Speaking of Ash Sarkar…PBS here is running a BBC series called The Rise of the Nazis, which I watched a bit of last week. It includes historians explaining things, including Richard Evans, so I settled in expecting good things…and then suddenly there was Ash Sarkar, giving her thoughts on the rise of the Nazis. Ash Sarkar??? I thought. Alongside real historians?? Wtf??? What she said was of course vapid and of no interest. I turned the tv off.

Later I consulted Google to see if anyone else had noticed, and anyone else had. There seems to have been a slight uproar. One article is titled Ash Sarkar is not an expert on Nazism. And the BBC should not treat her … Read the rest

This one spells it out – no you cannot have a single day to yourselves to talk about violence against women, yes you do have to include men who say they are women in your protests of violence against women.

I’m a very proud signatory of this letter – along with Olivia Colman, @Palomafaith, and @jameelajamil – affirming our support for our trans sisters on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls.

Share widely!https://t.co/rpQx9q7ssr

— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) November 25, 2020

Ash Sarkar shouldn’t be proud of that letter, she should be ashamed of it.… Read the rest

That Suzanne Moore essay:

It is March 2020. For several months now I have been trying to write something — anything — about the so-called “trans debate” in my Guardian column. But if I ever slip a line in about female experience belonging to people with female bodies, and the significance of this, it is always subbed out. It is disappeared. Somehow, this very idea is being blocked, not explicitly, but it certainly isn’t being published. My editors say things like: “It didn’t really add to the argument”, or it is a “distraction” from the argument.

I wouldn’t like to have editors like that. I like having editors who let me decide what my argument is, since I’m the … Read the rest

Trump pardoned Flynn.

It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon. Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2020

House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler issued a statement:

“This pardon is undeserved, unprincipled, and one more stain on President Trump’s rapidly diminishing legacy.

“Michael Flynn was fired from the White house for lying to senior officials.  He pleaded guilty—twice—to lying to federal investigators about his communications with a foreign adversary. Flynn’s agreement to cooperate with the government in exchange for those guilty pleas seemed light to some, given reports that Flynn and his

Another woman-hating creep who works for Pink News.

I’VE BEEN SILENCED!!!! suzanne moore cries, from the front page of a national newspaper pic.twitter.com/JDPgNrjmf3

— ryan john butcher (@ryanjohnbutcher) November 25, 2020

suzanne moore: *quits lucrative national newspaper column after relentless targeting of a vulnerable minority* i'm being bullied and silenced and cancelled!!!!

also suzanne moore: i never went into the office and my boss kept wanting to take me out for lunch pic.twitter.com/bro70BoQsn

— ryan john butcher (@ryanjohnbutcher) November 25, 2020

But what is this “relentless targeting”? The opening of Moore’s article:

It is March 2020. For several months now I have been trying to write something — anything — about the so-called “trans debate” in my Guardian column.

“This election has to be turned around.”

That’s what @realDonaldTrump just said, when he phoned into a GOP election hearing in Pennsylvania.

This is a dangerous statement.

— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) November 25, 2020

CBS has details:

One day after Pennsylvania certified its election results, formalizing President-elect Joe Biden’s win over President Trump in the state’s presidential race, Mr. Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani is attending a public hearing in Gettysburg on election “issues” and alleged “irregularities.” President Trump, unable to attend in person, phoned in his false claims that he won swing states like Pennsylvania and the entire election. 

Mr. Trump stated his goal in no uncertain terms: “We have to turn the election over,” the president said

But seriously. The virus doesn’t agree to step back for five days, and I find the bargaining language people use about this decidedly odd. They seem to think that if they promise it’s just five days and they promise not to infect each other on purpose then the virus will do its part and all will be well. Like:

One of my daughters lives with her boyfriend in London, and the other lives in a flat share. The three-household rule means I can see them both. It’s a rubber-stamp, and it means that in your conscience you can know you’re doing the right thing, and abiding by what the government deems acceptable.

But none of that makes any difference … Read the rest

The way it works is, the virus understands that people really really want to get together with family over Christmas so it will declare a cease-fire for five days. The virus is strict, but fair.

Ministers are facing calls to publish scientific advice on the relaxing of Covid-19 rules over Christmas amid warnings that a single infectious guest could infect a third of those at a household gathering.

Under rules revealed by the prime minister on Tuesday, up to three households can form a “bubble” for five days over Christmas. It prompted a raft of scientists to speak out, warning that mixing will inevitably lead to an increase in infections come the new year, leading to deaths. Some said

Can women have anything for ourselves now? Even just one day out of the 365 to call for an end to violence against us? Just ONE??

No, of course we fucking can’t.

The time is up for victim-blaming, rape myths and stereotypes.

We stand with all women – including our trans sisters and non-binary siblings – on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/o56Lm7ILpg

— Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) November 25, 2020

… Read the rest

Rewire is doing the same thing all over again today.

First, it's important to say that abortion is popular–like, really popular. More popular than you ever were in high school, Aunt Karen. Most Americans are pro-choice! And it's also super common–everyone knows and loves someone who has had an abortion, whether they know it or not. pic.twitter.com/b5m1nnHX0d

— Rewire News Group (@RewireNewsGroup) November 24, 2020

Hur hur. Throw food at them. We are very adults. Hur hur Aunt Karen, she’s such a bitch. Aren’t we good feminists?

Expanding abortion access, on the other hand, is simply good public health policy, because abortion is simply good medicine. https://t.co/V1LjRwQJfg

— Rewire News Group (@RewireNewsGroup) November 24, 2020

“Ask any pregnant person,” because … Read the rest

The Post has updates:

Pennsylvania and Nevada, two key battleground states, certified President-elect Joe Biden’s wins Tuesday, even as President Trump continued to fight results in court and insisted that he will “never concede.”

So he will never not be a childishly sore loser. Ok Spanky.

Trump’s “legal team” is shouting that there will be hearings, hearings I tell you, but Arizona says nope we don’t have any hearings scheduled.

The campaign said Arizona would hold a hearing on Nov. 30, but spokesmen for the Arizona GOP caucuses confirmed that neither the House speaker nor the Senate president had authorized any such hearing.

Who you gonna believe, them or…never mind.… Read the rest

But the lawyer who says we should throw turkeys at the Aunt Karens who fail to agree that men are women if they say they are can stop fretting: soon Aunt Karen’s failure to agree will be a crime, at least it will if she doesn’t keep her damn karen mouth shut.

Activists who promote the view that a trans woman is not a woman will be breaking the law if a court rules their campaign was intended to stir up hatred, the justice secretary has confirmed.

Humza Yousaf said it would not be a crime to express the opinion that sex is immutable unless it was accompanied by behaviour that was intended to stir up hatred, which could

It’s not just a Twitter thread, it’s also an article at Rewire News.

At Rewire News Group, we hope you’re able to safely enjoy the holiday away from toxic relatives, but we also know that might not be possible. Toxic relatives come in many forms: the Trump supporter, the devil’s advocate, the COVID-19 denier.

There’s also the TERF: the trans-exclusionary radical feminist.

Let’s back up. Let’s think about this unargued assertion that Trump supporters and devil’s advocates and COVID-19 deniers are “toxic.” Let’s think about it and decide that it’s self-righteous adolescent garbage, and that it is, ironically, dehumanizing in just the way much of Trump’s rhetoric is. The views of the listed groups may or may not be … Read the rest

Golly. Last I knew Rewire News was focused on abortion rights. My mistake; it turns it it’s all about the violence-encouraging misogyny.

Toxic relatives come in many forms: the Trump supporter, the devil’s advocate, the COVID-19 denier.

There’s also the TERF: the trans-exclusionary radical feminist. pic.twitter.com/vXNSzlLcOI

— Rewire News Group (@RewireNewsGroup) November 23, 2020

Throw the turkey at them. If you do not have the upper-body strength to throw the turkey, you can opt for something slightly easier to lift like a handful of mashed potatoes or some stuffing.

A pie also works, and offers an added comedic effect. pic.twitter.com/Z6Tbuzcp3N

— Rewire News Group (@RewireNewsGroup) November 23, 2020

Yet again, I’m surprised. Yet again I blink and stare and wonder. … Read the rest

Oh hey, the grownups are back.

It’s a very minimal thing to rejoice at, but that’s where we are.

Avril Haines, who is set to be the new director of national intelligence, has taken the podium.

‘I will never shy away from speaking truth to power,” she said.

She promised to tell the president whatever is “inconvenient and difficult”. She said the intelligence community is indispensable to America to address threats that come not just from terrorism, cyber hacking or other traditional directions.

“Also the challenges that will define the next generation – climate change, pandemics and corruption,” she said.

Adults. Serious people. Not corrupt greedy clowns.

Antony Blinken has come to the podium to speak, just after 

Gee, he noticed?

Trump is sweating over his campaign lawyers’ dismal and often outlandish efforts to reverse President-elect Joe Biden’s projected electoral victory.

Trump is worried that his campaign’s legal team, which is being led by his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, is composed of “fools that are making him look bad,” NBC News reported Monday.

He can stop worrying. Of course they’re fools who are making him look even worse (which is not easy to do).

That group, which has unironically called itself an “elite strike force team,” to date has failed to win any legal victories that would invalidate votes for Biden, the former Democratic vice president, even as they tout wildly broad claims of fraud

Emily Murphy’s letter is getting shredded for being petty, unprofessional, egotistical, and rude.

She wants him to feel her pain.

The first of these letters was addressed, “Dear President-Elect Obama.” This one was sent to “the Honorable Joseph R. Biden Jr.” and begins, "Dear Mr. Biden.”

Just an unbelievable level of pettiness.

— Yoni Appelbaum (@YAppelbaum) November 23, 2020

Summary:
2008:
Dear President-elect,
Ive ascertained you winner. Here is how much money you have to work with

2020:
Dear Mr. Biden,
We're gonna give you transition money. Whine whine whine…(page 2) whine. And here's how much money you have to work with

TOTALLY unprofessional

— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) November 23, 2020

https://twitter.com/bestoneTX/status/1331024128824971267 … Read the rest

Trump of course is pretending it’s totally his doing.

…fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2020

Just to nitpick…it’s not dedication and loyalty to the country to help a lying cheating criminal steal the election. More the opposite.… Read the rest

It’s about fucking time.

NEW: GSA has informed president-elect Joe Biden the administration is ready to begin the formal transition process, according to a letter from administrator Emily Murphy sent Monday afternoon and obtained by CNN.

— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) November 23, 2020

BREAKING: GSA head, Emily Murphy, has moved to officially begin transition and give president-elect Joe Biden the resources to transition including $6.3 million. Here’s her letter. pic.twitter.com/Xlv6y6IWvt

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) November 23, 2020

ABOUT DAMN TIME I SAY.

Whiny letter though.

Killing my "Hold Emily Murphy in Contempt" column, but this whiny letter is more evidence that contempt is justified https://t.co/xA2Z2EKoKJ

— Michelle Goldberg (@michelleinbklyn) November 23, 2020

Embiggening:… Read the rest

That article by Tina Traster dropped by Psychology Today and picked up by Transgender Trend:

Tina Traster is a socially-conscious, award-winning journalist, author, and filmmaker. She is the director of the award-winning documentary Catnip Nation and author of the award-winning memoir Rescuing Julia Twice: A Mother’s Tale of Russian Adoption and Overcoming Reactive Attachment Disorder. She has written about the transgender trend for Psychology Today. We are happy to re-publish her post here.

Traster notes that a lot of LGBQT teenagers are in foster care.

Let’s talk about trans kids. The generally accepted narrative among activists, the therapeutic community, and the media is that many trans kids are living with parents who reject them based on morality or intolerance.