The Daily Valet. - 11/25/19, Monday
✔️ Military Scandals and Black Friday Scams
Monday, November 25th Edition
Did you watch the AMAs last night? Nah, me neither.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
Navy Secretary Forced Out Amid Controversy
The Pentagon asks for resignation after losing confidence
Defense Secretary Mark Esper fired Navy Secretary Richard Spencer Sunday over the case of a disgraced Navy SEAL that has created high-level friction between the president and the Pentagon, reports The Washington Post.
In his acknowledgment-of-termination letter, he says that he “cannot in good conscience” obey an order he believes “violates the sacred oath“ he took and that he and the president disagree on the “key principle of good order and discipline.”
Spencer’s ouster was another dramatic turn in the story of Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher—the Navy SEAL accused of committing war crimes during a 2017 deployment. Gallagher was acquitted of murder, but convicted in July of posing with the corpse of a young Islamic State prisoner.
According to the Pentagon statement, the Defense Secretary learned Friday that Spencer had privately made an offer to the White House to allow Gallagher to retire as a Navy SEAL with his Trident insignia. The Navy Times reports that the proposal was conditioned on the Trump administration agreeing not to interfere in the proceedings against Gallagher.
Earlier this month, Trump restored Gallagher's rank after he had been demoted to petty officer first class. But Spencer felt that by interjecting himself, the president was bypassing standard military judicial process. He threatened to resign over the case and stated publicly that he disagreed with the president’s decision to intervene in favor of the commando.
In the end, Spencer's out and the current ambassador to Norway (a retired Navy rear admiral) will take his place. A Defense Department official said Chief Gallagher would now keep his Trident pin, at Esper’s direction, because of concerns that the events of the past few days would make it impossible for him to get an impartial hearing.
Hong Kong’s Pro-Democracy Backers Win Big
There was a surge at the polls, thanks to young people
Voters took to the polls on Sunday in historic numbers to cast ballots in the only fully democratic election in the Chinese territory, an early sign that they wanted to send a strong message to their government and to the Communist Party in Beijing.
The races for district councils, one of the lowest elected offices in Hong Kong, are typically a subdued affair focused on community issues. But the Wall Street Journal reports that antigovernment sentiment on the streets translated to the ballot box, bringing out a record 2.9 million voters—more than 70% of all eligible voters—due to a surge of politically engaged young people.
By 7 am Monday in Hong Kong, pro-democracy candidates had won 278 seats, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported, compared with less than 100 seats in 2015. It's seen by many as a pointed rebuke of Beijing and the turnout suggests the public continues to back the democracy movement, even as the protests have grown increasingly violent.
↦ A closer look: CNN has a breakdown of the city council districts and some of the more high-profile wins and losses.
Bloomberg Officially Jumps Into the Race
The former mayor of New York joins an already crowded Democratic field
Michael Bloomberg officially launched his presidential campaign Sunday. The 77-year-old billionaire is skipping the early voting states in the Democratic nominating contest.
More of a centrist hoping to appeal to moderate Democrats and independents, he said in a statement that he would offer a pragmatic option to voters in a campaign to unseat a president who “represents an existential threat to our country and our values.”
His late entry into the race has already roiled an unsettled Democratic primary field, reports the New York Times. He has startled rival campaigns in recent days by reserving almost $35 million in airtime for television commercials outlining his biography and political agenda, a figure that dwarfs other candidates’ advertising budgets.
His first commercial? A stark comparison of his humble childhood compared with President Trump's privilege, ending with “jobs creator, leader, problem solved ... Mike Bloomberg for president.”
Koalas Are in Trouble
They aren’t “functionally extinct,” but do need help
What's not to love about these little grey guys? They hang out in trees all day, munching on eucalyptus in between naps ... but as Australia experiences record-breaking drought and bushfires, over 1,000 koalas have died while their native tree habitats burn.
It's so dire, multiple reports have claimed that the koala has become "functionally extinct," a term that describes an animal population which has so few pairs that they are unlikely to produce a new generation.
But a vast, expanding urban footprint has pushed a diminished koala population into increasingly smaller pockets of natural habitat while disease, dog attacks and car strikes makes life for the koala increasingly difficult, reports Cnet.
According to National Geographic, Australia's extinction rate is the highest in the world, and local koala populations are being erased. When you add those concerns on top of raging wildfires, you've definitely got cause for concern.
↦ Want to Help? The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has set-up a GoFundMe page to help care for and rehabilitate the affected koala populations.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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Watch Out for Black Friday Scams
Here’s how to protect yourself
About 75% of Americans plan to do at least half of their holiday shopping online this year, according to TransUnion’s 2019 Holiday Retail Fraud Survey. And it is expected to smash all previous records, with consumers set to spend an estimated $29 billion online over Thanksgiving weekend alone.
But while online shopping during this weekend helps you skip the crowds and save some serious cash, it can be a cybersecurity minefield.
Wired warns: Be weary of email offers and social media promotions. "Think twice about clicking through on deals that come from suspicious sources (stores you've never shopped at for example). Always check that the link has sent you to the website you were expecting to reach."
CNET says that credit card skimming used to require physical hardware, but now hackers are inserting malicious code directly on retailers' websites to steal your credit card information. A security strategist suggests enabling purchase alerts on all your credit cards (to keep track of any unfamiliar charges). They also say it's smart to consider using a third-party payment method like Apple Pay, Google Wallet or PayPal.
↦ Your Best Bet? Stick with trusted sources, like us, who will be manually screening the best deals and refreshing discount codes all weekend long.
Early Black Friday Deals
Some of your favorite brands are already on sale.
25% off w/code PASSWORD123
Greats Royale Suede$179 / $134.25
30% off plus free shipping w/code BFWEEK
Cotton cashmere hoodie$118 / $82.60
20% off w/code BFCM2019
Cardigan stitch beanie$35 / $28
Special Promotion
West Skincare has quickly become one of our favorite new skincare brands. And now through Cyber Monday, everything is 40% off. The products, made for active men and women, feature plant-based formulas with potent ingredients that balance and hydrate skin while calming irritation—which comes in handy this time of year, when the elements are tough on skin.
↦ Check Out Our favorite Black mud mask, $45 / $27
Up to 50% off select items
Cardigan blazer$265 / $159
Up to 50% off select items
Feathercraft Grand boot$200 / $140
Up to 40% off select items
Dyson cord-free vacuum$529 / $249
↦ Want More? See all 60 sales
Morning Motto
Wise words from Mr. Stephen Hawking.
↦ Follow: @annarosejay
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