Friday Politics Roundup | NYT sounds alarm on US democracy; QAnon-laced Trump rally in Youngstown; Big Oil gaslighting; Banned Books Week; NASA Artemis I & DART news; Happy Birthday to The Jetsons

A new long-form article in the New York Times by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist David Leonhardt, takes a deep dive into what he’s calling the “twin threats” to American democracy today: First, “a growing movement inside one of the country’s two major parties — the Republican Party — to refuse to accept defeat in an election.” Second, “the power to set government policy is becoming increasingly disconnected from public opinion.”

Last weekend saw the weirdest - and perhaps the most troubling - Trump rally to date. Closing out his Youngstown, OH rally, Trump got dark about the decline of America as creepy QAnon themed music played over the speakers. As he spoke, people in the audience began raising their arms and pointing a single finger in the air. It felt like a Nazi salute mixed with religious signs of devotion. Even journalists who have been covering Trump and right-wing extremist groups for a long time were baffled. 

New internal documents show that Big Oil companies openly admit to gaslighting the public about their commitment to “going green.” Documents also showed that some company officials wished climate activists would get infested with bed bugs. 

It’s Banned Books Week and public libraries across the Commonwealth and the country are shining bright lights on censorship and attempts by right-wing zealots to remove books from our schools. Bucks County has, of course, been front and center of the book-banning agenda. This year alone has seen 681 attempts to ban or restrict library sources, according to the American Library Association. 

As ALA president Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozado put it, “The unprecedented number of challenges we’re seeing already this year reflects coordinated, national efforts to silence marginalized or historically underrepresented voices and deprive all of us — young people, in particular — of the chance to explore a world beyond the confines of personal experience.” 

Saturday, Sept. 24 from 4 to 6 p.m. at State and Main Streets with the first annual Banned Books Parade. Participants will dress up in cardboard box book costumes to bring banned books to life. 

The educational website Docuseek was blocked by the Central Bucks School District after “concerned parent” Vonna DeArmond complained at a recent school board meeting that some of the materials available on the site made references to sexually explicit themes and were discriminating against Christians. 

Abortion is proving to be a key issue in PA’s 1st Congressional district and Brian Fitzpatrick seems to believe that avoid talking to the media and his constituents is his best strategy. A recent WFMZ’s 69 News story covering the issue featured Ashley Ehasz speaking out about abortion rights, but as the reporter put it: “69 News wanted to talk more to Fitzpatrick about his views, but several attempts to reach his campaign went unanswered.” Duck and cover, Fitzy.

A couple of big things happening in space news. NASA is holding a press briefing today to discuss the status of the Artemis I mission to the Moon following two failed launches. Artemis ! may now launch as soon as September 27. Also, NASA will also be streaming its asteroid-smashing DART mission Monday evening. 

And the cartoon The Jetsons, premiered on this date in 1962.