Yesterday, I read Robert Reich‘s and Heather Cox Richardson‘s fourth-of-July essays, which cam in, one late the previous night, and one very early in the morning. In a way they say the same thing in different words. And in a way, both are wrong – not in the wrong direction, but not going far enough. It was this that struck me in Richardson’s piece (referencing the Gettysburg Address): “the Civil War was ‘testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.’ It did, of course.” No. It didn’t. The same issues which divied us in 1776 and 1865 and 1964 have never gone away. We just managed to push them underground for a few years (a trifle longer the second time). And Trump** did not bring them to a boil. They were always at a boil. All he did was give the wrong side permission to speak.
If we are ever going to heal this divide, we have to do more than trying harder, because that isn’t working. The most recent time around (the 1960s), psychology had become a science, and there have been all kinds of psychological studies about perceptions which have provided new information about the states of mind of Americans – but not one (and no combination) has given any insight into what to do to make it go away. Now, again, some states are talking about seceding. And some progressives are saying (and more are secrtly thinking) perhaps we should let it happen (at least some of us are talking about the need to rescue sane people from the departing states, and how difficult that would be) We already have a Civil War on our hands now – right now. It’s not yet a shooting war. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be. And way too few appear to realize it.
Oddly, it may be Steve Schmidt who puts it the most clearly: “Then [the beginning of the Civil War, speaking of Congress] like now, there were some who looked at the empty desks and saw crisis in the absence – not [in] the cause of the absence.”
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Crooks and Liars – Double Whammy: Trump Media Group Subpoenaed Twice In One Week
Quote – Digital World Acquisition Corp. said in a filing Friday that Trump Media and Technology Group received a subpoena from the grand jury in Manhattan on Thursday. The Trump company also received a subpoena from the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding a civil probe on Monday, DWAC said Click thrpugh for details. Two different subpoenas by two diferent entities. Good.
Democratic Underground – Robert Hubbell has an idea for getting control of the Supreme Court.
Quote – It is debatable whether Congress can force Supreme Court justices to adopt an enforceable code of ethics. But the Constitution provides that Congress can restrict the appellate jurisdiction of the Court, as provided in Article III, Section 2: [T]he Supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make. Click through – This could be, not IMO a permanent solution, but a powerful stopgap until the Court can really be fixed (not that it shouldn’t stay in effect – it should always have been in effect. But we also need more)
It’s that time of year when we literally have a reprise of “the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air” with our traditional annual fireworks displays.
But a number of factors have joined forces to make it become less a tradition, supplanted by colorful and brightly-lit drones.
Firework critics, who have voiced their disfavor due to noise, pollution, injuries, and environmental harm, are celebrating the pandemic’s supply chain shortage of fireworks. They even find a silver-lining in the megadroughts plaguing the West that are forcing municipalities to forgo fireworks in favor of drone light shows.
Drone light shows have become so popular that they’re booked up months in advance for July 4th. And it’s easy to understand why>
Typical drone shows last 10-12 minutes, comparable to and average firework display. And they will use from 100 drones (felt to be an “entry-level” production) up to 500.
A drone July 4th generally starts at around $25,000 – which can be about twice as much as a municipal fireworks display. But they are much more technically cumbersome to design, setup and run. (To add some perspective, the American Pyrotechnics Association reports that firework displays are a $375 million industry.)
While the cost of drone light show might cause concern, they do have a number of advantages when compared to traditional fireworks. They are much quieter, cause significantly less pollution, result in far fewer injuries (including deaths) and dramatically less environmental harm.
It’s no surprise that the drought conditions in most of the West have really sparked communities to move to drone shows. Even before conditions became dire, there were approximately 19,500 fires caused by fireworks back in 2018, with the peak occurring on July 4th.
Also disturbing is the fact that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported that there were over 9,000 fireworks-related injuries seen in emergency departments in 2018.
I was a bit surprised to learn that one of the strongest supporters of drone light shows is from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). “Drone shows are quiet, safe, practically pollution-free,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk.
As many pet owners can attest, fireworks are pretty much loathed by our cats and dogs. PETA also points out that besides frightening for small children, they can also be a trigger for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
I’ve yet to enjoy a 4th of July drone show, but I certainly can see they offer a variety of pluses.
Glenn – J6 committee subpoenas WH Counsel Pat Cipollone. Will he testify or coverup Trump’s crimes?
Meidas Touch – Michael Cohen REACTS to Trump attacks on Cassidy Hutchinson
Robert Reich – The Supreme Court’s War on the People (yes, I also used the text article.)
Beloved Community Talks | The Replacement Theory and White Fear: It Starts in Our Minds
This is a seminar produced by The King Center through “The Beloved Comunity Speaks” program, and it is 45 minutes even after I cut off some intro. I don’t expect anyone to watch it without setting aside time to do so, and I understand anyone who doesn’t want to do that. I share it mainly because I have a long online relationship with Scott. When he first “came out” on LinkedIn as a “reformed racist” in 2010 (and asked for advice how best to help eliminate racism from anyone willing to give it), I was new to LinkedIn myself but I felt I had to respond with support, and we have been LinkedIn contacts ever since. It hasn’t been easy for him (racism is not the only thing he is recovering from) but he has never wavered. He works with The King Center at least annually now. I’m proud to know him.
Puppet Regine – CoVid-19
Beau – Let’s talk about Elmo and a phrase I never thought I say….
Yesterday, I went to see Virgil at the facility in Denver. The traffic was, I suppose, not all that bad; it was not bad enough to slow my speed, but it was ha=eavy enough to cause me concern about the potental danger of changing lanes (parts of I25 in Denver now have six lanes going one direction, and I thought I remembered how th junction with I225 worked, but I wasn’t positive – and it’s been so long since I’ve driven through there, it might have changed.) Fortumately my meory was correct and it hadn’t changed. The I225 junction with I70 was even easier – I225 just ends there and merges. The Havana Street exit was simple. I did turn the wrong way on the street the facility was actually on, but since I turned into a “no outlet,” it was quick to realize and quick to turn around. I arrived in good time and getting in went smoothly. Virgil was knd of late (they had to wake him up, and someone had to come with him.) He came with his walker, didn’t have a cast, and neither leg had any sign of swelling, but he said that both legs were still in pain, though somewhat improvred. So I think he’ll recover. I left before I saw all the good wishes, but I will share them with him and I know he will appreciate them. I will be watching the DOC site so that when I next visit I’ll know where to go. They may keep him there for some weeks or more, or they may return him to Fremont, or they may assign him to a different facility. But if I keep up with the website I won’t drive to the wrong place. Coming home, I knew where I was going, but there was a little rain so I still had to stay on my toes.
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Crooks and Liars – NM County Won’t Pay Capitol Rioter Couy Griffin’s Legal Costs
Quote – His defense sparked laughter from members of the audience Friday as he made the case for county legal representation and said it was time to take a stand against “tyrannical Marxists” who want to take away freedom. “Look this is hard enough without you all laughing,” Griffin said at one point in the meeting. Click through for setup and details. There are probably more important stories out there, but I needed a chuckle and figured you all did too. (If anyone cares, “Otero” is pronounced “oh-tear-oh” [tear as in rip up, not as in a drop,] accent on the “tear.” Not trying to insult anyone’s inte;;igence, but I have seen it in various news stories with various misspellings recently.)
Wonkette – What The Hell Is Happening In Wisconsin?
Quote – This week, the Wisconsin high court ruled 4-3 that Republican political appointees can refuse to leave and hold their offices for as long as they want, at least until a Republican is elected governor. Yes, quite literally. The outcome in Wisconsin v. Prehn is a rule that will only benefit the justices’ fellow Republicans. Click through. This is like the Garland appointment on steroids.
Glenn Kirschner with Stephanie Miller: Trump Will Hold onto His Lies Until the Day He Dies.
Meidas Touch – Texas Paul REACTS to Olivia Rodrigo and Megan Thee Stallion SLAMMING Roe Decision
The Lincoln Project – He Wanted to Help
Dakota Water Wars Part 5 – Ignoring Tribes, Ignoring Laws (I would point out that when the speaker castigates the DOJ official opinion, that was Trump**’s DOJ)
Mrs Betty Bowers – The Not-So-Supreme Court
Beau – Let’s talk about Trump’s denials from the committee….
Experts in autocracies have pointed out that it is, unfortunately, easy to slip into normalizing the tyrant, hence it is important to hang on to outrage. These incidents which seem to call for the efforts of the Greek Furies (Erinyes) to come and deal with them will, I hope, help with that. As a reminder, though no one really knows how many there were supposed to be, the three names we have are Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone. These roughly translate as “unceasing,” “grudging,” and “vengeful destruction.”
Armies (and Navies etc.) are made up of human beings, and human beings need everything that all human beings need. This is almost simplistically obvious. But it also leads to the inference that almost anything can turn out to be vital to our national security – and therefore, the production of almost anything can be justifiably encouraged under the Defense Production Act. But inarguably, energy is right up there. To be secure as a nation, we need energy to keep our people from dying from harsh weather conditions (hi, Texas!) Also, in battle conditions, reliable sources of energy are needed to keep tanks moving and communications effective – to name just two of many reasons.
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President Joe Biden authorized use of the Defense Production Act to ramp up production of several climate-friendly technologies. Werner Slocum/NREL
Solar panels, heat pumps and hydrogen are all building blocks of a clean energy economy. But are they truly “essential to the national defense”?
President Joe Biden proclaimed that they are in early June when he authorized using the Defense Production Act to ramp up their production in the U.S., along with insulation and power grid components.
As an environmental engineering professor, I agree that these technologies are essential to mitigating our risks from climate change and overreliance on fossil fuels. However, efforts to expand production capabilities must be accompanied by policies to stimulate demand if Biden hopes to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.
Energy and the Defense Production Act
The United States enacted the Defense Production Act of 1950 at the start of the Korean War to secure materials deemed essential to national defense. Presidents soon recognized that essential materials extend far beyond weapons and ammunition. They have invoked the act to secure domestic supplies of everything from communications equipment to medical resources and baby formula.
For energy, past presidents used the act to expand fossil fuel supplies, not transition away from them. Lyndon Johnson used it to refurbish oil tankers during the 1967 Arab oil embargo, and Richard Nixon to secure materials for the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline in 1974. Even when Jimmy Carter used the act in 1980 to seek substitutes for oil, synthetic fuels made from coal and natural gas were a leading focus.
Today, the focus is on transitioning away from all fossil fuels, a move considered essential for confronting two key threats – climate change and volatile energy markets.
Utility-scale solar is now cheaper than fossil fuels. This installation is at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images
The Department of Defense has identified numerous national security risks arising from climate change. Those include threats to the water supply, food production and infrastructure, which may trigger migration and competition for scarce resources. Fossil fuels are the dominant source of greenhouse gas emissions that are driving global warming.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine highlights additional risks of relying on fossil fuels. Russia and other adversaries are among the leading producers of these fuels. Overreliance on fossil fuels leaves the United States and its allies vulnerable to threats and to price shocks in volatile markets.
Even as the world’s top producer of oil and natural gas, the United States has been rocked by price spikes as our allies shun Russian fuels.
Targeting 4 pillars of clean energy
Transitioning from fossil fuels to cleaner energy can mitigate these risks.
As I explain in my book, “Confronting Climate Gridlock,” building a clean energy economy requires four mutually reinforcing pillars – efficiency, clean electricity, electrification and clean fuels.
Efficiency shrinks energy demand and costs along with the burdens on the other pillars. Clean electricity eliminates greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and enables the electrification of vehicles, heating and industry. Meanwhile, clean fuels will be needed for airplanes, ships and industrial processes that can’t easily be electrified.
The technologies targeted by Biden’s actions are well aligned with these pillars.
Insulation is crucial to energy efficiency. Solar panels provide one of the cheapest and cleanest options for electricity. Power grid components are needed to integrate more wind and solar into the energy mix.
Heat pumps, which can both heat and cool a home, are far more efficient than traditional furnaces and replace natural gas or heating oil with electricity. Electrolyzers produce hydrogen for use as a fuel or a feedstock for chemicals.
Generating demand is essential
Production is only one step. For this effort to succeed, the U.S. must also ramp up demand.
Stimulating demand spurs learning by doing, which drives down costs, spurring greater demand. A virtuous cycle of rising adoption of technologies and falling costs can arise, as it has for wind and solar power, batteries and other technologies.
The technologies targeted by Biden differ in their readiness for this virtuous cycle to work.
Insulation is already cheap and abundantly produced domestically. What’s needed in this case are policies like building codes and incentives that can stimulate demand by encouraging more use of insulation to help make homes and buildings more energy efficient, not more capacity for production.
Electrolyzers face a tougher road. They’re expensive, and using them to make hydrogen from electricity and water for now costs far more than making hydrogen from natural gas – a process that produces greenhouse gas emissions. The Department of Energy aims to slash electrolyzer costs by 80% within a decade. Until it succeeds, there will be little demand for the electrolyzers that Biden hopes to see produced.
Why heat pumps are most likely to benefit
That leaves heat pumps as the technology most likely to benefit from Biden’s declaration.
Heat pumps can slash energy use, but they also cost more upfront and are unfamiliar to many contractors and consumers while technologies remain in flux.
Pairing use of the Defense Production Act with customer incentives, increased government purchasing and funding for research and development can create a virtuous cycle of rising demand, improving technologies and falling costs.
Heat pumps, which can both heat and cool, are far more efficient than traditional furnaces and air conditioning. Phyxter.ai/Flickr, CC BY
Clean energy is indeed essential to mitigating the risks posed by climate change and volatile markets. Invoking the Defense Production Act can bolster supply, but the government will also have to stimulate demand and fund targeted research to spur the virtuous cycles needed to accelerate the energy transition.
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AMT, It’s indeed true that increasing demand is vital to motivating increased production. And, as long as himans are resistant to change (which I assume will be true until the race becomes extinct), there will be challenges to replacing old technology with new. However, it has happened in the past. If our experience with the automobile is any guide, that means that producers are going to have to accept smaller profit margins than they are acustomed to – at least for a while – at least until the new technologies are firmly established and production costs go down. It would also not hurt for income levels to go up – remember it was the New Deal with all its effects, as well as unions, which actually turned us all into consumers – and gave us the ability to keep up consumption. Wealthy oligarchs were not happy with it then, and they won’t be happy with it now. But if wealthy oligarchs don’t capitulate and start to “bite the bullet” soon, they will end up with no customers and will lose everything.
Yesterday, the radio opera was “Tha Damnation of Faust” by Hector Berlioz. Berlioz was a great composer, but in one way he wasn’t terribly good at opera, because whatever the characteristic is that leads people to relate to highly visual drama, he didn’t have it. There’s plenty of drama in his operas, but it’s mostly internal (which makes it actually excellent for a radio presentation.) Some of them he didn’t even call operas in the end, so he realized that they weren’t very visual. “Romeo and Juliet” he called a “Dramatic Symphony,” and he called “Damnation of Faust” a “Dramatic Legend.” This performance is from the Salzburg Festival, with three big international stars in the three main roles. The opera also contains several instrumental pieces which are often played separately from it, chiefly the Rákóczi March (which in this performance got the kind of applause usually reserved for a star after a big aria), the Dance of the Sylphs, and the Dance of the Wisps. The penultimate ride to hell has also been played separately.
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Crooks & Liars – Christian Nationalist Plans To Make Handmaid’s Tale A Reality
Quote – “Christian nationalism is on the rise, and people are thirsty for it,” he said. “We are the Christian Taliban, and we will not stop until The Handmaid’s Tale is a reality, and even worse than that to be honest.” The little feller went on to say that they are trying to roll back rights for women for 100 years. “It’s only going to get worse for you,” he added. Click through (there’s also a video.) When someone tells you who they are – believe them!
Wonkette – Trump Pitches Tantrum After Cassidy Hutchinson Fires Lawyer He Assigned Her
Quote – President Crime Boss’s tighty-whities are in a bunch after Mark Meadows’s former top aide testified about all the insane shit he did trying to hold onto power after losing the election. But his rants about Hutchinson’s choice of lawyer are particularly reminiscent of the mafia don he fancies himself.Because Hutchinson’s former counsel, Stefan Passantino, has represented Trump for a long time and in multiple capacities. Click through for story. If someo else is paying your attorney, you can be pretty confident they are not working for you, but for the person paying them.
Glenn Kirschner – Cheney reveals witness tampering by Team Trump. Arrest warrants should issue PROMPTLY. Here’s why.
Meidas Touch – Top Former Prosecutor SAYS Trump is GOING DOWN in epic recap
The Lincoln Project – Weapons
MSNBC – How Trump’s Coup Plot Followed A ‘Pre-Existing Script In American History’ (And this is why we need to teach history – particularly reconstruction, which is extremely under-taught.)
As you can see, the RWNJ snowflakes have already come down on this. But we can get around that.
Ketanji Brown Jackson sworn in to Supreme Court by Chief Justice John Roberts (and Associate Justice Stephen Breyer)
Beau – Let’s talk about how SCOTUS helped the Democratic Party….
