05/18/23

Good morning! It’s Thursday, May 18th. National No Dirty Dishes Day.

I mean, listen – do your thing. Do what you need. But let me tell you a little something about this show’s podcast… I LOVE doing dishes. Well, I don’t mind doing dishes. I love having a dish-free sink.

And now, the news.

Paparazzi Learned Nothing

-via AP News

In a story straight out of 1997, though luckily with a different outcome, Prince Harry and Meghan were chased by paparazzi through New York City Tuesday night in a car chase a spokesperson called “near catastrophic.” It ended when they snuck into a police station and then left in a cab.

Luckily everyone’s okay and police say the chase was short and warranted no further investigation.

Still though – scary stuff. It’s 2023… have we learned nothing from the literal DECADES of headlines about how dangerous the paparazzi are?

Supreme Court Rejects Illinois Challenge

-­via NBC News

The Court rejected a challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban. The double-negative is a positive, since it means that the state law banning assault-style weapons in the state will stay in effect as the legal battle continues.

So, you know… eventually this thing’ll, or a thing like it, will head to the Supremes. But in the meantime, given that we’ve once again already had more mass shootings than days in the year – anything that delays increasing the amount of guns in the country is a thing that saves lives.

Appeals Court Appears Ready to Restrict Mifepristone

-via Washington Post

And speaking of court cases, personal rights, and prolonged court battles…

An appeals court made of up three judges that, in the past, have supported abortion restrictions, appears ready to put restrictions on Mifepristone, after asking the FDA why they’ve allowed the medicine to prescribed by medical professionals other than doctors, and then mailed directly to patients.

And listen, obviously we can’t take our eye off the prize (the prize being bodily autonomy), this ruling is weeks or months out and, even then, changes nothing until the Court hears this one again.

And isn’t that great? Love when we play court ping pong over my rights.

Montana Bans TikTok

-via AP News

Montana’s governor has signed a measure to ban TikTok in the state completely. Because the Montana governor doesn’t care about me trying to build a brand!

Fear not – this one’s headed to court after court after court. And in all that time, no one will actually address the real issues they seem so worried about because I’m sure no other social media app will ever be built anywhere other than America. ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, already has another app in the marketplace! But sure, ban this one. Make yourself look good to anyone not paying that much attention.

Is It Hot in Here, Or Is It Just the Climate?

-via The Guardian

New research from the World Meteorological Organization shows that temperatures are set to rise about the devastating 1.5C threshold. Though, scientists note that should only be temporary, adding a reminder that their concerns about the damage of the 1.5C raise would be seen if that number remains permanent.

So… yes it’s hot, but it might cool down, but that still doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stop caring about the planet because, you know… it’s gonna get hot again.

Santos Expulsion Heads to Ethics Committee

-via The Hill

Hey! Check it out! We have an update on the George Santos stuff a day ahead of the deadline!

On Wednesday, the House voted to hard pass on deciding if George Santos should be expelled from the House and instead tossed that hot potato on over to the House ethics committee… where he’s already being investigated. Although the vote on what to do came quickly, this ethics committee has no hard deadline. McCarthy says he wants a quick resolution but, you know, McCarthy wants a lot of things. Dignity, respect, a cool nickname… this may just get added to the list of things he won’t get.

Trump Crime Update Time

-via CNN

Hey you know what we haven’t done in a while?

Trump Crime Update Time!

In a CNN exclusive, the National Archives let Trump know that it’s about to hand Coach Beard 16 records that show he knew exactly how to declassify the documents that he stole. The letter says, “The 16 records in question all reflect communications involving close presidential advisers, some of them directed to you personally, concerning whether, why, and how you should declassify certain classified records.”

Aka – dude. You KNEW you couldn’t just call dibs and leave with the stuff that you didn’t read while you were here and very likely weren’t ever going to read so what were you doing with the stuff you took and also can we please have it back because of how it’s the law and also they are highly classified? K thanks bye.

The 16 records will be handed over to Coach Beard on May 24 “unless prohibited by an intervening court order.”

Man… this Trump guy is no good. We should NOT re-elect him.

And that’s it! That’s the news!

So many headlines!

I’m proud of… dishes. They bring me food and I enjoy that very much.

But more than that, more than dishes… because you are also helpful… I’m proud of you.