A day after the government of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro signed an agreement with opposition parties over conditions to hold a competitive presidential election in late 2024, the Biden administration eased economic sanctions against the South American nation’s oil, gas, and gold sectors.
(“US Eases Sanctions on Venezuelan Oil After Maduro Agrees to Elections,” Washington Post, Oct. 18, 2023; “A Breakthrough Deal For Venezuela,” Foreign Policy, Oct. 20, 2023)
On Labor Day weekend, Kentucky Democratic Governor Andy Beshear who is running for re-election launched an ad blitz against his opponent Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron regarding his extreme stand against abortion. The ad accused Cameron of insisting a 9-year-old rape victim should be forced to give birth.
(“The Dobbs Strategy Heads South,” American Prospect, Oct. 2, 2023; “Republican Jeff Laundry Will Win Louisiana’s Governor’s Race,” CNN, Oct. 14, 2023)
During a brutal heatwave in Texas, grassroots climate activists announced a victory after a year-long campaign to allow school kids from grades 6 to 12 to ride on public transit for free. Sunrise Dallas — a local chapter of the youth-led national climate movement built a successful campaign winning free student trips on Dallas Area Rapid Transit, (or DART) an important step toward building support for a Green New Deal.
(“Dallas Climate Activists Won a Major Investment in Green Transit,” In These Times, Oct. 4, 2023)
This week’s News Summary was narrated by Anna Manzo.
