Morning Reads for National Mutt Day (December 2nd)

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Today is National Mutt Day, which is actually celebrated twice a year, the other day being July 31st. As most of y’all know, I own cats (who happen to all be mutts, but that’s another story for another day), but today is specifically about mixed breed dogs. I am one of those cat owners who also loves dogs, and hope to add one to the menagerie after I am no longer subject to rental contracts that tend of have strict pet limits. In place, I will take pictures of your lovable mutts in the comments!

Now, let’s get to the news.

Pat Conroy

• Regardless of who you support in the U.S. Senate runoff between Loeffler and Warnock, it’s worth reading Jim Galloway’s piece in today’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the recent line crossed in regards to an iconic African American congregation. (Alternate link.)
• Gabriel Sterling from the Secretary of State’s office is rightfully mad at President Donald Trump, Senators Loeffler and Perdue, and every elected official who hasn’t pushed back over false claims of voter fraud, which are leaving elections workers susceptible to acts of violence by those who believe the president.
• Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger says his office is investigating four organizations over claims they have election-related material to out-of-state voters.
• Former Atlanta City Council member Kwanza Hall will be the Congresswoman from GA-5 for a month.
• Deborah Gonzalez will be the new district attorney for the Western Circuit.
• Some students from UGA and Georgia Tech have sued the University System of Georgia over tuition and fees for spring semester 2020. (Alternate link.)
• Expect more introspective pieces leading up to the runoff election about “Blue Georgia” vs. “Red Georgia,” like this one from The Washington Post. (Alternate link.)

Alice Walker

• U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr announced yesterday afternoon that the Department of Justice has no evidence of widespread fraud.
• On the other hand, the Department of Justice is investigating a potential bribery-for-pardon scheme.
• In even more Department of Justice news, they are looking at expanding the methods of execution to reintroduce firing squads and electrocution. (Yes, really.)
• President Trump is again threatening to veto the National Defense Authorization Act, this time because he wants an agreement to repeal Section 230, which is the legal shield for social media companies.
• Earmarks may be making a return in the next Congress.
• The United Kingdom has become the first country to grant Pfizer’s COVID vaccine emergency authorization. Members of their National Health Service will begin receiving injections next week. (Alternate link.)
• Israel is headed for its fourth election in two years now that the Gantz-Netanyahu coalition has fallen apart.
• Tens of thousands of farmers protested in the streets of New Delhi against new agricultural laws that they fear will favor corporate interests.
• Azerbaijan and Armenia have reached a peace deal that restores all of the former’s land after a six-week conflict.

Flannery O’Connor

• Reynolds Brands are looking for a Cookie Connoisseur to create recipes using “wacky ingredients.” If you’re interested, the job pays $5,000!