The late, great anti-apartheid activist Stephen Biko once said: “The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” Thanks to the inane, ego-driven, and now deadly antics of Trump, the second most potent weapon is loyalty.
Trump’s second most potent weapon – loyalty
Former President Donald Trump issued more than 100 pardons before leaving the White House, most of them to personal friends and political allies, including controversial figures such as Paul Manafort and Gen. Michael Flynn. According to a Saturday report from Business Insider, some legal experts believe that Trump’s pardons were so “poorly worded” that the individuals he pardoned may still be open to prosecution.
Donald Trump’s Pardons Were So ‘Poorly Worded’ That His Allies May Still Be Prosecuted, Legal Experts Say
A new bombshell emerged: the Trump Administration unfounded accusation of China for spreading the ‘Wuhan virus’ worldwide. It did not matter that such infamy had been questioned by both Japanese and Chinese reports. A report from a Japanese TV station which suspected some of the 14,000 Americans died of influenza may have unknowingly contracted the COVID-19 went viral on Chinese social media, stoking fears and speculations in China that the new virus may have originated in the United States. The report, by TV Asahi Corporation of Japan, suggested that the United States government may have failed to grasp how rampant the virus had gone on the United States soil. (Japanese TV report sparks speculations in China that COVID-19 may have originated in US, Global Times, February 23, 2020). Nor did the presence of suspected similar cases had occurred in Italy in late 2019 and elsewhere, as will be seen. On 12 March 2020, in a statement to the House Oversight Committee of the United States Congress the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert R. Redfield candidly admitted that: yes, some cases diagnosed as seasonal flu could have been COVID-19. As to exactly when that occurred, in October?, in November?, he could not be precise. China’s Foreign Ministry reacted to Dr. Redfield’s statements intimating that the virus could have originated in the United States.
Was COVID-19 born in the United States? (part 2) – » The Australian Independent Media Network
When the world needs inspiration, courage, integrity and resolve, we are dished up leaders like Trump, Boris and ScoMo – a bunch of buffoons completely unworthy of the title ‘leader’.
Tin pot dictators, timid sycophants, and corporate schills – is that the best we can do? – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Donald Trump is $1bn in debt, an impeachment trial is due next week, criminal charges are possible | Daily Mail Online
Pariah-in-Chief: Donald Trump is $1bn in debt, an impeachment trial is due next week, criminal charges are possible – and he’s being abandoned by banks, cronies and even his Mar A Lago neighbours
Donald Trump is $1bn in debt, an impeachment trial is due next week, criminal charges are possible | Daily Mail Online
The symbolic power of Bernie’s old pair of mittens was the work of the “us” in “not me, us.”
The Meaning of the Mittens
Joe Biden and the Democratic establishment refuse to push Medicare for All even as COVID-19 continues to ravage the country. That’s all the more reason for us to demand, alongside Bernie Sanders, that everyone get the health care they need free of charge until the pandemic is over.
Bernie Sanders Is Right, and Joe Biden Is Wrong. We Still Need Medicare for All.
Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs once dined with Lindsey Graham at Trump’s D.C. hotel. Now he’s under arrest
Wait, do blue lives matter? How Joe Biggs and the Proud Boys turned on the police | Salon.com
In 2018, Democrats swept every statewide race in Wisconsin, ending nearly a decade of Republican rule. “The voters spoke,” Democrat Tony Evers said after defeating incumbent Gov. Scott Walker. “A change is coming, Wisconsin!” Not so fast. A month later, the GOP-controlled legislature convened an unprecedented lame-duck session to strip the incoming governor of key administrative and appointment powers and shorten the early voting period to dampen future Democratic turnout. Though their opponents had won more votes, Republicans believed only they were entitled to exercise power.
The Insurrection Was Put Down. The GOP Plan for Minority Rule Marches On. – Mother Jones
At least 21 state and local Republican officials attended the Jan. 6 rally in Washington, D.C., that turned into a violent riot, according to a new HuffPost tally, many of whom are now under pressure to resign.
Meet Your Local Republican Insurrectionist | HuffPost Australia
With new, more infectious variants of COVID-19 detected around the world, and at New Zealand’s border, the risk of further level 3 or 4 lockdowns is increased if those viruses get into the community.
Why the COVID-19 variants are so dangerous and how to stop them spreading
“The Morrison government’s plans to cut income support and introduce industrial relations legislation which cuts workers’ pay and conditions will worsen unemployment, increase insecure work and further drive down wage growth,” O’Neil warned.
Unemployment down, but recovery still way off: ACTU – » The Australian Independent Media Network
The Liberal Party has benefited from its relationship to the mining sector, but at great cost to the Australian people, writes Richard Gillies.
Coalition’s dependence on mining sector causing a decline in economic growth
B’Tselem, the Israeli human rights organization, has taken an extraordinary step — following many Palestinian and human rights groups around the world — in calling the state of Israel what it is: an apartheid regime and thus anything but a democracy.
Israeli NGO: Israel Is an Apartheid Regime
We cannot allow the wealthiest individuals and corporations to flood our elections with cash through complex webs of super PACs and dark money groups that put special interests above the will of the American people.”
‘A Big Deal’: Lawmakers Reintroduce Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United | Common Dreams News
Before Donald Trump began his run for president, there was a war against journalism in the United States. President George W. Bush used the Espionage Act and sought to jail reporters who refused to give up their sources, not to mention killing journalists in war zones. When President Barack Obama, a constitutional law scholar, came to power, he did so claiming that he and Joe Biden would represent the most transparent administration in history. But then reality set in. During his eight years in power, Obama’s Justice Department used the Espionage Act against whistleblowers more than all of Obama’s predecessors combined. They continued the Bush Justice Department’s war on journalists, including threatening to jail then-New York Times reporter James Risen if he did not testify against his alleged source.
Biden Should Repudiate Espionage Act Prosecutions of Whistleblowers and Journalists
Morano is not a climate scientist and his climate lies have been repeatedly debunked, but he has been a longtime guest of Fox News shows. Later, on Fox & Friends, discredited contrarian Bjorn Lomborg downplayed the severity of the climate crisis
Fox News wasted no time rolling out its climate strategy for the Biden administration: denial and bad-faith arguments | Media Matters for America
Revenue from government sources will end. Nevertheless the ex- President may not leave a financial legacy but he will have a comfortable life of golf
The disclosure showed sizable debt facing the company of more than $300 million, much of it coming due in the next four years, and a major bright spot: Revenue at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, his new post-presidency home, rose by a few million dollars.
Trump Returns To A Business Empire Ravaged By Pandemic | HuffPost
As Donald Trump left the White House yesterday, he returned to a business empire in dire financial condition—far worse than previously reported, according to newly disclosed information. Trump’s final personal financial statement, filed Wednesday night, shows that revenues at his company, the Trump Organization, plunged by more than $150 million last year—a whopping decline of nearly 40 percent. The disclosure also reveals that many of his flagship properties saw much of their business evaporate over the last year.
More Bad News for Trump: Last Year, His Company’s Revenues Plunged $150 Million – Mother Jones
When former President Donald Trump expressed solidarity with the Proud Boys during his first debate with Joe Biden in late September, the far-right group felt energized. But now, at the dawn of President Joe Biden’s administration, the group is in a state of disarray and disillusionment. Proud Boys organizer Joe Biggs has been arrested in connection with the January 6 insurrection, and some members are now railing against the former president they once idolized.
‘Trump will go down as a total failure’: The Proud Boys are in disarray as Biden’s presidency begins – Alternet.org
Unsurprisingly, there are those here in Australia who are mourning the departure of this enigma of American politics. Why?
Trump’s Enigmatic Legacy – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Is Government intervention viable, or just a favour for Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp and Peter Costello’s Nine Entertainment? Opposition is growing both locally and globally to media laws introduced by the Coalition Government requiring tech giants Google and Facebook to pay for displaying news content. Kim Wingerei delves into the numbers.
Internet’s founder, US officials slap down News and Nine’s crusade on Google – Michael West
One only gets into the submarine procurement business to spite government treasurers and economic managers. Efficiency and effectuality are bonus additions, but hardly necessary. Witness the evolving disaster that is Australia’s SEA 1000 Future Submarine program, won by France’s DCNS, now Naval Group, in 2016.
Sunk before Service: Australia’s Disastrous Submarine Project – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Australia stands alone in the world on Climate Change America has joined the Paris accord and abandoned Trumpist Morrison
Bushfires caused by climate change had a significant impact on the survival of koalas while the Government continues to ignore warnings, writes Sue Arnold.
Governments continue to ignore climate change as a cause of koala extinction
Trump’s record distinguishes him as the worst president ever. He has lost the popular vote in two national elections. He has been impeached twice, with conviction still possible in the second case. He has been an accomplice to the mass murder of over 400,000 Americans and counting due to the coronavirus. He has caused a massive economic crash. He has incited an insurrection against the government of the United States. He played a corrupt game of footsie with the president of Ukraine, and has been oddly but consistently subservient to the president of Russia. He has grifted the American people out of millions of dollars. He has pardoned associates and acquaintances who could implicate him in crimes. He has been incompetent, indifferent, lazy and vindictive. To top it all off, he has rushed to execute 13 people before his term is up — the most by any president in 120 years.
No one should be afraid of Donald Trump: He is the biggest loser in U.S. political history | Salon.com
With his final acts before leaving office, President Donald Trump revealed a deep contempt for his supporters—and for the platform he ran on.
Trump Never Cared About His Fans. His Pardons Prove It. – Mother Jones
In the lead-up to President Joe Biden’s inauguration, conservative media spent weeks fearmongering about his immigration policies, arguing that he would allow in an immense number of new immigrants who would overwhelm the United States — a familiar line of attack used by the right to demonize both elected Democrats and immigrants.
In the lead-up to Biden’s inauguration, right-wing media fearmongered about his immigration agenda | Media Matters for America
To publish or not to publish? The media’s free-speech dilemmas in a world of division, violence and extremism
How do they cover the activities and rhetoric of political extremists without giving oxygen to race hate and civil insurrection? How do they integrate news-making social media material into their own content, when it is also hateful or a threat to the civil peace?
To publish or not to publish? The media’s free-speech dilemmas in a world of division, violence and extremism
President Trump has been constantly referring to COVID-19 as ‘made in China’; in recent times Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has been referring to it as ‘Wuhan coronavirus.’ That there be no proof of it does not matter. As far as President Trump is concerned, his credibility has been punctiliously examined by the fact checkers of The Washington Post. They estimated that during the four years of his term of office President Trump uttered some 25,000 false or misleading statements. As far as COVID-19 President Trump must be held responsible for a very ‘Big lie’.
Was COVID-19 born in the United States? (part 1) – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Disappointingly, rich countries today behave as though they will reach 100% vaccination rates before they give away a single dose, with many having bought well in excess of what is needed for 100% coverage.
The big barriers to global vaccination: patent rights, national self-interest and the wealth gap
Bill Sammon, senior vice president and managing editor at Fox’s Washington bureau, announced his retirement to staff members on Monday. On Tuesday, as part of a restructuring of Fox’s digital operations, politics editor Chris Stirewalt was let go.
Two Fox News executives out after Arizona election night call
The Labor leader thundered that Scott Morrison had gone “too far” in his support for the defeated President, claiming “Trumpists” were the “bedrock” of the Prime Minister’s supporters. While it’s no secret Mr Morrison enjoyed a far better relationship with Mr Trump than most world leaders – feted with a state dinner, lauded as the “man of titanium”, and awarded the Legion of Merit – what is less clear is how the Trump era changed Australian politics.
A ‘last outpost’ for Trump tactics: did Donald change Australian politics?
Whatever one thinks about the date, I can’t help but wonder why there are so many yobbos running around with Australian flags on their back. The flag wasn’t in existence on when Captain Phillip landed so they should really be running around with a British flag if they wanted to be traditionalists.
Australia Day OR Fun With Flags… – » The Australian Independent Media Network
When Prime Minister Scott Morrison was invited at a recent press conference to condemn far-right conspiracy theories promoted by government members such as George Christensen, he refused. He also defended another Liberal backbencher, Craig Kelly, who has undermined the government’s health message by spreading false information about COVID-19. At the time, Morrison said: “There’s such a thing as freedom of speech in this country and that will continue.”
The Morrison government’s two alarming assaults on freedom of speech after spruiking liberty
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While White Right-Wing Domestic terror has increased under Trump
Crime, too, has dramatically fallen in the United States in the past 20 years, but Trump wants people to believe the opposite. Again, only if there is a crisis of brown and black crime will das Volk be willing to surrender their rights to the Great White Trump.
“The Horror, the Horror.” An epitaph for Trump’s Nazi Presidency
“Today is the last full day of the worst and most dangerous president in American history,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders.
‘Good Riddance You Fascist White Supremacist’: Trump Farewell Gets Cold Shoulder | Common Dreams News
Couy Griffin is an anti-immigrant bigot who has pushed xenophobic claims on Fox
Trump fanatic who is charged with participation in January 6 insurrection made several Fox News appearances in 2019 | Media Matters for America
You watch Fox News long enough and you figure out how that sausage must get made. In 2011, Rolling Stone (paywall) watched enough to prove that the guests on Fox are not there to provide their insight or opinions: they are there to repeat the talking point of the day to the hosts so that it appears to the audience that “everybody is saying” that, for instance, Barack Obama is a secret socialist.
WATCH: Fox’s ‘Hannity’ Is Now Just One Long Ramble Of Right Wing Trigger Words | Crooks and Liars
400,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University.
The U.S. Just Hit 400,000 COVID-19 Deaths In Record Time | HuffPost Australia
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg wants the law changed to help the Covid recovery despite the banking royal commission saying it should not be touched
Scrapping responsible lending laws a ‘disaster’ that could drown Australians in debt, consumer groups say | Banking | The Guardian
My thought for the day Leadership is a combination of traits that etch the outlines of life and grow over time. They govern moral choices and demonstrate empathy toward others. It is far better for those with these qualities to lead rather than follow. It is incumbent on them.( John Lord)
Don’t expect leadership from Scott Morrison – » The Australian Independent Media Network
The resources industry donated $136.8 million over two decades to Australian political parties. Donations buy a lot of influence, with research showing that for every US$1 spent, the return on investment can be as high as US$220. In return, public policy is routinely moulded to suit the highest corporate bidders and their lobbyists. Adam Lucas investigates.
Lobbyland: ten lobbyists for every MP has democracy on life support – Michael West
As a psychologist, I’m obviously familiar with the fact that self-interest is a major human motivator. But there is a self-interest in being a good community member too because the community will take care of us-there is a strength in numbers. I suspect that this worked really well when we lived in small tribes and everyone knew everyone else and it was difficult to be a rebel. It is evident in small communities. But I suspect we have lost this with large cities and increasing population. The effectiveness of communities relies on people being compliant: to put the interests of the common above their own. It relies on co-operation. It relies on leadership from our politicians and for the common to speak up with our expectations. Or are we to follow the American way?
ME-ISM: The cult of the Individual – » The Australian Independent Media Network
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