Rejecting Election Denial, Virginia's Bold Leadership & Housing Justice for All

In this episode of Good News for Lefties, host Beowulf Rochlen highlights significant victories for democracy, community, and progress across the nation. We start with a pivotal decision from the Fulton County, Georgia Board of Commissioners, who voted to reject the nominations of two election deniers, Julie Adams and Jason Frazier, for the Board of Elections. This bold move reinforces the commitment to election integrity and the importance of transparency in overseeing the electoral process. Next, we celebrate the momentum building in Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial race, where Democrat Abigail Spanberger leads Republican Winsome Earl Sears by a remarkable 17 points. Spanberger's pragmatic approach and broad appeal among independent voters signal a strong desire for progressive change in the state. In New Jersey, we discuss a groundbreaking bill passed by the State Assembly aimed at protecting renters from unjust rent increases. This legislation, spearheaded by Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, empowers judges to reject exorbitant hikes, ensuring housing stability for families in need. Connecticut lawmakers are also making strides by expanding the state's Trust Act, which limits local law enforcement's cooperation with ICE, thereby protecting immigrant families and fostering community trust. This legislative action reflects a growing commitment to uphold the rights and dignity of all residents. Listeners will be inspired by a listener-suggested story from Melanie in Redmond, Washington, about a groundbreaking gene editing therapy that successfully treated an infant with a rare genetic disorder, marking a hopeful advancement in precision medicine. Finally, we highlight Harvard University's initiative to offer over 120 free online courses, including 40 focused on government and civics, as a powerful act of resistance against political pressure and an affirmation of academic freedom. Join us for this uplifting episode filled with stories of resilience, hope, and the ongoing fight for justice and equity in our society! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try and get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/Lefties Today's stories: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/fulton-county-rejects-election-deniers-to-local-board-of-elections/ https://www.dailypress.com/2025/05/22/polling-for-gov/ https://newjerseymonitor.com/briefs/assembly-passes-bill-to-address-unconscionable-rent-increases/ https://connecticut.news12.com/as-immigration-raids-ramp-up-ct-house-votes-to-limit-who-can-work-with-ice https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/may/15/us-doctors-rewrite-dna-of-infant-with-severe-genetic-disorder-in-medical-first https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/harvard-free-political-courses If you have thoughts, ideas, or more good news to share, we’d love to hear from you! Call or message us at 202-656-6271, or drop us a line at beowulf@twosquaredmediaproductions.com More good daily news for democracy on Facebook , Bluesky , and Instagram . If you like Justice Matters with Glenn Kirschner, IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, The MeidasTouch Podcast, and Pod Save America, you'll LOVE Good News For Lefties! Thanks to Rosabelle Heine and Aaron Watson for production assistance. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/good-news-for-lefties-daily-news-for-democracy--6256627/support .