Good Day, Gnusies and I have an urgent message for the earliest gnubirds: If you’re joining the herd during the nighttime hours or before dawn wherever you live, STOP READING RIGHT NOW and race to the nearest window to gaze at the FLOWER SUPERMOON ECLIPSE! Lucky gnusies in far western North America, Pacific Islanders, much of eastern Asia and Oceania residents should all have a great view of this eclipse happening RIGHT NOW! GO WATCH! The GNR will still be here after you’ve seen this magnificent astronomical phenomenon. So go and report back to tell us all about it in the comments, you lucky duck!
May’s Full Moon Comes with Supermoon Eclipse, NASAblogs, May 21, 2021.
I don’t like the phrase “blood moon”, so I’m going to call it the PINK FLOWER MOON The Moon will be located on Earth’s opposite side from the Sun and fully illuminated May 26, 2021, at 6:13 a.m. CDT. This Full Moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Flower Moon because this was the time of year when spring flowers appeared in abundance. Compared to other Full Moons in 2021, the Flower Moon will have the nearest approach to Earth, making it appear as the closet and largest Full Moon of the year. This is what is commonly referred to as a “supermoon”. Yet, it’s not just bringing brightness and size. May’s supermoon is also bringing a “super power” to change its color, and the color is red! ✂️ The total eclipse phase will be visible near moonset in the western United States and Canada, all of Mexico, most of Central America and Ecuador, western Peru, and southern Chile and Argentina. The eclipse can be seen in its entirety in eastern Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, including Hawaii. Unlike a solar eclipse, you won’t need special glasses to view this lunar eclipse, just go outside and keep your head to the sky!
The Moon will be located on Earth’s opposite side from the Sun and fully illuminated May 26, 2021, at 6:13 a.m. CDT. This Full Moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Flower Moon because this was the time of year when spring flowers appeared in abundance.
Compared to other Full Moons in 2021, the Flower Moon will have the nearest approach to Earth, making it appear as the closet and largest Full Moon of the year. This is what is commonly referred to as a “supermoon”. Yet, it’s not just bringing brightness and size. May’s supermoon is also bringing a “super power” to change its color, and the color is red! ✂️
The total eclipse phase will be visible near moonset in the western United States and Canada, all of Mexico, most of Central America and Ecuador, western Peru, and southern Chile and Argentina. The eclipse can be seen in its entirety in eastern Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, including Hawaii. Unlike a solar eclipse, you won’t need special glasses to view this lunar eclipse, just go outside and keep your head to the sky!
The rest of us (those for whom the sun has already risen) can listen to some good music and imagine the wondrous sight — or even watch it live here on the PBS watch feed.
And now, the news:
New grand jury seated for next stage of Trump investigation, Michael R Sisak, AP News Service, May 25, 2021.
NEW YORK (AP) — New York prosecutors have convened a special grand jury to consider evidence in a criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump’s business dealings, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The development signals that the Manhattan district attorney’s office was moving toward seeking charges as a result of its two-year investigation, which included a lengthy legal battle to obtain Trump’s tax records. ✂️ The investigation includes scrutiny of Trump’s relationship with his lenders; a land donation he made to qualify for an income tax deduction; and tax write-offs his company claimed on millions of dollars in consulting fees it paid. The new grand jury could eventually be asked to consider returning indictments. While working on that case, it also will be hearing other matters. The Post reported that the grand jury will meet three days a week for six months. In recent months, Vance hired former mafia prosecutor Mark Pomerantz to help run the investigation and has been interviewing witnesses, including Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen. xThe convening of the grand jury is a significant step by prosecutors. It also reminds me of these statements by Sen McConnell shortly after the second impeachment trial:“He didn't get away with anything yet. We have a criminal justice system in this country.” https://t.co/BT9beeobdM— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) May 25, 2021
NEW YORK (AP) — New York prosecutors have convened a special grand jury to consider evidence in a criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump’s business dealings, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The development signals that the Manhattan district attorney’s office was moving toward seeking charges as a result of its two-year investigation, which included a lengthy legal battle to obtain Trump’s tax records. ✂️
The investigation includes scrutiny of Trump’s relationship with his lenders; a land donation he made to qualify for an income tax deduction; and tax write-offs his company claimed on millions of dollars in consulting fees it paid.
The new grand jury could eventually be asked to consider returning indictments. While working on that case, it also will be hearing other matters. The Post reported that the grand jury will meet three days a week for six months.
In recent months, Vance hired former mafia prosecutor Mark Pomerantz to help run the investigation and has been interviewing witnesses, including Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.
The convening of the grand jury is a significant step by prosecutors. It also reminds me of these statements by Sen McConnell shortly after the second impeachment trial:“He didn't get away with anything yet. We have a criminal justice system in this country.” https://t.co/BT9beeobdM— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) May 25, 2021
The convening of the grand jury is a significant step by prosecutors. It also reminds me of these statements by Sen McConnell shortly after the second impeachment trial:“He didn't get away with anything yet. We have a criminal justice system in this country.” https://t.co/BT9beeobdM
Here’s an excerpt from the original WAPO article:
The move indicates that District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.’s investigation of the former president and his business has reached an advanced stage after more than two years. It suggests, too, that Vance believes he has found evidence of a crime — if not by Trump then by someone potentially close to him or by his company. ✂️ Rebecca Roiphe, a former assistant district attorney in Manhattan who is now a professor at New York Law School, said that such investigations are always formally overseen by grand juries. In the early stages, prosecutors may just use a grand jury’s power just to subpoena documents without offering charges for consideration. Roiphe said the recent step of seating a long-term panel shows that Vance’s investigation has progressed to the point that prosecutors will visit the grand jury, bring them evidence and witnesses, and potentially ask them to contemplate charges. They were unlikely to take that step without believing they had evidence to show there was probable cause to believe someone committed a crime, she said. “The prosecutors are convinced they have a case. That’s at least how I read it,” Roiphe added.
The move indicates that District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.’s investigation of the former president and his business has reached an advanced stage after more than two years. It suggests, too, that Vance believes he has found evidence of a crime — if not by Trump then by someone potentially close to him or by his company. ✂️
Rebecca Roiphe, a former assistant district attorney in Manhattan who is now a professor at New York Law School, said that such investigations are always formally overseen by grand juries. In the early stages, prosecutors may just use a grand jury’s power just to subpoena documents without offering charges for consideration.
Roiphe said the recent step of seating a long-term panel shows that Vance’s investigation has progressed to the point that prosecutors will visit the grand jury, bring them evidence and witnesses, and potentially ask them to contemplate charges. They were unlikely to take that step without believing they had evidence to show there was probable cause to believe someone committed a crime, she said.
“The prosecutors are convinced they have a case. That’s at least how I read it,” Roiphe added.
'They got the mother lode': Former prosecutor says new grand jury has everything on Trump, Matthew Chapman, Raw Story, May 25, 2021.
"The grand jury's going to get everything and that's true," said Litman. "We know that the — that was the inception of the case, but then, they got the mother lode. They got the tax returns, going back and forth to the Supreme Court twice to get them. So, that takes all kinds of transactions of this sort and forms the basis for possibly multiple counts where people surmise and it stands to reason that it's a similar kind of hanky-panky, changing the way you valuate same properties, one for tax to make it look low, one for loans to make it look high, that's fraud on both entities." "I think what is happening, likely, is a plethora of transactions like that, like that core one with Stormy Daniels, which we are learning is sort of the Trump way of doing business, the general MO, and also including [Trump Organization CFO Allen] Weisselberg," added Litman.
"The grand jury's going to get everything and that's true," said Litman. "We know that the — that was the inception of the case, but then, they got the mother lode. They got the tax returns, going back and forth to the Supreme Court twice to get them. So, that takes all kinds of transactions of this sort and forms the basis for possibly multiple counts where people surmise and it stands to reason that it's a similar kind of hanky-panky, changing the way you valuate same properties, one for tax to make it look low, one for loans to make it look high, that's fraud on both entities."
"I think what is happening, likely, is a plethora of transactions like that, like that core one with Stormy Daniels, which we are learning is sort of the Trump way of doing business, the general MO, and also including [Trump Organization CFO Allen] Weisselberg," added Litman.
New Filing Accidentally Reveals Apparent Scope Of Giuliani SDNY Probe, Josh Kovensky, TPM, May 25, 2021.
Prosecutors with the Southern District of New York have seized the email accounts of two former Ukrainian officials, ex-prosecutor general Yuriy Lutsenko and tax service chief Roman Nasirov. They also seized the iPhone and iPad of Alexander Levin, a Ukrainian businessman who put two associates of Giuliani’s in touch with a powerful Ukrainian oligarch. In a filing, Joseph Bondy, an attorney for Lev Parnas, accidentally revealed statements he had made under seal by blackening lines in the court document while leaving it possible for them to be copied and pasted to another file, CNN first reported. ✂️ Bondy has argued that Parnas is a victim of selective prosecution by the Trump DOJ, and named a list of people who he believed would appear in evidence gathered from the seizures. Those include, beyond Giuliani and Victoria Toensing, “the former President, former Attorney General William P. Barr, high-level members of the Justice Department, Presidential impeachment attorneys Jay Sekulow, Jane Raskin and others, Senator Lindsey Graham, Congressman Devin Nunes and others.”
Prosecutors with the Southern District of New York have seized the email accounts of two former Ukrainian officials, ex-prosecutor general Yuriy Lutsenko and tax service chief Roman Nasirov. They also seized the iPhone and iPad of Alexander Levin, a Ukrainian businessman who put two associates of Giuliani’s in touch with a powerful Ukrainian oligarch.
In a filing, Joseph Bondy, an attorney for Lev Parnas, accidentally revealed statements he had made under seal by blackening lines in the court document while leaving it possible for them to be copied and pasted to another file, CNN first reported. ✂️
Bondy has argued that Parnas is a victim of selective prosecution by the Trump DOJ, and named a list of people who he believed would appear in evidence gathered from the seizures.
Those include, beyond Giuliani and Victoria Toensing, “the former President, former Attorney General William P. Barr, high-level members of the Justice Department, Presidential impeachment attorneys Jay Sekulow, Jane Raskin and others, Senator Lindsey Graham, Congressman Devin Nunes and others.”
More detail here: Feds May Have Been Tracking Giuliani For A Month, Botched Redaction Suggests, TPM, May 25, 2021.
Kristen Clarke is the first Senate-confirmed woman of color to lead the Justice Dept.’s civil rights division. Katie Benner, New York Times, May 25, 2021.
Kristen Clarke, newly confirmed head of DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. Ms. Clarke was ceremonially sworn in shortly before 7 p.m. in a brief ceremony at the Justice Department. Ms. Clarke’s mother, Pansy Clarke, held the Bible as Vice President Kamala Harris administered the oath of office. Ms. Clarke’s confirmation comes at a time when the Biden administration has vowed to revitalize the division as part of its promise to combat systemic racism, hate crimes and restrictive voter laws. ✂️ The daughter of Jamaican immigrants who rose from a Brooklyn housing project to earn degrees from Harvard and Columbia Law School, Ms. Clarke is best known as a leading advocate for voting rights protections. Her expertise will make her a key player in the administration’s effort to push back on laws that could restrict access to the ballot box. During her confirmation hearing, Ms. Clarke, 46, said that she would use all of the tools at her disposal, including the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act and the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Citizens Voting Act, to ensure that eligible Americans continued to have the right to vote.
Ms. Clarke was ceremonially sworn in shortly before 7 p.m. in a brief ceremony at the Justice Department. Ms. Clarke’s mother, Pansy Clarke, held the Bible as Vice President Kamala Harris administered the oath of office.
Ms. Clarke’s confirmation comes at a time when the Biden administration has vowed to revitalize the division as part of its promise to combat systemic racism, hate crimes and restrictive voter laws. ✂️
The daughter of Jamaican immigrants who rose from a Brooklyn housing project to earn degrees from Harvard and Columbia Law School, Ms. Clarke is best known as a leading advocate for voting rights protections. Her expertise will make her a key player in the administration’s effort to push back on laws that could restrict access to the ballot box.
During her confirmation hearing, Ms. Clarke, 46, said that she would use all of the tools at her disposal, including the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act and the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Citizens Voting Act, to ensure that eligible Americans continued to have the right to vote.
Half Of All U.S. Adults Are Now Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19, Bill Chappell, NPR, May 25, 2021.
The U.S. COVID-19 vaccination program has gone from zero to 50% in less than six months.✂️ Nearly 130 million people age 18 and older have completed their vaccine regimens since the first doses were administered to the public in December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Another 70 million vaccine doses are currently in the distribution pipeline, according to the agency. Vaccinations have risen sharply in children 12 years and older, weeks after the Food and Drug Administration said that cohort is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech. Nearly 5 million adolescents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the CDC's latest data. The U.S. is pushing to add millions more people to the ranks of the vaccinated. President Biden said this month that his new goal is to administer at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to 70% of U.S. adults by the Fourth of July.
The U.S. COVID-19 vaccination program has gone from zero to 50% in less than six months.✂️
Nearly 130 million people age 18 and older have completed their vaccine regimens since the first doses were administered to the public in December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Another 70 million vaccine doses are currently in the distribution pipeline, according to the agency.
Vaccinations have risen sharply in children 12 years and older, weeks after the Food and Drug Administration said that cohort is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech. Nearly 5 million adolescents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the CDC's latest data.
The U.S. is pushing to add millions more people to the ranks of the vaccinated. President Biden said this month that his new goal is to administer at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to 70% of U.S. adults by the Fourth of July.
Moderna says its vaccine triggers immune response in teenagers, will seek FDA approval, Washington Post (no paywall for covid coverage), May 25, 2021.
Biotechnology company Moderna announced Tuesday that its two-shot coronavirus vaccine produced the same immune response in teenagers as adults, and it plans to submit the data to U.S. regulators in early June. If authorized, the vaccine would become the second available for adolescents as young as 12. Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine was authorized for that age group earlier this month. ✂️ Daily coronavirus cases continued to trend down in the United States, dropping about 23 percent over the past week. The rolling average for new daily cases was about 25,000, the lowest since last June.
Biotechnology company Moderna announced Tuesday that its two-shot coronavirus vaccine produced the same immune response in teenagers as adults, and it plans to submit the data to U.S. regulators in early June.
If authorized, the vaccine would become the second available for adolescents as young as 12. Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine was authorized for that age group earlier this month. ✂️
United Holds Drawings For Free Flights For Those Who Get The Shot, Joe Hernandez, NPR, May 25, 2021.
Krispy Kreme is giving away a complimentary glazed doughnut to anyone who flashes their vaccine card. Maine is furnishing L.L.Bean gift certificates and free fishing and hunting licenses to residents who get the shot. Now, United Airlines has become the latest entity to offer an incentive to get more of its customers inoculated against the coronavirus: the chance to win free flights for a year. ✂️ To enter United's contest, travelers who are part of the airline's MileagePlus program must enter a photo of their vaccine card online by June 22. United will choose five winners to receive a year of free flights - 26 round-trip tickets - in any class for themselves and one traveling companion. Another 30 flyers will be chosen to win one round-trip flight for two.
Krispy Kreme is giving away a complimentary glazed doughnut to anyone who flashes their vaccine card. Maine is furnishing L.L.Bean gift certificates and free fishing and hunting licenses to residents who get the shot.
Now, United Airlines has become the latest entity to offer an incentive to get more of its customers inoculated against the coronavirus: the chance to win free flights for a year. ✂️
To enter United's contest, travelers who are part of the airline's MileagePlus program must enter a photo of their vaccine card online by June 22. United will choose five winners to receive a year of free flights - 26 round-trip tickets - in any class for themselves and one traveling companion. Another 30 flyers will be chosen to win one round-trip flight for two.
There’s helpful info at this link, about case numbers and trends in your county, how to handle masks with reopening and other useful stuff: A Guide for Covid-19 Risk in Your County, New York Times, updated regularly.
COVID-19 infections are exceedingly rare after full vaccination: CDC, Dr Deepak Ramanathan, ABC, May 25, 2021.
The United States reached a major milestone this week, with the White House reporting that over half of all adults in the U.S. are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This announcement came on the same day as a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that breakthrough COVID-19 infections are exceedingly rare in fully vaccinated people. ✂️ The new CDC report shows that such breakthrough infections may occur in just 0.01% of all fully vaccinated people. Vaccines are highly effective at preventing infection, but none are 100% protective. Even when these rare breakthroughs happen, the vaccines are still overwhelmingly effective at protecting people from being hospitalized or dying.
The United States reached a major milestone this week, with the White House reporting that over half of all adults in the U.S. are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
This announcement came on the same day as a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that breakthrough COVID-19 infections are exceedingly rare in fully vaccinated people. ✂️
The new CDC report shows that such breakthrough infections may occur in just 0.01% of all fully vaccinated people.
Vaccines are highly effective at preventing infection, but none are 100% protective. Even when these rare breakthroughs happen, the vaccines are still overwhelmingly effective at protecting people from being hospitalized or dying.
(We have Nanny Ogg to thank for “Dems in Array, hooray!” seen in Monday night’s Shade: Maru added “Democrats in Array, Yay!” which I will also be stealing. ☺️)
Biden Ousts Neoclassical-Loving Trump Appointees From Arts Council, Blake Montgomery, Daily Beast, May 25, 2021.
President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he would appoint four new commissioners to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, ousting committee members appointed by former President Donald Trump. Earlier in the day, the White House had sent letters to the serving commissioners asking them to submit their resignations. The Commission of Fine Arts approves design and architecture of proposed federal buildings in Washington, D.C. Trump’s commissioners had been involved in drafting a controversial executive order that would have mandated that all new federal buildings be built in a neoclassical style, incensing architects and artists across the country. Among Biden’s nominees are the architect of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, a partner from the firm that designed the Barack Obama Presidential Center, and a Howard University architecture professor.
Senate Democrats will force a vote on Jan. 6 Commission this week, Sarah K Burris, Raw Story, May 25, 2021.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that there will be a vote on the Jan. 6 Commission despite huge opposition from Republican counterpart Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). ✂️ Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) came out in support of the commission Tuesday afternoon. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) also said that he would support the commission as it is written. ✂️ If all Democrats support the bill, the two Republicans will ensure its passage. If Republicans on McConnell's side decide to do a voice filibuster it would put the GOP in the position of justifying the Jan. 6 attacks in public.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that there will be a vote on the Jan. 6 Commission despite huge opposition from Republican counterpart Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). ✂️
Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) came out in support of the commission Tuesday afternoon. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) also said that he would support the commission as it is written. ✂️
If all Democrats support the bill, the two Republicans will ensure its passage. If Republicans on McConnell's side decide to do a voice filibuster it would put the GOP in the position of justifying the Jan. 6 attacks in public.
The Majority Leader knows that the Rs are between a rock and a hard place on this commission, and he is not letting up the pressure. The GOP’s shifting arguments against a Jan. 6 commission, Aaron Blake, Washington Post, May 24, 2021.
Colorado Senator breaks out his banjo to do his own 'School of Rock' video about voting rights bill, Sarah K Burris, Raw Story, May 25, 2021.
Ernest and folksy Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper whipped out his banjo to create his own endorsement of the voting rights bill known as the "For the People Act." Using the tune from the legendary "School House Rock" song "I'm Just a Bill," Hickenlooper explains in the song that the bill gives people the ability to own their democracy instead of corporate political action committees (PAC). ""There's a bill here in the Senate and it's called the People's Act. It gives Power to the voters and not the corporate PACs. Now this bill will make it easy for voters to have their say," he sang. "So, let's make elections fairer and pass S.1 today!" xWe’ve got to pass the #ForThePeopleAct 🪕 pic.twitter.com/SNiLEw1I3x— Senator John Hickenlooper (@SenatorHick) May 26, 2021
Ernest and folksy Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper whipped out his banjo to create his own endorsement of the voting rights bill known as the "For the People Act."
Using the tune from the legendary "School House Rock" song "I'm Just a Bill," Hickenlooper explains in the song that the bill gives people the ability to own their democracy instead of corporate political action committees (PAC).
""There's a bill here in the Senate and it's called the People's Act. It gives Power to the voters and not the corporate PACs. Now this bill will make it easy for voters to have their say," he sang. "So, let's make elections fairer and pass S.1 today!"
We’ve got to pass the #ForThePeopleAct 🪕 pic.twitter.com/SNiLEw1I3x— Senator John Hickenlooper (@SenatorHick) May 26, 2021
We’ve got to pass the #ForThePeopleAct 🪕 pic.twitter.com/SNiLEw1I3x
There are going to be accusations of gerrymandering from the Rs (which is rich and, as usual, projection) about this, but the truth is that those SC districts had gotten quite unbalanced over the past 60 years, and we were in danger of the same terrible issue that the nation as a whole suffers from: minority rule by Rs due to very low populations in so -called “red” areas having far greater representation per capita than large populations in cities and densely populated states. Currently, Illinois’ five Supreme Court districts allot 3 judges to the Cook County (Chicago) district 1, and one judge each to the other four districts into which the rest of the state’s counties are assigned. Districts 1 and 2 have twice as many people as the other 3 districts combined (and 2 and 3 have twice the population of 4and 5 combined). These population disparities mean the old districts are no longer fairly or representatively drawn. It doesn’t look like there’s an appetite for expanding the court (to allot another judge or two to districts 1 and 2 more in line with their far greater populations, for example), so the idea is to redraw the districts to spread the population more equitably amongst the 4 districts that each are entitled to one judge.
Democrats unveil proposed new boundaries for state Supreme Court districts, pledging ‘equal representation’, Rachel Hinton, Chicago Sun✶Times, May 25, 2021.
This map is about equal representation in the state’s most important court,” state Rep. Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, chair of the House Redistricting Committee, said in a statement. “As we strive for all to be equal before the law, we must ensure we all have an equal voice in choosing those who uphold it.” The boundaries for the Illinois Supreme Court districts haven’t been redrawn since 1963 — though Republicans attempted to change the lines in 1997 with their Judicial Redistricting Act before it was ruled unconstitutional. Under the Democrats’ newly proposed maps, the number of residents in the Supreme Court’s Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth districts will be “substantially equalized to better reflect the population and demographic shifts that have occurred in the state of Illinois over the course of the last sixty years,” according to a news release on the proposed judicial boundaries.
This map is about equal representation in the state’s most important court,” state Rep. Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, chair of the House Redistricting Committee, said in a statement. “As we strive for all to be equal before the law, we must ensure we all have an equal voice in choosing those who uphold it.”
The boundaries for the Illinois Supreme Court districts haven’t been redrawn since 1963 — though Republicans attempted to change the lines in 1997 with their Judicial Redistricting Act before it was ruled unconstitutional.
Under the Democrats’ newly proposed maps, the number of residents in the Supreme Court’s Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth districts will be “substantially equalized to better reflect the population and demographic shifts that have occurred in the state of Illinois over the course of the last sixty years,” according to a news release on the proposed judicial boundaries.
Sure, Democrats have picked a time when their majority on the high court is in jeopardy, and the Rs will squawk about it, but a lot of Democratic supporters would say it’s about time D’s played hard ball/what’s good for the goose, etc. The thing is, though, even though the timing is politically expedient for Dems, the reality is that redrawing these lines IS fairer and ought to have been done some time ago. It’s in the IL Constitution, for pete’s sake!
The 1970 constitution requires the state to be divided into five Supreme Court districts. Cook County forms a single district and is allocated three seats, while the rest of the state is divided into four districts, each with its own seat. It is the Cook County allocation that has helped keep the Democratic majority on the high court. The four districts outside of Cook County are supposed to be compact, keep counties whole and be of “substantially equal” population. The population requirement has not been met for several decades with the Chicago suburban 2nd District holding a population of more than 3.1 million people compared with two Downstate districts with populations of less than 1.3 million. (Chicago Tribune)
The 1970 constitution requires the state to be divided into five Supreme Court districts. Cook County forms a single district and is allocated three seats, while the rest of the state is divided into four districts, each with its own seat. It is the Cook County allocation that has helped keep the Democratic majority on the high court.
The four districts outside of Cook County are supposed to be compact, keep counties whole and be of “substantially equal” population. The population requirement has not been met for several decades with the Chicago suburban 2nd District holding a population of more than 3.1 million people compared with two Downstate districts with populations of less than 1.3 million. (Chicago Tribune)
Democrats didn’t bother about these districts before because it didn’t seem urgent. The Supreme Court balance had been reflecting the general political leanings of the majority (Democratic), but the shocking loss of a SC justice in a retention vote last year (after a huge campaign by Rs — who never seem to underestimate the importance of controlling the courts) woke everyone up with a start. They may be doing the long delayed right thing for the “wrong” reasons, but it is still the right thing to do. So that is good news.
If you think the NRCC has a bit of turmoil…may I introduce to you the Republican Attorneys General Association:-Exec Dir resigns once Jan 6 involvement becomes public-GOP AGs promote staffer involved in Jan 6 to be new ED-Chair resigns-Finance Dir resigns-Ops Dir resigns https://t.co/JKxHSLhINi pic.twitter.com/umdeal1GSq— Brandon Richards (@BrandonRichards) May 24, 2021
If you think the NRCC has a bit of turmoil…may I introduce to you the Republican Attorneys General Association:-Exec Dir resigns once Jan 6 involvement becomes public-GOP AGs promote staffer involved in Jan 6 to be new ED-Chair resigns-Finance Dir resigns-Ops Dir resigns https://t.co/JKxHSLhINi pic.twitter.com/umdeal1GSq
Nevada GOP thrown into turmoil after avowed Proud Boys member said he participated in censure vote of state official, Michael Scherer, Washington Post, May 25, 2021.
The leaders of the Nevada Republican Party are facing an internal revolt after an avowed Proud Boys member said he was invited with friends to attend a state party meeting last month and cast the deciding votes in the censure of a state official who concluded that the 2020 election in the state was not tainted by fraud. In the past week, the Nevada Senate GOP caucus and the chairmen of the two largest Republican county organizations have called for an audit of an April state party vote to uncover who cast ballots as seated party members and proxies for a resolution against Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske (R). The Republican state chairman, Michael McDonald, a close ally of former president Donald Trump, has so far declined to release those details, other Republican officials said. “We need to find out who attended, who paid for them to attend, and what impact they had on this censuring of Barbara,” state Sen. Carrie Buck (R) said in an interview. If the claims of the self-described Proud Boys member are true, she said, “of course the current leadership of the state [party] should resign.”
The leaders of the Nevada Republican Party are facing an internal revolt after an avowed Proud Boys member said he was invited with friends to attend a state party meeting last month and cast the deciding votes in the censure of a state official who concluded that the 2020 election in the state was not tainted by fraud.
In the past week, the Nevada Senate GOP caucus and the chairmen of the two largest Republican county organizations have called for an audit of an April state party vote to uncover who cast ballots as seated party members and proxies for a resolution against Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske (R).
The Republican state chairman, Michael McDonald, a close ally of former president Donald Trump, has so far declined to release those details, other Republican officials said.
“We need to find out who attended, who paid for them to attend, and what impact they had on this censuring of Barbara,” state Sen. Carrie Buck (R) said in an interview. If the claims of the self-described Proud Boys member are true, she said, “of course the current leadership of the state [party] should resign.”
Somehow this foolish skit struck me as an apt metaphor for the GQP.
Kevin McCarthy Leads House GOP In Blasting Marjorie Taylor Greene's Holocaust Remarks, Barbara Sprunt, NPR, May 25, 2021.
Nearly four months after condemning Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's comments on antisemitic conspiracy theories, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is once again rejecting the Georgia Republican's rhetoric — this time over her equating of COVID-19 safety measures with the treatment of Jews during the Holocaust. The remarks by the freshman Republican congresswoman — and criticism of them — come against the backdrop of antisemitic incidents across the United States in apparent response to the recent fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip that saw a large number of civilian casualties. Those domestic incidents have been condemned across the political spectrum, though GOP lawmakers and some moderate Democrats have chastised progressives for, in their view, being insufficiently critical of the incidents. In a statement Tuesday, McCarthy said Greene's "intentional decision to compare the horrors of the Holocaust with wearing masks is appalling."
Nearly four months after condemning Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's comments on antisemitic conspiracy theories, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is once again rejecting the Georgia Republican's rhetoric — this time over her equating of COVID-19 safety measures with the treatment of Jews during the Holocaust.
The remarks by the freshman Republican congresswoman — and criticism of them — come against the backdrop of antisemitic incidents across the United States in apparent response to the recent fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip that saw a large number of civilian casualties. Those domestic incidents have been condemned across the political spectrum, though GOP lawmakers and some moderate Democrats have chastised progressives for, in their view, being insufficiently critical of the incidents.
In a statement Tuesday, McCarthy said Greene's "intentional decision to compare the horrors of the Holocaust with wearing masks is appalling."
In that statement, McCarthy of course swipes at Democrats in the usual infantile R playbook of I know you are so what am I?, accusing Speaker Pelosi of not quashing anti-semitism among Democrats — Nancy was having none of that and shot back (see below) with a withering statement of her own. Democrats are not taking this despicable gaslighting sitting down anymore. Yay Nancy Pelosi! The proof will be evident in the next few days as Speaker Pelosi’s words will be proven true by McCarthy’s actions. The American people who value truth will take note.
A statement from Pelosi's office pushed back against that allegation, saying the California Democrat "has spoken out for decades against antisemitism and antisemitic attacks." "Leader McCarthy waited days to even issue a statement in response to one of his Members demeaning the Holocaust, and he clearly intends to continue to welcome Marjorie Taylor Greene in the GOP and shield her from any real consequence or accountability for her antisemitism," the statement said. "Leader McCarthy's silence has spoken volumes about his allegiance to the most extreme elements of the GOP Conference."
A statement from Pelosi's office pushed back against that allegation, saying the California Democrat "has spoken out for decades against antisemitism and antisemitic attacks."
"Leader McCarthy waited days to even issue a statement in response to one of his Members demeaning the Holocaust, and he clearly intends to continue to welcome Marjorie Taylor Greene in the GOP and shield her from any real consequence or accountability for her antisemitism," the statement said. "Leader McCarthy's silence has spoken volumes about his allegiance to the most extreme elements of the GOP Conference."
Meanwhile, mad Marj just cannot leave well enough alone. She just has to lash out. It is ugly and disgusting, but it’s also evidence of the way the self-destructive pressure is increasing within the Republican party.
Marjorie Taylor Greene quickly deletes obscene Twitter attack on 'feckless' Kevin McCarthy, Bob Brigham, Raw Story, May 25, 2021.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) on Tuesday quickly deleted a tweet she promoted from one of her supporters that called Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) a "moron" and a "feckless c**t." As flagged by the Washington Post's Aaron Blake, Greene promoted a tweet by right-wing Twitter account @ASimplePatriot on Tuesday that used obscene language to attack McCarthy over his criticism of Greene's latest comparison of public health advocates to Nazis. ✂️ Within six minutes of posting the tweet, however, it was subsequently deleted.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) on Tuesday quickly deleted a tweet she promoted from one of her supporters that called Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) a "moron" and a "feckless c**t."
As flagged by the Washington Post's Aaron Blake, Greene promoted a tweet by right-wing Twitter account @ASimplePatriot on Tuesday that used obscene language to attack McCarthy over his criticism of Greene's latest comparison of public health advocates to Nazis. ✂️
Within six minutes of posting the tweet, however, it was subsequently deleted.
Arizona audit loses tech company that was leading hand recount, Travis Gettys, Raw Story, May 25, 2021.
An information technology company has backed out of running the hand recount of ballots in the infamous Arizona election audit. The contract with Pennsylvania-based Wake TSI ended as scheduled on May 14, the original completion date for the hand count of ballots cast in Maricopa County, and the company chose not to renew its contract, reported AZCentral. "They were done," said Randy Pullen, an audit spokesperson and former state GOP chair. "They didn't want to come back."
An information technology company has backed out of running the hand recount of ballots in the infamous Arizona election audit.
The contract with Pennsylvania-based Wake TSI ended as scheduled on May 14, the original completion date for the hand count of ballots cast in Maricopa County, and the company chose not to renew its contract, reported AZCentral.
"They were done," said Randy Pullen, an audit spokesperson and former state GOP chair. "They didn't want to come back."
They are devouring each other OAN launches weekend-long assault to convince viewers Newsmax is a 'left-leaning organization', Raw Story, May 23, 2021.
DHS to issue first cybersecurity regulations for pipelines after Colonial hack, Ellen Nakashima and Lori Aratani, Washington Post, May 25, 2021.
The Transportation Security Administration, a DHS unit, will issue a security directive this week requiring pipeline companies to report cyber incidents to federal authorities, senior DHS officials said. It will follow up in coming weeks with a more robust set of mandatory rules for how pipeline companies must safeguard their systems against cyberattacks and the steps they should take if they are hacked, the officials said. The agency has offered only voluntary guidelines in the past. The ransomware attack that led Colonial Pipeline to shutter its pipeline for 11 days this month prompted gasoline shortages and panic buying in the southeastern United States, including in the nation’s capital. Had it gone on much longer, it could have affected airlines, mass transit and chemical refineries that rely on diesel fuel. Colonial’s chief executive has said the company paid $4.4 million to foreign hackers to release its systems. ✂️ “The Biden administration is taking further action to better secure our nation’s critical infrastructure,” DHS spokeswoman Sarah Peck said in a statement. “TSA, in close collaboration with [the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency], is coordinating with companies in the pipeline sector to ensure they are taking all necessary steps to increase their resilience to cyber threats and secure their systems.”
The Transportation Security Administration, a DHS unit, will issue a security directive this week requiring pipeline companies to report cyber incidents to federal authorities, senior DHS officials said. It will follow up in coming weeks with a more robust set of mandatory rules for how pipeline companies must safeguard their systems against cyberattacks and the steps they should take if they are hacked, the officials said. The agency has offered only voluntary guidelines in the past.
The ransomware attack that led Colonial Pipeline to shutter its pipeline for 11 days this month prompted gasoline shortages and panic buying in the southeastern United States, including in the nation’s capital. Had it gone on much longer, it could have affected airlines, mass transit and chemical refineries that rely on diesel fuel. Colonial’s chief executive has said the company paid $4.4 million to foreign hackers to release its systems. ✂️
“The Biden administration is taking further action to better secure our nation’s critical infrastructure,” DHS spokeswoman Sarah Peck said in a statement. “TSA, in close collaboration with [the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency], is coordinating with companies in the pipeline sector to ensure they are taking all necessary steps to increase their resilience to cyber threats and secure their systems.”
Biden Administration Strikes Deal To Bring Offshore Wind To California, Lauren Sommer, NPR, May 25, 2021.
The Biden Administration plans to open the California coast to offshore wind development, ending a long-running stalemate with the Department of Defense that has been the biggest barrier to building wind power along the Pacific Coast. The move adds momentum to the administration's goal of reaching 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035, coming just weeks after the country's first large-scale offshore wind farm was approved off the coast of New England. Today, the country has just a handful of offshore wind turbines in the Atlantic Ocean, with around a dozen wind farms being developed in federal waters off the East Coast. "It's an announcement that will set the stage for the long term development of clean energy and the growth of a brand new made-in-America industry," says National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy. "Now we're thinking big and thinking bold."
The Biden Administration plans to open the California coast to offshore wind development, ending a long-running stalemate with the Department of Defense that has been the biggest barrier to building wind power along the Pacific Coast.
The move adds momentum to the administration's goal of reaching 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035, coming just weeks after the country's first large-scale offshore wind farm was approved off the coast of New England. Today, the country has just a handful of offshore wind turbines in the Atlantic Ocean, with around a dozen wind farms being developed in federal waters off the East Coast.
"It's an announcement that will set the stage for the long term development of clean energy and the growth of a brand new made-in-America industry," says National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy. "Now we're thinking big and thinking bold."
⚡️Pure Biden, worth reading: What Biden Didn’t Realize About His Presidency, Edward-Isaac Dovere, The Atlantic, May 25, 2021.
⚡️Are Government Benefits Contributing to Worker Shortages? Sheelah Kolhatkar, New Yorker, May 25, 2021.
⚡️ Not zero, but no worse than usual concerns: Children's Risk Of Serious Illness From COVID-19 Is As Low As It Is For The Flu, Richard Harris, NPR, May 25, 2021.
⚡️ How to Fight White Supremacy by Inverting Stephen Miller’s Playbook, Jean Guerrero, The Nation, May 24, 2021.
⚡️10 Questions About Empathy In America, A Year After George Floyd's Death, Bill Chappell, NPR, May 25, 2021.
⚡️ Cool article about the psychology of color: The Secret Psychology of Sneaker Colors, Mark C O’Flaherty, New York Times, May 24, 2021.
⚡️ Good News! New Data Confirms Pfizer Vaccine Is Highly Effective Against Two Variants, Fernanda Echavarri, MotherJones, May 23, 2021.
⚡️ “All of it, Katie”: What Did Paul Manafort Lie To Robert Mueller About? Exactly What You Thought. Evan Hurst, Wonkette, May 25, 2021.
⚡️ Hard truth and solid strategy: Democrats Must Take Charge of the Debate About Abortion, Ilyse Hogue and Ellie Langford, The Nation, May 25, 2021.
Put your beautiful bleeding liberal heart into it!
Democratic litigation hero, Marc Elias was the legal eagle behind the 60 Big Lie losses after the election. Here’s his website, Democracy Docket. You can find information about current cases he is fighting to defend voting rights around the country, as well as actions you can take to help fight voter suppression at the link!
Write to voters around the country with Postcards to Voters. Progressive Muse usually posts an update on current campaigns in the comments and you can also check out the website. It’s easy, fun and it really works to GOTV!
🎩 Also, Goody posted a great list of links and I am going to borrow it because it’s great! 🎩
The only way they can win is by keeping people from voting. They are working like heck to make that happen and we need to do all we can to keep 2022 from being a year when they grab the Senate and House back from us.
How do we do that? Fight voter suppression!
What can you do?
Most important: DON'T LOSE HOPE. This is a giant and important fight for us but, win or lose, we keep fighting and voting and organizing and spreading truth and light. We never give up.
U.S. House of Representatives:* Telephone: 202-225-3121 * Website: http://www.house.gov/
U.S. Senate:* Telephone: 202-224-3121 * Website: http://www.senate.gov/
Find your member of Congress and contact him or her: Contact your Representative Contact your Senator
That’s it from me and CG for another week! I just want to add a little note about the gloom and doom stories going around lately — we are all impatient to see justice done, to see progress made, to see the worst that Rs can do stopped in its tracks. When things don’t happen quickly, some people start crying that it will never happen. The reality is that we have had astounding successes already since the new administration got started (0-50% vaccinated since January 20! Think of that!!) American Rescue Plan, competent people confirmed in positions that are so important. We’ve come a long way and the repair work has gone better than expected, if we are honest. There were moments over the past four years when many of us feared it would take a decade or more to undo the damage — if we even could undo it. But things are rapidly improving with good, competent governance.
Every time you see a story or a g&d diary moaning about the horrible things the conservatives are doing, remind yourself that we knew that would happen. How could it not? They have held power for decades and they will NOT give it up without a fight. We have to keep reminding ourselves that this was expected and not allow ourselves to fall on the fainting couch every time there’s another deplorable outburst. We’ve got to be grimly determined and keep our eyes on the prize, which will be getting through this portal as arhpdx so beautifully described it yesterday. They’re going to claw and grab and try to drag us backward, and we have to be ready for that! We won’t win every skirmish, but if we stay focused, pace ourselves and not give in to panic monging, we will get to a much better place.
So, build your strength and your hope and your confidence. We truly are the majority, we outnumber them and their extremism is merely the outward manifestation of their desperation. They are losing this culture war and they know it. Our leadership must take a measured approach to bringing justice while the corrupt still wield so much power in states, lest they do even more damage to the country and to vulnerable people. We will get there, slowly, steadily and surely.
Take care of yourself and those you love. You are needed as we build the country back again, better than it’s ever been. Eat nutritious food, get some rest and try to get outdoors each day if you can. Pay attention to stuff like today’s Supermoon eclipse. It really does help us keep our perspective when we look outwards at the wonders of nature.
So, until next week… be well and Happy Wednesday, Gnusies!
I’ll resist the temptation to play you out with my usual fave, DeBussy’s Clair de lune and instead present you with Beethoven. Happy Wednesday, Gnusies!
OK, I lied. I can’t resist — once I saw this, I had to post it:
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