https://twitter.com/RepRaskin/status/1390718699028590601

I invite everybody to join me in proclaiming today as National #DayofReason across America to defend science, reason and logic against those who would tear them down!

Rep. Jamie Raskin
@RepRaskin
Proud to introduce a Resolution recognizing May 7, 2021 as a National Day of Reason in America.
On this day, we’ll praise the central role of reason and science in making government work as an instrument of progress and the common good #ForThePeople.

Daily Beast:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/melinda-gates-warned-bill-gates-about-jeffrey-epstein

Melinda Gates Warned Bill About Jeffrey Epstein
May 6 2021
More..
--------------

https://twitter.com/walcraeb/status/1390529789178568710

Melinda Gates warned Bill Gates about Jeffrey #Epstein after a secret meeting in 2013 — Bill Gates continued to associate with Epstein long after Epstein’s conviction and the media blitz of his predatory pedophilia

Epstein flew people like Gates and Clinton around the world for their foundations because it made him look important and he could write it off as a donation. It doesn’t mean they “partied” with him. Of course it doesn’t mean they didn’t either, but let’s not assume anything


--------
Gdammit.

Regardless of Gates' association this is sad. Epstein crossed paths with many wealthy, & many who managed influential Foundations, so I'm personally just leaving it there.

Fk you Jeffrey Epstein

https://twitter.com/ericgarland/status/1390355905217245192

Longtime Missouri lobbyist and political consultant indicted on tax charge
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/longtime-missouri-lobbyist-and-political-consultant-indicted-on-tax-charge/article_ca909300-71da-57ae-87e9-acfe9f33e460.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true

ST. LOUIS — Lobbyist and political consultant David Barklage has been indicted on a felony tax charge, documents unsealed Thursday show.

Barklage failed to report $443,633 in income from 2012-2014, the indictment says, meaning he failed to pay $151,843 in taxes for those years.

A total of $209,499 came from a Missouri political campaign, $30,000 was from lobbying fees and $122,580 came from "an independent media producer," the indictment says.

During that period, Barklage was half owner of Barklage and Knodell and the sole owner of The Barklage Company, the indictment says.
MORE
---------------

This reads like one would expect from the snake pit of the Missouri Republican Party.
Cripe..

(I have little interest nor knowing about Crypto but it seems the IRS is diving in. What/who is Kraken to Crypto buyers. A trader?)

Just leaving this here for those who do crypto.


https://twitter.com/EamonJavers/status/1390063985156935680

Goodbye Cruel World


https://twitter.com/ericgarland/status/1389611255879585797



https://www.uawire.org/kremlin-russia-is-preparing-to-be-disconnected-from-swift
Russia is working to minimize damage in the event it loses access to international financial instruments, but, for now, the Kremlin considers the possibility of being disconnected from the SWIFT interbank payment system as hypothetical, stated the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in an interview with RT.

"The possibility of being disconnected from SWIFT is still considered as hypothetical. Nevertheless, inter-minsistry work is underway to minimize the risks and economic damage if our country’s access to the usual international financial instruments and payment mechanisms is limited.

The Financial Messaging System of the Bank of Russia is an example of such alternative instruments. At the moment, options for its pairing with foreign counterparts - European SEPA, Iranian SEPAM, Chinese CUP and CIPS, are being discussed," she said.
MORE..

How ever will they launder money?!

https://twitter.com/DCdebbie/status/1389329473997258754

It's a even stretch for twitter to actually be mean to Bill Gates

Apr 29, 2021
Senate passed the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act by a 89-2 vote.

The only "no" votes were:
Senate GOP Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, who support POLLUTERS over the clean water we need to stay healthy.

How much $$ did the lobbyists give them?

https://twitter.com/DrDenaGrayson/status/1387847383271235590

Crowds and Power
Rewarding Compliance, Criminalizing Dissent
Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Apr 27

https://lucid.substack.com/p/crowds-and-power

Crowds have a starring role in the propaganda generated over a century of authoritarian history. Throngs listening to the leader at a rally, performing gymnastics for him and party officials (a Communist specialty), or lining the streets to cheer his motorcade - these are all "good crowds." In authoritarian states and declining democracies, good crowds exist in relation to dangerous ones, like the hordes of foreigners reportedly breaching U.S. borders, or protesters said to be committing violent acts. Democratic erosion and the criminalization of dissent go hand in hand.

Old-school regimes and their state medias manufactured a ceaseless flow of good crowd images.
The compliant civilian and military bodies on display legitimized the leader politically, their cheers and salutes maintaining the illusion that he ruled by popular will.
They nourished his personality cult, renewing his power and feeding his ego.

"Early on, Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels discovered that Adolf Hitler was a wooden speaker in a studio environment and required the energy and adulation of crowds to shine.
Hitler's speeches thereafter were recorded at rallies and other public occasions, his performances enhanced by the feedback of his fans."

A worthy read ~
*********

https://twitter.com/ruthbenghiat/status/1388488088272375808

***
"Eric Garland
@ericgarland
May 1
I can't just retweet this - it's a drop-everything-and-read-now essay. Including updates to legislation that aims to change our world. "

Crowds and Power
Rewarding Compliance, Criminalizing Dissent
Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Apr 27

https://lucid.substack.com/p/crowds-and-power

Crowds have a starring role in the propaganda generated over a century of authoritarian history. Throngs listening to the leader at a rally, performing gymnastics for him and party officials (a Communist specialty), or lining the streets to cheer his motorcade - these are all "good crowds." In authoritarian states and declining democracies, good crowds exist in relation to dangerous ones, like the hordes of foreigners reportedly breaching U.S. borders, or protesters said to be committing violent acts. Democratic erosion and the criminalization of dissent go hand in hand.

Old-school regimes and their state medias manufactured a ceaseless flow of good crowd images.
The compliant civilian and military bodies on display legitimized the leader politically, their cheers and salutes maintaining the illusion that he ruled by popular will.
They nourished his personality cult, renewing his power and feeding his ego.

"Early on, Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels discovered that Adolf Hitler was a wooden speaker in a studio environment and required the energy and adulation of crowds to shine.
Hitler's speeches thereafter were recorded at rallies and other public occasions, his performances enhanced by the feedback of his fans."

A worthy read ~
*********

https://twitter.com/ruthbenghiat/status/1388488088272375808

***
"Eric Garland
@ericgarland
May 1
I can't just retweet this - it's a drop-everything-and-read-now essay. Including updates to legislation that aims to change our world. "

https://twitter.com/blewis823/status/1388568972560420865

Marc Elias
"When he signs it, Florida will be sued."
@DemocracyDocket
Florida Republicans PASSED #SB90 to restrict mail voting, drop boxes, and more. The bill now goes to the governor, who is expected to sign it into law
https://www.democracydocket.com/2021/04/florida-legislature-passes-voter-suppression-bill/


https://twitter.com/QuealyJ/status/1388525745983705088
John Quealy
@QuealyJ Replying to @DemocracyDocket

Republicans:
If you're going to do everything you can to STOP AMERICANS from voting;

YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS OR PLACE IN OUR GOVERNMENT!
America, DO THE RIGHT THING AND;
VOTE REPUBLICANS OUT PERMANENTLY!