Kamala's Economic Plan, Super Blue Moon, & a Mammon Tusk

August 19, 2024

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Kamala Harris revealed several ambitious proposals in her economic plan if she wins this year’s election.

Harris plans to increase the Child Tax Credit (CTC), offering $6,000 to families with newborns and restoring a $3,600 per child tax credit for some families. She also wants to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to help low-income workers without kids.
She proposes the first-ever federal ban on price gouging for food and groceries. The plan aims to prevent companies from unfairly raising prices to boost profits. It would give the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys more power to investigate and penalize offenders.
Harris wants to build 3 million new housing units over the next four years and provide tax incentives for building homes for first-time buyers. Her plan also includes repurposing federal lands for affordable housing and cracking down on investors driving up home prices.
The VP supports giving $25,000 in down-payment aid to first-generation homebuyers and ending taxes on tips for service workers. She also wants to raise the minimum wage.
A study by the nonpartisan nonprofit Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget found her plans could add $1.7 to $2.0 trillion to the national deficit over a decade.

Ukraine destroyed two important bridges in Russia’s Kursk region.

The attacks on the bridges were likely aimed at stopping a Russian counterattack and indicate Ukraine may try to hold ground in the area. The strikes have disrupted supply trucks en route to Russian troops, although other methods like pontoons may still be used.
Since August 6, Ukrainian forces have made significant advances into Russia’s Kursk region. They have captured many villages and taken prisoners. Although Ukraine's gains have boosted morale, experts warn that holding the territory could be risky due to the long supply lines and Kyiv’s limited resources.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has asked for the removal of restrictions on using Western weapons to strike deeper into Russia. Meanwhile, concerns are rising around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after a nearby drone strike. The head of the U.N. nuclear agency warned of a worsening safety situation, urging restraint from all sides to protect the plant.

Medical workers across India started a strike to protest the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor in West Bengal.

The Indian Medical Association called for a 24-hour shutdown of non-essential hospital services, impacting thousands of patients. The protestors are demanding a safer working environment for medical staff.
The trainee doctor's body was found on August 9 at a hospital in Kolkata. A police volunteer has been detained, but the victim's family believes it was a gang rape involving more people. The Indian Medical Association condemned the lack of safe spaces for women and demanded stronger laws to protect medical workers from violence.
Sexual violence is a big issue in India, with many cases going unreported due to stigma and lack of trust in the police. Despite some legal reforms after the 2012 Delhi gang rape, the problem continues. In 2022, there was a 20% increase in reported rape cases. More protection is needed, especially in rural areas, where victims often face community shaming.

Tonight there will be a rare event in the sky: a full moon that is both a supermoon and a blue moon. The combo, called a "super blue moon," happens when the cycles of these two types of moons line up on the calendar. The next super blue moon might not occur until 2037. (More)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel to try and secure a ceasefire and a deal to release hostages in Gaza. It is his ninth visit since the war began in October. While the US and Israel are hopeful, Hamas says any progress is just an "illusion." One key issue is whether Israeli troops will need to fully withdraw from Gaza. (More)

Priceless paintings by famous artists like Monet, Cezanne, and Van Gogh were not damaged after a fire broke out on the roof of Somerset House, a big arts venue in central London. Firefighters quickly put out the flames and smoke by pouring water on it from buckets on ladder trucks. (More)

A volcano erupted after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit off Russia's east coast. The Shiveluch volcano shot ash 5 miles into the air and released lava. The blast happened near a city called Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, but no one was reported injured. (More)

Social media platform X announced it will close its operations in Brazil after a Supreme Court Justice, Alexandre de Moraes, allegedly threatened to arrest its legal representative if they didn't comply with orders. The conflict between X and de Moraes involves issues like free speech and misinformation on the platform. The social media app will still be available to Brazilians. (More)

7-foot long mammoth tusk found in Mississippi.

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