Category: Mark Meadows
Tariffs Imperil a Hometown Business in South Carolina: BMW
The Spartanburg plant is BMW’s biggest in the world. It has helped draw more than 200 companies from two dozen countries to Spartanburg County. And the German company — not an American icon like Ford or General Motors — is now the largest exporter of cars made in the United States, turning the port of Charleston, S.C., into a hub for global trade. But by setting off a global trade battle, President Trump is threatening the town’s livelihood. People aren’t happy.
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The 21st Century Internet Act aims to enshrine net neutrality in law
The basic blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization bans [of internet access] are very similar to the 2015 rule’s, and the law even institutes the “general conduct” rule that many complained was too vague. This catch-all rule says an ISP “may not unreasonably interfere with or disadvantage” users or edge providers from accessing or providing lawful content and services.
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From the Start, Trump Has Muddied a Clear Message: Putin Interfered
And the evidence suggests Russia continues to be very aggressive in its meddling. In March, the Department of Homeland Security declared that Russia was targeting the American electric power grid, continuing to riddle it with malware that could be used to manipulate or shut down critical control systems. Intelligence officials have described it to Congress as a chief threat to American security.
Just last week, Mr. Coats said that current cyberthreats were “blinking red” and called Russia the “most aggressive foreign actor, no question.”
“And they continue their efforts to undermine our democracy,” he said.
White House budget projects $1 trillion deficit in 2019
President Trump’s first budget (for FY 2018) projected a $526 billion deficit in 2019, under its policies. The FY 2019 Mid-Session Review released last Friday revises his current budget to a $1,085 billion deficit in 2019. That’s an increase of roughly $560 billion, or more than double.
Altogether, tax cuts and spending hikes account for more than four-fifths of the deficit increase between the President’s FY 2018 Budget and the recent Mid-Session Review. Moreover, CBO’s estimates show revenue will fall by $1 trillion, not rise by that amount.
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The Way Trump and the GOP Deal With Russian Attacks Is ‘Textbook Treason’
David Rothkopf, CEO and Editor of Foreign Policy Magazine, takes the gloves off and puts a good old fashioned beat-down on the GOP in this powerful piece for The Daily Beast. “To attack one of our national defense leaders [Rosenstein] as we are being attacked, and to do so to benefit our foreign adversary, is textbook treason.”
“That is strong language. But consider this: If we updated our definitions of war to include cyberwar, then aiding a foreign power engaged in such a war against us would certainly meet the Constitutional definition: ‘Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.’”
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A Running List of How Trump Is Changing the Environment
The Trump administration’s tumultuous presidency has brought a flurry of changes—both realized and anticipated—to U.S. environmental policy. Many of the actions roll back Obama-era policies that aimed to curb climate change and limit environmental pollution, while others threaten to limit federal funding for science and the environment. This post surveys 2018 EPA “accomplishments” and provides you with a link to prior efforts.
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As Migrant Families Are Reunited, Some Children Don’t Recognize Their Mothers
PHOENIX — One mother had waited four months to wrap her arms around her little boy. Another had waited three months to see her little girl again.
When the reunions finally happened Tuesday in Phoenix, the mothers were met with cries of rejection from their children.
“He didn’t recognize me,” said Mirce Alba Lopez, 31, of her 3-year-old son, Ederson, her eyes welling up with tears. “My joy turned temporarily to sadness.”
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Vote against the GOP this November
Consider the melancholy example of House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.), who wagered his dignity on the patently false proposition that it is possible to have sustained transactions with today’s president, this Vesuvius of mendacities, without being degraded. In Robert Bolt’s play “A Man for All Seasons,” Thomas More, having angered Henry VIII, is on trial for his life. When Richard Rich, whom More had once mentored, commits perjury against More in exchange for the office of attorney general for Wales, More says: “Why, Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world . . . But for Wales!” Ryan traded his political soul for . . . a tax cut. He who formerly spoke truths about the accelerating crisis of the entitlement system lost everything in the service of a president pledged to preserve the unsustainable status quo.
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Senate Defies Trump by Refusing to Cut $15 Billion in Spending
Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and and Richard Burr of North Carolina joined Democrats in voting against the measure, which passed the House earlier this month.
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AN ABUSED WOMAN CAME TO THE U.S. SEEKING ASYLUM. THE GOVERNMENT TOOK HER 5-YEAR-OLD SON. THIS IS HOW SHE GOT HIM BACK.
A GUATEMALAN WOMAN whose child was taken from her last month by immigration authorities in Texas after coming to the U.S. seeking asylum was released after 38 days in detention last week. Immediately after being freed, she went to the federally funded facility that was managing her 5-year-old son’s care and recovered him.
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US House Activity Excerpt
- H.R.6147Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 (07/19/2018 legislative day)
- H.Con.Res.119Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy. (07/19/2018 legislative day)
US Senate Activity Excerpt
- PN1403Ryan Wesley Bounds, of Oregon, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, vice Diarmuid F. O'Scannlain, retired. (07/19/2018 legislative day)
NAACP’s Transylvania Together Podcast
- The Opposite of Addiction, with Jim Hardy
- Meals on Wheels of Brevard, NC, with Board Member Sasha Jones
- The Community Side of Recidivism - Meet Peter McKinney
- Meet Mark Burrows, Director of Transylvania County Planning and Community Development
- Meet Nicola Karesh, a Writer, Poet, Community Activist and a Playful Spirit
- Meet Kyle Tinsley, Graduate of Brevard High School and former leader of the Acceptance Club
- Meet Bobby Jones of Cedar Mountain, NC. His grandfather was Solomon Jones of Solomon Jones Road, the road to Pretty Place.
- Meet the founder of Transylvania Indivisible. David Williams.
- How the Affordable Care Act (ACA) helped Cedar Mountain, NC get a new cafe
- Meet Dal Davis, a student at Brevard College.