COP30 failed to meet our needs — but it brought thousands of representatives of the world's social movements together with united demands against militarism and imperialism. SUNDAY 12/21, IPS scholar Feleecia Guillen will join @codepink.bsky.social to share her experience there. Register:

The Institute for Policy Studies - Global Economy Program joins with organizations from around the world to express deep concern and solidarity with Misael Socorrás Ipuana and all the Indigenous and environment defenders in La Guajira, Colombia fighting to protect the Bruno River.

School teacher Sylvelia Pittman has seen firsthand the unequal burdens our current society places on working-class families, where rising costs of living means that children often end up going hungry. It doesn't have to be this way.

In the 10 years since the Paris Agreement, the U.S. spent $79 billion financing foreign arms sales — money that could have been spent fighting the global climate crisis. It’s time we prioritized our future over endless war. @nationalpriorities.bsky.social @hannahomestead.bsky.social

"The U.S. is already directing the Civil-Military Coordination Center — the military, diplomatic, and aid command and control hub for Gaza — which is located in Israeli territory and excludes Palestinians entirely."

NEW: The UN Security Council’s passage of Resolution 2803 cements a shift in Israel’s Gaza genocide — with implications for Palestinians, the UN, and international law itself. IPS scholars Phyllis Bennis and Khury Petersen-Smith give a guide on what movements should know now:

This summer, as part of our Henry A. Wallace Fellowship Program, IPS convened a conference featuring current activists and political leaders, presenting a bold vision for a more inclusive, equal, and peaceful nation. Check out some of their ideas here:

Poverty rates are growing — especially among women and children. But before they expired, pandemic-era programs like the Child Tax Credit helped to reduced those rates substantially, proving that effective policies can be a solution to poverty. It’s time we brought them back.

In the conversation around the Trump administration's bombing of alleged “drug boats,” one critical question remains — how do we hold government officials accountable for blatantly illegal acts? IPS experts Khury Petersen-Smith and Phyllis Bennis on @commondreams.org

For rural communities, Congress’s cuts to Medicaid are especially devastating, and could result in many hospitals shutting down entirely, writes Michael Chameides. It’s already hard enough for many Americans to access healthcare. We should support those that need it most.

President Trump and conservative SCOTUS justices have indicated they could revoke birthright citizenship — a right that has been part of our Constitution for over 150 years. As one nation of many peoples, this is unacceptable, writes @mitchellzimmerman.bsky.social.

Big Tech corporations want us to believe that “AI” is the future, and to get there we need more data centers. What they don’t want to talk about is how these data centers are driving up everyone’s power bills.

NEW: There is no “war crime” when there is no war. The Trump administration's killings in the Caribbean must be seen and prosecuted for what they are: Murder. IPS scholars Phyllis Bennis and Khury Petersen-Smith in @commondreams.org:

The U.S. didn't attend last month's COP30 global climate conference — but these climate movement leaders did. Don't miss their unique insights starting at 4:00 ET:

"Sustainable" aviation fuels are an excuse to keep up wasteful, polluting private jet use. Don't fall for it.

IPS-Global Economy pgm joins this call for a full audit of the Cobre Panama mine toward its definitive closure. Without a doubt, the billion-dollar ISDS suits brought against Panama by First Quantum and associates under the Panama-Canada FTA and other agreements are weakening the process #StopISDS

NEW: Congress passed a $900 billion Pentagon budget, pushing total military spending over $1 trillion. "Every dollar the Pentagon wastes," says Lindsay Koshgarian of @nationalpriorities.bsky.social, "is a dollar that isn’t helping Americans get by.” @brettwilkins.bsky.social in @commondreams.org:

IPS senior advisor John Cavanagh remembers Cora Weiss, whose indomitable spirit and tireless commitment to women's rights, anti-militarism, and the common good helped shape a generation of activists. Cora passed away on December 8 at the age of 91.

"From ending the nursing shortage to insuring uninsured children, preventing evictions, and replacing lead pipes, every dollar the Pentagon wastes is a dollar that isn't helping Americans get by," says @ips-dc.org's @nationalpriorities.bsky.social.

Keep it strong! Keep it public!

Canada is shamefully silent over communications from UN bodies concerned for Colombian water defenders who have been bravely standing up to Vancouver-based Aris Mining. For its part, the company minimizes the danger and denies responsibility, despite its subcontractor having circulated threats

NEW: In rural states, USPS is a major source of good jobs with benefits — and pays workers without college degrees better than jobs like fast food and retail. The Postal Service supports rural families and economies. Keep it strong and public. New findings:

With electric vehicle sales fueling global demand for nickel, @inequality.org’s @sarahanderson.bsky.social investigates the brutal conditions some supply chain workers are facing — and how it compares to the lavish lifestyles of their company’s top executives.

The U.S. has been waging economic warfare on Venezuela since 2005 under the guise of “promoting democracy.” Far from helping, these sanctions have devastated the economy and punished ordinary Venezuelans, forcing nearly 8 million to flee since 2014.

Corporate analysts have been calling to privatize USPS by selling off part or all of the service to for-profit corporations. If this happened, rural Americans would likely see far higher prices or termination of delivery access altogether. Keep USPS competitive and public.

This will be 🔥.

On @inequality.org, IPS fellow Bob Lord explains why "income tax" — specifically what kinds of wealth growth are exempt under current U.S. tax law — has allowed today's billionaires to accrue obscene fortunes, leading to historic levels of inequality.

🌎 THURSDAY: Join movement organizers unpacking what happened at COP30 and what comes next. Speakers: 🎙️ Feleecia Guillen, IPS 🎙️ Sheelah Bearfoot, IPCB 🎙️ Sriram Madhusoodanan, @uscannetwork.bsky.social 🎙️ @allieeerose.bsky.social, @oilchange.bsky.social Mod. by @basavsen.bsky.social, IPS Register:

NEW: Many European governments have misgivings about the U.S.-backed blueprint for Gaza endorsed by the UN last month. The disagreement marks a sharp departure from the transatlantic unity that has structured Western responses to major conflicts. Geostrategic analyst Imran Khalid:

On @inequality.org, @millsrodrigo.bsky.social interviews veteran labor organizer Jaz Brisack (@jazbrisack.bsky.social), who discusses some of the obstacles to unionizing workplaces in America, including how labor laws in the U.S. have stacked the deck against workers.

To fund universal free school lunches, Colorado slightly raised taxes on residents making more than $300k a year — people whose own children will also benefit. It’s a simple calculus, one that we’re seeing more of in the absence of federal action.

New data shows successful resistance defending human rights, labor standards, and/or the environment when facing Chinese investments. TOMORROW, learn more with experts @marianawalter.bsky.social, Maia Seeger, Zhao Zhong, Paulina Garzon, Edwin Alejandro, and @johnfeffer.bsky.social. Register now:

“The Trump administration has effectively outsourced soaring disaster costs to ill-equipped states, profit-seeking insurers, and, ultimately, helpless individuals.” When the next hurricane hits, these cuts will prove disastrous. From Kenny Stancil: trib.al/OAJD6Ij

As Trump makes wild accusations about Venezuelan president Maduro trafficking drugs, he just pardoned former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was sentenced to 45 years last year for creating “a cocaine superhighway to the U.S.”

"A young man I knew died that November night — Thanksgiving — after the cops had taken everything he had to keep him warm. This isn’t how life in the United States should be."

This year, the MAGA majority Supreme Court has let Trump: - Give DOGE access to our sensitive Social Security data, - Terminate $800 million in crucial medical research, and - Disappear people to foreign countries to be tortured. Our lawmakers need to challenge this judicial abuse.

Immigrants account for nearly a third of long-term care workers in this country. Under Trump's mass deportation campaign, half of all U.S. nursing homes have stopped taking new residents.

NEW: As health care premiums surge, new polls show that an overwhelming 65% of Americans across the political spectrum support Medicare for All. Health care should be a right, not a luxury. It's time to pass the Medicare for All Act.

NEW: While the Trump administration adds even more barriers to SNAP, Colorado's new universal free school lunch program is showing the benefits of addressing hunger with no eligibility requirements at all. @ruwithsonali.bsky.social:

NEW: Navajo families are suffering from generations of uranium mining. The federal govt just finally passed RECA, a bill to help them — but in the same move, cut health care for millions as Trump pushes for more mining. @sarahlazare.bsky.social in @inthesetimes.com:

For a president who once promised “no new wars,” Donald Trump’s extrajudicial attacks on Venezuelan boats bear disturbing similarities with the lead-up to the 2003 Iraq War — especially considering the majority of Americans are against it.

Despite claims that his administration is lifting up working class Americans, President Trump has undermined labor unions and other federal agencies designed to protect workers since his reelection. We deserve better. Lawrence S. Wittner on @inequality.org

NEW: As criminalization of unhoused people increases nationwide, its cruelty can't be overstated. "They took my tools, my bike, and my family heirlooms," writes Carrieann Smith, an unhoused advocate with @vocal-tx.bsky.social. "Even my mom’s and husband’s ashes."

The Trump administration’s deep cuts to SNAP will be devastating for many of the 42 million Americans that rely on food assistance, writes @ruwithsonali.bsky.social. It’s time to let lawmakers know — basic necessities take priority over tax breaks for billionaires.

NEW: Dozens of federal judges, nominated by both Democratic and Republican presidents, have condemned the Supreme Court's "shadow docket" rulings as confusing for them and harmful to the judiciary. Paul Gordon of @peoplefor.bsky.social:

NEW: Research shows that SNAP work requirements have little effect on employment. The GOP's big, brutal bill includes them anyway — and will cause 2.4 million people to lose food benefits in an average month. IPS scholar @reyannaj.bsky.social:

NEW: Trump's wild accusations, attacks, and buildup of troops around Venezuela are looking a lot like the run-up to the Iraq war. International law and an overwhelming 70% of Americans agree: No U.S. war with Venezuela. @ruwithsonali.bsky.social:

NEW: "Unions have to make it more costly for a company to continue to crush the union rather than deal with sharing power." As @sbworkersunited.org workers continue the company's longest strike, organizer @jazbrisack.bsky.social shares insights with @millsridrigo.bsky.social in @inequality.org:

Amazon's computing services have long helped ICE track down people to deport. As Trump's mass deportations worsen, Amazon is investing another $50 BILLION in expanding its AI and cloud computing services for the administration. This holiday season, consider shopping elsewhere.

NEW: A FACT Coalition report found that, thanks to decades of lobbying, American fossil fuel giants pay more in foreign taxes than they do in the U.S. It’s time to reform our tax policies and make Big Oil pay their fair share. Karina Smith on @inequality.org: