mark
Common Dreams
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[l] at 11/22/24 1:22am
So much for what First Lady Elmo Musk proudly declared "our Hammer of Justice." In days, a "fraction of a Scaramucci," creepy, scandal-plagued, Neanderthal-browed "MAGA bomb-thrower" Matt Gaetz crashed and burned, giving up his deeply errant bid to wreak vengeful havoc on law and order. He was abruptly felled by another sexual assault charge, a free press, a Senate finally facing an unholy bridge too far, and a "spectacular error of judgment" by a clown drunk on ill-gotten power. May he make many more.Gaetz' unseemly fall was a long time coming. A crass sycophant and provocateur despised even by his despicable GOP cohorts, he'd been trailed for years by sordid rumors and reports of his sex-and-drug-fueled exploits; he even helpfully documented them by making colleagues on the House floor look at nude photos of his victims and listen to lewd tales of his crushing Viagra and Red Bull to (ewww) "go all night." He long denied claims he'd paid for sex, but acknowledged he'd given money to various "girlfriends." For three years, the DOJ investigated him for allegations he trafficked over state lines and had sex with a 17-year-old girl; the probe shut down in 2023 without charges, but enough lurid stories kept floating around the House Ethics Committee launched their own investigation. Last week, after the House deadlocked on releasing its reportedly damning findings, MAGA Mike spent an evening at Mar-A-Hell-go before babbling that releasing them would be "a terrible breach of protocol and tradition and the spirit of the rule."Anyway, by then his new overlord had nominated Gaetz to get revenge against the DOJ for being mean to both of them by running it into the ground; he also abruptly resigned from the House, which thus no longer had jurisdiction over him. But his "ridiculous, horrible and dangerous" nomination was universally panned - one response: "Oh for fuck's sake" - not just because he's known as a pedophile, reprobate, scumbag and creep but because he is so wildly unqualified for the job Elon Musk thought he was doing Gaetz a favor by arguing he had "three critical assets...a big brain, a spine of steel and an axe to grind." He's also "barely a lawyer," having spent less than three years as a junior associate at a small litigation firm, where at one point he filed a "stunty" and failed lawsuit against the city of Valparaiso over noise from overhead fighter jets. In 2019, new to the House, he was disciplined by the state bar for a threatening tweet that was "unprofessional, reckless, insensitive, and demonstrated poor judgment.”.This week, with even his own party balking at the insane notion of an A.G. Gaetz and calling out the "abhorrent" job he's done in Congress, Trump was reportedly strong-arming Senate Repubs, threatening if they voted against Gaetz "you're buying yourself a primary, and there's a guy named Musk who will finance it." Classy. His co-conspirator Shady Vance also "sherpa-ed" Gaetz around the Capitol to talk to senators; even (also classy) George Santos showed up to condemn the "witch hunt" against Gaetz and vow to "scream" at opponents through their doors if he had to. During his pitch to Senators, Gaetz evidently tried to ignore the issue of drug-and-sex-fueled parties and their possible crimes - "There's no there there" - but did plead, "Just give me a fair shake.” Denying he was seeking retribution, he said he was "not going to go there and indict Liz Cheney, have storm troopers bust through the studio door at MSNBC, and arrest Anthony Fauci in my first week." (His second week, then, anything goes?)Still, noted one sage, "The brazenness worked until it didn’t." And fast. Thursday at 11:30 a.m., CNN reached out to Gaetz for comment on a scoop they said they were about to publish: The woman who had sex with Gaetz in 2017 when she was 17 years old told the House Ethics Committee she in fact had two sexual encounters with him at one party; she testified to both the second, previously unreported encounter, which included an adult women, and the first in a deposition as part of a related lawsuit. CNN told Gaetz they would publish the story at 12:30 p.m. He posted he was withdrawing his nomination at 12:24. Trump had allegedly told Gaetz that morning he didn't have enough votes to pass; in his announcement, Gaetz said he was stepping down because his confirmation was “unfairly becoming a distraction" to Trump's "critical work," even though "the momentum was strong" and he'd had "excellent meetings" with Senators who gave him "thoughtful feedback," aka, "They told me to eat shit and die." “Matt has a wonderful future," Trump wrote, "and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do," most likely paying more teenage girls for sex. GOP pols, citing "hell no" people they knew, seemed relieved at finding "the most humane way" out of a dilemma from which effluvium is still issuing. The New York Times reported investigators have established "a web" of suspicious Venmo payments - at least 10 totalling over $10,000 - between Gaetz, his "associates," and the women they paid. They even drew a surreal diagram, with names redacted, Gaetz a blue blur in the center, and his reasons for sending money: "Being my friend," "Joy,” "Being awesome," "Love you," "Just because." There's also an FBI investigation of a computer hack involving his former bestie doing time for trafficking, and a report Gaetz used the PayPal account of his Cuban adopted "son" Nestor, 19, though he also called Nestor "a local student" and "my helper." At the time, he was thus using a 16-year-old's money to pay for sex with a 17-year-old.After the fact, there was little sympathy for the devil. There were snarky headlines - "Gaetz Forced To Pull Out After Sex Scandal Explodes" - musings about Kevin McCarthy living it up, reports of DOJ staff celebrating, jokes he resigned 'cause "his nomination got too old" or "he found out he'd be working with J.D. Vance not at a JV dance," wonder at the speed of his fall - "Not even one Scaramucci" - gratitude for "a Thanksgiving miracle" and "a good first punch." It's unclear if his resignation will apply to the new Congress; given the House ethics report still looms, many suggest Gaetz "just fucked himself out of government." Cognizant of "the deep bench of MAGA freaks," people speculated about the next choice: Hannibal Lecter, Michael Flynn, P. Diddy, Satan, another doctor, Pepper or Mengele, and, "Under a bridge somewhere, Rudy Giuliani hoping for a phone call." Some urged, "Now do the filthy hands guy," fellow loyal, vindictive, unqualified sexual predator and Christo-fascist Pete Hegseth, embroiled in his own foul muck.Some speculate Trump's fail was in fact part of a "sacrifical lamb" plan to now inflict someone worse on us, but a former White House official argues Trump isn't smart enough to play "that sort of three-dimensional chess...More often than not he's just eating the pieces." Others warn we must insist on the Senate retaining its power to advise and consent in the face of so many dangers - Hegseth, Gabbard, RFK Jr., and God knows what unknown catastrophes await. Still, "The miasma of scandal that trailed Gaetz was too odorous...Finally, in a supposedly post-scandal era in which 'nothing matters', something mattered." The refusal to rubber-stamp a debacle, one wrote, is "a hopeful sign that a modicum of sanity persists in DC." Also, lest we forget, Thomas Jefferson is still right: "Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost." “Donald Trump just took his first step backward," wrote former GOP consultant Steve Schmidt. "He will take many more soon....Do Not Be Afraid.” Matt Gaetz' intricate network of drugs, sex, women and "associates"Screenshot from New York Times
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[l] at 11/21/24 10:21am
Today, Accountable.US issued a sharp rebuke of President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education. McMahon, who is being sued by former WWE employees for allegedly knowing sexual abuse was occurring under her leadership, is poised to oversee reforms to Title IX—a federal law critical for preventing sexual violence and discrimination in schools—and will spearhead the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education as outlined in Project 2025. “ Donald Trump’s nomination of Linda McMahon to lead the Department of Education is indefensible,” said Caroline Ciccone, president of Accountable.US. “This is someone accused of ignoring rampant sexual abuse under her watch. Putting her in charge of Title IX protections is like handing keys to an arsonist to run the fire department—it’s an insult to survivors and a blatant attack on the safety of students nationwide.” The lawsuit, filed in October 2024, alleges that McMahon and other WWE executives knowingly allowed a ringside announcer, Mel Phillips, to groom and sexually abuse boys as young as 12. The plaintiffs, all survivors of this abuse, claim WWE leadership failed to intervene despite being aware of Phillips’s actions. The suit describes the abuse as “open and rampant,” facilitated by promises of access to wrestling stars.“McMahon and her colleagues were reportedly aware of abuse happening right under their noses—and they did nothing,” Ciccone added. “Now she’s been chosen to oversee, and likely overhaul, the very protections designed to stop this kind of harm? The Senate must put an end to this sham of a nomination. She lacks the experience, the judgment, and the track record to protect students from harm. Our students need a champion who will uphold Title IX—not someone who has allegedly turned a blind eye to abuse”McMahon’s nomination also threatens the progress made under the Biden administration, which expanded Title IX protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Trump’s agenda would roll back these vital safeguards, leaving LGBTQ+ students and survivors of campus sexual violence even more vulnerable.In addition to her troubling record on abuse, McMahon has little experience in education. Her short tenure on Connecticut’s State Board of Education was marked by criticism over her lack of qualifications, and she resigned after less than a year to pursue an unsuccessful Senate campaign.Accountable.US is calling on senators to reject McMahon’s confirmation and demand a nominee who will prioritize the safety and well-being of America’s students.
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[l] at 11/21/24 10:13am
Moments ago, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 9495, the so-called “Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act.” This is a far-Right bill that would grant the incoming Trump administration unprecedented and unchecked power to revoke the tax exempt status of any nonprofit organization — including social justice groups, media organizations, universities, and civil liberties organizations — based on a unilateral accusation of wrongdoing and without due process. Jewish Voice for Peace Action fought against this legislation and calls on the Senate to join the majority of their House colleagues in opposing Trump’s agenda and working to stop this authoritarian bill from moving forward. “This bill is a five-alarm fire for anyone who seeks to protect free speech, civil society and democracy. This bill is part of a broader MAGA assault on the fundamental right to public protest that begins with attacks on Palestinian rights groups and is aimed at outlawing all social justice movements fighting for progressive change. It is shameful that the House of Representatives passed a bill that is straight out of the well-worn authoritarian playbook. The Senate must ensure that this bill to dismantle fundamental freedoms does not move forward or become law.” — Beth Miller, Political Director, Jewish Voice for Peace Action Last week, a broad coalition of civil society organizations successfully organized to block H.R. 9495. JVP Action drove over 35,000 letters to Congressional offices in one week opposing this legislation, and during today’s vote Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the bill. H.R. 9495, including many Democrats who changed their votes to oppose due to overwhelming constituent outreach. The bill seeks to authorize broad and easily abused powers to the incoming Trump executive branch. It would grant the Secretary of the Treasury virtually unfettered discretion to strip a nonprofit of its tax-exempt status without due process. The legislation would not require disclosure of the allegations or evidence for the decision. The government would also not be required to provide any evidence in its possession that might undermine its decision, leaving an accused nonprofit entirely in the dark about what conduct the government believes qualifies as material support.Initiatives led by the Heritage Foundation such as Project 2025 and Project Esther have clearly laid out roadmaps for how the incoming Trump administration will dismantle democracy and civil society, with Project Esther specifically naming revocation of tax-exempt status as a tool to destroy organizations that support Palestinian rights. The same extreme forces trying to ban "critical race theory" and stifle teaching about America's history of racism are now seeking to further undermine supporters of Palestinian rights, Black Lives Matter, environmentalists, labor unions and other activists.JVP Action staff and supporters are available to speak with the media
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[l] at 11/21/24 8:11am
Several draft texts released early this morning in Baku are capturing the attention of civil society observers at COP29 who have been holding out to see an ambitious and fair new climate finance goal, two days before the negotiations come to a close. The new finance goal and the Mitigation Working Group texts in their current form currently fail to provide a global roadmap for alignment with a 1.5 degree future, which requires urgent and quality funding in the scale of trillions in order to replace fossil fuels with clean renewable energy.Andreas Sieber, 350.org Associate Director of Policy and Campaigns said:“The new climate finance and mitigation draft texts presented at COP29 today fail to deliver what is needed to transform the lives of those most impacted by the climate crisis and have done the least to cause it. Will governments recall this moment too, when the next climate disaster hits their country? A fast, fairly funded fossil fuel phase out is what we need reflected in these texts. We demand this is corrected, the world is watching.By the end of the UN climate talks, we must see at least a trillion dollars in public finance on the table. This historic debt that rich countries owe will enable all nations to take action on climate at home and meet the collective goal agreed last year at COP28 – to triple renewable energy, and transition away from fossil fuels. Right now, we only see cowardice and a void in leadership, ignoring the undeniable science that we can’t keep polluting our planet with dirty oil, gas and coal.The time to course correct is now – the European Union and other rich countries must stop playing poker with the planet and humankind’s future at stake. It’s time to put their cards on the table and commit real, transformative funding – no more excuses, no more delays, it’s time.”Joseph Sikulu, 350.org Pacific Director and Pacific Climate Warrior said:“We hoped to see a draft text today that would show rich nations putting their money where their mouth is and responding to the demands from the Global South. What we got is a text with no clear grant based core money. Nothing less than one trillion dollars in grants per year will be enough to see those most impacted by climate change on a just transition towards a safe, equitable future. Rich countries must stop dithering, and start delivering – this is not charity, it’s time for them to pay their debt.The new climate finance goal isn’t just an arbitrary number, it’s a lifeline for climate vulnerable nations like mine that are drowning – literally – due to a crisis we did not cause. But despite it all, we are fighting. Rich countries need to start doing the same – be the first ones to commit to the rapid phase out of fossil fuels agreed upon at last year’s climate talks in Dubai. Financial commitments must also be paired with ambitious goals to transition to a renewable economy. There is still time for this COP to deliver, do not leave us behind once again.”
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[l] at 11/21/24 8:09am
In response to the latest NCQG text, Laurie van der Burg, Oil Change International Global Public Finance Manager, said: “The draft climate finance deal is a mixed bag with good, bad and ugly options. Rich countries now have a last chance to step up to pay the climate debt they owe to the Global South and unlock a fair and funded fossil fuel phaseout, while barring dangerous distractions. Wealthy nations must support delivering the trillions urgently needed in public finance with the majority provided debt-free, which is currently on the table. “Labelling carbon credits as climate finance – which they are unreservedly not – should be axed from the text or risk creating a dangerous escape route for polluters. The same goes for explicitly allowing investments in fossil fuel infrastructure. This is fundamentally incompatible with the goals of the Paris Agreement. “Instead, we need to end fossil fuel handouts, make polluters pay, and change unfair financial rules; which too is on the table. We know that by taking these steps rich countries can mobilise trillions in public funds for climate action and a fair fossil fuel phaseout. In these last hours of COP29, rich countries must meet their responsibilities and get on the right side of history.”In response to the draft Mitigation Work Programme text, David Tong, Oil Change International Global Industry Campaign Manager, said: “Ambition has gone missing in the Mitigation Work Programme. Reaffirming last year’s breakthrough Global Stocktake agreement in other draft negotiating texts makes it clear that the commitment to transition away from fossil fuels is not going away. But we need much more – like countries putting an immediate end to new fossil fuel expansion in their NDCs. “Thanks to tireless advocacy from frontline communities, we have unprecedented momentum to end the fossil fuel era. But without proper funding, we risk a chaotic transition that deepens inequalities and leaves workers and vulnerable communities behind. The transition has to move forward to save lives and avoid breaching critical climate limits. Rich nations must deliver the trillions urgently needed in public climate finance to ensure it’s fast, fair and just – while also moving first to drive the global transition away from fossil fuels.”
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[l] at 11/21/24 8:07am
In response to the latest climate finance draft text at COP29, Oxfam International's Climate Justice Lead, Safa’ Al Jayoussi, said: “COP29 must do more than simply repeat the same threadbare promises. Rich countries have spent decades now stalling and blocking genuine progress on climate finance. This has left the Global South suffering the most catastrophic consequences of a climate crisis they did not create. The draft text scandalously misses the crucial element of declaring a clear public commitment to a new climate finance goal. “Rich countries, those most responsible for climate chaos, owe $5 trillion in annual climate debt and reparations. This funding must come as grants-based public financing to help communities that need it the most mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change and recover from loss and damage. Anything less will simply be a failure. “This is not charity – it is an established obligation under international law. It is the bare minimum needed to shield frontline communities from devastation, allow them to rebuild after disasters pass, and ensure their just transition to a sustainable future. The next few days are a credibility test for these climate negotiations and for COP itself. The time for stalling is over. If rich countries don’t deliver, they will go down in history as having chosen profit over people and complacency over courage.”
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[l] at 11/20/24 2:06pm
The House of Representatives is set to vote Thursday on the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, a bill that would give the incoming Trump administration new power to muzzle, punish, and effectively shut down tax-exempt organizations without transparency or appropriate due process. This misguided piece of legislation would impact a wide range of tax-exempt organizations, including nonprofits, universities, and even news outlets. Last week, Congress narrowly blocked the bill based on due process concerns and significant constituent opposition. In just a few days, over 100,000 people sent messages to their members asking them to oppose H.R. 9495. Last week’s vote was brought up under suspension, which requires a two-thirds majority to pass. Tomorrow’s vote will come under regular order and only requires a simple majority.The American Civil Liberties Union led a coalition of over 180 non-profit organizations — including Planned Parenthood, AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, and the NAACP — in a letter to Congress outlining why this bill is not only dangerous, but unnecessary. The letter also laid out how future administrations could abuse it to lock in power, silence dissent, and go after disfavored groups and vulnerable communities.“Every time we give the president new powers and more authority to act alone, we create an open invitation for abuse by the executive branch,” said Kia Hamadanchy, senior federal policy counsel at ACLU. “While the ACLU would oppose this legislation no matter who the president is, and there is no question it could be weaponized against groups on both ends of the ideological spectrum, the rhetoric we saw on the campaign trail from the president-elect is even more reason for Congress to reject this bill.”H.R. 9495 joins two unrelated measures together: one allowing the Treasury Department to withhold tax-exempt status from any nonprofit it accuses of being a “terrorist-supporting organization” — without being required to disclose the evidence against it — and another, non-controversial measure, which would offer tax relief to Americans imprisoned unjustly abroad. The latter provision already passed the Senate as a stand-alone bill, and as the coalition letter notes, none of the groups oppose these tax-relief provisions. In fact, not a single member of Congress has thus far raised any opposition to these provisions. The fastest way for it to become law is for the House to simply pass the Senate bill. Related Documents Civil Society Letter to House Opposing H.R. 9495
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[l] at 11/20/24 1:59pm
Last week, the House failed to pass the extremely controversial HR 9495, which would give the future Trump administration unprecedented power in suppressing nonprofits, by allowing the administration the power to strip organizations of their tax exempt status. Despite failing to push the bill through and hundreds of nonprofit organizations advocating against it, the House plans to vote on this bill at 10 AM on Thursday, November 21. On November 20, as news of the floor vote was announced, Fight for the Future alone drove over 1000 calls to legislative offices in just 48 hours—adding to the thousands Congress has received in the past week. On November 19, at least five of the previously yes-voting Democrats switched their votes to no, with Rep Vasquez (D-NM) releasing a statementOn November 19, over 300 nonprofit organizations spanning the spectrum from abortion funds, to healthcare, to immigration rights, to climate justice, to LGBTQ+ advocacy were activated to demand Democrats defend them against the poorly written and over-broad provisions of this billIndividual Democratic Representatives are being called out for their betrayal of their values in a troll account managed by Fight for the Future at https://bsky.app/profile/demsforfascism.bsky.social As of 11 AM EST on November 20, Fight for the Future alone has driven 2555 calls to Congress on this measure in the past week. And, this quote can be attributed to Lia Holland (they/she), Campaigns and Communications Director at Fight for the Future:“It’s a disappointment but not a surprise to find Democrats voting for a bill to punish student protests against genocide on the wrong side of their entire values system. Over and over again, we’ve seen how legislative efforts designed to oppress dissent and silence speech end up burning their progenitors. H.R. 9495 is no exception—now, every nonprofit across the spectrum of human rights and progressive values is up in arms, begging Democrats to overcome their greed and their spite, and not to hand President-Elect Trump the ability to destroy any nonprofit he dislikes with the flick of a pen. On Thursday, we will see the truth of whether or not the Democratic Party will pre-comply with the fascist aspirations of the incoming administration. We hope we won’t be disappointed again, but we won’t hold our breath.”
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[l] at 11/20/24 1:51pm
Today, America’s Voice hosted a press call outlining how mass deportations, coupled with proposed cuts to legal migration, will impact the American economy. This is the first in a series of calls focused on the consequences of Trump’s mass deportation plans. Speakers shared data and economic analysis projecting how mass deportations, family separations, and cuts to visa and legal immigration avenues will impact every American. Of the potential consequences, they highlighted the likelihood of mass deportations spiking inflation, driving up deficits, cutting revenues, shrinking the workforce, and leading to a decline in GDP. Here’s what economists and policy experts had to say on how President-elect Trump’s mass deportation and immigration plans will impact the U.S. economy:Robert G. Lynch, Professor of Economics at Washington College, said: “Studies of past mass deportation episodes in the United States have shown that they caused the U.S. economy to contract. Jobs for American workers declined, American wages went down, and prices rose. The idea that mass deportation would help American citizens is an illusion. It has never worked in the past and it won’t work in the future.”Resources from Robert G. Lynch: “Literature Review on the Economic Consequences of the Deportation of Unauthorized Immigrants,” by Robert G. Lynch (Washington College – Department of Economics) and Michael Ettlinger (University of New Hampshire) and “The Economic Impact on Citizens and Authorized Immigrants of Mass Deportation” by Robert G. Lynch (Washington College – Department of Economics) and Michael Ettlinger (University of New Hampshire) Phillip Connor, Senior Demographer at FWD.us, said: "We must be clear: President-elect Trump's mass deportation plans are, in reality, mass family separation plans. These policies would impact more than 28 million individuals in mixed-status and undocumented families, including over 20 million Latinos—approximately one in three Latinos in the U.S. Eliminating critical protections like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), combined with the deportation of millions of others, would devastate local economies and lead to significant job losses in essential industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture. Our communities and economy thrive when immigrants with deep ties to the U.S. can live and work with security and stability. Now is the time to pursue real policy solutions that address our immigration challenges without compromising our economy or betraying our nation’s core values."Resources from FWD.us: Mixed-status families: https://www.fwd.us/news/mixed-status-families-oct/Inflation impacts: https://www.fwd.us/news/immigration-inflation/Undocumented workforce: https://www.fwd.us/news/pathway-to-citizenship/#americas-workforceCoalition for the American Dream DACA report: https://www.coalitionfortheamericandream.us/daca-economics/ Stuart Anderson, Executive Director of National Foundation for American Policy, said: “The best way to predict a second Trump term on immigration is to look at the policies in the first term. The Trump administration reduced legal immigration by cutting refugee admissions and enacting various bans and restrictions, some of which were blocked, primarily on procedural grounds. One should expect similar policies in the second Trump administration. A recent report our organization released found that without immigrants and their children, there would have been no labor force growth in the U.S. economy over the past 5 years. The economic impact of reduced immigration could be significant, particularly over the medium and long term.”
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[l] at 11/20/24 1:49pm
In response to President-elect Trump’s announcement that he will nominate Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education, The Revolving Door Project Executive Director, Jeff Hauser released the following statement: “It is my sad prediction that this nomination will be bad for the future of America, but my hope that people across the political spectrum will take from McMahon's inevitable failure the conclusion that the skills that can make one mind bogglingly rich in the private sector do not make you qualified for jobs at the pinnacle of public service.”Revolving Door Project Senior Researcher Christopher Lewis added: “Donald Trump's nominee for Education Secretary is reflective of his incoming administration’s fondness of the corrupt corporate revolving door. Through influence peddling and toadying, McMahon has managed to turn a scandal-ridden career into a stint atop the Small Business Administration, and now the Department of Education. While at the SBA, McMahon did nothing but cheer on tax cuts and mishandle agency funds. For this lackluster performance, McMahon is being promoted to yet another job for which she lacks the credentials to serve.” “If one wants to see what a Department of Education would look like under Linda McMahon, they need look no further than the America First Policy Institute that she chairs where they have promoted school choice, attacked DEI efforts and even attacked teacher’s unions. This is a sad day for America's students, educators and parents.” Lewis concluded. Journalists interested in The Revolving Door Project’s research on McMahon are encouraged to reach out to Research Director Christopher Lewis via email lewis@therevolvingdoorproject.org
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[l] at 11/19/24 12:59pm
Today, Public Citizen launched a new tracker to expose Trump administration appointees’ many corporate conflicts of interest. The tracker will be updated regularly as appointments are made and nominees are considered. The list includes both cabinet-level positions and other political appointments, many of which do not require Senate confirmation. Appointees already added to the tracker include David Bernhardt, Doug Burgum, Sean Duffy, Howard Lutnick, Linda McMahon, Elon Musk, Andrew Wheeler, Susie Wiles, and Chris Wright.“Like the first Trump administration, this administration appears ready to staff critical government posts with as many corporate lackeys and self-enriching grifters as they can hire,” said Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen. “Donald Trump may have run for office pretending he was going to advocate for regular people, but his appointments show in reality he’s planning to govern, again, on behalf of the corporate class,” said Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen. “The man who once said he was going to drain the swamp is instead flooding it.”“The American people deserve to know who these appointees are — and who they’re really serving while in power,” added Gilbert. “We created this tracker to be a resource for journalists, researchers, public interest advocates, and ordinary citizens who are interested in learning about the people who will soon be leading the executive branch. If and when these appointees abuse their power to serve corporate interests or make a quick buck, you can be sure that Public Citizen will be there to expose them.”
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[l] at 11/19/24 12:01pm
Oh sweet justice. We salute the supremely ironic sale of Alex Jones' vicious Infowars - now bankrupt thanks to the $1.4 billion he owes Sandy Hook families for claiming the massacre of their children was a hoax - to the satirical wise-acres of The Onion, working with those families. The Onion's most iconic headline on gun violence, "'No Way To Prevent This’, Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens," has run 37 times. They call their new buy "probably one of the better jokes we’ve ever told."Surely there could be no riper moment for such schadenfreude than in these surreal times, when a sexual-assaulting Fox host may be running the Defense Department, a child-trafficking clown could be A.G., a road-kill-eating anti-vaxer might be making our health decisions, and the timeless question will resonate ever more deeply: Is this (mostly terrifying, occasionally uproarious) story real, or from The Onion? Of course the loopy meltdowns and fever dreams and new world order conspiracies of Jones' venomous show always seemed too weird to be real. Fake moon landing! Machete race war! Sex with goblins! Illuminati linked to Hillary and Lady Gaga! Often sobbing, he ripped off his shirt - Watch this! - screamed 1776 WILL COMMENCE AGAIN IF YOU TRY TO TAKE OUR FIREARMS, ranted the lining in juice boxes was making our children gay and the Pentagon-tested gay bomb on Eye-raq and our troops was doing it to adults and PUTTING CHEMICALS IN THE WATER TURNS THE FRIGGIN' FROGS GAY. "I'M SICK OF BEING SOCIAL ENGINEERED!" he shrieked. "ITS NOT FUNNY." No, it's not.It was also not funny when he claimed America's bloody, ceaseless shootings - Gabbie Giffords, Boston Marathon et a l- were staged propaganda using "crisis actors" in order to wrest Americans' guns from their cold dead hands. Most grotesquely, he repeatedly claimed 2012's grisly murder of 20 first-graders, along with six educators, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., was a hoax, as were all those small bodies mutilated beyond recognition and the grieving, ravaged families who had to endure them. Faced with those impossible losses as well as Jones' lies and threats from his followers, the Sandy Hook families sued him, for years keeping up a legal fight for "true accountability," aka "an end to Infowars and an end to Jones' ability to spread lies, pain and fear." Under relentless pressure - and after eventually acknowledging the shooting was real - he offered them more and more money if they'd let him stay on the air spewing vitriol; they rejected each offer because not doing so "would have put other families in harm’s way."This fall, after the families won a $1.4 billion defamation judgment against Jones' "willful and malicious" actions, a U.S. bankruptcy judge finally ordered Infowars and its assets be sold off at auction, from its Austin studio, equipment, trademarks, video archive to its snake-oil nutritional supplement store. Last week, The Onion announced its parent company Global Tetrahedron was the winning bidder; they plan to relaunch a parody version of the site in January, thus seizing a fetid platform for hateful, right-wing skulduggery and turning it into its own mordant, smart-mouthed, big-hearted soapbox. In an "especially sweet bit of justice," they worked with Sandy Hook's non-profit Everytown for Gun Safety, which will contribute gun violence prevention stories to the site. "We thought it would be hilarious if we bought this thing," they said of a choice to leave Jones "unpunished for what he's done to these families, or we could make a dumb, stupid website, and we decided to do the second thing. We hope (the) families will be able to marvel at the cosmic joke we'll soon make of InfoWars." It's a sublimely bonkers pairing for "America’s Finest News Source," which boasts of "rising from its humble beginnings in 1756" to grow into "the single most powerful organization in human history," with "a daily readership of 4.3 trillion people" supporting "over 350,000 journalism jobs in its news bureaus and labor camps around the world." Its headlines, often witlessly taken at face value, are its macabre crown jewels: "Planned Parenthood Opens $8 Billion Abortionplex," "Trump Boys Have Slap Fight Over Who Gets To Run Foreign Policy Meetings," "RFK Jr. Vows To Ban Soaps That Smell So Good You Eat A Little," followed by "RFK Jr. Performs "Self-Surgery To Extract Big Mac," which he ate on Trump's plane. They also offered civic lessons for Democrats from the last sorry election: "Lock in John Legend’s endorsement earlier," "Try to not already hold the presidency when a thing happens that voters dislike, "Appeal to other demographics beyond the Cheney family," "One more fundraising text would’ve done the job," and the reminder, "The soul of America is a black expanse."They offer books - "Our Dumb Country" - and many videos: "Expert Explains Why Essentially You're Fucked," "U.S. Deploys Socially Awkward Men Along Border to Deter Migrants," "Neo-Nazi Pulls Off Surprise Victory In Longheld KKK District," "Conservative Man Proudly Frightened of Everything," from cartoons to Chinese babies to big coastal cities to languages that aren't English." There's even a horoscope - for Scorpios, "Stop avoiding conflict just because you're afraid of killing again" - and FAQs. "How can I bring The Onion to my event? The writers and editors are available for speaking engagements at universities, conferences and meet-ups for disgraced veterinarians." "What if I want to sue The Onion? Please do not do that." "Where can I find The Onion? The Onion is all around you." Given the nation's bloody history - at least 125 people a day killed by guns, twice as many wounded - their famous "No Way To Prevent This" headline was published "entirely too often," including the day after the Uvalde shooting, when its entire front page was plastered with reprints of 21 earlier iterations. The gun-obsessed Jones was a frequent target. For the resolute, grieving families of Sandy Hook, his downfall is "the justice we have long awaited and fought for," said Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was killed in the 2012 shooting. The families' attorney Chris Mattei called them "heroes" intent on bringing down Jones, "the perpetrator of the worst defamation in American history." John Feinblatt, the president of Everytown, praised their new partnership, including a multi-year advertising agreement. "It made all the sense in the world," he said, citing their access to gun violence research and data. He also nailed "really the bottom line here, and that is poetic justice." Having resumed his rabid show from a new studio and on X, Jones has reacted as gracefully as you'd expect, raging the sale is "a total attack on free speech," the auction was "rigged" with "money that isn't real," he's working with "good guy bidders" to keep him on the air, and with the inexplicable arrival of Elon Musk on the scene, "If you want a fight, you got one. "Trump is pissed," he snarled. "The cavalry is here."Thursday, in a new legal wrangle, federal bankruptcy judge Christopher Lopez ordered a hearing to review the sale after a lawyer for the only other bidder alleged "fraud and impermissible collusion" in the auction. The bidder, First United American Companies, runs Jones' snake-oil business; their lawyer said their bid was higher, and auction trustee Christopher Murray violated earlier court-ordered rules by skipping an optional final round of bids. Calling the allegations "baseless" and "bullying from a disappointed bidder," he acknowledged their bid was higher: $3.5 million to The Onion's $1.75 million. But The Onion offered incentives by Sandy Hook families to forego up to 100% of the proceeds, enabling other Jones creditors to recover far more than under First United’s larger, but smaller-minded bid. "The sale is currently underway, pending standard processes," insisted Onion CEO Ben Collins, who used to write for NBC about paranoid quacks like Jones. "The idea he was just going to walk away (without) doing this sort of thing is funny in itself." Along with cash, he added, "We also accept Bitcoin."In a Monday "editorial" about buying Infowars, Global Tetrahedron's "CEO" Bryce P. Tetraeder celebrated their "new addition" to the Global "family" whose members, like all families, are "abstract nodes (of) interchangeable assets for their patriarch to absorb and discard according to the opaque whims of the market." Buying Infowars was "an easy decision," he said, with its "true unicorn" mix of "delusional paranoia and dubious anti-aging nutrition hacks (to) make life both scarier and longer," and "a well-deserved victory for multinational elites." On Bluesky, Collins noted real media had requested interviews with "Tetraeder," who alas was "on his superyacht (to) do a quality control check at one of our 43,000 global puppy mills.” But The Onion is still churning out news. On Tuesday, it reported, "Trump Locks Bathroom Door So Elon Musk Can't Follow Him In" after "an audibly frustrated Trump" earlier stood up from the toilet to throw Musk out. "Bad Elon," he said. "Now, go to your kennel and lie down." Later, Trump reportedly sent Musk to be neutered after he got out of his crate and impregnated dozens of female aides.
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[l] at 11/19/24 9:56am
On Wednesday, November 20th at 11:00 AM, workers, fair wage advocates, labor leaders, and community allies in Michigan, Illinois, and New York will gather at their respective state legislatures and governors’ offices in a coordinated effort to demand bold action to protect workers’ rights and address wage inequities.Tipped service workers are calling on Democratic leaders in blue states to act decisively, as the National Restaurant Association has pledged to work with President-elect Donald Trump to reverse Biden-era protections for tipped workers. These protections include regulations that prohibit corporations from paying tipped workers a subminimum wage for non-tip-earning tasks. Reports that Trump is considering former Carl’s Jr. CEO Andy Puzder—his 2016 nominee for Secretary of Labor who was not confirmed due to allegations of sexual harassment and domestic violence—further underscore the threat. During his previous administration, Trump attempted to pass regulations that would make tips the property of employers. The National Restaurant Association has promised to revive these efforts under the new Trump administration, threatening to roll back critical rights for service workers. Participants will deliver a powerful open letter calling on Democratic leaders to pass legislation raising the minimum wage and eliminating subminimum wages for tipped and low-wage workers. To demonstrate solidarity and provide immediate relief during the holiday season, workers and advocates will host food giveaways to support struggling families, underscoring the urgency of their demands in the face of continued inaction from elected officials. This national effort, led by One Fair Wage, highlights the critical need for Democratic-controlled states to protect vulnerable workers against the incoming Trump administration’s anti-worker agenda and ongoing affordability crisis. Workers in all three states will rally to demand Democratic leaders in blue states act boldly on behalf of working families and eliminate the two-tiered wage system that disproportionately impacts women, communities of color and immigrant communities“Workers in blue states are raising their voices because they cannot afford to wait any longer,” said Saru Jayaraman, Co-Founder and President of One Fair Wage. “With a cost-of-living crisis squeezing families and an anti-worker Trump administration on the horizon, Democratic leaders must act boldly to protect workers and provide economic security. If they fail to prioritize wages and worker protections, they risk losing the trust—and the votes—of the very people they need to win.”Workers’ Message to Democratic LeadersAdvocates and workers are issuing a stark warning to Democratic lawmakers: failing to act decisively to address the cost-of-living crisis and wage inequities will have political consequences.“Last week’s electoral results made one thing clear: voters overwhelmingly prioritize wages and affordability,” said Jayaraman. “Democrats must act now to protect workers and show that they are fighting for the people who need them most. Ignoring these demands will lead to alienated voters and further political losses.” The open letter amplifies voices from workers across the political spectrum—some who voted for Trump, others for Harris, those who split their votes, and many who sat out the election entirely. Their unified message to Democratic leaders: act decisively, or face the consequences.Coordinated Actions in Three StatesIn Michigan, workers will call on Governor Whitmer to uphold the state Supreme Court’s decision to raise the minimum wage and eliminate the subminimum wage for tipped workers.In Illinois, advocates will push for statewide legislation to build on Chicago’s historic wage reforms and extend fair wages to all workers. In New York, participants will urge Governor Hochul to prioritize One Fair Wage legislation during the special session, particularly to safeguard tipped and immigrant workers from the looming anti-worker policies of the incoming Trump administration. Workers in all three states are rallying behind the One Fair Wage petition, calling on lawmakers to eliminate subminimum wages, address economic instability, and provide meaningful wage increases for struggling families.WHO:Workers, advocates, and community allies across Michigan, Illinois, and New YorkWHAT:Delivery of worker demands to state legislative and Governor’s officesSolidarity turkey giveaways for struggling families let down by elected officialsWHEN:Wednesday, November 20th at 11:00 AMWHERE:Michigan: State of Michigan office in Detroit; 3054 West Grand Blvd., Suite 3-600, DetroitIllinois: Illinois State Capitol, Springfield, IL - Lincoln StepsNew York: NYC Governor’s Office - 633 3rd Ave 38th floor, New York, NY 10017
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[l] at 11/19/24 8:20am
Last year, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) issued a joint statement with Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) saying that U.S. assistance to Israel “must be consistent with our interests and values and used in a manner that adheres to international humanitarian law, the law of armed conflict, and U.S. law” and that this assistance “has never come in the form of a blank check – regardless of the recipient.” On Monday, Sen. Van Hollen announced that he will support Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) to block transfers of certain offensive weapons to the Israeli military. The Senate is expected to vote on the resolutions this week. Demand Progress is leading a coalition of 56 other progressive, faith-based, humanitarian, and foreign policy advocacy groups calling on senators to hold Israel accountable by voting to support the disapproval resolutions. The following is a statement from Cavan Kharrazian, senior policy advisor at Demand Progress:“Sen. Reed joined Sen. Van Hollen to say that U.S. support for Israel must never be a blank check. In response, Israel has consistently blocked the flow of humanitarian aid, attacked aid delivery workers and created famine-like conditions for 800,000 civilians in Gaza. It’s now time to revoke Israel’s blank check. Sen. Reed needs to back up his words and join Sen. Van Hollen by voting to support the resolutions blocking the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel.”
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[l] at 11/15/24 10:56am
In response to President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to nominate North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to lead the Department of the Interior, government watchdog Accountable.US released the following statement highlighting glaring red flags about Governor Burgum’s strong ties to the oil industry. “Governor Burgum’s cozy relationship with big oil spells danger for America’s taxpayers and the great outdoors,” said Accountable.US Executive Director Tony Carrk. “Americans deserve leaders who prioritize protecting public land for everyone, not for oil and gas profiteering.” Governor Burgum’s lowlights include: Doug Burgum receives as much as $51,000 per year leasing his family land to big oil corporations. Doug Burgum’s failed presidential campaign was financed by the oil industry – over $470,000 in contributions. As governor, Doug Burgum slashed taxes that oil companies pay to develop public minerals in North Dakota. On the campaign stump, Doug Burgum attended a meeting where Donald Trump asked for a $1B contribution from CEOs in exchange for industry-friendly policies. Doug Burgum lied about the impacts of Joe Biden’s energy policies– saying they have driven oil production down when it in fact has increased.
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[l] at 11/15/24 10:46am
On Thursday, Demand Progress Education Fund and 12 other consumer advocacy groups warned that major banks like JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America are trying to control the implementation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s new open banking rule, while also simultaneously suing to block it. The rule makes it easier for customers to switch financial providers by preventing banks from holding their financial data captive. Read the letter The letter warns that JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citi, Wells Fargo, Capital One, PNC Financial Services, TD Bank and Royal Bank of Canada are on the board of Financial Data Exchange (FDX), which has applied to receive standard-setting authority for the open banking rule. These seven giants are also on the board of the Bank Policy Institute, which is suing to block the rule altogether. The letter asks the CFPB to reject FDX’s application so long as these seven banks remain on the organization’s board.Demand Progress Education Fund has been a strong supporter of the CFPB’s work to protect consumers, and was an early champion of the bureau’s open banking rule. The following is a statement from Demand Progress Education Fund Corporate Power Director Emily Peterson-Cassin:“It would be a flagrant conflict of interest for the same banks who are suing to block the open banking rule because it threatens their market dominance to also be in charge of implementing it. The American people are fed up with Wall Street controlling every aspect of their lives and the open banking rule is an opportunity to give all of us some financial freedom. The CFPB must stop this ploy by the biggest banks to keep us trapped under their thumbs.”The signatories of the letter include Demand Progress Education Fund, American Economic Liberties Project, Americans for Financial Reform, Center for Economic Integrity, Georgia Advancing Communities Together, Inc., Lake Research Partners, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Maine People’s Alliance, Oregon Consumer League, Oregon Consumer Justice, Public Citizen and Public Justice Center.
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[l] at 11/15/24 9:04am
If her appointment by President-Elect Trump as White House Chief of Staff stands, former federal lobbyist Susie Wiles could prioritize the interests of her stacked client list of domestic and international corporations over the American people. A new report authored by Public Citizen Democracy Advocate Jon Golinger titled “Meet Susie Wiles’ Controversial Corporate Lobbying Clients,” reveals Wiles represented 42 clients as a federal government lobbyist from 2017 to 2024 and continued to work as a lobbyist while simultaneously serving as a senior official for Trump’s 2024 campaign. Wiles’ list of controversial clients who sought government action includes: a waste management company that has resisted removing nuclear waste from its radioactive landfill, a foreign copper and gold mining company that wants to eliminate federal opposition to its plan to dig a massive mine in a pristine watershed and a tobacco company that sought to block federal health restrictions on its candy-flavored cigars, which the Food and Drug Administration has found are attractive to kids.“By putting a corporate lobbyist in charge of his administration with his first act as president-elect, Trump is hanging a ‘For Sale’ sign on the front door of the White House,” said Golinger. “A lobbyist with this record of controversial representation and a minefield of potential conflicts of interest should not go near the Oval Office, much less be White House Chief of Staff.”According to federal lobbying filings, Wiles was registered to lobby the White House, Congress and at least eight federal agencies. Wiles also lobbied for a wide range of clients including large corporations, trade associations, federal contractors and a foreign political party on matters involving government regulation, federal policy, and business development. If installed as chief of staff, Wiles could help her former clients get government approvals, permits and contracts.In the event that Wiles’ appointment proceeds, Public Citizen calls on Wiles to, prior to assuming the White House Chief of staff position on January 20, 2025:1)Disclose the full list of what exactly she did for each client she lobbied the federal government for: the names of the individuals she lobbied, what she asked those individuals to do or not to do, and what resulted from her lobbying. 2)Recuse herself from all decision-making involving her past lobbying clients and the federal agencies that are making decisions that affect her lobbying clients. 3)Accept a Voluntary Permanent Post-Employment Ban on Lobbying the White House or Federal Government on behalf of any clients after she leaves the White House.
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[l] at 11/15/24 12:29am
Hoo boy. The new orange king is busy choosing his viper's den of crooks, rapists, misfits and "comically inappropriate" zealots, aka the bootlickers who will "run" his "government." They are a Russian asset to head national intelligence, a rabid T.V. host to helm the world's largest military, an anti-science crackpot and a "foreheadful MAGA pustule" and alleged child sex trafficker as A.G., a bid so demented it wasn't "on our Apocalypse Bingo card." Shockingly, these are not serious people, but loyalty tests: "The absurdity is the point." Thus does our new era of governance by nihilist sociopaths open with mind-blowing headlines like, "Trump Names Fox News Host to Lead Defense Department." After the most vicious, hollow, bonkers campaign in this country's history, nobody's surprised Trump is choosing to reward the sycophants, culture warriors and "incompetent fascists" who will do his malevolent bidding. Still, his Cabinet appointments for the three jobs most vital to him - control over the military, intelligence secrets and the DOJ's power to prosecute - are preposterous enough many argue he's not even pretending to want a real government, but simply playing perilous chicken with a GOP Congress to see how much he can get away with, each name worse than the last. First up was his choice of "stunningly unqualified" former Hawaii congresswoman, National Guard reserve and new bestie Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, even though she has no experience in intelligence work - "literally, none" - or managing anything. She also made a dubious 2017 "fact-finding" trip to Syria and met twice with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who's accused of killing hundreds of thousands of his own people; critics deemed the meeting "an outrage" and she is widely viewed as a Russian flunkie who "cozies up to dictators." While Trump praised her "fearless spirit," many blasted the nomination, charging she's not just ill-prepared for the job but such a national security risk that Putin might as well have gotten it. Continuing his shamble toward national insecurity, next was Pete Hegseth, a 44-year-old veteran and co-host of a Fox & Friends weekend show Trump likes, so hey why not make the guy on it Secretary of Defense to run the world's largest and most powerful military establishment with 1.3 million active-duty troops, 1.4 million National Guard members, nearly a million civilian workers, access to the nuclear codes and a budget of over $800 billion, about half of all federal discretionary funding, thus rendering an extremist, adulterous, belligerent culture warrior and former prison guard at Guantánamo with no managerial experience "undoubtedly the least experienced nominee for Secretary of Defense in American history." A graduate of the University of St. Thomas, Hegseth served in Iraq and Afghanistan, then worked as a guard at Gitmo while in the Minnesota National Guard. That gig primed him for excusing and successfully lobbying "President" Trump to pardon several war criminals serving long prison sentences for murder in Iraq, including a "freaking evil" Navy Seal "perfectly O.K. with killing anybody that was moving." At Biden's inauguration, he was one of 12 Guardsmen removed from duty after men in his unit said he was a white nationalist, maybe because of his tattoos; they include the Join or Die snake; Deus Vult, God Wills It, the cry of the Crusaders; a flag and the AR-15 he carried in Iraq; and across his pecs a huge Jerusalem Cross - a celebrated white nationalist symbol. In his new book, he's still bitter about the rebuff: "Twenty years, (and) the military I loved, I fought for, I revered...spit me out. The feeling was mutual - I didn’t want this Army anymore." He calls new diversity efforts "garbage - any general, admiral involved in the DEI, woke shit's gotta go." He thinks the Black head of Joint Chiefs of Staff got his job by being Black. He's called liberals "domestic enemies," praised Jan. 6, cited a “desperate need" for Christian kids to get "a Christian education," once said he didn't wash his hands in ten years because germs aren't real, and said the 225,000 women now in combat shouldn't be. Tammy Baldwin says he's "dangerously unqualified" and so ignorant about war he thinks he can keep women behind an imaginary line; she'd ask him, "Where do you think I lost my legs?" In 2017, Hegseth got passed over for head of Veterans Affairs; he'd just divorced and had an out-of-wedlock child with his second and "ultimate" wife, who turned out not to be when she filed for divorce a month after he had another child with Fox News producer Jennifer Rauchet. He was also investigated after a Minnesota PAC he started, supposedly to support conservative candidates, was found to have spent less than half the money it raised on candidates, while dropping about a third of it on two lavish Christmas parties and nebulous "reimbursements" to Hegseth. He still seems to harbor anger issues: In a recent meltdown, he seethed about vaccines and screamed that a "dirtbag" reporter was just part of the "trash heap of left-wing media." This week on Fox Business, he was calmer but no smarter. Celebrating Trump’s vow to leave the Paris Climate deal and the decimation of our only planet, he raved, "Good! Think of the exact opposite of what the woke left has been advancing, and that's what (he's) about to do. We're awake to (the) Utopian, globalist schemes, of what they're trying to peddle...All these burdensome regulations (are) a total sham meant (to) hold us back in the name of climate science, which has proven to not be true." (Hmm.) When the host mused it's like 1980 when Reagan got the Iran hostages released, a dazed Hegseth agreed, claimed "Hamas is crying uncle," and brayed, "The adults are back, and our enemies are taking notice." And, "Trump is making bitcoin great again!" The response in the defense and military community to the nomination of a Fox carnie to run the military has variously been called "stunned" and "bewildered," a feeling possibly best summed up by one member with, "WTF. Who is this fucking guy?"Another blasted Hegseth as "an unserious person for an incredibly serious post during an incredibly serious time in the world." Dem Adam Kinsinger called the nod "the most hilariously, predictably stupid thing. Yes, he's a veteran, and...?" Brace yourself, America," warned Paul Rieckhoff of Independent Veterans of America. Because we live in a time of morons when up is down, Elizabeth Warren tried to explain it in the simplest terms possible: “A Fox & Friends weekend co-host is not qualified to be the Secretary of Defense." — (@) Finally, having drained the proverbial swamp and bafflingly transformed it into a cesspool, the old ringmaster dug as deeply as he could with his stubbly little hands into the GOP dung pile and tugged out what's been deemed "the worst nomination for a Cabinet position in American history," tapping for the job of highest law enforcement official in the land a "unanimously loathed," singularly unqualified chaos agent, greasy provocatuer and "person of moral turpitude" who's not only never served as a government attorney, judge, arbiter or overseer of any kind but has himself long been accused of heinous sex crimes along with protean creepiness - a bid eliciting, by way of response from a stunned public, myriad variations on, "Oh. My. God" and, "Oh, for fuck's sake." The nomination of alleged pedophile, drug snorter and child sex trafficker Matt 'Butthead' Gaetz as Attorney General is so insane it launched a host of possible theories by observers desperate to carve logic from dystopian mayhem. It's pure provocation, an elaborate troll. It's "a big 'Fuck You' to everyone who believes in the rule of law," demonstrating "maximum contempt for 99% of the human race and every decent thing we’ve ever stood for." It's "a canary in the recess appointment coal mine," a lunatic litmus test "from a man who offers none in return," like making Sean Spicer say the inauguration crowd was bigger than MLK's." It's "an open flame being considered for Secretary of Gasoline." It's "a crawl test" for the Senate: "Autocrats like to make minions crawl." The leering alleged sexual predator brazenly picked by a serial sexual predator and adjudicated rapist is above all a bullying tactic, an effort to simultaneously degrade and weaponize the DOJ while punishing those who pursued charges against him, and Gaetz too. Among his rogues' gallery of unqualified loyalists, the ghastly Gaetz, who'd "turn the DOJ into a petting zoo for Trump," is the pinnacle, the "gauntlet thrown in America’s face," the sneering challenge daring weak-kneed Senate Republicans to challenge him: "Who's gonna stop me? You and whose army?" It's "as close as you can get to putting Sean Hannity in charge of the DOJ." It's more bleak proof there is no bottom, that he's "not assembling a Cabinet to run the government, but to break it. Let them eat Gaetz." Gaetz, a 42-year-old "series of unfortunate events, and weird hair too," serves a deep red district in Florida; his X bio reads, "Florida Man. Built for Battle." The son of a rich GOP donor, he first became a state legislator known for playing a "points game" in which he and other GOP jerks earned sexual points for sleeping with women: One point for a lobbyist, three for a fellow legislator, six for a married legislator. Trump didn't mention the game in his rambling post praising Gaetz as "a deeply gifted and tenacious" - or "deeply grifted and mendacious" - attorney with an unimpressive resume consisting mostly of disrupting the House, sucking up to Trump and once barging into a secure facility where Dems were holding a deposition hearing he was mad he wasn't invited to. Trump also ignored allegations Gaetz often accosted House members to show them nude photos of women he'd slept with or to brag about crushing Viagra in Red Bull to "go all night"; one repulsed colleague: "That’s great, Matt. Like, what kind of a reaction do you want?" And he overlooked a two-year investigation by the DOJ into allegations Gaetz trafficked and sexually exploited a 17-year-old girl he took across state lines to pay for sex, and attended sex-and-drug-fueled parties - why he'd be hounded by media shouting, "Are you a pedophile?" Last year, the DOJ dropped the trafficking charges without comment; the House Ethics Committee was still investigating him for sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, accepting improper gifts, dispensing favors and obstructing their investigation. Gaetz also joined about 150 Republicans and the white supremacist Proud Boys - "Standing back and standing by, Mr. President" - to protest the 2020 election results and his hush money trial, invited a Holocaust denier to the State of the Union, launched an “America First” tour with Klan Mom MTG to repeat election lies, sought a blanket pardon from Trump before he left the White House, and, according to Kevin McCarthy, asked him to kill the ethics probe of his exploits. He's reportedly so widely disliked that his new job offer prompted even staunch right-wingers to savage him as "a sex trafficking drug-addicted piece of shit." Ben Domenech wrote a Substack post titled, “Matt Gaetz is a Vile Sex Pest and Any Senator Who Votes For Him Owns That." The news of his nomination was said to be greeted with "an audible gasp” from Republicans, many of whom thought it was a joke. A reporter: "Safe to say GOP senators are stunned - not in a good way.” One was "laughing so hard in a group he’s wiping away tears"; another had "no good comment." “We wanted him out of the House (but) this isn’t what we were thinking,” said Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson. Asked if he thought Gaetz had the character or experience to be A.G., Simpson stared incredulously, laughed loudly, and said, "Are you shitting me? No." Even as some conceded it could "make for a popcorn-eating confirmation hearing," even GOP heathens evidently felt the concept of a plan for an A.G. Gaetz "took the cake at the ongoing 'This Country Is Over' party.Gaetz abruptly resigned Wednesday from the House. But with the Ethics Committee scheduled to vote Friday on whether to release their reportedly "highly damaging" findings on him, a number of nervous GOP senators are calling for access to the report "by whatever means necessary," including a possible subpoena. Said Texas Sen. John Cornyn, "I don't think any of us want to fly blind." Still, Maine's Susan Collins already says she's "shocked" by Gaetz' pick and she'll probably reject him. Then again, it's Collins. Some speculate she'll mull, pray, come to accept Gaetz' promise he won't do "any crazy stuff," and vote for him. Once confirmed, he'll arrest her as an enemy of the state; Collins will be "concerned," but ultimately soothed by his assurance it's a very nice gulag. Thursday, in an "act of uttter hubris," Trump tapped crackpot fabulist and anti-vaccine-and-fluoride conspiracist RFK Jr. to head Health and Human Services; Trump says he'll let RFK's brain worm "go wild on the medicines," and we can't wait. Also, at an Oversight Committee hearing titled "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth" - your tax dollars at work - Colorado's somehow re-elected Lauren Boebert said Americans "are being kept in the dark" and pressed four UFO "experts" for more federal transparency on rumored space aliens operating underwater bases in the oceans, and secret experiments creating “hybrid” humans with enhanced capabilities. "Are you familiar with that? Yes or no?" she shrieked. They were not. Still, she vowed she "will not relent until we get those answers to the American people." The Internet: "She''ll probs be made head of NASA now." Also, "Absolute circus America is." How America feels right now.Art by Buddy Swenson.
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[l] at 11/13/24 4:08pm
Today, President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his intention to nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz as U.S. Attorney General.Statement of Common Cause President & CEO Virginia Kase SolomónThe nomination of Rep. Matt Gaetz to serve as Attorney General represents a serious threat to the fair and equal enforcement of the law in our nation. Gaetz is wholly unqualified for the post in addition to being an election denier and far-right extremist. This move is both shocking and alarming. Matt Gaetz’s record proves he has no place in any position within the Department of Justice, an institution dedicated to upholding the rule of law. We call on every Senator to put country before party and reject this nomination.Rep. Gaetz has consistently worked against democracy and accountability. On January 6th, he supported efforts to overturn the 2020 election and has since continued to shield those who attempted to subvert our democratic processes. His anti-voter agenda includes pushing legislation that would strip eligible voters from the rolls, even threatening government shutdowns to enforce voter suppression.Beyond that, his rhetoric and actions reveal a troubling history of encouraging violence against racial justice protesters and promoting dangerous white supremacist ideologies. This is not a candidate who values equality, justice, or the rights of all Americans.The role of Attorney General is to uphold civil and voting rights protections and ensure fair justice for all. This nomination marks the first major pro-democracy struggle of Trump’s second administration. Senate Republicans must demonstrate their commitment to democracy and the rule of law by rejecting this extreme nomination.Matt Gaetz is one of the most extreme and unsuitable choices for this role, and Senate confirmation is not assured. We call on Senators from both parties to stand with the American people and protect our democratic institutions by ensuring Matt Gaetz never reaches this role.
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[l] at 11/13/24 12:08pm
American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley today issued the following statement: “Millions of Americans should brace for massive cuts to benefits and services they rely on for their survival under plans to target government spending and operations.“On Tuesday, President-elect Trump announced he had appointed business executives Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a private commission tasked with recommending drastic changes to the federal government’s programs and operations, which Musk has said could cut federal spending by $2 trillion.“Budget cuts of this magnitude, coupled with the massive tax reductions Trump has said he will implement, will affect vital programs that tens of millions of Americans currently rely on for their financial security and their health and safety. This includes Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, food assistance for low-income families, veterans’ benefits and health care, and so much more.“By their very nature, cuts of this size also would require slashing spending on our military, homeland security, federal law enforcement, and virtually every aspect of our government operations. This kind of financial pressure would lead to painful, widespread reductions in services that will affect Americans from every walk of life.“To really attack government waste, the administration should target private contractors who are price gouging American taxpayers to deliver poorer service at higher cost while their corporate profits and executive pay skyrocket.”
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[l] at 11/12/24 2:10pm
In light of recent policies aimed at preventing the arrival in the EU of individuals seeking international protection and safety, OVER 40 humanitarian and human rights organizations working to protect the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, call on EU member states and the European Commission to respect EU and international human rights legal frameworks and safeguard the global refugee protection system.At a summit focused on migration on 17 October 2024, EU leaders doubled down on plans to prevent people from arriving on EU soil, to speed up forced returns and deepen cooperation with third countries to externalize asylum and migration management. This direction was reiterated at the confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate for the Mediterranean and for Internal Affairs and Migration on 5 November, where they expressed an openness to different offshoring schemes. Many of these proposals run contrary to current EU legal frameworks, including the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the recently adopted major overhaul of migration and asylum policy, the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. Before they pursue ill-conceived attempts to shift or offshore their responsibilities to third countries, EU member states and the European Commission should take a close look at their legal obligations and place emphasis on ensuring a successful and human rights compliant implementation of the reform of the asylum and migration policy they have worked on for years. An increasing move towards containment and evasion of responsibilitiesThe EU’s migration policy has built on a strategy of containment of refugees and migrants, including efforts to reduce arrivals at the EU’s external borders, to boost returns, and to rely on inequitable outsourcing of responsibility to countries with less capacity to provide effective protection.The reformed Common European Asylum System (the legal and policy framework developed to guarantee harmonized and uniform standards for people seeking international protection in the EU) maintains and confirms the fundamental right to seek asylum and does not provide for the externalization or ‘offshoring’ of asylum processing (the relocation of the procedure for examining asylum applications to the territory of a third country). However, it introduces an abundance of concepts and measures that risk posing practical barriers to the effective access to asylum, including the fiction of ‘non-entry’, mandatory border procedures, increased use of admissibility procedures, and a range of possible derogations in situations of ‘crisis’ or ‘instrumentalization’.Political pressure is increasing for so-called ‘innovative strategies’ to either process asylum applications outside EU territory, to refuse asylum applications entirely and shift asylum processing and eventual protection responsibilities to countries outside the EU, or to externalize return procedures to centers outside of the EU, so-called ‘return hubs’. These schemes are not foreseen by the legislative reform under the Pact and they often involve a rehashing of previously discarded or tried-and-failed proposals. A global body of research shows that every time such schemes have been attempted, they have resulted in arbitrary detention, refoulement, avoidable loss of life and other rights violations, both in the returning member state and in the country to which people are transferred, all at a high financial cost for taxpayers.Ten steps to meet EU human rights obligations and safeguard access to asylum in EuropeThe undersigned organizations call on the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council, and member states at national level to uphold their obligations under EU and international law and to firmly reject any attempts to weaken protection for asylum seekers at and within EU borders as well as in cooperation with third countries on asylum and migration. This includes opposing proposals for any revisions or watering down of the criteria for safety under the ‘safe third country’ concept in the Asylum Procedures Regulation; abandoning any plans to outsource refugee protection where these raise further barriers to accessing asylum; and rejecting harmful initiatives such as the Italy-Albania arrangement before the human rights consequences become ever more severe.As an alternative approach, our organizations call on the EU and its member states to invest in sustainable, humane and well-functioning asylum systems, including through the ten steps outlined below.Address and reverse impediments to the right to seek asylum and access to protection in Europe in the implementation of EU law and the Pact on Migration and AsylumThe right to seek asylum is guaranteed by law, including in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. However, impediments to seek and obtain international protection in the EU are prevalent in the Pact on Migration and Asylum. EU member states view reduced arrivals and accelerated asylum procedures and returns of rejected asylum seekers as fundamental to securing a ‘stable EU asylum and migration system’. This approach carries very real consequences for people seeking protection and undermines respect for international human rights and refugee law.We call on the EU and its member states to:Focus on compliance with EU law and implementation of the Pact in line with human rights and in close cooperation with civil society. States should take steps to implement the Pact comprehensively, ensuring people with protection needs are identified in a fair and efficient way and given swift access to the asylum procedure. They should take steps to prevent the reform’s worst likely consequences, including widespread detention at borders, lowered asylum standards, and an abuse of ‘crisis’ or ‘instrumentalization’ measures, leading to restricted access to asylum at and within their borders. States should refrain from practices leading to undue restrictions on freedom of movement, such as residence requirements or other measures amounting in practice to a deprivation of liberty. In line with the requirements of the Pact, EU member states need to take steps to ensure sufficient funding and preparedness of their migration, asylum and reception systems for possible increases in arrivals to prevent avoidable crises. The Pact implementation should also provide an opportunity to address longstanding gaps in national asylum systems, including inadequate and insufficient reception capacity, and addressing practices and policies that breach international law, such as the unlawful denial of access to asylum or to a state’s territory, or ongoing cases of border violence or failure to provide assistance at sea. The right to seek asylum should be upheld no matter where people come from or how they entered the territory or came within the jurisdiction or control of EU authorities.Refrain from arbitrarily detaining refugees, asylum seekers and migrants and imposing other restrictions on people’s freedom of movement during asylum and return procedures. States must take every step to avoid arbitrary detention at borders. They should generally refrain from detaining asylum seekers and migrants, and at a minimum, they should ensure detention is used as an exception, for the shortest possible time and subject to review. People with specific needs and vulnerabilities – including pregnant people, survivors of torture and of trafficking, people with physical or mental disabilities, serious physical or mental medical conditions, older persons, children, and families with children should not be detained. NGOs and rights monitoring bodies should have unhindered access to border facilities and free quality legal assistance should be provided.Enable effective monitoring and accountability for rights violations and pushbacks at European borders, including through addressing the shortcomings raised by civil society concerning the independent border monitoring mechanism to be established by all member states as part of the Pact. To ensure that the mechanism foreseen in the Screening Regulation and the Asylum Procedures Regulation is credible and effective it should be expanded in scope, made truly independent, and coupled with strengthened accountability for violations and sanctions for non-compliance.Expand avenues to alternative residence permits for people with protection and other human rights-related needs but not eligible for asylum and ensure the broad range of existing opportunities for legal stay are accessible in practice, including existing permits regulated under national or EU law for humanitarian reasons, medical grounds, for victims of human trafficking, for children, young people and families and stateless people. Commit to genuine and equitable responsibility sharing in support of a functioning rights-based asylum systemProposals to offshore and externalize asylum processing have surfaced time and again. They have been consistently rejected as unlawful and unfeasible, including by the European Commission, and have proven to be inhumane in places where such processing has been implemented, including by Australia in Nauru and Manus Island, and in Papua New Guinea. The externalization of asylum or return procedures involves severe human rights risks. Every such initiative that has been put in place has led to human rights violations, including with regards to refoulement, arbitrary detention, denial of the right to asylum and legal aid, lack of identification of vulnerabilities, falling short of the legal and reception standards clearly in place in EU law. These schemes, moreover, have had a ruinous impact on the administration and cost of asylum systems, and on the international refugee protection system, and pose significant risks to the EU’s autonomy and credibility in its external action.The EU should invest in models to manage forced displacement and irregular movements humanely. Instead of pursuing objectives of shifting responsibilities for refugee protection to other countries, these models need to have at their core the achievement of better protection for those in need and the fulfilment of EU and international human rights obligations.We call on the EU and its member states to:Uphold EU and international law obligations to ensure access to territorial asylum in the EU and to respect the principle of non-refoulement; providing regular pathways to migration can never replace access to territorial asylum. In accordance with the principle of non-refoulementin refugee and human rights law, states may not return people to places where they would be at significant risk of serious human rights violations. Initiatives and efforts to provide alternatives pathways and ‘safe routes’ should never be used as a pretext for justifying the curtailment of the right to seek asylum at the border or imposing admissibility restrictions including impeding or delaying access to territory.Ensure adequate Search and Rescue (SAR) capacity and safe and timely disembarkation at the closest port of safety. Rescue at sea is a duty of maritime law. The EU and its member states should end the hinderance and criminalization of SAR operations by civil society organizations and deploy and sustain adequate SAR capacity. Any vessel engaging in the rescue of refugees and migrants in distress should be promptly granted a place of safety where survivors can disembark in a timely manner, prioritizing the safety and welfare of rescued people, and their swift access to asylum procedures. Nobody should be subject to any form of unlawful or arbitrary detention upon disembarkation. Any cooperation with third countries that cannot be considered places of safety should be limited to cases where their intervention is essential to prevent imminent loss of life and be conditional on guarantees that their intervention would not result in the disembarkation taking place in an unsafe port.Expand protection and assistance for refugees and migrants along migratory routes through partnerships with third countries without containment objectives. Establishing safe pathways, supporting asylum capacity, and expanding protection for refugees and migrants along migratory routes as part of a route-based approach is important as a way of improving global asylum governance and migration management in a rights-respecting way. However, when investments in asylum capacity in third countries are driven by an underlying objective of stemming and reducing arrivals to European shores, increasing evidence, including research commissioned by the EU, suggests that this creates disincentives for EU’s neighbors to progress on building national asylum systems and expand protection for refugees as they know that this will lead to the EU containing migrants and refugee populations on their territory.Recognize the need for significant upscaling of safe and regular pathways in the pursuit of improved management of global mobility. Initiatives to expand safe and regular pathways are commendable and should inspire further efforts. Lessons learned from the Safe Mobility Offices in Latin America demonstrate, however, that to be successful, safe pathways need to be accessible at scale, match the needs of those moving irregularly and reach those most in need. The existence of regular pathways should not be used as a pretext or rationale for disqualifying eligibility to lodge asylum claims for people who enter without authorization. Resettlement through the UN's resettlement system should be strengthened, and the Union Resettlement Framework offers an opportunity for the EU to do so. Moreover, additional safe and regular avenues for protection should be developed, such as the possibility for applying for asylum at embassies and consulates, humanitarian visas and easier access to family reunification. Taking a less restrictive approach to family reunification for refugees is an important alternative pathway to protection in Europe, as experience shows that many refugees and asylum seekers enter via irregular and dangerous routes to seek protection and be reunited with family members. Dignified mobility opportunities such as labor or education-based pathways should also be greatly expanded. Safe and regular pathways should be seen as complementary, rather than a substitute, to the right to asylum.Prioritize and conduct human rights impact assessments in advance of collaboration with or support to third countries on asylum and migration and suspend funding when human rights are violated. A human rights approach and timely human rights impact assessment should guide interventions to ensure that asylum and migration cooperation with non-EU countries is conditional on guaranteeing protection for refugees and migrants. The EU must ensure that any funding for border control and migration management includes human rights safeguards, follows rigorous human rights risk assessments, and develops concrete benchmarks to this end. No support should be channeled to entities responsible for human rights abuses. Transparent and independent monitoring and accountability mechanisms should be in place, with public reporting of their findings and outcomes. Where abuses are reported, they should be swiftly investigated, and cooperation should be suspended until the abuses are rectified, safeguards are in place, and steps are taken to ensure that such cooperation does not facilitate further rights violations.Strengthen parliamentary and public scrutiny over ongoing agreements. This should include ensuring public availability of monitoring reports and respect for the principle of freedom of information. Evidence of the negative human rights effects of extraterritorial migration cooperation by actors working with refugees, migrants and host communities needs to be acknowledged, and timely and appropriate corrective action taken in program and policy interventions by the EU and member states. Likewise, systematic inclusion of civil society and of those affected by the policy in the monitoring should be ensured. Where this is not possible, consultations and/or access for civil society to share data and evidence with relevant EU institutions should be established.Signatories11.11.11ActionAid InternationalAGDDSAmnesty InternationalAsociación RumiñahuiBedsteforældre for AsylBrot für die WeltCARE DenmarkCaritas EuropaCentre for Peace StudiesCGILChristian Council of NorwayChurches´Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME)CiréCNCD-11.11.11 (BE)Danish Refugee CouncilDanish United Nations Association / FN-forbundetDutch Council for RefugeesEllebæk Kontaktnetværk / Ellekbaek ContactnetworkEuroMed RightsEurope Cares e.V.European Network on StatelessnessFederation of Protestant Churches in Italy (FCEI)Finnish Refugee Advice CentreFinnish Refugee CouncilFundacja Inicjatywa Dom OtwartyGrandparents for Asylum, KongelundenGreek Council for Refugees (GCR)Human Rights Legal ProjectHuman Rights WatchInternational Rescue CommitteeIrídia - Centre for the Defence of Human RightsJRS EuropeLysfest for HumanismeMigration ConsortiumMISSION LIFELINE International e.V.Movement for Peace (MPDL)Novactr42-SailAndRescueRed AcogeRefugees InternationalRefugees Welcome, DenmarkRESQSHIPRight to ProtectionSOLIDARSOS Humanity

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