October 31:
Hamas on Tuesday night said it would release “a number” of hostages with foreign passports “within coming days”. It has previously said it would release all Israeli hostages in exchange for the Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. As always, the situation continues to be delicate. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Congress today that the number of Americans stuck in Gaza is about a thousand.
After PM Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire, saying this was a “time for war”, an Israeli air strike hit a major refugee camp in Gaza, causing multiple fatalities; while Israel continues to also evict Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank.
In Washington, the House returns on Wednesday with potential aid for Israel – already apparently bifurcated from Ukraine – looking like falling victim to the new Speaker’s Maga agenda. It likely won’t be the last thing.
*
After two riveting games to leave the World Series tied, last night’s Game Three was something of an anti-climax by comparison last night, with the Rangers winning 3-1, but now evaluating potential injuries to last night’s pitcher Max Scherzer and – perhaps more crucially – ALCS MVP Adolis Garcia.
Game Four is tonight in Phoenix
Meanwhile, if we needed reminding, this is the power of big-market national franchises…
***
October 30:
There have been fierce clashes as Israeli ground forces press further into the Gaza Strip with domestic pressure growing on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu over the October 7th attacks which re-ignited the conflict. Israeli forces said they had freed one hostage – a female soldier – and returned her to her family in Israel.
Speaker Mike Johnson – who recently voted with almost a hundred other Republicans to cut off support for Ukraine – said a funding package for Israel alone would come to the House floor this week; but Johnson finds himself increasingly on a different page from the GOP leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell.
As for the *former* Speaker…
With Johnson now entrenched as Speaker with seeming unanimous support from the Republican caucus, a new advocate for Christian evangelism is cementing his position just as another is leaving the political stage.
Former VP Mike Pence’s decision to quit the Presidential primary may – or likely may not – have any impact on the race, according to the latest polls. Pence was barely registering 1 per cent when he dropped out as his twice-impeached former boss still looks on a glide path to the GOP nomination.
Not so fast, though… a court hearing got under way today in Colorado aimed at using the insurrection provision of the 14th Amendment to block the former President from appearing on the ballot.
And with November elections around the country next Tuesday, there are a number of local stories – from Virginia to Ohio and ballot measures beyond – worth keeping an eye on…
Two potential big wins for the Biden administration, with the potential settlement in the UAW industrial action – GM look set to follow the deal at Ford – as well as what could prove a popular move with an executive order to regulate the use of AI.
*
Tonight is Game Three of a well-balanced and fascinating World Series, back in Phoenix with the Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers tied at one apiece. Arizona rookie Brandon Pfaadt, and the Rangers’ veteran Max Scherzer are set to take the mound.
***
October 29:
With Benjamin Netanyahu warning of a “long and difficult” new phase of the military operation in Gaza, there are growing concerns for the safety of the hostages taken by Hamas at the start of this latest conflict. As the humanitarian situation worsens there are fears that what was left of civil order might be breaking down.
After more rallies around the world in support of the Palestinian people, the global ramifications of the conflict are starting to become more acute.
As apparently growing numbers of young voters are skeptical of US support for Israel, President Biden’s handling of both the current situation – particularly with regard to the fate of the hostages – and its logistical aftermath looks set to be a significant factor in his re-election chances next year.
*
And that’s why they’re called the Answerbacks…
Arizona overwhelmed the Texas Rangers last night behind a gem from Merrill Kelly, making his World Series debut at 35, to even up the World Series at a game apiece.
Game Three is on Monday in Phoenix.
***
October 28:
Amid a communications blackout, Israel’s military action inside Gaza intensified through the night, as a spokesman for PM Benjamin Netanyahu talked about “payback” for the Hamas attack three weeks ago. There appear to be growing misgivings in Washington about Israel’s as-yet undefined endgame, as a tragic situation looks set to get worse before it gets, well, any less worse.
(It may already be too late for that, though, with the Biden administration now committed to its initial support for what was an unknown Israeli response)
In Maine, the suspect in this week’s mass shooting was found dead, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Talking of Republicans, their Presidential field got smaller by one today.
And in the middle of stuff that generally isn’t good, this isn’t good…
*
And it’s only Game One!
With the Arizona Diamondbacks just two outs away from victory, the Texas Rangers came back to win the opener in this year’s World Series on a walk-off homer by ALCS MVP Adolis Garcia in the 11th inning. The Rangers are the first team in MLB history to win the opening game of a World Series when trailing by multiple runs in the 9th inning or later.
Game Two is tonight in Arlington.
***
October 27:
The US carried out what it called “defensive” strikes against Iranian-linked locations within Syria overnight, amid fears of a wider expansion of the Israel-Hamas conflict and a continuing humanitarian crisis within Gaza.
Throughout today, despite calls at the UN and from the WHO for a temporary ceasefire, Gaza came under the heaviest bombardment since the war began three weeks ago, while phone lines were reportedly down – likely a precursor to a ground invasion.
After RFK Jr decided not to run against President Biden in the Democratic primary, but rather as an independent, someone else has decided to take his place.
Meanwhile..
As the GOP’s new Speaker settles into his role with likely something of a limited honeymoon period despite some immediate challenges, a manhunt is continuing for the suspect in yesterday’s mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine.
Coming up…
*
Game One of this year’s World Series, between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers, is tonight in Arlington, TX. Nathan Eovaldi is on the mound for the Rangers, Zac Gallen for Arizona.
Former President (and former co-owner of the Rangers) George W Bush will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The Diamondbacks won in seven the last time Bush threw out the first pitch in a WS they were in.
***
October 26:
Amid momentous political developments at home and abroad, the nation woke to another mass shooting – this time in the small community of Lewiston, Maine. People in the town sheltered in place all day as the search for the suspect continued.
And yet…
But perhaps there is hope, even one elected representative at a time…
The newly-installed Speaker of the House, Rep Mike Johnson, was among those reacting to news of the shooting; while plenty of folks were reacting to Rep Johnson’s new position.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas seems again caught in a fog of alleged corruption, but for him at least the corruption is primarily financial rather than ideological. It will be interesting to see what Mark Meadows’ apparent immunity deal in the Jan 6th case might mean for Thomas and his wife.
As part of their “preparation for the next phase” of the war, Israeli forces made an overnight land incursion into Gaza, where the death toll has reportedly passed 7,000.
***
October 25:
The House GOP finally agreed on a nominee for Speaker they could “unite” behind after Rep Tom Emmer had bowed out four hours after being nominated. Louisiana Rep Mike Johnson is a prominent election denier, anti-LGBT and anti-abortion campaigner and opposes further aid for Ukraine. So he’ll be just fine, then…
This was the fourth week the House had been Speakerless and the government is still headed for a potential shutdown in less than a month. For some in the GOP, though, dysfunction is the point. In electing Johnson, the caucus appears to have demonstrated that there are no “moderates” left within it.
It’s becoming a pretty common mantra by now, but media organizations again seemed to agree on the ‘yesterday wasn’t a good day for Donald Trump’ lead…
In Georgia, a tearful Jenna Ellis became the third former Trump lawyer to take a guilty plea, while later ABC News reported that his last Chief of Staff Mark Meadows had been “granted immunity” in Jack Smith’s Jan 6 case.
Meadows’ lawyer George Terwilliger – sort of – refuted ABC’s story, without being specific about which parts he thought were untrue.
Perhaps one bright spot – and that’s something of a stretch – for the former President, was that the credibility of his former fixer Michael Cohen took a hit in Trump’s NYC fraud trial – the first time the two men had been in the same room for five years) when Cohen admitted lying in his previous guilty plea. Will anyone care, though?
Amid the heaviest day of bombing in Gaza since the start of the conflict, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke at the UN Security Council as doubts continue about what an Israeli ground invasion might entail and – importantly – what happens afterwards.
*
The Arizona Diamondbacks are heading to the World Series for the first time since their famous victory in 2001 after stunning the Phillies 4-2 in a tense Game Seven in Philadelphia. They’ll play the Texas Rangers, beginning on Friday in Phoenix.
And it was the year of the “100” teams after all… just not in the way anyone expected…
***
October 24:
GOP candidates for House Speaker held a candidate forum last night, with the expectation that there could be a floor vote including whomever Republicans decide will be their nominee sometime today. Six of the remaining eight candidates voted to overturn the result of the 2020 election.
The government is currently 25 days from another potential shutdown.
Sen Bob Menendez – who already faces a range of corruption charges – pleaded not guilty to a fresh charge related to allegedly acting to benefit the government of Egypt.
In the Middle East, there appears to be further confusion over Israel’s war aims and exactly when any escalation of the Gaza conflict, with ground troops, might happen. Israel has kept some 300,000 reservists – about 4 per cent of the country’s population – at combat readiness on the border for several days. The US and other countries are urging a delay to any invasion, with the aim of trying to encourage the release of more hostages.
*
Two years after losing 100 games, the Texas Rangers are heading to the World Series, only the third in their history, their first since 2011 and their chance to win the title for the first time. Series MVP Adolis Garcia hit two more homers in last night’s win over the Astros.
Houston’s loss, likely not mourned much outside of Houston, means there won’t be a repeat World Series champion – the last one was the 1998-2000 Yankees. This year’s ALCS is also just the second time every game was won by the visitors.
Bruce Bochy’s team will play the winner of another Game Seven in the NLCS after the Arizona Diamondbacks forced a decider tonight in Philadelphia.
***
October 23:
There is still confusion over exactly when a land incursion into Gaza by Israeli forces might begin. Nevertheless, the aerial assault continues with the predictable human toll.
In Washington, there’s also confusion as GOP dysfunction around the House Speakership continues to play out into a third week. With the next round of choices emerging, the next formal House vote could come as early as tomorrow. Rep Tom Emmer might be the front-runner – such as that is – but faces the problem that the former President doesn’t seem to care for him, while his acolytes like Steve Bannon have been lobbying against Emmer.
*
Baseball’s Texas eliminator is going to a Game Seven tonight after the Rangers beat the Astros 9-2 behind another great outing by 33-year-old Nathan Eovaldi – the Rangers are now 4-0 in the post-season when he starts – and a grand slam by Adolis Garcia.
With Game Six in the NLCS also set for tonight, the Phillies are a win away from returning to the World Series after beating the Diamondbacks 6-1. It was another great pitching performance by Zack Wheeler, alongside the by now-requisite homer parade.
Both games were, as they could only be, an anti-climax after the previous gems, but reflect the exciting denouement to this surprising post-season.
***
October 21:
Amid the relatively fast-moving (read “running to stand still”) developments as Republicans continue to struggle to elect a Speaker, Rep Matt Gaetz and his “seven dwarfs” offered to throw themselves under the same bus they had earlier thrown their party under.
With the Middle East still braced for an Israeli land invasion into Gaza at any time, the first humanitarian aid convoy finally moves across the border from Egypt.
Meanwhile, the two American-Israeli hostages released last night by Hamas are being reunited with their family and debriefed by Israeli military.
*
So much for thinking – as I admit I did – that baseball’s post-season would somehow be disappointing after the implosion of the 100-win teams – last night’s two games brought passion, excitement and entertainment to what’s turning out to be a genuinely fascinating and unmissable denouement to both leagues.
In the ALCS, emotions ran high as the Houston Astros came back to beat the Texas Rangers and take a 3-2 series lead on a home run by – guess who – Jose Altuve. Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks tied the NLCS at two games apiece after a late-inning rally, including a homer into the swimming pool.
Both the Astros and the DBacks are now trying to become the 15th team to win a best-of-seven postseason series after losing the first two games.
Can’t take your eyes off either one. Gotta love October baseball.
Joe Posnanski enjoyed it, and summarised it as only Joe Posnanski could:
“Well, that’s baseball for you. We have almost three weeks of fairly blah playoff baseball — lots of blowouts, little drama, top teams falling on their faces — and then on one thrilling Friday night, we get two breathtaking games with sudden and startling lead changes and late-inning heroics and key mistakes and controversy and titanic performances, and there’s ecstasy and heartbreak and anger and joy and all the things that make this game so durably wonderful.
“As I’ve written so many times before: I never argue with people who say baseball is boring. Baseball is boring. And then it isn’t. And that’s the magic.”
***
October 20:
The circus that currently is the GOP in the House of Representatives remains incapable of electing a Speaker from within its ranks. Rep Jim Jordan, the Republican nominee for the post, failed for a third time to secure enough votes and was later removed as the nominee in a closed-doors secret ballot of the party caucus.
With a potential compromise arrangement involving Speaker pro tem Patrick McHenry (“Give me liberty or give me McDeath..) er, dead; the House voted this afternoon with – laughable as it might sound – former Speaker Kevin McCarthy nominating Jordan in his ultimately failed bid.
Meanwhile, in echoes of the Trumpian rhetoric of violence, some GOP lawmakers revealed threats against them and their families after the Jordan camp had stepped up its pressure campaign. It’s not pretty to hear, but what were you expecting?
Talking of the former President, in what was perhaps an inevitable move following yesterday’s guilty plea by Sidney Powell, another Trump lawyer, Kenneth Cheseboro, whose trial was due to start Monday in Fulton County, Georgia, pleaded guilty to a felony count in the election fraud case.
In his wide-ranging prime-time address last night, President Biden linked the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to appeal to Congress for a new $100bn package of support for Kyiv and Tel Aviv, urging Americans to remain a “beacon to the World” in helping its allies.
But…
*
Both of baseball’s Championship Series are again genuine contests, after the Arizona Diamondbacks walked off their first game home at Chase Field against the Phillies to make the series 2-1 to Philly, while the defending champion Astros evened up their series against the Texas Rangers.
Finally, back to Citizens Bank Park for what might be the best sports crossover video you’ll see this week…
***
October 19:
President Biden will address the nation from the Oval Office in prime-time on Thursday, amid a still-chaotic situation in the Middle East. As the President was returning from the region, the US used its veto at the UN Security Council to block a resolution calling for Israel to allow humanitarian corridors into Gaza. This came after Biden had apparently secured an agreement on humanitarian relief from the Israeli government before he left.
The House is preparing to vote for a Speaker yet again as the ambitions of Rep Jim Jordan look to be ebbing away. What happens next – apart from ongoing uncertainty, division and vitriol – is really anyone’s guess.
An interesting poll this morning – with the usual caveat over the meaning of any poll this far from an actual election.
A Russian-American journalist for Radio Free Europe, Alsu Kurmasheva, was detained by Russian authorities last night.
***
October 18:
President Biden met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. The Amman, Jordan leg of Biden’s high-stakes eight-hour visit was scrapped in the wake of last night’s bombing of a hospital in Gaza which reportedly killed “hundreds”. After counter-accusations of responsibility and misinformation had, predictably, spiraled upwards, the US delegation appeared to endorse growing evidence that Israel was not responsible for the incident, rather that it was an errant missile fired towards Israel.
In Washington, Donald Trump ally and election denier Jim Jordan is making another opportunity to secure the House Speakership after failing in his first attempt yesterday, despite full-throated support from Fox’s Sean Hannity.
Updates here:
As for Trump himself, forensic accountants – not to mention linguists – are still trying to figure out the implications of this statement from his appearance at his fraud trial yesterday.
Oh, and…
With continuing support for Ukraine in their war against Russia still a fluid issue for many Republicans, the White House is believed to be preparing a $100bn aid measure combining support for Ukraine and Israel.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meanwhile is in China, where Premier Xi Jinping laid out an alternative economic route to that offered by the West, which he accused of holding back developing nations.
*
The Philadelphia Phillies last night took a two-game NLCS lead over the creakingly overmatched Arizona Diamondbacks after an historic multi-homer game.
In the ALCS, the Texas Rangers return home to Arlington with a 2-0 lead over Houston.
***
October 17:
President Biden will arrive in Israel early on Wednesday amid fears of both a regional escalation of the conflict and a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. No sitting US President has visited Israel during wartime and the symbolism is hugely significant, but his trip will now be complicated by broad confusion and counter-explanations for a missile strike Tuesday night on a hospital in Gaza. Initial reports say “several hundreds” of people had been killed.
President Biden’s projected meeting with Palestinian leader Abbas tomorrow has apparently been cancelled, amid street protests in Amman.
Meanwhile, with the number of hostages still being held by Hamas thought to be around 200, it was reported that the group said they were prepared to release foreign nationals “unconditionally”.
Monday night’s soccer match in Brussels between Belgium and Sweden was suspended after two Swedish fans were shot and killed in an apparent terror incident in the city. The suspected gunman was later shot by police after being at large for some hours.
*
In Donald Trump’s federal election interference case, Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a partial gag order on the former President, with the aim of protecting witnesses, potential jurors and court officials from intimidation.
*
Meanwhile, Trump-endorsed GOP candidate for the House Speakership, Rep Jim Jordan is apparently still short of the required number of votes to win the position, as the legislative limbo continues at a time of urgency for both Israel and Ukraine. The vote – an out-loud roll-call – is scheduled for noon ET on Tuesday.
- Jordan failed – as was widely expected – in the first round of voting. Follow Live Updates from the Washington Post here.
*
With baseball’s Championship Series heating up, the streaking Texas Rangers head home with a two-game lead over Houston; while the Phillies – featuring Birthday Boy Bryce Harper – leveraged a gem by Zack Wheeler to take the initiative in the opener against Arizona. The Phils’ Kyle Schwarber also made some history at the plate.
And, some good news…
***
October 15:
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is again in the Middle East attempting to gain clarity about US hostages held in Gaza, as well as exploring possible remedies for a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.
This weekend saw a crucial election in Poland.
Will events overseas result in foreign policy playing a bigger role in the 2024 election cycle? Or will it continue to be of secondary importance in candidate messaging? However that ends up, the Speakerless House GOP is still in chaos.
*
In baseball, the League Championship Series are under way, with plenty of great storylines, despite the exits of the teams dominant in the regular season.
***
October 13:
In preparation for an expected land invasion, Israel “ordered” Palestinians in Northern Gaza to flee, something the UN said is logistically impossible. Later, 70 people were killed attempting to evacuate Gaza as instructed.
*
Farewell, then, Steve Scalise; we hardly knew ye. And worse is likely to come, with the GOP nomination of Jim Jordan.
Politico reports that Democrats have approached the temporary Speaker Patrick McHenry with a plan to give him limited, extended powers to allow the House to function and take up money bills.
***
October 12:
Still further escalation as the situation in the Middle East looks like it will inevitably get worse before it gets better. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Tel Aviv and it was announced that the State Department “will arrange charter flights to assist US citizens and their immediate family members who have been unable to book commercial transit and seek a safe means of departing Israel.”
There was no word on assistance for US citizens to leave Gaza ahead of what appears an imminent large-scale Israeli ground assault.
Meanwhile Israel is urging its citizens around the world to exercise caution on Friday following calls by Hamas for a ‘Day of Rage’.
*
With Congress a month away from another potential shutdown, the chaos among House Republicans continues as finding consensus around a new Speaker seems even more unlikely than it was when Kevin McCarthy was ousted last week.
and…
*
A post-season to forget for some of the best teams in baseball, while the Phillies could complete the Championship series bracket tonight with a win at home over the Braves.
***
October 11:
As the death toll continues to rise and many thousands are displaced, Israel looks set to escalate its war on Hamas with some kind of land invasion of Gaza, where there is little power and shortages of food and water.
The potential for further catastrophe cannot be overstated.
https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status/1712340259827028103
https://twitter.com/CurtisHouck/status/1712150090603786715
*
Despite events in the Middle East demonstrating the urgent need for serious politicians in leadership, Rep Steve Scalise will be the Republican candidate for speaker of the House after beating Trump-endorsed Rep Jim Jordan by 113 to 99 in a secret vote. Both candidates had echoed the former President’s Big Lie over the 2020 election.
It only takes five Republicans to vote for Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries to return the House to some degree of sanity. Yet such an outcome is, sadly, unlikely.
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1712187496879071564
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1712162726951125458
***
October 9:
Escalation, fear, recrimination, blame… and mourning.
At a time when there are, literally, no words, there are somehow always plenty of words.
Israel announced a “complete siege” of Gaza, while Hamas threatened to begin executing hostages.
https://twitter.com/reedgalen/status/1711443726235820170
https://twitter.com/yasminalombaert/status/1711444388734255216
*
From insanity abroad to political opportunism at home…
https://twitter.com/AP/status/1711351215596994720
***
October 8:
The past 48 hours have been heartbreaking.
Israel formally declared it was in a state of war against Hamas following a multifront attack on Israel which the latest reporting suggests has resulted in at least 700 deaths. Many hundreds more have been injured and an unknown number of people have been taken hostage.
More than 400 Palestinians are understood to have been killed as Israeli forces launched an ongoing retaliation inside Gaza.
https://twitter.com/business/status/1711171386901688729
Amid international condemnation of Hamas and fears of a broader escalation, President Biden expressed support for Israel while moving strategic forces to the region.
https://twitter.com/NickKristof/status/1711230172282966476
Follow latest updates from the New York Times here; and from Al Jazeera here.
*
In what appears to be a tragic afterthought this particular weekend, an earthquake in Afghanistan killed more than 2,000 people.
***
October 6:
With Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan the two GOP candidates so far running for Speaker – the latter with the endorsement of the party “leader” who, apparently may have wanted the job himself – Ed Luce wrote in the FT about the “ungovernable Republicans whose goal is chaos”
He says: “It is hard to know what could convince the barnburners to change their ways. The Maga base rewards them with money and the media lavishes them with airtime. In a recent Economist/YouGov poll, a majority of Republican voters said their representatives should stick to their position “no matter what” rather than compromise with Democrats.
“By contrast, Democratic voters chose compromise over principle by around two to one. As McCarthy found out, the very act of striking a deal with Democrats crosses the red line. “It is tempting to say that whoever becomes Speaker is destined to fail,” says [Norm] Ornstein. “When the enemy is the system itself, it is impossible to govern.”
Trump, meanwhile, is alleged to have passed on sensitive security information about the capability of US nuclear submarines to an Australian businessman who is a paying member of the former President’s Mar-a-Lago club.
https://twitter.com/ABCWorldNews/status/1710075134873137606
https://twitter.com/juliettekayyem/status/1710307257529815170
And the most surprising thing is probably that no-one seems particularly surprised.
https://twitter.com/stevebenen/status/1710274096628465759
*
In baseball, the pretty well-balanced Division Series get under way on Saturday with four games in a day; it’s almost the best time of the year* As seems to happen every season, there are some really interesting storylines this time around, even moreso after the so-called “Mild Card” series sweeps to set up the current bracket.
And it’s great to see the BBC will be showing all four games tomorrow back-to-back for insomniac fans who – ahem – find themselves in a whole other time zone…
Let’s go!
(*The absolute best time of the year, of course, is when Pitchers and Catchers report.)
***
October 4:
***
October 3:
This is such a great image and sums up part of the problem in the broader relationship between the media and society. We fall over ourselves to give a megaphone to the worst of us and then we act surprised when they start yelling through it...
https://twitter.com/TheRickWilson/status/1709297003639755092
In an historic, but probably inevitable, public implosion of the Republican party, the House of Representatives voted 216-210 to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy following a move to remove him by Gaetz and his right-wing colleagues. McCarthy had said he would not give concessions to Democrats in exchange for their support and today their votes helped remove him.
As McCarthy said he would not run again for the Speakership, jostling began amid uncertain next steps on who might eventually end up with the gavel or how the party might realign itself in the weeks and months ahead.
https://twitter.com/Timodc/status/1709213431323062764
https://twitter.com/EJDionne/status/1709222634158727622
Meanwhile, as the Congressional GOP publicly implodes, in the pantomime that is the former President’s fraud trial in New York, the judge imposed a gag order after Trump’s social media post targeting a member of the judge’s staff.
https://twitter.com/IAmPoliticsGirl/status/1709281748855697820
https://twitter.com/RonBrownstein/status/1709403422313873521
***
October 2:
Rep Matt Gaetz launched a formal challenge to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy as the chaos that is the House GOP rumbles on.
https://twitter.com/madrid_mike/status/1708986722963623961
In what passes for “leadership” in the party, the former President appeared in court in Manhattan today at the beginning of the potentially $250 million trial related to his allegedly fraudulent business practices. It all went pretty much as you might expect.
As the Supreme Court began its new session there was something of a surprise…
California Gov Gavin Newsom selected Laphonza Butler, the President of Emily’s List – and technically for now a resident of Maryland – to replace the late Dianne Feinstein in the Senate.
Finally, a sad day in Red Sox Nation…
https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1708799055986389215
***
October 1:
As the clock starts ticking down the 45 days until Congress has to go through the potential shutdown charade once more, the dysfunction within the GOP looks set to continue as Rep Matt Gaetz says he plans to move in the coming days to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
https://twitter.com/MollyJongFast/status/1708467215308042735
The September Month-by-Month is here
Read the August Month-by-Month here
***
Take me to the July Month-by-Month
Take me to the June Month-by-Month
Take me to the May Month-by-Month
Take me to the April Month-by-Month
Take me to the March Month-by-Month
Take me to the February Month-by-Month
Take me to the January Month-by-Month
*
States of Play 