Surrounded by Oil Refineries, Port Arthur, TX Faces New Environmental Crisis Following Harvey Floods
Published on Sep 5, 2017 by Democracy Now!
Six days after Hurricane Harvey made landfall, the unprecedented storm is continuing to wreak havoc in Texas and parts of Louisiana. The death toll has risen to at least 38, but authorities expect it to grow as the historic floodwaters begin to recede. Early this morning, a pair of explosions rocked a chemical plant 30 miles northeast of Houston, sending thick black smoke into the air. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office says one deputy was taken to the hospital after inhaling fumes, and nine others drove themselves to the hospital.
Now a tropical depression, Harvey has moved inland, but many parts of Texas remain underwater or under flood watch. On Thursday, the city of Port Arthur, Texas, which is 100 miles east of Houston, was completely underwater. AccuWeather is now projecting the economic impact of Harvey might top $190 billion—exceeding the economic impact of Katrina and Sandy combined. Up to 40,000 homes may been destroyed and 500,000 cars totaled in the storm. According to the Red Cross, more than 32,000 people are in shelters in Texas. We speak with Hilton Kelley, the founder of Community In-Power and Development Association in Port Arthur, Texas. He is a former Hollywood stuntman turned environmental activist. In 2011, he was awarded the Goldman Prize, the world’s most prestigious environmental award, for his work battling for communities living near polluting industries in Port Arthur and the Texas Gulf Coast. Port Arthur is home to the largest oil refinery in the nation—the Saudi-owned Motiva plant, which has been shut down due to flooding.
George Monbiot: We Can't Be Silent on Climate Change or the Unsustainability of Capitalist System
Published on Aug 31, 2017 by Democracy Now!
While Houston continues to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, we look at the media silence on the human contribution to the record-breaking storm. British journalist and author George Monbiot wrote that despite 2016 being the hottest year on record, the combined coverage during the evening and Sunday news programs on the main television networks amounted to a total of 50 minutes in all of last year. "Our greatest predicament, the issue that will define our lives, has been blotted from the public’s mind," he wrote. The silence has been even more resounding on climate-related disasters in areas of the world where populations are more vulnerable—most recently, on the devastating floods across the globe, from Niger to South Asia. Over the past month, more than 1,200 people have died amid flooding in Bangladesh, Nepal and India. This year’s monsoon season has brought torrential downpours that have submerged wide swaths of South Asia, destroying tens of thousands of homes, schools and hospitals. Meanwhile, in Niger, West Africa, thousands of people have been ordered to leave their homes in the capital Niamey after several days of heavy downpours. We speak with Monbiot, columnist at The Guardian. His book, "Out of the Wreckage: A New Politics for an Age of Crisis," will be out this week.
Deandre Harris Was Savagely Beaten by White Supremacists in Virginia. Why Only Two Arrests So Far?
Published on Aug 31, 2017 by Democracy Now!
Another suspect in the brutal beating of a young African-American male during the recent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, has been arrested in Georgia. Alex Michael Ramos, 33, has been charged with malicious wounding for his attack on anti-racist protester Deandre Harris during the Unite the Right rally. Earlier this week, Ohio police also charged 18-year-old white supremacist Daniel Borden in connection to the attack. The police have faced criticism for failing to quickly investigate and arrest Harris’s attackers. Photos and video showed at least six white supremacists punching, kicking and beating Harris with large metal poles. Harris, a hip-hop artist and assistant special education teacher at a local high school, later described the attack in a video filmed by photojournalist Zach Roberts. Roberts also captured photographs of the attack which were used to help identify the assailants. We speak with Roberts along with Lee Merritt, a civil rights attorney representing Harris.
Full Show - Leftists Enraged By Texas Unity In Wake Of Hurricane Harvey - 08/31/2017
Published on Aug 31, 2017 by The Alex Jones Channel
Thursday, August 31st 2017[, with an appearance by Mike Cernovich]: US Brings Fire And Fury To NK Border - The United States sent nuke-ready jets to drop bombs near the North Korean border after Kim Jung Un' s most recent missile launch. Trump supporter R.C. Maxwell, who was recently attacked at a Trump rally, will join today's show. Tommy Robinson joins the broadcast to break down the latest news from the U.K. and Lt Col. Tony Shaffer will expose the deep state war against Trump.
Aug 31, 2017 Sarah Huckabee Sanders White House Press Briefing-Full Event
Published on Aug 31, 2017 by Michael McIntee
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders introduces Donald Trump's Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert who answers questions about the federal disaster response to Hurricane Harvey. Sanders then answers questions about DACA, Russia, and many other topics.
Trump nominates DeVry dean to Education Department post
All In with Chris Hayes 8/31/17
The nominee to head a division of the Education Department responsible for policing deceptive practices in higher education comes from a university that was cited for deceptive practices in higher education. Duration: 1:15
Thing 1/Thing 2: In seven months, the only tax policy document released by the Trump administration is literally a single, double-spaced sheet of paper with some broad goals and a clip art White House at the top. Duration: 2:50
Eight more explosions expected at Texas chemical plant
All In with Chris Hayes 8/31/17
The company that owns the plant northeast of Houston says there’s nothing they can do to prevent eight more containers of chemicals from exploding. Duration: 1:17
The governors spearheading the effort to save Obamacare
All In with Chris Hayes 8/31/17
A bipartisan group of governors is offering a proposal to shore up the Obamacare insurance markets – even as the Trump administration, as part of its continuing bid to undermine the law, announced drastic cuts in funds to promote ACA enrollment next year. Duration: 5:03
Peter Nicholas, White House reporter for The Wall Street Journal, talks with Joy-Ann Reid about the strenuous effort by Donald Trump's lawyers to push back on the accusation of obstruction and to undermine James Comey's credibility. Duration: 11:52
Barbara McQuade, former U.S. attorney, talks with Joy-Ann Reid about the strength of the obstruction of justice case against Donald Trump and why it's about more than the firing of James Comey. Duration: 4:54
Officials evasive on smoke threat from damaged chemical plant
The Rachel Maddow Show 8/31/17
Matt Dempsey, data reporter on the investigative team at the Houston Chronicle, talks with Joy-Ann Reid about the effort to get critical information on the nature of the chemicals exploding at the incapacitated Arkema plant in Crosby, Texas. Duration: 8:58
Trump threatens cross-section of America with DACA decision
The Rachel Maddow Show 8/31/17
Jose Antonio Vargas, immigration rights activist, talks with Joy-Ann Reid about the anxiety among undocumented immigrants that Donald Trump with violate the U.S. promise to honor DACA and allow people who came to the U.S. as children to remain. Duration: 4:30
Tubman twenty not a priority of Jackson-loving Trump White House
The Rachel Maddow Show 8/31/17
Joy-Ann Reid notes Donald Trump's affinity for Andrew Jackson and reports on Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin's wishy-washy answer about replacing Jackson with Harriet Tubman's face on the twenty dollar bill. Duration: 5:01
IRS 'specialized, secretive investigative' unit aiding Mueller
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell 8/31/17
Robert Mueller has reportedly enlisted the IRS criminal investigations unit in his Russia probe. Lawrence O'Donnell explains the investigation could put Trump through the most intense audit of his life. One error could result in big consequences for the president. Duration: 6:35
Potential bombshell in Manafort notes on Trump Jr. meeting
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell 8/31/17
NBC News reports Paul Manafort took notes in the Trump Tower meeting with the Russians, and the notes include mention of political contributions next to "RNC." Now Robert Mueller has those notes. Ken Dilanian, Betsy Woodruff, & Mieke Eoyang join Lawrence O'Donnell. Duration: 10:21
Lawrence O'Donnell talks to Ron Klain about a new Washington Post report that President Donald Trump is having a hard time dealing with the efforts of his White House Chief of Staff, Gen. John Kelly, to control access to him. Duration: 2:57
Church Lady Cold Open - SNL
Published on May 8, 2016 by Saturday Night Live Church Lady (Dana Carvey) discusses the election with her guests, Sen. Ted Cruz (Taran Killam) and Donald Trump (Darrell Hammond). [originally aired May 7, 2016] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHyW0N5f7zQ [with comments]
Trump lawyers are reportedly trying to smear Comey's reputation
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams 8/31/17
A new report says Trump's attorneys are trying to discredit fmr. FBI boss James Comey as yet another report states that special counsel Mueller is now working with the IRS. Our panel reacts. Duration: 9:26
State Department plays bad cop to Trump's good cop on Russia
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams 8/31/17
While Pres. Trump has repeatedly shown a reluctance to call out Russia or Vladimir Putin, the State Dept. is forcing Russia to scale back its diplomatic posts within the U.S. Our panel reacts. Duration: 6:37
Long to-do list awaits Trump & GOP lawmakers after August recess
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams 8/31/17
As Congress readies its return after the August recess, a new round of bad headlines on Russia threatens to stall Pres. Trump's agenda on Capitol Hill. Our political panel discusses. Duration: 2:43
Charlottesville, Harvey, Russia & more: Trump's wild August
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams 8/31/17
August is typically a quiet month in Washington, but absolutely nothing is typical so far about the Trump presidency. We look back at the crises, both self-inflicted and otherwise, from August. Duration: 3:51
Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Antagonists of the Alt-Right: The Daily Show
Published on Aug 31, 2017 by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
In response to emboldened neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups, an anti-fascist movement called "antifa" has starting fighting back through doxing and violent protests.
Trump’s populist message on taxes comes with heavy dose of corporate rate cuts Trump’s speech didn't mask the fact that lawmakers still face a wide range of knotty questions when they return to Washington next week. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/30/trump-tax-reform-plan-242179
Trump touts tax reform, overlooks White House aide Cohn SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump made his first major tax reform speech on Wednesday, but in a long list of thank yous he did not mention Gary Cohn, the White House point man on taxes who traveled with Trump to the event. [...] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-tax-idUSKCN1BA14X
Notorious Trump supporter David Clarke steps down as Milwaukee County’s sheriff He hates Black Lives Matter, once called a black CNN commentator “jigaboo,” and allegedly let multiple people, including a baby, die in his jail. https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/8/31/16236382/david-clarke-resigns
During a summer of crisis, Trump chafes against criticism and new controls President Trump spent the final days of August dutifully performing his job. He tended to the massive recovery from Hurricane Harvey. He hit the road to sell his tax-cut plan. And he convened policy meetings on the federal budget and the North Korean nuclear threat. Behind the scenes during a summer of crisis, however, Trump appears to pine for the days when the Oval Office was a bustling hub of visitors and gossip, over which he presided as impresario. He fumes that he does not get the credit he thinks he deserves from the media or the allegiance from fellow Republican leaders he says he is owed. He boasts about his presidency in superlatives, but confidants privately fret about his suddenly dark moods. And some of Trump’s friends fear that the short-tempered president is on an inevitable collision course with White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly. Trump chafes at some of the retired Marine Corps general’s moves to restrict access to him since he took the job almost a month ago, said several people close to the president. They run counter to Trump’s love of spontaneity and brashness, prompting some Trump loyalists to derisively dub Kelly “the church lady” because they consider him strict and morally superior. [...] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/during-a-summer-of-crisis-trump-chafes-against-criticism-and-new-controls/2017/08/31/8fb32d72-8d97-11e7-91d5-ab4e4bb76a3a_story.html cited by: Report: Trump Calls Bannon, Other Outside Advisers When Kelly Isn’t Around http://www.thedailybeast.com/report-trump-calls-bannon-other-outside-advisers-when-kelly-isnt-around
this is part 34 of a 35-part post which proceeds (point arising on the given) day by (point arising on the given) day from July 29, 2017 through September 1, 2017 -- the preceding part is the post to which this is a reply; the concluding part 35 is a reply to this post -- the following 'see also (linked in)' listing, updated for intervening posts along the way, is common to all 35 parts
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in addition to (linked in) the post to which this is a reply and preceding and (any future other) following, see also (linked in):
Market Data 
Markets 
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