Weekly roundup for July 17, 2021

Democrats are declaring victory over the $3.5 trillion infrastructure deal reached in the Senate under reconciliation. A closer look at the numbers reveals that the current proposal is entirely inadequate, and history proves the federal government is capable of much larger fiscal spending when facing such existential crises. As long as California remains in the federal system -- lacking the power of the purse -- we will be fiscally constrained and unable to fill the void in leadership left by Congress.

Meanwhile, new details have emerged about the 2020 election. Mark Milley, the highest ranking US military officer, feared Trump would attempt a coup in the event of an election loss. And two men in California made plans to blow up the Democratic party headquarters in Sacramento in January. Fascism has come to America, and California finds itself in the crosshairs.

NOTES:

1. "U.S. Senate Democrats agree to $3.5 trln for budget reconciliation bill", Reuters, July 13, 2021; https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senate-democrats-rush-outline-massive-infrastructure-bill-2021-07-13/

2. "Democrats reach deal on $3.5T price tag for infrastructure bill", The Hill, July 13, 2021; https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/562889-democrats-reach-deal-on-35-trillion-price-tag-for-infrastructure-bill

3. "Senators Want to Pay for Infrastructure With 'Asset Recycling.' That’s Just a Fancy Term for Privatization.", by Hannah Levintova and Noah Lanard, Mother Jones, July 2, 2021; https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/07/senators-want-to-pay-for-infrastructure-with-asset-recycling-thats-just-a-fancy-term-for-privatization/

4. "'Asset recycling' is 1 piece of the bipartisan infrastructure deal that could prove controversial", The Week, June 24, 2021; https://theweek.com/politics/1001946/asset-recycling-is-1-piece-of-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal-that-could-prove

5. "Top US general warned of 'Reichstag moment' in Trump’s turbulent last days", The Guardian, July 14, 2021; https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/14/donald-trump-reichstag-moment-general-mark-milley-book

6. "Two men charged in plot to blow up Democratic headquarters in California", The Guardian, July 16, 2021; https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/16/california-democrat-headquarters-attack-plot-indictment

7. "About Us", Red Star Report; https://redstarreport.com/about-us/

MUSIC CREDIT:

"Angry Bass Line", by Adigold; elements.envato.com

IMAGE CREDIT:

Biden/Harris 2020 campaign, public domain; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Biden-Harris_Build_Back_Better_61WnP4A6qVL._AC_SL1500.jpg