Author: Editor

Did you catch these hidden messagesa

In the very beginning of her performance, the pop artist sang “America the Beautiful” before quickly switching to, “This Land is Your Land,” a Woody Guthrie tune popular in many of the protests that have taken place after President Trump took office. People sang the song at women’s marches across the nation the day after Trump’s inauguration and at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport in light of Trump’s immigration travel ban among other instances.

Expelled Candidate for DNCChair Suing Democrats for Breachof First Amendment

A candidate expelled from the race for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee for criticising Islam tells Breitbart News he intends to sue for a breach of his First Amendment rights. Vincent Tolliver was expelled from the campaign by interim DNC Chairwoman Donna Brazil, after telling The Hill he didn’t believe his rival Rep. Keith Ellison should become chairman because of his Islamic faith, citing the religion’s positions on homosexuality.

2 states file papers fighting Trump’s travel restriction

Lawyers for Washington state and Minnesota have told a federal appellate court that restoring President Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and travellers from seven predominantly Muslim countries would “unleash chaos again.” The filing with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco came early Monday after the White House said it expected the federal courts to reinstate the ban.

Apple, Google, Uber join fight against Trump travel ban

Dozens of tech companies, including behemoths like Apple, Google, and Facebook, are siding with Washington state and Minnesota as they fight President Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and travellers from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. In their court filing with the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a total of 97 companies said Trump’s travel ban “hinders the ability of American companies to attract great talent; increases costs imposed on business; makes it more difficult for American firms to compete in the international marketplace.”

The Latest: States cite ‘chaos’ in Trump’s refugee order

Lawyers for Washington state and Minnesota have told a federal appellate court it would “unleash chaos again” if it lifted an order temporarily halting President Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and travellers from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. In briefs filed early Monday morning with the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Washington state and Minnesota said Trump’s travel ban harmed residents, businesses and universities and was unconstitutional.

Human Rights Watch wants alleged Myanmar abuses investigated

A human rights group urged Myanmar’s government on Monday to back an independent international investigation into alleged abuses by security forces against members of the Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority, including the reported systematic use of sexual violence. U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said in a statement that soldiers and Border Guard Police took part in rape, gang rape, invasive body searches and sexual assaults while conducting counter-insurgency operations in the western state of Rakhine from October through mid-December.

EU envoys back keeping sanctions against Russia over Ukraine

The European Union’s top diplomats vowed Monday to uphold sanctions against Russia for destabilizing conflict-torn Ukraine, despite confusion over how U.S. President Donald Trump plans to manage his relations with Moscow. Determined to wait no longer for a clear message from Washington, EU foreign ministers said their economic sanctions must remain in place until Russian President Vladimir Putin respects his promise to work for a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine and ensure that heavy weapons are withdrawn from border areas.

‘This Land’: The Pro-Immigrant Radicalism of Lady Gaga and Woody Guthrie at the Super Bowl

By beginning with Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America” and then switching to Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is your Land,” Lady Gaga engaged in a subtle but very radical critique of the immigration and other policies of Donald J. Trump. Her switch at the end to quoting the pledge of allegiance with the ending phrase “with justice and liberty for all” was a further critique of Trump’s latent white nationalism.

Baton Rouge school flood damage tops $60M

Officials estimate that it will cost more than $62 million and years of work to repair flooded schools in Baton Rouge. The Advocate reports that of the 10 schools that were forced to temporarily relocate because of the August flood, just one has been fully repaired and is back open.

Democrats Really Have No Idea What Resistance Looks Like

For all their criticism of Donald Trump, 14 democrats have voted for every single one of the president’s swamp-dwelling cabinet appointees, and they still don’t have a cohesive strategy. Jimmy Dore did not mince his words or conceal his anger towards the Democratic Party in his latest segment of “Aggressive Progressives” as he furiously points out that even former vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine has been voting in favor of all of Trump’s appointments.

Military

Lawyers for Washington state and Minnesota have told a federal appellate court that restoring President Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries would “unleash chaos again.” The filing with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco came early Monday after the White House said it expected the federal courts to reinstate the ban.

new Howard County debates becoming a sanctuarya county

Despite an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that threatens to pull federal funding from local governments that protect undocumented immigrants, Howard County in Maryland is set to make a controversial move related to the matter Monday. The Howard County Council plans to vote on whether to label the county a “sanctuary” jurisdiction that promises to shield and protect undocumented immigrants from federal law.

Reinstating travel ban would ‘unleash chaos,’ state lawyers warn

Demonstrators participate in a protest by the Yemeni community against U.S. President Donald Trump’s travel ban in the Brooklyn borough of New York last week. Lawyers for Washington state and Minnesota have told a federal appellate court that restoring U.S. President Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries would “unleash chaos again.”

Clive McFarlane: Giving Obama credit – or blame Posted at

Is anyone stunned that after eight years of blaming all the ills of this country on President Barack Obama, the Republican Party, aka the President Trump administration, is now using Mr. Obama as a surrogate for its polices? Nobody is stunned at this turn of events, not from a party and an administration that governs from alternative facts.

Key tech companies oppose Trump immigration order in court

Google, Facebook, Intel, Netflix, Microsoft, Apple and Twitter are among a large group of companies that have filed a brief in opposition to an immigration order by U.S. President Donald Trump, citing the benefits to industry from liberal immigration rules and the disruption to business as a result of the regulation. A total of 97 companies from the technology and other sectors asked permission late Sunday from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to file an amici curiae, also known as a friends-of-the-court brief, in favor of maintaining a restraining order from a lower court on Trump’s decision that restricts the entry of certain classes of visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Gorsuch is just the judge the court needs

Judge Neil Gorsuch speaks after being introduced as President Donald Trump’s nominee for the vacant Supreme Court seat, at the White House in Washington on Tuesday. Gorsuch was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit by George W. Bush.

WRAPUP 1-Legal battles to test Trump and his travel ban

Feb 6 President Donald Trump’s temporary immigration ban faces crucial legal hurdles this week that could determine whether he is able to push through the most far-reaching and controversial policy of his first two weeks in office. On Monday, the government has a deadline to justify the executive order temporarily barring immigrants from seven mostly Muslim countries and the entry of refugees after a federal judge in Seattle blocked it with a temporary restraining order on Friday.

“This Land:” The pro-Immigrant Radicalism of Lady Gaga and Guthrie at Half-Time

By beginning with Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America” and then switching to Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is your Land,” Lady Gaga engaged in a subtle but very radical critique of the immigration and other policies of Donald J. Trump. Her switch at the end to quoting the pledge of allegiance with the ending phrase “with justice and liberty for all” was a further critique of Trump’s latent white nationalism.

37 suspected undocumented immigrants released under Travis County Sheriff’s immigration policy

When Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez’s new immigration policy went into effect Wednesday, 37 suspected undocumented immigrants were released, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The policy does not allow federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents without warrants to ask the sheriff’s office to turn over suspected undocumented immigrants held in local jails.

Legal battles to test Trump and his travel ban

Demonstrators against the immigration rules implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, rally at Los Angeles international airport in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 4, 2017. 12-year old Eman Ali of Yemen cries with her sister Salma Ali after seeing each other for the first time in years at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California, February 5, 2017.

Demonstrators gather for a second day at the arrivals terminal at the …

Demonstrators gather for a second day at the arrivals terminal at the San Francisco Airport in San Francisco, Calif., for a demonstration against Donald Trump’s executive order that bars citizen of seven from predominately Muslim countries from entering the U.S., Sunday, January 29, 2017. less Demonstrators gather for a second day at the arrivals terminal at the San Francisco Airport in San Francisco, Calif., for a demonstration against Donald Trump’s executive order that bars citizen of seven from … more The technology industry showed a mostly united front Sunday as it stepped up its confrontation with the Trump administration over immigration policies.

Victoria Cross hero Johnson Beharry ‘humiliated’ at US…

Victoria Cross recipient Johnson Beharry has described his ‘humiliation’ after he was held up by US border officials during Donald Trump’s immigration clampdown. The Iraq war hero arrived at New York’s JFK airport hours after the president ordered travel restrictions on January 27. Long delays at immigration meant he missed a veterans’ event where he was due to be a guest of honour.

Lawmakers consider expanding Illinois immigrant protections

Immigrant rights advocates protest President Donald Trump’s executive orders Wednesday on immigration in Chicago. State legislators are attempting to boost immigrant protections in response to President Donald Trump’s forceful orders on immigration, a move advocates say would essentially make Illinois a “sanctuary” state.

Veteran says he sprayed Agent Orange on Guam

The act comes amid the Department of Defense’s continued denial that AO was ever used on the island. The decades-long battle of veterans fighting to receive compensation for Agent Orange exposure has grabbed the attention of Florida congressman Dennis Ross.

Judge Robart’s dunce cap

Late in the day last Saturday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied president Trump’s DOJ emergency request to stay the temporary restraining order issued by Seattle federal district court judge James L Robart. Judge Robart blocked Trump’s executive order temporarily halting travel from seven countries, whose ties to terrorism pose a significant security risk to the United States.

Trump, Pence weigh in on courts and travel order – Sun, 05 Feb 2017 PST

Rebuffed in its bid for a quick reversal, the White House said Sunday it expected the courts to reaffirm President Donald Trump’s executive power and reinstate an order barring refugees and travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. The case promised to extend into Monday at least, when fresh legal filings were due, and observers had no doubt the Supreme Court ultimately will have a say.

Myanmar army and police commanders should be punished for rape of Rohingya, rights group says

Human Rights Watch on Monday called for Myanmar to punish army and police commanders if they allowed troops to rape and sexually assault women and girls of the Rohingya Muslim minority. The New York-based campaign group said it had documented rape, gang rape and other sexual violence against girls as young as 13 in interviews with some of the 69,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled to Bangladesh since Myanmar security forces responded to attacks on border posts four months ago.

Lady Gaga brings message of inclusion to Super Bowl halftime

FEBRUARY 05: Musician Lady Gaga performs onstage during the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Halftime Show at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Lady Gaga’s powerful Super Bowl LI halftime performance didn’t have any of the overt political statements that some people were expecting, but it did have a message about inclusion.