I want to say good morning and welcome to Coffee with the Contrarian. I am obviously not Jen Rubin, and that is obviously not Norm Eisen at the bottom of your screen. But we, as in Katie Fain and Ben Wickler, we are here to be able to jumpstart your day and to have a conversation about a few
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important things. And we'll get started now, Ben. Obviously, you, I, and others waking up to the incredibly atrocious news of Trump's big, ugly, disgusting bill having passed the House by the skin of its teeth. And I was posting on social that this was the last count because I want to make sure I say this accurately.
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The vote was 215-214. All Democrats and two Republicans voting against it last night. You also had Andy Harris voted present, and then you had two Republicans who missed the vote entirely. So that's how democracy, you know, faces its challenges is on a numbers issue.
Please share links to those lists of how Congress voted and other very shareable content about the current tyranny. This is insane!!!! Thank you, Contrarian.
Did this bill that passed still include: " U.C. Berkeley School of Law Dean and Distinguished Professor of Law Erwin Chemerinsky notes, this provision would eliminate any restraint on Trump.
‘Without the contempt power, judicial orders are meaningless and can be ignored. There is no way to understand this except as a way to keep the Trump administration from being restrained when it violates the Constitution or otherwise breaks the law. …
‘This would be a stunning restriction on the power of the federal courts. The Supreme Court has long recognized that the contempt power is integral to the authority of the federal courts. Without the ability to enforce judicial orders, they are rendered mere advisory opinions which parties are free to disregard.”
With this single provision, in other words, Trump will have crowned himself king. No congress and no court could stop him. Even if a future Congress were to try to stop him, it could not do so without the power of the courts to enforce their hearings, investigations, subpoenas, and laws.
I am inspired to write up a summary of what this bill does and share it with friends via a one to one communication. We also need an analysis of the 100% tax credit for school vouchers. This means instead of paying capital gains rich companies will donate their profits to religious schools and then get the profits right back as a tax credit. This will reduce revenue for the public purse (who will pay for the things we need?) and put more extreme wealth in the pockets of the extremely wealthy. It will completely undermine the public school system and absolutely tear up the very fabric of the country. Now is the time to call all Senators and tell them to vote NO! And now I need to look up the bill title/ number!!
I know this would be very difficult, but there should be a way to track the impact of the various political actions by our present government that actually serve as a death warrant to the poor and even middle-class population. I hope the rich that are enjoying the benefits realize it's at the sacrifice of other people's lives!!
There are ways to do this. I used to do this type of work. On a high level, it includes tracking Medicaid and SNAP enrollment numbers, death rates by age and cause, poverty rates, medical debt and medical facility closures.
Katie, I think the feedback is coming through your earbuds. You might consider just using the audio and the mic on your computer and ditching the buds.
We talk incessantly about how impervious red state voters are to their interests, always vote against their interests …. If this becomes law, will gop voters finally see whose policies are keeping them down, making them ill, and denying them a future?
"'THE ONE, BIG,BEAUTIFUL BILL' has PASSED the House of Representatives! This is arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country"
Are you fucking kidding me dude??! I passed some "Legislation" this morning that didn't stink as badl.
Katie, thoroughly enjoy this pod with Ben. I called my Maine Representative Jared Golden this morning when I heard the News. Apparently, do to the last several nights having been in attendance in the House, he was having breakfast at the local McDonalds.
Katie, your mic is feeding back. That’s the issue as I see it. You probably have a “line” open meaning that you’re probably broadcasting sound on 2 channels. Check out you output sound on your computer and you probably will see 2 mics in use.
That as great! Please come talk to us again and again. Calling DC now. Thank you for the shift in mindset on how we can turn thus awful awful time around. Loudly, creatively, smartly, in fact brilliance is needed now and peacefully organize in community. Work for food, housing and care. Look out for our most vulnerable. Get mad.
Ben, having watched the DNC chair forums, where reforms and opportunities were discussed... It is sad to see now that reforms are not happening. Leadership is getting rid of David Hogg who has been trying to recruit/support more progressive candidates and also Kenyatta, while the labor leader is leaving. A lot of us are just not going to make donations to the party until we know it is headed in a better direction. Do we just wait for leadership to emerge??? Can Working Families connect with labor and become a party? Do you see a way forward???
The situation is far more serious than the elections. The GOP is a not a political party anymore, it is a typical fascist movement, with a personality cult. Their analysis is highly superficial and does not help at this critical moment.
However, the worst aspect is their emotional focus on a tragic, heartbreaking murder of Israel embassy staff members. Instead of showing compassion, they are weaponising it as anti semitism, not as an act against Israel. And to make it worse, they said nothing about has happened yesterday in Gaza. This is shameful, coming at the moment when Israel is continuing its full scale genocide of Palestinians. Yesterday (and today and every bloody day) some fifty were killed, more bombs fell on dust and rubble of Gaza, more children were mutilated - we talk of one of the greatest human catastrophes in modern history. We talk of 77 years of Palestinians living under apartheid, with Gaza being basically the world's largest concentration camp. We talk of some 60000 people killed in some 19 months, great many being children and women, and as many wounded. We talk of hospitals, schools, universities, monuments, you name it, destroyed - and we talk of now openly preached total occupation of Gaza by the Israeli nazi government, run by a Trump like criminal. We talk of Netanyahu and Trump elaborating the latter's project of turning the blood soaked land of Gaza into a big beautiful resort. We talk of all of this directly supported by the US, at the time when basically the whole world has condemned Israel for war crimes (save for Hungary, US, and a few Pacific countries), at the time when ICC has issued a search warrant for Netanyahu. And yet, they said nothing about it. I am shocked, heartbroken and mind boggled by this hypocrisy, by this total lack of humanity, of solidarity, of empathy for the biblical tragedy of Palestine. This is not a fight for democracy - the Palestine tragedy is the main threat to American democracy, for it can easily cost you your job, if not getting illegally detained, for defending the right of Palestine to exist, and be independent.
What worries me even more is that it will probably be ignored by the members of the platform, and that this complicit silence will continue. In future the world will struggle to comprehend how and why this happened - and most everybody will be saying that they have been against this genocide, this great tragedy that is not only destroying Gaza, but endangering Israel too, and at the same time the US democracy.
Katie, it's not just your mic. There are a lot of others who have had a weird, garbled/echo sound with substack lately. Thanks to both of you. Ben, Chicago has a Bears fan on the World stage. Can he work some miracles, or will your team still be better?
This bill cuts humanitarian support, in terms of health coverage and food supplements, for those with the greatest need while gifting tax breaks tor the wealthiest, who need them least. Worst still, passage of this monstrosity will add unsustainable increases to the National debt.
What about our politicians? Where is their voice ? If they can’t stay in the heat in the kitchen they need to get out and let other voices in. I am frustrated with the lack of fight from them.!!
Ben, also need Young vibrant Democrats to run. I think David Hogg has a point.We need some new blood in this party and you need to realize that being the DNC head.!! we need movement and something new for our future!!
The vote was 215-214. All Democrats and two Republicans voting against it last night. You also had Andy Harris voted present, and then you had two Republicans who missed the vote entirely. So that's how democracy, you know, faces its challenges is on a numbers issue.
There are 529 days, 13 hours to the midterms
Please share links to those lists of how Congress voted and other very shareable content about the current tyranny. This is insane!!!! Thank you, Contrarian.
Did this bill that passed still include: " U.C. Berkeley School of Law Dean and Distinguished Professor of Law Erwin Chemerinsky notes, this provision would eliminate any restraint on Trump.
‘Without the contempt power, judicial orders are meaningless and can be ignored. There is no way to understand this except as a way to keep the Trump administration from being restrained when it violates the Constitution or otherwise breaks the law. …
‘This would be a stunning restriction on the power of the federal courts. The Supreme Court has long recognized that the contempt power is integral to the authority of the federal courts. Without the ability to enforce judicial orders, they are rendered mere advisory opinions which parties are free to disregard.”
With this single provision, in other words, Trump will have crowned himself king. No congress and no court could stop him. Even if a future Congress were to try to stop him, it could not do so without the power of the courts to enforce their hearings, investigations, subpoenas, and laws.
I am inspired to write up a summary of what this bill does and share it with friends via a one to one communication. We also need an analysis of the 100% tax credit for school vouchers. This means instead of paying capital gains rich companies will donate their profits to religious schools and then get the profits right back as a tax credit. This will reduce revenue for the public purse (who will pay for the things we need?) and put more extreme wealth in the pockets of the extremely wealthy. It will completely undermine the public school system and absolutely tear up the very fabric of the country. Now is the time to call all Senators and tell them to vote NO! And now I need to look up the bill title/ number!!
Rich people want but do not need to have tax cuts. Why are we talking about doing this? Not only politically toxic but wrong!
My exact question!!!!!! Goodness!!!!!!!!🤯
I know this would be very difficult, but there should be a way to track the impact of the various political actions by our present government that actually serve as a death warrant to the poor and even middle-class population. I hope the rich that are enjoying the benefits realize it's at the sacrifice of other people's lives!!
There are ways to do this. I used to do this type of work. On a high level, it includes tracking Medicaid and SNAP enrollment numbers, death rates by age and cause, poverty rates, medical debt and medical facility closures.
Katie, I think the feedback is coming through your earbuds. You might consider just using the audio and the mic on your computer and ditching the buds.
Is that what it is? It's not just hers. I've noticed it on other substacks too.
We talk incessantly about how impervious red state voters are to their interests, always vote against their interests …. If this becomes law, will gop voters finally see whose policies are keeping them down, making them ill, and denying them a future?
It’s the MAGA Murder Bill.
Will we have elections? Atrocities like this point to No.
Capitol Switchboard # (202) 224-3121
Love this and love you so much! Thank you for hope in the shit storm of emotions and disbelief💝🇺🇸🌈
Wireless Lav mike signal not stable
"'THE ONE, BIG,BEAUTIFUL BILL' has PASSED the House of Representatives! This is arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country"
Are you fucking kidding me dude??! I passed some "Legislation" this morning that didn't stink as badl.
Good morning Katie and Ben.
Love those sessions.
Can this legislation be stopped if a Democrats are elected?
How does automatic PAYGO work out moneywise for Medicare individuals?
Already called house rep and both senators!
Katie, thoroughly enjoy this pod with Ben. I called my Maine Representative Jared Golden this morning when I heard the News. Apparently, do to the last several nights having been in attendance in the House, he was having breakfast at the local McDonalds.
Lot of audio echoes
Katie, your mic is feeding back. That’s the issue as I see it. You probably have a “line” open meaning that you’re probably broadcasting sound on 2 channels. Check out you output sound on your computer and you probably will see 2 mics in use.
It's the earbuds
That as great! Please come talk to us again and again. Calling DC now. Thank you for the shift in mindset on how we can turn thus awful awful time around. Loudly, creatively, smartly, in fact brilliance is needed now and peacefully organize in community. Work for food, housing and care. Look out for our most vulnerable. Get mad.
Please do not use a microphone with your earbuds. You get feedback having two microphones in such close proximity.
Yes, there is a problem with Katie’s microphone. But great to see you two even though the news is horrible. Thanks!
Ben, having watched the DNC chair forums, where reforms and opportunities were discussed... It is sad to see now that reforms are not happening. Leadership is getting rid of David Hogg who has been trying to recruit/support more progressive candidates and also Kenyatta, while the labor leader is leaving. A lot of us are just not going to make donations to the party until we know it is headed in a better direction. Do we just wait for leadership to emerge??? Can Working Families connect with labor and become a party? Do you see a way forward???
There was some background feedback on this video :)
You're getting Bluetooth interference. Do you have another device that's transmitting nearby?
Katie, you’re another Lioness. You need to be in office for the people!!
The situation is far more serious than the elections. The GOP is a not a political party anymore, it is a typical fascist movement, with a personality cult. Their analysis is highly superficial and does not help at this critical moment.
However, the worst aspect is their emotional focus on a tragic, heartbreaking murder of Israel embassy staff members. Instead of showing compassion, they are weaponising it as anti semitism, not as an act against Israel. And to make it worse, they said nothing about has happened yesterday in Gaza. This is shameful, coming at the moment when Israel is continuing its full scale genocide of Palestinians. Yesterday (and today and every bloody day) some fifty were killed, more bombs fell on dust and rubble of Gaza, more children were mutilated - we talk of one of the greatest human catastrophes in modern history. We talk of 77 years of Palestinians living under apartheid, with Gaza being basically the world's largest concentration camp. We talk of some 60000 people killed in some 19 months, great many being children and women, and as many wounded. We talk of hospitals, schools, universities, monuments, you name it, destroyed - and we talk of now openly preached total occupation of Gaza by the Israeli nazi government, run by a Trump like criminal. We talk of Netanyahu and Trump elaborating the latter's project of turning the blood soaked land of Gaza into a big beautiful resort. We talk of all of this directly supported by the US, at the time when basically the whole world has condemned Israel for war crimes (save for Hungary, US, and a few Pacific countries), at the time when ICC has issued a search warrant for Netanyahu. And yet, they said nothing about it. I am shocked, heartbroken and mind boggled by this hypocrisy, by this total lack of humanity, of solidarity, of empathy for the biblical tragedy of Palestine. This is not a fight for democracy - the Palestine tragedy is the main threat to American democracy, for it can easily cost you your job, if not getting illegally detained, for defending the right of Palestine to exist, and be independent.
What worries me even more is that it will probably be ignored by the members of the platform, and that this complicit silence will continue. In future the world will struggle to comprehend how and why this happened - and most everybody will be saying that they have been against this genocide, this great tragedy that is not only destroying Gaza, but endangering Israel too, and at the same time the US democracy.
Can you publish the segments of this bill that specifically show how the cuts hurt the less wealthy?
Katie, it's not just your mic. There are a lot of others who have had a weird, garbled/echo sound with substack lately. Thanks to both of you. Ben, Chicago has a Bears fan on the World stage. Can he work some miracles, or will your team still be better?
Could you please make a succinct FB post (public) showing what this bill takes away from us.
This bill cuts humanitarian support, in terms of health coverage and food supplements, for those with the greatest need while gifting tax breaks tor the wealthiest, who need them least. Worst still, passage of this monstrosity will add unsustainable increases to the National debt.
What about our politicians? Where is their voice ? If they can’t stay in the heat in the kitchen they need to get out and let other voices in. I am frustrated with the lack of fight from them.!!
It is related to what we are allowing to happen in Gaza!!
You are Mike is still giving off feedback!! it does suck!!
Ben, also need Young vibrant Democrats to run. I think David Hogg has a point.We need some new blood in this party and you need to realize that being the DNC head.!! we need movement and something new for our future!!
The attack was tragic, but I think it was an attack on Israel rather than an antisemitic attack.
mic sounds good to me
Katie, I am getting feedback when you are speaking. I suspect that there is conflict between your hand-held mic and the microphones in your earbuds.
Not your mic you have 2 mics on at same time. Check...
Slow down u sound like u r on fast forward. Energy is so different than Jen and Norm. Ugh. Who is your audience. Speak to them.