american civil liberties union

Host: Kevin Smith Dives into the weekly news most impactful to the Heartland

HEADLINES

• Fascism on full display in Montana Legislature
  • CBS - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/zooey-zephyr-censured-montana-house-transgender-lawmaker/
• Your tax dollars are paying for Candidate ads for AG Andrew Bailey
  • KSDK - https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/missouri-psa-andrew-bailey/63-104fcd6b-02b0-4ddc-910e-4a1ce338935c

LIGHTNING ROUND

Missouri

• Bailey's emergency order that would set barriers to accessing gender-affirming care in Missouri is delayed until at least May 1. 
  • Missouri Independent - https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/judge-halts-missouri-ags-rule-limiting-transgender-health-care-until-may-1/?fbclid=IwAR2qGWJ_DB2Ic6OOc3IXtFnxg4y11JepsieZQamOGZ47mYhsxz8NPmOQHMQ&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
• Gov Mike Parson, big mad that his boy Bailey did poorly in  court, wants special session to push discrimination laws against Trans citizens.
  • St. Louis Post Dispatch - https://stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/governor-threatens-to-keep-missouri-lawmakers-in-session-over-transgender-rules/article_4c0925a0-e510-11ed-a66d-3f113461b744.html
  • KSHB Kansas - https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/missouri-gov-mike-parson-wont-call-special-session-to-clarify-abortion-law
• A Missouri school’s first black basketball coach has been forced out. Was it his style — or is race involved? 
  • Yahoo News - https://news.yahoo.com/missouri-school-first-black-coach-110000026.html

Kansas,

• Republican legislators in Kansas have enacted what may be the most sweeping transgender bathroom law in the U.S. 
  • AP - https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-bathroom-law-kansas-b3d068afa2bc02bb15314ee04e8e3899

Oklahoma,

• Teacher shortages finally make OK Republicans take notice
  • NPR - https://www.npr.org/2023/04/26/1171691225/teacher-walkout-oklahoma-republican-anniversary
  • Oklahoma State School Boards Association https://www.ossba.org/2022/09/14/teacher-staffing-survey-shows-record-vacancies/

Texas,

• Texas legislature doubles down on bad power grid planning.
  • Slate - https://slate.com/business/2023/04/texas-power-grid-senate-plan-gas-fossil-fuels-renewables.html
• The Texas House of Representatives on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a bill to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
  • Forbes - https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajherrington/2023/04/26/texas-house-passes-marijuana-decriminalization-bill/?sh=760c5a202b36

Nebraska,

• Several Nebraska lawmakers, both Republican and Democrat came to the defense of State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha on Wednesday after a complaint was filed alleging she has a potential conflict of interest on proposed restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors.
  • Nebraska Examiner - https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/26/nebraska-lawmakers-defend-colleague-for-out-of-bounds-conflict-of-interest-complaint/

And lastly, 

• Tennessee faces a lawsuit from the U.S. Justice Department challenging Tennessee’s new law banning transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care.
  • NBC - https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/us-sues-tennessee-ban-care-transgender-youth-rcna81704

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“Change The Conversation”

Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium 

http://www.americanaquarium.com/

There seems to be a lack of consensus regarding whether or not AI is about to change everything or if it's more hype than substance. We explore several news items that look into this. Plus, the ACLU doesn't think the US should ban TikTok. Airbnb might ban you based on who you hang out with. And DARPA is looking for some new aircraft designs.

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This week, we’re talking to Carissa McGee. In 2006, when she was only 16, she was a star basketball player at Mayfield High School and a Gatorade Player of the Year.

But then, everything changed.

McGee was charged after police say she stabbed her mother and older sister Marie, who tried to intervene. Both were hospitalized but survived. The details are much more complicated and involve issues of isolation and mental health. But, ultimately, she entered a no-contest plea to charges of attempted murder and was sentenced as an adult to 21 years. At age 17, she was incarcerated at the Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Grants alongside much older women.

Due to good time and other adjustments to her sentence, she was granted parole after serving about nine years. Since her release, McGee has proven that she has turned her life around. She has returned to her love of basketball — officiating middle school and high school basketball games for the New Mexico Activities Association. She has also created her own nonprofit, Women in Leadership, an organization that helps women whose lives have been impacted by the criminal justice system.

During this year’s legislative session, lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 64, which would prohibit life sentences without the possibility of release or parole for serious youthful offenders. We’ll talk about what’s in the bill, how things are going, and why Carissa has been testifying in the Legislature, urging lawmakers to support it.

We’ll also be joined by Denali Wilson, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico — the ACLU — who has also been advocating for the passage of the bill.

This week, we're happy to have Carissa and Denali joining us.

Teacher snitch lines, mask mandates, banned books and LGBTQ+ rights in public education are all under attack from the right, seemingly, so White kids aren't uncomfortable. Kelli and Michael Paul continue the conversation on public education and the cyclical nature of issues coming up today the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, Mary Bauer. Mary shares insight on the ACLU's present-day work on mask mandates, LGBTQ+ rights and how those areas in particular are under attack in public education from the right.

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Sara and Jenaye discuss some upcoming events, including Quinton’s Fun Record’s ALCU benefit.