Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Good news for lefties and America. Hello, I'm Bailable Frocklin.
Welcome to another episode of good News for Lefties. I'm
here to help you swap out doom scrolling for hope scrolling.
We have uplifting stories for democracy defenders, progressives, liberals, socialists, leftists,
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and anyone who believes in making America a better place
for everyone. Look, it's no secret these are challenging times.
Citizens and immigrants are being disappeared off of our streets
by supposed law enforcement officers. The FBI is trying to
arrest democratic lawmakers. The wholesale destruction of critical government agencies
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is taking place. Today's headlines often overwhelm us with bad,
bad news, and it's all too easy to lose sight
of hope. I know, I know, And that's why we
have to highlight the positive, real world progress that is
happening still every day. It gets too often drown out
by the negativity. Despite the setbacks, there is still real
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movement toward a better America. So let these stories as
you listen to all this other stuff, and I know
it will be out there and I know you will
listen to it, serve as a reminder the change isn't
as possible, it's happening. And carry this hope with you
throughout the day and share it with others. Okay, let's
kick off with some good news headlines designed to brighten
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your day. A riff has emerged at the heart of
the Trump administration, as top White House economic advisor Kevin
Hassett broke with President Donald Trump's rhetoric on the latest
jobs report controversy. Well, Trump dismissed the Bureau of Labor
Statistics or BLS numbers as phony or rigged after abruptly
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firing the agency's commissioner. Hassett instead acknowledged the validity of
the recently revised figures. Huh. Speaking to CNBC, has it
confirmed the job's growth was slower than expected, a candid
recognition of the economic headwinds facing American workers. Hassett thoughtfully
explained that revisions to job reports our standard practice, resulting
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from the BLS receiving more complete data over time. Far
from echoing Trump's conspiracy claims, he noted that it is
likely the revisions are a better read of the data
if they're not being manipulated, ultimately conceding it's a bit
weaker this rare moment of honesty underscores the integrity of
federal labor data and the importance of transparent reporting even
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in a politically charged climate. For many, Hassett's break from
the administration's combative stance is a breath of fresh air.
For many others, it represents just how deeply flawed Donald
Trump is as a president and a human being, and
how far he will go to make himself look good
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at the expense of others. The ongoing fracturing of the
right wing media ecosystem has reached a dramatic new low,
as leading figures like Tucker Carlson, Candice Owens, Laura Lumer,
and Nick Flantes turned their platforms and their audiences against
one another in an increasingly toxic public feud. Oh No,
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what was once a powerful united force driving megapolitics has
devolved into personal vendettas and ideological purges, with former allies
now routinely accusing each other of betrayal, bigotry, and self
serving hypocrisy. How sad, in recent days, this conflict has
been especially pronounced on high profile podcasts. Carlson and Owens,
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both exiled from establishment conservative outlets, now use their independent
platforms to criticize not only their political opponents, but also
each other and the broader right movement. Their recent conversations,
marked by charges of hypocrisy over issues like Israel, racism,
and the fallout from the Me Too movement, have developed
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into accusations of anti Semitism, disingenuous posturing, and much much more. Meanwhile,
Ben Shapiro and The Daily Wire have been drawn into
the fray, deepening the rift. Ah I'm just sitting back,
watching and eating my popcorn. Nick Fante, is controversial for
his direct embrace of white supremacy and anti Semitism, has
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become a lightning rod in these disputes. He has lashed
out at Owens, labeling her a Dei higher and an
Uncle Tom token Black. He has even targeted Carlson, highlighting
his elite background and alleged duplicity. Despite being banned from
many social media networks, Fuentes continues to gain a loyal following,
positioning himself as a true believer in contrast to what
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he paints says performative opportunism of the mainstream right, and
indeed he's a true believer and a true racist. Laura Lumer,
long a Trump loyalist has turned her ire on former
media companions as well, accusing them of careerism and harboring
secret animosities towards both Trump and their own audiences. What
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emerges from this spectacle is an ecosystem where personal grievances,
monetization schemes, and ideological one upsmanship have taken over any
semblance of unity or strategic coherence. Of course, Trump's following
Trump's mind, Trump's speeches have never had any coherence. As
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the right's most prominent media personalities battle for dominance, observers
note an increasingly fractured movement, and that is good news
for lefties. Chicago has enacted a landmark zoning reform unanimously
approved by the City Council that eliminates off street parking
mandates for most new residential and commercial developments throughout the city.
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Developers in the transit served locations, defined as sites within
a quarter mile of a CTA bus route or a
half a mile of a CTA rail or metro station,
are no longer required to include any minimum parking spaces
in their projects. Given the extent of Chicago's transit network,
this policy covers the majority of neighborhoods across the city.
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The downtown district still has some reduced parking requirements. Parking
mandates have been cut in half, and developers in these
areas can apply for further reductions through an administrative process.
This move effectively clears a major obstacle to small scale
and incremental development. Parking minimums have long been criticized for
inflating project costs, complicating the renovation of older buildings, and
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discouraging affordable housing and small business growth. The elimination and
reduction of these mandates will make it easier to build homes,
launch businesses, and revitalize existing spaces, fueling affordability and flexibility
in Chicago's neighborhoods. This policy shift was part of a
broader series of efforts aimed at making Chicago a more walkable, affordable,
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and vibrant city. Other initiatives include up zoning strategic corridors,
permitting for plexus city wide to expand housing choice, and
supporting tactical urbanism projects that respond quickly to community needs.
The victory serves as a model of persistent community driven
action leading to meaningful reform, demonstrating that by prioritizing people
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transit and flexible urban growth over rigid parking requirements, cities
can become more resilient, equitable, and responsive to the needs
of their residents. Colorado is said to debut the world's
largest wildlife overpass, currently under construction above Interstate twenty five
between Denver and Colorado Spring. The Greenland Wildlife Overpass, located
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near mile point one sixty five point four just north
of Monument, is a fifteen million dollar project spearheaded by
the Colorado Department of Transportation in partnership with federal and
local agencies. The bridge will span two hundred nine feet
across six lanes of I twenty five and measure two
hundred feet wide, offering a safe crossing for migrating elk, mule, deer, pronghorn,
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and other large animals. By December twenty twenty five, when
construction is expected to finish, the overpass will connect thirty
nine thousand acres of vital wildlife habitat in Douglas County
with over a million adjacent areas in the Pike National Forest.
Its open sloped design and covering of native grasses aim
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to encourage large ungulates who tend to avoid underpasses, to
use the bridge. The overpass is a centerpiece and a
broader eighteen mile wildlife mitigations system along Eye twenty five
that includes underpasses and extensive fencing. Officials estimate that the
overpass will help reduce wildlife vehicle collisions on this busy
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stretch of highway by up to ninety percent, curbing what
has averaged one crash per day in recent years. With
daily traffic in this corridor expected to increase from eighty
five thousand to one hundred and fifty thousand trips by
twenty forty, the overpass is seen as a crucial investment
in both public safety and conservation. Colorado already leads the
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US in building wildlife crossings, with more than one hundred
such structures statewide, but this will be the largest of
its kind anywhere in the world, underscoring the state's innovative
approach to balancing infrastructure and ecosystem health. Up next, a
listener suggested story back in a minute, and now suggested
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story from anika in Boston, Massachusetts. The trash collector strike
in Massachusetts, now in its sixth week, shows no signs
of resolution, as Teamsters Local Union twenty five members voted
by a ninety three percent majority to continue the work
stoppage for a thirty fifth day. The strike, centering on
demands for improved wages and more comprehensive health insurance, has
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seriously disrupted trash and recycling collection across more than a
dozen communities in the North Shore and Greater Boston areas,
including Peabody, Beverly, Danvers, and several others. Union president Tom
Maury said that not only has support for the strike
grown among members, but there have also been no new
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negotiation sessions with Republic Services for over two weeks. The
impact has prompted towns like Peabody, Danvers, and Beverly to
seek financial and legal recourse against Republic Services, including lawsuits
for breach of contract and public health violations due to
the mounting uncollected waste. Emergency rulings for immediate collection relief
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have so far been unsuccessful in court, but municipal officials
emphasize that they are exploring all available options and remain
committed to community health and safety. In Peabody, Mayor Ted
Bettencourt urged both parties to return to the bargaining table
and ensured residents that trash collection would continue albeit with
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significant delays. While recycling services remain suspended due to short staffing.
Governor Mara Healy has also intervened, expressing strong disappointment with
Republic Services and calling on the company to resume negotiations immediately.
Thanks so much for that story, Annaica. If you have thoughts, ideas,
or more good news to share, we'd love to hear
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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. Louisville, Kentucky readers are
about to get a major boost in access to books
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as the Louisville Free Public Library LFPL moves forward with
plans to purchase sixty five thousand additional titles to tackle
long waitlists for popular reads. Fueled by a one million
dollar matching grant from Metro Council, paired with another million
to be raised by the Library Foundation, the two million
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dollar investment will add fifty thousand print books, ten thousand ebooks,
and five thousand audiobooks to the city's already robust collection.
The move comes as demand for digital titles continues to
outpace supply, with some ebook and audiobook holds stretching up
to five months. Highly sought after bestsellers like Great, Big,
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Beautiful Life, The Wedding People, and the Anxious Generation have
some of the longest cues. Even while physical copies of
popular books can take months to become available, officials helpe
the new infusion of titles will cut those weight times
to two months or less for the most in demand works. LFPL,
which already maintains more than one point six million physical books,
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one hundred and forty five thousand ebooks, and seventy eight
thousand audiobooks, says the purchases will be spaced out across
the year to keep up with changing reading trends. Because
most digital titles are sold to libraries in metered formats
expiring after two years or twenty four checkouts, keeping the
catalog fresh requires ongoing investment. Community leaders in the Library
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Foundation see this as a direct response to years of
community concern about access and equity. People should not have
to buy a thirty dollars book just to read it
within a reasonable time, said one patron, underscoring the need
for a robust public lending system, with fundraising already underway
and a public campaign planned for early next year. The
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expansion aims to reaffirm lfpl's role as a cornerstone of
access to information, ensuring that whether in print, audio, or
digital form, more people in Louisville can get the books
they want, when they want them. And that's a wrap
for today's edition of Good News for Lefties. If these
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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 Hein and Aaron
Watson for making all of this possible behind the scenes.
I'm bailable for Roglin weird name. Good News for Lefties
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and America.