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marmar
marmar's Journal
marmar's Journal
March 27, 2024
(Michigan Advance) As justices heard oral arguments Tuesday in a high-stakes case that could limit access to a common pharmaceutical used in both medication abortion and miscarriage care, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel blasted any attempt to restrict mifepristone.
“If the anti-reproductive freedom majority on SCOTUS bans mifepristone, or reimposes medically unnecessary restrictions on its use, it will impede access to the most commonly used method of abortion for every woman in American. Even in states where abortion rights are protected like Michigan, the decision would severely limit people’s right to make one of the most important decisions about their family in consultation with their doctor,” Whitmer said in a statement.
Michigan voters approved Proposal 3 in 2022 guaranteeing the right to abortion in the constitution following a June SCOTUS decision overturning Roe v. Wade. However, the Supreme Court’s decision in the mifepristone case could have implications nationwide. The Democratic governor called it part of “a nationwide assault on our reproductive health.”
Nessel, who’s also a Democrat, issued a statement on behalf of President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign slamming his likely opponent, former President Donald Trump. .....................(more)
https://michiganadvance.com/2024/03/26/whitmer-and-nessel-say-abortion-pill-case-is-part-of-continued-attacks-on-reproductive-rights/
Whitmer and Nessel say abortion pill case is part of continued attacks on reproductive rights
(Michigan Advance) As justices heard oral arguments Tuesday in a high-stakes case that could limit access to a common pharmaceutical used in both medication abortion and miscarriage care, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel blasted any attempt to restrict mifepristone.
“If the anti-reproductive freedom majority on SCOTUS bans mifepristone, or reimposes medically unnecessary restrictions on its use, it will impede access to the most commonly used method of abortion for every woman in American. Even in states where abortion rights are protected like Michigan, the decision would severely limit people’s right to make one of the most important decisions about their family in consultation with their doctor,” Whitmer said in a statement.
Michigan voters approved Proposal 3 in 2022 guaranteeing the right to abortion in the constitution following a June SCOTUS decision overturning Roe v. Wade. However, the Supreme Court’s decision in the mifepristone case could have implications nationwide. The Democratic governor called it part of “a nationwide assault on our reproductive health.”
Nessel, who’s also a Democrat, issued a statement on behalf of President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign slamming his likely opponent, former President Donald Trump. .....................(more)
https://michiganadvance.com/2024/03/26/whitmer-and-nessel-say-abortion-pill-case-is-part-of-continued-attacks-on-reproductive-rights/
March 27, 2024
Of course the lawyer trying to ban abortion pills is married to Josh "Run For Your Life" Hawley
Erin Hawley continues the proud GOP tradition of women building their careers by ruining other women's lives
By AMANDA MARCOTTE
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED MARCH 27, 2024 6:00AM (EDT)
(Salon) Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the group that argued against the abortion pill before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, does not hide that its goal goes well beyond ending access to abortion, as they successfully overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Alan Sears, the head of ADF, explained as much to David Kirkpatrick of the New Yorker last year, arguing that "the birth control pill was a mistake" and expressing a belief that his group could destroy access to the pill. It was yet another reminder that ADF and their Republican allies aren't "pro-life," but simply misogynists who wish to roll back decades of women's progress.
But they also know that's a bad look. So during Tuesday's Supreme Court arguments over the legality of the abortion pill, ADF used a favorite Republican trick to conceal misogynist intent: Have a lady say it. Erin Hawley was tapped to play the role of the snarling church lady pretending to "protect" the naughty sex-havers from having a say over their own bodies. Yep, that's the wife of Sen. Josh "Hauling A**" Hawley, R-Mo., infamous for cheering on Jan. 6 rioters before fleeing for his life after the insurrectionists breached the barricades around the Capitol.
Erin Hawley is the latest in a long line of Republican women who have built successful careers by destroying the lives of other women. Hawley has been incredibly lucky in life, graduating from Yale Law and clerking at the Supreme Court. She is now using that impressive resume to deny the same opportunities to other women. She was part of the legal team that successfully argued to repeal Roe v. Wade, for example, allowing her home state of Missouri to undermine the futures of countless girls and women through forced childbirth. Tuesday, she took the fight even more national, pretending to believe abortion pills cause "harm." Her proposed remedy to this imaginary problem: more forced pregnancy and childbirth, processes she and the conservative judges pretended are a pain-free experience for all those who endure it.
....(snip)....
In one especially chilling moment, Hawley argued that more women were seeking aftercare for abortions at emergency rooms instead of from the doctor who provided the abortion, raising the (still extremely slim) chances her clients might be asked to help a patient post-abortion. What she failed to mention is that she, personally, is largely to blame for this shift. She was part of the legal team that obtained the Dobbs decision that allowed states to ban abortion. This forced thousands of women to seek abortion from out-of-state providers. If those women return home and experience symptoms that concern them, they can't just go to the far-away doctor who first gave them the pills, but now have to go to the emergency room instead. ..................(more)
https://www.salon.com/2024/03/27/of-course-the-lawyer-trying-to-ban-abortion-pills-is-married-to-josh-run-for-your-life-hawley/
Of course the lawyer trying to ban abortion pills is married to Josh "Run For Your Life" Hawley
Of course the lawyer trying to ban abortion pills is married to Josh "Run For Your Life" Hawley
Erin Hawley continues the proud GOP tradition of women building their careers by ruining other women's lives
By AMANDA MARCOTTE
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED MARCH 27, 2024 6:00AM (EDT)
(Salon) Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the group that argued against the abortion pill before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, does not hide that its goal goes well beyond ending access to abortion, as they successfully overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Alan Sears, the head of ADF, explained as much to David Kirkpatrick of the New Yorker last year, arguing that "the birth control pill was a mistake" and expressing a belief that his group could destroy access to the pill. It was yet another reminder that ADF and their Republican allies aren't "pro-life," but simply misogynists who wish to roll back decades of women's progress.
But they also know that's a bad look. So during Tuesday's Supreme Court arguments over the legality of the abortion pill, ADF used a favorite Republican trick to conceal misogynist intent: Have a lady say it. Erin Hawley was tapped to play the role of the snarling church lady pretending to "protect" the naughty sex-havers from having a say over their own bodies. Yep, that's the wife of Sen. Josh "Hauling A**" Hawley, R-Mo., infamous for cheering on Jan. 6 rioters before fleeing for his life after the insurrectionists breached the barricades around the Capitol.
Erin Hawley is the latest in a long line of Republican women who have built successful careers by destroying the lives of other women. Hawley has been incredibly lucky in life, graduating from Yale Law and clerking at the Supreme Court. She is now using that impressive resume to deny the same opportunities to other women. She was part of the legal team that successfully argued to repeal Roe v. Wade, for example, allowing her home state of Missouri to undermine the futures of countless girls and women through forced childbirth. Tuesday, she took the fight even more national, pretending to believe abortion pills cause "harm." Her proposed remedy to this imaginary problem: more forced pregnancy and childbirth, processes she and the conservative judges pretended are a pain-free experience for all those who endure it.
....(snip)....
In one especially chilling moment, Hawley argued that more women were seeking aftercare for abortions at emergency rooms instead of from the doctor who provided the abortion, raising the (still extremely slim) chances her clients might be asked to help a patient post-abortion. What she failed to mention is that she, personally, is largely to blame for this shift. She was part of the legal team that obtained the Dobbs decision that allowed states to ban abortion. This forced thousands of women to seek abortion from out-of-state providers. If those women return home and experience symptoms that concern them, they can't just go to the far-away doctor who first gave them the pills, but now have to go to the emergency room instead. ..................(more)
https://www.salon.com/2024/03/27/of-course-the-lawyer-trying-to-ban-abortion-pills-is-married-to-josh-run-for-your-life-hawley/
March 27, 2024
"He is cognitively weak and closer than you might think to being completely disabled"
By CHAUNCEY DEVEGA
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED MARCH 26, 2024 5:45AM (EDT)
(Salon) Donald Trump’s already abominable behavior has been getting much worse in these last few weeks – and there may be a physiological component to it. In a series of conversations here at Salon, Dr. John Gartner, who is a prominent psychologist and contributor to the bestselling book "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President", has been warning that Trump appears to be suffering from serious cognitive challenges as manifest by his speech, memory, and other behavior. In an attempt to raise public awareness about Donald Trump’s apparent cognitive challenges and the extreme danger they represent to the nation if he were to take back the White House, and in essence be a type of mad king dictator, Gartner has started a petition at Change.org called “We diagnose Trump with probable dementia: A petition for licensed professionals only.”
....(snip)....
At a rally in Ohio, Donald Trump again exhibited symptoms of something apparently being wrong neurologically. Trump ties to turn it all into a joke by claiming he is being intentional and it is part of his performance. But at this point such deflections have no credibility, even given the ex-president’s “challenging” relationship with the truth and reality. You and your colleagues’ warnings and predictions appear to be proven correct almost every week.
Our Trump dementia-watch weekly round-up is becoming a regular ritual for one simple reason: Trump can’t go a full week without displaying gross signs of what appears to be dementia. This week he said “Joe Biden beat Barack Hussein Obama. Ever heard of him?” Donald Trump is disoriented. He doesn’t know who the president is, who he’s running against in the primary, or whether E. Jean Carrol is his wife. (I’m not trying to be funny, but it reminds me of the Oliver Sacks book, “The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat.”) In my opinion, this is brain damage. There is no medically credible explanation for these occurrences that doesn’t not involve brain damage, most probably dementia. These telltale signs used to be more intermittent, but his apparent dementia is progressing at an accelerating rate, as is normal for the illness. But at some point, these patients fall off a cognitive cliff and become suddenly incapable of independent living. Given the accelerating rate of Trump’s apparent decline, it’s almost certain he would become incapacitated while in office. The man with the nuclear codes would be wandering around the White House in an angry agitated fog of confusion.
....(snip)....
Your petition at Change.org is gaining momentum. What is happening?
.........But thanks to the petition, we’re breaking through. Newsweek has reported on it. And for the second week in a row, Jennifer Rubin praised Salon in her Washington Post column for breaking this story: “Salon, one of the few outlets to take Trump’s cognitive decline seriously, displayed this headline: “‘Experts are desperate to warn the public’: Hundreds sign Dr. John Gartner’s Trump dementia petition.” The article’s description reads, “They see the signs of Trump’s cognitive decline through the eyes of years of training and experience.” That succinctly spelled out the basic facts surrounding a petition signed by hundreds of mental health professionals, pointing to obvious signs of Trump’s mental dysfunction.”
....(snip)....
If Donald Trump’s behavior continues to decline in an obvious way to the point where it can no longer be denied, will his MAGA followers leave him? Will seeing their personal superhero and god made mortal break the psychological adhesion?
I don’t think it will separate him from his followers. Their cultish idealization of him is an addictive drug. As long as Trump can spew hate, and do a funny little dance on stage, his followers will be satisfied, even if he’s so disoriented that he doesn’t actually know where he is. The people who can be influenced are independents and Republicans who voted for Nikki Haley. The election may come down to their gut feeling about which candidate is “stronger.” Trump gives the appearance of strength with his hypomanic bluster and braggadocio, but he is cognitively weak and closer than you might think to being completely disabled. ..............................(more)
https://www.salon.com/2024/03/26/hastening-his-deterioration-dr-john-gartner-on-impact-of-trials-on-trumps-fragile-brain/
"Hastening his deterioration": Dr. John Gartner on impact of court trials on "Trump's fragile brain"
"Hastening his deterioration": Dr. John Gartner on impact of court trials on "Trump’s fragile brain""He is cognitively weak and closer than you might think to being completely disabled"
By CHAUNCEY DEVEGA
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED MARCH 26, 2024 5:45AM (EDT)
(Salon) Donald Trump’s already abominable behavior has been getting much worse in these last few weeks – and there may be a physiological component to it. In a series of conversations here at Salon, Dr. John Gartner, who is a prominent psychologist and contributor to the bestselling book "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President", has been warning that Trump appears to be suffering from serious cognitive challenges as manifest by his speech, memory, and other behavior. In an attempt to raise public awareness about Donald Trump’s apparent cognitive challenges and the extreme danger they represent to the nation if he were to take back the White House, and in essence be a type of mad king dictator, Gartner has started a petition at Change.org called “We diagnose Trump with probable dementia: A petition for licensed professionals only.”
....(snip)....
At a rally in Ohio, Donald Trump again exhibited symptoms of something apparently being wrong neurologically. Trump ties to turn it all into a joke by claiming he is being intentional and it is part of his performance. But at this point such deflections have no credibility, even given the ex-president’s “challenging” relationship with the truth and reality. You and your colleagues’ warnings and predictions appear to be proven correct almost every week.
Our Trump dementia-watch weekly round-up is becoming a regular ritual for one simple reason: Trump can’t go a full week without displaying gross signs of what appears to be dementia. This week he said “Joe Biden beat Barack Hussein Obama. Ever heard of him?” Donald Trump is disoriented. He doesn’t know who the president is, who he’s running against in the primary, or whether E. Jean Carrol is his wife. (I’m not trying to be funny, but it reminds me of the Oliver Sacks book, “The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat.”) In my opinion, this is brain damage. There is no medically credible explanation for these occurrences that doesn’t not involve brain damage, most probably dementia. These telltale signs used to be more intermittent, but his apparent dementia is progressing at an accelerating rate, as is normal for the illness. But at some point, these patients fall off a cognitive cliff and become suddenly incapable of independent living. Given the accelerating rate of Trump’s apparent decline, it’s almost certain he would become incapacitated while in office. The man with the nuclear codes would be wandering around the White House in an angry agitated fog of confusion.
....(snip)....
Your petition at Change.org is gaining momentum. What is happening?
.........But thanks to the petition, we’re breaking through. Newsweek has reported on it. And for the second week in a row, Jennifer Rubin praised Salon in her Washington Post column for breaking this story: “Salon, one of the few outlets to take Trump’s cognitive decline seriously, displayed this headline: “‘Experts are desperate to warn the public’: Hundreds sign Dr. John Gartner’s Trump dementia petition.” The article’s description reads, “They see the signs of Trump’s cognitive decline through the eyes of years of training and experience.” That succinctly spelled out the basic facts surrounding a petition signed by hundreds of mental health professionals, pointing to obvious signs of Trump’s mental dysfunction.”
....(snip)....
If Donald Trump’s behavior continues to decline in an obvious way to the point where it can no longer be denied, will his MAGA followers leave him? Will seeing their personal superhero and god made mortal break the psychological adhesion?
I don’t think it will separate him from his followers. Their cultish idealization of him is an addictive drug. As long as Trump can spew hate, and do a funny little dance on stage, his followers will be satisfied, even if he’s so disoriented that he doesn’t actually know where he is. The people who can be influenced are independents and Republicans who voted for Nikki Haley. The election may come down to their gut feeling about which candidate is “stronger.” Trump gives the appearance of strength with his hypomanic bluster and braggadocio, but he is cognitively weak and closer than you might think to being completely disabled. ..............................(more)
https://www.salon.com/2024/03/26/hastening-his-deterioration-dr-john-gartner-on-impact-of-trials-on-trumps-fragile-brain/
March 27, 2024
(Detroit Free Press) Mayor Mike Duggan on Tuesday enthusiastically kicked off the 30-day countdown until the NFL draft, leading a news conference at the future center of the event in downtown Detroit.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to attend the NFL draft April 25-27, an event whose formal footprint will stretch from Campus Martius south to Hart Plaza, although pockets of festivities will happen across downtown — including a block party in Greektown and tailgating in Eastern Market. The event will be free to the public.
In an announcement to hype up Detroiters, Duggan and other civic officials provided an update on what to expect, including a series of road closures set to happen as early as this week and a reminder for all NFL draft visitors to download the OnePass mobile app, which will allow entry into the official event area and offer detailed information on all planned activities.
"Things will be taking place throughout the city of Detroit, and everyone will be able to enjoy it," said Eric Larson, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. ..............(more)
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/03/26/nfl-draft-detroit-duggan-onepass-app-closures/73103959007/
Duggan unveils Detroit NFL draft plans: Road closures, mobile app, stage construction
(Detroit Free Press) Mayor Mike Duggan on Tuesday enthusiastically kicked off the 30-day countdown until the NFL draft, leading a news conference at the future center of the event in downtown Detroit.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to attend the NFL draft April 25-27, an event whose formal footprint will stretch from Campus Martius south to Hart Plaza, although pockets of festivities will happen across downtown — including a block party in Greektown and tailgating in Eastern Market. The event will be free to the public.
In an announcement to hype up Detroiters, Duggan and other civic officials provided an update on what to expect, including a series of road closures set to happen as early as this week and a reminder for all NFL draft visitors to download the OnePass mobile app, which will allow entry into the official event area and offer detailed information on all planned activities.
"Things will be taking place throughout the city of Detroit, and everyone will be able to enjoy it," said Eric Larson, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. ..............(more)
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/03/26/nfl-draft-detroit-duggan-onepass-app-closures/73103959007/
March 26, 2024
(Michigan Advance) Michigan is among the best in the nation when it comes to the administration of elections.
That’s according to the Elections Performance Index (EPI), which ranked Michigan at second in the nation when comparing election administration policy and performance from one federal election cycle to the next. Released on Friday by the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, the report scored Michigan at 88% on the EPI, second only to New Mexico, which also scored 88%. Rounding out the top five were Colorado (87%), Vermont (87%) and Nebraska (87%).
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson noted the improvement the state had seen since 2018.
“When I first took office, Michigan’s elections were ranked 31st in the nation, today we are number two,” said Benson. “We’ve reached this incredible achievement thanks to the outstanding work of Michigan’s clerks and poll workers, who administer safe, secure, and accurate elections. I’m grateful to the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, for its data-driven work to improve elections across the country. We won’t rest until Michigan is ranked number one.” ..................(more)
https://michiganadvance.com/briefs/mit-report-ranks-michigan-second-in-election-administration/
MIT report ranks Michigan second in election administration
(Michigan Advance) Michigan is among the best in the nation when it comes to the administration of elections.
That’s according to the Elections Performance Index (EPI), which ranked Michigan at second in the nation when comparing election administration policy and performance from one federal election cycle to the next. Released on Friday by the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, the report scored Michigan at 88% on the EPI, second only to New Mexico, which also scored 88%. Rounding out the top five were Colorado (87%), Vermont (87%) and Nebraska (87%).
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson noted the improvement the state had seen since 2018.
“When I first took office, Michigan’s elections were ranked 31st in the nation, today we are number two,” said Benson. “We’ve reached this incredible achievement thanks to the outstanding work of Michigan’s clerks and poll workers, who administer safe, secure, and accurate elections. I’m grateful to the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, for its data-driven work to improve elections across the country. We won’t rest until Michigan is ranked number one.” ..................(more)
https://michiganadvance.com/briefs/mit-report-ranks-michigan-second-in-election-administration/
March 26, 2024
SPOKANE, WA – Usually, the most upsetting part about exiting the NCAA Tournament is losing before you want to. That wasn’t the case for Utah women’s basketball.
Head coach Lynne Roberts revealed in her postgame press conference after the Utes lost to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament that her team experienced racism toward the beginning of their trip that forced them to move hotels.
“Our team hotel was in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, which is not very close,” Roberts said. “It’s 35-40 minutes, so that was a little strange, but whatever. We had several instances of some kind of racial hate crimes towards our program and it was incredibly upsetting for all of us.” ........................(more)
https://kslsports.com/513670/racist-incident-dampens-utah-wbb-ncaa-tournament/
Racist Incidents Dampen Utah Women's Basketball's Time In NCAA Tournament
SPOKANE, WA – Usually, the most upsetting part about exiting the NCAA Tournament is losing before you want to. That wasn’t the case for Utah women’s basketball.
Head coach Lynne Roberts revealed in her postgame press conference after the Utes lost to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament that her team experienced racism toward the beginning of their trip that forced them to move hotels.
“Our team hotel was in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, which is not very close,” Roberts said. “It’s 35-40 minutes, so that was a little strange, but whatever. We had several instances of some kind of racial hate crimes towards our program and it was incredibly upsetting for all of us.” ........................(more)
https://kslsports.com/513670/racist-incident-dampens-utah-wbb-ncaa-tournament/
March 26, 2024
(Guardian UK) Abortion is back at the US supreme court, with arguments on Tuesday in the first major case on the issue since a 6-3 majority ruled in 2022 to overturn Roe v Wade and end the national right to abortion – a decision that unleashed abortion bans throughout the country as well as a political backlash that Democrats hope will serve them in the coming presidential election.
At issue in the case is the future of mifepristone, a drug typically used in US medication abortions. The rightwing groups that brought the case are seeking to roll back measures taken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the drug’s availability in recent years.
A decision in their favor would apply nationwide, including in states that protect abortion access, and would likely make the drug more difficult to acquire. The loosening of restrictions on mifepristone have helped mitigate the impact of post-Roe abortion bans; if those restrictions are reimposed, abortion rights groups anticipate it will become significantly more difficult to access abortions in the US.
“More than 60% of abortions in the US are medication abortions, so that would impact a substantial number of people, whether you live in a protective state or a restricted state,” said Nicole Huberfeld, a health law professor at Boston University’s School of Public Health. ..................(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/26/us-supreme-court-abortion-pill-case-mifepristone
US supreme court to hear first major abortion case since Roe decision
(Guardian UK) Abortion is back at the US supreme court, with arguments on Tuesday in the first major case on the issue since a 6-3 majority ruled in 2022 to overturn Roe v Wade and end the national right to abortion – a decision that unleashed abortion bans throughout the country as well as a political backlash that Democrats hope will serve them in the coming presidential election.
At issue in the case is the future of mifepristone, a drug typically used in US medication abortions. The rightwing groups that brought the case are seeking to roll back measures taken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the drug’s availability in recent years.
A decision in their favor would apply nationwide, including in states that protect abortion access, and would likely make the drug more difficult to acquire. The loosening of restrictions on mifepristone have helped mitigate the impact of post-Roe abortion bans; if those restrictions are reimposed, abortion rights groups anticipate it will become significantly more difficult to access abortions in the US.
“More than 60% of abortions in the US are medication abortions, so that would impact a substantial number of people, whether you live in a protective state or a restricted state,” said Nicole Huberfeld, a health law professor at Boston University’s School of Public Health. ..................(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/26/us-supreme-court-abortion-pill-case-mifepristone
March 26, 2024
There appears to be no end of breaks for a spoiled rich boy who has never done a decent thing in his 77 years
By AMANDA MARCOTTE
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED MARCH 26, 2024 6:00AM (EDT)
(Salon) As anyone who listens to him can attest, Donald Trump may be the most self-pitying person on planet Earth. Pretty much all the man does is whine and cry about how he's the victim of an imaginary "witch hunt." In reality, his list of transgressions is staggering. If he were any other person, he would have been sentenced to prison many times over with no real hope of release: Sexual assault. Decades of fraud. Attempted extortation of a foreign leader. Stealing classified documents. Flagrant acceptance of what very much looks like bribes. Attempting to overthrow democracy. Inciting a violent riot that got people killed. I'm sure readers can list a dozen more, but let's get to the point: It's absolutely bananas that Trump isn't in prison yet.
....(snip)....
And yet, simply because he was born a white guy with inherited wealth, the world conspires to endlessly provide Trump with all the breaks. Not only is this spoiled brat shielded from the consequences of his actions, but his privilege continues to catapult him into a world of luxury and flattery, even as all he does is leave a trail of ruin in his wake.
The latest "are you kidding me" example: On Monday, right before Trump finally got the tiniest taste of the justice he deserves for committing decades of criminal fraud in New York, he got bailed out by the state's appeals court. The judgment against Trump was nearly half a billion, due to a court case that demonstrated he wouldn't have two nickels to rub together but for his lifetime of fraud. In order to appeal the case, Trump had to first put up the full amount as a bond, which is standard. So Trump went on Truth Social to petulantly claim he had $500 million in cash (even though his legal filings said otherwise). Then in a stunningly undeserved act of mercy, the appeals court reduced the amount of his bond to $175 million and gave Trump 10 more days to find a benefactor to pay it for him.
....(snip)....
Trump's entire life has been defined by the willingness of other people to coddle the rich white boy. Right now, that's manifesting in legal leniency, as most prosecutors and judges have hesitated to show Trump even 1/100th of the justice that would face anyone else who acts like him. This is most obvious, of course, when looking at the attempted coup and the Capitol riot. Over 1,200 people have faced federal charges for Jan. 6, but Attorney General Merrick Garland dragged his feet for years on charging Trump. Yes, Garland eventually hired special prosecutor Jack Smith, and he brought charges, but it's looking like it's way too late to get the trial done by the election. ...............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2024/03/26/loves-to-play-the-victim--ny-appeals-bailout-shows-hes-the-most-coddled-person-alive/
Trump loves to play the victim -- NY appeals court bailout shows he's the most coddled person alive
Trump loves to play the victim — NY appeals court bailout shows he's the most coddled person aliveThere appears to be no end of breaks for a spoiled rich boy who has never done a decent thing in his 77 years
By AMANDA MARCOTTE
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED MARCH 26, 2024 6:00AM (EDT)
(Salon) As anyone who listens to him can attest, Donald Trump may be the most self-pitying person on planet Earth. Pretty much all the man does is whine and cry about how he's the victim of an imaginary "witch hunt." In reality, his list of transgressions is staggering. If he were any other person, he would have been sentenced to prison many times over with no real hope of release: Sexual assault. Decades of fraud. Attempted extortation of a foreign leader. Stealing classified documents. Flagrant acceptance of what very much looks like bribes. Attempting to overthrow democracy. Inciting a violent riot that got people killed. I'm sure readers can list a dozen more, but let's get to the point: It's absolutely bananas that Trump isn't in prison yet.
....(snip)....
And yet, simply because he was born a white guy with inherited wealth, the world conspires to endlessly provide Trump with all the breaks. Not only is this spoiled brat shielded from the consequences of his actions, but his privilege continues to catapult him into a world of luxury and flattery, even as all he does is leave a trail of ruin in his wake.
The latest "are you kidding me" example: On Monday, right before Trump finally got the tiniest taste of the justice he deserves for committing decades of criminal fraud in New York, he got bailed out by the state's appeals court. The judgment against Trump was nearly half a billion, due to a court case that demonstrated he wouldn't have two nickels to rub together but for his lifetime of fraud. In order to appeal the case, Trump had to first put up the full amount as a bond, which is standard. So Trump went on Truth Social to petulantly claim he had $500 million in cash (even though his legal filings said otherwise). Then in a stunningly undeserved act of mercy, the appeals court reduced the amount of his bond to $175 million and gave Trump 10 more days to find a benefactor to pay it for him.
....(snip)....
Trump's entire life has been defined by the willingness of other people to coddle the rich white boy. Right now, that's manifesting in legal leniency, as most prosecutors and judges have hesitated to show Trump even 1/100th of the justice that would face anyone else who acts like him. This is most obvious, of course, when looking at the attempted coup and the Capitol riot. Over 1,200 people have faced federal charges for Jan. 6, but Attorney General Merrick Garland dragged his feet for years on charging Trump. Yes, Garland eventually hired special prosecutor Jack Smith, and he brought charges, but it's looking like it's way too late to get the trial done by the election. ...............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2024/03/26/loves-to-play-the-victim--ny-appeals-bailout-shows-hes-the-most-coddled-person-alive/
March 25, 2024
Trump now hypes her as a January 6 martyr, but when he was told of Babbitt's death, there was "no, like, reaction"
By AMANDA MARCOTTE
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED MARCH 25, 2024 6:00AM (EDT)
(Salon) Nine people died as a result of the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection that Republicans pretend was a "normal tourist visit." Four rioters and five police officers lost their lives during the attack or in its immediate aftermath, in ways that likely would not have happened but for the Capitol riot. This death toll is rarely discussed in the media coverage of the attack, likely because journalists don't want to argue with gaslighting fascists who want to get into bad faith debates about whether the assault "caused" the heart attacks and suicides that took lives. But there is one death that no one can deny was due to Jan. 6: That of Ashli Babbitt, the QAnon-believing insurrectionist who was shot by a Capitol police officer as she attempted to lead a charge of rioters to run down fleeing members of Congress.
Instead of erasing her death in their efforts to pretend the riot was "peaceful," Donald Trump and his goons have turned the 36-year-old conspiracy theorist into a MAGA martyr. As with much of Trump's campaign antics, it calls back to the tactics of the Nazis, who turned a murdered scumbag named Horst Wessel into a fallen fascist hero honored in iconography and song. Babbitt is even easier to prop up as a sympathetic figure, she was both pretty and female.
....(snip)....
So really, it should be bigger news that recently released testimony from a White House valet shows that Trump's reaction when told about Babbitt's death was utter indifference. It's buried in a New York Times report on this recently released transcript of an interview the anonymous valet did with the House committee investigating Jan. 6. The Times reporters are more focused on the valet's recollections of how Trump told his vice president, Mike Pence, that it would be "a political career killer" if Pence refused to steal the election for him. In passing, however, they also mention Trump did not care about Babbitt's killing — and the timeline suggests he understood perfectly well at the time that Babbitt was to blame for her own death.
....(snip)....
That Trump did not actually care about Babbitt's death, outside of fears that it made him look bad, is not a surprise to most Salon readers, journalists, or anyone who is honest about Trump's utter lack of morality. Perhaps this is why this revelation isn't getting more press attention. There's a tendency in the jaded press to assume "everyone" knows that Trump has never in his life cared about anyone but himself. But not all voters know that Trump is for-real sociopathic, and they may be surprised to find he reacted to a deluded woman dying for him like normal people react to stepping on an ant. ...............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2024/03/25/newly-released-transcripts-reveal-a-maga-betrayal-donald-never-cared-about-ashli-babbitt/
Newly released transcripts reveal a MAGA betrayal: Donald Trump never cared about Ashli Babbitt
Newly released transcripts reveal a MAGA betrayal: Donald Trump never cared about Ashli BabbittTrump now hypes her as a January 6 martyr, but when he was told of Babbitt's death, there was "no, like, reaction"
By AMANDA MARCOTTE
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED MARCH 25, 2024 6:00AM (EDT)
(Salon) Nine people died as a result of the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection that Republicans pretend was a "normal tourist visit." Four rioters and five police officers lost their lives during the attack or in its immediate aftermath, in ways that likely would not have happened but for the Capitol riot. This death toll is rarely discussed in the media coverage of the attack, likely because journalists don't want to argue with gaslighting fascists who want to get into bad faith debates about whether the assault "caused" the heart attacks and suicides that took lives. But there is one death that no one can deny was due to Jan. 6: That of Ashli Babbitt, the QAnon-believing insurrectionist who was shot by a Capitol police officer as she attempted to lead a charge of rioters to run down fleeing members of Congress.
Instead of erasing her death in their efforts to pretend the riot was "peaceful," Donald Trump and his goons have turned the 36-year-old conspiracy theorist into a MAGA martyr. As with much of Trump's campaign antics, it calls back to the tactics of the Nazis, who turned a murdered scumbag named Horst Wessel into a fallen fascist hero honored in iconography and song. Babbitt is even easier to prop up as a sympathetic figure, she was both pretty and female.
....(snip)....
So really, it should be bigger news that recently released testimony from a White House valet shows that Trump's reaction when told about Babbitt's death was utter indifference. It's buried in a New York Times report on this recently released transcript of an interview the anonymous valet did with the House committee investigating Jan. 6. The Times reporters are more focused on the valet's recollections of how Trump told his vice president, Mike Pence, that it would be "a political career killer" if Pence refused to steal the election for him. In passing, however, they also mention Trump did not care about Babbitt's killing — and the timeline suggests he understood perfectly well at the time that Babbitt was to blame for her own death.
....(snip)....
That Trump did not actually care about Babbitt's death, outside of fears that it made him look bad, is not a surprise to most Salon readers, journalists, or anyone who is honest about Trump's utter lack of morality. Perhaps this is why this revelation isn't getting more press attention. There's a tendency in the jaded press to assume "everyone" knows that Trump has never in his life cared about anyone but himself. But not all voters know that Trump is for-real sociopathic, and they may be surprised to find he reacted to a deluded woman dying for him like normal people react to stepping on an ant. ...............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2024/03/25/newly-released-transcripts-reveal-a-maga-betrayal-donald-never-cared-about-ashli-babbitt/
March 25, 2024
Forensic psychiatrist on physical signs of Trump's mental decline: "Changes in movement and gait"
"His walk appears wide-based," Dr. Elizabeth Zoffman notes of Trump. "He has developed a swing of his right leg."
By CHAUNCEY DEVEGA
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED MARCH 25, 2024 5:45AM (EDT)
(Salon) Donald Trump’s obvious public challenges with speech, language, and thinking are continuing to get worse. At a recent rally in Ohio, the former president continued to act like a broken computer, going off on odd tangents, rambling, muddling his speech, and saying, “Joe Biden won against Barack Hussein Obama, has anyone ever heard of him? Every swing state, Biden beat Obama but in every other state, he got killed.”
....(snip)....
In an attempt to better understand what we are witnessing with Donald Trump’s behavior, I recently spoke with Dr. Elizabeth Zoffman, a forensic psychiatrist and an Associate Clinical Professor of Forensic and General Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Zoffmann shares her evidence-based preliminary conclusion that Donald Trump is displaying a range of behaviors that suggest cognitive challenges if not impairment. The former president appears to be suffering from Behavioral Variant Fronto-Temporal Dementia, Dr. Zoffmann concludes, and needs to be evaluated by neurologists who specialize in the condition.
What do you see when you look at Donald Trump through a clinical lens?
My observations are garnered from viewing the phenomenon of Mr. Trump for the past decade. Also, observations from viewing old videotape interviews and coverage of Mr. Trump as a younger man form part of my impression that Mr. Trump might benefit from a thorough evaluation by a neuropsychiatrist with expertise in neurodegenerative disorders. My observations are as follows:
.....My clinical experience and these collected observations are congruent with the diagnostic criteria for Behavioral Variant Fronto-Temporal Dementia (FTD). People presenting with such a cluster of observations should undergo expert assessment. This diagnosis is often largely based on external observations and collateral reporting from others close to the person. Early in the disease, the individual may be aware of changes, but as frontal lobe deterioration progresses the capacity for self-awareness diminishes. Unlike Alzheimer’s Disease, people with FTD have intact short-term memory and can easily score full points on screening tests like the MMSE and MOCA. ..............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2024/03/25/forensic-psychiatrist-on-physical-signs-of-mental-decline-changes-in-movement-and-gait/
Forensic psychiatrist on physical signs of Trump's mental decline: "Changes in movement and gait"
Forensic psychiatrist on physical signs of Trump's mental decline: "Changes in movement and gait"
"His walk appears wide-based," Dr. Elizabeth Zoffman notes of Trump. "He has developed a swing of his right leg."
By CHAUNCEY DEVEGA
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED MARCH 25, 2024 5:45AM (EDT)
(Salon) Donald Trump’s obvious public challenges with speech, language, and thinking are continuing to get worse. At a recent rally in Ohio, the former president continued to act like a broken computer, going off on odd tangents, rambling, muddling his speech, and saying, “Joe Biden won against Barack Hussein Obama, has anyone ever heard of him? Every swing state, Biden beat Obama but in every other state, he got killed.”
....(snip)....
In an attempt to better understand what we are witnessing with Donald Trump’s behavior, I recently spoke with Dr. Elizabeth Zoffman, a forensic psychiatrist and an Associate Clinical Professor of Forensic and General Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Zoffmann shares her evidence-based preliminary conclusion that Donald Trump is displaying a range of behaviors that suggest cognitive challenges if not impairment. The former president appears to be suffering from Behavioral Variant Fronto-Temporal Dementia, Dr. Zoffmann concludes, and needs to be evaluated by neurologists who specialize in the condition.
What do you see when you look at Donald Trump through a clinical lens?
My observations are garnered from viewing the phenomenon of Mr. Trump for the past decade. Also, observations from viewing old videotape interviews and coverage of Mr. Trump as a younger man form part of my impression that Mr. Trump might benefit from a thorough evaluation by a neuropsychiatrist with expertise in neurodegenerative disorders. My observations are as follows:
* Changes in speech patterns with many fewer and simpler words (decline in vocabulary) with fewer adjectives and adverbs.
....
* Changes in movement and gait. His walk appears wide-based and he has developed a swing of his right leg. He appears glued to the floor when he “dances” for his audience. If caught on camera standing still, he appears unnaturally immobile.
.....My clinical experience and these collected observations are congruent with the diagnostic criteria for Behavioral Variant Fronto-Temporal Dementia (FTD). People presenting with such a cluster of observations should undergo expert assessment. This diagnosis is often largely based on external observations and collateral reporting from others close to the person. Early in the disease, the individual may be aware of changes, but as frontal lobe deterioration progresses the capacity for self-awareness diminishes. Unlike Alzheimer’s Disease, people with FTD have intact short-term memory and can easily score full points on screening tests like the MMSE and MOCA. ..............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2024/03/25/forensic-psychiatrist-on-physical-signs-of-mental-decline-changes-in-movement-and-gait/
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