What Fresh Hell is This? Friday’s Open Thread

Pardon Our Mess. Photo by Marty Mankins.

It’s Friday aka WOO HOO…

Unlike my Friday’s in the past, I’m excited about this one, no Trump Tweets to watch for….last week, I was still kind of shocked by Twitter finally holding him accountable for his violating their TOS, but this weekend I’m feeling all WOO HOO…

It is What Fresh Hell is This?, Day 71.

We are inching like snails closer to…

We start what Fresh Hell is This?, Day 70 with a follow-up to a story mentioned on Tuesday.

On Tuesday as mentioned in the What Fresh Hell is This?, Open Thread, we discussed the demotion of Voice of America White House reporter Patsy Widakuswara following her questioning of the Pompous Ass, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Pompous Ass did not answer her questions, which is his choice, however, she has a right to ask him questions.

It was after her questions to Pompous Ass that Deputy Director of VOA, Elizabeth Robbins on late Monday told Widakuswara that she was being reassigned.

On Thursday VOA reported that “Twenty-six journalists have demanded that Voice of America’s director resign after a series of alleged retaliatory measures and firewall violations culminated in the reassignment of one of VOA’s most high-profile reporters.”

The report followed a letter sent by the Government Accountability Project which explained that they represented employees of VOA as whistleblowers and that those whistleblowers wished to remain anonymous at this time.

The letter was posted by Vox White House Reporter Alex Ward saying that Widakuswara had been reassigned again.

On Thursday evening Widakuswara was notified by VOA, that she was under “an administrative investigation,” and that she would be “apprised of the outcome in due course.”

The Government Accountability Project responded to VOA’s letter saying that it is “obvious that this investigation is retaliatory and potentially illegal.”

Also joining the calls for the Director Of VOA Robert Reilly to resign is the incoming Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman and current Ranking Member Senator Bob Menedez (D-NJ).

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Gregory Meeks and Lead Republican Rep. Michael McCaul offered a joint statement on Tuesday demanding answers on the Widakuswara’s demotion.

We were incredibly frustrated to hear the Voice of America White House senior correspondent Patsy Widakuswara was demoted from her position after questioning Secretary Pompeo about last week’s attack on the Capitol. Absent a legitimate reason for this move, which has not been provided, we believe she should be reinstated. This is the United States of America – we do not punish our journalists for seeking answers to their questions. A free and fair press is at the core of our Constitution and our democracy.

foreignaffairs.house.gov. 01/12/2021.

This section is going to focus on Insurrection news. It might seem a bit chaotic, and things, might be placed a tad out of order, but well, in fairness, information is coming at us fast regarding the attack on the Capitol.

Late Thursday or early Friday however you say it, Politico reported that according to Federal prosecutors what happened on January 6th, was a “violent insurrection that attempted to overthrow the United States Government.”

The 18 page document was filed ahead of a bail hearing for Jacob Anthony Chansley aka Jacob Angeli or “Q Shaman”.

Boston Lawyer Andy Piltser-Cowan posted a deep dive into the court filing.

Side-bar, bless Andy for including page numbers…

They alleged that he left Vice President Mike Pence a love-note that read “It’s only a matter of time, justice is coming”.

Page 6 is a what not to do when one decides to attempt to overthrow the government.

I have to pause to just explain how really mind blown I currently am.

👀 🤯 👀

pg. 15.

I really cannot stress enough how hard I recommend you take the time to read the 18 pages of crazy.

The goal, was as we suspected, to overthrow our government in the hopes President Twice Impeached, hopefully, Once Convicted, to remain in power. All because of some batshit insanity driven conspiracy theory run by some internet rando named Q.

In Q Shaman news…

Law & Crime is reporting that attorney Al Watkins who had previously represented Mark and Patricia McCloskey, is now the Shaman’s lawyer. Watkins appeared on CNN Thursday evening and essentially argued that “his client believed he was following the direct orders of the president when he joined other Trump supporters in sieging the Capitol.”.

according to Watkins, the “driving force” behind Chansley’s actions were Trump’s claims about widespread election fraud and directives to be at the Capitol. Watkins said his client “felt like he was answering the call our president.”
“He invited his faithful, those who had been longstanding supporters of him and his cause, those who felt for the first time in their lives that their political voices were being heard,” Watkins argued. “He’s the president. He can go wherever he wants with those that he invites.”

[Watkins believes that Doubled Dipped In Impeachment should]…

Trump needs to stand up and own these people. He owes them – he has an obligation to them. He has an obligation to the nation,” Watkins said.
“And do what?” Cuomo asked.
“Give a pardon, give a pardon,” Watkins replied.

Law & Crime. 01/15/2021.

Speaker of the House Democrat Nancy Pelosi (CA) spoke to reporters Friday morning.

It was announced on Friday that…

I’m sure there is more new news, but I’m gonna stop there. A video feed if I can find one will be provided at the end of the thread for the FBI press event scheduled for 1 p.m. D.C., time.

In the you don’t say news…

When Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced this week that the federal government would begin releasing coronavirus vaccine doses held in reserve for second shots, no such reserve existed, according to state and federal officials briefed on distribution plans. The Trump administration had already begun shipping out what was available beginning at the end of December, taking second doses directly off the manufacturing line.

Because both of the vaccines authorized for emergency use in the United States are two-dose regimens, the Trump administration’s initial policy was to hold back second doses to protect against the possibility of manufacturing disruptions. But that approach shifted in recent weeks, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter. The result is that next week’s allocations will remain flat.

Washington Post. 01/15/2021.

In holy hell news…

The New York Times is reporting that according to an F.B. I. memo sent to the private sector and obtained by the times that “The F.B.I. is investigating 37 people related to the killing of Officer Brian Sicknick, the Capitol Police officer who died after being injured during the pro-Trump riot on Jan. 6”.

I have been unable to find a live stream to the announced Department of Justice press briefing regarding the insurrection from January 6th, 2021.

*shrug*

Maybe it happens, maybe it doesn’t. I don’t know.

This is an Open Thread.

Found a feed.

PBS NewsHour.

About the opinions in this article…

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About Tiff 2521 Articles
Member of the Free Press who is politically homeless and a political junkie.