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Over the weekend, we put on one of the most meaningful events of my career thus far… The large scale floral installation adorned with the fattest, most glorious roses I’ve EVER seen… It has been MAGICAL. But I also wanted to give you guys an update to our bill… Now that we have passed both Senate and House, we are about halfway through the wait for our bill to become a law. As a reminder, things are now in the hands of Oklahoma Governor, Kevin Stitt. He can decide one of three things:
- To sign the bill, effectively endorsing it, in which case it would immediately become a law.
- To ignore it, in which case it would become a law on Wednesday of this week automatically.
- To veto it… killing all of our efforts.
We are praying every day that he signs it, but another way to help encourage him to sign our bill, is to call (405) 521-2342 and politely ask that Governor Stitt considers signing SB1470 into law.
Thank you guys for all of your support thus far. I will keep you posted!
Mini stories:
- So at the end of last week, Taylor Swift put out a DOUBLE album you guys. Even as someone who REALLY enjoys her music, it was a bit overwhelming. Her last album came out just a year and a half ago… October 2022. And I am still wrapping my head around it. A lot of people are saying this album is kind of like Folklore and Midnights had a baby… And I have to say I agree, so far. For me, it takes weeks to months to fully absorb and begin to understand her music. But if you guys are interested in hearing more about which songs I am liking / not liking, message me! I know you have asked for that in the past so I am happy to put that together… But with a double album I think it’s gonna take me a minute LOL! I am overwhelmed and paralyzed every time she puts out ANYTHING new so I am feeling even more so with this massive amount of new music.
- A rainstorm in Afghanistan and Pakistan has killed over 130 people, with even more rain on the way. More than 2,600 homes have been completely destroyed or damaged, in Afghanistan alone, according to their Ministry of Disaster Management… We have a TON to go over today, which is why this is a mini story, but I am hoping to circle back to it later in the week.
- Content warning: this story involves war
- Global conflict updates
+Colombia Uni students
So at Colombia University, students had been peacefully protesting US support of Israel by camping out in tents in the middle of the quad. You see, in Rafah, Gazans are forced to live in similar tent like encampments…. Because their homes have been destroyed by Israeli bombing. So the Colombia students were camping there, in solidarity with the Gazans living in even worse conditions. However, this past Thursday, police began arresting protesters who refused to leave the encampment. The quad was not made to be a camp site, and these students were unauthorized to be living there… And yet these students were protesting peacefully. There is definitely a grey area here, that both Congress and Universities have been wrestling with. Imagery of students crying while being hauled away by NYPD were definitely not a good look for Colombia, and yet, asking the students to leave on their own was not working. The students were loaded onto NYPD buses. But they have also repeatedly threatened that any action against them would simply lead to more demonstrations… So we will have to wait and see what happens next.
+Israel Strikes Iran / Hezbollah in Lebanon
A site has been struck in Iran, according to statements made by Iranian officials, and though Israel has not publicly commented on the subject, it is widely believed that Israel hit this location in retaliation for Iran’s barrage of missiles it fired against them.
They also struck two locations in Lebanon, killing two different Hezbollah commanders. Israel DID take accountability for these strikes, publicly.
+Israel strikes Rafah
According to the AP, Israel commenced their attack on Rafah over the weekend killing 22 people 18 OF WHICH were CHILDREN. These people were all part of two families that were likely connected to Hamas. Netanyahu has pledged that the attacks will continue as long as Hamas exists and holds Israeli hostages.
+Aid package passes for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan
So if you guys remember, aid for Ukraine and Israel was being held up by Republicans in the House who were demanding that their speaker, Mike Johnson not work with Democrats in ANY way, shape, or form. That made passing this legislation close impossible. But Johnson said that following intelligence briefings, he realized the need for this legislation no matter what. And he got it passed in the House. And it actually was $95 BILLION and also included funds for Taiwan. The bill received OVERWHELMING bi-partisan support.
+US vetoes a Palestinian bid for full statehood at the UN
Over in the UN, The United States opted to Veto a resolution to change the status of the Palestinian Territories, into full statehood in the UN. Both Britain and Switzerland abstained from voting. 12 countries voting in favor.
- Alejandro Mayorkas is off the hook
Republicans failed to come up with any evidence to substantiate their claims against Alejandro Mayorkas… And thus, the Senate dismissed both of the articles the Secretary of Homeland Security… and effectively shut down impeachment efforts against him.
- Trump’s Manhattan trial has selected a jury…
A jury of 12 has been selected to try former President Donald J. Trump. But the craziest part I heard, was that of the 96 original jurors, when asked if they could be fair and impartial to the former President, 50 OF THEM stood up and said no, and were excused. Over HALF said they could not be impartial to him. And that is pretty par for the course. But it apparently was obvious to the press that President Trump was FALLING ASLEEP during jury selection which really cracked me up, AND it was also obvious to them that he had lost a good amount of weight.
+But a disturbing twist to this tale, is that a man set himself on fire outside the courthouse where Trump is being tried. He threw pamphlets in the air before doing so… And subsequently died of his injuries. The pamphlets had anti-government conspiracy theories inside. A tragic moment amid in this completely unprecedented series of events.
And that, is the News Du Jour!
Today, I wanted to leave you guys with the quote:
“Living things still grow.”