Welcome 😄 to Friday’s Roundup of Good News!
As I type this, I can let everyone know that I feel a little better than I did last week. I’m still not back to normal, but I have hope that my FitBit is going to stop sending me congratulations on the extraordinary number of hours I am sleeping each day.
Impeachment is happening! The great disappointment, of course, is the traitorous behavior from nearly every Republican in office. Well, we knew we couldn’t count on them. We just have to take our case to the rest of our fellow Americans. The information is crystal clear. And get a load of Ambassador Taylor’s voice! He could get a second career doing voice overs and commercials.
So, enjoy this Friday when a second day of open hearings is scheduled!
Having trouble finding the GNR, especially later in the day? Follow me and the other authors and you’ll find the stories in your activity stream.
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 👎 & Russia, Russia, Russia 🐻
Not one but two embassy staffers overheard Sondland’s cell phone chat with Trump Talking Points Memo
Two embassy staffers in Kyiv, not just one, overheard a phone call in which President Donald Trump asked EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland about “the investigations,” the Associated Press reported Thursday.
Acting Ukraine Ambassador Bill Taylor made the bombshell revelation Wednesday that, a day after the now-infamous phone call in which Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for politicized investigations, Trump called Sondland to ask about those investigations. ✂️
The staffer was later identified as a counselor for political affairs at the embassy, David Holmes, who was accompanying Sondland while the EU ambassador was in Ukraine on July 26. Sondland played a key role in relaying Trump’s pressure campaign to Ukrainian officials.
The second witness to the call was another embassy staffer, Suriya Jayanti, AP reported, citing an unnamed person briefed on the discussion.
I understand the first person, David Holmes, is being deposed today (Friday).
Oh, and about that phone call? Stunning breach of national security Washington Post
A U.S. ambassador’s cellphone call to President Trump from a restaurant in the capital of Ukraine this summer was a stunning breach of security, exposing the conversation to surveillance by foreign intelligence services, including Russia’s, former U.S. officials said.
The call — in which Trump’s remarks were overheard by a U.S. Embassy staffer in Kyiv — was disclosed Wednesday by the acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, William B. Taylor Jr., on the dramatic opening day of public impeachment hearings into alleged abuse of power by the president. ✂️
“The security ramifications are insane — using an open cellphone to communicate with the president of the United States,” said Larry Pfeiffer, a former senior director of the White House Situation Room and a former chief of staff to the CIA director. “In a country that is so wired with Russian intelligence, you can almost take it to the bank that the Russians were listening in on the call.”
Of course, reporters keep looking at this wrong. Trump WANTS the Russians to know what he’s doing. They should stop asking why he does these things. We know.
For Saturday:
Interesting point of view on the interview that didn’t happen Talking Points Memo
Zakaria, in fact, had traveled to Ukraine on Sept. 12 and 13 and met with Zelensky for a pre-interview discussion. “We had a very nice conversation, no inkling of any of this,” he said.
While he initially confirmed with Prystaiko on September 12 that the interview was off, Taylor said, “I noticed during a meeting on the morning of September 13, at President Zelensky’s office, that Mr. Yermak looked uncomfortable in response to the question.”
Then, on Sept. 13 Schiff announced publicly that Maguire was withholding a whistleblower’s complaint.
The interview was “set,” Zakaria recalled, until it wasn’t. Looking back, he said, the release of the aid and the revelation of a whistleblower complaint appeared to have been responsible for the cancellation.
Rudy hints he’s got dirt on Trump The Guardian
Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, has said he is confident the president will remain loyal to him as an impeachment inquiry unfolds in which the former New York mayor has become a central figure.
But Giuliani joked that he had good “insurance” in case Trump did turn on him, amid speculation Republicans will seek to frame him as a rogue actor.
In a telephone interview with the Guardian, in response to a question about whether he was nervous that Trump might “throw him under a bus” in the impeachment crisis, Giuliani said, with a slight laugh: “I’m not, but I do have very, very good insurance, so if he does, all my hospital bills will be paid.”
Giuliani’s lawyer, Robert Costello, who was also on the call, then interjected: “He’s joking.”
I bet Rudy wasn’t joking. Hmm, I wonder if Lev Parnas has some of that dirt? (In case you don’t remember, Parnas already is heading toward flipping.)
Russia is gloating. Publicly. I don’t if that’s really good news, except if we get it to play here more. The National Memo
Instead of watching Fox News, which manufactures heroic propaganda about President Donald Trump, Republican voters could learn much more from seeing a few hours of Russian television. It is on shows broadcast from Moscow and St. Petersburg where the truth about the Trump administration can be heard.
The message is emphatically not “Make America Great Again.”
No, the Russian outlook articulated by Russian commentators — who faithfully reflect Kremlin policy — is that Trump’s incompetence and incoherence greatly benefit the motherland by weakening its rival America. This mocking theme has aired consistently on the top Russian TV channels for years now and has only intensified as “their” president is threatened by impeachment and electoral defeat.
Like I said, if we make more people here realize this, then it might influence a few less hard-core Trumpers.
Oh, and those tax returns...
💙 Democrats Are Great 🌊
Republicans 🐘 Got Nothing 👎
Speaker Pelosi says North American trade deal imminent Washington Post
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that agreement on a new North American trade deal is “imminent” and she would like to pass it by year’s end.
Pelosi’s comments at a news conference represented her most optimistic assessment to date on negotiations to replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement with a new deal that would improve environmental and labor standards. House Democrats have been negotiating for months with the Trump administration to reach agreement, but it’s proven elusive so far.
“It all comes down to enforcement,” Pelosi said. “I do believe that if we can get this to the place it needs to be, which is imminent, that this can be a template for future trade agreements, a good template. ”
To warm the cockles of your heart...
BEYOND THE BELTWAY
Kentucky’s governor finally concedes Daily Kos
Republican Gov. Matt Bevin conceded defeat on Thursday after a recanvass of votes failed to change the results of last week’s election in Kentucky. Democrat Andy Beshear, who defeated Bevin by a 49.2-48.8 margin, will be sworn in as governor next month.
Originally the KY legislature was threatening to overturn the election, somehow, but the outrage deterred them. So this is very good news.
Maine is combatting elder abuse US News
Gov. Janet Mills signed an executive order Wednesday to combat elder abuse in the state by establishing a partnership among government agencies to focus on the issue.
The Elder Justice Coordinating Partnership, which will include officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation as well as aging and advocacy organizations, will develop strategies to respond to elder abuse in both the public and private sectors, according to a press release. ✂️
"The abuse of vulnerable people, especially our older citizens, is an insidious crime and has no place in Maine," Mills said in the press release. "Maine is an aging state, and it is crucial that we harness the collective power of state government and private organizations to develop a roadmap to protect them from abuse, neglect and all forms of exploitation."
Governor Kelly gives a helping hand to women candidates Shawnee Mission Post
A week after a wave of female first-time candidates won big in city-level elections, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly was in Johnson County on Tuesday to kick off the campaigns of a group of women running for the statehouse in next year’s races.
In an appearance at the Johnson County Democrats offices in Overland Park, Kelly said it’s important for women to take on leadership roles. Newly elected women — from both sides of the aisle and in the House and the Senate — have been able to make “an incredible difference in the state,” she said.
“We [women] don’t run for office for the power, we don’t need it — we’ve got it in our homes,” Kelly said. “We run because we see a problem and we want to fix it.”
Governor Lujan Grisham donates $100,000 to help hungry kids in NM Kob.com
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is donating money from her inaugural fund to help fight childhood hunger.
In the New Mexico, 24% all children are going hungry or don't know where their next meal is coming from.
“In a state right now that's seeing incredible revenues coming into the state, and we're one of that fasting-growing economies in the country, we're starting to see a shift where we are -- it's untenable to me that our kids are still hungry,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “No child in America should go to bed hungry."
🐍 Schadenfreude 🍎
Apparently Kellyanne Conway had a cow when Wolf Blitzer asked her about her marriage the Daily Beast
Once again, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway appeared on CNN for a lengthy and contentious interview, and once again that lengthy and contentious interview was a total shitshow. ✂️
Blitzer wanted to ask the Trump aide one last question Thursday morning about her husband, who spent the entire day at MSNBC providing on-air analysis and criticizing the GOP’s “incoherent” defense of the president. ✂️
Conway, meanwhile, launched into one of her signature rants in which she rapidly threw everything against the wall before taking pointed shots at CNN and Blitzer himself.
“What you just quoted is said every day by other voices, but you wanted to put it in my husband’s voice because you think somehow that that will help your ratings or that you’re really sticking it to Kellyanne Conway,” she fumed. “And let me be very clear. You didn’t stick it to Kellyanne Conway. I think you embarrassed yourself and I’m embarrassed for you because this is CNN now?”
Actually, I think Kellyanne should not be restrained by her husband to earn her living the way she wants to. Except that she lies so often on Trump’s behalf, that she deserves to get whatever thunderbolts Blitzer tosses her way.
📣🏅 Let’s Honor Truth 🏅☀️
Of course, the first medals go to William Taylor and George Kent, for their detailed testimony in open hearings this week.
More medals go this week to the prosecutors of Roger Stone Mother Jones
In his closing argument Wednesday, Roger Stone’s lawyer, Bruce Rogow, told the jury that there is really nothing to the government’s case against his client. “Much of this case, you have to ask, ‘So what?'” Rogow said.
Prosecutors offered an answer on Wednesday. Assistant US Attorney Michael Marando bluntly asked jurors to reject Rogow’s dismissal.
“So what? So what?” Marando asked, with what seemed like actual indignation. “If that’s the state of affairs that we’re in, I’m pretty shocked. Truth matters. Truth still matters, okay.”
🌹 Let’s Celebrate Love ❤️
I included this in a comment a while ago, but I’m still so impressed. Love goes across species.
📎📎Odds & Ends 📎📎
📖 After Chicago cancels library late fees, book returns surge by 240% Good News Network
Chicago book lovers are no longer being daunted by heaps of library late fees—and librarians are delighted to report that book returns have surged by 240%.
The Windy City became the first city in the nation to do away with overdue book fees after Mayor Lori Lightfoot approved the policy in a bid to encourage literacy and educational resources amongst low-income communities.
Since the policy went into full effect across the city’s 81 neighborhood and regional libraries on October 1st, librarians say the policy has been instrumental in welcoming more patrons back to their locations.
This is very sensible. When my mother died, many years ago, I found a library book that she had not returned. Maybe twenty years overdue. My father was afraid to return it because of the late fees. I scoffed, thinking that they ought to be canceled by, you know, death, but believe it or not, the librarian tried to charge me. I said, “You have got to be kidding,” and turned around and walked out. Easy for me as I lived halfway across the country.
Copper hospital beds harbor 95% less bacteria than regular beds Good News Network
A new study has found that copper hospital beds in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) harbored an average of 95% fewer bacteria than conventional hospital beds—and maintained these low-risk levels throughout patients’ stay in hospital.
The research is published this week in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
“Hospital-acquired infections sicken approximately 2 million Americans annually, and kill nearly 100,000—numbers roughly equivalent to the number of deaths if a wide-bodied jet crashed every day,” said co-author Dr. Michael G. Schmidt, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. “Despite the best efforts by environmental services workers, they are neither cleaned often enough, nor well enough.”
Greenpeace envisions supermarkets without single-use plastics Ecowatch
"It's time to build smarter supermarkets," Greenpeace plastics campaigner Kate Melges said in a statement. "Globally, we're starting to see examples of retailers moving away from plastics and throwaway packaging, but not at the urgency and scale needed to address this crisis, especially in the U.S. market."
"This report should serve as a model for retailers to follow," added Melges, "and shows that it is possible to end our throwaway culture for the sake of our oceans, waterways, and communities." ✂️
Instead of wasteful plastic packaging, fresh produce in the Smart Supermarket is stored using local and environmentally friendly alternatives. Plastic bags previously used at checkout are replaced by reusable bags and a rental system for customers who forget to bring their own. Plastics used to package to-go meals are replaced by reusable alternatives such as those pioneered by Switzerland.
We just keep the plastic bags inside some of the cloth shopping bags, and reuse them when buying items where you really need a container (e.g., loose raisins or oatmeal).
💙 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.