Randy’s Rants
Randy’s Rants is a series of essays by legendary Cleveland author, activist and CCPC Member Randy Cunningham. We’ll be featuring a different one each week for as long as Randy is willing to write the articles. . Randy is on vacation and will rejoin us August 19. If you haven’t already done so, please click the link below and fill out his survey.
CCPC Recommended
National
Hunger in Gaza reaches ‘ tipping point ‘ under Israel’s offensive as children face lifelong impacts of malnutrition Doctors and aid workers inside Gaza, themselves overworked and underfed, have been warning for months about the critical lack of food and the spiraling cost of the little that is available due to Israel’s offensive and crippling aid restrictions. They say that their worst fears are now coming to pass. Although international outrage is growing, nothing is being done.
Trump’s tariffs could squeeze US factories and boost costs by up to 4.5%, a new analysis finds As Trump prepares to announce new tariff increases, the cost of his policies are starting to come into focus for a domestic manufacturing sector that depends on global supply chains. Common sense says that if costs go up 4.5%, then prices will go up 4.5%. And this increase could also lead to stagnation of wages, layoffs and closures of plants.
The proposal by Trump’s Environmental Pollution Agency would rescind a 2009 declaration that determined that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses endanger public health and welfare. The ‘ endangerment finding ‘ is the legal underpinning of a host of climate regulations under the Clean Air Act. And of course the Polluter – in Chief wants to get rid of it.
According to an analysis at the Urban Institute, at the end of 2024, even the maximum Snap benefit would not cover the cost of a modestly priced meal in 99% of all counties in the US. Many lower – wage workers have grown more reliant on Snap benefits as food prices have risen 23.6% since 2020.
Trump’s rewriting of reality on jobs numbers is chilling, but it could backfire The firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer was exactly what dictators do to those who deliver bad news. But it could backfire by eroding the trust of investors, companies and organizations that depend on accurate and truthful statistics on the economy’s health to make major decisions.
Trump’s broken pledges are stacking up to cartoonish heights The false promises are endless. Highlights include the promise to lower grocery prices, the promise not to cut Medicare or Medicaid, the promise that trade wars and tariffs would be good for American workers and the economy, the promise to balance the budget, the promise to end the ” weaponization ” of government, And the most laughable, ” drain the swamp.”
Early GOP rifts emerge as Congress braces for shutdown fight Rifts are emerging between Republicans over how to approach next month’s government funding fight, with some pushing for leaders to try to pass full – year spending plans and others already expressing openness to another funding patch if it means less spending. When lawmakers return from the August recess they’ll have just weeks to fund the government and avoid a shutdown
Election 2028 is on – Democrats see opportunity and a wide open primary Kamala Harris’ decision not to run for governor of California seems to be a clear indication that she intends to run for president. On the progressive side, Bernie Sanders has indicated that he will not run in 2028 because he will be too old. Which means that Alexandria Ocasio – Cortez could be the progressive wing candidate in 2028.
Local
Browns talk stadium ownership, sin tax and more in pinning down Brook Park stadium details Finally some clarity on ownership cost overruns and maintenance. ” A new community authority ” – a public, nonprofit entity would be created by Brook Park to own the stadium. Construction cost overruns would be covered by the Browns. And a tripling of the Sin Tax, to be approved by Cuyahoga County voters, would cover maintenance. Would you vote for that?
Rising Star Baristas Seek Union Help Following Safety Concerns at Lakewood Cafe A leaky gas generator, a broken carbon monoxide reader and a petition to reinstate a fired worker have all led to organizing at one of Cleveland’s largest coffee shops. The employees have not yet picked a union to join and it is not yet clear how many of the 40 baristas and managers would be eligible to join a union. Right now they are asking for public support.
Polensek ends speculation, will run for re – election The “dean ” of Cleveland City Council, tough – on – crime dinosaur Mike Polensek is officially running for re – election and will challenge fellow incumbent Anthony Hairston to represent the Collinwood neighborhood. Polensek, the longest serving member of council in Cleveland history, was first elected in 1978 when he was 27 years old and is now finishing his 47th year on council
State
Consumer agency manufacturers want an audit of $237 million in subsidies to Ohio coal plants Thankfully, the coal subsidies that were passed with HB 6 in 2019 are set to end this week. But as the repeal of those subsidies takes effect, the states utility watchdog for consumers and Ohio’s manufacturers are calling on the Public Utilities Commission to audit the money paid to the plants the last two years
‘ Very Alarming ‘ Ohio Housing Advocates Decry Trump’s Executive Order on Homelessness Once again cruelty is the point. Ohio housing advocates are speaking out against Trump’s executive order that would force those experiencing homelessness off the streets by committing them to mental institutions or drug treatment facilities without their consent. Currently, no such facilities exist in the state of Ohio.
Immigration
‘ Alligator Alcatraz ‘ detainees are being held without charges and barred from legal access, lawyers say Civil Rights lawyers seeking a temporary restraining order against an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades say that ” Alligator Alcatraz ” detainees have been barred from meeting attorney’s, are being held without any charges and that a federal immigration court has canceled bond hearings.
DHS is urging DACA recipients to self deport The cruelty continues. Under Trump, DACA recipients are not automatically exempt from being deported and in fact, don’t even have any legal status. Trump said during the 2024 presidential campaign that he would deport all of DACA recipients, but after becoming president again he said he would let them stay. And now self deportation if being urged. Are DACA deportations coming next?
ICE recruits former federal workers to join its ranks amid hiring spree Trump wants to recruit 10,000 people for immigration enforcement, using new congressional funds appropriated in the Big Ugly Betrayal Bill last month. The goal is to eventually reach 1 million deportations a year and of course many of those will be immigrants who are here legally. So far this year there have been about 185,000 deportations.
Despite grand claims, a new report shows noncitizen voting hasn’t materialized New research released last week tracking state government efforts across the country confirmed what election officials have said all along: Noncitizen voting occasionally happens but in miniscule numbers, and not in any coordinated way. Not even one state found a coordinated effort to get noncitizens to vote.
Trump tightens the reins of foreign students in multifront immigration crackdown on universities Trump is making it harder and harder for international students and immigrants to pursue higher education in the US. Dreamers, foreign students seeking visas and potentially those looking to work in the country after graduation have all found themselves caught in the crossfire as Trump seeks to curb immigration while also cracking down on colleges and universities.
Black Lives Matter
Fewer Americans see discrimination as anti – DEI push gains traction, AP – NORC polling shows This very sad news. Slightly less than half of U.S. adults believe that Black people face ” a great deal ” or ” quite a bit ” of discrimination in the United States. That’s a decline from the solid majority, 60%, who thought Black Americans faced high levels of discrimination, in the spring of 2021 in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder.
Black unemployment under Trump reaches its highest rate since the pandemic. Here’s what it could mean. The latest jobs report released by the Department of Labor shows that Black unemployment spiked to 7.2% in July, marking its highest rate since the pandemic ended nearly four years ago. Since Black workers are often ” last hired and first fired, ” the statistic could be a signal of deeper trouble coming in the economy.
CCPC Late Summer Happy Hour / Social
CCPC Late Summer Happy Hour / Social Thursday, August 28 from 6 to 8 pm @ Jukebox, 1404 W.29th St. Cleveland 44113.We haven’t been to Ohio City in a while so this should be fun! No lengthy agenda with a speaker telling us about horrible things, just food and drink and conversation with like minded people. We will allow candidates and elected officials to say a few words, but no longer speeches.
Steve Holecko
CCPC Political Director
440 220 1874
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