Daily Beacon for March 11, 2025

 This podcast episode on The Daily Beacon provides daily updates on a variety of topics including politics, innovation, and the environment. Highlights include:

1. Katie Porter, former Congresswoman, announced her campaign for California Governor in 2026. If Vice President Kamala Harris enters the race, Porter will drop out. Other Democrats running include Eleni Kounalakis, Antonio Villaraigosa, Betty Yee, Toni Atkins, and Tony Thurmond.

2. President Trump vowed to buy a Tesla to support Elon Musk after Tesla's shares plunged due to falling sales and protests against Musk's political role.

3. Japan failed to win tariff exemptions in a Washington visit, with a potential 25% steel and aluminum tariff set for Wednesday and a 25% car tariff expected to impact most if implemented as soon as April.

4. Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist announced his run for Governor in 2022, focusing on education, criminal justice reform, and addressing income inequality.

5. Universities in the U.S. are adopting "institutional neutrality" policies, raising concerns about suppression of free speech and academic freedom.

6. A federal judge ordered Elon Musk's government-cutting unit to release internal documents promptly following a lawsuit by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

7. The U.S. is attempting to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian-American permanent legal resident and pro-Palestinian activist, citing antisemitic activities as reasoning.

To get involved with these topics and more, the podcast recommends reaching out to organizations such as Swing Left, Indivisible, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Global Trade Watch, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, Campus Progress, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Sunlight Foundation, ACLU of Michigan, MoveOn, the ACLU, the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, and more.

Transcript

 Welcome to the Daily Beacon! We're here each day to provide daily updates, ideas, and actions for you to engage in protecting and promoting democracy and community in positive ways. Today we have some fascinating stories about politics, innovation, and the environment. Let's dive in!

First up, Katie Porter, the feisty former Congresswoman known for grilling corporate executives, announced her campaign for California Governor in 2026. If Vice President Kamala Harris enters the race, Porter has confirmed she will drop out. Other Democrats such as Eleni Kounalakis, Antonio Villaraigosa, Betty Yee, Toni Atkins, and Tony Thurmond are also running. If you're in California, stay informed about these candidates and their stances on key issues to make an informed decision at the polls. Reach out to groups like Swing Left (www.swingleft.org) or Indivisible (www.indivisible.org) for more information on how to get involved.

Next, President Trump vowed to buy a Tesla to support Elon Musk after Tesla's shares plunged due to falling sales and protests against Musk's political role. Despite previously criticizing electric cars and eliminating tax credits for them, Trump defended Tesla, citing Musk's "fantastic job." If you care about the environment and clean energy, consider supporting groups like the Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org) or the Natural Resources Defense Council (www.nrdc.org) in their efforts to promote renewable energy and combat climate change.

Japan failed to win tariff exemptions during a Washington visit, with an upcoming 25% steel and aluminum tariff set for Wednesday. Japan, which exports most of its automobiles to the U.S., is expected to be most affected by a potential 25% car tariff if implemented as soon as April. Stay informed about trade policies that affect your community and consider reaching out to organizations like Global Trade Watch (www.citizen.org/trade) for updates on how you can take action.

Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist announced he is running for Governor in 2022, with a focus on education, criminal justice reform, and addressing income inequality. If you're in Michigan, stay informed about these candidates and their stances on key issues to make an informed decision at the polls. Reach out to groups like MoveOn (www.moveon.org) or the ACLU of Michigan (www.acluofmichigan.org) for more information on how to get involved.

More universities in the U.S. are adopting "institutional neutrality" policies, limiting official statements on current events. While this trend highlights the intense political scrutiny higher education institutions face, it also raises concerns about the suppression of free speech and academic freedom. If you believe in the importance of open dialogue on campus, consider supporting groups like the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (www.thefire.org) or Campus Progress (www.campusprogress.org).

A federal judge ordered Elon Musk's government-cutting unit to release internal documents promptly, citing their public disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act. The order comes following a lawsuit by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington who argued that DOGE's operations should be transparent. If you care about government accountability, consider supporting groups like CREW (www.citizensforethics.org) or the Sunlight Foundation (www.sunlightfoundation.com).

Finally, the U.S. is trying to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian-American permanent legal resident who graduated from Columbia University and was active in pro-Palestinian protests. The Trump administration has invoked a little-used provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act to potentially expel Khalil, citing antisemitic activities related to his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests on campus as their reasoning. This move is likely to face a constitutional challenge and potential legal backlash. If you believe in upholding the rights of immigrants and promoting social justice, consider supporting groups like the ACLU (www.aclu.org) or the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (www.nipnlg.org).

Stay informed, stay active, and remember that your voice matters! We'll see you tomorrow with more updates from the world of politics, innovation, and the environment. Until then, keep fighting the good fight!