The Accidental Anchor

In this special comment, James discusses how the Democrats, on some issues, especially the debt limit, and Jan 6th prosecutions, are not showing the urgency that they should. First, how do you work with people on the GOP side that literally stood by while a mob wanted to murder the former Vice President, Mike Pence? Second, how do you work with people who (on January 5th) were planning in advance or who knew about what would happen on the 6th? People in power who face no consequences will be emboldened to question every election.

I know President Biden wants to work with Republicans in a bipartisan way. I get it. But the GOP of the Trump era is very different than 40 years ago. Trump is encouraging the GOP conference to allow default on his Truth Social page. After June 1, if the US defaults, the country will be in a recession and globally the US dollar will be weaker.

Senator Sanders had a point on the importance of health care being separate from someone's job; we lost a lot of jobs at the beginning of the pandemic. Although Congress helped out with the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan, it should not take a once in a century pandemic to start treating the average person humanely.

On Thursday, March 27, 2023, former President Donald John Trump, a candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination, was indicted by a grand jury in Manhattan. Although some details are sealed, and will be unsealed on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, he appears to have been indicted because of his hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. These payments were disguised as retainer fees to President Trump's onetime lawyer and personal attorney Michael Cohen. Cohen pleaded guilty and served time in prison for similar crimes, including 51 days in solitary confinement in Otisville, NY. Cohen now has his own podcast Mea Culpa, which can be heard anywhere you get your podcasts.

James discusses the implications of the indictment of a now-former President, the role that President Ford took in pardoning President Nixon during the Watergate scandal, and what this means for the Democrats and the country.

Who Ya Got? I got the Chiefs and the Baby Greatest of All Time, Patrick Mahomes, besting the original Greatest of All Time, Thomas Patrick Brady Jr, in Super Bowl 55, 30-27. This week starts former President Trump's second impeachment trial in the US Senate, even though Senate Republicans have signaled they're going to acquit him anyway. Senator Lindsey Graham says that "I'm ready to move on" and that "President Trump remains the most popular figure in the Republican party but he will have his own place in history for the Jan. 6 riots." I have something to say about that. Then I'll talk about my walk to the fortified Capitol complex yesterday, 4 weeks after the attacks. Of course we're going to talk about the latest coronavirus statistics from Johns Hopkins University; RIP Shawn Fisher; and more on the latest round of stimulus checks. Thanks for tuning in 

Former President Trump's trial to start on Feb. 9th; The New York Times reports that President Trump is alleged to have wanted to replace the acting AG with someone sympathetic to his claims of voter fraud in GA so they could decertify Biden's win;  a special comment on his supporters "following orders" from President Trump on January 6th; Retired 4-star general Lloyd Austin has been confirmed as the 28th Secretary of Defense, the first African-American to hold the position; Biden's Treasury Department has not yet decided to turn over Trump's tax returns to House Democrats; Rep. McCarthy has "concerns" with Rep. Cheney's impeachment vote; Plus the latest coronavirus statistics from Johns Hopkins University. 

Federal watchdogs have launched an investigation into the Capitol attack; The Trumps are moving!!!; Biden to unveil a massive vaccine program; Extremists, under scrutiny, are heading to the dark corners of the Web; Trump will submit two batches of pardons, one tonight, and one on Wednesday before President elect Biden is inaugurated; Trump is said to weigh pardoning former cheif White House strategist Steve Bannon, who is scheduled to stand trial in May over a failed crowdfunding scheme called "Build the Wall." Plus the latest coronavirus statistics from Johns Hopkins University. 

In this episode:

People on FBI watch list may be on the Capitol attack;

10 brave Republicans voted to impeach President Trump; 

Ali Alexander says that Reps Mo Brooks, Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs may have "planned something big on the Capitol"

Latest statistics on Coronavirus from Johns Hopkins University;

Women on Bumble dating app assist FBI in arresting folks from Capitol attack.

House Democrats to introduce article of impeachment against President Trump Wednesday morning; Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf resigns, the third Cabinet Secretary to do so; 2 Capitol Police Officers have been suspended and 10-15 are under investigation for their role in the Capitol insurrection on Wednesday; New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick declines to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Trump; GOP lawmaker Mary Miller apologizes for invoking Hitler at a January 5th rally, "Moms Save the Republic;" US Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman saved lives by leading a mob away from Senate chambers; and distinguished pols of the week: GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger and Gabriel Sterling. Plus, the latest coronavirus statistics from Johns Hopkins University. Thanks for tuning in. 

Democrats have drafted a single article of impeachment called "incitement for insurrection" against President Trump; Continued fallout from the Capitol insurrection on Wednesday; Lawmakers were exposed to COVID while at the Capitol on Wednesday, and several Members of Congress did not wear masks; Meet William Belknap, Secretary of War in the Grant Administration. He was impeached by the House and put on trial in 1876 after he resigned; A second Capitol Police Officer has passed this week; What do we do about the lawmakers who supported Trump's lie about a false election and the coronavirus rages on. Thanks for tuning in.

After four days, former Vice President Joe Biden is declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election. Biden has more than 74.5 million votes, the highest in US history. Senator Kamala Harris of California is the first Black and Indian-American to serve as Vice President. In a speech this evening, Biden called for unity and a time to heal this country. He pledged to work as hard for those who didn't support him as those who did. President Donald Trump has vowed to continue legal challenges, and at least one state, GA, will involve a recount. We'll talk about the latest coronavirus cases from Johns Hopkins University; White House Cheif of Staff Mark Meadows and 4 aides tested positive for coronavirus. Thanks for tuning in. 

I was pleased to have a discussion with Casey Sparks, longtime friend from DC, volunteer, political junkie, on some of the important issues facing our country. We talked about climate change, the campaign season going on, and the quest for racial justice this summer. All opinions are his own and do not reflect his current employer. I hope you enjoy the discussion. 

In this episode, we will talk about COV19 with Emily Wharton, who is an emergency room nurse in Richmond, VA. We also will discuss the latest coronavirus statistics from Johns Hopkins University; Kanye West ruled inelligible in five states; USPS CEO Louis DeJoy testifies on Capitol Hill about the changes to election mail; and Joe Biden formally accepts the Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States. Thanks for tuning in. 

A special message for my father. 

TikTok to sue Trump Administration following executive order to ban company in US after 45 days; still no deal on second stimulus package; Trump says he will issue Executive Orders on student loans, unemployment insurance and more; GA teen's suspension has been overturned after she posted photos and a video of students that were maskless in the hallway; latest coronavirus statistics from Johns Hopkins University. Thanks for tuning in.

In this episode, I will discuss my experience with COVID which I'm going through right now. I am an asymptomatic carrier. Learn from my experience. We will also talk about the latest statistics from Johns Hopkins University and some news from around the country, assuming my computer decides to work. 

US Rep. John Lewis, veteran of the Civil Rights movement, dies at 80; Trump cancels Jacksonville rally; Federal judge denies Oregon's request to stop Federal agents in Portland. Plus, the latest statistics from the corona virus map from Johns Hopkins University; Michael Cohen, President Trump's former personal attorney is released from prison after two weeks in solitary confinement; and finally a special comment on being complacent. Vice President Biden hasn't won anything yet, even though he's leading big in the polls right now. Thanks for tuning in.

In this episode, I will do a reading of abolitionist Fredick Douglass' Speech, "What Does the 4th of July mean to a Negro?" Let's contrast that with President Trump's remarks in Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, on land the US Supreme Court acknowledged in 1980 was promised to the Sioux Indians and then stolen from them by the US Government. We are also going to talk about how far the Commonwealth of Virginia has come since 1861 when it seceded, and Richmond was the Capital of the Confederacy. We're still dealing with a worldwide pandemic, and 11 states including Florida have shattered daily records; we'll talk about that. MD is debating options for November's election. And the Trump administration is supposed to release data, maybe, next week on the Paycheck Protection Program, which helps small businesses dealing with COVID-19. We will see if they come through. Stay safe everyone.
 

What did the President know about Russian "bounties" paid by Russia, to target, and kill, US and coalition forces in Afghanistan? I have a special comment on this topic along with the latest reporting from the Associated Press about it. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Taliban's spokesman, but we don't know whether this topic was mentioned in their conference, either.  We also have the latest coronavirus cases from Johns Hopkins University; and the Supreme Court, with Chief Justice John Roberts, invalidates a La. law which attempted to restrict abortion access.  Using stare decisis (let the decision stand) - Roberts put his own personal opinions about abortion aside here. It's been quite a week for him. Thanks for tuning in. 

Center for Disease Control (CDC) Director Robert Redfield, says that the total number of COVID-19 cases could be 10 times higher than reported - over 23 million - because for every positive case, there are 10 people with known antibodies; a Special Comment on the coronavirus cases in prisons and jails; Fox reports that federal funding is ending on June 13th for 13 testing sites - which includes Texas - and they are seeing a record high number of cases. The IRS gave $1.4 billion in coronavirus assistance to dead people. And finally, the latest coronavirus numbers from Johns Hopkins University. Thanks for tuning in. 

In this episode, the Manhattan US Attorney Geoffery Bauman refuses to step down, even though US AG William Barr thanks Bauman in a statement, and Trump appears to want to nominate SEC Chair Jay Clayton to the post; Supreme Court rules 5-4 that the Government violated the Administrative Procedures Act on winding down the DACA program; a special comment on John Bolton and his new book, "The Room Where It Happened" - and a short history lesson on Jefferson Davis. Also, we have the latest statistics on coronavirus from Johns Hopkins University. Thanks for tuning in. 

The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, says that firing individuals for being gay or transgender violates the Civil Rights Act, with Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Trump appointee, writing the majority opinion; SCOTUS also denied petitions for hearing cases on the Second Amendment or reconsidering "qualified immunity," the FDA pulls its emergency authorization of hydrocloriquine, so President Trump, if you're still taking the drug, please don't because scientists are saying there are more risks than benefits to COV-19 patients. We will have the latest coronavirus statistics from Johns Hopkins University - over 8 million cases and counting worldwide. Finally, a special comment on the shooting of Rashad Brooks in Atlanta. Thanks for tuning in.