9 votes

Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of December 12

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Tags: usa, politics, recurring.weekly

This thread is posted weekly - please try to post all relevant US political content in here, such as news, updates, opinion articles, etc. Extremely significant events may warrant a separate topic, but almost all should be posted in here.

This is an inherently political thread; please try to avoid antagonistic arguments and bickering matches. Comment threads that devolve into unproductive arguments may be removed so that the overall topic is able to continue.

14 comments

  1. PantsEnvy
    Link
    The Special Counsel Investigating Trump Is Wasting No Time

    The Special Counsel Investigating Trump Is Wasting No Time

    First, on Dec. 2, Trump’s White House counsel Pat Cipollone and his chief deputy, Patrick Philbin, testified before Smith’s grand jury. He wasted no time getting them there after a federal judge ruled the day before that they must appear and testify. They had declined in September to answer questions based on executive privilege.

    Second, on Dec. 6, Smith subpoenaed officials in battleground states Wisconsin, Michigan, and Arizona seeking records of post-2020 election communications between Republicans there and Trump, his campaign, and several of his allies.

    Third, on Dec. 9, after months of Trump’s failure to provide a custodian of records willing to swear that Trump had returned all documents with classified markings improperly in his possession, Smith brought a motion for contempt against the former president’s office.

    Smith’s newly reported subpoena to Raffensperger. It’s no mystery why Smith wants his testimony; Raffensperger was the man who recorded Donald Trump in an hourlong conversation on Jan. 2, 2021. In that call, Trump infamously said, “I just want to find 11,780 votes.”

    the federal code makes a crime is for any “person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.” The call to Raffensperger was plainly the former president’s willfully soliciting a state official to deprive Georgians of their vote.

    And the call is taped. Prosecutors seldom come upon better evidence.

    One might wonder why it took Jack Smith’s appointment as special counsel to have that subpoena issued. Whatever water has passed under that bridge, these four very visible steps in December are telling us that Smith is on the case now. He seems to have swept aside any barriers that may have been impeding swift progress to justice and accountability for Donald Trump.

    6 votes
  4. [10]
    PantsEnvy
    Link
    Trump's conservative base deserting him for DeSantis - poll ...because of the disastrous mid terms. So now everyone is wondering if Trump will split the ticket with an independent run or simply...

    Trump's conservative base deserting him for DeSantis - poll

    ...because of the disastrous mid terms. So now everyone is wondering if Trump will split the ticket with an independent run or simply become a recluse.

    Seth Meyers On Donald Trump Becoming A Recluse After The GOP's Disastrous Midterms

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      cmccabe
      Link Parent
      DeSantis, the same person who suggested that the CDC is "not serving a useful function" and who is pretty clearly an anti-vaxxer. Although he seems to suggest he supports evidence-based medicine,...

      DeSantis, the same person who suggested that the CDC is "not serving a useful function" and who is pretty clearly an anti-vaxxer. Although he seems to suggest he supports evidence-based medicine, I suspect he only supports science when it gives him the answers he wants to hear. The anti-intellectual plague that Trump rode into power is far from losing steam.

      8 votes
      1. PantsEnvy
        Link Parent
        DeSantis who flies dozens of "illegal immigrants" to Martha's Vineyard Right wing politicians in USA are riding a wave of hate towards all things not right wing. There is no way this ends well.

        DeSantis who flies dozens of "illegal immigrants" to Martha's Vineyard

        Right wing politicians in USA are riding a wave of hate towards all things not right wing.

        There is no way this ends well.

        7 votes
    2. [7]
      PantsEnvy
      Link Parent
      I guess Trump is not becoming reclusive? This just in from "TruthSocial" "AMERICA NEEDS A SUPERHERO! I will be making a MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT tomorrow. Thank you!"

      I guess Trump is not becoming reclusive?

      This just in from "TruthSocial"

      "AMERICA NEEDS A SUPERHERO! I will be making a MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT tomorrow. Thank you!"

      6 votes
      1. [6]
        teaearlgraycold
        Link Parent
        Please please please run independent! His die-hard supporters are dumb enough to vote for him en mass during the general election.

        Please please please run independent! His die-hard supporters are dumb enough to vote for him en mass during the general election.

        7 votes
        1. [5]
          PantsEnvy
          Link Parent
          It was just a hilarious NFT announcement. Trump has truly jumped the shark.

          It was just a hilarious NFT announcement.

          Trump has truly jumped the shark.

          6 votes
          1. [4]
            cmccabe
            Link Parent
            Wow. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/trump-reveals-new-99-trading-card

            Wow. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/trump-reveals-new-99-trading-card

            5 votes
            1. balooga
              Link Parent
              The man's entire career has been a grift. His presidency was a grift. His 2024 campaign is a grift. The only thing surprising about this is that he keeps managing to find new depths of...

              The man's entire career has been a grift. His presidency was a grift. His 2024 campaign is a grift. The only thing surprising about this is that he keeps managing to find new depths of shamelessness to plumb.

              6 votes
            2. [2]
              PantsEnvy
              Link Parent
              OK, this bit is interesting Plus there are prizes $4,500 for a gala dinner with trump? Seems like only yesterday that deal cost $5k.......

              OK, this bit is interesting

              Each Trump Digital Trading Card has a unique pre-assigned rarity. Some will be one-of-one’s (i.e. the only one in the world), while others will be limited to 2, 5, 7, or 10 copies. No Trump Digital Trading Card will have more than 20 copies in existence!

              your Trump Digital Trading Cards will be minted and delivered to your digital wallet. Log into your wallet (simply with your email address) to see which cards you've received

              Plus there are prizes

              Enjoy an unforgettable private meeting with Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago.

              Join Donald on the green for an exclusive 1-hour of golf with your 2 closest friends.

              Buy 45 Cards, and get a Gala Dinner with Trump

              $4,500 for a gala dinner with trump?

              Seems like only yesterday that deal cost $5k....

              https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-dinner-250k-fundraiser-b2008038.html

              3 votes