Before Chicago rapper Vic Mensa performed at the March for Our Lives, he mentioned Sacramento’s Stephon Clark, shot 20 times by police in his own backyard on March 18, holding a cell phone that cops claim they thought was a gun.
Trump
DIARRHEA DIARIES AND DEAD PUSHERS
Like “The Wall,” it’s stupid and simple and perfect for Trump, who has been praising Rodrigo Duterte, whose drug war has killed more than 12,000 people, according to Human Rights Watch. And, of course, Trump’s Attorney General Jeff Sessions probably hates weed more than anything—except Trump, who has been calling Sessions “Mr. Magoo.”
REVISITING FREDERICK DOUGLASS
If Spicer was telling the truth last year, and the Trump administration wants to highlight Douglass’s invaluable contribution to American history, they should start with his historic 1852 speech.
SURFACE OF POTENTIAL: SHAUN KING SPEAKS ON RACISM, INTERSECTIONALITY AND TRUMP AT NEU
“We need people. … We must be highly organized, with a comprehensive strategic plan. And we need a lot of money.”
CAPE FEAR: SHERIFF SIDES WITH TRUMP AND ICE, AGAINST CONSTITUENTS AND IMMIGRANTS
As the debate over immigration increases in urgency, the Massachusetts sheriff and his department are about to enter into a cooperation agreement with ICE, which would operationalize local forces to assist Trump’s regime in deporting undocumented people on the Cape.
DRUG CHECKING AS SELF-HELP HARM REDUCTION
“Always test every batch,” Fuentes says. “Don’t assume because the last batch.” He calls it the “chocolate chip” effect when the drugs aren’t cut well and the fentanyl is not well distributed.
NATIONAL WIRE: CRITICS CALL HHS PROPOSAL ‘LICENSE TO DISCRIMINATE’
Naomi Goldberg, movement and policy researcher with the Movement Advancement Project, said enforcement of that rule could apply not only to those who refuse to provide abortion or contraceptive services, but also to those who refuse to provide services to LGBT people in need of medical care - and that can be life-threatening.
CANNABIZ CORNER: CLIMATE RESOURCES GROUP (CRG)
Massachusetts has a real opportunity to lead in sustainable cannabis cultivation, but the question is: how many poorly designed grow ops will come and go before Massachusetts cannabis cultivation facilities are as environmentally responsible as they can be?
NATIONAL WIRE: STUDY SAYS FOOD ASSISTANCE IMPROVES HEALTH
The Trump administration has proposed cutting SNAP by $192 billion over 10 years. But the paper suggests cutting benefits could harm health and raise health care costs.
FIRE AND FIRE AND FURY
I watched all of this play out on cable as I tried to deal with the disaster bureaucracy. And it was delightful to see the pundits all talking about Bannon’s terrible week, even if it came for all the wrong reasons.