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August 21, 2025 17 mins
Today on Good News for Lefties, we spotlight resilience in the face of Trump’s failed D.C. crackdown, Oregon’s groundbreaking recycling reform that shifts responsibility onto corporations, and a listener-suggested story on rising global LGBTQ+ acceptance. Plus: California Democrats push bold new climate and voting rights measures, Rocky Mountain National Park rolls out all-terrain wheelchairs for visitors, and new research shows SNAP participants enjoy stronger brain health later in life. Change is happening — and it’s good news worth sharing.

https://newrepublic.com/post/199031/trump-takeover-washington-dc-hilariously-ineffective


https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/good-energy/oregon-law-change-recycling-system-improvements/283-51abebee-ed5a-4bc4-bfc9-706ca4f7e943


https://www.retailbrew.com/stories/2025/08/11/exclusive-foot-traffic-down-9-at-american-eagle-following-sydney-sweeney-ad-controversy


https://apnews.com/article/california-legislature-return-redistricting-affordability-agenda-1e8f9ed8fdf52bbc687c782371a56597


https://ourworldindata.org/data-insights/homophobic-attitudes-have-fallen-in-western-europe-and-the-united-states


https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/rocky-mountain-national-park-all-terrain-wheelchairs



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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 thank you
for joining another episode of Good News for Lefties. I'm
Bawl Frockling, 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

(00:29):
believes in making America a better place for everyone. It's
no secret that these are challenging times. The disappearing of
immigrants and citizens off the streets of America, Texas, locking
democratic lawmakers into the state legislature, and the wholesale destruction
of critical government agencies. Today's headlines often overwhelm us with

(00:53):
troubling news, making it all too easy to lose sight
of hope. And 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. So

(01:14):
let these stories serve as a reminder the change is
not just possible, it's happening. Carry this hope with you
and share it with others. Okay, let's kick off with
some good news headlines designed to brighten your day. Donald
Trump's so called takeover of Washington, DC is off to

(01:35):
a faltering start, producing more headlines than results. Despite dramatic
claims of a capital city under siege, his first day
of deploying hundreds of federal agents led to only twenty
three arrests, a number well below the Metropolitan Police's typical
daily average. Most charges were minor offenses like fair evasion

(01:59):
and reckless driving, undercutting Trump's repeated insistence that d is
overrun with violent crime. On the ground, the spectacle has
been less about restoring public safety and more about harassing
ordinary residents. Videos circulating online show federal officers questioning people
on their own stoops and demanding id for smoking cigarettes,

(02:23):
fueling alarmed that the operation is aimed more at intimidation
than protection. You think. Advocates describe this as yet another
attempt to justify stripping DC residents of self governance, despite
clear evidence violent crime has been steadily falling in the
city and nationwide, local leaders and organizations remain undeterred, highlighting

(02:45):
the resilience of Washingtonians and the hollowness of Trump's claims.
We've seen significant drops in homicide and violent crime because
of community based solutions. One DC organizer noted pointing out
that Trump's heavy handed into risks worsening trusts between residents
and law enforcement. Even fact checks from mainstream outlets and

(03:08):
experts have refuted Trump's narrative, underscoring that the deployment is
more a political stunt than a meaningful response to safety
concerns from many of The debacle reveals the limits of
authoritarian theatrics in a city that knows its own strength.
Instead of instilling fear, Trump's ineffective crackdown has energized pro

(03:29):
democracy voices and highlighted the necessity of DC statehood and
local control. What was framed as a crackdown has quickly
become another lesson in resilience, a demonstration that truth, community solidarity,
and democratic values are far harder to suppress than any
city block patrolled by federal agents. Oregon has launched one

(03:54):
of the country's most ambitious recycling reforms, putting the responsibility
for packaging waste back onto companies and creating a simpler,
more accessible system for residents across the state. Just one
month into the new Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act,
Oregon is already laying the groundwork for uniform curb side recycling,

(04:16):
new collection sites, and major infrastructure upgrades that will make
recycling easier for families and more resilient statewide. At the
heart of the law is extended producer responsibility, requiring corporations
that profit from packaging to help fund the collection and
reuse of those materials. The program is expected to channel

(04:37):
more than one hundred eighty five million dollars into recycling upgrades,
supporting material recovery facilities and insulating local systems from the
volatile ups and downs of global recycling markets. By twenty
twenty seven, every Oregon household from Portland to the most
rural towns will be able to recycle the same set

(04:58):
of materials with concer distant access. For communities that previously
had no curbside programs, such as Pendleton, this change is transformative.
The rollout will bring one hundred new recycling trucks, one
hundred fifty thousand household carts, and one hundred forty expanded
drop off points statewide. Advocates say these investments will not

(05:22):
only reduce waste, but also help cut greenhouse gas emissions
while bringing Oregon closer to a circular economy where materials
are recycled and repurposed instead of ending up in landfills.
Even with legal challenges from national industry groups, Oregon remains
committed to pushing forward. Environmental leaders frame the new law

(05:44):
as a model for other states, with California and Minnesota
already following Oregon's lead. For Oregonians, the shift represents a
tangible step towards a cleaner, farer system, one where the
burden no longer falls solely on howsels and we're recycling
becomes a shared responsibility for everyone shaping the products we use.

(06:07):
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 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

(06:30):
of creatively insulting names for Donald Trump. 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 U S

(06:53):
A N N E P O S E L This
Week Again listen laugh. Foot traffic at American Eagle stores
dipped noticeably in early August following the launch of its
controversial Sydney Sleeny campaign. According to new data. Analytics firm

(07:15):
passed By reported that visits to the retailer were down
nine percent year over year during the week of August third,
marking the second consecutive week of declines after the campaign's debut.
In contrast, the brand had been enjoying growth just weeks earlier,
with foot traffic rising nearly six percent and five percent

(07:36):
in mid July. The campaign, titled Sydney Sleeney Has Great Genes,
has sparked criticism from some observers, who argue its imagery
carried unsettling undertones and leaned heavily into sexualized marketing. American
Eagle has not commented publicly on whether its internal data
shows a similar pattern in sales or customer visits. The

(07:59):
company faced a polarizing spotlight as the campaign drew endorsements
from political figures, even as cultural critics questioned its message.
On social media, most posts about the ads have been
favorable you know on x from fascists. Whether the downturn
reflects a short term fluctuation or a broader consumer response

(08:21):
remains to be seen for now. The case highlights both
the risks and reach of high profile campaigns. Whether the
downturn reflects a short term fluctuation or a broader consumer
response remains to be seen. California Democrats returned to the
capital this week with an ambitious agenda, putting redistricting, racial justice,

(08:43):
climate goals, and protections for immigrant communities at the center
of their final month of the legislative session. At the
top of the list is a proposal to redraw congressional
districts that could net Democrats as many as five additional
US House seats in twenty twenty six. An aggressive counter
to publican efforts in Texas and other states, The proposed map,

(09:04):
unveiled by Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders, would only
take effect if geop led states move forward with their
own mid decade redistricting plans. Lawmakers plan to fast track
the measure for a November special election, giving voters the
ultimate say. Leaders stressed that map making power would return

(09:25):
to the state's independent Redistricting Commission after the twenty thirty census,
and that the proposal is consistent with Voting Rights Act standards.
If Trump moves forward, California will be the firewall, said
state Senator Sabrina Cervantes. In addition, lawmakers are now weighing
how to extend and reform the state's cap and trade program,

(09:46):
a cornerstone of California's climate strategy, while lowering energy costs
for residents. Newsom's plan would dedicate billions toward wildfire response
and the beleaguered high speed rail project, with environmental justice
advocates pushing for stronger protections for low income communities and
fewer giveaways to polluters. Up next, a listener suggested story

(10:11):
back in a minute, and now, a listener suggested story
from PAULA in Madison, Wisconsin. A new global analysis highlights
progress in the fight for LGBTQ plus equality. According to
our World and data, homophobic attitudes have dropped dramatically over
the past forty years across Western Europe and the United States,

(10:34):
where growing numbers of people now view same sex relationships
as acceptable. This shift reflects decades of activism, cultural change,
and legal progress that have helped reshape public opinion toward
greater acceptance. The report makes clear that legal recognition alone
is not enough to erase stigma. Laws may protect rights

(10:55):
on paper, but cultural attitudes remain powerful forces daily life.
The growing acceptance in Europe and the US offers evidence
of change and a hopeful vision that progress is possible,
Yet continued difficulty in much of the rest of the
world is a reminder that advancing equality is a global effort,
requiring solidarity, advocacy, and education to ensure that people everywhere

(11:21):
can live openly and safely, free from fear. Thanks for
that story, Paula. 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,

(11:44):
Instagram or Blue Sky. Rocky Mountain National Park is taking
a major step toward inclusivity, rolling out new all terrain
wheelchairs and other accessibility upgrades so more visitors can fully
experience its trails and vistas. The initiative, supported by the
non profit Rocky Mountain Conservancy, comes even amid federal budget

(12:08):
cuts to the National Park Service, underscoring a growing commitment
to making public lands accessible to all. The upgrades include
an accessible field institute bus equipped with wheelchair spaces and
a lift, allowing visitors with disabilities to participate in educational
tours across the park. More than one hundred thirty outdated

(12:29):
picnic tables are also being replaced with wheelchair compliant designs,
ensuring camp sites and picnic areas are welcoming to every visitor.
Perhaps the most exciting change for adventurers is the addition
of three new grit All terrain wheelchairs, more than doubling
the park's fleet to four. These chairs, available free through

(12:51):
the Estes Park Mountain Shop, can handle rocky and uneven
trails where conventional wheelchairs cannot, creating new opportunities for ecxis exploration.
The park also introduced a wheelchair sledge for snowy terrain,
expanding winter accessibility for school field trips. Looking ahead, Rocky
Mountain National Park plans to release a comprehensive accessibility guide

(13:14):
in twenty twenty six, available in multiple formats, including braille
and audio. Advocates like Quinn Brett, a former ranger turned
accessibility leader after a spinal cord injury, celebrate these changes
as hard won progress. As Brett put it, We've got
places to go, things to do, and now more people

(13:34):
than ever can enjoy the journey. 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, and tell
a friend. A big thanks to our production team, roosaveel
Hine and Aaron Watson for making all this possible behind

(13:56):
the scenes. I'm Baowulf Rocklin, weird name Good News for
Lefties and America.

Speaker 2 (14:21):
Here's what you've been missing on the Stephanie Miller Happy
Hour podcast.

Speaker 3 (14:26):
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,

(14:50):
Donald Trump is the most disgraceful, utterly despicable thing that
has ever held public office in America. And anyone who
does it come up and shout straight out all right
that you're a lie in mf then you are facilitating
this disgrace.

Speaker 2 (15:10):
Subscribe to the Stephanie Miller Happy Hour podcast on Apple Podcasts,
Stephaniemiller dot com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Speaker 1 (15:23):
And in case you missed it, here's this good news headline.
A decade long study presented at the twenty twenty five
Alzheimer's Association International Conference reveals that older adults participating in
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, experience significantly slower

(15:43):
cognitive decline compared to eligible individuals who don't use the program.
Researchers found that SNAP participants maintained up to two to
three additional years of cognitive health, with the overall rate
of cognitive decline being point one one zero points slower
per year, enough to meaningfully delay the onset of mild

(16:06):
cognitive impairment or dementia for those starting with a healthy
cognitive baseline. The study which followed over two thousand people
aged fifty and above from twenty ten to twenty twenty,
found that those who received food assistants scored better on
assessments of memory and executive function. While all racial and

(16:26):
ethnic groups benefited, WHITESNAP participants saw the most pronounced effects,
a finding that highlights ongoing disparities and suggests a need
for policies reducing barriers to access among all groups. Experts
say these results underscore the long lasting impact of addressing
basic needs like food security for aging Americans brain health.

(16:47):
By facilitating access to nutritious foods, SNAP may help counteract
food insecurity driven risks such as poor nutrition and chronic
illnesses that can hasten cognitive decline.
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