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Axios
3 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
"White With Fear" film examines the "white fear industrial complex"
A new documentary investigates the long-running efforts by politicians and the media to stoke racial tensions and frame white Americans as victims. Why it matters: "White With Fear," set to begin streaming on Tuesday (June 3), examines the origins of white grievance in the U.S. and how it contributed to the rollback of decades of civil rights gains. The big picture: The film uses interviews with scholars, journalists, former Republican operatives, former and current right-wing influencers, Hillary Clinton and Steve Bannon to show how white grievance became a potent weapon. From former President Richard Nixon using crime as a racist dog whistle to racist Tea Party attacks on former President Barack Obama, the documentary follows the evolution to today's polarized politics. Director Andrew Goldberg tells Axios the idea for the film came during the pandemic and the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, when the nation appeared to be ready for a new conversation about race. "We set out to think about a film that would explore this concept of whiteness." That soon changed as the backlash to the Black Lives Matter movement retooled boiling white grievance that dismisses racial discrimination and was inflamed by conservative media, social media, and later Donald Trump, Goldberg said. Goldberg said it became clear with book bans, laws limiting the discussion of slavery in schools and the spreading of misinformation and racist material online that he had another project on hand. Zoom in: Operatives would use President Obama's middle name, Hussein, in mailers, rare crimes by immigrants would be highlighted and immigration reform would be dubbed as a demographic and economic threats CNN media critic Brian Stelter tells Goldberg that the buildup of the "white fear industrial complex" drove up wedges and sparked more racial tension. Katie McHugh, a former writer/producer at Breitbart, said she would write racist news stories for the website while getting cheered up by Trump supporters. Stuart Stevens, a former Romney 2012 campaign strategist and co-founder of The Lincoln Project, said the environment now isn't about solving problems but stirring racial animus for election victories. The intrigue: In the film, former Trump advisor Bannon offers an honest assessment of how he and others flooded the media ecosystem with far-right, conservative articles to influence opinion. "We kind of put a network together of people that just continue to put out more information," Bannon said. "If you put out information and you have force multiples that just drive it, people will start to sort it out themselves." Bannon said that involved stopping bipartisan immigration reform by publishing articles daily and targeting broadcast networks nonstop. The film shows clips of conservative commentators then repeating racist stereotypes about Latino immigrants. Case in point: McHugh said the film strategy was to take "reactionary, racist feelings" against non-white immigrants and show how the "elites" betrayed the working white man. McHugh said that after she wrote such pieces, prominent Trump officials would email her and flatter her as a young 20-something. State of play: The film comes as the Trump administration reinterprets Civil Rights-era laws to focus on " anti-white racism" rather than discrimination against people of color. Trump also has embarked on a systematic effort to unravel President Lyndon B. Johnson's civil rights legacy, rolling back protections that have shaped American life for nearly six decades. Bottom line: Goldberg concluded that white Americans have been manipulated for short-term electoral gains.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
'It's keeping him going': Families call for more funds for Alzheimer Society Cork centre
A call has been made for increased funding to meet the growing demand for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland's (ASI) Cork centre, which has around 200 people with dementia on a waiting list. The centre offers day-care with activities, as well as home services and activities for under-65s with dementia or Alzheimer's. Alzheimer Society of Ireland southern region operations manager Breda Twohig set out the pressures during the annual Tea Party fundraiser on Saturday in Bessboro. Kieran and Maria O'Donovan with their newest grandchild enjoying the Alzheimer Society of Ireland annual Tea Day fundraiser at Bessboro Day Centre, Cork, on Saturday. Picture: Chani Anderson 'We'd have about 10 under-65s and that's only the people we can accept. We've over 22 clients here every day,' she said. 'We've 200 on the waiting list. There's people here who could come for five days but we can't take them five days. We take them for one day and some come for three. [That] is the most we can do.' She welcomed funding increases in recent years but stressed: 'The staff are key really. They are the whole experience for somebody with dementia.' Claire and Betty Keohane enjoying the Alzheimer Society of Ireland's annual Tea Day fundraiser in Cork on Saturday. Picture: Chani Anderson They are trying to expand further in west Cork but have found it challenging to hire carers. 'People all genuinely want to mind their loved ones at home but they can't do it alone and they actually break down,' she said. 'Families would take 10 hours [a week] if we could give it to them so we have to be fair to people and be fair to where carers are situated.' Breeda Horan, 70, from Carrigaline with her husband Ger, 72, was one of those at the fundraiser. Breeda Horan, 70, from Carrigaline with her husband Ger, 72, at Saturday's Alzheimer Society of Ireland annual Tea Day fundraiser in Cork. Picture: Chani Anderson Ger was diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia in his early 60s, leaving the former National Maritime College of Ireland lecturer unable to work, Breeda said. It's been very hard for him, very hard. He looks perfect to people but if you go five minutes beyond that, you know there's something wrong. He attends the centre two days a week, which she said is 'a godsend really for both of us' now. 'I think it's keeping him going with all the therapies, the caring and he loves the music,' she said. 'I think it's the people here, the environment. He was always a people person.' For herself, she noticed a difference from the start also. Pat Dillon enjoying some time in the memory garden at the Bessboro Day Centre with her grandson Aaron during the Alzheimer Society of Ireland annual Tea Day fundraiser on Saturday. Picture: Chani Anderson 'It was like a weight off your shoulders,' she said. 'I could relax for a bit and I knew he was very safe here.' She is unsure what the future holds and is already discussing this with their adult children. 'I'm 70 now, so you can keep doing it as long as you think you can,' she said quietly. Alzheimer Society of Ireland southern region operations manager Breda Twohig in the memory garden at the Bessboro Day Centre in Cork. Picture: Chani Anderson Minister of state for older people Kieran O' Donnell announced this month the HSE has commissioned the first national dementia registry. This will map services and identify gaps nationally. It will gather data on medications and people's quality of life also.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Sen. Ron Johnson hints he won't run in 2028, potentially setting up a showdown in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson dropped a hint Tuesday night that he may not run again for his seat in 2028, setting a potential showdown in the Dairy State. 'I learned in my second run, when I absolutely meant 'second and final,' you can't say never, never, okay? I don't want to. Yeah, I'd like to dig my heels in now, set this nation on a sustainable course and then go home,' Johnson said at an event in Milwaukee on Tuesday, according to The Hill. The senator added that he was 'just a guy from Oshkosh, just trying to — literally trying to save this country,' while saying that he did not 'covet' the title of Senator. At the same event, Johnson said that he agreed with Elon Musk's concerns about Trump's 'big, beautiful bill.' 'I sympathize with Elon being discouraged.' Johnson added that he was 'pretty confident' there was enough opposition 'to slow this process down until the president, our leadership, gets serious' about reducing spending. He said there was no amount of pressure Trump could put on him to change his position. Johnson held on to his seat in 2022 with a narrow victory over Mandela Barnes in a seat that the Democrats hoped to flip during the Biden administration. He was first elected in 2010 amid a surge in support for the Tea Party movement. There have been signs that the Republicans could be in danger of losing the seat in 2028 if Johnson stands down. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers won reelection in 2022. While Democratic-backed candidates for Wisconsin Supreme Court won in 2023 and in April, they took control of the court away from conservatives for the first time in 15 years, securing it until at least 2028. The state also went for Biden 2020. However, Trump carried the state in 2024.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Mr. President, It's Time To End The IRS' 'License To Hunt'
Business people run from warning paper and plane tax. getty The Internal Revenue Service, under the Biden administration, quietly armed itself with a new set of powers that are now being used to shakedown the very backbone of the American economy: small and family-owned businesses. Even with President Trump back in the White House, these overreaching and blatantly politicized enforcement regimes remain in operation. That's unacceptable. They must be dismantled immediately. At the center of this quiet assault is a disturbing creation: the IRS Pass-Through Unit. Ostensibly formed to crack down on tax evasion by wealthy individuals using partnerships and S-corporations, this unit has instead become a blunt political weapon. It operates under vague authority, without congressional approval, and is actively targeting law-abiding businesses across the country. Businesses now live in fear of retroactive rulings, arbitrary penalties and endless audits. And here's the kicker: Apparently this unit is being led by the same person who was deeply involved in the Obama-era Tea Party targeting scandal—forced out, only to be brought back in under Biden's watch, behind closed doors. The IRS' new Revenue Ruling 2024-14 weaponizes the 'economic substance doctrine,' a vague and largely discretionary standard, to retroactively question legitimate business transactions. What does that mean in practice? It means the IRS now has the power to label routine, previously lawful decisions as suspicious—then penalize businesses accordingly. Compliance is no longer enough. Businesses can be found 'non-compliant' simply because an IRS agent interprets their intentions differently. In short, tax certainty—once a bedrock principle of our system—is gone. Let's be clear, these efforts are politically motivated. They fly in the face of Executive Order 14219, which President Trump signed to eliminate unlawful rules and reduce burdens on the private sector. Yet these IRS initiatives continue undisturbed, functioning like the administrative state's own version of a deep state rebellion—slow-walking Trump's reforms, while punishing Main Street. Just this month, the National Association of Manufacturers called for the complete dismantling of the IRS Pass-Through Unit, citing its dangerous and expansive interpretation of tax law. Senators Blackburn, Barrasso and Lankford have sounded the alarm in Congress. And leading economists like Steve Moore have rightly pointed out that this isn't merely bureaucratic overreach—it's a targeted campaign to hobble the very businesses that power America's recovery. We need immediate action. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent must move swiftly to withdraw Revenue Ruling 2024-14 and disband the rogue IRS Pass-Through Unit. These Biden-era initiatives are undermining confidence in our tax system and are creating a climate of fear among job creators. This isn't tax enforcement; it's persecution. President Trump ran on ending the weaponization of government. He has the mandate—and the obligation—to act now. Repeal the rules, end the unit and restore the rule of law and predictability in tax policy. The message must be clear: Under this administration the IRS will serve the people—not harass them.
San Francisco Chronicle
25-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
This anti-Trump group is surging in the Bay Area. Here's its plan to resist the president
After President Donald Trump's election, Angela Cerreta spent a month 'licking my wounds.' Then she 'snapped out of it' and founded a liberal organizing group. She thought a couple dozen people, max, might show up to the kickoff Zoom call. Instead, she got 380 RSVPs. A few months later, Indivisible Novato has close to 600 members, who regularly attend anti-Trump protests, read newsletters with action items and drop by happy hours to rant and commune. Cerreta is part of a wave of Bay Area activists breathing new life into a well-established but previously semi-dormant anti-Trump organization: Indivisible, a national group founded by two former congressional staffers in 2016. The left-leaning but technically nonpartisan group shot to prominence in 2017 for its viral document 'Indivisible: A Practical Guide for Resisting the Trump Agenda,' an activist playbook patterned after tactics that the conservative Tea Party used in 2010. At its peak in 2017, Indivisible boasted by its count more than 6,000 local branches. But thousands of the groups fizzled during Joe Biden's administration, and many that didn't shrank considerably. Now, as Trump seeks to transform American institutions and punish his critics, Indivisible is on the rise again, with 2,100 groups registered nationally and more joining each week. In Northern California, 72 new groups have launched since November 2024, according to an Indivisible spokesperson. The new groups include chapters in Novato, Palo Alto, Redwood City and El Dorado County, each with hundreds of members and counting. 'The growth was just exponential,' said Susan Austin, who founded Indivisible Mid-Peninsula in January and has seen so much interest she's had to cap monthly meetings at 300 attendees. 'Every month we have had to find new locations because we keep outgrowing the old ones.' Long-established Indivisible groups have seen renewed interest, too. Resistance Action East Bay Indivisible has close to 800 active members, surpassing its 2017 peak of 500, said leader Gary Lucks. The chapter could 'barely pull a dozen people together on a call' during the Biden administration, Lucks said, but with the influx of members, it's expanding a flyering campaign to farmers' markets across the area. Indivisible Marin, one of the area's largest groups, is also at an all-time high; it's added 2,000 people to its mailing list of 10,000 — a 'whole new class of 2025' to join the original 'class of 2016,' said founder Susan Morgan. It's difficult to tell whether Indivisible's membership across the Bay Area is on track to surpass its 2017 heights, because it's unclear how many branches have shuttered. Indivisible San Francisco, for example, says it has seen its mailing list swell from 2,500 around election time to nearly 4,000 people, though according to one organizer it's the only remaining Indivisible group out of nine that operated in the city during Trump's first term. The organizer, who would only give her first name of Suzanne because she said she feared retribution, was affiliated with a different Indivisible branch years ago. That group withered because its membership thought, 'We don't need to stick around any more — Trump's gone!' she said with a dry laugh. This time around, organizers hope, Indivisible will be part of a more sustainable movement against what they see as an existential threat to democracy. Yet Trump's victory has sewn profound doubt, and division, among liberal activists searching for strategies to regain power. At a national level, Indivisible is 'doubling down' on its commitment to counter Trump, but is also reorienting its strategy to 'focus on the long game' by 'building durable power in the states, pressuring elected officials at every level, and using every available lever' to block the president's agenda, a spokesperson said in a statement. Indivisible's activist playbook uses 'a moderate set of tactics for progressive goals,' said Omar Wasow, a professor of political science at UC Berkeley, pointing to the group's focus on nonviolent protest. 'It's a totally respectable, mainstream set of tactics that are, as they note in their echoing of the Tea Party, shown to be effective, so in that sense it's a kind of pragmatic, progressive movement.' The Bay Area's Indivisible leaders say that their groups are critical to that national strategy, even in a very blue area of a very blue state. Organizers are encouraging members to make calls to swing districts and talk to family members and friends who live in those areas, and to pressure and embolden their Democratic elected officials to take strong stances against Trump allies. Each Indivisible group has its own flavor. Some, like Indivisible Marin, focus on virtual activities, like phone banking. Others prioritize protests, like ' Tesla Takedown' rallies that have drawn hundreds, which organizers hope will drum up the grassroots support Democrats need to resist Elon Musk at a national level. (Musk, who slashed government jobs at Trump's behest, just announced he would reduce his political activities.) One of Indivisible's bread-and-butter strategies — bombarding local officials with phone calls — was on display at a recent Sunday meeting of Indivisible San Francisco. About 30 people gathered in an airy Mission District auditorium, their numbers reduced because it was Bay to Breakers weekend. The mood was grave, even as sun and laughter filtered in from Valencia Street. An organizer, stepping up to a microphone, demonstrated how to call Nancy Pelosi's office and urge her to do everything in her power to stop the Republican budget reconciliation bill, which she has condemned. Then, the room buzzed with chatter as the attendees made their own calls to Congressional representatives, reading off printed scripts laid on each chair. Later, attendees made another round of calls, this time urging San Francisco supervisors not to cut funding for the city's environment department as part of Mayor Daniel Lurie's budget. It was part of Indivisible San Francisco's increased focus on local policy, which they believe is more easily swayed, and reflects a broader mission in the organization's chapters. 'We realize that's where we can make the quickest and most profound difference,' said Lam Nguyen, who helped found Indivisible Orchard City, which is based in Campbell but has membership across the South Bay, in 2017. Formerly a photographer, Nguyen's Indivisible work inspired him to take a job as chief of staff for a San Jose City Council member, a role he said has given him political skills he can use in his organizing role. Rather than holding as many rallies, Nguyen said the group is fighting Trump by channeling its 'dramatically reinvigorated' base of nearly 1,000 members toward a more 'practical approach' advocating for local policy changes. 'We're actively fighting federal policies by safeguarding protections at the local level,' Nguyen said. For example, the group plans to push the San Jose council to allocate more funding to provide legal counsel to immigrants who could face increased threats of deportation in Trump's crackdown. It's too early to tell how large a movement Invisible can catalyze, Wasow said. Its success depends in part on whether activists and the general public get increasingly enraged by or increasingly inured to Trump's policies. 'Some combination of normalization and exhaustion means it's possible that Indivisible doesn't quite rise to the level that it did during Trump's first administration,' Wasow said. 'Another pattern is that the Trump administration is generating so much outrage on so many fronts that it's in some ways creating the spark for a much larger opposition.' For now, even the new Indivisible groups have an eye toward the long term. Cerreta's Novato group has adopted the unofficial tagline, 'community is the strategy.' When hosting happy hours, or drafting weekly newsletters on Sunday nights after putting her kids to sleep, Cerreta tries to cultivate 'the spirit of a joyful warrior,' she said. 'It is hard and heavy and dark and incredibly depressing,' Cerreta said, 'but it feels better to me when I feel like I have some way of fighting back.'
