Tidbits- July 24-Readers Comments: Working-Class Social, Economic Attitudes; Academic Scholarship on Israel, Palestine; Mpls Selects Democratic Socialist; Dem Youth Wing Passes Amendment Opposing Ongoing Genocide in Gaza; Deportations Destroys Jobs

Readers Comments: Working-Class Social, Economic Attitudes; Genocide; Academic Scholarship on Israel, Palestine; Minneapolis Selects Democratic Socialist; Dem Youth Wing Passes Amendment Opposing Ongoing Genocide in Gaza; Deportations Destroys Jobs

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Tidbits - Reader Comments, Resources, Shorts, AND cartoons - July 24, 2025,Portside

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Firing #Colbert is a canary in a coal mine.  --  Cartoon by Peter Kuper

 

Firing #Colbert is a canary in a coal mine. Next #kimmel ?#sethmeyers ? #JonStewart ?
This is shocking, but not surprising.
The King fears humor.

Peter Kuper
July 19, 2025
kuperart

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Re: New Report: Working-Class Social and Economic Attitudes
 

From James H. Williams, comes this analysis of some of the survey views of working class voters from which Isaac Rabbini concludes that the "Democrats" could win with a progressive program. While I am convinced that some Democrats could win in some places, I am not at all persuaded that leaders of the party want a progressive program. Many recent examples suggest that business as usual and loyalty to big donors remain their strategies.

    Working-Class Voters Are Not Centrists
    

More? Via Portside - New Report: Working-Class Social and Economic Attitudes

Daniel Millstone
Post on Facebook

 

Re: Why Did This Farmworker Die in an Immigration Raid?
 

They tased him, so that he'd fall. They killed him. Several Spanish speaking outlets have reported this based on witness statements.

Just another among the many murdered by these thugs.

Bequi Marie
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

 

Re: I’m a Genocide Scholar. I Know It When I See It.
 

Tragically yes while the world watches and the current occupant of the executive branch of US boasts of turning the Gaza strip into a beach resort. 

Genie Lindsey

 

Re: Why Academic Scholarship on Israel and Palestine Threatens Western Elites
 

This is all true. I entered a Ph.D. program in Middle Eastern Studies at the Univ of Michigan Ann Arbor in 1966.........in 1967 when I was learning was dangerous to discuss during the euphoria among Jews on campus at "winning" the war and occupying so much territory. Everyone was an expert on campus except people who actually studied the subject.

Carolyn Toll Oppenheim
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

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I learned, at U-Wis in the later 1960s, that only ten years earlier, folk dancing included Palestinian, African and Israeli dances and that people took part in each others'. By 1967, campus Hillel reflected the Pentagon view, but by 1970, it defended people rushing in to get away from the cops. That the leader of the Jewish sororities was a leading antiwar activists (later in the LA city council) reflected the difference. But 20 years or more of Birthright Israel has dragged Hillel there and perhaps everywhere back into the Hawk Camp.

Paul Buhle
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

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My experience with organized Zionism in NYC that, except for Hashomer Hatzair, the CP group, the Zs took no part in the Civil Rights, unlike many Jewish organizations, including Reform youth organizations.

David Berger
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

 

In the Toilet  --  Cartoon by Nick Anderson

 


 

With President Trump’s budget scalpel finally carving up public broadcasting like it’s a Thanksgiving turkey filled with liberal stuffing, America’s children are being lovingly shoved into the comforting arms of Skibidi Toilet and the algorithmic abyss..

Nick Anderson
July 18, 2025
Pen Strokes

 

Re: 80 Years After Trinity
 

IMAGINE: that we put the same amount of effort into caring for others that we put into constructing methods to cause pain, suffering, and death.

Mary-Alice Strom
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

 

Re: The Court’s Liberals Are Trying To Tell Americans Something
 

Three women: DEI.

Gwendolyn Keita Robinson
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

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Imagine, for the balance of their respective career as a jurist in the Supreme Court, their legacy will be a trail of powerfully written dissenting opinions.

Luis Gonzalez
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

 

Fat man in the White House: I’m swollen and I can’t fess up  --  Cartoon by Lalo Alcaraz

 

Lalo Alcaraz
July 18, 2025
https://www.pocho.com/

 

Re: Minneapolis DFL Convention Endorses Democratic Socialist Omar Fateh for Mayor Over Jacob Frey
 

In Minneapolis, Democratic Socialist State Senator wins the endorsement of the Democratic Farmer Labor party in his bid for Mayor. Thanks to Portside for the link. 

Daniel Millstone
Post on Facebook

 

Re: What California History Has To Say About the New York Mayor’s Race
 

Here's at least one problem with all this. The Dems like the GOP, is controlled by millionaires who couldn't care less about poor people or their problems. While we want Mamdani to win, and hopefully begin some reforms, the Dems will always be a party of millionaires (in control) with a guilty conscience. That's not what a real working class party is all about. A real socialist party must be built (hopefully GREEN party) that can stand on its own and not use the Dems as a surrogate birth mother. A new way has to be found. Mamdani's will be few and far between --if ever--found, and the establishment will try to destroy him tooth and nail. It will be a miracle if he's elected, and a bigger miracle if he actually achieves something, with all the political opposition to him.

Ted Pierce
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

 

The Republican idea of a healthcare system  --  Cartoon and Commentary by Ann Telnaes

 

image - GOP_Healthcare_Telnaes
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wIod!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_a…

Between their Medicaid cuts and an anti-vaccine HHS secretary, this is the Republicans’ idea of a healthcare system. And as I’ve said before, Americans don’t have a healthcare system, they have a healthcare insurance system. Contrary to what politicians say, it is not the best in the world- far from it. There are many, many other countries which provide superior preventive care to all (which is the foundation of a healthy society).

Ann Telnaes
July 7, 2025
Open Windows- Ann Telnaes

Open Windows- Ann Telnaes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

 

Re: Trump's Labor Department Proposes More Than 60 Rule Changes in a Push to Deregulate Workplaces 

(posting on Portside Labor)
 

People are going to get hurt.  This rollback all the protections we worked hard to put in place and literally on the backs of workers who died because of these dangers.  

In NYC Home health workers work for 24 hours and only get paid for 13 and the New York City Council refuses to do anything. The speaker insists it is up to the state to handle. New York City councilman Chris Marte has a bill that the City Council speaker Adrienne Adams refuses to move. These workers are largely immigrant mostly Chinese women. .  

Marianna

 

Re: The Bell is Tolling for Public Broadcasting and CBS and Colbertgate

(posting on Media Bits and Bytes – July 22, 2025)
 

Re PBS and NPR:  while joining most intelligent and caring people in condemning the massive cuts to public media, I think we should say two things:

1. Jeff Cohen (and Portside editors) must certainly have known for quite some time that big corporations don't care about democracy or free speech— why would they assume that most readers don't also know this and are just learning it now? That's kind of arrogant (and misinformed), isn't it?

2. What progressive writers should be doing is urge people to listen to and watch — and support — the Pacifica stations, which have always provided progressive and accurate news and programs, and which thanks to the internet can now be heard and seen even for those who don't have a local station nearby.

Karen Lee Wald

 

Lying Dog  --  Cartoon by Rob Rogers

 


 

"Trump denied sending a letter to Jeffrey Epstein that included a sketch of a nude lady. He claimed, "I never wrote a picture in my life." Then, the internet provided plenty of evidence to the contrary. What a surprise."

Rob Rogers
July 22, 2025
TinyView

 

Re: Re: Sunday Science: The Fight From Within: The Science of Immunotherapy
 

Very important, and a good description of the subject. Another aspect that needs more research is how bee venom therapy seems to modulate the immune system, effective in boosting the response to some cancers, and in 'dialing down' the immune system in autoimmune diseases

Dan Morgan
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

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Sounds very plausible to this layperson

Marianne Hitchen
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

 

Re: Cancelling Colbert, Bribery, an $8Bn Deal: What’s Going On at Paramount?

(posting on Portside Culture)
 

BOYCOTT PARAMOUNT, BOYCOTT CBS

Will U. Buzzoff
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

 

Deny, Deflect, Distract  --  Cartoon by Jeff Stahler

 

Jeff Stahler
July 22, 2025
Jeff Stahler

 

Youth Wing of the Democratic Party Passes Amendment Opposing Israel’s ‘Ongoing Genocide in Gaza’

The amendment underscores growing fault lines between Israel and the Democratic party.

By Grace Gilson
July 22, 2025
Jewish Telegraph Agency
 

Fatima Heyward, the newly elected president of the Young Democrats of America, speaking at the organization's convention in Philadelphia last week. (Screenshot  //  Jewish Telegraph Agency)

The Young Democrats of America, the youth wing of the Democratic Party, has passed an amendment to its foreign policy plank opposing the “Israeli government’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.”

The amendment, which passed narrowly at the organization’s convention in Philadelphia last week, also expresses opposition to the Israeli government’s “occupation of the West Bank, and its denial of civil and political rights on an equal basis in the territories it militarily occupies,” according to an updated foreign policy plank reviewed by Jewish Insider.

The changes to the organization’s foreign policy stances underscore a sharp decline in the perception of Israel across the Democratic Party as Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza wages on after more than 21 months.

Last month, a poll released by Quinnipiac University found that among Democrats, 12% said that their sympathies lay more with Israelis, while 60% sympathized more with Palestinians. In February, a Gallup poll found that just 33% of Democrats have a favorable view of Israel overall.

The Young Democrats of America added the word “genocide” to an existing amendment which outlined its policy stances for the years 2023 to 2025. It was proposed to “reflect current events and align with present-day actions,” according to a platform committee document from the convention obtained by Jewish Insider.

Using the term “genocide” to describe Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza has become a lightning rod for discussions surrounding the war. Israel and its supporters vehemently deny the characterization, but as the death toll mounts in Gaza and killings at aid distribution sites have been reported on a near-daily basis, some of Israel’s supporters are beginning to use the term, as are a number of scholars of genocide.

At the biennial convention last week, YDA also approved a resolution that voiced support for student protests “against U.S. complicity” in what it called the “Israeli government’s genocidal actions in Gaza,” according to a document shared with Jewish Insider.

Last year, some Jewish caucus members criticized the group’s denunciation of former President Joe Biden after he gave an address condemning violence at pro-Palestinian campus protests.

But despite the organization’s condemnation of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, some efforts to amend YDA’s Middle East policy plank failed to pass, including an effort to strike a line that endorsed Israel’s “right to exist as a Jewish democratic state,” according to Jewish Insider.

Some delegates also proposed removing language that condemned “the oppression of the Iranian government” and backing “anti-regime protests,” which was met by alarm by Jewish members following Israel’s ceasefire with Iran, according to Jewish Insider.

While those proposals failed to pass, one member of YDA’s Jewish caucus told Jewish Insider that the fact they were suggested “presents a scary reality.”

 

Trump’s Deportation Agenda Will Destroy Millions of Jobs
 

Both immigrants and U.S.-born workers would suffer job losses, particularly in construction and child care

By Ben Zipperer
July 10, 2025
Economic Policy Institute

 

Overview

 • Read the Report

Summary: Deportations will eliminate millions of jobs held by immigrant and U.S.-born workers according to research on increased immigration enforcement.

Deportations will lead to job losses
 

Key findings

  • The number of deportations will skyrocket once the Trump administration fully rolls out its agenda. This will curtail business operations and reduce employer demand for immigrant and U.S.-born labor.

  • If the administration follows through on its goals of deporting 4 million people over four years:

      • There will be 3.3 million fewer employed immigrants and 2.6 million fewer employed U.S.-born workers at the end of that period.
      • Employment in the construction sector will drop sharply: U.S.-born construction employment will fall by 861,000, and immigrant employment will fall by 1.4 million.
      • The deportations will eliminate half a million child care jobs.

  • California, Florida, New York, and Texas will have the highest number of job losses due to larger immigrant populations in these states.

Why this matters

Deporting vast numbers of immigrants from the United States is a major goal of the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress. However, immigrants are an integral part of the U.S. labor market, and an increase in deportations will result in fewer jobs for both immigrant and U.S.-born workers.

How to fix it

To limit damage to the labor market, policymakers should stop the tactics that are vastly increasing immigration enforcement like the arrest, detention, and deportation of immigrants, and reinstate temporary immigration protections like parole and Temporary Protected Status. Instead of providing additional funds for an increase in aggressive and indiscriminate immigration enforcement, Congress should focus on policies that will improve wages and working conditions like providing work permits and green cards to those who lack a regular immigration status, as well as providing adequate resources for the enforcement of labor standards.

Economic Policy Institute  
1225 Eye St. NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-775-8810 • epi@epi.org