Robert Daniels on Melvin Van Peebles

Some of these are in a recent box set from the Criterion Collection.

On what would've been Melvin Van Peebles' 90th birthday, I'm appearing on @Variety (my first time!!) to talk about the 10 essential films he either directed, wrote or starred in. https://t.co/lfRdUCAZqb
— Robert Daniels (@812filmreviews) August 21, 2022

GOP scare tactics about IRS funding

The IRS has fallen on hard times because of the Republican unwillingness to fund it. Then the public complains about bad service which just plays into the GOP narrative.

The new funding plan passed entirely by Democrats has come under attack with massive lies and scare tactics by Republicans.

My colleague @MariannaReports has a good report about how the GOP falsehood of "87,000 armed IRS agents" in Biden's bill is gaining traction despite it being totally wrong. …. https://t.co/WRkSqdMmYg
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKessler__) August 18, 2022

You are being lied to. There's no army of 87,000 new IRS agents. It's made up.

The GOP hollowed out the IRS & slashed its budgets. Rich tax cheats run wild, meanwhile you can't even get someone from the IRS on the phone.

We are restoring the agency so it actually works for you.
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) August 10, 2022

"What if I told you the IRS.. the tax guys.. are coming to hunt you down? To shoot you & maybe even kill you?"

Tonight on the @MehdiHasanShow on @MSNBC I did a deep-dive debunking of the GOP's latest boogeyman: '87,000 armed IRS agents coming to get YOU!'pic.twitter.com/vNPADgGAa7
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) August 22, 2022

Gee, you'd think the leaders of these red states that get more back from the federal government than they pay in taxes—hello Iowa!—would be all for more IRS agents:) In fact, the focus is on high net-worth individuals who aren't paying enough in taxes. https://t.co/nXj5M0lQRM
— Richard Stengel (@stengel) August 20, 2022

The IRS does not plan to use the nearly $80 billion it's set to receive in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to hire 87,000 new agents in order to target middle class Americans, a Treasury Department official told @ABC News and documents verify. https://t.co/xeAndw3GzC
— ABC News (@ABC) August 20, 2022

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) publishes an open letter pushing Americans not to apply for new IRS jobs, warning that Republicans hope to take control of Congress and "immediately" eliminate the positions. https://t.co/g6StCWhlYX
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) August 16, 2022

The so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” soon to be signed by President Joe Biden includes funds for a government-operated electronic free-file tax return system, something lawmakers and advocates have been seeking for years. https://t.co/tzyk0yCVjw
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 13, 2022

The IRS is set to get billions for audit enforcement. Here's what it means for taxpayers https://t.co/dxQbOeegd8
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 11, 2022

.@CNN: “Yellen directs IRS not to use new funding to increase chances of audits of Americans making less than $400,000” https://t.co/DfBnypfmhH
— Andrew Bates Archived (@AndrewJBates46) August 11, 2022

There are not 87,000 new IRS agents. This thing that Republicans are saying they will repeal as their first order of business in the majority does not exist. https://t.co/q3Qd1mlIt4 https://t.co/agSxHyfloP
— Julie Davis (@juliehdavis) November 23, 2022

Songs about Joe Louis

Joe Louis, one of the greatest boxers ever, inspired many songs. He isn’t forgotten but I don’t think today that we understand how famous and important he was back then.

I found information on an album and posted the videos below

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Sixty Years of Arhoolie – YouTube video

Wealthy donors influence elections

Citizens United was a terrible Supreme Court decision that opened the door for much more private money to be spent on elections. See the examples below.

Billionaires plunked down more than $82 million to support dozens of GOP Senate candidates, including sizable investments in some of the closest races in the country, a USA TODAY analysis of data provided by OpenSecrets found. https://t.co/CpNzOwXSt2
— USA TODAY Politics (@usatodayDC) October 26, 2022

The Citizens United disaster, in a nutshell:

In 2008, before the ruling, billionaires contributed $31 million to federal campaigns.

In 2020, billionaires contributed $1.2 billion.

That’s a 40-fold increase.

It never had to be like this.
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) August 14, 2022

Conservative political activist Leonard Leo's group has received the largest dark money donation ever reported: $1.6 billion.

Leo has been referred to as Donald Trump's "Supreme Court whisperer" and was influential in the confirmation of all three justices Trump nominated. pic.twitter.com/DQRyzHUj9p
— The Recount (@therecount) August 22, 2022

Leonard Leo, former head of the “nonpartisan” Federalist Society, got a rich Republican donor to give him the proceeds of a $1.6 billion corporate transaction to spend as dark money—structuring the sale so neither party pays taxes on the proceeds. https://t.co/AeS7aeCcLA pic.twitter.com/IsOzrwU1Ni
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) August 22, 2022

Along with the Flynn brothers, Byrne launched a project he calls “Operation Eagles Wings” earlier this year during a CPAC conference in Florida. The effort will target nine swing states: AZ, FL, GA, IL, MI PA, TX, VA and WI.https://t.co/xGCVaaMS55
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) July 29, 2022

Philly billionaire TikTok backer Jeff Yass had spurned Mastriano's PA gov campaign. Now he's putting big $ behind the GOP candidate:https://t.co/MJ06CClTB1 @propublica recently revealed how Yass gamed the tax system to shield his $$ from the IRS:https://t.co/sIRG9UiHtt
— chris morran (@themorrancave) July 28, 2022

Ahead of Arizona's August 2 primary, Thiel has spent millions bankrolling Saving Arizona, a super PAC backing Blake Masters, a Republican candidate for Senate. https://t.co/lRTOKRb8T2
— OpenSecrets.org (@OpenSecretsDC) July 27, 2022

A wealthy space entrepreneur who has spent his fortune exploring the cosmos and once said aliens are already on Earth "right under people's noses" is now the largest donor to the political operation of Florida Gov. Ron Desantis this election cycle https://t.co/vvc62qPFhs
— CNN (@CNN) July 15, 2022

"Former associates said the billionaires are focused on education issues, and their goal is to replace public education with Christian schooling.

"Wilks is a pastor at the church his father founded, and Dunn preaches at the church his family attends."
1/2 https://t.co/kLdfV1K6J3
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) July 25, 2022

The fight that’s coming:

democracy v. monarchy
true freedom v. white male freedom
broad populism v. billionaire enabling populism https://t.co/yqd0jXScIw
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) July 24, 2022

The Republican Attorneys General Association is hosting a retreat for its corporate donors at a luxury resort, celebrating their victory in getting Roe overturned.

RSVP’d to attend include Comcast, General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, Lowe’s and Walmart.https://t.co/ekgpsTFWff
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) July 14, 2022

The number of Jan 6 participants that have fossil fuel links is very high.

Almost like the fossil fuel industry is helping Trump's coup & waging war on democracy itself.

The GOP donors funding a Seditious Conspiracy:

Koch. Griffin. Uihlein. Schwarzman. Ellison. Thiel. Putin. pic.twitter.com/BwgVdqBhOr
— Nicole Parsons (@npars01) July 21, 2022

Significant funding backed both sides in Trump’s effort to punish Georgia state officials who stood up to him, and relied on money originally provided by donors who remain secret.https://t.co/d026AAyHQ0
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) July 15, 2022

Two of the biggest political donors in Texas have used their fortunes to push the state further to the right. https://t.co/i7Fg088XAL
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 24, 2022

Update on Biden judges

With Senate roll calls finished until November, worth noting that @POTUS has won confirmation of a HISTORIC total of 84 judicial nominations already…

… including more black women on the Court of Appeals than all 45 prior Presidents COMBINED
— Ronald Klain (@WHCOS) September 29, 2022

BREAKING: With Arianna Freeman’s confirmation to the 3rd Circuit, the Senate has now confirmed eight Black women to serve on federal circuit courts during @POTUS’s presidency.

Before last year, only eight Black women had EVER served at this level of the judiciary.

This matters.
— The Leadership Conference (@civilrightsorg) September 29, 2022

President Biden has won Senate confirmation for more than 80 of his nominees to be federal judges — a breakneck speed that outpaces Trump at this juncture of his presidency. https://t.co/5R0GsU6okL
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 26, 2022

Senate Dems are looking to ramp up judicial confirmations this fall, with most of their top legislative priorities done and control of the Senate a toss-up

Warren, who spoke to Durbin before the recess:"Democrats really need to step up on judges" https://t.co/KUXtgTnGsh
— Marianne LeVine (@marianne_levine) August 22, 2022

Biden has appointed more federal judges than any president since JFK at this point in his tenure (Pew)https://t.co/QEbwcRuRXi pic.twitter.com/MODPtn5U7s
— Bruce Mehlman (@bpmehlman) August 13, 2022

More historic judicial noms from @POTUS.

One metric: in the 232 years before @JoeBiden took office, a total of 8 Black women EVER served on the US Appeals Courts.

Today, @POTUS named his 13th Black female nominee to the Court of Appeals (in 19 mo's). https://t.co/1cFb5KG2UM
— Ronald Klain (@WHCOS) August 9, 2022

The Pet Rock

The Pet Rock was a toy from 1975. It was just a rock you were supposed to treat like a pet. Over a million were sold!

if you need me I will be reading the 1975 official pet rock care guide pic.twitter.com/xBh1iv3MFd
— Annie? Rauwerda? (@anniierau) August 21, 2022

More on floods

Flash floods struck the Dallas area overnight into Monday, sparking rescue efforts as roads flooded and abandoned cars floated away in spectacular footage shared on social media.https://t.co/Kt1Bz9QzoE
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 22, 2022

About 200 people were rescued from Carlsbad Caverns National Park late Saturday night after being trapped for several hours amid heavy flooding, according to New Mexico officials. https://t.co/ku6JAhot2p
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 22, 2022

This story about NYC rejecting flooding claims is important. https://t.co/OqnmcnfNzK
— Philip Bump (@pbump) August 18, 2022

Up to five inches of rain fell in two counties in West Virginia, knocking out power, promoting scores of rescue calls and destroying at least two bridges. https://t.co/VMMHpdwz0f
— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 15, 2022

We urgently need to expand on current countermeasures against flooding and pioneer new ones, @MickiMaynard writes. https://t.co/vE7PqG1gDp
— Washington Post Opinions (@PostOpinions) August 14, 2022

In California, where earthquakes, droughts and wildfires have shaped life for generations, the threat of another kind of calamity is growing: a superstorm that, because of climate change, could be worse than any in living memory. https://t.co/hYBdSvrke6 pic.twitter.com/VQ8Dz4bs33
— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 14, 2022

An overnight storm flooded parts of the famed Las Vegas strip for the second time in two weeks. The city is experiencing its heaviest rainfall in a decade.https://t.co/UibkjSsFqh
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 13, 2022

"Megadrought" may be the main weather concern across the West right now amid the constant threat of wildfires and earthquakes.

But a new study warns another crisis is looming in California: "Megafloods."https://t.co/NjrYQyZOMW
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 12, 2022

The summer of flooding never seems to end, @MickiMaynard writes. Here’s how some places fight back: https://t.co/QtCUcRaRO4
— Washington Post Opinions (@PostOpinions) August 10, 2022

#BREAKING: Flash flood reports coming in across the Washington, DC area as storm dumps up to three inches of rain. #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/BQIOxlOLPJ
— Breaking 4 News (@Breaking_4_News) August 10, 2022

Seoul's heaviest rain in 80 years flooded the city's streets, turning roads into car-clogged rivers, damaging more than 800 buildings and sending floods cascading into subway stations.https://t.co/edTw7pEK4j
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 10, 2022

FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for Jackson, Flowood and Brandon, Mississippi. 6-10 inches of rain has already fallen and more is on the way.

Flooding is ongoing! Do not drive through flooded roadways. pic.twitter.com/tPvtdCGLmx
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) August 24, 2022

Heavy rain and flooding wreaked havoc in central and southern Mississippi on Wednesday, closing roads and schools and prompting a rescue at an assisted-living facility. https://t.co/jxKzv0JRn4
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 25, 2022

Indict Trump if he’s guilty. Don’t worry about what his cult thinks.

If Trump is guilty (which I believe he is), he should be indicted.

I am not worried about dividing the country. We’re already there.

I am not worried about what they would do to Biden if they win the House. They would do it anyway even if Trump wasn’t indicted. I haven’t forgotten the impeachment of Bill Clinton (which was excessive for what he did) or the “Lock Her Up” chants. They have shown they don’t care about polarizing the country by their past actions.

I don’t expect the Trump cult to revert back to normal if Trump isn’t indicted. Trump will still be angry. They’ll still be angry. Trump escaped indictment for obstructing the Russia probe and he’s still angry.

It sets a terrible precedent if he isn’t indicted if it’s appropriate – nobody is above the law.

Totally disagree. Do you think Republicans would ever pardon a Democratic president? They wanted to lock Hillary Clinton up, impeached Bill Clinton, and will inpeach Biden if they take the house. If Trump is guilty, he should pay the price.
— Harris Levy (@HarrisL585) August 22, 2022

Republicans don’t care about dividing the country – for example, how they handled the Garland SC nomination and the insurrection. Their Supreme Court majority didn’t care when they overturned Roe.
— Harris Levy (@HarrisL585) August 22, 2022

There’s an article making the rounds today saying the only way to deal with trump is to let him off scot-free or else republicans will be angry and violent.

What a load of bull. If we fail to hold trump accountable *that’s* what will invite republican violence and fascism.
— Bill Pascrell, Jr. 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@BillPascrell) August 22, 2022

Trump and his movement cannot be permitted to set the price of social peace — and preservation of the rule of law itself — at a grant of absolute impunity for Trump. https://t.co/Czu91izJ6b https://t.co/aRoCFT2YHi
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) August 22, 2022

The Orioles lost 30-3 on 8/22/07

The Orioles set a modern record for runs allowed. I watched this one on TV in a bar and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The Orioles actually had a 3-0 lead. It was the first game of a doubleheader and the Orioles gave up nine more runs in the second game.

Ten years ago today…#Orioles pic.twitter.com/Byid2knWVE
— Baltimore Sun Sports (@BaltSunSports) August 22, 2017

The Texas Rangers set the American League record for runs scored in a single game when they dropped a 30 spot on the Orioles in 2007 pic.twitter.com/EqNRoDEW5Y
— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) June 15, 2020

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15 years ago today the Orioles had a 3-0 lead vs the Rangers. Texas would go on to score 30 unanswered and win 30-3. There was also a save in the game. pic.twitter.com/uGOKyELoNr
— Starting 9 (@Starting9) August 22, 2022