Welcome 😄 to Friday’s Roundup of Good News!
I’m sick of Trump. You’re sick of Trump.
We’re not alone.
Even FOX News is tired of Trump, at least Trump rallies. (this is from October last year)
To be fair to Fox News, the network so intertwined with Donald Trump’s administration that they frequently swap employees, every single one of its cable competitors was once so captivated by the president that they, too, would cover his campaign rallies live. But as the administration wore on, the novelty wore thin, and by the beginning of 2018, only Fox followed in that grand tradition, broadcasting Trump’s rallies from start to finish. In July, it was not uncommon for the network to junk its own prime-time shows in favor of the president’s campaign-style stadium appearances—a choice that broadcast the president’s message into the living rooms of millions of his voters every night. Fox was proud of it, too: at one point, the station even knocked its competitors, via a snarky chyron, for declining to do the same.
Three months later, however, things have changed. Instead of airing the rallies live, Fox has opted either to air clips the next day, to bump the events to weekend coverage, or to live-stream them online, putting the president and his arena-full of jeering, red-capped supporters on the back burner.
This is good. If his ratings drop with everyone, no chance in *** that he gets back into office.
And in the meantime, when we can, let’s think about other things. We’ll note the damage, block it where we can, or keep it on the list of things to be investigated later.
Regular Scheduled Programming
No one here is naïve; we are aware of the very bad stuff that is happening. Some of us expected it: the cheating, the lying, the chaos, and yes, even the attempts to cling to power despite the clear will of the people. But we are here to read the efforts and the positive results of those (including us and our fellow gnus) who are working so hard to save our country from those very bad people. We are furious with them for what they are doing and we are letting them know. Remember:
💚 There are more of us than there are of them.
💛 They are terrified when we organize. THERE IS LOTS OF EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE TERRIFIED!
💔 They want us to be demoralized. We have to keep demoralizing them. Name, blame and shame! IT IS WORKING! WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE DEMORALIZED!
💙 The best way to keep up your spirits is to fight. So, take the time to recharge your batteries, but find ways to contribute to the well-being of our country and our world.
💙 Toxic 🍄 Trump Matters 👎
Oh, and here’s a FOX News poll
A new Fox News poll shows 50 percent of voters choosing Joe Biden over President Trump in 2020, with the president clinching less than 40 percent support against four Democratic challengers.When matched up against Biden, only 38 percent of voters said they’d vote for Trump over the former vice president. Trump had support from 39 percent of voters when matched up against Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)—who had 48, 46, and 45 percent, respectively. Also featured in the August 11-13 poll were low approval numbers for Trump among overall voters, with only 43 percent approving and 56 disapproving of his performance. When asked if they thought Trump was pulling the country together or tearing it apart, 59 percent of voters said Trump was “tearing the country apart.” In addition, only 37 percent of voters approved of how Trump “responded to recent mass shootings.”
🐊 Draining the Swamp 🐊
Where swamp refers not just to money but all things disgusting
An interesting bit of fall-out from the Epstein affair
Jeffrey Epstein is dead, but many of his enablers are still with us, part of generations of adults who preyed on children—monsters who have long been protected from their crimes with the passage of time and, too often, the protection of the institutions they served. In New York, the effort to change the law and extend the statute of limitations for these heinous crimes had been frustrated for more than a decade.
Who in the world wanted to slam the door in the face of those harmed by those they trusted when they were too young to do anything about it? As it turns out, upstanding pillars of the Catholic Church and others in cahoots with Republicans who, until last year, controlled the New York State Senate, that’s who.
If this troubles you, wake up this morning and say Hallelujah. As of Wednesday, the law in New York that cut off a child victim’s chance for justice for most crimes when they hit the tender age of 23 is dead. In its place is the long-delayed Child Victims Act, which removes the state’s strict statute of limitations on sexual crimes against children and begins a one-year window to revive past claims, no matter how old. It extends the statute of limitations to allow for criminal charges against sexual abusers of children until their victims turn 28 for felony cases, up from the current 23. It allows civil actions against abusers and the institutions that enabled them until victims turn 55.
FBI arrests young man with 10,000 rounds of ammo
Days after mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton rocked the nation, FBI agents raided the home of an Ohio man who allegedly threatened to commit his own massacre. Inside, they found more than a dozen rifles and 10,000 rounds of ammunition, the FBI said.
Justin Olsen, 18, was arrested Monday for allegedly threatening to assault a federal law enforcement officer. He’s accused of making the threats on a meme website where he also allegedly discussed shooting Planned Parenthood locations, citing multiple mass murders involving far-right extremists.
Olsen allegedly made the threats on iFunny, a meme-sharing site where he used the name “ArmyOfChrist” and a picture of a medieval crusader as his avatar. (The crusades are a popular theme in some far-right Christian circles.) His account had more than 5,000 followers as of Tuesday morning before it was suspended.
Not the only one. From Wonkette
Kansas City, Missouri: Kansas City police and the FBI are investigating a threat on Reddit from someone who said they wanted to commit the "biggest mass shooting in modern American history" at an unspecified Walmart in the area. The person claimed to have two AR-15 semiautomatic rifles and 22 pipe bombs.
Springfield, Missouri: A 20-year-old man was arrested after decking himself out in full tactical asshole gear, including body armor and over 100 rounds of ammunition, and strolling into a Walmart with an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun to do some shopping. He said it was a "social experiment" to see whether his Second Amendment rights would be given the respect -- and perhaps adulation -- he felt they deserved. He recorded the visit on his cellphone so he would capture anyone trying to violate his rights. ✂️
Elsewhere: CNN lists five OTHER threats/incidents involving Walmarts around the country -- plus the above three -- because copycat terrorism is a thing.
House subpoenas owner of 8chan
The House Committee on Homeland Security on Wednesday subpoenaed Jim Watkins, the owner of 8chan, the website where the suspected El Paso shooter allegedly posted a hateful anti-Hispanic manifesto.
Committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and ranking member Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) announced the subpoena issued to the 8chan site owner in a joint statement.
“At least three acts of deadly white supremacist extremist violence have been linked to 8chan in the last six months,” they said. “We have questions on what is being done to counter this trend so we can be sure it is being properly addressed.”
Meanwhile, for the good guys, support for refugees surges
The American public's support for bringing thousands of refugees to America has increased over the last year, even as Trump has dedicated much of his presidency to attacking them.
Polling data from Gallup released on Tuesday saw a 6% increase in support for refugees from Central America, up from December 2018. Support now stands at 57%.
The increase was most pronounced among Republicans, going up 10% over the last seven months. Support was also up with Democrats and independents.
Even gun owners turning against the NRA
For the first time in polling, more Americans have an unfavorable view of the NRA than support the organization, according to a Fox News poll released Wednesday.
Almost half of Americans (47%) have a negative view of the NRA, an extremist group that opposes even the most popular gun safety measures, such a background checks on anyone who wants to purchase a gun. Only 42% have a favorable view.
Even among gun owners, support for the NRA has dropped significantly in the past year. In 2018, 67% of gun owners supported the group, but that number dropped to just 56% in the Fox News poll, an 11-point decline in just one year.
💙 Democrats Are Great 🌊
Republicans 🐘 Got Nothing 👎
House Judiciary to end their vacation early to work on gun violence
House Judiciary Committee members will cut their August break short to get to work on gun violence, in an effort to increase pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to act, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.
Some members want to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired 15 years ago, while others want to focus on legislation that is more likely to attract bipartisan support. But all House Democrats agree that something needs to be done.
They already passed two major pieces of gun safety legislation in February: the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Enhanced Background Checks Act. However, McConnell has refused to allow the Senate to vote on either bill.
💙 Nancy Pelosi calls out Moscow Mitch
During a speaking engagement at a Democratic event Wednesday in Springfield, Illinois, Pelosi referred to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as “Moscow Mitch” — a nickname originally coined by MSNBC host Joe Scarborough in light of McConnell’s efforts to block election security legislation in the Senate — for blocking a series of legislation passed by the House earlier this year.
“We sent our legislation to the Senate,” Pelosi said, recounting bills passed by the House that include measures raising the minimum wage, reforming elections and expanding health care. “Moscow Mitch says that he is the ‘grim reaper.’ Imagine describing yourself as the ‘grim reaper,’ that he’s going to bury all this legislation.”
According to the Washington Post, Pelosi also used the event as an opportunity to urge the Senate to pass a pair of bills approved by the House in February designed to strengthen background checks for gun buyers.
💛 Evangelicals upset by Trump’s blasphemy/profanity
The residents of Hardesty’s district — he’s a Trump-supporting West Virginia state senator — were calling to complain that Trump was “using the Lord’s name in vain,” as Hardesty recounted.
“The third phone call is when I actually went and watched his speech because each of them sounded distraught,” said Hardesty, who describes himself as a conservative Democrat.
Here’s what he would have seen. Trump crowing, “they'll be hit so goddamn hard,” while bragging about bombing Islamic State militants. And Trump recounting his warning to a wealthy businessman: “If you don't support me, you're going to be so goddamn poor.” ✂️
“I’ve had people come to me and say, ‘You know I voted for [Trump], but if he doesn’t tone down the rhetoric, I might just stay home this time,’” Hardesty said in an interview, adding that he has yet to hear back from anyone inside the White House after urging the president in a formal letter to “reflect on your comments and never utter those words again.”
They’re actually considering staying home instead of voting for him because he keeps saying “goddamn” — well, OK. If that’s the election strategy that works, why not? Because he does curse a lot. It should be easy to create commercials showing his bad language.
💛 Liz Cheney calls for Steve King to resign
Not often that I will agree with a Cheney
King, infamous for his racist comments, made a series of controversial remarks yet again in an attempt to defend anti-abortion laws that don’t provide exemptions for rape or incest.
“What if we went back through all the family trees and just pulled out anyone who was a product of rape or incest?” he asked during a speaking event in Iowa. “Would there be any population of the world left if we did that?”
This isn’t the first time Cheney’s called for King’s resignation: The GOP leader said King “should find another line of work” in January after he gave a New York Times interview questioning why the term “white supremacist” is bad.
Fair Fight 2020: Stacey Abrams Targets Voter Suppression in Swing States
Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, widely seen as a rising star within the Democratic Party and a possible 2020 presidential candidate, is launching a new effort in key swing states to combat voter suppression, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported on Tuesday.
This initiative will expand on the Fair Fight campaign that she developed after losing to Republican Brian Kemp in Georgia's 2018 gubernatorial election. She is reportedly set to announce the expansion of her voting rights efforts on Tuesday during a speech to a labor union in Las Vegas.
"Fair Fight is working to expand democracy and ensure all voters have access to the polls," the group's website reads. "We promote fair elections in Georgia and around the country, encourage voter participation in elections, and educate voters about elections and their voting rights."
I really admire her. She was on Maddow on Tuesday night, and explained that this was the best way she could help the country fight to move forward (as opposed to thinking she should run for president). She knows how voters get suppressed and get intimidated and she wants to equip the swing states with ways to fight these tactics. Because being ready makes a huge difference.
beyond the beltway
Governor Whitmer (MI) declares August as child support month
LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared August 2019 as Child Support Month for the state of Michigan.
Nearly $1.2 billion was distributed to Michigan families in 2018.
This is in a effort to recognize the tireless efforts and dedication of supporting Michigan children and families by child support workers, employers, state and county departments, as well as hospitals and community partners.
Governor Kelly (KS) celebrates end of border war
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Missouri Gov. Mike Parson appeared at a Governors Summit at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, to sign an agreement to stop using tax incentives to lure businesses over the state line.
📣🏅 Let’s Honor Truth 🏅☀️
I want to honor Stacey Abrams, who not only sees what is wrong, but does something about it and tells the world as well. Here’s part of the transcript from her interview with Maddow Tuesday night:
ABRAMS: And that`s exactly why Fair Fight 2020 is so critical. We are launching now in 20 battleground states, and that`s not just battleground for the presidency, it`s the Senate. And it`s also down ballot races like state legislative races, those chambers that are going to draw the maps after the census.
We know that they have been hard at work at suppressing the vote, at dismantling democracy, and it is our responsibility to not just wait to see what happens, but to actually fight back. We`re going to educate staff and fund, do the training for making sure that in every one of these states, we have voter protection teams that are ready to go long before we have a nominee. But we`re also going to make sure they`re ready for not only the tactics we know were employed in Georgia, and in North Dakota, and Florida and Texas, but also in Wisconsin.
What`s happening Michigan as they try to roll back progress. We know that we also face foreign influence that is being denied by the White House, by the would-be dictator of Donald Trump but also that Moscow Mitch is stopping voter rights legislation, and election security legislation.
But we also know they just lifted a consent decree that`s kept Republicans and the RNC from going into local communities and intimidating voters by having off duty officers tell people that they are monitoring their votes. For the first time since 1981, the RNC will be allowed to cheat and lie and go into polling places and places and scare voters, particularly voters of color.
Fair Fight 2020 is designed to anticipate all of those challenges, but not just worry about them, work against them. And that`s what we learned from 2018. We cannot wait for the cavalry to come. We have to be the army and we have to stand up now.
That consent decree that’s blocked the RNC for nearly 40 years is something that could cause trouble.
🌹 Let’s Celebrate Love ❤️
🍑 School Superintendent using his bonus to pay for students’ college applications
Rather than pocketing his first ever $10,000 bonus, this public school system superintendent is using the money to cover the college application fees of his high school students.
44-year-old Grant Rivera, who has been the superintendent of the Marietta School District in Georgia since 2016, says that he is eligible for the bonus every three years if he receives a satisfactory performance review.
Rivera is donating the bonus to the Marietta Schools Foundation so that it can help students who apply to colleges ahead of regular application deadlines.
📎📎Odds & Ends 📎📎
🐮 Pink seaweed reduces cow emissions
A puffy pink seaweed that can stop cows from burping out methane is being primed for mass farming by Australian researchers.
The particular seaweed species, called Asparagopsis, grows prolifically off the Queensland Coast, and was the only seaweed found to have the effect in a study five years ago led by CSIRO. Even a small amount of the seaweed in a cow’s diet was shown to reduce the animal’s gases by 99%.
Associate Professor Nick Paul, who is the leader of the Seaweed Research Group at the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), said that if Australia could grow enough of the seaweed for every cow in the nation, the country could cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 10%.
Dasani water will soon be sold in aluminum cans
Coca-Cola is stepping up its green initiative by giving a makeover to its Dasani brand, which is the best selling bottled water brand in a country where bottled water is the best selling beverage.
The beverage giant will start to sell Dasani water in aluminum cans next month in the Northeast and plans to expand distribution to other parts of the country by 2020, according to Bloomberg. Aluminum bottles will follow the aluminum cans. Worldwide, aluminum is exponentially more likely to be recycled and to be made from recycled material. Additionally, aluminum is far less likely to end up in oceans and rivers.
Coca-Cola's packaging follows a move by its chief rival PepsiCo, which announced it would sell its water brand, Aquafina, in cans at restaurants and arenas. Dasani and Aquafina are the country's top two water brands, in that order, with combined sales of more than $2 billon per year, according to Bloomberg.
I admit I use a plastic water bottle. But I’ve been using the same plastic water bottle for years.
And, in honor of the Democrats, a donkey clip:
💙 What You Can Do to Rescue Democracy 💙
It turns out that participation in democracy is not just an every-four-years event but requires active participation, like, whenever you can find time. However, given that we have taken back the House, the tactics moving forward need to be different. Indivisible has ideas to share.
Indivisible 2.0
This Guide is for what comes next. The 2016 Indivisible Guide was about using constituent power to defend our values, our neighbors, and our democracy. This Guide is about using our constituent power to go on offense.
Offense is exciting, but it’s more complex than defense. We have the opportunity to use congressional oversight to hold Trump and his cronies accountable. We can set the legislative agenda with a bold progressive vision rooted in inclusion, fairness, and justice. But none of this is automatic — we have to demand it of Congress.
And some other ideas:
You can relax and recharge.
You can join protests and freeway blog.
You can help register new voters.
You can smile.
You can get out the vote for special elections.
You can reach out to upset Republicans. Remember, a lot of them crossed over in the midterms! Get them to feel good about being blue.
You can share your ideas below.
🌻
🍀 “My experience has been that work is almost
always the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.” 🍀
Eleanor Roosevelt
🔥 If you’re going through hell, keep going! 🔥
Winston Churchill
🌹 🌹 🌹
TRUTH MATTERS. LOVE MATTERS.