Light News

Greenland’s ice losses have septupled and are now in line with its highest sea-level scenario, scientists say | That’s according to 26 separate satellite measurements and 89 scientists who have produced them | The sheet’s total losses nearly doubled each decade, from 33 billion tons per year in the 1990s to an average now of 254 billion tons annually. Since 1992, nearly 4 trillion tons of Greenland ice have entered the ocean, the new analysis found, equivalent to roughly a centimeter of global sea-level rise. While a centimeter may not sound like much, that uptick is already affecting millions. “Around the planet, just 1 centimeter of sea-level rise brings another 6 million people into seasonal, annual floods,” said Andrew Shepherd, a University of Leeds professor who co-led the massive collaboration with NASA researcher Erik Ivins.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/12/10/greenland-ice-losses-have-septupled-are-pace-sea-level-worst-case-scenario-scientists-say/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1855-2

Thursday’s committee vote on the articles of impeachment is expected to be long and contentious, but multiple sources say what could end it by 7p: the congressional ball at WH that many members want to attend. It’s possible vote will go past 7p. But betting on Hill is it won’t
https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1204549617209221120

Pentagon Suspends Operational Training for All Saudi Military Students | More than 800 students from Saudi Arabia have been restricted to classroom training in the wake of a shooting at a Pensacola Navy base that left three people dead. | The suspension will affect nearly 900 Saudi students across the country, the Defense Department said on Tuesday. Classroom teaching, including language courses, will continue while Pentagon leaders review vetting procedures for all foreign military trainees. An estimated 5,100 international students in the United States will be covered by the security review.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/us/pensacola-florida-shooting-saudi-students.html

U.S shuts down World Trade Organization appeals court - Seven cases against Trump's import taxes on foreign steel and aluminum will be left in limbo
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/u-s-shuts-down-world-trade-organization-appeals-court-1.5390530

The World’s Oceans Are Being Starved of Oxygen
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/worlds-oceans-are-being-starved-oxygen-180973725/

U.S. seeks no prison time for Rick Gates, senior 2016 Trump campaign aide, citing ‘extraordinary assistance’ in Mueller probe
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/us-seeks-no-prison-time-for-rick-gates-senior-2016-trump-campaign-aide-citing-extraordinary-assistance-in-mueller-probe/2019/12/10/418dfede-1a98-11ea-b4c1-fd0d91b60d9e_story.html

It’s fake puzzling that conservatives in congress have never lifted a finger to reform the FISA process, choosing instead to use long-standing flaws in this aspect of the surveillance stage as grist for an absurd conspiracy theory.
https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/1204372658516877314

The Arctic may have crossed key threshold, emitting billions of tons of carbon into the air, in a long-dreaded climate feedback
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2019/12/10/arctic-may-have-crossed-key-threshold-emitting-billions-tons-carbon-into-air-long-dreaded-climate-feedback/

A California Republican candidate for Congresswoman Maxine Waters' 43rd District seat was arrested in San Francisco Saturday after violating a restraining order placed against him by a fellow GOP candidate running against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
https://www.newsweek.com/gop-candidate-arrested-violating-restraining-order-filed-nancy-pelosis-republican-challenger-1476242

The 29-year-old mayor giving his city's poorest residents $500 a month says early results make him 'even more confident' in his basic-income trial
https://www.businessinsider.com/stockton-basic-income-test-success-mayor-tubbs-2019-12

FBI warned 6 months ago a foreign national could use a hunting license loophole to buy a firearm. That's exactly how Pensacola shooter obtained his weapon. Unclear if gun stores in Florida got the warning.
https://news.yahoo.com/fbi-warned-six-months-ago-about-loophole-pensacola-shooter-used-to-obtain-a-gun-205604918.html

"Lock Her Up" is ringing out at the rally in Hershey and the president hasn't even departed JBA yet.
https://twitter.com/katierogers/status/1204526571693989888

A federal judge has ordered Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to answer questions about his statements on minority voter registration and his oversight of election investigations. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruled that Kemp must submit to two hours of questioning in a lawsuit over problems in last year’s election for governor. As secretary of state, Kemp was Georgia’s chief elections official until he resigned after Election Day. The lawsuit is asking the courts to intervene in Georgia’s elections following voter purges, absentee ballot cancellations, precinct closures and other allegations of obstacles to voting. The lawsuit was filed by Fair Fight Action, a group founded by allies of Kemp’s opponent, Democrat Stacey Abrams. “Only then-Secretary Kemp can explain what he actually meant” when he expressed concerns about Democrats’ efforts to register more minority voters, Jones ruled Thursday.
https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/judge-orders-gov-kemp-undergo-questioning-georgia-election-suit/gC83r9Ve4o1L6qULgRqHdM/

'Thank You For Rescuing Me': Watch Once-Suicidal Veteran Offer Sanders His Flight Jacket During Heartfelt Exchange - "It's a jacket that you earned and I want you to keep it," responded the 2020 Democratic candidate, who accepted a flight patch instead.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/10/thank-you-rescuing-me-watch-once-suicidal-veteran-offer-sanders-his-flight-jacket

Republican Rep. Ted Yoho of Florida will not seek reelection in 2020
https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/10/politics/ted-yoho-not-seeking-2020-reelection/index.html

Prosecutors: Mueller Witness Rick Gates Whose Testimony Doomed Manafort Was Offered Money Not to Cooperate | Finally, is important to note that the public nature of this case has made Gates and Gates’ family the subject of intense media scrutiny. Gates’ cooperation has been steadfast despite the fact that the government has asked for his assistance in high profile matters, against powerful individuals, in the midst of a particularly turbulent environment. Gates received pressure not to cooperate with the government, including assurances of monetary assistance. He should be commended for standing up to provide information and public testimony against individuals such as Manafort, Craig, and Stone, knowing well that they enjoy support from the upper echelons of American politics and society. Based on his substantial assistance, the government recommends a downward departure and does not oppose Gates’ request for a probationary sentence.
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/prosecutors-mueller-witness-whose-testimony-doomed-manafort-was-offered-money-not-to-cooperate/

Rudy Giuliani's personal communications director is a 20-year-old minor Instagram personality still getting her communications degree
https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-christianne-allen-rudy-giuliani-communications-director-2019-12

A North Dakota county was poised to be first to bar refugees under Trump’s executive order. Residents said no.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/12/10/north-dakota-county-votes-allowing-refugees-settle-under-trump-executive-order/

Australian PM Scott Morrison claims government could not do more to fight out of control fires, despite firefighters needing to crowd source food and water.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/prime-minister-scott-morrison-rejects-calls-for-more-assistance-to-firefighters

Over 10 Million People Have Watched This Video of Boris Johnson Refusing to Look at Boy Lying on Hospital Floor Due to NHS Bed Shortage
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/10/over-10-million-people-have-watched-video-boris-johnson-refusing-look-boy-lying

According to sources who have viewed the [Patriots] tape, it shows about eight minutes of footage focusing on recording the Bengals’ sideline. It’s a direct view of the sideline as coaches make signals for plays.
https://twitter.com/zkeefer/status/1204419234077560832?s=19

Eli is now 7th all-time in career passing TDs
https://twitter.com/Giants/status/1204229712597471232

Zach LaVine: "I don’t work my ass off to be a No. 2 guy or a No. 3 guy. I want to be a superstar. I want to be a top of the league type dude. And that’s what I see myself as. I don’t sacrifice my entire summer and grind my life away to be just a regular guy in the NBA."

A Pelosi spox on McConnell saying USMCA won't pass in Senate until 2020: "House & Senate passed Korea, Panama, and Colombia Trade Agreements on the same day (Oct 12, 2011). Senator McConnell has no excuse not to bring up the USMCA."
https://twitter.com/NivElis/status/1204492600872460289

McConnell says Trump’s Senate trial will begin in January and the USMCA will likely wait til after the trial is done. Asked if the Senate will take live witnesses or use taped depositions, McConnell said: “We'll make that decision after we've heard the opening argument.”
https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1204492841424175106

But on 9/11/01 - remember that day? ... everybody on US soil was grounded throughout the nation - first time ever we grounded all planes ... but George W. Bush and his Republican administration let a whole bunch of Saudis in the U.S. - including members of Bin Laen's family - go ahead and take planes out of the country that day, night and the next day.

The latest from Hershey, PA where Trump supporters remain steadfast despite latest impeachment headlines
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/blog/meet-press-blog-latest-news-analysis-data-driving-political-discussion-n988541/ncrd1099256

Searchers using planes, ships and satellites were continuing to comb Antarctic seas Tuesday, searching for a Chilean Air Force transport plane carrying 38 people that vanished en route to a base on the frozen continent.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/chile-combs-antarctic-missing-plane-38-aboard-n1099176?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

In our #AxeFiles convo, @AndrewYang hinted that the oldsters in race lack sufficient understanding of technology and the role it’ll play in shaping-and mishaping-our future. Wonder if he’ll say it in 12/19 debate, for which he just qualified? Pod here👇 In our #AxeFiles convo, @AndrewYang hinted that the oldsters in race lack sufficient understanding of technology and the role it’ll play in shaping-and mishaping-our future. Wonder if he’ll say it in 12/19 debate, for which he just qualified? Pod here👇 https://luminarypodcasts.com/listen/the-institute-of-politics-and-david-axelrod-124/the-axe-files-with-david-axelrod-284/ep-359-andrew-yang/a54d79e7-d745-432d-a8d1-26cb49d791fd …

Sec. of State Pompeo took four trips to his home state of Kansas in the past year — and he met with political activists about the upcoming Senate race on at least one trip. We want to know if he used taxpayer dollars to pursue his political ambitions:
https://www.americanoversight.org/document/foia-to-the-department-of-state-requesting-records-on-secretary-of-state-pompeos-four-trips-to-kansas-in-2019

“On balance, it’s very likely that we will have moderately less growth, less trade, & less job creation than the underlying NAFTA. I don’t want to overstate the magnitude of it—most of this is NAFTA. But I’m simply making the point that many of the changes are counter productive”
https://twitter.com/byrdinator/status/1204469755459047427

The contract with the border patrol union was signed days before an order went into effect that seeks to limit what unions could receive. Other unions have received stingier contracts. One aide called it a quid pro quo for being so supportive of Trump.
https://twitter.com/jdawsey1/status/1204499804811907079
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/with-trump-backing-border-patrol-contract-significantly-increases-union-staffing/2019/12/10/77025414-16da-11ea-a659-7d69641c6ff7_story.html

A little perspective on Drew Brees' performance Sunday vs. the 49ers. His 349 net passing yards & 5 TD passes were more than Kyler Murray, Aaron Rodgers & Lamar Jackson combined (317 yards, 4 TDs) in the previous three games vs. the 49ers.
https://twitter.com/jeffduncan_/status/1204496194434678784?s=21

So Orlando Scandrick just said on @TheHerd that the rumor around the league is the Patriots have people go to the visiting team hotel and do a sweep of the hotel in case they can find any game plan, playbook, etc. stuff laying around, and bring it to the team if they do
https://twitter.com/SalSports/status/1204470458344710145

Adam Gase is not happy with Le’veon Bell bowling till 1 AM following a New York Jets victory. A game where Bell was out with an illness.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28267287/alley-oops-jets-coach-adam-gase-says-leveon-bell-bowling-bad-optic

The uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stood trial in Paris on Monday accused of pumping tens of millions of pounds of “ill-gotten gains” into a vast property empire for himself and his extended family.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/12/09/syrian-presidents-uncle-stands-trial-ill-gotten-gains-empire/

Supreme Court considers claims under Obamacare that government owes billions to insurers
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-considers-claims-under-obamacare-that-government-owes-billions-to-insurers/2019/12/10/9a406bec-1b7f-11ea-b4c1-fd0d91b60d9e_story.html?tid=sm_tw_pol

Facebook has fired an employee in its Austin office after I uncovered proof he accepted bribes from a major scammer to reactivate banned ad accounts
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/facebook-fired-employee-bribed-ads-inc

'Despicable': Internal Emails Reveal Water Contractor Knew About Lead Risks in Flint Months Before City's Public Confirmation | "I think anyone has to ask themselves how the story in Flint would be different five years later now if Veolia had made those private concerns public."
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/10/despicable-internal-emails-reveal-water-contractor-knew-about-lead-risks-flint

Federal judge blocks use of billions of dollars in Pentagon funds to build border wall
https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/10/politics/federal-judge-military-construction-border/index.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/federal-judge-blocks-trump-plan-to-spend-36-billion-in-military-funds-on-border-wall/2019/12/10/e534468a-1b9f-11ea-87f7-f2e91143c60d_story.html

New Zealand volcano eruption: 25 people critical after White Island disaster. Recovery teams are still unable to approach White Island to bring back the bodies of eight people missing following the disaster
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/dec/11/new-zealand-volcano-eruption-25-people-critical-after-white-island-disaster-live-updates

Yesterday, his campaign announced that he would be publishing his list of McKinsey clients today at 6:30 p.m. eastern time. Those clients are Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Loblaws, a Canadian supermarket chain; Best Buy; the Natural Resources Defense Council; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Department of Energy; the Energy Foundation, an environmental nonprofit; the U.S. Postal Service; and the U.S. Department of Defense.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/12/pete-buttigieg-mckinsey/603421/

I was told he literally worked for the devil.....

The Phillies signed Didi Gregorius and Zack Wheeler.

The media’s insistence on coming up with totally fake Democratic “scandals”, like @ewarren’s legal work or @PeteButtigieg’s McKinsey stint, is a constant reminder to me - who led a ton of shitty fake scandal coverage in 2016 - that we have truly learned nothing.
https://twitter.com/meganmurp/status/1204553508680282113

This article really should use the term "Jewishness" not "Judaism." Also "national origin" is different from "nationality." It's fine to oppose this step, but many people are freaking out in bad faith or ignorant ways, and this wording has probably exacerbated reactions: On old European passports, “Jew” was listed as the nationality rather than whatever the country the person holding it was from: Now, in its efforts to fight anti-Israel movements, the Trump administration will define Judaism as a nationality:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/us/politics/trump-antisemitism-executive-order.html

You see this and begin to understand what happened in 1930s Germany: Pennsylvania Trump supporter fights back tears as she responds to a question about impeachment: "He’s done such a great job, and this is the way he’s being treated. It’s very upsetting to me.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/trump-supporter-very-upset-after-articles-of-impeachment-announced-74856517958?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

The level of delusion exhibited by these people is frightening. I wish she would cry over children in cages and young children who are in ICE custody dying of the flu.

Barr is totally out of control. There was an investigation done by an investigator (who no one disputes is independent & unbiased). What Barr “thinks” is just not relevant or appropriate. He’s blatantly abusing his office.
https://twitter.com/Mimirocah1/status/1204516539778633728

Lisa Page, a former FBI lawyer, sues DOJ and FBI for 'unwanted invasion of privacy,’ after DOJ inspector general found no evidence that her complaints about President Trump had an impact on the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/trump-target-lisa-page-sues-doj-fbi-unwanted-invasion-privacy-n1099321?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_np

Tommy Callaway sexually assaulted a reporter on live television. He is a youth pastor and a Boy Scout leader because of course. This man should not be allowed to guide children.
https://nypost.com/2019/12/10/runner-who-slapped-reporters-butt-on-live-tv-identified-as-youth-minister/

Gun-Marie Fredriksson, known as Marie Fredriksson (Swedish: [ma¹riː ²freːdrɪkˌsɔn] (About this soundlisten); 30 May 1958 – 9 December 2019)[1] was a Swedish pop singer, songwriter, pianist and painter, known for forming pop rock duo Roxette in 1986 alongside Per Gessle. The duo achieved international success in the late-1980s and early-1990s with their albums Look Sharp! (1988) and Joyride (1991), and had six top two hits on the Billboard Hot 100: "The Look", "Listen to Your Heart", "Dangerous", "It Must Have Been Love", "Joyride" and "Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)". Fredriksson had a successful career in her native country prior to forming Roxette. She was a member of punk group Strul, a band which created their own music festival in 1979. Strul's dissolution led to the creation of her next project, the short-lived MaMas Barn, after which she began releasing solo work. Her first album, Het vind, was issued in 1984, followed by Den sjunde vågen in 1986 and ... Efter stormen in 1987. Roxette's international breakthrough coincided with a period of inactivity for Fredriksson as a solo artist, punctuated only by the release of the non-album single "Sparvöga" in 1989. Subsequent solo albums included Den ständiga resan (1992) and I en tid som vår (1996). In 2002, after fainting at home, Fredriksson was diagnosed with a brain tumour. During her rehabilitation, she continued to record music as a solo artist, resulting in The Change in 2004 and Min bäste vän in 2006, as well as the non-album single "Där du andas" in 2008—her first solo number one single in Sweden. She and Gessle later reunited to record more albums as Roxette, who embarked on a worldwide concert tour. She also continued to record as a solo artist in her native Sweden, releasing Nu! in 2013.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Fredriksson