Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Pro Tip: Lying to the FBI Is Never a Good Idea
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a13118817/papadopoulos-pled-guilty-lie-fbi-russia/
"Pro Tip: Lying to the FBI is never a good idea. Pro Tip II: It would seem to be a very good bet that Papadopoulous already has flipped. (The plea deal’s sentence recommendation begins at “zero” months, which is a tell.) Releasing the Papadopolous plea deal was a remarkably deft play by Mueller, whose political savvy is mysteriously under-discussed. The initial White House reaction to the news about Paul Manafort was that everything happened years ago, and what the hell is Mueller doing? Now, we have a completed legal proceeding containing the words “Trump campaign,” “Russia,” and “disparaging information on Hillary Clinton.” Alibis are dropping like the autumn leaves."
"Pro Tip: Lying to the FBI is never a good idea. Pro Tip II: It would seem to be a very good bet that Papadopoulous already has flipped. (The plea deal’s sentence recommendation begins at “zero” months, which is a tell.) Releasing the Papadopolous plea deal was a remarkably deft play by Mueller, whose political savvy is mysteriously under-discussed. The initial White House reaction to the news about Paul Manafort was that everything happened years ago, and what the hell is Mueller doing? Now, we have a completed legal proceeding containing the words “Trump campaign,” “Russia,” and “disparaging information on Hillary Clinton.” Alibis are dropping like the autumn leaves."
Former Trump adviser pleads guilty to lying to Mueller’s team
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/former-trump-adviser-pleads-guilty-lying-muellers-team
"In March 2016, Donald Trump sat down with the editorial board of the Washington Post, and was asked about the team of foreign policy advisers his campaign had assembled. The then-candidate volunteered a handful of names, including Carter Page, who’s now a key figure in the Russia scandal, and whom Trump later claimed not to know. But after mentioning Page, Trump quickly added to his list of advisers, “George Papadopoulos, he’s an energy and oil consultant, excellent guy.” Even at the time, this seemed odd. Papadopoulos had only graduated from college seven years earlier, and he listed participation with the “Model United Nations” as one of his credentials. And yet, in March 2016, the then-frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination identified Papadopoulos as one of only a handful of people advising him on foreign policy."
"In March 2016, Donald Trump sat down with the editorial board of the Washington Post, and was asked about the team of foreign policy advisers his campaign had assembled. The then-candidate volunteered a handful of names, including Carter Page, who’s now a key figure in the Russia scandal, and whom Trump later claimed not to know. But after mentioning Page, Trump quickly added to his list of advisers, “George Papadopoulos, he’s an energy and oil consultant, excellent guy.” Even at the time, this seemed odd. Papadopoulos had only graduated from college seven years earlier, and he listed participation with the “Model United Nations” as one of his credentials. And yet, in March 2016, the then-frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination identified Papadopoulos as one of only a handful of people advising him on foreign policy."
Why the lesser-known Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos could be the biggest news of the day
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/10/30/1711006/-Why-the-lesser-known-Trump-campaign-aide-George-Papadopolous-could-be-the-biggest-news-of-the-day
"Remember, Papadopoulos tried multiple times to set up meetings between Team Trump and the Kremlin. His repeated contacts with the Russians is perhaps most notable for the suggestion that Moscow was looking for multiple entry points into Trump's campaign."
"Remember, Papadopoulos tried multiple times to set up meetings between Team Trump and the Kremlin. His repeated contacts with the Russians is perhaps most notable for the suggestion that Moscow was looking for multiple entry points into Trump's campaign."
George Papadopoulos lied to FBI agents the same day Trump asked Comey for loyalty pledge
George Papadopoulos lied to FBI agents the same day Trump asked Comey for loyalty pledge
"A former Trump campaign advisor lied to FBI agents about his contacts with Russia less than a week after Inauguration Day. George Papadopoulos, a volunteer foreign policy advisor, pleaded guilty Oct. 5 to lying to federal authorities in exchange for his testimony, although the agreement wasn’t announced until after indictments were unsealed against Paul Manafort and Rick Gates."
"A former Trump campaign advisor lied to FBI agents about his contacts with Russia less than a week after Inauguration Day. George Papadopoulos, a volunteer foreign policy advisor, pleaded guilty Oct. 5 to lying to federal authorities in exchange for his testimony, although the agreement wasn’t announced until after indictments were unsealed against Paul Manafort and Rick Gates."
Fox & Friends barely covers Manafort indictment
https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/10/30/fox-friends-barely-covers-manafort-indictment/218381
"This is hardly the first time Fox News has attempted to downplay or mislead about the Russia probe."
"This is hardly the first time Fox News has attempted to downplay or mislead about the Russia probe."
Manafort Is Mueller's Opening Salvo
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a13118388/manafort-charges-russia-investigation/
"Ten months is all it took for the president*’s former campaign manager, a guy who ran the president*’s campaign for almost twice as long as evil genius Steve Bannon did, and his principal aide, who was still hanging around the White House as recently as last June, to get hauled into FBI headquarters early Monday morning to begin what may be several years worth of similar perp walks. Ten months. This is impressive."
"Ten months is all it took for the president*’s former campaign manager, a guy who ran the president*’s campaign for almost twice as long as evil genius Steve Bannon did, and his principal aide, who was still hanging around the White House as recently as last June, to get hauled into FBI headquarters early Monday morning to begin what may be several years worth of similar perp walks. Ten months. This is impressive."
Manafort could face decades in prison
https://thinkprogress.org/manafort-gates-charges-03ef2584b883/
"Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort surrendered to the FBI Monday morning, and he could face up to 40 years in prison if he is found guilty on all charges. Manafort was charged along with a former business associate, Rick Gates. Last year, Reuters reported that Gates acted as an unpaid, de facto campaign manager for then-candidate Donald Trump for two months and worked for a super PAC supporting Trump during the campaign. The pair was charged with 12 counts, according to the indictment unsealed Monday morning: conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading FARA statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts."
"Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort surrendered to the FBI Monday morning, and he could face up to 40 years in prison if he is found guilty on all charges. Manafort was charged along with a former business associate, Rick Gates. Last year, Reuters reported that Gates acted as an unpaid, de facto campaign manager for then-candidate Donald Trump for two months and worked for a super PAC supporting Trump during the campaign. The pair was charged with 12 counts, according to the indictment unsealed Monday morning: conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading FARA statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts."
Papadopoulos is the singing canary. Named Trump. WH can't say it's not related now.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/10/30/1710963/-Papadopoulos-is-the-singing-canary-Named-Trump-WH-can-t-say-it-s-not-related-now
"George Papadopoulos, the foreign policy advisor for the Trump campaign, secretly pleaded guilty to charges listed in a document that’s just been unsealed. Basically, when the FBI came asking questions about Russia and the Trump campaign colluding, he lied through his teeth."
"George Papadopoulos, the foreign policy advisor for the Trump campaign, secretly pleaded guilty to charges listed in a document that’s just been unsealed. Basically, when the FBI came asking questions about Russia and the Trump campaign colluding, he lied through his teeth."
Trump adviser George Papadopolous pleads guilty to lying to the FBI about Trump–Russia contacts
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/10/30/1710960/-Trump-adviser-George-Papadopolous-pleads-guilty-to-lying-to-the-FBI-about-Trump-Russia-contacts
"George Papadopolous, one of Donald Trump’s early foreign policy advisers, has pled guilty to making false statements to the FBI directly related to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election."
"George Papadopolous, one of Donald Trump’s early foreign policy advisers, has pled guilty to making false statements to the FBI directly related to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election."
WATCH: Joy Reid destroys conservative reporter’s talking points on bogus Uranium One ‘scandal’
WATCH: Joy Reid destroys conservative reporter’s talking points on bogus Uranium One ‘scandal’
"Jen Kerns from the right-wing Washington Times tried pushing the conspiracy theory, but Reid was having none of it."
"Jen Kerns from the right-wing Washington Times tried pushing the conspiracy theory, but Reid was having none of it."
Internet hilariously mocks Fox News for covering cheeseburger emoji while Russia scandal blows up on Trump
Internet hilariously mocks Fox News for covering cheeseburger emoji while Russia scandal blows up on Trump
"The news network decided to highlight a number of stories that didn’t revolve around President Donald Trump’s former campaign chief, including a story about a cheeseburger emoji."
"The news network decided to highlight a number of stories that didn’t revolve around President Donald Trump’s former campaign chief, including a story about a cheeseburger emoji."
Trump’s Nightmare Worsens As His Former Adviser Pleads Guilty To Making False Statements To FBI
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/10/30/trumps-nightmare-worsens-adviser-pleads-guilty-making-false-statements-fbi.html
"It is all falling apart for Trump as one of his foreign policy advisers has pled guilty to a charge of making false statements to the FBI related to efforts to set up meetings between Russians and Trump."
"It is all falling apart for Trump as one of his foreign policy advisers has pled guilty to a charge of making false statements to the FBI related to efforts to set up meetings between Russians and Trump."
Abramson: The Impeachable Crime from which the cover-up flows
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/10/24/1709425/-Abramson-The-Impeachable-Crime-from-which-the-cover-up-flows
"Law professor Seth Abramson has been following Trump/Russia closely from the start, and once again he lays it all out for you, showing exactly how Donald J. Trump is personally responsible for each and every element of a crime against the United States of America."
"Law professor Seth Abramson has been following Trump/Russia closely from the start, and once again he lays it all out for you, showing exactly how Donald J. Trump is personally responsible for each and every element of a crime against the United States of America."
Manafort indictment unsealed: 'Conspiracy Against the U.S.' and money laundering included
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/10/30/1710931/-Manafort-indictment-unsealed-conspiracy-against-U-S-and-money-laundering-loom-large
"Remember, Manafort was not being paid by the Trump campaign when he was running it. He was being paid by a foreign power linked to Russia. Okay, then. Another note to keep in mind, the indictment charges that Manafort and Gates “together with others knowingly and intentionally conspired to defraud the United States.” So, those “others” are still coming."
"Remember, Manafort was not being paid by the Trump campaign when he was running it. He was being paid by a foreign power linked to Russia. Okay, then. Another note to keep in mind, the indictment charges that Manafort and Gates “together with others knowingly and intentionally conspired to defraud the United States.” So, those “others” are still coming."
Manafort indictment shows why conservatives have an alternative media bubble
https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/10/30/manafort-indictment-shows-why-conservatives-have-alternative-media-bubble/218380
"Co-hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade spent the last hour of their broadcast alternatively downplaying the news and looking for potential outs for the president."
"Co-hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade spent the last hour of their broadcast alternatively downplaying the news and looking for potential outs for the president."
Russian-linked Trump campaign aide pleads guilty to making false statements to FBI
Russian-linked Trump campaign aide pleads guilty to making false statements to FBI
"George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign aide who repeatedly tried to set up meetings with Russian government officials, has pleaded guilty to making false statements to FBI agents."
"George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign aide who repeatedly tried to set up meetings with Russian government officials, has pleaded guilty to making false statements to FBI agents."
Trump adviser pleads guilty to lying about talks with Russian intermediary about stolen emails
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-adviser-pleads-guilty-to-lying-about-talks-with-russian-intermediary-about-stolen-emails-0a54d3fd4e6c/
"George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy adviser for Donald Trump’s during the 2016 presidential campaign, has pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about his contacts with Russians and Russian intermediaries during the 2016 campaign."
"George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy adviser for Donald Trump’s during the 2016 presidential campaign, has pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about his contacts with Russians and Russian intermediaries during the 2016 campaign."
Trump Looks Awfully 'Compromised' In This July 2016 Interview
Trump Looks Awfully 'Compromised' In This July 2016 Interview:
"If it weren't for the fact that we have a corrupt, party-before-country Republican Congress, this wouldn't be taking so damn long to come to justice."
"If it weren't for the fact that we have a corrupt, party-before-country Republican Congress, this wouldn't be taking so damn long to come to justice."
Olbermann explains how Mueller kept Papadopoulos ‘singing like a bird’ without White House aides knowing
Olbermann explains how Mueller kept Papadopoulos ‘singing like a bird’ without White House aides knowing
"Mueller scooped up Papadopoulos months ago and has been pumping him for information while working out a deal with for a lesser sentence for lying to FBI investigators."
"Mueller scooped up Papadopoulos months ago and has been pumping him for information while working out a deal with for a lesser sentence for lying to FBI investigators."
Friday, October 27, 2017
A Timeline: Everything We Know About Paul Manafort’s Ties to Russia
http://billmoyers.com/story/manafort-russia-timeline/
"A look at the business dealings, influence and federal investigation into Trump's former campaign manager."
"A look at the business dealings, influence and federal investigation into Trump's former campaign manager."
Cambridge Analytica was 'instrumental' in Trump's campaign—until yesterday
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/10/26/1710058/-Cambridge-Analytica-was-instrumental-in-Trump-s-campaign-until-yesterday
"Donald Trump believes in a special kind of Peter Principle: The kind that says when someone gets in trouble, Trump denies he ever knew them."
"Donald Trump believes in a special kind of Peter Principle: The kind that says when someone gets in trouble, Trump denies he ever knew them."
Kushner Adds Charles Harder to Legal Team As Pressure Mounts
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/10/jared-kushner-adds-charles-harder-to-legal-team-as-west-wing-pressure-mounts
"According to sources familiar with the matter, the person in Trump’s orbit who may have the most to be worried about in Priebus’s testimony is Jared Kushner."
"According to sources familiar with the matter, the person in Trump’s orbit who may have the most to be worried about in Priebus’s testimony is Jared Kushner."
On taxes, Americans aren’t buying what Republicans are selling
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/taxes-americans-arent-buying-what-republicans-are-selling
"if there’s one consistency in recent public-opinion surveys, it’s the fact that the American mainstream doesn’t want Congress to pass massive tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. This has been bolstered by poll after poll after poll after poll – and yet, it’s precisely what GOP policymakers are eager to do. Indeed, Republicans have convinced themselves that the key to their success – not just as a matter of policy, but in purely electoral terms – is passing massive tax breaks. They’ve come to believe this with absolute certainty, insisting publicly that they believe their party will be politically “dead” unless they pass the still-unwritten tax plan. It’s become “an existential issue” for GOP leaders. This is a bizarre dynamic because Republicans are trying to become popular by doing something unpopular. GOP officials are working from the assumption that if they ignore popular will, they’ll be rewarded by the voters whose wishes they’re ignoring."
"if there’s one consistency in recent public-opinion surveys, it’s the fact that the American mainstream doesn’t want Congress to pass massive tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. This has been bolstered by poll after poll after poll after poll – and yet, it’s precisely what GOP policymakers are eager to do. Indeed, Republicans have convinced themselves that the key to their success – not just as a matter of policy, but in purely electoral terms – is passing massive tax breaks. They’ve come to believe this with absolute certainty, insisting publicly that they believe their party will be politically “dead” unless they pass the still-unwritten tax plan. It’s become “an existential issue” for GOP leaders. This is a bizarre dynamic because Republicans are trying to become popular by doing something unpopular. GOP officials are working from the assumption that if they ignore popular will, they’ll be rewarded by the voters whose wishes they’re ignoring."
American Legion to Trump: Veto the bill making it harder to sue big banks
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/10/27/1710283/-American-Legion-to-Trump-Veto-the-bill-making-it-harder-to-sue-big-banks
"The American Legion has joined the opposition to the recent Republican move to make it harder for consumers to sue the banks. The veterans organization is calling on Donald Trump to veto the bill passed by the Senate earlier in the week"
"The American Legion has joined the opposition to the recent Republican move to make it harder for consumers to sue the banks. The veterans organization is calling on Donald Trump to veto the bill passed by the Senate earlier in the week"
216 GOP House Members Just Voted to Destroy the Safety Net and Deliver a Trillion-Dollar Tax Cut to the Rich
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/26/216-gop-house-members-just-voted-destroy-safety-net-and-deliver-trillion-dollar-tax
"The GOP-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday narrowly passed a Senate-approved budget resolution that moves Republicans one step closer to their ultimate goal of delivering massive tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and imposing "grotesque" and "heartless" cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and other life-saving safety net programs. The final vote tally was 216-212, with 20 Republicans defecting from their party. No Democrats backed the measure. Despite insistence from President Donald Trump and the GOP that their budget is pro-working class, analysis after analysis has shown that their proposals would in fact raise taxes on many middle class families while sending an enormous windfall—$1.5 trillion over the next decade—to the top one percent."
"The GOP-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday narrowly passed a Senate-approved budget resolution that moves Republicans one step closer to their ultimate goal of delivering massive tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and imposing "grotesque" and "heartless" cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and other life-saving safety net programs. The final vote tally was 216-212, with 20 Republicans defecting from their party. No Democrats backed the measure. Despite insistence from President Donald Trump and the GOP that their budget is pro-working class, analysis after analysis has shown that their proposals would in fact raise taxes on many middle class families while sending an enormous windfall—$1.5 trillion over the next decade—to the top one percent."
These wealthy institutions are quietly financing white nationalism
https://thinkprogress.org/these-wealthy-institutions-are-quietly-financing-white-nationalism-5313db89b185/
The Public Schools Employee Retirement System of Missouri, Columbia University, Michigan State University, The Employee Retirement System of the City of Providence, Los Angeles Water & Power Employees Retirement Plan, National Academy of Sciences, Baltimore Fire and Police Employees’ Retirement System, The William Penn Foundation, American Physical Society, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Public Schools Employee Retirement System of Missouri, Columbia University, Michigan State University, The Employee Retirement System of the City of Providence, Los Angeles Water & Power Employees Retirement Plan, National Academy of Sciences, Baltimore Fire and Police Employees’ Retirement System, The William Penn Foundation, American Physical Society, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
51 GOP Senators Just Voted To Cut $1.5 Trillion from Medicare and Medicaid To Give Super-Rich and Corporations a Tax Cut
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/19/51-gop-senators-just-voted-cut-15-trillion-medicare-and-medicaid-give-super-rich-and
"Along strict party lines, the Republican-controlled Senate on Thursday night voted to pass a sweeping budget measure—one criticized as both "despicable" and "horrific" for providing massive giveaways to corporations and the super-rich while eviscerating funding for social programs, healthcare, education, and affordable housing."
"Along strict party lines, the Republican-controlled Senate on Thursday night voted to pass a sweeping budget measure—one criticized as both "despicable" and "horrific" for providing massive giveaways to corporations and the super-rich while eviscerating funding for social programs, healthcare, education, and affordable housing."
Army Vet: Why Trump Disrespects the Military
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/army-vet-why-trump-disrespects-the-military-w509814
"there's the Trump who repeatedly claimed on the campaign trail he would be "so good at the military, it will make your head spin," that no one loved the troops more than himself, and that the feeling was mutual. But then there's the Trump who, just this week, engaged in a protracted back and forth over how he told the pregnant widow of a fallen Green Beret her late husband "knew what he signed up for." His administration also banned non-citizen legal permanent residents from joining the Army Reserve, a practice dating back to the Revolutionary War. And thanks to a report in The Washington Post, we learned the president promised a Gold Star father $25,000 from his personal account in June, but hadn't delivered on that promise. (The White House now says that check is in the mail.) Looking back over the past two years, there's more: disrespecting the wartime POW service of John McCain, fantasizing about shooting an Army sergeant held captive by the Taliban for five years, repeated instances of military charities not receiving promised donations, smearing another Gold Star family of color, insulting uniformed leaders and pledging to fire them all, ridiculing combat veterans with PTSD, kicking uniformed personnel off the National Security Council, abdicating responsibility for troop strength in combat theaters, disrespecting the retired four-star general and Gold Star father who runs his White House, shaming the National Security Council on live television, pledging to kick transgender troops out of the armed services, blocking a prominent veterans' group on Twitter, attacking John McCain again, waiting nearly two weeks to remark on the death of four Special Forces soldiers in combat. Going back further still, we could note Trump's Vietnam draft-dodging, how he referred to sleeping with models as his "personal Vietnam" and his attempt to kick homeless veterans off 5th Avenue out of disgust."
"there's the Trump who repeatedly claimed on the campaign trail he would be "so good at the military, it will make your head spin," that no one loved the troops more than himself, and that the feeling was mutual. But then there's the Trump who, just this week, engaged in a protracted back and forth over how he told the pregnant widow of a fallen Green Beret her late husband "knew what he signed up for." His administration also banned non-citizen legal permanent residents from joining the Army Reserve, a practice dating back to the Revolutionary War. And thanks to a report in The Washington Post, we learned the president promised a Gold Star father $25,000 from his personal account in June, but hadn't delivered on that promise. (The White House now says that check is in the mail.) Looking back over the past two years, there's more: disrespecting the wartime POW service of John McCain, fantasizing about shooting an Army sergeant held captive by the Taliban for five years, repeated instances of military charities not receiving promised donations, smearing another Gold Star family of color, insulting uniformed leaders and pledging to fire them all, ridiculing combat veterans with PTSD, kicking uniformed personnel off the National Security Council, abdicating responsibility for troop strength in combat theaters, disrespecting the retired four-star general and Gold Star father who runs his White House, shaming the National Security Council on live television, pledging to kick transgender troops out of the armed services, blocking a prominent veterans' group on Twitter, attacking John McCain again, waiting nearly two weeks to remark on the death of four Special Forces soldiers in combat. Going back further still, we could note Trump's Vietnam draft-dodging, how he referred to sleeping with models as his "personal Vietnam" and his attempt to kick homeless veterans off 5th Avenue out of disgust."
Painful Truth: The Unhealthiest County in America Voted Overwhelmingly for Trump, Who Will Only Make Things Worse @alternet
Painful Truth: The Unhealthiest County in America Voted Overwhelmingly for Trump, Who Will Only Make Things Worse @alternet:
"With its soaring death rates, widespread illness, out-of-control drug abuse, and high rates of unemployment, Union County is in desperate need of a turnaround, including more social services, funding, and development—a longshot with any administration in power. The county is also 74 percent white. And perhaps unsurprisingly, in the 2016 presidential election, its citizens voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump by a staggering 80.2 percent. To be clear, Trump won every faction of white voters, from the uneducated to the college educated, rich and poor, across gender lines. Those voting patterns say less about Trump than about white receptivity to a sales pitch steeped in racism and xenophobia. Despite Trump’s pan-white socioeconomic appeal, Union County is the kind of place news editors persist in falsely pinpointing as the loci for Trump support. It’s a power move, really; a way of punching down to avoid holding their own class accountable for voting with white supremacy as a primary, though more quietly spoken, motivator. The difference between Trump votes cast by residents of Union County and those from white America’s upper classes is that for the former, the decision will be far more consequential. Nine months in, there is already proof the result is an even greater imbalance of life and death."
"With its soaring death rates, widespread illness, out-of-control drug abuse, and high rates of unemployment, Union County is in desperate need of a turnaround, including more social services, funding, and development—a longshot with any administration in power. The county is also 74 percent white. And perhaps unsurprisingly, in the 2016 presidential election, its citizens voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump by a staggering 80.2 percent. To be clear, Trump won every faction of white voters, from the uneducated to the college educated, rich and poor, across gender lines. Those voting patterns say less about Trump than about white receptivity to a sales pitch steeped in racism and xenophobia. Despite Trump’s pan-white socioeconomic appeal, Union County is the kind of place news editors persist in falsely pinpointing as the loci for Trump support. It’s a power move, really; a way of punching down to avoid holding their own class accountable for voting with white supremacy as a primary, though more quietly spoken, motivator. The difference between Trump votes cast by residents of Union County and those from white America’s upper classes is that for the former, the decision will be far more consequential. Nine months in, there is already proof the result is an even greater imbalance of life and death."
'Death Sentence for Local Media': Warnings as FCC Pushes Change to Benefit Right-Wing Media Giant
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/10/26/death-sentence-local-media-warnings-fcc-pushes-change-benefit-right-wing-media-giant
"In a series of moves this week that have alarmed free speech advocates and critics of media consolidation, the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) voted to abolish a rule requiring radio and television broadcasters to maintain studios near the communities they serve, and FCC chairman Ajit Pai announced further plans to end certain media ownership rules. The policy shifts are expected to significantly benefit the right-wing Sinclair Broadcast Group—whose reported close ties to Pai have raised concerns as the federal government reviews Sinclair's proposed $3.9 billion merger with Tribune Media, which would expand the broadcaster's reach to 72 percent of the country."
"In a series of moves this week that have alarmed free speech advocates and critics of media consolidation, the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) voted to abolish a rule requiring radio and television broadcasters to maintain studios near the communities they serve, and FCC chairman Ajit Pai announced further plans to end certain media ownership rules. The policy shifts are expected to significantly benefit the right-wing Sinclair Broadcast Group—whose reported close ties to Pai have raised concerns as the federal government reviews Sinclair's proposed $3.9 billion merger with Tribune Media, which would expand the broadcaster's reach to 72 percent of the country."
Georgia election server wiped after voting rights advocates file suit against GOP Secretary of State
Georgia election server wiped after voting rights advocates file suit against GOP Secretary of State
"A computer server that was used to store key elections data in the state of Georgia was completely wiped earlier this year after voting rights advocates filed a suit against Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp. The Associated Press reports that the server’s data was destroyed this past July by unnamed technicians at the Center for Elections Systems at Kennesaw State University, which is responsible for running Georgia’s entire elections system. What’s more, two backup servers were also wiped completely clean in August, which was right around the time when a lawsuit against Kemp moved to federal court. The lawsuit, which the AP says was filed shortly before the data server was wiped, was filed to end the state’s current voting infrastructure, which the plaintiffs claim is far too vulnerable to fraud and tampering. Among other things, the lawsuit notes that the state’s 27,000 AccuVote touchscreen voting machines do not offer paper receipts and are vulnerable to hacking. “The server data could have revealed whether Georgia’s most recent elections were compromised by malicious hackers,” the AP notes. “The plaintiffs contend that the results of both last November’s election and a special June 20 congressional runoff— won by Kemp’s predecessor, Karen Handel — cannot be trusted.” Kemp’s office claims that it had nothing to do with the center’s decision to wipe the server, despite the fact that center answers directly to Kemp."
"A computer server that was used to store key elections data in the state of Georgia was completely wiped earlier this year after voting rights advocates filed a suit against Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp. The Associated Press reports that the server’s data was destroyed this past July by unnamed technicians at the Center for Elections Systems at Kennesaw State University, which is responsible for running Georgia’s entire elections system. What’s more, two backup servers were also wiped completely clean in August, which was right around the time when a lawsuit against Kemp moved to federal court. The lawsuit, which the AP says was filed shortly before the data server was wiped, was filed to end the state’s current voting infrastructure, which the plaintiffs claim is far too vulnerable to fraud and tampering. Among other things, the lawsuit notes that the state’s 27,000 AccuVote touchscreen voting machines do not offer paper receipts and are vulnerable to hacking. “The server data could have revealed whether Georgia’s most recent elections were compromised by malicious hackers,” the AP notes. “The plaintiffs contend that the results of both last November’s election and a special June 20 congressional runoff— won by Kemp’s predecessor, Karen Handel — cannot be trusted.” Kemp’s office claims that it had nothing to do with the center’s decision to wipe the server, despite the fact that center answers directly to Kemp."
Scott Pruitt denies he meets with ‘polluters’ as his agency dismantles environmental safeguards
https://thinkprogress.org/scott-pruitt-meets-with-polluters-431f63887058/
"As Oklahoma attorney general, Pruitt also maintained a close relationship with polluting industries, particularly the oil and gas industry. In 2014, the New York Times broke a story showing that Pruitt had taken a letter written by Devon Energy lawyers and sent it to the EPA on state letterhead, essentially acting as an official voice for one of his state’s biggest polluters. Devon Energy is a major natural gas producer based in Oklahoma City."
"As Oklahoma attorney general, Pruitt also maintained a close relationship with polluting industries, particularly the oil and gas industry. In 2014, the New York Times broke a story showing that Pruitt had taken a letter written by Devon Energy lawyers and sent it to the EPA on state letterhead, essentially acting as an official voice for one of his state’s biggest polluters. Devon Energy is a major natural gas producer based in Oklahoma City."
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Cutting corporate taxes will not boost American wages
Cutting corporate taxes will not boost American wages:
"The Trump administration is marketing its plan to give huge tax cuts to the richest U.S. households with a bold but fanciful claim: that these tax cuts will trickle down to help American workers by boosting economy-wide productivity and hence wages."
"The Trump administration is marketing its plan to give huge tax cuts to the richest U.S. households with a bold but fanciful claim: that these tax cuts will trickle down to help American workers by boosting economy-wide productivity and hence wages."
U.S. Is Officially The Only Country Besides Syria Not To Support Paris Climate Deal
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nicaragua-paris-climate_us_59eeeb1ce4b07cf8380c1bc3?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
"Nicaragua has officially joined the Paris climate accord, leaving just two countries to not support the deal ― the United States and Syria."
"Nicaragua has officially joined the Paris climate accord, leaving just two countries to not support the deal ― the United States and Syria."
Senator Corker eviscerates Trump: The debasement of our nation is what he’ll be remembered for
Senator Corker eviscerates Trump: The debasement of our nation is what he’ll be remembered for
"U.S. Senator Bob Corker eviscerated President Donald Trump on Tuesday after the two Republicans exchanged insults on Twitter, saying the president is consistently untruthful and has debased the United States and undermined its relationships around the world."
"U.S. Senator Bob Corker eviscerated President Donald Trump on Tuesday after the two Republicans exchanged insults on Twitter, saying the president is consistently untruthful and has debased the United States and undermined its relationships around the world."
On climate, the United States and Syria now stand alone
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/climate-the-united-states-and-syria-now-stand-alone
"We’ve isolated ourselves internationally in a way that hardly seemed possible a year ago, and Nicaragua’s announcement yesterday made this dynamic slightly more embarrassing for the United States."
"We’ve isolated ourselves internationally in a way that hardly seemed possible a year ago, and Nicaragua’s announcement yesterday made this dynamic slightly more embarrassing for the United States."
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Trump goes to war against his own country’s health care system
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-goes-war-against-his-own-countrys-health-care-system
"It’s not as if the president can say he wasn’t warned about the adverse consequences of this ridiculous gambit. In fact, it was around this time that Sen. Lamar Alexander, the Republican chairman of the Senate committee that oversees health care policy, added that if the CSR payments end, “Americans will be hurt.” Trump is doing it anyway, indifferent to the real-world consequences. The president is making a conscious decision to undermine his own country’s health care system on purpose. All of this, of course, comes on top of the series of related steps the Republican has already taken to make it more difficult for Americans – which is to say, his ostensible constituents – to get the coverage and health security they’re entitled to under the law. If Trump thinks this will force Democrats to accept a GOP repeal plan, he’s mistaken. If Trump thinks he can blame “Obamacare” for the damage he’s doing to the system, he’s misguided – because he’s taking ownership of American health care right now, forcing consumers to pay more while he sabotages the system as part of a bizarre political vendetta. The president is taking a sledgehammer to our health care system, and he’s making no effort to hide his actions. As conditions deteriorate, there will be no one else to blame."
"It’s not as if the president can say he wasn’t warned about the adverse consequences of this ridiculous gambit. In fact, it was around this time that Sen. Lamar Alexander, the Republican chairman of the Senate committee that oversees health care policy, added that if the CSR payments end, “Americans will be hurt.” Trump is doing it anyway, indifferent to the real-world consequences. The president is making a conscious decision to undermine his own country’s health care system on purpose. All of this, of course, comes on top of the series of related steps the Republican has already taken to make it more difficult for Americans – which is to say, his ostensible constituents – to get the coverage and health security they’re entitled to under the law. If Trump thinks this will force Democrats to accept a GOP repeal plan, he’s mistaken. If Trump thinks he can blame “Obamacare” for the damage he’s doing to the system, he’s misguided – because he’s taking ownership of American health care right now, forcing consumers to pay more while he sabotages the system as part of a bizarre political vendetta. The president is taking a sledgehammer to our health care system, and he’s making no effort to hide his actions. As conditions deteriorate, there will be no one else to blame."
Obamacare sabotage in Florida: they had the most signups, and now they have the most to lose
https://thinkprogress.org/florida-saw-the-most-obamacare-signups-now-groups-who-helped-people-enroll-are-being-penalized-c225e1430aab/
"The Trump administration has repeatedly undercut the current health law, and most encapsulating of this was yesterday’s decision to end promised subsidy payments to insurance companies. For Florida, this is especially troublesome because more residents there than any other state depend on the ACA marketplace for insurance. Florida has had the highest number of ACA signups in the country. Approximately 1.7 million people in the state enrolled in private plans offered on the ACA marketplace last open enrollment period. And the uninsured rate dropped from around 20 percent in 2013 to 12.6 percent in 2016. The ACA has worked in Florida even without much cooperation from the state government. Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), one of the staunchest opponents of the current health law, refused federal funds to establish its own state exchange. Instead, residents enroll for coverage on the federally-facilitated marketplace, healthcare.gov. Additionally, the state has not expanded Medicaid. Florida outperformed California’s enrollment numbers by about 200,000 last enrollment period, even though Sacramento agreed to operate its own state-run exchange and is widely supported by local officials. Texas, the second-highest enrollment state that operates on heathcare.gov, had more than half a million less enrollees than Florida last enrollment period. There are many people who qualify for insurance on the Florida marketplace but are not enrolled. Of the 2,500,000 remaining uninsured, 614,000 qualify for subsidized insurance on the marketplace and 246,000 qualify for Medicaid — insurance largely for low-income people — according to a 2016 estimate by the Kaiser Family Foundation."
"The Trump administration has repeatedly undercut the current health law, and most encapsulating of this was yesterday’s decision to end promised subsidy payments to insurance companies. For Florida, this is especially troublesome because more residents there than any other state depend on the ACA marketplace for insurance. Florida has had the highest number of ACA signups in the country. Approximately 1.7 million people in the state enrolled in private plans offered on the ACA marketplace last open enrollment period. And the uninsured rate dropped from around 20 percent in 2013 to 12.6 percent in 2016. The ACA has worked in Florida even without much cooperation from the state government. Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), one of the staunchest opponents of the current health law, refused federal funds to establish its own state exchange. Instead, residents enroll for coverage on the federally-facilitated marketplace, healthcare.gov. Additionally, the state has not expanded Medicaid. Florida outperformed California’s enrollment numbers by about 200,000 last enrollment period, even though Sacramento agreed to operate its own state-run exchange and is widely supported by local officials. Texas, the second-highest enrollment state that operates on heathcare.gov, had more than half a million less enrollees than Florida last enrollment period. There are many people who qualify for insurance on the Florida marketplace but are not enrolled. Of the 2,500,000 remaining uninsured, 614,000 qualify for subsidized insurance on the marketplace and 246,000 qualify for Medicaid — insurance largely for low-income people — according to a 2016 estimate by the Kaiser Family Foundation."
CNN’s Erin Burnett Shreds ‘Hypocrite-In-Chief’ Trump After He Signs His 50th Executive Order
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/10/12/cnns-erin-burnett-shreds-hypocrite-in-chief-trump-signs-50th-executive-order.html
"President Obama signed 26 executive orders by the 12th of October of his first year in office. Trump’s running a double."
"President Obama signed 26 executive orders by the 12th of October of his first year in office. Trump’s running a double."
The Atlantic Confirms It: We Are Living In A Kakistocracy
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/10/10/1705723/-The-Atlantic-Confirms-It-We-Are-Living-In-A-Kakistocracy
"Kakistocracy is back, and we are experiencing it firsthand in America. The unscrupulous element has come into sharp focus in recent weeks as a string of Trump Cabinet members and White House staffers have been caught spending staggering sums of taxpayer dollars to charter jets, at times to go small distances where cheap commercial transportation was readily available, at times to conveniently visit home areas or have lunch with family members. While Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price was forced to resign after his serial abuse, others—including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, and Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, remain in place. There's a reason this word has been out of vogue so long. The reason is that a kakistocracy requires two things that until this point in American history have been quite rare. First you need an Executive with a blatant, wholesale disregard for the country, the welfare of its citizens and the importance of its institutions. Second (unless such a person manages to be elected by trickery), you need a constituency willing to elect such a person. To find a bloc of voters with such an abominable disregard and low opinion of themselves and their country that they would knowingly put their futures in the hands of thoroughly venal leader is a real rarity. The primary process usually winnows out such garbage. In this case, however Republican voters were already inured to Trump's personal style because he was a TV personality. So an institutional hurdle that exists for most candidates was immediately mooted. But the fact is that millions of Americans chose—with eyes wide open—to elect someone who clearly from his conduct and speeches during the campaign exemplified the absolute worst America had to offer."
"Kakistocracy is back, and we are experiencing it firsthand in America. The unscrupulous element has come into sharp focus in recent weeks as a string of Trump Cabinet members and White House staffers have been caught spending staggering sums of taxpayer dollars to charter jets, at times to go small distances where cheap commercial transportation was readily available, at times to conveniently visit home areas or have lunch with family members. While Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price was forced to resign after his serial abuse, others—including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, and Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, remain in place. There's a reason this word has been out of vogue so long. The reason is that a kakistocracy requires two things that until this point in American history have been quite rare. First you need an Executive with a blatant, wholesale disregard for the country, the welfare of its citizens and the importance of its institutions. Second (unless such a person manages to be elected by trickery), you need a constituency willing to elect such a person. To find a bloc of voters with such an abominable disregard and low opinion of themselves and their country that they would knowingly put their futures in the hands of thoroughly venal leader is a real rarity. The primary process usually winnows out such garbage. In this case, however Republican voters were already inured to Trump's personal style because he was a TV personality. So an institutional hurdle that exists for most candidates was immediately mooted. But the fact is that millions of Americans chose—with eyes wide open—to elect someone who clearly from his conduct and speeches during the campaign exemplified the absolute worst America had to offer."
After Day of Feuding, Jeff Flake and Bob Corker Join Trump to Upend a Major Consumer Protection
https://theintercept.com/2017/10/24/after-day-of-feuding-jeff-flake-and-bob-corker-join-trump-to-upend-a-major-consumer-protection/
"With a razor-thin margin, the Senate passed a resolution to nullify a signature regulation from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which banned forced arbitration provisions. Such clauses, tucked into the fine print of contracts that nobody reads, deny consumers the ability to contest claims through a class-action lawsuit, and can allow banks and other financial institutions to rip off their customers with virtual impunity."
"With a razor-thin margin, the Senate passed a resolution to nullify a signature regulation from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which banned forced arbitration provisions. Such clauses, tucked into the fine print of contracts that nobody reads, deny consumers the ability to contest claims through a class-action lawsuit, and can allow banks and other financial institutions to rip off their customers with virtual impunity."
“None of this is normal”: read the full transcript of Sen. Jeff Flake’s blistering retirement speech
https://www.vox.com/2017/10/24/16537284/full-transcript-flake-retirement-speech
"On Tuesday, Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, who had just announced his retirement, delivered a stunning indictment of President Trump and blasted members of his own party for failing to speak out against the president."
"On Tuesday, Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, who had just announced his retirement, delivered a stunning indictment of President Trump and blasted members of his own party for failing to speak out against the president."
Evidence contradicts Trump claims on calls to soldiers’ families
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/evidence-contradicts-trump-claims-calls-soldiers-families
"Donald Trump’s timing could’ve been better. When Sgt. La David Johnson’s remains arrived at Dover Air Force Base, the president was golfing. On Saturday, Johnson was laid to rest, and Trump spent part of Saturday morning tweeting not about the fallen hero ahead of his funeral, but taking juvenile shots at Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), who mentored Johnson and is close with his family. And then the president went golfing again. Complicating matters is Trump’s demonstrable dishonesty on his interactions with the families of American soldiers killed in action. As part of his self-aggrandizing boasts last week, the president told Fox News Radio, “I have called, I believe, everybody – but certainly I’ll use the word virtually everybody.” The Associated Press found soon after that of the 20 families who lost loved ones since Trump took office, half had not heard from the president. Roll Call reported late last week that the White House apparently knew that Trump’s boast wasn’t true. In the hours after President Donald Trump said on an Oct. 17 radio broadcast that he had contacted nearly every family that had lost a military servicemember this year, the White House was hustling to learn from the Pentagon the identities and contact information for those families, according to an internal Defense Department email. The email exchange, which has not been previously reported, shows that senior White House aides were aware on the day the president made the statement that it was not accurate – but that they should try to make it accurate as soon as possible, given the gathering controversy. Not only had the president not contacted virtually all the families of military personnel killed this year, the White House did not even have an up-to-date list of those who had been killed. What’s more, The Atlantic reported over the weekend that, in a mad dash to deal with the president’s false claim, the Trump administration has begun “rush-delivering letters from the president to the families of servicemembers killed months ago"."
"Donald Trump’s timing could’ve been better. When Sgt. La David Johnson’s remains arrived at Dover Air Force Base, the president was golfing. On Saturday, Johnson was laid to rest, and Trump spent part of Saturday morning tweeting not about the fallen hero ahead of his funeral, but taking juvenile shots at Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), who mentored Johnson and is close with his family. And then the president went golfing again. Complicating matters is Trump’s demonstrable dishonesty on his interactions with the families of American soldiers killed in action. As part of his self-aggrandizing boasts last week, the president told Fox News Radio, “I have called, I believe, everybody – but certainly I’ll use the word virtually everybody.” The Associated Press found soon after that of the 20 families who lost loved ones since Trump took office, half had not heard from the president. Roll Call reported late last week that the White House apparently knew that Trump’s boast wasn’t true. In the hours after President Donald Trump said on an Oct. 17 radio broadcast that he had contacted nearly every family that had lost a military servicemember this year, the White House was hustling to learn from the Pentagon the identities and contact information for those families, according to an internal Defense Department email. The email exchange, which has not been previously reported, shows that senior White House aides were aware on the day the president made the statement that it was not accurate – but that they should try to make it accurate as soon as possible, given the gathering controversy. Not only had the president not contacted virtually all the families of military personnel killed this year, the White House did not even have an up-to-date list of those who had been killed. What’s more, The Atlantic reported over the weekend that, in a mad dash to deal with the president’s false claim, the Trump administration has begun “rush-delivering letters from the president to the families of servicemembers killed months ago"."
Trump signs executive order to draft retired pilots back into military service
https://www.salon.com/2017/10/20/trump-signs-executive-order-to-draft-retired-pilots-back-into-military-service/
"Citing emergency powers, President Donald Trump signed an executive order late in the day on Friday that would allow retired military pilots to be recalled to active duty. But the broad wording of the executive order seemed to imply that the executive branch would have the power to call up retired military officers and force them back into service for any reason, as the “emergency” Trump used to justify the executive order was extremely vague: “the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on the United States.” This executive order is officially an amendment to Executive Order 13223, signed by George W. Bush in September 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Trump’s executive order claimed to be “in furtherance of the objectives of Proclamation 7463… which declared a national emergency by reason of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.” Stay with me, because this gets confusing. So Trump basically wrote an amendment to Bush’s 2001 executive order. All Bush’s executive order really said, though, was that an emergency existed and the president had authorization to use a variety of statutes in the federal code. It then listed those statutes, of which there are many; let’s just say they mostly involve the executive abilities to send the military around the world and limit troops’ ability to retire. In any case, Trump’s executive order specifically invoked two of the sections of the United States Code."
"Citing emergency powers, President Donald Trump signed an executive order late in the day on Friday that would allow retired military pilots to be recalled to active duty. But the broad wording of the executive order seemed to imply that the executive branch would have the power to call up retired military officers and force them back into service for any reason, as the “emergency” Trump used to justify the executive order was extremely vague: “the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on the United States.” This executive order is officially an amendment to Executive Order 13223, signed by George W. Bush in September 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Trump’s executive order claimed to be “in furtherance of the objectives of Proclamation 7463… which declared a national emergency by reason of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.” Stay with me, because this gets confusing. So Trump basically wrote an amendment to Bush’s 2001 executive order. All Bush’s executive order really said, though, was that an emergency existed and the president had authorization to use a variety of statutes in the federal code. It then listed those statutes, of which there are many; let’s just say they mostly involve the executive abilities to send the military around the world and limit troops’ ability to retire. In any case, Trump’s executive order specifically invoked two of the sections of the United States Code."
Gold Star Widow Myeshia Johnson Confirms Rep. Frederica Wilson's Account of Her Call with Trump to the Word @alternet
Gold Star Widow Myeshia Johnson Confirms Rep. Frederica Wilson's Account of Her Call with Trump to the Word @alternet:
"Myeshia Johnson, the widow of slain U.S. Army Sgt. La David Johnson, confirmed Rep. Frederica Wilson’s account of her phone call with President Donald Trump on Monday. During an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, Johnson said that Trump didn’t seem to know her husband’s name when he talked with her on the phone."
"Myeshia Johnson, the widow of slain U.S. Army Sgt. La David Johnson, confirmed Rep. Frederica Wilson’s account of her phone call with President Donald Trump on Monday. During an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, Johnson said that Trump didn’t seem to know her husband’s name when he talked with her on the phone."
‘That is wrong’: McCain whacks Trump over ‘bone spur’ excuse to dodge the Vietnam draft
‘That is wrong’: McCain whacks Trump over ‘bone spur’ excuse to dodge the Vietnam draft
"Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) swatted President Donald Trump during an interview about the Vietnam War on Sunday — without ever mentioning the former reality TV game show host by name."
"Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) swatted President Donald Trump during an interview about the Vietnam War on Sunday — without ever mentioning the former reality TV game show host by name."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)