We Resist: Day 11

One of the difficulties in resisting the Trump administration, the Republican Congressional majority, and Republican state legislatures is keeping on top of the sheer number of horrors, indignities, and normalization of the aggressively abnormal that they unleash every single day.

So here is a daily thread for all of us to share all the things that are going on, thus crowdsourcing a daily compendium of the onslaught of conservative erosion of our rights and our very democracy.

Stay engaged. Stay vigilant. Resist.

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Here are some things I've read today:

Trump started out the day with another incredible tweetstorm, further evidence of how unfathomably dangerous he truly is. Across a series of tweets, he wrote: "Only 109 people out of 325,000 were detained and held for questioning. Big problems at airports were caused by Delta computer outage, protesters and the tears of Senator Schumer. Secretary Kelly said that all is going well with very few problems. MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN! There is nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter our country. This was a big part of my campaign. Study the world! If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the 'bad' would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad 'dudes' out there! Where was all the outrage from Democrats and the opposition party (the media) when our jobs were fleeing our country?" Lies, projection, white supremacy, and authoritarianism.

Trump signed another executive order today, seeking to "dramatically pare back federal regulations by requiring agencies to cut two existing regulations for every new rule introduced." Reminder: Trump previously threatened to cut federal regulations by 90 percent. Which, of course, would necessarily mean cutting regulations for things like food safety and worker protections.

This report about the administration's "warning" to Prince Charles is unreal: "Members of Trump's inner circle have warned British officials that it would be counterproductive for Charles to 'lecture' Trump on green issues during the president's June visit to Britain, and that the president will 'erupt' if pushed, the Sunday Times of London reported. Trump has called climate change 'a hoax.' Hours after he took office, references to the issue were removed from the White House Web site. By contrast, Charles has called climate change 'the wolf at the door.' A source close to Trump told the newspaper the president 'won't put up with being lectured by anyone.'" Fucking WHAT.

Benjamin Wallace-Wells at the New Yorker: A Dangerously Isolated President. "In the first week of the Trump Presidency, influence has run through a very select group of advisers—maybe as many as half a dozen, maybe as few as two. The President's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Bannon have consolidated their influence. ...According to the Washington Post, some former campaign aides 'have been alarmed by Kushner's efforts to elbow aside anyone he perceives as a possible threat to his role as Trump's chief consigliere.' But Bannon's portfolio may be even broader. His hand was apparent in the President's dark Inauguration speech, in his economic nationalism, and in his early, aggressive stances against Mexico and refugees."

Charlie Savage, Peter Baker, and Maggie Haberman at the New York Times: Trump's First Week: Misfires, Crossed Wires, and a Satisfied Smile. "Stephen K. Bannon, the president's chief strategist, and Jared Kushner, his senior adviser and son-in-law, are forming what is being loosely called the Strategic Initiatives Group, a mini-think tank within the White House comprising analysts who can grapple with large-scale issues like cybersecurity. ...Mr. Kushner has emerged as the most important figure in Mr. Trump’s White House besides the president. He has told several people that all things on nearly every topic 'run through me,' according to two people with direct knowledge."

Yonatan Zunger at Medium: Trial Balloon for a Coup? This is correct except for one thing: It's not the beginning of a coup; it's the endgame of one which has been in motion for quite some time. Note that the four concluding points are things I (and others) have been saying for ages. Recent events confirm those points; they are not the first signs of them. Unfortunately.

[Content Note: Islamophobia] Amy B Wang at the Washington Post: Trump Asked for a 'Muslim Ban,' Giuliani Says—and Ordered a Commission to Do It 'Legally'. Except it was not and is not legal.

Shane Goldmacher at Politico: Trump's Team Gets Ready for Supreme Court Fight. "With Trump planning to announce his nominee on Tuesday night, his allies are moving quickly to sharpen a battle plan, and the first formal meeting of the de facto war room for the coming confirmation fight took place on Friday at the Capitol Hill headquarters of the National Republican Senatorial Committee on Friday. Inside the room were officials from the White House, Senate GOP leadership and the outside groups that have spent months researching the records of Trump's potential picks and are now prepared to unload at least $10 million in ads backing the nominee—much of it directed at Senate Democrats up for election in 2018 in states Trump carried."

[CN: Racism; Islamophobia] Allegra Kirkland at TPM: Trump Staffer Who Shared Racist Social Media Posts to Join Dept of Education. "Teresa UnRue, a field organizer and graphic designer for Trump’s advance team, was included on an emailed list of new employees sent by acting secretary for the department Phil Rosenfelt. Huffington Post obtained a copy of the email, which did not specify what role UnRue will take at the department. In July, an Associated Press review of Trump staffers' social media accounts unearthed a video on UnRue's feed [of gross, anti-Black racism]. UnRue also shared posts saying we need 'Islam control' rather than 'gun control' and calling former President Barack Obama a 'terrorist.'"

[CN: War on agency] Teddy Wilson at Rewire: Oklahoma Republican Pushes Unconstitutional 'Spousal Consent' Law. Fucking hell.

[CN: Homophobia] Andy Towle at Towleroad: GOP Congressman to Reintroduce 'First Amendment Defense Act,' the Vilest Religious Freedom Bill of Our Time. Goddammit.

What have you been reading that we need to resist today?