Our Weekly Roundtable is back! All are still grappling with the question: how exactly did Trump get elected? Is Russian hacking really the problem, since all the super-powers spy on each other?
The GOP moves to fast track Trump’s cabinet picks beginning on Tuesday, January 10 with the controversial selection for U.S. Attorney General: Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, who is known for racist views and actions. On the confirmation hearing schedule for January 11: Betsy DeVos, an enemy of public education, who has been tapped for Secretary of Education; and Elaine Chao, the wealthy wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Trump’s agenda is obvious, but what about the Democrats? Are Blue Dog Democrats winning the day, or is the Bernie faction of the party having an impact – and if so, how?
Meanwhile, cities and states are pushing back against Trump. Sanders, alongside Governor Cuomo of New York, announced a plan for free tuition for students attending State Universities and the City University of NY (CUNY). No such luck in California, as the UC Board is pushing for tuition increases. But the California legislature has made the unprecedented move to hire former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to push back against Trump’s policies. Are we seeing a flip of the script? States’ rights verus a right wing controlled federal government? It used to be the other way around.
On the global front, from Israel to China, Trump is functioning as though he is already the president – although via Twitter. He is cozying up with Russia. Is this a likely move to undermine China, given that China is now the world’s largest economy? He is also going after Mexico and Japan on the issue of trade and jobs fleeing the U.S. Plus, he is promising to remake the U.S. intelligence networks.
And how effective have been movements for change response thus far to Trump? – From the first post-election protests, the Women’s March on Washington, D.C., to the organized Left’s call to "Resist Fascism,” to the NAACP doing civil disobedience at the office of Obama’s pick for US Attorney General.
