Among the current crop of Wall Street financiers, Laurence “Larry” Fink has received the greatest number of awards and plaudits. He is the CEO and Chairman of BlackRock , the world’s largest multinational investment management corporation.
Category: Liberal Political News
Lindy West Leaves Twitter: “Get Back To Me When Your Website Isn’t A Roiling Rat-King Of Nazis”
Writer Lindy West, who spent years cultivating a reputation for engaging with social media trolls, has announced she’s leaving Twitter because of the “global repercussions” of the platform’s “refusal to stop” harassment campaigns launched by the white supremacist, misogynist “alt-right” movement. In a January 3 opinion piece at The Guardian , West explained that she had deactivated her Twitter account after “half a decade of troubleshooting” to curb personal harassment and threats from anonymous users trolling her on the social media platform.
NRATV Compares Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg To Nazi Germany’s Secret Police
Grant Stinchfield, the host of the National Rifle Association’s NRATV, compared former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s gun violence prevention efforts to the work of the Gestapo, the state secret police in Nazi Germany. During the January 3 broadcast of NRATV, Stinchfield lauded Donald Trump’s election as the National Rifle Association’s “biggest victory,” before cheering that “nearly every candidate supported by Michael Bloomberg and his anti-gun Gestapo lost” : GRANT STINCHFIELD : 2016 actually shaped up pretty well for the Second Amendment — take a look.
Unions Facing the Trump Era
Beginning in 1979 in Seattle, WA, Jim Levitt expertly fabricated custom aircraft parts and tools, helping make the Boeing Company one of the most successful businesses in the world. But in 2013, corporate executives issued a threat: They demanded that Levitt and his fellow machinists surrender their pensions, and that Washington State political leaders hand over a record $8.7 billion in tax benefits.
Is Growing Inequality Inevitable?
We could have much higher minimum wages. We could stop the union-bashing. We could restore a brand of globalization that promotes rather than undermines national social standards.
Resistance at the Ready as GOP Licks Chops Over Regressive Agenda
Since Donald Trump was elected in November, House Speaker Paul Ryan has been poised to advance a GOP agenda. From slowing President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet confirmations to hampering GOP attempts to repeal Obamacare or defund Planned Parenthood, Democrats and allied progressive forces stand ready to resist the looming Republican agenda.
The Media Did Not Ask What Trump’s Replacement For Obamacare Would Be
In the lead-up to the election, prime-time news shows functionally abdicated any role in questioning what President-elect Donald Trump will offer in place of the Affordable Care Act and how it might affect the millions of Americans who gained insurance coverage as a result of the landmark law. Instead of asking pointed questions about Trump’s piecemeal policy proposals, TV personalities focused on negative stories like the 2017 premium hikes and conservative fearmongering about the potential of a so-called “death spiral.”
Flint, Standing Rock Prove The Impact Of Environmental Issues On Communities Of Color
In 2016, major environmental crises that disproportionately affect people of color — such as the Flint water crisis and the fight over the location of the Dakota Access Pipeline — were undercovered by the national media for long periods, despite being reported by local and state media early on. The national media’s failure to spotlight these environmental issues as they arise effectively shuts the people in danger out of the national conversation, resulting in delayed political action and worsening conditions.
Preparing for the Normalization of a Neofascist White House
It is 2017, and shortly the White House will be inhabited by an unscrupulous, corrupt narcissist who has shamelessly mobilized the Neo-Nazi fringe of the Republican Party to get into power. Despite all the cries of ‘no’ to normalization on the left, Trump will be normalized by the same corporate media that virtually boycotted Bernie Sanders.
Preparing for the Normalization of a Neofascist White House
It is 2017, and shortly the White House will be inhabited by an unscrupulous, corrupt narcissist who has shamelessly mobilized the Neo-Nazi fringe of the Republican Party to get into power. Despite all the cries of ‘no’ to normalization on the left, Trump will be normalized by the same corporate media that virtually boycotted Bernie Sanders.
Defying Donald Trump’s Kleptocracy
The family of Betsy DeVos, right, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for education secretary, has a net worth of $5.1 billion. The final stages of capitalism, Karl Marx predicted, would be marked by global capital being unable to expand and generate profits at former levels.
This Day in Labor History: January 1, 1935
On January 1, 1935, the Carl Mackley Houses opened in Philadelphia. Built in conjunction with the Hosiery Workers Union, this project represents one of several attempts during the New Deal era to create workers’ housing complexes that combined both ideas of solidarity with modern architecture and a futuristic idea about where the working class was headed.
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Donald Trump has won the presidency after narrowly carrying a few states to put him above 270 electoral votes.But according… Senate Republicans refused to give President Obama’s pick to replace Supreme Court Justice Scalia even the courtesy of a… Welcome back to another edition of Nuts & Bolts Guide . Every week, over the last year, we’ve covered some of the elements of a successful campaign.
Sessions Tries to Hide His Past from Senate
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Jeff Sessions, is withholding decades’ worth of records from his career ahead of his Senate confirmation hearings early next month, according to an exhaustive report issued Friday by progressive advocacy groups. The groups, which include Alliance for Justice and People for the American Way, reviewed the questionnaire that Sessions filled out for the Senate Judiciary Committee — it requires complete documentation of employment history, published writings, interviews and speeches, among other things — and found “astonishingly deficient” responses.
George Soros: Open Society Needs Defending
George Soros: I find the current moment in history very painful. Open societies are in crisis, and various forms of closed societies – from fascist dictatorships to mafia states – are on the rise.
2016 Golden Duke Awards Winners Announced
TPM is pleased to announce the winners of the Tenth Annual Golden Duke Awards recognizing the year’s best purveyors of public corruption, outlandish behavior, The Crazy, nonsense and all relevant betrayals of the public trust. The awards are named in honor of former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who epitomizes the iconic modern scandal.
Ode to the Pundits
Award-winning animator Mark Fiore bestows a special award upon “the pundit class” who helped bring us the Donald Trump presidency in his latest clip. Watch the video and read Fiore’s thoughts on pundits below.
Ode to the Pundits
Award-winning animator Mark Fiore bestows a special award upon “the pundit class” who helped bring us the Donald Trump presidency in his latest clip. Watch the video and read Fiore’s thoughts on pundits below.
After Legislative Coup, North Carolina Can No Longer Be Considered a Democracy, Study Finds
A new report finds that North Carolina’s democratic institutions are so flawed that the state should no longer be considered a functioning democracy. The report, by the Electoral Integrity Project, or EIP, “points to extreme gerrymandering, voter suppression of communities of color and the recent stripping of power of incoming Democratic Governor Roy Cooper by Republicans,” reports “Democracy Now!” EIP gave the state a score of 58 out of 100 points-similar to those of Cuba, Sierra Leone and Indonesia.
After Legislative Coup, North Carolina Can No Longer Be Considered a Democracy, Study Finds
A new report finds that North Carolina’s democratic institutions are so flawed that the state should no longer be considered a functioning democracy. The report, by the Electoral Integrity Project, or EIP, “points to extreme gerrymandering, voter suppression of communities of color and the recent stripping of power of incoming Democratic Governor Roy Cooper by Republicans,” reports “Democracy Now!” EIP gave the state a score of 58 out of 100 points-similar to those of Cuba, Sierra Leone and Indonesia.
Toys evacuate Trump Tower
A stray backpack prompted the partial evacuation of Trump Tower on Tuesday, though bomb squad technicians quickly determined the unattended bag contained children’s toys and was harmless. Video posted online showed people running through the Manhattan skyscraper’s public lobby as uniformed police officers waved them toward the exits.
No apology for horror of Pearl Harbor
The leaders of Japan and the United States sought to remind the world that even the most bitter enemies can become allies, during a historic pilgrimage to the hallowed waters of Pearl Harbor. Seventy-five years after Japan’s surprise attack, Abe and President Barack Obama peered down Tuesday at the rusting wreckage of the USS Arizona, clearly visible in the tranquil, teal water.
It Turns Out Trump-Voting Coal Miners Need Their Obamacare Too
It is going to be harder for Donald Trump and our Republican overlords in Congress to repeal Obamacare than they think. It turns out lots of people rely upon it for their health care, and they don’t want it to go away.
Russia No Longer Denies Vast Olympic Doping Conspiracy
In December, a report dropped alleging that Russia had engaged in a massive doping conspiracy during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. When it was rolled out, World Anti-Doping Agency investigator said , “For years, international sports competitions have unknowingly been hijacked by Russians.
Guaranteed Basic Income for All
An idea gaining traction in various part of the world is that everyone in society should receive an amount of money from the state to cover their basic cost of living. People would no longer be stigmatized on benefits, argue supporters.
George Michael
I won’t claim to have been a huge fan of the prematurely deceased icon , although I admired his craft and enjoyed some of his songs. Maura Johnston makes the case for him as a major artist and interpreter .
Not All CIA Agents Think Alike: ‘BradCast’ 12/26/2106
It’s a very white Christmas for many on the right, as ‘PDiddie’ finds in this year’s collection of Holiday toons… Guest: Daniel Nichanian on proactive, state-by-state measures Dems can and must take to expand voting rights; And much more!… Freakishly hot Arctic; New Obama drilling bans; Climate change juiced extreme events: NOAA; Trump voters support carbon regulation; PLUS : Solar now world’s cheapest energy… Also: NC’s brazen GOP coup a model for nation, and Obama’s last ditch efforts to save the planet from Trump… High lead levels in 1000s of towns; Water safe again in Corpus Christi; Int.
Not All CIA Agents Think Alike: ‘BradCast’ 12/26/2106
It’s a very white Christmas for many on the right, as ‘PDiddie’ finds in this year’s collection of Holiday toons… Guest: Daniel Nichanian on proactive, state-by-state measures Dems can and must take to expand voting rights; And much more!… Freakishly hot Arctic; New Obama drilling bans; Climate change juiced extreme events: NOAA; Trump voters support carbon regulation; PLUS : Solar now world’s cheapest energy… Also: NC’s brazen GOP coup a model for nation, and Obama’s last ditch efforts to save the planet from Trump… High lead levels in 1000s of towns; Water safe again in Corpus Christi; Int.
Why Security Council Resolution 2334 Matters a Lot More Than We Think
Those who long ago succumbed to cynicism and hopelessness when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can find many reasons to discount the importance of Security Council Resolution 2334, passed unanimously on December 23. It is certainly true that Israel will ignore and indeed work actively to undermine the Resolution just as it has ignored innumerable other resolutions demanding a halt to settlement construction or expansion. As one activist tweeted shortly after its passage, in all likelihood Israel will expand the seizure of Palestinian land and construction of settlements just to thumb its nose at the UN and to demonstrate the irrelevance of the UN when it comes to the Occupation.
The Women On The Fox Couch Say Obama’s A Commie
So says Kennedy crossing her legs on the Fox News Outnumbered Couch at the Roger Ailes Memorial Mini-skirt Extravaganza. As my colleague Heather sums up this clip, the Outnumbered cast also blamed Obama for any FUTURE partisan gridlock, because it’s clearly his goal in his emeritus years to make it “hard” for Trump to “govern.”
Joe Scarborough Blames Obama For Washington’s Obstructions
On this morning’s Morning Joe, Scarborough decides to compare his own glory days in the 1994 Congress with the Tea Party. JOE SCARBOROUGH: You know, Rick, I think for me personally, that’s the great failure of Barack Obama.
2016 Recap: Our Feministing Favorites
As the shitshow that’s been 2016 winds to an end, we’re taking this week to reflect on some of the best feminist writing of the last twelve months. Here are our favorites from the site.
Bernie Sanders Says Donald Trump’s ‘Dangerous’ Nuclear Arms Race Talk Must Be Challenged
Sen. Bernie Sanders has made it known that Donald Trump should not go unchallenged by his congressional colleagues as troubling comments by the President-elect about nuclear weapons this week sparked alarm across the United States and the world. Following an initial out-of-the-blue tweet Thursday saying the U.S. should “expand” its nuclear arsenal followed by “clarifying” remarks Friday to MSNBC in which Trump said, ” Let it be an arms race ,” Sanders responded: “It’s a miracle a nuclear weapon hasn’t been used in war since 1945.
La La Land
Whenever I do a music thread or movie thread or something like that, lots of people in the comments say they’d like to see more such threads because it’s such a depressing time politically. I thought I’d do one on movie musicals.
Trump Pretends He’s Already The President
In addition to trying to start a nuclear arms race, Donald Trump is violating the “one President at a time” norm, too. As if he has any regard for norms.
Trump confidant says Michelle Obama belongs with African gorillas, wishes death upon the president
Carl Paladino, a former co-chair of Donald Trump’s campaign and the man New York Republicans elected as their gubernatorial nominee in 2010, told a local newspaper in Buffalo that he hopes President Obama catches mad cow disease and dies, and that Michelle Obama is a man and should be “let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.” The remarks came as answers to a questionnaire by Buffalo alt-weekly ArtVoice , which sent a harmless 4-question survey to local officials and city residents .
Teen Vogue Writer Takes Tucker Carlson to Woodshed
Teen Vogue writer Lauren Duca faced off with Tucker Carlson of Fox News Friday night in a fierce back and forth about Ivanka Trump and various things that Duca has written critical of Donald Trump. During the heated discussion, Duca told off Carlson for interrupting her and said, “You’re actually being a partisan hack that’s just attacking me ad nauseum and not allowing me to speak.”
Banksters Pay $12.5 Billion to Settle Probes
Germany’s largest lender Deutsche Bank and Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse have agreed to pay a collective $12.5 billion to settle litigation stemming from their bundling of risky subprime and Alt-a mortgages during the mid-2000s credit bubble, which resulted in a severe housing collapse, billions of dollars of investor losses and widespread claims of deception. The agreements, struck just before a new administration takes the White House, adds resolution to the Obama administrations efforts to hold Wall Street’s largest banks accountable for their activities during the bubble and bust of the U.S. housing market.
Banksters Pay $12.5 Billion to Settle Probes
Germany’s largest lender Deutsche Bank and Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse have agreed to pay a collective $12.5 billion to settle litigation stemming from their bundling of risky subprime and Alt-a mortgages during the mid-2000s credit bubble, which resulted in a severe housing collapse, billions of dollars of investor losses and widespread claims of deception. The agreements, struck just before a new administration takes the White House, adds resolution to the Obama administrations efforts to hold Wall Street’s largest banks accountable for their activities during the bubble and bust of the U.S. housing market.
Sanders Says Trump’s “Dangerous” Nuclear Arms Race Talk Must Be Challenged
Deriding President-elect Donald Trump as the ‘Twitter-in-Chief,’ Sen. Bernie Sanders said recent comments on a nuclear arms race must be challenged by members of both major parties. Sen. Bernie Sanders has made it known that Donald Trump should not go unchallenged by his congressional colleagues as troubling comments by the President-elect about nuclear weapons this week sparked alarm across the United States and the world.