Tag Archives: insurrection

Russia-Ukraine War

Ukrainians push deeper into Kherson as counteroffensive continues

August 31, 2022, Russia-Ukraine War Update

[UKRAINE] – MTN It has been 3,107 days since Russia occupied Crimea on February 27, 2014. Here is our latest update. You can visit our Russia-Ukraine War Center to find more news about Ukraine. You can also listen to our in-depth podcast, Malcontent News Russia Ukraine War Update, hosted by Linnea Hubbard.

Kherson & Mykolaiv

The opening phase of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kherson continued, with several settlements confirmed as liberated within the opening hours.

Ukrainian forces liberated Ternovi Pody, 30 kilometers north of Kherson. Sukhyi Stavok was liberated on August 29 during the counteroffensive’s open hours, expanding the Inhulets River bridgehead and likely severing a critical Russian Ground Line of Communication (GLOC – supply line). Geolocated video showed Arkhanhelske was liberated on August 29 by Ukrainian and Pro-Ukrainian Chechen forces. Olhyne and Vysokopillya find themselves in a technical encirclement, with Ukraine establishing complete fire control south of both settlements and Arkhanhelske liberated. We are aware of other settlements liberated but are respecting operational security.

Ukrainian forces hammered Russian positions across the entire line of conflict with artillery, rockets from MLRS, and HIMARS strikes. The Antonovsky Bridge in Kherson, the partially constructed barge bridge adjacent to it, and the ferry were repeatedly attacked. The Antonovsky Mist Railroad Bridge was also struck, along with the Dariivsky Bridge that crosses the Inhulets River. Satellite images show the bridge is heavily damaged with a large hole. The pontoon bridge adjacent to the Dariivsky Bridge was destroyed.

Multiple Russian milbloggers independently reported that Russian requests for artillery support and air strikes went unanswered. Ukraine established air superiority over Kherson, and there were already signs that ammunition supplies were becoming an issue in mid-August.

Dnipropetrovsk & Northern Zaporizhia

Early on August 31, Director General Mariano Grossi reported that the IAEA team was departing Kyiv to Zaporizhzhia and planned to stay for “several days” to evaluate the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Shortly after departing Kyiv, The Russian occupation head of the Zaporizhia region, Yevhen Balytskyi, said that the IAEA would only be allowed to stay at the plant for a day. The IAEA convoy arrived in Enerhodar late on Wednesday.

Nikopol suffered its heaviest barrage in over a week, with Ukrainian officials claiming that over 40 Grad rockets were fired from MLRS launchers located within the nuclear plant compound.

Southern Zaporizhia

Rockets fired from HIMARS destroyed an ammunition depot in Russian-occupied Tokmak in southern Zaporizhia.

The General Staff also reported that elements of the newly formed 3rd Army Corps had arrived in Zaporizhia for deployment to the front. The Russian occupation head of the Zaporizhia region, Balytski, reported that due to “family circumstances,” he has moved from Melitopol to Crimea.

Donetsk

There were only reports of positional fighting and reconnaissance in force west of Donetsk. DNR forces tried to improve their positions in Optyne, Pervomaiske, and, Krasnohorivka. All three advances failed, and DNR units suffered heavy losses.

The General Staff and Pro-Russian accounts reported intense fighting south of Pisky on the E-50 Ring Road and other locations close to the village.

DNR forces fought positional battles in the eastern part of Marinka and retreated to Oleksandrivka after failing to gain new ground.

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Bakhmut

Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner Group, supported by the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR), continued attacks on Bakhmut, where the situation remains unchanged.

Further south, LNR separatists continued their attempts to advance on Vesela Dolyna. The attack was repulsed, and Russian forces retreated to their defensive lines.

In the Svitlodarsk Bulge, fighting for Kodema continued, with the town attacked from three sides. Russian forces continued attempts to advance on Zaitseve and remained unsuccessful. The railroad yards of Mayorsk were shelled.

Izyum

Russian forces attacked Shnurky, 12 kilometers from the known line of conflict south of Izyum.

Kharkiv

Pro-Russian accounts are full of chatter that Ukraine is preparing to restart its counterattack north of Kharkiv. The rumor was started by wanted war criminal and deputy information minister of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Daniil Bezsonov.

Russian and Ukrainian forces traded artillery and rocket fire along the line of contact northwest, north, and northeast of Kharkiv. Russian S-300 antiaircraft missiles slammed into the city center.

Sumy and Chernihiv

Dmytro Zhyvytsky, Sumy Oblast Administrative and Military Governor, reported the settlements of Khotyn, Richkivska, and Velykopysarivska were shelled by Russian forces firing from across the international border.

Russian forces fired across the international border and shelled Hai and Hremyach in the Chernihiv oblast. There weren’t any reports of serious damage or casualties.  

Daily Assessment

  1. Ukrainian forces have taken the initiative on the battlefield, with Russian military leaders moving assets around the battlefield concerned about a large offensive starting in Zaporizhia.
  2. Multiple Russian milbloggers are reporting that Russian troops in Kherson are not getting artillery support, and the air force is not operating along the line of conflict.
  3. Ukraine has liberated at least four settlements that we can reveal and have caused a technical encirclement of Russian troops in two towns.

To read the rest of our report, become a Patreon! For as little as $5 a month, you get access to the daily Russia-Ukraine War Situation Report. The report provides analysis, maps, detailed information about all the axes in Ukraine, international developments, information about war crimes and human rights, and economic news. As an added benefit, you get access to flash reports, breaking news, and our Discord server.

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Russia-Ukraine War

Exhausted Russian army struggles to make gains in Ukraine

August 27, 2022, Russia-Ukraine War Update

[UKRAINE] – MTN It has been 3,103 days since Russia occupied Crimea on February 27, 2014. Here is our latest update. You can visit our Russia-Ukraine War Center to find more news about Ukraine. You can also listen to our in-depth podcast, Malcontent News Russia Ukraine War Update, hosted by Linnea Hubbard.

Luhansk and Northeast Donetsk

Russian forces attempted to advance on Hryhorivka from Bilohorkiva. They suffered heavy losses, and their defensive line was overrun as they retreated.

Settlements around Siversk were shelled by artillery and rockets, with the Russian air force attacking Siversk and Spirne.

The August 26 HIMARS strike on Kadiivka killed up to 200 Russian airborne (VDV) troops, according to Serhiy Haidai, exiled Luhansk People’s Republic Administrative and Military Governor.

In Staroblisk, Askyar Laishev, a Ukrainian defector and the head of security for occupied Luhansk, was killed when a bomb planted in his SUV exploded.

Russian forces have set up an airbase for Mi-8 transport and Mi-52 attack helicopters in Luhansk.

Bakhmut

Chechen Kadyrovites reappeared, claiming to have an active role in the fighting for Soledar. The Russian air force, PMC Wagner, the 2nd Army Corps of the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR), with Kadyrovites taking the distant rear but claiming glory, launched a large attack on Soledar and Bakhmutske. Neither advance was successful, and it was reported that Russian troops suffered major losses.

A significant attack was also launched on Bakhmut from the east. It was reported that Russian proxy forces suffered severe losses.

In the Svitlodarsk bulge, Russian forces continued their attack on Kodema, supported by artillery and the Russian air force. Russian troops also tried to advance on Zaitseve. Fighting around the railroad yards continued in Mayorsk.

Southwest Donetsk – Zaporizhia

The Donetsk People’s Republic 1st Army Corps only tried to advance on Nevelske, making two attempts – positional fighting to improve their tactical positions and then an advance, which failed.

Marinka was shelled and repeatedly hit by air strikes. Video released by Russian state media shows that DNR separatists were pushed out of the center of Marinka, with Ukraine holding most of the city again.

Pavlo Kyrylenko, Donetsk Oblast Administrative and Military Governor, reported that Pisky was shelled. We maintain the settlement is contested.

Near the Donetsk-Zaporizhia administrative border, Russian forces tried to advance on Prechystivka and were unsuccessful.

In Berdyansk, gauleiter Alexander Kolesnikov, the deputy police chief and head of traffic enforcement, was killed when a car bomb exploded in his vehicle.

Kherson

North of Kharkiv, Russian forces attempted to capture Dementiivka – again – and ended with the same result as the last four attempts, returning to their starting point.

The Azov Battalion shelled Russian positions in Ternova, destroying an ammunition depot.

Russian missiles hit the central district of Kharkiv city and the suburb of Derhachi.

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The Malcontent News Russia-Ukraine War Map is updated as events occur. Map not appearing in your RSS Feed or Google News App? You can review the most up-to-date information by visiting our custom Google Map.

Izyum

A small group of Russian infantry attempted to advance on Karnaukhivka, over 7 kilometers south of the established line of conflict. They were met with small arms fire and retreated.

The General Staff reported that Russian forces had reestablished electronic warfare arrays near Izyum that disrupt GPS signals.

Russian forces fired artillery and rockets south of Izyum from Brazhkivka to Tetyanivka, while the Russian Ministry of Defense claims that Ukraine fired rockets from HIMARS into Izyum.

Kherson

Ukraine struck the Kahkovka, Antonovsky, and Dariivsky bridges with rockets fired by HIMARS. The same section of the Antonovsky bridge has been repeatedly targeted by Ukraine, causing progressively worse damage. The Dariivsky bridge appeared cratered in a low-resolution satellite image, and Russia reinstalled the pontoon bridge across the Inhulets River.

The Kahkovka Bridge, which was already badly damaged, was struck while a Russian military convoy was crossing the structure. An extremely graphic video showed multiple body parts and torsos in Russian uniforms scattered across the bridge, with the smoking remains of military vehicles in the distance.

Russian forces have dug in defensive positions in Blahodatne [Mykolaiv] and are heavily shelling Ukrainian positions north of the Inhuletskyi Channel.

Dnipropetrovsk

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Ukraine shelled the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant twice but didn’t provide evidence.

Valentyn Reznichenko, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Administrative and Military Governor, reported that Nikopol was hit with seven artillery shells knocking out power to 5,000 and damaging a school and several homes. Marhanets was hit by 20 Grad rockets, and an area of dachas (second homes, typically a cottage) was badly damaged in Zelenodolsk.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that they would be sending a team of inspectors to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the coming week.

Sumy and Chernihiv

Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, Sumy Oblast Administrative and Military Governor, reported that Russian forces shelled the settlements of Esman, Shalyhyne, Khotin, Myropillia, and Bilopillia. Four civilians were wounded in Bilopillia and required hospitalization.

Daily Assessment

  1. Our assessment in early July that Russia had an inadequate number of troops to provide security and administration in occupied Luhansk was accurate, as an increasingly violent insurrection across a third of the oblast is gaining momentum.
  2. The mood of the Russian milblogger community has notably shifted to quiet resignation in the last 24 hours after a series of devastating HIMARS attacks this week and the realization that the Russian military has no solution for their “as advertised” performance.
  3. We maintain that Russian forces within Ukraine are combat destroyed – two small attempted advances in Donetsk and Kharkiv ended in failure, and Russian positions were overrun when they retreated, resulting in a territorial loss.

To read the rest of our report, become a Patreon! For as little as $5 a month, you get access to the daily Russia-Ukraine War Situation Report. The report provides analysis, maps, detailed information about all the axes in Ukraine, international developments, information about war crimes and human rights, and economic news. As an added benefit, you get access to flash reports, breaking news, and our Discord server.

Become a Patreon today!

BIPOC, Local

Ferndale police officer charged with attempted child molestation

[WASHINGTON] – (MTN) – Michael Scott Langton, 46, a veteran officer with the Ferndale, Washington, Police Department, was arrested at his Blaine home around 9 p.m. on Tuesday July 26 on a charge of Criminal Attempt, Solicitation of a Minor. The charges were upgraded on Wednesday to Attempted Child Molestation 2nd Degree.

Langton was booked into Skagit County’s jail following his arrest. Information from the jail only indicates he is being held for another agency and does not list a bail status.

Because the charge involves a minor and is sensitive, the Bellingham police will not be releasing any further details at this time according to a city press release.

According to a report in the Bellingham Herald, Bellingham Police Lt. Chad Cristelli reported that his department received a call regarding Langton on July 26 and started an investigation. Cristelli did disclose that one victim has been identified, but the investigation is ongoing.

Whatcom County asked the Bellingham police to investigate to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest. However, this is not Langton’s first time being investigated.

The Alleged Oath Keepers Connection

In 2021 an anonymous hacker breached the Oath Keepers security and downloaded data, including emails, from 2020 and part of 2021. The hacker released the data to Distributed Denial of Secrets, a transparency organization, and much of the information ended up posted online.

BuzzFeed reported on the released data, and among the active military members and law enforcement employees who had sent inquiries about joining the Oath Keepers, the article cited a specific email from February 4, 2020, scarcely a week after three members of the Oath Keepers had been indicted for their part in the attempted insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2020. The email in question was from Scott Langton who identified himself as “a current Washington State Police Officer looking for information.”

The Buzzfeed article was published on October 1, 2021, and on October 4, Officer Langton was placed on paid administrative leave while the department and city investigated the incident.

Local community groups in Whatcom County, including the Riveters Collective and Connect Ferndale, advocated for transparency in the investigation. The request fell on deaf ears, and Langton was back on full duty by the end of October. The internal investigation concluded that no violation of law or department policy had taken place.

Local groups were disappointed with the outcome of the investigations into Langton, prompting Connect Ferndale and the Riveters Collective Justice System Committee to release statements calling for independent review, transparency, and policy improvement. They criticized the investigation for the inherent conflict of interest, having been performed by Langton’s colleagues, and the blatant disregard of the published department polices as relates to making contact with such groups.

Prior to the October 2021 investigation, the Riveters Collective Justice System Committee gathered information on police practices and published the data and their analysis. The project, titled Learn Why We Believe Public Safety Reform is Necessary, first appeared on their website in September of 2021. Multiple updates soon followed, and Langton turned out to be a focal point due to the statistically significant number of complaints against him.

Other Incidents Involving Officer Langton

The Riveters Collective Justice System Committee (JSC) looked at 52 complaint allegations dating from 2015 – 2020 for Ferndale Police officers employed at the time of their records request in January 2021. Their findings revealed that the department has sided with officers 94% of the time when the complaint came from a civilian. However, when a complaint started internally, 98% of allegations were either sustained or ruled founded. The name at the top of the list for most complaints was Langston’s.

From 2015 to 2021, Langton has 17 complaints on record. The officer with the next highest number has three.

Langton started with the Ferndale Police Department in August 2012, but prior to July 2021, when SB 5051 went into effect, complaint records at Ferndale PD, Bellingham PD, Blaine PD, and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office were destroyed after six years. The earliest records available at the time dated back to 2015.

Most of the complaints against Langton alleged behavior described him as harassing, discriminatory, rude, insulting, or overly aggressive. Five complainants specifically identified the color of skin as the element that triggered Officer Langton’s behavior towards them.

Of the 17 complaints, 16 were internally investigated, and his colleagues deemed them “frivolous” or “did not occur.” The JSC report noted that at least one complaint acknowledged that Langton is known by many of the areas minorities as “the racist cop.”

Lawsuits

In February of 2020, Langton pulled over a female motorist that he alleged committed a traffic violation. Following his decision to cite her, he continued to detain her at the scene, in violation of federal law and the Fourth Amendment. The lawsuit alleged Langton purposefully delayed citing the woman for a traffic violation so he could have a police dog brought to search the woman’s car.

The case was moved out of Whatcom County Superior Court and into Federal Court in September of 2020. According to the Bellingham Herald, the case was settled out of court and dismissed on April 12.

In June of 2011, while Officer Langton worked for the city of Blaine, he was alleged to have used excessive force against a 54-year-old, legally blind man with limited mobility due to crushed vertebrae. During that encounter, which was initially a call for a verbal dispute between neighbors. Langton was alleged to have struck man, dragged him across a parking lot, and thrown him to the ground. That lawsuit was reportedly settled for $129,000.

There is some evidence that other incidents exist: A letter from 2013 references a lawsuit involving Langton and the City of Blaine. A 2011 court document described a witness report that they had to avert their eyes due to the rough treatment that Langton applied to a Blaine resident.

Partially due to previous policies around destroying records of complaints, there may be no further information available anymore, and advocacy groups think that’s part of the problem that needs to be addressed in Whatcom County.

Could Ferndale Have Intervened Before Things Went This Far?

It is unclear if Ferndale knew of Langton’s complaint history from Blaine. The Ferndale police policy does have a requirement for comprehensive screening, background investigation, and selection process, but it does recommend reviewing an officer’s complaint history.

Despite this, by October of 2021, when Langton’s email exchange with the Oath Keepers came to light, a third of all complaints against the Ferndale Police Department since 2015 were against Langston. Ferndale existing policies did not catch this outlier in their department, nor considered the significant number of complaints piling up against Langton in comparison to other officers on the force. Additionally, there is an apparent pattern of ignoring the work of community organizations and independent journalists that provided concrete evidence that Langston was violating already published internal policies.

The Present

On Tuesday, when Bellingham police arrested Langton at his home in Blaine, they contacted the Ferndale Police Department informing them of his charges. Officer Langton, who is still listed as an employee on the Ferndale Police Department website, has been placed on paid administrative leave. His annual salary is listed as $98,810 per year.

Breaking News, National

Man allegedly with bomb and claims to be part of a larger D.C. domestic terror plot surrenders

Video

Update: Ray Roseberry, 49, has surrendered to Washington D.C. police

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – (MTN) Washington D.C. police have evacuated the Supreme Court and the U.S. Capitol after a man in a black pickup truck parked near the Library of Congress and claimed he has a bomb big enough to take out “two-and-half blocks.”

A USA Today report stated that police were in active negotiations with the man to bring about “a peaceful resolution to the incident.” Police say they have identified the man, but have not released his name. The website Heavy.com identified the man as Ray Roseberry.

In a Facebook Live video, since removed, the individual makes a statement that vacillates from calm to angry. The man, who is white and appears to be in his 40s, claims he is from Alabama and is part of a larger group that has four more bombs in the United States Capitol. At one point, he implies that one bomb could be located close to the White House.

We have had to take down the video due to excessive traffic on the site – we apologize for this and will upload a more compressed version later.

Malcontent News downloaded the video from Facebook before it was deleted. We do not support this message or this blatant act of domestic terrorism. Viewer discretion is advised. In the video the man claims:

  • He claims the bomb is made from ammonium-nitrate, which is the same material that was used in the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995
  • He showed in his video his vehicle full of shrapnel including coins, what appears to be ball bearings, and other metal debris
  • He made several demands to talk to Joe Biden directly
  • Claims he is a “good American” and a “Patriot”
  • Says “Democrats are killing America”
  • He railed about how pennies are made out of zinc, and blamed Joe Biden
  • He is holding a large metal can in his lap, and appears to be holding a device in his left hand attached to the can
  • Repeats he, “wants to go home by Sunday,” and how he promised his wife he would be home for dinner
  • He asks at one point, “where are all my American patriots? Don’t make a lair out of me.”
  • Claims he is acting to “get the revolution started”
  • Makes a statement to President Joe Biden, “Look here you little bitch. Some people doing some things now, and that’s the fucking South.”
  • At one point he claims his wife was aware of the plot, but then at another point claims he lied to his wife and told her he was going on a fishing trip
  • Makes another state about the bomb, “This was made by ya’ all Qaeda, and you better not forget that Joe.”

The Facebook Live lasted for 31 minutes, and at no time did he address and commenters on the video. He claims that he is part of a larger organization, and he was “picked for this.”

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

BIPOC, Local, National

Despite pledge to crack down, white power items still for sale on Amazon

[SEATTLE, Wash] – (MTN) Online retailer Amazon continues to wrestle with items for sale that embolden white nationalism with dozens of vendors selling “white privilege” cards. The cards of the same design declare, “White Privilege Card Trump’s Everything,” and are described as “inspirational” by sellers.

Although some may consider it humorous on the surface, two men in California have been indicted for conspiracy to destroy by fire or explosive a building used or in affecting interstate commerce. One of the men carried the same white privilege card for sale on Amazon.

The unfounded belief the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump allegedly inspired Ian Rogers and Jarrod Copeland to hatch a plot to blow up the Democratic Party Headquarters in Sacramento, California.

When investigators searched Rogers’ house in January, he allegedly had five pipe bombs, which court documents say were live. They also reportedly seized between 45 and 50 firearms, including at least three fully automatic weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Amazon has come under fire for selling Nazi memorabilia and white supremacist items as far as 2018. As recently as last year, Amazon said they would not sell these types of products.

Amazon’s published policies for Offensive and Controversial materials state that “products that promote intolerance based on race, religion, and sexual orientation” cannot be sold on the platform. Despite this policy, multiple sellers were offering one-day Amazon Prime delivery, and at least one was offering a coupon promotion. 

Local, National

BREAKING: OPA recommends two SPD officers be fired for their actions during the 1/6 insurrection

1 Comment

[SEATTLE, Wash] – (MTN) The Seattle Office of Police Accountability released its highly anticipated report today on the January 6 conduct of 6 SPD officers in Washington D.C. during the insurrection and has recommended two officers be fired. A combination of Crosscut, The Stranger, and Divest SPD, identified the six officers two months ago. According to The Stranger, “named employee 1” and “named employee 2,” are tentatively identified as Alexander Everett and Caitlin Rochelle.

According to Report 2021PA-0013, the officers violated 3 policies each. The officers claimed that they went to the Capitol because Donald Trump had asked them to, but didn’t enter any restricted areas. However, as part of a parallel FBI investigation, OPA received pictures that clearly showed the officers in a restricted area witnessing people scaling the Capitol walls and officers being assaulted.

In a written statement, OPA Director Andrew Myerberg said, “That they were direct witnesses to people defiling the seat of American democracy and assaulting fellow law enforcement officers—and did nothing—makes this all the more egregious.”

Everett and Rochelle allegedly went to Washington D.C. to see Trump at the Stop the Steal Rally as part of their honeymoon.

Acting Police Chief Adrian Diaz stated on January 8 that if evidence was provided that showed officers violated any laws, he would fire them. Both the Seattle Police Department and the Seattle Police Officers Guild indicated they would make statements later today.

Three officers were determined to have not violated any policies or laws and only exercised their First Amendment rights. A sixth officer refused to cooperate with the investigation. the OPA does not have the power to compel or order an officer to provide evidence, so the case for “named employee 3” is “non sustained, inconclusive.” The Stranger reported on Twitter that there is an ongoing FBI investigation into unspecified SPD officers and their conduct on January 6.

Crosscut reported yesterday that the Seattle Police Officers Guild has filed a grievance against the city over the request for information from the OPA as part of its investigation. In the days following the insurrection, Mike Solan, the SPOG President, was outspoken in blaming Antifa for the insurrection and sharing false claims on social media and his podcast. The City Council along with several organizations called for Solan to resign for his statements, which he ignored. Solan’s conduct on Twitter is currently subject to two OPA investigations.

So far over 530 people have been arrested for the January 6 insurrection, which left at least 5 people dead and forced the evacuation of Congress and the Vice President from the House chambers, and delayed the certification of the 2020 national election. Donald Trump and his supporters have continued to push “the big lie” that the 2020 election was corrupt and stolen, despite no meaningful evidence to support the allegations.

The Department of Justice has not made a statement to confirm or deny any SPD officers are under active investigation for their actions on January 6.

BIPOC, Editorial, LGBTQIA, Local, National

Malcontentment Happy Hour: May 10, 2021

Video

Our live webcast from the former Seattle Anarchist Jurisdiction

The show from May 10, 2021, featured David Obelcz and our co-host Jennifer Smith. Patrons at the $5 and above level get access to our show notes and research documents.

  • Toyota campaign contribution story made our readers salty
  • Colonial Pipeline shutdown committed by Russian hackers
  • No one is talking about the AAHM raid done by the King County Sheriff
  • Franklin Graham coming to Bellevue and protests planned – controversy explained
  • Democracy vouchers explained
  • Jenny Durkan’s Textgate
  • Seattle Deputy Mayor Casey Sixkiller enters the 2021 mayor race
  • Angelyiah Lim wins the 2020 Lee Johnson Community Service Award

National

Toyota is largest donor to post-insurrection election objectors despite pledge to end contributions

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) More than 4 months after hundreds of insurrectionists stormed the Capitol on January 6 to thwart certification of the 2020 Presidential election results, Toyota has donated over $62,000 to 40 Republicans, the largest amount from any company that pledged to stop GOP contributions in the wake of the election violence.

In the hours and days that followed January 6, a litany of companies made pledges to no longer fund GOP candidates who fomented former President Donald Trump’s followers. According to a report in Popular Information, April 15 was the first major campaign finance deadline since the insurrection. After Congress reconvened to certify the election results, while the sting of tear gas remained in the halls and blood on the floor, 147 Republicans voted against election certification.

What makes Toyota stand out from other companies that have since made donations, is the dollar amounts involved and how many other businesses stood by the pledges they made. According to Maplight, over 1,100 individual corporate PACs donated to at least one Congressperson who objected to election certification in 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, that number plummeted to less than 70.

Benefactors of the Toyota PAC include Congresspersons Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Cliff Bentz (R-OR), Barry Moore (R-AL), Alex Mooney (R-WV), Jeff Duncan (R-CS), Eric Alan “Rick” Crawford (R-AR), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Tim Walberg (RMI), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).

On April 11, in response to a Newsweek article published on April 10 revealing the donation to Congressperson Toomey, Toyota released a statement they were adjusting their stance on who, and why they would donate to candidates.

“We do not believe it is appropriate to judge members of Congress solely based on their votes on the electoral certification.”

“Based on our thorough review, we decided against giving to some members who, through their statements and actions, undermine the legitimacy of our elections and institutions.”

The donation by Toyota’s PAC to Congressperson Biggs of Arizona stands out as being counter to this position. Congressperson Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) released a nearly 2,000 page report in March outlining the social media activity for dozens of lawmakers in the days leading up to, during, and after the January 6 insurrection. The report for Representative Biggs is over 50 pages long.

As early as November 5, Biggs was retweeting calls to “go to total war,” over the 2020 election. On January 8, 2021, Biggs was already calling any attempt to impeach then-President Trump a “manufactured hoax.”

Tweet thread by republican congressperson andy biggs, Arizona, who has benefit from toyota pac donations since the January 6, insurrrection

There has been significant speculation that Representative Biggs’s words and actions have been at least reviewed by the Department of Justice, but to date, no sitting member of Congress has been directly accused of being directly involved in the insurrection plot.

In a tweet from 2018, Biggs thanked Toyota Financial Services for a tour of their facility in Chandler, Arizona, located in his Congressional district.

congressperson andy biggs, (r-AZ) in 2018 at Toyota financial services offices in chandler, Arizona

On June 29, 2020, Toyota announced they were opening a Parts Distribution Center (PDC) in Phoenix, Arizona, in partnership with Koi Distribution. The press released stated the center would stock 57,000 different parts for Toyota and Lexus products, and employ 61 people.

In 2020, Toyota’s PAC donated $8,000 to Biggs, a significant increase from the $3,500 the PAC donated in the 2018 election cycle.

Another contribution that stands out is one made to Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming. Toyota doesn’t have any offices, engineering, manufacturing, design, distribution centers, or research and development facilities in the deeply red state. According to the Toyota corporate website, the 97,000 square mile state only has 7 Toyota dealerships.

Toyota isn’t alone in supporting Congressional leaders that voted to block certification of the Electoral College results despite pledging not to. Cigna and JetBlue are two consumer brands that stand out. Intel and Microsoft have also made donations to GOP-led organizations, stating they did so with assurances that their money would not go to the 147 previously identified Congressional leaders.

According to Car and Driver, the Toyota RAV4, Camry, Tacoma, Corolla, Highlander, and 4Runner were among the top 25 vehicles sold, based on retail total volume, in 2020. The Seattle PI reported that the Toyota Corolla was the number 5 seller in the city of Seattle for 2020.

BIPOC, Editorial, Health and Lifestyle, LGBTQIA, Local, National

Malcontentment Happy Hour: May 6, 2021

Video

Our live webcast from the former Seattle Anarchist Jurisdiction

The show from May 6, 2021, featured David Obelcz and our co-host Jennifer Smith. Patrons at the $5 and above level get access to our show notes and research documents.

  • Tik Tok creates a lead in the 18-year-old case of missing person Sofia Juarez
  • Man pulls a gun on protesters in Portland, Oregon
  • Insurrections Landon Copeland has multiple outbursts in federal court
  • A Kirkland coffee order turns racist
  • Malcontented Minutes
    • First Nation Tribe buying the Palms Casino in Las Vegas
    • Vermont man arrested for hate crime after trying to run over a Black man
    • Amazon refuses to remove anti-transgender book from store
    • Caitlyn Jenner says do as I say not as I do
    • California bar is busted for selling fake vaccination cards
    • Arkansas woman steals a gun laden work truck, gets naked, gets arrested
    • Orphaned polar bear cub in Russia loves hugs and humans, and gets a new home
    • California bear relaxes in swimming pool while four cubs watch
    • National Park Services gets 45,000 applications for 12 slots to thin bison herd
    • U.S. government is using tech to warrantlessly grab personal information out of technology-laden cars
  • COVID Update

BIPOC, Editorial, Local, National

Malcontentment Happy Hour: April 26, 2021

Video

Our live webcast from the former Seattle Anarchist Jurisdiction

The show from April 26, 2021, featured David Obelcz and our co-host Jennifer Smith.

  • Six Seattle police officers who attended January 6 insurrection tentatively identified
  • Seattle City Council President Lorena Gonzalez and 2021 Seattle mayoral candidate
  • Twitch employee makes hateful and racist comments using their corporate account
  • Eastside Restaurant Week extended to Tuesday, April 27