Political articles/news from local authors
The ability for Fresno County departments to celebrate cultural, LGBTQ+, and community heritage events may soon be sharply curtailed, after a 3 to 2 vote Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors moved forward a policy that will stifle inclusivity and silence underrepresented voices. The proposed changes would require department heads to seek advance approval – […]
A federal judge has dismissed former California congressman Devin Nunes’s defamation lawsuit against MSNBC host Rachel Maddow and NBCUniversal, ruling that the network’s reporting did not meet the legal threshold of “actual malice.” In a 24-page decision issued Friday, U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel granted summary judgment to NBCUniversal. He concluded that “no reasonable jury
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has revised its policies to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order prohibiting transgender women from competing in women’s sports. The policy change appears in an updated version of the USOPC’s “Athlete Safety Policy,” dated June 18 and quietly posted on its website Monday. The 27-page document does
In a continuation of troubling public statements and policy maneuvers, Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld has launched a direct attack on the LGBTQ+ community. Under the guise of “neutrality” and “good governance,” Bredefeld is seeking to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, target vital public health outreach, and restrict visibility of LGBTQ+ people in
Equality California released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revision proposal for the 2025–2026 state budget, which would have detrimental impacts on already underserved communities: “We are deeply concerned by the Governor’s revised budget proposal, which would roll back critical support for some of California’s most
A recent 19th News/SurveyMonkey poll conducted April 11-21 found that nearly half of Americans (49%) disapprove of politicians focusing on transgender issues, up from 43% before the November election. This sentiment is shared by a majority of Republicans (57%). The poll also indicates that Democrats and Independent voters are less likely than before the election
House and Senate Democrats reintroduced the Equality Act, landmark legislation aimed at amending the 1964 Civil Rights Act to explicitly add federal anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. This marks the sixth time the bill has been introduced since 2015, underscoring the ongoing push by Democrats to secure these rights at the federal level. Democrats held
Former Republican New York U.S. Representative George Santos was sentenced to 87 months, over 7 years, in federal prison on Friday, April 25, 2025. U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert delivered the sentence in Central Islip, New York, marking a significant legal conclusion for the figure known for his numerous fabrications and fraudulent activities during and
Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a significant memo this week targeting access to transgender healthcare for minors across the United States. The directive signals the Justice Department’s intent to increase scrutiny on medical professionals, hospitals, clinics, and even drug manufacturers and distributors involved in providing or facilitating such care. Bondi stated the department would leverage
In a significant move amidst a contentious national landscape, California lawmakers have reaffirmed the state’s commitment to inclusivity by rejecting two bills aimed at restricting the participation of transgender youth in school sports. On Tuesday, April 1st, following hours of impassioned testimony, the state Assembly’s Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism voted down the
