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The devastation embedded in the Trump-Republicans big bad budget bill for lower income families has been a drum that I’ve been beating for weeks now, but as it nears the finish line additional impacts are becoming clear. This bill has become a “whose on first, what’s on second” house of horrors. Like many other initiatives of this administration, most of its consequences are intended when it comes to its war on the poor, minorities, women, and others, but some are even surprising its fanboys, like the former Trump BBF Elon Musk, and not at all because of deficits. Ideology, not common sense or basic prudence is now running the government.
US REP JAMIE RASKIN & THE ATTACK ON US DEMOCRACY & ECOLOGY
We begin GREEP Zoom #229 with citations for “The Choreography of War” by our Poet Laureate MIMI GERMAN, whose latest poem is compacted into a brilliant three lines.
Green Party Presidential nominee HOWIE HAWKINS discusses the nitty-gritties of Ranked Choice Voting & instant runoff.
The great MARIANNE WILLIAMSON gives us a brief hello & a promise to come visit us again soon.
Beyond Nuclear’s KEVIN KAMPS reminds us about how powerful is the rise of renewables worldwide along with the demise of nuke power.
Co-host MIKE HERSH gives us a stellar introduction for US REP JAMIE RASKIN.
Rep. Raskin provides a brief excursion into the dire damage being done to our electoral system through the widespread assault on the Voting Rights Act, emphasizing the powerful impact of the No Kings Day marches..
The great RAY MCCLENDON of the Georgia-based Communities United for Justice connects with Rep. Raskin, sharing concerns about the mass disenfranchisement being imposed on the national electorate.
Many factors explain the demise of earlier civilizations, but not one collapsed as a result of deliberate decisions by a top political leader who wanders about destroying the pillars of his country’s greatness. Donald J, Trump, however, does so—endangering not only the United States but also U,S. allies and others previously inspired by America’s example.
The United States has long suffered from many of the challenges that brought down earlier political systems—from Uruk in Mesopotamia to Mayan Chichén Itza to the USSR. These problems included myopic leadership, rich-poor enmity, widespread corruption; racial and religious conflict, environmental abuse, overextension and unnecessary warring—all made worse by inflation and deficit spending.
The U.S. Senate just passed their version of Donald Trump’s government spending megabill — and it’s a disaster for our climate and our communities.
Tax breaks for billionaires? Check.
Shredding the social safety net? Check.
Gutting climate and clean energy progress, while expanding fossil fuel extraction? Check, check, and check.
We can’t let this bad bill move another step. And there’s a chance it won’t — it barely squeaked by in the Senate in a 50-51 vote. We can stop it before it gets to Trump’s desk. But your House Representative needs to hear from you NOW, Suzanne.
Tell your House Rep.: Vote NO on the disastrous Trump megabill.
We’re reaching out with an urgent request to stand with Ohio libraries in protecting free and open access to information for all members of our community.
A new law passed in the state budget (House Bill 96) today includes a harmful, expensive and unnecessary requirement that public libraries move any materials related to sexual orientation or gender identity to areas not primarily visible to anyone under 18.
Why This Matters
Sunday, June 29, 2025, 4:00 PM
Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Avenue 43214. Free parking will be available on nearby streets and in lots owned by the North Broadway Methodist Church.
From the 1960’s into this New Millenium, Peter Paul and Mary used music to entertain, educate, inspire, and energize Americans to work for a better world. Three veteran Columbus musicians will pay tribute to PP & M’s legacy with songs, memories, and quips. Bill Cohen, Joanne Blum, and Joe Lambert will sing and strum the most beloved songs that PP & M seared into the hearts and minds of so many people for decades. Among them: If I Had a Hammer, Blowin’ in the Wind, Where Have All the Flowers Gone, Jet Plane, and Day is Done. Plus, the audience will be invited to sing along on tunes like Puff the Magic Dragon and the Times They Are a Changin’.
Devo’s 50th Anniversary Show at Promowest Pavilion opened with a 70’s looking stag movie called the Rod Rooter Video. The Rod Rooter Video depicts a cornball record industry’s climate which existed while Devo were burgeoning Northeast Ohio visionaries. Rod Rooter is a corny music executive who is lecturing Akron’s iconic art performers about marketing. Rod Rooter resembled an unlikable, uncouth predator in a porno movie.
Rod Rooter tells DEVO the Akron legends should aspire into being Kid Rock. While I doubt Kid Rock made music in 1977. Rod Rooter Video’s satire is mocking an embarrassing element from the 70’s and the music industry that still exists.
After this out of touch, and artless cornball lectures Devo, Devo took the stage with the relevant Don’t Shoot. Don’t Shoot reminded everyone Devo’s subversiveness was an Ohio cultural response after the National Guard killed people in Kent, Ohio during the Nixon 70s. We’re thinking about Trump’s disingenuous Ice Raids which compelled Trump into invading California with the National Guard.
Fifth Annual TANK Day
Saturday, June 28, 12-5pm
Fedderson Community Center, 3911 Dresden St., Columbus OH 43224
Bring the family bring the kids and come celebrate the life and legacy of the awesome Mr. Casey Christopher Goodson Jr aka Tank Man. Food, petting zoo, bouncy house, face painting, a 360 photo booth.
Columbus’s best kept 95-degree day secret was overrun this week by scores of young people at Runaway Bay apartment complex in Grandview. The pop-up party fueled by social media once again exposed a historical reality: There’s too few public spaces and not enough culture for non-privileged young people in Columbus. There are also too few public pools in Columbus, due to lack of funding or greedy developers, such as those who bought out Olympic Pool in Clintonville.
The Free Press is not condoning the illegality of young people taking over a private beach, that by the way is rarely used by tenants, but we are not condemning them as the police-state apologists from Channel 6 WSYX did. Few people are ever seen on this beach probably because Runaway Bay management charges $100-per year to have access.
Dr. Bob Fitrakis and Dan-o Dougan find the best songs about automobiles and tell stories about their car follies.
Listen live at 11pm Friday, June 27 and July 4 streaming at wgrn.org or on the radio at 91.9FM
and
Monday at 2pm streaming June 30 and July 7 at wcrsfm.org or on the radio at 92.7 or 98.3FM