Top News | Any Trump Attack on Venezuela Would Be ‘Blatantly Unconstitutional’

 

 

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 COMMON DREAMS

 

Trump’s Deportation Games: Win or Get Disappeared Trump’s government isn’t failing—it’s performing. As storms gather and safety nets vanish, the cruelty isn’t collateral damage. It’s the main event. And we’re all stuck watching the show burn. MeidasTouch Network and Michael Cohen May 17 Guest article by Michael Cohen If you want to know what it’s like to watch a government rot from the inside out, let me take you back to the belly of the beast, where I once sat at the right hand of the overlord himself: President Trump. Back then, cruelty was a feature, not a bug. But now? Now it’s the whole damn operating system. Let’s stop pretending this administration gives a shit about the American people. I don’t care how many trucker hats he sells that say “MAGA” or “America First,” or how many rage-tweets he lobs from his golden toilet at 3 a.m. The reality is this: Trump’s second term is a demolition derby aimed squarely at the very people he conned into voting for him. And the wreckage? It’s piling up faster than unpaid bills at Trump University. Let’s start with FEMA. Remember that agency? The one you pray will show up after a hurricane rips the roof off your house and sends your memories floating in the Atlantic Ocean? Yeah, that one. Thanks to budget hacks and leadership purges that would make Stalin blush, FEMA’s now a hollowed-out shell of what it once was—right as hurricane season rolls in. And guess what? That’s not an oversight. It’s a design. Because Trump and his henchmen don’t do help. They do spectacle. They do punishment. The Veterans Administration? Slashed. Because apparently “support the troops” only applies if there’s a camera and a flag big enough to double as a MAGA cape. Research for childhood cancer? Gone. Guess sick kids just aren’t polling well with the base. SNAP, Medicare, housing, Social Security—programs that actually help Americans? Starved, gutted, and left for dead in some bureaucratic back alley. Why? Because Trump doesn’t care about you. He cares about ratings. He cares about power. He cares about inflicting pain on people he sees as weak—and convincing his supporters that they’re the strong ones for cheering it on. You want proof? He is expected to order up 20,000 National Guardsmen—not for disaster response, not for emergencies—but to boost ICE operations. Because nothing gets the crowd going like storming homes, tearing families apart, and tossing brown bodies into detention centers. This isn’t law enforcement. This is a carnival of cruelty. And the ringmaster? He’s laughing all the way to the chaos bank. And now, in case the sadism wasn’t interactive enough, the Department of Homeland Security is reportedly floating the idea of a reality show where contestants compete for U.S. citizenship. Let me say that again: Trump’s America is so far gone that citizenship as bloodsport is now being tossed around as a legitimate policy idea. Did he get the idea flying on Air Force One while watching The Running Man? Probably. Hell, he’s probably the only guy who watches dystopian thrillers and thinks, “Great idea, let’s make it real.” But here’s the kicker: while he distracts the public with sideshows of human suffering, the average American is getting robbed blind. Your healthcare? Slashed. Your retirement? On life support. Your emergency services? MIA. And while you’re trying to figure out how to rebuild after the next flood, fire, or economic collapse, he’ll be on Truth Social bragging about how many “illegals” he deported that week. Government, in its truest form, is supposed to step in when life hands you the kind of crap you can’t shovel on your own. It’s supposed to be a safety net, not a firing squad. But Trump’s turned it into a circus of pain. He’s selling snake oil while kicking out the nurses. He’s peddling patriotism while gutting the programs that actually keep people afloat. This isn’t policy. This is punishment. This isn’t leadership. This is performance. And the suffering? That’s the point. So, to all the folks still cheering in the cheap seats—ask yourself: when the storm hits your town, when the check doesn’t come, when the medicine runs out, do you think the showman-in-chief will throw you a lifeline? Or just toss you into the ring, and let you fight for your citizenship too? Lights, camera, cruelty. Welcome back to Trump’s America. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PERSONAL NOTE: ARE YOU WITH ME? I CAN’T DO THIS ALONE! If you’re reading this, it means you care. You care about truth. About justice. About saving our democracy from the grip of grifters, liars, and power-hungry con men. But let’s be real: I can’t carry this weight on my own. I’m asking—no, urging—you, my loyal Substack readers, to help grow this platform into a force they can’t ignore. We’re not building a newsletter; we’re building a movement. One loud enough, sharp enough, and relentless enough to push back against the lies and hold the corrupt to account. Now more than ever, independent journalism needs you. Your support keeps this alive—not corporate sponsors, not shady billionaires with agendas. You. Michael Cohen Principal of Crisis-X #1 and #8 NYT Bestseller Author Host of The Mea Culpa Podcast Co-Host of The Political Beatdown Former Personal Attorney To President Donald J. Trump Discharged Felon And yes, as a personal thank you, the first 240 Founding Members will receive a rare, signed, numbered Substack edition of my New York Times bestseller, Revenge: How Donald Trump Weaponized the U.S. Department of Justice Against His Critics. A collector’s item—and a statement. But this is bigger than a book. It’s about standing up while others stay silent. It’s about building a community that calls out the bullshit and fights like hell for what’s right. So here’s what you can do: Become a supporter. Share this Substack with family and friends. Bring your people into the fight. Do your part. Stand up. Speak out. The time is now—and together, we will be heard. Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. A guest post by Michael Cohen Principal of Crisis-X #1 and #8 NYT Bestseller Author Host of The Mea Culpa Podcast Co-Host of The Political Beatdown Former Personal Attorney To President Donald J. Trump and Discharged Felon

The Brightmoor Food Pantry was an important stop on my tour with Bernie Sanders

 

When we talk about combating poverty, it’s not just through critical federal programs such as SNAP food benefits and the federal housing program. So much important work happens right in our communities. The Brightmoor Connection is on the frontlines of combating poverty in our community, which sits well below 200% of the federal poverty level. Based in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit, where many historically marginalized people live, the Brightmoor Connection serves 1,700 families each year. They offer their clients the dignity of shopping through a grocery aisle, without the stigma of a traditional food pantry experience. People receive about 80 – 100 pounds of food per monthly visit. They can also pick up other resources like clothing, and shop by appointment. And the Brightmoor Connection provides a water station because, outrageously, thousands of residents in our community do not have access to clean water in their homes. This holiday season, food pantries across the country rely on our generosity in order to serve those most in need. Will you join me in making a contribution to the Brightmoor Connection Food Pantry, an essential resource for Detroit’s community? DONATE TO BRIGHTMOOR CONNECTION When Senator Bernie Sanders visited my congressional district, I took him on a tour of my community. And one of our important stops was at the Brightmoor Connection Food Pantry. Your donation today is greatly appreciated during the holiday season to assist families with addressing food insecurity, home heating costs, and sheltering needs. Please, join me in making a generous donation to Brightmoor Connection and help families in our community experience healthy, nutritious meals, heat, and safe shelter during these winter months. In love and service, Rashida

https://rashidaforcongress.com/

Rashida Tlaib for Congress PO Box 32777 Detroit, MI 48232

Paid for by Rashida Tlaib for Congress

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Dems dispute over convention delegates

 

BY KELLY GARRITY AND MIA MCCARTHY PARTY PROBLEMS — Massachusetts Republicans aren’t the only ones fighting with each other these days. After a tense subcommittee meeting last night, the state Democratic Party voted to advance a convention delegate proposal from Rep. Seth Moulton that he says is aimed at bringing more veterans into the party’s fold — but that progressives argue would actually decrease diversity. Moulton, a Marine veteran who served four tours in Iraq, petitioned the Democratic State Committee in May to update the party’s charter to include veterans on the list of marginalized communities eligible to be named “add-on” delegates for the state’s Democratic conventions. Under the current rules, add-on delegates — who are selected to ensure the delegation reflects diversity — can include people with disabilities, youth, LGBTQ people and underrepresented ethnic and racial groups. According to Moulton, the amendment also serves a welcome mat to veterans who may be eyeing the GOP. “The more we can do as the Massachusetts Democratic Party to welcome veterans into our midst, the stronger our party will be at beating back Republican extremists here and across the country,” Moulton said during the meeting last night. “We need to offer an alternative to the GOP for veterans looking to be politically engaged.” The amendment has support from the co-chairs of the party's Veterans and Military Families subcommittee, MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan and the state’s top Democrat, Gov. Maura Healey . But progressives pushed back on the proposal, citing Pew statistics that show the percentage of veterans in the U.S. House of Representatives is higher than that of the general population. A letter circulated ahead of the vote and shared with Playbook urged members of the Charter Amendments Subcommittee to vote against the change. “[T]he proposal confuses those who face historic, lasting, and structural barriers to participation with those who need stronger services and support from the government,” the letter, signed by 20 state committee members, including some from military families, reads. “[T]he veteran population in the US is whiter, maler, and older than the population as a whole, so although the proponent claims the proposed amendment would increase the diversity of the party, it would only serve to do the opposite.” “It was disappointing and disconcerting to hear the Congressman and his staff distort and question the legitimacy of hard data while conflating a need for support and services, on one hand, with historic subjugation and systemic barriers to government on the other,” state Sen. Becca Rausch, who spoke against the amendment during the meeting, told Playbook in a statement. It’s uncommon for Democratic state party drama to spill out into the open like this. But it’s also unlikely to escalate to the level of the state GOP, whose members are now suing each other again. Progressives will now have until their Sept. 23 convention to determine how to proceed. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . TODAY —  Attorney General Andrea Campbell will be on GBH News' Boston Public Radio for "Ask the AG" at 12:30 p.m. THIS WEEKEND — Sen. Elizabeth Warren is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Rep. Jake Auchincloss is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Get a chance to catch the Savannah Bananas at their stop in Brockton? Let us know: Email us at mmccarthy@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com and give us a follow at @Reporter_Mia and @KellyGarrity3 .   Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of the first episodes in September – click here .     DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Abortion drug will remain available in Massachusetts, governor says,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “ Even if a ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals sharply curtailing access to the most commonly used abortion drug were allowed to go forward, it would not impact Massachusetts residents, according to the governor.” — “Commission studying new Mass. seal, motto releases online survey for input on design,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald : “ A commission working to come up with a new seal and motto for Massachusetts is turning to the public for help, releasing a survey officials hope will inform a final recommendation due by mid-November. The Seal and Motto Commission voted in May 2022 to call for a full redesign of the state’s seal and motto and has sought multiple extensions to finish up its work since it was first created in 2021. The group faces a Nov. 15 deadline to turn in to the state Legislature final design recommendations.” — "DiZoglio Investigators Find $1 Mil In Benefits Fraud," by Alison Kuznitz, Statehouse News Service (paywall): “Investigators in Auditor Diana DiZoglio's office uncovered more than $1 million worth of public benefits fraud from April through June, with the majority linked to cases involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).” FROM THE HUB — “Leak of City Council letter alleging harassment, bullying linked to street where Council President Ed Flynn lives,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “The petty infighting that has become the hallmark of this iteration of the Boston City Council continued this week, all surrounding a leaked internal complaint that accused three councilors — Ricardo Arroyo, Julia Mejia, and Kendra Lara — of bullying and harassing the council’s attorney. Speculation over the source of the letter’s leak is adding fuel to the council rancor. A review by the Globe of the geotagged location of photos of the letter, which were forwarded by a Boston Herald reporter to a city councilor, suggest they were sent from a home on the South Boston street where Council President Ed Flynn lives.” "Move Mass. and Cass crisis to Widett Circle? South End coalition says yes,” by Sean Cotter, Boston Globe: “It’s roughly a half-mile from Mass. and Cass to Widett Circle on the other side of the Southeast Expressway. But the secluded industrial area is a world away for the neighboring businesses and residents who want Boston to relocate the notorious open-air drug market and homeless encampment that has persisted on their doorsteps for years. On Friday, the food suppliers and other companies in the Newmarket Business Improvement District and the neighborhood group the South End Forum will call for the city to open a multimillion-dollar, multi-stage recovery campus in Widett Circle.” THE RACE FOR CITY HALL — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Progressive West Roxbury/Roslindale has endorsed incumbent Ricardo Arroyo for District 5 Boston City Councilor, and first-time candidate Henry Santana, incumbent Julia Mejia and incumbent Ruthzee Louijeune for City Council At-Large. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “Mass. adds new penalties for towns not following MBTA Communities zoning law,” by Tréa Lavery, MassLive: “ The state has put new penalties in place for cities and towns that do not follow zoning laws aimed at creating more housing near public transit. Municipalities that do not follow the MBTA Communities law, which requires communities with an MBTA station or which abut a community with a station to have at least one zoning area where multifamily housing is allowed by right, will no longer be eligible for a new list of state funding opportunities until they are in compliance, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities announced Thursday.” DAY IN COURT — “New abortion data for Massachusetts show the impact of recent court rulings,” by Kay Lazar, Christina Prignano and John Hancock, Boston Globe: “ The vise-like tightening of abortion access across the country is bringing more people to Massachusetts to end their pregnancies. New data from the state Health Department show a 16 percent increase in the number of out-of-state people receiving abortions here in 2022, as well as a rise in the use of medication, instead of surgical procedures, to terminate pregnancies.” FROM THE 413 — “State panel backs easier path for all-gender bathrooms,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “The Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters at its Aug. 2 meeting voted unanimously to support a change to the state plumbing code in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations that would remove the requirement of seeking a variance. The proposed new code section is titled 'Multi-User/Gender Neutral Toilet Rooms.' The decision is also being praised by [state Sen. Jo] Comerford and [state Rep. Mindy] Domb as being the change they sought in their bills.”   DON’T MISS POLITICO’S TECH & AI SUMMIT: America’s ability to lead and champion emerging innovations in technology like generative AI will shape our industries, manufacturing base and future economy. Do we have the right policies in place to secure that future? How will the U.S. retain its status as the global tech leader? Join POLITICO on Sept. 27 for our Tech & AI Summit to hear what the public and private sectors need to do to sharpen our competitive edge amidst rising global competitors and rapidly evolving disruptive technologies. REGISTER HERE .     THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Two years later, Afghan evacuees in Massachusetts face uncertainty,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “When the U.S. started its military withdrawal from Afghanistan two years ago, Zarlasht was on her way to work at the Afghan Human Rights Commission in Kabul when she got a call with the news. ‘It was really one of the darkest days of our lives,’ said Zarlasht, who asked GBH News to only use her first name to protect family members, including her sister, who remain in Afghanistan… Zarlasht got out and eventually settled in Malden with the help of Catholic Charities Boston. She is one of well over 2,000 Afghan evacuees who have resettled in Massachusetts over the past two years.” — “Disabled artist exposes challenges in redesign of Mattapan Square,” by Seth Daniel, Dorchester Reporter: “ Staring down the zig-zagging crosswalks of Mattapan Square on two legs is enough to make a pedestrian want to give up, but Ellice Patterson did it on two knees, crawling slowly as a form of art and protest to highlight how difficult it can be for the disabled — and the elderly — to cross more than a few of the streets of Boston.” — “How a pair of Facebook posts prompted an outcry and roiled a Worcester City Council race,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette: “In a post in the conservative-leaning Worcester Facebook group The Seven Hills Political Exchange, [former District 5 City Councilor Wayne] Griffin claimed District 5 City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj's political committee had received a campaign donation from a person Griffin claimed was a close relative of Jorge Zambrano, who shot and killed Auburn police officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. in 2016 before being fatally shot by state troopers.” — “A shelter for migrants opened in Concord. The town found a way to bring immigrant families into its community,” by Samantha Gross, Boston Globe: “Concord has invited these children and more than a dozen of their peers, all of whom live in a Best Western hotel -turned-shelter, to the day camp to help them acclimate ahead of the school year. Meanwhile their parents, all immigrants from countries including Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cape Verde, have uninterrupted time for legal and medical appointments.” — “Narcan kits coming to MBTA Red Line stops,” by Martha Bebinger, WBUR: “ In Massachusetts, a push to expand access to naloxone, often purchased as the nasal spray Narcan, will include distribution boxes at 20 MBTA stations. A state budget signed earlier this month includes $95,000 for the initiative, which will cover every station on the Red Line. The boxes will be available in three spots at each station: the public bathroom, the in-bound platform and the out-bound platform.” — “Deerfield Academy Is Raising $89 Million to Build a Dining Hall,” by Joseph Mysak Jr., Bloomberg: “An elite Massachusetts prep school is tapping the municipal bond market next week in order to renovate its dining hall. The Massachusetts Development Finance Agency is selling the $88.5 million revenue bond issue for Deerfield Academy, a deal that will double the school’s debt load. The new dining facility 'supports the Academy’s traditional sit-down meal experience, which is unique in this day and age,' according to the bond offering documents.” HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Nicole Murphy joins Greenough as executive vice president. Kevin Knobloch will join Greentown Labs as the company’s next CEO. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Jason Furman, GBH’s Sarah Betancourt, and Oskar Hallig. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND —  to Trey McNinch, Winslow Eliot and John Sasso, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers, MassLive’s Erin Tiernan, WBUR’s Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Daily Hampshire Gazette photog Carol Lollis, Targeted Victory CEO Zac Moffatt, Tamara Stein and Rachel Lea Fish . NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: RANKED CHOICE RELOADED — State Sen. Becca Rausch joins hosts Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith to discuss Gov. Maura Healey ’s veto of state funding for a youth mental health text line. Koczela and Smith also unpack the latest efforts to expand ranked-choice voting in Massachusetts. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud . Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com .   Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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