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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#283126: Jun 20th 2019 at 3:18:06 PM

Sorry to double post, but I had to share this article from NBC.

A team of attorneys who recently visited the [concentration camp] facility near El Paso told The Associated Press that three girls, ages 10 to 15, said they had been taking turns keeping watch over a sick 2-year-old boy because there was no one else to look after him.

When the lawyers saw the 2-year-old boy, he wasn't wearing a diaper and had wet his pants, and his shirt was smeared in mucus. They said at least 15 children at the facility had the flu, and some were kept in medical quarantine.

Children told lawyers that they were fed uncooked frozen food or rice and had gone weeks without bathing or a clean change of clothes at the facility in Clint, in the desert scrubland some 25 miles southeast of El Paso.

"In my 22 years of doing visits with children in detention I have never heard of this level of inhumanity," said Holly Cooper, an attorney who represents detained youth.

I’m going to throw up. Jesus Christ.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#283127: Jun 20th 2019 at 4:03:58 PM

It's time to donate to RAICES again, I think.

If you're unfamiliar with what happened there, the already-overworked Immigrant Lawyer Group raised 20,000,000 dollars to work against the separation of children from their families. The pressure from the Democratic Party was enough to put an end to child-separation but the enormous clusterfuck still required people to do their damndest to try to sort it out.

RAICES has spent all of 2019 trying to do so and $4,000,000 has since been spent getting out 550 people to reunite with their families. A fraction of the people tortured and ruined by the Trump administration that has been fighting the attempts to bail the immigrant parents out so they can reunite with their kids as well as delay matters.

Nevertheless, it's an organization doing real good in the world. It's also avoiding the waste that happened with the Haitian crisis.

https://twitter.com/RAICESTEXAS/status/1141833163347378176

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Jun 20th 2019 at 4:04:48 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#283128: Jun 20th 2019 at 6:09:12 PM

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2019/06/20/day-882/

    Day 882: The best is yet to come. 
1/ Trump warned that Iran "made a very big mistake" after its military claimed responsibility for shooting down an American drone in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed the drone "violated" Iranian airspace, while U.S. military claimed the unmanned aircraft was taken down in "an unprovoked attack on a U.S. surveillance asset" over international airspace. Trump called the action "a new fly in the ointment" and a "very foolish move," saying the "this country will not stand for it, that I can tell you." Trump added that it also could have been a "mistake" by someone "loose and stupid." A top Iranian commander, meanwhile, warned that Iran was "fully ready for war." And, when asked whether the U.S. would attack Iran, Trump responded: "You'll soon find out." (ABC News / Associated Press / New York Times / Politico / The Guardian / NBC News / CNN / CNBC)

https://apnews.com/e4316eb989d5499c9828350de8524963

2/ The Senate voted to block the sale of $8.1 billion in munitions to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In back-to-back votes, the Senate passed three measures to block Trump from using his emergency authority to complete the arms sales, but fell short of the support needed to overcome a pledged veto. Trump is expected to veto the Senate's resolutions. (New York Times / Politico / Wall Street Journal / Washington Post)

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/20/senate-votes-to-block-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-1373203

3/ A federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration's family planning "gag rule" can immediately take effect nationwide. The ruling lifts national injunctions ordered by lower federal courts in Oregon and Washington state, as well as a statewide injunction in California, allowing the Trump administration to strip federal Title X funding from any clinic that provides abortions or abortion referrals. Planned Parenthood faces a cut of $60 million in Title X funds. (Washington Post / Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/20/trump-family-planning-restrictions-1544884

4/ A watchdog group filed a complaint claiming Ivanka Trump violated the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from engaging in elections in their official capacity. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington cited a tweet from Ivanka Trump two days before Trump's 2020 campaign launch that included the campaign slogan "Make America Great Again" and stated "the best is yet to come." (The Guardian / The Hill)

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/449464-watchdog-claims-ivanka-trump-violated-hatch-act-after-federal-office

5/ Felix Sater will testify before the House Intelligence Committee tomorrow about his experience working on the proposed Trump Tower Moscow. The closed-door interview is part of House Democrats' investigation into Trump's plans to expand his business operations in Russia during the 2016 election. Sater is a U.S. citizen who worked on two separate efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. He was originally scheduled to testify in March, but his appearance was postponed. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/former-trump-business-partner-felix-sater-set-to-testify-friday-before-house-intelligence-committee/2019/06/19/2258a428-92c2-11e9-b570-6416efdc0803_story.html?utm_term=.5bbb469b98ee

6/ Deutsche Bank is being investigated by federal authorities over questions of whether it complied with anti-money-laundering laws. Investigators will review the bank's handling of suspicious activity reports about potentially problematic transactions, including some linked to Jared Kushner. The criminal investigation is one part of several separate but overlapping government probes into financial corruption and the flow of illicit funds through the U.S. financial system. Several other banks are also under investigation. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/19/business/deutsche-bank-money-laundering-trump.html

7/ Three more senators received a classified Pentagon briefing about a series of reported Navy encounters with UF Os. A growing number of members from key oversight committees have requested similar briefings. Sen. Mark Warner was one of the latest three to be briefed on what Warner's spokesperson referred to as an "unidentified aerial phenomenon." The briefing comes several days after Trump claimed he had also been briefed on the reports. "People are saying they're seeing UF Os. Do I believe it? Not particularly." (Politico / ABC News)

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/video/trump-ufos-63732301

Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#283129: Jun 20th 2019 at 6:26:14 PM

[up] I really hope he's not actually think about war with that "you'll find out" comment.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#283130: Jun 20th 2019 at 6:37:43 PM

Fun fact, in 2000 Peter Buttigieg wrote an award-winning paper that described in glowing terms a politician he admired.

The topic of that paper?

Bernie Sanders [lol]

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#283131: Jun 20th 2019 at 6:38:42 PM

Has Buttigieg seriously gone after Sanders so far in his campaign?

If so, then yes, it would be hilarious.

Edited by M84 on Jun 20th 2019 at 9:39:13 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
TheRoguePenguin Since: Jul, 2009
#283132: Jun 20th 2019 at 6:47:01 PM

[up][up][up]That's Trump's code-phrase for "I have no idea."

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#283133: Jun 20th 2019 at 6:50:53 PM

[up][up][up][up] Whatever happens it’s going to happen soon. There was a White House meeting with military and civilian leaders this afternoon and it’s late night/early morning in Iran, which is the moment of choice for military strikes. If it doesn’t happen in the next few hours the chances of a kinetic escalation go way down.

Edited by archonspeaks on Jun 20th 2019 at 6:51:02 AM

They should have sent a poet.
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#283134: Jun 20th 2019 at 7:48:14 PM

I'm assuming from wisewillow's top post that AOC referring to the boarder camps as concentration camps had been discussed. But I think this take from a Jewish legal historian is worth sharing regardless.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#283135: Jun 20th 2019 at 8:15:41 PM

Yeah, the scandal went:

"It's disgusting AOC demeans the Holocaust by comparing Trump camps to Jewish ones."

"Actually, they're pretty damn similar. I'm a rabbi by the way."

"Uh, THESE Jews don't feel this way."

Then the Democrats get involved

"That is terrible, AOC!"

"I actually agree with her."

"Oh come on!"

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Jun 20th 2019 at 8:16:47 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#283136: Jun 20th 2019 at 8:17:47 PM

So apparently Trump approved strikes on Iran, but then called them off at the last second. More details to come soon.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#283137: Jun 20th 2019 at 8:24:33 PM

Some of those details:

Bolton and CIA Directer Gina Haspel argued for the strikes, the military fought against them.

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#283138: Jun 20th 2019 at 8:25:39 PM

[up]

It's bizarre as hell when the Pentagon is the body arguing for restraint. Good on them, but still fucking weird.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#283139: Jun 20th 2019 at 8:27:39 PM

... Jesus fucking Christ god help us all.

Forenperser Foreign Troper from Germany Since: Mar, 2012
Foreign Troper
#283140: Jun 20th 2019 at 8:28:05 PM

John Bolton is truly a nasty piece of work

Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% Scandinavian
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#283141: Jun 20th 2019 at 8:28:57 PM

Wait, so the military just out and said "fuck you, we're not striking anybody"?

i'm tired, my friend
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#283142: Jun 20th 2019 at 8:33:38 PM

No, they followed orders. Just protesting the whole time, apparently. More details: The NYT says planes were already in the air and ships in position to launch missiles when the stand down order came.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#283143: Jun 20th 2019 at 8:34:15 PM

That's a few thousand years off of his sentence in hell.

Donald, FIRE BOLTON, please!

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Jun 20th 2019 at 8:35:28 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#283144: Jun 20th 2019 at 8:42:30 PM

So we're bordering on actually invading Iran. This is dangerous territory. If it happens, not only will there be more chaos in the Middle East, but Trump would be done for politically, and I think he knows this too, which is why he (thankfully) canceled the order. I also don't trust Trump and his ilk to do this right; they'd bungle it up so bad they'd make LBJ and Bush Jr. look like Military Masterminds in comparison.

Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#283145: Jun 20th 2019 at 9:08:12 PM

He's showed an unusual level of forethought in cancelling the strike, still not alot though.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#283146: Jun 20th 2019 at 9:17:51 PM

Bolton is well known for having extreme views on the use of war, so it's not surprising that the Pentagon was protesting; he's way off base from where they are. We do have to remember that just because someone is a member of the military doesn't mean they're a war hawk. I think most officers are, in general terms, more reluctant to engage in rash and violent action because that's something they then have to commit their troops to. And the current CIA director is turning out to not be much better than Bolton, sadly.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#283147: Jun 20th 2019 at 9:20:04 PM

Reminder: We still don't have a Secretary of Defense.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#283148: Jun 20th 2019 at 9:27:50 PM

One of the scariest things I've just realized is that Donald Trump is actually showing a lot of signs of being easily influenced. His decisions basically seem to veer between what someone told him last. Easily manipulated and pressured is not something I normally would have thought of Trump for all his flaws.

But damn, it seems to be consistent.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#283149: Jun 20th 2019 at 9:32:33 PM

[up]

We've known that since his sit-down with Xi a year ago in which he was told about the complexity of the situation with North Korea and readily agreed with the Chinese description... only for a few days to go by before he was screeching about Un again.

And with Bolton, this entire fucking situation is reminding me of this exchange between Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright in '92 and the runup to the Bosnia conflict.

"What's the point of having this superb military you're always talking about if we can't use it?" Madeleine Albright screamed at Colin Powell. Her stinging rebuke could not have been better designed to scrape a raw American nerve, challenging the nation's machismo and role as leader of the free word. Powell reacted furiously. 'I thought I would have an aneurysm,' he recalled. 'American GIs are not toy soldiers to be moved around on some global game board."

[down]

As mentioned above, it was probably that Trump listened to people that aren't Bolton and Pompeo.

Edited by ironballs16 on Jun 20th 2019 at 12:46:07 PM

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
AzurePaladin She/Her Pronouns from Forest of Magic Since: Apr, 2018 Relationship Status: Mu
She/Her Pronouns
#283150: Jun 20th 2019 at 9:43:11 PM

I left for a few hours, and we came within inches from war!?

Jesus Christ!

Why do you think they pulled back? We don't have enough troops in the area, think they're holding off until reinforcements arrive?

Edited by AzurePaladin on Jun 20th 2019 at 12:44:43 PM

The awful things he says and does are burned into our cultural consciousness like a CRT display left on the same picture too long. -Fighteer

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