Rep. Donald Payne statement on passage of assault weapons ban in the House of Representatives

NJ congressman Donald Payne Jr. released the following statement after the House passed a bill banning assault weapons:

Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. helped pass a bill today to prevent the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines for civilian use. The bill, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2021 (H.R. 1808), would reduce the amount of such weapons on American streets and allow states to use grants to buy back semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines from Americans who own them already. America had a similar ban on assault weapons from 1994 to 2004. During that time, mass shooting deaths dropped 70 percent and there were 40 percent fewer crimes committed with assault weapons.

“There is no reason why civilians should have assault weapons or high-capacity magazines,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. “They are weapons of war and should not be on American streets. This bill will lower the incidents of gun violence and save lives. In addition, I am proud that this bill includes a provision to provide communities with federal grants to buy back assault weapons from American owners. I introduced a bill called the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act, which would fund such grants and local gun buyback programs. I hope the Senate passes this bill soon because we must do more to prevent gun violence across America.”

A CONVERSATION WITH NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES & JELANI COBB IN NEWARK NJ

November 18th 7-9 PM at the NJPAC: A conversation with Nikole Hannah-Jones and Jelani Cobb. The event is free and open to the public.

NJPAC will begin taking reservations for seats on Octobr 7, 2022.

Click the picture for more information.

Congressional Black Caucus Secures Ad Contracts Language in Funding Bills

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus — D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and Reps. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) — announced that 11 reports with the House’s fiscal year 2013 appropriations bills include their language directing federal agencies to report on advertising contracts with small disadvantaged businesses and minority- and women-owned businesses in their budget justifications.

“As the largest advertiser in the United States, the federal government has an obligation to ensure fair access for minority- and women-owned media companies,” Norton said. “Securing this language in 11 reports will help ensure that federal agencies are striving to reach minorities, who often get their news from outlets that serve more specific communities.”

Lee said between 2013 and 2017, just 13% of advertising federal contracts went to small, minority and women-owned businesses. The Oakland-based lawmaker said the 11 reports “create greater federal accountability for the federal government as an employer and promoting equity in federal contracting.”

Johnson noted the federal government consistently failing to spend its advertising dollars with Black media and advertising firms “which has led to messaging not being effectively disseminated to the Black community.”

“It is important to me to make sure the vestiges of Jim Crow racism are ended, and every Black medial company is treated equitably,” he said.

[SOURCE: WASHINGTON INFORMER]

Former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner to Host New Show

America’s largest progressive news network - today announced that former Ohio State Senator, political icon, and self-proclaimed “hell-raising humanitarian” Nina Turner is joining the network as the host of an all-new daily live news show Unbossed with Nina Turner, slated to launch October 17, 2022. TYT continues its growth and expansion with the addition of Unbossed, where Turner will expose how the elites in government, the media, and other sectors game the system and how people can join forces to fix the corruption and restore democracy.

Sen. Turner said, "I am excited to continue my journey with the TYT family and to give voice to Americans frustrated with the current state of politics. Being the Executive Producer and Host of Unbossed gives me the opportunity to delve deeper into the ways in which the corrupting forces of our political system hinder the creation of a people’s agenda in this country. We will highlight the ways in which many of our elected officials are bought off by special interests and how those special interests impact the fabric of our daily lives. The team at Unbossed is ready to speak with the experts, roll out the receipts, and expose the corrupting forces and individuals that are a threat to collective liberty. We will bring soul, substance, truth, and hope to your feed every weekday. I can't wait for you to join me in October."

Turner is known for her political experience and leadership. She was the national co-chair of the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign, served as a national surrogate for the Sanders 2016 Democratic presidential primary, and served as president of the grassroots organization, Our Revolution. On Unbossed, Turner will share her leadership and organizing experiences to give the audience the tools and motivation to make positive change happen in their communities. Viewers can expect strong commentary from Turner on the Biden Administration, establishment democrats, and what progressives need to do moving forward.

TYT founder and host of the flagship news and politics show The Young Turks Cenk Uygur said, "Nina Turner is one of the strongest voices in the progressive movement and American politics today. She has challenged the establishment in a way that has them running scared. That's exactly the type of fearless attitude we love at TYT. The media is supposed to challenge the powerful, not comfort them. There's a reason why the elites in Washington are afraid of Nina Turner, it's because she's Unbossed."

TYT recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and the company’s mission to drive positive change remains evident in the programming line-up. Additionally, the network is experiencing aggressive growth and has added new shows like Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey - most recently named the fastest growing news show in America by the Hicks Evaluation Group - The Watchlist with Jayar Jackson, and is continuing to add new contributors to their Rebel HQ channel.

TYT Head of Programming Judith Benezra said, “Senator Nina Turner is a powerful and influential leader of the progressive movement, and the addition of her voice to TYT's programming slate further affirms that TYT is the 'Home of Progressives.' The show's title Unbossed is inspired by Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm's signature campaign slogan, which perfectly encapsulated the principled trailblazer as uncorrupted by money in politics and beholden to no one. Unbossed with Nina Turner is an extension of that ethos, as Senator Turner will call out the elites in media, politics, law enforcement and the financial sector, and be the voice for the people they try to crush along the way.”

Unbossed with Nina Turner starts streaming on TYT on October 17th via YouTube.com/Unbossed, Facebook, and on Twitch, and will be available as a podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Turner is currently a contributor on TYT with videos published daily on Rebel HQ.

US proposes swap with Russia to free Brittney Griner

The U.S. State Deoartment is now offering to trade prisoners with Russia to bring home basketball star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine from Michigan.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken added he would engage with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. It was the first public acknowledgement of a deal that could involve a prisoner swap or addressing the sanctions placed on the country after it invaded Ukraine.

“My hope would be that in speaking to Foreign Minister Lavrov, I can advance the efforts to bring them home,” Blinken said.