I'm excited to announce that Philadelphia will be our next partner city for our Pass the Love campaign with @PHAnews! We’ll be distributing healthy meal kits to families soon, and with your support, we can reach even more families in need. Donate at https://t.co/s0WCBvE8HK. pic.twitter.com/vVEugZL1Io
I think it bears repeating that "I'd rather that 1 child die than 100 children have to wear a mask" is a REALLY weird position for the "EVERY SPERM IS SACRED" crowd to take.
— National Security Counselors (@NatlSecCnslrs) July 22, 2021
Speaker Pelosi on the select committee rejects: "The other two made statements and took actions that just make it ridiculous to put them on such a committee seeking the truth."
Speaker Pelosi on the Jan. 6 select committee rejects: "These people are going to act up, cause a problem. And people said, 'put them on and then when they act up, you can take them off.' I said, 'why should we waste time on something as predictable.'"
Rachel Maddow and ex-FBI agent
explain why delay the Tom Barrack indictment put U.S. security in danger
“Tuesday night Rachel Maddow connected the dots on the new indictment of Donald Trump’s ally
Tom Barrack for effectively being a foreign agent for the U.A.E.”
“…Wednesday night that the prosecutors in the case had all of the evidence necessary to charge Barrack last year, but were waylaid by the Attorney overseeing the investigation.”
The House has passed the Allies Act, aimed at expediting visas for Afghans who helped the U.S. military and are facing threats to their lives as the U.S. nears the end of its withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The bill passed 407-16. All of the "no" votes were from Republicans.
Voting Rights Advocates Organize For Direct Action
“Rev. Dr. William Barber, co-founder of the Poor People’s Campaign,
talks with Rachel Maddow about the necessary ingredients for making direct action a successful tactic
against special interest political power.”
—“In Texas it requires 101 hours of work a week if you work 7/24 with a minimum wage.”
Georgetown-to-Austin Moral March for Democracy | July 28-31, 2021
“The Poor People’s Campaign:
A National Call for Moral Revival, the Texas Poor People’s Campaign and our partners* invite you
for a Georgetown-to-Austin Moral March for Democracy culminating in a Rally at the Texas State Capitol
on Saturday, July 31 at 10:00am CT.”
Peter Strzok, fmr Deputy Director of the FBI`s counterintelligence division,
author: “Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump”. He was demonized and attacked for his role in the Russian investigation by the Trump Administration.
Maddow: “Do you think that there is a national security and counterintelligence way to look at the Tom Barrack indictment? Is that part of the way that we should understand the significance of this case?”
Strzok:
“It absolutely is. And let me frame it this way.
If you look at the indictment in April of ’18, al-Shahi who was one of the three individuals from the UAE, or one of the 3 who was indicted. He’s interviewed by the FBI. About three days later according to the indictment, he flees from his home in California where he’s been living, goes overseas, and never returns to the United States again.
Now he is intimately involved with not only Mr. Barrack, but also very senior high ranking officials within the Emirati government. And the moment he returns, it stands to reason that he is going to tell everybody he’s been working with exactly what went on, what he was asked about by the FBI, the nature of the questions about his relationship to Mr. Barrack, the nature of the interactions between the White House and Mr. Barrack.
And everybody who matters that he’s been working with at the UAE knows what happened.
And when they look at the United States and they see absolute silence,
they see no investigation,
they see no arrest,
but they know that there’s something going on,
they know that there’s something really horribly politically damaging if it gets out. Well guess what?
That gives the Emiratis leverage over not only Barrack keep in mind, but all the folks he’s been dealing with in the White House.
And guess what?
Communications are no longer anywhere in this world where it’s just between the two people who are talking.
So if say, the Saudis were listening in on those conversations,
if the Qataris were listening in on those conversations,
if the Russians were listening in on those conversations.
Everybody who was aware of what was going on,
suddenly by virtue of that information has leverage to be able to influence the actions of President Trump,
those people around him, and certainly Mr. Barrack, and those people who allegedly were involved in the scheme with him.
So you can’t think of this just as a law was broken. And are we going to prosecute it, or are we not.
You have to look much more broadly about the ways that make the United States vulnerable, the ways that make President Trump vulnerable. And think then from that point of all the things we still don’t know, because we haven’t yet done a really thorough look at all the different things that were going on by the Administration from a counterintelligence perspective.”
Maddow:
“Well that also in this specific instance puts a real bull’s-eye on this new reporting that sort of tracks with what we understand about the case. Which is that this was ready to go and there was apparently a long delay, and the Justice Department wouldn’t allow this indictment. The Justice Department under Trump wouldn’t allow this indictment to go forward until Trump was out of office and Biden was in office.
If one of the things that you’re describing is that there’s a blackmail risk,
there’s a coercion risk, for every moment that passes from when that questioning happened in 2018
when this case is a known live case about this foreign agent, to when actually charges are finally brought. All of that delay, at least some of that delay is on the Justice Department. And may have been politically motivated. That increased the counterintelligence risk, the national security risk to our country and our Government.”
Strzok:
“Without question. And it was part of a pattern of behavior by the past Administration.
You look at this but don’t look at it in isolation.
Think about the Intelligence Community whistle-blower who came forward and had concerns about the quid pro quo conversation that Trump had with Ukrainian President Zelensky.
That was something DOJ looked at and said ‘This doesn’t even merit investigation’.
But yes it was sufficient enough to impeach Trump over.
Think about Rudy Giuliani and the search warrants that were served on him well in advance of this year, if media reporting is to be believed that the grand jury and investigation is really picking up steam.
Those were actions that Giuliani was having with people not only in Ukraine, but in Ukraine related to Russia.
So time and time and time again, we see these various investigations which have a significant foreign nexus. Which have a foreign nexus to hostile nations in many cases!
And you have the Department of Justice turning a blind eye, delaying, saying ‘We’re simply not going to do anything’. And every minute they do that is a minute that somebody in the Administration is exposed to being vulnerable through exactly what you said – through blackmail or other sorts of coercion.
Because they don’t want this information getting out, because it’s going to damage them politically.”
Comcast Refuses To Air New Lincoln Project Ad On Fox News Killing Americans
“Comcast is helping Fox News kill Americans with anti-vaccination propaganda
by refusing to air a new ad from The Lincoln Project.”
“Rupert Murdoch’s network has become the leading voice in the United States against COVID-19 vaccination,” said Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA.
“At a time in which the deadly Delta variant is ravaging unvaccinated communities across the country, night after night, Fox News hosts like Tucker Carlson are delivering anti-vaccine propaganda. Does anyone really believe Tucker Carlson isn’t vaccinated?”
Wilson continued,
“The science is clear: Not only are vaccines safe and effective, they pose significantly less risk to your health than contracting COVID-19. Fox News has blood on its hands.”
(Easley: politicus.usa)
Pls get this Ad out.
IMO Fox is late to the dance.
If they’re serious about reversing their deadly lies,
they should go ALL OUT TO GET THEIR VICTIMS VACCINATED.
–So that our children are not dealing with this globally after we are gone.
Since Bruce @springsteen and I first sat down to record our podcast Renegades: Born in the USA, folks have asked about the stories we told and the people and places that shaped us, and we’re excited for this new book to continue the conversation we started last summer. pic.twitter.com/h0FuZyNJQc
Since Bruce @springsteen and I first sat down to record our podcast Renegades: Born in the USA, folks have asked about the stories we told and the people and places that shaped us, and we’re excited for this new book to continue the conversation we started last summer. pic.twitter.com/h0FuZyNJQc
NEW: A New York City pilot program to respond to 911 calls for mental health crises with social workers instead of cops appears to be reducing unnecessary hospitalizations, while increasing the percentage of people who accept help when offered. https://t.co/ttsoqPQfq5
Imagine getting bewitched and being turned into a dog and you do this to show that youre a human, then they just post you on Tik Tok and call it a day https://t.co/5MaYBlJRk4
Appreciate @MarkSZaidEsq comments about how Officer Harry Dunn has been speaking out for 5 months about 1/6 and didn't begin receiving racist threats until the deluge following Tucker Carlson's rant targeting him last night. Telling.
There are a few well recognised signs that prove you are a sporting icon.
A statue in your home town, maybe a fancy title, or perhaps a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
But in the 21st century, another is getting your own official Twitter emoji.
American four-time Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles has become the first female athlete to have the honour bestowed upon her.
And of course, it’s a goat.
The leotard and medal-wearing goat (similar to the superstar’s personal emblem “Goldie the goat”) will appear when a Twitter user posts the hashtags #SimoneBiles or simply #Simone, throughout the Tokyo Olympic Games, which officially begin on Friday.
Biles’ symbolic goat was originally created as a response to “the haters”, she told US magazine Marie Claire earlier this year.
She said critics often accused her of being over-confident, with one joking that she would put a goat (a reference to the commonly-used acronym GOAT for “Greatest Of All Time”) on her own leotard.
“I was like, ‘Oh, that’s actually a good idea Let’s make the haters hate it, and the fans love it’,” she said. “And so that’s exactly what we did and why we did it.”
Dear @TeamUSA, your entire nation is cheering you on and we are grateful for what you’ve given us: the chance to come together in common awe and appreciation for your accomplishments and the shared joy of rooting for our country on the edge of our seats. https://t.co/5TPTxQlU2u
With four gymnastics elements already named after #SimoneBiles and an Olympic title to defend, the most decorated U.S. gymnast teased fans with a jaw-dropping vaulthttps://t.co/h354vq2d7d
– Felix Auger-Aliassime's first Olympic match is against reigning (& 2x) champion Andy Murray 🎾 – Simone Biles teases insanely difficult maneuver in podium training🤸🏾♀️ – men's soccer tournament gets started ⚽️#Tokyo2020pic.twitter.com/glRyxa6IU2
2012 Olympic bronze medalist @karakohler_usa missed the 2016 Olympic team but today in Tokyo, she won her heat in the women's single sculls.@TeamUSA x #TokyoOlympics
The wood used to make the Olympic Rings comes from trees grown from seeds brought in by international athletes the last time Tokyo hosted the Olympic Games.😍🌳
La madera utilizada para hacer los Anillos Olímpicos proviene de árboles cultivados a partir de semillas traídas por atletas internacionales la última vez que Tokio fue sede de los Juegos Olímpicos. 😍🌳#StrongerTogether#CeremoniaDeAperturapic.twitter.com/FHYnHnTE6K
— Los Juegos Olímpicos (@juegosolimpicos) July 23, 2021
White House says it will give aid to some homeowners who have fallen behind during covid pandemic.
Aim is to provide ~25% reduction in payments for mortgages backed by govt (HUD, USDA, VA), especially for those looking for work or re-training, or catching up on taxes, insurance.
"The hot, shirtless Tongan flagbearer from Rio is BACK!"
Pita Taufatofua became an overnight sensation five years ago when he marched shirtless and in a traditional Tongan outfit at the opening ceremonies in 2016 and 2018. He is back for #Tokyo2020. https://t.co/lSzzr8Lsf4pic.twitter.com/bT2HlMoKhO
#Tokyo2020 Overviews show performers and participating teams delegations parading during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, at the Olympic Stadium, in Tokyo, Japan. 📸 François-Xavier MARIT #AFPpic.twitter.com/gYP6Na8hE2
— Summer Feast @ Green Man Gaming (@GreenManGaming) July 23, 2021
Full list of video game music playing for the Parade of Nations, including Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter, Kingdom Hearts, Chrono Trigger, Ace Combat, Sonic the Hedgehog, NieR, Soul Caliber, and more 🎮🎶https://t.co/62vSPloH5tpic.twitter.com/94JMqaYN7b
“As Senate Democrats debate amending the filibuster rule to pass federal voting rights legislation,
Republicans at the state level have already passed a wave of laws intended to make it more difficult to vote.
Ali Velshi says it’s time to ring the alarm so Congress takes action, because “if one person’s right to vote is threatened, the overall will of the people is threatened.”
–thank you Ali Velshi.
Sounding the alarm:
“Each moment wasted is another moment for Republicans to stop more of us from exercising that right,
and that’s how it’s gonna go.”
“I’m sorry to tell you Mr. President but republicans apparently do not “know better”.
“Maybe they do know better – they just don’t care.”
“What the moment demands…no more watered down bills that are amendable to republicans.
Democrats must blow up the filibuster.”
Senator Duckworth Insists U.S. Not Leave Afghan Allies Behind
“Senator Tammy Duckworth talks with Rachel Maddow about her relationship with an interpreter she worked with on a military deployment and the importance that the United States keep its word to protect Afghan interpreters, translators and others who helped the U.S. and face certain persecution from the Taliban as a result if they remain in Afghanistan.”
I first teamed up with @Barbie in 2019 and today we’re introducing the Barbie Role Model Naomi Osaka doll. I hope every child is reminded that they can be and do anything: https://t.co/GrPuW1WkMn
Rep. Hank Johnson among 10 demonstrators arrested at voting rights protest
“Progressive Democrats in Congress urged Biden to endorse ending the filibuster.”
“Johnson and voting rights advocates participating in Black Voters Matter Fund’s “Brothers Day of Action,” a protest led by Black men to advocate for voting rights, called on Congress to end the filibuster and pass the For the People Act.”
“The demonstration was a follow-up to the Black women-led protest on July 15, which ended in nine arrests, including the arrest of Congressional Black Caucus chair Rep. Joyce Beatty.”
(https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rep-hank-johnson-10-demonstrators-arrested-voting-rights/story?id=79002149)
Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson was arrested by Capitol Police this afternoon during a protest on "Senate inaction on voting rights legislation." https://t.co/MbfnmWagwT
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX) who was at the “Brother’s Day of Action” yesterday,
spoke to Rachel Maddow:
Maddow: “Let me ask you about this event today and this dramatic protest today, including this non-violent civil disobedience that resulted in multiple arrests, including one member of Congress, your colleague Hank Johnson.”
Congresswoman Lee:
“Rachel it was a powerful moment.
And I was glad to be there as a supporter of Black men, who if we look historically at racism, discrimination and slavery, they bore the brunt. They were the ones that were beaten the most, discriminated against the most, incarcerated the most. And even as Black women have suffered, Black men were the examples of what white racism could to a human being.
So it was a powerful moment that reflected members of Congress, organizations such as fraternities…Black men, and pastoral groups. And we saw Congressman Hank Johnson offer himself with the others to be arrested.
We are fighting for our voting lives.
In essence we’re fighting for the life or death of the ability and the right to vote.
When I spoke, I indicated that we were standing in front of the Supreme Court.
And when Thurgood Martial walked into that Supreme Court, he walked in after the aftermath of those who had lost their lives in the fight in the Civil Rights movement that John Lewis came out of, to right the wrong.
To have Civil Rights and to be able to vote. People died.
And now we’re here some 56 years after the 1965 Voting Rights Act. And Rachel I ask the question why.
Why can we not have the protection of the 15th Amendment,
which instructs the Senate Constitutionally that they have a duty to end all laws that abridge the right to vote on the basis of race? And it has not occurred. And so I’m a legislator, I know that I’m a legislator and I sit on the Judiciary Committee. And I have written Voting Rights re-authorization years ago, often, and they’ve been passed in a bipartisan way.
But because we have the cancer of the Big Lie we now have this fight.
And because we have the reincarnation of the filibuster used in the1960s to block Civil Rights law. And it is now being used. And I don’t know if the…senators today realized what tradition they’re in. They are in a tradition of segregationist senators who used that filibuster.
And frankly we are ALL going to be participating with civil disobedience.
We’ll be back again next week with women.
And you will see members of Congress engaging in civil disobedience. As legislators. Because we want to legislate but we’ve got to MOVE in order to legislate.”
Maddow:
“Talk to me about the tactical decision to move into direct action. We spoke with the Reverend William Barber last night and Beto O’Rourke, who are planning a Selma to Montgomery style march in Texas. Georgetown Texas to Austin Texas next week. We’ve spoken with a number of other people who have talked to us and let us know that we should expect non-violent civil disobedience. And direction action to not only continue but to escalate over the course of this summer. Is the idea that tactics outside the electoral system as it’s narrowly defined are needed to break this impasse?”
Congresswoman Lee:
“I believe that we are Americans. And we live in America.
And over the history of America we have seen direct action, non-violent.
Can anyone remember the outraged taxpayers in Boston? Who threw tea into the Boston h
arbor. Didn’t get a chance to have some good tea that they probably wanted. Because they were outraged. They did it as civil disobedience.
We have seen over the years as I’ve served in the United States Congress, I’ve participated in a quarter of a million person march against the Iraq war, against the continuation of the Afghan war. And people have come from all over. We have…(no sound)…places that are spoken and people who are not listening.
So I think the idea Rachel, is that those of us who are legislators, heads of organizations, regular citizens, we want to teach them. We want to do this non-violently.
We expect not to throw any stones, not to represent any form of violence.
What I do expect as I said in the book that has just been written with John Lewis’s name on it,
is to “Carry On”. I am saddened because he was a dear, dear friend, in this year only one year since death. One year of his death was on Saturday. And we were christening a ship at that time in San Diego. To think that ALL that he did – that we’ve come to a point where we have friends, ‘allies’ in the United States Senate, who want to put a rule…and let me be very clear the filibuster is a rule. It has No place in the Constitution.
It is not a Constitutional Amendment or Provision.
And therefore from my perspective Rachel, it has no authority.
In the Senate I know that the leadership there are eager to…
Roll the filibuster off and compromise to those who believe it is sacred, to be able to pass budget reconciliation, if we have to the Infrastructure bill, the Voting Rights bill, the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act. And I hope HR 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparations.
But even so I think it is important note that the Constitution never wanted the tyranny of the minority to overcome the majority. The minority should be protected. In this instance it is Mitch McConnell.
They should be protected but they cannot dominate.
They cannot undermine the voices of the American people that spoke in November of 2020.
And so we’re taking that lead, frankly. Hearing those voices who ask us every day why can you not protect this Texas Democratic delegation? Leaving their families, their jobs, their income, their livelihood as one would say. And living in conditions that are not the best, and they have come.
And so I believe …cannot tolerate that bill, Texas cannot tolerate their bill, and neither can the other
46 states that have put these onerous anti-voting bills in place.”
Article commemorating special visit highlighting milestone accomplishment for Cherokee Nation and OK,
marking the beginning of Medicaid Expansion and celebrating the fast enrollment of 120,000 statewide,
from HSS Xavier Beccera, Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-Lasure,
Indian Health Service Acting Director Elizabeth Fowler and White House Council, Native American Affairs Executive Director Morgan Rodman and tribal leaders,
“Canada had about 150 residential schools
and an estimated 150,000 Indigenous children passed through the schools
between their opening, around 1883, and their closing in 1996.
The commission estimated that about 4,100 children went missing nationwide from the schools.
But an Indigenous former judge who led the commission, Murray Sinclair, said in an email this month that he now believed the number was “well beyond 10,000.
Local Indigenous leaders on Thursday demanded an inquiry into what they called a “genocide,”
and called for the church and the government to turn over all records related to the administration of the schools.
Chief Delorme also called for Pope Francis to apologize,
saying that the Roman Catholic Church needed to address its actions.”
春は花 Haru wa hana Spring, flowers
夏ほととぎす natsu hototogisu summer, cuckoos
秋は月 aki wa tsuki autumn, the moon
冬雪きえで fuyu yuki kiede winter, snow does not melt
すずしかりけり Suzushi kari keri All seasons pure and upright.
(Okumura-Roshi’s translation)
Congrats to Japan on opening day of 2021 Olympics!!!
Over 2m Americans got their first shot this week — up 14% from last week. We need to do better, but this is a move in the right direction! https://t.co/bKfdsb56kM
The Olympians representing our country in Tokyo are the embodiment of the spirit and drive that makes America a beacon for the globe. I’m so proud of you.
Did you know blueberries are Georgia’s #1 produce?
All the more reason to celebrate the Senate resolution designating July as National Blueberry Month. As a proud voice for Georgia agriculture, I’ll always stand up for our farmers & farmworkers! 🫐🫐🫐
— Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) July 23, 2021
Undoubtedly the greatest athletic achievement and honor I will ever have in my life. I have no words to describe the feelings I have right now but I do know I am currently filled with gratefulness and thankfulness ❤️ love you guys thank you. pic.twitter.com/CacWQ5ToUD
Stephen Colbert explains the rejection of Jim Jordan and Jim Banks: “They’re two potential suspects. Nancy Pelosi can’t just look the other way. She’s not Jim Jordan in the showers at Ohio State.”
.@TerryMcAuliffe is running for governor of Virginia to create good-paying jobs, make health care more affordable, and give every child a world-class education. Tune in for our grassroots event. https://t.co/fpVcjUf0Cq
There are citizens around the globe who would do anything for a vaccine, yet we have our own Olympians who should fucking know better representing us on the world stage without Covid protection for themselves and others. Embarrassing and Infuriating.
There are credible allegations of sexual assault against a Supreme Court Justice. Now there is proof the WH actively blocked an investigation of those allegations. The new DOJ must investigate for anyone to have any trust in our system of Justice. Otherwise it’s a bad joke
I’m so sick of seeing headlines like “Pelosi goes to war with GOP” over the #January6thCommittee … the fact is the GOP went to war with democracy. They went to war with the truth. Period. Full stop.
It seems that Trump has raked in around $75 million in the first 1/2 of 2021 on the promise that he’s fighting the results of the 2020 election but has spent ZERO DOLLARS of that money on those challenges.
DR. Ronnie Jackson, ” why don’t you ask the Dems if they’ve been vaxxed”, Media cowards should say, “Were asking YOU!!!, answer the question or shut up”.
After years of lying about me and my family, @TuckerCarlson is losing his mind that I won’t return his calls. Sorry, Tucker, I’m just not that into you. Who knows what lie he’ll tell next? #TuckerTantrumpic.twitter.com/vwX7AfwJ1Z
In a move that pours cold water on the dreams of a few billionaire space explorers, the US has tightened its definition of the word “astronaut”.
New Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules say astronaut hopefuls must be part of the flight crew and make contributions to space flight safety.
That means Jeff Bezos and Sir Richard Branson may not yet be astronauts in the eyes of the US government.
These are the first changes since the FAA wings programme began in 2004.
The Commercial Astronaut Wings programme updates were announced on Tuesday – the same day that Amazon’s Mr Bezos flew aboard a Blue Origin rocket to the edge of space.
To qualify as commercial astronauts, space-goers must travel 50 miles (80km) above the Earth’s surface, which both Mr Bezos and Mr Branson accomplished.
But altitude aside, the agency says would-be astronauts must have also “demonstrated activities during flight that were essential to public safety, or contributed to human space flight safety”.
What exactly counts as such is determined by FAA officials.
In a statement, the FAA said that these changes brought the wings scheme more in line with its role to protect public safety during commercial space flights.
My kids each place a toy on the checkout counter and hand the cashier a few plastic gold coins from home. The cashier smiles, I give a wink. She gets on the speaker: "Security, register 4." They are cuffed & arrested for using counterfeit money. Time to learn about consequences.
The Democrat running against Sarah Huckabee Sanders for Governor has 4.8 million views on his launch ad. Please give Democrat @JonesForAR a watch and retweet and help him get to 5 million views. pic.twitter.com/SevdVC9j1U
After years of lying about me and my family, @TuckerCarlson is losing his mind that I won’t return his calls. Sorry, Tucker, I’m just not that into you. Who knows what lie he’ll tell next? #TuckerTantrumpic.twitter.com/vwX7AfwJ1Z
.@POTUS Biden, I have no doubt you care and desire to do right, but, as a clergy person, let me say pastorally, when you say ending the filibuster will create chaos, that obscures the fact that the filibuster is facilitating chaos.
— Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II (@RevDrBarber) July 23, 2021
The Filibuster would not have lasted as long as it has if Senators had to take to floor non stop to defend it or if Senators had to remain in the Senate while debate is taking place…or that the vote need only be a majority of the Senators present…#ReformTheFilibuster
— Pretty Foot💃🏾 wears a mask😷 (@PrettyFootWoman) July 24, 2021
A message that occasionally bears repeating. Delivered as my five-word acceptance speech for @StarTalkRadio winning @TheWebbyAwards 2021 for Best Science & Education Podcast.
Senior officials now say they expect that people who are 65 and older OR who have compromised immune systems will most likely need a third shot from Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna… That is a sharp shift from a few weeks ago…
I could not be prouder of the incredible athletes representing @TeamUSA at the Olympics. Their determination and hard work got them this far, and they’re ready to seize this moment. We'll be rooting for them all the way.
I know how hard all of the athletes on Team USA have worked to make it to the @Olympics in Tokyo, and I can't wait to cheer them on! I'm so proud of each and every competitor who has worked so hard for this moment. We’re rooting for you! 👏🏾🇺🇸
When reporters interview COVID patients in hospitals who say they regret not getting the vaccine, they should ask them where they get their news. Then the reporter should ask if they still trust that source. This would be a good topic for a survey as well. pic.twitter.com/UfIscXQWgO
Most if not ALL are Fox News, Newsmax or Qnon followers. The smart ones who say they were misled and will get the vaccine along with family members. There was one guy interviewed on his hospital bed saying he STILL will not get a shot. His body, no one tells him what to do.
When the argument of abortion comes up, the government can’t tell a woman what to do with her body. Baby shamby, it anti-vaxers don’t care about killing people with a virus they sure as hell don’t care about unborn babies.
The Obama Diary 
Good West Coast morning Nerdy-girl and TOD family. 😎💖🙋🏾♀️🙏🏾
The Obama’s, doing good in the neighborhood 👏🏾
Yes They are Gail…it does my heart good…now they are in my area…made a donation….what a fantastic thing to do…
Good for you Sheila 💖👍🏾👏🏾
HYPOCRISY
Rachel Maddow and ex-FBI agent
explain why delay the Tom Barrack indictment put U.S. security in danger
“Tuesday night Rachel Maddow connected the dots on the new indictment of Donald Trump’s ally
Tom Barrack for effectively being a foreign agent for the U.A.E.”
“…Wednesday night that the prosecutors in the case had all of the evidence necessary to charge Barrack last year, but were waylaid by the Attorney overseeing the investigation.”
(https://www.rawstory.com/peter-strzok-tom-barrack-national-security/)
of course, the thugs did.
Voting Rights Advocates Organize For Direct Action
“Rev. Dr. William Barber, co-founder of the Poor People’s Campaign,
talks with Rachel Maddow about the necessary ingredients for making direct action a successful tactic
against special interest political power.”
—“In Texas it requires 101 hours of work a week if you work 7/24 with a minimum wage.”
Georgetown-to-Austin Moral March for Democracy | July 28-31, 2021
“The Poor People’s Campaign:
A National Call for Moral Revival, the Texas Poor People’s Campaign and our partners* invite you
for a Georgetown-to-Austin Moral March for Democracy culminating in a Rally at the Texas State Capitol
on Saturday, July 31 at 10:00am CT.”
How did Obama pick this guy as his personal physician.
Peter Strzok, fmr Deputy Director of the FBI`s counterintelligence division,
author: “Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump”. He was demonized and attacked for his role in the Russian investigation by the Trump Administration.
Maddow: “Do you think that there is a national security and counterintelligence way to look at the Tom Barrack indictment? Is that part of the way that we should understand the significance of this case?”
Strzok:
“It absolutely is. And let me frame it this way.
If you look at the indictment in April of ’18, al-Shahi who was one of the three individuals from the UAE, or one of the 3 who was indicted. He’s interviewed by the FBI. About three days later according to the indictment, he flees from his home in California where he’s been living, goes overseas, and never returns to the United States again.
Now he is intimately involved with not only Mr. Barrack, but also very senior high ranking officials within the Emirati government. And the moment he returns, it stands to reason that he is going to tell everybody he’s been working with exactly what went on, what he was asked about by the FBI, the nature of the questions about his relationship to Mr. Barrack, the nature of the interactions between the White House and Mr. Barrack.
And everybody who matters that he’s been working with at the UAE knows what happened.
And when they look at the United States and they see absolute silence,
they see no investigation,
they see no arrest,
but they know that there’s something going on,
they know that there’s something really horribly politically damaging if it gets out. Well guess what?
That gives the Emiratis leverage over not only Barrack keep in mind, but all the folks he’s been dealing with in the White House.
And guess what?
Communications are no longer anywhere in this world where it’s just between the two people who are talking.
So if say, the Saudis were listening in on those conversations,
if the Qataris were listening in on those conversations,
if the Russians were listening in on those conversations.
Everybody who was aware of what was going on,
suddenly by virtue of that information has leverage to be able to influence the actions of President Trump,
those people around him, and certainly Mr. Barrack, and those people who allegedly were involved in the scheme with him.
So you can’t think of this just as a law was broken. And are we going to prosecute it, or are we not.
You have to look much more broadly about the ways that make the United States vulnerable, the ways that make President Trump vulnerable. And think then from that point of all the things we still don’t know, because we haven’t yet done a really thorough look at all the different things that were going on by the Administration from a counterintelligence perspective.”
Maddow:
“Well that also in this specific instance puts a real bull’s-eye on this new reporting that sort of tracks with what we understand about the case. Which is that this was ready to go and there was apparently a long delay, and the Justice Department wouldn’t allow this indictment. The Justice Department under Trump wouldn’t allow this indictment to go forward until Trump was out of office and Biden was in office.
If one of the things that you’re describing is that there’s a blackmail risk,
there’s a coercion risk, for every moment that passes from when that questioning happened in 2018
when this case is a known live case about this foreign agent, to when actually charges are finally brought. All of that delay, at least some of that delay is on the Justice Department. And may have been politically motivated. That increased the counterintelligence risk, the national security risk to our country and our Government.”
Strzok:
“Without question. And it was part of a pattern of behavior by the past Administration.
You look at this but don’t look at it in isolation.
Think about the Intelligence Community whistle-blower who came forward and had concerns about the quid pro quo conversation that Trump had with Ukrainian President Zelensky.
That was something DOJ looked at and said ‘This doesn’t even merit investigation’.
But yes it was sufficient enough to impeach Trump over.
Think about Rudy Giuliani and the search warrants that were served on him well in advance of this year, if media reporting is to be believed that the grand jury and investigation is really picking up steam.
Those were actions that Giuliani was having with people not only in Ukraine, but in Ukraine related to Russia.
So time and time and time again, we see these various investigations which have a significant foreign nexus. Which have a foreign nexus to hostile nations in many cases!
And you have the Department of Justice turning a blind eye, delaying, saying ‘We’re simply not going to do anything’. And every minute they do that is a minute that somebody in the Administration is exposed to being vulnerable through exactly what you said – through blackmail or other sorts of coercion.
Because they don’t want this information getting out, because it’s going to damage them politically.”
Fox is Killing Us.
-The Lincoln Project-
Comcast Refuses To Air New Lincoln Project Ad On Fox News Killing Americans
“Comcast is helping Fox News kill Americans with anti-vaccination propaganda
by refusing to air a new ad from The Lincoln Project.”
“Rupert Murdoch’s network has become the leading voice in the United States against COVID-19 vaccination,” said Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA.
“At a time in which the deadly Delta variant is ravaging unvaccinated communities across the country, night after night, Fox News hosts like Tucker Carlson are delivering anti-vaccine propaganda. Does anyone really believe Tucker Carlson isn’t vaccinated?”
Wilson continued,
“The science is clear: Not only are vaccines safe and effective, they pose significantly less risk to your health than contracting COVID-19. Fox News has blood on its hands.”
(Easley: politicus.usa)
So glad I got rid of Comcast.
Pls get this Ad out.
IMO Fox is late to the dance.
If they’re serious about reversing their deadly lies,
they should go ALL OUT TO GET THEIR VICTIMS VACCINATED.
–So that our children are not dealing with this globally after we are gone.
FACT: Hundreds of thousands of us are already dead because of Murdoch, Fox hosts + Doom.
They must pay.
Great birthday present for me:) ON MY BIRTHDAY!!
DF, I thought your birthday was Oct 20th? It’s the 26th? Girl, help your friend out!
Soon – President Biden meets with union and business leaders to discuss infrastructure needs. https://abcnews.go.com/live/video/special-live-3
LOL.
Is anyone surprised about this!? #hypocrites
Fake fucksticks.
why would you want to go back to being a human?
Is him suing her or not?
US gymnast Simone Biles gets her own goat emoji.
There are a few well recognised signs that prove you are a sporting icon.
A statue in your home town, maybe a fancy title, or perhaps a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
But in the 21st century, another is getting your own official Twitter emoji.
American four-time Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles has become the first female athlete to have the honour bestowed upon her.
And of course, it’s a goat.
The leotard and medal-wearing goat (similar to the superstar’s personal emblem “Goldie the goat”) will appear when a Twitter user posts the hashtags #SimoneBiles or simply #Simone, throughout the Tokyo Olympic Games, which officially begin on Friday.
Biles’ symbolic goat was originally created as a response to “the haters”, she told US magazine Marie Claire earlier this year.
She said critics often accused her of being over-confident, with one joking that she would put a goat (a reference to the commonly-used acronym GOAT for “Greatest Of All Time”) on her own leotard.
“I was like, ‘Oh, that’s actually a good idea Let’s make the haters hate it, and the fans love it’,” she said. “And so that’s exactly what we did and why we did it.”
https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/57927175
Who knew eric clapton is an antivaxer asshole.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57934379
{{{ 💙NW & TOD}}}
🕊🕯🙏🏼💤🙏🏼🕯🕊
Good Morning! The Tokyo Olympics have begun! May the universe protect all the participants, coaches, officials, volunteers, and residents. 🙏🏾
FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden represents the US Official Delegation at the Olympics.
Tokyo Opening Ceremony
Can we all agree that Simone Biles already 🐐🥇
Tokyo 1964 ➡️#Tokyo2020
The wood used to make the Olympic Rings comes from trees grown from seeds brought in by international athletes the last time Tokyo hosted the Olympic Games.😍🌳
#StrongerTogether#CeremoniaDeApertura
More photos
Help for homeowners
Olympics History: Every Tokyo Olympics delegation has at least one female and one male.
🚨New book coming from Pete Souza in December — Renegades: Born in the USA
Good morning, TODville!
😘❤️
Hey Tonga! 😉
Indeed
Go Team USA!
May God and the Universe protect our brave First Lady. 🙏🏾💖🥰
Yeh baby! Let’s go!
The drones are amazing!
The Olympics Opening Ceremony had a little something for the gamer community. 😁
Now Is The Time To Protect The Right To Vote
“As Senate Democrats debate amending the filibuster rule to pass federal voting rights legislation,
Republicans at the state level have already passed a wave of laws intended to make it more difficult to vote.
Ali Velshi says it’s time to ring the alarm so Congress takes action, because “if one person’s right to vote is threatened, the overall will of the people is threatened.”
–thank you Ali Velshi.
Sounding the alarm:
“Each moment wasted is another moment for Republicans to stop more of us from exercising that right,
and that’s how it’s gonna go.”
“I’m sorry to tell you Mr. President but republicans apparently do not “know better”.
“Maybe they do know better – they just don’t care.”
“What the moment demands…no more watered down bills that are amendable to republicans.
Democrats must blow up the filibuster.”
Correction:
No more watered down bills that are AMENABLE to republicans.
Yay Naomi Osaka! 🔥
“And if we don’t fit that expectation of what people think we’re supposed to be – good.” (Naomi)
Wow!
Take that bitches!
–thanks for these incredible pics Dudette!!
You’re welcome brp!
Here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCjS5oGkve4)
Senator Duckworth Insists U.S. Not Leave Afghan Allies Behind
“Senator Tammy Duckworth talks with Rachel Maddow about her relationship with an interpreter she worked with on a military deployment and the importance that the United States keep its word to protect Afghan interpreters, translators and others who helped the U.S. and face certain persecution from the Taliban as a result if they remain in Afghanistan.”
“The House votes to increase the number of visas for Afghans who have helped U.S. troops”
Representative Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger, spearheaded legislation that would expand the
number of visas available to Afghans who helped the
U.S. military during the 20-year war.”
(https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/22/us/politics/afghans-interpreters-visas-house.html)
—Bill passed 407 to 16.
Madam Speaker! 🔥
Get the name of that asshole reporter so we can shame them. Speaker Pelosi is no one to play with. She didn’t get where she is by being a fool.
👑
Rep. Hank Johnson among 10 demonstrators arrested at voting rights protest
“Progressive Democrats in Congress urged Biden to endorse ending the filibuster.”
“Johnson and voting rights advocates participating in Black Voters Matter Fund’s “Brothers Day of Action,” a protest led by Black men to advocate for voting rights, called on Congress to end the filibuster and pass the For the People Act.”
“The demonstration was a follow-up to the Black women-led protest on July 15, which ended in nine arrests, including the arrest of Congressional Black Caucus chair Rep. Joyce Beatty.”
(https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rep-hank-johnson-10-demonstrators-arrested-voting-rights/story?id=79002149)
That’s My Congressman!
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX) who was at the “Brother’s Day of Action” yesterday,
spoke to Rachel Maddow:
Maddow: “Let me ask you about this event today and this dramatic protest today, including this non-violent civil disobedience that resulted in multiple arrests, including one member of Congress, your colleague Hank Johnson.”
Congresswoman Lee:
“Rachel it was a powerful moment.
And I was glad to be there as a supporter of Black men, who if we look historically at racism, discrimination and slavery, they bore the brunt. They were the ones that were beaten the most, discriminated against the most, incarcerated the most. And even as Black women have suffered, Black men were the examples of what white racism could to a human being.
So it was a powerful moment that reflected members of Congress, organizations such as fraternities…Black men, and pastoral groups. And we saw Congressman Hank Johnson offer himself with the others to be arrested.
We are fighting for our voting lives.
In essence we’re fighting for the life or death of the ability and the right to vote.
When I spoke, I indicated that we were standing in front of the Supreme Court.
And when Thurgood Martial walked into that Supreme Court, he walked in after the aftermath of those who had lost their lives in the fight in the Civil Rights movement that John Lewis came out of, to right the wrong.
To have Civil Rights and to be able to vote. People died.
And now we’re here some 56 years after the 1965 Voting Rights Act. And Rachel I ask the question why.
Why can we not have the protection of the 15th Amendment,
which instructs the Senate Constitutionally that they have a duty to end all laws that abridge the right to vote on the basis of race? And it has not occurred. And so I’m a legislator, I know that I’m a legislator and I sit on the Judiciary Committee. And I have written Voting Rights re-authorization years ago, often, and they’ve been passed in a bipartisan way.
But because we have the cancer of the Big Lie we now have this fight.
And because we have the reincarnation of the filibuster used in the1960s to block Civil Rights law. And it is now being used. And I don’t know if the…senators today realized what tradition they’re in. They are in a tradition of segregationist senators who used that filibuster.
And frankly we are ALL going to be participating with civil disobedience.
We’ll be back again next week with women.
And you will see members of Congress engaging in civil disobedience. As legislators. Because we want to legislate but we’ve got to MOVE in order to legislate.”
Maddow:
“Talk to me about the tactical decision to move into direct action. We spoke with the Reverend William Barber last night and Beto O’Rourke, who are planning a Selma to Montgomery style march in Texas. Georgetown Texas to Austin Texas next week. We’ve spoken with a number of other people who have talked to us and let us know that we should expect non-violent civil disobedience. And direction action to not only continue but to escalate over the course of this summer. Is the idea that tactics outside the electoral system as it’s narrowly defined are needed to break this impasse?”
Congresswoman Lee:
“I believe that we are Americans. And we live in America.
And over the history of America we have seen direct action, non-violent.
Can anyone remember the outraged taxpayers in Boston? Who threw tea into the Boston h
arbor. Didn’t get a chance to have some good tea that they probably wanted. Because they were outraged. They did it as civil disobedience.
We have seen over the years as I’ve served in the United States Congress, I’ve participated in a quarter of a million person march against the Iraq war, against the continuation of the Afghan war. And people have come from all over. We have…(no sound)…places that are spoken and people who are not listening.
So I think the idea Rachel, is that those of us who are legislators, heads of organizations, regular citizens, we want to teach them. We want to do this non-violently.
We expect not to throw any stones, not to represent any form of violence.
What I do expect as I said in the book that has just been written with John Lewis’s name on it,
is to “Carry On”. I am saddened because he was a dear, dear friend, in this year only one year since death. One year of his death was on Saturday. And we were christening a ship at that time in San Diego. To think that ALL that he did – that we’ve come to a point where we have friends, ‘allies’ in the United States Senate, who want to put a rule…and let me be very clear the filibuster is a rule. It has No place in the Constitution.
It is not a Constitutional Amendment or Provision.
And therefore from my perspective Rachel, it has no authority.
In the Senate I know that the leadership there are eager to…
Roll the filibuster off and compromise to those who believe it is sacred, to be able to pass budget reconciliation, if we have to the Infrastructure bill, the Voting Rights bill, the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act. And I hope HR 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparations.
But even so I think it is important note that the Constitution never wanted the tyranny of the minority to overcome the majority. The minority should be protected. In this instance it is Mitch McConnell.
They should be protected but they cannot dominate.
They cannot undermine the voices of the American people that spoke in November of 2020.
And so we’re taking that lead, frankly. Hearing those voices who ask us every day why can you not protect this Texas Democratic delegation? Leaving their families, their jobs, their income, their livelihood as one would say. And living in conditions that are not the best, and they have come.
And so I believe …cannot tolerate that bill, Texas cannot tolerate their bill, and neither can the other
46 states that have put these onerous anti-voting bills in place.”
Speaker Pelosi:
Weekly Press Conference
Full: (https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/72221-1)
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo,
July 22, 2021
(https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/07/22/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-and-secretary-of-commerce-gina-raimondo-july-22-2021/)
Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
July 22, 2021
(https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/07/22/press-briefing-by-white-house-covid-19-response-team-and-public-health-officials-46/)
H.R.40 – Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act
116th Congress (2019-2020)
Article commemorating special visit highlighting milestone accomplishment for Cherokee Nation and OK,
marking the beginning of Medicaid Expansion and celebrating the fast enrollment of 120,000 statewide,
from HSS Xavier Beccera, Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-Lasure,
Indian Health Service Acting Director Elizabeth Fowler and White House Council, Native American Affairs Executive Director Morgan Rodman and tribal leaders,
Will not post up.
“Canada had about 150 residential schools
and an estimated 150,000 Indigenous children passed through the schools
between their opening, around 1883, and their closing in 1996.
The commission estimated that about 4,100 children went missing nationwide from the schools.
But an Indigenous former judge who led the commission, Murray Sinclair, said in an email this month that he now believed the number was “well beyond 10,000.
Local Indigenous leaders on Thursday demanded an inquiry into what they called a “genocide,”
and called for the church and the government to turn over all records related to the administration of the schools.
Chief Delorme also called for Pope Francis to apologize,
saying that the Roman Catholic Church needed to address its actions.”
(https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/24/world/canada/indigenous-children-graves-saskatchewan-canada.html)
Original Face
flowers in spring,
cuckoos in winter,
moon in autumn,
snow in winter,
serene and cool.
(Dogen)
Stardate July 23 2021: Happy Olympic Opening Friday.
–best wishes to all.
春は花 Haru wa hana Spring, flowers
夏ほととぎす natsu hototogisu summer, cuckoos
秋は月 aki wa tsuki autumn, the moon
冬雪きえで fuyu yuki kiede winter, snow does not melt
すずしかりけり Suzushi kari keri All seasons pure and upright.
(Okumura-Roshi’s translation)
Congrats to Japan on opening day of 2021 Olympics!!!
I loved the pictograms! 💙
Happy Birthday Senator Warnock!
💙💙💙
Wishing you a sweet, sweet birthday Reverend Senator Warnock.
Yayy!
Serious makeover! Dude won that bet!
Enjoy the full Moon tonight, if not obstructed by clouds. 🌕
Thanks, Dudette. You’re so good at keeping us informed on things like this.
☺️
Great that she got the honors she deserved. The Japanese are evolving.
Madness! 😡
SMDH!!!
Why didn’t Biden govt mandate vax for all these people? After all, they are all there under govt money and support.
If not govt, their respective sports federations or the damned IOC.
In the end, it’s all on govt dime.
California Voters…FYI
There’s an “Obama” participating in the Olympics, sort of. Gabon’s taekwondo athlete Anthony Obame pronounces his last name like our Forever POTUS. 😁
What she said!
What Pete said too!
ugly amrukans is not a stereotype.
more like don’t fucking vote for your own fucking murderers.
#metoo
with the rethugs, covid was all about racism as usual. As long as ‘other’ people died, thugs didn’t care.
and yet the illiterate texans for goons up and down the ballot.
lol. with garland?
the 3rd rate 4th estate of 5th columnists are worse plague than the pandemic.
pt barnum nailed it decades ago.
what, useless chuck is now aoc? get your sheep in line, you dumbfuck instead of getting facetiming it.
Sigh! 🙄
DR. Ronnie Jackson, ” why don’t you ask the Dems if they’ve been vaxxed”, Media cowards should say, “Were asking YOU!!!, answer the question or shut up”.
why doesn’t Eric simply block the traitorous thug in his phone? zero percentage with engaging with this thug.
In a move that pours cold water on the dreams of a few billionaire space explorers, the US has tightened its definition of the word “astronaut”.
New Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules say astronaut hopefuls must be part of the flight crew and make contributions to space flight safety.
That means Jeff Bezos and Sir Richard Branson may not yet be astronauts in the eyes of the US government.
These are the first changes since the FAA wings programme began in 2004.
The Commercial Astronaut Wings programme updates were announced on Tuesday – the same day that Amazon’s Mr Bezos flew aboard a Blue Origin rocket to the edge of space.
To qualify as commercial astronauts, space-goers must travel 50 miles (80km) above the Earth’s surface, which both Mr Bezos and Mr Branson accomplished.
But altitude aside, the agency says would-be astronauts must have also “demonstrated activities during flight that were essential to public safety, or contributed to human space flight safety”.
What exactly counts as such is determined by FAA officials.
In a statement, the FAA said that these changes brought the wings scheme more in line with its role to protect public safety during commercial space flights.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57950149
Good. This was literally ego trip for these shameless billionaires.
Fine with me.
OMG! 😆
lol.
My Dad would love this!
Such a great ad! I hope Chris wins!
Jaime Harrison is a beast!
FLOTUS bringing ❤️ to our Olympians!
Rev makes an excellent point. Hope POTUS hears it.
After listening to discussions on O’Donnell last night, I get it that it is about timing as with all pol.
daymn.
That was pretty damn cool!
The guy isn’t even looking at the damn thing.
Exactly
Seriously!!!! How he do dat?!?!?!?!?!?! #letsmakeamericasmartagain
crazy happy to hear from this guy…fabbo.
Hit me with that next shot!
Proud ❤️💙❤️
I will be in line right behind you. #number2 BTW, Dudette, when do you sleep? 🙂
We MUST hold Senate seats and add more!
USA USA USA
Good West Coast morning Nerdy 💃🏾 and TOD family
New post.
Most if not ALL are Fox News, Newsmax or Qnon followers. The smart ones who say they were misled and will get the vaccine along with family members. There was one guy interviewed on his hospital bed saying he STILL will not get a shot. His body, no one tells him what to do.
When the argument of abortion comes up, the government can’t tell a woman what to do with her body. Baby shamby, it anti-vaxers don’t care about killing people with a virus they sure as hell don’t care about unborn babies.