Good news and bad news.
The good news, for those who do not follow my every move via podcasting or social media, my wife and I have purchased a house in Austin, Texas and will be moving within a couple weeks. The bad news, coupling that stressful transition with a few ongoing projects, I’ve found myself a bit over extended over the last few weeks. And so… I am going to have to cut the frequency of the Free Political Newsletter down significantly for the time being. I will still be a presence in your inboxes at least once a week and hopefully with points that are a little more coherent and riddled with fewer typos.
This is a very difficult decision as I love this community and honestly want nothing more than to continue to build it. However, as a daily obligation there isn’t much of a way to get around the few hours I need to put into each edition. No matter how much I want to try and outthink the time it takes to make something worth your attention: less time does not equal more time.
If you would like a forever updating list of the kind of stories I select for this newsletter I would encourage you to join our Discord. The #Px3-stories channel is specifically where I often pull things from.
Of course the podcast will still be rolling along with our Twitch channel.
tl:dr newsletter is going from five days a week to once a week because I am moving
I will see you on Monday! - JUSTIN
Where's my stimulus? A political guide on when to expect your check
Where's my stimulus? That the only real question of actual meaning in politics and Px3 has a guide on what is happening and how to understand the process that could end this week. The Parade of Wrong Opinions is back! Ted Cruz hates his neighbors! Biden loves kids in cages! CPAC cancels the uncanceled. Jen Briney of the Congressional Dish podcast joins us to discuss House and Senate priorities beyond impeachment and COVID including Domestic Terrorism legislation.
THE REST OF THE NEWS…
Law enforcement blames Pentagon in first Capitol Riot hearing
POLITICO
If this is the kind of fiasco that requires a congressional hearing and it did happen in the front lawn of the world’s standard for surveillance… someone should probably have some explaining to do.
Schumer guarantees COVID relief bill will pass
THE HILL
Congress holds candlelight vigil for 500,000 dead Americans
AXIOS
Tom Cotton, Mitt Romney debut $10 Federal minimum wage tied to immigration
VOX
Does this have a future? Probably not. But at least it’s an idea being offered by the GOP which has largely be absent from the meat of this COVID bill debate.
FREE POLITICAL FEEDBACK
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Bold prediction time:
I think Ted Cruz is gonna have a harder time keeping his seat to an rising Republican star **coughcoughDanCrenshawcough** - SEAN D
Hmmmm no comment from Crenshaw on Cruz’ trip. That would be an interesting development.
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I agree with the governor of Texas preventing people from having their electricity turned off for missing a payment. It is also gross that electricity rates skyrocketed. But it is irritating to hear complaints from Texas and federal bailouts. Texas intentionally isolated itself to avoid federal regulation so maybe they shouldn't get aid. At the very least the state government should get zero help along with the utilities. I also think it is absurd that AOC had to go raise $2M and fly to Texas to help. It is a great thing, but this is the job of the federal government. This is why we have the federal government, to help those people that need help, especially in a disaster. Private groups should not be needed in this situation, Texas needs to put on their big boy pants and acknowledge that they are part of the US, and start participating. - SEAN W
States that caused their own problems shouldn’t get federal help is also the argument the GOP is making against federal aid for states with shortfalls in tax revenue. See! Bipartisanship lives!
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Wow J.D. wildly misunderstood the Don’t Go Down the Rabbit Hole article in the New York Times. To his note
1. It did not say to blindly trust journalists, the whole point of the article was to evaluate the source before evaluating the content. This isn’t a new concept, nor is it controversial. Most people don’t have the ability to evaluate most content, not due to mental insufficiency, but because you can find evidence to support any claim. I imagine it must take years of experience/training in some fields to reliably assess claims about that field, and most of us aren’t going to do that.
2. Propaganda is real, and it works. In my weakest online moment I was tired and watched some Flat Earth videos to see what it was all about and had to stop and shake it out of my head because my brain wanted to believe it. If you don’t believe you can be tricked by propaganda, you’re much more susceptible to it.
3. Rule #21: Opinion Content Isn’t News. Put that on a mug and I’ll buy it. - JOHN
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Can I be pedantic about the "it's always Boeing" comment? I know no one cares, but the engineer and aviation nerd in me gets triggered when people oversimplify these things.
One, Boeing doesn't really have that much of a monopoly on the commercial aircraft market - Airbus does a great job of not making Boeing's life too easy there. Two, Boeing doesn't produce any of the engines that go on their planes. Pratt & Whitney manufactured the engine that failed this weekend. I'd hazard a guess that the only Boeing 777's grounded for now are those with Pratt & Whitney engines on them. If anything, commend Boeing for designing a plane that handled an uncontained engine failure. - JAMES
We got a LOT of comments about this making the same point. Who knew so many aviation nerds read this?
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If you receive a notice about becoming the town president of a southwest side suburb of Chicago, this is because I voted you as a write-in candidate on the ballot for our town elections today. There was no opposition in the election, so I figured I might as well do a write-in. - RON
I will serve if called.
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Seems to me that if you sign a contract for electricity at the wholesale price, which is capped at $9000/kW hr in emergencies, then wind up being charged that rate in an emergency, you have no cause for complaint.
You’re going to pay one way or another.
20+ years ago California dabbled in de-regulated electricity. California ratepayers are still paying higher rates due to the Enron debacle that ensued.
And because of the idiocy of SCE & SDG&E installing poorly designed steam generators at the San Onofre nuclear plant because they were cheaper, rendering the plant useless (and irreparable) when they broke down almost immediately.
And because of the irresponsibility of PG&E not keeping their infrastructure up to date, resulting in major wildfires.
This is largely due to the cozy relationship between the electric utilities and the CA PUC. Regulation only works if the regulators aren’t corrupt. Given the amount of money involved It seems like corruption is inevitable.
I don’t know what to do about this. If I figure something out I’ll let you know. - GARY
“Regulation only works if the regulators aren’t corrupt.” That is something very important to keep in mind.
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