There’s plenty of bad news. Trump and most of the Republicans are hurting government, the USA reputation, and doing everything they can to destroy democracy and anyone who isn’t an old white man. But we’re fighting back — this is a marathon, not a sprint — and we have lots to do — take back power, restore our injured institutions, and move the country in a good direction. In the meantime, enjoy this diary of good news and fortify yourselves for the fight. And you are not alone and we 💙 are stronger together!
Republicans can’t govern
It looks as if the government is about to shut down.
The Republicans, despite having both houses and the executive branch, want to blame it on the Democrats. And maybe they’re right, because the Democrats (who have more power this time because the snag is the Senate which needs 60 votes) won’t vote to keep the government open unless there’s a deal on DACA (which should have happened in that meeting last week where Trump spoke so foully). This is the power the Democrats have, so glad 💙 to see them using it.
And, fortunately, the population is holding the Republicans responsible (see below), which means that all Republicans are being tainted by the stench of Trump incompetence. Now, most of us already knew about their problems — for example, their campaign promises had huge logical flaws — but others are finally becoming aware too.
Russia Russia Russia!
Gee, the NRA could be working with Russia…
This saga just got a lot more interesting. Did a Putin-linked Russian banker funnel cash into the National Rifle Association to help Donald Trump’s campaign?
I hope this comes out and that some of the NRA crazies will turn away. And I wonder how long it has been going on. Anyone know?
We can expect more reporting soon, because the House panel released its GPS Fusion transcript.
The committee posted it later in the day and it is available online here.
The testimony shows that Simpson gave the committee a road map of names, places and leads that Fusion GPS unearthed during its investigation, a source with knowledge of the proceedings said before it was released.
Perhaps some of the votes for the release should be credited to Senator Feinstein, because the cold that led to her releasing Senate committee stuff could be contagious. We’ll see more analysis, I’m sure, as the media digests the information (and everyone else can go look too).
Getting back to following the money, where is it going?
Sometimes the money goes to ex-porn stars
Apparently, Trump’s lawyer took advantage of Delaware’s business laws to make a “hush money” transaction totally $130,000 meant to keep her from disclosing the experience,
Some Parts of the Country Are Fighting Back
Oakland deports ICE
In an 8-0 vote, the Oakland City Council voted last night, Tuesday, January 16, 2018, to eliminate any and all cooperation with ICE in both criminal and civil matters, except in a case of public emergency.
These eight council members are showing true bravery, because Homeland Security is threatening local governments.
Journalism is fighting back: In Pittsburgh, journalists denounce pro-Trump editorial:
150 editorial members of the Pittsburgh Newspaper Guild released a statement Tuesday denouncing an editorial in a local paper as “reprehensible” and distancing themselves from it.
Red, Hiss, Boo! Rah, Rah, Blue! 💙
Voters in Senate battleground states are going to blame Trump and the Republicans if they shut down the government. I mean, obviously voters should blame the Rs, but we have seen many times when voters have not been especially logical.
“By an 11-point margin, voters believe intuitively—even before hearing any specific policy disagreements—that Donald Trump and congressional Republicans (42%) will be more to blame than Democrats (31%) if a shutdown occurs. Considering that Donald Trump carried these states by an average margin of 11 points, this extraordinary result reflects voters’ understanding that Republican leaders are far more willing than Democrats to cause a shutdown.”
Some Signs of the Times: our side 💙 is engaged and growing; theirs is shrinking...
You certainly know now about that Special Election in Wisconsin, where a state senate seat was flipped from blood red to sky blue.
It was the first election upset of 2018 and it sent Republicans reeling. Even though Donald Trump won Wisconsin’s Senate District 10 by 17 points in 2016, on Tuesday Democrat Patty Schachtner erased that advantage and added 11 points of her own in a total wipeout of her Republican opponent. I mean, 11 points alone is a rout, but the 28-point swing is just… well... breathtaking. And that's exactly how Republicans saw it.
And then, in another space that was supposed to be Republican safe, rural Iowa, Republican senator nearly gets laughed out of town for defending Trump
Republican senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley have been back home in Iowa to hold small town halls in rural areas, places they probably thought would be ‘safe spaces’ from angry voters. WRONG. The rural voters who turned out were not happy with Donald Trump and they unloaded on Ernst and Grassley.
Even introverts are coming out. Here’s a story 💙 about a new D volunteer — stuffing envelopes.
I went to my first county Democratic Party volunteer night tonight. Organized by the county Executive Director, it was an opportunity for folks to come help stuff envelopes with a flier going out explaining the big strides the party took in 2017 and the even bigger goals for 2018. We just elected our first Democratic state senator in the legislative district in November, so there is a feeling of wind in the sails.
People are watching Maddow and not Hannity. Now, I don’t think most are switching from one to the other — surely even those who eventually make the switch need a transition period. But it means that fewer people want to watch FOX and people do want to watch Maddow. Which is a sign of engagement.
Trump supporters — former Trump supporters, now laid-off factory workers — are discovering that he doesn’t keep his promises.
President Donald Trump’s path to becoming “the best jobs president that God ever created” was supposed to run straight through Indianapolis and the Carrier manufacturing plant that had for decades employed thousands of workers there.
Instead, more than a year after the then-president-elect stood before a crowd of cheering workers and trumpeted a deal to save their jobs — and months after the company’s name faded from the headlines and the president himself moved onto other talking points — more than 1,500 once-employed residents are now out of work, Indiana union officials say. More than 200 Carrier employees clocked out of their final shift at the plant just last week. …
“The workers that I talk to feel betrayed, because he made promises that he didn’t keep,” said Robert James, the president of United Steelworkers Local 1999,
Maybe these people won’t vote for Democrats (maybe they will!) but their support for Republicans has to be much less enthusiastic.
This Slate article looks at what happened to the Women’s March from a year ago — how those people are more engaged than ever.
“This is the most patriotic thing I’ve ever done,” Schulz, 40, told me. “I’m just this lady, this mom. I literally woke up on Nov. 9 and thought, ‘What the hell, what am I going to do?’ But somebody told me once that the antidote to despair is action.”
I think one thing that has come out from the Women’s March is the stronger, much more determined, fighting back about sexual harassment. A bill is now moving through the House which would keep taxpayers from paying for sexual harassment claims, and it has (rare) support on both sides of the aisle. Hillary was right, we are stronger together.
Comment threads: I have a general question for people. Do you ever look at comments in other areas of the internet (more neutral than here)? If so, have you noticed a change? It used to be that they were anti Obama (often spelled Obummer) or very anti Hillary. But now the comment threads that I have seen are mostly anti Trump. I’d like to know if:
A. Any of you have noticed the same thing? Or have I just been “lucky” in the comment threads?
B. What is causing it? A change in the policy with respect to comment threads, no money to pay troll farms, or just that our side is more popular now?
For example, here are some reactions to a Yahoo piece on Trump’s health
Maria: What is keeping his energy up is the number of diet cokes he drinks every day. The doctor didn't address that, nor did the media in the room ask. Also it is reason why he gets by on only 4 hours of sleep. Take away half those cokes and I bet not so much energy.
Y: Anybody believe Trump is only 239lb. I have a bridge to sell you. He's easily pushing 3 bills.
TheBride: If trump is 230 pounds, I am a Heidi Klum look-alike.
Two years ago it would have all been negative stuff about Obama or Hillary, even if the original article had nothing to do with either.
Calls to Action
By the way, the examples above are all things you can do if you feel the need to do something besides read these diaries and complain to the government.
Add comments to comment threads in articles
Go to your local D meeting and see what you can do to help out
Go to town halls (I guess that’s complaining)
Participate in Women’s March anniversary stuff near you
And, of course, when the time is right, vote or encourage others to do so (I love the postcards)
Other ideas? Please include below.
💙 GNR is taking a well-deserved rest, so won’t be here tomorrow.