Minneapolis Progressives Rise, Federal Judge Upholds FTC Protections, and States Unite for Disaster Preparedness

In this episode of Good News for Lefties, host Beowulf Rochlen brings you a vibrant mix of uplifting stories that illuminate progress and resilience in our communities. We begin with a significant victory in Minneapolis, where state Senator Omar Fateh has secured the DFL party's endorsement for mayor, signaling a shift towards progressive leadership. Fateh's commitment to working-class priorities and community inclusion resonates with residents eager for real change, highlighting the power of grassroots movements.

Next, we discuss a landmark ruling from a federal judge affirming the legality of Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter's position, reinforcing the importance of independent regulatory agencies in safeguarding consumer rights. This decision underscores the necessity of upholding democratic principles against attempts to undermine them.

A coalition of 20 Democratic-led states has also taken a stand by filing a lawsuit to reverse the Trump administration's termination of a vital FEMA program that funds disaster preparedness. This legal action aims to protect communities from climate-driven threats, showcasing a collective commitment to resilience and safety.

Listeners will be inspired by the story of track star Sadie Shriner, who is suing Princeton University for discrimination after being barred from competing due to her gender identity. Shriner's case highlights the ongoing fight for trans rights in sports, emphasizing the need for equality and inclusion.

We also feature a listener-suggested story about innovative strides in earthquake preparedness, showcasing how research and investment in safety can save lives. The advancements being made at institutions like UCSD are setting new standards for building resilience in seismic zones.

Finally, we explore California Democrats' ambitious plans to redraw the state's congressional map in a bid to secure additional Democratic seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. This strategic effort reflects the party's commitment to fair representation and active engagement in the political process.

Join us for this empowering episode filled with stories of hope, resilience, 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://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/21/omar-fateh-minneapolis-mayor-endorsements



https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/judge-rules-trumps-firing-ftc-commissioner-was-illegal-2025-07-17/



https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/democratic-states-sue-trump-administration-over-fema-funding-cuts/ar-AA1IJqah



https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/07/17/sadie-schreiner-princeton-university-sued/



https://theprogressnetwork.org/earthquake-preparedness-progress/



https://punchbowl.news/archive/71725-am-2/



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 Rocklin, your host, ready to help you swap
out doom and gloom for some real hope with uplifting
stories for democracy defenders, progressives, socialists, liberals, leftists, and anyone

(00:31):
who believes in making America a better place for everyone.
It's no secret that these are challenging times. Authoritarian threats
loom large, and so many of our government's actions are
horrific and disheartening. Today's headlines and social feeds often overwhelm
us with troubling news, and it's all too easy to

(00:52):
lose sight of hope. I know, I do it myself sometimes.
That's why it is vital to highlight the positive real
world progress us. It's happening every day, progress that's too
often drowned out by the negativity. Despite the setbacks, there
is genuine movement toward a better America. So let these

(01:12):
stories you hear today serve as a reminder that change
is not just possible, it's actually happening. Carry this hope
with you and share it with others. So let's kick
off with some good news headlines designed to brighten your day.
Minneapolis progressives celebrated an important victory this week, as State

(01:35):
Senator Omar Fat secured the Democratic Farmer Labor or DFL
party's endorsement for mayor, overtaking incumbent Jacob Frye and energizing
the city's progressive base. Fate's victory follows a wave of
leftward momentum, building on recent wins like Zoron Mamdani's breakthrough

(01:56):
primary in New York City, and signals a fresh chapter
of grassroots driven change in one of the Midwest's most
dynamic cities. Fate, the first Somali American and Muslim ever
elected to the Minnesota Senate, has accumulated support by championing
working class priorities and community inclusion. Since his first election

(02:20):
in twenty twenty, He's become known for advancing free college
for families earning under eighty thousand dollars and for centering
renters issues, public safety, and affordability in his platform. This
endorsement is a message that Minneapolis residents are done with
broken promises, vetos, and politics as usual. It's a mandate

(02:43):
to build a city that works for all of us.
Fate said after his endorsement win. Throughout his campaign, Fate
has highlighted his experience as a renter and his dedication
to making Minneapolis more affordable for everyone. His platform commits
to showing sidewalks, building shelters, and reopening public spaces, basic

(03:05):
everyday community things, concrete steps aimed at improving daily life
for residents too often left behind. Supporters say Fote's approach
shows a willingness to listen to and fight for those
long excluded from the city's halls of power. Despite facing
backlash and bigoted attacks in recent weeks, Fote has pressed

(03:29):
forward with a message of hope and inclusion. The city's
upcoming general election, which will use rank choice voting, now
sets the stage for millions to choose between business as
usual and a vision focused on uplifting working families, renters,
and those who believe Minneapolis can lead the way on

(03:49):
progressive change. A federal judge has ruled that Donald Trump's
firing of Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter earlier this
year was illegal, marking a major affirmation of long standing
protections for independent regulators. US District Judge Lauren Ali Khan

(04:10):
determined that the Trump administration's attempt to remove Slaughter violated
federal law governing the FTC, which allows commissioners to be
dismissed only for cause such as neglective duty, not at
the president's discretion. In her decision, Judge Ali Khan emphasized
that these removal protections have been upheld as constitutional for

(04:32):
nearly a century, citing a foundational nineteen thirty five Supreme
Court ruling which set clear limits on presidential authority over
independent agencies. She wrote that Slaughter's alleged dismissal was unlawful
and without legal effect, meaning Slaughter remains a rightful member
of the FTC and can resume her duties. Alvarro Bedoya,

(04:56):
another commissioner fired by Trump alongside Slaughter, resuilde in June
after challenging his dismissal, but is not covered by the
court's reinstatement order. Slaughter welcomed the decision, highlighting that the
four cause removal protections not only shield the FTC, but
also extend to other independent regulatory agencies such as the

(05:16):
Securities and Exchange Commission, the FDIC, and the Federal Reserve.
We've been hearing a lot about that in the news recently.
The ruling underscores Congress's intent for agencies like the FTC
to function independently from direct White House control to protect
their mission of enforcing consumer protections and antitrust laws. The FTC,

(05:40):
curated by Congress is structured so that no more than
three of its five commissioners may come from the same
political party. The Trump administration has already announced its plans
to appeal the decision, setting the stage for a likely
showdown at the Supreme Court. 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

(06:05):
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. Mango Mussolini and Orange Julius Caesar are just

(06:26):
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 U S A N N E
PO s E L This Week Again, Listen, Laugh, Repeat.

(06:51):
A coalition of twenty Democratic led states has filed a
federal lawsuit to reverse Donald Trump's abrupt termination of a
crucial Federal Emergency Management Agency program that funds natural disaster
preparedness and resilience. The legal action challenges the administration's elimination
of FEMA's Building Resistant Infrastructure Communities Program, a key pre

(07:16):
disaster mitigation initiative credited with supporting nearly two thousand projects
totaling four point five billion dollars nationwide in the last
four years. According to the suit, filed in the U. S.
District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the Trump administration
acted unlawfully by shutting down BRICK, contravening bipartisan congressional support

(07:41):
and directly harming state's ability to protect communities from climate
driven threats like floods, wildfires, and hurricanes. Grants through the
BRICK program have historically helped cover up to seventy five
percent of project costs an up to ninety percent for
rural community funding critical infrastructure such as levies, fire management systems,

(08:05):
and flood walls. State attorneys general argue that FEMA lacked
the authority to unilaterally cancel the program, defying congressional power
of the purse and undermining core separation of powers principles.
The shutdown forces communities to delay or cancel hundreds of
approved projects, leaving millions at increased risk and threatening to

(08:30):
upend years of careful disaster planning. As part of the lawsuit,
the states are seeking an immediate injunction to prevent FEMA
from reallocating disaster preparedness funds and to restore canceled brick grants.
State officials warn that without restored federal support, states lack

(08:51):
the budget and personnel needed to manage large scale disasters,
putting lives and critical infrastructure at risk. Include New York, California, Minnesota, Washington, Pennsylvania,
and fifteen other states across the country. Trans track star
CD Shriner has followed a lawsuit against Princeton University alleging

(09:15):
she was unlawfully barred from competing in the women's two
hundred meter race at the Larry Ellis Invitational in May
twenty twenty five, just fifteen minutes before the event began. Shriner,
who previously earned All American honors at the NCAA Division
three Track and Field Championships, is suing under the New

(09:36):
Jersey Law against discrimination, which explicitly protects gender identity and expression.
According to the lawsuit, Shriner was initially listed among the
race's one hundred forty one unaffiliated participants, but was removed
from competition by Princeton Athletics director John Mack and Director

(09:58):
of Track Operations Kimberly Keenan Kilpatrick, both of whom the
lawsuit claims acted with knowledge of Shriner's transgender identity. The
filing accuses these officials of blatant and wilful disregard for
Shiner's rights as a protected person under state law, allegedly

(10:18):
inflicting foreseeable emotional and physical harm. Schreiner's attorney, Susan and Syrilli,
emphasized the strength of state protections, stating gender identity and
expression is a protected status under the NJLA d it
is unlawful discrimination for any person to aid a bet

(10:40):
in sight, compel, or coerce the doing of any acts
forbidden under the NJLAD. Shriner pleaded with race officials to
allow her to compete, noting her birth certificate and driver's
license list her as female, but was denied the opportunity.
Shriner is a visible advocate for trans athletes, having spoken

(11:03):
out against Trump's executive order banning transgender women from competing
in women's sports. The Princeton case arrives amid an intensifying
national debate. The NCAA's recent policy changes, aligned with the
Trump administration's restrictions, have barred many trans women from competing
in female athletic categories. Schreiner argues that her physiological profile

(11:27):
has changed due to hormone therapy and that being excluded
from competition undercuts fundamental civil rights inequality for trans athletes.
Up next, a listener suggested story back in a minute,
and now, a listener suggested story from Laura in Poway, California.

(11:50):
Innovative strides in earthquake preparedness are offering a new sense
of security and optimism for communities living in seismic zones.
With the memory of recent disasters sharpening focus, Leading research
hubs like the University of California, San Diego are proving
that investment in preparedness and science driven standards yields extraordinary

(12:12):
benefits for public safety. UCSD's shake Table, now recognized as
the greatest outdoor earthquake simulator in the world, is at
the forefront of this progress, enabling engineers to push the
boundaries of building resilience in ways once thought impossible. Taiwan's
experience stands as a moving example to the impact of

(12:35):
such preparedness. In the twenty five years between two similarly
powerful earthquakes, the country undertook a sweeping initiative to retrofit
old infrastructure and ensure all new construction met stringent earthquake
resilient standards. The result was stunning. While thousands lost their
lives and many more were injured in nineteen ninety nine,

(12:59):
the toll from a comparable quake in twenty twenty four
was reduced to just nineteen deaths. Thanks to science based
updates and building codes and a commitment to smarter design.
Taiwan's journey underscore is a broader truth that society's investing
in readiness today are saving countless lives tomorrow. This wave

(13:19):
of progress owes much to the relentless experimentation and technical
innovation behind the scenes. UCSD's shake table has empowered researchers
to simulate historic earthquakes with life sized buildings, stress testing
everything from engineered wood towers to ten story structures made
of cold formed steel, a sustainable material composed of up

(13:42):
to seventy percent recycled content. Recent tests shattered the notion
that such advanced materials should be confined to low rise construction,
With cold formed steel buildings maintaining structural integrity through simulated
quakes exceeding magnitude six point nine, the modular nature and
recyclability of these materials are setting new standards for eco

(14:06):
friendly and rapid construction. What's particularly exciting is how these
breakthroughs are translating into real world policy. Data and insights
generated at UCSD and similar facilities are directly shaping the
next generation of building codes, not just in California but internationally.

(14:27):
With most of this research supported by public funding and
collaborations with organizations like the National Science Foundation, Communities everywhere
a positioned to benefit from smarter, safer, more sustainable environments.
The vision is clear. Proactive science and collective investment are
key drivers of resilience, turning what could go wrong into

(14:50):
a future where much goes right. Thanks so much for
that story, Laura. 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 six
six two seven to one, drop us a line at
bayowolfet two squared Media Productions dot com, or send it

(15:12):
to us at good News for Lefties on Facebook, Instagram
or blue Sky. California Democrats are preparing to redraw the
state's congressional map in an effort to gain five to
seven additional Democratic seats ahead of the twenty twenty six midterms.
This ambitious move is driven by the need to counteract

(15:35):
aggressive redistricting efforts by Texas Republicans, who are pushing to
reshape districts to expand their majority. California Democrats see this
as a crucial step not only to protect their current
stronghold of forty three seats out of fifty two, but
also to reclaim control of the House of Representatives next year.
The plan, backed by a majority of the California Democratic

(15:58):
congressional delegation and key leaders, including Representative Sarah Jacobs and
Representative Zoe Lofgren, represents a willingness within the party to
engage head on in political battles that many believe are
necessary to uphold fair representation. Well, new maps must comply
with the Voting Rights Act, maintaining majority Latino districts and

(16:20):
protecting minority voters. Democrats are prepared to run competitive campaigns,
even in tough districts if it means increasing their House majority.
The strategy could shrink the GOP delegation in California to
as few as two or three seats. And that is
a wrap for today's edition of Good News for Lefties.

(16:41):
If these stories brighten your outlook, then please help us
spread the word. Share this episode on social media wherever
you post. Thanks to your production team, roseabil Hine and
Aaron Watson for making all of this possible behind the scenes.
I'm biawolf Frocklin weird name Good News for Lefties and America.

Speaker 2 (17:19):
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(17:40):
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Speaker 1 (17:53):
And in case you missed it, here's this good news headline.
Oregon's laser tattoo Removal program is giving incarcerated youth a
real shot at a fresh start, helping them shed visible
reminders of past mistakes and gang involvement as they prepare
to re enter society. Many young people in the state's

(18:14):
correctional facilities arrived with tattoos they got at a very
young age, sometimes as early as nine, often as a
result of gang pressure, trauma, or simply the impulsiveness of adolescence.
These tattoos, especially when visible on the hands, arms, or face,
can become lasting barriers to employment, education, and social acceptance

(18:36):
once youth are released. The program, run by the Oregon
Youth Authority or OYA, began in the late nineteen nineties
with a focus on removing gang related tattoos to combat
violence and stigma. Over time, it expanded to include antisocial
tattoos and markings associated with human trafficking, recognizing that these

(18:58):
can be deeply traumatic can hinder a young person's ability
to move forward. The service is free, voluntary, and tailored
to each participant's needs. Youth are not forced to remove
all tattoos, but can choose to erase those that hold
them back or carry painful associations. Volunteer physicians like doctor

(19:19):
Carolyn Hale use specialized lasers to break down the ink
session by session. The process can take months, especially for
darker tattoos or those on darker skin, but youth like Landon,
who is training to become a barber, say the discomfort
is worth it for the chance to walk into a
job interview or classroom without being judged for mistakes you

(19:43):
made as a teenager. The program currently serves about sixty
youth each month and has helped thousands since its inception.
For many participants, tattoo removal is more than cosmetic. It's
an act of transformation and hope. Our program participants have
gone on to secure jobs, start families, and pursue new

(20:05):
lives free from the stigma and danger that visible tattoos
can bring. As Griselda Solano Salinas, who helped launch the program, explains,
we want to help and motivate our youth to achieve
their goals by reducing pressures to return to gang or
anti social activities. Removal of these tattoos has an immediate

(20:26):
impact on their acceptance by potential employers and society. The
program stands as a model for restorative justice, showing how
practical support and second chances can help break cycles of
incarceration and give young people a real opportunity to thrive.