W.T.F?? Trump is taking on Discrimination- against whites.

Really? Really??

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is preparing to redirect resources of the Justice Department’s civil rights division toward investigating and suing universities over affirmative action admissions policies deemed to discriminate against white applicants, according to a document obtained by The New York Times.

The document, an internal announcement to the civil rights division, seeks current lawyers interested in working for a new project on “investigations and possible litigation related to intentional race-based discrimination in college and university admissions.”

The announcement suggests that the project will be run out of the division’s front office, where the Trump administration’s political appointees work, rather than its Educational Opportunities Section, which is run by career civil servants and normally handles work involving schools and universities.

The document does not explicitly identify whom the Justice Department considers at risk of discrimination because of affirmative action admissions policies. But the phrasing it uses, “intentional race-based discrimination,” cuts to the heart of programs designed to bring more minorities to university campuses.

So let me get this straight: discrimination against African Americans, women, lgbtq, etc, etc, is just business as usual. But discrimination against whites (and I'm guessing specifically white males), well, that's considered a crisis worthy of investigations??

It's not enough that white guys are at the top of the food chain already? If we don't give them EVERYTHING, it's not fair to them?

Jeezus tap dancing Christ.

Is Title IX next?

I'd like to see him try it.

Stride: Vanity thy name is Trump

For those of you who voted for Trump because you thought your progressive values would have a voice with Ivanka through her paternalistic relationship with her authoritarian, chaotic, rich daddy who had a habit of referring to women by their genitalia, sorry to disappoint you. Whatever they're talking about doesn't appear to be any of your concerns.

She hasn't had any affect on lgbtq issues, maternity leave or healthcare.

Where has Ivanka had the most influence? The answer may surprise you:

"Where Ivanka does apparently have real influence is in matters of personnel. She and Jared are reported to have urged Trump to bring in foul-mouthed Anthony Scaramucci as White House communications director. Seriously, that’s the guy you wanted shaping the administration’s message? Scaramucci was dismissed Monday after just 10 days on the job. He had only two things to offer: North Korean-style hosannas to the strength, wisdom and general magnificence of his dear leader, President Trump; and an undeniable talent for imaginative swearing."

Her shoes are nice though.
***********************************
Speaking of her daddy, the White House really is just as messed up as we thought. I'd rather not be right about that, frankly.

Check out the Oral History of the Era of the Mooch at WaPo.
*********************************

*********************************
The Trump administration is planning to roll back the birth control mandate in Obamacare. The article in the New Yorker outlines what happens even now when women can't get their oral contraceptive prescriptions filled because their insurance companies make them wait until they're almost out of their current refill. That can really mess with your vacation plans.

I can remember when I got my first prescription just after I turned 18. I rushed to the gynecologist and paid for it out of pocket because I had a hot boyfriend and I didn't want to knock him up. In those days, you could get several months worth of pills all wrapped up in a discreet paper bag from the clinic not far from campus. Ah, those blissful, carefree days when women's sexuality was nobody's fucking business…

Yeah, those days could come to an abrupt end soon.
***************************************
For those of you getting ready for the eclipse, check out this article at the New York Times about how the eclipse of 1919 helped confirm Einstein's theory of relativity.

Strut: I walk with a vengeance

Feeling my cheerios today. Dressed down. T-shirt dress, gladiator sandals, low slung belt, smell like self-tanner. I can't tan. My ancestors should never have left the mists of Ireland.

Hey, you can't have everything.

Going to the PNC Y downtown after work. Look for the tall blonde in gray running shorts and watermelon pink sneakers working on "that bum, that bum".

****************************************
The New Yorker looks back at Albert Speer's Inside the Third Reich for insight into right wing populism. We're suspending Godwin's Law today on the Confluence.

****************************************