15 votes

Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of April 14

Automatically posted
Tags: politics.usa, usa, 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.

24 comments

  1. Halfloaf
    Link
    Whistleblower details how DOGE may have taken sensitive NLRB data This is a huge article, with many alarming points. Here’s one from deep in the story:

    Whistleblower details how DOGE may have taken sensitive NLRB data

    This is a huge article, with many alarming points. Here’s one from deep in the story:

    Within minutes after DOGE accessed the NLRB's systems, someone with an IP address in Russia started trying to log in, according to Berulis' disclosure. The attempts were "near real-time," according to the disclosure. Those attempts were blocked, but they were especially alarming. Whoever was attempting to log in was using one of the newly created DOGE accounts — and the person had the correct username and password, according to Berulis. While it's possible the user was disguising their location, it's highly unlikely they'd appear to be coming from Russia if they wanted to avoid suspicion, cybersecurity experts interviewed by NPR explained.

    18 votes
  2. [2]
    psi
    Link
    "Judge Threatens Contempt Proceedings Over Deportation Flights to El Salvador." The New York Times. (gift) The ruling is available here.

    [Judge Boasberg] said that if the White House did not come up with some way of giving the Venezuelans an opportunity to contest their deportations, he would order sworn declarations from Trump officials in an effort to determine who in the administration was responsible for disobeying his instructions.

    If that failed to turn up the culprit, Judge Boasberg said he would then require depositions from officials or hold “hearings with live witness testimony under oath.”

    If that technique was unsuccessful, too, Judge Boasberg said he would refer the case to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution.

    And given the unlikelihood that the department under Mr. Trump’s control would bring charges, Judge Boasberg said he would avail himself of one final gambit: using a special provision of criminal contempt law that permits him, as the judge overseeing the matter, to appoint a lawyer from outside the department to prosecute the contempt.

    The ruling is available here.

    15 votes
    1. updawg
      Link Parent
      Fuckin A. Home boy is fed up with this shit.

      Fuckin A. Home boy is fed up with this shit.

      6 votes
  3. [2]
    patience_limited
    Link
    The crackdown on non-governmental civil society opposition groups is underway. Pure Authoritarian Playbook stuff. Be concerned if you've ever donated through ActBlue under your real name.

    The crackdown on non-governmental civil society opposition groups is underway. Pure Authoritarian Playbook stuff. Be concerned if you've ever donated through ActBlue under your real name.

    12 votes
    1. DefinitelyNotAFae
      Link Parent
      Which is the exact chilling effect they want. At least they're prepped. Ugh.

      Which is the exact chilling effect they want. At least they're prepped. Ugh.

      2 votes
  4. Lia
    Link
    Trump on a microphone, talking about sending "homegrown" US criminals to El Salvador and how they need to build more facilities - people laughing in the background:...

    Trump on a microphone, talking about sending "homegrown" US criminals to El Salvador and how they need to build more facilities - people laughing in the background:
    https://bsky.app/profile/pbump.com/post/3lmryeyuj6s2v

    10 votes
  5. [2]
    crialpaca
    Link
    DOGE guts Americorps This is the kind of stuff that makes me want to throw my phone across the room when I see the news early in the morning. Americorps is an incredibly effective, mostly...

    DOGE guts Americorps

    This is the kind of stuff that makes me want to throw my phone across the room when I see the news early in the morning. Americorps is an incredibly effective, mostly volunteer organization. Its work touches hundreds of thousands of lives through its volunteers. This feels like just pulling down an institution because they can.

    8 votes
    1. boxer_dogs_dance
      Link Parent
      They also reveled in gutting aids relief.

      They also reveled in gutting aids relief.

      2 votes
  6. [3]
    boxer_dogs_dance
    Link
    12 Republican house members send letter supporting Medicaid The house has a very narrow majority.

    12 Republican house members send letter supporting Medicaid

    The house has a very narrow majority.

    7 votes
    1. DefinitelyNotAFae
      Link Parent
      Still not mine Guess I'm going to be annoying

      Still not mine

      Guess I'm going to be annoying

      3 votes
    2. pocketry
      Link Parent
      One of those is mine! My district was competitive before the redrawing after 2020 census. It's been solidly R in the last 2 elections though.

      One of those is mine! My district was competitive before the redrawing after 2020 census. It's been solidly R in the last 2 elections though.

      3 votes
  8. [6]
    boxer_dogs_dance
    Link
    polls show increasing negative views on Trump This is Genz.

    polls show increasing negative views on Trump

    This is Genz.

    6 votes
    1. [5]
      unkz
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Odd that there is a sharp approval increase in the 65+ crowd. https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/trackers/donald-trump-favorability?period=3m&crossBreak=65plus I would have expected the...

      Odd that there is a sharp approval increase in the 65+ crowd.

      https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/trackers/donald-trump-favorability?period=3m&crossBreak=65plus

      I would have expected the screwing around with social security to have sparked panic in that set.

      11 votes
      1. [3]
        Mendanbar
        Link Parent
        I'd bet they either aren't aware, or are having it spun to them in a way that makes them dismiss it. Source: My parents are 65+ and watch Fox news exclusively. :(

        I would have expected the screwing around with social security to have sparked panic in that set.

        I'd bet they either aren't aware, or are having it spun to them in a way that makes them dismiss it.

        Source: My parents are 65+ and watch Fox news exclusively. :(

        7 votes
        1. Halfloaf
          Link Parent
          I feel your pain acutely.

          I feel your pain acutely.

          3 votes
  9. DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link
    2017: Holocaust survivor speaks out to Trump's then ICE head Tom Homan I just think this was worth sharing as it's been going viral again. Bernard Marks's remarks have been inspirational for a lot...

    2017: Holocaust survivor speaks out to Trump's then ICE head Tom Homan

    I just think this was worth sharing as it's been going viral again. Bernard Marks's remarks have been inspirational for a lot of people.

    It also highlights the progression of the callousness of this government. 8 years ago, there was enough shame to not go into churches or schools, even by Trump's administration. Not so much anymore

    Bernard Marks passed away in 2019.

    "As a Jewish survivor of Auschwitz and Dachau, I take this responsibility seriously. Today, as an America citizen, I feel compelled to raise my voice when I hear echoes of my childhood years in our current political rhetoric,” Marks wrote in an op-ed for The Bee in April 2017.

    May his memory be a blessing.

    6 votes
  12. DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link
    Sensitive documents, including White House floor plans, improperly shared with thousands This occurred during both Trump and Biden's administration and career federal employees not managing Google...

    Sensitive documents, including White House floor plans, improperly shared with thousands

    This occurred during both Trump and Biden's administration and career federal employees not managing Google drive (why) access seem to be the cause so it's less of an administration scandal and more a traditional information security issue IMO, hence not a new post.

    4 votes