The GPR Digest - November 15, 2023
House avoids government shutdown, tentative deal ends four-month actors' strike, and more
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New Articles
Athens Explanations: SPLOST
In our second installment of our Athens Explanations column, writer Fiona Getch unpacks the establishment, purpose, and recent development of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).
COMING SOON!
Georgia Political Review - Fall 2023
The newest print issue of the Georgia Political Review will be available soon! See a sneak peek of the edition here. Keep an eye out for more details from this newsletter, our website, or our Instagram (@GAPolitical) on when and where to pick up your copy!
GEORGIA
Commissioner Jesse Houle announces they are unlikely to run for reelection
Athens-Clarke County Commissioner Jesse Houle, who represents District 6, announced (WUGA) Friday that they are hoping to step down from their seat on the Commission. They stated that they are “ambivalent” toward staying on the Commission, but did not rule out running for reelection in May entirely.
Houle joined (Flagpole) the commission in 2020. They are one of the more progressive members of the ACC Commission, sponsoring measures such as the creation of the First Step homeless camp on Barber Street and an eviction prevention program in the wake of COVID-19.
Fulton County judge says lyrics can be used as evidence in trial against rapper Young Thug
A judge in the Superior Court of Fulton County ruled (AP) that prosecutors would be allowed to submit lyrics from Young Thug’s songs as evidence when he goes to trial later this month. Last year, the Fulton County District Attorney indicted the Atlanta-based hip-hop artist, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, on charges including murder and carjacking. Prosecutors say that they intend to use the lyrics to demonstrate that Williams’ label, YSL, exists as a gang, that the gang committed criminal acts, and that Williams is the leader of the gang. Defense attorneys protested that the lyrics will unfairly prejudice the jury, and that using what they view as creative expression as proof of a crime would violate the First Amendment.
NATIONAL
House approves stopgap funding, averting a government shutdown
Last night, the House passed (The Hill) a bill for continued funding for the government in an unusual, two-step process. The bill will extend current funding for some government agencies until Jan. 19, and all others until Feb. 2. The House voted 336-95 to approve the measure, with two Democrats and 93 Republicans voting against it. The bill will now head to the Senate, where both party leaders have voiced support (Wall Street Journal).
Authorizing new funding for the government represented a first major hurdle for new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), after conservative Republicans ousted his predecessor Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) due to disagreements with his own efforts to avoid a government shutdown. Still, many hardline GOP members expressed disapproval of the stopgap bill since it did not contain any budget cuts or conservative policy wins.
Sen. Tim Scott suspends presidential campaign
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott suspended (NBC) his 2024 presidential campaign earlier this week after key donors (New York Times) revoked their support and polls showed he was falling behind other Republican candidates. Running as the “exact opposite of Donald Trump” candidate, Scott’s policies focused on restricting access to abortion, tighter border security and school choice. His policies, however, were not enough to differentiate himself from the other candidates vying for the Republican nomination, and his performances in the debates left Scott struggling to generate enough support to keep the campaign going. Scott denied any rumors that he would be open to joining another ticket as the vice president and refused to endorse any other candidate.
U.S. becomes second country in the world to produce advanced HALEU nuclear reactor fuel
Centrus Energy in Bethesda, Maryland became (IEEE) the second company in the world (besides Russia’s state-owned Tenex) to produce high asset low enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel, making a historical leap towards the production of advanced nuclear reactors. HALEU fuel is more concentrated than the current nuclear fuel, meaning longer fuel core lives, less nuclear waste, and less fuel required for energy production. The energy in just 3 tablespoons of HALEU can supply a lifetime’s worth of power for the average U.S. consumer.
INTERNATIONAL
Israel agrees to daily 4-hour pauses in Gaza fighting
Under pressure from President Biden and the international community, Israel agreed (AP) last week to pause its operations against Hamas in Gaza each day for four hours to let civilians flee the area. Biden and other world leaders have pushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further to agree to a multi-day extended pause in fighting to allow for hostage negotiations and the administration of humanitarian aid.
Israel and the U.S. butted heads this week over plans for Gaza after the current conflict concludes. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, agreeing with leaders of many Arab nations, said that Gaza should be united (New York Times) with the West Bank and ruled by the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority previously presided over Gaza, but lost control after Hamas’s takeover of the region in 2007. Netanyahu rejected (WSJ) calls for a Palestinian Authority-led Gaza, but did not suggest an alternative plan. Netanyahu, whose legislative coalition holds a slim four seat majority, faces pressure from far-right leaders who wish to annex Gaza and establish Jewish communities in the area.
Thousands in Mexico protest after nonbinary official found dead
Influential LGBTQ+ figure Jesús Ociel Baena was found dead Monday morning next to their partner in Aguascalientes, Mexico after receiving several death threats. Thousands of people took to the streets of Mexico City to demand justice (AP) as investigations are ongoing over what happened and if there are any suspects in the case. As the first nonbinary person to be elected to a judicial position in Mexico, Baena has been the target of hate messages and anti-LGBTQ organizations. While Mexico is trying to combat violence against its LGBTQ population, there have been at least 117 such killings and over 300 violent hate crimes against sexual minorities in the past three years alone. Those marching acknowledge the motive behind such attacks are often to intimidate others from coming out publicly and hope that rallying support for the community will prevent their voices from being silenced.
U.S. and China announce agreements on fentanyl and emissions as President Biden prepares to meet Xi Jinping
At today’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping plan to reveal (Guardian) a new deal to crack down on the potent opioid fentanyl. China agreed to target chemical companies that produce the precursor chemicals for fentanyl production; in return, the U.S. will lift sanctions on China’s forensic police institute. China is one of the largest producers of fentanyl, a drug responsible for more than two-thirds of the U.S.’s overdose deaths.
The U.S. and China have also reached a new agreement (New York Times) on renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Both countries agree to widely expand renewable energy capacity, although specific goals have not yet been announced. China, currently the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, additionally agreed to set targets for the reduction of all GHGs. Previously, China only set reduction goals for carbon dioxide, leaving out other harmful emissions like methane and nitrous oxide.
Biden and Xi will meet today at the APEC conference, their first meeting in a year and Xi’s first visit to the U.S. since 2017.
CULTURE
Nepal bans TikTok, citing hateful content on platform
The government of Nepal announced (New York Times) Monday that the social media app TikTok would be banned, effective immediately. The Nepalese cabinet of ministers claim that the app negatively affects “social harmony” by straining religious tensions, disseminating sexist and casteist content, and encouraging violence. The Nepalese Home Ministry earlier produced (Indian Express) a report that claimed that social media platforms, including TikTok, allow users with fake identities to defame government officials.
TikTok was the only social media app targeted by the government’s ban, but decisions on the regulation of other platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter) are pending. Several other nations, including Nepal’s neighbor India, have banned TikTok so far this year.
SAG-AFTRA reaches tentative deal with major studios, ending four-month actors’ strike
Last Wednesday, SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors and performers, agreed (LA Times) to a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, bringing an end to an 118-day strike. The deal increases wages, especially for background actors and stand-ins, creates protections and pay requirements for the use of AI-generated replicas of actors, grants actors bonuses from streaming platforms, and more.
The union’s national board approved the deal with 86% support, but will not be adopted until it is ratified by the over 160,000 rank-and-file members.
Despite the progress, many are still critical of the sacrifices made in the contract. Actor Justine Bateman has criticized it, specifically in regard to its “weak” stance on AI. But SAG-AFTRA National Director and Chief Negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, also stressed the “give-and-take” nature of negotiation, stating, “it’s not a process where one side comes in and just gets everything that’s on their list.”
The entirety of the summarized contract can be read here.