Heidi Pascual's web site

By Michael Sozan

Introduction and summary

The United States has been on a long arc toward achieving a multiracial democracy that can effectively represent all Americans, including long-marginalized communities. Yet opponents of a more pluralistic democracy are erecting barriers at the federal and state levels designed to lock in political minority rule and slow the nation’s progress. At the state level, this aggressive countermajoritarian movement can be seen most starkly in Wisconsin and North Carolina. Despite the fact these two states are divided almost 50-50 politically, their Republican-controlled legislatures are taking unprecedented steps to draw extreme partisan legislative maps to lock in political power, limit long-held authorities of governors, pass voter suppression and election sabotage laws, and steer state supreme courts toward preferred results. ​ - CLICK STORY TO READ MORE

By Ryan Mulholland

The Biden administration’s industrial strategy took a major step forward last week with the signing of the new supply chain pact under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). The signing commits the United States, along with 13 partner countries, to the agreement’s broad goals and its three new IPEF bodies—all designed to enhance supply chain coordination, increase investment, and improve working conditions in a region critical to U.S. national security, as well as a key source of inputs for U.S. manufacturers and a key export market for U.S.-made goods.

Although much of the media’s focus has been on the negotiations concerning the trade pillar of IPEF, the significance of the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement, as well as agreements on the clean economy and the fair economy, should not be overlooked. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE

​​ By Mariel Lutz & Jenna Rowland-Shea

On November 6, 2023, an op-ed was published in a local Delaware paper that described offshore wind as an “environmental wrecking ball.” Yet the author, David Stevenson, is the director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy at the Caesar Rodney Institute, a Delaware-based think tank that as recently as 2019 received thousands of dollars from both American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers and the American Energy Alliance—two groups with a stake in fossil fuels. This fact may explain why the op-ed is riddled with misinformation.

The fossil fuel industry has long funded misinformation about renewable energy—for example, California is currently suing five major oil companies for decades of deception about the risks of fossil fuel use. . -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE

By Sam Hananel

Dec. 9, Washington, D.C. — The Biden administration on Friday bypassed Congress to approve a sale to Israel of more than $100 million in tank ammunition. The U.S. State Department cited “emergency” circumstances in justifying the sale that ordinarily would have been reviewed by relevant congressional committees. In response, Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement: This stunning end run around Congress is unacceptable—especially after the Biden administration publicly ramped up its concerns over the massive civilian death toll in Gaza. It flies in the face of the administration’s own policies that insist on accountability for arms transfers, civilian protection, and human rights. ​-- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE

By Devon Ombres

On November 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) v. Jarkesy, a case that could have significant effects on government’s ability to effectively serve the American people should the court choose to eliminate administrative law judges (ALJs) and resurrect the nondelegation doctrine. There are nearly 2,000 ALJs working as independent officials within the executive branch who preside over administrative hearings in a variety of federal agencies and adjudicate disputes between the agencies and affected parties. In this case, an SEC ALJ found that two hedge funds established by George Jarkesy committed securities fraud against investors. The SEC fined Jarkesy and other parties $300,000 required disgorgement of $685,000 in ill-gotten gains, which the SEC Board of Commissioners upheld and barred Jarkesy from participating in the securities industry. ​-- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE

Aug. 3, 2023--Earlier this month, APIAVote partners from all across the country came to Washington, DC to attend APIAVote’s two-day convening and reconnect, learn, discuss strategy, and outline the road map to building AAPI power in 2024 and beyond!

We kicked the first day of the convening centered on developing short and long-term strategies for recruiting AAPI candidates. AAPI elected officials make up less than 1% of all elected officials, despite representing over 7% of the population – speakers stressed the importance of running to not just change this statistic, but make effective change for our communities across the country at all levels of government.

For Virginia State Delegate Irene Shin, she “ran because [she] fundamentally [believes] that state and local politics matter.” Whether it’s the simple belief state and local government matter most, it’s implementing solutions for ending anti-Asian hate, or protecting our democracy – there are many reasons community members might be motivated to run. It’s on us to not only inspire and prepare them to run, but also continue to support them even after they are elected.-- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE