![]()
IN THE NEWS - “A sitting president asking for civil war. This week I feel guilty for helping him win” — Former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale
Days before the 2020 election, Steve Bannon said Trump is 'just gonna say he's a winner' – even if he loses, report based off leaked audio says- "What Trump's gonna do, is just declare victory. Right? He's gonna declare victory. But that doesn't mean he's a winner," Bannon said in the clip, laughing. "He's just gonna say he's a winner."- "That’s our strategy. He’s gonna declare himself a winner… After then, Trump never has to go to a voter again…. He’s gonna say ‘F*ck you.” -Business Insider
“The political scientists tell us that authoritarian parties have two essential features in common, in history and around the world. They do not accept the results of democratic elections when they lose, and they embrace political violence as legitimate... In the very first Federalist Paper, Alexander Hamilton observed that history teaches that opportunistic politicians who desire to rule at all costs will begin first as demagogues, pandering to the angry and malignant passions of the crowd, but then end up as tyrants, trampling the freedoms and the rights of the people...” From Rep. Jamie Raskin’s closing statement at Jan. 6 hearing
“The biggest thing to me is, take the blinders off. Make sure you step back and see what’s going on. Before it’s too late,” said Stephen Ayres, a Jan. 6 rioter and former President Donald Trump supporter who testified before the Jan. 6 Committee. Ayres said that he regretted listening to Trump and that going to the Capitol on Jan. 6 had derailed his life. He said he lost his job and had to sell his house as well. -NBC
“Trump in his four years couldn't finish a border wall, let alone get Mexico to pay for it. President Biden just got Mexico to agree to paying $1.5 BILLION to improve border processing and security through smart, proven border management solutions.” - Abdullah Hasan- WH assistant press secretary
BREAKING: Under Glenn Youngkin, Virginia LOSES its ranking as
@CNBC’s Top State for Business, a spot it had held since 2020.-Virgina Business
'Operation Higher Court’: Inside the religious right’s efforts to wine and dine Supreme Court justices-A former evangelical leader details his group’s extensive program to influence Justices Thomas, Alito and Scalia through meals and entertainment. - The former leader of a religious right organization said he recruited and coached wealthy volunteers including a prominent Dayton, Ohio, evangelical couple to wine, dine and entertain conservative Supreme Court justices while pushing conservative positions on abortion, homosexuality, gun restrictions and other issues... Politico
"A new analysis details how Supreme Court has 'hit rock bottom' -In the report—titled The Supreme Court’s Role in the Degradation of Democracy—researchers with the Campaign Legal Center detail how the Court, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, has issued rulings in a "consistently anti-democratic" pattern and by doing so reversed "decades of work by prior Courts that sought to perfect and protect our democracy." The report says the Framers empowered Congress with the ability to institute specific reforms over the court, "such as changing the number of Justices and setting term limits." raw story
“I have witnessed time and again—in myself and in others—a powerful impulse to believe what we hope to be the case. We don’t need to cut back on watering, because the drought is just part of a cycle that will reverse. With economic growth, the debt will take care of itself. January 6 was a false-flag operation. A classic example of denial comes from Donald Trump: “I won in a landslide.” Perhaps this is a branch of the same delusion that leads people to feed money into slot machines: Because I really want to win, I believe that I will win. Bolstering our natural inclination toward wishful thinking are the carefully constructed, prejudice-confirming arguments from the usual gang of sophists, grifters, and truth-deniers.” -Mitt Romney
Not an urban legend. A tragedy made worse by an unpopular Supreme Court ruling and horrid Ohio legislators like Jim Jordan who tweeted it was a lie and then deleted it when the rapist was arrested: "Ohio man charged with raping 10-year-old who later crossed state lines for abortion." -Reuters
"Pregnant Texas woman cited for driving alone in HOV lane, claims unborn child counts as second passenger -NBC reports Brandy Bottone will fight the ticket in court." -KSAT
"Two religious leaders — a Unitarian and a Buddhist — plan to join a South Florida rabbi's legal crusade challenging a new state law banning abortions after 15 weeks, arguing it violates the state Constitution's right to privacy and freedom of religion." NBC
"Buying into conspiracy theories can be exciting – that’s what makes them dangerous - So how does conspiracy theory feel? First of all, it lets you feel like you’re smarter than everyone. Political scientist Michael Barkun points out that conspiracy theory devotees love what he calls “stigmatized knowledge,” sources that are obscure or even looked down upon. In fact, the more obscure the source is, the more true believers want to trust it. This is the stock in trade of popular podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience” – “scientists” who present themselves as the lone voice in the wilderness and are somehow seen as more credible because they’ve been repudiated by their colleagues. Ninety-eight percent of scientists may agree on something, but the conspiracy mindset imagines the other 2% are really on to something. This allows conspiracists to see themselves as “critical thinkers” who have separated themselves from the pack, rather than outliers who have fallen for a snake oil pitch. -The Conversation
"Trump is personally cashing in from his supporters paying up to $4,000 to hear him speak on tour- Supporters pay anywhere from $55 for tickets to $4,000 for top-tier VIP packages on the tour. Proceeds from Trump's American Freedom Tour go directly to his own pockets... It's routine for former presidents to take to the paid speech circuit after leaving office, where they can profit handsomely and earn enviable fees from speaking to corporations and interest groups. But it's relatively unprecedented for ex-presidents to charge their supporters to see them speak at political rally-style events with similar material." -Business Insider
"The difference between Trump and Boris Johnson? Boris Johnson’s party didn’t enable him." - Lincoln Project"
