The Ledes

Saturday, March 1, 2025

New York Times: “After days of a cautious optimism and two weeks in a hospital with pneumonia in both lungs, Pope Francis on Friday suffered another respiratory crisis, renewing concerns about the prognosis for the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican said on Friday night that Francis, who is 88 and has a history of respiratory ailments, suffered a bronchial spasm that caused him to inhale his vomit after a coughing fit. That, in turn, caused a 'worsening of the respiratory picture,' and required aspiration.”

New York Times: “The actor Gene Hackman most likely died nine days before his and his wife’s bodies were found in their secluded home near Santa Fe, N.M., the authorities said on Friday, as the central question of how they died remained unanswered. By examining Mr. Hackman’s pacemaker, a pathologist determined that the device’s last recorded 'event' was on Feb. 17, indicating that Mr. Hackman died then, Sheriff Adan Mendoza of Santa Fe County said in a news conference. Mr. Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found dead on Wednesday, in separate rooms of their home in a gated community.”

The Wires
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The Ledes

Friday, February 28, 2025

New York Times: “Boris Spassky, the world chess champion whose career was overshadowed by his loss to Bobby Fischer in the 'Match of the Century' in 1972, died on Thursday in Moscow. He was 88.”

New York Times: “The actor Gene Hackman was found dead in a mud room in his New Mexico home and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, was found dead on the floor of a bathroom on Wednesday, according to a search warrant affidavit. An open prescription bottle and scattered pills were discovered near her body on a counter in the bathroom. A dead German shepherd was found between 10 and 15 feet away from Ms. Arakawa in a closet of the bathroom, the affidavit said. There were no obvious signs of a gas leak in the home, it said, and the Fire Department did not find signs of a carbon monoxide leak. The maintenance workers who found them said they had not been in contact with the couple for two weeks. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on Thursday afternoon that 'there were no apparent signs of foul play.'... The causes of their deaths had not been determined.”

Help!

To keep the Conversation going, please help me by linking news articles, opinion pieces and other political content in today's Comments section.

Link Code:   <a href="URL">text</a>

OR here's a link generator. The one I had posted died, then Akhilleus found one, but it too bit the dust. He found yet another, which I've linked here, and as of September 23, 2024, it's working.

OR you can always just block, copy and paste to your comment the URL (Web address) of the page you want to link.

Note for Readers. It is not possible for commenters to "throw" their highlighted links to another window. But you can do that yourself. Right-click on the link and a drop-down box will give you choices as to where you want to open the link: in a new tab, new window or new private window.

Thank you to everyone who has been contributing links to articles & other content in the Comments section of each day's "Conversation." If you're missing the comments, you're missing some vital links.

Marie: Sorry, my countdown clock was unreliable; then it became completely unreliable. I can't keep up with it. Maybe I'll try another one later.

 

Public Service Announcement

Zoë Schlanger in the Atlantic: "Throw out your black plastic spatula. In a world of plastic consumer goods, avoiding the material entirely requires the fervor of a religious conversion. But getting rid of black plastic kitchen utensils is a low-stakes move, and worth it. Cooking with any plastic is a dubious enterprise, because heat encourages potentially harmful plastic compounds to migrate out of the polymers and potentially into the food. But, as Andrew Turner, a biochemist at the University of Plymouth recently told me, black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid." This is a gift link from laura h.

Mashable: "Following the 2024 presidential election results and [Elon] Musk's support for ... Donald Trump, users have been deactivating en masse. And this time, it appears most everyone has settled on one particular X alternative: Bluesky.... Bluesky has gained more than 100,000 new sign ups per day since the U.S. election on Nov. 5. It now has over 15 million users. It's enjoyed a prolonged stay on the very top of Apple's App Store charts as well. Ready to join? Here's how to get started on Bluesky[.]"

Washington Post: "Americans can again order free rapid coronavirus tests by mail, the Biden administration announced Thursday. People can request four free at-home tests per household through covidtests.gov. They will begin shipping Monday. The move comes ahead of an expected winter wave of coronavirus cases. The September revival of the free testing program is in line with the Biden administration’s strategy to respond to the coronavirus as part of a broader public health campaign to protect Americans from respiratory viruses, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), that surge every fall and winter. But free tests were not mailed during the summer wave, which wastewater surveillance data shows is now receding."

Democrats' Weekly Address

Marie (Feb 23): As far as I can tell, there isn't any. I hope I'm wrong, but it looks like Democrats are so screwed up, they can't even put together a couple of minutes of video to tell us how screwed we are.

Out with the Black. In with the White. New York Times: “Lester Holt, the veteran NBC newscaster and anchor of the 'NBC Nightly News' over the last decade, announced on Monday that he will step down from the flagship evening newscast in the coming months. Mr. Holt told colleagues that he would remain at NBC, expanding his duties at 'Dateline,' where he serves as the show’s anchor.... He said that he would continue anchoring the evening news until 'the start of summer.' The network did not immediately name a successor.” ~~~

~~~ New York Times: “MSNBC said on Monday that Jen Psaki, the former White House press secretary who has become one of the most prominent hosts at the network, would anchor a nightly weekday show in prime time. Ms. Psaki, 46, will host a show at 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, replacing Alex Wagner, a longtime political journalist who has anchored that hour since 2022, according to a memo to staff from Rebecca Kutler, MSNBC’s president. Ms. Wagner will remain at MSNBC as an on-air correspondent. Rachel Maddow, MSNBC’s biggest star, has been anchoring the 9 p.m. hour on weeknights for the early days of ... [Donald] Trump’s administration but will return to hosting one night a week at the end of April.”

New York Times: “Joy Reid’s evening news show on MSNBC is being canceled, part of a far-reaching programming overhaul orchestrated by Rebecca Kutler, the network’s new president, two people familiar with the changes said. The final episode of Ms. Reid’s 7 p.m. show, 'The ReidOut,' is planned for sometime this week, according to the people, who were not authorized to speak publicly. The show, which features in-depth interviews with politicians and other newsmakers, has been a fixture of MSNBC’s lineup for the past five years. MSNBC is planning to replace Ms. Reid’s program with a show led by a trio of anchors: Symone Sanders Townsend, a political commentator and former Democratic strategist; Michael Steele, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee; and Alicia Menendez, the TV journalist, the people said. They currently co-host 'The Weekend,' which airs Saturday and Sunday mornings.” MB: In case you've never seen “The Weekend,” let me assure you it's pretty awful. ~~~

     ~~~ AP Update: "Joy Reid is leaving MSNBC, the network’s new president announced in a memo to staff on Monday, marking an end to the political analyst and anchor’s prime time news show."

Y! Entertainment: "Meanwhile, [Alex] Wagner will also be removed from her 9 pm weeknight slot. Wagner has already been working as a correspondent after Rachel Maddow took over hosting duties during ... Trump’s first 100 days in office. It’s now expected that Wagner will not return as host, but is expected to stay on as a contributor. Jen Psaki, President Biden’s former White House press secretary, is a likely replacement for Wagner, though a decision has not been finalized." MB: In fairness to Psaki, she is really too boring to watch. On the other hand, she is White. ~~~

     ~~~ RAS: "So MSNBC is getting rid of both of their minority evening hosts. Both women of color who are not afraid to call out the truth. Outspoken minorities don't have a long shelf life in the world of our corporate news media."

As we watch in horror the rapid destruction of our democratic form of government, it is comforting to remember there is life outside politics. I took a break a while ago to enjoy a brief lesson in the history of the moonwalk: ~~~

But it may go back even further:

And this chronological account is helpful:

New York Times: “Chuck Todd, the former 'Meet the Press' moderator and a longtime fixture of NBC’s political coverage, told colleagues on Friday that he was leaving the network. A nearly two-decade veteran of NBC, Mr. Todd said that Friday would be his last day at NBC.... Mr. Todd, 52, is the latest TV news star to step aside at a moment when salaries are being scrutinized — and slashed — by major media companies. Hoda Kotb exited NBC’s 'Today' show this month, and Neil Cavuto of Fox News and CNN’s Chris Wallace departed their cable news homes late last year.”

CNBC: “ CNN plans to lay off hundreds of employees Thursday [Jan. 23] as it refocuses the business around a global digital audience.... The layoffs come as CNN is rearranging its linear TV lineup and building out digital subscription products. The cuts will help CNN lower production costs and consolidate teams, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic changes. Certain shows that are produced in New York or Washington may move to Atlanta, where production can be done more cheaply, said the people. For the most part, the job cuts won’t affect CNN’s most recognizable names, who are under contract, said the people. CNN has about 3,500 employees worldwide.... NBC News is also planning cuts later this week, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic changes. While the exact number couldn’t be determined, the job losses will be well under 50....”

 

Contact Marie

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Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts. — Anonymous

A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves. — Edward R. Murrow

Publisher & Editor: Marie Burns

I have a Bluesky account now. The URL is https://bsky.app/profile/marie-burns.bsky.social . When Reality Chex goes down, check my Bluesky page for whatever info I am able to report on the status of Reality Chex. If you can't access the URL, I found that I could Google Bluesky and ask for Marie Burns. Google will include links to accounts for people whose names are, at least in part, Maria Burns, so you'll have to tell Google you looking only for Marie.

Monday
Jul082024

The Conversation -- July 9, 2024

Mariana Alfaro, et al., of the Washington Post: "No additional House Democrats publicly called on President Biden to abandon his reelection campaign after an all-member meeting Tuesday morning, suggesting the ground may be subtly shifting toward acceptance that Biden will remain in the race. As they trickled out of the Democratic National Committee's headquarters, some House Democrats expressed brief support for Biden's bid and at times gave stilted comments to reporters. And while many described the meeting as positive for Biden, others privately scoffed at their colleagues' comments. Rep. Jerry Nadler (N.Y.) -- who just two days ago privately called for Biden to leave the ticket -- said that, while he still has concerns over the president's candidacy, those are now 'beside the point.'... He's going to be our nominee, and we all have to support him,' Nadler said." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie's Translation: "Donald Trump will be the next president*." We can now quit pointing at Republicans for capitulating to Donald Trump. Democrats are doing so as well. Shame on the lot of them.

Spencer Hsu of the Washington Post: "An attorney for the Oath Keepers charged in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack will plead guilty after being charged with conspiring with the right-wing group's founder to obstruct Congress's certification of the results of the 2020 election, her attorney and federal prosecutors said. In separate court filings Monday, Kellye SoRelle's federal defender and a prosecutor wrote that SoRelle is set to enter a guilty plea on July 17 after entering into a deal with the government."

Robert McFadden of the New York Times: "James M. Inhofe, a five-term Republican senator from Oklahoma and, until ... Donald J. Trump's arrival in 2017, arguably Washington's most prominent denier of the established science of human-generated climate change, died on Tuesday in Tulsa, Okla. He was 89."

~~~~~~~~~~

Presidential Race

Marianna Sotomayor & Leigh Ann Caldwell of the Washington Post: "With President Biden once again on the political ropes, some Black members of the House appear ready to rally behind the embattled chief executive, in an embrace that will significantly influence whether he can stay in his reelection race, according to five people.... The importance of the roughly 60-member Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) -- which includes [Rep. Jim] Clyburn [D-S.C.] and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) -- was on display Monday night as Biden met with the bloc in a Zoom call, the first with a group of elected lawmakers.... Biden took questions and asked CBC members for their continued support.... The desire to defend Biden appears to be so widespread among CBC members, three people aligned with the group said, that it is possible the group will formalize its support for him in a statement...."

Brian Schwartz of CNBC: "President Joe Biden's fundraising operation started showing cracks in its once formidable armor, almost 10 days after his disastrous presidential debate performance. Some of Biden's campaign bundlers have stopped making calls to potential donors since the June 27 debate, according to people familiar with the matter. 'No one is picking up the phone,' said a well-connected Democratic fundraiser, who raises money for Biden and the Democratic Party."

** New York Times Editors: President "Biden, instead of campaigning vigorously to disprove doubts and demonstrate that he can beat Mr. Trump, has maintained a scripted and controlled schedule of public appearances.... And when he has cast aside his teleprompter..., he has continued to appear as a man in decline. The president, elected in 2020 as an antidote to Mr. Trump's malfeasance and mendacity, is now trying to defy reality.... Democrats who want to defeat Mr. Trump in November ... need to tell [Mr. Biden] that his defiance threatens to hand victory to Mr. Trump.... By departing the race, Mr. Biden can focus public attention on Mr. Trump's capacity to perform the job of president. Mr. Trump, of course, should also withdraw from this race, not least because of his own cognitive deficiencies and incessant lying." If you have a NYT subscription, read the whole editorial.

James Carville, in a New York Times op-ed, proposes a way for Democrats to select a new presidential ticket.

Emily Baumgaertner & Peter Baker of the New York Times: "An expert on Parkinson's disease from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times in eight months from last summer through this spring, including at least once for a meeting with President Biden's physician, according to official visitor logs. The expert, Dr. Kevin Cannard, is a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders and recently published a paper on Parkinson's. The logs, released by the White House, document visits from July 2023 through March of this year.... It was unclear whether Dr. Cannard was at the White House to consult specifically about the president or there for unrelated meetings.... Without discussing Dr. Cannard specifically, [White House spokesman Andrew] Bates said that the president 'has been seen by a neurologist once a year' as part of his overall annual physical checkup and 'that examination has found no sign of Parkinson's and he is not being treated for it.' He declined to provide dates of any meetings between Mr. Biden and any of his specialists.... In a six-page letter released after [a February 28] checkup, Dr. [Kevin] O'Connor [-- the White House physician --] said the president's medical team had conducted 'an extremely detailed neurologic exam' that had yielded 'no findings which would be consistent with' Parkinson's, stroke or other central neurological disorders." MB: This clarifies a Guardian story, based on New York Post reporting, that I linked with some skepticism yesterday. So now we know what we know. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Michael Shear of the New York Times: "The White House briefing room devolved into shouting on Monday as the press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, repeatedly dodged and refused to answer questions about the president's health, and whether visits to the White House by a Parkinson's doctor were about the president.... At Monday's daily briefing, Ms. Jean-Pierre refused to talk about Dr. [Kevin] Cannard [-- a Walter Reed neurologist --] or to acknowledge his visits to the White House, even after The New York Times and other news organizations reported on the logs." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ So Then. Mary Bruce of ABC News: "In a letter released late Monday night by the president's physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, he confirmed that Dr. Kevin Cannard, the Parkinson's expert who visited the White House eight times in an eight-month span, 'was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals.' Canard's visits to the White House don't represent examinations of the president, according to O'Connor's letter. Cannard is involved in a range of care for others beyond the president at the White House, O'Connor said in his note. 'Prior to the pandemic, and following its end, [Cannard] has held regular Neurology clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations,' his letter reads. 'Many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Canard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology Practice.' On the subject of Biden's physical, O'Connor noted that 'President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical.'"

Michael Shear & Maggie Astor of the New York Times: "President Biden said in a letter to congressional Democrats on Monday that he was 'firmly committed to staying in the race,' a defiant answer to allies on Capitol Hill who have said in recent days that he should drop out. He then called into 'Morning Joe' on MSNBC to underscore that message. 'The bottom line here is that we're not going anywhere -- I am not going anywhere,' he said. His pledge to remain in the race kicks off what could be the most crucial week of his presidency, as he faces crumbling support from Democratic lawmakers and mounting fears that his defiance could lead to a historic rout by ... Donald J. Trump and his followers in November's races for the White House and Congress." At 11:00 am ET Monday, this is the pinned item in a liveblog of presidential election updates. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Politico's story is here. President Biden's letter to Congressional Democrats is here, via Politico. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Isabella Ramirez & Maya Ward of Politico: "President Joe Biden slammed his critics as 'elites' in a live interview on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' on Monday, daring any challengers to run against him as he doubled down on his vow to stay in the race. 'I'm getting so frustrated by the elites -- now I'm not talking about you guys -- the elites in the party, "Oh, they know so much more." Any of these guys that don't think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention,' Biden told hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. During the audio-only interview, Biden shot down Brzezinski's description of him as the presumptive Democratic nominee. 'I'm more than the presumptive, I'm going to be the Democratic nominee,' Biden said, laughing." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ See yesterday's Conversation for complete audio, via YouTube.

The Best-laid Plans ... Gang Aft Agley. Reid Epstein of the New York Times: "From the outset of President Biden's re-election campaign, the plan for winning was to make ... Donald J. Trump so unpalatable that voters uneasy with the incumbent would vote for him anyway. But now Mr. Biden is stuck in a political tailspin, with an abysmal debate performance highlighting his inability to make a case against Mr. Trump and prompting a collective national hand-wringing about his ability to do his job while an increasing number of House Democrats say he should leave the race. To get voters to focus on the threats posed by a second Trump administration, Mr. Biden's own allies say he first must escape his current doom loop and convince voters -- even and especially fellow Democrats -- that he is up to the job himself." (Also linked yesterday.)

Crazy People Are Writing the GOP "Platform," A Pledge of Allegiance to Trump. Robert Draper of the New York Times: "Steve Nagel, a chiropractor and talk radio host based in North Dakota, has frequently claimed that vaccines of all types lead to worse health outcomes for children. Demi Kouzounas oversaw a party platform as the chairwoman of the Maine state Republican committee that defined the teaching of nonbinary genders in public schools as 'child sexual abuse.' David Barton, an amateur Texas historian, has long called the separation between church and state a 'myth.' All three are among the 112 delegates serving on the Republican Party's national platform committee.... The primary goal is a 'short form' 2024 document that is a pledge of allegiance to ... Donald J. Trump rather than the statement of party values the platform has traditionally been...."

Robert Rubin & Kenneth Chenault in a New York Times op-ed: "We've spoken to many leaders in business and finance who, when it comes to economic policy, are open to the premise that Mr. Trump is a normal presidential candidate. We strongly disagree.... When it comes to economic policy, Mr. Trump is not a remotely normal candidate. A second Trump term would pose enormous risks to our economy.... A Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget report said that extending the 2017 tax cuts alone would add another $3.9 trillion to the federal debt and increase our debt-to-G.D.P. ratio by approximately 10 percent. This would probably lead to higher interest rates and greater inflation while undermining business confidence.... Mr. Trump would also reduce legal immigration at a time when our economy needs additional workers at all skill levels.... On trade, raising tariffs across the board -- as Mr. Trump has repeatedly promised to do -- would increase prices for American producers and consumers, reduce our global competitiveness and most likely lead other countries to retaliate against our exporters.... On regulation, [Trump] has said he would use regulation to reward loyalists and punish perceived enemies.... Trump would also take unprecedented action to diminish the independence of the Federal Reserve.... Nearly every element of Mr. Trump's second-term agenda would create great risk of economic harm."

Benjamin Weiser, et al., of the New York Times: The prosecutor in Sen. Bob Menendez's (D.-N.J.) bribry trial delivered closing arguments Monday.

Jesus Jimenez of the New York Times: "A $1 billion gift from Michael Bloomberg to Johns Hopkins University, announced on Monday, will allow most students at the university's medical school to attend free of cost and will also increase financial aid for other students in the university's schools of nursing and public health and other graduate programs. Bloomberg Philanthropies, which oversees Mr. Bloomberg's charitable efforts, said in a statement that the gift would ensure that 'the most talented aspiring doctors representing the broadest range of socio-economic backgrounds will have the opportunity to graduate debt-free' from the university." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: This is really great. Now, no one -- even a self-made billionaire like Bloomberg -- should be able to accumulate so much money that a billion-dollar gift is only one of his charitable contributions.

~~~~~~~~~~

Alaska. Mattathias Schwartz of the New York Times: "A federal judge in Alaska resigned after investigators found that he had been abusive to his law clerks, had an 'inappropriately sexualized relationship' with one of them and then lied about his misconduct, according to a judicial report released on Monday. The judge, Joshua M. Kindred of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, submitted his letter of resignation on July 3 without explanation, saying only that it would take effect on Monday. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit revealed in the report that Mr. Kindred had been asked to leave his post after a committee of judges investigating the claims against him found his chambers to be a hostile and sexualized work environment.... He was nominated to the bench by ... Donald J. Trump in 2019 and confirmed by a 54-to-41 Senate vote the next year." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: What is it that convinces a federal judge that sexual assault is appropriate on-the-job behavior? Maybe the known history of sexual abuse committed by the guy who appointed him, I don't know.

New York. Katherine Rosman of the New York Times: "Three Columbia University administrators have been removed from their posts after sending text messages that 'disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes' during a forum about Jewish issues in May, according to a letter sent by Columbia officials to the university community on Monday. The administrators are still employed by the university but have been placed on indefinite leave and will not return to their previous jobs. Nemat Shafik, the Columbia president, described the sentiments in the text messages as 'unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community.' She said the messages were 'antithetical to our university's values and the standards.' The announcement came about a month after a conservative website published photos that showed some of the text messages sent by the administrators." (Also linked yesterday.)

Texas. Shades of Cancun Ted. Hafiz Rachid of the New Republic, republished by Yahoo! News: "While Tropical Storm Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday on the Texas coast, knocking out power to at least two million homes and killing at least two people, Governor Greg Abbott was enjoying a trip to East Asia. Abbott left for South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan on Friday as the storm was forecast to hit Texas on Monday. He went ahead with his nine-day trip anyway...." ~~~

     ~~~ Speaking of Cancun Ted, let's just check and see how he's helping with hurricane relief: ~~~

     ~~~ Daniel Hampton of the Raw Story: "Republican Sen. Ted Cruz caught flak Monday as critics noted he recorded five podcasts in the last week as millions lost power in Texas due to flooding from Hurricane Beryl." In fairness to Ted, in one of those podcasts, he did offer thoughts & prayers for potential hurricane victims.

~~~~~~~~~~

Marie: Looks as if Monday was another International Crimes Against Humanity Day.

Israel/Palestine, et al.

Leo Sands, et al., of the Washington Post: "Israel launched a new military offensive in Gaza City on Monday, with evacuation orders sowing confusion as tens of thousands of Palestinians fled the war-ravaged northern city amid what residents described as some of the worst bombardment since the start of the war. Israeli negotiators were set to travel to Egypt for a round of cease-fire talks aimed at bringing some respite in the nine-month-long war with Hamas, a conflict that has devastated the Gaza Strip."

The New York Times' live updates of developments Monday in the Israel/Hamas war are here. (Also linked yesterday.)

Ukraine, et al. Mikhail Klimentov of the Washington Post: "A Russian missile attack hit cities across Ukraine on Monday, killing at least 37 people and injuring 170 people. Among those killed were three children, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who decried 'Russian terrorists' after the 'brutal' attack.... The volley struck a number of cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro and Zelensky's native city of Kryvyi Rih, among others. Rescue operations across Ukraine were still underway late Monday.... In Kyiv, the strike on Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital killed a doctor and destroyed a dialysis facility, Ukrainian officials said. Patients and staff members were forced to evacuate into the street."

News Lede

AP: "After Hurricane Beryl slammed into Texas early Monday, knocking out power to nearly 3 million homes and businesses, unleashing heavy rain and killing at least three people it moved east and later weakened to a tropical depression, the National Hurricane Center said Monday evening. The fast-moving tempest threatened to carve a harsh path over several more states in coming days. Texas state and local officials warned it could take several days to restore power after Beryl came ashore as a Category 1 hurricane and toppled 10 transmission lines and knocked down trees that took down power lines. Beryl later weakened into a tropical storm and then a tropical depression...."

Comments Off
Monday
Jul082024

The Conversation -- July 8, 2024

Emily Baumgaertner & Peter Baker of the New York Times: "An expert on Parkinson's disease from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times in eight months from last summer through this spring, including at least once for a meeting with President Biden's physician, according to official visitor logs. The expert, Dr. Kevin Cannard, is a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders and recently published a paper on Parkinson's. The logs, released by the White House, document visits from July 2023 through March of this year.... It was unclear whether Dr. Cannard was at the White House to consult specifically about the president or there for unrelated meetings.... Without discussing Dr. Cannard specifically, [White House spokesman Andrew] Bates said that the president 'has been seen by a neurologist once a year' as part of his overall annual physical checkup and 'that examination has found no sign of Parkinson's and he is not being treated for it.' He declined to provide dates of any meetings between Mr. Biden and any of his specialists.... In a six-page letter released after [a February 28] checkup, Dr. [Kevin] O'Connor [-- the White House physician --] said the president's medical team had conducted 'an extremely detailed neurologic exam' that had yielded 'no findings which would be consistent with' Parkinson's, stroke or other central neurological disorders." MB: This clarifies a Guardian story, based on New York Post reporting, that I linked with some skepticism yesterday. So now we know what we know. ~~~

     ~~~ Michael Shear of the New York Times: "The White House briefing room devolved into shouting on Monday as the press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, repeatedly dodged and refused to answer questions about the president's health, and whether visits to the White House by a Parkinson's doctor were about the president.... At Monday's daily briefing, Ms. Jean-Pierre refused to talk about Dr. [Kevin] Cannard [-- a Walter Reed neurologist --] or to acknowledge his visits to the White House, even after ... news organizations reported on the logs."

Michael Shear & Maggie Astor of the New York Times: "President Biden said in a letter to congressional Democrats on Monday that he was 'firmly committed to staying in the race,' a defiant answer to allies on Capitol Hill who have said in recent days that he should drop out. He then called into 'Morning Joe' on MSNBC to underscore that message. 'The bottom line here is that we're not going anywhere -- I am not going anywhere,' he said. His pledge to remain in the race kicks off what could be the most crucial week of his presidency, as he faces crumbling support from Democratic lawmakers and mounting fears that his defiance could lead to a historic rout by ... Donald J. Trump and his followers in November's races for the White House and Congress." At 11:00 am ET, this is the pinned item in a liveblog of presidential election updates. ~~~

     ~~~ Politico's story is here. President Biden's letter to Congressional Democrats is here, via Politico. See David F.'s commentary at the top of today's thread. ~~~

     ~~~ Isabella Ramirez & Maya Ward of Politico: "President Joe Biden slammed his critics as 'elites' in a live interview on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' on Monday, daring any challengers to run against him as he doubled down on his vow to stay in the race. 'I'm getting so frustrated by the elites -- now I'm not talking about you guys -- the elites in the party, "Oh, they know so much more." Any of these guys that don't think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention,' Biden told hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. During the audio-only interview, Biden shot down Brzezinski's description of him as the presumptive Democratic nominee. 'I'm more than the presumptive, I'm going to be the Democratic nominee,' Biden said, laughing." ~~~

The Best-laid Plans ... Gang Aft Agley. Reid Epstein of the New York Times: "From the outset of President Biden's re-election campaign, the plan for winning was to make ... Donald J. Trump so unpalatable that voters uneasy with the incumbent would vote for him anyway. But now Mr. Biden is stuck in a political tailspin, with an abysmal debate performance highlighting his inability to make a case against Mr. Trump and prompting a collective national hand-wringing about his ability to do his job while an increasing number of House Democrats say he should leave the race. To get voters to focus on the threats posed by a second Trump administration, Mr. Biden's own allies say he first must escape his current doom loop and convince voters -- even and especially fellow Democrats -- that he is up to the job himself."

New York. Katherine Rosman of the New York Times: "Three Columbia University administrators have been removed from their posts after sending text messages that 'disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes' during a forum about Jewish issues in May, according to a letter sent by Columbia officials to the university community on Monday. The administrators are still employed by the university but have been placed on indefinite leave and will not return to their previous jobs. Nemat Shafik, the Columbia president, described the sentiments in the text messages as 'unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community.' She said the messages were 'antithetical to our university's values and the standards.' The announcement came about a month after a conservative website published photos that showed some of the text messages sent by the administrators."

Israel/Palestine, et al. The New York Times' live updates of developments Monday in the Israel/Hamas war are here.

~~~~~~~~~~

Presidential Race

Luke Broadwater, et al., of the New York Times: "President Biden's base of support among key Democrats on Capitol Hill began to crumble on Sunday as a half-dozen top members of the House privately told colleagues he should withdraw from the presidential race amid growing concerns about his age and ability to win re-election. During a virtual private meeting, the House Democrats -- all senior members of powerful committees -- discussed how to use their collective influence to convince Mr. Biden he had little chance of defeating ... Donald J. Trump, according to five people familiar with the confidential discussion.... Among those saying explicitly that Mr. Biden should end his candidacy were Representatives Jerrold Nadler of New York, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee; Adam Smith of Washington, the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee; Mark Takano of California, the ranking Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee; and Joseph D. Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the committee on House Administration Politico's story is here.

Oh, for Pete's Sake. Jordain Carney of Politico: "House Republicans are opening an investigation into President Joe Biden's doctor in the wake of his debate performance -- the latest sign that Democrats' political headaches are only growing. House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) sent a letter to White House physician Kevin O'Connor on Sunday requesting that he appear behind closed doors for a transcribed interview with committee counsel. Comer is giving O'Connor until July 14 to contact staff to schedule the interview." MB: Funny Comer showed no such enthusiasm for investigating Dr. Ronny Jackson (that's Ronny Johnson to the Man with the Very Good Brain) and the Uppers and Downers Pill Dispensary Johnson-né-Jackson ran out of Trump's White House. (Also linked yesterday.)

Yasmeen Abutaleb, et al., of the Washington Post: "When questions about his age and ability to serve another four-year term have surfaced -- whether from the news media, lawmakers or the general public -- the president's aides have been quick to deny any problem.... Aides have increasingly shielded Biden from unscripted encounters -- shortening his interactions with the news media and installing teleprompters at virtually all of his appearances where he would give remarks, even small private events -- sparking suspicion among those who interact with him less often that his aging and decline may be worse than aides have acknowledged."

Maureen Dowd of the New York Times knocks President Biden's verbal gaffes. MB: That's all well and good, but I am reminded that for at least a year after Donald Trump became president, MSM reporters went out of their way to "translate" his incoherent remarks and turn them into complete sentences. They also have not complained in print about Biden's delivery, even though it's obviously been substandard for a couple of years.

Timothy Snyder on Substack: "It should seem odd that media calls to step down were not first directed to Trump. If we are calling for Biden to step aside because someone must stop Trump from bringing down the republic, then surely it would have made more sense to first call for Trump to step aside? (The Philadelphia Inquirer did).... When media folks describe discussions among Democrats as chaos and disarray, they are implicitly suggesting that it is better for a leader of a party to never be questioned."

Azi Paybarah of the Washington Post: "The head of a Philadelphia radio station said Sunday it has parted ways with a host who acknowledged that she interviewed President Biden with questions submitted by his campaign, going against the station's practice and those of most news outlets. 'On July 3, the first post-debate interview with President Joe Biden was arranged and negotiated independently by WURD radio host Andrea Lawful-Sanders without knowledge, consultation or collaboration with WURD management,' Sara M. Lomax, president and CEO of WURD Radio said in a statement.... Later on Saturday, people familiar with the Biden booking operation said the campaign will not continue the practice of offering 'suggested questions.'" MB: I dunno, but it seems that once again the "littlest person" pays the price for a mistake and everybody else get away with it.

J.D. Vance Figures He Is Entitled to His Own Facts. Tom Boggioni on AlterNet: "In just the first half of Sen. J.D. Vance's interview with 'Meet the Press' host Kristen Welker, the Ohio Republican waved his hands and snapped at her as she attempted to fact-check him." Vance first claimed that the Biden administration engineered the New York prosecution against Trump; then claimed that Democrats want to fund abortions up to the time of birth. Welker pushed back against both false assertions.

Washington Post Editors: "... the GOP has an ambitious agenda, and much of it is unpopular. That is likely why Mr. Trump doesn't want it written down in an official document -- and why the party's platform committee also plans to meet behind closed doors, even though sessions have traditionally been televised on C-SPAN.... To be sure, Mr. Trump is an apparent menace even without detailing every weird plan his far-right administration-in-waiting wants to impose on the nation.... He gets away with [incendiary] talk [and disastrous proposals] in part because he does not let himself get pinned down on specifics. Voters should demand better than such cynical strategic ambiguity."

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law. -- U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 3 (emphasis added)

That's unconstitutional! -- John Roberts, Trump v. U.S.

Eileen Sullivan & Danielle Kaye of the New York Times: "Boeing agreed on Sunday to plead guilty to a felony charge of conspiring to defraud the federal government over two fatal crashes of the 737 Max in 2018 and 2019, according to a late-night court filing. In the deal with the department, outlined in part in the court filing, Boeing also agreed to pay a $487.2 million fine -- the maximum allowed by law -- and invest at least $455 million over the next three years to strengthen its compliance and safety programs. The company will be put on probation, supervised by the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Texas, for three years. As part of the probation, the Justice Department will appoint an independent compliance monitor who will make sure that safety measures are in place and followed, submitting annual reports to the government.... The company's board of directors will also be required to meet with crash victims' families.... The company has not been convicted of a federal felony in decades. In the filing, the department described the charge of conspiring to defraud the federal government as 'the most serious readily provable offense.'" ~~~

     ~~~ David Koenig & Alanna Richer of the AP: "Boeing will plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two crashes of 737 Max jetliners that killed 346 people after the government determined the company violated an agreement that had protected it from prosecution for more than three years, the Justice Department said Sunday night. Federal prosecutors gave Boeing the choice last week of entering a guilty plea and paying a fine as part of its sentence or facing a trial on the felony criminal charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States."

Ajit Niranjan of the Guardian: "The world has baked for 12 consecutive months in temperatures 1.5C (2.7F) greater than their average before the fossil fuel era, new data shows. Temperatures between July 2023 and June 2024 were the highest on record, scientists found, creating a year-long stretch in which the Earth was 1.64C hotter than in preindustrial times."

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France. Roger Cohen of the New York Times: "France faced a hung parliament and deep political uncertainty after the three main political groups of the left, center and right emerged from snap legislative elections on Sunday with large shares of the vote but nothing approaching an absolute majority. The preliminary results upended widespread predictions of a clear victory for the National Rally, Marine Le Pen's anti-immigrant party that dominated the first round of voting a week ago. Instead, the left-wing New Popular Front won 178 seats. The centrist coalition of President Emmanuel Macron, who cast the country into turmoil a month ago by calling the election, was in second place with 150 seats. Trailing it was the National Rally and its allies, which took 142 seats." Politico's report is here.

Israel. Isabel Kershner of the New York Times: "Israelis on Sunday marked nine months since the devastating Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7 and the start of the ensuing war in Gaza with a nationwide day of anti-government protests.... Primarily calling for a cease-fire deal with Hamas that would see hostages return from captivity and for new elections in Israel, protesters brought traffic to a standstill at several major intersections in cities and on highways across the country. Much of central Tel Aviv was blocked in one of the biggest protests in months."

News Lede

Washington Post: "Beryl, now a Category 1 hurricane, is expected to make landfall in Texas in the coming hours after tearing through parts of the Caribbean, where it killed at least 11 people, wrecked homes and tore down power lines. It is projected to hit Matagorda, a small town between Corpus Christi and Houston, before bringing destructive winds inland." This is a liveblog. ~~~

     ~~~ Here's the New York Times' liveblog.

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Sunday
Jul072024

The Conversation -- July 7, 2024

The New York Times is liveblogging the results of the French elections: ~~~

Roger Cohen & Aurelien Breeden: "The left was set to surge in legislative elections in France on Sunday and the far right to come up short of expectations, according to early projections, as no party secured an absolute majority. In a surprising performance, the left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front, emerged as a front-runner for the most seats in two early projections, though the final results could change the picture. Several polls had the left and [Prime Minister Emmanuel] Macron's centrist coalition jockeying for the largest number of seats in the 577-seat National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament where most legislative power resides. Five projections had the far right in the third position.... Voter participation at 5 p.m. local time was the highest in over two decades, at nearly 60 percent, the Interior Ministry said." At 3:00 pm ET Sunday, this is the pinned item.

Breeden: "Although the picture is still murky, most early projections by French pollsters put the far-right National Rally in third place. That would be an extremely disappointing result for its supporters -- and a sigh of relief for President Emmanuel Macron, who many critics blamed for calling the snap election that could have brought the far right to power."

Oh, for Pete's Sake. Jordain Carney of Politico: "House Republicans are opening an investigation into President Joe Biden's doctor in the wake of his debate performance -- the latest sign that Democrats' political headaches are only growing. House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) sent a letter to White House physician Kevin O'Connor on Sunday requesting that he appear behind closed doors for a transcribed interview with committee counsel. Comer is giving O'Connor until July 14 to contact staff to schedule the interview." MB: Funny Comer showed no such enthusiasm for investigating Dr. Ronny Jackson (that's Ronny Johnson to the Man with the Very Good Brain) and the Uppers and Downers Pill Dispensary Johnson-né-Jackson ran out of Trump's White House.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law. -- U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 3 (emphasis added)

That's unconstitutional! -- John Roberts, Trump v. U.S.

Sunday Reads

Carlos Lozado of the New York Times explores the oscillating meanings of "American exceptionalism" and a "shining city upon a hill." Very much worth a full read, right down to the last graf.

Joyce Vance writes on Substack about Trump's and the Heritage Foundation's attempts to pretend they're totally independent of one another. A good read, including this bit: "Project 2025 doesn't contain overt references to Trump. In that regard, it reminds me of the Supreme Court's opinion in the immunity appeal, Trump v. U.S. The Court pretended it was writing rules for theoretical future presidents. They tried to divorce their decision from the reality that it could let Donald Trump, whom they dismissed without naming him as 'present exigencies,' escape from his effort to overturn the election with no consequences."

The Diabolical Cunning of Donald Trump. Philip Kennicott of the Washington Post homes in on the way Trump is attempting to inoculate the public against outrage at his aggressive deportation plans. "Paraphrased into English, Trump is saying: For every 10 (or 10,000 or 10 million) bad people we deport, the media will fixate on images that depict the suffering of a few good people, perhaps an attractive woman with beautiful children, which will cause outrage and make it difficult to continue the deportation.... He is extending his frequent dehumanization of immigrants -- as animals and criminals -- into what might be called the photographic conscience, the visceral power of images to galvanize public sentiment and reorder the priorities of political life.... [By anticipating disturbing images of migrant suffering, Trump is setting us up, so that] no longer do we see an image of terrible suffering and say, never again. Rather, we imagine the dreadful details of terrible suffering, and then steel ourselves to look away."

Presidential Race

Katie Glueck, et al., of the New York Times: "Numerous officials, lawmakers and strategists in President Biden's own party increasingly see his candidacy as unsustainable -- and their private anxieties are slowly but steadily spilling into public view, interviews with more than 50 Democrats this week showed. Growing swaths of Democrats now believe that by remaining on the ticket, the president is jeopardizing their ability to maintain the White House and threatening other candidates up and down the ballot. The moment is setting up an extraordinary clash between a defiant president of the United States who insists he is not abandoning his re-election campaign and members of his party who are beginning to suggest that he should. 'I have less and less confidence in this campaign's ability to win this race,' Representative Scott Peters, Democrat of California, said in an interview. 'If we know we're going to lose, we would be foolish not to look at another course.'"

Lisa Kashinsky & Kelly Garrity of Politico: "One of Joe Biden's high-profile campaign surrogates is publicly urging him to consider exiting the presidential race. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a member of Biden's national campaign advisory board who earlier this spring headlined a big-dollar fundraiser for him in Boston, said in a statement Friday that he should 'carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump.'" Also linked yesterday.

Matt Viser & Shane Harris of the Washington Post: "Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), who is in a competitive race and among the more endangered Democrats, on Saturday morning called on [President] Biden to drop out of the race, saying 'there is only a small window left to make sure we have a candidate best equipped to make the case and win.... Given what I saw and heard from the President during last week's debate in Atlanta, coupled with the lack of a forceful response from the President himself following that debate, I do not believe that the President can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump,' she said in a statement." Politico's story is here. Also linked yesterday.

Paul Kane of the Washington Post: "Senate Democrats have been a bulwark of support for [President] Biden.... But as Biden's hold on the Democratic nomination has weakened after his poor debate performance against ... Donald Trump, Senate Democrats have grown less boisterous about the president's future. As of late Saturday, not a single Democratic senator had publicly called for Biden to step aside.... That's in stark contrast to the House, where five Democrats have formally asked him to step aside and at least 10 others have raised concerns publicly about whether he should reconsider his plans. But those same Senate Democrats have remained relatively quiet in a manner that could suggest a more ominous future."

Michael Scherer, et al., of the Washington Post: "President Biden's top aides awoke after debate night with a plan to contain the damage: A raucous North Carolina crowd, a message of resilience, a demonstration of vibrancy.... Rather than take [supporters'] concerns head-on, Biden followed the speech and rally by retreating from public view -- a series of private fundraisers awkwardly using his teleprompter, a retreat with his family to take pictures with photographer Annie Leibovitz, short scripted addresses at the White House -- just 32 minutes of combined public comments over five days, none of it off the cuff. Sentiment on Capitol Hill soured, donors organized against him and some public polls showed significant erosion. Independent Democratic strategists circulated plans to build up Vice President Harris. His own advisers and staff began to speak out, alarmed by what one called the 'deafening silence.' Then began the drip-drip of elected and former leaders asking him to step aside."

Biden's Blind Spot Is Shakespearean. Maureen Dowd of the New York Times: "King Lear gave up power too early. President Biden will give it up too late. And that is Joe's tragedy.... Biden's contention that he alone can beat Trump was never true. And now he has lost some moral high ground because he hid the evidence of cognitive deterioration.... We don't know now who is running the country. We only know who shouldn't be -- the president and the former president.... Let's open the convention and check out all the Democratic stars." MB: Dowd doesn't write anything I haven't written since reading the debate reviews and seeing about 30 seconds of Biden's performance. But she writes it better. Also linked yesterday.

Sanjay Gupta of CNN: "The consensus from the doctors reaching out to me ... [following President Biden's debate performance] was that the president should be encouraged to undergo detailed cognitive and movement disorder testing, and those results should be made available to the public." MB: See also Paul Campos in LG&$. (Thanks to RAS for the link.) And see my comment near the top of Saturday's thread. Also linked yesterday. ~~~

~~~ Edward Helmore of the Guardian: "Joe Biden's doctor met with a leading Washington DC neurologist at the White House this year, it was reported on Saturday. The report came after Biden on Friday ruled out taking an independent cognitive test and releasing its findings publicly.... According White House visitor logs reviewed by the New York Post, Dr Kevin Cannard, a Parkinson's disease expert at Walter Reed medical center, met with Dr Kevin O'Connor, a doctor of osteopathic medicine who has treated the president for years. The visit took place at the White House residence clinic on 17 January. Cannard has visited the White House house eight times since August 2023.... Biden has consistently rejected taking any cognitive test, including in August 2020 when he dismissed a reporter's question with: 'Why the hell would I take a test?' He has continued to dismiss the need for one and, according to aides, has not received one during his three annual physical exams during his term in the White House. The Washington Post on Saturday reported a White House aide saying that O'Connor, who has been Biden's doctor since 2009, has never recommended that Biden take a cognitive test." Also linked yesterday. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Okay, it's the New York Post, but the Guardian is willing to accept the reporting, so maybe the Post didn't just make up the story out of whole cloth.

Michael Kranish & Dan Diamond of the Washington Post: "Since winning the White House, [President] Biden has continued to dismiss the need for a cognitive exam, and aides have said he has never taken one as president -- not in three annual physical exams, and not in the week since a halting debate performance raised more urgent questions about the now-81-year-old's mental acuity. That decision has been overseen by a key figure largely unknown to the public: Kevin O'Connor, the physician to the president, who has grown extraordinarily close to Biden since becoming his personal doctor in 2009. A White House official said O'Connor has never recommended that Biden take a cognitive test.... Unlike some physicians to a president, O'Connor, 58, a doctor of osteopathic medicine and a retired Army colonel, has not appeared at the White House podium to take questions about Biden's annual physicals and other medical events....

"Three of O'Connor's former colleagues in the White House medical unit, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe confidential relationships, said Biden's debate performance suggested to them that the president should undergo cognitive screening. In addition, Ira Monka, the president of the American Osteopathic Association, who visited with O'Connor at the White House this year, also told The Post that he thinks Biden's performance should prompt an initial cognitive review to see if more tests are needed." Also linked yesterday.

Michael Shear of the New York Times: "The questions asked of President Biden by two radio interviewers this week were provided in advance to the hosts by members of Mr. Biden's team, one of the hosts said Saturday morning on CNN.... And yet, despite knowing the questions in advance, Mr. Biden still stumbled over some of them.... Andrea Lawful-Sanders, the host of 'The Source' on WURD in Philadelphia, said Biden officials provided her with a list of eight questions ahead of the interview on Wednesday. 'The questions were sent to me for approval; I approved of them,' she told Victor Blackwell ... on CNN. Asked if it was the White House that sent the questions to her in advance, she said it was. 'I got several questions -- eight of them,' she said. 'And the four that were chosen were the ones that I approved.' Lauren Hitt, a spokeswoman for the Biden campaign, said it was actually campaign aides, not White House officials, who sent the list of questions.... Ms. Lawful-Sanders said later on Saturday that she 'never once felt pressured to ask certain questions' from the campaign." A Mother Jones story is here. Also linked yesterday.

Brian Schott of the Salt Lake Tribune: "On Friday evening, Utah Sen. Mike Lee used his personal X/Twitter account to amplify a baseless claim that President Joe Biden was having a 'medical emergency' on Air Force One.... The claim started with far-right activist and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, who posted without attribution that 'Joe Biden is reportedly having a medical emergency on Air Force One. Press access has been removed. 'A Community Note, a tool on X ... that empowers people to add context to misleading posts, debunked Loomer's claim, noting journalists traveling with the president reported there was no incident, and Biden exited the plane on his own.... After Loomer's false claim made its way to [MB: right-wing] podcaster Monica Crowley, Lee ran with it. A few hours after helping to spread disinformation online, Lee attacked the [MB: 'Left-wing'] media for being untrustworthy. He also claimed that Biden was being run like a puppet by former President Barack Obama." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Mike Lee is the worst form of scum. A U.S. senator is supposed to have at least a minimal level of integrity. Instead, after spreading a false story for which he had no credible source, he blamed "left-wing media" for a fake rumor that only righty-right liars promoted. And he never took responsibility for his own actions.

Philip Nieto of Mediaite: "A former staffer on Donald Trump's 2016 campaign revealed bombshell texts claiming that the former president's 2020 campaign 'settled multiple suits' related to gender discrimination and sexual harassment. A.J. Delgado made the revelation as part of her ongoing discrimination lawsuit against the current campaign, alleging she was raped by Trump advisor Jason Miller. The motion she filed Thursday included a thread of texts she claims are between herself and Jenna Ellis, another former Trump staffer.... Read more from The New Republic here." In the text exchange, Ellis says claims settled -- through middlemen -- were against "Boris," possibly Trump pal Boris Epshteyn. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Oh, why or why am I thinking Ellis's blubbery "deep remorse" for her participation in the Georgia election fraud scheme was a dramatic exhibition of crocodile tears.


Delay, Delay, Delay. Alan Feuer of the New York Times: "A federal judge on Saturday postponed a few deadlines in ... Donald J. Trump's classified documents case to allow prosecutors time to respond to his request for a broader pause in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling this week on executive immunity.... In a brief order on Saturday, Judge [Aileen] Cannon told prosecutors in the office of the special counsel, Jack Smith, that they had until July 18 to respond to Mr. Trump's request for a broad delay. In the meantime, she pushed back two approaching deadlines in the case related to filings about expert witnesses the two sides plan to introduce at trial and to the defense's obligation to provide discovery information to the government." Also linked yesterday.

Alan Feuer of the New York Times: "The federal judge overseeing ... Donald J. Trump's classified documents case on Saturday rejected an effort by one of his co-defendants to have the charges he is facing dismissed by claiming that he was the victim of a vindictive prosecution by the government. The co-defendant, Walt Nauta, who works as a personal aide to Mr. Trump, had accused prosecutors in the office of the special counsel, Jack Smith, of unfairly indicting him because he declined to help their efforts to build a case against the former president by testifying against him in front of a grand jury. Mr. Nauta's lawyer, Stanley Woodward Jr., also claimed that at a meeting at the Justice Department two years ago, prosecutors had threatened to derail a judgeship he was seeking if he did not prevail on his client to turn on Mr. Trump. But in an order issued on Saturday night, Judge Aileen M. Cannon rejected those arguments, ruling that even though Mr. Nauta had refused to provide testimony against Mr. Trump, there was 'no evidence suggesting that charges were brought to punish him for doing so.'"

Radley Balko in a Substack essay: "Faced with the most potent threat to democracy in more than a century, our most revered institution didn't just fail to hold, it aligned itself with the threat. The Supreme Court's ruling in Trump v. United States is its worst decision of my lifetime. John Roberts's sloppy, arrogant, contradictory majority opinion provides license for any future president to lie, cheat, steal, suppress dissent, and -- if they have the stomach for it -- assassinate. It obliterates a guardrail for executive power that's fundamental to a functioning democracy. So fundamental, in fact, that until the country elected an aspiring autocrat brazen enough to engage in open-air corruption, it was a guardrail few thought necessary to actually define. Of course the president can be prosecuted for actual crimes.... This opinion isn't a stain on Roberts's legacy. It is his legacy. He will be remembered as the 'institutionalist' who destroyed the legitimacy of the institution entrusted to his care." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Balko is a seasoned journalist whose political ideology is all over the map.

Marie: Speaking on MSNBC this morning, Jill Wine-Banks pointed out perhaps the only funny by-product of Supreme Court's presidential* immunity ruling: it blows up the fake purpose of Jim Jordan's infamous House Weaponization Committee where the House was supposed to be investigating how Joe Biden had "weaponized" the Justice Department and other federal agencies. Why? Because the Supremes made all that supposed weaponization (which, admittedly, is a right-wing fiction) is now totally legal. Thanks, Supremes!/p>

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California. Shannon Osaka of the Washington Post: "At first glance, one of the world's oldest living organisms doesn't look like much -- a collection of shrubs nestled atop a hill in a rocky gully. But those shrubs are just the crown of a giant, spreading oak tree, 90 feet long and 30 feet wide. Most of the tree is underground. Estimated to be 13,000 to 18,000 years old, the tree -- known as the Jurupa Oak -- is older than almost any other plant on Earth. It has survived an ice age and rapid climate warming. Its leaves may have brushed against saber-toothed cats and 500-pound ground sloths. But now, environmentalists and locals worry that the ancient tree is under threat from a more quotidian force in modern California: development. The Planning Commission of Jurupa Valley, a city of 100,000 an hour east of Los Angeles, is poised to approve a 1.4-square-mile development that includes a business park, 1,700 homes and an elementary school. Light-industry buildings would stand just a few hundred feet from the ancient tree.... Environmentalists believe that the construction and resulting development could be deadly to the Jurupa Oak." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Read on. This is so not the type of decision that should be left to local yokels. Ever. The WashPo reporters write, "Jurupa Valley is also not known for its environmental quality: The city is best known nationally for a set of polluted acid pits that catapulted it into the news in the 1980s."

News Ledes

Washington Post: "Former hurricane Beryl ... is gearing up for its third and final landfall, this time in Texas. The forecast is tricky, but meteorologists are expecting the tropical storm to come ashore as an intensifying hurricane Sunday night into Monday. The National Hurricane Center is projecting Beryl to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane along the lower or middle Texas coast. That's where it warns of 'a danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation,' and 'damaging hurricane-force winds.'"

New York Times: "Millions of people across the Western United States were broiling under record-breaking heat on Saturday, with little relief in sight over the coming days, according to forecasters. From Oregon to California to the deserts of Arizona, several cities have seen stifling temperatures in recent days. Jacob Asherman, a forecaster for the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center, said the blistering temperatures were being fueled by a ridge of high-pressure air that had parked over much of the West, preventing hot air near the surface from rising higher in the atmosphere."

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