Category: National Issues

Trump Administration Relaxes Sanctions Against Russia’s Security Agency

The following article by Franco Ordonez, Anita Kumar and Kevin G. Hall of the Tribune Content Agency was posted on the National Memo website February 3, 2017:

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, September 2, 2016. Sputnik/Kremlin/Alexei Druzhinin/via REUTERS

WASHINGTON — The Trump White House has loosened financial sanctions against Russia’s powerful security agency that the Obama administration had imposed as punishment for Russia’s meddling in November’s presidential election and for Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

The administration downplayed the importance of the action, but the decision drew fire from Democrats and raised eyebrows among Republicans who oppose lifting any sanctions against the Russians.

“U.S. intelligence agencies have thoroughly detailed the Russian security services’ brazen assault on American democracy in support of candidate Donald Trump,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. “Less than two weeks after walking into the White House, President Trump lifts sanctions on the Russian Security Service. Vladimir Putin’s thugs meddle with an American election, and President Trump gives them a thank you present.” Continue reading “Trump Administration Relaxes Sanctions Against Russia’s Security Agency”

Howard Stern says the presidency will damage Trump’s mental health because he just ‘wants to be loved’

The following article by Emily Chan was posted on the Daily Mail website February 3, 2017:

 

  • Radio host is old friend of Trump and has had him on his show a number of times
  • Stern does not believe presidency will be ‘healthy experience’ for Trump
  • The 63-year-old claimed the President ‘loves’ Hollywood and the press 

 

Photo: The Hill

Howard Stern says the presidency will damage Donald Trump‘s mental health because he just ‘wants to be loved’.

The radio host said on his show on Wednesday that he does not believe it will be a ‘healthy experience’ for Trump.

The 63-year-old is an old friend of the President and has invited him onto his show a number of times.  Continue reading “Howard Stern says the presidency will damage Trump’s mental health because he just ‘wants to be loved’”

Trump’s administration isn’t very diverse. Photo ops make it glaringly obvious.

The following article by David Nakamura and Abby Phillips was posted on the Washington Post website February 3, 2017:

In his first two weeks, Donald Trump has sought to project the image of a new president moving quickly to enact his agenda.

He has surrounded himself in a series of photo ops with his most trusted senior aides as he signs a flurry of executive orders, visits government agencies and calls world leaders from the Oval Office. Continue reading “Trump’s administration isn’t very diverse. Photo ops make it glaringly obvious.”

Trump vows to ‘totally destroy’ restrictions on churches’ support of candidates

The following article by John Wagner and Julie Zauzmer was posted on the Washington Post website February 2, 2017:

President Trump speaks during the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Thursday. (Win Mcnamee/Bloomberg News)

President Trump vowed Thursday to “totally destroy” a law passed more than 60 years ago that bans tax-exempt churches from supporting political candidates, a nod to the religious right that helped sweep him into office.

Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Trump said he would seek to overturn the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits tax-exempt nonprofits — including churches and other houses of worship — from “directly or indirectly” participating in a political candidate’s campaign. Continue reading “Trump vows to ‘totally destroy’ restrictions on churches’ support of candidates”

Betsy DeVos’ Threat to Children with Disabilities

The following article by Meg Benner and Rebecca Ullrich was posted on the Center for American Progress website February 2, 2017:

Introduction and summary

There is something that supporters of school vouchers—such as Betsy DeVos, President Donald Trump’s nominee for education secretary—will not admit: Children with disabilities can and will be harmed under voucher programs.

Consider Trinity Fitzer: In the spring of 2012 when Trinity was a 6-year-old kindergartener, she was kicked out of the private school she attended using a voucher provided by the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program.1 Over the course of the year, Trinity’s mother had been called several times to pick her up early because of behavioral problems, with school officials calling Trinity “out of control.” According to the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, Trinity suffered from gastrointestinal problems and anxiety, which led to challenging behaviors that her private school was not prepared—or required—to manage. Continue reading “Betsy DeVos’ Threat to Children with Disabilities”

White Men Are The Real ‘Special Snowflakes’

The following article by John Stoehr was posted on the National Memo website February 3, 2017:

The white nationalists I sometimes encounter on Twitter have an expression for militant liberals like me who care about the greater good, the suffering of the vulnerable, and the liberties guaranteed to everyone by the Bill of Rights.

It’s: “Special snowflake.”

It’s supposed to be a put-down, like I’m too delicate to handle being told “the truth” about “how things really are” by men (usually men) who “aren’t afraid to tell it like it is.” If I object to his slur-filled bile-spewing, then I’m too fragile. Continue reading “White Men Are The Real ‘Special Snowflakes’”

The leaks coming out of the Trump White House right now are totally bananas

The following article by Chris Cilliza was posted on the Washington Post website February 2, 2017:

If the suspense building ahead of President Trump’s Supreme Court announcement seemed familiar, then you might be a fan of reality television.(Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

Here are a few leaks that have come out of the Trump administration in just the last 24 hours:

* President Trump abruptly ended a phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull after condemning a refugee deal with the country and telling Turnbull “this was the worst call by far” he has had with a world leader.

* Trump threatened — his administration insisted it was “light-hearted” — Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto with sending American troops into his country. Continue reading “The leaks coming out of the Trump White House right now are totally bananas”

21 Women Respond To Trump Telling Female Staff To ‘Dress Like Women’

The following article by Alanna Vaglanos was posted on the Huffington Post website February 3 2017:

According to a recent report from Axios, a new media company created by the co-founder of Politico, President Donald Trump wants the women who work for him to “dress like women.”

Axios’ Mike Allen and Jonathan Swan spoke to a source who worked on Trump’s campaign who reported that the president is very particular about what his staffers wear. This goes for both women and men.

“If you’re going to be a public person for him, whether it’s a lawyer or representing him in meetings, then you need to have a certain look,” one source told Axios. “That look ― at least for any male ― you have to be sharply dressed.”

Continue reading “21 Women Respond To Trump Telling Female Staff To ‘Dress Like Women’”

Kellyanne Conway cites ‘Bowling Green massacre’ that never happened to defend travel ban

The following article by Samantha Schmidt and Lindsey Bever was posted on the Washington Post website February 3, 2017:

Kellyanne Conway has taken “alternative facts” to a new level.

During a Thursday interview with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, the counselor to the president defended President Trump’s travel ban related to seven majority-Muslim countries. At one point, Conway made a reference to two Iraqi refugees whom she described as the masterminds behind “the Bowling Green massacre.”

“Most people don’t know that because it didn’t get covered,” Conway said. Continue reading “Kellyanne Conway cites ‘Bowling Green massacre’ that never happened to defend travel ban”

Two top Republicans open to repairing Obamacare ahead of repeal

The following article by Kelsey Snell and Mike DeBonis was posted on the Washington Post website February 2, 2017:

Two top Republicans long expected to lead the Senate’s role in repealing the Affordable Care Act said publicly this week that they are open to repairing former president Barack Obama’s landmark health-care law ahead of a wholesale repeal, which has been a GOP target for eight years.

Coming one week after a closed-door strategy session in which Republicans expressed frank concerns about the political ramifications of repealing the law and the practical difficulties of doing so, statements this week by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) brought into public view the political and policy challenges the GOP is facing. Continue reading “Two top Republicans open to repairing Obamacare ahead of repeal”