The Congo Basin is the second largest of the world’s remaining rainforests, but this vast region often called the “lungs of Africa,” is largely overlooked when it comes to climate policy and allocation of funds to protect its vital resources. Spanning across six nations in central Africa, the basin is home to some 130 million people and thousands of rare species.
(“The Rainforest We Forgot: The Congo Basin is the Second Largest on Earth,” The Guardian, Nov. 18, 2025)
One year ahead of the midterm election, the campaign has already begun in Nebraska’s swing 2nd Congressional District where incumbent anti-abortion Republican Don Bacon is retiring. The Congressional Progressive Caucus made an early endorsement of state Sen. John Cavanaugh. In the primary, his chief opponent is former CEO and Democratic activist Denise Powell, who has close ties to national moderate Democratic donors. Although Nebraska’s 2nd district voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, its congressional seat has remained in Republican hands.
(“Key Nebraska Primary Features an Establishment Progressive and an Outsider Moderate,” American Prospect, Nov. 13, 2025)
The U.S. uranium mining industry that boomed in the Cold War years was built mostly on or near Navajo lands by the federal government rushing to get materials for nuclear weapons, and later nuclear energy plants. But Navajo communities weren’t informed of the danger to their health and it left a trail of sickness and death—for those who worked the mines and mills, and for those who drank poisoned water and breathed poisoned air. The U.S. government is now gearing up to re-open uranium mines in New Mexico on or near Navajo land, 50 years after most mines were abandoned.
(“They Worked Underground in the Uranium Mines,” In These Times, November 2025)
