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Eric Holder, the man charged in the fatal shooting of Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle, was found guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday, CBS Los Angeles reported. The jury deliberated for about six hours before reaching its verdict.

Holder, 32, had also been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder because two bystanders were hit by gunfire, according to The Associated Press but the jury found him guilty of two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter instead.

Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom, wasfatally shotoutside of his Los Angeles clothing store in March 2019. He was 33.

When the trial began last month,prosecutors saidHolder's attack was calculated and premeditated. Deputy District Attorney John McKinney said there was "no doubt" Holder knew he'd kill Hussle, adding that Holder shot Hussle at least 10 times and kicked him in the head before running away, according to the AP.

McKinney said there had been a dispute between the pair Hussle had heard Holder was a snitch and wanted to "clear that up," the AP reported. The deputy district attorney said the pair, along with two of Hussle's friends, had a "cool conversation" with Holder prior to the attack, noting Hussle didn't have any security with him when he visited his store.

However, prosecutors had a hard time getting witnesses to testify. One police officialattributed their reluctanceto a fear of being seen as a snitch, according to the AP.

Meanwhile, Holder's attorney Aaron Jansen told the jury that Hussle's murder wasn't planned, and said Holder didn't mean to shoot the two bystanders. He pinned the attack on "heated passion," the AP reported.

Last week, Holder was attacked by "multiple individuals" while in a jail holding cell, Jansen told CBS News. He was allegedly cut by a razor and taken to the hospital, where he received an MRI and staples in the back of his head, Jansen said.

Victoria Albert contributed reporting.

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Sophie Reardon is a News Editor at CBS News. Reach her at sophie.reardon@viacomcbs.com

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In the run-up to the 2016 election, Liz Cheney issued a dire warning. The future of American democracy, and the nations place as a symbol of freedom to the world, was on the ballot. If voters chose poorly, she told Rush Limbaugh, the next president would be the most corrupt individual ever to sit in the Oval Office.

She was referring, of course, to Hillary Clinton.

At the time Cheney, the daughter of the former vice president, was a candidate for Congress with an incredibly bright future. Her campaign was such a formality that it was (I think) the only article in our post-election issue we didnt have to rewrite from scratch; a pig might fly or get elected president, but no Cheney was going to lose in Wyoming. The reason for her rising star was straightforward: She was a Bush administration veteran who was willing to go to the mat for President Donald Trump, no matter what the naysayers said. They both had a use for each other. By the start of her second term, she was chair of the House Republican Conference. When Trump ran for re-election she offered her endorsement.

But on Tuesday, Cheneys career in Congress came to an abrupt end, when she lost her Republican primary to conservative challenger Harriet Hageman. The election itself was mostly a formality. After voting to impeach President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 insurrection and vowing to push back against his crusade to undermine our democracy, Cheney was stripped last year of her House leadership position. The Wyoming GOP censured her, and later voted to no longer recognize her as a Republican. Although her father once represented the state in Congress and remains its most famous political export, Republicans in the state had swung hard to the right in the Trump years. On January 6, while Cheney and her colleagues were besieged inside the Capitol, the state GOP chairwhose name was included on a leaked list of Oathkeepers memberswas protesting outside.

This is not the first time that Cheney has found herself in the political wilds. When George W. Bush and Dick Cheney left office in 2009, Republicans werent clamoring for a return to the glory days. Neither of them have addressed a Republican National Convention since they left office. As the country tried to put the Bush years in its past, Liz Cheney emerged as a mouthpiece for an administration and a political movement in exile.

But she understood that by couching this Bush-era Lost Cause rhetoric in the anti-Obama language of the conservative base, she could find not just an audience, but a fresh start. She became a regular on Fox News and talk radio in these years, serving as a hype woman for her fathers career, and tearing into the Obama administration with such fervor that some conservatives floated her for president.

Was she a birther? Not personally, but she indulged the racist lie with the same cowardly coddling that everyone else in the party did. One of the reasons you see people so concerned about this, I think this issue is, people are uncomfortable with having for the first time ever, I think, a president who seems so reluctant to defend the nation overseas, she said.

The rest of the administration didnt get off easy either. As I wrote in a piece for the magazine:

With [Bill] Kristol, a former McCain staffer, and the sister of a man who was killed on 9/11, Cheney formed a dark-money outfit called Keep America Safe, which sought to paint Obama as weak on security. One of the groups first ads bashed Attorney General Eric Holder for hiring attorneys who had once defended Guantanamo detainees. The spot referred to the lawyers as the Al Qaeda 7 and asked, Whose values do they share? as b-roll of someone who looked like Osama bin Laden played in the background. It was like 2004 all over again.

The role she had then and the role she has now are in many respects the same one, applied to radically different circumstancesshe is defending her movement against the pretenders who would sully its work. That she was wrong about Obama then and right about Trump now is obvious, but it was the willingness to play in the mud that made her a rising star and a member of Congress in the first place, just as it was the breakdown of public trust and civic guardrails during the Bush era that made possible Trumps MAGA ascent. By the time she decided that orange man, in fact, bad, the damage had long since been done. She is left to critique the ruling party in exile; the sort of person who in a different context people like the Cheneys might think to covertly fund and equip.

None of this is to erase the work shes done as a dogged and justifiably incensed leader on the January 6 Committee. She stands almost alone in her caucus, in her decision to not just quietly retire, or gripe anonymously to the press, but to actually fight back and wield the power she has against the threat shes so clearly recognized. Shell be fine, of course, both professionally and financially, but if the stand she took cost nothing, well, a lot more people would have taken it. But perhaps her fate might also be a lesson to the aspiring public servants out therethat the movement you cynically stoke might some day come for you, too.

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Liz Cheney Was Defeated By the Extremist Movement She Helped to Empower Mother Jones - Mother Jones

Real Time withBill Maher" hostdiscussed cannabis legalization withformer Attorney General Eric Holder on Friday'sOvertime segment during which he made a provocative prediction.

Maher began withan audience-submittedquestion:Why isn't Biden pushing for federal legalization of marijuana?

Holder replied: I think it's probably something we ought to do given the fact that it is something that would have a great political benefit and also deals with the reality. You know people are using marijuana it's being legalized across states.

Maher, a cannabis enthusiast, replied: I've heard that.

Yeah, yeah, I've heard that you've heard that,Holder said.

After their humorous repartee,they adoptedamore serious tone.Our drug policy needs to catch up with what the reality is. Marijuana is still a Schedule 1 drug. Its ridiculous, it is ridiculous, Holder said.

Republicans are going to steal the issue, I think eventually. I mean someone like John Boehner works for a marijuana company now," Maher said. "I mean it could be one of those freedom issues, and of course, Republicans smoke lots of pot too.

Not enough! Holder replied.

Boehner,former minority Housespeaker during the Obama administration, joined the board of Acreage Holdings ACRDF in 2018,later launched theNational Cannabis Roundtable and was recently accusedof stealing data from a fellow marijuana lobbyist.

Too Much Equity?

Mahersaid that "there was something that was passed in the House, but the Republicans are against it because they said it has too much stuff about equity. He noted that itmakes senseto give thosenegatively impacted by the war on drugs priority when it comesto getting involved in the legal cannabis industry. For Republicans, he said, this seems to be a deal-breaker.

"What do you want, half a loaf? If they said okay, no equity, is it better to have the law passed or changed or is it better to hold out for equity? Maher asked.

Its better to have the law changed, and as I said deal with the societal reality that we have," Holder replied. "Try to make it as equitable as you possibly can. But, I wouldnt want to stop the movement that I think makes sense for the sake of equity.

TheHouse of Representativesapprovedthe Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act,H.R. 3617on April 1, sending it to Senate. The MORE Act removes cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act, allowing states to legalize cannabis and makeits productionand salefree from federal interference.

In the House, the measure received only three GOP votes fromFlorida Reps. Brian Mast and Matt Gaetzand Rep. Tom McClintock (Cal) and all but two Democratvotes,Henry Cuellar (Texas)and Chris Pappas, (N.H.)

Shortly after this important step forward inmarijuana's legalization journey, Chuck Schumer (D-NY) confirmed that he and his colleagues areplanning to consult with Republican senators to find out what they want included in his bill to federally legalize cannabis, which he says he'llpresent in August.

Probably not all Republicans agree on everything regarding marijuana legalization, but some of them openly supportit, with certain specifications.

For example, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), viewed as one of the leaders among GOP representatives in favor of removing cannabis from the list of federally controlled substances, voted against the MORE Act. Why?

The MORE Act forces a system on South Carolinians and other states they do not want. By comparison, my bill, the States Reform Act, removes the federal government from the equation and allows states to decide for themselves, Mace explained.

She presented her own bill,the States Reform Act,in November 2021, but the measure failed in 12 committees and seven subcommittees without a hearing.

Other GOP senators, such as Rick Scott, James Lankford and Ted Cruz also revealed their reasons for opposing reform.

Meanwhile, despite the opposition, GOP support is growing, and there is also a GOP cannabis legalization measure from Rep. Mace and many other local ones. So, could it be that Maher is onto something?

For many cannabis reformadvocates, it may not matter whopushes it over the lineas long aslegalization is the final outcome. And thankfully, many experts believe that although the process isslow, legalizationis inevitable.

Image by El Planteo

Original publication: June 6, 2022

The rest is here:
Why Bill Maher Thinks Republicans Are 'Gonna Steal The Issue' Of Marijuana Legalization From Democrats - Benzinga

Memory is a tricky thing. We like to believe our memory is accurate, but a lot of people (maybe you!) remember meeting Bugs Bunny at Disneyland. Only one problem: Bugs Bunny isnt a Disney character.

Darker versions of this phenomenon exist. The infamous case of Sybil a woman diagnosed with multiple personality disorder is considered by some to have been an instance of a shrink fostering false memories in a patient in the hope of getting good material for a book. George Orwell commented on the possible political use of false memory in his novel 1984, in which the population of Oceania incorrectly remembered that they were always at war with Eurasia, rather than Eastasia.

Now, a study published in Political Psychology looks into this phenomenon further and examines how partisanship influences false memories.

The researchers carried out two surveys on two different groups of test subjects. Each survey began with a section on the subjects demographic, political, and psychological traits alongside a short cognitive ability test. The surveys then moved on to a series of vignettes describing events or policies that were either real, misattributed, or outright fabricated.

For example, a misattributed story described how Eric Holder (an official in the Obama administration) spoke with MSNBC about negative news coverage of the administration. This event didnt happen, but a similar one did: Bill Barr (a Trump administration official) met with Fox News president Rupert Murdoch. A fabricated story described how the Trump administration allowed waste to be dumped into the Great Lakes. Each survey included 18 stories like these.

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The authors most striking finding was that, while most respondents (correctly) did not recall events that did not occur, 30% of them did and what they misremembered was suspiciously aligned with their political affiliation. For instance, Democratic test subjects were more likely to recall (incorrectly) that the Trump administration intentionally polluted the Great Lakes, while Republicans were more likely to recall (incorrectly) that Trump signed a particular G.I. bill (which was actually signed by Obama).

What causes false memories? By sifting through the data they collected, the authors found that false memories were linked to cognitive ability or, rather, the lack thereof. Similarly, being prone to perceive pseudo-profound bullshit as deeply meaningful also predicted acceptance of false stories. Narcissism also plays a role; confidence and nonsense often go hand-in-hand.

Furthermore, the researchers found that partisanship influenced the recollection of false memories. Members of one political party were more likely to remember events that never happened, provided that the event made their party look good and the other party look bad.

Read more:
Politics ruins everything, including your memory - Big Think

This week walking on Peaked Hill, I passed a 10-inch box turtle on two different walks, both chalking up the only times to cross paths since walking up there over the past decade. The best new thing in town is the Milokan Cultural Center, created by Rick Bausman at Native Earth Teaching Farm: see the activity schedule at bit.ly/MCCatNativeEarth.

Suellen Lazarus opened her Thursday Authors Series explaining that no family or friends had preferential ticket treatment, that Amy Schumer approached the CCC on Monday asking if she could offer a show shes working on as a fundraiser, and on Friday evening she was onstage for the lucky 250 ticket holders. Two hundred tickets were available for present CCC members, those were gone Thursday, and another 50 tickets released Friday morning to anyone on their mailing list, though by sharing that info, many more people were looking for those tickets, which were sold out in two minutes. Perhaps the rumor there will be a second show will come true.

If Alan Dershowitz wants to reach Island listeners, he should contact MVTV, where seating is not an issue: mvtv@mvtv.org, 508-696-9760.

North Tabor Farm now carries farm-prepared meals including salad, grain bowls, and their toasted sesame dressing. Dont forget to visit Crouton and her breadcrumbs.

I ran into cookbook author Joan Nathan and learned that her late husband, Allan Gerson, photographer and famed international lawyer, has an exhibit of his Marthas Vineyard photographs, Perfect Waits, at the M.V. Playhouse from July 19 to August 13, with an opening reception on Wednesday, July 27, from 5 to 6:30 pm (otherwise the gallery is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, from 1 to 4 pm). Also, Joans son, David Henry Gersons documentary, The Story Wont Die, plays at the Grange on Thursday, July 28, at 7 pm. The film highlights young Syrian artists who use their work to protest and process what is currently the largest and longest ongoing displacement of people since World War II. Tickets at tmvff.org/thestorywontdie.

After opening three years ago, the Ruel Gallery, run by painter Colin Ruel and his wife, jeweler Nettie Kent, is throwing an official opening. Stop by Thursday, July 28, from 4 to 7 pm at 31 Basin Road, Menemsha.

The Beach Plum Inn is now open for breakfast from 8 to 10 am, Thursday to Sunday. Reservation only prix-fixe dinner, Friday: Burger Night, Saturday: Taco Night, and Sunday: Caribbean Night, 5 to 9 pm. Use tableagent.com or call 508-645-9454.

This weeks Sunday Flanders Field Softball reports there were bonehead plays of hilarity coupled with brilliant fielding plays especially by younger players. Hunter Weiss standout defensive play showed a magnificent running catch in foul territory. The carefully crafted first-week rules dissolved, except for very sketchy ball and strike calls. In the first game, Peter Haplerins team prevailed over the Hans Solmssen/Caleb Caldwell pitching collaborative, 7-4. In the second game, Ed Egers team got by Jim Feiners team, 5-1. Newcomers include Will Goldman visiting his grandmother, a standout player in both games, and she umpired a few innings too. Jude Spencer, about to start Bard College, played well. Mira Quinton, age 12, played impressively with cool shades and great swing, legged out a few hits, and was joined by her dad in the game. Lily Bernhard, 18, just back from London, played impressively, with her dad in the outfield. Then there was the red-haired young guy on third base who snagged the vicious liner hit by Sig Van Raan, ending a bases-loaded inning. A great Sunday in the fog game, forever summer. Chilmark Softball Games at Flanders Field (on Pasture Road off Tabor House Road), Sundays at 8 am, 12 years or older, and all skill levels welcome.

Join Nancy Aronie for a Memoir as Medicine book talk at the Aquinnah library on Thursday, July 28, at 5 pm. Her upcoming Chilmark Writers Workshops still have room. Call or text 508-274-4286 to register.

Chef and cookbook author Catherine Walthers and foraging farmer and author Rebecca Gilbert have teamed up to teach Preserving an Island Summer Bounty series on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6 pm at Native Earth Teaching Farm; July 28 is Quick Pickles, August 4 is Growing and Enjoying Edible Flowers. Preregistration required; space is limited. Sign up and learn more at bit.ly/WalthersaNEF.

The M.V. Author Series continues on Thursday, July 28, when former Attorney General Eric Holder is interviewed by Michelle Norris about his new book, Our Unfinished March: The Violent Past and Imperiled Future of the Vote A History, a Crisis, a Plan. This program is sold out, but dont miss the final two authors. Learn more and buy tickets at mvbookfestival.com.

Dont miss Kara Taylors Guardians of Us exhibit, open Thursday to Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm.

The Simon Gallery is open Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, at 14 Wisteria Road off Tabor House, featuring Peter Simon photography and Ronni Simon Designs.

Check out the Yard programs and classes at dancetheyard.org. Yoga with Mollie Doyle info is at mollieyoga.com/inpersoncalsses. Class passes sold at the door.

Peaked Hill Studio yoga and Sound Journey info is at peakedhillstudio.com.

The Chilmark library hosts Travel Among the Stars with Mark Alan Lovewell to explore the summer night sky, on Wednesday, August 3, at 8:30 pm; unless noted, programs are hybrid, in-person and on Zoom. Email tthorpe@clamsnet.org for more information. Kids are welcome to join the summer reading program, Read Beyond the Beaten Path. Afternoon Lego Club meets Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. For further help, call 508-645-3360 or chil_mail@clamsnet.org. Summer hours: Monday and Friday: 10:30 am to 1 pm, Tuesday and Thursday: 10:30 am to 5 pm, Wednesday: 10:30 am to 6 pm, Saturday: 10:30 am to 3 pm. See chilmarkma.gov/chilmark-library.

In-person MV BLM vigils at the Chilmark Library lawn are on Sundays at 10:30am. Learn more at mvblm.org. Keep up with whats going on with MV BLM and subscribe to their YouTube channel at bit.ly/MV_BLM_YT.

Check Its a Chilmark Thing on Facebook for up-to-date information about our town and Island.

Have a good week, and Happy Summer to all.

If you have any Chilmark Town Column suggestions, email Valerie Sonnenthal, vsonnenthal@gmail.com.

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Chilmark: The best new thing - Martha's Vineyard Times