Amid high gas prices, woke lawmakers press the Federal Reserve to require 'financial institutions to stop fossil fuel financing'



Even as Americans endure the financial burden of high gas prices, a group of Democratic lawmakers is pushing climate alarmism by pressing the Fed to require financial institutions to cease fossil fuel financing.

"To protect the stability of the U.S. financial system, the Federal Reserve must thoroughly understand and address climate risks and ensure that the financial institutions it oversees do the same, including by requiring them to reduce fossil fuel-financed emissions in line with science-based climate targets," the legislators declared in their letter to Federal Reserve System board of governors chair Jerome Powell.

"Although banks are already claiming to support reducing financed emissions, even achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, they continue to finance the fossil fuel industry to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars annually," the letter states.

"The climate crisis is already placing a heavy financial burden on Americans and the U.S. economy. The Federal Reserve must take the necessary steps to protect the stability of the financial system by fully understanding climate risks and requiring financial institutions to stop fossil fuel financing," the letter declares.

The Democrats who signed the letter include Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, as well as Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Barbara Lee of California, and André Carson of Indiana.

"Climate change is real and climate risk is here. That's why @SenMarkey & I are leading a call for the @FederalReserve to address the financial risks of climate change and require financial institutions to stop fossil fuel financing," Pressley tweeted.

The AAA national average price for a gallon of regular gas was $3.881 as of September 18.

— (@)

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Study: Racism is 'hidden toll' of firework celebrations; one expert suggests face masks are a solution



Woke environmental scientists have identified a new source of racism that discriminates against people of color and marginalized communities: the pollution from fireworks.

Such pollution is "the hidden toll" of celebrating Independence Day with fireworks, according to National Geographic.

What are the details?

Scientists who published a new study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health tested air pollution levels in California during Independence Day celebrations in 2019 and 2020.

They discovered the short-term pollution released by fireworks is similar to air pollution caused by wildfires. The study claimed pollutant levels during firework celebrations were highest in communities of "lower [socioeconomic status], higher minority group populations," and claimed "disparities were greatest" in "disadvantaged communities."

The apparent problem with the pollution, as National Geographic explained, is that fireworks allegedly create an increased "health risk for communities already disproportionately burdened by air pollution: Urban ones with higher rates of asthma, more older residents, and a greater percentage of children under 10. These areas also tended to have more Black and Hispanic residents than those with less Fourth of July air pollution."

The results of the study "underscor[e] the importance of environmental justice and education about the hazardous effects of short-term household and city-permitted firework displays," the scientists concluded.

Jun Wu, a professor of public health at UC-Irvine who co-authored the study, told National Geographic that wearing face masks during firework celebrations could help the aforementioned vulnerable populations.

Aisha Dickerson, an environmental epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, agreed that face masks during a fireworks show is a "reasonable and feasible public health measure."

"Wearing a mask is not this foreign concept anymore," Dickerson told National Geographic.

What else is newly racist?

Firework celebrations are not the only thing to be recently branded as having racist side effects.

As TheBlaze reported, some experts now claim that traffic accidents are yet another example of systemic injustice because racism and discrimination are baked into the very fabric of American infrastructure.

The sun and hot weather are also racist, according to Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who said last month amid a heat wave in the western U.S. that "extreme heat is a justice issue."

"Extreme heat is a justice issue. Within the same city, some neighborhoods can be up to 20°F hotter than others. Studies have shown that heat risk is disproportionately distributed to communities of color in patterns associated with segregation and redlining," Markey said.

Extreme heat is a justice issue. Within the same city, some neighborhoods can be up to 20°F hotter than others. Stu… https://t.co/Qp16BtDLNg

— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) 1624973403.0

Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) has blamed racism and systemic injustice for surging violent crime in the Windy City, calling racism a "public health issue."

Democrats to unveil legislation to pack the Supreme Court with 4 more justices



Democrats in the House and Senate are planning to introduce legislation to expand the Supreme Court from the current 9 members to 13.

The plan to pack the court was first reported by Ryan Grim of The Intercept on Wednesday. It is sponsored in the Senate Sen. Ed Markey (D) of Massachusetts and in the House by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D) of New York.

Far-left partisans have pressed for Democrats to push the controversial plan since former President Donald Trump was able to fill the seat held by liberal justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a conservative.

While President Joe Biden had refused to say before the election if he would support the plan, Democrats appear to be eager to rush headlong into the plot.

The report was later confirmed by NBC News and inspired a contentious interaction during a House committee hearing when Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) demanded to know from Nadler if the report was true.

https://t.co/4QcxdgE6me
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Rep. Jim Jordan)1618446285.0

Nadler refused to answer the question and said that Jordan was acting inappropriately.

Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones of New York, was less shy to admit to the court-packing plan.

"Our democracy is under assault, and the Supreme Court has dealt the sharpest blows. To restore power to the people, we must #ExpandTheCourt. That's why I'm introducing the Judiciary Act of 2021 with @RepJerryNadler, @RepHankJohnson, and @SenMarkey to add four seats to SCOTUS," he tweeted.

The Supreme Court has been composed of nine members since 1869, for 152 years. The Constitution does not set out how many members must be on the Supreme Court.

That convention was almost broken when Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt suggested in 1937 that he might expand the court with jurists who would be sympathetic to his unconstitutional plans to combat the Great Depression. Members of his own party balked at the plan and he was forced to abandon his "court-packing" scheme.

Despite the long history of Democrats trying to pack the highest court of the land, it is unlikely to be successful given the 50-50 split in the Senate and the presence of some moderate Democrats who are reticent to support far left legislation.

Here's more about the Democrats' newest plot to pack the court:

House, Senate Democrats plan to add 4 Supreme Court justices: Reportwww.youtube.com

As Trump signs COVID relief package in a late-night move, Republicans and Democrats both press for new vote on $2,000 stimulus payments



Both Republicans and Democrats pressed for a new vote on $2,000 stimulus checks after President Donald Trump signed a COVID-19 relief package into law Sunday night.

What are the details?

According to a late-night Newsweek report, lawmakers from both parties impressed the importance of a new — fast — vote to give Americans $2,000 stimulus checks as opposed to $600 checks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last week, Trump blasted the stimulus and spending bill for what he said was a "disgrace" to the American people, according to the outlet.

"I simply want to get our great people $2,000 he tweeted about the bill," he said.

In a statement announcing his signing, he added, "On Monday, the House will vote to increase payments to individuals from $600 to $2,000. Therefore, a family of four would receive $5,200."

Newsweek reported, "Some GOP lawmakers joined Democrats in using the vote for $2,000 stimulus checks on Sunday. Others have already expressed opposition to boosting direct payments, indicating that the party could break with Trump on the record in the coming days."

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Twitter praised the president following the announcement, writing, "With President @realDonaldTrump signing the COVID relief funding bill, suffering Americans will get help, the vaccine will be distributed faster, and the government will stay open."

"Congress will vote on additional stimulus checks and repealing Section 230 — all wins for the American people. Well done Mr. President!" he added.

@realDonaldTrump Congress will vote on additional stimulus checks and repealing Section 230 -- all wins for the Ame… https://t.co/FHb4HZPz1b
— Lindsey Graham (@Lindsey Graham)1609118855.0

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) shared a lengthy statement on Twitter Sunday night following the news, writing, "I applaud the President's decision to get billions of dollars of crucial COVID-19 relief out the door and into the hands of American families. I am glad the American people will receive this much-needed assistance as our nation continues battling this pandemic."

You can read McConnell's full statement below.

I applaud the President’s decision to get billions of dollars of crucial COVID-19 relief out the door and into the… https://t.co/FasaBYrsFb
— Leader McConnell (@Leader McConnell)1609118275.0

What else?

The president's move even won accolades from far-left Democrats including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y).

Ocasio-Cortez applauded the president's move and wrote, "Great, now he can sign @RashidaTlaib and I's amendment to bring the $600 checks to $2K."

Great, now he can sign @RashidaTlaib and I’s amendment to bring the $600 checks to $2k 🤗 https://t.co/foq2dmNUrS
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez)1609119541.0

Sanders added, "Finally. Now Trump must get Mitch McConnell and his Republican friends in the Senate to pass legislation to provide $2,000 in direct payments to the working class — legislation I introduced with @SenKamalaHarris and @SenMarkey 7 months ago."

Finally. Now, Trump must get Mitch McConnell and his Republican friends in the Senate to pass legislation to provid… https://t.co/jlkwvWOvVc
— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders)1609121420.0

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) added, "The House will pass a bill to give Americans $2,000 checks. Then I will move to pass it in the Senate. No Democrats will object. Will Senate Republicans?"

The House will pass a bill to give Americans $2,000 checks. Then I will move to pass it in the Senate.No Democrat… https://t.co/8ZG3hDPukY
— Chuck Schumer (@Chuck Schumer)1609120325.0