A rumble in the primaries. Jay Inslee struck like thunder and proved that America was just looking for a candidate that gave a damn. A Green Revolution covers America in a new promise for a better future.
CNN: Trump agrees to keep about 400 US troops in Syria, official says
Washington Post: Historic heat wave turns Western U.S. into 'furnace': 'This is not normal'
Pacific Northwest sees 'hottest ever' February temperatures in a sudden heat wave.
Heavy flooding and rain is reported throughout Tennessee.
Seattle reaches a maximum heat of 73°F (23°C) – the hottest February since 1968. Portland broke its record set in 1988 of 71°F (22°C).
Governor Inslee rushes to deploy state resources – sending cooling centers and emergency medical care, requesting the State Legislature to introduce tax rebates for low-income neighborhoods and rural communities.
Musician R. Kelly is indicted for sexual abuse against a minor.
February 23, 2019
CBC: Recent severe heat wave came years earlier than expected: Climate Scientist
"My heart aches for our state today. The scorching breath of this heat wave has left a trail of loss, claiming nearly 100 lives among us. Parents grieving children. Grandparents stolen from loving families. Lives extinguished before their stories could truly bloom.
We knew the science warned of this. We knew a warming planet meant fiercer summers, parched landscapes, and extreme weather events … But this, this heat … is a stark, horrifying wake-up call."
- Governor Jay Inslee, February 23rd
Governor Jay Inslee declares a state of emergency over the extreme wildfires and heatwaves.
Trump refuses to comment on the Western heat wave.
After several postponements, Nigeria's general election takes place.
February 24, 2019
CNN: Tennessee flooding leaves 1 dead and prompts a state of emergency
NBC News: Cubans vote on a constitutional referendum which may reveal growing discontent
Moldova and Senegal go to the polls and vote today.
Over 9,000 firefighters have been deployed across the North American west.
February 25, 2019
Seattle Times: Heat moves towards Montana after shattering temperature records in PNW
BBC: Labour prepared to back new Brexit referendum
Voters in Cuba approve a new constitution with 90% of the vote, affirming the role of socialism, creating the Prime Minister post, establishing term limits, and recognizing private and cooperative businesses.
February 26, 2019
Seattle Times: Heat moves towards Montana after shattering temperature records in PNW
TASS: Kremlin clarifies Putin never directly declared intention to aim missiles at US
President Donald Trump lands in Hanoi in preparation for a summit with Kim Jong-un.
Cardinal George Pell becomes the Catholic Church's senior-most official convicted of a sexual crime in history, after it was revealed he had sexually assaulted two young choirboys.
February 27, 2019
AP: Washington adopts most protective heat rules for workers in US
CNN: What to watch during the Trump-Kim Vietnam summit
Colombia requests UN intervention in Venezuela's crisis.
(1/4) Washington just did what no other state has ever done: passed the strongest heat protection rules for workers in the US. This past February, we saw the Pacific Northwest buckle under record-breaking heat. Folks in fields & factories, many from our rural & marginalized communities, bore the brunt.
(2/4) That heatwave was a terrifying wake-up call. We knew we had to act. These new rules ensure every worker has access to shade, water, breaks, and heat training. No one should have to risk their health just to earn a living. This is about protecting lives & livelihoods, especially in vulnerable communities.
(3/4) But let's be clear: Washington can't be alone in this fight. The climate crisis isn't a regional issue, it's a global one. We need bold, decisive action on an international scale. That's why I'm calling on every American to demand a #ClimateCandidate in the 2020 election.
@JayInslee February 27 6:58 PM
February 28, 2019
BBC: YouTube bans comments on all videos of children
New York Times: Is Inslee teasing a Presidential run?
The Oregonian: Oregon is latest to pass heat rules for workers
The Hanoi summit collapses as the two countries fail to find a deal on North Korea's nuclear weapons.
World Weather Attribution finds the February heat wave to be "virtually impossible" without human-caused climate change.
MARCH
March 2, 2019
Reuters: 183 injured in Algeria protests: state news agency
Jay Inslee declares "the real national emergency is Climate Change" on twitter, referencing the National Emergency Concerning the Southern Border of the United States.
March 4, 2019
The Local: Germany to strip dual national militia fighters of citizenship
AP: Guaido returns to Venezuela, calls for more street protests
Former Governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper, announces that he is running for the Democratic Nomination for the Presidency.
March 5, 2019
NBC: Is America Ready For a Climate Candidate?
The commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Scott Gottlieb, announces he plans to resign sometime "in the next month".
Seven-hundred German-speaking scientists state their support for the school strikes in the country.
March 6, 2019
The Jakarta Post: Thousands surrounded by floods across Java
The United States Commerce Department reports that the nation's 2018 trade deficit was $620 billion, the largest the nation has seen since 2008.
Jeopardy Host Alex Treback announces he has been diagnosed with terminal stage 4 cancer, but plans to continue hosting.
March 7, 2019
Paul Manafort – former manager of the Trump campaign, is sentenced to nearly four years in prison for eight counts, including tax fraud and bank fraud.
Donald Trump is a coward and a racist.
@JayInslee March 7 9:23 AM
March 11, 2019
Bloomberg: Turkey Enters First Recession in a Decade as Elections Loom
Boeing shares lose roughly 9% after a fatal crash in one of the company's best-selling planes.
US-allied forces in Syria renew an offensive against ISIL.
In a hypothetical poll, 19% of Democrats say they would vote for Jay Inslee.
March 12, 2019
Sky News: Russia 'very likely' to meddle in European Parliament elections, warns Estonia spy chief
LA Daily News: Gov. Gavin Newsom to halt death penalty despite voter efforts to hasten executions
4.9 million pounds of oil spill into the Atlantic off the coast of France.
The British parliament rejects Theresa May's Brexit deal yet again.
March 13, 2019
BBC: Boeing grounds entire 737 Max crash aircraft fleet
The British parliament votes against a no-deal Brexit.
Jay Inslee endorses the upcoming climate protests, asking for city councils to allow children to attend the climate strikes. The Spokesman claims "If Gov. Jay Inslee had his way he would excuse every student from school on Friday for the youth-led Global Climate Strike."
March 14, 2019
New York Times: Israel Strikes After Rockets Are Fired From Gaza to Tel Aviv
BBC: Brexit: MPs vote by a majority of 211 to seek delay to EU departure
Beto O'Rourke announces his presidential bid.
The U.S. Senate votes to cancel Trump's emergency declaration to fund a wall along the border with Mexico. Trump plans to veto the decision.
It started with Greta, of course. That defiant girl from Sweden, started it all. Then came the students, internationally, millions strong. Skipping school, filling the streets with demands for action. Seattle, my Seattle, was ground zero.
And now, standing here with the microphone sweating in my hand. Not from the sun (though it blazed bright), but from the raw energy in the air. For change. Their chants subsided, replaced with a hushed expectancy. I looked at their faces, young and old, etched with urgency, exhaustion, and an unshakable belief.
"Just a few weeks ago," My voice cut through the silence, "we faced the abyss. Our cities choked in smoke, our forests burned, and many of our farms were staring down the barrel. This provided us with a harsh reminder – climate change isn't just a chart or a graph anymore. It's here."
A thunderous applause rippled through the park – each clap a thousand defiant punches against an indifferent past.
"We cannot settle for compromises anymore. We have to think big. We're not going to keep dangling carrots of sustainability. This cannot be about oil profits. This is about the very air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil that nourishes our souls! This, my friends, is about a green revolution!"
Feeling the energy of the crowd, my heart pulsed with power.
"This is the first generation to feel the consequences of climate change, and we're the last that can do something about it. And this revolution!" I thundered, my voice echoing off of the skyscrapers, "Can bring millions of jobs, to every forgotten community across America, and build a more just and clean future for everyone!"
"We must seize our moment." I declared, "For the youth and for the dispossessed of humanity. And that's why I, Jay Inslee, declare my campaign for the presidency!"
AP: US bars entry to International Criminal Court investigators
Washington Post: Trump issues first veto of his presidency over emergency declaration for border wall
51 are killed in two attacks on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
More than 100,000 attend the School Strike for Climate in the United States.
Governor Jay Inslee announces his presidential campaign at Cal Anderson Park. He is the first presidential candidate from Washington since 'Scoop' Jackson in 1976.
The 2020 election will decide whether or not the US will lead the world in overcoming climate catastrophe. It's good to know that a climate champion like @GovInslee will be in the race, pushing the country to recognize what is at stake.
@TomSteyer March 15 6:06 AM[1]
March 16, 2019
Seattle Times: Attorney General not ruling out run for governor
USA Today: Nebraska slammed by worst flooding in 50 years after massive 'bomb cyclone'
France enters its fourth month of Yellow Vest protests against Emmanuel Macron.
March 17, 2019
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) enters the 2020 Democratic Presidential Primaries.
Climate is no longer just a chart or a graph - it's the flood waters inundating our homes and schools.
Trudi & I are thinking of those impacted by these catastrophic floods. Let these images strengthen our commitment to confronting this climate crisis.
@JayInslee March 17 1:15 PM
March 19, 2019
NPR: ISIS Camp In Baghouz Is Captured As U.S. Allies Declare Progress In Syria
Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev resigns after nearly 30 years in power.
CNN/SSRS Mar 15-18
Democratic Primary Poll
26% Joe Biden 23% Bernie Sanders 13% Jay Inslee 12% Kamala Harris 9% Beto O'Rourke 05% Elizabeth Warren 02% Cory Booker 02% Pete Buttigieg
The Hollywood Reporter: Disney Closes $71.3 Billion Fox Deal, Creating Global Content Powerhouse
BBC: Nursultan: Kazakhstan renames capital Astana after ex-president
Kazakhstan's second president – Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, is sworn into office.
British Prime Minister Theresa May, requests for the European Council President to delay Brexit until June 30th.
March 21, 2019
CNN: Assault rifles to be banned in New Zealand in aftermath of massacre, Prime Minister announces
The Guardian: Brexit: EU poised to insist on withdrawal no later than 22 May
President Trump announces his plans to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli territory
More than 100 are killed after an Iraqi ferry celebrating the Nowruz holiday sinks near the Iraqi city of Mosul.
March 22, 2019
Fox News: Trump surprises by revoking North Korea sanctions immediately after Treasury imposes them
Thousands are forced to evacuate as two cyclones are expected to hit Australia in the upcoming weekend – Cyclone Trevor on the north coast, and Cyclone Veronica on the west coast.
The Mueller Report on Russian interference in the 2016 elections is submitted to Attorney General William Barr. Jay Inslee demands for it to be immediately released publicly as "Donald Trump and his Attorney General cannot be trusted to summarize or excerpt it accurately."
March 23, 2019
The SDF celebrates the capture of the final territory in Syria held by ISIL.
Former CEO of Enron, Jeffrey Skilling, released from prison in February after serving 12 years for fraud and insider trading, is planning on starting a new energy venture.
Italy becomes the first G7 nation to join the Belt and Road initiative.
Over a million gather in London to call for another Brexit referendum.
March 25, 2019
OPB: Inslee Visits Portland Electrical Workers Union To Talk Green Jobs
Donald Trump signs a proclamation declaring the Golan Heights to be Israeli territory.
Flash flooding in southern Iran kills at least 19 people.
Attorney Michael Avenatti is arrested on charges of potentially trying to extort up to $25 million from Nike, as well as for embezzlement and bank fraud.
"What we're learning is the nation very much understands the threat of climate change, this used to be a graph. This used to be a chart, but now it's Paradise, California, burning to the ground. It's Houston under water. It's Nebraska under water. It's Puerto Rico."
- Governor Jay Inslee, March 25th, 2019
March 26, 2019
CNN: Grim search for survivors continues after floods kill 113 people in Indonesia
The Senate blocks the Green New Deal with 0 in favor, 43 present, and 57 against, as the Republicans hold the vote without any hearings or prior discussion on the bill.
"The American people will see, they will see which of their senators can do the common sense thing and vote no on this destructive socialist daydream. And they will see which senators are so fully committed to radical left-wing ideology that they can't even vote no on self-inflicted economic ruin"
- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), March 26th 2019
Jay Inslee reposts an AOC statement accusing Republicans of "wasting votes" and saying that they should "stop wasting the American peoples' time and learn to govern."
Uber acquires Dubai-based company Careem for $1.3 billion.
March 27, 2019
NBC: Driver in deadly car attack at Charlottesville white nationalist rally pleads guilty to federal hate crimes
Theresa May pledges to step down before the next stage of Brexit negotiations if her deal is passed.
March 27, 2019
Mayor of Miramir, Florida, Wayne Messam, announces his run for the presidency in an online video.
Jay Inslee reiterates his endorsement for a national conversion therapy ban.
March 30, 2019
Reuters: Exclusive: More than 1 million acres of U.S. cropland ravaged by floods
Sky News: 'Four Palestinians dead' in protests, Gaza's health ministry says
A federal judge rules that Trump's 2017 executive order allowing arctic drilling exceeds presidential power because it requires congressional approval.
APRIL
April 1, 2019
New York Times: Iran Hit With 3rd Major Flood in 2 Weeks
BBC: Zuzana Caputova becomes Slovakia's first female president
Protesters from the Extinction Rebellion strip naked in the House of Commons with their buttocks facing the chamber, disrupting a debate on Brexit.
Thirty firefighters die in China after a sudden shift in winds causes a forest fire to trap them.
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria announces that he will be resigning before April 28th, ending his 20-year rule.
April 2, 2019
BBC: Brexit: PM asks Corbyn to help break deadlock
Google begins shutting down its unsuccessful social platform Google+ due to low usage.
Abdelaziz Bouteflika steps down.
CNN announces it will be hosting a town hall with Jay Inslee on April 10th, hosted by Wolf Blitzer.
April 3, 2019
New York Post: House panel authorizes subpoena to get unredacted Mueller report
Axios: Senate GOP invokes "nuclear option" to speed up confirmations of Trump nominees
An indicative vote to approve holding more indicative votes on Brexit possibilities becomes the first tie in parliament in 21st century Britain.
Volodymyr Zelensky wins the first round of Ukraine's presidential election with 30% of the vote.
The Ways and Means Committee requests Donald Trump's past 6 years of tax returns.
The U.S. House votes to end American support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen.
Politico releases grades for the Spanish sites of 2020 Democratic hopefuls:
Booker A-
Inslee A-[2]
Gabbard A-
Harris A-
Castro B+
Gillibrand B+
Warren C+
Klobuchar C
O'Rourke Incomplete
Sanders Incomplete
Buttigieg No Spanish Website
Delaney No Spanish Website
Yang No Spanish Website
April 8, 2019
Al Jazeera: Three US troops, one contractor killed in Afghanistan explosion
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is designated as a terrorist organization by America. This is the first time that a part of another government has been designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S.
A U.S. Judge halts Trump's policy of sending asylum seekers to Mexico.
Mike Gravel and Eric Swawell announce their presidential campaigns.
April 10, 2019
BBC: Brexit: UK and EU agree delay to 31 October
Jay Inslee holds a town hall with CNN.
My daughter, who is 19, elevated Jay Inslee to her top choice based solely on his climate change stance. For her, and many of her college friends it is the number one issue they care about. As a mom it is my number one issue when I think of the future of my children.
@IrishLegs April 9 1:20 AM
April 11, 2019
ABC News Australia: Scott Morrison says voters have 'clear choice' at May 18 poll
Korea Herald: Constitutional Court rules abortion ban is against the Constitution, calls for amendment
Julian Assange is arrested in London.
Jay Inslee endorses the abolishment of the electoral college on CBS This Morning.
The U.S. Senate votes in favor of confirming David Bernhardt, an oil lobbyist, as Secretary of the Interior.
April 14, 2019
New York Times: Military Drills in Arctic Aim to Counter Russia, but the First Mission Is to Battle the Cold
MSNBC: Inslee introduces the 'Schultz should not run for president Latte' [3]
More than eight are killed in the Southern United States amid severe floods and tornadoes.
The Social Democratic Party receives a small victory of 40 seats in the 2019 Finnish parliamentary election.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg announces his candidacy for the 2020 Democratic party nomination.
April 15, 2019
AP: South Korean president calls for 4th summit with Kim Jong Un
ABC: Interior inspector general investigating newly confirmed Secretary David Bernhardt for ethics violations
A fire breaks out at the Notre-Dame de Paris, a medieval Catholic cathedral in Paris, resulting in the collapse of the building's roof and damage to the interior.
Former Massachusetts Governor (from 1991-1997) Bill Weld becomes the first Republican to formally challenge Donald Trump in the Republican primaries.
April 16, 2019
KOMO News: Inslee boldly tours flooded Iowa towns that other Dem candidates avoid
Google and Apple remove TikTok from their app stores in India after a court ruled it could introduce children to inappropriate content.
Donald Trump vetoes a resolution that sought to end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen.
April 17, 2019
MassLive: After Notre Dame fire, French prime minister announces international architects' competition to rebuild spire
The 2019 Indonesian general election is held.
5 minutes and 27 seconds. That's how much time was spent discussing climate change in the 2016 presidential debates. I will not allow that to happen this time, but I need your help. Sign our petition. Demand that the DNC hold a climate debate. #OurMoment
@JayInslee April 17 7:25 AM
April 18, 2019
A redacted version of the Mueller Report is released. The investigation did not find any conspiracy between Donald Trump and the Russian government, but the report did not rule out any obstruction of justice.
Al Gore endorses the #ClimateDebate, but refrains from a direct endorsement of Governor Inslee.
Congress must get to the bottom of this and have Mr. Mueller testify to complete this investigation. There is no other option. America deserves this. Donald Trump can't run from this anymore.
@JayInslee April 18 3:44 AM
April 19, 2019
Fox LA: Pres. Candidate Jay Inslee: 'Impeachment should not be off the table!'
House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler issues a subpoena to the Justice Department for a full, unredacted version of the Mueller Report by the 1st of May.
Media reports indicate that former Vice President Joe Biden plans to launch his official campaign for President next wednesday.
April 22, 2019
Reuters: U.S. to end all waivers on imports of Iranian oil, crude price jumps
CBS: Majority of young Americans say climate change is a "crisis" requiring "urgent action"
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) launches his run for President.
Mitch McConnell promises to be the "Grim Reaper" for the Green New Deal if Republicans hold onto the Senate in 2020.
April 23, 2019
Bloomberg: Google Spinoff's Drone Delivery Business First to Get FAA Approval
Duterte – President of the Philippines, demands for Canada to help remove tons of misdirected trash that were delivered to Manila in 2013 & 2014, going as far as to threaten war if Canada does not do so.
The Green Party of Prince Edward Island forms the official opposition for the province. This will be the first time any Green Party has done so in North America.
"It's something that happens in politics, the tide has changed."
- Premier Wade MacLauchlan (L-PEI)[4], April 23rd, 2019
April 25, 2019
USA Today: Violent storms, floods, tornadoes leave 5 dead in South
A federal judge in Washington State blocks a Trump Administration initiative that would have restricted family planning clinics from referring patients to abortion providers.
#BREAKING: a federal judge in Yakima just granted my request for a nationwide injunction blocking @realDonaldTrump's harmful #TitleX "gag rule", which would have severely impacted access to critical health care services for women. WA is now 21-0 vs the Trump administration.
@BobFergusonAG April 25 1:14 PM
Former Vice President Joe Biden announces his presidential campaign for the 2020 Democratic Nomination. His announcement video is dominated by him positioning the upcoming election as "a battle for the soul of the nation", and almost entirely avoiding discussing policy, showing he believes Democrats will quickly embrace him.
April 26, 2019
New York Times: How Does Joe Biden Fit Into a Changing Democratic Party?
Jay Inslee says he has 'no comment' on who he plans to endorse in the 2020 Washington State Gubernatorial Primaries.
Crosscut/Elway Mar 16-19
WA State Hypothetical Gubernatorial Primary Poll (Among Democrats)
37.6% Bob Ferguson 15.5% Dow Constantine 9.2% Hilary Franz 7.5% Cyrus Habib[5]
[1] - Steyer will be coming up a lot during the primaries.
[2] - You can find the real article here. Inslee received a top-of-the-class A- for only having minor errors and including "Good use of technical language on climate change."
[3] - Howard Schultz, professional union buster and former CEO of Starbucks, teased a run for president a few times in 2019. First, the WA State Democrats said he should run as a Democrat. Then, he said he's not a Democrat, and that he was considering running as a "centrist independent". Nothing ultimately came out of this (thankfully, and neither will it here). Inslee's views on "entrepreneurs" will be talked about more later on.
[4] - I'm not Canadian. I'm doing the same thing as how you might say Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in the U.S., so I have no idea if they do it differently in Canada.
[5] - Look this guy up on Wikipedia. Right now. For a long time, he was considered to be a rising star and likely successor to the Goverorship, and then he suddenly retired from politics to join the Jesuits. What????
I unfortunately don't think I'll have too many opportunities to talk about the Inslee regime power struggle, but, IMO, Ferguson has been groomed as Inslee's heir ever since he contested the Muslim ban, despite being just as unpopular and sketchy.
The Onion: Inslee Releases $9 Trillion Climate Plan
Australia's 2019 federal election, dubbed the "climate election", is held.
House of Representatives Results:
76 Liberal/National coalition 68 Labor 2 Greens 1 Katter's Australian Party 1 Centre Alliance 3 Independent
Scott Morrison's surprising victory is a major shock, as most polling had predicted that Bill Shorten's Labor would win. Donald Trump insults the #ClimateDebate movement in his tweet responding to the victory. [1]
Congratulations to Scott on a GREAT WIN in Australia! Just like you defeated Bill, we will destroy any 'climate candidate' they throw our way.
@realDonaldTrump May 18 2:01 PM
The Netherlands wins the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.
AOC declares Inslee's climate plan to be "the most serious and comprehensive" plan among 2020 candidates. AOC, like the Sunrise Movement, has not yet made an endorsement, undecided between the major progressive candidates of Sanders, Inslee, and Warren.
May 19, 2019
New York Magazine: Los Angeles Fire Season Is Beginning Again. And It Will Never End. A bulletin from our climate future.
Google pulls Android support for Huawei devices, as well as for Gmail and the Google Play Store.
May 20, 2019
CBS: Whole Foods Eliminating Plastic Straws From All Stores Beginning In July
Former Comedian and Actor Volodymyr Zelensky is sworn in as the 6th President of Ukraine.
The Sunrise Movement "joins Jay Inslee in challenging other candidates to beat his plan":
"The Evergreen Economy plan shows the potential of a platform to mobilize our economy to stop climate change and build our way into the 21st century. It shows that we don't have to choose between good union jobs, economic prosperity, and environmental justice. This plan, in the spirit of the Green New Deal, is a bold step in the right direction and combined with his other proposals once again sets Inslee atop of the field.
...
"When the future of the planet is at stake, can a plan be too big or go too far? All candidates should be pushing for the most ambition possible. Governor Inslee wants to put an electric vehicle charging at every highway rest-stop. Let's see a plan for charging in every town, for replacing every gas station. Governor Inslee wants to electrify and upgrade every building in 25 years. Can another candidate put forward a plan to do it in 10?"
New York Times: Andy Beshear Wins Democratic Primary for Kentucky Governor
BBC: Jamie Oliver restaurant chain collapse costs 1,000 jobs
Jay Inslee signs a law to legalize human composting. Washington State becomes the first state in the U.S. to legalize the right to have your body turned into soil after death.
The California High Speed Rail Authority sues the U.S. Department of Transportation in an attempt to block the cancelling of a $930M federal grant for the project.
May 23, 2019
The Onion: Jay Inslee Recalls Decision To Run For President After 5 Teens From Across Globe Pressed Enchanted Rings Together To Call Him Into Existence
The Guardian: Trump's interior secretary: I haven't 'lost sleep' over record CO2 levels
The U.S. Department of Justice charges Julian Assange with 17 more counts for violating the Espionage Act.
The first day of Europe's 2019 Parliament elections takes place.
Jay Inslee holds a Reddit AMA.
May 24, 2019
NPR: U.K.'s Theresa May Resigns Acknowledging Failure To Deliver Brexit
The Second Global Climate Strike is held, with a record number of students walking out across 1,600 cities.
Same-sex marriage is legalized in Taiwan -- making it the first country to do so in Asia.
The second day of Europe's 2019 Parliament elections is held.
The State of Missouri bans all abortions past 8 weeks, except in cases of medical emergencies. Violators face 5 to 15 years in prison. Meanwhile, a federal lawsuit is filed to block Alabama's abortion ban.
May 27, 2019
Seattle Times: New law bars local police in Washington from asking Immigration status
Australian helicopters are struck by lasers in the South China Sea.
Huawei files for a summary judgement in an attempt to expedite its earlier lawsuit against the U.S. government, alleging a law that prohibits government agencies from purchasing Huawei equipment is unconstitutional.
Mitch McConnell is not a man on the verge of an epiphany to work with the Democrats. It's time to end the filibuster.
@JayInslee May 28 6:58 PM
May 29, 2019
Jerusalem Post: Israel goes back to elections as Netanyahu fails to form coalition
Maine becomes the 17th state to ban gay conversion therapy for minors.
T-Series, YouTube's most subscribed channel, becomes the first to hit 100 million subscribers.
The Trump Administration's Energy Department begins referring to liquefied natural gas as "Freedom Gas". A report states: "Increasing export capacity from the Freeport LNG project is critical to spreading freedom gas throughout the world ... I am pleased that the Department of Energy is doing what it can to promote an efficient regulatory system that allows for molecules of U.S. freedom to be exported to the world." [2]
I invite @SecretaryPerry and the Department of @.Energy to come to Washington state to see our freedom panels and our freedom turbines.
@JayInslee May 30 11:19 AM
JUNE
June 1, 2019
Reuters: Protesters set fire to U.S. Embassy in Honduras in second day of demonstrations
Larry Hogan says he does not plan on challenging Donald Trump in the 2020 Republican Primaries, leaving Bill Weld as the single major candidate facing Donald Trump for the nomination.
At the California Democratic Convention, a major "cattle call" event, Former Governor John Hickenlooper expresses skepticism around government-run healthcare and the Green New Deal. In contrast, he is followed by Jay Inslee, who declares "I'm a governor who doesn't think we should be ashamed of our progressive values."
June 3, 2019
Washington Post: How James Holzhauer's astonishing 'Jeopardy!' run came to a dramatic end
Joe Biden skips the California Democratic Convention, presenting a growing rift between Joe Biden and the progressive wing of the party.
June 4, 2019
BBC: US bans cruise ship travel to Cuba amid new restrictions
Joe Biden releases his climate policy, in which he sets a goal of zero emissions by 2050. Inslee tells reporters:
"The vice president's proposals really lacked teeth and they lack an ambition that is necessary to defeat the climate crisis, he has some wishes for 30 years from now, but we can't wait 30 years."
AOC continues to uphold Inslee's climate plan as the "gold standard" and says action must take place by 2030, not 2050 [3]. However, she continues to abstain from an endorsement.
June 5, 2019
CBS: YouTube plans to ban thousands of white supremacist and extremist videos
The Trump Administration informs Congress of a plan to introduce a $2 Billion arms package for Taiwan that would include the first-time sale of M1A2 tanks.
The Inslee Campaign is informed that the DNC will not be hosting a climate debate:
Joe Biden "mistakenly" says that he supports lifting the Hyde Amendment [4], claiming that he had "misheard" the question (despite it being asked twice) and still supports it. Several Democrats, such as Bernie, Inslee, Gillibrand, Castro, and Beto are quick to remind voters that they support abolishing Hyde.
June 7, 2019
BBC: Russia and US warships almost collide in East China Sea
Reuters: Colombia tribunal begins hearing evidence on use of fracking
The United Nations reports that more than 4 million Venezuelans have left their country during the humanitarian crisis.
British Prime Minister Theresa May resigns as Leader of the Conservative Party.
Biden abruptly flip-flops his stance of the Hyde Amendment, having previously supported it just earlier in the week -- now he states that he no longer supports the amendment.
June 9, 2019
CNN: More than 1 million protest in Hong Kong, organizers say, over Chinese extradition law
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is elected as the next President of Kazakhstan. The election saw the arrest of over 500 protesters and is not considered democratic by OSCE.
Jay Inslee speaks at the Iowa Democrats' Hall of Fame Dinner, another major "cattle call" event:
"We Democrats not only embrace Progressive values, but my state--the State of Washington has demonstrated that if you want to have economic progress, you ought to have economic and social progressive values. Because it's gonna drive him nuts!"
"I want to make sure that in my final days on earth, I can look at my three grandkids, and look them in the eye and say 'I did everything humanly possible to save you from climate change.'"
June 11, 2019
CNN: More than 1 million protest in Hong Kong, organizers say, over Chinese extradition law
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is elected as the next President of Kazakhstan. The election saw the arrest of over 500 protesters and is not considered democratic by OSCE.
June 13, 2019
CBC: White House Spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave job at end of June
The Nation: The Youth Climate Movement Is Just Getting Started
Jay Inslee has several allies demand a Climate Debate after DNC Chair Tom Perez wrote earlier in the week that the DNC would not be holding on one the grounds that it would only benefit "one candidate".
The DNC announces that 20 candidates will be allowed to participate at the first official Democratic debate on the 26-27th. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, former Sen. Mike Gravel, Mayor Wayne Messam, and Rep. Seth Moulton do not make the threshold.
June 16, 2019
BBC: Hong Kong protest: 'Nearly two million' join demonstration'
The 2019 Guatemalan General Elections are held. Center-left candidate Thelma Aldana of Semilla had been rejected from being a candidate by the authorities under corruption charges in May, though no evidence was shown.
The first televised debate for the UK Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister is held, though frontrunner Boris Johnson refuses to show up.
June 17, 2019
NPR: Iran Says It Will Exceed Nuclear Deal's Limit On Uranium 'In 10 Days'
Ecuador allows US military planes to use an airport on the Galapagos Islands to fight drug trafficking.
June 21, 2019
France 24: Internet blackout imposed on Myanmar's restive Rakhine state
Trump Administration officials report that President Trump had ordered military strikes on Iranian forces yesterday, before suddenly pulling back a few hours later while warplanes and warships were already in place.
Several Republican lawmakers in Oregon are on the run from state police as they are trying to avoid having to vote on a major climate bill. [5]
June 24, 2019
Greenpeace USA says Inslee's climate plan is the "gold standard" among Democratic candidates.
June 25, 2019
AP: Illinois becomes 11th state to allow recreational marijuana
Jay Inslee tours Miami ahead of the debates. Several "#Jaydoodles" from Florida are released by his campaign.
June 26, 2019
BBC: European heatwave sets new June temperature records
Donald Trump says that Germany is "delinquent" on NATO defense, accusing them of "giving Russia billions of dollars".
The first of two Democratic party debates is held in Miami, Florida.
June 27, 2019
Argentina's Minister of Education condemns a school in Chaco Province for displaying a Cuban flag, accusing Che Guevara of being a "genocider" and comparing Cuba to Nazi Germany.
The second of the two Democratic party debates (and the only one that matters) is held. CNBC: Here are the Democrats who gained and lost the most in the first 2020 presidential primary debate
Winner: Cory Booker
Booker stood out with an unexpected swing against Senator Amy Klobuchar's history as a tough-on-crime criminal prosecutor ... His remarks about her role in contributing to mass incarceration and her harsh stance against graffiti struck many viewers ... Booker's progressive position on criminal justice reform has helped recover support from the left and has led to a increase in his favorability rating by 11.6 percentage points...
Winner: Jay Inslee
Inslee's opening statement, entirely dedicated to climate change as "the climate issue is every issue", captured the attention of many in the audience ... He took some impressive jabs against Joe Biden.
"Mr. Vice President, your argument is not with me," Inslee said. "It's with science. And unfortunately your plan is just too late. The science says we have to get off coal in 10 years."
...
"We cannot work it out. We cannot work this out, the time is up. Our house is on fire." He said in response to Biden promising to "work it out" in reference to climate change. He also referred to President Trump as "the white nationalist in the white house" ... and saw a polling increase of 6.8 percentage points...
Winner: Kirsten Gillibrand
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand delivered a commanding performance, focusing on the need for Democratic unity against President Trump ... her memorable lines, including a vow to "Clorox the White House" received laughter from the audience ... Gillibrand's ability to infuse personal anecdotes into political issues added depth to her message.[6]
For anyone curious, this is how the 1st debate nights are split:
Candidates on the first night, 6/26
O'Rourke
Harris
Warren
Booker
Ryan
Gabbard
de Blasio
Swalwell
Delaney
Klobuchar
Candidates on the second night, 6/27
Biden
Sanders
Inslee
Buttigieg
Hickenlooper
Yang
Castro
Gillibrand
Williamson
Bennet
[1] - I was originally going to have a Bill Shorten victory to show the growing strength of the climate movement in the Anglosphere, but decided otherwise. Labor and the Australian Greens preform mildly better here, though.
[6] - Gillibrand and Inslee's performances here are entirely stolen from the second debate (which just so happens to be very similar in makeup to the first debate ITTL). Both debates are very different once you remove Harris from the Biden and Julian Castro from the Beto O'Rourke. Booker vs. Klobuchar was based off of this article.
Apologies for a pretty boring first few threadmarks. I have plans for an ending in 2039, though of course the story won't stay in the same day-by-day format the entire time. Just get ready for a long one.
Coming up next is 1.4 #BaeInslee (Jul 1 - Aug 21 2019) which will be talking about his campaign team.
February 22, 2019
