Armed Man Wearing Rainbow Wig Said He'd Restore Trump as 'President King' and 'Kill Democrats' by Brad Reed
September 13, 2022
Introduction:
(Raw Story) A Pennsylvania Trump supporter has been arrested after he barged into a local Dairy Queen and informed patrons he was working to restore Trump as "president king" while also vowing to "kill Democrats."
TribLive reports that 61-year-old Jan Stawovy of Hempfield, Pennsylvania this week walked into a local Dairy Queen carrying a loaded handgun and started raving about his "undercover" work to "to restore Trump to President King of the United States."
Police say that he also said he would "kill Democrats and liberals," while also claiming that he needed to be in possession of guns to protect himself from drug traffickers.
Local police officers were alerted to Stawovy's presence after a tipster called 911 and told them they'd just seen a man wearing a rainbow clown wig and a yellow safety vest walking into the Dairy Queen with a gun.
Police Chief T.J. Klobucar told TribLive that his officers "were there within seconds to take control before anything happened."
Can We Reduce Partisan Animosity? New Analysis Finds Promise in Previous Research September 19, 2022
Introduction:
(EurekAlert) Partisan animosity is a growing concern in the United States and abroad, but a new analysis outlines ways to potentially diminish a sentiment that has come to define today’s political landscape.
In an analysis of more than 40 studies, which appears in the journal Nature Human Behavior, a team of researchers spotlights multiple means to decrease political division:
• Correcting misconceptions and highlighting commonalities
• Building dialogue skills
• Changing public discourse and transforming political structures
“No single strategy is likely to reduce polarization for every audience and every issue, so our analysis points to ways we can take targeted approaches to address different groups and circumstances,” says Kurt Gray, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and one of the authors of the paper.
“Reducing partisan animosity is surely a challenge, but this work shows that successful interventions can help partisans gain more accurate perceptions of each other and recognize the similarities they share,” adds Rachel Hartman, a doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the paper’s lead author.
Liz Cheney Introduces Electoral Vote Bill to Avoid Repeat of January 6 September 19, 2022
Introduction:
( Bloomberg) Republican Representative Liz Cheney introduced a bill Monday that would change how Congress counts presidential electors to reduce the chances of another effort to overturn election results like that mounted by former President Donald Trump last year.
Co-sponsored with Democratic Representative Zoe Lofgren, the legislation would direct challenges to state elections to courts and limit the vice president’s role in electoral vote-counting as “ministerial.” That grew out of Trump’s attempt to pressure his vice president, Mike Pence, to take action as the Senate’s presiding officer during the counting of the Electoral College results to obstruct or delay formal certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 victory.
It also would raise the bar to challenge a state’s electors to one-third of both the House and Senate. Currently, if one member of Congress from each chamber objects to a presidential election during the arcane certification process, the chambers have to debate and hold a vote on the objection, as was done in 2021.
The bill is broadly similar to legislation being written by a bipartisan group of senators that is expected to be voted on during the lame-duck session between the November midterm election and the end of the year. Both bills would limit the kind of maneuvers used by Trump and his allies to overturn his loss in 2020 presidential election, which culminated in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol as Congress certified the Electoral College vote.
Cheney, of Wyoming, and Lofgren, of California, are members of the House committee that has been investigating the Jan. 6, 2020, insurrection at the US Capitol.
Proud Boys Memo Reveals Meticulous Planning for ‘Street-level Violence’ by Ed Pilkington
September 19, 2022
Introduction:
(The Guardian) The document is so dowdy and formal it resembles the annual minutes of a society of tax accountants. Its index lists sections on “objectives” and “rules of engagement” and carries an “addendum” that provides recommendations for hotels and parking.
On the cover, two words give a clue to the notoriety of the group that produced it: “MAGA” and “WARNING”. That and the date: 5 January 2021, the day before the US Capitol attack.
What goes unsaid on the cover and is barely mentioned throughout the 23 pages is that this is the work of one of the most violent political gangs in America, the far-right street fighters told by Donald Trump to “stand back and stand by”: the Proud Boys.
The document, published by the Guardian for the first time, gives a very rare insight into the meticulous planning that goes into events staged by the far-right club.
The document was obtained from a Proud Boys member by the extremism reporter Andy Campbell as he researched his new book, We Are Proud Boys: How a Right-Wing Street Gang Ushered in a New Era of American Extremism. The book will be published on Tuesday. Campbell shared the document with the Guardian.
Donald Trump's Latest Rally Was 'Humiliating' and the 'Last Gasp of a Dying Cult': Former GOP Lawmaker by Justin Klawans
September 19, 2022
Introduction:
(Alternet ) A former Republican congresswoman is blasting a recent speech from former President Donald Trump, calling it "humiliating" and referring to the event as a "QAnon Fest."
Barbara Comstock, who served as a GOP representative from Virginia from 2015 to 2019, spoke Sunday evening on CNN following the former president's speech. The event, which took place in Youngstown, Ohio, was a rally in support of Senate candidate J.D. Vance, someone who Trump has boosted heavily in recent months.
The speech was largely full of most of the same rhetoric that has been heard from Trump since he left office, and Comstock told CNN anchor Jim Acosta that the event was a "contribution to [Democratic challenger] Tim Ryan." She went on to say that Trump made "J.D. Vance look like a mouse, not a man."
"It was humiliating," Comstock added. "It was a QAnon fest, it was playing this strange QAnon music, they were all sort of, you know, bowing - I think Marjorie Greene was there talking about the one true leader." The event featured a number of bizarre outings, such as one moment when the rally attendees raised their hands to the former president in an apparent show of loyalty.
However, Comstock noted that, while Trump has often pushed the size of his rally crowds, the event was lightly attended.
Donald Trump's recent open embrace of QAnon raises concern as group is tied to violence
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WASHINGTON —In recent weeks, former President Donald Trump has openly embraced the QAnon conspiracy theory in his social media postings and at political rallies, even as the number of real-world violent episodes – including killings – associated with the group continue to grow.
Trump's Saturday rally in Youngstown, Ohio, raised concern when he spoke over a signature song tied to the group while his supporters raised their pointer fingers skyward in support.
In return, followers of QAnon, which the FBI has called a domestic extremism threat, have celebrated Trump’s public support. Trump's actions confirm their belief he is leading a clandestine mission to destroy the so-called Deep State, reclaim the presidency and bring the Democrats, the media and other “anti-Christian” enemies to justice, religious extremism experts and some QAnon followers say.
What has Trump said and done as of late to signal his support for QAnon after years of maintaining a friendly but arms-length relationship with the group? And what are the potential repercussions? USA TODAY conducted research on the organization and interviewed experts about it to decipher what is going on, why it matters – and what might happen next.
On Sept. 3, Trump raised eyebrows by referencing QAnon themes in his speech during a campaign rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, for Republican candidates he is supporting. A song almost identical to QAnon’s theme song, “Wwg1Wga," was also played to close out the rally.
CBO: White House plan to relieve student loan debt costs $400 billion
Source: Washington Post
The White House’s plan to cancel student loan debt for tens of millions of American borrowers will cost roughly $400 billion, according to a new estimate released by Congress’ nonpartisan scorekeeper.
The scorekeeper also found that the White House’s plan to temporarily extend an existing pause on student loan payments would cost roughly $20 billion.
The new estimate will new fuel to the debate over President Biden’s student debt decision, which was cheered by advocates but immediately assailed by Republican lawmakers as a wasteful and inefficient use of government money. Biden announced in August that his administration would cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for lower- and middle-class borrowers.
Supporters of student debt cancellation have argued that similar estimates in the past have overstated the policy’s cost to the federal government, because despite formally owing the federal government money many borrowers never pay back the loans.
Bill to fund government passes House, goes to Biden just before deadline
Source: Washington Post
The House on Friday passed legislation to fund the government and avert a partial shutdown, sending it to President Biden for his signature hours before a midnight deadline. The continuing resolution extends current funding levels until Dec. 16, while also approving $12.4 billion in military and diplomatic spending to help Ukraine in its war against Russia. It also contains $18.8 billion for domestic disaster recovery efforts, including Western wildfires, floods in Kentucky and hurricanes in the Southeast.
The House vote was 230-201, with 10 Republicans breaking ranks to support the legislation. The Senate passed the bill, 72 to 25, on Thursday after Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) dropped his proposal that would have overhauled federal rules for environmental permitting for large energy projects after it became evident it would not garner the 60 votes required to attach it to the must-pass legislation. The president's request to include coronavirus and monkeypox funding was excluded to ensure both chambers could pass the legislation.
"We need this bill," Rep. Rosa De Lauro (D-Conn.) said on the House floor moments before the vote. "We provide relief to working families, to our schools, our children, small businesses, communities across this nation. We support the people of Ukraine. We support them in what is the fight for their lives, for their democracy and for world democracy against Russian aggression. We protect communities everywhere in need of safe water. We help to rebuild them from crushing natural disasters. This bill will make a very real difference in the lives of Americans everywhere." Averting a government shutdown was the final goal for Democrats to complete before leaving Washington for the final sprint to the midterm elections.
Failure to pass a funding bill would be an embarrassment for the party that controls both chambers. Democrats have campaigned on their ability to govern as a contrast to Republicans, who oversaw two government shutdowns during the Trump administration. "We will be able to do what is necessary here in the House to keep the government open to make sure that it can continue to properly function and deliver for the American people," Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Thursday. "House Democrats are going to continue to put people over politics, fight for lower costs, better paying jobs and safer communities."
Social Security benefits to rise by 8.7 percent in 2023
Source: Washington Post
The Social Security Administration on Thursday announced an 8.7 percent increase in benefit checks for seniors starting next year, a response to the fastest U.S. inflation in four decades. The change will affect about 70.3 million Social Security beneficiaries, including roughly 8 million Supplemental Security Income recipients. The adjustment will increase monthly Social Security checks by about $145 per month on average, according to AARP, which represents seniors.
Social Security is the largest source of retirement income for U.S. seniors, but rapid price increases over the past year have diminished the value of that income as well as that of other payments. The increase will help seniors adjust to higher living costs, but it also will further strain Social Security’s finances, bringing forward the date by which the program’s trust fund is projected to be exhausted.
The increase announced Thursday is the largest rise in Social Security payments in roughly four decades. The Social Security Administration increased the program’s benefits by 5.9 percent at the beginning of this year in response to lower — but still substantial — inflation in 2021. The change is known as a cost of living adjustment, or COLA.
“The guaranteed benefits provided by Social Security, including the annual COLA, are more crucial than ever, as high inflation remains a problem for older Americans,” said Jo Ann Jenkins, the chief executive of the AARP, in a statement. “The automatic adjustment is an essential part of Social Security that helps ensure the benefit does not erode over time due to rising prices.”
Mitch McConnell wins secret-ballot election to continue leading Senate Republicans
Source: CNN Politics
CNN — Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell won a secret-ballot leadership election after days of finger-pointing over the Republican midterm losses, putting him on pace to become the longest-serving Senate party leader in US history.
McConnell defeated Florida Sen. Rick Scott, his first challenger in his 15 years atop his conference.
McConnell won the leadership vote 37-10-1 and said at a news conference that he was “pretty proud” of the result.
“I don’t own this job. Anybody who wants to run for it can feel free to do so,” McConnell said. “I’m not in any way offended by having an opponent or having a few votes in opposition.”
Nancy Pelosi to Step Down as House Democratic Leader After Two Decades by Kevin Breuninger
November 17, 2022
Introduction:
(CNBC) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday she will not seek reelection to her congressional leadership role, ending a two-decade streak as the top House Democrat that saw her become the first woman to lead the chamber.
Pelosi, speaking on the House floor, said she will remain a member of Congress and serve out the term to which she was just elected.
“With great confidence in our caucus, I will not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress,” Pelosi said between rounds of applause throughout the 14-minute speech.
“For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic Congress that I so deeply respect,” Pelosi said. “And I am grateful that so many are ready and willing to shoulder this awesome responsibility.”
The announcement came a day after news outlets projected that Democrats would narrowly lose their House majority to Republicans following the midterm elections.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries announces bid to replace Nancy Pelosi as Democratic leader
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Source: NBC News
WASHINGTON — New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the fourth-ranking House Democrat, said Friday that he will run to replace House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the party's leader after Republicans took back control of the chamber in last week’s midterm elections.
His announcement in a letter to colleagues came a day after Pelosi said in a powerful floor speech that she is stepping down after a two-decade reign as the top leader of House Democrats.
If Jeffries is successful, it would represent a historic passing of the torch: Pelosi made history as the first female speaker of the House, while Jeffries, the current Democratic Caucus chairman, would become the first Black leader of a congressional caucus and highest-ranking Black lawmaker on Capitol Hill. If Democrats were to retake control of the House — a real possibility with Republicans having such a narrow majority — Jeffries would be in line to be the first Black speaker in the nation's history.
The ascension of the 52-year-old Jeffries to minority leader would also represent generational change. Pelosi and her top two deputies — Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C. — are all in their 80s and are receiving from within the party for “new blood” in leadership; Hoyer will not seek another leadership post while Clyburn plans to stay on and work with the next generation.
