The first time I met Amy Sherald, our connection was instant. From the way she carried herself to the art she created, I knew she was the artist to paint my portrait. Tonight, we're chatting with Thelma Golden about the #ObamaPortraitsTour at @artinstitutechi. Join us at 6pm ET!
Adam Serwer:
“A few years ago I wrote an essay titled “The Cruelty Is The Point”
on Trump’s approach to politics and policy. On Tuesday, my book sharing that title is being published. Today in the @nytimes, I explain why Trumpist politics didn’t end with his defeat.”
“Opinion: The Cruel Logic of the Republican Party, Before and After Trump”
Adam Serwer (Atlantic), author of the forthcoming “The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump’s America.” (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/26/opinion/trump-republican-party.html)
—WOW.
(excerpt)
“As long as Republicans are able to maintain a system in which they can rely on the politics of white identity, as the Democratic Party once did, their politics will revolve around cruelty, rooted in attempts to legislate their opponents out of existence or to use the state to crush communities associated with them. Americans will always have strong disagreements about matters such as the role of the state, the correct approach to immigration and the place of religion in public life. But the only way to diminish the politics of cruelty is to make it less rewarding.” (Serwer)
“Obama: Trump broke ‘core tenet’ of democracy with ‘bunch of hooey’ over election”
(Ex-president calls for action to stop ‘delegitimizing of democracy’ during redistricting fundraiser”
No generic portraits for the Obamas. They chose artists who could convey their uniqueness and historic role: Amy Sherald and Kehinde Wiley. So glad I got to see the in the National Portrait Gallery pre Covid.
Me too Judith. They are fantastic up close. I found President Obama’s mesmerizing. I was surprised that First Lady Michelle Obama’s looked so much smaller, relatively. But they’re both beautiful. I stayed a long, long time looking at them and even went back a couple of times to look at them again and again. It was my favorite part of that day in D.C. (Oct 2019).
I am absolutely stunned that this guy is getting out and I’m equally stunned that Phylicia Rashad chose to go out like this. Justice is justice is justice, no matter if you were once considered a hero.
Bill Cosby was the only one who went to prison, Kavanaugh became a Justice on the Supreme Court…Donald Trump became President….because as far as the Justice System is concerned..it is “Jus Us”
Sadly, Bill Cosby and OJ Simpson “forgot” that they were and are Black men. That Casting Couch and Starlets have been around since the beginning of Hollywood.
JUST IN: House votes to establish a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack at the US Capitol, the only step needed to formalize the panel's creation.
Rep. Kinzinger and Rep. Cheney were the only Republicans to vote in favor of the committee.https://t.co/kZAFbALYIh
He’d be stupid to think Trump will save him since all the other crooks got off Scott free. However Trump is no longer President. Maybe if a Trump judge will save him or NY will elect a Rethug Gov who will give them a pardon.
Just type Black Twitter into twitter’s search engine and things concerning Black people will pop up and you can choose what you want to follow. You’re probably already following a bunch of people that are on BT.
The closely-watched New York City mayoral primary election tumbled into chaos this week as the NYC Board of Elections announced it had released incorrect preliminary results on Tuesday.
City officials admitted they failed to remove 135,000 test ballots from the election management system before starting to count the real votes from Election Day and early voting, skewing the results.
“The Board apologizes for the error and has taken immediate measures to ensure the most accurate up to date results are reported,” the agency tweeted.
The error is complicated by the fact that New York City is using ranked-choice voting, in which each round of vote counting hinges on the results from the previous round.
Some of the top candidates vying to lead the country’s largest city blasted the board’s mistake as they — and about 8.5 million other New Yorkers — awaited the results of a revised tally expected to be released on Wednesday.
We asked people from around the world to compare their health care system with the American system. “Skin to skin after a C-section is $39,” says a woman in Japan, reading from a U.S. medical bill. “You need to pay money to hold a baby?” https://t.co/F7ok22NsHNpic.twitter.com/z30LpI3dqV
There is information out here, we must find it and share it as quickly as we can.. Gaia is pretty much done with us, She will rid Herself of the blight we have become 🕊🕯🙏🏼💙🙏🏼🕯🕊
India’s top filmmakers have protested against proposed rules that they say will give the government sweeping censorship powers.
The changes, if passed, allow the government to “re-examine” a film already cleared by the censor board.
Filmmakers say the proposals are an attack on their freedom of expression.
Films cannot be publicly exhibited in India unless they have been certified by the board, which is based in Mumbai and has regional offices.
/
Filmmakers fear that the new rules proposed by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government will make the process even more stifling.
Known as the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021, the proposed new rules will give the federal government certain “revisionary powers”.
This means the government can revoke the certification of a film – based on viewer complaints – even if the censor board sees no problem with its content.
The larger message of the Supreme Court ruling was that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 retains only limited power to combat voting restrictions said to disproportionately affect minority voters’ access to the polls. https://t.co/1MNGcHes5Apic.twitter.com/LcqyrXN1j3
JUST IN: Divided Supreme Court upholds two Arizona voting restrictions, rejecting claims that they discriminate against racial minorities in a ruling that puts new limits on the reach of the Voting Rights Act.https://t.co/GWcHGOtnDX
SCOTUS upholds laws that target the votes of black and other folks of color…WHO DID NOT SEE THIS COMING?…The 14th, 15th, & 16 Amendments, the 1965 VRA were not enough to guarantee the voting rights of the sons and daughters of former enslaved people. What do we do NOW
— Pretty Foot💃🏾 wears a mask😷 (@PrettyFootWoman) July 1, 2021
ExxonMobil lobbyist ‘deeply embarrassed’ after he accidentally reveals 11 senators
he says he relies on to push Big Oil’s agenda
“McCoy said he has 11 U.S. senators who are “crucial” in ExxonMobil’s efforts.”
Senator Joe Manchin,
Senator Shelley Moore Capito,
Senator Kyrsten Sinema,
Senator Jon Tester,
Senator Maggie Hassan,
Senator John Barrasso,
Senator John Cornyn,
Senator Steve Daines,
Senator Chris Coons,
Senator Mark Kelly and
Senator Marco Rubio.
-were all cited.
“He went on to explain that the last thing they want is to appear in a public hearing before Congress where the American people can see.”
The video, especially the YouTube video by NPR states that Mark Kelly was one of the Senators office who are contacted frequently, Mark himself has NOT received any money.
Please watch the video. It is disturbing how easily Manchin especially can be manipulated.
Make them take gun ownership insurance, gun shooting liability insurance, gun storage proof insurance, for every one in their households. And, when the gun is stolen and used by somebody else, the insurance company is still liable for medical coverage, compensation reimbursement, early disability payments connected to the damages, and large settlements in case of death. Finally, make gun owners pay a 9% local, 18% state, 36% federal tax on all things gun (accessories, ammunition, etc.)!
Asked my daughter what she wanted for lunch and she said “tacos” so we found a taco truck but she couldn’t decide what to order because “all they have is tacos” so the answer is 9, that is the age ladies become impossible to please.
This is Muffin. She hopes there’s still a spot on the Olympic team for her. Very confident this video is all they need to see. 14/10 pic.twitter.com/2uOyrUwJIx
Just remembered that the EMTs who last treated my mom said that they’d stopped asking who the president was in 2017 because most people either got angry or simply refused to answer.
If Mitch McConnell can steal 2 Supreme Court seats with 51 votes to take away voting rights, Democrats can pass legislation with 51 votes to protect voting rights
How does Trump find so many people willing to go to jail for him? Like, I'm willing to go to jail for precisely one person and I married her so that wouldn't be an issue.
He is not going to prison. He is going to run again. He is going to have no GOP opposition. He is going to be the GOP presidential candidate in 2024. We have to prepare by securing voting rights, winning in 2022, and then again in 2024. We have to save ourselves. Let's do that.
We all know about this ‘phenomenon’, this explains it well for those who didn’t grow up with it.. especially cars, the worst example.. now it’s everything
I am disappointed in the lack of bravery in the men in that region to become solders to defend their country from the bad guys. US forces can only do so much, the rest is up to them. We are not the World Police.
Sorry. Afghans are natural fierce warriors. They drove out two superpowers twice with no high funda weapons. One can’t question their bravery. Their religious extremism is a different story.
Whatever the excuse, it’s time we came home and left them to their own. We are NOT the World police, if the people won’t do their part in controlling the situation, then…
Afghans didn’t put out the red carpet to defend them to start with. They have lived for centuries with their conflicts and will continue to live with them after the americans leave.
Undercover video:
Reveals how Exxon lobbyists undermine Climate legislation with the help of 11 crucial United States senators.
Chris Hayes:
“When you look at Canada literally burning, people dying, and the climate investments being cut out of the bipartisan deal. A big part of the reason for all of this,
a huge part is the tireless work over decades of fossil fuel companies like Exxon Mobil
to pollute the planet while making billions of dollars,
and making sure no one can stop them.
And one of the chief ways they do that is through lobbyists.
They hire professionals in suits who lend their talents to an enterprise that has gotten and will get many, many, many people killed.
That’s what it’s doing.
Now we have rare video of what that looks like when they think no one’s listening.
In a sting setup by Greenpeace U.K.,
members pose as recruitment consultants looking to hire a Washington lobbyist for a major client.
Then they set up a Zoom call with senior Exxon lobbyists Keith McCoy.
Britain’s Channel Four news recreated that call with the original footage.”
Here’s just part of their report.”
KEITH McCOY, SENIOR LOBBYIST FOR EXXON:
“We’re playing defense because President Biden is talking about this big infrastructure package,
and he’s going to pay for it by increasing corporate taxes.”
Unidentified male: “Who’s the crucial guys for you?”
KEITH McCOY:
“Well, Senator Capito who’s the ranking member of Environment and Public Works.
Joe Manchin – I talk to his office every week,
and he is the Kingmaker on this
because he’s a Democrat
from West Virginia,
which is very a conservative state.
And he’s not shy about sort of staking his claim early and completely changing the debate.
So, on the Democrat side, we look for the moderates on these issues.
So it’s the Manchins,
It’s the Sinemas,
It’s the Testers.”
The Supreme Court declined to take up the case of a florist who refused to provide services for a same-sex wedding, leaving in place a decision that she broke state anti-discrimination laws.https://t.co/2JI7EDNW6z
NEW: The U.S. economy added 850,000 jobs in June, far surpassing analysts’ estimates of 700,000. More jobs were added this month alone than the net total of Trump’s entire term.
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) July 2, 2021
When women are engaged fully in building and maintaining peace and security in their countries, we see more sustainable and more equitable outcomes, less conflict, and longer-lasting peace agreements. I’m very proud to see the release of this report. https://t.co/18hjr6Dr4e
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) July 2, 2021
Podcast: Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
-imo one of the most fun and informative pod interviews of PBO, who loves to laugh.
-Have been thinking especially lately how much he has given the world and the price he has paid.
Following which,
this one realized that my 2nd child in particular has been under no pressure to conform or get approval.
He was unschooled = followed (their) own pathways supported by me. The year of Covid isolation in a tiny shared apartment on the west coast without a lot of cash only spurred them to new endeavors, new ways to reach out…the universe is ourself. They get it.
This happened to how many young people around the country and elsewhere?
In the midst of Covid and creative solutions to work and play, staying happy, many like my offspring,
did their last year of University.
As someone who has written for decades about corporate crime, I was reading the Trump O/Weisselberg indictment going, "Yah, ok..hmm..yah..ok..Wait..HOLY SHIT!" The Trump Org is in deep, deep trouble. And not because of the criminal charges. Because of its bank loan covenants…/1
The Obama Diary 
Thank you for everything NW, so much.
I second that! Thank you Nerdy!
Third it. Thanks, Nerdy. ❤️🥰💞🎊💙🔥
Thank you, Nerdy!
I also thank you Nerdy for all that you do for us here at the Obama Diary. I hope you have a wonderful summer.
Adam Serwer:
“A few years ago I wrote an essay titled “The Cruelty Is The Point”
on Trump’s approach to politics and policy. On Tuesday, my book sharing that title is being published. Today in the @nytimes, I explain why Trumpist politics didn’t end with his defeat.”
“Opinion: The Cruel Logic of the Republican Party, Before and After Trump”
Adam Serwer (Atlantic), author of the forthcoming “The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump’s America.” (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/26/opinion/trump-republican-party.html)
—WOW.
(excerpt)
“As long as Republicans are able to maintain a system in which they can rely on the politics of white identity, as the Democratic Party once did, their politics will revolve around cruelty, rooted in attempts to legislate their opponents out of existence or to use the state to crush communities associated with them. Americans will always have strong disagreements about matters such as the role of the state, the correct approach to immigration and the place of religion in public life. But the only way to diminish the politics of cruelty is to make it less rewarding.” (Serwer)
I heard a little of Joy Reid’s interview with him yesterday.
“Obama says rise of misinformation ‘worries me’ and should worry everyone”
(https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/29/politics/obama-misinformation-comments-ala/index.html)
“Obama: Trump broke ‘core tenet’ of democracy with ‘bunch of hooey’ over election”
(Ex-president calls for action to stop ‘delegitimizing of democracy’ during redistricting fundraiser”
(https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/28/barack-obama-donald-trump-democracy-election-hooey)
The hills
Release the summer clouds
One by one by one
(John Wills)
Friends must sign off for the next while, pls take care of theesen’.
–many thanks.
Come back as soon as you can; I’ll miss you! Self-care…
No generic portraits for the Obamas. They chose artists who could convey their uniqueness and historic role: Amy Sherald and Kehinde Wiley. So glad I got to see the in the National Portrait Gallery pre Covid.
Me too Judith. They are fantastic up close. I found President Obama’s mesmerizing. I was surprised that First Lady Michelle Obama’s looked so much smaller, relatively. But they’re both beautiful. I stayed a long, long time looking at them and even went back a couple of times to look at them again and again. It was my favorite part of that day in D.C. (Oct 2019).
Bill Cosby. Phylicia Rashad. Oy! I’m just sick. Ugh!
I am absolutely stunned that this guy is getting out and I’m equally stunned that Phylicia Rashad chose to go out like this. Justice is justice is justice, no matter if you were once considered a hero.
Bill Cosby was the only one who went to prison, Kavanaugh became a Justice on the Supreme Court…Donald Trump became President….because as far as the Justice System is concerned..it is “Jus Us”
Sheila, I feel you 100%!
Sadly, Bill Cosby and OJ Simpson “forgot” that they were and are Black men. That Casting Couch and Starlets have been around since the beginning of Hollywood.
As the late Paul Mooney would say, Cosby and Simpson got their “you know what” wakeup call.
The District Attorney that gave Cosby that sweet deal was Trumps Insurrection Impeachment Attorney.
Old Rummy!
More than that, I think and about 5000 soldier died thousands injured for life.
House votes on Jan 6 Select Committee
Smart move, investigate this thing from now until the end of time, or until the next election cycle, whichever comes first.
I’m pretty sure nobody had Bill Cosby getting out of jail the same year that Donald Trump might go to jail on their 2021 Bingo Card.
I see Trump’s guy is about to be indicted, I wonder if he’s going to flip or is he going to carry the weight of twenty plus years?
He’d be stupid to think Trump will save him since all the other crooks got off Scott free. However Trump is no longer President. Maybe if a Trump judge will save him or NY will elect a Rethug Gov who will give them a pardon.
Rumsfeld has overtaken Cosby as the Headlines News on Google News. HA!
Not on Black Twitter, BT is all over the place on Cosby.
I don’t know how to get on BT. Please assist. Thx!
Just type Black Twitter into twitter’s search engine and things concerning Black people will pop up and you can choose what you want to follow. You’re probably already following a bunch of people that are on BT.
Great, thx Don!
Here we go…
The closely-watched New York City mayoral primary election tumbled into chaos this week as the NYC Board of Elections announced it had released incorrect preliminary results on Tuesday.
City officials admitted they failed to remove 135,000 test ballots from the election management system before starting to count the real votes from Election Day and early voting, skewing the results.
“The Board apologizes for the error and has taken immediate measures to ensure the most accurate up to date results are reported,” the agency tweeted.
The error is complicated by the fact that New York City is using ranked-choice voting, in which each round of vote counting hinges on the results from the previous round.
Some of the top candidates vying to lead the country’s largest city blasted the board’s mistake as they — and about 8.5 million other New Yorkers — awaited the results of a revised tally expected to be released on Wednesday.
https://www.npr.org/2021/06/30/1011747612/the-human-error-thats-snarling-the-new-york-city-mayors-race
Buckle up folks, but not you Andrew Yang, you can go and f**k yourself.
I see the NCAA is about to let student athletes make money off of their name, image, and likeness. What a time to have a jump shot.
Japan’s and Germanys healthcare system was setup by America after we won the war. They lost the war, they got free healthcare. Who really won?
PERFECT!!!
good riddance. rot in hell, you scummy rummy pos.
There is information out here, we must find it and share it as quickly as we can.. Gaia is pretty much done with us, She will rid Herself of the blight we have become 🕊🕯🙏🏼💙🙏🏼🕯🕊
minions hauled up over fringe benefits ‘taxes’, while the corruptest thug ‘may’ be charged later. what a cruel joke from a corrupt system.
and no, ‘better things’ are not coming.
India’s top filmmakers have protested against proposed rules that they say will give the government sweeping censorship powers.
The changes, if passed, allow the government to “re-examine” a film already cleared by the censor board.
Filmmakers say the proposals are an attack on their freedom of expression.
Films cannot be publicly exhibited in India unless they have been certified by the board, which is based in Mumbai and has regional offices.
/
Filmmakers fear that the new rules proposed by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government will make the process even more stifling.
Known as the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021, the proposed new rules will give the federal government certain “revisionary powers”.
This means the government can revoke the certification of a film – based on viewer complaints – even if the censor board sees no problem with its content.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57676214
Guessing taking smiling selfies with a rw thug ain’t cutting it any more.
India is a democracy. This is sad to see.
rw thugs in SC – let there be apartheid amurkkka
Obamas and Hillary warned and warned. Voter apathy = Voters’ hell.
I’m both livid and sad…and afraid.
SCOTUS continues to diminish the power of the VRA…..This is their mission…meanwhile the Senate continues to to falter….
Same. You summed it all up in 7 words. 😦
Same.
Look how considerate and kind Harry is and how distant appearing William is. Such a stark difference.
🕊💕🕊
I noticed that too Gail. Willliam has a hard time even looking at Harry.
Lovely statue. I really loved Princess Di and was devastated when she died. Way too young.
Me too, pkayden, she was a shining Light, she deserved better.. 🕯🕊🕯
ExxonMobil lobbyist ‘deeply embarrassed’ after he accidentally reveals 11 senators
he says he relies on to push Big Oil’s agenda
“McCoy said he has 11 U.S. senators who are “crucial” in ExxonMobil’s efforts.”
Senator Joe Manchin,
Senator Shelley Moore Capito,
Senator Kyrsten Sinema,
Senator Jon Tester,
Senator Maggie Hassan,
Senator John Barrasso,
Senator John Cornyn,
Senator Steve Daines,
Senator Chris Coons,
Senator Mark Kelly and
Senator Marco Rubio.
-were all cited.
“He went on to explain that the last thing they want is to appear in a public hearing before Congress where the American people can see.”
(https://www.rawstory.com/exxonmobil-controls-11-senators/)
–i love too much not to put this up.
Mark Kelly? I think…I hope he is not one.
The video, especially the YouTube video by NPR states that Mark Kelly was one of the Senators office who are contacted frequently, Mark himself has NOT received any money.
Please watch the video. It is disturbing how easily Manchin especially can be manipulated.
*Skip the Loki Ad* 🤣😎
This 👆
YES!
SOON…
Also: https://abcnews.go.com/live/video/special-live-3
Hi, residents, hope you are all well.
Me, I’m simply fiddling around on my laptop, seeing what I’ve lost in my failed attempt to ‘clean up’.
Oh, this one worked. O-kay.
poor laptop. #abuse
YEA! You did it. I knew you would. 😎👍🏾😘🙋🏾♀️
Where’s Bobfr???!!!!
https://www.thedailybeast.com/san-jose-will-force-gun-owners-to-cover-costs-of-gun-violence-after-mass-shooting
Where’s Bobfr???!!!!
https://www.thedailybeast.com/san-jose-will-force-gun-owners-to-cover-costs-of-gun-violence-after-mass-shooting
The most creative regulation.
Make them take gun ownership insurance, gun shooting liability insurance, gun storage proof insurance, for every one in their households. And, when the gun is stolen and used by somebody else, the insurance company is still liable for medical coverage, compensation reimbursement, early disability payments connected to the damages, and large settlements in case of death. Finally, make gun owners pay a 9% local, 18% state, 36% federal tax on all things gun (accessories, ammunition, etc.)!
THIS, THIS right here, nclb.
So, he wrote this?! Thought his name was Bob. ????
This is great! 😁🌞🚙
Spoiler alert for our westcoast TOD Fam. Totally fun. I’m loving Joy’s new do! As in Joy Reid! You go lady! 💞💃
She looks gorgeous!
been there. done that. dresses. four floors. foot pain.
give her the gold already.
Awwww, too cute!
Cute!!
yes, they can. no, they won’t. #excuses.
hear, hear. (yes, pun)
Definitely.
#racism trumps (ugh) all.
yup. all these.
We all know about this ‘phenomenon’, this explains it well for those who didn’t grow up with it.. especially cars, the worst example.. now it’s everything
Nite nite… sheesh
🕊🕯💞🕯🕊
Yet another ‘institution’ shown to have feet of clay.
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has reached a $850m (£617m) settlement with some 60,000 people over claims of historic sexual abuse.
Lawyers say it will be the largest sexual abuse settlement in US history.
In terms of reported numbers, it dwarves similar complaints made against the Catholic Church in the country.
The BSA has apologised to victims and filed for bankruptcy last year, saying it would set up a compensation trust for victims of sexual abuse.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57692428
Bagram: Last US and Nato forces leave key Afghanistan base.
The last US and Nato forces have left Afghanistan’s Bagram airbase, the centre of the war against militants for some 20 years.
The pull-out could signal that the complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan is imminent.
President Joe Biden has said US forces will be gone by 11 September.
But the withdrawal from the sprawling base, north of Kabul, comes as the main jihadist group, the Taliban, advances in many parts of Afghanistan.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57692303
Yet another failed massive military misadventure from west.
So all those years of American intervention and the Taliban is still in charge. What a waste of time, resources and lives. Sigh.
I am disappointed in the lack of bravery in the men in that region to become solders to defend their country from the bad guys. US forces can only do so much, the rest is up to them. We are not the World Police.
Sorry. Afghans are natural fierce warriors. They drove out two superpowers twice with no high funda weapons. One can’t question their bravery. Their religious extremism is a different story.
Whatever the excuse, it’s time we came home and left them to their own. We are NOT the World police, if the people won’t do their part in controlling the situation, then…
The world police is a self inflicted wound. Oil interests is the sole reason of US – ME conflicts, with many bad side effects.
My comments are regarding the fact that the Afghans don’t defend their land and that it’s time our Solders come home. Period.
Afghans didn’t put out the red carpet to defend them to start with. They have lived for centuries with their conflicts and will continue to live with them after the americans leave.
Then God bless.
Goooood Morning! ☺️
🙋🏾♀️😘 Good morning sis Dudette!
Hey Daahlin’! 🙋🏾♀️👋🏾
Soon – President Biden delivers remarks on June jobs report:
https://abcnews.go.com/live/video/special-live-3
Good West Coast morning Nerdy & TOD family.
Happy Fri-yay!!!
kudos to him for bucking the magat cult trend.
Eight months, huh, hell you can get a Ph.D. in Physics from Stanford in eight months.
U.S. economy added 850,000 jobs in June as labor market showed renewed strength. 850,000 jobs by POTUS Biden!!!
More companies are bringing workers back to the office and the economy has picked up momentum heading into the second half of the year.
Happy Friday!
Undercover video:
Reveals how Exxon lobbyists undermine Climate legislation with the help of 11 crucial United States senators.
Chris Hayes:
“When you look at Canada literally burning, people dying, and the climate investments being cut out of the bipartisan deal. A big part of the reason for all of this,
a huge part is the tireless work over decades of fossil fuel companies like Exxon Mobil
to pollute the planet while making billions of dollars,
and making sure no one can stop them.
And one of the chief ways they do that is through lobbyists.
They hire professionals in suits who lend their talents to an enterprise that has gotten and will get many, many, many people killed.
That’s what it’s doing.
Now we have rare video of what that looks like when they think no one’s listening.
In a sting setup by Greenpeace U.K.,
members pose as recruitment consultants looking to hire a Washington lobbyist for a major client.
Then they set up a Zoom call with senior Exxon lobbyists Keith McCoy.
Britain’s Channel Four news recreated that call with the original footage.”
Here’s just part of their report.”
KEITH McCOY, SENIOR LOBBYIST FOR EXXON:
“We’re playing defense because President Biden is talking about this big infrastructure package,
and he’s going to pay for it by increasing corporate taxes.”
Unidentified male: “Who’s the crucial guys for you?”
KEITH McCOY:
“Well, Senator Capito who’s the ranking member of Environment and Public Works.
Joe Manchin – I talk to his office every week,
and he is the Kingmaker on this
because he’s a Democrat
from West Virginia,
which is very a conservative state.
And he’s not shy about sort of staking his claim early and completely changing the debate.
So, on the Democrat side, we look for the moderates on these issues.
So it’s the Manchins,
It’s the Sinemas,
It’s the Testers.”
“Exxon Lobbyist Caught On Video
Talking About Undermining Biden’s Climate Push”
Full: (https://www.npr.org/2021/07/01/1012138741/exxon-lobbyist-caught-on-video-talks-about-undermining-bid)
—for which ExxonMobil CEO has apologized = it happened, it’s a fact.
Happy Friday.
Stop BIg Oil, hold the Manchins to account.
–Love you sincerely and want the world’s children to live, not just survive.
Knowing that we have a little to no room for errors or mistakes, I blame her handlers and coaches for not emphasize this enough.
https://twitter.com/i/events/1410782235142156291?s=20
She takes full responsibility for her mistake. Hope they cut her some slack. Mom was dying and she need to cope the best way she knew how. 😭
Awesome!
President Obama was interviewed by Dax Shepard.
Podcast: Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
-imo one of the most fun and informative pod interviews of PBO, who loves to laugh.
-Have been thinking especially lately how much he has given the world and the price he has paid.
Following which,
this one realized that my 2nd child in particular has been under no pressure to conform or get approval.
He was unschooled = followed (their) own pathways supported by me. The year of Covid isolation in a tiny shared apartment on the west coast without a lot of cash only spurred them to new endeavors, new ways to reach out…the universe is ourself. They get it.
This happened to how many young people around the country and elsewhere?
In the midst of Covid and creative solutions to work and play, staying happy, many like my offspring,
did their last year of University.
Congrats.
Thread…
The Dodgers were at the White House today.
New post.