Utah's Fair Maps, Wyoming's Climate Awakening, and Empowering Immigrant Rights

In this episode of Good News for Lefties, host Beowulf Rochlen delivers a powerful lineup of stories that highlight the resilience and activism of communities striving for justice and democracy across America. We begin with a landmark ruling in Utah, where a judge mandated that the state's Republican-controlled legislature must redraw its congressional maps to ensure fair representation for voters. This decision, rooted in grassroots organizing and a successful ballot measure, reinforces the power of the people in shaping their political landscape, setting a precedent for other states to follow.

Next, we explore a town hall in Wyoming where Republican Representative Harriet Hageman faced a fierce backlash from constituents over her climate denialism. Despite the state's conservative leanings, local residents are demanding action on climate change, showcasing a growing acknowledgment of environmental issues even in energy-producing regions.

We then shine a light on the emerging Immigration Court Watch programs, where volunteers are stepping up to document and support immigrants facing detention and deportation. This grassroots initiative not only provides critical oversight but also fosters community solidarity, embodying the fight against authoritarianism and the defense of human rights.

In a significant legal victory, Newsmax has agreed to pay $67 million to Dominion Voting Systems, concluding a defamation lawsuit over false claims regarding the 2020 election. This settlement underscores the accountability media organizations face for spreading misinformation, marking a crucial step in the fight against election-related falsehoods.

We also share an inspiring story from Texas, where State Representative Nicole Collier's courageous protest against voter suppression has sparked a powerful movement for democratic rights. Her stand against intimidation and surveillance in the State Capitol has rallied support and galvanized action among Texans, proving that resistance is alive and well.

Lastly, we highlight Camp Agape in Vermont, a unique summer camp providing a safe haven for children with incarcerated parents. This nurturing environment fosters healing and resilience, allowing kids to form connections and enjoy childhood without the stigma of their experiences.

Join us for this episode filled with stories of hope, activism, and the unwavering belief that positive change is possible in 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 about today's stories:

https://apnews.com/article/utah-redistricting-congressional-map-gerrymandering-a6722505b8e76eda5c73fc346eadd9aa

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/lie-lie-gop-rep-savaged-052259926.html

https://wagingnonviolence.org/2025/08/inside-the-transformative-power-of-immigration-court-watch/

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/18/newsmax-dominion-voting-defamation-settlement-00513458

https://19thnews.org/2025/08/nicole-collier-texas-house-protest-women-solidarity/

https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2025-08-19/at-this-vermont-summer-camp-kids-with-incarcerated-parents-dont-have-to-hide

https://apnews.com/article/utah-redistricting-congressional-map-gerrymandering-a6722505b8e76eda5c73fc346eadd9aa




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

(00:27):
and anyone who believes in making America a better place
for everyone. It's no secret that these are challenging times.
Trump's tariffs raising costs for the things we buy every day,
the Air Force honoring a January sixth rioter, and our
governments continuing aiding and a bedding of a genocide in Gozam.

(00:50):
Today's headlines often overwhelm us with troubling news, making it
all too easy to lose sight of hope. But that's
exactly why it's vital to highlight the positive progressive wins
happening every day in the United States of America to
help us spread the positivity. If you enjoy the show,
please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or

(01:13):
your podcast platform of choice. It helps more lefties like
you hear more good news stories and stay positive and
motivated for the days ahead. Now, let's get to some
good news headlines designed to brighten your day. A Utah
judge delivered a ruling for fair representation on Monday, saying

(01:36):
that the Republican controlled legislature in that state and its
congressional map violated the will of the people and must
be redrawn before the twenty twenty six midterm elections. The
decision comes after years of grassroots organizing and a successful
twenty eighteen ballot measure that established Utah's independent Redistricting Commission,

(01:58):
designed to end partisan gerrymandering and give voters a more
powerful voice in choosing their leaders. Judge Diana Gibson's ruling
restores the central voter approved reforms, making it clear that
the legislature cannot override the public's call for fair maps.
This win for democracy is especially significant given how the

(02:22):
twenty twenty one map carved Salt Lake County, a stronghold
for progressive and working class communities, into four separate congressional districts,
diluting their power and all but guaranteeing Republican victories. By
reinstating the anti gerrymandering initiative, the court has unlocked new

(02:43):
opportunities for communities across Utah to elect representatives who genuinely
reflect their interests and values, rather than having their choices
predetermined by politicians behind closed doors. The judge set a
September twenty fourth deadline for law most makers to create
a truly fair map and open the process for voting

(03:04):
rights groups to submit their own proposals to the court.
With a rasor thin Republican majority in Congress and national
momentum building for redistricting reform, Utah's decision could have ripple
effects that stretch beyond state lines, empowering more states to
defend the principle of one person, one vote. Today, advocates

(03:26):
and leaders from the Democratic National Committee and progressive organizations
are celebrating this watershed moment for Utah voters, a testament
to grassroots power and the ability of everyday people to
reclaim the rules of democracy. As this new chapter in
redistricting unfolds, it's clear that Utons have set a powerful

(03:48):
example real reform comes from listening to and respecting the
will of the people. Hear that Texas. At a recent
town hall in Pine and Dale, Wyoming, Republican Representative Harriet
Hageman faced strong and vocal backlash from her own constituents

(04:08):
as she tried to defend the Trump administration's attempts to
repeal the Environmental Protection Agencies in endangerment finding, a policy
grounded in decades of scientific evidence that greenhouse gases pose
a danger to public health and the climate. Hageman's comments
dismissing climate science as false were met with resounding booze, heckels,

(04:31):
and chances of lie lye as local residents made clear
they were not buying climate denialism. For many in Sublett
County and across Wyoming, the EPA's endangerment finding is not theoretical.
It's been the lynchpin in efforts to address serious air
pollution that has plagued the region due to decades of

(04:52):
intensive oil and gas extraction and fracking. The area has
suffered ozone pollution levels rivaling major s cities, threatening community
health and forcing some families to travel long distances for
safe treatment. Local advocates and parents, including members of Citizens
United for Responsible Energy Development, have long fought for the

(05:14):
very protections Hageman and her party now want to roll back.
Despite Wyoming's historic lean to the right in national elections,
there is growing statewide acknowledgment of the urgent reality of
climate change and support for strong action. University of Wyoming
polling shows eighty six percent of wyomingites now recognize climate

(05:37):
change as real and want decisive action. The fierce public
response in Pinedale shows how out of step Republican leadership
has become with the lived experiences and health needs of
everyday citizens, even in energy producing communities. As the Trump
administration and its allies target fundamental environmental safeguards for repeal,

(06:01):
Wyoming voters sent a powerful message at this town hall
attacks on science, public health, and climate action will not
go unchallenged. Communities on the front lines of pollution and
the consequences of fossil fuel expansion are demanding bold climate
policies and an honest reckoning with the evidence, whether Republican

(06:23):
officials are ready to listen or not. 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,

(06:43):
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. 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

(07:05):
or wherever you listen to podcasts. That's This Week Again
with Suzanne Posel, s U S A n N E
pose E L This Week Again, Listen, Laugh, repeat. Immigration
court watch programs are rapidly emerging as a powerful grassroots

(07:25):
response to the erosion of immigrant rights and growing authoritarianism
in the US. These initiatives, run by faith based and
secular coalitions, place volunteers in courtrooms and communities to observe, document,
and support immigrants facing detention and deportation. The presence of
volunteers does more than offer solidarity. It helps gather critical

(07:48):
information that can keep families informed and prevent individuals from
being disappeared by a system that now detains and removes
people in alarming numbers, often without criminal records or warning.
This collective witness strategy draws inspiration from Central American accompaniment
movements in other words movements that were developed as a

(08:10):
result of dictatorships in Central America and the need to
document what happened to the people who were disappeared there.
It seeks to hold authorities accountable, shine a light on
due process violations, and humanize an often opaque process. By
being physically present, court watchers are able to record ice actions,

(08:30):
the behavior of judges, and the broader courtroom culture, providing
invaluable data and public visibility that can mobilize change, reveal
systemic abuses, and strengthen advocacy efforts. For many volunteers, witnessing
unjust attentions firsthand transforms abstract knowledge of injustice into a

(08:51):
profound call to action. Importantly, participating in court watch, especially
for those with relative privilege, is still low risk, requiring
only the willingness to show up and bear witness. Volunteers
are trained, work in pairs and contribute to a resilient
community network that can quickly spread vital information and intervene

(09:13):
by alerting loved ones or legal advocates when detentions occur.
This public oversight helps limit the impunity of federal agencies
and offers immediate support to individuals whose voices might otherwise
be silenced within the immigration system. Court watching is both
an act of care for neighbours and a critical lesson
in how authoritarianism advances through fear, secrecy, and unchecked power.

(09:38):
The work happening in New York and replicable in cities
nationwide is both a frontline resistance to cruelty and a
transformative experience for participants, fueling a broader movement to defend
democratic norms, demand transparency, and protect the vulnerable from state violence.
Newsmax has agreed to pay sixty seven million dollars to

(10:02):
Dominion Voting Systems to settle a high profile defamation lawsuit,
ending a year's long legal battle over false claims that
Dominion's machines rigged the twenty twenty presidential election. The settlement,
finalized August fifteenth, twenty twenty five, will be paid in
three installments twenty seven million dollars immediately, with an additional

(10:23):
twenty million dollar payment due in twenty twenty six and
then twenty twenty seven. Dominion initially sought one point six
billion dollars in damages alleging that Newsmacks aired and promoted
baseless conspiracy theories that harmed the company's reputation and led
to threats and financial losses. The case was set to

(10:44):
go to trial this October after a judge ruled Newsmax
did in fact broadcast defamatory statements about Dominion, but the
two parties reached an agreement before a jury could weigh
in on intent and damages. Newsmax has not issued an
on air apology or retraction, maintaining that its reporting was fair,

(11:04):
balanced and conducted within professional standards of journalism. Dominion, for
its part, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating we are
pleased to have resolved this issue. The settlement follows a
much larger seven hundred eighty seven million dollar deal Dominion
reached with Fox News in twenty twenty three, and a

(11:25):
forty million dollars settlement with Newsmax involving another voting machine company,
smart Maatic. These cases underscore the significant legal and financial
consequences for media organizations that spread false information, as courts
and juries continue to hold networks accountable for promoting damaging
election conspiracy theories. This agreement marks a major milestone for

(11:48):
Dominion's efforts to defend its reputation and for the wider
fight against election misinformation, sending a clear signal that defamatory
claims about America's voting infrastructure carry real consequences. Up next,
a listener suggested story back in a minute, and now,

(12:09):
a listener suggested story from Marta. In San Antonio, Texas
State Representative Nicole Collier's determined protest inside the state Capitol
has become a defining moment of solidarity and resistance against
authoritarianism and voter suppression in Texas. Refusing to sign a
so called permission slip that would have placed her under

(12:29):
constant police surveillance, Collier chose instead to remain on the
House floor overnight, symbolizing her refusal to accept intimidation and
the silencing of her black and brown constituents. Her stand
came in response to unprecedented Republican measures to monitor and
controlled Democratic lawmakers after their walkout to oppose a racially

(12:51):
gerrymannered redistricting man designed to concentrate GOP congressional power. Collier's
solitary protest quickly sparked a collective uprising as images of
her vigils spread. Dozens of Texans turned up at the
capital to support her, chanting let her out and amplifying
calls for justice and representation for women. Protesters, most of

(13:14):
the mothers and grassroots organizers were arrested that night for
refusing to abandon Collier, demonstrating that real risk and deep
conviction fueling the movement for democratic rights. Inside the chamber,
more democratic lawmakers tore up their escort forms in solidarity,
showing that courage is contagious and grows in a climate

(13:35):
of resistance. Women, especially women of color, were at the
heart of this mobilization, standing up for each other, for Texans,
and for the principle that silencing voices through surveillance or
coercion cannot stand in a free society. The protest drew
national attention as allies and activists across the country recognized

(13:57):
the gravity of the moment and the power symbolism of
holding the line quite literally inside the halls of state power.
US Representative Jasmine Crockett called it out as fascism, while
countless supporters hailed Collier and her allies as heroes. As
Collier filed for relief in court and supporters held vigil

(14:19):
both inside and outside the Capitol, the message was clear,
when one woman refuses to be intimidated, she can awaken
a movement. The more they push us down, the more
we rise together, said the attorney, an advocate Puja Sethi,
of the women who were arrested. This episode is a
reminder that the struggle for voting rights and genuine democracy

(14:41):
is alive in Texas and that resistance powered by solidarity
is just the beginning. Thanks so much for that story, Marta.
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 two seven to one,

(15:02):
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. Camp
Agape in Vermont offers a weak enough hope and belonging
for children aged eight to twelve who have an incarcerated parent,

(15:23):
providing a unique and nurturing space where they don't have
to hide or feel isolated from their experiences. Held each
summer at the Bethany Birch's Camp nestled in the Green Mountains,
this week long sleepaway camp is a place where campers
can be themselves, form lasting friendships and simply enjoy the

(15:43):
joys of childhood without the heavy burdens they face at home.
With activities like arts and crafts, campfire songs, and shared meals,
kids find comfort in knowing others understand their situations and challenges.
For many children, parental incarceration is a destabilizing and traumatic experience,
made worse by the stigma that often makes it hard

(16:06):
to talk about at school or in their communities. Campagape's staff,
drawing on trauma informed care practices, create an atmosphere of patience, choice,
and gentle support, helping campers manage high stress levels in
a way that fosters healing and resilience. Social workers who
support the camp highlight how forming quality relationships during this

(16:29):
time helps kids tackle the difficult stressors they face year round.
The camp's longtime counselor, who herself was a camper once,
shares that her own experiences allow her to connect deeply
with the children, creating a sense of trust and stability.
Campagape's impact extends to families as well through partnerships with

(16:53):
organizations like Lung's Kids Apart program. The camp helps incarcerated
parents see their happy and thriving, which supports family bonds
even when they must be a part well. Campagape provides
a critical respite. Experts emphasize the need for ongoing mental
support for these children throughout the year, calling for more

(17:15):
resources like school based clinicians and community care until that
infrastructure improves. Dedicated adults can make a difference just by
being consistent, caring, and showing up for these children. This
inclusive and compassionate community helps fill a crucial gap for
many Vermont children navigating loss and trauma. As one camper says,

(17:37):
you get to relate to other kids that have had
the same trauma as you. You don't have to hide
like you have to do at school. Sometimes. By giving
kids a space where they can laugh, play and feel safe,
Campagape not only nurture's resilience but also sends a powerful
message children with incarcerated parents deserve love, understanding, and the

(18:01):
chance to just be kids. That's a wrap for today's
edition of Good News for Lefties. Remember if these stories
brightened your outlook, please help us spread the word by
rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your
podcast platform of choice. A big thanks to our production team,

(18:22):
Rosabel Hine and Aaron Watson for making all of this
possible behind the scenes. I'm Beowulf Rocklin, weird name. Good
news for lefties and America.

Speaker 2 (18:52):
Here's what you've been missing on the Stephanie Miller Happy
Hour podcast. Every single sentence is Trump threatens fill in
the blank, and I mean it is just so exhausted.
But like the postal deliveries, that's like real world stuff
that's gonna start affecting all of us really soon.

Speaker 3 (19:10):
Right, yeah, absolutely everything will be delayed packages. When we
be on time, we will get things that we are
It's just he has become the latest manifestation of the
thing that crawls out of the peatradition. In the thing,
it's just what. It's got a dog headed on it
with spider legs, and it's just ah. He's so desperate
not to have that Epstein list come out that you

(19:32):
will turn into any creature he has to to keep
it from coming out.

Speaker 2 (19:36):
Subscribe to the Stephanie Miller Happy Hour podcast on Apple Podcasts,
Stephanie Miller dot com, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Speaker 1 (19:48):
And in case you missed it, here's this good news headline.
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

(20:08):
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.

(20:32):
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

(20:52):
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

(21:15):
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

(21:36):
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

(21:58):
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.