Dignity Act, Ruben Gallego, Santa Muerte: The News You Need
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TRUMP IMMIGRATION SUPPORT FALLS TO 42%
A new CBS/YouGov poll released on July 20 reveals that public support for President Donald Trump's immigration policies has dropped, highlighting sharp divides between Republicans and Democrats on key issues such as deportation and the use of detention centers.
Immigration emerged as the most significant issue influencing opinions about the president, with 61% of respondents saying it “mattered a lot” in shaping their view. This concern ranked higher than inflation and the economy, which have also been major political focal points throughout Trump’s presidency.
The poll also shows a decline in Trump’s overall approval rating, which now stands at 42%. This marks a steady decrease from 45% in June and 47% in mid-April. At the same time, disapproval has risen to 58%, indicating growing dissatisfaction among voters.
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WHAT IS THE BIPARTISAN “DIGNITY ACT”?
What is the The Dignity Act? The Dignity Act is split into multiple sections. The first focuses on strengthening border enforcement. The bill calls for more resources at the southern border—including physical barriers, surveillance technology, and additional personnel.
It also sets a strict timeline of 60 days for processing asylum claims and proposes the creation of government-run humanitarian centers for handling migrant arrivals.
Perhaps the most controversial—and innovative—part of the bill is the introduction of the “Dignity Program.” This would allow undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. since before January 1, 2021, to earn legal status.
To qualify, they would need to pass background checks, pay thousands in fees over several years, and agree not to seek citizenship. In exchange, they would be protected from deportation and could legally work and travel.
The bill also addresses the long-standing debate over so-called “DREAMers”—young people brought to the U.S. as children without legal documentation. Under the proposed law, those who meet specific education, work, or military service requirements and pass background and civics checks could apply for permanent residency.
EYES ON THE WHITE HOUSE? RUBEN GALLEGO HEADS TO IOWA 👀
Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego is set to visit Iowa in August, a move likely to spark speculation about his future political ambitions—particularly a possible run for the White House in 2028. His visit also adds momentum to renewed discussions among Democrats about Iowa's role in the presidential primary calendar.
Gallego will make two public appearances during his trip. On August 8, he’ll attend the Iowa State Fair, a long-standing and symbolic stop for national politicians with presidential aspirations. The following day, he’ll participate in a town hall in Scott County, located in the Quad Cities area. That event is being co-hosted by the Iowa Democratic Party and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, his office confirmed.
The senator plans to use the trip to speak directly with voters about Republican-backed fiscal policies—specifically, the recent budget bill signed into law by former President Donald Trump on July 4, which Gallego’s office has labeled a “disaster.”
SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: BEHIND THE CULT OF SANTA MUERTE
The first reference to the modern cult of Santa Muerte appears in a novel by American anthropologist Oscar Lewis, Los hijos de Sánchez. Lewis published his story of a Mexican family in 1961.
Martha, one of the characters, says: “My sister Antonia (…) told me that when husbands are straying, you can pray to the Santa Muerte. It is a novena that should be prayed at twelve o’clock.”
Originally, the Santa Muerte was the one to go to rehabilitate unfaithful husbands.
Lewis published his work at the beginning of the 60s, meaning that the cult existed at least since the mid-50s in the Tepito neighborhood in Mexico City. In Lewis’s novel, the novena to the Santa Muerte is treated like a secret, passed by word of mouth among women.
SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: INSIDE THE VILLA-ZAPATA SUMMIT
Some photographs transcend mere documentation; they become visual metaphors of shifts in history. Lincoln at Gettysburg, Lenin addressing the masses in Petrograd, the man in front of the tank in Tiananmen. These are not just images but emblems.
For Mexico, one image stands above all: the (only) meeting of Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata in Mexico City, in 1914, in the National Palace, the seat of the Executive Power.
The photograph was taken by Agustín Casasola when, according to author Paco Ignacio Taibo II, "Zapata and Villa passed through a room where there were four chairs arranged near a wall. One in particular caught their attention, ornate and covered in gold, with the eagle of Maximilian's empire on the back."
LINKS FROM THE WEB
COMING IN AUGUST: DEFIANT HISTORY
Defiant History is a compelling new micro‑documentary series created by filmmaker Brandon Loran Maxwell, best known for his work on American Homeboy. The series debuts August 4 on the Daily Chela YouTube channel, with plans to expand to major streaming later this year.
The three‑episode pilot dives into underrepresented slices of American subculture—like lowrider club plaques, Teen Angels magazine, prison‑based rehabilitation efforts, and graffiti art. Featured voices include Compton’s David Oropeza (Tattoo Nation), members of Sullen Art Collective, and artists from the Venice art walls.
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