“Idaho lawmakers have rejected a call to convene a convention of states amend the U.S. Constitution, with the aim of passing a balanced budget amendment and otherwise restricting federal power,” the Spokesman-Review reports.
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The United States of America is decadent and depraved
“We cannot blame everything on Donald Trump, much though we might want to,” writes James Traub. “In the decadent stage of the Roman Empire, or of Louis XVI’s France, or the dying days of the Habsburg Empire so brilliantly captured in Robert Musil’s The Man Without Qualities, decadence seeped downward from the rulers to the ruled. But in a democracy, the process operates reciprocally. A decadent elite licenses degraded behavior, and a debased public chooses its worst leaders. Then our Nero panders to our worst attributes — and we reward him for doing so.”
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“Trump, Trump, Trump!” How 45’s name became a racial jeer
The New York Times examines “a phenomenon distinct from the routine racism so familiar in this country: the provocative use of Trump, after the man whose comments about Mexicans, Muslims and undocumented immigrants — coupled with his muted responses to white nationalist activity — have proved so inflammatory.”
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“Not fit to clean toilets”: USA Today excoriates Donald Trump in breathtakingly scathing editorial
“Not fit to clean toilets”: USA Today excoriates Donald Trump in breathtakingly scathing editorial
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Upstairs at home, with the TV on, Trump fumes over Russia indictments
The walls are closing in… Everyone is freaking out. — A senior Republican in close contact with top Trump staffers who spoke to the Washington
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Republican lawmakers’ troubles deepen as Koch donors and Bannon take aim
We could face a bloodbath. I think that we have a potential of seeing a Watergate-level blowout. — Ted Cruz, telling donors at the Koch-aligned
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The Republican’s guide to presidential etiquette
A must-read from The New York Times: “In 2017, there’s a whole new bar for tolerable conduct by the commander in chief. Our original guide cataloged several dozen examples. Almost five months later, it’s clear that an update is necessary. This expanded list is meant to ensure that Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell and other congressional Republicans never forget what they now condone in a president.”
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What is hate speech?
Mass marketed hate speech is not “mere speech” by an individual. It is actually physical in nature because all ideas are physically constituted by neural
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Indiana voter: Pence would be no relief
“During his time as governor, Mr. Pence was the most divisive leader this state had ever seen. If he had not accepted Mr. Trump’s offer to be his running mate, he most likely would have lost a bid for a second term.”
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Trump associate boasted hat Moscow business deal ‘will get Donald elected’
I arranged for Ivanka to sit in Putins private chair at his desk and office in the Kremlin. I will get Putin on this program
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Trump gets rid of Stephen Bannon, a top proponent of his neofascist agenda
Via The Washington Post: “Trump on Friday dismissed his embattled chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, an architect of his 2016 general election victory, in a major White House shake-up that follows a week of racial unrest, according to multiple administration officials.”
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Outspin. Outlast. Presenting…. Survivor: White House
Who will be the next to get voted off the Island… er, West Wing?
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Reports of bias incidents in Oregon and southwest Washington since Donald Trump’s election | OregonLive.com
The Oregonian has published an accounting of all of the reports of hate crimes and bias incidents reported in Oregon and southwest Washington since Trump’s victory in 2016. The newspaper is partnering with ProPublica on the project.
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When it comes to John McCain, some journalists will never, ever learn
McCain talks a good game to reporters, at times providing them with juicy quotes criticizing his party’s excesses. But his voting record in recent years
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Why did Donald Trump turn on attorney general Jeff Sessions?
Analysis from The Guardian: Donald’s “public anger at one of his early supporters is rooted in Sessions’ recusal from the Russia investigation – to Trump, a personal betrayal.”
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President Trump is considering pardoning himself. I asked 15 experts if that’s legal.
All the experts agreed about one other fact: Even if Trump does pardon himself, that would not shield him from impeachment hearings. And most believe
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Donald Trump Jr. makes the Russian connection
If it’s what you say I love it, especially later in the summer. — Donald Trump, Jr., responding to Rob Goldstone, an ex-British tabloid writer,
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To comprehend Trump, read this
Bloomberg columnist: ‘What’s wrong with Donald Trump?’ Instead of ranting in response, as I’d been doing for months, I’m now offering up a reading list. Here it is.”
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Shades of Richard Nixon: Trump spokesperson says Trump is not a liar
When Richard Nixon said he wasn’t a crook, it caused people to think of him as a crook. And now Trump’s spokesperson is saying her boss is not a liar. It certainly brings to mind that memorable moment from the Watergate saga.
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James Comey lays out the case that Donald Trump obstructed justice
Trump made his wishes clear and fired Comey when his wishes weren’t respected… It doesn’t matter whether it was an order or not. What matters
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Donald Trump told visiting Russians that firing ‘nut job’ Comey eased pressure from investigation
Donald Trump told visiting Russians that firing ‘nut job’ Comey eased pressure from investigation (The New York Times).
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