Bannon Behind Bars?

Update: Steve Bannon has been setenced to 4 months in prison. He will appeal.

The Department of Justice indicted Trump creature and fascist-fancier Steve Bannon for Contempt of Congress after he defied a subpoena compelling his testimony before the January 6th Select Committee. He was convicted back in July. The DOJ has recommended that he receive a six-month prison sentence and a $200,000 fine.

Mr. Bannon dodged the slammer after his previous indictment — for money laundering and conspiracy in defrauding donors to a charity — when he was pardoned by then-president Trump as he was exiting the White House. Unindicted co-conspirator Trump himself was recently subpoenaed by that same Congressional Committee.

More:

“Steve Bannon: justice department urges six-month prison term in contempt case,” Sam Levine, The Guardian

“DOJ seeks 6-month prison sentence for Steve Bannon,” Erin Doherty, Axios

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GOP: It’s Official, They’re Fascists.

Meeting in Salt Lake City on Friday, the Republican National Committee (RNC) passed a resolution declaring that the actions of the Insurrection of January 6, 2021, including the violent attempt to overthrow the elected government of the United States and the defilement of the Capitol building, were “legitimate political discourse.” The resolution (co-authored by Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel) was passed by voice vote, without debate, so individual Republican leaders could avoid personal (and legal) responsibility for this outrage against two centuries of American democratic values. They’re not just fascists, they’re weasels.

More:

“Republican party calls January 6 attack ‘legitimate political discourse,’” Martin Pengelly, The Guardian

“GOP leaders approve resolution that says Jan. 6 was ‘legitimate political discourse,’” Bryan Schott, Salt Lake City Tribune

“G.O.P. Declares Jan. 6 Attack ‘Legitimate Political Discourse,’” Jonathan Weisman and Reid J. Epstein, New York Times

Updates:

“Murkowski criticizes RNC calling Jan. 6 attack ‘legitimate political discourse,'” Caroline Vakil,The Hill

“‘Legitimate Political Discourse’ Is Now an Official Republican Party Description of the Jan. 6 Attack on the Capitol,” Ryan Bort, Rolling Stone

“McConnell rebukes RNC, calls Jan. 6 ‘violent insurrection,'” Mary Clare Jalonick,  Associated Press

“‘Legitimate political discourse’: Three words about Jan. 6 spark rift among Republicans,” Josh Dawsey and Felicia Sonmez, Washington Post

“McConnell breaks with RNC: Jan. 6 ‘violent insurrection,'” Jordain Carney, The Hill

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Republican Hypocrisy on January 6th

Many Republican leaders — including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI 8 ) — were horrified by the Capitol attack of last January 6th, and rightly blamed Donald Trump for instigating it. Somehow, they forgot.

A video by the Republican Accountability Project, which will run on Fox News today.

More:

“Republicans Promised to Banish Jan. 6 Insurrectionists. A Year Later, They’ve Purged Jan. 6 Critics,” Tim Dickinson, Rolling Stone

“Republicans condemned Trump after the Capitol attack. Now, they are opening the door to him as the future of the party.” JM Rieger, Washington Post

Related:

“How Trump Kept His Grip After Jan. 6,” Blake Hounshell and Leah Askarinam, New York Times

Update:

“GOP commemorates denialism day,” David Siders, Politico

 

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January 6th

America’a red-hatted MAGAheads will be celebrating January 6th, but not as the Feast of the Epiphany (which features swarthy, undocumented Magi immigrants) or as a national day of prayer and mourning for the near-death of American democracy last year. The right-wing paranoid and election-denying alt-right, GOP coup plotters, Proud Boys, QAnon, Boogaloo Bois, Oath Keepers, Trump loyalists, white nationalists and Infowars fanatics and their ilk will commemorate their deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol last year, when they attempted to overturn the presidential election, as directed by the election’s clear loser.

The Capitol Police seem more prepared for a lunatic onslaught this January 6th, so there may be decentralized right-wing assaults on other federal, state, and local government buildings and officials. There will certainly be plenty of right-wing attacks on the truth.

More:

“A Roundup of January 6 Anniversary Commemorations in DC,” Damare Baker, Washingtonian

“Right-wing and liberal vigils planned in D.C. on anniversary of Capitol riot,” Ellie Silverman, Washington Post

“At time of Capitol prayer service Jan. 6, Trump will deliver remarks doubling down on the ‘Big Lie,’” David Siders, Politico

“Bannon, Trump to counterprogram Dems for Jan. 6 anniversary,” Jonathan Swan, Axios

Updates:

“Ingraham, Graham talked Trump out of Jan. 6 press conference,” Axios

“Trump cancels Jan. 6 news conference at Mar-a-Lago, blames news media and House committee investigating attack on Capitol,” Felicia Sonmez and Josh Dawsey, Washington Post

Related:

“Every Day Is Jan. 6 Now,” New York Times editorial

“A year after Jan. 6 attack, Capitol Hill neighborhood still feels the effects.” Joe Heim, Washington Post

“A look back at Americans’ reactions to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol,” John Gramlich, Pew Research Center

“We’ve reached the ‘Yeah, it was pretty much an attempted coup, so what?’ stage of the Jan. 6 probe,” Aaron Blake, Washington Post

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Trump Insurrection Selfies: Sedition Self-Incrimination

The seditious MAGA insurgents who broke into the U.S. Capitol at the bidding of Donald Trump and killed a police officer are being sought by law enforcement. Photos of the red-hatted terrorists have been posted by the FBI and DC Metropolitan Police, and the public is being asked to identify them. The FBI has even posted wanted photos at bus shelters in the DC metro area.

While a few brave press photographers provided some serious documentation of the domestic terrorists, many more pix were taken and posted by the Trump supporters themselves, bragging on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, DLive, and other social media platforms about their illegal occupation of the Capitol in answer to the president’s call.

The FBI and DC police aren’t the only ones preserving and scrutinizing the Capitol mob social selfies. Activists around the world, digital sleuths, have archived the MAGA-brag trophy pix before they could be taken down, and have been scrutinizing them since last Wednesday. One of the bigger finds so far was retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Larry Rendall Brock, Jr., identified by John Scott-Railton at The Citizen Lab and outed by The New Yorker. 

Insurrectionists have scattered, but arrests on Federal and District charges are mounting. Before Instagramming the boys back home, those White Supremicist Christian warriors should have recalled Proverbs 16:18, “‘Hold my beer’ goeth before a fall,” and suchlike.

More:

“Thanks For the Evidence, You Seditious Dweebs,” Whitney Kimball and Tom McKay, Gizmodo

“The Pro-Trump Mob Was Doing It For The ’Gram,” Elamin Abdelmahmoud, BuzzFeed News

“The Instagram Insurrection,” Brian Kahn, Gizmodo

“More Capitol rioters in viral posts arrested, senator urges social media providers to keep data,” Rich McKay, Reuters

“The Capitol rioters put themselves all over social media. Now they’re getting arrested.” Sara Morrison, Vox

“Local Police Departments Investigate Whether Their Officers Took Part in Capitol Riot,” Andrea Noble, Route Fifty

“Off-duty police, firefighters under investigation in connection with U.S. Capitol riot,” Maria Caspan, Reuters

“At least 25 domestic terrorism cases opened as result of assault on Capitol: lawmaker,” Andrea Shalal and David Shepardson, Reuters

Updates:

“Anne Arundel police officer suspended while department investigates possible involvement in Capitol insurrection,” Lilly Price, Capital Gazette

“US Capitol Building Riot: Justice Dept. Pursues at Least 150 Suspects,” Katie Benner and Adam Goldman, New York Times

“Who were they? Records reveal Trump fans who stormed Capitol,” Michael Biesecker,
Michael Kunzelman, Gillian Flaccus, and Jim Mustian, Associated Press

“Archivists Are Mining Parler Metadata to Pinpoint Crimes at the Capitol,” Jason Koebler and Joseph Cox, Motherboard

“MAGA Civil War shirts, a Camp Auschwitz hoodie, and other extremist merchandise was on full display at the Capitol riot,” Hilary George-Parkin, Vox

“‘Trump said I could’: One possible legal defense for accused rioters,” Teri Kanefield and Mark Reichel, Washington Post

“Capitol Riot Suspect Arrested in DC Airport After Bizarre Series of Events,” Andrew Beaujon, Washingtonian

“This Site Published Every Face From Parler’s Capitol Riot Videos,” Wired

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Trump’s Capitol Mob Waved Pro-Police Flags, Killed Cop

The raging mob that Donald Trump set loose on the U.S. Capitol waved “thin blue line” flags and wore “Blue Lives Matter” T-shirts. They attacked police with lead pipes and mace, injured 60 police officers, and killed Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick.

Reminder: Donald John Trump ran as the Law & Order candidate; instead, he’s unleashed the “American Carnage” he swore to protect us from.

More:

“MAGA Mob Kills Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, Iraq War Veteran Defending Congress From Trump Rioters,” Pilar Melendez, Ana Lucia Murillo, Will Lennon, and Matt Taylor, BuzzFeed News

“Capitol Police Officer Dies From Injuries in Pro-Trump Rampage,” Marc Santora, Megan Specia and Mike Baker, New York Times

“Capitol Police officer’s death investigated as homicide; Trump’s legal exposure questioned,” Kristine Phillips and Kevin Johnson, USA Today

“Bleeding Capitol cop screams for help as he is crushed against a metal door by MAGA mob that stormed police lines and bludgeoned officers with stolen shields,” Snejana Farberov, Daily Mail

“The Mob at the Capitol Proves That Blue Lives Have Never Mattered to Trump Supporters,” Nathalie Baptiste, Mother Jones

“Rioters breached the Capitol as they waved pro-police flags. Police support on the right may be eroding, experts warn.” Marissa J. Lang and Peter Jamison, Washington Post

Updates:

“‘They Got a Officer!’: How a Mob Dragged and Beat Police at the Capitol,” Evan Hill, Arielle Ray and Dahlia Kozlowsky, New York Times

“FBI, NYPD told Capitol Police about possibility of violence before riot, senior officials say,” Ken Dilanian, Tom Winter, Jonathan Dienst and Andrew Blankstein, NBC News

“Video shows Capitol mob dragging police officer down stairs. One rioter beat the officer with a pole flying the U.S. flag.” Katie Shepherd, Washington Post

“New Video Shows Officer Beaten by Trump Insurrectionists,” TMZ

“Guns, Brass Knuckles, Homemade Napalm: Read Some of the Documents From Arrests After the Capitol Riot,” Andrew Beaujon, Washingtonian

“MAGA Mob Assaulted at Least 139 Cops at Capitol: Prosecutors,” Jamie Ross, Daily Beast

Related:

“Decoding the flags and banners seen at the Capitol Hill insurrection,” By Anne Quito and Amanda Shendruk, Quartz

“Decoding the Far-Right Symbols at the Capitol Riot,” Matthew Rosenberg and Ainara Tiefenthäler, New York Times

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Trump-Worshipping Thugs to Celebrate 3 Kings Day in Washington

Election-denying Trump supporters will return to DC on December 6th to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany in DC by protesting congressional approval of the Electoral College vote. The red-hatted faithful will make a pilgrimage to the White House in adoration of their orange-faced savior and present him with the Gifts of the MAGA: fragrant frankincense Filet-o-Fish, super-sized golden fries, and Mace. Tiki Torches are optional.

More:

“Yet Another Trump March Promised for January 6 in DC,” Andrew Beaujon, Washingtonian

“There’s Another MAGA Rally Planned In D.C. On Jan. 6, The Day Congress Declares Election Result,” Matt Blitz, DCist

“Trump Fans File Permit Application for January 6 Rally,” Andrew Beaujon, Washingtonian

“2 downtown DC Trump supporter hangouts to be closed for Jan. 6 rally,” Will Vitka, WTOP News

“Hotel Harrington And Harry’s Bar, Gathering Place For Proud Boys, Will Close During January MAGA March,” Rachel Kurzius, DCist

Updates:

“Jan. 6 protests multiply as Trump continues to call supporters to Washington,” Marissa J. Lang, Washington Post

“Proud Boys Say They’ll ‘Be Incognito’ During January 6 Trump Rallies in DC,” Andrew Beaujon, Washingtonian

“D.C. is becoming a protest battleground. In a polarized nation, experts say that’s unlikely to change.” Marissa J. Lang, Washington Post

“Capitol Police to enhance security at Jan. 6 session to certify election,” Chris Marquette, Roll Call

“Rep. Gohmert Calls for Street Violence as Another Legal Loss Sends MAGA World Spiraling,” Justin Rohrlich, Daily Beast

“Louie Gohmert Suggests People ‘Go to the Streets’ and Be ‘Violent’ After Judge Throws Out Baseless Election Suit,” Peter Wade, Rolling Stone

“DC mayor asks area residents to stay away from protesters ‘who come to our city seeking confrontation,'” Justine Coleman, The Hill

Yet More Updates:

“MAGA marchers plot final D.C. stand on Jan. 6,” Tina Nguyen, Politico

“What We Know About This Week’s MAGA March,” Mikaela Lefrak, Elliot C. Williams, and Martin Austermuhle, DCist, DCist

“DC Cops Tell Descending MAGA Hordes: Guns Banned From Jan. 6 Pro-Trump Protest,” Jamie Ross, Daily Beast

“D.C. National Guard activated to respond to pro-Trump protests,” Jacqueline Feldscher, Politico

“Streets in downtown D.C. to close Tuesday, Wednesday for pro-Trump demonstrations,” Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post

“5 Reasons to Avoid the January 6 Pro-Trump Marches in DC,” Andrew Beaujon, Washingtonian

“Mayor and Black Lives Matter Ask Public to Avoid Trump Supporters,”Amanda Michelle Gomez, Washington City Paper

Astoundlingly, More Updates:

“Proud Boys Brawl With D.C. Cops Ahead of Pro-Trump March,” Allison Quinn, Daily Beast

Related:

“Gohmert’s Pence lawsuit seeks to declare Electoral Counting Act unconstitutional in bid to overturn Biden win,” Ronn Blitzer, Fox News

“Trump supporters organizing ‘second inauguration’ for him online Jan. 20,” Joseph Choi, The Hill

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They’re Back! Trump-Worshipping Thugs to March on Washington

Since their November demonstration was so effective in overturning the election, maskless MAGA maggots patriots are returning to the Nation’s Capital tomorrow. They’ll be protesting the shocking lack of proof of election fraud at the Sylvan Theater, near the Washington Monument. Beer drinking is illegal there, so MAGAheads should leave promptly by 2PM to tromp back to the coolers in their vehicles parked in residential DC — downtown streets near the monuments are closed due to the demonstration. Afterward, the red-hatted throng will merge with the Disappointed Denialist Dames at Freedom Plaza to make a pilgimage to the White House. Maybe they can help Melania with her packing.

Speaking of packing, several of last month’s MAGA marchers were busted for gun offenses. Shame their sense of self-protection doesn’t extend to face masks.

More:

“Trump supporters plan DC rally to ‘demand transparency’ before Electoral College vote,” N’dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today

“Another MAGA Rally Planned For D.C., This Time With Fewer Expected,” Matt Blitz, DCist

“Million MAGA March’ on DC: What to know,” Will Vitka, WTOP

“Counter protests planned ahead of second ‘Stop the Steal’ rally,” Lex Juarez, Local DVM

“Park service approves 2 permits for Saturday’s pro-Trump rallies. Here’s what to expect,” Jack Moore, WTOP

Updates:

“This Weekend’s MAGA Rally Speakers Are Coming From the Nation’s Biggest Covid Hot Spots,” Daniella Byck, Washingtonian

“Thousands gather in D.C. for pro-Trump demonstrations as city braces for clashes,” Emily Davies, Rachel Weiner, Clarence Williams, Justin Wm. Moyer and Jessica Contrera, Washington Post

“Trump Supporters Protest Again In D.C., Claiming The Election Was Stolen,” Dominique Maria Bonessi, Matt Blitz, Jenny Gathright, Debbie Truong, and Tyrone Turner, DCist

“Trump supporters turn out in DC to back president, protest election results,” Kaelan Deese, The Hill

“5 Arrested in DC Amid Clashes Before Pro-Trump Rally,” Sophia Barnes, NBC 4 Washington

“Trump Flies Over D.C. Protesters Shouting ‘Destroy the GOP,’” Will Sommer and Alaina Demopoulos, Daily Beast

“Flynn delivers first public remarks since Trump pardon at DC rallies,” Celine Castronuovo, The Hill

“Four People Critically Injured In Downtown Stabbings During Night Of Violent Demonstrations,” Colleen Grablick, DCist

“At least 23 arrested, 8 injured as violence breaks out in D.C. following pro-Trump rallies,” Tim O’Donnell, The Week

“4 Stabbed, 33 Arrested as Trump Supporters, Counterprotesters Clash in Downtown DC,” NBC Washington

“Pro-Trump rally descends into chaos as Proud Boys roam D.C. looking to fight,” Peter Hermann, Marissa J. Lang and Clarence Williams, Washington Post

“Historic D.C. Black churches attacked during pro-Trump rallies Saturday,” Allison Klein, Washington Post

“Pro-Trump protesters rally for a coup: ‘We’re not going anywhere,’” Cameron Peters, Vox

“Vandals hit Black churches during weekend pro-Trump rallies,” Michael Balsamo and Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press

“Proud Boys sparked clashes during pro-Trump rally, D.C. officials say,” Tom Jackman, Michael Brice-Saddler and Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post

“Proud Boys Say ‘There’s Been a Proud Boy at the White House for 4 Years,'” Andrew Beaujon, Washingtonian

“DC Police Detail Arrests, Damage From Saturday’s Trump Protests,” Jordan Pascale, DCist

“Run-Ins With Pro-Trump Mobs After Saturday’s Rally: ‘I Started Getting Punched in the Face and Kicked,’” Andrew Beaujon, Washingtonian

Related:

“Pro-Trump groups march and pray to protest president’s election loss,” Jonathan Landay, Timothy Gardner, Reuters

“Trump unleashes an army of sore losers,”David Siders, Politico

“What Is the Deal With Harry’s Bar?” Jessica Sidman, Washingtonian

“Here’s Why You Keep Hearing About Harry’s Bar,” Nathan Diller, DCist

“Armed Right-Wing Groups Aren’t ‘Militias’—We Need to Stop Calling Them That,” Richard Stengel, Time

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Trump-Worshipping Thugs Plan March on Washington

Rabid Trump supporters have announced at least three different pro-Trump demonstrations in the Nation’s Capital this weekend. The MAGA-hatted throngs will be arriving in DC without Park Service event permits, face masks, COVID tests or gun permits. This isn’t the kind of visitor boost Washington’s hard-hit tourism industry was hoping for.

Election-denying protesters are expected to include the full range of the New GOP: Oath Keepers, Three Percenters, Boogaloo Boys, Infowars fanatics, Groypers, QAnon adherents, Proud Boys, white nationalists, and neo-Nazis. This must be the event President Trump told them to “stand by” for. The weather’s getting a bit chilly in DC, so the Boogaloo Boys might want to leave their Hawaiian shirts at home and change into their brown shirts.

More:

“MAGA nation tries to rally around Trump with MAGApalooza,” Tina Nguyen, Politico

“Here’s What We Know About The MAGA Rallies Planned In D.C. This Weekend,” Colleen Grablick, DCist

“Eventbrite Pulls Pro-Trump Rally Page, Says March for President Over Election Is ‘Harmful Misinformation,'” Ewan Palmer, Newsweek

“Far-right protesters, counterdemonstrators plan to gather Saturday in D.C. amid pro-Trump rallies,” Marissa J. Lang and Peter Hermann, Washington Post

“DC officials preparing for Proud Boys protest over the weekend,” Justine Coleman, The Hill

“Proud Boys converging on DC for ‘Million MAGA March’ protesting election,” Josh Marcus, The Independent

“Saturday’s Pro-Trump Events in DC Have a Very Real Potential to Turn Violent, According to Experts Who Track Extremism,” Andrew Beaujon, Washingtonian

“Trump supporters plan rallies in Washington DC, experts warn extremists may attend,” N’dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today

Update:

“DC police chief to weekend protesters: Don’t bring guns,” Jack Moore, WTOP News

“People Are Flying Into DC for the Million MAGA March,” Jane Recker, Washingtonian

“Trump supporters, counterdemonstrators face off near White House ahead of Saturday rallies in D.C.,” Emily Davies, Marissa J. Lang and Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post

“MAP: The Million MAGA March Is Necessitating Crazy Street Closures in DC,” Jane Recker, Washingtonian

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Firm Behind Turning Point’s Teen Trolls Booted From Facebook

Right-wing youth indoctrination outfit Turning Point USA (known to us as Trump-Jugend) has been paying teenagers sub-minimum wages to fill social media platforms with attacks on Democratic candidates and disinformation about coronavirus. Twitter and Facebook noticed and shut down the adolescents’ accounts last month. Yesterday, Facebook removed more “inauthentic accounts”and banned Rally Forge, the political marketing firm that helped Turning Point’s Charlie Kirk turn out the teen trolls. Rally Forge is owned by Arizona Republican official Jake Hoffman, who is also behind a phantom campaign called “Navajos for Trump.”

More:

“Facebook bans marketing firm running ‘troll farm’ for pro-Trump youth group,” Isaac Stanley-Becker, Washington Post

“Facebook bans firm behind Turning Point’s election troll farm,” Steven Overly, Politico

“Facebook removes hundreds of fake profiles tied to pro-Trump group,” Kari Paul, The Guardian

“Facebook bans troll accounts linked to conservative group Turning Point USA,” Adi Robertson, The Verge

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