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BREAKING: Trump Vetoes COVID Relief Package
Donald Trump has followed through on his vow to veto the coronavirus relief package passed by both houses of Congress this week. Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the amount of money for the direct payments and with where some of the money is being allocated. He also conflated, perhaps deliberately, spending as part of the COVID bill and spending for the omnibus package used to fund the government. Congress will be able to override Trump’s veto on the legislation and they’re expected to do just that. Democrats have expressed support for raising the direct payment amount to $2,000, but it is Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans who want to keep it at $600.
Trump’s explanation for vetoing the bill is really quite incoherent. The government spending bill contains basically the same or even less money than Trump was asking for in his budget. Trump clearly has other motives here than just trying to reduce bureaucratic waste or ensure people get more money. It could be as simple as Trump trying to act like he’s in control while he still can. The outgoing president may also be upset with his failure to persuade Congress to eliminate Section 230, which provides social media companies with legal protections. While an override is the most likely outcome, there’s some chance that Trump’s veto will open Republicans up to issuing more money to the American people.
Trump Turning on EVERYONE, Including Mike Pence
Donald Trump left Washington DC yesterday after vetoing the second coronavirus relief bill and he appears to be turning on everyone around him. The ever-growing list of people he’s upset with now includes Vice President Mike Pence, Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Based on a report from Axios' Jonathan Swan, it appears that the reason Trump is turning on everybody is due to his fury that others will not indulge his conspiracy theories about the election, nor are they willing to go along with his hopeless and absurd ideas for how to overturn the results.
Trump thinks anyone who isn't willing to push for the Department of Homeland Security to forcibly seize voting machines is weak. And apparently, it's not just Trump cultists and Loyalists who are looking at January 6th as an important date. According to people who have discussed January 6th with Donald Trump, Trump thinks Mike Pence will be able to do something for him as he oversees the formal counting of the electoral vote. Trump spoke Monday night with Republicans in the House about what their plan will be. Clearly, the president is ready to stage one final authoritarian play, but it is all doomed to fail since House Democrats can thwart any attempts to throw out votes.
From yesterday’s show:
IT BEGINS: Trump Pardons 15 Cronies & Friends
Donald Trump has been on a pardoning spree lately. The lame-duck president has now pardoned Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, and George Papadopoulos, who were all implicated in Robert Mueller’s Trump-Russia investigation. Additionally, Trump has pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump has wiped clean the record of four Blackwater contractors involved in a massacre in Iraq. Former Congressmen Duncan Hunter and Chris Collins also received pardons. Soon Trump will likely move on to issuing preemptive pardons for folks like Rudy Giuliani, his children, and if he can get away with it — himself.
--More on the show:
--Mark Tushnet, Emeritus Professor at Harvard Law School and a specialist in US and comparative constitutional law, joins David to discuss the purpose of the Supreme Court, whether the court is truly necessary, and possible reforms including term limits, expanding the court, and more
--Donald Trump issues his next slate of pardons, including Jared Kushner's father, Charles Kushner, as well as associates Paul Manafort and Roger Stone
--Republicans are increasingly panicked and worried about Donald Trump's latest unhinged behavior in the context up the upcoming presidential transition, including what it means for the future of the Republican Party
--Notable discussions from the TDPS subreddit, including about the coronavirus pandemic, automatic voter registration, and the end of 2020 and start of 2021
--Fox host Maria Bartiromo is pranked by animal activist Matt Johnson, who successfully pretended to be the Dennis Organ, CEO of pork processing company Smithfield Foods during an interview on the channel
--The Eggman has found the video version of The David Pakman Show and he's loving it
--On the Bonus Show: Pfizer/Biontech will supply US with 100 million extra vaccine doses, New York population decline could reduce House seats, TX Lt. Gov Dan Patrick won't pay voter fraud reward for pro-Trump fraud votes, much more...
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