The Daily Valet. - 8/2/23, Wednesday
✔️ Here We Go Again
Wednesday, August 2nd Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
How retro should throwback vehicle designs be? I think I wanted the Land Cruiser to be even more old school ...
Today’s Big Story
Trump Indicted for 3rd Time
The charges allege four different crimes in relation to efforts to overturn the 2020 election
This one hits different. Donald Trump has already been indicted—once for hush money and another for retaining classified documents. And as serious as those charges are, the former president was indicted on four counts on Tuesday over his refusal to accept his 2020 election loss. He's been charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.That is to say, a grand jury is accusing Trump, who is again running for president, of trying to hang onto power and subverting the will of the American people. Special prosecutor Jack Smith said during a news conference Tuesday that the “attack on our nation's Capitol on January 6, 2021, was an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy” that was “fueled by lies.”The Department of Justice says these overlapping conspiracies culminated on Jan. 6, 2021, when so-called fake electors, the pressure on then-Vice President Mike Pence and the riot at the Capitol all converged to obstruct Congress's function in ratifying the Electoral College outcome. Smith plans to prove Trump's criminal intent by highlighting that as president, he knew his claims about a stolen election were false. Campaign advisers, White House officials, top Justice Department lawyers, speakers of statehouses and election administrators all told Trump his claims about “outcome-determinative fraud” in the election were false. But Trump and six as-of-yet-unnamed co-conspirators are accused of repeating the lies in order to overturn the election.The charges represent the third indictment of the former president filed since March. According to the Washington Post, it “sets the stage for one of the stranger presidential contests in history, in which a major-party front-runner may have to alternate between campaign stops and courtroom hearings over the next year and a half.”Reacting to the charges, a Trump campaign spokesperson told Fox News Digital that “President Trump has always followed the law and the Constitution, with advice from many highly accomplished attorneys,” adding “these un-American witch hunts will fail and President Trump will be re-elected.”
FYI:
There's no evidence widespread fraud affected the outcome of the 2020 election, yet almost a third of Americans still believe the 2020 election result was fraudulent.
U.S. Credit Rating Downgraded
Ratings agency cites mounting debt and political divisions
The credit agency Fitch Ratings downgraded the trustworthiness of the U.S. government on Tuesday, saying successive standoffs over the nation's debt ceiling and rising federal debt levels have cast doubt on the United States' ability to meet all its payment obligations. Ouch.The downgrade, issued shortly after financial markets closed trading for the day, knocks the rating by one notch, from the top-rated AAA to AA+. According to the Associated Press, the decision illustrates one way that growing political polarization and repeated Washington standoffs over spending and taxes could end up costing U.S. taxpayers. A lower credit rating, over time, could raise borrowing costs for the government.This is only the second time in history that America's credit rating has been cut. In 2011, the ratings agency Standard & Poor's stripped the U.S. of its AAA rating after a prolonged fight over the government's borrowing limit. And unfortunately, this will no doubt reignite an intense political firestorm over the federal budget, as President Biden aims to campaign on his proposals to rein in the deficit while his Republican opponents accuse him of contributing to the nation's debt burden of more than $31 trillion.
Meanwhile:
Moody’s, the other member of the three big U.S. ratings firms, continues to give the U.S. its strongest assessment.
What Is a Supermoon?
Two supermoons in August mean double the stargazing fun
Did you catch the “sturgeon supermoon” last night? Don't worry, if you missed it, the Farmer's Almanac says the moon will appear full for about three days, but early this morning, it reached perigee—its point of orbit closest to the Earth.The term “supermoon” was coined in 1979, and refers to a full or a new moon occurring near or while the moon reaches perigee. During these times, the moon looks much larger and far brighter than it does during other full moons, though the size difference isn't always perceptible to the naked eye.Later, on August 30, a full moon will appear at the closest point to our planet this year—about 222,043 miles away. According to CNN, this makes it an elusive super blue moon. The “blue” in blue moon unfortunately doesn't refer to the color but frequency. It's used to describe the second full moon in a calendar month—this typically happens only once every two and a half years. The most recent blue moon, for example, occurred in October 2020.
FYI:
The sturgeon moon got its name from the Farmer's Almanac, as Native American tribes readily caught the large fish in the Great Lakes during the full moon.
The Toyota Land Cruiser Is Back
The beloved SUV returns to its roots with a retro look and an affordable price
Toyota killed off the Land Cruiser nameplate in America back in 2021. And it was probably time ... many believed it was too expensive, too bloated and too dated. But thankfully, it was just a time-out. The automaker formally pulled the wraps off the new 2024 Land Cruiser on Tuesday and you could hear a collective sigh of relief from fans of the legendary SUV.Motor Trend called it a “return to glory,” saying that it's been redesigned to appeal to longtime fans of the vehicle, all while attempting to reach a new audience through its latest features, technology and lower price. The 2024 model features a rugged, boxy design and a powerful hybrid engine.In the Toyota geek-speak that Land Cruiser aficionados love, the new Land Cruiser is technically a 250-series. Car and Driver says it has a narrow body and grille, with prominent fender flares that cover a comparatively broad track. “It's a clearly skinnier vehicle that looks like it has been modded to give it a tougher stance—the fact that the body is narrower and more tightly drawn may well be a positive off-road.”
Dig Deeper:
Car and Driver has a visual history of the famed SUV, recounting six decades of cruising over land.
In Other News
New treatment studies bring hope for brain fog and other symptoms.
Have you heard about ...
Work Out In the Morning
It's not always easy, but it's always effective
You know that feeling when you spring out of bed, energized and eager to greet the day? I don't. I'm naturally a night owl and have never been much of a morning person. But strangely, I've adapted really well to early morning workouts. Because the alternative is dragging myself out of bed and trying to get my day started through a haze of grogginess—I don't like the morning, so it's easy to let time get away from me. Suddenly, it's lunch and I haven't accomplished much because I'm “still waking up.”A morning workout isn't always pleasant, but I barely notice because I'm still dazed as I pull on my shorts and sneakers. But a few jumping jacks into my warm up and my heart is pumping. The music begins perking me up and then it hits me that I'm doing it—I'm getting in my workout before the day starts. That means that after my shower, I've already accomplished an important task.
Get Started:
Shopping
What We’re Buying
Baggies
If you’re looking to pick up some more nylon Baggies before summer is over, several colorways are now on sale for 30% off.
Get It:
Baggies short, $65 / $44.99 by Patagonia
Morning Motto
You’re not afraid of a little change, are you?
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