10/04/24
Good morning! It’s Friday, October 4th.
Crew appreciation day!
Film and TV crew.
While I always appreciate crew, I also appreciate that this day is on October 4th because of walkie language! 10-4! Come on!
And now, the news.
Hurricane Helene
-via CBS News
Starting with an update on Hurricane Helene, where the death toll has surpassed 200, with many more still missing.
On a visit to Florida and Georgia on Thursday, President Biden said the cost of rebuilding with be in the billions and Congress has a responsibility to ensure states have the resources they need. To that end, he announced that the federal government will cover 100% of the debris removal, as well as emergency protective measures in North Carolina for six months and Florida and Georgia for 90 days.
He will also deploy up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to help deliver food and supplies in communities that have otherwise been cutoff.
Meanwhile, Trump was like… hey, build me a while.
I know that’s not really a fair comparison. One of these people is the president, the other is an insurrectionist criminal who is, for reasons unknown, running for president as he’s been doing for the past almost ten years.
But in some ways it is a fair comparison. President Biden is using his power to be helpful. To be of service.
Trump is a private citizen and more limited in what he can do, for sure. But that doesn’t mean he can’t get out there and help deliver food or water. And for sure it doesn’t mean he can’t not ask for a tiny brick wall to be built.
Couldn’t build his racist wall, so instead had a devastated community build a tiny one.
He really is the worst.
Update: Middle East
-via AP News
On Thursday, the Israeli military said that their warplanes had hit 15 different targets in Beirut Lebanon, killing 37 people and injuring 151 more, as they warned people in southern Lebanon to evacuate, a signal that it may widen its ground operation against Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, the WHO is reporting that 28 health workers have died between Wednesday and Thursday. Israeli airstrikes have hit nine hospitals and 45 health centers, which they claim (and I’m not lawyer but… rightfully so) is a violation of international law.
In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, at least 16 people were killed by airstrike on Thursday. And in Gaza, nearly 100 people were killed in the span of 24 hours as Israel carried out numerous attacks there as well. That is the highest death toll in the past three months.
What are we doing here?
Rep. Lawler in Blackface
-via NY Times
New York Republican House Rep Mike Lawler has been caught making the dumbest, easiest to not make, mistake… wearing blackface in 2006 for a Halloween costume.
(heavy sigh)
Now look, I do believe him when he says that he meant it as flattery. He’s not trying to say it isn’t him. He was a 20-year-old dum dum.
However, let’s look at his response: “The ugly practice of blackface was the furthest thing from my mind. Let me be clear, this is not that. I am a student of history and for anyone who takes offense to the photo, I am sorry. All you can do is live and learn.”
Sorry if you took offense is not an apology. So there’s that. Also, Mr. Student of History… Blackface is a horrific practice that was very popular in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is in literally any history book ever (though I understand that, as a modern-day Republican, you’d rather no one read history books and are working towards that).
Why then, Mr. Student of History, were you able to note that you know the practice blackface is bad but you weren’t doing it? Presumably, you just didn’t care then, nor do you care now. It wasn’t offensive to you, so why do you care?
Also, it’s important to note that he did this in 2006. A year after he flew from New York to California to be one of the people who stood on the street and cheered Michael Jackson on as he stood trial… for molesting a 13-year-old. He was actually brought into the classroom by Jackson’s biographer and was so disgusted by the testimony against Jackson, that he muttered what’s described as “something derogatory” under his breath and was actually asked to leave the classroom.
Look, I recognize I grew up with the privilege of multiculturism and therefore an inherent understanding of how offensive these things are and how easy it is to simply… not do them. But you know – a historian noted to New York Times, who dropped this story, that in 2006, while wrong, this wouldn’t be too surprising to see on a college campus.
But here’s where I’m at – his language today is not someone who is sorry they did it. They’re sorry they got caught.
Just like every single House Rep, Lawler is on the ballot this year and is in incredibly vulnerable seat. Let’s get Democrat Mondaire Jones back into office, so we can take back the House. Lawler is eying a run for the Governor’s mansion in two years too, so let’s keep an eye on this one and make sure he continues to lose each time.
Tyre Nichols Verdict
-via NBC News
On Thursday, a jury returned a verdict on three officers accused of depriving 29-year-old Tyre Nichols of his rights through excessive force as well as obstructing justice through witness tampering, amonst other crimes.
The case stems from a January 2023 traffic stop where the officers stopped Tyre for what they claimed was reckless driving in Memphis. He was pulled out of his car, as he called out “I didn’t do anything,” and from there officers not only did offers beat him so severely that he died in the hospital three days later, but they also called out threats as well as assaulting and contradictory commands.
When medics finally arrived, they didn’t even begin to help Nichols until 16 minutes after their arrival.
And of course, a later review of street camera footage showed he did not need to be pulled over because the officer’s claim of reckless driving was false.
On Thursday the jury found the officers guilty of federal witness tampering but not guilty of violating Nichols’ civil right to life.
Truly no idea how they came to that verdict.
Dockworkers Go Back to Work
-via NY Times
And finally… the International Longshoremen’s Association has agreed to suspend their strike and go back to work after the USMX, who represents the employers they were striking against, sent over an improved wage offer of 62% over a six-year contract.
While lower than what the union was looking for, it’s still higher than USMX’s original offer.
With this tentative agreement, dockworkers are back to work after a contract extension that takes them through January 15th.
The two sides will now head back to the bargaining table on other issues.
And that’s it. That’s the news.
There are 32 days until Election Day.
Yeah, 32!
Head to raisingvoters.org/gameplan to make sure you have everything you need to cast that sweet sweet ballot.
I’m proud of crew members! I’ve worked with a lot of really great ones, some very recently, and they were true A+s. And because you are also an A+… I’m proud of you.