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MLK Jr. Day News: “Israel Enters Truce Stronger but With Unfulfilled Goal: Destroying Hamas”; “They’re Back”; “Trump to take oath of office as US braces for vengeful second term”; “From Brownshirts to Billionaires”; “Reckoning With the Reality of Four More Years”

By
lowkell
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15

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, Martin Luther King Day (and, unfortunately, Inauguration Day), January 20 . Martin Luther King Jr, of course, was a great man, and basically the antithesis of Donald Trump in every way.

Find the Cracks in Their Armor and Target Them

By
kindler
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7

by Kindler

No, we cannot waste a minute on despair – we’ve got a war to win.  This is certainly the attitude that Republicans bring to the fight, in their fetishization of the marketplace, the battlefield and the playing field: that winning, at any cost, is all that ever matters.

Democrats and our allies take a more principled and policy-centered approach, but let’s face it, we need to focus a whole lot more on winning.  So let’s disregard all the stupid Trump distractions and train our sights on what will deliver us from this evil, however long it takes.

The first mission – which is actually a fun one! – is to pinpoint Republican vulnerabilities, so that we may begin to systematically exploit them. I’m going to point out a few here and I encourage folks in the comment section to add more.

It’s the Billionaires, Stupid

As blue collar MAGA diehards fume over their wasted plane tickets and hotel rooms for the cancelled outdoor inauguration, they get to watch Trump, warm and dry, rub shoulders in the Capitol with some of the richest guys on Earth, including: Elon Musk ($430.9B), Jeff Bezos ($235.3B), Mark Zuckerberg ($212.6B), OpenAI CEO Sam Altman ($1.1B), Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong ($11.9B), gambling empire widow Miriam Adelson ($31.8) and heir to the Ricketts banking fortune, Todd Ricketts ($4B).

But they’re not just here for the party.  As in his last administration, Trump is shamelessly appointing record numbers of billionaires to his administration. Besides his ridiculous task force (not a department!) led by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy ($1 billion), that includes:

  • Scott Bessent: Treasury Secretary (finance – net worth unknown)
  • Howard Lutnick: Commerce Secretary (Cantor Fitzgerald CEO – $1.5 billion)
  • Linda McMahon: Education Secretary (former WWE CEO – $3B)
  • Jared Isaacman: NASA Administrator (payment processing and defense industries – $1.8B)
  • Kelly Loeffler: SBA Administrator (married into money – $1.1B)
  • Frank Bisiganano, SSA Commissioner (finance – $1B)
  • Stephen Feinberg: Deputy DOD Secretary (Cerberus founder – $5B)
  • David Sacks: AI and Crypto Czar (Paypal – net worth unknown)
  • Ambassadors:
    • Charles Kushner, France (real estate – $1.8B)
    • Warren Stephens, UK (Stephen’s – $3.4B)
    • Tom Barrack: Turkey (finance – $1B)
    • Leandro Rizzuto Jr, OAS (Conair – $3.5B)
    • Tilman Fertitta, Italy (Landry’s and Houston Rockets: $10.4B)
    • Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East (lawyer – $1B)

And no, we’re not going to list all the mere millionaires like Doug Burgum and Mehmet Oz here because we’re talking serious money here, folks!

You don’t need a PhD in Poli. Sci. to figure out that the optics of a candidate constantly claiming to have been running to help the little guy or “forgotten man”, and then turning around in a split-second and appointing every greedy plutocrat he can find to surround him…is not great.

But it’s only going to get worse for them, because now they have to delve into the crafting and implementation of actual policy, and with the robber barons preparing their trillion-dollar tax cuts and looking for government programs to slash to pay for them – Medicaid, top of the list – the class conflicts in the MAGA camp will only keep sharpening.  And our assignment is to do all we can to help split their coalition apart.

MAGA Civil War

The fissures in Trump’s coalition, in fact, are already in full view. The late December spat over H1B visas showed how the take-no-prisoners MAGA political style is not exactly made for holding hands and singing Kumbaya.  With just one issue dispute less than two months after the election, major figures in Trump’s orbit were already engaged in thermonuclear war with each other, with statements like:

  • Ramaswamy: “Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long.”
  • Laura Loomer: “I got you and all of your Big Tech buddies who are trying to infiltrate the White House to respond and expose yourselves as being in opposition to MAGA immigration policy.”
  • Musk: “Take a big step back and F*** YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.”
  • Steve Bannon: “We haven’t fought these battles over years and years and years to allow American citizens…to be gutted by the sociopathic overlords in Silicon Valley.” And “Don’t come up and go to the pulpit in your first week here and start lecturing people about the way things are going to be. If you’re going to do that, we’re going to rip your face off.”

There’s something to be said for the old saying “There’s no honor among thieves.” Holding such an unpleasant, aggressive, uncompromising, anthropomorphic and unlikeable group of people together is an inherently thankless and unsustainable task.

And think about how many more opportunities to get them to fight with each other are likely to pop up.  Will big businesses targeted for workplace immigration raids pressure the White House to back off? Will the voters who swallowed Trump’s claims that he is a peacenik be happy with all the nonsense about invading Panama and seizing Greenland?  If RFK Jr. tries to go after Big Pharma and the likes of Monsanto, will corporate executives find ways to shower Trump in cash and flatter to convince hin to rein Bobby in? And how will the MAGA masses respond when their Trump crypto investments crash and they are left in financial ruin while the Con-Man-in-Chief makes off once again with their moolah?

It’s the task of politics to keep hacking away at your opponents’ coalition while weaving yours together more comfortably, and whatever mischief we can do to stoke the fires in their compound is likely to pay off.

House Majority Shrinkage

Yes, everyone in the GOP is being ordered to kiss the boss’ pinky ring and almost all are complying as meekly as they can.  But math is a stubborn thing, and the tightness of the Republican majority in the House is going to keep making life difficult for them.  After two members join the administration, that majority will go from an already uncomfortable 219-215 majority to a razor thin 217-215 edge.

Mike Johnson retained the Speakership with literally no votes to spare, which means he is the hostage of every one of his members who may have an ax to grind or a reason to fear offending the voters in their district, particularly for those in swing districts. For all that Trump and Musk threaten GOP members with political death if they don’t fall into line, there are already signs of the limits of that strategy.

The chaotic intraparty battle over the budget showed that Trump cannot simply demand something like an increase in the debt ceiling that goes against strongly held conservative viewpoints and expect abject surrender from all.  Hence, the pre-Christmas stumble in which Trump and Johnson lost the votes of 38 Republicans, forcing them to once again lean on Democrats to get a budget bill passed.

There have been a few other warning signs.  The Speaker giving the hatchet to the head of the Intelligence Committee, Rep. Mike Turner, for not being sufficiently deferential to Putin has, by some accounts, created a new enemy that Trump and Johnson really don’t need.

Meanwhile, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is fighting the Speaker on an issue of personal concern, a proposal to allow mothers in Congress who have just given birth to vote remotely for six weeks.  Again, she just needs a couple of Republican colleagues to go along with her to beat him on the issue.

Call these hairline fractures, an early sign of a dam not yet anywhere near the brink of collapse. But it’s worth asking how many times the Musk-Trump threat of opposing unhelpful members in their primaries will work before some just go rogue and say, the hell with it.  The “nothing left to lose” attitude can be deadly when dealing with members who still have two years left in their terms.

There are lots of other vulnerabilities for us to target, and many more will become apparent. Trump’s advanced age and how he will increasingly manifest it is one.  Inflation creeping back for all kinds of reasons – from his threatened tariffs and evictions of immigrants to the bird flu crisis driving up egg and chicken prices – is very much another.

Bottom line: don’t feel defeated. We’re still standing and they have many more vulnerabilities than their tough guy chimeras let on.  Instead of moping around in despair, focus on weaving our side more closely together while splitting theirs apart. It’s how American politics has worked for 250 years and it’s time to do all we can to make that pendulum swing back again – even harder and more durably this time.

Please check out and subscribe to my Substack

 

High-Level Virginia Faith Leaders Call on Elected Officials and Community Leaders to Refuse to Participate in Deportation Efforts that Violate Human Rights 

By
Blue Virginia
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0

From the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy:

High-Level Virginia faith leaders call on elected officials and community leaders to refuse to participate in deportation efforts that violate human rights
Richmond, VA – Judicatory religious leaders who oversee thousands of houses of worship across the Commonwealth have joined the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy in issuing a statement calling on elected officials and community leaders to implement humane immigration policies in Virginia and across the U.S. These faith leaders are requesting a peaceful, humanity-centered approach to immigration policy and implementation.

Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook, co-executive director of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, said, “During a time when significant changes in our country’s immigration policies and practices are being discussed with the incoming presidential administration, we believe it is important for the faith leaders of Virginia to collectively call for peace and compassion.”

The statement points out a special concern for the faith community: “Of special concern to us are reported methods of detention and deportation that might include raids on churches, houses of worship, hospitals, schools, and other locations associated with meeting basic human needs. Moreover, the threat of separating children from their parents as a means of punishment or deterrence is exceptionally reprehensible.”

TEXT OF JUDICATORY LEADERS’ STATEMENT

“As faith leaders representing diverse faith traditions in the Commonwealth, we stand united in our unwavering commitment to the dignity and humanity of all people. Guided by the principles of justice, compassion, and mercy, we call for immigration policies and practices that honor the inherent worth of every individual. While we recognize the lawful right of nations to monitor and control their borders, we also recognize that in many ways our current U.S. immigration laws do not uphold individuals’ rights to a dignified life, family unity and safety. As immigration and migration are driven by complex factors, oftentimes resulting in life-or-death situations, the rights of those fleeing disaster, hunger, conflict, violence, or war are urgent and compelling.

Therefore, grounded by the demands of our faith and love of our neighbors, we urge our elected officials and community leaders to stand with us to protect family unity and human dignity by refusing to participate in any deportation efforts that violate these most basic human rights. Of special concern to us are reported methods of detention and deportation that might include raids on churches, houses of worship, hospitals, schools, and other locations associated with meeting basic human needs. Moreover, the threat of separating children from their parents as a means of punishment or deterrence is exceptionally reprehensible.

While the practice of religion is a basic human right recognized by most international organizations, we note that for those living in America it is part of the very foundation upon which our nation was built. We find it unacceptable that undocumented persons might be intimidated from going to a church and thereby exercising their right to the practice of religion. We also assert that the disruption of any religious gathering for deportation purposes is equally an assault on our own right to the free exercise of our religion. We also acknowledge that the stability of our society is under grave threat when undocumented persons are too fearful to seek necessary health care for themselves or their children, access basic education or contact law enforcement when being victimized or observing criminal activity.

We stand in solidarity with members of federal agencies, state agencies and local law enforcement personnel who may choose not to participate in deportation raids deemed unjust by their conscience. In accord with long-standing humanitarian principles, these conscientious objectors must be respected. Motivated by our faith, we urge federal, state, and local personnel tasked with detention or deportation of undocumented persons to consider how their actions might be seen in the eyes of God.

We likewise reiterate the call to our nation’s federal legislature to create an immigration system that is fair, reasonable and recognizes the human dignity of all persons. Let us be guided by the principles of mercy and compassion as we shape policies and practices that reflect the best of our shared humanity. In doing so, we honor the sacred dignity of all people, and we fulfill our moral obligation to care for the stranger, protect the vulnerable, and promote a world of justice and peace for all.”

LIST OF JUDICATORY LEADERS 

  • Reverend Bronwen Boswell, General Presbyter & Stated Clerk for Shenandoah Presbytery PCUSA
  • Bishop James Coleman, President, Baptist General Convention of Virginia
  • Pastor Emmanuel Falaye, Apostolic Church Glorious Vision, USA (Northern VA Assembly)
  • Bishop Susan Haynes, Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia
  • Reverend Warren Lesane, Presbyterian Church, Synod Executive of the Mid-Atlantic, Virginia Synod ECLA
  • Pastor John Olukanni, Apostolic Church Glorious Vision, USA (VA Beach Assembly)
  • Bishop Lelia M. Ortiz, Bishop of the Metropolitan Washington DC Synod, ELCA
  • Reverend Mark Snipes, Cooperative Baptist Church
  • The Very Reverend Donna L. Steckline, Ecumenical Officer of the Episcopal Diocese of SWVA, Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church
  • The Right Reverend E. Mark Stevenson, Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
  • Dr. Leo Whitaker, Executive Minister, Baptist General Convention of Virginia

 

CONTACTS

Reverend Dr. LaKeisha Cook, Co-Executive Director, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, Lakeisha@virginiainterfaithcenter.org  

Roberta Oster, Communications Director, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, Roberta@virginiainterfaithcenter.org                                                               

_____________________________________________________________

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy is a multi-faith, nonprofit, non-partisan organization with a statewide base that includes over 20,000 people of faith and good will in every legislative district in Virginia, working together with hope for and focus on a more just society.

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Video: Rep. Jennifer McClellan Says President Joe Biden’s Assertion that the ERA Should Be Considered Ratified Is “an important first step,” “a capstone for [his] career as a champion for women’s rights”

By
lowkell
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1

Well said by Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04):

  • “Well, we really have no choice [but to fight to keep hope alive]. And as we’re going into the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, I am reminded how every time in American history we have made progress on civil rights, on women’s rights, there’s been a backlash. And the only way we continue that progress going forward is to double down and stay committed and building towards the beloved community that he gave his life for. So for me personally, while I am sometimes angry that I’m fighting the same fights that my parents, my grandparents and my great grandparents fought, I do it so that my children and their children don’t have to continue those fights, and I root myself in the joy and the love of making any progress and not letting anyone steal that joy as we face the backlash.”
  • “Well, first of all, [declaring the ERA to be the law of the land] is a capstone for President Biden’s career as a champion for women’s rights, going back to when he was a senator and passed the Violence Against Women Act. And so it’s the perfect capstone for his career.  It is an important first step. I remind people it took 100 years after ratification of the 14th amendment for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to enforce it. And so while we can and should celebrate this moment, and I am proud to have played a part in making Virginia the 38th state to ratify the ERA, we know there are going to be legal challenges, and we know it is not self-executing, and we have got to make sure that Congress acts to enforce it.”

Check out the video, below, and a few more highlights after the video, of Rep. McClellan speaking yesterday on MSNBC’s The Katie Phang Show. As for the ERA, as this article makes clear:

“A senior administration official told CNN that Biden was not taking executive action but merely “stating an opinion” that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was in effect. The National Archives — the federal government agency that is the official keeper of the Constitution — has stated for years that they cannot legally publish the amendment, because they’re bound by a Department of Justice holding that says they can’t. Plus, Donald Trump is about to take office and will likely express a different opinion.”

In other words, while the ERA *should have* been ratified many years ago, and while it *should be* the law of the land – and in the US constitution – the fact is, sadly, it is not. And who knows if/when it ever will be, but that will require, at the minimum, a pro-ERA Congress, president, Supreme Court and probably a bunch of state legislatures. In other words, none of the necessary conditions for the ERA’s ratification currently exist, and it’s hard to see if or when they WILL exist going forward. Something to aspire to, though, no question…

  • “I am an eternal optimist, and so I am hopeful that this [the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas] is a breakthrough that will begin the process of restoring peace and stability in the Middle East. But we have seen where we have been close to a cease fire before, and how fragile a cease fire can be. We were in a cease fire when the October 7th terrorist attack happened. So this is going to require vigilance and attention to ensure that this cease fire leads to long-term peace.“
  • “Weather allowing me to head up I-95…Yes, I will be there [at the inauguration].”

President Joe Biden Announces Presidential Pardon for VA Speaker Don Scott “for a mistake I made in 1994—one that changed the course of my life and taught me the true power of redemption.”

By
lowkell
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8

Great to see, well-deserved! For more information on Speaker Don Scott’s life, see here (“In 1994, Scott was arrested on federal drug charges and served seven years in prison. Later, he acknowledged his mistakes, and said that the experience motivated him and showed him injustices of the legal system.”) A truly remarkable and inspirational life’s journey since then for Don Scott!

Statement from Speaker Don Scott on Receiving a Presidential Pardon
Richmond, VA – Speaker Don Scott released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced a Presidential Pardon, recognizing his journey of redemption and transformation following his 1994 incarceration for a drug-related offense, for which he served nearly 8 years.

“Today, I am deeply humbled to share that I have received a Presidential Pardon from President Joe Biden for a mistake I made in 1994—one that changed the course of my life and taught me the true power of redemption.

“I want to begin by thanking President Biden for granting me this pardon and recognizing my journey of redemption. His commitment to second chances is truly remarkable, and he will undoubtedly be remembered as the President who championed redemption and transformation. His unprecedented efforts in issuing pardons and supporting individuals in rebuilding their lives cannot be understated.

“After serving nearly eight years in federal prison for my actions, I came out determined to reshape my future. I was driven by faith, family, and the belief that a person’s worst mistake doesn’t define the entirety of their story. My journey—from being arrested as a law student to standing here today as the first Black Speaker of the House of Delegates in Virginia’s 405-year history—is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of second chances.

“My deepest thanks go to Senator Tim Kaine, Congressman Bobby Scott, Senator Mark Warner, my dear friend Ken Johnson, and all those who have supported me and advocated for me along this journey. To my wife, Mellanda, and our daughter—your unwavering love has been my foundation and my guiding light.

“I will never forget the pain my family felt when I was sentenced or the sound of my mother’s anguish in that courtroom. But I also won’t forget the joy of redemption and renewal—the sound of her tears as I was sworn in as Speaker. To those who may feel their mistakes define them, I want you to know that it’s possible to rebuild and thrive.

“This moment is not just about me. It’s about demonstrating that our nation can embrace the potential for change, for justice, and for redemption. It’s about what happens when we refuse to give up on each other.

“Thank you to everyone who believed in me, stood by me, and reminded me that my story was far from over.”

Sunday News: “Netanyahu praises Trump in ‘temporary’ ceasefire announcement”; “The Nihilists Are Coming Back to Washington”; “Why Trump’s New Love of TikTok Is Dangerous”; “Serious Ethical Flags” in Trump’s Crypto Launch

By
lowkell
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4

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, January 19.  One more day until the kleptoracy/kakitocracy/plutocracy begins.

STOP Laken Riley Act: DLOV & VALULAC Joint Statement & a Plea to Sen. Mark Warner to Vote NO on This Legislation

By
Blue Virginia
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0

Well said by DLOV and VALULAC:

Joint Statement from the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (DLOV) and Virginia League of United Latin American Citizens (VALULAC)

Strong Opposition to H.R. 29 and S.5, the Laken Riley Act, and a Call to Action for Senator Mark Warner

For Immediate Release: January 18, 2025

Virginia – The Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (DLOV), official Latino Caucus of the Democratic Party of Virginia and the Virginia League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Virginia chapter of the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights advocacy organization, stand united in firm opposition to H.R. 29, known as the Laken Riley Act. This legislation perpetuates systemic racism and discrimination against Latino, Black, and immigrant communities. Our hearts go out to the families affected and all families who have had similar situations happen to them. However, we cannot allow the unjust treatment or collective punishment of an entire community for the actions of a few individuals. Such approaches undermine justice and the values of fairness and inclusion, as well as the foundational ideals of Liberty and Justice for All. This is what our Founding Fathers envisioned for our country: a safe place for all communities to unite under justice and a democracy for the people and by the people.

Urgency of the Situation:

The Senate is poised to hold a final vote on the Laken Riley Act on Monday, January 20, 2025. The bill has advanced through procedural votes with bipartisan support, threatening to undermine the principles of fairness, due process, and equality that are foundational to our democracy.

Key Concerns with the Laken Riley Act

  • Erosion of Due Process: The Laken Riley Act sets up a harmful pathway where individuals can be detained based on accusations alone, without the need for a conviction. This undermines the core principle of the presumption of innocence and prevents the ideals of true justice from being practiced. It creates a system where accusations, rather than evidence or due process, determine a person’s fate, leading to potential abuse and injustice.
  • Economic Impact: The Laken Riley Act’s provision for detention based on accusations alone creates the risk of unjust detentions, potentially affecting innocent individuals who are wrongfully accused. This not only impacts those directly targeted but could also disrupt the economy at large, as false accusations can lead to the loss of jobs, increased legal costs, and a decrease in consumer confidence. The threat of wrongful detention and disruption of livelihoods could disproportionately affect all Americans, destabilizing the workforce and hindering economic growth.
  • Overreach of State Powers: The Laken Riley Act allows states to pass laws targeting specific populations and sue the federal government for not enforcing these laws, even if it harms other states that do not wish to divide or harm their own citizens. This forces other states to uphold policies that may not align with their values, disrupting the balance of power and threatening the unity and well-being of all citizens.
  • Unjust Treatment of Communities: We cannot have a public flogging of a community that does not represent the afflicted actions of a few. Nor can we allow the unjust treatment or collective punishment of an entire community for the actions of a few individuals. Such approaches undermine justice and the values of fairness and inclusion, as well as the principles of liberty and justice for all.

Voices from Our Communities

Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, Member of the Arlington County School Board, emphasized: “This legislation threatens to undo years of progress in creating an equitable society. As a leader in education, I see how immigrant families enrich our schools and communities. This bill sends the wrong message, promotes a lack of due process, and violates the principles of fairness we strive to teach our children.”

Diana Brown, Member of the Manassas City School Board, added: “We already have defined crime and violation consequences in this country, and this bill simply manipulates the system to malign all immigrants and hinder due process. While this legislation imperils our progress, I’m optimistic about our capacity for collective action and positive change. As an education leader and immigrant, I know that our diversity is our strength, and that together, we can create inclusive communities that thrive. This bill is misguided, but it won’t define us – our shared values and aspirations will.”

Carla Bustillos, Chair of the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (DLOV), stated: “National security should protect the core values of American democracy, including fairness, equality, and the safety of all people—citizens, new Americans, and minority communities alike. This bill, as it stands, disrupts due process and weaponizes fear to justify police state tactics under the guise of national security. By targeting immigrant and minority communities, it increases their vulnerability while undermining the principles that make America strong and just. We cannot stand by as our democracy is eroded in the name of false security.”

Christopher Concepcion, State Director of Virginia LULAC, reinforced: “Your leadership is crucial, Senator Warner,” said Cristopher Concepcion, State Director of LULAC Virginia. “Voting against this bill sends a clear message that fairness, equity, and justice are non-negotiable in our democracy.”

A Plea to Senator Mark Warner

As Virginia constituents and Community Leaders representing the voice of many we urge our U.S. Senator Mark Warner, to vote NO on H.R. 29, the Laken Riley Act. His leadership is crucial in opposing legislation that undermines due process, promotes discrimination, and threatens the well-being of Virginia’s communities. Voting against this bill sends a clear message that fairness and equity remain at the forefront of American democracy.

——————————————————————————————————–

About Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (DLOV):

The Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (DLOV) is the official Latino Caucus of the Democratic Party of Virginia. Our mission is to strengthen Latino participation in the political process and to support Democratic candidates and policies that prioritize the advancement of the Latino community in Virginia. Through active engagement, advocacy, and voter mobilization, we aim to amplify Latino voices within the Democratic Party, ensuring their concerns are addressed at every level of government and that policies reflect the values of fairness, inclusion, and opportunity for all Virginians.

About Virginia League of United Latin American Citizens (VALULAC):

The Virginia League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the state chapter of the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, Virginia LULAC advocates for the economic, educational, and social advancement of Latinos in Virginia. Through advocacy, community initiatives, and public policy efforts, LULAC works to combat discrimination, promote equal opportunities, and protect the civil rights of underrepresented communities. Committed to fostering leadership and creating lasting change, Virginia LULAC strives to build a more inclusive and equitable society for all.

Despite Official 30-Day Period of Mourning for Former President Jimmy Carter, Glenn Youngkin “joins list of pro-Trump governors ordering flags to be flown at full staff on Inauguration Day”

By
lowkell
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6

Glenn Youngkin continues to demonstrate that he most certainly isn’t a “moderate” at this point (if he ever was), but is now MAGA all the way. This move is, of course, because of pressure from Trump and Trump supporters, “despite a White House order for flags to remain at half-staff for 30 days after the death of former president Jimmy Carter last month.”

“However, in early January, Trump complained about the possibility of the flags remaining at half-mast for his inauguration events on 20 January and, posting on his social media platform, accused Democrats of being “giddy” at the thought of the flags being at half-mast during his swearing-in.”

Of course, Youngkin could have – and should have – kept flags in Virginia at half-staff for the entire 30-day period of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter. Hell, Youngkin even attended Carter’s funeral in Washington, DC. But instead, since Youngkin has no moral core and – more to the point – wants to have a future in the MAGA/Trump GOP, potentially running for US Senate in 2026 or president in 2028, he’s caved yet again to whatever Trump wants, even if it makes no sense whatsoever.

P.S. Also worth noting is that, despite what the mainstream media told us in 2021, Youngkin in fact at that time said, “President Trump represents so much of why I’m running” and “I was honored to receive President Trump’s endorsement.” Then in 2022, Youngkin campaigned for a bunch of far-right/MAGA candidates around the country (e.g., Yesli Vega, Hung Cao, Kari Lake, Tudor Dixon, Paul LePage), most of whom thankfully lost. And in 2024, Youngkin endorsed Trump for reelection, campaigned for him, came close to being picked by Trump as his running mate, etc.

Saturday News: “Israeli cabinet approves Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal”; “Trump 2.0 Will Be Far, Far Worse”; “Trump Trolled Over ‘True’ Reason for Indoor Inauguration”; Trump Will Be Sworn In “In a Rotunda His Supporters Desecrated on Jan. 6”; “TikTok to ‘Go Dark’ on Sunday”?

By
lowkell
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11

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Saturday, January 18.

Audio: Rep. Gerry Connolly Says Trump Assault on Non-Politicized Civil Service Is “going back to the spoils system, pre 1883”

By
lowkell
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2

Earlier this afternoon, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11) was on WAMU’s The Politics Hour, where he and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) discused “how a second Trump term could impact the thousands of federal workers in the region.” See below for audio and highlights:

  • “…a nonpartisan, non-politicized civil service that serves the American people – we should not do anything that jeopardizes that. Schedule F, which is a cornerstone of Project 2025, absolutely would threaten the nonpartisan, nonpolitical nature of the civil service. So my view is if you want to amend the Civil Service you need to do it by statute – you need to come to Congress and ask the Senate and the House to approve that new schedule… I think you can’t do this by executive order, that is not a prerogative of the executive, it is a prerogative of the legislative branch working with the executive…I think it’s an uphill battle [to get legislation on this] because all too many of my friends on the other side of the aisle, in the House anyhow, have swallowed the Kool-Aid, and it’s almost like dealing with a cult.”
  • “[If] it’s not a civil servant, it’s a political hack who is processing your disability claim at Social Security or your veterans benefits for VA medical care and you are of the wrong political persuasion, your application goes to the bottom of the pile. So this isn’t just about protecting federal employees and civil servants, it is ultimately about protecting the needs of our constituents and shielding them from political interference and cronyism.”

  • “…and then there’s mindless disruption, and I believe that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have both engaged in the latter – mindless disruption. Musk called for cutting $2 trillion of federal spending – that is the federal budget!…he clearly doesn’t understand how the federal government works or what it does and that learning curve is going to be very steep, and I hope he spend some time on the learning curve before he creates not only disruption for federal civil servants but for our constituents.”

  • “I’ve spent 16 years in the United States Congress trying to make government more efficient, I’m not trying to protect anybody, I’m trying to make sure that the government works for the people we serve. And that ought to be the guiding star for President Trump, President Biden, Chris Van Hollen and Gerry Connolly. And I do want to inject something here that never gets talked about and needs to be. Elon Musk runs a company, let’s take Tesla. Does Elon Musk say to his management team, we’re never going to ever raise revenue…whatever the price of a Tesla is, it’s frozen forever? We’re only going to look at the spending side of the company and rein that in? Well of course he doesn’t do that. Well if you want government run as a business, you’ve got to look at the revenue side as well as the spending side. And that’s part of the real false premise of DOGE itself, that we’re only going to look at spending like that’s out of control. And the fact of the matter is, if you look at federal employees, the ratio of federal employees to population has been stagnant. The growth has been in outsourcing federal  contracts, and that started really under Ronald Reagan, a Republican president.”

  • “I agree with your characterization, we’re going back to the spoils system, pre 1883, and that is not a good idea in the 21st century and it’s certainly not a good idea for average Americans who when they need government benefits count on them, count on them to be processed in a fair nonpolitical, non-politicized way. And that’s the kind of government we want to make sure is more efficient.  And as Chris said, we’re all in if you want to make it more efficient. Obviously there are savings to be had. I’ve got plenty of categories I could talk about in terms of where we could save money and where we can find common ground as a matter of fact. But starting out by saying we’re going to replace 100,000 workers with political hacks is a non-starter for us and I hope it will be a non-starter for the US Congress.”

  • “I think President Trump has a very different agenda than we have. I mean both Chris and I would agree FBI needs a new headquarters and it’s got to be secure. It’s got to have setbacks that are not urban to protect it. It needs to have space to grow because it’s a living organism…So we both agree it needs a new headquarters. We don’t agree on where it should be. And I respectfully disagree with Chris about the process – the decision was made unilaterally by one individual who was brought in and she unilaterally overturned a unanimous decision by the award panel that found in Virginia Springfield site…I don’t know her and I don’t know what she was thinking. But that’s why our committee, not just Virginia, our committee has formally requested the IG to examine this process. It’s been a year now and we’re looking forward as Chris is to seeing what those results are. If the Inspector General says you know, it was a fair process, she had her reasons for what she did, we’re going to accept that. But right now we’re not pleased with the process, given the fact that we unanimously won even after the criteria were weighted in Maryland’s favor.”

  • “There is a difference between universal remote working in a pandemic and a structured architecture for telework. which by the way we had before the pandemic and it worked fine...there weren’t empty offices, there weren’t empty retail outlets and restaurants. And so we need to make that distinction, we can’t conflate the two. If you want to recruit the next generation of workers, you’ve got to have a telework program that’s structured and overseen and managed in place. If you don’t, you’re going to lose those workers to the private sector. And we have hundreds of thousands of federal jobs that are going to be available as people retire…they’re catering to Trump on that, but most major  employers I can tell you in my district are not insisting on 5 days a week, they have a structured work program that works for them.”

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