Robert Reich

Sunday thought
The more Trump’s tyranny is exposed, the stronger the resistance.






Friends,

Trump has entered a new and wilder stage of authoritarian neofascism. No holds barred. Nothing out of bounds. Rapacious, racist, nativist, vindictive, corrupt.

In his desperate attempt to deflect attention from his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, he’s even accusing Barack Obama of treason.

If you’re also horrified by all this, know that most other Americans are, too (if polls are to be believed).

Resistance is more important than ever.

We are deeply indebted to all the judges who are trying to stop this. Most have shown themselves principled, steadfast, and courageous.

READ MORE...

Morning Brew

Who’s responsible for driverless vehicle crashes?

Joe Raedle/Getty Images


Assessing responsibility in a car crash where all parties are humans can be difficult, but determining who—or what—is at fault when a self-driving vehicle is involved presents a new complication for the legal system.

But clarity is coming—a federal trial began in Miami last Monday over whether Tesla should be blamed for the 2019 death of 22-year-old Naibel Benavides after she was struck and killed by a Model S on Autopilot with a human driver present.

In this case: George Brian McGee, 48, was behind the wheel, dropped his phone, and reached down to grab it with his foot on the gas. The vehicle blew through a stop sign, striking and killing Benavides and severely injuring her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, while they were parked legally.

The arguments in Tesla’s first federal jury trial—the company had previously settled at least four suits over fatal crashes—are pitting human vs. machine:The plaintiffs contend that Tesla is at least partly responsible, since its technology failed to warn the driver of an imminent crash and didn’t recognize a stop sign, plus the automatic brakes didn’t activate.
Tesla’s defense is that McGee had been speeding at 90 miles per hour earlier that evening and was “aggressive” and “distracted” while behind the wheel.

The legal standard could make proving Tesla’s liability difficult: As The Verge reported, it’s likely an uphill climb for the plaintiffs, since the court is using Florida’s standard, which is “whether the car manufacturer exhibited a reckless disregard for human life equivalent to manslaughter by designing and marketing the vehicle.”

As for other states…few have language on the books to determine who is liable in the case of an autonomous vehicle accident. In Alabama, the human in the car is liable for any accident. But many states still do not specify who would be at fault in an accident.

Bottom line: Should Tesla lose this case, it could hurt the company’s reputation and further damage its already flagging sales, as the company has staked its future on growing its robotaxi fleet.—DL

At A Glance

The IKEA effect, and why the Swedish company is successful.

Explaining why our ears pop.

A visual map of the 1 million texts most assigned in college courses.

What surgery was like before anesthesia.

The wall of trees planted in the central US to combat the Dust Bowl.

Why firetrucks cost $2M.

Behind the scenes at Pamplona's iconic running of the bulls.

Dancing for the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth.

Why all dams are temporary.

The reinvention of He Jiankui, the scientist who gene-edited babies.

How the extinction of dinosaurs gave rise to fruit on Earth.

Tracking how close we are to achieving "Star Trek" technologies.

Users of iMessage found they could not send the phrase "Dave & Buster's."

The 17th-century cup made of toxic metal used to induce vomiting.

Are we addicted to chaos?

How to FINALLY eat enough vegetables (if you hate vegetables)

Quick Clips

 

In The NEWS

Trump administration unfreezes billions in withheld education funding.

The Education Department announced yesterday the release of over $5B in funding for extracurricular programs, English language classes, teacher preparation, and more. The funding represents the bulk of the $7B that was frozen earlier this month while Trump administration officials reviewed whether funding allocations aligned with their policy priorities. More than $1B for after-school and summer programs was released last week amid mounting bipartisan pressure from lawmakers.



Conflict between Thailand and Cambodia escalates.

Thailand warned of war Friday as an armed border dispute with Cambodia entered its second day. Thai authorities also imposed martial law in eight districts, amid reports that at least 16 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced. The Cambodian prime minister said his country was prepared for a ceasefire and accused Thailand of backing out of a deal brokered by Malaysia. The US and China also offered to mediate a truce. See our previous write-up here.



Aging accelerates in middle age, according to new research.

A comprehensive study of protein changes in different organs over time suggests aging is not linear. Researchers analyzed tissue samples from 76 individuals of Chinese ancestry, aged 14 to 68, who died of accidental brain injuries; they found an inflection point around age 50, after which the pace of aging appeared to accelerate. The study also revealed different organs age at different rates, with blood vessels aging first. However, researchers caution larger studies are needed to confirm age 50 as a definitive turning point.



The UK and Australia to sign nuclear submarine treaty.

The pact cements a 50-year partnership between the United Kingdom and Australia to develop nuclear-powered submarines. It strengthens AUKUS, a trilateral security alliance formed by the UK, Australia, and the US in response to growing Chinese military power in the Asia-Pacific region. Initially entered by the US under the Biden administration, the alliance is now undergoing review by the Trump administration to ensure it aligns with its agenda.



Deportations from 'Alligator Alcatraz' begin, Florida governor says.

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced yesterday the Department of Homeland Security had flown about 100 detainees from the remote Everglades detention center to other countries. He did not specify which countries, but said the number of deportations would soon increase. Critics have condemned the facility as inhumane; it was built within a week and currently holds roughly 2,000 people who the Trump administration claims are violent criminals. See our previous write-up here.



Former US Rep. George Santos begins federal prison sentence.

The former New York congressman reported to federal prison yesterday to serve a more than seven-year prison sentence for fraud charges that also led to his expulsion from Congress. The Republican pleaded guilty last summer to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with his 2022 congressional campaign. In the days leading up to his sentence, he appeared on a podcast, posted a series of emotional tweets, and hosted a virtual goodbye party on X.



Astronomer HR chief resigns after Coldplay kiss cam incident.

Kristin Cabot's resignation as chief people officer at the technology company yesterday came days after CEO Andy Byron resigned. The two executives were caught on a Jumbotron having an intimate moment at a Coldplay concert in Boston; the video quickly went viral. Both Cabot and Byron are reportedly married and have children.

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

Turning on Trump

 

Mainstream Media could not believe it when Donald Trump got elected for a second term, initially believing the election had to have been stolen.  They could not believe he was that popular a second time around.

During first few months of his Presidency, they still could not believe the polls indicating his popularity was still high.  When his numbers decreased a little, they ROARED with positive statements about he was failing and nothing would be going his way.

Trump's second administration planned from the getgo that they had 2 years to get things done because history tells us that midterm elections always favor the party that is not in control...  meaning the GOP is likely to lose the House and Senate.

Again, this is exactly what TRUMP PLANNED FOR...

Not only do they expect to lose the House and Senate, the odds are (historically) that the 2028 election will favor the DEMOCRATS in the Presidency, maybe the Congress.

SIX MONTHS INTO THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY, mainstream media is publishing articles that say EVERYONE IS TURNING AGAINST TRUMP...

Whether that is true or not is meaningless and irrelevant...

Trump cannot run for a THIRD TERM.

Trump was President twice and he is done...  I don't think, given Trump's age, that he gives a damn what happens to the GOP because there is a new generation of politicians to FINALLY REPLACE THE BABY BOOMERS...

Looking at what is happening to this country, the USA is likely to NOT GO REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT BUT SOCIALISTIC...

Why do I say that?

AI/Humanoid Robots are taking 80% of the jobs...  We will be face with having a govt that takes care of the people via a guaranteed income...  that is SOCIALISM...

Our govt will either have to tax companies at a higher rate, tax the use of robots, or tax wealthy people at a higher rate...  OR All THREE...

We cannot stop AI/Humanoid Robots!!!

We cannot stop AI/Humanoid Robots from taking our jobs!!!

We will be backed into the corner to provide an income for everyone!!!

SOCIALISM MUST CONQUER US GOVT

Somewhat Political

 

100 undiscovered galaxies could be orbiting the Milky Way, according to new research

There could be many more satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way than previously thought or observed, according to astronomers.

As many as 100 undiscovered galaxies that are too faint to be seen could be surrounding the galaxy that houses Earth and the solar system, new research has found.

Cosmologists at Durham University in England made the discovery using a new technique that combines the highest-resolution supercomputer simulations in existence with mathematical modeling, they announced at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting in Durham on Friday.

The supercomputer predicted the existence of missing "orphan" galaxies -- suggesting that up to 100 or more satellite galaxies are orbiting the Milky Way at close distances.

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Michael Jackson Billie Jean Live 1997

Mother's Love

 

Lara Trump

 

Suburbia

 

The Shannon Joy Show

 

Russell Brand

 

Reading

 

The White House

 

The Big MIG

 

Isolation

 

News Variable