News of the World

[kyonides]

California Gov. Newsom Announces
$10 Million PAC Targeting Red States

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is on the campaign trail, aiming to turn traditionally red states into opportunities for the Democratic Party, with the help of $10 million in funding from his war chest and a newly launched Campaign for Democracy political action committee.

Announced March 30, the cross-country effort will put Newsom and his blueprint for the nation on the national radar as the 2024 campaign is starting to kick into gear. While speculation grows that he is a possible contender for the presidency, Newsom is adamant that he has no interest at this time. The governor will be termed out of office after 2026.

In comments to a host of publications over the past year, Newsom has repeatedly said, “it’s not the moment” for him, it’s “not gonna happen,” and he has “sub-zero interest,” but that hasn’t stopped rumors from circulating that the Golden State governor is positioning himself for a national campaign.
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The Campaign for Democracy’s messaging is focused on targeting Republican leadership and questioning the party’s legitimacy and capacity to serve.
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The statement is placed under a section titled Existential Threats, featuring photos of former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

“Authoritarian leaders are so hell-bent on gaining power and keeping it that they’re directly attacking our freedoms in state after state,” Newsom said in a quote on the site.

Meanwhile, critics say Newsom’s extensive use of emergency powers during the pandemic and history of issuing record numbers of executive orders have been a major concern for California.

European Country Becomes the First to Veer Away From Lab Meat and Insects

Italy’s government approved a bill on Tuesday banning the production and use of lab-manufactured food and animal feed, as the nation attempts to preserve Italian food heritage and steer away from synthetic choices.

“A battle of civilizations. In defense of citizens’ health, of our production model, of our quality, of our culture, simply our food sovereignty,” said Italian minister of agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida in a tweet Wednesday, adding: “Italy is the first nation in the world to say no to synthetic foods.” There will be fines up to €60,000 ($65,144) for failure to comply. If the parliament passes the proposal, food produced from cell cultures or tissues derived from vertebrate animals will not be allowed in the country.

“Laboratory products in our opinion do not guarantee quality, well-being and the protection of our culture, our tradition,” said Lollobrigida, a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing Brothers of Italy party, at a press conference on March 28.

Prime Minister Meloni had changed the name last year of the ministry of agriculture to the ministry of agriculture and food sovereignty, and Lollobrigida is an outspoken critic of the European Union’s food programs.

The agricultural lobby Coldiretti backed the latest move to ban synthetic foods and claimed that the bill was necessary to protect the local industry from multinational companies. Along with fines, the proposal seeks to shut down producers who violate the law and restrict them from obtaining public funding for up to three years.

DOJ Won’t Retry Oath Keepers’ Operations Director on Felony Obstruction Count

The man who served as operations director for the Oath Keepers on Jan. 6 in Washington D.C. will not be retried on the one felony count on which the jury in his criminal case could not reach a verdict, his attorney said on March 31.

On March 20, Michael Greene, 39, of Indianapolis, was found not guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent members of Congress from discharging their duties, and tampering with documents and proceedings—all felony charges.

In the third Oath Keepers trial that ended on March 20, the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on Greene for the charge of obstruction of an official proceeding. Jurors did find Greene guilty of the misdemeanor count of entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds.

“Complete victory,” wrote William Shipley, one of Greene’s attorneys, on social media.

Greene was asked by Oath Keepers founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes III to serve as operations director for Oath Keepers security duties in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, after the original director became ill. Greene is not a member of Oath Keepers but is Rhodes’ close friend.

DOJ Sues Rail Company Over Pollution from Ohio Derailment

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern Railway over the pollution caused in East Palestine, Ohio, by the Feb. 3 derailment of a train carrying hazardous materials.

The complaint filed March 31 in the Northern District of Ohio, seeks to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for “unlawfully polluting the nation’s waterways” and to ensure that the company foots the bill for the cleanup.

“When a Norfolk Southern train derailed last month in East Palestine, Ohio, it released toxins into the air, soil, and water, endangering the health and safety of people in surrounding communities,” Attorney General Merrick Garland noted in a statement. “With this complaint, the Justice Department and the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] are acting to pursue justice for the residents of East Palestine and ensure that Norfolk Southern carries the financial burden for the harm it has caused and continues to inflict on the community.”

One of the chemicals that spilled from the derailed train was vinyl chloride, a highly toxic and flammable gas used in the production of plastic. To prevent an explosion, Norfolk Southern chose to conduct a controlled burn of the chemical, releasing it into the air in a thick black cloud that hovered over the area for days.

The effects of the chemicals could also be seen in local waterways, including the Ohio River—a major drinking water source for more than 5 million people—where state officials observed a “plume” of chemicals traveling downstream.

The DOJ’s lawsuit follows the EPA’s issuance of an administrative order on Feb. 21 requiring Norfolk Southern to identify and clean up the soil and water resources contaminated by the chemical spill and pay for the agency’s response costs relating to the order.