PBC News & Comment: Serial Adulterer Panders to Christian Right

Amid reports of affair with porn actress, Trump exploits Christianists with strong support for anti-abortionists, announces new religious exemption office….--wrenching testimony in Michigan at sentencing hearing for former doctor to gymnastics teams, Larry Nassar
--bipartisan bill in Congress seeks to end protection for harassers and expand support for victims of Congress members and staff
--my union, SAG-AFTRA, is accused of inaction on complaints of sex harassment and assault to actors who aren’t big stars
--The Guardian reports that UN officials accused of sex crimes remain in place, while victims are fired and ignored
--Beltway showdown over possible government shutdown produces confusion, dirty deals, and blame game, and Trump makes it all worse
--Republicans, who ignored CHIP insurance program for kids since September, are suddenly now their champions and guardians
--House version of spending bill changes law to let TrumpCo secretly shift intelligence funding, and not report it to Congress
--meet the valve turners, who face prison time for shutting down major oil pipelines in 2016
--John Kelly, the chief of staff supposed to end White House chaos, tells Congress that Trump has “evolved” on The Wall, followed by tweets of contradiction
--sanctuary cities and states brace for rumored ICE sweeps, and California senators challenge threat to charge elected leaders with federal crimes
--at Shadowproof, Kevin Gosztola reports that at least 10 prominent immigrant rights activists are facing deportation
--Trump’s “fake news awards” are really stupid, but do underscore media’s failures that enable his ongoing assault on media credibility
-new Gallup polls shows that confidence in US leadership is at all-time low
--Steve Bannon’s refusal to answer questions at House Intel session was directed from the White House, relayed by lawyer with client conflict
--Trump and Congress treat Puerto Rico like welfare client, imposing means testing for release of disaster loan money
--nuke power India successfully tests ballistic missile….will US and UN impose sanctions