Most of those 1500 kids are probably okay. Please don’t try to find them.

Updates

    1. Originally published, May 28, 4:05 pm.
    2. May 29, 9:40 am:
      • California Republicans who think the ‘sanctuary state’ is a winning issue may be in for a disappointment.[1] (Unauthorized migrants)
    3. May 30, 12:07 pm:
      • Pursuant to California Supreme Court ruling imposing strict limits on companies’ use of “independent contractor” status to avoid labor protections, notably including minimum wage,[2] San Francisco has subpoenaed Uber and Lyft for proof that drivers who picked up or dropped off in the city were not employees.[3] I am in the class of drivers City Attorney Dennis Herrera is seeking information on. I do not know if he is similarly pursuing the city’s taxi companies who also rely on the “independent contractor” scam. (Ridesharing)
      • CNN has a story on the allegedly missing Unauthorized migrants children.[4]
    4. May 30, 4:25 pm:
      • I think I’ve said this here before, but a long time ago my mother, a now-retired journalist, explained to me that it’s the obstruction that gets them, referring to powerful miscreants who might escape prosecution for underlying crimes but fall prey to prosecutors on obstruction of justice charges. She was right when she said it and her admonition sure as hell looks to be right in reference to the Robert Mueller investigation as it emerges that Donald Trump tried to persuade Jeff Sessions to “unrecuse” himself.[5] (James Comey)
    5. May 31, 8:08 am:
      • Donald Trump now claims he did not fire James Comey over the Russia investigation.[6] I am reminded of Muhammad Ali’s line, “Float like a butterfly sting like a bee – his hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see.”[7] Why? Because this is so transparently an effort to do just that, and so ridiculously and pathetically a failure to do it.
    6. May 31, 10:28 am:
      • I was hoping the Washington Post might have more detail than the Hill story in the earlier update[8] on Donald Trump today denying that the Russia investigation was the reason he fired James Comey. I was disappointed.[9]
    7. June 1, 12:35 am:
      • Higher education advocates delivered burrito bowls in protest[10] of California Governor Jerry Brown’s suggestion that universities should be more like Chipotle Mexican food restaurants.[11] (California universities)
      • I’ve been saying for years that the single most effective thing one can do for the environment is to go vegan. A new, comprehensive study confirms this to be the case.[12] (Plant-based lifestyles)

Unauthorized migrants

One of the more truly sickening stories that’s just been too much for me to bear has been on the Trump administration’s decision to separate parents from children when they cross the border in violation of the law.[13] This story became especially horrifying when it emerged that the Department of Homeland Security had lost track of something like 1500 children.[14] Rumors spread like wildfire—and were accepted as truth—that these children had been sold to human traffickers, a fear that presumably stems from an incident that occurred during the Obama presidency.[15] I am reproducing here a long Twitter thread that I would prefer were in the form of a sanely citable article:

Please note, in the following, Josie Rice means ‘alone’ not ‘alien.’ She blames autocorrect.

For background on the following tweet, see this story from the Washington Post.

From here the thread goes into conversation, where Rice’s admonition “that at least 50 percent of people on twitter refuse to learn basic reading comprehension” applies. Typographical errors in the above are hers—the only way to correct these on Twitter is by deleting and reposting the tweet, which fucks up a thread.

Leila Miller, “HHS Official Says Agency Lost Track of Nearly 1,500 Unaccompanied Minors,” Public Broadcasting System, April 26, 2018, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/hhs-official-says-agency-lost-track-of-nearly-1500-unaccompanied-minors/

Tal Kopan, “New DHS policy could separate families caught crossing the border illegally,” CNN, May 7, 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/07/politics/illegal-immigration-border-prosecutions-families-separated/index.html

Tal Kopan, “DHS secretary defends separating families at the border,” CNN, May 15, 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/15/politics/dhs-separating-families-secretary-nielsen-hearing/index.html

Dakin Andone, “US lost track of 1,500 immigrant children, but says it’s not ‘legally responsible,'” CNN, May 27, 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/26/politics/hhs-lost-track-1500-immigrant-children/index.html

Taryn Luna, “Is ‘sanctuary state’ the best political issue for the GOP in years? Not in California, experts warn,” Sacramento Bee, May 29, 2018, http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article211445449.html

A. J. Willingham, “Here’s what’s really happening with the 1,500 ‘missing’ immigrant children,” CNN, May 29, 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/29/us/immigration-refugee-child-missing-hhs-obama-photo-trnd/index.html


Sonoma County wildfires

It’s important to point out that CalFire’s findings are not about the Sonoma County wildfires but rather about other Northern California wildfires.[16] Similar allegations have been made against PG&E in the Sonoma County wildfires[17] and I continue to see advertising for legal help for victims that targets the company.

Taryn Luna, “PG&E responsible for three Northern California wildfires, Cal Fire alleges,” Sacramento Bee, May 25, 2018, http://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/article211958659.html


Julian Assange

Jim Sciutto and Jenna McLaughlin, “Assange’s refuge in Ecuadorian embassy ‘in jeopardy,'” CNN, May 25, 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/24/politics/julian-assange-ecuador-embassy-jeopardy/index.html


North Korea

As I keep saying, follow deeds, not words.

Zack Beauchamp, “The real reason Trump’s North Korea summit failed,” Vox, May 24, 2018, https://www.vox.com/world/2018/5/24/17389896/trump-cancelsth-korea-summit-kim-jong-un


California universities

Jerry Brown is a disgusting idiotic hypocrite who certainly got better than the education he advocates here.[18]

Alexei Koseff, “Be more like Chipotle, Jerry Brown tells California universities,” Sacramento Bee, May 24, 2018, http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article211828544.html


Ridesharing

City Attorney of San Francisco, “Herrera investigates Uber, Lyft over driver pay and benefits,” PR Newswire, May 29, 2018, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/herrera-investigates-uber-lyft-over-driver-pay-and-benefits-300655892.html

Bryan Menegus, “San Francisco Subpoenas Uber and Lyft for Proof Drivers Aren’t Employees,” Gizmodo, May 29, 2018, https://gizmodo.com/san-francisco-subpoenas-uber-and-lyft-for-proof-drivers-1826398148

Heather Somerville, “San Francisco subpoenas Uber, Lyft on driver classification,” Reuters, May 29, 2018, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ridehailing-sanfrancisco/san-francisco-subpoenas-uber-lyft-on-driver-classification-idUSKCN1IU2IX


James Comey

Aaron Blake, “Robert Mueller’s obstruction of justice probe is bigger than we realized,” Washington Post, May 30, 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/05/30/the-trump-obstruction-of-justice-probe-is-bigger-than-we-realized/

Jordan Fabian, “Trump claims he did not fire Comey over Russia,” Hill, May 31, 2018, http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/390015-trump-claims-he-did-not-fire-comey-over-russia

John Wagner, “Trump again insists Russia probe was not the reason he fired Comey, despite previous comments to the contrary,” Washington Post, May 31, 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-again-insists-russia-probe-was-not-the-reason-he-fired-comey-despite-previous-comments-to-the-contrary/2018/05/31/03ae6444-64ca-11e8-a768-ed043e33f1dc_story.html


Plant-based lifestyles

Damian Carrington, “Avoiding meat and dairy is ‘single biggest way’ to reduce your impact on Earth,” Guardian, May 31, 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/31/avoiding-meat-and-dairy-is-single-biggest-way-to-reduce-your-impact-on-earth


  1. [1]Taryn Luna, “Is ‘sanctuary state’ the best political issue for the GOP in years? Not in California, experts warn,” Sacramento Bee, May 29, 2018, http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article211445449.html
  2. [2]Lydia DePillis, “California ruling puts pressure on Uber, Lyft and other gig economy employers,” CNN, May 1, 2018,http://money.cnn.com/2018/05/01/news/economy/california-gig-employer-ruling/index.html
  3. [3]City Attorney of San Francisco, “Herrera investigates Uber, Lyft over driver pay and benefits,” PR Newswire, May 29, 2018, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/herrera-investigates-uber-lyft-over-driver-pay-and-benefits-300655892.html; Bryan Menegus, “San Francisco Subpoenas Uber and Lyft for Proof Drivers Aren’t Employees,” Gizmodo, May 29, 2018, https://gizmodo.com/san-francisco-subpoenas-uber-and-lyft-for-proof-drivers-1826398148; Heather Somerville, “San Francisco subpoenas Uber, Lyft on driver classification,” Reuters, May 29, 2018, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ridehailing-sanfrancisco/san-francisco-subpoenas-uber-lyft-on-driver-classification-idUSKCN1IU2IX
  4. [4]A. J. Willingham, “Here’s what’s really happening with the 1,500 ‘missing’ immigrant children,” CNN, May 29, 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/29/us/immigration-refugee-child-missing-hhs-obama-photo-trnd/index.html
  5. [5]Aaron Blake, “Robert Mueller’s obstruction of justice probe is bigger than we realized,” Washington Post, May 30, 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/05/30/the-trump-obstruction-of-justice-probe-is-bigger-than-we-realized/
  6. [6]Jordan Fabian, “Trump claims he did not fire Comey over Russia,” Hill, May 31, 2018, http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/390015-trump-claims-he-did-not-fire-comey-over-russia
  7. [7]Muhammad Ali, quoted in Chris Johnston, “Muhammad Ali’s best quotes: ‘Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,'” Guardian, June 4, 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jun/04/muhammad-ali-greatest-quotes-sting-butterfly-louisville-lip
  8. [8]Jordan Fabian, “Trump claims he did not fire Comey over Russia,” Hill, May 31, 2018, http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/390015-trump-claims-he-did-not-fire-comey-over-russia
  9. [9]John Wagner, “Trump again insists Russia probe was not the reason he fired Comey, despite previous comments to the contrary,” Washington Post, May 31, 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-again-insists-russia-probe-was-not-the-reason-he-fired-comey-despite-previous-comments-to-the-contrary/2018/05/31/03ae6444-64ca-11e8-a768-ed043e33f1dc_story.html
  10. [10]Alexei Koseff, “Burrito bowls for Jerry Brown: ‘It’s insulting’ to compare UC to Chipotle, advocates say,” Sacramento Bee, May 31, 2018, http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article212284659.html
  11. [11]Alexei Koseff, “Be more like Chipotle, Jerry Brown tells California universities,” Sacramento Bee, May 24, 2018, http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article211828544.html
  12. [12]Damian Carrington, “Avoiding meat and dairy is ‘single biggest way’ to reduce your impact on Earth,” Guardian, May 31, 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/31/avoiding-meat-and-dairy-is-single-biggest-way-to-reduce-your-impact-on-earth
  13. [13]Tal Kopan, “New DHS policy could separate families caught crossing the border illegally,” CNN, May 7, 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/07/politics/illegal-immigration-border-prosecutions-families-separated/index.html; Tal Kopan, “DHS secretary defends separating families at the border,” CNN, May 15, 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/15/politics/dhs-separating-families-secretary-nielsen-hearing/index.html
  14. [14]Dakin Andone, “US lost track of 1,500 immigrant children, but says it’s not ‘legally responsible,'” CNN, May 27, 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/26/politics/hhs-lost-track-1500-immigrant-children/index.html; Leila Miller, “HHS Official Says Agency Lost Track of Nearly 1,500 Unaccompanied Minors,” Public Broadcasting System, April 26, 2018, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/hhs-official-says-agency-lost-track-of-nearly-1500-unaccompanied-minors/
  15. [15]Abbie VanSickle, “Obama administration placed children with human traffickers, report says,” Washington Post, January 28, 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/obama-administration-placed-children-with-human-traffickers-report-says/2016/01/28/39465050-c542-11e5-9693-933a4d31bcc8_story.html
  16. [16]Taryn Luna, “PG&E responsible for three Northern California wildfires, Cal Fire alleges,” Sacramento Bee, May 25, 2018, http://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/article211958659.html
  17. [17]Paul Payne and Mary Callahan, “Santa Rosa couple sues PG&E over Sonoma County fires,” Santa Rosa Press Democrat, October 18, 2017, http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7535529-181/santa-rosa-couple-sues-pge
  18. [18]Alexei Koseff, “Be more like Chipotle, Jerry Brown tells California universities,” Sacramento Bee, May 24, 2018, http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article211828544.html

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