Thomas - Indie Dems

Summary:

"President Donald Trump’s latest tantrums against NATO remind us that toddlers love repetition. Trump has threatened to pull out of the transatlantic alliance so many times — it’s become, well, a joke. He recently called America’s European allies “cowards” for refusing to race to his command and seize the Strait of Hormuz."

"At least three NATO allies have told Trump, in so many words, to take a flying leap...At least some good has come from Trump’s foot-stomping petulance. Europe has begun focusing on developing its own military defenses rather than leaning so heavily on U.S. power."

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

(Excerpts)

Georgia’s labor market is treading water, according to new data released Thursday by the state Department of Labor. Georgia added 1,200 net jobs in January, basically flat from December, according to the report, the first glimpse at how the state labor market is performing this year.

The state’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.5% in January, unchanged from December, and remains below the national rate.
“I think the numbers are a little disappointing,” said Mark Vitner, chief economist of Piedmont Crescent Capital, a longtime analyst of the regional economy. "Job growth has just softened all across the country.”
A major drag was the loss of 12,500 federal government jobs in Georgia over the year as President Donald Trump slashed workers at agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

From the New York Times:

Excerpts:

Trump has created a veritable pardon industry, in which people with White House connections accept payments from wealthy convicts. Among those on whom he has bestowed freedom are:

Dozens of people convicted of fraud.
Juan Orlando Hernández, a former president of Honduras, who helped traffic hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States
Ross Ulbricht, who was serving a life sentence for running Silk Road, a sprawling criminal enterprise that sold drugs.
There seems to be no crime too ugly for a Trump pardon.

Worst of all, Mr. Trump granted clemency on the first day of his second term to everyone who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

He did not distinguish between rioters who were relatively peaceful and those who attacked police officers. About 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters received a clean slate, regardless of their actions.
The results have been disastrous. At least 12 of the pardoned rioters have since been charged with other serious crimes, including child molestation, assault, harassment, murder plots and charges related to a vicious dog attack.

IndieDems Comment:

The following list of Georgia‘s Republican Trump butt-kissers do not give a damn about Trump's trampling on the rule of law, or about the new victims of these criminals.

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter & staffers:
Chris Crawford, Chief of Staff
Tommy Reynolds, Legislative Director
Harley Adsit, Communications Director
Hunter Kirkland, Press Secretary
Jamie Johnson, Scheduler

U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick 7^th District
Philip Singleton, Chief of Staff
Nathan Barker, Legislative Director
Julie Singleton, Communications Director
Darren Dershem, Press Secretary
Jacqueline Tran, Scheduler

U.S. Rep. Brian Jack 3^rd District
Alex Stone, Chief of Staff
Anna Claire Stietenroth, Legislative Direct
Abby Ronson, Press Secretary
Rachel Salle, Scheduler
Joseph Brannan, District Director

U.S. Rep. Austin Scott 8^th District
Alice Johnson, Chief of Staff
Zach Roberts, Legislative Director
Alex Enlow, Communications Director
Jackie Van Slambrook, Scheduler

U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde 9^th District and his staffers:
Nicholas Brown, Chief of Staff
Dawn-Marie Sullivan, Legislative Director
Madeline Corso, Communications Director
Alexia Spentzas, Press Secretary
Lindsay Roberts, Scheduler

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins 10^th District and his staffers:
Brandon Phillips, Chief of Staff
Kevin Petroccioe, Legislative Director
LeeAnn Perritt, Communications Director

U.S. Rep. Rick Allen 12^th District
Lauren Hodge, Chief of Staff
Cam Shepherd, Legislative Director
Carlton Norwood, Communications Director
Heath Wheat, Scheduler

U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, 11th District
Rob Adkerson, Chief of Staff
Nick Petromelis, Communjcations Director
Ashleigh Padgett, Legislative Director
Ashley Adkerson, Scheduler

Headline: With Mideast in conflict, Pope Leo criticizes those who invoke God for war.

“Some Trump aides and supporters cloak the war on Iran in religious terms, but the Chicago-born pope said that God ‘does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.’”

IndieDems comment: Here is a list of Georgia Republicans who do not give a damn what the Pope, or any religious leaders, say is wrong about Trump and the Iran war:

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter & staffers:
Chris Crawford, Chief of Staff
Tommy Reynolds, Legislative Director
Harley Adsit, Communications Director
Hunter Kirkland, Press Secretary
Jamie Johnson, Scheduler

U.S. Rep. Brian Jack 3^rd District
Alex Stone, Chief of Staff
Anna Claire Stietenroth, Legislative Direct
Abby Ronson, Press Secretary
Rachel Salle, Scheduler
Joseph Brannan, District Director

U.S. Rep. Austin Scott 8^th District
Alice Johnson, Chief of Staff
Zach Roberts, Legislative Director
Alex Enlow, Communications Director
Jackie Van Slambrook, Scheduler

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins 10^th District and his staffers:
Brandon Phillips, Chief of Staff
Kevin Petroccioe, Legislative Director
LeeAnn Perritt, Communications Director

U.S. Rep. Rick Allen 12^th District
Lauren Hodge, Chief of Staff
Cam Shepherd, Legislative Director
Carlton Norwood, Communications Director
Heath Wheat, Scheduler

U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, 11th District
Rob Adkerson, Chief of Staff
Nick Petromelis, Communjcations Director
Ashleigh Padgett, Legislative Director
Ashley Adkerson, Scheduler

Excerpts from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article:

Unsealed documents in Fulton raid show FBI relied on election skeptics

The FBI cited a slew of allegations that have already been investigated to justify the seizure of Fulton County’s 2020 ballots, an affidavit unsealed Tuesday shows.

The document shows the agency interviewed numerous people who have suggested the election was rife with fraud. But investigations by the Secretary of State’s Office found no intentional wrongdoing.

(...Georgia State University law professor Clark Cunningham reviewed the affidavit and said said he was surprised a judge issued a search warrant based on the evidence submitted.) "'This is nothing but suspicion and conjecture...There’s nothing in this affidavit that’s evidence that any particular person acted with criminal intent.”

FULL STORY

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution treated the self-made billionaire health care entrepreneur Rick Jackson’s unexpected announcement that he is running for Georgia governor with a blunt but insightful opening: “Rick Jackson’s surprise bid for Georgia governor has turned the contest into a cash arms race. And the two front-runners are loading up.”

Georgia’s gubernatorial race is now in the front ranks of the elections where the outcome is less about a contest of ideas and policies than a about who has the most money. Billionaires are buying America, and its future, one election at a time. Georgia voters now have a chance to say “no” to establishing the reign of billionaires.

MORE NEWS ON JACKSON'S BID

Rick Jackson’s fortune will make Georgia governor’s race more expensive

8 takeaways from Rick Jackson’s surprise entry into Georgia governor’s race

To all you deluded Republicans who believe Trump is really MSAGA: Did you see this?

"Trump’s chaotic governing style is hurting the value of the U.S. dollar"

Excerpts:

Fallout from the recent Greenland crisis clipped the U.S. dollar, aggravating a year-long decline that has shaved more than 10 percent off the greenback’s value since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
Many foreign investors are rebalancing their portfolios to reduce excessive exposure to the United States and to capitalize on improving prospects elsewhere.
The federal government’s failure to address its mounting public debt, including crisis-level annual budget deficits at a time of low unemployment, isn’t helping.

FULL STORY

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
January 16, 2026

Raffensperger: I will not break the law over senators’ political stunt

U.S. Department of Justice wants voter registration data, and lawmakers are pressuring the secretary of state to release it unredacted.

By (GA Secretary of State) Brad Raffensberger – For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

(Excerpts)

A group of state senators introduced a resolution demanding the Secretary of State’s Office release the Social Security numbers, dates of birth and driver’s license numbers of every registered Georgia voter to the U.S. Department of Justice and to unspecified, unnamed third-party organizations and corporations.
Releasing Georgians’ most sensitive personal information to unknown entities is not only reckless, but also explicitly illegal under Georgia law.
Intentionally releasing that data would put millions of hardworking Georgians at risk of identity theft, financial loss, and years of personal hardship, all for a political stunt they, voters of our great state, never asked to be part of.
My response is clear and unequivocal: “No.” And if I’m speaking in my contractor voice, “Hell no.”

Washington Post

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/climate/trump-epa-air-pollution.html

EVEN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE'S DEFECTION FAILS TO SWAY THEM!

The Trump-led Republican campaign to destroy American democracy has had frightening success, and continues to gain strength, bolstered by Georgia Republicans Gov. Brian Kemp, gubernatorial candidates Brad Raffsenberger & Burt Jones; Rep. Barry Loudermilk and the entire GA U.S. GOP Congressional delegation. They have all adopted tactics out of the fascist playbook, most notably lying and character assassination.