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ZhiZhu

@[email protected]

"All mimsy were the borogoves..." Avid reader, occasional world traveler, raises chickens in Texas.
Interested in #Journalism #News #USPolitics #Books #SFF #Photography #Travel #Nature #Science #Ukraine #Etymology and other things.

I create threads of news articles I find interesting, and occasionally share a #GiftArticle so those without subscriptions can read the whole article.

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rbreich , to Random
@rbreich@masto.ai avatar

The lies that undermine America https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-lies-that-undermine-america?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

ZhiZhu ,
@ZhiZhu@newsie.social avatar

"These are not small lies. They are not political hyperbole. They are lies that cut to the core of our entire system of self-government. They undermine belief in our democracy and system of justice.

It is one thing for Donald Trump – a pathological liar and sociopath – to conjure up these lies. He is nuts...

But for an entire political party to wittingly repeat these lies amounts to organized treason."

Text from article: These are not small lies. They are not political hyperbole. They are lies that cut to the core of our entire system of self-government. They undermine belief in our democracy and system of justice. It is one thing for Donald Trump – a pathological liar and sociopath – to conjure up these lies. He is nuts. It has been America’s great misfortune for him to emerge at a time when the nation was already distrustful and disdainful of politics. But for an entire political party to wittingly repeat these lies amounts to organized treason. How can lawmakers who presumably know how dangerous these lies are nonetheless seek to convince the public they’re true? Is their love of power so great that they would sell out our democracy for it? If so, what do they get from unprincipled power?
ALT
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    • rbreich , to Random
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    Harlan Crow and other GOP megadonors have provided Clarence Thomas with gifts valued at over $4 million. They include...

    -38 destination vacations

    -26 private jet flights

    -6 helicopter flights

    -Yacht voyages

    Still wondering why SCOTUS approval ratings have hit record lows?

    ZhiZhu ,
    @ZhiZhu@newsie.social avatar

    @rbreich

    And we only know about the corruption of Clarence Thomas (and other SCOTUS "justices") thanks to the hard work of @ProPublica

    Check out their "Friends of the Court" series of articles covering this scandal:
    https://www.propublica.org/series/supreme-court-scotus

    rbreich , to Random
    @rbreich@masto.ai avatar

    Trump's campaign claims to have received over $34 million on the day he was convicted of 34 felony charges.

    Remember when Trump said he’s pay his supporters legal bills?

    Looks like they’re paying his.

    You’re being duped, folks.

    ZhiZhu ,
    @ZhiZhu@newsie.social avatar

    @rbreich

    "Dear Trump,

    Aren't you supposed to be rich? Why do you keep asking for MY money to pay YOUR bills?

    Quit your begging, ya mooch!

    Sincerely,
    Not Buying It Anymore"

    Meme with a screen shot of a Trump fund-raising announcement on the left third of the image. On the right third is the text: "Dear Trump, Aren't you supposed to be rich? Why do you keep asking for MY money to pay YOUR bills? Quit your begging, ya mooch! Sincerely, Not Buying It Anymore
    ALT
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    • rbreich , to Random
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    In a misguided effort to be "unbiased," most news media have stopped calling Trump's Big Lie about the 2020 election what it is. Instead they're using terms like "false statements" or "claims without evidence."

    Memo to the media: Calling out lies isn't "biased." It's your job.

    ZhiZhu ,
    @ZhiZhu@newsie.social avatar

    @rbreich

    "Some say that journalists should strive to be “neutral”

    ...journalists should strive to be truthful...

    Stating a truth that will be used to determine someone’s guilt or innocence is rarely a “neutral” act, but it is a necessary one.

    When remaining “neutral” is used as an excuse to avoid stating uncomfortable truths — truths that might offend the powerful or the public — that is not journalism.

    That is cowardice"

    Meme, plain white background with black text: Some say that journalists should strive to be “neutral” I disagree. I think journalists should strive to be truthful — like a witness in a trial who is sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Stating a truth that will be used to determine someone’s guilt or innocence is rarely a “neutral” act, but it is a necessary one. When remaining “neutral” is used as an excuse to avoid stating uncomfortable truths — truths that might offend the powerful or the public — that is not journalism. That is cowardice. Watermark: ZmemeZ
    ALT
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    • rbreich , to Random
    @rbreich@masto.ai avatar

    59 years ago today, Griswold v. Connecticut guaranteed the right to birth control.

    Justice Thomas says the Supreme Court should "reconsider" that ruling.

    And this week, 38 GOP senators voted against the Right to Contraception Act.

    Republicans are coming for birth control.

    ZhiZhu ,
    @ZhiZhu@newsie.social avatar

    @rbreich

    in "The Senate voted Wednesday to block a bill to create a federal ...

    The bill... would have prevented states from passing laws that limit access to , including hormonal and intrauterine devices."
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/06/05/senate-gop-contraception/

    of articles about refusing to protect the right to : https://newsie.social/@ZhiZhu/112567414870343606

    News headline and photo with caption. Headline: Senate Republicans vote against making contraception a federal right The bill was introduced by Democrats seeking to put Republicans on the spot in an election year over their unpopular positions on reproductive rights. By Liz Goodwin Updated June 5, 2024 at 5:12 p.m. EDT|Published June 5, 2024 at 11:59 a.m. EDT Photo with caption: Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks at a news conference Wednesday on the Right to Contraception Act. With him are Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.). (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
    ALT
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    • rbreich , to Random
    @rbreich@masto.ai avatar

    Trump's most obvious lies (like pretending he never led chants of "lock her up) are perhaps the most disturbing.

    Telling lies that everyone knows are lies is a classic tactic of dictators to force their followers to side with them over the truth itself.

    ZhiZhu ,
    @ZhiZhu@newsie.social avatar

    @rbreich

    "and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods.

    ...Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt & waver & will continue to think that there may be some other explanation.”

    • Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, chapter 10, "The Big Lie"

    Meme with black background and white text. A headshot of Trump is in the bottom right corner. The text reads: "All this was inspired by the principle—which is quite true within itself—that in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation.” - Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, chapter 10, "The Big Lie" #TheBigLie
    ALT
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    • rbreich , to Random
    @rbreich@masto.ai avatar

    Justice Samuel Alito flew not one, but two pro-insurrection flags at his homes.

    Alito not being forced to recuse from Trump's immunity case and upcoming Jan 6 cases tells you everything you need to know about the SCOTUS code of "ethics" established last year.

    Hint: It's a sham.

    ZhiZhu ,
    @ZhiZhu@newsie.social avatar

    @rbreich

    Alito Red Flags
    by Dave Whamond, Canada, PoliticalCartoons.com

    rbreich , to Random
    @rbreich@masto.ai avatar

    Your tax day reminder that trickle-down economics is a cruel hoax designed to enrich the wealthy and corporations while draining money for the middle class and the poor.

    Don't let billionaires fool you into thinking we shouldn't tax the rich.

    ZhiZhu ,
    @ZhiZhu@newsie.social avatar

    @rbreich

    Trickle down does NOT work.

    It never has.

    TRICKLE DOWN IS A LIE that rich people pay politicians to tell as an excuse for letting rich people avoid paying their fair share of taxes.

    Meme with a photo of Will Rogers holding a lasso on the left and text on the right that says: "The money was all appropriated for the top in hopes that it would trickle down to the needy. Mr. Hoover didn't know that the money trickled up. Give it to the people at the bottom and the people at the top will have it before night, anyhow. Bit it will at least have passed through the poor fellow's hand." ~Will Rogers
    ALT
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