What Had Happened Was...(weekly recap of July 29th -Aug. 4th)
(July 29th -Aug. 4th)
Here’s a catch-up of the major events of the week of July 24, 2019. You can check in with a minimal time commitment, read about the big stuff and stay in the know before we’re on to the next. This week we had more debate shenanigans from candidates and the media, Trump announcing more trade restrictions via tweet, Republicans continuing to break the rules and two mass shootings in under 24 hours.
Second Round of Democratic Debates
The first night of the second round of debates was fairly ho-hum, which gave everyone the opportunity to better see what wasn’t working in this format. The random draw match-ups are not giving us a diverse enough picture each night, the field has too many candidates and the questions being asked focus too much on creating a stir for ratings.
The second night started out fairly well, as we were able to hear about candidate differences in health care plans to a much more detailed degree. It was the first real substantive discussion we’ve had so far. Then it devolved into a free-for-all for outlier candidates to attack and achieve a viral moment necessary to advance them to the next round. Some attacks were civil and helpful and some really weren't. Either way, the curtain was further lifted on the motivations of the media for ratings and on candidates who only want to stay in the game, no matter the cost. The ultimate takeaway from the second night is that we haven’t learned our lessons from 2016 and outside interference from foreign countries is certainly still in play. For more on my point here and the details of the debates read, “The Clear Winner in the Second Debate is Russia.”
Trump Adds More Tariff Restrictions on China
After a June agreement to restart trade talks and not impose more tariffs with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump announced that he would break that deal and move ahead with more levies on Thursday. In retaliation for a break-down in negotiations, Trump will impose a 10% tariff on an additional $300 billion worth of Chinese imports starting next month. This new plan is in addition to the 25% levy already imposed on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports, which means the United States will be taxing nearly everything imported from China.
Trump tried to sell this plan to the press as a cost increase that would only extend to China — a complete mis-statement that contradicts how tariffs work in general. Tariffs are actually a tax on imported products and are paid by U.S. registered firms to U.S. customs ports when goods enter the United States. Due to the increase in costs, importers then pass the cost on to consumers by raising prices, which will substantially affect the stability of jobs and ultimately, the economy. Be sure to click on the video below to watch the disinformation play out.
Another objective way to measure the dangerousness of Trump's plans is the fact that the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in more than a decade to protect the economy against potentially harmful effects of a growth slowdown in China and Europe. Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome H. Powell, stated at a press conference that the cut was “intended to ensure against downside risks from weak global growth and trade tensions.”
Republicans Continue to Obstruct
Mitch McConnell attempted to derail a Senate Bill to enforce election security protections for 2020 last week and received tremendous backlash for his behavior that seemed to favor Russia. This week, Lindsey Graham followed suit by continuing to break the rules in order to push forward a GOP agenda on immigration at any cost.
On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill to overhaul U.S. asylum laws, waiving committee rules to force the bill through to the full Senate. It won’t likely get the 60 votes it needs to pass in a full vote, but Republican disregard for well established rules in the era of Trump continues to be on full display.
El Paso Shooting
Less than a week after the mass shooting in Gilroy, another shooter opened fire at a shopping center in El Paso at 11:00 am on Saturday, killing 20 people and wounding 26 more. The 21-year-old white male gunman opened fire at the Walmart next to Cielo Vista Mall on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the summer. Patrick Crusius, was armed with an AK-47-style assault rifle and had hearing protection to cover his ears. By the time he was apprehended by police, the Crusius had murdered at least 20 people and injured another 26, including small children.
Investigators have been examining a manifesto that was allegedly posted online by the shooter before he began his rampage for possible motivations. It is a collection of angry rants including the term “Hispanic invasion,” which is leading officials to review the document as hate crime evidence that could lead to federal charges. The manifesto, along with pictures and witness accounts makes it clear this was an act of domestic terrorism intended at a border town.
Another horrific aspect to this tragedy is that people have reportedly refused to seek medical treatment due to their immigration status and a fear of being captured by ICE.
In a press conference this morning, several arms of law enforcement updated the public on where the investigation currently stands. The F.B.I. continues to examine evidence to determine what specific crimes the shooter will be charged and has initiated an “Domestic Terrorism Hate Crimes Fusion” cell to combine efforts in the investigation. You can contact the F.B.I. website with any ledes you think are important. El Paso County District Attorney Jaime Esparza has confirmed that the state charge against Crusius will be capitol murder and his office will be seeking the death penalty.
“I’ve been in close consultation with Attorney General Barr…we are conducting a methodical investigation with our partners, a careful investigation, but with a view towards bringing federal hate crimes charges under 18 U.S. Code § 249 and federal firearms charges, which carry a penalty of death…We are also treating this as a domestic terrorist case.” — John Bash, U.S. District Attorney for the Western District of Texas
Officials have confirmed that they are still attempting to identify all of the bodies and notify the families of every victim. El Paso police confirm that they have a re-unification center established near the scene where people can find information about missing loved ones.
There’s no words you can place…you have to see it for yourself. When I first got into this job I never knew there was an odor to blood, but there is and until you first had see that, my description of it as far as horrific will be un-serving as far as what that scene looks like…It will leave an impression that you will never forget. - El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen
It’s important to note that the El Paso community will need to strengthen their blood supply for the remainder of the year due to this tragedy, so you can help now by donating blood wherever you live. You can also donate to the El Paso Victims Relief Fund.
Dayton Shooting
Approximately 14 hours after the El Paso mass shooting, another mass shooting took place early this morning in Ohio at Ned Peppers Bar, in the heart of Dayton's Oregon District. Officials have confirmed that ten people have been killed and 27 injured. The shooting suspect fired for less than a minute from a ".223 high-capacity" gun with extended magazines and he had additional magazines with him.
According to witnesses, nearly a dozen terrified patrons sought cover in a bathroom, not sure if people desperately pushing on the door to get in were other people seeking safety or the gunman.
“I just heard a few gunshots and then saw everyone jumping to the ground. I've never experienced anything like that, so I dove to the ground and started running to the bathroom. I saw people trying to move toward the exit…We were holding the door shut and waiting until the gunshots stopped. People were banging on the doors throughout. We weren’t sure if they were … you know … we weren’t sure if it was people getting in to shoot us or to get safe.”” — Taylor Mayberry, patron of Ned Peppers Bar when the shooting took place early Sunday
The .223 caliber is used in rifles like the AR-15 assault rifle, which has been used in previous mass shootings. The alleged shooter, who was shot and killed by officials, has yet to be identified and the shooter’s motives are unknown at this point.
"Once we got to the end of the line, which is near the corner, you heard one gunshot, You heard 'boom,' so we looking around, we didn't know what it was...and then you hear a second 'boom' and then after that it was complete rapid fire for like one minute….So when I turned around, I'm looking for [my friend], I see he was stunned. And that's when I could see the people in the line at Ned Peppers, you could see the bodies actually start to fall." — Anthony Reynolds, patron of Ned Peppers Bar when the shooting took place early Sunday
UPDATE: The gunman in Dayton, who was shot and killed by authorities, has been identified as Connor Betts, 24, according to local and federal law enforcement sources. The F.B.I. and local law enforcement authorities have served a search warrant at the shooter’s family home, located in Bellbrook, Ohio. Police have released the names of the victims and of the 9 people killed, 6 were African American. The shooter also killed his own sister, Meghan K. Betts, 22.
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Amee Vanderpool writes the “Shero” Newsletter and is an attorney, contributor to Playboy Magazine, analyst for BBC radio and Director of The Inanna Project. She can be reached at avanderpool@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter @girlsreallyrule.