January 1, New Kavanaugh Allegations | Saudi Oil Attack Could Cause Gas Price Spike | GM Workers Strike | Pelosi, Schumer Push for Universal Background Checks

Good morning Middle Americans!

New allegations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh have surfaced in a new, New York TImes essay.  The new report has prompted impeachment calls from at least five of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. The allegations seem a little thin, especially since the woman in question says she doesn’t remember the graphic incident described in the essay, which is part of a book on Kavanaugh set to be released. 

Also today, UAW members are striking against GM for better health insurance coverage, higher wages, and more job security. The drone strike by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels could have a dramatic impact on the price of oil and gasoline here in the United States. And finally today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer say any gun proposal without universal background checks is a non-starter.  Read all about it below. 

– Fraser Dixon 

This Day in History | 1620

The Mayflower sails from Plymouth, England, bound for the New World with 102 passengers.

New Brett Kavanaugh Sexual Misconduct Accusation Sets Off Calls for Supreme Court Impeachment

(CBS News) – At least five Democratic presidential candidates called for Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh to be impeached after a new report about alleged sexual misconduct from his college years. President Trump, meanwhile, stood by Kavanaugh and said the Justice Department should “rescue” him. 

Presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Julián Castro, Cory Booker and Pete Buttigieg said Sunday that Kavanaugh should be taken off the nation’s highest court after the latest accusation, which comes nearly a year after other misconduct allegations roiled Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings. Kavanaugh has not responded to the latest report, but denied all accusations that emerged during his confirmation process.

Read more from CBS News here

UAW National Strike Against GM Begins as Union Backers Flood Into Flint

(Detroit Free Press) – An estimated 1,200 Flint Assembly workers streamed out of the plant along Van Slyke Avenue in their cars at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, marking the beginning of the UAW’s first national strike since 2007.

The autoworkers, cheered by a large crowd of labor supporters, turned toward the UAW Local 598 union hall down the street to pick up picket signs. They lined street that snakes around the plant that builds the popular Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups.

Read more from the Detroit Free Press here

Drone Attack on Saudi Oil Field Seen as ‘Pearl Harbor’ Moment

(Bloomberg) – For many of the national security teams that monitor threats on the U.S., the apparent drone strike Saturday on the heart of Saudi Arabia’s oil production facilities was the realization of their worst fears.

“The bottom line is that we are likely to see many more of these sorts of attacks, and in particular, coordinated attacks on multiple targets are likely, possibly in tandem with a cyber attack component,” Milena Rodban, an independent risk consultant based in Washington, said in an email.

Find out more from Bloomberg here

Related: U.S. Says Weapons in Saudi Attack Were Beyond Houthi Capability

Learn more from Bloomberg here

Pelosi, Schumer to Trump: Gun Legislation Must Include Universal Background Check

(Politico) – Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned President Donald Trump in a meeting with him on Sunday that any gun control legislation that does not include universal background checks “will not get the job done,” making it more difficult for the negotiations between Trump and a group of senators to succeed.

“This morning, we made it clear to the president that any proposal he endorses that does not include the House-passed universal background checks legislation will not get the job done, as dangerous loopholes will still exist and people who shouldn’t have guns will still have access,” Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a joint statement.

Read more from Politico here