Here’s your dose of “What the Fuck Is Going On” news (Extended edition: March 20th 2017 - March 21st 2017)
- The FBI confirmed that they are investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, including “investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government, and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia’s efforts.” (source) The FBI also gave testimony to the House Intelligence Committee saying that there was no evidence of wiretapping at Trump Tower during the election. (source)
- Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch started his confirmation hearings yesterday. You can view what happened yesterday, including his opening statement here and read the live updates from today here.
- The White House has reportedly planted politically appointed aides in government agencies to monitor President Trump’s Cabinet secretaries’ loyalty. These appointees are to ensure that the agency’s leadership implements the Trump’s agenda. Both small and large agencies were appointed these observers. (source)
- Kentucky governor Matt Bevin signed a bill that allows discrimination against LGBT+ students. The law allows student organizations in public schools and colleges to deny LGBT+ people from joining. The bill passed the Senate and the House easily with bipartisan support - only 3 senators and 8 House members voted against the bill. (source)
- The U.S. and British governments are barring passengers on international flights from bringing laptops, tablets, electronic games and other devices on board in carry-on bags. The British security rules will apply to flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. U.S. security rules will apply to Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. (source)
- An attorney in Denver City, Kristin Bronson, told NPR that 4 women in her city have dropped their domestic abuse cases due to fear of deportation. A video showed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents waiting outside a Denver courthouse to make arrests which led to fear in the local community. An ICE spokesperson admitted that their agents are arresting people at courthouses. (source)
- Ivanka Trump is getting an office in the White House however her attorney says she will not have an official position in the White House or get a salary. Apparently she will serve as her father’s “eyes and ears” and offer “candid advice and counsel.” (source)
- Conservative host, Tomi Lahren has been suspended from her talk show on The Blaze for at least a week. This comes after she made some pro-choice statements on The View on Friday. “You know what? I’m for limited government, so stay out of my guns, and you can stay out of my body as well,” she said. There are also some reports saying that her show might be cut after all this. (source)
- Yesterday the White House was supposed to release an executive order related to federal climate change policies and begin the process of ending several climate initiatives. However, the White House has pushed back this signing, they have not said when the new order might come out. (source)
- The Pentagon is investigating whether an airstrike conducted last week killed civilians in Syria. This comes after the Pentagon initially rejected that a mosque was hit and civilians were killed, even though numerous reports showed bodies and rubble. (source)
- White House press secretary Sean Spicer defended Trump’s frequent golf trips arguing that it’s different when Trump does it. Spicer claims that Trump is using it as an opportunity to “foster deeper relationships,” and that “Just because he heads there doesn’t mean that he’s golfing.“ Trump has already gone on 10 golf trips since becoming president, despite claiming he would never do so. (source)
- The Trump administration is now attempting to shame sanctuary cities by listing a weekly report of those who are not cooperating with requests to detain undocumented immigrants. The “Weekly Declined Detainer Outcome Report” lists the cities and jurisdictions that “do not comply with detainers on a routine basis” or “have a policy of noncooperation.” (source)
- While talking about “inner cities” at a rally, Trump went on a rant against Colin Kaepernick stating “I’m sure nobody ever heard of him.” He then went on to take credit for Kaepernick not getting signed to a new team yet. As a response, Kaepernick donated $50,000 to Meals on Wheels which is at risk of losing federal funding thanks to Trump’s proposed budget plan. (source)
- Trump spoke with republicans about the upcoming health care vote telling them that they need to side with him or lose their seats in 2018. “This Thursday we have a chance to repeal and replace Obamacare, and this time you’ve actually got someone who will sign the bill,” Trump also told them. Note that polls have shown very little support of the GOP health care plan. (source)
- Fox News analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano is being kept off the air indefinitely after he made unverified claims that British intelligence wiretapped Trump Tower for Obama. These comments blew up after Trump repeated the claims to the press. When Trump got criticized for the comments he told the press it wasn’t his fault because he was just quoting what Napolitano said and to take it up with him. (source)
- Trump surrogate Jeffrey Lord told the media that Trump did not lie when he alleged Trump Tower was wiretapped during the election. Lord claims that Trump did not mean the claim literally and was speaking “Americanese.” I don’t even know… (source)
- A member of Parliament in Ukraine released documents that show Trump’s former campaign leader Paul Manafort took money from a pro-Russia party and then took steps to hide the payments. The documents show that Manafort paid himself $750,000 out of the party’s slush fund by forging invoices in a ledger to Belize. (source) (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+”
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