Trump plays ‘chicken’ with the court U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya might as well have warned a toddler in a highchair not to throw his spoon onto the floor … again. During Donald Trump’s first court appearance Thursday on Jan. 6 conspiracy charges, Upadhyaya issued a stern (and unusual) warning to the accused before releasing him on bond: “It is a crime to try to influence a juror or to threaten or attempt to bribe a witness or any other person who may have information about your case, or to retaliate against anyone for providing information about your case to the prosecution, or to otherwise obstruct the administration of justice. Do you understand these warnings and consequences, sir?” Trump replied in the affirmative, just as he had before the world on Jan. 20, 2017, when he swore to “faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States” and to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” We know how that worked out. Violation of those conditions could lead to Trump’s being held until trial and could add to his sentence if convicted, Upadhyaya warned.
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Pardon two nostalgia posts in a row, but after writing The Day I Pranked Paul Samuelson, I realised that I’d let pass possibly the most important anniversary in my peripatetic life: the 50th anniversary of “The Day of Protest” at Sydney University on July 25th 1973. It was, to my knowledge, the first ever protest … Continue reading "Political Economy Forever?"
Doctor Who Series Six was when the modern era of the show hit its peak in popularity but also when it started to become too much.
. Being myself the author of seven books on the history of economic thought, yours truly can’t but applaud Beatrice Cherrier’s plaidoyer for the importance of studying the history of economic thought. In many doctrinal historical works, there is a tendency to read history in reverse. This often leads to only presenting the theories and […]
I’ve been reading Gospodinov’s Time Shelter (highly recommended), and though I have not finished it yet, it has already made salient a question that I’ve asked myself before, as I suppose others have too: which was the best year to be born? I think my answer, at least for the UK and for the last […]
Two titans of UK politics face off over government interest payments, while completely missing the obvious answer: stop giving rich people free money
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Asian elephant twins Yaad and Tukada were recently spotted beating the heat at Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York. Born to parents Mali and Doc on October 24, 2022, the twins are coming up on their 1st birthday milestone! The babies’ first bubble bath: More!
I guess he still thinks he can out-Trump Trump: What in the hell is this outfit, by the way? Is he trying to channel Glenn Youngkin in his clothes and Trump in his blood thirsty language? And why does he have his name plastered all over his shirts, vests and jackets? His wife does too. Are they afraid people won’t recognize them? If this is the re-tool it’s hard to see that it will work. Nobody does “blood-thirsty sociopath” like Donald Trump. The cult loves this stuff but they want it delivered with the glamour of the billionaire TV Star not some short guy in a vest with his name on it.
This should be standard in any Trump indictment. He constantly obtructs justice: Lawyers who practice frequently in Washington, D.C., including MSNBC contributor Glenn Kirschner, say that most of the conditions of release imposed on Trump by the magistrate judge were standard, including the requirement that he not commit a crime while free. However, they say that Judge Moxila Upadhyaya did issue a warning to Trump that is not commonly given to defendants at arraignments: “Finally, sir, I want to remind you that it is a crime to try to influence a juror, or to threaten or attempt to bribe a witness or any other person who may have information about your case, or to retaliate against anyone for providing information about your case to the prosecution, or to otherwise obstruct the administration of justice.” Andrew Weissman had a similar impression: [T]he standard condition that a judge usually emphasizes to a defendant is that they have to show up at each court appearance. That is the most important thing.
In some deep aquifers, cells have a chemical trick that could sustain whole underground ecosystems.
The post Underground Cells Make “Dark Oxygen” Without Light appeared first on Nautilus.
I am unwilling to forgive Mike Pence for his four years of servility to a sociopath and his dereliction in failing to tell the public that Trump was planning a coup as he was doing it. But I guess we do have to acknowledge that he seems to have finally realized that there is no constituency for him anywhere and that he might as well be instrumental in ensuring that Trump doesn’t have the chance to do it again. Josh Marshall writes: Trump’s coup indictment and his own conspicuous role in the indictment narrative and chain of evidence seem finally to have convinced Pence that this is a divide he simply cannot straddle. You’re either on Team Coup or you’re not. Some quotes from the 48 hours after the indictment was handed down. Pence: “The American people deserve to know that President Trump and his advisors . . . asked me . . . essentially to overturn the election. And to keep faith with the oath that I made to the American people and to Almighty God, I rejected that out of hand. And I did my duty that day.” Pence: “Let’s be clear on this point. It wasn’t that they asked for a pause.
Semafor reported on a new ad campaign to promote support for Ukraine among Republicans. It’s needed: A poll by CNN released on Friday found support for more Ukraine funding hitting new lows, with 55% of respondents opposed to new aid. 71% of Republicans say the U.S. has done enough to assist Ukraine already, underscoring the challenge the group faces. I can’t tell you how mind-boggling this is considering the Republican Party I’ve grown up with. It’s very strange. The only thing that makes sense is that Russia is white, Christian and authoritarian so they consider it an ally. Fighter jets, truck drivers, American flags, a narrator with a twang, and a country-rock soundtrack: That’s how a new group lobbying Congress to pass more aid for Ukraine plans to woo their constituents. The spot for the organization, Freedom at Home and Abroad, will air on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and “Fox News Sunday” this weekend, according to executive director Michael Franklin, who said the organization is spending $400,000 on media in August. Details of the campaign were shared ahead of time with Semafor.
In focusing on Scott Morrison’s shocking record in government, and/or on his pathetic and self-pitying response to Commissioner Holmes’ Robodebt report, we must not lose sight of the fact that Morrison is symptomatic of a great deal of what is so terribly wrong in contemporary Australian politics. He is not the cause of what is Continue reading »
Ten years ago, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority wrote in a submission to the federal government that 1.2°C was a key threshold for the Reef. Beyond that, there would be a rapid deterioration in the extent of hard coral cover. The terrible reality is that we are already at 1.1°C of global warming Continue reading »
Pearls and Irritations is unmistakably the work of John Menadue, one of postwar Australia’s most distinguished, humane and indefatigable servants of the public good. I urge you to consider offering it your support. Almost every morning the first website I turn to is Pearls and Irritations. There are several reasons why. Although the balance of Continue reading »
Campaigners for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament believe the referendum may be just 75 days away, and have urged supporters to step up, and be “loud and proud” in championing a yes vote. Many universities and health organisations are doing just that. This week the Australian National University hosted a panel Continue reading »
The RBA holds interest rates; Pollsters stunned to learn that most Aboriginal Australians support the Voice; and Surely Albanese isn’t crazy enough to call a double-dissolution. Read on for the Weekly Roundup of links to articles, reports, podcasts and other media on current political and economic issues in public policy. Economics The RBA holds interest Continue reading »
The Australian Universities Accord Interim Report shows an echidna on its cover, in keeping, Education Minister Jason Clare acknowledges, with the spikey issues he is attempting to address in the education system. His goal is to reduce inequality in Australian society while improving the quality of education across the system. Clare gets the point that Continue reading »
An important one-hour video interview with Ambassador Chas Freeman about the power of the Israeli lobby in the US and the danger of the US policy towards China leading to a nuclear war. Jul 29, 2023 Kim Iversen, independent media channel Charles “Chas” W. Freeman Jr. is an American retired diplomat and writer. He served Continue reading »
Richard Dawkins’ hypothesis buries a crucial part of life’s story.
The post The Case Against the Selfish Gene appeared first on Nautilus.