More on Alabama’s defiance of a court order on gerrymandering

#ELB: “The fight over Alabama’s congressional redistricting now shifts back to federal court” https://t.co/JTSS22LQn5
— Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) July 24, 2023

https://twitter.com/marceelias/status/1682837617576902658?s=43&t=rIYxMSgaBTiASp7yrXMpjA

Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated House and Senate instead passed a plan that would increase the percentage of Black voters from about 31% to 40% in the state's 2nd District. https://t.co/D5Jfd6waxx
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) July 23, 2023

It’s not just Alabama’s congressional map, the state legislative maps are also making their way through the courts.

Alabama needs an Independent Redistricting Commission.
— The Redistrict Network (@RedistrictNet) July 23, 2023

I suspect Alabama will appeal the inevitable court ruling against them to the Supreme Court, taking Kavanaugh’s invitation to make a case the entire VRA is unconstitutional. SCOTUS then again says “Purcell Principle” means the illegal map is used for 2024 pending a new decision
— Michael McDonald (@ElectProject) July 21, 2023

Today both chambers of the Alabama Legislature will have passed a redrawn congressional district map. This map makes CD2 39.9% Black VAP, bumping it down to single digits but still reliably Republican. This does not address the court decision at all. pic.twitter.com/4iH1ZWcgXz
— Drew Savicki (@DrewSav) July 21, 2023

The map is in flagrant violation of SCOTUS's decision. https://t.co/hNF9VjyVic
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) July 21, 2023

Republicans liked it when the Supreme Court forced women to give birth, but when the same court orders Alabama to give Black voters fair representation, they defy the highest court in the land.
White-identity fascism is a threat to our democracy. https://t.co/NJZQH0BrJv
— Pro-Democracy (@ProDemocracyRTs) July 21, 2023

https://twitter.com/marceelias/status/1682471257097240576?s=43&t=rIYxMSgaBTiASp7yrXMpjA

The New York Times and the Washington Post on the crisis for regional theater

As they struggle to recover after the pandemic, regional theaters in the U.S. are staging fewer shows, giving fewer performances, laying off staff and, in some cases, closing. https://t.co/UzrmbK5BL4
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 23, 2023

The crisis for regional theater in America is real, deep and ongoing. So profound that theater leaders now circulate a list of the latest casualties. Read here about it, with the paywall down. https://t.co/vQL8a2pfRj
— Peter Marks (@petermarksdrama) July 6, 2023

Covers: Can’t Let Go

“Can’t Let Go” is best known to me from the Lucinda Willams version on her great 1998 album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. I didn’t recall that it was written by Randy Weeks.

Republican opposition to Covid vaccines killed people

“In this..study evaluating 538 159 deaths in individuals aged 25 years & older in Florida & Ohio..excess mortality was significantly higher for Republican voters than Democratic voters after COVID-19 vaccines were available to all adults, but not before.” https://t.co/3ighodMfvE
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) July 24, 2023

The political maelstrom swirling around coronavirus vaccines may be to blame for a higher rate of excess deaths among registered Republicans in Ohio and Florida during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a study published Monday.https://t.co/mfMv6vMSax
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 24, 2023

Under DeSantis, Floridians died at a higher rate than residents of almost any other state during the Delta wave of Covid; with 7% of the nation’s population, Florida accounted for 14% of deaths from July and October. @SharonLNYT @PatriciaMazzei @albertsun https://t.co/QpNNKLe3Ag
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) July 23, 2023

“The NPR analysis found that people in counties that primarily voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election were three times as likely to die from covid-19 compared with those living in counties that leaned toward President Joe Biden.” https://t.co/NEsYfFyUkz
— jennycohn@toad.social ✍🏻 📢 (@jennycohn1) July 28, 2023

Tweet on death rates by Nate Silver

Tweet on how Burger King’s “Have It Your Way” campaign ended up

The unofficial timeline of how Burger King's 'have it your way' offer ended up with a guy ordering a $290, 100-patty burger in Bangkok https://t.co/t8XnSttguw
— Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) July 21, 2023

Republicans are trying to avoid compliance with court order on gerrymandering in Alabama

I don’t see how this plan complies with the court order. I hope the judges reject it.

BREAKING: Alabama conference committee passes new congressional map. The plan, called Livingston 3, has a Black voting age population share of 50.65% in District 7 and 39.9% in District 2.

The map will go to the House and Senate for approval before heading to the governor.
— Democracy Docket (@DemocracyDocket) July 21, 2023

The Conference Committee is currently meeting and considering a new Congressional Map. It is the Livingston Congressional Plan 3-2023. Here it is. The BVAP in the proposed 2nd congressional district is 39.93% and it will be 50.65% in the second Congressional district. pic.twitter.com/Ae5FEOlfEt
— Chris England (@RepEngland70) July 21, 2023

Alabama House's GOP majority has acted in a way that made clear they had little intention of following SCOTUS' decision. The message is, they are entitled to power regardless of how Alabamians vote. They want to pick their voters instead of letting voters pick them. https://t.co/faAprtHjRp
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) July 20, 2023

BREAKING: Alabama Senate passes its own congressional map, which does not contain a second majority-Black district. Both chambers of the Alabama Legislature have passed different maps; lawmakers must agree on and enact a map by Friday or the court takes over drawing a new map. https://t.co/1yHc7CNsUC pic.twitter.com/6FD7m96HoB
— Democracy Docket (@DemocracyDocket) July 19, 2023

Alabama Republicans are trying desperately to dilute the power of Black voters. https://t.co/3tHdyWSQmK
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) July 19, 2023

This is Republican theater. The Court ordered a lawful map. If the legislature refused to comply, the Court will need to adopt its own. https://t.co/n5Rxw14nsn
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) July 18, 2023

Yesterday, Alabama state House Republicans advanced a new congressional map that failed to draw a court-ordered second Black district.

Today, Senate Republicans advanced a map that's even worse.

2nd District 2020 presidential results:
House map: Trump+4
Senate map: Trump+12 https://t.co/lgmJWjKSfY
— Stephen Wolf (@PoliticsWolf) July 18, 2023

The Alabama House's plan for the state's new congressional district map falls well short of the court's order. Under this plan, AL-2 is 42.5% Black and still voted GOP for President in 2012-2020. This would not reliably elect a candidate of minority voters choosing. pic.twitter.com/DSa9eDENCr
— Drew Savicki (@DrewSav) July 18, 2023

Polls on climate change show that Republicans ignore facts

Republicans are going to harm all of us by not supporting efforts to prevent climate change.

Do you think that climate change is going to have a significant negative effect on the world in your lifetime via Quinnipiac poll:

Democrats:
85% yes, negative effect
13% no

Republicans:
23% yes, negative effect
74% no
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) July 21, 2023

Views on climate change via Quinnipiac poll:

Democrats:
76% very concerned
19% somewhat concerned
6% not concerned

Republicans:
9% very concerned
26% somewhat concerned
63% not concerned
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) July 21, 2023

Majorities of Americans Prioritize Renewable Energy, Back Steps to Address Climate Change. (Pew Research Center) Details: https://t.co/4l0qhMPnan pic.twitter.com/lZBmlfpB8M
— Opinion Today (@OpinionToday) June 28, 2023

Poll shows:
-49% of Americans believe #climate change is caused by human activity
-BUT 27% say it's mostly caused by natural patterns -7% insist it's not happening at all.
-46% of #Republicans believe it's caused by natural patterns, vs 13% of #Democrats https://t.co/Qhmbt70iip
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) May 25, 2023

Supreme Court term limits are a fantasy

Setting term limits at 18 years for Supreme Court justices is a popular proposal. It would not produce results anytime soon and I doubt Republicans would support it. There is public support for it but Republicans in Congress won’t care.

If current justices are excluded, it would take decades to affect the 6-3 balance of the Supreme Court. Trump’s three picks will be around for decades.
Why would Republicans agree to this when they have had such success stacking the court with the current process? They have shown they don’t care about traditions, just power. I would never expect them to agree to a process that could cost them the court majority eventually.

It’s time for Supreme Court term limits. Staggered 18-year terms would bring regular turnover to the bench. The result would be a Court that better reflects public values. Here’s our proposal on how this would work:https://t.co/d22jjhBiMa
— Brennan Center (@BrennanCenter) July 17, 2023

You could set term limits for justices, but this has limited support, especially since it Republicans have nothing to gain from it. You'd also need 60 votes in the Senate. So, DOA. 7/n https://t.co/vCMkcZS57w
— Brynn Tannehill (@BrynnTannehill) July 15, 2023

A strong majority, across party lines, wants term limits for Supreme Court Justices. Via @NavigatorSurvey pic.twitter.com/eWANPXnuZR
— Nick Gourevitch (@nickgourevitch) July 18, 2023

Fox News national poll

• 81% favor term limits for Congress

• 66% favor 18-year term limits on Supreme Court justices

• 71% favor mandatory SCOTUS retirement age

• 46% favor expanding SCOTUS

• 55% favor replacing electoral college for prez elections with popular vote
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) July 18, 2022

Support for term limits on Supreme Court Justices appears to be growing. New Quinnipiac poll shows Americans favor limiting the number of years Justices can serve by 69% in favor to 27% opposed. Even Republicans favor by 61% to 36%. No exact term specified in question. #SCOTUS
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) May 18, 2022

It’s time for Supreme Court term limits. Staggered 18- year terms would ensure that the Court stays in touch with American society and that no justice has too much power for too long. Here are Brennan Center resources on how this would work:https://t.co/GjYAExvhSo
— Brennan Center (@BrennanCenter) September 8, 2023

The 1/6/21 Trump mob – now some regret their guilty pleas

A growing number of Capitol rioters have gone back on their guilty pleas and apologies.

"I never said I was duped by Trump," Jacob Anthony Chansley aka the QAnon Shaman told the BBC. "I never denounced Q or the QAnon community…"https://t.co/BYoOT2j7Px
— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) July 16, 2023

Judge Mehta just tore into Jan. 6 defendant Audrey Southard-Rumsey, who repeatedly assaulted and resisted police — and screamed vulgarities at them outside the House chamber even as members were still hiding inside

She expressed no remorse today.

He sentenced her to 72 months.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 14, 2023

A former California police chief who called for the execution of Donald Trump's political enemies after the 2020 election and spread conspiracy theories about Jan. 6 after taking part in the Capitol attack has been found guilty of four charges. https://t.co/Xmk5q7mcSo
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 14, 2023

"A DC chiropractor who took part in the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol was sentenced Tuesday to 2 months in jail for a misdemeanor offense. But he still faces a wrongful-death lawsuit accusing him of assaulting a police officer who later died by suicide." https://t.co/qQZe0JEKWp
— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) June 14, 2023

My thoughts on the rest of the Orioles season (7/16/23)

The Orioles have had a great season so far. I think they will make the playoffs but I don’t think they will go far unless they trade for a top starting pitcher. Most teams they could play will have a number one starter better than what the Orioles have. The Orioles have more good minor league prospects than they can use so they have plenty of guys to trade.

The Orioles have won more games than expected based on run differential. Their record is 56-35. Per Baseball Reference, based on their run differential (+52), their record should be 51-40. The teams ahead of them in the American League have much better run differentials. Tampa Bay is +156 and Texas is +158. The Orioles have exceeded their projected wins because of the back end of the bullpen. At the beginning of the season, FanDuel only projected them to win 76.5 games – I took the over and it looks like I will win some money. Per the Baltimore Sun, FanGraphs said the Orioles were projected to finish 35-38 after the All-Star break because they have the toughest expected schedule in baseball.

Starting pitching and middle relief are the biggest concerns. I am worried that their young starters (Wells, Bradish, Kremer) haven’t thrown that many innings before and may wear out or have to be restricted.

I am concerned that the Orioles may not sign their young stars to long-term contracts and plead that they are in a small market. The team is very profitable and should sign players to long deals.

Still, this has been a fine season and the future is very bright.

from Roch Kubatko on MASN 7/17: “They’ve gone 31-23 against teams with winning records for the third-best winning percentage in the majors at .574.”

The Baltimore Sun’s take:

The Orioles' playoff odds on FanGraphs entering the season were 10.4% — the fourth-worst in the AL. Now, they have an 81.8% chance to make the playoffs — the fourth-best odds in MLB.

It might be time to start adjusting expectations for the Orioles. https://t.co/RmC24FNL4Q
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) July 16, 2023