Hierarchical President Addresses Group Who Work Against LGBT Rights

President Trump will be the first sitting president to address the Family Research Council’s Values Voter Summit, which the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) described as a “rogues' gallery of the radical right.

SPLC President Richard Cohen told The Independent, “By appearing at the Values Voter Summit, President Trump is lending the legitimacy of his office to a hate group that relentlessly demonizes LGBTQ people and works to deny them of their equal rights.” Trump is speaking at a rally of glorified hate speech.

“Family Research Council believes that homosexual conduct is harmful to the persons who engage in it and to society at large, and can never be affirmed. It is by definition unnatural, and as such is associated with negative physical and psychological health effects.”


https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-speak-anti-lgbt-hate-groups-annual-event-first-president-683927?fbclid=IwAR0-_ry_oioAE6v8g_ogKkLRWSVP1tBfhoDdRVckTD_mOc3GQtG-RzkMEIw

Taylor Swift Breaks Political Silence

Today Taylor Swift broke her career-long silence on politics to state that the record of the Republican Marsha Blackburn "appalls and terrifies" her. She instead endorsed former Democratic Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen in their race for the U.S. Senate.

“I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country,” Swift wrote. “I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.”

One can only speculate if the recent Kavanaugh hearings and confirmation influenced Swift, because of her highly publicized 2017 case of sexual assault against her.

https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/410338-taylor-swift-breaks-silence-on-politics-supports-democrats-in

Republicans - Maintaining their Hierarchies are their Highest Priority

With their actions around the Kavanaugh hearings, Republicans have given us a very clear view of hierarchical moves we can expect from top groups in power. Here are a few from the list of 40 on pages 14-17 on the book Everybody Jump Together you can download for free from this website.

- Push back when someone tries to hold them accountable. As accountability comes closer to the top, they will respond with ever-increasingly drastic measures.
- See themselves as unfairly attacked when labeled with typical top attitudes and behaviors such as bigots, misogynists, fascists, homophobes, etc. 
-  Require lower groups to release their resources and decision-making rights to the top.
- Use lies, deceptions, misconceptions, ridicule, and rationalizations to justify thier isolated, selfish, or clueless opinions and actions.
- Think they have a choice whether or not to deal with, or listen to, lower groups.
- Describe their stance as merely another point of view,when it is  much more - a mechanism to build hierarchies that benefit themselves.

Nikki Haley Spent $50,000 of Tax Money on Curtains when State Department Cutting Budgets

According to the New York Times, new curtains installed in Nikki Haley's apartment, last year in the cost tax payers more than $50,000 at a time when the State Department was facing budget cuts and a hiring freeze.

Nikki Haley is Trump's ambassador to the UN and who just led the US efforts to withdraw from the Human Rights Council.

Obviously, if you are on top, the sky and its view from your windows is the limit.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/406659-state-dept-spent-more-than-52k-on-nikki-haleys-apartment-curtains

Googled-Eyed Bus in Copenhagen Urges Americans Abroad to Vote

Use the link below to look at a city bus moving around Copenhagen urging Americans living abroad to vote. On the side of the bus is a picture of Trump, with his eyes turning non-uniformly with the wheels.

https://www.facebook.com/yupthatexists/videos/227675701248033/UzpfSTEwMDAwNDAzMDE0MjA0NzoyMjE0NzI4NDEyMDc0MDI2/

Many Right-Wing Fans Not Happy with Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson is infuriating many of his fans by agreeing to headline a concert for Beto O'Rourke, the opponent of Ted Cruz in the US Senate race in Texas.

Cruz, who has the support of Donald Trump, has flip-flopped in his opinion of Trump, even after being the target of Trump's lies and disdain. But when you, like Cruz, want to stay on top of a hierarchy in the Republican party that grows and supports hierarchies, anything goes to stay on top.
 
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/willie-nelson-beto-orourke_us_5b9a8c51e4b01151973bbe0f

If the UN Criticizes, Then Leave

The Trump Administration, led in this case by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Hale, has announced that the United States is withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council. Haley had told members that they must stop singling out Israel for condemnation and must clean up their roster including Venezuela, China, and Saudi Arabia.

Richard Gowan, a fellow at New York University's Center on International Cooperation, told NPR's Michele Kelemen that there is another potential issue muddying the waters of this decision: the recent condemnations leveled at the Trump administration's immigration policies by international human-rights officials.

"I don't think [Tuesday's withdrawal] is linked to Prince Zeid's criticism of U.S. immigration policies," Gowan acknowledged, explaining that the high commissioner is technically separate from the council. But, Gowan added, "The timing looks just awful for Nikki Haley and Secretary Pompeo."

Worse thing to do to people who consider themselves on top of the world hierarchy - criticize them. Not acceptable from lower groups.

https://www.npr.org/2018/06/19/621435225/u-s-announces-its-withdrawal-from-u-n-s-human-rights-council?utm_campaign=storyshare