Am I right? What do I win?
You win a crumbling democracy where the rich and powerful will do anything to remove any rights you still have while one party openly fights to turn the country into a fascist christian teocracy.
Am I right? What do I win?
You win a crumbling democracy where the rich and powerful will do anything to remove any rights you still have while one party openly fights to turn the country into a fascist christian teocracy.
You win a crumbling democracy where the rich and powerful will do anything to remove any rights you still have while one party openly fights to turn the country into a fascist christian teocracy.
I like cookies better as a reward >_<
Louis DeJoy, who is brazenly and openly corrupt, is still postmaster general.
He's the one that made mail even slower, correct? If so, why can't Biden fire and replace him?
Louis DeJoy, who is brazenly and openly corrupt, is still postmaster general.
He's the one that made mail even slower, correct? If so, why can't Biden fire and replace him?
Biden doesn't have the power to do that, the board has to, and the board is currently majority Trump loyalists. Biden has two appointees for the board waiting to go through, and once they're on they can probably get rid of Dejoy.
But that's not a job the President can just fire and replace on a whim or overnight.
Biden doesn't have the power to do that, the board has to, and the board is currently majority Trump loyalists. Biden has two appointees for the board waiting to go through, and once they're on they can probably get rid of Dejoy.
But that's not a job the President can just fire and replace on a whim or overnight.
Oh, I understand now. Argh, I just hope his two appointees go through ASAP, I love the post office and I don't want it to be destroyed because of some corrupted fool who doesn't seem to care about the institution.
Oh, I understand now. Argh, I just hope his two appointees go through ASAP, I love the post office and I don't want it to be destroyed because of some corrupted fool who doesn't seem to care about the institution.
It's not that he doesn't care about the institution. It's that he is actively sabotaging it to benefit the alternatives that he's more loyal to because they pay him better.
Incompetence would be one thing, but he's enacted straight up malice, partly to try and turn the election.
It's not that he doesn't care about the institution. It's that he is actively sabotaging it to benefit the alternatives that he's more loyal to because they pay him better.
Incompetence would be one thing, but he's enacted straight up malice, partly to try and turn the election.
Oh wow. I didn't know about that x.x
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
Speaking of mail-in voting, I just got an e-mail saying it is time to register again for it and I should be expecting something in the mail soon to do just that. I wonder if I should apply for it again, or face my social phobia and actually go to the polls instead. not sure what be the best option for me
Guys, need help!
My mother is left-leaning in general, but she recently watched one of these standard conspiracy theory videos* designed to be the first step of the rabbit hole to the extreme-right (deep state, control of the media, the future where these powerful men destroy the world, and a soft nudge towards Trump and QAnon, a world where we can build "a better tomorrow"). It's one of those hour-long videos that recycles many of the cliches we've seen for the last 8 years bit by bit, but with some covid stuff added to the mix too. And she's really impressed by the video – like it clicked everything, full of truths and facts, no distortions. Bear in mind that we're brazilian, so a lot of this stuff was kinda new to her because she doesn't follow american politics and the language of this propaganda (the video is english, with subtitles in portuguese).
The thing is... it's very easy for me to see all of the fallacies, the sleight-of-hand and fake news (because I understand rethoric and politics, and I'm already familiar with this stuff on the internet), but it's very difficult for me to explain things in a way that's easy for her to understand, and to point out the fake news convincingly, because I don't have anything saved for a situation like this.
Do you guys have any good video/material that rebut this stuff?
*Here's the video:
she recently watched one of these standard conspiracy theory videos
but it's very difficult for me to explain things in a way that's easy for her to understand, and to point out the fake news convincingly, because I don't have anything saved for a situation like this.
Hmmm. I think the best way is for you is to watch the video for yourself, and use sources and stuff to debunk it, but try to do it in a language she can understand. Try not to make her feel like she is stupid, help her slowly with critical thinking skills. Try to also teach her about political bias whether it is left or right, especially ones with extreme bias. It will take a lot of patience, but slow and steady can win the race. I would also suggest to teach her to look at all sides of the situation to form her own opinion. I'm not sure what else I can do to help, but I hope my suggestions are helpful.
Show her some John Oliver instead?
Hmmm. I think the best way is for you is to watch the video for yourself, and use sources and stuff to debunk it, but try to do it in a language she can understand. Try not to make her feel like she is stupid, help her slowly with critical thinking skills. Try to also teach her about political bias whether it is left or right, especially ones with extreme bias. It will take a lot of patience, but slow and steady can win the race. I would also suggest to teach her to look at all sides of the situation to form her own opinion. I'm not sure what else I can do to help, but I hope my suggestions are helpful.
Yes, I watched the video, but there's so much content at a fast pace that it takes a lot of time/effort to explain each time they make a logical fallacy, and it's especially troublesome to discuss a "pattern" which is actually nonsensical, since you need to go through the trouble of filling in the gaps with the omitted information/story/context/theory in order show the reality, or to even show the lack of relation between A and B. It's easier to rebut the instances where the video is outright lying, but unless it's an easy fact-check (fortunatelly, there's some), what I actually have to do is talk about theorical concepts of law, economy and policies, which can be difficult for someone without political background. Besides, what makes the video compelling is that it tells a simple narrative, while my job is to show that things are complex, actually. And I don't have the tools to make it as emotional.
Show her some John Oliver instead?
No portuguese subtitles, unfortunately.
Yes, I watched the video, but there's so much content at a fast pace that it takes a lot of time/effort to explain each time they make a logical fallacy, and it's especially troublesome to discuss a "pattern" which is actually nonsensical, since you need to go through the trouble of filling in the gaps with the omitted information/story/context/theory in order show the reality, or to even show the lack of relation between A and B. It's easier to rebut the instances where the video is outright lying, but unless it's an easy fact-check (fortunatelly, there's some), what I actually have to do is talk about theorical concepts of law, economy and policies, which can be difficult for someone without political background. Besides, what makes the video compelling is that it tells a simple narrative, while my job is to show that things are complex, actually. And I don't have the tools to make it as emotional.
No portuguese subtitles, unfortunately.
Could it be an option to not immediately focus on the details of the video, and instead start with warning her that it's a popular propaganda tool used by the right wing in the US to brainwash people? That the topic it brings up are important, but it spins them in dangerous ways. Maybe if there's something similar in your country where people try to recruit people to their extremist beliefs, use that as a comparison. That'll could help put it into a perspective she has an easier time understanding.
Another thing could be to focus on the content creator of the video. If you can find good proof to show their agenda that could help discredit their work.
Wish I had any videos that could help :(
Guys, need help!
My mother is left-leaning in general, but she recently watched one of these standard conspiracy theory videos* designed to be the first step of the rabbit hole to the extreme-right (deep state, control of the media, the future where these powerful men destroy the world, and a soft nudge towards Trump and QAnon, a world where we can build "a better tomorrow"). It's one of those hour-long videos that recycles many of the cliches we've seen for the last 8 years bit by bit, but with some covid stuff added to the mix too. And she's really impressed by the video – like it clicked everything, full of truths and facts, no distortions. Bear in mind that we're brazilian, so a lot of this stuff was kinda new to her because she doesn't follow american politics and the language of this propaganda (the video is english, with subtitles in portuguese).
The thing is... it's very easy for me to see all of the fallacies, the sleight-of-hand and fake news (because I understand rethoric and politics, and I'm already familiar with this stuff on the internet), but it's very difficult for me to explain things in a way that's easy for her to understand, and to point out the fake news convincingly, because I don't have anything saved for a situation like this.
Do you guys have any good video/material that rebut this stuff?
*Here's the video:
First, how she views the last 6 years of right wing bullshit we've been through?
Second, how was her position changed on covid from the start of the pandemic to now?
Third, does she think that Joven Pan is a news source or another PR for Bolsonaro?
Fourth, does she have any respect for Skull de Carvalho or not?
Because the last is the easiest way to debunk, the video probably uses the full book of olavismos that he copied for the american far right.
@Zar:
Could it be an option to not immediately focus on the details of the video, and instead start with warning her that it's a popular propaganda tool used by the right wing in the US to brainwash people? That the topic it brings up are important, but it spins them in dangerous ways. Maybe if there's something similar in your country where people try to recruit people to their extremist beliefs, use that as a comparison. That'll could help put it into a perspective she has an easier time understanding.
Another thing could be to focus on the content creator of the video. If you can find good proof to show their agenda that could help discredit their work.
Wish I had any videos that could help :(
Yes, I've explained some of this stuff, and it caught her attention, but it's not like it disproves the video if she thinks the narrative was factual and logical.
First, how she views the last 6 years of right wing bullshit we've been through?
Second, how was her position changed on covid from the start of the pandemic to now?
Third, does she think that Joven Pan is a news source or another PR for Bolsonaro?
Fourth, does she have any respect for Skull de Carvalho or not?
Because the last is the easiest way to debunk, the video probably uses the full book of olavismos that he copied for the american far right.
1 - she's against most of the right-wing bullshit and Bolsonaro, but not necessarily because she deeply understand most of it, but rather because it's her stance due to certain principles and optics.
2 - she doesn't think covid is fake news or anything outrageous, and she never thought that protective measures against covid were part of a conspiracy of the government and illuminati… but she also doesn't like ANVISA and the pharmaceutical industry in general (my mom is really into alternative medicine), so it's easy for her to accept any bias of corruption and manipulation in this sector.
3 - she doesn't listen to Jovem Pan or any right-wing media.
4 - she doesn't like Olavo de Carvalho, although she probably doesn't know what he says, so she dislikes him due to his connection with the Bolsonaro family.
The issue is that my mom falls for any mediocre rethoric because her analytical thinking is lacking. Just saying "it's right-wing propaganda" won't make her change her mind necessarily, because the video made sense in her head (in the worst case scenario, she'll just believe they're right). So I need to explain the flaws in the conspiracy. It just takes a lot of effort to do that, so it would be useful to have a guideline, and even better to have a video that's effective in compiling the stuff that debunks all the fallacies and fake news.
Yes, I watched the video, but there's so much content at a fast pace that it takes a lot of time/effort to explain each time they make a logical fallacy, and it's especially troublesome to discuss a "pattern" which is actually nonsensical, since you need to go through the trouble of filling in the gaps with the omitted information/story/context/theory in order show the reality, or to even show the lack of relation between A and B. It's easier to rebut the instances where the video is outright lying, but unless it's an easy fact-check (fortunatelly, there's some), what I actually have to do is talk about theorical concepts of law, economy and policies, which can be difficult for someone without political background. Besides, what makes the video compelling is that it tells a simple narrative, while my job is to show that things are complex, actually. And I don't have the tools to make it as emotional.
I understand now. I might try to watch the video and debunk it, but I don't know when I would have time to do so since it is an hour long. I'm sorry I wasn't much help at all in this. I don't like conspiracies at all, when I was younger I fell for them, and now I'm like super against them because it is a load of bullshit. I wish I could do more to help. I guess the best thing is what Zar said:
@Zar:
Another thing could be to focus on the content creator of the video. If you can find good proof to show their agenda that could help discredit their work.
Maybe you can look at the creator of the videos, and see what other videos he said. Maybe he said something that your mom would 100% disagree with and can help destroy his creditability. Do you think that can help?
Yes, I've explained some of this stuff, and it caught her attention, but it's not like it disproves the video if she thinks the narrative was factual and logical.
1 - she's against most of the right-wing bullshit and Bolsonaro, but not necessarily because she deeply understand most of it, but rather because it's her stance due to certain principles and optics.
2 - she doesn't think covid is fake news or anything outrageous, and she never thought that protective measures against covid were part of a conspiracy of the government and illuminati… but she also doesn't like ANVISA and the pharmaceutical industry in general (my mom is really into alternative medicine), so it's easy for her to accept any bias of corruption and manipulation in this sector.
3 - she doesn't listen to Jovem Pan or any right-wing media.
4 - she doesn't like Olavo de Carvalho, although she probably doesn't know what he says, so she dislikes him due to his connection with the Bolsonaro family.The issue is that my mom falls for any mediocre rethoric because her analytical thinking is lacking. Just saying "it's right-wing propaganda" won't make her change her mind necessarily, because the video made sense in her head (in the worst case scenario, she'll just believe they're right). So I need to explain the flaws in the conspiracy. It just takes a lot of effort to do that, so it would be useful to have a guideline, and even better to have a video that's effective in compiling the stuff that debunks all the fallacies and fake news.
Well big pharma ain't no saint, but it think alternative medicine is way worst, you start by believing in acupuncture works and end up snorting rhino's horn dusk to cure impotency. But not to derail I found the source organization behind the video.
https://www.stopworldcontrol.com/
And by the titles of articles on their tabs, you can see they are pretty much a new world order ponzi scheme. Like they still use DJ Raul as an exemple of "top professional" of the medical field guiding us to the cure. When he's being sued in France, for things like this:
In October 2021, the Mediapart online investigative journal brought to light an illegal clinical trial by Raoult and IHU of a treatment against tuberculosis, which they had been conducting since 2017. They started the trial without seeking the mandatory approval of the French clinical trial regulator, and continued it despite its strenuous objections to its protocol when they eventually sought permission. Many of their patients were minors, homeless, or illegal residents, and therefore could not legally consent to the trial. Several suffered severe side effects such as kidney failure from the known toxicity of one of the four antibiotics combined in the trial, and at least one patient contaminated several family members because the treatment was simultaneously ineffective and poorly monitored by IHU.
https://www.ledauphine.com/sante/2021/10/25/essais-sauvages-a-l-ihu-de-marseille-que-reproche-t-on-a-didier-raoult
https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2021/10/27/experimentation-sauvage-contre-la-tuberculose-a-l-ihu-de-marseille-une-enquete-interne-confirme-que-l-essai-n-etait-pas-approuve_6100134_3224.html
Well big pharma ain't no saint, but it think alternative medicine is way worst, you start by believing in acupuncture works and end up snorting rhino's horn dusk to cure impotency. But not to derail I found the source organization behind the video.
https://www.stopworldcontrol.com/
And by the titles of articles on their tabs, you can see they are pretty much a new world order ponzi scheme. Like they still use DJ Raul as an exemple of "top professional" of the medical field guiding us to the cure. When he's being sued in France, for things like this:
LOL, I should have searched for this. Very bizarre site.
a new world order
Yikes.. I feel like people who believe in the Illuminati/New World Order want explanations for things when in reality bad stuff just happens with no reason behind it. It feels like a sense of wanting control to be honest.
Yikes.. I feel like people who believe in the Illuminati/New World Order want explanations for things when in reality bad stuff just happens with no reason behind it. It feels like a sense of wanting control to be honest.
I think I was successful here.
Just showed her their site and their most obviously bizarre stuff. She was convinced. I guess.
The irony is that our parents told us to not believe in everything we see on TV/internet to boom 20 years later they believe in everything the see coming from facebook or whatsapp.
The irony is that our parents told us to not believe in everything we see on TV/internet to boom 20 years later they believe in everything the see coming from facebook or whatsapp.
Yeah, LOL.
Because their perception of lies is something much more naive, like the idea of a scammer, a guy pretending to be someone else to do something bad for profit. Most of them didn't learn to protect themselves of lies which are not personal, but rather ideological, through rethoric and manipulation. Most of them were already vulnerable to this stuff (propaganda, conspiracy, etc) even before the internet, when it happened through other means.
Yup, exactly that! Well said!
Unrelated: I really need to watch Steven Universe one of these days.
I think I was successful here.
Just showed her their site and their most obviously bizarre stuff. She was convinced. I guess.
I'm so glad you were able to convince her! Sorry that I wasn't much help, but I'm happy it got figured out in the end! :happy:
Well big pharma ain't no saint, but it think alternative medicine is way worst, you start by believing in acupuncture works and end up snorting rhino's horn dusk to cure impotency. But not to derail I found the source organization behind the video.
Isn't this homeopathy instead of acupuncture? Or is there more to it other than put a needle in a pressure point?
In today's hilarity, Marjorie Dumbass Greene takes another shot at the Capitol Police . . . . by comparing them to the "gazpacho" of Nazi Germany. To which of course famous Spanish chef Jose Andres can only reply with a vicious burn:
https://secondnexus.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-gestapo-gazpacho?fbclid=IwAR0vXuawLQg8lbg7hrSXWqHROyMszVuh_oadx5nLXiPIUl5TH-v8wVQ7d5E
Where are the Soup Nazi memes?
Isn't this homeopathy instead of acupuncture? Or is there more to it other than put a needle in a pressure point?
No evidence of what they say they do exists, it falls in the placebo effect.
https://quackwatch.org/related/acu/
In today's hilarity, Marjorie Dumbass Greene takes another shot at the Capitol Police . . . . by comparing them to the "gazpacho" of Nazi Germany. To which of course famous Spanish chef Jose Andres can only reply with a vicious burn:
https://secondnexus.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-gestapo-gazpacho?fbclid=IwAR0vXuawLQg8lbg7hrSXWqHROyMszVuh_oadx5nLXiPIUl5TH-v8wVQ7d5EWhere are the Soup Nazi memes?
She's gonna be the next Republican president, mark my words. I keep thinking how the Republicans can possibly outdo themselves after Trump, but, yeah, I think she's it. This is just how it is now. The lower they sink, the more successful they are.
I like to be cynical sometimes too but ain’t no way in the hell she’s going to be to be the next Republican president.
She's gonna be the next Republican president, mark my words.
I'm hoping for Liz Cheney for the next Republican president. She denounced Trump… though the party itself canceled her with a censure, but here's hoping! :happy:
Cheney ain't flying. If Trump don't run, and if he doesn't force one of his spawns down the GOP throat, the party will have to choose between DeSantis, Cruz, QKaren and I don't know who else might be trying in 2024.
Since it's been a while, this past week's worth of What the Fuck Just Happened Today:
Day 384: "Legitimate political discourse."
! 1/ Jill Biden said that two years of tuition-free community college – her signature legislative initiative – is “no longer” part of the Build Back Better agenda, telling a group of educators that she is “disappointed” that the provision was dropped because of necessary “compromises.” In October, Joe Biden told lawmakers that community college would likely not be in the bill. Democrats also didn’t include it in the roughly $2 trillion version that passed the House last year. “Congress hasn’t passed the Build Back Better legislation yet. And free community college is no longer part of that package,” the first lady said during an appearance in Washington before the Community College National Legislative Summit. (New York Times / Washington Post / Wall Street Journal)
! 2/ New Jersey and Delaware will no longer require students and school employees to wear masks. New Jersey’s new policy will take effect the second week of March, while Delaware’s indoor mask mandate for public and private K-12 schools and child care facilities will end on March 31. The Democratic governors of New York and Connecticut also said they’re re-evaluating school mask mandates. The White House, meanwhile, said its “advice to every school district is to abide by public health guidelines. It continues to be at this point that the CDC is advising that masks can delay, reduce transmission.” (New York Times / NPR / CNN)
! 3/ Biden’s top science adviser bullied and demeaned subordinates, and created a hostile work environment, according to a White House investigation. Eric Lander, director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, apologized for his behavior following the two-month investigation, which found “credible evidence” that he created a toxic work environment. While swearing in political appointees on Inauguration Day, Biden pledged to fire anyone who disrespected their colleagues “On the spot. No ifs, ands or buts.” The White House declined to comment when asked whether Biden would seek Lander’s resignation. Lander, however, promised “check-ins” to ensure “that every employee knows how to report conduct that concerns them.” (Politico / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal)
! 4/ The North Carolina Supreme Court blocked the state’s new Republican-drawn congressional map, ruling 4-3 that they violate the state constitution. The new map could have given Republicans control of 11 of the state’s 14 districts and would likely have helped Republicans gain at least two seats in the state’s delegation. The state Supreme Court gave the General Assembly until Feb. 18 to submit a new redistricting proposal. (Politico / CNN)
! 5/ Pence rejected Trump’s claim that he could have “overturned” the results of the 2020 election, saying Trump is “wrong” and that the Republican Party needs accept the outcome. His comments came after Trump called on the Jan. 6 committee to investigate why Pence didn’t “overturned the election,” asserting that Pence had the “right” to do so. Speaking at the Federalist Society Florida Chapters conference, Pence called it “un-American” to suggest one person could have decided the outcome. The Republican Party, meanwhile, declared the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol “legitimate political discourse” in a resolution censuring GOP Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for participating on the House Jan. 6 committee. (CNN / ABC News / New York Times / NPR / NBC News / Washington Post)
! 6/ The National Archives retrieved 15 boxes of documents from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence that should have been turned over to the agency when he left the White House. The Presidential Records Act requires the preservation of memos, letters, notes, emails, faxes, and other written communications related to a president’s official duties. The documents from Trump’s Florida resort included letters from Kim Jong Un, which Trump once described as “love letters,” as well as a letter from Obama. The Archives said Trump’s representatives are “continuing to search” for additional records. (Washington Post)
! 1/ The House is scheduled to vote on a short-term funding bill to avert a shutdown and keep the federal government funded through March 11 while talks on a broader spending package continue. Funding is currently set to expire on February 18. Once the House passes the stopgap bill, the Senate would need to approve it before it can be sent to Biden to be signed into law. House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro said the stopgap bill is needed to allow time for more negotiations between Republicans and Democrats on a complete $1.5 trillion appropriations package that would keep the government funded at least through September. (Bloomberg / CNN / NBC News / Wall Street Journal / Politico)
! 2/ The Supreme Court allowed a congressional map drawn by Alabama Republicans to remain in place despite a lower court saying the map violated the Voting Rights Act. A lower court had ordered Alabama Republicans to redraw the map because it resulted in one congressional district with a majority of Black voters even though they make up more than a quarter of the state’s population. “Black voters have less opportunity than other Alabamians to elect candidates of their choice to Congress,” the lower court wrote, ruling that the state had likely violated the federal Voting Rights Act. The Supreme Court’s 5-4 vote, however, means the upcoming elections will be conducted under the current map, drawn by Alabama’s Republican-controlled legislature. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the three liberal justices in dissent, who called the order “a disservice to Black Alabamians” who under Supreme Court precedent “have had their electoral power diminished — in violation of a law this Court once knew to buttress all of American democracy.” (Washington Post / New York Times / NBC News / CNN / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal)
! 3/ Mitch McConnell criticized the Republican National Committee for censuring two Republican lawmakers who serve on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. In remarks at the Capitol, McConnell called the attack a “violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power.” On Friday, the RNC approved a resolution accusing Rep. Liz Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger of participating in the “persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.” Cheney and Kinzinger are the only GOP members of the House panel. (NBC News / New York Times / Washington Post / Wall Street Journal / ABC News)
! 4/ Biden’s top science adviser resigned after he acknowledged he mistreated demeaned his subordinates. Eric Lander, director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, apologized in an email to his staff after an internal review by the White House found credible evidence that he bullied staff in violation of the White House’s “safe and respectful workplace policy.” Lander is the first member of Biden’s Cabinet to resign. (Politico / New York Times / NBC News / Washington Post)
! 5/ Biden threatened to “bring an end” to the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine. The pipeline, however, isn’t under U.S. control and Biden didn’t explain how he would keep that promise. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declined to commit to ending the pipeline if an invasion moves ahead. Although the pipeline between Russia and Germany was finished last September, it hasn’t transported any actual gas yet. (NBC News / Bloomberg / CNN / CNBC / Wall Street Journal)
! 6/ The IRS suspended its plan to use a private facial-recognition system to authenticate taxpayers’ identities for online access following criticism from privacy advocates and lawmakers over concerns about the collection of biometric data. The agency originally planned to start using the third-party service this summer, called ID.me, which would require all taxpayers to submit a “video selfie” to access their tax records and other services. The IRS said it would “transition away” from the facial recognition service over the coming weeks. (Washington Post / New York Times / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal)
! poll/ Fewer than 1 in 5 people in the U.S. say the country is doing “the right amount to combat climate change.” 64% of Democrats and 26% of Republicans say the Biden administration is doing too little to address climate change. (Politico)
! 1/ New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois will ease mask requirements as the Omicron wave recedes, joining New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon in lifting mandates. New York and Illinois will drop their mask-or-vaccine mandates for indoor businesses, while Massachusetts will end its statewide school mandate. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said it was time to “let counties, cities and businesses to make their own decisions on what they want to do with respect to ‘mask or the vaccination’ requirement,” citing “a new phase in this pandemic.” White House press secretary Jen Psaki, meanwhile, said Americans living in states that have lifted their mask mandates should still follow CDC guidance “because the data is changing. The science is changing.” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky added that despite encouraging trends in coronavirus case rates in several states, the country as a whole is “not there yet.” Instead, Walensky said, “We continue to recommend masking in areas of high and substantial transmission. That’s much of the country right now, in public indoor settings.” The seven-day average of coronavirus cases in the U.S. has decreased by about 44% from the previous week, while hospitalizations have dropped by about 25%, and deaths, which lag behind those indicators, have increased by about 3%. (Washington Post / New York Times / Politico / Wall Street Journal / NBC News)
! 2/ The National Archives asked the Justice Department to investigate Trump’s handling of White House records. The referral came after it was revealed that Trump took 15 boxes of documents to Mar-a-Lago instead of handing them over to the agency, and that Trump had turned over other White House records that had been torn up. Archives officials contacted the Justice Department after suspecting that Trump had possibly violated laws concerning the handling of government documents, including classified ones. The Presidential Records Act requires that presidential records be immediately transferred to the agency when a president leaves office. Meanwhile, former Trump White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman claimed that Trump would sometimes eat torn-up documents, saying that “After Michael Cohen left the office and I walked into the Oval, Donald, in my view, was chewing what he had just torn up.” (Washington Post / Axios / The Independent)
! 3/ Rudy Giuliani and other Trump legal advisors asked a Michigan prosecutor to hand over the county’s voting machines to the Trump team. James Rossiter, the prosecuting attorney for Antrim County in northern Michigan, said Giuliani and his colleagues made the request during a call after the county initially misreported its election results in favor of Biden. Officials later said that Trump had beaten Biden by more than 3,000 votes in Antrim, which was confirmed by a hand recount of the paper ballots. The call came around Nov. 20, 2020, when Trump’s legal team was searching for evidence to support his false claims that the election had been stolen. (Washington Post / CNBC)
! 4/ The House Jan. 6 committee subpoenaed Peter Navarro, Trump’s former trade adviser. The committee said it wanted to speak to Navarro because of reports that Navarro may have worked with Stephen Bannon and others to help develop a plan to delay the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. Navarro has previously publicly said that Trump and “more than 100” members of Congress were “on board with the strategy.” (CNN)
! 5/ The House approved legislation to keep the government funded through mid-March. The Senate plans to approve the plan by a Feb. 18 deadline, temporarily averting a shutdown as lawmakers seek a longer-term agreement on spending for the remainder of the year. (New York Times / CNBC)
! 6/ The House passed legislation overhauling the Postal Service’s finances and operations. The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, would relieve the mail agency of tens of billions of dollars in liabilities that leaders said prevented it from modernizing and providing efficient service. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it’s also expected to pass bipartisan support. (New York Times / Washington Post / Politico)
! 7/ The White House approved a plan for U.S. troops in Poland to help Americans flee Ukraine if Russia invades. If U.S. troops are needed to support an evacuation, the 82nd Airborne Division would set up checkpoints for medical screening, shelters, and processing areas where Americans fleeing Ukraine could go. U.S. forces are not currently authorized to enter Ukraine if a war breaks out. The effort comes as the Biden administration tried avoid the kind of chaotic withdrawal conducted in Afghanistan last year. (Wall Street Journal / NBC News / CNN)
1/ U.S. inflation accelerated to 7.5% in January compared with a year ago – the steepest year-over-year increase since February 1982. It was the eighth straight month that inflation has been above 5% despite claims by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell that inflation would only be “transitory.” On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.6% from December to January. Over the past 12 months, the U.S. economy has added nearly 7 million jobs while average hourly earnings have climbed 5.7%. On an annual basis, however, inflation-adjusted average hourly earnings fell 1.7% in January from a year earlier, marking the 10th straight decline. Biden, meanwhile, said “while today’s report is elevated, forecasters continue to project inflation easing substantially by the end of 2022” and that there are “signs that we will make it through this challenge.” (Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / New York Times / Washington Post / Associated Press / CNBC / Politico / NBC News / CNN)
2/ Following the inflation report, Joe Manchin assailed the prospect of Biden’s roughly $2 trillion social and climate package, saying Congress should not add “more fuel to an economy already on fire.” Manchin effectively killed the package in December after announcing that he would not support the legislation, citing concerns about inflation and the cost of the bill. “It’s beyond time for the Federal Reserve to tackle this issue head on,” Manchin said. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard, meanwhile, said he supports raising interest rates by a full percentage point by July, calling it a “sensible response to a surprise inflationary shock.” (Bloomberg / The Hill / Business Insider)
3/ White House call records do not reflect the calls made to or from Trump during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. While there is no evidence that any official records were tampered with or deleted, the House committee investigating the attack said they’re finding few records of calls between Trump and lawmakers that have been publicly reported in the hundreds of records from the National Archives turned over after the Supreme Court ruled against Trump’s efforts to block their release. The committee, however, is still waiting for additional records from the National Archives, and from phone companies that have been subpoenaed for the personal cellphone records for more than 100 people, including Eric Trump and Kimberly Guilfoyle. (New York Times / CNN)
4/ Trump reportedly tried to flush documents he had ripped into pieces down the White House toilet, according to White House staff who periodically found Trump’s toilet clogged with paper. Trump, meanwhile, denied that he may have flushed official documents down a White House toilet, calling the allegations “another fake story” that was “categorically untrue and simply made up by a reporter in order to get publicity for a mostly fictitious book.” The details of Trump flushing documents down a White House toilet come from New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman’s forthcoming book, “Confidence Man.” Earlier this month, the National Archives said Trump had ripped up some White House documents while he was in office. The agency also recently asked the Justice Department to investigate Trump’s handling of White House records after finding documents clearly marked as classified, including documents at the “top secret” level, in the boxes that Trump took from the White House when he left office. (Axios / Washington Post / New York Times /Politico / NBC News / Rolling Stone)
5/ The Biden administration will allocate $5 billion over five years to build half a million electric vehicle charging stations – five times the current number. The money, was approved as part of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package, will fund the creation of a “network of EV charging stations along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, particularly along the Interstate Highway System.” (Washington Post / CNBC / Reuters / The Verge / Wall Street Journal)
6/ The Senate passed legislation to end the use of forced arbitration to resolve workplace sexual harassment and assault claims. The reform guarantees that victims of workplace sexual harassment or assault are free to pursue lawsuits in court. More than 60 million Americans are subjected to third-party arbitration clauses in employment contracts. The bipartisan legislation was passed unanimously by a voice vote and now heads to Biden’s desk to be signed into law. (CNN / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / Politico)
7/ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene accused Nancy Pelosi of leading the “gazpacho police,” apparently confusing the cold tomato-based soup with the “Gestapo,” the Nazi secret police. During an interview, Greene said Pelosi was using Capitol police as “political pawns” and “sending them into our offices” to “investigate” – referring to a complaint from Rep. Troy Nehls, who claimed that Capitol Police entered his office. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger, however, clarified that an officer entered Nehls’ office because the door had been “left open and unsecured, without anyone inside” after hours. (Washington Post / NBC News / Bloomberg / The Hill)
poll/ 56% of Americans said they have little or no confidence that American elections reflect the will of the people – up from 52% in September and 40% in January 2021. (CNN)
LOL! The New Yorker wasted no time:
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LOL! The New Yorker wasted no time:
What did they do?
Cheney ain't flying. If Trump don't run, and if he doesn't force one of his spawns down the GOP throat, the party will have to choose between DeSantis, Cruz, QKaren and I don't know who else might be trying in 2024.
7/ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene accused Nancy Pelosi of leading the “gazpacho police,” apparently confusing the cold tomato-based soup with the “Gestapo,” the Nazi secret police.
well we're fucked
What did they do?
Took advantage of MTG's stupid gazpacho gaff and made a funny cartoon of it. Which The New Yorker does so well.
Another GOP Rep turns against Trump:
https://secondnexus.com/gop-rep-was-asked-what-he-ll-tell-his-newborn-about-trump-and-he-had-a-brutally-relatable-response?fbclid=IwAR3Ebzs40AWKwKkya5wXT9XrnLo3FO7Hcdv5H3hgnQzOW38KrxGx_jlP6KA
Maybe having a baby made him realize supporting Trump isn't a good thing.
He still is a member of the GOP a party that’s been dedicated to screwing over education for both their kids and other people’s kids and he voted for most of Trump’s agenda still.
So fuck him
Flourishing plants show warming Antarctica undergoing ‘major change’: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/14/flourishing-plants-show-warming-antarctica-undergoing-major-change-aoe
This isn't good… but it is more proof that climate change is real though. Wish countries would do more about it... I'm a bit concerned about this.
Watch as Trump gets whinier and more babyish as his trial date gets closer:
https://www.comicsands.com/trump-ivanka-don-jr-testify-2656723399.html?fbclid=IwAR1bCloloTxD4yeQW05q3XFZsf4XiHt05PO6uQW1TWT8k0qdJqBX28O3O1k
Except everyone knows he and his kids will just Plead the Fifth anyway.
Except everyone knows he and his kids will just Plead the Fifth anyway.
The fifth amendment. Which he famously said only mobsters use when guilty.
But it's different now.
Because.
Makes sense considering Alex Jones pleaded the fifth hundred of times.
https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2022/02/22/day-399/
1/ Biden announced “the first tranche” of new sanctions against Russia after Putin ordered troops into two Moscow-backed breakaway regions in Ukraine to carry out what Putin called “peacekeeping functions.” The sanctions, aimed at punishing Russia for “the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine,” would effectively cut off Russia from Western financing, and target Russian elites and their family in an effort to make sure people close to Putin “share the pain.” Biden condemned Putin’s “bizarre” recognition of two separatist “republics” in eastern Ukraine, warning that Putin is “setting up a rationale to take more territory by force.” Biden also announced that he was moving additional troops and equipment to “strengthen” U.S. allies in the Baltics, but made clear they would not be there to “fight Russia.” (NBC News / Politico / CNN / Bloomberg / New York Times / Axios / Washington Post / CNBC / Wall Street Journal)
2/ Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a planned meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, saying “it does not make sense” in light of Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Blinken had agreed to meet with Lavrov only if Russia did not invade Ukraine. “Now that we see the invasion is beginning and Russia has made clear its wholesale rejection of diplomacy,” Blinken said, adding that the U.S. would continue to pursue diplomacy if Russia takes “demonstrable steps to provide the international community with any degree of confidence that it is serious about de-escalating and finding a diplomatic solution.” (CNN / Axios / New York Times / Yahoo News)
3/ The three white men convicted on state charges in Georgia for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery were also found guilty of federal hate crimes. A federal jury has found Travis McMichael, his father, Gregory McMichael, and their neighbor William Bryan guilty of hate crimes and attempted kidnapping when they chased and killed Arbery. The McMichaels were also guilty of one count each of the use of a firearm to commit a crime. All three men had been convicted of state murder charges earlier this year and sentenced to life in prison, with Bryan eligible for parole after 30 years. The three now face up to life in prison for the federal crimes, ensuring that the defendants will receive significant prison time even if their state convictions are overturned or sentences reduced on appeal. (New York Times / Washington Post / Politico / CNBC / NPR)
4/ A federal judge rejected Trump’s claim of “absolute immunity” from lawsuits accusing him of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, finding that there was evidence to suggest that he engaged in a conspiracy with organized groups to intimidate Congress into overturning the results of the 2020 election. Trump’s statements to his supporters before the riot “is the essence of civil conspiracy,” Judge Amit Mehta wrote in a 112-page ruling. Quoting repeatedly and at length from the Trump’s own public statements, Mehta said Trump’s rally speech “can reasonably be viewed as a call for collective action,” adding that Trump’s Twitter attack on Pence during the violence suggests a “tacit agreement” with those who stormed the Capitol. The three lawsuits against Trump were brought by Democratic House members and police officers seeking damages for physical and emotional injuries they incurred during “the first-ever presidential transfer of power marred by violence.” (Politico / CNN / New York Times / Washington Post / CBS News / CNBC / Bloomberg)
5/ The National Archives confirmed that it found classified information in the 15 boxes of White House records that Trump took to Mar-a-Lago. In a letter to Rep. Carolyn Maloney, U.S. Archivist David Ferriero wrote that officials had “identified items marked as classified national security information within the boxes” at Mar-a-Lago and confirmed that the matter has been sent to the Justice Department. The letter also indicated that the Archives “learned that additional paper records had been torn up by Trump were included in the records transferred,” despite the White House Counsel’s Office saying in 2018 “they would address the matter.” Ferriero added: “Although White House staff during the Trump Administration recovered and taped together some of the torn-up records, a number of other torn-up records that were transferred had not been reconstructed by the White House.” During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly railed against Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state, insisting that she should be in jail. The FBI, however, did not recommend charges following an investigation. [[I]Editor’s note: #butheremails] (CNN / New York Times / Washington Post / Associated Press)
Yep, Trump stole, sold and shredded classified information. What a great leader.
Wow they beat TERF Island on this. I guess some wizard hack writer is probably looking for a house there.
Freedom for them to legally discriminate against gays and trans, punish women who get pregnant, antagonize anyone not Christian, freedom to hold office when you’re under criminal investigation, freedom to escape any blowback when you lie about the exact reason your state suffered through a serious power outage that lead to a number of people freezing to death in the homes,
Just in general freedom to be shitty people or simply full of shit.
Supreme Court finally tells Trump to fuck off over releasing White House records:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/u-s-supreme-court-formally-ends-trump-s-fight-over-capitol-attack-records/ar-AAUalrM?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=0f281adce73d430aa689845df45bc7fc&fbclid=IwAR07GGk2kvHKtx0Dd93Gr5rhdPKp9PGBcDHi0q3XIbCBFvIy6ytRkAyRIuw
You know it's bad when Trump's praise of Putin silences his audience at Mar-a-Largo:
https://secondnexus.com/trump-putin-smart-ukraine-invasion?fbclid=IwAR1hccZwxxghbm44gvSXUfc-5etNY-uDIpSrt5IqwW0xQ-G9O5pAgK2KkzI
Fucker can't even host a decent dinner party.
https://www.rawstory.com/donald-trump-2656794719/
Another Conservative Social Media Platform, more butthurt over punishments for rules being violated.