I think I'm going to have to go back into the classroom at my advanced age. It used to be a kid couldn't pass 8th grade into high school without passing Civics. No wonder we have an unknown imposter in the House as well as several more who are not even in pronouncing distance of what their work is they were sent to do.
Just wanted to say 'thanks' for the new Thursday pod with the Lawfare team Charlie, its great. I was a big fan of 'All The President's Lawyers' when it was running with Josh Barrow and Ken White a few years ago so its great to have your top class replacement. Proof of its class and 'finger-on-the-pulse-edness', arrived toot-da-sweet with Politico Friday telling us about the immunity deals in the Georgia case which the pod canvassed! I have awarded myself 'The Giant Hat of Cleverness' for being so astute as to subscribe to your brilliant pod. Modesty is my middle name....
Well I’ve checked other sources and it does seem that New York is damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Looks like they’ll have to go to nuclear or renewables.
Charlie is still riding the right-wing gas stove hobby horse. The real issue here is that the right is finding it ridiculous. Not that we should study this more, not that the harms are minor and do not support the inconveniences , but just the science that gas stoves are causing environmental harms is ridiculous to even discuss. In other words, the same argument right wingers made in response to second hand smoke and climate change. Not sure coming to the aid of right-wing bad-faith is the hill to die on (and fucking yeah, I love my gas stove!).
There is actually some (not great) evidence that gas stoves result in higher indoor nitrogen oxide levels, which are associated with childhood asthma exacerbations. But ventilation can address that.
But swapping out gas stoves for electric in NYC will do nothing for climate change. We generate our electricity from natural gas here. And the overall energy balance between gas and electric is pretty much a wash.
The bigger problem is forcing electric heat. Your electricity goes out, you freeze to death. We have gas heat, hot water, stove, and clothes dryer. The only thing that doesn't work in a power failure is the clothes dryer.
Sonny Bunch (of all people at the Bulwark) warned us that this was coming. I owe you an apology, Sonny: I thought that you were over-reacting to Far Left Fantasies when you warned about this, but you were right.
Charlie is still riding the right-wing gas stove hobby horse. The real issue here is that the right is finding it ridiculous. Not that we should study this more, not that the harms are minor and do not support the inconveniences , but just the science that gas stoves are causing environmental harms is ridiculous to even discuss. In other words, the same argument right wingers made in response to second hand smoke and climate change. Not sure coming to the aid of right-wing bad-faith is the hill to die on (and fucking yeah, I love my gas stove!).
Actually it was decades before we had food evidence regarding second hand smoke and cancer. And some of the researchers who sought to shown an association actually cheated.
The story about history and civics knowledge is new?? Sorry, but it wasn’t so hot in 1985 either / nobody cared then and surely in pursuit of tech supremacy no one cares now
I think you are missing the real story here. These billionaires are pissed, they were wasting millions on multiple politicians when they were be outmaneuvered by Harlan Crow. For less total spend he bought himself a Supreme Court Justice! And there are only 9 of those!
Dealing with the refugee crisis on the border - even the normal illegal immigration situation of the past 20 years could all have been handled without all this drama. It’s amazing that other countries - much poorer than the US have handled vastly larger # of migrants and refugees over the past 25 years . They have settled them in camps providing food, water, shelter and in some cases health care and schooling for children . We seem to have a naive negative response to the same kind of solution here. If the normal immigration system is not going to be reformed by either party then the only solution is to temporarily house, feed, clothe and educate in camps until backlogs are dealt with.
I’d like to see how many migrants would continue to come if they knew they would be spending months (years?) in a camp.
Sound heartless? Not in keeping with our American values? Tough. Love.
We have a right to control borders and to set and maintain rules for entry as long as we treat migrants and immigrants with compassion, decency , respect and love. The current system does none of that and both parties are ok with that.
The entire number of incarcerated people in the US is around two million. That is less than the number of pending asylum applicants. Basically you are calling for a doubling of size of the US prison system. The cost of the current system is about $85 billion. What taxes do you want to raise to pay for your concentration camps?
These are official stats of the growth in asylum applications - growing over the 10 years from 2010 - 2020 then declining due to COVID restrictions and Section 42 which ends in a week. So what we are talking about is not the 1.6 million already here-am not suggesting that we go Gestapo like around the country taking people off the streets. We can only plan for the deal with what will happen if nothing is done. Since Congress will not address our immigration system to better represent our 21st century economy then people will continue to come here for opportunity as they have for 150 years. Ain’t no stopping that.
We do need a brake, a patient and humane way of handling the hundreds of thousands of applicants that will come to seek safety and opportunity. At the same time a reminder to all those coming that there is no free lunch, that it will take time and that a price in time and patience must be paid - assuming their applications are approved.
If this shit was easy it would have been done already. It ain’t easy. But doing it as it has been done is madness.
The best thing to do would be to return to the pre 1965 law for the Western Hemisphere. No numerical limits. But you have to get your visa from a consulate in your home country before you arrive at the border.
And we should also let Mexicans come to the US under the same rules as Canadians. It would be a huge economic boost for us.
I don’t have a problem with transitioning to wind and solar but cost, reliability and political fall out should also be considered. While certain costs have come down, wind and solar are not at a stage to function as base line power. Battery technology is supposed to address that but it’s not there yet. Nat gas emissions can be reduced by focusing on methane. Obama put forth rules on that which the industry was adapting to until Trump repealed them. Industry should have implemented them anyway. Shortsighted.
"It’s too soon to know whether this marks a widespread shift among billionaire funders, or whether it will even make any difference. Despite the qualms of the donors, Republican candidates continue to race to the right on culture issues, and the GOP donor class has a long history of getting back in line."
As more and more potential PseudoRepub, PseudoCon and RINO candidates run as fast as possible to the right they are opening themselves to another smack-down in '24. A majority of Americans, IMO, have had more than enough of the Trumpette culture wars and lack of *any* legislation that might benefit the country as a whole. It appears that some "conservative" mega-donors are concerned as well. Even so, there will not be much of a stoppage of cash; for every Thiel (who will probably jump in again) there is an even bigger fascist with deep pockets, like Richard Uihlein.
I find it interesting to note that seven of the top ten political donors in the '22 Midterms were Rs giving to MAGA idiots in an attempt to remake the US into a "Christian" country, and to pulverize their perceived political enemies into the dust. Democracy means less than nothing to these people; All they seem to care about is the ability to pull the strings attached to the puppets they bought and paid for. I have a dream that these ultrarich jerks sink so much money - both openly to various PACs and in dark money - that when their candidates get beaten they won't be able to afford to try a take-over again (I know this is impossible, but I can still dream).
On a different note: John McCain has been spinning in his grave over what became of his faithful wingman Lindsey "Karen" Graham over the last four and a half years. Graham has turned into one of the predominant asshats in Congress. His hypocrisy is overwhelming in his devotion to the Tangerine Tyrant - Biden, because he has a D after his name is incompetent, senile, constantly confused and governs by political theater while his Orange G-d King (thanks again for this turn of phrase Mr Sykes) was the *best* POTUS we've ever elected. I would wager that by now McCain is spinning so fast that he could be a turbine in his own fighter jet.
I think I'm going to have to go back into the classroom at my advanced age. It used to be a kid couldn't pass 8th grade into high school without passing Civics. No wonder we have an unknown imposter in the House as well as several more who are not even in pronouncing distance of what their work is they were sent to do.
Just wanted to say 'thanks' for the new Thursday pod with the Lawfare team Charlie, its great. I was a big fan of 'All The President's Lawyers' when it was running with Josh Barrow and Ken White a few years ago so its great to have your top class replacement. Proof of its class and 'finger-on-the-pulse-edness', arrived toot-da-sweet with Politico Friday telling us about the immunity deals in the Georgia case which the pod canvassed! I have awarded myself 'The Giant Hat of Cleverness' for being so astute as to subscribe to your brilliant pod. Modesty is my middle name....
Great read today. Baby alligator analogy is perfect in so many ways
Well I’ve checked other sources and it does seem that New York is damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Looks like they’ll have to go to nuclear or renewables.
Even billionaires can be conned, it turns out.
(Note to Tom Peterffy: You think Glenn Youngkin is different? )
Charlie is still riding the right-wing gas stove hobby horse. The real issue here is that the right is finding it ridiculous. Not that we should study this more, not that the harms are minor and do not support the inconveniences , but just the science that gas stoves are causing environmental harms is ridiculous to even discuss. In other words, the same argument right wingers made in response to second hand smoke and climate change. Not sure coming to the aid of right-wing bad-faith is the hill to die on (and fucking yeah, I love my gas stove!).
There is actually some (not great) evidence that gas stoves result in higher indoor nitrogen oxide levels, which are associated with childhood asthma exacerbations. But ventilation can address that.
But swapping out gas stoves for electric in NYC will do nothing for climate change. We generate our electricity from natural gas here. And the overall energy balance between gas and electric is pretty much a wash.
The bigger problem is forcing electric heat. Your electricity goes out, you freeze to death. We have gas heat, hot water, stove, and clothes dryer. The only thing that doesn't work in a power failure is the clothes dryer.
Sonny Bunch (of all people at the Bulwark) warned us that this was coming. I owe you an apology, Sonny: I thought that you were over-reacting to Far Left Fantasies when you warned about this, but you were right.
Charlie is still riding the right-wing gas stove hobby horse. The real issue here is that the right is finding it ridiculous. Not that we should study this more, not that the harms are minor and do not support the inconveniences , but just the science that gas stoves are causing environmental harms is ridiculous to even discuss. In other words, the same argument right wingers made in response to second hand smoke and climate change. Not sure coming to the aid of right-wing bad-faith is the hill to die on (and fucking yeah, I love my gas stove!).
Actually it was decades before we had food evidence regarding second hand smoke and cancer. And some of the researchers who sought to shown an association actually cheated.
April 8th announcement.
https://www.forces.net/ukraine/ukraine-launches-competition-land-drone-red-square-during-russian-military-parade
The story about history and civics knowledge is new?? Sorry, but it wasn’t so hot in 1985 either / nobody cared then and surely in pursuit of tech supremacy no one cares now
I think you are missing the real story here. These billionaires are pissed, they were wasting millions on multiple politicians when they were be outmaneuvered by Harlan Crow. For less total spend he bought himself a Supreme Court Justice! And there are only 9 of those!
Dealing with the refugee crisis on the border - even the normal illegal immigration situation of the past 20 years could all have been handled without all this drama. It’s amazing that other countries - much poorer than the US have handled vastly larger # of migrants and refugees over the past 25 years . They have settled them in camps providing food, water, shelter and in some cases health care and schooling for children . We seem to have a naive negative response to the same kind of solution here. If the normal immigration system is not going to be reformed by either party then the only solution is to temporarily house, feed, clothe and educate in camps until backlogs are dealt with.
I’d like to see how many migrants would continue to come if they knew they would be spending months (years?) in a camp.
Sound heartless? Not in keeping with our American values? Tough. Love.
We have a right to control borders and to set and maintain rules for entry as long as we treat migrants and immigrants with compassion, decency , respect and love. The current system does none of that and both parties are ok with that.
Shame of them all
The entire number of incarcerated people in the US is around two million. That is less than the number of pending asylum applicants. Basically you are calling for a doubling of size of the US prison system. The cost of the current system is about $85 billion. What taxes do you want to raise to pay for your concentration camps?
Table 1. Immigration Court Asylum Case Backlog
Fiscal Year End* Number Pending Annual Change
2012 105,919
2013 108,398 2,479
2014 114,603 6,205
2015 136,145 21,542
2016 163,451 27,306
2017 259,871 96,420
2018 364,990 105,119
2019 489,003 124,013
2020 614,751 125,748
2021 667,229 52,478
2022 756,690 89,461
*2023 787,882 31,192
These are official stats of the growth in asylum applications - growing over the 10 years from 2010 - 2020 then declining due to COVID restrictions and Section 42 which ends in a week. So what we are talking about is not the 1.6 million already here-am not suggesting that we go Gestapo like around the country taking people off the streets. We can only plan for the deal with what will happen if nothing is done. Since Congress will not address our immigration system to better represent our 21st century economy then people will continue to come here for opportunity as they have for 150 years. Ain’t no stopping that.
We do need a brake, a patient and humane way of handling the hundreds of thousands of applicants that will come to seek safety and opportunity. At the same time a reminder to all those coming that there is no free lunch, that it will take time and that a price in time and patience must be paid - assuming their applications are approved.
If this shit was easy it would have been done already. It ain’t easy. But doing it as it has been done is madness.
The best thing to do would be to return to the pre 1965 law for the Western Hemisphere. No numerical limits. But you have to get your visa from a consulate in your home country before you arrive at the border.
And we should also let Mexicans come to the US under the same rules as Canadians. It would be a huge economic boost for us.
Good podcast with Ben Smith. Listened on Wednesday night.
"Baby alligator problem." Brilliant. I say let him live in the NYC sewers until he adjusts to the idea that he lost.
Taking your gas stove puts a new twist on the the saying "...out of my cold dead hands."
I don’t have a problem with transitioning to wind and solar but cost, reliability and political fall out should also be considered. While certain costs have come down, wind and solar are not at a stage to function as base line power. Battery technology is supposed to address that but it’s not there yet. Nat gas emissions can be reduced by focusing on methane. Obama put forth rules on that which the industry was adapting to until Trump repealed them. Industry should have implemented them anyway. Shortsighted.
"It’s too soon to know whether this marks a widespread shift among billionaire funders, or whether it will even make any difference. Despite the qualms of the donors, Republican candidates continue to race to the right on culture issues, and the GOP donor class has a long history of getting back in line."
As more and more potential PseudoRepub, PseudoCon and RINO candidates run as fast as possible to the right they are opening themselves to another smack-down in '24. A majority of Americans, IMO, have had more than enough of the Trumpette culture wars and lack of *any* legislation that might benefit the country as a whole. It appears that some "conservative" mega-donors are concerned as well. Even so, there will not be much of a stoppage of cash; for every Thiel (who will probably jump in again) there is an even bigger fascist with deep pockets, like Richard Uihlein.
I find it interesting to note that seven of the top ten political donors in the '22 Midterms were Rs giving to MAGA idiots in an attempt to remake the US into a "Christian" country, and to pulverize their perceived political enemies into the dust. Democracy means less than nothing to these people; All they seem to care about is the ability to pull the strings attached to the puppets they bought and paid for. I have a dream that these ultrarich jerks sink so much money - both openly to various PACs and in dark money - that when their candidates get beaten they won't be able to afford to try a take-over again (I know this is impossible, but I can still dream).
On a different note: John McCain has been spinning in his grave over what became of his faithful wingman Lindsey "Karen" Graham over the last four and a half years. Graham has turned into one of the predominant asshats in Congress. His hypocrisy is overwhelming in his devotion to the Tangerine Tyrant - Biden, because he has a D after his name is incompetent, senile, constantly confused and governs by political theater while his Orange G-d King (thanks again for this turn of phrase Mr Sykes) was the *best* POTUS we've ever elected. I would wager that by now McCain is spinning so fast that he could be a turbine in his own fighter jet.
fnord