Think Progress

June 2009 Progress Reports

• Justice -- The New 'Judicial Activism', June 30, 2009
  

  The Supreme Court handed down a 5-4 decision in Ricci v. DeStefano yesterday, overturning 25 years of lower-court precedent that gave employers discretion to reconsider a promotion test whose results favor one race over another.

• Environment -- Moving Forward On Global Warming, June 29, 2009
  

  Friday was a historic day in Congress, as the House passed the first-ever bill designed to curb greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

• Time For The 'Heavy Lifting' To Begin, June 26, 2009
  

  At a bipartisan meeting with congressional lawmakers yesterday, President Obama pledged "that he would push for a sweeping overhaul of the nation's immigration system by early next year."

• Military -- How To Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell , June 25, 2009
  

  While campaigning for the White House, President Obama pledged to repeal the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" (DADT) policy, which bars openly gay men and women from serving in the military.

• Health Care -- Beyond The Public Option, June 24, 2009
  

  ABC News will host "Prescription for America," a discussion with President Obama about his plans to reform the health care system.

• Energy -- Clean Economy For 48 Cents/Day , June 23, 2009
  

  Since introduction of the American Clean Energy and Security Act, conservatives have grown increasingly hysterical in their opposition to clean energy and green jobs.

• International Relations -- Cracks In The Iranian Regime, June 22, 2009
  

  Over the weekend, thousands of Iranians met fierce resistance from security forces who "blocked streets" and used tear gas, water cannons, batons, and guns to prevent the demonstrations.

• Immigration -- Mainstream Extremism, June 19, 2009
  

  This week, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund released a new report tying the immigration debate's vitriolic rhetoric to the growing number of hate crimes against Latinos and "perceived immigrants."

• Administration -- The Challenge Of Transparency , June 18, 2009
  

  Despite early successes, the Obama administration has stumbled on its way to ensuring that government is transparent and accessible.

• Economy -- Rethinking Financial Regulation, June 17, 2009
  

  Today, the Obama administration is rolling out its plan for reforming the financial regulation system.

• Health Care -- The Public Option, June 16, 2009
  

  Making the case for a robust public option in any health care reform initiative.

• National Security -- Iran's Contested Revolution , June 15, 2009
  

  No one predicted that the Iranian election would result in the sort of crisis that has unfolded over the weekend.

• Justice -- Supreme Hypocrisy, June 12, 2009
  

  Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings will begin on July 13, timing that closely mirrors Chief Justice John Roberts' Senate confirmation schedule.

• Radical Right -- The Very Real Threat Of Extremism, June 11, 2009
  
• Justice -- One Step Closer To Closing Gitmo, June 10, 2009
  

  Yesterday, Guantanamo Bay detainee Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani was transferred from the military base in Cuba to Federal District Court in Manhattan.

• Justice -- Judges Not For Sale, June 9, 2009
  

  In a 5-4 decision yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled "that elected judges must step aside from cases when large campaign contributions from interested parties create the appearance of bias."

• Health Care -- The American Health Choices Act, June 8, 2009
  

  Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, is circulating draft legislation designed to overhaul the nation's health care system.

• National Security -- A New Beginning In Cairo, June 5, 2009
  

  During the election campaign President Obama to deliver a speech "at a major Islamic forum" in order "to reboot America's image around the world and also in the Muslim world in particular."

• Economy -- The Present And Future Of GM, June 4, 2009
  

  This week, auto giant General Motors (GM) followed Chrysler and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, making it the fourth largest U.S. company to ever take such a step.

• Radical Right -- Tiller's Killers, June 3, 2009
  

  The issues of abortion and domestic extremism have been thrust back
  into the national spotlight with the brutal murder of Dr. George
  Tiller. 

• Supreme Court -- The Two Faces Of Opposition, June 2, 2009
  

  Although President Obama wants to see hearings on Sotomayor's confirmation conclude before the senators depart for their August recess, the GOP leadership is resisting.

• Health Care -- Swiftboating Health Care Reform, June 1, 2009
  

  Rick Scott, the disgraced former head of Columbia/HCA Healthcare, is the new face of anti-healthcare reform efforts under the banner of a new organization called Conservatives for Patients' Rights.