Check out this a county-by-county visualization of the exact percentage of households connected at broadband speed in the United States of America, based on anonymized data made available from Microsoft.
LaunchNRA suffers massive defeat as federal judge dismisses its bankruptcy case
“The Court finds, based on the totality of the circumstances, that the NRA’s bankruptcy petition was not filed in good faith but instead was filed as an effort to gain an unfair litigation advantage in the New York Attorney General Enforcement Action and as an effort to avoid a regulatory scheme,” Judge Harlin Hale ruled.
LaunchVancouver is the anti-Asian hate crime capital of North America
“A surge of attacks in one of Canada’s most multicultural cities during the pandemic is surfacing long-simmering racial tensions,” reports Bloomberg’s Natalie Obiko Pearson.
LaunchOregon Republican Mike Nearman charged with letting rioters breach state Capitol
The lawmaker has been charged with misdemeanor counts of first-degree official misconduct and second-degree criminal trespass, according to court documents.
Launch25,000 barrels possibly laced with DDT are found off California coast
The New York Times reports that one researcher said the number of discarded drums far exceeded his expectations. “It was hard to wrap my head around the density of targets,” he said.
LaunchWhy is Big Tech under assault? Power.
“I’m surprised that tech bosses can still appear clueless about the reasons behind the questioning of their industry,” Shira Ovide writes.
LaunchBiden administration proposes record $6.9 billion budget for NOAA
Climate research would get a massive boost if Congress agrees with the administration’s proposal to significantly bolster the agency’s funding. NOAA is one of America’s most important scientific agencies.
LaunchWhite House releases new official portraits of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
Take a look at the images that will serve as the photographic representations of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris through the end of their current terms.
LaunchHow Brexit ruined Easter for Britain’s chocolate makers
“Exports of chocolate to Europe have turned into a nightmare of paperwork and delays, making fine British chocolate scarce in Europe,” The New York Times reports.
LaunchAmazon apologizes to Representative Pocan; admits recent tweet was a falsehood
Amazon has apologized to one of Congress’ most progressive leaders for a rude and false tweet that suggested reports about drivers relieving themselves in bottles were made up.
LaunchHundreds of legal scholars say Senate must not acquit Trump over constitutionality issue
Read a letter from hundreds of legal scholars (including several conservative scholars) calling on the United States Senate to decide whether Trump is guilty or not based on the actual evidence before the Senate.
LaunchEarth is now losing 1.2 trillion tons of ice each year. And it’s going to get worse.
“Global ice loss has increased rapidly over the past two decades, and scientists are still underestimating just how much sea levels could rise, according to alarming new research published this month, ” The Washington Post reports.
LaunchReflections on four weird years fact checking every word from Donald Trump from CNN’s fact checker
CNN has published a look back at the Trump error from its senior fact checker Daniel Dale, who got his start debunking Trump’s 2016 campaign claims.
LaunchCooperation is a progressive value: How an unprecedented coalition of liberal groups prepared for Trump’s war on democracy
“By the time rioters ransacked the Capitol, the machinery of the left had already been primed to respond — prepared by months spent sketching out doomsday scenarios and mapping out responses, by countless hours of training exercises and reams of opinion research,” The New York Times reports.
LaunchTrump to flee D.C. and seek rehabilitation in a “MAGA” oasis
“Florida, in some freakish, horrible way, is the Trumpiest of states. This is the logical place for them to come,” Republican strategist Rick Wilson told The Washington Post.
LaunchJordan Klepper sees it all at the Capitol insurrection
In this almost seven minute segment, The Daily Show’s Jordan Klepper gets up close and personal with the American fascist cult that worships Donald Trump.
LaunchCascadia was poised to lead on climate. Can it still?
British Columbia, Washington and Oregon all aimed to slash emissions. After epic battles, they failed. Read The Tyee’s first installment on creating a zero-CO2 bioregion.
LaunchWith Trump off Twitter, window into cult chieftain’s mind goes dark
“He’s neutered without Twitter… Members are starting to wake up to the fact that he’s powerless,” an unnamed Republican congressional aide told the LA Times.
LaunchTalk radio owner orders pro-Trump hosts to temper election fraud rhetoric
“Cumulus Media, which employs some of the most popular right-leaning talk-radio hosts in the United States, has told its on-air personalities to stop suggesting that the election was stolen from President Trump — or else face termination,” The Washington Post reports.
Launch2021 will be the year of guaranteed income experiments
“Fueled by a growing group of city leaders, philanthropists and nonprofit organizations, 2021 will see an explosion of guaranteed income pilot programs in U.S. cities. At least 11 direct-cash experiments will be in effect this year, from Pittsburgh to Compton,” Bloomberg reports.
LaunchOlympia police arrest Trump backer who fired gun during Saturday protest
“The twenty-seven-year-old man who was arrested was part of a pro-Trump rally Saturday afternoon on the Capitol Campus. They eventually clashed with black-clad counter-protesters at Capitol Way South and 11th Avenue Southeast,” The Olympian reports. Allegedly, the man fired his gun at people protesting the Trump regime.
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