Subversive Agitation Team Action Network
The devolution of Donald Trump continues apace as his criminal trials proceed toward an inevitable conclusion of guilt on at least some of his 88 felony charges. And despite the slow progress, Trump's desperation is accelerating, driving him ever deeper into a fits of utter panic that are evident in his deteriorating mental state.
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Throughout his legal tribulations, Trump has focused intensely on disgorging his hostility toward the justice system and the public servants fulfilling their civic duties. His defense seems to be solely limited to viciously maligning everyone involved in prosecuting him. Even to the point of abandoning any effort to argue that he is innocent. In fact, Trump's primary defense is not that he didn't do what he's been charged with, it's that he's allowed to do it under some imaginary immunity privilege.
SEE THIS: Felonious Punk Trump Demands ‘TOTAL IMMUNITY’ – Even for Acts that ‘CROSS THE LINE’
On Wednesday morning Trump took to his grossly overvalued social media scam, Truth Social, to mete out more punishment to his perceived enemies. Although this time it comes after he has been slapped with his third gag order aiming to forestall his threats and harm incitements.
This is the 3rd gag order for Trump in different trials, because the big crybaby can't keep his fat mouth shut, and continues to attack judges, lawyers, witnesses, jurors, and even their family members.https://t.co/PEMBkOTsO4— News Corpse (@NewsCorpse) March 27, 2024
This is the 3rd gag order for Trump in different trials, because the big crybaby can't keep his fat mouth shut, and continues to attack judges, lawyers, witnesses, jurors, and even their family members.https://t.co/PEMBkOTsO4
Unfortunately, Trump doesn't appear to care who gets hurt. So he is lashing out not just at his usual targets (judges, prosecutors, witnesses), but also the daughter of the Judge who is in no way affiliated with the case. In a series of posts, Trump wrote that...
"Judge Juan Merchan, who is suffering from an acute case of Trump Derangement Syndrome (whose daughter represents Crooked Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Adam 'Shifty' Schiff, and other Radical Liberals, has just posted a picture of me behind bars, her obvious goal, and makes it completely impossible for me to get a fair trial) has now issued another illegal, un-American, unConstitutional 'order,' as he continues to try and take away my Rights. [...] their Hacks and Thugs are tracking and following me all across the Country, obsessively trying to persecute me, while everyone knows I have done nothing wrong!"
Trump's infantile attacks on both the Judge and his daughter are utterly without merit. There is nothing prohibiting her from having her own life, speaking her own mind, and pursuing her own career. None of what she has done has any effect on Trump's trial, or his rights. And if he is worried about being "followed," perhaps he should just refrain from committing any more crimes in public.
Trump continued whining that...
"The Judge’s daughter is allowed to post pictures of her 'dream' of putting me in jail, the Manhattan D.A. is able to say whatever lies about me he wants, the Judge can violate our Laws and Constitution at every turn, but I am not allowed to talk about the attacks against me, and the Lunatics trying to destroy my life. [...] Maybe the Judge is such a hater because his daughter makes money by working to 'Get Trump,'"
That's right. The judge's daughter is allowed post pictures of him. And the D.A. is allowed to present his case. Notice that Trump cannot cite any alleged "lies" by the D.A. or violations of the law by the Judge, or any proof that the Judge or his daughter profited from any anti-Trump activities. And it is Trump who destroyed his own life by choosing to engage in heinous crimes and declining to offer any coherent defense.
Trump concluded by impotently demanding that "The Judge has to recuse himself immediately." But his reasoning is preposterous and dangerous. Judge Merchan's daughter is not involved in this case in way. And there is no hint of evidence that she has any influence over her father's stewardship of the case. However, she does become the target of Trump's famously violent cult followers. Which is why the gag order was issued in the first place.
SEE ALSO: Cantankerous Trump Demonstrates Precisely Why His Gag Order Was Appropriately Reinstated
It's appalling that Trump can make these ludicrous and defamatory allegations against the Judge and his daughter. He is insisting that any familial relationship is grounds for recusal. But he obviously doesn't feel the same way about Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who has personally engaged in unlawful acts that were connected to cases that her husband was ruling on.
Of course, nobody is going to be surprised by Trump's hypocrisy. It's built into his DNA. As a textbook example of a malignant narcissist, Trump will twist everything into an unrecognizable distortion of reality that conforms to his delusional perspective. It's too bad that in doing so he puts the lives of other innocent people in jeopardy. Hopefully the rational actors in the courts will put a stop to that by strictly enforcing the gag orders.
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Be sure to visit and follow News Corpse on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and Threads. And check out my books on Amazon: Fox Nation vs. Reality: The Fox News Cult of Ignorance. Thanks so much for your support.
Be sure to visit and follow News Corpse on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and Threads.
And check out my books on Amazon:
Fox Nation vs. Reality: The Fox News Cult of Ignorance.
Thanks so much for your support.
Jon Stewart took on the bond reduction and pending appeal in Donald Trump's New York civil fraud judgment Monday. “The Daily Show” host took some fun swipes at Trump’s recent golf braggadocio before breaking down, in the simplest terms, what Trump is guilty of and why the bond amount was originally so high.
It turns out that for a decade, whenever Trump wanted to get a loan, or make a deal, he would illegally inflate the value of his real estate. For instance, suggesting that his 11,000-square foot penthouse was a 30,000-square foot penthouse. I guess somehow, including … the sky in the calculation. We all do it. I mean it, on my license, I'm not listed as 5’7”, you know, I'm listed as 30,000 square feet. And the attorney general of New York knew that Trump's property values were inflated because when it came time to pay taxes, Trump undervalued the very same properties. It was all part of a very sophisticated real estate practice known as “lying.” So the judge calculated that the value that he gained from the lying, with interest, was around $454 million. Now, you might be saying to yourself, well, that sounds pretty straightforward. Whatever gains you got from lying, you have to pay back. Well, that's because you’re a f-cking idiot.
It turns out that for a decade, whenever Trump wanted to get a loan, or make a deal, he would illegally inflate the value of his real estate. For instance, suggesting that his 11,000-square foot penthouse was a 30,000-square foot penthouse. I guess somehow, including … the sky in the calculation. We all do it. I mean it, on my license, I'm not listed as 5’7”, you know, I'm listed as 30,000 square feet.
And the attorney general of New York knew that Trump's property values were inflated because when it came time to pay taxes, Trump undervalued the very same properties. It was all part of a very sophisticated real estate practice known as “lying.” So the judge calculated that the value that he gained from the lying, with interest, was around $454 million. Now, you might be saying to yourself, well, that sounds pretty straightforward. Whatever gains you got from lying, you have to pay back. Well, that's because you’re a f-cking idiot.
A cartoon by Mike Luckovich.
On Tuesday, anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and family embarrassment Robert F. Kennedy Jr. selected Nicole Shanahan as his running mate in his not-at-all-serious campaign for the presidency. Though this sounds like information that might serve as a stumper at a trivia game for the next eight or so months (after which Kennedy’s whole campaign will take on the same role), the selection may have more impact than it may seem.
While the Associated Press may describe Shanahan as a “California lawyer and philanthropist,” what she really represents is something else. She’s a cash bomb.
Shanahan is the former wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, whose wealth Forbes estimates at $120 billion. In divorce proceedings after just under four years of marriage to Brin, Shanahan reportedly sought over $1 billion from her ex-husband. That might seem like a relatively tiny fraction of Brin’s fortune. After all, Mackenzie Scott walked away with an estimated $38.3 billion in her 2019 divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
But the $1 billion figure seems generous considering that Brin and Shanahan’s marriage fell apart after Shanahan reportedly slept with Elon Musk.
A Few Words from Some of March’s Birthday Kids
“Like the other immigrant groups, the day will come when we win the economic and political rewards which are in keeping with our numbers in society. The day will come when the politicians do the right thing by our people out of political necessity and not out of charity or idealism.” —Cesar Chavez "If men were angels, no government would be necessary." —James Madison
“Like the other immigrant groups, the day will come when we win the economic and political rewards which are in keeping with our numbers in society. The day will come when the politicians do the right thing by our people out of political necessity and not out of charity or idealism.”
—Cesar Chavez
"If men were angels, no government would be necessary."
—James Madison
Continued...
Poll 1050 votes Show Results Do you support Wisconsin's new laws that make physical assaults on election workers a Class 1 felony, and also criminalize publicizing election workers’ personal info? Yes No Not sure/No opinion 1050 votes Vote Now! Do you support Wisconsin's new laws that make physical assaults on election workers a Class 1 felony, and also criminalize publicizing election workers’ personal info? Yes 1038 votes No 0% 2 votes Not sure/No opinion 1% 10 votes
On paper, coup-attempting fascist leader and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is about $4 billion richer now.
That’s thanks to some truly bizarre stock market shenanigans that assert his dorky little Twitter clone, Truth Social, to be worth $7 billion despite bringing in only $3.5 million in revenues while losing $45 million to do it. The man could retire in Moscow and be treated like the crooked king he always wanted to be for however many years of life he has left. But no. No, the man cannot stop his obsession with bilking his fans, one nickel or dime or dollar at a time.
So today he's selling ... the Bible. Not just any Bible, but the only Bible endorsed by Himself, Donald Trump. Because Good Friday is coming up and—oh for fuck’s sake, let's just cut to the tape.
Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless The USA Bible. @TheLeeGreenwood https://t.co/1KK5QgVK85 pic.twitter.com/XoCIeGDpAg— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) March 26, 2024
Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless The USA Bible. @TheLeeGreenwood https://t.co/1KK5QgVK85 pic.twitter.com/XoCIeGDpAg
I post a weekly diary of historical notes, arts & science items, foreign news (often receiving little notice in the US) and whimsical pieces from the outside world that I often feature in "Cheers & Jeers".
OK, you've been warned - here is this week's tomfoolery material that I posted.
CHEERS to Bill and Michael in PWM and ...... well, each of you at Cheers and Jeers. Have a fabulous weekend .... and week ahead.
ART NOTES — an exhibition entitled Gilded Age Newport in Color — with photographs, portraits and other items highlighting the Black experience during this era (including businesses, social and political groups) — is at the Rosecliff Mansion museum in Newport, Rhode Island to June 30th.
YOUR WEEKEND READ #1 is this short essay in The American Prospect by Prof. Robert Kuttner, positing that Joe Biden’s near-vetoing of Nippon Steel acquiring US Steel not only could mean American employees being spared job cuts — but may lead to it being acquired by the union-friendly firm Cleveland-Cliffs.
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Cosmo the Library Cat — who kept coming to the public library in Moab, Utah after his family moved away and left him behind ... and is a favorite of children (tolerating being picked up and carried by them).
CHEERS to four Nigerian teenage girls who — with guidance from their science teacher — invented a generator which can use a liter of urine to produce six hours of electricity. The impetus was reading about a family who perished due to CO fumes from their generator, determined to find an alternative source.
WITH the Conservative Party in Britain facing a shellacking whenever the next general election is called (which must be by the end of the year) …. this UK tabloid headline from the other day when he visited Larry the Cat … was stone cold:
We're old pals pic.twitter.com/2s9cSlbYw0— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) March 18, 2024
We're old pals pic.twitter.com/2s9cSlbYw0
YOUR WEEKEND READ #2 is this rather lengthy yet compelling book review in Democracy: A Journal of Ideas of the book written by Naomi Klein, Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World — where she not only addresses being mistaken for author Naomi Wolf (who abandoned mainstream feminism for the world of Steve Bannon) but also offers ideas in combating conspiracy theories.
FRIDAY's CHILD is named Brian the Sad Cat — who arrived at a Philadelphia shelter underweight, covered in fleas, had a heart murmur, asthma and respiratory infection. After a few months at the shelter, another medical condition led to his increasingly sad face - but via social media post, has now been adopted.
BRAIN TEASER — try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC ...… and the usually easier, less UK-centered New York Times quiz.
THE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a Mixed Bag — some political humor (and optimism) plus two stories of racial progress in the NCAA tournaments of both 1963 and 1966.
OLDER-YOUNGER SISTERS? — former therapist Patric(ia) Gagne — pseudonym author of a new memoir about being a sociopath — and the (now imprisoned) former CEO of Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes.
...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… once again, time-is-my-enemy this week … just enough time to feature a song from the 1944 film Christmas Holiday — and written by the prolific songwriter Frank Loesser.
Though the vernal equinox came earlier this week … this tune goes out to all those for whom winter … is not willing to go …. just yet …. from their region.
Poll 177 votes Show Results Who Lost the Week ?!?!? Uber, forced to pay $178m to settle a lawsuit brought by thousands of Australian taxi drivers, the latest country to sue over unfair competition practices Former New Mexico elected official Couy Griffin, as the US Supreme Court denied this Jan. 6 convict his bid to reverse the decision that bars him from holding public office over his role in the attack (as he was a state, not federal official) 6 Mississippi “Goon Squad” police, sentenced from 10-40 years for breaking into a home without a warrant and torturing two Black men for hours (targeted after a neighbor complained about them staying in a white woman's home) Right-wing pundit Candace Owens, fired from Ben Shapiro’s website “Daily Wire” for her antisemitic rhetoric (especially since Gaza), claiming a sinister “small ring” of Jews in Hollywood & D.C. are involved in something “quite sinister” Conservative influencer (and former intern to Rep. Lee Zeldin) Isabella DeLuca, charged with breaching the Capitol on Jan. 6 and helping steal a table that was later used to attack police State Sen. Steve Halloran (R-NE), facing a censure vote for reading a book available in some school libraries (about a violent rape) – while interjecting a female senator’s name into it (while including a demand for oral sex) Michigan attorney Stefanie Lambert, indicted for 2020 election voting-data hacks, failing to provide fingerprints and a DNA sample as required by law … arrested by showing up in court – to represent a client in a separate case Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, under investigation for inciting a riot after his 2022 re-election loss, now indicted for falsifying public records by creating a phony Covid vaccine card when fleeing to the US after losing House speaker Mike Johnson, facing not only an exodus of members (Ken Buck, Mike Gallagher) reducing his majority in the House … but now facing a discharge petition from Marjorie Taylor Greene Google, fined $272m by France’s competition watchdog for breaching a licensing deal with French media outlets in not negotiating in good faith with publishers over how much to pay for displaying their content on its platforms Chelsea Duperon, a Michigan woman arrested for the murder of her 8yr old daughter, believing she was “possessed by bad spirits”, so she beat her and when the little girl couldn’t get out of bed, put her in diapers Jack Whitton, already convicted for his actions on Jan 6 (beating and dragging an officer with a crutch) now having his sentencing delayed … due to a new video emerged, showing him assaulting a different police officer Ippei Mizuhara, fired as the interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani (and under federal investigation) for initiating $4.5 million in wire transfers sent from Ohtani's bank account to a bookmaking operation to pay gambling debts Somak Sarkar, an employee for the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA franchise, arrested for felony third-degree burglary for allegedly stealing thousands of internal computer files, including "strategic NBA information" Rep. James Comer (R-KY), whose Impeach Biden hearings have been grounded by a lack of evidence (and testimony from Lev Parnas), now forced to suggest “criminal referrals” Wisconsin election official Kimberly Zapata, convicted of felony misconduct and fraud charges when she sent three military absentee ballots with bogus information to a Trump-allied state lawmaker Luis Rubiales, the former Spanish soccer head fired after kissing a female player against her will, facing arrest as part of an investigation into corruption and money laundering while seeking Dominican Republic citizenship The NBA, forced to shut down its G League — a semi-pro league (and innovative path for high school prospects to reach the pros) – due to college players now receiving imaging $$ and able to transfer schools more easily The embattled Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), forced to end his bid to seek re-election in the state Democratic primary, hinting that he may seek to run as an independent All-of-the-above, multiple names listed (or, a write-in) - either way, feel free to elaborate in a comment 177 votes Vote Now! Who Lost the Week ?!?!? Uber, forced to pay $178m to settle a lawsuit brought by thousands of Australian taxi drivers, the latest country to sue over unfair competition practices 0% 0 votes Former New Mexico elected official Couy Griffin, as the US Supreme Court denied this Jan. 6 convict his bid to reverse the decision that bars him from holding public office over his role in the attack (as he was a state, not federal official) 2% 3 votes 6 Mississippi “Goon Squad” police, sentenced from 10-40 years for breaking into a home without a warrant and torturing two Black men for hours (targeted after a neighbor complained about them staying in a white woman's home) 40 votes Right-wing pundit Candace Owens, fired from Ben Shapiro’s website “Daily Wire” for her antisemitic rhetoric (especially since Gaza), claiming a sinister “small ring” of Jews in Hollywood & D.C. are involved in something “quite sinister” 1% 1 vote Conservative influencer (and former intern to Rep. Lee Zeldin) Isabella DeLuca, charged with breaching the Capitol on Jan. 6 and helping steal a table that was later used to attack police 0% 0 votes State Sen. Steve Halloran (R-NE), facing a censure vote for reading a book available in some school libraries (about a violent rape) – while interjecting a female senator’s name into it (while including a demand for oral sex) 5% 9 votes Michigan attorney Stefanie Lambert, indicted for 2020 election voting-data hacks, failing to provide fingerprints and a DNA sample as required by law … arrested by showing up in court – to represent a client in a separate case 4% 7 votes Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, under investigation for inciting a riot after his 2022 re-election loss, now indicted for falsifying public records by creating a phony Covid vaccine card when fleeing to the US after losing 2% 3 votes House speaker Mike Johnson, facing not only an exodus of members (Ken Buck, Mike Gallagher) reducing his majority in the House … but now facing a discharge petition from Marjorie Taylor Greene 22 votes Google, fined $272m by France’s competition watchdog for breaching a licensing deal with French media outlets in not negotiating in good faith with publishers over how much to pay for displaying their content on its platforms 0% 0 votes Chelsea Duperon, a Michigan woman arrested for the murder of her 8yr old daughter, believing she was “possessed by bad spirits”, so she beat her and when the little girl couldn’t get out of bed, put her in diapers 3% 5 votes Jack Whitton, already convicted for his actions on Jan 6 (beating and dragging an officer with a crutch) now having his sentencing delayed … due to a new video emerged, showing him assaulting a different police officer 1% 1 vote Ippei Mizuhara, fired as the interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani (and under federal investigation) for initiating $4.5 million in wire transfers sent from Ohtani's bank account to a bookmaking operation to pay gambling debts 2% 4 votes Somak Sarkar, an employee for the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA franchise, arrested for felony third-degree burglary for allegedly stealing thousands of internal computer files, including "strategic NBA information" 1% 1 vote Rep. James Comer (R-KY), whose Impeach Biden hearings have been grounded by a lack of evidence (and testimony from Lev Parnas), now forced to suggest “criminal referrals” 18 votes Wisconsin election official Kimberly Zapata, convicted of felony misconduct and fraud charges when she sent three military absentee ballots with bogus information to a Trump-allied state lawmaker 2% 3 votes Luis Rubiales, the former Spanish soccer head fired after kissing a female player against her will, facing arrest as part of an investigation into corruption and money laundering while seeking Dominican Republic citizenship 0% 0 votes The NBA, forced to shut down its G League — a semi-pro league (and innovative path for high school prospects to reach the pros) – due to college players now receiving imaging $$ and able to transfer schools more easily 0% 0 votes The embattled Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), forced to end his bid to seek re-election in the state Democratic primary, hinting that he may seek to run as an independent 2% 4 votes All-of-the-above, multiple names listed (or, a write-in) - either way, feel free to elaborate in a comment 56 votes
by Janet Wilson, The Desert Sun
This story was originally published by ProPublica.
Oil giant Chevron has agreed to pay a record-setting $13 million to two California agencies for past oil spills, but some of the company’s spills are ongoing.
The fines, announced Wednesday, come more than three years after an investigation by The Desert Sun and ProPublica found that oil companies are profiting from illegal spills and that oversight of the industry by California’s oil and gas division was lax.
At least one of Chevron’s spills is still running 21 years after it began in a Kern County oilfield, although a state spokesperson said it has been reduced by 98% “from its peak.” The amount spilled from the site, dubbed GS-5, is larger than the Exxon Valdez disaster.
The crude collected from GS-5 generated an estimated $11.6 million in just three years, The Desert Sun and ProPublica found. In fact, rather than stopping potentially deadly inland spills, known as surface expressions, oil companies have routinely tried to contain them with netting or pieces of metal and used more than 100 of them as unpermitted oil production sites in Kern and Santa Barbara counties.
This week’s announcement stopped short of saying GS-5 and other ongoing spills must be stopped, as required under state law. Instead, officials said the settlement “creates a framework for managing the spills with State oversight,” and “Chevron agrees to continue monitoring the site with Department of Conservation oversight.” No specific sites were named.
A cartoon by Clay Jones.
A cartoon by Pedro Molina.
A cartoon by Jeff Danziger.
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