The slog of this authoritarian shitshow is grinding us all down. My inspiration has gone into hiding with Melania. Knock yourselves out! (Trump cont.)

[boatyardblues]

Does what it says on the tin. 🤷‍♂️

Here’s the last thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3258057-I-Spy-with-My-Little-Eye-Something-Beginning-with-T-Traitorous-Treasonweasels-in-Trumptown-Trump-contd

Thanks, Accross.

The drama and spectacle of those separations appears to be what makes the headlines (along with those confrontations with Sessions and Sanders).

This is good, of course, but also eclipses the labour that goes on (by women like Klobuchar and Feinstein for example) to get legislation crafted, get the votes and to explain what is going on. And that's before you even get to Congress. Not so dramatic or sensational when it comes to the headlines but oh so necessary.

I have seen lots of comments asking why more democrats don't gather to demand access to the children and the places they are kept. It sounds obvious and also harsh but there is a bigger picture when it comes to shaping responses to Trump that won't feed his base, scare the undecideds or feed the propaganda machine.

The compromises that have to be made to get things done must keep people awake at night.

I have also seen some godawful Trump-loving responses to the pictures of the children. I haven't posted them here but I reckon by now anyone who has been paying attention will know how hideous they can be.

Trump and how to report on him.

mailchi.mp/cnn/rs-june-15-2018?e=40da3fe73d

'Simply put: This is getting worse. Trumpworld's deception is getting worse. It's prompting more and more introspection within newsrooms. And it's sparking more and more criticism from members of the public, particularly from liberals who say we're doing damage by airing and repeating Trump's bull...'

The cover of today's @NYDailyNews. twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1007959726150184960/photo/1

That cover, Gumpendorf

Link to transcript of podcast mentioned in lionheart's link, about how to report in the age of Trump.

George Lakoff says this is how Trump uses words to con the public
money.cnn.com/2018/06/15/media/reliable-sources-podcast-george-lakoff/index.html

LAKOFF: [...] And that allows him to control the media, provided that the media repeats what he says. One of the things that journalists are trained to do is to repeat and quote what public figures say. But when the public figures are distorting, lying, and trying to reframe things in an utterly false way, what the journalists are doing is helping them. They're helping to get 'em out there. And not only that -- if they deny it, if they go out and quote his words and then say, "This isn't true," what they've done is quoting his words. It's like when Nixon said, "I am not a crook," and everyone thought of him as a crook. The point is that denying a frame activates the frame.
[...]
LAKOFF: [...] So... start with the truth that he's trying to hide. You make clear to that, and then you point out that the president is trying to hide this by lying. You might in... a few words or in a few seconds say a little bit about what the lie is. And go back to the truth.
STELTER: It's a truth sandwich.
LAKOFF: You've got it. A truth sandwich. Perfect way to image it.

Truth sandwich is good.

George Lakoff
‏

@GeorgeLakoff
Jun 13

Four ways the press can stop helping Trump:

1. Learn how propaganda works and how he weaponizes words
2. Focus on the fact that democracy is under attack. This is a crisis
3. Stop letting him control every news cycle
4. Don't spread his lies

Ransom.

“It’s Happening Here Because Americans Can’t Admit it’s Happening Here” by @umairh eand.co/its-happening-here-because-americans-can-t-admit-it-s-happening-here-c15d3d47d704

Interesting if depressing.

This version of that photograph seems worse somehow.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/children-separated-trump-immigration-policy-zero-tolerance-parents-border-a8401526.html

Sen Dianne Feinstein
‏
Verified account

@SenFeinstein

UPDATE: 43 senators now support our bill to bar children from being taken from their parents at the border. We still need a Republican senator to join. If you’re represented by a Republican senator, please ask them to cosponsor S.3036.

Kamala Harris
‏
Verified account

@KamalaHarris
2h2 hours ago

'Using kids as leverage to get billions for a wasteful border wall is outrageous and immoral. This is simple: the Administration needs to end this abusive policy of separating children from their parents at the border right now.'

www.cnbc.com/2018/05/24/trump-will-not-sign-gop-immigration-daca-bill-without-border-wall.html

“It’s Happening Here Because Americans Can’t Admit it’s Happening Here”

This isn't really true. People know it's happening and are pretty much divided into two camps. Those who disapprove and are basically powerless to stop what's happening (because the Repugs control the Govt) and those who approve of what's happening. The 'ostriches' are a pretty small minority.

At this point we have two alternatives. Take back the Govt through the ballot or armed revolt. I'd prefer trying the former before using the latter.

Protests are good. I believe in protests, they changed the world and ended the Viet Nam War in the late 60s/early 70s. They let the world know that many of us don't agree with the current situation.

But the difference is that TPTB cared about the American People's opinions back then. All the People, not just 'their side'. They no longer care the People now, all they want is what they can get for themselves and their monied friends whilst they're in power so they pander to their base to keep their votes. And Scrotus' 'base' is full of not only the run of the mill conservatives, it's full of the 'deplorables', and that's who the current GOP is pandering to.

So to beat my tin drum for those US citizens who may see this thread, VOTE VOTE VOTE and get your 'true blue' friends and family to vote, too. And if you have undecided friends and family, TALK TALK TALK and educate them.

On a side note, I wonder if El Dictator Wannabe was also given these potentially dangerous gifts, or similar.

Journalists covering the Trump-Kim summit were given free USB fans — but security experts warn they may be Trojan horses full of malware
read.bi/2JDX5g0

Across. Yes. Spot on. Particularly "But the difference is that TPTB cared about the American People's opinions back then. All the People, not just 'their side'. They no longer care the People now, all they want is what they can get for themselves and their monied friends whilst they're in power so they pander to their base to keep their votes. And Scrotus' 'base' is full of not only the run of the mill conservatives, it's full of the 'deplorables', and that's who the current GOP is pandering to." So sadly true.

Also, cartoonist fired as newspaper swings right.

mobile.nytimes.com/2018/06/15/business/media/pittsburgh-cartoonist-fired.html

On a completely different note, has anybody been watching the second season of "The Good Fight"? (Again, apologies if I missed something, but I've been keeping out of it all for a good while.) I understand it is probably the only US drama to address Trump in real time, as it were, and have found Diane Lockhart's reactions incredibly close to my own (except I'm not a lawyer and the only drug I do is wine). But you know what I mean

No but I will take a look.

www.politico.com/story/2018/06/16/breitbart-traffic-declining-trump-bannon-649571

www.rawstory.com/2018/06/maddow-guest-explains-ny-lawsuit-trump-foundation-backdoor-irs-nab-tax-evasion/

Ha, yes, been watching The Good Fight eagerly.

I always liked the way "The Good Wife" included current issues in its legal cases (though I was pretty bored with the general plotlines by the end).

The Good Fight I'm still enjoying.

Another The Good Fight viewer here. The episode on FB micro targeting was a very good explainer. Diane's reactions are mind too, Bolleaux.

Across. Thanks for your comments. I envy the US history of protest and success. I think it will stand your country in good stead. Here in UK, we haven't got any recent experience of internal resistance that brings about social change. And right now, we need it. 😊

shareblue.com/republican-senate-trump-family-separation-immigration-policy/

Manafort has been jailed!