Lululemon’s post-holiday sale offers significant discounts on its popular athletic apparel. This event provides a strong incentive for consumers to return to their fitness routines, capitalizing on the new year’s resolutions many make. The sale includes a wide range of items, likely encompassing both men’s and women’s clothing and accessories. Shoppers can expect to find deals on high-quality, performance-focused products at reduced prices. The event presents a compelling opportunity to refresh one’s workout wardrobe affordably.
Read More
President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act, eliminating the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). This bipartisan legislation increases Social Security benefits for approximately 2.5 million public sector workers and their spouses, averaging a $360 monthly increase. The act also provides retroactive lump-sum payments to compensate for past benefit shortfalls. This change, decades in the making, ensures these individuals receive the full Social Security benefits they earned.
Read More
Jeff Bezos’ actions, including a $1 million donation to Trump’s inauguration and a recent Mar-a-Lago dinner with Trump and Elon Musk, suggest an attempt to curry favor with the former president. This apparent appeasement is further evidenced by the Washington Post’s suppression of a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoon critical of billionaires’ deference to Trump and the subsequent cancellation of a Kamala Harris endorsement, costing the Post subscribers. Simultaneously, Amazon Studios is producing a Melania Trump documentary, raising concerns about potential bias and undue influence within Bezos’ media empire. These actions, along with the resignation of the cartoonist in protest, highlight anxieties regarding the influence of billionaire media owners on journalistic integrity.
Read More
Protests in Washington D.C. are urging Congress to prevent President-elect Trump’s inauguration, citing the 14th Amendment’s disqualification clause for those who engaged in insurrection. While some legal experts argue this action is constitutionally permissible, based on Trump’s actions surrounding the January 6th Capitol riot, the movement, “14th Now,” is unlikely to sway Congress, which intends to certify the election results. Despite legal challenges in state courts, the Supreme Court prevented states from barring presidential candidates, leaving the question of Trump’s eligibility unresolved. Trump’s transition team maintains he will serve all Americans.
Read More
Three January 6th rioters—Russell Taylor, Christopher Belliveau, and Thomas Eugene Tatum—were denied permission to attend President Biden’s inauguration. Taylor, who pleaded guilty to obstruction and cooperated with authorities, had sought permission despite his prior actions involving weapons and threats against law enforcement. Belliveau and Tatum, facing charges including assault and obstruction, were also denied due to concerns about public safety and the seriousness of their alleged offenses. Judges cited the inappropriateness of allowing individuals who participated in the attack on the Capitol to attend an event celebrating the peaceful transfer of power.
Read More
Following President Trump’s reelection, victims of the January 6th Capitol riot express feelings of betrayal as he characterizes the rioters as “political prisoners” and advocates for their pardons. Trump’s actions, including playing a jailhouse rendition of the national anthem by Jan. 6th defendants at a campaign rally, are deeply upsetting to those who suffered injuries, including Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, who required surgeries and early retirement due to the violence. The minimization of the attack, described by the Justice Department as domestic terrorism, is compounded by Republican lawmakers downplaying the event’s severity and the possibility of pardons for those convicted of assaulting officers. This disregard for the officers’ sacrifices and the rewriting of history surrounding the event leaves victims feeling abandoned and unheard.
Read More
President Biden will sign the Social Security Fairness Act, addressing a long-standing inequity in Social Security benefits for approximately 3 million current and former public employees. The act repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, which reduced benefits for those receiving other pensions. This change will increase monthly payments, averaging $360 for those affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision and up to $1,190 for surviving spouses impacted by the Government Pension Offset. While celebrated by public service unions, the bill will accelerate the Social Security Trust Fund’s projected insolvency.
Read More
Vice President Kamala Harris will certify Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory on January 6th, a duty mandated by federal law. This action contrasts sharply with her campaign rhetoric, where she vehemently denounced Trump as a threat to democracy and warned against his presidency. The certification occurs four years after the January 6th Capitol riot, fueled by Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Increased security measures are in place for the event, reflecting the heightened tensions surrounding the process.
Read More
The resurgence of Donald Trump and his administration necessitates a renewed emphasis on the societal importance of shame. Trump’s success stems from normalizing public displays of ignorance and unfounded claims by himself and his allies, exemplified by instances like his mischaracterizations of the New Orleans attack and Kennedy’s nomination to a critical health position. Tolerating such behavior, rather than publicly shaming it, has emboldened the spread of misinformation and harmful policies. Therefore, actively confronting and mocking demonstrably stupid statements from public figures is crucial to counteracting the influence of Trumpism.
Read More
Donald Trump’s rapid revision of the January 6th Capitol attack mirrors the decades-long Confederate narrative shift. Within four years, a deadly assault on American democracy became, for many, a peaceful protest against political persecution. This parallels the “Lost Cause” mythology surrounding the Civil War, where treason was recast as honor. Experts highlight the manipulation of facts and norms by bad-faith actors, enabling the acceptance of demonstrably false narratives. This swift rewriting of history demonstrates the power of repeated lies and unwavering loyalty within a political base.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker