GOPers Remember The Maine, Trump Blasts ‘Fake Media’ And It’s Not Enough To Dismiss Islamophobia

April 17, 2017 10:46 a.m.

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April 17, 2017

The Gist: Just before fleeing Washington for the April recess, Republicans unveiled a new amendment they said would revive their struggling bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act—a policy based on a program in Maine that aims to bring down health insurance premiums by funneling older and sicker people into a separate individual market subsidized by the federal government.

Trump Blasts ‘Fake Media,’ Praises Fox News In Early Morning Tweetstorm

The Gist: Nearly three months into his presidency, and President Donald Trump appears to still sit alone in the morning with Twitter while watching the news.

GOP Rep. On Gutting Internet Privacy Rule: ‘Nobody’s Got To Use The Internet’ (VIDEO)

The Gist: During a town hall event last week, Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) tried to defend Republican legislation rolling back an Internet privacy rule by arguing that Americans don’t have to use the Internet.

From The Reporter’s Notebook

Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN) faced tough questions on Saturday at a breakfast event with local chambers of commerce, which are typically friendly territory for Republicans, TPM’s Caitlin MacNeal reported. Members of the audience repeatedly interrupted Rokita as he tried to answer questions, prompting the congressman to ask the crowd to be civil, the Journal-Review reported. The congressman also addressed House Republicans’ failed attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare, arguing that Republicans need to take their time replacing the law.

Agree or Disagree?

Josh Marshall: “What is endearing, terrifying and hilarious about Trump is not simply his ignorance, really his militant ignorance, but his complete lack of self-awareness about his ignorance. Trump told a reporter for The Wall Street Journal that his understanding of the problem of North Korea changed dramatically after hearing ten minutes of history from the President of China. Needless to say, Trump didn’t need to admit this. But neither was it candor.”

Say What?!

“Someone should look into who paid for the small organized rallies yesterday. The election is over”

– President Donald Trump says “someone should look into who paid” for the rallies around the country Saturday that urged him to release his tax returns.

BUZZING: Today in the Hive

From a TPM Prime member: “Another part of this is to take the long view. Those Trump votes didn’t get this way overnight, they got there over the course of (at least) 50 years of well-funded continual right-wing propaganda. In my aunt’s house, Fox news was just always on in the background. At our former vet’s office, Limbaugh was always there on the radio. Watch and listen to people like that day and day after years after year, and they start sounding perfectly reasonable. One discussion or two or ten, even with the best-marshalled facts and logic, won’t do it. This is Gandhi and Mandela-style timescales. (Not that I’m any more patient than anyone else in practice.)”

Related: 20 Arrested After Violence Breaks Out At Berkeley Pro And Anti-Trump Rallies

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What We’re Reading

It’s Not Enough to Dismiss Islamophobia (The Atlantic)

This Is What It’s Like To Have An Illness You Can’t Beat (BuzzFeed)

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