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babylonsister
babylonsister's Journal
babylonsister's Journal
May 8, 2023
The NRA has engaged in potentially illegal activities. Why hasn't the IRS revoked its tax status?
TealBomb for Daily Kos Activism
Daily Kos Staff
Saturday May 06, 2023 · 9:00 AM EDT
Share this article
Every single day, families and communities across the U.S. experience new heartbreak or relive trauma when gun violence comes to their front door. The National Rifle Association plays a central role in our anguish. What was a modest affinity group has evolved into a powerful lobbying force, backing politicians who obstruct gun reform measures and derailing lifesaving reforms. Even as our children, families, and communities continue to suffer endless violence in large part due to the NRA's efforts, the group enjoys tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization.
However, not only does the group seem to work almost exclusively to enrich the gun industry, it has repeatedly engaged in an astonishing array of potentially illegal activities, which begs the question: Why hasn't the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status?
Sign the petition: Revoke the NRA’s tax-exempt status!
https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/forms/sign-the-petition-revoke-the-nras-tax-exempt-status-3
The NRA enjoys a tax status reserved for groups operating in the public interest. As of May 1, more than 13,900 people have been killed by gun violence in the U.S. It should be clear that the NRA is definitely not working toward the betterment of the nation. Moreover, the organization has been repeatedly caught using funds for the personal benefit of its officials or for actions significantly outside their stated missions—actions that are prohibited for tax-exempt organizations.
A Senate investigation revealed the NRA's collaboration with Russians to influence American elections, with NRA resources being utilized to gain political favors for two Russian individuals. The organization was also accused of misusing its tax-exempt status by funneling millions of dollars to top executives and vendors, yet the IRS never conducted an investigation. It doesn't end there. Giffords, an advocacy organization led by gun violence survivor and former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, further outlines the NRA's astonishing array of potentially illegal activities since 2019.
Tax-exempt organizations play an important role in improving the lives of millions of Americans. To maintain integrity and trust, instances of abuse must be investigated and acted upon. No organization that wantonly and repeatedly abuses their tax status should be allowed to continue enjoying privileged tax-exempt status.
The NRA’s internal financial dealings and the organization's violations of federal laws governing charities are violations. If the NRA is violating the law, then the IRS must revoke its tax-exempt status immediately.
The NRA has engaged in potentially illegal activities. Why hasn't the IRS revoked its tax status?
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/5/6/2140395/-The-NRA-has-engaged-in-potentially-illegal-activities-Why-hasn-t-the-IRS-revoked-its-tax-statusThe NRA has engaged in potentially illegal activities. Why hasn't the IRS revoked its tax status?
TealBomb for Daily Kos Activism
Daily Kos Staff
Saturday May 06, 2023 · 9:00 AM EDT
Share this article
Every single day, families and communities across the U.S. experience new heartbreak or relive trauma when gun violence comes to their front door. The National Rifle Association plays a central role in our anguish. What was a modest affinity group has evolved into a powerful lobbying force, backing politicians who obstruct gun reform measures and derailing lifesaving reforms. Even as our children, families, and communities continue to suffer endless violence in large part due to the NRA's efforts, the group enjoys tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization.
However, not only does the group seem to work almost exclusively to enrich the gun industry, it has repeatedly engaged in an astonishing array of potentially illegal activities, which begs the question: Why hasn't the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status?
Sign the petition: Revoke the NRA’s tax-exempt status!
https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/forms/sign-the-petition-revoke-the-nras-tax-exempt-status-3
The NRA enjoys a tax status reserved for groups operating in the public interest. As of May 1, more than 13,900 people have been killed by gun violence in the U.S. It should be clear that the NRA is definitely not working toward the betterment of the nation. Moreover, the organization has been repeatedly caught using funds for the personal benefit of its officials or for actions significantly outside their stated missions—actions that are prohibited for tax-exempt organizations.
A Senate investigation revealed the NRA's collaboration with Russians to influence American elections, with NRA resources being utilized to gain political favors for two Russian individuals. The organization was also accused of misusing its tax-exempt status by funneling millions of dollars to top executives and vendors, yet the IRS never conducted an investigation. It doesn't end there. Giffords, an advocacy organization led by gun violence survivor and former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, further outlines the NRA's astonishing array of potentially illegal activities since 2019.
Tax-exempt organizations play an important role in improving the lives of millions of Americans. To maintain integrity and trust, instances of abuse must be investigated and acted upon. No organization that wantonly and repeatedly abuses their tax status should be allowed to continue enjoying privileged tax-exempt status.
The NRA’s internal financial dealings and the organization's violations of federal laws governing charities are violations. If the NRA is violating the law, then the IRS must revoke its tax-exempt status immediately.
May 5, 2023
Colin Allred raises more than $2 million for Senate campaign against Ted Cruz in 36 hours.
Posted on Thu, May 4th, 2023 by Jason Easley
Rep. Colin Allred Raises More Than $2 Million In The First 36 Hours Of His Senate Campaign Against Ted Cruz
Rep. Colin Allred announced that his Senate campaign had raised more than $2 million in a day and a half in their race to defeat Sen. Ted Cruz.
Rep. Allred tweeted:
To add some context, Allred raised as much money in less than two days than Beto O’Rourke raised in the entire first quarter of his Senate campaign against Cruz:
more...
https://www.politicususa.com/2023/05/04/rep-colin-allred-raises-more-than-2-million-in-the-first-36-hours-of-his-senate-campaign-against-ted-cruz.html
Colin Allred raises more than $2 million for Senate campaign against Ted Cruz in 36 hours.
Colin Allred raises more than $2 million for Senate campaign against Ted Cruz in 36 hours.
Posted on Thu, May 4th, 2023 by Jason Easley
Rep. Colin Allred Raises More Than $2 Million In The First 36 Hours Of His Senate Campaign Against Ted Cruz
Rep. Colin Allred announced that his Senate campaign had raised more than $2 million in a day and a half in their race to defeat Sen. Ted Cruz.
Rep. Allred tweeted:
I’ve been a part of some incredible teams in my life, but y’all have helped me raise over $2 million in just 36 hours since I announced my campaign to represent all Texans.
Together, we set a record for this cycle raising the most in the first day of a Senate campaign.
— Colin Allred (@ColinAllredTX) May 5, 2023
Together, we set a record for this cycle raising the most in the first day of a Senate campaign.
— Colin Allred (@ColinAllredTX) May 5, 2023
To add some context, Allred raised as much money in less than two days than Beto O’Rourke raised in the entire first quarter of his Senate campaign against Cruz:
more...
https://www.politicususa.com/2023/05/04/rep-colin-allred-raises-more-than-2-million-in-the-first-36-hours-of-his-senate-campaign-against-ted-cruz.html
May 3, 2023
Posted on Tue, May 2nd, 2023 by Jason Easley
The Federalist Society May Have Broken The Law As Leonard Leo Used Group To Get $1.6 Billion Donation
Trump’s judge picker Leonard Leo may have violated The Federalist Society’s tax status to obtain a $1.6 billion donation.
Politico reported:
The Federalist Society is forbidden from engaging in partisan political activity, but it appears Leo is using the society as a backdoor to raise huge sums of money from conservative donors for partisan politics.
The corrupt arrangement has caught the attention of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI):
https://twitter.com/SenWhitehouse/status/1653401604299603969
more...
https://www.politicususa.com/2023/05/02/the-federalist-society-may-have-broken-the-law-as-leonard-leo-used-group-to-get-1-6-billion-donation.html
The Federalist Society May Have Broken The Law As Leonard Leo Used Group To Get $1.6 Billion Donatio
Posted on Tue, May 2nd, 2023 by Jason Easley
The Federalist Society May Have Broken The Law As Leonard Leo Used Group To Get $1.6 Billion Donation
Trump’s judge picker Leonard Leo may have violated The Federalist Society’s tax status to obtain a $1.6 billion donation.
Politico reported:
Leonard Leo, who helped to choose judicial nominees for former President Donald Trump, obtained a historic $1.6 billion gift for his conservative legal network via an introduction through the Federalist Society, whose tax status forbids political activism.
Leo first met Barre Seid, the now 91-year-old manufacturing magnate turned donor, through an introduction arranged by Eugene Meyer, the longtime director of the Federalist Society. At the time, Leo was the society’s executive vice president, and he is currently its co-chair. Meyer envisioned Seid as a contributor to the society, according to a person familiar with the introduction. Instead, Leo cultivated Seid as a funder of his own dark money network. The result was a $1.6 billion gift announced last year — which is believed to be the largest political donation ever.
Leo first met Barre Seid, the now 91-year-old manufacturing magnate turned donor, through an introduction arranged by Eugene Meyer, the longtime director of the Federalist Society. At the time, Leo was the society’s executive vice president, and he is currently its co-chair. Meyer envisioned Seid as a contributor to the society, according to a person familiar with the introduction. Instead, Leo cultivated Seid as a funder of his own dark money network. The result was a $1.6 billion gift announced last year — which is believed to be the largest political donation ever.
The Federalist Society is forbidden from engaging in partisan political activity, but it appears Leo is using the society as a backdoor to raise huge sums of money from conservative donors for partisan politics.
The corrupt arrangement has caught the attention of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI):
https://twitter.com/SenWhitehouse/status/1653401604299603969
more...
https://www.politicususa.com/2023/05/02/the-federalist-society-may-have-broken-the-law-as-leonard-leo-used-group-to-get-1-6-billion-donation.html
May 3, 2023
An island of sanity
Published by Tom Sullivan on May 3, 2023
In a sea of crazy
Like being dipped in living waters. That’s what it’s like anymore to hear an actual expert testify on Capitol Hill instead of partisan shills. Imagine hearings without grandstanding and hectoring from Republicans such as those on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “World’s greatest deliberative body,” indeed.
Roll Call:
I could listen to this opening statement clip from Frost all day on repeat. Sanity. Remember it?
https://twitter.com/i/status/1653476907013292039
There was, of course, pushback from the GOP:
Frost, an authority, disagrees.
That 1978’s Ethics in Government Act has spawned no “cottage industry” by litigants intent on picking off justices with whom they disagree was of no matter to Tillis. Nor to other Republicans on the committee.
An island of sanity
https://digbysblog.net/2023/05/03/an-island-of-sanity/An island of sanity
Published by Tom Sullivan on May 3, 2023
In a sea of crazy
Like being dipped in living waters. That’s what it’s like anymore to hear an actual expert testify on Capitol Hill instead of partisan shills. Imagine hearings without grandstanding and hectoring from Republicans such as those on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “World’s greatest deliberative body,” indeed.
Roll Call:
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee spent a hearing Tuesday making the case for legislation that would put the Supreme Court under an ethics code if the justices didn’t do so themselves, but witnesses were split as to whether Congress has the power to do so.
The backers of proposed bills argued that the justices have waited for too long to impose their own ethics code, exemplified by recent reports about undisclosed luxury trips and a real estate transaction Justice Clarence Thomas received from a billionaire GOP donor.
Amanda Frost, a University of Virginia Law School professor, testified that the Constitution is silent about the internal workings of the Supreme Court and instead left it to Congress to establish the court’s size, budget and rules like a quorum.
Frost said that Congress has legislated rules for the court since the 1790s, including the oath of office justices take, and that would include an ethics code.
“To claim Congress lacks that authority is to ignore the Constitution’s text and structure,” Frost said.
The backers of proposed bills argued that the justices have waited for too long to impose their own ethics code, exemplified by recent reports about undisclosed luxury trips and a real estate transaction Justice Clarence Thomas received from a billionaire GOP donor.
Amanda Frost, a University of Virginia Law School professor, testified that the Constitution is silent about the internal workings of the Supreme Court and instead left it to Congress to establish the court’s size, budget and rules like a quorum.
Frost said that Congress has legislated rules for the court since the 1790s, including the oath of office justices take, and that would include an ethics code.
“To claim Congress lacks that authority is to ignore the Constitution’s text and structure,” Frost said.
I could listen to this opening statement clip from Frost all day on repeat. Sanity. Remember it?
https://twitter.com/i/status/1653476907013292039
There was, of course, pushback from the GOP:
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said creating an ethics code for the court may create a “cottage industry” of advocates filing ethics complaints in cases strategically, making it “ripe for seeding the field with politicization of the Supreme Court.”
Tillis said he could not imagine the Founding Fathers supporting such a check on the justices.
“That seems to be far afield from anything the Founding Fathers would have considered appropriate,” Tillis said.
Tillis said he could not imagine the Founding Fathers supporting such a check on the justices.
“That seems to be far afield from anything the Founding Fathers would have considered appropriate,” Tillis said.
Frost, an authority, disagrees.
That 1978’s Ethics in Government Act has spawned no “cottage industry” by litigants intent on picking off justices with whom they disagree was of no matter to Tillis. Nor to other Republicans on the committee.
May 3, 2023
CNN tried to ignore Trump's coup attempt
Hunter for Daily Kos
Daily Kos Staff
Tuesday May 02, 2023 · 2:00 PM EDT
Share this article
On Monday, CNN announced that they would be holding a "presidential town hall" hosting one and only one Republican candidate: Donald Trump, the seditionist coup plotter who attempted to nullify a U.S. presidential election by hoax or by force rather than give up power.
"The event, hosted by “CNN This Morning” anchor Kaitlan Collins and airing at 9 PM ET on May 10, will feature the former president taking questions from New Hampshire Republicans and undeclared voters who plan to vote in the 2024 GOP presidential primary," says CNN.
There was no mention of that coup attempt in CNN’s original announcement. There was a one-sentence mention of Trump's New York indictment for cooking his company books to hide hush money payments while on the campaign trail, and a mention of the current defamation trial against Trump leveled by writer E. Jean Carroll, but no mention of Trump pressuring Georgia election officials to change vote totals, no mention of his extended efforts to convince his vice president to refuse to recognize the electoral votes of multiple states during the Jan. 6, 2021, joint session of Congress convened to ratify Joe Biden's victory, and no mention of Trump's role in gathering and setting loose a mob for the specific purpose of intimidating Congress into accepting whatever alternate electoral count his seditionist allies might propose.
It was only after the company had been subjected to widespread online mocking and contempt that it expanded its announcement to mention that Trump is still under federal investigation for his role in the Capitol attacks. That mention is called “additional details,” in the CNN note acknowledging the revision. One imagines that CNN was simply too surprised by the breaking news of its own scheduled programming to have filled in the details correctly the first time through.
The evidence uncovered about Trump's actions is hardly mysterious. In particular, it is known that Trump publicized an intended "march" to coincide precisely with the formal counting of electoral votes; that he was aware of violent elements within that crowd; that he was told that many in the crowd were armed and would not give up their weapons in order to pass through rally metal detectors; that he responded with the furious demand that the metal detectors be turned off and the crowd be allowed to keep their weapons; that he then told the crowd to "march" to the U.S. Capitol, planning on joining the crowd himself before security officials refused to allow it; that he saw the violence outside the Capitol, and did nothing; that he saw live coverage of rioters break into the Capitol, and did nothing; that he was in contact with evacuating lawmakers who asked him to step in, but acted instead to spur the crowd by condemning the hiding Mike Pence as the crowd searched for him; and that after the violence subsided, he repeatedly condemned the arrests of those who violently entered the building and demanded their release, even promising their pardon.
Yet none of that made it into the first CNN announcement. It was, apparently, considered less significant than either his indictment for book-cooking or a civil defamation lawsuit filed against him.
Attempting to overthrow the legitimate government of the United States with the assistance of crooked allies and a violent mob, barely more than 2 years ago, is swept aside in favor of more current news cycles. This is an industry-wide affectation, and CNN no doubt thought all was set right again after an additional details section was added to satisfy democracy’s most pedantic allies.
Actually, no. Forgetting to mention the violent attempted coup in the news release was a quibble; hosting the man who sponsored it in the first place remains the far more flagrant act.
CNN has done its level best to side with political corruption and even acts of sedition as it repeatedly slides right to court the backers of both rather than give up access to them, or lose the viewership of those that support them. Journalism often declares its highest function to be the exposure of powerful figures who break the public trust for their own profit, but in the CNN version, the journalism part is scrubbed and, instead, talking heads are hired to defend the corruption and to analyze, in political terms, whether the corruption will "help" or "hurt" them in the current election cycle.
There has been not one CNN executive who has known shit about journalism in a very long time, and parent company heads make it their business to ensure that the "balance" between covering corruption and defending it, between coup opposition and coup support, between fact and hoax, and between democracy and fascist overthrow is never far enough out of tilt that the network cannot boast to both groups that it has shown respect for their point of view.
There is an easy method of not giving the architect of an attempted overthrow of our government lavish televised events meant to promote his return to power: simply don't do it. Tell the pardon-promising endorser of political violence that he can go to hell for all he wants, but the company will neither specially promote him, nor look to make a crooked buck in doing so. This is not hard. It is well within the purview of network executives to determine that the public danger outweighs the network's obsessive-compulsive need for spectacle.
It would require the integrity that nobody in the entertainment—not "news," but entertainment—industry can abide even being in the same building with, but most of the rest of the American public is familiar with the notion of don't side with terrorists, that being something that the "news" channels of two decades ago were quite willing to drill into our heads.
Trump attempted the overthrow of our government. "But he's also a presidential candidate!" network executives will whine. Yes. Choose which of those two things is more important. You can interview him. You can analyze him. You can do all the other journalistic things that the network might do with a Columbian cartel head, but you would not give a Colombian cartel head an hour-long television special in which he can speak with his American addicts about what his new pricing plans will be. Grow the smallest possible spine, you gutless worms, and declare that "attempted to overthrow our very government" is perhaps the one news event you can think of that would overweigh campaign trail "coverage."
CNN tried to ignore Trump's coup attempt
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/5/2/2167103/-CNN-almost-forgot-that-time-Trump-plotted-a-coupCNN tried to ignore Trump's coup attempt
Hunter for Daily Kos
Daily Kos Staff
Tuesday May 02, 2023 · 2:00 PM EDT
Share this article
On Monday, CNN announced that they would be holding a "presidential town hall" hosting one and only one Republican candidate: Donald Trump, the seditionist coup plotter who attempted to nullify a U.S. presidential election by hoax or by force rather than give up power.
"The event, hosted by “CNN This Morning” anchor Kaitlan Collins and airing at 9 PM ET on May 10, will feature the former president taking questions from New Hampshire Republicans and undeclared voters who plan to vote in the 2024 GOP presidential primary," says CNN.
There was no mention of that coup attempt in CNN’s original announcement. There was a one-sentence mention of Trump's New York indictment for cooking his company books to hide hush money payments while on the campaign trail, and a mention of the current defamation trial against Trump leveled by writer E. Jean Carroll, but no mention of Trump pressuring Georgia election officials to change vote totals, no mention of his extended efforts to convince his vice president to refuse to recognize the electoral votes of multiple states during the Jan. 6, 2021, joint session of Congress convened to ratify Joe Biden's victory, and no mention of Trump's role in gathering and setting loose a mob for the specific purpose of intimidating Congress into accepting whatever alternate electoral count his seditionist allies might propose.
It was only after the company had been subjected to widespread online mocking and contempt that it expanded its announcement to mention that Trump is still under federal investigation for his role in the Capitol attacks. That mention is called “additional details,” in the CNN note acknowledging the revision. One imagines that CNN was simply too surprised by the breaking news of its own scheduled programming to have filled in the details correctly the first time through.
The evidence uncovered about Trump's actions is hardly mysterious. In particular, it is known that Trump publicized an intended "march" to coincide precisely with the formal counting of electoral votes; that he was aware of violent elements within that crowd; that he was told that many in the crowd were armed and would not give up their weapons in order to pass through rally metal detectors; that he responded with the furious demand that the metal detectors be turned off and the crowd be allowed to keep their weapons; that he then told the crowd to "march" to the U.S. Capitol, planning on joining the crowd himself before security officials refused to allow it; that he saw the violence outside the Capitol, and did nothing; that he saw live coverage of rioters break into the Capitol, and did nothing; that he was in contact with evacuating lawmakers who asked him to step in, but acted instead to spur the crowd by condemning the hiding Mike Pence as the crowd searched for him; and that after the violence subsided, he repeatedly condemned the arrests of those who violently entered the building and demanded their release, even promising their pardon.
Yet none of that made it into the first CNN announcement. It was, apparently, considered less significant than either his indictment for book-cooking or a civil defamation lawsuit filed against him.
Attempting to overthrow the legitimate government of the United States with the assistance of crooked allies and a violent mob, barely more than 2 years ago, is swept aside in favor of more current news cycles. This is an industry-wide affectation, and CNN no doubt thought all was set right again after an additional details section was added to satisfy democracy’s most pedantic allies.
Actually, no. Forgetting to mention the violent attempted coup in the news release was a quibble; hosting the man who sponsored it in the first place remains the far more flagrant act.
CNN has done its level best to side with political corruption and even acts of sedition as it repeatedly slides right to court the backers of both rather than give up access to them, or lose the viewership of those that support them. Journalism often declares its highest function to be the exposure of powerful figures who break the public trust for their own profit, but in the CNN version, the journalism part is scrubbed and, instead, talking heads are hired to defend the corruption and to analyze, in political terms, whether the corruption will "help" or "hurt" them in the current election cycle.
There has been not one CNN executive who has known shit about journalism in a very long time, and parent company heads make it their business to ensure that the "balance" between covering corruption and defending it, between coup opposition and coup support, between fact and hoax, and between democracy and fascist overthrow is never far enough out of tilt that the network cannot boast to both groups that it has shown respect for their point of view.
There is an easy method of not giving the architect of an attempted overthrow of our government lavish televised events meant to promote his return to power: simply don't do it. Tell the pardon-promising endorser of political violence that he can go to hell for all he wants, but the company will neither specially promote him, nor look to make a crooked buck in doing so. This is not hard. It is well within the purview of network executives to determine that the public danger outweighs the network's obsessive-compulsive need for spectacle.
It would require the integrity that nobody in the entertainment—not "news," but entertainment—industry can abide even being in the same building with, but most of the rest of the American public is familiar with the notion of don't side with terrorists, that being something that the "news" channels of two decades ago were quite willing to drill into our heads.
Trump attempted the overthrow of our government. "But he's also a presidential candidate!" network executives will whine. Yes. Choose which of those two things is more important. You can interview him. You can analyze him. You can do all the other journalistic things that the network might do with a Columbian cartel head, but you would not give a Colombian cartel head an hour-long television special in which he can speak with his American addicts about what his new pricing plans will be. Grow the smallest possible spine, you gutless worms, and declare that "attempted to overthrow our very government" is perhaps the one news event you can think of that would overweigh campaign trail "coverage."
May 1, 2023
RNC Chair Says Independents Didn't Break to GOP
womp womp 
https://politicalwire.com/2023/04/30/rnc-chair-says-independents-didnt-break-to-gop/
RNC Chair Says Independents Didn’t Break to GOP
April 30, 2023 at 7:47 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard
RNC chair Ronna McDaniel that a recent report on the party’s disappointing performance in last year’s midterms showed that the GOP was unable to lock down the support of independents, citing abortion messaging as a key reason why, The Hill reports.
Said McDaniel: “The biggest takeaway we’re taking is independents did not break our way, which has to happen if we’re gonna win in 2024.”
Said McDaniel: “The biggest takeaway we’re taking is independents did not break our way, which has to happen if we’re gonna win in 2024.”
April 29, 2023
E. Jean Carroll and Other Survivors Don't Need an Excuse for Not Screaming
by Carol Norris | April 29, 2023 - 7:59am
snip//
"... I don't need any excuse for not screaming."
Indeed, she doesn't. I can't say this too many times: Wondering or questioning why Carroll didn't scream or run or why she laughed or soon went back to work shows a total ignorance of trauma and how nervous systems work. We can't override evolution as much as we might try. Full stop. I get that in a courtroom you need a jury to believe you, but generally you don't need to justify anything to anyone. If people don't believe you, that's about them. And their ignorance or fear or discomfort.
As Carroll has, many do come forward years or decades later. Again, the accusatory cries of, "Why didn't she come forward earlier?" are absolutely uninformed. Maybe that's the time your nervous system needed to work through the trauma be it via trauma-informed therapy or self-exploration or gardening; or maybe the perpetrator finally moved or died; or maybe enough time has passed where your family is able to be supportive and not abandon you for calling out your uncle; or maybe enough is enough and you just can't stay silent a day longer. Many finally felt the validation and the safety in numbers of the #MeToo movement that allowed them to come forward. All the doubting questions ignore that in 2023 we still live in a patriarchal culture. It's a culture that continues to judge and shame and doubt and blame women for their sexual assault, or those questions would never be asked in the first place. And when other genders get assaulted, that comes with its own kind of judgment. And if you're a person of color, add another layer on top of that.
It can take a huge amount of bravery and fortitude just to get up and face a run-of-the-mill day after such a disorienting, devastating experience that robs one of a sense of safety no matter where you are because your body is the scene of the crime. Confronting a perpetrator requires its own kind of bravery. I can't pretend to imagine what it must be like to do it on the national stage.**
E. Jean Carroll and the millions of sexual assault survivors deserve our respect and support. They deserve our empathy, but never our pity. To all the sexual assault survivors out there, I see you. I believe you. And even if at times it feels all-but impossible to access, know that you're resilient beyond measure.
*If you're triggered and need support and/or resources, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE (4673); or go to www.rainn.org.
**If you're a survivor, please hear this loud and clear: You are NO less brave if you don't confront your perpetrator. That is a deeply personal decision and sometimes it's the very best, smartest, and most strategic and self-caring decision to never, ever call out your assailant. Trust that.
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
E. Jean Carroll and Other Survivors Don't Need an Excuse for Not Screaming
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/carol-norris/106068/e-jean-carroll-and-other-survivors-dont-need-an-excuse-for-not-screamingE. Jean Carroll and Other Survivors Don't Need an Excuse for Not Screaming
by Carol Norris | April 29, 2023 - 7:59am
snip//
"... I don't need any excuse for not screaming."
Indeed, she doesn't. I can't say this too many times: Wondering or questioning why Carroll didn't scream or run or why she laughed or soon went back to work shows a total ignorance of trauma and how nervous systems work. We can't override evolution as much as we might try. Full stop. I get that in a courtroom you need a jury to believe you, but generally you don't need to justify anything to anyone. If people don't believe you, that's about them. And their ignorance or fear or discomfort.
As Carroll has, many do come forward years or decades later. Again, the accusatory cries of, "Why didn't she come forward earlier?" are absolutely uninformed. Maybe that's the time your nervous system needed to work through the trauma be it via trauma-informed therapy or self-exploration or gardening; or maybe the perpetrator finally moved or died; or maybe enough time has passed where your family is able to be supportive and not abandon you for calling out your uncle; or maybe enough is enough and you just can't stay silent a day longer. Many finally felt the validation and the safety in numbers of the #MeToo movement that allowed them to come forward. All the doubting questions ignore that in 2023 we still live in a patriarchal culture. It's a culture that continues to judge and shame and doubt and blame women for their sexual assault, or those questions would never be asked in the first place. And when other genders get assaulted, that comes with its own kind of judgment. And if you're a person of color, add another layer on top of that.
It can take a huge amount of bravery and fortitude just to get up and face a run-of-the-mill day after such a disorienting, devastating experience that robs one of a sense of safety no matter where you are because your body is the scene of the crime. Confronting a perpetrator requires its own kind of bravery. I can't pretend to imagine what it must be like to do it on the national stage.**
E. Jean Carroll and the millions of sexual assault survivors deserve our respect and support. They deserve our empathy, but never our pity. To all the sexual assault survivors out there, I see you. I believe you. And even if at times it feels all-but impossible to access, know that you're resilient beyond measure.
*If you're triggered and need support and/or resources, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE (4673); or go to www.rainn.org.
**If you're a survivor, please hear this loud and clear: You are NO less brave if you don't confront your perpetrator. That is a deeply personal decision and sometimes it's the very best, smartest, and most strategic and self-caring decision to never, ever call out your assailant. Trust that.
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April 29, 2023
White House Correspondents' Dinner: What's Happening & Who's Attending...
Tonight!!
White House Correspondents’ Dinner: What’s Happening & Who’s Attending D.C.’s Biggest Weekend Of Pop And Politics
By Ted Johnson
April 25, 2023 12:35pm
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, will attend this weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, underscoring how one of the biggest social nights of the year for Beltway media and politicos has lasted despite predictions of its demise.
The sold-out event at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night also is expected to draw celebrities and other notables, with attendees scheduled to include John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, as well as the Tennessee state lawmakers who were ousted, then reinstated, for their protest over gun violence. Roy Wood Jr., correspondent for The Daily Show, will headline the event. He will follow Biden’s stand-up material — and given the media events of the week, there will be plenty of material.
The presence of POTUS and FLOTUS is a contrast to the Trump years, when the onetime Celebrity Apprentice host not only skipped the dinner but counter-programmed the event with a rally in which he bashed the dinner as elitist.
snip//
C-SPAN will present live coverage of the event as well as the red carpet, and CNN and MSNBC are planning coverage of the dinner.
more...
https://deadline.com/2023/04/2023-white-house-correspondents-dinner-events-schedule-how-to-watch-1235334824/
April 29, 2023
Special Counsel Looks at Trump’s Fundraising
April 29, 2023 at 8:07 am EDT By Taegan Goddard
Special Counsel Looks at Trump's Fundraising
https://politicalwire.com/2023/04/29/special-counsel-looks-at-trumps-fundraising/Special Counsel Looks at Trump’s Fundraising
April 29, 2023 at 8:07 am EDT By Taegan Goddard
New York Times: “Led by the special counsel Jack Smith, prosecutors are trying to determine whether Mr. Trump and his aides violated federal wire fraud statutes as they raised as much as $250 million through a political action committee by saying they needed the money to fight to reverse election fraud even though they had been told repeatedly that there was no evidence to back up those fraud claims…”
“Investigators have homed in on the activities of a joint fund-raising committee made up of staff members from the 2020 Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee, among others. Some of the subpoenas have sought documents from around Election Day 2020 up the present.”
“Investigators have homed in on the activities of a joint fund-raising committee made up of staff members from the 2020 Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee, among others. Some of the subpoenas have sought documents from around Election Day 2020 up the present.”
April 28, 2023
“Don’t Get in Our Way”: Kamala Harris Kicks Off Biden’s Reelection Bid With a Battle Cry on Abortion
As Republican politicians struggle to sell the party’s extreme antiabortion agenda to the American public, Harris made clear that reproductive rights will be on the ballot in 2024.
By Abigail Tracy
April 26, 2023
Kamala Harris took the stage at a Howard University auditorium Tuesday evening to chants of “four more years, four more years.” Despite President Joe Biden’s announcement early that morning declaring his reelection campaign, the evening was not an official campaign event: It was a rally for reproductive rights. But as the administration faces attacks on abortion access across the country, including the high-profile court fight that could not only ban a leading abortion medication, but unravel the authority of the Food and Drug Administration, it was almost impossible to unlink the two.
She even echoed the president’s reelection tagline: Elect Biden-Harris, “so we can finish the job,” she told the audience.
Harris’s speech made clear that abortion rights will play a primary role in Biden’s reelection bid. The duo’s campaign launch video signaled the same; it featured scenes of Americans protesting outside the Supreme Court with “Abortion Is Health Care” signs, among others. “Freedom. Personal freedom is fundamental to who we are as Americans,” Biden says in the video. “Around the country, MAGA extremists are lining up to take on those bedrock freedoms…dictating what health care decisions women can make.” It’s been a winning message for Democrats as conservatives’ extreme antiabortion measures poll increasingly unfavorably, even among some Republicans.
more...
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/04/kamala-harris-joe-biden-reelection-bid-abortion-rights
"Don't Get in Our Way": Kamala Harris Kicks Off Biden's Reelection Bid With a Battle Cry on Abortion
“Don’t Get in Our Way”: Kamala Harris Kicks Off Biden’s Reelection Bid With a Battle Cry on Abortion
As Republican politicians struggle to sell the party’s extreme antiabortion agenda to the American public, Harris made clear that reproductive rights will be on the ballot in 2024.
By Abigail Tracy
April 26, 2023
Kamala Harris took the stage at a Howard University auditorium Tuesday evening to chants of “four more years, four more years.” Despite President Joe Biden’s announcement early that morning declaring his reelection campaign, the evening was not an official campaign event: It was a rally for reproductive rights. But as the administration faces attacks on abortion access across the country, including the high-profile court fight that could not only ban a leading abortion medication, but unravel the authority of the Food and Drug Administration, it was almost impossible to unlink the two.
“These extremist so-called leaders would dare to tell us what is in our own best interest. Well I say, I trust the women of America. I trust the people of America,” she told an energized crowd. “So don’t get in our way because if you do, we’re going to stand up, we’re going to organize, and we’re going to speak up and we’re going to say, we’re not having that, we’re not playing that!”
She even echoed the president’s reelection tagline: Elect Biden-Harris, “so we can finish the job,” she told the audience.
Harris’s speech made clear that abortion rights will play a primary role in Biden’s reelection bid. The duo’s campaign launch video signaled the same; it featured scenes of Americans protesting outside the Supreme Court with “Abortion Is Health Care” signs, among others. “Freedom. Personal freedom is fundamental to who we are as Americans,” Biden says in the video. “Around the country, MAGA extremists are lining up to take on those bedrock freedoms…dictating what health care decisions women can make.” It’s been a winning message for Democrats as conservatives’ extreme antiabortion measures poll increasingly unfavorably, even among some Republicans.
more...
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/04/kamala-harris-joe-biden-reelection-bid-abortion-rights
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