Facebook’s new rules for housing, employment, and credit advertisers – Business Insider
hmmmm
Trump administration to stop detaining some migrant families at border
Under current policy, families who cross the border are detained while they await court proceedings.
…The Journal noted that conditions at detention facilities has come under scrutiny in recent years. Multiple children have died in recent months in the custody of Border Patrol.
…The influx of migrants has come as thousands of migrants have fled violence in Central America and sought asylum [emphasis: peanut gallery] in the United States.
Trump administration to stop detaining some migrant families at border: report | TheHill
hmmm
Polls show Bernie Sanders popularity among all voters is plummeting
Sanders, though, may have to convince Democratic voters that he electable. In our poll, just 30% of Democratic voters believe the party has a better chance of winning the presidency with him than someone else as the nominee. The vast majority, 59%, think they have a better shot of winning with someone else.
Polls show Bernie Sanders popularity among all voters is plummeting – CNNPolitics
hmmmm
U.S. judge blocks drilling over climate change
A U.S. judge has blocked oil drilling planned in Wyoming because the government failed to adequately consider its impact on global warming – a decision that could complicate President Donald Trump’s broader efforts to expand oil, gas and coal output on America’s public lands.
…It blocked drilling on more than 300,000 acres (121,400 hectares) in Wyoming until the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management conducts further analyses about how the development would impact climate change.
U.S. judge blocks drilling over climate change, casting doubt on Trump agenda | Reuters
hmmmm
Rep. Devin Nunes and Twitter: Rep. Devin Nunes’s bizarre lawsuit against Twitter, explained
Twitter users less enthralled with Trump would tweet things about Nunes that were perhaps less than cordial — like calling him a “presidential fluffer and swamp rat,” for instance.
,,,,[Nunes]says that Mair and the two parody accounts (whose owners he also demands to know the names of in the suit) were working together to “defame” him and hinder his work as a Congress member.
In the complaint, Nunes even argues that the “defamation” hindered his 2018 reelection campaign, which he won but by narrower margins than in previous years. (He does not note that his congressional seat was a top target for Democrats, which is a more likely reason for the narrow margin of victory than three Twitter accounts, one of which only had 1,700 followers at the time the complaint was filed.)
…Jim Swift, a senior editor at the Bulwark, noted that during the 115th Congress, Nunes was a sponsor on a bill meant to discourage frivolous lawsuits (named, appropriately, the Discouraging Frivolous Lawsuits Act).
Rep. Devin Nunes and Twitter: Rep. Devin Nunes’s bizarre lawsuit against Twitter, explained – Vox
hmmm
The Electoral College?
In one sense, small states actually benefit from the [electoral] college: It’s one part population, one part credit for just being a state. So each person in Wyoming and Mississippi is represented by a slightly larger percentage of Electoral College votes than their state’s population alone would suggest. Of course, that’s not really how the politics play out (no one campaigns in solidly Republican Wyoming and Mississippi, for instance, or solidly Democratic Vermont and Rhode Island.)
…What’s really hurt the case for the Electoral College is that fewer states have been close in recent elections. In particular, big states and their major cities have tended to become less competitive. I
…Despite two recent elections in which Democrats won the most votes while Republicans won the presidency, there really hasn’t been a consistent Electoral College advantage for either party. Republicans did have a large edge in 2016 — but it’s not at all clear which party will benefit in 2020.
Is Elizabeth Warren Right About the Electoral College? – Bloomberg
hmmmm
Virgin and Partners Want to Build Up Rail Travel in Florida
Cheap gasoline and the interstate road system are all very well, but they’ve caused congestion, pollution, urban sprawl and many road deaths. In contrast, Florida railway passengers can sip champagne or beer and make use of the free Wi-Fi. Ticket prices are reasonable. Once constructed, the Miami to Orlando journey should be slightly more than three hours. In good traffic, driving takes a bit longer than that.
…Building on existing rail corridors where possible, 1 and operating trains at slower speeds, has cut costs and overcome potential regulatory holdups in Florida.
Virgin Trains Billionaires Want to Restore Glory of U.S. Railroad – Bloomberg
hmmmm
Holi: The legends behind India’s festival of color
Although a Hindu festival, Holi is celebrated by Indians across the country and is a great equalizer. Children can douse elders with water, women splash men with color and the rules of caste and creed are briefly forgotten with everyone taking part.
The evenings are spent visiting friends and family.
Holi: The legends behind India’s festival of color | CNN Travel
hmmmmm
In succession clue, Kazakh leader’s daughter elevated after his resignation
Kazakhstan took a step closer to a carefully choreographed dynastic succession on Wednesday as the daughter of its long-serving ruler was named to a post that put her in line for the presidency a day after her father stepped down.
…New President Tokayev nominated the 78-year-old leader’s 55-year-old daughter Dariga as speaker of the senate, meaning she would automatically become president if Tokayev were to leave office before an election next year.
…Another extended family member, Nazarbayev’s nephew Samat Abish, is also regarded as a candidate after his meteoric rise through the ranks of state security, where he has held the No. 2 post since 2015. Abish, however, keeps a low public profile.
The head of state security, Karim Masimov, although not a family member, is also close to Nazarbayev, having served as chief of staff and twice as prime minister. The present prime minister, Askar Mamin, was Masimov’s school classmate.
Some analysts believe there could be a collective succession, a troika- or politburo-style arrangement, after Kazakhstan amended its constitution in 2017 to reduce presidential powers in favor of lawmakers and the cabinet.
In succession clue, Kazakh leader’s daughter elevated after his resignation | Reuters
hmmmm
Court upholds ex-Chicago officer Jason Van Dyke’s sentence for Laquan McDonald shooting
The Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday let stand a prison sentence of less than seven years for a white Chicago police officer convicted of killing black teenager Laquan McDonald that many criticized as far too lenient.
…The 40-year-old Jason Van Dyke, the first Chicago police officer sentenced for an on-duty shooting in a half century, could go free in as little as three years with credit for good behavior behind bars.
McDonald was carrying a small knife in 2014 when Van Dyke exited his squad car and almost immediately opened fire. Police video released in 2015 showed Van Dyke firing 16 bullets into McDonald, many after the 17-year-old had crumpled to the ground.
…Asked whether Van Dyke’s comparatively light sentence was an illustration of racial disparities in sentencing, Raoul paused before saying: “Suffice to say that I believe the sentence was inconsistent with the law.”
…In his seven-page explanation, Neville added that allowing a sentence that’s not grounded in proper law undermines the public’s sense of justice.
Court upholds ex-Chicago officer Jason Van Dyke’s sentence for Laquan McDonald shooting
If an officer armed with a gun fears for his safety when confronted with a teenager with a knife, that officer has no business wearing a badge.
All of Trump’s Humiliating Financial Lies Are About to Be Exposed
In 2004, shortly after Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts defaulted on hundreds of millions of bonds, causing steep losses for Deutsche clients, Trump asked the bank’s commercial real-estate group to lend him more than $500 million to build a 92-story skyscraper in Chicago. It did, but not before employees determined, among other things, that Trump was massively inflating his assets.
…In patented Trump fashion, shortly before the bulk of the loan was due in November 2008, he sued the bank to get out of repaying, demanding $3 billion in damages and arguing that Deutsche had, in part, caused the financial crisis and was therefore to blame for his inability to sell hundreds of condo units.
…Deutsche Bank dispatched a team to Trump Tower to inspect Mr. Trump’s personal and corporate financial records. The bankers determined he was overvaluing some of his real-estate assets by as much as 70 percent, according to two former executives.
All of Trump’s Humiliating Financial Lies Are About to Be Exposed | Vanity Fair
hmmmm
Antwon Rose was no thug, his mom says, and the late teen shouldn’t be on trial. The cop who killed him is.
Following a drive-by shooting in June in nearby North Braddock, Pennsylvania, the 30-year-old policeman pulled over a car that matched a description from the drive-by.
Antwon was in the car. Unarmed, he ran. Rosfeld opened fire, hitting the teen in the face, right arm and back, court record show. Evidence suggested Antwon was not the gunman in the previous shooting, and Rosfeld made inconsistent statements about whether he believed Antwon had a gun, records show.
hmmmmm
Oklahoma sheriff and all of her deputies resign in protest over dangerous jail conditions
Nowata County Sheriff Terry Sue Barnett tendered her resignation on Monday after a judge mandated her to reopen the county jail after high levels of carbon monoxide sent four of her employees to the emergency room last month.
…Twelve members of the Nowata County Sheriff’s Office staff, including deputies and civilian employees, resigned with Barnett on Monday. Even the K-9 officer, Ranger, quit and signed his resignation letter with a paw print, Barnett said.
The sheriff’s office said five people currently remain on the staff with dispatchers sourcing 911 calls and delegating them to stations nearby.
…In the resignation letter, Barnett also detailed other dangerous conditions in the “inadequately budgeted” jail, including exposed wires in the shower areas that have shocked inmates, mold throughout the jail and offices, and “improper” plumbing that often causes methane gas to permeate the jail.
…Judge Gibson declared Barnett’s resignation “void” on Tuesday, but the sheriff said that is not within his right.
“I do not work for the judge. The judge is an elected official. I am also an elected official,” Barnett told reporters. “I do not believe we live in a country where we can be ordered to go to work when I have already tendered my resignation.”
…”The Nowata County Jail is a ticking time bomb of constitutional liability,” DeMuro said in a statement. “If the county thinks it has budget problems now, it better wake up because somebody is going to die in that jail.”
Oklahoma sheriff and all of her deputies resign in protest over dangerous jail conditions
hmmmm
Columbus, Ohio, police unit that focused on ‘moral crimes’ disbanded amid scandals
Ohio’s capital city is disbanding its police department’s unit that was supposed to focus on “moral crimes.”
… Three of the vice unit’s 10 officers are currently under suspension.
Quinlan said that vice-related crimes, now under the narcotics division, will be handled differently and with a more community-based approach.
…The unit also came under scrutiny last year when vice officers arrested adult film actress Stormy Daniels at a Columbus strip club.
Daniels’ federal defamation lawsuit alleges that officers conspired to retaliate against her because of her claims she had sex with Donald Trump before he became president. An investigation determined the arrest was improper.
Columbus, Ohio, police unit that focused on ‘moral crimes’ disbanded amid scandals
hmmmm
Students perform haka to pay tribute to classmates killed in Christchurch – YouTube
Students from various schools paid tribute to two of their peers who died in the Christchurch shooting by performing a haka, a ceremonial Maori dance to mourn the victims and honour the dead. They were joined by scores of fellow students to form a deafening chorus.
Students perform haka to pay tribute to classmates killed in Christchurch – YouTube
n/t
‘Was that disruptive?’: congressman blasts Trump official with air-horn in committee hearing
Joe Cunningham intervened in a House committee hearing on the environmental impact of seismic air-gun testing. The Democrat reached for the 120-decibel device after the official claimed the practice, used to locate underwater oil deposits, would have no effect on marine animals. Cunningham said seismic air guns were 16,000 times louder than his air-horn
hmmmm
Elizabeth Warren’s Proposed Ultra-Millionaire Tax
It’s politically feasible because it affects only a tiny number of ridiculously wealthy people who will barely feel the pinch. And it raises an astonishing $2.7 trillion dollars over 10 years, enough to fund a wish list of progressive dreams.
…American billionaires (who number around 680 right now) would pay three percent on their wealth over that $1 billion. In most years, two or three percent is far less than the appreciation of their assets. The vast majority of people paying the tax would still be getting richer every year.
…Asset valuations—particularly of privately-held businesses and other murky and illiquid assets—can be hard to specify, especially when the ultra-rich are protected by a battalion of high-priced lawyers who can drag out the audits for years.
…To cover the extra work, her plan calls for expanding the number of IRS agents—which have been slashed in recent years—and adding steep penalties for shifting assets overseas or otherwise trying to hide them.
Elizabeth Warren’s Ultra-Millionaire Tax Isn’t Just Smart Policy, It’s Brilliant Politics
hmmmm
Comments From The Peanut Gallery 