Healthcare and trans rights and Scaramucci, oh my. Will there never be a calm week again? After Trump casually tweeted out that trans people would no longer be allowed to serve in any capacity in the military (tell that to the 15,000 already serving) – a rule that cannot be enacted over Twitter and one military leaders seemed to have no idea was coming – we were treated to the drama of Anthony Scaramucci f’ing up his first week on staff and the GOP’s scurry to take away healthcare for millions. So, you know, the usual.
Part of the problem with the speed of the news lately is that when everything is horrible and urgent, things start to lose meaning. Everything starts to blend together and feel like just another day of nightmares, just another news story, just another tweet. We cannot forget the individual people this affects the most – whether it’s a healthcare law that will hurt kids who have pre-existing conditions or a military ban on a vulnerable population. These aren’t just stories or statistics, they’re lives.
Glass half full
Finally, some good news! In the wee hours of Friday morning, the Republican attempt to repeal Obamacare failed, with Senator John McCain dealing the final blow. Though let’s be clear, two Republican female senators were onboard the whole time. As the writer Jeff Yang tweeted: “Murkowski and Collins are the heroes today. McCain is the guy who signed on at the end of the project, presented it and got all the credit.”
What I’m RTing
You can't watch this vile Boy Scouts rally & tell me that Trump's appeal is about economics. That's horseshit.
— Sarah Lerner (@SarahLerner) July 25, 2017
WHAT THE UTTER FUCK?! This is psychopathic. It would not be allowed to be done to Western children so why the adoring write up pic.twitter.com/B1xyaH2dWP
— Citizen of Nowhere (@sunnysingh_n6) July 27, 2017
Hillary Clinton's forthcoming book is called "What Happened" which is a bummer because I was hoping it would be called "I Told Y'all."
— Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) July 27, 2017
Sorry I was led to believe that trans people were so skilled in combat that I should fear being alone in a bathroom with them
— Mark Agee (@MarkAgee) July 26, 2017
Who I’m reading
Ryan Lizza at the New Yorker with some Anthony Scaramucci quotes you won’t soon forget; David M Perry on this country’s history with sterilizing incarcerated people; and Jia Tolentino on the tangible damage done if Planned Parenthood is defunded.
What I’m writing
Over at Marie Claire, I weigh in on the horrific trans ban Trump tried to enact over Twitter (because apparently that’s how we do things now), and a look at what kind of women Trump surrounds himself with.
How outraged I am
Considering Trump’s trips to Mar-a-Lago and Viagra cost more than medical care for trans military members, I’m at a nine out of 10. (Not a full 10 only because OF COURSE).
How I’m making it through this week
Small pig. Getting bathed.