The Conversation -- October 29, 2023

Alan Feuer of the New York Times: "A federal judge reinstated a gag order on ... Donald J. Trump on Sunday that had been temporarily placed on hold nine days earlier, reimposing restrictions on what Mr. Trump can say about witnesses and prosecutors in the case in which he stands accused of seeking to overturn the 2020 election. In making her decision, the judge, Tanya S. Chutkan, also denied a request by Mr. Trump's lawyers to freeze the gag order for what could have been a considerably longer period, saying it can remain in effect as a federal appeals court in Washington reviews it.... Prosecutors working for Mr. Smith argued that the gag order needed to be put back in place at once because while it was on hold, Mr. Trump had violated it by attacking Mr. Smith at least three times by name. The former president, the prosecutors noted, had also violated the frozen order by twice making public comments about Mark Meadows, his former chief of staff, who could appear as a witness in the case." The ABC News story is here.

Adam Nagourney of the New York Times: "The decision by Mike Pence to end his presidential campaign on Saturday was a bow to what had finally become inevitable.... The root of his campaign's collapse -- and, very possibly, his political career -- goes back to 2016, when Mr. Pence accepted [Donald] Trump's offer to be his running mate.... He had never learned to manage his relationship with Mr. Trump, to navigate the deep cultural and personal differences between a taciturn Midwestern governor and a flashy New Yorker who never played by the rules of politics that had governed Mr. Pence's career." ~~~

~~~ Ken Meyer of Mediaite: "...Donald Trump made it clear he expects Mike Pence to endorse his 2024 campaign.... [Trump said in Las Vegas,] 'People are leaving now and they're all endorsing me. I don't know about Mike Pence. He should endorse me. You know why? Because I had a great, successful presidency and he was the vice president. He should endorse me. I chose him, made him vice president. But people in politics can be very disloyal. I've never seen anything like it.'... In the past, Trump has repeatedly defended his supporters who besieged the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, including those who wanted to 'Hang Mike Pence.' Trump's former aides have testified under oath that the former president thought Pence 'deserved' to be hanged by the riotous mob."

Michael Tov of Haaretz: "Facing a barrage of criticism, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deleted a controversial social media post on Sunday in which he blamed the defense and intelligence establishment for giving him faulty assessments before the deadly Hamas attack on October 7. The prime minister then published a new tweet. 'I was wrong,' he wrote, adding that 'the things I said following the press conference should not have been said, and I apologize for that. I fully support the heads of [Israel's] security services.' In a post overnight Saturday, Netanyahu asserted that he had never received any warning about Hamas' intentions to start a war against Israel and blamed the defense establishment -- citing Aharon Haliva and Ronen Bar, the heads of Military Intelligence and the Shin Bet security service -- for Israel's failure to anticipate the attack on October 7."

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Mohar Chatterjee & Rebecca Kern of Politico: "President Joe Biden will deploy numerous federal agencies to monitor the risks of artificial intelligence and develop new uses for the technology while attempting to protect workers, according to a draft executive order.... The order, expected to be issued as soon as Monday, would streamline high-skilled immigration, create a raft of new government offices and task forces and pave the way for the use of more AI in nearly every facet of life touched by the federal government, from health care to education, trade to housing, and more." (Also linked yesterday.)

David Corn of Mother Jones: "Rep. Mike Johnson, the newly elected Republican House speaker, used to conduct a seminar in churches premised on the idea that the United States is a 'Christian nation.'... The seminar ... was organized by Onward Christian Education Services, Inc., a company owned by his wife, Kelly Johnson, a Christian counselor and anti-abortion activist.... After one such presentation on February 24, 2019, at the First Baptist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana, where they are members -- an event that also featured Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council -- a local television news show reported that the seminar's goal was to 'keep God in Government.' Johnson posted the article on his congressional website.... [At a seminar held in April 2019,] Mike Johnson referred to the Bible as the 'owner's manual' for 'how things are supposed to operate' and called for Biblically-sanctioned government.'"

The GOP Detente That Wasn't. Jordain Carney of Politico: "Republicans hoped Mike Johnson's ascension marked a detente from the personal vitriol of a three-week speaker fight. That ceasefire appears to be over already. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), the architect of ousting Kevin McCarthy from the speakership, is openly sparring with multiple members, including taking aim at a key committee chair. New York Republicans want to expel Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from the House, a vote with consequences for their thin majority. Former acting Speaker Patrick McHenry is venting to reporters about his 'pure anger' when McCarthy was booted.... A handful of conservatives are already signaling that they're going to spur part two of a centrist vs. hardliner shutdown fight.... Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), a member of the Freedom Caucus, said there are likely at least five Republicans who couldn't support a short-term spending bill into January[, which Johnson advocates]. With Republicans' four-seat majority, that would be enough to require Johnson to get support from Democrats -- a complaint that doomed McCarthy."

Presidential Race 2024. God Trips Up This Mike. Alex Isenstadt & Myah Ward of Politico: "Former Vice President Mike Pence announced on Saturday that he was suspending his presidential campaign in a speech before the Republican Jewish Coalition conference. 'The Bible tells us that there's a time for every purpose under heaven. Traveling across the country over the past six months, I came here to say it's become clear to me that this is not my time. So after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today,' Pence said, to audible gasps from the audience gathered at the Venetian resort on the Las Vegas strip. Attendees gave Pence a standing ovation. One person yelled, 'Thank you Mike!' At the conclusion of the speech, Pence invited his wife, Karen, onstage. 'We thank God for his amazing grace. He gave us the courage to step forward so many years ago. And the wisdom to step aside,' Pence said." (Also linked yesterday.) The New York Times story is here.

Neal Boudette of the New York Times: "The United Automobile Workers union announced on Saturday that it had reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, Jeep and Ram. The agreement came three days after the union and Ford Motor announced a tentative agreement on a new contract. The two deals contain many of the same or similar terms, including a 25 percent general wage increase for U.A.W. members as well as the possibility for cost-of-living wage adjustments if inflation flares.... Shortly after announcing the tentative agreement with Stellantis, the union expanded its strike against General Motors, calling on workers to walk off the job at the company's plant in Spring Hill, Tenn. The plant makes sport utility vehicles for G.M.'s Cadillac and GMC divisions."

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Maine. Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs & Chelsia Marcius of the New York Times: "A sheriff in Maine says he sent an alert to all law enforcement agencies in the state last month after learning that an Army reservist had made threats against his base, a notification that came weeks before the reservist fatally shot 18 people in America's deadliest mass shooting this year. Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry said he sent the alert sometime in September in an effort to find the reservist, Robert R. Card II, 40, who was said to have made threats regarding the Army Reserve center in Saco, Maine. He said he sent a deputy to Mr. Card's home but that the deputy did not find him there, prompting the sheriff to send out the notice. The revelation is the strongest sign yet that law enforcement was aware that Mr. Card was a potential danger before he carried out a rampage at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston on Wednesday night." ~~~

     ~~~ Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs & Amelia Nierenberg of the New York Times: "The man who killed 18 people and wounded 13 more in Lewiston, Maine, the deadliest mass shooting in America this year, had paranoid beliefs that people were talking about him, and he may have been hearing voices, the authorities said on Saturday. The man, Robert R. Card II, 40, had legally purchased several guns, some as recently as several days before the attack, officials said, and may have previously visited the two businesses -- a bar and bowling alley -- that he attacked on Wednesday evening."

Michigan. Ken Kolker of 8 News (Grand Rapids): "A West Michigan state legislator paid tribute Friday to two men acquitted in the failed plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, with Rep. Rachelle Smit saying she was doing so on behalf of the state.... 'This goes beyond the pale,' [Whitemer's] press secretary Stacey LaRouche wrote in an email to News 8. 'These types of actions normalize and incite violence against our political figures, and only serve to shake our faith in our values and our institutions. This tribute will further encourage and embolden radical extremists trying to sow discord and harm public officials or law enforcement.' Smit gave William and Michael Null, of Allegan County, the hometown hero treatment on the steps of the Allegan County courthouse, along with their defense attorneys." MB: This is like lionizing Al Capone & O.J. Simpson for beating murder charges. (Also linked yesterday.)

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Israel/Palestine

The New York Times' live updates of developments Sunday in the Israel/Hamas war are here: "The Israeli military on Sunday signaled a heavier assault on the Gaza Strip, saying it was 'expanding its operations' and increasing the 'urgency' of its warning for civilians to move south from Hamas strongholds.... [Telecommunications] connectivity was being restored [according to Netblocks] on Sunday. And, the Israeli military said, without giving details, that humanitarian efforts to send more aid to Gaza -- led by Egypt and the United States -- would be expanded on Monday." ~~~

     ~~~ CNN's live updates are here.

Ukraine, et al. Perhaps Not the Best-laid Plans. But They Do Gang aft a-gley." Marc Santora of the New York Times: "A Ukrainian former lawmaker whom the Kremlin had handpicked to lead a puppet administration in Kyiv, Ukraine, was shot and wounded in occupied Crimea in an apparent assassination attempt, Ukrainian and Russian officials said on Saturday. The former lawmaker, Oleg Tsaryov, 53, a pro-Russian business executive, who participated in Moscow's invasion, was shot as part of a 'special operation' carried out this week by Ukraine's domestic security agency, according to a senior Ukrainian intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. According to Western intelligence agencies, had the Russian invasion succeeded, the Kremlin would have installed Mr. Tsaryov as Ukraine&'s leader." (Also linked yesterday.)

Vatican. Where "Urgent" Matters Are Postponed. Jason Horowitz & Elisabetta Povoledo of the New York Times: "A monthlong meeting convened by Pope Francis to determine the future of the Roman Catholic Church ended Saturday night with a document that said it was 'urgent' that women have a larger role but postponed discussion of major issues such as ordaining women as deacons and failed to address outreach to L.G.B.T.Q.+ Catholics. Vatican officials instead sought to emphasize common ground during the meeting, which was characterized by liberals and conservatives alike as a potential culmination of Francis' 10-year pontificate and the vehicle through which he might make changes. Instead, it echoed another characteristic of Francis' tenure: kicking the can on major issues as he sought to build deeper support through the global church."

The Conversation -- October 28, 2023

Presidential Race 2024. God Trips Up This Mike. Alex Isenstadt & Myah Ward of Politico: "Former Vice President Mike Pence announced on Saturday that he was suspending his presidential campaign in a speech before the Republican Jewish Coalition conference. 'The Bible tells us that there;s a time for every purpose under heaven. Traveling across the country over the past six months, I came here to say it's become clear to me that this is not my time. So after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today,' Pence said, to audible gasps from the audience gathered at the Venetian resort on the Las Vegas strip. Attendees gave Pence a standing ovation. One person yelled, 'Thank you Mike!' At the conclusion of the speech, Pence invited his wife, Karen, onstage. 'We thank God for his amazing grace. He gave us the courage to step forward so many years ago. And the wisdom to step aside,' Pence said."

Mohar Chatterjee & Rebecca Kern of Politico: "President Joe Biden will deploy numerous federal agencies to monitor the risks of artificial intelligence and develop new uses for the technology while attempting to protect workers, according to a draft executive order.... The order, expected to be issued as soon as Monday, would streamline high-skilled immigration, create a raft of new government offices and task forces and pave the way for the use of more AI in nearly every facet of life touched by the federal government, from health care to education, trade to housing, and more."

Perhaps Not the Best-laid Plans. But They Do Gang aft a-gley." Marc Santora of the New York Times: "A Ukrainian former lawmaker whom the Kremlin had handpicked to lead a puppet administration in Kyiv, Ukraine, was shot and wounded in occupied Crimea in an apparent assassination attempt, Ukrainian and Russian officials said on Saturday. The former lawmaker, Oleg Tsaryov, 53, a pro-Russian business executive, who participated in Moscow's invasion, was shot as part of a 'special operation' carried out this week by Ukraine's domestic security agency, according to a senior Ukrainian intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.... According to Western intelligence agencies, had the Russian invasion succeeded, the Kremlin would have installed Mr. Tsaryov as Ukraine's leader."

Michigan. Ken Kolker of 8 News (Grand Rapids): "A West Michigan state legislator paid tribute Friday to two men acquitted in the failed plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, with Rep. Rachelle Smit saying she was doing so on behalf of the state.... 'This goes beyond the pale,' [Whitemer's] press secretary Stacey LaRouche wrote in an email to News 8. 'These types of actions normalize and incite violence against our political figures, and only serve to shake our faith in our values and our institutions. This tribute will further encourage and embolden radical extremists trying to sow discord and harm public officials or law enforcement.' Smit gave William and Michael Null, of Allegan County, the hometown hero treatment on the steps of the Allegan County courthouse, along with their defense attorneys." MB: This is like lionizing Al Capone & O.J. Simpson for beating murder charges.

Mohar Chatterjee & Rebecca Kern of Politico: "President Joe Biden will deploy numerous federal agencies to monitor the risks of artificial intelligence and develop new uses for the technology while attempting to protect workers, according to a draft executive order.... The order, expected to be issued as soon as Monday, would streamline high-skilled immigration, create a raft of new government offices and task forces and pave the way for the use of more AI in nearly every facet of life touched by the federal government, from health care to education, trade to housing, and more."

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Michael Crowley of the New York Times: "President Biden met with China's top diplomat on Friday to prepare for Mr. Biden's planned meeting with President Xi Jinping next month as relations remain strained between Washington and Beijing. Amid cordial talk of cooperation between the United States and China, the official, Wang Yi, wrapped up a visit to Washington. During the three-day trip, the diplomat also met twice with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and with Mr. Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan. In all, the meetings lasted about 10 hours, U.S. officials said."

Family Man. Jennifer Bendery of the Huffington Post: "The wife of newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) runs a counseling business that advocates the belief that homosexuality is comparable to bestiality and incest, according to its operating documents.... [Mike & Kelly Johnson] co-host a podcast, 'Truth Be Told,' where they talk about political and social issues from a conservative Christian perspective. Their podcast is up to 69 episodes.... Kelly Johnson features the couple's podcast on the website of her company, Onward Christian Counseling Services, which promotes Bible-based pastoral counseling. Her website also includes a link to its 2017 operating agreement, which lays out the corporate bylaws for the company ― and embraces a number of socially conservative beliefs about LGBTQ+ people and women's reproductive rights."

Paul Krugman of the New York Times: "There are no moderate Republicans in the House of Representatives. Oh, no doubt some members are privately appalled by the views of Mike Johnson, the new speaker. But what ... matters is what they do -- and every single one of them went along with the selection of a radical extremist.... Johnson's extremism, and that of the party that chose him, goes beyond rejecting democracy and trying to turn back the clock on decades of social progress. He has also espoused a startlingly reactionary economic agenda.... [Johnson's policy proposals call] for the evisceration of the U.S. social safety net -- not just programs for the poor, but also policies that form the bedrock of financial stability for the American middle class.... [Under Johnson's policies,] we would become a vastly crueler and less secure nation, with far more sheer misery.... The G.O.P. has gone full-on extremist, on economic as well as social issues. The question now is whether the American public will notice." Thanks to Ken W. for the link. See also his commentary below. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: We have been living for decades on the promises of the 20th century: the expansion of the social safety net, of public higher education, and of civil rights for minorities and women. But that entire time, the right has been fighting tooth-and-nail against the liberal trend that began during FDR's long presidency and expanded up through the 1960s & even 1970s. But beginning with the election of Reagan, the trend slowly reversed. It has been thanks to Democrats that the federal government and some state governments have managed to stave off -- and effectively mask -- right-wing excesses. That's why, as Krugman writes, the American people may not notice what's going on. People keep voting for Republicans either because they are selfish SOBs themselves or because they don't believe those nice Christiany Republican politicians would leave them without the rights and benefits they have enjoyed all or most of their lives. I am old enough (and white enough!) that I will probably survive the worst Republican efforts to ruin my life, but that is not true for the next generations. Those of us in my generation who wanted to leave at least our part of the world a better place have failed. ~~~

~~~ Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times: "The far-right extremism and open contempt for democracy that marks much of modern Republicanism is not an aberration.... And while Trump may, for either legal or political reasons, eventually leave the scene, there's no reason to think the Republican Party will revert to a state where the Mike Johnsons are back on the sidelines."

More Bad News for Jim Comer, Hunter Hunter. Betsy Swan of Politico: "The top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles confirmed to congressional investigators that he declined to bring tax charges against Hunter Biden last year, but insisted his decision did not hamper the probe into the president's son Martin Estrada, the U.S. attorney for central California who made those remarks in closed-door testimony, told the investigators that the Delaware prosecutors running the Hunter Biden probe have long been able to file charges in California. In fact, Estrada said, at least two Delaware prosecutors were given special authority to operate in California long before their boss, David Weiss, was appointed a special counsel earlier this year.... 'My understanding is where an individual has not paid taxes in the first instance but later paid those taxes with penalties and interest before a prosecution is initiated or an investigation is initiated, we have never brought criminal charges,' he said in the House Judiciary interview."

Grace Ashford of the New York Times: Rep. George "Santos, Republican of New York, pleaded not guilty on Friday to 10 new federal charges, but could face a House expulsion vote as soon as next week.... At the hearing, Judge Joanna Seybert approved a litany of minor issues related to discovery and scheduling, and set a tentative trial date: Sept. 9, 2024.... The announced court date was met with audible groans from a small group of constituents in the gallery. After the hearing, the group, many of them members of Concerned Citizens of NY-03, which has been vocal in calling for Mr. Santos's resignation, said that they deserved a more immediate resolution.... The [House] resolution [to expel Mr. Santos], which mentions both the 23-count indictment against Mr. Santos and his voluminous biographical lies, is not the first attempt to remove him from the House, but it is the first to be carried by members of his own party.... The newly elected House speaker, Mike Johnson, said in a television interview on Thursday evening that he would not move to expel Mr. Santos, noting his party's slim majority in the chamber." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Yes indeedy, Mike. The best thing is to keep an (alleged!) criminal around to help you get things done.

Jennifer Haberkorn of Politico: "The Biden administration hit back Friday on Speaker Mike Johnson's recent comments that placed blame for mass shootings in the United States on Americans' 'hearts,' calling the remarks 'offensive.' In a statement, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said the administration 'absolutely' rejected 'the offensive accusation that gun crime is uniquely high in the United States because of Americans' "hearts."' 'Gun crime is uniquely high in the United States because congressional Republicans have spent decades choosing the gun industry's lobbyists over the lives of innocent Americans,' Bates added."

Jennifer Peltz of the AP: "... Donald Trump is set to testify Nov. 6 in the civil business fraud case against him, following testimony from his three eldest children, state lawyers said Friday. It was already expected that the ex-president and sons Donald Jr. and Eric would testify. The timing became clear Friday, when the judge ruled that daughter Ivanka Trump also must take the stand.... Ivanka Trump was dismissed as a defendant months ago. Defense attorneys and her lawyer contended that she shouldn't have to testify, noting that she moved out of New York and left her Trump Organization job in 2017. The state's lawyers argued that [she] ... has relevant information. Judge Arthur Engoron sided with the state, citing documents showing that Ivanka Trump continued to have ties to some businesses in New York and still owns Manhattan apartments."

Donald Trump Is Not Very, Very Smart. Michael Luciano of Mediaite: "Former Attorney General Bill Barr demeaned Donald Trump's vocabulary, stating that the former president's 'verbal skills are limited' as evidenced by his incessant use of the word 'very.' During an event at Harvard's Institute of Politics on Thursday night, Barr spoke about his former boss in largely unfavorable terms. At one point, CBS Chief Correspondent Jan Crawford asked him if he thinks Trump is losing his mind. She cited the former president's comments calling Hezbollah 'very smart.' 'That was appalling,' Crawford said. 'I mean, do you think he's -- is he losing it?' 'His verbal skills are limited,' Barr replied, prompting chuckles from the audience. 'And so he, you know, if you get him away from "very, very, very," the adjectives sort of -- they're unfamiliar to him and they sort of spill out and he goes too far. You know, he's not very disciplined when it comes to what he says.'"

Presidential Race 2024. Isabella Murray & Kelsey Walsh of ABC News: "Rep. Dean Phillips is running to be the Democratic nominee for president in 2024. The three-term Minnesota congressman will challenge President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2024.... 'I think President Biden has done a spectacular job for our country. But it's not about the past. This is an election about the future. I will not sit still I will not be quiet in the face of numbers that are so clearly saying that we're going to be facing an emergency next November,' Phillips said as he announced his run on CBS News on Friday morning. He filed for the New Hampshire primary election later on Friday morning and then formally announce his candidacy at the Statehouse plaza in Concord. He'll now embark on a bus tour through New Hampshire.... Phillips, a millionaire businessman who stepped down from Democratic House leadership last month -- had engaged in a number of media interviews since July, calling for high-profile Democrats like 'moderate governors from the heartland' to jump in."

Liberals, Biden at Fault for Maine Mass Murder. Tara Suter of the Hill: "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) pointed to 'liberal, soft on crime' policies in the wake of a mass shooting in Maine that left 18 people dead earlier this week. '[Y]ou look, a lot of the guys who commit violent crime, and yes, less than what we saw in Maine, a lot of these people go in and out of the justice system because of liberal, soft on crime policies,' DeSantis, a 2024 GOP presidential candidate, said in a Fox News interview Friday. 'You do a crime, you should do the time; stop cycling people back out,' DeSantis continued. 'That will make communities safer, and Biden doesn't wanna do that.'" MB: Not sure if DeSantis offered thoughts and prayers.

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Israel/Palestine

The New York Times' live updates of developments Saturday in the Israel/Hamas war are here:"Israeli forces were still on the ground in Gaza at least 12 hours after entering the territory, the military said on Saturday, in what would be their most extensive ground operation in the enclave since the Hamas attack on Israel that killed more than 1,400 civilians and soldiers. On Friday evening, Israel made incursions into the Gaza Strip after launching an intense bombardment, with artillery and airstrikes, military officials said.... The Israeli military said in a statement on Saturday that its forces had hit tunnels, underground command posts and other infrastructure.... Telecommunications and internet networks went down overnight, and most people in Gaza could not be reached by phone. The widespread blackout sparked fear and panic in Gaza.... The head of the World Health Organization said on X that the blackout was 'making it impossible for ambulances to reach the injured.'..." ~~~

     ~~~ CNN's live updates are here.

Yasmeen Abutaleb, et al., of the Washington Post: "The Biden administration is urging Israel to rethink its plans for a major ground offensive in the Gaza Strip and instead to opt for a more 'surgical' operation using aircraft and special operations forces carrying out precise, targeted raids on high-value Hamas targets and infrastructure, according to five U.S. officials familiar with the discussions. Administration officials have become highly concerned about the potential repercussions of a full ground assault, the officials said..., and they increasingly doubt that it would achieve Israel's stated goal of eliminating Hamas. They also are concerned that it could derail negotiations to release nearly 200 hostages, particularly as diplomats think they have made 'significant' advances in recent days to free a number of them, potentially including some Americans.... The Biden administration also is worried that a ground invasion could result in numerous casualties among Palestinian civilians as well as Israeli soldiers, potentially triggering a dramatic escalation of hostilities in the region, the officials said." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: No doubt the Biden administration has anonymously "leaked" this story to let nations in the region know the U.S. does not back the mass killing of Arabs.

     ~~~ Yeah But. Karen DeYoung & Claire Parker of the Washington Post: "David Satterfield, President Biden's special envoy to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, has been in Israel this week seeking progress on both aid and egress to Egypt. But according to U.S., United Nations, Egyptian and Israeli officials..., no substantive progress has been made. The administration's public promotion this week of humanitarian pauses came after what one U.S. official said was 'a lot of the groundwork in private communications.' But it still left the United States behind the curve of international opinion, as the U.N. General Assembly Friday overwhelmingly approved an Arab-sponsored resolution calling for a complete ceasefire. Only 14 of the 193 U.N. member nations voted against the measure, including the United States, Israel and several Pacific island and eastern European states. Most close U.S. allies were in favor or abstained from the vote." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Either Satterfield & others have made progress on releasing hostages, or they haven't. Surely Israel's stepped-up attacks on Gaza, along with cutting off all Gaza's Internet service, are not helping. Particularly during the 20th century, people -- some in high places -- figured out that war is not a solution to most problems. One would think this concept was a no-brainer. Apparently not.

News Ledes

NBC News; Actor "Matthew Perry died Saturday of an apparent drowning at his Pacific Palisades home, a representative for the actor and a law enforcement source say. Perry was 54. A 911 call came in at 4:07 p.m. local time and was treated as a water rescue, according to a law enforcement source. There was no indication of foul play and no confirmed cause of death, the source said. An investigation is ongoing." A New York Times obituary is here.

New York Times: "The man suspected of killing 18 people and injuring 13 others at a bar and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Friday, officials said, ending a sweeping manhunt that had forced thousands of residents throughout the region to remain in their homes. The body of the man, Robert R. Card II, 40, was found at a recycling center [in Lisbon Falls, Maine,] where he used to work, according to authorities briefed on the matter...." The Washington Post story is here. BUT ~~~

     ~~~ CNN: "... authorities found Card's body at 7:45 p.m. Friday near the Androscoggin River in the Lisbon Falls area, some 10 miles from Lewiston, said Sauschuck, the state public safety commissioner. Card's body was found near a recycling center from which he had recently been fired, a law enforcement source told CNN. Earlier this week, authorities had found Card's vehicle abandoned after the shooting near a boat launch in the Lisbon area. The body was in a wooded area, multiple sources told CNN." ~~~

     ~~~ Update. Washington Post: "Maine police had twice searched and cleared a recycling center before they found the body of the 40-year-old gunman who killed 18 people and triggered an intensive police manhunt that forced thousands of people to shelter in place. The body was discovered only after the center's owner called local police to say that Army reservist Robert Card was familiar with the property, urging investigators to check the trailers in an overflow parking lot across the street from the main facility. Just before 8 p.m. Friday, a state police tactical team discovered the body near the sliding door of an unlocked trailer full of scrap plastic and metal. Card had died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound."

The Conversation -- October 27, 2023

Paul Krugman of the New York Times: "There are no moderate Republicans in the House of Representatives. Oh, no doubt some members are privately appalled by the views of Mike Johnson, the new speaker. But what ... matters is what they do -- and every single one of them went along with the selection of a radical extremist.... Johnson's extremism, and that of the party that chose him, goes beyond rejecting democracy and trying to turn back the clock on decades of social progress. He has also espoused a startlingly reactionary economic agenda.... [Johnson's policy proposals call] for the evisceration of the U.S. social safety net -- not just programs for the poor, but also policies that form the bedrock of financial stability for the American middle class.... [Under Johnson's policies,] we would become a vastly crueler and less secure nation, with far more sheer misery.... The G.O.P. has gone full-on extremist, on economic as well as social issues. The question now is whether the American public will notice." Thanks to Ken W. for the link. See also his commentary below. ~~~

~~~ Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times: "The far-right extremism and open contempt for democracy that marks much of modern Republicanism is not an aberration.... And while Trump may, for either legal or political reasons, eventually leave the scene, there's no reason to think the Republican Party will revert to a state where the Mike Johnsons are back on the sidelines." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: As to Krugman's point, that the American public may not notice, he's right. We have been living for decades on the promises of the 20th century: the expansion of the social safety net, of public higher education, and of civil rights for minorities and women. But that entire time, the right has been fighting tooth-and-nail against the liberal trend that began during FDR's long presidency and expanded up through the 1960s & even 1970s. But beginning with the election of Reagan, the trend slowly reversed. It has been thanks to Democrats that the federal government and some state governments have managed to stave off -- and effectively mask -- right-wing excesses. People keep voting for Republicans either because they are selfish SOBs themselves or because they don't believe those nice Christiany Republican politicians would leave them without the rights and benefits they have enjoyed all or most of their lives. I am old enough (and white enough!) that I will probably survive the worst Republican efforts to ruin my life, but that is not true for the next generations. Those of us in my generation who wanted to leave at least our part of the world a better place have failed.

Jennifer Peltz of the AP: "... Donald Trump is set to testify Nov. 6 in the civil business fraud case against him, following testimony from his three eldest children, state lawyers said Friday. It was already expected that the ex-president and sons Donald Jr. and Eric would testify. The timing became clear Friday, when the judge ruled that daughter Ivanka Trump also must take the stand.... Ivanka Trump was dismissed as a defendant months ago. Defense attorneys and her lawyer contended that she shouldn't have to testify, noting that she moved out of New York and left her Trump Organization job in 2017. The state's lawyers argued that [she] ... has relevant information. Judge Arthur Engoron sided with the state, citing documents showing that Ivanka Trump continued to have ties to some businesses in New York and still owns Manhattan apartments."

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Luke Broadwater of the New York Times: "Ever since Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana assumed office on Wednesday, a question has been on Democrats' minds: Could the elevation of Mr. Johnson, who worked in league with... Donald J. Trump in trying to undermine the 2020 election results, allow him to succeed in 2024 where he failed the last time? The speakership, which is second in line to the presidency, comes with broad powers over the functioning of the House. And Mr. Johnson, a constitutional lawyer whose stature in his party has grown with his election to the top post, could try again to interfere. But there are several reasons that Mr. Johnson's new job alone would not allow him special powers to overturn the will of the voters unilaterally. Here's how it works." Main arguments against: (1) Kamala Harris will be the veep who oversees the electoral vote count; (2) the Electoral Count Reform Act has tightened restrictions against any attempt to repeat Mike's 2020 trick; (3) hey, Mike may not be speaker on January 6, 2025.

Michael Luciano of Mediaite: "Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said mass shootings happen because of 'the human heart' -- not guns. The newly-elected leader of the House of Representatives gave an hourlong interview to Sean Hannity on Thursday in which he told the Fox News host that his worldview is, 'go pick up a Bible.' In that vein, Johnson offered his prayers in the wake of Wednesday's mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, which left 18 people dead.... 'It's not guns, it's not the weapons. At the end of the day, we have to protect the right of the citizens to protect themselves and that's the Second Amendment. And that's why our party stands so strongly for that.'"

Scott Lemieux in LG&$: Mike Johnson says the way to reduce school shootings is to ban abortion and gay sex.

And the Lord Hath Anointed His Servant Michael. Sarah Posner of MSNBC: "In her nominating speech for [Mike] Johnson, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., invoked the biblical story of God commanding Samuel to anoint David king. Stefanik quoted from 1 Samuel 16:7, according to which God told Samuel that he looked not at appearances, but 'at the heart.' Johnson, who Stefanik said 'epitomizes what it means to be a servant leader,' was the choice, she implied, of Republicans who were following God's direction in choosing him. Between the Bible talk and Johnson's record, Republicans have made abundantly clear that they have emerged from the uncertainty and chaos of the last few weeks with one clear mission: to run a Christian nationalist House." Posner outlines Mike's professional career as a virulent anti-gay, anti-abortion, Trump-loving Christian nationalist fighting the principle of separation of church and state.

Dinosaur with a Gavel. Liz Skalka & Paul Blumenthal of the Huffington Post: Speaker Mike Johnson's "close ties to a leader of the creationist movement and his past legal work -- on behalf of the Ark Encounter creationist theme park, where children can learn that dinosaurs were passengers on Noah's Ark -- seem to suggest that he's also personally aligned with these beliefs. 'The Ark Encounter is one way to bring people to this recognition of the truth, that what we read in the Bible are actual historical events,' Johnson said in a 2021 interview with Ark Encounter founder Ken Ham while guest-hosting the radio show of Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, an evangelical activist group."

Yes But the House Is Back in Business! Michael Luciano of Mediaite: "Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) read a lengthy and scathing censure resolution aimed at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). On Thursday, Greene introduced a resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who is Palestinian American for 'leading an anti-American and anti-Semitic insurrection.'... Hours later, Balint read her own resolution -- which she actually first introduced in July ... [which deliniatied] a litany of offenses[']"

As Jesus Would Say, "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing":

Alexander Bolton of the Hill: "Several senators seen as vulnerable in next year’s elections voted Wednesday for a controversial amendment to defend the gun rights of veterans who are in the Department of Veterans' Affairs fiduciary program. Sens. Joe Mancin (D-W.Va.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) all backed the amendment.... The amendment ... would prevent veterans from losing their right to purchase or own firearms when they receive help to manage their Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.... The amendment, sponsored by Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), was adopted by a vote of 53 to 45.... 'Let me put a finer point on it. One third of the veterans we're talking about in this category are diagnosed schizophrenics. This amendment allows for every single one of them to have their gun rights restored,' [Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.] said." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Hours after the Senate vote, an Army reservist with mental health issues who reportedly was hearing voices and was hospitalized for erratic behavior allegedly shot dead at least 18 people and wounded 13 others. At this writing (6:15 am ET), the alleged gunman is still at large.

Alan Feuer & Maggie Haberman of the New York Times: "Federal prosecutors have quietly withdrawn a subpoena seeking records from ... Donald J. Trump's 2020 campaign as part of their investigation into whether Mr. Trump's political and fund-raising operations committed any crimes as he sought to stay in power after he lost the election, according to two people familiar with the matter. The decision this week by the office of the special counsel, Jack Smith, to effectively kill the subpoena to the Trump campaign came on the heels of the withdrawal of a similar subpoena to Save America, the political action committee that was formed by Mr. Trump's aides shortly after he lost the race in 2020. The rescission of the subpoenas to Donald J. Trump for President Inc. and Save America was an indication that Mr. Smith';s office was slowing down or even closing its monthslong inquiry into whether Mr. Trump's political operation broke any laws by citing baseless claims of election fraud to raise money."

The Trump Show Will Not Be Televised. Josh Gerstein of Politico: "A federal judicial panel has turned down a bid to allow live television coverage of two historic criminal trials of ... Donald Trump scheduled for next year. Without apparent dissent, a committee that handles potential changes to the federal courts' criminal rules concluded Thursday that it had no ability to alter the existing ban on broadcasting federal criminal trials. Thirty-eight Democratic House members and some media outlets had requested that the rules be changed or an exception be created to allow Trump's looming federal trials to be televised. 'We have an absolute rule,' said the panel's secretary, or 'reporter,' Duke Law Professor Sara Sun Beale. 'We have no authority to authorize exceptions to an across-the-board, straight rule.' The head of the Advisory Committee on Criminal Rules, U.S. District Judge James Dever, also said the glacial pace federal law prescribes for amending federal court rules means that, even if the panel approved a change, it wouldn't take effect until 2026 or 2027....

"Media outlets have asked the judge assigned to the Washington trial, Tanya Chutkan, to allow TV broadcasting of the trial notwithstanding the current rules. Chutkan has ordered prosecutors to respond to the requests by next week. She has not solicited a response from Trump's attorneys, although Trump has said he supports 'transparency' in the court cases he is facing." MB: I'm not sure about this, but it seems to me that with the stroke of a pen, CJ John Roberts could allow cameras in the Trump courtroom. If not, the Supremes, en masse, could do so. But I suppose they're afraid that any exceptions would ultimately lead to the public being able to watch the Supremes themselves picking their noses. And as the edifice of the Supreme Court building and the elevated bench itself testify, the Supremes are above us all.

Annals of Journalism or Something:

All that access journalism apologia Maggie Haberman did for Trump during his administration, soft-selling Republican insanity, explaining away Trump's hate and bigotry and unhinged madness, boy, that really paid off for her. pic.twitter.com/i77oUxDZZr

— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) October 26, 2023

~~~ Marie: Is there a Himelick Manoover for chocking? X tweet via Anne Laurie of Balloon Juice.

The committee's investigation is clear: The person who loaned Justice Thomas $267,000 provided numerous documents indicating that a substantial portion of that debt was never repaid.... If Justice Thomas disputes that conclusion, he has an obligation to provide proof to the committee. Carefully worded statements from high-priced lawyers are not a substitute for facts. -- Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), statement to Ruth Marcus ~~~

~~~ Show Us the Money. Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post: A Senate committee found that Clarence Thomas failed to pay off a $267K loan for the purchase of a luxury motor home and that the lender forgave the principal. But his lawyer says, "'The loan was never forgiven.... The Thomases made all payments to [lender & friend Anthony] Welters on a regular basis until the terms of the agreement were satisfied in full.'... Thomas -- with his multiple failures to disclose his wife's employment, his receipt of free private plane travel and tuition payments made on behalf of his grandnephew -- has forfeited the benefit of the doubt.... Let's see the canceled checks.... [According to the committee report,] there seems to be no record that the Thomases ever repaid any of the loan principal."

Lydia DePillis of the New York Times: "The United States economy surged in the third quarter as a strong job market and falling inflation gave consumers the confidence to spend freely on goods and services. Gross domestic product, the primary measure of economic output, grew at a 4.9 percent annualized rate from July through September, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. The pace exceeded forecasts and was the strongest showing since late 2021, defying predictions of a slowdown prompted by the Federal Reserve's interest rate increases. The acceleration was made possible in part by slowing inflation, which lifted purchasing power even as wage growth weakened, and a job market that has shown renewed vigor over the past three months. Although the growth rate is an initial estimate that may be revised..., it's a far cry from the recession that many had forecast at this time last year, before economists realized that Americans had piled up enough savings to power spending as the Fed moved to make borrowing more expensive." (Also linked yesterday.)

Presidential Election 2024

Will Weissert & Holly Ramer of the AP: "For months, Dean Phillips has been calling for a Democratic primary challenge to President Joe Biden. He's drawn no public interest from governors, lawmakers, and other would-be alternatives. On Friday, the Minnesota congressman will finally enter the race himself. The 54-year-old Phillips has scheduled a campaign announcement Friday morning at the New Hampshire statehouse in Concord.... As speculation picked up this week about the New Hampshire event, Biden planned to head next week to Phillips' home state for an official event and fundraiser.... New Hampshire primary challenges have a history of wounding incumbent presidents.... [New Hampshire's] influence on Democrats was curtailed this year by changes engineered by the DNC at Biden's behest. A new Democratic calendar has South Carolina leading off presidential primary voting on Feb. 3 and Nevada going three days later. New Hampshire has refused to comply, citing state laws saying its primary must go first, and plans a primary before South Carolina's. The DNC could, in turn, strip the state of its nominating delegates." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: I got a robocall last night inviting me to Phillips' announcement. It would take me 10 or 15 minutes to get there. I won't be going. But, you know, good luck. Three cheers for democracy and all that. (If Phillips wins in New Hampshire & the party "strips the state of its delegates," that would be something of a Pyrrhic victory for both Phillips AND democracy.)

Summer Concepcion of NBC News: "A Colorado judge on Wednesday denied the latest attempt by ... Donald Trump to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to remove him from the state's 2024 ballot because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The decision comes just days before a trial on Trump's eligibility for the ballot is expected to begin." (Also linked yesterday.)

Maxine Joselow of the Washington Post: "The listing agent [of Fox 'News' host Bret Baier], Daniel Heider of TTR Sotheby's International Realty, confirmed to The Washington Post that 86 solar panels were installed last year on a portion of the 16,250-square-foot French chateau-style home. This comes as Baier -- who hosts the highest-rated cable news program in its time slot -- has used his platform to amplify criticism of action on climate change, including the adoption of solar and other clean energy sources. Some prominent conservatives -- including Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine -- have also privately embraced solar while pushing back against climate initiatives aimed at speeding the transition away from fossil fuels. Despite their climate stances, all three men appear to have accepted a market reality: Solar panels increasingly make economic sense, especially for those who can afford the upfront costs.... Baier's show, 'Special Report,' has consistently misled the public about climate change, according to a 2021 analysis by Media Matters...."

Say, maybe you need a business consultant. Tip o' the Day: this will work out very well for you if you're a CEO; if not, a chorus of McKinsey "experts" may serenade you with "Hit the Road, Jack."

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Georgia. Emily Cochrane & Rick Rojas of the New York Times: "Republicans in Georgia violated a landmark civil rights law in drawing voting maps that diluted the power of Black voters, a federal judge in Atlanta ruled on Thursday, ordering that new maps must be drawn in time for the 2024 elections. Judge Steve C. Jones of the Northern District of Georgia demanded that the state's legislature move swiftly to sketch out congressional and General Assembly districts that provide an equitable level of representation for Black residents, who make up more than a third of the state's population. In the ruling, Judge Jones wrote that the court 'will not allow another election cycle on redistricting plans' that had been found to be unlawful. Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, responded on Thursday by calling a special session of the Georgia General Assembly that will begin on Nov. 29, giving lawmakers 10 days to meet a Dec. 8 deadline set by Judge Jones." The NPR story is here; thanks to Ken W. for the link. MB: I'm no fan of Kemp, but he could have been a much worse governor than he has turned out to be.

Maine. Emily Cochrane of the New York Times: "Representative Jared Golden of Maine, a centrist Democrat, called for a ban on assault weapons Thursday afternoon, reversing a long-held stance after 18 people were killed in a mass shooting in Lewiston.... Mr. Golden, a Marine Corps veteran, has repeatedly broken with his party to oppose legislation that would ban assault weapons, a policy that Democrats have repeatedly tried and failed to revive in the nearly two decades since it lapsed.... That position, Mr. Golden said on Thursday, reflected in part 'a false confidence that our community was above this, and that we could be in full control, among many other misjudgments.'... Standing by him at a news conference, Senator Susan Collins, a centrist Republican, declined to back a ban on assault weapons." Politico's story is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Which raises the question: which is dumber? (1) a legislator who believes every American should own an assault weapon until a lunatic wipes out his own constituents with an assault rifle, or (2) a legislator who believes every American should own an assault weapon even after a lunatic wipes out her own constituents with an assault rifle? Anyone with ordinary intelligence and a teensy bit of knowledge should be able to figure out that ordinary citizens should not have access to weapons of war. Anyone who holds elective office, no matter his IQ, who hasn't figured that out should be drummed out of office & relegated to a job that requires no decision-making. Mass-murder advocates wear me out.

Maryland. Justin Jouvenal & Omari Daniels of the Washington Post: "A man who allegedly shot and killed a Maryland judge hours after the jurist awarded custody of the man's children to his estranged wife was found dead Thursday after a week-long search that spanned multiple states, authorities announced. Searchers discovered the body of Pedro Argote, 49, in a heavily wooded area of Washington County, about 10 miles from where Argote allegedly opened fire on Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson in the driveway of his Hagerstown, Md., home on Oct. 19. Argote's Mercedes-Benz SUV was found over the weekend by a member of the public about a mile from where he was found dead. Washington County Sheriff Brian K. Albert said at a news conference Thursday that he would not comment before Argote's body is examined on when or how Argote died." The AP's story is here.

Virginia. Meltdown. Teo Armus & Hadley Green of the Washington Post: "... the statue of [Robert E. Lee] that once stood in Charlottesville — the one that prompted the deadly 'Unite the Right' rally in 2017 -- [has been] cut into fragments and dropped into a furnace.... On Saturday [Charlottesville's Black history] museum went ahead with its plan in secret at [a] small Southern foundry outside Virginia, in a town and state The Washington Post agreed not to name because of participants' fears of violence.... Swords Into Plowshares ... will turn bronze ingots made from molten Lee into a new piece of public artwork to be displayed in Charlottesville." Includes video clips of the foundry workers doing the deed.

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Israel/Palestine. The New York Times' live updates of developments Friday in the Israel/Hamas war are here: "The United States carried out airstrikes on targets linked to Iran in eastern Syria early Friday, striking facilities used by Iran's own forces, U.S. officials said, in an effort to ward off more attacks on American forces in the region. The Biden administration has redoubled U.S. military resources in the region to deter Iran and its proxies in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq from engaging in a regional war following Hamas's Oct. 7 surprise attack into southern Israel. The U.S. strikes were in retaliation for nearly daily attacks against U.S. forces over the past 10 days and were an escalation from targeting the militias in Iraq and Syria that Tehran helps to arm, train and equip. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said in a statement that the airstrikes were 'narrowly tailored strikes in self-defense,' and that they 'do not constitute a shift in our approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict.'... Nineteen U.S. troops based in Iraq and Syria have suffered traumatic brain injuries after rocket and drone attacks from Iran-backed militants last week, the Pentagon said on Thursday....

"Israel's military said early Friday that it had carried out 'targeted raids' into the Gaza Strip over the past day, as the country's political and military leaders remained divided about how, when and even whether to invade the coastal enclave.... The United Nations General Assembly is set to vote Friday on a nonbinding resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. The humanitarian crisis for Gaza's population of two million is spiraling under Israeli bombardment, and supplies of fuel, food and water are nearing depletion."

CNN's live updates are here.

News Ledes

CNN: "An intensive manhunt is still underway for a suspect in Wednesday's shooting rampage at a bowling alley and a restaurant that left at least 18 dead and 13 injured in Lewiston, Maine, according to authorities. Robert Card, 40, is facing an arrest warrant for eight counts of murder and should be considered armed and dangerous, police said. He is a certified firearms instructor and a member of the US Army Reserves, according to law enforcement. Police are urging residents to shelter in place and report any suspicious activity to authorities. Lewiston is the state's second-largest city and is located about 36 miles north of Portland. The rampage in Maine is the deadliest US mass shooting since the Uvalde school massacre. It adds to a grim docket of 566 such incidents, where four or more people are shot excluding the shooter, across the country this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive." This is a liveblog.

New York Times: "The extent of the destruction [of Mexico's Pacific coast] left by Hurricane Otis, which turned a once popular tourist destination into a scene of chaos, only started to come into view [Thursday] morning. More than two dozen people were killed and three were missing after the storm made landfall in the early hours of Wednesday with an intensity that shocked forecasters and government officials. Thousands of military officers, medical teams and government officials confronted a devastated Guerrero State on Thursday. Communication and power systems remained largely off in much of the state, making the scope of the hurricane's toll difficult to ascertain." ~~~

     ~~~ AP: "Survivors of the Category 5 storm that killed at least 27 people and devastated Mexico's resort city of Acapulco are getting desperate amid a slow government response worrying that the focus will remain on repairing infrastructure for the city's economic engine of tourism instead of helping the neediest. Despite hopes of incoming aid by many in Acapulco, the coastal city of 1 million once known for its beachside glamour was still in a state of complete chaos by the end of Thursday."