* When Trump made comments supportive of the white supremacists who protested in Charlottesville, I wrote that the reaction it stirred was based on the fact that he had crossed the line from covert to overt racism. For some reporters, he did so again today with his remarks about how immigrants from Haiti and Africa come from “shithole” countries. Here are some of the reactions:
Remarkable worlds from CNN’s Jim Acosta. Not surprising. But these are not ways reporters talk on network or cable network TV. Watch this! pic.twitter.com/2gUqdlREOd
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 11, 2018
Issue here is not the word the president uses to describe these countries but the fact that he thinks their living conditions should disqualify people from being allowed to come here — which would disqualify most immigrants in our history.
— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) January 11, 2018
* Even Frank Lunz pushed back.
43% of immigrants from “shithole” African countries have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 33% of the overall American population.
“Nigerian-Americans, for instance, have a median household income well above the American average.”https://t.co/Vmk3vkOLyd
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) January 11, 2018
* The White House issued a statement that basically affirmed the sentiments in more “politically correct” language.
White House’s reaction to @jdawsey1‘s scoop that the President referred to immigrants from Haiti & African countries as coming from “shithole countries.” WH spox Raj Shah statement: https://t.co/drFGGDZYVo pic.twitter.com/7owjJXaVzc
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) January 11, 2018
* Here’s what’s critical to keep in mind.
A short time after this segment, Jackie Kucinich of The Daily Beast said something further on CNN. That was this. The words are terrible. The attitude and mindset is terrible. But what is really important, much more than the words is that this attitude and strategy are embodied in the White House’s policies. That’s what matters.
* Yesterday I referenced reporting from Anita Kuman that Steve Miller is working behind the scenes to derail legislation that would protect the Dreamers. That’s why this doesn’t surprise me.
The Trump administration rejected a bipartisan Senate proposal to protect young undocumented immigrants from deportation, saying it needed more work.
“We’re pleased that bipartisan members are talking,” President Donald Trump’s congressional liaison Marc Short said Thursday, but added, “I think there’s still a ways to go.”
Short said the administration is concerned about a number of issues including the amount of protection at the U.S.-Mexico border and family preferences for immigrants.
* We’re seeing a lot of reports like this lately.
BREAKING: Walmart will raise its starting wage rate for hourly employees in the U.S. to $11, expand maternity & parental leave benefits, and provide a one-time cash bonus for eligible employees of as much as $1,000 due to tax reform. https://t.co/Nbd2JzxBlC
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) January 11, 2018
* As in most cases, there’s more to the story.
Walmart is closing 63 Sam’s Club stores across the US, the company told Business Insider on Thursday afternoon, after reports of abrupt store closings began to emerge.
Sam’s Club has not said how many employees are losing their jobs. Each Sam’s Club warehouse employs about 175 people, meaning more than 11,000 people could be impacted.
* Finally, this seems like a fitting way to close out this day:
The new cover of @TIME. pic.twitter.com/EoCjcatYFZ
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 11, 2018
