Don’t let anyone say differently. Biden is doing a dynamic job. Need proof? Click here to read his report card.
THE LAW V. THE INSURRECTIONISTS—A BUSY WEEK
Respected conservative judge supports Trump disqualification. Putting his scholarship and vaulted reputation on the line, Judge Michael Luttig states “…It is the Constitution itself that tells us that the disqualification of the former president under the Fourteenth Amendment is not anti-democratic.” Listen to an interview with Luttig on Jack, Podcast 57
Conservative Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch was cited in the Colorado ruling to disqualify Trump. Business Insider
Another January 6th insurrectionist has been legally challenged for primary eligibility. This time, incumbent PA Representative Scott Perry. The Inquirer
Donald Trump’s claim of presidential immunity was “tidily rejected” by a Washington D.C. District Court judge in the wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of fallen police officer Brian Sicknick. Law and Crime
MORE POLITICAL CHESS MOVES
Biden Calls Out Trump in a fiery speech, an opening salvo to his campaign. It’s not happy that the campaign ahead is going to be ugly, but good, in all accounts, to read that Biden is punching back hard. A Democratic strategist said, “He’s resetting the terms of the debate.” Another said it was one of the most powerful speeches of his lifetime. Read the transcript. The Rolling Stone
Another Republican House member resigns. Bill Johnson will step down from Congress on January 21. The House majority will shrink to 2 seats. MSNBC
Lauren Boebert’s in trouble in Colorado. She came within 550 votes of losing her seat in the last election, so she switched to a safer Republican district. That has its problems too, including a crowded primary. CPR News.
A GOOD WEEK FOR COMMERCE AND THE ECONOMY
Biden funds chip factories in Colorado and Oregon through a parent company in Arizona. We’re rebuilding our own semiconductor supply chain, crucial to national security, chips that power everything from computers to cars to missiles. The Hill
Minimum wage rises coast to coast on January 1st. 22 states, 65 jurisdictions, will raise their minimum wage floors, reaching or exceeding $15 per hour, a result of underpaid workers organizing, demanding and winning better earnings. The National Employment Law Project
The Corporate Transparency Act takes effect on January 1, 2024. This bipartisan legislation will curb illicit finance, requiring many companies doing business in the U.S. to report who controls them, fighting money laundering, drug trafficking, terrorism and corruption. U.S. Department of the Treasury
Factory construction continues to boom under Biden. The building surge will eventually translate into a surge in manufacturing jobs. Axios
A GOOD WEEK FOR SOCIAL PROGRESS
New gun safety laws are taking effect. California is expanding places where people can’t carry concealed weapons; Illinois is banning the sale of semiautomatic weapons; Washington is imposing a 10-day wait period on firearm purchases, and Colorado is banning ghost guns, all overcoming lawsuits from pro-gun groups. The Guardian
A federal judge protects rights of Idaho transgender kids, ruling that an earlier decision banning gender-affirming care violates the civil rights of parents and their children. The Los Angeles Blade
Florida collects over a million signatures to put abortion rights on the ballot. Celebrating each milestone on the road back. The Washington Post
Kentucky county clerk, refusing to issue gay wedding licenses, loses her case and must pay considerable fines and legal expenses. The Guardian
AND FINALLY
13 ways the world got better in 2023. Medical advances. Climate solutions. Violent crime decline. And multiple research studies on how micro-acts of joy help people cope, sleep, and feel better. Time You can still sign up for The Big Joy Project and participate in a study.