DramatistDreamer

So the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been investigating Santander Bank and now that Cordray has stepped down and named his replacement (in accordance with Dodd-Frank) and Trump has tried to install his own replacement (for which the Trump administration is facing a lawsuit) Mick Mulvaney. Suddenly we discover that Mulvaney (Trump's pick) not only wants to dismantle the CFPB but is connected to a lobbyist for Santander Bank (the subject of the CFPB investigation). Boy this administration is ALL about Conflicts of Interest! Trump Conflict Of Interest: CFPB Pick Mulvaney Linked To Lobbyist For Bank Facing Possible CFPB Sanctions

Americans and the U.S. may be caught up in the daily paroxysms of Fanta Fascist and the machinations of his cataclysmic government, the rest of the world moves on. How the world has moved on without America, in just a year

I've tried to venture onto Time's website a few times over the past few years and found it loaded with junkware, especially pop-ups and pop-under ads, which turned me off before I could even attempt to read the content.

Despite that clever clapback that Time threw at Trump, the magazine is still slated to be acquired Koch brothers owned Meredith Corporation. Also, speaking of clapbacks, I hear Susan Sarandon is getting dragged (but what else is new?) for some interview she did recently. I don't intend of reading it because Sarandon makes me tired.

Speaking of Generals, and he's an Independent with "staunchly conservative views".

I don't even know why folks placed their hopes in Gen. Kelly in the first place. Had he done anything in his history that would justify people placing their faith in him?

Yeah, that's a bit of an old story now. If he had a conscience, he would've released it ages ago but alas...

Well, post 1990s Y&R, if you were a Black male who was not considered a "safe" and palatable (i.e. neither threatening in sexuality or too excitable a personality) character, it was unlikely that you'd last very long.

No surprises here.

@JaneAusten Great summary. Very succinctly put! Which is why, as belligerent as I think LaVar Ball is, the idea that Trump wa the sole reason for the release of those college basketball players is nonsense. Most China experts were quick to say foreigners suspected of minor offenses were generally deported. I think people are confusing China with North Korea.

Russia's economy is too busy struggling so China is likely the country that is benefiting the most from the power vacuum left by the U.S. absconding from a leadership role. Also, it's weird that people are talking about Great Britain but not Ireland which is experiencing a very chaotic political quagmire right now which will likely heighten as the clock ticks toward Brexit.

Poor LeVar Burton having to fend off all those Trumpist fools coming at him on his social media account. I bet he wanted to tell some of them to go take a look, read a book, while striding off a short pier.

So there have been multiple incidents of catastrophic events in the military (the three missing naval personnel near Japan's coastal waters is the latest example), There are dueling chiefs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, one appointed by the outgoing director, Richard Cordray, Ms. English--in accordance with Dodd-Frank, and one appointed by Trump-- Mick Mulvaney who has been opposed to the CFPB and seeks its demise. Experienced diplomats have been leaving en masse since January, leaving a "hollowed out" State Department. Yet all Trump can tweet about is the lie that he turned down Time's Person of the Year? (which makes me wonder whether he's using diversion tactics, perhaps knowing of an upcoming indictment/series of indictments?) In any case, the look on the U.S. is not a good one as the U.S. becomes more and more of a laughingstock on a daily basis.

The point wasn't about LaVar Ball (who is an opportunist, at best). The point is about how Trump specifically targets Black athletes/sports journalists specifically to feud with when there have also been prominent White sports personalities that have also criticized him (e.g. Gregg Popovich, who has openly and repeatedly criticized Trump). He has never said one thing back to Popovich, as he has never said anything to Eminem. He specifically chooses to criticize how "ungrateful" those S.O.B. Black NFL athletes are, which is the language he has extended in his "feud" with Ball (who I am sure is happy to keep it going, no doubt, to extend his '15 minutes' to build his "brand"). My point is that Trump is signalling his racist base that he is going after those minorities that they all feel have gotten "benefits" at the expense of the White working class. It's called "dog whistle" politics. Also, the president of the f*cking United States of America feuding with a military widow (civilian), NFL players (private citizens) and the father of basketball players (also private citizen)-- what in HELL is this madness?? (also, do you notice a pattern now?) It's beyond crass and I fear, we're at the point where people have already normalized this behavior (despite claims to the contrary). I don't care what a private citizen wants to say that doesn't affect me. I care what the president is saying on a public platform, because he supposedly represents the people of this country-- not LaVar Ball. By the way, CHIP still hasn't been renewed. Many children will lose healthcare soon as quite a few states are running out of money. Where is this so-called "President" doing about that? Oh, he's too busy feuding f*cking LaVar Ball!! *Also, show me a White person who a private citizen, in other words, is not in government who Trump is feuding with, especially this hard with this much vitriol. I'll wait.

Because the corruption of the Trump administration does not take a holiday. Flynn's lawyers end communication with Trump team, signaling cooperation with Mueller: NY Times

This thanksgiving greeting deserves a read.

Another truth, Trump just affirmed that the concept of MAGA is built on racist bile.

Still avoiding it, I read "around" it, reading only enough to get some details of the story while still avoiding any images-- because who needs to see that?! Those three UCLA basketball players acted stupidly in China (I still don't know why they did it) but-

She said that she had attempted to 'connect' with him at least twice and found him distant, and seemed a lone(ly) figure and she hoped that in his final years (which he spent in Argentina) that he had found some people to connect with and that he didn't spend his last years being as alone as he seemed when she met him. Throughout the episode, Hoffman discovered how turbulent Herrera's family line had been and it gave her a bit more clarity on why her father may have been what she had described as possibly insecure, stemming from a distrust of others. It was a very fascinating episode because there were some family rumors that turned out to be true. Someone should tell Colleen Zenk that she makes an appearance in the episode in a photo still and a video clip. There is a clip of Larry Bryggman (the back of him anyway) and one of Elizabeth Hubbard also. I wonder whether PBS had to ask permission of PGP to get those film clips? Or could they have bypassed PGP and gone straight to CBS?

I'm watching Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. on the PBS website and the latest episode features Tea Leoni (Madam Secretary) and Gaby Hoffman (Transparent). I had forgotten this piece of information (I read an article about it years ago) but Gaby Hoffman was especially interested in research the genealogy of her father's side of the family. When they showed a photograph, revealing her father's identity, I gasped momentarily before remembering that I had known this information for years! They even showed a clip of him in several scenes from As The World Turns and Hoffman talks about the one "family portrait" she had was of her mother holding her, while her sister stood behind the T.V. where a scene from As The World Turns played out on screen with her father since the only time she ever saw him other than in family court was when he was on the T.V. Yes, her father was Anthony Herrera (James Stenbeck) which she half-joked about his bad guy persona and surviving being 'killed off' multiple times.

^At least someone has stopped blaming "identity politics" for Trump, most with eyes to see saw through that phony narrative fast. I shouldn't be laughing at this but...I couldn't stop laughing at this. This is the same hotel that the Trump spawn barely evaded an indictment over.

I'd be fine if no one mentioned it ever but since he himself has referred to it as a selfie, it's not that much of an assumption to think he sent the nude photo using his phone. As I said in my original post, I'm avoiding looking at the photo because I don't want to see it. Unfortunately, in 2017 there are other scandals other than the ones about predators.

I didn't say he was a predator but if his phone's bills are expensed by his office, i.e. paid for by taxpayers, then yes, he would be doing something wrong.

Texas Rep. Joe Barton's name is trending on social media and I just know it's scandal related because...2017. From what I've briefly read, there are some nude pictures of his body part involved. I'm afraid to click on any related article or link for fear, I'll see something and will lose my appetite for the next 48 Hours.