Fascism Watch, January 13

(Posting on the 14th, because my husband strongly recommended I take the night off after my eye began twitching.)

Congress

The House has passed its budget, the second step in the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act.

An estimated 3,000 people per month died from lack of health coverage before the ACA. That's a new 9/11 every month. The GOP voted for this.

— Bob Cesca (@bobcesca_go) January 13, 2017

This figure comes from a Harvard/Cambridge study published in the American Journal of Public Health.

Paul Ryan on Jake Tapper’s show:

So we, obviously, want to have a system where they can get affordable coverage without going bankrupt because they get sick. But, we can do that without destroying the rest of the healthcare system for everybody else.

I’m not sure Paul Ryan understands that everyone gets sick sometimes.

“We offered three times the cost of my treatment—which was rejected. They required an insurance card.” https://t.co/LGhn5aKlSB

— Ethan Marcotte (@beep) January 13, 2017

For those outside the US who might not be aware just how bad our health care system is: VP Joe Biden was going to sell his home to afford his son’s cancer care—until Obama stopped him. Think about that: even the nation’s top leaders cannot afford care.

James Comey, flaming hypocrite, not only refuses to say whether the FBI is investigating Trump’s relationship with Russia in an open session. He won’t even say anything in a classified meeting.

Immediately after that meeting, the Senate Intelligence Committee announced a bipartisan investigation into Russian hacking

Rep. Steve King has introduced a total abortion ban bill, contrary to Roe vs. Wade

Trump

Rep. John Lewis says he doesn’t see Trump “as a legitimate president.”

The Spy Who Wrote the Trump-Russia Memos: It Was “Hair-Raising” Stuff. That’s a strong statement from someone who worked in Russia as long as he did.

Amid Turkey’s media crackdown, Erdogan praises Trump for putting CNN reporter “in his place”

The head of the D.C. National Guard will be removed from post during the inauguration

The New Yorker: “How is it possible, if these intelligence reports are true, to count the 2016 Presidential election as unsullied?”

The @FEC just sent Trump a 250 page letter listing what appear to be illegal campaign contributions. Read it here: https://t.co/oQ1jS9uDIm pic.twitter.com/2t526e2dYi

— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) January 13, 2017

Important note: Most campaigns get a letter asking for clarifications. But they're usually around 15-20 pages. I’ve never seen 250 pages. https://t.co/vu0OCOXWTx

— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) January 13, 2017

If Trump keeps tweeting endorsements of specific companies, he’ll be violating White House policy.

All executive branch employees must refrain from misuse of position, including endorsements. See Dir Shaub's note at https://t.co/kRLCLFeVlB

— U.S. OGE (@OfficeGovEthics) January 13, 2017

Transition Team & Cabinet Appointees

Gen. Mike Flynn, Trump’s national security advisor, has been in touch with the Russian ambassador to the US.

A centuries-old law, the Logan Act, forbids any US citizen acting without official US authority from influencing “disputes or controversies” involving the US and a foreign government.

The December 29 phone call was on the same day that President Barack Obama ordered sanctions on Russia, as well as ordered 35 Russian diplomats and their families to leave the country — but a transition official told CNN that Flynn and Kislyak did not discuss the Russian sanctions.

A sixth Goldman Sachs executive has joined Trump’s White House team

Betsy DeVos omitted a $125,000 anti-union donation from her Senate disclosure form

Ben Carson’s confirmation hearing went pretty much as expected: he’s unqualified, but no one cares. Also, his prepared testimony appeared to be partially plagiarized.