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Public Funding for Nature Conservation Stalls at COP16 (Maria)
The author writes, “Wealthy nations appeared to hit a limit with how much they are willing to pay to conserve nature around the world, instead shifting their focus at the two-week UN biodiversity summit toward discussions of private money filling the funding gap. At the COP16 negotiations in Cali, Colombia, countries failed to figure out how they would mobilize $200B annually in conservation funding by 2030, including $30B that would come directly from rich nations. That money, pledged two years ago as part of the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreement, is meant to finance activities that boost nature.”
Would Justice Department and FBI Officials Carry Out Trump’s Prosecutions of His Rivals? (Reader Jim)
From NBC News: “Since he entered the 2024 race, Donald Trump has called for the criminal prosecution of at least 16 rival politicians and 15 law enforcement, military and intelligence officials — according to an NBC News review of his public comments — not to mention workers at two federal public health agencies, two tech billionaires, Google and as any lawyers, campaign donors and political operatives who engage in what the former president has called ‘unscrupulous behavior’ in the election. … But could Trump actually carry out prosecutions of such unprecedented breadth and sweep? And, if so, how would it work? To understand how that might play out, NBC News interviewed multiple current and former Justice Department and FBI officials, as well as legal experts.”
In Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic Sometimes Called the Shots With Gov. Tim Walz (Al)
The authors write, “Walz’s high regard for the world-renowned hospital system in southeastern Minnesota makes sense — he represented the Rochester area in Congress for 12 years, and it’s where he and his wife, Gwen, sought fertility treatment before having their daughter, Hope. The nonprofit Mayo is the state’s largest employer with more than 50,000 employees. On various occasions, Walz has also acquiesced to the wishes of Mayo, even when those were at odds with the goals of other allies.”
Vance Wrongly Blames Rural Hospital Closures on Immigrants in the Country Illegally (Reader Steve)
From KFF Health News: “Experts said Vance’s statement implies that immigrants who are in the country illegally strain the resources of these hospitals, which often operate on thin margins, by taking time and energy away from other patients without paying their bills. We contacted both Vance and Trump campaign staff members for additional information. They did not respond. Experts on hospital financing and industry representatives generally disagreed with Vance’s assertion, noting that many other factors figure in closures.”
Helping Kamala Harris, Mike Johnson Vows to Kill Obamacare (Dana)
From Intelligencer: “Johnson’s remarks very strongly suggest two things that are potentially dangerous to Trump in the eyes of swing voters: (1) He plans to make repealing Obamacare an immediate priority if Trump wins and Republicans control Congress, which likely means it would be rolled into a gigantic budget-reconciliation bill and steamrolled through to passage if possible, and (2) his party’s designs on health-care policy are radical, meant to replace the regulations central to Obamacare’s coverage guarantees with ‘free market’ provisions almost certain to return the health-care system to the days when insurers aggressively discriminated against anyone old, sick, or poor.”
How Did This Horrifying Trump-Harris Halloween Float Get Approved? (DonkeyHotey)
The author writes, “The western Pennsylvania borough of Mount Pleasant is drawing negative attention over an exceptionally violent Halloween parade float depicting Donald Trump leading Kamala Harris in chains. On Wednesday night, the borough held its parade, and one float featured a person with a Trump mask riding in a golf cart, with a fake sniper rifle mounted to the top of the vehicle. And trailing the vehicle was a rope or chain tied around the wrists of a woman dressed as Harris, who was also wearing handcuffs.”
The 9 Weirdest Robots in the World Right Now (Gerry)
The author writes, “Pop culture has warned us about robots for years. Whether it’s iRobot or the Terminator, nightmares of rogue machines taking over the planet are likely stamped into your brains. But the really unsettling part? Those dystopian visions are beginning to take shape in the real world. Today’s futuristic bots aren’t armed with a shotgun and Austrian accent, or even the dexterity of most sci-fi automatons. Instead, they’re learning to be human… slowly.”
