Out d’Coup | Build Back Better?; COP26; Big Oil Testifies; Cuomo Charged; FB Metaverse; Shapiro and Climate; Corman Runs; Black Flags; Paul Prescord; More Yass; DnD and Race; Dune

Build Back Better? One thing is clear, there would have been next to nothing had it not been for the progressive caucus’s willingness to hold their ground and not cave to pressure from Nancy Pelosi and corporate Democrats. 

• Half-full? From Harold Meyerson, the American Prospect. 
• David Dayen from The American Prospect, says the bill has some real positives, but does not meet standards of “permanent, hassle-free, and meaningful.” 
• Give with one hand, take with another. Los Angeles Times
• Mixed Bag, VOX

Climate emergency and COP26 - We’ll be focusing on this on Monday’s Out d’Coup LIVE. 

Big Oil testifies before Congress. Lies, lies, and more lies. 

And a new report from Molly Taft and Emily Atkin shows how Big Oil uses Newsletter ads to spread misinformation. Big Oil targeted Punchbowl, Politico, and Axios newsletters that are frequented by beltway insiders. From the report: In the month leading up to the hearing, from October 1 to October 22: 63% of Punchbowl newsletters, or 30 out of 48, were sponsored by fossil fuel interests; 100% of POLITICO’s Morning Energy newsletters, or 15 out of 15, were sponsored by fossil fuel interests; 62% of Axios Generate newsletters, or 10 out of 16, were sponsored by fossil fuel interests.

Cuomo gets charged.

Harvard University graduate students head into day 3 of their strike. The university administration has refused to meet demands for better pay, recognizing union shop clause, including undergraduate workers in the bargaining unit, and more. Harvard has the largest endowment in the world. It topped $53 billion during the pandemic and as the university reported a $283 million surplus operating budget.

Facebook changes its name to “Meta” as it gives a sneak peak to its virtual life platform, metaverse. 

Judge in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial says the people he shot and killed cannot be referred to as “victims.” 

Democratic Josh Shapiro says he’s not a fan of Gov. Tom Wolf’s climate mitigation plans and decision to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. 

Jake Corman begins flirting with his campaign for governor. He met with Pennsylvania’s congressional republicans at the Capitol Hill Club in DC over a week ago and is expected to announce after election day.

Senator Corman is announcing his run for governor while the Senate “audit” is polling at 55 percet opposed to 43 percent support.   

Critical school board elections on Tuesday. Also on the ballot Justice of the PA Supreme Court, County district attorney, sheriff, mayors, more judges,  

Black Flags flying in Bucks County. Cyril Mychalejko’s latest piece just dropped on the increasing extremism in Bucks Co. 

DSA Activist, union organizer and Philadelphia public school teacher Paul Prescord announced his campaign against Senator Anthony Williams for the Pennsylvania Senate.  Williams is a charter school proponent and one of the caucuses largest recipients of Jeffrey Yass Money

Speaking of Jeffrey Yass, Jeffrey Yass and the Commonwealth Foundation are making it rain for Judicial and school board candidates.  The Commonwealth Leaders Fund gave at least $1.9 million in support of PA Supreme Court Nominee Judge Kevin Brobson.  Then the Commonwealth Children’s Choice Fund and Students First PACs also gave $145,000 to groups supporting right-wing school board candidates across the commonwealth.  

Kate Aronoff's book, Overheated should be on your must read list.

Just picked up Tasha's Cauldron of Everything and dove into issues of race in D&D. 

Still waiting to find the time to watch the new Dune.