Category: Domestic Affairs,

White House says maternity care won’t be more expensive for women —if they’re on a family plan

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

At best, Spicer’s answer is extraordinarily dismissive of single mothers — the reality is that not every woman who needs maternity care is going to be on a family plan, which are designed for couples and those with children or other dependents. At worst, it’s a tacit endorsement of only married women having access to affordable maternity care.

White House says maternity care won’t be more expensive for women —if they’re on a family plan

Sigh,,,

All-male White House health bill photo sparks anger 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Chick Stuff,, Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

Conservatives have long wanted to reverse an Obamacare requirement that all health plans include 10 key benefits, including emergency services, drug use treatment and maternity care.

It has led some people to question why they are paying for services they say they do not need – like…

…Republican Senator Pat Roberts expressed that view on Thursday, when asked about the negotiations, saying: “I wouldn’t want to lose my mammograms.”

He later tweeted an apology: “I deeply regret my comments on a very important topic. Mammograms are essential to women’s health & I never intended to indicate otherwise.”

All-male White House health bill photo sparks anger – BBC News

After the twitter storm he must endured when that comment got out, I bet he regrets leting that crap fall out of his mouth.

Netanyahu’s honeymoon with Trump reaches abrupt end 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Middle East,Leave a comment

Trump quickly walked back his oft-repeated campaign promise to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and he criticized Israeli settlements as “not good” for peace.

At their joint White House appearance, Trump told Netanyahu to “hold back on settlements for a bit.” Trump wanted a chance to conclude what he called “the ultimate deal”: peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Netanyahu’s honeymoon with Trump reaches abrupt end – CNNPolitics.com

hmmmm

‘Hello, Bob’: Trump called my cellphone to say that the health-care bill was dead

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

“Sure,” Trump said. “I never said I was going to repeal and replace in the first 61 days” – contradicting his own statements and that of his own adviser, Kellyanne Conway, who told CNN in November that the then-president-elect was contemplating convening a special session on Inauguration Day to begin the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act.
…I mentioned to Trump that some of his allies were frustrated with Ryan. Did he share those frustrations, and would he be able to work with Ryan moving forward on plans to cut taxes and build an infrastructure package?
“I don’t blame Paul,” Trump said.
He then repeated the phrase: “I don’t blame Paul. He worked very hard on this.”

‘Hello, Bob’: Trump called my cellphone to say that the health-care bill was dead

hmmm

Chinese officials warned US bomber during ‘routine’ East China Sea flyover 

On By peanutgallerynhIn East Asia,, Military,, Pacific Basin,Leave a comment

Chinese officials warned a US military aircraft flying near South Korea Sunday, telling its pilots that they were illegally operating in Chinese airspace and ordering the American plane to leave, a US defense official told CNN.

Chinese officials warned US bomber during ‘routine’ East China Sea flyover – CNNPolitics.com

hmmm

FBI-led investigative team examines role of conservative news sites in Russia campaign 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Central Northern Asia and The Caucasus,, Domestic Affairs,, Media and Culture,Leave a comment

Federal investigators are examining whether far-right news sites played any role last year in a Russian cyber operation that dramatically widened the reach of news stories — some fictional — that favored Donald Trump’s presidential bid, two people familiar with the inquiry say. The bots’ end products were largely millions of Twitter and Facebook posts carrying links to stories on conservative internet sites such as Breitbart News and InfoWars, as well as on the Kremlin-backed Russia Today News.

FBI-led investigative team examines role of conservative news sites in Russia campaign | McClatchy DC

hmmmm

Russian Trust-Fund Baby Boasts Of Ongoing Access To Trump Family

On By peanutgallerynhIn Central Northern Asia and The Caucasus,, Domestic Affairs,, Money, Class, and Poverty,Leave a comment

“I have nothing to do with Russia,” Donald Trump bellowed to thousands of frenzied supporters at a Tampa, Florida rally last October. The truth, it seems, is a bit more complicated.

In an exclusive interview with FORBES, Emin Agalarov—a Russian pop singer, real estate mogul and son of one of the country’s richest people—described an ongoing relationship with the Trump family, including post-election contact with the president himself.

Among Agalarov’s most striking claims: that he and his billionaire developer father, Aras, had plans to build a Trump Tower in Russia that would now likely be under construction had Trump not run for office; that he has maintained contact with the Trump family since the election, and has exchanged messages with Donald Trump Jr. as recently as January; and that President Trump himself sent a handwritten note to the Agalarovs in November after they congratulated him on his victory.

Exclusive: Powerful Russian Partner Boasts Of Ongoing Access To Trump Family

hmmm

Exclusive: Tillerson plans to skip NATO meeting, visit Russia in April – sources 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Central Northern Asia and The Caucasus,, Domestic Affairs,, Europe,Leave a comment

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson plans to skip a meeting with NATO foreign ministers next month in order to stay home for a visit by China’s president and will go to Russia later in April, U.S. officials said on Monday, disclosing an itinerary that allies may see as giving Moscow priority over them.

Exclusive: Tillerson plans to skip NATO meeting, visit Russia in April – sources | Reuters

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Ivanka Trump Sued for Alleged ‘Unfair Competition’ by Clothing Rival | NBC Bay Area

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Money, Class, and Poverty,Leave a comment

Ivanka Trump’s clothing company has been hit with a class action lawsuit by a San Francisco rag trade rival that claims she is cashing in on her father being President of the United States, NBC News reported.

Modern Appealing Clothing (MAC) says the first daughter’s firm has also gained an “unfair advantage” from her husband Jared Kushner “working for the President of the United States” and claimed that President Trump, his trusted adviser Kellyanne Conway, and White House spokesman Sean Spicer have all helped boost sales of Ivanka Trump Marks LLC products.

Ivanka Trump Sued for Alleged ‘Unfair Competition’ by Clothing Rival | NBC Bay Area

hmmm

In an Unprecedented No-Show, the U.S. Pulls Out of Planned Human Rights Hearing

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, The Americas,Leave a comment

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is meeting in Washington, D.C., for a regular session covering human rights issues spanning North and South America. The hearings today are scheduled to cover the Trump administration’s attempt to ban immigration from six predominantly Muslim countries, its immigration enforcement and detention policies, and its approval of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

…The U.S. has long been a champion of the work of the commission. While it has no enforcement mechanisms, its mandate is to promote human rights and examine violations in all OAS member states. The IACHR is often the only venue where victims of egregious human rights violations can seek a measure of recourse in the absence of accountability in their own countries.

…The Trump administration’s refusal to engage with an independent human rights body, which has played a historic role in fighting impunity and barbaric military dictatorships in the region, sets a dangerous precedent that mirrors the behavior of authoritarian regimes and will only serve to embolden them. It is a worrying sign that the administration, which has also said it would review future engagement with the U.N. Human Rights Council, is not only launching an assault on human rights at home. Rather it’s upping the ante and weakening the institutions that hold abusive governments accountable. 

In an Unprecedented No-Show, the U.S. Pulls Out of Planned Human Rights Hearing | American Civil Liberties Union

hmmm

Associated Press Investigation Says Paul Manafort Worked With Russian Billionaire

On By peanutgallerynhIn Central Northern Asia and The Caucasus,, Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

Manafort had been paid more than $12 million by a pro-Russian political party for work he had done on its behalf. Manafort said the ledger was fake. Donald Trump fired him.

This week, a member of Ukraine’s Parliament released documents that he says show Manafort tried to hide those payments. Manafort says those documents are also forgeries. Now comes a report this morning from The Associated Press, which says Paul Manafort secretly worked with a Russian billionaire to support Russian interests.

Associated Press Investigation Says Paul Manafort Worked With Russian Billionaire : NPR

Don’t sit down Manafort, your pants are on fire!

Neil Gorsuch faces tough questions after Supreme Court ruling 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Education,Leave a comment

Supreme Court strikes down standard for special education programs endorsed by Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch.

Chief Justice John Roberts said that it is not enough for school districts to get by with minimal instruction for special needs children. The school programs must be designed to let students make progress in light of their disabilities.

Durbin also said Gorsuch had ruled against disabled students in eight out of 10 cases dealing with the IDEA.

Neil Gorsuch faces tough questions after Supreme Court ruling – CBS News

hmmm

Rick Perry challenges election of Texas A&M’s first gay student body president, says it was ‘stolen’ in ‘name of diversity’ 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Schools,Leave a comment

Perry’s intervention in the campus politics of his alma mater via an op-ed was called “extraordinary” and “strange.”

Smith, the university’s senior communications vice president, told the Texas Tribune that student government elections are run by the students, not administrators, and that Perry’s “understanding of the election rules of student body president elections doesn’t reflect the facts.”

Rick Perry challenges election of Texas A&M’s first gay student body president, says it was ‘stolen’ in ‘name of diversity’ – The Washington Post

Rick Perry not grasping basic facts? Shocking!

Um, not.

…And ridiculously bad form for a public figure to jump into a student issue.

What freaking loser, this guy!!!