October 26—UAW leadership has called on its members to return to their jobs at Ford after a tentative agreement was reached with the automaker. The deal, which includes a 25% general wage increase and cost of living adjustments, could be a model for agreements with the other two auto manufacturers targeted by UAW's strike, now in its sixth week: Stellantis and General Motors. Unions matter, they bring real benefits to workers, and The Social Democrat strongly supports the right of organized labor to have a place at the table.

October 26—The right wing of the House Republican delegation has prevailed after all, with fiscal and social ultra-conservative election denier Mike Johnson chosen to wield the gavel. Expect more obstruction of social democratic measures that could make life better for average Americans.

October 25—A bipartisan collection of states' attorneys general has sued Meta over practices they claim manipulate children into unhealthy engagement with the social media giant.

October 25—The Albuquerque City Council is considering joining Kansas City in making all city buses fare free. The Social Democrat believes that pubic transit is a key factor not only in living sustainably but in creating built environments designed for human beings, not automobiles. The fact that a majority of bus riders subsist on low incomes is also a major consideration for Albuquerque City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn and other proponents of the measure.

October 25—With little opposition from fellow Democrats (Reuters article), President Joe Biden appears to be sailing toward the 2024 nomination. Meanwhile, in spite of a booming economic recovery from the pandemic and major legislative achievements in the areas of infrastructure, a number of recent polls (The Hill article) cast doubt on whether the President can win in a potential rematch against Donald Trump. The Social Democrat would like to see the Democrat field widened; Joe Biden has been a great champion of social democracy, but his age, the problems associated with his son Hunter, and his too-ready identification with various aspects of "woke" culture may make him an impossible sell in the purple states (Georgia, Arizona, Nevade, Pennsylvania) he will need to take the electoral college.

October 25—With Israeli air strikes on Gaza intensifying, antisemitic incidents are up sharply in the U.S., while Biden's wholehearted support of Israel is angering some Americans who identify as Muslim or Arab. An object lesson in the dangers of tribalism.

October 24—The Republican House delegation is meeting again this morning to attempt to find a viable Speaker candidate. The hardball tactics of the party's extreme right wing have rendered the chamber ungovernable since October 3.

October 24—The Biden administration has announced grants of up to $75 million each to 31 regional tech hubs chosen from 370 applicants. The measure is intended to grow such coming technologies as critical minerals, biotech, AI and quantum computing while distributing the nation's tech industry outward from Silicon Valley, Cambridge, Massachusetts and the few other regions with major tech centers, increasing U.S. competitiveness and growing well paying employment.

October 24—Kentuckians will go to the polls this November to decide whether to keep incumbent Democrat Andy Beshear in office or opt for the state's current attorney general, Republican Daniel Cameron. Beshear's local focus and family name (his father was a former Kentucky governor) have contributed to his survival in a red-leaning state; and the race, and a debate on October 16 featuring sharp exchanges on Kentucky's restrictive abortion law, have been closely watched for signs about where the electorate may be heading in 2024

October 24—The UAW's seven-week strike against the big automakers has expanded to 28% of the major manufacturers' workforce, with 6,800 members shutting down Stellantis's Ram pickup factory in Sterling Heights, Michigan. As talks make progress with Chevrolet and Ford, some informed observers question whether it's time for UAW chief Shawn Fane, whose blunt demands are wringing sizable concessions from management, to make a deal.

October 23—Israel has intensified airstrikes on Gaza in preparation for an impending ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave in response to Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel.

October 20—The Social Democrat has long advocated for police review boards with independent investigatory powers, including the authority to subpoena witnesses, it being axiomatic, and proven in practice, that police forces cannot adequately investigate themselves ("Terry v. Ohio, Stop and Frisk, and the Making of the American Police State" on this site). Now a bill before Maryland's Prince George's County Council proposes to do just that.

October 20—One day after Trump lawyer Sidney Powell accepted a plea deal in Georgia's election racketeering case against former president Donald Trump a second Trump attorney, Kenneth Chesebro, has pleaded out. Both lawyers have received small fines, probation and community service in exchange for cooperation with Fulton County DA Fani Willis's prosecution of the Donald for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. 

Oct 20—After failing on a third ballot, House Republicans have withdrawn their nomination of far-right Trumpist and election denier Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House. Former speaker Kevin McCarthy says he and his fellow Republicans will "go back to the drawing board" while congressional business remains at a standstill. Twenty-five moderate Republicans joined all 212 House Democrats to block Jordan's election.

Oct 20—President Biden has proposed legislation to provide significant new funding for national security measures, chief among them military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and Israel, increased staffing of border agents and asylum teams, and joint security initiatives with Indo-Pacific allies. Senate hearings on the measure are scheduled for October 31.