Friday, September 2, 2022

Wake-Up Call: Biden..Trump-Led Extremism A Threat To Democracy

President Biden warned in a prime time speech from in front of Philadelphia's Independence Hall last night about what he said is a threat to America's democracy from the, quote, "extreme ideology" of former President Donald Trump and his "MAGA Republican" followers -- using the shorthand for Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan -- which he said dominates the Republican Party. Biden said he wasn't condemning everyone who voted for Trump in 2020, and tried to separate his "MAGA" followers from the Republican Party as a whole, as he tried to rally Americans of all kinds against, quote, "an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic." He said, "They promote authoritarian leaders. They fanned the flames of political violence," and stated, "Too much of what’s happening in our country today is not normal." Sending his message just two months ahead of the midterm elections, Biden urged Americans to vote to protect democracy, saying, "For a long time, we’ve reassured ourselves that American democracy is guaranteed. But it is not." Republicans blasted Biden over the speech, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy delivered a pre-buttal earlier in which he charged it was Biden trying to divide Americans and who has, quote, "launched an assault on our democracy."

The speech was carried live by few TV outlets. Only CNN and MSNBC ran the remarks live. ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, Fox News and Fox Business did not air it.


☢U.N. TEAM ARRIVES AT UKRAINE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT: A U.N. inspection team of experts arrived at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine yesterday on a long-sought mission to protect against a disaster at the plant, which has been in the middle of fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces. The 14-member delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency entered the facility, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, for its first look at the conditions, with their arrival delayed as both Russia and Ukraine accused the other of shelling the area. Russian forces took over the plant soon after the invasion, but it's still being operated by Ukrainian engineers. The head of the team, IAEA director Rafael Grossi, said they were able to tour the entire site and meet with staff, stating they collected important information, and will stay to continue their assessment. He said, "The IAEA is now there at the plant and it’s not moving. It’s going to stay there. We’re going to have a continued presence there at the plant with some of my experts."

➤JUDGE SEEMS INCLINED TO GRANT TRUMP'S REQUEST FOR SPECIAL MASTER: A federal judge appeared inclined during a hearing yesterday to grant former President Donald Trump's request for a special master to be appointed to review the documents taken by FBI agents from his Florida estate early last month as they executed a search warrant looking for classified material. Judge Aileen Cannon didn't rule on the request, saying she'd do so later, but said in response to the Justice Department's arguments against it, "Ultimately, what is the harm." Trump's attorneys argue a review by an independent third party would allow for personal information to be returned to Trump, along with documents that may be protected by claims of attorney-client privilege or executive privilege. But the Justice Department said investigators have already completed a review and identified a "limited set of materials that potentially contain attorney-client privileged information." They also said Trump has no legal standing to demand the return of presidential documents because they don't belong to him since he's no longer president, and said a special master would needlessly delay its investigation, in part because they'd need to get a security clearance and special authorization from intelligence agencies to review the documents.

💉CDC ENDORSES UPDATED COMBINATION COVID VACCINES: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walenksy endorsed updated combination Covid-19 vaccine boosters from Pfzier and Moderna yesterday, shortly after independent advisers to the CDC voted earlier in the day to recommend them. The vote was 13-1 in favor for the vaccines that combine the original vaccine with one that targets the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants that are now the most widespread across the country. Pfizer's vaccine is for people 12 and older and Moderna's is for adults 18 and over. The Food and Drug Administration approved the updated boosters on Wednesday.

🚨EX-NYPD OFFICER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN JAN. 6TH CASE, LONGEST SO FAR: Retired New York Police Department officer Thomas Webster was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday for assaulting a police officer trying to hold off rioters during the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. The sentence is the longest given so far in a January 6th case. The 56-year-old Webster, who prosecutors said led the charge against police barricades at the Capitol's Lower West Plaza, was convicted by a jury on all six counts against him. They rejected his claim that he was defending himself when he tackled Metropolitan Police Department officer Noah Rathbun and grabbed his gas mask after having swung a metal flag pole at him, saying an officer punched him in the face.

➤TEXAS NOW BUSING MIGRANTS TO CHICAGO:  Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has been busing migrants who've crossed the border from Mexico and are seeking asylum to Washington, D.C., New York City and now Chicago. Abbott has been sending the migrants to Democratic-run cities to protest the administration's immigration policies, charging, "President Biden's inaction at our southern border continues putting the lives of Texans -- and Americans -- at risk and is overwhelming our communities. To continue providing much-needed relief to our small, overrun border towns, Chicago will join fellow sanctuary cities Washington, D.C. and New York City as an additional drop-off location." Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot blasted Abbott, accusing him of being "without any shame or humanity" and of "racist practices of expulsion." New York City officials have also slammed Abbott, with Manuel Castro, the commission of immigrant affairs, accusing him of, quote, "trying to dehumanize people" and "trying to foment anti-immigrant hatred."


🏫STUDY: SHARP DECLINE IN MATH AND READING SCORES DURING PANDEMIC: There was a sharp decline in math and reading scores for U.S. nine-year-olds during the first two years of the pandemic, according to a new federal study from the National Center for Education Statistics. The study compared results from early 2020, shortly before the pandemic, and early 2022. Reading scores had their biggest drop in 30 years, down an average five points, and math scores had their first decline in the history of the testing system behind the study, down seven percentage points. The declines were seen in all parts of the country and in students of most races, however students of color had some of the largest decreases. The results reflect the upheaval in education as a result of the pandemic, with students spending months or even more than a year learning from home, and Covid outbreaks among staff and students continuing the disruption even after they returned to school.

🏫PARENTS' CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY IN SCHOOL AT 20-YEAR HIGH: Amid ongoing mass shootings across the country, including the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, in May in which 19 children and two teachers were killed, a new Gallup survey found that parents' concerns about school safety are at a 20-year high. Gallup surveyed parents of students from kindergarten through 12th grade and found 44 percent said they fear for their children's physical safety at school -- more than any year since 2001 -- and 20 percent said their children have independently raised concerns about their safety. In addition to the Uvalde school shooting, two other recent high profile mass shootings were the supermarket attack in Buffalo, New York, that left 10 people dead, and the attack on a Fourth of July parade in Highland, Park, Illinois, in which seven people were killed.

'Suicide' victim
➤HEAD OF RUSSIAN OIL GIANT THAT SPOKE AGAINST UKRAINE WAR DIES AFTER FALLING OUT WINDOW: The chairman of Russian oil and gas giant Lukoil, which spoke out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, died Thursday after falling out of a sixth-floor hospital window, according to state news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS. RIA Novosti cited a law enforcement source who said it was "most likely" suicide. Lukoil, Russia's second-largest oil company, said in a statement that Ravil Maganov (right) died, quote, "following a severe illness," but didn't mention a fall. Lukoil's board of directors released a statement in March, shortly after the invasion began, expressing its, quote, "deepest concerns." It stated, "Calling for the soonest termination of the armed conflict, we express our sincere empathy for all victims, who are affected by this tragedy. We strongly support a lasting ceasefire and a settlement of problems through serious negotiations and diplomacy." CNN reported that at least five prominent Russian businessmen have reportedly died by suicide since late January.


➤U.S. NUN FREED MONTHS AFTER BEING TAKEN HOSTAGE IN BURKINA FASO: An 83-year-old American nun has been freed nearly five months after being taken and held hostage by terrorists in the African nation of Burkina Faso. Media reports said Sister Suellen Tennyson was released to Nigerians on Monday (August 29th) and then turned over to US officials. Nigeria borders Burkina Faso. The exact circumstances of her release are unclear, but US Africa Command spokesman Lieutenant Commander Timothy Pietrack told CNN that US Africa Command personnel, quote, "facilitated the safe turnover" of Tennyson from the terrorists, and that it worked with "African and international partners" to get her released.


🎾SERENA AND VENUS WILLIAMS FALL IN FIRST-ROUND U.S. OPEN DOUBLES MATCH: Serena Williams has made it into the third round of the U.S. Open in what's expected to be the final tournament of her career, but she and sister Venus Williams lost in the first round of the doubles tournament, falling to the Czech team of Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova last night. It was the first time the Williams sisters had teamed up since the 2018 French Open.

In other matches yesterday, top-seeded women's player Iga Swiatek won in the second round in straight sets over American Sloane Stephens, but fourth-seeded Paula Badosa was upset, falling to unseeded Petra Martic. On the men's side, Number 2 Rafael Nadal beat unseeded Fabio Fognini and Number 3 Carlos Alcarez also advanced.

🏀CAVALIERS ACQUIRE MITCHELL FROM JAZZ: The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired three-time All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in a trade with the Utah Jazz, according to media reports yesterday (September 1st). ESPN reported the Cavaliers are trading forward Lauri Markkanen, rookie guard Ochai Agbaji, guard Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps for Mitchell.

🏈DENVER QB WILSON AGREES TO FIVE-YEAR, $245 MILLION EXTENSION: Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson signed a five-year, $245 million extension Thursday that includes $165 million in guarantees. The contract is the largest in Broncos history and one of the biggest ever in the NFL, and keeps Wilson with Denver through the 2028 season. Wilson had two years and $51 million left on his deal when the Broncos acquired him from the Seattle Seahawks in a trade six months ago. Wilson led Seattle to two Super Bowl appearances and one championship over a decade.

⚾BRAVES' ROOKIE PITCHER STRIKES OUT 16 FOR FRANCHISE RECORD: Atlanta Braves rookie pitcher Spencer Strider struck out 16 batters in a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rockies last night, setting a franchise record. Strider allowed just two hits in eight innings and didn't walk anyone. In only his 30th career appearance and 17th start, Strider had his fifth game with at least 10 strikeouts, with a previous high of 13 strikeouts against the Philadelphia Phillies in early August. The previous Atlanta record had been 15 strikeouts by Hall of Famer John Smoltz, who did it twice, in 1992 and 2005.
 
🏈COMMANDERS' ROBINSON TO MISS AT LEAST FOUR GAMES AFTER BEING SHOT: Washington Commanders rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. will miss at least the first four games of the season after being shot twice in the leg during an attempted robbery in Washington, D.C., last weekend. The Commanders put the 23-year-old on the non-football injury list yesterday (September 1st), making their October 9th game the first he'll be eligible to play, with head coach Ron Rivera saying the decision was made on the advice of doctors. He added, "After four weeks we’ll go from there."



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