As the House considers a police reform bill just a day after Senate Democrats' blocked debate on GOP-backed version former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, hopes the moves inspire a new way of governing and policing.
"Getting profound and meaningful reform that actually changes the presumption of dangerousness, that is so often fatal to black lives, that is a big deal long in coming," Patrick told Cheddar.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 calls for a massive overhaul of policy aimed at holding officers more accountable, including the revocation of qualified immunity and a prohibition on racial profiling. Although it is likely to pass in the House, Patrick noted the bill will face an uphill battle on the other side of Capitol Hill.
"I remain hopeful that Senate Republicans, who will see what the rest of us see, will decide to turn from using fear as a device to govern and will instead get to the business of actually governing," he explained.
The former governor said he does not expect Democrats to budge on police reform proposals because "folks want policy to matter where it touches people -- all people."
"There is an accumulated bad habit of doing something in the name of being able to waive a bill, without actually doing policy or making policy where it touches people," Patrick added.
Not only is the policing of Black Americans on Patrick's mind, but the former presidential hopeful is also concerned about tactics Republicans are using to silence minority groups as the November election inches closer.
"A concerted strategy of suppressing the vote, in particular, of Black and Brown people and young people, has been a strategy of the national Republican party for a long time," Patrick said.
The coronavirus pandemic is presenting a new challenge for Americans this election season, so Patrick suggested voters should "have a plan about how and when they will vote" no matter who their choice for president is.
Following the invasion of Ukraine, a multitude of Western companies have paused doing business with Russia. PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Starbucks are the most recent companies to temporarily cease operations in Russia. Dean of Miami Herbert Business School at the University of Miami, John Quelch, joined Cheddar News to discuss what message this sends to Russia and the Russian consumer. “I would not underestimate the collective strength of all of these multinational companies, essentially coming together to make their collective statement in support of the political statements that have come out of Washington," he said.
The war in Ukraine continues to reveal heartbreaking gut-wrenching stories. The war in itself is not only devastating but also expensive. Experts estimate that Russia is draining nearly $20 million dollars each day to continue occupying and invading Ukraine. All this could force the country to turn to cryptocurrencies. It's a major turn for the country that briefly considered outlined digital assets entirely, but it could also have serious implications for cryptos. Managing Director at Quantum Fintech Group, Harry Yeh, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
President Biden announced a ban on Russian oil and natural gas imports to the U.S. in response to its invasion of Ukraine, a move he warned could lead to an even greater surge in gas prices. The ban is prompting a conversation about the current oil production levels in the U.S. and whether or not the industry can ramp up production to soften the blow to American families at the gas pump. Clark Williams-Derry, Energy Finance Analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, breaks down the state of the U.S. oil industry and how the ban might impact production levels here at home.
PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Starbucks are the latest American food brands to have halted business operations in Russia after having faced scrutiny and criticism for originally failing to do so amid the country's invasion of Ukraine.
As Russia intensifies its war on Ukraine, President Biden announced a ban on oil imported from the aggressor nation. Critics of Russia have said this would be the best way to force Putin to pull back, but curbs on Russian oil exports are expected to send already skyrocketing oil and gas prices even higher, further impacting consumers, businesses, financial markets, and the global economy. Leslie Beyer, CEO of the Energy Workforce and Technology Council, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss. "It's certainly going to increase pricing, but it is the right thing to do," she said. "The industry itself has already pulled out of the significant portion of its operations in Russia."
Sports Betting in the U.S. is booming. According to industry experts, we could see another boom this year as more states move towards statewide legalization of sports wagering. While this comes as huge news for fans, there are some very real concerns as to whether or not sports betting potentially poses a threat to public health. Senior Clinician at the Caron Treatment Centers, Eric Webber, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
The Biden administration has made gender policy a core part of how it governs. The president established the first Gender Policy Council. It's on the same level as the National Security Council, Domestic Policy Council and National Economic Council, putting the interests of women and other underserved groups at the table for the most important policy discussions.
Cheddar News sat down with Jennifer Klein, executive director and co-chair of the White House Gender Policy Council, to discuss the council's work and its significance during Women's History Month.
State Representative Jessica González, Vice Chair of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus, joins Cheddar News to discuss the latest Texas anti-transgender directive.
The United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack joins None of the Above to discuss the newly emerging conflict in Europe, what it means for agriculture in the states, dairy and meat consumption, and how the department is planning to promote climate-smart agriculture.
