Politics update

Ralph Nader -  The Congress is about to embark on the longest of its annual numerous “recesses” – some would call these five weeks until after Labor Day in September a vacation from your Washington, D.C. workplace. Does it seem reckless not to be in session, holding hearings, floor deliberations, personally communicating with one another, and legislating at a time of national and international convulsions? Deadly climate eruptions – floods, droughts, uncontrollable wildfires, hurricanes (typhoons), and extreme heat are reaching record levels in recorded history. U.S. war policies and practices, constitutionally under congressional directive, are out of control by an escalating rampage of Executive power. [Congress has] a budget deadline by September 30 and numerous appropriation bills, including the audit-resistant (in violation of the 1990 federal law) runaway military budget, still on the table. Post-pandemic privations for tens of millions of Americans in poverty, including inexcusable plights of millions of children, no longer receiving the child’s tax credit, are mounting. And more. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was involved in a car crash in Tennessee this week as he traveled for his campaign. He was unhurt in the incident. However, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, it's only thanks to that crash that the public found out DeSantis is using state government vehicles to travel for his presidential campaign. And even with that knowledge, there's no way to know who is paying for them. The problem arises from legislation passed earlier this year in Florida that carves out the governor's travel from the state's rigorous public transparency laws.

Angry that Democrats are pushing to institute an ethics standard for Supreme Court justices, [Justice] Alito gave an interview in which he flaunted his lawlessness. "I know this is a controversial view, but I’m willing to say it," said Alito without shame. "No provision in the Constitution gives them the authority to regulate the Supreme Court — period."