Patrick Spain

Rerecording Mixer

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

In 2022 alone, Lowe’s spent over $14 billion on stock buybacks — enough to give each one of it’s 301,000 U.S. employees a $47,000 bonus.

These buybacks don’t create jobs.

They don't increase wages.

They don’t grow the economy.

They make corporate execs richer.

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

For all the people throwing a fit about the UAW’s request for a 40% wage increase:

That percentage is based directly off the 40% increase in pay for the big three automaker CEOs.

When workers demand fair pay, there's an uproar.

But nobody bats an eye when exec pay skyrockets.

[Jeffrey Levin 🇺🇦 @jilevin]

Retirees pay more in income taxes so that billionaires won't have to pay their fair share

[The Hill @thehill]

“This indictment just gets much worse for Trump,” former FBI agent Peter Strzok said. “It highlights the danger that he poses to national security, and it really shows what he was doing to try and undermine the judicial process.” https://t.co/5sMlcuWjSN

[Patrick Spain @pspain0]

@thedispatch Hahahahahahahaha!

[Richard Angwin @RichardAngwin]

Is Lisa right ??

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

Reminder that before 1982, stock buybacks were considered stock manipulation. Reagan's SEC opened the floodgates to their abuse.

Stock buybacks don’t create more jobs. They don't increase wages. They don’t grow the economy.

They do one thing: Make corporate execs richer.

[Jake Sherman @JakeSherman]

NEW: Wisconsin GOP Rep. @derrickvanorden cursed out a group of high-school aged pages Wed. night in the Capitol.

He called them lazy shits bc they were in the Rotunda taking pictures on the floor. He told them to get the fuck up.

It's the pages' last week

https://t.co/Qe8q5j4S6T

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

Forgive me for sounding like a broken record, but how on Earth are we supposed to believe we “can’t afford” paid family leave, universal pre-K, or climate action as politicians discuss increasing our annual defense budget to $886 billion?

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

“We can’t afford to pay writers and actors more.”

[Patrick Spain @pspain0]

Yep. This column "strikes" at the heart of what is really going on with the Hollywood strikes https://t.co/8KFfhAYdj6

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

Hello?

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

Nurses went on strike.

Then graduate students.

Then school teachers.

Now it’s hotel employees, writers, and actors.

UPS drivers and auto workers may be next.

Many strikes, similar story:

Workers are sick and tired of billionaires and corporations hoarding wealth and power.

[Justine Bateman @JustineBateman]

The AMPTP not only wanted to own background actors specific likeness forever, but wanted to feed 100 YEARS OF ACTING PERFORMANCES (for a nominal fee) to train the GAI models. So all our work could be frankensteined into “new” #AI characters. And NO consent from any of the actors.

[Nick Jack Pappas @pappiness]

Hi, all. I write jokes for TV, but not long ago I was a financial analyst. I had my Series 7.

For those who say Fran Drescher or any SAG-AFTRA member should stop whining and appreciate what they have, let me give you a lesson in capitalism. 🧵

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

“We can’t afford to pay writers and actors more.”

Meanwhile, studio CEO pay is through the roof:

Netflix CEOs: $51M & $50M
Nexstar CEO: $39M
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO: $39M
Comcast CEO: $32M
Paramount CEO: $32M
Walt Disney CEO : $24M
AMC: $24M
Fox Corp CEO : $22M

Hello?

[Qasim Rashid, Esq. @QasimRashid]

BREAKING: Lawyers who had cases before SCOTUS, including the case that ended Affirmative Action, sent payments to aides of Justice Clarance Thomas from 2019-2021. The payments were never disclosed, & they paid via Venmo, b/c of course they did.😐
https://t.co/hYtYBLNr8e

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

News flash: If you outlaw abortions, dictate what educators can teach in schools, and stop people from voting, you're not the party of "limited government."

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

How we beat back the corporate takeover of America:

1. Break up corporate monopolies

2. Continue building union power

3. End Citizens United and get big money out of politics

Let’s keep working to unrig the system.

[IATSE // #IASolidarity @IATSE]

BREAKING: @Teamsters, IATSE, @WGAWest, @WGAEast, @directorsguild, Hollywood Basic Crafts Issue Joint Statement in Solidarity with @sagaftra.

To the AMPTP: Our solidarity is not to be underestimated.