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Good News Roundup for Wednesday, Aug 2, 2023-- Trump Indicted Again!!! But Indictment Watch extended [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2023-08-02
As time goes by, and the Republican candidates compete by floundering their way to their Partys’ nomination, my hopes grow for a Democratic blue wave in 2024. My hopes are based on the usual suspects and causes for Dem optimism in the elections next year. Namely, these include abortion rights, climate change, voting rights, democracy and the rule of law, and gun safety/gun rights, all of which seem to motivating the Democratic base.
I am not saying that we’ll win with ease or without effort, only that we’ve got all cylinders firing. We also have several more important nonprofits pushing for a bigger Senate majority, flipping the House, and working on down-ballot races in every state.
But before I go too far, some usual cautions from chloris creator! >>>>>>>
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“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.
****
As we all know, TDFG, the BLOAT (Biggest loser of all Time) {I acknowledge that the title is disputed} is now on notice that two major sets of Indictments await him. First, of course, are the indicitments from Jack Smith concerning the actions of the former Precedent on or around Jan 6, 2020 — after DJ Trump had lost the vote for reelection. *OK, you all know that Jack Smith has now dropped this indictment on Tuesday afternoon!!!
Second are the indictments from the Georgia DOJ and Fanni Willis concerning election interference and fake (non-authorized) electors from Georgia and six other states. Those states, AZ, NV, NM, MI, PA, WI, and GA- all sought to illegally replace valid presidential electors with bogus slates of pro-Trump electors.
At the moment, no one has publicly disclosed the dates that those momentous charges will be dropped. But I expect it to be front-page news on all major news outlets!! Whoops! Karma has struck him again!!
** Jack Smith announces new indictment of Donald Trump www.msn.com/...
I was not expecting this so soon, but on Tues afternoon, about 2:00 PST the new charges were revealed. This is a real doozie in the ongoing dilemma of the former President. The next question is: how much, and how badly, will this impact his run for the Rep Presidential primary?
* This is the third indictment faced by the former president, who -- as the Republican frontrunner in the 2024 presidential race -- continues to insist that the vote was rigged.
* This is partly a result of the candidates shameless promotion of the “Big lie”, that he won the vote for the US Presidency in 2020, and that Joe Biden is the actual loser- because he stole the votes!! Cray-cray indeed, and nevertheless it’s a core belief of his MAGA-millions who still believe that he can and should be re-elected to the Presidency in 2024.
Prosecutors say the alleged scheme, which they say involved six unnamed co-conspirators, included enlisting a slate of so-called "fake electors" targeting several states; using the Justice Department to conduct "sham election crime investigations"; enlisting the vice president to "alter the election results"; and doubling down on false claims as the Jan. 6 riot ensued -- all in an effort to subvert democracy and stay in power.
This indictment charges Trump with four felony counts:
1) conspiracy to defraud the United States,
2) conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding
3) obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding
4) conspiracy against voting rights.
Trump has been ordered to appear in court on Thursday, Aug. 3rd, to answer the charges. Presumably, we will get a little more information that day on the indictment & more specific charges. Thanks again, Mr Jack Smith!!!
Most pundits and political observers believe that this is the worst- and most substantial- of the indictments against Trump. Despite consisting of only 4 felony counts, these are potent and extremely important charges.
While we do not have the names yet for the co-conspirators, Attorneys Rudy Guiliani and John Eastman look like likely “candidates”, as does Sydney Powell.
* Interesting note: After the previous indictments against TDFG were announced, the Civiqs poll chart on DK shows no bounce for him. In fact, he is slowly continuing to lose Republican support. At the same time, his support among Independents is falling even more quickly.
* In related news, his PAC has reportedly burned through most of his cash stash! How can that be, for one of the most successful grifters ever to serve in the White House? “Trump's Save America PAC raised over $15 million in the first half of 2023, spent over $30 million and now has about $3.6 million on hand, according to Federal Election Commission records.” Oh well, tots and pears!
www.msn.com/...
Youth Voters- will they save democracy in 2024??
**One reason for my optimism about 2024 is the recent growth of efforts to expand voter registration among Youth Voters (ages 18-29), and Gen Z in particular. Most observers of the recent elections in 2020 and 2024 have noted a big increase in the number of YV/Gen Z voters turning out in national elections. I definitely agree that this is a very good thing.
Also noted is the fact that nationally, a very huge percentage of those younger voters -63%- are opting to register as Democrats. This leaves Republicans and Independents to compete for the remaining 37% of the young voters. If that trend is extended long enough, it could mean extinction level preference for Dems over Repugs!!! I’m not predicting that, but I’m merely savoring the panic that Rep. leadership and consultants may be experiencing now!!
*** How much did the Youth Vote impact the 2022 elections?? Good Question.
As with most voting questions, it gets complicated. That is, of course , by design. Repub. legislatures want to restrict voting registration & turnout, which is part of the legacy of Jim Crow era of Am. history. So voting "rights" vary extremely from state to state. While 22 states now have “Motor Voter” laws to allow voter registration while getting a state-issued drivers license or ID, most do not offer that service. So, back to the issue of Youth Vote turnout in 2022.
* Nationally, CIRCLE (see below) estimates that 23% of young Americans cast a ballot in the 2022 midterm elections.
* “While nationally youth turnout in 2022 did not match the historic high point in 2018, young people’s engagement remains high compared to other recent midterms and reflects an upward trend in the youth vote over the past decade”. (Kai Kawashima-Ginsberg, Director of CIRCLE)
* Youth voter turnout was highest in Michigan (37%), and ME, MN, and OR at 36%.
* On the lower end , Louisiana (16%), OK, AL, IN, (15%), WV (14%), and Ten. @ (13%) had exceptionally low turnout. So much for equal rights across state lines when it involves voting!
* PS: Voter turnout was defined as the percentage of all voter-eligible youth ages 18-29 who cast a ballot in 2022.
** This is a key demographic for us, with roughly 4 million people graduating from High Schools every year. There is no question that we can do better in the next election.
circle.tufts.edu/… * Tufts University hosts CIRCLE, which is the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement
How do we radically expand the number of Youth/Gen Z voters in 2023-2024?
[Answer saved for my future GNRs — when the TDFG indictments have all dropped and the charges are all enumerated.]
**On Tuesday, Aug 1st, Janet Protasiewicz, joins the Wis. Supreme Court (Post by David Nir of DK)
*** www.dailykos.com/…
Some excerpts from the post: “Wisconsin's moribund democracy had been on life support for years, but the new liberal majority that will take shape when Judge Janet Protasiewicz is sworn in to the state Supreme Court on Tuesday offers bright new hope for the restoration of rights long trampled by Republicans.”
“The lynchpin of the GOP's stranglehold on state politics has, since 2010, been its abusive gerrymandering of Wisconsin's electoral maps—a practice greenlighted by the Supreme Court's conservatives.”
This is huge news for progressive s, and Wis Dems, as Wis will remain a battleground state for the immediate future.
www.dailykos.com/… Post by Ben Wixler on DK from 8-1-’23
As a former Wisconsonite, maybe I’m a little biased about the good news and the All-county strategy of Ben Wixler, Chairman of the Wis Dem Party!!! Ok- Yes, I am!! Whooo Hooo!
**In frigid Maine, record numbers of heat pumps sold! www.goodnewsnetwork.org/…
Heat pump sales are booming across the US, as more states and communities seek to save money, and to better regulate their home temperatures. This is a trend that has some very long legs. It’s also a relatively efficient way to move forward on cutting carbon emissions in residential and small commercial buildings.
** In Vermont, a do good festival has raised $2.5 million toward flood relief for residents. This followed the historic flooding that him several communities in the state. It’s a pretty interesting story, and a brief (but worthwhile) read. www.goodnewsnetwork.org/…
**Novel drug shows promise as treatment for postpartum depression. “Women suffering from postpartum depression (PPD) may soon not find themselves in despair for long, as a novel medicine known as zuranolone shows promise in altering their lives. This prospective drug gives new mothers the possibility of a standalone treatment for PPD, a mood condition that affects one in every seven women and can have significant repercussions. “ www.optimistdaily.com/…
** The worlds largest offshore wind turbine in China. “In an incredible feat of engineering, Three Gorges Energy successfully connected the world's first 16-megawatt offshore wind turbine to the power grid.” With its “260-meter ( 853-ft) rotor diameter , ready to offer renewable energy...” www.optimistdaily.com/…
** When nonviolent protectors in North Darfur needed help with stress and trauma in their community, they drew on the experience of their Ukrainian colleagues. wagingnonviolence.org/…
** In a DeSantis rebuke, 2 major Black orgs move their conferences — and millions in revenue — out of Florida just two months after the NAACP issued a formal travel advisory for Florida, warning visitors that the state has become “openly hostile toward African Americans” under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’s leadership, two major Black organizations are moving their annual multimillion-dollar conferences elsewhere. news.yahoo.com/…
I included this article as “good news” as it reflects pushback against Gov. Ron DeSantis and his anti anti-Black positions. It also reflects growing “hope the momentum from the relocations translates to real change that affects the ballot box in 2024.” news.yahoo.com/…
Note: The author will be following early comments after posting at the usual time for GNRs at 4:00m AM EDT. After that, the known night owl will be returning to bed.
** Also, H/T to arhpdx for a beautiful and wide-ranging GNR on Tuesday. Her diligent search and capture of Good News stories meant dropping 3 of her finds from my list. I’ll be forced to up my game!
** Finally, H/T to the Help Desk (and profuse thank you’s) for helping get my post in the proper que at the appointed time!
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