News Not Noise Letter: Surprising data shows we're not so divided on gun reform
Plus: Trump said what? Closing arguments in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case; immigration and debt angst returns, and the benefits of scrolling art online.
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Here are your top headlines:
Guilty or not? A New York jury heard closing arguments today in the E Jean Carroll defamation and battery case against former President Donald Trump. The trial included days of emotional testimony from Carroll and from two of her friends who say she confided details of the alleged assault years ago. Two employees at Bergdorf Goodman who were there the day of Carroll’s alleged assault testified, as well. Additionally, two other women who say they were assaulted by former President Trump were called to the stand in an effort to prove a pattern of sexual assault. Carroll’s lawyers also played a video deposition in which the former President made statements that were shocking, even for him. For example: reacting to the infamous Access Hollywood tape Trump said celebrities can grab and assault women: “Historically that’s true with stars,” he said, “unfortunately or fortunately.” In the same deposition he insisted that Carroll was “not my type,” but when shown a decades-old photograph, he mistook Carroll for his ex-wife Marla Maples. In closing arguments, Carroll’s attorney argued this confusion suggests that Carroll was indeed Trump’s type and he was lying. Trump’s legal team did not call any witnesses. In closing, Trump’s lawyer said the rape allegation is a “lie,” “completely made up,” and “an affront to justice.” He also took issue with the fact that Carroll could not recall the exact date on which she claims the alleged rape occurred. This is a civil — not criminal — case. That means the jury needs a “preponderance of evidence” to find Trump guilty, not evidence “beyond a reasonable doubt.” It also means if Trump is found guilty, it will be for defamation and/or battery, not rape. Trump could be ordered to pay damages, but would not go to jail. You can watch part of Trump’s deposition here.
Ok Guys, Get This Done: On Tuesday President Biden will sit down to talk debt limit with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Sen Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. (Without Pelosi it’s all guys.) The real action is between Biden and McCarthy and so far the their positions are far apart. Biden says he won’t negotiate on the debt limit but McCarthy has already passed a measure that would extract deep cuts to some of the president’s top priorities — including climate – in exchange for paying the US’ bills. 43 Senate Republicans say they’ll back McCarthy’s plan. Lots of you want me to predict what’ll happen but honestly no one knows, even the men who’ll meet Tuesday. On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was asked if the President might continue to pay the bills if Congress fails to act – citing the 14th Amendment. Yellen didn’t explicitly rule it out but said that would trigger a constitutional crisis. She says we have until early June to avoid default.
Debt Facts: While we’re talking about the bills, here’s some context from USAFacts. In 2022, on average the US government spent $19,434 per person in the USA. That’s a 13% decrease from 2021. USAFacts is a nonpartisan, non-for-profit civic organization dedicated to making government data accessible. You can find more of their data on federal spending here.
Border Inaction: At 11:59 this Thursday the controversial Trump-era enactment of “Title 42” is set to expire. Under Title 42, immigrants crossing the southern border could be expelled without a chance to apply for asylum, due to health and public safety concerns related to the pandemic. Customs and Border Patrol (CPB) says there were 2.7 million expulsions under Title 42, including instances of the same immigrant being expelled multiple times. Refugee advocates say the policy violated international asylum rules. Once lifted, the number of asylum seekers is expected to spike – along with the heat of politics and rhetoric around the issue. Three Texas border cities have declared a state of emergency; Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced the deployment of a “tactical border force” to patrol immigration hotspots; the president ordered 1500 troops to the border; and the administration says it’s built new temporary facilities for migrants and instituted rules requiring asylum seekers first register in another country preferably via their cell phones, to ease processing. Mexico has agreed to house migrants and the administration is setting up processing centers in Latin America. Politicians are already warning of a coming humanitarian crisis once the policy is lifted. (In reality, migrants already face a humanitarian crisis, south of the border and border cities are struggling with too few resources for the asylum seekers already there.) As you hear the debates, remember that the real responsibility lies with Congress, where members have failed to modernize our immigration system.
We Aren’t As Divided as the NRA Says: Instead of updating you on the details of the latest mass shooting (there could be another one by the time you read this), instead I’m sharing information to help reshape your understanding of the gun debate in America. We are not as divided on gun safety rules as the political dialogue and NRA would have you believe.
Here is data is from 97percent, a nonprofit that brings gun owners into the conversation to find common ground on gun safety. According to their research:
Prohibiting someone with a domestic violence restraining order from owning a gun has the support of 76.9% of gun owners and 74.7% of Republican gun owners.
Red flag laws have the support of 69.2% of gun owners and 60.5% of Republican gun owners.
If you add language to red flag laws — like a fine for vindictive use of the law and a timely hearing where the subject is allowed to present evidence — support among gun owners rises to 81%.
Requiring a permit to carry a concealed weapon has the support of 63.8% of gun owners and 54.5% of Republican gun owners.
Meantime here is our current reality:
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that people with a domestic violence restraining order have a right to a gun.
The majority of US states do not have red flag laws.
28 states have passed permitless carry laws.
With support for reform so high among gun owners, there should be enough public will to pass national legislation. The problem: the NRA. It stirs up the extremist minority and funds politicians to do nothing. Understanding the reality and sharing this info, could help change the narrative.
Finally, some News That Doesn’t Suck: Have you ever visited an art gallery or museum and felt a mood lift? Maybe you thought the quiet of the gallery, the time away from familiar things, the experience of seeing art up close created a shift in perception that calmed your nerves. New research from the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics finds that viewing art does have a positive effect on mood – and it can be achieved by viewing art online, too! For the study they asked 240 subjects from the University of Vienna to view Monet’s Water Lily Pond (1899) online and fill out a questionnaire. Participants reported lower anxiety and higher states of well-being after the online viewing. The researchers hope to use the findings to create web-based art and wellness interventions. But you don’t need to wait for them. The research suggests even a few minutes looking at a painting on your screen could help ease the Monday blues. Try googling a masterpiece and let me know if you feel a shift!
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