Political violence is always anathema to democracy. This is the case not least because what we think of as civic democracy requires high-trust environments over high-fear environments. The latter make civic life brittle and tenuous. But what is really lethal to democracy is less acts of terroristic, high profile violence (say an Oklahoma City bombing) but when violence and the threat of violence begin to seep into the ordinary process of governmental decision-making. And of late I’ve seen smatterings of examples of this from around the country. The numbers are very, very small – at least the ones I’ve seen. So I don’t know whether I’m simply seeing them more, or whether they are just the knock-on effects of the massive disruptions of COVID or something more persistent and grave.
WaPo: Trump Billed Secret Service $40K For Room At Mar-a-Lago
While in office, former President Donald Trump famously drew ire for staying at his own hotels and clubs which, in turn, required the Secret Service protecting him to spend huge sums to rent out his rooms, at taxpayers’ expense.
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Jennifer Weisselberg Predicts Trump Org CFO Will Flip Under Growing Pressure
The former daughter-in-law of Allen Weisselberg said on Thursday that she believes the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization whom she has known for years, will flip as investigators dig deeper into his personal and financial dealings.
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Biden Admin: US Won’t Buy Greenland, Sorry For The Trump-Induced Confusion!
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday assured that the Biden administration has no desire to buy Greenland — a reported desire of former President Trump’s that never came to fruition and set off a diplomatic fallout. Continue reading “Biden Admin: US Won’t Buy Greenland, Sorry For The Trump-Induced Confusion!”
AZ SoS Says Maricopa Election Equipment Shouldn’t Be Used Again After Sketchy Audit
The price of the sketchy, already-expensive Arizona audit may have gotten even higher.
According to a letter Thursday from Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, Maricopa County — the target of a 2020 recount ordered by the state’s GOP Senate — may need to replace the election equipment it turned over to the auditors under a legislative subpoena.
CNN’s Chris Cuomo Coached NY Guv. Brother On Handling Sexual Misconduct Allegations
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo reportedly gave advice to his embattled brother, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), on how to handle the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against him from current and former aides earlier this year.
New York City’s Interesting Mayor’s Race
For a few decades New York City had mayor’s races between representatives of the city’s Democratic establishment and silent majority type Republicans who presented themselves as hedges against the city’s excesses. That role was embodied for a dozen years by Rudy Giuliani. Then it was taken over in a considerably more muted form by Michael Bloomberg. After the transition from Michael Bloomberg to Bill deBlasio that all kind of ended. Republicans have scarcely even registered in the last two elections and there’s little sign they will in 2021.
And yet something funny is happening in this year’s mayor’s race as candidates jockey to succeed deBlasio. The race is being dominated by one candidate running on conventional retail politics (Andrew Yang) and another on public safety (Eric Adams). They’re both in the high teens or maybe 20%. Various candidates supported by the city’s progressive movement, its leaders, influencers, etc. are simply not getting much traction.
Fears Of Grinding, Post-2008-esque Recovery Plague Debate Over Reviving Economy
There’s no real parallel to the economic recovery we’re living through.
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Feds Seized 18 Devices From Rudy, Company Employees
Federal agents seized 18 electronic devices belonging to Rudy Giuliani and employees of his company when they executed search warrants on his home and office last month, according to a newly unsealed court filing.
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McCarthy Says He’d Testify Before A Jan. 6 Commission While Spinning Loss On Bill
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) affirmed Thursday that he would testify before a January 6 commission — after doing all he could to make sure one never happens.
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