October 18, 2018

Trump and Ivanka lied to make money

Donald Trump claims he only licensed his name for real estate projects developed by others. But an investigation of a dozen Trump deals shows deep family involvement in projects that often involved deceptive practices.

https://features.propublica.org/trump-inc-podcast/trump-family-business-panama-city-khafif/

SINCE DONALD TRUMP’S FORTUNES came surging back with the success of “The Apprentice” 14 years ago, his deals have often been scrutinized for the large number of his partners who have ventured to the very edges of the law, and sometimes beyond. Those associates have included accused money launderers, alleged funders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and a felon who slashed someone in the face with a broken margarita glass.

Trump and his company have typically countered by saying they were merely licensing his name on these real estate projects in exchange for a fee. They weren’t the developers or in any way responsible.


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But an eight-month investigation by ProPublica and WNYC reveals that the post-millennium Trump business model is different from what has been previously reported. The Trumps were typically way more than mere licensors or bystanders in their often-troubled deals. They were deeply involved in these projects. They helped mislead investors and buyers — and they profited handsomely from it.

Patterns of deceptive practices occurred in a dozen deals across the globe, as the business expanded into international projects, and the Trumps often participated. One common pattern, visible in more than half of those transactions, was a tendency to misstate key sales numbers.

In interviews and press conferences, Ivanka Trump gave false sales figures for projects in Mexico’s Baja California; Panama City, Panama; Toronto and New York’s SoHo neighborhood. These statements weren’t just the legendary Trump hype; they misled potential buyers about the viability of the developments.

Another pattern: Donald Trump repeatedly misled buyers about the amount (or existence) of his ownership in projects in Tampa, Florida; Panama; Baja and elsewhere. For a tower planned in Tampa, for example, Trump told a local paper in 2005 that his ownership would be less than 50 percent: “But it’s a substantial stake. I recently said I’d like to increase my stake but when they’re selling that well they don’t let you do that.” In reality, Trump had no ownership stake in the project.

The Trumps often made money even when projects failed. And when they tanked, the Trumps simply ignored their prior claims of close involvement, denied any responsibility and walked away.

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This article examines another Trump claim: that his post-millennium comeback and global expansion rested on the brilliant purity of a licensing strategy that paid him millions simply for the use of his name. That, it turns out, is no truer than the notion that Donald Trump is self-made.

October 17, 2018

Trump Organization's Attempt To Celebrate 'Bosses' Eric And Don Jr. Backfires

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/eric-trump-don-jr-trump-boss-day_us_5bc6a540e4b0d38b5872cfcd

The Trump Organization tried to celebrate “National Boss’s Day” by sharing an image of the company’s bosses, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.

Or, as the company called them: “Our boys”:

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they are getting trashed in the twitter comments

https://twitter.com/Trump/status/1052298814491713544

October 17, 2018

'Keep your hands visible': Texas teens can't graduate until they watch this video about police

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2018/10/17/keep-your-hands-visible-texas-teens-cant-graduate-until-they-watch-this-video-about-police/?utm_term=.dbc4ae917938

In the aftermath of several fatal police shootings of unarmed citizens, Texas lawmakers sought to pacify tensions between law enforcement and civilians. The state legislature brought civil rights groups and law enforcement organizations together to develop a solution: the Community Safety Education Act, which was signed into law last year.

The bill requires any student entering ninth grade in the 2018-2019 academic year and thereafter to participate in a class and watch a video instruction on how to interact properly with officers during traffic stops. Without a notation of attendance on their transcripts, seniors cannot receive diplomas.

State Sen. Royce West (D) led the charge, also requiring instruction for law enforcement officers and those joining the force, as well as students in driver-training and defensive-driving courses.


“I wanted to put something in place that would temper the expectations of police officers and citizens,” he told The Washington Post.

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement produced the video, according to Gretchen Grigsby, director of the agency’s office of government relations, after collaborating with the Department of Licensing and Regulation and the State Board of Education.

Now considered mandatory curriculum, the Civilian Interaction Training Program aims to give its audiences — high school students, new drivers and police officers — a neutral understanding of one another’s points of view and responsibilities, she said. “The legislation was made to address the issue of trust.”

The 16-minute video, which went live in September, uses reenactments about the correct way to behave during a traffic stop and the wrong way to communicate with officers. The video lays out these guidelines:

Officers don’t always have a clear view into your vehicle, so keep your hands visible.
Don’t move around or reach for anything.
Let the officer know you’re reaching into the console.
It also answers several common questions:

Do I need to get out of the car?
Can I say no if the officer asks to search me or my car?
What if I didn’t do anything wrong?
Although West said that the bill received little if any pushback, it still has its critics.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2018/10/17/keep-your-hands-visible-texas-teens-cant-graduate-until-they-watch-this-video-about-police/?utm_term=.dbc4ae917938

October 17, 2018

former GOP lawmaker defines rape. No rape if she doesn't scream

But Boys added a caveat by citing a few choice passages from the Bible.

“Some common sense definitions are necessary regarding this accusation,” he explained. “Rape is having sex with a woman while she screams for help. No scream, no rape according to Deuteronomy 22:23-24. Ford says Kavanaugh held his hand over her mouth so did she scream for help when his hand was elsewhere?”

“Moreover, Matthew 18:16 clearly commands that there must be at least two witnesses to validate a charge against a person. This is a repeat of Old Testament law,” he lectured. “Ford has no witnesses. The other man who was allegedly there, Mark Judge said, “It’s just absolutely nuts. I never saw Brett act that way.’”

Citing another person who may or may not have been at the party but saw nothing, Boys wrote: “That should settle it; now let’s all go home, pull down the shades, and get some sleep.”

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/10/former-gop-lawmaker-uses-bible-claim-not-rape-unless-woman-screams/

October 17, 2018

we are the exorcists. vote!

https://twitter.com/JimCarrey/status/1050907290474299393

October 17, 2018

remember how you felt the morning after election night 2016?

https://twitter.com/AmandiOnAir/status/1051616176005099520

October 17, 2018

tweet of the hour

https://twitter.com/perlmutations/status/1052294442147897345

October 16, 2018

Caravan of more than 1,000 migrants moves north, triggering outrage from Trump

ESQUIPULAS, Guatemala — A caravan of Honduran migrants bound for the United States streamed across Guatemala’s southern border on Monday night and quickly drew a rebuke from President Trump, who threatened to withdraw all aid to Honduras unless it somehow recalled its citizens.

The migrant caravan included well over 1,000 people and is expected to continue to expand as it moves north across Guatemala and Mexico. On Tuesday morning, after the group had crossed into Guatemala, Trump wrote on Twitter he had informed the Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández that “if the large Caravan of people heading to the U.S. is not stopped and brought back to Honduras, no more money or aid will be given to Honduras, effective immediately!”

The migrants — who say they are traveling in search of jobs, better lives for their families and an escape from gang threats and violent communities — were blocked at the Honduras-Guatemala border for several hours Monday by Guatemalan police in riot gear before eventually being allowed to pass. They made camp for the night at a Catholic school in the southern city of Esquipulas and continued north Tuesday morning.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/caravan-of-more-than-1000-migrants-moves-north-triggering-outrage-from-trump/2018/10/16/67f951f8-d143-11e8-a4db-184311d27129_story.html?utm_term=.607bc6571e63

October 16, 2018

Scott Walker, in fight for political life, slow-walks Medicaid work rules

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker sought for years to put Medicaid recipients to work. Now federal officials have given him most of what he wanted, but he's delaying the process for fear the changes will doom his flailing reelection bid, say three federal officials familiar with the deliberations.

“Wisconsin's been stalling,” said one official, adding the Trump administration has been ready to formally approve and announce the state’s new work requirements for weeks. “It’s ended up being a lot of hurry-up-and-wait.”


The Walker administration disputed the governor is slow-walking the process, saying that the state is actively pursuing approval and instead blamed the Trump administration for delays. "There are ongoing conversations," said Julie Lund, a spokesperson for Wisconsin's Department of Health Services. "We've felt it's close for a while."

“The idea that Wisconsin’s been stalling is unequivocally false,” said Tom Evenson, the communications director for Walker, after initial publication of this article.

The delays around implementing Wisconsin's strict Medicaid work rules come as many Republicans have retreated from health care on the campaign trail — and as Democrats hammer the message the GOP is working to strip health protections from millions of people. Democrats have an 18-point national advantage on health care, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released on Sunday.

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/16/scott-walker-wisconsin-medicaid-midterms-903154

October 16, 2018

Blake Fischer - killer of baboon families - just resigned from his fish and game commission post.

Fischer, in an email to Otter, said: "I recently made some poor judgments that resulted in sharing photos of a hunt in which I did not display an appropriate level of sportsmanship and respect for the animals I harvested. While these actions were out of character for me, I fully accept responsibility and feel it is best for the citizens of Idaho and sportsmen and women that I resign my post."

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/15/us/blake-fischer-idaho-fish-game-hunting-controversy-trnd/index.html