SHE SERVED HER NATION WELL

US Interior Secretary Deb Haaland reflects on tough choices during a historic tenure

SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN
Sun, January 19, 2025 

AP

“I thought about the weight of their legacy,” she said, “a weight that, while heavy, has motivated me to lead this department, which just a few generations ago tried to erase Indigenous peoples and our ways of life.”

Interior Haaland Legacy

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — It started to get real when the artwork was taken down from her office walls. The collection — all creations of Indigenous artists — had been handpicked by U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland over the last four years as she guided one of the nation's most expansive federal agencies.

Then came the tears as people came and went, sharing hugs while Haaland tried to wrap up her last day at the office.

She set out four years ago on a historic journey as the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary. She came in with a series of seemingly simple but ambitious goals: address the climate and biodiversity crisis, make the outdoors accessible to more people, lift the veil on a difficult chapter in American history, and usher in a new era for Indian Country.

From energy development on public lands and securing water resources amid ongoing drought to making good on the nation’s promises to Native Americans, Haaland vowed to take a balanced approach — and to listen. She told The Associated Press in an interview Friday that she feels she lived up to that vow.

Haaland believes President Joe Biden nominated her for the job because he wanted a cabinet that reflected America. As a member of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico, Haaland brought a different perspective — one never before infused into decision-making at that level.

“I really felt like I relied on the way I was raised, on my cultural wellbeing, the traditional aspects of who I am. I’m a pueblo woman first," she said, "and I see things through that lens.”

Drill? Not so fast, baby

Even during her time in Congress, Haaland wasn't shy about voicing opposition to oil and gas and supporting the Green New Deal. She was grilled during congressional hearings about her “radical views," with Republicans suggesting the administration's distaste for drilling would cost the country jobs and compromise national security.

In his first days in office, Biden shut down oil and gas lease sales from the nation’s vast public lands and waters, citing worries about climate change. Haaland's agency was charged with doing a comprehensive review. Court wrangling ensued, resulting in an indefinite delay in planned oil and gas lease sales on public lands in a half-dozen states in the West.

Despite campaign promises to end new drilling on federal lands, leasing resumed and production reached record levels during the Biden administration, with the U.S. now producing more than ever before.

Haaland acknowledged production was high during her tenure, but she noted that it came with nearly four dozen new renewable energy projects on federal lands and the conservation of more than 1 million square miles (2.7 million square kilometers).

Some federal land was taken off the board through administrative withdrawals, like that in northwestern New Mexico where some tribes advocated for greater protections for areas beyond the boundaries of Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

“As it turns out, you don’t have to lease millions and millions of acres,” Haaland said. “We really worked at zeroing in on where these leases should happen so that we can ensure that other land is open to conservation.”

For the love of bears and beyond

Haaland co-sponsored legislation while in Congress to increase protections for grizzly bears and reintroduce them on tribal lands. It was a fight that continued while she was secretary. Just this month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced continued protections for grizzly bears in the Rocky Mountains despite opposition from Republican-led states.

Haaland sees threats to biodiversity and climate change as twin challenges, as rising temperatures, drought and wildfires put more pressure on endangered and threatened species and their homes.

As part of an effort to protect more species and provide more wildlife viewing opportunities, Haaland created six national wildlife refuges and expanded the boundaries of five more during her tenure. Species that made enough progress to have protections removed included the Apache trout — Arizona’s state fish — and the snail darter.

For Haaland, her advocacy is deeply rooted, stemming from ancestors who served as the first stewards of the land.

“I stand on the shoulders of so many people that have spoken out for the Earth and its animals, who stood up for Indian Country, for women, for civil rights,” she said.

New era for Indian Country

From the start, Haaland wanted to usher in what she called a new era for Indian Country. That meant honoring and elevating tribal sovereignty. Not with words but with actions, she said.

Native American leaders have long considered the consultation process a check-the-box exercise for the federal government. So Haaland established a tribal advisory committee within her department, while Biden issued mandates for prioritizing and standardizing consultation across federal agencies.

The administration reached 400 co-stewardship agreements with tribes, ensuring their role in land management. And new national monuments were created, setting aside ancestral lands across the western U.S., from the edge of the Grand Canyon to sandstone landscapes in Utah and palm-tree dotted deserts in California.

Haaland also pointed to record investments of nearly $45 billion for tribal infrastructure projects and social programs. This came after decades of underfunding, neglect and oppression, she said.

“You can’t right every single wrong in just four years. These things are going to have to be ongoing,” Haaland said, encouraging tribal leaders to stay vocal and maintain a seat at the table.

Haaland is keenly aware that Indian Country isn't a monolith, as each of the 574 federally recognized tribes has its own culture, beliefs and needs. There were times when tribal leaders spoke out, saying Haaland was ignoring concerns about the potential effects of mining or renewable energy projects on sacred places.

A painful chapter of history

One of her greatest accomplishments was shining a light on a relatively untold part of America's history — a dark period in which Native American children were ripped away from their families and carted off to boarding schools for reprogramming.

Haaland has talked about her own grandparents being victims of the campaign to erase language, culture and identity.

She launched a first-of-its kind initiative to uncover the scope of the damage done by the boarding schools. The heartbreaking work involved combing through millions of documents and holding listening sessions where community members struggling with generational trauma shared their experiences.

Haaland's department turned out major reports that identified the schools that had government support and uncovered the fates of hundreds of children who never returned home. The final volume listed policy recommendations to aid in healing.

Those recommendations were turned over to the White House, with Haaland saying she had no idea the outcome would be so profound. She didn't call the president and make a special request. Instead, Biden's team called immediately and said the president wanted to issue an apology.

Haaland joined Biden at the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona for the announcement.

She reflected on that moment during a farewell address last week before a packed auditorium of employees, tribal leaders and others. She said she could feel the power of those who persevered through unthinkable odds so she and others could stand there that day.

Haaland chalks up her own perseverance to community, saying things can be accomplished only when people work together. She pointed to her pueblo ancestors centuries ago gathering millions of pounds of stone, mixing mortar and hauling water to construct one of the great houses at the Chaco park.

“I thought about the weight of their legacy,” she said, “a weight that, while heavy, has motivated me to lead this department, which just a few generations ago tried to erase Indigenous peoples and our ways of life.”

President Donald Trump signs executive order limiting the rights of transgender Americans

Jenavieve Hatch
Mon, January 20, 2025 

SACRAMENTO BEE

President Donald Trump delivered an expected blow to transgender Americans on Monday when he signed an executive order “defending women from radical gender ideology extremism.”

“Across the country, ideologues who deny the biological reality of sex have increasingly used legal and other socially coercive means to permit men to self-identify as women and gain access to intimate single-sex spaces and activities designed for women, from women’s domestic abuse shelters to women’s workplace showers,” the order states.

 “This is wrong.”

The order rolls back more than a dozen Biden-era policies that support trans people. It also declares that the U.S. government will only recognize a person’s sex assigned at birth, and will not use the word “gender” on any policies and documents. The order will require federal agencies, such as the State Department and Department of Homeland Security, to remove “nonbinary” or “other” gender options from passports, visas, and other forms of identification.

Trans women will also now be prohibited from “intimate spaces,” such as women’s prisons or jails, or domestic violence shelters.

Trump signed the executive order at the Oval Office Monday evening with no fanfare, save for making a short “ooh” sound before applying his signature while taking questions from reporters. It was one of the last executive orders the president signed his first evening in office.

The order also requires that all federal agencies remove any “statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications, or other internal and external messages” that “promote” or acknowledge the inclusion of transgender people — including asking about a person’s preferred gender pronouns.

Further, the order calls for an “end federal funding of gender ideology” and will require government agencies to “assess grant conditions and grantee preferences and ensure grant funds do not promote gender ideology.”

During his campaign, Trump spent almost $20 million on anti-trans attack ads, which blamed former Vice President Kamala Harris for supporting transgender inmates’ access to gender-affirming medical care.

“Kamala is for they/them,” one ad said. “Trump is for you.”

Last month at a Turning Point event, he promised that “with the stroke of my pen, on day one, we’re going to end this transgender lunacy.”

He kept his word, but LGBTQ advocates and lawmakers are encouraging members of the LBGTQ community to remember what their rights are before these orders take effect.

“President Trump’s executive order, while terrible, is not shocking,” said the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus in a joint statement Monday.


“It is important for our community to remember that the impacts from these orders are neither immediate nor permanent. It will take time for these orders to work through their respective federal agencies and there will be opportunities for California to weigh in on behalf of Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, and Intersex people.

Executive orders have no jurisdiction over state departments and agencies. We here in California will continue to uphold an individual’s fundamental right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

The Caucus is prepared to push legislation in the new Legislative session that “will provide greater protections for all Californians from the Trump Administration.”

Democratic Lawmakers will also have the support of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose justice department will soon be equipped with $25 million to fight Trump’s policies in court.

“This will be a long four years, but this Caucus is ready to stand up for those targeted and bullied for being simply who they are, just as we did during the last Trump Administration,” members said.

The Human Rights Campaign also issued a statement about the “barrage of executive actions taking aim at the LGBTQ+ community.”

“Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect in all areas of their lives. No one should be subjected to ongoing discrimination, harassment and humiliation where they work, go to school, or access healthcare. But today’s expected executive actions targeting the LGBTQ+ community serve no other purpose than to hurt our families and our communities,” said Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson.

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, which provides gender-affirming health care along with reproductive health care and abortion procedures, is prepared to stand up to Trump’s policies as well.

“While we cannot predict what the future holds and what the Trump administration may do in the coming days to further abolish fundamental freedoms and restrict abortion access nationwide — whether it be through executive action, federal agency rules, judicial judgments, budget cuts, or other tactics — we’re ready for whatever comes next,” said PPAC President and CEO, Jodi Hicks.

UPDATED

World's Largest Lithium Ion Plant Catches Fire in California

Noor Al-Sibai
Sat, January 18, 2025 


Scorched Ion

Hundreds of miles north of a scorched Los Angeles, a massive lithium-ion battery facility has caught fire — and it wasn't the first time the plant has had issues.

As Monterey's KSBW reports, the Moss Landing plant — which is owned by a Texas company called Vistra Energy and billed as the largest lithium-ion storage facility in the world — caught fire earlier in the week, leading to both the plant itself and the surrounding area being evacuated.

Lithium-ion battery fires are, as anyone who lives in an e-bike-riddled city knows by now, notoriously difficult to put out. The dense energy storage units, which power everything from cell phones to electric vehicles, can go up in flames in a phenomenon known as "thermal runaway," which is a chain reaction in which one battery cell overheating can trigger others near it to do the same. As such, the fires essentially re-ignite themselves, and firefighters have learned to let these fires partially die down on their own rather than using copious amounts of water that often won't put a dent in these blazes.

Because of the outrageous amount of water it would have taken to douse the blaze at Moss Landing, firefighters initially stood down from the inferno, which died down before reigniting in the aftermath of the first blaze — an epic local disaster, and the latest sign that the transition to green energy isn't always free of grave industrial catastrophes.
Where There's Smoke

Vistra told KSBW that the cause of the fire is not yet known, and won't be until it can conduct an investigation post-blaze. As the local broadcaster noted in subsequent reporting, however, the plant has been plagued by malfunctions for years.

Just a year after it opened in 2020, local firefighters were called to the plant after a battery overheating incident caused the facility to fill up with smoke. Ultimately, Vistra announced in January 2022 that an issue with its liquid cooling hoses led to some smoke inside the facility. Less than a month after that investigation was completed, another meltdown at Moss Landing led to firefighters being again called out to the plant, KSBW reports.

While the plant has been able to come back online relatively shortly after those incidents, it's unlikely Vistra will be back in business anytime soon given that roughly 75 percent of the facility has been burned.

Described by local officials as both a "worst-case scenario" and a "wake-up call," there have thankfully been no injuries or deaths attributed to the Moss Landing plant fire — but long-term damage from the toxic fumes emitted by the flames could be waiting for locals down the line.

Moss Landing battery fire sparks calls to improve safety, ‘accountability’ for industry

Brian Martucci

UTILITY DIVE
 Tue, January 21, 2025 
Utility Dive, an Industry Dive publication

Dive Brief:

The dramatic fire that destroyed most of a 300-MW array at Vistra Energy’s 750-MW Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility late last week drew intense concern from local elected officials and may foretell closer scrutiny of utility-scale lithium-ion battery installations in California and nationwide.

Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church called the incident a “worst-case scenario,” comparing it to the partial meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in 1979, while California Assemblymember Dawn Addis, D, called for “transparency and accountability” and said she was “exploring all options for preventing future battery energy storage fires from ever occurring again on the Central Coast.”

A spokesperson for the American Clean Power Association, a trade group that advocates for the energy storage industry, pushed back on comparisons to the Three Mile Island incident — cleanup of which took 12 years and cost $973 million — and said operational U.S. energy storage facilities had seen only 20 fire-related incidents in the past 10 years, despite energy storage deployment growing by more than 25,000% since 2018.

Dive Insight:

Fire broke out at Moss Landing around 3 p.m. local time Thursday and burned out of control through the night, with local newscasts showing flames shooting hundreds of feet into the air.

Officials closed nearby Highway 1, a major thoroughfare between Santa Cruz and the San Francisco Bay Area, and ordered about 1,200 residents to evacuate. The evacuation orders were lifted Friday evening as air quality monitors showed “no threat to human health,” officials said. No injuries or deaths were reported.

Though investigators have yet to determine the cause of the blaze, North County Fire Protection District Chief Joel Mendoza said Friday that a fire suppression system housed within one of the facility’s battery racks had failed, allowing the fire to spread. A Vistra spokesperson told CBS News that “an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished.”

Church said in a Friday news conference that this was the fourth fire since 2020 on the property that houses Moss Landing and an adjacent 182.5-MW battery energy storage facility owned and operated by Pacific Gas & Electric. But the latest incident “does look and feel very different,” Addis added. Vistra, however, contends that two of the incidents were “overheating” and not fires.

The 300-MW battery array that burned is part of the 750-MW Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility, which occupies a decommissioned gas-fired power plant dating back to the 1950s. The retrofitted installation is among the less than 1% of U.S. energy storage facilities housing batteries indoors, American Clean Power Association spokesperson Phil Sgro said.

“Safety is the first and foremost priority of the industry and, after the incident is resolved and there is a thorough investigation, [it] will ensure the lessons learned are applied to prevent future incidents and inform safety standards and best practices,” Sgro said.

In July, ACP released a model ordinance framework for states and municipalities to develop regulations for energy storage system safety, permitting, siting, environmental compliance and decommissioning. The framework draws on the NFPA 855 fire safety standard and the UL 9540 and 9540A standards, which deal specifically with energy storage system safety.

Legislation signed in October 2023 by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, required battery energy storage facilities in the state to develop “an emergency response and emergency action plan” in coordination with local authorities. Assemblymember Addis co-authored the bill.

Tom Stepien, CEO of South 8 Technologies, said the energy storage industry “should also take a closer look at the fundamental building blocks of lithium-ion batteries and understand how we can make the cells themselves safer.”

Stepien’s company makes a proprietary gaseous electrolyte that “enables [lithium-ion] battery operation in extreme climates with reduced fire risk” compared with liquid electrolyte. The gas escapes compromised cells in seconds, reducing burn time and the corresponding risk of an adjacent cell igniting, he said.

The battery array that burned was commissioned in 2020, making it one of the oldest utility-scale battery installations of its size in California. Its vintage suggests it may not have been built to the strict fire safety standards supported by ACP, said Dustin Mulvaney, an environmental studies professor at nearby San Jose State University who studies energy storage systems. Mulvaney added that he did not have direct knowledge of the Moss Landing facility’s design or safety features.

“I would go and inspect any energy storage system that looks like this one,” Mulvaney said. “We should have a thorough inspection regime.”

Despite local officials’ alarm at the Moss Landing fire, Mulvaney said the incident is unlikely to set back the energy storage industry in California, noting a state-led siting option that limits local governments’ power to block new projects that incorporate community benefits agreements. Moving forward, energy storage developers may face stronger pressure from the insurance industry to follow strict fire safety standards, which could prove beneficial for the industry’s safety record and reputation in the long run, he said.

“If the industry figures it out, this could be the biggest battery fire that ever happens,” Mulvaney said.

Editor’s note: This story has been clarified to add Vista's characterization of the four incidents Supervisor Church mentioned as occuring at Moss Landing and the adjacent Pacific Gas & Electric battery energy storage facility.

Vistra's 1.2 GWh Moss Landing storage facility remains offline after overheating incident

CA lawmaker calls for end to Morro Bay battery project after Moss Landing fire

Stephanie Zappelli
Tue, January 21, 2025



Vistra’s Moss Landing battery storage facility caught fire on Jan. 16, 2025, prompting the evacuation of about 1,200 people.

The Moss Landing battery plant fire has sparked concerns that Morro Bay isn’t the right place for a similar facility.

On Monday, one California State Assembly member echoed the calls of those constituents — and urged Texas-based energy company Vistra Corp. to abandon its already controversial Morro Bay project.

Vistra’s 750-megawatt battery energy storage facility at Moss Landing caught fire on Thursday afternoon, prompting a partial closure of Highway 1 and the evacuation of about 1,200 residents due to air quality concerns from the column of smoke the fire generated.

No one was injured in the blaze, and the evacuation order was lifted over the weekend. Caltrans has since reopened Highway 1.

Vistra planned to build a 600-megawatt battery energy storage facility at the retired Morro Bay Power Plant property — but Assemblymember Dawn Addis called for an end to the project after the Moss Landing fire.

“We can never have a disaster like this again,” she said in a statement Monday.

Her district stretches from Santa Cruz County to SLO County and includes both Moss Landing and Morro Bay.

Fire erupts at Vistra’s Moss Landing battery plant. What does it mean for Morro Bay project?

Should a battery plant be built in Morro Bay?

Vistra originally applied to the city of Morro Bay in 2021 to build a battery plant on the retired Morro Bay Power Plant property.

Then in October, Vistra withdrew its application from the city, and the company announced plans to seek approval through the California Energy Commission instead.

The California Energy Commission and Coastal Commission can bypass local zoning rules to approve large renewable energy projects like Vistra’s proposed battery plant through an opt-in certification program created by Assembly Bill 205.

On Friday, Vistra told The Tribune it paused its development application for the Morro Bay project.

“Our immediate focus is working with the first responders and leaders of Moss Landing and Monterey County to provide essential information to the community,” Vistra spokesperson Meranda Cohn said in an emailed statement. “Our company’s top priority is safety. A comprehensive investigation of this incident will be conducted following this event, which will inform our current and future energy storage operations.”

Vistra’s Morro Bay project was not listed as an applicant on the opt-in certification program’s website as of Tuesday.

Addis urged Vistra to abandon the Morro Bay project altogether.

“While we urgently need climate solutions, they must be safe for our communities and environment,” she said. “For the past four days, my full attention has been on the battery energy storage system fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey County. We can never have a disaster like this again. We all deserve solutions that prioritize safety and sustainability.”

State Senator John Laird declined to comment on the battery plant proposed for Morro Bay, but he called for Vistra to improve its emergency response planning.

Laird represents the entirety of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties, as well as part of San Luis Obispo County.

Laird authored Senate Bill 38, which requires battery energy storage facilities to develop an emergency response and action plan in coordination with local agencies, then submit it to the relevant city or county.

Vistra submitted the Moss Landing emergency plan to Monterey County four months before the law went into effect, Laird said.

“There are questions as to whether the report covered plans for an incident of this magnitude,” Laird said in a Tuesday statement. “It is imperative to determine whether the specific plan that was submitted by Vistra to local authorities was implemented effectively during this incident, and since it was filed prior to the law going into effect — if the report was consistent with the new law.”

Meanwhile, PG&E had not submitted an emergency safety plan for its battery facility also located at Moss Landing, Laird said.

Laird called for the state Legislature to consider setting deadlines for companies to submit the emergency plan.

He also urged Vistra to present its Senate Bill 38 safety plan to the public; complete air, soil, water and particulate matter tests at Moss Landing; and work with Monterey’s North County Fire Protection District to prepare for potential future incidents.

“The impacts of this fire have been profound — from the financial hardships faced by small businesses affected by the highway closure to the stress and disruption caused from evacuation,” he said. “These challenges underscore the importance of not only addressing the immediate aftermath but implementing long-term solutions to prevent similar incidents in the future.”

Morro Bay city staff will present an update on the Moss Landing fire at the next City Council meeting on Jan. 28.

The council will also consider an urgency ordinance that would pause the city’s ability to process new battery plant development permits for up to two years. This wouldn’t prevent the California Coastal Commission and Energy Commission from approving the project.

One injured in possible lithium ion battery fire at Old Town apartment complex

Danielle Dawson
Mon, January 20, 2025 


One injured in possible lithium ion battery fire at Old Town apartment complex

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A lithium ion battery sparked a fire at an Old Town apartment complex early Monday morning, injuring one person.

The incident was reported around 4 a.m. in the 2200 block of Moore Street. According to San Diego Fire-Rescue, fire crews and a HAZMAT team responded in minutes, quickly knocking down the flames and containing the fire to the unit where it originated.

One person inside the unit was injured in the fire and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Their current condition is unknown.

As crews responded to the fire, residents who live in the complex were temporarily evacuated.

“It wasn’t a big fire, but it’s big enough for the fire department to get out,” Martin Theroux, the property manager for the complex, told FOX 5/KUSI.

All have returned to their homes aside from the three adults who lived in the impacted unit. The three residents have been displaced and are being aided by Red Cross.

An investigation into the incident is still underway, but San Diego Fire-Rescue crews said it was believed to have been caused by a lithium ion battery housed in the residence.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 

 

FROM MY MP

Never let them tell you that "you are powerless"

Tansi Friend, Never let them tell you that “you are powerless”. Don't let them take away your hope. In the age of greed we can unite, fight for better wages, fight for our future and fight for a good life for all of us.  That's exactly what many workers in Alberta are showing us right now! And why I've been proud to be out on the picket lines right here in Edmonton Griesbach supporting members of CUPE Local 3550. These workers are fighting for living wages, stronger public education and a better future for our children! I will proudly be joining their Day of Action tomorrow. I invite you to join me at the rally, or to stop by a picket line when you're able. And it's not just education workers speaking up, Alberta nurses are also having a province wide Day of Action this week, on Saturday. They are gathering to say enough is enough. To say it's time for respect. To say we need to put strong public health care ahead of the profits of a few! New Democrats are proudly the party of working people. While Conservative politicians choose the side of big corporations and wealthy CEOs, every single time, you know that I will always show up and that I will always side with working Albertans, .  But it takes all of us. I encourage you to join me as we stand up for education workers, health care workers and our public services this week. You can find details of the events and pickets below. Together we can build power. Together we will build a better city, province and country for us all.  Solidarity my friends, Blake  Join us tomorrow at the CUPE 3550 Day of Action rally. Edmonton Public School Workers represented by CUPE Local 3550 have been on the picket line since January 13, 2025. Now, they're asking you to join them for a Rally at the Centre for Education on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. WHEN: Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. WHERE: Centre for Education, 1 Kingsway NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5H 4G9. Wear purple, bring your signs, and make sure to dress for the weather!   Can't make it tomorrow? Join one of their picket lines another day! Picket Line Schedule: Locations:  M.E. Lazerte (6804 144 Ave NW) Ross Shepard (13546 111 Ave NW) Elder Dr. Francis Whiskeyjack (2410 17 St NW) Picket Times: 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday Nurses Day of Action Not in Edmonton? There are Day of Action events happening across the province. You can find the most current list here: https://www.una.ca/1610/day-of-action-and-call-for-respect-on-january-25

 FROM MY EMAIL

HERESY, MAGIC, AND WITCHCRAFT IN EARLY MODERN EUROPE  Gary K Waite 2003, Heresy, Magic, and Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe View Paper ▸   Download PDF ⬇ Gary K Waite just uploaded "HERESY, MAGIC, AND WITCHCRAFT IN EARLY MODERN EUROPE." ABSTRACT This is an online pdf of my 2003 book, provided by Springer: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-0-230-62912-7.pdf

‘CBS Mornings’ host Gayle King slammed after noting lack of ‘people of color’ at Trump inauguration

THEY WERE ALL AT MLK DAY RALLY SAYS MAGA

Ariel Zilber
Mon, January 20, 2025

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways

“CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King sparked controversy after questioning why there weren’t “many people of color” during President Trump’s inauguration ceremony on Monday.

The anchor made the remark while offering commentary on the swearing-in ceremony as politicians, Supreme Court judges and dignitaries filtered into the US Capitol Rotunda.

“I do not see many people of color. Does anybody else besides me observe that?” King said. “I’m fascinated by why that is?”

Norah O’Donnell, who anchored the network’s coverage, then noted that the inauguration coincided with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day before listing some prominent black leaders in attendance.

Gayle King, co-host of “CBS Mornings,” criticized the lack of diversity among attendees at President Trump’s inauguration. Getty Images

Megyn Kelly, the former Fox News primetime star, was among several critics who slammed King for her observation.

“Gayle King on cbs is questioning why there aren’t more ‘ppl of color’ at the inauguration. Of course,” the host of SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show” wrote on X.

Aidan Kearney, a Trump-backing commentator, wrote: “The fact that this is the first thing you’re looking for is exactly why this guy is about to be inaugurated again.”

Tony Bruno, a former ESPN sports radio talk show host, wrote on X: “Watching your morning show (which very few do) what is the racial breakdown of your staff?”

Others, however, supported King’s point, noting that the audience was overwhelmingly white, including high-profile figures like tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk.

A spokesperson for CBS declined to comment.

Trump addressed attendees at the US Capitol Rotunda after being sworn in as the 47th president. Getty Images

Among the people of color present at the inauguration were former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

Vice President JD Vance’s wife, Usha, a daughter of Indian immigrants, also attended.

One person who decided to skip the event was Michelle Obama, fueling ongoing speculation about her views on Trump and recent rumors regarding her marriage to the 44th president.

Trump used his inaugural address to proclaim the beginning of a “new golden age of America.”

One of his first policy priorities is the dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in federal institutions.

DEI remains a sensitive issue. Supporters claim it helps correct systemic discrimination against minorities while critics argue it results in discrimination against white and Asian Americans.

The kerfuffle over King’s comment comes as CBS parent company Paramount Global is reportedly considering settling a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Trump concerning a “60 Minutes” interview with Harris.

Trump’s inauguration on Monday coincided with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day — the federal holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader. via REUTERS

The lawsuit alleges that CBS aired selectively edited versions of the interview to favor Harris during the election.

This legal dispute poses a potential obstacle to Paramount’s planned $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, as the Federal Communications Commission, led by incoming Chairman Brendan Carr, has indicated that Trump’s grievances with CBS News could complicate the process.

TRUMP TRANSFERANCE

Bill O’Reilly: Trump ‘humiliated’ Biden in inauguration speech

Leland Vittert
Mon, January 20, 2025 

NewsNation



(NewsNation) — Bill O’Reilly stated that President Donald Trump “knows he humiliated” outgoing President Joe Biden and that the act was driven by “vengeance.”

“That was a brutal speech,” O’Reilly said on NewsNation’s “On Balance.” “It’s a unique moment in American history. I can’t find any other inaugural address that humiliated an outgoing president as much as this one did.”

“Vengence doesn’t leave the building easily,” O’Reilly added, calling out Biden for “attacking” both Trump and his family.

O’Reilly pointed out how Biden had to sit through Trump’s speech and “listen to how he screwed up every single thing in this country.”

“It was excruciating,” O’Reilly said, emphasizing that Trump chose to speak that way because “He believes that President Biden was behind Jack Smith and Mar-a-Lago raids.”

NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo disagreed, calling it “petty vengeance.”

“Every moment that Donald Trump motivates any retrospective in terms of investigating narratives, looking at narratives, is, to me, a moment wasted for the American people,” Cuomo said.

Trump calls America’s past leadership corrupt

Trump described America’s leadership over the last four years as incompetent and corrupt, echoing some of the darker rhetoric he used daily on the campaign trail.

He did not mention his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, or any other Democrats by name. But there was no question about whom he was talking.

“We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad,” Trump charged.

He said the current government protects dangerous immigrants instead of law-abiding citizens, protects foreign borders at the expense of American borders and “can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency.”

“All of this will change starting today, and it will change very quickly,” he said.

As of Monday, Republicans control all three branches of the federal government.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Trudeau says Canada will respond to US tariffs as Ontario's premier says Trump 'declared war'

ROB GILLIES

AP
Updated Tue, January 21, 2025 







Canada Cabinet-Retreat
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is joined by Minister of Finance Dominic LeBlanc, back left to right, Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, Minister of Public Safety David McGuinty, as he holds a press conference during a cabinet retreat at Chateau Montebello in Montebello, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.

 (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Canada's outgoing prime minister and the leader of the country's oil rich province of Alberta are both confident Canada can avoid the 25% tariffs President Donald Trump says he will impose on Feb. 1.

Justin Trudeau and Danielle Smith will argue that Canada is the energy super power that has the oil and critical minerals that America needs to feed what Trump vows will be a booming U.S. economy.

But Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, the manufacturing and automobile hub of Canada, said a trade war is 100% coming.

Trump "declared an economic war on Canada,” Ford said in an interview with The Associated Press. “And we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend our economy.”

Trudeau said Canada will retaliate if needed but noted Canada has been here before during the first Trump presidency when they successfully renegotiated the free trade deal.

Ford said as soon as Trump applies tariffs he will instruct Ontario’s liquor control board to pull all American-made alcohol from shelves.

“We are the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world. And I'm going to encourage all the premiers to do the exact same,” Ford said, adding there will be a dollar-for-dollar tariff retaliation on American goods entering Canada.

“We are going to target Republican held areas as well. They are going to feel the pain. Canadians are going to feel the pain, but Americans will feel the pain as well," he said. “A message to the countries around the world: if he wants to use Canada as an example you are up next. He’s coming after you as well."

Trump pledged in his inaugural address that tariffs would be coming in a speech in which he promised a golden era for America. He later said Canada and Mexico could be hit with the tariffs as soon as Feb. 1, though he signed an executive order requesting a report coordinated by the Secretary of Commerce by April. 1.

Trump said Tuesday that the 25% tariffs that he intends to place on Canada and Mexico as soon as Feb. 1 would have “nothing to do” with renegotiating the existing trade pact among the three countries. For him, the tariffs are all about stopping unauthorized migration and the flow of any illicit drugs.

The U.S. president told reporters at the White House that, in his opinion, the amount of fentanyl coming through Canada and Mexico is “massive.”

U.S. customs agents seized just 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border.

About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada. Despite Trump’s claim that the U.S doesn’t need Canada, nearly a quarter of the oil America consumes per day comes from Canada. America’s northern neighbor also has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S.

Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian dollars ($2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states.


“Trump wants to usher in a golden age for the U.S,” Trudeau said at a Cabinet retreat in Quebec called to deal with Trump's threats.

“If the American economy is going to see the boom that Donald Trump is predicting they are going to need more energy, more steel and aluminum, more critical minerals, more of the things that Canada sells to the United States every single day.”

On Tuesday, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum stressed the need to keep “cool heads” and look at the wording of what Trump signed, rather than listen to the discourse surrounding it.

On the threat of tariffs, Sheinbaum took solace in that the “ America First Trade Policy ” order that Trump signed Monday talks about the free trade agreement signed with Mexico and Canada during Trump’s first term, which lays out clear processes for disputes. She noted that a formal revision of the agreement is scheduled for July 2026

Smith, the premier of Canada's oil rich province of Alberta, said the April 1 deadline gives Canadians time to make case to the Trump administration that Canada should be exempted from tariffs.

“With the energy emergency that they declared and with their desire for critical minerals Canada is the answer,” Smith told the AP. Canada can get a “total carve out" from the tariffs, she said.

Smith noted Canada is the world's biggest supplier of uranium and an important source of critical minerals that the U.S. is desperate for. She said both Canadians and Americans would be harmed by a trade war but said Canadians can't afford it in particular.

“We have to be realistic. We are talking about a $21 trillion economy and the amount of product that we sell into the United States is somewhere in the order of $300 billion," Smith said.

"We don’t have the same kind of market power that they do as an economy. We are one 10th their size. We have to be realistic about what a trade and tariff war looks like. We would be more harmed by that than them."

Smith said Americans in some states could pay more than a dollar per gallon more for gas.

“Americans will pay more in the states that are reliant on Canadian goods and Canadians will just pay more in return,” Smith said.

___

Associated Press writer María Verza in Mexico City and AP writer Joshua Boak in Washington contributed to this report.


Trudeau says Canada is ready to respond to possible Trump tariffs

Reuters
Tue, January 21, 2025 

Canada's PM Trudeau holds events in Ontario


TORONTO (Reuters) -Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated on Tuesday that his government is ready to respond to all scenarios if U.S. President Donald Trump imposes tariffs on Canada.

Asked about an uncertain timeline on possible tariffs, Trudeau said Trump is a skilled negotiator who likes to keep his negotiating partners a bit off-balance.

Trump is expected to sign more executive orders on his second day in office. On Monday he suggested across-the-board tariffs on Mexican and Canadian exports to the United States could take effect beginning in February.

"Donald Trump's approach does bring in uncertainty," Trudeau said, adding that he speaks "regularly" with Trump.


"As regards next formal interactions, stay tuned."

Trudeau said Trump's promised prosperity for America will require Canadian resources to fuel it.

"Canada provides many of the necessary inputs the American economy is going to need in order to grow and boom."

(Reporting by Caroline Stauffer and Anna Mehler Paperny)


Trudeau promises 'very strong' response as Trump renews tariffs threat against Canada

CBC
Tue, January 21, 2025

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says 'dollar for dollar' retaliatory tariffs are on the table. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press - image credit)


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday Canada will hit back at the U.S. if President Donald Trump goes ahead with punishing tariffs on Feb. 1, promising this country will respond in kind with "robust, rapid" and "very strong" retaliatory measures.

Trudeau said Canada is ready to deploy whatever measures are necessary to try and force Trump to reverse course. He even floated slapping dollar-for-dollar matching tariffs on American products if the U.S. enacts its promised tariff scheme — a program that could result in levies on hundreds of billions of dollars of American imports.

The comments come after a chaotic day for the Canada-U.S. trade relationship.

After his inauguration, Trump held off issuing an executive order to levy tariffs on Canada, only to suggest later in the day he wants a 25 per cent tariff in place in two weeks' time.

Then, he signed a new "America first" trade policy that directs officials to study unlawful migration and fentanyl flows from Canada and other countries and report back by April 1 on possible trade action to resolve what that policy calls an "emergency."

Trudeau told reporters at a special cabinet meeting in Montebello, Que., he was unfazed by Trump's about-face, saying he's come to expect a great deal of "uncertainty" when dealing with this president.

"We've been here before," he said.

Trudeau said Trump is a skilled negotiator and he will "do what he can to keep his negotiating partners a little off balance."

But Canada is a good negotiator, too, Trudeau said, and it's willing to inflict economic pain on the U.S. to get Trump to back down.

While Canada's priority is to avoid the tariffs altogether and foster "a very positive relationship with the U.S.," the country won't roll over in the face of Trump's threats, Trudeau said.

Canada has leverage, says Trudeau

Despite Trump's rhetoric that he doesn't need anything from Canada, Trudeau said if Trump really wants to usher in a "golden age of America" with a booming economy, he's going to need Canadian natural resources like oil, lumber, steel, aluminum and critical minerals to make that happen.

That gives Canada some leverage, Trudeau said.
s say:

A 25 per cent tariff would be particularly devastating to Canada. Experts have said just a 10 per cent levy would shave billions of dollars off the GDP and potentially plunge the country into a painful recession requiring government stimulus to prop up the economy.

Trudeau floats dollar-for-dollar matching tariffs

Officials have already drawn up a plan that will levy immediate tariffs on $37 billion worth of American goods if Trump moves against Canada — rising to $110 billion if the president doesn't back down.

Ottawa is also prepared to enact some more severe measures, including a possible oil export ban, if those earlier efforts don't succeed.

Trudeau said on Monday that his government could go even further with its retaliatory tariffs, if necessary.

"Everything is on the table, and I support the principle of dollar-for-dollar matching tariffs," Trudeau said.

"It's something we're absolutely going to be looking at if they move forward," Trudeau said of the Americans. "We are prepared for every possible scenario."

Liberal leadership contenders Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney have also endorsed dollar-for-dollar tariffs to punish Trump if he takes a swipe at Canada.

"Dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs by Canada should be a given and they should be aimed where their impacts in the United States will be felt the hardest. Every dollar raised by Canadian tariffs should be used to help support Canadian workers through this fight," Carney said in a statement.

Warning to Canadians

Trudeau warned there will be costs borne by consumers if Canada goes into a trade war to stop Trump from torpedoing the economy. Retaliatory tariffs could push up the price of the many things Canadians buy from the U.S.

"If and when Canada needs to respond with the equivalent tariffs on imports from the U.S., those would be paid by Canadian consumers," he said.

Trudeau said there will be government support to help workers and businesses weather the storm — and he urged people to buy Canadian goods wherever possible to avoid the worst of the potential cost increases.

Trump is threatening these tariffs because he claims Canada is sending drugs and migrants into the U.S.

Speaking late Monday, Trump said Canada is "a very bad abuser" when it comes to the border and his prescribed trade policies will help fix the situation.

Experts say there's a reason why Trump is framing the expected tariffs as a response to an "emergency" drug and migrant crisis — it gives him the leeway to impose tariffs even though the new NAFTA is in place to prevent exactly that sort of trade action.

Trump can claim he's levying tariffs to address national security concerns, thereby unlocking special trade powers that can help usurp a free-trade deal, experts say.

Ottawa has shown a willingness to engage with Trump on the border issue, already announcing a $1.3-billion border package that will result in more personnel and technology to better police the 49th parallel.

Canada also has data on its side.

Figures from U.S. Customs and Border Protection show the agency seized just 19.5 kilograms of fentanyl at the northern border last year, compared to a whopping 9,570 kilograms at the southwestern one.

As for illegal migrants, there's also a huge disparity between Canada and Mexico.

Alberta seeks diplomatic resolution

Still, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Ottawa should take Trump's concerns seriously and try to pursue some sort of diplomatic resolution to this trade conflict, and focus on delivering more border measures to appease the new president.

Speaking to reporters from Washington, where she attended inauguration events over the last two days, Smith said she doesn't think retaliatory tariffs will work against Trump. Canada needs to be focused on creating a "win-win" scenario that involves giving the president more of what he wants to get him to back down, she said.

"We do have to be realistic. We're an economy that's one-tenth the size of the Americans'. We are far more reliant on the trade relationship with them than they are with us, so trying for a tit-for-tat tariff war without addressing the underlying issues is not going to end well for Canada," she said.

That puts Smith offside with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre who said on Tuesday he supports some unspecified retaliatory tariffs against Trump for his "unjustified 25 per cent tariffs."

Poilievre urged Trudeau to reconvene Parliament right away so that MPs and senators can pass legislation to strengthen the border and "agree on trade retaliation and prepare a plan to rescue Canada's weak economy."

Under Canadian trade law, the government can impose retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. without Parliament's approval.

But Poilievre said MPs should have a say.

"Open Parliament. Take back control. Put Canada First," he said.

Canada will ‘respond robustly’ if Trump imposes ‘unfair tariffs,’ says PM Trudeau

Eve Brennan, CNN
Tue, January 21, 2025 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference on January 21, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press/AP)


Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country will respond “robustly” if US President Donald Trump follows through with imposing tariffs on Canada, telling reporters on Tuesday that “everything is on the table.”

“If there are unfair tariffs, we will respond robustly and we will be there to support Canadians and protect our interests,” Trudeau said at the press conference in French when responding to a journalist’s question.

Trump said in an Oval Office signing ceremony Monday evening that his administration will impose a 25% tax on goods from Canada and Mexico that may come as soon as February 1 – a move that could raise prices for American consumers.

Trudeau also addressed Trump’s executive action, signed Monday, that directs officials to analyze how the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (the USMCA) is affecting American workers and businesses — and whether America should remain in the free trade agreement. His action requires agencies to assess whether stricter US trade policy could successfully restrict the flow of fentanyl and the flow of undocumented migrants into the United States.

“While less than 1% of fentanyl and illegal immigrants that enter the United States come from Canada, our government has already acted to address the concerns raised by the president about border security with an over $1 billion comprehensive border plan,” said Trudeau. “We’re already working collaboratively to keep our citizens safe on both sides of the border.”

“Canadian energy powers American manufacturing, businesses, and homes. Of America’s top five trading partners, Canada is the only one with whom the United States runs a trade surplus in manufacturing, and Canada buys more goods made by Americans than China, Japan and Germany combined,” he said.

Trudeau remarked that Trump’s stated US “golden age” would require more steel, aluminum, minerals and reliable and affordable energy. “Canada has all those resources, and we stand at the ready to work with the United States to create a booming and secure North American economy,” he said.

“The alternative for them would be more resources from Russia, China, or Venezuela. Canada is a safe, secure, and reliable partner in an uncertain world,” he added.

The tariffs, if enacted, could strain Americans’ wallets, especially given Mexico and Canada are two of America’s top three trade partners. Collectively, they accounted for 30% of the value of all the goods the US imported last year, according to federal trade data.

While Trump claims foreign exporters pay the tariffs, US consumers stand to foot a portion of the bill, too, as retailers are unlikely to fully absorb the added costs.

CNN’s Elisabeth Buchwald, Kayla Tausche, Kevin Liptak and David Goldman contributed to this report.


Canadian Oil Rallies on Signs Trump Will Hold Off on Tariffs

Robert Tuttle
Mon, January 20, 2025



(Bloomberg) -- Canadian oil prices rallied on signs US President-elect Donald Trump won’t immediately impose tariffs on the country’s crude.

Western Canadian Select crude for delivery in the second quarter traded at $14 a barrel less than US benchmark West Texas Intermediate oil on Monday, a smaller discount than the $16-a-barrel gap on Friday, according to a person familiar with prices. The discount on WCS for March delivery narrowed to $12.90 a barrel from $14.75.

Trump won’t institute tariffs on his first day, but will instead call for federal agencies to study tariff policies and the US’s trade relationships with China, Canada and Mexico, according to incoming officials for the Trump White House. Trade duties could be imposed later, in the coming weeks or months.

Canadian crude prices weakened last week after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith warned Canadians to prepare for tariffs on all of the country’s exports to the US, including oil, after meeting with Trump in Florida.

Light Canadian crudes also showed signs of rebounding. The discount on mixed sweet crude for March delivery narrowed to $4.50 a barrel, from $7.50.

Bloomberg Businessweek