The Morning Sixpack - November 8, 2024
People, get ready. Changes are a-comin'!
1. Trump ready to name 'fearless' conservative judges in second term.
Republican President-elect Donald Trump is set to further reshape the federal judiciary, with predictions that his upcoming judicial nominees could be even more conservative than the 234 judges he appointed in his previous term. With the Senate returning to Republican control, Trump is expected to have a smoother path in filling potential U.S. Supreme Court vacancies and over 100 anticipated lower court openings. Experts suggest this will solidify a conservative judiciary likely to scrutinize regulations in areas like the environment and finance and to uphold Trump’s policies.
In his first term, Trump appointed three U.S. Supreme Court justices, establishing a 6-3 conservative majority, and named 54 judges to the federal appeals courts. His appointments, which included many with ties to the conservative Federalist Society, pushed the judiciary to the right, resulting in majorities on six circuit courts. These judges often favor “originalism,” interpreting the Constitution as understood at its 18th-century inception. This philosophy has driven rulings restricting abortion access, expanding gun rights, and limiting government oversight. Trump’s judicial advisers may shift this time, though his focus on conservative legal principles remains strong.
2. What could Trump's second term bring? Deportations, tariffs, Jan. 6 pardons, CHAOS. But wait, there’s more.
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his upcoming second term in office, he is set to enact a sweeping agenda, shaping the nation’s domestic policies and international relations with a clear focus on MAGA priorities. With a Republican-controlled Senate easing the confirmation process for his nominees, Trump’s anticipated measures range from judicial appointments to immigration crackdowns and economic restructuring, aka “trickle down on steroids.” Or, robbing the poor and giving to the wealthy. It’s Robin Hood in reverse.
Among his first moves, Trump will issue pardons for numerous January 6 defendants, whom he has described as “patriots.” The President-elect has promised clemency to many of the more than 1,000 people charged in connection with the Capitol riot, fulfilling a key campaign pledge to “right the injustices” he attributes to a “weaponized” Justice Department.
Trump also plans to terminate Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has overseen federal criminal cases against him. Trump will dismiss federal cases pending against him, citing executive authority to halt these prosecutions without needing a self-pardon.
For his Supreme Court nominations, Trump intends to appoint young, conservative justices who will bolster the Court’s ideological lean for a generation to come.
A major overhaul of immigration policy will also be on the agenda, with mass deportations set to begin shortly after the inauguration. Trump has pledged a robust campaign to deport undocumented migrants, despite acknowledging the difficulty and cost of such operations. Buy prison stocks now.
Economically, Trump aims to slash corporate tax rates, extend the 2017 tax cuts, and impose 10% or more tariffs on all imported goods to promote domestic production. This tariff plan, intended to bolster American jobs and revenue, will directly lead to price increases, with economists warning that such policies will burden U.S. consumers and throw the US economy, which has grown for 4 years straight, into a recession. The national debt will explode under Trump.
On climate, Trump will roll back environmental regulations, boost fossil fuel production, and withdraw support for clean energy initiatives, promising to dismantle the Inflation Reduction Act. He has also indicated his intent to appoint vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to oversee health and wellness policies, raising concerns among public health experts about the future direction of U.S. health agencies.
Trump’s foreign policy will involve pulling out of NATO at worst, pressing European allies to increase their defense spending at best. He has also vowed to end the ongoing war in Ukraine by negotiating a settlement, potentially requiring Ukraine to cede territory to Russia. Do you really think they’ll just drop their rifles and surrender?
Additionally, Trump is expected to reaffirm close ties with Israel, though experts say his approach will emphasize a transactional diplomacy over deep strategic commitments.
With these actions planned, Trump’s second term promises a radical transformation across sectors, shaping the trajectory of U.S. policy for decades to come.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/second-trump-presidency-implication/
3. It’s okay. Bury your head in the sand for a bit. Early Black Friday is here!
It’s not here YET, but it will be! If you want to beat the rush and repress the memory of this week, check these deals out.
Apple AirPods 4 - I do not like Apple. But a lot of people do, so if you’re one of them, get this deal now.
Blink Outdoor Cam - Save $60. You’re going to need it when the Mexican rapists come to steal your women.
Dyson V11 Vacuum - This thing is EXPENSIVE. But it’s on sale! Save $170. The more you spend, the more you save!
Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream Maker - Who doesn’t need a barrel full of ice cream right now?
4. Wisconsin school staff hailed as heroes for stopping teen student carrying two bags.
I love teachers. But this headline and story may be hyperbole. We may never know. But this is the story:
Staff at Roosevelt Elementary School in Kenosha, Wisconsin, are being praised for their quick actions in preventing a potential tragedy after stopping a “suspicious” 13-year-old boy from entering the school campus with two bags. According to Kenosha Unified School District Superintendent Jeff Weiss, the teen attempted to enter through side entrances before reaching a secure area, where staff members approached him. The boy, appearing “nervous,” then fled the scene.
“They didn’t know exactly what was happening in that moment, but their actions were heroic and prevented the unfathomable,” Weiss said, describing the incident as a “potential school shooting.” “Their response today really helped avert a disaster.”
Kenosha Police responded to the scene, shared photos of the teen on social media, and received tips from the community, leading them to the suspect. Students across the district were held in classrooms during the search. Through community tips, authorities located the teen, persuaded him to surrender, and took him into custody.
While Police Chief Patrick Patton did not disclose the contents of the boy’s bags, he confirmed that authorities have video footage of the teen with what appears to be a firearm, seemingly practicing with it. Patton added that the boy had been conducting internet searches related to school shootings and had shared videos and made comments about such incidents to students in the months leading up to this event.
“We know that there was internet searches, and all the red flags that we would look for and expect someone to report were there,” the chief added. “We narrowly missed a tragedy today, and we’re just going to re-encourage everybody when they see something, say something, help us have those talks with your children. These videos … should have been reported to us earlier.”
5. Fed Head Powell will not resign.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated on Thursday that he would not resign, even if requested by President-elect Donald Trump, implying such a dismissal would be illegal.
During a press conference following the Fed's decision to reduce interest rates by 0.25%, Powell responded to a reporter’s question about claims from Trump’s advisers that he should step down. When asked, “If he asked you to leave, would you go?” Powell firmly replied, “No.” He emphasized that legally, Trump does not have the authority to remove him or other members of the Fed’s Board of Governors. “Not permitted under the law,” Powell said.
Powell refrained from speculating on the effects of Trump's proposed economic policies, including tariffs and tax cuts, on the Fed’s future decisions. “In the near term, the election will have no effects on our policy decisions,” he noted. “We don’t know what the timing and substance of any policy changes will be. We, therefore, don’t know what the effects on the economy would be.” He added, “We don’t guess, we don’t speculate, and we don’t assume.”
Initially appointed by Trump in 2017 to succeed Janet Yellen, now the Treasury Secretary, Powell was reappointed by President Biden in 2021 despite some opposition within Biden’s party. His term as Fed chair extends until May 2026, and he has indicated his intent to complete his tenure.
Trump has criticized Powell’s handling of interest rates multiple times and previously hinted at the possibility of removing him. In an interview with Bloomberg’s John Micklethwait at the Economic Club of Chicago, Trump did not confirm whether he would consider demoting or dismissing Powell but remarked that the Fed chair position is the “greatest job in government.”
Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jerome-powell-trump-fed-chair-role_n_672de88be4b03941587e7111
6. Forty lab monkeys escape South Carolina facility.
Seems appropriate for this week…I’m thinking more like 70 million lab monkeys escaped reality…
Police are actively searching for 40 monkeys that escaped from a research facility in Yemassee, South Carolina, cautioning residents to keep their doors and windows closed.
The monkeys reportedly escaped from Alpha Genesis, a company specializing in "nonhuman primate products and bio-research services." Law enforcement and animal control teams have set traps and are using thermal imaging cameras to locate the animals, according to NBC News.
“Residents are strongly advised to keep doors and windows secured to prevent these animals from entering homes,” stated the Yemassee Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities are urging anyone who spots a monkey to call 911. “Just don’t try to take these things home or pet them,” Yemassee Police Chief Gregory Alexander warned, as reported by the Post and Courier. “We’re getting a lot of that on our social media. That’s a felony because they don’t belong to you.”
Alpha Genesis, one of the largest primate facilities in the U.S., houses more than 6,000 monkeys, according to federal data. While the sheriff’s department has not confirmed the specific species involved in the escape, Alpha Genesis’s website notes a focus on capuchins and macaques.
It remains unclear if the monkeys were involved in a clinical trial or what type of research they had undergone prior to the escape.