Robert Reich: Trump's Billionaire Cabinet Vs. Democracy

Dec 18, 2024 | Trump's second administration will be a government of, by, and for the billionaires. As Justice Louis Brandeis said, we can have great wealth in the hands of a few, or we can have democracy, but we can't have both.

'Populist' Trump Assembles Cabinet Worth More Than $340 BILLION

Dec 9, 2024 | Voters picked Donald Trump because they fell for his "populist" message that he would ease their financial burdens. But instead of working on plans to help the working class, Trump has decided to assemble a cabinet filled with billionaires, and the collective net worth of those people he's picked now exceeds $340 billion. Billionaires aren't going to save the economy, and Trump voters will learn that the hard way very soon. Farron Cousins discusses this issue.

What a SHITTY political system the USA is! And what a SHITTY mess American voters have got themselves into! Got themselves into, and the rest of the world! Donald Trump is to democracy what chocolate is to slimming, or shit is to perfume! – © Mark Alexander

‘Consequences Are for Suckers’: Can Trump’s Shocking Admin. Picks Put Country over Self?

Nov 28, 2024 | Donald Trump is making many alarming national security and intelligence picks, critics say. Whether these nominations were picked to “troll” various agencies is discussed on The ReidOut with Joy Reid.

Trump Cabinet Criticized as Hodgepodge Team Unified Only by ‘Absolute Fealty’ to Him

THE GUARDIAN: Political analysts say president-elect ‘cannot resist chaos’ as he preps administration across ideological spectrum

During Donald Trump’s first administration, his vice-president became the target of an angry mob amid calls for him to be hanged. His top diplomat was fired via Twitter and branded “dumb as a rock”. His first attorney general was given his marching orders and called “very weak” and “disgraceful”.

Despite it all, Trump has had no trouble recruiting a team eager to serve when he returns to the White House in January, even if his initial pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, was forced to back out amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

Trump’s cabinet for his second term is nearly complete just three weeks after his stunning election victory over Kamala Harris. To his Maga (Make America great again) followers it is a team of all the talents, poised to enforce an agenda of mass deportations, gutting the federal bureaucracy and “America first” isolationism. » | David Smith in Washington | Saturday, November 30, 2024

America needs no longer to pretend that it is a democracy, or a true republic. America has become a full-on plutocracy! In Trump’s America, only the superrich will be worthy of position and power. And only then if they are willing to KA.

It is even possible that Americans’ right to elect their representatives will be taken away, or at least any future elections might be sham elections.

In re-electing Trump, America has taken a leap into the unknown. Dark times, turmoil, and chaos lie ahead for them – and for us! Donald Trump is creating a dynasty. Those who wish to get on in life will have to engage in sycophancy. – © Mark Alexander

‘We All Have Our Eyes Wide Open’: Trump Critics Brace for Dark Time of Retribution

THE GUARDIAN: Public officials targeted by Trump say they’re preparing for extreme scenarios, including possibility of being arrested

Members of Congress and other US public officials targeted for “retribution” by Donald Trump say they are taking extraordinary security precautions for themselves and their families and are now bracing for scenarios as extreme as the possibility of being rounded up and arrested, after Trump returns to the White House.

Two Democratic House members who have been vocal in their criticisms of Trump and his policy agenda told the Guardian they and their colleagues are preparing for “some pretty surreal and dystopic scenarios”. They range from bogus investigations or tax audits of present and former members of the federal government to out-and-out violence inspired by Trump’s rhetoric of revenge.

“I hope none of my Democratic colleagues become American corollaries to Alexander Navalny,” said the congressman Jared Huffman of California, referring to the Russian opposition leader and outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin who survived being poisoned before dying in an Arctic prison.

“[My colleagues in the House] are thinking about legal defenses against a weaponized Department of Justice,” Huffman added. “They may have to be ready to be arrested and rounded up. They have to have family plans protecting themselves in ways I don’t even like to talk about publicly … » | Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles | Friday, November 15, 2024

Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Pentagon Pick, Sparks Alarm over Far-right Extremism

THE GUARDIAN: Experts concerned over the Fox & Friends host, his Christian nationalist ideology and militant language

Extremism experts are sounding the alarm about Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of defense, whose writings and online presence reveal someone immersed in a culture of rightwing Christianity, political extremism and violent ideation.

The Fox & Friends host, who has served in the US army but has no experience in government, drew shock from Pentagon officials when Trump nominated him. Hegseth’s books on American culture and the military, his commentary on Fox and his frequent posts on social media showcase his far-right ideology. On these platforms, Hegseth telegraphs paranoia and anger toward “leftists”, an ultra-masculine Maga persona and apparent revulsion toward service members who do not fit his vision – including women.

“The thing that really worries me, is both the ideology of Christian nationalism and what that’s going to mean for the kind of policies he tries to put in place for the defense department,” said Thomas Lecaque, a historian focusing on religion and political violence. » | Alice Herman | Friday, November 15, 2024

Say Goodbye to Trump’s Cabinet | NowThis

It's not just Trump leaving the White House in January — say goodbye to all his lackeys, too.

"Them"

They've played down Coronavirus for you. But, when it affects them they start taking precautions.

A White House Long in Denial Confronts Reality

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The infections were a byproduct, former aides said, of the reckless and top-down culture of fear that Trump created at the White House and throughout his administration.

WASHINGTON — As America locked down this spring during the worst pandemic in a century, inside the Trump White House there was the usual defiance.

The tight quarters of the West Wing were packed and busy. Almost no one wore masks. The rare officials who did, like Matthew Pottinger, the deputy national security adviser, were ridiculed by colleagues as alarmist.

President Trump at times told staff wearing masks in meetings to “get that thing off,” an administration official said. Everyone knew that Mr. Trump viewed masks as a sign of weakness, officials said, and that his message was clear. “You were looked down upon when you would walk by with a mask,” said Olivia Troye, a top aide on the coronavirus task force who resigned in August and has endorsed former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

In public, some of the president’s favorite targets were mask-wearing White House correspondents. “Would you take it off, I can hardly hear you,” Mr. Trump told Jeff Mason of Reuters in May, then mocked Mr. Mason for wanting “to be politically correct” when he refused. » | Annie Karni and Maggie Haberman | Saturday, October 3, 2020

Barack Obama Condemns Trump in Powerful Democratic Convention Speech

The former president spoke at the Democratic national convention and cast Donald Trump as someone who will 'tear our democracy down if that what it takes to win' and urges Americans to get out and vote in November

Great speech! If the Americans elect Trump back into office for another term, they will deserve all they get! Trump is the worst president in my lifetime. He’s pathetic! – Mark

Ivanka and Jared Pocket Millions from Massive Conflicts of Interest

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner managed to pocket a staggering $36 million in 2019, in spite of the fact that they are just simple White House advisers. This information was released late Friday evening in a financial disclosure form that the couple was hoping would be buried in the news cycle. But the massive conflicts of interest of the two cannot be ignored, as Ring of Fire's Farron Cousins explains.

Is everyone, absolutely everyone, at the top corrupt these days? – Mark

Susan Rice Criticizes Hungarian PM Using Coronavirus Crisis for Power Grab | Andrea Mitchell | MSNBC

Former National Security Advisor Susan Rice joins Andrea Mitchell to discuss how governments have used emergency powers granted during the coronavirus crisis to impinge on democratic norms and the rule of law. She also discusses the Trump administration seeming to back off the use of the term "Wuhan virus" in an official capacity, and the president's pattern of lashing out at women and women of color.Aired on 3/31/2020.

US Indictment of Maduro Is Cruel & Inhuman Action – Prof. Salas

In the latest move against an already struggling Venezuela, US Attorney General William Barr has announced the indictment of President Maduro and more than a dozen other Venezuelan officials for a narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Author and professor of Latin American History at Pomona College Miguel Tinker Salas shares his expertise.

Joe Calls for a Government Site to List Mask, Glove Production | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Joe Scarborough calls for a government web site that will list the production of masks, gloves, protective gear, testing and ventilators.

“Pence Is Not a Medical Expert”: Is the Trump Administration Ready to Stop a US Coronavirus Pandemic?

The coronavirus disease that was first diagnosed in China’s Hubei province has now spread to at least 47 countries and every continent except Antarctica. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak an international health emergency. President Trump sought to play down the threat from coronavirus and announced Vice President Mike Pence would be his point person to coordinate government efforts to prevent a widespread outbreak. As Trump spoke, a new milestone in the novel coronavirus outbreak was reported, in a possible example of community spread: A person was diagnosed with the virus in Northern California who had not traveled to any of the affected regions of the world, nor had known contact with anyone else who did. We speak with Laurie Garrett, former senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations and a Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer. She is the author of several books, including “Ebola: Story of an Outbreak,” “The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance” and “Betrayal of Trust: The Collapse of Global Public Health.”

“America Exists Today to Make War”: Lawrence Wilkerson on Endless War & American Empire

Retired U.S. Army Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, who served as Secretary of State Colin Powell’s chief of staff from 2002 to 2005, says the escalation of tensions between the U.S. and Iran today is a continuation of two decades of U.S. policy disasters in the Middle East, starting with the 2003 run-up to war with Iraq under the Bush administration. “America exists today to make war. How else do we interpret 19 straight years of war and no end in sight? It’s part of who we are. It’s part of what the American Empire is,” says Wilkerson. “We are going to cheat and steal to do whatever it is we have to do to continue this war complex. That’s the truth of it. And that’s the agony of it.”

Bernie Sanders: Trump Administration Hasn't a Clue about What It's Doing

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders says that the letter released by mistake regarding troops in Iraq sends a message that the "Trump administration hasn't a clue about what it is doing."

Trump Admin Lists Fictional Country of Wakanda As a Free Trade Partner

The Trump administration was busted earlier this week for having the fictional Marvel Comics country of Wakanda listed on the Department of Agriculture’s website as a free trade partner with the United States. The country, home of Black Panther, even included itemized lists of prices for goods coming and going through Wakanda, showing that this was far more than just a quick accident. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

Goldman Sachs Tells Trump Administration that Americans Are Paying 100% of His China Tariffs

Goldman Sachs has confirmed that the tariffs Trump has put in place on China are actually being paid by American consumers and businesses. But not just “some” of the tariffs – 100% of the tariffs are being paid by American citizens. Trump falsely claims that China is paying for it, but the truth refuses to remain hidden. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

Secret Recording of Trump Official Goes Public

There has been another leak in the Trump Administration. Ana Kasparian, Maytha Alhassen, and Nando Vila, hosts of The Young Turks, break it down.