Final arguments are underway today in Washington, D.C., in a case that could shape the future of free speech and the right to protest in the United States: the first trial of the nearly 200 people arrested during President Donald Trump’s inauguration. As demonstrators, journalists and observers gathered in Northwest D.C. after the inauguration on January 20, some separated from the group and vandalized nearby businesses and vehicles. Police officers then swept hundreds of people in the vicinity into a blockaded corner in a process known as “kettling,” where they carried out mass arrests of everyone in the area. The first so-called J20 trial could go to a jury as early as today, and involves six people, including one journalist, Alexei Wood, a freelance photojournalist. The defendants face multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including multiple counts of destruction of property. Evidence against the defendants has been scant. We get an update from Jude Ortiz, a member of the organizing crew of Defend J20 and the Mass Defense Committee chair for the National Lawyers Guild. He’s been in court throughout the first J20 trial. https://www.democracynow.org/2017/12/15/medics_observers_a_journalist_face_50[with embedded video, and transcript]
The Growing Case for Impeaching Donald Trump, From Lawlessness and Corruption to Abuse of Power
Published on Dec 15, 2017 by Democracy Now!
On Thursday, another Democrat endorsed articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, a resolution presented in November by a half-dozen Democrats accusing Trump of obstruction of justice and other offenses. Democrat Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire is the latest official to join the effort and is one of 12 House Democrats who represent a district won by Trump in 2016. This comes as a petition for impeachment launched in October by Democratic donor Tom Steyer has garnered more than 3.5 million supporters. At least 17 communities around the country are now on record calling for impeachment proceedings against Trump. “It is not acceptable to say that we will simply kick the can down the road and wait until after an election cycle to lay the groundwork for the impeachment proceedings,” says constitutional attorney John Bonifaz, co-founder and director of Free Speech for People. “We need to be laying that groundwork and making this call now.” https://www.democracynow.org/2017/12/15/the_growing_case_for_impeaching_donald[with embedded video, and transcript]
Full Broadcast 15Dec17 Real News with David Knight
“Net Neutrality” bill repealed. Is it the end of the internet? Jerome Corsi explains who’s behind it & how it was marketed to millennials. A whistleblower exposes the corruption in the BLM & DOJ and Lee Stranahan connects the RussiaGate fraud to GOP establishment as well as Democrats. And, is anything left of the Bill of Rights after 226 years?
[from Alex Jones and his merry band of batshit bullshitters]
The Federal Communications Commission has voted to repeal the Net Neutrality protections it adopted in 2015. Here's what that means for the future of the internet.
Friday, Dec. 15th 2017[, with an appearance by Roger Stone]: Lawyer Offered Cash To Trump Accusers - A prominent women's rights lawyer has been caught trying to pay off Trump accusers. A Democrat congressional candidate is dropping out of the Kansas race after being accused of sexually harassing a male subordinate. We'll also break down down the latest economic news from cryptocurrencies to the stock market. Also, a new report exposes the systemic elimination of infants with Down syndrome via abortion. Paul Joseph Watson hosts the final hour.
President Trump continues to deliver for his base. Stock records continue to hit highs, the Russian investigation has fallen apart, and President Trump has again hit the FBI and Hillary Clinton hard saying that the investigation was rigged and what she did has never been seen before. Meanwhile, Roger Stone announces huge news in his current lawsuit, and we break down the Disney and Fox deal.
[from Alex Jones and his merry band of batshit bullshitters]
Trump’s FBI speech was full of praise after slamming the bureau's work on twitter. Fmr. Asst. FBI Director Frank Figliuzzi says Trump’s behavior is “undermining the security of our communities." Duration: 4:21
CEO: GOP tax bill like “giving CPR to LeBron James”
The Beat With Ari Melber 12/15/17
La Colombe CEO shatters Trump's "trickle down" tax plan theory saying it's a "dividend to the stockholders of the United States of America" Duration: 1:48
Why Trump's talk of Flynn pardon is too late to matter
The Beat With Ari Melber 12/15/17
Trump says "we'll see" about a pardon for former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Ari Melber reports that even if Trump pardoned Flynn, it wouldn’t protect State or local prosecution. Duration: 5:02
A[$]AP FERG: Meek Mill symbolic of "out of control" system
The Beat With Ari Melber 12/15/17
Rev. Al Sharpton and Rapper A[$]AP Ferg join Ari Melber to discuss the incarceration of musician Meek Mill for a parole violation. A[$]AP Ferg stresses Mill is a “human being and a very wholesome human being”. Duration: 5:32
Multiple members of the Trump family voted incorrectly
All In with Chris Hayes 12/15/17
Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner's votes in New York elections this year all reportedly did not count - and the president himself managed to make a mistake in putting his birth date on his absentee ballot application. Duration: 2:55
TRMS Law School: What happens if Donald Trump pardons Mike Flynn?
The Rachel Maddow Show 12/15/17
Former U.S. attorneys Chuck Rosenberg, Barbara McQuade, Edward Stanton, and Paul Fishman answer legal questions from Rachel Maddow and TRMS viewers about the Mike Flynn's plea deal with Robert Mueller and a potential pardon from Donald Trump. Duration: 18:03
The character of the FBI and recent efforts to politicize its work are discussed by former U.S. attorneys Chuck Rosenberg, Barbara McQuade, Edward Stanton, and Paul Fishman answer legal questions from Rachel Maddow and TRMS viewers. Duration: 9:09
Rachel Maddow tests the quick wit of her assembled legal expert guests, former U.S. attorneys Chuck Rosenberg, Barbara McQuade, Edward Stanton, and Paul Fishman. Duration: 1:00
TRMS Law School: What happens to Trump probe if Mueller is fired?
The Rachel Maddow Show 12/15/17
What happens to the Trump Russia investigation and the progress made in cases so far if Robert Mueller is fired? Former U.S. attorneys Chuck Rosenberg, Barbara McQuade, Edward Stanton, and Paul Fishman offer their views. Duration: 10:06
Can Donald Trump be indicted for crimes from before he took office? Can any president be indicted? Former U.S. attorneys Chuck Rosenberg, Barbara McQuade, Edward Stanton, and Paul Fishman answer legal questions from Rachel Maddow and TRMS viewers. Duration: 4:08
TRMS Law School: Former prosecutors offer advice to Trump
The Rachel Maddow Show 12/15/17
Former U.S. attorneys Chuck Rosenberg, Barbara McQuade, Edward Stanton, and Paul Fishman offer advice to Donald Trump, should his reportedly copious cable TV viewing happen to include The Rachel Maddow Show at that moment. Duration: 1:32
Lawrence: Rich get richer in deficit-exploding GOP tax bill
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell 12/15/17
Lawrence O'Donnell explains why the new GOP tax bill helps Donald Trump and the richest Americans, and why Republican Sen. Bob Corker decided to flip-flop and now supports the bill even though it explodes the deficit. Duration: 7:38
Bruce Bartlett: Tax bill helps rich, offers 'crumbs' to families
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell 12/15/17
Former Treasury official Bruce Bartlett says the changes Marco Rubio won in the GOP tax bill offer nothing more than "crumbs" off the plates of the rich to working families. He and Josh Barro join Lawrence O'Donnell. Duration: 15:08
Right before speaking at an FBI training event, President Donald Trump continued to criticize the FBI. This, as Fox News and Republicans get upset about 10,000 FBI text messages that don't exist. Lawrence O'Donnell examines. Duration: 4:07
Trump: Not ready to talk about Flynn pardon... yet
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams 12/16/17
Blasting the Russia probe and his own FBI - both again and on the same day - Pres. Trump says he's not ready to talk about pardoning Michael Flynn yet. Our panel reacts. Duration: 14:19
With Rubio & Corker onboard, Trump may get his tax bill
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams 12/16/17
With 2017 running out, Trump and Hill Republicans are trying to cobble together the votes for their tax plan that Democrats say only favors the rich. Our panel reacts. Duration: 5:18
Trump judicial pick struggles with basic legal queries
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams 12/16/17
Another Trump judicial nominee stumbled struggling with straightforward questions from Senator John Kennedy (R-LA). MSNBC Legal Analyst Danny Cevallos discusses. Duration: 6:12
Clarice (Jodie Foster) has some questions regarding Robert Mueller's probe into Trump's ties to Russia directed toward Hannibal Lecter (Stephen Colbert).
President Trump Pledges To ‘Rebuild’ FBI, Calls Russia Investigation A ‘Democrat Hoax’ | NBC News Speaking to reporters before departing the White House, President Trump insisted there was “absolutely no collusion” between his campaign and Russia. Trump also previewed his FBI speech and commented on his Thursday phone call with Vladimir Putin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slwkeDs_tCE
Trump initiated Putin call in the wake of economic praise - 12-14-17 call "He said very nice things about what I have done for this country in terms of the economy," Trump said "We would love to have his help on North Korea. China is helping. Russia is not helping," he added http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/15/politics/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-phone-call/index.html
Facebook admits that social media can be bad for you Facebook has acknowledged that too much social media can be damaging to people's mental health. The company is coming under increasing scrutiny about its impact on society. A former Facebook exec recently said social networks are "destroying how society works." http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-social-media-bad-for-users-mental-health-2017-12