https://thinkprogress.org/epa-southerland-resignation-letter-ca62895b0c47/
"Southerland noted that Pruitt has already begun repealing 30 existing environmental regulations, like the Clean Power Plan, the Clean Water Rule, and a rule requiring stricter emissions monitoring for oil and gas operations on federal lands."
August 5, 2017
Trump isn’t letting Obamacare die; he’s trying to kill it
http://www.salon.com/2017/08/01/trump-is-not-letting-obamacare-die-he-is-trying-to-kill-it_partner/
"From the get-go, the Trump Administration quickly sought to impair the success of the Affordable Care Act. In one of its first moves, the Department of Health and Human Services under the direction of Secretary Tom Price pulled advertising for the federal government’s enrollment entity, healthcare.gov. The advertising has proven important to reach 18 to 34-years-olds. Enrolling these “young invincibles” is crucial for stabilizing risk pools because they are generally healthier and seek less medical care. States running independent campaigns, like California and its insurance marketplace Covered California, have been very successful in recruiting young people. In an ironic twist, the Trump Administration used advertising funding intended for the promotion of the Affordable Care Act for a series of social media promotions attacking the law. Also, in mid-July, the Administration moved to end contracts for enrollment assistance in 18 major cities. Contractors helped individuals navigate the often challenging enrollment process in such places as libraries, businesses and urban neighborhoods in these cities which had been identified by the Obama Administration as high priority. Finally, the window for the next open enrollment period has been cut in half compared to previous years, thus making it difficult for time-pressed people and those who need enrollment help to enroll. Many of these actions have triggered calls for inquiries into potential malfeasance by Congress and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Trump Administration officials have been actively traveling the country and pushing talking points that are often false, or, at the very least, highly misleading and incomplete."
"From the get-go, the Trump Administration quickly sought to impair the success of the Affordable Care Act. In one of its first moves, the Department of Health and Human Services under the direction of Secretary Tom Price pulled advertising for the federal government’s enrollment entity, healthcare.gov. The advertising has proven important to reach 18 to 34-years-olds. Enrolling these “young invincibles” is crucial for stabilizing risk pools because they are generally healthier and seek less medical care. States running independent campaigns, like California and its insurance marketplace Covered California, have been very successful in recruiting young people. In an ironic twist, the Trump Administration used advertising funding intended for the promotion of the Affordable Care Act for a series of social media promotions attacking the law. Also, in mid-July, the Administration moved to end contracts for enrollment assistance in 18 major cities. Contractors helped individuals navigate the often challenging enrollment process in such places as libraries, businesses and urban neighborhoods in these cities which had been identified by the Obama Administration as high priority. Finally, the window for the next open enrollment period has been cut in half compared to previous years, thus making it difficult for time-pressed people and those who need enrollment help to enroll. Many of these actions have triggered calls for inquiries into potential malfeasance by Congress and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Trump Administration officials have been actively traveling the country and pushing talking points that are often false, or, at the very least, highly misleading and incomplete."
On Iran, Trump wants to start with the answer, then work backwards
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/iran-trump-wants-start-the-answer-then-work-backwards
"It’s important to understand that Trump, presented with evidence of a successful American policy, is furious – because he wants and expects the policy to fail. Last week, when it came time to recertify the provisions of the deal, Trump reportedly wanted his team to present him with a rationale for abandoning the international agreement. When reality interfered, and that wasn’t one of his options, the president reportedly “had a bit of a meltdown.” It’s a fascinating peek into how the amateur president’s mind works. He desperately wants to believe the agreement isn’t working, and when the facts point in a direction that makes him uncomfortable, Trump assumes the facts must be wrong – because his assumptions must be right."
"It’s important to understand that Trump, presented with evidence of a successful American policy, is furious – because he wants and expects the policy to fail. Last week, when it came time to recertify the provisions of the deal, Trump reportedly wanted his team to present him with a rationale for abandoning the international agreement. When reality interfered, and that wasn’t one of his options, the president reportedly “had a bit of a meltdown.” It’s a fascinating peek into how the amateur president’s mind works. He desperately wants to believe the agreement isn’t working, and when the facts point in a direction that makes him uncomfortable, Trump assumes the facts must be wrong – because his assumptions must be right."
Fascism and the Denial of Truth: What Henry Wallace Can Teach Us About Trump
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/41423-fascism-and-the-denial-of-truth-what-henry-wallace-can-teach-us-about-trump
"In response, Wallace wrote "The Danger of American Fascism," an essay in which he suggested that the number of American fascists and the threat they posed were directly connected to how fascism was defined. Wallace pointed out that several personality traits characterized fascist belief, arguing that a fascist is "one whose lust for money and power is combined with such an intensity of intolerance toward those of other races, parties, classes, religions, cultures, regions or nations as to make him ruthless in his use of deceit or violence to attain his ends." Wallace also claimed that fascists "always and everywhere can be identified by their appeal to prejudice and by the desire to play upon the fears and vanities of different groups in order to gain power." Fascists are "easily recognized by their deliberate perversion of truth and fact" (my italics), he contended. Moreover, Wallace noted that fascists "pay lip service to democracy and the common welfare" and they "surreptitiously evade the laws designed to safeguard the public from monopolistic extortion." Finally, Wallace identified that fascists' primary objective was to "capture political power so that, using the power of the state and the power of the market simultaneously, they keep the common man in eternal subjection." Wallace was writing in the context of an existential threat to democracy posed by Nazi Germany, Italy and Japan. However, his essay is prescient in that he identified the existence of a domestic form of American fascism that emerged from the political context of enlightened thought, rule of law and limited government. Wallace drew a clear distinction between European fascism and the kind of fascism found in the United States. Rather than resort to overt violence, American fascists would "poison the channels of public information," Wallace reasoned."
"In response, Wallace wrote "The Danger of American Fascism," an essay in which he suggested that the number of American fascists and the threat they posed were directly connected to how fascism was defined. Wallace pointed out that several personality traits characterized fascist belief, arguing that a fascist is "one whose lust for money and power is combined with such an intensity of intolerance toward those of other races, parties, classes, religions, cultures, regions or nations as to make him ruthless in his use of deceit or violence to attain his ends." Wallace also claimed that fascists "always and everywhere can be identified by their appeal to prejudice and by the desire to play upon the fears and vanities of different groups in order to gain power." Fascists are "easily recognized by their deliberate perversion of truth and fact" (my italics), he contended. Moreover, Wallace noted that fascists "pay lip service to democracy and the common welfare" and they "surreptitiously evade the laws designed to safeguard the public from monopolistic extortion." Finally, Wallace identified that fascists' primary objective was to "capture political power so that, using the power of the state and the power of the market simultaneously, they keep the common man in eternal subjection." Wallace was writing in the context of an existential threat to democracy posed by Nazi Germany, Italy and Japan. However, his essay is prescient in that he identified the existence of a domestic form of American fascism that emerged from the political context of enlightened thought, rule of law and limited government. Wallace drew a clear distinction between European fascism and the kind of fascism found in the United States. Rather than resort to overt violence, American fascists would "poison the channels of public information," Wallace reasoned."
An email prankster pretending to be Reince Priebus got a very real rise out of Anthony Scaramucci
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/8/1/16075340/email-prankster-white-house-officials-scaramucci-priebus
"On Monday, CNN reported that several White House officials including former communications director Anthony Scaramucci and Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert were tricked into corresponding with a UK-based, self-described "email prankster." This report comes just days after it was revealed that US Energy Secretary Rick Perry unwittingly spoke to Russian jokesters about energy policy."
"On Monday, CNN reported that several White House officials including former communications director Anthony Scaramucci and Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert were tricked into corresponding with a UK-based, self-described "email prankster." This report comes just days after it was revealed that US Energy Secretary Rick Perry unwittingly spoke to Russian jokesters about energy policy."
WATCH: President Trump’s lawyer caught lying about Trump’s involvement in Russia meeting coverup
https://thinkprogress.org/watch-president-trumps-lawyer-caught-lying-about-trump-s-involvement-in-russia-meeting-coverup-5f97f050191f/
"Sekulow’s Meet the Press comments may have been intended to insulate the president from involvement in Trump Jr.’s efforts to collude with Russia."
"Sekulow’s Meet the Press comments may have been intended to insulate the president from involvement in Trump Jr.’s efforts to collude with Russia."
Trump's cover-up of the cover-up underlines both obstruction and collusion
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/8/1/1685988/-Trump-personally-conducted-cover-up-of-his-campaign-staff-s-collusion-with-Russian-government
"The statement was a lie. The contention that Trump wasn’t involved in creating the statement was a lie. What does that say about Trump’s description of his own meeting with Putin? The evidence leaves no doubt: Donald Trump directed a cover-up intended to disguise the nature of contacts between his campaign staff and the Russian government. That’s now the baseline. Not only that, but Trump’s legal representative engaged in denial that Trump had been involved in the cover-up. Quite literally a cover-up of the cover-up. Watergate is now somewhere very far in the rear-view mirror. The level of interference and obstruction this generated is difficult to fathom—but it should be very easy to charge. After all, these weren’t statements made by accident or out of ignorance. They were blatant, deliberate attempts to confuse the public and evade blame for actions that, on close examination, are revealed as the very definition of collusion. They were told they were being offered information from the Russian government. They expressed a desire for that information. They acted on that information. They protected their sources. That’s collusion."
"The statement was a lie. The contention that Trump wasn’t involved in creating the statement was a lie. What does that say about Trump’s description of his own meeting with Putin? The evidence leaves no doubt: Donald Trump directed a cover-up intended to disguise the nature of contacts between his campaign staff and the Russian government. That’s now the baseline. Not only that, but Trump’s legal representative engaged in denial that Trump had been involved in the cover-up. Quite literally a cover-up of the cover-up. Watergate is now somewhere very far in the rear-view mirror. The level of interference and obstruction this generated is difficult to fathom—but it should be very easy to charge. After all, these weren’t statements made by accident or out of ignorance. They were blatant, deliberate attempts to confuse the public and evade blame for actions that, on close examination, are revealed as the very definition of collusion. They were told they were being offered information from the Russian government. They expressed a desire for that information. They acted on that information. They protected their sources. That’s collusion."
‘Everything he touches dies’: GOP analyst Rick Wilson mocks Trump for dictating Jr’s Russia lies
‘Everything he touches dies’: GOP analyst Rick Wilson mocks Trump for dictating Jr’s Russia lies:
"Speaking with host Chris Hayes, the acerbic Wilson took Trump to task over a bombshell report that he personally dictated Donald Trump Jr.’s statement about the meeting with Kremlin insiders that was later found to be false."
"Speaking with host Chris Hayes, the acerbic Wilson took Trump to task over a bombshell report that he personally dictated Donald Trump Jr.’s statement about the meeting with Kremlin insiders that was later found to be false."
Trump's lies are the Republican playbook
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/31/1685661/-Trump-s-lies-are-the-Republican-playbook
"Even today, it’s impossible to find a Republican officeholder (thus I exclude Mitt Romney’s criticism of Trump as a “phony,” which is a hilarious irony, as well as “conservative” media figures Shepard Smith, Chris Wallace and Ana Navarro, who might as well be bleeding-heart liberals by today’s standards) whose criticism of Trump includes the fact that he lies. Constantly. Compulsively. Endlessly. About everything."
"Even today, it’s impossible to find a Republican officeholder (thus I exclude Mitt Romney’s criticism of Trump as a “phony,” which is a hilarious irony, as well as “conservative” media figures Shepard Smith, Chris Wallace and Ana Navarro, who might as well be bleeding-heart liberals by today’s standards) whose criticism of Trump includes the fact that he lies. Constantly. Compulsively. Endlessly. About everything."
Clean water advocates tell Trump administration to ‘stop pandering to polluters’
https://thinkprogress.org/clean-water-advocates-tell-trump-administration-to-stop-pandering-to-polluters-5716f3bb24b/
"Environmental leaders testified at the Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters on Monday in opposition to the Trump administration’s proposed delay of an Obama-era rule that limits the amount of toxic pollution power plant operators can discharge into stream, rivers, and lakes."
"Environmental leaders testified at the Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters on Monday in opposition to the Trump administration’s proposed delay of an Obama-era rule that limits the amount of toxic pollution power plant operators can discharge into stream, rivers, and lakes."
Kris ‘king of voter suppression’ Kobach scared of answering ACLU’s questions under oath
Kris ‘king of voter suppression’ Kobach scared of answering ACLU’s questions under oath:
"The lead voter fraud conspiracy theorist is seeking to avoid answering questions under oath about attempts to change US election law. The Republican Secretary of State in Kansas, Kris Kobach, filed the notice with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, The Topeka Capital-Journal reports."
"The lead voter fraud conspiracy theorist is seeking to avoid answering questions under oath about attempts to change US election law. The Republican Secretary of State in Kansas, Kris Kobach, filed the notice with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, The Topeka Capital-Journal reports."
Robert Reich: House Republicans Are Convinced Trump Is out of His Gourd @alternet
Robert Reich: House Republicans Are Convinced Trump Is out of His Gourd @alternet: 'He’s losing it fast. My bet is he’s out of office before the midterms.' This morning I phoned my friend, a former Republican member of Congress.Me: What’s going on? Seems like the White House is imploding and Republicans are going down with the ship.Him (chuckling): We’re officially a banana republic.Me: Seriously, what are you hearing from your former colleagues on the Hill?Him: They’re convinced Trump is out of his gourd.Me: So what are they gonna do about it?
Here’s The Explosive Russia Testimony You Missed Whilst Distracted By ‘The Mooch’
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/bill-browders-senate-judiciary-committee-hearing_uk_597ee55ce4b02a4ebb7675a6
"Browder’s testimony, which received relatively little coverage, is extraordinary with a senator calling it one of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s “most important” hearings. In it he describes a Russian system of government that operates in the shadows using corruption, blackmail, torture and murder - all led by Vladimir Putin. Browder said: “Effectively the moment that you enter into their world, you become theirs.” Browder was a very successful businessman operating in Russia and was on friendly terms with Putin but this all changed when he and his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, uncovered evidence of a huge $230 million corruption scandal. The pair reported it to the Russian authorities: “And we waited for the good guys to get the bad guys. “It turned out that in Putin’s Russia, there are no good guys.” Instead of investigating the allegations Browder was himself accused of tax evasion and was barred from reentering Russia after travelling abroad on business. Magnitsky was jailed and is believed to have been beaten to death in 2009."
"Browder’s testimony, which received relatively little coverage, is extraordinary with a senator calling it one of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s “most important” hearings. In it he describes a Russian system of government that operates in the shadows using corruption, blackmail, torture and murder - all led by Vladimir Putin. Browder said: “Effectively the moment that you enter into their world, you become theirs.” Browder was a very successful businessman operating in Russia and was on friendly terms with Putin but this all changed when he and his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, uncovered evidence of a huge $230 million corruption scandal. The pair reported it to the Russian authorities: “And we waited for the good guys to get the bad guys. “It turned out that in Putin’s Russia, there are no good guys.” Instead of investigating the allegations Browder was himself accused of tax evasion and was barred from reentering Russia after travelling abroad on business. Magnitsky was jailed and is believed to have been beaten to death in 2009."
How Donald Trump’s kleptocracy is undermining American democracy
https://www.vox.com/world/2017/7/31/15959970/donald-trump-authoritarian-children-corruption
"The early months of the Trump presidency don’t look like what you normally see in a democracy. But they’re everyday occurrences in corrupt, undemocratic countries like Azerbaijan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or even Vladimir Putin’s Russia. And academics who study such countries increasingly worry that President Donald Trump is governing like the leader of the kind of nation Washington has long condemned — not like a president of the United States."
"The early months of the Trump presidency don’t look like what you normally see in a democracy. But they’re everyday occurrences in corrupt, undemocratic countries like Azerbaijan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or even Vladimir Putin’s Russia. And academics who study such countries increasingly worry that President Donald Trump is governing like the leader of the kind of nation Washington has long condemned — not like a president of the United States."
Trump faces pushback after endorsing police abuses
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-faces-pushback-after-endorsing-police-abuses
"Not to put too fine a point on this, but the president has shown he often doesn’t know how to behave himself in public settings. The Boy Scouts, of all organizations, had to apologize for Trump’s antics last week, which came on the heels of a controversial event in which the president tried to recruit active-duty troops into a White House lobbying campaign. This keeps happening. Trump’s remarks at the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service were obviously inappropriate, as was his speech to graduating cadets at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Now it’s police departments nationwide scrambling to make clear they’re not comfortable with the president’s advice on police brutality."
"Not to put too fine a point on this, but the president has shown he often doesn’t know how to behave himself in public settings. The Boy Scouts, of all organizations, had to apologize for Trump’s antics last week, which came on the heels of a controversial event in which the president tried to recruit active-duty troops into a White House lobbying campaign. This keeps happening. Trump’s remarks at the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service were obviously inappropriate, as was his speech to graduating cadets at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Now it’s police departments nationwide scrambling to make clear they’re not comfortable with the president’s advice on police brutality."
Trump’s respect for military valor is, at best, haphazard
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trumps-respect-military-valor-best-haphazard
"On the surface, Trump tends to honor military service the way a child might: he seems to think it’s cool to be around those who served. The more impressive the service record, and the higher the military rank, the more Trump wants to be associated with the bravery others have shown. But below the surface, the picture turns darker. Far from venerating military valor, Trump is on record mocking prisoners of war, saying he likes those “who weren’t captured.” Trump, who avoided military service during the Vietnam War, also said he “felt” like he’d served in the military because his parents sent him to a military-themed boarding school as a teenager. The Republican went so far as to boast that his expensive prep school gave him “more training militarily than a lot of the guys that go into the military.” Trump was caught lying about his financial support for veterans’ charities. He’s claimed more than once that he understands counter-terrorism better than American generals. He’s one of the few politicians in modern American life to publicly mock a Gold Star family. To be sure, the president occasionally likes to pretend to have some kinship with those who wear the uniform – except for transgender troops, whom he said via Twitter are no longer welcome in the military, despite their honorable service – but the posturing is ultimately hollow. Trump likes to use words like “tough” and “fight” as applause lines in speeches, without any deeper sense of their meaning or importance. To believe he’s “venerated military valor” throughout his life is to buy into a cheap p.r. campaign."
"On the surface, Trump tends to honor military service the way a child might: he seems to think it’s cool to be around those who served. The more impressive the service record, and the higher the military rank, the more Trump wants to be associated with the bravery others have shown. But below the surface, the picture turns darker. Far from venerating military valor, Trump is on record mocking prisoners of war, saying he likes those “who weren’t captured.” Trump, who avoided military service during the Vietnam War, also said he “felt” like he’d served in the military because his parents sent him to a military-themed boarding school as a teenager. The Republican went so far as to boast that his expensive prep school gave him “more training militarily than a lot of the guys that go into the military.” Trump was caught lying about his financial support for veterans’ charities. He’s claimed more than once that he understands counter-terrorism better than American generals. He’s one of the few politicians in modern American life to publicly mock a Gold Star family. To be sure, the president occasionally likes to pretend to have some kinship with those who wear the uniform – except for transgender troops, whom he said via Twitter are no longer welcome in the military, despite their honorable service – but the posturing is ultimately hollow. Trump likes to use words like “tough” and “fight” as applause lines in speeches, without any deeper sense of their meaning or importance. To believe he’s “venerated military valor” throughout his life is to buy into a cheap p.r. campaign."
Here’s the Sad Reality of Trump’s Presidency Which His Supporters Refuse to Believe
https://forwardprogressives.com/heres-the-sad-reality-of-trumps-presidency-which-his-supporters-refuse-to-believe/"This is the humiliating reality in which we’re all currently living. The United States currently has a “president” who: Mocked a disabled reporter. Attacked the Gold Star parents of a fallen American hero. Belittled POWs and John McCain’s war record. Is a draft dodger who used blatant bigotry to tell thousands of transgender members of our military that he doesn’t believe they should have the right to serve and defend their country — something he was too much of a coward to do. Used a “textbook definition” of racism (Paul Ryan’s own words) in trying to slander a federal judge. Mocked the looks of Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, accusing her of having a face-lift. Once said the “bright side” of horrific terrorist attacks is his poll numbers will increase. Was caught on video admitting to trying to cheat on his current wife with another married woman, while also bragging about being a sexual predator. Said women should have expected to be sexually assaulted when they mixed males and females in the military. Has continuously criticized U.S. intelligence agencies while undermining their credibility, all while avoiding saying anything negative about an enemy who attacked us. Praised the reputation of InfoWars’ Alex Jones, someone who claimed the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax. Continues to lie about why he won’t release his tax returns."
This October, Trump Will Try to Start a War with Iran @alternet
This October, Trump Will Try to Start a War with Iran @alternet:
"The unmasking of Trump’s plans to sabotage the nuclear deal began two weeks ago when he reluctantly had to certify that Iran indeed was in compliance. Both the US intelligence as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency had confirmed Tehran’s fair play. But Trump threw a tantrum in the Oval Office and berated his national security team for not having found a way to claim Iran was cheating. According to Foreign Policy, the adults in the room—Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, and National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster—eventually calmed Trump down but only on the condition that they double down on finding a way for the president to blow up the deal by October."
"The unmasking of Trump’s plans to sabotage the nuclear deal began two weeks ago when he reluctantly had to certify that Iran indeed was in compliance. Both the US intelligence as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency had confirmed Tehran’s fair play. But Trump threw a tantrum in the Oval Office and berated his national security team for not having found a way to claim Iran was cheating. According to Foreign Policy, the adults in the room—Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, and National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster—eventually calmed Trump down but only on the condition that they double down on finding a way for the president to blow up the deal by October."
Lies, damn lies, and fake news
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/30/1684401/-Lies-damn-lies-and-fake-news
"with the Trump White House elevating “alternative facts” over supposed “fake news,” slandering the press as an “enemy of the people,” brushing off allegations of collusion and business conflicts with Russian interests as a “Democratic hoax,” and so much more, the Trump faithful are getting their talking points straight from the elephant’s mouth. But while the frequency and magnitude of Trump’s lies far exceed any American major party politician, his strategic deceptions and tactical duplicity are nothing new under the Republican sun. On matters of war and peace, health care and taxes, the economy and the environment, the GOP has been a myth-making machine for years. And when the government’s own experts and nonpartisan watchdogs debunked the Republicans’ fact-free frauds, the GOP directed its fire at them."
"with the Trump White House elevating “alternative facts” over supposed “fake news,” slandering the press as an “enemy of the people,” brushing off allegations of collusion and business conflicts with Russian interests as a “Democratic hoax,” and so much more, the Trump faithful are getting their talking points straight from the elephant’s mouth. But while the frequency and magnitude of Trump’s lies far exceed any American major party politician, his strategic deceptions and tactical duplicity are nothing new under the Republican sun. On matters of war and peace, health care and taxes, the economy and the environment, the GOP has been a myth-making machine for years. And when the government’s own experts and nonpartisan watchdogs debunked the Republicans’ fact-free frauds, the GOP directed its fire at them."
After blocking the GOP's repeal of the ACA, senator describes the 'extraordinary' greeting back home
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/31/1685682/-After-blocking-the-GOP-health-care-repeal-senator-describes-the-extraordinary-greeting-back-home"Sen. Susan Collins returned home to Maine on Friday and was greeted with great enthusiasm by travelers inside the Bangor International Airport. As she walked off the plane, travelers in the gate area recognized her and broke into a hearty round of applause that continued to get louder as word spread she was in the area."
Police departments have had to debunk parts of Donald Trump’s law and order speech
http://www.salon.com/2017/07/31/police-departments-have-had-to-debunk-parts-of-donald-trumps-law-and-order-speech/
"Numerous statements in Trump's infamous speech have been discovered to have been inaccurate or misleading"
"Numerous statements in Trump's infamous speech have been discovered to have been inaccurate or misleading"
Here is the evil Trump is trying to do to Obamacare — and America
Here is the evil Trump is trying to do to Obamacare — and America:
"Actively seeking to bring hardship to millions of Americans by sabotaging their health coverage is certainly highly questionable from a moral and ethical perspective. Future inquiries may also prove that they are illegal."
"Actively seeking to bring hardship to millions of Americans by sabotaging their health coverage is certainly highly questionable from a moral and ethical perspective. Future inquiries may also prove that they are illegal."
Sen. Susan Collins: Trump's Threats Have Contributed To Instability In The Insurance Market | Crooks and Liars
Sen. Susan Collins: Trump's Threats Have Contributed To Instability In The Insurance Market | Crooks and Liars
"Sen. Susan Collins of Maine discussed the warm welcome she received in Maine after her vote against the so-called "skinny repeal" bill, and shot down the Trump administration's talking points on "insurance bailouts"."
"Sen. Susan Collins of Maine discussed the warm welcome she received in Maine after her vote against the so-called "skinny repeal" bill, and shot down the Trump administration's talking points on "insurance bailouts"."
Fox-Conned: After Trump’s healthcare debacle, next up is fake jobs and fiscal malpractice
Fox-Conned: After Trump’s healthcare debacle, next up is fake jobs and fiscal malpractice:
"Since being elected, Trump has brazenly taken credit for jobs and investments announced months or years earlier, as with Ford, Fiat-Chrysler, Exxon-Mobil, Softbank, and Lockheed-Martin. Or Trump falsifies the number of jobs created, as he did with Carrier when he inflated the jobs saved by 300. Or he ignores job cuts. He gushed over 900 jobs created in Michigan while ignoring 1,100 jobs GM eliminated at the same time in the state, for an actual loss of 200 jobs. Sometimes companies match bullsh*t for bullsh*t with Trump to curry favor. Intel’s CEO appeared by Trump’s side in January 2017 to tout a computer chip factory in Arizona. It’s the same exact factory the previous CEO announced by then-President Obama’s side in 2011 and which then had construction delays as demand waned."
"Since being elected, Trump has brazenly taken credit for jobs and investments announced months or years earlier, as with Ford, Fiat-Chrysler, Exxon-Mobil, Softbank, and Lockheed-Martin. Or Trump falsifies the number of jobs created, as he did with Carrier when he inflated the jobs saved by 300. Or he ignores job cuts. He gushed over 900 jobs created in Michigan while ignoring 1,100 jobs GM eliminated at the same time in the state, for an actual loss of 200 jobs. Sometimes companies match bullsh*t for bullsh*t with Trump to curry favor. Intel’s CEO appeared by Trump’s side in January 2017 to tout a computer chip factory in Arizona. It’s the same exact factory the previous CEO announced by then-President Obama’s side in 2011 and which then had construction delays as demand waned."
Elizabeth Warren's Pet Project Has Already Returned $12 Billion to Swindled Families—So Naturally Republicans Want It Dismantled @alternet
Elizabeth Warren's Pet Project Has Already Returned $12 Billion to Swindled Families—So Naturally Republicans Want It Dismantled @alternet:
"Less than a week after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau celebrated its sixth anniversary, the Trump administration issued a decisive blow to the Bureau's latest progress regarding a key arbitrations rule, which it now aims to nullify. For Republicans, the CFPB must be curtained like similar government agencies at the helm of President Trump's deregulation agenda. But the policies championed by the CFPB continue to greatly benefit the average American. "The question is, why has [the CFPB] drawn so much fire from the Republicans in Washington?" asked CFPB founder Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren at a press conference Tuesday with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). "Why is it that the banks and the financial services industry [are] after it day after day after day? I'll tell you the answer. It's because it works." The CFPB "has provided needed oversight to mortgages, credit cards, student loans and other financial products," explained Ken Blackledge, a produce farmer and independent voter from Central Iowa. His letter to the editor published in the Des Moines Register on July 25 seeks to emphasize the bipartisan importance of Warren's agency on the heels of pivotal Dodd Frank reform. "That little agency has forced the biggest financial institutions in this country to return nearly $12 billion directly to families they cheated," Warren stated. "It's handled more than a million complaints. It's done tough oversight and enforcement, and it's come out with regulations that—piece at a time—are beginning to level the playing field between giant financial institutions on one hand and American families on the other"."
"Less than a week after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau celebrated its sixth anniversary, the Trump administration issued a decisive blow to the Bureau's latest progress regarding a key arbitrations rule, which it now aims to nullify. For Republicans, the CFPB must be curtained like similar government agencies at the helm of President Trump's deregulation agenda. But the policies championed by the CFPB continue to greatly benefit the average American. "The question is, why has [the CFPB] drawn so much fire from the Republicans in Washington?" asked CFPB founder Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren at a press conference Tuesday with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). "Why is it that the banks and the financial services industry [are] after it day after day after day? I'll tell you the answer. It's because it works." The CFPB "has provided needed oversight to mortgages, credit cards, student loans and other financial products," explained Ken Blackledge, a produce farmer and independent voter from Central Iowa. His letter to the editor published in the Des Moines Register on July 25 seeks to emphasize the bipartisan importance of Warren's agency on the heels of pivotal Dodd Frank reform. "That little agency has forced the biggest financial institutions in this country to return nearly $12 billion directly to families they cheated," Warren stated. "It's handled more than a million complaints. It's done tough oversight and enforcement, and it's come out with regulations that—piece at a time—are beginning to level the playing field between giant financial institutions on one hand and American families on the other"."
Trump has bad news for millions of workers in line for overtime pay under Obama
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/26/1684106/-Trump-has-bad-news-for-millions-of-workers-in-line-for-overtime-pay-under-Obama
"Donald Trump’s major life goal at this point seems to be rolling back everything good President Barack Obama did for the country and its people—and now he’s coming for your overtime pay. Obama had sought to raise the overtime eligibility threshold to include millions more workers, a change that was supposed to go into effect in December but was blocked at the last minute by a judge. Now, of course—of course—Mr. Populist is rolling back Obama’s expansion. Trump’s Labor Department announced Tuesday that it would be doing something to the overtime eligibility threshold, but it’s not clear what, and they’re definitely not going to be raising the threshold to $47,000 like Obama proposed."
"Donald Trump’s major life goal at this point seems to be rolling back everything good President Barack Obama did for the country and its people—and now he’s coming for your overtime pay. Obama had sought to raise the overtime eligibility threshold to include millions more workers, a change that was supposed to go into effect in December but was blocked at the last minute by a judge. Now, of course—of course—Mr. Populist is rolling back Obama’s expansion. Trump’s Labor Department announced Tuesday that it would be doing something to the overtime eligibility threshold, but it’s not clear what, and they’re definitely not going to be raising the threshold to $47,000 like Obama proposed."
West Wing Chaos: Priebus Quits, General Kelly Takes Over as Chief of Staff
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/07/28/west-wing-chaos-priebus-quits-general-kelly-takes-over-chief-staff
"Reince Priebus was the shortest-serving White House chief of staff in American history, edging out Ken Duberstein."
"Reince Priebus was the shortest-serving White House chief of staff in American history, edging out Ken Duberstein."
Russia investigation could uncover how much money Trump is still getting from Moscow
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/28/1685028/-Russia-investigation-could-uncover-how-much-money-Trump-is-still-getting-from-Moscow
"When thinking about Donald Trump’s monetary dealings with Russia, it’s easy to think of them as being part of his past. Sure, he sold a Florida home to an oligarch for $100 million—well over twice its value. And, when his business was essentially bankrupt for the seventh time and no bank would give him a loan, Trump collected enough money from Russian mobsters for his rich guy act to continue. But that was … when was that? Since Election Day, President Trump’s businesses have sold at least 30 luxury condos and oceanfront lots for about $33 million. That includes millions of dollars in properties to secretive shell companies, which can hide the identities of buyers or partners involved in the deals, a USA TODAY investigation has found. Shell corporations, like those set up by friend of a friend Irakly "Ike" Kaveladze, who was the eighth man at that infamous Trump Tower get together. Kaveladze was there to represent Russian real estate family the Agaralovs. Before he became part of their operation to lobby Trump over the Magnitsky Act, Kaveladze had another job. He helped create more than 2,000 shell companies—most of which went right back to Aras and Emin Agaralov. The use of shell companies by investors, added to the over 500 shell companies used by Donald Trump, can make the real actors behind real estate transactions hard for state and local officials to see without help. But they could be getting that help. Details of some of those deals and other transactions by Trump's family business could be unmasked as special counsel Robert Mueller expands his inquiry into election-meddling by Russia and whether Trump's campaign colluded. Which is why Trump is in a big, big hurry to stop Mueller."
"When thinking about Donald Trump’s monetary dealings with Russia, it’s easy to think of them as being part of his past. Sure, he sold a Florida home to an oligarch for $100 million—well over twice its value. And, when his business was essentially bankrupt for the seventh time and no bank would give him a loan, Trump collected enough money from Russian mobsters for his rich guy act to continue. But that was … when was that? Since Election Day, President Trump’s businesses have sold at least 30 luxury condos and oceanfront lots for about $33 million. That includes millions of dollars in properties to secretive shell companies, which can hide the identities of buyers or partners involved in the deals, a USA TODAY investigation has found. Shell corporations, like those set up by friend of a friend Irakly "Ike" Kaveladze, who was the eighth man at that infamous Trump Tower get together. Kaveladze was there to represent Russian real estate family the Agaralovs. Before he became part of their operation to lobby Trump over the Magnitsky Act, Kaveladze had another job. He helped create more than 2,000 shell companies—most of which went right back to Aras and Emin Agaralov. The use of shell companies by investors, added to the over 500 shell companies used by Donald Trump, can make the real actors behind real estate transactions hard for state and local officials to see without help. But they could be getting that help. Details of some of those deals and other transactions by Trump's family business could be unmasked as special counsel Robert Mueller expands his inquiry into election-meddling by Russia and whether Trump's campaign colluded. Which is why Trump is in a big, big hurry to stop Mueller."
Republican Cornyn gets schooled in how a kleptocracy works and it sounds a lot like the GOP
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/28/1685010/-Republican-Cornyn-gets-schooled-in-how-a-kleptocracy-works-and-it-sounds-a-lot-like-the-GOP
"When Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn isn’t trying his hand at playing president, he’s trying to steal away your health insurance for big tax breaks for the rich. Almost like the way an oligarchy works … or a kleptocracy. Anythewhos, Sen. Cornyn is trying his most republicany-ist to make the connections between the Putin regime and our current president seem … silly? In front of Sen. Cornyn on Thursday, was CEO of Hermitage Capital Management William Browder. Browder has testified very clearly that Putin wants there to be an end to the Magnitsky Act, and most specifically to the sanctions and financial consequences in the act, as they pertain to Putin's vast financial network. Cornyn’s job was to say, hey the president can only do so much—why would Vladimir Putin think he can get rid of a law with just a president? You might want to stay seated Johnny, because here comes something called “psychology.” Browder: Absolutely. You have really brought up a hugely important point,especially as it relates to Russia or any kleptocratic regime. That in a kleptocracy, like Russia and other countries, the way that the world works is that the president of that country allows certain people to get rich, and he often gets a share of the wealth. Of those people. And then he can rely on those people to do the state’s bidding in situations where it may not be appropriate or they may not want to show the government's face. In Russia it’s an entirely informal system like that and there is absolute documentary evidence of people who have gotten rich through Vladimir Putin, who have then done lots of foreign policy work—not just in America but also all over the world—in order to further Putin's agenda, which is adverse to decency and democracy and liberal thought. Sounds a lot like an entire wing of the Republican Party these days."
"When Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn isn’t trying his hand at playing president, he’s trying to steal away your health insurance for big tax breaks for the rich. Almost like the way an oligarchy works … or a kleptocracy. Anythewhos, Sen. Cornyn is trying his most republicany-ist to make the connections between the Putin regime and our current president seem … silly? In front of Sen. Cornyn on Thursday, was CEO of Hermitage Capital Management William Browder. Browder has testified very clearly that Putin wants there to be an end to the Magnitsky Act, and most specifically to the sanctions and financial consequences in the act, as they pertain to Putin's vast financial network. Cornyn’s job was to say, hey the president can only do so much—why would Vladimir Putin think he can get rid of a law with just a president? You might want to stay seated Johnny, because here comes something called “psychology.” Browder: Absolutely. You have really brought up a hugely important point,especially as it relates to Russia or any kleptocratic regime. That in a kleptocracy, like Russia and other countries, the way that the world works is that the president of that country allows certain people to get rich, and he often gets a share of the wealth. Of those people. And then he can rely on those people to do the state’s bidding in situations where it may not be appropriate or they may not want to show the government's face. In Russia it’s an entirely informal system like that and there is absolute documentary evidence of people who have gotten rich through Vladimir Putin, who have then done lots of foreign policy work—not just in America but also all over the world—in order to further Putin's agenda, which is adverse to decency and democracy and liberal thought. Sounds a lot like an entire wing of the Republican Party these days."
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