Saturday, April 4, 2020

Trump just admitted firing Inspector General Atkinson as retribution. “He’s a total disgrace.” Actually, he abided by the law and the complaint was spot on. Someone who follows the law and their conscience is no disgrace. A president that fires him, he’s the disgrace.


Can't underscore enough: Pres Trump said he might start taking hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug he keeps touting as a coronavirus treatment. Experts are still trying to figure out if it is effective against the virus. And, Trump has said he is negative for the virus.


When Trump controls our food supply, ventilators, masks, testing, vaccines, COVID-19 meds, media, installs loyalists as "acting" in government to avoid vetting and Senate confirmation, social media (Twitter, Facebook), and a half trillion dollars of emergency funds, what happens?


Breaking via Politico: Two weeks before he was fired, the Intelligence Community Inspector General told Chuck Schumer that the past six months had been "a searing time for whistleblowers," and rebuked public officials who fail to defend whistleblowers.


Some top Bernie Sanders advisers -- including his campaign manager -- are privately urging the senator to withdraw from the presidential race


Trump mentions some report that people taking a drug for lupus aren't getting coronavirus, then says: "Maybe that's correct, maybe that's false, you'll have to check it out."


Always remember that the autocrat's number one target is the truth. Trump lies so often, even when he doesn't have to, because it discredits reality and presents him as the arbiter of what is real


“Right now Fauci is trying to roll out the most ambitious clinical trial ever implemented” of a vaccine to save the world while “getting calls from the White House or Jared’s team asking, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to do this with Oracle?’”


Trump just referred to ventilators as whistleblowers. OMG.


Oregon sent 140 ventilators to NY. Governor Brown is showing other states that we are in this together. I am hopeful other states will follow her lead


These people are responsible for thousands of deaths. People trust them. And they will never take responsibility. Watch them rewrite history in front of our eyes. I don’t think hatred is productive but it’s what I feel towards these people. Hatred. Ugh


Dianne Feinstein: "An inspector general is charged with rooting out government waste, fraud and abuse, and it is clear that the president wants someone in that role who is loyal to him, not the Constitution. I am deeply concerned by President Trump’s purge."


The NYT finds nearly 40,000 people have flown in from China since Trump imposed the travel restrictions he regularly describes has having "closed down"/"closed off"/"shut down" China. (The restrictions were never actually designed as a complete ban.)


Georgia beaches reopen after governor's executive order


"Trump’s firing of intelligence community inspector general Michael Atkinson sends every dark signal you think it does, and more,"


We need a Supply Commander to step up and take charge and get the doctors, nurses, health care workers, first responders, firefighters, and cops the equipment they need to protect themselves and save lives


“I feel he should drop out. Because he’s too far behind. He can’t get the nomination. And I think, you know, it’s no time to fool around here. Everybody’s got to support Biden," Larry David said.


Big banks, including Bank of America, went straight to the president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, to lobby for changes in the Paycheck Protection Act.


PLEASE READ!!! This is a damning account of intentional failure. It was intentional to not listen to experts. It was intentional to not act on behalf of the American people. This White House put self protection above your protection. FIRE THEM!!!


What if Trump hadn’t wasted 2 fucking months...what if he hadn’t labeled it a hoax...


One more example of Trump removing those who seek to stop his lawlessness. All Americans fed up with Trump’s incompetence, venality, & narcissism have the opportunity to “fire” him in November—the most important election of our lifetime.


Personally, I'd rather lose everything than lose everybody.


Trump admires Putin, Erdogan, Duterte, MBS and keeps a book of Hitler's speeches in his nightstand. When a man shows you who he is, believe him


Late last night, DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz—who also chairs CIGIE—released this striking statement: “IG Atkinson is known throughout the Inspector General community for his integrity...That includes his actions in handling the Ukraine whistleblower complaint.”


Donald Trump this morning has retweeted a dozen Ivanka Trump tweets, including some from the Before Time in early March, for reasons that are as mysterious as covfefe


Long before covid-19 invaded Albany, GA, where African Americans make up more than 70 percent of the population, residents were already battle-worn from decades of struggle against social and economic inequities.


Just getting home from the ER. It was brutal. Something you never want to see or experience, I promise. The virus cannot infect you if the virus cannot find you. So please stay home and stay safe. It’s still our only hope.


The Recession Bread Lines Are Forming in Mar-a-Lago’s Shadow


My team spent last week trying to understand how the Administration is or isn't directing the medical equipment supply chain. Our conclusion: it's a total, complete, absolute clusterf**k. No one is in charge. No one knows the rules. No one knows where the supplies are.


THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE A BILLIONAIRE AS PRESIDENT. (Especially a sociopath.)


What will President Kushner do today to fuck everything up?


Speaker Pelosi: "The shameful late-night firing of Inspector General Atkinson is a brazen act against a patriotic public servant who has honorably performed his duty to protect the Constitution and our national security, as required by the law and by his oath."


SCOOP: One of the nation's top health care CEOs tells her firm's doctors & nurses there'll be no hazard pay in the #coronavirus crisis. She makes at least $2 million a year. Maybe over $5m. (Her corp. includes Mass General hosp.) Please read, RT & share.


NEW: A Washington nonprofit has filed suit against Fox News, alleging the media company disseminated false information about the coronavirus and characterized warnings as a politically motivated hoax.


Death of American democracy, one Friday firing at a time, people are usually fired for not doing their job, Atkinson was literally fired for doing his job and following the law.


The COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder for the Deaf community to receive critical information.


When the coronavirus outbreak reached Hong Kong, domestic worker Jinkie Alhambra followed guidance from the government and stayed home on her day off. But she ended up getting infected anyway, inside the apartment where she lives with her employer


“The WH instead rejected the prospect of allowing new sign-ups across the 38 ACA marketplaces it controls – a decision that shocked the health care industry, triggered widespread criticism and prompted a scramble within the admin to find a new way...”


Here's the latest on the coronavirus: - Virus fatalities in Spain rise to 124,736, surpassing Italy - German officials say it's too early to ease social distancing rules - Heathrow willl move to single-runway operations


“Barr said he’s seeking to speed the process of sending selected inmates at prisons in Danbury, Conn., Oakdale, La., and Elkton, Ohio to home confinement...”


Sir Keir Starmer is announced as the new leader of the Labour Party, succeeding Jeremy Corbyn


So it’s ok for Donald Trump & 1st Lady but he opposes expanding mail-in voting to vets, seniors, students &everyone else? AMERICA, please demand congress pass my bill & fund vote-by-mail now. President Trump requests absentee ballot - The Palm Beach Post


Crooks hate cops


And just like clockwork, Tucker goes negative on Dr. Fauci


Statement from Sen. Schumer: "Whether it's Lt. Col. Vindman, Captain Crozier, or Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson: President Trump fires people for telling the truth ... Being fired for having the courage to speak truth to power makes him a patriot."


Michael Atkinson is a man of integrity who has served our nation for almost two decades. Being fired for having the courage to speak truth to power makes him a patriot.


“America is not prepared, and nurses are not being protected”: In tears, a nurse says she quit her job after she was asked to work in a coronavirus ICU without a face mask


Schiff: "President Trump's decision to fire Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson is yet another blatant attempt by the President to gut the independence of the Intelligence Community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing."


President for more than a thousand days and he blames Obama for his screwups.


Dangerous sign for democracy. Trump is removing the Inspector General #Atkinson who acted with distinction and served the nation in Ukraine whistleblower complaint.@jgeltzer and I wrote about how this would fit Trump’s “Redesign of American Democracy”:


Gonna leave this here. Perfect meme for this time


Abhorrent & Soviet. The man doesn’t believe in checks and balances. And yet our Founders wrote those checks and balances precisely to restrain someone like him.


Hannity. Rush. Dobbs. Ingraham. Pirro. Nunes. Tammy. Geraldo. Doocy. Hegseth. Schlapp. Siegel. Watters. Dr. Drew. Henry. Ainsley. Gaetz. Inhofe. Pence. Kudlow. Conway. Trump. Today, we salute the Heroes of the Pandumbic.


I haven't wept since this all began. Then I saw this outside our neighbor's apartment. This person works in one of the area hospitals. Face mask delivery. From China.


Whether it’s LTC Vindman, Captain Crozier, or Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson: President Trump fires people for telling the truth.


They’re gonna be sued for the next 10 years.


Trump fires IG who flagged Ukraine whistleblower complaint


Chairman Schiff reacts to Trump firing Intel IG


*Can* the President remove the intelligence community IG? Yes. Is it pretty much an admission of guilt? Also yes.


Mr. President, there are things that only you can do here. But the most important thing that you can do is put somebody in charge.


When confronted with a massive crisis necessitating fast, direct relief to the people, the government chose to create multiple complex programs, expand bureaucratic barriers, and micromanage economic decisions. America needs a new approach that empowers people, not government.


Done on a Friday in the middle of a pandemic so no one would notice. Notice. Trump fires watchdog who handled Ukraine complaint.


CDC’s recommendation on wearing a cloth face covering may help protect the most vulnerable from #COVID19. Watch @Surgeon_General Jerome Adams make a face covering in a few easy steps.


I do not understand the federal government collecting taxes from us, using that money to buy medical supplies from the private sector, then giving the supplies to the private sector so the private sector can rip off states that have to purchase the supplies with more tax dollars.


BREAKING: Trump has fired the intelligence community’s chief watchdog, Michael Atkinson, saying he no longer has confidence in him. He will be removed 30 days from now


Late on a Friday night, in the middle of a national emergency, Trump fires the IG who deemed the whistleblower complaint about his conduct with Ukraine both credible and urgent. Atkinson was appointed by Trump in 2018 and previously served at DOJ for 15 years


Listening to Trump on TV right now. He said gas is 95 cents a gallon in some places in the U.S. right now. Our gas here in Prescott, Az. was $2.89 a Gallon, now is $2.39 a gallon. Does anyone have this .95 cents a gallon he is talking about?????


Trump says he opposes mail-in voting for November


Lives are at stake. We can't rely on a patchwork of uncoordinated voluntary efforts on critical medical equipment. I'm urging President Trump to appoint a senior military officer with a logistics background to lead gov-wide production & distribution of critical medical equipment


Michael Atkinson protected the identity of the whistleblower, which he was required to do by law. Ultimately what the whistleblower revealed led to Trump’s impeachment. Now Trump is removing him while we’re all focused on the coronavirus.


This is insane. To state the obvious, Obama didn’t have a test for #COVID19 , broken or not, because no one knew about the virus in 2016! Geez


BREAKING/EXCLUSIVE: AG Barr speeds early releases of 'vulnerable' inmates at 3 federal prison sites experiencing serious #COVID19 outbreaks. Uses new, emergency CARES Act power. Comes 1 day after POTUS said of such releases: 'I have not done that at all.'


Iowa governor Kim Reynolds says her refusal to issue a shelter-in-place order has become a "divisive issue"; chastises Dr. Fauci for saying all states should implement one: "I would say that maybe he doesn’t have all the information"


TRUMP: "We have a stockpile. It's a federal stockpile. We can use that for states or we can use it for ourselves."


“I was never involved with a model..at least not one like this”


Absent a better understanding of the circumstances around the TR CO’s conduct, we are left to conclude that he was fired because his email embarrassed the Trump administration rather than for any real transgression or failing of leadership. My thoughts


My friend, @GabbyGiffords, knows what it takes to persevere in the face of uncertainty. Take a few minutes to read these powerful words from her on how we can get through this — together.


17 Senators are calling on the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General to conduct a formal investigation into reports about the USS Theodore Roosevelt COVID-19 outbreak and the decision to relieve Capt. Brett Crozier of his command of the ship.


“Despite having some fear, this, as medical students, is what we signed up for. It is the purpose we have, and the calling we follow,” said Grant Lewandrowski. He officially became a doctor 3 months ahead of schedule to help combat the coronavirus crisis


I think it may be time for Obama to speak out on what his administration did and what was dropped by this President.


Thoughts and prayers for Pence literally standing behind Trump as he brags about having sex with models while talking about hundreds of thousands Americans dying.


These sailors know their Skipper sacrificed his career to get their sick shipmates evacuated to safety. They appreciate their leader. Listen to this send off. CAP-TAIN CRO-ZIER! CAP-TAIN CRO-ZIER! CAP-TAIN CRO-ZIER!


Rather than do everything he can do to save lives in New York right now, Trump seems to prefer holding ventilators in reserve for a future circumstance where other states (perhaps ones more crucial to his reelection hopes) are in need.


This is absolutely nuts: the Feds keeps seizing PPE ordered by MA. In desperation the MA Gov creates a backchannel to Chinese ambassador to the UN and has the New England Patriots send a jet to pick the PPE up and finally get it to MA hospitals.


.@realDonaldTrump to America: I vote by mail, but you shouldn't. You should wear masks, but I won't


Former Obama White House official ...


Can't get a test? Test access is still atrocious, all over the US. Today, though, they tested all the oil execs at a White House event. The President said,“You know what? I like it. Let’s test these guys...If anybody wants to be tested, we’ll test them.”


This is a headline every American should see: “Trump administration ended pandemic early-warning program to detect coronaviruses” Donald Trump’s shortsighted actions left our nation ill-prepared to deal with this outbreak.


Tucked away in the $2 trillion coronavirus stabilization bill is a provision that allows Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to seek congressional approval to waive parts of the federal special education law while schools combat the coronavirus pandemic.


For all the abstracted talk over the last year about health insurance churn, we are likely about to see it on an unprecedented scale in terms of velocity and devastation


Jared Kushner insisted that the government had not built up a national stockpile of medical equipment for states to use during threats like the coronavirus. “He doesn’t know what the hell he is talking about,” said Gen. Russel Honore.


Retired Navy Captain Larry Seaquist is not mincing words, in support of Captain Brett Crozier, who was just relieved of command of the USS Teddy Roosevelt.


Except we can very credibly say that he is not. “The American Bar Association had deemed Walker not qualified for his current post as judge for the Western District of Kentucky, where he has served for just over five months.” For one of the most prestigious courts in the country.


More and more workers are losing their jobs and bearing the brunt of the economic impact of the #coronavirus. We *must* do more.


“The Trump administration on Friday changed its description of the Strategic National Stockpile on a government website after journalists noted that it contradicted a claim Jared Kushner had made about the program,” @AaronBlake writes Can’t make it up


Sens. Schumer, Brown, and Wyden are calling on Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to defend the creation of a Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery "from being undermined by the Trump administration."


Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested that all Americans should be under a stay-at-home order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, and that all states should be operating under the same guidelines. "I don't understand why that's not happening."


California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that a total of 7,000 hotel rooms around the state have been procured to house the state’s large homeless population


"A Must For Millions, Zoom Has A Dark Side — And An FBI Warning" I understand all the worry and there are problems, but this is the natural cycle of rapid technology adoption by new users. Security flaws emerge


Here's when your state will run out of hospital beds.


NEW: @realdonaldtrump ’s company has let go 1,500 employees, turned down the lights to save on electricity, and inquired about delaying payments due this month. The latest on their troubles:


“We don’t operate on how you feel. We operate on what evidence is, and data is,” Dr. Fauci said.


In 1918, America adopted mask wearing with a greater vengeance than anywhere else in the world


Cuomo: Coronavirus crisis 'truly frightening,' 'didn't have to be'


Governor Cuomo: 'No state is equipped to handle this situation'



Maddow to Trump: You had one job. Coronavirus response needs competent leadership


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