It Could Always Be Worse

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

June 29, 2019

SENATOR SANDERS URGES GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE CORPORATE MERGERS!

Senator and 2020 Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has called on the government to investigate mergers of large corporations via massive over-payments. Sanders says this enables the companies, many of whom are based in other countries, to establish de-facto monopolies.

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

NBA Finals Champions:
2017: Golden State Warriors (4-2 over the Cleveland Cavaliers)
2018: Golden State Warriors (4-0 over the Cleveland Cavaliers)
2019: Golden State Warriors (4-3 over the Toronto Raptors)

Disgusting. And the timeline was going so well, too.

Unsubscribed.

lol

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

July 1, 2019

SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS VRA IN FINAL DECISION OF SESSION!

The United States Supreme Court has voted 5-4 to uphold the entirety of the post-Shelby Voting Rights Act. Conservatives expressed anger over the Merrick Garland appointment which caused this decision. That anger is likely to increase next session when the court takes a case on Roe v. Wade, and (presumably) upholds it.

July 10, 2019

FIRST PRIMARY DEBATE HELD!

The first Democratic Primary debate was held yesterday in Des Moines, IA. We at FiveThirtyEight have taken the liberty to compare their performances and predict the statistical impact it will have on the long-term demographic trends of the Democratic Party.

Joe Biden: C
Vice President Biden stumbled a bit on various questioning, especially the ones on controversial aspects of Obama's legacy. Still, he wasn't the worst on the stage and maintains a small lead.

Bernie Sanders: B+

Bernie came out arms flailing as per usual, and proposed his standard array of progressive economic views. Most of these views have become more popular over time, and his base seems to be as fired up as ever.

Elizabeth Warren: C+

Came out as a Bernie-lite, without many original ideas. Also brought up was her Native American controversy, which dominated all the questions involving her.

Andrew Yang: A

Since Yang was such an unknown, he would be the 'winner' by simply avoiding a complete failure of a debate. He more than achieved this, proposing UBI as a way to help with the decline of manufacturing jobs and win back disgruntled White non-college voters going for Trump.

Kirsten Gillibrand: F

In what was possibly the worst debate performance in recent memory, Kirsten Gillibrand almost completely destroyed her candidacy. When Andrew Yang proposed his ways to win back Trump voters, Gillibrand called him 'sexist', stating that winning back those voters who were okay with voting for Trump is misogyny. She was questioned about her Al Franken attacks, and said that we should 'believe all women' since 'men have so many advantages in life while women must work many times harder just to be successful'. She also hinted that she was accusing Joe Biden of rape and defended Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

2020 Democratic Primary Polls, July 12, 2019:
Joe Biden: 31% (+1)
Bernie Sanders: 28% (+2)
Elizabeth Warren: 18% (-1)
Andrew Yang: 3 (+2)
Kirsten Gillibrand: 0% (-2)
Undecided: 21% (-2)

[BigVic]

List of World Series Champions:
2017: Houston Astros (4-3 over the LA Dodgers)
2018: Oakland Athletics (4-3 over the Chicago Cubs)

AL-EAST:
New York Yankees: 41-31
Tampa Bay Rays: 41-31
Boston Red Sox: 40-34
Toronto Blue Jays: 33-39
Baltimore Orioles: 19-53

AL-CENTRAL:
Minnesota Twins: 48-23
Cleveland Indians: 37-34
Chicago White Sox: 35-35
Detroit Tigers: 23-46
Kansas City Royals: 24-48

AL-WEST:
Houston Astros: 48-25
Oakland Athletics: 48-26
Texas Rangers: 34-38
Los Angeles Angels: 33-40
Seattle Mariners: 28-50

NL-EAST:
Philidephia Phillies: 41-30
Atlanta Braves: 41-32
New York Mets: 37-35
Washington Nationals: 35-36
Miami Marlins: 20-50

NL-CENTRAL:
Chicago Cubs: 41-30
Milwaukee Brewers: 39-33
St. Louis Braves: 38-33
Pittsburgh Pirates: 33-40
Cincinnati Reds: 31-39

NL-WEST:
Los Angeles Dodgers: 49-24
Colorado Rockies: 39-32
San Diego Padres: 38-35
Arizona Diamondbacks: 37-36
San Francisco Giants: 27-43

NBA Finals Champions:
2017: Golden State Warriors (4-2 over the Cleveland Cavaliers)
2018: Golden State Warriors (4-0 over the Cleveland Cavaliers)
2019: Golden State Warriors (4-3 over the Toronto Raptors)

Who wins the Stanley Cup?

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

List of World Series Champions:
2017: Houston Astros (4-3 over the LA Dodgers)
2018: Oakland Athletics (4-3 over the Chicago Cubs)

AL-EAST:
New York Yankees: 41-31
Tampa Bay Rays: 41-31
Boston Red Sox: 40-34
Toronto Blue Jays: 33-39
Baltimore Orioles: 19-53

AL-CENTRAL:
Minnesota Twins: 48-23
Cleveland Indians: 37-34
Chicago White Sox: 35-35
Detroit Tigers: 23-46
Kansas City Royals: 24-48

AL-WEST:
Houston Astros: 48-25
Oakland Athletics: 48-26
Texas Rangers: 34-38
Los Angeles Angels: 33-40
Seattle Mariners: 28-50

NL-EAST:
Philidephia Phillies: 41-30
Atlanta Braves: 41-32
New York Mets: 37-35
Washington Nationals: 35-36
Miami Marlins: 20-50

NL-CENTRAL:
Chicago Cubs: 41-30
Milwaukee Brewers: 39-33
St. Louis Braves: 38-33
Pittsburgh Pirates: 33-40
Cincinnati Reds: 31-39

NL-WEST:
Los Angeles Dodgers: 49-24
Colorado Rockies: 39-32
San Diego Padres: 38-35
Arizona Diamondbacks: 37-36
San Francisco Giants: 27-43

NBA Finals Champions:
2017: Golden State Warriors (4-2 over the Cleveland Cavaliers)
2018: Golden State Warriors (4-0 over the Cleveland Cavaliers)
2019: Golden State Warriors (4-3 over the Toronto Raptors)

Who wins the Stanley Cup?

No change except Boston wins in 2019.

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

July 23, 2019

HOUSE TO DEBATE IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES!

Speaker of the House of Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has announced that the body will consider the prepared articles of impeachment against the President, who is holding at a 33% approval rating.

July 25, 2019

WHY DEMOCRATS CAN'T GOVERN

Many Americans are curious why Democratic Governors (and even state legislatures) haven't been able to implement liberal agenda items. The reason is that during the lame-duck periods between the election and the inauguration, outgoing Republicans passed regulations making it harder for the incoming majorities to do anything. This goes to states like Oklahoma, Alabama, Kansas, and South Carolina, which have gone to a 55% needed for veto override, essentially giving the Republican-led state legislatures the ability to override anything they don't like. The Florida state legislature did the opposite, restricting its own power just days before the election to prevent the likely Democratic trifecta from being able to de-Floridize the state.

Other notables measures include the torpedoing of vaccination mandate laws and other 'freedom increasing' measures.

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

August 16, 2019

HOUSE TO VOTE ON IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES!

Following weeks of debate, Speaker Steny Hoyer has announced that the House will proceed with debate on impeaching President Trump. The President has an approval rating of 32%, around where it has hovered for months.

August 20, 2019

COURT ORDERS REDISTRICTING IN NORTH CAROLINA!

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has announced that the state of North Carolina will have to adopt a new, fairer congressional map. The suit (strangely) originated from the State Legislature, where Democrats have recently taken a majority.

August 22, 2019

LEGISLATURE APPROVES NEW MAP!



The North Carolina state legislature has approved (and Governor Cooper has signed) a new Congressional map into law. The map (notably) puts all eight Democratic incumbents into Democrat-leaning districts, while shoring up incumbent Republicans, who have called it 'very fair' (translated: my new R+30 district is very fair for me).

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

Climbing Jim RIP.

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

September 1, 2019

GOVERNORS SIGN WAGE INCREASES!

Democratic (and one Republican) governors have signed legislation raising the minimum wage in their states. The states with approved measures include:

Washington: $13.00 (up from $11.50)
Oregon: $11.25 (up from $10.75)
California: $13.00 (up from $11.00)
Hawaii: $11.00 (up from $10.15)
Alaska: $10.50 (up from $9.80)
Minnesota: $10.00 (up from $9.50)
Colorado: $12.00 (up from $10.20)
Massachusetts: $12.00 (up from $11.00)
Georgia: $8.55 (up from $7.25)
Wisconsin: $9.00 (up from $7.25)
New York: $11.50 (up from $10.40)
Washington D.C.: $15.00 (up from $12.50)

[Boss_Rahm]

September 1, 2019

GOVERNORS SIGN WAGE INCREASES!

Democratic (and one Republican) governors have signed legislation raising the minimum wage in their states. The states with approved measures include:

Washington: $13.00 (up from $11.50)
Oregon: $11.25 (up from $10.75)
California: $13.00 (up from $11.00)
Hawaii: $11.00 (up from $10.15)
Alaska: $10.50 (up from $9.80)
Minnesota: $10.00 (up from $9.50)
Colorado: $12.00 (up from $10.20)
Massachusetts: $12.00 (up from $11.00)
Georgia: $8.55 (up from $7.25)
Wisconsin: $9.00 (up from $7.25)
New York: $11.50 (up from $10.40)
Washington D.C.: $15.00 (up from $12.50)

I see Pennsylvania is doomed to remain stuck at the federal minimum wage forever.

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

2019 Gubernatorial Elections:

MS-GOV:
Democratic Nominee: Jim Hood
Republican Nominee: Derrick Simmons

RCP: TOSSUP
SCB: TILT-R
538 : 55% Reeves

Lt. Governor Tate Reeves is facing an unexpectedly-close fight for his political life against Derrick Simmons, the State Senate Minority Leader. Reeves has been a staunch supporter of the President, who has a net negative approval rating in the state (OOC: lol).

LA-GOV:
Democratic Nominee: John Bel Edwards*
Republican Nominee: Luke Letlow

RCP: LEAN-D
SCB: LIKELY-D
538: 83% Edwards

Governor John Bel Edwards was initially assumed to be vulnerable, but the Governor's popularity and the President's constant screw-ups have made the race as close to safe as it can be for a Democrat in Louisiana.

KY-GOV:
Democratic Nominee: Andy Beshear
Republican Nominee: Matt Bevin*

RCP: TILT-D
SCB: TILT-D
538 : 59% Beshear

Governor Matt Bevin succeeded Steve Beshear, the father of the Democratic nominee in this election. The younger Beshear, who serves as the state's Attorney General, is favored to win.

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

September 9, 2019

JEFF JACKSON ANNOUNCES SENATE RUN!

State Senator Jeff Jackson has announced a run against Sen. Thom Tillis next year. Jackson will have to face off against Cal Cunningham and Erica Smith. Tillis, being extremely unpopular himself, may lose a primary challenge to Sandy Smith, who would lose by an even bigger margin.

2020 Senate Election in North Carolina (D-Primary):
Cal Cunningham: 39%
Jeff Jackson: 37%
Erica Smith: 16%
Undecided: 8%

2020 Senate Election in North Carolina (R-Primary):
Thom Tillis*: 48%
Sandy Smith: 33%
Undecided: 19%

Cunningham (D): 50%
Tillis* (R): 44%

Cunningham (D): 51%
Smith (R): 42%

Jackson (D): 53%
Tillis* (R): 43%

Jackson (D): 55%
Smith (R): 42%

Smith (D): 49%
Tillis* (R): 46%

Smith (D): 50%
Smith (R): 43%

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

PRESIDENT SUBMITS FINAL BUDGET FOR FY 2020!

Dept. of Agriculture: $15.0 Billion (down $1.7 Billion)
--Decrease in regulation and subsidies to encourage self-sufficiency
Dept. of Commerce: $9.0 Billion (down $0.8 Billion)
--Decrease in regulation enforcement
Dept. of Defense: $760.0 Billion (up $50.0 Billion)
--Increases in contractor pay and veteran benefits
Dept. of Education: $45.0 Billion (down $5.0 Billion)
--Cuts in Pell grant funds and student loan subsidies
Dept. of Energy: $20.0 Billion (down $10.0 Billion)
--Cuts to all subsidies
Dept. of H&HS: $35.0 Billion (down $3.4 Billion)
--Cuts since many functions were devolved to states in the Health Infrastructure bill
Dept. of HS: $100.0 Billion (up $15.4 Billion)
--Wall construction, deportations, enforcement, etc.
Dept. of HUD: $8.0 Billion (down $2.0 Billion)
--Reduction of almost all programs
Dept. of Interior: $2.5 Billion (no change from FY 2019)
--No changes of note
Dept. of Justice: $25.0 Billion (down $3.0 Billion)
--Devolving of multiple immigration-related functions to the DHS
Dept. of Labor: $1.0 Billion (no change from FY 2019)
--No changes of note
Dept. of State: $20.0 Billion (no change from FY 2019)
--No changes of note
Dept. of Transportation: $10.0 Billion (down $5.0 Billion)
--Privatizes multiple programs
Dept. of Treasury: $12.0 Billion (no change since FY 2018)
--No changes of note
Environmental Protection Agency: $100 Million (down $0.1 Billion)
--Eliminates more regulatory functions
NASA: $35.0 Billion (up $10.0 Billion)
--More investment in returning to the moon and military functions

Social Security: $875.0 Billion (-$25.0 Billion due to raising the eligibility age to 67 and more)
Medicare: $640.0 Billion (+$5.0 Billion due to raising the eligibility age to 67)
Medicaid: $315.0 Billion (-$35.0 Billion due to statewide Medicaid repeals)
---

$3,980,200,000,000 (A reduction of $10.4 Billion) in Spending
$3,000,000,000,000 in revenue (A reduction of $100 Billion mostly from the TC&JA)

2019 FY Deficit: $980,200,000,000 (up $89.6 Billion)

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

September 18, 2019

DEMOCRATS OBJECT TO BUDGET

Democrats in Congress have objected to the new Trump budget, citing the costs and the deficit. Regulations pushed by Republicans before Democrats took over the Senate in late 2017 abolished the filibuster for the budget, though it isn't likely to be enough in the Democratic super-majority House. The government will shut down on October 1 unless the budget is passed. 

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

September 20, 2019

PRESIDENT TRUMP HOSPITALIZED!

President Donald Trump has reportedly been hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center for an unknown condition. Little information is currently available but it appears the President collapsed while golfing.

September 20, 2019

SPEAKER POSTPONES IMPEACHMENT VOTE!

Steny Hoyer, Speaker of the House of Representatives, announced today that he would be delaying the vote on impeaching President Trump until he is fit for trial.

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

Trump's affliction (which as multiple doctors invited on CNN and MSNBC said was likely a mini-stroke) stopped the impeachment wheels until the beginning of October. Not to mention, Speaker Hoyer faced pressure from the moderate caucus of Democrats to wait until after the off-year elections- where Democrats had the opportunity to pick up two seats-.

Ultimately, the latter fraction prevailed and the vote was pushed back to November 10, presumably so the prosecution could get everything in order. In that year's election, the results were good for Democrats:

2019 Kentucky Gubernatorial Election:
✓Andy Beshear (D): 728,344 (50.47%)
Matt Bevin* (R): 675,092 (46.78%)

2019 Kentucky Attorney General Election:
✓John Tilley (D): 684,311 (48.91%)
Daniel Cameron (R): 683,751 (48.87%)

2019 Kentucky Secretary of State Election:
✓Heather French Henry (D): 694,751 (49.55%)
Andrew English (R): 676,243 (48.23%)

2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial Election:
✓John Bel Edwards* (D): 673,621 (50.14%)
Luke Letlow (R): 547,468 (40.75%)

2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial Election:
✓Tate Reeves (R): 430,686 (48.67%)
✓Derrick Simmons (D): 430,509 (48.65%)

2019 Mississippi Attorney General Election:
✓Jim Hood* (D): 473,541 (53.63%)
Andy Taggart (R): 396,457 (44.90%)


The moderates in the House Democratic caucus again pushed for a delay, fearing it would guarantee a defeat for Simmons. Hoyer, having such a large majority that Progressives could oust him at will, decided against it. On November 12, 2019 the House voted to impeach the President.

ARTICLE ONE (Abuse of Power):
YES: 305 (302 D, 3 R)
NO: 129 (129 R)

ARTICLE TWO (Obstruction of Justice):
YES: 289 (289 D)
NO: 146 (133 R, 13 D)

ARTICLE THREE (Conspiracy):
YES: 270 (270 D)
NO: 163 (132 R, 31 D)

This likely resulted in Derrick Simmon's loss in the Mississippi Gubernatorial runoff, and Tate Reeves became the new Governor by a 50.2%-49.8% margin. The Senate trial began on November 29, 2019 with the opening statement from the prosecution. The GOP was mocked and criticized in the media for their lack of seriousness at the trial, with Senator Thom Tillis seemingly falling asleep and Senator Marco Rubio playing Egg Shoot on his phone.

On December 15, 2019, the Senate voted 63-37, 60-40 and 59-41 to acquit the President, who gloated on Twitter for several hours.

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

The President soon had another problem on his hands- COVID-19. The CDC initially reported it's emergence on January 9, describing it as an 'unknown respiratory ailment'. The Chinese immediately launched containment efforts, but the virus's long incubation period ensured that it had already spread into the US.

CDC Director Anne Schuchat declined to take any measures to prevent the virus, saying the Administration had everything under control.

Nobody knows how many lives could have been saved if the Trump-run CDC had admitted the discovery of cases when they found them, on January 20, instead of when they actually did, on February 2nd. Regardless, the number of cases rapidly surged to several hundred by Valentine's day, with the first deaths coming that same time. Washington's excellent public health system (recently boosted by the Medical Infrastructure bill) and Medicaid expansion certainly helped. The pandemic would be much worse for other states.

Status of Medicaid Expansions:

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

The Administration announced on February 17- by which point 45 states had reported cases- that they would leave COVID management to the states. This began the avalanche of Democratic states enacting lockdowns. Governors in red states like Walt Maddox of Alabama attempted to implement the policies but were over-ruled by state supreme courts or legislatures. By March 1, there were 30,000 cases across the country.


Status of lock-downs as of March 2, 2020

This effected the Democratic primaries, which were initially delayed until April before finally being turned into an online event. But by the time that wrapped up in June, there was no clear winner.

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

COVID Cases as of July 1, 2020:

Cases: 6,049,855
Deaths: 362,121
------------------

Democratic Primary Standings:
BIDEN: 2,115
SANDERS: 1,493
WARREN: 892
YANG: 17
GILLIBRAND: 1
------------------

[hurricanehink]

COVID Cases as of July 1, 2020:

Cases: 6,049,855
Deaths: 362,121
------------------

Democratic Primary Standings:
BIDEN: 2,115
SANDERS: 1,493
WARREN: 892
YANG: 17
GILLIBRAND: 1
------------------

I'm excited to see how COVID-19 is butterfly affected in this timeline (and future alt-2020 timelines!) In our timeline (OTL), the death toll on 7/1/20 was around 150,000. I wonder, is this timeline twice as bad? So by Election Day, we'd have 250,000 deaths? Or are the COVID effects happening five months early (OTL the 350k deaths happened in December), but without the vaccine we'd still see the same rate of acceleration of deaths. Covid deaths went from as low as 391 in late October to over 10 times as much in January. I wonder just how bad the death toll will end up in this timeline. And what affect it'll have on the election!

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

COVID Cases as of July 1, 2020:

Cases: 6,049,855
Deaths: 362,121
------------------

Democratic Primary Standings:
BIDEN: 2,115
SANDERS: 1,493
WARREN: 892
YANG: 17
GILLIBRAND: 1
------------------

I'm excited to see how COVID-19 is butterfly affected in this timeline (and future alt-2020 timelines!) In our timeline (OTL), the death toll on 7/1/20 was around 150,000. I wonder, is this timeline twice as bad? So by Election Day, we'd have 250,000 deaths? Or are the COVID effects happening five months early (OTL the 350k deaths happened in December), but without the vaccine we'd still see the same rate of acceleration of deaths. Covid deaths went from as low as 391 in late October to over 10 times as much in January. I wonder just how bad the death toll will end up in this timeline. And what affect it'll have on the election!

The President took a bit less action on COVID because he was more paranoid (his position is, for obvious reasons, much weaker), and red state governors were more reluctant to implement lockdowns. It's very much state-by-state, with some like Massachusetts and Washington being like OTL and others like Mississippi being near-apocalypse bad (i.e. several weeks of no available ICU beds).

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

POLL: Gov. Reeves approval rating falls below 10%.
-Real Clear Politics; July 2, 2020


Tate Reeves, Governor of the state hardest hit by the coronavirus (Mississippi) has seen his approval rating fall to 8%, down from 50% when he took office in January following a close win last December. The state, which has nearly 25,000 deaths, received only $500,000 from last year's medical infrastructure bill (legislation that has served as a lifeline for places like Massachusetts and even some Republican states like Georgia). Governor Reeves is also under fire for a scandal on welfare fraud and government contracts.

---

Senator Roy Blunt admitted to hospital for COVID-19 infection.
-CNN; July 3, 2020

President Trump proclaims 'victory' over 'China-virus' in unhinged Fourth of July speech.
-MSNBC; July 6, 2020

Senator Richard Burr tests positive for COVID along with five others.
-FOX News; July 8, 2020

[Fetterman my beloved]

Can’t wait for this TL to be updated. Hope you have a good break!

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

SENATOR RICHARD BURR DIES OF COVID
July 13, 2020

The AP recently received word that Senator Richard Burr (who has been in office for nearly sixteen years) has died of COVID-19. Left-wing Twitter has already commented on the irony of a 'COVID is fake' activist dying from the virus, which has killed over 365,000 Americans.

GOV. COOPER APPOINTS JACKSON TO SEAT
July 14, 2020

The Governor's press office has issued a press release that Governor Cooper has appointed State Senator Jeff Jackson to the Senate seat vacated from Sen. Burr's death. Jackson will assume office sometime between July 16 and July 18.

JOE BIDEN WINS NOMINATION WITH PRE-CONVENTION DELEGATE VOTES
July 15, 2020

Fmr. Vice President Joe Biden has narrowly won a pre-convention vote of delegates run by the DNC to avoid a brokered convention. Biden had a vast plurality but commentators noted the possible Bernie/Warren alliance that could have emerged victorious.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

SENATOR RICHARD BURR DIES OF COVID
July 13, 2020

The AP recently received word that Senator Richard Burr (who has been in office for nearly sixteen years) has died of COVID-19. Left-wing Twitter has already commented on the irony of a 'COVID is fake' activist dying from the virus, which has killed over 365,000 Americans.

GOV. COOPER APPOINTS JACKSON TO SEAT
July 14, 2020

The Governor's press office has issued a press release that Governor Cooper has appointed State Senator Jeff Jackson to the Senate seat vacated from Sen. Burr's death. Jackson will assume office sometime between July 16 and July 18.

Woke, but
1. Did Burr even believe that COVID was fake? and
2. Wouldn't Cooper have to appoint a Republican? I imagine he'd draft Jackson for the special election, but...