Random News: September 22, 2022

DISCLAIMER: Zak's Random News is very random and doesn't cover many things, and not everything may be accurate, because I'm just some guy. Go find a real news source.

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Good morning. It’s September 22, 2022, and it’s a Thursday for some reason. I got a LOT today. Buckle up…

• Starting with a cool one. Happy first day of Fall 2022!
• The autumnal equinox — the moment the sun is directly on the planet’s equator — is today at exactly 9:04PM EDT. You can celebrate any pagan ritual you like. It’s a free country.
• Let’s get into it.
• Yesterday morning, about a half hour after I’d posted these silly daily bullets, New York’s attorney general Letitia James held a press conference to announce that a civil lawsuit has been filed against Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, and their company, the Trump Organization, for fraud.
• In the 200+ page lawsuit, Tish James alleges that the fraud touched all aspects of the Trump business, including its properties and golf courses, and that the Trump Organization deceived lenders, insurers and tax authorities by inflating the value of his properties using misleading appraisals.
• What’s at stake?
• In addition to a $250 million fine (which Trump can easily raise by grifting it from his cult), the bigger items are the cancelation of Trump's business certificates, in move known as New York's "corporate death penalty” as well as a permanent ban on Trump and his kids serving on any corporate board, and a five-year ban on Trump buying commercial real estate in NY.
• Isn’t this kind of fraud also a crime? Oh, yes indeed. Tish James is making criminal referrals to SDNY and the IRS.
• Here’s a super interesting note. As you may recall (or not with all the crazy shit going down), Trump was deposed to testify last month in this very investigation to defend his actions. Instead, he took the Fifth Amendment 440 times in response to every question asked.
• While that may have temporarily kept him out of jail for this one of his many crimes, he now has no defense in the fraud suit, having effectively admitted liability on every charge. His entire real estate empire may crumble as a result.
• So sad, too bad.
• This action would have happened whether or not Trump moved into politics. The criminally shady business dealings of his organization go back to long before his presidency, though apparently continued during his term as well.
• Also — stating the incredibly obvious — now we all know exactly why Trump never, ever released his taxes to the public despite promising to do so over and over.
• But wait! There’s more.
• A federal appeals court is allowing the DOJ to resume the criminal probe of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago. That decision cancels out judge Aileen Cannon’s order over those documents that had blocked federal investigators' continued work on them.
• In their decision, the 11th Appeals Court cited Cobbledick v. United States, 309 U.S. 323, 325 (1940).
• Trump got Cobbledicked.
• Is that all? Nope.
• The January 6 House select committee investigating the failed coup attempt has reached an agreement with Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, to be interviewed by the panel in coming weeks.
• She had pushed lawmakers and top Republican officials to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, citing baseless claims of widespread voter fraud. There is evidence of her direct involvement in the lead to the insurrection.
• Wow.
• In other related news from a huge day of news, yesterday the House passed an electoral reform bill that seeks to prevent presidents from trying to overturn election results through Congress. It’s a direct response to prevent another January 6 situation. 
• The bill passed on a 229-203 vote, with just nine Republicans breaking ranks and joining Democrats in supporting the measure. The bill amends the Electoral Count Act of 1887.
• The Jan 6 committee resumes its hearing next week on Wednesday September 28.
• And now, The Weather: “Concrete & Flowers” by Hand Habits.
• From the Sports Desk… the Sports Desk has avoided talking about this, but Robert Sarver, the primary owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, is selling both teams. Last week, he was suspended for one year and fined $10 million after an NBA investigation found that he regularly used the N-word, and often made sex-related comments and inappropriate comments on employees' appearances.
• Fucking prick.
• The Sports Desk would rather have focused on Aaron Judge’s remarkable milestone of 60 home runs this season, done without the advantage of steroids. He’s one shy of tying the all-time AL record. No one else in the majors has more than 40 homers right now.
• Today in history… The last hanging of those convicted of witchcraft in the Salem witch trials (1692). George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz are crowned King and Queen of Great Britain (1761). Nathan Hale is hanged for spying during the American Revolution (1776). Queen Victoria surpasses her grandfather King George III as the longest reigning monarch in British history at the time (1896). The steel strike of 1919 begins in Pennsylvania before spreading across the United States (1919). François Duvalier is elected president of Haiti (1957). Sara Jane Moore tries to assassinate U.S. President Gerald Ford (1975). 
• September 22 is the birthday of Chinese emperor Li Zicheng (1606), physicist Michael Faraday (1791), actor Paul Muni (1895), actor John Houseman (1902), baseball manager Tommy Lasorda (1927), NBA commissioner David Stern (1942), singer/choreographer Toni Basil (1943), singer-songwriter King Sunny Adé (1946), singer David Coverdale (1951), singer Debby Boone (1956), bass player Doug Wimbish (1956), singer-songwriter Nick Cave (1957), singer Andrea Bocelli (1958), and iconic rocker Joan Jett (1958).

I will add, in personal news that I mentioned about a week ago, I checked in each night this week at the LA County Jury Portal as required, and late last night got the absolutely wonderful message, “You have completed your jury service. Thank you for serving.” Ahhhhhh yes. As mentioned, I would have done my civic duty as required, but not having to go to DTLA and sit in a court all day for God knows how long is, admittedly, the preferable option. I’m going to do a bunch of work and be a typical human today instead. Enjoy your day.