04/06/23
Good morning! It’s Thursday, April 6th. National Burrito Day.
No notes. Burritos, aka meat tornados to all of us Parks and Recs heads (which is the first time I’ve used that nickname and now I’m thinking we need a new name for us), are a perfect food and I will not be hearing anything other than agreement.
And now, the news.
Tennessee Update
-via The Tennessean, US Constitution, and Tennessee Lookout
Let’s start with an update on Tennessee. If you didn’t listen to yesterday’s special episode about Tennessee, please go listen. Because what’s happening in Tennessee is, by no exaggeration, the dissolvement of democracy.
This morning, the Republican-led House will vote to expel the three Democrats who simply used their Constitutional right to peacefully protest. At this time, it looks like they will almost certainly be expelled.
And in case you’re not sure how severe this is, let me give you a comprehensive list of every other time an member has been expelled from the Tennessee House.
In 2016, Jeremy Durham was expelled for allegations of sexual misconduct.
In 1980, Robert Fisher was expelled for taking a $1000 bribe.
In 1866, six members were expelled after trying to prevent Tennessee from ratifying the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. That’s the one that provides citizenship to former enslaved people.
And that’s… it. Eight people total. Only two since 1980. And all for serious things.
Again… these three state house members were protesting.
Hey, here’s the First Amendment in its full, entire, wording: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
1A demands that no law shall be made to abridged the right of the people to peaceably assemble or petition the government for a redress of grievances. Which is all the protestors, as well as the three house members who are about to lose their jobs, were doing.
So that vote will happen today, we’ll cover the results tomorrow.
As protests continue in the state, in support of the three House reps now knows at the #TennesseeThree, Justin Kanew, the founder of progressive news site the Tennessee Holler, had his house shot at on Saturday night. LUCKILY no one was hurt but his family, including his children, were home sleeping when it happened.
Election Results
-via NY Times
Talk election results to me, baybee.
Wisconsin’s election results still stand – the ideology of the state’s Supreme Court has, indeed, flipped liberal. Legal abortions and maps here we come!
In Chicago, union organizer Brandon Johnson has won the runoff. While both candidates were democrats, Johnson ran on a platform that expands social programs and new taxes. And Chicago was like – yeah! We love it!
So… enjoy this story. Because between the last one and this next one… it’s like… good cheese between two moldy pieces of trash for bread.
Kansas Bans Transgender Student Athletes
-via Kansas City Star
On Tuesday, Kansas Republicans overrode the governor’s THIRD veto and officially banned anyone assigned male at birth from playing girls and women’s sports.
And how will they do this?
Genital inspections. Or a birth certificate. But genital inspections are an option. And THIS is what the Kansas Republicans worked for three years in favor of. This is what they’re celebrating today.
Let’s talk numbers – there are 106,000 student athletes in Kansas. Three are transgender girls, two of which are graduating.
Kansas Republicans spent all this time, and literally passed a law in favor of genital inspections, because of ONE transgender student athlete.
This comes a day after Kansas lawmakers passed a bill that would prevent transgender people from using public restrooms, locker rooms and other facilities associated with their gender identities, as well as stop them from changing their name or gender on their driver’s licenses.
That bill is expected to be vetoed by the governor.
Mike Pence Will Testify
A spokesperson for Mike Pence has said that the former Veep will not appeal a judge’s order to come on down and legally chit chat about the time the guy he wants to be his friend in a way that is, factually, embarrassing, tried to burn democracy to the ground because no one wanted him to play president anymore.
This means, in a couple weeks, Pence will have the opportunity to sit down and… I don’t… plead the 5th, probably. But still. How exciting!
Murdoch Can Also Testify
-via CNN
And in a different case, but like… not that different… A Delaware judge has ruled that Fox Corp execs Lachlan and Rupert Murdoch can testify in the Dominion Lawsuit. They have not yet been served but, should they be, the judge will not give a thumbs down emoji to the subpoena.
And I’m not time traveler, but like… expect them to be served.
Also, I forgot his name with Rupert.
Guilty. Straight to jail.
Robert Kennedy Jr Running for Office
-via Politico
In, “okay but like, why??” news… Robert Kennedy Jr has filed paperwork to run for President against Joe Biden.
Okay but like… why?
He is the second candidate to file. I forgot to tell you that Marianne Williamson also filed.
Neither candidate will be the nominee, but I guess… enjoy getting those wasted donations.
(Friends... don’t donate to these campaigns. These are not serious campaigns.)
And that’s it. That’s the news.
Hey, this was fun. I mean, the topics weren’t all fun, but it’s nice for us to catch up like this. Let’s come on back tomorrow morning and talk about all the stuff that happens today.
I’m proud of burritos. Like a sandwich, they can be anything. And also like a sandwich, YOU can be anything. And for that reason… I’m proud of you.