Our honored dead, dishonored nation, and loser president

#Iran #war #military #Trump #MAGA

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America, Trump, the Republicans, and a failing country.

Number of Americans not working rockets to record high under Trump

Once mighty, successful, and proud, we are in a death spiral. And each day the spiral grows tighter, spins faster, and sinks deeper into despair.

Our economy is in a shambles, inflation is pecking away at our financial security, healthcare is all but out of reach for the average family, children and the elderly are denied necessary funds for food and survival because tax benefits for the rich have increased, veteran’s benefits are shrinking faster than our pocket books, our once faithful allies and trading partners have come to realize America’s word is trash, and our service men and women are being slain in a war championed by fools and incompetents, and each day Trump makes more, and more, millions from his grifts.

How long, how long America, before we, the people, rise to take our own futures in our own hands and out of the hands of millionaires, billionaires, and tyrants of all stripes?

Trump, and his Republican co-conspirators must be shown the door -- investigated, indicted, tried and imprisoned – it is the only way we will regain control of our lives, and our country.

See this – Boldface mine:

Number of Americans not working rockets to record high under Trump

Story by Martha McHardy

The Daily Beast

The number of Americans not working has climbed to a record high under President Donald Trump.

According to figures from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the ranks of Americans classified as “not in the labor force” (NILF) swelled to 105.8 million in June, marking the highest level ever recorded.

That means the total number of Americans classified as “not in the labor force” is now higher than it was during the Great Recession or the COVID-19 pandemic.

The category includes everyone age 16 and older who is not working, from retirees and students to people who have stopped looking for a job.

About 5.3 million Americans—roughly 5 percent of the total—are no longer searching for work because they have become discouraged. Another 23.3 million, or around 22 percent, are out of the workforce due to long-term illness, disability, or other benefit programs.

Retirees make up the largest share of the group, accounting for about half of all Americans who are not working, largely because of the Baby Boomer generation, born between 1946 and 1964.

But labor economist Nicholas Eberstadt argues that an aging population alone does not explain the trend.

“If you look at what’s going on in Europe and Japan, which are both aging, shrinking societies, their workforce participation rates are going up now. So it’s not as if it’s impossible for aging, shrinking societies to mobilize more or involve more in the workforce,” he told the New York Post.

“These are the healthiest, best educated Americans that have ever lived on the planet,” Eberstadt said.

The record number of Americans outside the workforce comes as the U.S. job market is also showing fresh signs of slowing under Trump, who has promised to usher in a “golden age of America.”

The economy added just 57,000 jobs in June—barely half of the 115,000 economists had expected. The Labor Department also sharply revised previous figures lower, reporting 31,000 fewer jobs were created in April and another 43,000 fewer in May than originally estimated.

One of the biggest drags came from the leisure and hospitality sector, which lost 61,000 jobs in June instead of ramping up for the busy summer travel season.

The weak performance surprised economists, who had expected the industry to benefit from seasonal hiring as well as a boost from the FIFA Club World Cup.

Angela Hanks, chief of policy programs at The Century Foundation, described the report as “yet more evidence of a fragile economy under President Trump.”

Meanwhile, the reality is even grim for Americans who are working.

Wage growth has not been keeping up with inflation, which soared because Trump decided to go to war with Iran, driving up energy costs.

In June, wages rose 3.5 percent from a year earlier—the same rate as inflation—leaving workers with virtually no gain in purchasing power, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/number-of-americans-not-working-rockets-to-record-high-under-trump/ar-AA28tkdG?

On the surface the following article seems to indicate Trump can be prosecuted for inciting the Jan. 6 insurgency against our Constitution and our country. But, for now, that is just on the surface.

When we dig deeper we come to realize each judicial decision is open to appeal. First, there are little steps, then bigger ones until it all reaches the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court – a wholly owned subsidiary of the White House, Trump, The Republicans, and MAGA!

While there are many honest jurists, judges of high ethics and integrity, sadly not many sit on America’s highest Court. Ruled over by a heavy-handed millionaire in his own right -- Twenty-five million at last count -- Roberts happily convenes with other millionaires – all the Republican members of the Court are millionaires – and they all regularly rule for their country club plutocrats at the expense of at the expense of their hard-working countrymen

. So, don’t get your hopes up. Justice in America is as dead as Republican’s moral compass.

See this – boldface mine:

Trump immunity in question after judge finds tweet 'poured gasoline' on Jan. 6 riot

Story by David Edwards • 3h • 2 min read

© provided by RawStory

A federal judge opened the door for an appeals court to decide whether President Donald Trump's Jan. 6 tweet — sent as rioters stormed the Capitol — was protected by presidential immunity.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled Wednesday that he would not reverse his earlier decision shielding the tweet from a civil lawsuit filed under the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, a Reconstruction-era law that bars conspiracies to prevent members of Congress from carrying out their duties.

But Mehta certified the question for interlocutory review — allowing plaintiffs to challenge the immunity ruling at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit now, without waiting for the full case to conclude. Their deadline to file is Aug. 5.

The suit was originally filed in February 2021 by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), according to court records. Thompson later withdrew as a plaintiff to chair the House Select Committee investigating Jan. 6, and former Rep. Barbara Lee of California became the lead plaintiff. The complaint accuses Trump of conspiring with former personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, the Proud Boys, and the Oath Keepers to block Congress from certifying the 2020 election results.

At issue is a tweet Trump sent at 2:24 p.m. on Jan. 6, as rioters were breaching the Capitol. The tweet said: "Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution."

In March, Mehta ruled the tweet was an official act and therefore immune from civil liability .His reasoning, per Wednesday's ruling, was that moments before Trump sent it, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and White House Counsel Pat Cipollone had walked into the dining room to urge Trump to stop the riot. Trump refused — and then posted the tweet.

Mehta acknowledged the tweet "arguably poured gasoline on the fire" but said that did not change the analysis.

"Any act taken by the president — no matter how outlandish (like organizing a poker game) or plainly office-seeking (like firing a campaign pollster) — would become official simply because they occurred after the President received some advice about not engaging in such acts from government officials," plaintiffs argued in their reconsideration filing.

Mehta rejected the argument but agreed the question was close enough to warrant appellate review. Plaintiffs must file their notice of appeal no later than Aug. 5, with the D.C. Circuit's opening brief due Aug. 10.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-immunity-in-question-after-judge-finds-tweet-poured-gasoline-on-jan-6-riot/ar-AA28sXz0?

US business is graded by the quarter, which rewards short-term actions while the long term be damned. The oligarchs are happy; they rake in hundreds of millions of dollars off other people's money and labor. Too often, they leave just dust and decay, poor shareholders, and poorer workers behind

Decision making, Energy Policy, Tina Peters, & the tie-breaker question

On my blog: Liberal and Loving It

CNN reported that the president had purchased between $200,000 and $500,000 worth of Nvidia stock the day before making the announcement.

US News

Yeah, right!

Trump and his crime family are trying to tell us (with a straight face) that the fact he, and, or his children, invests in certain stocks just days before they take off is coincidental.

He claims that the fact he’s going to talk up these companies, promote them, gives them giant government contracts has no bearing on where his advisors invest his money; a wink and a nod (and maybe a phones call?) No. No way. His advisors are just geniuses.

I don’t know where these geniuses were when he went bankrupt a zillion times, but they got really smart the day he was elected.

And his children are apparently such geniuses they are suddenly recruited as highly compensated – including stock options -- board members of some of these same companies or other grifts trading on the trust of the American people.

How long, folks, are we going to put up with a man who makes billions while his other decisions are ruining our economy, ruining our healthcare system, denying money for food for children and the indigent, turning all our allies and trading partners against us, does all he can do to defend Putin and denigrate Zelensky, and is under the thumb of Netanyahu, who must hold some interesting files?

Every dollar he makes by subsidizing companies he’s invested in, is a dollar stolen from the American people. Dollars out of your pocket, and into his.

See this – Boldface mine:

Questions surrounding Donald Trump’s financial interests have resurfaced after a new investigation claimed the U.S. president publicly praised companies shortly after investing in them.

The findings, published by CNN, have prompted renewed scrutiny of Trump’s business dealings, while the White House insists there is no conflict of interest and says the president has no direct control over his investments.

Investigation points to repeated pattern

According to CNN, Trump promoted roughly 20 companies on his Truth Social platform within days of purchasing shares in those same businesses.

One example highlighted by the investigation involved technology giant Nvidia.

Trump announced he had “very big and exciting news” about the chipmaker after the company revealed plans to help build AI supercomputers in the United States. Around the same time, he also promised government support for similar projects.

“All necessary permits will be expedited and quickly delivered.”

CNN reported that the president had purchased between $200,000 and $500,000 worth of Nvidia stock the day before making the announcement.

The investigation further alleged that several of the companies later secured valuable government contracts.

White House rejects conflict claims

The administration has forcefully denied suggestions that Trump used his office to benefit personally.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told CNN that the president’s investments are managed independently

.“President Trump’s assets are held in fully discretionary accounts managed by independent third-party financial institutions.”

Kelly also defended the president’s conduct.

“President Trump only acts in the best interests of the American public, which is why they overwhelmingly re-elected him to this office, despite years of lies and false accusations against him and his businesses from the fake news media. There are no conflicts of interest.”

Trump says he does not manage his investments

Trump has also rejected accusations that he profits from decisions made while serving as president.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, he insisted he has no involvement in the day-to-day management of his finances.

After being pressed about whether he still benefits financially regardless of who manages the investments, Trump replied:

“Well, I’ve made a lot of money before I became president, and they invest my money.”

The president added that he has no communication with those handling the accounts.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/new-revelations-pour-more-fuel-on-trump-s-corruption-allegations/ar-AA28hiJD?

I resist by saying the quiet parts out loud. Sick of this shit.

This Vietnam War veteran has seen it all before as felon trump and fascist MAGA lose a senseless war and become ever more crazed. The casualties pile up, the lies accelerate, and the violence against our own people increases. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/21/us-troops-injured-killed-iran-war-attacks-pentagon?CMP=share_btn_url

DOES CONGRESS UNDERSTAND THAT THEY’RE TAKING THE ORDERS OF EVIL STEPHEN MILLER & THIS MANIPULATIVE WOMAN WHO trump, IN HIS DEMENTED STATE, HAS TRUSTED TO RUN AMERICA & THE WHOLE WORLD⁉️⁉️

HOW THE H\*LL CAN THEY KEEP DOING THIS TO US⁉️⁉️⁉️

EVERYONE MUST VOTE TO GET EVERY COMPLICIT MEMBER IMPEACHED & THROWN ON A GARBAGE HEAP, WHERE THEY BELONG‼️

A bill so egregious even an occasional Republican calls it a travesty.

Ther will be enough money to deport millions of hard working, tax paying immigrants.

There will be enough money to give tax breaks to already obscenely wealthy millionaires and billionaires.

There will be enough money to fund Trump’s ill-advised, needless war, by giving huge contracts to defense industries they have already invested in

But there is never enough money to provide healthcare, feed children and the indigent, and ensure every American will retain the right to vote.

This is America under the blood thirsty, grifting government of Trump and the Republicans.

See this – Boldface mine:

Republicans expose their warped priorities with desperate last-minute play: analysis

Story by Thomas Kika • 9h • 2 min read

© provided by AlterNet

Republican leaders in Congress are hoping to pull off a desperate, last-minute spending bill, and according to a new breakdown from MS NOW, the largely war-focused funding makes the party's "priorities horribly clear."

Earlier this week, the budget framework, totaling around $95 billion, emerged from committee to a divided reaction among House and Senate Republicans, with some taking issue with its lack of spending cuts to offset the $73 billion it sets aside for military spending, most of which would be for the Iran war. This uncertainty prompted what MS NOW's Hayes Brown called a "scolding" from House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican.

"When did you ever pay for a war? A lot of this is military expenses aimed at that war,” Cole said. “The point is that play’s been called. It’s time to put up or shut up.”

This take from Cole, Brown argued, was telling of the "problematic message" the GOP is contending with heading into the 2026 midterms."

There’s a lot to unpack in Cole’s admonition," Brown wrote. "First and foremost, his finger-wagging underscores the problematic message Republicans are sending ahead of the midterms: The country can’t afford to help the poor and needy — but there’s always more money for war, even pointless wars of choice such as the one President Donald Trump has waged against Tehran."

He continued: "Look at what the GOP prioritized in the first two reconciliation bills. The most recent one funded immigration enforcement, making sure there was enough funding to break up communities, detain people with no criminal record and kick them out of the country as quickly as possible. The White House has framed this crackdown on immigration as part of a supposed 'war' on the Southern border, and GOP lawmakers made damn sure to fund it."

The other big Republican reconciliation bill, Brown explained, was 2025's Big Beautiful Bill, which was largely focused on "taking from the poor to give to the rich," with tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans funded by further cuts to things like Medicaid and food assistance programs.

"Pass or fail, this reconciliation bill is what the GOP has decided is its priority before the party asks voters to keep them in power in November," Brown concluded. "A bill that pays for a deeply unpopular war, sets aside money to help the farmers that have been hurt by this war and Trump’s tariffs and**, if Trump has his way, makes it harder for Americans to vote**. It will do nothing for Republican lawmakers facing questions about affordability, nothing about the real problems that their constituents face and nothing that shows any regard for their lives."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/other/jd-vance-s-baby-name-found-plummeting-in-popularity-after-he-announces-birth-of-fourth-child/ar-AA28iKZs?