CNBC explains 'How The IRS Layoffs Will Impact Your Taxes And Refunds' for Tax Day

For Tax Day, I'm sharing CNBC explaining How The IRS Layoffs Will Impact Your Taxes And Refunds.

Thousands of employees at the Internal Revenue Service have lost their jobs in recent months as part of widespread cuts to federal spending by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The layoffs could impact essential functions at the agency during the height of tax season, from audits and collection enforcement to processing tax returns and refunds.

I'm repeating what I wrote two years ago.

Why am I not surprised that the "Satan Sandwich" budget sequestration deal and 2017 tax bill both played major parts in the shrinking of the IRS, that the Inflation Reduction Act is restoring that lost funding and staffing, and that the Republicans in Congress are seeking to reverse the IRA's increased funding of the IRS as part of raising the debt ceiling? Because I've been watching Washington long enough to see history rhyme, if not repeat.

When Donald "Hoover Cleveland" Trump became President the first time, the result was the 2017 tax bill, the tax cuts from which will expire in 2026. Those will almost certainly be extended, so history will repeat again. What's different this time is Trump's "shock and awful" and especially "Elon Musk's...Chainsaw Massacre of our federal workforce." It feels like any good deed Biden (and Obama and Clinton, if possible) did must be undone, if not destroyed, just like Hoover Cleveland crashing the plane of the economy after Biden piloted to a soft landing. Ugh.

So far, as CNBC pointed out, the cuts have not affected service for middle-class Americans. My wife filed our taxes last week and we should get our refund tomorrow, for example. They will reduce enforcement on the weathiest 1%, resulting in non-collection of $1 billion. Way for Hoover Cleveland and Elon Musk to look after themselves and their fellow billionaires. That's not the kind of class solidarity we need.

Enough about taxes. Stay tuned for Wayback Wednesday tomorrow. I have something fun planned.

'Last Week Tonight' examines disability benefits after winning 2 Emmy Awards

I closed yesterday's entry by telling my readers to "Stay tuned for two or three posts about Emmy Award winners, another topic that will be good to share next month." Today's post reviews Last Week Tonight with John Oliver's Emmy Awards after I share Disability Benefits: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO), the first episode after the show won two Emmy Awards.

John Oliver discusses why disability benefits can be hard to get and easy to lose, how getting them can turn people’s lives upside down, and why John fucking hates mimes. Ya, you heard us. John Oliver fucking hates mimes. Spread the word.

Project 2025 and Trump on Social Security and Medicare concentrated on retirement benefits and found no explicit cuts to them, but did find proposals that would likely weaken the services and implicitly cut them, like raising the retirement age. On the other hand, the fact-checkers did find explicit cuts to Medicaid, which ties into disability benefits, as people on Social Security Disability use Medicaid. However, the sources I found said nothing about Social Security Disability Insurance. After watching this video, I'm having a hard time imagining how it could be made worse, but I know it can be. It's bad enough that 2011's Satan Sandwich is still being served, which earned this entry the anti-austerity label. I think it's time to take that off the menu and increase the asset cap and revise the job list. 1977 was nearly 50 years ago.

On a more personal note, watching the PSA with the mime reminds me that I'm planning on retiring within two years. I'd better find my card or get a replacement by then — another item to add to the to-do list!

Follow over the jump for Last Week Tonight's Emmy Awards along with revisiting the commentary and prediction from John Oliver debunks 'Migrant Crime' in the middle of covering the RNC on 'Last Week Tonight'.

John Oliver examines the UK elections

I'm still upset after writing MSNBC's anchors and expert guests analyze the Supreme Court's immunity ruling, so I'm looking at some other country's screwed-up politics and having a good laugh at their expense. To that end, I'm sharing UK Elections: (HBO) before that topic turns into a pumpkin tomorrow.

John Oliver discusses the UK elections, who’s running, why people are so upset with the Tories, and the happiest surgeon in all of Lithuania.

One of my favorite sayings that I tell my students is "no one, or in this case, no place, is completely useless; it can always be used as a bad example." Both austerity, a core conservative project on both sides of the pond, and Brexit, which the first two of five consecutive Conservative Prime Ministers did not support and struggled to implement, serve as bad examples that the U.S. should avoid. There is a reason why I have an anti-austerity label on this blog. Also, Brexit may be an analogy for Hoover Cleveland's hostility to NATO. Leaving NATO would be a mistake, too, and another reason not to re-elect the convicted criminal.

By the way, tomorrow is Alice In Wonderland Day, a day that the U.S. and U.K. can celebrate together. May the U.K. avoid falling down a rabbit hole because of the election results!

I might return with the results of the U.K. and French elections, where the French seem to have realized that they might fall down a rabbit hole as well and have caught onto the edge to prevent it. In the meantime, stay tuned for the 4th of July.

CNBC explains 'How The U.S. Is Stalling A Recession'

I haven't written about a possible recession since Mark Zandi explains 'What Broke U.S. Recession Indicators' on CNBC last October, focusing more on inflation. That's because inflation has been a more pressing concern than a possible recession, which still hasn't materialized. CNBC examines why there hasn't been a recession yet in How The U.S. Is Stalling A Recession.

Wall Street investors remain braced for a recession. But a turndown hasn't yet materialized, due to strong demand from U.S. consumers. Spending makes up roughly 68% of the U.S. economy. It's remained strong amid high inflation as high-income Americans draw down generous savings accrued in the pandemic. Lower-income Americans who may have exhausted their pandemic savings are increasingly turning to credit cards to finance daily life.

I'm recycling my reaction from Wall Street Journal and CNBC explain 'Why a 2022 Recession Would Be Unlike Any Other'.

The GDP numbers may signal a recession, but consumers and possibly even businesses aren't showing signs of it. We may end up having a "Wile E. Coyote moment" where both look down and realize they are over an abyss and then start falling, but that hasn't happened yet.

That didn't happen while GDP was decreasing during the first half of last year and it hasn't happened since, but we might get one for political reasons instead of economic ones because of the debt ceiling fight.

May we not get what I feared twelve years ago, when I channeled Monty Hall.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for today’s Big Deal. Today’s Big Winner can keep the sugar-coated Satan sandwich he just won, or he can trade it in for what’s behind our three doors. Behind one of them is a clean raising of the debt ceiling and the expiration of the Bush tax cuts. Behind another is a balanced budget amendment. Behind the third is a sovereign default. So, Big Winner, will you keep your prize, or trade it in for what’s behind Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3? Which do you choose?”

I followed up the next day by writing "We decided to keep the Satan Sandwich...Maybe next time we'll pick what's behind Door #3." Good lord, I hope not, but it looks more likely than a dozen years ago.
...
I leave my readers the following meme, which I use whenever the U.S. is about to bump its head on the debt ceiling.

May Debt Ceiling Cat be watching negotiations that result in a something other than a sovereign default, which will send the country, if not the world, into an avoidable recession.

CNBC explains 'Why The IRS Is Still Struggling To Fund The Government' for Tax Day

"Happy" Tax Day, at least for my readers in the U.S.! I'm observing the day by sharing CNBC explaining Why The IRS Is Still Struggling To Fund The Government.

The Internal Revenue Service brings in approximately 96% of the federal government’s funding every year. In fiscal year 2021 alone, the IRS collected $4.1 trillion dollars in gross taxes. But funding for the agency declined by more than 20% between 2010 through 2019 when adjusted for inflation. This budget squeeze corresponded with a decline in tax audit rates across all income brackets, with the highest earners seeing the largest percent change. In August 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, which set aside nearly $80 billion for the IRS to be used over the next 10 years. Watch the video above to learn more about how the IRS works and how budget cuts have affected the agency.

Why am I not surprised that the "Satan Sandwich" budget sequestration deal and 2017 tax bill both played major parts in the shrinking of the IRS, that the Inflation Reduction Act is restoring that lost funding and staffing, and that the Republicans in Congress are seeking to reverse the IRA's increased funding of the IRS as part of raising the debt ceiling? Because I've been watching Washington long enough to see history rhyme, if not repeat. The situation resembles 2011 with a Democratic President and Senate and a Republican House, and the "Satan Sandwich" came out of that. Ugh. May we not get what I feared twelve years ago, when I channeled Monty Hall.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for today’s Big Deal. Today’s Big Winner can keep the sugar-coated Satan sandwich he just won, or he can trade it in for what’s behind our three doors. Behind one of them is a clean raising of the debt ceiling and the expiration of the Bush tax cuts. Behind another is a balanced budget amendment. Behind the third is a sovereign default. So, Big Winner, will you keep your prize, or trade it in for what’s behind Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3? Which do you choose?”

I followed up the next day by writing "We decided to keep the Satan Sandwich...Maybe next time we'll pick what's behind Door #3." Good lord, I hope not, but it looks more likely than a dozen years ago.

Stay tuned for the Sunday entertainment feature in the form of the highlights of tonight's "Saturday Night Live" episode. I plan on following that with another post about taxes, since the tax filing deadline is really April 18th. In the meantime, I leave my readers the following meme, which I use whenever the U.S. is about to bump its head on the debt ceiling.

Meyers and Colbert take closer looks at Manchin and Sinema

I have good, bad, and ugly news about the federal government. The good news is that it avoided a partial shutdown, as Congress passed and Biden signed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government. The bad news is that the debt ceiling still looms. The ugly news is that both infrastructure bills are being held up by two senators who are saying little or nothing about what they want. Seth Meyers talks about the last topic in last night's Manchin and Sinema Derail Biden's Agenda as Fox Fearmongers About It: A Closer Look.

Seth takes a closer look at two centrist Democrats blocking the entire Democratic agenda without saying what they want.

Seth implied it, but I'll come right out and say it: Fox News shouldn't threaten my readers and me with a good time. Also, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema need to state their demands instead of merely grandstanding while obstructing.

Stephen Colbert, who found the humor in using reconciliation to raise the debt ceiling the past two days, expressed relief about the good news, but frustration about the bad and ugly in Let's Not Reward Congress For Doing The Bare Minimum.

Congress passed a bill to fund the government for two more months, but moved no closer to solving the other crises on our hands: raising the debt ceiling and avoiding a catastrophic debt default.

At least Manchin gave a dollar figure. As I wrote in Seth Meyers and James Corden team up for Climate Night, I am "annoyed but not disappointed that Senator Manchin is gumming up the works; I didn't expect any different from him." On the other hand, Kyrsten Sinema Can't Seem To Figure Out What She Wants, which is disappointing; I did expect better out of her.



She truly can't be budged.
I think that's what Sinema really wants, the attention. The rest is secondary.

I'm sure I'll have more on both the debt ceiling and infrastructure. In the meantime, here is a meme I haven't used in ten years.

Business Insider looks at the rise and fall of Occupy Wall Street 10 years later

I'm taking a break from entertainment to look back at a major subject during the first year of this blog, Occupy Wall Street. Watch Business Insider's retrospective, Why Occupy Wall Street Failed 10 Years Ago | Rise And Fall.

Ten years ago, it seemed like Occupy Wall Street would change America. The movement that started in New York City's Financial District spread across the nation in weeks. But it died out as quickly as it started. What happened to Occupy Wall Street and did it even make a difference?

I pretty much agree with former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, that the movement was good at attracting attention and directing it to the economic, social, and political problems, but didn't have a strategic goal or activists who would work to achieve it. However, it wasn't a waste of effort.

As I wrote on the first anniversary of my blogging about the protests, "One year later, the participants may no longer be camping out in Zuccotti Park, but they did turn economic inequality into a major subject of conversation..." Reich and others pointed out that it made the candidacies of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren possible and served as a model for the Black Lives Matter and Climate Strike protests, all of which I supported. So, Occupy Wall Street failed in the short term, but set up other long-term movements that have goals and strategies to achieve them. It also showed what not to do. That's just as important a lesson as its successes.

Protests in Cuba and Florida for National Daiquiri Day and Captive Nations Week 2021

Happy National Daiquiri Day! While I was thinking of exploring U.S.-Cuba relations, I have a more pressing story about the island nation's politics to share today. CBS News has the story in Cuban regime's crackdown raises questions over staying power of anti-government protests.

It's unclear how long mass anti-government protests in Cuba can survive now that the communist regime is cracking down on demonstrators. The Economist's Cuba correspondent Roseann Lake joins CBSN's Tanya Rivero with more on what sparked the historic display of civil unrest and where things may go from here.

"Cuba is the only country in the world that fights wealth instead of poverty." That's a take I hadn't heard before, even though it's been around a while; Le Monde diplomatique used "Most countries fight poverty: Cuba fights wealth" as the subtitle of an article four years ago. Still, it exposes the flaw in the Cuban government's approach to the country's economic policy. I lean left, but I think that a well-regulated capitalism is still the best way to fight poverty and allowing some wealth accumulation is an unavoidable part of it. As I wrote last month, "I think Americans should celebrate success no matter which of our citizens achieves it."

Not only are Cubans on the island protesting, Cuban-Americans on the mainland are demonstrating in support. WJXT (News4JAX) reported Families Protesting Communist Cuba in Jacksonville, Florida.

Protests for freedom in Cuba have been going on here locally for nearly a week and the latest was at Riverfront Plaza. The protests are not only because of COVID but also because people are suffering under the communist regime.

As I wrote about retail, the pandemic has been accelerating trends, not causing them. This includes dissatisfaction with the Cuban government and its handling of the economy.

Follow over the jump for a celebration of National Daiquiri Day, which inspired me to cover this story as well as another observance I think is appropriate, Captive Nations Week.

Trump airs his grievances about the pandemic relief package for Festivus

Happy Festivus! I thought I had a choice of angles yesterday, when I wrote "I might have more airing of grievances or feats of strength tomorrow, because it's Festivus." I should have know better, because it's always Festivus for Donald Trump; the man airs his grievances constantly!*

CBS News brings today's grievance from the soon-to-be-ex-President, Trump delays signing of $900 billion COVID-19 relief package.

President Trump has not yet signed the bipartisan $900 billion COVID-19 economic relief bill passed by Congress. He says he wants the individual stimulus checks to be larger, something Democrats have been fighting for. CBS News’ Debra Alfarone joined “CBSN AM” with the latest.

CBS News reported stronger language from Trump as well as analyzed the effects of his proposal in Trump calls $900 billion COVID-19 deal a “disgrace.”

President Trump ordered Congress to revise its bipartisan $900 billion COVID-19 economic relief package, calling it a “disgrace.” He’s calling for stimulus checks to be raised from $600 to $2,000 each. CBS News national correspondent Chip Reid joined “CBSN AM” with the latest.

As much as it pains me to write it, I think Trump's right; the stimulus checks should be larger and $2000 sounds about right. Even a stuck clock is right twice a day. On the other, he had plenty of time to make his wishes known before both houses of Congress passed the bill with veto-proof majorities. I suspect Chip Reid is right that this is merely an exercise in showing that Trump is still relevant by creating chaos and that it might just pass after either Trump signs the bill or Congress overrides his veto. If so, that would be a Festivus miracle. If Congress amends the bill to increase the stimulus payment, that would be a real miracle. The worst would be if Trump's actions result in no stimulus package and a government shutdown. That would be a disaster. It's enough to drive me to drink.

Fortunately, Us Weekly has just the recipe for today, Holiday Cocktail How-To: Make Seinfeld's Festivus for Your Next Party.

A Festivus for the rest of us! There are plenty of reasons to celebrate this time of year. We asked Bryan Schneider, the bar director for Quality Branded — which runs NYC hot spot Squares, where Kendall Jenner and A$AP Rocky have been spotted — to dream up a crowd-pleasing holiday cocktail for Us.

It may not be "something bitter for an airing of grievances," but the grapefruit and cucumber get it close enough. Happy Festivus!

*I'm going to be a good environmentalist and recycle the following cartoon for the occasion.


As I wrote many times and repeated just last week, "I'm looking forward to not having to pay attention to Donald Trump again.  I'll just have to wait until January 20, 2021 for that to be completely true."

CNN Business asks 'How can the stock market be booming while millions are out of work?'

I wrote about the disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street two months ago in The Economist explains why the stock market is rallying during the pandemic. Since I posted that entry, CNN Business examined that paradox in two videos that I'm featuring today. The more recent asks the question The Economist and I implied in July, How can the stock market be booming while millions are out of work?

CNN’s Jon Sarlin explains why just looking at the stock market at a time of mass unemployment isn’t good enough.

Those answer fit with those The Economist came up with two months ago. "Whose economy are they talking about," indeed.

CNN Business uploaded an interview with Jamie Dimon, who noted that "the stock market doesn’t reflect Americans’ pain" last month that examined that question from another angle.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon tells CNN Business’ Christine Romans how he expects the US economic recovery to look as well as his plans for the New York Jobs CEO Council, which seeks to create more job opportunities for minority workers.

The good news is that Dimon is saying the right things, as he appears to understand the problems and has solutions for them. The bad news is that he and other investors may be counting on another round of relief for the COVID-19 pandemic, but it hasn't happened yet. It's possible that the rush to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court seat might just suck up all the energy that could have gone to that until the election. Mitch McConnell's priorities in action. Sigh.

Seth Meyers takes closer looks at the assault on the USPS

I just wrote WOOD-TV finds dismantled mail sorting machines in Michigan and Governor Whitmer and Senator Peters react on MSNBC yesterday, but I couldn't resist another examination of the Post Office. Since I traditionally alternate between serious and silly treatments of an issue, it's time for some comedy. I just happen to have two clips from Late Night with Seth Meyers on the subject. I begin with USPS Trump’s Plan to Sabotage the Post Office Before the Election: A Closer Look from August 11, 2020.

Seth takes a closer look at the president trying to undermine the integrity of the election by sabotaging the post office because he knows he can’t win in November with a majority of votes.

Hey, look, a clip from Business Insider on the rise and fall of the USPS that explains what happened to the Post Office plus a photo showing Senator Susan Collins at the signing of the bill that is causing the Post Office's financial troubles. That alone is a reason to vote her out.

The Business Insider video makes another appearance in Trump and the GOP Are Trying to Destroy the Post Office: A Closer Look from earlier this week, along with the latest news about mail sorting machines being taken out of service.

Seth takes a closer look at President Trump and the Republican Party’s plan to dismantle the US Postal Service that is both an assault on democracy and the culmination of a decades-long movement to privatize one of the country’s most cherished public institutions.

As Seth points out, the assault on the Post Office has been building for decades. In Trump, the plan finally found someone who is willing to carry it out.

As an aside, I'm glad to hear that Seth is heading back to the studio next week. It's a sign that things are returning to the pre-pandemic normal in New York, even though the pandemic is still raging elsewhere in the country.

Finally, I'm in the middle of grading final exams, which means I should be posting shorter entries with less thought required. In less stressful times, I might type that I'm mailing it in, but the way things are going with the Postal Service, I don't know if that will work for much longer.

Vox explains why it is difficult to collect unemployment benefits in Florida

With the U.S. officially in recession since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, yesterday's news that U.S. GDP fell at an annualized rate of 32.9% during April-June 2020, the worst on record, and U.S. weekly jobless claims were 1.434 million last week should come as no surprise. These bad tidings are putting pressure on Congress and the Administration to pass another relief bill.* Even when one does pass, and it will, eventually, a lot of workers in states like Florida will have trouble collecting on their benefits. Vox explains why it's so hard to get unemployment benefits in the Sunshine State.

It's not the computers. It's the politicians behind them.
...
Millions of Americans across the country have lost their jobs. But whether or not those people can get the unemployment benefits they deserve actually depends on where they live. In some states, more than two thirds of jobless people typically collect unemployment benefits. But in others, like Florida, fewer than one in 10 unemployed people get those benefits.

That massive difference has often been blamed on technology; Florida’s unemployment system is notoriously difficult to use. But technology doesn’t build itself. The real explanation requires a look at the ideology of the people who did.

Last week, I used a Hysterical Raisins paroday poster to dump on Florida's current Governor in Samantha Bee mocks governors' responses to the pandemic in a parody of 'Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives'. This week, it's Rick Scott's turn. Here's the poster Nonnie9999 created for Direct from Scott’s Bowels, which satirizes Scott's role in creating Florida' unemployment system.


I'll let Infidel 753 speak for me in his comment on Nonnie's post.

I pity the newly-unemployed in Florida. Dealing with unemployment insurance here in Oregon (when I needed to last year) wasn’t too bad, but this state has been run by Democrats for as long as I can remember. It really does make a difference which party is in charge, something many people may be just now realizing.

The ultimate goal — which it delivered on — was to lower unemployment taxes paid by Florida businesses

Figures. Republicans.

I second all his emotions.

That's it for July. Stay tuned for the first post of August.

*Never mind that HEROES Act has been sitting on Mitch McConnell's desk for months, but he refuses to put it up for a vote.

CNBC explains why the U.S. faces an eviction crisis

I began the month by posting John Oliver warns of evictions during the pandemic. Since I usually pair a comedic take on an issue with a serious one, it's time to share CNBC's Why The U.S. Faces An Eviction Crisis, uploaded on Wednesday.

Nearly a third of Americans didn't pay their housing costs in July. Now local, state and federal moratoria on evictions originally put in place during the coronavirus pandemic are expiring. While landlords may be sympathetic to tenants needs, communities face hardships when rent goes unpaid. A movement to cancel rent has been growing as the patchwork of solutions across the country leaves many renters falling through the cracks. Watch the video to find out why Americans are facing an eviction crisis.

Watching this hit me personally in a way that the Last Week Tonight clip did not, as the CNBC video reminded me that I was served an eviction notice 13 years ago. Fortunately, my wife and I had already found another place, so we moved, turned in the keys, and then showed up to court to see the eviction motion dismissed. We were the only tenants we attended.

This clip also reminded me of something I had wondered about, which was that defendants in criminal proceedings have the right to an attorney, but defendants in civil proceedings do not. This is one of the reasons that strategic lawsuits and against public participation (SLAPPs) work. People with resources are going after people that may not, making inequality worse. The same is true with evictions, although my parents were landlords and my mom still is, so I can see their side as well.

Sometimes, bad tenants need to go, but becoming unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic does not make a person a bad tenant, just an unlucky one. This is particularly true when the apartment might remain empty for months because so many people are out of work.

CNBC had more to say about the eviction crisis two weeks ago in Evictions could hit crisis level—Here's how it's impacting real estate trends.

CNBC's Kelly Evans breaks down the threat of evictions amid coronavirus and trends in the housing sector with CNBC's Diana Olick and Ryan Schneider, CEO of Realogy.

While people at the lower end of the income level are facing loss of housing, it looks like more affluent people are taking the opportunity to move into better housing in the suburbs. If one has to shelter in place, then one might find a better place to find shelter.

Calculated Risk shows this trend in both new home sales...


...and existing home sales, both of which are up from last month.


However, it's new home sales that are up over last year and at a post-crash high, as the people that can afford it want the latest and best that they can afford.


If one is looking for an economic silver lining to the pandemic, here it is. That won't make up for the looming eviction crisis.

Renew for the Zoo

Original here.
Today is the regular primary election day in Michigan, so I'm going to give my opinion on the millage renewal for the Detroit Zoo.  Deadline Detroit summarized the local media opinion of the millage with 4 Unanimous Editorials: Vote Yes Tuesday to Renew Detroit Zoo Support.

There's nothing divisive or partisan about animals. Even L. Brooks Patterson and Mark Hackel don't try to obstruct the Detroit Zoo's tax support, which four publications endorse...

That's a reference to the two County Executives obstructing a millage proposal for a regional transit plan, which I mentioned in Clawson 4th of July Parade.  I'll have more about that later.  Back to Deadline Detroit.

Wayne, Oakland and Macomb ballots Tuesday have a proposed renewal of a .1-mill property tax from 2018-28 for the popular attraction at Woodward and I-96.

The millage, which brings in more than $11 million annually, costs $10 a year for a home worth $200,000.

The 10-year renewal is is widely expected to pass, based on strong support in 2008 and on 2015 polling by the zoo...

Deadline Detroit then quotes editorials from the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Crain's Detroit Business, and Downtown Birmingham/Bloomfield supporting the millage.  I can add a fifth from Daily Detroit as well as mine.  Vote yes.  I know I will.

And now, MLive shows one of the great projects that the Detroit Zoo has completed, the new Polk Penguin Conservation Center.

Inside the largest penguin facility in the world, Detroit Zoo's new Polk Penguin Conservation Center.

Enjoy the penguins and stay tuned for more elections coverage after the polls close.

Slow drip of Flint Water Crisis erodes Rick Snyder's approval

At the end of Task force findings on the Flint Water Crisis, I told my readers to "Stay tuned.  I'm sure I'll have more, including the effects the crisis has had on Snyder's favorability ratings."  That's really the least of the state's worries, but it has been in the news lately.  Following my policy of "if it moves, it leads" (pun not intended, given the context), I begin with WXYZ reporting POLL: Governor Rick Snyder takes big political hit over Flint water crisis.

The ongoing Flint water crisis has taken a huge political toll on Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. That’s the finding of a brand new EPIC MRA Poll released first to WXYZ/Channel 7 and their statewide media partners in Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids and Lansing.

The article on WXYZ's website quoted Bernie Porn, President & CEO of EPIC MRA, who said, “In all measurements for the Governor, he has taken a serious hit because of the Flint water crisis!”  The Detroit Free Press quoted Porn again.  "I think the slow drip, drip of it -- the e-mails, the hearings ... I don't think any public relations firm in the world was going to change the direction that this has gone."

That's just from Michigan media.  Follow over the jump for Fortune Magazine listing Snyder among the most disappointing leaders of the past year.

'Dump Trump' and 'Arrest Snyder' at the Detroit Republican Debate

I concluded Examiner.com article on Clinton and Kasich endorsements by writing "As for what's next, I'm feeling like writing about the protests outside the Fox Theatre last night instead of the debate itself."  That was my idea for an Examiner.com article, but the local media covered those relatively well.  Besides, I've found another polling story to write about (a fresh angle on Michigan polling?  Yes!)

I begin with WXYZ's Protestors at the Republican debate.  If it moves, it leads!

Protestors converged on the Fox Theatre for the Republican debate.

That certainly conveyed the atmosphere and emotion of the protests, but it almost entirely missed the substance.  For that, I turn to the Detroit Free Press, which reported Hundreds protest outside of GOP debate at Fox Theatre.

Hundreds of protesters waving signs and shouting through megaphones filled the street and blocked traffic Thursday evening ahead of the Republican presidential debate at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, demanding attention be paid to the Flint water crisis and civil rights issues.

Despite the blowing wind and snow, many shouted relentlessly "Flint Lives Matter," and held up brightly lit "arrest Gov. Snyder" signs. Others shouted phrases critical of Republican candidate Donald Trump, such as "Dump Trump," as people entered the Fox.
...
The protesters were from a variety of organizations, including the National Action Network (NAN) and the Fight for $15 organization, which is calling on candidates to support the fight for a $15 hourly wage and the right to form a union without interference. Hundreds of workers marched from Cass Park to the theater, playing drums and holding signs.
...
"There will be no American president that doesn't address the American tragedy that happened in Flint, Mich.," [Rev. Charles] Williams [President of NAN's Detroit Chapter] said. "None of these candidates have said nothing about Flint, Mich. What we're saying is what debate, what conversation can (candidates) have in Detroit or the state of Michigan that doesn't involve Flint? We're calling on Republicans to begin to move and make sure there are shovels in the ground and the people of Flint get safe drinking water immediately."
...
Jessica Spencer, 22, of Bloomfield Hills, said while she's not from Detroit, she felt compelled to come and protest.

"This is everyone's fight," she said, holding a "Say no to Trump" sign. "They're not doing enough. The Republicans need to hear what we're saying and that's that everyone deserves equal rights, good drinking water and  fair wage."

Trump wan't the only target of anger.  So was Governor Snyder.


Given what's been going on in Michigan with the the Flint water crisis, I'm not surprised.

Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

I know I promised to post some election coverage at the end of Good economic news for election day.  Later.  Right now, I'm not up to writing those articles.  Instead, I'm going to add another holiday to this blog's calendar, Guy Fawkes Day.*  Take it away, Geek and Sundry!

The Gunpowder Plot (ETA: Geek and Sundry has taken down that video sometime over the past five years, so I'm replacing it with Vox's Guy Fawkes Day: explained although I'm still retaining the description of the video along with Vox's.)

Geek and Sundry: Remember, remember, the Fifth of November. Kiriosity explores some explosive facts (and Fawkes) about the Gunpowder Plot of 1605; the attempted assasination against King James I of England by a group of English Catholics.

Vox: An abridged history of how Guy Fawkes day earned its namesake.

Of course, the adoption of Guy Fawkes (or at least his mask) as a symbol of Anonymous has added new meaning to the day, as explained by Russia Today in Million Mask March rallies sweep the globe.

The Million Mask March is spreading worldwide as demonstrators protest against austerity, mass surveillance and oppression.

It's a pity that Russia Today is the main news outlet covering this, as the channel has an agenda of promoting troublemakers in the U.S. and elsewhere.  Their agenda of destabilizing Russia's rivals contaminates that of the protesters, which I generally support.

*While I have mentioned the day before, I've never actually observed it here.

Crazy Eddie's Motie News endorsements for the 2014 general election

As I concluded Gas prices fall again:

I'll be back at midnight with the endorsement entry I promised at the end of Obama visits Detroit plus election news from campuses on the campaign trail.  Stay tuned.

It's midnight, so I'm back with the general election edition of Crazy Eddie's Motie News endorses...  I start with my suggestion for Proposals 1 and 2 in the spirit of a picture being worth 1000 words.


How to vote on these proposals was the one thing people at work asked me about.  I told my co-workers to vote no, just as I'm telling my readers.

Follow over the jump for more endorsements.

A bad week for private space

At the end of Set back your clocks, including the ones for insulin pumps, I told my readers to "stay tuned for the Sunday entertainment entry."  It's still coming, probably at 7 PM EST.*  In the meantime, I present a double dose of minor DOOM for proponents of continued crewed spaceflight, the top stories from last night's Overnight News Digest: Science Saturday (A bad week for private space) on Daily Kos.

First, both because it happened first and because if it moves, it leads, Discovery News asks Why Did The Antares Rocket Explode?

Last night, a private Orbital Sciences rocket set to deliver cargo to the International Space Station exploded seconds after liftoff. Why did this happen, and what did we lose? Trace and Amy are here to discuss.

That was the first disaster.  NBC News reported on the second, which followed on its heels.

Richard Branson Says Virgin Galactic Will Learn From SpaceShipTwo Crash
October 31, 2014

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson said his team is dedicated to finding out what led to Friday's fatal test flight of the SpaceShipTwo rocket plane, and that he and millions of supporters of commercial space travel "would like to see the dream living on."

The National Transportation Safety Board began its investigation Saturday into what led to the explosion over California's Mojave Desert that killed one pilot, identified as 39-year-old Michael Alsbury, and injured a second, Peter Siebold, 43. Alsbury died at the scene, according to the Kern County Coroner’s Office. Siebold was headed to surgery Saturday, according to The Associated Press.

Branson told reporters that the Virgin Galactic program would "not push on blindly." "We owe it to our test pilots to figure out what went wrong. If we can overcome it, we’ll make absolutely certain that the dream lives on," the British businessman added. Branson conceded that the program "fell short," but pointed out that the early days of aviation were risky before they became safe.

There is good news from this story: Pilot Injured in SpaceShipTwo Crash 'Alert, Talking'.

A pilot injured in Friday’s deadly Virgin Galactic test flight accident is awake and able to speak with family members and doctors, the company involved in the craft’s development and testing said.

Peter Siebold, 43, had surgery on his arm, his family told NBC News Saturday. He was injured when the SpaceShipTwo rocket plane broke up over California’s Mojave Desert Friday and crashed, killing pilot Michael Alsbury, 39. Scaled Composites said Siebold was the pilot and Alsbury was the co-pilot on the fatal flight.

I'm glad Siebold is recovering, but am sorry for the loss of Alsbury.**

These stories triggered some discussion both about privatizing space in general and about the specific disasters in particular.  Follow over the jump for the recycled comments from my diary on Daily Kos.

Update on Detroit water shut-offs and bankruptcy

Last week, I included the following story from Reuters in a comment to another diarist's Overnight News Digest, along with the rest of the day's top U.S. news.

Detroit resumes water shutoffs for unpaid bills
By Aaron Foley
DETROIT Tue Aug 26, 2014 9:17pm EDT

(Reuters) - Controversial water shutoffs in Detroit resumed on Tuesday after a month-long moratorium to allow delinquent customers to catch up with past-due bills, city officials said.

The bankrupt city's water authority attracted unwanted international attention earlier this summer when it launched an aggressive effort to cut service to customers who were months behind or owed thousands of dollars.

The campaign, intended to deal with a $90 million backlog in unpaid bills, prompted accusations that it was unfair to the poor.

That action was challenged in court this week as part of the proceedings for Detroit's bankruptcy trial, as the Detroit Free Press reported yesterday.  Follow over the jump for that story and a video clip from WXYZ.