And another day of why you should be worried, TX banning any and all mandates, protecting reporters, a new cancer treatment, Legos, a bisexual Superman, Gruden out, Dave Chappelle, violent crime in Mexico, and writing letters on paper comes to a close:
“Simply put, I have no faith that we will remain a democracy if Republicans win power.” -- Max Boot
“Christopher Columbus was as American as Jesus was white.” -- Michael Harriot
Deaths
US: 734,611 (+1036)
World: 4,872,739 (+5528)
Cases
US: 45,313,354 (+108,980)
World: 239,027,175 (+379,832)
Here's why you should be worried about US democracy right now. The growing fear outside the committed base of the GOP is that the attempted coup of 2021 was not a one-off, but rather "a dress rehearsal for something that could be happening near term, in 2022, and 2024." Those are the words of Fiona Hill -- the Brookings Institution senior fellow, former Russia expert on the National Security Council and witness at the first Trump impeachment hearing -- who said on CBS News on Sunday that the US is in a dangerous place. She said it's absolutely appropriate to view the Capitol insurrection as a sort of pre-revolutionary act...This antiquated view of constitutional law is the bedrock of a growing view that, apparently, legislatures and not voters, should select presidents. It's a misreading of state laws and antidemocratic to the core. It's becoming the main view of Trump-backing Republicans. -- I hope you all are paying attention.
Texas governor bans Covid-19 vaccine mandates by any employer in state. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday issued an executive order banning all state entities, including private employers, from enforcing vaccine mandates, the latest escalation in the Republican's resistance to public health measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. The order states that "no entity in Texas" can enforce vaccination against anyone in the state who objects "for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19," according to a news release from the governor's office.
Biden’s Women-Focused Economic Agenda Is Getting Destroyed by Joe Manchin. The West Virginia Democrat is now demanding his colleagues pick just one of the family-focused policies in the $3.5 trillion bill and ditch the rest, Axios reported Wednesday. If he gets his way, Democrats will have to choose between salvaging child care, a federal paid family medical leave program, or extending an expanded child tax credit that passed as part of the COVID-19 relief package earlier this year. The $3.5 trillion measure is one in a pair of bills that houses the bulk of President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda. The other, a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, disproportionately invests in jobs that men traditionally hold. So if one is looking for a single common denominator among all the vulnerable “family-focused” programs, it is that they would all benefit women—and women would suffer the most from them being curtailed.
Newsom signs bill to protect reporters covering protests. California will protect journalists from interference by police while covering civil protests under a bill signed into law Saturday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. It was the second new law within days with free speech implications…Newsom acted days after approving a bill making it illegal to come within 30 feet (9.14 meters) of someone at a vaccination site “for the purpose of obstructing, injuring, harassing, intimidating, or interfering.” Violators could face up to six months in jail and a fine up to $1,000.
Republican lawmakers introduce measure in support of Columbus Day. Proponents of Indigenous Peoples Day argue that there should be a holiday celebrating the historical contributions of Native Americans rather than Columbus, who enslaved the Native people he encountered during his voyages to what would be later be known as the Americas.
Then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin intervened to block Ivanka Trump's appointment to the World Bank: report. President Donald Trump sought to name his daughter Ivanka to lead the World Bank in 2019, but Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin intervened to block the appointment...The elder Trump apparently wanted his daughter in the role, with Mnuchin said to have stepped in to prevent the selection. "It came incredibly close to happening," a source told The Intercept.
A new cancer treatment can wipe out tumours in terminally ill patients, scientists have discovered. Scientists found the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab medications led to a reduction in the size of tumours in terminally-ill head and neck patients. In some, their cancer vanished altogether, with doctors stunned to find no detectable sign of disease. Combining the two immunotherapy drugs could prove an effective new weapon against several forms of advanced cancer, experts believe. Results from other trials of the drug combination have previously suggested similar benefits for terminally-ill kidney, skin and bowel cancer patients. As well as boosting the long-term survival chances of patients, scientists said, the immunotherapy treatment also triggered far fewer side-effects compared with the often gruelling nature of “extreme” chemotherapy, which is the standard treatment offered to many patients with advanced cancer.
Lego vows to remove gender bias from its toys. Danish toymaking giant Lego on Monday pledged to remove gender bias from its toys after research found girls were being held back by gender stereotypes. The company, whose colorful building blocks and figurines sell in more than 130 countries, said it wants to make its products more inclusive so that children’s ambitions are not limited by gender.
Superman set to have romantic relationship with male friend. The son of Superman will make history in a new comic book series by coming out as bisexual. Jonathan Kent, the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, is set to start a romantic relationship with a male friend in the Nov. 9 issue of "Superman: Son of Kal-El," a series that began in July, DC Comics revealed to The New York Times. Like father, like son: Kent falls for a journalist, Jay Nakamura, in the comics.
Jon Gruden has resigned as coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after emails he sent before being hired in 2018 contained racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments...He stepped down after The New York Times reported that Gruden frequently used misogynistic and homophobic language directed at Commissioner Roger Goodell and others in the NFL. -- But Republicans rally behind Trump.
Netflix is defending Dave Chappelle's new comedy special after it has been criticized as transphobic by some LGBTQ+ advocates, artists and employees. "Several of you have also asked where we draw the line on hate. We don't allow titles on Netflix that are designed to incite hate or violence, and we don't believe The Closer crosses that line. I recognize, however, that distinguishing between commentary and harm is hard, especially with stand-up comedy which exists to push boundaries," Sarandos wrote to staff. "Some people find the art of stand-up to be mean spirited but our members enjoy it, and it's an important part of our content offering."..."Promoting TERF ideology (which is what we did by giving it a platform yesterday) directly harms trans people, it is not some neutral act," Field wrote. "This is not an argument with two sides. It is an argument with trans people who want to be alive and people who don't want us to be."
Violent crimes rise in Mexico; 94.8% go unpunished. Two investigations warn about the shortcomings of the country’s judicial system and the rise of extreme violence and "atrocities" by organized crime groups.
This Is Why; You Should Always Properly—Punctuate Your Social Media Posts’. An incorrectly punctuated Facebook post has brought on a potentially high-priced defamation suit.
Most Americans haven't written a personal letter on paper in over five years. Few Americans are writing letters these days — at least not the kind written by hand on paper and sent through the mail. Just under a third have written a personal letter within the past twelve months. For many Americans it's been even longer. Thirty-seven percent say it's been over five years since they've written and sent a personal letter, while another 15% of adults have never written and sent a personal letter.
Life’s short. Live, love, create, and help others.
Until next time, my friends. Stay safe and stay sane. Good night.
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