Comment on Free Republic Caucus 2016 02/22

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill that will allow courts to shorten the prison sentences of people who can prove they committed their crime because they were experiencing domestic violence—a significant reform in a state that incarcerates many domestic violence survivors for fighting back in self-defense, doing drugs to cope, or failing to protect their kids from the abuse. Stitt’s decision to approve the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act came last week, after he vetoed a similar bill with the same name in April.

This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Some of the world’s most profitable—and most polluting corporations—have invested in carbon offset projects that have fundamental failings and are “probably junk,” suggesting industry claims about greenhouse gas reductions were likely overblown, according to new analysis. Delta, Gucci, Volkswagen, ExxonMobil, Disney, easyJet and Nestlé are among the major corporations to have purchased millions of carbon credits from climate friendly projects that are “likely junk” or worthless when it comes to offsetting their greenhouse gas emissions, according to a classification system developed by Corporate Accountability, a nonprofit, transnational corporate watchdog. Some of these companies no longer use CO2 offsets amid mounting evidence that carbon trading does not lead to the claimed emissions cuts—and in some cases may even cause environmental and social harms. However, the multibillion-dollar voluntary carbon trading industry is still championed by many corporations including oil and gas majors, airlines, automakers, tourism, fast-food and beverage brands, fashion houses, banks and tech firms as the bedrock of climate action—a way of claiming to reduce their greenhouse gas footprint while continuing to rely on fossil fuels and unsustainable supply chains. “These findings add to the mounting evidence that peels back the greenwashed facade of the voluntary carbon market.” Yet, for 33 of the top 50 corporate buyers, more than a third of their entire offsets portfolio is “likely junk”—suggesting at least some claims about carbon neutrality and emission reductions have been exaggerated according to the analysis.

It wasn’t long after former President Donald Trump was convicted by a Manhattan jury on Thursday evening that his allies and enemies seized on the verdict to try to raise much-needed campaign cash. Just moments after the former President and current Republican candidate for President was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money paid to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election, Trump’s social media platform Truth Social displayed sponsored posts that called the trial “rigged” and asked supporters to “chip in” to send Democratic nominee President Joe Biden a message.

Zachary Spindler-Krage, The Denver Post Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a commencement speech at the Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado Springs on Thursday, May 30, 2024. The Class of 2024 received their diplomas and commissions in the ceremony Thursday, which was punctuated by a flight of United States Air Force Thunderbirds over Falcon Stadium afterward.

By the time you read this, I will be somewhere in my fair city drinking champagne and eating bonbons in honor of this jury's brave verdict. Open thread below read more

When politicians are convicted of felonies, they’re almost always forced out of politics. They typically walk away in shame. We know that won’t happen with Donald Trump. .memberful-global-teaser-content p:last-child{ -webkit-mask-image: linear-gradient(180deg, #000 0%, transparent); mask-image: linear-gradient(180deg, #000 0%, transparent); } Join now to continue reading. Members get exclusive analysis, bonus features and no advertising.