Paris Climate Accord, Next National Director, End of Free Birth Control, and More

1. Climate Disagreement

Yesterday, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement because he claimed – among other fact-free assertions – that it hurts American workers. Trump’s reasoning is dubious, at best, since his own economic agenda would clearly inflict pain on many Americans and deepen inequality. The ironic cherry on top is that inequality is a driver of climate change, as Roosevelt Fellow Susan Holmberg argues in a recent Roosevelt report.

2. Passing the Torch

The future of the Roosevelt network is bright as it welcomes a new National Director, Nehemiah Rolle. An alumnus of Roosevelt @ Wake Forest University, Nehemiah’s vision for the network includes centering diversity, equity, and inclusion into leadership development, and harnessing the power of diverse, youth-driven leadership. Read former National Director Joelle Gamble’s announcement here.

3. End of Free Birth Control?

A new draft rule from the Trump administration will let most corporations, not just religious groups, stop covering birth control. And those that stop coverage would not have to find a third party to fill in the gap. Speaking with The Atlantic, Roosevelt Fellow Andrea Flynn says that if this rule is enacted, “It would leave women with no option.”

4. Uniting Against the AHCA

Doctors, hospitals, and insurers — groups that normally have different legislative aims — are uniting against the AHCA, which would end Obamacare as we know it. Roosevelt network alum Ariel Smilowitz writes why it’s encouraging to see an uncommonly large opposition come together to ensure that the AHCA, as it currently stands, does not pass the Senate.

5. Our Liberation is Bound Together

The open letter to the DNC from Democratic black women leaders is an urgent reminder that there is no path to justice for all without first improving conditions for women who are oppressed across gender, race, and economic rules. We highlighted these issues in our newest report – read more in Colorlines and here.

What We’re Reading:

Writing for the New York Times, David E. Sanger and Jane Perlez argue that in pulling out of the Paris climate accord, Trump has created a vacuum of global leadership. They note that plenty of other world powers are eager to fill this void, and they’ll be positioned to set rules for trade and environmental standards.

Event:

Join us on Wednesday, June 7th at 6pm ET for the 2017 Distinguished Public Service Awards as we honor three progressive leaders, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, former U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, and AFT President Randi Weingarten. Watch the honoree speeches on our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter using #DPSA2017.