Friday Round-Up
From Dean Phillips long-shot presidential bid to the new Speaker of the House and Trump's possible prison fantasies ... I got you covered.
I’m Michael A. Cohen, and this is Truth and Consequences: A no-holds-barred look at the absurdities, hypocrisies, and surreality. If you were sent this email or are a free subscriber and would like to become a paid subscriber, you can sign up here.
Folks, it’s been a busy week, but I’m never too busy to catch you up on what’s happening this week in politics. So here we go.
Good News!?!
In a major analysis in Africa, the first vaccine approved to fight malaria cut deaths among young children by 13% over nearly 4 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported last week. The huge evaluation of a pilot rollout of the vaccine, called RTS,S or Mosquirix and made by GlaxoSmithKline, also showed a 22% reduction in severe malaria in kids young enough to receive a three-shot series.
… The 13% drop in deaths is so remarkable that “I was surprised I didn’t hear any gasps when it was stated,” joked medical epidemiologist Mary Hamel, who led the WHO pilot program. The mortality decline could translate to tens of thousands of lives saved if RTS,S, which WHO approved for widespread use in 2021, is more broadly deployed: In 2021, malaria killed an estimated 468,000 children under age 5 in sub-Saharan Africa. Seventeen countries in the region have already won approval to receive doses that will start to roll out next year.
I know it’s easy to get caught up in the never-ending cycle of tragedy that defines modern journalism, but this is a fantastic story, consistent with the extraordinary improvements in the human condition over the past few decades. People live longer lives, and far fewer are in poverty. They have better access to health care, water, and basic sanitation. Fewer kids go to sleep hungry, and far more attend school. It’s perhaps the most important global story of the past 20 years, and few people know about it. However, I can recommend a good book that tells the story.
I Love New York
This is arguably one of the greatest pieces of video I’ve seen in some time — and a profound defense of the First Amendment.
Phillips Who?
I’m a bit baffled by this:
Representative Dean Phillips, a moderate Minnesota Democrat who has for months publicly argued that President Biden should not run for re-election, announced his candidacy for president on Thursday, setting up an underdog challenge for the Democratic nomination.
Put aside the fact that the New Hampshire primary is in three months, and it’s a bit late to get an effort like this off the ground, but I’m not clear on Phillip’s angle here (also, Biden won’t be on the ballot in New Hampshire and Phillips failed to get his name on the Nevada ballot).
Phillips is arguably one of the five most conservative Democratic members of the House of Representatives, so it’s hard to see him galvanizing liberals unhappy with Biden. Centrist Democrats, in general, don’t seem the type to rally to the barricades for any politician, no less one that puts Biden’s chances of reflection in peril. In addition, he’s completely unknown outside of Minnesota. So, I don’t see who is the constituency for Phillips or how he is going to gain traction.
I also don’t understand the rationale for Phillips's campaign other than “Joe Biden is too old.” How would a Phillips presidency be different or better? And why should Democrats switch horses in midstream for a guy who is untested and largely unvetted? Democrats may not love Biden, but I don't see Phillips as the guy who gets them to stray. In fact, it’s hard to think of a Democratic politician less likely to win over wayward Democrats. We’ll see what happens, but I’d be surprised if Phillips is anything more than a footnote to the 2024 campaign.
Speaking Of Vetting
Failing to vet Mike Johnson, the new Speaker of the House, might not have been the House GOP’s smoothest move. Here’s what we’ve found out about him this week.
He was an architect of Donald Trump’s plan to overturn the 2020 election.
He is fiercely and proudly anti-abortion. (He even blamed school shootings on abortion).
He’s also blamed no-fault divorce and the teaching of evolution for school shootings — just not guns.
He doesn’t like gay people or gay rights. He has said, “You can call [homosexuality] sinful or destructive—ultimately it’s both,” and Homosexual marriage is the dark harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy that could doom even the strongest republic.”
On climate change, he’s a Neanderthal. According to the New York Times, he “has questioned climate science, opposed clean energy, and received more campaign contributions from oil and gas companies than from any other industry last year.”
Oh, and he’s also a conspiracy theorist who has a bit of the theocrat in him.
In short, this guy is a dream Speaker for House Democratic candidates running against Republicans in districts won by Biden ( Keep in mind that every House Republican voted for Johnson’s Speaker bid). I’d make the case that he could easily be worse for Republicans than Jim Jordan because his positions on social issues, like abortion and gay rights, are so far outside the mainstream and so easy to caricature — and unlike Jordan, who some GOP voters seem to like, Johnson is relatively unknown. (Also, there’s plenty of video).
Democrats already have a head start in defining him as an extremist, and my guess is that next Fall, they will spend a lot of time and money forcing House Republicans to defend their vote for him. Republicans are already facing an uphill challenge in holding on to the House. It’s hard to see how Johnson helps.
Does Trump Want To Go To Jail?
Earlier this week, Donald Trump was fined $10,000 by the judge in his civil fraud trial for violating a gag order by publicly attacking a member of the judge’s staff. In issuing the fine, Judge Arthur Engoron said that Trump was not a credible witness … because duh.
The likely best explanation for why this happened is that Trump is a man-child who has no impulse control. A gag order is like waving a red flag in front of him. But part of me wonders whether Trump keeps pushing the envelope because he wants a judge in one of his trials to send him to jail (at least temporarily) out of the belief that it will enrage and energize his supporters. Plus, narcissists love to play the victim, and what better way to do that than go to jail because of the actions of a partisan, Trump-hating judge (or so the former president will argue)?
To be sure, I’m speculating here, but with Trump, nothing would surprise me — and from a political standpoint, going to jail, even for a short time, would undoubtedly put Trump back in the headlines and build outrage among Republicans. So keep an eye on this space.
Oh, and one more thing … prosecutors in Arizona appear to be expanding their probe into the effort in that state to overturn the 2020 election. Could Trump be indicted in Arizona for his attempted election fraud? It’s too early to say, but it does seem that the legal noose continues to tighten around Trump’s neck.
Another Mass Shooting
This time, it happened in Lewiston, Maine. Eighteen people are dead, more than a dozen people were wounded, and the killer is still on the loose.
And it caused Maine Congressman Jared Golden to have an epiphany:
Golden represents a pro-Trump, pro-gun district, and this statement could cause him to lose reelection. But good for him in doing the right thing (even if she should have supported an assault weapons ban a long time ago). If only House Republicans could have the same breakthrough, we might have some stricter gun laws in this country. In the meantime, cast your vote for Congressional candidates who support gun control legislation. Barring an epiphany, the only way Republicans will change their tune on gun control is if some of them start losing elections on the issue.
What’s Going On
It seems as though Israel has begun its military operations in Gaza.
Adidas made a deal with the devil.
Clarence Thomas is hopelessly corrupt.
Musical Interlude
Is anything more adorable than Jerry Garcia in shorts? Summer 1990 was a great period for the Dead, and this is a really fun show (also, I was there!) It rained like crazy during the first set, and the second set is where things took off. The “Victim or the Crime” is nasty, and the “Foolish Heart” —> “Dark Star” is an absolute baller. I love “Foolish Heart.” It’s one of my favorite late-era Dead tunes. The “Dark Star” was a full, two-verse monster, and it did not disappoint. Phil was on fire the whole show, but his D/S contributions are outstanding.
“Touch of Grey” is never a song I loved to hear in concert, but here it was such a treat after what had been a very long and tiring day. It was also a nice antidote to the intensity of the first part of the second set. Enjoy!
Jerry Garcia in shorts???!!!???