January 21, 2006

Last September, CNN’s newest star performer, rightwing talker Glenn Beck, told his listeners that he felt animostiy for the families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. From Media Matters:

[You] know it took me about a year to start hating the 9-11 victims’ families? Took me about a year. And I had such compassion for them, and I really wanted to help them, and I was behind, you know, “Let’s give them money, let’s get this started.” All of this stuff. And I really didn’t — of the 3,000 victims’ families, I don’t hate all of them. Probably about 10 of them. And when I see a 9-11 victim family on television, or whatever, I’m just like, “Oh shut up!” I’m so sick of them because they’re always complaining. And we did our best for them.

A news fantasy: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger suggested that he might reconsider legalizing gay marriage, if he had assurance that gay Californians would vote for him in his reelection bid this year.

Asked what triggered his change of heart, the governor said, “I saw ‘Brokeback Mountain.’ It haunted me for days.”

The topic of gay marriage came up during a brief question-and-answer session with reporters Friday. Asked for his reaction to news earlier in the day that a Maryland judge had declared her state’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, the governor said he agreed with the decision — and added that he has now come to “regret” his veto of the California gay marriage law last year.

“At the time, I thought it was better for my political career to veto it,” Schwarzenegger said. “I regret that now because I could use every vote I can get. If the legislature sends me the bill again, I definitely would sign if if I thought gays would give me their vote. A lot of gay men worship my body. I want to be the governor for all the people.”

Asked what triggered his re-thinking, the governor said, “I saw ‘Brokeback Mountain.’ It haunted me for days.”

Day: January 21, 2006

Glenn Beck Said He ‘Hates’ 9/11 Families

‘Haunted’ by ‘Brokeback,’ Schwarzenegger ‘Regrets’ Gay Marriage Veto

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.