Politics and views in the United States

States pursue new millionaire taxes to address deficits and income inequality, federal immigration agents could face charges following actions in the Twin Cities and Texas considers Bible passages as mandatory reading in K-12 public schools.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

It's a sad case of affairs when we have folks who are really trying their best to live the American dream.

And because of the current tax laws, it's impossible for them to get there.

Carl Williams, a senior custodian in the Lawndale, California, school district, says tax cuts for low-income households would give working people a much-needed boost.

He's backing a bill in the Senate exempting more than 100 million adults from paying federal income taxes and creating a new surtax on million-dollar incomes to fill the gap.

The legislation is unlikely to pass, but several states are debating or have already passed so-called millionaire taxes to address budget deficits and income inequality.

The Senate again rejected a resolution to block the president from ordering further strikes on Iran.

Democrats have forced votes on four war powers resolutions, all of which failed.

Thousands more U.S. troops are headed to the Middle East as the Trump administration continues to press Iran on a possible deal to end the war.

They'll join the estimated 50,000 military personnel already there.

The Justice Department is asking a federal appeals court to throw out the January 6th seditious conspiracy convictions of a dozen members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.

Juries found the defendants organized violent plots to stop the peaceful transfer of power following President Donald Trump's 2020 loss.

Trump has already pardoned more than 1,000 people convicted in the insurrection.

Federal immigration agents could be facing state charges of kidnapping, burglary, and false imprisonment following last winter's sweep in Minnesota.

Prosecutors there are considering at least five cases, including the arrest of an elderly Hmong man, a U.S. citizen who was handcuffed and taken from his home half-dressed despite the freezing weather.

Mitchell Hamlin School of Law Assistant Professor Jessica West says under state law, local officials have an obligation to investigate.

It is set up constitutionally as a check on law enforcement, federal or state.

No question.

And U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence makes that clear.

A judge has given DHS three weeks to turn over evidence in a stalled probe of the shooting death of Renee Good.

The Texas State Board of Education has given preliminary approval to a mandatory reading list for all K-12 schools, including several Bible passages.

Kelsey Kling with the Texas American Federation of Teachers says readings will be included on standardized tests and housed in school libraries.

You certainly butt up against our separation of church and state concerns. parents' rights to direct the religious instruction of their students.

She says it's the first time a mandatory reading list has been created for teachers and noted its lack of women writers.

I'm Katherine Carley for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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