Thursday, October 31, 2024
Elon Musk’s $2 trillion in U.S. budget cuts could bring economic turmoil - The Washington Post
"The idea that one can cut $2 trillion in wasteful and unnecessary programs is absolutely absurd," said Brian Riedl, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a center-right think tank. "There's a long history of the fantasy that one smart businessman will just identify trillions in waste, but that's just not how it works."…
Video shows Phoenix police burning man during arrest: ‘Like acid on my skin’
Revealed: officers appear to hold Michael Kenyon, 30, to hot pavement in July, causing third-degree burns
Trump wants you to believe that the US economy is doing terribly. It’s untrue
The public holds this negative view even though there's been very good news for blue-collar workers: the US has added more than 700,000 factory jobs under the Biden-Harris administration, far more than during Trump's presidency, indeed more than under any president since the 1970s. There's also been good news for small businesses – a record 19m new business applications have been filed under Biden. There's also good news for the wealthy – the stock market has climbed to record levels, which is Wall Street's way of saying the economy is in excellent shape. Let's not forget that Trump warned that if Biden was elected president, the stock market would crash. Wrong again, Donald. Under Biden, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is 36% higher than when Trump left office, and the S&P 500 is 53% higher...
Trump cries foul in Pennsylvania, but officials say the system is working - The Washington Post
Officials and voting advocates strenuously disagreed, saying the fact that the registrations were flagged shows there is a system in place to catch ineligible registrations. They also said there is little evidence that the flagged registrations were a nefarious attempt to register fake voters, rather than the sloppy work of a paid canvasser trying to meet a quota. They also noted that these are claims of faulty applications, not votes.
"The idea that there is widespread fraud is completely false and without any evidence, and is designed to sow doubt and ultimately subvert the election," said Neil Makhija, a Democratic Montgomery County Commissioner, who has been actively pushing back against Republicans' election fraud claims...
Meet the Christian Zionists Determined to Elect Trump – Mother Jones
When Trump lost the 2020 election, some of the same NAR pastors who had praised Trump for moving the embassy—including Lance Wallnau, Dutch Sheets, and Paula White-Cain—emerged as leaders in the "Stop the Steal" campaign claiming that the election was stolen. In a 2022 broadcast, Sheets said that Trump had told him in a dream, "'God has put the tools in me to tear down, root up, and confront the system.'"
Fast forward to October 7, 2023, when NAR pastors' commitment to Israel became an all-out obsession. In a forthcoming paper for the religion studies journal Nova Religio, Berry, the St. Lawrence University religion scholar, chronicles how NAR pastors characterized the war in Gaza as part of "a cosmic battle between God and satanic forces." Berry references a broadcaston Rumble titled "Is This WWIII?" that Wallnau published on October 8, 2023. In it, Wallnau claimed that Hamas' brutal attack on Israel was the result of God punishing the United States for electing Biden, abandoning Trump, and allowing trans people to serve in the military. Because of these transgressions, Wallnau says, the United States has become "spiritually vulnerable."…
To some NAR adherents, paradoxically, the October 7 attack and all the bloodshed that followed was actually good news. NAR pastor Cindy Jacobs, another leader in the "Stop the Steal" campaign, told the crowd on the Mall that God had warned her about Hamas' attack—but he also told her that "after the dark time, Israel would come into a great revival"—presumably, the prelude to Christ's return…
Florida teen with machete arrested for voter intimidation at polling place - ABC News
In a press conference after the arrest, Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael J. Key said Williams "brandished a machete in an aggressive, threatening posture over his head" at two women, ages 71 and 54...
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Musk says Americans will have to face 'hardship' if Trump wins
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, said that if Donald Trump wins and gives him a role in government, Americans will suffer "hardship" as a result of efforts to address the national debt. He made the comments Friday in a virtual town hall on his website, X. When asked about "tackling the nation's debt," he mentioned changing the tax code, and then went on to say there would be some financial difficulty imposed on some Americans. "Most importantly, we have to reduce spending to live within our means," he said, adding that these efforts will "involve some temporary hardship, but it will ensure long-term prosperity."…
…Later on, Musk said that he would "balance the budget immediately," adding: "Obviously, a lot of people who are taking advantage of government are going to be upset about that. I'll probably need a lot of security, but it's got to be done. And if it's not done, we'll just go bankrupt."
‘Pure Hell’: The Painful Legacy of Boarding Schools for Native Americans. - The New York Times
The schools were designed to erase the children's tribal ties and cultural practices. Children were given new names, forcibly converted to Christianity and punished for speaking their Native languages. Many were physically and sexually abused.
A report released in July by the Interior Department identified by name nearly 19,000 children who attended the schools between 1819 and 1969, though it acknowledged that there were more. At least 973 children died at the schools and were buried at 74 sites, 21 of which were unmarked, the report said.
Congress funded the schools through annual appropriations and by selling land held by tribes. The government also hired Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopalian and Congregationalist associations to run schools, regardless of whether they had experience in education.…
Many Republicans take a tough line on China despite their own business ties to Beijing
As CNN reported, between 2017 and 2021, such qualms did not stop McCormick overseeing an increase in Bridgewater's Chinese holdings from $1.6m to $1.77bn. Nor, according to Bloomberg, did Bridgewater flinch from significant investments in companies that supply the Chinese military. It has also been reported that McCormick oversaw investment in a Chinese fentanyl producer and, as HuffPost put it, "profited from China trade policies he helped shape" as a deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs under George W Bush...
Russia to deploy 10,000 North Korean troops against Ukraine within ‘weeks’, Pentagon says
Addition of North Korean soldiers will stoke regional tensions and further stretch Ukraine's weary army in the almost three-year war…
A Muslim Mayor in Michigan Endorses Trump, Roiling a City of Immigrants - The New York Times
The endorsement has roiled Hamtramck, Mich., angering many in the Muslim community, as well as longtime residents who welcomed the newcomers...
For Four Hours, Christians in Georgia Gathered to Worship Trump. I Was There. – Mother Jones
"The attendees I spoke with afterward were jubilant—likely in part because after a program full of shaking their fists against "men in women's sports" and "transgender surgeries for illegal aliens," the crowd rocked out to the queer anthem "YMCA" as Trump was leaving the stage…"
Advisers Propose That Trump Give Security Clearances Without F.B.I. Vetting - The New York Times
A memo circulating in Donald Trump's orbit says that if elected he should use private firms to check appointees' backgrounds and give them immediate access to classified secrets after taking office...
‘Carved on bodies and souls’: survivor tells of Russia’s use of male sexual torture in Ukraine
' Oleksii Sivak has set up a support group for others who have suffered widespread but unspoken abuse…
Opinion | Donald Trump is getting cruder and coarser, not just at N.Y. rally - The Washington Post
Here are some of the "truths" from the other "phenomenal" speakers, none of which the Trump campaign disavowed: Businessman Grant Cardone likened Vice President Kamala Harris to a prostitute. "Her and her pimp handlers will destroy our country," he said. David Rem, billed as a childhood friend of Mr. Trump's, called Ms. Harris the "Antichrist" and "devil" while waving a cross onstage.
Radio host Sid Rosenberg called Hillary Clinton a son of a b---- and dropped an f-bomb as he said that all Democrats are "degenerates … lowlifes." Rudy Giuliani, disbarred over his misconduct as a lawyer for Mr. Trump's effort to block the 2020 election results, said Ms. Harris is "on the side of the terrorists" in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Donald Trump Jr. claimed Democrats want to "replace" Americans with immigrants...
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Trump fills Madison Square Garden with anger, vitriol and racist threats
There was certainly a dark tone throughout the hours-long rally, with one speaker describing Puerto Rico, home to 3.2m US citizens, as an "island of garbage"; Tucker Carlson mocking Harris' racial identity; a radio host describing Hillary Clinton as a "sick bastard"; and a crucifix-wielding childhood friend of Trump's declaring that Harris is "the antichrist"...
Russians behind fake video of ballots being destroyed, US officials say
Russian actors were behind a viral video falsely showing mail-in ballots for Donald Trump being destroyed in the swing state of Pennsylvania, US officials said on Friday, amid heightened alert over foreign influence operations targeting the upcoming election.
The video, which garnered millions of views on platforms such as the Elon Musk-owned X, purports to show a man sorting through mail-in ballots from the state's Bucks county and ripping up those cast for the former president...
Miscarriages due to climate crisis a ‘blind spot’ in action plans – report
Increasing climate extremes are causing more lost babies, premature births and cognitive damage to newborns, the report said. For example, a study in India found a doubled risk of miscarriage in pregnant women suffering heat stress, while another in California found a significant association between long-term heat exposure and stillbirth and premature birth.
Flooding is responsible for more than 100,000 lost pregnancies a year in 33 countries in South and Central America, Asia, and Africa, according to another study, with the danger highest for women with lower income and education levels. Rising heat also increases the intimate partner violence suffered by women, a south Asian analysis found.
Neo-Nazi group the Base finds a safe space to recruit Americans: the Russian internet
The video, meant to entice Americans to join its ranks, isn't on YouTube or even a social media site most people know. Instead, it's being hosted on Rutube, a Russian-government-sponsored knockoff...
Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes: ‘We want to make America hate again’ | Far right (US) | The Guardian
Far-right figure blames 'corrupt leftwing media' for January 6 attack on US Capitol in new Trump documentary…
Bezos faces criticism after executives met with Trump on day of Post’s non-endorsement
Meanwhile, CNN reported that the Amazon CEO, Andy Jassy, had also recently reached out to speak with the former president by phone.
Those reported overtures were eviscerated by Washington Post editor-at-large and longtime columnist Robert Kagan, who resigned on Friday. On Saturday, he argued that the meeting Blue Origin executives had with Trump would not have taken place if the Post had endorsed the Democratic vice-president as it planned.
"Trump waited to make sure that Bezos did what he said he was going to do – and then met with the Blue Origin people," Kagan told the Daily Beast on Saturday. "Which tells us that there was an actual deal made, meaning that Bezos communicated, or through his people, communicated directly with Trump, and they set up this quid pro quo."
Videos Reveal Trump Adviser’s “Shadow” Plan for Second Administration — ProPublica
"We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected," he said. "When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains. We want their funding to be shut down so that the EPA can't do all of the rules against our energy industry because they have no bandwidth financially to do so."
Outcry over Trump’s hint at ‘little secret’ with House Republicans | Donald Trump | The Guardian
Critics condemn 'sinister' remark that suggests potential Trump-Mike Johnson plot to settle contested election…
‘Expect war’: leaked chats reveal influence of rightwing media on militia group | Far right (US) | The Guardian
Disinformation and conspiracy theories – some spread by Elon Musk – fuel group's vitriol and paranoia…
RNC asks Supreme Court for emergency order in Pennsylvania mail ballot case
The Republican National Committee (RNC) asked the Supreme Court on Monday for an emergency order that would prevent Pennsylvanians whose mail ballots are rejected for technical reasons from having a provisional ballot counted.
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Mail-in ballots set on fire in Washington, Oregon and Arizona : NPR
Federal officials have been warning that in recent months, some social media users have been encouraging sabotage of ballot drop boxes. "It's a direct attack on democracy," said one local official...
Stanford Has Fallen (Conspirituality podcast)
On Oct 4, Jay Bhattacharya, a professor of medicine, economics, and health research policy at Stanford, held a symposium at his university. Titled “Pandemic Policy: Planning the Future, Assessing the Past,” it was marketed as an open-minded series of panel discussions involving a range of experts to debate and discuss the efficacy of Covid mitigation techniques.
In reality, it was a collection of mostly anti-vax and definitely anti-lockdown contrarians that tried in vain to bait people like Dr Peter Hotez to attend in order to give the event an air of legitimacy. Held on the anniversary of the “Covid is bad for business” doctrine, The Great Barrington Declaration, the day presented an opportunity to air supposed “censorship” grievances and demands that the public should have a say in the science of future pandemics.
The rub: most everyone involved is invested in the economics of public health, not the science, though those lines were freely and falsely blurred throughout the day. Considering Stanford’s new president, economist Jonathan Levin, gave the opening remarks, the Covid contrarians took one more step into the mainstream with their business-first, science-whatever attitudes.
Interview:
In reality, it was a collection of mostly anti-vax and definitely anti-lockdown contrarians that tried in vain to bait people like Dr Peter Hotez to attend in order to give the event an air of legitimacy. Held on the anniversary of the “Covid is bad for business” doctrine, The Great Barrington Declaration, the day presented an opportunity to air supposed “censorship” grievances and demands that the public should have a say in the science of future pandemics.
The rub: most everyone involved is invested in the economics of public health, not the science, though those lines were freely and falsely blurred throughout the day. Considering Stanford’s new president, economist Jonathan Levin, gave the opening remarks, the Covid contrarians took one more step into the mainstream with their business-first, science-whatever attitudes.
Interview:
Monday, October 28, 2024
Weekly Roundup: Trump’s Hitler Admiration and Tucker Carlson’s Creepy Speech (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)
As the 2024 elections approach, Brad and Dan discuss Tucker Carlson’s remarks at Trump events, portraying him as an authoritative figure, and explores the media’s hesitance to endorse Kamala Harris.
The episode examines Trump’s metaphorical portrayal as a punitive father, the influence of wealthy elites like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk on media and democracy, and recent alarming voter suppression incidents.
The conversation also highlights John Kelly’s revelations about Trump and the implications for a potential second term. They conclude by emphasizing the importance of staying motivated in the final days before the election and the potential for Kamala Harris to make history.
Interview:
Leonard Leo’s Plan to “Crush” Democracy (Conspirituality podcast)
Billionaire legal activist Leonard Leo has had a role in placing all six conservative justices on the SCOTUS, and so therefore is in large part responsible for the overturning of Roe V Wade.
But his right-wing activism isn’t even close to over, as he recently stated during a rare interview with The Daily Wire.
Derek and Julian discuss Leo’s dark vision for the future.
Interview:
WAPO’s Catherine Rampell on how the Economy is Helping Harris (a little) (Al Franken podcast)
The economy is always one of the most important issues in any election. So how does Kamala Harris’s vision for America’s economy stack up against Donald Trump’s?
Catherine Rampell from the Washington Post joins us to discuss. Trump’s economic plan seems to revolve around tariffs, an issue that he seems to have a hard time understanding. Not only that, his threat to deport millions of undocumented workers will undoubtedly drive up the cost of goods around the country.
It’s clear that Trump cannot be trusted on this issue.
Plus, Catherine tells us the story of Flint, Michigan and a program that is aimed to give money to families of newborn babies. It’s a plan so successful and so popular that Kamala Harris has adopted a version of it for her campaign platform. Can it work on the national level?
Interview:
Schrödinger’s Special Counsel (Andrew McCabe and Allison Gill; Jack: A Special Counsel podcast, Episode #100)
This week:
- Trump is recycling the arguments that got the Mar-a-Lago case thrown out on Judge Chutkan in DC– but in a motion asking for a filing extension;
- if elected, Trump confirms that he would fire Jack Smith right away;
- the super PAC funding Trump’s legal bills is spending money faster faster than it’s taking it in;
- and the government opposes a motion to remove Judge Cannon from hearing the case against Trump’s would-be assassin.
- Plus listener questions.
Interview:
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Donald Trump, Joe Rogan hit it off on 3-hour podcast: 5 takeaways
Former President Trump sat with Joe Rogan Friday for a three-hour interview, marking the GOP nominee's debut on one of the most popular podcasts in the country...
Behind Christian Nationalism’s Influence on the 2024 Election — ProPublica
In recent years, the Christian right has become an increasingly powerful force in American politics. The belief that God has called on conservative Christians to rule over society has extended into all levels of government, from school boards to the White House.
Many pundits call this movement Christian nationalism. But while it may seem like a phenomenon born out of our current political moment, it represents the culmination of various movements with roots that trace back decades. The more extreme elements didn't just materialize a few years ago. They've been there from the start…
Kate Cohen We of Little Faith - rebalancing (Phil Ferguson Show podcast, episode #506)
1. Rebalancing investments.
2. Interview with Kate Cohen. She is the author of We of Little Faith - Why I stopped Pretending to Believe (And Maybe You Should Too).
Interview:
Katherine Stewart: Using religion to gain political power via Christian Nationalism | FFRF Convention 2024
Katherine Stewart emphasizes the importance of maintaining the separation of church and state, particularly in the face of rising Christian nationalism.
She explains that Christian nationalists use religion as a way to gain political power, often backed by wealthy donors with economic and deregulatory agendas. Stewart highlights how religious movements manipulate emotions to rally support while their real goal is control. She calls on the audience to remain vigilant and protect democracy through legislative efforts and public engagement.
Katherine Stewart, an author and investigative reporter, will accept FFRF’s Freethought Heroine award. She’s covered religious liberty, politics, policy and education. Her latest book, “The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism,” inspired the documentary feature movie “God and Country,” co-produced by Rob Reiner and Stewart. Her forthcoming book is “Money, Lies and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy.”
Interview:
Dangers of Religious Nationalism (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)
After we report on state/church news and victories in Florida, California and North Carolina, FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott describes FFRF’s new lawsuit challenging proposed bible distribution in Oklahoma public schools. Then we hear author and journalist Katherine Stewart, accepting FFRF’s “Freethought Heroine” award, warn of the dangers of religious nationalism.
Interview:
Who’s Mailing the Catholic Tribune? It’s Not the Church. — ProPublica
ProPublica has traced these mass-mailed newspapers to a "pink slime" network known for misinformation and its financial ties to right-wing super PACs and billionaires...
Saturday, October 26, 2024
The News Roundup – Domestic and International (The 1A) 2024-10-25
Domestic
Early voting is underway in the 2024 election. CNN reports that millions of Americans have already cast their ballots either by mail or in-person.Donald Trump’s former chief of staff revealed some upsetting details of the former president’s time in office this week. John Kelly, the retired Marine general who worked for the Trump administration, said that the 45th president once remarked he needed “Hitler’s generals” during a conversation about Germany.
Frequent 1A roundup guest James Kitfield reacted to that reporting this week in Defense One. Kitfield, a longtime military reporter and senior fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, notes the more than 700 former high-ranking military and national security officials who collectively endorsed Kamala Harris last month, saying former President Trump is “too impulsive and ill-informed” to lead the military.
Kitfield argues: “Roughly half of my fellow citizens have chosen to ignore those warnings, and that is certainly their right. Before they vote, however, I hope they reconsider why the nation’s guardians have chosen to break with tradition.”
And according to a judge, former New York City Mayor and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani must give two Georgia elections workers who he defamed his New York City apartment, various watches, valuable memorabilia, and a 1980 Mercedes once owned by Lauren Bacall.
Interview:
International
A top Hezbollah leader was killed this week in an Israeli air attack. Hashem Safieddine was expected to assume control of the armed group following the death of his cousin Hassan Nasrallah, their former leader.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a visit to Israel that the death of a top Hamas leader last week could lead to an opening for peace and more aid to flow into Gaza.
Soccer fans around the world are set to see the game through the eyes (er… chest) of one of the game’s greats. Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi is set to wear a camera strapped to his torso that will stream his every move to TikTok during his team’s run at the MLS Cup.
Interview:
Missouri Republican says he is investigating Google for ‘censoring conservative speech’
"I am launching an investigation into Google for censoring conservative speech during the most consequential election in our nation's history," Andrew Bailey said in a post on X, without citing any example or evidence for his censorship claim.
Bailey added in a statement to Fox: "We have reason to believe that Google is manipulating their search results to de-emphasise information about the Trump campaign prior to election day. I will not allow Google to interfere in the most consequential election in our nation's history."
Use passkeys to sign in to apps and websites on iPhone - Apple Support
"Passkeys are more secure than passwords, because they're uniquely generated for every account by your own device and are less vulnerable to phishing. And they work on all your devices that are signed in to the same Apple Account.
Also, websites and apps can automatically create passkeys for your account, so you can use the passkeys the next time you sign in.
Like passwords, passkeys are encrypted and stored in your iCloud Keychain, where they aren't visible to anyone (including Apple)…"
Long and Wrong (Allison Gill and Pete Strzok; Cleanup on Aisle 45 podcast episode #196)
This week: 
- the Georgia Election Board’s new rules are ruled “unenforceable and void”;
- Trump tries to move his NY case to federal court;
- Israel’s plans to attack Iran are leaked; bad news for Rudy Giuliani in Arizona;
- plus an update on Alexander Smirnov.
Interview:
Colorado election officials say they identified at least a dozen fraudulent ballots
"Colorado's elections are safe and secure," Secretary of State Jena Griswold wrote in a statement. "This attempt at fraud was found and investigated quickly because of all the trailblazing processes and tools Colorado has in place like signature verification, ballot tracking, and the curing process."
Judge grants preliminary injunction blocking Youngkin voting order - The Washington Post
The Justice Department argued that eligible voters were getting swept up in the state's effort to remove noncitizens...
Ex-Trump aides emerge to back John Kelly’s harsh warnings - POLITICO
The letter was signed by Trump administration officials, including Kevin Carroll, former senior counselor to Kelly; former deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews; former assistant secretary of homeland security Elizabeth Neumann; former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci; former chief of staff at the Dept. of Homeland Security Miles Taylor; former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham; former press secretary to the vice president Alyssa Farah Griffin; and former national security adviser to vice president Pence, Olivia Troye...
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