4 thoughts on “Friday Open Thread”

1. Human ingenuity keeps on defeating the techno-pessimists. Noah Smith

   And in fact, battery prices are still crashing. Part of this is due to Chinese industrial overcapacity, which may not last forever. But thanks to the magic of scaling effects, even if China eventually has to cut back on production, their efforts will have made battery factories permanently better, cheaper, and more efficient. 

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2. Good news from the Western Slope, reported at CPR

   First few months of Grand Junction’s unhoused resource center spark early optimism

   The resource center was built to address some of that function, a hard-sided pavilion that could be heated and cooled and was open for daytime use. Grand Junction City Council voted to fund the project at nearly $1 million and the nonprofit HomewardBound and the United Way of Mesa County offered to provide staffing.

   “It was stood up very quickly and it's serving a lot of people in a dignified way and doing a lot of good,” Grand Junction Mayor Abe Herman said. 

   In a press release, HomewardBound said the facility has thus far provided 20,148 individual services since it opened at the end of January. They specifically noted the center “has provided 2,361 showers, 2,558 meals, and 1,293 rides to and from overnight shelters.” Surveys estimate that Mesa County has more than 2,000 residents experiencing homelessness. 

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3. Sad reacts only: 

   Steve Bannon's appeal was unanimously rejected and he will be ordered to prison soon. By staying his prison sentence, he will now be incarcerated during the election.

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   1. We will see.  the judgment today was to deny his motion, but it gave him freedom until his appeals are done. 

      Bannon can still appeal to see if the entire Circuit will hear his appeal, and if they reject it, he can appeal to the Supreme Court and see if they grant cert. 

      Navarro's parallel case:

      • Navarro, of Washington D.C., was found guilty by a jury on September 7, 2023
      • Jan 25, 2024 — Navarro, 74, was sentenced today to four months in prison

      • February 26, 2024·Former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro has asked the U.S Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to allow him to remain out of prison while he appeals

      • Mar 14, 2024 — An appeals court denied Trump White House official Peter Navarro ‘s bid to stave off his jail sentence on contempt of Congress charges Thursday.
      • Mar 14, 2024 — Navarro has been ordered to report to a federal prison by March 19.
      • Mar 18, 2024 — The Supreme Court has refused to halt a prison sentence for former Trump White House official Peter Navarro as he appeals

      So, it could be quick.  It should be quick.  But it is Bannon.

      If he goes in next week, he'll be out in 4 months – mid-September.

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