Toyota Engages With Critics of Its EV Push - WSJ

Toyota has said it believes hybrids can reduce carbon emissions while the battery supply chains and charging networks necessary to support big fleets of EVs are built globally over the coming decades. Hybrid cars—which made up nearly 30% of Toyota and Lexus global shipments

This is a far more reasonable approach to the nascent EV market. We’re still in proof-of-concept for EVs. Hybrid technology is here right now and proven over two decades. Why bet the farm on a far-off technology when you can make incremental positive change today?

Joe Manchin Releases Bill to Speed Up Energy Projects as Lawmakers Balk - WSJ

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.) and several Democratic colleagues are pushing Mr. Schumer to keep the spending package and permitting package separate, stating in a letter that environmental issues “should be examined through detailed committee consideration and a robust floor debate separate from the urgent need to see that the government stays open.”

Yes, let’s be super careful about the environment and stick to established procedure. But when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars, let’s throw caution to the wind and YOLO!!!!!!

New York Attorney General Sues Trump, His Company on Fraud Allegations - WSJ

A spokeswoman for the Trump Organization called the complaint “the culmination of nearly three years of persistent, targeted, unethical political harassment.”

This professional vendetta that James launched, announcing in her AG campaign that she would indict Trump if elected, without even collecting a single document or piece of evidence, really casts doubt on the veracity of this suit.

Trump may have done something wrong, but the way this entire investigation has played out is an affront to our justice system. We uncover crimes and then indict suspects, not indict suspects and then go looking for a crime.

Legal Challenges to Student Loan Forgiveness Loom Before Midterms - WSJ

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.). Republicans “will take their case to court because, like it is with abortion, they know that can’t win with the public generally.”

Has the Senator heard about the pot and the kettle?

The Pope Abandons Cardinal Zen - WSJ Opinion

On a return flight from Kazakhstan Thursday, the pope suggested this is no accident. When a reporter asked about Cardinal Zen, the pope offered not a word of support, noting only that the cardinal “says what he feels” despite knowing there are “limitations.” The pope declined to even say China was undemocratic. All that was missing was a cock crowing in the background.

Father Living His Best Life During Those 3 Hours On Saturday Morning When He’s The Only One Up - Babylon Bee

Every Saturday morning, Walker’s able to do things he can’t do at any other time of the week. He reportedly plays one of the 767 Steam games he owns for “at least 10 minutes”, answers emails that have been languishing forgotten in his inbox for the past seven days, drinks five coffees, gets in a workout, tinkers with a neglected DIY project in the garage, organizes his hobby shelf, makes breakfast, watches a few YouTube videos, and even reads his Bible.

Walmart, Target Urge Lawmakers to Pass Bill Taking Aim at Visa, Mastercard Fees - WSJ

In a letter this week to all members of Congress, the merchants said the proposed legislation would increase competition, leading to a reduction in the fees they pay when they accept credit cards.

If this passes, it could absolutely destroy the credit card industry.

Without the transaction fees to pay for the “perks,” the value proposition becomes, “Hey, want to borrow $5 at 24% to buy that coffee?”

The fig leaf would come off.

It’s always a good day when I get to climb into an airplane.

The Man From Rivian Who Wants to Change How We Buy Cars - WSJ

Dealers and state lawmakers who oppose Mr. Chen’s efforts say that independent dealerships play a critical role in the car-buying process, helping to create competition between franchises that ultimately keeps prices affordable for consumers. They argue that dealers also provide important services, such as repair and warranty work, and arrange financing for buyers at competitive rates.

Fair point, but most dealers are complete jerks. So in an ideal world, that would be true. But in reality, it’s not achieving those objectives. Look at all of the stories of cars going for tens of thousands of dollars over MSRP and manufacturers slapping them on the wrist.

A Sanctuary City Spectacle - WSJ Opinion

This political moralizing is easier than actually doing something about the border. And, by the way, the federal government is also sending buses with migrants to northern cities, as New York’s Mayor Adams has acknowledged. Many migrants have relatives in these cities and want to go there.

Martha’s Vineyard Lovingly Welcomes Immigrants To Any Other Part Of America - Babylon Bee

Several media outlets were on the scene as migrants were caringly herded back onto the buses by people wearing Brunello Cucinelli boat shoes and cashmere sweaters, who afterward ran off to make their court times at the local tennis club. “The outpouring of otherworldly lovingkindness from this progressive community is stunning,” said one local news anchor. “I have never seen a group of people so humanely told to ‘go back where they came from.’ These people certainly practice what they preach.”

We took our kids on a surprise trip to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for a chance to tour the museum.

It was incredible to see these feats of human innovation on display. We touched a piece of the moon, learned about the progression of the US space program, and saw how technology builds on itself.

I hope that our time there was an inspiration for my kids to keep dreaming.

Boeing 747 carrying Space Shuttle Independence

U.S. Inflation Eased Slightly to 8.3% in August - WSJ

So-called core CPI, which excludes often volatile energy and food prices, increased 6.3% in August from a year earlier, up sharply from the 5.9% rate in both June and July—a signal that broad price pressures strengthened.

Trump Voters Put Biden Signs In Their Yards So That The FBI Will Pass Over Them - Babylon Bee

Fears have grown among conservatives as they have watched the Biden administration unleash a series of devastating plagues on the United States, including crushing inflation, oppressive gas prices, high unemployment, and rising taxes. It only stands to reason, some say, that new waves of FBI raids are imminent.

Never Forget 🇺🇸

Solid start.

Democrats for MAGA Republicans - WSJ Opinion

By one estimate, Democrats have spent more than $40 million helping 2020 election skeptics win GOP primaries, even while fretting about them as a “threat to democracy.” They’re happy to gamble on that threat because their real concern is power, not democracy.

Policies Pushing Electric Vehicles Show Why Few People Want One - WSJ Opinion

We constantly hear that electric cars are the future—cleaner, cheaper and better. But if they’re so good, why does California need to ban gasoline-powered cars? Why does the world spend $30 billion a year subsidizing electric ones?

The subsidies, predictably, cover the increased cost, almost to the penny, versus the gas powered model. Look at the pricing on the Chrysler Pacifica vs the Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid.

EV and renewable energy must become dominant the same way that all other technologies have: provide a better product and a better experience at a better price.

Democrats Were the First Election Deniers - WSJ Opinion

On the House floor in 2005, the ranking Judiciary Committee Democrat, Rep. John Conyers (D., Mich.), presented the case for awarding Ohio to the Democrats, claiming “electronic machines transferred” votes from Mr. Kerry to Mr. Bush, creating situations with “significantly more votes than voters in some precincts, significantly less ballots than voters in other precincts, and voters casting more than one ballot.” He even asserted that a voting-machine company “reprogrammed the computer by remote dial-up” in a way that altered the outcome. Sound familiar?

Verbatim, albeit with technical upgrades.

Mr. Clyburn, now House majority whip, wasn’t the only significant Democrat pushing these wacky theories. Consider other 2005 Democratic election deniers who today hold top congressional posts. These include then-Rep. Ed Markey (D., Mass.), now a senator; Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D., Ariz.), Natural Resources Committee chairman; Rep. Frank Pallone (D., N.J.), Energy and Commerce Committee chairman; Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Calif.), Financial Services Committee chairman; Rep. Bennie Thompson (D., Miss.), chairman of both the Homeland Security and Jan. 6 committees; Rep. Danny K. Davis (D., Ill.), chairman of a Ways and Means subcommittee; Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D., Texas), a senior member of the Judiciary, Homeland Security and Budget committees; and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D., Ill.), senior chief deputy whip. Even the now-deceased civil-rights icon, Rep. John Lewis (D., Ga.), was an election denier, voting not to accept Ohio’s certification for Mr. Bush. Though she didn’t vote to flip the Buckeye State, then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) defended her party’s election deniers. She said the “debate is fundamental to our democracy” and warned Republicans not to “talk about this as a ‘conspiracy theory,’ ” arguing instead “it is about the Constitution.”

UPS is very bad at logistics.

Biden Is Angry but Not Serious - WSJ Opinion

Mr. Biden sounded like an overwrought sophomore by pretending that MAGA Republicanism presents a similar existential threat to democracy, and the next day he showed that even he didn’t believe his own claim that all Trump supporters were threats to the country.