#rep. Joe Courtney

[beardedmrbean]

Biden supporters are raising Trump's associations with Jeffrey Epstein — again.

Recently-released docs in the Epstein investigation make no mention of Trump.

Democrats have tried deflecting concerns about Biden's age by bringing up Trump's past.

Some Joe Biden supporters are employing a tried-and-true strategy to fend off rampant debate over the President's age and mental acuity: deflection.

On social media — and even in the halls of Congress — certain Biden supporters are using Donald Trump's associations with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein as an argument to disqualify him.

Discourse about Trump and Epstein was reignited after documents from Epstein's first Florida investigation in 2006 were released last week.

But the 158-page document — a grand jury transcript showing prosecutors heard testimony that Epstein raped girls as young as 14, then still cut him a sweetheart plea deal — makes no mention of Trump himself.

Still, some seized the news cycle as a way to counteract doubts about Biden's own fitness to run for office in 2024.

Why no one's writing about Trump and Epstein

During a press conference on Tuesday, Rep. Ted Lieu of California urged more media coverage of the "Epstein files," adding that a "highly disturbing" hashtag about Trump and Epstein was trending on X.

Trump had previously been photographed with Epstein, Lieu said, had flown with him on planes with young girls on board, and the two were listed on call logs together.

"It shows that Donald Trump is unfit for office," the congressman said, adding Trump was also convicted of sexual abuse in civil court.

Ben Meiselas, the cofounder of liberal news network Meidas Touch, also posted on X about "the release of new Epstein files with Trump's name on it." Other Biden boosters have suggested a coordinated media cover-up to boost Trump's chances or doom Biden's.

But Trump isn't named in the latest records, a fact reiterated on X by Julie Brown, the Miami Herald investigative journalist who helped break the Epstein story.

Media outlets haven't reported on Trump's connection to the new Epstein files because there isn't one.

What we know about Trump's relationship with Epstein

Trump has appeared in previous unsealed and uncovered documents connected to the Epstein case.

Trump was also connected to 14 different numbers in Epstein's little black book of contacts that surfaced before the financier's arrest on sex trafficking charges in 2019. Among the contacts were Trump's wife, Melania; ex-wife, Ivana; and daughter, Ivanka.

The contact book also included the names of high-profile celebrities like Courtney Love, Alec Baldwin, and Naomi Campbell, as well as politicians and dignitaries like John Kerry, Michael Bloomberg, Henry Kissinger, and Prince Andrew.

Unsealed flight logs in 2019 revealed Trump took a flight on Epstein's private jet in 2017; billionaire couple Glenn and Eva Dubin joined him on the flight from Palm Beach to Newark.

And in January, a Business Insider analysis of then-unsealed court records determined Trump appeared in the documents multiple times under the moniker "Doe 174."

However, the mentions in those documents weren't all damning for the former President, BI's Jacob Shamsian reported at the time.

In one instance, a woman denied in a deposition that she'd massaged Trump. In another, a woman claimed — then recanted — that her friend had had sex with him. And Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of the key accusers of sexual abuse by Epstein and his associates, said in one document that she didn't think Trump was involved.

Trump had previously faced allegations by an anonymous woman that claimed he had violently raped her at an orgy when she was 13 years old. The woman — who went by the pseudonym "Katie Johnson" — even filed a lawsuit against Trump, twice.

The first was a civil rights suit in April 2016 that was thrown out on a technicality. Vox noted that the original suit listed the woman's apparent address as an abandoned home.

She filed a second lawsuit that removed some of the lurid details. Still, the case was connected to strange characters, including a Jerry Springer producer who tried to sell a video of the purported accuser to news outlets for $1 million and an anti-Trump activist who promoted the lawsuit — and had a history of spreading untrue gossip.

The woman abruptly dropped the lawsuit in November 2016, just days before the election that Donald Trump would win. Her lawyer didn't share a reason for why the lawsuit was dropped at the time.

Trump had publicly praised Epstein before his sexual abuse allegations came to light. He called Epstein a "terrific guy" in 2002, adding, "It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."

But the Washington Post reported the two men had a falling out in 2004 after they both wanted to buy a prime Palm Beach property.

After Epstein's arrest, Trump told reporters, "I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you." Trump has also said he barred Epstein from Mar-A-Lago.

Four Pinocchios from WaPo for congressman Lieu's claims about Trump in the epstein files, that's gotta hurt both wapo and lieu

Guy must think everyone else is a idiot and will take him at his word instead of actually looking,

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

by Seth Mandel

Now that university presidents have learned how to respond to members of Congress without digging themselves into a public-relations hole, the lawmakers’ own statements will stand out a bit more. And one talking point that has cropped up among Democrats reveals both a misunderstanding of how to combat anti-Semitism and a desire to pass the buck.

At Thursday’s hearing, which focused on Rutgers, UCLA, and Northwestern, some lawmakers continued a line of argument they had used in previous hearings: that anti-Semitism is happening on these campuses because the federal government doesn’t have enough money to stop it. It’s a preposterous claim, but since it’s become a regular talking point it’s worth calling out before it catches on further.

“The civil rights division of the Department of Education just reported in 2023 they had a record number of complaints for the department,” intoned Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.). “If you go back to 2009, it’s tripled in terms of the number of complaints—and a lot of those complaints involve anti-Semitism. But the staffing level at the civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Education back in 2009 [was] larger than it is today.”

Courtney then echoed his colleague Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia and accused Republicans of trying to cut that division’s budget, “which I would characterize as the equivalent of defunding the anti-Semitism police. I think it’s our job at some point to focus on the fact that we need to beef up the ranks of that department whose mission it is to investigate and to curtail this type of activity.”

This is an almost-clever play on “defund the police,” the slogan that divided Democrats during and after the George Floyd demonstrations. But it is marred by the instant recoiling one cannot help but feel toward the dreadful phrase “anti-Semitism police.”

Three makes a trend, and Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon) joined the chorus. “Because this is also a Title VI issue, let’s focus as ranking member Scott and Rep. Courtney said, on equipping the office of civil rights with the resources that it needs rather than cutting their budget.”

Scott and Bonamici both gave quite contemptible performances, complaining about holding the hearings (i.e., doing their job) while remaining militantly unwilling to condemn anti-Semitism without diluting it with “and Islamophobia.” Courtney, however, seemed to be acting in good faith.

[foxes-that-run]

End game

Like all Ed features, End Game is Haylor. (Ed, the O.G. Haylor MVP) it was written a few weeks after HS1 was released. Unlike other Rep songs that were revisited and have Joe references, even when they started before they met. In fact the film clip is overtly Haylor. (below) in the BTS (at 1:55) Taylor’s gets text with a scrabble move, she considers, says it is a 'tight game' and decides to leave the other player suspended. Ed blushes.

When OOTW was released Harry’s IG went B&W for 2 years until he started solo promo, apart from a few scrabble boards (in screaming colour) I have a theory he & Taylor played remotely which is why they are colour and she included this.

Here’s some footage of Joe playing scrabble. ….oh sorry, wait, that’s Harry Styles: fan of Scrabble and texting T Swift. Look at her here in the reputation book with the players names covered.. I wonder why lol

Timeline

Ed Sheeran said he wrote his part in a hotel room in New York. He told Audacy that he went to her RI home and heard Rep then the next day wrote it in a hotel in NY. 14 July 2017. (2 months after HS1’s release) (He was also at Taylors NY Apartment 7 March)

I was playing Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, she has a place in Rhode Island, which isn't too far so she hits me up I go around. She plays me what turned out to be Reputation and End Game and I was like man this is I really like, can I do a verse can I like do a rap verse and she was like yeah for sure. So the next day i kind of I remember I was in bed and sort of woke up and i got my laptop out but the song just looped it and I wrote wrote this verse and I went in with max martin who she did the song with and recorded it and then future the verse and then Taylor wrote a verse and then yeah we shot we shot a video".

Film Clip

The film clip is less subtle in being Haylor, it takes place in:

Miami, where HS and TS hung out at Courtney Cox's house

Tokyo, where HS went on a 1D break as his first trip overseas without the band

London, where Ed, HS and Joe all live.

Haylor Easter eggs:

0:04 the ferris wheel looks like the winding wheel.

0:21 she is a passenger in a car at night

0:44 she wears a very Harry Gucci Jumpsuit

0:48 there is a polaroid

1:10 she is a single kitten mother, except Olivia is in her Rep Era lol

1:20 the 1989 Rolling Stone shoot, now in the dark with fireworks.

2:09 Taylor 'A' Swift wears an "A" shirt see: Harry's A tattoo. (When asked Harry said "uh... for my mum" which Louis said "No it's not not it's for a mystery blonde" (2:40)

2:39 she wears the Red/WANGBT hat and cane. She also wears the jacket from her red rolling stone cover.

3:13 there are 2 white bird statues that look like his chest tattoos.

3.30 she references the 1D One Thing MV bus scene

3:43 she visits this kebab shop, a similar one with a made up but similar name is in the 1D midnight memories MV. This tik tok is also about this being an ex’s kebab shop

Lyrics

I wanna be your endgame, endgame Big reputation, big reputation Ooh, you and me, we got big reputations, ah And you heard about me, ooh I got some big enemies (yeah) Big reputation, big reputation Ooh, you and me, we'd be a big conversation, ah

HS and TS have both had big reputations as long as they’ve know each other. Now both A-listers dating is a much bigger conversation than one dating anyone else. Her enemies of Scooter and the Kanye are relevant to the music industry.

I don't wanna touch you (I don't wanna be) Just another ex-love (you don't wanna see) I don't wanna miss you (I don't wanna miss you) Like the other girls do

New Years Day Taylor sings “Please don't ever become a stranger, Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere”.

I don't wanna hurt you (I just wanna be) Drinkin' on a beach with (you all over me)

Harry Styles Debut was released May 2017, 6 months before Rep. Harry told Radio 1 he had played it for Ed earlier. The album lays out a lot of hurt between them Taylor may not have known about in that detail. Drinking, beaches and being all over each other are solid Haylor themes, see Video.

I hit you like, "Bang" We tried to forget it, but we just couldn't

Haylor hit like a bang, they met in march, were together almost immediately, he had multiple tattoos that reference her by May and they both had new albums with songs they still perform about each other by October and November. Toe were friends for a long time first and were not yet public.

Reputation precedes me, they told you I'm crazy I swear I don't love the drama, it loves me And I can't let you go, your handprint's on my soul It's like your eyes are liquor, it's like your body is gold You've been calling my bluff on all my usual tricks So here's the truth from my red lips

There’s a lot of Haylor references here:

They told you I was crazy, I swear I don’t love the drama is a reference to 1989’s Blank Space

I can’t let you go, Handprints on my soul fits is a theme in 1989, MMIH, Stockholm syndrome, ready for it?, Harry’s House.

The truth from my red lips refers to Style, Two Ghosts and other lip related lyrics.

Finally Taylor uses gold to describe HS in Gold Rush: “Everybody wants you, But I don't like a gold rush, What must it be like, to grow up that beautiful?”

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik had a sharp response to the news that University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill was stepping down from her position over the weekend: “One down. Two to go.”

It was Stefanik’s line of questioning at a hearing last week before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce that attracted the most attention from the roughly five hours of testimony. A series of exchanges went viral when Magill and other university presidents at Harvard and MIT failed to condemn calls for the genocide of Jews as explicitly against campus rules on harassment and bullying. The answers from such high-profile leaders in higher education sparked bipartisan backlash and condemnation, which led to Magill’s departure and increasing pressure to oust both Harvard’s President Claudine Gay and MIT President Sally Kornbluth.

Stefanik, a Harvard graduate herself, has been leading the charge since the hearing to highlight and investigate campus antisemitism, and her efforts have attracted supporters from across the aisle as well as former President Donald Trump.

In a new statement Monday, Stefanik again called out MIT and Harvard, saying, “The leadership at these universities is totally unfit and untenable.”

“As clear evidence of the vastness of the moral rot at every level of these schools, this earthquake has revealed that Harvard and MIT are totally unable to grasp this grave question of moral clarity at this historic moment as the world is watching in horror and disgust,” Stefanik said in the statement. “It is pathetic and abhorrent.”

Stefanik announced late last week the committee was launching an investigation into Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania. While the investigation became public before news of Magill’s resignation broke, the New York congresswoman’s statements since then have made clear she’s not finished with the issue.

“This forced resignation of the President of Penn is the bare minimum of what is required,” Stefanik said in a statement over the weekend. “These universities can anticipate a robust and comprehensive Congressional investigation of all facets of their institutions’ negligent perpetration of antisemitism including administrative, faculty, and overall leadership and governance.”

Former Penn board chair Scott Bok also resigned Saturday.

Trump praised Stefanik as “very smart” over the weekend.

“I guess they’re all gonna be losing their jobs within the next day or two, but one down, two to go,” Trump said in a speech hosted by the New York Young Republican Club late Saturday night – repeating Stefanik’s line hours after she put her statement out.

Stefanik has a polarizing reputation on Capitol Hill as a staunch supporter of Trump. But the congresswoman has managed to amass Democratic support for pushing for the ouster of university presidents. She co-wrote a letter dated Friday with Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida demanding those presidents’ removal. The letter was also signed by Democrats Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Joe Courtney of Connecticut.

“I am proud to lead a bipartisan letter with @RepMoskowitz and 72 of our colleagues to the members of the Governing Boards of @Harvard, @MIT, and @Penn demanding that their presidents be removed after this week’s @EdWorkforceCmte hearing,” Stefanik tweeted Friday.

Gay has since apologized for her remarks, in an interview with The Harvard Crimson on Thursday.

“I got caught up in what had become at that point, an extended, combative exchange about policies and procedures,” Gay told the student newspaper. “What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community — threats to our Jewish students — have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged.”

“I am sorry,” she said. “Words matter.”

The Executive Committee of the MIT Corporation, MIT’s governing board, issued a statement last week saying President Sally Kornbluth has their “full and unreserved support.”

Stefanik, who was first elected in 2014, replaced then-Rep. Liz Cheney as GOP conference chairwoman in May 2021. While she voted against one of Trump signature legislative victories – his 2017 tax plan – she attracted significant attention for her impassioned defense of Trump around the former president’s first impeachment investigation in 2019.

While she’s been one of the most visible messengers for the House GOP Conference, she was not one of the many Republicans to throw themselves in for nomination to be the next House Speaker, after Kevin McCarthy was ousted earlier this fall.

Since the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, the Department of Education has opened an unprecedented number of investigations into alleged incidents of hate on college campuses.

Both Harvard and Penn, along with 11 other colleges and five K-12 school districts, have come under investigation since that time. The Department of Education has told CNN that the situation is becoming untenable for the Office for Civil Rights, and that it doesn’t have the investigative staff to match the influx of cases, shining a light on where the investigation Stefanik announced last week may be able to fill in those gaps.

[huntingtonnow]

LaLota Touts Passage of Long Island Sound Act

Reps. Nick LaLota, R-Amityville, and Joe Courtney, a Connecticut Democrat, the co-chairs of the Long Island Sound Caucus, on Monday touted the passage  of their bipartisan Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act. The bill would reauthorize the Long Island Sound Program to ensure the protection and preservation of the Sound, passed the House. “For communities across my district in…

[jennyboom21]

👀🍿🍿🍿

EXCLUSIVE: Travis Kelce‘s foray into Hollywood continues with his first major acting job: a role in Ryan Murphy‘s high-profile new FX horror series Grotesquerie. According to sources, the NFL star — and global celebrity due to his relationship with Taylor Swift — has been cast opposite Niecy Nash-Betts, Courtney B. Vance and Lesley Manville in the upcoming series, which has just started production. Reps for FX, Murphy and producing studio 20th Television declined comment.

As is the case with all Murphy projects, details about Grotesquerie are scarce, with no cast members beyond Nash-Betts, Vance and Manville confirmed for the drama, slated for a fall premiere.

The series debut is expected to coincide with the next football season, which will see Kelce return to the Kansas City Chiefs coming off the tight end and team’s third Super Bowl win in five years.

Grotesquerie is a follow-up to Kelce’s acting debut as host of Saturday Night Live in March 2023. He also made a cameo alongside Swift on the NBC late-night sketch comedy series this past fall.

With his name gaining global recognition via his high-profile relationship with Swift, Kelce has been in demand. He has been open about his lofty Hollywood ambitions and has been branching out since signing with CAA last year.

Having previously dipped his toes in unscripted TV with his reality dating series Catching Kelce, which ran for one season in 2016, he recently signed on as host of Amazon’s Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? game show.

Known for his New Heights podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother and former NFL center Jason Kelce, Travis Kelce also recently made his debut as an executive producer on the indie film My Dead Friend Zoe, which premiered at SXSW. He is set to produce an upcoming documentary on artist Jean-Michel Basquiat titled King Pleasure.

Murphy is known for helping talent cross over to acting. Several years ago, he gave Lady Gaga her first major role on American Horror Story: Hotel. She went on to star in A Star Is Born, earning an Oscar acting nomination for her performance.

Like Kelce, Gaga also had hosted SNL before getting a shot by Murphy.

Grotesquerie, which Murphy is doing with frequent collaborators Jon Robin Baitz and Joe Baken, released an all-text teaser in February. It included audio of Nash-Betts character, in which she says, “I don’t know when it started, I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s different now. There’s been a shift, like something’s opening up in the world — a kind of hole that descends into a nothingness.”

[interest-articles]

Army Alters Aviation Modernization Plans to Address Industrial Base Concerns

Army's decision to cancel FARA program driven by industrial base considerations

The U.S. Army has made significant changes to its aviation modernization plans, citing concerns about the industrial base. The decision to cancel the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program was influenced by the potential closure of two legacy helicopter production lines within five years. The Army's top acquisition official, Doug Bush, explained to lawmakers that the cancellation was necessary due to the proliferation of small drones on battlefields like Ukraine.

This move allows the Army to allocate resources towards procuring more UH-60M Blackhawks and CH-47F Block II Chinooks, thus ensuring the longevity of these production lines.

Army's strategy shift driven by industrial base risks

The Army's decision to revise its aviation modernization plans was motivated by the need to mitigate long-term risks associated with the industrial base. The conflict in Ukraine served as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a robust industrial base capable of meeting battlefield demands, stockpile requirements, and the needs of allies. The Army recognized that its previous path carried too much risk and opted for a new approach.

FARA cancellation and its impact on the industrial base

The cancellation of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program raised concerns about the impact on the industrial base. Democrat Rep. Joe Courtney expressed worry about the potential loss of engineering expertise, particularly at Sikorsky in Connecticut, which employed around 600 engineers for the FARA program's competitor, Raider X. Courtney sought reassurances about preserving engineering talent and expertise in light of the program's cancellation.

Army's response to industrial base concerns

Doug Bush, the Army's assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics, and technology, assured lawmakers that the funding being reallocated due to the FARA cancellation would remain within the aviation portfolio. He emphasized that the fiscal 2025 budget would include additional investment in Black Hawk research and development, indicating a continued commitment to manned aircraft. Furthermore, Bush expressed hope that engineers working on manned aircraft could transition to unmanned aircraft projects, ensuring the retention of engineering talent.

Lawmakers seek clarity on the Army's aviation priorities

Lawmakers, including Rep. Rob Wittman and Rep. Donald Norcross, raised questions about the Army's decision-making process and the future of reconnaissance capabilities. Wittman expressed confusion over the Army's sudden shift in direction regarding FARA, a major aviation priority.

He called for a clear articulation of the technologies required to fulfill the Army's reconnaissance mission. Norcross highlighted the Army's history of failed attempts to replace the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance helicopter and questioned the factors that led to the cancellation of the FARA program.

The U.S. Army's decision to alter its aviation modernization plans reflects its commitment to addressing industrial base concerns. By canceling the FARA program and redirecting resources towards existing production lines, the Army aims to ensure a robust industrial base capable of meeting future demands. Lawmakers have sought clarification on the impact of the cancellation and the Army's aviation priorities moving forward.

The Army remains dedicated to retaining engineering talent and fulfilling its reconnaissance mission through innovative and creative approaches.

[wife-emailer]

today i went to a cop meeting (for my job) (against my will) to take notes on the htings the unions and lobbyists want to focus on for the upcoming legislative short session and it was likee seeing how the other half lived. i was there to rep management and i did such a good job the guy who ran it was like "if youre interested in lobbying for joe courtney (state rep) i will totally call his team for you" does this count as passing

[my-weird-news]

🚀 New Bill Shields Cadets! Must-Read for Safety!

Coast Guard Capers: Sailing Through Scandals and Sips! Ahoy there, landlubbers! 🏴‍☠️ Brace yourselves for a maritime tale that's juicier than a pineapple in a piña colada. 🍍🍹 It seems like the U.S. Coast Guard Academy is hoisting its sails towards a safer horizon, thanks to some legislative maneuvers that are straight out of a quirky political sitcom. Picture this: a bipartisan gang of lawmakers swooped in like seagulls eyeing a bag of chips to introduce a law that would shield cadets at the Coast Guard Academy from disciplinary thunderstorms when they report a sea of trouble, specifically sexual assault. ⚓️ But what makes this legislation even more amusing is that it's all about preventing these future seafaring heroes from getting slapped on the wrist for things like underage sips and way-past-bedtime antics. Because apparently, if you're going to bravely blow the whistle on some serious misconduct, you should be free to sip some apple juice in your dorm, right? 🍎🥤 Now, you might wonder why the Coast Guard Academy needed this protective umbrella in the first place. Well, it turns out they were caught in a storm of their own creation. They had this secret operation named "Fouled Anchor" – no, it's not a new cocktail – it's an investigation into decades of not-so-nautical naughtiness from the late '80s to the mid-'00s. 🌊⚓️ They didn't exactly spread the news far and wide about it, but hey, at least they eventually gave a maritime mea culpa and said they were sorry for not adulting properly back then. Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney – the Academy's neighborhood watchdog – is barking up the right tree, insisting that these cadets deserve the same protection as their peers in other military academies. He's like that neighbor who brings his own barbecue sauce to a cookout because he's not taking any chances with condiments. 🍔🍖 And wait for it… the Coast Guard Academy is now becoming part of the 'Cool Kids Club' of Department of Defense military academies. Because, you know, all the fancy academies had already signed up for the 'Safe-to-Report' policy. And just like that, the Coast Guard Academy wants in on the action, showing up fashionably late with their own protection party. 🎉 But don't let the drama drown out the real heroes here: the lawmakers. We've got Democratic Rep. Carbajal, a veteran who's now the top dog overseeing Coast Guard stuff. 🦴 He's flexing his legislative muscles to ensure that these cadets have the same safety net as their military counterparts. And let's not forget the co-sponsors – a mix of Republicans and Democrats coming together like a mixed-drink at a beachside bar. 🍹🍻 It's like a political cocktail party where they're all raising their glasses, or, um, pens, for a cause they can agree on. So, there you have it, folks! The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is sailing towards safer shores, armed with a new policy that's smoother than a freshly waxed deck. 🛳️ Let's hope this new legislation brings sunshine to their seas and a lot fewer storm clouds on their horizon. 🌞⛅️# Coast Guard Capers: Sailing Through Scandals and Sips! Ahoy there, landlubbers! 🏴‍☠️ Brace yourselves for a maritime tale that's juicier than a pineapple in a piña colada. 🍍🍹 It seems like the U.S. Coast Guard Academy is hoisting its sails towards a safer horizon, thanks to some legislative maneuvers that are straight out of a quirky political sitcom. Picture this: a bipartisan gang of lawmakers swooped in like seagulls eyeing a bag of chips to introduce a law that would shield cadets at the Coast Guard Academy from disciplinary thunderstorms when they report a sea of trouble, specifically sexual assault. ⚓️ But what makes this legislation even more amusing is that it's all about preventing these future seafaring heroes from getting slapped on the wrist for things like underage sips and way-past-bedtime antics. Because apparently, if you're going to bravely blow the whistle on some serious misconduct, you should be free to sip some apple juice in your dorm, right? 🍎🥤 Now, you might wonder why the Coast Guard Academy needed this protective umbrella in the first place. Well, it turns out they were caught in a storm of their own creation. They had this secret operation named "Fouled Anchor" – no, it's not a new cocktail – it's an investigation into decades of not-so-nautical naughtiness from the late '80s to the mid-'00s. 🌊⚓️ They didn't exactly spread the news far and wide about it, but hey, at least they eventually gave a maritime mea culpa and said they were sorry for not adulting properly back then. Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney – the Academy's neighborhood watchdog – is barking up the right tree, insisting that these cadets deserve the same protection as their peers in other military academies. He's like that neighbor who brings his own barbecue sauce to a cookout because he's not taking any chances with condiments. 🍔🍖 And wait for it… the Coast Guard Academy is now becoming part of the 'Cool Kids Club' of Department of Defense military academies. Because, you know, all the fancy academies had already signed up for the 'Safe-to-Report' policy. And just like that, the Coast Guard Academy wants in on the action, showing up fashionably late with their own protection party. 🎉 But don't let the drama drown out the real heroes here: the lawmakers. We've got Democratic Rep. Carbajal, a veteran who's now the top dog overseeing Coast Guard stuff. 🦴 He's flexing his legislative muscles to ensure that these cadets have the same safety net as their military counterparts. And let's not forget the co-sponsors – a mix of Republicans and Democrats coming together like a mixed-drink at a beachside bar. 🍹🍻 It's like a political cocktail party where they're all raising their glasses, or, um, pens, for a cause they can agree on. So, there you have it, folks! The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is sailing towards safer shores, armed with a new policy that's smoother than a freshly waxed deck. 🛳️ Let's hope this new legislation brings sunshine to their seas and a lot fewer storm clouds on their horizon. 🌞⛅️ Read the full article

[christinamac1]

Scared to Death!

BY JOHN MIKSAD,  https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/07/31/scared-to-death/– 31 July 23 I met U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) for the first time recently. I had a short, but revealing conversation with him. I don’t know what he thought coming away from the exchange, but I know what I felt. I felt afraid. I saw someone who was enthusiastic about the current proxy war with Russia and the potential…

[madefornurses]

ENA Supports Legislation Aimed at Protecting Healthcare Workers

Every day, healthcare workers across the country are violently attacked. The situation is alarming in emergency departments, which are open around the clock and required by federal law to stabilize and treat anyone who walks in. Studies have shown that ED staff experience a violent event about once every two months. Rep. Joe Courtney, D.-Conn. and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D.-Wisc. recently introduced…

[posi-pan]

Last year, I shared all the 2020 books with pan rep I knew of, and it was only 57 books. My list of 2021 books with pan rep is at 141.

Pan rep in books seems to be growing each year, and I’m really jazzed about it. 🥳🥰 (The eight books above are four I’ve enjoyed and four I want to read!)

The Bookseller’s Boyfriend by Heidi Cullinan

The Boy Next Door by Sierra Hill

Charisma Check by Charlie Novak

Dragon Tamer by Ophelia Silk

The Hidden God by Crea Reitan

The International Language by Jen Luerssen

Lily’s World by Margaux Fox

Love’s Divine by Ava Freeman

The Mark Falling by Samantha Shannon

Só Mais Um Capítulo by Madu Machado

Teddy’s Truth by K.D. Ellis

Tough Love by David Horne

Upon Another Edge Broken by Anthony W. Eichenlaub

We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen

Wish by A.J. Sherwood

Adore by A.D. Ellis

Best Laid Plans by Roan Parrish

Billy's Geeky Quest by J.B. Buell

Blink by Sawyer Benjamin

Cinderllis by Evie Drae

A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth

Enquanto eu Viver by Leticia Rosa

Eu Não Sei Parar de Te Olhar by Lyli Lua

Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

Goal Lines & First Times by Eden Finley and Saxon James

Hooked on You by K. Evan Coles

How to Be Good by Chace Verity

King’s Ex by E.J. Russell

Leather and Lace by Magen Cubed

The Marriage Rival by Kat T. Masen

My Broken Crown by Steffanie Holmes

Not Quite Out by Louise Willingham

Portals and Puppy Dogs by Amy Lane

Queen of the Immortals by T.R. Hamby

Saving Throw by Alex Silver

Tempting Jordan by Andrea Dalling

Transgressions of Power by Juliette Wade

The Velocity of Revolution by Marshall Ryan Maresca

The Witch by Taliesin Govannon

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

The Blue-Spangled Blue by David Bowles

Brother’s Best Friend in the Mountains by C.J. Turner

Can’t Take That Away by Steven Salvatore

Comatose in Como by C. Farren

The Councillor by E.J. Beaton

Deize o Sol Entrar by Guilherme Buiatti

Drag Me Up by R.M. Virtues

The Home I Find with You by Skye Kilaen

The Long Game by Anna Martin

The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore

Queen’s Ransom by Layla Reyne

Songs of Red Current Wine by V.L. Locey

The Striver by Vivica Dorn

Temos um Acordo? by Bruna Catarina

Baby Come Back by Roxanne Riley

The Belle and the Beard by Kate Canterbary

Beta Bots by Ava Lock

Bom dia, Sr. Jones by L.L. Moon

Cinnamon Roll by Anna Zabo

Cute Mutants Vol 4: The Sisterhood of Evil Mutants by S.J. Whitby

In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens

Fandom by Eden Finley

Final Curtain by J.B. Trepagnier

Headless by Aveda Vice

Hold the Door by Vinni George

Hunting Season by Kate Rudolph

JT’s Mission by Rosie Jarvis

Pieces of Us by Claudia Y. Burgoa

Plus One Bonus by Alex Silver

Ring of the Dragon by Kayelle Allen

Und ich leuchte mit den wolken by Sophie Bichon

The Virgin Rule Book by Lauren Blakely

Blood Pact by Courtney Maguire

In the Ravenous Dark by A.M. Strickland

Coming Home by Rebecca J. Caffery

Feed by Aveda Vice

Getting Friendly by Saxon James

Honest Lies by Sam LaRose

How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole

It Goes Like This by Miel Moreland

King & Queen by Maz Maddoz

Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi

Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan

Straight On ‘Til Morning by K.J. Sutton

When You Get the Chance by Tom Ryan and Robin Stevenson

Baby, eu vou by Lylia Lua

Continuum by Chella Man

Galen by Jaclyn Osborn

Just One Night by Chelsea M. Cameron

Metanoia by Cora Menestrelli

Mr Next Door by Joe Satoria

Never Kiss Your Roommate by Philline Harms

Not Guilty by Brit Ryder

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Opening Lines by Jeris Jean

Playing the Role of a Surgeon by Emily Hayes

Save the Date edited by Ann Roberts

Scarlet Sun by Isabel Hansen

Stop and Stare by Katia Rose

Swipe Right by Tagan Shepard

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

The [Un]Popular Vote by Jasper Sanchez

Weekend Girl by Alex Powell

Cruel and Careless by Bailey Nicole

Demming by Avril Ashton

Have We Met? by Camille Baker

Hold Fast Through the Fire by K.B. Wagers

Keep Me Close by R.M. Virtues

Matched By My Rival by D.J. Jamison

O casamento diferente do CEO by L.L. Moon

Once Stolen by D.N. Bryn

Perfect Timing by A.D. Ellis

Queen to King Three by Jennifer Cody

There’s Magic Between Us by Jillian Maria

The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters

Skin by Aveda Vice

Waylaid by Sarina Bowen

Weapon UwU Vol. 1: Godkillers by S.J. Whitby

Distant Gardens edited by J.S. Fields

The Friendship Equation by J.R. Gray

Freedom in Falling by J. Emery

Love’s Bequest by Blake Allwood

Second Chance Romance by Seth King

The Second Rebel by Linden A. Lewis

Act Cool by Tobly McSmith

Bloody Spade by Brittany M. Willows

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

A Dark and Starless Forrest by Sarah Hollowell

Keisha and the Rise of the Legacy by T.R. Tells

Sashayed to Death by C. Farren

Bees and Honey by Victoria Weyland

Cute Mutants Vol 5: Galaxy Brain by S.J. Whitby

The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta

Initiation by Alethea Faust

Ride the Wreck by Max Walker

Skeletal Equation by A.E. Lister

Thronebreakers by Rebecca Coffindaffer

What’s the Matter with Mary Jane by Candas Jane Dorsey

The God of Lost Words by A.J. Hackwith

Tahira in Bloom by Farah Heron

Yours, Insatiably by Aveda Vice

[sniffnlickneat]

“The dismissal of Captain Crozier at this critical moment, as the sailors aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt are confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic, is a reckless, political move that reeks of undue command influence," read the statement from chairman Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, subcommittee chairs Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut, Rep. John Garamendi of California and Rep. Jackie Speier of California.

The ship, which was operating in the Pacific, pulled into port in Guam last week several days after multiple crew members tested positive for the virus. By Wednesday, there were 93 positive test results, and more than 1,000 people were taken off the carrier and placed into isolation on Guam. In total, 2,700 people are expected to disembark the ship this week, with a smaller crew remaining to maintain the carrier

[floorcharts]

Who: Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Connecticut)

Twitter: @RepJoeCourtney

When: November 2019

What: Workplace violence against health care workers

Watch on C-SPAN

Read Congressional Record

[tabloidtoc]

Hollywood Reporter, October 30

Cover: Fighting for the Future of Film 

Page 2: Contents 

Page 4: Contents 

Page 11: The Report -- AT&T’s shadow war resets as activist investors claim wins 

Page 12: Why Wall Street doesn’t mind cable’s “Dark” pay TV future 

Page 14: When movies shift over to streaming: Bonuses just go out the window, When will Netflix finally end its content cash burn? 

Page 16: $0 is magic number for new streamers: It’s About Scale, Wanna Boost Box Office -- host a Q&A 

Page 18: Box Office, Broadcast TV, Cable TV, Billboard Hot 100, Billboard 200 

Page 20: Tribute to Robert Evans -- William Friedkin 

Page 21: Rose McGowan, Joe Eszterhas, Phillip Noyce, Christine Peters 

Page 22: Feinberg Forecast -- Nominations, Britannias and Oscar Prom in October -- Best Picture -- The Irishman, 1917, Actor -- Matt Damon, Actress -- Scarlett Johansson, Director -- Greta Gerwig, Original Screenplay -- Us 

Page 24: 7 Days of Deals -- How Endemol turns Banijay into a truly global TV powerhouse, It’s a Bird It’s a Plane It’s a lot more spinoffs, Rights Available -- Thumbs by Sean Lewis, Tiny Imperfections by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans, Film -- Rachel Weisz, Bill Condon, Craig Mazin and Ted Elliot to develop a Pirates of the Caribbean reboot, Shia LaBeouf and Vanessa Kirby, Kelly Marie Tran 

Page 25: Justin Bieber, Television -- Dwyane Wade, Amy Poehler, Johnny Galecki and Anthony Del Broccolo, Alia Shawkat and Jeff Bridges, Digital -- Jared Harris and Lee Pace to star in Apple+ space drama Foundation, Beau Willimon, Freddie Prinze Jr., Joseph Mawle will play the main villain on Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series, Rep Sheet -- Gwyneth Paltrow, Ozuna, Ross Mathews, Chris Diamantopoulos, Ayesha Curry, Next Big Thing -- Ana de la Reguera 

Page 27: Why Hollywood still doesn’t have a consensus presidential candidate 

Page 28: Long before #MeToo a showbiz secretary skewered Selznick 

Page 29: The unconventional path of Prince’s memoir -- Esther Newberg, Ian Schrager returns to the Sunset Strip 

Page 30: About Town -- Governors Awards -- Laura Dern and Isabella Rossellini and Kyle MacLachlan, Jennifer Lopez, Jon Hamm and Olivia Wilde, David Lynch, Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio and Quentin Tarantino, Lina Wertmuller, Charlize Theron and John Lithgow and Regina King and Damon Lindelof, Wes Studi and Christian Bale, Geena Davis and Jim Gianopulos, Mark Twain Prize -- Elaine and Dave Chappelle, Tiffany Haddish, Morgan Freeman and Chris Tucker, Nancy Pelosi, Common and daughter Omoye Assata Lynn 

Page 31: Britannia Awards -- Donald Glover and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Kerry Washington and Lupita Nyong’o, John C. Reilly, Taron Egerton and Dexter Fletcher, Norman Lear, Jordan Peele and wife Chelsea Peretti, Michael Howells and wife Courtney Howells and Matthew Wiseman and wife Lisa, Jackie Chan and Vin Diesel, Steve Coogan and Chantal Rickards and Hilary Roberts, Lorne Michaels, Bradley Cooper with daughter Lea De Seine Shayk Cooper, Michael Che and Colin Jost 

Page 32: Yes I Did Say That! Rachel Maddow, Bob Iger, Ted Mundorff, Tyler Perry, Kelly Bachman, Martha Stewart on Felicity Huffman, Amanda Knox on Lady Gaga, Kurt Sutter, Flashback -- Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2015 

Page 34: Rambling Reporter -- Josh Brolin avenges Santa Monica crime fighters, Strauss Zelnick goes topless in youth pill ad, how Koch went from Howard to Hawk, the day Taika Waititi made little Archie Yates cry 

Page 35: Hitched, Hatched, Hired, Power Dining -- Lenny Kravitz, Haim Saban, Maria Shriver and son Patrick Schwarzenegger, Lindsey Vonn, Bob Simonds, Jake Gyllenhaal, Andrew Garfield, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Joel Silver, Gary Gilbert, Natalie Portman and Ellen Pompeo double date, Jason Momoa, Lea Michele, Harrison Ford 

Page 36: The Business -- Mimi Leder 

Page 38: Who broke NDAs for Bombshell

Page 42: Who Wants to Take on Fox News? 

Page 44: My plea for a best blockbuster Oscar 

Page 45: Behind the Screen -- The sound of a de-aged De Niro 

Page 48: Style -- Ralph Lauren shares insights about his life and work on the eve of the HBO documentary Very Ralph 

Page 50: The “Shape Shifter” costumes of Harriet 

Page 52: Dan Aykroyd’s haunted hotspots 

Page 54: Cover Story -- The Executive Roundtable 

Page 62: Welcome to the Flim Flam Film Fest 

Page 66: Awards Season -- 42 movies in on Oscar 

Page 70: Making of Marriage Story 

Page 74: Reviews -- The Morning Show 

Page 75: Social Climbers -- Actors -- Zac Efron, Kristen Bell, Scripted TV -- Rick and Morty, TV Personalities -- Trevor Noah 

Page 77: Backlot -- Rob Riggle’s plans to play nice as awards show host 

Page 78: Dr. Mehmet Oz on his show’s health, past mistakes and his future 

Page 80: 90 Years of THR -- In 1984 Terminator arrived and (kept coming back) 

[theliberaltony]

via Politics – FiveThirtyEight

On Tuesday afternoon, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced her plans to open an official impeachment inquiry against President Trump. Although she and others in House leadership positions have resisted opening formal impeachment proceedings for months, a deluge of new calls from more moderate members of her party may have cemented her decision to move forward.

More than two-thirds of the Democratic caucus now favor beginning an impeachment investigation in response to allegations that Trump attempted to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into investigating former Vice President Joe Biden, and may have threatened to withhold foreign aid.

This is a huge change from the end of July, when we last checked in on where impeachment stood among House Democrats. At that point, just a few days after special counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony before two House committees about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign, 109 Democrats were in support of impeachment. Granted, more than half of House Democrats have been in favor of impeachment since early August, but that number has now risen to 179, according to the New York Times,1 which means a solid majority of the Democratic caucus now supports impeachment.

Of course, a lot could depend on how the next few days unfold — in particular, whether the White House turns over the transcript of Trump’s July 25 call with Zelensky or the whistleblower complaint (which the administration has so far refused to share with Congress, despite a subpoena). After all, some moderates have hedged saying they’d support impeachment if the allegations prove true. But if the accusations against Trump are borne out, the remaining Democratic holdouts could face increasing pressure to support the impeachment inquiry — for one thing, Democrats are still short of the 218 votes they need for an impeachment resolution.

So how did we get here? The dramatic uptick in support for impeachment since July is due to two main shifts. First, during the August recess, a steady trickle of Democrats announced their support for impeachment, perhaps in response to pressure from people in their districts. And second, in just the past few days, dozens of Democrats have lined up in support of an impeachment inquiry for the first time, including a significant number from red and purple districts that Clinton either lost or won by 10 points. In fact, more than half of the Democrats who recently joined the pro-impeachment column come from districts that Democrats lost or won by less than 10 percentage points. These are the members who have the most at stake electorally if an impeachment inquiry backfires against Democrats, so their support is especially noteworthy.

More Democrats from swing districts support impeachment

Democratic House members who have announced their support for impeachment since September 13*

Name Congressional District Clinton’s Margin Antonio Delgado NY-19 -7 Elissa Slotkin MI-8 -7 Abigail Spanberger VA-7 -7 Andy Kim NJ-3 -6 Dave Loebsack IA-2 -4 Haley Stevens MI-11 -4 Elaine Luria VA-2 -3 Sean Patrick Maloney NY-18 -2 Susie Lee NV-3 -1 Angie Craig MN-2 -1 Mikie Sherrill NJ-11 -1 Lizzie Fletcher TX-7 +1 Joe Courtney CT-2 +3 Charlie Crist FL-13 +3 Josh Harder CA-10 +3 Jahana Hayes CT-5 +4 Steven Horsford NV-4 +5 Tom Suozzi NY-3 +6 Katie Hill CA-25 +7 Raul Ruiz CA-36 +9 Gil Cisneros CA-39 +9 Chrissy Houlahan PA-6 +9 Dean Phillips MN-3 +9 Ami Bera CA-7 +11 Ed Perlmutter CO-7 +12 David Trone MD-6 +15 Frank Pallone Jr NJ-6 +16 Joseph D Morelle NY-25 +16 Kathy Castor FL-14 +18 Jim Cooper TN-5 +18 Lois Frankel FL-21 +20 A Donald McEachin VA-4 +22 Debbie Dingell MI-12 +26 John Sarbanes MD-3 +31 Susan A Davis CA-53 +35 Mike Thompson CA-5 +45 Marc Veasey TX-33 +49 Hank Johnson GA-4 +53 Albio Sires NJ-8 +54 Elijah E Cummings MD-7 +56 Alcee L Hastings FL-20 +62 Gregory W Meeks NY-5 +73 John Lewis GA-5 +73

*Date that Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire announced he would not hand over a whistleblower complaint about President Trump’s conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in defiance of a subpoena issued by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff.

Source: The New York Times

This means the base of support for impeachment has become more ideologically diverse. For instance, if we look at the districts where House members now support impeachment, Trump lost these districts in 2016 by around 31 percentage points. But in July, his average loss in these pro-impeachment districts was 38 percentage points, showing that members from more moderate districts have joined the cause. (For reference, Trump lost the average Democratic-held seat by 28 percentage points, and he lost the districts of Democratic members who are currently not supporting impeachment by an average of 18 percentage points.)

And while some moderates have been careful to say their support is conditional on the allegations being true, some potentially vulnerable Democrats seem to be in favor of an impeachment inquiry regardless of what happens next. For example, Rep. Antonio Delgado, who represents a district in upstate New York that Trump won by 7 points in 2016, said that asking the Ukrainian president to investigate Biden was “in itself an impeachable offense.”

The new supporters for impeachment also include a significant number of Democrats from very liberal districts who had previously resisted calls for impeachment. As the table below shows, only 18 Democrats from very liberal districts continue to oppose (or remain undecided/refuse to comment) on impeachment — down significantly from the end of July:

Impeachment holdouts in very blue districts

Democratic House members who don’t support impeachment in districts that Hillary Clinton won by more than her margin (31.9 percentage points) in the average district with a pro-impeachment representative

Name CD Margin Nancy Pelosi CA-12 +78 Karen Bass CA-37 +76 Frederica S Wilson FL-24 +68 Eddie Bernice Johnson TX-30 +61 Anna G Eshoo CA-18 +53 Zoe Lofgren CA-19 +51 Adam B Schiff CA-28 +50 Jimmy Panetta CA-20 +47 Sylvia R Garcia TX-29 +46 David Scott GA-13 +44 Terri A Sewell AL-7 +41 Linda T Sánchez CA-38 +40 J Luis Correa CA-46 +38 James E Clyburn SC-6 +37 Ed Case HI-1 +33 Tulsi Gabbard HI-2 +32 Robert C Scott VA-3 +32 Steny H Hoyer MD-5 +32

Source: The New York times

Some recent switchers from the more liberal camp include Georgia civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, a Pelosi ally who called for impeachment proceedings in a dramatic speech on the House floor on Tuesday, and Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan, who had previously argued that impeachment would “tear the country apart.” It seems that for many of these Democrats, the gravity and scale of the allegations against Trump finally outweighed concerns about whether an impeachment push without bipartisan support would be too divisive, or if it would be useless to impeach Trump given that Senate Republicans are highly unlikely to vote to remove him from office. (Although there was a flicker of bipartisan energy in the Senate on Tuesday evening, when a nonbinding resolution calling on the Trump administration to release the whistleblower complaint passed unanimously.)

Opposition to impeachment among Democrats from red and blue districts has also fallen over the past few days, but there are still a significant number who do not represent very liberal districts and who haven’t yet endorsed an impeachment inquiry. Of the 64 Democrats from districts that Hillary Clinton won or lost by 10 points or fewer in 2016, more than half now support impeachment. That’s more than twice as many than at the end of July, but a sizeable chunk still haven’t gotten on board. And as the table below shows, many of these Democrats hail from districts that Clinton lost:

Impeachment holdouts in red and purple districts

Democratic House members who don’t support impeachment in districts that Hillary Clinton either lost or won by 10 percentage points or less

Name CD Margin Collin C Peterson MN-7 -31 Anthony Brindisi NY-22 -16 Joe Cunningham SC-1 -13 Kendra Horn OK-5 -13 Jared Golden ME-2 -10 Max Rose NY-11 -10 Xochitl Torres Small NM-2 -10 Matt Cartwright PA-8 -10 Ben McAdams UT-4 -7 Ron Kind WI-3 -5 Jeff Van Drew NJ-2 -5 Cindy Axne IA-3 -4 Abby Finkenauer IA-1 -4 Conor Lamb PA-17 -3 Lucy McBath GA-6 -2 Cheri Bustos IL-17 -1 Tom O’Halleran AZ-1 -1 Josh Gottheimer NJ-5 -1 Susan Wild PA-7 +1 Sharice Davids KS-3 +1 Colin Allred TX-32 +2 Kurt Schrader OR-5 +4 Stephanie Murphy FL-7 +7

Source: The New York Times

Some of these Democrats may remain wary of embracing impeachment — and that could be tricky for House leadership down the road, if they do decide to pursue an impeachment resolution. But the fact that Democrats like Delgado, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, and Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who are all from districts that Trump won by 7 points in 2016, are newly supporting impeachment could embolden other moderates to join them.

Regardless of what happens next, it’s clear that the political ground on impeachment has shifted dramatically among Democrats in a very short period of time. Even Biden, who previously said that impeachment proceedings would be a “giant distraction,” said that the House should move forward with impeachment if the Trump administration refuses to turn over information about the call with the Ukrainian president. And as FiveThirtyEight’s editor in chief, Nate Silver, wrote Tuesday, pursuing impeachment is a big risk for the Democrats, considering how unpopular it remained throughout the course of the Mueller investigation. But for the first time, the vast majority of House Democrats seem willing to take that risk.