January 1, 1 Dead in Portland After Clash Between Trump Supporters, Antifa

This Day in History | 1967

Thurgood Marshall becomes the first African American Supreme Court justice after his senate confirmation. He would remain on the Court for 24 years.

Good morning Middle Americans, 

You can see the battle lines being drawn. Yesterday, in what can only be described as a territorial dispute, Trump supporters drove into Portland Oregon to confront elements of Antifa, the “antifascist” group. These are the same Marixist activists who’ve incited violence and co-opted the Black Lives Matter movement.  The same people who have brought chaos to Portland for almost three straight months now. But it wasn’t just Portland. Similar displays of support for President Trump played out across the country. Meanwhile in Kenosha, Wisconsin – Thousands of people marched for “Justice for Jacob Blake”. This, despite the fact that Blake was wanted on a warrant for sexual assault, and had a knife in his car. So this begs the question – what does “justice” look like? 

Also today we have a heartwarming story about how the NICU staff at a Lake Charles Louisiana hospital kept all 19 of its tiny patients safe through the Category 4 Hurricane Laura. And California gets less fun every year, Starting January 1, it will be illegal to sell most flavored tobacco products in California. Health experts say it will save lives, but will it also create a black market? 

Finally today we have a story about – how the White House staff, which is led by a president who is often accused of being anti-women, is a mix of half women, half men. Reflecting the demographics of America. And it’s a high water mark for gender parity in the White house. 

Read all about it. 

-Fraser Dixon 

One Shot Dead as Antifa, Trump Supporters Clash in Portland

(The Daily Mail) – One person was shot dead in Portland on Saturday night as tensions between pro-Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter counter-protesters boiled over.

The victim was pictured lying on the ground wearing a Patriot Prayer baseball cap, appearing to show support for the far-Right group which is frequently present during Portland protests. 

The Portland protest was one of many that Donald Trump’s supporters staged across the country on Saturday, with hundreds of people congregating in Los Angeles, Georgia and beyond to celebrate their president and rally for his re-election. 

In Washington DC, Black Lives Matter protesters were tear gassed to push them away from the White House, while in Kenosha – where Jacob Blake was shot on Sunday – protests continued, but were largely peaceful.

In Portland – where there have been 95 nights of unrest in the wake of the May 25 shooting of George Floyd – more than 600 cars flying Trump flags and banners set off in a convoy around and through the city, after tense scenes at their meeting point and clashes with counter-protesters.

The shooting took place on Southwest 3rd Avenue and Alder Street – along the main throughfare which runs through the heart of Portland, past Portland State University.  

Police told Oregon Live that the victim had died.  

Read more here

Kenosha: Overflow crowd demands ‘Justice for Jacob’

(The Kenosha News) – The theme was clear from the time the huge crowd flowed into Civic Center Park on Saturday afternoon.

They want justice, and they want it now.

Several impassioned speakers — including Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and Congressman Gwen Moore — took to the stage, and the crowd estimated between 1,000 and 2,000 joined in with that passion during a rally in support of Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old Kenosha man who was shot seven times last Sunday by Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey.

Read more here

Louisiana Hospital Staff Stayed Behind to Care for 19 Babies as Hurricane Laura Hit

(CNN) – Even as Hurricane Laura bore down on a hospital in Lake Charles, Louisiana, someone had to watch the babies.

Winds howled, water leaked through windows and the generators kicked on at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. Despite it all, the NICU staff kept all 19 of its babies safe through the Category 4 storm.

“It’s important to know the dedication of all the nurses and the respiratory therapists to keep taking care of the babies when they don’t even know the condition of their homes,” Dr. Juan Bossano told CNN on Thursday. “In a small town like this, people have to pull together. I’m proud of them.”

The residents of Lake Charles knew the hurricane was headed for their city, with mandatory evacuation order in place. The city got some of the worst of the storm, with an hour of 120-135 mph wind gusts as the eyewall crossed, according to the National Weather Service.

Find out more here

Flavored Cigarettes and E-cigs will Soon Be Banned in California

(CBS News) – Starting January 1, it will be illegal to sell most flavored tobacco products in California. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the flavored tobacco ban bill on Friday, which was largely developed by Senator Jerry Hill to “address an unprecedented surge in youth nicotine consumption.”

Under the new bill, retailers will not be criminally charged for selling flavored cigarettes or vaping cartridges, but could be fined up to $250 for doing so. The bill specifically targets sweet flavors, including fruit, chocolate, candy, and dessert, as well as more traditional flavors such as menthol and mint. 

Loose-leaf tobacco and “premium cigars,” which are handmade with a tobacco leaf wrapper without a filter, tip or mouthpiece and cost at least $12, are not included in the ban. 

Get the latest here

Like America: Half of Trump’s Staff are Women

(Washington Examiner) – It’s been said since the Reagan era that “personnel is policy.”

So when we reviewed new White House staffing numbers, it came as a bit of a surprise that in an administration led by a president often accused as anti-women in his policies and sometimes words, nearly half of the staff are women.

What’s more, one-quarter, or 56, hold top “commissioned” jobs, including the directors of domestic policy, legislative affairs, political affairs, cabinet affairs, the press and communications offices, the personnel office, and 11 others.

“That seems sizable,” said Kathryn Tenpas, a nonresident senior fellow for Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. “I don’t think the numbers look bad,” she added.

Read more here