The Morning Sixpack - January 31, 2025
DEI hires, Senate confirmation ridiculousness, and putting more guns in the hands of kids. Yay?
FAA Report Reveals Staffing Issues at Reagan Airport Tower Before Collision
A newly reviewed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report highlights critical staffing shortages at Ronald Reagan National Airport’s air traffic control tower, calling the situation "not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic."
The report, obtained by The New York Times, sheds light on the severe understaffing that may have contributed to a recent collision. Notably, a single controller was simultaneously managing both helicopter operations and runway traffic—a role typically split between two individuals. This overlap increased workload and radio frequency complications, potentially creating hazardous miscommunication between pilots.
The Reagan tower’s staffing problems are not new. According to the latest Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan, the facility had only 19 fully certified controllers as of September 2023, far below the FAA’s target of 30. The shortage, caused by employee turnover and budget constraints, has forced controllers nationwide to work up to six days a week and 10-hour shifts—a situation raising concerns about fatigue and operational safety.
The FAA has not yet issued an official response to the report. As air traffic control staffing levels continue to lag, aviation experts warn that similar risks could persist at other major U.S. airports.
Source: NY Times
It’s natural and normal to blame Trump and Musk and DOGE for this, and there is plenty of blame on them here.
BUT—this situation at this particular airport has been going on a long time. I’m just glad we made it in and out of there safely last year.
Midair Collision Near D.C. Kills 67 in Deadliest U.S. Air Disaster in Decades
A tragic midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet has claimed the lives of all 67 people aboard, marking the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in nearly a quarter-century.
The crash occurred late Wednesday evening over the Potomac River, just three miles south of the White House, in one of the most tightly controlled airspaces in the world. “We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” said Washington, D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly, confirming that no survivors had been found. As of Thursday, at least 28 bodies had been recovered from the icy river waters.
Preliminary reports indicate that the helicopter may have flown into the jetliner’s path as it approached Ronald Reagan National Airport. The FAA report obtained by the Associated Press revealed that only one air traffic controller was overseeing both helicopter and runway traffic at the time—duties typically split between two people.
The report states, “The position configuration was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic.”
While this setup is occasionally used during shift changes or slow traffic periods, it had been implemented earlier than usual on Wednesday, raising further concerns about staffing shortages and airspace management.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now analyzing the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to determine the precise sequence of events leading to the collision.
Meanwhile, the nation mourns the loss of passengers, crew, and military personnel, including a group of elite young figure skaters and their families from Wichita, Kansas.
As investigations continue, the crash raises serious questions about air traffic control staffing, military flight procedures, and aviation safety measures in high-density airspace. It also looks squarely at Musk’s efforts at DOGE and his insistence that the federal government become more efficient—even at the cost of lives.
Source: My Daily Grind
Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Handgun Sales Ban for 18-to-20-Year-Olds
A federal appeals court has overturned a decades-old ban that prevented Americans aged 18 to 20 from purchasing handguns, ruling that the restriction violates the Second Amendment.
The Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals found that the law, in place since 1968, lacks historical precedent and is inconsistent with constitutional protections. The ruling follows the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, which expanded gun rights and set a higher bar for firearm regulations.
"Ultimately, the text of the Second Amendment includes eighteen-to-twenty-year-old individuals among 'the people' whose right to keep and bear arms is protected," the court stated.
The decision will have sweeping implications for gun laws across the country, though its immediate impact remains uncertain as the case is expected to head to the Supreme Court.
Gun control advocates argue that the ruling threatens public safety, especially given that handguns have been the most commonly used weapons in murders and mass shootings for decades, according to data from The Violence Project.
Meanwhile, gun rights supporters hail the ruling as a victory for constitutional freedoms, emphasizing that 18-year-olds can vote, join the military, and enter into contracts—so they should also be allowed to purchase handguns.
When is Congress, or the courts, going to drop the drinking age back down to 18?
This ruling adds to an ongoing legal battle over firearm regulations. Last term, the Supreme Court upheld a federal law barring gun possession for individuals under domestic violence restraining orders. In the coming weeks, justices will consider whether gun manufacturers can be held liable for crimes committed with their products. As courts continue to grapple with Second Amendment interpretations, the debate over gun rights versus gun control remains one of the nation's most contentious legal and political issues.
Source: ABC News
States should slam insurance requirements on owning firearms. They should also place restrictions on the purchase of ammunition. The US Constitution doesn’t say a damned thing about those two things, so fuck off, SCOTUS.
RFK Jr. Dismisses Vaccine Science He Claimed to Seek in Senate Hearing
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who hopes to serve as President Donald Trump’s health secretary, repeatedly insisted that he supports vaccines and just wants to see the scientific evidence.
But when Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican and physician, presented definitive research disproving a link between vaccines and autism, Kennedy brushed it aside.
Instead of acknowledging decades of studies, he cited a deeply flawed recent paper that outside experts have discredited. This refusal to accept mainstream science raised serious concerns among public health experts about his ability to lead the $1.7 trillion Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees vaccine safety and public health programs.
Kennedy’s dismissal of scientific consensus extended to COVID-19 vaccines, which he falsely claimed lack proper safety monitoring. In reality, the U.S. has multiple vaccine safety tracking systems, including electronic medical records from health systems and international databases that confirm mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives.
“You’re applying for the job—clearly you should know this,” Sen. Bernie Sanders told Kennedy, frustrated by his repeated misinformation.
Meanwhile, Kennedy dodged questions about the HPV vaccine, which prevents thousands of cancer cases annually, and refused to clarify his past racially charged suggestion that Black Americans might need a different vaccination schedule than whites.
Kennedy’s rejection of established vaccine science has alarmed health officials, who warn that his influence could erode public trust and lead to the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.
“He ignores science. He cherry-picks sometimes fraudulent studies. Sometimes he takes well-done studies and takes little pieces of them out of context,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Despite bipartisan pushback, Kennedy continued to promote discredited claims, leaving many questioning whether he has the qualifications to oversee the nation’s public health policies.
Source: ABC News
I’m going to say it right now: Be careful what you ask for. Defeating Kennedy gets us somebody worse.
I’m not saying he’s a good pick… Just saying the next guy will be worse.
IOW, we’re fucked no matter what.
U.S. Economy Posts Solid 2.8% Growth in 2024, but Inflation Pressures Persist
The U.S. economy grew at a steady 2.3% annualized rate in the fourth quarter of 2024, bringing total growth for the year to 2.8%, according to new data from the Commerce Department.
Consumer spending remained the primary driver, surging 4.2% in the final quarter—the fastest pace since early 2023.
However, business investment tumbled, particularly in equipment, after two strong quarters.
While the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell cautioned that inflation progress has stalled, saying, “We do not need to be in a hurry” to cut rates further.
Inflationary pressures ticked up in late 2024, with the personal consumption expenditures index (PCE)—the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge—rising 2.3% in the fourth quarter, up from 1.5% in the previous quarter.
Core PCE inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, hit 2.5%, raising concerns about whether price stability will remain elusive.
Meanwhile, unemployment remained low at 4.1% in December, signaling continued labor market strength despite economic uncertainties.
The European Central Bank cut interest rates on Thursday, reflecting a stark contrast between U.S. resilience and European stagnation, where growth flatlined at the end of the year.
Looking ahead, the economic outlook remains uncertain.
President Donald Trump has inherited a strong economy and has pledged tax cuts and deregulation to further boost growth. It won’t work. Trickle-down economics is an utter disaster and has never worked.
However, his plans to impose steep tariffs on imports and deport millions of undocumented workers will introduce inflationary pressures and labor shortages, slowing economic momentum. Yes, he’s this stupid.
While consumer spending continues to fuel expansion, analysts are closely watching for signs of cooling in 2025 as businesses adjust to shifting policies. They aren’t policies. They are prescriptions for vengeance.
Source: AP
Trump Administration Orders FBI Leadership Shakeup, Raising Concerns Over Political Purge
Multiple senior FBI officials have been given an ultimatum: resign within days or be fired, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The abrupt removals come amid a leadership purge at the FBI, an agency that has long been a target of President Donald Trump’s criticism.
While the Senate weighs Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel as the new FBI director, the bureau is currently being led by an acting director and acting deputy director, both White House appointees.
Patel, during his confirmation hearing, attempted to reassure lawmakers, stating, “All FBI employees will be protected against political retribution.” LOL!
However, the unusual nature of the shakeup has raised alarms about whether Trump is seeking to reshape the FBI’s leadership to align with his political agenda. It is.
The officials ordered to leave include several executive assistant directors and top agents from field offices, many of whom were promoted under former FBI Director Christopher Wray, who resigned earlier this month after repeated threats of dismissal from Trump.
Some of these officials have not yet reached retirement age, meaning they could lose key benefits if they are forced out.
The moves come alongside similar upheaval at the Justice Department, where Trump-installed interim leaders have fired or reassigned veteran prosecutors who worked on past special counsel investigations into Trump.
Patel, who has previously called FBI leadership corrupt, refused to guarantee that he wouldn’t fire agents tied to these cases, stating only, “Every FBI employee will be held to the absolute same standard.” So consistently bad policies are better than inconsistently bad policies. Got it!
The restructuring at the FBI reflects a broader effort by Trump to reshape federal agencies.
Since his inauguration just 11 days ago, he has fired multiple inspectors general, issued an executive order eliminating diversity programs, and initiated sweeping staff changes.
In a symbolic move, a mural at FBI training headquarters in Quantico—which emphasized values like “leadership,” “diversity,” and “integrity”—was painted over in gunmetal gray, and the FBI has confirmed that all diversity-related materials are being removed from its facilities.
As Trump continues to overhaul key institutions, the FBI’s future—and its ability to remain politically independent—hangs in the balance. Nope. It’s dead.
Source: Washington Post