 2 (20:06):
For these guys.

Speaker 1 (20:07):
I love that, so question news like this is this
is like miss mister Beast, but like like focus in
absolutely the right direction.

Speaker 2 (20:16):
I love this guy.

Speaker 4 (20:18):
Very Okay, how can we do that, Jennifer.

Speaker 2 (20:21):
Well, first, we need like some money to to take
them places we can get.

Speaker 4 (20:28):
Fund me. We got to get mister beast to do
a gofund Help us, help mister beasts. I know you listen,
big fan, I know, listen. Help us help the the
under marginalized people, because we will do it.

Speaker 2 (20:43):
Under marginalized.

Speaker 4 (20:44):
What's the word I'm looking for.

Speaker 2 (20:45):
I don't know.

Speaker 4 (20:46):
You know what I'm talking about?

Speaker 1 (20:49):
Undocumented immigrants perhaps?

Speaker 5 (20:51):
What?

Speaker 4 (20:51):
What? What?

Speaker 2 (20:52):
Not?

Speaker 1 (20:52):
What is marginalizedginalized?

Speaker 4 (20:55):
Okay? So I only want to deal with the marginalized.
I just want to deal with this super wrint. I
want to help the super unmarginalized. That's Trump's plan. I
can't believe it's not marginalized.

Speaker 1 (21:07):
What I like to put on my toast.

Speaker 2 (21:08):
In The best I could do is like bring them
some muffins maybe, or stand up for them when Ice
tries to kidnap them on the streets.

Speaker 4 (21:16):
Do Okay, do you have a plan? I have a plan?
I mean, do you have a plan, Like if you
are out and you see Ice?

Speaker 1 (21:24):
So I mean, if I see Ice, you know I'm
gonna I'm gonna put it out there on social media.
I think would be my first thing to warn as
many people as I possibly can, and I can say, hey,
these people are in the area, look out, because you
know that'll circulate pretty quickly.

Speaker 2 (21:38):
So isn't there an app for that?

Speaker 4 (21:39):
I think it might be.

Speaker 5 (21:42):
That's correct. For anyone worried about ice activity who use
an iPhone, download an app called ice walg. It lets
you report or receive real time alerts about nearby ice
agents completely anonymously. If you're on Android, there's a similar
app called Kokwe. Both can help keep immigrant communities safe.
You can find them in the App Store or Google
Play links in the show notes for this episode, Stay Safe,

(22:06):
Stay Informed.

Speaker 4 (22:07):
Thank you Robot, Thank you Robot. Thank you Bewolf. Everyone,
go listen to Bewolf and Good News for Lefties wherever
you find podcasts.

Speaker 1 (22:16):
Thank you so much, guys.

Speaker 2 (22:18):
So the Truth bab

Speaker 1 (22:23):
And listen to Jen and Dan on the Bandcamp podcast
at bandcamppodcast dot com.