Happy Tuesday and welcome back to Common Sense with Ally Sammarco.
I took a short break due to some personal circumstances—and if you’ve been watching the news, you may have seen why involving a certain predatory politician.
Thank you to everyone who stuck with me during this time. We’re back and ready to break down the latest in politics.
Let’s do this.
Gas Prices Drive Inflation to Three-Year High….Inflation climbed to 3.8% in April—the highest level in three years—as the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran continued driving up global oil prices. Gas prices have surged nearly 50% since late February, pushing the national average to $4.50 per gallon and raising costs for everything from airline tickets to groceries. Economists warn that continued price hikes could pressure the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates again, even as consumer sentiment hits record lows. Despite the economic anxiety, hiring and overall growth have remained relatively stable so far.
Common Sense Takeaway: The war of choice in Iran might go down as the worst decision made by a modern day president. With no end in sight, Americans are left to suffer at the register and at the pumps. This is not what Donald Trump promised during his campaign era. Then again, he’s a known liar. Anybody paying attention could have predicted this outcome, but alas, we are here.
Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship Grows to 11 Cases….The hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has now reached 11 confirmed and probable cases, including two confirmed deaths and one additional suspected death. Passengers were evacuated in Tenerife and flown back to their home countries as health officials worked to contain the situation. In the U.S., multiple passengers are now under quarantine or receiving treatment at specialized medical facilities in Nebraska and Atlanta. While health officials say there is currently “no sign” of a larger outbreak, the virus—which can cause severe and sometimes fatal respiratory illness—has raised international concern as monitoring efforts continue.
Common Sense Takeaway: Didn’t we learn our lesson the first time? These passengers never should have the left the ship. Once a viral illness begins to spread, there is no containing it. I’m reserving any fear about the Hantavirus until further notice, but my fear that Americans (i.e. Trump supporters) are not to be trusted during a pandemic remains intact.
Virginia Democrats Ask Supreme Court to Revive Congressional Map…Virginia Democrats made a last-minute appeal to the Supreme Court yesterday to restore a voter-approved congressional map after the Virginia Supreme Court struck it down over legal issues tied to the referendum process. The map, designed to create more Democratic-leaning districts, became part of the broader national redistricting battle sparked by President Donald Trump’s push for Republican-favored maps in states like Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Missouri, and more. Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones argued the state court’s ruling threatens the will of voters and could upend the state’s congressional lines ahead of future elections.
Common Sense Takeaway: Everything about this situation is maddening. Republicans can run amok in their states—gerrymandering to Hell and back—with no repercussions. Meanwhile, Virginians vote for this map in a statewide referendum and the election results just…get thrown out? No peace for these Virginia Supreme Court Justices. I’m proud of the Democratic response here—although I have no faith in the Supreme Court—I mean political arm of the White House—to do the right thing. There is no possible way to out-vote this situation, therefore I support any and all efforts to term limit justices and pack the courts to regain fairness.
A new section: Races To Watch 👀 With the midterms approaching, I’ll be highlighting one race to watch each day this cycle, alongside a candidate of my choice and a link to their campaign website. It’s part of an effort to turn passion into action and help elect strong Democrats across the country this November.
Today’s Race: GA-13. Georgia’s 13th Congressional District is home for an intense Democratic primary following the death of longtime Congressman David Scott.
Ally’s choice: Dr. Jasmine Clark—a microbiologist, educator, and state representative who has built a reputation as one of Georgia Democrats’ strongest science and public health voices. Clark flipped a longtime Republican-held seat in the Georgia House in 2018 and has since become known for fighting attacks on voting rights, reproductive freedom, and public education. Her campaign represents a new generation of leadership focused on facts, accountability, and delivering for working families.
Primary election day is May 19th. Jasmine’s website: www.jasmine4ga.com
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Check back tomorrow for more.
Welcome back. Peace.
Please avoid using the term “pack the court.” That loaded term was introduced by FDR enemies, and it continues to resurface, alas. There’s nothing nefarious about expanding the Supreme Court. Congress has done it in the past, and for reasons not having to do with politics. Another expansion is long overdue.