August 16, 2017
‘He’s delusional – he’s paranoid’: Former GOP Sen. who switched parties demands Congress invoke the 25th
‘He’s delusional – he’s paranoid’: Former GOP Sen. who switched parties demands Congress invoke the 25th:
"When former Sen. Gordon Humphrey (I-NH) left the Republican Party he said it was because he couldn’t in good conscience be part of what President Donald Trump was doing to the United States, and indeed, the world."
"When former Sen. Gordon Humphrey (I-NH) left the Republican Party he said it was because he couldn’t in good conscience be part of what President Donald Trump was doing to the United States, and indeed, the world."
New analysis shows sharp decline in environmental enforcement under Trump
https://thinkprogress.org/penalties-against-polluters-down-60-percent-under-trump-ea0bd62b4435/
"A new report from the Environmental Integrity Project charts how EPA enforcement has fallen in the Trump era."
"A new report from the Environmental Integrity Project charts how EPA enforcement has fallen in the Trump era."
Here’s what’s actually in Alex Jones’ miracle supplements
http://www.salon.com/2017/08/10/alex-jones-infowars-supplements/"Alex Jones isn’t just an “expert” conspiracy theorist, he’s an “expert” snake-oil salesman, too!"
Trump Is So Needy He Has Staff Prepare a Special Folder for Him Twice a Day @alternet
Trump Is So Needy He Has Staff Prepare a Special Folder for Him Twice a Day @alternet:
"Possibly the best part of this wonderful, hilarious, deeply terrifying story is that they have to do it twice a day. They can't just pop in each morning with a collection of news clippings that paint Donald in a positive light—they have to go in twice, because just once a day isn't enough. And augment it with tweets praising him. And printed-out pictures of himself."
"Possibly the best part of this wonderful, hilarious, deeply terrifying story is that they have to do it twice a day. They can't just pop in each morning with a collection of news clippings that paint Donald in a positive light—they have to go in twice, because just once a day isn't enough. And augment it with tweets praising him. And printed-out pictures of himself."
The Toxic Ideology at the Heart of Evangelicals' Alliance with the Republican Party @alternet
The Toxic Ideology at the Heart of Evangelicals' Alliance with the Republican Party @alternet:
"New research published in the Journal of Religion and Health suggests that Christian evangelical voters are more likely to support Donald Trump and the Republican Party because they have been conditioned by their religion to be irrational and thus inherently suspicious of empirical reality and reason."
"New research published in the Journal of Religion and Health suggests that Christian evangelical voters are more likely to support Donald Trump and the Republican Party because they have been conditioned by their religion to be irrational and thus inherently suspicious of empirical reality and reason."
European Officials Say That Unstable Trump Is Obsessed With Barack Obama
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/08/09/european-officials-unstable-trump-obsessed-barack-obama.html
"They also believe Trump’s foreign policy is chiefly driven by an obsession with unravelling Barack Obama’s policies. “It’s his only real position,” one European diplomat said. “He will ask: ‘Did Obama approve this?’ And if the answer is affirmative, he will say: ‘We don’t.’ He won’t even want to listen to the arguments or have a debate. He is obsessed with Obama.” The officials also described meetings between Trump and other world leaders as useless because Trump doesn’t know anything, and all he does is bombard the world leader with questions about their GDP."
"They also believe Trump’s foreign policy is chiefly driven by an obsession with unravelling Barack Obama’s policies. “It’s his only real position,” one European diplomat said. “He will ask: ‘Did Obama approve this?’ And if the answer is affirmative, he will say: ‘We don’t.’ He won’t even want to listen to the arguments or have a debate. He is obsessed with Obama.” The officials also described meetings between Trump and other world leaders as useless because Trump doesn’t know anything, and all he does is bombard the world leader with questions about their GDP."
August 12, 2017
‘Fight or die white man’: Confederacy advocates proclaim they intend to secede — again
‘Fight or die white man’: Confederacy advocates proclaim they intend to secede — again:
"The League of the South wants to secede again and restore the Confederate States of America, potentially triggering a second Civil War. The group has erected billboards that said “SECEDE” in several states, and it even has its own banner — a black and white version of the familiar Confederate battle flag, minus the stars,” the Associated Press reports. “Secession also finds support on some websites that support white nationalism, including Occidental Dissent, run by a Hill associate, and the openly racist, anti-Semitic Daily Stormer.” In a Facebook post titled, “fight or die white man,” League of the South President Michael Hill wrote, “what we Southern nationalist seek is nothing less than the complete reconquest and restoration of our patrimony–the whole, entire South. And that means the South will once again be in name and in actuality White Man’s Land"."
"The League of the South wants to secede again and restore the Confederate States of America, potentially triggering a second Civil War. The group has erected billboards that said “SECEDE” in several states, and it even has its own banner — a black and white version of the familiar Confederate battle flag, minus the stars,” the Associated Press reports. “Secession also finds support on some websites that support white nationalism, including Occidental Dissent, run by a Hill associate, and the openly racist, anti-Semitic Daily Stormer.” In a Facebook post titled, “fight or die white man,” League of the South President Michael Hill wrote, “what we Southern nationalist seek is nothing less than the complete reconquest and restoration of our patrimony–the whole, entire South. And that means the South will once again be in name and in actuality White Man’s Land"."
‘Any insinuations we are planning an invasion are baseless’: Pentagon shuts down Trump talk on Venezuela
‘Any insinuations we are planning an invasion are baseless’: Pentagon shuts down Trump talk on Venezuela:
"The Department of Defense issued a statement to CNN Pentagon Reporter Barbara Starr refuting President Donald Trump’s press conference Friday night."
"The Department of Defense issued a statement to CNN Pentagon Reporter Barbara Starr refuting President Donald Trump’s press conference Friday night."
GOP Rep: Trump Shouldn’t Be Held Accountable for Campaign Promises (Video)
https://forwardprogressives.com/gop-rep-trump-shouldnt-be-held-accountable-for-campaign-promises-video/
"In the end, this is what the Republican Party has been reduced to. Since they decided to sell their souls by backing the most dishonest, corrupt, and incompetent candidate to ever run for office, they’re now having to dismiss campaign promises as “metaphors” and “hyperbole” in a desperate attempt to avoid admitting that he’s a liar who never had a plan to accomplish anything he said he would."
"In the end, this is what the Republican Party has been reduced to. Since they decided to sell their souls by backing the most dishonest, corrupt, and incompetent candidate to ever run for office, they’re now having to dismiss campaign promises as “metaphors” and “hyperbole” in a desperate attempt to avoid admitting that he’s a liar who never had a plan to accomplish anything he said he would."
That Time A Heritage Shill Tried To Give Trump Credit For The Economy | Crooks and Liars
That Time A Heritage Shill Tried To Give Trump Credit For The Economy | Crooks and Liars
"Just watch the whole thing. If you enjoy watching facts beat assertions, you'll enjoy this."
"Just watch the whole thing. If you enjoy watching facts beat assertions, you'll enjoy this."
Lyin' Ryan Lies Through 'Safe' Town Hall Meeting | Crooks and Liars
Lyin' Ryan Lies Through 'Safe' Town Hall Meeting | Crooks and Liars
"instead of having to deal with the general public, he holds "safe" town halls at select sites, like certain companies or even telephonic town halls, so that they can keep the commoners from confronting him with reality."
"instead of having to deal with the general public, he holds "safe" town halls at select sites, like certain companies or even telephonic town halls, so that they can keep the commoners from confronting him with reality."
Tom Price is coming after Medicare, Obamacare under the guise of helping doctors
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/8/5/1686394/-Tom-Price-is-coming-after-Medicare-Obamacare-under-the-guise-of-helping-doctors
"Everything Price is doing to help out his old colleagues is almost certainly something that is going to undermine actual patient care or weaken Medicare. He's trying to do it retroactively, too, "reversing certain Medicare rules to ensure some physicians no longer face penalties they would otherwise have had to pay." He's doing it all unilaterally, in his own little kingdom. It's just one more way the Trump administration isn't just sabotaging Obamacare, but the whole health system."
"Everything Price is doing to help out his old colleagues is almost certainly something that is going to undermine actual patient care or weaken Medicare. He's trying to do it retroactively, too, "reversing certain Medicare rules to ensure some physicians no longer face penalties they would otherwise have had to pay." He's doing it all unilaterally, in his own little kingdom. It's just one more way the Trump administration isn't just sabotaging Obamacare, but the whole health system."
We analyzed 17 months of Fox & Friends transcripts. It’s far weirder than state-run media.
https://www.vox.com/2017/8/7/16083122/breakfast-club-fox-and-friends
"The hosts are basically telling Trump what they would do in this situation. They are covering the news by advising him. It's something the show's hosts and guests have done with far more frequency since Trump has been in office. An analysis of the show's transcripts reveal that about 8 to 9 percent of sentences before Trump's election were imperative sentences, which instruct or advise. In the first few months of his presidency, that number increased more than 50 percent."
"The hosts are basically telling Trump what they would do in this situation. They are covering the news by advising him. It's something the show's hosts and guests have done with far more frequency since Trump has been in office. An analysis of the show's transcripts reveal that about 8 to 9 percent of sentences before Trump's election were imperative sentences, which instruct or advise. In the first few months of his presidency, that number increased more than 50 percent."
Fox News’ Eric Bolling has been suspended pending investigation for sexual harassment: report
Fox News’ Eric Bolling has been suspended pending investigation for sexual harassment: report:
"The conservative anchor allegedly sent unsolicited “d**k pics” to three female colleagues — two at Fox Business and one at Fox News. The network has had a reoccurring problem with sexual harassment scandals and lawsuits."
"The conservative anchor allegedly sent unsolicited “d**k pics” to three female colleagues — two at Fox Business and one at Fox News. The network has had a reoccurring problem with sexual harassment scandals and lawsuits."
Sen. Tammy Duckworth introduces legislation to protect immigrant vets from deportation
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/8/4/1686899/-Sen-Tammy-Duckworth-introduces-legislation-to-protect-immigrant-vets-from-deportation
"Nearly 11,000 non-citizens currently serve in the U.S. military, according to the most recent data from the Immigration Policy Center. At least 119 immigrants posthumously earned their citizenship after dying in combat, including Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, who was a formerly undocumented immigrant and among the first Americans to die in action in Iraq."
"Nearly 11,000 non-citizens currently serve in the U.S. military, according to the most recent data from the Immigration Policy Center. At least 119 immigrants posthumously earned their citizenship after dying in combat, including Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, who was a formerly undocumented immigrant and among the first Americans to die in action in Iraq."
22 ways Sean Hannity has tried to undermine the Russia probes
https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/08/04/22-ways-Sean-Hannity-has-tried-to-undermine-the-Russia-probes/217516
"Here are 22 examples of Hannity ignoring facts, promoting falsehoods and conspiracies, and attempting to cast blame on others in order to defend, deflect, and downplay accusations that Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to interfere in the U.S election."
"Here are 22 examples of Hannity ignoring facts, promoting falsehoods and conspiracies, and attempting to cast blame on others in order to defend, deflect, and downplay accusations that Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to interfere in the U.S election."
Secret Service leaves Trump Tower after feud with the president’s business over a lease: report
Secret Service leaves Trump Tower after feud with the president’s business over a lease: report:
Secret Service has left the building — literally, because Trump was trying to make money off of them
Secret Service has left the building — literally, because Trump was trying to make money off of them
House Republican says Trump was just joking when he repeatedly vowed Mexico would pay for the wall
https://thinkprogress.org/house-republican-says-trump-was-just-joking-when-he-repeatedly-vowed-mexico-would-pay-for-the-wall-8e598652760c/
"Writing off serious (and seriously offensive) comments as jokes or metaphors has been a favorite tactic used by Trump and his surrogates."
"Writing off serious (and seriously offensive) comments as jokes or metaphors has been a favorite tactic used by Trump and his surrogates."
Leaked transcripts offer a peek behind the Oval Office curtain
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/leaked-transcripts-offer-peek-behind-the-oval-office-curtain
"Of course, in this case, Trump’s deal-making abilities involved pleading with a foreign president not to acknowledge reality, facing resistance, and not knowing what to do next. Trump seemed to realize that he’d painted himself into a corner by making promises he couldn’t keep, and he apparently expected the Mexican president to rescue him. In the same conversation, Trump told Pena Nieto, in reference to the addiction crisis, “Up in New Hampshire – I won New Hampshire because New Hampshire is a drug-infested den – is coming from the southern border.” It’s worth noting that Trump lost New Hampshire. Let’s also not forget that it’s not altogether normal for an American president to blast an American state to a foreign leader."
"Of course, in this case, Trump’s deal-making abilities involved pleading with a foreign president not to acknowledge reality, facing resistance, and not knowing what to do next. Trump seemed to realize that he’d painted himself into a corner by making promises he couldn’t keep, and he apparently expected the Mexican president to rescue him. In the same conversation, Trump told Pena Nieto, in reference to the addiction crisis, “Up in New Hampshire – I won New Hampshire because New Hampshire is a drug-infested den – is coming from the southern border.” It’s worth noting that Trump lost New Hampshire. Let’s also not forget that it’s not altogether normal for an American president to blast an American state to a foreign leader."
Donald Trump is on a lying binge and his press team is lying some more to cover up for him
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/8/3/1686574/-Donald-Trump-is-on-a-lying-binge-and-his-press-team-is-lying-some-more-to-cover-up-for-him
"Donald Trump’s lying, and his White House’s insistence on pretending he’s not lying, should scare us. Trump keeps talking about phone calls in which important people tell him he’s wonderful, only to have those people deny that any such phone call ever happened. And he’s got press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on the job, denying that Trump lied."
"Donald Trump’s lying, and his White House’s insistence on pretending he’s not lying, should scare us. Trump keeps talking about phone calls in which important people tell him he’s wonderful, only to have those people deny that any such phone call ever happened. And he’s got press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on the job, denying that Trump lied."
Kushner subpoenaed for issuing green cards while the administration takes them away
https://thinkprogress.org/as-white-house-pushes-new-restrictions-kushner-under-scrutiny-for-issuing-green-cards-to-investors-27c8ad600b5e/
"Federal prosecutors in New York subpoenaed the company of President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner late Wednesday over their use of the EB-5 federal visa program. The program issues green cards to immigrants who invest $500,000 in U.S.-based developments, 85 percent of which are Chinese. The irony of the subpoena is difficult to ignore. The Kushner family company is in trouble for essentially selling green cards at the same time the Trump administration is pushing a plan to curtail the number of green cards issued each year."
"Federal prosecutors in New York subpoenaed the company of President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner late Wednesday over their use of the EB-5 federal visa program. The program issues green cards to immigrants who invest $500,000 in U.S.-based developments, 85 percent of which are Chinese. The irony of the subpoena is difficult to ignore. The Kushner family company is in trouble for essentially selling green cards at the same time the Trump administration is pushing a plan to curtail the number of green cards issued each year."
Pro-Trump outlet Sinclair is turning local news into Trump TV. Here's what it looks like.
https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/08/03/pro-trump-outlet-sinclair-turning-local-news-trump-tv-heres-what-it-looks/217482
"The latest Sinclair profiles often focus on the “Bottom Line with Boris” segments starring former Trump aide Boris Epshteyn, who is now employed as Sinclair’s chief political analyst. Epshteyn has been producing 60- to 90-second commentary segments several times a week since Sinclair hired him in April. Last month, Sinclair announced it would be upping Epshteyn’s segments from airing three times per week to nine. Employees at Sinclair stations across the country, from Seattle, WA, to Washington, D.C., are expressing concerns about the clearly conservative must-run segments pushed by Sinclair executives."
"The latest Sinclair profiles often focus on the “Bottom Line with Boris” segments starring former Trump aide Boris Epshteyn, who is now employed as Sinclair’s chief political analyst. Epshteyn has been producing 60- to 90-second commentary segments several times a week since Sinclair hired him in April. Last month, Sinclair announced it would be upping Epshteyn’s segments from airing three times per week to nine. Employees at Sinclair stations across the country, from Seattle, WA, to Washington, D.C., are expressing concerns about the clearly conservative must-run segments pushed by Sinclair executives."
“Deadbeat-in-chief”: Samantha Bee takes on Donald Trump and the GOP’s plan to sabotage Obamacare
http://www.salon.com/2017/08/03/deadbeat-in-chief-samantha-bee-takes-on-donald-trump-and-the-gops-plan-to-sabotage-obamacare/
"For years, Obamacare opponents have taken drastic steps to sabotage the current health care system. From filing countless lawsuits to attaching riders to random, non-health care related bills, Republicans have been steadfast in their efforts to sabotage Obamacare."
"For years, Obamacare opponents have taken drastic steps to sabotage the current health care system. From filing countless lawsuits to attaching riders to random, non-health care related bills, Republicans have been steadfast in their efforts to sabotage Obamacare."
There’s One Thing That Infuriates Me More Than Anything Else About Trump and Most Republicans
https://forwardprogressives.com/theres-one-thing-that-infuriates-me-more-than-anything-else-about-trump-and-most-republicans/
"We’re witnessing firsthand possibly the most irresponsible, corrupt, and incompetent administration to ever preside over a major nation — yet Trump and the majority of Republicans are acting like this is all normal."
"We’re witnessing firsthand possibly the most irresponsible, corrupt, and incompetent administration to ever preside over a major nation — yet Trump and the majority of Republicans are acting like this is all normal."
Sarah Huckabee Sanders Says It’s Not ‘Appropriate To Lie,’ But ...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sarah-huckabee-sanders-lies_us_59822da5e4b00f0084add859?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
"Sanders’ job is to defend President Donald Trump’s actions, and defend she does. But despite her saying that her job is to “communicate the president’s agenda” and “answer questions as honestly” as she can, Sanders has a history of not doing that with complete truth."
"Sanders’ job is to defend President Donald Trump’s actions, and defend she does. But despite her saying that her job is to “communicate the president’s agenda” and “answer questions as honestly” as she can, Sanders has a history of not doing that with complete truth."
Stephen Miller attacks Statue of Liberty poem, echoing popular white nationalist talking point
https://thinkprogress.org/stephen-miller-attacks-statue-of-liberty-poem-echoing-popular-white-nationalist-talking-point-f90c2ae0be48/
"Stormfront, a popular website among white supremacists that boasts the tagline, “Every month is White history month,” has a numerous discussion threads on the topic"
"Stormfront, a popular website among white supremacists that boasts the tagline, “Every month is White history month,” has a numerous discussion threads on the topic"
Amid Trump's Chilling War on Media, Press Freedom Groups Expose Threats to US Journalists
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/08/02/amid-trumps-chilling-war-media-press-freedom-groups-expose-threats-us-journalists
"The Committee to Protect Journalists and the Freedom of the Press Foundation are among more than 20 groups partnering to introduce a new website which tracks threats to press freedom in the United States. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker launched Wednesday to gather data on arrests of journalists, physical attacks on reporters, equipment searches and seizures, prosecutions of the legal spreading of information (recently denounced as "leaks" by the Trump administration), and other threats to the free press. So far in 2017, the site has tracked 19 arrests of journalists; 12 equipment searches and seizures; 11 physical attacks; and four cases of journalists who were detained, questioned, or denied entry at borders. "With the Trump administration ramping up its war on journalism, this initiative could not come at a more important time," Trevor Timm, executive director of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, said. "We hope it will be vital to highlighting the threats to press freedom in the U.S. and the important work journalists do to hold the government accountable." In an interview with ABC News, the new website's managing editor, Peter Sterne, noted that American concerns over press freedom have historically been focused on other countries. "The U.S. is often seen as a beacon of press freedom in the world," he said. "When freedom of the press in the U.S. is weakened, that has an effect around the world where other countries feel more emboldened to crack down on their own journalists"."
"The Committee to Protect Journalists and the Freedom of the Press Foundation are among more than 20 groups partnering to introduce a new website which tracks threats to press freedom in the United States. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker launched Wednesday to gather data on arrests of journalists, physical attacks on reporters, equipment searches and seizures, prosecutions of the legal spreading of information (recently denounced as "leaks" by the Trump administration), and other threats to the free press. So far in 2017, the site has tracked 19 arrests of journalists; 12 equipment searches and seizures; 11 physical attacks; and four cases of journalists who were detained, questioned, or denied entry at borders. "With the Trump administration ramping up its war on journalism, this initiative could not come at a more important time," Trevor Timm, executive director of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, said. "We hope it will be vital to highlighting the threats to press freedom in the U.S. and the important work journalists do to hold the government accountable." In an interview with ABC News, the new website's managing editor, Peter Sterne, noted that American concerns over press freedom have historically been focused on other countries. "The U.S. is often seen as a beacon of press freedom in the world," he said. "When freedom of the press in the U.S. is weakened, that has an effect around the world where other countries feel more emboldened to crack down on their own journalists"."
11 Batty Quotes from Trump's Latest Interview That Will Make You Disgusted He's President All Over Again @alternet
11 Batty Quotes from Trump's Latest Interview That Will Make You Disgusted He's President All Over Again @alternet:
"On Tuesday, Politico published what the Wall Street Journal wouldn't: a full transcript of the newspaper's interview with Donald Trump. The Rupert Murdoch-run outlet knew what it was doing. Missing from the Journal's piece were indications of a certain familiarity between the Trump family and Editor-in-Chief Gerald Baker. In the past, Baker and the Journal have taken hits for going too soft on the Trumps. (In January, Baker announced the paper would never refer to Trump falsehoods as “lies” because it would imply “a deliberate intent to mislead.”) The transcript isn't likely to mitigate those accusations. As with every setting in which Trump is allowed to ramble freely, the exchange is filled with the absurd self-aggrandizement, specious reasoning, and lies galore we've come to expect from the president."
"On Tuesday, Politico published what the Wall Street Journal wouldn't: a full transcript of the newspaper's interview with Donald Trump. The Rupert Murdoch-run outlet knew what it was doing. Missing from the Journal's piece were indications of a certain familiarity between the Trump family and Editor-in-Chief Gerald Baker. In the past, Baker and the Journal have taken hits for going too soft on the Trumps. (In January, Baker announced the paper would never refer to Trump falsehoods as “lies” because it would imply “a deliberate intent to mislead.”) The transcript isn't likely to mitigate those accusations. As with every setting in which Trump is allowed to ramble freely, the exchange is filled with the absurd self-aggrandizement, specious reasoning, and lies galore we've come to expect from the president."
Trump didn't lie about the Boy Scouts calling him when he lied about the Boy Scouts calling him
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/8/2/1686375/-Trump-didn-t-lie-about-the-Boy-Scouts-calling-him-when-he-lied-about-the-Boy-Scouts-calling-him
"Here’s White House propaganda minister Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying a lie isn’t a lie if you lie that it’s not a lie. By the way, she’s lying."
"Here’s White House propaganda minister Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying a lie isn’t a lie if you lie that it’s not a lie. By the way, she’s lying."
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