FOCUS: Rogé Karma | The Lisa Cook Case Could Be the Whole Ball Game

 

 

28 August 25

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FOCUS: Rogé Karma | The Lisa Cook Case Could Be the Whole Ball Game
Rogé Karma, The Atlantic
Excerpt: "If the Supreme Court lets Trump replace Cook with a loyalist, he might soon achieve a full-blown takeover of the Federal Reserve."

 

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A Dangerous Liaison Trump and RFK Jr. play politics with public health and safety Dan Rather and Team Steady Aug 28 Credit: Getty Images Alarm bells have sounded so many times over the past seven months that you might feel the need to tune them out. But please don’t cover your ears on this one … because the newest one-two punch from the government authority designed to keep us healthy threatens to put the entire U.S. population in jeopardy. First, the newly confirmed head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was fired after she refused to go against science and her conscience by acquiescing to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Susan Monarez was pressured to change the agency’s vaccine policy to align with that of the anti-vaccine Kennedy — specifically his new stance on the Covid vaccine, which is the second half of that one-two punch. More on that in a minute. Monarez was also pressed to fire her top staff. Monarez, a longtime federal scientist, is now suing Donald Trump over her firing. In a statement, her lawyers said, “When CDC Director Susan Monarez refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts, she chose protecting the public over serving a political agenda. For that reason, she has been targeted.” Her senior staff quit en masse, including the chief medical officer, Dr. Debra Houry; the agency’s top respiratory illness and immunization specialist, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis; and infectious disease expert Dr. Daniel Jernigan. In a scathing resignation letter, Daskalakis said the new HHS policies “do not reflect scientific reality and are designed to hurt rather than to improve the public’s health. Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults.” One CDC scientist on condition of anonymity told us, “My entire chain of command resigned yesterday. I am just heartbroken for my beautiful agency, which has been brought to its knees so quickly. And for our country.” Share The vacuum at the top of the CDC is exacerbated by recent massive budget cuts and Kennedy’s firing of 600 CDC staff members last week. He said the firings were to combat “bureaucratic sprawl” and focus on his big priority, “reversing the chronic disease epidemic.” But now the battle against chronic diseases (which was already well underway) is happening at the expense of combating infectious diseases. Covid is once again surging, and the bird flu outbreak is spreading fast. Some epidemiologists believe it will turn into a pandemic if things don’t change quickly. Meanwhile, CDC staff are still reeling from a deadly shooting at their workplace. Two weeks ago, a gunman fired 180 rounds at the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters. The shooter, who wrote that he was motivated by vaccine distrust, killed a police officer and then himself. None of this upheaval stopped Kennedy from rolling out his new Covid vaccine protocols this week, marking the second major blow to the health of all Americans. As of Wednesday, if you are under 65 years of age and not considered high risk, you will no longer be able to get any Covid vaccine. That was a deal-breaker for the CDC senior staff. Kennedy also canceled $500 million for mRNA vaccine research. It was that very research that brought the original Covid vaccines to market so quickly at the end of 2020 and is credited with getting the pandemic under control and saving countless lives. We know that a new variant of Covid is on the rise again because the CDC is still tracking and disseminating testing data. But remember Trump’s brilliant 2020 reasoning? “If we stop testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any.” Thankfully, that didn’t happen. But now it might. There is a very real possibility that the government will now stop testing, or at the very least stop reporting the data. And you shouldn’t be waiting by your mailboxes for those free testing kits the Biden administration sent to every American household, either. “Vaccines save lives — this is an indisputable, well-established, scientific fact. Recently, the overstating of risks and the rise of misinformation have cost lives, as demonstrated by the highest number of U.S. measles cases in 30 years and the violent attack on our agency,” Dr. Houry wrote in her last email to her staff. The CDC’s most critical function is emergency response. When done quickly and properly, it can prevent a few cases from becoming an outbreak. With regard to this year’s measles outbreak, the CDC had the means and training to respond but failed to do so at the behest of Kennedy, who has no medical training and is an environmental lawyer. More than 1,400 people have been infected with measles in 43 states. Three have died. A health official in Lubbock, Texas, near the epicenter of the outbreak, said CDC officials did not reach out until a child had perished. “My staff feels like we are out here all alone,” she said. “All of us at CDC train for this moment, a massive outbreak,” one CDC researcher told KFF Health News. “All this training and then we weren’t allowed to do anything.” Not being “allowed to do anything” is becoming an issue all over the federal government amid Trump’s penchant for getting rid of people he deems “disloyal,” who deliver bad news, or whom he simply doesn’t like. He is attempting to fire Lisa Cook, the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Trump does not have the authority to remove members of the Fed, but he is trying nonetheless. The White House has accused Cook of mortgage fraud, though no charges have been filed. She is suing. This week Trump fired Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse, the head of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, because that agency produced a report Trump didn’t like. It said the U.S. air strikes against Iran’s nuclear sites set back the program only by a few months. This runs counter to Trump’s narrative of a “spectacular military success.” Earlier this month, Trump got rid of Erika McEntarfer, the head of the Department of Labor Statistics. The president was infuriated by the monthly jobs report, which showed weaker than expected hiring numbers and a downward revision of the two previous months. Not surprisingly, he has also fired multiple inspectors general and several immigration judges. It doesn’t take a medical scientist to know that RFK Jr. should be fired ASAP. The possibility of widespread harm is a clear and current danger. Americans will die because one man foolishly doesn’t believe in vaccines. How many warnings do we need from some of the top medical scientists in the world? This is not meant to be hyperbolic or alarmist, but we need a reality check, Steady friends. As Trump & Company continue to try to control what information gets to the American people, it is imperative that independent media do everything they can to keep reporting and that you keep listening and reading. And please, look out for each other. Steady is free, but to support my team’s efforts to protect our democracy through the power of independent journalism, please consider joining as a paid subscriber. It keeps Steady sustainable and accessible for all. Upgrade to paid No matter how you subscribe, I thank you for reading. Stay Steady, Dan

 

A Slap in the Face: Honoring an Insurrectionist Aug 29 I still remember January 6, 2021, like it happened yesterday. I remember the screams, the pounding on the doors, the sea of red hats and flags that weren’t about patriotism but about overthrowing democracy. I remember my fellow officers being crushed, beaten, and sprayed with chemicals. I remember looking into the eyes of people who saw me not as a fellow American, but as an enemy simply because I wore a badge and defended the Capitol. Among those people was Ashli Babbitt. She wasn’t there to peacefully protest. She wasn’t there to petition her government. She was trying to force her way through a barricaded door, leading directly to the House chamber where Members of Congress were being evacuated. Her actions were not patriotic — they were violent and reckless. She made a choice, and that choice had consequences. And now, the government has decided to give her military funeral honors. I’m disgusted, and I am calling her out. I cannot do it alone. Subscribe today to support me and my work. This decision is more than just misguided. It is an insult — to me, to my colleagues who fought for our lives that day, and to the very idea of what military service means. Military honors are supposed to be reserved for those who upheld their oath, who served with honor, and who lived in a way that embodied sacrifice for their country. Ashli Babbitt forfeited that honor when she turned against the very Constitution she once swore to defend. Let’s be clear: She died while attacking democracy. That is the truth. You can try to rewrite history, but you cannot change what happened on January 6. No matter how much some politicians and pundits try to paint her as a martyr, she wasn’t. She was part of a mob that left a trail of broken windows, broken bodies, and broken trust in the very heart of our republic. I can’t help but think of my fellow officers — the ones who still wake up with nightmares, the ones who can’t return to work because of their injuries, and the ones we buried because the weight of that day was too much to carry. Where are their honors? Where are the proclamations, the ceremonies, the symbolic gestures that tell their families, “Your sacrifice mattered”? Instead, we watch as the government honors someone who tried to silence democracy with violence. This isn’t just about Ashli Babbitt. It’s about what we choose to celebrate as a nation. Do we honor those who defended the Capitol — often at great personal cost — or do we glorify those who attacked it? Every time we elevate someone like Babbitt, we tell the world that violent insurrection is excusable, even honorable. That message is dangerous. I took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. On January 6, I kept that oath. Too many others did, too. And I will not sit quietly while those who tried to destroy democracy are rewarded with honors they did not earn. Ashli Babbitt does not deserve a hero’s farewell. What she deserves — and what history must remember — is the truth: she was part of an attack on America. And no amount of ceremony can change that. You're currently a free subscriber to Standing Our Ground. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.

Watch now   NEWS: Mexico Suspends Shipments to United States and Tulsi Gabbard Exposes Identity of CIA Officer Mexico has suspended shipments to the United States because of tariffs, Tulsi Gabbard accidentally exposes identity of CIA officer, U.S. Air Force grants military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt Aaron Parnas Aug 28 Good evening everyone. I want to pause here to thank you. None of this reporting—none of this work—would be possible without you. Independent journalism is under relentless attack. Social media giants are silencing voices that refuse to toe the line, hoping to drown us out. But by subscribing today, you’re not just supporting journalism—you’re joining a movement. Upgrade to paid Together, we push back. Together, we cut through the noise. And together, we win. With that, here’s the news you missed today: On Aug. 19, Tulsi Gabbard posted a list of 37 officials stripped of security clearances, accidentally exposing an undercover CIA officer, drawing criticism for not consulting the agency and being accused of politicizing intelligence.  Mexico suspended postal shipments to the U.S. as the Trump administration ends the “de minimis” exemption allowing duty-free entry of packages under $800, joining the EU, Australia, Japan, and others in halting deliveries amid tariff confusion, while negotiations continue to avoid broader trade fallout. The U.S. Air Force will grant military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt, the Capitol rioter fatally shot on Jan. 6, reversing a previous denial and marking part of Trump’s broader effort to reframe the attack—after pardoning about 1,500 rioters, replacing prosecutors with defenders of participants, and portraying them as “patriots” and “political prisoners.” Former CDC official Debra Houry, resigning alongside Daskalakis and Jernigan, warned that RFK Jr.’s vaccine messaging is harming public health, citing the highest U.S. measles cases in 30 years due to unvaccinated populations and his promotion of vitamins over vaccines. Resigning CDC officials Daniel Jernigan and Demetre Daskalakis urged “getting politics out of public health,” stressing science-led decisions and praising CDC staff as vital protectors of America. The White House appointed Jim O’Neill, RFK Jr.’s top deputy, as acting CDC director after firing Susan Monarez, advancing Kennedy’s anti-vaccine agenda in federal health policy. Public health experts and Sen. Bernie Sanders (HELP committee) have called for HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign and for a bipartisan investigation into Monarez’s firing. The Minneapolis mayor has called for a federal ban on assault weapons. Fed Governor Lisa Cook filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s attempt to fire her, naming Fed Chair Jerome Powell and the board as defendants; her lawyers argue she had no notice or hearing, and a court hearing is set for Aug. 29 at 10am ET. Trump touted GOP “success” on Truth Social and floated holding a Republican national convention just before the Midterms, breaking tradition of once every four years. Border czar ZEALOT Tom Homan announced ICE will ramp up operations in Chicago and other Democratic-led cities after Labor Day, accusing them of refusing to cooperate and releasing “public safety threats.” The Trump administration asked Naval Station Great Lakes near Chicago to support DHS immigration operations as part of a wider federal crackdown on “sanctuary cities,” sparking pushback from Illinois leaders including Gov. Pritzker, Senators Duckworth and Durbin, and Rep. Jeffries, who condemned the move as unconstitutional, authoritarian, and harmful to military readiness. The Trump administration eased rules to let the DOJ hire temporary immigration judges without immigration law experience, aiming to reduce a backlog of 3.7 million cases after firing about 100 judges; critics warn it undermines due process and risks political bias, while the administration pushes faster deportations and even considers using National Guard JAG officers as judges. Border Patrol agents arrested two firefighters battling Washington’s 9,000-acre Bear Gulch Fire, prompting outrage from Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Emily Randall, who said Trump’s immigration crackdown is undermining wildfire response; officials confirmed the operation but gave no details, while the fire remains just 13% contained amid dangerous heat and wind conditions. Cracker Barrel, after backlash over its logo rebrand, quietly removed its Pride page and references to LGBTQ+ and DEI employee groups from its website, sparking criticism and celebration from right-wing activists, while the company insists the changes were part of “removing outdated content.” The U.S. economy grew 3.3% in Q2 2025, stronger than the initial 3.0% estimate, driven by higher consumer spending (+1.6%) and net exports boosted by a sharp drop in imports after Trump’s tariff policies; economists note growth is steady but slowing, with inflation at 2% and forecasts pointing to around 1.5–2% growth ahead. A REPUBLICAN!  James Edwin Yokeley Jr., 66, chairman of the Surry County Board of Elections in North Carolina, resigned after being arrested for allegedly spiking his granddaughters’ ice cream with illegal narcotics; police say video shows him placing the pills, and he faces charges of contaminating food with a controlled substance and felony child abuse, though he denies wrongdoing. A federal judge blocked Trump ally Kari Lake from firing Voice of America Director Michael Abramowitz, ordering his reinstatement until lawful removal; the court ruled only VOA’s advisory board can dismiss him, but Trump had already fired the board, leaving no quorum, highlighting broader tensions over political control of U.S.-funded media. Israeli forces carried out their deepest raid in Syria since Assad’s ouster, striking a former air defense base near Damascus used by Iranian militias, killing Syrian troops and sparking condemnation from Damascus; the operation comes amid Israel–Syria security talks in Paris and Azerbaijan, with Netanyahu confirming discussions on demilitarizing southern Syria and protecting the Druze community, while the U.S. mediates in hopes of eventual normalization. Safety trials by OpenAI and Anthropic revealed earlier versions of ChatGPT and Claude could be misused to provide bomb recipes, bioweapon instructions, and cybercrime tools, with Anthropic warning that AI is being weaponized for fraud and hacking; both firms published findings to promote transparency, noting safeguards reduce risks, while OpenAI said its newer ChatGPT-5 shows stronger resistance to misuse. Good news: At the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, teams raced solar-powered cars 2,000 miles across Australia’s Outback, with many vehicles using aerodynamic fins to harness wind for extra thrust; the Dutch Brunel Solar Team won with their Nuna 13 car, completing the Darwin-to-Adelaide race in 34 hours using dual fins to boost speed without added energy. Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala created the “Great Mayan Reserve,” a 14-million-acre trinational protected rainforest that preserves biodiversity, combats crime and logging, and honors Mayan cultural heritage, with leaders pledging cooperative conservation and sustainable development for the 2 million people and 7 million species living there. Former rugby player Ed Jackson, once a quadriplegic after a spinal injury, achieved a historic first ascent of a previously unclimbed 15,485-foot peak in Kyrgyzstan’s Tien Shan Mountains, dedicating the climb to his charity Millimetres to Mountains and local children with disabilities who will name the peak. See you in the morning. — Aaron

NORTH CAROLINA: THE PARTY OF FAMILY VALUES! ANOTHER REPUBLICAN FREAK!

Local GOP Elections Chair Accused Of Drugging Granddaughters’ Ice Cream

Video footage showed James Yokeley of North Carolina placing the pills in his grandchildren’s frozen treats, according to Wilmington Police.

By Ben Blanchet

Aug 28, 2025

The GOP chair of a local elections board in North Carolina has been arrested after being accused of putting MDMA and cocaine in his grandchildren’s ice cream.

James Yokeley — a Republican who was selected to chair the Surry County Board of Elections in June — flagged down an officer at a Sheetz convenience store to inform him that his two granddaughters found pills in their Dairy Queen Blizzards, according to the Wilmington Police Department.

After it was determined that the two hadn’t ingested the substances, preliminary field tests indicated that the pills were illegal narcotics, and they were taken to a state lab for further testing.

Video footage showed Yokeley placing the pills in his grandchildren’s frozen treats, per Wilmington Police.

The 66-year-old has been charged with two felony counts of contaminating food or drink with a controlled substance, felony child abuse and felony possession of Schedule I narcotics.

He appeared in court on Wednesday and is not allowed to have contact with the grandchildren involved, according to Wilmington’s NBC affiliate WECT.

The state and Surry County elections boards, in a statement, said they are “aware” of the charges against Yokeley.

“We will continue to collect information about the situation and will provide support to the Surry County board, as needed, to ensure it is able to continue serving the county’s voters,” the statement read.    

Prior to his appointment to chair of the Surry County Board of Elections, Yokeley previously ran — and lost — in the Republican primary for a seat on the Surry County school board in 2022.

In 2023, Yokeley was appointed to the Surry County election board to replace a member who was dismissed for attempting to delay the certification of election results, as reported in a 2024 story by Reuters.

Emails obtained by the wire outlet noted that Yokeley “expressed concern about noncitizens casting votes,” a claim pushed by President Donald Trump ahead of last year’s election, and he “pressed the five-member, majority-Democrat board to check citizenship more stringently.”

HUFFPOST

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING? fOR WHO? DID ANYONE DO A DOUBLE TAKE? THIS ISN'T A JOKE!

 

Applications open for affordable housing at new Middleboro apartment complex

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Aug 18, 2025

The announcement was made at the Aug. 18 Select Board meeting. Photo by Ethan Hunt

MIDDLEBORO — The Middleboro Housing Authority announced that lottery applications are open for 11 affordable housing units at the soon-to-open Lex Court Apartment Complex.

Construction on the complex, located at 480 Wareham St., is expected to finish in the fall. Once complete, the development will consist of 44 one-bedroom units. Two of the 11 affordable units will also be wheelchair accessible.

The 11 affordable units are all one-level living, with nine on the ground floor and two on the second level. These one-bedroom units range from 600 to 975 square feet. Rent for all the units will be $1,800 per month plus utilities, along with a $500 security deposit.

Of the two ADA-compliant accessible units, one is 600 square feet and the other is 940 square feet.

To be eligible for the affordable units, single applicants must earn no more than $72,950, while dual-income applicants must earn no more than $83,400.

The housing authority will hold two informational sessions for lottery applicants, one on Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. and one on Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. Both will be held at the housing authority building at 8 Benton St.

Applications for the lottery are due by Oct. 1 and can be picked up from Town Hall, the Middleboro Public Library or the housing authority building.

The lottery will be held on Oct. 22 at the housing authority building.



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