The Political Thread

[ServantTwilight]

All of them are cowards, but especially Schumer, Durbin, and Fetterman.

They're the leaders of the party and they've been primarily the reason the Democratic party is in the state it's in. Get the fuck out of the way and let the next generation lead, you fucking losers.

I don't know if they are cowards or not but...

https://www.newsweek.com/doge-government-shutdown-donald-trump-2044442

In the event of a shutdown, the OMB would have wide latitude to decide what is deemed "essential" government work. With the president's blessing, Vought could determine that DOGE was doing essential government work and keep it open while other agencies did furloughs, for instance, making it easier for Musk's team of employees to access internal systems and operate freely.

https://www.wired.com/story/uncanny-valley-podcast-elon-musk-government-shutdown/

That Trump's arguably chief lieutenant right now and collaborator Elon Musk has actually been expressing a pretty serious desire for a government shutdown, even as Trump has been saying that he does not want one. Not only does Musk want a government shutdown, an aim that obviously, as I just said, runs totally contrary to Trump, but it's partially because it would make it a lot easier to eliminate the jobs of hundreds of thousands of federal workers. Essentially, achieving what would be a permanent shutdown.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-reportedly-wants-government-150942719.html

Musk is hoping that a government shutdown could allow him to more easily fire hundreds of thousands of federal workers, a potentially existential threat for many government agencies.

Might be worse if they voted against the bill.

 

[Samoa Looch]

This is blood-boiling. Charles Rogers was awarded the Medal of Honor in Vietnam after being wounded three times leading the defense of a position.

Google his name and the entry below comes up. When you click, you'll see the page has been deleted and the URL changed to include "DEI medal."

 

[Boomhauer]

That is highly disrespectful. The government is going to far with the disrespect. I don't tolerate it as my grandfather was a Vietnam veteran serving in the Air Force.

 

[Samoa Looch]

Bluesky

bsky.app

Republicans push to make "Trump Derangement Syndrome" a mental illness

Five Republican Minnesota state senators are pushing for the term to be included in the state's definition of mental illness.

www.newsweek.com

Five Republican state senators in Minnesota are about to introduce a bill that would basically mark anyone who's criticizing or opposing Trump and his actions as "mentally ill". ...and this administration doesn't make a secret out of them wanting to get rid of disabled people altogether, so this should tell you where they wanna go with this.

 

[Chris]

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/harvard-tuition-free-financial-aid-200-b625a08d

Going to Harvard just got more affordable for most of America.

The Ivy League school is significantly expanding financial aid to make undergraduate admission tuition-free for families making up to $200,000 and completely free for families making up to $100,000. Families making more than $200,000 can also qualify for aid, depending on circumstances such as the number of children in college and amount of debt they carry.

 

[Grim]

Bluesky

bsky.app

Republicans push to make "Trump Derangement Syndrome" a mental illness

Five Republican Minnesota state senators are pushing for the term to be included in the state's definition of mental illness.

www.newsweek.com

Five Republican state senators in Minnesota are about to introduce a bill that would basically mark anyone who's criticizing or opposing Trump and his actions as "mentally ill". ...and this administration doesn't make a secret out of them wanting to get rid of disabled people altogether, so this should tell you where they wanna go with this.

Yeah and they're dumb fucks.

 

[Grim]

 

[Chris]

Two Houston-area clinic employees arrested for allegedly providing illegal abortions

This represents the first criminal charges under Texas’ near-total abortion ban.

www.texastribune.org

Two people have been arrested and charged with performing illegal abortions at a Houston-area health clinic, the first criminal charges brought under the state’s near-total abortion ban.

Maria Margarita Rojas, 48, a midwife, and Jose Ley, her employee, were charged with the illegal performance of an abortion, as well as practicing medicine without a license. The abortion charge is a second-degree felony, which comes with up to 20 years in prison.

Rojas, who identified herself as “Dr. Maria,” operated a network of clinics in Waller, Cypress and Spring. According to Paxton’s news release, the clinics “unlawfully employed unlicensed individuals who falsely presented themselves as licensed medical professionals.” Rojas, with Ley’s assistance, attempted an abortion on a person identified as E.G. on two separate occasions in March, according to court records. In its bail motion, the state says Rojas also performed an abortion in Harris County earlier this year.

 

[Chris]

Israel says it is conducting 'extensive strikes' on the Gaza Strip

This is the largest wave of airstrikes in Gaza since the ceasefire began on 19 January.

www.bbc.com

The Israeli military says it is carrying out "extensive strikes" in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was targeting what it called "terror targets" belonging to Hamas.

Three houses were hit in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, a building in Gaza City, and targets in Khan Younis and Rafah, Reuters reported, citing medics and witnesses.

This is the largest wave of airstrikes in Gaza since the ceasefire began on 19 January. Talks to extend the Gaza ceasefire have failed to reach an agreement.

 

[Chris]

Trump Administration Aims to Eliminate E.P.A.’s Scientific Research Arm

More than 1,000 chemists, biologists and other scientists could be laid off under a plan to dismantle the Office of Research and Development.

www.nytimes.com

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to eliminate its scientific research arm, firing as many as 1,155 chemists, biologists, toxicologists and other scientists, according to documents reviewed by Democrats on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

The strategy is part of large-scale layoffs, known as a “reduction in force,” being planned by the Trump administration, which is intent on shrinking the federal work force. Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the E.P.A., has said he wants to eliminate 65 percent of the agency’s budget. That would be a drastic reduction — one that experts said could hamper clean water and wastewater improvements, air quality monitoring, the cleanup of toxic industrial sites, and other parts of the agency’s mission.

The E.P.A.’s plan, which was presented to White House officials on Friday for review, calls for dissolving the agency’s largest department, the Office of Research and Development, and purging up to 75 percent of the people who work there.

 

[Chris]

Live updates: More than 400 Palestinians killed in surprise Israeli airstrikes across Gaza

Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, saying it was striking dozens of Hamas targets in its heaviest assault on the territory since a ceasefire took effect in January.

apnews.com

Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, saying it was striking dozens of Hamas targets in its heaviest assault on the territory since a ceasefire took effect in January.

Hospitals reported more than 400 people killed, including women and children.

The surprise attack shattered a period of relative calm during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and raised the prospect of a full return to fighting in a 17-month war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and caused widespread destruction across Gaza.

 

[Chris]

Trump Administration Revives Detention of Immigrant Families

Two facilities in South Texas are being readied for undocumented parents and their children. One site began receiving them earlier this month.

www.nytimes.com

For decades, detaining undocumented immigrant families has been a contentious enforcement tactic. Critics of “family detention” have said young children suffer in confinement. Proponents say that locking families up while they await likely deportation sends a stark message about the consequences of entering the United States illegally.

Now, after falling out of use under the Biden administration, family detention is being resurrected by President Trump, as his administration marches forward on its promise to crackdown on immigrants.

Families have begun to arrive in recent days at a detention facility in South Texas, and immigration lawyers are expecting more to be brought in the coming days. A second detention center, also in South Texas, is being read

 

[Chris]

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5200768-john-roberts-trump-judge-impeachment/

Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare public statement Tuesday pushing back after President Trump called to impeach a federal judge that ruled against his administration in a high-profile deportation case.

“For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose,” Roberts said.

The chief justice’s statement came hours after Trump called for impeaching U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, an appointee of former President Obama who blocked the administration’s plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to swiftly deport Venezuelan migrants.

 

[Comrade Khan]

I saw they tweeted from the official white house people suffering in chains being deported using closing time by semisonic. Literally cheering and singing to this. Cruelty is the point.

 

[Jimmy King]

I saw they tweeted from the official white house people suffering in chains being deported using closing time by semisonic. Literally cheering and singing to this. Cruelty is the point.

The comments I’ve seen left by people on that video are vile. There are truly some evil people in this world.