Occupy Banksters & Crony Capitalism & GREED

Wall Street wonders how bad it has to get
Axios | Courtenay Brown | 11/30/20

What's going on: While you were readying for turkey, a parade of data revealed a potentially troubling combination of rising layoffs, falling income and plummeting consumer confidence.

Details: Regular state unemployment filings, which are an imperfect proxy for layoffs, rose to nearly 828,000. It's the first time initial claims have risen for two straight weeks since July. Add in applications for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, and new claims hit 1.1 million.

Income: Personal income fell 0.7% from the prior month, while consumer spending rose 0.5% in October. That's stronger than economists expected, but still the slowest spending pace since the recovery began.

Consumer confidence: An index that measures consumers' view of current economic conditions actually rose to 87 in November from 85.9 last month, according to the University of Michigan. But the expectations index (which measures how consumers feel about prospects in the economy over the next six months) dropped almost 9 points to 70.5. ... Read more

Fired director of US cyber agency Chris Krebs explains why he says vote was "most secure in America" | 60Minutes | 11/29/20 | 13:20

'We're Drowning': Heartland Hospitals Swamped with Covid Crisis
HP | Nick Brown | 11/24/20/span>

After pounding big U.S. cities in the spring, COVID-19 now has engulfed rural and small-town America.

After pounding big U.S. cities in the spring, COVID-19 now has engulfed rural and small-town America, seeming to seep into the country's every nook and cranny. According to Reuters' interviews with more than a dozen medical care providers and public health officials in the nation's heartland, many hospitals are severely lacking in beds, equipment and - most critically - clinical staff, including specialists and nurses.

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are spiking nationally. But the Midwest - encompassing a dozen states between Ohio and the Dakotas - has been especially brutalized. Reported case rates are more than double that of any other region in the United States, according to the COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer-run data provider. From mid-June to mid-November, reported cases in the Midwest rose more than twentyfold. ... Read more

Charles Koch: I "screwed up"
Axios | Mike Allen | 11/24/20

In his first on-camera interview in four years, Charles Koch told "Axios on HBO" that he "screwed up by being partisan," rather than approaching his network's big-spending political action in a more nonpartisan way.

Koch, 85, told me at his home in Wichita that he's disillusioned with his political results, but is optimistic about what he believes will be a less divisive strategy. ... Read more

Charles Koch on Political Involvement (Clip) | AXIOS on HBO | 11/23/20 | 2:14

Biden's Day 1 challenges: Misinformation flood control
Axios | Kyle Daly | 11/20/20

President-elect Joe Biden will enter office with no fast fixes at hand to stem a tide of online misinformation that has shaped election-year politics and, unchecked, could undermine his presidency.

Where it stands: Election and coronavirus misinformation spreading widely on digital platforms has already done serious damage to the U.S., and it's bound to go into overdrive as the Biden administration starts enacting its agenda.

The big picture: The internet isn't necessarily where conspiracy theories, rumors and targeted disinformation (intentionally spread misinformation) begin. But it's almost always where they put down roots and spread. ... Read more

FRAUD CLAIMS: Trump Lawyer Rudy Giuliani on Good Day New York | 11/20/20 | 9:20

Keilar explains why CNN didn't air Giuliani's 'bananas' briefing | CNN | 11/19/20 | 9:20

Over a quarter-million people have died in the U.S. from COVID-19
Axios | Shawna Chen | 11/19/20

The United States topped 250,000 coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday as infections soar in nearly every pocket of every state in the country, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Why it matters: The sharp rise in the number of cases and fatalities has accelerated calls for government action. Wednesday's news exceeded infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci's March prediction in which he said "we should be prepared" that COVID-19 could kill 240,000 Americans.

Between the lines: "There is always a lag in deaths, compared with the rate of infection and hospitalizations, and with the latter measure now hitting records every day -- 76,830 Americans were hospitalized on Tuesday, according to the Covid Tracking Project -- the death toll is certain to go on rising," the New York Times writes. ... Read more

Hundreds Of Companies That Got PPP Loans Have Gone Bankrupt
ZeroHedge | staff | 11/19/20

At least a Half Billion in PPP Loans Won't Be Repaid. Hundreds of companies employing 23,400 people went Bankrupt after PPP Funds Ran Out.

About $525 billion in loans were distributed to over 5 million companies between April 3 and Aug. 8. At least 285 medium-sized companies went under. Undoubtedly thousands of smaller companies did as well. ... Read more

Trump lost because of increased turnout among Black and brown people and their white allies. His appeals to fear and division failed
TheGuardian | William J Barber and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove | 11/19/20

Trump lost because of increased turnout among Black and brown people and their white allies. His appeals to fear and division failed

Like parents of a child who has suffered a sudden and unexpected loss, Senate Republicans have suggested they are willing to give the president time to come to terms with reality, asserting with straight faces that he is "within his rights" to challenge election results that disappoint him. All the while, these same senators have been asking Democratic colleagues to convey their congratulations to the president-elect, their former colleague, who they assume will understand the awkward position they find themselves in.

But Trump is not a child, and we cannot pretend that he is the only one who is not willing to move on. Make America Great Again was always a thinly veiled promise that white supremacy could mount a resistance to movements that challenge systemic racism with the prospect of a genuine, multi-ethnic democracy. Trump's refusal to accept the election results is not simply about his own psychological needs. It is a performance in keeping with the Southern Strategy that has animated the Republican party for half a century. ... Read more

Democracy Now! U.S. and World News Headlines for Thursday, November 19 [13:04]

Trump's Attempt To Throw Out Michigan Votes IMPLODES | TYT | 11/18/20 | 7:37

Trump Fires Top Staffer (Over Twitter) For Telling The Truth About 2020 Election | TYT | 11/18/20 | 6:18

Jenna Ellis acknowledged her previous antipathy to the president in a statement to CNN that attempts to explain her flip-flop.

But in a series of Facebook posts and radio interviews from 2015 and early 2016 that CNN's "KFile" unearthed this week, the lawyer described Trump as an "idiot" and a "bully" who "cannot handle criticism."

Ellis also slammed Trump's supporters for not "seeking truth."

Trump campaign deploys Giuliani to assist flailing legal effort
Politico | Josh Gerstein | 11/17/20

The former New York mayor appeared in court in Pennsylvania, falsely arguing "widespread, nationwide voter fraud."

President Donald Trump's campaign on Tuesday sought to add some star power to its flailing legal effort to contest the election results, deploying former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to this small central Pennsylvania city to argue that the state's election tallies should be thrown out because they're tainted by fraud.

Arriving to cheers from a band of Trump supporters gathered in a mall parking lot across the street, Giuliani strode into the modest, four-story federal courthouse for hearing on a bid by Pennsylvania officials to dismiss a lawsuit the Trump campaign filed last week to try to block certification of President-elect Joe Biden as the winner of the state's 20 electoral votes. ... Read more

Trump says he fired top cybersecurity official Christopher Krebs
Axios | Oriana Gonzalez | 11/18/20

President Trump announced on Twitter Tuesday night that Christopher Krebs, the head of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, had been fired effective immediately.

Why it matters: Krebs, who is responsible for securing voting technology, has drawn bipartisan praise for his handling of the election and debunking of misinformation. Reuters recently reported he expected to be fired after he pushed back against false claims that Democrats "rigged" the election, a claim that Trump has heavily promoted. ... Read more

Biden's Day 1 challenges: China damage control
Axios | Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian | 11/17/20

The day he enters the White House, President-elect Joe Biden will inherit a host of China-related challenges that require immediate action, from restoring diplomatic backchannels with China to figuring out what to do about lingering tariffs.

The big picture: Biden must find a way to put the U.S.-China relationship on a more sustainable path while preserving U.S. national security interests and blocking China's efforts to weaken international norms.

The backstory: During President Trump's last year in office, the administration reshaped the U.S.-China relationship, taking 159 China-related policy actions in 2020 alone, according to a White House list obtained by Axios.

Re-engagement: This could mean rejoining multilateral organizations, including the WHO, and pursue limited cooperation with China on pandemic management and climate change.

Staffing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention office in Beijing. The Trump administration removed most personnel in the months prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

Rejoining the U.N. Human Rights Council to push back against China's attempts to water down international human rights norms amid its ongoing cultural genocide against Muslim minorities. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the council in 2018 after claiming it demonstrated anti-Israel bias. ... Read more

Meet The Press Broadcast (Full) - November 15th, 2020 | Meet The Press NBC | 11/15/20 | 47:34

Barack Obama: The 2020 60 Minutes interview | 60Minutes | 11/15/20 | 27:01

Moderna says its coronavirus vaccine is nearly 95% effective
Axios | staff | 11/16/20

Moderna said Monday that its coronavirus vaccine candidate is 94.5% effective in fighting the virus, per an initial analysis released by the company.

Why it matters: The Moderna vaccine -- alongside Pfizer's similarly effective candidate -- provides another dash of hope that the pandemic currently raging across the world could be tamed by next year.

The state of play: Moderna's study, done in collaboration with the National Institute of Health, looked at 30,000 participants -- with half receiving a placebo.

In 95 cases of COVID-19 that developed among participants, 90 were taking the placebo. Of the 11 people who contracted "severe" COVID-19 infections, all were taking a placebo.... Read more

Trump & Election Results: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | 11/15/20 | 17:57

Scoop: Trump allies brace for 30-day legal war
Axios | Mike Allen | 11/09/20

GOP leaders and confidants of President Trump tell Axios his legal fight to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's victory -- which they admit is likely doomed -- could last a month or more, possibly pushing the 2020 political wars toward Christmastime.

Why it matters: Most top Republicans have followed Trump's orders not to accept the Biden victory, and to allow all legal options to be exhausted. That could mean weeks of drama -- and, more importantly, distractions from the vital work of transitioning government for a change of power.

Axios is told an internal effort is underway to dissuade Trump from pursuing a blitz (with Rudy Giuliani as the tip of the spear) that could mean three to six weeks of legal challenges, discovery and rulings -- at the same time that Biden is talking daily about a message of healing.

Some top sources tell Axios that Trump has no plan to call for national unity. "No chance," says a person who talks often to the president. A senior Republican who talks often to Trump said the president is "angry ... volatile ... disconsolate."

Trump plans to hold rallies focused on the litigation, and brandish obituaries of people who were recorded as voting but are dead, Trump advisers told her. ... Read more

Why Europe is praying for Trump to lose the US election | DW Analysis | 11/01/20 | 18:07

Trump's biggest corporate winners and losers
Axios | Felix Salmon | 11/09/20

Big tech has been the biggest corporate winner of the Trump presidency, according to an Axios analysis of public-company corporate financials.

Why it matters: The tech giants have spent the past four years facing increased scrutiny from Washington, and Google has even been hit by an antitrust lawsuit. But Google parent Alphabet has seen its profits soar by $12 billion per year since Trump's surprise election in November 2016.

Trump prepares to launch a second term early, even without winning
Politico| author | date

He may fire department heads like the FBI's Chris Wray and Pentagon chief Mark Esper. He could sign base-pleasing executive orders. He might resume travel.

President Donald Trump has struggled to convince the country he already won the election. So he's just going to do the next best thing: Act like he's starting his second term early.

Trump and his aides have settled on a plan for him to take full advantage of his existing perch at the White House to look as presidential as possible, according to three people briefed on the strategy. He may fire a few Cabinet members and top aides, including FBI Director Christopher Wray and Defense Secretary Mark Esper. He could sign a slew of base-pleasing executive orders. He might even resume his travel schedule. Meanwhile, Trump's team is planning to mount even more legal challenges and cast evidence-deficient aspersions on the integrity of ballots. ... Read more

Scoop: Biden's plan to assert control
Axios | Mike Allen | 11/03/20

If news organizations declare Joe Biden the mathematical president-elect, he plans to address the nation as its new leader, even if President Trump continues to fight in court, advisers tell Axios.

Why it matters: Biden advisers learned the lesson of 2000, when Al Gore hung back while George W. Bush declared victory in that contested election, putting the Democrat on the defensive while Bush acted like the winner.

So if Biden is declared the winner, he'll begin forming his government and looking presidential -- and won't yield to doubts Trump might try to sow.

To show momentum, Biden may begin transition announcements quickly, starting with senior staff appointments. ... Read more

Jordan Klepper Hits One Last Trump Rally Before the Election | The Daily Show | 11/01/20 | 6:06

How Holy Is Donald Trump? | The Daily Show | older 09/02/20 | 4:45

Tucker Carlson HUMILIATES himself as Hunter Biden "scandal" crumbles on air | Brian Tyler Cohen | 10/28/20 | 5:24

**Trump & the Coronavirus: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | 11/01/20 | 21:09

The unemployment crisis hiding in plain sight
Axios | Dion Rabouin | 11/02/20

The fourth quarter is a major inflection point. The U.S. economy is moving out of its bounce-back recovery from the coronavirus depression and could be returning to slower growth and recovery or it could be moving toward a recession.

The state of play: We are about to see a second wave of job losses -- this one more likely to permanently push millions out of the labor force, lower wages and leave long-lasting scars on the economy.

On one side: The coming October jobs report is expected to show employers added 625,000 jobs last month -- demonstrating a labor market continuing to slow but still moving in a positive direction.

On the other side: Layoff announcements picked up at the end of October, with ExxonMobil, Chevron, Charles Schwab and Raytheon all announcing the elimination of thousands of white-collar jobs. Those followed major layoffs from Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Salesforce, Allstate and WarnerMedia.

By the numbers: In the first half of 2020, more than 3,600 companies filed for bankruptcy, according to legal services provider Epiq, and the pace has picked up since. ... Read more

**William Barr: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | 11/01/20 | 19:05