Yesterday, in a speech that relied largely on factually incorrect talking points, Trump announced his decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. “I cannot in good conscience support a deal that punishes the United States,” he said. But the reality is, withdrawing from the deal is an attack on the prosperity of all Americans. Climate change is already imposing staggering costs, threatening our military assets, and increasing the risks of political instability.
Trump, as he is wont to do, also lauded his decision as a move that promises to put “America first,” ignoring the obvious fact that withdrawing from the agreement gives other global leaders—namely China—the opportunity to take the lead in the growing clean energy market.
Almost immediately, a group of cities, states, and companies came together to oppose Trump’s decision and organize to keep the U.S. on track to meet its commitments with or without support from the federal government. The alliance includes the governors of New York, California, and Washington state, which together represent nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population and account for at least 10 percent of the country’s carbon emissions. Bloomberg Philanthropies also agreed to donate $14 million over the next two years to help fund the U.S. share of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
This decision was devastating, but the fight has just begun. Pulling out of the agreement will take four years, meaning we have plenty of time to make our voices heard to our members of congress and to Trump himself. (P.S. find out if your elected representatives are climate deniers here).
ACTION OF THE DAY
#WearOrange. Gun violence kills more than 90 Americans a day and injures hundreds more. That’s today, on National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Americans across the country will wear orange—a color that demands to be seen—to send the powerful message that there is more we can do to end gun violence. Join the #WearOrange movement: Take a picture of yourself wearing orange and tag your photo with #WearOrange to spread the word!
WHAT’S TRENDING
Saying Please. No confirmation on whether Trump used the magic word, but yesterday he did ask the Supreme Court to reinstate his Muslim Ban 2.0. The Justice Department’s plea to the Supreme Court claimed that the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals—which decided last week not to reinstate the travel ban—made mistakes in its ruling against the ban. This appeal doesn’t change the fact that so far, the courts have been united in saying the government cannot discriminate against people based on their religion or nationality.
Jobs. Or should we say JOBS. Today we got the fourth unemployment report of the Trump presidency, and the news for Trump is pretty meh: with 138,000 jobs created in May, the May unemployment numbers were well under the 185,000 jobs analysts were predicting. The unemployment rate also dropped slightly this month, but for all the wrong reasons. Just four months into his presidency, and long before he’s enacted any of his promised economic policies, there probably isn’t much Trump is doing to change the course of the economy. But of course, that hasn’t stopped him from claiming hyperbolic successes in creating jobs already.
#ThinkingCAP. In this week’s episode, Igor and Michele talk to Melissa Harris-Perry about the role of cable news in the 2016 election, the history of black women resisting in America, and the importance of making structural change in racism, misogyny, and discrimination, not resisting the person or the symbol behind them.
#IAmAPreexistingCondition. One in six Americans is living with a pre-existing condition. Under Trumpcare, they would lose protections that prevent them from being discriminated against. That’s why Save My Care is working to put faces, names, and stories to that statistic. Here’s how you can get involved.
The Future. Sydney Chaffee, the 2017 National Teacher of the Year, is committed to making her students better learners and better humans. In this interview, she discusses how she uses lessons from the past to teach her students how to fight for justice today.
UNDER THE RADAR
Town Halls. People are still showing up to their representatives’ town halls to hold them accountable. And they are demanding Congress protect our care. At Sen. Bill Cassidy’s (R-LA) town hall Wednesday morning voters demanded the senator support a health care plan that protects birth control coverage and covers the uninsured. Find town halls, resistance events, and more at ResistanceNearMe.org.
GOOD NEWS
“It’s the beginning of my dream.” That was Ons Jabeur’s reaction at the French Open yesterday after she became the first woman from any of the 21 Arab countries to reach the third round of a Grand Slam singles event.