With the King family marching today, we remember that the fight for voting rights takes perseverance. As Dr. King said, “There are no broad highways to lead us easily and inevitably to quick solutions. We must keep going.” May we honor his memory through action forged in faith. pic.twitter.com/Qn1q4EvXN5
Some twenty thousand people listened to three hours of speeches, music, and testimony from southern activists.
Speaking last, King exhorts the president and members of Congress to ensure voting rights for African Americans and indicts both political parties for betraying the cause of justice: “The Democrats have betrayed it by capitulating to the prejudices and undemocratic practices of the southern Dixiecrats. The Republicans have betrayed it by capitulating to the blatant hypocrisy of right wing, reactionary northerners. These men so often have a high blood pressure of words and an anemia of deeds.”
Although turnout for the Pilgrimage did not reach the organizers’ goal of fifty thousand, the event was well noted in the press, and King’s address in particular received much positive attention. Harold Sims, sent by the U.S. National Student Association to cover the Pilgrimage, described the day: “The air was filled with shouts of ‘amen’ and ‘hallelujah’ as the speakers sounded their voices in defense of civil rights. Handkerchiefs flew above the heads of the crowd as it listened to the fiery orators…. They were jubilant sounds… sounds of disillusioned souls discovering their country.”
Y’all, we all should take a moment and read or listen to this speech. Dr. King spoke these words in 1957, yet it could have been spoken yesterday or…today.
Here is an excerpt:
“This dearth of positive leadership from the federal government is not confined to one particular political party. Both political parties have betrayed the cause of justice. The Democrats have betrayed it by capitulating to the prejudices and undemocratic practices of the southern Dixiecrats. The Republicans have betrayed it by capitulating to the blatant hypocrisy of right wing, reactionary northerners. These men so often have a high blood pressure of words and an anemia of deeds.”
Today we see politicians tweeting about MLK when their voting record dishonors his legacy. Timothy Scott voted against:
For the People Act Freedom to Vote Act Increases the Federal Minimum Wage to $15 an Hr Jan. 6 Commission Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013#MLKDayhttps://t.co/Hfj0JsH7j2
— Clay 'Critical Thinking Theory' Cane (@claycane) January 17, 2022
I hope you’ll tune in tonight at 7pm ET on @BET to see Yara Shahidi and I speak with some talented young people who are owning their stories and becoming who they want to be. #BecomingOnBET 💕 pic.twitter.com/0TtKF0PYwP
80 years ago today, Muhammad Ali was born in Louisville, KY. His activism during the Civil Rights Movement make him one of the most prolific boxers in history, both inside and outside of the ring. See related objects in our collection: https://t.co/U8OBfIq1op#APeoplesJourneypic.twitter.com/b3AjTRhg6T
#OnThisDay in 1942, Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Clay), boxing icon and civil rights activist, was born. Nicknamed “The Greatest,” he actively used his international fame to seek justice and promote change. pic.twitter.com/XKas4OrW1z
Born: 17 January, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA.
James Earl Jones has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors and "one of the greatest actors in American history".#JamesEarlJones#BOTDpic.twitter.com/P4MSEoNE5n
— Geeks of Color #BlackLivesMatter (@GeeksOfColor) January 17, 2022
JAMES EARL JONES celebrates his 91st birthday today. A multi award winning actor, he made his feature debut in Dr. Strangelove (1964). Here he is talking about his speaking role as Darth Vader and his iconic voice. pic.twitter.com/8vGG3ujKkB
Look at this crazy mess! Republicans are crooked and evil as hell!
In Harris County percentage-wise we’re rejecting 7 times more mail ballot apps than before, because of new TX voter suppression laws that create a maze of technicalities. Example: if you register to vote with your DL number but request a mail ballot with your SSN, you’re rejected
Look at our Forever FLOTUS enjoying her birthday! ❤️😁❤️
Here’s to a sweet 58th! Thank you so much for your outpouring of love. Whether you texted, emailed, or posted on social media, every birthday message I received today meant a lot to me. Looking forward to seeing what this upcoming year has in store. 💕 pic.twitter.com/owA4Qidqwk
Stevie Wonder feeling the bust of MLK in the Oval Office, 2016. Stevie’s song “Happy Birthday” played a big role in the creation of MLK Day. pic.twitter.com/GBcrx3kTos
I was invited to give an MLK speech today and a small number of members of the group hosting me wrote and then leaked emails opposing my giving this speech, as it dishonored Dr. King for me to do so. They called me a "discredited activist" "unworthy of such association with King"
So, I scrapped my original speech and spent the entire first half of it reading excerpts from a bunch of Dr. King's speeches, but without telling anyone that I was doing so, leading the audience to think King's words were mine. And, whew, chile, it was AMAZING.
Oh, the uncomfortable silence as I read Dr. King's words at a commemoration of Dr. King's life when people had no idea that these were his words. When I revealed that everything I said to that point was taken from his speeches between '56 and 67… Can you say SHOOK!
Then I read all the names that white Americans called King: charlatan, demagogue, communist, traitor — and brought out the polling showing more than three-quarters of Americans opposed King at his death while 94 percent approve of him now.
I left them with this: People who oppose today what he stood for back then do not get to be the arbiters of his legacy. The real Dr. King cannot be commodified, homogenized, and white-washed and whatever side you stand on TODAY is the side you would have been back then.
When the speech was over, Father Pfleger, who had been been cheering me on from the crowd, whispered in my ear: That's what you call the "You Gone Learn Today" speech and I 💀. Because, yeah.
Hello, you can read it here: I was invited to give an MLK speech today and a small number of… https://t.co/rAneSnDM2E Share this if you think it's interesting. 🤖
Here’s to a sweet 58th! Thank you so much for your outpouring of love. Whether you texted, emailed, or posted on social media, every birthday message I received today meant a lot to me. Looking forward to seeing what this upcoming year has in store. 💕 pic.twitter.com/owA4Qidqwk
Although Nichelle Nichols is gorgeous, I love it that she's not just a pretty face. Her minority recruitment for NASA was a very big deal, and much in line with Dr. King's goals.
Photojournalist Steve Schapiro has passed away. He was important to the movement. He photographed the March on Washington and Selma to Montgomery march. His images moved minds during a crucial time. This is my favorite photo by him of Dr. King. May they both rest in peace now. pic.twitter.com/tL66gs5A7s
Congressional Black Caucus chair offers political warning to voting rights opponents
“Rep. Joyce Beatty, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, talks with Rachel Maddow about the electoral consequences that will come to members of Congress who get in the way of passing voting rights legislation.”
Speaker Pelosi Remarks at Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Deliver for Voting Rights Press Conference
“But in any event, Dr. King, Coretta Scott King and those who were associated with them,
including our beloved John Lewis, they believed in non-violence. They traveled – the Kings – to India to study the Mahatma Gandhi principle of non-violence. The word for non-violence in Sanskrit, ‘satyagraha,’ has two meanings. One is ‘non-violence.’ The other is ‘insistence on the truth.’ And, that’s the message they shared with them, brought back and the rest. And, we are insisting on the truth.
The truth is that what is happening in the Congress – and I give great credit to the Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer for his relentless and persistence in trying to get this done and to the President for his leadership, but we have to get this done. And, the truth is that our colleagues, House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans, must weigh the equities here. While it may be true to them that the filibuster is an important custom, it is not the Constitution of the United States. The truth is – and the truth is that the Constitution says only if you’re ratifying a treaty, convicting an impeached person or ratifying the Constitution, a simple majority. That’s why the Vice President can break a tie, 50-50.
So, the truth – we want all of them in the Senate to weigh the equities.
We all want bipartisanship. We all strive for it. We have a responsibility to do so.
But, when we cannot have it, we cannot confine our democracy to what might be bipartisanly possible.
So, I ask our colleagues in the Senate, respectfully, for what they think filibuster means, to compare that – to weigh the equities against our democracy. Because, nothing less is at stake than our democracy.”
“A supermoon is seen as it sets over the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016,
in Washington. A supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth. That morning, the Moon was the closest it has been to Earth since 1948, and it appeared 30 percent brighter and 14 percent bigger than the average monthly full Moon.”
BET Her and BET to Air Exclusive Special With Michelle Obama (yesterday)
by Rashad Grove
“On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, BET Her and BET will air BET Her Presents…Becoming:
Michelle Obama In Conversation, an exclusive special with Michelle Obama. It will be moderated by Yara Shahidi and feature students from 22 participating colleges throughout the country.
During the special, Obama will discuss the themes from her acclaimed New York Times bestselling memoir, Becoming, published by Crown/Penguin Random House, and what it’s like to navigate young adulthood in the current climate. She will lead discussions on topics such as mental wellness, diversity, and inclusion on college campuses.”
Hi Everyone! The government site for order your 4 free COVID has started accepting orders a day early! I just placed my order. Go online to get yours: https://www.covidtests.gov/
Mike Pence script change seems to address fake Trump elector scheme
“Rachel Maddow compares the boilerplate language
past vice presidents have used in announcing the counting of the electoral college votes,
and the additional language about the Senate parliamentarian Mike Pence added,
suggesting he knew about the fake Trump elector slates.”
DeSantis proposes congressional map that dilutes minority voting strength
“Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis inserted himself directly into the redistricting fight by submitting a map
that experts say would reduce Black and Hispanic voting strength in congressional districts and raise new questions about his commitment to the Fair District standards of the Florida Constitution.
The map, posted to the Florida Redistricting website (https://www.floridaredistricting.gov/pages/submitted-plans)
on Sunday by DeSantis’ general counsel, Ryan Newman, would create five districts that are at 50% Hispanic voting-age population, but experts say that may not be enough to elect Hispanic candidates in districts
with high numbers of voting-age Hispanic non-citizens.
The map would also reduce the number of Black-majority districts in Florida from four to two,
eliminating Black districts in North Florida and Orlando
and leaving two in South Florida.
” *Good: The federal government’s website for Americans to order at-home rapid Covid-19 testing kits
launched on Tuesday. The website says ‘every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.'”
“It is no coincidence
that after more Americans voted
than in the history of this country in the 2020 election
that suddenly there was a slew, a flood of state election laws
meant to suppress the votes of Americans,”
said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who chairs the Senate Rules Committee.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), recounting efforts by Republican legislators in his own state,
argued that “nothing less than the very future of our democracy is at stake,
and we must act or risk losing
what so many Americans have fought for and have died for nearly 250 years.”
S & M surely understand that by blocking Voting Rights and American democracy
they’re inviting trumpkoch’s unfathomable, unthinkable autocratic world of suffering and death.
But no matter how many Americans die now due to anti-vaxxers:
Former president trump will still be guilty of criminal negligence,
denying and refusing to act on Covid, and causing hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths.
⚡️NEW | Bronx native Cardi B to cover funeral costs for all 17 victims of the deadly high-rise blaze
“I cannot begin to imagine the pain and anguish … I hope that not having to worry about the costs associated with burying their loved ones will help.” https://t.co/aNXC9bb2Eg
Fast Facts:
Record Firsts in President Biden’s First Year
“President Biden and Vice President Harris delivered results for the American people in their first year in office. The President and Vice President made history growing our economy, addressing the climate crisis, and building a judiciary and government that represents America. Despite unprecedented challenges, 2021 was a year of record progress for working families.
Jobs: President Biden’s first year was the greatest year of job creation in American history, with more than 6 million jobs created.
Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate dropped from 6.2% when Biden took office to 3.9%, the biggest single year drop in American history.
Unemployment Claims: The average number of Americans filing for unemployment has been near its lowest level since 1969. When the President took office, over 18 million were receiving unemployment benefits, today only 2 million are—also the biggest single year drop in history.
Economic Legislation Passed: Most significant by economic impact of any first-year president.
Child Poverty: Experts estimate the lowest child poverty rate ever in 2021.
Expanded Access to Health Care: Nearly 5 million Americans have newly gained health insurance coverage.
Reduced Hunger: The n(whumber of households reporting that they sometimes or often did not have enough food to eat dropped by 32%.
Judges Confirmed: More judges confirmed to lower federal courts than any president since President Kennedy.
Judges That Reflect Our Nation: More Black women appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals than any president – even over 8 years – in history.
Cabinet: First majority non-white Cabinet in history, with most women in the Cabinet, including first woman Treasury Secretary, first LGBTQ+ and Native American Cabinet officials, and first woman Director of National Intelligence.
Climate Investments: Largest investments ever in the power grid, electric vehicle chargers, and climate resilience.
Clean Water: Largest investment and national, bipartisan plan to get safe and clean drinking water to all Americans.
Cleaner Cars: Strongest vehicle emissions standards ever to save drivers money at the pump and reduce pollution.
Wind: First-ever approvals of large-scale offshore wind projects.
Personnel: Most diverse Administration in history – most women, people of color, disability, LGBTQ+, first generation American, and first-generation college graduates.”
That’s a lot of first accomplishments, just remarkable.
—whereas the former president does not register, is not in the same league whatsoever.
—the former president is a longtime criminal, and must be brought to justice.
Thanks to the life-saving work by scientists and our government’s top medical experts, we have COVID-19 vaccines to protect us. This is what happens when we trust science, and hardworking doctors and researchers set out to do big things. https://t.co/4F1QZC8KYe
There is so much to say about Pres Biden's presser.
The thing that sticks w/ me is that he took responsibility for mistakes he believes he made, expressed genuine frustration w/ COVID & his agenda being stalled by GOP and Democrats & took hard questions without insulting folks.
Morning everyone. Well… I must apologize for my fake ass Democratic senator…she will not be around when the next election for her senate seat comes around. I can tell you, personally, that we were duped…and the choice was her or McSally ..a COMPLETE and total nutbag and a nonstarter for me. SO, with that said, we must vote in more Democrats to the House and Senate come November and make these two yahoos a non-issue. I feel betrayed, but now we all know for certain where they stand. Can’t imagine any democrats will want her to sit at their lunch table…she’s now a toxic waste dump. But, we still need her on our side because of our razor thin majority…so, I tried to sway her, but now I’ll just shut up, keep my head down, and fight like hell to make her fade into the woodwork…We fight on and will never give up until all Americans can have access to a ballot and have it fairly counted…we march on.
Bernie Sanders Vows To Primary Manchin And Sinema For Their Betrayal
“These are people who I think have undermined the President of the United States”
“They have forced us to have five months of discussions that have gone absolutely nowhere,”
“We went from 2 million people being vaccinated at the moment I was sworn in to 210 million Americans being fully vaccinated today.”
“We have the tools — vaccines, boosters, masks, tests, pills — to save lives and keep businesses and schools open.
Seventy-five percent of adults are fully vaccinated.
We’ve gone from 90 million adults with no shots in arms last summer down to 35 million with no shots as of today. And we’re adding about 9 million more vaccinations each week.
We’re going to stick with our vaccination efforts because vaccinations work. So, get vaccinated, please. And get your booster.
Look, we’re also increasing testing. Should we have done more testing earlier? Yes. But we’re doing more now. We’ve gone from zero at-home tests a year ago to 375 million tests on the market in just this month. If you buy a test at a store, your insurance will reimburse you.
On top of that, we’re making 1 billion — 1 billion at-home tests available for you to order and be delivered to your home for free. Just visit COVIDTests.gov to know how to get that free test kit to your home.
In addition, there are 20,000 sites where you can get tested in person for free, now.
And now we have more treatments that people can — that — for people — to keep people out of the hospital than any other point in the pandemic, including life saving antiviral pills. We purchased 20 million of these new Pfizer pills — more than any country in the world.”
“Because of the American Rescue Plan,
we provided the states $130 billion — $130 billion to keep our students and educators safe and schools open: funding for ventilation systems in schools, social distancing, hygiene for classrooms and the school buses. In addition, we’ve added another $10 billion for COVID-19 tests to be able to be administered at schools.
And many states and school districts have spent this money very well. Unfortunately, some haven’t.
I encourage the states and school districts that use the funding to protect our children and keep their schools open: Use it.”
When @BarackObama left office 5 years ago today he launched the @ObamaFoundation, and we have been busy! Check out the ways we are creating a beacon of hope in Chicago and helping the next generation of leaders change the world. https://t.co/XvUc7EpyZQ
As we celebrate the Obama Foundation’s fifth year of building a global network of emerging leaders—all while building the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side of Chicago—we wanted to take a moment to reflect on five ways we’re making a difference thanks to your support.
I've never been more optimistic about our future. Together we've had an historic first year and we will continue to deliver for the American people. https://t.co/Inf9YbGoAl
When Michelle and I launched the @ObamaFoundation, we turned to you first. We read your letters and emails, and listened to your ideas. Five years later, we’ve come a long way with your help — and we’re even more excited about what’s next. https://t.co/l4N5KMkK1opic.twitter.com/TtGZSEhvqK
Wrote this on Inauguration Day, one year ago! Still feel this way. It’s been tough, but it could have been so much worse of a year, otherwise. Ugh.
***
We got pulled into an abyss
But on nights like this
We see brighter days ahead of us
We see each new day as a plus
I’m in for the long haul
And as we all stand tall
We can all withstand any storm
As normalcy is again the norm
God bless Joe and Kamala and all of us
Before we sleep, we’ll see each night as a plus
And each tomorrow, when the sun shines again
We’ll all wake up to a loud Amen!
#BREAKING: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is requesting a special grand jury to aid in her investigation of former President Donald Trump and his efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 #election results. https://t.co/evyGVQILKW
The Obama Diary 
Happy Birthday Mrs. O! ❤️
Hiya Nerdy! Thanks for the new post! Hope you are thriving today! 😘❤️
Congrats, Dudette! March on.
Hi Judith! 😘
Good West Coast Dr. MLK Day, Nerdy and TOD family.
We must not, we can not forget!
Thank you Nerdy 💖✊🏾🙋🏾♀️
MVP’s MLK Day Remarks
Today would’ve been Betty White’s 100th birthday. 🥺❤️
I donated to our local shelter today.
Tell em Val. Hello OBD, ggail44. I still lurk here !!!
🙋🏾♀️💝
Little one’s evil victory laugh! 😆😂🤣
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/give-us-ballot-address-delivered-prayer-pilgrimage-freedom
“Give Us the Ballot,” Address Delivered at the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom
Author:
King, Martin Luther, Jr.
Date:
May 17, 1957
Location:
Washington, D.C.
Genre:
Speech
Topic:
Brown v. Board of Education
Martin Luther King, Jr. – Political and Social Views
Nonviolence
Voter registration
Some twenty thousand people listened to three hours of speeches, music, and testimony from southern activists.
Speaking last, King exhorts the president and members of Congress to ensure voting rights for African Americans and indicts both political parties for betraying the cause of justice: “The Democrats have betrayed it by capitulating to the prejudices and undemocratic practices of the southern Dixiecrats. The Republicans have betrayed it by capitulating to the blatant hypocrisy of right wing, reactionary northerners. These men so often have a high blood pressure of words and an anemia of deeds.”
Although turnout for the Pilgrimage did not reach the organizers’ goal of fifty thousand, the event was well noted in the press, and King’s address in particular received much positive attention. Harold Sims, sent by the U.S. National Student Association to cover the Pilgrimage, described the day: “The air was filled with shouts of ‘amen’ and ‘hallelujah’ as the speakers sounded their voices in defense of civil rights. Handkerchiefs flew above the heads of the crowd as it listened to the fiery orators…. They were jubilant sounds… sounds of disillusioned souls discovering their country.”
Y’all, we all should take a moment and read or listen to this speech. Dr. King spoke these words in 1957, yet it could have been spoken yesterday or…today.
Here is an excerpt:
“This dearth of positive leadership from the federal government is not confined to one particular political party. Both political parties have betrayed the cause of justice. The Democrats have betrayed it by capitulating to the prejudices and undemocratic practices of the southern Dixiecrats. The Republicans have betrayed it by capitulating to the blatant hypocrisy of right wing, reactionary northerners. These men so often have a high blood pressure of words and an anemia of deeds.”
Tim Scott is a hypocritical ass!
Mrs. O! Tune in tonight!
Remarks by Vice President Harris
at Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community Commemorative Service
“As Dr. King said, the only normalcy he would accept is “the normalcy that recognizes the dignity and worth of all God’s children.”
(https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/01/17/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-at-martin-luther-king-jr-beloved-community-commemorative-service/)
Best wishes, thanks and love to the Martin Luther King Jr family on this auspicious day !!!
In trouble…have two very nice pulled back muscles…apart from which…will see you here only occasionally this week…pls be well.
Oooo, brp, I’m so sorry. That must be excruciating! Take care of yourself. Sending prayers for quick healing!
take care of yourself
thx both
Oh no!! Hope you recover soon.
Whoa!!! 😮
Gorgeous:) My birthstone…I think it’s the prettiest of all the gems, but I’m partial 🙂
Happy Heavenly Birthday to The Greatest!
James Earl Jones is 91 today!
What a great, great story! Thanks so much for sharing Lucy here with us…what an incredible story and an incredible woman…
Isn’t it great?! The movie is so incredible. What a woman! I want the whole world to see her movie.
It really is. I enjoyed watching her story very much…
Look at this crazy mess! Republicans are crooked and evil as hell!
Sue!! This is nonsense.
Look at our Forever FLOTUS enjoying her birthday! ❤️😁❤️
This baby said it right…
Okay, here come the waterworks! 😭
This thread! This thread! This thread!
Happy Birthday Michelle Obama.
Happy belated birthday wishes to our beloved forever Michelle !!
💝
Such a nice tribute.
THIS!
Dear God! This is awful!
Satellite images are something to behold.
Congresswoman Joyce Beatty.
Congressional Black Caucus chair offers political warning to voting rights opponents
“Rep. Joyce Beatty, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, talks with Rachel Maddow about the electoral consequences that will come to members of Congress who get in the way of passing voting rights legislation.”
Speaker Pelosi Remarks at Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Deliver for Voting Rights Press Conference
“But in any event, Dr. King, Coretta Scott King and those who were associated with them,
including our beloved John Lewis, they believed in non-violence. They traveled – the Kings – to India to study the Mahatma Gandhi principle of non-violence. The word for non-violence in Sanskrit, ‘satyagraha,’ has two meanings. One is ‘non-violence.’ The other is ‘insistence on the truth.’ And, that’s the message they shared with them, brought back and the rest. And, we are insisting on the truth.
The truth is that what is happening in the Congress – and I give great credit to the Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer for his relentless and persistence in trying to get this done and to the President for his leadership, but we have to get this done. And, the truth is that our colleagues, House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans, must weigh the equities here. While it may be true to them that the filibuster is an important custom, it is not the Constitution of the United States. The truth is – and the truth is that the Constitution says only if you’re ratifying a treaty, convicting an impeached person or ratifying the Constitution, a simple majority. That’s why the Vice President can break a tie, 50-50.
So, the truth – we want all of them in the Senate to weigh the equities.
We all want bipartisanship. We all strive for it. We have a responsibility to do so.
But, when we cannot have it, we cannot confine our democracy to what might be bipartisanly possible.
So, I ask our colleagues in the Senate, respectfully, for what they think filibuster means, to compare that – to weigh the equities against our democracy. Because, nothing less is at stake than our democracy.”
(speaker.gov)
Supermoon and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
“A supermoon is seen as it sets over the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016,
in Washington. A supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth. That morning, the Moon was the closest it has been to Earth since 1948, and it appeared 30 percent brighter and 14 percent bigger than the average monthly full Moon.”
(https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/supermoon-and-the-martin-luther-king-jr-memorial)
BET Her and BET to Air Exclusive Special With Michelle Obama (yesterday)
by Rashad Grove
“On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, BET Her and BET will air BET Her Presents…Becoming:
Michelle Obama In Conversation, an exclusive special with Michelle Obama. It will be moderated by Yara Shahidi and feature students from 22 participating colleges throughout the country.
During the special, Obama will discuss the themes from her acclaimed New York Times bestselling memoir, Becoming, published by Crown/Penguin Random House, and what it’s like to navigate young adulthood in the current climate. She will lead discussions on topics such as mental wellness, diversity, and inclusion on college campuses.”
(https://www.ebony.com/entertainment/bet-her-and-bet-michelle-obama-special/)
—–anyone see this?
Rep. Gallego (paraphrazing):
“You cannot say you’re for voting rights if you’re not willing to open the door to pass it.
A one time filibuster to pass voting rights.”
Debate on voting rights in the Senate underway.
Hi Everyone! The government site for order your 4 free COVID has started accepting orders a day early! I just placed my order. Go online to get yours:
https://www.covidtests.gov/
Ordered mine immediately!
👍🏾
SO easy!
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPfcI9WYZzQ)
Mike Pence script change seems to address fake Trump elector scheme
“Rachel Maddow compares the boilerplate language
past vice presidents have used in announcing the counting of the electoral college votes,
and the additional language about the Senate parliamentarian Mike Pence added,
suggesting he knew about the fake Trump elector slates.”
DeSantis proposes congressional map that dilutes minority voting strength
“Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis inserted himself directly into the redistricting fight by submitting a map
that experts say would reduce Black and Hispanic voting strength in congressional districts and raise new questions about his commitment to the Fair District standards of the Florida Constitution.
The map, posted to the Florida Redistricting website (https://www.floridaredistricting.gov/pages/submitted-plans)
on Sunday by DeSantis’ general counsel, Ryan Newman, would create five districts that are at 50% Hispanic voting-age population, but experts say that may not be enough to elect Hispanic candidates in districts
with high numbers of voting-age Hispanic non-citizens.
The map would also reduce the number of Black-majority districts in Florida from four to two,
eliminating Black districts in North Florida and Orlando
and leaving two in South Florida.
(https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article257442847.html)
RIP
” *Good: The federal government’s website for Americans to order at-home rapid Covid-19 testing kits
launched on Tuesday. The website says ‘every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.'”
Benen: (https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/tuesday-s-mini-report-1-18-22-n1287669)
“It is no coincidence
that after more Americans voted
than in the history of this country in the 2020 election
that suddenly there was a slew, a flood of state election laws
meant to suppress the votes of Americans,”
said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who chairs the Senate Rules Committee.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), recounting efforts by Republican legislators in his own state,
argued that “nothing less than the very future of our democracy is at stake,
and we must act or risk losing
what so many Americans have fought for and have died for nearly 250 years.”
(https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/590405-democrats-make-final-plea-for-voting-rights-ahead-of-filibuster-showdown)
= anti-American, anti-Constitution, anti-civil rights GOP/KOCH spouting “states rights” while pushing to get rid of Drop Boxes in a pandemic.
S & M surely understand that by blocking Voting Rights and American democracy
they’re inviting trumpkoch’s unfathomable, unthinkable autocratic world of suffering and death.
But no matter how many Americans die now due to anti-vaxxers:
Former president trump will still be guilty of criminal negligence,
denying and refusing to act on Covid, and causing hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths.
Fast Facts:
Record Firsts in President Biden’s First Year
“President Biden and Vice President Harris delivered results for the American people in their first year in office. The President and Vice President made history growing our economy, addressing the climate crisis, and building a judiciary and government that represents America. Despite unprecedented challenges, 2021 was a year of record progress for working families.
Jobs: President Biden’s first year was the greatest year of job creation in American history, with more than 6 million jobs created.
Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate dropped from 6.2% when Biden took office to 3.9%, the biggest single year drop in American history.
Unemployment Claims: The average number of Americans filing for unemployment has been near its lowest level since 1969. When the President took office, over 18 million were receiving unemployment benefits, today only 2 million are—also the biggest single year drop in history.
Economic Legislation Passed: Most significant by economic impact of any first-year president.
Child Poverty: Experts estimate the lowest child poverty rate ever in 2021.
Expanded Access to Health Care: Nearly 5 million Americans have newly gained health insurance coverage.
Reduced Hunger: The n(whumber of households reporting that they sometimes or often did not have enough food to eat dropped by 32%.
Judges Confirmed: More judges confirmed to lower federal courts than any president since President Kennedy.
Judges That Reflect Our Nation: More Black women appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals than any president – even over 8 years – in history.
Cabinet: First majority non-white Cabinet in history, with most women in the Cabinet, including first woman Treasury Secretary, first LGBTQ+ and Native American Cabinet officials, and first woman Director of National Intelligence.
Climate Investments: Largest investments ever in the power grid, electric vehicle chargers, and climate resilience.
Clean Water: Largest investment and national, bipartisan plan to get safe and clean drinking water to all Americans.
Cleaner Cars: Strongest vehicle emissions standards ever to save drivers money at the pump and reduce pollution.
Wind: First-ever approvals of large-scale offshore wind projects.
Personnel: Most diverse Administration in history – most women, people of color, disability, LGBTQ+, first generation American, and first-generation college graduates.”
(whitehouse.gov)
That’s a lot of first accomplishments, just remarkable.
—whereas the former president does not register, is not in the same league whatsoever.
—the former president is a longtime criminal, and must be brought to justice.
Honest and true engagement…congrats to our President who just ended Press Conference that went one hour and 54 minutes.
He was great!
Morning everyone. Well… I must apologize for my fake ass Democratic senator…she will not be around when the next election for her senate seat comes around. I can tell you, personally, that we were duped…and the choice was her or McSally ..a COMPLETE and total nutbag and a nonstarter for me. SO, with that said, we must vote in more Democrats to the House and Senate come November and make these two yahoos a non-issue. I feel betrayed, but now we all know for certain where they stand. Can’t imagine any democrats will want her to sit at their lunch table…she’s now a toxic waste dump. But, we still need her on our side because of our razor thin majority…so, I tried to sway her, but now I’ll just shut up, keep my head down, and fight like hell to make her fade into the woodwork…We fight on and will never give up until all Americans can have access to a ballot and have it fairly counted…we march on.
We March On!!!
Georgia….you did SO GOOD.
Bernie Sanders Vows To Primary Manchin And Sinema For Their Betrayal
“These are people who I think have undermined the President of the United States”
“They have forced us to have five months of discussions that have gone absolutely nowhere,”
(https://www.politicususa.com/2022/01/19/bernie-sanders-vows-to-primary-manchin-and-sinema-for-their-betrayal.html)
interesting to know exactly what is their pay off for opening the door to an authoritarian future.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) slams the “no-show, no-effort invisible filibuster we’ve had since 1975.”
James Carville about President Biden yesterday:
“He planted an oak tree, let’s water it and help this thing to grow”
Remarks by President Biden in Press Conference
“We went from 2 million people being vaccinated at the moment I was sworn in to 210 million Americans being fully vaccinated today.”
“We have the tools — vaccines, boosters, masks, tests, pills — to save lives and keep businesses and schools open.
Seventy-five percent of adults are fully vaccinated.
We’ve gone from 90 million adults with no shots in arms last summer down to 35 million with no shots as of today. And we’re adding about 9 million more vaccinations each week.
We’re going to stick with our vaccination efforts because vaccinations work. So, get vaccinated, please. And get your booster.
Look, we’re also increasing testing. Should we have done more testing earlier? Yes. But we’re doing more now. We’ve gone from zero at-home tests a year ago to 375 million tests on the market in just this month. If you buy a test at a store, your insurance will reimburse you.
On top of that, we’re making 1 billion — 1 billion at-home tests available for you to order and be delivered to your home for free. Just visit COVIDTests.gov to know how to get that free test kit to your home.
In addition, there are 20,000 sites where you can get tested in person for free, now.
And now we have more treatments that people can — that — for people — to keep people out of the hospital than any other point in the pandemic, including life saving antiviral pills. We purchased 20 million of these new Pfizer pills — more than any country in the world.”
((https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/01/19/remarks-by-president-biden-in-press-conference-6/)
“Because of the American Rescue Plan,
we provided the states $130 billion — $130 billion to keep our students and educators safe and schools open: funding for ventilation systems in schools, social distancing, hygiene for classrooms and the school buses. In addition, we’ve added another $10 billion for COVID-19 tests to be able to be administered at schools.
And many states and school districts have spent this money very well. Unfortunately, some haven’t.
I encourage the states and school districts that use the funding to protect our children and keep their schools open: Use it.”
(whitehouse.gov)
…just extraordinary presser…and love the zingers.
btw time for predatory media still spinning “Low marks for Covid performance” to move on.
Trump was going to let us all die who cares, good riddance — now we’ve a new President who wants us to live.
Celebrating 5 years of The Obama Foundation!
One Year of The Biden-Harris Administration
LIVE NOW:
Wrote this on Inauguration Day, one year ago! Still feel this way. It’s been tough, but it could have been so much worse of a year, otherwise. Ugh.
***
We got pulled into an abyss
But on nights like this
We see brighter days ahead of us
We see each new day as a plus
I’m in for the long haul
And as we all stand tall
We can all withstand any storm
As normalcy is again the norm
God bless Joe and Kamala and all of us
Before we sleep, we’ll see each night as a plus
And each tomorrow, when the sun shines again
We’ll all wake up to a loud Amen!
JOB, I hope you are keeping all your poems. I would buy a booklet with them in it. You are an amazing poet.
Thank you so much!
I agree.
OMG.
Awwww! Still one of my favorites!
NICE!!
New post.