Leah McElrath

87-year-old Holocaust survivor powerfully warns Trump admin: “History is not on your side”

When 87-year-old Bernard Marks showed up for a community meeting in Sacramento, CA, with Donald Trump’s Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), he came prepared. Armed with a few notes and a lifetime of moral authority, he took on the Trump administration’s damaging policy of targeting immigrants for arrest, detention, and deportation. Marks began […]

By Leah McElrath - March 29, 2017

Billionaires are trying to prop up the failing Trump presidency

With Donald Trump facing a record-breaking low 36 percent approval rating only two months into his presidency, the Mercer family, headed by a hedge-fund multi-billionaire Robert Mercer, is jumping to his rescue. Established in December 2016 and run by Robert Mercer’s daughter, Rebekah Mercer, the family’s non-profit “Making America Great” is launching a $1.3 million television […]

By Leah McElrath - March 29, 2017

Rex Tillerson ditches U.S. press pool for surprise visit with Putin

Donald Trump’s secretary of state arrived in Moscow for high-level meetings with Russian officials — and promptly ditched his press pool of American journalists before an announced meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin: If you're wondering why the US press doesn't have pictures of Secretary Tillerson at the Kremlin, that's because he ditched his press pool — […]

By Leah McElrath - April 12, 2017

Only 2 House Republicans are brave enough to support independent Russia probe

In January, House Democrats introduced the “Protecting American Democracy Act” to get to the truth about Russia’s interference in the presidential election. Every single member of the Democratic caucus signed on to co-sponsor the bill. Their Republican colleagues were not as eager to support it. After several weeks, one Republican, Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina, signed on. Now […]

By Leah McElrath - May 12, 2017

GOP cover-up: Sally Yates determined to testify despite WH attempts to silence her

On orders from the White House, the Justice Department reportedly communicated with former acting Attorney General Sally Yates earlier this month to claim that executive privilege barred her from testifying before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Yates was scheduled to testify at a committee hearing investigating ties between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia. […]

By Leah McElrath - March 28, 2017

Voter confronts GOP rep for defending a “president who praises Putin”

New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur might have anticipated he would take some heat at a recent town hall for his amendment that helped pass the GOP’s health care repeal plan in the House. And he may have expected that his constituents would express anger about Donald Trump. But he was also vehemently confronted about his party’s […]

By Leah McElrath - May 12, 2017

Trump’s son-in-law had undisclosed meeting with Putin crony with KGB ties

The Senate Intelligence Committee plans to question Donald Trump’s son-in-law and close advisor, Jared Kushner, over his multiple undisclosed meetings with Sergey Gorkov — a Russian banker and high-level government official trained by the current-day KGB, known as the FSB, who has the trust of Russian President Vladimir Putin — and with Sergey Kislyak, the same […]

By Leah McElrath - March 27, 2017

Pay attention: Putin meets with white nationalist leader in France one month before French election

Russian President Vladimir Putin likes to claim he does not interfere in elections within Western democracies — an obvious lie, as the United States Intelligence Community Assessment documenting Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections makes clear. Putin’s geopolitical goals include destabilizing not just the United States, but all Western democracies founded on classical liberal […]

By Leah McElrath - March 25, 2017

Trump smirks and looks away, refuses to answer questions about Putin

In a telling reaction during a brief appearance before the press, Donald Trump refused to answer a question about Russian President Vladimir Putin, averting his eyes and crossing his arms, sending strong signals with his body language he wanted to shut down the subject. Watch Trump’s response to the query from CNN senior White House correspondent […]

By Leah McElrath - April 11, 2017

Dem Rep. slams GOP condescension: “I don’t have to be nice to nobody when you’re being nasty to poor people”

At a hearing of the House Rules Committee, Representative Alcee Hastings (D-FL) was questioning Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) about the Republican “repeal and replace” plan targeting the Affordable Care Act. In his remarks, Hastings expressed the righteous anger many Americans from both political parties are feeling about this heartless GOP legislation. And when he was […]

By Leah McElrath - March 24, 2017

Jeff Sessions rolls out his racist plan to increase violent crime

Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, III, gave a speech to federal, state, and local law enforcement officials in Tennessee at the Memphis City Hall, touting his “new charging and sentencing policy for the Department of Justice.” The policy directs federal prosecutors to pursue the most severe possible sentencing in every case before them. But there […]

By Leah McElrath - May 26, 2017

Trump compromised U.S. security by allowing Russian state media into Oval Office

During a meeting with Russian officials in the Oval Office, Donald Trump denied access to the White House press corps, but he did allow Russian state media into the room. In doing so, Trump possibly put the security of the closely guarded Oval Office — and potentially, as a result, the United States as a whole — in […]

By Leah McElrath - May 10, 2017

FBI zeroes in on Trump family: Son-in-law Jared Kushner now under investigation

Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has been confirmed by multiple officials in the United States government as a person of interest in the FBI investigation into Trump’s possible collusion with Russia. News first broke less than a week ago about “a current White House official” being a person of interest in the FBI probe. At […]

By Leah McElrath - May 25, 2017

Trump shuts out U.S. press from White House meeting with Russian officials

The day after summarily firing former FBI Director James Comey, Donald Trump took active steps to move the United States closer to Russia – despite two warnings within the previous week that Russia poses an existential threat to this country. The White House appears unconcerned about the brazen disregard for national security the immediate juxtaposition […]

By Leah McElrath - May 10, 2017

Breaking: With Trump under FBI investigation, Democrats will filibuster Trump’s Supreme Court nominee

Based on questions both about the wisdom of allowing a president who is under investigation by the FBI to make a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, and about the judicial objectivity of Donald Trump’s nominee, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Democratic senators are preparing to filibuster to stop Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation. The […]

By Leah McElrath - March 23, 2017

UPDATED: “More than circumstantial evidence” of collusion in Trump/Russia investigation

[See update below] In what is proving to be the most significant political story of our lifetimes, Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff revealed there is “more than circumstantial evidence” of collusion between Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia to interfere with the electoral process in the 2016 presidential election. Watch as Schiff […]

By Leah McElrath - March 22, 2017

Democratic senator credits “free press” for protecting America from Flynn

The Trump administration continues to attack the legitimacy of the media, and the GOP tries to shift attention away from the investigation into Trump’s ties with Russia by focusing instead on leaks about those ties to the media. Nevertheless, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) focused on an essential truth during the Senate hearing Monday on the investigation into […]

By Leah McElrath - May 09, 2017

Breaking: Russian hacker arrested in Spain told wife warrant was “linked to Trump’s election win”

A Russian hacker, Pyotr Levashov, was arrested in Spain on an international computer crimes warrant issued by the United States. Initially, the Department of Justice claimed the arrest was not related to national security issues. However, in an interview with Russian state media, Levashov’s wife, Mary, said her husband told her the warrant he read talked about […]

By Leah McElrath - April 10, 2017

Republicans find themselves damned by 2016 attacks on Hillary Clinton

Donald Trump and the GOP repeatedly declared that Hillary Clinton should not be president because of an FBI investigation into her email practices. Now that James Comey has revealed an investigation exists into the possibility of collusion between Trump’s campaign and the Russian government, we should hold the Trump administration and the GOP to their words that an FBI investigation […]

By Leah McElrath - March 21, 2017

Elizabeth Warren busts Trump for breaking his promise not to cut Social Security

Donald Trump made a lot of pie-in-the-sky promises on the campaign trail, including a pledge not to cut Social Security or Medicare. Even during the announcement of his candidacy, Trump rallied the audience during the close of his speech, saying, “Save Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security without cuts. Have to do it!” He reasserted that promise repeatedly […]

By Leah McElrath - May 24, 2017

Dear resistance, from one exhausted yet persistent woman

This is not an easy time. The resistance has suffered painful and fear-provoking defeats, and we are now also facing the uncertainty of an unfit Commander-in-Chief engaging in military action. It is understandable if you are feeling scared. It is understandable if you are feeling frustrated or feeling hopeless. It is even understandable if you […]

By Leah McElrath - April 09, 2017

She’s a lawyer too: Trump’s Supreme Court pick snaps at Amy Klobuchar

Donald Trump’s nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, Neil Gorsuch, lost his cool under the intensity of Senator Amy Klobuchar’s questioning during the confirmation hearing. Breaking from his generally overly-polished presentation, Gorsuch appeared visibly irritated, interrupted the Senator, raised his voice, and spoke to her in a remarkably patronizing manner. Notably, before being elected […]

By Leah McElrath - March 21, 2017

Education Secretary DeVos refuses to protect children from discrimination

When Donald Trump appointed Betsy DeVos — a billionaire and major donor to his presidential campaign — to be his education secretary, alarm bells rang throughout the education community. DeVos is a well-known opponent of public schools, and her family has donated millions of dollars to organizations that fight against civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and […]

By Leah McElrath - May 24, 2017

House intel Dem: Trump family’s Russian money “consistent with Trump Russia pattern”

Three years ago, well-known golf reporter and author James Dodson traveled to the Trump National Golf Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the invitation of Donald Trump’s public relations staff. Dodson inquired of both Donald Trump and his son Eric about the funding behind the club. Donald vaguely referred to having “access to $100 million” of unidentified […]

By Leah McElrath - May 08, 2017

Demand explodes to postpone Gorsuch while Trump is under investigation

FBI Director James Comey confirmed there is an existing and ongoing investigation into links between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and the Russian government, saying: “I have been authorized by the Department of Justice to confirm that the FBI as part of our counterintelligence mission is investigating the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential […]

By Leah McElrath - March 20, 2017

Trump budget director callously accuses working poor of “theft” and “larceny”

Donald Trump’s budget director put the final nail in the coffin of the myth of “compassionate conservatism” in an op-ed he wrote, published by the Charleston Post and Courier. Under the specious claim of “putting taxpayers first,” Mick Mulvaney defended Trump’s budget and attacked the very character of those who receive government benefits. “Taking money from […]

By Leah McElrath - May 23, 2017

Ahead of Trump’s visit with the pope, Catholic nuns and bishops blast Trump budget

Even as White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney baldly stated that he hoped people would lose their Social Security Disability benefits under Donald Trump’s proposed budget, he also described the proposal as “the definition of compassionate.” But responses from prominent Catholic religious leaders prove the mendacity of such a claim. NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social […]

By Leah McElrath - May 23, 2017

Texas cops split with Trump on immigration enforcement

Deep in the heart of “red” Texas, law enforcement officials have taken a stand against recently passed state legislation aimed at requiring local police forces to essentially become arms of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). Citing the important role of trust between police and the communities they serve, the chiefs of police of […]

By Leah McElrath - May 06, 2017

Trump attacked Syria for “the children,” but he still won’t let them into the U.S.

Donald Trump cited Syria’s use of chemical weapons against civilians — especially children — to defend his decision to launch airstrikes against the country without Congressional approval, and that argument is receiving broad support from his fellow Republicans. They cite the horrific photos and videos of suffering and dead children exposed to what appears to be sarin […]

By Leah McElrath - April 07, 2017

Meals on Wheels fights back and volunteers increase 500 percent in 1 day

The umbrella organization representing Meals on Wheels programs at a national level has been overwhelmed by an outpouring of attention in the wake of the release of Donald Trump’s budget proposal calling for complete elimination of funding sources for such programs. And Meals on Wheels America is taking advantage of their increased visibility to fight back and […]

By Leah McElrath - March 17, 2017

Leah McElrath

Social Media Director

87-year-old Holocaust survivor powerfully warns Trump admin: “History is not on your side”

Billionaires are trying to prop up the failing Trump presidency

Rex Tillerson ditches U.S. press pool for surprise visit with Putin

Only 2 House Republicans are brave enough to support independent Russia probe

GOP cover-up: Sally Yates determined to testify despite WH attempts to silence her

Voter confronts GOP rep for defending a “president who praises Putin”

Trump’s son-in-law had undisclosed meeting with Putin crony with KGB ties

Pay attention: Putin meets with white nationalist leader in France one month before French election

Trump smirks and looks away, refuses to answer questions about Putin

Dem Rep. slams GOP condescension: “I don’t have to be nice to nobody when you’re being nasty to poor people”

Jeff Sessions rolls out his racist plan to increase violent crime

Trump compromised U.S. security by allowing Russian state media into Oval Office

FBI zeroes in on Trump family: Son-in-law Jared Kushner now under investigation

Trump shuts out U.S. press from White House meeting with Russian officials

Breaking: With Trump under FBI investigation, Democrats will filibuster Trump’s Supreme Court nominee

UPDATED: “More than circumstantial evidence” of collusion in Trump/Russia investigation

Democratic senator credits “free press” for protecting America from Flynn

Breaking: Russian hacker arrested in Spain told wife warrant was “linked to Trump’s election win”

Republicans find themselves damned by 2016 attacks on Hillary Clinton

Elizabeth Warren busts Trump for breaking his promise not to cut Social Security

Dear resistance, from one exhausted yet persistent woman

She’s a lawyer too: Trump’s Supreme Court pick snaps at Amy Klobuchar

Education Secretary DeVos refuses to protect children from discrimination

House intel Dem: Trump family’s Russian money “consistent with Trump Russia pattern”

Demand explodes to postpone Gorsuch while Trump is under investigation

Trump budget director callously accuses working poor of “theft” and “larceny”

Ahead of Trump’s visit with the pope, Catholic nuns and bishops blast Trump budget

Texas cops split with Trump on immigration enforcement

Trump attacked Syria for “the children,” but he still won’t let them into the U.S.

Meals on Wheels fights back and volunteers increase 500 percent in 1 day