Trump's Alleged Secret Child (!?), Unsealed Indictment, Chicago Election, AOC Responds, Hope for Undocumented CA Farmworkers, Flint Water Crisis Settlement Delayed, GM Workers Take Buyouts
Plus, Eric and Donald Trump Jr. going after judge's daughter, Actors' Equity authorizes strike, Jamaal Bowman chases MTG out of NYC, More!
Happy Trump arrest day, I guess! Lots of important stories today, including NON-TRUMP stories, stories about the PEOPLE. Help me report - I rely 100% on reader funding – unbought, unbothered, and fearless!
Donald Trump has been arrested. People thought this day would never come, though many worked to help ensure it would. Everyone has a take, of course, and even some commentators on CNN are saying that the newly-unsealed indictment document is relatively thin, which Trump’s team can use to spin in his favor. Here’s the link to the documents so you can have your own take.
A very interesting allegation in the document: A $30,000 payment to a doorman who (allegedly) had information about a secret child of Trump’s. The documents read: “the AMI CEO learned that a former Trump Tower doorman (the “Doorman”) was trying to sell information regarding a child that the Defendant had allegedly fathered out of wedlock. At the AMI CEO’s direction, AMI negotiated and signed an agreement to pay the Doorman $30,000 to acquire exclusive rights to the story. AMI falsely characterized this payment in AMI’s books and records, including in its general ledger. AMI purchased the information from the Doorman without fully investigating his claims, but the AMI CEO directed that the deal take place because of his agreement with the Defendant and Lawyer A…When AMI later concluded that the story was not true, the AMI CEO wanted to release the Doorman from the agreement. However, Lawyer A instructed the AMI CEO not to release the Doorman until after the presidential election, and the AMI CEO complied with that instruction because of his agreement with the Defendant and Lawyer A.
The next in-person hearing date for Trump is not until December 4th. This is concerning to me because we have an election coming, and that is REALLY far away.
Coordinated campaign started for spin - Both of Trump’s adult sons posting on socials about the judge’s daughter, complete with her picture. She needs to be kept safe from extremists.
Chicago! It’s a busy day, but get out and vote for Brandon Johnson, who has been endorsed by Bernie Sanders and has a progressive platform for the people. Polls are open until 7 pm.
Yesterday I wrote that right-wing ghouls like Matt Walsh, Jack Posobiec, Ian Miles Cheong, and Marjorie Taylor Greene were spreading a baseless theory that AOC had a burner Twitter account she was using to make death threats. They’ve continued on today. It was extremely easy to tell it was not AOC, but they don’t care because it suits the narrative. AOC responded today, saying, “No, it’s not, I don’t do burners and I would never address someone in this fashion. As someone subject to a torrent of violent, defamatory rhetoric and the stalking and real-life death threats that accompany it, I would never condone it either.”
Undocumented California farmworkers would get a path to state residency under a new proposal. “On Monday, Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Merced, introduced Senate Bill 831 — the Agricultural Worker Permanent Residency Program. The bill would authorize the California governor to work with the federal government to establish a pilot program allowing agricultural workers to start a process toward legal status.”
Claims review process delayed in #Flintwatercrisis settlement (which is already nowhere near enough!)
Actors’ Equity National Council authorizes strike if tour deal cannot be met. “The union, which represents over 51,000 professional theater actors and stage managers, has been in bargaining sessions for the past two months regarding a new touring agreement. The current contract expired on February 5 and union members have been working according to terms of the out-of-date contract.”
@JamaalBowmanNY telling Marjorie Taylor Greene at Trump protest she is not welcome under any circumstances. "I'm Congressman Jamaal Bowman, I was born and raised in New York City," he continued. "This is the city that I love. This is a city focused on hard work and love for all people. We will never accept hateful rhetoric in our city. Any rhetoric that is divisive, and rhetoric that uplifts white supremacy, we are pushing back against that in all its forms…Marjorie Taylor Greene needs to take her a** back to Washington and do something about gun violence!"
About 5K GM salaried workers take buyouts, avoiding layoffs: “GM's statement didn't completely rule out layoffs in the future, though, saying that ‘involuntary separations are not a consideration at this point’…U.S. salaried workers are being offered one month of pay for every year of service, up to 12 months. They’ll also get COBRA health care and part of the bonuses they would receive this year.” (Hmmm)
Lots more to come! Comment below, subscribe (free) if you haven’t already, and if you’re able, join as a sustaining member to help fund my investigative reporting (and get bonus perks!).