Welcome 🌻 to Friday’s Roundup of Good News!
With the holidays and spending time with families and friends, the news may be a little light this week.
Relax and rest up because we’re going to have to work hard in 2024.
But let me say that it has been wonderful to be with all of you this year. Gnusies, we made a difference. That should give us all the courage and the confidence to continue, because we are making the country and the planet better.
Truth matters. Love matters. I see so much of it here.
I am amazed to be a part of this group.
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, although they did take a little time off for the holidays. Here are the last week’s posts at the White House briefing room.
- Thursday, December 28, 2023: Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Paul Whelan
- Thursday, December 28, 2023: Mexico-U.S. Joint Communique: Mexico and the United States Reaffirm Their Shared Commitments on an Orderly, Humane and Regular Migration
- Thursday, December 28, 2023: Statement from President Joe Biden on Judy Weinstein
- Thursday, December 28, 2023: A Proclamation on Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States
- Thursday, December 28, 2023: A Proclamation on Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States
- Thursday, December 28, 2023: Statement from President Joe Biden on the Passing of Former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl
- Wednesday, December 27, 2023: A Proclamation on the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, 2023
- Wednesday, December 27, 2023: Memorandum regarding the Presidential Determination and Waiver Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, on Essential Medicines, Medical Countermeasures, and Critical Inputs
- Wednesday, December 27, 2023: Memorandum on the Delegation of Authority Under Section 614(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
- Wednesday, December 27, 2023: Letter to the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148)
- Wednesday, December 27, 2023: Statement from National Security Advisor Sullivan Welcoming Appointment of Sigrid Kaag as UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza
- Tuesday, December 26, 2023: Readout of President Biden’s Call with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar
- Tuesday, December 26, 2023: Press Release: Bills Signed: H.R. 1722, H.R. 2839, H.R. 6503
- Monday, December 25, 2023: Statement from NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson on U.S. Strikes in Iraq
- Sunday, December 24, 2023: Remarks by President Biden Before Marine One Departure
- Saturday, December 23, 2023: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Utah Disaster Declaration
- Saturday, December 23, 2023: Readout of President Joe Biden’s Call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel
- Saturday, December 23, 2023: Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at a Holiday Celebration with Military Families
- Friday, December 22, 2023: Readout of President Biden’s Call with President Pedro Sanchez of Spain
- Friday, December 22, 2023: Statement from President Joe Biden on Gad Haggai
- Friday, December 22, 2023: Statement from President Joe Biden on H.R. 2670, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
- Friday, December 22, 2023: Bill Signed: H.R. 2670
- Friday, December 22, 2023: In 2023, President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Delivered Results for American Families
- Friday, December 22, 2023: Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on Clemency Actions
- Friday, December 22, 2023: Statement from President Joe Biden on the November PCE Report
- Friday, December 22, 2023: Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Japan’s Decision to Transfer Patriot Missiles to the United States
- Friday, December 22, 2023: Letters to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate on Taking Additional Steps With Respect to the Russian Federation’s Harmful Activities
- Friday, December 22, 2023: Executive Order on Taking Additional Steps With Respect to the Russian Federation’s Harmful Activities
- Friday, December 22, 2023: A Proclamation on Granting Pardon for the Offense of Simple Possession of Marijuana, Attempted Simple Possession of Marijuana, or Use of Marijuana
- Friday, December 22, 2023: Clemency Recipient List
- Friday, December 22, 2023: Statement from President Joe Biden on Clemency Actions
- Friday, December 22, 2023: FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Expands U.S. Sanctions Authorities to Target Financial Facilitators of Russia’s War Machine
- Friday, December 22, 2023: Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Expanding Sanctions Authorities Against Russia’s Military Industrial Base
- Friday, December 22, 2023: Background Press Call on Upcoming Action to Continue Holding Russia Accountable
👎 Out with the Bad, In with the Good 👍
On Tuesday, arhpdx alerted us to Future Crunch and its list of 66 great and happy stories in 2023. In case you missed the link, I’m repeating it. And here are a few:
31. More girls are getting an education
UNICEF reported that there are 50 million more girls in school today than there were in 2015. During this period, completion rates for girls have increased from 86% to 89% in primary school, and from 54% to 61% in high school. There are five million more girls completing all levels of education every year now compared to seven years ago.
33. Crime plummeted in the United States
Initial data suggests that murder rates for 2023 are down by almost 13%, one of the largest ever annual declines, and every major category of crime except auto theft has declined too, with violent crime falling to one of the lowest rates in more than 50 years and property crime falling to its lowest level since the 1960s. Also, the country's prison population is now 25% lower than its peak in 2009, and a majority of states have reduced their prison populations by more than that, including New Jersey and New York who have reduced prison populations by more than half in the last decade.
46. Other, uncelebrated human rights victories
Malaysia and Ghana banned the death penalty, Mexico implemented a National Civil and Family Procedure Code, empowering older persons and people with disabilities to make decisions by themselves, Peru passed a law cancelling unjust fines accrued by Venezuelan refugees who had overstayed their visas, Nigeria became the 13th African state to ratify the the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Older Persons, and Bangladesh reported that its clothing industry has been completely transformed thanks to labour laws passed after the Rana Plaza tragedy ten years ago.
tRump off ballot in Maine AJ McDougall, Talking Points Memo
Maine booted Donald Trump off the 2024 presidential primary ballot on Thursday, with the state’s top election official ruling that the former commander-in-chief cannot take another shot at the White House under a constitutional clause that bars insurrectionists from holding office.
“I am mindful that no secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment,” Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, wrote in her 34-page ruling. “I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.”
💣 Republicans: Party of Crimes and Chaos 💣
Talking Points Memo has an amazing roundup of Republican (mostly) corruption during 2023, without even bothering much with tRump Nicole Lafond and TPM staff This is just category 1, and you can vote!
Category 1: Best Scandal — Local Venue
There are some bad acts back home that don’t make it into the national news cycle. And then there are these.
The nominees:
Eric Adams Renting Prospective Services To Turkey: The extremely lively NYC mayor is under investigation over allegations that his campaign accepted illegal donations, including some from the Turkish government. Only in New York will your constituents rejoice to learn the often-despised city mayor is even more corrupt than they already suspected.— Nicole Lafond
Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ Podiumgate (YES WE KNOW IT’S TECHNICALLY A LECTERN): The former White House press secretary and current Republican governor of Arkansas deserves some props for her administration’s shady $19,000 payment for a lectern from a political friend and her office’s subsequent bid to kill the state’s FOIA in order to keep it secret.— Nicole Lafond
Mark Robinson’s Whole Thing, Basically: North Carolina Lieutenant Gov. Mark Robinson is a special case in the storied annals of the Golden Dukes. He didn’t get this nomination for one particular episode, his entire political career has been an episode. Robinson has a propensity for making shocking and scandalous statements in his speeches and prolific Facebook posting that run the gamut from racial stereotypes to religious discrimination to bizarre conspiracy mongering. TPM helped bring Robinson’s history of bizarre and offensive comments to light in March, in a piece that also highlighted his online pro-wrestling alter ego “Bigg Smoke.” Exactly one month after that story, Robinson announced a run for governor and he’s currently leading in some polls.— Hunter Walker
DeSantis vs. Disney: To begin, I’ll point out there is a 1,500 word Wikipedia entry detailing all the ins and outs of Mr. Poop Map (see below) vs House of Mouse. Everything started when Disney denounced the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. DeSantis tried to retaliate by taking away a special tax status the company had had since the 1960s. Some other bickering and jockeying happened. Then Walt Disney sued DeSantis for violating its First Amendment rights. The upshot is basically that Ron is getting sued by Mickey Mouse and somehow managed to come off as a Republican who is anti-business and anti-free speech. Amazing. — Joe Ragazzo
Boebert’s district switch annoys the Rs in the primary race Hunter Walker Talking Points Memo
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) announcement that she would be switching districts for 2024’s election was a surprise — and unwelcome news for some of the other Republicans already running in a crowded primary in Boebert’s new home.
In a text message to TPM, former state senator Ted Harvey, one of Boebert’s new rivals, described her switch from the Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District to the 4th as a “desperate stunt” driven by her political problems.
“Boebert has failed the conservatives in CD3 to such a degree that they will no longer vote for her. Now, in what can only be seen as a vain effort to cling to power, she seeks to represent the the voters of CD 4 — a vastly different constituency,” Harvey wrote. “This desperate stunt by Boebert may not only jeopardize the Republican Party’s ability to retain CD3 but, if she were to win the primary, could place CD4 at risk as well.”
⚡️ Gaetz and McCarthy are still fighting with each other Daily Kos
🚚 💙 Democrats Deliver 💙 🚚
President Biden’s economy is great — and even the Rs are hearing about it!
Simon Rosenberg has been touting positivity on President Biden for a while, especially on the economy, and because of his repetition — repetition is good! — people are taking notice. Here are excerpts from his op-ed this week at MSNBC:
...there are three reasons I am optimistic that 2024 is going to be a good year for Democrats:
First, President Joe Biden has kept his central promise in the 2020 election: that he would lead the nation to the other side of Covid, successfully. The pandemic has receded. Our economic recovery has been better than any other G7 nation. GDP grew at an annual rate of 4.9% last quarter, and more than 3% for the Biden presidency. We have the best job market since the 1960s and the lowest uninsured rate in U.S. history. The Dow Jones broke 37,000 this month for the first time. Wage growth, new business formation and prime-age labor participation rates are all at historically elevated levels. Prices fell — yes, fell — last month. Rents are softening, and gas prices and crime rates are falling. Domestic oil and renewable production are at record levels. The annual deficit, which exploded under Trump, is trillions less today. ✂️
Second, the strength of the president’s record is only matched by the strength of his party. I don’t think it is widely understood how strong the Democratic Party is right now. The party has won more votes in seven of the past eight presidential elections, something no party has done in modern American history. Over the last four presidential elections, Democrats have averaged 51% of the popular vote, their best showing over four national elections since the 1930s. ✂️
Finally, while Democrats keep winning, conventional wisdom continues to overly discount Trump’s historic baggage and MAGA’s repeated electoral failures. Despite these repeated failures, Republicans are on the cusp of nominating Trump again, who this time is an even more degraded and dangerous version of MAGA than he was in 2020.
Two things have happened to Trump since 2020 that are going to make it very hard for him to win in 2024 — the stripping away of women’s reproductive rights, and his attempt to overturn the 2020 election and end American democracy for all time. Additionally, this year courts have already determined that he sexually abused journalist E. Jean Carroll in a department store; oversaw a yearslong financial fraud; and led a party-wide effort, involving hundreds of Republican leaders and thousands of willing allies, to overturn the last election, culminating in a violent attack on Congress.
💜 Unity? 💜
Strikes in 2023 shows that the power has shifted in the direction of workers By Judith Stepan-Norris and Jasmine Kerrissey Talking Points Memo
This crescendo of labor actions follows a relative lull in U.S. strikes and a decline in union membership that began in the 1970s. Today’s strikes may seem unprecedented, especially if you’re under 50. While this wave constitutes a significant change following decades of unions’ losing ground, it’s far from unprecedented.
We’re sociologists who study the history of U.S. labor movements. In our new book, “Union Booms and Busts,” we explore the reasons for swings in the share of working Americans in unions between 1900 and 2015.
We see the rising number of strikes today as a sign that the balance of power between workers and employers, which has been tilted toward employers for nearly a half-century, is beginning to shift.
📥 Actions You Can Take 📤
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. Defund the seditionists. This is a list with companies that sometimes have donated to 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.
🔎 Want to check out what’s going on with campaign contributions? Check out this diary. 👀
🐍 Schadenfreude 😈
Despite misguided reporting (thanks, NYT) putin’s economy is hurting BY JEFFREY SONNENFELD, TYMOFIY MYLOVANOV, NATALIIA SHAPOVAL AND STEVEN TIAN Fortune
Sometimes, political reporters without a background in business journalism make egregious errors in their coverage of the business exodus from Vladimir Putin’s Russia–and even fall for the strongman’s Potemkin Village-like economic façade. A recent article, entitled How Putin Turned a Western Boycott Into a Bonanza, wrongly suggested that the historic business exits of over 1,000 multinational companies from Russia have somehow been a huge win for the Russian war effort, while paradoxically suggesting that multinational firms did not really exit. Nothing could be further from the truth.
We write not as mere spectators but as some of the leaders who helped catalyze this unprecedented business exodus from Russia. (Although the New York Times article names the first author extensively and egregiously omits the prominent role played by the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) in chronicling the business exodus and continuing to encourage companies to exit today).
If the business exodus was so helpful to Putin, we would like to know why all four of us have been placed on Putin’s sanctions list, with the first author ranked #6 on that enemies list (even higher than Senator Mitch McConnell).
In addition to helping catalyze the business exodus, our research collaboration has helped counter Putin’s propaganda by showing the economic devastation wrought by his war. Russia is no longer remotely an economic power and has suppressed the minimum reporting of transparent national income statistics that is required to retain IMF membership. With industrial might below that of Chile, Putin’s Russia survives merely by seizing assets. The increasingly state-dominated economy is cannibalizing its own companies to maintain Putin’s war machine.
Not even firing Tucker Carlson could save NewsMax Justin Baragona, The Daily Beast
Exploiting the MAGA rage against Fox over kicking its top right-wing star to the curb, Newsmax leaned even harder into its already over-the-top pro-Trump ethos, bluntly signaling to viewers that this was the channel to turn to for all their conservative comfort content needs. They even went so far as to not-so-subtly suggest that Carlson could potentially join their airwaves. ✂️
Newsmax’s primetime viewership jumped from 113,000 in March to 298,000 in May, the first full month after Carlson’s firing. The network’s weeknight offerings even beat CNN head-to-head on several occasions during the spring and summer months—and, of course, Newsmax crowed about it the entire time. ✂️
The channel’s fourth-quarter primetime ratings, meanwhile, have dropped 14 percent compared to the previous quarter, though they are still up significantly compared to 2022 (when Newsmax was experiencing a downward trend). Newsmax’s nightly viewership is even down four percent compared to the second quarter, which only partially included the Tucker firing bump.
The downturn has come at a bad time for Newsmax, as it attempts to convince viewers to pay for a live stream that was previously available for free until two months ago.
Jan 6 creeps still getting into more trouble, and getting into trouble for it:
Here's someone who’s whining loudly:
📣 Let’s Honor Truth ☀️️
Today we’ll honor all those standing up for democracy over the last few years. This is just a small sample. Some suffered a lot for taking stances:
Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss By Devan Cole, Holmes Lybrand and Katelyn Polantz CNN
Rudy Giuliani didn’t see two former Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss as “human beings” when he spread conspiracy theories about them after the 2020 election, their attorney told a Washington, DC, jury Thursday during closing arguments in the defamation damages trial.
“He thought they were ordinary and expendable. He didn’t see them as human beings,” the attorney, Mike Gottlieb, told the eight-person jury.
“It’s dangerous for them to be Ruby Freeman or Shaye Moss because of Giuliani and his co-conspirators,” Gottlieb said.
Rusty Bowers, who lost his position in AZ because he rejected tRUmp Katelyn Polantz, CNN
(Note article is from July) A former top Republican official in Arizona, who rejected pressure from Donald Trump and his allies following the former president’s 2020 election defeat, told CNN Wednesday night that he has spoken with the FBI as part of the ongoing criminal probe related to efforts to overturn the vote.
Former Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers revealed the interview with investigators lasted four hours and took place a few months ago.
“I am hesitant to talk about any subpoenas et cetera. But I have been interviewed by the FBI,” Bowers told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, when asked whether he had been subpoenaed by special counsel Jack Smith’s team.
Jocelyn Benson, and all the ordinary citizens who showed up in order to insist their votes be counted:
Yes, I know I put this up before, but repetition is good, and this reminds us how we can make a difference, especially when we work together:
Tonight feels like a good time to tell you all that, for me, the absolute lowest moment in the post election battle we endured to protect Michigan’s accurate and legitimate election results in 2020 was not when armed protestors stormed my home. It was the night of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers meeting.
I distinctly remember coming home that evening feeling completely defeated. We knew about the pressure not to certify (though until tonight I did not know about the recording). We were prepared to go to court to successfully ensure certification at the local and state level - and we were confident we’d win in court. But blocking certification in Wayne County and pushing this to the courts would still delay and create enough doubt and uncertainty to enable the Trump campaign to push Pennsylvania, which was certifying the next week, to delay as well. And we knew other dominos would fall after that.
How could we overcome the pressure of the then-President of the United States on local and state officials? Were the facts and law not enough?
Well, then something I’ll never forget happened.
Hundreds - hundreds (!) - of citizens showed up to the meeting of the Wayne County Canvassing Board to remind them of their duty under the law to ensure their votes counted. Their voices mattered. Their votes mattered.In my view that turned the tide. Citizens and election officials in Wayne County and statewide didn’t flinch, stood firm, and demanded their votes be certified as required under the law.
And in the end, the Wayne County Canvassing board fulfilled their legal duty, followed the law and certified the election.
What started as the lowest moment of the post election melee became the most inspiring. The voters won. Facts and the rule of law carried the day. Democracy prevailed.
🌹 Let’s Celebrate Love ❤️
This week I want to honor President Biden in the love section, as he has worked so hard be an example of love, instead of hate, to the American people.
📎Odds & Ends 📎
Beavers hard at work! Reasons to Be Cheerful
A family of seven furry explorers recently swam out of kennels and into the waters of the ancestral lands of the Mountain Maidu people. They were the first beavers to be released in California in almost 75 years — part of a conservation effort that aims to re-establish the population.
Industrious creatures that they are, beavers bring many benefits to the mountain meadow ecosystem. Their engineering keeps water in the landscape, which contributes to recharging groundwater — and the added moisture makes the land more resilient to wildfire and drought.
“It’s good to have them back home again,” said Ben Cunningham, chairman of the Maidu Summit Consortium. “The beavers are back where they belong.”
🐦 I do a lot of other writing. A recent offering: the Crow Nickels (chronicles), a trilogy about crows who want to save birdkind from extinction: Hunters of the Feather, Scavengers of Mind and Familiars of the Flock (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 — such as The Meryton Murders — and others based on history and Greek mythology, such as Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus, 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 say something nice to friend or a stranger.
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
🌹 🌹 🌹
TRUTH MATTERS. LOVE MATTERS.