#Rails to Trails Conservancy

[goingplacesfarandnear]

Rails to Trails Conservancy Highlights Benefits on Celebrate Trails Day, April 26

Biking the Great Allegheny Passage trail with Rails to Trails Conservancy. The trail is part of the Great American Rail-Trail that ultimately will create a transcontinental network of trails 3,700 miles from Washington DC to Washington state. Find a trail near you on Celebrate Trails Day, April 26.  © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com By Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate,…

[mwolf0epsilon]

Fun Mimic Fact of the Day: Mimics are a lot more intelligent than most people give them credit. Especially the zoologists who are adamant on defending the specialised animal vs folklore beast theory.

Sure, there is an argument to be had that some species of primates, octopi, dolphins and parrots are good examples of animals displaying higher problem solving capabilities, as well as an awareness of language and cooperation within an established "society/social group". Giving some credence to the hypothesis.

But these examples still lack the refinement and sense of awareness that a mimic displays when comfortable among humans.

This is what convinces those who work with mimics more personally that they are, in fact, fae and not mere animals. Especially when working in railways that are in favour of conservation efforts (the NWR being a prime example), or within households that have had one vehicle mimic for generations.

People who have a lot of contact with mimics (especially older/elderly ones), will notice mannerisms and actions that surpass basic animal intellect or even acts of mimicry.

Here are a few examples:

Charlie Sand and Sidney Hever participate in a children's reading program at the library. They have both witnessed Edward (who they loan to the library in his smaller form so that children with learning disabilities and speech impediments have the opportunity to read to him) not only speaking in clear English, but also read paragraphs when the child that is meant to be reading to him can't seem to pronounce the words.

Sir Topham Hatt has watched Glynn work the kettle and prepare himself tea, as well as help himself to the radio when he's had to work from home.

The station-masters have noticed that, whenever they forget to feed the various cats that linger around the various stations around the island, someone comes in and does it for them (leaving behind a trail of opened cat food bags and cans). They can't be sure, but they have their suspicions that Gordon might be the one picking up their slack, because the cats all come to greet him when he comes by as if he were one of them.

The Duke and Duchess of Boxford once gave Spencer some old newspapers for him to entertain himself (thinking he'd just rip them up and roll around on the shredded paper) only to find someone had filled in all the crosswords and cut out sections of the funnies or interesting articles.

Hiro appears to know sign language. At the very least, he seems to use his paws to make very defined gestures when interacting with his crew. Whether or not this is a form of mimic dialect or Japanese sign language is currently unknown, since very few people on Sodor knows how to speak Japanese much less know JSL.

Mimics who participated in the war efforts both recognize and understand military slang and morse code. Flying Scotsman appears to be in the habit of using morse code to grumble about British Rail's incompetence, something which seems to amuse the occasional veteran that take his train to Vicarstown.

[darlingdesire]

wide awake

(Elijah Hewson x female!reader)

Warnings: none

Genre: fluff

Word count: 3483

Des talks!: my first eli fic woooooo!!!! I've been an inhaler fan for years but have never gotten round to writing for Elijah but I have been wanting to for ages omg. This is basically just a random fluff imagine where they just ramble and talk, nothing special. I am taking requests for Eli and Rob, so go ahead and send them in because I would love to write your ideas!! (p.s I haven't written anything in a year and so I’m a bit rusty oops)

Letting out a heavy sigh, Eli rose out of bed, careful not to wake the girl beside him and stepped out onto the balcony. Lighting a cigarette and taking in the burning smoke into his lungs to maybe ease his ever pacing mind, he trailed mindlessly over to the balcony railing. The cold winter air prickled at his skin; it caused goosebumps to form, but he didn't care much for the uncomfortable feeling.

It wasn't as silent as it was out here like it was in the bedroom. The quiet bedroom only made his racing mind grow louder. But out here, he could hear all different kinds of sounds. He could hear the distant sound of cars—people coming home or leaving home for work... it brought him comfort knowing that there were other people out there who were awake just like he was—at such a random of the night too.

He wondered what they were all doing. Did they only just wake up and are on their way to work? Or have they just finished a night shift and are in their way to bed. Maybe they were coming back from a night out. Or maybe they were wide awake just as Eli was, and decided to go take a trip to the 24-hour McDonalds.

After a few minutes he heard the sliding door shut behind him and he turned his head to the sound; his brown eyes landing on her.

She was barely awake, her lips were still stuck in a pout and her eyes were close to shutting again. Her hands were tucked inside of her sleeves, her fists balling the material as to conserve heat and she wrapped her arms around herself to fight the cold chill of the night air off.

She was here with him in the cold; even though she would rather be in bed all warm and snuggly.

He exhaled, smoke leaving his lips as he finally spoke to her; "You should be asleep, love."

She stayed stood in her spot right by the door, wondering the same thing about him. She had felt him leave the bed a few minutes ago and had assumed he had gone to the kitchen for a drink—but after a while of feeling how empty and cold the bed was without him, she finally opened her eyes to see him standing out on the balcony.

"You okay?" She asked him, her pout softening; then she began to take a few steps toward him, "can't sleep?"

He watched as she approached him, a small smirk on the edge of his lips. His eyes softened when he heard the gentle hum, his heart swelling in his chest at such a small noise from her. He took a moment to admire her before answering her question.

He shook his head, "Can't sleep," he mumbled, taking another drag on his cigarette before continuing on, "Needed to get some air."

She nodded gently, folding my arms over her chest still as she gazed out at the view before them; fully intent on staying out here with him for as long as he needed.

"Y' Mind can't stop racing?" she asked him after a beat; looking back at him to see that he was gazing out at the view too.

They had a nice apartment near the docks, it was very beautiful in the day and night. It was a nice little home for them.

He nodded slowly in confirmation of her question, his mind racing with thoughts that he can't seem to get rid of. The weight of his thoughts were almost suffocating, and yet, her presence alone was a soothing balm to his racing mind.

He glanced at her briefly, a weary expression on his face, "Yeah," he murmured in response to her question, the wind whipping at his hair.

She nibbled on her lower lip, her eyes softening at his words. There have been times where she has found him sat up in bed with the bedside light on as he scribbled words into a notepad, or times where he is sitting out on the balcony with his guitar in his lap when he should be asleep; and sometimes he would be awake just stressing about tour and music. She loved that about him—how dedicated he was to his music and career; she loved everything about him, of course. But she didn't like to see him stress out about it all, over the thing he loved so much.

She hoped the reason his mind was racing was because he had a piece of music stuck in his head that he couldn't properly form on his guitar or notepad; it was much better than him stressing about other stuff. "

It might help if you tell me what's going on?" she smiled gently at him, tilting her head sweetly at him.

He met her gaze with a tired smile in return; he could not deny her words. He knew that talking about what was troubling him may help him calm his thoughts. But he still felt bad everytime. He didn't want to burden her.

"It's just tour stuff," he admitted, glancing out at the view for a brief moment before meeting her eyes again. "I can't stop thinking about it.. All the venues, the setlists, the scheduling, and the fans.."

She nodded along to what he was saying, “Yeah, it does get hectic sometimes," She agreed, empathising with him, "but you have a crap load of people on your team to help deal with that stuff, love; they're there for that so you don't have to worry and stress about it all. And sometimes most of the stress is all in your head, you have so much going on I'm not surprised—but everyone is here to help and support you," she told him gently, finally unwrapping her arms from around her chest and placed a comforting hand on his bicep; "I think it's lovely and so sweet that you care so much."

He listened intently to her words, her gentle reassurances and comforting touch on his arm sent a wave of relief through his body.

"And your fans care about you—they will love whatever happen, and I just know that it doesn't matter if a venue or setlist turns out to be not what they expected; because at the end of the day they're seeing Inhaler! As soon as the lights go out and you guys come on stage, it doesn't matter anymore. All that matters is that you go out there with a smirk on your face and a guitar strap around your neck," She told him, grinning before she added; "Rock N' Roll, hey?" with a smirk. He matched her smirk and threw the cigarette off the balcony, "And whatever happens, I'll always be there with a smile. Even when we're all old and grey and you need a walker on stage; I'll be there waiting in my wheelchair with the biggest smile on my face. I'll forever be proud of you."

"You better be," he joked, his voice soft, "I'll still expect you to be in the front row. Even if I'm singing about my aching back and which pills I gotta take for my arthritis instead of bloody teenage heartbreaks."

She giggled softly at his words, "yeah, well if you promise I get to be your very last 'Dublin in Ecstasied' person. And I'll even be in the mosh pit, me and my wheelchair versus all the other old ladies.”

He laughed heartily at her words, picturing what she described. The idea of an old, toothless version of her and her wheelchair in the mosh pit had him chuckling even more.

"You're such a dork," he said with affection, shaking his head in feigned disbelief. But there was a glimmer of genuine happiness in his eyes at the thought of them being together like that, even after all these years with both of theirs hearts still in it.

She rolled her eyes, "Yeah yeah, and what does that make you if you're engaged to this dork," she smirked, lifting her left hand and showed her engagement ring with a little twinkle from her fingers.

He pretended to glare at her, feigning annoyance at her response until his eyes fixated on the glint of the diamond in her engagement ring. The sight of the ring on her finger always sent his heart soaring. He took her hand in his and bringing it to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the place where the ring was. "I love my dork."

She smiled bashfully and stepped closer to him when she felt a cold gust of wind go by, "Do you feel better now that you've kinda talked about it?"

He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. He nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck, burying his nose against her skin as the cold breeze passed them.

"Mmm, a bit," he mumbled against her skin, holding her close, “Talking to you always helps," he admitted, pressing a soft kiss to the pulse point of her neck.

"Good, " She smiled, "always come to me when you need to talk—when you can't sleep and stuff, okay?"

He nodded, his lips still gently pressed against her skin. He pulled back slightly to look into her eyes, his gaze soft and vulnerable.

"I promise," he said softly, lifting his free hand to brush a strand of hair back from her face, “It's just... sometimes my mind won't shut up, and I feel like I'm overthinking everything."

"Yeah... I hate when that happens. But again, talking about it to someone always helps because they can give you a voice of reason and stuff, and they can give you better insights and whatever. Don't ever feel like you can't talk to me about anything, okay? I'm a great listener," She said with a grin and pulled away from his slightly, cupping his face in her hands; hoping that it would somehow erase all the stress and worry he was feeling, "I can help you tomorrow with it all of you want. If you need help planning and sorting things out."

He smiled back at her, grateful for her understanding and support. He knew that he could always count on her to listen and offer advice.

"I know," he said, his voice low and sincere, “I trust you, you know that." He paused for a moment, a thought crossing his mind, "Talk to me about something other than the tour and stuff," he suggested.

She nodded, "you wanna talk out here or do you wanna go back to bed and talk? I can play with your hair if you want too," She suggested with a knowing look—knowing how much he loved it when he laid ontop of her with his head on her chest; his face buried deep into her neck as she played with his hair and ran her fingers through it.

His eyes lit up at the suggestion.

"Definitely the bed," he said quickly, his voice laced with appreciation. He loved when she played with his hair, especially when he could lay down on her chest, his head nestled against her body.  The sensation always seemed to ease any anxiety or tension he was feeling, "Mmm... I'll never say no to your fingers in my hair," he teased gently.

She grinned at his words and leaned forward to place a sweet, small kiss to his lips. She pulled away and started heading back to the bedroom. He followed her lead, his excitement growing as she invited him back to the bed. He quickly joined her, settling himself on top of her, his head against her chest. The warmth and comfort of her body wrapped tightly around him instantly eased his tension.

He let out a contented sigh as he snuggled into her, his arms wrapping around her slender waist. He relished the feeling of her fingers beginning to card through his hair, their touch soothing his frayed nerves.

"I'm going to bake something this week, I saw this recipe on TikTok of these cookies and they looked really good," she told him, beginning to talk and make conversation like he suggested as she slowly ran her fingers through his hair.

He let out a soft hum, his focus completely on the sensation of her hand in his hair. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her fingertips massaging his scalp. "Mmm... what kind of cookies?" he mumbled against her chest, his own voice a low, drowsy murmur.

She couldn't see him but she knew his eyes were closed and there was a content look on his face, sometimes she liked to take photos of him when he was like this. He was just so adorable she couldn't help herself..

"Fudge cookies. Or I can make some fudge brownies. God, I'm craving them now, you know I have a big sweet tooth," she told him with a gentle smile on her lips as she thought about the sweet delicacies. "What kind of cookies would you like? It doesn't have to be cookies though, I will bake anything you want me to."

He chuckled at the mention of her sweet tooth, the vibrations of his laughter sending a slight rumble through his chest. His eyes remained closed, his mind slowly drifting into a sense of relaxation. The feeling of her lips pressed against his head sent a warm shiver down his spine, and he found himself growing even more in love with her—if that was even possible.

"You can make me anything," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper, “Just no raisins."

"Fuck raisins," She said, her voice filled with humour. It earned a gentle chuckle from him.

"Exactly," he agreed heartily, "No raisins. Ever."

He shifted slightly, nuzzling his head deeper into the softness of her chest. Closing his eyes again, he took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her skin that he loved so much.

"Maybe we can bake something together, have a little look online tomorrow maybe and find something," usually she enjoyed baking by herself whilst he was doing his own thing in the living room, but maybe she could let him help her.

He hummed in agreement, the idea of baking together with her bringing a warm feeling to his heart.

"Definitely," he said, his voice still muffled against her chest. "I bet our kitchen would look like a bloody disaster after. Remember the last time I tried to help you?"

She laughed gently, "god that was awful. But the cake turned out great though," she hummed in memory of the last time she let him help her, "we could try cupcakes this time."

"Yeah, we'll have to give cupcakes a shot," he agreed, grinning against her chest, “As long as you let me lick the bowl, I'll be the Gordon Ramsey to your Jamie Oliver."

She giggled softly, running her fingers all the way back down his head as she leaned her head back a little to look down at him; the feeling of utter love rushing all around her.

"You're so cute; I love you," she smiled down at him and at his contented look, his eyes opened and he gazed up at her; fuelling what she was feeling.

His cheeks flushed slightly at her words. He wrapped his arms around her waist a bit tighter, a small, warm smile tugging at his lips. "You're cuter," he mumbled in reply, a hint of playfulness in his voice, “And I love you too. So much…. and y'smell amazing too."

He let out a small hum of appreciation, the scent of her perfume instantly bringing a sense of comfort. He lifted his head slightly and nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck once more, inhaling deeply.

"You're perfect," he murmured against her skin, his voice filled with adoration, “You know what I think every time you wear that perfume?"

"How amazing and wonderful I am?" She questioned humourously.

He chuckled, his grin widening as he lifted his head to meet her gaze again. "That too," he agreed, his eyes gleaming with affection, “But also, how much I want to eat you up."

"Creep," she smirked, but relating to it as she felt the same way with his scent and cologne that he wore; just smelling it on him just made her mouth water and she wanted to eat him up, and so she was glad the feeling was mutual.

And then she felt it…

"Did you just bite me!" She laughed out at his antics, her whole face lighting up in amusement as she then heard him chuckle at her amused reaction.

"Yeah, I did," he replied cheekily, a hint of a smirk on his lips, “And I'll do it again. I just can't help myself."

He moved his head again, his lips trailing down to her collarbone and gently nibbled at the sensitive skin there.

She scoffed, "Jesus, I didnt know insomnia made you horny," she teased him.

He chuckled, his grin widening at her teasing remark. He lifted his head again, his breath hot against her neck as he spoke. "Hey now, it only takes a few hours of staring at the ceiling for my mind to wander," he quipped, “And having you here with me certainly doesn't help."

"I can tell," she scoffed with a roll of her eyes, but her lips stayed curled up into a permanent smile, "but you are going to be very tired in the morning," she told him, continuing to run her hands through his hair; knowing that sleep was catching up to him.

He let out a weary sigh, leaning into her soothing touch. A small but weary smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Yeah, I probably will be," he admitted, his voice filled with a hint of resignation, “But it'll be worth it, just being here with you like this. And I'm always tired in the morning anyway."

"Yeah that's because you go to bed at an awful time, honey," She stated the fact.

He let out a lighthearted mock sigh at her words, feigning offense at such an accusation. "Hey, my sleep schedule is perfectly fine, thank you very much," he retorted, although the hint of tiredness in his voice betrayed him, "It's just... hard to fall asleep when I'm thinking about you lying next to me looking like that."

He lifted his head again, his gaze playfully appraising, "So it's really your fault, you know."

She hummed in mock agreement, "yeah, maybe we should start sleeping in separate beds then," she tsked.

He raised a skeptical eyebrow at her suggestion, the faintest hint of disbelief in his eyes.

"Oh, really? Separate beds?" he echoed, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “And what would that solve, exactly? We'd just end up sneaking into each other's beds anyway."

"I dunno, we could get bunk beds—ooh, one with a slide," she grinned. Remembering when they had to sleep in separate beds whilst visiting a relative because there were only two singles. They ended up being squashed in the same one anyways because they didn't want to sleep separately… and she got cold.

He smirked at the mental image her words created; his eyes dancing with amusement as he played along. "Ah, yes, bunk beds. How romantic," he joked, tilting his head back to look up at her with a cheeky expression. "Or maybe we could just get a bigger bed, one of those big round ones with the water flowing around. That way we'd have no excuse not to be touching each other. We would be trapped together forever.”

"Y'so clingy," she muttered, "Don't stop being clingy."

He let out a scoff, feigning offense again. "I'm not clingy," he protested, his grin betraying his true feelings, “I just prefer to be close, that's all. Is there really anything wrong with that?"

He shifted his position slightly, moving his head so he was properly looking up at her. "You're clingy too," he accused playfully, “You always want to hold my hand and sit next to me. Who's the clingy one now?"

"You are clingy, don't even try to deny it. And I get cold, you're always warm so I have an excuse," she told him, continuing to play with his hair. 

He chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he listened to her attempts to justify her own clinginess. He couldn't help but find her stubbornness adorable.

"Ah, so it's a matter of biological necessity, is it? You're using the cold as an excuse to cling to me,” He shifted once more, pulling her closer to him if that was even possible, their bodies practically melded together, "That's quite a flimsy excuse, love."

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Rachel Leingang at The Guardian:

To hear Donald Trump tell it, America’s cities are in dire shape and in need of a federal intervention. “We’re going to rebuild our cities into beacons of hope, safety and beauty – better than they have ever been before,” he said during a recent speech to the National Rifle Association in what has become a common refrain on the campaign trail. “We will take over the horribly run capital of our nation, Washington DC.” Trump has for years railed against cities, particularly those run by Democratic officials, as hotbeds for crime and moral decay. He called Atlanta a “record setting Murder and Violent Crime War Zone” last year, a similar claim he makes frequently about various cities.

His allies have an idea of how to capitalize on that agenda and make cities in Trump’s image, detailed in the conservative Project 2025: unleash new police forces on cities like Washington DC, withhold federal disaster and emergency grants unless they follow immigration policies like detaining undocumented immigrants and share sensitive data with the federal government for immigration enforcement purposes.

Project 2025’s Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, an extensive document breaking down each part of the federal government and recommending changes to be made to advance rightwing policy, was created by the Heritage Foundation, with dozens of conservative organizations and prominent names contributing chapters based on their backgrounds. This part of the project is another Republican attempt at a crackdown on so-called “sanctuary” cities, places around the country that don’t cooperate with the federal government on enforcing harsh immigration policies.

[...]

The threat of withholding federal funds

Republicans, cheered on by Trump, have worked to make immigration a key issue in cities across the country by busing migrants from the US-Mexico border inland, to places run by Democrats like New York, DC and Chicago, overwhelming the social safety net in these cities. The idea of using federal funds granted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) to force immigration changes are included in a chapter about the Department of Homeland Security, written by Ken Cuccinelli, Trump’s former deputy secretary of homeland security.

The chapter’s initial recommendation is to dismantle DHS entirely, create a border-focused agency comprised of other immigration-related organizations and farm out the rest of its components to existing agencies (or privatize them, in the case of the Transportation Security Administration). It’s not directly clear whether the aim is to use all Fema funds – including those that help cities and states in the immediate aftermath of an emergency like a tornado or flood – or large grant programs for things like emergency preparedness. One line in the chapter says “post-disaster or nonhumanitarian funding” could be exempt from the immigration policy requirements. The chapter also suggests that cities and states should take on more of the burden of financially responding to disasters.

[...]

One of the conditions Project 2025 suggests is requiring states or localities to share information with the federal government for law and immigration enforcement, and specifies that this would include both department of motor vehicle and voter registration databases. This is of particular interest in many cities because 19 states and Washington DC allow undocumented people to get drivers licenses, the Niskanen Center, a thinktank that delved into the project’s immigration aims, points out. These licenses help with public safety by decreasing the potential for hit-and-runs and increasing work hours, among other benefits, the center writes. If a city or state is forced to choose between issuing licenses and then sharing this information for use by immigration authorities, or accessing emergency funds for their whole population in a crisis, it’ll be tough for them to deny Fema money, said Cecilia Esterline, an immigration research analyst at the Niskanen Center.

Donald Trump’s war on urban cities is part of the wretched far-right Project 2025 plan, including crackdowns on sanctuary cities.

See Also:

The Guardian: What is Project 2025 and what does it have to do with a second Trump term?

[mariacallous]

After several weeks of feverish speculation about her partner in an abbreviated presidential campaign, Democratic presidential nominee and incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris finally announced her running mate today: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

As we learn more about her decision, its political ramifications will start to become clear. It is a cliché to say that deciding on a vice presidential running mate is the first major decision that voters see the nominee make. But it is true. And as the rollout takes place, the wisdom of that decision can become a major storyline on the campaign trail. As history shows, results may vary.

The most important short-term effect of the presidential nominee’s decision is to tell us who they want by their side as a governing partner and who they would want in their place should they no longer be capable of doing the job.

Some vice presidential selections have boosted perceptions of how a presidential nominee intends to govern. This is often true of outsider candidates who are not known quantities. Former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter set the mold in 1976 when he turned to Minnesota Sen. Walter Mondale, a Great Society stalwart and an insider on Capitol Hill. After building an entire campaign around the fact that he was an outsider to Washington—someone voters could trust in the aftermath of former President Richard Nixon’s Watergate scandal—Carter needed to send a signal to Democratic politicians and interest groups that they could trust him as well. As one of the most respected and effective liberal legislators on Capitol Hill, Carter’s pick of Mondale demonstrated that he understood the need to work within his party and not just around it. New York Times reporter Charles Mohr observed that the pick was “highly acceptable to much of the Washington political establishment, which had viewed the outsider from Georgia with disquiet.” Jimmy Who?—as newspapers joked about this unknown candidate—had sent a strong signal that as much as he railed against politics as usual, he was no fool when it came to getting things done.

Four years later, there were similar concerns among Republicans about former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. Though Reagan had excited conservative activists with his charisma and bold ideas, there were serious worries that he wouldn’t be effective in the corridors of Washington. In addition, some veterans in Washington feared that Reagan would ignore the Republican establishment and the traditional ideas held by many of its members, including fiscal conservatism and the U.S. commitment to international alliances. Reagan’s main primary opponent, former CIA Director George H.W. Bush, was the epitome of the GOP establishment. When Reagan announced that he was turning to Bush—actually a last-minute pivot following the collapse of talks to recruit former President Gerald Ford—he consolidated the entire party, as the selection helped members feel comfortable that the great communicator was also a serious politician.

In 1992, 46-year-old Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton undertook an unconventional path. With many experts predicting that Clinton had to find someone who was older and from outside the South given that the party’s power base had shifted to the coasts, Clinton instead doubled down. With Sen. Al Gore from Tennessee as his running mate, Clinton had chosen another young, centrist, television-savvy, and bright Southerner. Rather than regional balance, he sought to craft a campaign around Democrats emerging from the shadows of the Reagan era. Clinton’s first major decision signaled to voters that he really understood how the nation craved a new generation of leadership—a stark contrast to the older Bush—and that Democrats were serious about expanding their coalition, rooted in the North since the 1960s, back to the new South as well.

The message Illinois Sen. Barack Obama sent to his voters in 2008 was that he understood the need to court traditional white male working-class constituencies and to supplement his limited experience in foreign policy. For this reason, Obama turned to Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware. As Obama drew support from younger voters, college-educated suburbanites, and Black and Latino voters, he showed with the Biden choice an understanding and respect for working-class white voters—and that he, too, would do what was necessary to win over the Democratic legislative establishment. Obama also signaled that he understood the need to shore up his foreign-policy expertise; Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee, was widely respected for his knowledge on this issue, and Obama needed to show he knew what he didn’t know. “I can tell you that Joe Biden gets it,” Obama said when he announced that Biden would be his running mate in August 2008. “He’s that unique public servant who is at home in a bar in Cedar Rapids and the corridors of the Capitol, in the VFW hall in Concord, and at the center of an international crisis.” The decision suggested Obama was not just a firebrand but that he had a sophisticated feel for the coalition he would need to win election, which he did.

And Donald Trump made an effective choice in 2016, too. With Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Trump alleviated some concerns among the conservative base of the party that they could really trust him. Trump calmed some nerves by selecting a predictable, conventional, and reliable right-wing conservative. David McIntosh, the president of the Club for Growth, praised the choice as giving “hope that Mike Pence will be effective in pulling the Republican ticket toward economic conservatism and limited government.” Though at the time it was not clear just how turbulent Trump’s term would end up being, in the summer of 2016 his choice was perceived as offering evidence that, behind the curtains, Trump would not veer too far from the conservative coalition, particularly evangelicals, once he obtained power.

Then there were the picks that helped torpedo, or nearly torpedo, candidacies. The first major gaffe in the contemporary political era started in 1972. South Dakota Democratic Sen. George McGovern went with Sen. Thomas Eagleton. Eagleton had strong credentials. Yet the press discovered that he had suffered from depression and undergone shock treatment. When the news came out, it sent McGovern’s campaign into turmoil, resulting in Eagleton’s withdrawal from the race. At a time when mental health problems were treated as taboo, and opponents stirred fears about whether he could be trusted to one day have his “finger on the button,” the revelation raised questions about how astute McGovern was and whether he had made a carelessly hurried decision. After fighting to survive, Eagleton eventually withdrew. Was that the kind of leadership McGovern would bring to the White House? Indeed, when Carter took his time to deliberate over his choice in 1976, the press contrasted his decision-making style with that of McGovern.

Few people thought that a spelling bee would become problematic in 1988 when Vice President George H.W. Bush announced that the young and popular Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle would be by his side. At first, conservatives praised the decision. Quayle was considered a future leader in the GOP. But his vice presidential run didn’t go so well. In 1988, questions emerged about Quayle’s academic record as well as allegations that he had used connections to avoid being drafted into Vietnam through an appointment to the National Guard. According to then-Tennessee Republican State Chairman James Henry in late August: “It’s already a negative factor. It’s just a question of how much of a negative.”

Though the questions did not stop Bush from being victorious, Quayle caused problems again during Bush’s reelection campaign in 1992. During a photo-op at a spelling bee in New Jersey, he corrected a 12-year-old boy named William Figueroa, who had spelled “potato” the right way. Quayle said that there should be an “e” at the end. Figueroa made things worse by telling the press that it “showed that the rumors about the vice president are true—that he’s an idiot.” As with McGovern, in 1988 and 1992, Quayle became evidence that Bush was not competent in thinking about who should surround him and that he was willing to kowtow to younger mavericks not ready to hold office.

Fast-forward to 2008, when McCain fell into the same trap. An older McCain wanted to counteract some of the excitement that Obama brought to the trail by going with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin—who some thought represented the next generation for the GOP. But things quickly soured. Her stumbling performance in the media raised questions about McCain’s ongoing claims that he brought much more experience and wisdom to the White House. If that was true, how could he pick Palin, and what would it mean for her to be by his side once in power? During her rallies, moreover, Palin appealed to far-right, fringe elements of the party. A selection that once suggested McCain had an eye on the future ended up bringing in elements of the GOP that undermined his reputation as a reasonable, respectable, and moderate conservative in the Reagan mold.

Some are already arguing that Trump’s recent pick of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance sent the exact wrong message about how he thinks at a critical moment. Right after the assassination attempt, there were Republicans who hoped he would pivot slightly to the center, or at least demonstrate that he wanted to broaden his coalition and act in a tamer fashion. Instead, by picking Vance at the Republican National Convention, Trump indicated he was diving deeper into chaos and radicalism. Trump’s decision offered proof to his critics, and some supporters, that he could not be trusted to surround himself with people who understood where most voters were on core issues. Vance’s proximity to Project 2025 and comments about strong-armed governance amplified concerns, rather than diminished them, about Trump’s interest in autocratic methods of rule.

In the process of selecting her running mate, Harris offered a few hints as to how she might govern. There were no significant leaks in this highly scrutinized decision-making period, which suggests that Harris wants to and can run a tight ship—a contrast with stories that emerged about turbulence among her staff. Harris also showed media savvy, conducting the rollout in a way that captured valuable attention for more than a week in a shortened campaign time frame. She can play the reality game show strategy, too. Handling press attention so effectively is like waving kryptonite in front of Trump, who thrives by dominating coverage. Harris does not get frazzled when confronted with the need to make big decisions quickly and under an intense spotlight.

Through picking Walz, Harris hopes to send a message of seriousness and stability. Walz has experience as a governor and as a U.S. representative. At 60, he is older than some of the other people considered, but not too old. Despite his avuncular personality, Walz has a serious command of policy; having him by her side shows that Harris wants to surround herself with seasoned partners who want to govern. He has experience not only in government but also outside of it, as a public-school teacher.

The Walz pick also shows that Harris wants to make decisions that respect the breadth of her coalition. The Minnesota governor is a proud progressive who does not shy away from defending social rights and championing government. He can help to fire up a base that is already fired up. Yet Walz is unusual for Democrats in that he embraces these values while also appealing to rural Americans who have veered red. Within his state, Walz has a history of doing well in Republican districts—among the kind of voters Vance likes to represent. Importantly, he appeals to such voters without selling out his political principles. He is not afraid to take on the Republicans, nor does he back away from his beliefs when confronted with the standard attacks about socialism. He is an embodiment of the alternative that exists for working Americans struggling with costs and insecurity: a path forward without the reactionary politics that have become sine qua non for the modern Republican Party.

And then there is the “weird” comment through which Walz rose to the top of the pack, framing Trump and Vance with rhetoric that caught fire within the Democratic Party. Doubling down on someone who has media savvy complements the rollout. Harris plans to build a team that can handle the press and counteract the Trumpian noise. Democrats have long complained that they are bad at messaging. Harris wants to fix that and to pass bold policies that she can sell to the public rather than assuming people will appreciate what she has done.

[rabbitcruiser]

Celebrate Trails Day

Trails bring transformative benefits to communities and individuals in the form of physical health, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

Celebrate Trails Day is an initiative that invites everyone across the nation to enjoy existing trails while making an investment in the future of more trails!

How to Observe and Celebrate Trails Day

Celebrate Trails Day comes with all sorts of opportunities and invitations to get involved, whether through some events organized by Rails to Trails Conservancy or other ways. Consider some of these ideas for participating:

Get Out On Those Trails!

First and foremost, the thing to do on Celebrate Trails Day is to get out on the trails. Whether this means getting an hour in after work or spending a whole weekend out in the wild, this day acts as a siren call to spend some much needed time in nature!

Remember Important Tips for Trail Season

Whether enjoying trails in the winter with snowshoes or all summer long, guidelines are important for understanding how to share the trail.

While each state government will have their own specific guidelines for sharing trails, some general rules apply.

Check out some of these Pro Tips for enjoying, appreciating and navigating public trails:

Keep to the right and pass on the left, just like when driving

Move aside when standing still to stretch or rest

Stay alert for situations such as cyclists passing or a gaggle of geese

Practice safety by being conscientious, picking up litter, leaving nature to itself and using safe speeds on the trail

Learn Fun Facts About Rails to Trails

One exciting part of Celebrate Trails Day is the opportunity to get more connected with the projects across the nation that are reclaiming old railways and other spaces that can be turned into spaces for activity and adventure.

Check out some of these statistics from the Rails to Trails organization:

The United States boasts more than 41,000 miles of multi-use trails throughout the country

More than 150 networks of trails are currently under development or have been recently finished

97% of people who use them report that trails make a positive impact on their physical and mental health

History of Celebrate Trails Day

Celebrate Trails Day was started in 2013 through the work of the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC), which is an organization dedicated to turning unused and abandoned railroad tracks into shared trails that can be used for walking, biking, hiking, and more.

Taking place in late April as the weather warms in the northern hemisphere, Celebrate Trails Day is a great time to get outside with family and friends to enjoy some fun, or gather as a community to advocate for the growth of trail networks across the nation.

Source

[tpeakphotos]

On a mid-autumn morning after a nice little dusting of snow I decided to take a walk on the Bizz Johnson Trail in the Susan River Canyon. “The Bizz,” as it’s known by us locals, is part of the Rails to Trails Conservancy (railstotrails.org) which promotes using defunct railroad grades as hiking, biking, riding trails across the nation. It runs from Westwood California down to Susanville California, a bit over 20 miles, much of it right along the shore of the beautiful Susan River.

I walked from the Devil’s Corral trailhead a down to just past one of the two tunnels the trail goes though. On the way back I was struck by the way the tunnel opening framed the trail and surrounding scenery and felt compelled to capture this photograph.

[sprucegrouses]

The Salt Marsh Trail as we know it today is a protected wetland connecting the outskirts of HRM with the Eastern Shore, part of the Trans Canada Trail. But back in the 19th century the family of Peter McNab Kuhn tried, unsuccessfully, to dyke the marshes between Cole Harbour and Lawrencetown. The tides come in fast and strong and flood the harbour. These photos were taken at low tide.

At the turn of the 20th century a rail line was established that connected Musquodoboit (say it with me: mus-keh-DOBbit) to Dartmouth. The line ran through the salt marsh all the way up until the 1980s, carrying small goods and commuters on their way in and out of the city. Back then a ticket set you back 25 cents. The land was donated by the family of McNab Kuhn in the 90s to be preserved as a conservation area, and it’s home to a host of seabirds, fish, clams, and small mammals to this day.

Bring your good walking shoes and tie your hair back though, it’s damn windy

[harriswalz4usabybr]

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 - Tim Walz

This is the ‘official’ schedule of Tim Walz s today on the campaign trail. With some added detail for press purposes. Additionally, the Governor is traveling with Maryland's Governor, Wes Moore on this trip to gain some valuable insight into the region while traveling and meeting with voters. 

Today there will be three events across the state of Virginia that Governor Walz will be taking part in as we move forward with the Harris-Walz Campaign. Prior to the first event in Roanoke, Governors Walz and Moore will be meeting with Mayor Sherman Lea and the CEO of Amtrak, Stephen Gardner, to take a tour of the Roanoke station and talk about the complicated history of rail travel in the region.

Event #1 (Roanoke, VA) Event Location: The Roanoke Hotel and Conference Center Event Type: Campaign Breakfast with Speech Event Time: 9:00-10:00 ET

Event #2 (Lynchburg, VA) Event Location: Central Virginia Community College Library Event Type: Listening Tour Event Time: 12:30-4:30 ET

Event #3 (Harrisonburg, VA) Event Location: James Madison University Event Type: Get Out the Vote Event Time: 7:00-10:00 ET

Roanoke, VA Full-text of speech to be released shortly.

Lynchburg, VA Inspired by Hilary Rodham Clinton's 2000 Senate Campaign's Listening Tour. Those working in agriculture, manufacturing, and grades are invited to attend and share stories of success, struggle, and ideas for improving Roanoke, Virginia, and the nation. The event is slated to draw around 150 workers and while the stories may be difficult to hear at times, we believe the campaign will benefite greatly by them.

Harrisonburg, VA A similar speech to that which was used at WVU is slated for the JMU students and volunteers. Additionally, while the on-campus event is marketed as 7-10pm ET, Governor Walz will spend the last hour in a room with students and volunteers who work the event eating pizza and taking photos. The GOTV event seemed to be well received even by conservative students who didn't know how to register on their campus or their vote by-mail options on WVU's campus and we are hopeful the same will ring true for JMU.

~BR~

[sirgiant-blog-blog]

Rails to Trails are public paths built on former railroad corridors that are used for a variety of purposes, including walking, biking, and other non-motorized activities. The Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) is a nonprofit organization that works to create a nationwide network of these trails.

[farmingtoncanalfriends]

November 2024 News & Updates: World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims; NCAT Dinner; Magazine Photo Shoot

Dear Friend of the Farmington Canal Greenway,

We wanted to wish you a happy holiday season and provide you with a few important updates:

* World Day of Remembrance For Road Traffic Victims, Sunday, November 17, 1 - 2:30pm, Goffe Street Park

We are honored to have the statewide commemoration event for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in New Haven this year, at Goffe Street Park.

Hope you can join us on November 17 at 1pm for this powerful event remembering victims of traffic violence in New Haven and around the state. Please let us know if you can volunteer at the event (or just show up by 11am the morning of the event to help with set-up).

RSVP and share the event on Facebook: https://facebook.com/events/s/world-day-of-remembrance-for-r/1065007801646997/

* New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation (NCAT) Bike / Walk / Transit Community Networking Dinner, November 19, 6-8pm

Join us and many other trails, biking, walking, transit and safe streets organizations on Tuesday, November 19 for the annual Bike / Walk / Transit Community Networking Dinner. It's social, celebratory, and FREE! Register here.

* Rails-to-Trails Magazine Photo Shoot, November 23, 10am @ the Newhallville Learning Corridor 

We are very excited that the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail is being featured in the Winter 2024-25 edition of Rails to Trails Magazine, the publication of the national Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Please join us on November 23 at 10am at the Learning Corridor (Hazel/Shelton) in Newhallville for a photo shoot with a RTC photographer who will be capturing images of local trail users for the magazine, which goes out to the Conservancy's tens of thousands of members. Bring your running shoes, bike, e-bike, rollerblades, or whatever you normally have with you when using the Trail! We want the full diversity of trail users to be represented as much as possible. Rain cancels. 

* Event Recap: Get A Light" Bike Safety Giveaway, November 4

Thanks to Elm City Cycling for joining us at the Learning Corridor and handing out bike lights to Trail users. We greatly appreciate ECC's efforts (going back many years!) to keep everyone safe, especially our many bike commuters who continue to use the Trail after the end of daylight savings, which is sadly one of the most treacherous times of year for cyclists.

* Event Recap: Fall Foliage Ride, October 26

We had stunningly perfect weather for our annual fall foliage ride, and the foliage was at or near peak! We made it about 8 miles up to the spectacular section of trail near Sleeping Giant in Hamden and back. Thanks to all our ride participants, especially the many new faces!

___________________

As always, thank you for your ongoing support. 

Aaron G. New Haven Friends of the Farmington Canal Greenway www.newhavencanalfriends.org

facebook.com/NewHavenCanalFriends

[alex51324]

Want to see something cool, but also kinda sad + anger-inducing?

Today I went to a nearby state park, and hiked to this cabin:

Hand-built by a local man named Armar Bordner in the 1930's, it was occupied by Mr. Bordner until his death in 1994. It's not for rent or anything; it's just sitting there, with all the doors and windows open, for anyone who's up for a mile-and-a-half hike to stop in and have a look around. There are a few framed photos on the walls showing how it looked when he lived there, and a couple of signs explaining the history.

And that's kind of a bold move, considering that, if you have any ability to read between the lines, the parks department really comes off bad in it.

Here's the sign:

A clearer and more detailed version of the text is available here, the site of a private conservation organization that maintains the cabin.

Mr. Bordner, who was an Industrial Arts teacher, bought the land and built the cabin by hand, with some help from friends and students, over a 2 1/2 year period ending in 1939. All of the logs for the cabin were felled and hewn by hand, he used local materials, mostly obtained at the site, and was reportedly inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright.

In the 1970's, the state decided that they wanted to create a state park in the area. The original plan was fairly elaborate, including damming the creek to create a lake for recreational boating, fishing, etc. (PA state parks have a lot of these "man-made lakes," mostly built in the CCC era or shortly after WWII.) Under eminent domain, the state seized private land--mostly hunting camps--for the project.

One of the seized properties was Mr. Bordner's cabin. He fought the seizure--I mean, who wouldn't?--and at some point the state apparently decided that it was not a great look to force a senior citizen out of the family home that he built with his own two hands, and granted him the privilege of continuing to live in it for the remainder of his life, for what is described as a "nominal fee."

Mr. Bordner went on to live two more decades, passing in his cabin in 1994, at the age of 90. During the decades since his cabin technically ceased to belong to him, the park project kind of fell apart. The park was officially formed in 1987, but it was considered an "undeveloped park"--meaning, it was public land, but the state wasn't doing anything to encourage people to visit it or accommodate them if they did--until 2012, when the parks department took an interest in developing it.

Now, in 2023, the park has several hiking trails, three parking lots with port-a-potties , and that's about it. (Most state parks here have things like campsites, picnic grounds, etc.) Some of the trails--the equestrian trails and the Swatara Rail-Trail--are on park land but maintained by other groups. As is the cabin itself, which was allowed to fall into disrepair after Mr. Bordner's death, and was restored by a group called the Swatara Watershed Association.

It's an absolutely beautiful cabin, in a lovely setting, and I'm glad I got to see and explore it--but once you learn the history, it's hard not to feel that it should still belong to Mr. Bordner's daughter. (Or, if she didn't want to live there or keep it up, to a group that Mr. Bordner had chosen while he was alive to preserve it and make it available to the community.)

Anyway, here are some more pretty photos:

Here's a big porch-balcony that looks out over the stream and waterfall:

Sophie and I sat there to have a little snack after our hike:

Then we got to exploring the inside. Here we're in the main room looking out toward the waterfall:

And here we are on the other side of the window, looking in:

The main room, here, faces the creek/waterfall on two sides, as the stream wraps around it. Over to the right (from this POV), there is a small room that might have been a bedroom or kitchen. (There's a photo of a large woodstove for cooking in it, but the watershed or site seems to say it was a bedroom?) The balcony from the earlier picture is to the left, and at the far end of the cabin there's a staircase leading up to a loft, with some little bedrooms tucked under it.

Here's one of the framed photos on the wall, showing how this area looked at one point during Mr. Bordner's time there:

And my attempt at re-creating the photo from the same angle:

Here we're looking down from the loft, at the fireplace that Mr. Bordner built with stone collected on the site:

Another look at the fireplace:

Surprisingly, there are no signs saying not to light a fire in it.

Here's a photo from the wall showing one of the small bedrooms:

And the room today:

And here's Sophie hanging out next to the post for the library hiking program:

That's about all I have--I thought I took some pictures of the waterfall, but I guess I didn't. The Watershed Association site has additional photos, if you want to see more. I definitely want to go back and see it another time.

[gtenvs3000w24]

01: My relationship with nature.

Hi everyone! I’m a 4th year zoology student at the University of Guelph, and welcome to my blog! For this first blog I’ll be talking about my relationship with nature and how it has evolved. 

Since I was a kid I have always had a large interest in nature, especially with animals. Growing up in Milton, a very fast-growing city, I took every chance I could get to go outside and be more connected with nature. I think my earliest memory of this is when I would go for walks with my parents and my Grandad when I was about four years old. There was a very short walking trail near my house that had an apple tree, and we would walk there every week to pick apples. While it was a very short and simple experience, I remember really enjoying just going outside and spending time with my family.

As I got a little bit older, me and my family would frequently drive to local conservation areas a lot of the time to go for walks in the forests. Most of the time I would spend those walks looking for any animals I could find. My favourite time of year to do these walks was in the winter because I found the snow-covered trees very pretty and peaceful. Winter was always my favourite season as a kid, and I spent a lot of time playing outside in the snow with my brother. 

One place that has always been special to me is Crawford Lake. This is the conservation area that me and my family went to most of the time, and it is still one of my favourite places to go for walks. I always found the boardwalk around the lake to be very peaceful and fun to walk along as a kid. I would frequently stop to look over the railings for snapping turtles in the water below me, and while I only got to see them one time, it was something I won’t forget. I also went there for many school field trips. I remember our tour guide telling us ghost stories about things that had happened at the lake, and while those stories scared me as a kid, I think they helped me feel more connected to the place.

Another place that I have always had a strong connection to is the pond my Grandma has in her backyard. Since I was little I remember it being one of my favourite places to be. I spent a lot of time there with my brother and cousins just looking for frogs, and looking at the koi fish that lived in the pond. I now have three cousins who are all under the age of ten on that side of my family, and so I love to go look for frogs and fish with them like I did when I was their age.

I think one of my favourite places I have been is Nova Scotia. This is where my uncle and his family live, and I have gone there twice to visit them. Being there feels so much different from living in the fast-paced city that I’m used to, as it is much more peaceful and laid back. I spent two weeks there this summer living at my uncle's house near Lunenburg, and it was an experience that really stuck with me. My uncle lives in a house that he built, in a forest by a river. It was such a relaxing experience to be there, and to take little day trips out to the ocean everyday. Hearing the history behind the sites such as Peggy’s Cove and the town of Lunenburg really stuck with me too. I have always loved being by the ocean, and sometimes I think about moving there one day because of how amazing it was to be there. Even though I have only spent about 3 weeks in total there, I think it offered me that “sense of place.” (I’ve included some pictures I took in Nova Scotia below!)

I could talk about many other experiences that have connected me to nature, but these are just a few that have shaped my relationship with it today. Overall, especially being a zoology student, nature is a very important part of my life!

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Rachel Leingang at The Guardian:

Despite disavowing Project 2025 on the campaign trail and the people involved with creating it, Donald Trump has now tapped numerous people tied to the project for key roles in his administration as he prepares to advance some of its main goals. He acknowledged in December that he agreed with some parts of the project, but didn’t say which, claiming he didn’t read it and didn’t have any part in it. “They have some things that are very conservative and very good. They have other things that I don’t like,” he told Time magazine. He also said he thought it was “inappropriate” that the project was released ahead of the election and could have derailed his win because “they had some pretty ridiculous things in there”.

The project is an effort by the Heritage Foundation, a prominent rightwing thinktank, and more than 100 other conservative organizations. It constitutes a 900-plus page manifesto that details how an incoming president should dismantle features of the government it believes conflict with conservative ideology. The people behind it also put together a database of thousands of potential employees who could staff the next Trump administration and a training program that taught these staffers how to work in the federal government. The first steps of the plan involve amassing more power for the top executive, driving out dissenting voices and stretching the law to favor Trump. Those plans are expected to begin immediately and Trump will also use the justice department to go after his enemies soon after taking office.

That power shift enables the other elements of the project, which calls for policies that overhaul immigration, restrict abortion access, remove LGTBQ+ and diversity protections, end climate work, alter employment practices and ramp up deregulation. “A lot of it’s going to be Trump daring Congress and the courts to stop him,” said Christopher Bosso, a professor of public policy and politics at Northeastern University. The extensive planning by the Heritage Foundation and other conservative groups for a second Trump administration stands in contrast to Trump’s first win, when the president wasn’t as ready to quickly install his loyalists and launch his policies. This time, the conservative movement is poised to pounce immediately on a pent-up demand of rightwing dreams – and so is Trump. “Project 2025 said the quiet parts out loud,” said Ben Olinsky, senior vice-president of structural reform and governance at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning thinktank. The project didn’t just say what it wanted to do, but how it wanted to achieve its goals, he said. “It lays out a path to either ignore or flout the law, or to bend the law through its will, and change how things work so that they can get all of these things done. And that’s what makes it even scarier.”

What Trump’s appointments signal

Trump nominated Russell Vought, an architect of the project and the founder of the Center for Renewing America, as the director of the US office of management and budget, the same role Vought had in Trump’s first administration. Vought wrote a chapter for the project that talks about how the president can consolidate power and use the budget process to make agencies fall in line with his agenda. Both he and Trump rail against the so-called “deep state” and federal civil servants who staff much of the government.

That goal is a major part of Project 2025 and a top priority for Trump: making more federal jobs political appointments. Only about 4,000 federal employees are now political appointees. The rest of the more than 2 million civil servants hold their jobs regardless of party control and develop expertise that keeps critical services functioning. “Schedule F” would classify far more roles as policy-related – about 50,000 more – giving Trump a huge amount of power to roll out his agenda. Vought attacked the civil service as overly liberal and unaccountable to the people, saying that “a President today assumes office to find a sprawling federal bureaucracy that all too often is carrying out its own policy plans and preferences — or, worse yet, the policy plans and preferences of a radical, supposedly ‘woke’ faction of the country”.

[...]

The first dominoes

Expanding political appointments will be an early step for the Trump administration, a key way that will allow him to carry out the rest of his plans. “The ones to watch are the second tier, the ones right below the cabinet-grade people,” Bosso said. “And if you get a bunch of folks who are competent, who know what they’re doing, and they’re ready to go, and they believe in the project, that’s what’s going to be important.” Trump will also seek to end or undermine the independence of independent agencies. With the FCC, for example, he could try to bully them to go after broadcasters’ licenses because he doesn’t like their coverage, Olinsky said. Brendan Carr, Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Communications Commission, wrote the Project 2025 chapter suggesting ways to change the FCC, including by reining in big tech. “I think they plan to run a hardball effort that, I would argue, just ignores or breaks the law, and then forces others to challenge them in the courts,” Olinsky said. While the justice department isn’t an independent agency, it has in effect been able to independently undertake investigations – which Trump could stop. Kevin Roberts, the Heritage Foundation president, has said “we just disagree wholly that the Department of Justice is independent of the president or the executive branch”. Project 2025 suggests stocking the department with far more political appointees because it has been “captured by an unaccountable bureaucratic managerial class and radical Left ideologues”. Immigration is a day-one priority for Trump, who has vowed a campaign of mass deportation and a raft of policy changes to block people from entering the country. Project 2025 doesn’t detail how a mass deportation would work, but it does call for stopping migration, halting waitlists for visa programs, ending some visas altogether, raiding worksites and going after cities and states that don’t play along.

Presidents have a lot of latitude on immigration policy, Olinsky said. “We should expect that Trump will exercise every lever at his disposal to limit legal immigration, to deport folks who have been here for years and to try to end birthright citizenship,” he said. Culture-war policy areas, like protections for LGBTQ+ people and efforts to improve diversity, will probably be reversed quickly once Trump takes office. Project 2025 makes suggestions in nearly every chapter of programs to get rid of these goals, some of which can be done away with by the internal directives. Deregulating industry is another key feature of the project where Trump aligns. Project 2025 includes a raft of deregulation plans and ways government functions can be privatized. This includes minimizing overtime pay for companies, making it harder to regulate toxic chemicals and weakening unions.

Donald Trump, despite purporting to “disavow” Project 2025 while on the campaign trail, has tapped numerous people involved with the project to key posts, such as Russ Vought.

With those moves, the first Project 2025 goal of the Trump Misadministration’s 2nd ride will be to extend power for him and his allies and silence dissent from his critics.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Inside Climate News:

Scott Walker’s disdain for climate-friendly policies was no secret.

During his tenure as Wisconsin’s governor from 2011 to 2019, he eliminated state clean energy programs, slashed environmental agency budgets and made it more difficult for state employees to use peer-reviewed climate studies to inform policy decisions.

Walker, a staunch Republican who made a name for himself by championing anti-union policies, even made a point during his 2016 presidential campaign to aggressively attack then-President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which aimed to curb greenhouse gas emissions from the nation’s power plants.

“It will be like a buzz saw on the nation’s economy,” Walker said in a statement from the campaign trail.

Walker’s hostility toward clean energy is one reason Wisconsin continues to lag behind many of its Midwest neighbors when it comes to renewables, clean energy advocates say. Just 12 percent of the state’s electricity came from renewable sources this March, according to the Energy Information Administration, compared to 21 percent of Illinois’ electricity mix, 40 percent of Minnesota’s and 84 percent of Iowa’s.

But Wisconsin politics have changed since Walker’s time in power. Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat and a former state superintendent, has spent the last six years dismantling some of his predecessor’s most controversial policies and taking a different tack on renewable energy.

Under Evers, state regulators have approved 3,976 megawatts of solar projects in Wisconsin, enough energy to power nearly 1 million of the state’s 2.7 million homes, the Cap Times reported in February. And this year alone, Wisconsin is on track to add another 950 megawatts of new solar capacity, with electric providers planning to build an additional 6,000 megawatts of solar and 1,600 megawatts of wind by 2030, according to the state’s draft energy assessment, released late last month.

“We had a few wind projects and some very small solar projects online before 2019. But we have indeed seen a monumental jump in those projects,” said Sam Dunaiski, executive director of clean energy advocacy nonprofit RENEW Wisconsin. “And from all accounts, it looks like we are going to continue on that path.”

Building out renewables in Wisconsin, however, hasn’t been a simple task, in part because of the nation’s increasingly polarizing culture wars. That’s forcing some Democrats, including Evers, to make the issue of clean energy more about the economy and less about climate change.

Scott Coenen had a tough job as the former executive director of Wisconsin Conservative Energy Forum. While the right-leaning organization advocates for renewable energy, it also sees the issue of “climate change” as a political third rail in purple Wisconsin.

“One of our goals is to extricate renewable energy from that discussion,” Coenen told local media in 2018. “It’s just such a toxic, difficult topic, where everybody has become polarized. We need to remove renewable energy from that and make it about the economy and jobs. And, sure, we will take any environmental benefits on the side.”

In Democrat-run battleground states, such as Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, politicians have been forced to thread the needle when it comes to enacting climate policy. The price of solar and wind energy—both the materials and the installation costs—has fallen drastically over the decades, making arguing against them as sound investments far more difficult for lawmakers.