JD Vance tweet challenges a judge's authority over Trump agenda in worrying sign

It's hard to view that objectively inaccurate statement as anything other than an argument that the laws that apply to everyone else don't apply to Trump...

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/jd-vance-tweet-judges-trump-supreme-court-rcna191592

 

Steven Weinberg's Best Arguments against Religion

In this video Steven Weinberg delves into the clash of truth-seeking methods between science and religion, from authority reliance to moral choices, and uncover why weakening religion's hold may be vital for civilization's progress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teqpeMb0v50

White House budget office gives political appointees more power in spending, alarming career officials - The Washington Post

The White House budget office has upended a decades-old practice on how federal agencies spend money, giving more power to political appointees to move money around, two senior administration officials confirmed. Previously, career staffers at the White House Office of Management and Budget, the kind of employees who work at agencies despite changes in administrations, were charged with signing off on approving the “apportionment” of funds, deciding how to shift or restrict the disbursement of money already approved by Congress. Under a new system unilaterally put in place last week, those decisions will now be signed off on by political appointees chosen by the Trump administration who work as program associate directors at the OMB.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/20/white-house-spending-power/

Trump claims authority to issue order on mail-in votes - ABC News

President Donald Trump is claiming he has the authority to issue an executive order on mail-in ballots, though it is is unclear what he could do to curtail the practice https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-claims-authority-issue-order-mail-votes-72155358

Trump has “total authority” : AdviceAnimals

https://www.reddit.com/r/AdviceAnimals/comments/g1i87f/trump_has_total_authority/

Trump claims 'total authority' and attacks media in chaotic coronavirus briefing

In a bizarre tirade, the president bristled at a suggestion by one of the media that his power was restricted
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/13/trump-us-coronavirus-briefing-latest-media

Cuomo uses Alexander Hamilton to call out Trump’s claim of ‘total’ authority - The Washington Post

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo quoted the famed Founding Father, who once described 'the possibility of federal encroachments' on state power as 'repugnant to every rule of political calculation.'....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/04/14/cuomo-hamilton-trump-coronavirus/

Bret Baier: Conservatives heads 'would've exploded' if Obama said he had 'total' authority | TheHill

Fox News anchor Bret Baier on Tuesday called out the "hypocrisy" of President Trump's claim the day before that he has "total" authority when it comes to reopening the nation's economy, saying that conservative heads would have "exploded" had former President Obama said the same thing.....
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/492783-foxs-bret-baier-conservatives-heads-wouldve-exploded-if-obama-said-he-had

Wounded by media scrutiny, Trump turned a briefing into a presidential tantrum

President lashed out at reporters, swiped at Biden and refused to accept that he had put a foot wrong in coronavirus response
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/13/trump-coronavirus-meltdown-media-authority

Trump gets slapped down by constitutional experts after claiming his 'authority is total'

Monday was a disastrous day in Donald Trump’s coronavirus response, even by Trump’s disastrous standards. He ran a campaign ad during a coronavirus press briefing, leading MSNBC and CNN to cut away. His “Opening Our Country Council” promised to be a slap in the face to public health concerns—but his White House couldn’t even competently execute this terrible plan, whiffing the rollout by not being ready to name a roster of suck-ups or explain what the group would do beyond backing a plan to kill more Americans by reopening things too early. ....
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/4/14/1937111/-Trump-gets-slapped-down-by-constitutional-experts-after-claiming-his-authority-is-total

‘Enough!’ Trump shouts down reporter who demands he back up claim he has ‘total’ authority over governors – Raw Story

President Donald Trump claimed at Monday’s coronavirus press briefing that he has “total” authority over governors who have issued shelter-in-place orders and can force them to reinstate nonessential business activity when he deems it appropriate. His claim was promptly challenged by CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins — which ultimately led to an angry outburst. ....
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/04/enough-trump-shouts-down-reporter-who-demands-he-back-up-claim-he-has-total-authority-over-governors/

Putin reasserts his authority over Trump, reminding him where his true loyalties lie - Daily Kos

The Kremlin said on Monday that Washington would need Russian consent to publish transcripts of phone calls between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.....
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/9/30/1888982/-Putin-reasserts-his-authority-over-Trump-reminding-him-where-his-true-loyalties-lie

15 attorneys general slam Trump move to limit federal authority under Clean Water Act - The Washington Post:

The attorneys general oppose the Trump administration smove to scale back federal authority over streams and tributaries that feed the nation's largest rivers.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/04/16/fifteen-ags-slam-trump-move-limit-federal-authority-under-clean-water-act/

New concerns Trump admin. laying legal groundwork for armed conflict with Iran - ABC News

Congress is making clear Trump does not have the authority for military action....
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/concerns-trump-administration-laying-legal-groundwork-military-action/story

Mr. D. Goes: Sessions Reminds Us

In quoting Romans 13, Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, reminds us that God is the biggest dick ever!!!..
https://youtu.be/86kvZakf40c

The Use of Experts

People are often mistrustful of authority these days. John Corvino explains why--and to what extent--expertise matters.....
https://youtu.be/Kk7jqLs5cRw

How fascism works - Vox

A Yale philosopher on fascism, truth, and Donald Trump. ....
https://www.vox.com/2018/9/19/17847110/how-fascism-works-donald-trump-jason-stanley

It's Time to Quit the Catholic Church!

FFRF Director of Strategic Response Andrew Seidel discusses why it is time to quit the Catholic church. Three hundred predatory priests, 1,000 child victims, 1,400 pages, two million documents, including many from the Catholic Church’s “secret archive.” A new report clearly illustrates the coverup of sexual abuse of children within the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania. https://youtu.be/TBu804BJBkA

Judge Praised by Trump for Questioning Robert Mueller’s Authority Rules That Mueller Does, In Fact, Have Authority - Slate

T.S. Ellis III rejects Paul Manfort's argument that Mueller is out of control.....
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/06/virginia-judge-trump-praised-rejects-manafort-mueller-argument.html

Trump’s Lawyers, in Confidential Memo, Argue to Head Off a Historic Subpoena - The New York Times

The legal memo takes an expansive view on the president's authority. Lawyers argued that, as president, Mr. Trump has the power to end investigations. ....
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/02/us/politics/trump-lawyers-memo-mueller-subpoena.html