The Daily Valet. - 12/4/19, Wednesday
✔️ An Explosive Report and a Shortage of French Fries
Wednesday, December 4th Edition
Let’s eat as many fries as we can ... while we can.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
House Says Trump Abused His Office
The road map for impeaching the president is presented
The gathering of information is done and Democrats are ready for action. After two weeks of public hearings, the House Intelligence Committee released a 300-page impeachment report on Tuesday. It accuses President Trump of trying to enlist Ukraine to help him in the 2020 presidential election and obstructing the congressional inquiry by trying to cover it up, reports the Washington Post.
“The founding fathers prescribed a remedy for a chief executive who places his personal interests above those of the country: impeachment,” it said.
Intelligence Committee members voted on it Tuesday night, and the House Judiciary Committee will now take over. That committee is planning to write articles of impeachment within a week or so, and the full House is expected to vote on whether to impeach Trump by Christmas.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Senate is already preparing for the president to be impeached. But when it comes to planning for a trial, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell raised the possibility that the trial would be conducted on a partisan basis. He said he might turn to his own conference to set rules if he can’t reach an agreement with Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on procedures.
The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled its first impeachment hearing for today. President Trump was invited to participate, but White House counsel declined.
↦ 5 Key Takeaways: The New York Times has read through all 300 pages so we don't have to. Here are the five most troubling takeaways.
Kamala Harris Ends Her Bid for President
A surprising twist ending for a bold start
California senator Kamala Harris announced Monday that she is ending her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
It's surprising but not unexpected, after months of low poll numbers and a series of missteps that crippled her campaign, reports the New York Times. But it's still a deflating comedown for a promising candidate who was seeking to become the first black woman to win the presidency.
She entered the race a rising star, according to the Washington Post. And while she had qualified for the December debate, she has been consistently trailing in the single digits in both national and early-state polls.
Fifteen candidates still remain in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Brace for a Possible French Fry Shortage
America will suffer after a weak potato harvest
Cold weather throughout North America could create a serious "french fry shortage" in the coming months, reports Bloomberg.
Potato crops have been affected since October due to cold, wet conditions throughout the upper Midwest. The result, according to USDA estimates, the lowest domestic potato harvest in a decade.
The damage to the crops has also meant smaller potatoes. Analysts now believe the shortage could result in higher prices for french fries at restaurants, or smaller portions being served to absorb the increased cost.
Seriously? As if the holidays and this charged political climate aren't stressful enough, now we have to make due with fewer (and more expensive) fries!?!
↦ FYI: Belgium consumes more fries than any other country—some 165 pounds a person annually. By contrast, Americans down only 48 pounds.
Do Dating Apps Need Background Checks?
There are registered sex offenders on those services
Match Group, the company that owns many of the popular free dating apps (Match.com, Tinder, PlentyofFish, OkCupid and Hinge), acknowledged that there are registered sex offenders on their platforms following a nearly two-year investigation.
ProPublica, along with Columbia Journalism Investigations and BuzzFeed, looked into sexual assaults on dating apps, as well as how they’re handled by Match Group. The report highlights incidents in which registered sex offenders went on dates with women who had no idea they were talking to a convicted criminal.
During the course of the investigation, a spokesperson for Match Group stated that “there are definitely registered sex offenders on our free products.”
The Verge asks if background checks could make these apps safer? And if proper background checks are too much work, they say the apps could simply ask users to upload a photo of their ID, like Uber drivers, to verify themselves, and then require that people include their real last name on the service. Seems reasonable, right?
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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The Year in Photos
2019 was a wild ride, to say the least
As the year comes to a close, let’s take a little time to look back at some of the most memorable events and images of 2019. The Atlantic compiles 40 pictures from the world's best photographers that sum up this wild ride around the sun.
The images are from around the world, including the abdication of Japan’s Emperor Akihito, a performance by Lil Nas X and this aerial photo of the 120-foot inflatable sculpture called "Companion" by American artist and designer Brian Donnelly, known as Kaws. This was just before it floated into Hong Kong's harbor.
The photo essay is the first in a three-part series.
↦ My Suggestion? Check this out on your desktop computer and go fullscreen to fully appreciate the details of these stunning images.
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Morning Motto
Why hang on to the stuff that’s not doing anything for you?
↦ Follow: @werenotreallystrangers
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