Odds and Ends — 2 April 2024

about 1 month ago

Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, Business, and Debt:

I didn’t catch the name of the company running the ad, but on the radio while driving yesterday, some business that utilizes A.I. pitched their hallucination-free insights.

Nearly half of illicit crypto volume happened on Justin Sun’s Tron last year

https://twitter.com/fightfor15/status/1770574722637463620

They came for Florida’s sun and sand. They got soaring costs and a culture war.

Coronavirus News, Analysis, and Opinion:

Four Years After Shelter-in-Place, Covid-19 Misinformation Persists

Politics:

Gag Order Against Trump Is Expanded

The New York judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal trial later this month expanded a gag order on Monday to bar the former president from attacking the judge’s family members, who in recent days have become the target of Mr. Trump’s abuse.
Justice Juan Merchan last week issued an order prohibiting Mr. Trump from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, jurors and court staff, as well as their relatives. That order, however, did not cover Justice Merchan himself or the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, who brought the criminal case against the former president.
And although the ruling issued on Monday still does not apply to the judge or the district attorney, Justice Merchan, granting a request from Mr. Bragg’s office, amended the gag order so that it does now cover their families.

Trump Allies Plot Protections for White People

If Donald Trump returns to the White House, close allies want to dramatically change the government’s interpretation of Civil Rights-era laws to focus on ‘anti-white racism’ rather than discrimination against people of color.

https://twitter.com/KlasfeldReports/status/1774916639982551080

How Trump Infuses Christianity Into His Movement

Long known for his improvised and volatile stage performances, former President Donald Trump now tends to finish his rallies on a solemn note.
Soft, reflective music fills the venue as a hush falls over the crowd. Mr. Trump’s tone turns reverent and somber, prompting some supporters to bow their heads or close their eyes. Others raise open palms in the air or murmur as if in prayer.
In this moment, Mr. Trump’s audience is his congregation, and the former president their pastor as he delivers a roughly 15-minute finale that evokes an evangelical altar call, the emotional tradition that concludes some Christian services in which attendees come forward to commit to their savior.

https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1774880765559419116

Auditor Warns Trump’s Truth Social May Go Bankrupt

An auditor has raised doubts about the ability of Donald Trump’s publicly traded company to stay in business, according to a new regulatory filing.

https://twitter.com/GRobLewis/status/1774812938014265423

Florida Supreme Court Allows 6-Week Abortion Ban

The Florida Supreme Court ruled Monday that the state’s ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy may take effect, but the justices also cleared the way for voters to greatly expand the right to abortion in November.
The court’s decisions turn up the heat significantly in the battle over abortion in Florida, teeing up what could be this year’s most fiercely contested fight over the procedure.

More than a dozen far-right groups urge SCOTUS to give Trump absolute immunity

https://twitter.com/acnewsitics/status/1774748115251446075

Fugitive Ammon Bundy Geolocated to Utah

https://twitter.com/DecodingFoxNews/status/1774801436959760421

Trump Looks for Last Ditch Delays in Manhattan

With trial only two weeks away, Trump is showing increasing signs of desperation, including an Easter Sunday ALL CAPS social media spree.
Don’t be surprised if he takes more steps, like his ‘new’ motion to recuse the Judge. It’s new because he filed one about a year ago for more or less the same reasons. The Judge ruled against him, and that’s not the type of motion he can appeal immediately (the type of interlocutory appeal ahead of trial we’ve been seeing for issues like immunity). He can put that on the list of issues on appeal if there is a conviction. So Trump will try to argue new grounds to recuse, to avoid that procedural barrier to advancing his arguments for recusal. But the Judge sought advice from an ethics office that advises judges about conflicts before he ruled on the last motion, and it seems unlikely he’ll be persuaded by this type of blatant delay tactic. This is a Fani Willis style political attack, not something with legal force.
Also be prepared for more delay tactics this week—Trump will try to bootstrap the immunity argument on appeal in the Supreme Court here; but of course, this case is based on conduct Trump engaged in before he was president, although checks were written after he assumed office. But this is purely personal conduct.
There are also the time-honored strategies of the desperate: getting sick or finding a sick or dying family member and firing your lawyers.

https://twitter.com/slantchev/status/1774465172649984238

Trump’s Call for Israel to ‘Finish Up’ War Alarms Some on the Right

https://twitter.com/AmieMcWayne/status/1774963893866996095

U.S. Tells Iran It ‘Had No Involvement’ in Israel Strike

https://twitter.com/KrangTNelson/status/1774168611034145271