Youth Advocacy
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 33 (223 total reports)
07.08.2024-13.08.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people as hope rises in the form of a joyful Harris/Walz ticket while the Far Right doubles down on controlling Beliefs and Bodies.
Songs to Enjoy
Satirical song for those who think that Trump, Vance, and the GOP are weird and creepy.
Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week
Journalist David Brooks reveals the essential questions to deepen any relationship
You may have heard me promote the book that David Brooks wrote about deepening our ability to have meaningful relationships, “How to Know a Person; The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen.” This book is a life-enhancer. My wife and I are both listening to it on Audible and I invested in a hard-copy so I could follow along and underline the parts that stood out to me. Brooks’ style is humorous—without ever being deprecating—it is folksy, yet profound. If I haven’t already convinced you to buy this book (or stock it for your co-workers), let me try again. Your relationships and your life will be the better for it.
Best Links of The Week
13.08.2024
The Economic Mind of Tim Walz
https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2024/08/13/g-s1-16662/the-economic-mind-of-tim-walz
As Governor, Tim Walz focused on a budget that would support children and families. The result is an example of a booming, sustainable, economy that occurs when families and children are put before the wealthy and corporations. This is an excellent read on how to grow the US economy in opposition to the spend on corporations and tax middle income family policies of Republican Administrations. It gives concrete evidence of the falsehoods behind “Trickle Down” economics.
12.08.2024
Vance’s “Cat Ladies” Remarks Reflect Broader GOP Effort to Weaponize “Family”
Under Vance’s strategy, women with children would get more votes than women without. All of this weird nonsense has one focus; weaponizing families. Project 2025, the framework designed by Trump and Vance’s largest funder and think tank—the Heritage Foundation—wants to take over your bedroom and decide what reproductive choices you make.
11.08.2024
Students and Educators Are Joining Forces to Fight Book Bans Across the US
It can be done and these students and educators are showing how to do it? How do you stop the conservative, white, christian, nationalists from achieving their fascist agenda in schools across the United States? This article reveals a working plan that groups have been successfully applying. It’s not normal to ban books that make you feel uncomfortable, it’s all part of the fascist’s weird agenda.
10.08.2024
JD Vance’s Racist Populism
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/08/jd-vance-racist-populism-white-privilege-trump-harris/
“I’m not a racist, but…” how many racist comments begin with that phrase? Here’s a new one, “I’m not a racist, but I’m voting for Trump/Vance.” If you support them, you are a racist. You are a racist by supporting two of the most bigoted, chauvinistic, people who have run for the highest office in the United States since the Civil War, and make no mistake, these two wouldn’t care less if they started another Civil War to achieve their own ends. You could declare that “You’re not racist, but…” that would only mean you have not read your party’s platform and the text (or even overviews) of Project 2025. If you are voting for Trump and Vance in November, you are a racist, no ifs, ands, or buts.
09.08.2024
Playbook: Trump's 'reset' that wasn't
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2024/08/09/trumps-reset-that-wasnt-00173380
The expectations (among the GOP) were high yesterday as their deranged demigod, Donald Trump, called for a press conference at his fortress hideaway in Florida (Mar-A-Lago). Yet, once again their hopes were dashed. Expecting somewhat of a reset to a campaign that’s floundering, they were hoping for a number of things: 1) withdrawing J.D. Vance from the ticket, 2) policies for challenging their democratic rivals, 3) perhaps even Trump’s withdrawal from the race. Instead, they got more of the same… the barely decipherable ramblings of an elderly man whose brain is deteriorating with age as well as years of lies and revenge-based hatred. With little left to offer, Trump and the GOP’s only hope is to fix the election, and again, refuse to accept the result. The Biden administration, and others, have already said they are preparing for this strong possibility (inevitability). Once again, we are reminded our strongest chance to defeat the lunacy and weirdness of the Trump platform is a resounding defeat at the polls in November. In other news this morning, far right Republicans are already challenging thousands of votes in States. It wouldn’t hurt to double-down and make sure your vote will count and not be challenged when you go to the polls or mail-in your ballot. Trump does not want to go back to court and he certainly, does not want to go to prison. The Heritage Foundation, Putin, and his US Lackeys (the GOP), do not want to lose their best shot at destroying Western Democracy. Before you vote, check your ballot and make sure it will count.
08.08.2024
The GOP Is a Messy Soap Opera Right Now
Tom Nichols, author of this commentary, is well-positioned to comment on national and international events. To quote his bio, “He is a professor emeritus of national-security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, where he taught for 25 years, and an instructor at the Harvard Extension School. He has served as a legislative aide in the Massachusetts House and the U.S. Senate.” When a person of this caliber says, “someone should take J.D. Vance’s phone away,” and that, “Trump is a deeply unwell person who is not fit to be the commander in chief, and that should he return to office, other Republican officials cannot be counted on to protect the nation—especially Vance, who reveals himself daily as every bit the intellectual lightweight and political fraud his critics believe he is,” it should shake the opinions of Trump’s followers. As Nichols points out, it does appear to have shaken Kellyanne Conway, who is almost openly calling for J.D. Vance to be replaced. Conway, who served as Trump’s Senior Counselor and spokesperson, was once photographed lounging on the Oval Office couch as if it was her personal bed away from home (one can only fear what J.D. Vance is going to do with—to—that couch), is as addicted to the Trump cult as humanly possible. She lied for him and explained his lies as, “Alternative Facts…” Of course, it won’t shake the opinions of Trump’s followers, because nothing about their opinion is based upon substance or fact. They are based on a cultic personality, a convicted, sexual offender, game-show host, who feeds a need for control in people who are frightened by the state of a world that the GOP fear-mongering machine has been conjuring up since Ronald Reagan ran for office. It feeds a desire by white, Christians, to return to a world where women did not vote, black people were silenced, and gender roles were strictly defined (if indeed, not practiced behind locked doors). Harris and Walz offer an alternative to this weird lunacy, this creepiness. Walz provided free breakfasts and lunches for every child in his State so that they were sitting in class prepared to learn. He made sure every female in his schools had access to sanitary products, he stood by LGBTQ students in the school where he taught while knowing the power it would have for a State-Championship winning football coach to take such a controversial role. We have a chance, this November, to demand a return to normalcy, a return to kindness, a return to compassion. We need a resounding majority of votes so the likes of Trump and Vance are silenced. As Harris told a crowd chanting, “Lock Him Up!” last night, “We're gonna let the courts handle that. Our job is to beat him in November.”
07.08.2024
Happy warriors Harris and Walz propose an antidote to Trump’s American carnage
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/07/politics/harris-walz-happy-warriors-analysis/
Aren’t you tired of the party of hatred and revenge? Hasn’t it gotten old (like its primary candidate, Donald Trump)? It is evident to everyone—except his cult followers—that he’s running to stay ahead of more convictions, to exact revenge on those his fragile ego feels offended by, and to maximize his personal fortune and power. He’s obviously a patsy for the far right, white christian, fascists that put him in office the first time. Last night’s acceptance speech by Tim Walz alongside candidate, Kamala Harris, and following Pennsylvania’s governor, Josh Shapiro, was a festival of joy and hope. I’m ready for hope to take the stage. I’m so done with the old, overweight, con-man taking all the air out of the world. The day we don’t hear a peep from him is a day the mental health of the world will breath a collective sigh. Let’s show him the door, let’s let the air out of his balloon, let’s send him to another courtroom where he can sit and fume, and perhaps reflect on the damage he has done to the Institution of American Democracy. Hope and Joy are in; weird and creepy are out.
This Week’s Links
13.08.2024
The Economic Mind of Tim Walz
https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2024/08/13/g-s1-16662/the-economic-mind-of-tim-walz
Trump Is Setting the Stage to Challenge the Election
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/08/trump-rally-crowd-challenge-election/679448/
Minnesota Became A ‘Trans Refuge’ Thanks To Tim Walz — And It Changed Lives
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/minnesota-trans-refuge-tim-walz_n_66ba51c1e4b0eabd2393ca01
Get a Load of Project 2025’s Horrifying Series of “Training” Videos
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61853227/project-2025-secret-training-agenda/
Reforming the Supreme Court Should Be Commonplace
The Secret to Healing Trauma
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/being-your-best-self/202408/the-secret-to-healing-trauma
12.08.2024
Vance’s “Cat Ladies” Remarks Reflect Broader GOP Effort to Weaponize “Family”
In first interview since dropping out, Biden says Trump danger to US
This Guy Is Putting The 'Hell' In Helicopter Ride
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61852780/willie-brown-helicopter-ride-trump/
11.08.2024
Students and Educators Are Joining Forces to Fight Book Bans Across the US
Chris LaCivita sunk John Kerry's presidential campaign. Now he's trying to 'Swift-boat' Tim Walz.
https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/chris-lacivita-donald-trump-swift-boat-tim-walz-rcna166020
Will the Government Stop Political Deepfakes Like Elon Musk's Kamala Harris Ad?
The Myth of Female Unelectability
10.08.2024
JD Vance’s Racist Populism
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/08/jd-vance-racist-populism-white-privilege-trump-harris/
That Mar-a-Lago Press Conference On Thursday Was Perhaps The Nuttiest Ever
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61841430/trump-mar-a-lago-presser-crowd-size/
A brief history of swift boating, from John Kerry to Tim Walz
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/09/nx-s1-5069480/swift-boat-john-kerry-tim-walz-jd-vance
Inside Project 2025’s Secret Training Videos
https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-project-2025-secret-training-videos-trump-election
What Adam Grant Just Said About People Pleasers Is Harsh. It's Also True
She was working at McDonald's at 17 and now she's become the first Mexican-born woman in space
09.08.2024
Playbook: Trump's 'reset' that wasn't
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2024/08/09/trumps-reset-that-wasnt-00173380
What to know about Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/08/nx-s1-5067814/gwen-walz-minnesota-first-lady
Right-Wing Activists Are Challenging Tens Of Thousands Of Voter Registrations
More People Should Be Talking About IVF the Way Tim Walz Is
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2024/08/tim-walz-ivf-reproductive-rights/679404/
08.08.2024
The GOP Is a Messy Soap Opera Right Now
Having a Chance Has Changed the Democrats
'Kamabla'? Trump isn't just losing the election, he's losing his mind.
Republicans Officially Enact Their Most Extreme School Book Ban
https://newrepublic.com/post/184672/utah-republicans-enact-extreme-school-book-ban
Biden says he's "not confident at all" there will be a peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses
Why Project 2025 Leader Suddenly Delayed His Book Release
15 Educational Apps That Will Make Your Kids Smarter
https://arnienicola.com/15-educational-apps-that-will-make-your-kids-smarter-35038/
07.08.2024
Happy warriors Harris and Walz propose an antidote to Trump’s American carnage
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/07/politics/harris-walz-happy-warriors-analysis/
It’s Walz
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/08/why-kamala-harris-chose-tim-walz/679377/
Tim Walz Joins the Anti-weirdness Ticket
Kamala Harris' Reaction to Tim Walz' JD Vance Jab Goes Viral
https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-reaction-tim-walz-jd-vance-jab-goes-viral-1935634
Watch: Trump Campaign Desperate to Avoid Kamala Debate Questions
https://newrepublic.com/post/184635/trump-campaign-desperate-avoid-kamala-debate-questions
Journalist David Brooks reveals the essential questions to deepen any relationship