Other Stuff

This story is a week old but I've been on vacation and haven't had a chance to talk about it. Also, it's a story that will remain important in the GOP primary going forward: Donald Trump, who always campaigns as anti-abortion and successfully made it his mission to appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v Wade, is calling out pro-life Republicans for being "inarticulate" about the issue of abortion and approaching it in a way that has cost, and will cost, Republicans dearly in elections. He's right, and the hard-core pro-life crowd is upset...but he has some wiggle room with them because of his prior success on the issue. Meanwhile, Ron DeSantis is warning the pro-life base that Trump "will sell you out."

Politically, I think it's VERY smart of Trump, especially to the extent that he considers himself almost unbeatable to win the GOP nomination.

Full transcript: Read Kristen Welker's interview with Trump (nbcnews.com)

Trump calls DeSantis abortion ban 'a terrible mistake,' sparking anger from some key Republicans | AP News

Trump steamrolls anti-abortion groups (msn.com)

Trump's abortion comments spur backlash from the right (msn.com)

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Much of the world is waking up to the fact that woke policies of all sorts, whether climate-related or "DEI"-related, are not just harmless "sure, we'll pretend to go along with it" stuff. Instead, it's expensive and harmful. And both individuals and corporations are starting to say "enough is enough."

Companies Stall Climate Action Despite Earlier Promises - WSJ

But the grifters keep on grifting: IEA says route to net zero requires more cash and less politics - Nikkei Asia

US progressive groups facing ‘five-alarm fire’ ahead of 2024 as donations down | US political financing | The Guardian

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It's easy to scoff at Hollywood folks, but lots of writers produce lots of stuff that millions of people enjoy and yet make very little money. The market will handle the compensation (and seems to be working it out now) so my point today is simply that as much as I don't like a lot about Hollywood, when they produce entertainment I like, they're providing me a value that only they provide, at least in the US. I'm glad they seem to be coming back: Explainer-Is the Hollywood writers' strike over? (msn.com)

Hollywood writers reach tentative deal with studios that would end strike

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I LOVE THIS: Why Libertarians Must Rise above the Left-Right Dichotomy of Politics - Foundation for Economic Education (fee.org)

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Has a university ever made a better investment than CU's hiring of Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders for $6 million per year? Deionomics: Coach Prime is big business in Colorado

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Broncos on the wrong side of history: Miami offense all but unstoppable as Dolphins beat Broncos | 9news.com

It's one thing to talk about tanking one or two games at the end of a season to get the #1 draft pick. It's something else to suggest it 3 games into a 17-game season: Unless Broncos want Caleb Williams, why is Vance Joseph still in Denver? (denverpost.com)

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I wish I were surprised: Taxpayers Stuck Paying the Bills for Oligarchs' Seized Yachts and Mansions (msn.com)

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Joe Biden has long wanted to be seen as a second FDR. It's important to remember that FDR may have been the most economically ignorant president in American history, and that's saying something given the presence of Barack Obama and LBJ. But now Biden is looking to copy FDR with another massive, expensive, and pointless boondoggle: Biden to launch 'American Climate Corps' following calls from activists, lawmakers (msn.com)

Biden Raids Taxpayer Funds to Deploy 20,000 Progressives for Green New Deal Youth Patrol - Americans for Tax Reform

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Two guys who should resign:

In DC: Sen. Bob Menendez Faces Growing Pressure From Democrats to Resign - WSJ

Southern District of New York | U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, His Wife, And Three New Jersey Businessmen Charged With Bribery Offenses | United States Department of Justice

A defiant Menendez said "It is not lost on me how quickly some are rushing to judge a Latino and push him out of his seat. I am not going anywhere" and at a press conference claimed that "For 30 years, I have withdrawn thousands of dollars in cash from my personal savings account, which I have kept for emergencies and because of the history of my family facing confiscation in Cuba."

Riiiight...

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In Denver: DPS board president calls out members' "exorbitant" travel spending (denverpost.com)

Ugh: Denver school board spent $43,000 to resolve conflict among members (denverpost.com) (subscription may be required)

Denver school board spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on therapy to get along | Colorado Peak Politics

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Not sure how you put a price on this: The first Bob Ross work from ‘The Joy of Painting’ is on sale | CNN

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What's the significance of the fading-away of Southern (and other) accents in the US? The Fading of the Southern Accent Is Bad News | National Review

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I agree: Trump is getting even more authoritarian and dangerous: Uncomfortably Numb - The Dispatch

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Why I expect a recession within a year: Only richest 20 percent of Americans still have excess pandemic savings | The Spokesman-Review

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Move the dog (and its owner): Couple Awarded $1,400 Compensation After Flight with Farting Dog (people.com)

Writing is hard. For example, this article fails to support it's title. Watch below and you'll know what I mean.