{"articles":[{"id":15341,"title":"The DC: 🔥 Wildfires are becoming more frequent, and... 💰 Should companies be banned from stock buybacks unless they pay $15 an hour?","html_content":"

by Causes | 11.16.18

Welcome to Friday, left, right, and centers...

The inner-workings of Congress can be mysterious (which may explain the surfeit of conspiracy theories).

But now, a new generation are entering the hallowed Capitol walls: Millenials who are used to sharing their experiences on social media.

And so it is with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. The 29-year-old representative from New York’s 14th congressional district is currently in D.C. for New Member Orientation, and is using Instagram Stories to de-mystify D.C.

Do you think the inner-workings of Congress need to be made more accessible?

On the Radar

\nAs California continues to endure the deadliest wildfire in its history, decades of data show that declared natural disasters are becoming more frequent, especially fires and severe storms. According to our partners at USAFacts - a non-partisan civic initiative aimed at making government data accessible - natural disasters have increased in frequency since 1980. Between 1980 and 1989, there were an average of 25.2 disaster declarations per year. By contrast, in the last ten years (2008 to 2017), we have declared 121.3 disasters on average per year. How should we address the growing incidence of wildfires?

Under the Radar

\nTwo weeks ago, the journal Nature published a study concluding that the world’s oceans had absorbed roughly 60 percent more heat in the last quarter century than previously estimated. The study received wide media coverage, including here on Countable. The scientists involved in the study said this week that their work contained inadvertent errors that made their conclusions seem more certain than they actually are, submitting corrections to their original publication. While this particular study’s margin of error increased with these corrections, scientists still have a strong body of research and data on climate change and oceans. Do we need to do more to combat climate change?

\nTargeting America’s largest employer and other major retailers, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) have introduced the Stop Walmart Act, a bill that would prohibit large employers from buying back stock unless they pay all employees at least $15 an hour. Critics of the bill say that preventing stock buybacks prevents investors from injecting the money they made off the repurchase back into the economy. Do you want your reps to support the Stop Walmart Act?

Your Gov at a Glance 👀

The White House: President Trump in D.C.

To be announced.

The House of Representatives: In

\nVoting on a bill to delist gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act in the lower 48 states.

The Senate: Out

The Senate will return Monday, November 26th.

What You're Saying

Here are some of your thoughts on Blocking the Sale of Missiles & Launchers to Bahrain

(Follow VictoryBrewing's comment here.)

(Follow Red's comment here.)

But wait, there's more!

And, in the End…

Did you wish the Religious Freedom Restoration Act a happy anniversary?

On November 16, 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the RFRA into law to prevent the federal government from enacting laws that inhibit the ability of people to freely practice their religion.

RFRA was introduced in response to a Supreme Court ruling in a religious freedom case. Since its enactment, the law’s application has been shaped by several subsequent SCOTUS rulings, including the Hobby Lobby decision which gave corporations religious freedom protections.

Are you thanking your creator for the RFRA? Click here.

Regardless of your beliefs, let us all give thanks to the creator of deep frying on this blessed National Fast Food Day,

—Josh Herman

Talk to Managing Editor Andrea Seabrook via email, andrea [at] countable.us, or on twitter, @RadioBabe. And don’t forget to keep in touch @Countable.

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