The Full Belmonte, 4/6/2023
A view of damaged homes in the aftermath a violent storm system that tore through Glenallen, Missouri.
Storm damage
“A destructive storm system that walloped the Central US with tornadoes this week left at least five people dead in Missouri, officials said Wednesday. Communities in the southeastern part of the state are now sifting through the wreckage of what used to be homes and looking ahead to a long road to recovery. "When you look at the devastation of this, it's going to be weeks upon months to be able to recover," Gov. Mike Parson said after touring Bollinger County, one of the areas most impacted by the storm. The devastation in the region mirrors the destruction left behind in parts of the South and Midwest, where violent storms and tornadoes left 32 people dead just last week. Forecasts show the dangerous weather in the region is winding down, though some storms in parts of Texas and the northeast could bring with them a slight flood threat today.” [CNN]
The damage from a tornado that hit southeast Missouri early Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
AP
Nashville shooting
“The Republican-led Tennessee House of Representatives is scheduled to vote today on removing from office three Democratic lawmakers who protested on the chamber floor with a bullhorn to call for gun reform following last month's school shooting in Nashville. The resolutions filed by GOP lawmakers seek to expel Reps. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis. ‘It's morally insane that a week after a mass shooting took six precious lives in my community here in Nashville, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, their first action is not to take actions to rein in this proliferation of weapons of war in our streets, but it's to expel their colleagues for standing with our constituents,’ Jones told CNN on Wednesday. The move to expel the lawmakers has drawn condemnation from House Democrats and at least one organization that the called the expulsion ‘extreme.’” [CNN]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer repeals Michigan's 1931 abortion ban
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer repealed an unenforceable Michigan law that makes it a felony to administer most abortions with no exception for rape or incest. For decades, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision guaranteed a national right to abortion. But when the court overturned that decision, a Michigan Court of Claims judge issued an order temporarily blocking Michigan's abortion ban to ensure continued legal access to the procedure in the state. Michigan voters ultimately took up the matter directly during last year's midterm when they embraced an amendment to the state's constitution to enshrine an explicit right to seek abortions. Read more at USA Today
Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer repeals a 1931 abortion ban on April 5, 2023.
USA Today
Thousands participate in national school walkout after Nashville shooting
“Thousands of students walked out of classes across the country Wednesday to demand lawmakers take action on gun safety following the mass shooting at an elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, last week that killed three adults and three children.
The national walkouts come one day after hundreds of high school and college students left class across Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
•Advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, which coordinated the walkouts through Students Demand Action, said there were more than 300 demonstrations across 41 states and D.C. to kick off a ‘week of action’ by advocates and gun violence survivors.
•So far this year, there have been at least 39 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, resulting in 17 deaths and 30 injuries nationally, according to Everytown. President Joe Biden has called on Congress to act, saying he has exhausted what he can do through executive action on gun control.
•The Tennessee state legislature will vote Thursday whether to expel three Democratic members of the House after they led protest chants from the floor of the chamber.” [USA Today]
Democratic Reps. Justin Pearson of Memphis, Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville, Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville hold their hands up as they exit the House chamber doors at Tennessee state Capitol Building in Nashville, Tennessee, Monday, April 3, 2023.
Nicole Hester / The Tennessean
Robert F Kennedy Jr to challenge Biden for White House
By Chloe Kim
BBC News
“Robert F Kennedy Jr has filed election paperwork to run for US president in 2024 as a Democrat.
The 69-year-old is the son of assassinated Senator Robert F Kennedy and nephew of President John F Kennedy.
The environmental lawyer's campaign treasurer, John E Sullivan, confirmed the filing on Wednesday.
Mr Kennedy is an outspoken anti-vaccine campaigner. Instagram removed his account in 2021 for ‘repeatedly sharing debunked claims’, the company said….” Read more at BBC
Left's power surge
Janet Protasiewicz, Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson at their victory parties on Tuesday night. Photos: Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Reuters, Paul Beaty/AP
“Big progressive wins in Wisconsin and Chicago this week show the staying power of left-wing positions on abortion and crime heading into '24.
Why it matters: The twin Midwest results bolster Democrats' momentum after surprising strength in November's midterms, Axios' Erin Doherty and Ivana Saric report.
In Wisconsin, Janet Protasiewicz won in the most expensive state judicial race in U.S. history, giving liberals the state Supreme Court majority for the first time in more than a decade.
Her 11-point victory carries implications for abortion rights and redistricting in the perennial swing state, and demonstrates the continuing power of abortion as an issue in post-Roe America.
The court now could overturn Wisconsin's pre-Civil War abortion ban, and revisit 2022 congressional maps that favored Republicans.
In Chicago, progressive Democrat Brandon Johnson beat the more moderate Paul Vallas, who focused on public safety.
Johnson's victory handed progressives control over two of America's largest three cities, following L.A. Mayor Karen Bass' win last year.
The Chicago result affirmed ‘how Democrats are approaching the issue of crime ... both accountability and prevention,’ said Colin Seeberger of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.
Reality check: Republicans think they win the crime fight decisively outside of super-liberal cities.” [Axios]
How Trump could talk himself into a gag order
Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/Axios
“Six hours after a judge warned he'd penalize former President Trump for remarks that endanger others, Trump stepped to a Mar-a-Lago microphone and practically dared the judge to gag him, Axios' Sophia Cai reports.
‘I have a Trump-hating judge,’ Trump said in a barrage of insults aimed at New York Judge Juan Merchan, the judge's family, Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg and more.
Why it matters: The extreme personal attacks that are Trump's political signature could cause him trouble in his 34-felony-count criminal case.
‘There is no court that would want to impose a gag order on a president of the United States,’ J. Michael Luttig, a former federal judge and lawyer who advised former Vice President Pence, told Axios.
But ‘if the former president forces the Manhattan criminal court, the court will have no choice.’
During Trump's arraignment, Merchan told Trump's team and prosecutors to ‘refrain from making statements that are likely to incite violence and civil unrest.’
Trump was somber in court. But after flying back to Palm Beach, he unleashed a rambling, bitter rant in which he called Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg ‘a criminal.’
Trump called Jack Smith, the special counsel leading the Justice Department probe into Trump's handling of classified documents, ‘a radical-left lunatic known as a bomb thrower.’
He called Fulton County, Ga., prosecutor Fani Willis ‘a local racist Democrat district attorney.’ Willis is weighing whether to charge Trump with meddling in Georgia's 2020 election results.
What's next: Prosecutors are working with Trump's attorneys on a protective order to prevent Trump from sharing discovery materials on social media or with third parties.” [Axios]
Cash App founder killed, rattling S.F.
The apartment building below the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge where Bob Lee was fatally stabbed early Tuesday. Photo: Eric Risberg/AP
“Cash App founder Bob Lee was fatally stabbed amid the luxury condos of San Francisco's Rincon Hill neighborhood early Tuesday, raising anxiety about crime and quality-of-life issues, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Lee, 43, was ‘a standout among Silicon Valley geniuses, someone idolized as a brilliant thinker, talented hacker and idealist who turned dreams into reality.’
Lee — whose Twitter handle was @crazybob, and was chief product officer of MobileCoin — was visiting from his home in Miami. He died at a hospital following the 2:30 a.m. attack. Police say no arrest has been made.
The densely populated neighborhood where Lee was killed is near Google's office and Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. The neighborhood is a mix of offices and modern condo buildings.
Tech executives ‘viewed the incident as a disturbing illustration of social disorder in a city known as an innovation hub,’ the Chronicle writes.
‘The tragedy came amid City Hall's struggle to keep businesses and workers in downtown San Francisco, which has been hit hard by remote work and has been the subject of vocal concerns about high property crime, homelessness, open drug dealing and other quality-of-life issues.’” [Axios]
A report detailed decades of sexual abuse in the Baltimore Catholic Church.
“The details: More than 600 young people suffered abuse by more than 150 clergy members from the 1940s to 2002, the Maryland attorney general’s report said. It was released yesterday.
What happens now? None of the alleged abusers identified in the report is still serving, and many are dead. But the report galvanized support for a state bill to make it easier to sue over past abuse.” [Washington Post]
Rightwing legal activist accused of misusing $73m from nonprofit groups
A watchdog complaint filed with the IRS presents an accounting of the money paid to Leonard Leo’s for-profit businesses
David Smith in Washington
“Leonard Leo, a rightwing legal activist, has raked in more than $73m over six years from nonprofit groups that may be diverting money illegally to his businesses, according to a watchdog complaint seen by the Guardian.
Leo is a hugely influential figure said to have been the chief curator of supreme court nominees when Donald Trump was US president. The devout Catholic is a staunch opponent of abortion rights.
The Campaign for Accountability, a nonprofit watchdog organisation based in Washington, has called for an investigation into seven nonprofit groups linked to Leo that it said may be misusing millions of dollars for the personal benefit of insiders – a violation of their tax exempt status.
On Wednesday, the watchdog filed an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) complaint dissecting six years of filings from the Leo-affiliated organisations and presenting an accounting of more than $73m paid to his for-profit businesses…..” Read more at The Guardian
RSV vaccine
“A Pfizer vaccine to protect older adults and infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection has shown what some scientists are calling ‘exciting’ promise in late-stage trials. In one company-funded trial in adults 60 and older, the results of which were published Wednesday, the vaccine prevented two types of RSV-associated illnesses with no apparent safety concerns. Pfizer is seeking the FDA's approval for its RSV vaccine for older adults, in addition to an antibody treatment that’s designed to protect children up to 2 years old. The drug company's push for the vaccine comes on the heels of an especially bad RSV season last year. Studies also show the virus is the No. 1 reason infants in the US have to go to the hospital.” [CNN]
“After two years of failed votes, the Kansas legislature rallied enough votes yesterday to override Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of a bill banning transgender women and girls from participating in women's sports at public schools and colleges. The decision comes after the state Senate passed a bill that some critics say is some of the most restrictive in the country.” [NPR]
Dems see bipartisan promise in McCarthy's Taiwan meeting
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen speak yesterday in front of a retired plane once used as Air Force One, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. Photo: Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
“A meeting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy led with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen — at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. yesterday — left some Democrats with hope of an opening for some bipartisan work in coming months, Axios' Andrew Solender reports.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who rarely has a kind word about her successor, said in a statement: ‘Today's meeting between President Tsai of Taiwan and Speaker McCarthy is to be commended for its leadership, its bipartisan participation and its distinguished and historic venue.’
Why it matters: It's a rare moment of cross-party praise for McCarthy as he prepares for efforts to fund the government, avert default on U.S. debt and potentially provide more aid to Ukraine.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), one of a half dozen Dems who joined McCarthy in California, told Axios the meeting represents ‘a genuine effort at bringing Democrats and Republicans together, especially on foreign policy.’
Moulton said he was among lawmakers who received a warning from the Chinese embassy in D.C. not to meet with Tsai Ing-wen.
The big picture: Even as they spar publicly, McCarthy meets regularly off the House floor with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
McCarthy made a point of telling reporters he includes Jeffries in Capitol security briefings — a privilege he says Pelosi often denied him.
McCarthy plans to lead a bipartisan congressional trip to Israel at the end of this month.” [Axios]
Mexico police seize dozens of exotic animals during raid
Image caption,
A coyote was among the animals seized at the property
By Vanessa Buschschlüter
“Officials raiding a property near the Mexican capital have seized 25 exotic animals, including lions, pumas and a Bengal tiger.
They had been alerted to ‘suspicious activity’ at the ranch in Huixquilucan, west of Mexico City.
They also found pumps thought to have been used to steal petrol from fuel pipelines.
Criminals in Mexico often keep exotic animals as pets and a number of large cats have been seized in recent years.
The site where the animals were found is thought to have been used by a gang specialising in stealing and selling fuel.
Agents found a container with 14,000l of diesel, as well as several large vehicles such as lorries and buses, which they say may have been stolen.
A total of 47 live animals were at the property, some of which were kept in cages. They also seized seven dead animals, which had been stuffed.
The trafficking of animals is a lucrative business in Mexico, with criminal gangs increasingly buying and selling exotic species for profit….” Read more at BBC
“NPR sharply criticized Twitter on Wednesday after the social media platform labeled the radio broadcaster as a ‘state-affiliated media’ organization akin to foreign propaganda outlets such as Russia's RT and Sputnik. In a statement, NPR CEO John Lansing called the decision to lump NPR in with other outlets that Twitter identifies as being under government control ‘unacceptable.’ Also in the Twitter saga, the company had said it would ‘begin winding down’ blue checks granted under its old verification system on April 1. However, most legacy blue check holders found this weekend that their verification marks had not disappeared, but rather had been appended with a different label from the new blue checks. One high-profile account did lose its blue check over the weekend: the main account for the New York Times, which had previously told CNN it would not pay for verification.” [CNN]
Harvard professor lobbied SEC on behalf of oil firm that pays her lavishly, emails show
Environmental law professor Jody Freeman urged to cut ties with ConocoPhillips, which pays her more than $350,000 a year
Josephine Moulds and Nina Lakhani
“The Harvard environmental law professor at the centre of a conflict-of-interest row lobbied the regulator on behalf of the oil and gas company that pays her more than $350,000 a year, a new investigation can reveal.
Emails seen by the Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) show that Jody Freeman facilitated a meeting between a director at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and ConocoPhillips, one of the world’s worst polluters that is pushing to weaken forthcoming climate regulations. The company’s Willow drilling project in Alaska was recently approved by the Biden administration, despite scientists warning it will be catastrophic for global heating.
Freeman, who has served on the ConocoPhillips board since 2012, vouched for two of the fossil-fuel company’s executives in emails in 2021, which she signed off as a Harvard law professor. Failing to disclose her position at the company appears to breach university policy….” Read more at The Guardian
Michael K Williams: Drug dealer pleads guilty over The Wire actor's death
By Helen Bushby
Entertainment reporter
“A man has pleaded guilty in court to distributing the fentanyl-laced heroin that resulted in the death of The Wire's Michael K Williams in 2021.
Irvin Cartagena, also known as Green Eyes, sold the drug ‘in broad daylight in New York City, feeding addiction and causing tragedy’, said lawyer Damien Williams.
‘He dealt the fatal dose that killed Michael K Williams,’ the lawyer told a Manhattan federal courtroom.
The US actor died aged 54 in 2021….” Read more at BBC
Wishing you a peaceful Passover
Photo: Ina Fried/Axios
“Ina Fried, Axios chief tech correspondent, whipped up this Lego seder plate as a treat for Axios Login readers.” [Axios]