11/17/23

Good morning! It’s Friday, November 17th.

National homemade bread day.

It’s actually a lot of days, but homemade bread just sounded so warm and lovely.

And now, the news.

Israel-Hamas War

-via AP News, NBC News, and CNN

Let’s start with the Israel-Hamas war where, on Thursday, internet and telephone services went down in Gaza because of a lack of fuel. As a reminder, this has been a concern for a while, since Gaza depended on fuel from Israel, prior to Hamas’ attack on Israel. Now, it depends on UN aid, which includes fuel but, and again this has been the concern for weeks now, they just couldn’t keep up with demand.

Now, fears of a potentially long-term blackout have come true.

While Israel has yet to find evidence of Hamas’ central command center, Israeli troops have continued their search inside of the area’s main hospital, in hopes of finding that main command center.

Most of the population of Gaza has taken refuge in the southern region, but a leaflet dropped Wednesday into communities in the largest city in Southern Gaza, warned people to “head towards known shelters,” suggesting that Israeli troops may head south next.

More than 11,470 Palestinians have been killed, two-thirds of them women and minors, with another 2,700 reported missing, since the Israeli government responded to Hamas’ October 7th attack.

Deadlocked Jury for Cop Who Killed Breonna Taylor

-via CNN

A mistrial has been declared for Brett Hankison, the former detective who’s been charged federally in connection with the death of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor, who was at home sleeping when she was shot and killed by cops executing a no-knock warrant.

Prosecutors say Hankison used “unconstitutionally excessive force,” when he shot into her apartment, including from the outside, through a covered window and covered glass door. When Taylor’s boyfriend woke up to people busting into his apartment in the middle of the night, he fired his legally owned gun, and struck an officer.

Hankison testified that he believed a shootout was occurring (not realizing most shots were coming from the police), and even though he couldn’t see through the windows, he shot where he thought the shooter was.

Literally, if you heard that exact same story and it wasn’t someone who happened to have a badge, these people would be in prison. You just shot where you thought someone might be? Not knowing if you were right or who even was there?

Anyway, a mistrial has been declared because the jury was deadlocked.

Sounds like a new trial will take place.

Sean Combs Accused of Trafficking, Sexual Assault, and Abuse

-via NPR

In a report from his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie, Sean Combs, aka Puff Daddy, aka P. Diddy, has been accused rape, trafficking, assault, coercion, and abuse.

The suit alleges that they met when she was 19 and Combs was 37. By 2006, he gained control of her life by plying her with drugs and alcohol, after which the relationship turned violent. His security also tried to stop him, but was unable. The examples in the suit are pretty terrible.

It also talks about instances like in February of 2012, he told her he was going to blow up Kid Cudi's car after she dated him, and that he wanted Kid Cudi to be when it happened. And around that time, Kid Cudi's car exploded in his driveway.

David DePape Convicted

-via NY Times

David DePape (is that how we’ve decided we’re saying his name? I forget.), the 43-year-old man who broke into Nancy Pelosi’s house, while she was out of town, and beat her husband Paul with a hammer, was found guilty of all charges on Thursday, including an attempt to kidnap Nancy Pelosi.

He now faces decades in prison, even possible life in prison.

The trial lasted four days, and in it we learned that he intended to attack Nancy not because of her political beliefs, but because she led the democrats and, in media appearances, he claimed she lied about Donald Trump.

We also learned that he planned to originally carry out his attack… while wearing an inflatable unicorn costume.

That’s… real. I don’t… know what to do with that information. But it IS real. So…

SCOTUS Can’t Enforce Florida’s Anti-Drag Law

-via CNN

The Supreme Court have declined to hear a case over whether a Florida lower-court’s decision to stop the state’s anti-drag law is legal.

Which means – drag wins in Florida! On a First Amendment ruling!

Wanna hear who wrote the statement? Brett Kavanaugh, joined in part by Amy Coney Barrett.

Can you believe it? Sometimes they really will surprise you!

It’s not that they think drag is a First Amendment right. I’m sure they don’t but that wasn’t the question. It’s because the case was an “imperfect vehicle,” to make drag decisions.

Justices Thomas, Aleako and Gorsuch said they would have allowed the law to take effect. And everyone was like – we’re aware!

Bad day for DeSantis, who pushed this bill. And what do we say when DeSantis is having a bad day? Good.

Bye George!

-via NPR

And finally… sometimes you find the Friday show, and sometimes the Friday show finds you…

George Santos!

The Ethics report is in and turns out, and be prepared to be shocked, the guy that said his mom died on 9/11 (she didn’t) and stole money from a fake animal charity… is actually super unethical!

The report found that, among other things, he used campaign funds for things like botox treatments, Sephora shopping sprees and "purchases at OnlyFans."

And because of this… he will not be seeking reelection.

Lol… oh nooooo so saaaaaaaad

He should ask for his money back on that botox and filler… it was to much. It was starting to look too obvious.

And that’s it. That’s the news.

I’m proud of bread. Of all kinds. Buy it. Make it. Whatever. It’s still great!

It’s also baklava day. And because you know the baklava was fantastic… I’m proud of you.