Original article at: Authoritarianism: Jan 1–8 Changes.
Experts in authoritarianism advise to keep a list of things subtly changing around you, so you’ll remember.
I got this idea from Amy Siskind who is keeping her own weekly list. She’s got a head start on me — looks like she’s been doing this since the election.
Week 1: Experts in authoritarianism advise to keep a list of things subtly changing around you, so…
Week 1: Experts in authoritarianism advise to keep a list of things subtly changing around you, so…
published November 20, 2016
I’m going to consider this a New Year’s resolution and start mine from the first week in January. So my list:
1. Obama sanctions Russia for interfering with elections in a way that Trump really can’t say or do anything about without further damaging his own standing. Trump’s response? “I think we ought to get on with our lives.”
2. Seeing articles discussing a heretofore nearly unknown provision of the Constitution, the emoluments clause.
The Emoluments Clause: Its text, meaning, and application to Donald J. Trump
The Emoluments Clause: Its text, meaning, and application to Donald J. Trump
Foreign interference in the American political system was among the gravest dangers feared by the Founders of our nation and the framers of our Constitution. The United States was a new government…
Source: www.brookings.edu/research/the-emoluments-clause-its-text-meaning-and-application-to-donald-j-trump/
3. Trump’s continual manipulation of the media
4. Worrying about nation-wide access to contraception.
5. Watching twitter warfare risk nuclear confrontation. Hell, just watching PEOTUS babble on twitter.
Trump and Putin: The worst case scenario
Trump and Putin: The worst case scenario
The two states with the most nuclear weapons in the world, backed by authoritarian leaders, may be partnering against shared enemies. What could go wrong?
Donald Trump’s Twitter Account Is A Security Disaster Waiting To Happen
Donald Trump’s Twitter Account Is A Security Disaster Waiting To Happen
With no known special security protections, @realDonaldTrump could be exploited for financial gain, to cause geopolitical instability, or worse.
6. Watching evangelicals abandon any pretense of morality whatsoever.
Evangelicals May Be Turning on Trump Before He’s Even Sworn In
Evangelicals May Be Turning on Trump Before He’s Even Sworn In
Christian conservatives blast PEOTUS’ decision to tap a “charlatan” pastor for his inauguration.
Source: www.alternet.org/2016/12/evangelicals-may-be-turning-trump-hes-even-elected/
7. The boycott of the Inaugural day by performers:
Rebecca Ferguson says she‘ll sing at Trump’s inauguration…under one condition
Rebecca Ferguson says sheâll sing at Trump’s inauguration…under one condition
Donald Trump is in quite the pickle.
Source: mashable.com/2017/01/02/rebecca-ferguson-donald-trump-inauguration/
All the Artists Who Won’t Perform at Donald Trump’s Inauguration
All the Artists Who Won’t Perform at Donald Trump’s Inauguration
Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration will take place Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C., but so far, the president-elect has had some…
Source: ew.com/music/2017/01/10/donald-trump-inauguration-artists-who-wont-perform/
Union says Rockettes not being pressured to perform at Trump inauguration
Union says Rockettes not being pressured to perform at Trump inauguration
Controversy kicked up around The Radio City Rockettes Friday after a dancer took to social media to vent about the troupe’s inauguration performance.
Source: www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rockettes-not-required-perform-trump-inauguration-union-says-n699696
8. House declares intent to gut Ethics, backs off after public outcry:
House Republicans vote to rein in independent ethics office
House Republicans vote to rein in independent ethics office
The move stands to please many lawmakers who have been wary of having their dirty laundry aired, but some Republicans feared it would send a negative message as the GOP assumes unified control in Washington.
House Republicans Drop Efforts To Gut Ethics Watchdog After Onslaught Of Criticism
House Republicans Drop Efforts To Gut Ethics Watchdog After Onslaught Of Criticism
Lawmakers, watchdog groups and the president-elect were critical of the move.
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/house-republicans-ethics_us_586bdb14e4b0de3a08f99e66?6ztihpvi
9. Call ins to protest the extent of blatant corruption and ethics throughout the Trump nominees. Nearly every nominee is about the worst possible imaginable, from DeVos on Education to “Mr Exxon” Tillerson on SoS. Plus Republican-controlled Congress all but abandoning vetting of incoming nominees.
How Donald Trump Could Make Rupert Murdoch Even More Powerful
How Donald Trump Could Make Rupert Murdoch Even More Powerful
President-elect Donald Trump may be preparing to give Rupert Murdoch a big reward for the positive coverage Murdoch’s outlets provided during the election. Trump has asked Murdoch to submit the nam
Congresswoman who tried to end net neutrality now chair of committee on telecommunications
Congresswoman who tried to end net neutrality now chair of committee on telecommunications
Tennessee’s crazy insane lady Rep. Marsha Blackburn just got a new responsibility. She’s going to be the chairperson of the congressional telecommunications subcommittee. Blackburn has consistently tried to unravel FCC attempts to regulate…
Republicans Are Planning to Rush Through Jeff Sessions’s Confirmation Hearing
Republicans Are Planning to Rush Through Jeff Sessions’s Confirmation Hearing
Despite his controversial record, Democrats will only get to call four witnesses during the course of a two-day hearing.
Florida Attorney General Who Took Illegal Trump Cash Gets White House Job
Florida Attorney General Who Took Illegal Trump Cash Gets White House Job
President-elect Trump has rewarded Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi with a White House because she took his illegal campaign contribution and dropped an investigation into Trump University.
Source: www.politicususa.com/2017/01/05/florida-attorney-general-illegal-trump-cash-white-house.html
Rex Tillerson’s Big Oil Ties Endanger the Climate and National Security – Center for American Progress
Rex Tillerson’s Big Oil Ties Endanger the Climate and National Security – Center for American Progress
Oil executive Rex Tillerson has a track record of public deception and putting personal and corporate gain over the American people’s interests, making him a dangerous choice for U.S. secretary of state.
‘There’s no reason’: Reince Priebus claims background checks on Trump’s cabinet are a waste of time
‘There’s no reason’: Reince Priebus claims background checks on Trump’s cabinet are a waste of time
Reince Priebus, chief of staff to Donald Trump, argued on Sunday that there was “no reason” to complete background checks on the president-elect’s cabinet appointments. The Office of Government Ethics warned last week that background checks for Trump’s nominees would not be completed iin times for confirmation hearing next week because the nominees have refused to provide financial disclosures. Fox News host Chris Wallace asked Priebus on Sunday if the Trump administration would consider delaying …
I suppose since we already know they are all corrupt, vetting them IS a waste of time…
McConnell: Democrats need to ‘grow up’ and let Trump nominees get confirmed
McConnell: Democrats need to ‘grow up’ and let Trump nominees get confirmed
Senate leader vows that no Cabinet pick will get a confirmation vote before required ethics reviews are completed.
10. Reading about PEOTUS’s extensive links and ties to Russia.
The Curious World of Donald Trump’s Private Russian Connections – The American Interest
The Curious World of Donald Trump’s Private Russian Connections – The American Interest
Did the American people really know they were putting such a “well-connected” guy in the White House?
11. POETUS planning to stay on TV shows after inauguration, creating a huge web of conflics and corruption at MSNBC:
12. The Republican controlled House basically gutting the U.S. government in one swoop. Remember the transition teams continual inquiries as to the people who believe in climate change, have worked for gender equality, etc.?
Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2017 Boondoggle – Cindy Brown – Medium
Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2017 Boondoggle – Cindy Brown – Medium
The House simply continues to outrage. The following is a statement by Scott Slesinger, legislative director at the Natural Resources…
Source: medium.com/@browneyedgirl65/midnight-rules-relief-act-of-2017-boondoggle-ec6b0a696fe7
House Republicans revive obscure rule that allows them to slash the pay of individual federal workers to $1
House Republicans revive obscure rule that allows them to slash the pay of individual federal workers to $1
The return of the “Holman rule” threatens to upend the 130-year-old civil service
Republicans in Congress Set Value of All Public Lands and Buildings to $0 for Easy Sell Off at Taxpayers’ Expense
Republicans in Congress Set Value of All Public Lands and Buildings to $0 for Easy Sell Off at Taxpayers’ Expense
‘Plan to Give Away America’s Public Lands for Free Is Outrageous and Absurd’ Says Democratic Congressman
13. California hires Eric Holder to help the state fight against upcoming Trump administration.
California Hires Eric Holder as Legal Bulwark Against Donald Trump
California Hires Eric Holder as Legal Bulwark Against Donald Trump
The stateâs Democratic-led Legislature decided to retain Mr. Holder to represent it in any legal fights against the new Republican White House.
Source: www.nytimes.com/2017/01/04/us/california-eric-holder-donald-trump.html
14. A large number of Electors were shown to be in violation of assorted state laws regarding same. This is ignored with a pro forma Democrat protest in the House and the results certified.
At least 50 Donald Trump electors were illegally seated as Electoral College members: report
At least 50 Donald Trump electors were illegally seated as Electoral College members: report
More evidence surfaces as calls mount to challenge congressional ratification of Electoral College vote
House Democrats fail to muster support to challenge Trump’s Electoral College win
House Democrats fail to muster support to challenge Trump’s Electoral College win
A challenge by more than a dozen House Democrats to Donald Trump’s election on Friday collapsed when they failed to convince a single Democratic senator to join their protest.
Source: www.politico.com/story/2017/01/no-trump-electoral-college-challenge-233294
15. While I have been skeptical of WikiLeaks since about when Assange holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy, this was a new low for the organization (which itself appears to be compromised by Russia similarly to Trump).
WikiLeaks proposes tracking verified Twitter users’ homes, families and finances
WikiLeaks proposes tracking verified Twitter users’ homes, families and finances
Critics say it would allow WikiLeaks to “dox hundreds of thousands of Twitter users.”
16. Blatant nepotism and conflicts of interest.
Jared Kushner, a Trump In-Law and Adviser, Chases a Chinese Deal
Jared Kushner, a Trump In-Law and Adviser, Chases a Chinese Deal
As Donald J. Trumpâs son-in-law prepares for a White House role, his undisclosed talks with a secretive Chinese company highlight potential conflicts of interest.
Source: www.nytimes.com/2017/01/07/us/politics/jared-kushner-trump-business.html
Jared Kushner Is Taking Steps to Join Trump’s White House
Jared Kushner Is Taking Steps to Join Trump’s White House
Looks like President-elect Donald Trump’s son-in-law will be joining the administration. Jared Kushner is currently filing the necessary financial…
Source: slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/01/jared-kushner-is-taking-steps-to-join-trumps-white-house.html
A new plan to sell access to Trump children withdrawn after criticism
A new plan to sell access to Trump children withdrawn after criticism
A donation of $1 million will net a fishing or hunting trip with two of Donald Trump’s adult children, according to the Center for Public Integrity
Source: www.marketwatch.com/story/1-million-will-buy-a-hunting-trip-with-trumps-sons-2016-12-20
Trump’s Children Playing Prominent Role in Transition
Trump’s Children Playing Prominent Role in Transition
Donald Trump’s adult children have been playing a prominent role in the transition process and the formation of his administration — even as the president-elect says he’s preparing to hand over control of his businesses to his sons. The Trump transition team has defended the role of Donald Trump…
Source: abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-children-playing-prominent-role-transition/story?id=44199368
Autho