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Trump Dodged the Law. Blame Merrick Garland, Mitch McConnell and the Supreme Court. – POLITICO

Accountability for Trump’s Evasion of Law

  • The Biden administration, specifically Attorney General Merrick Garland, and other key figures such as Mitch McConnell and the Supreme Court, are being held accountable for Donald Trump’s ability to evade the law despite facing four criminal cases.
  • The two federal criminal cases against Trump are now effectively dead, with special counsel Jack Smith likely to leave his post and dismiss the pending cases, and Trump unlikely to serve time in the Stormy Daniels hush money case while in office.
  • The Georgia case is also expected to be put on hold or potentially thrown out, with Trump’s co-defendants possibly still facing charges.
  • Despite public interest in concluding the criminal cases, particularly the federal election subversion case, Trump’s conviction earlier this year did not ultimately hinder his re-election bid.
  • The author attributes Trump’s win to voters’ dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris administration, which led them to set aside concerns about Trump’s alleged misconduct.
  • The article suggests that Merrick Garland was a questionable choice for Attorney General, as he showed little desire to investigate and prosecute Trump from the start of the Biden presidency.
  • The Jan. 6 committee’s investigation and public hearings in 2022 reportedly forced Garland to investigate Trump and appoint special counsel Jack Smith, nearly two years after the Capitol riot.
  • The author argues that the delay in investigating Trump was unjustified, as his conduct warranted serious legal scrutiny by the Justice Department, particularly in the area of potential financial crimes, after his loss in 2020 and the events of Jan. 6.
  • The article concludes that if Trump had faced accountability for his alleged crimes, he may not have even appeared on the ballot, and that the system failed to work as it should have.

Factors Contributing to Trump’s Lack of Accountability

  • The author argues that the lack of meaningful legal accountability for former President Donald Trump can be attributed to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and the Supreme Court.
  • Despite warning signs in late 2021, the Justice Department under Garland did not launch a thorough investigation into Trump and his inner circle, which led to a delay in bringing charges and potentially allowed Trump to run for reelection and win.
  • The author criticizes Garland’s approach as a “bottom-up” investigative effort, which focused on prosecuting rioters before moving on to Trump, and argues that good prosecutors should aim to get to the top as quickly as possible in cases involving large groups and time sensitivity.
  • The author believes that Garland’s legacy is now at risk, and he may be remembered as one of the worst and most unpopular attorneys general in American history due to his handling of the Trump investigation.
  • The author also holds Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans responsible for not convicting Trump after his second impeachment, which would have prevented him from running again for the presidency.
  • Additionally, the author criticizes Republican presidential primary opponents for defending Trump and undermining the prosecution’s efforts, which helped Trump’s campaign and ultimately contributed to his success.
  • The Supreme Court’s Republican appointees are also blamed for bailing out Trump during the general election campaign, which further hindered efforts to hold him accountable.
  • The author concludes that Trump’s ability to avoid accountability was made possible by a combination of factors, including the actions of Garland, McConnell, and the Supreme Court, as well as the support of Republican politicians and primary opponents.

Public Opinion and Supreme Court Decisions

  • A significant portion of the American public, approximately 60%, supported Donald Trump standing trial in the 2020 election subversion case, while around 70% rejected the idea of presidential immunity from prosecution for alleged crimes committed while in office.
  • The six Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices, including three appointed by Trump, sided with him on both counts, initially delaying his appeal on immunity grounds and then establishing a new doctrine of criminal immunity with no basis in law.
  • This decision effectively prevented a trial before Election Day, representing a distortion of the law in favor of partisan objectives.
  • The outcome marks the most significant reversal of legal fortunes in American history, with Trump’s reelection being the culmination of this process.
  • Several key figures, including Merrick Garland, Mitch McConnell, and the Supreme Court, share the blame for Trump’s ability to dodge the law, alongside Trump himself.
By Abe Mazliach, ago

Climate change is costing the US $150 billion a year

By Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 

  • The United States experiences an extreme weather event that produces $1 billion worth of damage every three weeks, according to the latest US National Climate Assessment report, which is a significant increase from 40 years ago when such events occurred once every four months on average.
  • As of November 8, there have been 25 weather and climate disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion, exceeding last year’s count, and the total cost of extreme weather events is estimated to be $150 billion per year.
  • The $150 billion annual cost includes direct impacts such as infrastructure damage, worker injuries, and agricultural losses, and is expected to grow in the near term due to a projected rise in sea levels and temperatures.
  • Notable examples of extreme weather events include the devastating wildfires in Hawaii, which cost $5.6 billion, and hurricanes that can result in higher mortgage delinquency rates, lower home prices, and strain government budgets.
  • Research has shown that property damage from hurricanes can lead to higher mortgage delinquency rates, and flooding and rising sea levels can lower home prices and property values, as people relocate to areas less prone to flooding.
  • Hurricanes can also lead to substantially higher social safety net disbursements, including unemployment insurance and public medical payments, according to research by Tatyana Deryugina, a finance professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
  • The National Climate Assessment report’s estimate of the total annual cost of climate change in the United States does not take into account loss of life and health care-related costs.
  • To put the $150 billion annual cost into perspective, it is a significant amount that can be compared to various other large-scale expenditures and investments.
By Abe Mazliach, ago

Father of Ohio boy, 11, tells Trump and Vance to stop using son’s death for ‘political gain’

The father of an 11-year-old boy who was killed last year when a minivan driven by an immigrant from Haiti collided with his school bus has asked Donald Trump and JD Vance to stop using his son’s name for “political gain”.

The Guardian, , September 11, 2024

During a city commission meeting on Tuesday in Springfield, Ohio, Nathan Clark, the father of Aiden Clark, addressed the forum alongside his wife, Danielle. Speaking at the meeting, Clark said: “I wish that my son, Aiden Clark, was killed by a 60-year-old white man. I bet you never thought anyone would say something so blunt, but if that guy killed my 11-year-old son, the incessant group of hate-spewing people would leave us alone,” the Springfield News-Sun reports.

Clark went on to list politicians including Trump and Vance, who he said have been using his son’s name for “political gain”.

“Bernie Moreno [the Ohio Republican senate candidate], Chip Roy [the Texas Republican representative], JD Vance and Donald Trump … have spoken my son’s name and used his death for political gain. This needs to stop now. They can vomit all the hate they want about illegal immigrants, the border crisis and even untrue claims about fluffy pets being ravaged and eaten by community members. However, they are not allowed, nor have they ever been allowed, to mention Aiden Clark from Springfield, Ohio,” said Clark.

“I will listen to them one more time to hear their apologies. To clear the air, my son, Aiden Clark, was not murdered. He was accidentally killed by an immigrant from Haiti. This tragedy has been all over this community, the state and even the nation. But don’t spin this towards hate,” he continued.

Clark went on to say: “Did you know that one of the worst feelings in the world is to not be able to protect your child? Even worse, we can’t protect his memory when he’s gone. Please stop the hate.”

By Abe Mazliach, ago

total U.S. school-bus fleet has gone electric

San Francisco startup Zum is deploying electric school buses in Oakland, aiming to turn them into grid batteries that can help support the power grid. The company plans to electrify 10,000 school buses, which could significantly reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality. Electric buses can also charge during off-peak hours and provide power back to the grid during peak times, making them a valuable resource.

Author: Jeff St. John

URL: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-fleets/the-biggest-electric-school-bus-as-grid-battery-project-in-the-us-goes-live

When Ritu Narayan, CEO and co-founder of [Zum](http://www.ridezum.com/), looks at the 74 electric school buses and chargers her startup has deployed at a former industrial site in East Oakland, California, she sees a future where clean transportation and a clean and reliable grid come together.

“Today marks the next phase in our evolution,” Narayan said at an [event last week](https://www.ridezum.com/press-release/nations-first-all-electric-school-bus-fleet-oakland-ca/) marking the official launch of the country’s first all-electric school-bus fleet. By financing and installing thousands of electric school buses for the Oakland Unified School District, and tapping their spare battery capacity to support the power grid, the San Francisco–based, transportation-as-a-service startup plans to ​“become a fully fledged energy company,” she said.

The 74 electric buses in Zum’s Oakland fleet, which serve the district’s special-needs students, will ​“eliminate 25,000 tons of harmful emissions, improving air quality and health outcomes for students and families,” Narayan said. Swapping out the roughly 500,000 diesel school buses in the U.S. for electric buses could slash an estimated 8.4 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

A [dream of EV enthusiasts for decades](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/ev-charging/evs-are-one-step-closer-to-becoming-roaming-grid-batteries), vehicle-to-grid charging is something for which electric school buses are [particularly well suited](https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/electric-school-bus-fleets-test-the-u.s-vehicle-to-grid-proposition). Unlike cargo trucks or city buses, they operate only a few hours per day while picking up and dropping off students. That leaves plenty of time for them to plug in and soak up off-peak electricity in the middle of the day — including the [surplus solar power that floods California’s grid](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/batteries/batteries-are-taking-on-gas-plants-to-power-californias-nights) when it’s sunny out — and discharge it in late afternoons and evenings, when California’s grid faces its most [severe imbalance of supply and demand](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/grid-edge/californians-saved-the-grid-again-they-should-be-paid-more-for-it).

By Abe Mazliach, ago

What has the Inflation Reduction Act Accomplished for American Families on it’s Two Year Anniversary?

The Inflation Reduction Act became a law on 8/16/2022.

Here is what has been accomplished:

American families have claimed more than $6 billion in credits for residential clean energy investments on 2023 tax returns filed and processed through May 23, 2024. Over 3.4 million American families saved a total of $8.4 billion on clean energy and energy efficiency upgrades in 2023 due to tax credits.

  • Weatherization
    • Nearly 700,000 families claimed investments in insulation and air sealing
  • Residential solar
    • Residential solar electricity tax credits was claimed by over 750,000 families
    • Household installing residential solar have saved a median of $2,230 annually
  • Heat Pumps
    • Heat pump water heaters were claimed by over 100,000 families
    • Households that installed efficient heat pumps and improved building efficiency are expected to save up to $600, $1,200, or $3,100 per year, based on the type of heating and cooling system that was being replaced
  • Electric Vehicles
    • American consumers saved over $1 billion in upfront costs on over 150,000 clean vehicle purchases since January 1, 2024
    • The U.S. witnessed around 1.5 million clean vehicle sales in 2023, a 50% increase from 2022, marking the highest ever
  • Jobs
    • The IRA has incentivized the creation of higher-quality and higher-paid jobs in the clean energy sector
    • 334,000 and counting jobs created, with an economic value of $265 billion
Still waiting for clean energy rebates for most states
By Abe Mazliach, ago

Thank you, Joe

Here is a statement from Brett Walter, Founder & CEO, Climate Action Now:

Although it sometimes doesn’t feel that way, the last four years have seen unprecedented progress on climate. Millions of people worldwide worked tirelessly to achieve these gains, but the achievements of one person in particular stand out above all others: those of President Joe Biden.
Under Joe’s leadership, the U.S. government:

  • Rejoined the historic Paris Climate Agreement and reclaimed a measure of U.S. leadership on climate that had been forfeited under Trump.
  • Passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which allocated significant funding for climate-related projects, including electric vehicle charging infrastructure, public transit, and clean energy research and development.
  • Passed the historic Inflation Reduction Act, which unlocked hundreds of billions of public and private dollars to accelerate the energy transition, creating hundreds of thousands of high-paying jobs.
  • Paused expansion of a catastrophic build-out of LNG infrastructure.
  • Passed historic regulations to reduce emissions in our transportation and energy sectors.
  • Protected 3.5 million acres of natural areas for future generations.
  • Tailored policies to address environmental justice and promote equity in climate.
    And so much more.

It has been an extraordinary record of achievement on climate.

On Sunday, July 21, President Biden made the ultimate sacrifice for any politician — he put aside his political ambitions for the sake of the nation.
We grieve the loss of Joe’s leadership after his current term, and we are immensely grateful to him for his vision, his perseverance, and his unwavering commitment to protecting our planet for future generations. His legacy as a great climate president will be remembered. We dedicate ourselves to protecting and building upon that legacy.

Although we have entered a new period of uncertainty, we believe the next few months will see a rebirth of hope and democratic energy. Trump’s strongest line of attack — Joe’s apparent infirmity — has vanished with a single Tweet. Big donors sitting on the sidelines will come flooding out onto the field. Young minds that were closed to Joe because of Gaza will reopen. Those who had decided against him because of his debate performance are back in play. And those climate warriors who have soldiered on under a cloud of dread will have their hearts lifted with new hope. The 2024 Democratic Convention will be the most watched and exciting event of the year and a testimony to the vitality of our democracy. We can’t wait to watch it unfold!

The only question that remains is whether Joe’s sacrifice and the newfound hope and energy will be sufficient to defeat a Republican Party that, until Sunday, was jubilant and confident of victory. Today, they are not so jubilant. And perhaps a bit less confident.

In the coming months, we will spend countless hours writing postcards and sending texts to disengaged environmental voters. We will dig so deep into our pockets that our arms will hurt. We will use the CAN app to send hundreds of thousands of messages to media organizations, business leaders, politicians, and others urging them to make climate an issue because this is the issue on which Trump is most vulnerable.

The good news is that this fight is winnable. Trump is a weak candidate. Most Americans do not share his values or goals and don’t want him to be president again. Our job is to ensure that he isn’t.

Action is the antidote to despair. Our actions have more power than we often realize—especially when we’re not acting alone. And now, more than ever, we are united.

So, let’s get to work!

By Abe Mazliach, ago

How the 2024 election will be different from 2020

The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. But while the candidates may be the same, the circumstances surrounding this contest are vastly different from four years ago.
In 2020, Trump was still operating within the broad confines of democratic norms, even as he pushed against their boundaries. But since his defeat, he has fully embraced the authoritarian playbook, transforming the Republican Party into a vehicle for his extreme agenda.
Trump’s actions after the 2020 election were unprecedented in American history. As Heather Cox Richardson writes in her March 13, 2024 blog post:
“Trump then refused to step aside for his successor as all of his predecessors had done, and has continued to push the Big Lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen”.
This rejection of the peaceful transfer of power was just the beginning. In 2023, Trump was indicted on felony charges for mishandling classified documents. He has purged the Republican National Committee of anyone not fully loyal to him. His allies in Congress have paralyzed the legislative process with their extremist demands.
Trump’s vision for a second term is even more radical than his first. According to Richardson:
“Trump has promised that if he returns to office, he will purge the nonpartisan civil service we have had since 1883, replacing career employees with his own loyalists. He has called for weaponizing the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense, and his advisors say he will round up and put into camps 10 million people currently living in the U.S”.
This is not a normal party platform; it is a blueprint for authoritarian rule.
In contrast, Biden and the Democrats have spent the past two years demonstrating that government can work for ordinary people. With slim Congressional majorities, they passed landmark legislation investing in infrastructure, manufacturing, clean energy, and more. They have worked to strengthen civil rights and America’s democratic alliances abroad.
As Vice President Kamala Harris put it:
“With his State of the Union speech last week, President Biden passionately presented our alternative vision. We will reduce costs for families, make housing more affordable, and raise the minimum wage. We will restore Roe, protect voting rights, and finally address our gun violence epidemic”.
The choice in 2024 could not be more stark. It is a choice between a flawed but functioning democracy and an authoritarian threat; between a vision of inclusion and a nativist nightmare.
In 2020, many voters may have seen Trump as distasteful but still within normal political bounds. In 2024, no one can claim ignorance of the danger he poses. The differences between Biden and Trump, and between their visions for America, are now impossible to ignore.
By Abe Mazliach, ago

A Battery Company CEO on the ‘Massive’ Effect of the Inflation Reduction Act

Freyr Battery plans to invest billions in a factory near Atlanta.

A Battery Company CEO on the ‘Massive’ Effect of the Inflation Reduction Act

Author: Derek Harrison

URL: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15022024/inside-clean-energy-battery-company-ceo-on-the-massive-effect-of-inflation-reduction-act/

A Norwegian battery company has been working since 2022 to open a supersize factory outside of Atlanta that will bring more than 700 jobs to the region.

Freyr Battery is developing a manufacturing process for lithium-ion batteries that it says will be less expensive and have less waste than the processes many competitors use. The batteries would be available for stationary energy storage and for use in large electric vehicles such as buses.

The Georgia plant is one of the many projects whose existence is at least in part due to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), President Joe Biden’s 2022 climate law.

The IRA provides support based on the capacity of batteries produced, making it a significant factor in attracting investment and creating jobs. The CEO of Freyr Battery, Birger Steen, discusses the company’s goals and challenges, including the importance of automation in their manufacturing process and the significance of the IRA in the United States.

By Abe Mazliach, ago

The Positive Impact of Holistic Management on Soil Health and Ecosystems

Holistic Soil Management

  • The Importance of Soil Health:
    • Soil health is crucial for our well-being and that of future generations. Holistic Management has been instrumental in promoting healthy soil with benefits such as improved water infiltration, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat.
    • Rattan Lal of Ohio State University emphasizes the urgent need for carbon-rich topsoil formation, which he refers to as the greatest priority and opportunity of our time.
  • Impact of Holistic Management:
    • Holistic Management has proven to be an effective practice for enhancing soil health and productivity, leading to increased forage production, water infiltration, and organic matter.
    • By integrating crops and livestock for profit, several farms have experienced notable improvements in soil health and ecosystem balance.
  • Conservation and Wildlife Habitat:
    • Holistic Management serves as a powerful tool for land conservation and wildlife improvement, aiding in the regeneration of land and meeting the needs of diverse species.
    • Several ranches and farms have witnessed significant enhancements in wildlife habitat and species diversity through the application of Holistic Management practices.
  • Understanding the Soil Ecosystem:
    • Delving into the world of soil reveals the potential for growing more topsoil, producing nutrient-dense food, and fostering healthy families, communities, and wildlife habitat.
    • In-depth understanding of soil health and life within the soil has led to the adoption of Holistic Management as a crucial management tool for achieving sustainable land productivity.

https://holisticmanagement.org/

By Abe Mazliach, ago

Jane Goodall only wants one thing: For You to Vote

New York Times

By David Gelles

January 23, 2024

Jane Goodall, the renowned primatologist, is urging people to vote in the upcoming global elections to combat climate change. “Half of the population of the planet is going to be voting,” she said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos last week. “This year could be the most consequential voting year in terms of the fate of our planet.”

Goodall noted that the outcomes of national elections can have profound and immediate impacts. She pointed to Brazil, where two years ago, voters ousted the far-right leader, Jair Bolsonaro, and brought back President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Overnight, Lula abandoned Bolsonaro’s laissez faire approach to environmental regulation and redoubled efforts to protect the Amazon rainforest. “Every vote matters, more this year than perhaps any time in history.”

“We’ve got to get the message out there for people to understand, and then they’ll vote in the right way,” she said. “Then they’ll understand how important it is for their children, and their children’s children.”

By Abe Mazliach, ago