Here’s your dose of “What the Fuck Is Going On” News (2/27/2017 - 2/28/2017 Edition)
Trump announced yesterday that he is seeking a “historical increase” in military spending, hoping to book Pentagon spending by $54 billion. The cost of this will be funded through cuts elsewhere in the government, which will include a large reduction in foreign aid. Trump claims that this buildup in the military is needed because it’s depleted in a time we need it most. In reality, our military is one of the most powerful in the world and the U.S. spends far more than any other country on defense. (source)
Ken Blackwell, who serves as Trump’s domestic policy chairman confirmed that a “religious freedom” executive order is still coming. A draft of the order was leaked a few weeks ago that would allow exemptions for those who oppose same-sex marriage, premarital sex, abortion, trans identity, etc. Blackwell expressed his vision for the bill where he hopes that religious people will no longer be forced to do business with LGBTQ people, a group he doesn’t think is a class that is discriminated against. (source)
The Trump administration plans to abandon the federal government’s opposition to Texas’ voter ID laws, which are considered some of the toughest in the country. Voter rights activists have long opposed this law due to the ways it disenfranchises voters, mainly those with disabilities, minorities, and those in poverty. This should come as no surprise due to Attorney General Jeff Sessions being in favor of such laws. (source)
Yesterday the Senate confirmed billionaire investor Wilbur Ross as Trump’s commerce secretary. Ross is now the second member of Trump’s Cabinet who was deeply involved in companies that contributed to the housing crisis, joining Steven Mnuchin. He was invested and involved in two companies who were involved in illegal foreclosure practices. (source)
Another executive order was signed today that will revamp or rescind a rule that defined the rivers, streams and wetlands that are protected by the Clean Water Act. The executive order has no immediate legal effect, but instructs the new EPA administrator Scott Pruitt to begin repealing and rewriting the sweeping rule that is designed to protect American waterways from pollution. (source)
Wayne LaPierre, the CEO of the NRA, gave a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). LaPierre talked about the ban on Trump’s executive order that barred travel from seven Muslim-majority countries where he said it was “a form of violence against our constitutional system.” He then went on to tell the audience where he encouraged “full force of American freedom guns” against anarchists, Marxists, communists, socialists and other left-wingers. (source)
House Republicans shot down an effort to make Trump’s tax returns public and show if he’s hiding any more conflicts of interest. The House voted almost entirely on the party line and rejected the effort. (source)
The White House is expected to investigate the death of Navy SEAL, William Owens, who died in the Yemen raid last month. Owens father has been outspoken against Trump using his son’s death to deflect criticism on the raid. Trump went on Fox and Friends this morning where he talked about Owens further and removed himself from the responsibility. He continually cited that “they” wanted the mission, “they” started the mission, and “they” were responsible for Owens’ death. (source)
(Note: this post along with the following are citing Trump interview with Fox and Friends this morning, the transcript can be found here.
In the Fox and Friends interview, Trump also said that he believes Obama and his people are responsible for the White House leaks. “I think that President Obama is behind it, because his people are certainly behind it.” Trump offered no proof to these accusations.
Trump was asked about the jobs he has yet to appoint and he responded that he will not be appointing people to certain positions because “they’re unnecessary to have.” The interviews on Fox and Friends were surprised by the revelation because Trump has not announced that he’s cutting the jobs of those he’s supposed to appoint.
They asked Trump about his announcement that he is skipping the White House Correspondents dinner. The administration previously put out that Trump wasn’t attending because he is “too busy running the country” to waste his time with this, however Trump provided a different answer this morning. He said that it has to do with him not being treated “properly” by the media.
Jeff Sessions announced that the DoJ will stop allocating money to lawsuits against police departments. He said they will revamp the DoJ mission in an attempt to reverse the suffering morale of law enforcement, which, “as a whole has been unfairly maligned and blamed for the unacceptable deeds of a few bad actors.” Sessions also stated that he doesn’t know how the DoJ will handle the recent Chicago probe that revealed civil rights violations stating that the reports are “anecdotal” and “not scientifically based.” He then went on to say he DID NOT EVEN READ THE REPORTS. (source)
Jeff Sessions also made comments yesterday about his desire to crack down on states who legalized marijuana. He said that it’s “an unhealthy practice” and “we’re seeing a real violence” from those who use it. (source)
And now your daily reminder that: Flint, Michigan still doesn’t have clean water. Standing Rock still needs your support. The American infrastructure report card still averages poorly with the rating of a “D+” On 2/26 another Jewish cemetery was attacked in an act of anti-Semitic vandalism, here is their donations page.
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