[News] Post a Political News Story

Ongoing discussion of the political news of the day. This thread is for 'smaller' stories that don't call for their own thread. If a story blows up, please start a new thread for it.

The company that stripped the ACA of its contraceptive mandate because apparently corporations can hold sincere religious beliefs, that smuggled thousands of ancient artifacts out of war-torn Iraq (and possibly funding ISIS by doing so) so it could build a museum dedicated to the Bible, and that recently revealed that all 16 fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls it bought for said museum were actually forgeries just announced that its 900ish craft stores have to remain open during the pandemic because its owners had a vision from god.

IMAGE(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ETrCp0pXsAEM_UH?format=jpg&name=large)

I especially love the part where Green, who's personally worth $7.8 billion, hints that even with a mandate from god he's going to have to "tighten our belts" as if he and his wife are going to experience real hardship like his employees.

The founding fathers overlooked one thing when they envisioned separation of church and state: separation of church and business...

Here's hoping that state governments look as kindly on Hobby Lobby as they did Gamestop and start forcibly closing them down.

fangblackbone wrote:

The founding fathers overlooked one thing when they envisioned separation of church and state: separation of church and business...

You assume that in our society there's a distinction between state and business.

Or you could just fine them $7.8 billion...

ClockworkHouse wrote:

Here's hoping that state governments look as kindly on Hobby Lobby as they did Gamestop and start forcibly closing them down.

fangblackbone wrote:

The founding fathers overlooked one thing when they envisioned separation of church and state: separation of church and business...

You assume that in our society there's a distinction between state and business.

I'd settle for seperation between business and stupidity.

Drazzil wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:

Here's hoping that state governments look as kindly on Hobby Lobby as they did Gamestop and start forcibly closing them down.

fangblackbone wrote:

The founding fathers overlooked one thing when they envisioned separation of church and state: separation of church and business...

You assume that in our society there's a distinction between state and business.

I'd settle for seperation between business and stupidity.

But stupidity is the bedrock of business: A fool and his money are soon parted, after all.

Except in modern corporate america, the fool is code for someone with morals or who considers repercussions. (for even a second...)

Thoughts and prayers...

Newsweek wrote:

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is laying off employees and reducing salaries across the board in the largest personnel shake-up since the non-profit organization ousted its president at the annual meeting of members in 2019.

In a note that was distributed via email to the board of directors and executive council Monday afternoon, CEO Wayne LaPierre announced that his organization "faces extraordinary challenges resulting from COVID-19" and must institute several workforce adjustments, including "the elimination of certain positions," imposing a four-day workweek for hourly employees and 20 percent pay reductions across the board "while maintaining current workloads."

The email, relayed to the board by the NRA's general counsel, John Frazer, was obtained by Newsweek.

In response to a request for comment about whether LaPierre himself would be subject to the belt-tightening, the organization's outside counsel, Brewer, Attorneys and Counselors, said in a statement that "salary adjustments announced today apply to all levels of the organization."

"In addition, some senior staff members are voluntarily taking deeper cuts," the statement added.

LaPierre's compensation rose by 57 percent in 2018, the most recent year for which tax filings are available, to $2.15 million.

Though LaPierre cited the COVID-19 outbreak as the chief reason for the personnel changes, the announcement comes during an undeniable cash-crunch at the gun-rights group. Tax filings show that in 2018, the NRA's net assets declined by nearly $9 million to $16 million, their lowest levels in six years.

It's important to note that they're cutting staff and budgets during a presidential election year. In 2016 they dropped about $100 million supporting Trump and Republicans.

OG_slinger wrote:

Thoughts and prayers...

Newsweek wrote:

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is laying off employees and reducing salaries across the board in the largest personnel shake-up since the non-profit organization ousted its president at the annual meeting of members in 2019.

In a note that was distributed via email to the board of directors and executive council Monday afternoon, CEO Wayne LaPierre announced that his organization "faces extraordinary challenges resulting from COVID-19" and must institute several workforce adjustments, including "the elimination of certain positions," imposing a four-day workweek for hourly employees and 20 percent pay reductions across the board "while maintaining current workloads."

The email, relayed to the board by the NRA's general counsel, John Frazer, was obtained by Newsweek.

In response to a request for comment about whether LaPierre himself would be subject to the belt-tightening, the organization's outside counsel, Brewer, Attorneys and Counselors, said in a statement that "salary adjustments announced today apply to all levels of the organization."

"In addition, some senior staff members are voluntarily taking deeper cuts," the statement added.

LaPierre's compensation rose by 57 percent in 2018, the most recent year for which tax filings are available, to $2.15 million.

Though LaPierre cited the COVID-19 outbreak as the chief reason for the personnel changes, the announcement comes during an undeniable cash-crunch at the gun-rights group. Tax filings show that in 2018, the NRA's net assets declined by nearly $9 million to $16 million, their lowest levels in six years.

It's important to note that they're cutting staff and budgets during a presidential election year. In 2016 they dropped about $100 million supporting Trump and Republicans.

Oil prices are down. Not a lot of that sweet, sweet Soviet mob money going around.

I'll consider it a silver lining if Covid-19 results in the death of the NRA.

JC wrote:

I'll consider it a silver lining if Covid-19 results in the death of the NRA.

Hell, if Covid 19 were running for president, I would vote for it over Trump.

Paleocon wrote:

Hell, if Covid 19 were running for president, I would vote for it over Trump.

Billboard: I will probably choke you or someone you know to death.
Sheep standing in a field: He tells it like it is.
-apologies to Paul Noth

N.J. man charged with terroristic threats for allegedly coughing on Wegmans worker

NBC News wrote:

A New Jersey man was charged with harassment and making terroristic threats after allegedly purposely coughing on a Wegmans grocery store employee and saying he had coronavirus.

George Falcone, 50, of Freehold, in the southern part of the state, was charged Tuesday by the New Jersey attorney general for allegedly making the threats on Sunday in a Wegmans supermarket in Manalapan.

Falcone was standing close to an employee near the store's prepared food section when the worker asked him to move back, the state attorney general said in a statement.

Instead, Falcone stepped closer to her, leaned in and coughed, the statement said. He laughed, telling the woman he was infected with coronavirus and also telling two other employees they are "lucky" to have jobs.

Paleocon wrote:
JC wrote:

I'll consider it a silver lining if Covid-19 results in the death of the NRA.

Hell, if Covid 19 were running for president, I would vote for it over Trump.

COVID 19 promises to fix all of America’s trade issues and solve the looming social security/Medicare crisis by greatly reducing the number of recipients.

Also, COVID 19 fully believes in the great American tradition of growth at all costs.

Robert Evans has just started yet another new miniseries podcast, The Women’s War, about his experiences and interviews in Rojava, the lesser known psuedo-nation in Syria based around feminism and democratic confederalism.
Posting it here because I feel this story is too important to relegate to just the podcast thread.

The Women’s War wrote:

These are...not optimistic times for most Americans.
Across the world, the dangers of climate change and
the terror of creeping authoritarianism present an
increasing danger to all of us. After covering this
degeneration for four years, Robert Evans went looking
for hope. He found it in the unlikeliest of places:
Northeast Syria, in a region known as Rojava that’s
become host to a feminist, anti-authoritarian
revolution. When you’ve heard about these folks in the
mainstream media, they’re usually just described as
the “Syrian Kurds”, and credited with beating ISIS.
They did, in fact, beat ISIS. But their military successes
were just part of the story. In The Women’s War, Robert
will introduce listeners to dozens of men and women
fighting a war for the future of the human soul

They did a special episode of Behind the Bastards to talk about Rojava. It's a fascinating story. Looking forward to the podcast!

polypusher wrote:

They did a special episode of Behind the Bastards to talk about Rojava. It's a fascinating story. Looking forward to the podcast!

was that BtB or WYE? It was one of the Katy Cody and Robert joint podcasts for sure.

I think its this episode of BtB? https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-b...

Hard to be sure without a transcript or listening again. I believe I heard it before I started listening to Worst Year Ever

i have them both on my must listen list so they run together. I bet they actually did it on both. i know worst year ever took a break from candidate profiles to specifically talk about Syria and they def talked about Rojava there too.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Loeffler reports more stock sales amid insider trading allegations

U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s most recent financial disclosures show that millions of dollars in stocks were sold on her behalf at the same time Congress was dealing with the impact of the coronavirus.

The largest transactions — and the most politically problematic — involve $18.7 million in sales of Intercontinental Exchange stock in three separate deals dated Feb. 26 and March 11. Loeffler is a former executive with ICE, and her husband, Jeff Sprecher, is the CEO of the company, which owns the New York Stock Exchange among other financial marketplaces.

During the same time period reflected on reports filed late Tuesday, the couple also sold shares in retail stores such as Lululemon and T.J. Maxx and invested in a company that makes COVID-19 protective garments. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution got the first look at these reports, covering mid-February through mid-March and shedding new light on Loeffler’s financial transactions during the pandemic. Previous reports — which have put Loeffler in the national spotlight — covered her trading during the first six weeks of 2020.

Loeffler provided the numbers to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and they were more exact than what would appear on a federal campaign finance disclosure.

The newer stock sales came as the broader markets were diving, and they are likely to fuel allegations that Georgia’s new senator used her insider knowledge about the severity of the pandemic to dump holdings while simultaneously releasing statements about the strength of the American economy and complimenting President Donald Trump on his response. The STOCK Act, a law that went into effect in 2012, makes it illegal for senators to use inside information for financial gain.

He should simply have every penny he has taken away. They don't need to put him in jail, just on the street like millions of other Americans. Let him panhandle for enough to eat, try to find a place warm enough and safe enough to sleep for the night.

farley3k wrote:

He should simply have every penny he has taken away. They don't need to put him in jail, just on the street like millions of other Americans. Let him panhandle for enough to eat, try to find a place warm enough and safe enough to sleep for the night.

That's unwise though, if his fellow North Carolinians were to see him on the street... we would not treat him kindly. There is a reason he lives in a gated compound.

We have good witness protection - drop him in an undisclosed city - like Seattle, or San Francisco.

thrawn82 wrote:
farley3k wrote:

He should simply have every penny he has taken away. They don't need to put him in jail, just on the street like millions of other Americans. Let him panhandle for enough to eat, try to find a place warm enough and safe enough to sleep for the night.

That's unwise though, if his fellow North Carolinians were to see him on the street... we would not treat him kindly. There is a reason he lives in a gated compound.

I was confused for a minute before I realized you two were talking about Richard Burr, since Gremlin's article was about a female senator from Georgia, not a male from North Carolina.

I guess there's plenty of corruption to go around these days, though.

Georgia GOP Leader: More Absentee Voting Will Help Turnout, Be ‘Devastating To Republicans’

Well at least he is being honest.

But he also admitted he doesn’t like the fact that absentee ballots will make it easier for people to vote ― and presumably increase turnout ― because that will hurt Republicans.

“The president said it best ― this will be extremely devastating to Republicans and conservatives in Georgia,” said Ralston.

“Every registered voter is going to get one of these. Now I ask you ... what was turnout in the primary back in 2018 or 2016. Was it 100%? No. No. It’s way, way, way lower. This will certainly drive up turnout,” he added.

"Dammit! The only way we can win it so make it so only those with extra time can go stand in line. It keeps those low wage workers (ie blacks and other minorities) out of the polls"

The tagline of this administration really is saying the quiet part out loud.

Mixolyde wrote:

The tagline of this administration really is saying the quiet part out loud.

I’ve decided that’s a feature, not a bug.

They want us to know that they make the rules. Saying quiet part out loud tells resistors that pointing out corruption is meaningless. It tells supporters they are winning.

Just watch. MAGAs will start supporting the notion of limiting voting instead of pretending that voter suppression doesn’t exist. Just like that, democracy becomes the problem to be solved.

It’s fascism. It’s meant to wear us down and stop caring. This progresses until you have a full authoritarian government. We are insanely close to losing our democracy right now. This election is key, and there is no way it won’t be a clusterf*ck.

I hate to say it but that makes a certain amount of sense.

Jayhawker wrote:

Just watch. MAGAs will start supporting the notion of limiting voting instead of pretending that voter suppression doesn’t exist. Just like that, democracy becomes the problem to be solved.

Start? Maybe we’re exposed to different types of Republicans, but many of the ones I’ve encountered have been advocating for restricting and limiting voting rights long before Trump came along. Trump isn’t an aberration or anomaly, he’s a natural outgrowth of Republican party rhetoric.

ruhk wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

Just watch. MAGAs will start supporting the notion of limiting voting instead of pretending that voter suppression doesn’t exist. Just like that, democracy becomes the problem to be solved.

Start? Maybe we’re exposed to different types of Republicans, but many of the ones I’ve encountered have been advocating for restricting and limiting voting rights long before Trump came along. Trump isn’t an aberration or anomaly, he’s a natural outgrowth of Republican party rhetoric.

Until now, it was always under the guise of fighting fraud. This latest story was just flat out saying, we can’t let those people vote.