Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA
So who else is shopping at Nordstrom this weekend?
As the upside-down world that is our current political reality continued this week, the president of the United States spent his time chastising a department store chain for not carrying his daughter’s crappy clothes. If that in itself didn’t raise alarm bells about the appropriate use of presidential power, Donald Trump then retweeted the message from the official @POTUS account.
A few days later, Kellyanne Conway, who sold her soul for the price of a hideous Gucci jacket, went on national television and told viewers that they should go out and shop for Ivanka’s clothing - a clear ethics violation.
At least she didn’t make up a terrorist attack. Oh, wait ...
Glass half full
After Elizabeth Warren was silenced during the Senate debate on the nomination of Jeff Sessions – for reading a letter from Coretta Scott King, no less – Republican majority leader Mitch McConnell said: “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.”
So now feminists have a new catchphrase: persist. And we will.
What I’m RTing
David Duke is a white supremacist, holocaust denier and former Imperial Wizard of the KKK. https://t.co/wsFQH43o32
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) February 9, 2017
🚨 GOOD NEWS! 🚨 Since Nov 8, more than 4,000 women have contacted @emilyslist bc they want to run for office someday. https://t.co/hCUJKdkZJY
— ann friedman (@annfriedman) February 8, 2017
I burped at a catcaller and felt briefly spiritually whole
— Jia Tolentino (@jiatolentino) February 7, 2017
That's really the story to me https://t.co/Zk4MAMAIig
— Tressie Mc (@tressiemcphd) February 8, 2017
Who I’m reading
Rev Dr William J Barber II at the Nation on why the silencing of Warren is actually the silencing of Coretta Scott King, and how that relates to systemic racism; re-reading Emily Nussbaum’s piece on Ivanka Trump’s “weaponized graciousness”; and – because I am weak – a Guardian investigation into Americans’ pizza-eating habits.
What I’m writing
Republicans never miss an opportunity to silence women, and I would never miss a chance to call them out because of it. This week, I wrote about how the Republican party has sorely misread the current political climate because of Trump’s win. They seem to believe that they can go around being misogynists without women taking notice. After the outcry to Warren being censured, I’m sure they won’t make that mistake again. (Actually, what am I saying? Of course they will.)
How outraged I am
Between Mike Huckabee calling Elizabeth Warren a “scold”, Vogue planning to put Melania Trump on its cover, and Sean Spicer believing that if Coretta Scott King were alive she would support Sessions’ nomination, I am a 15 on a scale of 1 to 10.
How I’m making it through this week
The snowday in New York City is helping – as is drinking spiked hot chocolate and watching my new favorite show on Netflix.
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