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:
In case you’ve wondered what kind of mother billionaire Elon Musk has, she answered that in a recent “X” comment: she advised using 10 fake names on Election Day, going to 10 polling booths and voting 10 times at each. “
It’s not illegal,” Maye Musk, of New York City, claimed. She was corrected by other X users: illegal voting carries a fine of up to $10,000 and a possible five-year prison sentence.
An analysis of the national debt consequences for each presidential candidate, by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget: Donald Trump’s plans would add $7.5 trillion to the debt; Kamala Harris’s plans would add $3.5 trillion. BBC noted that would be tempered by Congressional approval.
Politics has had another influence on hurricane disasters: 40-year meteorologist John Morales said storm warnings are “no longer well received by everyone.” He said he’s been accused of being an agenda-driven “climate militant” that exaggerates extreme weather threats. Morales said he remains committed to helping audiences be prepared and well-informed.
Economists projected 140,000 jobs would be added in September, but were way off: there were 254,000 more jobs, various media reported. NPR speculated the jump may have been tied to recent Federal Reserve rate cuts. CBS said the fallout from Hurricane Helene could disrupt hiring in October.
The International Longshoremen’s Association reached an agreement with U.S. Maritime Alliance and ended their three-day walkout -- until January. They’ve reached a tentative agreement of a wage hike of 62%, Reuters was told. Issues remain to be resolved. President Joe Biden praised the strikes' end, saying it would help ensure critical supplies for hurricane recovery.
On the economy, Harris’s plans: a federal ban on price gouging on food and groceries, expand the child tax credit, tax breaks for first-time home buyers and those starting small businesses. Asked how she would pay for those plans, Harris said “I’m going to make sure that the richest among us who can afford it pay their fair share in taxes. It’s not right that teachers and nurses and firefighters are paying a higher tax rate than billionaires and the biggest corporations.”
Regarding immigration: Harris says the current administration has offered solutions, but “We need Congress to be able to act…” She reminded viewers that the latest bi-partisan border security legislation failed when Trump urged Republican lawmakers to stop it, so he would have immigration problems as a campaign issue.
A pro-Trump County Clerk in Colorado was sentenced to 9 years in prison for crimes and lies about what she said were rigged voting machines during the 2020 election, CBS News reported.