Extra, Extra
Nuclear Power: “The change, pushed through along party lines, lowered the existing 60-vote threshold for considering a group of presidential nominees to a simple majority, weakening the ability of individual senators to block nominees they find objectionable.” Breaking Precedent, G.O.P. Changes Rules on Nominees. (This move is known as the the nuclear option.) Speaking of changing the rules of the game. Missouri Legislature passes new Republican-drawn congressional map.
+ Memphis in the Meantime: Apparently, when it comes to domestic troop deployments, Chicago is out, Memphis is in. Trump announces National Guard will be deployed in Memphis to fight crime.
+ Where You From? “It can take days or weeks for ICE or someone’s attorney to track down their birth records. ‘The idea that it’s going to be done in a Home Depot parking lot is ludicrous.'” The Atlantic (Gift Article): How Do You Prove Your Citizenship?
+ There Allies the Problem: “In recent months, some European governments have talked about buying more locally-produced equipment, nervous about depending on U.S.-made weapons. President Trump has also angered Denmark by talking about annexing Greenland, a Danish territory.” WSJ (Gift Article): A U.S. Icon Loses Out to European Rival in Rush for Air Defenses. It turns out attacking allies is bad for business. And for everything else. Bloomberg (Gift Article): America’s Friends Will Never Trust the US Again. “For the sake of argument, ignore factors such as honor, credibility, ideals and values for a moment and think only in terms of realpolitik and the looming contest with communist China. Even and especially then, Trump’s de facto policy of contempt for allies seems bonkers.”
+ Welcome Splat: “Returning workers described the trauma of seeing armored vehicles and armed agents rolling in, and of being handcuffed and shackled at the ankles by the immigration officials. ‘I will never visit the United States again.'” Freed From U.S. Detention, South Korean Workers Return Home to Tearful Cheers.
+ Sucking the Marrow Out of Murrow: “CBS’ new corporate owner has taken a series of concrete steps to address the concerns of the news division’s sharpest critics — particularly President Trump and his allies.” CBS shifts to appease the right under new owner. (And that new owner, Skydance, is making a move for WarnerBros. So CNN could be next.)
+ Frank Talk: “‘September ’77, Port Elizabeth weather fine. It was business as usual, in police room 619,’ go the opening lines of singer Peter Gabriel’s famous anti-apartheid anthem from 1980 about murdered South African activist Steve Biko. Apartheid police always maintained that the Black Consciousness Movement leader died after accidently hitting his head against his prison cell wall.” Believe it or not, that’s not true. South Africa reopens inquest into death of Steve Biko. (Denzel Washington and Kevin Kline star in an excellent movie about Biko: Cry Freedom.)
