Who needs horror movies, when you’ve got the Supreme Court of the United States! Another judicial term is upon us, and frankly I don’t really need another sequel in this franchise. Today we’ve got a new senator from the great state of California, some drama in the House of Representatives on both sides of the aisle, and a jumbo space discovery (if any aliens out there are reading this, please come save us from ourselves.) I do think Clarence Thomas and Harlan Crow would be a really cute couples costume for anyone who needs Halloween ideas.
|
|
|
Gov. Newsom announces Laphonza Butler as DiFi replacement |
A man keeping his promises? Truly breaking news. After pledging in 2021 to appoint a Black woman to fill Dianne Feinstein's seat if it were to become vacant before an election, CA Governor Gavin Newsom announced EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler as his pick to step in for the late Senator. Not only will Butler become the second Black woman after Kamala Harris to represent California in the Senate (and only the third Black woman EVER to have served in the Senate), she will be the first openly LGBT senator from California and the first Black lesbian to serve in Congress. Prior to leading EMILY’s List, which works to elect pro-abortion Democrats, Butler was the director of public policy and campaigns at Airbnb and a partner at the political consulting firm SCRB Strategies. She also served as president of Service Employees International Union Local 2015, which represents over 325,000 nursing-home and home-care workers in California, for more than 10 years. Dianne Feinstein leaves behind a complicated legacy. She served California for decades, fought for gun control and abortion rights, but also her declining cognitive health towards the end of her life effectively left the most populous state in the country down a senator. As a Californian, I am just jazzed we’re gonna have the same amount of senators as North Dakota again! Read more.
|
|
|
Matt Gaetz threatens to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker |
Like I said, California is the most populous state in the country which means statistically speaking some people who suck are bound to live here, like Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. And yet despite McCarthy’s long record of sucking, he is somehow not the villain in this story. Human thumb Rep. Matt Gaetz is trying to strip McCarthy of his leadership after he *checks notes* did his job. McCarthy worked with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown, which according to Gaetz means that McCarthy is a woke SJW. If Gaetz makes a motion to vacate the chair, it would take a majority of the House to actually remove McCarthy – something that has literally never happened. Anyway, best of luck to possible sex trafficker Matt Gaetz. At least if he’s busy doing this, we won’t have to hear more of him and his wife’s movie reviews. Read more.
|
|
|
"Did you hear? Taylor Swift went to another football game last night with a bunch of celebrity friends. I just think it’s great she’s doing so much to raise awareness for C.T.E. " |
|
|
Supreme Court back in session |
It’s back to school for Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, and the whole gang, and this year, they’re coming for even more of our civil rights! That’s right, it’s the start of a new judicial term, and one of the big cases to watch is CFPB v. CFSA (what a name!) which poses an enormous threat to consumer protections and could, according to Stephen Vladeck, an authority on constitutional law at the University of Texas law school, “bring down much of the American financial system.” There are also cases about abortion, gun control, and as per usual, the future of our democracy. Spooky szn indeed. Read more.
|
|
|
Rep. Dean Phillips steps down from Dem leadership |
Meanwhile on the other side of the aisle, Democrat Dean Phillips of Minnesota is voluntarily stepping down from his House leadership position as the co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee after floating a possible primary challenge to President Biden. Phillips told Axios, “My convictions relative to the 2024 presidential race are incongruent with the majority of my caucus, and I felt it appropriate to step aside from elected leadership.” He added, "I'll continue to abide by my convictions, place people over politics, and support our shared mission to deliver security, opportunity, and prosperity for all Americans. Onward!" Weird way to learn Dean Phillips and I have the same email sign-off. Onward! Read more.
|
|
|
Donald Trump's business fraud trial starts in New York |
Another day, another legal battle for former President Donald Trump. This time, it’s a civil trial focused on his business dealings: New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that the "Home Alone 2" star and his executive team engaged in fraudulent business practices including inflating the value of his real estate holdings in New York and in Florida in order to land deals. Trump has said he will attend the trial and has vowed to “fight for my name and reputation.” Lol ok. If found guilty, Trump would have to pay $250 million and be banned from doing business in the state of New York. That’ll be one hell of a “leaving New York” essay. Read more.
|
|
|
Anti-abortion attorneys in Texas demand providers’ and donors’ personal information |
Texas may have given us Beyoncé, but there is a reason she no longer lives there. As part of a lawsuit over Texas' six-week abortion ban, anti-abortion activists have petitioned for several Texas abortion funds to reveal information about every abortion the organizations have “assisted or facilitated in any way” since 2021. This includes personal information on thousands of people: doctors, medical support staff, abortion fund workers, and donors. Neesha Davé, the executive director of Lilith Fund, one of the funds included in the case, said “This is a stunning escalation attacking the free speech and privacy rights of so many people… It is objectively terrifying to think about what anti-abortion extremists want to do with this personal information and how low they are willing to go to get it.” There’s probably a perfectly non-sinister reason that anti-abortion activists in Texas want the personal information of anyone who has ever supported abortion funds in the state, like, uhhh… well… hmm… Nope I’m out. Here’s your regular reminder that you can set up recurring donations to local abortion funds to get folks the health care they need. Read more.
|
|
|
James Webb telescope makes discovery of planet-like objects in Orion |
Oh thank god, there might be more planets we can escape to. Scientists have discovered Jupiter-sized "planets" free-floating in space in the Orion Nebula. These Jupiter Mass Binary Objects, or "JuMBOs" for short, are apparently moving in pairs, and astronomers are struggling to explain why. One possibility is that they were “made around stars and were then kicked out into interstellar space through various interactions.” Stars, they’re just like us! Read more.
|
|
|
LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS |
Russia-friendly leader elected in Slovakia |
Robert Fico, a former prime minister who took a pro-Russian campaign stance, and his populist party finished first in Slovakia’s parliamentary elections this weekend. Many in Europe see this as a sign of waning support for Ukraine. Fico’s platform included stopping all arms shipments to Ukraine and placed blame for the war equally on the West and Russia. Slovakia was the first country to deliver fighter jets to Ukraine, so this shift is eyebrow raising to say the least. Read more.
|
|
|
INTERNET THOUGHT OF THE DAY |
|
|
The Betches Sup newsletter is written by Alise Morales. You can find her on TikTok @alisenavidad and Instagram @pandalise and check out her live comedy show "The Roast of Your Teenage Self" in New York Comedy fest 11/11 at 9:30pm. Tickets here.
|
|
|
Copyright © 2023 Betches Media, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
43 W 24th St, New York, NY 10010
Want to change how you receive these emails?
update your preferences here
|
|
|
|
