Massachusetts Supreme Court blocks company-sponsored rideshare driver measure

Ukraine

Ishaan Tharoor, “Putin makes his imperial pretensions clear,” Washington Post, June 13, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/13/putin-imperial-russia-empire-ukraine/


Gig economy (neoliberal wet dream)

‘Rideshare’ driving

Erin Mulvaney and Chris Marr, “Uber-Backed Vote on Gig Work Is Blocked by Massachusetts Court,” Bloomberg, June 14, 2022, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-14/massachusetts-justices-strike-down-gig-backed-ballot-initiative


Donald Trump

Coup attempt

There is a new blog post entitled, “The Democrats as the danger within, enabling the Republicans.”

Sarah D. Wire, “Stepien, Barr repeatedly told Trump that fraud claims were false,” Los Angeles Times, June 13, 2022, https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-06-13/jan-6-hearings-day-2

Amy Gardner and Isaac Arnsdorf, “More than 100 GOP primary winners back Trump’s false fraud claims,” Washington Post, June 14, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/14/more-than-100-gop-primary-winners-back-trumps-false-fraud-claims/

Lisa Mascaro and Mary Clare Jalonick, “Jan. 6 panel hears: Trump ‘detached from reality’ in defeat,” Associated Press, June 14, 2022, https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-capitol-siege-donald-trump-campaigns-presidential-070ced9a013c58cf001d6d4137e4abc0


Rwanda flight

So Boris Johnson’s government has this plan to deport refugees to Rwanda that it managed to secure court approval for. Reportedly, Prince Charles has privately called it “appalling.” Now all 25 bishops in the House of Lords have condemned it.[1]

Johnson’s government defends the plan as necessary to combat “human trafficking,” in which migrants attempt perilous journeys across the English Channel (sound familiar?), and criticizes the bishops for failing to supply an alternative plan. The bishops say safe means of passage should be provided.[2]

If Johnson’s government can explain how safe passage across the English Channel for asylum seekers is impossible or even difficult, I might be prepared to accept this explanation. But xenophobia, of the very same sort that prompted Brexit, seems a far more plausible explanation.

Charles Hymas, “Church of England condemns Rwanda deportation plan as national ‘shame,’” Telegraph, June 13, 2022, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/06/13/rwanda-deportation-plan-branded-national-shame-church-england/


Pittsburgh Prison

When I was in California, I drove by San Quentin Penitentiary often. Interstate 580 goes right by there, the eastern end of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard connects to it and in fact goes right by the west entrance (which is not the main entrance). It’s a deserted-looking place too, with only a little more activity visible if you drive through the village of San Quentin to the main gate.

I had at least driven by San Quentin at night; I could see the lights. The Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution in Pittsburgh is in the North Side, but a bit out of the way and you can drive right by it without noticing it at night. I didn’t even realize it was closed. And now the state can put it up for sale.[3]

Mark Belko, “Gov. Tom Wolf signs long-sought legislation to sell old state prison on the North Side,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 13, 2022, https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2022/06/13/pennsylvania-gov-tom-wolf-state-correctional-institution-pittsburgh-western-penitentiary-marshall-shadeland-warden-s-house-wayne-fontana-north-side/stories/202206130088


  1. [1]Charles Hymas, “Church of England condemns Rwanda deportation plan as national ‘shame,’” Telegraph, June 13, 2022, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/06/13/rwanda-deportation-plan-branded-national-shame-church-england/
  2. [2]Charles Hymas, “Church of England condemns Rwanda deportation plan as national ‘shame,’” Telegraph, June 13, 2022, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/06/13/rwanda-deportation-plan-branded-national-shame-church-england/
  3. [3]Mark Belko, “Gov. Tom Wolf signs long-sought legislation to sell old state prison on the North Side,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 13, 2022, https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2022/06/13/pennsylvania-gov-tom-wolf-state-correctional-institution-pittsburgh-western-penitentiary-marshall-shadeland-warden-s-house-wayne-fontana-north-side/stories/202206130088

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