Heresy and Hearsay

Rev. Barney and NineOf12 talk about what we are thankful for, and the way thanksgiving is celebrated in places around the world.

https://allthatsinteresting.com/thanksgiving-in-other-countries

The Infrastructure package:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/28/politics/infrastructure-bill-explained/index.html

“You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns.” Deuteronomy 24:14

“Everyone talks about building a relationship with your customer. I think you build one with your employees first.” – Angela Ahrendts (Senior Vice President, Apple) 

Shout out to Reddit for keeping everything in one place: Activision Blizzard Situation Megathread – News and Developments: Games

The Story as it broke first: Activision Blizzard Sued Over ‘Frat Boy’ Culture, Harassment (1)

The Lawsuit: Lawsuit

First Official Response: https://twitter.com/jasonschreier/status/1418017955841982465

Employees: Activision Blizzard employees call leadership response to harassment suit ‘abhorrent and insulting’

Former President of Blizzard: Blizzard President Calls Toxic Workplace Allegations “Extremely Troubling”

Torture Apologist and former Executive Sponsor of the ABK Employee Women’s Network Fran Townsend says that because it hasn’t happen to her means it hasn’t happen: Chief Compliance Officer Frances Townsend Responds To California’s Lawsuit In Email To Staff

Embattled Activision Blizzard Executive Steps Down as Women’s Network Sponsor

CEO response: Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick tells staff company’s initial response to discrimination lawsuit was “tone deaf”

But shocking no one this isn’t first time he had to deal with Sexual Harassment: Kotaku Activision Boss Loses Legal Battle Over Sexual Harassment Case Activision boss Bobby Kotick has lost

While hiring an anti-Union law firm to make “check” their work.  Activision Blizzard has hired a legal firm known for union-busting

But this isn’t first company to have these problems: Riot Games inv...

As of August 5, 2021:  630,947 Americans have died of covid-19. 95% new cases and 99.9 percent of deaths are unvaccinated.

Nearly all the covid deaths in the US is the unvaxxed. 

Nearly all COVID deaths in US are now among unvaccinatedapnews.com

The Unvaxxed is a problem for those that is doing everything right

Breakthrough COVID infections show ‘the unvaccinated are now putting the vaccinated at risk’ 

Who can be effected by Delta?:

About 99.999% of fully vaccinated Americans have not had a deadly Covid-19 breakthrough case, CDC data shows 

The Covid Variant in Schools: What to Know

 5 Things To Know About the Delta Variant > News 

Delta variant: Your questions, answered 

Who are unvaxxed

Who Are the Unvaccinated in America? There’s No One Answer.  

How are the vaxxed taking this new wave?

As Covid cases surge, the unvaccinated are triggering scorn, resentment from the vaccinated 

Tracking the numbers

United States COVID: 35,895,980 Cases and 629,862 Deaths 

Breakthrough cases aren’t the cause of the US Covid-19 surge

COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Cases: Data from the States  

Carrot: CDC announces limited, targeted eviction moratorium until early October 

Play Sister Franklin before stick

Stick: Breyer rejects Maine church’s attempt to block Delta variant restrictions that don’t exist 

First how did we get to the hearings:

Nancy Pelosi Calls for ‘9/11-Type Commission’ To Address Capitol Security

Pelosi’s push for 9/11-style Capitol riot commission stalls in political quicksand

Why Republicans Are Resisting A Jan. 6 Commission

What is a 9-11 style commission?  Wikipedia – 9/11 Commission

Pelosi to offer even split on 9/11-style commission to probe Capitol riot

What Speaker Pelosi was up against:

GOP Rep. claims Jan. 6 Capitol riot looked like ‘normal tourist visit’

Jan. 6 Commission Fails In Senate Following GOP Opposition

So we went with a select commission

Speaker Pelosi Will Establish Committee To Probe Jan. 6 Riot

But the GOP plays games:

Nancy Pelosi Says Jim Jordan, Jim Banks Can’t Serve On Jan. 6 Committee

Trump allies Jordan and Banks were ‘ridiculous’ choices for Jan. 6 commission, Pelosi says

McCarthy threatens to pull choices for Jan. 6 committee after Pelosi rejects Jordan, Banks

So we get to the hearings:

Watch Live: House Committee Holds First Hearing On January 6th Capitol Attack

At the same time the GOP “best and brightest” held a presser outside the DOJ and went as well as you expected.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz Forced From Stage by Protesters

Official DOD Timeline for Jan. 6th attacks:

Rev. Barney and NineOf12 discuss our responsibility as human beings, to be good stewards of our environment.

Heat Wave in PNW is more than just odd heat wave. It has a very high human cost

Oregon Governor Says Too Many Lives Lost During Record-Breaking Heat Wave

The Heat dome causes days of 110+ temps.

Portland records all-time high temperature of 116, setting new record for third day in a row.

Scientist says this is a once in a 1000 year event, but we have been having a good amount of those lately: What is a heat dome? Where is it right now? How long will it last? – nj.com

Meanwhile either we set the Ocean on fire or the some Eldritch Horror is rising from the ocean: Burst pipeline causes bubbling, steaming “eye of fire” to emerge in the Gulf of Mexico

So what about policy: the House Dems pass a bill to address some of these problems: House Passes Infrastructure Bill

But here is what is coming down the pike for bipartisanship: What it does for Clean energy and moving us off fossil fuels: FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces Support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework

Carrot: Walmart helping customers that can’t afford live saving meds with their own brand of insulin. Walmart Unveils Low-Priced Insulin to Diabetes Patients Who Can’t Easily Afford it

Stick: White Supremacists march in the birth place of nation before the 4th arrests followed. White Supremacists March in Philadelphia on the Eve of July 4th

Some Questioning Why Philadelphia Police ‘Did Absolutely Nothing’ As White Supremacists Marched Through Center City

Rev. Barney and NineOf12 talk about the radicalization of american discourse.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/05/business/media/comet-ping-pong-pizza-shooting-fake-news-consequences.amp.html

What is radicalization?

“Radicalization is when someone accepts or believes in ideas that are considered extreme or outside the status quo when someone becomes radicalized, they are so committed to their extreme beliefs that they can’t accept the fact that other people believe different things.” From Mary Beth Altier, a professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs and an expert in political violence.

Relevant to the Q Phenomenon:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada_3301

–for recruiting “decoders”

History of Faith in politics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_Majority

And https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_on_the_Family

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/02/11/mass-radicalization-trump-insurrection-468746

https://www.npr.org/2020/12/15/946381523/right-wing-embrace-of-conspiracy-is-mass-radicalization-experts-warn

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2021/domestic-terrorism-data/

A poll from this week https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-joe-biden-won-election-legitimately-poll-1562343?amp=1

Of course the best source for groups is the Southern Poverty Law Center. https://www.splcenter.org/

Ok so what do you do?

www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2021/01/14/capitol-riot-radicalization-what-know-de-radicalization-how-to-help/4160249001/

How to counter right-wing armed groups in the United States

Carrot: number 1: teens 12-15 will be able to get vaccinated soon! https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/03/health/pfizer-covid-vaccine-teens.html

Number 2: free lunches for kids in school until 2022: https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2021/04/20/usda-issues-pandemic-flexibilities-schools-and-day-care-facilities

Rev. Barney and NineOf12 talk about burnout, hitting that wall, and self care.

Somethings to think about when looking at burnout: https://medium.com/@brie_25021/political-burnout-when-politics-make-you-poli-sick-aaff6cc1b8c3

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/head-games/202006/4-reasons-why-activists-burn-out#:~:text=And%20while%20self%2Dcare%20is,activist%20community’s%20needs%20at%20large.

Can you do to keep yourself in fight? https://lesley.edu/article/avoid-activist-burnout-and-sustain-your-commitment-to-community

Carrot: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/black-falconry-rodney-stotts-helps-at-risk-youth-take-flight/

Stick: The America first caucus what kind of fascist racist crap is this https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2021/04/17/marjorie-taylor-greene-calls-off-america-first-caucus-following-backlash/?sh=5e78d8424198

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:26-29

“The right to vote is the crown jewel of American liberties, and we will not see its luster diminished.” Ronald Reagan

Voting Rights discussion in this show, here are our sources:

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-race-and-ethnicity-senate-elections-voting-87665a200f6442e28ef43cbc60c88653

https://www.c-span.org/video/?510309-1/governor-kemp-georgia-voting-elections-law 

https://www.cato.org/blog/criminal-liability-wrong-tool-enforcing-election-laws https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2020/08/Expert-Report_Long-Lines.pdf 

https://www.npr.org/2020/10/17/924527679/why-do-nonwhite-georgia-voters-have-to-wait-in-line-for-hours-too-few-polling-pl

The NYT's @Nate_Cohn says we should set "aside intent" when judging the Georgia voter law.In my #minirant, I explain why that's "nonsensical," & why setting aside the GOP's *ill* intent, which I document in detail, is “missing the forest for the trees.”pic.twitter.com/IS3hGarD4q— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) April 6, 2021

Boycotts: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/31/business/georgia-voting-law-prompts-calls-for-business-boycotts/index.html 

What President Biden had to say about this bill: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/03/26/statement-by-president-biden-on-the-attack-on-the-right-to-vote-in-georgia/ 

NC with Senate Bill 326 http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2021/03/25/gop-senators-push-absentee-ballot-bill-to-address-their-top-fear-too-many-votes/ 

https://www.rollcall.com/2021/03/02/why-congress-must-pass-hr-1-and-the-john-r-lewis-voting-rights-act/

Update from last week show: https://www.cnn.

‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:31

“For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.” – Carl Sagan

New bigoted laws in Arkansas:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/arkansas-governor-signs-bill-allowing-medical-workers-to-refuse-treatment-to-lgbtq-people

https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/arkansas-governor-signs-transgender-sports-ban-law-76691217

NC LGBTQ laws – Please take action to ask our Legislature to SUPPORT these measures today:https://actionnetwork.org/letters/urge-the-ncga-to-pass-package-of-lgbtq-equality-legislation

Rev. Barney and NineOf12 catch up on the news.

Impeachment Trial: Day 1 Take away:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/09/politics/trump-impeachment-trial-day-1-takeaways/index.html

The most damning of videos

Democrats kick off impeachment trial with video of Jan. 6, showing Trump's remarks at the rally followed by the violent and deadly insurrection in the Capitol. "Senators, the president was impeached by the U.S. House of representatives January 13th for doing that," Raskin says pic.twitter.com/YOA75QXEnc— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 9, 2021

Day 2 Take way: 

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/10/politics/trump-impeachment-trial-day-2-takeaways/index.html

Oh Senator Hawley just because MTG is very loud doesn’t mean I haven’t forgotten about you. 

https://www.newsweek.com/josh-hawley-defends-self-after-critics-slam-him-ignoring-impeachment-trial-gallery-1568412?amp=1

Day 3 take away: https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/11/politics/trump-impeachment-trial-day-3-takeaways/index.html 

Day 4 take away:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/12/politics/donald-trump-impeachment-senate-trial/index.html

5780 minute I mean 10 minute “fight” video

Day 5 take away:

And of course it could only end with 43 GOP senators choosing party over the nation. https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/13/politics/senate-impeachment-trial-day-5-vote/index.html 

7 GOP senators were on the right side of this

Senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania and Richard Burr for NC. 

Mitch after voting to acquittal gave a speech that was cake and eat it too but while the country burns https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/13/politics/mitch-mcconnell-acquit-trump/index.html 

Trump’s Statement after the acquittal sounds more like a threat than a promise 

Read Trump’s full statement: Former president welcomes impeachment acquittal

Covid-19 

Latest numbers: (I will get those on Tuesday)

What is in the bill: https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/stimulus-bill-status-every-important-thing-happening-including-1400-check-debate/