Inflation Spikes; The Quiet National Abortion Ban; A Labor Win w/ Jessica Valenti, Liza Xu | MR Live

Core inflation and overall CPI are increasing, with energy costs spiking due to the 'Iran war.' Despite claims from the Trump administration of fixing inflation, real wages are falling for the first time since 2023. The depletion of oil reserves is expected to cause massive price spikes, impacting sectors like agriculture.

Host Sam Seder notes energy costs are 'up dramatically because of the Iran war' and 'core inflation is also up much more than economists predicted.' A CNN report confirms 'prices are now going up faster than paychecks... real wages, inflation adjusted wages are falling for the first time since 2023.'

Republicans are attempting to sue the FDA to end telehealth access for mifepristone, arguing it undermines state abortion bans. A successful ruling would effectively create a national ban on shipping abortion medication, severely impacting access as nearly 30% of US abortions are currently telehealth medication abortions. This move is a step towards allowing anti-abortion states to prosecute providers in pro-choice states.

Jessica Valenti states, 'Conservatives hate that. And so they have been trying to sue the FDA to repeal telehealth access specifically of one of the two abortion medications.' She adds, 'It would be a national ban on shipping the abortion medication' and 'nearly 30% of abortions in America are telehealth abortion medication abortions.'

Anti-abortion activists are exploring new legal frontiers, including environmental regulation (claiming abortion remains contaminate water) and restricting interstate travel for abortion, particularly for minors. They are also actively suppressing pro-choice speech and information sharing online and through legislation.

Valenti notes, 'They are trying to open up this new sort of like legal frontier of environmental regulation' and expresses concern about 'travel' stating, 'I think that they are going to go after travel and I think that they're going to start with teenage girls.' She also highlights 'a lot of attacks on pro-choice speech.'

3,800 meatpacking workers at JBS in Greeley, Colorado, successfully concluded a three-week strike, securing wage increases, protection from rising healthcare costs, and a crucial win regarding the company garnishing wages for damaged personal protective equipment. This strike, the first major one in the industry in 40 years, demonstrated the power of a highly diverse, immigrant workforce.

Liza Xu reports, 'It lasted three weeks... they also won increases in wages, protections from rising health care costs... But this personal protective equipment win was very important for the workers.' She notes the workforce was 'extremely diverse immigrant workforce... 57 different languages spoken in this one plant alone.'

The two-year contract signed by JBS workers expires in April 2028, coinciding with other UFCW contracts and aligning with UAW's call for a general strike. This strategic timing could lead to broader coordinated labor actions against powerful, often predatory, agribusiness oligopolies like JBS, which also manipulate consumer prices and depress cattle rancher earnings.

Xu states, 'This is a two-year contract that they signed. So in two years again... they'll be fighting for more and there are a few other UFCW locals with JBS plants who also have contracts expiring then.' She mentions the date '2028, which is the date that Sean Fine of the UAW had asked for a general strike.'