Trump’s culture war meets historic era in transgender rights

• October 24, 2024

By Kelsey Butler and Maeve Sheehey, Bloomberg News

Sarah McBride is set to make American history as the first openly transgender lawmaker in Congress. She also steps onto the national stage in a country deeply divided over trans rights — a rupture set to widen if Donald Trump wins the presidency next month.

In the first half of October, Trump and his supporters released a barrage of television ads attacking rival presidential candidate Kamala Harris for her past support of transgender people, spending more than $21 million to air them during NFL games, college football broadcasts and in swing states, according to CNN. He’s also amped up the rhetoric around transgender issues during his rallies and made rolling back rights for the community a cornerstone of his campaign platform.

Yet McBride, the 34-year old Democratic candidate who is all but assured to win a seat in the House of Representatives for strongly-blue Delaware next month, said she plans to fight back against Trump’s fear-mongering by focusing on other issues — not herself.

“I didn’t run for office to talk about my identity,” McBride said in an interview at her Wilmington campaign headquarters.

To explain her thinking, McBride recounts her experience as state senator in Delaware, where she won bipartisan support for a bill banning ‘gay and trans panic,’ a legal defense that excuses crimes like murder and assault on the grounds that the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity is to blame for the defendant’s violent reaction. In the end, every single Republican present voted in favor. How did she do that? Through gaining respect on other policy issues first, and offering olive branches across political divides, she said.

“We have to be willing to talk with and engage with people who hold positions that we might find personally hurtful or offensive,” she said. “That’s the only way democracy will logistically function.”

The fissure over transgender issues stretches beyond the walls of the Capitol building. A survey earlier this year of 2,000 Americans found that while most supported protecting transgender people from hate crimes and discrimination in their jobs, a majority also disagreed with allowing transgender athletes in sports and access to puberty blockers for transgender youths.

‘Smart politician’

“There is obviously an ongoing conversation that needs to continue around trans rights in this country,” McBride said. “But I think most voters aren’t really that concerned with other people’s bodies and other people’s lives. They’re concerned about their own life and they’re concerned about their own family.”

When asked about McBride, California Democrat Mark Takano — who in 2012 became the first openly gay person of color elected to the House — said “there’s no running away from your experiences” but “if you’re smart, you use your life experience, your lived experience as a point of leverage.”

“And she’s a smart politician,” said Takano, who also serves as co-chair of the Equality PAC, which has endorsed McBride.

Related Articles

McBride’s brand of bipartisan politics echoes Vice President Harris, who’s said she would appoint a Republican to her cabinet if she’s elected, promising to “be a president for all Americans.” It also breaks from the more progressive members of her party like New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has publicly criticized not only Republicans but President Joe Biden over a proposal that could limit transgender students’ participation in sports.

McBride is close with Biden, and has been credited with helping to shape the president’s view on transgender issues. Tackling the rising costs of housing, child care and health care, and securing reproductive rights, are among her biggest priorities. She plans to join the center-left New Democrat Coalition and the Congressional Progressive Caucus next year.

McBride isn’t naive to the idea that a Trump presidency means the fight for acceptance will get harder. A record 661 bills targeting the community were introduced by state lawmakers this year. Though only 45 have actually passed, Trump has promised more policies threatening the LGBTQ community if he’s elected, including outlawing gender-affirming care for minors and asking Congress to pass a bill “establishing that the only genders recognized by the United States government are male and female, as assigned at birth.”

“Depending on what happens in November, I could be entering a dumpster fire,” said McBride.

But people on the far right of politics — like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who’s called the Delaware legislator’s campaign a “complete evil” — won’t be her focus.

“There are going to be certain Republicans who are going to be weird about me in particular,” McBride said. “They’re going to be off continuing their charade, their circus. They’re going to continue to be professional provocateurs parading as public officials. But I’ll be in the House working with Democrats and Republicans of conscience who are willing to collaborate.”

©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

Drummond: Voter data gives multitude of insights

• October 24, 2024

Registered voters who marked and mailed their ballots earlier this month might have noticed they are receiving fewer election-related mailers and computer-generated telephone calls as the Nov. 5 election date approaches.

That’s because candidates and their campaign committees can purchase data regarding mailed-in ballots from the Orange County Registrar of Voters office for reasonable prices, ranging from $49 for a standard request to $98 for a special request.

Among the data available for purchase is a listing of returned ballots by specific contests. Candidates and committees can use this information to adjust mailings and phone calls to concentrate on voters with outstanding ballots.

Other data for sale includes a printable street index for a precinct, district or city, which is often described as a “walking list” that is used by door-to-door canvassers for candidates.

More data available for purchase are files of registered voters by county, district or city, with or without voting history, and voting records, with up to 10 specific voter registration records allowed per application. Costs range from $25 to $98.

Requests for data can only be made by “authorized recipients” of voter information who “are responsible for the security of all voter registration information provided through this request,” according to procedures outlined by registrar office officials.

Authorized recipients of the data are determined by a detailed application submitted by the person requesting the data. The applicant must explain how the information will be used, a requirement governed by state law.

“Any application that fails to refer to a specific, detailed intended use, will be rejected,” noted officials. A significant prohibition is “using the data to harass any voter or voter’s household.”

Other prohibitions: sharing or transferring data to another party without submission of a new application and permission from the registrar’s office; using data for any commercial, advertising or marketing purposes; and leaving data unsecured or publicly available.

According to the state’s election code, misusing the data is a misdemeanor offense that is subject to significant fines.

Deadline to file a statement of write-in candidacy for a non-partisan office was Tuesday, Oct. 22. Write-in votes for candidates who did not file a statement will not be tabulated.

* * *

Red Ribbon Week runs through Oct. 31.

A resolution by Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District trustees noted the week “is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program, designed to…foster a drug-free community… .”

Trustees further recognized participation in the week’s various school-related activities “as a critical component of the district’s comprehensive prevention and health education program.”

Yorba Linda’s City Council also issued a proclamation recognizing the week.

Jim Drummond is a longtime Yorba Linda resident. He gives his opinion on local issues weekly. Send e-mail to [email protected].

​ Orange County Register 

Striking CVS workers reach tentative agreement that boosts wages, makes health care more affordable

• October 24, 2024

The union representing CVS pharmacy clerks and technicians has reached a tentative agreement Thursday with CVS that includes higher wages, more secure staffing and affordable health care plans for members, bringing an end to a strike that started a week ago.

The bargaining committee will send the agreement to its members for a vote for approval.

“We are proud to announce a tentative agreement with CVS that we unanimously recommend to our co-workers. For the last five months, we have been fighting hard for a fair contract — from a strike to actions, delegations, rallies, petitions, and conversations with our co-workers and customers; we have shown the strength that comes when workers stand together for a better life,” the UFCW CVS Bargaining Committee said in a statement Thursday.

CVS workers picketed outside stores Saturday and Sunday. Bargaining sessions resumed Wednesday with a tentative agreement reached Thursday.

“Our strength was on display this past weekend as CVS workers from seven stores in Los Angeles and Orange County participated in an Unfair Labor Practice strike to protest CVS’ unlawful activities. Striking workers received customer and community support and showed their determination to secure a contract reflecting the value of our essential healthcare services free from CVS’ underhanded tactics,” the bargaining committee said.

“We are grateful for the solidarity and strength our co-workers have shown throughout negotiations as well as the overwhelming support we have received from our customers and community members during our strike.”

CVS officials told City News Service that the stores remained open and continued to serve customers and patients during the picketing.

Union leaders said they were protesting what they call unlawful activities that have interfered with bargaining and prevented employees from reaching a fair deal. UFCW officials allege CVS has engaged in illegal surveillance of workers, retaliation for union activities and prohibiting workers from engaging in union activities. The allegations came amid continuing labor talks for a new contract to replace one that expired in June.

Related Articles

“Today proves that when workers fight, we win. We look forward to discussing the details of this agreement with our co-workers before we make our voices heard during the voting process,” the bargaining committee said.

According to the union, the average CVS clerk makes less than $20 an hour and can’t afford to buy insurance from CVS, a health insurance company. Pharmacy technicians, who are required to complete an extensive CVS Pharmacy Technician Training Program as well as satisfy all registration, licensing and state certification requirements, currently make only $24.90 an hour after five years, union officials said.

Roughly 3,500 Rite Aid workers in California have also voted to authorize a strike, and they could soon form their own picket lines if negotiations fail to produce a new contract.

​ Orange County Register 

Trump says he will fire special counsel Jack Smith ‘within 2 seconds’ if re-elected

• October 24, 2024

By DAN MERICA and ERIC TUCKER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will fire special counsel Jack Smith “within two seconds” of taking office if re-elected in November.

Trump was asked during a friendly interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt whether he’d first pardon himself or terminate Smith to remove the legal cloud hanging over him as president. Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022, has charged Trump over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his mishandling of classified documents.

“It’s so easy. I would fire him within two seconds,” Trump responded. “He’ll be one of the first things addressed.”

Trump, who regularly assails Smith and has suggested before that he would fire him if he were president, called Smith a “crooked person.”

Trump, if elected, could order the Justice Department to remove Smith, though he would probably not be able to do it on his own since Smith is not a presidential appointee.

When he was investigated by a different special counsel as president, Trump urged his then-White House counsel, Don McGahn, to press the Justice Department to terminate Robert Mueller. McGahn refused.

Smith has brought two federal cases against Trump. One, accusing him of illegally retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, was dismissed in July, a decision that Smith is appealing. The other, charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election, has been delayed by a Supreme Court opinion conferring broad immunity for official acts made while president.

After Trump said he would fire Smith, Hewitt raised the possibility that Congress could impeach Trump over that move. Trump said he did not believe that would happen.

“I don’t think they’ll impeach me if I fire Jack Smith,” Trump said. “Jack Smith is a scoundrel.”

Related Articles

Democrat Kamala Harris’ campaign has sought to use revelations from Smith’s investigations into Trump against the Republican candidate. They released an ad earlier this month that featured video from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and headlines from Smith’s investigation.

“He knew what he was doing,” the ad shows on screen.

While Trump criticized Smith, he praised U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, the Trump appointee who dismissed the classified documents case against the former president in July.

“We had a brave, brilliant judge in Florida,” Trump said. “She’s a brilliant judge, by the way. I don’t know her. I never spoke to her. Never spoke to her. But we had a brave and very brilliant judge.”

​ Orange County Register 

Stay warm and pain-free with these top heating pads

• October 24, 2024

Which heating pad is best?

Back in the day, people could only relieve their muscle pain with a hot water bottle and Epsom salt baths. But heating pads have come a long way, and advancements in technology have provided plenty of new features for this wellness tool. Hot water bottles became less popular after the first electric heating pads came along, which gave users sustained relief from aches and pains without the mess. Today, there are all kinds of heating pads you can choose from.

What to know before you buy a heating pad

Types of heating pads

There are several types of heating pads, all of which have their pros and cons.

Hot water bottle: A hot water bottle is a rubber bladder with a threaded cap. If you want some substantial head for a smaller area, you can save money with these heating pads. However, they don’t hold heat as long as other methods.
Microwave heating pads: These are fabric bags filled with grains or microbeads. Consider this type if you want a pad for relaxation, muscle tension and occasional pain relief from cramps.
Chemical heating pads: These are small gel packs that heat up when you trigger a chemical reaction by shaking them or exposing them to the air. These are a great option if you need portable heat in a short amount of time.
Electric heating pads: These are perfect for those with chronic soreness in muscles and joints. These allow users to adjust the temperature and get the relief they want and include other features like timers, automatic shut-off and more.

What to look for in a quality heating pad

Temperature control

Hot water bottles, microwavable heating pads and chemical heating pads all have their drawbacks. You cannot adjust the temperature, and they inevitably cool down. An electric heating pad allows you to choose exactly how much heat you want for a sustained period. Budget electric heating pads might have only a few settings, while better electric heating pads have multiple options.

Automatic shut-off

The warm, toasty feeling you get from a heating pad can make you drowsy, which may cause you to fall asleep. Heating pads with automatic timers shut off after an hour or two. This is useful if you drift off to sleep or accidentally leave the heating pad unattended. It also saves you money.

Cord length

Some heating pads have very short power cords. Look for heating pads with long cords to avoid the hassle of wrangling an extension cord every time you want to use it.

Size

Each manufacturer has a different idea of what labels like XL and XXL mean. The best way to make sure your heating pad is the right size for your needs is to check the dimensions and not the label. Remember bigger is better, especially if you plan on using your pad on multiple areas.

How much you can expect to spend on a heating pad

Small electric heating pads and some microwavable pads cost $10-$20. If you want something with a few more size options, features and controls, you can expect to spend $25-$40. High-tech full-body heating pads cost as much as $2,500.

Heating pad FAQ

What setting should I use?

A. Therapists recommend you start at the lowest setting on your heating pad and gradually increase the heat as needed. The lower the setting, the longer the time you can use your heating pad.

How long can I use my heating pad in a single session?

A. Most manufacturers recommend using the highest temperature setting for no more than 15 or 20 minutes.

What’s the best heating pad to buy?

Top heating pad

Sunbeam Heating Pad with Auto Shut-off

What you need to know: This plush heating pad is eco-friendly and easy to use.

What you’ll love: It has four heat settings and shuts off automatically after two hours. It’s got a soft microfiber cover that is machine-washable.

What you should consider: Some people thought it was flimsy.

Top heating pad for the money

iReliev Weighted Moist/Dry Heating Pad

What you need to know: This gently weighted heating pad calms and soothes.

What you’ll love: This three-pound heating pad is clinically proven to reduce muscle tension by increasing blood flow to targeted regions of your body. It has an ultra-soft microfiber heating pad that is machine washable. It heats in seconds and has a two-hour auto shut-off timer.

What you should consider: There are only three heat settings.

Worth checking out

Pure Enrichment PureRelief XXL Electric Heating Pad

What you need to know: At 24 inches by 20 inches, this ultra-wide heating pad is large enough to wrap around your limbs or drape over your shoulders like a cape.

What you’ll love: This machine-washable microfiber heating pad is 60% larger than standard heating pads and has an extra-long nine-foot cord. The digital LCD controller has six heat settings to accommodate your personal comfort level and comes with a moist heat therapy option.

What you should consider: Some users don’t feel this heating pad gets hot enough.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers will wear patch honoring Fernando Valenzuela in World Series

• October 24, 2024

LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers will wear a patch on their uniforms honoring Fernando Valenzuela during the World Series.

Valenzuela died this week at age 63. The patch will feature his uniform number 34 and his first name and will appear on the left jersey sleeve.

MLB has said it will also honor Valenzuela during the World Series. Memorials to Valenzuela are evident at the entrance to Dodger Stadium as well as multiple locations throughout the stadium.

The Dodgers broke from protocol by retiring Valenzuela’s uniform number in August 2023. Previously, they had only retired the numbers of players or managers who were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (with the exception of Jim Gilliam).

Valenzuela pitched 11 seasons for the Dodgers, starting in 1980, and ranks ninth on the franchise’s all-time win list. His rookie season in 1981 sparked the ‘Fernandomania’ phenomenon as he went 8-0 with five shutouts to start the season. He became the first pitcher to win both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in the same season.

Valenzuela was an All-Star every year from 1981 through 1986 and was a member of World Series championship teams with the Dodgers in 1981 and 1988. He was released by the Dodgers in 1990 and pitched six more seasons with five more teams before retiring.

He joined the Dodgers’ Spanish-language broadcast team in 2003. He stepped away from the broadcast booth in September due to health problems.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

No coyote DNA found on Irvine boy, authorities say

• October 24, 2024

The 10-year-old boy who reportedly was bitten by a coyote on the way to school in Irvine on Tuesday, Oct. 22 tested negative for coyote DNA, California Department of Fish and Wildlife said on Thursday.

“Coyote DNA was not found on the clothing,” Tim Daly, a Fish and Wildlife spokesman, said. “Dog DNA was detected.”

The boy was riding his bike to Portola Springs Elementary School and was near Pathway when he stopped to remove his jacket, Irvine police Sgt. Karie Davies said. He felt something on his lower leg and realized he’d been bitten.

Once he arrived at school, the boy reported the injury and was treated by his doctor for a minor skin break.

“We have the child’s statement and the minor injury, coupled with him seeing the coyote run away from his direction,” Davies said.

Daly said Fish and Wildlife trappers did not locate a coyote in the area after trying for a couple of days.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

New on vaccine checklist: Pneumonia shot for ages 50 and up

• October 24, 2024

NEW YORK — U.S. health officials on Wednesday recommended that people 50 and older get a shot against bacteria that can cause pneumonia and other dangerous illnesses.

The recommendation was made by a scientific advisory panel and then accepted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The decision lowered from 65 the minimum recommended age for adults to get the shot.

TODAY: Second dose of COVID vaccine recommended for ages 65 and older

The advisory committee voted 14-1 to make the change during a meeting in Atlanta. The guidance is widely heeded by doctors and prompts health insurers to pay for recommended shots.

Pneumococcal shot recommendations are sometimes called the most complicated vaccination guidance that the government issues. The CDC currently recommends shots for children younger than 5 and adults 65 or older, as long as they have never been vaccinated against pneumococcal disease. Officials also recommend the shots for children and adults at increased risk for pneumococcal disease, such as those with diabetes, chronic liver disease or a weakened immune system.

There are more than 100 known types of pneumococci bacteria, which can cause serious infections in the lungs and other parts of the body. Each year, the U.S. sees roughly 30,000 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease, which includes blood infections, brain and spine inflammation, and other illnesses. About 30% of cases are among 50- to 64-year-olds.

An adult will usually need only one pneumococcal vaccination, though some protocols advise two shots about a year apart.

The first pneumococcal vaccine was licensed in the U.S. in 1977, and since then pharmaceutical companies have been coming up with newer versions that target a dozen or more types in a single shot. Different vaccines have fallen in and out of favor, including Pfizer’s Prevnar 13, which was once a top-seller but is no longer available.

Related Articles

There are four vaccines now in use. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this year approved the newest — Merck’s Capvaxive, which can cost around $300 a dose and protects against 21 types, including eight not included in other pneumococcal vaccines. A Merck spokesperson said it was specifically designed to help protect against the bacteria types that cause the majority of severe disease in adults aged 50 and older.

The CDC advisory panel in June recommended the vaccine as an option for adults at higher risk. At the time, the committee also talked about the possibility of lowering the age recommendation for older adults. They noted that illness-causing infections peak at age 55 to 59 in Black Americans — a lower age than what’s seen in white people. But the committee put off that decision until this week’s meeting.

The one committee member voting against the proposal was Dr. Jamie Loehr, who cited the changing guidance. “Pneumococcal has been a very confusing recommendation for many, many years, and it’s hard to have a new recommendation every two or three years,” he said.

The CDC website has a vaccine assessment tool that advises which shots to get, based on a number of factors. It has not yet been updated for the new recommendation.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

​ Orange County Register