Aaaaand it's time to flood the phone lines to your representatives yet again. It's the Annual-Super-Duper- "Let's Take Away Health Care to Balance The Budget We Helped Balloon!" While eyes are on the border, maybe the GOP thought the sneak attack approach would work out better for them! WaPo has some of the details. Including cuts to Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid! Surprised? Me, neither.

 

The GOP's "Plan" to repeal Obamacare, Part 3,809,716,214.

And now, your midday news spam from the Worst Year Ever:

New York is suing the Trump admin "for violating the Constitutional rights of immigrant children and their families who have been separated at the border." https://t.co/PqYplZ5Wyz

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 19, 2018

John McCain and Chris Coons are calling on the Trump admin to withdraw its nominee for a key State Department migration position over his "lack of empathy" for immigrants and "spread[ing] misinformation about immigrants." https://t.co/vvjqbI5olF

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 19, 2018

Sen. Mazie Hirono: "Mr. President, have a heart for a change. Take that goddamn pen of yours and do away with this horrendous inhumane policy of yours that rips children from the arms of their parents." (via CSPAN) pic.twitter.com/Q8P6fyC92m

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 19, 2018

Migrant parents separated from their children at the border are sometimes unable to relocate their child and remain permanently separated, John Sandweg, who served as an acting director of ICE under the Obama administration, told NBC News. https://t.co/EGgUtrB8UL

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 19, 2018

Julian Castro, ex-Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, says Kirstjen Nielsen should resign: "She is not being truthful, she is not being transparent about what is happening in these facilities or about the policy." @MSNBC

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 19, 2018

All 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are calling on Chairman Grassley to hold a hearing on the Trump admin's family separation policy. pic.twitter.com/eNbs3AbGb1

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 19, 2018

Trump's aides are cherry-picking more positive images of children in detention centers, showing Trump images depicting detained children smiling, playing video games and exercising outside, a senior admin official tells WaPo. https://t.co/1IylVmIbCs

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 19, 2018

Trump says the media is helping "smugglers" and "traffickers."

"They know exactly what they're doing."

— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) June 19, 2018

The White House objected to the NYT using audio of an interview with Stephen Miller on The Daily.

In the audio, among other things, Miller describes the policy of family separation as a "humanitarian" act. https://t.co/XGfqWuTBcM

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 19, 2018

The President of the United States is using the word "infest" to describe the actions of a group of people. pic.twitter.com/RPKQEMNxWv

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 19, 2018

Since the president is lying about this, I'll reiterate that we obtained internal CBP documents that show that ****91%**** of parents whose kids are taken away are being prosecuted for misdemeanor FIRST TIME entry.

— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) June 19, 2018

Every Republican senator supports keeping families together while their immigration status is determined, according to Mitch McConnell. https://t.co/nRZ06TSjNF

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 19, 2018

This article is a good example of how ref playing by Republicans yields endless dividends in journalists actions https://t.co/vFNTuABFxh

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) June 19, 2018

Over the past 24 hours I've heard from several sources that Defense Secretary Mattis has been iced out by POTUS and has increasingly become isolated.

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) June 19, 2018

Amid everything else today, Trump’s campaign manager begins to pave a road toward firing Sessions and shutting Mueller probe down based on IG report largely about how Hillary Clinton was mishandled by the FBI. https://t.co/HxhYRm8AyL

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 19, 2018

To be clear, firing Sessions would go over terribly with the Senate GOP, which McConnell has spelled out in stark terms to Trump https://t.co/Fs1EqZIYbk

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 19, 2018

Things not looking good for quick legislative fix to keep families together at border. GOP in House and Senate divided on strategy and policy, while Senate Dems don't want to negotiate. Lawmakers on both sides say Trump can fix it himself, but WH won't and says it's up to Hill

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 19, 2018

Bannon is gone. Miller gave a quote and is a force behind the scenes. Sec. Nielsen is a spokesperson for the policy. But like so many issues in this admin., it's not about the players but about the president. He is the one insisting, the one pushing others to hold the line.

— Robert Costa (@costareports) June 19, 2018

This tweet from @JebBush was the last straw, prompting Donald Trump Jr. To pull out of fundraiser for George P. Bush, a source tells @kaitlancollins @CNNPolitics https://t.co/T91hG650Zk https://t.co/zyEugzWJsQ

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 19, 2018

Maybe he will. But I think it's really telling that the WH used to be eager to put him out there--Trump would compliment his TV hits on Twitter--and now they seem not to want audio or video of him attached to this issue. https://t.co/zmjXzkVLRX

— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) June 19, 2018

Today I visited an ICE detention facility outside Baltimore with @Call_Me_Dutch.

There we spoke for an hour with two fathers, Carlos and Mario, who had been separated from their children, a 7-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl, for months.

What they told us was so disturbing: pic.twitter.com/MZTifSlKzc

— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) June 19, 2018

A contentless decorum has prevented some from forthrightly discussing how Trump studied the Nazis, how since fall 2015 Trump’s politics and his supporters’ behavior have borne hallmarks of a fascist movement, and how his policy and dehumanizing rhetoric fit the fascist pattern. https://t.co/U4ar4Z8Y7h

— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) June 19, 2018

LISTEN: As Pres Trump’s entourage entered Speaker Ryan’s office in the Capitol, someone on the other side of the Capitol rotunda yelled: “Mr. President, F—k you!!” (He entered about 15 seconds later): pic.twitter.com/KHp16LYMoF

— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) June 19, 2018

NEW: An associate of Michael Cohen reportedly told @CNN he's willing to cooperate with investigators: "He knows a lot about Trump ... If they want information on Trump, he [Cohen] is willing to give it."

— Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) June 19, 2018

President Trump has left the White House and is on his way to Capitol Hill to meet with Republican lawmakers. He's joined by Stephen Miller, John Kelly and Kirstjen Nielsen. Party members are openly rebuking the admin's zero tolerance border policy. This should get interesting.

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) June 19, 2018

Republicans pray on Sunday.

Then, during the rest of the week, they prey on children and families through their tremendously indefensible and brutal policies.

It seems as if inflicting emotional and physical damage is part of their platform.

— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) June 19, 2018

WOW!

Trump: “Is Mark Sanford here? I just want to congratulate him on running a great race.”

Room goes silent. Trump then called him a nasty guy and the room booed, a bit.

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) June 19, 2018

White House deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagin has ties to a sex cult??!  Apparently his resignation comes on the heels of a BuzzFeed story that reported this.

 

 

Edited June 19, 20187 yr by DramatistDreamer

Next up: This charmer is sure to win the crowd.

 

ICE Chief on Family Separation Policy: "This president is letting [ICE officers] do their job, which the last President did not do." pic.twitter.com/K67HUEUJV4

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) June 19, 2018

ICE Chief: "You put your child in that position so you want to blame somebody -- If you want to blame somebody, blame the parents." pic.twitter.com/2AEsZVoaTm

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) June 19, 2018

ICE Chief: "The parents are making a choice ... they are taking it upon themselves to enter illegally and have their children taken away." pic.twitter.com/fHAdRj7nJk

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) June 19, 2018

ICE Chief on family separations: "They don't have to commit a misdemeanor!" pic.twitter.com/skmGR5Xlgx

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) June 19, 2018

I raz Wolf a lot. But this Homan interview is very well done. Keeps coming back to the key points and keeps hitting Homans with government statistics which directly refute his made up or deceptive numbers.

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) June 19, 2018

 

Meanwhile, as to what DD mentioned above, ohhhh my God:

 

 

 

Joe Hagin, one of the most important people in Trump's White House, used to work for a Libyan politician whose wife was a key backers of the alleged "sex cult" at the center of a federal investigation. That's the latest from @tparti and me. https://t.co/utpcrZSwOu

— Aram Roston (@AramRoston) June 18, 2018

House Dems heckle Trump as he leaves Capitol. “We won’t go away ... Don’t you have children!”
They were within 3-4 feet of Trump. pic.twitter.com/fV0y9zThDd

— Paul Kane (@pkcapitol) June 19, 2018

Congressional Hispanic Caucus members yell at Trump about the “zero tolerance” policy as he walks by after his meeting with GOP lawmakers at the Capitol. pic.twitter.com/YMva974pnq

— Daniella Diaz (@DaniellaMicaela) June 19, 2018

Wow. When @wolfblitzer asks whether the separation policy is humane, the ICE director pauses, hesitates and doesn't answer. Only saying: "It's the law." https://t.co/4Ao1PocIZi

— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) June 19, 2018

8 hours ago, DRW50 said:

And this is just the beginning.

 

marceline said it best: the Republicans always wreck the economy.  Always.

 

Look, maybe those parents ARE choosing to enter this country illegally WITH their children, knowing they will face criminal (misdemeanor) charges, while their children are taken away from them and placed in detention camps.  However, I'd ask those who support this to consider the fact that, in most cases, these individuals AND their families are fleeing impoverished, dangerous circumstances back home, in the hopes that they will find asylum here, and provide brighter futures for their children and grandchildren.  They don't WANT to be prosecuted or have their children detained, but what's the alternative for them?  Remaining where they are and either getting killed or becoming even more destitute?  If you attempt to enter this country legally, there's so much red tape to cut through. Frankly, you might not live long enough, or you STILL might not be granted passage.  

 

True, they're entering illegally, but even illegally, there's a chance -- a slim chance, maybe, but still, a chance -- that they might elude authorities at the borders.

Edited June 19, 20187 yr by Khan

trump asks staffers whether “others are leaking, and he recently told one person that ‘the Bushies in the White House are out to get me,’ according to someone with direct knowledge of the discussion.” https://t.co/YwKpZjvKJx

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 19, 2018

"Mr. Trump has grown isolated within the West Wing, according to advisers, and is eager for human contact..." https://t.co/hxeiALIJp8

— Joel Siegel (@joelmsiegel) June 19, 2018

What Trump said about @IvankaTrump in the Hill meeting - that she came to him and said "Daddy, what are we doing about this?" Trump said it's a "tough issue," pivoted to something else.

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 19, 2018

Watch: Congressman begs GOP to help kids in powerful, emotional speech https://t.co/6GoCGtBoUO

— Oliver Willis (@owillis) June 19, 2018

'Don't leave me, Mom': Detainee tells of separation from son https://t.co/9OTgOeZVsh i feel like even calling her "detainee" is not humane enough. she's a mom. a mom.

— Oliver Willis (@owillis) June 19, 2018

they threatened her sons life in exchange for $5,000 she didn't have. so she came to america. and then donald trump took away her son. https://t.co/9OTgOeZVsh pic.twitter.com/gZ3zxS1S7C

— Oliver Willis (@owillis) June 19, 2018

"Any tips to beat the heat for toddlers locked up in a tent camp in 100+ degree heat in the texas sun? And what type of baby pajamas go best with tinfoil blankets?" https://t.co/if3EzKcbrS

— Oliver Willis (@owillis) June 19, 2018

See around the corner:

1) This is a manufactured crisis
2) Sessions goal is to make people just say stop it anyway you can
3) Then people accept its somehow ok to jail families together indefinitely

This is wrong. It is an awful, false choice. Stay focused and reject this.

— Todd Schulte (@TheToddSchulte) June 19, 2018

The last tweet is 100% right, but I think it's too late to stop that train of thought, sadly.

 

The other one that stood out for me was Trump and family turning against Jeb Bush's desperate son, who sucked up to them even after his parents were viciously attacked by Trump for a year. He was the one who got such breathless hype for being the future of the Bush family. Craven and irrelevant - sounds about right. He's lucky that he's a Republican running in Texas, as he can win no matter what.

1 hour ago, Khan said:

 

marceline said it best: the Republicans always wreck the economy.  Always.

 

Look, maybe those parents ARE choosing to enter this country illegally WITH their children, knowing they will face criminal (misdemeanor) charges, while their children are taken away from them and placed in detention camps.  However, I'd ask those who support this to consider the fact that, in most cases, these individuals AND their families are fleeing impoverished, dangerous circumstances back home, in the hopes that they will find asylum here, and provide brighter futures for their children and grandchildren.  They don't WANT to be prosecuted or have their children detained, but what's the alternative for them?  Remaining where they are and either getting killed or becoming even more destitute?  If you attempt to enter this country legally, there's so much red tape to cut through. Frankly, you might not live long enough, or you STILL might not be granted passage.  

 

True, they're entering illegally, but even illegally, there's a chance -- a slim chance, maybe, but still, a chance -- that they might elude authorities at the borders.

The law is nothing but an excuse for the people who agree with this policy to hide behind.  This administration is choosing to enforce this policy en masse. 

 

I also agree that this a manufactured crisis and it's working to some extent.  They are taking children as hostages. It's a brutal and likely effective tactic.

I don't think it's working out for them. I think this is Airportgate Part 2. Whether a GOP Congress will buckle remains to be seen.

Now that there will be a vacancy on the UN Human Rights Council, apparently Russia wants a chair.  You cannot make this stuff up.

Jesus Christ:

 

 

Rachel Maddow chokes up and cries on air as she struggles to deliver news that migrant babies and toddlers have been sent to "tender age" shelters pic.twitter.com/O6crm8cvyR

— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) June 20, 2018

Read this: The Trump admin currently has open three "tender age" shelters in south Texas to house babies and other young children forcibly separated from their parents.

The government now reportedly plans to open a fourth in Texas, according to AP.https://t.co/NMbzUpfnbt

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 20, 2018

They separated a 10 year-old girl with Down Syndrome from her mother at the border.

Corey Lewandowski, Trump's former Campaign Manager, then MADE FUN OF IT. pic.twitter.com/ntoaJZZehI

— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) June 19, 2018

"Trump administration officials have been sending babies and other young children forcibly separated from their parents to at least three “tender age” shelters in South Texas...

2/6

— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) June 20, 2018

"Decades after the nation’s child welfare system ended the use of orphanages over concerns about the lasting trauma to children, the administration is standing up new institutions to hold Central American toddlers that the government separated from their parents...

4/6

— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) June 20, 2018

All from this Associated Press story that broke while I was on the air tonight, but which I was unable to read on the air:https://t.co/2VBLTVxvQq

Again, I apologize for losing it there for a moment. Not the way I intended that to go, not by a mile.

— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) June 20, 2018

Maggie Haberman finally says it:

Trump is lying, obfuscating and inventing his own version of reality more frequently - a period that began post-Cohen raid but which intensified in recent days, via @AshleyRParker https://t.co/dAyKJv9yrY

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 20, 2018

Just a reminder that CNN hired Corey Lewandowski long after he was a well known piece of [!@#$%^&*]. He was on the payroll, people like Tapper and Cuomo went on air with him.

— Oliver Willis (@owillis) June 20, 2018

Hi @HarvardIOP,

Just wanted to let you know that one of your fellows, Corey Lewandowski, just said, "Womp, Womp," when he was told about a child with Down Syndrome being taken from her mother at the border.

Let us know your thoughts on this.

Sincerely,

Decent Human Beings

— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) June 20, 2018

Womp womp will be the sound Corey Lewandowski's soul makes as it descends to Hell

— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) June 20, 2018

If I'm not mistaken, Corey Lewandowski is a consultant to--among others--Mike Pence's PAC, the Great America Committee. Is @VP fine with his comment on TV tonight? Is @VP happy to keep paying him handsomely?

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) June 20, 2018

I called @foxnews after I heard batshit sociopath Corey Lewandowski to complain. Their comments line is full. Keep calling.1 (888) 369-4762

— Don't wash your pits in the river of Sacred Tears (@MaestraOogway) June 20, 2018

Yo @TMobile! Did you hear that Corey Lewandowski made fun of a 10 year old girl with Downs Syndrome who has been separated from her parents at the border on TV today? Kind of off-brand, no? https://t.co/Kz3wQHdbjU

— Sleeping Giants (@slpng_giants) June 20, 2018

Trump family feels like it’s being shaken down. Cohen allies say Trump family is being short-sighted. https://t.co/6M6YW20BLk

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 20, 2018

A surprising turn of events for Kirstjen Nielsen — I'm told she is being praised throughout the West Wing for her performance during the briefing. Multiple officials complimenting her on a job well done sparring w the press. Trump, who has blown up at her before, did the same.

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) June 20, 2018

It’s like when Kelly did the briefing and ppl in the White House didn’t mind him smearing Rep. Wilson because they felt like someone was standing up for them collectively. The degree to which they all feel psychically beaten by working there is high. https://t.co/rM7AGXbrLH

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 20, 2018

Had a long chat with Rep. Mark Sanford tonight, who I've known for years. At the Charleston airport, he seemed more amazed than anything at Trump's attack. https://t.co/RcZfLQyChH pic.twitter.com/HrnrW1Rxu7

— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) June 20, 2018

Democrats ain't perfect but I don't have to explain away torture or ripping families apart for callous reasons when they're in the White House

— Oliver Willis (@owillis) June 20, 2018

 

Edited June 20, 20187 yr by Vee

Video of Nielsen hounded at DC restaurant. "If kids don't eat in peace, you don't eat in peace!" https://t.co/tUAzFp0IPl

— Oliver Willis (@owillis) June 20, 2018

An image from the Trump Hotel in DC tonight, courtesy of Sean Spicer: pic.twitter.com/cZaWVK8PA1

— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) June 20, 2018

Corey Lewandowski has been proven scum for years and yet continued to be a cable news fixture. He will still be getting booked - and if he isn't, he'll get hired somewhere by somebody rich. The solution is to stop watching cable news, as most of the people who run the show only suddenly care about children when it's time to get the ratings up and the ad revenues up. It's the same networks that bragged about the money Trump was making them and continue to give money and time to Kellyanne Conway as if she's an old friend. Rinse and repeat.