Sunday, August 30, 2020

8-30: Melania didn’t want to have to use the same shower and toilet as former First Lady Michelle Obama; PLUS jobless benefits fail


8 juicy details from the new Melania Trump tell-all book

For his inauguration, the president wanted a North Korean-style military parade, right down to the “goose-stepping troops and armored tanks.”

—Politico
     First Lady Melania Trump’s former senior adviser and close friend has written a tell-all book that describes the first lady as someone who can’t be trusted and who often competed for influence in the White House with Ivanka Trump.
. . .

     Winston Wolkoff, a longtime Manhattan fashion and society party planner, was heavily involved in the planning of the president’s inauguration before leaving the White House in Feb. 2018 after negative reporting about her inauguration role appeared in the New York Times. In her book, she describes how Melania didn’t want to move to the White House right away in part because she didn’t want to have to use the same shower and toilet as former First Lady Michelle Obama and was waiting for the bathroom to be renovated.

. . .

     An early copy of the book, which publishes Tuesday, was shared with POLITICO. Here are some of its most revelatory nuggets:

— Donald Trump wanted his inauguration to look like a North Korean military parade. When discussing the parade with Winston Wolkoff and Ivanka during the transition, Trump said: “I want tanks and choppers. Make it look like North Korea,” he told them. Winston Wolkoff wrote: “He really wanted goose-stepping troops and armored tanks? That would break tradition and terrify half the country.”

. . .

— Melania doesn’t place a high importance on other people’s wants and desires, according to the book. Winston Wolkoff says that she has sometimes said over the years: “Pleasing anyone else is not my priority!” The author said that she wished she had Melania’s confidence and her ability to put herself first without thinking much of others….

Colleges crack down on student behavior as virus threatens more closures
Institutions are quickly finding out the limitations of a we’re-all-in-this-together mindset.
Politico
     The biggest threat to universities' carefully drawn reopening plans? Their students.
     School leaders are dishing out suspensions, kicking students out of dorms and sanctioning Greek organizations over large gatherings during a budding semester that already has seen colleges close amid thousands of confirmed Covid-19 cases and dozens of deaths. In some cases students face the ultimate penalty of expulsion for disobeying mask rules while their schools set up tip lines and scour social media for any hint of parties or social distancing violations, both on and off campus.
. . .
     The stakes are high. In addition to the public health risk, the virus’ arrival this spring already has cost universities millions in refunds and lost revenue, and another round of campus shutdowns would send shock waves through already reeling communities. In areas relatively unscathed by coronavirus, there’s concern that an outbreak on campus would quickly spill over into the general population, with at least one New York school district citing its proximity to a nearby state college as a reason why it decided to start the year online…..

Deadly Shooting in Portland After Pro-Trump Ralliers Clash With Protesters -- A caravan of supporters of President Trump drove through downtown Portland, which has seen nightly protests against police violence and racial injustice. One person was shot and killed in the conflicts that erupted. Mike Baker in the New York TimesFaiz Siddiqui in the Washington Post$ -- 8/30/20

 

Why no break on UC tuition despite the move to remote classes? COVID-19 costs are astronomical -- Most students aren’t in the classrooms this fall. They aren’t eating in the dining halls. They aren’t using university services. They’re living at home and watching lectures on Zoom — all while paying the same tuition charged for an in-person experience. And many aren’t happyJon Wilner in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/30/20

 

California legislators wanted to fund $600 in extra jobless benefits. What happened? -- A month ago, California legislators were almost unbridled in their ambition to ease the financial pain the coronavirus pandemic is causing to people and the economy. Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/30/20

 

Slavery reparations study, diversity mandate for corporate boards advance in California -- California lawmakers advanced proposals Saturday to study reparations for slavery and require more diversity on corporate boards, part of a broader push to address racial disparities in the state. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco ChronicleDon Thompson Associated Press -- 8/30/20

 

San Diego State University students ignoring anti-COVID 19 rules as infections spike -- For the second weekend in a row, large numbers of San Diego State University students appeared to be shrugging off the school’s demand that they wear masks and practice social distancing to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 8/30/20hronicle$ -- 8/29/20

 

Taylor: We’re witnessing a battle over America: Equality versus white supremacy -- After shooting three people during Tuesday night’s protests in Kenosha, Wis., the gunman, with his arms raised and a semiautomatic rifle dangling off his body, walked toward police in their armored vehicles as people angrily shouted at him. Otis R. Taylor Jr. in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/30/20

 

Dems outraged as Trump administration scales back election security briefings -- Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe indicated that leaks from Congress were the reason for ending in-person briefings. Betsy Woodruff Swan, Andrew Desiderio, Natasha Bertrand and Daniel Lippman Politico -- 8/30/20

 

Looking to Reopen, Colleges Become Labs for Coronavirus Tests and Tracking Apps

Universities are pioneering technology that could help society combat the pandemic.

—NYT

 

Senior officials won’t brief Congress in person on election threats

     Briefings from intelligence officials on foreign threats will now be in writing. The move prompted outrage from top Democrats, who called it "shameful."

—WashPo

 

Trump suggested sending law enforcement to the polls. Can he do that?

     Historically, Republicans have used similar tactics to scare people of color away from the polls. Election law expert Rick Hasen and reporter Rosalind Helderman explain what the Republican National Committee is planning for Election Day and how today’s laws apply.

—WashPo

 

Saddleback Valley district sends layoff notices to 174 employees 

—OC Reg


Today's County Covid numbers

No comments:

Roy's obituary in LA Times and Register: "we were lucky to have you while we did"

  This ran in the Sunday December 24, 2023 edition of the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register : July 14, 1955 - November 20, 2...