Indivisible Bainbridge Island Newsletter

What's In This Newsletter

• Spotlight on ... McCarthy's debt ceiling bill
• Postcarding !!! Flip congressional seats in California
• President Biden and His Administration - Running for re-election!
• In Congress - Some good bipartisan bills
• In the Courts - Ethical problems
• In the States - A gun violence map is revealing
• 2024 - The GOP candidate for president you've never heard about
• Holding Trump Accountable - Closer
• Daily Actions - We suggest up to five daily actions.

This newsletter is prepared weekly by Indivisible Bainbridge Island.

- Kathy and Holly

 

Spotlight On ... McCarthy's Debt Ceiling Bill

On April 26, Kevin McCarthy got the U.S. House to pass his debt ceiling bill, the "Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023" by a vote of 217 to 215. Four GOP House members (Biggs, Buck, Gaetz and Burchett) voted "NAY" because the bill wasn't draconian enough. Two Democrats (Peters and Watson Coleman) and one GOP-er (Kelly) did not vote at all.

The bill would lift the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion or until the end of March 2024, whichever comes first, and cut spending to the tune of $4.5 trillion. Details

The bill would

Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, says the House Bill is  'DOA.' Details
Republican states could be hit hardest by McCarthy's proposed spending cuts. Details
Watch House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, respond to GOP lectures about fiscal responsibility.
Donald Trump is responsible for 25% of the national debt. He built a national debt so big (even before the pandemic) that it’ll weigh down the economy for tears. Details

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We're writing postcards, upstairs at the Town & Country on Wednesday, May 3 at 2 pm. Hope to see you there!

Ready to gear up for 2024? We've got postcards to lay the foundation for flipping congressional seats across the country - especially those 18 seats where Biden won. To get started, we have lists for CA 22 where GOP-er David Valadao won with just 51.5% of the vote.

Our addressees are Democrats or Lean Democrats who didn't vote in 2022. The script points our that Valadao did not vote to lower prescription drug costs.

Later in the year, we'll be writing for state assembly candidates in Virginia because we can't afford to take our eyes off that ball! The Virginia primary is June 20.

Postcards are available from Holly's front porch. Email Kathy to get addresses and the script! Or join us for Postcards on Wednesday, May 3!

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President Biden and His Administration

• Pres. Biden officially announced he is running for a second term. Details
• Pres. Biden's budget priorities (Source: MSNBC)
  • Expand the Child Tax Credit
  • Cap insulin price at $35 per month for everyone (prices for seniors on Medicare are already capped)
  • Help states expand child-care options
  • Increase Pell Grants and expand free community college
  • Establish national paid family and medical leave (Sen. Murray has a bill!)
  • Set minimum tax on billionaires
  • Increase the corporate tax rate
• Pres. Biden's executive order this week on caregiving could make a real difference in the real lives of some real Americans. Details
• Federal prosecutors have weighed charges, including two possible felonies, against Hunter Biden. Details
• Biden’s next student loan headache: A cash crunch at the Education Department. Details
• Nukes, Ukraine and semiconductors were at the top of Pres. Biden's agenda in meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol this week. Details

• U.S. to open migration centers in Colombia and Guatemala for asylum seekers. Details
• Biden’s newest big climate rule requiring utilities to reduce carbon emissions will rest on rarely used technology, carbon capture. Details
• The FBI is investigating a prolific pro-Russia propaganda channel run by a US Navy  veteran living on Whidbey Island. Details
• Government report shows steep decline in FBI’s ‘backdoor searches’ on Americans. Details
• U.S. officials took no part in a Taliban raid that took out ‘mastermind’ of bombing that killed 13 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Details
• Wall Street gives administration an earful over antitrust enforcement. Details
• Economy grew 1.1% in first quarter but a recession could begin soon as high rates bite. Details

• Fed blames Trump-era policies, SVB leaders — and itself — for bank’s stunning collapse. Details

In Congress

In the Senate

• Sens. Sanders (I-VT) and Cassidy (R-LA) announce bipartisan deal to lower prescription drug prices. Details
• Sens. Murkowski (R-AK) and King (I-ME) to introduce bill aimed at strengthening ethical guidelines in the Supreme Court. Details
• Children under 13 would be banned from social media under bipartisan Senate bill. Details
• Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Murphy, D-CT, Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Katie Britt, R-AL introduced a bill to ban children under 13 from being on social media. Details
• Texas woman who 'nearly died' savages Ted Cruz and John Cornyn at Senate hearing over abortion ban; (neither senator attended the hearing). Details
• Dianne Feinstein's absence
  • Susan Collins (R-ME) helps sink hopes of replacing Dianne Feinstein on Judiciary Committee. Details
  • Arcane Senate rules require the entire Senate to vote on temporarily replacing Dianne Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee and Republicans won't do it. Details
  • Senate Judiciary Democrats unable to subpoena John Roberts because of Dianne Feinstein’s absence. Details
• The one thing Trump and McConnell agree on: A hatred for the Club for Growth. Details
• Senate Democrats want to bring Clarence Thomas before an ethics hearing. Details
• Sen. Bob  Menendez (D-NJ) rejects any substitutes in push for Latino Fed nominee. Details

In the House

• GOP opens probe into Granholm's travel as Energy secretary. Details
• House passes bill to bar transgender athletes from female sports teams. Details
• House group releases bipartisan plan to lift the debt ceiling and avert default. Details
• Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA) introduced a bill to address military servicemember food insecurity. Details
• Women who adopt children or are stepmothers aren't real mothers according to MTG. Details
• Twelve Democrats joined GOP-ers to pass a Congressional Review Act resolution to undo Pres. Biden's solar tariff freeze. Details
• Congress cools on post-SVB banking overhaul. Details

In the Courts

Supreme Court

• Supreme Court allows abortion pill to stay on the market for now. Details.
  • Brett Kavanaugh has a trail of opinions on health care and pharma issues. Details
  • Abortion pill maker sues FDA to protect drug if a court orders it off the market. Details
• Clarence Thomas has for years claimed income from a real estate firm that doesn't exist. Details
• Neil Gorsuch has his own problematic real estate sale; with two other partners he owned a cabin in Colorado that the group had been trying to sell for two years. Nine days after he was confirmed to the Supreme Court, the head of a law firm that frequently has cases before the court bought it. Details
• Chief Justice Roberts declines to testify before Senate panel. He has his own ethics problem. Details
• Alito says he has ‘pretty good idea’ of the identity of Dobbs decision leaker. Details
• Supreme Court’s new ethics declaration stops short of concrete action. Details

Lower Federal Courts

• Pentagon leaks suspect wanted to 'kill a ton of people' because it would be 'culling the weak minded.' Details
• Judge tosses Devin Nunes libel suit against and Esquire article that alleged undocumented workers worked at the family dairy farm. Details
• Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is upset that Trump-appointed judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk pulled some wool over her eyes. Details
• ‘Weaponizing its power’: Disney accuses DeSantis of retaliation in federal lawsuit. Details

• Fox "News"
  • What the Fox "News"-Dominion settlement means for Smartmatic's $2.7 billion lawsuit. Details
  • Tucker Carlson
    • Before Tucker's departure, advertisers (Disney, Sandals Resort, Papa Johns, Angie's List, T-Mobile and Nordic Track) had already fled. Details (NY Times subscription required.)
    • Newsmax ratings up; Fox News prime-time ratings plummet with the departure of Tucker Carlson. Details
    • Russian state media is already offering Tucker Carlson a new job. Details
  • Disinformation expert, Nina Jankowicz, is targeting Fox News with new crowd-funded lawsuit. Details
  • Upcoming lawsuits. Summary
    • Fox "News" and Rupert Murdoch's legal headaches are just getting started: bring on the shareholder lawsuits! Details
    • Smartmatic's lawyer responded to the Dominion settlement with this: "Smartmatic will expose the rest. Smartmatic remains committed to clearing its name, recouping the significant damage done to the company, and holding Fox accountable for undermining democracy.” Details
    • Former Tucker Carlson booker, Abby Grossberg, is suing Fox "News" for abusive work environment. Details
• Disney sues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, claiming 'government retaliation.' Details
• NAACP is suing Mississippi over 'separate and unequal policing' for putting the majority-Black capital of Jackson under a state-run police department. Details
• Abby Grossberg is suing Fox "News," Fox Corp. and employees (including Tucker Carlson) in Delaware and New York courts for fostering a workplace riven with abusive behaviors. Details

In the States

Nationwide

• Gun violence is actually worse in red states. Details
• Lawyers suggest a way around abortion pill restrictions but doctors may be afraid to try it. Details
• America’s looming conflict: red judges vs. blue governors. Details
• Why Americans can't keep nice things. Details
• Rural America dips into its wallet as airlines drop service. Details

In Alabama

• Four killed, several injured after shooting at birthday party. Details
  • Alabama shooting victim died in sister’s arms after saving her life. Details

In California

• California approves rule ending diesel truck sales by 2036. Details

In Florida

• College Board made changes to its AP African American studies course to appease DeSantis but after complaints from teachers, the Board now plans revisions. Details
• DeSantis had beef with the College Board. Now Florida wants its own courses and tests. Details
• DeSantis suggests building a prison next to Disney on land now controlled by state. Details
• LGBTQ+ people are leaving Florida. They blame the Legislature. Details
• Florida Legislature passes bill allowing DeSantis to run for president as governor. Details

In Indiana

• Indiana lawmakers give approval to anti-ESG (environment, social and governance) investing bill. Details
• Montana Republicans vote to ban trans lawmaker Zooey Zephyr from House floor. Details

In Kansas

• Kansas is the latest anti-ESG state. Details
• Kansas enacts sweeping transgender ‘bathroom bill.' Details
• The Republican-controlled legislature overrode a veto from the Democratic governor to define a “woman” based on a person’s reproductive biology at birth. Details
• Lawmakers overrode Gov. Kelly’s veto, enacting first anti-abortion law since Roe fell. Details

In Michigan

• Michigan state senators spar over unenforced penalty for unmarried couples living together. Details
• Michigan Senate passes 'red flag' legislation allowing for gun seizures from at-risk owners. Details

In Missouri

• 84-year-old charged with felonies 4 days after shooting of Kansas City teen Ralph Yarl. Details
  • A gap in Missouri hate crime law may be why the man accused of shooting Ralph Yarl wasn't charged with a hate crime. Details
  • 'Emotional roller coaster': Ralph Yarl's father on shooting aftermath. Details
• ACLU sues Missouri over book ban law. Details

In Montana

• Gov. Gianforte signs bills related to firearms industry at Belgrade gun manufacturer. Details
• Protests erupt in Montana as transgender lawmaker is silenced. Details

In New York

• Man charged with murder after fatal shooting of New York woman who turned into the wrong driveway. Details
• Secret Chinese police station in New York leads to arrests. Details

In North Carolina

• Man shoots 6-year-old and her parents after getting mad that basketball rolled into his yard. Details
• N.C. Supreme Court overrules previous decision that struck down highly gerrymandered voting maps; the old map gave . Details
• What a party switch in N.C. means for Democrats. (Hint: four more GOP U.S. House seats in 2024). Details
• "Why I Keep My Eyes — and My Mind — on the South," by Tressie McMillan Cottom, a professor with the Center for Information, Technology and Public Life at UNC-Chapel Hill and a New York Times columnist.

In Ohio

• Grand jury decision: No criminal charges for 8 Akron police officers who shot Jayland Walker. Details

In Oklahoma

• Oklahoma sheriff who threatened local media with violence is now investigating local media. Details
• Oklahoma governor calls for resignations after county officials reportedly discussed killing journalists, hanging Black people. Details

In Texas

• Texas Senate moves to end countywide voting on Election Day. Details
• Texas House approves sweeping limits on local regulations in GOP’s latest jab at blue cities. Details
• Llano County library supporters declare victory as officials decide not to close all branches. Details

In Washington, Kitsap County

• Salvation Army to close shelter in Bremerton, though city leaders aim to find alternatives. Details
• Plenty of school board positions up for grabs this fall. Details
• A Kitsap project that provides housing in a way that works. Details

2024

• Presidential candidates
  • Anti-woke GOP biotech entrepreneur, Vivek Ramaswamy, has already poured $10 million into his 2024 bid. Details
• Senate candidates
  • West Virginia GOP Gov. Jim Justice enters race against Joe Manchin; Justice has even more ties to coal. Details
• House candidates
  • Bipartisan super PAC aims to ensure Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene crash and burn in 2024. Details

Holding Trump Accountable

• Documents
  • Evan Corcoran, a top Trump lawyer, has recused himself from Mar-a-Lago documents case. Details
• Jan. 6
  • Trump lost his appeal to block Pence from testifying about direct communications; Pence testified before federal grand jury investigating Donald Trump and Jan. 6. Details
  • Trump's legal adviser, Boris Epshteyn, testified before the special counsel's grand jury on April 20. Details

• The Manhattan DA's office asked Judge Juan Merchan not to let Trump use criminal case evidence publicly. Details
• Mary Kay Vyskocil, a Trump-appointed district court judge, refused to block Jim Jordan's subpoena for the testimony of former Manhattan DA office prosecutor, Mark Pomerantz. Details
  • Deal struck to let Pomerantz testify before Jordan's House committee. Details

• Trump answered questions for 7 hours in New York AG fraud suit. Details
  • This time, Trump said something other than "5th!" and Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg heard it all.
  • Chants of 'New York hates you' greeted the Trump motorcade as it arrived for the deposition. Details
• Judge Arthur Engoron slammed the door on Trump's latest attempt to hide financial documents by hiring a team of Texas lawyers. Details

• Georgia DA seeks to disqualify attorney for ‘fake electors’ in Trump investigation. Details
• Wills sends letter to law enforcement to get ready for indictments this summer. Details

• Judge Lewis Kaplin warned Trump about social media comments. Details
• E Jean Carroll pushes back in Trump cross-examination: ‘He raped me whether I screamed or not.' Details
• What the Trump rape trial has already revealed. Details
• The 26 women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct. Details

• Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss are suing Jim and James Hoft for defamation. The Hofts run the fringe website Gateway Pundit that led the attacks against the pair. The trial is being held in Missouri. Details

• A second firm hired by Trump campaign found no evidence of election fraud. Details
• Michigan appears to be investigating 2020 efforts to seize voting machines. Details
• Trump's unused mansion falls under investigation for possible tax fraud. Details
• New Ted Cruz recordings:
  • Ted Cruz's Jan. 6 scheming exposed in new recording unveiled by the Abby Grossberg workplace misconduct case. Details
  • In a 'damning' new J6 recording, Ted Cruz discusses how to force a reassessment of Biden's win. Details
• Trump lawyers commit 'strategic blunder' in case against Michael Cohen. Details
• ‘We’re Getting Killed on Abortion’: Inside Trump’s Secret Meetings With the Religious Right. Details
• Trump comforted convicted Jan. 6 rioter who called to execute members of Congress. Details

• Mike Lindell ordered to pay $5M reward to expert who debunked 'rigged election' claims. Details
• Jury deliberations began Wednesday in the latest Proud Boys seditious conspiracy case. Defendants include Proud Boys leader, Enrique Tarrio, Joe Biggs, Ethan Nordean, Dominic Pezzola and Zach Rehl. Details
  • Proud Boy who helped ignite Capitol breach tells jury he got ‘caught up’ in Jan. 6 chaos. Details
  • Judge in Proud Boys case denies mistrial motion after jurors report being followed. Details