It’s Friday, May 24, 2019, the lead in to Memorial Day weekend, but still, I bring you news from Liberal Minded Ladies of Substance.
I’m considering doing a Saturday post, gathering up the stories from the week that may have gotten lost in the shuffle. I’d try to keep it to one news story from each day that I think need extra eyes on them. I’m interested in what you think about this. Good idea? Or do you think that the idea of highlighting stories is not the best?
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As always, there will be a thread below for new or breaking news. And please, share any thoughts you have below.
NEWS STORIES
WikiLeaks' Julian Assange charged with 17 new criminal counts, including violating Espionage Act -- (CNBC) No matter how you feel about Assange personally, the fact that they are charging him with the Espionage Act is a troubling development for journalists. This may be why Trump, while praising Assange, is more than happy to pursue him. It's not about WikiLeaks, which he benefited from, it's to screw his "enemy of the people". These are dangerous times for journalists.
Why I Gave A Buck To Mike Gravel -- (Current Affairs) I have donated to the Gravel campaign. I am proud to do my part to get an important voice out there to shift the Democrats back to the Left. We need to stop kowtowing to the Right. Let the Republicans figure their own mess out. We do not have to become GOP-Lite to win, and if they choose to leave those votes on the table, we will not win.
White House Announces $16 Billion In Aid To Farmers Hurt By China Trade Dispute -- (NPR) And, on the heels of what we were talking about yesterday, Trump is giving more money to farmers hurt by the trade war. How much do you want to bet that this one, like the last one, will go, disproportionately, to large corporations who will raid the piggy bank and leave family farms holding the bag with barely enough money for a cup of coffee?
Democrats Cozy Up to Wall Street While Shunning Corporate Cash -- (BBC) Candidates may be eschewing lobbyist money, but that doesn't mean they aren't talking to those with deep pockets. There are only two candidates who appear willing to turn down Wall Street cash benefits - Sanders and Warren. Funnily enough, those are also the only two willing to take on the role of the Banking industry in the corruption and degradation of our electoral system. This is why, when they talk about what they will do for the average American, I am willing to believe them. They have literally put their money where their mouths are.
UK set for new PM as Theresa May quits -- (BBC) The UK is about to go through another shake-up as PM Theresa May is stepping down on June 7. This is an opportunity to right the ship, and for the UK to save itself from following down the fascist path the US has set. #VoteLabour #NoBrexit
Beam me up, Kentucky? George Takei tweets he's 'tempted' to take on Mitch McConnell -- (Courier Journal) Wow. This could be a powerful challenge to McConnell's death grip on Kentucky. I hope it happens! The hard thing for Takei would be that he would have to move to Kentucky... It's a beautiful place, don't get me wrong, but the people...
Team Trump Tries To Weaponize Deceptively Edited Videos Of Nancy Pelosi -- (Talking Points Memo) Trump and co. are so very angry about Pelosi that they are making up doctored videos to try and smear her. It highlights the belief of the current GOP that you don't need facts, you can just make stuff up! They will make a slow down a video to make it look like Pelosi is drunk to take the heat off President Covfefe and his attorney, Ivesssapology.
Viral video of Nancy Pelosi slowed down her speech -- (Politifact) Liar, liar, pants on fire.
$19.1 billion in nationwide disaster aid stalls after single House Republican objects -- (Washington Post) And why did Republican Chip Roy object to a bill that would support victims of flooding, wildfires, and hurricanes? Because there was no money included for the border wall. The Senate compromise took that money out of this bill, it was supposed to pass as a bi-partisan effort. Like everything else the GOP touches lately, this fell apart and will hurt the people affected by the wild changes that the climate crisis has inflicted on this country.
U.S. Beer Industry Blames Trump Tariffs for 40,000 Job Losses -- (Bloomberg) Trump's going to have problems appealing to poor, white men when they can't buy their cases of Bud Light for the weekend. The industry is pointing to the increase cost of aluminum brought on by tariffs as the culprit. Because it costs more to make the cans, the beer producers are laying off workers to keep prices low.
NASA executive hired to lead 2024 moon mission quits after 6 weeks -- (The Week) The future of Space Force just took a hit. Apparently the Trump strategy of cutting NASA's budget while demanding his Moon mission happen 4 years sooner than originally stated was too much for the man to handle. After cutting NASA's budget, double-dealing Trump did say he would be willing to give them more money for the 2024 goal... By taking that money from Pell Grants. Congress didn't like that idea.