Trump's Disapproval and a Former Inmate's Inspiring Journey

In this episode of Good News for Lefties, host Beowulf Rochlen presents a collection of encouraging stories that shine a light on progress and resilience. We begin with the latest poll revealing President Donald Trump's disapproval rating has reached a staggering 59%, suggesting a shift in public sentiment that could impact Republican strategies in upcoming elections. Next, we turn our attention to Wisconsin, where liberals have a golden opportunity to secure a majority on the state Supreme Court, potentially safeguarding voting rights ahead of the presidential election. Former Democratic lawmaker Chris Taylor is in the running to expand the court's liberal majority, promising to protect ballot access and challenge gerrymandering efforts. We also highlight the innovative work of the Community Immigration Law Center in Madison, Wisconsin, which is expanding its legal team to better serve the community amidst ongoing immigration challenges. In environmental news, Oregon has made headlines by adopting heat pumps as the default cooling appliance for new homes, a significant step towards energy efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. A listener-suggested story introduces us to Kirwan Pittman, a former inmate who has made history as the first to purchase a prison in the U.S. after his release. Pittman is dedicated to transforming the narrative around incarceration through his nonprofit, which focuses on reducing recidivism and providing essential resources for formerly incarcerated individuals. Lastly, we report on Republican Representative Tony Gonzalez's decision to drop his reelection bid amid an ethics investigation into his conduct, marking a significant moment in political accountability. For more about today's stories: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-record-high-disapproval-rating-poll-11614925 https://boltsmag.org/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-lazar-taylor/ https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/madison-immigration-law-center-expanding-staff-steels-itself-continue-fight-against-trump https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/heat-pumps/oregon-pushes-new-homes-install-heat-pumps https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/former-inmate-buys-prison https://19thnews.org/2026/03/tony-gonzales-drops-reelection-bid/ https://newjerseymonitor.com/2026/02/20/nj-voting-rights-act/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/good-news-for-lefties-daily-news-for-democracy--6256627/support.