Occupy Banksters & Crony Capitalism & GREED

Devastating Pakistan floods likely have climate change ties
Axios | Andrew Freedman | 08/30/22

Large parts of Pakistan's Sindh and Balochistan provinces are inundated by floodwaters, with normally dry land transformed into lakes when viewed from space. More than 1,000 people are dead, and 33 million affected after about eight weeks of heavy monsoonal rains.

The big picture: The scale and severity of this event are staggering, with the area and population affected exceeding the severity of disastrous flooding seen in 2010, which cost about $10 billion.

Fahad Saeed, a climate scientist at Climate Analytics who is based in Islamabad, told Axios that the floods have likely been worsened by human-caused climate change.

The 2010 extreme rains fell over the course of just three days, and hit a different part of the country, Saeed said, whereas this event was caused by relentless waves of heavy rains from the South Asian monsoon, which have been unusually prolific. ... Read more

DOJ: Classified papers at Mar-a-Lago "likely concealed and removed"
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 08/31/22

The Justice Department asked a federal judge late Tuesday to refuse former President Trump's request for a "special master" to review the evidence the FBI seized from his Mar-a-Lago home, citing national security concerns.

Of note: The Department of Justice said in its filing that it has "evidence that government records were likely concealed and removed from the Storage Room and that efforts were likely taken to obstruct the government’s investigation."

The DOJ also has "evidence indicating that boxes formerly in the Storage Room were not returned prior to counsel’s review," according to the filing.

"That the FBI, in a matter of hours, recovered twice as many documents with classification markings as the 'diligent search' that the former President's counsel and other representatives had weeks to perform calls into serious question the representations made in the June 3 certification and casts doubt on the extent of cooperation in this matter." ... Read more

Graham: Trump a 'race-baiting, xenophobic religious ... | CNN | 12/08/15 | 3:34

"That's fascist": Alarm after Trump shares Truth Social warning of "riots in the streets"
Salon | Igor Derysh | 08/29/22

Former President Donald Trump on Sunday shared a video on his struggling Twitter knockoff Truth Social of Sen. Linsey Graham, R-S.C., warning of "riots" in the streets if he is indicted.

Graham issued the warning during an interview with Fox News host Trey Gowdy, a former Republican congressman, days after a partially redacted FBI affidavit revealed that investigators had probable cause to believe Trump violated laws related to classified documents, record preservation and obstruction of justice.

"If there is a prosecution of Donald Trump for mishandling classified information after the Clinton debacle... there'll be riots in the streets," Graham told Gowdy, who led the infamous House GOP Benghazi hearings. ... Read more

Jordan Klepper vs. Wisconsin Trump SupportersJordan Klepper vs. Wisconsin Trump Supporters | The Daily Show | 08/10/22 | 7:04

Truth Social's Google Play Store holdup
Axios | Sara Fischer | 08/30/22

Google hasn't yet approved Truth Social's Android app for distribution via its Play Store because of insufficient content moderation, a Google spokesperson tells Axios.

Driving the news: Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes last week claimed the decision about when the app would be available on Android "is up to Google," but Google insists that the ball is in Truth Social's court.

What Nunes is saying: "I don't know what's taking them so long." What Google is saying: "On Aug. 19, we notified Truth Social of several violations of standard policies in their current app submission and reiterated that having effective systems for moderating user-generated content is a condition of our terms of service for any app to go live on Google Play."

"Last week Truth Social wrote back acknowledging our feedback and saying that they are working on addressing these issues." ... Read more

Fed chief Powell: Bringing down inflation will require economic pain
Axios | Neil Irwin & Courtenay Brown | 08/26/22

Bringing down inflation will require some economic pain, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said on Friday in a tough-talking speech that signals the Fed is nowhere near relenting on interest rate increases.

Why it matters: In a much-awaited address, Powell was blunt about the likelihood that bringing down inflation will come at the expense of the solid labor market that's been beneficial to workers and softer business conditions. But he indicated the Fed does not intend to reverse course and cut rates just because of such softening.

Driving the news: In a much-awaited speech before leading economists gathered in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Friday, Powell was uncommonly succinct and direct, aiming to convey nothing but resolve in the central bank's efforts to bring down inflation.

What they're saying: "Reducing inflation is likely to require a sustained period of below-trend growth," Powell said, according to a prepared text. "Moreover, there will very likely be some softening of labor market conditions." ... Read more

U.S. toughened positions in Iran deal response, Israeli officials say
Axios | Barak Ravid | 08/24/22

When Israeli national security adviser Eyal Hulata arrived in Washington this week, his government was highly concerned that the Biden administration was about to make new concessions to reach a nuclear deal with Iran. After the visit, that anxiety has been reduced, three Israeli officials say.

Why it matters: The U.S. and Iran have moved much closer to a deal to restore the 2015 nuclear accord in recent weeks, but a few key Iranian demands remain unresolved. According to the Israeli officials, the U.S. has toughened its positions on those demands.

The Israeli government has consistently objected to the Biden administration's efforts to salvage the deal. Last week, Prime Minister Yair Lapid said that even continuing to negotiate would show "weakness." ... Read more

Carbon Offsets: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | 08/22/22 | 23:37

A second asteroid may have struck Earth after the one that killed the dinosaurs
Salon | Matthew Rozsa | 08/22/22

pproximately 66 million years ago, an asteroid collided with Earth and caused a mass extinction known as the Cretaceous-Palaeogene (K-Pg) extinction. This event - which, among other things, wiped out the dinosaurs - is one of the most important in geological history. After all, how often do giant asteroids from outer space slam into our planet?

As it turns out, perhaps more often than you think. Indeed, if the theory posited by a new study in the journal Science Advances is correct, it is entirely possible that a second asteroid collided with Earth at roughly the same time as the one that we already know about. That could have huge implications for explaining the history of the evolution of life on Earth. ... Read more

America has a chance to retreat from madness: Will the midterms save us - or doom democracy?
Salon | Briam Karem | 08/25/22

resident Biden, who hasn't been seen much in public lately, spent the last week working on canceling $10,000 in student debt for people making less than $125,000 annually. It was also announced that struggling farmers will get some debt reduction relief via new legislation passed by Congress (that is, by the Democrats) and signed into law by Biden.

So what did the GOP do to help Americans this week? Donald Trump spent the last week screaming about the 700 pages of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago, as if he were a toddler in a sandbox. "Mine," he repeatedly yelled. ... Read more

The Ukraine war, six months on
Axion | Dave Lawler | 08/24/22

When Vladimir Putin began his invasion six months ago, Ukrainians defiantly tallied each night their defenses had held. Now, Ukraine and its western backers are contemplating how far ahead the fighting could still stretch.

The big picture: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday he would not agree to freeze the conflict where it stands, with Russia occupying one-fifth of his country. Putin too seems intent on pressing on despite his own enormous losses.

Some analysts believe Putin would prefer a conflict that rumbles on indefinitely, with Ukraine divided and no clear ending. ... Read more

Biden's student loan test
Axios | Hans Nichols & Sophia Cai | 08/24/22

In deciding to cancel some student loan debt, President Biden is carrying out a campaign promise that could leave progressive and working-class Democrats unsatisfied.

Driving the news: White House officials have told congressional allies that the president plans to cancel $10,000 in debt for many Americans, with an announcement expected today, according to people familiar with the matter.

Officials also expect Biden to extend the moratorium on loan repayments, which then-President Trump paused in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, until the end of the year. ... Read more

A People's History of the United States Paperback by Howard Zinn | 11/17/15

"A wonderful, splendid book—a book that should be read by every American, student or otherwise, who wants to understand his country, its true history, and its hope for the future." - Howard Fast

Historian Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States chronicles American history from the bottom up, throwing out the official narrative taught in schools -with its emphasis on great men in high places- to focus on the street, the home, and the workplace.

Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, itis the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of—and in the words of -America's women, factory workers, African-Americans, Native Americans, the working poor, and immigrant laborers. As Zinn shows, many of our country's greatest battles- the fights for a fair wage, an eight-hour workday, child-labor laws, health and safety standards, universal suffrage, women's rights, racial equality- were carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance.

Covering Christopher Columbus's arrival through President Clinton's first term, A People's History of the United States features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history. This edition also includes an introduction by Anthony Arnove, who wrote, directed, and produced The People Speak with Zinn and who coauthored, with Zinn, Voices of a People's History of the United States.

"New America": Avowed white nationalist, LGBTQ-hater pushes vision to Catholic right
Salon | Kathryn Joyce | 08/24/22

On Aug. 18, the Catholic-right media outlet Church Militant featured a half-hour interview with John Doyle, a young YouTube streamer who drew national attention this June for helping to lead a uniquely ugly protest against an LGBTQ Pride Month event in downtown Dallas. The 22-year-old Doyle, whose YouTube show "Heck Off, Commie!" has an audience of some 300,000 subscribers, has openly referred to himself as both a "white nationalist" and "Christian fascist." ... Read more

Carbon Offsets: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | 08/22/22 | 23:37

FBI's Mar-a-Lago search ignites the right
Axios | Sara Fischer & Stef W. Kight | 08/23/22

The FBI's execution of a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago has driven outsized conservative social media attention, triggering the wide sharing of news stories and driving tens of thousands of new users to former President Trump's Truth Social app.

Why it matters: Trump faces serious potential legal implications after the FBI's seizure of 11 sets of classified documents from Mar-a-Lago. But in the near term, it's fueling Republican echo chambers' defense of him and attacks on the FBI. ... Read more

Can we explain all of Trump's legal woes in 2 minutes? A POLITICO reporter tries (and fails) | 08/18/22 | 2:30"

Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg pleads guilty in tax scheme
Axios | Erin Doherty | 08/18/22

Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg on Thursday pleaded guilty to tax violations and admitted to helping run a years-long tax fraud scheme at the former president's business.

Why it matters: Weisselberg's testimony may put him front and center at a future trial in the criminal case against the Trump Organization, where he will have to testify about his role in the elaborate scheme.

Driving the news: Weisselberg on Thursday admitted to all 15 felonies that prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorney's office accused him of, but steered away from Trump and his family.

Weisselberg has refused to cooperate with prosecutors in their investigation into Trump and his family, the New York Times notes. ... Read more

Afghanistan: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | 08/11/22 | 20;42

Judge to hear Trump's arguments for releasing Mar-a-Lago search affidavit
TheGuardian | Chris Stein | 08/18/22

The affidavit for the FBI's August 8 search of Mar-a-Lago would shine more light on what brought federal agents to the Florida property, and the justice department has already said it's not comfortable with it being made public.

"The affidavit would serve as a roadmap to the government's ongoing investigation, providing specific details about its direction and likely course," prosecutors argued earlier this week, adding, "Disclosure of the government's affidavit at this stage would also likely chill future cooperation by witnesses whose assistance may be sought as this investigation progresses, as well as in other high-profile investigations."

Trump meanwhile asked for it to be made public, writing on his Truth Social platform, "There is no way to justify the unannounced RAID of Mar-a-Lago". ... Read more

The electric car Battery Belt is reshaping America's heartland
Axios | Joann Muller | 08/17/22

The climate bill President Biden signed into law yesterday will open up tens of billions of dollars in subsidies for high-tech electric vehicle plants across the South and the Midwest.

Why it matters: The package is a big down payment on addressing climate change and moving toward energy independence as the U.S. races to build a domestic supply chain for batteries and other critical materials. ... Read more

"There Are Good Reasons to Defund the FBI. They Have Nothing to Do with Trump": Alex Vitale | DN | 08/16/22 | 15:43

Trump: "Temperature has to be brought down" after Mar-a-Lago search
Axios | Erin Doherty | 08/15/22

Former President Trump said Monday that the "temperature has to be brought down" amid a surge in threats to federal law enforcement after the search warrant at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence.

But, but, but: Trump also reiterated his attacks on the FBI over the investigation, saying that Americans are "not going to stand for another scam."

"People are so angry at what is taking place," Trump told Fox News, adding that his aides offered the Department of Justice "whatever we can do to help," but has not yet heard back from them on the offer.

"There has never been a time like this where law enforcement has been used to break into the house of a former president of the United States, and there is tremendous anger in the country - at a level that has never been seen before, other than during very perilous times," Trump said. ... Read more

Trump says he won't oppose Mar-a-Lago search warrant release
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 08/12/22

Former President Trump said late Thursday the warrant authorizing the FBI to search his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida should be publicly released.

Driving the news: Responding to Merrick Garland's request to a federal court earlier Thursday to unseal parts of the warrant that the attorney general personally approved, Trump said in a statement: "Release the documents now!"

What he's saying: "Not only will I not oppose the release of documents related to the unAmerican, unwarranted, and unnecessary raid - I am going a step further by ENCOURAGING the immediate release of those documents," Trump said.

What we're watching: U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart gave the Justice Department until 3pm Friday to notify him of whether Trump's attorneys opposed the unsealing of the warrant and property receipt. ... Read more

Monkeypox: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | John Oliver | 08/08/22 | 23:26

Watch Morning Joe Highlights: August 12 | MSNBC | 08/12/22 | 34:58

Watch The Beat With Ari Melber Highlights: Aug. 11 | MSNBC | 08/11/22 | 20:35

Watch Morning Joe Highlights: August 11 | MSNBC | 08/11/22 | 39:49

Trump Takes the Fifth & Conservatives Trash the FBI | The Daily Show | 08/11/22 | 9:32

What's inside Democrats' $740 billion tax, climate and health care bill
Axios | Jacob Knutson | 08/08/22

Senate Democrats passed a $740 billion reconciliation package on Sunday that includes previsions that increase taxes on large corporations, address climate change and lower prescription drug costs.

Why it matters: The bill, though much smaller and less ambitious than what many Democrats wanted, has cleared its tallest hurdle and is expected to pass the House before heading to President Biden's desk for his signature. ... Please Read more

End of An Artist's Career? A.I. Creates Art for You! | PiXimperfect | 23:22

DALLE: AI Made This Thumbnail! | Marques Brownlee | 15:10

Can AI Replace Our Graphic Designer? | The Studio | 05/25/22 | 21:04

U.S. adds whopping 528,000 jobs in July as labor market booms
Axios | Courtenay Brown | 08/05/22

Employers added a stunning 528,000 jobs in July, while the unemployment rate ticked down to 3.5%, the lowest level in nearly 50 years, the Labor Department said on Friday.

Why it matters: It's the fastest pace of jobs growth since February as the labor market continues to defy fears that the economy is heading into a recession. ... Read more

Anne Frank House VR

The TRAGIC Death Of Anne Frank | | 09/04/22 | 17:19

The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Nazi (2008) | 01/07/16 | 10:17

Inside Hitler's Killing Machine | | |

Democrats complicate the private equity tax loophole
Axios | Dan Primack | 08/04/22

Private equity investors were stunned last week when Sens. Joe Manchin and Chuck Schumer agreed to a giant reconciliation bill. Not only that Manchin got to yes on anything, but that he adopted very convoluted language on changing the tax treatment of carried interest.

The big picture: This could become a full employment act for private equity fund accountants.

What to know: We don't yet have full legislative text of Manchin's bill, with Senate Democrats instead only providing a one-page summary. But multiple sources say the carry change would be cribbed from the House version of Build Back Better (RIP).

This does not recharacterize carried interest as ordinary income, which everyone agrees would be the cleanest way to close the loophole (even among those who bristle at the suggestion that it is a loophole). ... Read more

How the newest megadonor wants to change Washington
Politico | Elena Schneider | 08/04/22

One of the biggest donors in Democratic politics this year isn’t sure if he really wants to be a Democratic megadonor - at least not on the party's terms.

But then, part of life as Sam Bankman-Fried is about embracing paradoxes. The 30-year-old, who has amassed an estimated $20 billion fortune over the last four years through cryptocurrency, drives a hybrid Toyota Corolla. A monk-like aesthetic extends from his clothes - he showed up to chat in a wrinkled T-shirt and beat-up New Balance sneakers - to his personal life. He shares a penthouse with about 10 roommates and cooks for himself. He still uses his parents' Netflix account. When he lobbies in Washington, D.C., he'll often crash on his brother's couch. ... Read more

Signs of hate: Parental guide to far-right codes, symbols and acronyms
TheGuardian | Sally Weale | 08/04/22

Far-right extremists use a variety of codes, symbols and acronyms to communicate and signal shared ideologies, some of which are adopted by children and young people and may be among signs of potential radicalisation. The following is a sample from Signs of Hate, a safeguarding guide on the far right from the campaign group Hope Not Hate.

Flash and circle - Used by the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s, it has since been adopted by other far-right groups and is still in use today. ... Read more

Inside Hitler's Killing Machine | Amazon Prime | 2016 | S1

Go inside 24 hours of Portland's homeless crisis | 'One Day' documentary | 05/19/22 | 28:45

Scoop: 2024 GOP hopefuls back Trump's plan to purge civil servants
Axios | Alayna Treene | 08/03/22

Several possible 2024 Republican presidential candidates tell Axios they support former President Trump's plan to make it easier for the president to purge federal workers.

Why it matters: Trump need not win his party's nomination - nor even run again - for the next GOP president to try to reimpose the executive order known as "Schedule F." Democrats, increasingly concerned, are scrambling to block that possibility.

These moves follow Axios' publication last month of an in-depth series by Jonathan Swan detailing how allies of the former president are already plotting the return of Schedule F in 2025 were Trump re-elected.

Driving the news: Six Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), introduced legislation on Tuesday to "secure the civil service" and protect career officials against future efforts to reimpose the deeply controversial Trump-era order, which was rescinded by President Biden at the start of his term. ... Read more

What your car knows about you
Politico | Alfred NG | 08/02/22

Cars are collecting more data than ever, fueling a new type of data broker. Though car safety is tightly regulated, car data is not. And privacy advocates are concerned that connected cars could catch lawmakers off-guard—just as the unregulated collection of massive amounts of data by smartphones did.

Cars are capable of amassing data on nearly every aspect of a drive, from road conditions to whether or not you’ve gained weight since the last time you sat in the driver's seat. If you connect your phone to the car's Bluetooth system, it's also capable of knowing your contacts.

And while most of the data that cars collect is about the vehicle itself, like the engine temperature or the tire pressure, there's a growing market for more personal driver data, such as the driver’s name and location, driven by industries like insurance, marketing and car repairs. ... Read more

Pelosi lands in Taiwan despite warnings from Beijing
Axios | Dave Lawler | 08/02/22

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan Tuesday despite threats from the Chinese government that there would be "serious consequences" for the visit.

Why it matters: Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan and reacts furiously to any gestures that seem to treat the self-governing island as an independent country. Pelosi, who is the most senior U.S. lawmaker to visit since 1997, tweeted that visit "honors America's unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan's vibrant Democracy."

Driving the news: The first leg of Pelosi's trip included meetings with leaders in Singapore on Monday. She was in Malaysia on Tuesday, before she jetted off to Taiwan. Her trip is also scheduled to include stops in Japan and South Korea. While she kept the potential Taiwan stop a mystery until the last minute, the White House was clearly bracing for the fallout. ... Read more

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New magnet breakthrough could unleash smaller, more potent fusion reactors
interestingengineering.com | Chris Young | 07/26/22

We're on the verge of viable nuclear fusion. The scientists found a new method for building high-temperature superconducting magnets that are made of material that conducts electricity with practically no resistance at temperatures warmer than before. The smaller magnets will more easily fit inside spherical tokamaks, which are being investigated as a potential alternative to the more conventional doughnut-shaped tokamaks.

Fusion scientists and engineers use these incredibly powerful magnets to control and maintain the hot plasma required for the nuclear fusion reaction to take place. Crucially, the new magnets could be placed separately from other machinery in the spherical tokamak's central cavity. This means scientists would be able to repair them without having to dismantle any other parts of the tokamak. ... Read more