There Is a Major CEO Tax Con-Job Going On @alternet:
"These CEOs are trying to make Americans think corporations should get good citizenship awards because a handful of the nation’s 30 million employers are paying bonuses to workers from the gargantuan tax savings Congress gave them. But it’s a con. The bonuses are fine, but they’re one-time events and trivial compared to the bountiful and permanent tax breaks corporations reaped from their years of lobbying Republicans."
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Next target for Russian hackers—2018 Senate races
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/12/1732197/-Next-target-for-Russian-hackers-2018-Senate-races
"Republicans, intent on protecting Trump, have refused to take seriously any measure to address the continuing threat. Cybersecurity experts have long warned that America’s election system is a sitting duck for hackers looking to cause chaos. Voter rolls have regularly been been stored on inadequately protected systems, and the country has for years relied on outdated electronic voting machines. At the state and local level, governments can lack the funds to hire elite cyber professionals or properly train staff."
"Republicans, intent on protecting Trump, have refused to take seriously any measure to address the continuing threat. Cybersecurity experts have long warned that America’s election system is a sitting duck for hackers looking to cause chaos. Voter rolls have regularly been been stored on inadequately protected systems, and the country has for years relied on outdated electronic voting machines. At the state and local level, governments can lack the funds to hire elite cyber professionals or properly train staff."
President Trump made 2,140 false or misleading claims in his first year
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/01/20/president-trump-made-2140-false-or-misleading-claims-in-his-first-year/?utm_term=.fa221c092d9e
"One year after taking the oath of office, President Trump has made 2,140 false or misleading claims"
"One year after taking the oath of office, President Trump has made 2,140 false or misleading claims"
Challenging Trump's Language of Fascism
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/43159-challenging-trumps-language-of-fascism
"Under fascist regimes, the language of brutality and culture of cruelty was normalized through the proliferation of the strident metaphors of war, battle, expulsion, racial purity and demonization. As German historians such as Richard J. Evans and Victor Klemperer have made clear, dictators such as Hitler did more than corrupt the language of a civilized society, they also banned words. Soon afterwards, they banned books and the critical intellectuals who wrote them. They then imprisoned those individuals who challenged Nazi ideology and the state's systemic violations of civil rights. The endpoint was an all-embracing discourse of disposability, the emergence of concentration camps, and genocide fueled by a politics of racial purity and social cleansing. Echoes of the formative stages of such actions are with us once again. They provide just one of the historical signposts of an American-style neo-fascism that appears to be engulfing the United States, after simmering in the dark for years. Under such circumstances, it is crucial to interrogate, as the first line of resistance, how this level of systemic linguistic derangement and corruption shapes everyday life. It is essential to start with language, because it is the first place tyrants begin to promote their ideologies, hatred, and systemic politics of disposability and erasure. Trump is not unlike many of the dictators he admires. What they all share as strongmen is the use of language in the service of violence and repression, as well as a fear of language as a symbol of identity, critique, solidarity and collective struggle. None of them believe that the truth is essential to a responsible mode of governance, and all of them support the notion that lying on the side of power is fundamental to the process of governing, however undemocratic such a political dynamic may be.Lying has a long legacy in American politics and is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes."
"Under fascist regimes, the language of brutality and culture of cruelty was normalized through the proliferation of the strident metaphors of war, battle, expulsion, racial purity and demonization. As German historians such as Richard J. Evans and Victor Klemperer have made clear, dictators such as Hitler did more than corrupt the language of a civilized society, they also banned words. Soon afterwards, they banned books and the critical intellectuals who wrote them. They then imprisoned those individuals who challenged Nazi ideology and the state's systemic violations of civil rights. The endpoint was an all-embracing discourse of disposability, the emergence of concentration camps, and genocide fueled by a politics of racial purity and social cleansing. Echoes of the formative stages of such actions are with us once again. They provide just one of the historical signposts of an American-style neo-fascism that appears to be engulfing the United States, after simmering in the dark for years. Under such circumstances, it is crucial to interrogate, as the first line of resistance, how this level of systemic linguistic derangement and corruption shapes everyday life. It is essential to start with language, because it is the first place tyrants begin to promote their ideologies, hatred, and systemic politics of disposability and erasure. Trump is not unlike many of the dictators he admires. What they all share as strongmen is the use of language in the service of violence and repression, as well as a fear of language as a symbol of identity, critique, solidarity and collective struggle. None of them believe that the truth is essential to a responsible mode of governance, and all of them support the notion that lying on the side of power is fundamental to the process of governing, however undemocratic such a political dynamic may be.Lying has a long legacy in American politics and is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes."
Twitter Notified Republican Senator John Cornyn That He Interacted With Content Linked To Russian Government During The 2016 Election
http://www.politicususa.com/2018/01/20/twitter-notified-republican-senator-john-cornyn-interacted-content-linked-russian-government.html
"The message Cornyn received stated that the site had detected possible interaction — such as likes, retweets, follows, or conversations — between him and now-suspended accounts connected to a government-linked Russian propaganda organization called the Internet Research Agency."
"The message Cornyn received stated that the site had detected possible interaction — such as likes, retweets, follows, or conversations — between him and now-suspended accounts connected to a government-linked Russian propaganda organization called the Internet Research Agency."
White House simply can’t overcome Trump’s racist presidency
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/white-house-simply-cant-overcome-trumps-racist-presidency#break
"This is the man we recognize all too well. After all, Trump’s rise to political prominence was fueled in large part by his role championing a racist conspiracy theory about the nation’s first black president. As a candidate for the nation’s highest office, Trump went after a federal judge because of his ethnicity, hesitated when asked to denounce David Duke, and equated Mexican immigrants with rapists. Once in office, Trump pushed several versions of a bigoted Muslim ban, defended racist activists as “very fine people,” promoted racist videos from a British fringe group, launched a prolonged feud with athletes of color engaged in a silent civil-rights protest, and couldn’t even get through an event honoring Navajo Code Talkers without mocking “Pocahontas.” (These are not the only recent examples.) It’s against this backdrop that GOP officials continue to defend, enable, and support their party’s president, showing him deference and respect, unmoved by concerns about Trump’s lack of respect for those who aren’t like him."
"This is the man we recognize all too well. After all, Trump’s rise to political prominence was fueled in large part by his role championing a racist conspiracy theory about the nation’s first black president. As a candidate for the nation’s highest office, Trump went after a federal judge because of his ethnicity, hesitated when asked to denounce David Duke, and equated Mexican immigrants with rapists. Once in office, Trump pushed several versions of a bigoted Muslim ban, defended racist activists as “very fine people,” promoted racist videos from a British fringe group, launched a prolonged feud with athletes of color engaged in a silent civil-rights protest, and couldn’t even get through an event honoring Navajo Code Talkers without mocking “Pocahontas.” (These are not the only recent examples.) It’s against this backdrop that GOP officials continue to defend, enable, and support their party’s president, showing him deference and respect, unmoved by concerns about Trump’s lack of respect for those who aren’t like him."
NRA’s Ties To Putin Allies Go Back Years
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/nras-ties-to-putin-allies-go-back-years
"The FBI is probing whether a Russian banker with Kremlin ties illegally funneled money to the NRA in a bid to help Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy, McClatchy reported Thursday. There’s already a lot of reporting out there on the unlikely ties between the gun group and right-wing Russians. The banker at the center of the probe, Alexander Torshin (pictured), is a lifetime NRA member who’s spent years attending the group’s events and amassing a circle of influential American conservative friends. Several of those American conservatives have attended events organized by a Russian gun-rights group that Torshin helped launch. It’s also worth noting that the NRA’s dark money arm spent more on the 2016 election than did any other dark money group. It spent three times as much in support of Trump as it did for Mitt Romney in 2012, despite the group’s antipathy to President Obama. Here, in chronological order, is what we know on the NRA’s Russian ties"
"The FBI is probing whether a Russian banker with Kremlin ties illegally funneled money to the NRA in a bid to help Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy, McClatchy reported Thursday. There’s already a lot of reporting out there on the unlikely ties between the gun group and right-wing Russians. The banker at the center of the probe, Alexander Torshin (pictured), is a lifetime NRA member who’s spent years attending the group’s events and amassing a circle of influential American conservative friends. Several of those American conservatives have attended events organized by a Russian gun-rights group that Torshin helped launch. It’s also worth noting that the NRA’s dark money arm spent more on the 2016 election than did any other dark money group. It spent three times as much in support of Trump as it did for Mitt Romney in 2012, despite the group’s antipathy to President Obama. Here, in chronological order, is what we know on the NRA’s Russian ties"
Mapping out the long path of Trump's money laundering and corruption
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/21/1733280/-Mapping-out-the-long-path-of-Trump-s-money-laundering-and-corruption
"in 2011, the Trump Soho joint venture condo project by TrumpCo and Bayrock was sued for defrauding buyers with their inflated sales claims. The suit was settled with a payout of $3.19 million, and another potential criminal case was avoided. But then in 2013 things went wonky again as Russian mobsters renting property in Trump Tower just three floors below the penthouse suite were arrested for money laundering and running an illegal gambling ring at the end of a two-year investigation. Between 2011 and 2013 the Bureau had a warrant to spy on a high-level criminal Russian money-laundering ring, which operated in unit 63A of the iconic skyscraper — three floors below Mr Trump's penthouse. The investigation led to the indictment of more than 30 people, including alleged mafia boss Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, according to ABC News. … The suspected mobster – who is accused of moving $50m (£40m) in illegal money to the US – remains at large, even after Interpol issued a red notice for his detention. One of the attorneys for defendant Denys Katsyv of Prevezon Holdings Ltd. in a related $230 million Russian money laundering case was Natalia Veselnitskaya. The prosecutor was Preet Bharara. Some of the stolen money laundered through this ring was connected to Bill Browder’s investigation and the murder of Sergei Magnitsky in Russia, which spawned the Magnitsky Act. After Trump abruptly fired Bharara despite having promised to keep him, the suit was suddenly settled by the DOJ for just $6 million two days before it was scheduled to go to trial. Attorneys for Prevezon responded by saying the meager settlement was “almost an apology” by the DOJ for having brought the suit. Also in 2013, Trump setup his Miss Universe pageant in Moscow where Tokhtakhounov, the Russian mobster who was on the run from Interpol, was welcomed on the red carpet at the event."
"in 2011, the Trump Soho joint venture condo project by TrumpCo and Bayrock was sued for defrauding buyers with their inflated sales claims. The suit was settled with a payout of $3.19 million, and another potential criminal case was avoided. But then in 2013 things went wonky again as Russian mobsters renting property in Trump Tower just three floors below the penthouse suite were arrested for money laundering and running an illegal gambling ring at the end of a two-year investigation. Between 2011 and 2013 the Bureau had a warrant to spy on a high-level criminal Russian money-laundering ring, which operated in unit 63A of the iconic skyscraper — three floors below Mr Trump's penthouse. The investigation led to the indictment of more than 30 people, including alleged mafia boss Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, according to ABC News. … The suspected mobster – who is accused of moving $50m (£40m) in illegal money to the US – remains at large, even after Interpol issued a red notice for his detention. One of the attorneys for defendant Denys Katsyv of Prevezon Holdings Ltd. in a related $230 million Russian money laundering case was Natalia Veselnitskaya. The prosecutor was Preet Bharara. Some of the stolen money laundered through this ring was connected to Bill Browder’s investigation and the murder of Sergei Magnitsky in Russia, which spawned the Magnitsky Act. After Trump abruptly fired Bharara despite having promised to keep him, the suit was suddenly settled by the DOJ for just $6 million two days before it was scheduled to go to trial. Attorneys for Prevezon responded by saying the meager settlement was “almost an apology” by the DOJ for having brought the suit. Also in 2013, Trump setup his Miss Universe pageant in Moscow where Tokhtakhounov, the Russian mobster who was on the run from Interpol, was welcomed on the red carpet at the event."
NRA-Russia connection is a pipeline for dirty money and dangerous ideas
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/18/1733911/-NRA-Russia-connection-is-a-pipeline-for-dirty-money-and-dangerous-ideas
"The NRA’s involvement with Russia goes far beyond the single connection currently under investigation by the FBI. NRA leadership has been instrumental in connecting Republicans to associates of Vladimir Putin, including arranging paid speaking gigs and visits. And they were not shy in their attempts to bring Trump and Putin together. A conservative operative trumpeting his close ties to the National Rifle Association and Russia told a Trump campaign adviser last year that he could arrange a back-channel meeting between Donald J. Trump and Vladimir V. Putin, the Russian president, according to an email sent to the Trump campaign. The email header on that note, which went to Jeff Sessions along with other Trump advisors, was “Kremlin Connecton.” That outreach to Trump came within days of another attempted contact, both of which lead back to Alexander Torshin, a deputy of the Russian central bank and leader in Putin’s United Russia Party. The extent to which the FBI has evidence of money flowing from Torshin to the NRA, or of the NRA’s participation in the transfer of funds, could not be learned. However, the NRA reported spending a record $55 million on the 2016 elections, including $30 million to support Trump – triple what the group devoted to backing Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential race. Most of that was money was spent by an arm of the NRA that is not required to disclose its donors. News that investigators are looking into connections between the Trump campaign and Russian officials that involved the NRA as a middleman was far from new. The idea that Torshin might have directly used the NRA as a proxy for the Trump campaign would make for a shockingly direct and obvious violation of U.S. law, but it’s far from the limit of the NRA’s connections to Russia."
"The NRA’s involvement with Russia goes far beyond the single connection currently under investigation by the FBI. NRA leadership has been instrumental in connecting Republicans to associates of Vladimir Putin, including arranging paid speaking gigs and visits. And they were not shy in their attempts to bring Trump and Putin together. A conservative operative trumpeting his close ties to the National Rifle Association and Russia told a Trump campaign adviser last year that he could arrange a back-channel meeting between Donald J. Trump and Vladimir V. Putin, the Russian president, according to an email sent to the Trump campaign. The email header on that note, which went to Jeff Sessions along with other Trump advisors, was “Kremlin Connecton.” That outreach to Trump came within days of another attempted contact, both of which lead back to Alexander Torshin, a deputy of the Russian central bank and leader in Putin’s United Russia Party. The extent to which the FBI has evidence of money flowing from Torshin to the NRA, or of the NRA’s participation in the transfer of funds, could not be learned. However, the NRA reported spending a record $55 million on the 2016 elections, including $30 million to support Trump – triple what the group devoted to backing Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential race. Most of that was money was spent by an arm of the NRA that is not required to disclose its donors. News that investigators are looking into connections between the Trump campaign and Russian officials that involved the NRA as a middleman was far from new. The idea that Torshin might have directly used the NRA as a proxy for the Trump campaign would make for a shockingly direct and obvious violation of U.S. law, but it’s far from the limit of the NRA’s connections to Russia."
Who Else Was Handling Russian Money in 2016?
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a15391679/nra-russia-money-trump/
"It is a savory irony that Wayne LaPierre, the savior of all that is clean and good in America, may be tied into the Volga Bagmen. But it’s coming time to wonder how much Russian money was sloshing around the entire Republican Party in 2016, and around the conservative infrastructure generally. We already know the winning presidential campaign was redolent of herring and vodka. There also is more than a little evidence that various Russian oligarchs and kleptocrats were generous to Republican campaigns in general. Now, it seems, the various interest groups and issue organizations may have had their hands out, too. The only thing that stops a bagman with a bag is a good guy with a bag."
"It is a savory irony that Wayne LaPierre, the savior of all that is clean and good in America, may be tied into the Volga Bagmen. But it’s coming time to wonder how much Russian money was sloshing around the entire Republican Party in 2016, and around the conservative infrastructure generally. We already know the winning presidential campaign was redolent of herring and vodka. There also is more than a little evidence that various Russian oligarchs and kleptocrats were generous to Republican campaigns in general. Now, it seems, the various interest groups and issue organizations may have had their hands out, too. The only thing that stops a bagman with a bag is a good guy with a bag."
Did Citizens United Help Russians Funnel Money To NRA?
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/campaign-finance-russia-funneling-dark-money-trump-nra
"The FBI is reportedly probing whether a Russian banker with ties to the Kremlin illegally funneled money to the National Rifle Association (NRA) to help Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. But if the gun lobby did take Russian money, it likely couldn’t have done it without a determined campaign by Republicans, with a major assist from the Supreme Court, to weaken laws governing money in politics. To fully understand the news about the FBI’s probe, we need to first understand how the effort to gut campaign finance laws has left the U.S. deeply vulnerable to foreign money infiltrating our elections. “Citizens United opened up the floodgates to any kind of corporate money,” Craig Holman, a campaign finance expert at good government group Public Citizen, told TPM. “It’s easy to launder foreign money through corporate entities or LLCs, and it goes entirely unreported as coming from foreign sources.” McClatchy reported that Maria Butina teamed up with Paul Erickson, a Republican operative and NRA member, to set up an LLC, named Bridges, in February 2016. Butina is a top aide to the Russian banker, Alexander Torshin, who is a long-time ally of the NRA. Erickson told McClatchy last year that the company was created in case Butina needed financial help for her graduate studies in the U.S. McClatchy described that as “an unusual way to use an LLC.” Foreigners are barred from contributing to U.S. political campaigns. But the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling, which allowed corporations to spend unlimited amounts on political activities, fueled a spike in the number of 501(c)(4) “social welfare” non-profits, which are permitted to spend big on political campaigns without disclosing the source of their funds. That makes it hard for government watchdogs or federal agencies to know with certainty if foreign money is being funneled to these so-called “dark money” groups Campaign finance advocates and prominent Democrats warned about the danger back in 2010."
"The FBI is reportedly probing whether a Russian banker with ties to the Kremlin illegally funneled money to the National Rifle Association (NRA) to help Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. But if the gun lobby did take Russian money, it likely couldn’t have done it without a determined campaign by Republicans, with a major assist from the Supreme Court, to weaken laws governing money in politics. To fully understand the news about the FBI’s probe, we need to first understand how the effort to gut campaign finance laws has left the U.S. deeply vulnerable to foreign money infiltrating our elections. “Citizens United opened up the floodgates to any kind of corporate money,” Craig Holman, a campaign finance expert at good government group Public Citizen, told TPM. “It’s easy to launder foreign money through corporate entities or LLCs, and it goes entirely unreported as coming from foreign sources.” McClatchy reported that Maria Butina teamed up with Paul Erickson, a Republican operative and NRA member, to set up an LLC, named Bridges, in February 2016. Butina is a top aide to the Russian banker, Alexander Torshin, who is a long-time ally of the NRA. Erickson told McClatchy last year that the company was created in case Butina needed financial help for her graduate studies in the U.S. McClatchy described that as “an unusual way to use an LLC.” Foreigners are barred from contributing to U.S. political campaigns. But the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling, which allowed corporations to spend unlimited amounts on political activities, fueled a spike in the number of 501(c)(4) “social welfare” non-profits, which are permitted to spend big on political campaigns without disclosing the source of their funds. That makes it hard for government watchdogs or federal agencies to know with certainty if foreign money is being funneled to these so-called “dark money” groups Campaign finance advocates and prominent Democrats warned about the danger back in 2010."
Citizens United vs. United Citizens: The Showdown of the Century
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/01/20/citizens-united-vs-united-citizens-showdown-century
"When the US Supreme Court decided in favor of the plaintiff in the Citizens United case on January 21, 2010, did the five justices who supported it know that their decision would open the door to a fascist state within six short years? In large part, Citizens United caused a minority of voters, aided by the Electoral College, to elect a real live major international corporation in the form of Donald Trump as President. The fusion of government and corporate rule is complete. Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Justices Antonin G. Scalia, Samuel A. Alito, and Clarence Thomas joined Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who wrote for the majority. They claimed there was no evidence that ‘independent’ money influences and corrupts the electoral process.” In all their judicial wisdom, somehow they did not foresee at the time what the other four Justices and a large majority of Americans from both parties saw: the potential merger of our government with U.S. corporations. Trump has gone on to appoint the most corporate administration ever. Nearly 70% of Trump’s appointments have corporate ties, and his entire cabinet is mostly unqualified and unsuited for, or in opposition to, the department they head. Plainly put, these corporatists are in position to destroy the very departments that exist to protect We the People and the economy and environment on which our livelihoods depend."
"When the US Supreme Court decided in favor of the plaintiff in the Citizens United case on January 21, 2010, did the five justices who supported it know that their decision would open the door to a fascist state within six short years? In large part, Citizens United caused a minority of voters, aided by the Electoral College, to elect a real live major international corporation in the form of Donald Trump as President. The fusion of government and corporate rule is complete. Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Justices Antonin G. Scalia, Samuel A. Alito, and Clarence Thomas joined Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who wrote for the majority. They claimed there was no evidence that ‘independent’ money influences and corrupts the electoral process.” In all their judicial wisdom, somehow they did not foresee at the time what the other four Justices and a large majority of Americans from both parties saw: the potential merger of our government with U.S. corporations. Trump has gone on to appoint the most corporate administration ever. Nearly 70% of Trump’s appointments have corporate ties, and his entire cabinet is mostly unqualified and unsuited for, or in opposition to, the department they head. Plainly put, these corporatists are in position to destroy the very departments that exist to protect We the People and the economy and environment on which our livelihoods depend."
#ReleaseTheMemo shows how Republicans, Fox News and Russian bots can cooperate to make fake news
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/22/1734935/--ReleaseTheMemo-shows-how-Republicans-Fox-News-and-Russian-bots-can-cooperate-to-make-fake-news
"Now, in the wake of the initial blast, #ReleaseTheMemo looks much less like a news story, and much more like a test run for coordination between Republicans in Congress, Fox News pundits, and Russian media bots. In this case, the memo that had Republicans weepy was generated by Devin Nunes. The idea that Nunes, who has already cried wolf on this same topic at least twice in the past year, should be taken as a reputable source on anything related to FBI surveillance is ridiculous. Still, Republicans presented this as a document that would shake Washington to its roots. On Thursday evening, Sean Hannity made this memo the focus of his program. Hannity presented the memo as definitive proof that the investigation by Robert Mueller would be forced to conclusion. "Your witch hunt is now over. Time to close the doors." Then on Friday morning, Twitter exploded with the hash tag #ReleaseTheMemo. The demand came with eerie clockwork precision from thousands of accounts, including from that of Donald Trump Jr. But many of these accounts shared a common feature — there was no human being on the other end. The latest attempt by some Republicans in Congress to discredit the Trump-Russia investigation has been embraced by Russian bots and trolls on social media. At the same time, the “news” division at Fox, along with Breitbart and other conservative sites turned the memo into their top story of the morning—stories that Republicans then picked up as “proof” of their earlier accusations. All of which suggests that #ReleaseTheMemo isn’t a news story — it’s the latest test of a weaponized media system. There’s something extremely notable in the Fox News stories concerning the memo — how they described the memo itself."
"Now, in the wake of the initial blast, #ReleaseTheMemo looks much less like a news story, and much more like a test run for coordination between Republicans in Congress, Fox News pundits, and Russian media bots. In this case, the memo that had Republicans weepy was generated by Devin Nunes. The idea that Nunes, who has already cried wolf on this same topic at least twice in the past year, should be taken as a reputable source on anything related to FBI surveillance is ridiculous. Still, Republicans presented this as a document that would shake Washington to its roots. On Thursday evening, Sean Hannity made this memo the focus of his program. Hannity presented the memo as definitive proof that the investigation by Robert Mueller would be forced to conclusion. "Your witch hunt is now over. Time to close the doors." Then on Friday morning, Twitter exploded with the hash tag #ReleaseTheMemo. The demand came with eerie clockwork precision from thousands of accounts, including from that of Donald Trump Jr. But many of these accounts shared a common feature — there was no human being on the other end. The latest attempt by some Republicans in Congress to discredit the Trump-Russia investigation has been embraced by Russian bots and trolls on social media. At the same time, the “news” division at Fox, along with Breitbart and other conservative sites turned the memo into their top story of the morning—stories that Republicans then picked up as “proof” of their earlier accusations. All of which suggests that #ReleaseTheMemo isn’t a news story — it’s the latest test of a weaponized media system. There’s something extremely notable in the Fox News stories concerning the memo — how they described the memo itself."
Devin Nunes Will Do Anything to Protect Donald Trump
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/devin-nunes-will-do-anything-to-protect-donald-trump
"We are on genuinely untrodden territory with a faction of House Republicans working to discredit federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies because they are investigating the President and finding damning information about him and his 2016 campaign."
"We are on genuinely untrodden territory with a faction of House Republicans working to discredit federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies because they are investigating the President and finding damning information about him and his 2016 campaign."
Trump's wealth comes from money laundering, and it's gotten worse since he entered the White House
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/12/1732169/-Trump-s-wealth-comes-from-money-laundering-and-it-s-gotten-worse-since-he-entered-the-White-House
"In 2000, Donald Trump was broke. His casino projects were bankrupt, his credit was shot, his business pretty much out of business. He could still pretend to be Donald Trump, big time real estate guy, but the truth was there was nothing left of him but a name. And then, just like that, Trump was back in the game, selling New York real estate at ridiculous prices and planting his gold-plated letters wherever he went. Trump likes to pretend that this was the tale of a brilliant comeback and realizing the value of his own name. In truth his licensing deals never amounted to more than peanuts and his involvements outside real estate cost far more than they made. The influx of money came from a simple change in tactics — Trump made it clear that he was willing to look the other way when money came in from shady, overseas deals."
"In 2000, Donald Trump was broke. His casino projects were bankrupt, his credit was shot, his business pretty much out of business. He could still pretend to be Donald Trump, big time real estate guy, but the truth was there was nothing left of him but a name. And then, just like that, Trump was back in the game, selling New York real estate at ridiculous prices and planting his gold-plated letters wherever he went. Trump likes to pretend that this was the tale of a brilliant comeback and realizing the value of his own name. In truth his licensing deals never amounted to more than peanuts and his involvements outside real estate cost far more than they made. The influx of money came from a simple change in tactics — Trump made it clear that he was willing to look the other way when money came in from shady, overseas deals."
Putin’s Trolls Are Targeting Trump’s GOP Critics—Especially John McCain
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/01/putins-trolls-keep-targeting-john-mccain-and-other-gop-trump-critics/
"While the vast majority of the attacks from the 600 Twitter accounts tracked in real time by the Hamilton 68 dashboard are aimed at Democrats, the trolls also turn their sights on Republicans who sometimes stand up to Trump."
"While the vast majority of the attacks from the 600 Twitter accounts tracked in real time by the Hamilton 68 dashboard are aimed at Democrats, the trolls also turn their sights on Republicans who sometimes stand up to Trump."
Now We Know Paul Ryan's Price
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a15844720/paul-ryan-tax-bill-koch-donation/
"We don’t even have to argue about the price any more with him. It’s 500-large. And, as always, it’s time to revisit the wisdom of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Anthony Kennedy, from his opinion in Citizens United v. FEC. “Independent expenditures do not lead to, or create the appearance of, quid pro quo corruption.” Deathless brilliance."
"We don’t even have to argue about the price any more with him. It’s 500-large. And, as always, it’s time to revisit the wisdom of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Anthony Kennedy, from his opinion in Citizens United v. FEC. “Independent expenditures do not lead to, or create the appearance of, quid pro quo corruption.” Deathless brilliance."
Sarah Sanders insults journalists who dare ask about Trump’s irrational tweets
https://thinkprogress.org/sanders-gaslights-america-about-trumps-irrational-tweets-437e35a34443/
"During a White House news briefing on Thursday, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was repeatedly asked to explain a Fox News-inspired tweet President Trump posted earlier in the day that contradicted the White House’s official position on a bill reauthorizing the the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) While the White House has staunchly supported FISA reauthorization, Trump reacted to a Fox & Friends segment in which Fox News Senior Judicial Analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano made a personal appeal to him against reauthorization by suggesting he was in fact opposed. But less than two hours later, Trump — following a lengthy phone call with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) — walked it back with a second tweet in which he indicated that he does in fact favor reauthorization. Instead of trying to explain the disconnect during Thursday’s briefing, Sanders denied that Trump’s tweets were contradictory, and attacked reporters who asked questions."
"During a White House news briefing on Thursday, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was repeatedly asked to explain a Fox News-inspired tweet President Trump posted earlier in the day that contradicted the White House’s official position on a bill reauthorizing the the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) While the White House has staunchly supported FISA reauthorization, Trump reacted to a Fox & Friends segment in which Fox News Senior Judicial Analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano made a personal appeal to him against reauthorization by suggesting he was in fact opposed. But less than two hours later, Trump — following a lengthy phone call with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) — walked it back with a second tweet in which he indicated that he does in fact favor reauthorization. Instead of trying to explain the disconnect during Thursday’s briefing, Sanders denied that Trump’s tweets were contradictory, and attacked reporters who asked questions."
Kimmel Made a Short Documentary About All of Trump’s Best Lies
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/01/trump-2000-lies-kimmel-documentary
"Congratulations are in order for Donald Trump, who has managed a groundbreaking achievement as president: in less than a year since taking office, the president has lied more than 2,000 times, according to The Washington Post. For a presidency with so few concrete achievements, that’s cause enough for celebration. So Jimmy Kimmel went ahead and made a commemorative documentary for this very special occasion"
"Congratulations are in order for Donald Trump, who has managed a groundbreaking achievement as president: in less than a year since taking office, the president has lied more than 2,000 times, according to The Washington Post. For a presidency with so few concrete achievements, that’s cause enough for celebration. So Jimmy Kimmel went ahead and made a commemorative documentary for this very special occasion"
Watch Jimmy Kimmel Celebrate Trump's 2,000th Lie in Documentary
https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/jimmy-kimmel-commemorates-trumps-2000th-lie-with-documentary-w515353
"According to The Washington Post, Trump officially "crossed the threshold" into the 2,000 range for number of lies on January 9th, when speaking with lawmakers about issue of immigration."
"According to The Washington Post, Trump officially "crossed the threshold" into the 2,000 range for number of lies on January 9th, when speaking with lawmakers about issue of immigration."
Republicans Are AWOL on Russian Election Meddling
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/01/10/republicans-are-awol-on-russian-election-meddling/
"The timing of the report — after what must have been months of research and writing — is serendipitous: It comes just a day after Sen. Dianne Feinstein released the transcript of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s interview last summer with Glenn Simpson, the founder of political research firm Fusion GPS. The transcript blew holes in some of the Republican attempts to raise doubts about the so-called Steele dossier (a report by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, first made public by BuzzFeed, alleging that the Russian government “had both compromised and colluded with President-elect Donald Trump,” as Ben Smith, the site’s editor in chief, put it), especially because it recounted how the document, when it was first shared with the FBI, corroborated information the bureau had already obtained, including from an unnamed source within the Trump organization. In addition to undermining Republican arguments about the dossier, the transcript of Simpson’s interview also, of course, raised questions about the loyalties of Republicans who are apparently more concerned with offering political protection to the president than with defending the United States against a threat about which it still knows and understands too little. The report does not delve in detail into the Russian intervention in the U.S. election. Its strength lies rather in the way that it provides a context for understanding that aggressive action as part of a broader, decades-long effort by Putin to undermine democratic institutions at home, in Europe, and in the United States, and thereby to challenge the rules-based order that found its genesis (and still has its foundation) in the trans-Atlantic alliance between the United States, Canada, and their democratic allies and partners in Europe. The report makes clear that Russia’s attempts to undermine democracy are an ongoing threat, and one that demands a robust U.S. response. It should be required reading for every member of Congress"
"The timing of the report — after what must have been months of research and writing — is serendipitous: It comes just a day after Sen. Dianne Feinstein released the transcript of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s interview last summer with Glenn Simpson, the founder of political research firm Fusion GPS. The transcript blew holes in some of the Republican attempts to raise doubts about the so-called Steele dossier (a report by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, first made public by BuzzFeed, alleging that the Russian government “had both compromised and colluded with President-elect Donald Trump,” as Ben Smith, the site’s editor in chief, put it), especially because it recounted how the document, when it was first shared with the FBI, corroborated information the bureau had already obtained, including from an unnamed source within the Trump organization. In addition to undermining Republican arguments about the dossier, the transcript of Simpson’s interview also, of course, raised questions about the loyalties of Republicans who are apparently more concerned with offering political protection to the president than with defending the United States against a threat about which it still knows and understands too little. The report does not delve in detail into the Russian intervention in the U.S. election. Its strength lies rather in the way that it provides a context for understanding that aggressive action as part of a broader, decades-long effort by Putin to undermine democratic institutions at home, in Europe, and in the United States, and thereby to challenge the rules-based order that found its genesis (and still has its foundation) in the trans-Atlantic alliance between the United States, Canada, and their democratic allies and partners in Europe. The report makes clear that Russia’s attempts to undermine democracy are an ongoing threat, and one that demands a robust U.S. response. It should be required reading for every member of Congress"
If we lived in a functioning democracy, this would be a major scandal
https://thinkprogress.org/shell-companies-and-trump-8e72b6976ee0/
"Donald Trump may not think of himself, or his family, as kleptocratic. But his business model – and his continued profiteering while in the White House – fit firmly within an international mold of kleptocracy, marrying anonymous shell companies, luxury real estate purchases, and unknown relationships that may well be driving policy outcomes. The latest revelation on the financial murk surrounding the president came earlier this week, with a blistering report in USA Today revealing that over half of the 2017 real estate sales from Trump’s companies went to anonymous shell companies. As the report found, the sales – totaling some $35 million – represent a stark shift from Trump’s pre-presidency days: “In the two years before the nomination, 4% of Trump buyers utilized [anonymous shell companies]. In the year after, the rate skyrocketed to about 70%.” The report added that “USA Today’s tracking of sales shows the trend held firm through Trump’s first year in office.” And for the vast majority of these purchases, there’s little indication who’s fronting the cash – let alone who the ultimate beneficiary of the properties may be."
"Donald Trump may not think of himself, or his family, as kleptocratic. But his business model – and his continued profiteering while in the White House – fit firmly within an international mold of kleptocracy, marrying anonymous shell companies, luxury real estate purchases, and unknown relationships that may well be driving policy outcomes. The latest revelation on the financial murk surrounding the president came earlier this week, with a blistering report in USA Today revealing that over half of the 2017 real estate sales from Trump’s companies went to anonymous shell companies. As the report found, the sales – totaling some $35 million – represent a stark shift from Trump’s pre-presidency days: “In the two years before the nomination, 4% of Trump buyers utilized [anonymous shell companies]. In the year after, the rate skyrocketed to about 70%.” The report added that “USA Today’s tracking of sales shows the trend held firm through Trump’s first year in office.” And for the vast majority of these purchases, there’s little indication who’s fronting the cash – let alone who the ultimate beneficiary of the properties may be."
Trump wins unprecedented victory, reaching 2,000th lie in office, and Jimmy Kimmel celebrates
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-wins-unprecedented-victory-reaching-2000th-lie-office-and-jimmy-kimmel-778244
“Happy lie-2K everybody!” Kimmel exclaimed on Jimmy Kimmel Live Wednesday night."
“Happy lie-2K everybody!” Kimmel exclaimed on Jimmy Kimmel Live Wednesday night."
Monday, January 22, 2018
This is how coal dies — super cheap renewables plus battery storage
https://thinkprogress.org/colorado-wind-batteries-cheap-12e82b91a543/
"Solar, wind, and battery prices are dropping so fast that, in Colorado, building new renewable power plus battery storage is now cheaper than running old coal plants. This increasingly renders existing coal plants obsolete."
"Solar, wind, and battery prices are dropping so fast that, in Colorado, building new renewable power plus battery storage is now cheaper than running old coal plants. This increasingly renders existing coal plants obsolete."
Trump’s National Security and Foreign Policy Failures: Year One
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/news/2018/01/17/445109/trumps-national-security-foreign-policy-failures-year-one/
"America is more isolated, less respected, weaker at home, and ultimately less safe under President Trump’s leadership. Whether it is Trump’s immoral, unwise, and botched travel ban on Muslim-majority nations; his reckless Twitter warmongering on North Korea; or his self-isolating moves to upend the Iran nuclear deal and risk another military confrontation in the Middle East, the result has been the same: America is appreciably less secure than it was a year ago. And the Trump administration’s daily campaign against the nation’s diplomats, intelligence community, law enforcement, and civil servants is gutting the very national security apparatus that the president will need to confront threats to America. Unfortunately, the damage that President Trump has done to the United States’ reputation and interests around the world will also have long-term consequences for Americans. Fewer nations will want to work with us, fewer will trust our word, and still fewer will want to fight alongside us if and when the time comes. Nations will look elsewhere for leadership, including to China, further jeopardizing the international rules that America and its democratic partners have defined since World War II to favor freedom and prosperity."
"America is more isolated, less respected, weaker at home, and ultimately less safe under President Trump’s leadership. Whether it is Trump’s immoral, unwise, and botched travel ban on Muslim-majority nations; his reckless Twitter warmongering on North Korea; or his self-isolating moves to upend the Iran nuclear deal and risk another military confrontation in the Middle East, the result has been the same: America is appreciably less secure than it was a year ago. And the Trump administration’s daily campaign against the nation’s diplomats, intelligence community, law enforcement, and civil servants is gutting the very national security apparatus that the president will need to confront threats to America. Unfortunately, the damage that President Trump has done to the United States’ reputation and interests around the world will also have long-term consequences for Americans. Fewer nations will want to work with us, fewer will trust our word, and still fewer will want to fight alongside us if and when the time comes. Nations will look elsewhere for leadership, including to China, further jeopardizing the international rules that America and its democratic partners have defined since World War II to favor freedom and prosperity."
Ten actions that hurt workers during Trump’s first year: How Trump and Congress further rigged the economy in favor of the wealthy
Ten actions that hurt workers during Trump’s first year: How Trump and Congress further rigged the economy in favor of the wealthy:
"The tax cut law that President Trump boasts will make his wealthy friends “a lot richer” is just the latest in a series of betrayals of working people by the administration and Congress since Trump took the oath of office on January 20, 2017. In addition to passing a massive tax cut for wealthy business owners, Trump and Republicans in Congress have rolled back important worker protections, advanced nominees to key administration posts who have a history of exploiting working people, and taken other actions that further rig the system in favor of corporate interests and the wealthiest Americans."
"The tax cut law that President Trump boasts will make his wealthy friends “a lot richer” is just the latest in a series of betrayals of working people by the administration and Congress since Trump took the oath of office on January 20, 2017. In addition to passing a massive tax cut for wealthy business owners, Trump and Republicans in Congress have rolled back important worker protections, advanced nominees to key administration posts who have a history of exploiting working people, and taken other actions that further rig the system in favor of corporate interests and the wealthiest Americans."
For Banks, Double the Trickle-Down Delight
For Banks, Double the Trickle-Down Delight:
"This is Trumponomics at its core. Tax cuts and deregulation for the rich and powerful banks (which, not ten years ago, very nearly took down the American economy), and flashy PR stunts for everyone else."
"This is Trumponomics at its core. Tax cuts and deregulation for the rich and powerful banks (which, not ten years ago, very nearly took down the American economy), and flashy PR stunts for everyone else."
America's '2+2=5 Moment' Is a Scary Lurch Toward Autocracy
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/01/21/americas-225-moment-scary-lurch-toward-autocracy
"What is even the point of all this lying and blatant know-nothingism? It’s to show utter contempt for the very concept of facts — much like when Trump himself, despite a well-documented history of racist remarks and acts, says, “I am the least racist person you will ever interview,” or sends out a spokesman to boast about the size of the crowd at his inauguration, proven by photos to be much smaller than those of his predecessors. That disdain for an objective, provable truth — as Orwell so correctly noted — is the most powerful defining trait of authoritarian regimes. Increasingly, Trump and his minions use lying as a bizarre way to bond him more closely to members of Congress like Perdue and Cotton, to his inner circle, and to his most loyal political base, the 36 Percent. Listen to what Xavier Marquez wrote in the Washington Post last January, that “lies can help ensure the loyalty of subordinates who are forced to repeat them. These kinds of lies need not be credible at all to people outside the regime. The more incredible a lie is, the more it can credibly signal loyalty to a political leader in conditions of low trust. When a subordinate repeats an obviously ridiculous claim he or she is degraded, and bound more closely to the leader.” That’s not all. The Big Lies that increasingly are becoming the calling card of the Trump White House are meant not to win political debate but to destroy it, by discouraging all of those who are inclined to fight for the truth but who over time — lie by lie by lie — become so discouraged that they simply give up. And this is why it really matters, because that indifference is what drives good people to say nothing when political activists or sick children are rounded up for deportation, or when Congress acts to take health care away from the poor or from little kids at the same time there is plenty of money for billionaire tax cuts. When the people are too beaten down to fight back."
"What is even the point of all this lying and blatant know-nothingism? It’s to show utter contempt for the very concept of facts — much like when Trump himself, despite a well-documented history of racist remarks and acts, says, “I am the least racist person you will ever interview,” or sends out a spokesman to boast about the size of the crowd at his inauguration, proven by photos to be much smaller than those of his predecessors. That disdain for an objective, provable truth — as Orwell so correctly noted — is the most powerful defining trait of authoritarian regimes. Increasingly, Trump and his minions use lying as a bizarre way to bond him more closely to members of Congress like Perdue and Cotton, to his inner circle, and to his most loyal political base, the 36 Percent. Listen to what Xavier Marquez wrote in the Washington Post last January, that “lies can help ensure the loyalty of subordinates who are forced to repeat them. These kinds of lies need not be credible at all to people outside the regime. The more incredible a lie is, the more it can credibly signal loyalty to a political leader in conditions of low trust. When a subordinate repeats an obviously ridiculous claim he or she is degraded, and bound more closely to the leader.” That’s not all. The Big Lies that increasingly are becoming the calling card of the Trump White House are meant not to win political debate but to destroy it, by discouraging all of those who are inclined to fight for the truth but who over time — lie by lie by lie — become so discouraged that they simply give up. And this is why it really matters, because that indifference is what drives good people to say nothing when political activists or sick children are rounded up for deportation, or when Congress acts to take health care away from the poor or from little kids at the same time there is plenty of money for billionaire tax cuts. When the people are too beaten down to fight back."
The Staggering Irony of Donald Trump's Fascination with Norway @alternet
The Staggering Irony of Donald Trump's Fascination with Norway @alternet:
"When it comes to health care, overall working conditions, education, life expectancy and upward mobility, Norway’s democratic socialism puts U.S. governance to shame. Even with the gains and reforms of the Affordable Care Act, 28.1 million Americans lacked health insurance in 2017 (down from 48.6 million in 2010). Like much of the developed world, Norway enjoys universal health care; its coverage ranked third best in Europe in 2015 by the Euro Health Consumer Index and the 11th best in the world by the World Health Organization in 2000. Medical bankruptcy, common in the U.S., is unheard of in Norway. According to WHO, life expectancy in the U.S. was 79.3 in 2015; in Norway, it was 81.8. Meanwhile, the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world per capita—707 for every 100,000 people, compared to only 75 per 100,000 in Norway. And thanks to strong government-operated rehabilitation programs in the Norwegian prison system, Norway has a recidivism rate of 20 percent against 76.6 percent in the U.S., where mass incarceration and the failed war on drugs have only encouraged the growth of prison gangs. Republicans detest labor unions, but in Norway, 52 percent of workers were unionized in 2016 compared to 10 percent in the U.S. That 10 percent includes government jobs; among private-sector workers, unionization was only 6.4 percent last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Norway, a university education is tuition-free, assuming one has the grades to be accepted. In the U.S., students graduate from college with crippling student loan debt. The reality is that for most Norwegians, the U.S.—with its medical bankruptcies, mass incarceration, prison-industrial complex, rampant homelessness, student debt and lower life expectancy—represents a major step down."
"When it comes to health care, overall working conditions, education, life expectancy and upward mobility, Norway’s democratic socialism puts U.S. governance to shame. Even with the gains and reforms of the Affordable Care Act, 28.1 million Americans lacked health insurance in 2017 (down from 48.6 million in 2010). Like much of the developed world, Norway enjoys universal health care; its coverage ranked third best in Europe in 2015 by the Euro Health Consumer Index and the 11th best in the world by the World Health Organization in 2000. Medical bankruptcy, common in the U.S., is unheard of in Norway. According to WHO, life expectancy in the U.S. was 79.3 in 2015; in Norway, it was 81.8. Meanwhile, the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world per capita—707 for every 100,000 people, compared to only 75 per 100,000 in Norway. And thanks to strong government-operated rehabilitation programs in the Norwegian prison system, Norway has a recidivism rate of 20 percent against 76.6 percent in the U.S., where mass incarceration and the failed war on drugs have only encouraged the growth of prison gangs. Republicans detest labor unions, but in Norway, 52 percent of workers were unionized in 2016 compared to 10 percent in the U.S. That 10 percent includes government jobs; among private-sector workers, unionization was only 6.4 percent last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Norway, a university education is tuition-free, assuming one has the grades to be accepted. In the U.S., students graduate from college with crippling student loan debt. The reality is that for most Norwegians, the U.S.—with its medical bankruptcies, mass incarceration, prison-industrial complex, rampant homelessness, student debt and lower life expectancy—represents a major step down."
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Trump Administration Waives Punishment For Convicted Banks, Including Deutsche — Which Trump Owes Millions
http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/trump-administration-waives-punishment-convicted-banks-including-deutsche-which
"The Trump administration has waived part of the punishment for five megabanks whose affiliates were convicted and fined for manipulating global interest rates. One of the Trump administration waivers was granted to Deutsche Bank — which is owed at least $130 million by President Donald Trump and his business empire, and has also been fined for its role in a Russian money laundering scheme. The waivers were issued in a little-noticed announcement published in the Federal Register during the Christmas holiday week. They come less than two years after then-candidate Trump promised “I'm not going to let Wall Street get away with murder"."
"The Trump administration has waived part of the punishment for five megabanks whose affiliates were convicted and fined for manipulating global interest rates. One of the Trump administration waivers was granted to Deutsche Bank — which is owed at least $130 million by President Donald Trump and his business empire, and has also been fined for its role in a Russian money laundering scheme. The waivers were issued in a little-noticed announcement published in the Federal Register during the Christmas holiday week. They come less than two years after then-candidate Trump promised “I'm not going to let Wall Street get away with murder"."
President Trump has made more than 2,000 false or misleading claims over 355 days
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/01/10/president-trump-has-made-more-than-2000-false-or-misleading-claims-over-355-days/?utm_term=.34e1f7c14144
"Trump has made 2,001 false or misleading claims in 355 days, according to our database that analyzes, categorizes and tracks every suspect statement uttered by the president. That’s an average of more than 5.6 claims a day."
"Trump has made 2,001 false or misleading claims in 355 days, according to our database that analyzes, categorizes and tracks every suspect statement uttered by the president. That’s an average of more than 5.6 claims a day."
Trump, the 'Very Stable Genius,' Is Falling Apart as Mueller Seeks Interview @alternet
Trump, the 'Very Stable Genius,' Is Falling Apart as Mueller Seeks Interview @alternet:
"If he sticks to his story that nobody in his campaign had contact with Russia, which has been discredited by Donald Trump Jr.’s tweets and George Papadopoulos’ plea agreement, he risks making false statements under oath, something four of his aides have already been charged with. If Trump changes his story, he risks confirming that he sought to obstruct the probe of his campaign, a central focus of Mueller’s investigation."
"If he sticks to his story that nobody in his campaign had contact with Russia, which has been discredited by Donald Trump Jr.’s tweets and George Papadopoulos’ plea agreement, he risks making false statements under oath, something four of his aides have already been charged with. If Trump changes his story, he risks confirming that he sought to obstruct the probe of his campaign, a central focus of Mueller’s investigation."
The Whole Damn GOP Needs to be Investigated Following Release of Fusion GPS Transcript
https://forwardprogressives.com/the-whole-damn-gop-needs-to-be-investigated-following-release-of-fusion-gps-transcript/
"Based on what’s contained within these 312 pages of testimony we now have verifiable proof that congressional Republicans have been blatantly pushing misinformation about Fusion GPS, the comments made by Simpson during their interview with him, and the motives behind Steele’s work in what appears to be a clear attempt to undermine these investigations to protect Trump. Not that anyone reading this is likely surprised by any of this, but Feinstein’s release of this transcript at least gives us actual proof that the GOP has been lying through their teeth about this. This is why I’ve said for over a year now that I don’t think it’s just Trump who needs to be investigated. It seems rather apparent that many within the Republican Party are working to undermine and interfere, if not outright sabotage, legitimate and credible investigations into whether or not this “president” is a criminal and a traitor."
"Based on what’s contained within these 312 pages of testimony we now have verifiable proof that congressional Republicans have been blatantly pushing misinformation about Fusion GPS, the comments made by Simpson during their interview with him, and the motives behind Steele’s work in what appears to be a clear attempt to undermine these investigations to protect Trump. Not that anyone reading this is likely surprised by any of this, but Feinstein’s release of this transcript at least gives us actual proof that the GOP has been lying through their teeth about this. This is why I’ve said for over a year now that I don’t think it’s just Trump who needs to be investigated. It seems rather apparent that many within the Republican Party are working to undermine and interfere, if not outright sabotage, legitimate and credible investigations into whether or not this “president” is a criminal and a traitor."
Fusion GPS transcripts reveal two things—the corruption of Trump, the treachery of the Republicans
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/10/1731460/-Fusion-GPS-transcripts-reveal-two-things-the-corruption-of-Trump-the-treachery-of-the-Republicans
"What the transcripts reveal is that, in investigating connections between Donald Trump and corrupt governments overseas, Fusion GPS demonstrated that the government right here in the United States is equally corrupt. Equally willing to trade truth for power. Equally ready to condemn those whose only crime is uncovering information which those in charge want thoroughly buried. The information collected by Fusion GPS is an indictment of Donald Trump as a front man for mobsters and corrupt governments whose crooked dealing and personal excesses left him open to easy manipulation. But the Fusion GPS transcripts are an indictment of the Republican Party, as an entity that has lost any concern for the nation, fairness, or the facts—an entity addicted to power by any means, and willing to use that power to close the mouths of those they view as threats."
"What the transcripts reveal is that, in investigating connections between Donald Trump and corrupt governments overseas, Fusion GPS demonstrated that the government right here in the United States is equally corrupt. Equally willing to trade truth for power. Equally ready to condemn those whose only crime is uncovering information which those in charge want thoroughly buried. The information collected by Fusion GPS is an indictment of Donald Trump as a front man for mobsters and corrupt governments whose crooked dealing and personal excesses left him open to easy manipulation. But the Fusion GPS transcripts are an indictment of the Republican Party, as an entity that has lost any concern for the nation, fairness, or the facts—an entity addicted to power by any means, and willing to use that power to close the mouths of those they view as threats."
Transcript bombshells: FBI had source in Trump campaign, NYT story killed Steele's FBI connection
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/9/1731187/-Transcript-bombshells-FBI-had-source-in-Trump-campaign-NYT-story-killed-Steele-s-FBI-connection
"Simpson’s own work at the Wall Street Journal had included a number of stories about Russian oligarchs, organized crime, and corrupt politicians. While he might not have previously researched Trump, he was definitely familiar with Sater. SIMPSON: As it happens, Felix Sater was, you know, connected to the same Russian crime family that was at issue in the Prevezon case, which is the dominant Russian crime family in Russia and has a robust U.S. presence and is involved in a lot of crime and criminal activity in the United States and for many years was the -- the leader of this family was on the FBI most wanted list and lives openly in Moscow as a fugitive from U.S. law for a very elaborate stock fraud. Simpson discusses Sater’s connections, and the general nature of Russian organized crime as a political/criminal/banking hybrid. The connections between Trump and Sater started Simpson looking into the multiple ties Trump had to Russian organized crime, and from there into the mystery of just where was Donald Trump getting his money. DAVIS: And what, if anything, did you conclude about the connection between and in the business dealings that then Candidate Trump had had with Mr. Sater? SIMPSON: Well, somewhat analogous to the Browder situation I found it notable this was something he didn't want to talk about and testified under oath he wouldn't know Felix if he ran into him in the street. That was not true. He knew him well and, in fact, continued to associate with him long after he learned of Felix's organized crime ties. So, you know, that tells you something about somebody. So I concluded that he was okay with that and that was a troubling thing. I also, you know, began to -- I keep saying I, but we as a company began to look at where his money came from and, you know, that raised a lot of questions. We saw indications that some of the money came from Kazakhstan, among other places, and that some of it you just couldn't account for."
"Simpson’s own work at the Wall Street Journal had included a number of stories about Russian oligarchs, organized crime, and corrupt politicians. While he might not have previously researched Trump, he was definitely familiar with Sater. SIMPSON: As it happens, Felix Sater was, you know, connected to the same Russian crime family that was at issue in the Prevezon case, which is the dominant Russian crime family in Russia and has a robust U.S. presence and is involved in a lot of crime and criminal activity in the United States and for many years was the -- the leader of this family was on the FBI most wanted list and lives openly in Moscow as a fugitive from U.S. law for a very elaborate stock fraud. Simpson discusses Sater’s connections, and the general nature of Russian organized crime as a political/criminal/banking hybrid. The connections between Trump and Sater started Simpson looking into the multiple ties Trump had to Russian organized crime, and from there into the mystery of just where was Donald Trump getting his money. DAVIS: And what, if anything, did you conclude about the connection between and in the business dealings that then Candidate Trump had had with Mr. Sater? SIMPSON: Well, somewhat analogous to the Browder situation I found it notable this was something he didn't want to talk about and testified under oath he wouldn't know Felix if he ran into him in the street. That was not true. He knew him well and, in fact, continued to associate with him long after he learned of Felix's organized crime ties. So, you know, that tells you something about somebody. So I concluded that he was okay with that and that was a troubling thing. I also, you know, began to -- I keep saying I, but we as a company began to look at where his money came from and, you know, that raised a lot of questions. We saw indications that some of the money came from Kazakhstan, among other places, and that some of it you just couldn't account for."
Internet rains hell on Sens. Grassley and Graham for trying to cover up explosive Trump dossier testimony
Internet rains hell on Sens. Grassley and Graham for trying to cover up explosive Trump dossier testimony
"On Tuesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) released the explosive transcript regarding the Fusion GPS dossier about President Donald Trump’s alleged ties to Russia — and one of the biggest bombshells stemmed not from the dossier itself, but those who sought to keep it from the public. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) both fought on Monday to keep the transcript’s contents from the public, and once the damning details were released, Twitter let them have it."
"On Tuesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) released the explosive transcript regarding the Fusion GPS dossier about President Donald Trump’s alleged ties to Russia — and one of the biggest bombshells stemmed not from the dossier itself, but those who sought to keep it from the public. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) both fought on Monday to keep the transcript’s contents from the public, and once the damning details were released, Twitter let them have it."
Explosive Fusion GPS testimony details Trump’s alleged ties to international money laundering operations
Explosive Fusion GPS testimony details Trump’s alleged ties to international money laundering operations
"Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) released the full transcript of testimony that Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson gave to the Senate Intelligence Committee — and it contains explosive allegations that President Donald Trump has direct ties to international money laundering operations. During his testimony, Simpson detailed ways that money had been stolen from a bank in Kazakhstan, then laundered throughout multiple countries — before possibly being funneled in part to the Trump Soho hotel project. At the center of the ordeal appears to be Felix Sater, a Trump-linked Russian-born businessman who in 1998 pleaded guilty to taking part in a mafia-related stock fraud scheme, and who is now cooperating with an international investigation into an alleged money laundering network. “So there was a civil case, at least one civil case in New York involving — filed by the city of Almaty… against some alleged Kazakh money launderers,” Simpson testified. “I don’t remember exactly how, but we learned that — it wasn’t from Chris. We learned that Felix Sater had some connections with these people, and it’s been more recently in the media that he’s helping the government of Kazakhstan to recover this money. There’s been media reports that the money went into the Trump Soho or it went into the company that built the Trump Soho.” Sater’s financial relationship with Trump dates back to at least 2003, when the Trump Organization rented out office space to Sater’s former company. Even though Trump initially tried to distance himself from Sater after news of his criminal past came to light in 2007, he subsequently tapped Sater in 2010 to scout out real estate. Additionally, Sater presented clients with business cards that claimed he was a senior adviser to Trump, and his office was on the same floor as Trump’s office in Trump Tower. Sater wasn’t the only figure with ties to organized crime that Simpson found working with Trump, either."
"Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) released the full transcript of testimony that Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson gave to the Senate Intelligence Committee — and it contains explosive allegations that President Donald Trump has direct ties to international money laundering operations. During his testimony, Simpson detailed ways that money had been stolen from a bank in Kazakhstan, then laundered throughout multiple countries — before possibly being funneled in part to the Trump Soho hotel project. At the center of the ordeal appears to be Felix Sater, a Trump-linked Russian-born businessman who in 1998 pleaded guilty to taking part in a mafia-related stock fraud scheme, and who is now cooperating with an international investigation into an alleged money laundering network. “So there was a civil case, at least one civil case in New York involving — filed by the city of Almaty… against some alleged Kazakh money launderers,” Simpson testified. “I don’t remember exactly how, but we learned that — it wasn’t from Chris. We learned that Felix Sater had some connections with these people, and it’s been more recently in the media that he’s helping the government of Kazakhstan to recover this money. There’s been media reports that the money went into the Trump Soho or it went into the company that built the Trump Soho.” Sater’s financial relationship with Trump dates back to at least 2003, when the Trump Organization rented out office space to Sater’s former company. Even though Trump initially tried to distance himself from Sater after news of his criminal past came to light in 2007, he subsequently tapped Sater in 2010 to scout out real estate. Additionally, Sater presented clients with business cards that claimed he was a senior adviser to Trump, and his office was on the same floor as Trump’s office in Trump Tower. Sater wasn’t the only figure with ties to organized crime that Simpson found working with Trump, either."
Private conversations show Trump’s public statements about the wall to be lies
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-dreamers-border-wall-least-important-thing-daca-1d49d54a9a77/
"While Trump’s statement suggests he views the border wall as a security necessity, comments he made during a conversation with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto days after his inauguration indicate Trump’s motivation for pushing for the wall has to do with politics, not national security. During that January 27 conversation, a transcript of which was leaked to the Washington Post, Trump characterized the wall as “the least important thing that we are talking about, but politically this might be the most important [thing we] talk about.” When Nieto indicated his government has no interest in helping Trump fulfill his campaign promise by paying for the wall, Trump said he understood, but couldn’t say so publicly, and urged Nieto to do the same. “You cannot say anymore that the United States is going to pay for the wall,” Trump told Nieto. “I am just going to say that we are working it out"."
"While Trump’s statement suggests he views the border wall as a security necessity, comments he made during a conversation with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto days after his inauguration indicate Trump’s motivation for pushing for the wall has to do with politics, not national security. During that January 27 conversation, a transcript of which was leaked to the Washington Post, Trump characterized the wall as “the least important thing that we are talking about, but politically this might be the most important [thing we] talk about.” When Nieto indicated his government has no interest in helping Trump fulfill his campaign promise by paying for the wall, Trump said he understood, but couldn’t say so publicly, and urged Nieto to do the same. “You cannot say anymore that the United States is going to pay for the wall,” Trump told Nieto. “I am just going to say that we are working it out"."
New federal court order green lights Republican efforts to ‘supercharge voter suppression’
https://thinkprogress.org/consent-decree-rnc-221b4caa8c77/
"A federal judge on Tuesday ended a consent decree banning the Republican National Committee from engaging in ballot security activities, giving a major boost to Republicans’ efforts to suppress minority voters. The consent decree has been in place since 1982, when the RNC was found to be engaging in “voter caging” in predominantly African-American and Latino neighborhoods, and has required a federal court to review Republicans’ proposed “ballot security” programs. Now, for the first time in 35 years, the RNC will be permitted to engage in these activities without oversight."
"A federal judge on Tuesday ended a consent decree banning the Republican National Committee from engaging in ballot security activities, giving a major boost to Republicans’ efforts to suppress minority voters. The consent decree has been in place since 1982, when the RNC was found to be engaging in “voter caging” in predominantly African-American and Latino neighborhoods, and has required a federal court to review Republicans’ proposed “ballot security” programs. Now, for the first time in 35 years, the RNC will be permitted to engage in these activities without oversight."
Trump speaks at fourth-grade level, lowest of last 15 U.S. presidents, new analysis finds
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-fire-and-fury-smart-genius-obama-774169
"President Donald Trump—who boasted over the weekend that his success in life was a result of “being, like, really smart”—communicates at the lowest grade level of the last 15 presidents, according to a new analysis of the speech patterns of presidents going back to Herbert Hoover. The analysis assessed the first 30,000 words each president spoke in office, and ranked them on the Flesch-Kincaid grade level scale and more than two dozen other common tests analyzing English-language difficulty levels. Trump clocked in around mid-fourth grade, the worst since Harry Truman, who spoke at nearly a sixth-grade level."
"President Donald Trump—who boasted over the weekend that his success in life was a result of “being, like, really smart”—communicates at the lowest grade level of the last 15 presidents, according to a new analysis of the speech patterns of presidents going back to Herbert Hoover. The analysis assessed the first 30,000 words each president spoke in office, and ranked them on the Flesch-Kincaid grade level scale and more than two dozen other common tests analyzing English-language difficulty levels. Trump clocked in around mid-fourth grade, the worst since Harry Truman, who spoke at nearly a sixth-grade level."
Why Trump Keeps Telling the World 'I’m Smart'
Why Trump Keeps Telling the World 'I’m Smart':
"Beneath Trump’s public bravado is a deeply insecure, troubled man who is unfit to be president. This makes him a danger to the country and the world."
"Beneath Trump’s public bravado is a deeply insecure, troubled man who is unfit to be president. This makes him a danger to the country and the world."
Trump World’s amazing new euphemism: ‘Executive Time’
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-worlds-amazing-new-euphemism-executive-time
"Soon after the 2016 election, Donald Trump had a private meeting in the White House with Barack Obama, and the sitting president walked his successor through his daily duties. Trump, the Wall Street Journal noted at the time, “seemed surprised by the scope” of the presidency. It quickly became obvious that Trump sought a job he knew very little about. He soon after admitted as much, telling Reuters, “This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier.” He added in an Associated Press interview, “I never realized how big it was.” The question then became how the Republican amateur would adapt. The answer is coming into focus: he may not be adapting at all. On the contrary, though many hoped the president would rise to the occasion, roll up his sleeves, and begin to tackle his monumental tasks with maturity and vigor, Axios reported over the weekend that Trump is apparently working less, not more. President Trump is starting his official day much later than he did in the early days of his presidency, often around 11am, and holding far fewer meetings, according to copies of his private schedule shown to Axios. This is largely to meet Trump’s demands for more “Executive Time,” which almost always means TV and Twitter time alone in the residence, officials tell us. The schedule says Trump has “Executive Time” in the Oval Office every day from 8am to 11am, but the reality is he spends that time in his residence, watching TV, making phone calls and tweeting. Trump comes down for his first meeting of the day, which is often an intelligence briefing, at 11am. This president’s typical work day in the Oval Office reportedly starts around 11 a.m., and wraps up at 6 p.m., at which point Trump likes to return to the White House residence, where much of his time is devoted to watching television."
"Soon after the 2016 election, Donald Trump had a private meeting in the White House with Barack Obama, and the sitting president walked his successor through his daily duties. Trump, the Wall Street Journal noted at the time, “seemed surprised by the scope” of the presidency. It quickly became obvious that Trump sought a job he knew very little about. He soon after admitted as much, telling Reuters, “This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier.” He added in an Associated Press interview, “I never realized how big it was.” The question then became how the Republican amateur would adapt. The answer is coming into focus: he may not be adapting at all. On the contrary, though many hoped the president would rise to the occasion, roll up his sleeves, and begin to tackle his monumental tasks with maturity and vigor, Axios reported over the weekend that Trump is apparently working less, not more. President Trump is starting his official day much later than he did in the early days of his presidency, often around 11am, and holding far fewer meetings, according to copies of his private schedule shown to Axios. This is largely to meet Trump’s demands for more “Executive Time,” which almost always means TV and Twitter time alone in the residence, officials tell us. The schedule says Trump has “Executive Time” in the Oval Office every day from 8am to 11am, but the reality is he spends that time in his residence, watching TV, making phone calls and tweeting. Trump comes down for his first meeting of the day, which is often an intelligence briefing, at 11am. This president’s typical work day in the Oval Office reportedly starts around 11 a.m., and wraps up at 6 p.m., at which point Trump likes to return to the White House residence, where much of his time is devoted to watching television."
The GOP’s 100-Year War Is Bigger Than Taxes or Trump
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/01/08/gops-100-year-war-bigger-taxes-or-trump
"Their goal is to throw state governments, as well as the federal government, into fiscal crises that will allow Republicans to realize their ultimate ambition: the gutting of our shredded social contract and the dismantlement of the modern civil state. Don’t take my word for it. Ask them. This is what House Speaker Paul Ryan had to say as his party prepared to pass the tax bill: “We’re going to have to get back next year at entitlement reform, which is how you tackle the debt and the deficit.” Ryan also said: “This has been my big thing for many, many years.” His fellow Republican, Sen. Marco Rubio, said: “You also have to bring spending under control. And not discretionary spending. That isn’t the driver of our debt. The driver of our debt is the structure of Social Security and Medicare for future beneficiaries.” They’re not “entitlements,” gentlemen, they’re “earned benefits.” This fixation on debt and deficits is misguided in any case, whether it’s expressed by a Republican or a Democrat. But it’s especially galling when expressed by Republicans whose tax bill adds a projected $1.5 trillion to the deficit. It’s illogical, unless their actual goal is to dismantle government programs that have succeeded where the private sector has failed. But then, that’s been the Republican ideology since Ronald Reagan said, “Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem.” As the old saying goes: When someone tells you who they are, believe them. Mick Mulvaney, the former Tea Party congressman who now serves as both Trump’s budget director and head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has expressed open hostility to benefits programs and indirect opposition to the idea that the rich should pay any taxes at all. Republicans are equally hostile to regulations, which is another way of saying they are opposed to letting us protect ourselves from the death, disease, injury and devastation caused by private-sector greed."
"Their goal is to throw state governments, as well as the federal government, into fiscal crises that will allow Republicans to realize their ultimate ambition: the gutting of our shredded social contract and the dismantlement of the modern civil state. Don’t take my word for it. Ask them. This is what House Speaker Paul Ryan had to say as his party prepared to pass the tax bill: “We’re going to have to get back next year at entitlement reform, which is how you tackle the debt and the deficit.” Ryan also said: “This has been my big thing for many, many years.” His fellow Republican, Sen. Marco Rubio, said: “You also have to bring spending under control. And not discretionary spending. That isn’t the driver of our debt. The driver of our debt is the structure of Social Security and Medicare for future beneficiaries.” They’re not “entitlements,” gentlemen, they’re “earned benefits.” This fixation on debt and deficits is misguided in any case, whether it’s expressed by a Republican or a Democrat. But it’s especially galling when expressed by Republicans whose tax bill adds a projected $1.5 trillion to the deficit. It’s illogical, unless their actual goal is to dismantle government programs that have succeeded where the private sector has failed. But then, that’s been the Republican ideology since Ronald Reagan said, “Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem.” As the old saying goes: When someone tells you who they are, believe them. Mick Mulvaney, the former Tea Party congressman who now serves as both Trump’s budget director and head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has expressed open hostility to benefits programs and indirect opposition to the idea that the rich should pay any taxes at all. Republicans are equally hostile to regulations, which is another way of saying they are opposed to letting us protect ourselves from the death, disease, injury and devastation caused by private-sector greed."
Trump’s Daily White House Schedule Will Confirm Your Worst Suspicions @alternet
Trump’s Daily White House Schedule Will Confirm Your Worst Suspicions @alternet:
"Trump spends fewer hours in meetings and more hours dedicated to a mysterious activity blocked off on his official schedule as “Executive Time”—which in reality, aides say, means “watching TV, making phone calls and tweeting.” The article continues: “Trump's days in the Oval Office are relatively short—from around 11am to 6pm, then he's back to the residence. During that time he usually has a meeting or two, but spends a good deal of time making phone calls and watching cable news in the dining room adjoining the Oval. Then he's back to the residence for more phone calls and more TV.” Trump begins his workday three to four hours after most Americans do. He doesn’t take his first official meeting (his daily briefing by staff members) until 11am. It should alarm us all that Trump spends his early hours each day absorbing news from secondhand sources like Twitter and his beloved "Fox and Friends"."
"Trump spends fewer hours in meetings and more hours dedicated to a mysterious activity blocked off on his official schedule as “Executive Time”—which in reality, aides say, means “watching TV, making phone calls and tweeting.” The article continues: “Trump's days in the Oval Office are relatively short—from around 11am to 6pm, then he's back to the residence. During that time he usually has a meeting or two, but spends a good deal of time making phone calls and watching cable news in the dining room adjoining the Oval. Then he's back to the residence for more phone calls and more TV.” Trump begins his workday three to four hours after most Americans do. He doesn’t take his first official meeting (his daily briefing by staff members) until 11am. It should alarm us all that Trump spends his early hours each day absorbing news from secondhand sources like Twitter and his beloved "Fox and Friends"."
As Trump Enjoys 'Executive Time,' GOP Minions Relentless in 'Wrecking of America'
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/01/08/trump-enjoys-executive-time-gop-minions-relentless-wrecking-america
"President Donald Trump may insist that he has very little time to watch television due to the many hours he supposedly devotes to reading "documents," but copies of his private schedule—viewed by Axios on Sunday—reveal that he has carved out a three-hour block at the beginning of every day for what is loftily termed "Executive Time," which consists mostly of TV and Twitter. "Trump is starting his official day much later than he did in the early days of his presidency, often around 11am, and holding far fewer meetings," reports Axios's Jonathan Swan. "The schedule says Trump has 'Executive Time' in the Oval Office every day from 8am to 11am, but the reality is he spends that time in his residence, watching TV, making phone calls, and tweeting. Trump comes down for his first meeting of the day, which is often an intelligence briefing, at 11am." Trump's tweeting and the TV-watching doesn't stop there. In fact, Swan notes, generous chunks of "Executive Time" are sprinkled throughout each day—before meetings, after meetings, and just before the end of the workday, which for this president is around 6pm. (These, it should be noted, are days that Trump is not at one of his private clubs playing golf.) At that point, Trump is "back to the residence for more phone calls and more TV"."
"President Donald Trump may insist that he has very little time to watch television due to the many hours he supposedly devotes to reading "documents," but copies of his private schedule—viewed by Axios on Sunday—reveal that he has carved out a three-hour block at the beginning of every day for what is loftily termed "Executive Time," which consists mostly of TV and Twitter. "Trump is starting his official day much later than he did in the early days of his presidency, often around 11am, and holding far fewer meetings," reports Axios's Jonathan Swan. "The schedule says Trump has 'Executive Time' in the Oval Office every day from 8am to 11am, but the reality is he spends that time in his residence, watching TV, making phone calls, and tweeting. Trump comes down for his first meeting of the day, which is often an intelligence briefing, at 11am." Trump's tweeting and the TV-watching doesn't stop there. In fact, Swan notes, generous chunks of "Executive Time" are sprinkled throughout each day—before meetings, after meetings, and just before the end of the workday, which for this president is around 6pm. (These, it should be noted, are days that Trump is not at one of his private clubs playing golf.) At that point, Trump is "back to the residence for more phone calls and more TV"."
Corporate Powers Are Stealing Online Identities, Posting Fake Comments to Push for Consumer Law Repeals @alternet
Corporate Powers Are Stealing Online Identities, Posting Fake Comments to Push for Consumer Law Repeals @alternet:
"A pattern of cyber deception is appearing across the federal government in the nooks and crannies of the process where White House directives or Congress’ laws are turned into the rules Americans must abide by—or in the Trump era, are repealed. Hundreds of thousands of comments, purportedly made by Americans, have come in over the electronic transom to at least five different federal agencies calling for an end to Obama-era consumer protections and other regulations that impede profits, a series of investigative reports by the Wall Street Journal found. Except, the people who supposedly sent these comments never did. The latest example concerns the so-called "Fiduciary Rule," which originated in the Labor Department and was to talk effect in July 2019, to try to prevent conflicts of investment from investment advisers targeting retirees."
"A pattern of cyber deception is appearing across the federal government in the nooks and crannies of the process where White House directives or Congress’ laws are turned into the rules Americans must abide by—or in the Trump era, are repealed. Hundreds of thousands of comments, purportedly made by Americans, have come in over the electronic transom to at least five different federal agencies calling for an end to Obama-era consumer protections and other regulations that impede profits, a series of investigative reports by the Wall Street Journal found. Except, the people who supposedly sent these comments never did. The latest example concerns the so-called "Fiduciary Rule," which originated in the Labor Department and was to talk effect in July 2019, to try to prevent conflicts of investment from investment advisers targeting retirees."
Trump repeatedly promised to fully cooperate with Mueller. Things are changing quickly.
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-repeatedly-promised-cooperate-mueller-0561e19a9ffb/
"For months, President Donald Trump, through his attorneys, has repeatedly promised to fully cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, which includes the Trump campaign’s possible collaboration with Russian agents and potential obstruction of justice. But now that Mueller has expressed an interest in interviewing Trump himself, according to multiple reports, Trump’s legal team is having second thoughts."
"For months, President Donald Trump, through his attorneys, has repeatedly promised to fully cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, which includes the Trump campaign’s possible collaboration with Russian agents and potential obstruction of justice. But now that Mueller has expressed an interest in interviewing Trump himself, according to multiple reports, Trump’s legal team is having second thoughts."
Donald Trump's Legal Team Has a Laughable Plan to Avoid an Interview with Robert Mueller @alternet
Donald Trump's Legal Team Has a Laughable Plan to Avoid an Interview with Robert Mueller @alternet:
"President Donald Trump’s lawyers are mapping their strategy for an expected interview request by special counsel Robert Mueller. The president’s outside legal team are discussing a range of potential options and compromises in hopes of avoiding a face-to-face interview, reported NBC News."
"President Donald Trump’s lawyers are mapping their strategy for an expected interview request by special counsel Robert Mueller. The president’s outside legal team are discussing a range of potential options and compromises in hopes of avoiding a face-to-face interview, reported NBC News."
Trump getting up at the crack of 11 ... after spending the morning in bed watching TV
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/8/1730744/-Trump-getting-up-at-the-crack-of-11-after-spending-the-morning-in-bed-watching-TV
"His presidenting schedule has apparently been reduced to a 11-4 interval between parking himself back in front of the bedroom TV. The schedule says Trump has "Executive Time" in the Oval Office every day from 8am to 11am, but the reality is he spends that time in his residence, watching TV, making phone calls and tweeting. Trump comes down for his first meeting of the day, which is often an intelligence briefing, at 11am."
"His presidenting schedule has apparently been reduced to a 11-4 interval between parking himself back in front of the bedroom TV. The schedule says Trump has "Executive Time" in the Oval Office every day from 8am to 11am, but the reality is he spends that time in his residence, watching TV, making phone calls and tweeting. Trump comes down for his first meeting of the day, which is often an intelligence briefing, at 11am."
Republican lawmaker says marijuana should be illegal because of African American ‘genetics’
https://thinkprogress.org/kansas-rep-marijuana-african-americans-eff0ace5d0b0/
"Alford is referring to beliefs first propagated by Harry Anslinger, the founding commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, who was critical in helping to pass the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which heavily regulated and taxed a previously booming industry."
"Alford is referring to beliefs first propagated by Harry Anslinger, the founding commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, who was critical in helping to pass the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which heavily regulated and taxed a previously booming industry."
Trump is nakedly fragile
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-is-nakedly-fragile/2018/01/02/e618a44c-f009-11e7-b3bf-ab90a706e175_story.html?utm_term=.677353149cdd
"While many of us were absorbed in the holidays, the Trump administration relaxed Medicare’s penalty protocols by “scaling back the use of fines against nursing homes that harm residents or place them in grave risk of injury.” In other words, nursing homes that neglect, abuse or even cause the death of residents may be protected from or entitled to lighter fines than they would have been under Obama-era rules. Then there’s the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides health-care coverage for roughly 9 million children. For the first time since the program’s inception in 1997, Congress has failed to reauthorize funding for the program, aside from a short-term cash injection passed in late December. As a result, several states have begun closing enrollment in their programs, or warning families that their children will likely lose their health insurance in the coming months. And if Trump gets his way, they won’t be the only ones. Congress succeeded in repealing the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate with its tax bill, which could destabilize plan prices in the coming years, and Trump still hasn’t given up on replacing Obama-era health-care reforms altogether — with no viable replacement to protect health coverage for Americans who have come to rely on the ACA. Meanwhile, Trump and his administration also are taking aim at welfare this year.The elderly, children, the sick, the poor: All of these are biblical categories of people who are deserving not just of justice — as all people are — but of mercy, as they are especially unable to advocate for themselves and press their interests in the public sphere. Trump could read up a little on the Christian God’s mercy toward the weak in all those Bibles he claims to have."
"While many of us were absorbed in the holidays, the Trump administration relaxed Medicare’s penalty protocols by “scaling back the use of fines against nursing homes that harm residents or place them in grave risk of injury.” In other words, nursing homes that neglect, abuse or even cause the death of residents may be protected from or entitled to lighter fines than they would have been under Obama-era rules. Then there’s the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides health-care coverage for roughly 9 million children. For the first time since the program’s inception in 1997, Congress has failed to reauthorize funding for the program, aside from a short-term cash injection passed in late December. As a result, several states have begun closing enrollment in their programs, or warning families that their children will likely lose their health insurance in the coming months. And if Trump gets his way, they won’t be the only ones. Congress succeeded in repealing the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate with its tax bill, which could destabilize plan prices in the coming years, and Trump still hasn’t given up on replacing Obama-era health-care reforms altogether — with no viable replacement to protect health coverage for Americans who have come to rely on the ACA. Meanwhile, Trump and his administration also are taking aim at welfare this year.The elderly, children, the sick, the poor: All of these are biblical categories of people who are deserving not just of justice — as all people are — but of mercy, as they are especially unable to advocate for themselves and press their interests in the public sphere. Trump could read up a little on the Christian God’s mercy toward the weak in all those Bibles he claims to have."
Former Montana GOP House majority leader facing 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to running meth ring
Former Montana GOP House majority leader facing 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to running meth ring
"The Gazette reports that Lange, while in office, supported giving $4 million in taxpayer dollars to an anti-meth public relations campaign. He was later removed from his leadership spot after being captured on video in an obscene tirade against then-Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D). Following his political career, Lange was charged with driving under the influence in 2014, before picking up second DUI months later in conjunction with a felony charge of possessing over an ounce of meth in California and being sentenced to 16 months in prison, court records reveal. According to prosecutor Sullivan, Lange began dealing large quantities of the drug after his release, brought in from to California. A raid on his house in October 2016 turned up more than 2.5 pounds of meth, 13 ounces of cocaine and $27,400. Lange is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 18 before U.S. District Judge Susan Watters, where he faces mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine."
"The Gazette reports that Lange, while in office, supported giving $4 million in taxpayer dollars to an anti-meth public relations campaign. He was later removed from his leadership spot after being captured on video in an obscene tirade against then-Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D). Following his political career, Lange was charged with driving under the influence in 2014, before picking up second DUI months later in conjunction with a felony charge of possessing over an ounce of meth in California and being sentenced to 16 months in prison, court records reveal. According to prosecutor Sullivan, Lange began dealing large quantities of the drug after his release, brought in from to California. A raid on his house in October 2016 turned up more than 2.5 pounds of meth, 13 ounces of cocaine and $27,400. Lange is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 18 before U.S. District Judge Susan Watters, where he faces mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine."
Laffing All the Way to the Bank
https://thedailybanter.com/2018/01/laffing-all-the-way-to-the-bank/
"Increased public debt was what happened during the tax cuts of the 1920s, Reagan’s cuts, and Bush 43’s cuts. More recently, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s massive cuts left the Bayou State reeling and selling off government real estate and vehicles to stave off a shutdown. Governor Sam Brownback’s radical meth-induced tax cuts in Kansas essentially bankrupted the state. But for the scheming folks who in recent years have foisted these twisted experiments on their guinea pig citizens, the measures were not failures in any way. They see farther down the road than we do. They have a coherent game plan, albeit nothing whatsoever like the one they roll out every couple of years on Meet the Press. You see, good fiscal policy is a one-note tune. When a recession hits, we need tax cuts for the rich to provide the proverbial trickle down antidote. Should a recovery come, you don’t want to slow the momentum, so more tax cuts for the rich. When the following recession arrives, well, see above. And if it doesn’t work you’re obviously not doing enough of it. There is that old, hackneyed expression about laughing all the way to the bank. These days it’s more like giggling to the hedge fund or smirking to the Cayman Islands. But when the smiles fade, radical long-term tax cuts not supported by sound economic analysis leave us with four horrible choices—decimate the social safety net, print more money, borrow more money, or default on the national debt. Right wing kamikazes can live with any of these, but option number one—disassembling the nanny state that communist Franklin Delano Roosevelt put into place 80 years ago—is by far the most orgasmic reactionary option. And if you’d like to discover what life was like for Chileans during the 1970s under rule by the Chicago Boys, you basically have two choices—read Naomi Klein’s enlightening book, The Shock Doctrine, or let Paul Ryan and friends control all branches of government through the year 2028."
"Increased public debt was what happened during the tax cuts of the 1920s, Reagan’s cuts, and Bush 43’s cuts. More recently, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s massive cuts left the Bayou State reeling and selling off government real estate and vehicles to stave off a shutdown. Governor Sam Brownback’s radical meth-induced tax cuts in Kansas essentially bankrupted the state. But for the scheming folks who in recent years have foisted these twisted experiments on their guinea pig citizens, the measures were not failures in any way. They see farther down the road than we do. They have a coherent game plan, albeit nothing whatsoever like the one they roll out every couple of years on Meet the Press. You see, good fiscal policy is a one-note tune. When a recession hits, we need tax cuts for the rich to provide the proverbial trickle down antidote. Should a recovery come, you don’t want to slow the momentum, so more tax cuts for the rich. When the following recession arrives, well, see above. And if it doesn’t work you’re obviously not doing enough of it. There is that old, hackneyed expression about laughing all the way to the bank. These days it’s more like giggling to the hedge fund or smirking to the Cayman Islands. But when the smiles fade, radical long-term tax cuts not supported by sound economic analysis leave us with four horrible choices—decimate the social safety net, print more money, borrow more money, or default on the national debt. Right wing kamikazes can live with any of these, but option number one—disassembling the nanny state that communist Franklin Delano Roosevelt put into place 80 years ago—is by far the most orgasmic reactionary option. And if you’d like to discover what life was like for Chileans during the 1970s under rule by the Chicago Boys, you basically have two choices—read Naomi Klein’s enlightening book, The Shock Doctrine, or let Paul Ryan and friends control all branches of government through the year 2028."
Trump administration officially scraps Obama-era rules for fracking on federal land
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-administration-repeals-obama-fracking-rules-f4595696dff7/
"The rules would have, among other things, required companies to disclose the chemicals used in their operations."
"The rules would have, among other things, required companies to disclose the chemicals used in their operations."
Donald Trump and the Rule of Law
https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/donald-trump-and-the-rule-of-law
"Also last week, the Times reported more evidence suggesting that the President had obstructed justice in connection with the F.B.I.’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and any possible connection to members of the Trump campaign. In March, according to the Times, Trump sent Donald F. McGahn II, the White House counsel, to urge Jeff Sessions, the Attorney General, not to recuse himself from supervising the investigation. Trump did so because he felt that Sessions should be protecting him. “Where’s my Roy Cohn?” Trump asked, referring to the right-wing gargoyle who was one of his early political mentors. Sessions, a key figure in the Trump campaign, recognized the obvious fact that he could not investigate the Trump campaign, and properly rebuffed McGahn, but Trump’s malign obsession with the Russia case remains a touchstone of his Presidency. The Times’ revelation makes an obstruction case stronger. Trump asked for loyalty from James Comey, the F.B.I. director, who was supervising the investigation. When Comey equivocated, Trump fired him, then put out a false story for why he did so, which he promptly undermined by admitting the real reason. And when e-mails emerged over the summer showing that Donald Trump, Jr., had met during the campaign with a Russian lawyer offering dirt on Hillary Clinton, the President participated in concocting a bogus story to explain them. (An especially incriminating version of Trump’s role in the e-mail cover story appears in “Fire and Fury,” Michael Wolff’s explosive new book.) Trump’s contempt for the rule of law infects his entire Administration"
"Also last week, the Times reported more evidence suggesting that the President had obstructed justice in connection with the F.B.I.’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and any possible connection to members of the Trump campaign. In March, according to the Times, Trump sent Donald F. McGahn II, the White House counsel, to urge Jeff Sessions, the Attorney General, not to recuse himself from supervising the investigation. Trump did so because he felt that Sessions should be protecting him. “Where’s my Roy Cohn?” Trump asked, referring to the right-wing gargoyle who was one of his early political mentors. Sessions, a key figure in the Trump campaign, recognized the obvious fact that he could not investigate the Trump campaign, and properly rebuffed McGahn, but Trump’s malign obsession with the Russia case remains a touchstone of his Presidency. The Times’ revelation makes an obstruction case stronger. Trump asked for loyalty from James Comey, the F.B.I. director, who was supervising the investigation. When Comey equivocated, Trump fired him, then put out a false story for why he did so, which he promptly undermined by admitting the real reason. And when e-mails emerged over the summer showing that Donald Trump, Jr., had met during the campaign with a Russian lawyer offering dirt on Hillary Clinton, the President participated in concocting a bogus story to explain them. (An especially incriminating version of Trump’s role in the e-mail cover story appears in “Fire and Fury,” Michael Wolff’s explosive new book.) Trump’s contempt for the rule of law infects his entire Administration"
The Overton Window and Trump's Judges
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/01/06/overton-window-and-trumps-judges
"These men, and the many more inapt Trump nominees to come this year, constitute a clear and present danger to American law. They already have changed our perceptions of what constitutes an acceptable judicial nominee. And it’s unclear whether those perceptions will ever go back to the way they were."
"These men, and the many more inapt Trump nominees to come this year, constitute a clear and present danger to American law. They already have changed our perceptions of what constitutes an acceptable judicial nominee. And it’s unclear whether those perceptions will ever go back to the way they were."
How A Chilean Billionaire Could Poison A Minnesota Wilderness
https://www.dcreport.org/2018/01/03/how-a-chilean-billionaire-could-poison-a-minnesota-wilderness/
"Trump’s Interior Department is reinstating two 1966 leases, written before today’s federal environmental laws, that could allow a Chilean mining company to build a giant copper-and-nickel mine adjacent to the Boundary Waters wilderness area in northern Minnesota. The mining company is controlled by Andrónico Luksic, whose family controls a mining, banking and industrial empire that Forbes estimates is valued at $13.1 billion. Luksic also dabbles in Washington, D.C., residential real estate and has a business relationship with the Trump family. He is First Son-in-Law Jared Kushner’s and First Daughter Ivanka Trump’s landlord. The Boundary Waters is a 1.1 million-acre wilderness beloved by canoeists and hikers in the Superior National Forest along Minnesota’s border with Canada. Mining in the area could result in acid damage that can last for centuries. “There’s a reason that the Boundary Waters is one of the most visited wilderness areas in America: It’s an incredible place,” Sally Jewell, then the Interior Department secretary, said in 2016. Twin Metals Minnesota, a subsidiary of Antofagasta PLC, sued in federal court over the leases for 4,800 acres on the southwest border of the Boundary Waters even before the Obama administration decided in December 2016 against renewing them. In December 2016, just after Trump’s election, Luksic paid $5.5 million, pocket change for a billionaire, for a six-bedroom home in Washington’s tony Kalorama neighborhood. The house was never advertised for rent, but just a little more than a month after closing on the property, he leased it to Kushner and Trump for $15,000 a month. The rent is not out of line for properties in the neighborhoods, but The Wall Street Journal said it represents a low 2.5% annual return on the purchase price."
"Trump’s Interior Department is reinstating two 1966 leases, written before today’s federal environmental laws, that could allow a Chilean mining company to build a giant copper-and-nickel mine adjacent to the Boundary Waters wilderness area in northern Minnesota. The mining company is controlled by Andrónico Luksic, whose family controls a mining, banking and industrial empire that Forbes estimates is valued at $13.1 billion. Luksic also dabbles in Washington, D.C., residential real estate and has a business relationship with the Trump family. He is First Son-in-Law Jared Kushner’s and First Daughter Ivanka Trump’s landlord. The Boundary Waters is a 1.1 million-acre wilderness beloved by canoeists and hikers in the Superior National Forest along Minnesota’s border with Canada. Mining in the area could result in acid damage that can last for centuries. “There’s a reason that the Boundary Waters is one of the most visited wilderness areas in America: It’s an incredible place,” Sally Jewell, then the Interior Department secretary, said in 2016. Twin Metals Minnesota, a subsidiary of Antofagasta PLC, sued in federal court over the leases for 4,800 acres on the southwest border of the Boundary Waters even before the Obama administration decided in December 2016 against renewing them. In December 2016, just after Trump’s election, Luksic paid $5.5 million, pocket change for a billionaire, for a six-bedroom home in Washington’s tony Kalorama neighborhood. The house was never advertised for rent, but just a little more than a month after closing on the property, he leased it to Kushner and Trump for $15,000 a month. The rent is not out of line for properties in the neighborhoods, but The Wall Street Journal said it represents a low 2.5% annual return on the purchase price."
The Saga of Donald Trump, Stable Genius
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/6/1730182/-The-Saga-of-Donald-Trump-Stable-Genius
"a defense of his intelligence that reads like it came from a 12-year-old Valley Girl. In 1990."
"a defense of his intelligence that reads like it came from a 12-year-old Valley Girl. In 1990."
Trump goes on an early morning tweetstorm to defend himself as ‘a very stable genius’
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-tweets-very-stable-genius-ecd142d2ca6f/
"It appears Trump was starting his day — as he often does — by watching his favorite TV show, Fox & Friends, and live tweeting from his account in direct response to Fox’s programming. About ten minutes before Trump published his tweetstorm, a Fox & Friends panel was engaged in a discussion about the recent questions raised about Trump’s mental health."
"It appears Trump was starting his day — as he often does — by watching his favorite TV show, Fox & Friends, and live tweeting from his account in direct response to Fox’s programming. About ten minutes before Trump published his tweetstorm, a Fox & Friends panel was engaged in a discussion about the recent questions raised about Trump’s mental health."
The Increasing Unfitness of Donald Trump
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/01/15/the-increasing-unfitness-of-donald-trump
"The West Wing has come to resemble the dankest realms of Twitter, in which everyone is racked with paranoia and everyone despises everyone else."
"The West Wing has come to resemble the dankest realms of Twitter, in which everyone is racked with paranoia and everyone despises everyone else."
A President Who Attempts to Ban Books That Expose Him Should Be Impeached
https://www.thenation.com/article/a-president-who-attempts-to-ban-books-that-expose-him-should-be-impeached/
"Donald Trump has shown a callous disregard for the First Amendment to the Constitution. The Authors Guild is right: This is what tyrants do, not American presidents. And the proper response to American tyranny is the prompt application of the power of impeachment to a president who has abandoned the duty that extends from his oath of office."
"Donald Trump has shown a callous disregard for the First Amendment to the Constitution. The Authors Guild is right: This is what tyrants do, not American presidents. And the proper response to American tyranny is the prompt application of the power of impeachment to a president who has abandoned the duty that extends from his oath of office."
New Reporting Suggests the Trump Presidency Is Even Scarier and More Dysfunctional Than We Realized
https://www.thenation.com/article/new-reporting-suggests-the-trump-presidency-is-even-scarier-and-more-dysfunctional-than-we-realized/
"The takeaway from the latest revelations is that a lot of Republicans who knew better have colluded—and still collude—to cover up Trump’s unfitness for office"
"The takeaway from the latest revelations is that a lot of Republicans who knew better have colluded—and still collude—to cover up Trump’s unfitness for office"
The Supreme Court Case That Could ‘Overturn the Heart of the New Deal’
The Supreme Court Case That Could ‘Overturn the Heart of the New Deal’:
"Argued on October 2, this case could strip foundational safeguards in place for over 80 years, essential to ensuring millions of low-wage and non-union workers of their right to fair pay, job security, workplace safety, nondiscrimination, and other guarantees protected by state and federal law. The case gives the Roberts Court, with its newly reconstituted 5-4 conservative majority, a chance to escalate its pro-corporate activism to levels unmatched even by the famously anti-regulatory pre-New Deal Court of a century ago. If the Court reaches the result sought by business advocates, this would, as elaborated by two Seton Hall professors in a 2014 law review article, “effectively end the labor laws"."
"Argued on October 2, this case could strip foundational safeguards in place for over 80 years, essential to ensuring millions of low-wage and non-union workers of their right to fair pay, job security, workplace safety, nondiscrimination, and other guarantees protected by state and federal law. The case gives the Roberts Court, with its newly reconstituted 5-4 conservative majority, a chance to escalate its pro-corporate activism to levels unmatched even by the famously anti-regulatory pre-New Deal Court of a century ago. If the Court reaches the result sought by business advocates, this would, as elaborated by two Seton Hall professors in a 2014 law review article, “effectively end the labor laws"."
A Hostile Foreign Power and the End of the Republic
A Hostile Foreign Power and the End of the Republic:
"When the history of America’s final days as a republic is written, it may be fairly said that a hostile foreign power helped elect an authoritarian president with no agenda other than plunder, that the majority of America’s white people took the plunderer’s racist, misogynist bait—and that the Congress of the United States helped him loot the public commons and cover up his likely crimes. And that’s just the CliffsNotes version."
"When the history of America’s final days as a republic is written, it may be fairly said that a hostile foreign power helped elect an authoritarian president with no agenda other than plunder, that the majority of America’s white people took the plunderer’s racist, misogynist bait—and that the Congress of the United States helped him loot the public commons and cover up his likely crimes. And that’s just the CliffsNotes version."
Trump’s Interior Department Is Ill-Prepared to Deal with the Next Big Spill
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/news/2018/01/04/444121/trumps-interior-department-ill-prepared-deal-next-big-spill/
"Today, the Trump administration unveiled its vision to radically expand where it allows offshore oil and gas drilling. If implemented as outlined, this move would ensure that spilled oil washes ashore on more American beaches on both coasts. In addition to expanding drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, the administration’s draft plan disregards sound science and broad public opposition by proposing to allow oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans from Washington to Florida, as well as in dangerous environments in the Arctic Ocean. Importantly, this plan comes while the administration aggressively works to overturn existing safety standards and environmental protections that guard against oil spills and other impacts of energy development. These safety rollbacks come at a time when regulators are finding many offshore drillers unprepared to address disasters. If the Trump administration is successful, offshore drilling will be much riskier—and there will be more of it. Today’s announcement—and the accompanying regulatory rollback effort—demonstrates a willful disregard for the hard-earned lessons that led the government to implement existing environmental and safety standards in the first place."
"Today, the Trump administration unveiled its vision to radically expand where it allows offshore oil and gas drilling. If implemented as outlined, this move would ensure that spilled oil washes ashore on more American beaches on both coasts. In addition to expanding drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, the administration’s draft plan disregards sound science and broad public opposition by proposing to allow oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans from Washington to Florida, as well as in dangerous environments in the Arctic Ocean. Importantly, this plan comes while the administration aggressively works to overturn existing safety standards and environmental protections that guard against oil spills and other impacts of energy development. These safety rollbacks come at a time when regulators are finding many offshore drillers unprepared to address disasters. If the Trump administration is successful, offshore drilling will be much riskier—and there will be more of it. Today’s announcement—and the accompanying regulatory rollback effort—demonstrates a willful disregard for the hard-earned lessons that led the government to implement existing environmental and safety standards in the first place."
Sessions 'recusal' provided cover for his ongoing efforts to impede Russia investigation
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/5/1730052/-Sessions-recusal-provided-cover-for-his-ongoing-efforts-to-impede-Russia-investigation
"This collaboration between Trump and Sessions to interfere with the Russia investigation isn’t just obstruction, it’s first class corruption."
"This collaboration between Trump and Sessions to interfere with the Russia investigation isn’t just obstruction, it’s first class corruption."
Friday, January 12, 2018
Sunday, January 7, 2018
President Trump has made 1,950 false or misleading claims over 347 days
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/01/02/president-trump-has-made-1949-false-or-misleading-claims-over-347-days/?utm_term=.4ebffb5d4e44
"As of Monday, the total stood at 1,950 claims in 347 days, or an average of 5.6 claims a day."
"As of Monday, the total stood at 1,950 claims in 347 days, or an average of 5.6 claims a day."
Incoherent, authoritarian, uninformed: Trump’s New York Times interview is a scary read
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/29/16829806/trump-interview-new-york-times
"The president of the United States is not well. That is an uncomfortable thing to say, but it is an even worse thing to ignore. Consider the interview Trump gave to the New York Times on Thursday. It begins with a string of falsehoods that make it difficult to tell whether the leader of the free world is lying or delusional. Remember, these are President Donald Trump’s words, after being told a recording device is on"
"The president of the United States is not well. That is an uncomfortable thing to say, but it is an even worse thing to ignore. Consider the interview Trump gave to the New York Times on Thursday. It begins with a string of falsehoods that make it difficult to tell whether the leader of the free world is lying or delusional. Remember, these are President Donald Trump’s words, after being told a recording device is on"
Congressman says House Intel committee has already heard evidence of Trump administration crimes
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/4/1729769/-Congressman-says-House-Intel-committee-has-already-heard-evidence-of-Trump-administration-crimes
"Money laundering, collusion and obstruction of justice. Rep. Castro says the most important thing we can do in 2018 is take back the House and launch a legitimate and thorough investigation into these crimes."
"Money laundering, collusion and obstruction of justice. Rep. Castro says the most important thing we can do in 2018 is take back the House and launch a legitimate and thorough investigation into these crimes."
Sarah Huckabee Sanders lied about Trump’s position on marijuana and we have receipts
https://thinkprogress.org/sarah-huckabee-sanders-lied-about-trumps-position-on-marijuana-and-we-have-receipts-3bff448f9277/
"Sanders’ claim is false — Trump’s position has indeed changed, and in more ways than one. During an interview with a Colorado TV station in the summer of 2016, then-candidate Trump said that as president, he would not use federal power to shut down the sale of recreational cannabis in states like Colorado. “I wouldn’t do that, no,” Trump said, asked if he’d support the federal government intervening. “I think it’s up to the states, yeah. I’m a states person. I think it should be up to the states, absolutely.” Not only does Trump’s support for the DOJ’s power grab contradict his 2016 comments about thinking marijuana laws are best left “up to the states” — his decision to allow Sessions to move forward with the new policy also violates the promise he made not to interfere with states’ rights."
"Sanders’ claim is false — Trump’s position has indeed changed, and in more ways than one. During an interview with a Colorado TV station in the summer of 2016, then-candidate Trump said that as president, he would not use federal power to shut down the sale of recreational cannabis in states like Colorado. “I wouldn’t do that, no,” Trump said, asked if he’d support the federal government intervening. “I think it’s up to the states, yeah. I’m a states person. I think it should be up to the states, absolutely.” Not only does Trump’s support for the DOJ’s power grab contradict his 2016 comments about thinking marijuana laws are best left “up to the states” — his decision to allow Sessions to move forward with the new policy also violates the promise he made not to interfere with states’ rights."
How Putin's proxies helped funnel millions into GOP campaigns
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/12/15/putins-proxies-helped-funnel-millions-gop-campaigns
"McConnell surely knew as a participant in high level intelligence briefings in 2016 that our electoral process was under attack by the Russians. Two weeks after the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement in October 2016 that the Russian government had directed the effort to interfere in our electoral process, McConnell's PAC accepted a $1 million donation from Blavatnik's AI-Altep Holdings. The PAC took another $1 million from Blavatnik's AI-Altep Holdings on March 30, 2017, just 10 days after former FBI Director James Comey publicly testified before the House Intelligence Committee about Russia's interference in the election. And consider Steve Mnuchin, Trump's campaign finance chairman. Could he have known that the Trump Victory Fund, jointly managed by the Republican National Committe and Trump's campaign, took contributions from Intrater and Kukes? Mnuchin owned Hollywood financing company RatPac-Dune with Blavatnik until he sold his stake to accept Trump's appointment as the Treasury secretary. Which PAC officials are making the decisions to accept these donations?"
"McConnell surely knew as a participant in high level intelligence briefings in 2016 that our electoral process was under attack by the Russians. Two weeks after the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement in October 2016 that the Russian government had directed the effort to interfere in our electoral process, McConnell's PAC accepted a $1 million donation from Blavatnik's AI-Altep Holdings. The PAC took another $1 million from Blavatnik's AI-Altep Holdings on March 30, 2017, just 10 days after former FBI Director James Comey publicly testified before the House Intelligence Committee about Russia's interference in the election. And consider Steve Mnuchin, Trump's campaign finance chairman. Could he have known that the Trump Victory Fund, jointly managed by the Republican National Committe and Trump's campaign, took contributions from Intrater and Kukes? Mnuchin owned Hollywood financing company RatPac-Dune with Blavatnik until he sold his stake to accept Trump's appointment as the Treasury secretary. Which PAC officials are making the decisions to accept these donations?"
Internet mocks Fox News after it’s forced to admit job growth was stronger under Obama than Trump
Internet mocks Fox News after it’s forced to admit job growth was stronger under Obama than Trump
"The official monthly jobs report for December 2017 was a disappointment, as the Labor Department estimated that the economy added just 148,000 jobs over the last month. And despite the fact that President Donald Trump has bragged about his first year in office being an unqualified economic success, it turns out that average monthly job growth in 2017 was 171,000 jobs per month — which was down significantly from the 187,000 jobs per month that were added in 2016."
"The official monthly jobs report for December 2017 was a disappointment, as the Labor Department estimated that the economy added just 148,000 jobs over the last month. And despite the fact that President Donald Trump has bragged about his first year in office being an unqualified economic success, it turns out that average monthly job growth in 2017 was 171,000 jobs per month — which was down significantly from the 187,000 jobs per month that were added in 2016."
Banned From the Banking Industry for Life, a Scott Pruitt Friend Finds a New Home at the EPA
https://theintercept.com/2017/12/28/scott-pruitt-failed-banker-running-epa-superfund-program/
"THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Agency has tasked a banker who was banned from the banking industry for life with oversight of the nation’s Superfund program."
"THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Agency has tasked a banker who was banned from the banking industry for life with oversight of the nation’s Superfund program."
‘You don’t respect Trump!’ GOP lawmaker melts down on CNN host when she asks about lying to FBI
‘You don’t respect Trump!’ GOP lawmaker melts down on CNN host when she asks about lying to FBI
"Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) — who has been derisively called “Putin’s favorite congressman” — melted down during a CNN interview on Friday after a reporter corrected false claims he was making on live TV."
"Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) — who has been derisively called “Putin’s favorite congressman” — melted down during a CNN interview on Friday after a reporter corrected false claims he was making on live TV."
3 Important Takeaways From the Latest Mueller Investigation Bombshell
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a14759482/trump-obstruct-justice/
"It is completely clear by now that the president* fired FBI director James Comey because he wanted Comey to shut down the Russia investigation and Comey refused. (The president* even said as much to Lester Holt of NBC.) Schmidt’s piece details the extraordinary lengths that the administration went to force out Comey without having to fire him. It appears that half the White House lawyers were trying to find a way to keep the president* from making a catastrophic blunder. Yeah, good luck with that. White House aides gave updates to Mr. Trump throughout, informing him of Mr. Comey’s refusal to publicly clear him. Mr. Trump unloaded on Mr. Sessions, who was at the White House that day. He criticized him for recusing himself from the Russia investigation, questioned his loyalty, and said he wanted to get rid of Mr. Comey. He repeated the refrain that the attorneys general for Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Obama had protected the White House…Two days after Mr. Comey’s testimony, an aide to Mr. Sessions approached a Capitol Hill staff member asking whether the staffer had any derogatory information about the F.B.I. director. The attorney general wanted one negative article a day in the news media about Mr. Comey, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting. A Justice Department spokeswoman said the episode did not occur. “This did not happen and would not happen,” said the spokeswoman, Sarah Isgur Flores. “Plain and simple.” Earlier that day, Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, had pulled one of Mr. McGahn’s deputies aside after a meeting at the Justice Department. Mr. Rosenstein told the aide that top White House and Justice Department lawyers needed to discuss Mr. Comey’s future. It is unclear whether this conversation was related to the effort to dig up dirt on Mr. Comey."
"It is completely clear by now that the president* fired FBI director James Comey because he wanted Comey to shut down the Russia investigation and Comey refused. (The president* even said as much to Lester Holt of NBC.) Schmidt’s piece details the extraordinary lengths that the administration went to force out Comey without having to fire him. It appears that half the White House lawyers were trying to find a way to keep the president* from making a catastrophic blunder. Yeah, good luck with that. White House aides gave updates to Mr. Trump throughout, informing him of Mr. Comey’s refusal to publicly clear him. Mr. Trump unloaded on Mr. Sessions, who was at the White House that day. He criticized him for recusing himself from the Russia investigation, questioned his loyalty, and said he wanted to get rid of Mr. Comey. He repeated the refrain that the attorneys general for Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Obama had protected the White House…Two days after Mr. Comey’s testimony, an aide to Mr. Sessions approached a Capitol Hill staff member asking whether the staffer had any derogatory information about the F.B.I. director. The attorney general wanted one negative article a day in the news media about Mr. Comey, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting. A Justice Department spokeswoman said the episode did not occur. “This did not happen and would not happen,” said the spokeswoman, Sarah Isgur Flores. “Plain and simple.” Earlier that day, Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, had pulled one of Mr. McGahn’s deputies aside after a meeting at the Justice Department. Mr. Rosenstein told the aide that top White House and Justice Department lawyers needed to discuss Mr. Comey’s future. It is unclear whether this conversation was related to the effort to dig up dirt on Mr. Comey."
A real example of a middle-class tax cut
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/real-example-middle-class-tax-cut
"It’s easy for many to forget, but when President Obama and congressional Democrats approved the Recovery Act – better known at the time as the Dems’ “stimulus” package – they didn’t just rescue the economy from the Great Recession. In the process, they also passed one of the largest middle-class tax cuts in recent memory. Roughly a third of the Recovery Act went toward direct investment, a third went to assist states, and a third went to cut taxes – with a special emphasis on working families."
"It’s easy for many to forget, but when President Obama and congressional Democrats approved the Recovery Act – better known at the time as the Dems’ “stimulus” package – they didn’t just rescue the economy from the Great Recession. In the process, they also passed one of the largest middle-class tax cuts in recent memory. Roughly a third of the Recovery Act went toward direct investment, a third went to assist states, and a third went to cut taxes – with a special emphasis on working families."
Sessions 'recusal' provided cover for his ongoing efforts to impede Russia investigation
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/5/1730052/-Sessions-recusal-provided-cover-for-his-ongoing-efforts-to-impede-Russia-investigation
"This collaboration between Trump and Sessions to interfere with the Russia investigation isn’t just obstruction, it’s first class corruption. "I have absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department.” Trump not only said it, he’s demonstrated he believes it. And Sessions is helping to make it true. Trump claims to have “absolute” control of the Justice Department as an instrument of his will. So it’s not surprising that White House Counsel Don McGahn stepped in to stop Sessions from recusing himself. Mr. McGahn’s argument to Mr. Sessions that day was twofold: that he did not need to step aside from the inquiry until it was further along, and that recusing himself would not stop Democrats from saying he had lied. After Mr. Sessions told Mr. McGahn that career Justice Department officials had said he should step aside, Mr. McGahn said he understood and backed down. But it’s since become abundantly clear that the recusal was not merely a face-saving move by Sessions, but an attempt at misdirection. If there was any actual intent to avoid the topic of the investigation, Sessions soon folded in the face of badgering from Trump. Despite all claims about Trump’s frustration over Sessions’ official recusal, there was not a moment’s hesitation when it came to finding the right person to rid Trump of the FBI director who refused to fold on command."
"This collaboration between Trump and Sessions to interfere with the Russia investigation isn’t just obstruction, it’s first class corruption. "I have absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department.” Trump not only said it, he’s demonstrated he believes it. And Sessions is helping to make it true. Trump claims to have “absolute” control of the Justice Department as an instrument of his will. So it’s not surprising that White House Counsel Don McGahn stepped in to stop Sessions from recusing himself. Mr. McGahn’s argument to Mr. Sessions that day was twofold: that he did not need to step aside from the inquiry until it was further along, and that recusing himself would not stop Democrats from saying he had lied. After Mr. Sessions told Mr. McGahn that career Justice Department officials had said he should step aside, Mr. McGahn said he understood and backed down. But it’s since become abundantly clear that the recusal was not merely a face-saving move by Sessions, but an attempt at misdirection. If there was any actual intent to avoid the topic of the investigation, Sessions soon folded in the face of badgering from Trump. Despite all claims about Trump’s frustration over Sessions’ official recusal, there was not a moment’s hesitation when it came to finding the right person to rid Trump of the FBI director who refused to fold on command."
The CFPB’s mission statement gets a Trumpian makeover
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-cfpbs-mission-statement-gets-trumpian-makeover
"The point of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is pretty easy to figure out: the agency’s name offers a pretty big hint. The CFPB was created to protect consumers’ interests against unfair financial industry practices. At least, that was its intended purpose."
"The point of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is pretty easy to figure out: the agency’s name offers a pretty big hint. The CFPB was created to protect consumers’ interests against unfair financial industry practices. At least, that was its intended purpose."
‘Katy, come on!’: GOP lawmaker’s attempt to bluster through MSNBC interview turns into train wreck TV
‘Katy, come on!’: GOP lawmaker’s attempt to bluster through MSNBC interview turns into train wreck TV
"Freedom Caucus congressman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) struggled through an awkward interview with MSNBC’s Katy Tur on Friday as he furiously avoided answering whether he believes Attorney Gen. Jeff Sessions’ job is to protect President Donald Trump from legal jeopardy. “Do you think it’s Jeff Sessions’ job to protect the president?” asked Tur. Rep. Jordan responded with a non-answer, saying Jeff Sessions should not have recused himself from the Russia investigation — in spite of getting caught lying about multiple meetings with Russian officials."
"Freedom Caucus congressman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) struggled through an awkward interview with MSNBC’s Katy Tur on Friday as he furiously avoided answering whether he believes Attorney Gen. Jeff Sessions’ job is to protect President Donald Trump from legal jeopardy. “Do you think it’s Jeff Sessions’ job to protect the president?” asked Tur. Rep. Jordan responded with a non-answer, saying Jeff Sessions should not have recused himself from the Russia investigation — in spite of getting caught lying about multiple meetings with Russian officials."
Trumpian Philosophy: Any Regulation Is Bad, Even If It Protects Sick Old People
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a14504814/trump-nursing-home-regulations/
"Wednesday’s example comes to us from The New York Times, and isn’t this decision going to be a lovely one when they come for Medicare because of the “unexpected” explosion of the deficit due to the abomination of a tax bill they just passed. The Trump administration is scaling back the use of fines against nursing homes that harm residents or place them in grave risk of injury, part of a broader relaxation of regulations under the president. The shift in the Medicare program’s penalty protocols was requested by the nursing home industry. The American Health Care Association, the industry’s main trade group, has complained that under President Barack Obama, federal inspectors focused excessively on catching wrongdoing rather than helping nursing homes improve. That last sentence is a real keeper, isn’t it? If you keep punishing us for our substandard practices, we won’t be able to improve our substandard practices. Punishment for breaking laws is a hindrance to our abiding by them. Thousands of criminal defense lawyers are wondering why they didn’t think of that one first."
"Wednesday’s example comes to us from The New York Times, and isn’t this decision going to be a lovely one when they come for Medicare because of the “unexpected” explosion of the deficit due to the abomination of a tax bill they just passed. The Trump administration is scaling back the use of fines against nursing homes that harm residents or place them in grave risk of injury, part of a broader relaxation of regulations under the president. The shift in the Medicare program’s penalty protocols was requested by the nursing home industry. The American Health Care Association, the industry’s main trade group, has complained that under President Barack Obama, federal inspectors focused excessively on catching wrongdoing rather than helping nursing homes improve. That last sentence is a real keeper, isn’t it? If you keep punishing us for our substandard practices, we won’t be able to improve our substandard practices. Punishment for breaking laws is a hindrance to our abiding by them. Thousands of criminal defense lawyers are wondering why they didn’t think of that one first."
Representative Adam Schiff: New evidence makes obstruction case against Trump even stronger
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/5/1730157/-Representative-Adam-Schiff-New-evidence-makes-obstruction-case-against-Trump-even-stronger
"On the one hand, the crystal clear evidence that Trump, multiple members of his administration, and now members of the Congress are working to impede and obstruct the Russia investigation is stacked high enough that no one should be able to ignore it. On the other hand, the people are who supposed to do something about that are increasingly not just looking the other way, but involving themselves in the obstruction. Nunes, Ryan, Grassley, Graham—they’re not just whistling on the sidelines. They’re actively working to make things worse. At some point, when there are enough people supporting the effort, it ceases to be obstruction. It also ceases to be democracy."
"On the one hand, the crystal clear evidence that Trump, multiple members of his administration, and now members of the Congress are working to impede and obstruct the Russia investigation is stacked high enough that no one should be able to ignore it. On the other hand, the people are who supposed to do something about that are increasingly not just looking the other way, but involving themselves in the obstruction. Nunes, Ryan, Grassley, Graham—they’re not just whistling on the sidelines. They’re actively working to make things worse. At some point, when there are enough people supporting the effort, it ceases to be obstruction. It also ceases to be democracy."
Trump boasts of an achievement that’s entirely made up
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-boasts-achievement-thats-entirely-made
"Last week, Donald Trump adopted a new talking point, which the president apparently sees as proof of his greatness: he “broke “Harry Truman’s Record,” Trump wrote, for “Legislative Approvals.” The phrasing was awkward – in the United States, we don’t usually refer to “legislative approvals” – but I think he was trying to say he’s signed more bills into law than any president since Truman left office 65 years ago. Later that day, Trump repeated the claim when signing the Republican tax plan into law. “We have more legislative victories than any other president, not including this,” he said. “But this is the capper because this is, again, the biggest tax cut, the biggest reform of all time.” It’s actually the eighth biggest since 1918, and Trump doesn’t have more legislative victories than any other president. But he keeps repeating the line anyway."
"Last week, Donald Trump adopted a new talking point, which the president apparently sees as proof of his greatness: he “broke “Harry Truman’s Record,” Trump wrote, for “Legislative Approvals.” The phrasing was awkward – in the United States, we don’t usually refer to “legislative approvals” – but I think he was trying to say he’s signed more bills into law than any president since Truman left office 65 years ago. Later that day, Trump repeated the claim when signing the Republican tax plan into law. “We have more legislative victories than any other president, not including this,” he said. “But this is the capper because this is, again, the biggest tax cut, the biggest reform of all time.” It’s actually the eighth biggest since 1918, and Trump doesn’t have more legislative victories than any other president. But he keeps repeating the line anyway."
Sen. Blumenthal predicts multiple convictions and indictments of WH staff "early in New Year"
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/5/1730255/-Sen-Blumenthal-predicts-multiple-convictions-and-indictments-of-WH-staff-early-New-Year
"This would explain the recent Republican rush to hinder Mueller’s investigation, shut down the congressional investigations, start up more Hillary kangaroo courts, push to fire Sessions, etc. It sounds, basically, as if they’re fighting like cornered rats, because they are."
"This would explain the recent Republican rush to hinder Mueller’s investigation, shut down the congressional investigations, start up more Hillary kangaroo courts, push to fire Sessions, etc. It sounds, basically, as if they’re fighting like cornered rats, because they are."
The presidential golf Americans aren’t supposed to see
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-presidential-golf-americans-arent-supposed-see
"To be sure, this isn’t entirely new. Earlier this year, White House officials, apparently feeling a little embarrassed, routinely tried to pretend Trump wasn’t playing golf when he was. At one point in February, administration officials went so far as to make an AP reporter “wait in a room with black plastic over the windows while the president played golf.” In other words, the introduction of a big truck to shield Trump from public view may have been a new tactic, but taking steps to keep the president’s golf habit away from the cameras is an ongoing effort. The question, of course, is why. I suspect the answer is that Trump World and its allies believe that if Americans don’t see images of the president playing golf, then we simply won’t believe he golfs as often as he does."
"To be sure, this isn’t entirely new. Earlier this year, White House officials, apparently feeling a little embarrassed, routinely tried to pretend Trump wasn’t playing golf when he was. At one point in February, administration officials went so far as to make an AP reporter “wait in a room with black plastic over the windows while the president played golf.” In other words, the introduction of a big truck to shield Trump from public view may have been a new tactic, but taking steps to keep the president’s golf habit away from the cameras is an ongoing effort. The question, of course, is why. I suspect the answer is that Trump World and its allies believe that if Americans don’t see images of the president playing golf, then we simply won’t believe he golfs as often as he does."
Trump Sets A Shocking Record For Laziness By Taking 4 Times More Vacation Days Than Obama
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/12/26/trump-sets-shocking-record-laziness-5-times-vacation-days-obama.html
"Donald Trump has blown the record for presidential first year vacation days out of the water. Trump spent nearly one-third (111 days) of his first year in office on vacation. In contrast, Barack Obama took 26 vacation days during the first year of his presidency."
"Donald Trump has blown the record for presidential first year vacation days out of the water. Trump spent nearly one-third (111 days) of his first year in office on vacation. In contrast, Barack Obama took 26 vacation days during the first year of his presidency."
Six far-right conspiracy theories that reached Congress and the White House in 2017
https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/12/27/six-far-right-conspiracy-theories-reached-congress-and-white-house-2017/218870
"During the past year, there were two major developments on the political and media landscape. The first, which started before 2017 but picked up steam during the past year, was that traditional conservative media, already a conduit for conspiracy theories, became increasingly open to amplifying misinformation from the far-right. The second was that Donald Trump was inaugurated as president -- a man who would embrace conspiracy theories to an extent that no high-ranking public official, much less the president, had ever done. When combined, these developments led to some conspiracy theories, which started off in far corners of the internet, reaching members of the House of Representatives and the White House -- sometimes within a matter of days."
"During the past year, there were two major developments on the political and media landscape. The first, which started before 2017 but picked up steam during the past year, was that traditional conservative media, already a conduit for conspiracy theories, became increasingly open to amplifying misinformation from the far-right. The second was that Donald Trump was inaugurated as president -- a man who would embrace conspiracy theories to an extent that no high-ranking public official, much less the president, had ever done. When combined, these developments led to some conspiracy theories, which started off in far corners of the internet, reaching members of the House of Representatives and the White House -- sometimes within a matter of days."
‘There is a lot of anxiety’: NBC reporter explains why plan to smear Flynn shows Trump may be doomed
‘There is a lot of anxiety’: NBC reporter explains why plan to smear Flynn shows Trump may be doomed
"The Trump legal team reportedly plans to slur former national security adviser Mike Flynn as a liar if the retired general implicates the president or his senior aides in the Russia probe — but that could potentially backfire."
"The Trump legal team reportedly plans to slur former national security adviser Mike Flynn as a liar if the retired general implicates the president or his senior aides in the Russia probe — but that could potentially backfire."
Ex-FBI agent warns that Russia hasn’t stopped cyber attacks — and the US is doing nothing about it
Ex-FBI agent warns that Russia hasn’t stopped cyber attacks — and the US is doing nothing about it
"Watts said that what’s really scary is that governments from across the globe are looking at the way Russia is using social media to influence American politics and are employing those techniques on their own people. “They’re saying, ‘This is extremely cheap, I can manipulate any audience,'” Watts explained. Even more disturbing, he said, is that the United States government isn’t doing anything to counter these efforts."
"Watts said that what’s really scary is that governments from across the globe are looking at the way Russia is using social media to influence American politics and are employing those techniques on their own people. “They’re saying, ‘This is extremely cheap, I can manipulate any audience,'” Watts explained. Even more disturbing, he said, is that the United States government isn’t doing anything to counter these efforts."
Trump tells Mar-a-Lago friends ‘You all just got a lot richer’ after he signs GOP tax bill
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-tells-mar-a-lago-friends-you-all-just-got-a-lot-richer-after-he-signs-gop-tax-bill-0a0c4c0edd5a/
"President Donald Trump began the holiday break by telling friends he invited to Mar-a-Lago for dinner that “You all just got a lot richer,” referring to the Republican tax bill — which largely benefits the wealthy."
"President Donald Trump began the holiday break by telling friends he invited to Mar-a-Lago for dinner that “You all just got a lot richer,” referring to the Republican tax bill — which largely benefits the wealthy."
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