Friday, December 31, 2021
Trump to Supreme Court: Read This ‘Washington Post’ Article That I Think Proves My Point | Vanity Fair
The former president would like the Supreme Court to read a Washington Post interview that he claims exposes the Jan. 6 panel's "true goals" as SCOTUS weighs whether to take up his case...
Capitol Officer Slams Pence for Dismissing Jan. 6: 'It's Pathetic. It's a Disgrace'
"They're telling us, 'Oh, it wasn't that bad.'
It was that bad when they were running for their lives.
It was that bad when we were struggling to hold them off so they could have a chance to escape to safety."
https://www.businessinsider.com/capitol-police-officer-aquilino-gonell-hang-mike-pence-jan-6-2021-12
Will the Supreme Court Send Barry Jones Back to Death Row?
"Whether you're innocent or guilty, you have a right to a fair hearing. You have a right to an effective trial counsel."
Opinion | Mitch McConnell’s un-conservative plea to the Supreme Court - The Washington Post
…The case, to be argued Jan. 19, offers a particularly vivid illustration of the conservative mania to undo even the most inoffensive campaign finance restrictions. But the McConnell brief, authored by former Trump White House counsel Donald McGahn and former Trump administration solicitor general Noel Francisco, is notable for a different and more alarming reason: There is, it seems, no argument too extreme for this crowd in their effort to reshape the law to their liking…
Opinion | MAGA Republicans no longer stress work - The Washington Post
…[I]magine starting or expanding a business. Are you going to set up shop in a state that encourages employees to defy vaccine requirements — and then cost employers money by going on unemployment? …
Armed man arrested in Iowa on way to White House with “hit list” including Biden, Fauci.
…When he spoke to investigators, Xiong detailed that the "evil individuals he intended to kill" included President Joe Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci, former President Barack Obama, and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, according to a criminal complaint that was unsealed Wednesday…
How a group of online sleuths are helping the FBI track down Jan. 6 rioters (Terry Gross; Fresh Air podcast)
HuffPost journalist Ryan J. Reilly says "sedition hunters" have used videos, social media posts and facial recognition software to identify individuals who participated in the storming of the Capitol.
Interview:
6th Circuit Overrules Atrocious 5th Circuit Ruling on Vax Mandates (Opening Arguments podcast OA554)
How is the 6th Circuit overruling the 5th Circuit, you ask? Great question. That’s just like you, you brilliant legal mind! Well there’s some interesting legal quirkery behind that. But also, wait until you get a load of how terrible and embarrassing the 5th Circuit’s original decision was… Also, we react to the bad Manchin news last week. And finally, Andrew’s got another iteration of what we now call Cargo Cult Lawyering, with a John Eastman update!
Interview:
MSW Book Club - Here, Right Matters (Chapter 11) (Allison Gill; Mueller, She Wrote Book Club)
Allison wraps up Here, Right Matters by Col. Alexander Vindman 
Interview:
Thursday, December 30, 2021
“Fox’s Insurrection Group Chat.” (Pod Save America podcast)
2021’s Congressional Clusterfu*k barrels to a close as the House reveals new details about the right-wing plot to destroy democracy while the Senate tries to save it with a last-minute attempt to pass voting rights legislation. Then, former Biden Senior Covid Advisor Andy Slavitt joins to talk about how we can prepare for the Omicron wave, and Dan and Jon discuss the media’s role in defending democracy. 
Interview:
You didn’t always have to be a citizen to vote in America - The Washington Post
… The founding generation, acting through the Confederation Congress, which governed the United States from 1781 to 1789, enfranchised immigrants in the Northwest Territory, the area west of Pennsylvania and east of the Mississippi River, for example. Noncitizen voting attracted immigrants by giving them a say in the government, and those in power saw it as training them for full citizenship...
Opinion | Redistricting commissions, juries and electric vehicles are success stories. - The Washington Post
… Michigan is another success story. The Detroit Free Press reports: "A yearslong effort to bring an end to gerrymandering in Michigan — the practice of drawing voting districts to benefit one political party — hit a key milestone Tuesday when the members of the state's inaugural citizen-led redistricting commission adopted new congressional and state legislative districts." Democrats who had previously been disadvantaged by gerrymandering wound up with a fairer map. "The maps adopted by the commission would still favor Republican candidates though nowhere near to the same extent as the current maps … One measure for the congressional and state Senate map used by commission indicates the new maps would favor Democrats." Commissions are not infallible, but they do point to more equitable and credible process that no longer allows politicians to pick their voters...
‘Just kill me now’: Jan. 6 rioter who led initial breach at Capitol ordered back in jail - Raw Story - Celebrating 17 Years of Independent Journalism
… According to charging documents, the Grant and Ryan Samsel led a crowd of rioters up to a barricade at the entrance of the Pennsylvania Avenue Walkway at about 12:50 p.m. on Jan. 6 and started accosting US Capitol police officers. The government alleges that Grant began yelling at officers and then lifted the metal barricade and then shoved it into the officers, causing at least one officer to fall. As the officers attempted to re-erect the barricade, Grant and others reportedly overran them and forced the officers to retreat...
Dems Must Gerrymander to Level the Playing Field – A Look at Redistricting for 2022 (Opening Arguments podcast OA555)
No more bringing knives to gun fights! Andrew breaks down the 2022 redistricting in key states. Listen in to find out why gerrymandering is a must for Democrats if we want to achieve any sort of fairness long term. Then, we have an extended mailbag segment with some truly amazing emails from our brilliant listeners!
Interview:
The Case for Indicting (feat. Asha Rangappa) (Allison Gill; Mueller, She Wrote)
This week: We have an executive order by Biden on battling transnational organized crime as well as differences between the Biden and Obama Administrations about how to deal with Russia as it relates to our ally Ukraine; we have some Flynn news including how terrible his lawyers are; a letter from the Chairman of the House Judiciary to the DoJ inspector general; some Schadenfreude involving Durham’s floundering investigation into the oranges of the Russia probe; plus the Fantasy Indictment League. 
Interview:
Heathen’s Greetings! (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)
After news about "ominous omicron," secular Solstice displays and a state/church victory, we celebrate the real reason for the season — the Winter Solstice — by hearing some fun irreverent Christmas songs by Tom Lehrer, Roy Zimmerman, Addison Frei, Tahira Clayton, Ken Lonnquist, and Susan Hofer, ending with Tim Minchin's "White Wine in the Sun."
Interview:
Every mass shooting in the US – a visual database
A normal day in the US involves a mass shooting. Here, we track the incidents since 2014…
Solidarity Through Solar: A City’s Quest for 100% Clean Energy (Union of Concerned Scientists; Got Science? podcast episode #123)
Energy justice advocate Gracie Wooten and energy analyst James Gignac discuss how science can help a Detroit-area community achieve energy sovereignty by generating and sharing its own electricity.
Interview:
https://soundcloud.com/gotscience/ep-123-solidarity-through-solar-a-towns-quest-for-100-clean-energy
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
The true meaning of 6 January: we must answer Trump’s neofascism with hope
…Trump filled a void in a part of America that continues to yearn for a strongman who will deliver it from despair. A similar void haunts other nations where democracy is imperiled. The challenge ahead for the US as elsewhere is to fill that void with hope rather than neofascism. This is the real meaning of 6 January...
OK Bill Would Pay Parents $10K Each Day Their Nominated Banned Books Remain in Libraries
…The violating books in question would be any items relating to "the study of sex, sexual preferences, sexual activity, sexual perversion, sex-based classifications, sexual identity, or gender identity or books that are of a sexual nature," according to the bill's text...
Why the controversy surrounding Trump's media venture matters
…The SEC took a closer look and came to the conclusion that these companies were, for all intents and purposes, fake — which is a problem, because in the United States, fake companies are not supposed to be publicly traded…
Reading Josephus on James: On Valliant Flunking Literary Theory • Richard Carrier
… Recently I debated amateur historian James Valliant on Jacob Berman's History Valley channel on whether the testimonies to Jesus Christ in Josephus are authentic or interpolated…
https://www.richardcarrier.info/archives/19139
https://www.richardcarrier.info/archives/19139
Fancy Galleries, Fake Art (Reveal podcast)
How two well-respected New York art galleries sold more than $80 million in fake art.
In the mid-’90s, two high-end New York art galleries began selling one fake painting after another – works in the style of Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko and others. It was the largest art fraud in modern U.S. history, totaling more than $80 million. Our first story looks at how it happened and why almost no one ever was punished by authorities.
Our second story revisits an investigation into a painting looted by the Nazis during World War II. More than half a century later, a journalist helped track it down through the Panama Papers.
Interview:
In the mid-’90s, two high-end New York art galleries began selling one fake painting after another – works in the style of Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko and others. It was the largest art fraud in modern U.S. history, totaling more than $80 million. Our first story looks at how it happened and why almost no one ever was punished by authorities.
Our second story revisits an investigation into a painting looted by the Nazis during World War II. More than half a century later, a journalist helped track it down through the Panama Papers.
Interview:
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Cawthorn, Greene, Trump seek to expand MAGA squad in midterm elections. - The Washington Post
… Kent said he has little interest in fighting with Democrats if he makes it to Congress. Instead, he wants to force Republicans into tough votes, starting with articles of impeachment against President Biden and a full congressional inquiry into the 2020 presidential election, which he says was stolen from Trump...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-maga-squad/2021/12/26/654f49ea-5448-11ec-8769-2f4ecdf7a2ad_story.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-maga-squad/2021/12/26/654f49ea-5448-11ec-8769-2f4ecdf7a2ad_story.html
Monday, December 27, 2021
The Gospel of Donald Trump Jr. - The Atlantic
The former president's son told a crowd that the teachings of Jesus have "gotten us nothing."…
‘A lot of abuse for little pay’: how US farming profits from exploitation and brutality
' The investigation, Operation Blooming Onion, found the conspirators forced workers to pay fees for transportation to the US, food, and housing through the H2-A work visa program, while withholding their travel and identification documents and forcing them to work for little to no pay in inhumane living conditions.
Mississippi Goddam Chapter 7: Reasonable Doubt (Reveal podcast)
The final episode of Mississippi Goddam shares new revelations that cast doubt on the official story that Billey Joe Johnson accidentally killed himself.
Interview:
Sunday, December 26, 2021
The FED - interest rates - inflation (The Phil Ferguson Show podcast #404)
What is the FED, the Federal Reserve Board?
How does it work?
Why does it raise or lower interest rates?
How does it work?
Why does it raise or lower interest rates?
- Interview with Peter Cont-Brown about his book on The FED (2017).
- Investing Skeptically: Inflation, the FED, taper, fed funds rate etc...
Interview:
We Are But Beasts (with Aron Ra) (Seth Andrews; The Thinking Atheist podcast)
Aron Ra is an author, educator, and atheist activist. He joins Seth Andrews to talk about pagan Christmas, religious awfulness, and humans' place as "beasts" in the animal kingdom. Shows with Aron are always entertaining, and this one is no exception.
Interview:
Saturday, December 25, 2021
Report shows the extent of Republican efforts to sabotage democracy
The Republican assault on free and fair elections instigated by Donald Trump is gathering pace, with efforts to sabotage the normal workings of American democracy sweeping state legislatures across the US...
Linda Greenhouse speech: Cheesecake, anyone? - Freethought Today
…The owner of Hobby Lobby claimed that he couldn't possibly abide by this mandate because certain forms of birth control cause abortion. This does not happen to be true. But it was, ostensibly, the man's belief. So, the court credited it and ruled in Hobby Lobby's favor, to the detriment of thousands of women all over the country who work for such employers and as a result have been deprived of an employment benefit contemplated by Congress and enjoyed by women who are lucky enough to work for companies that obey the law…
Science and reason must prevail over religious exemptions - Freethought Today
Failure to be fully vaccinated in the United States — where the vaccines have been long available for free and where most children are now eligible — is, to state the obvious, prolonging the pandemic.
https://www.freethoughttoday.com/articles/vol-38-no-10-december-2021/science-and-reason-must-prevail-over-religious-exemptions/
https://www.freethoughttoday.com/articles/vol-38-no-10-december-2021/science-and-reason-must-prevail-over-religious-exemptions/
I Miss Christopher Hitchens: Remembering Hitch on the 10th Anniversary of his Death (Seth Andrews; The Thinking Atheist podcast)
We lost Hitch on December 15th, 2011. In this broadcast, we hear his voice, enjoy his mastery of language, and remember.
Interview:
Friday, December 24, 2021
PolitiFact | Twitter post misconstrues what WHO Director-General said about COVID-19 vaccines and children
World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stumbled over his words, first mispronouncing the word "children" with "kil/cil." He then corrected himself and pronounced the word "children." That led some people to claim he said "kill children."…
A 'flood' of right-wing 'dark money’ played a major role in Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation: report - Raw Story - Celebrating 17 Years of Independent Journalism
…The new tax returns shed light on how Barrett's successful last-minute confirmation campaign was aided by a flood of dark money."…
Louisiana firm in $475 million settlement for longest-running oil spill - Axios
…U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Will Watson, sector commander in New Orleans, noted in a statement that for the past three years teams had removed more than 800,000 gallons of oil that had been discharging into the Gulf of Mexico...
Giant marine reptile skull discovery reveals new evolutionary theories - CNN
…The finding has provided Schmitz and the research team with a new insight into just how quickly evolution can take place and lead to variety...
The U.S. economy slows down as fewer immigrant workers come to fill key jobs : NPR
…Robbins says the U.S. economy is missing more than 1 million immigrant workers who would otherwise be here — were it not for the pandemic, and steep cuts to legal immigration during the Trump administration. And he argues that slowdown in immigration may be contributing to supply chain problems and inflation, as employers struggle to find enough workers…
Biden says supply chain crisis didn't materialize - The Washington Post
…"We brought together business and labor leaders to solve problems," Biden said at the White House, where he held a video conference with business leaders and officials in his supply chain task force. "And the much-predicted crisis didn't occur. Packages are moving, gifts are being delivered, shelves are not empty."…
Biden’s omicron battle plan includes at-home tests, hospital support - The Washington Post
…Biden detailed new plans to expand coronavirus testing sites across the country, distribute a half-billion free at-home tests and deploy more federal health resources to aid strained hospitals as the omicron variant drives a fresh wave of infections…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/12/21/biden-omicron-speech-covid-testing-hospitals/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/12/21/biden-omicron-speech-covid-testing-hospitals/
Trump ally and Pennsylvania Republican Scott Perry's House committee collision course
…Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., the vice chair of the select committee, has announced that in 2022 the committee will make its findings public through multiple weeks of public hearings "setting out in vivid color exactly what happened, every minute of the day on January 6th, here at the Capitol and at the White House, and what led to that violent attack." The goal, she said, is to put the truth before the American people…
Republicans are trying to pin the ‘Big Lie’ on Stacey Abrams - POLITICO
"On the 16th of November when I acknowledged that I would not become the governor, that [Kemp] had won the election, I did not challenge the results of the election, unlike some recent folks did," Abrams told Rachel Maddow the night she launched her campaign. "What I said was that the system was not fair. And leaders challenge systems; leaders say, 'We can do better.' And that's what I declared."
Trump says more than he intended while slamming voting rights bill
"And we have a bigger problem, because they have a so-called voting rights bill, which is a voting rights for Democrats, because Republicans will never be elected again if that happens, if that passes."
Junk bonds, leaving religion, Home co-ownership (The Phil Ferguson Show podcast #403)
- Interview with a someone that has left Islam,
- Investing Skeptically: Home Co-ownership, Junk bonds
Interview:
Thursday, December 23, 2021
Inside the nonstop pressure campaign by Trump allies to get election officials to revisit the 2020 vote - The Washington Post
More than a year after Donald Trump lost the presidency, election officials across the country are facing a growing barrage of claims that the vote was not secure and demands to investigate or decertify the outcome, efforts that are eating up hundreds of hours of government time and spreading distrust in elections…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-election-officials-pressure-campaign/2021/12/22/8a0b0788-5d26-11ec-ae5b-5002292337c7_story.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-election-officials-pressure-campaign/2021/12/22/8a0b0788-5d26-11ec-ae5b-5002292337c7_story.html
Michigan GOP candidate says public schools are plotting to 'eliminate the white people' - Raw Story - Celebrating 17 Years of Independent Journalism
…"During a Facebook live video Tuesday, Mellissa Carone ... said that public schools and the government are trying to 'eliminate' white people in America," reported Allison Donahue. "'They're trying to eliminate the white people in America, particularly the white male in America,' Carone said after criticizing public schools for asking students for their pronouns and calling transgender rights 'government control.'"…
He Was Filming on His Phone. Then a Deputy Attacked Him and Charged Him With Resisting Arrest. — ProPublica
Police can arrest people for "cover charges," like resisting arrest, to justify their use of excessive force and shield themselves from liability. In Jefferson Parish, 73% of the time someone is arrested on a "cover charge" alone, they're Black…
Judge Will Admit Confession Of Trump Fanatic Who Electroshocked Cop At Capitol Attack | HuffPost Latest News
Danny Rodriguez was identified in a HuffPost story as the Capitol rioter who drove a stun gun into Officer Mike Fanone's neck on Jan. 6...
After Supreme Court abortion case, a new look at baby ‘safe haven’ laws | PBS NewsHour
…many caution that safe haven placement as an alternative to abortion is flawed: It doesn't consider the health and economic risks a woman faces in pregnancy, nor does it account for the risks of childbirth in the nation with the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries…
Five things about omicron that I want my friends and family to know - The Washington Post
…Upgrade your mask and think twice about taking risks. This month will be crucial…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/12/21/holiday-advice-omicron-family/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/12/21/holiday-advice-omicron-family/
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