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Kaz Weida

21 Jan, 11 tweets, 5 min read

This #thursdaymorning we're taking a closer look at some of Trump's last-minute directives extending secret service protection to his family and members of his administration.

Can Biden reverse these directives?
(THREAD)

seattletimes.com/nation-world/n…

(2) To be clear, these sorts of extensions are not unprecedented, but presidents in the past such as Bush and Obama have only extended secret service protection to teenage and college-age children, not full-grown adults and their families.

theweek.com/speedreads/962…

(3) The cost to taxpayers for 24-hour protection details for the next six months for such a large group will likely be enormous, especially given the family's lifestyle and extensive travel.

It's estimated theTrumps took 4,500 trips between 2017-2019.

vanityfair.com/news/2021/01/t…

(4) Biden has spent the first 24 hours in office reversing the worst parts of Trump's legacy via executive orders, including many directives. Since Trump's act to extend secret service protection was a directive, couldn't it be just as easily reversed?

cbsnews.com/news/biden-sig…

(5) And the short answer is yes. But there are a few reasons that might surprise you about why we might not want to deny Trump and his family secret service protection for the next six months.

As much as it would be cost taxpayers, it also has benefits.

vox.com/22240926/trump…

(6) It allows the government to keep a close eye on Trump and family, who still have access to national security information.

There are concerns about Trump's allegiance to Russia and other US adversaries and that he might seek to "sell" state secrets.

washingtonpost.com/national-secur…

(7) And in terms of limiting Trump's access and cutting off his presidential benefits, that's more complicated than Twitter pundits make it sound.

Congress would actually have to pass a separate law to revoke Trump's lifetime secret service protection.

statesman.com/story/news/pol…

(8) It's a bitter pill to swallow and one that comes at a terrible cost to taxpayers, but we may have to allow the kleptocracy a few more months of grifting to ensure the greater good.

I don't like it any more than you do.

washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/…

(9) Contrary to what you've seen flying around social media, secret service protection would likely still be extended to Trump even if he lands in jail.

I know it sounds crazy, but there would be some protection afforded Trump even behind bars.

businessinsider.com/secret-service…

(10) Biden is busy working to sweep away the worst of the Trump presidency, but there are some things even he can't clean up.

Trump's likely to leave a bad taste in our mouths for a very very long time.

cfr.org/article/donald…

@tmroy

(END) Thanks to @tmroy for the Thursday thread suggestions. Come back on Tuesday and we'll do this again.

Like threads like this and want to keep them coming? You can support my work here:

paypal.me/kazweida
patreon.com/kazweida

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More from @kazweida

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

19 Jan

As the wheels of justice grind forward and we prepare for Biden to take office, it's worthwhile to get a bird's eye view of the mess we still have to clean up.

Who was responsible for the Capitol Riots and how will we hold them accountable?
Here's what we know so far.
(THREAD)

(2) First off, the arrests have really ramped up in the last few days. More than 100 have been arrested for their role in the Capitol Riots, but there are 200 or more open case files.

Prosecutors have been clear they plan to charge many with felonies.

bbc.com/news/world-us-…

(3) We're getting a clearer picture of the domestic terrorist groups that led the riot, including:

-Proud Boys
-Oathkeepers
-Three Percenters
-QAnon
-NSC-131
-No White Guilt

Prosecutors have already identified about 300 suspects from these groups.

voanews.com/2020-usa-votes…

Read 11 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

20 Dec 20

This #SundayMorning we're asking ourselves...
coup or no coup?
That is the question.

The next 30 days loom before us.
Will Trump's attempts to install himself as a dictator succeed?
(THREAD)
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…

(2) Now that Trump's legal options have run out & the electoral college has voted to cement Biden's victory, Trump's options to overturn a fair election have narrowed.

This week, Flynn floated imposing martial law, the very definition of a military coup.

nymag.com/intelligencer/…

(3) The chances that a military coup could succeed are slim to none, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned.

Recent changes among Pentagon leadership and backtracking on sharing intelligence briefings with Biden suggest something is afoot.

news.yahoo.com/pentagon-offic…

Read 11 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

13 Dec 20

This #SundayMorning we're asking what can be done about House Republicans who signed onto a lawsuit to overturn an election and install Trump as a de facto dictator.

Isn't this sedition? Do Dems have recourse to punish an obvious attempt to undermine the constitution?
(THREAD)

(2) First off, it's been absolutely terrifying to watch a majority of House Republicans sign on to essentially overturn an election and install a dictator. I mean I thought they couldn't surprise me anymore but they succeeded with this seditious nonsense.

news.yahoo.com/here-are-the-r…

(3) The fact that this coup has no support in the senate (for now) is cold comfort. And it brings up an important point.

Are there consequences we can bring to bear against the 126 Republicans who have violated their oath to uphold the constitution?

rollingstone.com/politics/polit…

Read 12 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

10 Dec 20

I had a collection of sweary mugs, but they also come with a story. And who doesn’t love a good story.

It has plenty of holiday cheer. I promise.
(THREAD)

(2) I went to high school in rural New Hampshire and as you might have guessed, I wasn’t exactly the kind of girl who made a lot of friends. I was nerdy. Awkward.

I also wasn’t from around there and if you know anything about New England, that can be a teenage death sentence.

(3) When I left at 17 to go to college, it was a relief and I didn’t really look back. By the time I was emerging from college, the internet and social media was becoming a thing.

I connected on Facebook with a few classmates but I can’t say those friendships were very inspiring

Read 8 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

22 Nov 20

This #SundayMorning , we're starting to get a clear picture of what a post-Trump America looks like. What will happen to Trump's rabid white supremacist fan base?

They're lost in an echo chamber of their own making & increasingly radicalized.
(THREAD)

politico.com/news/2020/11/2…

(2) Supported by right-wing media, the base has taken to shaping their own reality over on Parler and to some extent Facebook, where they are still allowed to promote baseless election fraud conspiracies unchecked.

Twitter however has become ground zero.

onezero.medium.com/twitter-prepar…

(3) While social media grapples with the post-truth world Trump & his base promote, most Senate Republicans have retreated into the most dangerous defense of all. Silence.

Without voices of reassurance from GOP national leadership, panic has ensued.

cbsnews.com/news/senate-re…

Read 12 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

1 Nov 20

This #SundayMorning before #Election2020 , I'm documenting 101 reasons Trump is unfit for the presidency.

Keeping this to 101 was difficult. The ways Trump has assaulted our democracy is a cup constantly overflowing no matter how often we're forced to drink from it.
(THREAD)

(2) The US reputation around the world is in shambles.
Trump has...

-Leaked classified info to Russia
-Ignored a bounty placed on American soldiers
-Engaged in an extortion scheme in Ukraine
-Granted clearances to security risks (Kushner)
-Abandoned our Kurdish allies

(3) Least we forget, Trump has also...

-Sent "love" letters to a murderous dictator
-Shoved the prime minister of Montenegro
-Hung up on the Australian prime minister
-Withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal
-Started trade wars with China that damaged the US economy