So much to look at today…
IR: Yesterday, Donald managed to tell off three countries (3!) in the same day.
- Mexico, he’s coming for your bad hombres!
- Iran, you’re on notice!
- Australia! Who could be mad at you?? Our new asshole.
CABINET/EDUCATION: Two Republican Senators, Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), publicly stated that they will not vote in support of Betsy DeVos. If all other Republicans fall in line, the Senate will tie 50/50, and Pence will be the tie-breaker.
Pennsylvanians have been flooding Pat Toomey’s office via phone and fax. They actually broke his phone lines, or something, his numbers are off. It will be interesting to see how he votes.
In order to push DeVos through, the Senate will be voting at 6:30 AM on Friday. Then, they’ll have the final vote on her Monday morning. I genuinely hope some Republicans surprise us with spines and begin the revolution. Please, McCain, be the man we always thought you were.
CABINET: Several other cabinet appointment things happened.
- Sessions moved to the main vote. But now they have to delay his and do DeVos first because they don’t think she can pass without Sessions’ vote.
- Tillerson, former CEO for Exxon, is now Secretary of State. We know he has sketchy business ties to Russia.
- Senate Democrats refused to attend the hearings for the Treasury Secretary and the Secretary of HHS nominees. So the Republicans suspended the rules and voted without them. THAT’S NOT SKETCHY AT ALL.
TERROR/RELIGION/WARNING: Trump’s administration wants to revampthe “Countering Violent Extremism” program, which studies and helps fight extremism of all kinds. Instead, he wants to reorient the focus to be “Countering Islamic Extremism”.
This is a slap in the face of the Muslim community in the US and abroad. This move would also effectively turn a blind eye to the actions of white supremacists, a move which such be unacceptable.
Also, this move puts all Americans in danger. White supremacists are far more dangerous for the average American than Islamic terror. More proof.
RACE RELATIONS: Donald opened Black History Month with a speech that made me throw up a little in my mouth. It’s rambling, incoherent at times, and painfully racist. I would feel bad for the paternal language used to refer to Ben Carson, but you chose to sit with evil, Ben, and this is what you get. Seriously. Watch the speech because, reading it, you can’t even believe it’s real.
SUPREME COURT: Gorsuch has been nominated. Honestly, I haven’t read enough yet to have an opinion. We’ll see.
SCIENCE: The March for Science will be on Earth Day, 4/22. The signs are gonna be great!
RELIGION: Trump wants to dramatically change the power religious organizations have in society through an executive order, a draft of which is currently circulating. It would allow any organization with any religious affiliation whatsoever to claim tax exempt status, to deny services or help to anyone they deem “irreligious”, and to become more involved in electoral politics.
EDUCATION/PROTEST: Students at UC Berkeley protested an upcoming speech by Breitbart Editor, Neo-Nazi, and misogynist Milo Yiannopoulos. Anarchists came into the protests and started a riot. In response, the talk was cancelled. Trump threatened to remove federal funding to the entire university for the actions of those outside the university. NOT EVEN A PART OF THE UNIVERSITY!
I’m trying to keep up, but this whole presidency is spiraling out of control quickly. Still working on my thoughts on Bannon. Until then, remain vigilant. Pray tonight that some Republicans grow spines and vote against DeVos.