Before I get into all the good news today, I’d like to give a shout out to all the people who read, share and comment on the GNRs. Some weeks back, on one of those rotten days in the midst of a shitty week, Claudia Cox asked “what more can I do?”. Many of us were feeling helpless that day — the week the news of caged children broke — and it was really hard to scrounge up encouraging words for each other.
But the crazy thing is, just reading the sincere words of Claudia and then other Kossacks responding and brainstorming, lifted my spirits enormously! I think it may have had the same effect on other people, too. Whether it is Claudia’s sunny warmth, WineRev’s fantastic background news, notnownotever’s wonderful quotes, 2thanks’ tireless encouragement, the cheery greetings between far-flung Kossacks, practical advice on technical issues, or regular joking fun, this community-building that we do has real value. It is important. In some ways (since we humans are social animals) it is everything that matters.
On Friday, rare commenter patchmonkey gave us the gift of an image of a candle being lit by the Good News Roundups which help to keep the dark at bay. oldhippiedude remarked that if the writers light the candle, it is the community which keeps it burning. And silverfoxcruiser completed the image with this Edith Wharton quote: “There are two ways of spreading light; be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”
Here’s the thing, everybody. When we say “we are a community” and “We are in this together” — those are not puny sentiments! That is damn powerful magic right there and I want to say to everyone who reads, who shares and especially who comments — your contributions really matter. You are building community, you are lifting other people up, and you are fortifying the Resistance so that we can all fight on in this seemingly endless crisis. We’ve got this because we’ve got each other. I’m proud and so thankful to be in this with all of you.
#FamiliesBelongTogether Marches
I can’t describe what happened yesterday any better than Anna Galland of MoveOn.org, so I will quote from the email she sent out to supporters last night:
“The past few weeks have been excruciating. We've learned about unspeakable abuses being perpetrated in our name. And at the same time, the Supreme Court upheld the Muslim Ban, which keeps yet more families separated. A Supreme Court retirement means fundamental rights for women and the LGBTQ+ community—among others are now on the line for a generation.
And for the thousands of parents and children in cages, not knowing if they'd ever see their family members again, it was, and remains, infinitely worse.
But today was a ray of hope.
It was a reminder that, for all the chaos and cruelty of those in power, a massive and growing movement exists in every corner of the nation that still believes in fundamental decency. It was a reminder that—at the ultimate wellspring of power in the American political system—the core values of we, the people blaze, undiminished, indivisible.
The horror that so many of us feel about the devastating policies of our government won't go away due to a march. But we are here, we are ready to fight, and we won't go away. This administration hopes to crush our will to resist. Today, we made clear that they will fail…
We decided to throw down on this national day of action less than two weeks ago. Our close partner, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, first publicly announced it on Chris Hayes's television show, the next day. In response, communities everywhere—including longtime immigrant leaders who've been at this for years and decades, along with newcomers to action for immigrant rights—have organized one of the biggest protests of the Trump era.
All together, more than 180 partner organizations came together to pull this off, including MoveOn, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, the ACLU, faith groups such as Sojourners and the Presbyterian Church, Avaaz, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and a range of labor unions, the YWCA, scores more tremendous allies and partners, and countless local groups in cities large and small, united across lines of ethnicity, race, national origin, and language.
When you feel alone, when it's all too much, remember that what is possible when we come together. That there is power in our numbers.
In the decades to come, people will ask themselves and each other what they did to fight the darkness at this moment in history.
Today, millions of us summoned a piece of an answer. We were in the streets. And we won't stop until we turn the darkness back. Thank you for all you do.
— Anna, Ben, Karine, Corrine, and the rest of the team”
If you can, donate to progressive causes; if you’re able, put on your marching boots; think of what you can do — whether it is organizing, writing postcards, making phone calls to congress, leaving encouraging comments on DK and other progressive places — all of it is vitally important to this noble fight. Every one of us has a contribution to make and every one of us is needed.
It was a hell of a week. No doubt there will be more hellish weeks coming. We can do this, Resisters. Take time to rest and recharge, cry if you need to and then get back in the fight. Like our forefather Nathaniel Greene wrote to George Washington in that founding first fight for this country:
“We fight, get beat, rise and fight again.” (hat tip to WineRev).
And now for the news!
DAG and DFBI to Congress: Not Today, Satan
(Goodie posted about this story in yesterday’s GNR, and I am going to underline it here — there are powerful people who are not having it !! And Resisters, check out the Bonus Good News related to this story right below the Rod Rosenstein meme. There is a shift in the wind, Newsies, and it is caused by the cool, fresh air of progress pushing that empty hot air of reactionary conservatism back into the past where it belongs!)
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Director of the FBI Christopher Wray faced a hostile Republican contingent of the House Judiciary Committee and they pretty much said, “Come at us, Motherf*ckers.” Both men responded to questions — including some viciously insulting ones from some Republicans — with the utmost resolve, clearly confident that they have abided by the law and have pursued their responsibilities exactly as required. And just in case any congresspeople were wondering…
Both Wray and Rosenstein, prompted by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), also took the opportunity to say they wouldn't bow to political pressure to leave their jobs.
Rosenstein: “Congressman, in the DOJ, we are accustomed to criticisms of our work, and it doesn't affect our work.”
Wray: “Congressman, as I've said repeatedly, I am committed to doing this job by the books in all respects, and there is no amount of political pressure that is going to dissuade me from that by either side.”
Rosenstein and Wray have shown that they will not be intimidated. We need stalwart defenders of the rule of law in powerful roles in government on our side, so that’s really good news.
Recap here: How Rosenstein’s and Wray’s testimony undermined GOP efforts to undermine the Russia investigation, Amber Phillips, Washington Post, June 28, 2018.
🔥Bonus Good News: Opponent Janet Garrett reports fundraising surge after Rep. Jim Jordan's clash with Rod Rosenstein, Sabrina Eaton, Cleveland.com, June 29, 2018. 🔥
This Conspiracy Is Starting to Resemble Russian Nesting Dolls
Looks like the “coincidence” of two shocking razor thin votes in 2016 (Brexit and US Presidential Election) may not be coincidences after all. Lots of people have thought there was funny business going on since late 2016/early 2017, but it looks like there is hard evidence accumulating now. And Robert Mueller’s special counsel office is in touch with British authorities and sharing information, too. Go, Mueller!
The extent of these business discussions, which have not been previously reported, raise new questions about whether the Kremlin sought to reward critical figures in the Brexit campaign. Much as in Washington, where investigations are underway into the possibility that Donald J. Trump’s campaign may have cooperated with the Russians, Britain is now grappling with whether Moscow tried to use its close ties with any British citizens to promote Brexit.
In Washington, the investigators for the special prosecutor, Robert S. Mueller III, and Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee have also obtained records of Mr. Banks’s communications, including some with Russian diplomats and about Russian business deals.
And they have taken a special interest in close ties Mr. Banks and other Brexit leaders built to the Trump campaign.
Full story here: Russians Offered Business Deals to Brexit’s Biggest Backer, David D. Kirkpatrick and Matthew Rosenberg, The New York Times, June 29, 2018.
And our own WineRev had a little background perspective on this story in yesterday’s comments:
Can the Mueller team take time out for a little skeet shooting? You know, just taking potshots at a fringe/not fringe matter just for the hell of it as a change of pace? Well maybe.
As both the US and UK law enforcement keep x-raying what Cambridge Analytica has been doing, one link that seems to have grown stronger has been CA was pretty deep in feeding info (and what else?) to the Brexit campaign. One of the noisiest drum beaters for Brexit was Nigel Farage of the alt-right wing of British politics. We all now know the Putin a) hates democracy, b) uses far-right stooges to advance his agenda and c) rejoices in disrupting NATO and the West in general, so using Farage and his UKIP to upset Britain’s apple cart is par for the course.
Several sources are REPORTING that GOP candidate for Senate in PA, Lou Barletta (running against Bob Casey-D) is having a semi-”private” get-together/NOT a fund-raiser/utterly innocent/meet-and-greet/a few informal remarks “event” with Farage on July 20 in NE Pennsylvania.
Perhaps the Mueller people will meet Farage at the Wilkes-Barre airport and ask “may we have a word?” (or 30,000? Per hour?) Perhaps the UK Home Secretary's office might be interested in sending a few representatives (“the name is Bond, James Bond. May I introduce Miss Moneypenny?”) to listen in on that conversation from behind that one-way mirror in the interview room?
Could be an….interesting….conversation!
Dotard Donny Does It Again!
The president* tweeted early Saturday morning (with the usual grammatical errors and spelling mistakes) that he had spoken to “King Salman of Saudi Arabia” about oil prices (“to high” [sic]), and had asked him to increase production (maybe up to 2,000,000 barrels!) to “make up the difference” — and (according to Donny’s tweet) the king agreed!
Sure, the Saudi king agreed to crank out 2,000,000 more barrels of oil in order to flood the markets with supply and drive the price of oil down, as a favor to the Donald. What oil potentate wouldn’t want to destabilize the market upon which his wealth (and his country’s economy) depends, just to please a capricious ignoramus with delusions of belonging to a fraternity of royal dictators?
The Saudis kept mum for several hours (possibly struck dumb with disbelief), but eventually the idiocy could not be allowed to stand. A statement was released Saturday afternoon acknowledging that the king had spoken with Trump but made no mention of the 2 million barrels, etc. Rather, the official statement reads that the king and the dotard discussed the importance of maintaining stable oil markets and working on the growth of the global economy. (You know, Dotard, like instead of plunging the global economy into a crash spiral by suddenly messing with supply, demand and prices! FFS!)
So, Trumps foolish tweet was refuted by his ‘great friend’ the king of Saudi Arabia and his spokespeople. Because of course it was — it was the thoughtless raving of an ignorant narcissist.
The White House press office likewise kept mum for even more hours (unlikely that they were struck dumb with disbelief, being intimately familiar with Donald’s incompetence and ignorance, but perhaps they were struck dumb with fright, fearing a presidential tantrum), but eventually on Saturday evening, they too confirmed that the Saudi king’s priority was to maintain stability in the oil market.
So, the president* tweeted utter nonsense and it was shown to be a lie (and utter nonsense) by both the person he lied about and his own press office. That’s gotta burn.
Story: White House does not specify Saudi Arabia will increase oil production despite Trump tweet, CBS News, June 30, 2018.
And Again…
Trump ‘Never Pushed’ Republicans to Vote on Immigration, Despite Tweet Three Days Earlier That Did Precisely That, A.J.Vicens, Mother Jones, June 30, 2018.
Seriously, just stop it.
Supreme Pressure
The 7 senators most likely to cross party lines on Trump’s Supreme Court pick, ranked, Amber Phillips, Washington Post, June 29, 2018.
President Trump's next pick for the Supreme Court should have a relatively clear path to confirmation in the Senate. Republicans control the chamber, and they are eager to play a role in firming up the court's conservative majority to replace retiring Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, a swing vote.
But nothing's a given in Washington, especially in a Senate where Republicans have a two-vote majority. There are two or three moderate Senate Republicans who optimistic Senate Democrats hope will help them block Trump's pick. And there are a handful of Senate Democrats facing tricky reelections in November who Republicans hope will help pass Trump's pick.
Democrats trying to hold on to their Senate seats in deep red states will be squeezed between a rock and a hard place, while Republicans — especially ostensibly pro-choice Senators Collins and Murkowski — will be forced onto the horns of a dilemma: to throw away the principles they claimed to hold or toe the Republican party line.
Looks like there will be tremendous pressure on Heitkamp (D-ND), Donnelly (D-IN), Manchin (D_WV), Heller (R-NV), Flake (R-AZ), Collins (R-ME) and Murkowski (R-AK) this summer, so this seems like a good time for...
♫ ♫Musical Interlude♫ ♫
Roundups Roundup
On Monday, jessiestaf brought the Monday Good News Roundup. Jeff Flake bleating on about how he might block DT judge nominees (spoiler: he won’t); news about some reunifications; ethics alerts re SHS’s tweet targeting Red Hen; hopeful breakdown of the legal hurdles Trump concentration camps and child abduction policies will face; and ending with an intriguing tidbit overheard at a DSCC retreat at Mark Warner’s place in Martha’s Vinyard.
On Tuesday, I brought what I could to the resistance table echoing Goodie’s rallying cry from Saturday: We Are the Majority and We Will Stop Fascism — Tuesday’s Good News. Quick overview of the SCOTUS rulings on gerrymandering (and some reason for optimism); review of the trouble a couple of operatives in team treason are in; celebration of steps forward in social progress re racism and equality; and the usual lightning roundup of various news and polling with a little music in there to hopefully provide some comfort and inspiration.
On Wednesday, progressivist helped us keep up with both political and ostensibly non-political news We’re Still Winning Battles, Wednesday’s Good News Roundup. Starting off with the fantastic news that a CA judge ordered the government to reunite separated families within 30 days (14 days for children under 5) and a reminder that Sessions et al are showing how unhinged they are while Mueller remains quietly working, progressivist then brought us great news about environmental concerns, science, medicine and technology.
On Thursday, oldhippiedude brought the power of righteous truth and spine-stiffeners with this outstanding roundup: Good News Roundup For Thursday, June 28, 2018. Inside you’ll find inspirational words from Sir Winston Churchill and a bit of history that uncannily mirrors this moment in our own time; a review of the state of the refugee crisis at the border and DTs inhuman policy of family separation (there’s a lot of good news there about Americans saying HELL NO to that); more evidence that Texas is not the Republican slam dunk that popular opinion seems to still think it is, and that the purpling of even so-called “red” America is accelerating, even while the Republican party membership is shrinking; and an especially delicious little surprise re the tax bill accidentally foisting a tax on churches (halleluia! at long last!); plus excellent music from the Grateful Dead, Dixie Chicks and an oldie but goodie from The Weavers.
On Friday, chloris creator began Good News Roundup for Friday, June 29 by affirming this community and reminding us that the right wing tactics to demoralize are less effective when we know how they operate and remember that we are in the majority. Then; on to Russia news: stories of the deep do do that both Paul Manafort and Roger Stone are in; a review of the good work resisters are doing to fight the separations of refugee families, and even some border towns’ LE are refusing to do the administration’s dirty work; great poll news and plenty of other tasty odds and ends.
On Saturday, Goodie opened Saturday’s Good News with interesting research about the way we respond to crises: knowledge is power and knowing how we react psychologically to a tsunami of need can help us to maintain perspective and keep up our efforts rather than giving up. The point was anchored by a reference to some wise words from the Talmud:
Goodie went on to update us on the latest Russia scandal news (Cohen may be preparing to flip! Roger Stone is in deep trouble, and Mueller is looking at how Russians have been cozying up to Trump in plain sight, since at least the inauguration. Lots of great election and polling news, a reminder that the Parkland kids are awesome, and much more. She wound up her round up with a well-executed Eff U to SC Justice Anthony Kennedy. Well done, Goodie.
⚡️Lightning Roundup⚡️
⚡️Thank goodness: Massachusett’s federal judge rules to temporarily extend housing program for Hurricane Maria evacuees, J.D.Capelouto, Boston Globe, June 30, 2018.
⚡️Time for a career change? 'Even the cops don’t like us anymore': Under Trump, ICE is despised and divided, Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, June 30, 2018.
⚡️Great news on wages: Officials: San Francisco is 1st major US city with $15 wage, AP, June 30, 2018.
⚡️”Potential issues” with Pruitt, lol :Top EPA ethics official discloses that he has urged additional investigations into Scott Pruitt, Brady Dennis and Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post, June 30, 2018.
⚡️Actually it’s “another” U.S. Ambassador: A U.S. ambassador resigned over Trump’s ‘factually wrong’ attacks on allies, Avi Selk, Washington Post, June 30, 2018.
⚡️Abortion Rights Are in Serious Peril, But Women Just Won a Small Victory in Iowa, Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Mother Jones, June 29, 2018.
⚡️Mexico votes today July 1: Ahead of elections, Mexicans say they want change, a stop to violence, Annie Rose Ramos and Irvis Orozco, NBC News, June 29, 2018.
⚡️I’m sure this isn’t any kind of a nat sec concern at all: White House ‘scrambling’ to find out why Trump called back prankster from Air Force One, Bob Brigham, Raw Story, June 29, 2018.
⚡️Putting this here because it is an updated bullet-point format: TRUMP, RUSSIA, AND DEUTSCHE BANK: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR, the Moscow Project, June 29, 2018.
⚡️“ Listen up, you f*cking f*ckers. Marco Rubio has had it up to here with your f*cking language.” More from Miss Marco Manners -> Marco Rubio Is Offended As F*ck By Your F*cking Vulgar Language And Honestly What The F*ck, David Mack, BuzzFeed, June 29, 2018.
⚡️Paul Manafort Is Running Out Of Options To Stop A Trial From Starting Next Month, Zoe Tillman, BuzzFeed, June 29, 2018.
⚡️MSNBC cancels show of right-wing Trump fan, Hugh Hewitt: Conservative Hugh Hewitt makes surprise announcement MSNBC has pulled plug on his show, Bob Brigham, Raw Story, June 30, 2018.
⚡️9 states go high, 41 still to go: Recreational marijuana now legal in Vermont, Clover Whitham, Burlington Free Press via USAToday, July 1, 2018.
Two Minutes of History
We’ve been dealing with this shit forever. “Man’s inhumanity to man” has been with us, literally, for all of recorded history and no doubt long before, too. It’s going to be hard, and will probably get harder, and then it will ease up again as we win this damn battle and hopefully eke out yet another few steps forward in the never-ending quest for peace and justice. It’s not a carefree relief knowing we have gotten through times just as bad before — because there is an appalling human cost to the “getting through” — but at least if we know it’s part of human existence, maybe we can ease one part of the anxiety — the part that tells us that there has never been a time so dire before.
Avenues for Action
From Goodie:
Donate to ActBlue
Donate to Swing Left
Send postcards to voters in other districts
Sign up to go door to door in your district
Sign up to drive people to the polls
Find your local Democratic Party and volunteer!
From oldhippiedude:
What You Can Do To Help The Children And Their Families
Here’s how you can go out and make some good news of your own.
Volunteer
- If you live near an ICE detention center (see map here) you can volunteer for the Freedom for Immigrants Visitation program. You would visit detained persons and interact with them directly. The organization also has other volunteer opportunities.
- If you live in a border area and have some legal training, The Texas Civil Rights Project and the Immigration Justice Campaign are looking for volunteers. TCRP is especially interested in people with paralegal or legal assistant training who speak Spanish, Mam, Q’eqchi’ or K’iche.
- The Northwest Immigrant Rights Organization works with those confined in the large detention facility near Sea-Tac. They need translators and interpreters.
- The Florence Project and Refugee Rights Project is seeking pro bono attorneys in Arizona.
- Catholic Charities of Fort Worth is housing some of the children taken from their families. If you live in that area, they could use volunteers.
- The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights needs child advocates for unaccompanied minors in Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, Harlingen, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.
- American Gateways is providing legal services for separated parents. They can use volunteer attorneys and non-attorneys.
- There are undoubtedly countless volunteer opportunities available in this effort. If you know of any, please supply them in the comments.
Become A Foster Parent
- If you’re really ready to go big, this may be a way you could help. It’s likely that many children will be separated from their families for some time, and, as horrifying as it is, record keeping has been so sloppy that it may be impossible to reunite some families. If you think you could provide a temporary home to one of these children, contact the US Conference of Catholic Bishops or Lutheran Immigrant and Refugee Services. This will require extensive training and licensing, but as a former foster parent I can tell you that it is a richly rewarding endeavor if you are able to do it.
Donate
Financial assistance is still one of the best ways to help, and the good news is that there are dozens of organizations working to assist children and adults with immediate needs including legal care, as well as fighting to end the horrific caging of children. Here is a partial list of worthy organizations.
- Donate to the effort by RAICES to raise bond money for detained adults and provide legal services to adults and children. (This is a Facebook page). They have already raised over $15 million.
- Together Rising is currently providing legal assistance in Arizona for 60 children who were taken from their families and are in detention. You can donate here.
- The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights supplies child advocates for young immigrants and is currently working on separation issues.
- Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is providing "immediate shelter and beds, medical services, counseling and therapy to help (children) deal with the trauma of family separation."
- Comfort Cases needs donations to provide backpacks to separated children. Each backpack contains items like blankets, toiletries, a book, a stuffed animal, etc.
- The Fronterizo Fianza Fund raises bond money for detained immigrants, and to provide small commissary and phone fund deposits for those in detention.
- Kids In Need Of Defense provides pro bono attorneys to immigrant children.
- The National Immigrant Justice Center also provides legal representation for separated immigrants and advises federal public defenders.
- If you would like your donation to be distributed among several organizations, including some on this list, go to ActBlue’s Support Kids At The Border page.
- The Casa Cornelia Law Center is also providing legal representation for separated immigrants
- Don’t forget the ACLU.
Take Time For Puppy Therapy
Keep Calling Your Senators And Representative
This probably goes without saying around here, but a little reminder never hurts. Congressional staffers have said that they are being flooded with more calls than they have received since the health care debate. We need to let them know that we’re not fooled by Trump’s phony Executive Order, and that we’re still watching them.
If you haven’t made a call before, or would like to help someone else with their first call, here's a handy guide to how it’s done.
Also:
GOTV, GOTV, Get Out the Freakin’ Vote! NOW MORE THAN EVER! Start Right HERE! yosef 52
Roundup Winddown
I’m writing this last part on Saturday, May 12, just after reading Goodie’s HOPE-themed roundup, because I want to bookmark this feeling. I am so encouraged by these roundups every day and I hope you are, too. The quotes from Maya Angelou, in particular, fired me up inside and gave me a sense not only of hope and encouragement but also of an awareness of my own strength and the strength of millions more like me — like ALL OF US — out there.
We are not alone — even though it sometimes feels like that as we go about our lives (especially those of us who are solitary blue dots in so-called “red” communities). The progress of the Mueller investigation seems too slow, we feel urgency and sometimes anxiety and despair that nothing is happening, damn it! Just for a little while, let’s sit with the hope that grows out of the truth that we are the majority, we are powerful — every single one of us can make a huge difference! — and we will right this ship of state.
Here’s a great song to wind down this Sunday roundup:
Happy Sunday, All!