The neglect I drive over every day

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

Infrastructure


Fig. 1. Post-collapse scene at the Fern Hollow Bridge, photograph by National Transportation Safety Board, January 29, 2022, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

I cross a lot of bridges in Pittsburgh every day. I see the neglect.

I’m not satisfied with the notion that, oh, we can just fix these bridges with “Inflation Reduction Act” money because that is, bluntly, a one-shot deal. If you can’t afford to maintain your infrastructure, you have to shut it down.

Jonathan D. Salant, “A look at the heaviest traveled deficient bridges in Western Pennsylvania,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 2, 2023, https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2023/09/02/western-pennsylvania-deficient-bridges/stories/202309010114


Illiberalism

Gilead

Donald Trump
Coup attempt


Fig. 1. Donald Trump booking photograph by Fulton County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office, August 24, 2023, via New York, August 25, 2023,[1] public domain.

Don’t get me wrong. I’d love for Donald Trump to be kept off the ballot. And I certainly accept the argument that says the 14th Amendment disqualifies him.[2]

But as a strategy against white Christian nationalism, I have to think a resounding defeat of Trump and the anti-abortion agenda might be more effective. And I think that’s precisely what the Republicans are cruising for.

Ryan J. Reilly, “Federal judge sets March trial date in Trump’s election interference case,” NBC News, August 28, 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/federal-judge-set-trump-trial-date-election-interference-case-rcna101669

Tori Otten, “Former Judge Trashes ‘Stunningly Stupid’ Move From Trump’s Legal Team,” New Republic, August 29, 2023, https://newrepublic.com/post/175225/judge-stunningly-stupid-move-trump-legal-team-scottsboro-boys

Katelyn Polantz, “Giuliani loses defamation lawsuit from two Georgia election workers,” CNN, August 30, 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/30/politics/rudy-giuliani-georgia-election-workers/index.html

Jaclyn Diaz, “Proud Boys leaders sentenced to a combined 32 years for Jan. 6 riot,” National Public Radio, August 31, 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/08/31/1196972258/proud-boys-sentence-jan-6-joseph-biggs

Erica Orden, “The sleeper legal fight that could define 2024: Is Trump even eligible to run?” Politico, September 1, 2023, https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/01/fourteenth-amendment-insurrection-clause-trump-00113790

  1. [1]Margaret Hartmann and Nia Prater, “All the Mug Shots of Donald Trump and His Alleged Co-Conspirators,” New York, August 25, 2023, https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-mug-shot-gallery.html
  2. [2]Erica Orden, “The sleeper legal fight that could define 2024: Is Trump even eligible to run?” Politico, September 1, 2023, https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/01/fourteenth-amendment-insurrection-clause-trump-00113790

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