In this episode of Good News for Lefties, we shine a light on a series of inspiring stories that showcase the ongoing fight for justice, equity, and community resilience across the nation. We kick things off in California, where Governor Gavin Newsom takes a bold stand against the Trump administration's proposed Compact for Academic Excellence. By threatening to withdraw state funding from universities that comply, Newsom champions academic freedom and diversity, ensuring that California remains a bastion of progressive values in higher education.
Next, we celebrate a significant court ruling in Rhode Island that protects vital federal housing aid from being stripped away by the Trump administration. A federal judge's decision to block harmful HUD rules ensures that communities can continue to provide essential services to those experiencing homelessness, highlighting the importance of compassionate and inclusive policies in addressing housing insecurity.
In a remarkable shift in California's energy landscape, we discuss the closure of oil refineries as gasoline demand declines due to the rise of electric vehicles and climate policies. This transition not only signals a move away from fossil fuels but also represents a societal turning point towards cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions that benefit both the environment and public health.
We also highlight the innovative Health2Go kiosks in Pennsylvania, which offer anonymous access to life-saving resources for individuals struggling with addiction and homelessness. These machines are breaking down barriers to care, proving that harm reduction strategies can be effective when implemented directly in communities.
Additionally, we share the inspiring story of Massachusetts cranberry farmers who are transforming unproductive bogs into vibrant wetlands, demonstrating a commitment to ecological restoration and climate resilience. This initiative not only preserves the land but also supports biodiversity and community well-being.
Lastly, we cover the powerful student-led walkouts in Nashville, where young activists demand action on gun violence. Their determination to reclaim their safety and advocate for change showcases the vital role of youth activism in shaping a better future.
Join us as we celebrate these uplifting stories that remind us of the progress being made every day in the fight for a more just and equitable society. If you find these stories inspiring, please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform! We’d love to hear from you, so reach out at 202-656-6271 or drop us a line at beowulf@twosquaredmediaproductions.com.
For more about today's stories:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/02/california-university-funding-trump-compact
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/federal-court-thwarts-trump-administration-153308288.html
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/09/14/california-refineries-close-as-gasoline-demand-slips-into-permanent-decline/
https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/harm-reduction-vending-machines
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/massachusetts-cranberry-farmers-restoring-wetlands-economic-headwinds/
https://nashvillebanner.com/2025/09/08/nashville-school-walkouts-tennessee-gun-violence/
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/good-news-for-lefties-daily-news-for-democracy--6256627/support.
Mark as Played
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 thanks for
joining another episode of Good News for Lefties. I'm Beowulf Rockland,
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,
(00:31):
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
(00:54):
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 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
(01:17):
news headlines designed to brighten your day. California moved swiftly
on Thursday to defend students, faculty, and academic freedom from
what Governor Gavin Newsom denounced as a political assault on
higher education. Newsom announced that any university in the state
that signs onto the Trump Administration's so called Compact for
(01:41):
Academic Excellence will immediately forfeit state funding, including billions in
student aid distributed through calgrants. The governor casts the deal
as a direct threat to free inquiry on campus and
to give away of institutional independence to partisan idel. The
proposal from Washington seeks to force universities to shutter academic departments,
(02:07):
slash the enrollment of international students, and accept rigid government
definitions of gender, while barring the consideration of race or
sex in admissions and hiring. In exchange universities would be
dangled the prospect of additional federal dollars. Newsom dismissed the
offer as a hostile takeover of America's universities, designed to
(02:30):
punish diversity, muzzle campus voices, and strip decision making power
from educators and researchers. California leaders underscored that these stakes
reach far beyond bureaucratic policy, affecting real students faculty in communities.
More than four hundred thousand California students rely on calgrants
(02:52):
each year. Newsom said that the state will not prop
up institutions that sacrifice their student's futures in all order
to appease a political agenda. Calling the compact radical, he
pledged to use the state's leverage to protect California students
and safeguard the broad exchange of ideas that defines higher learning.
(03:16):
The clash highlights California's role as a bulwark against efforts
by the Trump administration to reshape colleges into vessels for
ideological control. By drawing a hard line, the state is
affirming its commitment to diversity, student support, and academic freedom.
Universities now face a choice submit to political dictates that
(03:39):
undercut their missions, or stand with students, researchers, and free
inquiry against a partisan agenda. A federal court has delivered
a crucial reprieve for housing advocates, halting a Trump administration
bid to strip vital resources from communities confronting homelessness. District
(04:00):
Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a temporary
restraining order blocking new Department of Housing and Urban Development
rules that would have made federal housing aid contingent on
rejecting inclusive policies and proven approaches like harm reduction. For now,
seventy five million dollars in federal funding for permanent supportive
(04:23):
housing remains secure, shielding service providers from an abrupt and
politically driven disruption. The blocked rules rushed out by HUD
in early September would have barred sanctuary jurisdictions, programs supporting
transgender residents, and agencies that use the evidence based Housing
(04:43):
First model from competing for federal housing dollars. Advocates and
lawmakers blasted the restrictions as both unlawful and cruel, targeting
the very tools communities rely on to connect vulnerable residents
with stable housing. The National Alliance to and Homelessness and
Community Partners quickly sued, arguing that HUD had exceeded its
(05:06):
authority and undermined Congress's role in directing federal spending. Support
of housing programs are at the center of the fight.
These initiatives provide long term, affordable homes coupled with voluntary
services such as mental health care and recovery support to
people experiencing chronic homelessness or living with disabilities. Housing experts
(05:30):
warned that undermining Housing First could leave thousands of families
and individuals exposed to the streets, even as local coalitions
battle severe shortages of affordable housing. With the court's ruling,
caseworkers and service providers can continue prioritizing the urgent need
for safe shelter rather than bureaucratic hoops set up to
(05:52):
enforce an ideological agenda. Democratic leaders in Congress also pressed
HUD's Inspector General to invent to get the administration's retreat
from obligations already approved under the Biden administration. Senators Kirsten
Gillibrand and Patty Murray denounced the chaos imposed on nonprofits
forced to repeatedly reapply for the same grants while demand
(06:16):
for housing continues to skyrocket. For advocates, the court's decision
is far more than a procedural win. It is a
defense of fairness and humanity, ensuring that life saving housing
programs cannot be hijacked to serve political theater at the
expense of people in need. Before we get back to
(06:36):
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 and soul names
(07:00):
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 USA N N E pos
(07:23):
E L This Week Again, Listen, laugh, repeat. California's oil
refining industry is shrinking, and the reason isn't regulations. It's
the steady, irreversible decline of gasoline demand. After a decade
of shrinking sales, fueled by cleaner cars, the surge of
(07:44):
electric vehicle adoption and statewide climate policy, gasoline consumption has
dropped more than eleven percent since twenty fifteen. Now, Phillips
sixty six is Wilmington Refinery in Los Angeles and Valera's
Benetia refinery in the Bay Area, together roughly supplying fifteen
percent of California's gasoline have announced they will close in
(08:07):
the next two years. What once would have been seen
as unthinkable instead is becoming inevitable. Consumers are choosing electricity
over oil. The closure is mark not just an industrial shift,
but a societal turning point. California's clean vehicle incentives and
(08:27):
the Advanced Clean Cars to mandate requiring one hundred percent
zero emission passenger car sales by twenty thirty five have
locked in a trajectory that the market was already driving
on its own. With evs accounting for about one in
four new car purchases and efficiency improvements eating away at
fuel demand, the business case for gasoline refining has collapsed.
(08:52):
Each plant shuttered accelerates the clean energy transition, cutting pollution,
carbon emissions, and fossil fuel DePass while communities tied to
refining grapple with change. California is preparing for the future
rather than clinging to outdated industrial infrastructure. Policymakers are turning
(09:14):
investment toward workforce transitions, renewable power, and charging networks that
sustain long term economic growth. Temporary supply disruptions may occur,
but these are the growing pains of progress. The same
way coal closures and the rise of renewables transformed energy
markets before. As refineries wind down, consumers benefit from falling
(09:40):
ev costs, cleaner air, and a transportation system designed for
people and the planet, not oil profits. Far from being
a crisis, California's refinery closures are a preview of the inevitable.
A state and economy outgrowing fossil fuels, gas stations will close,
maintenance build built around engine oil and exhaust systems will shrink,
(10:03):
and even hydrogen demand tied to refining will fade. But
what arises in their place will be far more powerful,
a self reinforcing cycle of electrification, infrastructure expansion, and climate resilience.
California isn't falling behind, It's showing the rest of the
world how to move ahead. In Pennsylvania, a new kind
(10:26):
of vending machine is saving lives and breaking down barriers
to care. Instead of offering ships or soda, health to
Go Kiosks in Redding and Harrisburg provide free inloxone pregnancy tests,
fentanyl test strips, hygiene kits, socks, and wound care supplies,
all without cost and without judgment. The machines, installed through
(10:49):
a penn State led partnership are designed to meet people
where they are offering anonymous access to resources that prevent overdoses,
reduce stigma, and address basic needs often out of reach
for people experiencing homelessness or addiction. The response has been overwhelming.
In just a year, the two machines have dispensed more
(11:10):
than eleven thousand items, including nearly nineteen hundred doses of naloxone,
medication that reverses opioid overdoses, and thousands of hygiene and
wound care kits. Surveys of users show that four and
five struggle with meeting basic needs, and nearly a quarter
are unhoused or facing housing insecurity. Many reported they had
(11:34):
avoided a traditional healthcare settings due to fear of stigma,
making these machines a rare judgment free lifeline. What makes
health to Go stand out is that users can remain
anonymous while still connecting with broader services. The interactive screens
not only dispensed supplies, but also list local resources from
(11:55):
food banks and clinics to recovery programs, and even play
videos on how to use items like fentanyl strips. Each
tap on the screen becomes a connection point to health,
safety and dignity. As one user put it simply, they're
saving people from overdosing. They're saving people from dying. With
(12:16):
opioid deaths still a crisis, and overdose numbers in Pennsylvania
only beginning to ease, these machines represent more than an experiment,
their proof of what harm reduction looks like when it's
put directly into the community. The project's success is fueling
plans for expansion, with more machines expected across central Pennsylvania.
(12:37):
For the people who rely on them, they aren't just
vending machines. They're portals to survival, dignity, and hope. Up next,
a listener suggested story back in a minute, and now,
a listener suggested story from Derek. In Ipswich, Massachusetts, its
(13:00):
cranberry farmers are choosing a forward thinking path amid challenging
economic conditions by transforming unproductive cranberry bogs back into vibrant wetlands.
Faced with global competition, rising labor and utility costs, and
extreme weather impacts, farmers like Jared Roads, a fourth generation
(13:21):
grower in Carver, have embraced the state's Cranberry bog program,
which compensates farmers to restore bog lands to their natural
wetland state. The restoration projects not only preserve the land,
but also support native plants, wildlife habitat, and climate resilience.
Over the last fifteen years, Massachusetts has successfully restored more
(13:44):
than five hundred acres of wetlands, with another five hundred
acres under way. These efforts echo the region's ecological heritage,
since many cranberry farms were originally wetland ecosystems. Projects like
the Eel River Headwaters and roads Own thirty acre bog
demonstrate the power of restoration to filter water, sequester carbon,
(14:06):
provide storm buffers, and create publicly accessible spaces for hiking
and wildlife viewing. The revitalized wetlands bring nature back to
the landscape, offering a stark contrast to the monoculture cranberry
operations that once dominated these lands. For farmers approaching retirement
(14:27):
or reassessing the viability of cranberry farming, wetland restoration is
a creative way to honour their family legacies while adapting
to new environmental and economic realities. The Massachusetts Division of
Ecological Restoration works alongside local and federal partners to fund
these projects, ensuring land remains productive in ways that align
(14:49):
with long term sustainability and community benefit. These restored wetlands
also serve as natural defenses against flooding and climate impacts,
making them critical assets in today's changing world. Massachusetts stands
as a national leader in this transition, with a strong
commitment to ecological restoration alongside agricultural heritage. As native plants
(15:13):
return and waterways flow freely again, the state showcases an
inspiring model of resilience, combining nature restoration, climate action, and
thoughtful land stewardship to build a healthier, more sustainable future
for both communities and ecosystems. Thanks so much for that story, Derek.
(15:33):
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, Instagram or Blue Sky.
(15:55):
Students in Nashville stood up boldly in September, walking out
of their classrooms to demanned urgent action on gun violence.
About fifty students gathered at the University School of Nashville,
holding handmade posters with a clear message, protect children, not guns.
Their chants echoed the names of young victims, asserting their
(16:17):
right to safety, and calling on lawmakers to ban assault
weapons and high capacity magazines. This was part of a
nationwide wave of student protests organized by Students Demand Action
and Every Town for Gun Safety, inspiring change from classrooms
to capitals. The protests came on the heels of tragic violence,
(16:40):
including the recent shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis
where children lost their lives, as well as local incidents
like the Antioch High School shooting and a recent bomb
threat at the University School of Nashville itself. For teens
like seventeen year old Isabella Olino and fifteen year old
(17:00):
Kate Disher, these events aren't distant headlines. They are daily
realities that make schools feel unsafe and threaten their futures.
Their voices embody a generation demanding that schools be sanctuaries
of learning, not sites of fear. Many students wet beyond
protest signs, making direct calls to governors, senators, and representatives
(17:25):
to hold elected officials accountable. The responses from some offices,
including Senator Heidi Campbell and representatives Steve Cohen showed that
the power of student activism is being hurt. For participants
like fifteen year old Arlow Williamson, the walkouts were not
only protests, but the reclaiming of agency in a world
(17:46):
where their safety had too often been overlooked. Similar activism
bubbled up at Hillsborough High School and other Tennessee campuses,
reflecting widespread youth determination to end gun violence through concrete
eat legislative change. Fifteen year old freshman Cade Dickinson's reflection
that the Minneapolis tragedy fell too close to home underscored
(18:09):
the urgency fueling a generation uniting to say enough. These
walkouts signal a movement that refuses to accept inaction in
the face of preventable loss of life. And that's a
wrap for today's edition of Good News for Lefties. Remember
if these stories brighten your outlook, please help us spread
(18:30):
the word by rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
or your podcast platform of choice. A big thanks to
our production team, Roosevelt Hein and Aaron Watson for making
all of this possible Behind the scenes. I'm Beowulf Rockland,
weird name good news for lefties and America.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Here's what you've been missing. On the Stephanie Miller Happy
Hour podcast.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Donald put down another racist, awful video with Hakim again
in a sombrero and men behind him.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
They're all Donald Trump.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
They're all Donald Trump behind him as the mariachi behind
It's okay. So the first video, if you didn't see it,
it was a deep fake basically of Chuck Schumer and
Hakim Jefferies, and they put Hakim Jeffries in a sombrero
with a mustache for whatever, well for racist reasons obviously,
(19:45):
and then had Chuck Schumer's version say things that he
would never say. Plus he swore, which he doesn't do
in public. I assume he has a sailor's mouth in private,
but he's never said anything like that in public. And
so Donald last night decided to do it again. He
took basically the video of Jeffreys on O'Donnell and then
Lawrence o' donald Lawrence o'donald's last night and basically, you know,
(20:09):
did a similar thing, and uh, he said that Monday.
Jeffries said that Monday's video was a malignant distraction from
people who are determined to continue to rip healthcare away,
which is true. And he said that Donald is an
unseerious individual and has no interest in having a good
faith conversation. Also true. So this new video, it's just
(20:34):
it's childish to say the least. I don't expect anything
else from good point.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Subscribe to the Stephanie Miller Happy Hour podcast on Apple Podcasts,
Stephanie Miller dot com, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
And in case you missed it, here's this good news headline.
Progressive New York City council member Zorhan Mamdani has surged
to the front of the mayoral race, nearly doubling the
support of his closest rival, according to a new poll
out this week. The findings reflect growing enthusiasm for a
candidate who has built his campaign around grassroots organizing, housing justice,
(21:18):
and expanding social programs for working families. Mamdani, who first
rose to prominence by taking on housing inequalities in Queens,
has won endorsements from a range of community leaders and
progressive organizations across the city. Former Mayor Build A. Blasio
through his support behind him, praising Mamdani's unmatched energy in
(21:40):
connecting with everyday New Yorkers. The momentum underscores the appetite
for fresh leadership that prioritizes public services over corporate interests.
The poll also highlights that Mamdani's message is resonating across Burroughs,
with strong backing from young voters and communities traditionally underrepresented
(22:02):
in citywide elections. Advocates point to his record on rent protections,
immigrant rights, and public transit access as proof he has
both the vision and practical experience to resheep city Hall
from the ground up. Mamdani's commanding lead positions him as
the favorite in a city hungry for progressive change. Supporters
(22:24):
described the campaign not just as a political race, but
as a movement powered push to make New York more livable, inclusive,
and responsible to the people who call it home.
Good News for Lefties and America. Hello and thanks for
joining another episode of Good News for Lefties. I'm Beowulf Rockland,
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,
(00:31):
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
(00:54):
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 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
(01:17):
news headlines designed to brighten your day. California moved swiftly
on Thursday to defend students, faculty, and academic freedom from
what Governor Gavin Newsom denounced as a political assault on
higher education. Newsom announced that any university in the state
that signs onto the Trump Administration's so called Compact for
(01:41):
Academic Excellence will immediately forfeit state funding, including billions in
student aid distributed through calgrants. The governor casts the deal
as a direct threat to free inquiry on campus and
to give away of institutional independence to partisan idel. The
proposal from Washington seeks to force universities to shutter academic departments,
(02:07):
slash the enrollment of international students, and accept rigid government
definitions of gender, while barring the consideration of race or
sex in admissions and hiring. In exchange universities would be
dangled the prospect of additional federal dollars. Newsom dismissed the
offer as a hostile takeover of America's universities, designed to
(02:30):
punish diversity, muzzle campus voices, and strip decision making power
from educators and researchers. California leaders underscored that these stakes
reach far beyond bureaucratic policy, affecting real students faculty in communities.
More than four hundred thousand California students rely on calgrants
(02:52):
each year. Newsom said that the state will not prop
up institutions that sacrifice their student's futures in all order
to appease a political agenda. Calling the compact radical, he
pledged to use the state's leverage to protect California students
and safeguard the broad exchange of ideas that defines higher learning.
(03:16):
The clash highlights California's role as a bulwark against efforts
by the Trump administration to reshape colleges into vessels for
ideological control. By drawing a hard line, the state is
affirming its commitment to diversity, student support, and academic freedom.
Universities now face a choice submit to political dictates that
(03:39):
undercut their missions, or stand with students, researchers, and free
inquiry against a partisan agenda. A federal court has delivered
a crucial reprieve for housing advocates, halting a Trump administration
bid to strip vital resources from communities confronting homelessness. District
(04:00):
Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a temporary
restraining order blocking new Department of Housing and Urban Development
rules that would have made federal housing aid contingent on
rejecting inclusive policies and proven approaches like harm reduction. For now,
seventy five million dollars in federal funding for permanent supportive
(04:23):
housing remains secure, shielding service providers from an abrupt and
politically driven disruption. The blocked rules rushed out by HUD
in early September would have barred sanctuary jurisdictions, programs supporting
transgender residents, and agencies that use the evidence based Housing
(04:43):
First model from competing for federal housing dollars. Advocates and
lawmakers blasted the restrictions as both unlawful and cruel, targeting
the very tools communities rely on to connect vulnerable residents
with stable housing. The National Alliance to and Homelessness and
Community Partners quickly sued, arguing that HUD had exceeded its
(05:06):
authority and undermined Congress's role in directing federal spending. Support
of housing programs are at the center of the fight.
These initiatives provide long term, affordable homes coupled with voluntary
services such as mental health care and recovery support to
people experiencing chronic homelessness or living with disabilities. Housing experts
(05:30):
warned that undermining Housing First could leave thousands of families
and individuals exposed to the streets, even as local coalitions
battle severe shortages of affordable housing. With the court's ruling,
caseworkers and service providers can continue prioritizing the urgent need
for safe shelter rather than bureaucratic hoops set up to
(05:52):
enforce an ideological agenda. Democratic leaders in Congress also pressed
HUD's Inspector General to invent to get the administration's retreat
from obligations already approved under the Biden administration. Senators Kirsten
Gillibrand and Patty Murray denounced the chaos imposed on nonprofits
forced to repeatedly reapply for the same grants while demand
(06:16):
for housing continues to skyrocket. For advocates, the court's decision
is far more than a procedural win. It is a
defense of fairness and humanity, ensuring that life saving housing
programs cannot be hijacked to serve political theater at the
expense of people in need. Before we get back to
(06:36):
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 and soul names
(07:00):
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 USA N N E pos
(07:23):
E L This Week Again, Listen, laugh, repeat. California's oil
refining industry is shrinking, and the reason isn't regulations. It's
the steady, irreversible decline of gasoline demand. After a decade
of shrinking sales, fueled by cleaner cars, the surge of
(07:44):
electric vehicle adoption and statewide climate policy, gasoline consumption has
dropped more than eleven percent since twenty fifteen. Now, Phillips
sixty six is Wilmington Refinery in Los Angeles and Valera's
Benetia refinery in the Bay Area, together roughly supplying fifteen
percent of California's gasoline have announced they will close in
(08:07):
the next two years. What once would have been seen
as unthinkable instead is becoming inevitable. Consumers are choosing electricity
over oil. The closure is mark not just an industrial shift,
but a societal turning point. California's clean vehicle incentives and
(08:27):
the Advanced Clean Cars to mandate requiring one hundred percent
zero emission passenger car sales by twenty thirty five have
locked in a trajectory that the market was already driving
on its own. With evs accounting for about one in
four new car purchases and efficiency improvements eating away at
fuel demand, the business case for gasoline refining has collapsed.
(08:52):
Each plant shuttered accelerates the clean energy transition, cutting pollution,
carbon emissions, and fossil fuel DePass while communities tied to
refining grapple with change. California is preparing for the future
rather than clinging to outdated industrial infrastructure. Policymakers are turning
(09:14):
investment toward workforce transitions, renewable power, and charging networks that
sustain long term economic growth. Temporary supply disruptions may occur,
but these are the growing pains of progress. The same
way coal closures and the rise of renewables transformed energy
markets before. As refineries wind down, consumers benefit from falling
(09:40):
ev costs, cleaner air, and a transportation system designed for
people and the planet, not oil profits. Far from being
a crisis, California's refinery closures are a preview of the inevitable.
A state and economy outgrowing fossil fuels, gas stations will close,
maintenance build built around engine oil and exhaust systems will shrink,
(10:03):
and even hydrogen demand tied to refining will fade. But
what arises in their place will be far more powerful,
a self reinforcing cycle of electrification, infrastructure expansion, and climate resilience.
California isn't falling behind, It's showing the rest of the
world how to move ahead. In Pennsylvania, a new kind
(10:26):
of vending machine is saving lives and breaking down barriers
to care. Instead of offering ships or soda, health to
Go Kiosks in Redding and Harrisburg provide free inloxone pregnancy tests,
fentanyl test strips, hygiene kits, socks, and wound care supplies,
all without cost and without judgment. The machines, installed through
(10:49):
a penn State led partnership are designed to meet people
where they are offering anonymous access to resources that prevent overdoses,
reduce stigma, and address basic needs often out of reach
for people experiencing homelessness or addiction. The response has been overwhelming.
In just a year, the two machines have dispensed more
(11:10):
than eleven thousand items, including nearly nineteen hundred doses of naloxone,
medication that reverses opioid overdoses, and thousands of hygiene and
wound care kits. Surveys of users show that four and
five struggle with meeting basic needs, and nearly a quarter
are unhoused or facing housing insecurity. Many reported they had
(11:34):
avoided a traditional healthcare settings due to fear of stigma,
making these machines a rare judgment free lifeline. What makes
health to Go stand out is that users can remain
anonymous while still connecting with broader services. The interactive screens
not only dispensed supplies, but also list local resources from
(11:55):
food banks and clinics to recovery programs, and even play
videos on how to use items like fentanyl strips. Each
tap on the screen becomes a connection point to health,
safety and dignity. As one user put it simply, they're
saving people from overdosing. They're saving people from dying. With
(12:16):
opioid deaths still a crisis, and overdose numbers in Pennsylvania
only beginning to ease, these machines represent more than an experiment,
their proof of what harm reduction looks like when it's
put directly into the community. The project's success is fueling
plans for expansion, with more machines expected across central Pennsylvania.
(12:37):
For the people who rely on them, they aren't just
vending machines. They're portals to survival, dignity, and hope. Up next,
a listener suggested story back in a minute, and now,
a listener suggested story from Derek. In Ipswich, Massachusetts, its
(13:00):
cranberry farmers are choosing a forward thinking path amid challenging
economic conditions by transforming unproductive cranberry bogs back into vibrant wetlands.
Faced with global competition, rising labor and utility costs, and
extreme weather impacts, farmers like Jared Roads, a fourth generation
(13:21):
grower in Carver, have embraced the state's Cranberry bog program,
which compensates farmers to restore bog lands to their natural
wetland state. The restoration projects not only preserve the land,
but also support native plants, wildlife habitat, and climate resilience.
Over the last fifteen years, Massachusetts has successfully restored more
(13:44):
than five hundred acres of wetlands, with another five hundred
acres under way. These efforts echo the region's ecological heritage,
since many cranberry farms were originally wetland ecosystems. Projects like
the Eel River Headwaters and roads Own thirty acre bog
demonstrate the power of restoration to filter water, sequester carbon,
(14:06):
provide storm buffers, and create publicly accessible spaces for hiking
and wildlife viewing. The revitalized wetlands bring nature back to
the landscape, offering a stark contrast to the monoculture cranberry
operations that once dominated these lands. For farmers approaching retirement
(14:27):
or reassessing the viability of cranberry farming, wetland restoration is
a creative way to honour their family legacies while adapting
to new environmental and economic realities. The Massachusetts Division of
Ecological Restoration works alongside local and federal partners to fund
these projects, ensuring land remains productive in ways that align
(14:49):
with long term sustainability and community benefit. These restored wetlands
also serve as natural defenses against flooding and climate impacts,
making them critical assets in today's changing world. Massachusetts stands
as a national leader in this transition, with a strong
commitment to ecological restoration alongside agricultural heritage. As native plants
(15:13):
return and waterways flow freely again, the state showcases an
inspiring model of resilience, combining nature restoration, climate action, and
thoughtful land stewardship to build a healthier, more sustainable future
for both communities and ecosystems. Thanks so much for that story, Derek.
(15:33):
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, Instagram or Blue Sky.
(15:55):
Students in Nashville stood up boldly in September, walking out
of their classrooms to demanned urgent action on gun violence.
About fifty students gathered at the University School of Nashville,
holding handmade posters with a clear message, protect children, not guns.
Their chants echoed the names of young victims, asserting their
(16:17):
right to safety, and calling on lawmakers to ban assault
weapons and high capacity magazines. This was part of a
nationwide wave of student protests organized by Students Demand Action
and Every Town for Gun Safety, inspiring change from classrooms
to capitals. The protests came on the heels of tragic violence,
(16:40):
including the recent shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis
where children lost their lives, as well as local incidents
like the Antioch High School shooting and a recent bomb
threat at the University School of Nashville itself. For teens
like seventeen year old Isabella Olino and fifteen year old
(17:00):
Kate Disher, these events aren't distant headlines. They are daily
realities that make schools feel unsafe and threaten their futures.
Their voices embody a generation demanding that schools be sanctuaries
of learning, not sites of fear. Many students wet beyond
protest signs, making direct calls to governors, senators, and representatives
(17:25):
to hold elected officials accountable. The responses from some offices,
including Senator Heidi Campbell and representatives Steve Cohen showed that
the power of student activism is being hurt. For participants
like fifteen year old Arlow Williamson, the walkouts were not
only protests, but the reclaiming of agency in a world
(17:46):
where their safety had too often been overlooked. Similar activism
bubbled up at Hillsborough High School and other Tennessee campuses,
reflecting widespread youth determination to end gun violence through concrete
eat legislative change. Fifteen year old freshman Cade Dickinson's reflection
that the Minneapolis tragedy fell too close to home underscored
(18:09):
the urgency fueling a generation uniting to say enough. These
walkouts signal a movement that refuses to accept inaction in
the face of preventable loss of life. And that's a
wrap for today's edition of Good News for Lefties. Remember
if these stories brighten your outlook, please help us spread
(18:30):
the word by rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
or your podcast platform of choice. A big thanks to
our production team, Roosevelt Hein and Aaron Watson for making
all of this possible Behind the scenes. I'm Beowulf Rockland,
weird name good news for lefties and America.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Here's what you've been missing. On the Stephanie Miller Happy
Hour podcast.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Donald put down another racist, awful video with Hakim again
in a sombrero and men behind him.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
They're all Donald Trump.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
They're all Donald Trump behind him as the mariachi behind
It's okay. So the first video, if you didn't see it,
it was a deep fake basically of Chuck Schumer and
Hakim Jefferies, and they put Hakim Jeffries in a sombrero
with a mustache for whatever, well for racist reasons obviously,
(19:45):
and then had Chuck Schumer's version say things that he
would never say. Plus he swore, which he doesn't do
in public. I assume he has a sailor's mouth in private,
but he's never said anything like that in public. And
so Donald last night decided to do it again. He
took basically the video of Jeffreys on O'Donnell and then
Lawrence o' donald Lawrence o'donald's last night and basically, you know,
(20:09):
did a similar thing, and uh, he said that Monday.
Jeffries said that Monday's video was a malignant distraction from
people who are determined to continue to rip healthcare away,
which is true. And he said that Donald is an
unseerious individual and has no interest in having a good
faith conversation. Also true. So this new video, it's just
(20:34):
it's childish to say the least. I don't expect anything
else from good point.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Subscribe to the Stephanie Miller Happy Hour podcast on Apple Podcasts,
Stephanie Miller dot com, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
And in case you missed it, here's this good news headline.
Progressive New York City council member Zorhan Mamdani has surged
to the front of the mayoral race, nearly doubling the
support of his closest rival, according to a new poll
out this week. The findings reflect growing enthusiasm for a
candidate who has built his campaign around grassroots organizing, housing justice,
(21:18):
and expanding social programs for working families. Mamdani, who first
rose to prominence by taking on housing inequalities in Queens,
has won endorsements from a range of community leaders and
progressive organizations across the city. Former Mayor Build A. Blasio
through his support behind him, praising Mamdani's unmatched energy in
(21:40):
connecting with everyday New Yorkers. The momentum underscores the appetite
for fresh leadership that prioritizes public services over corporate interests.
The poll also highlights that Mamdani's message is resonating across Burroughs,
with strong backing from young voters and communities traditionally underrepresented
(22:02):
in citywide elections. Advocates point to his record on rent protections,
immigrant rights, and public transit access as proof he has
both the vision and practical experience to resheep city Hall
from the ground up. Mamdani's commanding lead positions him as
the favorite in a city hungry for progressive change. Supporters
(22:24):
described the campaign not just as a political race, but
as a movement powered push to make New York more livable, inclusive,
and responsible to the people who call it home.
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