Cabbage News Network Week #61

[kmusser]

Status of Puerto Rico infrastructure - it's been 184 days and the island is still 10% without power. Status reports from NY Times: San Juan, Vieques, St. John.

Friday 3/16

• DJT fires FBI deputy directory Andrew McCabe 1 day before he becomes eligible to retire (source).
  
• DJT lawyer threatens to counter-sue Stormy Daniels for violating agreement he previously said didn't exist (source).

Sunday 3/18

• McCabe turns over his notes to Mueller (source).
  
• Multiple sources contradict Sessions testimony to Congress regarding Sessions opposing DJT team meeting with Russians (source)
  
• Administration wants to seek death penalty against opioid drug dealers (source).
  
• Kushner's company falsified records in order to harass tenants (source).
  
• DJT increasing his attacks against Mueller (source).
  
• Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm DJT used during the campaign, harvested 50 million Facebook profiles without permission (source, companies Russia ties, company banned from Facebook, and Facebook investigating connections with its own employees, firm met with DJT before campaign, and company whistleblower also banned from Facebook).

Monday 3/19

• Supreme Court refuses Arizona challenge to DACA program source).
  
• White House hires Chris Liddell to replace Porter (source).
  
• Rick Perry defends ARPA-E program that the White House keeps trying to kill (source).
  
• Cambridge Analytica CEO filmed while offering to create blackmail material on political opponents (source.
  
• DJT hires conspiracy theorist lawyer (source).
  
• Administration expands sanctions against Venezuela (source).

Tuesday 3/20

• DJT congratulates Putin on his re-election despite advisers telling him not to (source).
  
• DJT to increase exports of military grade drones (source).
  
• FTC is investigating Facebook over Cambridge Analytica data use (source).
  
• DeVos reorganization plan for the Education Dept. being questioned (source).
  
• EPA to restrict the use of scientific data in crafting its regulations (source).

Wednesday 3/21

• DJT and Saudis meet (source).
  
• Ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal sues DJT over non-disclosure agreement (source).

Thursday 3/22

• DJT issues anti-China tariffs (source).
  
• Spending bill passes House (source).
  
• The above bill will probably be the last bit of major legislation for the year (source).
  
• DJT's lead lawyer resigns (source.
  
• Administration to continue supporting Saudi side in Yemen civil war, approves arms deal. Bill to pull out of Yemen fails in the Senate. (source, source).
  
• Administration to continue taking Turkey's side in its conflict with Syrian Kurds (source).

Friday 3/23

• DJT fires National Security Advisor McMaster, to be replaced by pro-war asshole John Bolton (source).
  
• China threatens counter-tariffs (source).
  
• Senate passes spending bill (source).
  
• DJT threatens to veto spending bill because it doesn't include his wall, if he does we'll have another shutdown (source).
  
• Administration backs down on rule that would've allowed restaurant managers to take tips, new protections are in the above bill (source).

Map of the week

Planned protests against gun violence for Saturday

Legislative action this week

• Legislation signed into law
  
  • 8 minor bills
  
  
• Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
  
  • Omnibus spending bill https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1625
    
  • Bill preventing Federal funds from being used for official portraits of government officials (including president) https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s188
    
  • Bill penalizing websites whose users help sex trafficking (note the language in this bill is broad, many fear it will target legitimate sex workers as well) https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1865
    
  • 21 other minor bills
  
  
• Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
  
  • Bill to give patients access to experimental drugs https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr5247
    
  • Bill to improve security at schools https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr4909 (does not arm teachers, basically appropriates some money for schools to spend on security as they will)
    
  • Bill easing emissions standards for electric utilities https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1119
    
  • A bunch of bills rolling back financial protections https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr4607, https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2226, https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr4725, https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr4296, https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1116, https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr4566, https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr4545
    
  • Reauthorization bill for the FCC https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr4986
    
  • Bill barring political appointees from accepting civil service jobs for 2 years https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1132
    
  • Bill gutting the ADA https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr620
    
  • Sanctions against Hamas https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3542
    
  • 436 other pending bills
  
  
• Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
  
  • Bill rolling back financial protections https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s2155 (this bill will likely replace the ones passed by the House listed above).
    
  • 105 other pending bills

Comments

[kmusser]

and DJT does sign the spending bill after all, so no shutdown.