July 1, 2023 - Pensito

SCOTUS — Lifetime (Dis)Appointments

July 1, 2023 Buck Banks

So the benighted Colorado christianist got her way,
Now she won’t have to make websites for anyone gay.
The Trump Supremes are creating a nation
Where affirmative action’s replaced by discrimination,
And the meaning of your vote is erased away.

GOP Strategist: DeSantis Is Worst Candidate Ever

July 1, 2023 Buck Banks

“It’s like he’s been assembled from the discarded spare parts of Bobby Jindal, Bill deBlasio, Rick Perry, and Scott Walker.”

— Veteran GOP political strategist Jeff Timmer described Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the “worst” presidential candidate he has ever seen.

How We Created This Idiocracy

July 1, 2023 Buck Banks

“What we’ve done in our politics is create a situation where we’re electing idiots.”

— Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), quoted by CNN.

Brown Eviscerates Right-Wing Justices for Affirmative Action Ruling

July 1, 2023 Buck Banks

“With let-them-eat-cake obliviousness, today, the majority pulls the ripcord and announces ‘colorblindness for all’ by legal fiat. But deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.”

— Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in her dissent to today’s Supreme Court decision curtailing affirmative action.

Koch Network Plans to Spend $70 Million Against Trump

July 1, 2023 Buck Banks

$70 million

“The political network established by the conservative industrialists Charles and David Koch has raised more than $70 million for political races as it looks to help Republicans move past Donald Trump, a Federal Election Commission filing will show,” the New York Times reports.

Trump Has Called for 27 Political Rivals to Be Jailed

July 1, 2023 Buck Banks

27

Although Donald Trump claims his criminal indictments are part of some “political persecution,” ABC News notes that Trump himself has called for at least 27 of his political foes to be indicted or jailed. Not one of them has been charged with any crimes.

Day: July 1, 2023

SCOTUS — Lifetime (Dis)Appointments

GOP Strategist: DeSantis Is Worst Candidate Ever

“It’s like he’s been assembled from the discarded spare parts of Bobby Jindal, Bill deBlasio, Rick Perry, and Scott Walker.”

— Veteran GOP political strategist Jeff Timmer described Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the “worst” presidential candidate he has ever seen.

How We Created This Idiocracy

“What we’ve done in our politics is create a situation where we’re electing idiots.”

— Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), quoted by CNN.

Brown Eviscerates Right-Wing Justices for Affirmative Action Ruling

“With let-them-eat-cake obliviousness, today, the majority pulls the ripcord and announces ‘colorblindness for all’ by legal fiat. But deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.”

— Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in her dissent to today’s Supreme Court decision curtailing affirmative action.

Koch Network Plans to Spend $70 Million Against Trump

$70 million

“The political network established by the conservative industrialists Charles and David Koch has raised more than $70 million for political races as it looks to help Republicans move past Donald Trump, a Federal Election Commission filing will show,” the New York Times reports.

Trump Has Called for 27 Political Rivals to Be Jailed

27

Although Donald Trump claims his criminal indictments are part of some “political persecution,” ABC News notes that Trump himself has called for at least 27 of his political foes to be indicted or jailed. Not one of them has been charged with any crimes.

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.