Here’s the full list of 97 companies that just filed against Trump’s immigration ban

The following article written by Zach Epstein with BGR News on February 6, 2017 and posted on Yahoo News:

President Donald Trump’s first two weeks in office have been tumultuous, to say the least. The biggest question ahead of the president’s inauguration last month was just how literal Trump was on his historical campaign trail. While many who voted against Trump were afraid that the radical ideas he often proposed were in fact an accurate representation of his intentions, many supporters seemed to be operating under the impression that Trump would relax a bit if he did indeed end up taking office. For example, billionaire Trump supporter Peter Thiel famously said that voters should “take Trump seriously but not literally.”

The country and the world have now quickly learned that much of Trump’s rhetoric was indeed to be taken literally, and his recent immigration ban is by far the new president’s most controversial move to date. Now, in the latest chapter of this saga, 97 companies including some of the biggest names in tech have banded together to file a legal brief in opposition of Trump’s executive order on immigration. Continue reading “Here’s the full list of 97 companies that just filed against Trump’s immigration ban”

On ‘Protest Saturday,’ more demonstrations against Trump’s policies are rolled out around the world

The following article by Erik Kirschbaum was posted on the L.A. Times February 4, 2017:

Protesters demonstrate in Paris on Feb. 4, 2017. (Ian Langsdon / European Pressphoto Agency)

Spirited protests against President Trump and his policies, particularly his administration’s controversial travel ban, were held around the world and across the United States again Saturday.

The largely peaceful rallies overseas drew thousands of people in places such as London, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, Jakarta and Manila. Continue reading “On ‘Protest Saturday,’ more demonstrations against Trump’s policies are rolled out around the world”

Protests Against Trump’s Policies Erupt for Third Weekend in Cities Large and Small

The following article by Safia Samee Ali was posted on the NBC News website February 5, 2017:

While protests against President Donald Trump’s administration have drawn thousands of people to major cities across the country, not to be overlooked are rallies in smaller cities, many taking place in states that supported Trump in the election.

Hundreds in Kalamazoo, Michigan, chanted “Say it loud and say it clear, refugees are welcome here!” during a protest supporting refugee and immigrant rights on Sunday. Continue reading “Protests Against Trump’s Policies Erupt for Third Weekend in Cities Large and Small”

Activists: Charities must move galas from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago

The following article by Terry Spencer with the Associates Press was released February 5, 2017:

Protesters are demanding that charities move their upcoming galas from President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

Petitions are circulating that the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Cleveland Clinic move or cancel gala’s scheduled for the Florida club’s ballroom later this month. A protest march was held Saturday near Mar-a-Lago to coincide with Trump’s appearance at an American Red Cross event there. Continue reading “Activists: Charities must move galas from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago”

Constitutional crisis? What happens if Trump decides to ignore a judge’s ruling.

The following article by Aaron Blake was posted on the Washington Post website February 5, 2017:

President Trump has spent the better part of the past 24 hours bashing a U.S. district judge’s decision to temporarily halt his travel ban executive order.

First came a White House statement calling the ruling “outrageous” (the word was later taken out). Then came Trump’s many tweets, which were scattered throughout the day Saturday and actually seemed to question the judge’s authority. And then, in its appeal, the Trump administration said the lower-court judge shouldn’t be “second-guessing” the president. Continue reading “Constitutional crisis? What happens if Trump decides to ignore a judge’s ruling.”

A Catholic Nun Perfectly Explains the Hypocrisy of the “Pro-Life” Argument

This an oldie, but a goodie, with the original content coming from 2004.  However, with the misinformation, and “holier than thou” vibes coming from the mostly male authoritarians empowered by the Trump win, it’s well worth posting again.

The following article by Eleanor Sheehan was posted on the Popsugar website February 4, 2017:

A Catholic nun’s explanation of the term “pro-life” from 2004 is resurfacing after recent antiabortion events. On PBS’s Now With Bill Moyers, Sister Joan Chittister explained why being against abortion doesn’t mean you’re pro-life.

Here’s the full quote:

“I do not believe that just because you’re opposed to abortion that that makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed. And why would I think that you don’t? Because you don’t want any tax money to go there. That’s not pro-life. That’s pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the morality of pro-life is.”

Continue reading “A Catholic Nun Perfectly Explains the Hypocrisy of the “Pro-Life” Argument”

More companies back away from Donald Trump under pressure from customers

The following article by James Hohman with Breanne Deppisch was posted on the Washington Post website February 3, 2017:

THE BIG IDEA: Companies are caught between a rock and a hard place, with President Trump on one side and their customers on the other.

President Trump and Vice President Pence meet with Harley Davidson executives on the South Lawn of the White House yesterday. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick quit President Trump’s 15-member council of business leaders yesterday, and Disney CEO Bob Iger let it be known that he won’t attend a meeting at the White House today because of a scheduling conflict.

Nordstrom announced last night that it will stop selling Ivanka Trump’s name-branded line of clothing and shoes after an extended boycott by an anti-Trump activist group called “Grab Your Wallet.“

The retailer said the first daughter’s products are being dropped because of poor sales. In early December, Nordstrom had 71 Ivanka items for sale on its web site. Right now, just four are left. And they’re all being sold at a clearance discount. Continue reading “More companies back away from Donald Trump under pressure from customers”

President Trump’s immigration executive order, by the (non-alternative) facts.

The following is from a Washington Post Fact Checker email from Michelle Ye Hee Lee dated February 3, 2017:

President Trump’s immigration executive order, by the (non-alternative) facts.

A week ago today, President Trump signed an immigration executive order heard around the world. Amid the confusion over the order’s application and legality were many dubious facts, so we set the record straight on several aspects of the order. Continue reading “President Trump’s immigration executive order, by the (non-alternative) facts.”

USDA abruptly purges animal welfare information from its website

The following article by Karen Brulliard was posted on the Washington Post website February 3, 2017:

(Gerry Broome/AP)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday abruptly removed inspection reports and other information from its website about the treatment of animals at thousands of research laboratories, zoos, dog breeding operations and other facilities.

In a statement, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service cited court rulings and privacy laws for the decision, which it said was the result of a “comprehensive review” that took place over the past year. It said the removed documents, which also included records of enforcement actions against violators of the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act, would now be accessible only via Freedom of Information Act Requests. Those can take years to be approved. Continue reading “USDA abruptly purges animal welfare information from its website”

Documents confirm Trump still benefiting from his business

The following article by Rosalind S. Helderman and Drew Harwell was posted on the Washington Post website February 4, 2017:

Police stand guard outside the Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington. Documentation involving the hotel discloses how President Trump is still benefiting from the hotel’s ownership. (John Minchillo/Associated Press)

Before taking office, President Trump promised to place his assets in a trust designed to erect a wall between him and the businesses that made him wealthy.

But newly released documents show that Trump himself is the sole beneficiary of the trust and that it is legally controlled by his oldest son and a longtime employee.

The documents, obtained through a public records request by the investigative news service ProPublica and first reported by the New York Times, also show that Trump retains the legal power to revoke the trust at any time.

The documents were filed to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in Washington to alert the board that oversees liquor licenses at Trump’s D.C. hotel of the change in the business. Continue reading “Documents confirm Trump still benefiting from his business”