Trump's Pick for Head of Nation's Economic Policy "A Self-Dealing, Wall Street Tool"
"President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that former Goldman Sachs partner Steven Mnuchin—a man described as "the anti-populist from Hell"—is his pick for Treasury secretary."
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Robert Reich reveals the seven techniques that Donald Trump uses to control the media
Robert Reich reveals the seven techniques that Donald Trump uses to control the media
"Democracy depends on a free and independent press, which is why all tyrants try to squelch it. They use seven techniques that, worryingly, President-elect Donald Trump already employs."
"Democracy depends on a free and independent press, which is why all tyrants try to squelch it. They use seven techniques that, worryingly, President-elect Donald Trump already employs."
Jeff Sessions Slammed A Law Protecting Schoolchildren With Disabilities
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jeff-sessions-slammed-law-protecting-schoolchildren-disabilities_us_583cf751e4b06539a78a3bdc
"In May 2000, Sessions took to the senate floor to make a lengthy speech on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, arguing that federal protections for students with disabilities was a reason U.S. public schools were failing."
"In May 2000, Sessions took to the senate floor to make a lengthy speech on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, arguing that federal protections for students with disabilities was a reason U.S. public schools were failing."
Donald Trump is hiring Tom DeLay’s lawyer as White House counsel: There are no words
Donald Trump is hiring Tom DeLay’s lawyer as White House counsel: There are no words
"Don McGahn, the man best known as the ethics lawyer to corrupt former House whip Tom “The Hammer” DeLay, a man who pretty much filled the swamp Trump promised to drain. As one of the architects of the “K Street Project,” which strong-armed lobbyists into only hiring Republicans if they wanted to do business with the government, DeLay and McGahn were instrumental in institutionalizing GOP self-dealing and corruption during the Bush years. DeLay had Texas tear up its 2000 redistricting plan after Republicans won the majority in 2002, and McGahn defended him when DeLay was tried for illegally funneling campaign cash into a PAC to help Republicans win. (He lost the case, but it was reversed on appeal.) Of course, McGahn had also been the lawyer who advised him the scheme was legal in the first place. McGahn helped DeLay with a Russian pay-to-play scheme and subsequent RICO lawsuit. As the in-house counsel for the National Republican Campaign Committee, McGahn oversaw the raising of more than $625 million between 2000 and 2008 with almost no oversight and no rules. The scheme finally ended when a Republican congressman insisted on an audit and the FBI indicted the treasurer on embezzlement charges. Naturally, George W. Bush then made McGahn a member of the Federal Election Commission, where he did everything in his power to undermine the campaign finance laws — and succeeded — after which he went to work for the Koch brothers. Of course. In 2016 he joined the Trump campaign, and he will now be White House counsel."
"Don McGahn, the man best known as the ethics lawyer to corrupt former House whip Tom “The Hammer” DeLay, a man who pretty much filled the swamp Trump promised to drain. As one of the architects of the “K Street Project,” which strong-armed lobbyists into only hiring Republicans if they wanted to do business with the government, DeLay and McGahn were instrumental in institutionalizing GOP self-dealing and corruption during the Bush years. DeLay had Texas tear up its 2000 redistricting plan after Republicans won the majority in 2002, and McGahn defended him when DeLay was tried for illegally funneling campaign cash into a PAC to help Republicans win. (He lost the case, but it was reversed on appeal.) Of course, McGahn had also been the lawyer who advised him the scheme was legal in the first place. McGahn helped DeLay with a Russian pay-to-play scheme and subsequent RICO lawsuit. As the in-house counsel for the National Republican Campaign Committee, McGahn oversaw the raising of more than $625 million between 2000 and 2008 with almost no oversight and no rules. The scheme finally ended when a Republican congressman insisted on an audit and the FBI indicted the treasurer on embezzlement charges. Naturally, George W. Bush then made McGahn a member of the Federal Election Commission, where he did everything in his power to undermine the campaign finance laws — and succeeded — after which he went to work for the Koch brothers. Of course. In 2016 he joined the Trump campaign, and he will now be White House counsel."
With Extremist Tom Price at Helm, the 'War on Women Has Reached HHS'
With Extremist Tom Price at Helm, the 'War on Women Has Reached HHS'
"President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be the nation's top health official has an abysmal record on women's issues and LGBTQ rights, advocates are warning on Tuesday."
"President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be the nation's top health official has an abysmal record on women's issues and LGBTQ rights, advocates are warning on Tuesday."
Why Trump's Nominee for Health Secretary, Tom Price, Is Completely Terrifying @alternet
Why Trump's Nominee for Health Secretary, Tom Price, Is Completely Terrifying @alternet:
"President-elect Donald Trump’s likely pick to head the Health and Human Services administration in his cabinet—Georgia Rep. Tom Price—is one more indication that not a single word that comes out of Trump’s mouth can be believed. It is also yet another sign that his administration will be an unfolding horror show of the most extremist right-wing hucksters intent on dismantling America’s safety net and moral standing in the world."
"President-elect Donald Trump’s likely pick to head the Health and Human Services administration in his cabinet—Georgia Rep. Tom Price—is one more indication that not a single word that comes out of Trump’s mouth can be believed. It is also yet another sign that his administration will be an unfolding horror show of the most extremist right-wing hucksters intent on dismantling America’s safety net and moral standing in the world."
Trump's Quiet Pick for Legal Adviser Shows He's Dead Set on Nuking Our Democracy @alternet
Trump's Quiet Pick for Legal Adviser Shows He's Dead Set on Nuking Our Democracy @alternet: Trump isn't draining the swamp; he's creating a reptile enclosure.
Donald Trump asked Fabio and everyone else at his Thanksgiving party who should be secretary of state: report
Donald Trump asked Fabio and everyone else at his Thanksgiving party who should be secretary of state: report
"President-elect Donald Trump is apparently having a hard time choosing who should be the country’s next secretary of state, so he posed the question to all of the well-heeled guests who attended his Thanksgiving Day party at Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida."
"President-elect Donald Trump is apparently having a hard time choosing who should be the country’s next secretary of state, so he posed the question to all of the well-heeled guests who attended his Thanksgiving Day party at Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida."
How a Misinformed Tweet Was Manufactured into Major Right-Wing News @alternet
How a Misinformed Tweet Was Manufactured into Major Right-Wing News @alternet:
"Paul Horner, among the most prolific and successful fake news writers, recently told the Washington Post that Trump voters and other “right-wing Republicans” were almost single-handedly responsible for the $10,000 he pulls in every month, because they “post everything, believe anything,” and continue to share fake news even when they find out it isn't true. That might explain why so many fake news stories seem specially tailored for the conservative news reader."
"Paul Horner, among the most prolific and successful fake news writers, recently told the Washington Post that Trump voters and other “right-wing Republicans” were almost single-handedly responsible for the $10,000 he pulls in every month, because they “post everything, believe anything,” and continue to share fake news even when they find out it isn't true. That might explain why so many fake news stories seem specially tailored for the conservative news reader."
Women In Science Pledge To Fight Trump's 'Anti-Knowledge' | Crooks and Liars
Women In Science Pledge To Fight Trump's 'Anti-Knowledge' | Crooks and Liars
"Thousands of female scientists have signed an open letter pledging to fight the “anti-knowledge sentiment” that has emerged since the U.S. presidential election."
"Thousands of female scientists have signed an open letter pledging to fight the “anti-knowledge sentiment” that has emerged since the U.S. presidential election."
This Tweetstorm PERFECTLY Explains Why Recounts Terrify Trump – It’s Not Fear He Might Have Lost
http://addictinginfo.org/2016/11/28/this-tweetstorm-perfectly-explains-why-recounts-terrify-trump-its-not-fear-he-might-have-lost/
"McMullin points out that both of these tactics help to solidify an autocrat’s power"
"McMullin points out that both of these tactics help to solidify an autocrat’s power"
Trump Won With One of the Lowest Percentages of the Popular Vote in History
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/11/28/trump-set-receive-lowest-percentage-popular-vote.html
"Trump’s reaction to both losing the popular vote and to having election results recounted reveals that Trump as just as unstable as many of us suspected"
"Trump’s reaction to both losing the popular vote and to having election results recounted reveals that Trump as just as unstable as many of us suspected"
PLEASE Do Not Use This Photo Of Trump! | Crooks and Liars
PLEASE Do Not Use This Photo Of Trump! | Crooks and Liars
"Trump's whined about NBC using this photo of his double-chin earlier in the week."
"Trump's whined about NBC using this photo of his double-chin earlier in the week."
Trump's Education Pick: A Billionaire Heir of Right-Wing Dynasty and Champion of School Privatization Efforts
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/38516-trump-s-education-pick-a-billionaire-heir-of-right-wing-dynasty-and-champion-of-school-privatization-efforts
"Members of the DeVos family rank among the most generous benefactors of the conservative movement and the Christian right, up there with the Bradleys, the Coorses, and the Kochs. Not only has billionaire Amway cofounder Richard DeVos Sr. cut checks to anti-union and anti-tax efforts, but these days he's also a fixture at the Koch brothers' invite-only donor summits. Name an organization -- Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority, David Koch's Americans for Prosperity, the arch-conservative Heritage Foundation -- and odds are a DeVos family member has donated to it."
"Members of the DeVos family rank among the most generous benefactors of the conservative movement and the Christian right, up there with the Bradleys, the Coorses, and the Kochs. Not only has billionaire Amway cofounder Richard DeVos Sr. cut checks to anti-union and anti-tax efforts, but these days he's also a fixture at the Koch brothers' invite-only donor summits. Name an organization -- Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority, David Koch's Americans for Prosperity, the arch-conservative Heritage Foundation -- and odds are a DeVos family member has donated to it."
Trump Nominates 'True Enemy' of Public Schools for Education Secretary
Trump Nominates 'True Enemy' of Public Schools for Education Secretary
Billionaire Betsy DeVos 'has consistently pushed a corporate agenda to privatize, de-professionalize, and impose cookie-cutter solutions to public education'
Billionaire Betsy DeVos 'has consistently pushed a corporate agenda to privatize, de-professionalize, and impose cookie-cutter solutions to public education'
As President, Trump Plans To Raise Taxes On 26 Million Low Income Americans
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/11/23/president-trump-plans-raise-taxes-26-million-income-americans.html
"The Trump tax plan is heavily, heavily, skewed to the most wealthy, who will receive huge savings"
"The Trump tax plan is heavily, heavily, skewed to the most wealthy, who will receive huge savings"
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Russian Collaborator: Trump, Jr. Met With Russians To Discuss Syrian 'Solution' In October | Crooks and Liars
Russian Collaborator: Trump, Jr. Met With Russians To Discuss Syrian 'Solution' In October | Crooks and Liars
"Shall we take a walk down memory lane and recall history? Does anyone remember Nixon meddling in foreign affairs by killing peace talks in Vietnam? Or how Reagan probably struck a deal with Iran before he won against Jimmy Carter to delay release of the hostages? It's a uniquely Republican thing, this notion of meddling in foreign affairs with no official role to play, solely for the purpose of undermining foreign policy in hot spots around the world. And of course it's Russia. This time, Donald "Uday" Trump, Jr. is the guy who went to France to have a "discussion" with Russian businessmen (aka oligarchs), diplomats and officials about a "Syrian solution"."
"Shall we take a walk down memory lane and recall history? Does anyone remember Nixon meddling in foreign affairs by killing peace talks in Vietnam? Or how Reagan probably struck a deal with Iran before he won against Jimmy Carter to delay release of the hostages? It's a uniquely Republican thing, this notion of meddling in foreign affairs with no official role to play, solely for the purpose of undermining foreign policy in hot spots around the world. And of course it's Russia. This time, Donald "Uday" Trump, Jr. is the guy who went to France to have a "discussion" with Russian businessmen (aka oligarchs), diplomats and officials about a "Syrian solution"."
With One Stroke of His Pen, Donald Trump Set to Screw Over Millions of His Supporters
With One Stroke of His Pen, Donald Trump Set to Screw Over Millions of His Supporters
"Literally within just a few days of officially being president, with one stroke of his pen, Trump’s going to strip away extra pay for millions of people who so eagerly and proudly supported him — and millions of others as well. Oh, you were looking forward to that time-and-a-half pay for overtime work? Yeah, sorry — not anymore. But it’s okay, right? After all, what American family making less than $47,000 annually needs extra money? Clearly, Trump and the Republican party are focused on helping the middle class by ripping away sizable chunks of possible income that could have helped millions of families enjoy a better quality of life."
"Literally within just a few days of officially being president, with one stroke of his pen, Trump’s going to strip away extra pay for millions of people who so eagerly and proudly supported him — and millions of others as well. Oh, you were looking forward to that time-and-a-half pay for overtime work? Yeah, sorry — not anymore. But it’s okay, right? After all, what American family making less than $47,000 annually needs extra money? Clearly, Trump and the Republican party are focused on helping the middle class by ripping away sizable chunks of possible income that could have helped millions of families enjoy a better quality of life."
Donald Trump Basically Says Conflicts Of Interest Aren’t Illegal If The President Has Them
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-conflict-of-interest_us_58349547e4b09b6055ff367d
"President-elect Donald Trump told The New York Times Tuesday that laws around conflicts of interest don’t apply to him, and he can simply keep running his businesses from the White House."
"President-elect Donald Trump told The New York Times Tuesday that laws around conflicts of interest don’t apply to him, and he can simply keep running his businesses from the White House."
Donald Trump’s transition team doesn’t trust him to speak for himself
Donald Trump’s transition team doesn’t trust him to speak for himself
"Reince Priebus and Kellyanne Conway have attempted to shield Trump from the press for fear he will fall apart"
"Reince Priebus and Kellyanne Conway have attempted to shield Trump from the press for fear he will fall apart"
Fracking Special Interests Spent Big in 2016 Elections
http://prwatch.org/news/2016/11/13173/fracking-special-interests-spent-big-2016-elections
"Corporations that profit from fracking funneled millions to PACs for "independent expenditures" in the 2016 election cycle, according to Federal Election Commission filings. For example, the fracking giant Devon Energy gave $500,000 to the "Congressional Leadership Fund," a Super PAC "exclusively dedicated to protecting and strengthening the Republican Majority in the House of Representatives." Devon is notorious for helping to bankroll the fight against citizens in Denton, Texas, who won a bid to ban fracking in 2014 . The Denton ban passed with 59% of the vote, but Texas state legislators and members of the American Legislative Exchange Council nullified that local initiative and pre-empted. Devon spent $195,000 in disclosed spending in the local battle and has spent an untold sum to influence the results local and in the state capitol. Another corporation with a big interest in fracking gave an additional $500,000 to the Congressional Leadership Fund. That half million dollar donation came from Hushang Ansary, the Chairman of Stewart & Stevenson, a manufacturer and distributor of well-stimulation equipment like fracking blenders, fracking pumps, and chemical additive units. Fracking special interests also gave at least $3.35 million to the "Senate Leadership Fund," a Super PAC with "one goal: to protect and expand the Republican Senate Majority." That sum includes $250,000 from Continental Resources, a self-described "leader" in fracking and a $250,000 check from Hushang Ansary, the Chairman of Stewart & Stevenson. The outside spending equivalents that support Democrats--the House Majority PAC and Senate Majority PAC--received no comparable reported donations from the fracking industry. Fracking companies also gave overwhelmingly to the GOP through corporate PACs that include donations from executives and other employees."
"Corporations that profit from fracking funneled millions to PACs for "independent expenditures" in the 2016 election cycle, according to Federal Election Commission filings. For example, the fracking giant Devon Energy gave $500,000 to the "Congressional Leadership Fund," a Super PAC "exclusively dedicated to protecting and strengthening the Republican Majority in the House of Representatives." Devon is notorious for helping to bankroll the fight against citizens in Denton, Texas, who won a bid to ban fracking in 2014 . The Denton ban passed with 59% of the vote, but Texas state legislators and members of the American Legislative Exchange Council nullified that local initiative and pre-empted. Devon spent $195,000 in disclosed spending in the local battle and has spent an untold sum to influence the results local and in the state capitol. Another corporation with a big interest in fracking gave an additional $500,000 to the Congressional Leadership Fund. That half million dollar donation came from Hushang Ansary, the Chairman of Stewart & Stevenson, a manufacturer and distributor of well-stimulation equipment like fracking blenders, fracking pumps, and chemical additive units. Fracking special interests also gave at least $3.35 million to the "Senate Leadership Fund," a Super PAC with "one goal: to protect and expand the Republican Senate Majority." That sum includes $250,000 from Continental Resources, a self-described "leader" in fracking and a $250,000 check from Hushang Ansary, the Chairman of Stewart & Stevenson. The outside spending equivalents that support Democrats--the House Majority PAC and Senate Majority PAC--received no comparable reported donations from the fracking industry. Fracking companies also gave overwhelmingly to the GOP through corporate PACs that include donations from executives and other employees."
FEC goes after Donald Trump for more than 1,000 violations of campaign finance laws
FEC goes after Donald Trump for more than 1,000 violations of campaign finance laws
"With mounting evidence and growing complaints that Donald Trump’s presidential campaign improperly coordinated with supportive super PACs during the election, calls for the Federal Election Commission to take action have only grown louder. Now it appears that the government’s electoral watchdog is finally making the first steps. On Sunday, the FEC sent a letter to the Trump campaign flagging more than 1,000 potentially illegal mistakes in the campaign’s October latest filing."
"With mounting evidence and growing complaints that Donald Trump’s presidential campaign improperly coordinated with supportive super PACs during the election, calls for the Federal Election Commission to take action have only grown louder. Now it appears that the government’s electoral watchdog is finally making the first steps. On Sunday, the FEC sent a letter to the Trump campaign flagging more than 1,000 potentially illegal mistakes in the campaign’s October latest filing."
Video: With Nazi Salutes, White Nationalists 'Hail Trump' at DC Conference
Video: With Nazi Salutes, White Nationalists 'Hail Trump' at DC Conference
"The Atlantic published a video on Monday that shows attendees of a white nationalist conference giving Nazi salutes and cheering as movement leader Richard B. Spencer, who has been credited with coining the term "alt-right," delivers a speech describing the U.S. as "a white country designed for ourselves and our posterity...it belongs to us." Spencer was giving the closing speech over the weekend at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. at the annual conference of the National Policy Institute (NPI), a far-right think tank which the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) describes as one of the four most influential groups leading the "academic racism" sector. The SPLC separately describes Spencer as "one of the country's most successful young white nationalist leaders—a suit-and-tie version of the white supremacists of old, a kind of professional racist in khakis." The Atlantic's video is something of a preview for an upcoming documentary profile on Spencer, set to be released in December 2016. It depicts him at a podium stating, "Hail Trump! Hail our people! Hail victory!" as the crowd cheers and many attendees stand to hold out their arms in a heil Hitler salute."
"The Atlantic published a video on Monday that shows attendees of a white nationalist conference giving Nazi salutes and cheering as movement leader Richard B. Spencer, who has been credited with coining the term "alt-right," delivers a speech describing the U.S. as "a white country designed for ourselves and our posterity...it belongs to us." Spencer was giving the closing speech over the weekend at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. at the annual conference of the National Policy Institute (NPI), a far-right think tank which the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) describes as one of the four most influential groups leading the "academic racism" sector. The SPLC separately describes Spencer as "one of the country's most successful young white nationalist leaders—a suit-and-tie version of the white supremacists of old, a kind of professional racist in khakis." The Atlantic's video is something of a preview for an upcoming documentary profile on Spencer, set to be released in December 2016. It depicts him at a podium stating, "Hail Trump! Hail our people! Hail victory!" as the crowd cheers and many attendees stand to hold out their arms in a heil Hitler salute."
Across the country, Americans are standing up against hate
https://thinkprogress.org/americans-stand-up-hate-b4a7cab024f5#.7jr7vj2nk
"Since Donald Trump was elected to the presidency, there’s been a dramatic uptick in hate and harassment."
"Since Donald Trump was elected to the presidency, there’s been a dramatic uptick in hate and harassment."
Alt-Right Celebrate Donald Trump’s Win With Hitler Salutes As He Brings Alt-Right Propagandist Into White House
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/alt-right-celebrate-donald-trumps-win-with-hitler-salutes-as-he-brings-alt-right-leader-into-white-house/
"Over the weekend, activists with the anti-Semitic and racist Alt-Right movement celebrated Donald Trump’s election at a Washington, D.C., summit that included rants against Jews and Hitler salutes. Many of these same activists, who descended on the capital for the event organized by the white nationalist National Policy Institute, have hailed Trump’s appointment of Steve Bannon, who had called his website, Breitbart, “the platform for the Alt-Right,” to a senior post in the White House, and cheered Trump’s announcement that he will nominate Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions to be attorney general."
"Over the weekend, activists with the anti-Semitic and racist Alt-Right movement celebrated Donald Trump’s election at a Washington, D.C., summit that included rants against Jews and Hitler salutes. Many of these same activists, who descended on the capital for the event organized by the white nationalist National Policy Institute, have hailed Trump’s appointment of Steve Bannon, who had called his website, Breitbart, “the platform for the Alt-Right,” to a senior post in the White House, and cheered Trump’s announcement that he will nominate Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions to be attorney general."
Media Should Not Sanitize Trump Immigration Adviser Kris Kobach’s Extremism, Ties To White Supremacists
http://mediamatters.org/research/2016/11/21/media-should-not-sanitize-trump-immigration-adviser-kris-kobach-s-extremism-ties-white-supremacists/214588
"A reported architect behind President-elect Donald Trump’s extreme immigration proposals, radio host and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach has received significant media attention following the announcement that he was joining Trump’s transition team. However, media outlets are failing to note his ties to hate groups and nativist organizations and his attacks on immigrants and LGBTQ people."
"A reported architect behind President-elect Donald Trump’s extreme immigration proposals, radio host and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach has received significant media attention following the announcement that he was joining Trump’s transition team. However, media outlets are failing to note his ties to hate groups and nativist organizations and his attacks on immigrants and LGBTQ people."
News Networks Sidelined Trump's Conflicts Of Interest Until His Election
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/11/21/news-networks-sidelined-trumps-conflicts-interest-until-his-election/214586
"The broadcast networks’ flagship evening news programs failed to inform their viewers about the inherent conflicts of interest a potential Donald Trump presidency would bring in the months leading up to Election Day, and have not given the subject the urgency it deserves in the wake of his election, according to a Media Matters review. Between September 14 and Election Day, the networks only aired approximately seven minutes of stories about or at least mentioning a conflict of interest. In the week after the election, they aired approximately 14 minutes -- but only half of that explicitly called the issues “conflicts"."
"The broadcast networks’ flagship evening news programs failed to inform their viewers about the inherent conflicts of interest a potential Donald Trump presidency would bring in the months leading up to Election Day, and have not given the subject the urgency it deserves in the wake of his election, according to a Media Matters review. Between September 14 and Election Day, the networks only aired approximately seven minutes of stories about or at least mentioning a conflict of interest. In the week after the election, they aired approximately 14 minutes -- but only half of that explicitly called the issues “conflicts"."
White Nationalists Chant 'Heil Victory,' Rail Against Jews At DC Meeting
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/white-nationalists-npi-meeting-nazi-references-praise-trump
"To celebrate Donald Trump’s presidential victory, dozens of white nationalists descended on the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington, D.C. on Saturday to share glasses of wine and make Nazi salutes for the cameras."
"To celebrate Donald Trump’s presidential victory, dozens of white nationalists descended on the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington, D.C. on Saturday to share glasses of wine and make Nazi salutes for the cameras."
D.C. restaurant donates profits to charity after white nationalists trick it into hosting dinner
D.C. restaurant donates profits to charity after white nationalists trick it into hosting dinner
"The attendees were members of the National Policy Institute, which The Daily Beast described as a “think tank” for white supremacists."
"The attendees were members of the National Policy Institute, which The Daily Beast described as a “think tank” for white supremacists."
The ‘Alt-Right’ Is A Hate Movement, And It’s Scarier Than You Think
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/alt-right-hate-richard-spencer_us_5833242fe4b058ce7aac26fe
"To be sure, Spencer views most non-white races as genetically inferior, has a deep mistrust of Jewish people and associates with neo-Nazis. He wants to see Europeans and people of European descent “protected” from other races through state-sponsored segregation. The list goes on."
"To be sure, Spencer views most non-white races as genetically inferior, has a deep mistrust of Jewish people and associates with neo-Nazis. He wants to see Europeans and people of European descent “protected” from other races through state-sponsored segregation. The list goes on."
The ‘Alt-Right’ Is A Hate Movement, And It’s Scarier Than You Think
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/alt-right-hate-richard-spencer_us_5833242fe4b058ce7aac26fe
"To be sure, Spencer views most non-white races as genetically inferior, has a deep mistrust of Jewish people and associates with neo-Nazis. He wants to see Europeans and people of European descent “protected” from other races through state-sponsored segregation. The list goes on."
"To be sure, Spencer views most non-white races as genetically inferior, has a deep mistrust of Jewish people and associates with neo-Nazis. He wants to see Europeans and people of European descent “protected” from other races through state-sponsored segregation. The list goes on."
Behind "Make America Great," the Koch Agenda Returns with a Vengeance
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/behind-make-america-great-the-koch-agenda-returns-with-a-vengeance
"Although widely unpopular with the mass public, the Koch policy agenda of tax cuts for the rich, union busting, Medicare privatization, business deregulation, and evisceration of environmental and global warming measures is ripe to be rammed through a GOP-dominated Congress and sent to the desk of a president who needs Koch-affiliated personnel, understands very little about policy issues, and will be looking for victorious bills to sign into law."
"Although widely unpopular with the mass public, the Koch policy agenda of tax cuts for the rich, union busting, Medicare privatization, business deregulation, and evisceration of environmental and global warming measures is ripe to be rammed through a GOP-dominated Congress and sent to the desk of a president who needs Koch-affiliated personnel, understands very little about policy issues, and will be looking for victorious bills to sign into law."
Career Racist Jeff Sessions Is Donald Trump’s Pick For Attorney General
https://theintercept.com/2016/11/18/career-racist-jeff-sessions-is-donald-trumps-pick-for-attorney-general/
"IF ANYONE HAD doubts that Trump’s presidency would return white supremacy to power, Friday’s announcement that the president-elect has tapped Alabama Sen. Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III (named after a Confederate general) to head the Department of Justice should settle the question. There is no other way to describe Jeff Sessions but as a career racist."
"IF ANYONE HAD doubts that Trump’s presidency would return white supremacy to power, Friday’s announcement that the president-elect has tapped Alabama Sen. Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III (named after a Confederate general) to head the Department of Justice should settle the question. There is no other way to describe Jeff Sessions but as a career racist."
None of This Is Normal. All of It Is Un-American.
http://billmoyers.com/story/none-normal-un-american/
"Hate crimes after Donald Trump's election and his appointment of Steve Bannon to the White House aren't the way to bring America back together."
"Hate crimes after Donald Trump's election and his appointment of Steve Bannon to the White House aren't the way to bring America back together."
'Alt-right' conference features Nazi propaganda quotes, anti-Semitism, and Nazi salutes
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/21/1602632/--Alt-right-conference-features-Nazi-propaganda-quotes-anti-Semitism-and-Nazi-salutes
"So the guy who coined the term "alt-right" to describe his movement is an actual Nazi-quoting, anti-Semitic white supremacist leading his followers into a good old fashioned Hitler salute. Are there any more questions from the pundit floor, or do we have this "what is the alt-right" business pretty well buttoned down now? Anyone? Anyone at all? Yeah. So let's maybe have one last round of asking Republicans like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell if this is indeed a movement that they are willing to break bread with. And let’s demand to know if the leader of "the alt-right's most prominent platform, Breitbart News" is a man they will obligingly support as the senior adviser and strategist for their new Republican administration."
"So the guy who coined the term "alt-right" to describe his movement is an actual Nazi-quoting, anti-Semitic white supremacist leading his followers into a good old fashioned Hitler salute. Are there any more questions from the pundit floor, or do we have this "what is the alt-right" business pretty well buttoned down now? Anyone? Anyone at all? Yeah. So let's maybe have one last round of asking Republicans like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell if this is indeed a movement that they are willing to break bread with. And let’s demand to know if the leader of "the alt-right's most prominent platform, Breitbart News" is a man they will obligingly support as the senior adviser and strategist for their new Republican administration."
Ad-Rock Held a Rally to Respond to the Vandalization of Adam Yauch Park
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/news/a50858/beastie-boys-anti-hate/
"On Friday, swastikas were spray painted on a jungle gym in Adam Yauch Park in the Brooklyn, New York. The park is a memorial to Beastie Boy Adam Yauch (a.k.a. MCA) who died in 2012. Beneath the swastikas (which were so poorly drawn, it might be funny if they weren't, you know, swastikas), the words "Go Trump" were painted."
"On Friday, swastikas were spray painted on a jungle gym in Adam Yauch Park in the Brooklyn, New York. The park is a memorial to Beastie Boy Adam Yauch (a.k.a. MCA) who died in 2012. Beneath the swastikas (which were so poorly drawn, it might be funny if they weren't, you know, swastikas), the words "Go Trump" were painted."
A Government Of, By, and For the Deplorables @alternet
A Government Of, By, and For the Deplorables @alternet: A frightening array of Islamophobes, xenophobes, homophobes, racists, and misogynists is assembling around President-elect Trump, normalizing the language and actions of hatred.
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Robert Reich: California Is the Opposite of Trumpland—That's Why It Is Thriving @alternet
Robert Reich: California Is the Opposite of Trumpland—That's Why It Is Thriving @alternet:
"For years, conservatives have been saying that a healthy economy depends on low taxes, few regulations, and low wages. Are conservatives right? At the one end of the scale are Kansas and Texas, with among the nation’s lowest taxes, least regulations, and lowest wages. At the other end is California, with among the nation’s highest taxes, especially on the wealthy; toughest regulations, particularly when it comes to the environment; most ambitious healthcare system, that insures more than 12 million poor Californians, in partnership with Medicaid; and high wages. So according to conservative doctrine, Kansas and Texas ought to be booming, and California ought to be in the pits. Actually, it’s just the opposite. For several years, Kansas’s rate of economic growth has been the worst in the nation. Last year its economy actually shrank. Texas hasn’t been doing all that much better. Its rate of job growth has been below the national average. Retail sales are way down. The value of Texas exports has been dropping. But what about so-called over-taxed, over-regulated, high-wage California? California leads the nation in the rate of economic growth — more than twice the national average. If it were a separate nation it would now be the sixth largest economy in the world. Its population has surged to 39 million (up 5 percent since 2010). California is home to the nation’s fastest-growing and most innovative industries – entertainment and high tech. It incubates more startups than anywhere else in the world."
"For years, conservatives have been saying that a healthy economy depends on low taxes, few regulations, and low wages. Are conservatives right? At the one end of the scale are Kansas and Texas, with among the nation’s lowest taxes, least regulations, and lowest wages. At the other end is California, with among the nation’s highest taxes, especially on the wealthy; toughest regulations, particularly when it comes to the environment; most ambitious healthcare system, that insures more than 12 million poor Californians, in partnership with Medicaid; and high wages. So according to conservative doctrine, Kansas and Texas ought to be booming, and California ought to be in the pits. Actually, it’s just the opposite. For several years, Kansas’s rate of economic growth has been the worst in the nation. Last year its economy actually shrank. Texas hasn’t been doing all that much better. Its rate of job growth has been below the national average. Retail sales are way down. The value of Texas exports has been dropping. But what about so-called over-taxed, over-regulated, high-wage California? California leads the nation in the rate of economic growth — more than twice the national average. If it were a separate nation it would now be the sixth largest economy in the world. Its population has surged to 39 million (up 5 percent since 2010). California is home to the nation’s fastest-growing and most innovative industries – entertainment and high tech. It incubates more startups than anywhere else in the world."
Those Who Failed to Recognize Trump as 'Greater Evil' Made a 'Bad Mistake': Chomsky
Those Who Failed to Recognize Trump as 'Greater Evil' Made a 'Bad Mistake': Chomsky
"Indeed, Chomsky further warned in the aftermath of the election: "The outcome placed total control of the government—executive, Congress, the Supreme Court—in the hands of the Republican Party, which has become the most dangerous organization in world history." The GOP "is dedicated to racing as rapidly as possible to destruction of organized human life. There is no historical precedent for such a stand"."
"Indeed, Chomsky further warned in the aftermath of the election: "The outcome placed total control of the government—executive, Congress, the Supreme Court—in the hands of the Republican Party, which has become the most dangerous organization in world history." The GOP "is dedicated to racing as rapidly as possible to destruction of organized human life. There is no historical precedent for such a stand"."
Friday, November 25, 2016
Reminder: Paul Ryan is lying about Medicare and Obamacare
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/21/1602672/-Reminder-Paul-Ryan-is-lying-about-Medicare-and-Obamacare
"House Speaker Paul Ryan has done nothing to indicate that privatizing Medicare isn't at the very top of his agenda in the new Congress, with a new president. In fact, while everyone in the GOP is a little unsure of what they'll do about Obamacare, they know they want to gut Medicare and do it fast. So it's worth remembering that Ryan's plan isn't just hugely unpopular and dangerous, it's premised on some pretty big lies. "What people don’t realize is, because of Obamacare, Medicare is going broke." — House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), interview with Fox News, Nov. 10 Our eyebrows went up when we saw this quote from Ryan. It has been a bipartisan fallacy to claim that the old-age health program Medicare is going "broke," which is incorrect […]. But what was notable was he specifically blamed the Affordable Care Act for making Medicare go broke. That’s doubly wrong. Let’s explain. The explanations: no, it's not going broke. As of now, the trust fund can maintain everyone who needs it until 2028. After that, without intervention, it would start paying out less benefits. Not "no" benefits. Reduced. That's if there isn't an intervention of some kind to further cut costs, enroll younger, healthier people, increase payroll taxes, or any other of good policy options for keeping it going. One of those policy options? Keeping Obamacare. Because Obamacare isn't making it go broke. Not at all. In fact, Obamacare has saved Medicare money, and extended the program's solvency by twelve years."
"House Speaker Paul Ryan has done nothing to indicate that privatizing Medicare isn't at the very top of his agenda in the new Congress, with a new president. In fact, while everyone in the GOP is a little unsure of what they'll do about Obamacare, they know they want to gut Medicare and do it fast. So it's worth remembering that Ryan's plan isn't just hugely unpopular and dangerous, it's premised on some pretty big lies. "What people don’t realize is, because of Obamacare, Medicare is going broke." — House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), interview with Fox News, Nov. 10 Our eyebrows went up when we saw this quote from Ryan. It has been a bipartisan fallacy to claim that the old-age health program Medicare is going "broke," which is incorrect […]. But what was notable was he specifically blamed the Affordable Care Act for making Medicare go broke. That’s doubly wrong. Let’s explain. The explanations: no, it's not going broke. As of now, the trust fund can maintain everyone who needs it until 2028. After that, without intervention, it would start paying out less benefits. Not "no" benefits. Reduced. That's if there isn't an intervention of some kind to further cut costs, enroll younger, healthier people, increase payroll taxes, or any other of good policy options for keeping it going. One of those policy options? Keeping Obamacare. Because Obamacare isn't making it go broke. Not at all. In fact, Obamacare has saved Medicare money, and extended the program's solvency by twelve years."
Trump’s Plan To Rein In Wall Street? Tax Cuts, No Oversight, Industry Insiders In The White House
http://addictinginfo.org/2016/11/22/trumps-plan-to-reign-in-wall-street-tax-cuts-no-oversight-industry-insiders-in-the-white-house/
"Instead of taxing them, he’s cutting taxes on the rich. Instead of “stopping them from getting away with murder,” they’re getting rid of the financial regulations that will stop another recession. And instead of standing up for consumers, he’s destroying the agency that has recouped over $10 billion from predatory financial companies."
"Instead of taxing them, he’s cutting taxes on the rich. Instead of “stopping them from getting away with murder,” they’re getting rid of the financial regulations that will stop another recession. And instead of standing up for consumers, he’s destroying the agency that has recouped over $10 billion from predatory financial companies."
With One Stroke of His Pen, Donald Trump Set to Screw Over Millions of His Supporters
With One Stroke of His Pen, Donald Trump Set to Screw Over Millions of His Supporters
"Literally within just a few days of officially being president, with one stroke of his pen, Trump’s going to strip away extra pay for millions of people who so eagerly and proudly supported him — and millions of others as well. Oh, you were looking forward to that time-and-a-half pay for overtime work? Yeah, sorry — not anymore. But it’s okay, right? After all, what American family making less than $47,000 annually needs extra money? Clearly, Trump and the Republican party are focused on helping the middle class by ripping away sizable chunks of possible income that could have helped millions of families enjoy a better quality of life."
"Literally within just a few days of officially being president, with one stroke of his pen, Trump’s going to strip away extra pay for millions of people who so eagerly and proudly supported him — and millions of others as well. Oh, you were looking forward to that time-and-a-half pay for overtime work? Yeah, sorry — not anymore. But it’s okay, right? After all, what American family making less than $47,000 annually needs extra money? Clearly, Trump and the Republican party are focused on helping the middle class by ripping away sizable chunks of possible income that could have helped millions of families enjoy a better quality of life."
Donald Trump promised to leave Social Security alone, but his point man wants privatization
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/22/1603103/-Donald-Trump-promised-to-leave-Social-Security-alone-but-his-point-man-wants-privatization
"So much for Donald Trump's campaign promises. He pledged throughout the campaign that he didn't want to touch Social Security and Medicare. As we've already seen on Medicare, that pledge is out the window. Now it's Social Security, too. On Monday, the transition team announced that Tom Leppert, former mayor of Dallas, will be on the "landing team" for the Social Security Administration. Landing teams are charged with interacting with the federal agencies to set up Trump's new government. And Leppert, well, he's a privatizer."
"So much for Donald Trump's campaign promises. He pledged throughout the campaign that he didn't want to touch Social Security and Medicare. As we've already seen on Medicare, that pledge is out the window. Now it's Social Security, too. On Monday, the transition team announced that Tom Leppert, former mayor of Dallas, will be on the "landing team" for the Social Security Administration. Landing teams are charged with interacting with the federal agencies to set up Trump's new government. And Leppert, well, he's a privatizer."
Already a big gap between Trump’s promises to the middle class and his policies
Already a big gap between Trump’s promises to the middle class and his policies
"Trump’s tax policy proposals are crystal clear about who will benefit the most—and it’s not working- or middle-class families. Despite crowing during the campaign about raising taxes on “hedge fund guys,” the tax plan Trump released raises one small tax on hedge fund guys (eliminating the so-called carried interest loophole), and then gives them a hundred times more back in the form of lower taxes everywhere else. The top 1 percent will get 47 percent of the total benefits in the Trump tax plan, while the bottom 60 percent will get just 10 percent. Worse, large numbers of working-class taxpayers will see tax increases under Trump. Yes, increases. Because that money is needed to make sure that private equity managers can see their top tax rates moved down to 15 percent."
"Trump’s tax policy proposals are crystal clear about who will benefit the most—and it’s not working- or middle-class families. Despite crowing during the campaign about raising taxes on “hedge fund guys,” the tax plan Trump released raises one small tax on hedge fund guys (eliminating the so-called carried interest loophole), and then gives them a hundred times more back in the form of lower taxes everywhere else. The top 1 percent will get 47 percent of the total benefits in the Trump tax plan, while the bottom 60 percent will get just 10 percent. Worse, large numbers of working-class taxpayers will see tax increases under Trump. Yes, increases. Because that money is needed to make sure that private equity managers can see their top tax rates moved down to 15 percent."
WATCH: Donald Trump Is Considering Gutting Medicare And Giving It To Wall Street
http://addictinginfo.org/2016/11/25/watch-donald-trump-is-considering-gutting-medicare-and-giving-it-to-wall-street/
"If you’re on Medicare or close to qualifying for Medicare and you voted for Donald Trump, you’re a special kind of stupid who just got screwed. House Speaker Paul Ryan can’t wait for rubber stamp puppet Donald Trump to take over the White House. He and his fellow Republicans have waited for years to throw hard-working Americans off a cliff and now they are about to get what they always wanted."
"If you’re on Medicare or close to qualifying for Medicare and you voted for Donald Trump, you’re a special kind of stupid who just got screwed. House Speaker Paul Ryan can’t wait for rubber stamp puppet Donald Trump to take over the White House. He and his fellow Republicans have waited for years to throw hard-working Americans off a cliff and now they are about to get what they always wanted."
How a Misinformed Tweet Was Manufactured into Major Right-Wing News @alternet
How a Misinformed Tweet Was Manufactured into Major Right-Wing News @alternet:
"Paul Horner, among the most prolific and successful fake news writers, recently told the Washington Post that Trump voters and other “right-wing Republicans” were almost single-handedly responsible for the $10,000 he pulls in every month, because they “post everything, believe anything,” and continue to share fake news even when they find out it isn't true. That might explain why so many fake news stories seem specially tailored for the conservative news reader."
"Paul Horner, among the most prolific and successful fake news writers, recently told the Washington Post that Trump voters and other “right-wing Republicans” were almost single-handedly responsible for the $10,000 he pulls in every month, because they “post everything, believe anything,” and continue to share fake news even when they find out it isn't true. That might explain why so many fake news stories seem specially tailored for the conservative news reader."
Trump Expected to Name Anti-Worker Billionaire Wilbur Ross as Commerce Secretary
Trump Expected to Name Anti-Worker Billionaire Wilbur Ross as Commerce Secretary
"And the swamp keeps filling. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to appoint anti-worker billionaire Wilbur Ross to serve as his commerce secretary, giving more evidence that his vow to rid his cabinet of establishment figures and corporate interests was little more than lip service."
"And the swamp keeps filling. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to appoint anti-worker billionaire Wilbur Ross to serve as his commerce secretary, giving more evidence that his vow to rid his cabinet of establishment figures and corporate interests was little more than lip service."
Thursday, November 24, 2016
The War on the Poor: Donald Trump's win opens the door to Paul Ryan's vision for America
http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/22/13641654/paul-ryan-trump-poverty-safety-net
"Ryan has spent the better part of a decade crafting a coherent, sweeping agenda to reform and slash the American safety net. His agenda of slicing and dicing programs targeting America’s poor isn’t the agenda Trump ran on. But it’s one to which he’ll default. He’s already endorsed Ryan’s plans on Medicaid and has attacked food stamps at length. His vice president, Mike Pence, is a longtime friend and congressional ally of Ryan’s who if anything has argued for larger cuts than the ones Ryan wants. What’s more, Trump enters office as a historically unpopular president distrusted by his own party in Congress. He’s not in a position to dictate to them what he wants. To keep them on his side, he’s going to have to do what they want. And what they want — and have repeatedly voted to pass in recent Congresses — is Ryan’s budget. This is a disaster for America’s poor."
"Ryan has spent the better part of a decade crafting a coherent, sweeping agenda to reform and slash the American safety net. His agenda of slicing and dicing programs targeting America’s poor isn’t the agenda Trump ran on. But it’s one to which he’ll default. He’s already endorsed Ryan’s plans on Medicaid and has attacked food stamps at length. His vice president, Mike Pence, is a longtime friend and congressional ally of Ryan’s who if anything has argued for larger cuts than the ones Ryan wants. What’s more, Trump enters office as a historically unpopular president distrusted by his own party in Congress. He’s not in a position to dictate to them what he wants. To keep them on his side, he’s going to have to do what they want. And what they want — and have repeatedly voted to pass in recent Congresses — is Ryan’s budget. This is a disaster for America’s poor."
New York City will spend $1 million per day to protect Donald Trump so he can stay in his safe space
New York City will spend $1 million per day to protect Donald Trump so he can stay in his safe space
"It seems that having President-elect Donald Trump and his family reside in New York City is costing the Big Apple a pretty penny. According to a report by CNN Money on Tuesday, three city official have confirmed that it is costing New York City more than $1 million each day to protect not only the president-elect, but also his wife, children, and grandchildren."
"It seems that having President-elect Donald Trump and his family reside in New York City is costing the Big Apple a pretty penny. According to a report by CNN Money on Tuesday, three city official have confirmed that it is costing New York City more than $1 million each day to protect not only the president-elect, but also his wife, children, and grandchildren."
Donald Trump’s transition team doesn’t trust him to speak for himself
Donald Trump’s transition team doesn’t trust him to speak for himself
"Only two weeks since his historic election, it’s becoming painfully clear to Trump’s outraged base that he is merely a puppet being played by the professionals around him."
"Only two weeks since his historic election, it’s becoming painfully clear to Trump’s outraged base that he is merely a puppet being played by the professionals around him."
Here is why Robert Reich thinks California will become a nation within a nation
Here is why Robert Reich thinks California will become a nation within a nation
"In other words, California is the opposite of Trumpland. The differences go even deeper. For years, conservatives have been saying that a healthy economy depends on low taxes, few regulations, and low wages. Are conservatives right? At the one end of the scale are Kansas and Texas, with among the nation’s lowest taxes, least regulations, and lowest wages. At the other end is California, with among the nation’s highest taxes, especially on the wealthy; toughest regulations, particularly when it comes to the environment; most ambitious healthcare system, that insures more than 12 million poor Californians, in partnership with Medicaid; and high wages. So according to conservative doctrine, Kansas and Texas ought to be booming, and California ought to be in the pits. Actually, it’s just the opposite. For several years, Kansas’s rate of economic growth has been the worst in the nation. Last year its economy actually shrank. Texas hasn’t been doing all that much better. Its rate of job growth has been below the national average. Retail sales are way down. The value of Texas exports has been dropping. But what about so-called over-taxed, over-regulated, high-wage California? California leads the nation in the rate of economic growth — more than twice the national average. If it were a separate nation it would now be the sixth largest economy in the world. Its population has surged to 39 million (up 5 percent since 2010). California is home to the nation’s fastest-growing and most innovative industries – entertainment and high tech. It incubates more startups than anywhere else in the world. In other words, conservatives have it exactly backwards."
"In other words, California is the opposite of Trumpland. The differences go even deeper. For years, conservatives have been saying that a healthy economy depends on low taxes, few regulations, and low wages. Are conservatives right? At the one end of the scale are Kansas and Texas, with among the nation’s lowest taxes, least regulations, and lowest wages. At the other end is California, with among the nation’s highest taxes, especially on the wealthy; toughest regulations, particularly when it comes to the environment; most ambitious healthcare system, that insures more than 12 million poor Californians, in partnership with Medicaid; and high wages. So according to conservative doctrine, Kansas and Texas ought to be booming, and California ought to be in the pits. Actually, it’s just the opposite. For several years, Kansas’s rate of economic growth has been the worst in the nation. Last year its economy actually shrank. Texas hasn’t been doing all that much better. Its rate of job growth has been below the national average. Retail sales are way down. The value of Texas exports has been dropping. But what about so-called over-taxed, over-regulated, high-wage California? California leads the nation in the rate of economic growth — more than twice the national average. If it were a separate nation it would now be the sixth largest economy in the world. Its population has surged to 39 million (up 5 percent since 2010). California is home to the nation’s fastest-growing and most innovative industries – entertainment and high tech. It incubates more startups than anywhere else in the world. In other words, conservatives have it exactly backwards."
Trump's Disastrous Education Pick: A Billionaire Heir of Right-Wing Dynasty and Champion of School Privatization Efforts @alternet
Trump's Disastrous Education Pick: A Billionaire Heir of Right-Wing Dynasty and Champion of School Privatization Efforts @alternet:
"Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he is appointing as education secretary Betsy DeVos, the billionaire Republican who is a major champion and founding funder of the modern education privatization movement. Bringing no significant experience in public education, DeVos is a billionaire member of a family that has cultivated extensive power and influence in conservative circles thanks to its fortune from the Amway Corporation."
"Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he is appointing as education secretary Betsy DeVos, the billionaire Republican who is a major champion and founding funder of the modern education privatization movement. Bringing no significant experience in public education, DeVos is a billionaire member of a family that has cultivated extensive power and influence in conservative circles thanks to its fortune from the Amway Corporation."
Meet the DeVos family — super-wealthy right-wingers working with the religious right to destroy public education
Meet the DeVos family — super-wealthy right-wingers working with the religious right to destroy public education
"The decades-long campaign to end public education is propelled by the super-wealthy, right-wing DeVos family. Betsy Prince DeVos is the sister of Erik Prince, founder of the notorious private military contractor Blackwater USA (now Xe), and wife of Dick DeVos, son of the co-founder of Amway, the multi-tiered home products business."
"The decades-long campaign to end public education is propelled by the super-wealthy, right-wing DeVos family. Betsy Prince DeVos is the sister of Erik Prince, founder of the notorious private military contractor Blackwater USA (now Xe), and wife of Dick DeVos, son of the co-founder of Amway, the multi-tiered home products business."
Trump turns away intelligence briefings that must update him on global security threats
Trump turns away intelligence briefings that must update him on global security threats
"Those who feared that Vice President-Elect Mike Pence would actually be the one running the country have another story they’re talking about Wednesday. The Washington Post reported Wednesday night that President-Elect Donald Trump has been denying the analysts tasked with giving him the top secret intelligence briefing every day. The briefings are to give the president and president-elect an update on global security threats and developments. The document is designed to give a summary of all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies to update the president on covert programs being run overseas by the CIA. Trump hasn’t been updated more than twice since he won the election over two weeks ago. Pence has received a briefing almost every day."
"Those who feared that Vice President-Elect Mike Pence would actually be the one running the country have another story they’re talking about Wednesday. The Washington Post reported Wednesday night that President-Elect Donald Trump has been denying the analysts tasked with giving him the top secret intelligence briefing every day. The briefings are to give the president and president-elect an update on global security threats and developments. The document is designed to give a summary of all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies to update the president on covert programs being run overseas by the CIA. Trump hasn’t been updated more than twice since he won the election over two weeks ago. Pence has received a briefing almost every day."
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Judge Puts Overtime Pay for Millions in Limbo as Republicans Rejoice
Judge Puts Overtime Pay for Millions in Limbo as Republicans Rejoice
"A federal judge on Tuesday halted an Obama administration rule that would have expanded overtime pay for millions of workers, a decision that was slammed by employees' rights advocates. The U.S. Department of Labor rule, which was set to go into effect on December 1, would have made overtime pay available to full-time salaried employees making up to $47,476 a year. It was expected to touch every nearly every sector in the U.S. economy. The threshold for overtime pay was previously set at $23,660, and had been updated once in 40 years—meaning any full-time employees who earned more than $23,600 were not eligible for time-and-a-half when they worked more than 40 hours a week. Tuesday's decision keeps the rule from being implemented while U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant of Texas considers opposing arguments by a number of business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and 21 states. Mazzant said the Labor Department had overstepped its authority by raising the threshold so significantly. With the GOP set to control both chambers of Congress and the White House, the rule faces an uncertain future—but Republicans and corporate interests are already rejoicing."
"A federal judge on Tuesday halted an Obama administration rule that would have expanded overtime pay for millions of workers, a decision that was slammed by employees' rights advocates. The U.S. Department of Labor rule, which was set to go into effect on December 1, would have made overtime pay available to full-time salaried employees making up to $47,476 a year. It was expected to touch every nearly every sector in the U.S. economy. The threshold for overtime pay was previously set at $23,660, and had been updated once in 40 years—meaning any full-time employees who earned more than $23,600 were not eligible for time-and-a-half when they worked more than 40 hours a week. Tuesday's decision keeps the rule from being implemented while U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant of Texas considers opposing arguments by a number of business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and 21 states. Mazzant said the Labor Department had overstepped its authority by raising the threshold so significantly. With the GOP set to control both chambers of Congress and the White House, the rule faces an uncertain future—but Republicans and corporate interests are already rejoicing."
Bye forever, net neutrality
https://thinkprogress.org/bye-forever-net-neutrality-21ddd89127cc#.a9sf739l7
"To help advance his agenda, Trump has brought on Jeff Eisenach, who worked on campaign telecom policy for the Reagan administration, and Mark Jamison, a former Sprint lobbyist. Eisenach was part of former President Ronald Reagan’s Federal Trade Commission and FCC transition teams. The resulting FCC agency repealed the Fairness Doctrine, which required media to portray contrasting perspectives in news coverage of public issues. Jamison, who also teaches at the University of Florida, has staunchly opposed the FCC’s policies to improve internet access and options in low-income and rural areas. The appointments come after net neutrality cleared a major legal challenge from telecom companies earlier this year. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled to uphold the FCC’s authority to impose the net neutrality regulations, which ban internet providers from blocking or slowing access speeds. At the time, current FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler called the ruling “a victory for consumers and innovators who deserve unfettered access to the entire web, and it ensures the internet remains a platform for unparalleled innovation, free expression and economic growth.” Following that decision, Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai, who has been outspoken about his position against the net neutrality rules, said, “I hope that the parties challenging them will continue the legal fight.” And with a Trump administration, he may just get his wish."
"To help advance his agenda, Trump has brought on Jeff Eisenach, who worked on campaign telecom policy for the Reagan administration, and Mark Jamison, a former Sprint lobbyist. Eisenach was part of former President Ronald Reagan’s Federal Trade Commission and FCC transition teams. The resulting FCC agency repealed the Fairness Doctrine, which required media to portray contrasting perspectives in news coverage of public issues. Jamison, who also teaches at the University of Florida, has staunchly opposed the FCC’s policies to improve internet access and options in low-income and rural areas. The appointments come after net neutrality cleared a major legal challenge from telecom companies earlier this year. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled to uphold the FCC’s authority to impose the net neutrality regulations, which ban internet providers from blocking or slowing access speeds. At the time, current FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler called the ruling “a victory for consumers and innovators who deserve unfettered access to the entire web, and it ensures the internet remains a platform for unparalleled innovation, free expression and economic growth.” Following that decision, Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai, who has been outspoken about his position against the net neutrality rules, said, “I hope that the parties challenging them will continue the legal fight.” And with a Trump administration, he may just get his wish."
Two million more Americans voted for Hillary Clinton than for Donald Trump
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/23/1603494/-2-million-more-Americans-voted-for-Hillary-Clinton-than-for-Donald-Trump
"Hillary Clinton may have lost the Electoral College and therefore the presidency, but her lead in the popular vote just topped the 2 million mark. Hillary Clinton’s lead over Donald Trump in the popular vote surpassed 2 million Wednesday morning, according to Dave Wasserman of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Clinton has garnered 64,223,958 votes, compared to Trump’s 62,206,395 votes. Democratic presidential candidates have received more votes than their Republican opponents in all but one of the last seven elections. Before the 2000 Bush-Gore election, the Electoral College winner hadn't lost the popular vote in over 100 years. Since 2000, it's happened twice."
"Hillary Clinton may have lost the Electoral College and therefore the presidency, but her lead in the popular vote just topped the 2 million mark. Hillary Clinton’s lead over Donald Trump in the popular vote surpassed 2 million Wednesday morning, according to Dave Wasserman of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Clinton has garnered 64,223,958 votes, compared to Trump’s 62,206,395 votes. Democratic presidential candidates have received more votes than their Republican opponents in all but one of the last seven elections. Before the 2000 Bush-Gore election, the Electoral College winner hadn't lost the popular vote in over 100 years. Since 2000, it's happened twice."
Donald Trump’s Infrastructure Plan Is An Expensive Bridge To Nowhere | Crooks and Liars
Donald Trump’s Infrastructure Plan Is An Expensive Bridge To Nowhere | Crooks and Liars
"To be clear, there is plenty of necessary and ‘shovel-ready' infrastructure work to be done in the United States. Thousands of deficient bridges and dams and water and sewer pipes and highway miles need to be replaced or repaired. But these are not profitable enterprises, and Trump's proposal does exactly nothing for them. Rather, Trump and Bannon would boost toll projects - bridges and roads that drivers must pay to use. Electric utilities that already build and maintain lines would get huge tax breaks for what they are already doing. There would be plenty of money for runway extensions, but nothing for mass transit links from the city to the airport. Without such an integrated plan, transportation spending is just a complete waste for everyone except the profiteers. And that's the key takeaway here. Investors would "get a '10 percent pretax profit margin,' according to the plan," writes Ronald Klain. In fact, the entire scheme reads as yet another massive upward transfer of wealth. "Combined with Trump's sweeping business tax break, this would represent a stunning $85 billion after-tax profit for contractors - underwritten by the taxpayers." Economist Paul Krugman calls this exactly what it is: a privatization scam."
"To be clear, there is plenty of necessary and ‘shovel-ready' infrastructure work to be done in the United States. Thousands of deficient bridges and dams and water and sewer pipes and highway miles need to be replaced or repaired. But these are not profitable enterprises, and Trump's proposal does exactly nothing for them. Rather, Trump and Bannon would boost toll projects - bridges and roads that drivers must pay to use. Electric utilities that already build and maintain lines would get huge tax breaks for what they are already doing. There would be plenty of money for runway extensions, but nothing for mass transit links from the city to the airport. Without such an integrated plan, transportation spending is just a complete waste for everyone except the profiteers. And that's the key takeaway here. Investors would "get a '10 percent pretax profit margin,' according to the plan," writes Ronald Klain. In fact, the entire scheme reads as yet another massive upward transfer of wealth. "Combined with Trump's sweeping business tax break, this would represent a stunning $85 billion after-tax profit for contractors - underwritten by the taxpayers." Economist Paul Krugman calls this exactly what it is: a privatization scam."
Pressure Builds for Presidential Recounts in a Key 2016 Swing State @alternet
Pressure Builds for Presidential Recounts in a Key 2016 Swing State @alternet:
"Pressure is mounting to re-examine the presidential vote in Wisconsin, where a series of screenshots posted Tuesday showed electronically tallied countywide counts erroneously added in thousands more votes to the totals than the ballots cast."
"Pressure is mounting to re-examine the presidential vote in Wisconsin, where a series of screenshots posted Tuesday showed electronically tallied countywide counts erroneously added in thousands more votes to the totals than the ballots cast."
'Shockingly Stupid' Attack on Science: Trump to Eliminate NASA Climate Research
'Shockingly Stupid' Attack on Science: Trump to Eliminate NASA Climate Research
"The proposal to totally eliminate climate research falls in line with previous GOP efforts to gut NASA's Earth sciences program, and takes those attempts even further."
"The proposal to totally eliminate climate research falls in line with previous GOP efforts to gut NASA's Earth sciences program, and takes those attempts even further."
MIT and UC Berkeley election experts call for presidential election audit: There's cause for concern
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/22/1603289/-MIT-professor-cryptographer-UC-Berkeley-statistician-call-for-a-presidential-election-audit
"Concerns continue to rise regarding the legitimacy of the 2016 United States elections, which gave us Donald Trump, the new president-elect. In the past, fraud concerns like this might have been been considered sour grapes, silliness, and conspiracy theories. But this was not an ordinary election and Donald Trump is not an ordinary candidate. On election night, when most of the world expected to see the the first woman became a U.S. president, the ballot results came rolling with win after win going to a man — who blatantly lies, incites violence, commits fraud, bullies the disabled, sexually molests women, files bankruptcies, has thousands of lawsuits against him, boasts about not paying taxes, appoints misogynistic white supremacists and witch-hunters to top positions, and choses an anti-choice/anti-LGBT vice president who believes in LGBT conversion therapy and swears he’ll take Roe v. Wade to the “ash heap, where it belongs.” No, this is no normal president-elect and many around the country remain in disbelief, with some terrified. A Washington Post–ABC News poll found that “18% of voters — 33% of Clinton supporters and 1% of Trump supporters — think Trump was not the legitimate winner of the election.” Months before the election, stories began emerging with concerns about the possibility of election hacking. The number of articles continues to grow as the nation’s popular vote rises in favor of the Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who now has over 2 million more votes than Donald Trump. Last week UC Berkeley statistician Phillip Stark and MIT professor and cryptographer Ron Rivest called for an audit to double-check and ensure hackers didn’t manipulate our American election results. UC Berkley News reports Stark and Rivest, who are both advisors on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, argue that there are good reasons to conduct a “risk-limiting” audit of the presidential election."
"Concerns continue to rise regarding the legitimacy of the 2016 United States elections, which gave us Donald Trump, the new president-elect. In the past, fraud concerns like this might have been been considered sour grapes, silliness, and conspiracy theories. But this was not an ordinary election and Donald Trump is not an ordinary candidate. On election night, when most of the world expected to see the the first woman became a U.S. president, the ballot results came rolling with win after win going to a man — who blatantly lies, incites violence, commits fraud, bullies the disabled, sexually molests women, files bankruptcies, has thousands of lawsuits against him, boasts about not paying taxes, appoints misogynistic white supremacists and witch-hunters to top positions, and choses an anti-choice/anti-LGBT vice president who believes in LGBT conversion therapy and swears he’ll take Roe v. Wade to the “ash heap, where it belongs.” No, this is no normal president-elect and many around the country remain in disbelief, with some terrified. A Washington Post–ABC News poll found that “18% of voters — 33% of Clinton supporters and 1% of Trump supporters — think Trump was not the legitimate winner of the election.” Months before the election, stories began emerging with concerns about the possibility of election hacking. The number of articles continues to grow as the nation’s popular vote rises in favor of the Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who now has over 2 million more votes than Donald Trump. Last week UC Berkeley statistician Phillip Stark and MIT professor and cryptographer Ron Rivest called for an audit to double-check and ensure hackers didn’t manipulate our American election results. UC Berkley News reports Stark and Rivest, who are both advisors on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, argue that there are good reasons to conduct a “risk-limiting” audit of the presidential election."
Even the Holocaust Museum Is Worried About Our Nation's Current Nazi Rhetoric
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/news/a50897/holocaust-museum-warning-trump/
"The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum exists to serve as a constant reminder of the horrors we as a species are capable of. So after the museum's leaders issued a statement today calling on Americans to reject "racist thinking and divisive hateful speech" following a white nationalist conference held in the Ronald Reagan Building near the museum, it may be time for us to wake the f*ck up. That conference, of the National Policy Institute, was billed as a gathering of the "alt-right," the rebranding vehicle for white nationalism. (The organization describes itself as "an independent organization dedicated to the heritage, identity, and future of people of European descent in the United States, and around the world.") The Institute's leader, Richard B. Spencer—who in the past has called for a "peaceful ethnic cleansing" in America—spoke before a group of 200 people, declaring at one point, "Hail Trump, hail our people, hail victory!" In response, many audience members erupted and yelled back the slogan: "Hail Trump!" That's when the Nazi salutes started."
"The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum exists to serve as a constant reminder of the horrors we as a species are capable of. So after the museum's leaders issued a statement today calling on Americans to reject "racist thinking and divisive hateful speech" following a white nationalist conference held in the Ronald Reagan Building near the museum, it may be time for us to wake the f*ck up. That conference, of the National Policy Institute, was billed as a gathering of the "alt-right," the rebranding vehicle for white nationalism. (The organization describes itself as "an independent organization dedicated to the heritage, identity, and future of people of European descent in the United States, and around the world.") The Institute's leader, Richard B. Spencer—who in the past has called for a "peaceful ethnic cleansing" in America—spoke before a group of 200 people, declaring at one point, "Hail Trump, hail our people, hail victory!" In response, many audience members erupted and yelled back the slogan: "Hail Trump!" That's when the Nazi salutes started."
Being Led by an Outright Conspiracy Theorist Like Donald Trump Puts Us All in Danger @alternet
Being Led by an Outright Conspiracy Theorist Like Donald Trump Puts Us All in Danger @alternet:
"Our new president-elect, Donald Trump, is a thin-skinned bully, a liar, a grifter, a crappy businessman and a misogynist. He mainstreams white supremacist ideas and his initial White House hires suggest that white nationalism will be his administration’s guiding ideology. He’s far too ill-tempered and narcissistic to be in charge of the nuclear codes and he’s openly hostile to the free press protections necessary to keep our government accountable. Because of all this, the fact that Trump is an avid conspiracy theorist understandably falls by the wayside. Just resisting his racism and misogyny and corruption is enough to trigger outrage overload, leaving someone no energy left to be angry that Trump relentlessly lobs false accusations of dark conspiracies. But according to conspiracy theory expert Mark Hoofnagle, people need to carefully track of Trump’s conspiracist tendencies as well."
"Our new president-elect, Donald Trump, is a thin-skinned bully, a liar, a grifter, a crappy businessman and a misogynist. He mainstreams white supremacist ideas and his initial White House hires suggest that white nationalism will be his administration’s guiding ideology. He’s far too ill-tempered and narcissistic to be in charge of the nuclear codes and he’s openly hostile to the free press protections necessary to keep our government accountable. Because of all this, the fact that Trump is an avid conspiracy theorist understandably falls by the wayside. Just resisting his racism and misogyny and corruption is enough to trigger outrage overload, leaving someone no energy left to be angry that Trump relentlessly lobs false accusations of dark conspiracies. But according to conspiracy theory expert Mark Hoofnagle, people need to carefully track of Trump’s conspiracist tendencies as well."
Voting Rights Activists Urge Clinton To Challenge PA, MI And WI Vote Counts | Crooks and Liars
Voting Rights Activists Urge Clinton To Challenge PA, MI And WI Vote Counts | Crooks and Liars
"Based on this statistical analysis, Clinton may have been denied as many as 30,000 votes; she lost Wisconsin by 27,000."
"Based on this statistical analysis, Clinton may have been denied as many as 30,000 votes; she lost Wisconsin by 27,000."
As Trump Builds His Authoritarian Presidency, Echoes of 1930s Germany and 1950s McCarthyism Abound @alternet
As Trump Builds His Authoritarian Presidency, Echoes of 1930s Germany and 1950s McCarthyism Abound @alternet:
"When Richard Spencer, a leading alt-right white power ideologue finished his speech at Saturday’s day-long “Become Who We Are” summit at Washington’s Ronald Reagan Building, someone yelled, “Heil the people!” and the room shouted back, “Heil victory.” It wasn’t the evening’s first Nazi reference nor most brazen. Soon after Spencer started slamming the mainstream media, overlooking how it gave the president-elect endless free coverage, he jeered, “Perhaps we should refer to them in the original German?” The crowd shouted back, “Lügenpresse,” a Nazi-era word for “lying press.” Spencer continued, to cheers, that white power was rising. “America was, until this last generation, a white country designed for ourselves and our posterity… It is our creation, it is our inheritance, and it belongs to us.” America under Donald Trump is entering an uncharted authoritarian era."
"When Richard Spencer, a leading alt-right white power ideologue finished his speech at Saturday’s day-long “Become Who We Are” summit at Washington’s Ronald Reagan Building, someone yelled, “Heil the people!” and the room shouted back, “Heil victory.” It wasn’t the evening’s first Nazi reference nor most brazen. Soon after Spencer started slamming the mainstream media, overlooking how it gave the president-elect endless free coverage, he jeered, “Perhaps we should refer to them in the original German?” The crowd shouted back, “Lügenpresse,” a Nazi-era word for “lying press.” Spencer continued, to cheers, that white power was rising. “America was, until this last generation, a white country designed for ourselves and our posterity… It is our creation, it is our inheritance, and it belongs to us.” America under Donald Trump is entering an uncharted authoritarian era."
Donald Trump has promised to deregulate poison and pollution — with a new Supreme Court justice, he probably will
Donald Trump has promised to deregulate poison and pollution — with a new Supreme Court justice, he probably will
"With an executive branch disinclined to enforce the rules, a judiciary that won’t allow anyone to sue and a Congress dominated by corporate interests and climate deniers, the future for our environment is not bright."
"With an executive branch disinclined to enforce the rules, a judiciary that won’t allow anyone to sue and a Congress dominated by corporate interests and climate deniers, the future for our environment is not bright."
Here Comes the Republican Push to Destroy Medicare @alternet
Here Comes the Republican Push to Destroy Medicare @alternet:
"Despite the tension between Ryan and then-candidate Donald Trump, Ryan is now aglow—if not over Trump, himself, at least with the prospect of using his presidency to enact a long-dreamed-of plan to privatize Medicare. There seems to be no concern for the harm it would do to the recipients."
"Despite the tension between Ryan and then-candidate Donald Trump, Ryan is now aglow—if not over Trump, himself, at least with the prospect of using his presidency to enact a long-dreamed-of plan to privatize Medicare. There seems to be no concern for the harm it would do to the recipients."
Trump already violating ‘blind trust’ agreement by meeting with Indian business partners
Trump already violating ‘blind trust’ agreement by meeting with Indian business partners
"President-elect Donald Trump and his children attended a meeting with a group of Indian investors this week — which may mean Trump has already violated rules separating his personal business and his role as ascendant chief executive."
"President-elect Donald Trump and his children attended a meeting with a group of Indian investors this week — which may mean Trump has already violated rules separating his personal business and his role as ascendant chief executive."
Inside the GOP’s plans to raid the Treasury to enrich private companies
https://thinkprogress.org/inside-the-gops-plans-to-raid-the-treasury-to-enrich-private-companies-43c17269b839#.wg7fezghl
"President-elect Donald Trump, however, wants to break this link between risk and reward — that is, he wants to make taxpayers pay for roads that, ultimately, will be owned by private companies. And he’s not alone. The Republican Medicare plan jacks up the cost of caring for seniors, while enriching hospitals and insurance companies in the process. The Republican “replacement” for Obamacare, to the extent that such a thing even exists, helps insurance companies maximize their profits while taking away their obligation to cover people with expensive conditions. The Republican Medicaid plan could allow states to shunt Medicaid dollars to private plans that provide less coverage at a higher cost. It’s a great time to be alive — if you happen to run a company that’s positioned to cash in on this bonanza. Sure, it also means less health care for the most vulnerable Americans, less spending for the public good, and less public control over infrastructure such as roads and bridges once the Trump administration is over. But if you want to get rich providing inferior services for a government subsidy, now is the time to cash in!"
"President-elect Donald Trump, however, wants to break this link between risk and reward — that is, he wants to make taxpayers pay for roads that, ultimately, will be owned by private companies. And he’s not alone. The Republican Medicare plan jacks up the cost of caring for seniors, while enriching hospitals and insurance companies in the process. The Republican “replacement” for Obamacare, to the extent that such a thing even exists, helps insurance companies maximize their profits while taking away their obligation to cover people with expensive conditions. The Republican Medicaid plan could allow states to shunt Medicaid dollars to private plans that provide less coverage at a higher cost. It’s a great time to be alive — if you happen to run a company that’s positioned to cash in on this bonanza. Sure, it also means less health care for the most vulnerable Americans, less spending for the public good, and less public control over infrastructure such as roads and bridges once the Trump administration is over. But if you want to get rich providing inferior services for a government subsidy, now is the time to cash in!"
Things Are About to Get Really Ugly for the Labor Movement @alternet
Things Are About to Get Really Ugly for the Labor Movement @alternet:
"At the top of the list is the new overtime rule that is set to double the salary threshold (with future increases indexed to inflation) and give millions more workers access to overtime pay in December. The full strength of the rule as it stands now is unlikely to remain intact. Other rulemakings like the fiduciary rule that—despite Wall Street’s intense objections—now requires retirement advisors to act in their clients’ best interest, and the extension of labor law protections to long-exploited home care workers, are in peril as well."
"At the top of the list is the new overtime rule that is set to double the salary threshold (with future increases indexed to inflation) and give millions more workers access to overtime pay in December. The full strength of the rule as it stands now is unlikely to remain intact. Other rulemakings like the fiduciary rule that—despite Wall Street’s intense objections—now requires retirement advisors to act in their clients’ best interest, and the extension of labor law protections to long-exploited home care workers, are in peril as well."
It's been a week, and Trump is well on his way to becoming most crooked president in history
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/20/1602268/-It-s-been-a-week-and-Trump-is-well-on-his-way-to-becoming-most-crooked-president-in-history
"So Donald Trump will walk into the Oval Office having already committed an apparently impeachable offense. He also settled a case this week accusing his so-called "University" of being nothing but a massive scheme to defraud consumers, is meeting with foreign dignitaries alongside the very family members he supposedly will be handing “blind trust” business concerns over to, and is pausing his own preparations to become the next president to close still more foreign business deals as president-elect."
"So Donald Trump will walk into the Oval Office having already committed an apparently impeachable offense. He also settled a case this week accusing his so-called "University" of being nothing but a massive scheme to defraud consumers, is meeting with foreign dignitaries alongside the very family members he supposedly will be handing “blind trust” business concerns over to, and is pausing his own preparations to become the next president to close still more foreign business deals as president-elect."
Big Pharma poised to help Trump shape his healthcare agenda
Big Pharma poised to help Trump shape his healthcare agenda
"the drug industry's allies, including lobbyists and senior elected officials who have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in industry money, are taking important roles in the transition and in work on the 2017 agenda."
"the drug industry's allies, including lobbyists and senior elected officials who have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in industry money, are taking important roles in the transition and in work on the 2017 agenda."
Polling firm CEO: ’20 million Trump voters’ will lose time and half overtime pay under GOP plan
Polling firm CEO: ’20 million Trump voters’ will lose time and half overtime pay under GOP plan
"Millions of Americans who voted for Donald Trump are expected to lose overtime pay rights soon after he is sworn in as president."
"Millions of Americans who voted for Donald Trump are expected to lose overtime pay rights soon after he is sworn in as president."
Trump University $25 Million Settlement: One Down, 75 More Open Lawsuits to Go @alternet
Trump University $25 Million Settlement: One Down, 75 More Open Lawsuits to Go @alternet:
"Donald Trump will enter his presidency with an unprecedented number of civil lawsuits, which cannot be set aside or delayed simply by virtue of being President of the United States."
"Donald Trump will enter his presidency with an unprecedented number of civil lawsuits, which cannot be set aside or delayed simply by virtue of being President of the United States."
Donald Trump’s presidency as branding venture: The scam goes even deeper than we thought
Donald Trump’s presidency as branding venture: The scam goes even deeper than we thought
"We can’t say he didn’t warn us. In 2000, Trump told Fortune, “It’s very possible that I could be the first presidential candidate to run and make money on it"."
"We can’t say he didn’t warn us. In 2000, Trump told Fortune, “It’s very possible that I could be the first presidential candidate to run and make money on it"."
Michael Flynn, Trump’s national security adviser, believes fake news and partisan conspiracy theories
http://www.vox.com/world/2016/11/19/13678070/michael-flynn-national-security-adviser-actual-job
"Flynn has a serious problem telling true information from false."
"Flynn has a serious problem telling true information from false."
Anti-Semitism in the White House: Stephen Bannon, Donald Trump and the Alt-Right
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/38412-anti-semitism-in-the-white-house-stephen-bannon-donald-trump-and-the-alt-right
"The alt-right's anti-Semitism is not a new animal, but one that simply ports over Nazi propaganda to sleek graphic design and snarky audio skits. This rebranding has allowed the alt-right to be seen as iconoclastic, opposed to "political correctness" and somewhat conservative, all of which is a mischaracterization. It is not a situation in which a few extremists have given the alt-right a "bad name," but rather a situation in which a few moderates have added their name to a fascist movement. It is critical to see the alt-right simply as the latest stage in a white nationalist project that goes through various attempts at messaging, rhetoric and appearance."
"The alt-right's anti-Semitism is not a new animal, but one that simply ports over Nazi propaganda to sleek graphic design and snarky audio skits. This rebranding has allowed the alt-right to be seen as iconoclastic, opposed to "political correctness" and somewhat conservative, all of which is a mischaracterization. It is not a situation in which a few extremists have given the alt-right a "bad name," but rather a situation in which a few moderates have added their name to a fascist movement. It is critical to see the alt-right simply as the latest stage in a white nationalist project that goes through various attempts at messaging, rhetoric and appearance."
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Computer Scientists And Election Lawyers Urge Hillary Clinton To Challenge Election Results
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/11/22/prominent-computer-scientists-election-lawyers-urging-hillary-clinton-challenge-election-results.html
"The group, which includes voting-rights attorney John Bonifaz and J. Alex Halderman, the director of the University of Michigan Center for Computer Security and Society, believes they’ve found persuasive evidence that results in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania may have been manipulated or hacked. The group is so far not speaking on the record about their findings and is focused on lobbying the Clinton team in private."
"The group, which includes voting-rights attorney John Bonifaz and J. Alex Halderman, the director of the University of Michigan Center for Computer Security and Society, believes they’ve found persuasive evidence that results in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania may have been manipulated or hacked. The group is so far not speaking on the record about their findings and is focused on lobbying the Clinton team in private."
Here’s a reminder that Donald Trump just settled his Trump University fraud cases, which alleged that people were swindled out of lots of money
Here’s a reminder that Donald Trump just settled his Trump University fraud cases, which alleged that people were swindled out of lots of money
"the facts of the case as reported by Fortune in March, however, are more serious than Team Trump’s casual dismissal of it would indicate."
"the facts of the case as reported by Fortune in March, however, are more serious than Team Trump’s casual dismissal of it would indicate."
Hillary Clinton’s Popular Vote Lead Over Trump Surges Past 1.7 Million
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/11/20/__trashed.html
"No matter how Republicans try to spin it, there are more Americans who voted for Hillary Clinton than voted for Donald Trump."
"No matter how Republicans try to spin it, there are more Americans who voted for Hillary Clinton than voted for Donald Trump."
2016’s marijuana legalization votes, explained
http://www.vox.com/2016/9/14/12064226/marijuana-legalization-election-vote-california-2016
"Legalization won in California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada, although it lost in Arizona, where it was largely considered a long shot. The initiatives that won will soon join Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska among the states, along with Washington, DC, that have already legalized pot for recreational purposes. Medical marijuana measures also won in Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota. An initiative to expand the medical marijuana program in Montana also passed. Together, the ballot measures' eight-to-one victories mean 2016 was the biggest year for marijuana reform yet."
"Legalization won in California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada, although it lost in Arizona, where it was largely considered a long shot. The initiatives that won will soon join Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska among the states, along with Washington, DC, that have already legalized pot for recreational purposes. Medical marijuana measures also won in Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota. An initiative to expand the medical marijuana program in Montana also passed. Together, the ballot measures' eight-to-one victories mean 2016 was the biggest year for marijuana reform yet."
Marijuana legalization won big on Election Day. It will keep winning.
http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/9/13523384/marijuana-legalization-2016-election
"The key state here: California. There, voters overwhelmingly approved legalization — meaning the country’s most populous state and biggest economy will now move to let people buy marijuana for recreational use and, most importantly, let for-profit companies come into supply all of that pot."
"The key state here: California. There, voters overwhelmingly approved legalization — meaning the country’s most populous state and biggest economy will now move to let people buy marijuana for recreational use and, most importantly, let for-profit companies come into supply all of that pot."
Marijuana Wins Big! @alternet
Marijuana Wins Big! @alternet: In the closest thing ever to a national referendum on pot, the people have spoken.
Trump spokeswoman says Americans should ignore conflicts-of-interest, focus on Trump’s ‘sacrifice’
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-spokeswoman-says-americans-should-ignore-conflicts-of-interest-focus-on-trumps-sacrifice-b914533b77a1#.ndj0iosm6
"Unlike previous presidents, who have placed their assets in index funds or a blind trust, Trump has done nothing to separate himself from his business interests as he assumes control of the government. He’s previously said he would turn his businesses over to his children. Trump has referred to this arrangement as a “blind trust” but it’s actually the opposite. In a real blind trust, in a neutral party takes control of marketable assets. Because the administrator can trade these assets away at anytime, the contents of the trust are soon unknown. Trump, however, knows what his assets are, and says he’s giving them to his children — hardly a neutral party. As Conway say, he has been their mentor — and not only are they his business colleagues, he’s made them part of his transition as well. Trump gave his children — supposedly the new stewards of his personal empire — high-profile positions on his transition team. The same people shaping his administration are also the ones leading his business empire. And he’s not hiding this web of conflicts — instead the Trump team is flaunting it."
"Unlike previous presidents, who have placed their assets in index funds or a blind trust, Trump has done nothing to separate himself from his business interests as he assumes control of the government. He’s previously said he would turn his businesses over to his children. Trump has referred to this arrangement as a “blind trust” but it’s actually the opposite. In a real blind trust, in a neutral party takes control of marketable assets. Because the administrator can trade these assets away at anytime, the contents of the trust are soon unknown. Trump, however, knows what his assets are, and says he’s giving them to his children — hardly a neutral party. As Conway say, he has been their mentor — and not only are they his business colleagues, he’s made them part of his transition as well. Trump gave his children — supposedly the new stewards of his personal empire — high-profile positions on his transition team. The same people shaping his administration are also the ones leading his business empire. And he’s not hiding this web of conflicts — instead the Trump team is flaunting it."
Hey, Trump Told, 'Get Your Daughter the F$%k Out of State Meetings!'
Hey, Trump Told, 'Get Your Daughter the F$%k Out of State Meetings!'
"The meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took place at "Trump's gilded Manhattan penthouse." U.S. News & World Report writes that "Ivanka Trump's presence at the meeting was only made public when the Japanese government released photos, as the Trump team has continued to bar journalists from witnessing all but the most superficial aspects of the transition." CBS News describes her presence, along with that of her husband, Jared Kushner, as "a reminder of potential conflicts of interest between Donald Trump's businesses and the White House" as well as his adult children's future roles in the White House."
"The meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took place at "Trump's gilded Manhattan penthouse." U.S. News & World Report writes that "Ivanka Trump's presence at the meeting was only made public when the Japanese government released photos, as the Trump team has continued to bar journalists from witnessing all but the most superficial aspects of the transition." CBS News describes her presence, along with that of her husband, Jared Kushner, as "a reminder of potential conflicts of interest between Donald Trump's businesses and the White House" as well as his adult children's future roles in the White House."
Paul Krugman Exposes Trump's Most Blatant Bait-and-Switch Lie @alternet
Paul Krugman Exposes Trump's Most Blatant Bait-and-Switch Lie @alternet:
"the team Trump is assembling is gunning for entitlements. "The transition team’s point man on Social Security is a longtime advocate of privatization," he writes, "and all indications are that the incoming administration is getting ready to kill Medicare, replacing it with vouchers that can be applied to the purchase of private insurance. Oh, and it’s also likely to raise the age of Medicare eligibility"."
"the team Trump is assembling is gunning for entitlements. "The transition team’s point man on Social Security is a longtime advocate of privatization," he writes, "and all indications are that the incoming administration is getting ready to kill Medicare, replacing it with vouchers that can be applied to the purchase of private insurance. Oh, and it’s also likely to raise the age of Medicare eligibility"."
From the Horse's Mouth: Key Founder of 'Alt-Right' Movement Describes Hateful White Nationalist Agenda @alternet
From the Horse's Mouth: Key Founder of 'Alt-Right' Movement Describes Hateful White Nationalist Agenda @alternet:
"Not surprisingly, Spencer was thrilled with the ascent of Bannon, whose backers include a bevy white nationalists and Nazis."
"Not surprisingly, Spencer was thrilled with the ascent of Bannon, whose backers include a bevy white nationalists and Nazis."
Michael Flynn reportedly attended intel briefings while paid by foreign interests
Michael Flynn reportedly attended intel briefings while paid by foreign interests
"So much for Donald Trump's promise to muzzle Washington lobbyists: He has reportedly offered the crucial position of White House national security adviser to Michael Flynn, a retired lieutenant general who is registered to lobby for a foreign company whose owner has close ties to the president of Turkey. And just last year, Flynn accepted payment from Russia's state-owned television network to attend a celebration in Moscow. At that party he sat next to Russian president Vladimir Putin."
"So much for Donald Trump's promise to muzzle Washington lobbyists: He has reportedly offered the crucial position of White House national security adviser to Michael Flynn, a retired lieutenant general who is registered to lobby for a foreign company whose owner has close ties to the president of Turkey. And just last year, Flynn accepted payment from Russia's state-owned television network to attend a celebration in Moscow. At that party he sat next to Russian president Vladimir Putin."
A Fair Election? Serious, Hard-to-Explain Questions Arise About Trump Vote Totals in 3 Key States @alternet
A Fair Election? Serious, Hard-to-Explain Questions Arise About Trump Vote Totals in 3 Key States @alternet:
"A series of explanation-defying questions surrounding Donald Trump’s victories in key 2016 swing states has prompted a cadre of voting rights attorneys and electronic voting machine experts to consider formally filing for presidential recounts in coming days. These recount-justifying anomalies go beyond the discrepancies in media exit polls predicting a Hillary Clinton victory on November 8 and subsequent vote counts where Trump won states that have not backed Republican presidents for decades. Recounts could clarify or verify whether several different forms of electronic hacking could have padded state voter rolls and altered resulting counts."
"A series of explanation-defying questions surrounding Donald Trump’s victories in key 2016 swing states has prompted a cadre of voting rights attorneys and electronic voting machine experts to consider formally filing for presidential recounts in coming days. These recount-justifying anomalies go beyond the discrepancies in media exit polls predicting a Hillary Clinton victory on November 8 and subsequent vote counts where Trump won states that have not backed Republican presidents for decades. Recounts could clarify or verify whether several different forms of electronic hacking could have padded state voter rolls and altered resulting counts."
Friday, November 18, 2016
No, Medicare Is Not an 'Entitlement,' and It Is Not Free
No, Medicare Is Not an 'Entitlement,' and It Is Not Free: "House Speaker Paul Ryan wants to raise the Lazarus of privatizing (and phasing out) Medicare from the dead. Paul Waldman of The Washington Post writes of the latest Republican effort to put a dagger through the heart of Medicare: As part of his strategy, Ryan must convince people that Medicare is all but dead already, so we don’t actually lose much by putting it out of its misery. That’s why he says things like, “Because of Obamacare, Medicare is going broke.” This is not just a lie but the precise opposite of the truth, and Ryan knows full well it is; in fact, the ACA extended the solvency of the Medicare trust fund by over a decade. And be warned: Any time you hear Republicans say the phrase “entitlement reform,” understand that phasing out Medicare is what they’re talking about...."
Wall Street and Private Prisons 'Licking Their Lips' Over Trump Presidency
Wall Street and Private Prisons 'Licking Their Lips' Over Trump Presidency
"A new report from the research organization In the Public Interest (ITPI) highlights the banks that finance the private prison industry—and with a Trump administration on the horizon, they could be in for a windfall. Six banks have played a major part in bankrolling the two largest private prison firms, CoreCivic (formerly the Corrections Corporation of America) and the GEO Group: Wells Fargo, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, BNP Paribas, SunTrust, and U.S. Bancorp, according to the ITPI's report, The Banks That Finance Private Prison Companies. CoreCivic and GEO Group use the banks' financing—which comes in the forms of loans, bonds, and credit—to buy up smaller companies that conduct residential reentry and sell ankle monitors for border agents to place on detained asylum seekers. That has allowed the two corporations to quietly monopolize the corrections and immigration enforcement industries. The banks, meanwhile, profit by collecting fees and interest on those loans, or investing their clients' money in the corporations' shares. At the end of June 2016, CoreCivic and GEO Group were $1.5 billion and $1.9 billion in debt, respectively. Activists and lawmakers have long criticized the privatization of the prison industry and its partnership with Wall Street."
"A new report from the research organization In the Public Interest (ITPI) highlights the banks that finance the private prison industry—and with a Trump administration on the horizon, they could be in for a windfall. Six banks have played a major part in bankrolling the two largest private prison firms, CoreCivic (formerly the Corrections Corporation of America) and the GEO Group: Wells Fargo, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, BNP Paribas, SunTrust, and U.S. Bancorp, according to the ITPI's report, The Banks That Finance Private Prison Companies. CoreCivic and GEO Group use the banks' financing—which comes in the forms of loans, bonds, and credit—to buy up smaller companies that conduct residential reentry and sell ankle monitors for border agents to place on detained asylum seekers. That has allowed the two corporations to quietly monopolize the corrections and immigration enforcement industries. The banks, meanwhile, profit by collecting fees and interest on those loans, or investing their clients' money in the corporations' shares. At the end of June 2016, CoreCivic and GEO Group were $1.5 billion and $1.9 billion in debt, respectively. Activists and lawmakers have long criticized the privatization of the prison industry and its partnership with Wall Street."
The wolves of Wall Street: Trump’s Treasury contenders — what big teeth they have . . .
The wolves of Wall Street: Trump’s Treasury contenders — what big teeth they have . . .
"Donald Trump may have sounded like an economic populist to his voters during the presidential campaign, but his administration is shaping up to be the best thing to happen to Wall Street since the Roaring Twenties, that regulation-free era that preceded the Great Depression. And we know how well that worked out for the nation."
"Donald Trump may have sounded like an economic populist to his voters during the presidential campaign, but his administration is shaping up to be the best thing to happen to Wall Street since the Roaring Twenties, that regulation-free era that preceded the Great Depression. And we know how well that worked out for the nation."
Trump Empire Contains 'Most Blatant Conflicts of Interest in History'
Trump Empire Contains 'Most Blatant Conflicts of Interest in History'
"President-elect Donald Trump's business dealings could represent "the most blatant conflicts of interest in the history of American politics," the president of Public Citizen said on Thursday, as more than a dozen groups called on Trump to sever ties with his "corporate empire." A Trump attorney said last week that the real estate mogul plans to place his business holdings into a "blind trust" run by several of his adult children—an arrangement that raised many eyebrows. Indeed, two former chief White House ethics lawyers wrote Tuesday of the plan: "This is the opposite of a blind trust. It is a demand that the American people blindly trust Trump and his family." The 12 pro-democracy signatories to a letter (pdf) sent to Trump on Thursday raised similar concerns, declaring Trump's "duties to the American people now must prevail over your personal ties to the Trump Organization businesses"."
"President-elect Donald Trump's business dealings could represent "the most blatant conflicts of interest in the history of American politics," the president of Public Citizen said on Thursday, as more than a dozen groups called on Trump to sever ties with his "corporate empire." A Trump attorney said last week that the real estate mogul plans to place his business holdings into a "blind trust" run by several of his adult children—an arrangement that raised many eyebrows. Indeed, two former chief White House ethics lawyers wrote Tuesday of the plan: "This is the opposite of a blind trust. It is a demand that the American people blindly trust Trump and his family." The 12 pro-democracy signatories to a letter (pdf) sent to Trump on Thursday raised similar concerns, declaring Trump's "duties to the American people now must prevail over your personal ties to the Trump Organization businesses"."
It's the banksters' world now, and we're all just living in it
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/17/1600818/-It-s-the-banksters-world-now-we-all-just-live-in-it
"Yeah, irony. Trump won by telling the common man life was going to be so good for him in an America made great again, all the while planning to put the banksters in charge of his economic team. Bank stocks are way up and these already filthy rich guys are already counting on the massive tax cuts that will be coming their way."
"Yeah, irony. Trump won by telling the common man life was going to be so good for him in an America made great again, all the while planning to put the banksters in charge of his economic team. Bank stocks are way up and these already filthy rich guys are already counting on the massive tax cuts that will be coming their way."
This isn’t just a photo of Ivanka Trump. It’s a middle finger to democracy.
https://thinkprogress.org/this-isnt-just-a-photo-of-ivanka-trump-it-s-a-middle-finger-to-democracy-750e91a3c0c#.xx2sp7e3t
"Trump is leveraging his new position as president-elect to empower his business empire — and he’s doing it publicly. We’ve known for some time that Trump didn’t plan to actually resolve the unprecedented conflicts his far-flung business interests presented. Instead of liquidating his assets and placing them in a Qualified Diversified Trust, as President Bush did, or investing in index funds and government bonds, as President Obama did, Trump has done nothing. He’s waved away concerns about conflicts-of-interest, saying that he would just hand over control of his business interests to his children. He called this a “blind trust” but it is actually the opposite. A blind trust is when you liquidate your assets and hand them over to a neutral third party to control. The contents of the trust are unknown to you. Trump knows what his assets are and says he is handing them to his children. Immediately after Trump’s election, he named three of his adult children — Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr. — to his transition team. This means the same people running the Trump Organization will also be choosing the top officials in the Trump administration."
"Trump is leveraging his new position as president-elect to empower his business empire — and he’s doing it publicly. We’ve known for some time that Trump didn’t plan to actually resolve the unprecedented conflicts his far-flung business interests presented. Instead of liquidating his assets and placing them in a Qualified Diversified Trust, as President Bush did, or investing in index funds and government bonds, as President Obama did, Trump has done nothing. He’s waved away concerns about conflicts-of-interest, saying that he would just hand over control of his business interests to his children. He called this a “blind trust” but it is actually the opposite. A blind trust is when you liquidate your assets and hand them over to a neutral third party to control. The contents of the trust are unknown to you. Trump knows what his assets are and says he is handing them to his children. Immediately after Trump’s election, he named three of his adult children — Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr. — to his transition team. This means the same people running the Trump Organization will also be choosing the top officials in the Trump administration."
Here’s what we know about that email Mike Pence is desperately trying to keep out of the public eye
Here’s what we know about that email Mike Pence is desperately trying to keep out of the public eye
"The Indianapolis Star has reported that incoming Vice President Mike Pence is fighting to keep an email from a political ally private."
"The Indianapolis Star has reported that incoming Vice President Mike Pence is fighting to keep an email from a political ally private."
Fake News Writer Feels Guilty for Helping Put Trump in White House @alternet
Fake News Writer Feels Guilty for Helping Put Trump in White House @alternet:
"Gullibility and ignorance, along with racism and misogyny, went a long way on Donald Trump’s behalf this election. Fake news was passed around, not just by voters, but by Trump’s campaign, giving people who are uninterested in facts more misinformation with which to base (and justify) their voting habits."
"Gullibility and ignorance, along with racism and misogyny, went a long way on Donald Trump’s behalf this election. Fake news was passed around, not just by voters, but by Trump’s campaign, giving people who are uninterested in facts more misinformation with which to base (and justify) their voting habits."
Why Steve Bannon's white nationalism should scare America
http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/14/opinions/trump-bannon-ben-ghiat/index.html
"anyone who is amazed at Trump's temerity in putting a white nationalist into the White House has gravely misunderstood the power of racism in fueling his campaign, and the desire to "turn back the clock" to a time when white men supposedly ruled supreme."
"anyone who is amazed at Trump's temerity in putting a white nationalist into the White House has gravely misunderstood the power of racism in fueling his campaign, and the desire to "turn back the clock" to a time when white men supposedly ruled supreme."
The Total Trumpism of Jeff Sessions, Attorney General Nominee - The New Yorker
http://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/the-total-trumpism-of-jeff-sessions-attorney-general-nominee
"The worst aspects of Sessions are, in other words, entirely in keeping with the expressed plans of the President-elect who wants him to be his chief lawman."
"The worst aspects of Sessions are, in other words, entirely in keeping with the expressed plans of the President-elect who wants him to be his chief lawman."
White Nationalists on Trump’s Attorney General pick: ‘It’s like Christmas’
https://thinkprogress.org/white-nationalists-on-trumps-attorney-general-pick-it-s-like-christmas-caf3a87353f5#.u5v2tp1qd
"Donald Trump just named Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions (R) as his pick for Attorney General, and white nationalists are thrilled. The last time Senator Sessions was up for a federal post — a judgeship in 1986 — he was deemed too racist for the job."
"Donald Trump just named Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions (R) as his pick for Attorney General, and white nationalists are thrilled. The last time Senator Sessions was up for a federal post — a judgeship in 1986 — he was deemed too racist for the job."
Jeff Sessions, Trump’s attorney general pick, would be a massive setback for civil rights
http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/18/13669440/jeff-sessions-attorney-general-trump-justice-department
"And given Sessions’s history of racist remarks, it certainly doesn’t appear that Trump is too sorry about his own history of racist comments on the campaign trail and beforehand."
"And given Sessions’s history of racist remarks, it certainly doesn’t appear that Trump is too sorry about his own history of racist comments on the campaign trail and beforehand."
Trump-Loving GOP Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Define Protests as a Form of 'Terrorism' @alternet
Trump-Loving GOP Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Define Protests as a Form of 'Terrorism' @alternet:
"A Trump-supporting Republican lawmaker is trying to legally define protests, like some of those erupting across the country against his candidate of choice, labeled a form of “terrorism.” In a statement issued Wednesday, Washington state Senator Doug Ericksen says he is drafting a bill that would allow for felony prosecution of protesters who “intentionally break the law...by obstructing economic activity.” Considering that almost all protest could be defined as getting in the way of business interests, Ericksen’s bill is an obvious attack on citizens’ First Amendment rights."
"A Trump-supporting Republican lawmaker is trying to legally define protests, like some of those erupting across the country against his candidate of choice, labeled a form of “terrorism.” In a statement issued Wednesday, Washington state Senator Doug Ericksen says he is drafting a bill that would allow for felony prosecution of protesters who “intentionally break the law...by obstructing economic activity.” Considering that almost all protest could be defined as getting in the way of business interests, Ericksen’s bill is an obvious attack on citizens’ First Amendment rights."
Trump is stocking his administration with white nationalists
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-is-stocking-his-administration-with-white-nationalists-d47a221ca122#.5nvlrgd1h
"Jeff Sessions has referred to the 1965 Voting Rights Act as a “piece of intrusive legislation” and reportedly suggested that a white lawyer might be a “disgrace to his race” because he represented black clients. The NAACP routinely gives him an “F” on its congressional scorecard."
"Jeff Sessions has referred to the 1965 Voting Rights Act as a “piece of intrusive legislation” and reportedly suggested that a white lawyer might be a “disgrace to his race” because he represented black clients. The NAACP routinely gives him an “F” on its congressional scorecard."
Jeff Sessions Was Deemed Too Racist To Be A Federal Judge. He’ll Now Be Trump’s Attorney General.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-racist-remarks_us_582cd73ae4b099512f80c0c2?cn5id4ygk5rf9lik9
"The man who President-elect Donald Trump will nominate as the 84th attorney general of the United States was once rejected as a federal judge over allegations he called a black attorney “boy,” suggested a white lawyer working for black clients was a race traitor, joked that the only issue he had with the Ku Klux Klan was their drug use, and referred to civil rights groups as “un-American” organizations trying to “force civil rights down the throats of people who were trying to put problems behind them"."
"The man who President-elect Donald Trump will nominate as the 84th attorney general of the United States was once rejected as a federal judge over allegations he called a black attorney “boy,” suggested a white lawyer working for black clients was a race traitor, joked that the only issue he had with the Ku Klux Klan was their drug use, and referred to civil rights groups as “un-American” organizations trying to “force civil rights down the throats of people who were trying to put problems behind them"."
Michael Flynn, Trump’s new national security adviser, loves Russia as much as his boss does
http://www.vox.com/2016/11/17/13673280/mike-flynn-trump-new-national-security-adviser-russia-isis-obama-clinton-turkey
"Flynn had also been considered for defense secretary, but his new appointment as national security adviser, which doesn’t require congressional approval, allows Trump to sidestep what would have likely been a bruising, two-step confirmation battle on Capitol Hill. Flynn, who ran the Defense Intelligence Agency until retiring in 2014, would have first needed a congressional waiver to get around rules requiring former military officers to be out of uniform for seven years before taking the top post at the Pentagon. He’d then have needed to win the approval of at least 51 lawmakers. Even with the Senate in Republican control, that wouldn’t have been a sure thing. Democrats would have lashed into Flynn because he broke with the longstanding tradition of retired officers avoiding direct criticism of presidents they had served. Republicans would have pressed Flynn about Trump’s stated Russia policy, which is predicated on building closer ties with Putin despite the Russian strongman’s human rights violations and annexation of Crimea. Republican lawmakers would also likely have grilled Flynn about his decision to do a paid series of events in Moscow that included a speech and an appearance at an anniversary party for RT, a Kremlin-funded TV station, where he was photographed sitting next to Putin."
"Flynn had also been considered for defense secretary, but his new appointment as national security adviser, which doesn’t require congressional approval, allows Trump to sidestep what would have likely been a bruising, two-step confirmation battle on Capitol Hill. Flynn, who ran the Defense Intelligence Agency until retiring in 2014, would have first needed a congressional waiver to get around rules requiring former military officers to be out of uniform for seven years before taking the top post at the Pentagon. He’d then have needed to win the approval of at least 51 lawmakers. Even with the Senate in Republican control, that wouldn’t have been a sure thing. Democrats would have lashed into Flynn because he broke with the longstanding tradition of retired officers avoiding direct criticism of presidents they had served. Republicans would have pressed Flynn about Trump’s stated Russia policy, which is predicated on building closer ties with Putin despite the Russian strongman’s human rights violations and annexation of Crimea. Republican lawmakers would also likely have grilled Flynn about his decision to do a paid series of events in Moscow that included a speech and an appearance at an anniversary party for RT, a Kremlin-funded TV station, where he was photographed sitting next to Putin."
Trump Ally Jeff Sessions’ Alarming History Of Opposing Civil Rights
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/trump-ally-jeff-sessions-alarming-history-of-opposing-civil-rights/
"Sessions’ record on race is so alarming that it’s not at all surprising to see him on Trump’s team."
"Sessions’ record on race is so alarming that it’s not at all surprising to see him on Trump’s team."
This Isn't About Partisan Bickering. This Is About Protecting Civil Rights.
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a50816/trump-jeff-sessions-attorney-general/
"The latest news from Camp Runamuck down in Manhattan is that, somewhere in what the late Gram Parsons undoubtedly would have recognized as a Gilded Palace of Sin, a craftsman's hands have cleverly taken the basket of deplorables and fashioned it into an entire Cabinet of Deplorables. There really is some art in how the minions of El Caudillo del Mar-A-Lago have managed to make a Wednesday that was worse than Tuesday was, a Thursday that was worse than the Wednesday was, and a Friday that, long before noon, was the worst goddamn day of a godawful week. I mean, they call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday was just as bad. And so on. Before we get to the proposed elevation of Jefferson Beauregard Sessions to the position of Attorney General which, in 2016, is like hiring Hannibal Lecter as your chief of thoracic surgery, and even before we get to the fact that the president-elect's National Security Adviser is a walking ad for the finest in tinfoil pillbox hats, let's pause and reflect on the fact that the brain trust has decided to hand the CIA over to Congressman Mike Pompeo of Kansas, who has to dial one and an area code in order to contact crazy."
"The latest news from Camp Runamuck down in Manhattan is that, somewhere in what the late Gram Parsons undoubtedly would have recognized as a Gilded Palace of Sin, a craftsman's hands have cleverly taken the basket of deplorables and fashioned it into an entire Cabinet of Deplorables. There really is some art in how the minions of El Caudillo del Mar-A-Lago have managed to make a Wednesday that was worse than Tuesday was, a Thursday that was worse than the Wednesday was, and a Friday that, long before noon, was the worst goddamn day of a godawful week. I mean, they call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday was just as bad. And so on. Before we get to the proposed elevation of Jefferson Beauregard Sessions to the position of Attorney General which, in 2016, is like hiring Hannibal Lecter as your chief of thoracic surgery, and even before we get to the fact that the president-elect's National Security Adviser is a walking ad for the finest in tinfoil pillbox hats, let's pause and reflect on the fact that the brain trust has decided to hand the CIA over to Congressman Mike Pompeo of Kansas, who has to dial one and an area code in order to contact crazy."
No, really. It is significant that white supremacists like David Duke like Donald Trump so much.
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/18/1601363/-No-really-It-is-significant-that-white-supremacists-like-David-Duke-like-Donald-Trump-so-much
"Donald Trump is a president elect who drew support not just from Duke but from an array of other white supremacists as he ran a campaign catering to, yes, white supremacists. Then, upon being elected, he named a white supremacist (albeit one who prefers to be called a “nationalist”) as his top adviser. Then he chose someone for attorney general who in 1986 was considered too racist to be a federal judge. And a national security adviser who’s a notorious Islamophobe whose anti-Semitic retweet spurred Duke’s approval today."
"Donald Trump is a president elect who drew support not just from Duke but from an array of other white supremacists as he ran a campaign catering to, yes, white supremacists. Then, upon being elected, he named a white supremacist (albeit one who prefers to be called a “nationalist”) as his top adviser. Then he chose someone for attorney general who in 1986 was considered too racist to be a federal judge. And a national security adviser who’s a notorious Islamophobe whose anti-Semitic retweet spurred Duke’s approval today."
Trump lied on Twitter, and the media spread it far and wide
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-lied-on-twitter-and-the-media-spread-it-far-and-wide-4391fd4e2da4#.9vea13u1y
"There was never a Ford plant in Kentucky that was going to be moved to Mexico. Trump manufactured a crisis, and then took credit for solving it — and without pausing to verify the story, the media spread Trump’s version of reality far and wide."
"There was never a Ford plant in Kentucky that was going to be moved to Mexico. Trump manufactured a crisis, and then took credit for solving it — and without pausing to verify the story, the media spread Trump’s version of reality far and wide."
Trump Admits He Lied About Ford Moving Auto Jobs To Mexico
http://addictinginfo.org/2016/11/18/trump-admits-he-lied-about-ford-moving-auto-jobs-to-mexico/
"Remember when Donald Trump claimed that Ford was moving jobs and production to Mexico? Well, we all knew he was lying then, but he’s admitting it now by bragging about it. In September, Trump accused the American car manufacturer of intending to take jobs from workers in Kentucky and take them to Mexico. But that was blatantly false because of a labor contract between the company and the worker’s union, and Ford was quick to call out Trump for lying."
"Remember when Donald Trump claimed that Ford was moving jobs and production to Mexico? Well, we all knew he was lying then, but he’s admitting it now by bragging about it. In September, Trump accused the American car manufacturer of intending to take jobs from workers in Kentucky and take them to Mexico. But that was blatantly false because of a labor contract between the company and the worker’s union, and Ford was quick to call out Trump for lying."
Trump Declares War On Civil Rights By Filling His Administration With White Supremacists
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/11/18/trump-declares-war-civil-rights-filling-administration-white-supremacists.html
"Donald Trump is staffing up for his first war, which won’t be over oil or ideology, but the civil liberties and constitutionally protected rights of the American people."
"Donald Trump is staffing up for his first war, which won’t be over oil or ideology, but the civil liberties and constitutionally protected rights of the American people."
David Duke Praises Trump’s Picks of Racists Bannon, Flynn, and Sessions
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/11/18/david-duke-praises-trumps-picks-racists-bannon-flynn-sessions.html
"Duke says his side (white supremacists) are hopeful."
"Duke says his side (white supremacists) are hopeful."
Gaslight Nation: Trump Pretends He Saved Kentucky Auto Jobs (He Didn't) | Crooks and Liars
Gaslight Nation: Trump Pretends He Saved Kentucky Auto Jobs (He Didn't) | Crooks and Liars
"The thing we have to remember about Donald Trump in the weeks, days and months to come is this: He lies. He lies every day, as often as he wants, about trivial things and about important things."
"The thing we have to remember about Donald Trump in the weeks, days and months to come is this: He lies. He lies every day, as often as he wants, about trivial things and about important things."
From the Horse's Mouth: Key Founder of 'Alt-Right' Movement Describes Hateful White Nationalist Agenda @alternet
From the Horse's Mouth: Key Founder of 'Alt-Right' Movement Describes Hateful White Nationalist Agenda @alternet:
"Not surprisingly, Spencer was thrilled with the ascent of Bannon, whose backers include a bevy white nationalists and Nazis."
"Not surprisingly, Spencer was thrilled with the ascent of Bannon, whose backers include a bevy white nationalists and Nazis."
‘This is our moment’: Trump’s win emboldens activist behind effort to ‘make rape legal’
‘This is our moment’: Trump’s win emboldens activist behind effort to ‘make rape legal’
"The spokesperson for a group which advocates for “legal” rape praised the election of Donald Trump for legitimizing the “masculine behaviours that were previously labelled sexist and misogynist"."
"The spokesperson for a group which advocates for “legal” rape praised the election of Donald Trump for legitimizing the “masculine behaviours that were previously labelled sexist and misogynist"."
A Very Long List of Dumb and Awful Things Newt Gingrich Has Said and Done
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/11/very-long-list-dumb-and-awful-things-newt-gingrich-has-said-and-done
"So here's a rather incomplete guide to Gingrich's greatest (or worst) hits of the past 33 years. As he might say, it's the most accurate, predictive model for his future behavior."
"So here's a rather incomplete guide to Gingrich's greatest (or worst) hits of the past 33 years. As he might say, it's the most accurate, predictive model for his future behavior."
Right-Wing German Hate Groups Plan Attacks With American Counterparts Emboldened by Trump @alternet
Right-Wing German Hate Groups Plan Attacks With American Counterparts Emboldened by Trump @alternet:
"Throughout his campaign, Donald Trump exploited existing racist and xenophobic sentiments across his base. Since he launched his election bid 18 months ago, a number of hate crimes have carried out by whites who openly admitted being inspired by Trump’s rhetoric. Since the election, racial and religious minorities have reported being targets in an unprecedented number of attacks. Now the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has warned that right-wing terrorists in his country are likely networking internationally—including with hate group members in the United States—to carry out more race and religion-based attacks."
"Throughout his campaign, Donald Trump exploited existing racist and xenophobic sentiments across his base. Since he launched his election bid 18 months ago, a number of hate crimes have carried out by whites who openly admitted being inspired by Trump’s rhetoric. Since the election, racial and religious minorities have reported being targets in an unprecedented number of attacks. Now the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has warned that right-wing terrorists in his country are likely networking internationally—including with hate group members in the United States—to carry out more race and religion-based attacks."
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Trump's Top Environmental Adviser Says Pesticides Aren't Bad for You
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/11/trump-epa-pesticides
"President-elect Trump has been roundly mocked for running as a crusading reformer, and then tapping a bunch of industry lobbyists and apologists like Ebell to lead his transition. Rather than "draining the swamp" in Washington, Trump seems to want to inject it with agrichemicals."
"President-elect Trump has been roundly mocked for running as a crusading reformer, and then tapping a bunch of industry lobbyists and apologists like Ebell to lead his transition. Rather than "draining the swamp" in Washington, Trump seems to want to inject it with agrichemicals."
After Railing Against 'Rigged' Economy, Trump Readies to Rig It Even More
After Railing Against 'Rigged' Economy, Trump Readies to Rig It Even More
"After running a campaign that blasted the "rigged" economy, President-elect Donald Trump appears set to rig it even further—in favor of corporations, Wall Street, and the wealthy."
"After running a campaign that blasted the "rigged" economy, President-elect Donald Trump appears set to rig it even further—in favor of corporations, Wall Street, and the wealthy."
After Running On Economic Populism, Republicans Want To Destroy The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/consumer-financial-protection-bureau-republicans_us_582d18a5e4b099512f80ee6b
"The agency, the brainchild of Elizabeth Warren, back when she was a law professor, was enacted as part of the 2010 Wall Street reform bill. Since then, it has returned nearly $12 billion to 27 million consumers who’d been victims of one predatory scam or another. More than 1 million consumer complaints have been filed with the agency."
"The agency, the brainchild of Elizabeth Warren, back when she was a law professor, was enacted as part of the 2010 Wall Street reform bill. Since then, it has returned nearly $12 billion to 27 million consumers who’d been victims of one predatory scam or another. More than 1 million consumer complaints have been filed with the agency."
Steve Bannon and his history of attacks upon women
http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trumps-chief-strategist-steve-bannon-and-his-history-attacks-against-521240
"Headlines published by Breitbart News have included “Would You Rather Your Child Had Feminism or Cancer?” “Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy” and “There’s No Hiring Bias Against Women in Tech, They Just Suck at Interviews"."
"Headlines published by Breitbart News have included “Would You Rather Your Child Had Feminism or Cancer?” “Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy” and “There’s No Hiring Bias Against Women in Tech, They Just Suck at Interviews"."
To Counter Trump, Women Are Mobilizing for Massive March on Washington
To Counter Trump, Women Are Mobilizing for Massive March on Washington
"In response to the imminent Donald Trump presidency, women's rights advocates nationwide are mobilizing."
"In response to the imminent Donald Trump presidency, women's rights advocates nationwide are mobilizing."
UPDATED: The Complete History Of Donald Trump's Relationship With The White Nationalist Movement
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/11/16/updated-complete-history-donald-trumps-relationship-white-nationalist-movement/214491
"Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign engaged in a disturbing courtship with the racist white nationalist movement that is unprecedented in recent American political history. That effort has taken on new life with Trump's selection of Stephen Bannon to a senior White House position."
"Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign engaged in a disturbing courtship with the racist white nationalist movement that is unprecedented in recent American political history. That effort has taken on new life with Trump's selection of Stephen Bannon to a senior White House position."
Trump’s Potential SCOTUS Nominee Suggested Jailing Gay People For Having Sex @alternet
Trump’s Potential SCOTUS Nominee Suggested Jailing Gay People For Having Sex @alternet: Judge William H. Pryor Jr. has been dubbed the most 'anti-gay judicial nominee in recent memory.”
White House Propagandist Bannon's Gravy Train Is Secretive Radical Right-Wing Billionaire Hedge Fund Family @alternet
White House Propagandist Bannon's Gravy Train Is Secretive Radical Right-Wing Billionaire Hedge Fund Family @alternet:
"For years, Robert Mercer quietly poured tens of millions of dollars into far-right political causes. But it took his daughter, Rebekah, to embrace the bulls in the GOP china shop—first Cruz and then Trump. When Trump assumes office in January, Bannon will be on the podium. And quietly observing the spectacle will be one of the real powers behind the throne, the libertarian billionaire Mercer family."
"For years, Robert Mercer quietly poured tens of millions of dollars into far-right political causes. But it took his daughter, Rebekah, to embrace the bulls in the GOP china shop—first Cruz and then Trump. When Trump assumes office in January, Bannon will be on the podium. And quietly observing the spectacle will be one of the real powers behind the throne, the libertarian billionaire Mercer family."
After ditching reporters (unprecedented), Trump promised wealthy restaurant patrons tax cuts
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/16/1600262/-After-ditching-reporters-unprecedented-Trump-promised-wealthy-restaurant-patrons-tax-cuts
"Once inside the high end ($$$$) restaurant, Trump was greeted to applause by the wealthy patrons. As he moved around the room, he could be heard saying “I’m going to get your taxes down, don’t worry.” That was captured on a brief video by NBC News correspondent Hallie Jackson, who was inside the restaurant. The video is brief because Secret Service agents moved to block her view entirely. Really? The job of the Secret Service is to block reporters from seeing the President-elect? After running on a so-called populist platform, appealing to the “working man”, here’s Donald Trump telling a group of extremely wealthy people he’s going to cut their taxes"
"Once inside the high end ($$$$) restaurant, Trump was greeted to applause by the wealthy patrons. As he moved around the room, he could be heard saying “I’m going to get your taxes down, don’t worry.” That was captured on a brief video by NBC News correspondent Hallie Jackson, who was inside the restaurant. The video is brief because Secret Service agents moved to block her view entirely. Really? The job of the Secret Service is to block reporters from seeing the President-elect? After running on a so-called populist platform, appealing to the “working man”, here’s Donald Trump telling a group of extremely wealthy people he’s going to cut their taxes"
Conservative Media Attempt To Sanitize Stephen Bannon’s Ties To White Nationalism And Anti-Semitism
http://mediamatters.org/research/2016/11/15/conservative-media-attempt-sanitize-stephen-bannon-s-ties-white-nationalism-and-anti-semitism/214468
"Conservative media are defending Stephen Bannon, who was recently appointed as President-elect Donald Trump’s chief strategist, amid growing backlash over his ties to anti-Semitism and white nationalists. While Bannon’s appointment has been hailed as a victory by white nationalists, the push to normalize Bannon was aided by major newspapers that downplayed and ignored his extreme ties."
"Conservative media are defending Stephen Bannon, who was recently appointed as President-elect Donald Trump’s chief strategist, amid growing backlash over his ties to anti-Semitism and white nationalists. While Bannon’s appointment has been hailed as a victory by white nationalists, the push to normalize Bannon was aided by major newspapers that downplayed and ignored his extreme ties."
Reported Trump national security adviser called for purging military to ensure Trumpist loyalty
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/16/1600310/-Trump-national-security-adviser-called-for-purging-military-to-ensure-Trumpist-loyalty
"Purging the military and intelligence community to be sure they’re 100 percent loyal to you personally is one of the steps on the road to dictatorship, no? A Trump spokesperson issued a "flat denial" that Gaffney was involved in the transition in any capacity, but between the Trump transition team’s raging incompetence and constant personnel upheaval and the habitual dishonesty of all of Trumpworld, a flat denial from them is not wholly convincing. And in this case, what Gaffney is saying is not all that far from what Trump himself has said—he suggested in one of the debates that purging the upper ranks of the military and putting his own people in place would be a priority. It would be great if Gaffney is not involved in setting up the next presidential administration, but unfortunately, his absence wouldn’t ensure the absence of ideas like this."
"Purging the military and intelligence community to be sure they’re 100 percent loyal to you personally is one of the steps on the road to dictatorship, no? A Trump spokesperson issued a "flat denial" that Gaffney was involved in the transition in any capacity, but between the Trump transition team’s raging incompetence and constant personnel upheaval and the habitual dishonesty of all of Trumpworld, a flat denial from them is not wholly convincing. And in this case, what Gaffney is saying is not all that far from what Trump himself has said—he suggested in one of the debates that purging the upper ranks of the military and putting his own people in place would be a priority. It would be great if Gaffney is not involved in setting up the next presidential administration, but unfortunately, his absence wouldn’t ensure the absence of ideas like this."
Trump reportedly surprised at 'scope' of new presidential duties
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/14/1599054/-Trump-reported-to-be-surprised-at-scope-of-new-presidential-duties
"During their private White House meeting on Thursday, Mr. Obama walked his successor through the duties of running the country, and Mr. Trump seemed surprised by the scope, said people familiar with the meeting. Trump aides were described by those people as unaware that the entire presidential staff working in the West Wing had to be replaced at the end of Mr. Obama’s term."
"During their private White House meeting on Thursday, Mr. Obama walked his successor through the duties of running the country, and Mr. Trump seemed surprised by the scope, said people familiar with the meeting. Trump aides were described by those people as unaware that the entire presidential staff working in the West Wing had to be replaced at the end of Mr. Obama’s term."
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