Content by Jessica Corbett
After massive public outcry, IRS ditches plans for facial recognition
Federal lawmakers joined with advocacy groups that argued requiring biometric information to access records online is a “creepy and disturbing strike” at privacy and security
Senate Democrats propose return of ‘talking filibuster’ for voting bills
Schumer: ‘We feel, very simply, on something as important as voting rights, if Senate Republicans are gonna oppose it, they should not be allowed to sit in their office’
New report examines how fossil fuel industry uses elite PR firms to spread climate misinformation
‘A major part of the effort to obstruct climate action involves enhancing the positive public reputation for the fossil fuel companies’
State-level Republicans rolling back voting rights with majority votes, as national Democrats cling to filibuster
Georgia Republicans become latest state GOPers to pass sweeping redistricting rules on a party-line vote
Vaccine manufacturer Moderna accused of lying about federal contributions to Covid-19 vaccine
In patent filing, pharmaceutical giant is trying to have sole ownership of a vaccine that was co-developed with National Institutes of Health scientists, government says
Top congressional Dems still optimistic they can ‘come together’ to pass infrastructure bills
Conservative Dems continue to demand spending less while progressives say they have compromised enough
Facebook cut off accounts of disinformation researchers examining political advertising
Social media giant cited fake concerns over privacy to stop academics from building list of why users were shown specific political ads
New analysis reveals the major impact of the Trump-packed U.S. Supreme Court
‘This Supreme Court is dominated by Trump-appointed justices, with predictably disastrous results for voting rights as well as workers, consumers, and immigrants this term.’
Critics slam South Dakota allowing GOP donor to pay to send troops to U.S. southern border
Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has raised questions about private armies in the U.S. after she allowed a used car dealer from Tennessee to finance expenses of South Dakota National Guard soldiers
‘Spy’ couple leveraged big donations to spy on politicians opposed by far-right
New York Times report raises questions about whether far-right activists used illegal funds to make donations to politicians they opposed
Sale of Tribune Publishing means that hedge funds will control half of U.S. daily newspapers
Shareholders of second-largest newspaper chain approve sale to notorious hedge fund Alden Global Capital
Texas bill will make anyone who ‘aids or abets’ an abortion vulnerable to private lawsuits
Conservative Texas politicians are aiming to severely restrict access to abortion while also turning loose ‘vigilante’ lawsuits filed by private citizens
Illinois becomes first state to completely eliminate cash bail
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a criminal justice bill that eliminates cash bail penalties which disproportionately kept lower-income people in jail before trial.