U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) (L) and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) walk to speak at a news conference following the weekly Senate Democratic policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on June 17, 2025.

 (Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“That’s what this moment demands of them and what we expect,” said a progressive group pushing Democrats to slow down Republicans’ massive reconciliation bill.

STEPHEN PRAGER

Jun 25, 2025 (CommonDreams.org)

A progressive group is pressuring Democratic lawmakers to use every tactic available to obstruct passage of the Republican budget reconciliation bill, which contains large tax cuts for the wealthy funded by slashing social safety net programs.

The organization Indivisible put out an urgent call Wednesday, pressing voters to help “disrupt” what it called the “Republican tax scam.” The group urged Democrats to call their senators, encouraging them to gum up the works using procedural tactics to stop the bill, which has been described as even more extreme and regressive than the one already passed in the House.

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“Your Democratic senators can make voting on this bill slower, more divisive, and more politically damaging than any vote these Republicans have ever taken,” an email from the group said. “In fact, that’s what this moment demands of them and what we expect.”

The Senate’s version of the bill introduces new cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that will hit parents, homeless individuals, and veterans even harder than the House version. It also contains new provisions, including one that would eliminate taxes on many firearms and accessories.

Indivisible noted that the “vote-a-rama” process could begin as soon as Thursday. During this arcane stage of budget reconciliation, senators may propose unlimited amendments to a bill, each of which is voted on in succession.

Using the vote-a-rama has become a tried-and-true strategy for minority parties to drag out votes for these omnibus packages, which can pass with just a simple majority and cannot be filibustered. In 2022, Republicans used the tactic to delay voting for 16 hours in hopes of picking off just one Democrat who could tank Biden’s climate, energy, and tax package.

With Democrats in the minority, Indivisible hopes they will launch a similar marathon. The group encouraged constituents not only to call their senators, but also to submit their own amendments for senators to introduce.

The organization gave examples of what sorts of things to propose: Amendments “to transfer all the dollars for [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] funding to NPR and PBS,” “to tax recipients of luxury jets gifted by foreign governments at 100% of the jet’s market value,” or “to cut every lawmaker’s salary and per diem by the same percentage SNAP gets cut.”

“Some of your suggestions may be silly. Some may be poignant. Some will be genuinely good policy. Pretty much all of them will be better than the disaster MAGA Republicans want to force on us,” the email said.

By delaying the process long enough, the group hopes to buy time to fracture the Republican coalition, which is already divided over some provisions of the bill.

Several Republican senators—including Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)—have voiced concerns about how cuts to Medicaid would affect funding for rural hospitals.

With enough time, Indivisible hopes to use this and other issues as a wedge to pick off enough GOP defectors to stop the bill’s passage altogether.

“The longer we can drag this process out, the more we can toxify a bill that Republicans are already publicly tearing apart,” Indivisible said. “The more we can toxify the bill, the better the chance we can ultimately defeat it.”

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STEPHEN PRAGER

Stephen Prager is a staff writer for Common Dreams.

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New York mayoral candidate, state Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-N.Y.) (L), is joined by fellow mayoral candidate Brad Lander during an election night gathering on June 24, 2025 in New York City. 

(Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

“The establishment has never been more weak than they are now,” one advocate told potential progressive candidates. “You need to run.”

JULIA CONLEY

Jun 25, 2025 (CommonDreams.org)

New York state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani’s victory over disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary was quickly dismissed by some commentators as one that likely wouldn’t be replicated in federal elections and that said little about the views of Democratic voters at large.

But the news that Cuomo had conceded on Tuesday night left many progressives eager to continue the momentum started by Mamdani’s (D-36) campaign—one characterized by a laser-sharp focus on making life more affordable for working people, a rejection of the outsized influence of billionaires and corporations on elections, and a demand for the Democratic Party to end its insistence that popular economic justice proposals are impossible to achieve in the United States.

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Instead of viewing Mamdani’s victory as an aberration, said journalist and organizer Daniel Denvir, the left should treat it as “an earthquake” that threatens the entire Democratic establishment—and its prioritizing of wealthy donors over the needs of ordinary voters.

“The left everywhere must dedicate itself to an insurgency against Democratic incumbents,” said Denvir. “The Democratic establishment has lost credibility with its base in the face of a fascist threat. The base is looking leftward for new leadership. We are the opposition party.”

Several progressive observers urged potential primary challengers to look to other upcoming races in New York, with several expressing hope that New York City Comptroller Brad Lander—another mayoral candidate who was widely praised for boosting Mamdani’s campaign by cross-endorsing with him—will continue his political career by fighting for a U.S. Senate or House seat.

New York Democratic centrists including U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer were named as lawmakers Lander could challenge in a primary. Goldman is up for reelection in 2026, and Schumer could face a primary in 2028.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who has angered progressive advocates during President Donald Trump’s second term by complaining about their demands for the Democrats to act as an opposition party, and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), a vehement supporter of Israel who attacked Mamdani and accused him of antisemitism when he spoke out in support of Palestinian rights, were also mentioned as incumbents who should be challenged.

Mamdani won both Jeffries’ and Goldman’s House district, according to political analyst Armin Thomas.

Organizer Aaron Regunberg pointed to an article published by Politico last week detailing how 40% of Cuomo’s endorsements came from lawmakers who had previously called for his resignation when he was accused of sexually harassing more than a dozen women.

“Politico ran this very convenient piece listing out every New York Democrat who needs to get primaried!” said Regunberg.

All the centrists named would likely have vast financial resources at their fingertips should a progressive vie for their seats, with powerful groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) liable to spend heavily on their campaigns—but so did Cuomo, who benefited from a super political action committee that raised $25 million, including from right-wing billionaires.

“But if all of Cuomo’s advantages led to a thorough election thrashing, perhaps they weren’t advantages,” wrote Jeet Heer at The Nation on Wednesday. “Mamdani proved to be a superb campaigner with a message about affordability that resonated with voters… Mamdani’s victory is a sign that the Democratic Party establishment is in trouble, and the party is ready for a wider revolt. The next move of progressive Democrats is to start running insurgent candidates in primaries to harness the anger of the moment.”

CNN political analyst Harry Enten also acknowledged that “the Democratic establishment” will likely feel threatened by Mamdani’s victory, which follows “poll after poll showing Democratic voters fed up with their leaders in Washington.”

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In his victory speech, Mamdani himself suggested broader lessons should be taken from his campaign, during which he walked the length of Manhattan to talk directly to New Yorkers, spoke to Trump voters in the outer boroughs about their concerns over the cost of living, and advocated for fare-free buses and no-cost universal childcare.

“This is a victory for every New Yorker who has been told they don’t have a voice,” Mamdani said in his victory speech. “It’s proof that organized people can beat organized money.”

In a column at Common Dreams Wednesday, writer David Andersson wrote that “Mamdani’s win signals a seismic shift in the balance of power between entrenched political institutions and a new generation demanding change. The sheer scale of resources the establishment mobilized—and still fell short—reveals the depth of their fear of losing control over the city’s financial and political machinery.”

“New York City, and perhaps the nation, is at a turning point,” he added.

David Hogg, the anti-gun violence activist who was recently pushed out of his position as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee after he advocated for primary challenges to “asleep-at-the-wheel” Democrats in blue districts, urged young progressives to consider launching their own campaigns.

https://x.com/davidhogg111/status/1937710668389490745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1937710668389490745%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fmayor-race-nyc

“It has never been more clear—the establishment has never been more weak than they are now,” he said. “You need to run.”

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JULIA CONLEY

Julia Conley is a staff writer for Common Dreams.

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by JORDAN MONTERO and LILIANA MICHELENA

June 25, 2025 (MissionLocal.org)

When San Francisco flips its rainbow switch for Pride weekend, it’s more than a party. It’s a joyous act of defiance.

From downtown summit panels to block parties and community-powered marches, here’s your day-by-day guide to Pride, June 26 to 29.

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Thursday, June 26: Culture & Cocktails

The weekend begins with deep conversations, museum takeovers, and the first beats of outdoor dance floors. Warm up your engines.

SF Pride Human Rights Summit (Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero)

• 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. $10 if purchased in-person, $5 if purchased online (FREE for members).
• All-day panels on LGBTQ+ rights, tech ethics, and political strategy. Grab an afternoon session on “Queer Safety in a Digital Age.”

Front Street Block Party (Annie and Front streets)

• 5 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. FREE, reservation required for tables.
• DJs featuring old school hip-hop and an impromptu dance floor.

“Queer Religion” Photo Exhibit (Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St.)

• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday–Saturday), 1 to 5 p.m. (Sunday). FREE to $14.
• Start with evocative portraits exploring spirituality and queer identity. No RSVP required.

Moby Dyke Pride Night (Moby Dick Bar, 165 11th St.)

• 6 to 10 p.m. FREE.
• Jell-O Shots and gift basket raffle to support the Dyke March! Enjoy jams by DJ Tararisin and free pool. 

Oaklash x Cal Academy After Hours (Golden Gate Park)

• 6 to 10 p.m. with show at 8:30 p.m. •$25, 21+.
• Drag takeover featuring “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum, museum galleries open late, cocktails in hand.

Exploratorium “Pride – Queer Science” (Pier 15)

• 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. $22.95, 18+.
• Adult-only lab-party: Interactive exhibits, DJs and queer history.

Oakland to All, Lovers Ball Pt. 4 “Remember the Time” (Public Works) 

• 8 p.m. to Late $25, 21+.
• Ballroom event centering Black and Brown queer and trans people. Come watch professionals walk in categories and win prizes. If you’re a total newbie, watch “Paris is Burning” on Max before you go.

Ruth’s Table “Boldly Ourselves: Queer Expressions of Identity and Courage.” Exhibit (3160 21st St.)

• Open Thursday, 12:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, June 27: Trans Power & Downtown Afterglow

March for trans justice, dance under the skyline, and catch your first glitter-soaked block party of the weekend. Friday is loud and proud. 

Women & Nonbinary Morning Bike Ride (McLaren Lodge, Golden Gate Park)

• 7:15 a.m. 
• This is a recurring event, so something you can check out later as well.
  Energizing loop around the park. Helmets and smiles required.

Trans March & Festival (Mission Dolores Park)

• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. FREE.
• Gather by 5 p.m. for the march, then stay for performers, info booths and community vendors.

Drag Me Downtown Block Party (240 Front St.)

• 4:30 to 8 p.m. FREE at the door, guaranteed entry and drag swag with $10 RSVP.
• Outdoor stage, Peaches Christ headliner, optional donation for swag supporting The Transgender District.

El Rio “Bustin’ Out” After Party (3158 Mission St.)

• 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. $10, 21+.
• A party with proceeds benefitting trans people affected by the prison industrial complex; DJ sets until early hours.

Market Street Laser Rainbow Flag

• ~9:15 p.m. Friday to Sunday, FREE.
• Four-mile laser flag projection from Ferry Building up to Twin Peaks, part of Illuminate SF.

Saturday, June 28: Marches, Music & Magic

From the fierce revival of the Dyke March to sweaty dance floors and roller skates on rooftops, Saturday brings the full spectrum of Pride celebration.

“Unapologetically Queer” Exhibit (Harvey Milk Photo Center, 50 Scott St.)

• 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. FREE.
• Drop in to see intimate portraits of Bay Area icons, no RSVP needed.

SF Pride 5K/10K Run (Mountain Lake, Golden Gate Park)

• 8:30 a.m. Limited same-day $60 registration starting at 7 a.m. at the start line (includes T-shirt and medal).
• Family and friends are welcome to cheer along Blue Heron Lake.

Dyke March (Dolores Park → Castro)

• 11 a.m. rally at Dolores and 18th streets, march at 1 p.m. FREE.
• Under new leadership, this march centers accessibility, trans voices and bold slogans. Expect a route through the heart of queer SF.

55th Annual SF Pride Celebration (Civic Center Plaza)

• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. FREE (VIP upgrades available).
• Main and community stages, artisan fair, and an 18+ lounge. Saturday headliner: Michaela Jáe from FX’s hit series “Pose.”

Pink Block Party (The Great Northern, 119 Utah St.)

• 12 p.m. to 3 a.m. $54.84–$112.11, strict pink attire, 21+.
• DJs from Crystal Waters to Horse Meat Disco, immersive décor, full rave vibes.

MANGO Pride (El Rio)

• 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. $30, 21+.
• A party for queer women and their friends; a night with DJs, dancing, gogos and food. 

Sunday, June 29: Parade, Parties & a Sky Full of Rainbows

The city’s biggest day begins with a historic march down Market and ends in lasers, light shows and one last epic dance. Save some energy for the grand finale.

SF Pride Parade (Embarcadero → Civic Center)

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. FREE.
• Streets closed: Market Street (Beale to 9th streets) 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Polk, Larkin, Grove, Hyde, Golden Gate, McAllister, and Fulton streets all weekend.

SF Pride Festival Day 2 (Civic Center Plaza)

• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. FREE.
• Saucy Santana closes the main stage; don’t miss the 21+ beer garden and vendor alley.

Juanita MORE! Pride Party (620 Jones St)

• 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. $75 tickets at the door.
• Proceeds go to Transgender Law Center.

City Hall Indoor Pride Party (400 Van Ness Ave)

• 1 to 5 p.m. $159 ticket, 21+.
• Three rooms of curated performance amidst marble halls; a luxe post-parade retreat.

Public Works “BEEP! BEEP!” Afterparty (161 Erie St.)

• 2 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. FREE w/ RSVP, 21+.
• Two stages of DJs, circus artists, giant art car. Bring your brightest costume.

City Hall Rainbow Lighting

• ~8 p.m. FREE.
• Watch those floodlights shift to Pride colors. Perfect photo op.

Tips for a Smooth Weekend

• Transit is King: Muni and BART avoid parking headaches (downtown garages run $30–40+).
• Pack Light: Only clear or small bags.
• Stay Fueled & Safe: Hydration stations dot Civic Center; pick up free Narcan and fentanyl strips at San Francisco Community Health Center (SFCHC) tents.
• Meet-Up Spots: Choose fixed landmarks; crowds and closures can mangle cell service.

See y’all in the streets, happy Pride! 

LILIANA MICHELENA

lilianamichelena@gmail.com

Reporter, multimedia producer and former professional soccer player from Lima, Peru. She was a correspondent at the 2016 Rio Olympics for El Comercio, and later covered the aftermath for The Associated Press. Her work has also been published by The New York Times, The Guardian and Spain’s El Pais. Otherwise, her interests are as varied and random as Industrial Design, Brazilian ethnomusicology, and the history of Russian gymnastics.More by Liliana Michelena

by FRANKIE SOLINSKY DURYEA June 25, 2025 (MissionLocal.org)

Immigration agents detained two more people outside the San Francisco immigration courthouse at 100 Montgomery St. on Wednesday morning, according to advocates and witnesses.

Witnesses who were working along the building’s southern exit on Sutter Street say the immigration agents — at least two of whom were wearing Immigration and Customs Enforcement badges and face coverings, and another dressed in plainclothes — exited through a small door on Sutter around 10:55 a.m. 

Two men were loaded into the van, one of whom witnesses report was in handcuffs. Milli Atkinson, an immigration specialist with the Bar Association of San Francisco, also confirmed the two arrests. Atkinson said the first arrest was at 10:11 a.m. this morning.

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Arrests outside immigration court have ramped up. Attorneys say President Donald Trump’s administration is using a novel legal tactic to fast-track deportations, asking judges to dismiss asylum cases and then immediately nabbing asylum seekers after their hearings.

In San Francisco, the vast majority of ICE arrests are hitting those showing up for court hearings or regular ICE check-ins.https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/lWS6c/7/

Earlier this month, advocates and journalists filmed ICE agents escorting men from court into a minivan that was swiftly surrounded by protesters attempting to block the arrests. On Tuesday, ICE agents shoved protesters who had gathered outside the ICE headquarters at 630 Sansome St., trying to stop more arrests.

Shortly after the demonstration on Tuesday, the ICE office shut down for the day.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Palestinians mourn by the body of a relative killed in Israeli fire at a food aid distribution point set up by the privately run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, at Al-Awda hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza on June 24, 2025.

 (Photo: Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images)

“It is weaponized hunger. It is forced displacement,” said one U.N. human rights official. “All combined, it appears to be the erasure of Palestinian life from Gaza.”

JULIA CONLEY

Jun 24, 2025 (CommonDreams.org)

After more than 20 months of Israel using a blockade on humanitarian aid as a “method of war,” as one leading human rights group said earlier this month, the United Nations human rights office said Tuesday that Israel-backed aid operations have also amounted to a “weaponization of food”—and constitute a war crime.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said at least 410 Palestinians have now been killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) while trying to retrieve food aid from distribution points set up by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.- and Israel-backed group staffed by U.S. security forces.

The GHF has been opposed by the U.N. and humanitarian groups that have long served Palestinians in Gaza, with advocates warning the group’s plan to require civilians to travel on foot across the war-torn enclave to retrieve food boxes at hubs guarded by the IDF violates basic principles of neutrality in humanitarian aid.

Thameen Al-Keetan, spokesperson for the OHCHR, said that after nearly a month in operation, the U.N. has determined that the “militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism is in contradiction with international standards on aid distribution.”

“The weaponization of food for civilians, in addition to restricting or preventing their access to life-sustaining services, constitutes a war crime and, under certain circumstances, may constitute elements of other crimes under international law,” said Al-Keetan.

The statement came after at least 51 Palestinians were killed at aid sites in the IDF’s latest attacks on Tuesday. The killings were among those that brought the total death toll of Israel’s assault on Gaza, which has been called a genocide by leading experts and human rights groups, past 56,000.

“Desperate, hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food.”

While the GHF’s food boxes are “leaving unaddressed the critical needs of those who have so far survived,” according to the latest update from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), hundreds of Palestinians have been either “shelled or shot” by the IDF while trying to reach GHF hubs.

Numerous reports have surfaced of Israeli soldiers shooting at crowds of Palestinians when they have deviated from “designated access routes” or moved toward the IDF at GHF distribution points.

At least 3,000 Palestinians have also been injured in attacks while trying to access aid.

“Desperate, hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food,” said the OHCHR.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Whittall, the head of office in the occupied Palestinian territories for the OCHA, noted that the U.N. and other experienced aid agencies stand ready to provide sufficient humanitarian aid to the enclave’s more than 2 million people—1 in 5 of whom were facing imminent starvation last month when the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification released its latest assessment.

“It is weaponized hunger,” said Whittall of the current conditions inflicted on Gaza by the Israeli government. “It is forced displacement. It’s a death sentence for people just trying to survive. All combined, it appears to be the erasure of Palestinian life from Gaza.”

The U.N. and other aid providers currently rely on Israel to facilitate all humanitarian relief missions, and over the weekend, said the OHCHR, only eight out of 16 operations were approved.

“Half of [the missions] were denied outright, hindering the tracking of water and fuel, the provision of nutrition services, and the retrieval of the bodies,” said Alessandra Vellucci, director of information services at U.N. Geneva.

Al-Keetan toldReuters that the legal determination regarding whether Israel is guilty of a war crime related to its reported targeting of civilians at aid sites “needs to be made by a court of law.”

South Africa has a case pending at the International Court of Justice regarding its allegation that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, as well as as a Hamas commander who is now dead, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The U.N.’s statements on Tuesday came a day after 15 rights groups wrote to the GHF, warning the privatized group that its contractors working with the IDF risk “aiding and abetting or otherwise being complicit in crimes under international law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide,” and could be liable in a court of law in the U.S. or internationally.

“By obliging starving, exhausted Palestinians to walk long distances through militarized zones, or by effectively forcing them to relocate in order to obtain food and aid under a system overseen by Israeli forces and U.S. private military contractors, the scheme creates an immediate risk of forced displacement that may violate the prohibition on forcible displacement of civilians,” said the groups, including Al Haq, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights.

“By instrumentalizing humanitarian aid for political or military ends,” said the groups, “the scheme risks rendering its participants complicit in collective punishment, the starvation of civilians, and other acts prohibited under customary international law, the Geneva Conventions, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and the Genocide Convention.”

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JULIA CONLEY

Julia Conley is a staff writer for Common Dreams.

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) holds a news conference in the U.S. Capitol on June 23, 2025. 

(Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

“Who is going to primary this guy?” said one critic. “Please. I am begging someone to step up.”

STEPHEN PRAGER

Jun 24, 2025 (CommonDreams.org)

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries shocked war opponents Monday when he told reporters he had not looked at a bipartisan resolution that would require congressional approval for military action against Iran.

As U.S. President Donald Trump has beat the drums for war with Iran in recent weeks, Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introduced a resolution to invoke the War Powers Act of 1973, which would require the president to seek congressional approval before taking military action.

The resolution to put a check on Trump’s war-making powers in Iran had 59 Democratic co-sponsors. A group of 12 House Democrats—all military veterans, most of whom had not been initial co-sponsors—also voiced their support for the resolution in a letter on Monday. A similar resolution, introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), has gained traction in the Senate.

In a press conference Monday, Jeffries (D-N.Y.) agreed that the Trump administration should “have to come before Congress and explain their justification” for its “offensive military strike” against Iran over the weekend. But when a reporter asked whether he supported Khanna and Massie’s resolution, Jeffries brushed off the question.

“I haven’t taken a look at it,” Jeffries said, before quickly moving to the next question.

The resolution was released six days before Jeffries’ comment and is less than 400 words long.

https://x.com/kenklippenstein/status/1937230550512595396?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1937230550512595396%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fjeffries-iran-war-powers

Conflict with Iran is extraordinarily unpopular with the public. A YouGov poll conducted Sunday—hours after Trump announced strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities—found that 85% of American adults, including 92% of Democrats, did not want the U.S. to be at war with Iran.

Jeffries was already facing criticism for what many viewed as a weak response to Trump’s push to war. His failure to address the War Powers proposal only fueled that anger.

“Look at my opposition party dawg,” wrote independent journalist Ken Klippenstein, who posted the viral clip on social media.

Jeffries’ answer quickly drew more angry rebukes from war critics.

“Hey, not like this is an urgent matter with lives on the line. He’ll get to it,” quippedReason Magazine commentator Zach Weissmueller.

Krystal Ball, the left-wing co-host of the Breaking Points podcast, was dismayed, calling for new Democratic leadership.

“Who is going to primary this guy?” Ball tweeted. “Please. I am begging someone to step up.”

She noted that even Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)—one of the Democratic Party’s staunchest defenders of Israel—had also voiced support for using the War Powers Act following Trump’s strikes.

Jeffries’ response also reignited scrutiny on his support from the America-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which has been one of the strongest advocates for Trump’s aggressive actions against Iran.

Commenting on the video, the group Track AIPAC, which monitors donations by pro-Israel lobbyists, shared a graphic showing the large sums Jeffries has received from such groups.

https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=e30%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1937236293030982095&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fjeffries-iran-war-powers&partner=rebelmouse&sessionId=c39f28c8615d583cce034e5e9f43dc6b0ed8aa5c&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px

According to OpenSecrets, Jeffries was the top recipient of money from pro-Israel lobbying groups in the House of Representatives during the 2023-24 election cycle, receiving more than $1.1 million. AIPAC was also Jeffries’ top contributor.

As Michael Arria wrote for Mondoweiss Monday, many of Jeffries’ comments have closely mirrored AIPAC’s talking points, including reiterating that U.S. support for Israel is “ironclad” and his claim that Iran “poses a grave threat to the entire free world.”

“Many prominent Democrats who have expressed concerns about Trump’s process have effectively endorsed his rationale,” Arria wrote.

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STEPHEN PRAGER

Stephen Prager is a staff writer for Common Dreams.

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The sun sets over container ships and oil platforms off the coast of Huntington Beach, California on January 12, 2021.

 (Photo: Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

While calling the public lands decision “an important victory,” one campaigner also warned that “this threat is far from over.”

JESSICA CORBETT

Jun 24, 2025 (CommonDreams.org)

Critics of Republican efforts to continue wrecking the planet celebrated some small victories after the U.S. Senate parliamentarian on Monday advised that multiple provisions cannot be passed as part of a megabill that only requires a simple majority.

Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough found that some GOP legislative proposals about offshore drilling and mandatory public land sales could not be included in the package due to the so-called Byrd Rule, which bars provisions considered “extraneous to the purpose of implementing budget resolution policies.”

Specifically, MacDonough axed a provision that deems offshore oil and gas projects as automatically compliant with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), nullifying their environmental review processes. She also ruled against a proposal requiring offshore fossil fuel leases to be issued to successful bidders within 90 days after the sale, and a separate mandate for the sale of millions of acres of public land.

“This wasn’t just an obscure and damaging policy—it was an assault on the places where generations of Americans have hiked, hunted, fished, camped, and connected with the natural beauty of our country.”

MacDonough also blocked provisions allowing natural gas exporters to pay to have their project deemed in the public interest; requiring a permit for the construction of Ambler Road, a controversial mining route in Alaska; directing the interior secretary to hold yearly geothermal lease sales; and revoking the secretary’s discretion to reduce fees for solar and wind projects on Bureau of Land Management land.

Other provisions under the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s jurisdiction that are still being reviewed include policies that would require that 90% of the revenue from lease sales in the Cook Inlet go to the state of Alaska, starting in 2035; mandate fossil fuel lease sales in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska; and force the interior secretary to approve new coal lease applications.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday applauded MacDonough’s decision on the “cruel” GOP policy that “would have gutted America’s public lands and auctioned them off to the highest bidder, in yet another bid to benefit the wealthy.”

“This wasn’t just an obscure and damaging policy—it was an assault on the places where generations of Americans have hiked, hunted, fished, camped, and connected with the natural beauty of our country,” Schumer said. “Republicans tried to rip away hundreds of millions of acres of public land—not to help families, not to solve real problems—but to hand yet another gift to the wealthy and well-connected. It was outrageous, it was shameless, and it would have forever changed the character of the country.”

“Senate Democrats fought tooth and nail to keep public lands in public hands because these lands belong to everyone—not just the privileged few,” Schumer said of Sen. Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) proposal that put those lands at risk.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) also put out a statement welcoming MacDonough’s latest moves against what critics are calling the “Big, Ugly Bill” and highlighting his party’s opposition.

“Democrats continue to show up and fight every provision of this Big, Beautiful Betrayal of a bill, because this bill is an attack on workers and families everywhere,” Merkley said Monday. “Democrats will not stand idly by while Republicans attempt to circumvent the rules of reconciliation in order to sell off public lands to fund tax breaks for billionaires. We will make sure the Byrd Rule is followed and review any changes Republicans attempt to make to the bill.”

https://x.com/RepJoeNeguse/status/1937488612603592724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1937488612603592724%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Ftrump-public-lands

Like the Democratic leaders, Trust for Public Land CEO and president Carrie Besnette Hauser on Tuesday called MacDonough’s latest decisions “an important victory in the fight to protect America’s public lands from short-sighted proposals that would have undermined decades of bipartisan work to protect, steward, and expand access to the places we all share.”

“Across the country and across party lines, Americans have made it overwhelmingly clear: They do not want to see their public lands sold off to the highest bidder. Land sell-off proposals are deeply out of step with the will of a vast majority of Americans,” she noted. “But make no mistake—this threat is far from over. Efforts to dismantle our public lands continue, and we must remain vigilant as proposals now under consideration including a proposal to roll back the landmark, bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act and threaten full, dedicated funding for conservation through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).”

“Public lands are not political bargaining chips, but national treasures that power local economies, strengthen public health, and connect millions of people to the outdoors every day,” she added. “Trust for Public Land will continue to stand with communities, tribal nations, and bipartisan champions in Congress to defend public lands and ensure they remain protected, accessible, and thriving—for all people, for all future generations.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has suggested that Republicans will not overrule the parliamentarian. According toReuters, he told reporters on Monday that the review process is “something we have to go through,” and “they’re working through it. And in some cases, as things are flagged, we’re making counteroffers.”

Although MacDonough dealt a blow to the GOP agenda, the Trump administration on Monday continued its assault on the planet, announcing plans to end a rule that protects tens of millions of acres in the National Forest System, which would enable road development and timber production on those lands.

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JESSICA CORBETT

Jessica Corbett is a senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.

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June 24, 2025 (SFist.com)

• There was a rally over the weekend to save the Castro Coffee Co. and Castro Nail Salon, the businesses owned by two brothers that are being evicted from spaces adjacent to the Castro Theatre to make way for box-office space. Supporters say that Another Planet Entertainment has acted with “mendacity and predatory motives” in their takeover of the theater. [Facebook]

by FRANKIE SOLINSKY DURYEA June 24, 2025 (MissionLocal.org)

The San Francisco Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters shut down on Tuesday afternoon, after about 30 protesters attempted to block the transfer of at least two immigrants who had been arrested in Concord that morning.

Just before 3 p.m., ICE agents and federal police stood inside the building’s doors putting up “Closed” signs. Protesters had amassed around the northern gate of the headquarters at 630 Sansome St. at 1:58 p.m. as an escorted, unmarked, tinted white van reversed through the building’s rising garage door.

Advocates said the van was loading immigrants arrested in Concord into holding cells inside.

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The crowd filmed the mask-clad men — who were with ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, and the private security company G4S — and shouted “Fuck you Nazis!” and “Get out of our fucking city!” as the agents backed the van into the headquarters.

Several unmarked cars escorted by federal police then drove down the street, and about 10 federal officers began scuffling with protesters to clear a path, pushing them back with batons. Protesters threw cones into the vehicles’ paths and attempted to keep them from driving off. 

At least one protester claims to have been hit on the head with a police baton, as agents held onto and pushed back those gathered, forming a path. The federal vehicles drove off and protesters began pushing the agents back to the ICE office. One agent yelled “Get the fuck back!” while retreating, unsheathing a baton. Another took out a riot shield.

The crowd yelled “Fuck you!” and “Go back to your pigpen!” 

Protesters had gathered slowly over the course of the previous hour after news of immigrants  detained in Concord spread through organizing circles.

Milli Atkinson, the director of the Immigrant Legal Defense Program at the Bar Association of San Francisco, confirmed that two immigrants had been detained in Concord and subsequently transferred to the ICE processing facility at 630 Sansome. 

According to Sanika Mahajan, an organizer with Mission Action and the Rapid Response Network, the arrests in Concord happened around 10 a.m. Calls to organize around the San Francisco ICE headquarters were sent out around noon.

At one point, a protester filmed Mayor Daniel Lurie stepping out of his black Rivian a half block from the ICE office, asking him if he’d join the crowd outside 630 Sansome.

“Are you going to do anything about the ICE abductions happening?” the protester asks. “Do you want to talk to me or do you want to film me?” Lurie responds, before saying he is in touch with the Rapid Response Network. After a brief exchange, Lurie walks away.

Lurie has been reticent to take on President Donald Trump directly, but has acknowledged the “tremendous anxiety” felt in immigrant communities across the city.

Shortly after the confrontation, a number of employees appeared to exit the ICE building. Around 20 protesters began picketing the front entrance at approximately 2:40 p.m., chanting slogans of “ICE, ICE, get out the Bay! Get out the Bay, get out the Bay!” The agents inside the building then put up the “Closed” signs.

By 3:10 p.m., their demonstration ended and protesters began dispersing.

Mission Local has documented more than two dozen people arrested by ICE in San Francisco in recent weeks — a vast undercount, immigration attorneys say.

Tuesday’s arrests came two weeks after four others were detained at San Francisco’s immigration courthouse at 100 Montgomery St., and another 15 were detained there two weeks before that. During one of those actions, on June 10, protesters shut down the immigration court.

Though no arrests had been reported at court on Tuesday, several protesters were mobilizing to 100 Montgomery building after 3 p.m., to be sure.

Democracy Now!Jun 25, 2025 Latest Shows Support our work: https://democracynow.org/donate/sm-de… History was made Tuesday night as democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani carried out a stunning upset and defeated Andrew Cuomo in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary. As the results became clear Tuesday night, Cuomo conceded and called Mamdani to congratulate him. The New York state assemblymember will now be the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City in November’s general election. “Tonight we made history,” Mamdani told supporters. “In the words of Nelson Mandela, it always seems impossible until it is done. My friends, we have done it.” Moe Mitchell, national director for the Working Families Party, says Mamdani’s campaign helped “create a multiracial working class alignment against authoritarianism [and] for a type of politics that is hopeful, that is visionary, that says we want something, we don’t simply want to fight against something.” Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET. Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: https://democracynow.org/subscribe