Apr 8, 2021
Host Reed Galen is joined by Michael Cohen, the former personal attorney to Donald Trump. Galen and Cohen discuss 45’s pending litigation, how ingrained the former president continues to be in the Republican party, and how Trump completely blundered the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, will Donald Trump run for president in 2024?
For example, when people are not paying what is legally required of them it means that someone else is not getting help recovering from their drug addictions, so instead they turn to crime. It means that the roads and bridges are not safe. It means that kids do not have access to preschool. Because the rich are not paying the taxes they owe and otherwise hiding income, it means that they are a de facto criminal class. The 1 percent are literally becoming wealthier and more powerful from criminal behavior. They use their influence to change the laws so that they pay fewer taxes, and this includes underfunding the IRS.
Source: Legal scholar Jennifer Taub on Trump as a symptom of America’s massive inequality | Salon.com
When Sociology comes to the screens of America and is nominated for an Oscar. It’s not “Entertaining” it’s “Real”.
Ironically, Wayne’s character, like Wayne himself, embodied the stereotype often associated with the white working class: a terrible racist with retrograde notions of patriotism and manhood. Fern, and the rest of the characters in Nomadland, are the exact opposite. They are people who possess quiet dignity, decency, and stoicism in the face of structural forces grinding them down. They don’t turn to fascism. Rather, they remind us that maybe, just maybe, there is still a democratic future for the country.
Source: The Visionary Politics of Nomadland | Washington Monthly
Further lockdowns are all but guaranteed in Australia if we don’t speed up vaccinations of essential workers, a leading epidemiologist has warned.
Epidemiologist warns COVID vaccine delays mean more lockdowns likely
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/coronavirus/2021/03/31/victoria-hotel-quarantine-vaccines/
Falsehoods have flooded public discourse in recent years through outlets including talk radio, cable TV channels and social media such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Reddit and Instagram. The proliferation of these falsehoods has seemingly normalized the practice of spreading lies. Dominion Voting Systems sued Fox News in a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit on March 26 over the network’s airing of false claims that the election had been stolen by Joe Biden with the help of Dominion.
Could Dominion and Smartmatic take down Fox News for Libel and Reckless Disregard for the Truth?
Prime Minister Scott Morrison states in this interview that when Brittany Higgins expressed her intention to resign from the office of Michaelia Cash in January 2021, she was offered the opportunity to speak with him before her allegations of rape by a senior staffer in Parliament House were aired in the media. “At the time just before she departed she was offered the opportunity to come and speak with me with Minister Cash,” he says. The Higgins story broke on February 15 2021. Morrison has steadfastly denied that he knew anything about the alleged rape of Ms Higgins until that day. Ms Higgins left Cash’s office on February 5 2021, ten days before the story broke. Why would the Prime Minister offer to meet with Ms Higgins prior to her departure from Cash’s office, if, as he has maintained for the last two months and stated several times in Parliament, he knew nothing about the alleged rape until it was aired in the media?
Morrison (inadvertently) admits he knew? – » The Australian Independent Media Network
“The strongest arguments for the Australian War Memorial have always come from the old white men whose names will appear on foundation stones and for whom these 24,000 square metres of new space will stand as a lasting legacy. And lasting, too, will be the memories of the flawed process that led to this outcome.” David Stephens reports on the failure of process and the public opposition which have marred the half a billion dollar AWM.
Memorial Rorts: how the Australian War Memorial expansion was rammed through despite public opposition – Michael West
Anyway, the joke went like this: “One in three road accidents is caused by someone with alcohol in their system… This means that two-thirds of the accidents are caused by SOBER PEOPLE! Why don’t they get off the road and give the poor drunks a go?”
Desk Jobs And Numbers Aren’t Always Boring! – » The Australian Independent Media Network
I am not sure how many of the Australian population approve of Scott Morrison as PM, or on what basis that approval might rest. Everything I have read about the way in which he has assumed his present position leaves me absolutely certain that he is totally misplaced. I make a point of subscribing to a variety of independent news outlets, and one of these – Crikey – is, I believe, one of the best in terms of its extensive research and balance. The outlet criticises government – not because of which is the current party in power, but in terms of their capacity to govern fairly. While it is, sadly, true that most politicians lie, IMHO, Scott Morrison wins the prize for the most blatant performance.
How can we get rid of a useless Prime Minister? – » The Australian Independent Media Network
This government looks mean and tricky. They look mean because people – staffers, constituents being trolled online by their local member or the walking innocent caught up in robo-debt – have been treated like political problems that are often slimed or managed. They look tricky because everything is swamped by Canberra Bubble word-salad where process and middle management blather are used to hide bad behaviour, inaction or cover-up.
Dennis Atkins: Scott Morrison needs to hear some hard truths
After Donald Trump, the GOP understands their party exists because of racism and white grievance. Rather than try to moderate those views and appeal to more diverse voters, they instead are laser-focused on trying to prevent people of color from exercising their right to vote. That means keeping D.C. from becoming a state and enacting a series of draconian laws in states to make it harder for people, especially people of color, to vote.
Republicans know their war on voting is racist — so they’re barely bothering to defend it | Salon.com
Several Republicans in Congress found themselves in the position of having to defend essentially unfettered access to guns in the face of yet another mass shooting, the seventh in the U.S. in as many days.
Congress debates gun control in the wake of Boulder mass shooting, GOP senators downplay and deflect | Salon.com
A ‘tearful’ Scott Morrison took to the stage this morning to tell us how his daughters, his wife, and his mother are the centre of his life. Yeah, we know. That’s how he began his election campaign – “Aren’t they fantastic? How good is Mum? How good is Jenny?” So, aside from the fact that he has female relatives, why was Scotty upset?
Spare me your tears – » The Australian Independent Media Network
This Government is devoid of wit, humour, words of intelligence and those with the eloquence and debating skills to give them meaning. Mainly it embraces a maleness that believes in conflict as a means of political supremacy over and above the pursuit of excellence in Government. That is my view of this obnoxious Government.
All we have in the government is a shambolic gaggle of incompetent, unedifying politicians – » The Australian Independent Media Network
And it was a close race between Deputy PM Michael McCordlessdrill, the aptly named Senator Ben Small, the PM himself, Scott “Big Dick-Swinging” Morrison and, proving there is always equality in idiocy, the good little woman and Minister for Women, Marise Payne. Another star-studded idiot episode!
Bloody Idiot of the Week — Episode 21: A couple of small pricks
The number one goal of the GOP is voter suppression, with over 250 bills introduced in 43 states aimed at limiting voter rights and voter access.
Ted Cruz Confirms The GOP’s Biggest Fear Is More Americans Voting | Crooks and Liars
Political terrorism is all coming from the right now. Why can’t ASIO admit it?
ASIO now has real, violent movements to deal with — none of which come from the left. Its new labels for ‘terrorism’ are ridiculous.
Political terrorism is all coming from the right now. Why can’t ASIO admit it?
“Cancel culture will try to block this. But you know who they can’t block? They can’t block me, they can’t block you, and they are not going to block this show,” Dr. Siegel whined. I’m shocked Siegel didn’t mention Pepe LePew or Mr. Potato Head. Remember this?
Dr. Mark Siegel Should Have His Medical License Suspended | Crooks and Liars
“They don’t like me, and I don’t like them”. In one simple sentence, a young man laid bare his experience of the often fraught relationship between Indigenous children and police.
Division in trust over Indigenous deaths in custody continues as recent events open up old wounds – ABC News
It turns out that most of the companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange didn’t need the government’s JobKeeper payment, so healthy has their rebound been, and most of them have decided they’re keeping the money.It turns out that most of the companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange didn’t need the government’s JobKeeper payment, so healthy has their rebound been, and most of them have decided they’re keeping the money.
Here’s a riddle: What does a Centrelink recipient have in common with Gerry Harvey? – ABC News
If a Mango Mussolini says get your vaccine, but Fox News doesn’t cover it, does it make a sound in the forest?
Fox News Failed To Cover Donald’s Call To Get Vaccinated | Crooks and Liars
Meaa president says members ‘dissatisfied’ with Australian Press Council and there should be ‘genuine redress for lapses’ in standards
Journalists’ union considers pulling out of press watchdog over ineffectiveness | Media | The Guardian
Same water, same valuer, $80m and nought. The same type of water licences for irrigation properties near those for which the Coalition government paid $80 million in 2017 were valued at zero between 2008 and 2010, writes investigative reporter Kerry Brewster in this exclusive report.
Barnaby Joyce signed off $80m for Angus Taylor’s old company after zero was paid for same sort of water nearby – Michael West
“The benefits of a four-day workweek include reduced unemployment, increased productivity, and greater employee well-being.”
Spain to Experiment With 4-Day Workweek, ‘an Idea Whose Time Has Come’ | Common Dreams News
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp says a landmark three-year agreement with Facebook to pay for its Australian content will transform the terms of trade for journalism.
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp strikes deal as Facebook agrees to pay for Australian content | Australian media | The Guardian
Faced with the unemployment crisis of 1890, jobless workers in Melbourne formed a union to fight for relief. But the Australian labor movement remained indifferent to their struggle — and soon paid the price. Those self-defeating attitudes are still alive in unions today.
If Australia’s Unions Don’t Organize Unemployed Workers, They’re Digging Their Own Graves
The US has far less mobility and equality of opportunity today than almost the entire European Union
The ‘American Dream’ of upward mobility is broken. Look at the numbers | US news | The Guardian
Since the year 2000, the Israeli military in the Occupied Palestinian West Bank has “detained, interrogated, prosecuted, and imprisoned approximately 13,000 Palestinian children,” according to Defense for Children International. Nowadays Israel typically prosecutes between 500 and 700 children annually in military courts. Even though they are civilians and children, they are essentially court-martialed. Wednesday, it added five more to the total.
Israel has Detained 13,000 Palestinian Children since 2000 and just took 5 more
Did you know that “the gross domestic product of the worlds poorest 48 nations is less than the wealth of the worlds three richest people combined“? ( John Lord )
Culture is but a reflection of the society our politicians create – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Eight people are competing for every available job yet the Morrison Governmentcontinues to blame people themselves for being unemployed, putting the Coalition in breach of a key international treaty for as long as it refuses to raise JobSeeker to the poverty line. A Senate Committee hands down its report into JobSeeker when Parliament resumes next week. A clear commitment to increase the rate by of $250 a fortnight is vital to put pressure on the Government to do the right thing, legally and morally. Emma Dawson reports.
JobSeeker Hypocrisy: ‘rule of law’ for Porter but not for those below poverty line – Michael West
60 percent of new cars sold in China in 2030 will be electric, according to Switzerland’s UBS bank. And by 2040 the only new cars on the market globally will be electric, the bank predicts. So report Daniel Ren and Pearl Liu for the South China Morning Post.
By 2030, 60% of New Cars in China will be Electric, and by 2040 all New Cars in the World will be: USB Bank; Will Mideast Oil States Survive?
Piers could not take the rightful criticism of his well documented racism towards Meghan Markle by a Good Morning Britain cohost, Alex Beresford .
Internet Celebrates Piers Morgan Canceling Himself | Crooks and Liars
And I suspect the British media now recognizes what Americans already know and Morgan and the Windsors are learning the hard way. Defending the Queen and taking potshots at duchesses may sell papers, but if you’re going to take aim at Oprah, you best not miss. Otherwise, prepare to be si-lenced.
Only Oprah had the empathy and interview skills to take on the damaging British media – and win | Salon.com
When his daily pile of antidepressant pills stopped working, former Liberal Party director and trade minister Andrew Robb began researching psychedelic therapy as an option to send his depression into remission. “In wanting to do it myself, take advantage of it, I have tried to explore what it actually does. And there’s no doubt that it is quite well agreed that it increases the activity in the brain,” Mr Robb told 7.30. The irony of a conservative advocating currently illegal “shroom” or ecstasy therapy is not lost on him. “I understand that because it had such a bad rap in the 60s, the misuse of these drugs for recreational purposes had a very bad effect,” he said. Mr Robb is advocating for “limited amounts [to be] available for the medical profession to use in a controlled medical situation to alleviate mental health diseases”.
Former trade minister Andrew Robb advocating magic mushroom therapy
Following an IA article analysing the real winners of the Morrison Government’s proposed News Media Bargaining Code, managing editor Michelle Pini was interviewed by RTV Slovenia’s Jaša Rajšek about the Code, the Facebook blockade and the Australian media landscape.
Michelle Pini interviewed by RTV Slovenia on Australia’s Google and Facebook code
The UK variant is spreading in 27 European countries, and is dominant in at least 10 The South African variant has been detected in 26 European countries The Brazilian variant has been detected in 15 countries across Europe
COVID-19 variants power European coronavirus surge, reversing a six-week decline in infections – ABC News
Asked by senators about the proliferation of rightwing views, Miller said Sky News covered “a range of opinions” and “often asks a range of people to appear”. He was responding to earlier claims by the star witness at the inquiry, Kevin Rudd, who claimed Sky News had the potential to build an “alternative political ecosystem out there on the far right”. There’s the “archdeacon of hard-right conservatism in this country, Alan Jones”, Rudd said. “My concern is: where does this land over time – because I’ve seen the ecosystem unfold in the United States.”
Devine intervention as Sky News Australia’s YouTube channel eclipses ABC’s | Australian media | The Guardian
And
Former Neo-Nazi Recruiter: Fox News Driving Radicalization In America
Al Jazeera reports that Pope Francis began his unprecedented trip to Iraq on Friday, his first visit abroad since the beginning of the pandemic. No pope had ever visited Iraq, though the country once had a significant Christian population. Part of the reason for the pope’s visit is to give heart to the dwindling Christian community, which includes Uniate Catholics.
Pope Francis Preaches Tolerance in War Torn Iraq, and Even Militias Welcome Him
Rather, it is because for the first time in Australian history, the Canberra press gallery is dominated by talented, hard-nosed and courageous women journalists, and this alters the understanding of why these allegations matter, and how they should be treated. As well, there is a generation of male reporters who, in at least some cases, “get it”. The result is a new field in the ongoing journalistic job of interrogating power.
Shift in gender balance means abuse claims are being taken seriously
An inquiry into the allegation against Mr Porter, similar to the one ordered by Chief Justice Susan Kiefel into the Heydon allegations, has been suggested by a range of people. They include former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, parliamentarians, prominent lawyers and friends and family of the woman at the centre of the allegation. “She [Kiefel] did not seem to share the qualms of Mr Porter, that conducting such an inquiry would reverse the onus of proof that would somehow catapult us into a lawless state, where we’d have no protection of the law in the country,” said Jo Dyer, a friend of the woman behind the allegation. “We believe there are precedents in both the legal and the corporate world, where confidential inquiries can be sensitively handled, can be appropriately handled – that will allow everybody to have the opportunity to tell their story.
Porter’s internal investigation into judge reveals more complaints
An investigation into Victoria’s unregulated private drug rehabilitation system has found vulnerable patients are being referred to operators accused of exploitative billing practices, treating people without appropriate expertise and employing misleading advertising.
Victoria’s drug rehab system slammed by health complaints commissioner report
Chris Uhlmann should receive an award for his writing about Twitter. No, not a Walkley, but there are many great fiction awards and Chris has been doing great fiction for years. Like when he asserted that it was South Australia’s reliance on wind power which led to transmitters being blown over.
« The Sewer Of Twitter » Is Why Chris Uhlmann Should Receive An Award – » The Australian Independent Media Network
The European Union appears to be rejecting Benjamin Netanyahu’s smears against the International Criminal Court after Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda confirmed on Wednesday that she would be launching a formal investigation into war crimes in Palestine.
EU backs ICC after Netanyahu’s “anti-Semitism” smear | The Electronic Intifada
One of the problems with politics was best expressed when a Liberal politician was attacking a policy that she thought was Labor’s, only to be told midway that it was, in fact, Cormann who said it. Suddenly it became good policy. I always try to separate the person from the politics but that’s not always easy. Just like when Andrew Bolt says something you agree with, you wonder whether you should reassess your views or your whole life.
Let’s Try To Be Fair And Balanced About This… – » The Australian Independent Media Network
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The Trump record Let’s examine the Trump record.
Donald Trump is a loser. Why is the Republican Party sticking with him? – NZ Herald
The MIT Technology Review has released its Green Future Index. Among Middle Eastern countries, Morocco ranks number one, and it also leads Africa.
Morocco beats U.S. in Green Energy Future Index with Massive Saharan Solar Plant
