In yet another example of government positions being for sale in the Trump administration, the Palm Beach Post is reporting that Donald Trump will soon nominate high-end handbag designer Lana Marks, a Mar-a-Lago Club member, to become the U.S. ambassador to South Africa.
Marks would become the 4th Mar-a-Lago Club member to be given an ambassadorship.
The potential nomination of yet another Mar-a-Lago member to a top post in the administration may again raise questions about whether Trump is doling out favors to those who can afford Mar-a-Lago’s $200,000 membership fee, annual dues of $14,000 and a $2,000 minimum dining requirement.
In more than a dozen past lawsuits against her in Aspen, New York, California and South Florida, Marks has repeatedly been accused of stiffing her attorneys, accountants, landlords and employees. She is also embroiled in bitter, international legal battles in South Africa and Israel with her siblings over a family trust and the care for their 89-year-old mother.
After days and days of defending the Saudi Arabian government, Donald Trump is finally shifting his position (in the face of mounting evidence) regarding the Saudi’s story regarding the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggie.
President Trump retreated late Saturday from his stance that Saudi Arabia’s story about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside their Turkish consulate was credible but still gave a strong vote of confidence to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, arguing the United States’ relationship with the kingdom is key to his administration’s policy objectives in the Middle East.
“Obviously there’s been deception and there’s been lies,” Trump said in an interview with The Washington Post when pressed on the many discrepancies in the changing accounts from the Saudis. “Their stories are all over the place.”
He did not call for the ouster of Mohammed and instead praised his leadership, calling the prince “a strong person, he has very good control.” During the 20-minute interview, Trump repeatedly talked about the importance of the economic ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia and Mohammed’s role in that relationship.
During an appearance on Fox News this morning, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said that he does not believe Saudi Arabia’s explanation that Khashoggi died in a fist fight gone wrong at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.
“There’s no way 15 people were sent to Turkey to kill a dissident without the approval of the crown Prince,” Paul said, referencing the fifteen Saudis reportedly involved in Khashoggi’s death.
“I think we really need to discontinue our arms sales to Saudi Arabia and have a long and serious discussion about whether or not they want to be an ally or they want to be an enemy,” added Paul.
The Trump/Pence administration continues it’s assault on the LGBTQ community as the Department of Health and Human Services proposes a new, extremely narrow definition of ‘sex’ that would virtually erase the existence of 1.4 million transgender Americans.
The move would exclude transgender people from federal non-discrimination protections.
The Trump administration is considering narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, the most drastic move yet in a government-wide effort to roll back recognition and protections of transgender people under federal civil rights law.
A series of decisions by the Obama administration loosened the legal concept of gender in federal programs, including in education and health care, recognizing gender largely as an individual’s choice and not determined by the sex assigned at birth. Conservatives, especially evangelical Christians, were incensed.
Now the Department of Health and Human Services is spearheading an effort to establish a legal definition of sex under Title IX, the federal civil rights law that bans gender discrimination in education programs that receive government financial assistance, according to a memo obtained by The New York Times. The agency’s proposed definition would define sex as either male or female, unchangeable, and determined by the genitals that a person is born with, according to a draft reviewed by The Times.
According to reports, the HHS Department is also trying to persuade the Departments of Education, Justice and Labor to adopt the policy in an effort to provide a more unified front in the certain-to-be-filed lawsuits.
“Setting a destructive precedent, the Trump-Pence administration intends to erase LGBTQ people from federal civil rights protections and eviscerate enforcement of non-discrimination laws,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.
“Defining ‘sex’ in this narrow language tailored to the talking points of anti-equality extremists is part of a deliberate strategy to eliminate federal protections for LGBTQ people,” added Griffin. “This is a direct attack on the fundamental equality of LGBTQ people and, if this administration refuses to reverse course, Congress must immediately take action by advancing the Equality Act to ensure that LGBTQ people are explicitly protected by our nation’s civil rights laws.”
• Same-sex couples and their families could be turned away from emergency shelters • A transgender person could have their insurance deny them coverage for transition related care • A gay man could be harassed about being gay at a job skills training • An elderly same-sex couple could be denied in home meal service • A transgender woman could be turned away from a hospital for a broken ankle
The answer to all of this would be the passage of The Equality Act which adds clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people to our nation’s civil rights laws.
The legislation has 246 cosponsors in Congress, and 117 major corporations have announced their support.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who could become the Speaker of the House after the midterm elections, has publicly stated she feels the passage of The Equality Act would be a high priority and one that is very personal to her.
LGBTQ discrimination is a real and persistent problem in the U.S.
This decision by HHS to attempt to erase transgender people disregards and flouts the overwhelming case law that protects transgender people under federal law, as well as the vast consensus of medical authority.
It isn’t subtle. With two weeks left, @realDonaldTrump is madly pushing every culturally divisive button he can to try and spur his voters to the polls. https://t.co/jxpIpjfJ8S
Trump Administration Eyes Defining Transgender Out of Existence via @NYTimes Fk These Ppl.Will MY SON Be Sent To INTERNMENT CAMP 2 Live with LATINO Children,& Be Kept In Cages in Places where🇺🇸Cant See Them.THIS IS”HIS CODE”4,..MAKE THEM DISAPPEAR #MBShttps://t.co/UrXYSo5vK5
Hard to believe that with thousands of people from South of the Border, walking unimpeded toward our country in the form of large Caravans, that the Democrats won’t approve legislation that will allow laws for the protection of our country. Great Midterm issue for Republicans!
Clearly, the stage was primed and ready for the citizens of Twitter to respond:
Well, thank goodness the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES took this time to share his commitment to the bastardization of capitalization. I feel much safer now.
I write a lot about bullying, especially in regard to LGBT bullying that still happens are too frequently.
Sadly, we’re currently living in a time where some public figures, even some of our leaders, show respect for bullies.
Whether its dictators like Russian President Vladimir Putin or North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, Donald Trump seems to revere them even though they’re famous for demeaning and diminishing those they see as beneath them.
This week, that dynamic was put on display yet again while Trump campaigned in Montana.
During the appearance, the Trumpster praised Montana’s only congressman, Republican Rep. Greg Gianforte, for “body slamming” a reporter, Ben Jacobs of The Guardian, last year for asking a question he didn’t like about healthcare.
“Any guy that can do a body slam, he is my type!” Trump said as the crowd cheered.
For his actions, Gianforte eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of assault in June 2017 for his attack on Jacobs. He was sentenced to a 180-day deferred sentence, 40 hours of community service, 20 hours of anger management and a $300 fine along with an $85 court fee.
Hunky CNN host Chris Cuomo called out Trump and Gianforte last night on his evening show, Cuomo Primetime.
“There is no question about what he did being wrong and illegal,” said Cuomo said of Gianforte’s bodyslam. “But the president celebrated him at a rally. Why does Trump praise bullies? Time and again, he celebrates punks who go after the little guy,” he continued.
“Everything Gianforte did is weak, okay?” Cuomo continued. “He attacked someone who wasn’t a threat, was at every disadvantage, Gianforte showed no control, no confidence, no respect for his office or his constituents or for the law. He is weak. And if he doesn’t like it, he can come body slam me as well. I welcome it.”
By the way, in case you hadn’t noticed Cuomo is totally jacked. Don’t expect Gianforte to show up at Cuomo’s door anytime soon.
Cuomo contrasted Trump and Gianforte with LeBron James, who during a recent basketball game was overheard telling his teammates, “Anytime you fall, your brother will come pick you up.”
Because that’s what true leaders do. Someone falls, you lift them up.
“Crazy and sad days when the lessons we teach our kids – ‘don’t be a bully;’ ‘strength isn’t knocking down, it’s lifting up’ – now those lessons must also be directed at our president,” said Cuomo as he closed the segment.
These are crazy times. But fortunately, there are lots of people (like Cuomo) who aren’t afraid to call bullies out for their weakness.
As the internet meme goes: “This is Chris. Chris doesn’t tolerate bullies. Be like Chris.”
And while I’m on the subject, let’s admire Cuomo not only for his positive message, but for his positively buffed biceps.
At a campaign rally last night in Montana, Donald Trump praised the state’s lone congressman, Rep. Greg Gianforte, for his now-infamous physical assault on journalist Ben Jacobs of The Guardian in the spring of 2017.
“Any guy that can do a body slam, he is my type!” Trump said to cheers.
“I was in Rome with leaders when I heard about it, and I heard that he body-slammed a reporter,” Trump said.
Trump said he was afraid Gianforte would lose after the moment, but then recalled, “Wait a moment, I know Montana.”
Gianforte pleaded guilty and was sentenced to community service for the incident. He apologized on the night of his election victory, saying, “When you make a mistake you have to own it.”
Journalists everywhere were justified in their horror at an American president cheering on physical violence against a reporter.
This comes after Trump has spent days defending the Saudi Arabian government amid mounting evidence they were involved in the disappearance of Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi.
WATCH: During Montana rally, President Trump references Rep. Greg Gianforte’s assault of reporter Ben Jacobs: “Any guy that can do a body slam … he’s my guy.” pic.twitter.com/1bupNPtOzg
The disturbing part of Trump’s jokes about Gianforte was the effect on the crowd. I saw one young man in the crowd making body slam gestures. He looked at me and ran his thumb across his throat. I talked to him after the rally was over. He couldn’t stop laughing.
Trump’s comments mark the first time the president has openly and directly praised a violent act against a journalist on American soil. https://t.co/z72ZgUeyNo
Guardian US editor issues statement responding to Trump: “The President of the United States tonight applauded the assault on an American journalist who works for the Guardian.” pic.twitter.com/sSwUiBQo2J
If you ever needed more evidence how reality skews for folks on opposite sides of the political spectrum, look no further.
A new poll by You.gov/The Economist shows among Trump voters believe straight men face more discrimination than any other demographic in the U.S. today.
Participants were asked “How much discrimination do the following people face in America today?”
They were then given a list of demographics and a choice of responses: “none at all,” “not much,” “a fair amount,” and “a great deal.”
A combined 49% of Trump voters said men face significant discrimination (18% “a great deal,” 31% “a fair amount”).
When asked about LGBTQ folks, 41% of Trump voters feel the gays face discrimination (9% “a great deal,” 32% “a fair amount”).
A combined 42% said Mexican-Americans face “a great deal” (9%) or “a fair amount” (33%) of discrimination.
A combined 38% said African-Americans face “a great deal” (8%) or “a fair amount” (30%) of discrimination.
A combined 27% said Asian-Americans face “a great deal” (6%) or “a fair amount” (21%) of discrimination.
Not surprisingly, only 30% of Trump voters feel women face “a great deal” (7%) or “a fair amount” (23%) of discrimination.
This all seems to correlate with recent public statements by Republicans, including Donald Trump, who during the recent hearings to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh told the press it’s a “very scary” time for men in America.
Back in August, a poll by Public Religion Research Institute found Republicans believe discrimination has lessened substantially over the past few years for LGBTQ people, women, Jewish people and Muslim people.
After a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by porn star Stormy Daniels against Donald Trump alleging he had defamed her by calling her claims of a one night stand a lie, Trump took to Twitter to call the adult performer, among other things, “horseface.”
Trump tweeted, “Federal Judge throws out Stormy Danials lawsuit versus Trump. Trump is entitled to full legal fees.” @FoxNews Great, now I can go after Horseface and her 3rd rate lawyer in the Great State of Texas. She will confirm the letter she signed! She knows nothing about me, a total con!”
You may notice that last misplaced comma basically shows Trump calling himself “a total con.”
“Federal Judge throws out Stormy Danials lawsuit versus Trump. Trump is entitled to full legal fees.” @FoxNews Great, now I can go after Horseface and her 3rd rate lawyer in the Great State of Texas. She will confirm the letter she signed! She knows nothing about me, a total con!
But Stormy Daniels is not one to stand down. The porn star slapped back with her own biting critique addressing him as “Tiny.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present your president. In addition to his…umm…shortcomings, he has demonstrated his incompetence, hatred of women and lack of self control on Twitter AGAIN! And perhaps a penchant for bestiality. Game on, Tiny. https://t.co/6DpDD5ELtj
For his part, Daniels’ lawyer Michael Avenatti also jumped into the fray:
You are a disgusting misogynist and an embarrassment to the United States. Bring everything you have, because we are going to demonstrate to the world what a complete shyster and liar you are. How many other women did you cheat on your wife with while you had a baby at home? https://t.co/npOKOEFju6
.@realDonaldTrump – tens of millions of Americans are tired of your fraud, lies, and corruption. They are equally tired of your attacks on women, especially the ones who you have had sex with while cheating on your wives. We (and the UN) are laughing AT YOU, not with you. #Basta
Donald Trump’s sit-down with 60 Minutes reporter Lesley Stahl last night provided several eye-brow raising moments for the American public.
Oh goodness, where to begin?
After telling his supporters at campaign rallies that he and Kim Jong Un “fell in love” and that he really gets along great with him, Stahl brought up some of the most notorious aspects of the North Korean dictator’s resume.
Lesley Stahl on Kim Jong Un: “He presides over a cruel kingdom of repression, gulags, starvation…slave labor, public executions. This is a guy you love?” President Trump: “I know all these things… I get along with him, okay? … Let it be whatever it is to get the job done.” pic.twitter.com/J6Gbuns2t6
When Stahl brings up Trump mocking Dr. Christine Blasey Ford on the campaign trail, asking if he thinks he treated Ford with respect, Trump diverts with a simple, “It doesn’t matter – we won.”
Lesley Stahl: “Do you think you treated [Dr. Christine Blasey Ford] with great respect?” Trump: “…it doesn’t matter. We won.”
If you think her hearing and the FBI probe were anything more than political theater, this should clear things up.pic.twitter.com/ZxTnGzUlcX
Eventually, Trump could tell the chat wasn’t going well. He finally got snippy telling the veteran reporter, “Lesley, it’s ok. In the meantime, I’m president and you’re not.”
Lesley Stahl’s interview with Trump is a tour de force.
Sensing it wasn’t going well, Trump resorted to this: “Lesley, it’s okay. In the meantime, I’m president–and you’re not.” https://t.co/zOO3r50X6A
Donald Trump has been mocking Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts for years over her claim that she is part Native American.
We’ve seen him time after time at campaign rallies refer to her as “Pocahontas.”
He even promised at a July 5 rally in Montana to donate $1 million to her favorite charity if she would submit to a DNA test and prove she’s part American Indian.
There is “strong evidence” that Ms. Warren has Native American pedigree “6-10 generations ago,” according to a document she released from Carlos Bustamante, a renowned geneticist from Stanford University. The error rate is less than one-in-a-thousand, he said.
In releasing a DNA test, Ms. Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, was rebutting the taunts of Mr. Trump and other conservatives, who have mocked her as “Pocahontas” and claimed she used her heritage to gain an advantage when she was a law professor.
By the way, @realDonaldTrump: Remember saying on 7/5 that you’d give $1M to a charity of my choice if my DNA showed Native American ancestry? I remember – and here's the verdict. Please send the check to the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center: https://t.co/I6YQ9hf7Tvpic.twitter.com/J4gBamaeeo— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) October 15, 2018
Trump conveniently doesn’t remember any such promise about a $1 million donation.
