Donald Trump is threatening to invade to re-steal the Panama Canal in defiance of the Torrijos-Carter Treaty. He would do well to learn the history and not have the US break yet another treaty.
General News
TikTok influencer’s horrifying healthcare story is one we will likely live with as well.
This TikTok influencer, @theseaowl44, shared a healthcare story that illustrated why our healthcare system is a clear and present danger to the sick. We must declare healthcare a right funded by Medicare for All.
How Republicans will hurt rural people with this IRS pullback and US Postal Service privatization.
Why is the GOP intent on passing policies that will hurt its most devout supporters, rural voters, by privatizing the US Postal Service and forcing the IRS to eliminate free tax preparation software?
Spineless greedy parasitic CEOs are sucking up to Trump, a clear and present danger to all.
Shamelessly, America’s parasitic CEOs are sucking up to Donald Trump to curry favor. Corporate executives are living up to the nature of many of them, parasites that take and offer no value.
SAY NO! The US Postal Service is more efficient than FEDEX & UPS yet Trump wants to privatize it
Donald Trump and his cabal of billionaire parasites are discussing privatizing the U.S. Postal Service. The USPS is the most efficient delivery service and is cheaper than FedEx and UPS.
The Hartmann Report
“Free Trade” Has Put America & Democracy At the Mercy of China
Bringing our manufacturing back from overseas will reverse the 40-year-long slide of the American middle class and rebuild our nation’s security & economy. China is threatening the United States: this could get very ugly, very quickly. Here’s what’s happening. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is planning a trip to Taiwan, the first for a Speaker in […]
How Will Trump’s Deadly Sabotage Of America End?
use he has not been held to account, Trumpism has spread across the US landscape like metastasized cancer, with GOP politicians who aspire to corrupt strongman status emulating him in every state
The Abortion Firestorm is also a White Freak-out About the Browning of America
America is no longer all-white or all-under-white-control and white supremacists on the Court are bound and determined to do something about it
Support Independent Media
Guest Bloggers
On the Eve of World War III: Middle East Edition
One Tuesday afternoon, my grandfather picked up my sister and me from high school. He remarked that today marked nothing less than the beginning of World War Three.
To Support Public Education, Vote Molly Cook
Molly Cook, an ER nurse and organizer who served as the sparkplug of the movement that passed Houston’s Prop B last November, and Jarvis Johnson, the current State House representative for House District 139. I am voting for Molly, and public ed is one of the main reasons why.
League of Independent Voters of Texas
Imperial Governance and Constitutional Wreckage • LIV News, July 29, 2021
Are imperial governance and the related constitutional wreckage taking Texans down a dangerous path to a constitutional crisis?
The elephant in the Texas voting booth that neither party wants to talk about.
The elephant in the Texas voting booth that neither party wants to talk about is the suppression of a plurality of Texas voters. Surprise! There are more non-aligned and independent Texans than Democrats or Republicans.
Egberto Mentioned In Media
Christian defaces Obama sign w/ ‘nig**r lover’, local GOP apologizes
Christian defaces Obama sign w/ ‘nig**r lover’, local GOP apologizes More details have emerged about the small business owner in McKinney, Texas who had her Obama 2012 sign vandalized with "NIG**R LOVER, and Obama Sucks Dick!" on one side and "Romney & Ryan" "Christian, white, anti-gay" and finally "Republicans rule!" on the other side. […]
Kingwood Area Democrats Video Interviews Featured In Story On CNN.com
Last night the Kingwood Area Democrats had a State Of The Union Party to listen to our President and his intentions going forward. I asked Phillip McNutt what he expected of the speech before hand. His thoughts pretty much mimicked what most of us there expected. Following the speech I asked many of those attending […]
Egberto On TV
Guested on HuffPost Live Discussing Grover Norquist’s Anti-Tax Pledge
The HuffPost Live community sounds off with Abby Huntsman, vice presidential candidate Jon Huntsman’s daughter, as she discusses the GOP lawmakers who have spurned Grover Norquist’s anti-tax pledge and how that will impact the fiscal cliff talks. Originally aired on November 20, 2012 Hosted by: Abby Huntsman GUESTS INCLUDE: Jen Bendery (Washington D.C.) HuffPost […]
Guested On HuffPost Live Discussing Jobs After The Sequester (VIDEO)
Jim Carr, distinguished scholar at The Opportunity Agenda, says spending cuts will cause pain in U.S. households with economists predicting more than 700,000 jobs lost. We discuss his a article Spending cut. Now, GOP, where are the jobs?. Hosted by: Mike Sacks @MikeSacksHP GUESTS INCLUDE: Jim Carr @OppAgenda (Washington, DC) Distinguished Scholar, The Opportunity Agenda […]
Egberto’s Published Articles
Is Net Neutrality Really Necessary? You’re Damn Right!
by Egberto Willies and Keyan Bliss (Originally Published at Common Dreams) Three weeks after Christmas, the American judiciary gave telecommunications corporations a huge present. On January 14 a federal appeals court decided to weaken the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Internet Neutrality policy by striking down the rules it adopted in 2010 to regulate Internet service […]
Egberto Willies: Wendy Davis’ life story provides empathy necessary to be governor – Kingwood Observer
It seems like I chose just about the right time to write an article on Wendy Davis. She finds herself under attack not only by the entire Right Wing establishment, but from the traditional media as well. She happens to be the story to balance the myriad of bad acts by Republicans. There is a […]
Battleground Texas
Support continues to build for Judge William ‘Bill’ McLeod
Judge McLeod turned around his office in two months. McLeod and his staff accomplished more in 2 months than his predecessor did in two years.
Occupy Movement
Occupy Kingwood’s First Organizational Move To Amend Meeting Sat. Jan. 12th 10:00 AM
Occupy Kingwood had a great run.We were successful in both showing that we can organize at the grassroots and at the same time give productive information to all those willing to engage. Fulfilling our 52 consecutive weeks pledge whether, hot or cold, rain or shine, was an humongous if not incredulous accomplishment; but we did […]
Netroots Nation
Netroots Nation 2015 in Phoenix Arizona Day 1
Netroots Nation Day 1 was was eventful from the beginning. As activists came in it was like old times.
Coffee Party Posts
Coffee Party USA Board of Directors 2016 Meeting in Blue Ridge, Georgia
The Coffee Party USA board of directors coalesced around a strong voter education and turnout strategy that we will be releasing in the forthcoming weeks.
Columnists
Enrollment in Nature Schools Soars as Families Rediscover the Benefits of Outdoor Learning
Author, journalist, and child advocacy expert Richard Louv famously coined the term “nature deficit disorder” to describe the detrimental effects of children’s disconnection from nature. His
What Is Our Collective Solution to Health Injustice?
The December 4 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the public outrage over the state of healthcare it sparked, is a tale of many competing narratives: the killer’s story, the public’s
Why Do We Sleep and How Can We Sleep Better?
We spend about a third of our lives sleeping. But do we know why we do it? Is it for biological, psychological, or evolutionary reasons? Much research has based its findings on what happens when
What Is Driving State-Sponsored Attacks on Citizens Abroad?
In July 2020, Iranian dissident Jamshid Sharmahd was visiting Dubai when he was suddenly abducted. Mobile phone data later traced his movements to Oman’s port city of Sohar, before the
How Community Solar Can Liberate You From Fossil Fuels
Energy is the lifeblood of opportunity and economic development and a pillar of human civilization in the 21st century. Even the most remote communities in rural America were welcomed into the
The Democratic Party Faces Its Day of Reckoning
Following its crushing defeat in the 2024 election, the Democratic Party might finally face its day of reckoning. The party markets itself as the champion of the working class and a bulwark against
A Few Takes
Original Sin? Or Original Choice?
I subscribe to a lot of newsletters. I don’t always get around to reading them daily, just like I am sure many cannot read every one of my “Egberto Off The Record” newsletters. After all, I send out 1 to 5 every day, depending on the day’s news. I served on the Coffee Party USA […]
Joy-Ann Reid did the best job of covering the real TikTok narrative, the hidden billionaires.
Joy-Ann Reid and Robert Reich provided the best coverage of the insane TikTok fiasco. Unlike the shallow coverage elsewhere, they hit the real issues.
Maddow Blog: Stefanik picks the wrong fight, asks whether we were better off in 2020
But the idea that conditions in the United States got worse after Trump left the White House is demonstrably ridiculous.
People Making a difference
Savannah Smith details her experience in Cameroon & early exit due to COVID-19
Savannah Smith had experiences in Cameroon cut short by COVID-19. This is an important story for several reasons as explored in the interview.
My brother-in-law’s journey inspires stroke victims, giving advice, hope, & purpose.
This is an inspiring story about my brother-in-law’s recovery from a recent stroke that should give stroke victims hope, purpose, and direction.
Local News
Houston Chronicle Endorses State Senator Molly Cook for reelection to SD-15.
Congratulations to State Senator Molly Cook (@MollyforTexas) for earning the endorsement of the Houston Chronicle for reelection to Senate District 15.
Why DA Kim Ogg must be expelled from the Democratic Party for her Ted Cruz endorsement.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg can’t endorse Ted Cruz under the law and order moniker. Ted Cruz was a participant in the attempted coup on America via his support for Donald Trump.
Harris County’s Guaranteed Income Program (Uplift Harris) is in Danger
Last April, Harris County passed a historic guaranteed income program. One of more than sixty pilot programs across the country,
Kingwood Texas Floods Again, May 2024.
Once again, the Kingwood, Texas, area is experiencing a significant flood. It is becoming a way of life that engineering can solve, but our political and economic system proves incapable of mitigating.
Entertainment
Chris Rock used his new Netflix skit Selective Outrage to slam Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.
I watched Chris Rock on Netflix this morning. It was clear that the Will Smith slap at the Oscars has affected Chris Rock’s comedy.
The movie “Honk For Jesus” brought back memories of a CNN iReport I did on Bishop Eddie Long.
Just got back from the movie “Honk for Jesus.” It felt familiar. A woman told my wife, “That’s the Eddie Long story.” Yes, it is similar to the iReport I did in 2010.
Message To Garth Brooks: Took this superfan lots of money & attempts to finally see you in Houston.
Garth Brooks super fan Debra Willey finally got to see you in Houston, TX, after several attempts and several thousand dollars — a shoutout maybe to her?
Environment
Is climate change decimating the U.S. cranberry industry?
EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Is climate change decimating the U.S. cranberry industry? — D.K., Chico, CA Cranberries are a vital crop in the U.S., deeply intertwined with the nation’s agricultural economy and cultural identity. Grown predominantly in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Wisconsin, cranberries contribute significantly to regional […]
What is the status of the monarch butterfly in the U.S.
The monarch butterfly, known for its awe-inspiring migration across North America, has become a symbol of both ecological wonder and environmental decline.
Sports
Texans Win. But why do it the hard way?
The Texans vs Bills game was exciting but it should have ended in regulation. Bill O’Brien is lucky to have stellar players.
Simone Biles named female athlete of the year | khou.com
Simone Biles continues to make Houston proud as she wins female athlete of the year. Congratulations! COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Gymnastics powerhouse Simone Biles has been named the 2019 Team USA Female Olympic Athlete of the Year after another record-setting performance in competition this year. Biles topped a list of award-winners of the honors presented […]
Move To Amend
Move to Amend’s Daniel Lee: Transcending political parties at the People’s Convention (VIDEO)
Many grassroots organizations have converged on Philadelphia, PA using the Democratic National Convention as the catalyst to organize for a better America.