Elections / Voting – Facts and News Links

Donald Trump is laying the groundwork to de-legitimize the 2020 election
Even as the 2020 race begins in earnest, President Donald Trump is already suggesting that Democrats cannot beat him fairly -- raising the specter that if he loses next November, he will suggest that the election was not legitimate.
Mueller Exposed Trump’s Biggest Betrayal
The Mueller report shows Trump repeatedly put defending his own legitimacy ahead of his duty to defend U.S. national security and election integrity.
State Dept. Was Granted $120 Million to Fight Russian Meddling. It Has Spent $0.
The delay reflects President Trump’s largely passive response to the interference and doubts by Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson in his department’s ability to spend its money wisely.
White House blocks bill that would protect elections
A bill that would have significantly bolstered the nation’s electoral security has been held up in the Senate at the behest of the White House, which expressed its displeasure with the proposed legislation.
US, Russia not among 50 nations pledging to fight cybercrime
The United States and Russia are not among 50 countries that have signed a pledge to fight cybercrimes, including interference in elections, The Associated Press reported.
Trump’s DHS Guts Task Forces Protecting Elections
‘It’s very curious why the leadership has not committed resources to prepare for the 2020 election,’ one Homeland Security official tells The Daily Beast.
Republicans Are Fighting for the Right to Keep Doing Voter Suppression
As much as we would love to believe that there are some settled issues in politics that everyone agrees on, it’s not true. One good example of that is voting rights.
How the Electoral College Rigged the Election for Donald Trump
America’s electoral system gives smaller, more conservative states more weight – and that benefited Trump
Opinion | After Citizens United, a Vicious Cycle of Corruption
Unconstrained outside spending on elections is corrosive to our democracy.
Citizens United = Russian Money in American Campaigns - Foreign Policy Research Institute
The American Interest First, let’s acknowledge that it is not only the Kremlin and its affiliated oligarchs that may be using the cloak of anonymity created by the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission to funnel money to favored Super PACs in the American po…
Trump Wasn’t On The Ballot, But He Vacuumed Up Republican Donor Money Anyway
Trump’s campaign raised $130 million in his first two years in office. Obama and Bush didn’t even start their re-election campaigns until spring of their...
More evidence Russia meddled in US election, Republican-controlled Senate committee says
‘Russian effort was extensive and sophisticated, and its goals were to undermine public faith in the democratic process’
Donald Trump says all he can say to Vladimir Putin about Russian election interference is
“What am I going to do? He may deny it,” Trump said.
White House Eliminates Cybersecurity Coordinator Role
The coordinator organized the defense of government computer networks and critical infrastructure.
A Dream Undone
Inside the 50-year campaign to roll back the Voting Rights Act.
AP: GOP won more seats in 2018 than suggested by vote share
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Democrats won more votes, regained control of the U.S. House and flipped hundreds of seats in state legislatures during the 2018 elections. It was, by most accounts, a...
Unhack the Vote | Fighting against Hackable EVMs, Gerrymandering and Crosscheck
#unhackthevote The GOP know the numbers. In order for them to win in 2020 they have Two Choices. Don’t let us Vote. Don’t Count the Votes Legitimately I urge the Media to Exit the Trump Crazy Train and Shine the Brightest Light Possible Right Here.

Human Rights / Racism – Facts and News Links

Trump Administration Civil and Human Rights Rollbacks - The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
In its first year, the Trump admin launched an across-the-board assault on our nation's civil and human rights. This is why we must all continue organizing to fight for the kind of country we deserve.
Trump blocks U.S. from nominating anyone to U.N. racism committee
The move is the latest blow to the U.S.’s international credibility.
Trump’s Justice Department isn’t enforcing civil rights
A VICE News analysis of cases and investigations shows enforcement is at its lowest level in two decades.
US expected to withdraw from UN Human Rights Council: report
The U.S. is reportedly planning to pull out of the United Nations Human Rights Council after clashes over key issues such as Israel.
Trump judicial pick who blogged favorably about the KKK and had to withdraw. Now he’s at the Justice Department.
Brett Talley, who has also written horror novels and hunted ghosts, returned to a job overseeing other judicial nominations.
Betsy DeVos to Pull Back Civil Rights Protections for Black Students Under the Guise of ‘Safety’
Betsy DeVos continues her methodical dismantling of civil rights protections for vulnerable students, this time setting her sights on Obama-era guidelines put in place to protect black students from being disproportionately disciplined at school.
FBI considers white nationalism as much of a threat as ISIS
The bureau currently has 1,000 open investigations into domestic terrorism, and the same number for groups linked with radical Islamist ideology.
Trump Cuts Funding For Groups That Counter Violent White Supremacy
The future of dozens of programs aimed at countering white nationalist extremism is unclear following a decision by the Trump administration to put their funding on hold.
Suspect charged for pipe bomb mailings says Trump rallies became like a ‘drug’ for him
Cesar Sayoc Jr., who pleaded guilty to charges related to mailing explosive devices to prominent Democrats, said this week that attending President Trump’s rallies became like a
‘Vote Trump’ Painted on Burned Black Church
FBI is investigating as potential hate crime.
Trump indirect on white nationalism issue after mosque killings
More details have emerged since the terrorist attack in New Zealand by an Australian national suspect and alleged white supremacist, resulting in the deaths of 49 people at two mosques. Joy Reid and her panel discuss the increase in anti-Muslim sentiment with the election of Donald Trump.
17 cases invoking ‘Trump’ in connection with violence, threats, alleged assaults
President Trump insists he deserves no blame for divisions in America.
Here Is a List of Far-Right Attackers Trump Inspired. Cesar Sayoc Wasn’t the First — and Won’t Be the Last.
Trump sympathizers have beaten, shot, stabbed, run over, or bombed innocent people. The president is radicalizing a generation of angry men.
Trump era unique for violent extremists inspired by US president
Rachel Maddow looks at the violent, racist, extremist groups that seek out street violence in the name of supporting Donald Trump, and wonders what will happen when Trump-inspired extremists collide with Trump-pressured law enforcement.

Trump is the Stupidest President Ever

Cenk Uygur: "If You Can't Understand That President Trump Is Stupid, Then You're Stupid"
"Look, if you can't understand that President Trump is stupid, then you're stupid. Period. It's not arguable. If you watch that, if you can't figure out ...

Media | Propaganda | Fake News

A Media Manifesto to Prevent 2020 from Becoming 2016
The ultimate bias in journalism is not political. It’s toward controversy, gaffes, and scandal—shiny new things that get ratings and shares and downloads. There’s a rather obvious lesson here for Democrats seeking the White House—and for media elites who are tragically out of touch with how American…
Trump told Lesley Stahl he bashes press so ‘no one will believe’ negative stories about him
President Donald Trump told the veteran journalist Lesley Stahl of the CBS program “60 Minutes” that he bashes the press to “demean” and “discredit” reporters so that the public will not believe “negative stories” about him, Stahl said.
Violence Against Journalists Reached ‘Unprecedented Levels’ In 2018, Report Finds
Every year, Reporters Without Borders investigates how many journalists were killed, imprisoned or held hostage. In 2018, the group saw an increase in every category.
President Obama Praises Free Press: ‘Our Democracy Needs You’ | NBC News
At his final news conference, President Obama underscores the significant role a free press plays in the state of our democracy.
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Donald Trump ‘worst perpetrator’ of fake news: UN special rapporteur
The President of the United States is the “worst” perpetrator of misinformation on the internet, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion David Kaye said in an i…

Book Recommendations

There is so much going on, so quickly it’s rare to have a chance to take an in-depth look of what’s happening. There are so many good books that it can be hard to know where to start, so here are a few book recommendations to get you started.

**If you don’t see anything on this page you might have an ad blocker turned on. I used Amazon links to build the list, and I do get a small commission if you buy a book with the link, but it was the easiest way to build the list. Thank you if you do choose to buy from my links, but feel free to use the list without clicking any of my links.

Immigration – Facts & News Links

More than 50 ex-officials tell Trump national emergency not justified
In a letter, the former officials said redirecting funds to build the border wall could hurt national security by pulling resources from programs that keep the U.S. safe.
Solid Majority Still Opposes New Construction on Border Wall
Six in 10 Americans oppose expanding the physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border, essentially unchanged from seven months ago.
Marine Corps commandant says deploying troops to the border poses ‘unacceptable risk’
The Marine Corps commandant warned the Pentagon in an internal memo that he’s been forced to cancel exercises and delay emergency repairs because of the unexpected deployment on the southwest border, among other demands.
Opinion: Two more years of Donald Trump’s anti-immigration tactics will create devastation
On the anniversary of his inauguration, it’s clear that as long as the current president is in charge, things are going to be scary for brown people, LGBT+ people, religious minorities and women
Trump tells young immigrants in US illegally to ‘rest easy’
WASHINGTON (AP) — Young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and now here illegally can
Trump Administration Rejects Study Showing Positive Impact of Refugees
A draft report by the Department of Health and Human Services contradicts a central argument made by advocates of deep cuts in refugees.
Trump’s rescinding of DACA will cost the US economy at least $200 billion
Dreamers tend to do well in school and as a result do well in the job market.
The foundation of Trump’s ‘merit-based’ immigration is racism
This administration wants to take us back to a dark period in this country’s history.
Opinion: The camera doesn’t lie: On immigration, Trump is rudderless.
Based on yesterday’s meeting, he believes in everything that everyone in both parties said — although he’d be fine with endorsing all of it or none of it.
Under Trump, Wisconsin dairies struggle to keep immigrant workers – WisconsinWatch.org
Dairy farmers raise wages to attract and keep Mexican and Central American employees. Workers cite hostility and heightened enforcement.

NRA | Guns — Facts & News Links

Since Parkland
Teen reporters tell the stories of children who can no longer tell their own.
Homicides using guns up 31 percent, CDC finds
In 2016, the number of homicides involving firearms was eight times the number of those involving cutting and 30 times those involving suffocation.
Here’s How Much The NRA Spent To Help Get Trump Elected
At 10 p.m. PST on Sunday, October 1, a gunman opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, leaving at least 50 dead and over 400 injured in local hospitals. This horrific act is now the deadliest shooting in modern American…
‘Thoughts and prayers’ — and fistfuls of NRA money: Why America can’t control guns
NRA political contributions are the reason America can’t control guns.
Why more than 100 gun control proposals in Congress since 2011 have failed
None of the proposed legislation became law and very few of the proposals even made it to the House or Senate floor
Florida sheriff comes out against arming teachers: ‘Teachers should teach’
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel: “I don’t believe teachers should be armed ... but that’s exactly what’s wrong with this country. We have people in Washington ... telling teachers what they should do without asking teachers, ‘What do you want to do?’” https://t.co/wuQCMXg1My
Trump’s Budget Cuts Millions Of Dollars From Gun Background Check System
This would “significantly undermine” efforts to keep firearms out of dangerous hands, gun control advocates say.
Trump repeals an Obama regulation keeping guns from people with certain mental health conditions
The decision is a significant step for gun rights.
Guns & Suicide
Special report by Madeline Drexler, Editor, Harvard Public Health In the national debate over gun violence—a debate stoked by mass murders such as last December’s tragedy in a Newtown, Connecticut,…
The macabre truth of gun control in the US is that toddlers kill more people than terrorists do | Lindy West
Last week, a Florida gun rights activist was shot in the back by her four-year-old son. How much longer will we keep participating in the collective lie that deadly weapons keep us safe?
America’s Top Killing Machine
Gun deaths are poised to surpass automobile deaths in the United States this year.
Firearms 100 times more likely to kill women than protect them, according to new data
The National Rifle Association has claimed that free access to firearms make women safer, arguing that women need guns to protect themselves from robbers, potential rapists, and domestic abusers. A…
“Where there are more guns, more women die”: A Harvard public health expert breaks down the data on firearms and women’s safety
Dr. Deborah Azrael explains what decades of research can tell us about guns, women and myths of self-defense
Want to Know How the Cops Actually Trace a Gun?
It happens here, in a massive West Virginia building, in the most absurd way possible.
How the NRA Hobbled the ATF
Rules pushed by the gun lobby and its allies in Congress have left the agency unable to enforce the law.
The NRA has blocked gun violence research for 20 years. Let’s end its stranglehold on science.
The NRA got Congress to kill federal funding on gun violence; it’s time to end the ban