[blog](blog): 2025-01-19 blog, add links to departments, legislators (#…

…708)

* [blog](blog): 2025-01-19 blog, add links to depart

Signed-off-by: Ralph Hightower <[email protected]>

* [fix](blog): front matter 

Signed-off-by: Ralph Hightower <[email protected]>

* [fix](blog): front matter 

Signed-off-by: Ralph Hightower <[email protected]>

* [fix](blog): front matter(date)

Signed-off-by: Ralph Hightower <[email protected]>

---------

Signed-off-by: Ralph Hightower <[email protected]>

_posts/2025/01/2025-01-02-ChiefJusticeRobertsSwipesAtVPElectVance.md

@@ -33,15 +33,15 @@ Roberts addressed multiple concerns of an independent judiciary:
 
 Referring to the court's 1954 ruling in *Brown v. Board of Education* when southern governors defied the desegragation of public schools, Roberts wrote, “Judicial independence is undermined unless the other branches [of government] are firm in their responsibility to enforce the court’s decrees. The courage of federal judges to uphold the law in the face of massive local opposition — and the willingness of the Eisenhower and Kennedy Administrations[^31] to stand behind those judges — are strong testaments to the relationship between judicial independence and the rule of law in our Nation’s history.”
 
-[^31]: @RalphHightower: Eisenhower was Republican and Kennedy was Democrat.
+[^31]: @RalphHightower: Eisenhower was [Republican](https://www.gop.com/) and Kennedy was [Democrat](https://www.democrats.org/).
 
 Roberts wrote, “Every Administration suffers defeats in the court system — sometimes in cases with major ramifications for executive or legislative power or other consequential topics. Nevertheless, for the past several decades, the decisions of the courts, popular or not, have been followed, and the Nation has avoided the standoffs that plagued the 1950s and 1960s[^41]<sup>,</sup>[^42]. Within the past few years, however, elected officials from across the political spectrum have raised the specter of open disregard for federal court rulings. These dangerous suggestions, however sporadic, must be soundly rejected.”
 
-[^41]: @RalphHightower: I was in elementary and high school during the 60's. 1968 was the year that the Supreme Court demanded, **"You will integrate now!", and the year that I entered high school. Growing up in South Carolina, a state that I love, some schools integrated without incident; others, not so much as in Lamar where parents overturned a school bus. The school system I was in, Bamberg-Ehrhardt integrated peacefully. 
+[^41]: @RalphHightower: I was in elementary and high school during the 60's. 1968 was the year that the [Supreme Court](https://www.supremecourt.gov/) demanded, **"You will integrate now!", and the year that I entered high school. Growing up in South Carolina, a state that I love, some schools integrated without incident; others, not so much as in Lamar where parents overturned a school bus. The school system I was in, Bamberg-Ehrhardt integrated peacefully. 
+
 [^42]: @RalphHightower: Star Trek debuted in the late 60's. I didn't think anything was extraordinary with Uhura being on the bridge since the bridge officers were international, with Sulu and Chekov, and interplanetary with Spock, half Vulcan and half human. But Nichelle Nichols confided to Martin Luther King that she was considering leaving Star Trek. He convinced her to stay, that she was a beacon to African-American for having a role of responsibility and not a nanny or housekeeper on television. 
 
-JD Vance, Yale Law School Class of 2013, advocated in a podcast, “If I was giving him [Trump] one piece of advice, fire every single mid-level bureaucrat, every civil servant in the administrative state.
-Replace them with our people. And when the courts — because you will get taken to court — and when the courts stop you, stand before the country like Andrew Jackson did and say: ‘The chief justice has made his ruling. Now let him enforce it.’” Vance's wife, Usha, clerked for Roberts from 2017 to 2018[^51].
+JD Vance, Yale Law School Class of 2013, advocated in a podcast, “If I was giving him [Trump] one piece of advice, fire every single mid-level bureaucrat, every civil servant in the administrative state. Replace them with our people. And when the courts — because you will get taken to court — and when the courts stop you, stand before the country like Andrew Jackson did and say: ‘The chief justice has made his ruling. Now let him enforce it.’” Vance's wife, Usha, clerked for Roberts from 2017 to 2018[^51].
 
 [^51]: @RalphHightower: *"Oh, the irony of the Vance's connections!"*
 

_posts/2025/01/2025-01-04-KillingOurKids.md

@@ -16,5 +16,5 @@ title: "Killing Our Kids Softly With His Song – Robert F Kennedy Jr (RFKJr)'s
 <ifram...e width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hEd-C1-hiVc?si=iuci6wypWRuV8geX" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
 Jan 3, 2025  #RFKJr #KashPatel #Cabinet
-Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT): “Why are we giving RFK Jr. a pass? Okay, he wants to ban pharmaceutical advertising. That's nice. He also wants to kill our kids by withdrawing vaccines from our schools and taking fluoride out of our drinking water. Democrats have to fight these nominees.”
+[Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT)](https://www.murphy.senate.gov/): “Why are we giving RFK Jr. a pass? Okay, he wants to ban pharmaceutical advertising. That's nice. He also wants to kill our kids by withdrawing vaccines from our schools and taking fluoride out of our drinking water. [Democrats](https://www.democrats.org/) have to fight these nominees.”
 

_posts/2025/01/2025-01-04-TrumpsLies.md

@@ -15,17 +15,17 @@ title: "Freedom of the Press: White House Spokesperson Thanks Journalists For Fa
 
 Story by Jennifer Bowers Bahney, Raw Story. January 4, 205.
 
-Trump's assertion on TruthSocial that "The Democrats are all 'giddy' about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at 'half mast' during my inauguration. They think it's so great and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don't love our country, they only think about themselves. In any event, because of the death of President Jimmy Carter, the Flag may, for the first time ever during an Inauguration of a future President, be at half mast. Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
+Trump's assertion on TruthSocial that "The [Democrats](https://www.democrats.org/) all 'giddy' about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at 'half mast' during my inauguration. They think it's so great and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don't love our country, they only think about themselves. In any event, because of the death of President Jimmy Carter, the Flag may, for the first time ever during an Inauguration of a future President, be at half mast. Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
 
-@RalphHightower: That statement about not loving America is totally, fucking false! I was an independent voter from 1972 through 2016. I had to switch to Democrat for the 2018 elections because what were then Republicans at the state and federal become infected with Trump's MAGA-mania! Prior to the 2024 presidential election, I had concerns about democracy. Post election, I have fears for democracy. 
+@RalphHightower: That statement about not loving America is totally, fucking false! I was an independent voter from 1972 through 2016. I had to switch to [Democrat](https://www.democrats.org/) for the 2018 elections because what were then [Republicans](https://www.gop.com/)at the state and federal become infected with Trump's MAGA-mania! Prior to the 2024 presidential election, I had concerns about democracy. Post election, I have fears for democracy. 
 
 The first reporter asked, "President-elect Trump seemed to take issue today with the fact that flags will be flown at half mast at the time of his inauguration, considering the passing of former President Jimmy Carter... Is that a position that the White House would consider reversing or re-evaluating?"
 
 Jean-Pierre answered simply and curtly, "No."
 
-Former President Carter, a Democrat, died Dec. 29 at the age of 100. President Biden ordered flags lowered to half staff in tribute for 30 days from Carter’s death, which encompasses Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.
+Former President Carter, a [Democrat](https://www.democrats.org/), died Dec. 29 at the age of 100. President Biden ordered flags lowered to half staff in tribute for 30 days from Carter’s death, which encompasses Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.
 
-NBC's Kelly O'Donnell asked about the "misinformation" Trump has been peddling on social media about Biden's "open border policy" being responsible for the New Year's Eve terrorist attack in New Orleans.
+[NBC's](https://www.nbcnews.com/) Kelly O'Donnell asked about the "misinformation" Trump has been peddling on social media about Biden's "open border policy" being responsible for the New Year's Eve terrorist attack in New Orleans.
 
 "President-elect Trump had communicated on his social media some inaccurate information relating to New Orleans this week. Is the president at all concerned about the flow of information, and briefing, and access to whatever intelligence or whatever he might need in terms of this transition. Is he comfortable with the information flow to the president-elect?"
 

_posts/2025/01/2025-01-05-TrumpWrongPardonJan6Criminals.md

@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ Trump told Kristen Welker recently on [Meet the Press](https://youtu.be/b607aDHU
 
 ### Those Complicit Trumper Legislators
 
-1. [Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (T-GA14)](https://greene.house.gov/)[^21] – “Here we are nearly four years later. Many of these people have been in prison since 2021. Even the ones that fought Capitol Police, caused damage to the Capitol, I think they’ve served their time and I think they should all be pardoned and released from prison. Some of these people have been given prison sentences: 10 years, 18 years and more. I think it’s an injustice. It’s a two-tiered justice system, and it’s time to end it.”
-2. [Rep. Jim Jordan (T-OH4)](https://jordan.house.gov/)[^22] – “For people who didn’t commit any violence, I think everyone supports that. I think that makes sense,” said Jordan, R-Ohio.
-3. [Rep. Gus Bilirakis (T-FL12)](https://bilirakis.house.gov/) – “You’ve got to look at it individually. Some probably deserve to be pardoned.” When asked about those who attacked U.S. Capitol police officers, he added, “My goodness. Again, I’d have to look at the scenario. But if they attacked the U.S. Capitol Police, it’s a big problem.”
-4. [Rep. Dusty Johnson (T-SD)](https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/) said that there's a difference between those *"just trespassing"* and those that damaged property – “People who attacked police officers, listen, I don’t think that is something we should ever condone.”
+1. [Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (T-GA14)](https://greene.house.gov/)[^21] – “Here we are nearly four years later. Many of these people have been in prison since 2021. Even the ones that fought Capitol Police](https://www.uscp.gov/), caused damage to the Capitol, I think they’ve served their time and I think they should all be pardoned and released from prison. Some of these people have been given prison sentences: 10 years, 18 years and more. I think it’s an injustice. It’s a two-tiered justice system, and it’s time to end it.”
+2. [Rep. Jim Jordan (T-OH4)](https://jordan.house.gov/)[^22] – “For people who didn’t commit any violence, I think everyone supports that. I think that makes sense,” said [Jordan (T-OH4)](https://jordan.house.gov/).
+3. [Rep. Gus Bilirakis (T-FL12)](https://bilirakis.house.gov/) – “You’ve got to look at it individually. Some probably deserve to be pardoned.” When asked about those who attacked [U.S. Capitol police officers](https://www.uscp.gov/), he added, “My goodness. Again, I’d have to look at the scenario. But if they attacked the [U.S. Capitol Police](https://www.uscp.gov/), it’s a big problem.”
+4. [Rep. Dusty Johnson (T-SD)](https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/) said that there's a difference between those *"just trespassing"* and those that damaged property – “People who attacked [police officers](https://www.uscp.gov/), listen, I don’t think that is something we should ever condone.”
 
 [^21]: @RalphHightower: How and why does the 14<sup>th</sup> keep electing [MTG](https://greene.house.gov/)? She's a conspiracy wacko!
 [^22]: @RalphHightower: [Jordan](https://jordan.house.gov/) is another blowhard.
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ Donald Trump is guilty of inciting an insurrection to occur on January 6, 2921 w
 
 ### Those Upholding Law and Order
 
-- [US Capitol Police](http://www.uscp.gov/) Officer Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, who retired due to his injuries after fighting rioters – “You cannot be pro-police officer and rule of law if you are pardoning people who betrayed that trust, injured police officers and ransacked the Capitol.”
+- [US Capitol Police](https://www.uscp.gov/)](https://www.uscp.gov/) Officer Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, who retired due to his injuries after fighting rioters – “You cannot be pro-police officer and rule of law if you are pardoning people who betrayed that trust, injured police officers and ransacked the Capitol.”
 - [Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD8)](https://raskin.house.gov/) – “Because anything that happens by these people, in a political context or some other context, will essentially be laid at the doorstep soon-to-be President Donald Trump.” He added that people should demand from those pardoned, contrition and repentance, and an affirmative statement that they pose no further threats to public safety. 
-- [Rep. Bennie Thompson D-MS2)](https://benniethompson.house.gov/) – “Those 140-odd law enforcement people who got hurt defending this institution, I think anyone who loves peace and security would be offended that you would pardon people who attacked those individuals for doing their jobs.”
+- [Rep. Bennie Thompson D-MS2)](https://benniethompson.house.gov/) – “Those 140-odd [law enforcement people](https://www.uscp.gov/) who got hurt defending this institution, I think anyone who loves peace and security would be offended that you would pardon people who attacked those individuals for doing their jobs.”
 - [Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT4)](https://himes.house.gov/) – “I’m pretty controlled and pretty disciplined, but that would be really hard. Too many of us had very personal experiences with the people who are serving time or were convicted.”
 
 ### Full interview: Donald Trump details his plans for Day 1 and beyond in the White House

_posts/2025/01/2025-01-06-JoeBidenOpEd.md

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ January 5, 2025 at 9:00 p.m. EST
 By Joe Biden
 Joe Biden is president of the United States.
 
-On this Jan. 6, order will be called. Clerks, staff and members of Congress will gather to certify the results of a free and fair presidential election and ensure a peaceful transfer of power. Capitol Police will stand guard over the citadel of our democracy.
+On this Jan. 6, order will be called. Clerks, staff and members of [Congress](https://www.congress.gov/) will gather to certify the results of a free and fair presidential election and ensure a peaceful transfer of power. ,[Capitol Police](https://www.uscp.gov/) will stand guard over the citadel of our democracy.
 
 The vice president of the United States, faithful to her duty under our Constitution, will preside over the certification of her opponent’s victory in the November election.
 
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ I don't know if our nation can withstand the assault on our Constitution and gra
 The litigious president-elect Trump had filed a lawsuit against [ABC News](https://abcnews.go.com/) for which [ABC News](https://abcnews.go.com/) capitulated $15,000,000.
 
 Trump is attacking the first amendment:
-- freedom of the press,  freedom of speech 
+- freedom of the press, freedom of speech 
 Trump has demanded that the [Federal Communications Commission (FCC)](https://www.fcc.gov/) pull the b!roadcast licenses of various television networks, which it has no authority. The [FCC](https://www.fcc.gov/) licenses individual broadcast stations not networks as a collective.
 
 Trump is suing The [Des Moines Register](https://

_posts/2025/01/2025-01-07-TrumpCabalPoliticalEnemies.md

@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Yet another evasive answer from the leader of the Senate on whether it’s suita
 <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J0y6rdZlX1I?si=DRjALqzatQFBFykh&amp;start=209" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
 Jan 5, 2025  #chuckschumer #democrats #johnthune
-[Senate Majority Leader John Thune](https://www.thune.senate.gov/) (T-SD) joins Meet the Press to discuss his relationship with President-elect Trump and how it may impact the incoming Trump administration's plans on immigration and tax cuts. [Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)](https://www.schumer.senate.gov/) tells Kristen Welker that he is open to working with Republicans on a deal for Dreamers after Trump opened the door for change. [Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA.)](https://www.schiff.senate.gov/) says that the Democrats lost the 2024 election because there was a lack of focus on the economy. Carol Lee, Jonathan Martin, Symone Sanders Townsend and Marc Short join the Meet the Press roundtable.
+[Senate Majority Leader John Thune](https://www.thune.senate.gov/) (T-SD) joins Meet the Press to discuss his relationship with President-elect Trump and how it may impact the incoming Trump administration's plans on immigration and tax cuts. [Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)](https://www.schumer.senate.gov/) tells Kristen Welker that he is open to working with Republicans on a deal for Dreamers after Trump opened the door for change. [Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA.)](https://www.schiff.senate.gov/) says that the [Democrats](https://www.murphy.senate.gov/) lost the 2024 election because there was a lack of focus on the economy. Carol Lee, Jonathan Martin, Symone Sanders Townsend and Marc Short join the Meet the Press roundtable.
 
 ### [Prosecuted vs. Persecuted: What's the Difference? / Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/prosecuted-vs-persecuted-usage#:~:text=Prosecute%20%2D%20to%20bring%20legal%20action,to%20suffer%20because%20of%20belief.)
 

_posts/2025/01/2025-01-08-TrumpLiesFreeSpeechNoFactChecking.md

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+---
+layout: post
+tags: [Facebook, Donald Trump, no fact checking, Donald Trump, social media, capitulation, politics]
+categories: [Mark Zuckerberg]
+date: 2025-01-08 6:41 PM
+excerpt: ''
+#image: 'BASEURL/assets/blog/img/.png'
+#description:
+#permalink:
+title: "Trump Supports His Lies As Free Speech. But He Will Persecute Those Who Fact Check Him!"
+---
+
+
+## [Mark Zuckerberg's Meta makeover: MAGA grandpa is about to get much worse / Salon.com](https://www.salon.com/2025/01/08/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-makeover-maga-grandpa-is-about-to-get-much-worse/)
+
+*Facebook ditches its fact-checking program in favor of Elon Musk's army of disinformation zombies*
+
+By Amanda Marcotte. Senior Writer. Published January 8, 2025 6:00AM (EST) 
+
+Trump is destroying America's Freedom Of Speech, abortion core foundation of our democracy. 
+
+- Trump has repeatedly threatened to imprison journalists.
+- Trump threatens to use government power to shut down news organizations that publish unflattering information about him.
+- Trump routinely uses baseless defamation lawsuits to punish journalists for reporting his action.
+- Trump has repeatedly called for throwing people in prison for criticizing right-wing judges.