News and Hope

This has been yet another astounding week with so much going on it is hard to know where to begin. The good news this week is that Alex Jones, the sociopathic conspiracy theorist of InfoWars, was ordered to pay a total of over $49 million in compensation and punishment for a decade-long campaign of lies and harassment of two parents whose child was murdered in the Sandy Hook school shooting. The trial, in Texas, was the first of three such trials for Jones. While Texas law may reduce the punitive damages assessed, he faces another trial in Connecticut where the law is unlikely to be as favorable to him. Oh, by the way, Jones’ lawyer inadvertently provided the opposing side a digital copy of all of the texts on Jones’ cell phone – which the January 6 Committee is now obtaining since they cover the time frame of the insurrection at the Capitol. I feel zero empathy for this putrid worm, who amassed millions from his lunatic show while torturing the parents of murdered schoolchildren. May he never have another day of peace in his life.

In Cincinnati, another mass shooting has left nine wounded (no reports of deaths). A bar, a disorderly crowd (alcohol), guns – a perfect recipe for mayhem. This will go on and on. I see no respite for gun violence in the United States with more firearms than people in the country and a passion for a flawed Second Amendment that perverts the idea of a well-regulated militia. No one is safe. No one.

Back to some good news. Ruby red Kansas voted Tuesday not to amend their constitution and give the legislature authority to enact new abortion restrictions. The turnout was the highest for any Kansas primary and 58% of the voters said “No, thank you” to allowing the legislature to interfere further with women’s reproductive rights. There was a flurry of new voters registered after the Dobbs decision was announced; 70% of those new voters are women. As Nate Cohn noted in the New York Times, the Dobbs decision really seems to have shifted the political landscape regarding abortion, and by extension, women’s rights – and his map of what could happen nationwide should really give the GOP pause. This is not good news for the Republicans, who continue to double down on this subject despite the obvious reality. Physicians are already being harassed regarding abortion services and we can expect that to increase. Oh, and business is taking notice in Indiana too, with Lilly and other firms objecting to the effects of the new law by noting they will not grow their enterprises within the state. Good job, Republicans. Your dog caught the car after 49 years of trying. It may not pay off well in November.

 

In news from Ukraine, Russia’s military continues to launch rockets at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which could lead to a nuclear disaster like Chernobyl. Putin is power-crazy and determined to destroy Ukraine one way or the other. One can see where Donald Trump gets his inspiration from.

And today the Senate passed the climate, health, and tax bill (Inflation Reduction Act) over the opposition of every GOP Senator. The GOP is no longer a viable political party. It is a Christofascist cult. It’s time for me to get back to work getting Democratic voters to turn out this November. Want to help? Go to Vote Forward; they have 53 active campaigns and are looking for volunteers to write letters (from your home!). Postcards To Swing States is looking for volunteers to do the same with postcards. Progressive Turnout Project has other opportunities. There are others too. This is not a year to sit out the election. Donate to candidates or to EMILY’s List. Plutocrats give big bucks in dark money to hide their influence, but myriads of small donations make a difference. Kansas and the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act should give us hope. We cannot let fascism overcome our democracy.