alternet--2020-12-01--Trump won't drop claims of stolen election — and right-wing grifters are cashing in

On Sunday morning , Donald Trump let loose with what may be his most unhinged performance yet — which is really saying something — of his extended effort to pretend the election was stolen from him by President-elect Joe Biden .
In a 45-minute interview on Fox News with host Maria Bartiromo , which was more like an uninterrupted dramatic monologue , Trump unloaded an absolute truckload of lies .
He lied about ballots and voting machines , claiming that millions of fake votes were recorded .
He suggested the FBI was `` involved '' in the imaginary conspiracy against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came up '' with the coronavirus vaccines , a claim that is utterly ludicrous but will be swallowed without complaint by all the people who still mock Al Gore for claiming to have `` invented '' the internet — which Gore never actually said .
What 's especially weird about this whole situation is that Trump is doubling down on these false claims in the face of an epic failure to get his attempted coup off the ground .
The recount that Trump demanded in Wisconsin — although his campaign only paid for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — not only affirmed Biden 's win in that state , but increased the president-elect 's total by 87 votes .
Meanwhile , Trump 's losing streak in the courts only got worse over the weekend , with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court dismissing one Trump lawsuit with prejudice ( meaning he ca n't sue again regarding this matter ) and another suit failing in the Third Circuit federal appeals court .
`` Voters , not lawyers , choose the president , '' federal judge Stephanos Bibas — a Trump appointee !
— wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet , Trump continues to invite more humiliation .
He continued to rant on Twitter , promising , `` We have some big things happening in our various litigations on the Election Hoax . ''
( Whoever he means by `` we , '' they do not . )
Worse yet , Trump has an army of liars at his disposal : The right-wing punditry , spread out across radio , TV and the internet , is largely bolstering these utterly false claims that the election was `` rigged '' and that Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steal the White House .
There are multiple reasons for this .
Trump 's black hole of an ego makes it impossible for him to admit he lost the election , first of all .
Most right-wing pundits are increasingly consumed by an authoritarian ideology that 's opposed to democracy , and they view these lies as a good way to undermine public trust .
Republican politicians are eager to delegitimize Biden 's presidency , and also to lay the groundwork for more voter suppression tactics .
By falsely accusing Democrats of cheating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover for their real-life cheating .
But as is usually the case with right-wing politics in the 21st century , a lot of this is about money .
Trump 's voting base is a sea of suckers .
He and the various grifters who make up most of the right-wing media are eager to drain those suckers dry .
Stoking anger over the lost election and feeding people 's fantasies about stealing it is , by all appearances , a cash bonanza .
On Sunday , New York Times media columnist Ben Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO of the Trump-tastic website and TV network Newsmax .
As the headline suggests — `` The King of Trump TV Thinks You 're Dumb Enough to Buy It '' — the profile is not a flattering one .
Instead , it depicts Ruddy is knowingly pumping out lies about the election , because doing so is dramatically increasing ratings and traffic , and making him a fortune .
Ruddy claimed he 's justified in spreading misinformation for cash , insisting to Smith that the rest of the media also hypes lies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's example of this , however , is `` this Russian hoax theory , '' which is neither a hoax nor a theory , but a substantial scandal that , in a healthier political environment , would have led to Trump 's removal from office years ago . )
Ruddy is far from the only one who sees a lucrative opportunity in peddling lies to America 's would-be brownshirts about Trump 's glorious assault on democracy — disingenuously packaged as `` stop the steal '' , since all things with the right are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ succeed .
As Media Matters documented last week , a hive of right-wing grifters are blitzing their followers by email , demanding they turn over their grandkids ' college fund to this effort to overturn the election results .
Charlie Kirk , Alex Jones , Candace Owens and many other right-wing parasites are hammering their lists of subscribers and supporters with pitches like , `` Will you help me fight with President Trump and ensure only legal votes are counted ?
Rush $ 25 right here , '' and `` One thing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and there is a lot of it that still needs [ to be ] exposed , '' all for the low , low price of $ 25 ( or more ) .
Of course , the biggest grifter is Trump himself , who has been sending his followers dozens of emails a week , begging for cash and promising that it will be used to stop the `` Radical Left and Fake News Media , '' who `` will do whatever it takes to try to STEAL the White House . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are full of lies about how their donation will somehow be improved a thousandfold , through mechanisms that are not explained .
Where 's the money going ?
It 's not being lavishly spent on this go-nowhere fight to snatch Biden 's victory away , that 's for sure .
For instance , a statewide recount of Wisconsin was expected to cost Trump $ 8 million .
Instead of paying full price , however , the campaign chose to recounting two counties for $ 3 million .
This penny-pinching has an obvious purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money raised away from his failed coup attempt into a leadership PAC that he can use as a slush fund , just as he did with the Trump Foundation in years past .
Far from being able to `` increase your impact by 1000 % , '' as the emails promise , the money donated will likely go towards Trump traveling and throwing himself a bunch of parties for the next few years .
No one should shed a tear for the fools being parted from their money , especially since said fools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at ending free and fair elections .
Nonetheless , this entire grifting empire is a big problem , because the end result of all this profiteering is that our democracy is being undermined .
As Trump and his buddies cash in , their reckless rhetoric is encouraging their followers to grow ever more hateful towards the rest of Americans — the majority of Americans — who continue to believe in democracy .
As Heather Digby Parton wrote Monday at Salon , `` standard conservative victimhood is changing into something else with Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convince tens of millions of people there is a conspiracy to disenfranchise them . ''
This narrative is already being used to justify illegal and fascistic power grabs and election cheating .
We 're already seeing signs of it in the way Georgia 's Republican donor base has been haranguing politicians in that state to do more to help Trump steal the election .
That wo n't work for Trump , at least not this time around , it could certainly lay the groundwork for pushing out the few remaining honest Republicans in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping Black voters from the polls .
It 's also ramping up the aggression of some of the more unsavory people in the Trump base .
In Raleigh , North Carolina , this weekend , there was an ugly demonstration by a group of Trump supporters insisting that his lies about the election were true .
The rally was flush with Proud Boys , who wore insignia declaring their eagerness for violence and yelled at counter-protesters that they wanted to `` exterminate '' them .
This kind of baseless anger suggests that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if , there 's another terrorist attack by a Trump fanboy .
There 's little chance of Trump or his enablers letting up between now and Inauguration Day , which is still more than seven weeks away .
There 's clearly too much money to be made by endlessly promising Trump voters that they 're on the verge of stealing this election from Biden , and that another $ 25 is all it will take to get Trump a second term .
Apparently , not even the routine humiliation of losing court battles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ train — not as long as the American right is still composed of a bunch of suckers .

On Sunday morning, Donald Trump let loose with what may be his most unhinged performance yet — which is really saying something — of his extended effort to pretend the election was stolen from him by President-elect Joe Biden. In a 45-minute interview on Fox News with host Maria Bartiromo, which was more like an uninterrupted dramatic monologue, Trump unloaded an absolute truckload of lies. He lied about ballots and voting machines, claiming that millions of fake votes were recorded. He suggested the FBI was "involved" in the imaginary conspiracy against him. He even said he "came up" with the coronavirus vaccines, a claim that is utterly ludicrous but will be swallowed without complaint by all the people who still mock Al Gore for claiming to have "invented" the internet — which Gore never actually said.
What's especially weird about this whole situation is that Trump is doubling down on these false claims in the face of an epic failure to get his attempted coup off the ground. The recount that Trump demanded in Wisconsin — although his campaign only paid for a recount in two overwhelmingly Democratic counties — not only affirmed Biden's win in that state, but increased the president-elect's total by 87 votes. Meanwhile, Trump's losing streak in the courts only got worse over the weekend, with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court dismissing one Trump lawsuit with prejudice (meaning he can't sue again regarding this matter) and another suit failing in the Third Circuit federal appeals court.
"Voters, not lawyers, choose the president," federal judge Stephanos Bibas — a Trump appointee! — wrote in deciding the latter case.
And yet, Trump continues to invite more humiliation. He continued to rant on Twitter, promising, "We have some big things happening in our various litigations on the Election Hoax." (Whoever he means by "we," they do not.)
Worse yet, Trump has an army of liars at his disposal: The right-wing punditry, spread out across radio, TV and the internet, is largely bolstering these utterly false claims that the election was "rigged" and that Trump will somehow prevail in his efforts to steal the White House.
There are multiple reasons for this. Trump's black hole of an ego makes it impossible for him to admit he lost the election, first of all. Most right-wing pundits are increasingly consumed by an authoritarian ideology that's opposed to democracy, and they view these lies as a good way to undermine public trust. Republican politicians are eager to delegitimize Biden's presidency, and also to lay the groundwork for more voter suppression tactics. By falsely accusing Democrats of cheating, in other words, Republicans create cover for their real-life cheating.
But as is usually the case with right-wing politics in the 21st century, a lot of this is about money. Trump's voting base is a sea of suckers. He and the various grifters who make up most of the right-wing media are eager to drain those suckers dry. Stoking anger over the lost election and feeding people's fantasies about stealing it is, by all appearances, a cash bonanza.
On Sunday, New York Times media columnist Ben Smith published a profile of Chris Ruddy, CEO of the Trump-tastic website and TV network Newsmax. As the headline suggests — "The King of Trump TV Thinks You're Dumb Enough to Buy It" — the profile is not a flattering one. Instead, it depicts Ruddy is knowingly pumping out lies about the election, because doing so is dramatically increasing ratings and traffic, and making him a fortune.
Ruddy claimed he's justified in spreading misinformation for cash, insisting to Smith that the rest of the media also hypes lies and bullshit to make money. (Ruddy's example of this, however, is "this Russian hoax theory," which is neither a hoax nor a theory, but a substantial scandal that, in a healthier political environment, would have led to Trump's removal from office years ago.)
Ruddy is far from the only one who sees a lucrative opportunity in peddling lies to America's would-be brownshirts about Trump's glorious assault on democracy — disingenuously packaged as "stop the steal", since all things with the right are projection — and how it will ultimately succeed.
As Media Matters documented last week, a hive of right-wing grifters are blitzing their followers by email, demanding they turn over their grandkids' college fund to this effort to overturn the election results.
Charlie Kirk, Alex Jones, Candace Owens and many other right-wing parasites are hammering their lists of subscribers and supporters with pitches like, "Will you help me fight with President Trump and ensure only legal votes are counted? Rush $25 right here," and "One thing is clear: the fraud was happening everywhere, and there is a lot of it that still needs [to be] exposed," all for the low, low price of $25 (or more).
Of course, the biggest grifter is Trump himself, who has been sending his followers dozens of emails a week, begging for cash and promising that it will be used to stop the "Radical Left and Fake News Media," who "will do whatever it takes to try to STEAL the White House." (More projection!) The emails are full of lies about how their donation will somehow be improved a thousandfold, through mechanisms that are not explained.
Where's the money going? It's not being lavishly spent on this go-nowhere fight to snatch Biden's victory away, that's for sure. For instance, a statewide recount of Wisconsin was expected to cost Trump $8 million. Instead of paying full price, however, the campaign chose to recounting two counties for $3 million.
This penny-pinching has an obvious purpose: It allows Trump to reroute the money raised away from his failed coup attempt into a leadership PAC that he can use as a slush fund, just as he did with the Trump Foundation in years past. Far from being able to "increase your impact by 1000%," as the emails promise, the money donated will likely go towards Trump traveling and throwing himself a bunch of parties for the next few years.
No one should shed a tear for the fools being parted from their money, especially since said fools imagine they're funding an authoritarian coup aimed at ending free and fair elections. Nonetheless, this entire grifting empire is a big problem, because the end result of all this profiteering is that our democracy is being undermined. As Trump and his buddies cash in, their reckless rhetoric is encouraging their followers to grow ever more hateful towards the rest of Americans — the majority of Americans — who continue to believe in democracy.
As Heather Digby Parton wrote Monday at Salon, "standard conservative victimhood is changing into something else with Trump's crusade to delegitimize the election and convince tens of millions of people there is a conspiracy to disenfranchise them."
This narrative is already being used to justify illegal and fascistic power grabs and election cheating. We're already seeing signs of it in the way Georgia's Republican donor base has been haranguing politicians in that state to do more to help Trump steal the election. That won't work for Trump, at least not this time around, it could certainly lay the groundwork for pushing out the few remaining honest Republicans in power and passing more policies targeted at keeping Black voters from the polls.
It's also ramping up the aggression of some of the more unsavory people in the Trump base. In Raleigh, North Carolina, this weekend, there was an ugly demonstration by a group of Trump supporters insisting that his lies about the election were true. The rally was flush with Proud Boys, who wore insignia declaring their eagerness for violence and yelled at counter-protesters that they wanted to "exterminate" them. This kind of baseless anger suggests that it's a matter of when, not if, there's another terrorist attack by a Trump fanboy.
There's little chance of Trump or his enablers letting up between now and Inauguration Day, which is still more than seven weeks away. There's clearly too much money to be made by endlessly promising Trump voters that they're on the verge of stealing this election from Biden, and that another $25 is all it will take to get Trump a second term. Apparently, not even the routine humiliation of losing court battles and recounts will slow down the grift train — not as long as the American right is still composed of a bunch of suckers.


alternet--2020-12-01--Melania 'delighted' to mark holidays after being caught on tape asking who cares 'about Christmas?'

Melania Trump participated in the unveiling of the annual Christmas decorations at the White House for a final time only weeks after the first lady was heard using profanity to describe her holiday planning duties in a secret recording .
Writing on Twitter that she was `` delighted '' to mark `` this special time of the year , '' Melania unveiled the White House Christmas decor on Monday .
`` Together , we celebrate this land we are all proud to call home , '' she added .
A White House press release further touted the `` Gold Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's frequent feuds with Gold Star families , and its `` Be Best '' ornament , referring to the first lady 's anti-bullying campaign which has been undercut by her husband 's nonstop invective .
`` I am excited to announce this year 's White House holiday theme , 'America the Beautiful , ' '' the first lady said in a statement .
`` From coast to coast , the bond that all Americans share is an appreciation for our traditions , values and history , which were the inspiration behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of the staff and volunteers who worked to make sure the People 's House was ready for the holiday season .
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year . ''
The rollout arrived weeks after Stephanie Winston Wolkoff , a former close friend and adviser of the first lady , released secret recordings from 2018 in which Melania defended her husband 's child separation policy and complained about her holiday responsibilities .
`` I 'm working .
.
.
my ass off on the Christmas stuff — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ f*ck about the Christmas stuff and decorations ?
But I need to do it , right ?
OK , '' she said in the recording .
`` And then I do it , and I say that I 'm working on Christmas and planning for the Christmas .
And they said , 'Oh , what about the children that they were separated ? '
Give me a f*cking break . ''
The holidays festivities come as Melania , who also echoed her husband 's birther lies , publicly backs her husband 's attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The American people deserve fair elections .
Every legal - not illegal - vote should be counted , '' she tweeted earlier this month .
`` We must protect our democracy with complete transparency . ''
Behind the scenes , CNN reported that the first lady `` advised him to come to terms with President-elect Joe Biden 's victory . ''
But , like her husband , Melania has reportedly not reached out to incoming first lady Jill Biden .
It is unclear what the first lady , who once complained that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world , '' plans to do after departing the White House next month .
`` I think Melania will probably be secretly relieved , '' journalist Kate Andersen Brower , the author of `` First Women , '' told USA Today .
`` This is not what she signed up for .
.
.
She feels like she ca n't do anything right , and though every first lady feels that way at some point , she has the disadvantage of being married to someone who has burned every bridge to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been taking meetings about writing her White House memoir , according to Page Six .
`` I 'm told her husband is encouraging her , '' a source told the outlet .
`` She 's not done , or going as quietly as you might expect .
.
.
In the wake of Stephanie Winston Wolkoff 's betrayal , in both print and on secret tapes , Melania 's story could be worth big money . ''
Twitter users joked that the book would likely be eerily similar to former first lady Michelle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's 2016 Republican National Convention speech .
In the address , Melania lifted parts of her predecessor 's speech from the 2008 Democratic National Convention .
`` Working title of Melania 's book : Becoming , by Michelle Obama , '' one user quipped .
Another added , `` I can not wait to hear about Melania growing up on the South Side Chicago . ''

Melania Trump participated in the unveiling of the annual Christmas decorations at the White House for a final time only weeks after the first lady was heard using profanity to describe her holiday planning duties in a secret recording.
Writing on Twitter that she was "delighted" to mark "this special time of the year," Melania unveiled the White House Christmas decor on Monday.
"Together, we celebrate this land we are all proud to call home," she added.
A White House press release further touted the "Gold Star Family Tree," despite President Donald Trump's frequent feuds with Gold Star families, and its "Be Best" ornament, referring to the first lady's anti-bullying campaign which has been undercut by her husband's nonstop invective.
"I am excited to announce this year's White House holiday theme, 'America the Beautiful,'" the first lady said in a statement. "From coast to coast, the bond that all Americans share is an appreciation for our traditions, values and history, which were the inspiration behind the decorations this year. Thank you to all of the staff and volunteers who worked to make sure the People's House was ready for the holiday season. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year."
The rollout arrived weeks after Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former close friend and adviser of the first lady, released secret recordings from 2018 in which Melania defended her husband's child separation policy and complained about her holiday responsibilities.
"I'm working . . . my ass off on the Christmas stuff — that you know. Who gives a f*ck about the Christmas stuff and decorations? But I need to do it, right? OK," she said in the recording. "And then I do it, and I say that I'm working on Christmas and planning for the Christmas. And they said, 'Oh, what about the children that they were separated?' Give me a f*cking break."
Twitter users skewered the first lady's newfound holiday spirit.
The holidays festivities come as Melania, who also echoed her husband's birther lies, publicly backs her husband's attempt to subvert the election he lost.
"The American people deserve fair elections. Every legal - not illegal - vote should be counted," she tweeted earlier this month. "We must protect our democracy with complete transparency."
Behind the scenes, CNN reported that the first lady "advised him to come to terms with President-elect Joe Biden's victory." But, like her husband, Melania has reportedly not reached out to incoming first lady Jill Biden.
It is unclear what the first lady, who once complained that she was the "most bullied person in the world," plans to do after departing the White House next month.
"I think Melania will probably be secretly relieved," journalist Kate Andersen Brower, the author of "First Women," told USA Today. "This is not what she signed up for . . . She feels like she can't do anything right, and though every first lady feels that way at some point, she has the disadvantage of being married to someone who has burned every bridge to the past."
Melania has also been taking meetings about writing her White House memoir, according to Page Six.
"I'm told her husband is encouraging her," a source told the outlet. "She's not done, or going as quietly as you might expect . . . In the wake of Stephanie Winston Wolkoff's betrayal, in both print and on secret tapes, Melania's story could be worth big money."
Twitter users joked that the book would likely be eerily similar to former first lady Michelle Obama's, a reference to Melania's 2016 Republican National Convention speech. In the address, Melania lifted parts of her predecessor's speech from the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
"Working title of Melania's book: Becoming, by Michelle Obama," one user quipped.
Another added, "I can not wait to hear about Melania growing up on the South Side Chicago."


alternet--2020-12-01--'One of the most corrupt government officials': Digital rights groups say 'good riddance' as Ajit Pa

'One of the most corrupt government officials': Digital rights groups say 'good riddance' as Ajit Pai leaves FCC

Digital rights groups applauded the news Monday that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai—known for his efforts to destroy net neutrality and his fealty to corporate telecom interests—will resign his powerful post when President Donald Trump leaves office in January .
`` Ajit Pai will go down in history as one of the most corrupt government officials of the century , '' Fight for the Future deputy director Evan Greer said in a statement .
`` His callous attack on net neutrality and blatant coddling of Big Telecom monopolies sparked the largest cross-partisan online backlash in the modern era .
As he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demeanor and giant Reese 's mug will become cautionary memes—reminding internet users what happens when we do n't hold our government accountable . ''
While Pai said in his announcement ( pdf ) that `` it has been the honor of a lifetime '' to lead the commission , he was arguably the most controversial chairperson in the FCC 's 86-year history .
He is best known for leading the successful push to overturn net neutrality rules in 2017 , a move that former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn at the time likened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a handful of multi-billion dollar corporations . ''
In 2018 , Pai was also investigated by his own agency for alleged corruption in connection with his deregulatory blitz .
While the Pai-led effort to kill net neutrality may soon be overturned after Democrats regain a 3-2 majority on the commission , his shepherding of the T-Mobile-Sprint megamerger—for which he was accused of betraying the public interest in service of major corporations—will be much more difficult to reverse .
It will now be up to President-elect Joe Biden to decide whether to promote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the commission—Jessica Rosenworcel or Geoffrey Starks—to become chair or find someone new to fill the top spot .
Matt Wood , vice president for policy and senior counsel at Free Press , said in a statement that `` the entire premise of Pai 's failed chairmanship is a lie . ''
`` He claims that his radical deregulatory agenda spurred broadband improvements and closed the digital divide , '' Wood continued .
`` None of these claims are remotely true .
While Pai hangs out the 'mission accomplished ' banner , the stark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America still lack adequate broadband at home , with Black , Brown , and Indigenous people disproportionately disconnected . ''
`` That gaping digital divide remains , and Pai 's done nothing to close it—even during the ongoing pandemic that 's made essential internet connections that much more vital , '' he added .
`` There 's little positive to say about four years of wasted opportunities and bluster from this failed chairman .
But saying good riddance today is an opportunity to turn the page and get back to the serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it . ''

Digital rights groups applauded the news Monday that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai—known for his efforts to destroy net neutrality and his fealty to corporate telecom interests—will resign his powerful post when President Donald Trump leaves office in January.
"Ajit Pai will go down in history as one of the most corrupt government officials of the century," Fight for the Future deputy director Evan Greer said in a statement. "His callous attack on net neutrality and blatant coddling of Big Telecom monopolies sparked the largest cross-partisan online backlash in the modern era. As he fades into the background, his smug demeanor and giant Reese's mug will become cautionary memes—reminding internet users what happens when we don't hold our government accountable."
While Pai said in his announcement (pdf) that "it has been the honor of a lifetime" to lead the commission, he was arguably the most controversial chairperson in the FCC's 86-year history. He is best known for leading the successful push to overturn net neutrality rules in 2017, a move that former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn at the time likened to "handing the keys to the internet to a handful of multi-billion dollar corporations." In 2018, Pai was also investigated by his own agency for alleged corruption in connection with his deregulatory blitz.
While the Pai-led effort to kill net neutrality may soon be overturned after Democrats regain a 3-2 majority on the commission, his shepherding of the T-Mobile-Sprint megamerger—for which he was accused of betraying the public interest in service of major corporations—will be much more difficult to reverse.
It will now be up to President-elect Joe Biden to decide whether to promote one of the two Democrats serving on the commission—Jessica Rosenworcel or Geoffrey Starks—to become chair or find someone new to fill the top spot.
Digital rights advocates hailed news of Pai's impending departure.
According to Greer:
Pai's departure cannot come soon enough. We are in the middle of a crushing pandemic. Hundreds of millions of people are working from home and sending their kids to school online. Comcast just announced plans to re-impose arbitrary data caps. Kids are sitting outside Taco Bell to do their homework. We desperately need a functional FCC that will quickly repair the damage done by Ajit Pai and get to work protecting the public from ISP abuses.
Matt Wood, vice president for policy and senior counsel at Free Press, said in a statement that "the entire premise of Pai's failed chairmanship is a lie."
"He claims that his radical deregulatory agenda spurred broadband improvements and closed the digital divide," Wood continued. "None of these claims are remotely true. While Pai hangs out the 'mission accomplished' banner, the stark reality is that nearly 80 million people in America still lack adequate broadband at home, with Black, Brown, and Indigenous people disproportionately disconnected."
"That gaping digital divide remains, and Pai's done nothing to close it—even during the ongoing pandemic that's made essential internet connections that much more vital," he added. "There's little positive to say about four years of wasted opportunities and bluster from this failed chairman. But saying good riddance today is an opportunity to turn the page and get back to the serious work the FCC ignored while Pai ran it."


alternet--2020-12-01--Inequality gone viral: Here are the shocking numbers behind America's economic illness

In a distressing analogy to the relentless surge of Covid-19 , which has disproportionately impacted low-income communities and people of color , there has been an unstoppable transfer of wealth from desperate Americans to the people who already had most of our nation 's financial assets .
While the great majority of us have been focusing on the health and well-being — and the very survival — of loved ones , the super-rich have become `` pandemic profiteers , '' isolating themselves from Covid while riding the stock market to its highest-ever level .
At the same time we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Shock Doctrine , with the `` perfect conditions for governments and the global elite to implement political agendas that would otherwise be met with great opposition if we were n't all so disoriented . ''
We need to ask ourselves : In a year of disease and death and destroyed families , should a massive , inexplicable increase in new American financial wealth go to billionaires or to health care workers ?
Should unearned gains go to the few hundred richest Americans or to the millions of American households who have lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are shocking .
Here 's what happened in the year 2020 : An Average of $ 200,000 Each to the Richest 10 % of Americans .
In November of 2019 the Wilshire Total Market stood at about $ 32 trillion .
After plunging at the start of the pandemic , by November of 2020 it had risen to $ 38 trillion .
That 's a $ 6 TRILLION overall increase for stockholders .
The richest 10 % of Americans ( about 25 million adults , most of them millionaires ( Table 5-8 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) of ALL stocks .
An Average of $ 1.5 Billion Each to the Richest 650 Individuals .
Since the onset of Covid-19 in early 2020 , the combined wealth of the 650 American billionaires has increased by nearly $ 1 trillion .
A trillion dollars is enough to provide every U.S. household with a survival stipend of nearly $ 8,000 .
An Average of $ 25 Billion Each to the Richest 15 Individuals .
Bezos , Musk , Gates , Zuckerberg , and the eleven other richest Americans had $ 922 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Thanksgiving Day this year , their wealth had increased by another $ 375 billion .
That 's $ 25 billion more , on average , for each multi-billionaire , although Elon Musk alone has added about $ 80 billion to his fortune .
An Average of $ 600 Billion Each to the 5 Richest Tech Companies .
In March , 2020 the market capitalization for Big Tech ( Apple , Microsoft , Amazon , Google , Facebook ) was $ 4.1 trillion .
By November it was over $ 7 trillion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ months !
No one has profited more from 70 years of taxpayer input than these massive technology companies .
At the Other End of Inequality While the pandemic profits roll in for the millionaires and billionaires , the plight of low-income Americans is growing more life-threatening every day .
Just in the past three months , according to research at the University of Chicago and Notre Dame , six million people have been added to the ranks of the poverty-stricken , with the most dire effects on Black people and children .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their children .
Nearly 26 million adults -- one in nine -- have reported that their households sometimes or often lacked food .
`` Pandemics should be the great equalizer , '' says political analyst Fareed Zakaria .
But instead `` the virus is ushering in the greatest rise in economic inequality in decades , both globally and in the United States . ''
Brookings agrees , adding that `` the costs of the pandemic are being borne disproportionately by poorer segments of society . ''
What Can We Do ?
We wo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says , `` No one ever makes a billion dollars .
You take a billion dollars . ''
And we wo n't end corporate welfare .
While we laud the work of the pharmaceutical companies in developing a vaccine , and that of the tech companies for providing us ways to communicate with each other during quarantine , everything they 've done stems from decades of research and development paid for by U.S. taxpayers , and supplemented by government subsidies .
But the CEOs and stockholders get all the benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implementation of Modern Monetary Theory , the pumping of money into the general population through a Guaranteed Income , so that the ever-expanding disparities in wealth can be countered by a surge in middle- and lower-class wealth .
Something has to be done to heal the rupture in the sickened body of our nation .

Understand the importance of honest news ?
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alternet--2020-12-01--'All about the grift': Trump raises over $150 million for 'election defense fund'

After bombarding supporters daily with emails blaring lies about the election and soliciting donations to overcome virtually non-existent voter fraud , President Donald Trump 's political operation has reportedly raised more than $ 150 million since November 3 , a staggering windfall that is being funneled into a Republican joint fundraising committee and a Trump PAC established to fuel his post-White House activities .
While the Trump team 's aggressive emails—sometimes as many as 15 per day—purport to be raising money for an `` Official Election Defense Fund '' set up to finance the president 's flailing legal effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not exist .
`` There is no such account , '' the Washington Post reported late Monday .
`` The fundraising requests are being made by the Trump Make America Great Again Committee , a joint fundraising committee that raises money for the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee .
As of November 18 , that committee also shares its funds with Save America , a new leadership PAC that Trump set up in early November and which he can use to fund his post-presidency activities . ''
Observers said the post-election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shameless grift , with much of the money likely going toward paying off the Trump campaign 's debts , financing events at the president 's properties , and other purposes .
The Post noted that `` there are very few limitations on how money going to '' the Trump leadership PAC can be spent .
Brendan Fischer , director of federal reform at the Campaign Legal Center ( CLC ) , told the Post that `` small donors who give to Trump thinking they are financing an 'Official Election Defense Fund ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign 's debt or funding his post-presidential political operation . ''
`` The average donor who gives in response to Trump 's appeal for funds to 'stop the fraud ' likely does n't realize that their money is actually retiring Trump 's debt or funding his leadership PAC , '' Fischer said , pointing out that `` only bigger donors who 've maxed-out to Trump 's campaign or the RNC will see any portion of their contribution go to dedicated recount or legal funds . ''
Buried in the fine print of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fundraising emails , as Common Dreams reported earlier this month , was language informing those who read far enough that a percentage of donations would go toward `` general election debt retirement . ''
`` According to the fine print in the latest fundraising appeals , '' the Post reported , `` 75 % of each contribution to the joint fundraising committee would first go toward the Save America leadership PAC and the rest would be shared with the party committee , to help with the party 's operating expenses .
This effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donations under the current agreement would go toward financing the president 's new leadership PAC , instead of efforts to support the party or to finance voting lawsuits . ''
News of the Trump operation 's massive fundraising haul came shortly after two additional battleground states , Wisconsin and Arizona , certified President-elect Joe Biden 's victories there and dealt yet another blow to the president 's disastrous court fight .
In a tweet late Monday , Rob Flaherty , digital director for the Biden campaign , called Trump 's `` election defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple grift . ''

After bombarding supporters daily with emails blaring lies about the election and soliciting donations to overcome virtually non-existent voter fraud, President Donald Trump's political operation has reportedly raised more than $150 million since November 3, a staggering windfall that is being funneled into a Republican joint fundraising committee and a Trump PAC established to fuel his post-White House activities.
While the Trump team's aggressive emails—sometimes as many as 15 per day—purport to be raising money for an "Official Election Defense Fund" set up to finance the president's flailing legal effort to overturn the election, the fund does not exist.
"There is no such account," the Washington Postreported late Monday. "The fundraising requests are being made by the Trump Make America Great Again Committee, a joint fundraising committee that raises money for the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee. As of November 18, that committee also shares its funds with Save America, a new leadership PAC that Trump set up in early November and which he can use to fund his post-presidency activities."
Observers said the post-election fundraising initiative has all the markings of a shameless grift, with much of the money likely going toward paying off the Trump campaign's debts, financing events at the president's properties, and other purposes. The Post noted that "there are very few limitations on how money going to" the Trump leadership PAC can be spent.
Brendan Fischer, director of federal reform at the Campaign Legal Center (CLC), told the Post that "small donors who give to Trump thinking they are financing an 'Official Election Defense Fund' are in fact helping pay down the Trump campaign's debt or funding his post-presidential political operation."
"The average donor who gives in response to Trump's appeal for funds to 'stop the fraud' likely doesn't realize that their money is actually retiring Trump's debt or funding his leadership PAC," Fischer said, pointing out that "only bigger donors who've maxed-out to Trump's campaign or the RNC will see any portion of their contribution go to dedicated recount or legal funds."
Buried in the fine print of the early barrage of Trump's post-election fundraising emails, as Common Dreamsreported earlier this month, was language informing those who read far enough that a percentage of donations would go toward "general election debt retirement."
"According to the fine print in the latest fundraising appeals," the Post reported, "75% of each contribution to the joint fundraising committee would first go toward the Save America leadership PAC and the rest would be shared with the party committee, to help with the party's operating expenses. This effectively means that the vast majority of low-dollar donations under the current agreement would go toward financing the president's new leadership PAC, instead of efforts to support the party or to finance voting lawsuits."
News of the Trump operation's massive fundraising haul came shortly after two additional battleground states, Wisconsin and Arizona, certified President-elect Joe Biden's victories there and dealt yet another blow to the president's disastrous court fight.
In a tweet late Monday, Rob Flaherty, digital director for the Biden campaign, called Trump's "election defense" fundraising ploy a "plain and simple grift."


alternet--2020-12-01--QAnon sympathizer elected to Congress failed to disclose fundraising ties to Sen. Ted Cruz: FEC

The Federal Elections Commission ( FEC ) sent a letter last week to Representative-elect Lauren Boebert , R-Co. , asking the QAnon sympathizer to disclose her campaign 's fundraising ties to Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Tx .
Cruz 's first donation came on the same day the senator asked the Department of Justice to investigate Netflix for alleged child pornography , a cause célèbre for QAnon adherents .
The FEC 's letter says Boebert failed to report the Cruz 20 for 20 Victory Fund PAC as a fundraising partner , even though two reported transfers appear to have come through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both reported the mid-September transfers , which dropped $ 136,250 in Boebert 's campaign account .
Federal rules require joint fundraising committees to disclose their partners .
While Cruz 's PAC listed the Boebert campaign in its initial filing this July , the gun-rights restaurateur and political novice apparently did not reciprocate despite updating her own campaign 's registration in September .
`` It is generally not a good excuse to say , ' I forgot ' to accurately designate contributions , '' Brett Kappel , campaign finance expert at Harmon Curran , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is lenient with first-time candidates , so she may not be sanctioned unless there are other violations . ''
However , this marks the Boebert campaign 's third FEC letter .
In June , Boebert received a notice after accepting contributions in excess of the maximum amount , a rule which she allegedly `` just plain forgot . ''
`` There was no intent to try to report contributions illegally as I just plain forgot to watch for large donations as I was preparing the report , '' Boebert said in her reply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Nov. 23 , the same day she received the letter about Cruz .
This letter detailed a number of contributors who gave more than the legal amount , as well as contributions from three `` possible unregistered organizations '' with names affiliated with the Republican Party .
The newcomer announced her bid late last year after a confrontation over assault weapons with then-presidential contender Democrat Beto O'Rourke catapulted her to headlines .
An outspoken gun-rights advocate , Boebert and her husband co-own a barbecue restaurant in Rifle , Co. Shooters Grill requires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loaded sidearm , but for years it did not require training .
Three years ago , Boebert 's food apparently posed a greater risk to customers than her untrained staff .
Her pork sliders allegedly poisoned dozens of people when she catered a local rodeo , making them nauseous and sending some home with bloody diarrhea .
Like Cruz in 2016 , Boebert initially ran against Trump .
The president endorsed Scott Tipton , her opponent in the Republican primary .
Boebert ended up beating the five-term incumbent by nine points , marking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sitting congressional representative in Colorado in 48 years .
Boebert 's surprise victory also underscored a wider nationwide trend .
Conservatives have gravitated towards far-right candidates , some of whom embrace the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory .
In a May interview with the pro-Q webcast `` Steel Truth , '' Boebert tried to distance herself directly from the conspiracy theory while expressing `` hope '' that it was `` real . ''
`` Everything I heard of Q , I hope that this is real , because it only means America is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding that QAnon followers were `` only motivating , and encouraging and bringing people together stronger .
And , if this is real , then it could be really great for our country . ''
Boebert later said she was `` not a follower . ''
She was not the first Republican candidate to flirt with QAnon , though she did not gone as far as Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Oregon Senate nominee Jo Rae Perkins , both of whom profess their allegiance outright .
Greene eventually won her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates won fundraising support from the hyper-conservative Cruz .
While Cruz has never publicly aligned himself with QAnon , he drew criticism in September for `` going QAnon '' when he criticized the Netflix movie , `` Cuties , '' and asked the Justice Department `` to investigate whether Netflix , its executives , or the filmmakers violated any federal laws against the production and distribution of child pornography . ''
That day , he made his first of two transfers to Boebert 's campaign — $ 70,500 .

The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) sent a letter last week to Representative-elect Lauren Boebert, R-Co., asking the QAnon sympathizer to disclose her campaign's fundraising ties to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tx.
Cruz's first donation came on the same day the senator asked the Department of Justice to investigate Netflix for alleged child pornography, a cause célèbre for QAnon adherents.
The FEC's letter says Boebert failed to report the Cruz 20 for 20 Victory Fund PAC as a fundraising partner, even though two reported transfers appear to have come through joint fundraising efforts. Boebert and Cruz both reported the mid-September transfers, which dropped $136,250 in Boebert's campaign account.
Federal rules require joint fundraising committees to disclose their partners. While Cruz's PAC listed the Boebert campaign in its initial filing this July, the gun-rights restaurateur and political novice apparently did not reciprocate despite updating her own campaign's registration in September.
"It is generally not a good excuse to say, 'I forgot' to accurately designate contributions," Brett Kappel, campaign finance expert at Harmon Curran, told Salon. "But the FEC is lenient with first-time candidates, so she may not be sanctioned unless there are other violations."
However, this marks the Boebert campaign's third FEC letter. In June, Boebert received a notice after accepting contributions in excess of the maximum amount, a rule which she allegedly "just plain forgot."
"There was no intent to try to report contributions illegally as I just plain forgot to watch for large donations as I was preparing the report," Boebert said in her reply.
She was sent a similar notice on Nov. 23, the same day she received the letter about Cruz. This letter detailed a number of contributors who gave more than the legal amount, as well as contributions from three "possible unregistered organizations" with names affiliated with the Republican Party.
The newcomer announced her bid late last year after a confrontation over assault weapons with then-presidential contender Democrat Beto O'Rourke catapulted her to headlines. An outspoken gun-rights advocate, Boebert and her husband co-own a barbecue restaurant in Rifle, Co. Shooters Grill requires wait staff to wear a holstered, loaded sidearm, but for years it did not require training.
Three years ago, Boebert's food apparently posed a greater risk to customers than her untrained staff. Her pork sliders allegedly poisoned dozens of people when she catered a local rodeo, making them nauseous and sending some home with bloody diarrhea.
Like Cruz in 2016, Boebert initially ran against Trump. The president endorsed Scott Tipton, her opponent in the Republican primary. Boebert ended up beating the five-term incumbent by nine points, marking the first time a challenger had defeated a sitting congressional representative in Colorado in 48 years.
Boebert's surprise victory also underscored a wider nationwide trend. Conservatives have gravitated towards far-right candidates, some of whom embrace the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory.
In a May interview with the pro-Q webcast "Steel Truth," Boebert tried to distance herself directly from the conspiracy theory while expressing "hope" that it was "real."
"Everything I heard of Q, I hope that this is real, because it only means America is getting stronger and better," she said, adding that QAnon followers were "only motivating, and encouraging and bringing people together stronger. And, if this is real, then it could be really great for our country."
Boebert later said she was "not a follower." She was not the first Republican candidate to flirt with QAnon, though she did not gone as far as Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Oregon Senate nominee Jo Rae Perkins, both of whom profess their allegiance outright.
Greene eventually won her race. However, neither of those candidates won fundraising support from the hyper-conservative Cruz.
While Cruz has never publicly aligned himself with QAnon, he drew criticism in September for "going QAnon" when he criticized the Netflix movie, "Cuties," and asked the Justice Department "to investigate whether Netflix, its executives, or the filmmakers violated any federal laws against the production and distribution of child pornography."
That day, he made his first of two transfers to Boebert's campaign — $70,500.


alternet--2020-12-01--Fox News host debunks Trump after his colleague let the president spew lies without pushback

Fox News host Eric Shawn on Sunday debunked President Donald Trump 's false claims about the election after morning show host Maria Bartiromo aired a torrent of unchecked lies from the president .
Shawn , who has repeatedly fact-checked the president 's unfounded claims aimed at undermining an election he lost , picked apart the baseless conspiracy theories mere hours after his own network broadcast them .
`` [ Trump ] doubled down on his claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election , even though local and national election officials , as well as federal and state courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases the Trump campaign 's own lawyers — have said there is no evidence to prove that , '' Shawn said , adding that `` experts say such claims are unsupported falsehoods that are not backed up by any facts . ''
Shawn later brought on Axios reporter Hans Nichols to dissect Trump 's false claims , noting that one of the president 's arguments was that President-elect Joe Biden could not have gotten more votes than former President Barack Obama despite a huge increase in voting by mail .
`` It seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
.
ca n't process the fact that someone who he thinks is so inferior to him won the election , '' Shawn said .
The comments came shortly after Bartiromo , who landed Trump 's first interview since his election loss and has pushed baseless fraud conspiracy theories herself , allowed Trump to repeat his debunked allegations without noting they are undermined by the facts .
`` The facts are on your side , '' Bartiromo claimed , even though Trump and his allies have lost nearly every election-related lawsuit to date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved `` thousands of votes from my account to Biden 's account , '' echoing the bizarre and discredited conspiracy theory pushed by attorney Sidney Powell which led to her ouster from his legal team .
In spite of no evidence to support his claim , Trump went on to insist that `` dead people were applying to get a ballot . ''
The president repeatedly complained how some swing states shifted from his column to Biden 's column after mail-in ballots were counted .
Some Republican-led legislatures prevented them from being tallied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election was over , and then they did dumps .
They call them dumps — big massive dumps in Michigan , Pennsylvania and all over , '' Trump said , describing the reporting of vote counts .
`` If you take a look at .
.
.
every swing state that we 're talking about .
And they did these massive dumps of votes , and all of a sudden , I went from winning by a lot to losing by a little .
And , in some cases , it took a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump then launched into a new conspiracy theory , baselessly claiming that his own Department of Justice and FBI `` may be involved '' in the `` fraud . ''
`` These people have been there a long time .
And I know FBI , and the FBI is great at the levels that we talked about .
But it 's inconceivable , '' he said .
`` You would think if you 're in the FBI or Department of Justice , this is the biggest thing you could be looking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not seen anything . ''
Trump also lashed out at Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp , a Republican who was endorsed by the president , for doing `` absolutely nothing '' to overturn the result of the election in his state after election officials repeatedly discredited claims of fraud or irregularities .
Republicans have grown increasingly concerned that Trump 's lies will discourage voters from participating in the upcoming Senate runoffs in the state , because they think it could be `` rigged . ''
Bartiromo did little to press Trump on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she appeared to agree with Trump when he falsely claimed the election was `` rigged . ''
`` This is disgusting , '' she said .
`` And we can not allow America 's election to be corrupted . ''
Bartiromo was widely criticized over the interview , which was labeled as propaganda .
The network 's news hosts have repeatedly pushed back on Trump 's false claims .
Even the Trump sycophants like Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson have dismissed the president 's attempt to overturn the election .
`` This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former aide to Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas , who now serves as a CNN contributor .
`` Maria went all in on at least three different conspiracies ... She 's way off the deep end .
This is n't a Trump problem , it 's a Fox problem . ''
`` Bartiromo 's interview with the president is filled with so many lies and so much misinformation , '' wrote journalist Yashar Ali .
`` Probably more than any interview during his presidency . ''
CNN host Brian Stelter wondered how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a Trump propagandist .
Bartiromo , who was the first reporter to broadcast live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in 1995 , went on to host CNBC 's `` Squawk Box '' and several other shows before joining Fox Business and launching her Sunday Fox News show .
`` Maria Bartiromo , once a feared and acclaimed journalist , best known for working the floor of the New York Stock Exchange , forcing CEOs to tell the truth , now sits behind a desk and invites the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said on Sunday .
`` There would be outrage if Fox News hired someone like InfoWars ' Alex Jones to be anchoring a show on their network , '' CNN reporter Oliver Darcy told Stelter .
`` Frankly , there is not much daylight between Maria and Alex Jones . ''
You can watch the Fox News segment below via YouTube : Fox News host rips Trump for being a sore loser : 'He ca n't wrap his brain around the fact '

Fox News host Eric Shawn on Sunday debunked President Donald Trump's false claims about the election after morning show host Maria Bartiromo aired a torrent of unchecked lies from the president.
Shawn, who has repeatedly fact-checked the president's unfounded claims aimed at undermining an election he lost, picked apart the baseless conspiracy theories mere hours after his own network broadcast them.
"[Trump] doubled down on his claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, even though local and national election officials, as well as federal and state courts in multiple states — and in some cases the Trump campaign's own lawyers — have said there is no evidence to prove that," Shawn said, adding that "experts say such claims are unsupported falsehoods that are not backed up by any facts."
Shawn later brought on Axios reporter Hans Nichols to dissect Trump's false claims, noting that one of the president's arguments was that President-elect Joe Biden could not have gotten more votes than former President Barack Obama despite a huge increase in voting by mail.
"It seems that we have a president who . . . can't process the fact that someone who he thinks is so inferior to him won the election," Shawn said.
The comments came shortly after Bartiromo, who landed Trump's first interview since his election loss and has pushed baseless fraud conspiracy theories herself, allowed Trump to repeat his debunked allegations without noting they are undermined by the facts.
"The facts are on your side," Bartiromo claimed, even though Trump and his allies have lost nearly every election-related lawsuit to date.
Trump claimed that "glitches" moved "thousands of votes from my account to Biden's account," echoing the bizarre and discredited conspiracy theory pushed by attorney Sidney Powell which led to her ouster from his legal team. In spite of no evidence to support his claim, Trump went on to insist that "dead people were applying to get a ballot."
The president repeatedly complained how some swing states shifted from his column to Biden's column after mail-in ballots were counted. Some Republican-led legislatures prevented them from being tallied earlier on election night.
"This election was over, and then they did dumps. They call them dumps — big massive dumps in Michigan, Pennsylvania and all over," Trump said, describing the reporting of vote counts. "If you take a look at . . . every swing state that we're talking about. And they did these massive dumps of votes, and all of a sudden, I went from winning by a lot to losing by a little. And, in some cases, it took a period of time to do it."
Trump then launched into a new conspiracy theory, baselessly claiming that his own Department of Justice and FBI "may be involved" in the "fraud."
"These people have been there a long time. And I know FBI, and the FBI is great at the levels that we talked about. But it's inconceivable," he said. "You would think if you're in the FBI or Department of Justice, this is the biggest thing you could be looking at. Where are they? I've not seen anything."
Trump also lashed out at Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican who was endorsed by the president, for doing "absolutely nothing" to overturn the result of the election in his state after election officials repeatedly discredited claims of fraud or irregularities. Republicans have grown increasingly concerned that Trump's lies will discourage voters from participating in the upcoming Senate runoffs in the state, because they think it could be "rigged."
Bartiromo did little to press Trump on his unsubstantiated claims. At one point, she appeared to agree with Trump when he falsely claimed the election was "rigged."
"This is disgusting," she said. "And we cannot allow America's election to be corrupted."
Bartiromo was widely criticized over the interview, which was labeled as propaganda. The network's news hosts have repeatedly pushed back on Trump's false claims. Even the Trump sycophants like Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson have dismissed the president's attempt to overturn the election.
"This is propaganda," tweeted Amanda Carpenter, a former aide to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who now serves as a CNN contributor. "Maria went all in on at least three different conspiracies... She's way off the deep end. This isn't a Trump problem, it's a Fox problem."
"Bartiromo's interview with the president is filled with so many lies and so much misinformation," wrote journalist Yashar Ali. "Probably more than any interview during his presidency."
CNN host Brian Stelter wondered how Bartiromo went from a respected financial journalist to a Trump propagandist. Bartiromo, who was the first reporter to broadcast live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in 1995, went on to host CNBC's "Squawk Box" and several other shows before joining Fox Business and launching her Sunday Fox News show.
"Maria Bartiromo, once a feared and acclaimed journalist, best known for working the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, forcing CEOs to tell the truth, now sits behind a desk and invites the president to lie and lie and lie," he said on Sunday.
"There would be outrage if Fox News hired someone like InfoWars' Alex Jones to be anchoring a show on their network," CNN reporter Oliver Darcy told Stelter. "Frankly, there is not much daylight between Maria and Alex Jones."
You can watch the Fox News segment below via YouTube:


alternet--2020-12-01--Kayleigh McEnany launches a 'weird and pointless' lie after Biden gets recognized for all-female pre

Kayleigh McEnany launches a 'weird and pointless' lie after Biden gets recognized for all-female press team

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Sunday falsely claimed that President Donald Trump had beaten President-elect Joe Biden to the punch when the transition team announced an all-female communications team .
The Washington Post on Sunday reported that Biden had selected an `` all-female White House press team , '' drawing complaints from the Trump administration .
McEnany claimed on Twitter that Trump `` already has an ALL FEMALE White House press team '' as she accused the `` completely DISCREDITED '' Washington Post of revealing its `` blinding propagandist Fake News proclivities . ''
But many on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deere and Brian Morgenstern .
She claimed that Vice President Mike Pence also had an all-female team , but his press secretary is Devin O'Malley .
`` This is just such a weird and pointless thing to lie about , '' George Conway , a conservative critic of the president and husband of former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway , tweeted .
The Post report noted that Biden 's team will mark the `` first time all of the top aides tasked with speaking on behalf of an administration and shaping its message will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be headed by longtime Democratic spokeswoman Jen Psaki and veteran Biden aide Kate Bedingfield .
Psaki , who served as White House communications director for former President Barack Obama and press secretary for former Secretary of State John Kerry , will replace McEnany behind the podium when Biden is inaugurated next month .
Psaki said on Twitter that her goal was to `` rebuild trust of the American people '' after her predecessor repeatedly made false claims from behind the White House podium .
Bedingfield , who was Biden 's deputy campaign manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as White House communications director .
Trump has gone through six different communications directors in four years , including Anthony Scaramucci 's 11-day stint at the helm .
`` Communicating directly and truthfully to the American people is one of the most important duties of a president , and this team will be entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of connecting the American people to the White House , '' Biden said in a statement .
`` These qualified , experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jean-Pierre , former spokeswoman for the progressive group MoveOn.org and chief of staff to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris , will serve as Psaki 's top deputy .
Pili Tobar , a former aide to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , and deputy director of the immigration reform group America 's Voice , will serve as Bedingfield 's deputy .
Ashley Etienne , the former communications director to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , will serve as Harris ' communications director .
Symone Sanders , a former adviser to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press secretary of Sen. Bernie Sanders ' , I-Vt. , 2016 campaign , will be Harris ' top spokesperson .
`` Our country is facing unprecedented challenges — from the coronavirus pandemic to the economic crisis , to the climate crisis and a long-overdue reckoning over racial injustice , '' Harris said in a statement .
`` To overcome these challenges , we need to communicate clearly , honestly and transparently with the American people , and this experienced , talented and barrier-shattering team will help us do that . ''
Elizabeth Alexander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will serve as the communications director to first lady Jill Biden .
`` President-elect Biden has a history of advocating on behalf of women in the U.S. and around the world , and today 's announcement is a continuation of that work , '' Ron Klain , who will serve as Biden 's chief of staff , said in a statement .
`` They embody Joe Biden 's commitment to a diverse administration where the voices of all Americans are represented . ''
The team faces an uphill climb in rebuilding trust with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team repeatedly lied to the media and voters alike .
McEnany began her tenure by vowing , `` I will never lie to you . ''
She proceeded to repeatedly lie from behind the podium .
Her predecessor , Stephanie Grisham , did not even bother holding a single press briefing for more than a year .
Former press secretary Sarah Sanders admitted that she lied to reporters when she was interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller 's team .
Sean Spicer , Trump 's first press secretary , kicked off the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false boast of the `` the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration , period . ''
Biden has said he will restore the daily White House press briefing , but `` simply returning to pre-Trump standards is n't nearly enough , '' Dan Froomkin wrote in Press Watch last week .
`` Even before Trump 's parade of propagandists turned the briefing room into a cesspool of disinformation , the job of press secretary — under both George W. Bush and Barack Obama — had devolved into deflecting press inquiries rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Given how much Trump 's conduct has led to a loss of faith in the government 's competence or even its good intentions , nothing short of extreme openness is likely to win back America 's trust and confidence . ''

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Sunday falsely claimed that President Donald Trump had beaten President-elect Joe Biden to the punch when the transition team announced an all-female communications team.
The Washington Post on Sunday reported that Biden had selected an "all-female White House press team," drawing complaints from the Trump administration.
McEnany claimed on Twitter that Trump "already has an ALL FEMALE White House press team" as she accused the "completely DISCREDITED" Washington Post of revealing its "blinding propagandist Fake News proclivities."
But many on Twitter noted that McEnany's deputies included Judd Deere and Brian Morgenstern. She claimed that Vice President Mike Pence also had an all-female team, but his press secretary is Devin O'Malley.
"This is just such a weird and pointless thing to lie about," George Conway, a conservative critic of the president and husband of former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, tweeted.
The Post report noted that Biden's team will mark the "first time all of the top aides tasked with speaking on behalf of an administration and shaping its message will be female."
The team will be headed by longtime Democratic spokeswoman Jen Psaki and veteran Biden aide Kate Bedingfield.
Psaki, who served as White House communications director for former President Barack Obama and press secretary for former Secretary of State John Kerry, will replace McEnany behind the podium when Biden is inaugurated next month.
Psaki said on Twitter that her goal was to "rebuild trust of the American people" after her predecessor repeatedly made false claims from behind the White House podium.
Bedingfield, who was Biden's deputy campaign manager and communications director, will take over as White House communications director. Trump has gone through six different communications directors in four years, including Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day stint at the helm.
"Communicating directly and truthfully to the American people is one of the most important duties of a president, and this team will be entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of connecting the American people to the White House," Biden said in a statement. "These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better."
Karine Jean-Pierre, former spokeswoman for the progressive group MoveOn.org and chief of staff to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, will serve as Psaki's top deputy. Pili Tobar, a former aide to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and deputy director of the immigration reform group America's Voice, will serve as Bedingfield's deputy.
Ashley Etienne, the former communications director to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will serve as Harris' communications director. Symone Sanders, a former adviser to Biden's campaign who earlier served as press secretary of Sen. Bernie Sanders', I-Vt., 2016 campaign, will be Harris' top spokesperson.
"Our country is facing unprecedented challenges — from the coronavirus pandemic to the economic crisis, to the climate crisis and a long-overdue reckoning over racial injustice," Harris said in a statement. "To overcome these challenges, we need to communicate clearly, honestly and transparently with the American people, and this experienced, talented and barrier-shattering team will help us do that."
Elizabeth Alexander, Biden's former press secretary, will serve as the communications director to first lady Jill Biden.
"President-elect Biden has a history of advocating on behalf of women in the U.S. and around the world, and today's announcement is a continuation of that work," Ron Klain, who will serve as Biden's chief of staff, said in a statement. "They embody Joe Biden's commitment to a diverse administration where the voices of all Americans are represented."
The team faces an uphill climb in rebuilding trust with the American public after Trump's press team repeatedly lied to the media and voters alike.
McEnany began her tenure by vowing, "I will never lie to you." She proceeded to repeatedly lie from behind the podium. Her predecessor, Stephanie Grisham, did not even bother holding a single press briefing for more than a year. Former press secretary Sarah Sanders admitted that she lied to reporters when she was interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller's team. Sean Spicer, Trump's first press secretary, kicked off the president's single term by echoing his demonstrably false boast of the "the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration, period."
Biden has said he will restore the daily White House press briefing, but "simply returning to pre-Trump standards isn't nearly enough," Dan Froomkin wrote in Press Watch last week. "Even before Trump's parade of propagandists turned the briefing room into a cesspool of disinformation, the job of press secretary — under both George W. Bush and Barack Obama — had devolved into deflecting press inquiries rather than genuinely responding to them . . . Given how much Trump's conduct has led to a loss of faith in the government's competence or even its good intentions, nothing short of extreme openness is likely to win back America's trust and confidence."


alternet--2020-12-01--Trump’s lies about the election show the dangers of disinformation

by Chris Tenove , University of British Columbia and Spencer McKay , University of British Columbia Recent polls have found that 70 per cent of Republican supporters in the United States believe that President Donald Trump was defeated in an unfair or fraudulent election , echoing claims made by both foreign and domestic disinformation campaigns .
Numerous legal challenges by the Trump campaign have been defeated in courts across the country , and rumours about election fraud have been repeatedly debunked .
That includes by some journalists on Fox News and Republican state officials , such as Brad Raffensperger , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it 's apparently not enough for elections to be free from fraud — they must be perceived as such .
Even after Joe Biden takes office , millions of Republican supporters will continue to believe the election was illegitimate .
This is not just a problem for a smooth transition to a Biden administration .
Rather , it 's the latest symptom of a dysfunctional public sphere .
Democratic societies need to include citizens in political processes , incorporate high-quality information into decision-making and ensure a baseline of mutual respect .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these ideals , the system as a whole must promote these three basic democratic functions .
In our recent article for Political Research Quarterly , we show how disinformation campaigns attack these functions .
Individual instances of harmful communication can be successfully challenged , but their volume and persistence , and their concerted attacks on institutions and norms that enable productive political discourse , suggest more serious and lasting damage .
Disinformation is communication that intentionally promotes misunderstanding , through lies , misrepresentations , deceptive sourcing or other tactics .
Disinformation campaigns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieve political or economic aims .
Russia has been seen as the primary source of disinformation campaigns in the 2016 election , and Russia and other foreign states continue to target the U.S. , but American partisan elites and citizens are primarily responsible for disinformation in the 2020 election .
While disinformation campaigns may be initiated by a small number of people , they have much greater impact when their claims are amplified by high-profile influencers and ordinary members of the public .
We identify three forms of disinformation that can contribute to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsehood , which is not garden-variety lying so much as an attempt to undermine institutions that typically provide high-quality information or correct false beliefs , such as professional news media and government information agencies .
Russian propagandists , conservative commentators and Trump have consistently attacked the credibility of professional journalists , accused news organizations of spreading “ fake news '' and created actual fake news organizations to push partisan messages .
Social media platforms did little to push back against false information surrounding the 2016 election .
They have tried to do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have come under attack .
The repeated harms of corrosive falsehoods can culminate in what we refer to as “ epistemic cynicism , '' which might lead citizens to distrust accurate sources of information , regularly dismiss claims as the result of partisan commitments , or cease to believe in any shared reality .
The second harm is moral denigration .
Disinformation campaigns regularly make false or misleading claims to vilify individuals or misrepresent their beliefs .
For instance , Trump and his allies have spent months promoting conspiracy theories about Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or intentional misspellings of the hashtag , once social media companies began to try to slow the spread of falsehoods .
More broadly , leading Democrats have been portrayed as supporters of shadowy globalist cabals , violent antifa factions or child-trafficking and pedophilia rings .
Such claims provoke antipathy and disgust , and if believed they justify a total disregard for anything the accused individuals say .
Online campaigns of these types of moral denigration contribute to what we call “ techno-affective polarization . ''
While partisans have become increasingly hostile to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media appear to amplify these tensions .
Despite the fact that Biden received more votes in key states like Arizona and Georgia , as well as in the national popular vote , so-called Stop the Steal campaigns emerged on social media and in various right-wing media outlets .
These disinformation campaigns reflect the same rhetoric as the baseless # BidenCrimeFamily hashtags , wrongly implying that political opponents are so undesirable that they could only win by cheating , which they are willing to do because they are corrupt .
The third harm is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to participate in a democratic process do so at the expense of legitimate participants .
Most obviously , foreign disinformation campaigns achieve this by using fake accounts or bots claiming to be American citizens .
Domestic and foreign agitators have also used fake accounts to pretend to be members of particular groups , such as antifa or Black Lives Matter activists , to misrepresent their views and widen societal divisions .
Unjustified inclusion often leads to unjustified exclusion , such as when the voices of real citizens are drowned out , or when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This , too , is a common strategy of disinformation campaigns .
There have also been widespread , false accusations that anti-racism protesters or victims of gun violence are actually paid actors , or that millions of fake people are voting by mail .
Over time , such allegations can produce a situation of pervasive inauthenticity , when people believe that fake or illegal participation in their democracy is widespread .
While elections and the peaceful transfer of power are seen as the minimal conditions for democracy , it 's becoming increasingly clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is actually fundamental to the proper functioning of elections .
If citizens disbelieve the institutions that count ballots and the organizations that accurately and credibly report on those results , if they see political opponents as unworthy of being heard , if they dismiss the voices and votes of other citizens as fake or illegal , then it will be impossible to agree on what a legitimate election looks like .
Without being able to talk to each other , who gets the most votes may not matter .
Chris Tenove , Postdoctoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of British Columbia and Spencer McKay , Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow , New York University ; Research Associate , University of British Columbia This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

by Chris Tenove, University of British Columbia and Spencer McKay, University of British Columbia
Recent polls have found that 70 per cent of Republican supporters in the United States believe that President Donald Trump was defeated in an unfair or fraudulent election, echoing claims made by both foreign and domestic disinformation campaigns.
Numerous legal challenges by the Trump campaign have been defeated in courts across the country, and rumours about election fraud have been repeatedly debunked. That includes by some journalists on Fox News and Republican state officials, such as Brad Raffensperger, Georgia's Republican secretary of state. But it's apparently not enough for elections to be free from fraud — they must be perceived as such.
Even after Joe Biden takes office, millions of Republican supporters will continue to believe the election was illegitimate. This is not just a problem for a smooth transition to a Biden administration. Rather, it's the latest symptom of a dysfunctional public sphere.
Democratic societies need to include citizens in political processes, incorporate high-quality information into decision-making and ensure a baseline of mutual respect. While any particular political discussion may fall short of these ideals, the system as a whole must promote these three basic democratic functions.
The dangers of disinformation
In our recent article for Political Research Quarterly, we show how disinformation campaigns attack these functions. Individual instances of harmful communication can be successfully challenged, but their volume and persistence, and their concerted attacks on institutions and norms that enable productive political discourse, suggest more serious and lasting damage.
Disinformation is communication that intentionally promotes misunderstanding, through lies, misrepresentations, deceptive sourcing or other tactics. Disinformation campaigns are organized efforts that use disinformation to achieve political or economic aims.
Russia has been seen as the primary source of disinformation campaigns in the 2016 election, and Russia and other foreign states continue to target the U.S., but American partisan elites and citizens are primarily responsible for disinformation in the 2020 election.
While disinformation campaigns may be initiated by a small number of people, they have much greater impact when their claims are amplified by high-profile influencers and ordinary members of the public.
Three harmful forms of disinformation
We identify three forms of disinformation that can contribute to long-lasting harms.
The first is corrosive falsehood, which is not garden-variety lying so much as an attempt to undermine institutions that typically provide high-quality information or correct false beliefs, such as professional news media and government information agencies. Russian propagandists, conservative commentators and Trump have consistently attacked the credibility of professional journalists, accused news organizations of spreading “fake news" and created actual fake news organizations to push partisan messages.
Social media platforms did little to push back against false information surrounding the 2016 election. They have tried to do so this year, and as a result they have come under attack.
The repeated harms of corrosive falsehoods can culminate in what we refer to as “epistemic cynicism," which might lead citizens to distrust accurate sources of information, regularly dismiss claims as the result of partisan commitments, or cease to believe in any shared reality.
The second harm is moral denigration. Disinformation campaigns regularly make false or misleading claims to vilify individuals or misrepresent their beliefs. For instance, Trump and his allies have spent months promoting conspiracy theories about Joe Biden under the #BidenCrimeFamily hashtag — or intentional misspellings of the hashtag, once social media companies began to try to slow the spread of falsehoods.
More broadly, leading Democrats have been portrayed as supporters of shadowy globalist cabals, violent antifa factions or child-trafficking and pedophilia rings. Such claims provoke antipathy and disgust, and if believed they justify a total disregard for anything the accused individuals say.
Online campaigns of these types of moral denigration contribute to what we call “techno-affective polarization." While partisans have become increasingly hostile to their political opponents for some time, social media appear to amplify these tensions.
Despite the fact that Biden received more votes in key states like Arizona and Georgia, as well as in the national popular vote, so-called Stop the Steal campaigns emerged on social media and in various right-wing media outlets.
These disinformation campaigns reflect the same rhetoric as the baseless #BidenCrimeFamily hashtags, wrongly implying that political opponents are so undesirable that they could only win by cheating, which they are willing to do because they are corrupt.
Fake accounts, fake voters
The third harm is unjustified inclusion, when people without rights to participate in a democratic process do so at the expense of legitimate participants.
Most obviously, foreign disinformation campaigns achieve this by using fake accounts or bots claiming to be American citizens. Domestic and foreign agitators have also used fake accounts to pretend to be members of particular groups, such as antifa or Black Lives Matter activists, to misrepresent their views and widen societal divisions.
Unjustified inclusion often leads to unjustified exclusion, such as when the voices of real citizens are drowned out, or when real individuals are labelled as fake. This, too, is a common strategy of disinformation campaigns.
There have also been widespread, false accusations that anti-racism protesters or victims of gun violence are actually paid actors, or that millions of fake people are voting by mail. Over time, such allegations can produce a situation of pervasive inauthenticity, when people believe that fake or illegal participation in their democracy is widespread.
While elections and the peaceful transfer of power are seen as the minimal conditions for democracy, it's becoming increasingly clear that a healthy, knowledgeable public sphere is actually fundamental to the proper functioning of elections.
If citizens disbelieve the institutions that count ballots and the organizations that accurately and credibly report on those results, if they see political opponents as unworthy of being heard, if they dismiss the voices and votes of other citizens as fake or illegal, then it will be impossible to agree on what a legitimate election looks like.
Without being able to talk to each other, who gets the most votes may not matter.
Chris Tenove, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Political Science, University of British Columbia and Spencer McKay, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow, New York University; Research Associate, University of British Columbia
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.