The Full Belmonte, 9/15/2022
Rail unions, carriers reach compromise day of strike deadline
Already, Amtrak had canceled long-distance service and industry groups had pressed pause on some shipments.
A work stoppage would be a major hit to the economy and inflict damage to Democrats just months before the midterm elections. | Scott Olson/Getty Images
“The heads of 13 rail unions and the nation’s largest freight rail carriers reached a tentative agreement early Thursday morning, less than 24 hours before workers would have gained the ability to walk off the job.
‘Moments ago, following 20 consecutive hours of negotiations at the Department of Labor, rail companies and union negotiators came to a tentative agreement that balances the needs of workers, businesses, and our nation’s economy,’ a Labor Department spokesperson said in a statement. ‘Secretary Walsh and the Biden Administration applaud all parties for reaching this hard-fought, mutually beneficial deal.’
It remains to be seen whether workers from the respective labor organizations will ratify the compromise.” Read more at POLITICO
Capitol riot
“Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has complied with a subpoena from the Justice Department's investigation into events surrounding January 6, 2021, sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. This makes him the highest-ranking official connected to former President Donald Trump known to have responded to a subpoena in the federal investigation. Meadows turned over the same materials he provided to the House select committee investigating the Capitol riot, one source said, meeting the obligations of the Justice Department subpoena. Last year, Meadows turned over thousands of text messages and emails to the House committee before he stopped cooperating. This comes after federal investigators issued at least 30 subpoenas to individuals with connections to Trump, including top officials from his fundraising and former campaign operation.” Read more at CNN
Durham Inquiry Appears to Wind Down as Grand Jury Expires
The special counsel appointed by the Trump administration to examine the Russia investigation seems to be wrapping up its work with no further charges in store.
By Katie Benner, Adam Goldman and Charlie Savage
Sept. 14, 2022
“WASHINGTON — When John H. Durham was assigned by the Justice Department in 2019 to examine the origins of the investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign’s ties to Russia, President Donald J. Trump and his supporters expressed a belief that the inquiry would prove that a ‘deep state’ conspiracy including top Obama-era officials had worked to sabotage him.
Now Mr. Durham appears to be winding down his three-year inquiry without anything close to the results Mr. Trump was seeking. The grand jury that Mr. Durham has recently used to hear evidence has expired, and while he could convene another, there are currently no plans to do so, three people familiar with the matter said.
Mr. Durham and his team are working to complete a final report by the end of the year, they said, and one of the lead prosecutors on his team is leaving for a job with a prominent law firm.
Over the course of his inquiry, Mr. Durham has developed cases against two people accused of lying to the F.B.I. in relation to outside efforts to investigate purported Trump-Russia ties, but he has not charged any conspiracy or put any high-level officials on trial. The recent developments suggest that the chances of any more indictments are remote.” Read more at New York Times
Supreme Court reverses course on religious school’s LGBTQ club in 5-4 vote
“The Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed course and said Yeshiva University in New York must for now comply with a state court’s order that it should recognize a campus gay rights organization.
On a 5-4 vote, the justices said the religious school for now should comply with a New York state trial court ruling that, as a public accommodation, Yeshiva was covered under the New York City Human Rights Law and required to provide the Pride Alliance the same access to facilities as dozens of other student groups. The group said that includes a classroom, bulletin boards and a club fair booth.
The university asked the Supreme Court to intervene, and last week Justice Sonia Sotomayor granted it a temporary reprieve. But on Wednesday a majority of the justices said it was too soon for the high court to get involved.
‘It appears that applicants have at least two further avenues for expedited or interim state court relief,’ the court’s short order said. If those fail, Yeshiva can return to the Supreme Court. Though unsigned, it was the work of Sotomayor, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., and Justices Elena Kagan, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Four justices dissented, saying Yeshiva’s response to the student group was the result of ‘an interpretation of Torah … after careful study.’
‘The First Amendment guarantees the right to the free exercise of religion, and if that provision means anything, it prohibits a State from enforcing its own preferred interpretation of Holy Scripture,’ said the dissent, written by Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. and joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil M. Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. ‘Yet that is exactly what New York has done in this case, and it is disappointing that a majority of this Court refuses to provide relief.’” Read more at Washington Post
Senate Democrats Struggle to Get Republican Support on Same-Sex Marriage Bill
A lack of GOP backing could push a vote that proponents had hoped to begin soon off for weeks or months
The Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marriage. The Respect for Marriage Act would codify the ability for them to marry.PHOTO: MLADEN ANTONOV/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES
“WASHINGTON—Bipartisan Senate backers of a bill to codify same-sex marriage into law haven’t lined up enough Republicans to pass the measure after weeks of lobbying, potentially delaying Democrats’ plan to hold a vote on the proposal.
Senators from both parties advocating for the legislation had expected to turn to the bill on Thursday, with the first procedural vote as soon as next week after some changes were made to the text. But the legislation needs 60 votes to advance under Senate rules, and there aren’t 10 Republicans on board to join with all 50 members of the Democratic caucus, according to aides.
‘Democrats are ready to make it happen, and willing to debate reasonable compromises on the specifics,’ Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said Wednesday.
Same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry under a 2015 Supreme Court ruling, but Democrats have argued that legislation is needed because a recent conservative shift in the court could put that precedent in jeopardy. GOP critics have said Democrats are trying to score political points with votes on rights that aren’t at risk. Still, many Republicans have remained open to backing a bill protecting gay marriage, which now has broad support among voters.
Conversations to pull in support are continuing, but because senators are at work for only a short time before the November elections, a lack of support could push a vote off for weeks or months.
Three Republican senators have firmly backed the bill, with a handful of others signaling they could support the legislation if there are changes. The bill easily passed the House in July with 47 Republicans backing it, a level of support that surprised some lawmakers.
The Respect for Marriage Act, if signed into law, would codify the ability for same-sex as well as interracial couples to get married and require states to recognize the marriage. It would also repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman and is no longer in force.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
Biden approval rises sharply ahead of midterms: AP-NORC poll
By JOSH BOAK and HANNAH FINGERHUT
“WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s popularity improved substantially from his lowest point this summer, but concerns about his handling of the economy persist, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Support for Biden recovered from a low of 36% in July to 45%, driven in large part by a rebound in support from Democrats just two months before the November midterm elections. During a few bleak summer months when gasoline prices peaked and lawmakers appeared deadlocked, the Democrats faced the possibility of blowout losses against Republicans.
Their outlook appears better after notching a string of legislative successes that left more Americans ready to judge the president on his preferred terms: ‘Don’t compare me to the Almighty. Compare me to the alternative.’
The president’s approval rating remains underwater, with 53% of U.S. adults disapproving of him, and the economy continues to be a weakness for Biden. Just 38% approve of his economic leadership as the country faces stubbornly high inflation and Republicans try to make household finances the axis of the upcoming vote.” Read more at AP News
Unwed couples grew, US was more wired in COVID’s 1st years
By MIKE SCHNEIDER
“During the first two years of the pandemic, the number of people working from home in the United States tripled, home values grew and the percentage of people who spent more than a third of their income on rent went up, according to survey results released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Providing the most detailed data to date on how life changed in the U.S. under COVID-19, the bureau’s American Community Survey 1-year estimates for 2021 showed that the share of unmarried couples living together rose, Americans became more wired and the percentage of people who identify as multiracial grew significantly. And in changes that seemed to directly reflect how the pandemic upended people’s choices, fewer people moved, preschool enrollment dropped and commuters using public transportation was cut in half.
The data release offers the first reliable glimpse of life in the U.S. during the COVID-19 era, as the 1-year estimates from the 2020 survey were deemed unusable because of problems getting people to answer during the early months of the pandemic. That left a one-year data gap during a time when the pandemic forced major changes in the way people live their lives.” Read at AP News
What we learned from the 2022 primaries
Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
“The primary election season effectively ended Tuesday. As the US moves into midterm season, it’s unclear which party has the advantage.” [Vox] Read more at USA Today / David Jackson
“The incumbent party typically loses congressional seats during midterms, but the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and growing threats to democracy have boosted Democrats in recent polling.” [Vox] Read more at New York Times / Jonathan Weisman
“Still, the GOP is favored to win the House, while Democrats may narrowly keep the Senate.” [Vox] Read more at FiveThirtyEight
“On the Senate side, the GOP is struggling with candidate quality, having nominated a number of far-right election deniers and inexperienced candidates over establishment figures.” [Vox] Read more at Washington Post / Colby Itkowitz and David Weigel
“Investigations into former President Donald Trump could weaken the GOP’s support with independent voters.” [Vox] Read more at CBS News / Ed O’Keefe, Aaron Navarro, and Rebecca Kaplan
“It’s too early for Democrats to celebrate, however. Adverse developments in the economy or inaccuracies in polling could hand the GOP a larger-than-expected victory.” [Vox / Andrew Prokop]
End in sight
Residents line up for nucleic acid test sampling yesterda Anyang, Henan province, China. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images
“Some good news: The world had its lowest COVID death toll last week since March 2020, the World Health Organization said.
The end of the pandemic ‘is in sight,’ said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
But ‘we are not there yet.’
Zoom out: Last summer's Delta variant demolished the first sense of relief after vaccines.
‘If we don't take this opportunity now, Tedros said while calling for more vaccinations and testing, we run the risk of more variants, more deaths, more disruption and more uncertainty.’
The bottom line: The next surge could come by surprise.
Johns Hopkins University is scaling back its COVID metrics due to a slowdown in local data reporting, the university confirmed to Axios.” Read more at Axios
Migrants in Martha’s Vineyard yesterday.Ray Ewing/The Vineyard Gazette
“Florida flew about 50 migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, escalating a tactic in which Republican-led states have shipped migrants to liberal bastions to protest illegal immigration.” Read more at New York Times
“The billionaire heir to Estée Lauder convinced Donald Trump that the U.S. should buy Greenland. Administration officials then spent months studying the idea.” Read more at New York Times
“Baltimore prosecutors are seeking to overturn the conviction of Adnan Syed, whose case was the focus of the podcast ‘Serial.’” Read more at New York Times
“A jury found R. Kelly guilty of charges related to videos he made of himself sexually abusing a 14-year-old. He’s already serving a 30-year sentence.” Read more at New York Times
Photo: Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images
“King Charles III and Princes William and Harry walk behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II during a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.” Read more at Axios
“Europe’s liberal political tradition is catching another populist chill.
The resignation of Sweden’s Social Democratic prime minister today paves the way for a government that will include the far right for the first time.
Key reading:
Sweden’s Opposition Prepares Power Shift After PM Resignation
Italy’s Right Set for Crushing Win in Last Polls Before Vote
With Economy in Trouble, UK Gets ‘Disruptor-in-Chief’ as Leader
The nationalist Sweden Democrats, whose leader Jimmie Akesson campaigned on a platform of zero-tolerance to crime and slashing immigration to a bare minimum, are now the second political force in a country once known for its liberalism.
Not any more.
The autumnal wind of right-wing populism isn’t just blowing over the largest Nordic nation. It’s engulfing much of the European continent.
In Italy, Giorgia Meloni is on course to become her country’s first woman premier after outflanking Matteo Salvini’s League on the right by championing “the defense of Italian national identity.”
UK Prime Minister Liz Truss defeated her rival to the Conservative leadership by appealing to her party’s base with an assertively nationalist approach to government.
Hungary’s Viktor Orban, the European Union’s perennial illiberal, continues to try to block sanctions on Russia. Poland’s nationalist government has been on the front line of support for Ukraine, but Warsaw’s solidarity with Brussels let alone Berlin is in short supply.
Surging fuel and food prices add to the political volatility, hurting voters and buffeting governments, compounding the sense of disarray.
The revival of the populist right in Europe, with its cloak of nationalism, is one consequence.
But it won’t do anything to spur common action just as the bloc needs to show unity in the face of an unprecedented energy crisis, a probable recession and war on its doorstep. Neither will it help the cause of supporting Ukraine.
After all, a splintered Europe only benefits its enemies, chief among them Russian President Vladimir Putin.” — Alan Crawford Read more at Bloomberg
Akesson during at an election night event in Stockholm on Monday. Photographer: Jonas Ekblom/Bloomberg
“Testing limits | Shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Putin and Xi declared a “no limits” friendship. Still, Russia’s president is unlikely to get much help when they meet today. While trade has picked up despite sanctions on Russia from the US and its allies, Beijing has stopped short of sending military supplies or financial support that might make it a target of such restrictions.
Xi and Putin will meet on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a Beijing-led group seen as a counter to US-dominated alliances.” Read more at Bloomberg
Power lines served as navigation landmarks in a submerged region in Pakistan.Kiana Hayeri for The New York Times
“Flooding in Pakistan has displaced more than 33 million people. It may take months for submerged areas to dry out.” Read more at New York Times
“Debating expression | Singapore’s law minister said “cancel culture” rules may be included in legislation in the near future to protect residents against online pressure over expressing views on topics including LGBTQ rights. The government is preparing to repeal a colonial-era law that criminalizes sex between men while reinforcing the traditional definition of marriage between a man and woman, sparking fierce reactions online.” Read more at Bloomberg
“A half century after founding the outdoor apparel maker Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, the eccentric rock climber who became a reluctant billionaire with his unconventional spin on capitalism, has given the company away.
Rather than selling the company or taking it public, Mr. Chouinard, his wife and two adult children have transferred their ownership of Patagonia, valued at about $3 billion, to a specially designed set of trusts and nonprofit organizations. They were created to preserve the company’s independence and ensure that all of its profits — some $100 million a year — are used to combat climate change and protect undeveloped land around the globe.
The unusual move comes at a moment of growing scrutiny for billionaires and corporations, whose rhetoric about making the world a better place is often overshadowed by their contributions to the very problems they claim to want to solve.
At the same time, Mr. Chouinard’s relinquishment of the family fortune is in keeping with his longstanding disregard for business norms, and his lifelong love for the environment.” Read more at New York Times
“Technology giants including Microsoft, Instagram and Facebook parent Meta, Alphabet’s YouTube, and Amazon’s Twitch will announce new actions to combat hate crimes and racially-motivated violence at a White House summit hosted by President Joe Biden today.” Read more at Bloomberg
The EU upholds a $4 billion fine against Google
“Wednesday, an EU court upheld a multibillion-dollar fine Google was ordered to pay in 2018 for violating competition laws.” [Vox] Read more at NYT / Adam Satariano
“The court slightly reduced the fine to a record $4 billion; the tech company was found guilty of placing unlawful restrictions on Android manufacturers to promote market dominance in its apps and search engines.” [Vox] Read more at The Verge / James Vincent
“Wednesday’s decision could strengthen current EU investigations into the business practices of tech giants like Apple and Amazon.” [Vox] Read more at Associated Press / Kelvin Chan
“Meanwhile, South Korea fined Google $50 million and Meta $22 million on Wednesday for collecting and analyzing user data without consent.” [Vox] Read more at Reuters / By Soo-Hyang Choi and Joyce Lee
California is suing Amazon, claiming its deals with third-party sellers and wholesalers inflated prices and stifled competition, in the company’s biggest U.S. legal challenge.
“The antitrust suit seeks to block the contracts and appoint a compliance monitor, as well as $2,500 per alleged violation. Amazon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, an EU court largely upheld a 2018 decision to fine Google $4.33 billion for alleged competition violations related to its Android mobile phones. A spokesman expressed disappointment the court didn’t annul the decision in full and said Android has created more industry competition.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“Lives Lived: With a used sewing machine, fabric and elastic, Rommy Hunt Revson created the prototype for what became the Scrunchie. She died at 78.” Read more at New York Times