05/02/23

Good morning! It’s Tuesday, May 2nd.

National Teacher Day! And the way I remember this is that my mom was a teacher, and a nurse, and is my mom, and also has a birthday this week… and all of those holidays are around the same time. And it’s like… listen. Thank you. I appreciate you and all the things you did. But could we spread out some of these holidays? Ya know?

And now, the news.

US Debt Limit and Banking News

-via Washington Post and Reuters

So much news happened after I recorded an episode saying I was too sick to record for a few days. It was a real bummer. It’s like… when will the universe care about me, ya know? Let’s cover some of it.

Let’s start with the economy, because Monday morning brought the sale of First Republic Bank to JP Morgan Chase. First Republic Bank started having some problems back in March when, after the Silicon Valley Bank went belly up, people started leaving their smaller banks for larger ones. Last week, investors once again made the jump away from First Republic after the bank disclosed that it have more than $100 billion in money going out, and like… I guess not $100 billion going in.

Side note - $100 billion! That’s nuts!

Anyway, JP Morgan Chase bought up New Republic, marking the last bank failure since 2008.

But if you’re worried about the banks… don’t you worry pal, we’ve also got a national debt to worry about. Because, also on Monday, the Treasury offered a fun new prediction… hey! We think the government will default on its loans on June 1st.

Right before my birthday. Because, again… when will the universe care about me?!

The President has invited Kevin McCarthy and other congressional leader to the White House next week to talk about it.

Texas Mass Shooting and Manhunt

-via NY Times

This is a story that began being a story on Friday night, and any story that started Friday night and is still a story… well it’s probably not a good one.

On Friday night in Cleveland Texas, which is a little outside of Houston, a man shot and killed five of his neighbors after they asked him to stop shooting a gun in his yard. It was a noise complaint, and the response was the killing of five people, including and 8-year-old.

The suspect is believed to be Francisco Oropesa, who had previously been deported four times. He is a Mexican national.

I only mention this because, unsurprisingly, this is not bringing out the best in Texas’ governor Abbott (whatever the best may be… looking forward to possibly seeing it one day) because the focus now is on the legal status of the victims and suspect, and not you know… guns. Because it is news that the suspect was here illegally, in that it changes what may happen if he’s returned to Mexico. The victims’ citizenship status is not news, despite Abbott saying that they were all here illegally, a comment he had to walk back after learning that at least one of the victims may be here legally.

Anyway, as of this recording, the suspect is still on the run with a reward of $80,000 being offered up for information that leads to his capture.

Montana Rep Sues Over House Removal

-via AP News

Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr is suing for her return to the state House floor after she was silenced and banned from the House after speaking up against legislation that would restrict gender-affirming health care.

She also encouraged protestors.

In other words… she used her first amendment right to stand up for her constituents.

This is what happened to the Tennessee Two except that, where the Tennessee Two were voted out of the statehouse because they were young and Black, Zooey is young and transgender.

We need to be as fired up here as we were for Tennessee. Because what is happening is the silencing of elected officials, simply because one side has the majority. It’s also the disenfranchisement of the 11,000 constituents that Zephyr represents.

This is an ongoing story, and I will keep you updated.

Oklahoma Gov Band Gender-Affirming Care for Minors

-via AP News

In related news… on Monday, Oklahoma became the latest state to ban gender-affirming care for minors. The bill, which Governor Stitt signed on Monday night, makes it a FELONY for health care workers to provide treatments that include puberty-blocking drugs and hormones.

A felony.

Because Governor Stitt said he wants to make protecting kids his legislative priority. So of course he signed this deadly bill. Last year he also signed bills to prohibit transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams, and of course a classic bathroom bill.

These bills are deadly and hateful and don’t save lives.

It’s trans-erasure and it’s absolutely abhorrent.

Multiple Fatalities after Illinois Freeway Dust Storm

-via The Independent

At least six people are dead and thirty were injured after a dust storm from excessive winds blew farmland dirt across a freeway in Illinois.

The damage includes at least 80 vehicles, as well as two semi-trucks that caught on fire.

Parts of I-55 will remain closed until today, while they work to clear the roads.

And that’s it. That’s the news.

I’m proud of… teachers. They did their best with me and certainly my whole… vibe… shouldn’t be their fault.

Also we don’t pay them enough.

But more than… truffles… yeah it’s national truffle day and I can’t say “more than teachers” because remember I did the whole thing up top about how my mom was a teacher… so more than truffles… I’m proud of you.