Town Halls Heat Up for GOP, Toxic Avenger Fights Medical Debt, and Librarian Empowers Homeless Communities

In this episode of Good News for Lefties, host Beowulf Rochlen dives into a series of uplifting stories that highlight resilience and progress in the fight for a fairer society. We open with a fiery town hall meeting in Trenton, Ohio, where Representative Warren Davidson faced a passionate crowd expressing their discontent over Medicaid cuts and Republican policies. This event underscores the growing dissatisfaction among constituents and the increasing challenges GOP lawmakers face in engaging with their communities.

Next, we celebrate the innovative partnership between the upcoming film "The Toxic Avenger" and the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, which aims to erase millions in medical debt for struggling families. This unique initiative not only amplifies the film's message of fighting corporate greed but also provides real relief to those burdened by healthcare costs.

We also shine a light on Amanda Melar, a dedicated librarian in Los Angeles, who is making waves as the Persons Experiencing Homelessness Outreach librarian. Her innovative outreach efforts are connecting vulnerable individuals with essential library resources, reinforcing the critical role libraries play in addressing the housing crisis.

In a significant policy shift, Massachusetts has taken a bold step towards a fossil fuel-free future by requiring new gas customers to pay upfront for their service connections. This move aims to reduce the expansion of gas infrastructure and encourage cleaner energy alternatives, aligning with the state's ambitious climate goals.

Additionally, we highlight Liberty Cleaners, a women-led workers collective in New York that empowers immigrant women to fight for fair wages and safe working conditions. Their transformative approach to labor rights and education is setting a powerful example for worker solidarity.

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].

For more about these stories:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republican-hit-with-furious-boos-at-town-hall-disaster-in-jd-vance-s-backyard/ar-AA1LquYR

https://www.rawstory.com/fox-news-2673858848/?utm_source=msn

https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3896014/the-toxic-avenger-partners-with-undue-medical-debt-to-erase-at-least-5-million-in-medical-debt/

https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/la-librarian-homelessness-outreach

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/fossil-fuels/massachusetts-gas-hookup-cost-reform

https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/immigrant-women-cleaning-industry

https://www.rawstory.com/fox-news-2673858848/?utm_source=msn

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

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 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,

(00:26):
and anyone who believes in making America a better place
for everyone. Today's troubling headlines often overwhelm us, and I'm
sure if you follow the news, you'll read or hear
about some of them today. All the bad news makes
it easy to lose sight of hope, and that's exactly
why it's vital to highlight the positive progressive wins happening
every day in the United States of America. To help

(00:49):
us spread the positivity. If you enjoy the show, please
rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your
podcast platform of choice. It helps more lefties like you
more good news stories and stay positive and motivated for
the days ahead. So let's get to some good news
headlines designed to brighten your day. In a tumultuous town

(01:12):
hall event in rural Trenton, Ohio, Representative Warren Davidson faced
fierce opposition and persistent booze from a crowd of over
five hundred attendees. The town hall, held just miles from
Vice President jd Vance's hometown of Middletown, Ohio, quickly turned
hostile as Davidson defended President Donald Trump's policies and the

(01:33):
deeply unpopular Republicans spending bill known as the One Big
Beautiful Bill. A heated audience questioned Davidson about the bill's
impact on Medicaid, immigration, and the deployment of the National
Guard in US cities, leading to moments where the congressman
was drown out by the jeers and interruptions. Davidson struggled

(01:54):
to address concerns, particularly regarding Medicaid cuts affecting working age
adults and Trump's youth of the National Guard troops in Washington.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
D C.

Speaker 1 (02:02):
And other cities. Davidson struggled to address concerns, particularly regarding
Medicaid cuts affecting working age adults, and Trump's use of
National Guard troops in Washington, D C. And other cities.
His attempts to maintain order were met with repeated demands
for transparency, including calls to release the files related to

(02:23):
Jeffrey Epstein, highlighting the fraud atmosphere. The representative tried to
justify his views on limited government and law enforcement, but
sustained heckling left him largely silenced during significant portions of
the hour long session. The event reflected a broader trend
of GOP lawmakers encountering backlash during in person town halls,

(02:45):
as many have opted to avoid such confrontations altogether. This
contentious town hall serves as a barometer of growing dissatisfaction
within Republican districts, especially those grappling with Medicaid cuts, economic insecurity,
and immigration enforcement. It also underscores the increasing challenges conservative

(03:05):
lawmakers face and engaging with constituents as political polarization intensifies
around key issues shaping the nation's future. I'm not so
sure we're polarized around that. I think there's a large
amount of consensus that Medicaid cuts and stuff like that
is pretty darn bad. As The Toxic Avenger hits theaters

(03:29):
with its new take on the cult classic, the film's
impact is already extending beyond the screen. Directed by Macin Blair,
the story follows Winston Goose, a janitor transformed into a
green skinned mutant hero who fights corporate corruption while grappling
with a terminal illness and crushing medical debt. In a

(03:50):
powerful partnership with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt. We've talked
about them on the program before, the filmmakers are using
the movie's released to erase at least five million day
in real medical debt across the country, with an additional
one million dollars wiped away for every million dollars the
film earns at the box office. Undue Medical Debt, a

(04:11):
national nonprofit founded by former debt collectors, buys unpayable medical
debt from hospitals and collection agencies for pennies on the
dollar and then abolishes it, helping families who face financial
ruin due to medical bills. This collaboration brings to light
the human toll of a broken healthcare system, mirroring Winston's

(04:31):
own plight in the film, and offers concrete relief in
the form of surprise debt forgiveness letters mailed to debtors.
The partnership embodies the spirit of the movie, fighting back
against exploitation and bringing justice to those burdened by medical costs.
The film's fresh narrative highlights Winston's journey as a devoted
step debt, confronting systemic greed and battling corrupt corporate villains

(04:56):
with a mop and sheer determination. Star Peter dink portrayal
brings depth to the character, connecting the outlandish gor reaction
with real emotional stakes around family health and justice. This
blend of outrageous violence and heartfelt storytelling amplifies an urgent
social message wrapped in occult comedy. By turning the spotlight

(05:18):
from fictional evildoers to a very real crisis of medical debt,
the campaign invites audiences to be a part of something
bigger than entertainment. Standing with millions of Americans trapped by
healthcare expenses, the Toxic Avenger isn't just melting faces on screen.
It's melting away crushing debt in communities across the country.

(05:40):
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 of creatively

(06:04):
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 us A n

(06:26):
N E pos e L This Week Again, Listen, laugh, repeat.
Amanda Melar, a librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library
Central Library, is gaining national recognition for her dedicated work
as the Person's Experiencing Homelessness Outreach librarian. Beyond her traditional

(06:49):
library duties, Melar actively connects people experiencing homelessness and other
life challenges with vital library resources and programs, often bringing
these services directly to the streets of skid Row, a
community facing severe housing instability. Mellor's outreach role includes signing

(07:09):
up individuals for library cards, informing them about free library
services and educational opportunities, and developing on site library programming
for those hesitant to visit. Her mobile approach reduces barriers
by meeting people where they are, whether it's shelters, parole meetings,
or community centers. She also hosts The Source, a monthly

(07:32):
resource fair offering free health services and homeless shelter assistants,
supporting residents on their path towards stable living. Earlier this year,
Mellor was honored as a Mover and Shaker by Library Journal,
an accolade recognizing librarians nationwide who advocate for and innovate
on behalf of their communities. She views the award as

(07:54):
a validation of the essential but often informal outreach work
library staff perform regularly. Libraries have long served as critical
refuges in the housing crisis by being free and welcoming spaces,
while also offering job assistants, mental health referrals, housing resources,
and food programs. Mellor's work is bolstered by collaborations with

(08:17):
social workers, therapists, and medical caseworkers hired by the Los
Angeles Public Library System, a model also seen in places
like Salt Lake City. She highlights that libraries uniquely filled
gaps for people facing life instability and hopes her role
inspires similar positions nationwide. Her efforts not only connect people

(08:40):
to immediate help, but also affirm their right to access
educational and cultural materials, building a foundation for lasting empowerment
and success. Up next, a listener suggested story back in
a minute, and now a listener suggested story from Danica
in Springfield, Massachusetts. Massachusetts has made a significant move toward

(09:04):
its goal of a fossil fuel free future by changing
the way costs for new gas hookups are handled. In
a recent ruling, state regulators decided that any household or
organization requesting a new gas line will have to pay
for the entire connection cost upfront, rather than spreading this
cost among all utility customers, as had been the practice

(09:26):
for years. Utilities now have thirty days to submit plans
reflecting these new payment guidelines for review. Previously, the cost
of installing a new gas hookup, averaging around nine thousand dollars,
was subsidized by existing customers through small monthly surcharges, under
the assumption that future use by the newcomer would eventually

(09:47):
cover these expenses. This line extension allowance practice has been
criticized for encouraging the expansion of natural gas infrastructure and
unfairly burdening current consumers, which runs counter to massachusetts as
climate goals aimed at achieving that zero carbon emissions by
twenty fifty. The new approach means that anyone seeking to

(10:07):
connect the gas system must bear the full cost, which
advocates say will significantly slow expansion of the gas grid,
pushing consumers and developers toward cleaner alternatives like heat pumps
and electrification. The state has already seen rapid growth in
heat pump installations, with tens of thousands of households switching
between twenty twenty one and twenty twenty four and a

(10:30):
target of five hundred thousand by twenty thirty. While development
groups warned that rising hookup costs could hinder new housing projects,
environmental advocates argue that this reform addresses a crucial market
distortion the subsidies allowed for fossil fuel infrastructure expansion when
the state's energy policy is focused on decarbonization and shifting

(10:52):
to renewable energy. Massachusetts joins other states, including California, Maryland,
and New York in reconsidering or eliminating these subsidies as
part of broader clean energy transitions. Thanks so much for
that story, Danica. If you have thoughts, ideas, or more
good news to share, we'd love to hear from you,

(11:12):
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. Liberty Cleaners is a groundbreaking women led
workers collective disrupting the cleaning industry in New York City

(11:36):
by empowering immigrant women to organize around fair wages, safe
working conditions, and labor rights. Founded under the New York
City based Workers Justice Project just four years ago, the
group has grown to about fifty members who have transformed
from vulnerable day laborers into confident advocates for themselves and

(11:57):
their communities. Liberty Cleaners early members, Juana Camacho describes how
organizing the group helped her overcome fear and successfully negotiate
for minimum wage, improving her employment conditions. The collective's name
and logo, the Statue of Liberty, symbolize hope, empowerment, and

(12:18):
new opportunities for immigrant workers, who often face exploitative conditions
and wage theft, particularly when language barriers prevent effective communication
with employers. In partnership with the State University of New
York's Harry Van Arsdale Junior School of Labor Studies, Liberty
Cleaners developed a first of its kind training program combining

(12:41):
green cleaning techniques, labor education, technology, and leadership skills. This
curriculum has helped members learn to use eco friendly products,
navigate workplace rights, and utilize technology to find and secure
fair paying jobs. This training also addresses soft skills like
negosociation and business principles, crucial for workers aspiring to greater

(13:04):
autonomy and respect at work. Beyond the initial curriculum, Liberty
Cleaners offers eesl courses to further empower women to negotiate
confidently with employers in English, a vital skill that has
led to significant wins within the group. The collectives celebrated
the graduation of fifty women from the program in a

(13:25):
ceremony symbolizing pride and accomplishment. The group aims to expand
its offerings, potentially evolving the training into an accredited course
or apprenticeship program, and plans to create a collective retirement
fund to support members long term. Leader Maria Valdez emphasizes
that Liberty Cleaners represents powerful immigrant women taking control of

(13:48):
their futures by building community, learning new skills, and advocating
for dignity and fairness in a challenging industry. Their success
showcases how organizing, education and solidarity can transform lives in
industries from the ground up. That's a wrap for today's
edition of Good News for Lefties. Remember if these stories

(14:09):
brighten 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 rooseabelt Heine and Aaron Watson for making all this
possible behind the scenes. I'm Baio Wolf Rocklin, weird name
good News for Lefties and America.

Speaker 2 (14:48):
Here's what you've been missing on the Stephanie Miller Happy
Hour podcast.

Speaker 1 (14:53):
You don't have anybody who can really talk about the
wins that the party and the flights that the parties
engage in. What is my big frustration with me?

Speaker 2 (15:01):
Trust me? You know how times I've said to the TV,
why do you have that idiot on? They're not the
head of the Democratic but Jamie Harrison is the chairman
of the Okay, anyway, you wrote a piece and I
say this all the time, Chairman is just it's not
about where you are on the political spectrum. It's about
fighters or folders, And you wrote a whole piece about
how people want us to fight. I think it's what

(15:22):
Gavin Newsom is doing, what Governor Pritzker is doing. You said,
enthusiasm grows when you see a part when voter see
a party fighting and winning, and Democrats are doing both.
Fighting back on redistricting attacks, special election wins, constant gloom
both sides coverage and magnified democratic drama doesn't inspire turnout,
They smother it. And I just thought, especially coming from
an insider, like the open letter to political consultants, was

(15:45):
so dead on. You had a conversation with Senator Gego.
You said, we were talking about the challenge of working
with political consultants who don't only always understand the lived
experiences of candidates of color. We talked about the importance
of listening and learning from the communities we want to serve.
Just say a little more, because this whole piece is brilliant.

(16:06):
You were saying, people listen to the one black friend
they had from college and think that qualifies them. I
had that, And you said, through that friendship, you gained
the confidence believe you speak authority about communities you don't
belong to. Here's the problem. One friend does not make
you fluid in the lived experience of millions of voters.
Subscribe to the Stephanie Miller Happy Hour podcast on Apple Podcasts,

(16:29):
Stephanie Miller dot com, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Speaker 1 (16:38):
And in case you missed it, here's this good news headline.
T One Energy and Corning have announced a landmark deal
to create a fully domestic solar panel supply chain, a
pivotal step forward for clean energy manufacturing in the United States.
Under the agreement, Corning will supply t One with American

(16:58):
made solar wafers from its Michigan facility starting in the
second half of twenty twenty six, enabling t One to
produce solar cells in Austin, Texas and assemble panels near Dallas, Texas.
This collaboration will cover the entire process polysilicon wafers, cells,
and final panels rooted entirely in the US. The significance

(17:20):
of this deal extends well beyond the companies involved. By
producing all key solar components within the country, t One
and Corning address both the urgent need for energy security
and supply chain stability, making it easier to comply with
new federal regulations that restrict tax credits for products sourced
from foreign entities of concern like China. This move directly

(17:44):
boosts American manufacturing jobs, with the company's forecasting employment for
around six thousand workers in Michigan and Texas. Corning's commitment
to advanced manufacturing and t One's focus on scaling up
operations signal renewed momentum for US MEILID clean technologies. This
step forward and vertical integration in the solar sector arrives

(18:05):
at an important moment as the US seeks to meet
rising demand for renewable energy while reducing reliance on overseas suppliers.
Beyond energy independence, the deal paves the way for innovation
and cost reductions in solar panel manufacturing, giving developers and
installers greater confidence in the stability of their supply chains.

(18:26):
As solar companies and policymakers look to the future, the
t One and Corning partnership demonstrates the transformative potential of
investing in American clean energy infrastructure, a leap toward more sustainable, resilient,
and equitable energy economy for all