07/25/24
Good morning! It’s Thursday, July 25th.
Health and Happiness with Hypnosis Day
Which I don’t know anything about.
Unless I did and I knew too much and they took it out of my brain through hypnosis. I guess we’ll never know…
And now, the news.
Netanyahu Addresses Congress
The big story of the day is, of course, that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.
Well, most of Congress.
More than 50 members missed the meeting, including Nancy Pelosi, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Ro Khanna, and AOC.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who has relatives in the West Bank and is the only Palestinian-American serving in Congress, did show up and everyone was like whoa! What are you doing here? And then she proceeded to hold up a sign that said “guilty of genocide” on one side and “war criminal” on the other and everyone was like ah yes, now I understand.
His speech was kind of too be expected – just him sticking up for the war and condemning protests, especially the college protestors and the protestors outside the capitol as he spoke, which he called “useful idiots” for Israel’s adversaries.
Nothing was said about a potential ceasefire or two-state solution.
He started his speech by praising President Biden, but then really laid it on thick when it came to thanking former President Trump. He specifically thanked Trump “for all he’s done for Israel.”
A great reminder that you can be against what Netanyahu is doing in Gaza while not being against Jewish people. Which we know because Trump does the opposite all the time!
As I mentioned, there were thousands of protestors all around DC. At least three were detained. In addition to putting Palestinian flags on flagpoles, they burned US flags, and made a burned a paper mache version of Netanyahu with an American missile coming out of his, uh… area.
Netanyahu will next speak with President Biden, Vice President Harris, and former President Trump. But not all together, because that would be very awkward.
A reminder that Senator JD Vance will not speak with Netanyahu because he is not important enough. That’s not bullying! He’s a new Senator from Ohio – what’s he gonna do?
President Biden’s Speech
-via CNN
The other big speech of the day, and I would say the exact opposite kind of speech really, came from President Biden as he addressed the nation for the first time since announcing that he was no longer seeking a second term and, instead, putting his full support behind Kamala Harris.
In the short speech, delivered from the Oval, President Biden called his time as president the honor of his lifetime but, “while I revere this office, I love my country more.”
He also laid down his place for his last six months in office, which includes defending the right to vote, working to end the war in Gaza, keep NATO strong, and call out extremism.
All good things.
Someone should remind him that he’s got a House filled with Trump wannabes who aren’t going to want to do any of that, but a Supreme Court that Trump stacked who just ruled that president’s have complete immunity when it comes to official acts.
Would be dope.
Stock Market
-via NBC News and The Guardian
Wednesday saw the worst day on the stock market in two years after Tesla, as well as Alphabet (aka Google) led the tech-heavy NASDAQ in share drops.
Tesla shares fell 12.5% after it was reported on Tuesday that revenue was down 7% compared to the previous quarter. Listen, I don’t know enough to know why Tesla revenue is down, but if I had to guess – I’d take a look at what an absolute weirdo Elon Musk is and also the fact that the Cybertruck keeps cutting people’s fingers off!
Also the gas petal gets stuck because it’s so poorly designed.
Those would be my guesses as to why it’s not doing well.
Alphabet didn’t see a change in revenue but it does seem like the drop was related to their CEO saying investments in AI weren’t going to pay off in the short term.
So, rough day for the stock market but if there’s one thing I know about the stock market, and believe me, there’s a lot I know about the stock market, it’s that it definitely… exists. For sure. People buy the dip. Buy low, sell high. Gamestop.
Just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my knowledge.
What a weirdo Elon Musk is.
I guess it’s also news that he did promise $85 million a month to Trump’s campaign and then, eight days later, on Tuesday, he changed his mind. A classic $85 million takesy backsey.
When asked why he wasn’t doing that anymore he said he doesn’t subscribe to the cult of personality which is so hilarious because show, and personal, favorite Lorena Gonzalez once tweeted “F Elon Musk” (she used the real word because apparently it’s okay when Lorena does it, but when I do it it’s a whole thing) and years later it was included in that book about him because his feelings were so hurt.
Though it is important to note that he is still donating at a high level to the Republican party, but now through a SuperPAC. The PAC is, presumably, donating to downballot races as well. It’s unclear how much he’s donating.
Seems like a great time to tell you about something called Democracy Everyday! As you may know, I have a nonpartisan nonprofit called We Are Voters, which is working to increase voter turnout through education.
On Sunday we are launching a new piece of programming called Democracy Everyday. Every day we’re going to be posting quick, easily accomplishable, tasks to get you ready for this year’s election. Because Sunday marks 100 days until the election.
100 days!
If that number makes your stomachache, like it does mine, let me remind you that that we can ease this pre-election anxiety through action.
So go to democracyeveryday.com and get signed up. It’s gonna have cool stuff, you’ll like it.
I hope.
Please don’t tell me if you don’t. I am just… so tired. I will cry. No no, I won’t cry. But I’ll be like “bummer” and that’s the same as a cry to me.
What’s happening in politics isn’t normal. This isn’t a normal election. I mentioned this last week but if you’re looking for motivation to vote, you should go listen to political commentator Jared Yates Sexton on my other podcast, Kim Moffat is a Fan, and hear him talk about what’s at risk this November.
It’s time to go all in. I’m gonna help. Links to We Are Voters, the voter pledge, and now Democracy Everyday are all always in show notes.
And that’s it. That’s the news.
I’m proud of Joe Biden. That was an exceptional speech.
Look, do we wish this decision had been made earlier and we could have had a primary? Sure. Are we going to get all in behind Kamala and is she going to win this election. Absolutely.
Doing the right thing isn’t always easy or neat. Indeed, when it’s not, when doing the right thing is a mess, is often when it’s needed the most.
No one is perfect, no presidency is perfect, but President Biden did something incredibly selfless on Sunday and he deserves all the credit for it.
And because you also deserve all the credit, and because you’re going to go to democracyeveryday.com right now (link in show notes)… I’m proud of you.