House Republicans could be on the verge of opening a third front of impeachment proceedings against top members of the Biden Administration. Rep. Matt Rosendale’s (R-MT) office announced on Monday that the congressman plans to introduce one or more articles of impeachment for “high crimes and misdemeanors” against Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin when the chamber meets on Tuesday. Austin “has violated his oath of office time and time again‚ and has jeopardized the lives of the American people‚” Rosendale said in a statement‚ adding that the Cabinet official “knowingly put the American people in danger and compromised our national security.” Rosendale cited the Chinese spy balloon flyover last year and insisted that recent reports show Austin “lied” about it multiple times. He said this “dishonesty seems to be a repeated pattern” with last Friday’s revelation that the Department of Defense waited days to disclose that Austin had been hospitalized for “complications following a recent elective medical procedure” that has yet to be disclosed. “Furthermore‚ the Secretary failed to uphold his oath of office during the Biden Administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan which led to the death of 13 American soldiers and enabled unvetted migrants to flow into the United States‚” Rosendale said before referencing a rape case involving an Afghan in Missoula. Austin “is unfit for the Office of the Secretary of Defense‚ which is why I urge my colleagues to join me in impeaching him to protect the American people‚” he concluded. Some GOP lawmakers and former President Donald Trump have called for Austin to resign or be fired over the defense secretary’s secretive hospital stay. Others — including Democrats — have demanded more transparency. Austin said in a statement over the weekend that he was on the mend and was taking “full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure.” White House officials told reporters on Monday that President Joe Biden “continues to have confidence” in Austin and looks forward to the secretary’s return to the Pentagon. The GOP-led House already has initiated a corruption-focused impeachment inquiry against Biden. A committee is also set to begin impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of border security. It remains to be seen whether any of the endeavors result in a successful impeachment vote.

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley ripped former President Donald Trump during a town hall event on Monday night‚ saying that chaos follows him wherever he goes. Haley made the remarks during a presidential town hall event on Fox News when asked about prior remarks that she made when she said that she would not run if Trump was running. “I will tell you when I said that I would never run against him‚ we hadn’t had the debacle in Afghanistan‚” she said. “We hadn’t had inflation go through the roof. And we didn’t lose the midterms by ridiculous numbers. And I campaigned for a lot of candidates‚ House and Senate‚ and governors races on those. And we were devastated when we lost the midterms.” “But I will also tell you this. What he won’t tell you is when I decided to run‚ I called him. And I called him for two reasons‚” she said. “One‚ because it was the right thing to do. He had given me the job. And‚ two‚ because I wanted him to know I was in it to win it. And I told him then we needed a new generational leader. I told him then we needed to leave the negativity and the baggage behind. And I stand by that.” “Look‚ I think President Trump was the right president at the right time. I agree with a lot of his policies. But rightly or wrongly‚ chaos follows him. And you all know I’m right. Chaos follows him‚” she concluded. “We can’t be a country in disarray and the world on fire and go through four more years of chaos. We won’t survive it. You don’t fix Democrat chaos with Republican chaos.”

The Florida Republican Party voted on Monday to elect Evan Power as the party’s new chairman after members overwhelming to remove Christian Ziegler from the position following a police investigation into a rape allegation. Power‚ who was the party’s vice chairman‚ filled in for Ziegler after party members voted last month to strip him of his powers and reduce his salary to $1. “We have to build that trust back long-term‚” Power said. “I think we have to do is go to our larger donors right now to ask for their help and assistance. And we can build that trust back because we can prove we are bigger than one person. We moved on as fast and as efficiently as we could. And now we are here in a new chapter and [with] a new chairman.” Highlighting the successes of the Florida GOP under Governor Ron DeSantis‚ Power said that Republicans have experienced record turnout and have flipped seats all the way down to the school board-level. “Congratulations to our new Chairman‚ @EvanPower‚” the Florida GOP said in a statement. “Under his strong leadership‚ we will Keep Florida RED‚ deliver Florida’s 30 electoral votes to the GOP presidential candidate‚ and elect Republicans up and down the ballot. Let’s get to work!” Congratulations to our new Chairman‚ @EvanPower. Under his strong leadership‚ we will Keep Florida RED‚ deliver Florida’s 30 electoral votes to the GOP presidential candidate‚ and elect Republicans up and down the ballot. Let’s get to work! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/DqceF2gNxa — Florida GOP (@FloridaGOP) January 8‚ 2024 In an emergency vote on Monday‚ members voted 199-3 to oust Ziegler which comes after DeSantis and other top Florida Republican officials had called on him to resign. Police in Florida are also investigating whether Ziegler recorded the alleged incident‚ which could constitute video voyeurism‚ a third-degree felony in Florida. Zeigler‚ who has not been charged‚ and his attorney allegedly showed the video to law enforcement with the belief that it proved that the interaction was consensual. Attorney Bryant Camareno‚ who is not involved in the case‚ told local media that showing the video to law enforcement could be proof of a different crime. “I think number one‚ it may show that there was consent to have sex‚” he said. “Number two‚ it may show that she knew that she was being recorded‚ but number three‚ if he sent it to her with the intent of harassment then that may be another crime which is cyberstalking.” Ziegler and his wife‚ Bridget Ziegler‚ reportedly admitted to police that they previously had a consensual sexual relationship with the woman who made the rape accusation. The alleged incident occurred on October 2‚ 2023‚ when the accuser‚ Christian Ziegler‚ and Bridget Ziegler allegedly agreed to have “a sexual encounter‚” according to police documents. When the accuser learned that Bridget Ziegler would not attend‚ she allegedly changed her mind and cancelled the encounter with Christian Ziegler. “On 10/02/23‚ the victim opened her apartment door to walk her dog and Christian was standing outside in the hallway‚” the police search warrant says. “Christian entered the apartment‚ bent the victim over the bar stool and” raped her.

California is pioneering a daring strategy of turning sewage into safe‚ potable water in response to the severe concerns of water scarcity exacerbated by climate change. The State Water Resources Control Board approved laws that allow treated wastewater to flow straight into Californians’ taps‚ marking a significant step toward ensuring water supplies in the state’s drought-prone state. Taking on water scarcity head-on “This decision positions California with the most advanced standards for treating wastewater‚ meeting or surpassing current drinking water standards‚” remarked E. Joaquin Esquivel‚ chair of the board‚ emphasizing the significance of this development. After extensive discussions and meeting a six-year deadline‚ the unanimous approval of these regulations last month heralds a crucial milestone in water reuse initiatives. The refined method: ensuring safety and purity Stringent safety measures demand a multi-step treatment process for recycled water under these new regulations. The detailed 62-page document explains a thorough method that includes three unique treatment phases as well as rigorous pathogen monitoring. According to the document‚ the treatment includes an innovative approach incorporating an “ozonation process‚” biologically activated carbon addition‚ reverse osmosis‚ and advanced oxidation. This ensures not just safety but purity‚ surpassing many existing drinking water sources‚ as affirmed by Esquivel: “These regulations ensure that the water produced is not only safe but purer than many drinking water sources we now rely on.” Reduced scarcity and environmental impact While the policy does not require direct potable reuse‚ it does allow water providers to do it‚ encouraging resource conservation and minimizing trash discharged into natural waterways. Governor Gavin Newsom’s recommendations for water recycling standards‚ which are expected to cost $27 billion by 2040‚ reflect a proactive approach in the face of California’s severe droughts‚ heat waves‚ and disastrous wildfires. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has already begun a major water recycling project‚ suggesting a greater commitment to long-term water solutions. Embracing ideas from around the world This resourceful method is inspired by worldwide pioneers. Windhoek‚ Namibia‚ pioneered wastewater recycling more than three decades ago‚ setting a precedent for water-stressed areas around the world. Similarly‚ Singapore has a large filtration system that treats large amounts of water‚ demonstrating the practicality of recycling even for drinking reasons. Overcoming initial doubts: a global revolution California’s progress reflects a global trend of gradually adopting recovered wastewater solutions. Similar initiatives‚ previously termed “toilet to tap” in the 1990s‚ are gaining popularity overseas. Despite initial criticism‚ such technologies are being adopted in Texas and Colorado in the United States‚ as well as in the United Kingdom. As attitudes shift‚ there is a rising realization of the importance of adopting new measures to ensure water security. California’s shift toward direct potable reuse marks a water scarcity watershed moment. A proactive approach is shown in the combination of tough standards‚ innovative treatment procedures‚ and a dedication to sustainability. As Esquivel succinctly puts it‚ “This is an exciting development in the state’s ongoing efforts to find innovative solutions to the challenges of extreme weather driven by climate change.” California is not only tapping into wastewater but also into a sustainable and resilient future in which access to clean water is no longer distributed as a luxury but treated as a fundamental human right.The post Innovative drought relief in California: from toilet to tap first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

Communication is more than simply the words you use; it is also about how you use them. Confident communication is more than a show of bravado. To come across as assertive without sounding arrogant is a delicate dance of words and tone. But how can you strike this balance? Here are a few smart tips to hone your language abilities and project confidence‚ courtesy of linguistics specialist Deborah Tannen. Language complexity and confidence Deborah Tannen’s research digs into the complex relationship between language and self-assurance. She insists that outward appearance‚ behavior‚ or language cannot truly tell whether an individual is confident or not.  Her research shows that people with comparable degrees of confidence can express themselves in dramatically different ways. “An observer can’t know‚ period‚” Tannen asserts. She goes on to say that “one cannot know from outward appearance‚ behavior‚ or language whether an individual has confidence or not.”  Of course‚ even though language isn’t the only predictor of confidence‚ cultural beliefs frequently associate specific language habits with it. Being aware of these impressions can be beneficial‚ especially in professional situations. Managing communication stereotypes The context of workplace communication exacerbates the complexity of confidence appraisal‚ particularly concerning gender biases. Tannen sheds light on the double bind that often plagues women: “Assertive language in men is perceived as confidence‚ yet the same language in women is sometimes labeled as aggression.” This dramatic difference in how assertiveness is interpreted creates a small‚ difficult route for women to traverse. Men’s forceful speaking is typically stereotyped in the workplace as a sign of strength and leadership. When women demonstrate similar linguistic tendencies‚ they frequently face the unjustified appearance of being overly assertive or domineering. Tannen’s study highlights the difficulties that women have in harmonizing their communication style within these rigorously set cultural standards.“Talk one way‚ lack confidence; talk the other‚ perceived as aggressive.” Recognizing and reducing biases in perceiving language tones might help to create a more balanced communication environment. 5 confident communication strategies Apologize in moderation While apologies show sensitivity‚ over-apologizing may indicate insecurity. Tannen proposes a change: replace superfluous apologies with gratitude. For example‚ instead of saying “I’m sorry I’m late‚” say “Thank you for waiting to get started.” Make direct requests Differentiate between favors and direct requests‚ especially in professional situations. Tannen suggests being upfront in your request and avoiding the favor facade when it’s a directive. As an example: – substituting “Can you do me a favor and lock the door?” instead of “Please lock the door when you leave.” Control your tone Keep an eye out for ‘uptalk‚’ which occurs when remarks end in a rising tone‚ making them sound like queries. This habit arises from a desire for validation. Tannen suggests taking a direct approach or asking honest questions: – Replace the phrase “I’ll get to this by the end of the day?” with “When do you need this by?” Make time-bound requests When making requests‚ include time frames to provide clarity and respect the other person’s schedule. Tannen suggests structuring requests with a reasonable timeline: – Change the question from “Can you send me the meeting notes soon?” to “I’ll need the meeting notes by noon tomorrow.” Practice patience Communication confidence grows with practice. Experiment with language changes and solicit feedback to improve your approach. Remember‚ it’s all about striking a balance that works in different situations. Embracing confident communication Confidence entails more than just speaking assertively; it also entails maintaining a polite and clear dialogue. You can use language as a tool for confident and effective communication by limiting apologies‚ being direct in demands‚ adjusting tone‚ specifying periods‚ and rehearsing. Finally‚ language is a complex spectrum of expression rather than a static code for confidence. Mastering competent communication is a path of refining your linguistic vocabulary and navigating the complex maze of perceptions. As you progress‚ keep in mind the age-old adage: it’s not what you say‚ it’s how you say it.The post Insights from a language expert: master confident communication in 2024 first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

‘Too cold for that mess’

Intense legal pressure

'Nagging'

'In solidarity with the rights of the Palestinian people'