Sen. Cory Booker: "This is what we are talking about tonight, him taking an institution of the arts named after a slain president, paid for by taxpayers. He's trying to hold it hostage until he gets his name on it."
Garcia: So, to be clear, we have a president that is $2 billion richer just from this last year. We have a son whose wedding is being paid for by rich Russians and oligarchs that have connections to Putin. We have Jared Kushner, who got $2 billion for his investment firm from the Saudis while also doing diplomacy in the Middle East.
We have the Kushners who are trying to buy private islands and selling all sorts of merchandise that’s being promoted, oftentimes through government resources. We also have, of course, this insane amount of stock trading that the president himself is doing to enrich himself and his family.
And, of course, the sons sitting on boards of private companies that are then getting contracts from the federal government. The amount of corruption is unprecedented. And not only are they lining their pockets, they’re stealing the wealth of hardworking Americans, they’re stealing the hard-earned labor and wealth of working-class people, and then funneling that money to themselves and to the rich donors and large corporations and CEOs across this country.
As they get richer, costs go up for the American people. And we know that Republicans in the House and in the Senate are complicit by not calling out this corruption.
I reread this every year.
I cry like a baby every year.
Todd Beamer died a father, husband, and hero.
Todd: Hello… Operator… listen to me. I can’t speak very loud. This is an emergency. I’m a passenger on a United flight to San Francisco. Our plane has been hijacked.
Lisa: I understand. Can they see you?
Todd: No. There are three that we know of. They have knives — razor knives, like box cutters. Someone announced from the cockpit there was a bomb. It sounded fake.
Lisa: Your name?Todd: Todd Beamer. United Flight 93.Todd: They killed one passenger in first class. They forced most of us back. Fourteen of us here. Five flight attendants. The guy with the bomb ordered us to sit on the floor.
Lisa: Are you okay?
Todd: We’re going down… wait. No. We’re leveling off. We changed directions. We’re flying east again.
Todd: A guy named Jeremy called his wife. She told him two planes hit the World Trade Center. Lisa, is that true?
Lisa: I have to tell you the truth. It’s very bad. Both towers are gone. A third plane hit the Pentagon. Our country is under attack. I’m afraid your plane may be part of their plan.
Todd: Oh God. Lisa, will you do something for me? Call my wife and my kids. Promise me you’ll call.
Lisa: I promise.
Todd: Our home number is… You have the same name as my wife. Lisa. We’ve been married ten years. She’s pregnant with our third child. Tell her I love her. I’ll always love her. We have two boys — David, he’s 3, and Andrew, he’s 1. Tell them their daddy loves them and he is so proud of them. The baby is due January 12th. I saw an ultrasound. We still don’t know if it’s a girl or a boy.
Lisa: I’ll tell them. I promise, Todd.(Lisa patches in the FBI.)
Agent: Todd, your plane is on a course for Washington. Best guess is the White House or the Capitol.
Todd: I understand. I’ll be back.
Todd: Everyone knows this isn’t a normal hijacking. We have decided we will not be pawns in their plot.
Lisa: What are you going to do?
Todd: Four of us are going to rush the one with the bomb. Then the cockpit. A stewardess is getting boiling water. We’ll take them out.
Todd: Would you pray with me?They pray the Lord’s Prayer. Then: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
Todd: God help me. Jesus help me.Are you guys ready? Let’s Roll.
Almost 25 years on from September 11, 2001, a drone display using 2,977 drones has recreated the Twin Towers, each representing a life lost in the attacks.
Read more about the history of 9/11: https://t.co/aXosbHA2rL
Could AI wipe out humanity by the end of the decade?
Experts are sounding the alarm. Tristan Harris, Co-Founder of the Center for Humane Technology, joins @TMZLive to break down the concerns.
The New York City Harbor Drone display is a public art display which features 2,977 lights one for every life lost on 911 & it rose over the harbor and formed an outline of the Twin Towers ahead of the 25th Anniversary.
@Markfry809 We absolutely understand. Some Americans haven’t opened their eyes yet so we appreciate the extra help to not only see but to look at what is happening to our country. Our leaders is blowing up our bridges but we are already getting supplies ready to build them again. 🇺🇸❤️🇨🇦
🚨 BREAKING:
Neguse: "Where is this company's headquarters?"
Noem: "I don't know."
Neguse: "Neither do I. We couldn't find it. But we found a registered address linked to a political activist. This company, which received $143 million, was created eight days before this contract was awarded.
You want the American people to believe all this is legal, and that $143 million in taxpayer money just happened to go to a company with no headquarters, no website, no prior federal government work, apparently registered at or linked to a political activist's residence—and, of course, one of the subcontractors on this contract is a political firm tied to you when you were governor of South Dakota?"
@sarrah_bellus This is hilarious and genius at the same time. Our neighbors were our friends and after we burned bridges with them they are showing the fake eagle how subtle but firm they can be when it’s time to send a message. One day Americans will stand up for what is right just like them
I have an update on my gardener who was taken by ICE.
Three big things have happened since then.
1. The neighbors have all come together to help.
We hired a good immigration lawyer for him. We also found someone willing to serve as his financial sponsor. That matters because one of the things the government will consider is whether he’s likely to show up for future hearings. Having someone willing to vouch for him, and having deep ties to his family and community, can help.
2. We’ve raised enough money to post a bond if he’s granted one.
We think he has a strong case for being released from detention while his case proceeds.
He has lived in the United States since he was 16. (He is now 44.) He runs his own business. He has a wife and two young children. He owns his home. And he has many, many people willing to write letters saying that he’s an important part of this community and is not going anywhere.
We’ll have to wait to see if it’s granted. Fingers crossed.
3. His lawyer is asking to postpone his court date, which is currently scheduled for next week.
This is really important. The Trump administration is trying to move people through the immigration system quickly so it can deport them as fast as possible. His lawyer wants time to gather evidence and build the best possible case for letting him stay. Again, fingers crossed.
But this is what really broke my heart.
My gardener was finally able to get a call through to his wife two days ago. This strong, confident, capable man was terrified. He didn’t know what to do.
Then his wife told him what everyone was doing behind the scenes.
He sobbed.
I don't know if we are going to get him home. I wish I could tell you that we will.
But I do know that we are seeing both the best and worst of American in real time.
The worst is a system that can take a man away from his wife and kids and leave him sitting in detention, terrified.
The best is a group of people who heard what happened and immediately asked: What can we do? And then they did it.
I’m betting on that America.