October 24, 2020

Boris Johnson used to be the Teflon man

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/boris-johnson-used-to-be-the-teflon-man-of-british-politics-brushing-off-scandals-gaffes-and-mistakes-not-any-more/ar-BB1alp4A

CNN
Boris Johnson used to be the Teflon man of British politics, brushing off scandals, gaffes and mistakes. Not any more

Analysis by Luke McGee, CNN
10/24/20

Boris Johnson used to be the Teflon man of British politics, brushing off scandals, gaffes and mistakes. Not any more

Boris Johnson had big plans for 2020. With the Brexit question that had torn the nation apart for nearly four years finally settled, the Prime Minister was ready to spend some of the political capital he'd earned with his landslide election victory to bring the nation together. Then Covid-19 happened.
...snip

October 24, 2020

Despite rhetoric, GOP has supported packing state courts

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/despite-rhetoric-gop-has-supported-packing-state-courts/ar-BB1am78B?ocid=hplocalnews

AP ASSOCIATED PRESS

Despite rhetoric, GOP has supported packing state courts
By ANDREW DeMILLO, Associated Press

10/24/20

Despite rhetoric, GOP has supported packing state courts
Republican claims that Democrats would expand the U.S. Supreme Court to undercut the conservative majority if they win the presidency and control of Congress has a familiar ring.
It's a tactic the GOP already has employed in recent years with state supreme courts when they have controlled all levers of state political power.

Republican governors in Arizona and Georgia have signed bills passed by GOP-dominated legislatures to expand the number of seats on their states’ respective high courts. In Iowa, the Republican governor gained greater leverage over the commission that names judicial nominees.

“The arguments being advanced now by Republican leaders — that this is an affront to separation of powers, that this is a way of delegitimizing courts — those don’t seem to be holding at the state level,” said Marin Levy, a law professor at Duke University who has written about efforts to expand state high courts.
…….snip

October 24, 2020

Jeff Tweedy "Give back to black artists"

https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/peopleandplaces/wilco-s-jeff-tweedy-challenges-music-industry-to-give-back-to-black-artists/vi-BB1am05A

CBS News


Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy has kept himself occupied despite performing because of the coronavirus. He's written a book, released a solo album and called on the music industry to follow him in working for racial justice. Anthony Mason reports.

October 24, 2020

Link to check early ballot status Maricopa

https://recorder.maricopa.gov/earlyvotingballot/earlyvotingballotstatus.aspx

MARICOPA COUNTY
Early Voting Ballot Status

October 15, 2020

Resources for Judges on AZ Ballot

Did Russia target Arizona for its 2016 hack?

https://www.abc15.com/news/election-2020/how-to-get-more-information-about-judges-for-the-upcoming-election

ABC15
Doug Ducey

How to get more information about judges for the upcoming election

PHOENIX — As more Arizona voters get their election ballots, more voters likely have the same question: who are all of these judges?
They are likely names you've never heard of doing jobs you don't know much about. Yet, in Maricopa County alone, 40 Superior Court judge decisions are on the ballot.

While smaller counties elect judges, in Pima, Pinal, Coconino, and Maricopa, they are appointed by the governor and you vote to retain them or not.

But since you've likely never visited their courtroom or know who they are, you may just ignore them. Many voters did just that in the Maricopa County 2016 election according to final voting results you can see here.
for the upcoming election

Let Joe Know's Joe Ducey is explaining how voters can get more information about judges for the upcoming election.

Russia targeted AZ voter registration systems
By: Joe DuceyPosted at 4:44 AM, Oct 14, 2020 and last updated 9:38 AM, Oct 14, 2020
PHOENIX — As more Arizona voters get their election ballots, more voters likely have the same question: who are all of these judges?
They are likely names you've never heard of doing jobs you don't know much about. Yet, in Maricopa County alone, 40 Superior Court judge decisions are on the ballot.

While smaller counties elect judges, in Pima, Pinal, Coconino, and Maricopa, they are appointed by the governor and you vote to retain them or not.

But since you've likely never visited their courtroom or know who they are, you may just ignore them. Many voters did just that in the Maricopa County 2016 election according to final voting results you can see here.

If you look at each race or decision, the words "under votes" appear with a total. In these decisions, it means the voter left it blank. In the presidential race, just over 19,000 voters did that. But more than 785,000 people passed on one Superior Court Judge decision. And a check of other judge contests shows similar numbers of voters just leaving them blank.
...snip

October 15, 2020

Fight over Prop 208 to fund public schools

https://www.chron.com/news/article/Tax-on-wealthy-to-fund-Arizona-schools-spurs-15648021.php

Tax on wealthy to fund Arizona schools spurs election fight

BOB CHRISTIE,
Associated Press
Oct. 14, 2020
Updated: Oct. 14, 2020 2:33 p.m.

PHOENIX (AP) — Public schools in Arizona that have weathered a decade of funding cuts with only partial restoration could see a big infusion of cash if a ballot measure backed by teachers and advocacy groups passes in November, but opponents say Proposition 208 will hurt the economy and only bring partial relief.

The Invest in Education Act would impose a 3.5% tax surcharge on income above $250,000 for an individual or above $500,000 for couples. Proponents say it could raise about $940 million a year for schools, although the Legislature's budget analysts estimate comes out to $827 million a year.
….snip

October 15, 2020

Biden the winner in Real Clear poll

I'm not counting my chickens.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/

Latest Polls
Thursday, October 15

Race/Topic (Click to Sort) Poll Results Spread
Arizona: Trump vs. Biden OH Predictive Insights Biden 50, Trump 47 Biden +3
Arizona: Trump vs. Biden Monmouth* Biden 51, Trump 44 Biden +7
Maine: Trump vs. Biden Pan Atlantic Biden 50, Trump 40 Biden +10
Maine CD2: Trump vs. Biden Pan Atlantic Biden 47, Trump 43 Biden +4
Maine CD1: Trump vs. Biden Pan Atlantic Biden 54, Trump 37 Biden +17
Virginia: Trump vs. Biden Roanoke College* Biden 54, Trump 39 Biden +15
General Election: Trump vs. Biden NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl Biden 53, Trump 42 Biden +11
General Election: Trump vs. Biden vs. Jorgensen vs. Hawkins IBD/TIPP Biden 50, Trump 42, Jorgensen 2, Hawkins 1 Biden +8
Arizona Senate - McSally vs. Kelly OH Predictive Insights Kelly 50, McSally 45 Kelly +5
Arizona Senate - McSally vs. Kelly Monmouth* Kelly 52, McSally 42 Kelly +10
Maine Senate - Collins vs. Gideon Pan Atlantic* Gideon 47, Collins 40 Gideon +7
Michigan Senate - James vs. Peters EPIC-MRA Peters 45, James 39 Peters +6
Virginia Senate - Gade vs. Warner Roanoke College Warner 55, Gade 38 Warner +17
Maine 2nd District - Crafts vs. Golden Pan Atlantic Golden 60, Crafts 33 Golden +27
President Trump Job Approval Rasmussen Reports Approve 47, Disapprove 51 Disapprove +4
President Trump Job Approval NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl Approve 44, Disapprove 54 Disapprove +10
2020 Generic Congressional Vote NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl Democrats 49, Republicans 42 Democrats +7
Direction of Country NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl Right Direction 29, Wrong Track 62 Wrong Track +33

October 15, 2020

There are seven coronavirus vaccine candidates being tested in the U.S. -- here's where they stand

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/there-are-seven-coronavirus-vaccine-candidates-being-tested-in-the-us-heres-where-they-stand-2020-09-08

There are seven coronavirus vaccine candidates being tested in the U.S. — here’s where they stand

Published: Oct. 14, 2020 at 8:38 a.m. ET
By Jaimy Lee

At least four of the still investigational vaccines have moved into Phase 3 clinical trials
…snip
The race to develop a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is well under way, setting the stage to bring to market the fastest vaccine in history.
There are dozens of coronavirus vaccines in development, primarily in the preclinical phase when they are tested on animals. In the U.S., there are seven vaccine candidates that have moved into clinical trials with human participants, including four that have moved into the crucial Phase 3 development phase.
…snip
The first and second phases of clinical studies are primarily conducted to test for safety, while the third and final stage is used to determine whether vaccines are efficacious and can prevent infection among participants. At that point, the vaccine makers will decide when to pursue an emergency-use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration and/or a full approval. The majority of the vaccines in development have received funding from the U.S. government, either to help support clinical development or pay for manufacturing and distribution of the vaccines as part of the Trump administration’s “Operation Warp Speed” program.
…snip
Vaccines in Phase 3 trials in the U.S. (cited in alphabetical order, by company name):
• AstraZeneca in partnership with the University of Oxford
• BioNTech and Pfizer Inc.
• Johnson & Johnson US:JNJ
• Moderna Inc.
• Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Novavax Inc.
• Sanofi in combination with GlaxoSmithKline

October 15, 2020

Republican Stock Market Crime

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/private-white-house-briefings-led-investors-to-short-market-and-stock-up-on-toilet-paper-report-says-11602747325?mod=home-page

Private White House briefings led investors to short market and stock up on toilet paper, report says

Last Updated: Oct. 15, 2020 at 10:40 a.m. ETFirst Published: Oct. 15, 2020 at 3:35 a.m. ET
By Steve Goldstein

Private briefings from two senior White House aides to a conservative institution at the outset of the coronavirus outbreak led investors to short the stock market and even load up on toilet paper, according to a published report.
Tomas Philipson, then the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, and Larry Kudlow, the director of the National Economic Council, told the Hoover Institution of the uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus in far more stark terms than those in which they had informed the public, according to the New York Times. The report said Philipson said on Feb. 24 to the Hoover Institution that the White House could not quantify the economic impact, and Kudlow the next day said “we just don’t know” how contained the virus will be.

That led William Callanan, a Hoover board member, to write a memo to David Tepper, the founder of the hedge-fund firm Appaloosa Management, and a Tepper aide, the report said. Callanan allegedly wrote that he found it striking that they both mentioned these concerns, unprovoked. The email was circulated to other Appaloosa employees, who discussed the memo with other investors. The report said the memo helped convince investors to short the stock market.
…..snip