kmusser: (love)
The final week!

Monday 1/18
  • There is no vaccine reserve, everything available has already been shipped (source).
  • Pompeo lifts restrictions on recognizing Taiwanese officials, likely to upset China (source).
  • DJT planning a ton of pardons for his last day (source).
  • FBI is screening national guard troops (source).
  • Census director quits (source).

Tuesday 1/19
  • National guard vetting catches two (source).
  • Senate begins Biden cabinet confirmation hearings (source).
  • National memorial for the 400,000 Covid-19 deaths planned for this evening (source).
  • White House releases "1776 report" which argues for rewriting American history, no basis on actual history required (source).
  • Administration rushes Alaska wildlife refuge sales through on last day (source).
  • DJT also doing a whole pile of last minute executive orders, which for the most part will be ignored (source).
  • Administration labels Yemeni Houthis a terrorist organization, which will limit humanitarian aid to Yemen (source).
  • Pompeo labels China's treatment of Uighurs as genocide (source).
  • Court blocks rollback of power plant air pollution regulations (source).

Wednesday 1/20
  • Happy Inauguration Day!
  • DJT leaves the White House! (source).
  • DJT removes ban on his staff becoming lobbyists (source).
  • DJT arranges for extended Secret Service protection for his family (source).
  • Long list of pardons, including Steve Bannon, is DJT's last act (source).
  • China issues sanctions against most of DJT's inner circle (source).
  • Dem control of the Senate goes into effect (source).
  • Biden's first executive orders (source).


And now my watch has ended. It's been a crazy four years. DJT has done a lot of damage, but I feel that our democracy has survived it. I wasn't at all sure that this transition of power would happen. The future is still uneasy. I feel DJT was limited by his own incompetence, but his term revealed a lot of cracks in the system and a lot on unpleasantness about some of my fellow Americans. I feel that someone in the same mold but more capable could go full dictator. Biden has his work cut out for him, and some of DJT's damage will be hard to undo and the GOP will be trying to block him every step of the way. I expect most policy type things to be quickly reversed. Unfortunately the stacking of the courts we're going to live with for a generation. The assault on the environment has been partially blocked by the courts, but the pure number of changes there, it'll be hard to catch them all. Regaining International trust on the world stage will be difficult. The government inflicted trauma on immigrant children can't be undone. And taking the pandemic seriously will come too late for 400,000 Americans. But I feel we've turned a corner and here's hoping things improve.

Should I continue these news reports? I've kept the focus pretty narrow: actions by the DJT administration. The logical follow-up would be looking at actions by the Biden administration, but I could change focus if there is interest. Or I could give it a rest.
kmusser: (enlightenment)
Recap

Monday 1/11
  • House Dems proceed with impeachment plans (source).
  • FBI warns of armed protests being planned for state capitols next week (source).
  • Federal charges are proceeding against Capitol riot leaders (source).
  • Total arrested up to 120, and no, they are not antifa (source).
  • U.S. puts Cuba on state sponsors of terrorism list for no apparent reason (source).
  • DHS Chief Chad Wolf resigns (source).

Tuesday 1/12
  • Joint Chiefs of Staff issue reminder to all military service members that they are sworn to defend the Constitution (source).
  • Number of Federal charges against those involved with attacking the Capitol expected to grow (source).
  • HHS removes sexual orientation and gender identity non-discrimination protections from social services (source).
  • Increased security implemented at the Capitol, GOP ditches and moans about it (source).
  • Voice of America reporter reassigned after daring to question Pompeo (source).
  • Whistleblowers at the Census complain about the director trying to push out bullshit reports (source).
  • CDC to require Covid testing from international travelers (source).

Wednesday 1/13

Thursday 1/14
  • DJT asks Congress to freeze spending on many domestic programs, including vaccine rollout (source).
  • Pentagon seeking to purge white supremacists from the military (source).
  • Unemployment is climbing again (source).

Friday 1/15


Maps of the week


Legislative update
  • Legislation signed into law
    • 19 minor bills

  • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
    • 1 pending bill sitting on DJT's desk

  • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate - no action
    • 574 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

  • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House - no action
    • 178 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
kmusser: (confusion)
Monday 1/4
  • Media releases phone call of DJT berating the Georgia Secretary of State for not rigging the election (source).

Tuesday 1/5
  • Administration removes protections for migratory birds (source).

Wednesday 1/6
  • DJT supporters storm the U.S. Capitol building and clash with police, Congress evacuated, one person killed, 3 dead from medical conditions (source, source).
  • Pro-DJT mobs also attacked some state capitols (source, update).
  • Pence rejects DJT's calls to reject electoral college votes (source).
  • Dems have won both Georgia Senate races, taking control of the Senate (source).
  • Administration proceeds with drilling leases in Alaska wildlife refuge (source).

Thursday 1/7
  • Congress certifies electoral college vote, confirming Biden's win (source).
  • FBI following up on those involved in yesterdays attack on the Capitol (source).
  • 52 people arrested so far (source).
  • DJT promises an orderly transition (source).
  • Dems call for DJT's removal sooner than that (source).
  • Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigns as do several White House officials citing the DJT sponsored violence (source).
  • Betsy DeVos resigns (source).
  • Capitol police chief resigns for the failure in protecting the Capitol (source).
  • DJT banned from Facebook and other social media platforms (source).
  • White House withdraws Chad Wolf's nomination for DHS due to Wolf's opposition to burning down the Capitol (source).

Friday 1/8

  • One police officer dies from injuries, number arrested now up to 70 (source).
  • Renewed PPP aid for small businesses goes into effect (source).
  • Covid-19 daily death toll goes over 4,000 (source).


Map of the week


Legislative update
  • Legislation signed into law
    • 45 minor bills

  • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
    • 20 total pending bills sitting on DJT's desk

  • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
    • 568 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

  • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
    • 1 minor bill
    • 178 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
kmusser: (earth)
Monday 12/28
  • DJT signs Covid-19 relief bill (source).

Tuesday 12/29
  • McConnell blocks efforts to raise stimulus checks to $2,000 (source).

Wednesday 12/30
  • UN accuses DJT of violating international law by pardoning Blackwater mercenaries (source).
  • U.S. imposes new tariffs against the EU (source).
  • Census is going to miss its deadline for reporting results (source).
  • EU and China agree to trade deal excluding U.S. (source).

Thursday 12/31
  • Vaccine rollout going as well as anything done by this administration, will miss end of year goal, Fauci calls it disappointing (source).
  • We end the year with the two deadliest Covid-19 days yet, will get worse before it improves (source).
  • FDA fines distilleries for making hand sanitizer in response to the pandemic, HHS countermands fine (source).
  • DJT extends restrictions on work visas (source).

Friday 1/1
  • Happy New Years! We made it!
  • Vote to override veto of DoD funding bill expected today (source).


In news elsewhere
  • Brexit goes into effect (source).


Map of the week


Legislative update
  • Legislation signed into law

  • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
    • 62 total pending bills sitting on DJT's desk

  • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate

  • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House - no activity
    • 186 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
kmusser: (earth)
Monday 12/21

Tuesday 12/22
  • Follow-up on the non-consensual surgeries conducted on ICE detainees (source).
  • NAACP sues DJT and GOP for attempting to overturn election results (source).
  • Administration considering 11th hour changes to the standard government budgeting process (source).
  • DoJ sues Walmart for illegally dispensing opioids (source).

Wednesday 12/23
  • DJT starts handing out pardons, including to Blackwater mercenaries convicted of massacring Iraqi civilians (source).
  • DJT vetoes defense spending bill because it doesn't remove liability protections for social media companies (source).
  • Administration imposes sanctions against Belarus (source).
  • Environmental groups sue administration over Alaska logging (source).

Thursday 12/24
  • Relief bill in limbo while DJT decides whether to follow through on his veto threat (source, analysis).
  • Unemployment benefits will expire Saturday if no relief bill (source).
  • DJT pardons Manafort (source).

Friday 12/25
  • Merry Christmas!


Map of the week


Legislative update
  • Legislation signed into law
    • 32 minor bills, including short term funding bills

  • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature

  • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
    • 571 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

  • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
    • 17 minor bills
    • 186 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
kmusser: (fnord)
Over the weekend
  • Supreme Court rejects Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn election (source).
  • FDA vaccine approval is official (source).

Monday 12/14
  • Electoral College makes Biden victory official (source).
  • William Barr is out as Attorney General, his replacement is Jeff Rosen (source).
  • U.S. removes Sudan from list of terrorist states in exchange for them normalizing relations with Israel (source).
  • Sanctions against Turkey go into effect (source).

Tuesday 12/15
  • Russia successfully hacks a bunch of government computer systems, including the Pentagon and DHS, not clear what they did with their access (source).
  • Administration rolls back appliance and water efficiency standards (source).

Wednesday 12/16
  • Treasury accuses Switzerland and Vietnam of currency manipulation (source).

Thursday 12/17
  • EPA turns over managing Florida's waterways to the state government (source).
  • States accuse CDC of cutting vaccine allocations (source).

Friday 12/18
  • There might be a brief government shutdown if Congress doesn't pass another funding bill today, they're still busy working on a Covid-19 relief bill that may or may not happen (source).
  • Pence gets vaccinated (source.
  • DJT is in hiding (source).


Map of the week


Legislative update
  • Legislation signed into law

  • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature

  • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
    • 2 minor bills
    • 606 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

  • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
    • 12 minor bills
    • 168 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
kmusser: (Psicorp)
Monday 12/7
  • Giuliani has Covid-19 (source).
  • Arizona legislature shuts down because Giuliani exposed them all (source).
  • EPA proposes allowing use of pesticide linked to brain damage in children (source).
  • Supreme Court upholds school policy of transgender students using bathrooms that match their gender identity (source).

Tuesday 12/8
  • Supreme Court rejects DJT's challenge of Pennsylvania election results (source).
  • Election cybersecurity chief that was fired sues DJT and his lawyer for defamation over death threats (source).
  • FDA reports that Pfizer vaccine is safe (source).

Wednesday 12/9
  • Daily deaths due to Covid-19 goes over 3,000 (source).
  • DoJ to hurry up death row executions before DJT leaves office (source).
  • DJT supports attempt by Texas to get election results from other states thrown out (source).

Thursday 12/10
  • CDC predicts Covid-19 death toll of 362,000 by January 2 (source).
  • DoD withdrawing support from CIA counter-terrorism efforts (source).
  • Supreme Court rules against the FBI using no fly list to blackmail people into becoming informants (source).
  • U.S. recognizes Morocco's claim to Western Sahara as part of deal normalizing relations between Morocco and Israel (source).
  • Auction of drilling rights for Federal land in California proceeds (source).

Friday 12/11
  • FDA panel recommends approving vaccine for use, vaccinations might start as early as next week (source, source).
  • McConnell continues to block any Covid relief bill (source).
  • House is investigating political interference at CDC (source).
  • FBI investigating Texas Attorney General over bribery allegations (source).
  • Dept. of Energy to allow companies to determine the energy efficiency of their own products (source).
  • U.S. planning to impose sanctions on Turkey over purchase of Russian missile system (source).


Elsewhere
  • Normally I don't include state level news, but former Florida health dept. GIS manager who was previously fired for refusing to alter state Covid data and has been since reporting out the real Covid numbers independently, was raided by state police and her data confisticated at gunpoint (source).


Map of the week


Legislative update
kmusser: (confusion)
Monday 11/30

    Tuesday 12/1
    • DJT's coronavirus advisor that's been pushing herd immunity resigns (source).
    • DoJ says it hasn't found any voter fraud (source).

    Wednesday 12/2
    • DoJ investigating bribes for pardons scheme (source).
    • Data on Covid aid recipients shows significant funds diverted to DJT companies (source).
    • White House warns that there might be a dangerous pandemic going on (source).
    • White House condemns threats against election workers, never mind that those threats are inspired by DJT (source).
    • ACLU sues DHS for tracking immigrants via cell phone data (source).
    • Court rules that ICE can not detain immigrants indefinitely (source).
    • Court throws out DJT's restrictions on the H-1B visa program (source).

    Thursday 12/3
    • Covid-19 hits new records of 100,000 hospitalizations in a day and 2,800 deaths in a day (source).
    • Administration planning on issuing vaccine cards (source).
    • Covid-19 relief bill might be alive? (source).
    • DoJ sues Facebook over hiring practices (source).

    Friday 12/4
    • Education Dept. extends loan payment freezes through January (source).
    • U.S. withdraws troops from Somalia (source).


    Map of the week


    Legislative update
    • Legislation signed into law
      • 12 minor bills

    • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
      • 31 minor bills
      • 40 total pending bills sitting on DJT's desk

    • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
      • 17 minor bills
      • 585 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

    • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
      • 7 minor bills
      • 164 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
    kmusser: (cartographer's conspiracy)
    Monday 11/23
    • GSA acknowledges Biden's victory, officially begins transition process (source).
    • DJT to require visitors from 24 (mostly African) countries to post $15,000 bond in order to visit the U.S. (source).
    • U.S. withdrawal from Open Skies treaty with Russia becomes official (source).

    Tuesday 11/24
    • Initial vaccine distribution to be based on population rather than risk (source)
    • Biden is now getting intelligence briefings (source).

    Wednesday 11/25
    • DJT pardons Michael Flynn (source).
    • DJT considering a military strike on Iran (source).
    • DoJ appeals decision not letting it defend DJT in rape case (source).
    • Dems seeking a list of DJT appointees that are switching to career positions (source).
    • Dems also seeking to block any mass firings of Federal employees (source).
    • EPA says there's no reason to require energy and mining companies to have hazard or accident insurance (source).
    • DJT still pursuing legal challenges to the election, none that are likely to succeed and they wouldn't change enough votes to make a difference even if they did (source).
    • DJT also still touting Covid-19 "cures" that aren't actually available (source).

    Thursday 11/26
    • Happy Thanksgiving!
    • DJT encourages people to gather together for Thanksgiving, despite what every medical professional in the world says (source).
    • Supreme Court blocks Covid-19 restrictions on churches, wants this pandemic to never end (source).
    • DJT says he won't concede, but he will leave the White House (source).
    • DoJ appeals decision preventing it from deporting children (source).
    • Court rejects attempt to exclude undocumented immigrants from Census (source).

    Friday 11/27


      Map of the week


      Legislative update - no action
      kmusser: (cartographer's conspiracy)
      Monday 11/16
      • Court rules that the order ending the "Dreamers" program was illegal and orders it to be reinstated (source).
      • 15 Asian countries sign trade agreement, replacing the abandoned TPP agreement (source).
      • DJT's court cases are not doing well (source).
      • Wall construction along southern border is proceeding (source).
      • Administration opens Alaska refuge to drilling (source).

      Tuesday 11/17
      • DJT fires his election security director for refusing to support his voting fraud claims (source)
      • About 300 companies that received Covid-19 aid still went bankrupt (source).
      • Senate blocks the nomination of Judy Shelton to the Federal Reserve Board (source).
      • DJT orders further troop withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq (source).

      Wednesday 11/18
      • Judge orders administration to stop deporting children (source).
      • HHS hopes to have 40 million vaccine doses available by the end of the year (source).
      • 250,000 Americans have died from Covid-19 (source).
      • U.S. Forest Service finalizes reduction of environmental protections (source).

      Thursday 11/19
      • U.S. is funding a new vaccine injection system (source).
      • CDC says don't do Thanksgiving gatherings (source).
      • DJT continues to lose election challenges (source).
      • Huh, there's still a White House Coronavirus Task Force, not that it's been doing anything (source).
      • State Dept. bans funding for any groups that support boycotting Israel (source).

      Friday 11/20
      • DJT continues to file election challenge lawsuits, despite losing repeatedly (source).
      • Census is finding anomalies in its count (source).
      • Fed workers that caught Covid-19 at work to get workers comp, families of those that have died to get death benefits (source).
      • Treasury asks the Federal Reserve to return unspent Covid-19 aid and shut down relief programs (source).


      Maps of the week


      Legislative update
      • Legislation signed into law

        • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature

        • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
          • 43 minor bills (not really all minor, but I didn't dig very deeply since they're not likely to go anywhere)
          • 595 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

        • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
        kmusser: (confusion)
        Over the Weekend
        • Biden elected president!
        • DJT's chief of staff tests positive for Covid-19 (source).

        Monday 11/9
        • GSA refuses to greenlight transition (source).
        • Secretary of Defense Mark Esper is fired, to be replaced by Christopher Miller (source).
        • International election observers praise U.S. election process, found no evidence of fraud (source).
        • DoJ election crimes chief resigns after being asked to investigate non-existent voter fraud (source).
        • Most GOP are with DJT in not acknowledging election results (source).
        • Administration submits list of conservation projects to receive funding (source).

        Tuesday 11/10
        • Entire Pentagon leadership replaced with DJT loyalists (source, source).
        • Administration approves arms deal for UAE (source).

        Wednesday 11/11
        • Covid-19 cases are rising in every state (source).
        • DJT attempting to block the counting of votes from active military (source).
        • ICE deports 6 women who accused doctor of nonconsensual procedures (source).

        Thursday 11/12
        • FTC cracks down on unproven Covid-19 treatments (source).
        • Executive order prohibits investment in companies tied to the Chinese military (source).

        Friday 11/13
        • DHS confirms there was no election tampering (source).
        • Covid-19 relief bill still going nowhere (source).
        • Administration racing to finalize environmental rollbacks (source).


        In Other News
        • Covid-19 vaccine progress! (source).


        Maps of the week


        Legislative update
        • Legislation signed into law

          • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
            • 2 minor bills

          • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate - in recess
            • 570 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

          • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House - in recess
            • 153 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
          kmusser: (confusion)
          Monday 11/2
          • DJT argues that states should stop counting votes after election day, which is not how elections work, you count all the votes that are cast, however long that takes (source).
          • DJT threatens to fire Fauci after the election (source).
          • DJT threatening to sue Pennsylvania to prevent counting of late arriving absentee ballots (source).
          • DJT celebrates violence between his supports and Biden's in Texas (source).
          • Supreme Court rules that there are limits to what horrific things prisons are allowed to do to their inmates (source).
          • Administration okays Georgia's plan to not have any website for Georgia residents to enroll for health care. (source).
          • Judge rejects GOP effort to throw out votes in Texas (source).
          • U.S. forces rescue an American hostage that was being held in Nigeria (source).
          • People are fleeing the country, not big numbers, but certainly more than usual (source).

          Tuesday 11/3
          • Election Day!
          • DJT promptly declares himself the winner, even though many states haven't counted many of their ballots yet (source).
          • Election security looks pretty good, no evidence of cyberattacks or other hacking or fraud (source).
          • Misinformation about the election however is rampant (source).
          • Administration fails to generate list of projects for conservation funding approved by Congress (source).

          Wednesday 11/4
          • U.S. withdrawal from Paris climate agreement goes into effect (source).
          • USPS refuses court order to check for ballots stuck in the postal system (source).
          • McConnell changes tune on doing another Covid relief bill, now supports doing one (source).

          Thursday 11/5
          • Now seeing 100,000 new Covid-19 cases a day (source).
          • Office of Special Counsel opens investigation into DJT's use of White House as election command center (source).
          • Judges throw out DJT lawsuits against counting votes in Georgia and Michigan, case in Nevada unlikely to go anywhere either (source, and Pennsylvania too).
          • Judge orders USPS to do additional sweeps for ballots (source).

          Friday 11/6
          • DJT replaces pro-carbon trading head of FERC with someone who is anti-carbon trading (source).
          • DHS still on standby watching for cyberattacks while states do their ballot counting (source).


          Maps of the week


          Legislative update
          • Legislation signed into law
            • 11 minor bills signed

          • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature

          • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate - in recess
            • 572 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

          • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House - in recess
            • 153 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
          kmusser: (Nirvana Bliss Action)
          Monday 10/26
          • Barrett confirmed to the Supreme Court (source).
          • DJT still claiming Covid-19 will magically go away while cases are rising (source).

          Tuesday 10/27
          • Judge blocks DoJ involvement in DJT rape case (source).
          • The Trump Organization has received $2.5 million in taxpayer money (source).
          • Administration finalizes expansion of drilling in Alaska (source).
          • States oppose administrations shortened time limits on student and media foreign visas (source).
          • EPA approves use of pesticides that were previously disallowed by the courts for being carcinogens (source).

          Wednesday 10/28
          • U.S. working to keep WTO leaderless (source).
          • Administration opens roadless areas of Tongass National Forest to logging (source).

          Thursday 10/29
          • Giuliani's business partner pleads guilty to lying about foreign campaign contribution scheme (source).
          • Wolves removed from endangered species list (source).

          Friday 10/23
          • HHS is suppressing Covid-19 hospitalization data (source).
          • DHS is working on aiding election security (source).
          • Covid-19 cases reaches a new high, we're at 1,000 people dying a day, most of them in the Midwest (source).


          Election day is next Tuesday! If you haven't already, please go vote!

          Maps of the week


          Legislative update - no action, Congress in recess
          kmusser: (confusion)
          Monday 10/19
          • DoJ issues charges against Russian hackers (source).
          • DJT lifts terrorist sponsor designation for Sudan (source).
          • Courts are undoing the work of Bureau of Land Management Director that was thrown out for being appointed illegally (source).
          • GAO investigating DJT's interference with CDC and FDA (source).
          • EPA gives go ahead for utilities to keep toxic waste in open pits, is promptly sued by environmental groups (source).
          • Farmer bailout payments are going out (source).
          • Administration makes it easier to fire Federal workers (source).
          • Covid-19 cases are on the upswing (source).

          Tuesday 10/20
          • 545 children that the administration stole from their parents can't be returned because the parents were deported and now can't be found (source, source).
          • DJT brags about being able to raise funds by soliciting bribes from company CEOs (source).
          • New Covid-19 relief that both DJT and Pelosi are in favor of being blocked by McConnell (source).
          • DoJ charges Google with abusing its monopoly (source).
          • Pompeo meeting with Azerbaijan and Armenia to try and re-start negotiations (source).

          Wednesday 10/21
          • Supreme Court restricts voting in Alabama (source).

          Thursday 10/22
          • Judiciary Committee forwards Barrett nomination on to full Senate (source).
          • DJT is averaging 50 lies a day (source).
          • DJT complains that Pompeo and Barr haven't manufactured a scandal involving his opponent (source).
          • U.S. approves arms sale to Taiwan (source).
          • Analysis on DJT's impact on immigration.
          • Intelligence agencies accuse Russia and Iran of meddling in U.S. election (source).
          • More details on Russian attacks on U.S. election systems (source).
          • More details on Iran being behind fake militia threats against voters (source).

          Friday 10/23
          • Court throws out DJT case against New Jersey absentee ballots (source).


          In other news


          Maps of the week


          Legislative update
          • Legislation signed into law
            • 13 minor bills

          • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
            • 11 total pending bills sitting on DJT's desk

          • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate - no action
            • 572 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

          • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House - no action, busy with Barrett hearings
            • 153 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
          kmusser: (confusion)
          Monday 10/12
          • NYT analysis shows over 200 companies and other groups have transferred money to DJT companies in return for administration favors (source).
          • Court blocks DJT attempt to ban ballot drop boxes in Pennsylvania (source).
          • Pipeline crossing Virginia and West Virginia gets go ahead (source).

          Tuesday 10/13
          • Supreme Court lets the emoluments case against DJT die (source).
          • Supreme Court blocks South Carolina's anti-Planned Parenthood law (source).
          • Supreme Court overturns lower court decision extending the Census, allowing the Census count to end (source).
          • DoJ goes after former aide to Melania Trump for violating NDA (source).

          Wednesday 10/14
          • White House endorses "herd immunity" response to Covid-19, i.e. do nothing and let people die while the virus runs its course (source).

          Thursday 10/15
          • Summary of Barrett hearings, Dems ask her a lot of pointless questions that she doesn't answer (source).
          • Pentagon's redirection of Covid relief funds to defense contractors to be audited (source).
          • Russians are using Giuliani to feed misinformation to DJT (source).
          • Post office reverses changes that slowed delivery (source).

          Friday 10/16
          • DJT denies California any Federal assistance with wildfires (source).
          • DJT refuses to disavow QAnon (source).


          In other news
          • A Reuters report on how many people die in jails without ever being convicted of anything, another symptom of how broken our justice system is: (Report).


          Map of the week


          Legislative update
          • Legislation signed into law
            • 6 minor bills

          • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
            • 24 total pending bills sitting on DJT's desk

          • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate - no action
            • 572 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

          • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House - no action, busy with Barrett hearings
            • 153 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
          kmusser: (earth)
          Monday 10/5
          • 2 Supreme Court justices signal they want to overturn same-sex marriage rights (source).
          • CDC finally acknowledges airborne transmission of Covid-19 (source).
          • White House rejects FDA safety guidelines for Covid-19 vaccine development (source).
          • DJT doubles down on saying everyone should ignore Covid-19 even after infecting his whole inner circle (source).

          Tuesday 10/6
          • DJT tells Congress to stop working on Covid relief bill (source).
          • Up to 14 people in DJT's inner circle have now tested positive for Covid-19 (source).
          • Administration following through on restricting H-1B visas (source).

          Wednesday 10/7
          • Stock market goes into free fall on news of no Covid relief, DJT says ok, maybe there could be another Covid relief bill after all, stocks recover - another Covid relief bill still seems unlikely (source).
          • 34 White House staffers have tested positive for Covid-19 (source).
          • Court again blocks attempt to end the Census early (source).
          • Barrett won't recuse herself from election related cases if approved (source).
          • Pence also refuses to say he'll abide by election results (source).

          Thursday 10/8
          • FBI foils militia plot to kidnap Michigan governor (source).
          • Budget deficit hits $3.1 trillion (source).

          Friday 10/9
          • Unclear on whether there are going to be any more presidential debates (source).
          • White House now pushing for another Covid-19 relief package, still not likely, at least not before the election (source).


          Maps of the week


          Legislative update
          • Legislation signed into law
            • 2 minor bills

          • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
            • 30 total pending bills sitting on DJT's desk

          • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate

          • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
            • 153 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
          kmusser: (fnord)
          Friday 9/25
          • DJT nominates Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court (source).
          • Judge removes chief of the Bureau of Land Management (source).

          Monday 9/28
          • NYTimes obtains DJT's tax records which show he regularly paid no income taxes, owes a ton of debt to unknown sources, and sucks as a businessman (source, NPR summary).
          • Judge blocks DJT's ban on TikTok (source).
          • CDC director says DJT's health advisor is lying (source).
          • States running out of money for unemployment expansion (source).

          Tuesday 9/29
          • In presidential debate DJT refuses to condemn white supremacy, tells fascist paramilitary group to "stand by", and again refuses to agree to abide by results of election (source).
          • House alleges that DHS is obstructing investigation of whistleblower complaint, issues subpoenas (source).
          • FBI and DHS warn of domestic terrorism threat surrounding the election (source).

          Wednesday 9/30
          • Judge orders DoJ to publish redacted info from Mueller report (source).
          • Voice of America executives that were fired file whistleblower complaint about VoA management (source).
          • White House blocks CDC plans to extend no sail order for cruise ships (source).

          Thursday 10/1
          • EPA lowering pollution emission standards (source).
          • Judge rules DJT's commission on law enforcement to be illegal (source).
          • Airlines furlough thousands as Federal aid runs out (source).

          Friday 10/2
          • DJT tests positive for Covid-19 (source).
          • Census is still counting through the end of this month (source).


          In Other News


          Map of the week


          Legislative update
          • Legislation signed into law

          • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
            • 12 minor bills
            • 32 total pending bills sitting on DJT's desk

          • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
            • 55 minor bills - I didn't have time to go through them all, so there might be major legislation hidden in there, somewhere in there should be an airline bailout and another Covid-19 relief package not that they'll make it through the senate.
            • 571 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

          • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
            • 4 minor bills
            • 153 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
          kmusser: (Psicorp)
          Friday 9/18
          • Supreme Court Justice and American hero Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies. Immediate debate about her replacement (source).

          Monday 9/21
          • CDC publishes and then immediate withdraws guidelines regarding the aerosol transmission of Covid-19 (source).
          • DoJ designates NYC, Seattle, and Portland as "anarchist jurisdictions," apparently in an effort to create justification for withholding Federal funds from them (source).
          • Administration adds restrictions to H-1B visa program (source).
          • DeVos being investigated for Hatch act violations (source).

          Tuesday 9/22
          • DJT extends racism training ban to Federal contractors (source).
          • Pentagon redirects Covid funds to defense contractors (source).
          • EPA dismisses studies linking pesticide to brain damage (source).

          Wednesday 9/23
          • DJT says he may not accept the results of the election, won't commit to peaceful transfer of power (source).
          • Dems ask DHS to declassify and release report on foreign threats to election security (source).
          • Treasury issues sanctions against Russians involved with disinformation campaign (source).
          • DJT nominates Allen Souza, former aide to Devin Nunes, to be new intelligence community inspector general (source).
          • Amnesty Intl. and Hispanic groups protest Chad Wolf's DHS nomination (source, source).
          • Judge denies Eric Trump's request to delay his subpoena response until after election (source).

          Thursday 9/24
          • DJT's campaign rhetoric getting even uglier than usual (source).
          • Feds investigating discarded votes in Pennsylvania (source).
          • Senate passes resolution supporting a peaceful transition of power (source).
          • DJT pushing to normalize relations with Sudan (source).
          • Local officials preparing for post-election chaos the best they can (source).
          • DJT signs executive order leaving Obamacare in place (source) (though note there is still a court case pending against it).

          Friday 9/25
          • FBI director testifies that there has been no evidence of voter fraud, White House dismisses testimony (source).


          In Other News


          Map of the week


          Legislative update
          • Legislation signed into law

            • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
              • 17 minor bills
              • 22 total pending bills sitting on DJT's desk

            • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
              • 58 minor bills - I didn't have time to go through them all, so there might be major legislation hidden in there.
              • 523 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

            • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
              • 2 minor bills
              • 156 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
            kmusser: (Londo)
            Monday 9/14
            • Post Office sent out a mailer with false voting information (source).
            • Court okays ending humanitarian protections for immigrants (source).
            • HHS official encourages DJT supporters to arms themselves in order to fight imagined conspiracy of scientists (source).
            • DJT argues that climate change has no role in the West being on fire, fires are totally normal (source).
            • Dems are investigating HHS biased intelligence reports (source).
            • Administration backs down on Medicaid cuts (source).
            • Judge strikes down Covid-19 protections in Pennsylvania (source).
            • DJT campaign events violating Covid-19 guidelines (source).

            Tuesday 9/15
            • UAE and Bahrain normalize relations with Israel in DJT-brokered deal (source).
            • WTO rules against U.S. regarding trade war with China (source).
            • Whistleblower alleges medical neglect and unnecessary hysterectomies at ICE facility in Georgia (source).
            • DoJ is going after publisher of John Bolton's book (source).
            • States are seeking Federal help against wildfires (source).
            • DJT still claiming that Covid-19 will just go away on its own (source).

            Wednesday 9/16
            • DJT denies downplaying Covid-19, despite his being on tape doing so and repeatedly doing so pretty much every day. (source, list of the 123 times he has done so).
            • DJT/GOP begin acting like Biden has been president all along and are blaming him for failures of the current administration (source).
            • DJT youth organization setting up troll farms to spread disinformation (source).
            • Military considered using experimental heat ray against DC protesters (source).

            Thursday 9/17
            • White House to develop a pro-white people american school curriculum, DJT likens teaching children about racism to child abuse (source).
            • FBI reports on continuing efforts of Russia to influence the election on behalf of DJT (source).
            • Judge issues injunction against postal service changes (source).
            • DJT announces aid package for farmers, this is aid that was authorized in Covid-19 relief bill and still hasn't been distributed (source).

            Friday 9/18
            • Ex-White House aide gives detailed insiders account of DJT's disastrous non-response to the pandemic (source).
            • Administration plans to block TikTok and WeChat (source).
            • New sexual assault allegation against DJT, this is addition to the 20+ previous allegations (source, list of all of them).
            • We're expected to hit 200,000 Covid-19 deaths sometime this weekend (source).


            In Other News


            Maps of the week


            Legislative update
            • Legislation signed into law

              • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
                • 5 minor bills

              • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
                • 31 minor bills
                • 470 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

              • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
                • 5 minor bills
                • 167 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk
              kmusser: (confusion)
              Monday 9/7
              • Court orders that the administration stop using hotels as detainment centers for unaccompanied immigrant children, decision likely to be appealed (source).
              • Court orders that the Census be given more time (source).
              • DJT orders an end to diversity training for Federal agencies (source).
              • Dems seek investigation of Postmaster General DeJoy's practice of reimbursing employees for political contributions at his former company (source).
              • GOP pushing Covid-19 conspiracy theories (source).
              • Disease experts expect another surge of Covid-19 cases this fall/winter (source).
              • DJT's long track record of insulting veterans.

              Tuesday 9/8
              • Russia is pushing the "concerns" about mail-in voting (source).

              Wednesday 9/9

              Thursday 9/10
              • DoJ charges 57 people for fraud over Covid-19 aid (source).
              • DJT still pushing for people to ignore the pandemic (source).
              • DJT continues to support Russian disinformation campaign (source).
              • Treasury Dept. sanctions 4 Russians and Ukrainians for election interference (source).
              • Court blocks DJT plan to exclude immigrants from representation (source).
              • U.S. to end Covid-19 screenings of international travelers at airports (source).
              • Another Covid-19 aid bill before the election is unlikely (source).

              Friday 9/11
              • Fauci advises "hunkering down" for fall and winter (source).
              • Most private companies have rejected option to defer payroll taxes (source).


              In Other News


              Map of the week


              Legislative update - no action
              • Legislation signed into law

                • Legislation awaiting DJT's signature

                  • Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate - no action
                    • 442 total pending bills sitting on McConnell's desk

                  • Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House - no action
                    • 166 total pending bills sitting on Pelosi's desk

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