This week, in a 51-40 vote, the Senate confirmed Rep. Deb Haaland as the first Native American secretary of the interior, putting her at the helm of a federal agency that oversees natural resources, public land, and tribal affairs. “It is long past time that an American Indian serve as the secretary of the Interior,” […]
Georgia Senate Passes Bill to Restrict Voting Access
The Republican-controlled Georgia state Senate voted Monday to pass sweeping legislation that would restrict access to voting for thousands of Georgia residents. The bill, which passed 29-20, will end no-excuse absentee voting and will enact stricter voter identification laws for absentee ballots. Only residents who are disabled, over 65, are in the military, have a […]
The US House Passes Landmark Voting Rights Bill
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping voting rights act designed to combat nationwide state level voting restrictions proposed by Republican lawmakers in the wake of the 2020 election. The For the People Act, more commonly known as H.R. 1, would expand voting rights, overhaul campaign finance rules, and reform redistricting laws. […]
Georgia House Passes Voting Restrictions Bill
On Monday, the Georgia House of Representatives passed a bill to enact restrictions on voting. This includes restricting absentee voting in certain cases, cutting back on early voting hours, preventing county elections offices from receiving grant funding directly, shortening the state’s runoff election period, taking away the secretary of state’s role as chair of the […]
Former Staffers Accuse NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo of Sexual Harassment
Two former staffers of Gov. Andrew Cuomo have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment and abuses of power during their time working with the governor. “Governor Andrew Cuomo has created a culture within his administration where sexual harassment and bullying is so pervasive that it is not only condoned but expected. His inappropriate behavior […]
Tennessee Legislators Introduce Bill Allowing Fathers to Prevent Abortion
Tennessee legislators have introduced a bill that if passed would allow biological fathers to receive a court injunction preventing the pregnant person from receiving an abortion. SB 494 was introduced in the Tennessee state Senate last week by Republican state Sen. Mark Pody, with a corresponding bill HB 1079 introduced in the state House by […]
New House Rules Mandate Gender-Neutral Language
Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern announced the rules package for the 117th Congress, which includes increased accountability for the public, strong ethics reforms, and a focus on inclusion. The new rules establish a permanent Office of Diversity and Inclusion, as well as “honor all gender identities by changing […]
Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff Win Georgia Senate Elections
On Tuesday, Georgia held its runoff elections for the Senate, and on Wednesday AP News officially called both races, with both democratic candidates, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, winning in close margins. These wins are historic, with Warnock being the first Black senator from Georgia and Ossoff being the first Jewish senator from the state. […]
Nancy Pelosi Elected Speaker of the House for the 117th Congress
On Sunday, Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the House for the 4th time by a narrow margin. “As we are sworn in today, we accept a responsibility as daunting and demanding as any that previous generations of leadership have faced. We begin the new Congress during a time of extraordinary difficulty,” said Pelosi, acknowledging […]
Biden Recruits Veteran Policy Adviser Susan Rice: “We All Rise or Fall Together”
12/16/2020 by SOPHIE DORF-KAMIENNY President-Elect Joe Biden appointed Ambassador Susan Rice to serve as director of the Domestic Policy Council in his administration, alongside four other domestic nominees, on Friday, Dec. 11. Rice, who has served in policy roles under multiple administrations, spoke alongside Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris to accept her nomination. “Today […]
Katherine Tai Appointed as U.S. Trade Rep.: “I Am Very Proud to Be an Advocate For American Workers”
12/16/2020 by SOPHIE DORF-KAMIENNY for msmagazine.com President-Elect Joe Biden is nominating and appointing a record number of diverse women to hold leadership roles in the Biden-Harris administration. Allow Ms. to introduce you to all the women appointed to join this historic administration. President-Elect Joe Biden appointed Katherine Tai to serve as United States Trade Representative […]
Top 10 Feminist Moments of 2020
2020 was an unprecedented and difficult year, but that didn’t stop feminists from achieving some great things over the last 12 months. Kamala Harris became the first female Vice President of the U.S. In November, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris became Vice President-elect of the United States. Harris broke multiple barriers by becoming the first woman, […]
Dr. Rochelle Walensky Appointed CDC Director
In a series of nominations for health leaders in his administration, President-Elect Joe Biden tapped Dr. Rochelle Walensky to head up the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as director. “I never anticipated I would take on a role helping lead our national response, and government service was never part of my plan. But every doctor knows that when […]
Georgians Unite to Make “Good Trouble” in Marches and Votercades Across the State
On Monday, Dec. 14, Black and Brown voters in cities across Georgia are joined community organizers for John Lewis “Good Trouble” marches and votercades. Black and Brown voters in cities across Georgia are joined the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda, the Transformative Justice Coalition, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and community organizers for John Lewis “Good Trouble” Marches and Votercades—festive celebrations of […]
Rep. Marcia Fudge to Head Housing and Urban Development: “We Will Help People Believe Once Again”
In a recent series of nominations, President-Elect Joe Biden chose Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) to join his Cabinet as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. She will be the second Black woman to hold the position, and first in the past 40 years. “When I think about the enormity of the task ahead of us, I am reminded of […]
As Kamala Harris Becomes Vice President, Feminists Urge Gov. Newsom to #AppointABlackWoman in Her Place
“Our representative democracy is supposed to represent us,” urges a joint letter—part of a recent push from a coalition of notable feminists to convince California Gov. Gavin Newsom to replace Vice President-Elect Harris’s Senate seat with another Black woman. Presently, the number of Black women in the Senate totals just one—Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. And […]
Biden’s Choices for CDC Director and HHS Secretary Promote Diversity & Equity
President-elect Joe Biden has announced two more appointments for his future White House team – Rochelle Walenksy as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Xavier Becerra as the next secretary of the Health and Human Services Department (HHS). Both appointees have backgrounds in protecting healthcare access and equity. […]
Idaho One of Many States to Pass Trigger Law to Ban Abortion if Roe v. Wade Gets Overturned
In March of this year, Idaho governor Brad Little signed a law that deemed abortion a crime in Idaho if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned. This months-old decision has become increasingly relevant, as Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s appointment to the Supreme Court has made the possibility of overturning Roe more of a reality. […]
Biden Appoints Record Number of Women to Top Roles
President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team has announced his picks for his communications and economic teams. Most of his announced picks are women, several of whom are women of color, following his campaign promise to build a diverse administration. Biden nominated Neera Tanden as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Tanden currently leads the […]
Biden Announces Janet Yellen as First Female Head of Treasury Department
On Monday, President-elect Joe Biden announced Janet Yellen as his nominee for Secretary of the Treasury, the first woman to hold the position in the history of the country if confirmed. Ms. Yellen is a labor market expert and is widely considered a strong feminist. She has spoken publicly of her support for economic policies […]
