Short Takes – 8-22-23

5 ‘surprising’ areas where wildfire risk is rising. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: “He [Philip Higuera, a fire ecologist at the University of Montana] offered a simple rule of thumb for those officials: “If there’s vegetation, and it’s warm and dry, and there’s an ignition, and there is flammable vegetation, then it can happen in your community — whether or not that was the case for our parents or our grandparents.””

House Freedom Caucus rolls out demands to avoid shutdown. Politico.com article. Pull quote: “In addition to vowing to oppose a so-called clean short-term funding bill, the Freedom Caucus is also planning to vote against any spending legislation that doesn’t meet certain priorities of the party’s right flank. That would mean including, according to the announcement, a sweeping GOP border bill that has stalled in the Senate; addressing “the unprecedented weaponization” of the Justice Department and FBI and ending “woke” Defense Department policies.”

Vetting of Certain Surface Transportation Employees. Federal Register TSA comment extension notice. Pull quote: “On May 23, 2023, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing security vetting of certain public transportation, railroad, and over-the-road-bus (OTRB) employees. Through this notice, TSA is extending the comment period to October 1, 2023, to provide additional time for the public to submit comments.”

Ukraine’s Forces and Firepower Are Misallocated, U.S. Officials Say. NYTimes.com article. Pull quote: “Even if the counteroffensive fails to reach the coast, officials and analysts say if it can make it far enough to put the coastal road within range of Ukrainian artillery and other strikes, it could cause even more problems for Russian forces in the south who depend on that route for supplies.”

British defense ministry says drone attacks in Russia may come from within. PolskieRadio.pl article. Pull quote: “The emerging evidence, if accurate, strengthens the notion that certain UAV strikes against Russian military targets could be originating from within Russia's own territory. The British Defense Ministry noted that the range of UAVs might not be sufficient to reach Solcy-2 from locations outside Russia.”

Republican says threat to McCarthy’s Speakership ‘inevitable’ if he doesn’t meet conservative demands. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: ““McCarthy is going to have to listen to the people on the right or else he’s going to have to rely on the Democrats to pass this,” Jackson [Rep Jackson, (R,TX)] said.”

 

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