DramatistDreamer

This thread has become so long that I can no longer track whether an article or link has been posted before by anyone (including myself) but I've been keeping up with this saga at WNYC (a station I grew up listening to).

Interesting to note how in the drive for money and ratings, the station became even more wedded to a hegemonic structure based on white male patriarchy and one of the drivers of this philosophy was a woman.

WNYC Chief Pushed Growth at the Cost of Station’s Culture

I was a co-host with John Hockenberry on WNYC. The experience was scarring

Also, I had always wondered what happened to Farai Chideya. She was so prominent and then suddenly...she was not.

Farai Chideya: Newsrooms Need to Purge Secrets in Order to Heal

Trump picks only the best people.

Spicer: I'd mow Obama's lawn if he asked me to https://t.co/ixyLeJKmDQ pic.twitter.com/dNH9RaiJF5

— The Hill (@thehill) December 23, 2017

The Trump administration truly seems to be afraid of, and despises science, research, technology and learning, in general.

Government scientists blocked from the biggest meeting in their field

Speaking of scientists, many at the EPA are now leaving in droves

E.P.A. Officials, Disheartened by Agency’s Direction, Are Leaving in Droves

The wrist was his last known injury, but with Kei, who the heck knows?

.@keinishikori will sadly miss #BrisbaneTENis in 2018.

“I am so disappointed to miss Brisbane this year. For years it’s been my first tournament of the season and I always feel so at home there. I really look forward to coming back to Brisbane in the future” - Kei Nishikori pic.twitter.com/YdvYaJfNnx

— #BrisbaneTennis (@BrisbaneTennis) December 22, 2017

Also, Kei pulled out of Brisbane.

Interesting action by several members of the Scottish government, taking legal action over Brexit's article 50 (2).

Legal action over whether UK can stop Brexit gets go-ahead

Make of this what you will.

EXCLUSIVE: Steve Bannon is fed up with Trump—and has privately said he would consider running for president, himself, in 2020 https://t.co/inLHzQIZk2

— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) December 21, 2017

The U.S. media really is pretty weak in regard to their convictions.

Wall Street Journal Killed Editorial on Trump’s Mob Ties

Which is why I've always been a firm believer in reading papers from other countries to fill in the gaps. At least there is this article from the summer

Donald Trump, the deals and the mafia dons

...and this from last year, although Vice can sometimes disappoint.

A Brief History of Donald Trump and the Mafia

It still confounds me that anyone could think that a man like Trump could be in the real estate business in NYC since the late 60s and not have mob connections. 

The construction business in NYC was crawling with crime families until at least the late 80s and construction and real estate in NYC are like hand in glove.

I mean, I thought this had already been established. Now that civil case needs to be thrown out of court.

Venus Williams fatal crash: No one is to blame, police say https://t.co/f3EztNa66L pic.twitter.com/CNpL8fAjBu

— Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) December 20, 2017

Can a congressman be considered a "representative" if he locks his constituents out of his office? An office funded by their taxes 🤔@SteveKnight25 refused to speak w/ Antelope Valley residents who were calling on him to oppose the #GOPTaxScam. Get #KnightOut! #WednesdayWisdom pic.twitter.com/wBm1RUSPyE

— RoseAnn DeMoro (@RoseAnnDeMoro) December 20, 2017

So Glenn Thrush at the NYT gets to return to working there? For Jodi Kantor and the other women who have been assiduously writing on sexual harassment and the #MeToo movement, this can't be good news for them.

I now wonder whether whether some other media outlet will take up the mantle of reportage because many will now think twice about reading their articles (myself included) on the subject. 

1 hour ago, Roman said:

their seats must be up next year.

Also, those are those areas comprised some of the areas with the highest property taxes.

The mortgage tax cap included in this tax scam bill is highly unpopular in much of the Northeast and West Coast and these Reps. know that voting for it would ensure that they'd be dodging rocks and other projectiles when they return to their constituencies.

Hopefully they all get voted out in '18 also.

Well, this seems safe.

A Federal Ban on Making Lethal Viruses Is Lifted

This is kind of sad though.

Leo Azarenka's godfather Chris Wideman calls Vika a criminal & accuses of her perjury on his Instagram account. Gotta feel for the kid in all of this, ugly stuff. pic.twitter.com/B664MLCMm4

— Paps (@DatGoneIt77) December 19, 2017

LOL.

FYI, 

These are the House Republicans who voted "no" on the tax bill https://t.co/Ak1I183VNr pic.twitter.com/w0wIwVcg2T

— CNN (@CNN) December 19, 2017

BREAKING: Democrats say 3 provisions in GOP tax bill violate Senate rules and will be removed, forcing House to revote Wednesday.

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 19, 2017

I am delighted to announce my comeback on the professional circuit of the @WTA next year
I am so looking forward to see you again during my matches and share some amazing emotions with you . @Eurosport_FR #marionisback pic.twitter.com/KVPUnwEqlp

— Marion bartoli (@bartoli_marion) December 19, 2017

Connecticut has announced that it will shut down the state's Child Healthcare Insurance Program by the end of January, unless Congress renews funding for the program.

Apparently, CT (along with some other states) has been using leftover federal funds since September 30 of this year due to the program's funding not having been renewed.

I've read that, in some states, hospitals and clinics have already started "prioritizing" treatment for children due to costs.

Children's health is not a priority for Congress but tax cuts for the wealthy is?

Is this the type of country that Trump supporters want to live in?

9 hours ago, JaneAusten said:

I'm sure it's because they have the needed votes. He's from California and frankly I have no idea why anyone from Ca, NY, or NJ would vote for this. 

Even though none of these states voted Republican in the last several presidential elections, there are conservative pockets within those states. 

For instance, in NY, Rep. Peter King, a Republican is in the L.I./Westchester area, a Conservative pocket surrounded by a liberal NYC area.  King has been known to be mostly in lock-step with Trump/GOP.  He did seem to beg that the mortgage cap not be lowered in this taxscam bill but it would seem that he's willing to go along with voting for it anyway, despite that fact that his constituents will likely lose the most of any homeowner in the country as they are predicted to be the hardest hit.

New Jersey also has some conservative pockets and there is a severe disconnect there as the predicted hardest hit area is calculated to be Newark, NJ which is an inner-city and has a large population of black and minority homeowners, many of whom also happen to be low-income homeowners.

Also, just flat out greed and corruption as some of these Congressman look to personally benefit, regardless of how their constituents fare.

Speaking of greed and corruption,

Another day, another lawsuit for Trump Inc.  

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Face New Lawsuit Over Financial Disclosures: Report

Speaking of not being able to assume anything, I wonder whether anyone can actually take any of these folks at their word?

I intend 2 vote no on tax bill. Due 2 pressure of several members like me, bill was improved, but not enough for a significant # of my constituents.

— Dana Rohrabacher (@DanaRohrabacher) December 18, 2017

The Senate Intelligence Committee has asked Green Party candidate Jill Stein’s campaign to turn over documents, a former campaign staffer tells BuzzFeed. Stein is expected to release them publicly as well. https://t.co/eEhJpUUGsA

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 18, 2017

35 minutes ago, Soapsuds said:

Was about to post this. I am surprised Enrique has put up with her.....LOL.  I thought for sure they'd break up but to hear they had kids?....LOLOLOL

They've been together since 2001. Kournikova has likely matured and humbled since those days. She's likely had to as she is no longer the big star she once was.

A straight up or down vote will identify who is pro and who is con Net Neutrality. 

JUST IN: Senator Chuck Schumer says there will be a Senate Vote to overturn the FCC's ruling on #NetNeutrality -- Only a simple majority will be required to overturn the ruling.

— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) December 18, 2017

Well, these two are sly, that's for sure. I guess that is a major advantage when you've put yourself under the radar.

Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias Welcome Twins After Secret Pregnancy