7.31.22: A Rare Astronomical Event This Week Shocked Washington

In case you missed it this week, there was a rare astronomical event on Wednesday so we wanted to share a photo of the phenomenon. 

Yes, a rare sighting of a blue moon. Coincidentally, or not, or dumb luck or it was the same thing. It's all so hazy and shocking, but the Democrats in the Senate out maneuvered their Republican colleagues, specifically Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) who was blindsided by the Manchin-Schumer reconcilliation budget bill. It also forced Republicans into upcoming votes, in which a 'no' vote is politically unpopular forcing them to come on board with Democratic priorities. And you have to give credit to Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) for not walking away and negotiating in quiet to avoid media drama, as he explained.

A total eclipse, a Cubs World Series win, a Blue Moon. They exist but are seen so rarely that afterward you can't believe it actually happened. 

Senator Kirstyn Sinema (D-AZ) has yet to come out in support of the bill, but as NBC's Kristen Welker mentioned, there will be tremendous pressure on her to get on board. With perhaps a minor concession, the bill is there and it has the votes. What the bill does is give Medicare the ability to negotiate prescription drug prices, establish a base 15 percent tax for corporations with $1 billion or over in value, and with an all-of-the-above energy approach it allocates $349 billion investment in climate mitigating energy strategies. The largest investment in climate in U.S. history, which served as the last proverbial groin shot that Republicans could take.

So, they took out their anger and humiliation on Democ... No wait, they took it out on U.S. veterans. Yes, really.

As satirist and veterans advocate Jon Stewart explained, the Senate passed the same PACT Act bill in June, 84-12, and after a one sentence change that had no effect on the bill, Repubican senators voted it down. Mr. Stewart didn't get into the speculation of why Republicans now voted no, but it's obvious that since they know they got played. The PACT Act provides care to veterans who have contracted various diseases from burn pits overseas. It cannot be understated the significance of this as burn pits operated 27/7 during combat operations with soldiers continually breathing in toxins. Lead by Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA), Republicans in the Senate torpedoed the bill and did fist bumps when they accomplished their goal.

Here's the most-widely and succinct summation from Mr. Stewart this week. He and a group of veterans travelled to Capitol Hill for a celebratory press conference, which then became this:

Lastly, we're sad to hear about the catastrophic flooding and heart-breaking death toll in Kentucky. Governor Andy Beshear (D) gave a grim assessment of the status on the ground saying that it is unclear how many people are still missing, that there are 26 deaths with more surely to be confirmed, and the situation is complicated by the fact that it's still raining there and communication is difficult. 

To the president's credit, he cut through redtape to make sure the state had enough additional personnel on the ground, as the Gov. Beshear explained. (An example of how Joe Biden operates, he gets it done but doesn't scream it from the rooftops that he did it.)  

Though the location of this blog's homebase is nowhere near Kentucky, but we say that the state should get all the support it needs and then some, despite one its Senators, Rand Paul, voting against disaster relief for other states that he simply doesn't like [think: New York and Hurricane Sandy]. This tragic event in Kentucky is a clear example of why we needed the infrastructure bill and now this budget package from Senators Manchin and Schumer.

Panel: Kristen Welker, NBC News; Adrienne Elrod, Democratic Strategist; Carlos Carbello, fmr. Congressman (R-FL); Jonathan Lemire, Politco

7.24.22: Sure Seems Like A Melt Down... The Climate Change of Everything

 It sure seems like a melt down if you ask us. Whether it's climate, Donald Trump's prospects or confidence in all branches of government, the heat is rising and all of the above are melting. 

It was a good choice to schedule an interview to an update on what are prophetic thoughts from former vice-president Al Gore, the man who stepped aside for the sake of our democracy and then went on to warn us about the catastrophic effects of climate change. The graphic below from today's program shows a list of recent climate announcements that truly tells the story.   

In terms of the Colorado River, Lake Mead is at such a low level, ships and skeletal remains from the 1940's are being recovered and in 5 years if the water level keeps receding at pace, there will not be enough gallons of water per month required for the Hoover Dam to generate enough power to the states it services.

Vice President Gore has been warning us about the effects of melting glaciers for 30 years and we're still seeing state-size chunks of Greenland and Antarctica break way, affecting ocean currents and warming the water causing more catastrophic storms. Mr. Gore also explained that we do have the tools to get to net-zero carbon admissions but not the political will to get there many due to the economic effects. Those economic effects are those that impact the bottom line of the oil companies who then stick it to the average consumer [sic: voter] who is stretch thin as it is. But the tools are there: instituting a carbon emissions tax, automobile companies transitioning their entire fleets to either hybrid or full-electric, along with more off-shore wind, and solar of course. 

However, there are a few notions we'd like to throw out there that time did not permit them to cover. First, the United States should completely rethink its nuclear energy program. Nuclear energy has zero carbon emissions and is very safe, but there is the risk of accident. However, instead of pipelines, make waterlines to transport ocean water inland for rod cooling to more stable earth where a reactor is at less risk of structural damage. Also invest more into the research and development of cold fusion.

Also, many people don't know that when a crypto-currency sets up shop in your state or country, they become to biggest consumer of energy in every case due to the amount it takes to run and cool the vast number of servers that create algorithms and nothing else. The state of Texas had to shutdown a cryptocurrency operation in its state due to the strain it was putting on the Texas's electric grid, causing brown outs in residential neighborhoods. 

The former vice president mentioned something that we've talked about in this column previously, which is that we essentially have a minority government, especially when it comes to legislation on climate. But it's this 'minority government' that has Americans disapproving in Congress, the President and the Supreme Court by overwhelming margins.

A minority of politicians fueled by huge contributions block what the majority of Americans want and the direction they want to go.

Fortunately, the minority of what have been the overly loud voices of insanity are having their collective bubble burst by a thousand cuts from the January 6th Committee. Mr. Trump and his allies are melting under the intense heat of the committee and the DOJ. This week the Murdoch properties The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post, as the panel discussed, walked away from the former president explicitly saying he is "unfit to hold office again." Real question there is whether Fox News will follow.

Steve Bannon went into his contempt of Congress trial all bluster and bravado claiming he would get 'medieval,' but after 3 hours of deliberation the jury found him guilty on both counts and he never took the stand in his own defense; sending him away with his head up his ass and facing jail time.

Lastly, there's the economy. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made some news as she teased that we'll probably see negative GDP growth for a second quarter, which would normally mean we're in a recession, but Secretary Yellen said that we wouldn't be. Our advice when it comes to statements from Sec. Yellen is that we take the wait-and-see approach... Her batting average isn't great. That said, as many economists had been saying the economy had over-heated and now, pardon the expression again, some of it has to melt off. 

It's not just the meteorologic climate that's changing, it's the climate change of everything.

Aren't you looking forward to August?

Panel: Yamiche Alcindor, NBC News; Stephen Hayes, The Dispatch; Maria Teresa Kumar, Voto Latino; Jake Sherman, Punchbowl News

 

7.10.22: Forecast for the Majority: Hotter and More Exhausting

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) mentioned the 'exhausted majority' in America and for as much talk about nervous Democrats thinking Joe Biden can't hack it, he really didn't provide an explanation to what that means. He used the phrase to confirm that seventy percent of Americans think we're on the wrong track as a country.

Before we go there, the Biden Administration has acted too slowly on the economy without a doubt, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen didn't see this inflation coming didn't help. But this is reflective of the Administration, not the president himself, which is fair game. It was good to hear Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says that the president is carefully looking at rolling back the Trump tariffs, which she conceded would help with the cost of everyday goods. This should have been served up yesterday and should be on the front burner.

And let's face it, the president is going to Saudi Arabia because we need to up the supply of crude oil, which has increased but not nearly enough, and that the secretary confirmed. It's the real politik and the necessity to compartmentalize as president. Where we or should we say the oil companies dropped the ball was during the pandemic they scaled back refining and took facilities off line and used the revenue to pay shareholders (we knew you'd love that last bit). Hence, there is a shortage of gasoline and going into talks with the Saudis the Administration loses a little leverage because the Saudis need US refining capabilities; we're the best in the world at it. 

Secretary Raimondo explained that the administration needs to consider the impact on American workers if the tariffs are lowered, which is prudent and warranted. However, we'd advise to consider much faster.

We mention all this first because the U.S. economy comparatively to other countries is quite strong so that aside what is this exhausted majority that Governor Hogan is talking about. Well, one thing is for sure, he's not talking about his party and the extreme right wingers running it. The majority of Americans are center left or right, but for the past 30 years Republicans have only won the popular vote for president once. The minority is blocking what the majority wants and the Supreme Court is pushing the minority agenda in lieu of legislation. Why else do we have more guns than people and that in half the states the fetus has more rights than the woman that carries it? 

America spent four years in existential dread called the Trump presidency followed by criminal activity on the way out the door followed by feckless Republicans only interested in power, not service, as The Atlantic's Mark Leibovich talked about and wrote in his book. 

So not only does the threat to democracy continue in this country, thanks Republicans, people are paying more out of pocket, Putin and his regime are a bunch of fuckos, and no one can seem to agree on anything.

This is what you get in July... So yeah, we're exhausted and now it's freakin' hot.  And as long as the minority, abetted by the Supreme Court, keeps forcing its agenda onto the majority and because of unequal representation in the Senate, it's only going to get hotter and more exhausting.

This exhaustion leads us to ask the most American of questions that all Americans can appreciate and come together around. When does football season start?

Panel: Hallie Jackson, NBC News; Daniella Gibbs-Leger, Center for American Progress; Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic; Rich Lowry, National Review