01/10/23
Good morning! It’s National Houseplant Appreciation Day.
And okay fine, I’ll admit it – I’m terrible with houseplants. I probably would be better with them if they were in the house, but they’re not. They’re on the porch and so I only think about watering them when I’m already doing something else.
But today… oh bud, those houseplants are feeling mighty appreciated
And now, the news.
Update on Brazilian Protests
-via AP News
Authorities in Brazil say they have cleared all protestors out of the country’s Congress, Supreme Court, and Presidential Palace buildings. Authorities were also able to break down a pro-Bolsonaro encampment and detained about 1,200 protestors.
Justice Minister Dino also told reporters that police have begun tracking for those paid for the buses that brought the protestors to the capital.
Hey! That reminds me! Did anyone ever figure out who paid for the buses for our insurrection? Or who planted those pipe bombs that were found around the RNC and DNC?
No? Okay.
In addition to the 1,200 arrests that took place on Monday, approximately 300 arrests took place on Sunday.
Public prosecutors noted that police were slow to react to the protestors, saying they were, at least, negligent.
More as this continues to evolve.
Trump Crime Update Time
-via CNN
Hey, did you notice any January 6th vibes in that last story?
Probably. Because, as you may remember… two years, and a few days ago, a bunch of people stormed OUR capitol building because wah wah wah but I don’t WANT that guy to win! His ties aren’t long enough.
Which means it’s time for…
TRUMP CRIME UPDATE TIME
When last we visited our little authoritarian, the January 6th committee had wrapped up because Republicans took over the House and WHOOPS, can’t investigate ourselves! But, as you may remember, January 6th wasn’t just about the 6th. It was also about everything lead up to it. And, as you may also remember, the House Select Committee wasn’t the only place looking into the many many ways Trump tried to overturn election results.
That includes the time he gave the Georgia Secretary of State a ring and asked him to just… FIND the votes needed to flip the state into his win column.
When it comes to Georgia, an Atlanta-area special grand jury was investigating whether Trump and Co, including Senator Lindsay Graham, broke any laws while asking if they can just change those Georgia election results.
That investigation has now completed its work, according to a court filing. The panel will now issue a final report, including whether they recommend Fulton County DA Fani Willis pursue indictments.
A hearing will take place on January 24th to decide whether the report will be made public.
Here’s hopin!
Damar Hamlin Update
-via NPR
Want to hear some great news? Damar Hamlin has been released from the Cincinnati hospital where he’s been for the last week. He is home and, per his doctors, doing well and in the beginning of the next state of his recovery.
Absolutely incredible.
SCOTUS Rejects Republican Hopes of Trump’s Immigration Rule
-via Reuters
The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal put forth by 14 Republican-leg state attorneys general, led by Texas’ Ken Paxton, that would attempt to push back on a lower court’s ruling against defending Trump’s “public charge” immigration rule.
As a reminder, in February 2020, Trump’s administration significantly widened the definition of “public charges,” or people who were ineligible for legal permanent residency here in the states.
McCarthy’s First Day as Speaker
-via Washington Post
I truly cannot find it within my heart to talk about Kevin McCarthy for another day. Honestly, everyone deserves an award for the amount of brain power we spent on him all last week. So I’ll talk more about this after something actually happens but, just so you know… yesterday was Kev’s first day of school and he is having a no good very bad day, because, as we ALL saw coming… he can’t get his party in order and no one will agree on the House rules package that needs to be greenlit.
The problem is, he’s spent the last 2 years, and all of last week, doing anything he could to get the friendship, I mean votes, of the insurrections in the House. And now the moderate Republicans who are perhaps rethinking their vote and maybe wishing they could vote for Jeffries, don’t want to be led around by people like Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert.
Huh. Funny how that works.
Sounds tough. Good luck little guy.
And that’s it. That’s the news.
Kind of a slow news day… kind of nice.
I’m proud of… oh! You know what? I’m dehydrating some limes with tajin right now and, if it works, I’ll be very proud of limes.
I’m also proud of my houseplants, for putting up with me.
But more than that, more than the plant I got from Target because it looked sad and I thought I was doing it a favor but now I wonder if it wishes it could go back to Target… because you are also resilient… I’m proud of you.