The Fallout from Charlottesville Lands at Trump’s Southern Doorstep
Charitable intent. Charities are continuing to drop their plans to have fundraisers at Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., after Trump’s remarks that “both sides” are to blame for the Charlottesville violence that killed one person and injured at least 19 others. About 70 protesters marched toward Mar-a-Lago Sunday night, chanting “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist U.S.A.” Nineteen charities so far have canceled galas. The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach and the Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society recently canceled their fundraisers at the club which features a 20,000-square-foot ballroom. The American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Susan G. Komen have all dropped plans for events at Mar-a-Lago, the former home of cereal-company heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. Laurel Baker, executive director of the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, said that if charities “have a conscience, you’re really condoning bad behavior by continuing to be there.”
Collision at sea. The USS John S. McCain hit a merchant ship near Singapore early Monday morning. Initial reports said the destroyer sustained damage to its rear port side. Search and rescue efforts were underway. The 505-foot-long destroyer—named for the father and grandfather, both admirals, of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)—is based in Yokosuka, Japan. The collision comes days after a Navy report about errors that led to a collision in June between another destroyer, the USS Fitzgerald, and a container ship south of Japan. Seven sailors died in that collision. The ship’s commander and other officers were relieved of their duties as a result.
Climate change. The Trump administration is disbanding a federal panel on climate change. The panel, the National Climate Assessment, helps policymakers with climate data. A report is supposed to be issued in 2018. One key finding is that human activities were responsible for increasing the global temperature by 1.1 to 1.3 degrees from 1951 to 2010. “We’re going to be running huge risks here and possibly end up hurting the next generation’s economic prospects,” said Richard Moss, the panel’s chair. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has decided to replace dozens of members on one of the agency’s key scientific review boards and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is reviewing more than 200 advisory boards.
