Trahant Reports

Over the weekend a panel of progressive women of color in Congress -- including Rep. Deb Haaland, a Democrat from New Mexico, talked about why they ran for office and what they hoped to do, including grabbing power from those who have run this country for more than two centuries.

And that was apparently too much for President Donald J. Trump. The President of the United States went on a racist Twitter rant Sunday telling progressive women to go back to their own countries.

The government’s own investigation shows that the treatment of migrants by border officials is inhumane. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: ‘We are caging Indigenous people’

This week the Democratic candidates for president will have their first debates. I have some questions I’d like to ask. For example: Several candidates talk about universal health insurance. For Indian Country that would mean a fully-funded Indian Health system.

A Google Doodle that says the Jingle Dance affirms the power of Native American women.

Why are these Google Doodle’s important? Because they break into popular culture in a huge way. Think about all the people who turn to Google for information every day -- and now see a positive image of Indian Country.

Mark Charles is running for president. The Navajo man joins some thirty candidates, Democrats, independents, and Republicans, who would move into the White House. He is at least the second Native American to campaign for the White House.

The words are “big” and “bold.” At a White House meeting last week the president and congressional leaders reached a deal to fund $2 trillion worth of infrastructure. But will the agreement actually result in dollars for building projects in Indian Country?The size of that ask is so huge that it immediately raises the question about how will Congress fund such a large investment? And, if that’s not enough, how will Congress resolve at the same time deep disputes about trade policy or federal spending in general?

A year ago Indian Country Today was dark. And folks were wondering if the “paper” would ever revive. But the digital daily has new life -- and it’s about to expand, opening a newsroom on the campus of Arizona State University in downtown Phoenix.

Striking down the Affordable Care Act would have immediate impact for more than 20 million Americans. And any repeal would also include the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. It’s hard to understate the significance of what that would mean. Medicaid is a significant source of funding for the Indian Health system. More than one out of every four Native patients in the Indian health system are covered by Medicaid.

Elizabeth Warren says that it’s time to get rid of the Electoral College. That should start a debate about building a real representative democracy, one that gives all citizens a say.

The big picture: The White House budget has no chance of becoming law, but the federal government is on track for more chaos. What’s ahead is like the movie, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," a three-way fight over priorities.