Author Archives: Brook Hines
Darren Soto is minimum wage challenged — UPDATE
This was a big week for the Fight For 15 campaign, with a national strike and marches that were held here in Orlando, along with dozens of other cities from New York to California The Fight For 15 events I’ve attended in Central Florida have been intense with participants undeterred by stifling heat, pouring rain, or even 4 a.m. gathering […]
Florida’s Dem leaders just aren’t that into us
In two weeks, the Republican Party of Florida will hold their state convention, and 12 of their 15 Presidential candidates will be attending. This weekend, the unfortunately under-loved Democratic State Convention came and went, and you were lucky if you got a selfie with Alan Grayson. That’s not intended to throw shade on The Notorious […]
Prog Caucus releases STEP Report at Dem Convention, responding to LEAD
DOWNLOAD STEP Report here. We all know something is wrong in the Florida Democratic Party. You don’t lose the state house, the governor’s seat (how many times?), 18 some-odd races, and not have to admit that you have a problem. There’s problems. Earlier this year the Florida Democratic Party released their Leadership Expansion to Advance […]
American Psychos: How we shouldn’t be doing business in politics
A while back someone asked me, “When I run for office, will you support me?” They couldn’t tell me when they’re running, or for what office. They didn’t share a single policy or platform plank, which admittedly would be difficult to pin down if you don’t even know what seat you’re running for. I have […]
Ask not who won the debate. Ask how you might win the future.
Tuesday night marked the most-watched Democratic Primary debate in history, with around 15.5 million viewers. This blew away expectations, and that’s not even counting those who accessed the feed online. But it’s not the most remarkable thing about this debate. Right after the broadcast, as the pundits and spinners were telling us how to perceive what […]
Bold action on Climate Change makes economic sense
Today there will be statewide events to demand bold action on climate change, and I couldn’t be more excited. Here in Orlando folks will be gathering for a rally at 5:30pm at 201 South Orange Avenue, which is in front of Marco Rubio’s Orlando district office. Marco Rubio is famous for his climate change denialism. […]
Why no progressive journalists on Tuesday’s Democratic debate?
There’s an old a joke where one fish asks another fish “how’s the water?” The other fish replies, “what the hell is water?” The point is, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to perceive the conditions of one’s environment. They’re just given. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to the journalistic environment that’s created around […]
As Speaker of the House, “Taliban” Dan Webster would hold America hostage
As the dust settles on a crazy week, it’s looking more like Kevin McCarthy rejected the Republican party’s job as Speaker of the House, rather than being pushed out from the position. There had been rumors late Thursday and Friday, that party scolds would distribute evidence of an old affair McCarthy allegedly covered-up. There were […]
Generic drug price gouging brought to you by PhRMA (and POLITICO)
By now we’ve all heard about Martin Shkreli, CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals who bought all the rights to a life-saving drug and jacked up the price more than 5,000 percent. What you probably haven’t heard is that U.S. policy protects price gougers like Shkreli, and with new provisions in the Trans Pacific Partnership, we’re going […]
Who is taking the Minimum Wage Challenge, and why? UPDATE!
It takes a lot of time and energy to be poor. That’s why the Minimum Wage Challenge set out by the SEIU to call attention for the need to raise the minimum wage is so important — and so incredibly well thought out. When you’re living on low wages you have to be laser focused. […]
The Florida Squeeze 