All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Roseanne Barr apologises in teary interview: ‘I’ve made myself a hate magnet’

Sorry – still think you are toast.

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Interview with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach first since racist tweet caused Roseanne cancellation

Roseanne Barr has given an emotional interview, saying she feels remorse for the racist tweet that prompted ABC to cancel the revival of her show Roseanne.

Barr recorded a podcast interview with her longtime friend Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. On Sunday, he published an edited transcript and recording of the conversation, in which Barr says she “never would have wittingly called any black person a monkey.”

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‘Tourists go home, refugees welcome’: why Barcelona chose migrants over visitors

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Increasingly it is tourism, not immigrants, that Barcelonans see as a threat to their city, though numbers of both have skyrocketed in recent years

Early last year, around 150,000 people in Barcelona marched to demand that the Spanish government allow more refugees into the country. Shortly afterwards, “Tourists go home, refugees welcome” started appearing on the city’s walls; soon the city was inundated with protestors marching behind the slogans “Barcelona is not for sale” and “We will not be driven out”.

What the Spanish media dubbed turismofobia overtook several European cities last summer, with protests held and measures taken in Venice, Rome, Amsterdam, Florence, Berlin, Lisbon, Palma de Mallorca and elsewhere in Europe against the invasion of visitors. But in contrast to many, as fiercely as Barcelona has pushed back against tourists, it has campaigned to welcome more refugees. When news broke two weeks ago that a rescue ship carrying 629 migrants was adrift in the Mediterranean, mayor Ada Colau was among the first to offer those aboard safe haven.

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Trump officials don’t get to eat dinner in peace – not while kids are in cages | Jessica Valenti

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Sarah Sanders is the latest official to learn that there is a price to pay for enabling Trump’s cruel policies

Republicans are very worried about “civility” these days. They’re mad that the Department of Homeland Security secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, was forced to leave a Washington DC restaurant after being confronted by protesters, upset that Stephen Miller was called a fascist when the White House adviser was eating Mexican food, and horrified that the press secretary, Sarah Sanders, was asked to leave a Virginia restaurant by the establishment’s owner. Some young Trump supporters in DC are even down in the dumps that they can’t seem to get a date.

We’re told that the left is being intolerant at best, and at worst – as one Fox News contributor put it – a “mob” that is “approaching near anarchy”.

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EU tariffs force Harley-Davidson to move some production out of US – business live

Made in China and Poland

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Motorcycle manufacturer warns that EU tariffs will force it to move work overseas, as Donald Trump’s trade spat hits US companies

Earlier:

2.13pm BST

Here’s some reaction to Harley-Davidson’s plans to move some US production overseas, from former White House press spokesman Tony Fratto.

On this beautiful Monday morning, #TradeWars remain stupid…

Harley-Davidson motorcycles exported to the EU will cost the company about $2,200 more, as it shifts production overseas to offset EU tariffs https://t.co/qFaPSn5bCK via @WSJ

This is how you win a trade war. NOT. Harley-Davidson to Shift Some U.S. Production in Wake of Tariffs – TheStreet https://t.co/KhJtuBOOWV

Trump, last year: “Thank you Harley-Davidson for building things in America.”
Tying it to winning WI in 2016: “I want to thank the people of Wisconsin. Great people. Amazing people. And they get it.” https://t.co/dlzui62PkQ

1.59pm BST

CNN has a good first take on the Harley-Davidson news:

The company is shifting some production of motorcycles for European customers out of the United States to avoid EU retaliatory tariffs.

Harley-Davidson will move some production out of the US to avoid EU retaliatory tariffs https://t.co/7j8nc9XKOQ pic.twitter.com/Gi941KMopt

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Trump repeats call to deport undocumented migrants without due process

Anyone accused by ICE of illegally entering the country could be immediately deported even if actually American citizens, refugees, on a green card and just picked up at a whim! This has, of course already happened and only intervention by the courts and lawyers have the gross errors and kidnappings been over turned! All Hail Dictator wannabee Trump!

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  • Summary deportations would avoid ‘long … legal process’
  • President insists suspension of rights ‘is the only real answer’

Donald Trump on Monday again issued a call to deprive undocumented immigrants of their right to due process, arguing that people trying to cross the border should be summarily deported without a trial or an appearance before a judge.

Trump’s sustained attacks on the American judicial system come amid extraordinary condemnation of his administration’s zero-tolerance enforcement policy at the southern border, which led to more than 2,300 children being separated from their families in recent months. Trump last week was pressured into halting his administration’s practice of separating families, in an abrupt reversal that overruled the views of his hardline advisers.

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This Is the Quintessential Trump Lie

This Is the Quintessential Trump Lie:

seandotpolitics:

Donald Dumbass claimed to the press that one of the reason he was so desperate to meet with Kim Jong Un was so that he could arrange to have the remains of American soldiers killed during the Korean War (1950-1953). “Thousands” of parents of those fallen soldiers had asked him on the campaign trail to bring back their remains.

This is truly a vintage Trumpian lie. As many have pointed out already… those parents would be a minimum of 101 years old today. More likely, they’d be at least 110. The idea that multiple 110-year-old people came up to Donald Trump on the campaign trail to ask him to bring home the remains of their son killed on North Korean soil 63 years prior is just absurd…

In that way, this is a quintessential Trumpian lie: totally shameless, easily verifiable as false, and rooted in the notion that “many people”—who are never defined further, and who you’ll never be able to find—are telling the president something that he just happens to agree with himself.

Trump’s act of state terrorism against children

State terrorism comes in many forms, but one of its most cruel and revolting expressions is when it is aimed at children. Even though U.S. President Donald Trump backed down in the face of a scathing political and public outcry and ended his administration’s policy of separating migrant children from their parents, make no mistake: […]

Is Your Congress Member Taking Money From Companies Profiting Off Family Detention?

Follow the money and let your representative what you know about where they git their money.

Defense contractors and for-profit immigrant detention facilities are cashing in on the Trump Administration’s child internment camps.

As the Trump Administration moves to indefinitely detain immigrant families, including those seeking asylum from violence and persecution, defense contractors have leapt to turn a profit. The government spends about $298 per day to hold just one person in a family detention center; as Trump’s “zero-tolerance” overloads existing facilities, immigrant internment camps are a perverse big business. The Daily Beast reports that defense contractors with more experience serving the CIA than refugees are hiring, anticipating new contracts in the business of keeping children in cages. As these companies angle for lucrative contracts to run sprawling detention centers for tens of thousands of immigrants, they’ve also made sizeable donations to American legislators of both parties.Those donations buy them influence with a GOP-led Congress that could end child detention any time they want to — but is pursuing anti-immigrant policies (which enrich detention contractors) instead.

No politician in the United States should accept blood money from companies literally ripping children away from their mothers’ breasts or imprisoning families. Yet Feministing found dozens of Congress members (on both sides of the aisle) who’ve taken checks from an industry built on holding immigrants in internment camps. Below is a list of Members of Congress who’ve accepted donations from just a few of these companies.

Let’s make it politically toxic to take this money. You can call your representatives at 202-225-3121 and your Senators at 202-224-3121 — tell them to return these donations and pledge never to take money from for-profit detention facilities again. Not sure who your representatives are? Find out here.

CORECIVIC: For-Profit Baby Jails

CoreCivic – the private prison conglomerate formerly known as the Corrections Corporation of America – has a $1 billion contract with the U.S. government to detain immigrant families, and the company has netted $71.6 million in revenue from just one massive family-detention facility in Dilley, Texas. If that’s not bad enough, Mother Jones reports that CoreCivic earns higher profit margins detaining children than adult men.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan research group tracking the effects of money on public policy, CoreCivic spent $840,000 lobbying public officials last year. Over the course of the 2016 and 2018 campaign cycles, federal candidates received $474,777 from CoreCivic (this money doesn’t come from CoreCivic itself, but from associated PACs, owners, or employees donating $200 or more). Here’s which Members of Congress are benefiting from CoreCivic’s campaign donations and by extension, their work imprisoning children:

Senators Receiving $150 or more from CoreCivic:

  • Rob Portman (R-OH): $12,500 (2018 cycle)
  • Jeff Flake (R-AZ): $5,000 (2018)
  • Bob Corker (R-TN): $5,128 (2016 + 2018)
  • Mike Crapo (R-ID): $5,000 (2018)
  • John Hoeven (R-ND): $9,000 (2016 + 2018)
  • John Boozman (R-AR): $3,000 (2016)
  • Orrin Hatch (R-UT): $5,000 (2016 + 2018)
  • Martin Heinrich (D-NM): $2,500 (2018)
  • Kelly Ayotte (R-NH): $2,500 (2016)
  • Roy Blunt (R-MO): $2,500 (2016)
  • Jon Tester (D-MT): $5,000 (2016 + 2018)
  • Marco Rubio (R-FL): $2,500 (2016)
  • Johnny Isakson (R-GA): $2,500 (2016)
  • Jerry Moran (R-KS): $2,500 (2016)
  • John McCain (R-AZ): $1,000 (2016)
  • Tim Scott (R-SC): $1,000 (2016)
  • Ron Wyden (D-OR): $1,000 (2016)
  • Maggie Hassan (D-NH): $500 (2016)
  • Claire McCaskill (D-MO): $250 (2016)
  • Ted Cruz (R-TX): $150 (2016)

House Members Receiving $150 or more from CoreCivic:

  • Paul Ryan (Speaker, R-WI): $5,000 (2016)
  • Kevin McCarthy (House Majority Leader, R-CA): $2,500 (2016)
  • Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): $24,100 (2016 + 2018)
  • Jon Culberson (R-TX): $22,500 (2016 + 2018)
  • Chuck Fleishmann (R-TN): $11,200 (2016)
  • Will Hurd (R-TX): $7,500 (2016)
  • John Rose (R-TN): $5,500 (2018)
  • John Carter (R-TX): $5,000 (2016)
  • Ander Crenshaw: $5,000 (2016)
  • Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ): $5,000 (2016)
  • Tim Ryan (D-OH): $4,500 (2016)
  • Greg Pence (R-IN): $3,500 (2018)
  • Diane Black (R-TN): $13,500 (2016 + 2018)
  • Gregg Harper (R-MS): $6,500 (2016 + 2018)
  • Scott Desjarlis (R-TN): $3,000 (2016)
  • Michale McCaul (R-TK): $5,500 (2016 + 2018)
  • Hal Rogers (R-KY): $2,500 (2018)
  • Scott Taylor (R-VA): $2,500 (2018)
  • Robert Aderholt (R-AL): $2,500 (2016)
  • Kevin Brady (R-TX): $2,500 (2016)
  • Mike Conaway(R-TX): $2,500 (2016)
  • Henry Cuellar (D-TX): $6,500 (2016 + 2018)
  • David Kustoff (R-TN): $4,750 (2016 + 2018)
  • Martha Roby (R-AL): $2,500 (2016)
  • Todd Young (R-IN): $2,500 (2016)
  • David Joyce (R-OH): $2,000 (2016)
  • Mike Kelly (R-PA): $2,000 (2016)
  • Tom Graves (R-GA): $1,500 (2016)
  • Lamar Smith (R-TX): $1,500 (2016)
  • Paul Babeu (R-AZ): $1,000 (2016)
  • Steve Fincher (R-TN): $3,700 (2016 + 2018)
  • Bob Goodlatte (R-VA): $1,000 (2016)
  • Richard Hudson (R-NC): $1,000 (2016)
  • Pat Tiberi (R-OH): $1,000 (2016)
  • David Valadao (R-CA): $1,000 (2016)
  • Jim Cooper (D-TN): $500 (2016)

GENERAL DYNAMICS: Handling Paperwork for the Detention Machine

General Dynamics is a multinational defense contracting giant best known for building combat jets, tanks, and submarines for the US military. General Dynamics stresses that they don’t have a role in constructing or operating detention facilities for separated children. Yet the company appears to provide bureaucratic support for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), the federal agency overseeing separated children, making money by pushing around paperwork that keeps immigrant families in prisons.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, General Dynamics accounted for $2,151,362 in campaign contributions for the 2018 campaign cycle (again, via PACs, owners, or employees giving $200 or more). Because of the sheer number of Members of Congress who received General Dynamics money, we’ve limited the below list to those who received $5,000 or more during the 2018 campaign cycle – you can view the many more who’ve received smaller amounts here.

Senators Receiving Money from General Dynamics:

  • Angus King (I-ME): $35,500 (2018)
  • Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): $32,500 (2018)
  • Chris Murphy (D-CT): $28,541 (2018)
  • Debbie Stabenow (D-MI): $25,250 (2018)
  • Jack Reed (D-RI): $13,450 (2018)
  • Sherrod Brown (D-OH): $13,010 (2018)
  • Gary Peters (D-MI): $13,000 (2018)
  • Bill Nelson (D-FL): $12,050 (2018)
  • Claire McCaskill (D-MO): $11,185 (2018)
  • Bob Casey (D-PA): $9,561 (2018)
  • Tim Kaine (D-VA): $9,121 (2018)
  • Deb Fischer (R-NE): $9,000 (2018)
  • Ted Cruz (R-TX): $8235 (2018)
  • John A Barraso (R-WY): $7,000 (2018)
  • Joe Donnelly (D-IN): $7,000 (2018)
  • Tammy Baldwin (D-WI): $6,005 (2018)
  • Roger Wicker (R-MS): $5,125 (2018) 

Representatives Receiving Money from General Dynamics:

  • Paul Ryan (Speaker, R-WI): $10,100 (2018)
  • Kevin McCarthy (Majority Leader, R-CA): $5,000 (2018)
  • Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NK): $27,900 (2018)
  • Pete Visclosky (D-IN): $16,000 (2018)
  • Ken Calvert (R-CA): $14,800 (2018)
  • Rob Wittman (R-VA): $13,700 (2018)
  • Kyrsen Sinema (D-AZ): $13,200 (2018)
  • Joe Courtney (D-CT): $12,700 (2018)
  • Duncan Hunter (R-CA): $12,500 (2018)
  • Jim Langevin (D-RI): $11,750 (2018)
  • Will Hurd (T-TX): $11,100 (2018)
  • Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL): $11,000  (2018)
  • Bruce Poliquin (R-ME): $10,500 (2018)
  • Martha McSally (R-AZ): $10,280 (2018)
  • Robert Aderholt (R-AL): $10,000 (2018)
  • Sanford Bishop (D-GA): $10,000 (2018)
  • Kay Granger (R-TX): $10,000 (2018)
  • Tom Graves (R-GA): $10,000 (2018)
  • David Joyce (R-OH): $10,000 (2018)
  • Patrick McHenry (R-NC): $10,000 (2018)
  • Devin Nunes (R-CA): $10,000 (2018)
  • Tim Ryan (D-OH): $10,000 (2018)
  • Steve Scalise (R-LA): $10,000 (2018)
  • Steve Stivers (R-OH): $10,000 (2018)
  • Michael Turner (R-OH): $10,000 (2018)
  • John Moolenaar (R-MI): $9,000 (2018)
  • Kevin Yoder (R-KS): $9,000 (2018)
  • Chellie Pingree (D-ME): $8,750 (2018)
  • Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD): $8,250 (2018)
  • Buddy Carter (R-GA): $8,000 (2018)
  • Rosa L DeLauro (D-CT): $8,000 (2018)
  • Martha Rboy (R-AL): $7,500 (2018)
  • Austin Scott (R-GA): $7,500 (2018)
  • Gerry Connolly (D-VA): $7,010 (2018)
  • Joe Kennedy III (D-MA): $7,007 (2018)
  • Henry Cuellar (D-TX): $7,000 (2018)
  • John Culberson (R-TX): $7,000 (2018)
  • Ruben Gallego (D-AZ): $7,000 (2018)
  • Doug Collins (R-GA): $6,750 (2018)
  • Charlie Crist (D-FL): $6,500 (2018)
  • Pete King (R-NY): $6,500 (2018)
  • Pete Aguilar (D-CA): $6,023 (2018)
  • Donald John Bacon (R-NE): $6,000 (2018)
  • Matt Conaway (R-TX): $6,000 (2018)
  • Paul Cook (R-CA): $6,000 (2018)
  • Mike Gallagher (R-WI): $6,000
  • Steve Knight (R-CA): $6,000 (2018)
  • Mike Rodgers (R-AL): $6,000 (2018)
  • Adam Smith (D-WA): $6,000 (2018)
  • Juan Vargas (D-CA): $6,000 (2018)
  • Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO): $5,500 (2018)
  • Karen Handel (R-GA): $5,500 (2018)
  • Brian Mast (R-FL): $5,500 (2018)
  • Michael McCaul (R-TX): $5,500 (2018)
  • Paul Mitchell (R-MI): $5,500 (2018)
  • Seth Moulten (D-MA): $5,500 (2018)
  • Scott W Taylor (R-VA): $5,500 (2018)
  • Mac Thornberry (R-TX): $5,500 (2018)
  • Marc Veasey (D-TX): $5,500 (2018)
  • Rob Woodall (R-GA): $5,500 (2018)
  • Jim Banks (R-IN): $5,000 (2018)
  • Mike Bost (R-IL): $5,000 (2018)
  • Steny Hoyer (D-MD): $5,000 (2018)
  • Don Norcross (D-NJ): $5,000 (2018)
  • Peter Roskam (R-IL): $5,000 (2018)
  • Chris Stewart (R-UT): $5,000 (2018)
  • Pat Tiberi (R-OH): $5,000 (2018)
  • Brad Wenstrup (R-OH): $5,000 (2018) 

MVM INC: The Former CIA Contractor Transporting Kids to Detention Camps

MVM Inc is a “private security contractor” which maintained contracts supplying guards in Iraq, until it lost a massive CIA contract in 2008. In recent years, the company has shifted heavily into running detention centers for immigrants. According to the Daily Beast, MVM has multiple multi-million dollar contracts with ICE and ORR for transporting immigrant children to detention centers – including the McAllen, Texas facility where U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkeley reported seeing children in “cages that looks a lot like dog kennels” and kids ripped from their parents’ arms. The contractor helped transport children forcibly separated from their parents.

Dario Marquez, Jr., the Co-Founder of MVM, makes substantial campaign donations every year. From 2017–18, FEC filings show that Marquez donated to the following campaigns:


Image Credit: Indivisible Denver