The Full Belmonte, 1/4/2024
Donald Trump asks the Supreme Court to ensure he can appear on primary ballots across the country
“Trump asked the court to invalidate a ruling from Colorado’s top court that said he is an insurrectionist and therefore ineligible to serve as president again. The U.S. Supreme Court is not obligated to take the case, but legal scholars and election officials have urged the justices to resolve the matter promptly so all states follow the same policies.”
Read the story at Washington Post
“A federal judge in Manhattan unsealed court documents yesterday that disclosed for the first time dozens of powerful men with alleged connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, actor Kevin Spacey and others. The fact that people were named in these documents doesn't mean any of them face allegations or evidence of wrongdoing. Many have said they had no awareness of Epstein's crimes. The documents were compiled as part of a 2015 civil lawsuit.” [NPR]
AP
“NPR's Brian Mann tells Up First that the documents show just how long it took for Epstein to be held accountable. Epstein, who died in 2019 by suicide in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, was first investigated in 2006. Federal investigators decided not to prosecute him at that time. A 2018 exposé by the Miami Herald finally led to federal charges. The newspaper fought for years in court to make these documents public.” [NPR]
Clinton, Trump on Epstein list, but no wrongdoing alleged
“More documents and names are expected to be released on Thursday as part of a lawsuit brought by a victim of disgraced sex trafficking financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Why the list matters: The hundreds of sealed court filings about Epstein include other top figures in entertainment, politics and business. The figures have not been charged with any crime. Their inclusion in the list only constitutes a possible association with Epstein and/or his former girlfriend and convicted accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, as a witness, victim, plaintiff, or as a business or social contact.
•Documents released late Wednesday named former President Bill Clinton repeatedly, although he is not accused of any wrongdoing. He was the topic of an argument over the credibility of a witness who said she saw the former president when he was a guest of Epstein.•Trump's name also appears in a document in which Epstein is quoted as saying he would invite the then-real estate mogul to join him at a casino. In another document, a witness said she was never asked to engage in sexual relations with Trump.•False details about a flight log, altered images and claims about Epstein's girlfriend: The trial and associates have long been fruitful ground for misinformation.” [USA Today]
Biden's Jan. 6 plan
President Biden returns from St. Croix on Tuesday. Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
“President Biden plans to put the deadly assault on the Capitol at the center of his re-election campaign in the same way he portrayed the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville during the 2020 campaign: as a Trump-inspired threat to democracy, Axios' Alex Thompson reports.
Why it matters: Biden's renewed focus on Jan. 6 is his campaign's latest acknowledgment that it expects former President Trump to be the GOP nominee amid his raft of court cases.
The campaign says it plans ads built around two Biden events over the next week that will invoke the Capitol riot.
Biden campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodríguez told reporters on a call previewing the speeches: ‘We are running a campaign like the fate of our democracy depends on it — because it does.’
1. In a speech tomorrow at Valley Forge, Pa., Biden will make clear that reminders of the Capitol riot — and Trump's push to overturn the 2020 election — will be major campaign themes.
Senior campaign officials say the venue is apt: It's where George Washington's army endured a frigid winter in 1777-1778 before uniting his troops and fighting for democracy and freedom against the British. Biden will try to rally his party for a fight against ‘MAGA extremism.’
The speech was scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 6, but was moved up a day because of a threat of bad weather.
2. Biden will speak again about the Jan. 6 riot on Monday at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. — a Black church where a white supremacist murdered nine people in 2015.
The other side: Trump also has played up Jan. 6. on the trail, calling it a beautiful day and describing those imprisoned for the insurrection as ‘great, great patriots’ and ‘hostages.’” [Axios]
House Republicans to begin impeachment proceedings against Mayorkas
“House Republicans are set to move forward with impeachment proceedings against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a massive escalation of their attack on Democrats over the migrant crisis at the southern border. Mayorkas is currently involved in delicate Senate border talks and has pushed for President Joe Biden's proposed supplemental package that included foreign aid along with changes in border policy. The DHS replied in a statement that the effort had ‘no valid basis.’ Read more
•More than 60 House Republicans traveled to Eagle Pass, Texas, to tour the southern border on Wednesday, dialing up pressure on the White House and Democrats over the migrant crisis at the border. •The Justice Department sued Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over state law allowing migrant arrests and deportations.•A migrant surge at the border adds to Biden's 2024 election woes.” [USA Today]
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks with reporters during a news conference at the Department of Justice on Dec. 6, 2023, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein, AP
Hundreds of migrants in Denver tent city evicted
“Hundreds of migrants living in an illegal tent city near downtown Denver were evicted Wednesday by police and officials who offered them apartments, group shelter space or bus tickets to leave. The encampment sprung up several months ago and occupied the spaces between sidewalks and streets for multiple blocks. Many of the migrants are Venezuelans seeking asylum and work permits, but are scheduled for court hearings as far out as 2029.” Read more at USA Today
Migrants carrying their belongings walk though an illegal tent encampment as city officials close it down in Denver, Colorado on January 3, 2024.
Trevor Hughes, Trevor Hughes-USA TODAY NETWORK
An insulin $35 cap price is now in effect
“A price cap on insulin from one of the three major manufacturers took effect with the start of the new year, giving more Americans with diabetes more affordable treatments. The price cuts will reduce the cost of the drug for most patients to keep payments around $35 through either price caps or savings programs. Analysts, politicians and patient advocates have increasingly criticized drug manufacturers for the prices set for insulin, and some say more needs to be done given the millions of Americans who need the drug.” Read more at USA Today
In Texas case, federal appeals panel says emergency care abortions not required by 1986 law
“A federal appeals court in New Orleans says the Biden administration cannot use a 1986 emergency care law to require that Texas hospitals provide abortions for women whose lives are at risk due to pregnancy.” Read More at AP News
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. qualifies for presidential ballot in Utah, the first state to grant him access
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has collected enough signatures to appear on the 2024 presidential ballot in Utah.” Read More at Washington Post
New Jersey imam shot outside mosque in Newark, officials say
“A New Jersey imam was critically wounded in a shooting outside a mosque in Newark today, city officials said.
A city spokesperson confirmed the victim is an imam at Masjid Muhammad-Newark. A person at the mosque told NBC New York the victim is Imam Hassan Sharif.
The victim was shot in the abdomen and the right arm, police said. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to the city’s public safety director.
The gunman was wearing all black and was seen running from the location, authorities said. The motive is under investigation.
The shooting comes amid heightened tensions in the U.S. since the Israel-Hamas war began, though state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statementthere is no information suggesting the crime was motivated by bias.” [NBC News]
Cross-country storm may end snow drought in Northeast
“Al Roker is tracking a storm on the move across the country that could bring the first significant snow event in two years to some major cities on the East Coast.
After pounding the West Coast with widespread rain, mountain snow and dangerous surf, the storm is moving inland into the Great Basin, and the Southwest, where winter weather advisories have been issued for parts of Arizona and New Mexico.
The system is expected to continue marching east over the next several days, bringing heavy snow to the southern Rockies and storms to Texas Thursday, and widespread rain across the Gulf Coast on Friday.
By Saturday, the storm is forecast to turn north and bring a mix of rain, snow and sleet up the East Coast that could last through Sunday.
The storm could break the longest streak on record of consecutive days without more than 1 inch of snow in New York City (689 days), Philadelphia (704 days) and Baltimore (705 days).
Washington, D.C. (717 days) and Richmond, Virginia (717 days) are experiencing their second-longest streaks without significant snow.” [NBC News]
Bomb threats at multiple state capitols cause lockdowns and evacuations
“Several state capitols across the country were forced to evacuate today after receiving bomb threats, but no explosives have been found, officials said.
Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Montana were among the states that evacuated their capitols.
Federal officials have warned that government workers have faced a massive surge in threats in recent years.
The Committee for Safe and Secure Elections, a cross-partisan group of local election officials and law enforcement, condemned the bomb threats.
‘There is ZERO tolerance for such threats this election year. Zero,’ the group said in a statement. ‘Election officials and legislators alike cannot be intimidated for doing their jobs.’” [NBC News]
Iran says more than 100 killed in blasts near general’s tomb
An injured person receives aid after an explosion in Kerman, Iran. Photo: Mahdi Karbakhsh Ravari/Mehr News Agency via AP
“At least 103 people were killed when two explosions rocked a memorial service for Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, officials said, in what Iran’s state-run media has called a terror attack.
Iranian television aired video that captured the sound of one of the blasts, and the chaotic aftermath, in the southeastern city of Kerman.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which appears to be the deadliest in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The large crowd had gathered on the fourth anniversary of the U.S. drone attack that killed Soleimani in 2020.
The U.S. does not believe Israel was behind the attack, according to four current and former U.S. officials. The U.S. was also not responsible, two of the officials said.
The attack comes with the Middle East already on edge after months of war between Israel and Hamas, and just a day after a senior Hamas leader was killed in a suspected Israeli drone strike in Beirut. Israel has not claimed responsibility for that strike.” [NBC News]
Israel’s Mossad chief vows to hunt down Hamas members a day after senior figure killed in strike
“The chief of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service vowed Wednesday that the agency would hunt down every Hamas member involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, no matter where they are. His pledge came a day after the deputy head of the Palestinian militant group was killed in a suspected Israeli strike in Beirut. Read more.
Why this matters:
Israel has refused to comment on reports it carried out the killing, but the remarks by David Barnea appeared to be the strongest indication yet it was behind the blast.
Saleh Arouri’s killing provided a morale boost for Israel, which still appears far from achieving its goals of crushing Hamas and returning the estimated 129 hostages still held by the group.
The strike in Hezbollah’s southern Beirut stronghold could cause the low-intensity fighting along the Lebanon border to boil over into all-out war. In a speech Wednesday evening, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah promised revenge, saying that Arouri’s killing will not go ‘without response and without punishment.’” [AP News]
Factory boom
Data: Census Bureau via FRED. Chart: Axios Visuals
“America's spending on new factories is surging, Emily Peck reports for Axios Markets.
Why it matters: President Biden's signature legislation — particularly the CHIPs Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — has spurred a ‘supercycle’ of construction spending that's buoying the economy.
By the numbers: Manufacturing-related construction hit a $210 billion annual rate in November, more than triple the average rate in the 2010s, according to new census data.
All that spending is driving an increase in construction hiring. Job openings in construction increased by 43,000 last month, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data out yesterday — and are up by 111,000 from last year.
Contractors are even facing labor shortages in areas with industrial mega projects, Anirban Basu, the chief economist of the Associated Builders and Contractors, said yesterday.
What to watch: The surge in construction will eventually translate into a surge in hiring for manufacturing jobs, said Aaron Sojourner, a senior researcher at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.” [Axios]
Companies back away from ‘DEI’
Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
“Laudable goals like achieving ‘equity’ and ‘diversity’ and making people feel ‘included’ have become weaponized terms, Axios' prolific Emily Peck reports.
Why it matters: The year ahead will be pivotal for corporate diversity efforts, as attacks against DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion — will likely intensify.
But for many employers, maintaining a diverse workforce where employees feel included is a key part of attracting and retaining workers.
Catch up fast: It's been a long, strange trip for corporate diversity efforts — which can range from employee resource groups to anti-bias training to hiring programs.
For years, DEI was criticized as corporate window dressing or for being counterproductive. More recently, conservative politicians and pundits have made DEI a target, with new laws limiting its practice cropping up in Florida and Texas.
DEI funding and staffing stalled last year after a two-year boom in the wake of the protests that followed the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
Zoom out: The Supreme Court's decision last year overturning the use of affirmative action in universities has drawn attention to corporate diversity efforts.
Businesses are trying to avoid any programs that could draw legal scrutiny: Goals around hiring particular demographic groups are increasingly frowned upon.
‘Anything that smacks of a quota’ is out, said Diana Scott, Human Capital Center Leader at The Conference Board.
At the same time, many business leaders say they're still committed to diversity. In a survey of chief human resource officers recently conducted by The Conference Board, zero respondents said they were planning to scale back DEI in 2024.
State of play: This all means that the way DEI happens inside companies is changing.
Some firms, including Blackstone, are focusing on hiring for socioeconomic diversity, and on changing job requirements to find more diverse talent without targeting race or ethnicity, Fortune reports.
And businesses are pulling back from the DEI term. The focus is on moving away from ‘those three words’ towards ‘well-being and inclusion,’ said Scott, the Conference Board official.
What's next: ‘Companies are really starting to look at other ways to do the work without saying that they're doing the work,’ said Cinnamon Clark, cofounder of Goodwork Sustainability, a DEI consulting firm.
Businesses likely will be talking more about ‘employee experience’ or ‘wellness,’ which falls under the inclusion bucket, said Clark.” [Axios]
Wearing hearing aids could reduce the risk of dying earlier.
“What to know: For people with hearing loss, regular use of hearing aids could reduce that risk by 24% compared with those who don’t wear them at all, new research shows.
Why? It may be because they help people stay socially connected to others, and because they help stimulate the brain with more sound.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Alzheimer’s drugs might get into the brain faster with new ultrasound tool, study shows
“Scientists have found a way to help Alzheimer’s drugs seep inside the brain faster — by temporarily breaching its protective shield. Read more.
Key findings:
The novel experiment was a first attempt in just three patients. But in spots in the brain where the new technology took aim, it enhanced removal of Alzheimer’s trademark brain-clogging plaque by 32%, researchers reported Wednesday.
At issue is what’s called the blood-brain barrier, a protective lining in blood vessels that prevents germs and other damaging substances from leaching into the brain from the bloodstream. But it also can block drugs for Alzheimer’s. Now scientists are using a technology called focused ultrasound to jiggle temporary openings in that shield.
Alzheimer’s isn’t the only target. Other researchers are testing if breaching the blood-brain barrier could allow more chemotherapy to reach brain tumors, and ways to target other diseases.” [AP News]
SPORTS
“Golf: Rory McIlroy said the Saudi-financed LIV Tour exposed flaws in how the PGA Tour deals with sponsorships and player commitments.
Blowout: The Grambling State women’s basketball team beat the College of Biblical Studies by 141 points, a record margin.” [New York Times]
Mickey Mouse is now a horror movie villain.
A scene from “Mickey’s Mouse Trap.” (MM Trap Ltd./AP)
“Why? A version of the Disney mascot from “Steamboat Willie,” a 1928 film, entered the public domain at the start of the year, meaning anyone is free to use it — even for horror.
The plans: Two directors have announced horror movies starring Mickey. A trailer for one, “Mickey’s Mouse Trap,” shows someone in a mouse mask terrorizing a group of friends.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Teen beats Tetris
Willis Gibson, 13, beats Tetris. Photo courtesy Willis Gibson/AP
“The falling-block video game Tetris, which turns 40 this year, met its match in 13-year-old Willis Gibson of Stillwater, Okla. — the first player to officially ‘beat’ the original Nintendo version of the game, AP reports.
Willis ("blue scuti" in the gaming world) made it to what gamers call a ‘kill screen’ — a point where the Tetris code glitches, crashing the game.
Willis managed on Dec. 21 to trigger a kill screen on Level 157, which the gaming world takes as victory over the game.
Tetris CEO Maya Rogers said: ‘Congratulations to 'blue scuti' for achieving this extraordinary accomplishment, a feat that defies all preconceived limits of this legendary game.’” [Axios]
Lex, a Lancashire heeler, sits at attention. Photo: Michelle Barlak via AP
“The Lancashire heeler — energetic, agile and obedient — became the American Kennel Club's newest accepted dog breed today, Axios' April Rubin writes.
The breed hails from the U.K. and dates back to 17th-century crossbreeding.
The AKC recognizes 201 breeds, which can compete at events like the Westminster Kennel Club show.” [Axios]
“Lives Lived: Maurice Hines was a high-wattage song-and-dance man who rose to stardom as a child tap-dancing with his brother, then performed on and off Broadway. Hines died at 80.” [New York Times]