The DailyClout Podcast

Daily Clout: Skyler Johnson: 19 Yr Old Activist Runs for State Senate. Housing, Student Debt Help for LI?

Skyler Johnson grew up on Long Island and is a community college student. He is running for NY State Senate in (district) SD-1 to represent his community. Johnson speaks movingly about fellow students dealing with crushing student debt -- sleeping in cars, working two jobs - and with the scarcity of affordable housing in his would-be district. He also confronts gender inequality -- bravely discussing menstrual product equity and a policy of free menstrual care products for college students; he is the first male candidate DailyClout has interviewed, to address this crucial educational equality issue. Johnson speaks too about climate policies. His campaign has drawn national attention and donations from supporters nationally as well. His campaign says: "Now, as a candidate, Skyler has put forward plans to make New York a better, more affordable place. His plans for housing, healthcare, and the environment will allow more people to stay on Long Island, instead of entering a forced economic exile. His platforms on issues such as Women’s Rights and LGBTQ+ rights will increase quality of life for his constituents. Skyler will be a fighter for the people in Albany, and his passion to make the world a better place will be key to his success as a legislator. Currently, a very generous donor is matching all donations up to 5000 dollars! Help us reach that goal: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sky..."'

Daily Clout: DailyClout Communitys Rock Star Poet Steven Matthews Explains Poetry is Needed Now More than Ever

Steven Matthews is one of the DailyClout community's best-loved commentators. Why? Because he shares his moving, accessible, startling and also comforting lyrical poetry with everyone. But not only that -- he explains what the origins of each poem are, he helps us understand the treasures in each one, and he explains how they relate to issues we all face -- in the case of his newest verse, the environmental crisis. Not to be missed.

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Daily Clout: Australian MP Zali Steggall Introduces Important Framework to Get Australia to Net Zero by 2050

@ZaliSteggallMP, an Australian Member of Parliamant who represents a constituency in Sydney, has introduced this important "Framework" to get Australia to Net Zero emissions by 2050. She makes the case that a "framework" is more effective than more directive legislation intervening in industries, and is at the same time easier on business interests and on the economy. She also argues persuasively in Daily Clout's interview with her, that a bill that brings together opposing "sides" and represents a compromise, is worth creating even if neither "side" in the climate wars, gets everything they want. The Bill creates a commission to monitor compliance with reducing emissions and it also creates a carbon budget. It is a detailed framework and a great deal of thought appears to have gone into the execution of getting to net zero. In the wake of the terrible fires of 2019 and the loss of a billion animals, there is a great deal of local and even international interest in this Framework. More than 50,000 Australians have signed up to support Steggall's climate crisis framework on her website. Given how many Australian citizens complained to DailyClout about having been blocked from commenting to their own representatives, and complaints about Government ministers not responding to press inquiries, DailyClout also wishes to commend MP Staggall for spending an hour with us answering questions, some of them tough ones, put to her by Australian citizens, both transmitted via DailyClout, and also put to her directly on Youtube's chat function. We think this is a laudable step for an elected official to take in terms of transparency and accountability to voters, and we call on other elected officials to do the same regularly. However, please note that this Framework will change before it is "tabled", so please keep a close eye on the changes, and so will we.

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Daily Clout: Ask An Investigator Citizen Investigations 101 With Brian OShea

Brian O'Shea (disclosure, DailyClout CEO's husband), of Striker Pierce Investigations, shares with the community the basics of citizen investigations. Say you were investigating the koala massacre in Victoria; Oshea covers: what is an investigation? How do you use databases to find out who owns land, what corporations may be involved? How to you decide to go into the field? What do you wear? How do you film? How do you stay safe? How do you organize your intel? And other tips for citizen investigators drawn from over 4000 cases. PLUS: gear to help you collect intelligence in the field. Why should governments and corporations surveil citizens and not expect to be surveilled in return? Investigations 101 from DailyClout.

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Daily Clout: News for ERA Republicans Scold Trump on War Powers Investment Takeaway Renewable Packaging More

This Week in Congress we see that the Republican-dominated Senate has introduced a War Powers Resolution that fiercely scolds Pres Trump for making war without the Authorization of Congress. It states in crystal-clear English that the Constitution gives Congress and no one else the power to wage war. A striking rebuke of a President by his own party, but a resounding victory for democracy as the principles of the Founders are affirmed by both parties. Pres Trump will likely veto. We compare this situation to a business partnership in which one partner upends the agreement and the others are pointing to their byelaws. The fact that this Resolution is considered necessary by a Republican Senate confirms a serious breach in our democratic processes. Also headlining -- the ERA deadline got extended by the House! This Amendment guarantees equality for women and has been on the table since the mid-1970s. But in a gesture to affirm it, the House voted to let folks keep having time to pass it. We also welcome our new DailyCloutAustralia pages and team. Look for incredible coverage of the erosion of the traditional divide between Church and State in Australia; a story about how Koalas won't be here in 20 years unless laws protect their habitats; an upcoming feature on how MINORS are stopped and frisked; and more. Lastly -- investment takeaways. We won't call them "tips" because we aren't investment advisors and can't take responsibility for outcomes; but since we read the bills every week, some practical takeaways are here for you if you have an investment portfolio of any size; tips based on legislation passed at the state and Federal level: a) Renewable energy. State after state is going renewable and investors are divesting from fossil fuels, especially coal, which will be reflected in even more legislation in the future, as the coal lobby will have less power to shape bills and prevent renewables. b) Sustainable packaging. A federal bill that will be introduced will curtail single use plastics, especially for beverages, and cities across the country are banning single-use plastic bags. Hemp, bamboo, sustainable forests, and other green packaging products will have a boom. c) Dense mixed-use (residential with retail) new inner multifamily city real estate development. A number of cities are rezoning to reclaim brownfields or industrial neighborhoods close in to the city center, which will allow multifamily units and mixed residential and retail where now only brownfields or single family homes exist. Younger families and young professionals are moving into the cities' cores; We reported on this kind of rezoning in regard to property along Jerome Avenue, now rezoned for retail and highrises, as well as Mott Haven in the South Bronx, now rezoned for massive mostly market-rate plus a percentage of affordable (or, as critics would say, "affordable") apartments. The South Bronx is seeing construction by the major developers such as Brookfield of about half a dozen immense units along the Harlem River waterfront (disclosure, I bought a home in the South Bronx). Rezoning and new construction is also occurring in Portland, Oregon (around Alberta Arts District) and in Philadelphia, PA (Fishtown area). Rezoning industrial or low-density retail sites (like the auto body shops of Jerome Ave) sites is more appealing politically (and morally) to many people than is traditional "gentrification" that simply displaces existing communities. The loss of beautiful traditional single-family homes, though, in areas such as those around Alberta in Portland, does understandably cause neighborhood groups to want to restrict or at least balance what is in Portland a huge drive for rezoned multifamily construction. This is why reclaiming industrial areas or having powerful community input into rezoning in traditional neighborhood creates the best of both worlds. Over the long term, not destroying the existing architectural or existing deeply-rooted cultural character of a neighborhood is also more likely to protect the value of all homes, new and old, as well as to protect the community. We've also launched BillCam 3.0, included in the DailyClout membership. The second tier lets you choose a subject, such as "reproductive rights" or "energy" or "environment", and see new bills and bill changes to state and Federal bills of just that subject - -right in your inbox. Unmissable if you work for an advocacy group, a candidate, a news outlet, or are an investor. Or just want to be super well-informed about specific area legislation. Tell friends. We want to thank specific Patreon patrons for helping to make @DailyClout and @DailyClout Australia, possible: Paul T., Charles Pixley, Helen McAfee, Carrie Lavender, Ann Bateman and James Sowles. Heartfelt thanks!

Daily Clout: Mini Citizen Journalism Tutorial

DailyClout gives everyone everywhere tools to drive democracy. We create user-friendly videos, blogs and animation to explain bills that affect you, your families, your communities and your businesses, in easy-to-follow formats. We do deeper-dive reporting on issues that our members request that we cover, and we help individuals and communities lobby, write their own legislation, run for office, and change the world.

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Daily Clout: Gov Acct Offices Irate Letter Re Pres Bypassing Congress w Ukraine Insider Trading Ed Ripoffs

The Government Accountability Office is supposed to make sure taxpayers money is sent where it's supposed to go. We @DailyClout read a startlingly strongly worded letter in which these nonpartisan GAO bureaucrats assail Present Trump for bypassing Congresses' "power of the Purse" in withholding aid $$ for Ukraine; the GAO lawyer repeatedly cites the Constitution and warns how illegal this redirection is, and what it does as a precedent that the Dept of Defense was waiting for $125 million that the Pres. redirected. When the bureaucrats are irate, you know there's something really wrong. On a happier note -- Rep Carolyn Maloney sponsors a bill to close a loophole that had allowed for free-for-all insider trading between an event that a company's directors and officers know about, and the report of that event -- and an H Res scolds Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for undermining reform of online universities that have ripped off millions from students, esp veterans. The GAO letter will startle you; many people will feel that closing loopholes that used to allow outright insider trading, and scolding folks who rip off students, are positive steps. Good legislation is rarely showcased in the media -- we like to shine a light on effective policies and best practices, as well as highlight for you really terrible bills. Also: Australia's weakened democracy, the launch of DailyClout Australia, and: no one home to count the vote in the UK? Special announcement: We're thrilled to share the rollout of BillCam 3.0 which sends VERTICALS to your email inbox! Do you want to know about real-time real estate laws, finance laws, infrastructure, environment, family law, marijuana, reproductive rights? Are you an investor, a journalist, work for a nonprofit? Verticals will make your information so much richer. Sign up for this amazing new service from DailyClout.io for just $24.99 a month. Get actual legislation in your inbox in the area you choose, with updates when the bills change and new ones are introduced.

Daily Clout: The AusNZUS Firefighting Agreement A Hidden History of Success

Daily Clout: Call to Aus MP Scott Morrison re Why Isnt Firefighting Aid Being Accepted

Daily Clout: Impeachment Resolution and Australia in Flames