The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

Today’s Top News

For a Thursday in the middle of July, it’s been a busy day. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly in today’s goings on.

The Good

Civil rights champion Tom Perez was confirmed to head the Department of Labor.
Career civil servant and clean air and water champion Gina McCarthy was confirmed to head the Environmental Protection Agency.
House Republicans caved in their fight against marriage equality.
New report finds that Obamacare premiums will be even lower than expected.
Nelson Mandela celebrated his 95th birthday.
Senators agreed to a compromise plan to lower student loan interest rates.
A judge issues order keeping some Wisconsin abortion clinics open, for now.

The Bad

The media largely ignored the premium drop story and instead focused on dead-end GOP efforts to repeal Obamacare.
The scandal surrounding Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) continues to grow.
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) claims that immigrants really just aren’t that interested in becoming citizens.
The Treasury Inspector General blocked the IRS from releasing documents showing that progressive groups were targeted.
The do-nothing House of Representatives will go on vacation for a month and then come back to work for just nine days the next month.

The Ugly

The GOP says to give suspected terrorists guns, not trials.
Bill O’Reilly: “I don’t buy” that LGBT people have the right to marry.
Hours after Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) signed a draconian anti-abortion law, Planned Parenthood announces it will close three abortion clinics.
House Republicans are advancing terrible education bills.
Climate change is fueling a rise in deadly diseases.
The lead paint industry has been knowingly poisoning generations of children.

The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. American Progress would like to acknowledge the many generous supporters who make our work possible.