Biden’s Social Spending Package on the Crosshairs – President Biden’s social spending package is on the verge of collapse after Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia expressed objections to the proposal to extend the child tax credit. Democratic leaders said they were stunned by the last-minute demand. Experts warn that the collapse of the package could leave more than 4 million taxpayers without support. José López Zamorano brings us the details from Washington.
Worker Protections against Wildfire Smoke Blocked in California – The California Legislature scrapped a bill this year that would have allowed labor inspectors to visit farming fields during wildfire emergencies to ensure that employers follow rules protecting workers from the toxic smoke. The legislation was killed under pressure from Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, according to investigative reporting by Farida Jhabvala Romero of KQED and The California Newsroom. Farida reports from Fresno in California’s Central Valley.
Guatemalan Journalists Decry Censorship and Harassment – Guatemalan journalists are denouncing attacks this year on members of the media, who have suffered physical attacks, harassment from authorities, and financial pressure for exercising their profession. Journalists in rural areas have been the most vulnerable, especially those who revealed acts of corruption and inefficiency among public officials. María Martin reports from Guatemala. An expanded version of this report was published in LatAm Journalism Review, a publication of the Knight Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
