04/12/23

Good morning! It’s Wednesday, April 12th.

Deskfast Day.

As in, eat your breakfast at your desk.

And I know these are just dumb things, but for some reason this one really makes me mad. I don’t know why I even care!

But like… hey! First of all… eat breakfast whenever you’re ready for it, but I don’t know if waiting until you’re at work is the right timeline. Also, as someone who has spent the last 10+ years of my life in a career where I, more often than not, ate the majority of my meals at my desk… it sucks! It’s not sanitary. It’s not relaxing. It’s not nice.

Don’t celebrate this! It’s not even fun to say!

And now, the news.

White House Proposes Equal Water Division

-via NY Times

Thanks to overuse and a 23-year drought, the Colorado River’s flow has fallen by one-third, when compared to historic averages.

So, after months of negotiations that haven’t gone anywhere, the Biden administration is toss legal precedence to the side in favor of a classic “how about no one’s happy” solution: cut water allotments to California, Arizona, and Nevada evenly, but as much as one quarter.

Neither the size of the reductions, nor the idea of the federal government imposing them, have ever occurred in American history.

So… look at us! We did it!

This is one of three options that a draft analysis from the Department of the Interior released on Tuesday. The other two options are – do nothing (seems bad), make cuts based on senior water rights, or make the equal cuts.

Look, I’m no water expert but I’m gonna say… I don’t know. Definitely don’t do the first option. Don’t do the nothing option.

The draft analysis didn’t offer an official endorsements, and a final analysis is expected this summer.

TN. Governor Calls for Gun Reform

-via WPLN, Popular.Info, & Twitter

Tennessee’s governor Lee is calling on the state’s legislature to pass red flag laws to restrict anyone who poses a threat to themselves or others from getting a gun. He also signed an executive order that establishes a 72-hour new crime reporting requirement, requires courts to submit timely and accurate information to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (aka TBI), and requires the TBI to examine the process for purchasing firearms and submit a report listing any changes needed within 60 days.

In Tennessee!

Now, the executive order part, that’s done. The red flag laws will be a little harder. Remember that the Tennessee Three were protesting to get the legislature to start talking about gun control.

We’ll see if Tennessee’s Speaker Sexton is willing to take up the laws that come across his desk. And come across his desk they will, as newly re-instated Justin Jones has already promised that he will basically only submit gun legislation laws.

Interestingly, reporter Judd Legum has broken a piece of news about Sexton that, based on what we know about the Tennessee statehouse might not do anything, but is VERY wild and should make him ineligible for his seat.

Because not only has Sexton not paid taxes on a condo of his for the last two years… he actually admitted that his family doesn’t live in the town where that condo is. That town is Crossville – which is what he was elected to represent.

Turns out he lives in Nashville. Two hours away.

I’ll say that again – Speaker Sexton does not live in the town he was elected to represent.

So… we’ll see what happens there.

It’s only Wednesday and it’s already a big week of news in Tennessee state politics, as it also came out this week that state Republicans killed bills that would tell high schoolers how to register to vote AND study the use of college IDs to vote. They did so using voice votes in secret, after moving TV cameras away so no one would know.

And based on what we’ve seen in the last few weeks when it comes to public reaction to Tennessee playing games with democracy, this feels like something we’re going to hear more about and, hopefully, will come back to bite the Republicans. Because listen – play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Vote em all out.

Bragg Sues Jordan

-via CNN

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who brought the indictment against Trump, is suing Senator Jim Jordan. We love to see it!

I guess we should find out why though.

Bragg is suing over what he calls a “transparent campaign to intimidate and attack” on his office, over the case against Trump.

Like… first of all, Jimmy Jords – this has nothing to do with you. Sit down. Wait to use your illegal intimidation for when they come after the January 6th participants in office. Because for SURE will have to do with you.

This ain’t it.

Jordan is seeking testimony from former senior prosecutor Mark Pomerantz, as well as get his grubby little mitts on confidential documents and testimony from Bragg and current and former employees of his office.

Pomerantz has already said he will not comply with the subpoena. To which Jordan said – hey! It’s only okay when OUR SIDE doesn’t comply with a subpoena!

A judge denied Bragg’s request for emergency relief on Tuesday, and set a hearing for April 19th. The Pomerantz subpoena goes into effect on the 20th.

This is the Republican party here. They’re not actually going to do anything, but they sure are going to trip over their shoelaces to help the guy with the long tie who doesn’t care about them.

And that’s it. That’s the news.

Something fun – it’s also hamster day. So… you know… I don’t know what you’re supposed to do to celebrate that but, there we have it.

But more than hampsters, I know that’s hard to believe because you know how much I just LOVE hamsters. I’m proud of you.