Fascism Watch, January 24
The Media Failed to Prepare Americans for the Trump Whiplash: “The policy stakes of this election were never adequately conveyed by the political press.”
Congratulations, America — you did it! An actual fascist is now your official president
Trump signed an executive order resurrecting both the Dakota Access and Keystone XL Pipelines. Trump is still an investor in Energy Transfer Partners, and Rick Perry is still on its board of directors.
Trump dogged by insecurity over popular vote, media coverage
Trump claims that between 3 and 5 million people voted illegally in the presidential election. This is a lie, but Sean Spicer wouldn’t refute it, and Mitch McConnell backed him up, saying, “It does occur. There are always arguments on both sides about how much, how frequent and all the rest.”
The USDA can no longer publish its research any “public-facing documents”
The EPA’s grants have been frozen and its staff can no longer speak to the public. Also today, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality said that Flint’s water system no longer has levels of lead exceeding the federal limit. Since staff can’t speak to the public, we don’t know whether lead levels actually dropped or the limit was quietly changed.
NIH staff have been told to cease communications with the press and Congress. WTF.
Badlands National Park Twitter account goes rogue, starts tweeting scientific facts. Let that headline sink in for a minute. Communicating facts to the public is “going rogue.” The Golden Gate National Park Service and NASA Climate accounts followed suit. A Scientists’ March on Washington is now being organized.
Trump–back to using his personal Twitter account–says he’ll send in feds if Chicago doesn’t fix ‘horrible carnage going on’
House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) suggests people bypass the media and get their news “directly from the president.”
Senator Ed Markey and Representative Ted Lieu have filed identical bills that would prevent the President from launching a nuclear first strike without a declaration of war by Congress
The Most Dangerous Bill You’ve Never Heard Of Just Passed The House
Last, week, under the cover of a media bliss-out except among Koch funded right-wing channels, the House of Representatives passed a bill which would effectively repeal future standard setting under every important environmental, public health, consumer protection, labor standards, occupational safety and civil rights law on the books.
The bill, called the REINS Act, requires that any future major regulation adopted by an Executive Agency — say a new toxic chemical standard required by the recently enacted Chemical Safety Act, or a new consumer protection rule about some innovative but untested kind of food additive — must be approved by a specific resolution in each House of Congress within 70 days to take effect.
Cruz introduces bill letting states bar refugees
Cabinet & Federal Appointees
“Propaganda minister”: Carl Bernstein slams Kellyanne Conway after she picks a fight with CNN, Anderson Cooper
James Comey is keeping his job as FBI director. Surprise, surprise.
Carson, Chao, and Ross have made it through committee, not surprisingly.
Health Secretary nominee Tom Price proposed bill benefiting his Puerto Rico investments.
Price had no idea that women paid more for health insurance pre-ACA until his hearing today.
Betsy DeVos will not get a second hearing.
Anti-fascist protester shot by Trump fan during brawl outside Breitbart editor’s speech at the University of Washington
Six journalists covering inauguration protests have been charged with felony rioting
N.C. state lawmaker says shouting at current or former gov’t officials should be punishable by 5 years in prison.
The Minnesota House wants to allow state agencies to sue peaceful protesters for police overtime costs.
At GOP leaders’ urging, Texas Supreme Court will consider undoing gay spousal rights
The Public School and Employee Retirement Systems of Missouri has more than $118 million worth of investments in Russian companies
The Arizona bill banning classes on social justice is dead
Yesterday, I’d said that both Tillerson and Pompeo were confirmed, but Tillerson merely cleared the committee vote and still faces a floor vote.
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