Town Hall Turmoil, Trump’s Economic Woes, AI in Healthcare, Housing Hope, and HOA Reform: Good News for Democracy

A dose of uplifting stories that celebrate democracy, progress, and justice. The latest wins for the political left! GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards faces a fiery town hall as constituents demand accountability. A new CNN poll shows Americans aren’t buying Trump’s economic spin. Illinois lawmakers tackle AI in healthcare, ensuring human oversight for life-altering decisions. Nashville fights corporate homebuyers with the “Homes Not Hedge Funds Act.” Minnesota takes on HOA overreach with a new reform bill. And in Ohio, a majority-Black community stands tall against neo-Nazi intimidation. From grassroots activism to legislative wins, this episode is packed with good news for progressives, democracy, and anyone who believes in a fairer future. It's positive, daily news for democracy! 

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You can find out more about GNFL's daily news stories here:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-rep-chuck-edwards-mercilessly-taunted-in-another-wild-town-hall-clash/

https://www.wsmv.com/2025/03/14/nashville-lawmakers-introduce-bill-stop-corporate-investors-buying-up-homes/

https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/03/13/hoa-reform-bill-clears-first-hurdle-in-state-senate/

https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/democratic-lawmaker-grows-concerned-with-use-of-ai-in-health-care/

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/12/politics/cnn-poll-trump-economy/index.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/lincoln-heights-ohio-armed-protection-group-neo-nazi-rally-rcna196240

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
Good News for Lefties and America. Hello, my fellow lefties, progressives,
and anyone else who's tired of the doom and gloom
news cycle. Welcome to Good News for Lefties, the podcast
that shines a light on the stories that make us cheer.
I'm your host, Beobel Franklin. Before we dive into today's stories,

(00:27):
I've got a quick request for you. If you're enjoying
the show, please share it with your friends, your family,
your coworkers, and anyone else who could use a little
positivity in their lives. You can find us on Facebook,
Blue Sky, and Instagram. If you're feeling extra generous, leave
us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever
you listen. It helps us spread the good news far

(00:49):
and wide. All right, let's get to it. Picture this
a Republican congressman, a town hall, and a room full
of fired up constituents. Sounds like a recipe for well,
let's just say it didn't go well for the GOP.
North Carolina Representative Chuck Edwards, a Trump loyalist, decided to
hold a town hall in Ashville in his district. Now

(01:12):
you'd think he'd come prepared, right wrong. The man walked
into a buzzsaw of booze, jeers and some downright brutal questions.
The evening started politely enough, with a warning to the
audience to remain respectful. I guess maybe they knew something
was coming, but respect, my friends, is a two way
straight and when Edwards began boasting about voting for the

(01:33):
House Budget Resolution, a GOP backed plan that's about as
popular as a root canal, the crowd let him have it.
Edwards tried to power through his prepared remarks, but the
crowd wasn't having it. Are you afraid of Trump? One
man shouted. Another voter asked, what do you plan to
do to make sure North Carolina does not get taken

(01:55):
over by dictatorship and fascism? Edwards, with a straight face, replied,
it sounds like there's a little bias in that question.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
The crowd booed louder, but the piece de resistance came
when a veteran stood up and told Edwards do your
job that you were sent there to do represent us
all you're lying. I'm a veteran and you don't give
a fuck about me. Edwards, instead of engaging, had the
man removed by law enforcement. Classy moved Chuck. By the

(02:25):
end of the night, Edwards was visibly frustrated, muttering, I
feel like this is not productive with everybody yelling at me. Well, Chuck,
maybe if you listened instead of deflecting, you'd find it
more productive. The best part this town hall happened after
the Trump administration reportedly warned GOP representatives to avoid such events,

(02:46):
but Edwards decided to go ahead anyway, and for that
we thank him. Nothing warms a lefty's heart like watching
democracy in action. All right, let's talk about the economy.
You know that thing Trump keeps claiming he's great at Well,
according to a new CNN poll, americans aren't buying it.
Fifty six percent of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of

(03:08):
the economy, the worst numbers of his presidency, and it's
not hard to see why markets are sliding, Investors are nervous,
and his trade policies are about as popular as a
skunk at a garden party. While Trump's economic approval rating
is tanking, his overall job approval is well still terrible.
Only forty five percent of Americans approve of the job

(03:29):
he's doing, while fifty four percent disapprove. The poll also
found that Americans are deeply concerned about Trump's approach to
presidential power. Fifty nine percent say his views and policies
are too extreme. This poll is a reminder that Americans
aren't fooled by Trump's bluster. They see through the lies,

(03:49):
the chaos, and the self serving policies, and that, my friends,
is good news for democracy. Before we get back to
the news, I'd like to tell you about a podcast
called Love Doesn't Pay the Bills. It explores the role
of family caregivers in the modern United States. Care work
is vital to all other aspects of life, yet often

(04:11):
under resource, caregivers can't provide for their own needs based
on their love for those they care for alone, access
to income matters. Caregiving touches everyone at some point in
their lives. So listen to Love Doesn't Pay the Bills.
I'm a caregiver and maybe you are too, or will be.
Go to Love Doesn't Pay the Bills dot Com. Listen

(04:32):
on this platform or wherever podcasts are heard. Now, let's
talk about something that's both fascinating and terrifying. Artificial intelligence,
specifically it's use in healthcare. Illinois Representative Bob Morgan, however,
is leading the charge to regulate AI in healthcare, and
let me tell you it's about time. Morgan has introduced

(04:55):
two bills aimed at curbing the unchecked use of AI
in health care decisions. The first bill would prohibit licensed
mental health professionals from using AI in therapy sessions. Why
because AI can't recognize when someone is in crisis or
adapt to nonverbal cues. In other words, it's about as
empathetic as a toaster. The second bill would require health

(05:19):
insurers to have a human review AI driven decisions that deny, reduce,
or terminate coverage. Right now, insurance companies are using AI
algorithms to make life or death decisions without any oversight,
and as Morgan pointed out, we've already seen lawsuits against
major insurers like Signa and United Health for denying life

(05:41):
saving care based on AI decisions. Morgan's message is clear,
technologies should serve people and not the other way around.
Next up, we head to Nashville, where lawyers are taking
on corporate investors who are buying up homes and pricing
out working families. Senator Charlene Oliver and Representative Afton Ben

(06:05):
have introduced the Homes Not Hedge Funds Act, which would
prohibit investors from buying more than one hundred single family
homes in Tennessee's largest counties. The goal to make home
ownership attainable for working families. Again, this is a big deal, folks.
In Davidson County, investor purchases made up twenty percent of

(06:25):
all home sales between twenty eighteen and twenty twenty two,
and in neighborhoods like Antioch, investors bought twenty one percent
of all homes. That's not just a problem, it's a crisis.
But Oliver and Ben are fighting back. As Oliver put it,
owning a home is one of the most reliable ways
to build wealth, and this bill ensures that more working

(06:47):
families have a fair shot at the American Dream. Amend
to that Up next, a listener suggested story back in
a minute. In Lincoln Heights, Ohio, a majority black town
residents have formed an armed protection group after a neo
Nazi rally left them feeling unsafe. The Lincoln Heights Safety

(07:11):
and Watch program was born out of necessity when a
neo Nazi group waved swastika flags and shouted racial slurs
on a highway overpass. The police response was underwhelming, no
arrests were made, and residents were left feeling unprotected, so
they took matters into their own hands. Armed volunteers now

(07:32):
patrol the streets, ensuring kids get to school safely and
standing guard against hate. As one resident put it, I
have never felt safer as a black man in my
community than I have right now. Local mom Chantell Phillips
said she saw the neo Nazi rally playing out on
social media as it happened, and she trusts the Neighborhood
Protection Group to be more proactive than officers with the

(07:55):
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, whose jurisdiction includes Lincoln Heights. I
feel it's more secure now, Phillips said, I know my
son can walk home and be okay. Thanks for that story, Isaac.
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 one,

(08:18):
or drop us a line at beowulf at two squared
Media Productions dot com. Now a story about a homeowners
association or HOA. You know there's entities that can fine
you for painting your door the wrong shade of beige,
or leaving your trash out five minutes too long. Well,
in Minnesota, lawmakers are finally saying enough is enough. A

(08:42):
new HOA reform bill known as SF seventeen fifty slash
HF one two six' eight just cleared its first hurdle
in the State, senate passing unanimously out of The housing
And Homelessness Prevention. Committee and let me tell, you this
bill is a breath of fresh air for anyone who's
ever felt like THEIR hoa was more of a dictatorship

(09:03):
than a community. Service the bill takes aim at some
of the most EGREGIOUS hoa. Practices, first it would require
hoas to create a clear schedule of fines and fees
and distribute it to. Homeowners no more, surprise five hundred
dollars bills for forgetting to trim your. Hedges, second it
would ensure homeowners have the right to contest fines and

(09:26):
be given a reasonable amount of time to correct. Violations
and it would outlaw the practice of charging homeowners simply
for asking. Questions yeah you heard that. Right some hoas
have been charging people just for daring to inquire about
what the rules. Are but, wait there's. More the bill
also tackles conflicts of, interest requiring property management companies to

(09:49):
disclose any financial stakes they have in construction firms or
other businesses that might benefit FROM hoa. Decisions that's, big.
Folks in, communities property management and companies have been caught
funneling repair contracts to their own construction, firms leaving homeowners
footing the bill for overpriced. Repairs this bill is part

(10:10):
of a broader push for housing reform In. Minnesota The
Senate Housing committee also passed The More, Homes Right Places,
act which encourages higher density residential development and a build
to eliminate parking minimums. Statewide it's all about making housing more, affordable,
accessible and. Fair so here's To minnesota for standing up

(10:31):
TO hoa. Overreach because at the end of the, day
your home should be your, castle not your hoa's cash.
Cow and that's our. Show. Folks remember to share this,
podcast leave a, review and find us On, Facebook Blue,
sky And. Instagram until next, time stay, hopeful stay, engaged
and keep fighting the good. Fight I'm Beowulf, rocklin weird,

(10:55):
name good news for, lefties and a.

Speaker 3 (10:59):
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