Random News: September 19, 2023

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 19, 2023, and it’s a Tuesday. I had a night filled with bizarre dreams and woke up feeling weird and disoriented, so I’m extra thankful for delicious coffee. Let’s get grounded back in reality with some news.

• Jeffrey Clark, one of the many co-defendants in the felony RICO indictments against the FPOTUS, is still trying to get his case moved from Fulton County, GA to a federal court. He’s doing so by turning on his former master.
• His lawyers stated yesterday that he drafted a letter to top Georgia officials declaring that the agency had reason to doubt the legitimacy of the state’s election only after he was pressed to do so by then-President Trump.
• U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones was skeptical. He pressed Clark’s lawyers for evidence that Trump had directed him to act. They had no evidence.
• Let’s move on to the favorite thing of Republican lawmakers, shutting down the government.
• The Republican Party in the House of Representatives is looking more like a MMA cage match than a steady government institution as tensions over how to avoid — or not avoid — a potential government shutdown are coming to a boil, with frustrations spilling over into public jabs and airing of grievances without a clear path forward to fund the government past September 30.
• GOP reps are bitterly divided on a short-term stopgap bill that would fund the government through October 31. The measure includes an 8 percent cut to everything but Defense and Veterans Affairs, along with the bulk of the House GOP’s border crackdown bill. 
• More than a dozen far-right conservative Republicans announced they opposed the bill for not going far enough or not addressing other appropriations. By the end of the day yesterday, about 24 hours after the bill was unveiled, the list of Republicans saying they are definite or probable “no” votes had grown to at least 16. In the narrow GOP majority, that opposition would be more than enough to sink the legislation.
• “It’s an unmitigated disaster right now on the majority side,” said Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR). “I’m fearful of what this leads to.”
• They’re a fucking mess.
• Remember COVID? Yeah, that’s still very much a thing.
• People across at least 10 states have now been infected by BA.2.86, a highly mutated variant of the virus that causes COVID-19. Labs have reported finding BA.2.86, nicknamed Pirola, in samples from Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
• This is still yet another variant of omicron. Its known family members – BA.2, BA.2.86 and XBB.1.5 – are all branches on the same tree.
• It’s going to be a constant battle for the rest of our lives as scientists race to create vaccines against a constantly mutating virus.
• Me? I’m as vaccinated as can be, I’ll be getting a booster soon, and I wear a mask in public spaces.
• Moving on.
• Poor Rudy Giuliani.
• I’m not being poetic here. Rudy’s broke. He was sued yesterday by a lawyer who for years represented him in a variety of legal matters. Robert Costello and his firm, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP, allege in the suit that the former New York City mayor owes them nearly $1.4 million.
• The lawsuit claims Costello and the firm represented Giuliani during criminal investigations by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the Fulton County District Attorney's Office, special counsel Jack Smith and during the U.S. House Jan. 6 committee's investigation.
• Side note: Bob Costello also sued Steve Bannon for unpaid legal bills. Bannon was ordered by a New York judge in July to pay Costello's firm nearly $500,000.
• These people always turn on and eat each other. Every single time.
• Extra side note: Donnie Dump hosted a $100,000 per plate fundraiser in support of Giuliani two weeks ago at his country club in Bedminster, NJ. It was reported that the dinner brought in a million dollars, meaning a whole ten people came. Maybe Rudy can pay some of those bills now.
• In other news…
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Elon Musk to ‘roll back’ antisemitism on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, during an in-person conversation broadcast live yesterday afternoon.
• "I hope you find, within the confines of the First Amendment, the ability to stop not only antisemitism, or roll it back as best you can.”
• Narrator’s voice: but he wouldn’t roll it back and would in fact encourage it.
• Let’s move on before I get angry at these anti-Semitic fucks.
• Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) changed the Senate’s informal dress code to allow senators to wear whatever they want on the floor. A notice went out to the Senate sergeant-at-arms and relevant staff members late Friday, and the change went into effect yesterday.
• Some people like to point out that that it allows Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who is often seen wearing a hoodie and shorts, wear his casual attire on the Senate floor.
• But other people note that many senators dress in ways that aren’t necessarily traditionally formal. I’m looking at you, Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and your denim vests.
• They found that missing F-35, or at least its crash debris, yesterday afternoon. Each F-35B Lightning II costs about $100 million. Still no clear word on what “mishap” caused the pistol to eject.
• Let’s do some good news.
• Pennsylvania has become the 24th state to make voter registration an automatic part of getting a driver's license or identification.
• “Automatic voter registration is a commonsense step to ensure election security and save Pennsylvanians time and tax dollars. Residents of our Commonwealth already provide proof of identity, residency, age, and citizenship at the DMV — all the information required to register to vote — so it makes good sense to streamline that process with voter registration.” - Gov Joh Shapiro (D-PA)
• Hell yes.
• More good stuff…
• California filed a lawsuit Friday against five of the world’s largest oil companies, alleging that they lied to the public about the damage their product is causing. The state wants the companies to pay into a fund that would support recovery from climate change-related extreme weather events like heavy storms and wildfires.
• I support this.
• And now, The Weather: “really happening” by SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE
• Here’s a real quote for ya…
• “But ultimately, all future date nights have been canceled. And I learned to check party affiliations before you go on a date.” - Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), after getting felt up by and fondling a Democrat in public.
• Got a great chart for you today (and yes, album charts are always superior to singles charts). It’s September 1969. I’m three months old, and I guess we’re living in Cleveland, maybe. Here are the top albums of that moment.
• 1. Blind Faith (Blind Faith). 2. Johnny Cash At San Quentin (Johnny Cash). 3. Blood, Sweat & Tears (Blood, Sweat & Tears). 4. Hair (Original Cast Recording). 5. Green River (Creedence Clearwater Revival). 6. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Iron Butterfly). 7. Best Of Cream (Cream). 8. Smash Hits (The Jimi Hendrix Experience). 9. The Soft Parade (The Doors). 10. Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) (The Rolling Stones). 11. Crosby, Stills & Nash (Crosby, Stills & Nash). 12. Bayou Country (Creedence Clearwater Revival). 13. Hot Buttered Soul (Isaac Hayes). 14. Nashville Skyline (Bob Dylan). 15. This Is Tom Jones (Tom Jones). 16. Romeo & Juliet (1969)  (Soundtrack). 17. Best Of Bee Gees (Bee Gees). 18. Dark Shadows (The Score) (Soundtrack). 19. Led Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin). 20. Suitable For Framing (Three Dog Night).
• From the Sports Desk… the curse against the Cleveland Browns is alive and well. Nick Chubb, their All-Pro running back, suffered what coach Kevin Stefanski called a "significant" injury to his left knee in the second quarter of last night’s MNF game and had to be carted off the field. Chubb is expected to miss the remainder of the season, thereby severely dampening Cleveland’s chances of success.
• Today in history… Jamestown is burned to the ground by the forces of Nathaniel Bacon during Bacon's Rebellion (1676). The Continental Congress passes the first United States federal budget (1778). George Washington's Farewell Address is printed across America as an open letter to the public (1796). Union troops under William Rosecrans defeat a Confederate force commanded by Sterling Price (1862). Union troops under Philip Sheridan defeat a Confederate force commanded by Jubal Early (1864). The Electoral Act of 1893 is consented to by the governor, giving all women in New Zealand the right to vote (1893). Witold Pilecki gets captured on purpose, and is sent to Auschwitz concentration camp to gather and smuggle out information for the resistance movement (1940). Tipper Gore and other political wives form the Parents Music Resource Center as musicians testify at U.S. Congressional hearings on obscenity in rock music (1985). Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees surpasses Trevor Hoffman to become Major League Baseball's all-time saves leader with 602 (2011). A drone strike by the United States kills 30 civilian farmers in Afghanistan (2019).
• September 19 is the birthday of Roman emperor Antoninus Pius (86), Liao emperor Mu Zong (931), explorer Thomas Cavendish (1560), lawyer Leon Jaworski (1905), car designer/businessman Ferdinand Porsche (1909), actress Frances Farmer (1913), actor/TV host James Lipton (1926), actor Adam West (1928), music manager Brian Epstein (1934), singer-songwriter Bill Medley (1940), singer-songwriter Paul Williams (1940), singer Cass Elliot (1941), songwriter/musician Lol Creme (1947), actor Jeremy Irons (1948), model/actress Twiggy (1949), journalist Joan Lunden (1950), music producer Daniel Lanois (1951), songwriter/guitarist/producer Nile Rodgers (1952), singer-songwriter/guitarist Lita Ford (1958), chef Mario Batali (1960), actress Cheri Oteri (1962), singer-songwriter Tricia Yearwood (1964), politician Tim Scott (1965), astronaut Sunita Williams (1965), journalist Soledad O’Brien (1966), TV host Jimmy Fallon (1974), actress Alison Sweeney (1976), NBA player Tyreke Evans (1989), and NBA player Trae Young (1998).

Well damn. Lots more to share with you, but I’m out of that most precious of commodities, time. Enjoy your day.