http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/07/cbo-mitch-mcconnells-latest-health-care-bill-would-leave-32-million-more-uninsured/
"Whether they do repeal-and-replace or straight repeal, the results would be devastating."
Friday, July 21, 2017
Here’s what Mitch McConnell wants to do to the U.S. health care system
https://thinkprogress.org/heres-what-mitch-mcconnell-wants-to-do-to-the-u-s-health-care-system-956364e3ad63
"Whether they do repeal-and-replace or straight repeal, the results would be devastating."
"Whether they do repeal-and-replace or straight repeal, the results would be devastating."
Trump levels another threat at insurers, Obamacare
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/19/1682125/-Trump-levels-another-threat-at-insurers-Obamacare
"Trump has every intention of destroying Obamacare, and he and his fellow Republicans are going to be the ones who take the blame for that."
"Trump has every intention of destroying Obamacare, and he and his fellow Republicans are going to be the ones who take the blame for that."
Why Not Call It Treason? @alternet
Why Not Call It Treason? @alternet:
"The claim that the Trump campaign had no contact with the Russians and that the charge of collusion was “disgusting” has morphed into the claim that collusion with a foreign power is just “politics,” and doesn’t meet the legal definition of treason. The goal of this strategy is to exculpate Team Trump from criminal charges as new facts emerge. There’s no reason why Trump’s critics need to play along. The commonsense definition of treason is “betrayal of country,” the standard that Team Trump has interpreted broadly for its own purposes."
"The claim that the Trump campaign had no contact with the Russians and that the charge of collusion was “disgusting” has morphed into the claim that collusion with a foreign power is just “politics,” and doesn’t meet the legal definition of treason. The goal of this strategy is to exculpate Team Trump from criminal charges as new facts emerge. There’s no reason why Trump’s critics need to play along. The commonsense definition of treason is “betrayal of country,” the standard that Team Trump has interpreted broadly for its own purposes."
Eighth Participant In Meeting With Trump Jr. Once Linked to Russian Money Laundering
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/07/eighth-participant-in-meeting-with-trump-jr-once-linked-to-russian-money-laundering/
"A Russian-American lawyer who attended the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with key members of Donald Trump’s inner circle, including Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner, was once at the center of a US government investigation into Russian money laundering."
"A Russian-American lawyer who attended the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with key members of Donald Trump’s inner circle, including Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner, was once at the center of a US government investigation into Russian money laundering."
Seriously? New GOP Budget Would Defund Election Security Agency
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/07/18/seriously-new-gop-budget-would-defund-election-security-agency
"Despite an ongoing investigation into the hacking of voting systems in more than a dozen states during the 2016 presidential election, the new budget blueprint from House Republicans includes a provision to defund the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), which the Wall Street Journal notes is "the sole federal agency that exclusively works to ensure the voting process is secure." Since it was established in 2002, the EAC has been under almost constant attack by the Republican Party. Earlier this year, the House Administration Committee voted 6-3 along party lines to eliminate the agency entirely. As The Atlantic's Russell Berman noted in February, "GOP attempts to eliminate the Election Assistance Commission have passed out of committee but not made it to the House floor for a vote in the last four years." Because they have failed repeatedly to eliminate the agency, Republicans now appear content to strip it of the funds it needs to operate effectively."
"Despite an ongoing investigation into the hacking of voting systems in more than a dozen states during the 2016 presidential election, the new budget blueprint from House Republicans includes a provision to defund the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), which the Wall Street Journal notes is "the sole federal agency that exclusively works to ensure the voting process is secure." Since it was established in 2002, the EAC has been under almost constant attack by the Republican Party. Earlier this year, the House Administration Committee voted 6-3 along party lines to eliminate the agency entirely. As The Atlantic's Russell Berman noted in February, "GOP attempts to eliminate the Election Assistance Commission have passed out of committee but not made it to the House floor for a vote in the last four years." Because they have failed repeatedly to eliminate the agency, Republicans now appear content to strip it of the funds it needs to operate effectively."
How Trump the Populist Became Trump the Corporate Shill
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/07/18/how-trump-populist-became-trump-corporate-shill
"After a meeting with Big Pharma executives in February, he backed down on his tough talk. This summer, this shameful retreat accelerated as evidenced by leaked White House documents detailing potential regulatory rollbacks sought by the industry but omitting any steps to lower drug prices. Why the turnaround? White House aide Joe Grogan, a former lobbyist for pharmaceutical giant Gilead, played a key role in this move, according to Kaiser Health News, which reported that the documents contained text "cribbed directly from policy papers" published by the main pharmaceutical industry lobbying group. Over at the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt met with Dow Chemical's CEO just before deciding not to ban a Dow pesticide from being sprayed on food. Nancy Beck, a new official who formerly worked at a chemical industry lobbying group, played a key role in watering down the implementation of a crucial toxic chemicals rule, clashing with career experts in the process. And a coal industry lawyer appears likely to take the No. 2 job at EPA, beating out a coal industry lobbyist also considered for the job. These examples are representative rather than exceptional. Corporate America has captured the Trump administration. Public Citizen's research has found that more than 70% of Trump's picks for top sub-Cabinet jobs have clear corporate ties. In Trump's Washington, the populism of the campaign has been overtaken by conventional corporate cronyism on a grand scale. After his famous pledge to "drain the swamp," Trump issued a weak executive order allowing former lobbyists to immediately join the administration and then granted waivers to top White House staffers that render the ethics rules largely meaningless. For example, the White House concluded that it is "in the public interest" for Andrew Olmem, a White House aide who formerly lobbied MetLife, American Express and a major insurance trade group, to work on banking and insurance issues."
"After a meeting with Big Pharma executives in February, he backed down on his tough talk. This summer, this shameful retreat accelerated as evidenced by leaked White House documents detailing potential regulatory rollbacks sought by the industry but omitting any steps to lower drug prices. Why the turnaround? White House aide Joe Grogan, a former lobbyist for pharmaceutical giant Gilead, played a key role in this move, according to Kaiser Health News, which reported that the documents contained text "cribbed directly from policy papers" published by the main pharmaceutical industry lobbying group. Over at the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt met with Dow Chemical's CEO just before deciding not to ban a Dow pesticide from being sprayed on food. Nancy Beck, a new official who formerly worked at a chemical industry lobbying group, played a key role in watering down the implementation of a crucial toxic chemicals rule, clashing with career experts in the process. And a coal industry lawyer appears likely to take the No. 2 job at EPA, beating out a coal industry lobbyist also considered for the job. These examples are representative rather than exceptional. Corporate America has captured the Trump administration. Public Citizen's research has found that more than 70% of Trump's picks for top sub-Cabinet jobs have clear corporate ties. In Trump's Washington, the populism of the campaign has been overtaken by conventional corporate cronyism on a grand scale. After his famous pledge to "drain the swamp," Trump issued a weak executive order allowing former lobbyists to immediately join the administration and then granted waivers to top White House staffers that render the ethics rules largely meaningless. For example, the White House concluded that it is "in the public interest" for Andrew Olmem, a White House aide who formerly lobbied MetLife, American Express and a major insurance trade group, to work on banking and insurance issues."
Trump’s National Anti-Labor Relations Board
Trump’s National Anti-Labor Relations Board:
"The president’s NLRB nominees portend a bleak future for American workers."
"The president’s NLRB nominees portend a bleak future for American workers."
GOP Eager to Repeal Rule that Allows Consumers to Sue Conniving Banks
GOP Eager to Repeal Rule that Allows Consumers to Sue Conniving Banks:
"Since its inception, Republicans have cast the CFPB as a liberal, job-killing, over-regulating, big-government boogeyman—a “rogue” agency with too much power and too little accountability. Meanwhile, the agency’s enforcement initiatives have returned almost $12 billion to some 27 million consumers who were defrauded in the marketplace."
"Since its inception, Republicans have cast the CFPB as a liberal, job-killing, over-regulating, big-government boogeyman—a “rogue” agency with too much power and too little accountability. Meanwhile, the agency’s enforcement initiatives have returned almost $12 billion to some 27 million consumers who were defrauded in the marketplace."
Mitch McConnell Announces Plan To Harm Even More People With Obamacare Repeal Only Bill
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/07/18/mitch-mcconnell-announces-plan-harm-people-obamacare-repeal-bill.html
"A stand alone repeal bill would take health care away from 32 million Americans. It is even worse than repeal and replace. If Republicans couldn’t get 50 votes for their bill that took coverage away from 22 million people, they aren’t going to get 50 votes for a bill that takes coverage away from 32 million people."
"A stand alone repeal bill would take health care away from 32 million Americans. It is even worse than repeal and replace. If Republicans couldn’t get 50 votes for their bill that took coverage away from 22 million people, they aren’t going to get 50 votes for a bill that takes coverage away from 32 million people."
Stephen Colbert kicks off “Russia Week” from the Red Square by joking about Donald Trump Jr.
http://www.salon.com/2017/07/18/stephen-colbert-kicks-off-russia-week-from-the-red-square/
"Stephen Colbert will debut not one, not two, but five field pieces this week that were taped in Russia, as “The Late Show” celebrates “Russia Week” in honor of the possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Eastern European power."
"Stephen Colbert will debut not one, not two, but five field pieces this week that were taped in Russia, as “The Late Show” celebrates “Russia Week” in honor of the possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Eastern European power."
Trump’s Lawyer Embarrassed After Absurd Defense for Russia Meeting is Soundly Debunked
https://forwardprogressives.com/trumps-lawyer-embarrassed-absurd-defense-russia-meeting-soundly-debunked/
"Donald Trump, his family, and the people he surrounds himself with have no ethics, standards, class, or morals. They will say and do anything to save their own backsides. Why anybody would trust anyone with the last name “Trump” is mind-boggling."
"Donald Trump, his family, and the people he surrounds himself with have no ethics, standards, class, or morals. They will say and do anything to save their own backsides. Why anybody would trust anyone with the last name “Trump” is mind-boggling."
Trump admin moves to close cyber office: ‘It’s a step back from everything done over the last ten years’
Trump admin moves to close cyber office: ‘It’s a step back from everything done over the last ten years’
"According to Healey, closing the cyber office “would mean the United States would be the only major country without a lead diplomat to discuss cyber norms and trying to reduce the ever-escalating cyberattacks we see around the world"."
"According to Healey, closing the cyber office “would mean the United States would be the only major country without a lead diplomat to discuss cyber norms and trying to reduce the ever-escalating cyberattacks we see around the world"."
Ali Velshi Deconstructs Trump's 'Made In America' Week | Crooks and Liars
Ali Velshi Deconstructs Trump's 'Made In America' Week | Crooks and Liars
"The White House kicked off a "Made In America" week to try to distract from the Russia scandal. Nice try? Whitehouse.gov writes, "Today, President Donald J. Trump will host companies from across the country at the White House for the Made in America Product Showcase. The White House is highlighting and celebrating each state’s effort and commitment to American made products by bringing in and showing off products from all 50 states that are made and produced in the United States." For any other administration this would be fine, but when it comes to hypocrisy and a man using the Oval Office to enrich his own businesses, it's infuriating."
"The White House kicked off a "Made In America" week to try to distract from the Russia scandal. Nice try? Whitehouse.gov writes, "Today, President Donald J. Trump will host companies from across the country at the White House for the Made in America Product Showcase. The White House is highlighting and celebrating each state’s effort and commitment to American made products by bringing in and showing off products from all 50 states that are made and produced in the United States." For any other administration this would be fine, but when it comes to hypocrisy and a man using the Oval Office to enrich his own businesses, it's infuriating."
Trump lawyer: Secret Service let the Russia meeting happen. Secret Service: Nope.
https://www.vox.com/world/2017/7/17/15982144/jay-sekulow-secret-service-russia-meeting-donald-trump-jr-this-week-abc
"The Secret Service wasn’t going to take that sitting down. In a rare rebuke, it answered Sekulow’s question — and implicitly said he was wrongly trying to use the agency as a political weapon."
"The Secret Service wasn’t going to take that sitting down. In a rare rebuke, it answered Sekulow’s question — and implicitly said he was wrongly trying to use the agency as a political weapon."
Condoms don't work, smoking doesn't kill, GOP is saving Medicaid—the world class lies of Mike Pence
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/17/1681393/-Condoms-don-t-work-smoking-doesn-t-kill-GOP-is-saving-Medicaid-the-world-class-lies-of-Mike-Pence
"His current boss aside, you’d be hard-pressed to name another politician who so openly and freely spews one lie after another."
"His current boss aside, you’d be hard-pressed to name another politician who so openly and freely spews one lie after another."
How Paul Ryan’s Hypocritical Fiscal Hysteria Threatens Working Families
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2017/07/17/435874/paul-ryans-hypocritical-fiscal-hysteria-threatens-working-families/
"Speaker Ryan is a master at co-opting anti-deficit rhetoric to advance his agenda without being held accountable for the fiscal reality of the policies he supports. When George W. Bush was president, Rep. Ryan voted for tax cuts in 2001 and 2003, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a Medicare prescription drug benefit.32 Lawmakers did not pay for any of these policies. During the Bush administration, large budget surpluses turned into deficits.33 Despite this history, the conventional wisdom has been that Speaker Ryan is a “budget hawk,” and that was how the Ryan budget was marketed to the American people."
"Speaker Ryan is a master at co-opting anti-deficit rhetoric to advance his agenda without being held accountable for the fiscal reality of the policies he supports. When George W. Bush was president, Rep. Ryan voted for tax cuts in 2001 and 2003, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a Medicare prescription drug benefit.32 Lawmakers did not pay for any of these policies. During the Bush administration, large budget surpluses turned into deficits.33 Despite this history, the conventional wisdom has been that Speaker Ryan is a “budget hawk,” and that was how the Ryan budget was marketed to the American people."
Trump grudgingly admits Obama’s Iran nuclear deal is working
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-grudgingly-admits-obamas-iran-nuclear-deal-working
"The New York Times reports that Donald Trump had an hour-long meeting with his top national security advisers last week, including the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the White House National Security Advisor, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They all told the president the same thing: he needs to preserve the international nuclear agreement with Iran. Trump, however, reportedly spent 55 minutes of the 60-minute meeting “telling them he did not want to"."
"The New York Times reports that Donald Trump had an hour-long meeting with his top national security advisers last week, including the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the White House National Security Advisor, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They all told the president the same thing: he needs to preserve the international nuclear agreement with Iran. Trump, however, reportedly spent 55 minutes of the 60-minute meeting “telling them he did not want to"."
Kansas, Sam Brownback, and the Trickle-Down Implosion
Kansas, Sam Brownback, and the Trickle-Down Implosion:
"The lessons of Sam Brownback’s disastrous experiment have become all the more important nationally as President Trump, whose economic doctrine is cut from the same cloth napkin on which Arthur Laffer first sketched his supply-side curve more than 40 years ago, tries to advance a similarly radical series of tax cuts in Washington. (Indeed, Brownback flew Laffer out to Kansas in 2012, where he was paid $75,000 to advise the legislature on the wisdom of slashing taxes, promising astounding dividends of economic growth in exchange.) Trump’s proposed budget echoes the Kansas experiment, slashing income tax rates for the wealthiest few and calling for a drastic rate cut for pass-through entities—a move that would inflict Brownback’s LLC debacle on the nation. Brownback’s should be a cautionary tale, of course, for the Republicans in Congress and the White House. Should they slash the provision of affordable health coverage to cut taxes for the rich, should they decimate government services while eliminating taxes on the wealthiest Americans, all their invocations of trickle-down economics—that the rich will invest their tax savings in job-creating enterprises, a theory disproved again, again, and again—ultimately won’t win them popular support. The fate of Sam Brownback—scorned by his state, overridden by his legislature, rejected by his party—should make that crystal clear."
"The lessons of Sam Brownback’s disastrous experiment have become all the more important nationally as President Trump, whose economic doctrine is cut from the same cloth napkin on which Arthur Laffer first sketched his supply-side curve more than 40 years ago, tries to advance a similarly radical series of tax cuts in Washington. (Indeed, Brownback flew Laffer out to Kansas in 2012, where he was paid $75,000 to advise the legislature on the wisdom of slashing taxes, promising astounding dividends of economic growth in exchange.) Trump’s proposed budget echoes the Kansas experiment, slashing income tax rates for the wealthiest few and calling for a drastic rate cut for pass-through entities—a move that would inflict Brownback’s LLC debacle on the nation. Brownback’s should be a cautionary tale, of course, for the Republicans in Congress and the White House. Should they slash the provision of affordable health coverage to cut taxes for the rich, should they decimate government services while eliminating taxes on the wealthiest Americans, all their invocations of trickle-down economics—that the rich will invest their tax savings in job-creating enterprises, a theory disproved again, again, and again—ultimately won’t win them popular support. The fate of Sam Brownback—scorned by his state, overridden by his legislature, rejected by his party—should make that crystal clear."
Who Is Wilbur Ross?
Who Is Wilbur Ross?:
"Ross represents a class of people who put their own individual interests first, above all else. Their gains come at the expense of others—not only workers, suppliers, or creditors, but their own investors as well. While Ross was profiteering from bankruptcy proceedings at the expense of creditors and taking health and pension benefits from workers, he was mistreating his own investors as well."
"Ross represents a class of people who put their own individual interests first, above all else. Their gains come at the expense of others—not only workers, suppliers, or creditors, but their own investors as well. While Ross was profiteering from bankruptcy proceedings at the expense of creditors and taking health and pension benefits from workers, he was mistreating his own investors as well."
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Mysterious 8th person at Trump Jr. meeting allegedly ran massive Russian money-laundering scheme
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-jr-meeting-ikakly-kaveladze-russian-money-laundering-scheme-9986f528982a
"Kaveladze is represented by Scott Balber, who has previously represented Donald Trump."
"Kaveladze is represented by Scott Balber, who has previously represented Donald Trump."
It Was Always About the Money
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a56395/trump-russia-money/
"It was always about the money. The reason we never saw the tax returns was because of what they would show about the money. The reason we can't get a straight answer about the family's dealings with the Russians is the money. Preet Bharara got fired because of the money and how the money had been allegedly laundered. James Comey got fired because of the money. Without the money, specifically the money from Russia, the Trump empire likely would have collapsed under a hail of writs and the paterfamilias would have been rendered invisible, even in the mirrors of Mar-a-Lago. It always was about the money. The meeting on June 6, 2016 ultimately was about the money, as we learned today from CNN. The network reported that it had identified the eighth participant in that now-famous Trump Tower confab. Contrary to the previous load of hooey dispensed by Junior and the first family, this dude was not a translator. Ike Kaveladze's identity was confirmed by his attorney, Scott Balber. Kaveladze is a senior vice president at Crocus Group, the real estate development company run by Azerbaijani-Russian oligarch Aras Agalarov, according to Kaveladze's LinkedIn. His personal website says he "holds responsibility for multiple elements of the company's Russian development project"."
"It was always about the money. The reason we never saw the tax returns was because of what they would show about the money. The reason we can't get a straight answer about the family's dealings with the Russians is the money. Preet Bharara got fired because of the money and how the money had been allegedly laundered. James Comey got fired because of the money. Without the money, specifically the money from Russia, the Trump empire likely would have collapsed under a hail of writs and the paterfamilias would have been rendered invisible, even in the mirrors of Mar-a-Lago. It always was about the money. The meeting on June 6, 2016 ultimately was about the money, as we learned today from CNN. The network reported that it had identified the eighth participant in that now-famous Trump Tower confab. Contrary to the previous load of hooey dispensed by Junior and the first family, this dude was not a translator. Ike Kaveladze's identity was confirmed by his attorney, Scott Balber. Kaveladze is a senior vice president at Crocus Group, the real estate development company run by Azerbaijani-Russian oligarch Aras Agalarov, according to Kaveladze's LinkedIn. His personal website says he "holds responsibility for multiple elements of the company's Russian development project"."
Trump and Putin had a second, undisclosed meeting during the G-20 summit
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-putin-second-undisclosed-meeting-be81ab9b0ece
"If Trump did say something “out of school,” it wouldn’t be the first time he had done so while meeting privately with a top Russian official. In May, while speaking to the Russian foreign minister and another Russian diplomat in the Oval Office, he disclosed classified Israeli intelligence and bragged that he had successfully squashed an FBI investigation into his campaign’s alleged links with the Kremlin. The investigation is, in fact, still ongoing. People close to the Trump administration seem to have a habit of conducting undisclosed conversations with representatives of the Russian government — including not only the president himself, but his former national security adviser, his attorney general, and his own son."
"If Trump did say something “out of school,” it wouldn’t be the first time he had done so while meeting privately with a top Russian official. In May, while speaking to the Russian foreign minister and another Russian diplomat in the Oval Office, he disclosed classified Israeli intelligence and bragged that he had successfully squashed an FBI investigation into his campaign’s alleged links with the Kremlin. The investigation is, in fact, still ongoing. People close to the Trump administration seem to have a habit of conducting undisclosed conversations with representatives of the Russian government — including not only the president himself, but his former national security adviser, his attorney general, and his own son."
How Circa, a Sinclair Broadcast Group subsidiary, rebuilt itself as a pro-Trump outlet
http://www.salon.com/2017/07/16/the-daily-beast-details-how-circa-a-sinclair-broadcast-group-subsidiary-rebuilt-itself-as-a-pro-trump-outlet_partner/
"In 2015, Sinclair bought Circa, which The Wall Street Journal described at the time as a “defunct mobile news site.” Sinclair has a history of pushing right-wing commentary that has been compared to “propaganda” and of selectively omitting stories that don’t fit its agenda. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner reportedly“struck a deal” with Sinclair during the campaign to “secure better media coverage” for then-candidate Donald Trump in exchange for “more access to Trump and the campaign.” Additionally, Sinclair has also made a series of conservative hires, including discredited former CBS reporter Sharyl Attkisson and former Trump White House aide Boris Epshteyn. Just this week, Sinclair announced it would be tripling the number of segments featuring Epshteyn that are sent to stations as “must-run” packages — a typical practice for the company."
"In 2015, Sinclair bought Circa, which The Wall Street Journal described at the time as a “defunct mobile news site.” Sinclair has a history of pushing right-wing commentary that has been compared to “propaganda” and of selectively omitting stories that don’t fit its agenda. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner reportedly“struck a deal” with Sinclair during the campaign to “secure better media coverage” for then-candidate Donald Trump in exchange for “more access to Trump and the campaign.” Additionally, Sinclair has also made a series of conservative hires, including discredited former CBS reporter Sharyl Attkisson and former Trump White House aide Boris Epshteyn. Just this week, Sinclair announced it would be tripling the number of segments featuring Epshteyn that are sent to stations as “must-run” packages — a typical practice for the company."
The wrong president to tout ‘Made in America’ week
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-wrong-president-tout-made-america-week
"What this week’s events will likely exclude is an exploration of Trump’s business practices, which have relied on product manufacturing in “a global network of factories in a dozen countries – including Bangladesh, China and Mexico.” Trump administration officials hosted a background briefing with reporters yesterday to highlight this week’s events. Asked whether the White House intends to comment about the Trump Organization’s outsourcing, a spokesperson said, “We’ll get back to you on that.” If there’s any follow-through, I’ll be curious to see what Team Trump comes up with. After all, the president, his populist-sounding rhetoric notwithstanding, has “sold foreign-made products under his name for years” and has relied extensively on foreign-made products for his hotels and properties. Trump clearly sees “Made in America” as a political winner and, as was the case during the campaign, assumes most of the public won’t look too closely at his own record on the subject."
"What this week’s events will likely exclude is an exploration of Trump’s business practices, which have relied on product manufacturing in “a global network of factories in a dozen countries – including Bangladesh, China and Mexico.” Trump administration officials hosted a background briefing with reporters yesterday to highlight this week’s events. Asked whether the White House intends to comment about the Trump Organization’s outsourcing, a spokesperson said, “We’ll get back to you on that.” If there’s any follow-through, I’ll be curious to see what Team Trump comes up with. After all, the president, his populist-sounding rhetoric notwithstanding, has “sold foreign-made products under his name for years” and has relied extensively on foreign-made products for his hotels and properties. Trump clearly sees “Made in America” as a political winner and, as was the case during the campaign, assumes most of the public won’t look too closely at his own record on the subject."
Why Republicans Want the 2020 Census to Fail
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/why-republicans-want-the-2020-census-to-fail-w492666
"Under cover of the non-stop Trump circus, they are quietly working behind the scenes to ensure that the 2020 census fails – and fails to their advantage."
"Under cover of the non-stop Trump circus, they are quietly working behind the scenes to ensure that the 2020 census fails – and fails to their advantage."
Trump’s lawyer makes a curious argument about the Secret Service
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trumps-lawyer-makes-curious-argument-about-the-secret-service
"In a statement released yesterday, a spokesperson for the Secret Service said Donald Trump Jr., who helped organize the meeting in order to receive campaign information from the Russian government, did not have a protective detail at the time. “Donald Trump, Jr. was not a protectee of the USSS in June, 2016,” the statement said. “Thus we would not have screened anyone he was meeting with at that time.” It’s worth noting for context that the Secret Service rarely weighs in on political debates, but with the president’s lawyer giving misleading information about the agency’s work to a national television audience, the Secret Service apparently felt the need to clarify matters yesterday."
"In a statement released yesterday, a spokesperson for the Secret Service said Donald Trump Jr., who helped organize the meeting in order to receive campaign information from the Russian government, did not have a protective detail at the time. “Donald Trump, Jr. was not a protectee of the USSS in June, 2016,” the statement said. “Thus we would not have screened anyone he was meeting with at that time.” It’s worth noting for context that the Secret Service rarely weighs in on political debates, but with the president’s lawyer giving misleading information about the agency’s work to a national television audience, the Secret Service apparently felt the need to clarify matters yesterday."
On infamous Russia meeting, Trump’s story keeps evolving
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/infamous-russia-meeting-trumps-story-keeps-evolving
"We’ve gone from denials of contacts to denials of collusion to a bogus narrative about adoption policy to an argument that colluding with foreign nationals to win an election is just “politics.” When politicians argue, more than once, that we should disregard their previous claims and only focus on their new claims, there’s a problem."
"We’ve gone from denials of contacts to denials of collusion to a bogus narrative about adoption policy to an argument that colluding with foreign nationals to win an election is just “politics.” When politicians argue, more than once, that we should disregard their previous claims and only focus on their new claims, there’s a problem."
Fox News moves from slanted reporting, to active involvement in cover-up of collusion
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/17/1681442/-Fox-News-appears-to-move-from-slated-reporting-to-active-involvement-in-cover-up-of-collusion
"Who told Fox News to move from the position that there was no collusion, to the idea that collusion wasn’t wrong?"
"Who told Fox News to move from the position that there was no collusion, to the idea that collusion wasn’t wrong?"
Around Half of Trump Voters Don't Believe Don Junior Met with Russians Despite Repeated Confessions
https://thedailybanter.com/2017/07/half-of-trump-voters-dont-believe-don-junior/
"Yeah, so it appears as if a majority of Trump voters don't believe that Junior met with Russian government operatives even though Junior, as well as the president himself, confessed that the meeting took place. He not only confessed, but he did so in writing. Further verifying the meeting, Trump tweeted about it today, making it seem as if the obvious collusion was politics-as-usual. While we're here, it's more than a little hilarious to see the president and his fanboys on Fox News defending this meeting as if it was no big deal -- as if there aren't countless other reports illustrating the broader extent of the Trump-Russia conspiracy to hijack the 2016 election. Even if Junior's meeting was nothing (it's not nothing -- it's treason), there are so many other fronts in this story, many of which are being actively pursued by congressional committees and, naturally, the special counsel and his team of "untouchables." Don't be shocked if you overhear Trumpers denying the roundness of the Earth, or that humans can't breathe under water. When a majority of Republican Trump voters are this detached from objective reality, especially knowing that reality, or a version of reality, has been confirmed by their own guys, including Trump, they're willing to believe or disbelieve anything. Are they unaware of the confession? Maybe. It's unclear whether Fox News is spending much time on the story, given how the confession is what it is -- concrete verification of a criminal conspiracy to meddle with the election and beyond. But if they're aware of the confession and yet refuse to accept it, it proves that around half of Trump's voters are completely delusional and disconnected from reality. It also indicates that it'll be nearly impossible for any of them to be redeemed and returned to sanity."
"Yeah, so it appears as if a majority of Trump voters don't believe that Junior met with Russian government operatives even though Junior, as well as the president himself, confessed that the meeting took place. He not only confessed, but he did so in writing. Further verifying the meeting, Trump tweeted about it today, making it seem as if the obvious collusion was politics-as-usual. While we're here, it's more than a little hilarious to see the president and his fanboys on Fox News defending this meeting as if it was no big deal -- as if there aren't countless other reports illustrating the broader extent of the Trump-Russia conspiracy to hijack the 2016 election. Even if Junior's meeting was nothing (it's not nothing -- it's treason), there are so many other fronts in this story, many of which are being actively pursued by congressional committees and, naturally, the special counsel and his team of "untouchables." Don't be shocked if you overhear Trumpers denying the roundness of the Earth, or that humans can't breathe under water. When a majority of Republican Trump voters are this detached from objective reality, especially knowing that reality, or a version of reality, has been confirmed by their own guys, including Trump, they're willing to believe or disbelieve anything. Are they unaware of the confession? Maybe. It's unclear whether Fox News is spending much time on the story, given how the confession is what it is -- concrete verification of a criminal conspiracy to meddle with the election and beyond. But if they're aware of the confession and yet refuse to accept it, it proves that around half of Trump's voters are completely delusional and disconnected from reality. It also indicates that it'll be nearly impossible for any of them to be redeemed and returned to sanity."
White House announces 'Made in America' week, refuses to say if Trump family will, you know, do that
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/17/1681389/-White-House-announces-Made-in-America-week-refuses-to-say-if-Trump-family-will-you-know-do-that
"In fact, Made in America week seems to have been crafted for the singular purpose of giving all of America's media outlets a fresh chance to mock the Trump family's notorious inability to make their products in America. We know the White House brain trust has been preoccupied as of late, but it still seems like they perhaps ought to have better thought this one through."
"In fact, Made in America week seems to have been crafted for the singular purpose of giving all of America's media outlets a fresh chance to mock the Trump family's notorious inability to make their products in America. We know the White House brain trust has been preoccupied as of late, but it still seems like they perhaps ought to have better thought this one through."
This is how the Kochs’ anti-renewable agenda becomes White House policy
https://thinkprogress.org/obscure-think-tank-gains-influence-1644feb0b813
"President-elect Donald Trump raised eyebrows late last year when he named the head of an obscure right-wing think tank, with close ties to petrochemical billionaires Charles and David Koch, to lead his energy transition team. Since then, officials from the Institute for Energy Research (IER) have been appointed to high-level positions at the Department of Energy where they are playing major roles in implementing pro-fossil fuel, anti-renewable energy policies."
"President-elect Donald Trump raised eyebrows late last year when he named the head of an obscure right-wing think tank, with close ties to petrochemical billionaires Charles and David Koch, to lead his energy transition team. Since then, officials from the Institute for Energy Research (IER) have been appointed to high-level positions at the Department of Energy where they are playing major roles in implementing pro-fossil fuel, anti-renewable energy policies."
More people support Trump impeachment now than Nixon at the start of Watergate
https://thinkprogress.org/more-people-support-trump-impeachment-now-than-nixon-at-the-start-of-watergate-2a8f8a672ba0
"This comes at a time when Trump’s approval ratings are at an all-time low, just 6 months after taking office. A Washington Post/ABC poll released Sunday put Trump’s approval rating at 36%, down 6 points from April. A Bloomberg poll from Monday, meanwhile, puts him at 40%. These results also mirror Nixon’s own ratings at the same point in his presidency — 39% approval, 49% disapproval. 1973 was a critical year for Watergate. It is the year Senate hearings were televised, a special prosecutor was appointed (and later fired in the “Saturday Night Massacre” which additionally led to resignations of the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General), and Nixon declared that he was “not a crook.” All the while, his approval ratings did not reach the level of Trump’s current ratings until after the “Watergate Seven” were indicted, 4 months before Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974. Trump has one advantage that Nixon did not: a shield of Republican lawmakers in Congress."
"This comes at a time when Trump’s approval ratings are at an all-time low, just 6 months after taking office. A Washington Post/ABC poll released Sunday put Trump’s approval rating at 36%, down 6 points from April. A Bloomberg poll from Monday, meanwhile, puts him at 40%. These results also mirror Nixon’s own ratings at the same point in his presidency — 39% approval, 49% disapproval. 1973 was a critical year for Watergate. It is the year Senate hearings were televised, a special prosecutor was appointed (and later fired in the “Saturday Night Massacre” which additionally led to resignations of the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General), and Nixon declared that he was “not a crook.” All the while, his approval ratings did not reach the level of Trump’s current ratings until after the “Watergate Seven” were indicted, 4 months before Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974. Trump has one advantage that Nixon did not: a shield of Republican lawmakers in Congress."
Tom Price Says Insurers Should ‘Dust Off How They Did Business Before Obamacare’
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tom-price-insurers-obamacare_us_596b76fae4b01741862825c6?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
"Prior to Obamacare, 79 million — more than one in four Americans — either lacked health insurance or were underinsured."
"Prior to Obamacare, 79 million — more than one in four Americans — either lacked health insurance or were underinsured."
Joy Reid Humiliates Trump Defender, Fact-Checks His Conspiracy Theory Live (Video)
https://forwardprogressives.com/joy-reid-humiliates-trump-defender-fact-checks-conspiracy-theory/
"We need more people to do what Joy Reid did on Sunday by fact-checking the lies and conspiracies conservatives are out there trying to con people into believing live, on-air, directly to their faces."
"We need more people to do what Joy Reid did on Sunday by fact-checking the lies and conspiracies conservatives are out there trying to con people into believing live, on-air, directly to their faces."
Trump Announces 'Made In America Week', But Family Merchandise Still Made in Asian Sweat Shops
https://thedailybanter.com/2017/07/trump-proclaims-made-in-america-week/
"Trump is holding a "Made In America Showcase" on Monday afternoon, but he'll be about the only thing there named Trump that was produced in this country. On Wednesday he is supposed to sign a "Made In America Week" proclamation."
"Trump is holding a "Made In America Showcase" on Monday afternoon, but he'll be about the only thing there named Trump that was produced in this country. On Wednesday he is supposed to sign a "Made In America Week" proclamation."
You Won't Believe How Much Time Trump Has Actually Spent Playing Golf Since He Took Office @alternet
You Won't Believe How Much Time Trump Has Actually Spent Playing Golf Since He Took Office @alternet: He's visited courses three time more frequently than his past three predecessors combined. When he wasn't questioning Obama's place of birth, Donald Trump spent much of the latter's presidency criticizing him for playing too much golf. But new research finds that Trump has hit the links nearly a quarter of his days in office—22 percent, or 37 of his first 170 days.
Office of Government Ethics head: America is 'pretty close to a laughingstock at this point'
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/17/1681429/-Office-of-Government-Ethics-head-America-is-pretty-close-to-a-laughingstock-at-this-point
"Outgoing Office of Government Ethics head Walter Shaub has made it loud and clear that he's resigning due to the agency's inability to enforce much of anything in the face of the ethics-averse Donald Trump."
"Outgoing Office of Government Ethics head Walter Shaub has made it loud and clear that he's resigning due to the agency's inability to enforce much of anything in the face of the ethics-averse Donald Trump."
You need to watch this senator go after Trump budget on official who won't answer simple question
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/14/1680841/-You-need-to-watch-Senator-go-after-Trump-budget-on-official-who-won-t-answer-simple-budget-question
"Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester has been very vocal about how bogus the Trump administration’s positions on virtually everything under the sun are, and his exchange with Weahkee typifies how through the looking glass things are and how infuriating the abnormality of an oligarchical hostile takeover is."
"Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester has been very vocal about how bogus the Trump administration’s positions on virtually everything under the sun are, and his exchange with Weahkee typifies how through the looking glass things are and how infuriating the abnormality of an oligarchical hostile takeover is."
REVEALED: Trump 2020 campaign paid $50,000 to Trump Jr’s lawyer two weeks before emails came out
REVEALED: Trump 2020 campaign paid $50,000 to Trump Jr’s lawyer two weeks before emails came out
"President Trump’s re-election campaign paying his namesake son’s criminal defense attorney was not the only bombshell in the Federal Election Commission reports, which were released Saturday. The Trump re-election campaign also payed $89,561 to the Trump Corporation for legal services, just three days after the payment to Futerfas."
"President Trump’s re-election campaign paying his namesake son’s criminal defense attorney was not the only bombshell in the Federal Election Commission reports, which were released Saturday. The Trump re-election campaign also payed $89,561 to the Trump Corporation for legal services, just three days after the payment to Futerfas."
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Donald Trump’s deep connections to dirty Russian money: The trail leads back more than 30 years
http://www.salon.com/2017/07/14/donald-trumps-deep-connections-to-dirty-russian-money-its-a-trail-that-leads-back-more-than-30-years/
"criminals and oligarchs lived in and ran illegal activities out of Trump properties, including Trump Tower in Manhattan, for more than 30 years. They provided Trump with some of his most lucrative branding deals, the ones in which he was not required to make any personal investment. The unending flow of Russian money, Unger writes, that “provided Trump with a crucial infusion of financing that helped rescue his empire from ruin, burnish his image, and launch his career in television and politics"."
"criminals and oligarchs lived in and ran illegal activities out of Trump properties, including Trump Tower in Manhattan, for more than 30 years. They provided Trump with some of his most lucrative branding deals, the ones in which he was not required to make any personal investment. The unending flow of Russian money, Unger writes, that “provided Trump with a crucial infusion of financing that helped rescue his empire from ruin, burnish his image, and launch his career in television and politics"."
Donald Trump Is Lying About When He Knew of Junior's Meeting with a Russian Lawyer @alternet
Donald Trump Is Lying About When He Knew of Junior's Meeting with a Russian Lawyer @alternet:
"There was no meeting. Except there was. It was just about adoptions. Except it wasn’t. Junior didn’t know the people involved. Except the family friends and business partners. It wasn’t as if the whole meeting was introduced as just one part of a high-level Russian government effort to assist Donald Trump in securing the White House through illegal means. Except, that’s exactly how it was pitched, and how it was joyfully received."
"There was no meeting. Except there was. It was just about adoptions. Except it wasn’t. Junior didn’t know the people involved. Except the family friends and business partners. It wasn’t as if the whole meeting was introduced as just one part of a high-level Russian government effort to assist Donald Trump in securing the White House through illegal means. Except, that’s exactly how it was pitched, and how it was joyfully received."
Jared Kushner updated his security form, suddenly remembered more than 100 foreign contacts
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/13/1680282/-Jared-Kushner-updated-his-security-form-suddenly-remembered-100-foreign-contacts-during-campaign
"It is perplexing he was granted top secret clearance at all given how incomplete the initial form was when he submitted it. And now we know he privately, covertly met with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya and Rinat Akhmetshin, who Sen. Chuck Grassley described as ”a former Russian military intelligence officer who acts as an “unregistered agent for Russian interests and apparently has ties to Russian intelligence.” When you add it all up, it is extremely troubling Jared Kushner still has top secret clearance."
"It is perplexing he was granted top secret clearance at all given how incomplete the initial form was when he submitted it. And now we know he privately, covertly met with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya and Rinat Akhmetshin, who Sen. Chuck Grassley described as ”a former Russian military intelligence officer who acts as an “unregistered agent for Russian interests and apparently has ties to Russian intelligence.” When you add it all up, it is extremely troubling Jared Kushner still has top secret clearance."
Russia scandal goes well beyond Trump: GOP leaders definitely knew about hacking — did they benefit too?
http://www.salon.com/2017/07/13/russia-scandal-goes-well-beyond-trump-gop-leaders-definitely-knew-about-it-and-went-along-did-they-benefit-too/
"Fast forward to late August when the intelligence community was becoming frantic over the evidence of Russian interference and Director of National Intelligence John Brennan held private classified briefings with eight top congressional leaders, telling then that there was evidence the Russians were helping Donald Trump and that unnamed advisers to the Republican nominee might be working with them. In September, intelligence officials convened a big meeting with the Gang of 12, meaning the House and Senate leadership along with chairmen and ranking members of committees on intelligence and homeland security. It was assumed this would result in a “show of solidarity and bipartisan unity” to protest this threat to the integrity of the American democratic process. That was an erroneous assumption. The Republicans refused to sign anything that implicated the Russian government, only agreeing to tell state elections officials to beware of “malefactors” attempting to hack election software. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly said he would consider any effort by the White House to challenge the Russians publicly “an act of partisan politics.” That was that."
"Fast forward to late August when the intelligence community was becoming frantic over the evidence of Russian interference and Director of National Intelligence John Brennan held private classified briefings with eight top congressional leaders, telling then that there was evidence the Russians were helping Donald Trump and that unnamed advisers to the Republican nominee might be working with them. In September, intelligence officials convened a big meeting with the Gang of 12, meaning the House and Senate leadership along with chairmen and ranking members of committees on intelligence and homeland security. It was assumed this would result in a “show of solidarity and bipartisan unity” to protest this threat to the integrity of the American democratic process. That was an erroneous assumption. The Republicans refused to sign anything that implicated the Russian government, only agreeing to tell state elections officials to beware of “malefactors” attempting to hack election software. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly said he would consider any effort by the White House to challenge the Russians publicly “an act of partisan politics.” That was that."
Fox News' Charles Krauthammer Torches Conservatives Pretending Donald Jr. Wasn't Colluding with Russians @alternet
Fox News' Charles Krauthammer Torches Conservatives Pretending Donald Jr. Wasn't Colluding with Russians @alternet:
"Contributing editor to the conservative Weekly Standard and Fox News panelist has blasted the defense being offered for the actions of Donald Trump, Jr."
"Contributing editor to the conservative Weekly Standard and Fox News panelist has blasted the defense being offered for the actions of Donald Trump, Jr."
Conservative David Frum: Donald Trump has made liars out of all Republicans
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/13/1680241/-Conservative-David-Frum-Donald-Trump-has-made-liars-out-of-all-Republicans
"what Donald Trump has reduced the Republican Party to and why. "Well I mentioned in an earlier segment how completely disoriented Republicans are this week," David Frum said. "I mean it is a bizarre thing if you're following social media or watching Fox News to watch some of the very cynical reactions. But understand the rug has been pulled out of everybody.Donald Trump has done to the entire Republican Party what he's so often done to his designated White House spokesman. He has made liars out of all of them. They have for months been repeating no evidence of collusion, no evidence of collusion, it's a hoax, it's a made-up story. And today Donald Trump is saying it's fine. Actually, it's all true. And it was a good thing. And anybody would do it. And now how does a Paul Ryan react? What is the answer he can give? He doesn't know where this story goes. The story can only get bigger. He must sense he is in a race against time to pass the measures he wants to pass before the bottom falls out. And he must also sense he's losing that race against time"."
"what Donald Trump has reduced the Republican Party to and why. "Well I mentioned in an earlier segment how completely disoriented Republicans are this week," David Frum said. "I mean it is a bizarre thing if you're following social media or watching Fox News to watch some of the very cynical reactions. But understand the rug has been pulled out of everybody.Donald Trump has done to the entire Republican Party what he's so often done to his designated White House spokesman. He has made liars out of all of them. They have for months been repeating no evidence of collusion, no evidence of collusion, it's a hoax, it's a made-up story. And today Donald Trump is saying it's fine. Actually, it's all true. And it was a good thing. And anybody would do it. And now how does a Paul Ryan react? What is the answer he can give? He doesn't know where this story goes. The story can only get bigger. He must sense he is in a race against time to pass the measures he wants to pass before the bottom falls out. And he must also sense he's losing that race against time"."
White House releases personal info of people mad that their personal info might be released
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/15/1680858/-Trump-commission-releases-personal-info-of-people-mad-that-their-personal-info-might-be-released
"So I guess now there is a penalty for exercising one’s constitutional right to petition the government for redress of grievances. And the penalty is White House collusion in your identity theft. The Russian Mob sure is getting their money’s worth."
"So I guess now there is a penalty for exercising one’s constitutional right to petition the government for redress of grievances. And the penalty is White House collusion in your identity theft. The Russian Mob sure is getting their money’s worth."
Trump’s voter fraud commission turns transparency into intimidation: White House publishes personal information of concerned citizens
http://www.salon.com/2017/07/14/trumps-voter-fraud-commission-turns-transparency-into-intimidation-white-house-publishes-personal-information-of-concerned-citizens/
"The White House’s decision to publish the emails that contain the names, and in some cases, phone numbers, home addresses and places of employment of people concerned that Trump’s commission would make such information public was no accident."
"The White House’s decision to publish the emails that contain the names, and in some cases, phone numbers, home addresses and places of employment of people concerned that Trump’s commission would make such information public was no accident."
Once and for all: Obama didn’t crush US coal, and Trump can’t save it
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/4/28/15465348/obama-trump-regulations-coal
"What’s distasteful about the whole thing is that Trump has won the allegiance of coal communities by reinforcing and amplifying the same lie they have been told by right-wing media and politicians for years: that Obama’s pollution regulations on the US coal industry are responsible for its (and their) recent woes. It’s not true. And the information that shows it’s not true is easily available, so they should know it’s not true. Many probably do. But it is a convenient lie, one that riles up a reliable political constituency and serves as a bludgeon in the culture war. It is not, however, a benign lie. The struggles facing Appalachian coal country are very real. Unemployment, ill health, drug addiction, stress, and depression have ravaged the region. Now thousands of retired coal miners are in danger of losing their pensions and health care benefits. (Guess who has refused to schedule a vote on a bill that would address that crisis? One Addison Mitchell McConnell, Republican leader of the Senate. Guess who had a plan to funnel $30 billion to suffering Appalachian communities? One Hillary Rodham Clinton, the competent, boring president America might have had, if not for emails.) It does people in the region no good to believe that coal jobs will come roaring back once pesky pollution regulations are overturned. It sets them up for more disappointment and wastes time and energy they could be devoting to finding a new and better future for their communities."
"What’s distasteful about the whole thing is that Trump has won the allegiance of coal communities by reinforcing and amplifying the same lie they have been told by right-wing media and politicians for years: that Obama’s pollution regulations on the US coal industry are responsible for its (and their) recent woes. It’s not true. And the information that shows it’s not true is easily available, so they should know it’s not true. Many probably do. But it is a convenient lie, one that riles up a reliable political constituency and serves as a bludgeon in the culture war. It is not, however, a benign lie. The struggles facing Appalachian coal country are very real. Unemployment, ill health, drug addiction, stress, and depression have ravaged the region. Now thousands of retired coal miners are in danger of losing their pensions and health care benefits. (Guess who has refused to schedule a vote on a bill that would address that crisis? One Addison Mitchell McConnell, Republican leader of the Senate. Guess who had a plan to funnel $30 billion to suffering Appalachian communities? One Hillary Rodham Clinton, the competent, boring president America might have had, if not for emails.) It does people in the region no good to believe that coal jobs will come roaring back once pesky pollution regulations are overturned. It sets them up for more disappointment and wastes time and energy they could be devoting to finding a new and better future for their communities."
Republican voters turn against book learning as the party's enstupiding accelerates
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/7/15/1679438/-Republican-voters-turn-against-book-learning-as-the-party-s-enstupiding-accelerates
"a Republican base that believes the first black president is probably a Kenyan because (insert Rush Limbaugh farting noises here) while being convinced that The Entire Worldwide Community Of Scientists is plotting against humanity and only the noble truth-tellers of Ma and Pa Oil Company can defeat them can go straight to hell, postage-paid. This is all while we watch them eagerly support presidential corruption and, just for good measure, foreign espionage efforts so long as Team Red tells them to there's at least some merit in noting for the record that the majority of the party is as dumb as a box of rocks and twice as stubborn. Is science telling you things you don't want to hear? Declare science the enemy. Is the media reporting news that makes you feel bad inside? Declare the news to be invalid. Is college turning out people who are able to read charts and graphs and numbers on their own without Sean Hannity's shouty explanations as to why Numbers are Bad? Burn them down. That way we will never have to hear bad news again, not now, not when Florida is underwater, not ever."
"a Republican base that believes the first black president is probably a Kenyan because (insert Rush Limbaugh farting noises here) while being convinced that The Entire Worldwide Community Of Scientists is plotting against humanity and only the noble truth-tellers of Ma and Pa Oil Company can defeat them can go straight to hell, postage-paid. This is all while we watch them eagerly support presidential corruption and, just for good measure, foreign espionage efforts so long as Team Red tells them to there's at least some merit in noting for the record that the majority of the party is as dumb as a box of rocks and twice as stubborn. Is science telling you things you don't want to hear? Declare science the enemy. Is the media reporting news that makes you feel bad inside? Declare the news to be invalid. Is college turning out people who are able to read charts and graphs and numbers on their own without Sean Hannity's shouty explanations as to why Numbers are Bad? Burn them down. That way we will never have to hear bad news again, not now, not when Florida is underwater, not ever."
Beyond Crazy Tweets, Sanders Says Policies Expose Trump 'For Fraud He Is'
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/07/13/beyond-crazy-tweets-sanders-says-policies-expose-trump-fraud-he
"Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) urged opponents of President Donald Trump to not allow his "stupid tweets" to distract attention from his "destructive" policies, which include a healthcare plan that could strip insurance from 22 million people and tax proposals that would provide generous cuts to the rich and hikes for the middle class."
"Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) urged opponents of President Donald Trump to not allow his "stupid tweets" to distract attention from his "destructive" policies, which include a healthcare plan that could strip insurance from 22 million people and tax proposals that would provide generous cuts to the rich and hikes for the middle class."
'Total Garbage': Senate GOP's New Trumpcare Bill Even Worse Than Original
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/07/13/total-garbage-senate-gops-new-trumpcare-bill-even-worse-original
"Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who spent this past weekend rallying the Trumpcare opposition in West Virginia and Kentucky, reiterated a point he has made frequently in recent months. "Make no mistake about it," he wrote, "thousands of Americans every year will die unnecessarily if the Republican legislation is passed"."
"Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who spent this past weekend rallying the Trumpcare opposition in West Virginia and Kentucky, reiterated a point he has made frequently in recent months. "Make no mistake about it," he wrote, "thousands of Americans every year will die unnecessarily if the Republican legislation is passed"."
New Health Care Bill Proves GOP Promises On Pre-Existing Conditions Were Never Serious
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/gop-senate-health-care-bill-preexisting-conditions_us_5967b4c6e4b03389bb15e1fe?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
"If you have medical problems, this proposal probably won’t be good for you."
"If you have medical problems, this proposal probably won’t be good for you."
Republican Steve King's Astonishing Cruelty isn't the Exception, it's the Norm
https://thedailybanter.com/2017/07/republican-steve-kings-astonishing-cruelty-isnt-the-exception-its-the-norm/
"It should be remembered that the Republican Party, in collusion with Donald Trump, is attempting to pass a health care bill that could kill roughly 24,000 Americans a year. The Republican Party and Donald Trump are also seeking to slash $10.6 billion from federal education initiatives that include after-school programs for the poorest students in America."
"It should be remembered that the Republican Party, in collusion with Donald Trump, is attempting to pass a health care bill that could kill roughly 24,000 Americans a year. The Republican Party and Donald Trump are also seeking to slash $10.6 billion from federal education initiatives that include after-school programs for the poorest students in America."
McConnell's Latest Health Care Bill Is Even Worse, Gutting Coverage and Raising Costs for Tens of Millions @alternet
McConnell's Latest Health Care Bill Is Even Worse, Gutting Coverage and Raising Costs for Tens of Millions @alternet:
"The latest Trumpcare bill released by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is a political dealmaker’s version of putting lipstick on a pig—taking a colossally destructive bill hurting tens of millions and dressing it up so it can win enough votes to pass."
"The latest Trumpcare bill released by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is a political dealmaker’s version of putting lipstick on a pig—taking a colossally destructive bill hurting tens of millions and dressing it up so it can win enough votes to pass."
Paul Krugman: Republicans Are on the Brink of Completing a Long, Deadly Con @alternet
Paul Krugman: Republicans Are on the Brink of Completing a Long, Deadly Con @alternet:
"It's really very simple. If the GOP manages to pass its health care bill, millions of Americans will be deprived of insurance, while those who manage to keep theirs will pay considerably more for less. As Krugman sees it, this is what Republicans have wanted all along."
"It's really very simple. If the GOP manages to pass its health care bill, millions of Americans will be deprived of insurance, while those who manage to keep theirs will pay considerably more for less. As Krugman sees it, this is what Republicans have wanted all along."
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