PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM: “School Shootings: A Good Reason to Lower the Voting Age?” / Newsbroke / Francesca Fiorentini ☮

Are Parkland students proving that teens deserve voting rights? Teens are allowed to do all kinds of things that adults do — from owning guns in 30 states to driving cars, working, and paying taxes. So why don’t they get a say in politics?

PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM: “Only ‘Thoughts & Prayers’ Will Stop Shootings – Florida Politician” / Secular Talk / Kyle Kulinski ☮

A Florida state senator said the only thing that is going to stop “the evil” behind mass shootings is to send “thoughts and prayers.” During a debate on a proposed assault weapons ban in the Florida legislature on Saturday, state Sen. Kelli Stargel (R) said she finds it offensive when people tell her that the kind words are not enough to stop mass shootings.

PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM: “Why Do Republican Women Love A Party That Hates Them?” / Newsbroke / Francesca Fiorentini ☮

Being Republican and a woman at the same time is difficult because you have to somehow be unconcerned about Republican legislation that harms women economically, socially, and physically. Here’s how Republican women do it.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: “FFRF Newsbite: Theocracy at the EPA” / Freedom From Religion Foundation / Andrew L. Seidel ☮

FFRF Director of Strategic Response Andrew Seidel discusses how Scott Pruitt is promoting his personal religion in the EPA, and putting it into public policy that affects the environment and peoples health.