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February 22, 2023 [Heather Cox Richardson, Letters from an American]

By William McClain
In Heather Cox Richardson [Letters from an American]
February 23, 2023
278 views
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  • Fox News Channel personalities knew that Joe Biden had won the 2020 presidential election, but pushed the Big Lie of voter fraud anyway to retain viewers.
  • The Republican narrative since the 1980s has been to get rid of the active government put in place after 1933 to limit unfettered capitalism and to argue that government regulation, the social safety net, civil rights, and investment in infrastructure were socialism, thus undermining traditional America.
  • The Republican narrative has also included cutting Social Security and Medicare, interpreting the Second Amendment to mean that individuals have a right to own whatever weaponry they want, and deregulation.
  • The Republican narrative has resulted in the extraordinary claim that the US is a Marxist, communist country and the introduction of a bill to make the AR-15 the National Gun of America.
  • There is an increase in mass shootings in the US with 13 people killed and 46 injured from February 17-19, 2023.
  • The Republican narrative has led to the extraordinary comment from a state representative in Alaska that children dying of child abuse would save the state money in social services.
  • The Republican narrative has also been used to conceal a report that virtually all claims of fraud against the 2020 Arizona election were unfounded.
  • House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is giving Tucker Carlson of Fox News exclusive access to 44,000 hours of video taken within the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, and raising funds off the release.

Published February 23, 2023
Visit Letters from an American to read Heather Cox Richardson’s original post February 22, 2023

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When a Christian Revival Goes Viral [Thomas Lyons, The Atlantic]

By William McClain
In [The Atlantic]
February 23, 2023
245 views
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  • On February 8th, a group of about 20 students at Asbury University in Kentucky began to worship and pray for one another after a chapel service – This was the initial spark for what has become known as the Asbury Revival, a spiritual movement spreading to other universities and across the nation.
  • The event has gone viral online and continues to draw crowds to Wilmore, KY – People have been describing a “sweet presence,” “deep peace,” and the “quiet, heavy presence of God” when they enter these spaces.
  • At the heart of the event is worship – Singing, praying, scripture reading, and testimonies form the core of the experience. Participants have described a sense of transcendence, love for God and for others, and a slipping away of time.
  • The Asbury Revival has been called a “revival,” “outpouring,” “renewal,” and “awakening” – While these terms all describe a spiritual movement, they are nuanced based on the scope and impact of the event.
  • It has been described as “radically humble” – There is no flashy light system, screens, or celebrity worship leaders, and the event has been guarded by the leaders on the ground against those seeking to co-opt it.
  • The Asbury Revival gives hope for the future of American Christianity – It is a subversive event that has chosen hiddenness, simplicity, and selfless hospitality in a world of 24/7 access.

Published February 23, 2023
Visit The Atlantic to read Thomas Lyons’s original post When a Christian Revival Goes Viral

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Is Earth Running Out of Freshwater? [Brian Gallagher, Nautilus]

By William McClain
In [Nautilus]
February 23, 2023
302 views
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  • Is Earth running out of freshwater? – Global demand for freshwater is expected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030, and 2/3 of the world’s population will face water shortages.
  • How are icebergs going to solve the water crisis? – Icebergs contain a large amount of freshwater, and one 2,000 ft x 650 ft iceberg could supply all of Cape Town, South Africa with water for a year.
  • What technology is needed? – Satellites are needed to locate icebergs, and modeling has been done by Alan Condron at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute to show that icebergs can be transported without melting.
  • What is the goal? – To convince people that icebergs can be a viable freshwater source, and to stop treating it as a joke.

Published February 22, 2023
Visit Nautilus to read Brian Gallagher’s original post Is Earth Running Out of Freshwater?

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The CEO of Black Girls CODE on the Importance of Self-Belief [Carlee Ingersoll, Nautilus]

By William McClain
In [Nautilus]
February 23, 2023
261 views
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  • For the month of February, Nautilus’ Marketing Team will feature interviews with organizations and institutions working to increase opportunities for young Black people to imagine and succeed in STEM career paths—and donate 10 percent of all new member subscriptions toward their initiatives.
  • Black representation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields totaled only 9 percent in 2021, as reported by The National Science Foundation.
  • The mission of Black Girls CODE is to increase the number of Black women and women of color in digital technology by introducing them to computer science, education, and STEM skills at a young age.
  • Black Girls CODE works to shape the narrative that Black girls and women belong in STEM spaces and builds self-belief, perseverance, and a sense of belonging through mentorship, leading by example, and skill building.
  • Black Girls CODE partners with schools and local organizations to facilitate relationships with girls and their families, and recently launched CODE Along, a free video-based coding academy.
  • When Black girls and women win, everyone wins, as it increases financial equity and economic freedom, and allows for more diversity of thought when solving some of the world’s biggest problems.

Published February 22, 2023
Visit Nautilus to read Carlee Ingersoll’s original post The CEO of Black Girls CODE on the Importance of Self-Belief

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Making the Sausage [Freddie deBoer, Freddie deBoer’s Substack]

By William McClain
In Freddie deBoer
February 23, 2023
209 views
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  • My piece about the 1990s was a great success – it had tons of views, hundreds of comments, almost 900 new mailing list signups, dozens of tweets, and shared all over the place, including Substack.
  • Many critics were wrong – the 90s was not a good period for me personally yet I enjoyed it despite the conditions of my life, not because of them.
  • Negative feedback misunderstood the project – I was attempting to simultaneously permit myself an exercise in romantic nostalgia while knowing that things weren’t as good as all that and all good things must end.
  • I aim to cultivate negative capability in my work – being capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason.
  • My value proposition is my writing – anyone can replicate the same political perspective, but not my writing ability.
  • I have a niche – a leftist who maintains a commitment to civil liberties and procedural fairness, and who has serious criticisms of social justice politics, who’s nonetheless not willing to follow many “anti-woke” writers.
  • The financial viability of this newsletter depends on my writing – people want to be moved and it’s the only thing I’m good at.
  • I hope to pursue my idiosyncratic interests while still satisfying the expectations of my readers – so that I can entertain people with unconventional topics while holding down enough conventional topics to stay relevant.
  • Success has little to do with who deserves it – a publishing house came to the conclusion that they can make money selling a book I wrote, and they will be proven right or wrong by the market.

Published February 22, 2023
Visit Freddie deBoer’s Substack to read Freddie deBoer’s original post Making the Sausage

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Diamond Sports Misses Interest Payment, Bally’s Dire Situation, Negotiating Bankruptcy [Ben Thompson, Stratechery]

By William McClain
In Ben Thompson [Stratechery]
February 22, 2023
294 views
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  • Diamond Sports is on the verge of bankruptcy, due to its crippling debt, and the leagues must come to an agreement with the company’s creditors in order to prevent a free-fall bankruptcy.
  • Cord-cutting and virtual bundles such as YouTube TV have caused a decrease in the number of people paying carriage fees, leading to a decline in revenue for Diamond Sports.
  • The company has not made an operating profit since 2019, and its operating cash flow has been negative for over a year.
  • The negotiations are centered around Diamond Sports entering a Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a reorganization plan, in which Sinclair would give up most of its ownership stake in exchange for restructuring or forgiving up to $8 billion of its debt.
  • Sports leagues would grant additional rights to Diamond Sports, particularly digital rights, to help put the regional sports network on stronger footing.
  • In the event that the parties cannot come to an agreement, the leagues and creditors would be in greater danger of not being paid at all.
  • The NBA may seize the opportunity to prioritize their national TV deals and have fewer games, enhancing the value of those that are nationally televised.

Published February 22, 2023
Visit Stratechery to read Ben Thompson’s original post Diamond Sports Misses Interest Payment, Bally’s Dire Situation, Negotiating Bankruptcy

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Florida school board bans three books at the request of allegedly racist and homophobic teacher [Judd Legum, Popular Information]

By William McClain
In [Popular Information]
February 22, 2023
268 views
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  • Vicki Baggett, a high school teacher in Escambia County, Florida, requested the school board to ban three books from public schools. In each case, the school board sided with Baggett over the recommendation of committees comprised of teachers, administrators, librarians, parents, and community members.
  • One of the books banned by the school board is ‘And Tango Makes Three’, a true story of two male Penguins, Roy and Silo. Baggett argued the book promotes the “”LGBTQ agenda using penguins””, and is inappropriate for all grade levels.
  • Baggett also faces accusations of being openly homophobic and racist in class. For example, Baggett allegedly told a 10th-grade student her sister was “”faking being a lesbian for attention”” and that she was only gay because she hadn’t found the right man.
  • In spite of public comments encouraging the board to keep the book, the school board voted 3 to 2 to ban ‘And Tango Makes Three’. The school board also voted to ban ‘All Boys Aren’t Blue’, a young adult book about growing up black and gay.
  • The school board also banned ‘When Aidan Became a Brother’, a story about a trans boy. The materials review committee voted 4 to 1 to keep the book in elementary, middle, and high school libraries.
  • Despite facing serious accusations of homophobia and racism, Baggett is still able to persuade the school board to take her side. This has encouraged Baggett to challenge more books, and she has challenged over 160 titles to date.
  • The school board faces civil liability for removing the books. Sara Latshaw of the Florida ACLU stated the board “”cannot remove a book from the library simply because it has a transgender character.””

Published February 22, 2023
Visit Popular Information to read Judd Legum’s original post Florida school board bans three books at the request of allegedly racist and homophobic teacher

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Peter Zeihan – Putin Announces Withdrawal From START Treaty [Peter Zeihan, Zeihan on Geopolitics]

By William McClain
In Peter Zeihan [Zeihan on Geopolitics]
February 22, 2023
270 views
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  • Russia has now formally withdrawn from the START Treaty – The START Treaty is the core of the entire disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and the basis for the entire American-Russian diplomatic relationship.
  • Putin has stated his intention to not back down from the war in Ukraine – Despite the fact that it is not allowed under international law, Putin has justified the war as being for “ancestral lands”.
  • The Western world is unified in their stance against Russia – The Munich Security Conference has shown a strong stance from the EU, with Ursula vandale and the EU’s foreign policy Chief both making strong statements.

Published February 22, 2023
Visit YouTube to watch Peter Zeihan’s original vlog Peter Zeihan – Putin Announces Withdrawal From START Treaty

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Peter Zeihan – US Policy: Russia Gets Blacklisted [Peter Zeihan, Zeihan on Geopolitics]

By William McClain
In Peter Zeihan [Zeihan on Geopolitics]
February 22, 2023
286 views
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  • U.S President Joe Biden’s Trip to Kiev: President Biden made a trip to Kiev in the midst of an air raid, demonstrating a clear commitment to the Ukrainian cause.
  • Accusation of Crimes Against Humanity: Vice President Kamala Harris accused the Russian government of crimes against humanity, a term not used lightly.
  • Torture Camps: Over 70 torture camps have been identified, with many more in Russian-occupied territories.
  • Secretary of State Tony Blinken’s Announcement: Secretary of State Blinken announced that the Chinese are considering providing lethal aid and ammunition to the Russians.
  • Meltdown in Relations with China: Relations with China are reaching a meltdown, with the Chinese unable to make cohesive decisions and implement them across their system.
  • Strict American Sanctions: If the Chinese continue on this path, the U.S will enforce strict sanctions, including financial sanctions with sharply limited access to the US dollar.

Published February 21, 2023
Visit YouTube to watch Peter Zeihan’s original vlog Peter Zeihan – US Policy: Russia Gets Blacklisted

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Peter Zeihan – The Wagner Group: Russia’s Flunkies [Peter Zeihan, Zeihan on Geopolitics]

By William McClain
In Peter Zeihan [Zeihan on Geopolitics]
February 22, 2023
287 views
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  • Wagner: A Russian paramilitary group controlled by a man named Pragueism and provides the Russian government with plausible deniability on military activities.
  • Ukraine War: Wagner has been involved in Battle of Bakfit with a minimum of 10,000 casualties and potentially up to 40,000.
  • Recruitment: Wagner recruits from former military officers and prisons, however with the Russian military expanding there is no longer a pool of skilled military recruits for Wagner to pull from.
  • Implications: The implications for the Ukraine war are limited, however elsewhere in the world the implications are significant as the Kremlin has been using Wagner to generate influence in Africa. If Wagner cannot maintain its current staffing levels, it is only a matter of time before one country decides that Wagner is more trouble than it’s worth.

Published February 20, 2023
Visit YouTube to watch Peter Zeihan’s original vlog Peter Zeihan – The Wagner Group: Russia’s Flunkies

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