The Biden Administration produced a deluge of actions this week. Below are selected highlights. The Administration’s deep list of past achievements are here.
POLITICS THAT AMPLIFY US
As organized labor gains momentum, unions are enthusiastic for Joe Biden and the feeling is mutual. Biden labels himself as the “most pro-union president in American history.” This week he celebrated the workers at a Tennessee Volkswagen plant when they voted to join the UAW. The Hill
Planned Parenthood plans a $10 million boost for Democrats in North Carolina. The party is banking on abortion access as an issue to animate the state’s competitive race for governor and to galvanize voters for President Biden. The New York Times
Gen Z Democrats see reproductive rights as their top issue. Gun violence is a close second, and health care comes in third. Among all voters in this group, inflation and housing also tops their list. The Middle East conflict ranks near the bottom. While all yearn for a ceasefire in Gaza, Biden’s platform addresses most of these young voters’ vital concerns. Newsweek, Daily KOS
The Democratic political strategies that achieved aid for Ukraine were deft, intense, and successful—a modern era triumph. Kudos to Hakeem Jeffries, who “emerges as Congress’ shadow speaker.” Axios Kudos too to Biden and his administration officials who worked relentlessly behind the scenes to keep the vital negotiations alive. Politico
The Arizona House voted to overturn the 1864 abortion ban, paving the way to leave a 15-week limit in place. While this was a step forward, the battle lines have been drawn. A broad majority of women and the American public stand on one side. Republican lawmakers stand on the other. CNN
Climate advocates are going after better voter turnout. Over 8 million environmentalists didn’t vote in 2020. 13 million skipped 2022. The Environmental Voter Project can accurately identify these new voters and bring them to the polls, developing a critical mass “too big for politicians to ignore.” ABC News, The Environmental Voter Project
Two Georgia election workers are suing a far-right website for spreading voting misinformation in 2020. This is one of the first lawsuits by individuals against a media company, The Gateway Pundit, for spreading lies about the election. The fight for the truth continues. Axios
Tesla is learning a lesson: go anti-woke, go broke. When CEO Elon Musk took a hard turn to the right, the number of Democrats buying Teslas dropped 60%. Jalopnik
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION KEEPS ON KEEPING ON
The Biden administration issued a new rule, strengthening the right to privacy for reproductive health care. “No one should have to live in fear.” Patients have HIPAA rights, even when they travel to another state for an abortion, IVF, birth control, or other types of reproductive health care. CNN, Axios
Biden is initiating and defending a score of workplace rights, including new protections for union initiatives, new overtime rules, banning non-compete agreements (which have been mushrooming to the point of abuse), and requiring financial advisors to prioritize their clients’ needs over their own fees. This article gets into the weeds: The New Republic
The Biden administration rolled back the Betsy DeVos Title IX. For fifty years, Title IX promised an equal opportunity to learn and thrive in our nation’s schools, free from sex discrimination. Trump era changes more narrowly defined sexual harassment, and allowed the accused to cross-examine their accusers in live hearings. This new rule better protects, supports, and offers greater equity for pregnant women, trans people, and sexual assault victims. Michigan Advance, ABC News
Vice President Harris announced a historic mandate in nursing home care, addressing staffing issues and safety, as well as access to home-based aid, among other things. Nursing homes that receive Medicare and Medicaid funding must provide at least 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day, as well as maintain registered nurses and nurses aides. CNN Here is the detailed White House Fact Sheet: The White House
F.C.C. voted to restore net neutrality rules. Commissioners voted along party lines to revive rules that declare broadband internet as a utility-like service that could be regulated like phones and water. Obama-era regulations, repealed by Trump and now reinstated, prevent service providers like Verizon or Comcast from degrading delivery of competitors like YouTube or Netflix. New York Times
Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris administration announces rules to deliver automatic refunds and protect consumers from surprise junk fees in air travel. Department of Transportation
MAGA LOSING POWER THIS WEEK
Trump is deflating. For months he has been pulling the strings in Congress, tanking a bipartisan Senate border bill and blocking aid to Ukraine by demanding fealty from Republican lawmakers. The vote for Ukraine was a stinging reversal. His fundraising is lagging badly behind Biden. In the Pennsylvania primaries this week, months after she ended her campaign, Nikki Halley still received 16% of the vote. And day after day, Trump is sitting in the defendant’s seat of a criminal trial, subject to the opinion of a judge and twelve ordinary people. He has called for massive protest. That call has gone unanswered. The Atlantic
Trump’s political PAC, Save America, has spent $76 million on lawyers, draining funds to fight Biden. USA Today
Arizona indicted 18 people for 2020 election interference, including Giuliani and Mark Meadows. Trump was referred to as an unindicted co-conspirator. As in other states, the fight to establish the truth continues. AP News
Marjorie Taylor Greene is falling out of favor for her pro-Russia opposition to the Ukraine aid bill. A GOP senator newly called her out as a “horrible leader” and a “waste of time.” Conservative media outlets worry she’s kneecapping the party’s 2024 hopes. The New Republic, The Washington Post
EARTH DAY, APRIL 22, 2024
Biden marks Earth Day with a $7 billion “solar for all” investment, amid a week of climate action. Funds will be directed towards disadvantaged areas to create 200,000 jobs. Solar for all means 900,000 households will have solar on the rooftops for the first time, and soon, millions of families will save on utility bills. The Guardian
Biden launched a new site to apply for Climate Corps jobs. It will initially list about 2,000 jobs in 36 states as well as Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Recruits will get paid to fight climate change, learn how to install solar panels, fight wildfires, rebuild wetlands, weatherize homes, and more. Eventually, the corps will employ more than 20,000 young people. NPR
The U.S. now has one fast EV charging station for every fifteen gas stations. Extreme Tech
The California grid is accelerating to total clean energy. As of April 19th, during 31 of the past 43 days, CA clean energy exceeded grid demand part of the day, compared to only 7 days all last year. Merely two years ago, for the first time, and only momentarily, California met demand with 100% clean energy. Gavin Newsom
Tough new EPA rules would force coal-fired power plants to capture emissions or shut down. AP News
Heroes are cleaning the ocean of plastic and refuse. With a growing fleet, The Ocean Cleanup System 03 is clearing a football field of garbage from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch every 5 seconds. They are tackling major rivers too—1% of the world’s rivers contribute to 80% of ocean plastic, especially when heavy rains wash detritus out of cities. The car company Kia is working with The Ocean Cleanup on making parts for electric cars from their recovered/recycled materials. You can be part of this by watching this short video. YouTube
AND FINALLY
Positive Takeaways in Court Matters
For concerns about The Supreme Court immunity arguments this week, consider this five minute interview with George Conway. YouTube Even if SCOTUS rules in late June, and remands questions about private and presidential actions back to the lower court, thus delaying Trump’s January 6th trial, the proceedings could start immediately. This would air indictments publicly as early as July. New incriminating details are expected to emerge and would be put on the record. If the case is not sent back to the lower court, the trial can continue as early as September 17.
When questioned by justices, Trump’s lawyer conceded most of Trump’s indicted acts were private. In other words, not immune. Google; Supreme Court Oral Arguments Trump V The United States
In the Manhattan criminal trial, keep in mind that the prosecution’s charges are serious, the evidence is strong and well-documented. It is going well.
For concerns about the jury, that the verdict must be unanimous beyond a reasonable doubt, consider Judge Merchan’s instructions. (If you wonder what sitting in one of those chairs might be like, you could read the attached transcript. It’s fascinating.) Judge Merchan devotes time defining a fair and impartial juror. Then he explains reasonable doubt.
A reasonable doubt is an honest doubt of the defendant’s guilt, for which a reason exists, based on the nature and quality of the evidence.
It is an actual doubt, not an imaginary doubt.
It is a doubt that a reasonable person acting in a matter of this importance would be likely to entertain because of the evidence that was presented or because of lack of convincing evidence.
The proof of reasonable doubt is proof that leaves you so firmly convinced of a defendant’s guilt that you have no reasonable doubt of the existence of any element of the crime or of the defendant’s identity as the person who committed that crime.
New York Courts People Vs. D Trump Transcript Day One