https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/07/republicans-lies-trump-racist-attacks-squad.html?fbclid=IwAR0IQCU_eiqY_QAYjel5r1lxnwHqQFedlLfcEnDrvov9Iv7WJrXQlR9B-PQ
"There’s nothing new about Trump telling lies. What’s new is the boldness with which the rest of Trump’s party is embracing his practice of complete fabrication."
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Trump gives up the game, claims the Constitution allows him to do whatever he wants
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-believes-the-constitution-gives-him-the-right-to-do-whatever-i-want-as-president-4018da3ed988/?fbclid=IwAR1oidWWAnoYyYWQibYFK4o2A9WVtMthnXuswd_EWtJFiUF9xAHmqb6rf0s
"In recent months, the president has ramped up his rhetoric on the topic, signaling both his misunderstanding of the executive powers outlined in the Constitution as well as his intent to abuse them."
"In recent months, the president has ramped up his rhetoric on the topic, signaling both his misunderstanding of the executive powers outlined in the Constitution as well as his intent to abuse them."
Trump’s Day With Young Republicans Was Full Of Racism And Lies
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-racism-turning-point-usa-speech-ilhan-omar_n_5d3743a0e4b004b6adb6eac9?fbclid=IwAR2Yy3EV8qMnX8NzNAEqbsqGNLVofYrnRdXlhkGJkzqhlSDTTYiiW453e08
"With each lie and smear came hoots, hollers and several standing ovations from the young audience."
"With each lie and smear came hoots, hollers and several standing ovations from the young audience."
Trump Escalates the Fight Over His Tax Returns With a New Lawsuit
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/07/trump-escalates-the-fight-over-his-tax-returns-with-a-new-lawsuit/?fbclid=IwAR1WxG0LwuhLem4qkE5EOYdDxWNQO_aPflGuBQvzvS1y7cfjuWC4XgSqsRg
"Trump’s lawsuit is a preemptive strike, asking a judge to halt any attempt to turn over his tax returns to congressional Democrats."
"Trump’s lawsuit is a preemptive strike, asking a judge to halt any attempt to turn over his tax returns to congressional Democrats."
Russia Is Still Trying To Meddle In U.S. Elections, FBI Chief Warns
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/russia-election-meddling-fbi-christopher-wray_n_5d37d465e4b020cd994b57c2
"Russia is still trying to interfere in American politics and the 2020 presidential election despite sanctions and other U.S. efforts to combat such threats, FBI Director Christopher Wray warned lawmakers on Tuesday. “The Russians are absolutely intent on trying to interfere with our elections,” Wray said during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing."
"Russia is still trying to interfere in American politics and the 2020 presidential election despite sanctions and other U.S. efforts to combat such threats, FBI Director Christopher Wray warned lawmakers on Tuesday. “The Russians are absolutely intent on trying to interfere with our elections,” Wray said during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing."
15 States Have Already Taken Steps to Make the Electoral College Obsolete
https://truthout.org/articles/15-states-have-already-taken-steps-to-make-the-electoral-college-obsolete/
"Last week, presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders touted his support for abolishing the Electoral College, telling a town hall hosted by the League of United Latin American Citizens that, “It is hard to defend a system in which we have a president who lost the popular vote by 3 million votes.” His call comes as recent polling data shows most Americans support replacing the Electoral College with a national popular vote system. According to a survey published last July by the Public Religion Research Institute, Americans would prefer that presidential elections were decided by the national popular vote as opposed to the Electoral College by “roughly a two-to-one margin.” Now, a growing movement is gaining momentum among state legislatures to make this a reality by adopting a measure that would award Electoral College votes to the winner of the national popular vote."
"Last week, presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders touted his support for abolishing the Electoral College, telling a town hall hosted by the League of United Latin American Citizens that, “It is hard to defend a system in which we have a president who lost the popular vote by 3 million votes.” His call comes as recent polling data shows most Americans support replacing the Electoral College with a national popular vote system. According to a survey published last July by the Public Religion Research Institute, Americans would prefer that presidential elections were decided by the national popular vote as opposed to the Electoral College by “roughly a two-to-one margin.” Now, a growing movement is gaining momentum among state legislatures to make this a reality by adopting a measure that would award Electoral College votes to the winner of the national popular vote."
Man In Charlottesville Car Attack Gets Life Sentence Plus 419 Years
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fields-sentence-charlottesville-rally_n_5d2cbce0e4b08938b09917fe?fbclid=IwAR2c1JeVsypYA-djyX0RB9Nth4alTA7v_iEoRpcthfcRS5ptzm7S6C5-XwQ
"An avowed white supremacist was sentenced to life plus 419 years on federal hate crime charges Monday for deliberately driving his car into anti-racism protesters during a white nationalist rally in Virginia. James Alex Fields Jr., 22, received the sentence for killing one person and injuring dozens during the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 12, 2017. Last month, Fields received a life sentence on 29 federal hate crime charges."
"An avowed white supremacist was sentenced to life plus 419 years on federal hate crime charges Monday for deliberately driving his car into anti-racism protesters during a white nationalist rally in Virginia. James Alex Fields Jr., 22, received the sentence for killing one person and injuring dozens during the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 12, 2017. Last month, Fields received a life sentence on 29 federal hate crime charges."
Trump Goes All In on Racism
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/07/racism-campaign-strategy/593962/?fbclid=IwAR2J417lm4LhJmOF-1feJgdkER_7DWEpKYTm-_2K_3_sK8UC7mHfmq47Be4
"Trump, ever the master of projection, is at it again here. If one wants to see what happens when a political party unites around foul language and racist hatred spewed from the mouth of an unpopular and unrepresentative politician, the Republican Party serves that purpose too."
"Trump, ever the master of projection, is at it again here. If one wants to see what happens when a political party unites around foul language and racist hatred spewed from the mouth of an unpopular and unrepresentative politician, the Republican Party serves that purpose too."
Trump believes white nationalism is a winning strategy — because Fox News tells him so
https://www.salon.com/2019/07/16/trump-believes-white-nationalism-is-a-winning-strategy-because-fox-news-tells-him-so/?fbclid=IwAR2FDhT-kT6f300sPPD3tf5aVIHUhrPnX9_ocpB6u0yCQMcVPk0yrjSQ6KU
"For years now, Fox News has been mainstreaming arguments that used to be the province of fringe websites run by neo-Nazis and other groups who believe the U.S. is meant to be a country of white people and for white people — perhaps with others permitted in small numbers of they stay quiet and keep to themselves. Trump was a major factor in the early rumblings of white nationalism on the network, which gave him considerable airtime during his reality TV days to air conspiracy theories about Barack Obama's birth certificate. Such "birther" theories rested fairly obviously, in the first place, on the belief that black people cannot be "real" Americans. Since Trump was elected, the Fox News programming that promotes white nationalist ideas has slowly grown both in airtime and in severity."
"For years now, Fox News has been mainstreaming arguments that used to be the province of fringe websites run by neo-Nazis and other groups who believe the U.S. is meant to be a country of white people and for white people — perhaps with others permitted in small numbers of they stay quiet and keep to themselves. Trump was a major factor in the early rumblings of white nationalism on the network, which gave him considerable airtime during his reality TV days to air conspiracy theories about Barack Obama's birth certificate. Such "birther" theories rested fairly obviously, in the first place, on the belief that black people cannot be "real" Americans. Since Trump was elected, the Fox News programming that promotes white nationalist ideas has slowly grown both in airtime and in severity."
New Video of Trump and Epstein Partying and Leering at Women Emerges
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/07/trump-epstein-partying-mar-a-lago/?fbclid=IwAR3DypH8IhoTZUGGoY2epeos-c5keIpKIIiANi6OwvthSnS3Bnktj1fcrFk
"The video’s emergence comes as more women come forward to allege that Epstein sexually abused them. In recent days, prosecutors have also revealed that several suspicious items, including a fake passport with a Saudi address and Epstein’s photo and “piles of cash,” were uncovered in Epstein’s Manhattan home."
"The video’s emergence comes as more women come forward to allege that Epstein sexually abused them. In recent days, prosecutors have also revealed that several suspicious items, including a fake passport with a Saudi address and Epstein’s photo and “piles of cash,” were uncovered in Epstein’s Manhattan home."
Big Sir: Trump’s Most Frequent Dishonesty Tell
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/sir-trump-dishonesty-fact-check?fbclid=IwAR2j0i-IJHTta7g1hhtimxjx3FVpVzV0XEosC2NX23lX93Bxl4GtKqxjghE
"if Trump’s anecdotes include someone calling him “sir,” they are almost guaranteed to be at least somewhat false. Trump has invoked the title while spinning mistruths about everything from healthcare to veterans to farming"
"if Trump’s anecdotes include someone calling him “sir,” they are almost guaranteed to be at least somewhat false. Trump has invoked the title while spinning mistruths about everything from healthcare to veterans to farming"
The President vs. The Patriots
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-racism-patriotism-betrayal-859631/?fbclid=IwAR1PGvqq24CBo-wGyGF2q6kcFewwod7pHk3jTOqGnGarFIwBA-vaHvmpxhc
"Trump would have us believe that we demonstrate love of country by attempting to shame four Congresswomen who have a voice and use it to call out human rights abuses committed on our soil by our government, to say nothing of calling out those crimes against humanity before its deliberative bodies."
"Trump would have us believe that we demonstrate love of country by attempting to shame four Congresswomen who have a voice and use it to call out human rights abuses committed on our soil by our government, to say nothing of calling out those crimes against humanity before its deliberative bodies."
"White Identity Politics" and white backlash: How we wound up with a racist in the White House
https://www.salon.com/2019/07/17/author-of-white-identity-politics-we-really-need-to-start-worrying-as-a-country/?fbclid=IwAR1kdpRAtatyjro97A7LfUGH7aKqSLo7wGghgLR5fy4h6J4dIPy39MGBFfA
"Today's Republican Party is the largest, most powerful and most dangerous white racist organization in the United States -- if not the world."
"Today's Republican Party is the largest, most powerful and most dangerous white racist organization in the United States -- if not the world."
With a straight face, GOP leader says party was ‘respectful’ of Obama
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/straight-face-gop-leader-says-party-was-respectful-obama?fbclid=IwAR1ZY2diHxk91fut3BpeZlsytxO9BcZI-qzD_bUyu3Q0ygEE_W_oKSBnmOA
"In case there were any doubts, Scalise did not appear to be kidding. Which is a shame because it suggests the Republican congressman – the #2 member of the House GOP leadership – genuinely believes that he and his party were nothing but responsible and measured when expressing their disagreements with Barack Obama during his presidency. Republicans, in Scalise’s mind, set a high bar when it came to political decorum. Obama could take comfort in knowing that his GOP opponents took great care to treat him and his office with respect and decency. Please. I know better than to try to summarize an eight-year period in which Republicans disrespected the Obama presidency on a nearly daily basis, but one need not have an encyclopedic memory to recall incidents that disprove Scalise’s bizarre boast. Remember the time a House Republican heckled Obama during a speech to a joint session? How about the years in which GOP officials tolerated – and at times, perpetuated – the racist birther conspiracy theory? Or incidents such as Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) vowing to send the Democratic president “home to Kenya or wherever it is”? Or maybe the point at which 44 Senate Republicans demonstrated their “respect” for the office of the presidency by writing a letter to Iran, telling our enemy not to trust Obama or his word? To bolster his point, Scalise added, “If [Obama] asked [Republicans] to go meet with him at the White House, we went.” That wasn’t true, either. If GOP lawmakers want to defend Trump, fine. If they’re eager to attack Democrats who dare to criticize Trump, that’s OK, too. But if we’re going to look back at the Republican campaign against the Obama presidency, perhaps we can put down the rose-colored glasses?"
"In case there were any doubts, Scalise did not appear to be kidding. Which is a shame because it suggests the Republican congressman – the #2 member of the House GOP leadership – genuinely believes that he and his party were nothing but responsible and measured when expressing their disagreements with Barack Obama during his presidency. Republicans, in Scalise’s mind, set a high bar when it came to political decorum. Obama could take comfort in knowing that his GOP opponents took great care to treat him and his office with respect and decency. Please. I know better than to try to summarize an eight-year period in which Republicans disrespected the Obama presidency on a nearly daily basis, but one need not have an encyclopedic memory to recall incidents that disprove Scalise’s bizarre boast. Remember the time a House Republican heckled Obama during a speech to a joint session? How about the years in which GOP officials tolerated – and at times, perpetuated – the racist birther conspiracy theory? Or incidents such as Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) vowing to send the Democratic president “home to Kenya or wherever it is”? Or maybe the point at which 44 Senate Republicans demonstrated their “respect” for the office of the presidency by writing a letter to Iran, telling our enemy not to trust Obama or his word? To bolster his point, Scalise added, “If [Obama] asked [Republicans] to go meet with him at the White House, we went.” That wasn’t true, either. If GOP lawmakers want to defend Trump, fine. If they’re eager to attack Democrats who dare to criticize Trump, that’s OK, too. But if we’re going to look back at the Republican campaign against the Obama presidency, perhaps we can put down the rose-colored glasses?"
Liz Cheney goes all-in on Trump's racism: Meet the future of the Republican Party
https://www.salon.com/2019/07/17/liz-cheney-goes-all-in-on-trumps-racism-meet-the-future-of-the-republican-party/?fbclid=IwAR1vGQDjcCtd-pSWDXSvvpwQd8DfPELCu7jNMTkxvABnAf7LWmK93UGPyDc
"Cheney is clever. She let Trump do the dirty work of saying out loud what the base wants to hear. Then she piled on with a long laundry list of lies, tying a fantasy Democratic ideology to Trump's racist, Islamophobic, misogynist commentary without ever having to say the words herself. She has a talent for going for the jugular in a more traditional way that might just reassure any wavering GOP female voters that she represents a return to the old-fashioned Republican insults they know and love — racist dog-whistles and red-baiting. At the moment, there's a lot of speculation that Cheney will run for the Wyoming U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Mike Enzi. Polls show she would win the primary against another woman who has already announced, which means she would almost certainly win the seat in one of the reddest of red states. It's also true she's on the leadership fast track in the Republican House caucus, and may stay put there, believing that's her best springboard to higher office. Whatever she chooses, she will be a powerful force in Republican politics. Liz Cheney is almost certainly thinking about running for president, as is Nikki Haley. But at this point in the GOP's evolution, only one of them will be seen by most Trump-crazed Republican voters as a leader they can trust. It won't be the woman of color whose parents came to America to start a new life. It's the white woman who's an authoritarian nationalist with a Republican establishment pedigree a mile long, who eagerly marches in lockstep with the president. Now that's a woman Trump voters can sincerely admire."
"Cheney is clever. She let Trump do the dirty work of saying out loud what the base wants to hear. Then she piled on with a long laundry list of lies, tying a fantasy Democratic ideology to Trump's racist, Islamophobic, misogynist commentary without ever having to say the words herself. She has a talent for going for the jugular in a more traditional way that might just reassure any wavering GOP female voters that she represents a return to the old-fashioned Republican insults they know and love — racist dog-whistles and red-baiting. At the moment, there's a lot of speculation that Cheney will run for the Wyoming U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Mike Enzi. Polls show she would win the primary against another woman who has already announced, which means she would almost certainly win the seat in one of the reddest of red states. It's also true she's on the leadership fast track in the Republican House caucus, and may stay put there, believing that's her best springboard to higher office. Whatever she chooses, she will be a powerful force in Republican politics. Liz Cheney is almost certainly thinking about running for president, as is Nikki Haley. But at this point in the GOP's evolution, only one of them will be seen by most Trump-crazed Republican voters as a leader they can trust. It won't be the woman of color whose parents came to America to start a new life. It's the white woman who's an authoritarian nationalist with a Republican establishment pedigree a mile long, who eagerly marches in lockstep with the president. Now that's a woman Trump voters can sincerely admire."
Mitch McConnell's big donors are Wall Street firms — and only 9% of his funds comes from Kentucky
https://www.salon.com/2019/07/17/mitch-mcconnells-big-donors-are-wall-street-firms-and-only-9-of-his-funds-comes-from-kentucky/?fbclid=IwAR1IbK_nZL5CMN6og83nUdeorWBgzp0QG2LFc_ub3sWCCMydsWobP9_tOTM
"Vast majority of McConnell's campaign funds come from big-dollar, out-of-state donors, many in the financial sector"
"Vast majority of McConnell's campaign funds come from big-dollar, out-of-state donors, many in the financial sector"
It Will Not End With 'Send Her Back'
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a28433271/trump-rally-send-her-back-ilhan-omar/?fbclid=IwAR1OraRcy5nSz0uh0_Xz0YEVkTiwl0xiQSU2sFFXOcKOxYXgd2T26B89lMk
"Unfortunately, this is not how the movie ends. The documentaries—assuming we make it that far—may not begin with footage of Donald Trump's rally in North Carolina Wednesday night. It will certainly feature that moment, perhaps as an inflection point in this ongoing national disaster. But it will not be the last scene. History tells us that it never ends with rally crowds, whipped into a frenzy by a racist authoritarian leader, chanting for racial and religious minorities to be stripped of their citizenship and removed from the country. The hatred and the paranoia is coming to a boil now. We have reached a dark place, but we are headed for the truly deep and dark. Even if we make it out the other side, we may not recognize this country by the time we do."
"Unfortunately, this is not how the movie ends. The documentaries—assuming we make it that far—may not begin with footage of Donald Trump's rally in North Carolina Wednesday night. It will certainly feature that moment, perhaps as an inflection point in this ongoing national disaster. But it will not be the last scene. History tells us that it never ends with rally crowds, whipped into a frenzy by a racist authoritarian leader, chanting for racial and religious minorities to be stripped of their citizenship and removed from the country. The hatred and the paranoia is coming to a boil now. We have reached a dark place, but we are headed for the truly deep and dark. Even if we make it out the other side, we may not recognize this country by the time we do."
A Fascist Trump Rally In Greenville
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fascist-trump-rally-greenville-ilhan-omar-send-her-back_n_5d30529fe4b0419fd328b270?fbclid=IwAR39g-AwNy2IMg_pLFgyrM_eQK0XAH92rXIMbdRqQfAXclpWtlbjx6v6Hzg
"Telling people of color to “go back” where they came from is a foundational white nationalist insult in American history. (When nine black teenagers integrated a school in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, a mob of a thousand white people heckled them with screams of “Go back to Africa.”)"
"Telling people of color to “go back” where they came from is a foundational white nationalist insult in American history. (When nine black teenagers integrated a school in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, a mob of a thousand white people heckled them with screams of “Go back to Africa.”)"
Donald Trump’s Politics of Hate Began With a “Cynical and Evil” GOP Memo
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/07/donald-trumps-politics-of-hate-began-with-a-cynical-and-evil-gop-memo/?fbclid=IwAR0_tjxvEFSKt1grhle5yeRFxyK0mDyAMI03AhZEw3indINK8XAtd539hB0
"Decades before Gingrich was a Trump-adoring Fox News bloviator, he was speaker of the House. And before that he was a bomb-thrower. In fact, he became speaker partly because he weaponized hate. Elected in 1978, Gingrich was a back-bencher in the House of Representatives when the Republicans appeared to be in a permanent minority. His strategy was to blow up his own party so he could take control and lead it to the majority—and one of his big ideas was that the GOP, in order to succeed, had to create more division within the national discourse. He established a political action committee called GOPAC to help Republican candidates across the country become more effective campaigners. And in 1990, the group distributed to GOP contenders a pamphlet called “Language: A Key Mechanism of Control,” which encouraged the candidates to “speak like Newt”—that is, to rely upon sharp and divisive rhetoric. It presented a list of 30 “optimistic positive” words to use, including “freedom,” “truth,” and “family.” It also provided a list of “contrasting” words: “crisis,” “decay,” and “red tape.” And this second list recommended going to extremes. Republican candidates, it noted, should call Democrats “shallow,” “radical,” “incompetent,” “pathetic,” “sick,” “bizarre,” and “traitors.” Gingrich’s group was urging GOPers to engage in all-out rhetorical war, going beyond arguing over policies to engaging in the politics of personal destruction. Which was one of Gingrich’s own favorite tools. (The good Newt loved to talk about policy; the bad Newt embraced and relished hostile name-calling and discordant combat.) And the nastiness paid off. The belligerent Gingrich led his Republicans to the majority in the House in 1994. The morning after Trump’s North Carolina rally, I called Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster and consultant who worked with Gingrich in the 1990s, and asked him about this memo. He called it “stupid-assed,” adding, “It’s the most destructive political memo written in modern politics"."
"Decades before Gingrich was a Trump-adoring Fox News bloviator, he was speaker of the House. And before that he was a bomb-thrower. In fact, he became speaker partly because he weaponized hate. Elected in 1978, Gingrich was a back-bencher in the House of Representatives when the Republicans appeared to be in a permanent minority. His strategy was to blow up his own party so he could take control and lead it to the majority—and one of his big ideas was that the GOP, in order to succeed, had to create more division within the national discourse. He established a political action committee called GOPAC to help Republican candidates across the country become more effective campaigners. And in 1990, the group distributed to GOP contenders a pamphlet called “Language: A Key Mechanism of Control,” which encouraged the candidates to “speak like Newt”—that is, to rely upon sharp and divisive rhetoric. It presented a list of 30 “optimistic positive” words to use, including “freedom,” “truth,” and “family.” It also provided a list of “contrasting” words: “crisis,” “decay,” and “red tape.” And this second list recommended going to extremes. Republican candidates, it noted, should call Democrats “shallow,” “radical,” “incompetent,” “pathetic,” “sick,” “bizarre,” and “traitors.” Gingrich’s group was urging GOPers to engage in all-out rhetorical war, going beyond arguing over policies to engaging in the politics of personal destruction. Which was one of Gingrich’s own favorite tools. (The good Newt loved to talk about policy; the bad Newt embraced and relished hostile name-calling and discordant combat.) And the nastiness paid off. The belligerent Gingrich led his Republicans to the majority in the House in 1994. The morning after Trump’s North Carolina rally, I called Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster and consultant who worked with Gingrich in the 1990s, and asked him about this memo. He called it “stupid-assed,” adding, “It’s the most destructive political memo written in modern politics"."
Ocasio-Cortez Confronts Acting DHS Chief Over Secret Facebook Group For Border Agents
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ocasio-cortez-dhs-kevin-mcaleenan_n_5d315ecfe4b020cd99415156?fbclid=IwAR04V9G8oy33_zHoIkCtn7WaIhvxsRhhpFk1OG0IIx3VdWW9fo9v1cO-weM
"During her questioning, she asked if the acting secretary had seen photoshopped images of herself shared in the group, and asked if any members of Border Patrol affiliated with them were still responsible for working with migrant women and children. “Did you see the images of officers circulating photoshopped images of my violent rape?” the lawmaker asked. “Do you think that the policy of child separation could have contributed to a dehumanizing culture within CBP that contributes and kind of spills over into other areas of conduct?” McAleenan replied that he had, but demurred about any potential Border Patrol officers that had been reprimanded to for their involvement, saying simply that some had been placed on “administrative duties"."
"During her questioning, she asked if the acting secretary had seen photoshopped images of herself shared in the group, and asked if any members of Border Patrol affiliated with them were still responsible for working with migrant women and children. “Did you see the images of officers circulating photoshopped images of my violent rape?” the lawmaker asked. “Do you think that the policy of child separation could have contributed to a dehumanizing culture within CBP that contributes and kind of spills over into other areas of conduct?” McAleenan replied that he had, but demurred about any potential Border Patrol officers that had been reprimanded to for their involvement, saying simply that some had been placed on “administrative duties"."
Trump Is the Most Unpatriotic Presidential Candidate in American History
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/07/trump-most-unpatriotic-candidate-in-american-history.html?fbclid=IwAR2RpP_fgfKiqO_28TPoCvtDykeOwfURuwS9ZLYbRmBeOOqS1Gdy8w0QsrY
"At minimum, Trump attempted to cooperate with the criminal intervention of a hostile foreign power in an American election (by, among other things, instructing Michael Flynn to obtain emails he believed Russia had stolen and going on camera to ask Russia to release them). While this was going on, he was secretly negotiating for a payoff worth several hundred million dollars from this same hostile power during the election. The term “treason” is overused — it is a crime reserved for times of war — but cooperating with an adversary in pursuit of financial and political gain is definitely not the act of a patriot. That a man who has expressed contempt for American governing ideals and has cooperated with its enemies while chasing secret payoffs from them can win the presidency is outrageous. That such a man can then run for reelection by accusing his opponents of lacking patriotism positively boggles the mind. Trump has to be the most unpatriotic major-party presidential candidate in American history."
"At minimum, Trump attempted to cooperate with the criminal intervention of a hostile foreign power in an American election (by, among other things, instructing Michael Flynn to obtain emails he believed Russia had stolen and going on camera to ask Russia to release them). While this was going on, he was secretly negotiating for a payoff worth several hundred million dollars from this same hostile power during the election. The term “treason” is overused — it is a crime reserved for times of war — but cooperating with an adversary in pursuit of financial and political gain is definitely not the act of a patriot. That a man who has expressed contempt for American governing ideals and has cooperated with its enemies while chasing secret payoffs from them can win the presidency is outrageous. That such a man can then run for reelection by accusing his opponents of lacking patriotism positively boggles the mind. Trump has to be the most unpatriotic major-party presidential candidate in American history."
Can Trump’s Hard-Core Fans Be Deradicalized?
https://www.thedailybeast.com/can-trumps-hard-core-fans-be-deradicalized?ref=home&fbclid=IwAR0B7pITYZE5F9g7LOE9VxZBJ2hCXhrrpKORSUFoaEumg4JRxvZjvF9l4nE
"Trump’s rhetoric has already inspired violent attacks. During a March 2016 rally, Trump asked fans to eject protesters, calling on them to “get ‘em out of here.” Matt Heimbach, a neo-Nazi who was later instrumental in 2017’s deadly white supremacist rally in Charlotteville, complied, assaulting a black protester. In October, a Florida man sent 16 pipe bombs to politicians, news outlets, and public figures who have been critical of Trump. The bomber had attended Trump rallies and described them as “like a new found drug.” Trump’s election has coincided with a marked spike in hate crimes, and a rise in overt white supremacist action. Trump’s attacks on the four congresswomen are an extension of the racist appeals he made to voters during his first campaign."
"Trump’s rhetoric has already inspired violent attacks. During a March 2016 rally, Trump asked fans to eject protesters, calling on them to “get ‘em out of here.” Matt Heimbach, a neo-Nazi who was later instrumental in 2017’s deadly white supremacist rally in Charlotteville, complied, assaulting a black protester. In October, a Florida man sent 16 pipe bombs to politicians, news outlets, and public figures who have been critical of Trump. The bomber had attended Trump rallies and described them as “like a new found drug.” Trump’s election has coincided with a marked spike in hate crimes, and a rise in overt white supremacist action. Trump’s attacks on the four congresswomen are an extension of the racist appeals he made to voters during his first campaign."
Border Patrol Agents Have a Secret Facebook Group, Where Racism and Sexism Prevail
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/07/border-patrol-agents-secret-facebook-alexandria-ocasio-cortez/?fbclid=IwAR0o_wPL5i_8sg8IiBAOoy8-nUmZ2pYlV4rvsslDAUIfIcykQ2A_SJHpD6Q
"Amid a national discussion about the inhumane treatment of migrants at the US–Mexico border, the Facebook page provides insight into the mindset of those who are employed to secure the border. The page shows “a pervasive culture of cruelty aimed at immigrants within CBP,” Daniel Martinez, a sociologist at the University of Arizona in Tucson told ProPublica."
"Amid a national discussion about the inhumane treatment of migrants at the US–Mexico border, the Facebook page provides insight into the mindset of those who are employed to secure the border. The page shows “a pervasive culture of cruelty aimed at immigrants within CBP,” Daniel Martinez, a sociologist at the University of Arizona in Tucson told ProPublica."
Inside the Secret Border Patrol Facebook Group Where Agents Joke About Migrant Deaths and Post Sexist Memes
https://www.propublica.org/article/secret-border-patrol-facebook-group-agents-joke-about-migrant-deaths-post-sexist-memes?fbclid=IwAR0Ted1Ul5U5h-Be0nQ3gAiHq9K0hcordMmx5pSWMRNZtBa6l58lESBNceY
"The Border Patrol Facebook group is the most recent example of some law enforcement personnel behaving badly in public and private digital spaces. An investigation by Reveal uncovered hundreds of active-duty and retired law enforcement officers who moved in extremist Facebook circles, including white supremacist and anti-government groups. A team of researchers calling themselves the Plain View Project recently released a hefty database of offensive Facebook posts made by current and ex-law enforcement officers. And in early 2018, federal investigators found a raft of disturbing and racist text messages sent by Border Patrol agents in southern Arizona after searching the phone of Matthew Bowen, an agent charged with running down a Guatemalan migrant with a Ford F-150 pickup truck. The texts, which were revealed in a court filing in federal court in Tucson, described migrants as “guats,” “wild ass sh*tbags,” “beaners” and “subhuman.” The messages included repeated discussions about burning the migrants up. Several of the postings reviewed by ProPublica refer to the planned visit by members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, including Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Veronica Escobar, to a troubled Border Patrol facility outside of El Paso. Agents at the compound in Clint, Texas, have been accused of holding children in neglectful, inhumane conditions. Members of the Border Patrol Facebook group were not enthused about the tour, noting that Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from Queens, had compared Border Patrol facilities to Nazi concentration camps. Escobar is a freshman Democrat representing El Paso. One member encouraged Border Patrol agents to hurl a “burrito at these bitches.” Another, apparently a patrol supervisor, wrote, “F**k the hoes.” “There should be no photo ops for these scum buckets,” posted a third member. Perhaps the most disturbing posts target Ocasio-Cortez. One includes a photo illustration of her engaged in oral sex at an immigrant detention center."
"The Border Patrol Facebook group is the most recent example of some law enforcement personnel behaving badly in public and private digital spaces. An investigation by Reveal uncovered hundreds of active-duty and retired law enforcement officers who moved in extremist Facebook circles, including white supremacist and anti-government groups. A team of researchers calling themselves the Plain View Project recently released a hefty database of offensive Facebook posts made by current and ex-law enforcement officers. And in early 2018, federal investigators found a raft of disturbing and racist text messages sent by Border Patrol agents in southern Arizona after searching the phone of Matthew Bowen, an agent charged with running down a Guatemalan migrant with a Ford F-150 pickup truck. The texts, which were revealed in a court filing in federal court in Tucson, described migrants as “guats,” “wild ass sh*tbags,” “beaners” and “subhuman.” The messages included repeated discussions about burning the migrants up. Several of the postings reviewed by ProPublica refer to the planned visit by members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, including Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Veronica Escobar, to a troubled Border Patrol facility outside of El Paso. Agents at the compound in Clint, Texas, have been accused of holding children in neglectful, inhumane conditions. Members of the Border Patrol Facebook group were not enthused about the tour, noting that Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from Queens, had compared Border Patrol facilities to Nazi concentration camps. Escobar is a freshman Democrat representing El Paso. One member encouraged Border Patrol agents to hurl a “burrito at these bitches.” Another, apparently a patrol supervisor, wrote, “F**k the hoes.” “There should be no photo ops for these scum buckets,” posted a third member. Perhaps the most disturbing posts target Ocasio-Cortez. One includes a photo illustration of her engaged in oral sex at an immigrant detention center."
Donald Trump’s long history of racism, from the 1970s to 2019
https://www.vox.com/2016/7/25/12270880/donald-trump-racist-racism-history?fbclid=IwAR2j3y7FWdmCfiwCayx2T68QOvOUEmRb-T3YuzKlhbeUvyefN8sDXQxFbSU
"This is nothing new for Trump. In fact, the very first time that Trump appeared in the pages of the New York Times, back in the 1970s, was when the US Department of Justice sued him for racial discrimination. Since then, he has repeatedly appeared in newspaper pages across the world as he inspired more similar controversies. This long history is important. It would be one thing if Trump simply misspoke one or two times. But when you take all of Trump’s actions and comments together, a clear pattern emerges — one that suggests that bigotry is not just political opportunism on Trump’s part but a real element of Trump’s personality, character, and career."
"This is nothing new for Trump. In fact, the very first time that Trump appeared in the pages of the New York Times, back in the 1970s, was when the US Department of Justice sued him for racial discrimination. Since then, he has repeatedly appeared in newspaper pages across the world as he inspired more similar controversies. This long history is important. It would be one thing if Trump simply misspoke one or two times. But when you take all of Trump’s actions and comments together, a clear pattern emerges — one that suggests that bigotry is not just political opportunism on Trump’s part but a real element of Trump’s personality, character, and career."
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez grills DHS on "10,000 officers in a violent, racist group sharing rape memes"
https://www.newsweek.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-grills-kevin-mcaleenan-border-patrol-1450149?fbclid=IwAR2J2WwTSP-S4_CJvzZ3LsNP5-M6L1iCwd-mLJ-K5XFocjA699ueswG8emQ
"New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez confronted acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan on Thursday over the "dehumanizing culture" she said appeared to be pervasive within Border Patrol. Her comments came after a secret "violent, racist" Facebook group sharing rape memes of members of Congress came to light. The exchange unfolded during a congressional hearing on Thursday, in which McAleenan sought to assure lawmakers that his department was carrying out an "aggressive" investigation into the secret Facebook group. More than 9,000 current and former Border Patrol agents were reported to be a part of the group, according to ProPublica. In addition to featuring derogatory posts about members of Congress, including Ocasio-Cortez, the group also joked about the deaths of migrants at the border. "Did you see the posts mocking migrant children's deaths?" Ocasio-Cortez asked McAleenan during the hearing. "I did," he responded. "Did you see the posts planning physical harm to myself and Congresswoman Escobar?" "Yes and I directed an investigation within minutes of reading the article," he responded. "Did you see the images of officers circulating photoshopped images of my violent rape?" she asked. "Yes, I did," McAleenan confirmed."
"New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez confronted acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan on Thursday over the "dehumanizing culture" she said appeared to be pervasive within Border Patrol. Her comments came after a secret "violent, racist" Facebook group sharing rape memes of members of Congress came to light. The exchange unfolded during a congressional hearing on Thursday, in which McAleenan sought to assure lawmakers that his department was carrying out an "aggressive" investigation into the secret Facebook group. More than 9,000 current and former Border Patrol agents were reported to be a part of the group, according to ProPublica. In addition to featuring derogatory posts about members of Congress, including Ocasio-Cortez, the group also joked about the deaths of migrants at the border. "Did you see the posts mocking migrant children's deaths?" Ocasio-Cortez asked McAleenan during the hearing. "I did," he responded. "Did you see the posts planning physical harm to myself and Congresswoman Escobar?" "Yes and I directed an investigation within minutes of reading the article," he responded. "Did you see the images of officers circulating photoshopped images of my violent rape?" she asked. "Yes, I did," McAleenan confirmed."
Trump’s Race-Baiting Evokes Nuremberg Rallies
https://truthout.org/articles/trumps-race-baiting-evokes-nuremberg-rallies/
"William Shirer, the great chronicler of the Third Reich, wrote in his diaries about the Nuremberg Rallies, “You have to go through one of these to understand Hitler’s hold on the people, to feel the dynamic in the movement he’s unleashed and the sheer, disciplined strength the Germans possess. And now — as Hitler told the correspondents yesterday in explaining his technique — the half-million men who’ve been here during the week will go back to their towns and villages and preach the new gospel with new fanaticism.” It happened there. Trump’s words, and the sullen, opportunistic silence of virtually the entire GOP political leadership, make it more likely it could happen here. The most powerful man on Earth is now using his platform to unreservedly preach the gutter politics of the purge, of the pogrom, of the race war. We cannot let Trump and his supporters enact his fascistic gospel. We cannot let history repeat itself."
"William Shirer, the great chronicler of the Third Reich, wrote in his diaries about the Nuremberg Rallies, “You have to go through one of these to understand Hitler’s hold on the people, to feel the dynamic in the movement he’s unleashed and the sheer, disciplined strength the Germans possess. And now — as Hitler told the correspondents yesterday in explaining his technique — the half-million men who’ve been here during the week will go back to their towns and villages and preach the new gospel with new fanaticism.” It happened there. Trump’s words, and the sullen, opportunistic silence of virtually the entire GOP political leadership, make it more likely it could happen here. The most powerful man on Earth is now using his platform to unreservedly preach the gutter politics of the purge, of the pogrom, of the race war. We cannot let Trump and his supporters enact his fascistic gospel. We cannot let history repeat itself."
Media expert: How Tucker Carlson and Fox News have mainstreamed "unfettered white nationalism"
https://www.salon.com/2019/07/18/media-expert-how-tucker-carlson-and-fox-news-have-mainstreamed-unfettered-white-nationalism/?fbclid=IwAR3AB1BY4PgidExqec2yaokSKQNZPf6As-vKfOqMVN7yrCYbeM01bZ1ErD8
"Fox News is both a mouthpiece for President Trump and a mechanism for implanting ideas and voices in Trump's head. Trump then repeats these ideas and parrots the voices, sometimes word for word, believing they are his own. Donald Trump has now told more than 10,000 public lies since 2016. Communications scholars and other social scientists have shown that Fox News lies to its audience so often that a person who watches no TV news at all would know more about factual current events than a regular Fox viewer. Fox News traffics in white racial resentment, white identity politics, overt racism, white victimology, nativism, xenophobia and misogyny, as well as bigotry and fear-mongering against Muslims and other out-groups. Donald Trump does the same things. Donald Trump is an authoritarian with no respect for the rule of law and democracy. He has used scripted violence and stochastic terrorism to target his political enemies, with the most recent example being his attacks on the four nonwhite Democratic congresswomen he recently told to leave America unless they are willing to comply with his racially authoritarian regime."
"Fox News is both a mouthpiece for President Trump and a mechanism for implanting ideas and voices in Trump's head. Trump then repeats these ideas and parrots the voices, sometimes word for word, believing they are his own. Donald Trump has now told more than 10,000 public lies since 2016. Communications scholars and other social scientists have shown that Fox News lies to its audience so often that a person who watches no TV news at all would know more about factual current events than a regular Fox viewer. Fox News traffics in white racial resentment, white identity politics, overt racism, white victimology, nativism, xenophobia and misogyny, as well as bigotry and fear-mongering against Muslims and other out-groups. Donald Trump does the same things. Donald Trump is an authoritarian with no respect for the rule of law and democracy. He has used scripted violence and stochastic terrorism to target his political enemies, with the most recent example being his attacks on the four nonwhite Democratic congresswomen he recently told to leave America unless they are willing to comply with his racially authoritarian regime."
Racism, Inc.: How Donald Trump profits from xenophobia
https://www.salon.com/2019/07/21/racism-inc-how-donald-trump-profits-from-xenophobia/?fbclid=IwAR0wGgjupwGGd0JWjrwxUA5f1K93yDtWrdmvMlcx-pFtCycI0Z5zd_BV7AU
"The blatant racism of a number of Trump supporters has been an uncomfortable truth, but, again, these facts have been open and present for years now. Each time Trump has the gall to voice his racism publicly it only stokes and energizes the racist segments of society that support him."
"The blatant racism of a number of Trump supporters has been an uncomfortable truth, but, again, these facts have been open and present for years now. Each time Trump has the gall to voice his racism publicly it only stokes and energizes the racist segments of society that support him."
Angela Merkel Rips Right-Wing Extremism On Anniversary Of Hitler Assassination Attempt
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/angela-merkel-hitler-assassination-attempt-right-wing_n_5d33b0c5e4b020cd99446d9b?fbclid=IwAR1LDzO5v0YltktOz176S61a6Y2cibeKs6AWAbQbyIqUjqegFR7Ngnz06oA
"German Chancellor Angela Merkel used the anniversary of a celebrated assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler to lash right-wing extremism on Saturday."
"German Chancellor Angela Merkel used the anniversary of a celebrated assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler to lash right-wing extremism on Saturday."
Trump Promised Worldwide Respect for America, You Know What Happened Next
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-worldwide-respect-for-america-861637/?fbclid=IwAR1ORV2ZwqV1r3lDfq-2fPZSlbn8-7I4BKOde-zVOGvp_1815ta7VdyleyM
"As a citizen and then a candidate, Trump’s oft-repeated line: “The world is laughing at us,” has come to fruition"
"As a citizen and then a candidate, Trump’s oft-repeated line: “The world is laughing at us,” has come to fruition"
Understanding our bully-in-chief: Donald Trump's "antisocial personality disorder" fits a pattern
https://www.salon.com/2019/07/22/understanding-our-bully-in-chief-donald-trumps-antisocial-personality-disorder-fits-a-pattern/?fbclid=IwAR1X3JQhpzWqZBDhQTNFJdrXvzEFGDPtjeqluHbDM7nb27Ot3F14S4T6UjU
"The generic predicament of racism is nothing new — particularly for the Republican Party. (See “The Long Southern Strategy.” Salon author interview here.) What is new is Trump’s malignant psychology, a character disorder shared by dozens of destructive autocratic leaders whose patterns of murderous rule Burkle described in a 2015 paper, “Antisocial Personality Disorder and Pathological Narcissism in Prolonged Conflicts and Wars,” drawing on decades of experience as a world leader in emergency public health crises such as war and conflict, as well as his background in psychiatry and pediatrics. A recent follow-up paper (“Character Disorders,” for short), focused on the negative impact autocratic leaders have on health security, human rights and humanitarian care. Burkle cites examples like Idi Amin in Uganda, Slobodan Milosevic in the former Yugoslavia, Kim Jong-un in North Korea, Moammar Gadhafi in Libya and Omar al-Bashir in Sudan, who “have emerged first as saviors and then as despots, or as common criminals claiming to be patriots.” Amin and Milosevic are particularly apt figures to compare with Trump, given their roles in fomenting genocidal ethnic strife in Uganda and Bosnia respectively. Once in power, such a leader “thrives on continuing conflict and never seeks peace,” Burkle wrote — as a predictable description of all autocratic leaders. Characteristically they befriend and admire other autocratic leaders who have more power than themselves. Burkle reminds us that Hitler modeled himself after Mussolini and that Hitler and Stalin allied in the invasion of Poland. Before World War II started, these leaders, along with Japanese officials, met to divide up the world. But when one has power the other desires, conflict can result — as it did in Hitler’s eventual invasion of Russia. “These autocrats are simply an adolescent bully in an adult’s body,” Burkle told me in early June, I’d written a two-part story [here and here] about Trump’s lies and his threat to democracy."
"The generic predicament of racism is nothing new — particularly for the Republican Party. (See “The Long Southern Strategy.” Salon author interview here.) What is new is Trump’s malignant psychology, a character disorder shared by dozens of destructive autocratic leaders whose patterns of murderous rule Burkle described in a 2015 paper, “Antisocial Personality Disorder and Pathological Narcissism in Prolonged Conflicts and Wars,” drawing on decades of experience as a world leader in emergency public health crises such as war and conflict, as well as his background in psychiatry and pediatrics. A recent follow-up paper (“Character Disorders,” for short), focused on the negative impact autocratic leaders have on health security, human rights and humanitarian care. Burkle cites examples like Idi Amin in Uganda, Slobodan Milosevic in the former Yugoslavia, Kim Jong-un in North Korea, Moammar Gadhafi in Libya and Omar al-Bashir in Sudan, who “have emerged first as saviors and then as despots, or as common criminals claiming to be patriots.” Amin and Milosevic are particularly apt figures to compare with Trump, given their roles in fomenting genocidal ethnic strife in Uganda and Bosnia respectively. Once in power, such a leader “thrives on continuing conflict and never seeks peace,” Burkle wrote — as a predictable description of all autocratic leaders. Characteristically they befriend and admire other autocratic leaders who have more power than themselves. Burkle reminds us that Hitler modeled himself after Mussolini and that Hitler and Stalin allied in the invasion of Poland. Before World War II started, these leaders, along with Japanese officials, met to divide up the world. But when one has power the other desires, conflict can result — as it did in Hitler’s eventual invasion of Russia. “These autocrats are simply an adolescent bully in an adult’s body,” Burkle told me in early June, I’d written a two-part story [here and here] about Trump’s lies and his threat to democracy."
Lawyers For Trump ‘Super Fan’ Cesar Sayoc Say Trump’s Rhetoric Inspired Terrorist Plot On Democrats
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cesar-sayoc-trump-bombing_n_5d3635b1e4b004b6adb48758?fbclid=IwAR2eA9uEMk3bOLX8DkOB2m9dLft33swpw6qIIrgadEgmcv73yf-yS45KrEQ
"Sayoc, his lawyers wrote, “began watching Fox News religiously at the gym, planning his morning workout to coincide with Fox and Friends and his evenings to dovetail with Hannity.” With his use of steroids, they said, he became paranoid and delusional about the false news stories that clogged his social media feeds. “Because of his cognitive limitations and mental illness, he believed outlandish reports in the news and on social media, which increasingly made him unhinged. He became obsessed with ‘attacks’ from those he perceived as Trump’s enemies. He believed stories shared on Facebook that Trump supporters were being beaten in the streets. He came to believe that he was being personally targeted for supporting Trump: Mr. Sayoc thought that anti-Trump forces were trying to hurt him and they were to blame when his van was vandalized,” they wrote. “A rational observer may have brushed off Trump’s tweets as hyperbole, but Mr. Sayoc took them to heart,” according to Sayoc’s attorneys."
"Sayoc, his lawyers wrote, “began watching Fox News religiously at the gym, planning his morning workout to coincide with Fox and Friends and his evenings to dovetail with Hannity.” With his use of steroids, they said, he became paranoid and delusional about the false news stories that clogged his social media feeds. “Because of his cognitive limitations and mental illness, he believed outlandish reports in the news and on social media, which increasingly made him unhinged. He became obsessed with ‘attacks’ from those he perceived as Trump’s enemies. He believed stories shared on Facebook that Trump supporters were being beaten in the streets. He came to believe that he was being personally targeted for supporting Trump: Mr. Sayoc thought that anti-Trump forces were trying to hurt him and they were to blame when his van was vandalized,” they wrote. “A rational observer may have brushed off Trump’s tweets as hyperbole, but Mr. Sayoc took them to heart,” according to Sayoc’s attorneys."
As Ilhan Omar Said, Trump Is a Fascist — and His Rallies Prove It
https://truthout.org/articles/as-ilhan-omar-said-trump-is-a-fascist-and-his-rallies-prove-it/
"It is both strange and disconcerting that almost none of the mainstream reporting on Trump’s rally examined its clear similarities with staged rallies in Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. Much like Nazi rallies, Trump’s rallies seek to turn politics into a grandiose theater of nativism, while presenting the head of state as a kind of demigod. In addition, there is the preaching of hate, which functions as a kind of quasi-religious experience used to trade off and amplify mass anger largely directed at those considered the enemies of the state — in this case women of color who are criminalized by virtue of their political beliefs, race and ethnicity. Seizing upon the potentially violent energy of his followers, Trump transforms their heightened anxieties and collective fears into a mass disdain for Muslims, immigrants, Black people and others. Trump’s manipulation of the crowds at his rallies brings to mind French reactionary theorist Gustave Le Bon’s depiction of crowds as governed by “impulsiveness, irritability, incapacity to reason, the absence of judgment and of the critical spirit [and] the exaggeration of the sentiments” — a depiction that Hitler read and was inspired by. Such expressions of hate and racial cleansing are about more than the privileging of fear and emotion over reason. They also constitute an updated version of a mob frenzy that encourages its participants to take pleasure in demonizing others. This “politics of the spectacle” reinforces the social emptiness at the heart of neoliberal societies, filling it with fear, illusion and endless nativist and racist rants while offering the immediate gratification of misdirected pleasure. Trump’s spectacles of fear and racism portray politics as pure theater mediated through the elemental forces of hatred, bigotry and the triumph of power."
"It is both strange and disconcerting that almost none of the mainstream reporting on Trump’s rally examined its clear similarities with staged rallies in Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. Much like Nazi rallies, Trump’s rallies seek to turn politics into a grandiose theater of nativism, while presenting the head of state as a kind of demigod. In addition, there is the preaching of hate, which functions as a kind of quasi-religious experience used to trade off and amplify mass anger largely directed at those considered the enemies of the state — in this case women of color who are criminalized by virtue of their political beliefs, race and ethnicity. Seizing upon the potentially violent energy of his followers, Trump transforms their heightened anxieties and collective fears into a mass disdain for Muslims, immigrants, Black people and others. Trump’s manipulation of the crowds at his rallies brings to mind French reactionary theorist Gustave Le Bon’s depiction of crowds as governed by “impulsiveness, irritability, incapacity to reason, the absence of judgment and of the critical spirit [and] the exaggeration of the sentiments” — a depiction that Hitler read and was inspired by. Such expressions of hate and racial cleansing are about more than the privileging of fear and emotion over reason. They also constitute an updated version of a mob frenzy that encourages its participants to take pleasure in demonizing others. This “politics of the spectacle” reinforces the social emptiness at the heart of neoliberal societies, filling it with fear, illusion and endless nativist and racist rants while offering the immediate gratification of misdirected pleasure. Trump’s spectacles of fear and racism portray politics as pure theater mediated through the elemental forces of hatred, bigotry and the triumph of power."
Wray: ‘Majority’ Of Domestic Terror Arrests This Year Motivated By White Supremacy
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/domestic-terror-white-supremacy-chris-wray?fbclid=IwAR2kyoIkVee7L3y1EZNIHsmLGK46RxBYNP4HvwNEAEcPGJJErzNZlJNRvAg
"FBI Director Christopher Wray told lawmakers on Tuesday that the majority of the arrests his team has made this year related to domestic terrorism have been motivated by white supremacist ideology."
"FBI Director Christopher Wray told lawmakers on Tuesday that the majority of the arrests his team has made this year related to domestic terrorism have been motivated by white supremacist ideology."
How (Actual) Fake News Is the (Actual) Enemy of the People
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-louisiana-police-death-threat-fake-news-862260/?fbclid=IwAR2kwjcUAY7zwRFMgmSgjKM0hO5nPfuonBrKFyPYaPdhM3aKCBjzGFljXwA
"Though the president’s definition of fake news is anything that paints him in an unflattering light, actual fake news reports — intentional falsehoods and other inventions disguised as reporting — are resulting in threats to the American people. In the wake of his attacks last week against Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), a police officer from Grenta, Louisiana, wrote on Facebook that Ocasio-Cortez needs to be shot. He was responding to a web item claiming Ocasio-Cortez said “we pay soldiers too much,” in reference to the budget. (Ocasio-Cortez said no such thing. The site responsible repeatedly publishes unsupported or outright false stories, sometimes as news reports and sometimes under the guise of “satire.”) But Charlie Rispoli, who had served on the Grenta police force for 14 years, cited the cite when he suggested shooting Ocasio-Cortez: “This vile idiot needs a round……..and I don’t mean the kind she used to serve,” he wrote. (Nola.com obtained a screenshot of Rispoli’s post.) On Monday, Rispoli was fired, along Angelo Varisco, another officer who liked the post. “This incident, we feel, has been an embarrassment to our department,” Gretna Police Chief Arthur Lawson said at a news conference. “These officers have certainly acted in a manner which was unprofessional, alluding to a violent act to be conducted against a sitting U.S. congressman, a member of our government. We’re not going to tolerate that.” Earlier on Monday, Ocasio-Cortez referenced the threat in calling out the president for inciting violence. “This is Trump’s goal when he uses targeted language & threatens elected officials who don’t agree w/ his political agenda,” she tweeted. “It’s authoritarian behavior. The President is sowing violence. He’s creating an environment where people can get hurt & he claims plausible deniability"."
"Though the president’s definition of fake news is anything that paints him in an unflattering light, actual fake news reports — intentional falsehoods and other inventions disguised as reporting — are resulting in threats to the American people. In the wake of his attacks last week against Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), a police officer from Grenta, Louisiana, wrote on Facebook that Ocasio-Cortez needs to be shot. He was responding to a web item claiming Ocasio-Cortez said “we pay soldiers too much,” in reference to the budget. (Ocasio-Cortez said no such thing. The site responsible repeatedly publishes unsupported or outright false stories, sometimes as news reports and sometimes under the guise of “satire.”) But Charlie Rispoli, who had served on the Grenta police force for 14 years, cited the cite when he suggested shooting Ocasio-Cortez: “This vile idiot needs a round……..and I don’t mean the kind she used to serve,” he wrote. (Nola.com obtained a screenshot of Rispoli’s post.) On Monday, Rispoli was fired, along Angelo Varisco, another officer who liked the post. “This incident, we feel, has been an embarrassment to our department,” Gretna Police Chief Arthur Lawson said at a news conference. “These officers have certainly acted in a manner which was unprofessional, alluding to a violent act to be conducted against a sitting U.S. congressman, a member of our government. We’re not going to tolerate that.” Earlier on Monday, Ocasio-Cortez referenced the threat in calling out the president for inciting violence. “This is Trump’s goal when he uses targeted language & threatens elected officials who don’t agree w/ his political agenda,” she tweeted. “It’s authoritarian behavior. The President is sowing violence. He’s creating an environment where people can get hurt & he claims plausible deniability"."
Cesar Sayoc was radicalized by Trump and Fox News, his lawyers claim
https://thinkprogress.org/lawyers-attempted-bomber-cesar-sayoc-radicalized-by-trump-fox-news-b649f86f6ee2/?fbclid=IwAR3Qc2nFKbMMS0MM3NuhHVKKFl6yhTXzhpSS6y9OlQLtDEicILx6dZNorTY
"This is not the first time that the president’s name has come up in a far-right terror investigation. In November 2018, lawyers for a trio of militia members accused of planning to bomb an apartment complex popular with Muslims in Kansas asked the judge to take into account Trump’s rhetoric at the time, which they said was encouraging violence."
"This is not the first time that the president’s name has come up in a far-right terror investigation. In November 2018, lawyers for a trio of militia members accused of planning to bomb an apartment complex popular with Muslims in Kansas asked the judge to take into account Trump’s rhetoric at the time, which they said was encouraging violence."
Wray says FBI has recorded about 100 domestic terrorism arrests in fiscal 2019 and many investigations involve white supremacy
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/wray-says-fbi-has-recorded-about-100-domestic-terrorism-arrests-in-fiscal-2019-and-most-investigations-involve-white-supremacy/2019/07/23/600d49a6-aca1-11e9-bc5c-e73b603e7f38_story.html?fbclid=IwAR3S1Wi_RAwa80wbgWvUgi-zXr7GShPZv7MDxqKzuv1i6ZP32Ihyy-AlWvA&utm_term=.d0874305c146
"FBI Director Christopher A. Wray told lawmakers Tuesday that the bureau has recorded about 100 arrests of domestic terrorism suspects in the past nine months and that most investigations of that kind involve some form of white supremacy."
"FBI Director Christopher A. Wray told lawmakers Tuesday that the bureau has recorded about 100 arrests of domestic terrorism suspects in the past nine months and that most investigations of that kind involve some form of white supremacy."
YouTube’s Plan To Rein In Conspiracy Theories Is Failing
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/youtube-conspiracy-theories_n_5d320f69e4b004b6adafbb99?fbclid=IwAR1K2deSW6_MjsNEaiAO_dnW_L0kNXIHtC7a51o7bjZwFKEx5qC6SG773Nw
"Six months ago, under tremendous public pressure, YouTube announced that it would tweak its algorithm to recommend fewer videos “that could misinform users in harmful ways.” It was a major step for a company that has spent years driving people toward increasingly sensationalist content — including dangerous disinformation — that would keep viewers glued to their screens for as long as possible to maximize advertising revenue. The announcement in late January triggered panic within YouTube’s sprawling network of conspiracy theorists. The host of JustInformed Talk, a channel with nearly a quarter-million subscribers that spreads QAnon theories and baseless claims about Democratic politicians, warned in a February video that the new measure was sure to “instantly destroy” the ability of pages like his to get traffic."
"Six months ago, under tremendous public pressure, YouTube announced that it would tweak its algorithm to recommend fewer videos “that could misinform users in harmful ways.” It was a major step for a company that has spent years driving people toward increasingly sensationalist content — including dangerous disinformation — that would keep viewers glued to their screens for as long as possible to maximize advertising revenue. The announcement in late January triggered panic within YouTube’s sprawling network of conspiracy theorists. The host of JustInformed Talk, a channel with nearly a quarter-million subscribers that spreads QAnon theories and baseless claims about Democratic politicians, warned in a February video that the new measure was sure to “instantly destroy” the ability of pages like his to get traffic."
Sentencing memo provides a revealing glimpse inside a neo-Nazi street-brawling gang
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/7/23/1873810/-Sentencing-memo-provides-a-revealing-glimpse-inside-a-neo-Nazi-street-brawling-gang?fbclid=IwAR2YEAYvnZazqlKwQaKmKy6inu8MRc4q68RsbK-8W9MoS9hPZ6lSnqE-H-s
"Late last week, the Justice Department released the sentencing memorandum for the three young fascists from the neo-Nazi Rise Above Movement who traveled from California to Charlottesville, Virginia, on the weekend of the Unite the Right rally of Aug. 12, 2017, as the culmination of which a young white supremacist drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters, killing a young woman named Heather Heyer and maiming 19 other people. The document offers some searing insights into the nature of these groups, and the kind of violence these new young radicals intend to inflict."
"Late last week, the Justice Department released the sentencing memorandum for the three young fascists from the neo-Nazi Rise Above Movement who traveled from California to Charlottesville, Virginia, on the weekend of the Unite the Right rally of Aug. 12, 2017, as the culmination of which a young white supremacist drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters, killing a young woman named Heather Heyer and maiming 19 other people. The document offers some searing insights into the nature of these groups, and the kind of violence these new young radicals intend to inflict."
Monday, July 22, 2019
Trump talked about Mueller’s testimony for around 90 seconds. He packed in 6 lies.
https://www.vox.com/2019/7/22/20704273/trump-mueller-testimony-watch-a-little-bit-lies?fbclid=IwAR1NVnmraXPGBrhkyhGv95N6gDFyTR9yjuMH9bWTKVhU0rUFLWlCm2u7vPE
"in the span of just over one minute of talking, Trump told at least six demonstrable lies about Mueller and his investigation. The blizzard of falsehoods suggests that Trump anticipates Mueller’s testimony and its aftermath won’t be good for him, so he’s doing his best to do some preemptive gaslighting."
"in the span of just over one minute of talking, Trump told at least six demonstrable lies about Mueller and his investigation. The blizzard of falsehoods suggests that Trump anticipates Mueller’s testimony and its aftermath won’t be good for him, so he’s doing his best to do some preemptive gaslighting."
It’s Time for a Special Counsel to Investigate William Barr for Perjury
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/07/special-counsel-investiate-attorney-general-william-barr-perjury.html?fbclid=IwAR3UTapxupimXtaVV_8JEDbbk1VJnpQLgPbNoumFwcGf5nARcyuciZMDQx8
"Based on the available public record about the Russia investigation, it’s clear that the attorney general has repeatedly deceived Congress in a manner that appears to have crossed the line established by federal criminal law."
"Based on the available public record about the Russia investigation, it’s clear that the attorney general has repeatedly deceived Congress in a manner that appears to have crossed the line established by federal criminal law."
Trump’s EPA clears pesticide tied to children’s health problems
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trumps-epa-clears-pesticide-tied-childrens-health-problems?fbclid=IwAR1mRjHMwlv74_B-xEnhLzEk9Lsbi6oKSc82W50CeyE03iJHlLPwyq1dHgI
"This week, as the New York Times reported, we learned about Team Trump doing another potentially dangerous favor for the chemical industry. The Trump administration took a major step to weaken the regulation of toxic chemicals on Thursday when the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would not ban a widely used pesticide that its own experts have linked to serious health problems in children. The decision by Andrew R. Wheeler, the E.P.A. administrator, represents a victory for the chemical industry and for farmers who have lobbied to continue using the substance, chlorpyrifos, arguing it is necessary to protect crops. Let’s circle back to our earlier coverage because it’s worth appreciating how we arrived at this point. The Obama administration originally proposed banning the pesticide’s use on food in October 2015. A risk assessment memo issued by nine EPA scientists concluded. “There is a breadth of information available on the potential adverse neuro-developmental effects in infants and children as a result of prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos.” By all appearances, this wasn’t an especially tough call. There was, after all, “extensive scientific evidence” that even tiny levels of exposure to this pesticide “can harm babies’ brains.” And then Donald Trump took office. Just two months into the new Republican administration, officials reversed course, putting the federal ban on hold. This, not surprisingly, sparked a series of legal challenges, and as the Times’ article noted, “Those lawsuits culminated in April when a federal appeals court ordered the E.P.A. to issue a final ruling on whether to ban chlorpyrifos by this month.” That final ruling from the EPA came yesterday. The administration sided with the chemical industry."
"This week, as the New York Times reported, we learned about Team Trump doing another potentially dangerous favor for the chemical industry. The Trump administration took a major step to weaken the regulation of toxic chemicals on Thursday when the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would not ban a widely used pesticide that its own experts have linked to serious health problems in children. The decision by Andrew R. Wheeler, the E.P.A. administrator, represents a victory for the chemical industry and for farmers who have lobbied to continue using the substance, chlorpyrifos, arguing it is necessary to protect crops. Let’s circle back to our earlier coverage because it’s worth appreciating how we arrived at this point. The Obama administration originally proposed banning the pesticide’s use on food in October 2015. A risk assessment memo issued by nine EPA scientists concluded. “There is a breadth of information available on the potential adverse neuro-developmental effects in infants and children as a result of prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos.” By all appearances, this wasn’t an especially tough call. There was, after all, “extensive scientific evidence” that even tiny levels of exposure to this pesticide “can harm babies’ brains.” And then Donald Trump took office. Just two months into the new Republican administration, officials reversed course, putting the federal ban on hold. This, not surprisingly, sparked a series of legal challenges, and as the Times’ article noted, “Those lawsuits culminated in April when a federal appeals court ordered the E.P.A. to issue a final ruling on whether to ban chlorpyrifos by this month.” That final ruling from the EPA came yesterday. The administration sided with the chemical industry."
83 Environmental Rules Being Rolled Back Under Trump
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/climate/trump-environment-rollbacks.html?fbclid=IwAR2yhjy1wOaNgnomfXymQpUY29UZGrzLzkl97jjLtwrjbfq_KONh17hMaLM
"All told, the Trump administration’s environmental rollbacks could significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions and lead to thousands of extra deaths from poor air quality every year, according to a recent report prepared by New York University Law School's State Energy and Environmental Impact Center. Here are the details for each of the policies targeted by the administration so far."
"All told, the Trump administration’s environmental rollbacks could significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions and lead to thousands of extra deaths from poor air quality every year, according to a recent report prepared by New York University Law School's State Energy and Environmental Impact Center. Here are the details for each of the policies targeted by the administration so far."
USDA Under Trump Hides Studies Proving Effects of Climate Change: Report
https://www.thedailybeast.com/usda-under-trump-hides-studies-proving-effects-of-climate-change-politico?ref=home&fbclid=IwAR1ZdL0z4iH3nQzmVUZsFDKmjJ3Zg6IqbKoWra3ggu3lwaHXEDXHit3sglw
"The Trump administration has refused to publicize dozens of studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that conclude climate change is having negative effects on everything from rice production to allergies, a Politico investigation revealed."
"The Trump administration has refused to publicize dozens of studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that conclude climate change is having negative effects on everything from rice production to allergies, a Politico investigation revealed."
'Corruption in Plain Sight': Jared Kushner Firm Took in $90 Million From Unnamed Foreign Entities Since 2017
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/10/corruption-plain-sight-jared-kushner-firm-took-90-million-unnamed-foreign-entities?fbclid=IwAR0Axdn43KwM4PJak7MV8pyG11YqkWSk9UPkoFxQAgERzQs59xsg0qBEwag
"The latest scandal from the President Donald Trump administration involves secretive foreign investments in a company in which the president's son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner has a stake."
"The latest scandal from the President Donald Trump administration involves secretive foreign investments in a company in which the president's son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner has a stake."
Prosecutors say Republican congressman embezzled campaign funds to pay for extramarital affairs
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/6/25/1867208/-Prosecutors-say-Republican-congressman-embezzled-campaign-funds-to-pay-for-extramarital-affairs?fbclid=IwAR3JV_iVcsww4rRr2tWeXj-wLISfyMDHWpvpf9ffPZIYs2R5_LmLT5mwMR0
"In the case they made in Hunter’s trial today, Hunter has been a serial adulterer, carrying on affairs with at least three lobbyists, a staff member from his office, and an official from the Republican National Committee. Prosecutors laid out evidence Hunter used campaign funds to finance all the affairs—dinners, ski trips, alcohol, Uber service to and from his meet-ups with other women."
"In the case they made in Hunter’s trial today, Hunter has been a serial adulterer, carrying on affairs with at least three lobbyists, a staff member from his office, and an official from the Republican National Committee. Prosecutors laid out evidence Hunter used campaign funds to finance all the affairs—dinners, ski trips, alcohol, Uber service to and from his meet-ups with other women."
Duncan Hunter Junior - The Apple Doesn't Fall Far
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/6/25/1867181/-Duncan-Hunter-Junior-The-Apple-Doesn-t-Fall-Far?utm_campaign=recent&fbclid=IwAR2DoWeK10JKcCqXDgpN5bEm-FRxK3Fly54SZK5zFGZBtKMTTqUaL2-HgEA
"The Justice Department has released some additional details regarding its criminal complaint against Congressman Duncan Hunter Jr. (CA-50). These new details help flesh out Hunters use of campaign funds in support of at least five extra-marital affairs that he was conducting while doing the people’s business in Washington. In the filing, prosecutors detail numerous instances in which Hunter allegedly used campaign cash to fund his affairs. In one episode in 2010, Hunter allegedly took a lobbyist on a "double date” road trip to Virginia Beach with a fellow congressman and then charged his campaign for the hotel room and bar tab. In another incident in 2015, Hunter allegedly took a House leadership aide out for cocktails and then took an Uber back to his office after they spent the night together. Both expenses were charged to his campaign account, prosecutors say. And Hunter also allegedly became intimately involved with a woman who worked in his congressional office in 2015, regularly paying for their dates with campaign funds. Hunter initially blamed his wife for his family’s use of over $250,000 in campaign funds for a variety of personal expenses, but she has changed her plea to guilty and is cooperating with prosecutors. Aside from Hunter’s original statement blaming her for all the misappropriations, I suspect that the fact that he was using some of the stolen funds to pay for his affairs possible influence her decision. Young Duncan may have developed his interest in stealing from others from his father, Duncan Hunter Senior, who in 2007 was named by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) as one of the most corrupt members of congress."
"The Justice Department has released some additional details regarding its criminal complaint against Congressman Duncan Hunter Jr. (CA-50). These new details help flesh out Hunters use of campaign funds in support of at least five extra-marital affairs that he was conducting while doing the people’s business in Washington. In the filing, prosecutors detail numerous instances in which Hunter allegedly used campaign cash to fund his affairs. In one episode in 2010, Hunter allegedly took a lobbyist on a "double date” road trip to Virginia Beach with a fellow congressman and then charged his campaign for the hotel room and bar tab. In another incident in 2015, Hunter allegedly took a House leadership aide out for cocktails and then took an Uber back to his office after they spent the night together. Both expenses were charged to his campaign account, prosecutors say. And Hunter also allegedly became intimately involved with a woman who worked in his congressional office in 2015, regularly paying for their dates with campaign funds. Hunter initially blamed his wife for his family’s use of over $250,000 in campaign funds for a variety of personal expenses, but she has changed her plea to guilty and is cooperating with prosecutors. Aside from Hunter’s original statement blaming her for all the misappropriations, I suspect that the fact that he was using some of the stolen funds to pay for his affairs possible influence her decision. Young Duncan may have developed his interest in stealing from others from his father, Duncan Hunter Senior, who in 2007 was named by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) as one of the most corrupt members of congress."
Embattled GOP rep receives cease-and-desist letter from the Marines
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/embattled-gop-rep-receives-cease-and-desist-letter-the-marines?fbclid=IwAR2EPWx__mp9ryq2DfsWyxTqVMfpiS57XQk-EM1xz0Gvy7XHRlNRVFyIVks
"The Marine Corps has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., for using the official Corps emblem and phrase on campaign mailers that link his likely 2020 opponent and two Democratic congresswomen to terror. In a letter to Hunter obtained by NBC News, the Marine Corps Trademark Licensing Office tells the congressman, “It has come to our attention that your campaign is using the official USMC Eagle, Globe and Anchor (Emblem) and the phrase ‘No Better Friend, NO Worse Enemy’ (Phrase) as an integral part of your political campaign, namely, on at least one fundraising mailer to your constituents.” The letter, dated Tuesday, demands that Hunter’s campaign “immediately remove the Emblem and the Phrase from its mailers, and, without limitation, from all other campaign materials including websites and other instances where the Emblem or the Phrase are being used. We also request that you provide us with a timetable as to your compliance with our requests"."
"The Marine Corps has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., for using the official Corps emblem and phrase on campaign mailers that link his likely 2020 opponent and two Democratic congresswomen to terror. In a letter to Hunter obtained by NBC News, the Marine Corps Trademark Licensing Office tells the congressman, “It has come to our attention that your campaign is using the official USMC Eagle, Globe and Anchor (Emblem) and the phrase ‘No Better Friend, NO Worse Enemy’ (Phrase) as an integral part of your political campaign, namely, on at least one fundraising mailer to your constituents.” The letter, dated Tuesday, demands that Hunter’s campaign “immediately remove the Emblem and the Phrase from its mailers, and, without limitation, from all other campaign materials including websites and other instances where the Emblem or the Phrase are being used. We also request that you provide us with a timetable as to your compliance with our requests"."
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