The Morning Sixpack - January 8, 2025
From ChatGPT bomb plots to wildfires and Biden's legacy woes: The U.S. keeps it chaotic while the DOJ hits snooze on Trump
Justice Department Hits Pause on Trump Report—For Now
“Transparency can wait,” Merrick Garland seems to say as legal wrangling keeps key details under wraps.
The Justice Department announced it won’t release special counsel Jack Smith’s findings on Donald Trump’s classified document theft and obstruction of justice—at least not yet. Why? Because the co-defendants in the case still have their day in court ahead of them, and apparently, we all need to sit tight until the legal dust settles.
However, in a surprising pivot, Attorney General Merrick Garland plans to share Smith’s separate report on Trump’s 2020 attempted coup.
Congress will get a sneak peek at the classified document findings. Take a win when you get one?
“This limited disclosure will further the public interest in keeping congressional leadership apprised of a significant matter within the Department while safeguarding defendants’ interests,” federal prosecutors said, using 25 words where five would do.
Meanwhile, Judge Aileen Cannon, a name familiar to anyone following the Trump saga, delayed the release of Smith’s entire report, proving yet again that the wheels of justice grind very slowly—if at all.
And what about the timeline? Don’t hold your breath. With litigation against Trump’s loyal co-defendants Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira dragging on, the full report might not see the light of day before January 20. At that point, the decision to release it could rest with—brace yourself—Trump’s own Justice Department.
Source: Washington Post
California on Fire: Thousands Flee as Flames Rage Across the State
California’s annual wildfire season is here, and it’s making a hell of an entrance. Thousands have been forced to evacuate as a relentless inferno rages across the Los Angeles area, reducing entire neighborhoods—and even a celebrity mansion or two—to ash. Firefighters are battling around the clock, but the flames are proving as stubborn as your weird uncle at Thanksgiving. As one evacuee put it: “It’s not just a fire—it’s a monster.”
The chaos has prompted headlines and high drama, including Hollywood actor Steve Guttenberg springing into action to help stranded motorists and assist firefighters. Meanwhile, officials issued dire warnings: “Get out of your car and run if you want to live.” Nothing like a little apocalyptic advice to liven up your commute.
But the devastation isn’t limited to California’s landscape; political fires are also raging. Residents in wildfire-prone areas are roasting local leaders for perceived inaction, with one homeowner blasting a Democratic mayor’s overseas trip, saying, “Where are you while we’re losing everything?” With no rain in sight, this fiery saga is far from over.
Source: mydailygrind.news
Missing Marine Helicopter Found in California Mountains; All Crew Members Dead
A Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter carrying five Marines was located Wednesday morning near Pine Valley, a mountainous region 45 miles east of San Diego. Tragically, all five crew members were confirmed dead. The helicopter had gone missing amid relentless rain and snow from a historic storm that swept across California. Snowy conditions and rugged terrain initially hindered rescue efforts, with crews relying on ground and aviation assets to locate the aircraft. “The Marine Corps is coordinating with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and multiple federal, state, and local agencies,” the military stated.
The helicopter, often nicknamed the "hurricane maker" for the massive downwash from its engines, was returning to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar after unit-level training at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department was alerted at 1 a.m. when the aircraft failed to arrive as scheduled. Weather complications, including tornado warnings and significant snowfall, created additional challenges for search crews in the Cleveland National Forest, where the wreckage was ultimately found.
The CH-53E Super Stallion is the military's largest and heaviest helicopter, designed to endure rugged conditions and inclement weather. Its storied history includes missions such as evacuations from the U.S. embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia. The loss of the crew serves as a sobering reminder of the risks faced by service members, especially in extreme conditions. An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
Source: NPR
Biden Administration Removes Medical Debt from Credit Reports: A Milestone for Economic Equity
In a landmark move, the Biden administration announced that medical debt will no longer be included in Americans' credit reports. Vice President Kamala Harris revealed early Tuesday that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will remove $49 billion in unpaid medical bills from the credit histories of 15 million people and implement a ban on medical debt inclusion altogether. "No one should be denied economic opportunity because they got sick or experienced a medical emergency," Harris emphasized, calling the change "life-changing for millions of families."
The CFPB highlighted that medical debt often appears inaccurately on credit reports or involves charges that insurance should have covered. They argued that such debt is a poor indicator of a borrower’s ability to repay other loans and announced measures to prevent coercive debt collection practices. The bureau estimates the rule could result in 22,000 additional mortgage approvals annually and boost credit scores for Americans burdened by medical debt by an average of 20 points.
This rule, implemented in the final days of the Biden administration, represents a significant shift in consumer protection policies. However, with the Trump administration poised to take office on January 20, there is potential for reversal. Reports suggest Republican leaders aim to reduce the CFPB’s authority, marking a potential pivot away from this progressive, consumer-focused approach.
Source: The Guardian
Poll: Majority of Americans Predict Biden’s Legacy Will Be Below Average
A recent Gallup poll reveals that over half of Americans believe President Joe Biden will be remembered as a below-average or poor president. According to the survey, 54% rated Biden’s legacy negatively, with 37% calling it “below average” and 17% labeling it “poor.” Only 19% expressed confidence in a positive legacy, with 6% saying Biden was “outstanding” and 13% “above average.” Meanwhile, 26% considered him an “average” president. Biden ranked second-lowest among recent presidents in Gallup’s poll, surpassing only Richard Nixon.
Historically, presidents serving during tumultuous times, like Biden, have seen their legacies improve post-presidency. Gallup noted that Presidents Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump experienced higher approval ratings in the years following their terms. Biden himself acknowledged the challenges of his presidency in a recent USA Today interview, expressing hope that his efforts to restore the economy and reestablish America’s global leadership would define his legacy. “I hope that my legacy is one that says I took an economy that was in disarray and set it on track to lead the world,” Biden stated.
The poll also highlighted public concerns over Biden’s age and vigor, which he candidly addressed. Reflecting on his decision not to seek another term, Biden admitted, “I wasn’t looking to be president when I was 85 or 86 years old.” Gallup conducted the poll between December 2 and 18, surveying 1,003 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of 4%.
Source: MyDailyGrind
BONUS: Biden Says He Might Not Have Been Able to Serve 4 More Years
Gee, ya think?
Here’s the tragedy of the Biden presidency: He brought us out of the brink, with thousands of people dying from COVID-19 every day. The admin rolled out the vaccines really well. The economy came back from the dead and soared above all developed countries.
BUT—inflation hurt a lot of people, the border crisis went on for too long, and Biden’s response to the Israeli genocide in Gaza has been really shitty.
And he’s really fucking old.
Green Beret Uses AI to Plan Cybertruck Explosion Outside Trump Hotel
A decorated Green Beret, Matthew Livelsberger, used artificial intelligence to plan a Tesla Cybertruck explosion in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The incident, which authorities believe was a suicide involving a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), left seven people injured. Livelsberger, who was on leave from his base in Germany, fatally shot himself moments before the blast.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a Tuesday news conference the soldier, Matthew Livelsberger, started using ChatGPT to get information on how to conduct his plot, calling it a “game changer.”
“We knew that AI was going to change the game at some point or another in all of our lives,” said McMahill. “Certainly, I think this is the first incident on US soil where ChatGPT is utilized to help an individual build a particular device to learn information all across the country as they’re moving forward.”
(I seriously doubt this.)
Investigators revealed that Livelsberger used a combination of fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel, triggered by a device in the truck’s bed. They also discovered a six-page manifesto on his phone, detailing political grievances, graphic recollections of military combat, and his intent to make the explosion “as public as possible.”
Despite the destructive potential of the 60 pounds of explosive material found at the scene, Livelsberger wrote he “didn’t intend to hurt anybody else.”
OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, stated that their AI models are designed to minimize harmful content and that the tool provided only publicly available information, coupled with warnings against illegal activities.
Authorities continue to investigate whether the explosion constitutes a terrorist act, though they acknowledge the soldier’s struggles with PTSD and personal turmoil.
Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren emphasized that video evidence showed Livelsberger meticulously preparing for the attack.
(What are the sources of this video evidence? I suspect some of it came from Elon Musk, who turned over video footage and data from Tesla. Which begs lots of questions, chief among them, should Tesla be held at least partially responsible for NOT DOING ANYTHING ahead of the potentially lethal explosion?)
FBI Special Agent Spencer Evans described the incident as “a tragic case of suicide involving a heavily decorated combat veteran.” The investigation remains ongoing, with law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ATF, working to verify all findings.
Source: CNN