Current Events March 20-23

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www.theguardian.com

Nasa drops plan to land first woman and first person of color on the moon

Promise was central plank to space agency’s Artemis program, which is scheduled to return humans to the lunar surface in 2027
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

Nasa has dropped its longstanding public commitment to land the first woman and person of color on the moon, in response to Donald Trump’s directives to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices at federal agencies.

The promise was a central plank of the space agency’s Artemis program, which is scheduled to return humans to the lunar surface in 2027 for the first time since the final Apollo mission in December 1972.


The Artemis landing page of Nasa’s website previously included the words: “Nasa will land the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut on the Moon using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.”

The version of the page live on the website on Friday, however, appears with the phrase removed.

The development was reported by the Orlando Sentinel.
 
A string of high-profile arrests and detentions of travellers is likely to cause a major downturn in tourism to the US, with latest figures already showing a serious drop-off, tourist experts said.

Several western travellers have recently been rejected at the US border on increasingly flimsy grounds under Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, some of them shackled and held in detention centers in poor conditions for weeks.


Germany updated travel guidance for travelling to the US, warning that breaking entry rules could lead not just to a rejection as before, but arrest or even detention. Three German citizens have been held for prolonged periods despite apparently having committed no crime nor any obvious violation of US visa or immigration rules – including one US green card holder who was detained at Boston’s Logan airport.

The UK Foreign Office, too, has bolstered its advice to warn of a risk of arrest after Becky Burke, a tourist from Wales who had been backpacking across America, was stopped at the border with Canada and held for three weeks in a detention facility. Last week members of the UK Subs, a British punk band, were denied entry and detained after they landed at Los Angeles international airport.

Even before the most recent spate of detentions, forecast visits to the country this year had been revised downward from a projected 5% rise to a 9% decrease by Tourism Economics, an industry monitoring group, which cited “polarising Trump Administration policies and rhetoric”, particularly around tariffs.

It predicted that the drop-off would lead to a $64bn shortfall in the US tourist trade.
 
altmin said:
A string of high-profile arrests and detentions of travellers is likely to cause a major downturn in tourism to the US, with latest figures already showing a serious drop-off, tourist experts said.

Several western travellers have recently been rejected at the US border on increasingly flimsy grounds under Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, some of them shackled and held in detention centers in poor conditions for weeks.


Germany updated travel guidance for travelling to the US, warning that breaking entry rules could lead not just to a rejection as before, but arrest or even detention. Three German citizens have been held for prolonged periods despite apparently having committed no crime nor any obvious violation of US visa or immigration rules – including one US green card holder who was detained at Boston’s Logan airport.

The UK Foreign Office, too, has bolstered its advice to warn of a risk of arrest after Becky Burke, a tourist from Wales who had been backpacking across America, was stopped at the border with Canada and held for three weeks in a detention facility. Last week members of the UK Subs, a British punk band, were denied entry and detained after they landed at Los Angeles international airport.

Even before the most recent spate of detentions, forecast visits to the country this year had been revised downward from a projected 5% rise to a 9% decrease by Tourism Economics, an industry monitoring group, which cited “polarising Trump Administration policies and rhetoric”, particularly around tariffs.

It predicted that the drop-off would lead to a $64bn shortfall in the US tourist trade.
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Everyday I’m more and more convinced this is all of a project to isolate the US, as a test case for the tech oligarchy “city-state” wet dream, and Heritage’s “seven mountains” theocracy.

I mean, this admin virtually could not do more to destroy the health, wellness, freedom, safety, and economic might of a once great nation, aside from deploying paramilitaries into city streets (which I’m confident is coming). The anti-social amongst us has turned the US into a chop shop. Nothing about this is governing; it’s stripping us for parts, stealing our wealth, while unconsciously and futilely trying to salve gaping holes in egos through revanchism.
 
“President Trump issued a memo late Friday night rescinding security clearances and access to classified information for a slew of erstwhile opponents including Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, Joseph R. Biden Jr. and “any other member of Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s family.”

Mr. Trump had said back in February that he planned to remove his predecessor’s access to classified intelligence briefings. It was payback — Mr. Biden had done the same to him after he left office in the days after the Jan 6., 2021, attack on the Capitol. …

There were prominent characters from the first impeachment brought against Mr. Trump in 2019, when he was shown to have tried to strong-arm Ukraine into helping him dig up dirt on Mr. Biden. Names included in Friday’s memo: Fiona Hill, a top foreign policy expert who testified during the impeachment hearings; Alexander Vindman, a lieutenant colonel who also testified; and Norman Eisen, a lawyer who oversaw that impeachment.

And there were the only two Republicans who served on the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.

“I also direct all executive department and agency heads to revoke unescorted access to secure United States government facilities from these individuals,” Mr. Trump’s memo stated. “This action includes, but is not limited to, receipt of classified briefings, such as the President’s Daily Brief, and access to classified information held by any member of the intelligence community by virtue of the named individuals’ previous tenure in the Congress.”

The revocation is largely a symbolic action, but it could prevent those named from getting into federal buildings or retrieving classified materials. …”

www.nytimes.com

Trump Revokes Security Clearances for Biden, Harris, Clinton and More

The tally of names read like President Trump’s enemies list, from Letitia James to Liz Cheney.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com
 
“The Domino’s pizzas arrived at the homes of federal judges without explanation. The message was clear: We know where you live.

The mysterious pizza deliveries are happening at the same time that President Trump, his aides and their allies have started an intimidation campaign against the legal system — through executive orders, social media posts, public comments and even articles of impeachment. The evident goal is to spread anxiety and fear among judges and keep them from fulfilling their constitutional duty to insist that the Trump administration follow the law.

The campaign extends to private-sector lawyers, with Mr. Trump trying to damage the business of several firms he does not like. The scope of these tactics can sometimes get lost amid the pace of news, and we want to pause to connect the dots and explain the seriousness of what’s happening.

… The primary targets for intimidation have been federal judges, the latest being Judge James Boasberg. Last weekend, he ruled that the Trump administration could not send 261 migrants to a prison in El Salvador without first holding a hearing. The administration continued deportation flights nonetheless, and its lawyers have since dissembled about the timeline. In response, Mr. Trump described Judge Boasberg, who was appointed to the bench by George W. Bush and elevated by Barack Obama, as a “troublemaker,” “agitator” and “Radical Left Lunatic” who should be impeached. A Republican House member filed articles of impeachment hours later, and Elon Musk announced he had made the maximum campaign contribution to several House members who supported the articles.

… The attempts to cow Judge Boasberg continue a pattern. Mr. Trump, in an interview with Fox News this week, said, “We have rogue judges that are destroying our country.” Vice President JD Vance has claimed that “judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.” Mr. Musk has posted dozens of scathing social media messages about judges who have questioned the legality of his government cuts, describing them as evil and corrupt.

…
Liberal critics of the Supreme Court have harassed justices at their homes, and in one extreme case, a man unhappy with the court’s approach to abortion planned to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Yet Mr. Trump’s efforts at judicial intimidation are of a different scale. As president, he is encouraging a campaign of menace. In case after case, he argues that the only reasonable result is a victory for his side — and that he alone can determine what is legal and what is not. His allies then try to dehumanize the judges with whom they disagree and make them fear for their safety….”

www.nytimes.com

Opinion | Who Will Defend the Defenders of the Constitution?

The president and his allies are encouraging a campaign of menace.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com
 
nycfan said:
“The Domino’s pizzas arrived at the homes of federal judges without explanation. The message was clear: We know where you live.

The mysterious pizza deliveries are happening at the same time that President Trump, his aides and their allies have started an intimidation campaign against the legal system — through executive orders, social media posts, public comments and even articles of impeachment. The evident goal is to spread anxiety and fear among judges and keep them from fulfilling their constitutional duty to insist that the Trump administration follow the law.

The campaign extends to private-sector lawyers, with Mr. Trump trying to damage the business of several firms he does not like. The scope of these tactics can sometimes get lost amid the pace of news, and we want to pause to connect the dots and explain the seriousness of what’s happening.

… The primary targets for intimidation have been federal judges, the latest being Judge James Boasberg. Last weekend, he ruled that the Trump administration could not send 261 migrants to a prison in El Salvador without first holding a hearing. The administration continued deportation flights nonetheless, and its lawyers have since dissembled about the timeline. In response, Mr. Trump described Judge Boasberg, who was appointed to the bench by George W. Bush and elevated by Barack Obama, as a “troublemaker,” “agitator” and “Radical Left Lunatic” who should be impeached. A Republican House member filed articles of impeachment hours later, and Elon Musk announced he had made the maximum campaign contribution to several House members who supported the articles.

… The attempts to cow Judge Boasberg continue a pattern. Mr. Trump, in an interview with Fox News this week, said, “We have rogue judges that are destroying our country.” Vice President JD Vance has claimed that “judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.” Mr. Musk has posted dozens of scathing social media messages about judges who have questioned the legality of his government cuts, describing them as evil and corrupt.

…
Liberal critics of the Supreme Court have harassed justices at their homes, and in one extreme case, a man unhappy with the court’s approach to abortion planned to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Yet Mr. Trump’s efforts at judicial intimidation are of a different scale. As president, he is encouraging a campaign of menace. In case after case, he argues that the only reasonable result is a victory for his side — and that he alone can determine what is legal and what is not. His allies then try to dehumanize the judges with whom they disagree and make them fear for their safety….”

www.nytimes.com

Opinion | Who Will Defend the Defenders of the Constitution?

The president and his allies are encouraging a campaign of menace.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com
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“…
Mr. Trump’s efforts to subdue law firms may seem separate, but they are connected. He has issued three executive orders removing the security clearances of lawyers at three large firms: Covington & Burling, Perkins Coie and Paul, Weiss. In each case, the motivation is political. The firms have employed lawyers who represented Democrats, investigated Mr. Trump and sued Jan. 6 rioters.

The orders against Perkins Coie and Paul, Weiss were broad, barring their lawyers from entering federal buildings and discouraging federal employees from interacting with them. In doing so, the administration tried to devastate the firms: They cannot represent clients if their lawyers cannot speak with federal regulators, investigators and prosecutors.

These orders are not merely revenge, though. They are attempts to undermine the legal system and freedom of speech. If it becomes onerous for anybody who dares question Mr. Trump to hire a lawyer, fewer people will challenge him. Those who do will find themselves at a severe disadvantage in court. “An informed, independent judiciary presumes an informed, independent bar,” as Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in a 2001 decision. On March 12, Judge Beryl Howell temporarily blocked part of the order against Perkins Coie, calling it “retaliatory animus” that “sends little chills down my spine.”

The initial response from many law firms has been a disappointing mixture of silence and capitulation. The clearest example is Paul, Weiss.

… More than 600 associates at top firms have signed an open letter that captures the larger dynamic: Mr. Trump is trying to create a chilling effect among law firms. The letter — signed by lawyers at stalwart firms like Cravath, Kirkland & Ellis and Skadden Arps, along with Paul, Weiss — criticizes their own firms’ partners for not speaking up. “These tactics only work if the majority does not speak up,” the letter says. …”
 

Food banks scramble after USDA halts $500 million in deliveries​


“… the US Department of Agriculture has halted $500 million in deliveries to food banks nationwide that the Biden administration announced last year, multiple food banks told CNN.

… The USDA confirmed to Feeding America, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks and 60,000 meal programs, that the agency is reviewing the funding, said Vince Hall, chief government relations officer at the nonprofit.


“It is our hope that that the review will conclude with a decision to continue investing CCC (Commodity Credit Corporation) dollars in food purchases,” Hall said, noting that food banks from coast to coast are in danger of not having enough items to meet the need. The problem is particularly acute in rural areas, where food banks rely even more on government-supplied groceries.

…
The $500 million in funding came from the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation, which at times provides additional resources to purchase food from American farmers and ranchers and send it to emergency food providers. The pause comes soon after the agency announced it is ending two Covid-19 era programs that provided money for food banks and schools to purchase food from local and regional farmers and ranchers, halting some $1 billion in funding.

Asked for comment on the pause, the USDA said that the Biden administration created “unsustainable programming and expectations using the Commodity Credit Corporation.”

The agency noted that it continues to buy food for The Emergency Food Assistance Program, spending more than $166 million so far this fiscal year, which began October 1. Also, it has purchased more than $300 million in various poultry, fish, fruits, vegetables and tree nuts through another assistance program and recently approved an additional $261 million in purchases of more fruits, vegetables and tree nuts. …”
 
Healing said:
Everyday I’m more and more convinced this is all of a project to isolate the US, as a test case for the tech oligarchy “city-state” wet dream, and Heritage’s “seven mountains” theocracy.

I mean, this admin virtually could not do more to destroy the health, wellness, freedom, safety, and economic might of a once great nation, aside from deploying paramilitaries into city streets (which I’m confident is coming). The anti-social amongst us has turned the US into a chop shop. Nothing about this is governing; it’s stripping us for parts, stealing our wealth, while unconsciously and futilely trying to salve gaping holes in egos through revanchism.
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Possibly, but if we're going that route it could also be just as likely that Putin is manipulating/influencing Trump and Musk and others to deliberately weaken the USA by isolating us from our traditional allies and weakening our economy so that it will be easier for him to move on Europe, especially Eastern Europe. And given that both Trump & Musk aren't the brightest of guys I suspect that both of them are probably surprisingly easy to influence and manipulate.

Whether there is a grand plan behind all of this or not, it does seem increasingly clear that much of what Trump 2.0 has done is aimed at turning our allies against us and isolating us to a degree we haven't really seen since the 19th Century. His attacks on Canada, for example, are just bizarre and make no sense whatsoever, unless turning Canada against us and making them an enemy is the actual goal.
 
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altmin said:
www.theguardian.com

Trump revokes legal status of 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans

Move takes effect on 24 April as president weighs also stripping parole status from some 240,000 Ukrainians in US
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

Trump revokes legal status of 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans​

Move takes effect on 24 April as president weighs also stripping parole status from some 240,000 Ukrainians in US
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"The new policy affects people who are already in the US and who came under the humanitarian parole program. It follows an earlier Trump administration decision to end what it called the “broad abuse” of the humanitarian parole, a long-standing legal tool presidents have used to allow people from countries where there is war or political instability to enter and temporarily live in the US."

I think we allow far too many asylees into the country on the southern border. There are legitimate reasons to seek asylum - what's happening in Ukraine being one of them. I see not legitimate basis for the millions of people from Mexico, Central and South America that were allowed in. Shitty economy and shitty government aren't legit reasons. Biden used a backdoor to get people in. I'm fine sending them out and forcing them to justify re-entering under the actual asylum rules.
 
ZenMode said:
"The new policy affects people who are already in the US and who came under the humanitarian parole program. It follows an earlier Trump administration decision to end what it called the “broad abuse” of the humanitarian parole, a long-standing legal tool presidents have used to allow people from countries where there is war or political instability to enter and temporarily live in the US."

I think we allow far too many asylees into the country on the southern border. There are legitimate reasons to seek asylum - what's happening in Ukraine being one of them. I see not legitimate basis for the millions of people from Mexico, Central and South America that were allowed in. Shitty economy and shitty government aren't legit reasons. Biden used a backdoor to get people in. I'm fine sending them out and forcing them to justify re-entering under the actual asylum rules.
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Shut the fuck up, Taco. You spineless Trump-loving troll shitbird.
 
ZenMode said:
I think we allow far too many asylees into the country on the southern border. There are legitimate reasons to seek asylum - what's happening in Ukraine being one of them. I see not legitimate basis for the millions of people from Mexico, Central and South America that were allowed in.
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Who cares whether you see a legitimate basis or not? You're not informed and make no effort to be. There is a definition of asylum in American law, in the statute. If you think it should be changed, that's how to change it. Well, it's also a commitment made in international treaty, which is why the standard in American law hasn't been changed.

When lawyers say, "we need a new law to fix these issues," maybe you should listen and not just say, "nuh-uh"
 
superrific said:
Who cares whether you see a legitimate basis or not? You're not informed and make no effort to be. There is a definition of asylum in American law, in the statute. If you think it should be changed, that's how to change it. Well, it's also a commitment made in international treaty, which is why the standard in American law hasn't been changed.

When lawyers say, "we need a new law to fix these issues," maybe you should listen and not just say, "nuh-uh"
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Everything is subjective. The reason that scotus justices are so important is because the Constitution is very subjective. Laws are written to try to eliminate subjectivity, but that is often not the case. Hell, Clinton tried to argue the meaning of the word "is".

Now, many people will argue that the wording of the Constitution, or any given law, is clear. That is based on their subjective views.
 
ZenMode said:
Everything is subjective. The reason that scotus justices are so important is because the Constitution is very subjective. Laws are written to try to eliminate subjectivity, but that is often not the case. Hell, Clinton tried to argue the meaning of the word "is".

Now, many people will argue that the wording of the Constitution, or any given law, is clear. That is based on their subjective views.
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The Constitution is less "subjective" than the current Court would have you believe. It's why they have to keep inventing new doctrines to get to the results they want. Objectively speaking, the constitution does not grant to the president immunity from criminal prosecution. That's why Roberts had to go with nonsense from Hamilton (taken out of context) about the value of a "bold president" (which doesn't actually address the question at all).

But anyway, the problem here isn't that there's no subjectivity in interpretation. It's that you lack any knowledge that would be relevant to such interpretation. As I said, the standard for asylum is set forth in statute and treaty. There have been cases about that standard. The DOJ has issued many documents offering interpretations of those laws. There have been dozens or hundreds of commentaries and articles about them. There are statements from international courts and the UN.

When and if you ever become knowledgeable about these sources, you'd have an informed opinion and we could discuss.

Have you considered reading some law books? In the amount of time you spend here broadcasting and arguing uninformed opinions, you could become informed ! It wouldn't make you an expert, but if you read a constitutional law casebook, you'd earn so much more respect. You'd be able to back up your ideas without resorting to bullshit, assuming that in learning constitutional law you are able to revise your opinions where necessary to conform to the actual law.
 
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