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20 December 19
Andy Borowitz | Andrew Johnson Horrified That History Books Will Mention Him in Same Sentence as Trump
Andy Borowitz, The New Yorker
Borowitz writes: "In a rare public statement from beyond the grave, Andrew Johnson, the seventeenth President of the United States, said that he was 'horrified' that history books will now mention him in the same sentence as Donald J. Trump."
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Andy Borowitz, The New Yorker
Borowitz writes: "In a rare public statement from beyond the grave, Andrew Johnson, the seventeenth President of the United States, said that he was 'horrified' that history books will now mention him in the same sentence as Donald J. Trump."
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An independent investigation found that Washington state Representative Matt Shea has taken part in acts of political intimidation and domestic terrorism. (photo: Dorothy Edwards/Crosscut)
GOP Lawmaker Participated in 3 Armed Standoffs Against US Government, Report Says
Alberto Luperon, Law & Crime
Luperon writes: "A Republican lawmaker in Washington state participated in three armed standoffs against the United States from 2014 through 2016, said a report written for the Washington State House of Representatives."
Alberto Luperon, Law & Crime
Luperon writes: "A Republican lawmaker in Washington state participated in three armed standoffs against the United States from 2014 through 2016, said a report written for the Washington State House of Representatives."
Some of the details about Rep. Matt Shea were already known, but the results of this investigation led to renewed calls for his resignation.
The report said the lawmaker participated in, helped plan, or otherwise supported three armed standoffs.
- Rancher Cliven Bundy‘s armed stand off with the U.S. government in resistance to a federal court order.
- A standoff in Bonner County, Idaho. There was going to be a planned lawful removal of guns from a military veteran who had been added to the National Instant Criminal Background System because a healthcare professional determined he was ineligible to buy firearms, said the report.< The takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Oregon. The report states he engaged in significant pre-planning for the 41-day standoff.
“Representative Shea on or about January 3, 2016, created a detailed military styled operation plan entitled ‘Operation Cold Reality’ that included roles and responsibilities of [his group the Coalition of Western States] members and militia leadership in support of the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Oregon,” the report stated.
Other findings included Shea using intimidation tactics against a political opponent. According to the report, he posted a picture of himself on his Facebook page in front of the opponent’s home, but refused to take it down at the request of that opponent, party affiliates, and law enforcement officials.
Shea dismissed the report on his Facebook account.
“Like we are seeing with our President this is a sham investigation meant to silence those of us who stand up against attempts to disarm and destroy our great country,” he wrote. “I will not back down, I will not give in, I will not resign. Stand strong fellow Patriots.”
The report authors said he declined to be interviewed for the investigation.
Shea has been suspended from the House GOP caucus, said House Minority Leader Rep. J.T. Wilcox on Twitter.
Rep. Matt Shea has been suspended from any role in the House Republican Caucus. He should resign. He cannot use House Republican staff, he cannot meet with the caucus, his office will be moved. seattletimes.com/seattle-news/p…
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A number of controversial details in the investigation were previously reported by media outlets. For example, investigators determined Shea wrote a missive called the Biblical Basis for War. This document argued that the U.S. government should be replaced with a theocracy, and that men who oppose this idea should be killed. Shea also supported training minors and young adults for a “Holy war,” said the report.
Matt Bevin looks out at the crowd during a campaign rally with President Trump in Lexington, KY, in November. (photo: Timothy D. Easley/AP)
Kentucky's Ex-Governor Pardoned a Child Rapist Because the 9-Year-Old Victim's Hymen Was Intact
Antonia Noori Farzan, The Washington Post
Farzan writes: "When the Louisville Courier-Journal revealed earlier this month that former Kentucky governor Matt Bevin had pardoned a slew of violent criminals during his final weeks in office, he cited his belief in second chances."
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Antonia Noori Farzan, The Washington Post
Farzan writes: "When the Louisville Courier-Journal revealed earlier this month that former Kentucky governor Matt Bevin had pardoned a slew of violent criminals during his final weeks in office, he cited his belief in second chances."
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U.S. troops. (photo: Dept. of Defense)
Trump to Sign $738 Billion Defense Bill: What Does It Include?
Al Jazeera
Excerpt: "US President Donald Trump said he will sign a $738 billion defense policy bill on Friday that includes paid parental leave, the creation of a space force and a measure providing another means to punish Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies with sanctions."
Al Jazeera
Excerpt: "US President Donald Trump said he will sign a $738 billion defense policy bill on Friday that includes paid parental leave, the creation of a space force and a measure providing another means to punish Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies with sanctions."
EXCERPT:
Democrats were forced to drop a provision to block Trump from transferring money from Pentagon accounts to construct a fence along the US-Mexico border. They also dropped protections for transgender troops and tougher regulations on toxic chemicals that are found in firefighting foam used at military installations.
Negotiations broke free, however, after Republicans agreed to accept a Democratic demand - endorsed by Trump in end-stage negotiations - for the landmark parental leave provision, which provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to federal employees.
Syria, Russia, Iran
Democrats also let go of House-passed provisions to restrict Trump from waging war against Iran unless Congress approves; ban deployment of new submarine-launched, low-yield nuclear weapons; and ban US military assistance for attacks by Saudi-led forces in Yemen.
The bill contains a measure called the Caesar Act, which had failed to gain congressional approval in several previous attempts. It applies sanctions to supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's military efforts in the country's civil war, which include Russia and Iran. It also grants authorities to the US secretary of state to support those collecting evidence and pursuing prosecutions of people who have committed war crimes in Syria.
The popularity of the annual defence policy bill reflects strong support among members of Congress for military personnel and the economic boost that military installations and defence contractors provide back home. Recent defence increases have been a boon for contractors such as Lockheed Martin, lead manufacturer of the F-35 fighter.
Despite broad bipartisan support, a few left-leaning Democrats and libertarian-leaning Republicans voted against the NDAA because it did not include policy planks that would have restrained Trump's war powers, including the ban on support for Saudi Arabia's air campaign in Yemen.
Some also objected to the 2.8 percent increase in military spending, as the national debt is skyrocketing.
Santo Catalino López Velásquez poses with his baby daughter, toddler son and wife Fidelia Jaqueline García Álvarez inside a shelter for immigrants in Mexicali, Mexico. (photo: Emilio Espejel/Guardian UK)
Trump's 'Shameful' Migrant Stance Condemns Thousands to Violent Limbo in Mexico
Tom Phillips, Guardian UK
Phillips writes: "More than 57,000 asylum seekers have been forced to wait for their court hearings in Mexican border towns - some of the most violent places on Earth."
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Tom Phillips, Guardian UK
Phillips writes: "More than 57,000 asylum seekers have been forced to wait for their court hearings in Mexican border towns - some of the most violent places on Earth."
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Palestinian protesters wave flags in front of Israeli soldiers on Gaza's border with Israel near Beit Lahiya. (photo: Adel Hana/AP)
ICC to Investigate Potential Israeli War Crimes in Palestinian Territories
Al Jazeera
Excerpt: "The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has said she will launch a full investigation into alleged war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories."
Al Jazeera
Excerpt: "The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has said she will launch a full investigation into alleged war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories."
EXCERPT:
Bensouda launched a preliminary probe in January 2015 into allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel and the Palestinian territories, in the wake of the 2014 Gaza war which left 2,251 dead on the Palestinian side, the majority civilians, and 74 on the Israeli side, most of them soldiers.
Israel and its ally, the United States, have both refused to sign up to the court, which was set up in 2002 to be the only global tribunal trying the world's worst crimes, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Newly planted oil palm plantation in Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. (photo: Rhett A. Butler/Mongabay)
Paris Accord 'Impossible to Implement' if Tropical Forest Loss Not Stopped
Taran Volckhausen, Mongabay
Volckhausen writes: "Across the tropics, flames rip through forests, chainsaws tear down ancient trees, while elite farmers and ranchers make a grab for more land belonging to the public or to indigenous people - a land-hunger fed by commodities trading giants and global investors in pursuit of ever higher profits gained from international markets in the EU, China, the U.S. and elsewhere."
Taran Volckhausen, Mongabay
Volckhausen writes: "Across the tropics, flames rip through forests, chainsaws tear down ancient trees, while elite farmers and ranchers make a grab for more land belonging to the public or to indigenous people - a land-hunger fed by commodities trading giants and global investors in pursuit of ever higher profits gained from international markets in the EU, China, the U.S. and elsewhere."
EXCERPT:
A darkening prospect for intact forests
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) recently published a study in the journal Science Advances suggesting intact tropical forest loss from 2000 to 2013 will result in over 626% more long-term carbon emissions through 2050 than previously thought. The researchers arrived at this upward revision by adding up emissions that would have been removed from the air if tropical forest remained intact, from selective logging, defaunation, and carbon stock degradation at forest edges that had been overlooked in previous studies.
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