03/15/24

Good morning! It’s Friday, March 15th.

International Day Against Police Brutality

In 2023, there were 1,163 fatal police shootings, with Black Americans having the highest rate of death by a police officer. In a study of shootings from 2015-2024, 6 Black Americans per million each year. That’s more than double the rate for Hispanic folks, more than double the rate for white folks, and actually it’s still less than those two rates combined.

So yeah… this day is important.

And now, the news.

Sen. Bob Mendez Update

-via ABC News

Let’s start with an update on Bob Menendez – we haven’t talked about that guy in a while!

As a reminder, Senator Menendez is being charged with little things like conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, and conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent.

The charges allege that he took bribes in exchange for him using his official position to protect and enrich them and to benefit the Government of Egypt, including, per the indictment, providing “sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt.”

Well on Thursday, a federal judge declined to dismiss his bribery charges which Menendez tried to argue was conduct protected by his job as senator or as then-chair of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Which is wild. That’s Trump style arguments. Like… being an elected official is not just – now I can do anything! (Well, I mean, I guess that Supreme Court is going to decide that in a few months, but in the meantime)

Good sir – gold bars were found in a jacket that had your named embroidered on it.

Perhaps it’s time to just… read the room. Ya got got.

His trial will begin in May. He is the first sitting member of Congress to be charged with conspiracy by a public official to act as a foreign agent.

Schumer Calls for New Election in Israel

-via CBS News (Schumer) and CNN (Gaza)

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is also the highest-ranking Jewish elected official, has called for the Israeli government to hold an election in what he says is the “only way” to determine Israel’s path forward.

In his speech, he called Netanyahu a “major obstacle to peace” and said he has "lost his way by allowing his political survival to take the precedence over the best interests of Israel."

Mitch McConnell rebutted the speech, saying “Either we respect their decisions or we disrespect their democracy.” And if anyone knows about disrespecting democracy, it’s Mitch McConnell.

And just as I was writing this story, there was breaking news… at least 20 people have been killed, and at least 155 injured (though those numbers are expected to rise) in a shelling that took place while waiting for food and aid in Gaza.

Witnesses say the area was struck by what sounded like either a tank or artillery fire.

A Gaza Civil Defense Spokesman accused Israel of being behind the attack.

Again, this is breaking news. I don’t know what this will look like by the time you’re hearing this.

Trump Crime Update Time

-via CBS News (hush money) and CNN (classified documents)

And a little bit of

Trump Crime Update Time

For ya. For funzies. (And also – information…zies)

First up, the Manhattan hush money case – which I don’t love calling it, because it really is just election interference. This is the one where Trump, and others, falsified business records to pay Storm Daniels in order to prevent her from going public with their affair before the 2016 election.

The trial was meant to begin on March 25th, but may now be delayed another 30 days because what can only be described as a boatload (31,000 pages) of documents were handed over by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York , with more documents expected next week.

In his filing, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg wrote that they are ready to go to court on the 25th, but would not oppose an adjournment, lasting no more than 30 days, to allow Trump’s team time to review the materials.

No word yet on whether they’ll request the delay.

And then we can head on down to Florida for an update on Trump’s classified documents case. There, Judge Cannon actually (shockingly) denied Trump’s motion to ditch the whole thing because, uh, you know.. the Constitution. A book for sure he’s read. Big fan. Totally get it.

Actually his lawyers argued that the Espionage Age, which Trump broke by (allegedly) retaining national defense records without authorization, was too vague to be used against him.

You’re not allowed to take him classified documents! What is unclear about that? And the way you knew it was clear enough to know you’d screwed up is that, after the FBI was like “yo we need those back” ya lied, hid them further, and them found the world’s tackiest bathroom and tossed them all in there.

So…

Judge Cannon has not yet ruled on Trump’s motion to dismiss based on the argument that as president he could declare documents as his “personal” records. Which is wild and like… really? That’s the guy that the whole Republican party wants to go all in on?

Could never be me.

James Crumbley Found Guilty

-via Washington Post

More breaking news!

James Crumbley, the father of Ethan Crumbley who killed four students in a 2021 Michigan high school shooting, has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter. With his wife’s conviction last month, they are the first two parents to face homicide-level charges for their kid’s crime.

VP Harris Makes History

-via AP News

And finally… on Thursday, VP Harris made history as she became the first vice president, though no president has ever done this either, to tour a facility that performs abortions.

While there, she made a speech in which she called severe reproductive right restrictions “immoral.”

She also called out the anti-choice electeds, saying, “How dare these elected leaders believe they are in a better position to tell women what they need.”

This is a White House that is getting aggressive about reproductive rights. Tell your friends. We can get Roe back… but we’ve gotta re-elect Biden and we’ve gotta get ourselves a Democratic congress.

And that’s it. That’s the news.

Fun fact…  according to the U.S. order of precedence document maintained by the Ceremonials Division of the Office of the Chief of Protocol of the United States (5 stars on Goodreads), spouses of the President, Vice President, Governors in their own state, and Mayors in their own cities are afforded the same rank and courtesy that accompanies their spouses’ positions at official functions.

So there are many times where Doug, our sweet first second gentlemen who always looks like he’s just happy to be there, outranks Chuck Schumer (in terms of speaking engagements and seating order).

I’m proud of… Doug.

It’s also preschool appreciation day.

But more than… Pears Helene… it’s also Pears Helene day… because you’re just as a great as a pear drizzled with chocolate and paired with vanilla ice cream… I’m proud of you.