Blog

All Blogs

  • June 25, 2013 5:15 pm | By Paul Gordon

    In Voting Rights Decision, Roberts Rewrites the 15th Amendment

    The Roberts Court, as part of the right wing’s ongoing efforts to keep “the wrong” people from voting, put a monkey wrench into the mechanism of the greatest civil rights legislation in American history. It is now up to Congress…

  • June 25, 2013 12:35 am | By Sarah Lobe

    Bad News for Workers in the Supreme Court’s Vance Case

    Today the Supreme Court's decision in Vance v. Ball State University reset the rule for when an employer may be held vicariously liable for an employee's harassment. Finding an employer liable for unlawful harassment by supervisors is now more difficult.…

  • June 24, 2013 9:29 pm | By Paul Gordon

    Affirmative Action Remains

    The Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision this morning in the Fisher v. University of Texas affirmative action case. The Court ruled 7-1, with Justice Kennedy writing for the majority and Justice Kagan recused. The majority adhered to the principle…

  • June 24, 2013 5:52 pm | By Paul Gordon

    A Good Day at the Court for Drug Manufacturers (But Not the Rest of Us)

    In a sharply divided 5-4 decision, the Corporate Court took another step today to immunize generic drug makers from lawsuits under state law holding them accountable for selling prescription drugs that can be particularly dangerous even when taken as directed.…

  • June 20, 2013 10:00 pm | By Ben C.

    HUD Report Documents Housing Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples

    A report released this week by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the first-ever national study documenting discrimination against same-sex couples in the private rental market. Titled "An Estimate Of Housing Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples", the…

  • June 20, 2013 4:22 pm | By Paul Gordon

    Corporate Court Lets Monopolists Bypass Antitrust Laws

    Think you can rely on longstanding federal laws to protect your rights when they are violated by a giant corporation? Thanks to the Roberts Court, you should think again. The five far-right Justices on the Roberts Court have once again…

  • June 20, 2013 2:51 pm | By Layne Amerikaner

    Delaware Passes Historic Transgender Anti-Discrimination Bill

    Last Tuesday Delaware Governor Jack Markell wrote that in his state, it is high time “our laws reflect our values.”  The bill in question was the Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Act of 2013, which adds gender identity to the state’s hate…

  • June 19, 2013 6:58 pm | By Paul Gordon

    Longer and Longer Waits for District Court Nominees

    What happens when the Senate is blocked from confirming more than two district court nominees per week, regardless of how many pending nominations there are? That's what's generally happening in the 113th Congress, since GOP leader Mitch McConnell usually blocks…

  • June 19, 2013 5:55 pm | By Tory

    Maddow Applauds PFAW’s Work Monitoring the Right Wing

    On her show last night, Rachel Maddow gave an appreciative nod to People for the American Way’s work monitoring the right wing. After reviewing a slew of staggering quotes from conservative talk show host Rick Wiles -- all of which…

  • June 19, 2013 2:25 pm | By Ben C.

    New Report Documents Republican Support for Citizens United Amendment

    America has awakened. All across the nation, a burgeoning movement has begun to demand the overturn of Citizens United v. FEC and related cases via constitutional amendment, including, according to a new report by Free Speech for People, 130 Republican…

  • June 17, 2013 9:21 pm | By Tali

    Anti-Bullying Protections Headed to Senate Floor

    Harassment and bullying in schools based on sexual orientation and gender identity are pervasive national problems. They can have drastic effects on students’ grades and attendance levels and are linked to depression, violence, and self-harm. Senator Tom Harkin’s (D-IA) bill…

  • June 17, 2013 4:17 pm | By Miranda Blue

    Supreme Court Upholds Voting Rights in Arizona Proof-of-Citizenship Case

    The Supreme Court issued 7-2 ruling in favor of voting rights today, finding that a restrictive Arizona law requiring that voters show proof of citizenship when registering by mail is preempted by federal law. The court upheld Arizonans’ right to…

  • June 14, 2013 7:25 pm | By Layne Amerikaner

    First Lesbian Latina Confirmed as Federal Judge

    Judge Nitza Quiñones Alejandro broke an important glass ceiling this week, becoming the first openly lesbian Latina confirmed to a federal judgeship.  The Senate confirmed her by voice vote to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania…

  • June 13, 2013 6:05 pm | By Layne Amerikaner

    Recent YP4 Fellow Reunites With Her Mother at a Border Fence

    Two months ago, Evelyn Rivera, an alumna our affiliate People For the American Way Foundation’s Young People For program, wrote that her family’s dream is a future where “immigration reform will include family reunification and that my mom will return…

  • June 12, 2013 1:43 pm | By Ben C.

    For LGBT Seniors Fighting DOMA is About Economic Survival

    For the elderly, the fight against DOMA often isn’t only a question of receiving federal recognition for a marriage – it’s also a question of basic economic survival. At “The Harms of Marriage Discrimination: Older Same-Sex Couples and DOMA”, a…

  • June 11, 2013 4:13 pm | By Ben C.

    New “Follow the Money” Report Documents Dangers of Big Money in Politics

    Strong campaign finance laws lead to more competitive elections and a greater influence from small donors, according to a new report from the National Institute on Money in State Politics. The report, released in May, examines state-level elections to gauge…

  • June 10, 2013 5:53 pm | By Layne Amerikaner

    Following PFAW Advocacy, Delaware Becomes 15th State Calling to Overturn Citizens United

    In yet another state, the American people have made it clear that we will not allow our elections to be bought and sold. Recent months have seen Delaware legislators and local advocates busy collecting signatures for a letter to Senator…

  • June 10, 2013 3:54 pm | By Layne Amerikaner

    Equal Pay for Equal Work? Not Yet.

    Today marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Equal Pay Act.  It should be a celebration.  But it should also be a wake-up call about how far our country still has to go toward fair pay. When President…

  • June 7, 2013 6:50 pm | By admin

    Student Debt Day 2013 Makes Noise for Struggling Students and Families

    On June 5th, hundreds of students made their way to Capitol Hill to express their concerns and tell their personal stories about rising student debt. We wanted to bring attention to the federal student loan interest rate that is set…

  • June 7, 2013 2:51 pm | By Layne Amerikaner

    Delaware Senate Passes Transgender Anti-Discrimination Bill

    Yesterday afternoon the Delaware Senate passed a historic civil rights bill adding gender identity to the state’s hate crime prevention and non-discrimination laws.  Despite damaging lies about transgender Americans pushed by organizations like Focus on the Family and the Delaware…