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August 22, 2025 18 mins
In this episode of Good News for Lefties, host Beowulf Rochlen brings a refreshing dose of optimism amidst the chaos of the current political landscape. We kick off with a monumental victory as a federal judge orders the shutdown of a controversial immigration jail in the Florida Everglades, highlighting the power of grassroots activism and environmental protection. This landmark ruling not only safeguards the fragile ecosystem but also underscores the importance of human rights over political agendas.

Next, we delve into a fiery town hall meeting in California where Congressman Doug La Malfa faced intense backlash from constituents, showcasing the growing demand for accountability and transparency from elected officials. As voters express their frustrations over rising costs and harmful policies, it’s clear that grassroots pressure is reshaping the political narrative.

We also explore a revealing new survey indicating that U.S. service members are increasingly prepared to disobey unlawful orders, reaffirming their commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law. This insight into the military's moral compass reflects a significant shift in understanding duty and ethics.

In a heartwarming listener-suggested story, we spotlight the Bird's Nest in Cumby, Texas, an innovative tiny home community for older women that fosters connection, support, and independence. Founded by Robin Yerian, this unique neighborhood not only provides affordable housing but also cultivates a nurturing environment where residents thrive together.

Finally, we discuss the Evergreen School District's support staff union in Vancouver, Washington, as they prepare for a strike vote amid stalled contract negotiations. Their fight for fair wages and safer working conditions highlights the critical role of support staff in education and the urgent need for systemic change.Join us for this inspiring episode filled with stories of resilience, community, and the unwavering belief that positive change is not just possible, but happening every day across America!

More about today's stories:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/21/trump-alligator-alcatraz-judge-ruling


https://www.thedailybeast.com/republican-doug-lamalfa-gets-booed-in-furious-town-hall-trainwreck-f-you/


https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2025/08/14/trumps-tariffs-and-one-big-beautiful-bill-face-more-opposition-than-support-as-his-job-rating-slips


https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/us-troops-disobey-illegal-orders


https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/all-women-tiny-home-neighborhood


https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/evergreen-sd-support-staff-union-045400015.html


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 beowulf@twosquaredmediaproductions.com.

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

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Good News for Lefties and America. Hello, and thanks for
joining yet another episode of good News for Lefties. I'm
Beowulf Rocklin, your host, ready 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

(00:27):
believes in making America a better place for everyone. It's
no secret these are challenging times. Disappearing of immigrants off
the streets of America, Trump trying to end mail in voting,
and the wholesale destruction of critical government agencies. Today's headlines
often overwhelm us with troubling news, and it's all too

(00:50):
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 who 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
the change isn't just possible, it's happening. Carry this hope

(01:14):
with you and share it with others. Let's kick off
with some good news headlines designed to brighten Your day.
A federal judge has ordered the shutdown of the Trump
administration's makeshift immigration jail in the Florida Everglades, a facility
dubbed Alligator Alcatraz. The decision, handed down late Thursday by

(01:38):
US District Judge Kathleen Williams, requires the camp to close
within sixty days and bar's officials from transferring in new
detainees during that time. The ruling cited both the jail's
inhumane conditions and the severe ecological damage the site was
inflicting on one of the nation's most fragile and treasured landscapes.

(02:01):
Judge Williams emphasized that the Everglades has long been recognized
as a natural treasure worthy of protection, noting that leaders
across political divides, governors, senators, even presidents have pledged to
safeguard it. In her eighty two page order, it ruled

(02:22):
the rushed construction of the facility at a former airfield
violated those commitments while endangering federally protected species. She directed
that once the camp is dismantled, all fencing, generators and
construction debris must be cleared from the preserve. The ruling
represents a hard fought victory for a coalition of Native

(02:44):
American advocates and environmental groups that sued to stop the project.
They argued the detention camp not only harmed detainees who
reported neglect and denial of due process, but also threatened
the future of a critical ecosystem. This is a landmark
victory for the Everglades and for anyone who believes our

(03:06):
natural heritage should be protected, not exploited, said Eve Samples
of Friends of the Everglades. Advocates now hope the decision
will stand as a precedent that places human rights and
environmental justice above political agendas. As detainees are transferred from
the site. Community leaders say the court's action proves that

(03:28):
grassroots organizing, legal pressure, and persistent defense of civil and
ecological rights can bring real accountability, even in the face
of some of the harshest policies in recent memory. California
Congressman Dougla Malfa was met with open hostility at a
town hall this week as voters in his district unleashed

(03:50):
fierce criticism over his support for Donald Trump's agenda. What
was intended as a chance to defend the administration's Big
Beautiful budget bill and tariff policies instead spiraled into a
raucous confrontation. Constituents booed, jeered, and repeatedly shouted him down,
some bluntly calling him a liar and worse. As frustration

(04:14):
boiled over, residents blasted the budget's deep cuts to social programs,
the economic fallout of Trump's tariffs, and the GOP's refusaled
to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Each time LaMalfa tried
to defend the administration, audience members shouted him down, with
one moment escalating to a loud, unambiguous fuck you from

(04:36):
the crowd. The chaotic scene echoed similar confrontations Republicans have
faced across the country as constituents grow increasingly vocal about
the consequences of Trump's policies at home. For voters in
California's rural north, the anger was personal, focused on rising
prices reduced services, at a sense that their representative was

(04:59):
more interested in protecting a political agenda than addressing local needs.
The meeting ultimately showcased how grassroots pressure is shifting the
political dynamic. What once might have been a routine campaign
stop became an unfiltered display of constituent power, ordinary people
demanding accountability, transparency, and truth from leaders who too often

(05:24):
ignore them. For La Malfa, it was a reminder that
even in conservative leading districts, voters are increasingly unwilling to
sit quietly while their representatives defend policies seen as harmful
to their communities. Before we get back to the news,
I want to tell you about an important podcast called
This Week Again, hosted by Suzanne Posel. It takes a

(05:46):
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.
Mango Mussolini and Orange Julius Caesar are just the beginning.

(06:08):
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 U S A N N E p O S
E L. This Week Again, Listen, Laugh, repeat. Six months

(06:32):
into Donald Trump's second term, Americans are growing increasingly skeptical
of his leadership, with disapproval sharply outweighing approval on his
signature policies and overall performance. A new Pew Research Center
survey finds his approval rating down to thirty eight percent,
with sixty percent disapproving, a slide fueled by backlash against

(06:54):
his sweeping tariff plans and the much touted One Big
Beautiful Bill. Public opinion on Trump's economic agenda has soured quickly.
Sixty one percent disapprove of his tariffs, widely blamed for
driving up consumer costs, while only thirty two percent approve
of his tax and spending package. Even Republicans are showing

(07:16):
cracks of doubt. Support among GOP voters who don't identify
as strong Republicans has dropped substantially, and independents who once
leaned his way are increasingly abandoning him. Beyond policy, Americans
are reassessing Trump himself. Fewer describe him as caring about

(07:36):
ordinary people thirty seven percent, down from forty two percent
in twenty twenty four, or as mentally sharp forty eight percent,
down from fifty three percent. Only twenty nine percent now
view him as a good role model who viewed him
as that to begin with. While many still say he
stands up for what he believes in, the perception of

(07:58):
his effectiveness has eroded, with fifty three percent saying he's
making government function worse. The numbers highlight a growing disillusionment
not just among Democrats, but also among independents and younger Republicans,
with confidence lagging on nearly every major issue, from health
care to foreign policy. The poll suggests Trump's combative style

(08:22):
and unpopular economic agenda are wearing thin for much of
the public. The promises of his second term are colliding
with the everyday realities of higher costs, chaos in government,
and deepening distrust. A new survey of US service members
reveals that most troops understand their duty to disobey illegal orders,

(08:45):
reaffirming their constitutional oath, even amid growing concerns about political overreach.
The research, conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Human
Security Lab, comes as President Trump faces scrutiny for deploying
troops to cities and authorizing controversial crackdowns that observers say
cross legal and ethical lines. Of the eight hundred eighteen

(09:10):
active duty troops surveyed, Only nine percent said they would
obey any order, while the vast majority emphasized that they
are bound to refuse manifestly unlawful commands. Nearly a quarter
explicitly described their duty to reject orders that were clearly wrong,
obviously unconstitutional, or otherwise in violation of international law. Specific

(09:35):
examples included harming civilians, torturing prisoners, or carrying out deportations
without due process. The survey underscores both pride and tension
within the ranks. While troops are trained to obey, many
are deeply aware of their responsibilities under the Uniform Code
of Military Justice, the Constitution, and the Geneva Conventions. Importantly,

(09:59):
researchers found found that when troops were reminded of international
law before being asked about specific questions, their willingness to
refuse unlawful orders increased significantly, demonstrating that education and reflection
on legal standards strengthen moral decision making. These findings suggest
a quiet but powerful resilience in the armed forces, a

(10:22):
recognition that loyalty to country means loyalty to the rule
of law, not unchecked authority. Even in a culture where
disobedience carries heavy risks. Many American service members are preparing
themselves for the difficult but essential choice of refusing unlawful orders,
protecting both civilians and the integrity of the military itself.

(10:47):
Up next, a listener suggested story back in a minute,
and Now a listener suggested story from Ellen in Austin, Texas.
In rural Cumby, Texas, a unique housing experiment has blossomed
into a community of care, connection and independence known as

(11:08):
The Bird's Nest. This all women tiny home neighborhood was
founded in twenty twenty two by seventy year old Robin Yerian,
who wanted to build a space where older women could
live affordably and support one another. Today, eleven women ranging
from age sixty to eighty call the Nest home, each

(11:29):
paying just four hundred and fifty dollars in monthly rent
for a concrete pad where they can park RVs or
build their own tiny house. The residents share more than
a neighborhood. They share daily life with nine dogs between them.
They cook meals together, drive each other to doctor's appointments,
lend support after illness or surgery, and even hold workshops

(11:51):
teaching one another to use power tools for home repair.
As Yerian puts it, we are each other's therapists and
sounding board. While the women come from diverse backgrounds, what
unites them is resilience. Many are single, divorced, widowed, or
never married, and living in retirement with limited savings due
to decades of gender pay inequalities. For them. The Bird's

(12:16):
Nest offers not just lower housing costs, but the security
of companionship and a supportive network that makes aging with
dignity possible. Yerian says her vision is to keep women
out of nursing homes and give them independence without isolation.
The Bird's Nest has become a blueprint for empowerment, with

(12:36):
hundreds of women nationwide eager to join or replicate the model.
Yerian hopes her experiment inspires others. You will not get
rich doing this, but the sense of community is everything.
In a society where too many older women fall through
the cracks, This grassroots project shows how solidarity and a
little slice of land can rewrite the story of retirement.

(13:00):
So much for that story, Ellen. If you have thoughts, ideas,
or more good news to share, we'd love to hear
from you, 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. After months of stalled negotiations,

(13:26):
the Evergreen School District's support staff union in Vancouver, Washington
is preparing to hold a strike vote with a potential
work stoppage as early as the new school years start
on August twenty sixth. The Evergreen Chapter of the Public
School Employees of Washington SEIU Local nineteen forty eight, which
represents para educators, bus drivers, and other vital support staff,

(13:51):
has been without a contract for six months and says
its members are struggling under current conditions. Union members rallied
Wednesday eveningong ongoing mediation talks with district officials, but no
agreement was reached. The workers are demanding fair wages and
safer working conditions, highlighting concerns about injuries on the job,

(14:13):
especially due to underregulated behavioral challenges faced by many students
they support. Many staff feel passionate about their work, but
stressed that current pay and conditions are unsustainable. Community support
has been growing as parents and local residents rally alongside
the union, urging the district to prioritize frontline employees who

(14:35):
directly support student success. An open letter shared recently by
a Vancouver resident criticized district leadership for spending heavily on
legal fees while failing to address staff concerns, emphasizing that
fair pay and respect for support personnel are essential to
building safe and thriving schools. The district has expressed a

(14:56):
desire to reach an agreement before school begins, but union
members say they are ready to take collective action if necessary.
The unfolding situation underscores broader challenges facing school support staff nationwide,
many of whom are underpaid and undervalued despite their critical
role in education, especially as schools confront growing needs and

(15:17):
tight budgets. That's a wrap 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,
Rooseabel Hine and Aaron Watson for making all of this
possible behind the scenes. I'm Beowulf Rocklin. Weird name Good

(15:39):
News for Lefties and America. What you've been missing on

(16:00):
the Stephanie Miller Happy Hour Podcast.

Speaker 2 (16:04):
This is the same man, all right, or this is
the same you know, orange tubby pile of rotted tomato,
all right, colostomy bag, diaper wearing fool who comes out there,
who says with Zelenski, Oh so you if you you
just have a war, you start a war, then you
don't have to have elections. Oh okay, that's a good idea, right.

(16:28):
Donald Trump is the most disgraceful, utterly despicable thing that
has ever held public office in America. And anyone who
doesn't come up and shouts straight out all right that
you're you're a lion, m f then you are facilitating
this disgrace.

Speaker 1 (16:48):
Subscribe to the Stephanie Miller Happy Our podcast on Apple Podcasts,
Stephanie Miller dot com, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
And in case you missed it, here's this good news headline. Now,
let's talk about a serious issue that's been making headlines,

(17:09):
gun violence. In Washington. State lawmakers are pushing for new
regulations aimed at curbing this epidemic. The proposed House Bill
eleven fifty two would require gun owners to lock up
their weapons in their homes and cars with penalties that
escalate based on the consequences of unsafe storage. This is
a common sense measure that could save lives and prevent

(17:31):
future tragedies. But that's not all. The package of legislation
also includes measures to require permits for gun purchases and
restrict bulk purchases of ammunition. Democrats also want to see
an eleven percent excise tax imposed on the sale of
firearms and ammunition, with exceptions for police in the military.

(17:52):
Washington's tax would be on top of the federal excise
tax revenue from House Bill thirteen eighty six is rejected
at thirty five million dollars in the twenty twenty nine
to twenty thirty one biennium, and would be airmarked for
programs focused on gun violence prevention. It's a comprehensive approach
to addressing gun violence, and it's refreshing to see lawmakers

(18:15):
taking action on this critical issue.
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