American Politics Thread V: We're Just Biden Our Time ...

[Odreria]

https://theintercept.com/2021/05/04/bol ... ce=twitter

DOJ threatened MIT researchers with subpoena in collaboration with Bolivian coup regime

[Postauthoritarian America]

Most of the Black Hills should be granted to the Sioux nation. Returning all of it would be unviable but offering them just $1 billion USD is a slap in the face.

The Paha Sapa (Black HIlls)/South Dakota land claim went to the Supremes who awarded the tribes $106m, the largest award ever for alienated tribal land, in 1980. The tribes, caught up in the American Indian Movement and associated activism, refused to accept the settlement however and afaik are still demanding return of their land. The money, minus attorneys' fees for decades of uncompensated representation but plus interest, still sits in the US Treasury. (imo using it to buy up every property for sale in the region from that day to this might could have been considered.) Recommended reading: Black Hills, White Justice.

[Postauthoritarian America]

Facebook announces "we're a company, we put money before morality or safety."

Speaking of that ban, Oversight Board has upheld Trump's Facebook suspension. However, the Broad did find this:

The board found Trump's posts had "severely violated" Facebook rules but questioned the "indeterminate and standardless penalty of indefinite suspension" and "insisted" the company find a "proportionate response" within six months.

"It is not permissible for Facebook to keep a user off the platform for an undefined period, with no criteria for when or whether the account will be restored," the board wrote.

So the ban was justified but now it's up to Facebook on whether Trump should be permanently banned and what policies FB must update.

Anyone care to explain to me how it's OK for the US to hold people indefinitely without charges or trial in Gitmo but it's "not permissible" to ban traitorous coup plotters indefinitely from Facebook?

[Immortan Khan]

Most of the Black Hills should be granted to the Sioux nation. Returning all of it would be unviable but offering them just $1 billion USD is a slap in the face.

The Paha Sapa (Black HIlls)/South Dakota land claim went to the Supremes who awarded the tribes $106m, the largest award ever for alienated tribal land, in 1980. The tribes, caught up in the American Indian Movement and associated activism, refused to accept the settlement however and afaik are still demanding return of their land. The money, minus attorneys' fees for decades of uncompensated representation but plus interest, still sits in the US Treasury. (imo using it to buy up every property for sale in the region from that day to this might could have been considered.) Recommended reading: Black Hills, White Justice.

I am aware of the court case and monetary compensation isn't enough, at the very part of the Black Hills should be given back especially areas encompassing some of the national parks so that the Sioux have a viable source of continued income.

[Kowani]

Labour Department rescinds Trump-era rule for gig workers

President Joe Biden’s Labor Department on Wednesday rescinded a Trump-era rule that would have made it easier for businesses to classify workers as independent contractors instead of employees under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

“By withdrawing the independent contractor rule, we will help preserve essential worker rights and stop the erosion of worker protections that would have occurred had the rule gone into effect,” Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said in a statement.

“Too often, workers lose important wage and related protections when employers misclassify them as independent contractors,” he said.

Walsh told Reuters in an interview last week that a lot of U.S. gig workers should be classified as “employees” who deserve work benefits. His comments signaled a shift in policy and hurt stocks of companies such as Uber Technologies Inc and Lyft Inc that employ gig labor. [...] Walsh said in the interview that his department would have conversations in coming months with companies that employ gig labor to make sure workers have access to consistent wages, sick time, healthcare and “all of the things that an average employee in America can access.”

The rule by President Donald Trump’s administration, finalized in early January before he left office on Jan. 20, would have hampered workers’ ability to earn a minimum wage and overtime compensation - protections offered under the FLSA. It was supposed to take effect in March, but did not because it was being reviewed by Biden’s Labor Department. The withdrawal will be effective on Thursday.

An Uber spokesman said last week that an overwhelming majority of app-based workers want to stay independent, because it allows them to work when, where and how they want with flexibility no traditional job can match.

The FLSA includes provisions that require covered employers to pay employees at least the federal minimum wage for every hour they work and overtime compensation at not less than 1-1/2 times their regular rate of pay for every hour they work over 40 in a workweek. FLSA protections do not apply to independent contractors.

“The independent contractor rule was in tension with the FLSA’s text and purpose,” the Labor Department said.

[Drew Durrnil]

Labour Department rescinds Trump-era rule for gig workers

President Joe Biden’s Labor Department on Wednesday rescinded a Trump-era rule that would have made it easier for businesses to classify workers as independent contractors instead of employees under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

“By withdrawing the independent contractor rule, we will help preserve essential worker rights and stop the erosion of worker protections that would have occurred had the rule gone into effect,” Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said in a statement.

“Too often, workers lose important wage and related protections when employers misclassify them as independent contractors,” he said.

Walsh told Reuters in an interview last week that a lot of U.S. gig workers should be classified as “employees” who deserve work benefits. His comments signaled a shift in policy and hurt stocks of companies such as Uber Technologies Inc and Lyft Inc that employ gig labor. [...] Walsh said in the interview that his department would have conversations in coming months with companies that employ gig labor to make sure workers have access to consistent wages, sick time, healthcare and “all of the things that an average employee in America can access.”

The rule by President Donald Trump’s administration, finalized in early January before he left office on Jan. 20, would have hampered workers’ ability to earn a minimum wage and overtime compensation - protections offered under the FLSA. It was supposed to take effect in March, but did not because it was being reviewed by Biden’s Labor Department. The withdrawal will be effective on Thursday.

An Uber spokesman said last week that an overwhelming majority of app-based workers want to stay independent, because it allows them to work when, where and how they want with flexibility no traditional job can match.

The FLSA includes provisions that require covered employers to pay employees at least the federal minimum wage for every hour they work and overtime compensation at not less than 1-1/2 times their regular rate of pay for every hour they work over 40 in a workweek. FLSA protections do not apply to independent contractors.

“The independent contractor rule was in tension with the FLSA’s text and purpose,” the Labor Department said.

yay

[Punished UMN]

Most of the Black Hills should be granted to the Sioux nation. Returning all of it would be unviable but offering them just $1 billion USD is a slap in the face.

The Paha Sapa (Black HIlls)/South Dakota land claim went to the Supremes who awarded the tribes $106m, the largest award ever for alienated tribal land, in 1980. The tribes, caught up in the American Indian Movement and associated activism, refused to accept the settlement however and afaik are still demanding return of their land. The money, minus attorneys' fees for decades of uncompensated representation but plus interest, still sits in the US Treasury. (imo using it to buy up every property for sale in the region from that day to this might could have been considered.) Recommended reading: Black Hills, White Justice.

The Sioux shouldn't have to buy it back, the government can just give it to them.

[Immortan Khan]

The Paha Sapa (Black HIlls)/South Dakota land claim went to the Supremes who awarded the tribes $106m, the largest award ever for alienated tribal land, in 1980. The tribes, caught up in the American Indian Movement and associated activism, refused to accept the settlement however and afaik are still demanding return of their land. The money, minus attorneys' fees for decades of uncompensated representation but plus interest, still sits in the US Treasury. (imo using it to buy up every property for sale in the region from that day to this might could have been considered.) Recommended reading: Black Hills, White Justice.

The Sioux shouldn't have to buy it back, the government can just give it to them.

Especially the lands that are owned federally like a number of the national parks. South Dakota could hand over lands that are state parks. While some of the land has been bought back, it shouldn't have to be especially from the government.

[The Black Forrest]

Oh the trumpets…..I was waiting in line and heard a guy telling another guy how the facebook decision was Orwellian. I couldn’t help myself and asked the guy “Orwellian? Have you read 1984?”. He said no. Suggested he might want to read it as that description is wrong. He was silent after that.

[The Black Forrest]

Question: Are you one the private property types for free market?

Sorry I don't understand the question.

Are you a person who thinks businesses are private property and thus have the right to decide what happens in their business?…..

[Immortan Khan]

Sorry I don't understand the question.

Are you a person who thinks businesses are private property and thus have the right to decide what happens in their business?…..

They are a democratic socialist.

[Kowani]

John Brakey, an official helping oversee the audit of the 2020 Arizona election, says auditors are looking for bamboo fibers because of an accusation that 40,000 ballots from Asia were flown in to Arizona and stuffed into the ballot boxes

[Postauthoritarian America]

The Paha Sapa (Black HIlls)/South Dakota land claim went to the Supremes who awarded the tribes $106m, the largest award ever for alienated tribal land, in 1980. The tribes, caught up in the American Indian Movement and associated activism, refused to accept the settlement however and afaik are still demanding return of their land. The money, minus attorneys' fees for decades of uncompensated representation but plus interest, still sits in the US Treasury. (imo using it to buy up every property for sale in the region from that day to this might could have been considered.) Recommended reading: Black Hills, White Justice.

I am aware of the court case and monetary compensation isn't enough, at the very part of the Black Hills should be given back especially areas encompassing some of the national parks so that the Sioux have a viable source of continued income.

That seems to be the way the tribes feel and, as sovereign entities, that's their right. But as a practical matter had they used the cash in that way they might today be owning large tracts of the land they seek, however much such a solution might run against their principles.

[North Washington Republic]

John Brakey, an official helping oversee the audit of the 2020 Arizona election, says auditors are looking for bamboo fibers because of an accusation that 40,000 ballots from Asia were flown in to Arizona and stuffed into the ballot boxes

These individuals are seriously batshit crazy.

[Postauthoritarian America]

John Brakey, an official helping oversee the audit of the 2020 Arizona election, says auditors are looking for bamboo fibers because of an accusation that 40,000 ballots from Asia were flown in to Arizona and stuffed into the ballot boxes

And of course anything from Asia would be contaminated by bamboo fibers. Why aren't they checking for soy sauce stains?

[The Rich Port]

John Brakey, an official helping oversee the audit of the 2020 Arizona election, says auditors are looking for bamboo fibers because of an accusation that 40,000 ballots from Asia were flown in to Arizona and stuffed into the ballot boxes

Who the fuck what. Who the fuck in Asia is... Making ballots?

MAYBE LOOK FOR BALLOTS WRITTEN IN CHINESE OR THAI THEN LIKE?

[Immortan Khan]

I am aware of the court case and monetary compensation isn't enough, at the very part of the Black Hills should be given back especially areas encompassing some of the national parks so that the Sioux have a viable source of continued income.

That seems to be the way the tribes feel and, as sovereign entities, that's their right. But as a practical matter had they used the cash in that way they might today be owning large tracts of the land they seek, however much such a solution might run against their principles.

They have been buying land, but even with one billion it still wouldn't be enough. The federal government should just give up ownership to them.

[North Washington Republic]

John Brakey, an official helping oversee the audit of the 2020 Arizona election, says auditors are looking for bamboo fibers because of an accusation that 40,000 ballots from Asia were flown in to Arizona and stuffed into the ballot boxes

Who the fuck what. Who the fuck in Asia is... Making ballots?

MAYBE LOOK FOR BALLOTS WRITTEN IN CHINESE OR THAI THEN LIKE?

Don’t try making sense of the logic of the mentally ill.

[San Lumen]

https://www.politico.com/states/new-yor ... ll-1380457

Adams now leads Yang for the first time in the NYC mayoral primary. He seems to be surging right now.

[Immortan Khan]

Who the fuck what. Who the fuck in Asia is... Making ballots?

MAYBE LOOK FOR BALLOTS WRITTEN IN CHINESE OR THAI THEN LIKE?

Don’t try making sense of the logic of the mentally ill.

Don't use mental illness to bash on your political opponents.

[Shrillland]

https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2021/05/05/adams-tops-yang-for-first-time-in-new-poll-1380457

Adams now leads Yang for the first time in the NYC mayoral primary. He seems to be surging right now.

Those are still first-preference polls, Yang still leads in the TPP polls.

[The Rich Port]

Who the fuck what. Who the fuck in Asia is... Making ballots?

MAYBE LOOK FOR BALLOTS WRITTEN IN CHINESE OR THAI THEN LIKE?

Don’t try making sense of the logic of the mentally ill.

Maybe he means expats or people abroad?

How many expats are there in Asia ffs.

Do expats get votes? So many questions

[San Lumen]

https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2021/05/05/adams-tops-yang-for-first-time-in-new-poll-1380457

Adams now leads Yang for the first time in the NYC mayoral primary. He seems to be surging right now.

Those are still first-preference polls, Yang still leads in the TPP polls.

True but NYC primaries tend to break late. Adams has a chance to win this.

[Kowani]

Federal court authorizes IRS to serve a John Doe summons on the crypto exchange Kraken, seeking information about U.S. taxpayers who conducted at least $20,000 of transactions in cryptocurrency from 2016 to 2020

A federal court in the Northern District of California entered an order today authorizing the IRS to serve a John Doe summons on Payward Ventures Inc., and Subsidiaries d/b/a Kraken (Kraken) seeking information about U.S. taxpayers who conducted at least the equivalent of $20,000 in transactions in cryptocurrency during the years 2016 to 2020. The IRS is seeking the records of Americans who engaged in business with or through Kraken, a digital currency exchanger headquartered in San Francisco, California.

“Gathering the information in the summons approved today is an important step to ensure cryptocurrency owners are following the tax laws,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “Those who transact with cryptocurrency must meet their tax obligations like any other taxpayer.”

“There is no excuse for taxpayers continuing to fail to report the income earned and taxes due from virtual currency transactions,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “This John Doe summons is part of our effort to uncover those who are trying to skirt reporting and avoid paying their fair share.”

Cryptocurrency, as generally defined, is a digital representation of value. Because transactions in cryptocurrencies can be difficult to trace and have an inherently pseudoanonymous aspect, taxpayers may be using them to hide taxable income from the IRS. On April 1, 2021, a federal court in the District of Massachusetts granted an order authorizing the IRS to serve a similar John Doe summons on Circle, a digital currency exchange headquartered in Boston.

Today’s order from the Northern District of California grants the IRS permission to serve what is known as a “John Doe” summons on Kraken. The United States’ petition does not allege that Kraken has engaged in any wrongdoing in connection with its digital currency exchange business. Rather, according to the court’s order, the summons seeks information related to the IRS’s “investigation of an ascertainable group or class of persons” that the IRS has reasonable basis to believe “may have failed to comply with internal revenue laws.” According to the copy of the summons filed with the petition, the IRS directed Kraken to produce records identifying the U.S. taxpayers described above, along with other documents relating to their cryptocurrency transactions.

[Galloism]

Federal court authorizes IRS to serve a John Doe summons on the crypto exchange Kraken, seeking information about U.S. taxpayers who conducted at least $20,000 of transactions in cryptocurrency from 2016 to 2020

A federal court in the Northern District of California entered an order today authorizing the IRS to serve a John Doe summons on Payward Ventures Inc., and Subsidiaries d/b/a Kraken (Kraken) seeking information about U.S. taxpayers who conducted at least the equivalent of $20,000 in transactions in cryptocurrency during the years 2016 to 2020. The IRS is seeking the records of Americans who engaged in business with or through Kraken, a digital currency exchanger headquartered in San Francisco, California.

“Gathering the information in the summons approved today is an important step to ensure cryptocurrency owners are following the tax laws,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “Those who transact with cryptocurrency must meet their tax obligations like any other taxpayer.”

“There is no excuse for taxpayers continuing to fail to report the income earned and taxes due from virtual currency transactions,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “This John Doe summons is part of our effort to uncover those who are trying to skirt reporting and avoid paying their fair share.”

Cryptocurrency, as generally defined, is a digital representation of value. Because transactions in cryptocurrencies can be difficult to trace and have an inherently pseudoanonymous aspect, taxpayers may be using them to hide taxable income from the IRS. On April 1, 2021, a federal court in the District of Massachusetts granted an order authorizing the IRS to serve a similar John Doe summons on Circle, a digital currency exchange headquartered in Boston.

Today’s order from the Northern District of California grants the IRS permission to serve what is known as a “John Doe” summons on Kraken. The United States’ petition does not allege that Kraken has engaged in any wrongdoing in connection with its digital currency exchange business. Rather, according to the court’s order, the summons seeks information related to the IRS’s “investigation of an ascertainable group or class of persons” that the IRS has reasonable basis to believe “may have failed to comply with internal revenue laws.” According to the copy of the summons filed with the petition, the IRS directed Kraken to produce records identifying the U.S. taxpayers described above, along with other documents relating to their cryptocurrency transactions.

More representation dollars for Gallo.