Drexel Heard II

What a way to give credit to Team
Trump by NYT…like a group project when the other kid knowingly never shows up but still get the credit. Unserious.

False Narratives, Real Consequences: How Do We Fight Misinformation? How bad actors fuel distrust amid crises

At the same time, ensuring we have and are sharing the right information is vital to our democracy. How we combat misinformation during this timec especially in Trump Part Two, will be so important.

Read more here:

All will be wrong, and their misinformation campaigns are designed to confuse and distract. We cannot let that happen. Criticizing elected officials is the bedrock of our democracy, and holding leaders accountable as the electorate is our job as citizens.

At the same time, there will be (and already are) the politicization of this moment by those who have specific agendas. Republicans attempting to blame Democrats to public safety cuts, those who wish to “defund” our police departments using this moment to pit LAFD against LAPD, and so many more.

We’re ending one of the most devestating weeks for LA. So many friends, neighbors, colleagues, favorites business all affected directly or indirectly by these fires. “Empathy” is the word being used a lot - and those that show it, are the real ones. Flock to them. Everyone else is just noise. 🧵

And just like that! Thanks, @gavinnewsom.bsky.social!

LA can rebuild stronger, safer, and faster while still protecting what matters. Temporary CEQA reform could be the difference between action and more devastation and we should be pushing leader to do just that. We can do more to ensure we never get back to this place. 🌍🔥

#LAFD remains the largest healthcare provider in the county, serving both our housed and unhoused communities - we need to make sure they have the resources and investments necessary to do their job and the city should act on it through a bond or other mechanism.

While our firefighters and first responders are working hard to contain these fires, our communities and those affected want to know who is stepping up to act now and help them rebuild.

At the same time, maintaining critical environmental protections during the suspension and streamlining, doesn’t mean cutting corners; it means prioritizing urgent needs, including:

✅ Air & water quality standards.
✅ Protections for endangered species.
✅ Requirements for public health and safety.

A 2-year suspension could focus on:

✅ Fast-tracking housing reconstruction for displaced families.
✅ Streamlining approvals for renewable energy infrastructure.
✅ Accelerating wildfire mitigation projects like vegetation management.

#CEQA, while vital for protecting our environment, often delays housing, infrastructure, and wildfire prevention projects. Bureaucratic red tape has hindered our ability to act swiftly in emergencies, leaving communities vulnerable. We need a pragmatic, temporary solution to these #CaliforniaFires.

The fires here across LA are a wake-up call. We are going to need to rebuild faster and get these communities affected back on track. We must reassess how CEQA is applied to prevent it from slowing rebuilding efforts down & we should suspend CEQA for 2 years (maybe 5) while keeping key protections.🧵

Can I just say, Trump’s new obsession with Greenland can only be atributed to him or one of his silly people watching Season 2 of The Diplomat on @netflix.com. I dunno if we should laugh, cry, or both.

Hook. Line. Sinker. Why Democrats always take a chaotic Republican Party’s bait

Thought we’d kick off the new year with a new Substack! Going to be writing more here with some random thoughts! Take a read of the first out! (And subscribe!)

Huh? No one’s trying to help Trump, I just meant in general. Agreeing that trying to capture republicans (and frankly our left flank) just ain’t working. Horseshoe theory is real. BUT, to me, that’s not the only reason Kamala lost. A Black woman as president in this climate just wasn’t gonna happen

I dunno if I would have gone as far as Liz Cheney…but I also see the real need to figure out how to retain Moderate (the clear majority) Democrats during elections. Never really gonna win over folks who don’t want to be won over anyway.

We were able to help prepare hundreds of meals for community members at Project Angel Food’s new Lincoln Heights location. They prepare over 3000 meals daily and always need volunteers!

Tax Payments by Undocumented Immigrants Undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022. Providing access to work authorization for undocumented immigrants would increase their tax contributions both be...

Undocumented workers pay nearly $100B year in state and federal taxes, including: "$25.7 billion in Social Security taxes, $6.4 billion in Medicare taxes, and $1.8 billion in unemployment insurance taxes in 2022."

Amount of services received for the payroll taxes paid?

0

itep.org/undocumented...

The Biden-Harris administration better take the biggest victory lap and not let the Trump team take ANY sort of credit. This deal is not a product of Trump’s win, but a product of Biden’s diplomatic strategy.

10/10. No notes.

#Wicked 🫧🧙🏿‍♀️

Maybe…but not if Republicans don’t want him in the senate….

Matt Gaetz withdrawing was always inevitable. The reality is, Republicans don’t really care about his past, they just don’t like HIM and rightfully so. The next AG pick, though - buckle up because it’s likely going to be a more awful person.

Oooo I like this - four musicals to understand me -

I promise I’ll get to political stuff soon, but I’m finally (don’t you judge me) watching The White Lotus after some pushing and prodding by @tedolguin.bsky.social.

2 six-episode seasons should be a breeze before the 3rd season!