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Good News Roundup for Friday, July 22, 2022: Dealing with Panic [1]
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Date: 2022-07-22
Welcome 🌻 to Friday’s Roundup of Good News!
Hi Gnusies! A few scattered thoughts this morning.
We feel as if we’re living in uncertain times. Because we are, of course. Plague, war, shootings, stripping away rights. But feeling like that every minute is hard on the psyche.
One reason we feel that way is because clickbait, with outrageous headlines, is designed to make us feel that way. For example, a memo was presented by Maddow to the public where it seemed that Garland had a policy that would shield politicians, especially presidential candidates, from prosecution. The memo was a continuation of the policy of Bill Barr, in whom we have little faith, so there was a general outcry of despair and rage. But looking at the memo, I thought it might be a nothingburger. It did not say no prosecutions; it just said cleared prosecutions. You know, to avoid what Comey did to Hillary Clinton and the country 11 days before the 2016 election. And even Holder had a similar memo.
But one thing this outcry did was to get Garland to step forward and assure everyone that the DOJ is working hard, and that was something I appreciated a lot. So the clickbait worked. And Joe Scarbarough apologized, and I’m sure others at MSNBC did as well. More on what the DOJ is doing below.
Sometimes the clickbait is really not something to worry about. So click, but read carefully, and see what others say before you panic. We can all do with a little less panic.
Other times, there is stuff to worry about, but we can do something about it. Sometimes we can stop it; other times, we can mitigate it.
So, before you panic, ask yourself, is it true? And, if it is true, what can we do?
In the meantime, the J6 committee! Love the Hawley sprint! Still sifting through it all, because, timing, but I can see it’s been renewed for additional episodes to air in September! Gee, Liz, are you annoyed with some members of your party?
Also, get well soon, President Biden!
Come in, dear friends, and see what the good guys are doing! And please add your own bits, because there’s lots of good news to share!
Regular Scheduled Programming
No one here is naïve; we are aware of the many who are fighting to destroy our country. 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. 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.
🗽 Biden as President ! 🗽
Biden, Harris and their administration have been hard at work. Here are the last week’s posts at the White House briefing room.
👎 Out with the Bad, In with the Good 👍
Locals (Rochester) reject QAnon tour Marcia Greenwood Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
The ReAwaken America tour no longer will include a stop on Aug. 12 and 13 at the Main Street Armory. In an email distributed Monday, venue owner Scott Donaldson wrote, “(In response) to the outpour(ing) of concern from our community, both good and bad, I have decided after careful thought to cancel The ReAwaken America Tour that was scheduled for August 2022.” Last week, Grammy-nominated indie-pop band Japanese Breakfast announced it was cancelling a Sept. 27 show at the Armory over its decision to host the ReAwaken America event, featuring Michael Flynn and Roger Stone, both advisors to former President Donald Trump.
Good. Flynn and Stone are some of the worst, and should be shunned by all people.
Better representation for all the people:
x In the 224 years before @POTUS took office, the US Senate confirmed 8 black women to the US Court of Appeals.
Judge Childs is the 7th to be confirmed in just 18 months of the Biden-Harris administration -- with 4 more nominations pending in the Senate.
https://t.co/qJupi8cm2T — Ronald Klain (@WHCOS) July 20, 2022
MI6 Chief says Russia running out of steam in Ukraine Dmitri and Ben Hall Financial Times
MI6 chief Richard Moore said Russia was “about to run out of steam” in Ukraine, giving the country’s military a chance to strike back in the conflict he described as a “strategic failure” for Vladimir Putin.
The article describes how the supplies will be ever more difficult for the Russians, giving the Ukrainians the chance to strike back.
💣 Republicans: Party of Crimes and Chaos 💣
I can’t include everything the DOJ is doing, but this is taken from the emptywheel website:
RUDY GIULIANI April 13, 2021: SDNY obtains historic and prospective cell site warrant for Rudy. April 21, 2021: Warrants for Ukraine-related investigation approved. This was Lisa Monaco’s first day as Deputy Attorney General. The temporal scope on the Ukraine warrants extends from August 1, 2018 through May 31, 2019. April 28, 2021: Warrants executed. Around 18 devices seized, of which 16 can be cracked. September 3, 2021: SDNY argues that the privilege review for Rudy’s devices must be conducted pre-scope (meaning, before just the information on Ukraine is identified) and generously offers to limit temporal range of review to items post-dating January 1, 2018, significantly expanding the temporal scope of the privilege review vis a vis the known warrants ✂️ ROGER STONE June 30, 2021: Oath Keeper Mark Grods, who worked the Willard the morning of the insurrection, enters into a cooperation agreement. September 15, 2021: Oath Keeper Jason Dolan, who guarded Stone in both Florida and DC and would have witnessed discussions between Kelly Meggs and Roger Stone in December, enters into a cooperation agreement. January 15, 2022: WaPo quotes Rob Jenkins, who represents a number of Proud Boy defendants, explaining that DOJ is asking about Roger Stone and Rudy Giuliani’s ties to militia members. March 2, 2022: Oath Keeper Joshua James, who oversaw security of Stone on the morning of January 6 and reported back frequently, enters into a cooperation agreement. James also provides statement to NYPD inquiry of Stone associate Sal Greco.
Rand Paul and McConnell blame each other over failed judicial nom Cristina Cabrera Talking Points Memo
The collapse of President Joe Biden’s baffling plan to nominate longtime Republican Chad Meredith as a federal judge in Kentucky has left Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) in a standoff much like the Spider-Men pointing meme. Bristling at McConnell’s accusation that he was responsible for scrambling Meredith’s nomination by not providing the “blue slip” consenting to the pick, Paul told reporters on Monday that the GOP leader never told him about an agreement with Biden on Meredith to begin with. Paul said he only heard about the nomination from the FBI. “McConnell did whatever secret deal he did with the White House without talking to me,” Paul said. “And so we simply said that we’re not against Meredith, but McConnell is going to at least discuss it with his other state senator.”
JFC. Or rather, David and BathSheba:
x A South Carolina real estate developer accused a Republican congressman of abusing his power to continue an affair with his estranged wife.
https://t.co/gSnMgFPeIo — PoliticsVideoChannel (@politvidchannel) July 21, 2022
Sometimes, it’s so convoluted I can’t figure out a headline Robyn Pennacchia Wonkette
A Maryland GOP Senate hopeful, whose legal name is Ryan Dark White (really?), but who goes by Dr. Jon McGreevey for campaigning purposes, has been arrested for filing a false report claiming that a 10 to 12-year-old child was being forced to perform sex acts on male customers at the porn store where he worked. The Harford County Sheriff's Office investigated the report when it was filed in April, conducted interviews and "identified the adult male and juvenile female mentioned in the initial complaint," and determined after another interview with White that "at no time were any sex acts performed or offered by any of the individuals in the establishment as reported by White." There were also no reports from anyone who said they had actually witnessed any of this. “It is shameful that a candidate for public office would make up such a story and use it to further his own political agenda,” said Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler in a press release. “It is even more appalling, that another individual, who is running for a law enforcement position, would embrace such an obviously false narrative in an effort to gain political traction – nothing more. I am beyond grateful this young girl is safe, but extremely disappointed someone would attempt to discredit and disparage the work of the dedicated men and women of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and Child Advocacy Center. Fearmongering and antagonism caused wasted time and energy by our personnel, whose time would have been better served protecting the citizens of Harford County, instead of investigating lies.”
Rs and tRump so disgusting they may be losing (some) evangelicals Bob Brigham Raw Story
In the wake of Donald Trump's presidency, strains within the evangelical community, especially among people of color, have resulted in significant numbers of people defecting from the right and opening themselves to social justice stances on issues of race, immigration, climate and economic fairness. Should the trend escalate, it could send tremors that extend well beyond the religious community and reverberate throughout U.S. politics.
💙 Democrats Deliver 💙
Report from Tony the Democrat on Kansas Postcards to Voters. Note this was an email to me so I don’t have a link.
We are 62.3% through the list of voters we're writing to defeat the constitutional amendment on Kansas' August 2 ballot!
Some 4,102 volunteers are mailing handwritten election reminders urging a "Vote No." Voting "No" supports a Kansas Supreme Court ruling that the state constitution's right to bodily autonomy applies to one's decision to terminate their pregnancy. The amendment was strategically scheduled by the Republican legislature to coincide with what is usually a low turnout Primary election instead of the General Election in November. They're counting on voters not knowing there's such an important decision on August 2 and for those that show up, the convoluted wording of the amendment is meant to confuse them into voting the wrong way.
If you're one of the volunteers who have requested Kansas addresses, thank you! We still have more if you have the time, postcards, and postage.
Kentucky’s Governor Beshear signs bills to enhance education Julia Huffman WYMT
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Governor Beshear joined state lawmakers, educators and advocates on Monday to sign six bipartisan bills that expand access to education in the commonwealth. The bills will address post-secondary pathways for high school students in alternative schools and teacher shortages. They will support early literacy education, due process for university students, and speed up the process for school district construction projects, the release said. “My administration will always put education first,” Beshear said. “If we want to continue to attract world-class companies, we must provide a world-class public education system. As Governor, and as a dad who wants all our kids to succeed, it’s my goal to ensure that every Kentucky child has access to a quality education that will prepare them for a bright future.” One of the bills signed will expand Kentucky children’s access to books.
(books for kids!) MAINe’s Governor Mills expands Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Press Release
Beginning in 2023, the State of Maine and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will gift a book to children birth to five years old every month, free of charge to families through funding shared by Dolly, the state of Maine and local community partners Portland, MAINE – During a virtual discussion with iconic singer-songwriter Dolly Parton at the National Governor’s Association today, Governor Janet Mills announced that the State of Maine is launching a statewide expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 2023. The Imagination Library of Maine will mail high-quality, age appropriate books to children from birth until age five every month, no matter their family’s income. The program is dedicated to improving the lives of children by inspiring a love of reading with books, andis free to enrolled children and families. As part of the recent bipartisan budget, Governor Mills proposed, and the Legislature approved, a $200,000 investment to implement the program, which will be administered by the Maine State Library. Together, The Dollywood Foundation and the Maine State Librarywill develop an implementation strategy this year with local libraries, community non-profits, the Maine Department of Education, and school systems – to establish and expand the program in the coming years. By the end of 2023, the State of Maine and the Imagination Library hope to have sent an initial 106,000 books to more than 14,000 children across Maine.
New Mexico film production hits new highs thanks to Governor Grisham’s investments Press Release
Total spending increases by 36%; spending in rural communities increases by over 650% SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday announced that direct spending into New Mexico’s economy by the film, television, and digital media production industry reached a new record of $855.4 million in fiscal year 2022, an increase of 36% over fiscal year 2021. Following Gov. Lujan Grisham’s support and investment, New Mexico’s film and television industry has continued to grow by leaps and bounds: industry spending more than doubled from $292 million in FY20 to $626.5 million in FY21. Additionally, as a direct result of legislation spearheaded by the governor in 2019 that provides an additional 5% tax credit for productions outside the Albuquerque/Santa Fe corridor, New Mexico’s rural communities saw a whopping 660% increase in direct spending from the film and television industry, increasing from $6.5 million in FY21 to nearly $50 million in FY22.
Senate Democrats crush the Rs in fundraising Paul SteinhauserYahoo News
The top outside group that works to elect and re-elect Democratic senators walloped its Republican rival in the latest fundraising quarterly reports. The Senate Majority PAC reported on Monday that brought in $48.8 million in the April-June second quarter of 2022 fundraising, which it says is its largest monthly haul so far this cycle. The group, which shared its fundraising figures first with Fox News, topped the pro-Republican Senate Leadership Fund by over $11 million. ✂️ "Money isn’t everything, but it certainly matters and I think I’d much rather in the position of these Democratic candidates than the Republicans," Justin Barasky, a longtime Democratic consultant and a veteran Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee official who served as a senior adviser last cycle, told Fox News.
Money isn’t everything, but it’s not a bad proxy for enthusiasm.
And, there’s dealing with the Supreme Court:
x NEW: House Democrats called for legislation today that would ADD FOUR seats to the Supreme Court. They said they believe there is a need to add new justices to the court.
Respond with a ‘YES’ if you agree it’s time to EXPAND the Supreme Court! — Nathalie Jacoby (@nathaliejacoby1) July 19, 2022
💜 Unity? 💜
Working on the Electoral College Act Manu Raju and Clare Foran CNN
A bipartisan group of senators reached a deal to make it harder to overturn a certified presidential election, marking the most significant response by Congress to former President Donald Trump's relentless pressure campaign to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. meaning at least 10 Republicans would be needed to support any legislation. Announcement of the plan kicks off what is expected to be a challenging, months-long process to get the deal passed into law before the end of the year. The proposal still needs to be approved by both chambers and will need 60 votes in the Senate to break any filibuster attempt, meaning at least 10 Republicans would be needed to support any legislation. Announcement of the plan kicks off what is expected to be a challenging, months-long process to get the deal passed into law before the end of the year. The deal is the culmination of months of negotiation led by Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, along with an additional six Democrats and eight Republicans. The proposal unveiled Wednesday is split up into two bills.
Mostly unified: let’s welcome Sweden and Finland!
x BREAKING:
The U.S. House of Representatives has voted for the ratification of Sweden and Finland’s applications for NATO membership.
394 votes for and 18 against.
All 18 No votes came from Republicans: pic.twitter.com/Hib0ix0RkR — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 19, 2022
📥 Actions You Can Take 📤
DONATE TO GNR SAVES DEMOCRACY!
newish!!! Tax-exempt organization complaint referrals. 13909. You can fill this out for the NRA and lots of other organizations. How about if some of us white folk go into some of the MAGA churches and video record what they’re saying?
Voting rights. This may be the biggest issue threatening our democracy right now. Besides contacting your representatives at the state and federal level to do the right thing (depending on who they are), you can support and contact these organizations:
ACLU — American Civil Liberties Union
Democracy Docket — founded by Marc Elias, so important in fighting the challenges after the last election.
Fair Fight — founded by Stacey Abrams
🌱Grass roots. Biden and Harris can do the top-down stuff, but we have to support from the bottom. I don’t know how to deprogram 75 million people, but some things have been written about, such as deep canvassing, and lots of people are talking about this. If you know someone (who did not storm the Capitol), then see if you can be pleasant. Instead of trying to reason with them (logic is obviously not their strong point) distract them with something else. We need to remove the sources of lies and to take down the temperature. If we get more of the Rs to wear masks and to get vaccinated and to vote for Ds, the country will be a better place. We need to coax some of them out of the rabbit holes and diffuse the anger and the crazy.
🏃 Run for something. If you want to run for something, but have no idea what to do, these people will help you. They also like money and volunteers to help those people who are running, so even if you’re not in a position to stand for office, you can help. Note: they are especially planning to target the 57 Rs in local governments who participated in the insurrection.
👎 Defund the seditionists. This is a list with companies that sometimes have donated to the seditionists, and their current approach to supporting or not supporting the seditionists. The list is long. You will recognize many of the corporations, and you probably have a relationship with some — either you are a customer, a shareholder, or maybe even an employee. Contact them and compliment or complain, but let them know you are watching. Forward it to others.
🐍 Schadenfreude 😈
Run hawley run! Apparently this video incited lots of laughter.
x .@HawleyMO's legacy will forever be fleeing from the same mob he helped incite. pic.twitter.com/a3eOv84faA — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) July 22, 2022
Steve Bannon’s only words at trial are Yes, Your Honor Jose Pagliary The Daily Beast
“He has wanted to testify publicly in this case under oath... exactly what the true facts of the case are. However, on the advice of counsel, he has decided not to testify because he understands he would be barred in telling the true facts,” Schoen said. “At all times, he believed what the law was requiring him to do.” The judge responded by speaking directly to Bannon, asking him to personally attest that he was making this decision “knowingly and intentionally.” “Yes, your honor,” Bannon said, marking the first and only time he’s spoken at his own trial.
By true facts Schoen means lies, of course, which is why counsel recommended against them.
putin has lost some power
x Those 50 seconds that Erdogan made Putin wait, looking frazzled in-front of cameras say plenty of how much has changed after Ukraine: pic.twitter.com/giGirqaYYP — Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) July 19, 2022
Things happening
x Only a serial criminal as prolific as Trump could cause us to temporarily overlook that he's also - a rapist.
A federal judge has just set the trial date for E Jean Carroll's lawsuit against Donald Trump for Feb. 6, 2023. — Duty To Warn 🔉 (@duty2warn) July 19, 2022
Roger that
x Congratulations to Roger Stone, who won the right to pay $2M in back taxes. pic.twitter.com/aVkSSsjwaP — emptywheel (@emptywheel) July 18, 2022
📣 Let’s Honor Truth ☀️️
J6 Committee, again! Truth matters!
x NEW: nearly 60% of Americans are paying attention to the hearings, and the percentage of people who believe 1/6 was an insurrection is up NINE POINTS. These hearings ARE changing minds.
https://t.co/89HgJBmkrn — Mueller, She Wrote (@MuellerSheWrote) July 21, 2022
From Jennifer Rubin at Washington Post
In an eloquent summation, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) reminded the country that “we cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.” Her message was clear: Trump’s return to power would be unimaginable.
🌹 Let’s Celebrate Love ❤️
Good for her! I hope she keeps some of the winnings to pay her taxes:
x This is Crystal Dunn.
What did she do after she won the lottery for $146,000? She went to the supermarket and started handing out gift cards to strangers.#Humanity pic.twitter.com/OJGlJLmbVm — Goodable (@Goodable) July 19, 2022
📎 Odds & Ends 📎
Botswana cuts HIV transmission to babies to less than one percent Andy Corbley Good News Network
The WHO recently-celebrated Botswana for their “groundbreaking achievement” of stopping the transmission of HIV between moms and their newborns. The national program has reduced such occurrences from 40% to below 1% since it was launched 23 years ago. Botswana still struggles with high HIV infection rates, but in the country’s central health district, just four babies have been born with HIV all year, and in 7 other health districts, there’s been no such transmissions.
Encouraging hand me downs and recycled glamor Hannah Gould Reasons to Be Cheerful
This year, the UK version of popular reality television show Love Island is sponsored by second-hand giant eBay. It’s a significant deviation from the fast fashion brands Love Island has partnered with to date, including the now collapsed Missguided, which famously advertised a £1 (USD $1.20) bikini during an episode in 2019, and I Saw It First, which spent three years providing contestants with a new wardrobe that viewers could buy in real-time via the Love Island app. In contrast, the islanders of 2022 are dressed in pre-loved clothes chosen by celebrity stylist Amy Bannerman, who has worked with stars including Jonathan Van Ness, Lena Dunham and Rita Ora. The allure of fast fashion was first thrown into question on the program in 2021 when contestant Brett Staniland refused the wardrobe on offer, choosing instead to take his own clothes to the Love Island villa. The model and academic has been outspoken about the business model underpinning fast fashion brands, which he says “exploits women in their supply chains and exploits communities all over the world.”
I buy a lot of my things at estate sales, so I’ve been supporting this attitude for years.
In a galaxy, far, far away... MIT Science Daily
Astronomers at MIT and elsewhere have detected a strange and persistent radio signal from a far-off galaxy that appears to be flashing with surprising regularity. The signal is classified as a fast radio burst, or FRB -- an intensely strong burst of radio waves of unknown astrophysical origin, that typically lasts for a few milliseconds at most. However, this new signal persists for up to three seconds, about 1,000 times longer than the average FRB. Within this window, the team detected bursts of radio waves that repeat every 0.2 seconds in a clear periodic pattern, similar to a beating heart. The researchers have labeled the signal FRB 20191221A, and it is currently the longest-lasting FRB, with the clearest periodic pattern, detected to date.
🐦 I do a lot of other writing. A recent offering: Hunters of the Feather, a story about a thinker-linker crow who wants to save birdkind from extinction, and the sequel, Scavengers of Mind. (They’re really good! They’re really cheap! Buy and review or rate positively! And Hunters is also available on Audible!) Other stories, based on Jane Austen novels — including a new one for lovers of Pride & Prejudice, Mrs. Bennet’s Advice to Young Ladies — and others on Greek mythology, can be found here. All titles are available through Kindle Unlimited, but I only get paid if you turn the pages.
💙 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.
Current projects:
Look in the comments for Progressive Muse’s report on Postcards to Voters
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. We need to win some back.
You can share your ideas below.
🌻
💙 “Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we all are created equal and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart. The battle is perennial, and victory is never assured.” 💙
President Joseph R. Biden
🌹 🌹 🌹
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