Trump's First SOTU

Thursday, February 1, 2018, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

For the next meeting we will discuss Trump's first State of the Union address. He will probably cover how amazing his accomplishments has been and propose his terms for a DACA compromise. He may even offer his plans for the long awaited infrastructure spending. Whatever he says, there will be controversy.

Since the speech is tonight, we will have to wait until tomorrow for the new segments on YouTube. Even though there are no videos yet, you can post your comments on what you think Trump will talk about.

------------------------------------- Updated 2/1/18 ---------------------------------------

Here are the video that were shown at the meeting:

• Breaking down Trump's 1st State of the Union
• President Donald Trump's Bold Immigration Claims At The State Of The Union
• Notable moments from Trump's State of the Union address
• Did the State of the Union help or hurt Trump’s immigration plan?
• Stormy Daniels and Trump's State of the Union

The Quickie Shutdown

Thursday, January 25, 2018, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Everything happens faster in the age of Trump. So while the Obama shutdown lasted 17 days, the Trump shutdown only lasted 3 days. So before the news gets stale, here are videos for the next meeting:

• The key change that convinced Democrats to strike a shutdown deal
• Dreamer to Schumer: Why did Democrats blink?
• Tapper to panel: Did the Democrats cave?
• How Democrats caved on the shutdown standoff
• How Trump aides are driving immigration policy

------------------------------ Updated 1/25/18 ----------------------------------

Here is the Other video shown at the meeting:

• Who Can America Blame for the Government Shutdown?

This is the video which defends Schumer that we did not have time to show:

• Mitch McConnell Owns Shutdown's Worst Harms

Now What

Thursday, January 18, 2018, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

The immigration issue was front and center this MLK Day with Trump's reported slur against Africa and Haiti. For now it seems that the DACA compromise is dead, making a government shutdown next Friday more likely. Breaking the focus on DACA was the false alarm of a missile attack in Hawaii.

Here are the Videos for the next meeting:

• On MLK Day, U.S. grapples with furor over Trump’s words
• The Backlash Continues on Trump's "S**thole" Comments
• What's dividing lawmakers on DACA and threatening a shutdown
• Inside the Hawaii command center where missile alert mistake was made
• Hawaii's Weekend Missile Mishap
• Hawaii's false missile alert highlights shortcomings in emergency system

------------------------------------ Updated 1/18/18 ----------------------------------

Here are the other video shown at the meeting:

• Republicans say there won't be a DACA vote this week
• Durbin: ‘I stand by every word that I’ve said’ about Trump disparaging remarks

Two Storms

Thursday, January 11, 2018, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Winter storm Grayson is finally coming to an end, but not before it created a bomb cyclone in the Northeast. There was comparatively little snow here, but it was enough to close our meeting place. In the meantime the nation was preoccupied with the storm created by the release of Michael Wolff's book, Fire and Fury, an inside account of the Trump presidency. We will cover both storms, with new videos about the book and videos from our cancelled meeting about the extreme cold.

Here are the new videos:

• Trump White House responds to explosive new book 'Fire and Fury'
• Trump Confidently Declares Himself a "Stable Genius"
• Stephen Miller Got Escorted Out Of CNN

------------------------------- Updated 1/14/18 ------------------------------

This video was also shown:

• Trump promises look at 'sham' US libel laws

It's Cold!

Thursday, January 4, 2018, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)
Meeting cancelled due to inclement weather

It looks like the record setting cold will continue beyond our meeting. So for those that can make we will discuss Trump's tweet about the cold which mocked climate change. 

Here are the videos for the meeting:

• Trump uses bitterly cold weather to dismiss global warming
• Fact-checking Trump’s tweet about cold weather and climate change
• The Paris Climate Agreement Won't Change the Climate
• Bill Gates launches 'Breakthrough Energy Coalition' at COP21
• 13 Misconceptions About Global Warming
• Polar Vortex & The Jet Stream
• Climate apocolypse?

Understanding Trump

Thursday, December 28, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

For the past year, pundits have been trying to figure-out Trump. Is he just a Dotard, or is there a method to his madness, or is he being used by some puppet master. In any case how do you counter someone whose missteps seems to be the source of his strength. Maybe the trick is to just laugh.

Here are the videos for the next meeting:

• What exactly is a 'dotard'?
• How Trump makes extreme things look normal
• Robert and Rebekah Mercer
• Comedians have figured out the trick to covering Trump
• Jeff Sessions Gump
• Stephen Reacts To Trump Calling Him 'A No-Talent Guy'
• Not The White House Correspondents' Dinner
• #MAGAMealChallenge

Tax Cuts, Infrastructure and China

Thursday, December 21, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

This should have been the week where we focused on the Republican tax bill, but then two major failures in infrastructure, a power failure in Atlanta's airport and an Amtrak derailment south of Seattle, happened within days of each other. Then Trump, as part of his national security strategy, warned of global completion from China. So will the tax cuts further degrade our infrastructure, can we compete globally without fixing it. 

Here are videos to tie these themes together:

• Winners and losers of the latest GOP tax bill
• GOP losing the messaging battle on tax reform?
• GOP tax plan will usher in bleak future
• Passengers Left Stranded After Atlanta Airport Blackout
• Amtrak Train Didn't Use Safety Tech
• Private vs Public: Infrastructure Spending
• You didn't build that
• Can America out-innovate China?
• Who will reap the wealth of the GOP corporate tax cut?