On January 26th, 2017, Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, reportedly tweeted his Twitter password for the second time in 2 days. You will recall that Spicer said that John Podesta, head of the Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, was irresponsible and deserved the hack for falling for a phishing scam. Spicer’s Twitter account also appears to be tied to a Gmail account-- AKA, a personal email account not on a government server. (Source 1: https://gizmodo.com/sean-spicer-just-tweeted-something-that-looks-an-awful-1791649692 Source 2, with video of Spicer blaming Podesta for hack on CNN: http://www.mediaite.com/online/none-of-this-would-have-happened-rnc-spox-blames-podesta-for-russian-hacking/ Source 3: https://twitter.com/Nash076/status/824656400320253959)
On January 26th, 2017, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists advanced the “Doomsday Clock” from 3 minutes to midnight to 2.5 minutes to midnight. The Doomsday Clock was conceived of by scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project as a way to indicate our closeness to nuclear war, but has since been used to represent multiple threats to humanity. The Doomsday Clock has not been moved for any specific governmental threat in decades, but was jumped from 5 minutes to 3 in 2015 as a reaction to climate change data. (Source: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/26/511592700/the-doomsday-clock-is-now-30-seconds-closer-to-midnight)
On January 26th, 2017, DT will visit Philadelphia, where he will be met by a resistance group offshot of the Women’s March. (Source: https://www.facebook.com/events/1499649786715157/)
On January 26th, 2017, DT called Private Chelsea Manning, who had had her sentence commuted by Barack Obama during the last days of his presidency, an “ungrateful TRAITOR, who should never have been released from prison,” for a not unmeasured article by the Private criticizing Obama for the compromises he made during his presidency. DT has frequently called Obama a weak, bad leader, during his campaign and for years before that, when not busy questioning the 44th President’s citizenship. It should also be noted that the verbiage was verbatim lifted from a Fox News segment, posted 14 minutes after the segment aired, the second time in 3 days that DT has directly parroted the network. (Source 1, scroll down for DT’s tweet: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/26/us/politics/donald-trump-administration.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0, Source 2, Private Manning’s piece for the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/25/compromise-doesnt-work-political-opponents-chelsea-manning Source 3: https://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/824595118955069441)
On January 26th, 2017, the entire senior staff of the State Department resigned rather than work for DT and Rex Tillerson. It is unclear whether Patrick Kennedy, undersecretary of management, and three of his top officials resigned of their own accord. (Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/josh-rogin/wp/2017/01/26/the-state-departments-entire-senior-management-team-just-resigned/?postshare=7891485447148486&tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.3f665f99ff59)
On January 26th, 2017, President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico announced he would not be meeting with DT next week, after all, after DT’s excessive insistence that Mexico would pay for the border wall. (Source: https://twitter.com/EPN/status/824660333964824576)
On January 26th, 2017, it was revealed by Twitter user @leahmcelrath that the @POTUS Twitter account used by DT is link to an unsecured Gmail account. (Source: https://twitter.com/leahmcelrath/status/824671531980718080)
On January 26th, 2017, DT proclaimed in a speech in Philadelphia, “Here in Philadelphia, the murder rate has been… steady… horribly increasing.” It has been somewhat steadily declining. It has not been horribly increasing. (Source 1, Philadelphia crime stats: https://www.phillypolice.com/crime-maps-stats/index.html)
On January 26th, 2017, journalist Rania Khalek tweeted that an acquaintance of hers, a Syrian national green card holder and thus US permanent resident, was denied reentry to the US today. This is unconfirmed, but Khalek is a legitimate journalist. Afterward, she tweeted a NIAC Action link with analysis of how the executive order’s vague language could specifically endanger even documented immigrants from Muslim countries on the list of banned nations. Please note that this executive order has not yet been signed or filed, and yet may already being enforced. (Source 1, tweet from Khalek: https://twitter.com/RaniaKhalek/status/824663053056831488 Source 2, tweet from Khalek with link to NIAC Action: https://twitter.com/RaniaKhalek/status/824676549509128192 Source 3, direct link to NIAC action statement: https://www.niacaction.org/trumps-muslim-ban-is-real-and-even-worse-than-imagined/)
On January 26th, 2017, the New York Times published an interview with White House strategist and noted white supremacist, Steve Bannon, in which he framed the press as an opposition party to the White House.
“The media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut and just listen for awhile,” Mr. Bannon said during a telephone call. “I want you to quote this,” Mr. Bannon added. “The media here is the opposition party. They don’t understand this country. They still do not understand why Donald Trump is the president of the United States.”
The entire interview is a horror, and paraphrases several Nazi propaganda strategies to discredit the free press as liars. This is not normal. It is NOT alarmist to compare his rhetoric to Nazi propaganda, and it is not a coincidence that he is using this strategy. (Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/26/business/media/stephen-bannon-trump-news-media.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur)
On January 26th, 2017, in direct contradiction of DT’s repeated statement that Mexico will pay for the wall along the entirety of our southern border, Spicer announced at a surprise press conference that was supposed to be an executive order signing ceremony, that DT was weighing a 20% tax on all goods imported to the United States from Mexico, effectively charging US residents to pay for the wall. Trade experts have pointed out that because roughly 40% of Mexican manufactured goods contain materials or parts made in the US, a “border tax” would cost jobs in all 3 North American nations. (Source 1: http://www.businessinsider.com/sean-spicer-trump-considering-20-tax-on-mexican-imports-2017-1 Source 2: http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/26/politics/donald-trump-mexico-import-tax-border-wall/index.html Source 3: http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/26/news/economy/mexico-united-states-inputs-40/)
On January 26th, 2017, I was reminded that there is an entire propaganda site, still, called “Trump News.” Recent articles include extremely dangerous propaganda such as “The CDC is an edifice of fraud,” “President Trump Silences EPA Climate Change Propaganda, Real Scientists Rejoice,” “The ‘Deep State’ Is At War With Trump,” “Trump Administration Already Taking The Discredited Establishment Media To Task For Reporting More Fake News,” and an article threatening and outing a brave Secret Service officer, “Did This Secret Service Agent Say She Would NOT ‘Take A Bullet’ For President Trump?” as well as outright lies, such as “‘Make AMERICA Great Again!’ Once-Defiant Mexico Now Willing To Talk To Trump About NAFTA” (Source: http://trump.news/)
On January 26th, 2017, via the above propaganda site, I learned of the existence of treason.news, a website that tracks federal employees that “should be in jail” and features a noose in its logo. Click at your own risk-- this is disturbing, but needs to be known. (Source: http://treason.news/ Source, link from trump.news, halfway down the page under the screenshot: http://trump.news/2017-01-26-did-this-secret-service-agent-say-she-would-not-take-a-bullet-for-president-trump.html)
On January 26th, 2017, Politico reported that DT’s administration has pulled all marketing, email outreach, and ads, including ads that have already been placed, for healthcare.gov. While individuals can still sign up through the January 31st deadline, advertising has been pulled during the most important 5 days when most enrollees apply because of reminders to do so. (Source: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-white-house-obamacare-ads-234245)
On January 26th, 2017, the Washington Post reported that DT pressured the National Park Service to find and release more flattering pictures of his inauguration crowd. (Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-pressured-park-service-to-back-up-his-claims-about-inauguration-crowd/2017/01/26/12a38cb8-e3fc-11e6-ba11-63c4b4fb5a63_story.html?postshare=5631485475513385&utm_term=.bf2653afae74)
On January 26th, 2017, the New York Daily News reported that a Muslim woman and airline employee was assaulted by a man at the JFK airport lounge on Wednesday, January 25th, 2017. The man was quoted as saying, “F--k Islam, f--k ISIS,” “Trump is here now. He will get rid of all of you. You can ask Germany, Belgium and France about these kind of people. You will see what happens,” and when asked by the woman he was harassing what she had done replied, “You did nothing, but I am going to kick your f---ing a--.” He is being held on multiple charges, including menacing and harassment as hate crimes. (Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/trump-loving-passenger-cuffed-harassing-muslim-delta-worker-article-1.2956912?utm_content=bufferdcf83&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=NYDailyNewsTw)
On January 26th, 2017, the Moscow Times reported that the FSB have arrested a top security expert believed to be an American asset who leaked intelligence regarding Russian hacking and cyber-attacks used to influence the US election. Four suspects have been arrested in Russia thus far, compromising American intelligence efforts. (Source: https://themoscowtimes.com/news/americas-alleged-spy-in-the-heart-of-russian-cybersecurity-56945?utm_source=CGI+Daily+Russia+Brief&utm_campaign=d22e6a1966-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_26&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_814a2b3260-d22e6a1966-281732809&mc_cid=d22e6a1966&mc_eid=ba2db135c1)
On January 26th, 2017, in an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, DT asserted that the nearly 2 year vetting process of refugees from Middle Eastern nations results in us knowing “nothing about them.” (Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2017/01/27/full_interview_sean_hannity_in_the_white_house_with_donald_trump.html)
On January 26th, 2017, in an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, DT asserted that border security tightened just upon his naming General Kelly as Director of Homeland Security. (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2017/01/26/cable-exclusive-president-trump-sits-down-with-sean-hannity-at-white-house/)
On January 26th, 2017, in an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, DT would not answer whether or not his Supreme Court nominee would be an originalist, saying only, “I don't want to say that. You're going to see on Thursday,” before asking Hannity to change the subject. It is questionable whether DT, who has made statements and attempted to enact executive orders in direct defiance of the President’s constitutional powers, even knows what an originalist is. (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2017/01/26/cable-exclusive-president-trump-sits-down-with-sean-hannity-at-white-house/)
On January 26th, 2017, in an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, DT said that, given an attempted filibuster of his Supreme Court nominee, he would ask that McConnel use the “nuclear option” to override objections. (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2017/01/26/cable-exclusive-president-trump-sits-down-with-sean-hannity-at-white-house/)
On January 26th, 2017, in an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, DT asserted that Democrats objections to his unqualified, racist, or dangerous cabinet nominations were driven purely by politics. Hannity specifically mentions Chuck Schumer as an obstructionist, despite Schumer voting “Yea” on each of DT’s appointments. (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2017/01/26/cable-exclusive-president-trump-sits-down-with-sean-hannity-at-white-house/)
On January 26th, 2017, in an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, DT asserted that Jeff Sessions is a “wonderful man,” and that “Everybody agrees” Mike Pompeo was an excellent choice for director of the CIA. This is a favorite tic of DT’s, to say “everybody agrees” when very few people do, either because he is gaslighting or because he has no ability to hear any criticism or advice that does not dovetail with his own opinions. (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2017/01/26/cable-exclusive-president-trump-sits-down-with-sean-hannity-at-white-house/)
On January 26th, 2017, in an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, DT said,
“They're obstructionists. I'll tell you what. They're obstructionists. I go to a meeting with them that's supposed to be a very quiet meeting, nobody talking outside of the meeting. They leave the meeting and they have a news conference about what I said. They're talking to the cameras about exactly what I said at the meeting, which is fine because I say things that I don't mind going out because I assume they're going to do that. But the deal was we wouldn't talk to the press. And they go out and they talk to the press.”
It is unclear if DT knows what the word “obstructionist” means, or if he is merely parroting Hannity’s use of the word. (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2017/01/26/cable-exclusive-president-trump-sits-down-with-sean-hannity-at-white-house/)
On January 26th, 2017, in an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, DT said that more important to him than reduced spending or a balanced budget is a strong military. (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2017/01/26/cable-exclusive-president-trump-sits-down-with-sean-hannity-at-white-house/)
On January 26th, 2017, in an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, DT appeared to be led by the nose into confirming a 75% reduction in regulations on business.
HANNITY: But you want to get rid of 75 percent of regulation.
TRUMP: Yes, I do.
HANNITY: Or more.
TRUMP: 75 or more.
DT then went on to say that with a 75% reduction in regulation, that American consumers would still have the same level of protection.
On January 26th, 2017, in an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, DT once again framed the press as hostile and dishonest, while agreeing with Hannity’s assertion that the media “colluded” against DT in the campaign.
TRUMP: They're very hostile. These are very hostile people. These are very angry people.
HANNITY: But they also colluded against you in the campaign.
TRUMP: Yes.
HANNITY: And my question to you is...
TRUMP: Well, they're very dishonest people. The media is very dishonest. I've been saying it. I say it openly.
HANNITY: I said journalism's dead, so we agree.
TRUMP: Never dead, but they're very dishonest people in many cases. Hey, look, you have some very honest ones. But I get stories that are so false and so dishonest...
On January 26th, 2017, in an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, DT once again brought up the meeting with the CIA in which he embarrassed and upset multiple CIA members, particularly by bringing a cheering squad of 40 people, saying that he knew he gave a very good speech because, since he won the election, he knows if he has been received well or poorly. (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2017/01/26/cable-exclusive-president-trump-sits-down-with-sean-hannity-at-white-house/)
On January 26th, 2017, in an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, DT once again brought up the size of his inauguration crowd. Again. (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2017/01/26/cable-exclusive-president-trump-sits-down-with-sean-hannity-at-white-house/)