I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed right now. The FBI has blocked Minnesota authorities from the investigation into Renee Good’s apparent murder by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, noting that Ross is innocent until proven guilty in court. But that’s not going to happen as long as Kash Patel and Trump’s girl Pam have anything to do with it. Expect the “findings” of the “investigation” to exonerate Ross and put all the blame on Good. That’s too obvious.
Two people were shot by Customs and Border agents in Portland yesterday, and as with Minneapolis there is every reason to doubt the “official” explanation. The feds are claiming the driver was an illegal alien and Tren de Aragua member who attempted to run over the agents, who were forced to shoot him (and the passenger?). This was on the campus of an office complex, so there were lots of witnesses.
A man who was at the medical building said he saw federal officers follow a Toyota truck into the parking lot of the office building and try to corner it.
One officer pounded on the window, he said. The driver then backed up and moved forward at least a couple of times, striking a car behind him, before turning and speeding off, said the man who gave only his first name. It’s not clear if the car hit by the truck belonged to the federal officers.
Officers fired about five shots at the truck as it left, the witness said.
The two people who were shot are still hospitalized, and so far their identities have not been made public.
María Corina Machado is supposed to meet with Trump soon, next week I believe. At some point she had said something about sharing her Nobel Peace Prize with Trump. I take it he now expects her to give it to him. “… during an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity that aired Thursday. Trump added that he heard Machado wants to give him the prize, ‘and that would be a great honor.'” And if he gets his hands on it, she’ll never see it again. Although possessing a physical trophy (I understand it’s a gold medal) won’t make him a Nobel Laureate.
But according to the Norwegian Nobel Institute, rules forbid Machado to give someone else her prize.
A Nobel spokesperson told the Daily Beast, “A Nobel Prize can neither be revoked nor transferred to others. Once the announcement of the laureate(s) has been made, the decision stands for all time. As for the prize money, the laureate(s) are free to dispose of it as they see fit.”
Latchem [a Daily Beast reporter] notes that Nobel’s “organization’s refusal to bend its own rules” will “be a disappointment not just to Trump, but also, to some of his loyalists, who are reported to have lobbied for Machado to hand the president the prize he so covets.”
Trump is supposed to be meeting with the oil execs now, as I keyboard. MS Now reports:
President Donald Trump will meet with oil executives at the White House on Friday to pitch an ambitious goal that highlights a fundamental problem in his hopes for Venezuela’s oil industry: He wants American oil companies to invest heavily, but get lower prices for their product.
Trump’s aim is to vastly increase oil production in the country to help reduce the global price of oil to around $50 a barrel to ease costs for American consumers. But dramatically increasing oil production in Venezuela will take years, and oil companies argue that reducing the price of oil to $50 a barrel will make drilling unprofitable….
…“They’re going to rebuild the whole oil infrastructure,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News Thursday night, referring to the oil companies. “They’re going to spend at least $100 billion.”
But executives have expressed deep hesitation about committing capital to a country where they previously lost billions and where profitability remains uncertain, particularly if Trump succeeds in his promise to lower global oil prices.
The piece goes on to say that Trump appears to believe “that the U.S. would be able to quickly generate vast oil revenues in Venezuela,” like within a year or so. And nobody in the industry seems to agree with that. Venezuela has been exporting some oil, mostly to China I believe, but not quantities that anyone would get excited about.
Update: As expected, the two dozen oil execs who met with Trump were not all that fired up to go into Venezuela. The Wall Street Journal reported the execs “indicated they need security guarantees and an overhaul of Venezuela’s legal and commercial framework to consider diving in.”
This is from the New York Times:
Darren Woods, the chief executive of Exxon Mobil, said at the meeting that for the company to return to Venezuela it would need “durable investment protections.”
“We’ve had our assets seized there twice, and so you can imagine to re-enter a third time would require some pretty significant changes,” Mr. Woods said. “Today it’s uninvestable.”
In other Trump business news, it was widely anticipated the SCOTUS would release its opinion on Trump’s tariffs today. But it isn’t. The Court is expected to release more rulings on Wednesday, January 14.
Yesterday the House passed a bill to extend the ACA enhanced subsidies for three years, with 17 Republicans voting with the Democrats. It now goes to the Senate, where nothing is certain. I notice my rep. Mike Lawler is among the 17 Republicans.
And yesterday the Senate voted to put limits on future Trump military actions in Venezuela. If they were smart they’d extend that limit to the rest of the planet. Make it clear he has no authority to so much as send a soldier out to pick up pizza without congressional approval. Because he’s not going to stop. He thinks he has absolute power.
Paul Krugman is on a roll. See The Mad King’s Madness Deepens.
"Free Country." I always get hung up on that expression. Veterans (I am a vet..) flaunt their "Freedom Isn't Free" T-shirts with the implication that their service (which I honor) bought our liberties. But the connection between freedom here and their service in foreign wars is weak.
Yes, taking down OBL was justified – he murdered 3000 US civilians. But where else is the safety of Americans or our civil liberties the result of foreign wars? Volunteering for military service means if you're unlucky, you can buy the farm – in a small plot, I mean. Vets deserve our support after they are out – cutting staff and funds to the VA is an obscenity.
But to return to my theme, giants like MLK advanced racial justice in this country in my time more than any event since the Civil War. He wasn't alone; people like Rosa Parks and John Lewis were there. So were a host of white civil rights activists.
Same-sex and interracial marriage and limits on discrimination based on sexual orientation, didn't happen because of a Middle Eastern war. Opening doors for women and prohibiting discrimination in educational opportunities, pay, and promotion wasn't the benefit of a military action.
As I look at the areas where the United States has grown in the last five decades, none of it was free, but it was regular people, not soldiers, who gifted us our freedoms, and they paid a high price.
Apologies for going off-topic, but that phrase is a sore spot.
I have kept this pretty much to myself and a couple of very close life-long friends: I have always felt annoyance whenever right wing politicians repeat that the military is protecting our freedoms (i.e. by using our country's clearly superior military technology [tanks, planes, aircraft carriers, submarines, munitions and communications] in places far away from the homeland. No, our military might is not protecting our freedoms by being used in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans…
I don't hold the operational military personnel responsible for the overseas operations that I think are of questionable value. I value the service of soldiers, seamen, airmen and marines because they are not responsible for making the highest level strategic policy decisions that result in their deployment. I hold the political leaders accountable for that. (Let's leave aside the question of infiltration of the operational personnel by far right extremists. I don't feel like that trend has found its way all the way up the chain of command. I don't claim expertise on this, it's just my sense.)
Further, I am glad that my country has the most effective military in the world, but only because I don't want some other country (that might have good reasons to hate us) to be able to conquer us. I want the best defense possible, hopefully effective by deterrence.
But, here's what protects our freedoms: The Article III branch of our government. If my freedoms are abridged, I can't turn to the US military to get a remedy. They won't even take my call. The rule of law and our system of justice is the only thing I can look to for a remedy. Personally, I haven't needed it, but until recently, it has been reasonably effective at protecting people's freedoms.
This doesn't mean I am comfortable. I am concerned that our judicial branch, at least the SCOTUS level, has become alarming pro-fascist. It's been a long process that has its root in colonial days, but in the second half of the 20th century the SCOTUS has been captured by justices who seem to favor the rights of large corporations over the rights of individual people. This is a problem that requires our attention.
All things are relative. "Freedom" has never been absolute or fairly apportioned here, yes. But as Adam Serwer said on Chris Hayes's program last night, "Their position is, if you disagree with us, we can kill you." We're all potentially just one ICE encounter away from the grave.
"We're all potentially just one ICE encounter away from the grave. "
Aint that the truth, unfortunately we have a horrible habit in this country of putting cops on a pedestal so even when the evidence of misconduct is so obvious a majority of Americans will side with the COP. Maybe if John Ross had been black?
Actually they're not, from what I'm reading. MAGA will side with the "cop," but polls are showing the public has turned against ICE.
"none of it was free, but it was regular people, not soldiers, who gifted us our freedoms, and they paid a high price"
Well said Doug. I'm a vet as well but it drives me crazy when people use all the bullshit jargon: "freedom inst free", "love your freedom, thank a vet". Your explanation is better than anything I could conjure up so I'll leave it at that, Thank you!
A WSJ story about the shooting referred to Trump's exercise of executive power as "muscular." Its really more like chaotic, and I fear that, after four years of Trump a "normal" presidency, like those that came before it (save for W's) will be unrecognizable. If a democrat is elected in 2028, that person will need to break the mold in order to return the country to even some semblance of normal, e.g steady, reliable, fair, dependable.
The murder of Renee Good became a cover-up very soon after it happened. Trump spouted lies and hasn't walked back any of them. Noem was shameless in calling the victim a terrorist. Cutting any impartial agencies out of the FBI 'investigation' after the FBI has been gutted of impartial agents ensures that the determination made at the top will be codified.
This will fool no one. Like the release of the Epstein Files, the stench of corruption makes one want to vomit. This month, Democrats in Congress may be faced with a decision to fund or shut down the Federal Government. I want oversight of ICE by a panel outside of Trump's jurisdiction, made up of retired professionals selected by Congress to investigate complaints of excessive force and violations of constitutional rights, recommending prosecution where appropriate.
This will be a starting point for Trump's pardon list. Democrats in Congress should publicly work with their counterparts in blue states to pass showboat legislation authorizing the states to prosecute federal employees who may have violated citizens in the improper execution of their duties. I said 'showboat' because the power exists now.
But these become a one-two punch. The investigative panel can identify crimes and the persons who committed them. Federal immunity does NOT cover a federal employee from prosecution for illegal and/or improper acts. But the masks are there to conceal identity. We strip that secrecy away.
Last, Congress should still have access to a list of emails of government employees. I don't know this – I'm guessing. We should let all of DHS know they are in the crosshairs of the STATES for violating human rights. If you got paid a 50K bonus, spend some of that getting legal advice on the criminal nature of what you are personally doing. If it's questionable, either stop or get orders in writing from your superior if you intend that to be your defense in court.
I am not salivating at the prospect of all these criminal cases and these evil people going to jail. I want ICE officers to hesitate to draw a gun against an unarmed person. To hesitate in using 'non-lethal' weapons as a form of torture against protesters. I want the grunts on the street to make their superiors put it in writing, because they don't want to be the only ones behind bars. (I'm sure they are being told they have TOTAL immunity – they don't. And they are getting verbal instructions on the use of force that nobody at the top intends to be held responsible for.)
I'm writing my House Representative with this suggestion. Maybe you can do the same. We're dying out here and will continue to resist. Democrats in authority need to go further than mealymouthed criticism.
I realized I left out a paragraph I'd probably insert after P5.
The United States, by virtue of its original status as thirteen colonies, had to invent a government that codified state power while devising a limited federal authority. As a liberal, I've found the authority of conservative states to carve out sanctuary legislation to attack rights by gender or race to be irritating. But the door swings both ways; blue states are the target of ICE, and they have the power to prosecute for illegal acts committed in their boundaries. I don't think the USSC will strip that power away.
O.T. This should get old diaper don's inner rage wound up, maybe enough for a stroke!
https://www.newsweek.com/letitia-james-announces-new-lawsuits-against-trump-admin-11339555
The mad king's madness deepens is quite a read. Krugman has a knack with forward looking statements and does on rare occasions have to admit he was wrong. Here I hope he is right.
It is really our only hope. The metastases of his progressive madness are killing all that is decant in this country.
I had a bad phone call with my [MAGA] sister last night. It started out OK, with personal news, but quickly degenerated into politics.
She moved a few months ago, and is finally eligible for Health Insurance under her new employer. But of course, since the ACA subsidies expired, she just plain can't afford it. Some friends helped her explore options; of course, the only one she can afford covers basically *nothing*. Someone suggested using some RX discount program, but of course, without a Doctor to proscribe meds, that's useless.
She was vaguely aware that Congress is working on a bill to restore ACA subsidies, but had some details wrong (she thought it had passed the Senate, vs House). I pointed out that the GOP had axed the program, and that this was *exactly* why the Dems refused to support the GOP budget a few months ago.
She brushed this aside and started blaming it on illegal immigrants.
Our conversation got, uh, a little heated after that, then went totally over the falls when it turned to the recent ICE shooting in Minneapolis.
I wound up yelling at her, just as she hung up on me.
I took some aspirin (when I get wound up like that, I can feel the blood pulsing in my head; I think I'll take more now…). She called back a minute later, and we both apologized for getting too mad.
But it's still really depressing. I try to describe the longer history, but she's locked into the MAGA perspective, all rooted in hatred of immigrants and trans people (and whatever other enemies FOX features on any given day).
I'm known at work with my co-workers as a political activist and a liberal. I am friendly with quite a few MAGA people, but we don't usually debate the atrocity of the day. I'm open and don't speak in hushed tones in the break room. If others want to listen when I'm conversing with a Democrat co-worker, my feelings are clear.
The thing is, people who don't know where to look for facts and aren't sure what to think will ask me, "What's the real deal with Nicaragua?" or "What's your take on the shooting of that lady in the car?" In the first case, I don't defend the guy we abducted, but WTF is the deal with excluding the UN from ensuring free and fair elections, and how do you reconcile "we're gonna keep the oil' with being the good guys? Regarding the shooting, I'm personally livid, but I say, "Look at the video – there's more than one shot from different angles. The cop was NOT hit by the car – that's a lie. There's no evidence she was a terrorist, but that's the official line. But look at the video and decide for yourself if she deserved to die?" IMO, this technique is effective – go to one or two significant facts (quotes) and, when possible, point them at evidence (video) and let them figure it out for themselves.
I'm not sure how people think, but the fact that I don't have a problem with people who think differently may grant me some credibility. Am I winning people over? I have no idea. When it's over, I hope to help some folks transition from fascism to true conservatism. By not making enemies, I leave that path open.
If there were only a vaccine for hate addiction. Any sort of preventative measures at all would be nice. My sympathy.
Rush Limbaugh used to call it entertainment. Nothing like a little hate fix to start one's day off (right?).
One fix is too many and a million is not enough.
There's a "gofundme" for Jonathan Ross's legal expenses for murdering Renee Good.
Everyone's favorite billionaire Bill Ackman donated ten grand.
https://bsky.app/profile/jsweetli.bsky.social/post/3mc5ljxsj5c27
So, for his net worth, compared to someone worth a mere million, his donation compares to about one dollar.
Cheapskate!
Used to be!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhB7g7LU0Wc
Yeah, but listen to the whistles. Look at the people taking video. Citizens are stepping up to defend civil liberties. I'm sure this is from AFTER Good was murdered. I'm proud of the American people.
Bob Weir (Grateful guitarist) died yesterday, too bad, seriously talented fellow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkKuhAxcH7g