This week on “The Good Fight” podcast: an inside account of the Supreme Court’s hearings on the case that could give corporate CEOs the right to deny birth control coverage to their employees.

Irin Carmon, the brilliant reporter for MSNBC.com, was there in the courtroom as the justices hashed out Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius—and then walked across the street to our studio in D.C. to tell us exactly how it went down.

Her story made me laugh, it made my blood boil a little bit … and it made me very excited about sharing this episode. If you’ve ever benefited from birth control yourself, you’ll definitely want to hear it: Click here to open the podcast on iTunes (and be sure to subscribe)!

Or you can listen on our website, via the Stitcher app for Android or iOS, or via RSS.

 

Guess how many justices were distinctly unenthusiastic about corporations getting to impose religious views on their employees’ birth control decisions?

Here’s a hint: There are three women on the Supreme Court.

You’ll hear what it’s like to sit inside the court during a historic case, and you’ll learn about what’s at stake. Plus, in this episode, you’ll hear updates on progressive fights from coast to coast in “The Good Fight’s Win Report.” If you’ve never listened to “The Good Fight,” this is a great place to start—this one’s short, sweet, and full of positive energy.

Click to hear the podcast on iTunes! And if you like it … subscribe!

Or check it out on the “The Good Fight” website.

If it seems to you like your CEO’s religious freedom shouldn’t affect what you can do with your own body, you’re not alone. In fact, one of the many great provisions in the Affordable Care Act is based on exactly that idea. It’s now under attack, like so many of the rights and freedoms that we’ve fought for over the years. And to fight back, the first step is knowing what’s happening. The second step? Spreading the word.

Thanks for all you do!

–Ben Wikler

P.S. New to podcasts? Welcome! A podcast is a prerecorded radio show, distributed through the Internet. You can listen on your computer on our website or through iTunes, or on your phone (through iTunes for iPhones, or Stitcher for Androids).

We launched “The Good Fight” in partnership with MoveOn a few months ago to tell the inside stories of fights that matter, and inspire people to get involved. If you like the program, please subscribe, post a review, and drop us an email at show@thegoodfight.fm.

John W Suthers: Release Rene Lima-Marin Jasmine Lima-Marin Aurora, Colorado My husband Rene Michael Lima-Marin was incarcerated in 1998 at the age of 19 and served 10 years of his 16 year sentence for robbery in which he used an unloaded gun and no one was hurt. He was released in 2008 and placed on parole which he successfully completed in 2013. But in January 2014 it was determined that a clerical error had been made and he was sent back to prison for an additional 90 years. During his six years of freedom, Rene strived to be a productive member of society.  He had been rehabilitated and took full advantage of this second chance; we had a child, purchased a home, and got married. He coached his step-son’s soccer team, mentored other youth to stay out of trouble, and maintained full time employment so he could support our family. To take him away from our family and lock him up for the rest of his life is unjust. I certainly do not want to make light of the mistakes that Rene made as a teenager but I do call into question the life sentence Rene and our family faces. Does a man that was formally released from the penal system, met all the conditions of this release, and turned his life around deserve this type of justice? Are we as a society really willing to accept that a clerical error is enough justification to rip apart a family? Rehabilitate means to help re-adapt, as to a former state of health or good repute. The entire penal system was created to rehabilitate and restore individuals to be productive members of society. Please sign my petition asking Attorney General John Suthers, Arapahoe County Chief Judge William Blair Sylvester, and Colorado Appeals Chief Judge Alan Loeb to release Rene from this unjust sentencing. I ask for this so he may return home where he can continue to be a tax paying model employee, an engaged and loving father and a supportive husband. Sign Jasmine’s Petition

The self-interested, ultraconservative Koch machine is undermining and corrupting our democracy by drowning out the voices of the rest of us.

That’s why I’ve made a video to help explain America’s giant Koch problem—and explore what we can do about it.

I hope you’ll take a look.

Charles and David Koch personify everything that’s wrong with big money in politics. This summer, MoveOn is working to ensure that the hundreds of millions of dollars they plan to spend in the upcoming election cycle becomes a searing political liability.

If you agree that it’s high time America told the Koch brothers that our nation is not for sale, please share the video with your friends.

Thanks for standing up for democracy.

–Robert Reich

Want to support our work? We’re entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

By CAP Action War Room

A Snapshot Of This Week’s White House Summit on Working Families

Earlier this week the Center for American Progress had the privilege to co-sponsor the White House Summit on Working Families, featuring the President, Vice President, First Lady, and Dr. Biden, as well as many other leading voices for the cause to make workplaces work for everyone and ensure that women have a fair shot to help their families succeed.

Check out CAP’s video recapping the event here, or by clicking on the screenshot below:

We’re feeling fired up! Are you? To learn more and get involved in the movement, visit workingfamiliessummit.org.

BOTTOM LINE: Too many working Americans – both women and men – are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to make ends meet and respond to the competing demands of work and family. We need policy solutions like paid family leave, equal pay, child care, and a higher minimum wage, that can make a real difference in the lives of working families and ensure America’s global competitiveness in the coming decades.

by Patty Murray

Stop Child Summer Hunger

During the school year, low-income children have the opportunity to receive free or reduced-priced meals at school. However, millions of these same children go hungry during summer break. That’s why I was proud to introduce the Stop Child Summer Hunger Act, a long-term, common-sense solution to reducing child hunger during school breaks. This legislation will provide families who have children eligible for free or reduced-price school meals with an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card. This EBT card will include funds that the family can use to purchase food to replace the meals that the children would otherwise be receiving at school.  The threat of hunger doesn’t take a summer break.  We shouldn’t either.  We must do more to make sure kids get the nutrition they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

Learn more about my bill.

“Sen. Murray proposes summer food benefits for low-income kids”
 – KUOW

“Bill would buy summer lunch for kids out of school”
 – The Olympian

“To fight students’ ‘summer hunger,’ Sen. Murray pushes debit cards for lunches” – KPLU

‘Serious and Disturbing’ Picture of VA’s Failure to Provide Timely Access to Care

The release of the VA’s Nationwide Access Audit of veterans health facilities paints a serious and disturbing picture of the VA’s system-wide failure to provide timely access to care for our nation’s heroes. I am especially concerned by the number of facilities that serve Washington state veterans that have been flagged for further review and investigation. This information confirms what I have been hearing from so many veterans who are struggling with extended wait times in the Pacific Northwest.

Thankfully, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Sanders-McCain compromise, legislation aimed at addressing transparency, wait times, and accountability issues at the VA.  This legislation is a critical step toward addressing some of the immediate accountability and access concerns plaguing the VA. In addition, as further investigations and reviews are completed, we need to keep working to ensure the VA continues to take substantive action to address any management, resource, and personnel shortcomings that have contributed to today’s findings.

Read more.

“VA audit flags Seattle hospital, 6 others after investigation into wait times”
– Q13

“Wait times for Puget Sound VA up to nearly 59 days”
– KOMO

=====================================================

Critical Federal Funding for Washington State in Appropriations Bills

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I was proud to deliver for Washington state in the Appropriations bills passed last week.  Funding will go toward projects in Seattle, Spokane, Pullman, Walla Walla and more, and includes everything from funding for the FAA Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment led by Washington State University, to new requirements for oil train safety, to funding for airport improvement projects, and more.

The Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill included funding for additional immigration judges to reduce case backlog, a new report on the next generation of polar icebreakers,  and funding for pacific salmon restoration.

Find a list of selected projects and programs in the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill that benefit Washington state.

“Murray seeks DOJ change in anti-gang grant process”
– The Yakima Herald

“Airport could get more federal funds”
– Walla Walla Union-Bulletin

“Murray works for jet biofuels center money; National center co-led by WSU in the Tri-Cities”  –  Tri-City Herald

===========================================

Strengthening Social Security Benefits for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Young Adults who Face Serious Hardship

I was proud to join Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) in introducing the Retirement and Income Security Enhancements (RAISE) Act – a set of commonsense proposals to modernize, enhance, and protect our Social Security system in a fiscally responsible way. The RAISE Act would strengthen benefits for seniors, persons with disabilities, and young adults who have faced serious hardship in their immediate families, while helping to shore up the Social Security Trust Fund using an approach that protects middle class families, and asks those who can afford it to pay their fair share.  At a time when Social Security is an increasingly critical source of support for so many, the RAISE Act would take some important steps to ensure our Social Security system is doing everything possible to help seniors and their families.

Read more about my bill.

“Senate Democrats propose Social Security reform”
 – The Hill

===============================================