The Daily Populous

Texas Is Bracing for a Blue Wave in 2020. Yes, Texas.

While Republicans have been busy planting the seeds of their likely doom, the Texas Democratic Party has been rebuilding itself into a force capable of capitalizing on its opponents’ strategic insanity.

What was wrong, of course, was that Texas Democrats were giving Latinos and young whites no reason to engage.

The spooked Republicans recently rolled out a voter-registration PAC of their own, called Engage Texas, which aims to sign up new Republicans.

It’s been a long time since Democrats in Texas could have a good chuckle at the other party’s expense.

Texas is an overwhelmingly urban/suburban state, so GOP weakening in the suburbs is felt disproportionately in TX.

It could go blue, quickly, under this current configuration — Sean T at RCP (@SeanTrende) August 5, 2019.

But nobody in Texas, aside from a few blinkered Republicans, believes that Democrats won’t continue to loosen the Republican stranglehold in 2020. »

Jeffrey Epstein Camp Sent Pathologist Michael Baden to Watch Over His Autopsy

Authored by thedailybeast.com

Chief Medical Examiner Barbara Sampson also noted that Epstein’s representatives have hired celebrity pathologist Michael Baden to conduct an independent autopsy and they were allowed to observe the autopsy.

Baden also testified at the murder trials of O.J. Simpson and Phil Spector.

Had Epstein remained on suicide watch at MCC, he would have been under constant observation and housed in a “suicide prevention room.” »

New Zealand gun buyback: 10,000 firearms returned after Christchurch attack

Authored by theguardian.com

More than 10,000 firearms have been bought by New Zealand’s government in less than a month as part of its gun buyback scheme following the Christchurch mosque shootings in March.

Ninety gun collection events have been held around the country, New Zealand police said, attended by more than 7,000 firearms owners.

The total number of firearms in New Zealand is estimated to be between 1.2m and 1.5m, and gun owners of now-prohibited weapons have until 20 December to hand in their weapons. »

New Zealanders surrender thousands of firearms five months after Christchurch massacre

Authored by abc.net.au

New Zealanders surrender thousands of firearms five months after Christchurch massacre.

Within weeks, New Zealand's Parliament voted for tough gun law reforms, including a ban on semi-automatic firearms and a buyback scheme.

Licensed firearms owners have another five months to surrender weapons that are now illegal, with an amnesty ensuring they will not face prosecution during that period. »

Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo won't allow loot boxes on consoles unless publishers disclose drop rates

Authored by eurogamer.net

"As part of our ongoing efforts in this area, Nintendo will require disclosure of drop rates in Nintendo Switch games that offer randomised virtual items for purchase, such as loot boxes.

This requirement will apply to all new games and includes updates to current games that add loot boxes through in-game purchases.

ORIGINAL STORY 5.44pm 7th August 2019: Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft have announced an initiative that will require publishers to disclose drop rate odds for all games that include loot boxes to get them released on consoles. »