We have big news from OptOut! Our official reporting newsletter, IMPORTANT CONTEXT, has published two articles you should check out.
Help OptOut Keep Going!
WE ARE A NONPROFIT AND RELY ON YOUR SUPPORT TO CONTINUE OUR WORK!
DONATE HERE!First, there's the moving profile on New York-based LGBTQIA+ legal advocate Andy Izenson, co-founder of the Chosen Family Law Firm, by OptOut LGBTQIA+ Editor Liana DeMasi. Izenson does essential work on the front lines of one of the most critical modern civil rights struggles today.
Then, there's the Q&A interview Walker Bragman did with Georgetown global health law professor Lawrence Gostin about the pandemic preparedness treaty being negotiated at the World Health Organization. As the director of Georgetown University’s WHO Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law, Gostin has been involved in the negotiations.
For more on the treaty, check out this story in WHOWHATWHY about right-wing and anti-vaccine opposition to the treaty.
In Other News
THE LEVER had a good rundown of Donald Trump's plans for the fossil fuel industry if he is elected in November.
Meanwhile, STATES NEWSROOM reported on the GOP presidential hopeful's plans to work with a staunchly anti-abortion religious group.
Supreme Scandal
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has found himself in hot water lately. What began as a controversy surrounding an upside down American flag flown on his property after the 2020 election–a symbol adopted by Trump-supporting election deniers–has opened up. More recently, the justice was caught on tape expressing far-right views and attacking the media. MAJORITY REPORT did segments on the unfolding scandal.
For more on the exposing of Justice Alito, check out this story from THE INTERCEPT.
The news about Alito tops off a rough time for the right-wing Supreme Court. Justice Clarence Thomas has also been in the news lately for accepting lavish gifts from right-wing billionaires. The scandals of Alito and Thomas have fueled calls for a Supreme Court code of ethics, like other federal courts and members of Congress are subject to. Not everyone is on board, however. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has vowed opposition to any code of ethics. THE NEW REPUBLIC had the story.
Please consider donating $20, $100, $1,000, or whatever you can here!
Sick For America
As summer heats up, so too is another wave of COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has already killed roughly 1.2 million Americans and left more than 20 million with long haul symptoms. There are studies linking COVID to a host of serious health complications, including cardiovascular problems and neurological issues.
Despite this, the nation is currently seeing politicians push for bans on mask-wearing–to crack down on pro-Palestine protests. Because of course!
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, for example, has floated the idea. THE NEW REPUBLIC reported.
North Carolina recently approved a law restricting mask use. The law prohibits the wearing of masks in public with narrow exceptions.
The OptOut Media Foundation (EIN: 85-2348079) is a nonprofit charity with a mission to educate the public about current events and help sustain a diverse media ecosystem by promoting and assisting independent news outlets and, in doing so, advance democracy and social justice.
Download the app for Apple and Android.
Sign up for OptOut's free newsletters.
Learn more about OptOut.
Merch
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Mastodon, and Facebook.
