Bits n’ pieces from east, west and beyond
East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact.
A recent sampling:
A British man is suing for the $6 million he lost in his divorce after his wife found what he thought had been deleted messages -- for appointments with prostitutes. He found it unfair that the messages were not actually deleted, saying that triggered the end of his “superb” marriage: MSN.com .
At a recent rally in Florida, numerous media reported that presidential candidate Donald Trump told the crowd that if elected president, they won’t have to vote again. “It’ll be fixed. It’ll be fine.”
The Atlantic: The statement was “a notorious hallmark of autocracy,” and one of the latest in Trump’s long authoritarian record, including lying, calling “fake” reporting that’s critical of him, using his presidency for personal enrichment and his attempts to block Joe Biden’s valid presidential win.
Following his time as president, The Atlantic added that Trump has made proposals such as executing the nation’s top general and executing shoplifters without trial, “a violation of due process seen only in the most brutal authoritarian regimes.”
“At least some of his base” is composed of what political scientists call “authoritarian voters,” who want to get their way “even if it means destroying democracy,” The Atlantic concluded.
The Department of Justice says the Sinaloa Mexican drug cartel’s co-founder and alleged leader is in U.S. custody. Another alleged cartel leader was also arrested.
Recently released Commerce Dept. figures show the economy expanded 2.8% in the second quarter, which appears driven by higher wages. As well, inflation is on a downward trend toward a “soft landing,” which means a rare falling of inflation, without a recession, which CNN called “something historic.” CNN reported cheaper pump and goods prices. But food prices increased 0.1%.
Over 350 national security leaders endorse Kamala Harris for president, saying she has “more significant national security experience” than the four presidents prior to Biden.
House Republicans have opted for a six rather than four week break. Prior to leaving they “failed to pass several mandatory spending bills,” The Wall Street Journal said. The result will be a scramble in the fall to avoid a government shutdown.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently addressed Congress to defend his country’s nine-month track record of retaliation against Hamas in Gaza. He asked for bi-partisan support of Israel. Various media said about half of Congress did not attend. After an initial Hamas attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead, Israel has since then killed over 39,000 Palestinians and triggered a humanitarian crisis.
CNN fact-checked Netanyahu’s speech and said he’d been mislead or had no evidence to back statements, such as claiming Israel provided adequate food aid for Gaza, where mass starvation looms.
Presidential candidate Harris met with Netanyahu last week and indicated a shift in views from that of Biden’s. While Harris agreed Israel has a right to defend itself, The Guardian said she added “and how it does so matters.” She denounced Hamas as a brutal terrorist organization, but said we can’t look away or be numbed by Israel’s tragic treatment of people in Gaza.
The White House says Israel and Hamas are closer than ever to reaching a ceasefire deal.
The House recently voted unanimously to create a bipartisan task force to investigate the security failures that led to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, various media reported. As well, the director of the Secret Service has stepped down.
A 2020 repeat: Russia plans to target swing states this year via social media to use misinformation and sway tactics, an official with National Intelligence has reported.
CNN said the election interference goal is to undermine support for Ukraine-friendly U.S. politicians who oppose Russian aggression against Ukraine. This year’s propaganda effort is reportedly made easier with AI, wherein Russian operatives can mimic our nation’s regional accents and pose as U.S. residents.
According to a new MarketWatch report, Medicare Advantage Plans are “poised” for 2024 to overbill taxpayers an estimated $83 billion.
Due to lack of space in past Bits columns, a catch-up: In Snyder v. United States, right-leaning Supreme Court justices ruled 6-3 that a federal bribery law doesn’t bar state and local officials from accepting “gratuities” after an official act favoring the giver.
Three justices dissented, saying the ruling defies “the plain text of this statute.” The Guardian noted that the decision fits with the acceptance of lavish gifts from billionaires to particular members of the Supreme Court who approved the ruling.
Blast from the past: According to the U.S. Constitution, Justices “shall hold their Offices during good behavior.”