As we continue our effort to keep you up-to-date on how money corrupts American government and politics, as well as other news of the day, we’re is pleased to publish this daily digest compiled by BillMoyers.com’s Michael Winship.
_____________________________________________________
The latest from Greece –> The official bank holiday has been extended through Wednesday as lines at ATMs continued and the European Central Bank maintained a cash lifeline to keep the nation’s financial institutions from going belly up — for now. Germany continues to stand firm in its insistence that further austerity cuts must be made but other European countries seem more open to negotiation as Prime Minister Alexis Tsirpas and the new Greek finance minister present new proposals today at a Eurozone emergency meeting.
UPDATE: No formal proposal was offered by Greece at today’s Eurozone meeting. The Washington Post: “The surprise twist further complicated Greece’s last-ditch effort to renew the flow of European funds and keep the country from slipping deeper into financial chaos, which could lead to an exit from the common currency.” Prime Minister Tsirpas is to address the European Parliament on Wednesday.
Iran Nuclear Talks Reach Another Deadline Tonight –> But the talks go on. Associated Press: “The U.S. is in a tough spot. President Barack Obama has expended significant political capital on finalizing an agreement that has prompted suspicion from Iran’s regional rival, Saudi Arabia, outright hostility from America’s closest Mideast ally, Israel, and deep ambivalence even among Obama’s Democratic allies in Congress.”
SC State Senate says drop the Stars and Bars –> By a vote of 37 to 3, legislators agreed that the Confederate flag on the grounds of the statehouse in Columbia, SC, has to be removed. Now the bill has to be approved one more time in the Senate before moving to the state’s House of Representatives. The New York Times editorializes: “The overwhelming vote was an unambiguous declaration that would have seemed impossible a month ago. With it, the senators chose to put away old business — the Civil War, Reconstruction, jut-jawed defiance to equality for black citizens — so their state could finally take up the ever-pressing, unfinished job of reconciliation.”
Get away from those spinning doors –> At The Intercept, Lee Fang reports that former Attorney General Eric Holder, “After failing to criminally prosecute any of the financial firms responsible for the market collapse in 2008… is returning to Covington & Burling, a corporate law firm known for serving Wall Street clients. The move completes one of the more troubling trips through the revolving door for a cabinet secretary. Holder worked at Covington from 2001 right up to being sworn in as attorney general in Feburary 2009. And Covington literally kept an office empty for him, awaiting his return.”
As Maine goes… –> If you haven’t been following the latest strange shenanigans in the saga of Maine’s tea party Governor Paul LePage — involving a school for disadvantaged kids, the state’s Democratic speaker of the House, the abuse of executive power and possible impeachment — The Daily Beast has it all for you in an article with the none-too-subtle headline “The Idiot Thug Running Maine.”
The Other Shark Week –> National People’s Action is sponsoring its own Shark Week to attack payday loan shark lending practices and urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) “to issue a strong, broad and effective rule on small-dollar loans that will put a stop to the worst of these abuses.” Nadia Prupis at Common Dreams has more details.
Please sign here –> Check out The Nation magazine’s newly redesigned website and while you’re at it, join with them and the climate change group 350Action by signing their petition urging all the 2016 presidential candidates to refuse campaign contribution from fossil fuel companies: “Oil, coal, and gas companies donated $91 million to candidates in 2012 alone, a number that amounts to pocket change for multibillion-dollar companies but reaps them a stupendous return on their investment.”
You can get our Morning Reads delivered to your inbox every weekday! Just enter your email address below…
