Author: Michael Shank

USDA Does Diets Differently, Moves Off Meat

HUFFINGTON POST 07/07/15 By Michael Shank With the United States Department of Agriculture announcing meat substitutes in school lunches nationwide, replacing meat with equally protein-rich alternatives, we’re starting to witness a sea change in national dietary guidelines. And it’s about time. Our current approach to diets is unsustainable. Federally appointed […]

Fight to Help Long-Term Unemployed Americans

CA NEWSWIRE 06/24/15 Yesterday, in Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-San Fernando Valley, Calif.) continued his commitment to ending long-term unemployment in the United States, by reintroducing legislation that would allow American workers to go where the jobs are. U.S. Rep. Tony CardenasCárdenas, a member of the House Committee […]

Rep Cárdenas Introduces Job Legislation To Help the Unemployed Relocate

LATIN POST 06/24/15 By Rodrigo Ugarte Though unemployment had continued to decrease in the last couple of years, it remains an issue among middle and working class people. Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.) reintroduced legislation to help the unemployed relocate and find employment. Rep. Cárdenas reintroduced the American Worker Mobility Act […]

Albany Gets “F” for Failing to Protect Tenants

HUFFINGTON POST 06/17/15 By Michael Shank New York City is infamous for its unaffordable and undignified housing. Not only is the city’s housing a clear and present danger to residents, as I’ve detailed before, but renters in Manhattan pay, on average, over $4,000 a month. This is untenable for the […]

Climate Change Denial – The Dangerous Lie

THE HILL 06/17/15 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Hank Johnson It is time to talk honestly about science. Americans are busy working, taking care of their kids and loved ones and trying to save for the future. It is understandable that many do not have time to read academic […]

Rand Paul Got It Right on ISIS

NEWSMAX 06/12/15 By Doug Wead  Rand Paul is right about ISIS, and his political opponents have become hysterical. Lost in the recent GOP debate is the fact that Sen. Rand Paul was the first public figure to call for a declaration of war against ISIS. He did so because he […]

Texas Flood’s Climate Change Irony

USA TODAY 05/27/15 By Michael Shank The state is actually leading the nation in green energy. From devastating droughts to flash floods, it seems that Texas can’t get a break from extreme weather associated with climate change. Emerging recently from a multiyear record-breaking drought, with reservoirs at near record lows, […]

Confronting Homeland Security’s ‘SSSS’ Watch List

HUFFINGTON POST 05/21/15 By Michael Shank It’s official. The Department of Homeland Security has placed me on a travel watch list. Every time I travel abroad, I now have “SSSS”, which stands for Secondary Security Screen Selection, on my boarding documents. That means I get an extra rigorous full-body screening, […]