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Trump’s FTC Surrenders to Big Tech on Noncompetes
Today, the Federal Trade Commission dropped its defense of the rule banning noncompete clauses. The announcement comes the day after President Donald Trump hosted two dozen Big Tech executives at the White House. Demand Progress Education Fund was a strong supporter of the noncompete rule.
The following is a statement from Demand Progress Education Fund Policy Director Emily Peterson-Cassin:
“The day after Big Tech executives took turns lavishing praise on President Trump at the White House, his FTC surrendered on the noncompete rule. Trump gets his ego stroked, Big Tech CEOs get to ban millions of workers from taking new jobs and the American people get left out of the conversation yet again. The FTC’s decision to stop defending the noncompete rule in court is wildly anti-worker and serves no purpose other than to do the bidding of Big Tech.”
Demand Progress amplifies the voice of the people -- and wields it to make government accountable and contest concentrated corporate power. Our mission is to protect the democratic character of the internet -- and wield it to contest concentrated corporate power and hold government accountable.
LATEST NEWS
Global Sumud Flotilla Bound for Gaza Hit by Drone Strike, Organizers Say
"Our peaceful mission to break the siege on Gaza and stand in solidarity with its people continues with determination and resolve," said members of the flotilla's steering committee.
Sep 09, 2025
Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at the Port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunis, Tunisia early Tuesday morning after the international group organizing a humanitarian aid mission to Gaza said one of its boats had been struck by what was believed to be a drone.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said one of the main vessels of its fleet of 50 boats was struck while it was docked at the port. The boat was carrying the group's steering committee, which includes climate leader Greta Thunberg, human rights activist Yasemin Acar, and Brazilian organizer Thiago Ávila.
Footage taken from a boat docked near the "Family Boat" showed the moment an object appeared to drop onto the vessel, triggering an explosion.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said no one was injured in the apparent attack and said that "acts of aggression aimed at intimidating and derailing our mission will not deter us."
"Our peaceful mission to break the siege on Gaza and stand in solidarity with its people continues with determination and resolve," said the group in a statement.
The flotilla is the latest fleet of boats headed for Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and break the siege Israel has imposed since October 2023 as it has relentlessly attacked the exclave, killing more than 64,000 Palestinians so far, and said it is planning a complete takeover of Gaza.
Nearly 400 people, including at least 140 children, have died of starvation caused by Israel's near-total blockade on humanitarian aid. More than 1,000 people have been killed while trying to access food, including at hubs set up by the privatized, US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said in late July that parts of Gaza are facing famine, with one in three people going days without consuming any food.
Israel has stopped several aid boats from reaching Gaza in recent months, including the Madleen and the Handala, and detained organizers. The Conscience, another boat operated by the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, was reportedly bombed by Israel in May off the coast of Malta, forcing organizers to turn back.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has threatened to designate humanitarian aid organizers trying to reach Gaza by boat as "terrorists" and to detain them.
On Tuesday, Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, said the reports of a drone attack have to be verified but noted Israel's "history" of attacking aid vessels bound for Gaza.
Tunisian officials have said the vessel was not attacked by a drone and blamed the fire that broke out on a cigarette butt or lighter.
"There is no other state protecting this boat other than Tunisia creating a safe port," said Albanese. "The question is, if it's confirmed that this is a drone attack, it will be an assault, an aggression against Tunisia and against Tunisian sovereignty."
"We cannot keep on tolerating this," she added, "and normalizing the illegal."
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Christian Nationalism Resurrected as Trump Promotes Prayer in Public Schools
"President Trump is using religion to promote his self-aggrandizement and political agenda, all the while perpetuating the lie that America is a Christian nation and that religion is under attack," said one critic.
Sep 08, 2025
Proponents of separating church and state on Monday decried US President Donald Trump's pledge to protect prayer in public schools, warning that the administration is advancing the agenda of far-right Christian nationalists seeking to impose their religious beliefs upon everyone.
Speaking at a meeting of the president's so-called Religious Liberty Commission at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, Trump announced upcoming Department of Education guidance "protecting the right to prayer in our public schools, and it's total protection."
"We're defending our rights and restoring our identity as a nation under God," Trump said. "To have a great nation, you have to have religion. I believe that so strongly. As president, I will always defend our glorious heritage, and we will protect the Judeo-Christian principles of our founding."
The president added that it is "ridiculous" that the nation's public school students are "indoctrinated with anti-religious propaganda, and some are even punished for their religious beliefs."
Trump also launched his "America Prays" initiative, which asks the faithful to "join with at least 10 people to meet each week for one hour to pray" for the country.
In response to the president's speech, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) said on social media: "We've never been 'one nation under God.' There's nothing to restore. Our true identity is freedom of conscience—the right to believe in any faith, or none at all."
"A great nation isn't built on religion—it's built on equality, liberty, and justice for all," FFRF added. "Our strength comes from We The People, not belief in a god."
Rachel Laser, president of the group Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said in a statement that Monday's event "once again demonstrated that this commission isn't about religious liberty; it's about rejecting the nation's religious diversity and prioritizing one set of Christian beliefs."
"From the professions of Christian faith to the chorus of 'amens' during Christian prayers to the exclusively Christian speakers this morning, this government hearing was more like a church service," Laser noted. "Once again, President Trump is using religion to promote his self-aggrandizement and political agenda, all the while perpetuating the lie that America is a Christian nation and that religion is under attack."
Laser continued:
The Trump administration is advancing this Christian nationalist agenda with the launch of his 'America Prays' initiative, which calls on Americans to pray for our country. People who care about religious freedom don't need to be told when or how to pray; they need leaders who are committed to separation of church and state.
At a hearing focused on religious freedom and public schools, the commission ignored the most serious threats. From mandates to display the Ten Commandments and teach from the Bible to Christianity-infused curriculum and the installation of school chaplains, Christian nationalists and their political allies are trying to impose their personal religious beliefs on America's public school children.
"Our country's promise of church-state separation means that families—not politicians or public school officials—get to decide how and when children engage with religion," Laser added. "Yet many of the organizations represented at today's meeting and members of the Religious Liberty Commission have tried to undermine this fundamental American principle and turn our public schools into Sunday schools."
Monday's event came as some GOP-led states push forward with plans for more overt displays of religiosity in public schools. Most notably, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton—a US Senate candidate—is urging schools to display the Ten Commandments in spite of a federal judge's recent injunction on a law requiring the Judeo-Christian religious and ethical directives to be displayed in all classrooms.
Paxton is also urging all schools "to begin the legal process of putting prayer back in the classroom and recommending the Lord's Prayer for students."
Responding to Paxton's push, gun control advocate Fred Guttenberg said last week on social media: "Hey Ken, many have said that you committed adultery. Shouldn't you worry about your own morality before imposing this on others? Looks like you are using religion for personal gain."
Recent polls have shown a significant drop in the number of Americans who identify as Christian in recent decades, an all-time low in belief in "God," and a steady overall decline in religiosity among younger Americans.
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Missouri Dems Hold Sit-In for 100+ Hours to Protest GOP Assault on Democracy
"We're still on the Missouri House floor because democracy is worth the fight," said state Rep. Ray Reed. "The GOP is trying to rig our maps in the middle of the decade at Trump's demand."
Sep 08, 2025
Three Democrats in the Missouri House of Representatives spent over 100 hours in the chamber protesting Republican efforts to rig the state's congressional map for US President Donald Trump and attack ballot initiatives during a legislative special session.
Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe is pushing a congressional map that targets Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, and a measure that would require any ballot proposal to pass in a statewide vote and all eight congressional districts.
Democratic state Reps. Jeremy Dean (132), Elizabeth Fuchs (80), and Ray Reed (83) began their sit-in Thursday and stayed at the state Capitol throughout the weekend, after signing a letter to GOP House Speaker Jon Patterson (30) requesting a meeting.
"We're still on the Missouri House floor because democracy is worth the fight," Reed said in a social media post at the 100-hour mark. "The GOP is trying to rig our maps in the middle of the decade at Trump's demand. They want us tired, quiet, and invisible."
"Instead, we're louder, stronger, and shining a national spotlight on their corruption," he continued. "This sit-in isn't just resistance, it's a blueprint for the future of the Democratic Party. Young, new, and fresh leaders won't wait our turn. We're here. We're fighting. And we're not backing down."
The trio has shared updates online throughout their sit-in:
Other Democratic political leaders have expressed solidarity throughout the action. Former Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump last November, "lifted our spirits, calling us during our sit-in on the Missouri House floor and sending pizza to keep us going," Reed said early Monday, sharing a clip of their phone conversation.
Sharing that post, Harris said on social media: "Missouri State Reps. Reed, Fuchs, and Dean: You are not in this alone. We are cheering you on, and we are so grateful for your courage as you fight for our democracy."
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin has expressed support for the trio, as has former Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-Mo.), who was part of the progressive "Squad."
Squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) also spoke with them by phone. She said on social media: "Solidarity with the Missouri House Democrats who have spent over 100 hours holding the floor to protest the Republican attempt to taint our democracy, reduce the voice of communities of color, and steal congressional seats. I thanked them for standing up to fascism."
Reed and Dean appeared on MSNBC over the weekend to discuss their protest of the Missouri GOP's effort, which comes after Texas Republicans passed a new congressional map during a special session at Trump's request.
St. Louis Public Radio reported on the Missouri push on Monday:
Republicans hold a commanding majority in the House. And unlike in the Senate, House leaders can easily cut off debate—meaning there's little leverage the Democrats have to stop either measure from moving through the process.
But Democrats have used this special session to accuse their Republican counterparts of being subservient to Trump. State Rep. Keri Ingle [D-36], added that the fact Trump needs GOP states to redraw maps that are already aligned against Democrats shows that they don't expect next year's election to go well for Republican candidates.
"The thing with pendulums is that they swing back," Ingle said. "This is an egregious overreach of power. It's shameless. And I know that a lot of you will feel shame and will text me later about it. And I'm not going to give you absolution."
Other members of the Missouri House returned to the chamber on Monday afternoon to debate the contentious proposals.
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