News of the Week for Jan. 13th, 2019
- Gun Rights
- Hide the Decline
- Obamacare
- War & Terror
- National News
- Economy & Taxes
- International News
- Opinion
Gun Rights
Get Ready for a Financial Assault on the Second Amendment
Maxine Waters has taken over the House Financial Services Committee
Dems Introduce Gun-Ban Bill as GOP Seeks to Expand Gun-Carry Protections
Feinstein wants new ‘assault weapons’ ban while Cornyn pushes for national reciprocity
Oregon SB 501 permit to own, 20 rounds per month limit, Mags >5 banned
Senate Bill 501 Requires person to secure permit before purchasing or otherwise receiving firearm. “May issue” by the Sheriff. Restricts ammunition receipt to 20 rounds within 30-day period. Prohibits transfer of firearm by gun dealer or private party until latter of 14 days or Department of State Police has determined that recipient is qualified to receive firearm.
Textual analysis of HR8, bill to “To require a background check for every firearm sale”
Bill about gun “sale” turns ordinary gun loans into felonies, bans handguns for young adults, and authorizes unlimited fees.
Hide the Decline
Environment &
“Green Energy”
The Not-So-Pretty Fine Print of the “Green New Deal”
Making the click-through worthwhile: Why you need to read the fine print in that “Green New Deal” everyone’s talking about, what worked and what didn’t in President Trump’s Oval Office prime-time address, Paul Manafort’s curious conversations with a Russian agent, and a big start to 2019 for the pop-culture podcast.
Rubio: Are you ready for President Kamala Harris declaring a national emergency over climate change?
Does anyone care about long-term consequences for precedents set in the short term any more? I thought this argument died when Harry Reid pursued the nuclear option in the Senate to allow Barack Obama to stack the DC Circuit. Nevertheless, Sen. Marco Rubio gamely raises the point about loosening the standards for presidential emergency declarations as Donald Trump considers the option during his visit to the border. Today it’s national security on the southern frontier, Rubio tells CNBC’s Squawk Box, but Trump won’t be president forever. Tomorrow it might be climate change and the Green New Deal
Climate scientist retires, then declares “I am a skeptic” – Offers to debate – Rejects “denier” label: “We don’t live in medieval times”
Dr. Anastasios Tsonis, emeritus distinguished professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Authored more than 130 peer-reviewed papers and nine books
The Middle East, Africa, and Asia now drive nearly all global energy consumption growth
Energy consumption in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa continues to grow rapidly, with about 20% growth in each region between 2010 and 2016, according to newly available data in EIA’s International Energy Statistics database. In particular, energy consumption has been increasing in the Middle East and Africa, driven by economic growth, increased access to energy markets, and quickly growing populations. Energy consumption in Asia grew even as energy consumption in China declined between 2015 and 2016.
Obamacare
Government in Healthcare
Bill de Blasio announces guaranteed health care for all New Yorkers, including illegal immigrants
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday announced plans to launch “the largest, most comprehensive plan in the nation” to guarantee health care coverage for all city residents, including those in the country illegally.
On 1st day, Gov. Gavin Newson proposes free healthcare for illegal immigrants under 26
2 journalists ejected from his inauguration as citizens gear up for border security-based “Yellow Vest” demonstrations.
She Was Getting Treatment for Depression But Otherwise in Good Health. Doctors Euthanized Her
Europe’s top human rights court has agreed to hear a case being brought against Belgium by a man whose mother was euthanized in 2012 for depression.
Healthcare Dragooned to Effect Social Change
The Affordable Care Act was about much more than guaranteeing all Americans access to health insurance. As wielded by the Obama Administration, the law became a means of effecting progressive social change.
War & Terror
China’s President Xi Tells Military To Train Up For War
China’s President Xi Jinping issued his first order of the new Western Year 2019. He has ordered the military to train themselves up and prepare for war. China’s New Year of the Pig 4717 doesn’t begin until February 5 of the Western calendar.
Xi Jinping says Taiwan and China “will be unified”
Chinese President Xi Jinping ratcheted up the pressure on Taiwan’s pro-self-rule government on Wednesday, asserting China’s right to use military force against ‘foreign powers’ that intervened on the issue of independence for the country
Navy Quietly Fires 20 Hyper Velocity Projectiles Through Destroyer’s Deckgun
Last summer USS Dewey (DDG-105) fired 20 hyper velocity projectiles (HVP) from a standard Mk 45 5-inch deck gun in a quiet experiment that’s set to add new utility to the weapon found on almost every U.S. warship, officials familiar with the test have told USNI News.
Iran says it is holding US Navy veteran
Iran confirmed Wednesday it is holding U.S. Navy veteran Michael R. White at a prison in the country, making him the first American known to be detained under President Donald Trump’s administration.
National
Portland State Prof Who Exposed “Grievance Studies” Corruption Faces University Discipline
Could potentially lose his job for getting journals to publish absurd papers in the areas of gender studies, women’s studies, and more.
More AOC: Facts don’t matter when you’re “morally right”
Scoff at this all you want, but on this point Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sounds more mainstream – and bipartisan – than most would admit. During his 60 Minutes interview with the new House member, Anderson Cooper confronted Ocasio-Cortez with a whopper about Pentagon spending that earned her four Pinocchios at the Washington Post. Ocasio-Cortez replied that being “morally right” means never having to account for facts.
Latina Lesbian Murdered by Two Men (But Don’t Blame Racist Homophobes)
Today, I watched a true-crime documentary about the 2001 murder of 27-year-old Tzatzi Sanchez, who was sexually assaulted and strangled to death in Las Vegas. Now get ready for the plot twist: The two men who raped and killed Sanchez, Luis Barroso and Omed Marroquin, did so in a murder-for-hire scheme plotted by Sanchez’s former lesbian lover.
NASA exoplanet hunter racks up bizarre worlds and exploding stars
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite has identified at least eight planets, including a world with a mass more than 20 times that of Earth.
Two Reporters Ejected from Newsom Inauguration
One appeared to have done absolutely nothing to merit exclusion
Whiteness course offers “corrective” to “denial of dominant racial constructions”
Seeks to make whiteness “visible”
Kamala Harris Says She’s Open To Ocasio-Cortez’s Socialist Agenda
Call it the Ocasio-Cortez Effect! Just two days after the freshman congresswoman announced on “60 Minutes” that Democrats should soak the rich with a 70 percent marginal tax rate, presidential hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris said on “The View” that she is open to it. Drawing on her experience as a teacher, Harris commended Ocasio-Cortez for “challenging the status quo,” and promised to “explore new ideas.”
American Psychological Association: “Traditional Masculinity” Harmful to Men and Boys
“traditional masculinity—marked by stoicism, competitiveness, dominance and aggression—is, on the whole, harmful”
Judge Says Christian Baker Jack Phillips’ Lawsuit Against Civil Rights Officials Can Proceed
A federal judge in Denver rejected Colorado’s bid to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that state civil rights officials are waging a campaign of harassment against Jack Phillips, the Christian baker at issue in the landmark Masterpiece Cakeshop case.
PragerU Lawsuit Claims Google, YouTube Violated Calif. Law on Free Speech, Discrimination
On Tuesday, the conservative video nonprofit PragerU filed a new lawsuit against Google and YouTube in Santa Clara, Calif. superior court, to bring state charges against Google and YouTube in addition to the federal case currently before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Both PragerU and Google are based in California.
Women’s Studies department rejected professor because she was pregnant: Lawsuit
Candidate had asked about on-campus childcare
Gov. Newsom’s Wife To Go By “First Partner” In Effort To Advance Gender Equality
The wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom said she will go by the title of “first partner,” nixing the traditional “first lady” title.
A Wild ‘Interstellar Probe’ Mission Idea Is Gaining Momentum
With the goal of reaching 90 billion miles (145 billion kilometers) from the sun, the proposed robotic explorer would push the limits of engineering know-how and space technology, advocates say.
The horror! Trump “downgrades” the EU ambassador
The Washington Post reports that the Trump administration has downgraded the EU ambassador to the United States. Michael Birnbaum and John Hudson view the downgrading as emblematic of President Trump’s “alliance-disrupting” behavior which, allegedly, has caused “America’s longstanding friends” to doubt “whether the U.S. would defend them in a conflict” and whether “the White House prefers democratic leaders to autocrats.”
Women’s college will now admit “trans women,” reject “trans men”
“Students who were not born female” will be allowed to attend
Kamala Harris Says India is “Oldest Democracy in the World” (It’s Not)
Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) falsely stated on Wednesday night that India is the “oldest democracy in the world,” a title that actually belongs to the United States.
H.R. 1: Democrats Act to Strip State Powers Over Elections
If you thought the midterm elections had problems, wait until you learn about Nancy Pelosi’s plan to terminate state control over American elections.
Female Republicans Promote State-Level Pro-Life Laws
One encouraging development for the pro-life movement is the significant increase in the number of pro-life laws being enacted at the state level. According to the Guttmacher Institute, between 1983 and 2010, the average number of pro-life state laws enacted annually was fewer than 15. Between 2011 and 2017, meanwhile, an average of 57 state-level pro-life laws were enacted each year, and between 2000 and 2019, the number of states that Guttmacher deemed “hostile” to abortion rights increased from four to 22.
She’s running: Tulsi Gabbard says she’ll make a formal announcement in the coming week
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard gave an interview to Van Jones which is set to air tomorrow. While the full interview hasn’t been seen yet, CNN has released a preview in which Gabbard announces she has decided to run for president
One day our sun will solidify into a giant crystal orb
Our sun and billions of stars just like it are headed for a strange, cold destiny.
Bill de Blasio: ‘We Will Seize Their Buildings, and We Will Put Them in the Hands of a Community Nonprofit’
NYC’s mayor takes on private property (again).
USC forces students to get permission for free speech two weeks ahead of time
The University of Southern California can’t please anyone these days.
Physicist Says One of Sci-Fi’s Wildest Hyperspace Travel Ideas Could Actually Work
One of the most cherished science fiction scenarios is using a black hole as a portal to another dimension or time or universe. That fantasy may be closer to reality than previously imagined.
Robbing Beyoncé Blind
The ADA litigation monster continues to run amok.
KY teacher busted for New Year’s party with students, alcohol, marijuana, meth
A Kentucky teacher was pulled from the classroom after she allegedly admitted to hosting a New Year’s Eve party where police found intoxicated teens, alcohol, marijuana and methamphetamines.
Economy & Taxes
Raising the tax rate versus raising the effective tax rate
Raising the tax rate is not the same as raising the amount of tax money collected, either in the aggregate or from a selected group such as ‘the rich.’
International
Former Venezuela Supreme Court judge flees to U.S., denounces Maduro
Former Venezuelan Supreme Court Justice Christian Zerpa has fled to the United States to protest President Nicolas Maduro’s second term that will begin with his inauguration this week, the onetime Maduro backer told a Miami broadcaster on Sunday.
The People China “Disappeared” in 2018
From a movie star to university students, no one is immune.
Maclean’s magazine encourages women to regret having children
The article’s headline was meant to grab women’s attention, and I am sure it did: “‘I Regret Having Children’,” a feature article in the February issue of Maclean’s mag, throws a positive light on what the author, veteran journalist Anne Kingston, seems to believe is the opening salvo in a brave new epoch of female liberation, the desanctification of motherhood.
Europe Continues to Shrink Religious Liberty
As western society secularizes, religious liberty is in danger of becoming passé. Increasingly, jurisdictions are enacting laws in furtherance of legitimate social considerations that, concomitantly, shrivel the freedom of religious believers to live according to their personal faith precepts.
Young mother is barred from her local pub for wearing a T-shirt saying ‘Woman: human female’ after a complaint that it discriminated against transgender people
Ms Wershbale is a supporter of feminist group Fair Play For Women, which opposed a Government’s consultation to reform the Gender Recognition Act
China’s population shrinks despite two-child policy: Experts
China’s population shrank last year for the first time in 70 years, experts said, warning of a “demographic crisis” that puts pressure on the country’s slowing economy.
Petition launched to remove law professor for “discriminatory” comments
A petition to remove Emeritus Professor of Law and Legal Philosophy John Finnis from teaching has attracted three hundred and fifty signatures in five days. Finnis has been accused of having “a long record of extremely discriminatory views against many groups of disadvantaged people”, including the LGBTQ community. Finnis co-teaches a series of seminars for postgraduate students who choose to take the jurisprudence and political theory course in the BCL or M.Jur degree.
As Venezuela falls apart, Maduro poised for six more years as president
Having won a disputed election, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will be sworn in for a second six-year term Thursday amid a crumbling economy and disintegrating society.
The rest of Latin America is turning on Venezuela’s dictator
As the situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate, following the usual, tragic path of socialism, the rest of the world is becoming increasingly nervous. This sort of societal implosion affects everyone, not just the starving masses suffering under the thumb of their dictator, Nicolas Maduro. An exodus of Venezuelans is overwhelming the resources of relief agencies in nearby countries and fears of the results of a possible military coup have the leaders of other South American nations on edge.
Member of German right-wing party is attacked and left unconscious in the street
Monday night a member of Alternative for Germany (AfD), the right-wing party that opposes immigration, was knocked unconscious in the street and suffered serious injuries. Frank Magnitz, the AfD’s Bremen chairman, suffered a serious head wound after he was attacked by three men. Initially, the party released a statement saying he had been hit with a large piece of wood and then kicked when he was on the ground. Police said they were investigating the crime as a politically motivated attack, however, yesterday police changed their tune. A video of the incident showed something different from what the party press release described. From Deutsche Welle.
Dutch Authorities Threaten Criminal Charges for Pastors Who Signed Biblical Marriage Statement
What happens when a nation abandons God and replaces Him with full-throated secularism? In the Netherlands, it has meant the unleashing of a torrent of hostility toward religion in general and biblical Christianity in particular as the keepers of the nation’s secular ethos seeks to marginalize those who would speak openly about biblical truth. Case in point, the overweening reaction to a group of pastors signing a simple statement of faith about marriage and gender. Authorities in the Netherlands are reportedly investigating whether the 250 evangelical pastors who signed the Nashville Statement on biblical sexuality have violated the law after objections were raised by so-called “equality organizations.”
“Venezuela is a cradle of terrorism,” member of underground resistance group tells i24NEWS
Underground resistance group ‘Flannel Soldiers Movement’ receives support from dissidents abroad, member says
Oxford Students Want World’s Top Natural Law Scholar Fired For Being A Catholic
The natural law scholar is under fire from the social justice crowd for writing things that would be unsurprising beliefs for any Catholic to hold.
US joins calls to oust Venezuelan dictator. Opposition leader thrown in prison.
Earlier this week we learned that a group of Central and South American nations (plus Canada) had labeled the regime of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro illegitimate and called for him to step aside. At that time, I wondered when more nations would join in this effort, as well as the Organization of American States. As it happens, only a few days later the dominos began to fall a bit faster. The OAS and the United States both called on Maduro to be removed from office. The general consensus seems to be that Maduro should be replaced by opposition party and National Congress leader Juan Guaido.
Opinion
To the BBC, history is something to be twisted by the tyranny of Now
For a while, as a 13-year-old, I was obsessed with rabbits = the consequence of having read Watership Down by Richard Adams. I tried to share my enthusiasm for the book with my parents, but my father told me that he thought the scenario depicted by Adams was “improbable”. However, they did consent to take me to that indeterminate, shifting area where the novel is set, with its back legs in Berkshire and its front paws in the last remaining unspoilt quadrant of Hampshire.
Why Trump’s Losing the Shutdown Fight
A simple political rule of thumb: Never hold the government hostage for anything, even if it’s a cherished campaign promise.
Grown Men Are the Solution, Not the Problem
With young men in crisis, the American Psychological Association wrongly declares war on “traditional masculinity”
The Populism Debates
Elsewhere on NRO today, JD Vance offers a smart piece on Tucker Carlson’s now-famous monologue last week and some responses to it, which have already drawn much worthwhile commentary here and elsewhere. The dispute over Carlson’s remarks, like the (related) argument late last year about Oren Cass’s new book on work, has been a valuable and revealing intra-conservative debate.
How creepy will home smart devices get? Very creepy indeed
We’re not talking about killer robots this time, but something much closer to home. How many so-called “smart devices” do you have in your home and on your person? Sure, you’ve probably got a cell phone on you somewhere. Perhaps you even have a Roomba vacuuming your floor. But at the big Consumer Electronics Show this year you’ll see a wide range of other electronic products that are suddenly much “smarter” than they used to be. And pretty much every one of them is collecting data on you and sending it up the line where it’s sold to the highest bidder.
Failed People, Failed State
When you look into the abyss, the abyss looks into your bond rating.
Confessions of a Russiagate agnostic
I’m perfectly open to the possibility that President Trump (or his campaign) colluded with Russians to influence the outcome of the 2016 election, but I just want to see evidence that proves it.
California’s Ongoing Suicide Attempt
I’ve been meaning to post an omnibus review of all the latest indicators of California’s steady road to becoming Venezuela, which is going into high gear now that we—finally!—have a governor named Gavin (long overdue), but news items have piled up faster than human excrement on a San Francisco street (about which, see below). So just a couple of new highlights.
Disputes Over Taiwan, Trade, And Space Will Define U.S. Relationship With China
In 2019, Sino-U.S. relations will be defined by the trade war, potential reunification with Taiwan, and the escalation of the new space race.
Author: Traditional Publishing “Too Slow, Incestuous”
Paul Clayton shares how identity politics prevents some voices from being heard.
Are Democrats Testing a Future Strategy against Amy Coney Barrett?
One way to understand the Democratic opposition to the judicial nomination of Brian Buescher over his membership in the Catholic group the Knights of Columbus is as a test run in preventing their worst nightmare: the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
The Elite Convergence
Tucker Carlson and Kamala Harris both miss the mark.
Tim Scott: Why are Republicans accused of racism? Because we’re silent on things like this.
Over the past two years, Republicans have focused on spreading opportunity, and it has paid dividends: From the creation of opportunity zones in some of our nation’s most distressed communities to amazing job-creation statistics and low unemployment rates, there’s no doubt that the future is brightening for many Americans.
De Blasio’s Cloud Castle
The mayor’s promise of “health care for all New Yorkers” is just his latest grand illusion.
George Bernard Shaw Was so Enamored with Socialism He Advocated Genocide to Advance It
For decades, Shaw was a staunch proponent of genocide, refusing to soften his views even after the full horror of the Nazi death camps was brought to light.
