Sunday Funday: Subsidizing The Wealthy Edition

Posted on February 2, 2025 by Dave Bradley

Another heroine from back when bites the dust. She was great: (2.5 minutes)

 

I know it is the beginning of Black History Month and that it is especially meaningful this year, but there right now there is a tree blocking our view of the forest. The new regime in Washington is on its takeoff to legitimize its theft of trillions from the poor and middle class and handing it to the richest in the forms of tax cuts and contracts.

Yesterday was Tariff Day in the US. It was the day when Stinky Pants imposed his tariffs on our friends and largest trading powers, Canada and Mexico, Not only will the tariffs hurt those countries but in the end said tariffs will in the end be paid for by higher prices to the consumer. These tariffs will be on everyday items like eggs and gasoline so it will be hard to avoid them,

Using tariffs to pay for government bills will be one of the arguments used to say that taxes can be cut on the wealthy so they can work their magic with their ‘trickle down’ economy. “Trickle down’ was once known as “horse shit economics” in McKinley’s days. I think you can understand why.

So to follow the path of tariffs => tariffs imposed on goods causes problems in supplying country => additional cost of tariff added to cost of product and paid by ultimate consumer (causing inflation) => additional revenue for government prompts bills to lower taxes for rich => final effect tariffs put more money in rich pockets paid for by low and moderate consumers.

BTW did you know that since Ronald Reagan’s original tax cuts for the rich they have received some $50 TRILLION in tax cuts and the current national debt is about $37 Trillion? Also, in order to pay for even larger cuts that the tariffs can justify, MAGAs will be trying to cut programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Don’t you feel patriotic Now? Are you beginning to understand why George and his fellow colonists threw out the royalty?

Oy Vey! It has only been two freaking weeks!

A) Probably the most powerful person in the US today is First Buddy Elon Musk. Is Musk a US citizen?

B) What group of Americans have surprisingly found themselves in the discussions about undocumented aliens?

C) In case you missed it, what did the current president name as the cause of the airplane/helicopter crash Wednesday night?

D) In Iowa, the legislature is back to harm the state. How much do MAGA legislators propose to increase public school funding this year?

E) Quickly – the first black woman on the Supreme Court is/was who?

F) Deep Seek caused a Wall Street flutter Monday. What is Deep Seek?

G) Iowa had a special election Tuesday to fill the senate seat of the recently appointed Lieutenant Governor. Who won, the republican or the Democrat?

H) Iowa’s AG, Brenna Bird, joined in a lawsuit against what company whose Board of Directors voted to continue their internal DEI program?

I) Catherine Rampell challenged Scott Jennings on CNN: “if it is not repellant, do it right now on TV.” What was Rampell referring to?

J) Activists in Britain renamed what vehicle brand the “Swatsticar”?

K) What newly appointed cabinet secretary said when hearing of the plane crash in DC said “This should not have happened”? 

L) A Federal Appeals court in Louisiana said a law banning gun sales to what group of people was unconstitutional?

M) While attention was diverted elsewhere Stinky Pants signed an executive order radically overhauling what sector that receives federal aid?

N) Homecoming game! What U of Iowa graduate will lead her team in a pre-season game at Carver Arena May 4th?

O) What do Anthony Fauci, John Bolton and General Mark Milley all have in common?

P) A painting sold at a garage sale in Minnetonka, Minnesota for $50 turns out to be a rare work by what master?

Q) How did Iowa’s senators vote on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth?

R) What TV network is about to bend their knee to the current president and settle a ridiculous lawsuit in his favor?

S) Another major company shows no backbone: What major internet company said it will rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on maps?

T) What highly considered cable news personality quit CNN after his program Tuesday as CNN threatened to move him into a much lesser time slot due to his reporting on the current president?

Bonus) The new FCC Chair has said he will open an investigation on what highly regarded members of the media?

Trump may think he knows who his enemies are, but he doesn’t. His two biggest enemies will always be 1) reality and 2) himself. – Andy Borowitz

Answers:

A) Yes. Not born in the US, he was naturalized in 2002

B) Native Americans. Although there is a 1922 lw that says they are citizens, some MAGA say they are sovereign members of their tribes and thus not citizens

C) DEI

D) 2%. I assume privatization will then take their chunk after that

E) Ketanji Jackson Brown

F) Chinese effort at AI which is claimed to be comparable to what US companies have produced for a much cheaper cost

G) Mike Zimmerman a Democrat in a MAGA district 

H) Costco

I) re-enacting Elon Musk’s siege heel salute from the inauguration party

J) Tesla, due to the above mentioned Tesla CEO’s Nazi salute

K) Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy – seems like he has grasped the very basics of his job

L) People Under 21. So now kids can work and buy guns

M) Education – he issued an EO touching on many aspects of schools especially on DEI issues

N) Caitlin Clark will bring the Indiana fever to Carver for an exhibition game with the Brazilian National team May 4th

O) All had protective guards removed from them by Trump as they have somehow hurt his fee-fees

P) Van Gogh. Painting is now valued at $15 million

Q) Party over country, they say! Both voted FOR the very unqualified Hegseth.

R) CBS wants to settle a silly lawsuit by Trump over their interview with Kamala Harris

S) Google

T) Jim Acosta. Thank goodness somebody has a backbone in this country.

Bonus) NPR and PBS citing their use of sponsors. (What a surprise, huh?)

This is what a Constitutional crisis looks like. Congress must do its job regardless of party devotion. – Victoria Brownworth

Tip of the hat to democraticunderground.com

Posted in #trumpresistance, Humor | 1 Comment

Laws Being Pulverized As Trump Torches US

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Dave Bradley

(40. seconds)

Remember that little ruling by the Supreme Court about seven or eight months ago? You remember – the one that said old Stinky Pants – I mean Trump – can pretty much do what ever he pleases as long as he can pretend he is doing it as president. Two weeks in and he is using it pretty mach daily, even more than daily. What’s going to stop him?

If someone threatens to bring a lawsuit all old Stinky Pants has to do is pull that ‘Get Out Of Jail Free’ card out of his pocket, flash it around and then go about his business. I thought our ancestors fought a revolution to break our bonds with rulers like that. If I recall correctly didn’t we fight a Civil War and a couple of World Wars to get away from leaders like that.

And now we invite one into our own country AND give him legal protection?

Thus, oh so early in the new administration, we are about to see many once considered inviolable laws or norms are about to be attacked and as of right now no one will stand up to Trump.Last Friday night Trump pulled his own version of a personnel massacre and hardly a whimper was raised. One of America’s most useless senators (Iowa’s own Chuck Grassley)  bleated a little bit but was soon back in the fold.

We are seeing the unbelievable parade of totally unfit nominees to high powered jobs parade across our TV screens telling lies and hiding reality. These are people who couldn’t get a job at Walmart being given access to nuclear codes and being tasked with running some of the biggest organizations in the world.

After Trump’s Friday night massacre of Inspector Generals last week almost nothing was said. A few insiders mentioned what Trump did was illegal, but then what is illegal to someone who has a ‘Get Out Of Jail Free’ card? You can already smell the odor of corruption in the air and it stinks.

Tuesday Trump once again dipped into what used to be illegal by firing the Chair of the National Labor Relations Board. As former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich tells the story in his substack letter:   

“In his ongoing rampage against the laws of the land, Trump yesterday fired National Labor Relations Board acting chair Gwynne Wilcox — despite her congressional appointment not being up until 2028.

Wilcox’s firing closes down the NLRB because it’s left with just two members, and the Supreme Court has ruled that the Board needs at least three to issue any rulings.

Trump also fired NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, leaving Board attorneys who investigate employee and employer complaints without any guidance.

Presto — American workers are no longer protected from illegal firings or unfair labor practices by their employers. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 is effectively gone. Employers can now wreak havoc on their workers.

Of course, most employers are already doing this, but at least the threat of unionization kept some from blatant bullying. “

While doing that, the administration illegally shut down funding to a vast array of organizations including entities such as hospitals which put them at risk of shutting down. By seizing control of the funds, the administration sent a clear message that they intend to grab power and do what they want. There was a temporary setback, but be clear that they will do it again soon. “Get Out Of Jail Free’ says they can.

Wait! Look over there! ICE agents entering schools. ICE agents arresting people in hospitals. ICE agents arresting people in coffee shops or on the street. Citizens and non-citizens alike being arrested. They don’t have time to sort it out. What they have is a leader with a ‘Get Out Of Jail Free’ card and a mandate to spread fear.

Get out of their way! They will stop at nothing. Who’s going to stop them? MAGA politicians like Ernst and Grassley have meekly bowed to the new emperor. They are much more worried about their own situation than any democracy. We have seen it all once before throughout history as self-rule turns into dictatorships.

Of course these cowards who won’t stand up to the wannabe dictator will gain nothing. They will be dispensed with just as the wannabe dictator will be when the ones with the real power – money – decide the Trumps of the world no longer serve their purpose.

But they have been stopped before and can be stopped again. Stay tuned.

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Un-Effing-Believable

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Dave Bradley

at least one guy isn’t fooled: (43 seconds)

 

We had just returned from a doctor’s appointment Thursday morning. A colonoscopy no less. As most of you know colonoscopies are no fun, especially the part where you can’t eat. The news wasn’t bad – one nettlesome problem. All told we were tired and hungry and a bit owly.

We turned on the TV while food cooked. What we tuned into was the very beginning of a press conference by old Stinky Pants. The purpose of this press conference was to blame a terrible tragedy – the plane & helicopter crash over the Potomac River in Washington DC the night before that killed all 67 people involved – on DEI

“OMG” I told my son-in-law, “This SOB is going to blame the air crash on Biden. Is there no depths to which he won’t seek? How could he exploit their deaths. How low of a snake is this guy?”

Within about 5 minutes after some really theatrical actions such as a moment of silence, the expected tirade blaming Biden and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. No evidence, no proof just a series of vile allegations. Takin a true tragedy and trying to use it as a hammer against any opponent.

It was sickening. I tried to listen so that I could remember what he said, but it was more than I could stomach. I turned it off and we talked it over for a minute. We were all truly flabberghasted by the gall, the temerity, of the current president had to take a tragedy and use it to name a scapegoats.

Of course what should be done is to investigate the tragedy, determine the causes without any predetermined prejudices and let the evidence lead us to the causes. Then, if we can, take those findings to implement fixes so that such a tragedy will not be repeated. 

After watching the part of this farce of a press conference I had to ask my companions – is this what Iowa wants from a president? Is this the kind of person Iowans believe is good for the country? What the hell has happened to the culture in Iowa that they could vote for such a miserable human being? It is time for some soul searching in the Hawkeye state.

Although, there must be a bit of remorse at least in eastern Iowa. Last Tuesday in a special election in a senate district that went +21 for Trump in November went +4% for Democrat Mike Zimmer to replace newly appointed lieutenant governor.

As we talked I couldn’t help but bring out a bit of nostalgia for an Iowa where people seldom looked at political identities but just knew you as a human. An Iowa that led the country in rights for women and rights for all people. A state that had stops on the Underground Railroad. An Iowa where Alexander G. Clark could help bring about the basis for equality for all decades before it became constitutional law.

Will Iowa return to its preeminence in education that it once held or will it continue to undercut education in the state as Republicans have been doing for over the past decade during which Iowa’s education standards have crashed?   

Will Iowa continue to follow the charlatan who only seeks to divide our country so he can accumulate power? Or will Iowans return to their roots of equality? 

Many people wonder how they would act if they alive in trying times such as our Revolutionary War. Would they stand for what is right? Would they stand against the kings and royals? Would they stand for their fellow man against dictators and for equality?

Well, I am here to tell you we are in a time of crisis now. Now is when you can answer your own question – the current administration is trying to end our democracy. Are you for country or are you for the self proclaimed king?

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Vouchers Will Cost Iowa Taxpayers $1 Billion

Posted on January 31, 2025 by Trish Nelson

From our inbox. Sign up for your state representative’s newsletter to follow the Iowa legislature. Links below to contact your legislators and make a public comment on new science standards being proposed to weaken climate change curriculum in schools.

Vouchers Will Cost Iowa Taxpayers $1 Billion

Under the governor’s voucher program, Iowans can expect to pay over $1 billion to private schools within four years.

New numbers released in Governor Kim Reynolds’ budget show that private school vouchers are among the fastest-growing parts of the state budget. Next year, vouchers will receive a 44% increase in tax dollars, compared to the 2% increase in Reynolds’ plans for public schools.

The increase next year is so dramatic because every family, regardless of income, will be eligible for almost $8,000 annually to send their children to private school.

This is just another example of Iowans’ hard-earned dollars going to yet another break for those at the top and certainly another reason so many Iowans are frustrated with politics these days.

Iowa House Democrats firmly believe that public money is for public schools. With most Iowans opposed to vouchers, now is the time to contact your lawmakers and ask them to support strong public schools, not vouchers.

Capitol and Community Updates

IOWA REPUBLICANS PLAN TO REMOVE GENDER IDENTITY FROM CIVIL RIGHTS ACT: Statehouse Republicans are planning to remove gender identity from Iowa’s Civil Rights Act this session. This will allow discrimination against transgender Iowans in the workplace, finding housing, getting credit, or getting services. All hardworking people—including those who are transgender—should be treated fairly and equally by the laws of our state and should have the opportunity to earn a living and provide for themselves and their families.

IOWA DEPT. OF EDUCATION TO WEAKEN CLIMATE CHANGE AND EVOLUTION SCIENCE CURRICULUM: New science standards in schools are being proposed by the Iowa Department of Public Education that weaken instruction on climate change and evolution. The public is encouraged to submit comments until Feb. 3rd.

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Greg Palast: If Not For Vote Suppression

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Trish Nelson

Watch this Thom Hartmann program where Greg Palast discusses the data and what you can do to help. If you prefer to read about it, go to  www.gregpalast.com/trump-lost-vote-suppression-won/ 

Bio:

Greg Palast is known for his investigative reports for The Guardian, BBC Television, Rolling Stone and his string of New York Times bestsellers including The Best Democracy Money Can Buy and Billionaires & Ballot Bandits. His latest film is Vigilantes INC.: America’s New Vote Suppression Hitmen.  Palast has been seen on over 2000 media appearances. Pacifica Radio Network broadcasts his weekly Election Crimes Bulletin.

“If not for vote suppression tactics….a fancy word for shafting people of color and young people out of their vote, Kamala Harris would have won 3,565,000 votes – that’s the number of voters that were denied the right to vote because they were purged, or they were challenged, or they had their provisional ballot thrown out.” – Greg Palast

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Caroline Kennedy Reads Her Letter To Senators Denouncing Cousin RFK, Jr.

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Trish Nelson

Robert Reich also weighs in on the nomination in his Substack article, “The Man no Rational Person Would Put in Charge of the Public’s Health.”

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Support Your Local Democrat

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Trish Nelson

Iowa House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst was the guest on Iowa Press this past weekend.

Iowa needs a strong Democratic party and that means citizens need to do our part.  You can donate or sign up to get involved or sign up for the Blue Statehouse Alert  and the Iowa House People over Politics newsletters to keep up with what’s happening in the Iowa legislature and how you can take action.

By liking and sharing this YouTube video on your social media networks you can help our Democratic leaders reach more Iowans.

“We must all be information warriors now.” – Simon Rosenberg 

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On Tyranny Lesson 10: Believe In Truth

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Trish Nelson

From the On Tyranny series by Timothy Snyder, lesson #10 of twenty. Check here for a lesson every Monday or you can find them on YouTube.  They are all short videos, no ads.

“To abandon facts is to abandon freedom.

If nothing is true then no one can criticize power because there is no basis upon which to do so.

If nothing is true then all is spectacle.

The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights.

The problem of truth and spectacle was one of the arguments that Greek philosophers made about democracy – that this was what would always happen – wealth would be unequal. That people with lots of wealth would create spectacle. They would make voting meaningless.

..once nothing is true the political power becomes entertainment power. The ability to entertain then becomes political power. If nothing is true then whoever draws our attention is the one who has power and if nothing is true we don’t really have a way to resist because most of us don’t really have a way to create counter spectacles.”

– Timothy Snyder

From there he goes on to discuss the big lie, Russia, Hitler, why history matters, the origins and meaning of free speech, internet memes,  and more.  All in about 13 minutes. He ties it all together to make the case that in order for us to ward off tyranny,  we cannot give up on truth.

This week’s lesson will blow your mind. Please watch and share.

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A New Kid On The Block

Posted on January 26, 2025 by Dave Bradley

Jen Rubin and Heather Cox Richardson in conversation (19 minutes)

The above video comes from a brand new group of fairly well known writers and commentators

Welcome to the Contrarian

Join our new pro-democracy media outlet!

Norman Eisen Jan 21

Democracy faces an unprecedented threat from an authoritarian movement built on lies and contempt for the rule of law. The first and most critical defense of democracy—a robust, independent free press—has been missing in action. Corporate and billionaire media owners have shied away from confrontation, engaged in false equivalence, and sought to curry favor with Donald Trump. It is hardly surprising that readers and viewers are fleeing from these outlets. Americans need an alternative.

The Contrarian is that alternative: unflinching, unapologetic, and unwavering in its commitment to truth-telling. The Contrarian contributors may not agree on all issues (and, in fact, enjoy lively debate), but we share an unequivocal determination to defend our fundamental freedoms and the values essential to a pluralistic democracy.

However, we cannot do this alone! We need all of you to join us, to form a community of democracy defenders, not simply to read and listen to what we put out but to join the conversation, contribute ideas, share experiences, help source exciting new voices, and break through the bubble that insulates so much of established politics and media.

We will platform some of the brightest minds and keenest experts—legal scholars, historians, civil rights leaders, political activists, creatives, policymakers, and journalists—to deliver the unvarnished truth, make sense of the chaos, and help formulate a response to defeat the noxious threat we face today. And we will lift up voices that speak to wider audiences, ones not served by corporate media pablum.

Join us! We are so excited to embark on this journey with all of you. 

########################### 

As you may have heard, former Washington Post writer Jen Rubin has joined with Norm Eisen to start up a new substack presence that as you can see above that sets some high goals in an era that we expect to see some form of censorship or intimidation from the current administration.

Standing up to a government that tolerates little criticism is not going to be an easy task. It will take men and women of fortitude and courage. We will need multitudes of outlets to stem the constant barrage of lies, disinformation, misinformation and simply bad policy that we expect to spew from the administration.

Were it only the administration that was the fount of disinformation that would be a formidable battle. But on much of the corporatized media has lined up with them as have the extremely wealthy, corporations of all types and politicians more than willing to sell their souls in order to curry the favor of Trump.

In the last category we have the Iowa delegation to congress who have been totally humiliated by the administration in a show of power and subordination. What the administration has done to Joni Ernst in making her grovel in the service of securing her vote for Pete Hegseth should make every Iowan determined to kick her to the curb and fast.

Watching MAGA politicians including Grandpa Chuck pretending that Stinky Pants pardoning of criminals who attacked this country on January 6th, 2021 is not a big deal should make any America want to puke.

So we wish the folks at the Contrarian well. They are needed in the battle for America’s soul.

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Posted on January 26, 2025 by Dave Bradley

Sunday Funday: Kidnapping After School Edition

Can ICE agents nab undocumented students at school? I can’t imagine anything more horrible and I can also easily imagine such kidnappings at school to happen under Trump. Expect ICE agents to act before checking. It is what they and Trump government agencies do. (5 minutes):

Is Pete Hegseth a DEI hire? Drunken, Encorruptible (I made up a word to fit the context)  and Ignorant. I say get rid of him. Too bad our senators voted for someone so unqualified, but they are only worried about pleasing Trump. Remember Joni for that in November 2026.

Ay yi yi! Ah corumba! Eggs up 37% this week? I thought old stinky pants said he would make grocery prices go DOWN?

A) A hint that much would go wrong this administration happened Monday when what happened at the swearing in ceremony? (Hint: bible)

B) In one of his first acts the new president pardoned what group of people?

C) President-adjacent Elon Musk speaking before a celebratory crowd at Capitol One arena gave the crowd what kind of a salute?

D) Friday, what part of the world was rocked with what could be called a ‘winter hurricane’?

E) “Front Row Seats.” What athlete, announcer and actor associated with that line died last week?

F) “Front Row Seats” What group of people were put in the front row at the inauguration Monday?

G) Speaking of weather, what part of the US came to a standstill with a midweek major winter storm?

H) Disaster relief is being used as leverage to extract changes in government in what state by MAGA politicians?

I) A bill titled “Contraception Begins at Erection Act.” that appears to outlaw male masturbation has been introduced in what state legislature?

J) A new J6 House committee aimed at bashing the first J5 committee may avoid calling what star witness from the original committee?

K) With his third change on the issue, Trump declared that Tik-Toc would be allowed to run or would be shutdown?

L) Grifting to the MAX! Who issued meme coins last week that could easily be used to pass bribes to the owners?

M) According to executive order from earlier this week, the government now recognizes how many genders?

N) Who is Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde?

O) What major US retailer workers union voted to strike starting February 1st if issues are not resolved?

P) DEI, baby! What Commandant of the US Coast Guard was relieved of her command because she was gay?

Q) Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson engaged in what quiet protest at the inauguration Monday?

R) Harvest has essentially halted in what state as farm workers react to new immigration policies?

S) Right wingers celebrated as the media reported the death of what former Planned Parenthood leader?

T) Nominee Pete Hegseth was once again accused of drunkeness and wife beating this time by what relative Tuesday?

We’re going to find out in a few months that Musk used Starlink to hack the “vote-counting” computers, aren’t we? – Molly Ploofkins

Answers:

A) Trump dangled his left hand rather than placing it on the bible

B) All J6 participants no matter their crime. Many vowed revenge

C) two Nazi salutes

D) Ireland and Scotland

E) Bob Ueker – sorry I am a week late on this one

F) Morbidly rich billionaires and mega-donors Musk, Bezos and Zuckerberg 

G) Deep South states along the Gulf of America(?)

H) California

I) Mississippi – all juice must be slated for reproduction

J) Cassidy Hutchinson. After her first appearance, many MAGA legislators solicited sex from her by text that they are deathly afraid those texts would come to light

K) be allowed to run (until he gets a bribe from them is my guess)

L) Donold (Stinky pants) Trump and his wife Melania 

M) 2 – is yours one of them?

N) The Episcopal bishop of DC whose sermon this week really stung Trump

O) Costco

P) Admiral Linda Lee Fagan

Q) Wearing cowrie shell earrings. Historians speculate that cowrie shells were viewed as a talisman to resist enslavement. Africans used them as charms for protection.

R) California. Immigrant workers are simply not showing up for work in the middle of the harvest season. The results will be seen at your groceries.

S) Cecile Richards who died of brain cancer this week.

T) His sister-in-law. This is a man who could easily be blackmailed by an enemy.

 Right wing authoritarians want to deport a bishop for quoting Jesus.

And if you think that’s bad, you should see what the right wing authoritarians did to Jesus. – John Fugelsang

In case you missed it:

 

 

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