nekobakaz reblogged
Here’s your dose of “What the Fuck Is Going On” news (March 8, 2017 - March 9, 2017)
- Propublica has gathered the most extensive list of Trump officials that have been installed across the government. Most of this happens quietly so the administration has been able to fill the government with far-right media, such as those from Breitbart, lobbyists, and dozens of people who helped Trump during the election. (source) (list)
- House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes went on Fox News to discuss Trump’s claims of wiretapping. In the interview he told the interviews that the media takes what Trump says through tweets too literally, and that we should stop attacking what he says over Twitter. Okay then… (source)
- The House Republicans’ health care bill shows that more than 20 taxes enacted under Obama’s health law would be cut saving taxpayers nearly $600 billion over the next decade. However, the tax credits will mostly go to the wealthiest Americans. The biggest tax cut would eliminate a 3.8 percent tax on investment income for high-income individuals and families, 90% of this cut benefits the top 1 percent. (source)
- The White House is proposing to slash Environmental Protection Agency funding that pays for Great Lakes pollution cleanup by 97 percent. The proposal would virtually eliminate annual Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding, cutting it from $300 million to $10 million. (source) This has led to an extreme amount of backlash especially since the Great Lakes account for 20 percent of the world’s fresh water and provide drinking water to 40 million people. (source) (source)
- Trump has proposed a trillion dollar infrastructure plan, fitting with his campaign pledge to repair U.S roads, bridges, and airports. However, the details of the plan and how it will be paid for have not yet been revealed. Senators are now exploring the ways that this will be funded. (source)
- In honor of International Women’s Day, Trump tweeted out his support of women saying “I have tremendous respect for women and the many roles they serve that are vital to the fabric of our society and our economy.” What a fucking joke. (source)
- The House easily passed a fiscal 2017 defense spending bill that will provide $577.9 billion for the Pentagon. The legislation includes $516.1 billion for the Pentagon’s base budget as well as $61.8 billion for the war-related Overseas Contingency Operations account. (source)
- More than 1,400 companies and counting have pulled their advertising from Breitbart News, where Trump’s chief strategist, Steve Bannon, was formerly the editor-in-chief and several others involved with this administration previously worked. The ad removals are a result of public pressure and backlash due to an anonymous group of activists gathering information on who advertises on Breitbart. The group, The Sleeping Giants, posts it to their social media and the public responds. (source)
- The White House is considering cutting $6 billion from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to a preliminary budget plan. Public housing funding and federal grants for community development programs (which also include meal assistance) appear to be in most danger. (source)
- The House Ways and Means Committee passed the Republican health bill, American Health Care Act or “TrumpCare,” which now puts it on the path to continue. (source)
- EPA head Scott Pruitt told an interviewer today that he does not believe that carbon dioxide has anything to do with climate change. This just tacks on to his bullshit which also includes climate change denial and having ties to the industries he’s supposed to be regulating. (source)
- Owners of a bar called Cork Wine Bar are suing Trump and Trump International Hotel in D.C. due to unfair competition and damages to their business. They claim that Trump is operating with an unfair and illegal advantage over them due to being president and it has caused their business to fall short. Press secretary Sean Spicer has previously encouraged people to visit the Trump hotel in question. (source)
- Attorneys general in four states have announced that they will try to block the Trump administration’s revised executive order on travel in court. The states are Washington, New York, Oregon, and Massachusetts. (source)
- Legislation introduced in the House is attempting to prevent the use of taxpayer funds to pay for any expenses at places owned Trump and the Trump family. The bill is titled the No Taxpayer Revenue Used to Monetize the Presidency Act or the No TRUMP Act. However, the bill is unlikely to go anywhere due to a GOP-controlled House. (source)
- Senators voted 50-49 to roll back a two education-related regulations. They required each state to issue annual ratings for teacher-prep programs and hold schools accountable for student performance. They were enacted so schools can be held accountable for disadvantaged students in an attempt to close the gap between poor and minority students and their white, affluent peers. (source)
- The House Science Committee passed two bills to reform how the Environmental Protection Agency conducts scientific research. One will require the EPA to publicly release scientific research it uses to justify it’s regulations and the other bill sets requirements for who can serve on the EPA’s boards to offer scientific advice to the administrator ahead of proposed regulations. (source)
- David Friedman has been approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to serve as the U.S ambassador to Israel. (source)
- Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has formally registered with the Justice Department as a “foreign agent” and admitted that he had lobbied on behalf of the Turkish government as recently as November 2016. According to the filing, Flynn’s company, Flynn Intel Group Inc., was paid at least $530,000 for the work. (source and full explanation)
- The State Department says Secretary Rex Tillerson has recused himself from decisions related to the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Greenpeace formally urged the Office of Government Ethics and the State Department to ask for Tillerson’s recusal due to the fact that Exxon, which Tillerson used to lead, would benefit from the pipeline construction. (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+”