Weekend Report: What's happening? Trump fails in Alaska, and caves to Putin on ceasefire. White House falsely claims jobs surging among "native-born" Americans. Democrats unveils plan to get five more House seats in California. Michelangelo Signorile Aug 16 ∙ We all knew this would happen. If you were a betting person, you’d have made a fortune. Donald Trump went to Alaska yesterday and literally laid out the red carpet for Vladimir Putin, only to get completely steamrolled. Putin made his unacceptable demands clear. Trump was forced to announce “no deal,” whimpering away while the war criminal Putin got the photo-op of his lifetime. And today Trump caved, dropping a demand for a ceasefire, bowing to Putin and breaking with Ukraine and Europe. In the wake of this month’s pathetic jobs numbers and Trump calling them “fake,” there’s one number the White House is touting, claiming a surge in jobs by “native-born” Americans who are supposedly taking the jobs of deported immigrants. But economists from across the political spectrum are calling it bullshit. Governor Gavin Newsom of California, responding to Texas gerrymandering efforts, announced plans for redistricting in California. And now Democrats in California and Congressional Democrats have released a map that would secure Democrats in vulnerable House seats and gain Democrats five more seats in Congress. It would have to go to voters in California first, and is only contingent on Texas going through with its plans, which few doubt won’t happen... A subscription gets you: Most here is free, please share widely. Some essays, thread discussions, zoom chats, Q&As, are paid subscribers only I think my work is worth paying for, supporting independent ad-free opinion journalism that you won't see elsewhere Whether you pay or not, I'd be grateful for you to subscribe and share important pieces. Thanks!