Monday, October 18, 2021

And another day of lawsuits, firings, maps, the wealthiest 10% of Americans owning record stocks, FIFA fearing the ‘tip of the iceberg,’ celebrity message to Netflix, and Jefferson statue to be removed from NYC Hall comes to a close:

“In the last several years, I have been troubled by the right shift of the Republican party too far to the right.” -- Colin Powell

“Yup, the whole birther movement was racist.” -- Colin Powell

Deaths

US: 746,415 (+1869)

World: 4,920,377 (+6285)

Cases

US: 45,902,575 (+110,043)

World: 241,876,777 (405,218)

Trump sues Jan. 6 committee, National Archives seeking to block handover of documents. The House committee requested documents in March and August from the National Archives that it said were related to the Trump administration's actions before, during and after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, when a group of Trump's supporters attacked the building in hope of blocking his electoral defeat. Trump notified the National Archives that he formally asserted executive privilege. -- Obviously the actions of an innocent man.

Washington State's head football coach fired for refusing Covid-19 vaccine. The termination of Nick Rolovich, whose salary of $3.1 million made him the highest-paid public employee in Washington, came as a state Covid vaccine mandate was set to go into effect requiring health care workers, public employees and others to get innoculated. -- Good. And there is a lot to unwrap in that second sentence. $3.1 million? WTF? Stop watching football.

Texas sued as GOP closes in on passing redrawn US House maps. Taking Texas to court again over voting laws, civil rights groups sued Monday over redrawn U.S. House districts that they allege thwart the political strength of a booming Latino population that is driving the state’s explosive growth.

The wealthiest 10% of Americans own a record 89% of all U.S. stocks. The top 1% gained more than $6.5 trillion in corporate equities and mutual fund wealth during the Covid-19 pandemic, while the bottom 90% added $1.2 trillion, according to the latest data from the Federal Reserve. The share of corporate equities and mutual funds owned by the top 10% reached the record high in the second quarter, while the bottom 90% of Americans held about 11% of stocks, down from 12% before the pandemic.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell dies from Covid complications. Despite serving many Republican presidents, Powell said days after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, that he could no longer call himself a Republican.

Powell’s age and cancer bout left him vulnerable to COVID. Despite getting vaccinated against COVID-19, Colin Powell remained vulnerable to the virus because of his advanced age and history of cancer, highlighting the continued risk to many Americans until more of the population is immunized. -- Get vaccinated.

FIFA fears recent abuse cases in women's football are just 'tip of the iceberg'. After allegations of abuse in women's football surfaced in recent weeks in the US, Venezuela and Australia, the sport's world governing body FIFA fears they could be the "tip of the iceberg." Joyce Cook, FIFA's Chief Education and Social Responsibility Officer, told CNN Sport's Amanda Davies that there will probably be similar stories out there, and encourages people to come forward.

Gov. Abbott is poised to sign a bill barring transgender youth from participating on school sports teams that align with their gender identity. Gov. Greg Abbott has said he will sign the bill, which would make Texas the 10th state with such a law.

Celebs film video message to Netflix CEO ahead of Chappelle-releated walkout. Some famous names — including Jonathan Van Ness, "Arrow's" Colton Haynes and Jameela Jamil of "The Good Place" — will reportedly appear in a video at a walkout protesting Netflix's controversial new Dave Chappelle comedy special.

Thomas Jefferson statue to be removed from New York City Hall. The New York City Public Design Commission voted unanimously to move the statue to a public location, yet to be determined, before the end of the year. Efforts to remove the statue of the third president — who owned about 130 slaves when he died in 1826 — were renewed during the nationwide racial reckoning that followed the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year.

Life’s short. Live, love, create, and help others.

Until next time, my friends. Stay safe and stay sane. Good night.