Tag: Donald Trump

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Congress Moves To Block Trump Ban On Transgender Soldiers

As the Trump administration continues to push for a ban on transgender military service members, new legislation is being introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers to allow open service by trans soldiers.

The Washington Post reports that Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) introduced the bill in the U.S. Senate along with Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).

Calling out President Trump for the proposed ban, which was unceremoniously tweeted out in July 2017, Gillibrand said in a statement, “President Trump’s ban on transgender service members is discrimination, it undermines our military readiness, and it is an insult to the brave patriotic transgender Americans who choose to serve in our military.”

“We should end this discriminatory ban for good and ensure our transgender service members can continue to do their jobs, serve with dignity and protect our country,” she added.

Gillibrand recently announced she making a run for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020.

The legislation would ban the Pentagon from discharging any currently serving trans soldiers only on the basis of their gender identity. Additionally, new recruits could not be turned away from enlisting based only on their gender identity.

A similar bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by California Democrat Rep. Jackie Speier. Co-sponsoring the bill in the House were Reps. Anthony Brown (D-Md), Joseph Kennedy (D-Mass.), Susan Davis (D-Calif.) and John Katko (R-NY).

Last month, the Supreme Court issued a stay of injunction on two lawsuits that blocked the ban. The policy hasn’t gone into effect yet as the last lawsuit is still being appealed in Maryland.

While the House version could very well pass, the Republican majority in the Senate pretty much ensures the legislation will be dead in the water there.

However, even if the bills passed in both chambers, it would land on Donald Trump’s desk where he is sure to veto the legislation.

Both Speier and Gillibrand invited trans soldiers to attend the State of the Union address this week as their guest to highlight the issue.

In related news, one of the highest-ranking officers in the California National Guard announced the state would not discharge trans soldiers from it’s ranks.

LGBT advocacy groups praised the bills:

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Trump Twitter Rant Ricochets From Favorite Target To Favorite Target

Donald Trump

Donald Trump began his Friday with a Twitter meltdown that ranged from more declarations of ‘No Collusion’ to bashing Dem Rep. Adam Schiff, back to more “NO COLLUSION” trumpeting the GOP-led Senate investigation that found nothing (quel surprise), and ending up with (wait for it…) a ‘Crooked Hillary Clinton’ reference.

Busy morning for mister ‘Executive Time.’  #whew

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Trump Says GOP Would Take ‘Far Stronger Action’ Against Their Own Regarding Racist Allegations

With the ongoing political turmoil happening in Virginia as Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and Attorney General Mark Herring each deal with past allegations of racist or misogynist behavior, Donald Trump took to Twitter today to say if these were Republicans 'far stronger action would be taken' against their own.
Donald Trump

With the ongoing political turmoil happening in Virginia as Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and Attorney General Mark Herring each deal with allegations of past racist or misogynist behavior, Donald Trump took to Twitter today to say if these were Republicans ‘far stronger action would be taken’ against their own.

Now, this comes from the man who has repeatedly said misogynistic and racist comments for years – on tape!

Seriously, folks, irony is dead.

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Trump Celebrates The ‘Abolition’ Of Civil Rights

Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning, Donald Trump celebrated the great strides our country has made thanks to people of faith, like "the abolition of civil rights."
Donald Trump celebrates the ‘abolition’ of civil rights

Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning, Donald Trump celebrated the great strides our country has made thanks to people of faith, like “the abolition of civil rights.”

“Since the founding of our nation, many of our greatest strides, from gaining our independence to abolition of civil rights, to extending the vote for women, have been led by people of faith and started in prayer. When we open our hearts to faith we fill our hearts with love.”

From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Abolition – the act of officially ending or stopping something.

Some pundits say Trump misspoke, but considering the many attacks on LGBTQ civil rights by religious zealots, this seems pretty accurate.

By the way, what is up with Trump’s low-energy delivery of this speech? He drops off the ends of sentences like he just has no interest whatsoever in what he’s saying.

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Trump Supporters Do Their 2018 Taxes, And They Are NOT Happy

With tax season now upon us, it's interesting to note that more than a few Trump supporters have taken to Twitter in the past few days angry about their 2018 tax bill. It seems the promises of a 'middle class' tax cut weren't so accurate.
Donald Trump

With tax season now upon us, it’s interesting to note that more than a few Trump supporters have taken to Twitter in the past few days angry about their 2018 tax bill.

It seems the promises of a ‘middle class’ tax cut weren’t so accurate.

Thanks to the loss of multiple tax deductions in Donald Trump’s tax bill, there are folks paying MORE than they are used to.

Raw Story notes the main culprits seem to be newly-capped deductions for taxes paid to state and local governments, as well as the increased amount of charitable donations you have to make to qualify for the deduction.

Here’s just a few of the self-proclaimed Trump supporters had to say:

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Trump Calls House Chairman Investigating Him A ‘Political Hack’

Donald Trump complained again today about so-called 'presidential harassment' when he was asked about the House Intelligence Committee moving forward with investigations into his finances and possible Russian ties.

Donald Trump complained again today about so-called ‘presidential harassment’ when he was asked about the House Intelligence Committee moving forward with investigations into his finances and possible Russian ties.

The ‘presidential harassment’ thing reminds me of the character in Mean Girls who keeps trying to get her invented catch-phrase to become popular. It’s not going to work.

Calling the new chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif), a ‘political hack,’ Trump added, “It’s just presidential harassment and it’s unfortunate and it really does hurt our country.”

Schiff announced Wednesday his committee would undertake a broad investigation “beyond Russia” into whether President Donald Trump’s financial interests are driving his actions.

The committee voted today to fulfill another priority of Schiff’s: releasing the transcripts of all witnesses before the House investigation to Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

The full, un-redacted transcripts will give Mueller the chance to ‘compare notes’ with his own interviews of Trump allies. Should he find discrepancies, Trump’s friends could be in big trouble. Lying to Congress is a felony.

For his part, Schiff issued his own statement saying, “I can understand why the idea of meaningful oversight terrifies the President. Several of his close associates are going to jail, others await trial, and criminal investigations continue. We’re going to do our job and won’t be distracted or intimidated by threats or attacks.”

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Trump Proposes Ending HIV Despite His Administration’s Track Record

Donald Trump proposes ending HIV by 2030

In his State of the Union address tonight, Donald Trump says he plans to end the HIV epidemic within 10 years.

“In recent years, we have made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS,” said Trump. “Scientific breakthroughs have brought a once-distant dream within reach. My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years. Together, we will defeat AIDS in America — and beyond.”

While a laudable goal, Trump’s past actions on HIV point to a far different position.

In December 2017, he fired his entire Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS with no warning after several member quit penning a TIME Magazine essay, “Trump Doesn’t Care About HIV.”

He defunded NIH vaccine research efforts and requested additional cuts in funding to fight HIV/AIDS that Congress has rebuffed.

He’s proposed diverting funds from the Ryan White HIV Program to pay for border security.

And then there’s the litany of attacks on the LGBTQ community as a whole.

Sorry, I call bullshit. As the old commercial goes, “Where’s the beef?”

“HIV advocates all agree that ending transmission is an important goal,” Stacey Long Simmons, director of advocacy and action at the National LGBTQ Task Force told the Washington Blade.

“Based on Trump’s repeatedly broken promises, we have cause to question his commitment until we see the necessary funding flowing to strategies that will actually end transmission.”

I’d love to be proven wrong in the long run.

We shall see.

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Trump Embraces Comparison To Mafia Boss

Donald Trump

I’m not so sure this is really a compliment.

Donald Trump tweeted out a screen capture of a headline from The Drudge Report that read, “Call For Unity, Trump Approval 48%, Teflon Donald.”

That last part is a riff on the moniker “Teflon Don,” which was used to describe Mafia crime boss John Gotti, who the police could never seem to make charges stick to.

Until they did.

Gotti was charged, tried and thrown in the slammer in ’92 where he stayed until his death in 2002.

So…there you go.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

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You Can’t Make This Up: Trump Celebrates The Year Of The Pig

The White House has issued a statement by President Trump recognizing the Lunar New Year and 2019 as the Year of the Pig.
Donald Trump

The White House has issued a statement by President Trump recognizing the Lunar New Year and 2019 as the Year of the Pig.

Melania and I send our greetings to those celebrating the Lunar New Year.

Today, people across the United States and around the world mark the beginning of the Lunar New Year with spectacular fireworks displays, joyful festivals, and family gatherings. This is a sacred time for many people of Asian descent, and it is an opportunity for all Americans to honor the important contributions these communities have made to the story of American greatness.

As families, friends, and loved ones gather to welcome the Year of the Pig, we join in sharing our best wishes for good health, prosperity, and happiness.

The White House didn’t say if the statement was issued during ‘executive hours’ or not.

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Trump Might Propose New HIV/AIDS Initiative?

Politico is reporting that Trump plans to propose a strategy wherein health officials would “spend the first five years focusing on communities across roughly 20 states where the most HIV infections occur,” and then expand efforts to the rest of the country.
Donald Trump

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised he would be “much better for the gays” than Hillary Clinton.

So far, that hasn’t been the case with Trump in the White House.

Within hours of taking the oath of office, the White House website was scrubbed of all mention of LGBTQ Americans.

The president has proposed banning transgender military service members and has begun discharging soldiers with HIV.

After several members of his HIV/AIDS advisory panel quit saying “Trump doesn’t care about HIV,” he fired the remaining members in January 2018. (Note: the new advisory panel was sworn in just last week).

The Trump administration has sought to cut funds from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and has flirted with cutting funds to AIDS research.

While HIV/AIDS is not a ‘gay’ disease, the Centers for Disease Control reports the illness disproportionately affects bisexual and gay men. In 2016, gay and bisexual men accounted for 67% of new infections.

So, it comes as a bit of a surprise that Trump could be planning to announce a ten-year plan to end HIV transmissions by 2030 during his State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Politico is reporting that Trump plans to propose a strategy wherein health officials would “spend the first five years focusing on communities across roughly 20 states where the most HIV infections occur,” and then expand efforts to the rest of the country.

The plan reportedly has the support of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and CDC Director Robert Redfield.

According to Politico, Redfield announced at a CDC meeting last year that the eradication of AIDS by 2025 would be possible via “public health tools” like emphasizing more widespread condom use.

It’s worth noting that when Redfield was tapped to head up the CDC last year, the news was met with some objections.

At the time, Dr. Peter Lurie penned an essay for the Center for Science in the Public Interest that noted Redfield had supported policies opposed by a majority of health professionals including “mandatory HIV testing, reporting of positive HIV results to public health authorities without the patient’s consent, and quarantining of HIV-positive individuals in the military.”

He was also accused of “misrepresenting data about the effectiveness of an experimental AIDS vaccine that he was supporting” in the early 1990s.

While meaningful action on the HIV/AIDS epidemic would certainly be laudable, given this administration’s history on LGBTQ issues, we’ll have to wait and see.

One of Politico’s sources stressed the content of the SOTU speech is still in flux.

Over one million Americans have HIV with approximately 40,000 new infections each year.