Trump Fail

Thursday, March 30, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Last Thursday, I said that we would cover Trump's NASA space initiative unless something else came up. Well, it didn't take long. On Friday, the TrumpCare bill was put on indefinite hold because it lacked sufficient support by Trump's own party. Trump said he has moved on to other issues. In fact. his weekly Saturday address was about NASA, but was completely ignored by the media which focused on the TrumpCare defeat. For our meeting, we will follow the media's lead. Here are the video's:

• Republican repeal effort in ruins
• President and GOP plan next move
• Health care bill collapse highlights GOP divide
• Fox News Panel on TrumpCare defeat
• Sanders pushes for single-payer plan

Trump's Budget

Thursday, March 23, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

So many things concerning Trump are happening this week that it was head to choose which to focus on. The few comments I received were about the national debt, so we will do a session on debt and Trump's budget.

The following videos show the magnitude of the national debt problem and how Trump's budget does not address it. Budget Director Mulvaney says that the current budget just addresses discretionary spending and a more complete budget is due later, but the even this partial budget is creating much alarm. Here are to videos for the meeting:

• Donald Trump's $20 Trillion Problem
• Trump's Budget Explained
• OMB Director: President Trump's Budget Is 'Hard-Power' 
• Trump budget prizes military buildup and sweeping cuts
• Critics Warn President Trump's Budget Cuts Could Hurt Terrorism Fight
• We'll spend less money on people overseas

TrumpCare

Thursday, March 16, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

The debate to repeal and replace ObamaCare has started in earnest. The replacement, proposed by Paul Ryan, is on the table and has been named TrumpCare by the press. Trump supports Ryan's plan but not the nickname.

Just like everything else with Trump, things are moving fast; so I will wait until Thursday morning to make the final selection of videos. For now here are some videos to provide background:

• The Republican health care bill makes no sense
• Rand Paul says Senate conservatives "not going to vote for" new health bill
• Bernie Sanders calls new healthcare bill "an absolute disaster" for working class
• Paul Ryan confronts healthcare bill critics: "Everybody doesn't get what they want"

------------------------ Updated 3/16/17 ---------------------------

Here are the additional video shown at the meeting:

• Speaker Ryan’s Presentation on the American Health Care Act
• Speaker Paul Ryan talks about the new #CBO report

Trump's Court

Thursday, March 9, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

I will be away next week; Norm will lead the discussion on the Supreme Court and Trump's "originalist" criterion. Norm has worked out the technical difficulties which forced him to cancel two weeks ago.