27 August 20
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To finish we need 200 donations at $30. 200 people came to RSN in the time it took me to write this.
Fundraising drives do not need to be this difficult.
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It's Live on the HomePage Now: Andy Borowitz | Hundreds of RNC Attendees Test Positive for Delusion
Remember the Children: Trump's Treatment of Immigrant Families Alone Is Reason Enough to Deny Him Reelection
Today, we turn to the border policy that forced the separation of families, leaving Americans to reckon with the disgusting reality that their government was caging children. In the spring of 2017, breaking from Obama administration policy, Trump & Co. began a trial at the El Paso crossing: All undocumented adults seeking entry, even those with children, would be detained. By the fall, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a still harsher scheme whereby thousands of children, some as young as 5, were systematically separated from parents and older family members. Even after courts forced Trump to stand down, so half-hearted and disorganized were the administration’s reunification efforts, as of October of the following year, hundreds of minors had yet to be put back with their mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. Of course, Trump has consistently tried to evade responsibility for his own administration’s actions. But it came to light this week that Trump aide Stephen Miller forced Cabinet officials to vote on the policy. “If we don’t enforce this, it is the end of our country as we know it,” Miller told the officials. Trump took children from their parents to excite his anti-immigrant base. Do not forget.
Supreme Court Refuses to Halt Execution of Navajo Inmate Amid Tribe's Objections EXCERPT: Mitchell is scheduled to be the fourth federal prisoner executed this summer after the Trump administration revived the practice under a new lethal injection protocol following a 17-year hiatus. The Supreme Court did not directly confront the issues concerning Mitchell's capital punishment and Native American rights. But lower court judges previously expressed concerns that his prosecution, which was carried out by U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys, may represent an unlawful encroachment on tribal sovereignty. Under a 1994 law, the federal government is required to get a tribe’s permission before it can carry out a death sentence for murder committed by a tribal member on an Indian reservation, as happened in Mitchell’s case. But U.S. prosecutors avoided this requirement by pursuing the death penalty for related crimes Mitchell committed that are not covered under the law. Navajo members have repeatedly objected to the federal government’s execution of Mitchell. “As part of Navajo cultural and religious values we do not support the concept of capital punishment. Navajo holds life sacred,” Levon Henry, then-attorney general of the Navajo Nation Department of Justice, wrote in a 2002 letter to U.S. DOJ officials involved in Mitchell’s federal case. “Our culture and religion teach us to value life and instruct against the taking of human life for vengeance,” he added. U.S. prosecutors managed to sidestep tribal sovereignty protections by securing a death sentence for Mitchell’s role in the ultimately fatal theft of his victims' car, a crime that is exempt from the tribal permission requirement.
Trump Aides 'Take Pride' in Violating Ethics Laws Because It Upsets the Media at No Cost to Them, Reports Say
According to numerous media reports citing Trump campaign insiders, the outrage is exactly the point. Trump aides "take pride" in pushing the boundaries of ethics laws that are supposed to separate public office and political activities, The New York Times reported. The Daily Beast, citing two former officials, said one motivation is that such acts frustrate the media with few consequences for themselves. Trump campaign comms direction Tim Murtaugh also linked the use of federal buildings with outrage from "liberals," claiming it exposed a double standard. Most criticism of the RNC has focused on the Hatch Act, a 1930s federal law designed to stop top-level government employees partaking in political activity. It excludes the president and vice-president. Some experts also think the law bans the use of public spaces for political activities, The New York Times reported. The accusations of violating the act stem from in some cases from speeches — from officials like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting Department of Homeland Security chief Chad Wolf — who hold positions that have historically been removed from frontline politics. It also involves events being held in federal spaces, including the White House itself. According to the Beast, Trump's "aides and advisers revel in their increasingly frequent violations of the Hatch Act." Two former officials told the Daily Beast that senior administration officials broadly see the Hatch Act as a joke, and gloat over how their violations have largely been met with no consequences. According to the Beast, "Some Trump lieutenants have privately bragged about their alleged violations as a proud rite of passage." Trump allies are happy if the media becomes fixated on the topic, the Beast reported, claiming that the average US voter will not care about it. The New York Times also reported that some of Trump's aides "privately scoff" at the act, and "take pride" in violating it. Allegations from the RNC Pompeo's speech was prerecorded from Jerusalem, part of a taxpayer-funded State Department trip. Ethics experts say that he likely violated the act. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democrat, said he is launching an investigation of the speech, which he said may breach "the Hatch Act, government-wide regulations implementing that Act, and State Department policies." And Rep. Eliot Engel, a Democrat and chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said before Pompeo's speech that it "will violate legal restrictions on political activities, according to a longstanding interpretation by State Department lawyers." And, as Business Insider Eliza Relman reported, the acting secretary of homeland security, Chad Wolf, was criticized for holding a naturalization ceremony for five new US citizens at the White House in a video broadcast during the convention. Walter Shaub, who was director of the US Office of Government Ethics under former President Barack Obama, tweeted on Tuesday night that he'd "seen a lot of ethical abuses before" but that he'd "never seen anything like that." He later said: "Chad Wolf using official authority to conduct a legally binding act as a bit of performance art for Trump's re-election is so far over the line as to make him unfit for public service." Ethics groups have also condemned Trump and first lady for using the White House as the backdrop for their speeches and appearances at the convention. Shaub tweeted: "This is your reminder that the White House belongs to us, not the party." And he also tweeted: "The Rose Garden is used for official government business, including press conferences. They had no business using that official area of the White House for a campaign event." The Washington Post reported that a team of lawyers reviewed Pompeo's speech before it was recorded to ensure it did not violate ethics rules. A person close to Pompeo and the State Department told the outlet that no taxpayer money would be used in the video's production. The State Department defended his speech by saying that he appeared at the convention in a personal capacity. The Wall Street Journal also reported that the White House defended the naturalization ceremony against accusations of ethics violations because it "publicized the content of the event on a public website this afternoon and the campaign decided to use the publicly available content for campaign purposes." Trump aides have previously been called out under the Hatch Act. The US Office of Special Counsel said in 2019 that White House counselor Kellyanne Conway violated the act on "numerous occasions" and should be removed from the White House. In the end, Conway stayed in office and announced her departure this month for unrelated reasons. |
onald Trump’s defects of character have already filled several books. As we catalog 99 reasons why he 
Video games, like many parts of modern life rooted in technology, are often built with open-source code. (photo: iStock)
The Path to Destroying Capitalism Might Go Through a Software License
Patrick Klepek, VICE
Klepek writes: "When we think of radical action, ways of reconceptualizing basic assumptions about how the world should operate in pursuit of a more just society, chances are something as innocuous as a software license, a dump of text that determines what you can or cannot do with lines of code made by someone else, isn't what comes to mind."
READ MORE
A family in Gaza prepares a meal over a fire amid the fuel shortages caused by Israel's siege. (photo: Ashraf Amra/Al Jazeera)
Gaza Fears the Worst as Israel Ratchets Up Its Siege
Hana Adli, Al Jazeera
Adli writes: "Fears are mounting for the safety of people with health issues as already-strained hospitals are largely without power and the Palestinian territory faces a coronavirus outbreak."
As coronavirus pandemic enters the beleaguered enclave, Israel's blockade intensifies suffering of the Palestinians.
Two million residents are surviving on only four hours of electricity a day after Israel cut off the fuel supply, leading to the shut down of Gaza's sole power plant last week.
Israel made the move after the continuous launch of incendiary balloons from the coastal enclave towards Israeli communities surrounding the Gaza Strip by activists demanding the easing of the crippling 13-year blockade.
At 5:30am local time, Salwa al-Bitar, 40, arrived at al-Shifa hospital to start her four-hour dialysis treatment in central Gaza City, which she requires once a week, before the arrival of other patients for the life-saving treatment.
"The situation is harder than before in addition to the precautionary measures to avoid COVID-19 infections. We are afraid from the effects of the fuel shortage on hospitals," al-Bitar told Al Jazeera.
"My body is very sensitive. With only four hours of electricity, it's like experiencing death in life. I can't breathe as I can't operate a fan, air conditioning, or use any substitution to deal with the electricity shortage."
Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesperson for Gaza's health ministry, said the power cuts have "dangerous repercussions" for hospitals with 120 premature babies needing incubators, 100 patients in intensive care, and 950 people with kidney failure requiring haemodialysis sessions every week.
"In addition, the electricity crisis endangers the daily surgeries, caesarean deliveries, and the laboratories … as the old generators can barely cover the electricity needs during this crisis," al-Qidra told Al Jazeera.
'Dilapidated health system'
On Monday night, a total lockdown was imposed on the besieged Gaza Strip after authorities confirmed the first coronavirus infections.
"The announcement of COVID-19 cases within the community in Gaza puts the dilapidated health system due to the blockade at a dangerous new juncture, and it is difficult to withstand without regional and international support," said al-Qidra.
Mohamed al-Qawwas, 55, needs to visit the dialysis unit three times a week, and he expressed concern at the arrival of COVID-19 in Gaza. He has diabetes and heart disease, which make a potential infection extremely dangerous.
"I go to the hospital three times a week and due to fuel and equipment shortage, I wait for about two hours to start my four-hour session," al-Qawwas told Al Jazeera. "This is exhausting my heart and spirit."
On August 11, Israel halted the entry of some materials into Gaza, but days later banned all transfers through the only commercial crossing except for food and medicine. The sea was also made inaccessible to fishermen on August 16.
'Ignoring crimes'
Fawzi Barhoum - a spokesman for Hamas, the rulers of Gaza - called Israel's move "a crime against humanity".
"If the occupation thinks that this siege will undermine the determination and persistence of our people and its resistance, and that it will achieve security for them, that is delusional," Barhoum said in a statement.
He urged intervention by the international community. "We call on human rights and humanitarian institutions and the international community - and decision-makers in the region - to break their silence and work to curb the Zionist aggression and end the blockade of Gaza.
"The absence of deterrent decisions to the occupation, but rather ignoring its crimes and normalisation with it is the main reason for its persistence in its crimes and violations against Palestinians."
The Palestinian Businessmen Association in Gaza announced on Monday that nearly 2,000 companies have been completely or partially affected by the power station's stoppage.
"Preventing the entry of various materials necessary for the activity of the industrial and health sectors threatens to have dangerous repercussions on the strategic stock of basic needs, threatening food insecurity, high unemployment, and poverty rates," Ali al-Hayek, head of the association, told Al Jazeera.
Food shortages
Walid al-Efranj, sales manager of a bakery chain, said fuel shortages were already affecting food production in the territory.
"The food industry in Gaza has been affected negatively by the lack of fuel as there is a decrease in production. And because of the coronavirus crisis, consumers rushed to stockpile food for the home quarantine period, which forced us to work longer hours using fuel generators that increase the cost of production for us," he said.
Ahmed Labib al-Helou, head of the Association of Owners of Oil and Gas Companies in Gaza, warned of "disastrous consequences" on fuel supplies if the closure of the Karem Abu Salem (known as Kerem Shalom to Israelis)commercial crossing with the Israeli side continues.
Fishermen, too, are voicing concern.
"We depend on daily wages from selling the fish catch. If we don't work we can't afford food for our families, and for the 13th day in a row there is no source of income because of the ban on fishing," said Khaled al-Habil, 40, a fisherman from the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City.
"In addition to the implications of COVID-19 and precautionary measures that decreased our fish supply during the past three months, now Israel has shut down the sea. Two enemies against us - that is too much."
Palestinian politician Jamal al-Khudari, chairman of the National Committee to Confront the Siege against Gaza, said the reopening of the commercial crossing was imperative with Gaza now facing the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The coronavirus pandemic enters Gaza in the most difficult humanitarian, health and environmental conditions, in light of the tightening of the occupation's siege," he said in a statement.
Palestinian sources confirmed the Qatari envoy to Gaza, Mohammed al-Emadi, was in the enclave on Wednesday as part of mediation efforts to alleviate tension between Israel and Hamas and fears of another all-out war.
Many tourists swim with dolphins in Mauritius. (photo: BBC)
Mauritius Oil Spill: Dead Dolphins Found After Shipwreck
Yasine Mohabuth, BBC News
Mohabuth writes: "Environmental campaigners say the deaths were either caused by the oil spill from a Japanese-owned ship or by authorities sinking part of the vessel."
At least 17 dead dolphins have been found on the coast of Mauritius, prompting debates about whether a recent oil spill was to blame.
nvironmental campaigners say the deaths were either caused by the oil spill from a Japanese-owned ship or by authorities sinking part of the vessel.
But the fisheries minister said "at first glance" the deaths appeared to be unconnected to the spill.
He said at least two of the dolphins had shark bites.
The carcasses are currently undergoing a post-mortem.
It is rare for so many dead dolphins to be found at the same time. Two were found in May 2019.
These are the first reported deaths of dolphins since the shipwreck. Up to now, many fish and crabs have been found dead.
The sight of the dolphins caused anger among residents.
"Waking up this morning to witness so many dead dolphins on our seashore is worse than a nightmare," resident Nitin Jeeha told the BBC.
"I have seen around eight to 10 dead dolphins. Are there more in the lagoon?"
Although many of the dolphins were found dead, some were discovered weak or dying on the shore.
Was the oil spill to blame?
Environmental activists told the BBC they thought so.
The MV Wakashio ran aground on coral reef on 25 July at Pointe d'Esny, a known sanctuary for rare wildlife.
The area contains wetlands designated as a site of international importance by the Ramsar convention on wetlands.
Oceanographer Vassen Kauppaymuthoo said the dolphins smelled of fuel.
"In my opinion, this situation will continue to deteriorate as time goes on," he was quoted by local media as saying.
Environmentalist Sunil Dowarkasing said either the oil spill from the bulk carrier or the sinking of its bow last week caused the deaths.
"The scuttling probably disturbed marine mammals in their natural habitat. There will be after-effects, and this is just the beginning," Mr Dowarkasing added.
Greenpeace Africa has warned that "thousands" of animal species are "at risk of drowning in a sea of pollution, with dire consequences for Mauritius's economy, food security and health".
But Sudheer Maudhoo, the nation's fisheries minister, said initial tests on the dolphins indicated that there was no link between the oil spill and their deaths.
He noted that there were shark bites on at least two of the mammals but further tests would be needed to identify the cause.
