Saturday, December 31, 2022
Covid news: omicron XBB.1.5 is immune evasive, binds better to cells
… the rise of subvariants such as the XBB family could "result in a surge of breakthrough infections as well as re-infections."…
Donald Trump tax returns released by Congress Friday miss this important information
Friday's release of former President Donald Trump's tax returns from his four years in the White House and two years prior is an important and long overdue public service. It ensures the continuation of the half-century-long tradition of Oval Office transparency in which Americans are able to review their commander in chief's taxes. It also ensures that legal wrangling over more than three-and-a-half years couldn't keep the Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee from obtaining the tax documents guaranteed to them under federal law...
Idaho Woman Blames Abortion Law for 'Horrific' Miscarriage Experience
"It's a cruel and unusual punishment to have to carry around a dead baby," she told Insider...
A New Case Right Wing Sources Are Blatantly Lying About (Opening Arguments podcast OA668)
Calling all Uncles Frank for a frank but respectful breakdown of how your right wing media sources are simply not telling you the truth. A laughably terrible “Supreme Court Petition” is going to “Rewrite the History of American Politics.” Except… it will do no such thing.
So if you’ve got an Uncle Frank in your life who you are seeing over this holiday break, point them to this episode and maybe we can start finding a tiny bit of common ground!
Interview:
Testify (Allison Gill and Andrew McCabe; Jack podcast -- Episode 4)
Allison and Andy talk about new extensive cooperation between the January 6th Committee and the special counsel; a potential for expansion or assistance with the special counsel investigation into obstruction of justice; what some of the January 6th committee materials say about one of the central special counsel investigation - the fraudulent electors scheme, and more. 
Interview:
More Jails Became Death Traps in 2022 Amid Lack of Mental Health Care, Housing, Bail Reform Backlash - YouTube
People dying, while waiting for trial — not yet found guilty of anything — due to abuse and neglect…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXO_Y_EIguc
Opinion | Biden's legislative record earned him an ‘I told you so’ - The Washington Post
Democrats passed seven major pieces of legislation in the 117th Congress (along with a large number of smaller ones): the American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Chips and Science Act, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, the Respect for Marriage Act and the omnibus spending bill. Just two of the seven — the ARP and the IRA — passed with no Republican support.
But the first factor that enabled their success was about Democrats — specifically, the extraordinary unity they maintained throughout most of this tumultuous period...
Hacked Russian Files Reveal Propaganda Accord With China
Since the war broke out in February, experts have been struck by a convergence in Russian and Chinese media narratives. While some of the convergence was likely happenstance, occurring when storylines aided both governments' goals, documents found in a trove of hacked emails from Russia state broadcaster VGTRK show that China and Russia have pledged to join forces in media content by inking cooperation agreements at the ministerial level…
Republicans could cause US to default on its debt, top Democrat warns
John Yarmuth, outgoing House budget committee chair, sounds alarm about GOP going into 'blow-it-up mode' on Capitol Hill…
Trump tax returns: Business racked up millions in losses
As an outsider candidate, part of Trump's appeal hinged on perceptions about his private sector acumen, earned through decades operating in New York's rough-and-tumble world of real estate. Friday's disclosures call into question his carefully-cultivated image as a savvy business magnate...
Nazi Hunter TARGETED by Fox SPEAKS OUT | The Weekend Show
Former soldier turned Nazi hunter, Kristofer Goldsmith, describes being attacked by Fox, and explains his role in countering white supremacy.
Interview:
Friday, December 30, 2022
Opinion | As a Researcher, I Study the Health of Palestinians. It’s Time to Pay Attention. - The New York Times
As international governments, media organizations and advocacy groups focus on the outcome of Israel's recent elections, concerns over increased repression of Palestinians are valid, but they fail to fully recognize what took place just this past year. We need to worry about what's to come, but we also cannot ignore the violence and heavy mental health strain that has already corroded yet another generation's well-being and hope for a stable and dignified existence...
Texas, red states consider expanding Medicaid after abortion restrictions - The Washington Post
The limits on … Medicaid coverage after the emergency insurance lapses hinges on Texas's long-standing rejection of Obamacare, which included provisions for expanded Medicaid. And it has set up an uncomfortable dynamic: While Texas and nearly a dozen other red states have resisted expanding Medicaid for those who are pregnant, many of them have also restricted access to abortion, leading to more new mothers needing coverage...
The Looming GOP Crisis Over Ukraine - POLITICO
The GOP's Ukraine divide is so resonant because it's here and now and because it neatly cleaves much of the party's old and new guard...
Former Minneapolis police officer charged with assaulting Jaleel Stallings - Raw Story - Celebrating 18 Years of Independent Journalism
Stetson, 34, is charged with repeatedly striking Stallings for nearly 30 seconds, even though Stallings had surrendered, was lying prone on the ground, "posed no imminent threat," and didn't resist arrest or Stetson's use of force, according to the criminal complaint
https://www.rawstory.com/former-minneapolis-police-officer-charged-with-assaulting-jaleel-stallings/
Sudden Russian Death Syndrome - The Atlantic
It's not a great time to be an oligarch who's unenthusiastic about Putin's war in Ukraine...
Faith leaders ask why Jan. 6 report left out Christian nationalism - The Washington Post
Asked by lawmakers this year to describe those who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Officer Daniel Hodges of the D.C. police told the House select committee tasked with investigating the insurrection that "it was clear the terrorists perceived themselves to be Christians."…
Louisiana's abortion law leaves some doctors afraid to provide miscarriage care : Shots - Health News : NPR
Louisiana's near-total abortion ban, which took effect on Aug. 1, has raised fears among physicians that they could potentially be investigated for treating a miscarriage, since the same treatments are also used for abortion…
"How in the world can we have a viable health care system for women, especially women of color, when they won't even see you for 12 weeks?" she says…
John Nienstedt, Detroit’s poster boy for the Catholic Church abuse scandal, is back — and the archdiocese has been keeping it quiet
The name Theodore McCarrick is now widely known. Nienstedt's is less so, but Terry McKiernan of Bishop Accountability says: "There's not a dime's worth of difference between them. Who can tolerate covering up for priests accused of abusing children?"…
Thursday, December 29, 2022
New Biden administration guidance closes ‘ghost guns’ loophole in federal rule | The Hill
"Today's open letter is another important step in implementing the crucial public safety rule regarding privately made firearms, or Ghost Guns," ATF Director Steven Dettelbach said in an ATF news release. "Ghost Guns can kill like other firearms if they are in the wrong hands, so they are treated as firearms under the law." …
Congress passed major gun legislation in 2022 as well. In June, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which expanded background checks for people under 21, addressed the "boyfriend loophole" with a provision barring firearm possession for at least five years for those convicted of misdemeanor violent crimes against romantic partners and included funding for mental health treatment and the administration of red flag laws…
At this Texas school, every student is a teen mother
There are a myriad of factors that play a role in teen pregnancy rates, but in Texas, some experts cite the state's strict abortion laws and the fact that sex education is not required in schools...
As many as 58% of Texas public schools teach abstinence-only sex education, and 25% do not teach it at all, according to the liberal Texas Freedom Network, a religious and community leaders' group.
"As long as we don't share that information with them, then they're not getting educated," said Cynthia Cardenas, the Lincoln Park High School principal. "They're not given the opportunity to choose whether they want the consequence or not."…
U.S. regulators to probe power outages during historic winter storm | Reuters
"This storm underscores the increasing frequency of significant extreme weather events and underscores the need for the electric sector to change its planning scenarios and preparations for extreme events," said NERC CEO and President Jim Robb.../cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/PGV7F5BLCNJNPI6E2HD4NRYB3Q.jpg)
Race for GOP Chair Obscures the Party’s Bigger Problems - The New York Times
Ronna McDaniel's quest for a fourth term atop the Republican National Committee has triggered an ugly intraparty fight between the right and the farther right. Figuring out how to win back swing voters is not a top priority...
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin Diagnosed With Cancer
"In addition to destroying cancer cells, chemotherapy impairs natural antibodies and undermines the body's immune system," he said, adding, "I am advised that it also causes hair loss and weight gain (although I am still holding out hope for the kind that causes hair gain and weight loss)."…
Why new federal pregnancy protections in the workplace matter
At issue are two separate bills, both of which were successfully added to the omnibus spending package that cleared Capitol Hill last week. The first was the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act — the one that had been blocked a week earlier — that would ensure that pregnant people in the workplace are allowed to take extra bathroom breaks, carry water bottles, and make use of sitting on a stool during a shift…
But just as notable was the other policy that was added to the same spending package: The Senate also approved a policy that, as Roll Call reported, would "require employers to provide extra time and space for workers to breastfeed on the job," for up to a year after the child's birth…
Russia Celebrates Turning Elon Musk Into a Useful Idiot After Medvedev Twitter Rant
Appearing on The Evening With Vladimir Solovyov back in October, filmmaker Karen Shakhnazarov opined about Musk's "tens of millions of fans" and their potential usefulness for Russia's "info-war tactics" in spreading the narratives set forth by Moscow. Host Vladimir Solovyov enthusiastically supported the idea of engaging "comrade Musk" and proposed Dmitry Medvedev as someone who could be the conduit in Russia's charm offensive. Americanist Dmitry Drobnitsky noted that while there is no one in the West worth talking to, Russia could "grab a hold and shake them up, for sure."
Solovyov concurred: "We can troll them."…
Larger squad? How the Hill’s newest progressives plan to wield power. - POLITICO
Five new members-elect are taking cues from the liberal squad, ready to bypass the limits of being a first-term lawmaker and use their voices to turn the party leftward...
Right-Wing Extremists Will Hate This New Government Spending
In one of their final moves before they relinquish control of the U.S. House, Democratic lawmakers made sure to do something Republicans almost certainly never would: significantly expand the federal government's resources to prosecute Jan. 6 rioters and counter domestic extremism...
New transcripts shed light on Trump’s interest in Jan. 6 pardons
The then-president may have told the attackers in public, "You will pay," but away from the cameras, his true focus was on possible blanket pardons for his radicalized backers...
This Week on Liz’s LOLsuits (Opening Arguments podcast OA666)
Alright look we forgot it was episode 666. But Trump has sued the Pulitzer committee and it is HILARIOUS. And… satanic? Ok no but we can pretend. Liz Dye is here with the breakdown!
Interview:
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Republicans see little resistance from the business lobby after 'anti-woke' attacks - POLITICO
A growing list of major companies — not just limited to finance — are facing ire from Republican officials at the state and federal levels for their stances on climate and issues such as race, voting rights and guns...
Gretchen Whitmer kidnap ringleader, Adam Fox, sentenced to 16 years - BBC News
As well as conspiring to abduct Ms Whitmer, Fox was sentenced for planning to use a weapon of mass destruction to blow up a bridge after the kidnapping, to make it easier to escape...
Greg Abbott pushes back on criticism after busing migrants to VP's home on freezing Christmas Eve - ABC News
"As we have repeatedly said, we are willing to work with anyone -- Republican or Democrat alike -- on real solutions, like the comprehensive immigration reform and border security measures President Biden sent to Congress on his first day in office, but these political games accomplish nothing and only put lives in danger," a spokesman, Abdullah Hasan, said in a statement…
Opinion | Holiday Charitable Giving Can Raise Thorny Questions - The New York Times
I began thinking about this after I received an email from a psychology professor, Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi, criticizing what he called "the capitalist system of charities in the U.S.A." He wrote that charities are "competing to the death for the same 50 cents."
"Thus," he went on, "hundreds of organizations fight hunger locally and nationally. When it comes to illnesses, there are thousands of organizations competing. This means a terrible waste of resources." He recommended that I look at Germany, where the government performs functions that charities perform in the United States...
Star rising in Kremlin, Russia's Medvedev predicts war in West | Reuters
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, an arch loyalist of Vladimir Putin given a new job this week, predicted war between Germany and France next year and a civil war in the United States that would lead to Elon Musk becoming president…
John Durham’s failed investigation comes with a hefty price tag
For years, Team Trump insisted that the Russia scandal was pointless but the Durham investigation was real. It now appears these Republicans had it exactly backward: The Russia scandal was real, and the Durham investigation was pointless...
She Says Doctors Ignored Her Concerns About Her Pregnancy. For Many Black Women, It’s a Familiar Story. — ProPublica
Black women in America are more than twice as likely as white women to have a stillbirth. Getting physicians to take their concerns seriously is one reason for this disparity, they say: "If you're a Black woman, you get dismissed."…
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
‘A sea change’: Biden reverses decades of Chinese trade policy - POLITICO
Forget tariffs. Biden's actions to crack down on Beijing's tech development will do more to hinder the Chinese economy — and divide the two nations — than Trump ever did…
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/26/china-trade-tech-00072232
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/26/china-trade-tech-00072232
Opinion | A Saudi Arabian Dairy Giant in Siphoning Off Arizona’s Groundwater - The New York Times
The case has prompted calls for an investigation into how a foreign company wound up taking the state's dwindling water supplies for a fee that might be as low as one-sixth the market rate…
White House Accuses Texas Guv of ‘Abandoning’ Migrant Kids in Freezing Cold
On Monday, the White House denounced the transportation of migrants from Texas to Vice President Kamala Harris' residence in Washington, D.C. on a subfreezing Christmas Eve. In a statement, White House spokesman Abdullah Hasan slammed Texas Governor Greg Abbott, accusing him of "abandoning children on the side of the road in below freezing temperatures on Christmas Eve without coordinating with any Federal or local authorities."…
Migrants dropped off outside Kamala Harris’ home: Volunteers spring into action
Tristán told Axios that within half an hour of the arrival of the first bus, the migrants were on their way to a church to be warmed with coffee, tamales, beans and rice, and rotisserie chicken...
More migrants dropped off outside vice president's home in freezing weather on Christmas Eve - KESQ
"The DC community has been welcoming buses from Texas anytime they've come since April. Christmas Eve and freezing cold weather is no different," she said. "We are always here welcoming folks with open arms."…
Highest-profile January 6 trial begins with Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio
They don't have to prove an overt act, what they they have to prove there was an agreement to oppose the lawful authority of the United States of America by force.
"There's a tsunami of evidence, both in terms of what was said among the participants, which the FBI has obtained and decrypted as well as what they did, which is all well-documented on video."…
Responding sharply to Trump, Biden gears up for more clashes with GOP - The Washington Post
As Biden prepares his reelection bid, some Democrats see an advantage in highlighting volatile remarks by Republicans…
Monday, December 26, 2022
The Referrals Have Been Made. Now What Will It Take To Convict? (Opening Arguments podcast OA667)
Andrew gives us that signature OA approach, having read every case relevant to the law Trump has potentially violated. What does the case law tell us about how to convict him?
Interview:
Former Republican Joe Walsh Reveals his DISGUST of MAGA and Today’s GOP (Anthony Davis; The Weekend Show)
Former Republican Congressman and Presidential candidate, Joe Walsh, talks to Anthony Davis about losing everything for denouncing Trumpism.
Interview:
Jeremy Peters Traces the GOP’s Descent to Trump (Al Franken podcast)
The NYT journalist on How the Nutcase Right Took Over the GOP.
Interview:
Elon Dumps 42 Million More Shares of Tesla (Opening Arguments podcast OA663)
...and does other totally normal things that indicate everything is completely awesome with him. Why is he offloading so much stock? And he isn’t the only one. What does it say about Tesla? (btw we recorded this before he started banning journalists on Twitter for… sharing publicly available info about his flights.)
Also, Trump replies to the Tish James injunction in Florida, and NBC files its answer to the Devin Nunes v Rachel Maddow suit!
Interview:
Evangelical Threat (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)
Tis the season to report on state/church entanglements, as well as state/church victories. This week we listen to professor Anthea Butler, author of White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America and contributor to the 1619 Project, deliver her "Do Mess With Texas" speech at FFRF's 45th annual convention in San Antonio, warning us about religious threats to democracy.
Interview:
Sunday, December 25, 2022
Emmett Till And His Mother Posthumously Awarded Congressional Gold Medal | HuffPost Latest News
Till was a Black 14-year-old who was kidnapped and lynched in 1955 by two white men in Mississippi after he was accused of whistling at a white woman. His mother, who died in 2003, insisted that he have an open casket, so as to make clear the brutality of her son's death and the racism and injustice that led to it. Till's death is today considered a catalyst of the American civil rights movement...
Kari Lake loses bid to overturn election results in Arizona - The Washington Post
Tom Liddy, an attorney for Maricopa County, confirmed to The Washington Post that the county will be seeking sanctions.
"A lawyer may not go to court without the evidence necessary for a chance to prevail," Liddy said. "Lake had to make up 17,117 votes. She failed to identify one lawful ballot that was not counted, or one ballot that was counted that should not have been — and she knew that before she filed the contest."…
Trump rails against Jan. 6 committee following final report release | The Hill
Trump falsely claimed that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser refused his push for deployment of the National Guard. The president serves as commander-in-chief of the D.C. National Guard and has authority to deploy them to a situation.
January 6 report review: 845 pages, countless crimes, one simple truth – Trump did it
The House committee has done its work. The result is a riveting read, utterly damning of the former president and his followers…
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