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Dan Gillmor

A reminder that less than two weeks ago, it was revealed that Trump solicited a $1 billion bribe from the energy industry, offering in return the gutting of environmental regulations.

A week ago, Big Journalism had already consigned this epic scandal to the memory bin.

Had Biden done anything remotely like that, I guarantee that it would still be among the top stories of the day -- and Congress, including Democrats, would be moving toward impeachment.

@dangillmor The media don't have time to report on such trivial matters. After all, Kamala Harris said "fuck!"

@dangillmor

And now Trump doesn't even need to make that kind of offer to other industries. They all know he's for sale.

@dangillmor Obsequious mainstream media will have to shoulder some of the blame and consequences if the voters really say "Give us Barabbas!"

@dangillmor @FerritinJim

* (again)*
(1/2)

Via

" uncovered

👉Trump promised to scrap climate laws if US oil bosses donated $1bn👈 – report
Trump promised to 20 executives at Mar-a-Lago dinner to increase oil drilling and reverse pollution rules among other pitches..."

"For their part, executives in big oil companies have been preparing for a possible Trump second term by drafting executive orders designed...

theguardian.com/us-news/articl

The Guardian · Trump promised to scrap climate laws if US oil bosses donated $1bn – reportBy Ed Pilkington

@dangillmor @FerritinJim

* (again)*

(2/2)

...to be ready to sign as soon as he returns to office.
reported this week that the executives have clubbed together to produce off-the-shelf policies on increasing natural gas exports, supercharging drilling and extending offshore leases..."

…for the fun of it, I tried to get the same info from several AI chat bots.

Prompt:

Did former president Trump offer legislation favorable to "Big Oil" in a potential second term in office if they supported his campaign with a lot of money? I.e. did he as a running candidate for president of the U.S. offer to take bribes?

Results:

AIs were "still learning" and gave no answer or didn't know / declined due to no knowledge of recent events.

🎶 The future's so bright I gotta wear 😎😏

@dangillmor you can be mad about it and call it a bribe, but that exact behavior is part of how us elections worked for decades.

They get campaign money from big companies. Ofcourse those companies want something in return.

If you as Americans want a government that cares about it's people, then reform that by (drastically) limiting money flows from companies to politicians (in cash or stock)

@BasieP @dangillmor We, as Americans, would love to do those reforms. But sadly we don't have a magic wand we can wave and cause a large, entrenched, and very organized power structure to disappear overnight.

We're trying.

@aaron @dangillmor well some foreign advice then: (which i guess you allready know).

The democratic party gives you a slightly better chance to change stuff, but mostly you got to do this on the more local levels.

@BasieP I literally voted in a municipal primary election TODAY.

@BasieP "Why don't you just pay attention", they said to the ADHD kid struggling at school.

"Why don't you just get a job", they said to the homeless person.

"Why don't you just stop using", they said to the addict.

"Why don't you just change your constitution", they said to the quasi-democracy ruled by oligarchs.

Sorry to lash out, but the condescending tone is very annoying and isn't helping. We know. Again, we're trying.

@BasieP @dangillmor Our supreme court already ruled that corporations have the right to make political donations (look up the "Citizens United" case.) That ruling will continue to stand until we get better people on the court. And that can't happen unless we elect Democrats for president and both chambers of congress.

It all comes down to voting, in other words. Which barely 2/3 of eligible Americans do, even in presidential years (it's much less in off years and state/local races.)

@dangillmor a king is not alone, when he ruled for life, all his supporters also rules for life

There are people with vested interests

@dangillmor

Tonight's top story: Joe Biden Eats Ice Cream!

Later, after Sports: President Trump keeps the head of his ex-wife in a jar by his bed.

@dangillmor Biden is funding and defending a genocide, amid silence from most media and most Democrats.

@mikeblake
And yet is still better than Trump, including on Palestine. What a poverty of options we have.
@dangillmor

@mikeblake @dangillmor That is the state of affairs a genocidal ice cream feasting monster vs the incompetent neo-nazi. In a nation of 300m they could only find these 2 fossils to run for head of state?

@dangillmor @roens It’s the belief — or at least the hope — of many Democrats that Trump has a low “ceiling,” meaning the maximum percentage of voters who might vote for him. Instead, there are now more “Never Biden” voters in every recent poll that has asked this question. In 3 of 4 such polls, 50% or more of the electorate wrote off Biden completely. washingtonpost.com/politics/20

Washington Post · Analysis | Here are the key dynamics in a new batch of Biden-Trump pollsA deep dive on key new findings as we enter a crucial juncture in the race.

@dangillmor This has always been the Republican Party platform.