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Trump Drops Defense of Obama Guidelines on Transgender Students New York Times The Trump administration has dropped the federal government's challenge to a nationwide injunction issued last year that blocked the fulfillment of Obama administration guidelines stating that transgender students' access to bathrooms and other ... Feds drop request to rein in ban on Obama transgender policyPolitico (blog) Trump admin withdraws request to limit ban on Obama-era transgender policyThe Hill all 31 news articles »

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Trump Drops Defense of Obama Guidelines on Transgender Students - New York Times

When former President Barack Obama said he was heartened by anti-Trump protests, he was sending a message of approval to his troops. Troops? Yes, Obama has an army of agitators numbering more than 30,000 who will fight his Republican successor at every turn of his historic presidency. And Obama will command them from a bunker less than two miles from the White House.

In whats shaping up to be a highly unusual post-presidency, Obama isnt just staying behind in Washington. Hes working behind the scenes to set up what will effectively be a shadow government to not only protect his threatened legacy, but to sabotage the incoming administration and its popular America First agenda.

Hes doing it through a network of leftist nonprofits led by Organizing for Action. Normally youd expect an organization set up to support a politician and his agenda to close up shop after that candidate leaves office, but not Obamas OFA. Rather, its gearing up for battle, with a growing war chest and more than 250 offices across the country.

Since Donald Trumps election, this little-known but well-funded protesting arm has beefed up staff and ramped up recruitment of young liberal activists, declaring on its website, Were not backing down. Determined to salvage Obamas legacy,its drawing battle lines on immigration, ObamaCare, race relations and climate change.

Obama is intimately involved in OFA operations and even tweets from the groups account. In fact, he gave marching orders to OFA foot soldiers following Trumps upset victory.

It is fine for everybody to feel stressed, sad, discouraged, he said in a conference call from the White House. But get over it. He demanded they move forward to protect what weve accomplished.

Now is the time for some organizing, he said. So dont mope.

Far from sulking, OFA activists helped organize anti-Trump marches across US cities, some of which turned into riots. After Trump issued a temporary ban on immigration from seven terror-prone Muslim nations, the demonstrators jammed airports, chanting: No ban, no wall, sanctuary for all!

Run by old Obama aides and campaign workers, federal tax records show nonpartisan OFA marshals 32,525 volunteers nationwide. Registered as a 501(c)(4), it doesnt have to disclose its donors, but theyve been generous. OFA has raised more than $40 million in contributions and grants since evolving from Obamas campaign organization Obama for America in 2013.

OFA, in IRS filings, says it trains young activists to develop organizing skills. Armed with Obamas 2012 campaign database, OFA plans to get out the vote for Democratic candidates its grooming to win back Congress and erect a wall of resistance to Trump at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.

It will be aided in that effort by the Obama Foundation, run by Obamas former political director, and the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, launched last month by Obama pal Eric Holder to end what he and Obama call GOP gerrymandering of congressional districts.

Obama will be overseeing it all from a shadow White House located within two miles of Trump. It features a mansion, which hes fortifying with construction of a tall brick perimeter, and a nearby taxpayer-funded office with his own chief of staff and press secretary. Michelle Obama will also open an office there, along with the Obama Foundation.

The 55-year-old Obama is not content to go quietly into the night like other ex-presidents

Critical to the fight is rebuilding the ravaged Democrat Party. Obama hopes to install his former civil-rights chief Tom Perez at the helm of the Democratic National Committee.

Perez is running for the vacant DNC chairmanship, vowing Its time to organize and fight ... We must stand up to protect President Obamas accomplishments; while also promising, Were going to build the strongest grass-roots organizing force this country has ever seen.

The 55-year-old Obama is not content to go quietly into the night like other ex-presidents.

Youre going to see me early next year, he said after the election, and were going to be in a position where we can start cooking up all kinds of great stuff.

Added the ex-president: Point is, Im still fired up and ready to go.

Paul Sperry is the author of The Great American Bank Robbery, which details the link between race-based housing policies and the mortgage crisis.

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How Obama is scheming to sabotage Trump's presidency - New York Post

Spencer Wiggins 2:02 p.m. CT Feb. 11, 2017

Spencer Wiggins (Photo: handout)

Donald Trumps swearing in as the 45th president remindedme that with each new person who assumes this position of being the elected leader of the free world, especially after such a tumultuous election season, we as a nation must move forward and hope for the best because our democracy is strong.

It also gives me an opportunity to reflect back on the past eight years under President Barack Obama and what I consider his legacy.

Whether you were a supporter of his presidency and his policies or if you opposed his positions on various programs or the content of his rhetoric, you would have to agree that he did carry himself with dignity and respect for the office.

I personally have not always agreed with him on his positions and his tactics.His failure to follow through on his Middle East red line challenge on the Syrian chemical weapons build up immediately comes to mind.However, the differences I had in regard to some of the decisions and strategy does not take away from my respect for a man who is smart, well educated, scholarly, an extraordinary orator and well read.

Obama was not perfect, but neither was any other president been free of mistakes. As the first African American president, Obama carried himself with a strong sense of responsibility in being the first of his race to hold such an esteemed office, which was free of scandal during his eight-year tenure.

As an African American and a member of 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee, I immediately think of our 100 KINGS imitative.

The program is designed to help African American boys to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to succeed in life. Currently the average age of the participants in the program is 15, and since they were in middle or even elementary school, they have grown up knowing only Barack Obama as President of the United States. As we have mentored them, they have observed him, not only as being the president, but how he has carried himself as a husband and a father.

Our members serve as role models for the 100 KINGS by creating an environment based upon purpose and trust through self-esteem and confidence. My personal view of the Obama legacy is that he has provided the next generation of African American males another role model for them to emulate and who will inspire them to find a pathway to a successful future.

Spencer Wiggins is a member of 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee and past chair of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission.

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Obama leaves legacy for future black men - The Tennessean

NewsBusters (blog)

Spiro Agnew's Media Legacy: Trump, Obama and Time Magazine NewsBusters (blog) The difference in the treatment of Presidents Obama and Trump by the media can perhaps be best symbolized by two Time magazine covers in December of 2008 and 2016. Both men were newly elected presidents of the United States. Both were selected as ...

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Spiro Agnew's Media Legacy: Trump, Obama and Time Magazine - NewsBusters (blog)

By: Elias J. Atienza

Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) have teamed once more to reintroduce legislation on criminal justice reform. The bill, which is mostly a rehash of the one introduced in the last Congress by Booker, would restrict the use of solitary confinement for juveniles except in limited cases.

Former President Barrack Obama first initiated widespread changes in federal prisons for solitary confinement after the Justice Department recommended it, affecting some 10,000 prisons. However, it is not permanent, which is why the Paul and Booker are reintroducing the bill in order to ensure that the changes remain.

Both Paul and Obama have referred to the story of Kalief Browder, a young black man who had been sent to Rikkers Island and spent three years in prison after allegedly stealing a backpack. He was charged with second degree robbery and spent most of his time in solitary confinement. He never had a trial.

However, all charges were dropped and he was released. He committed suicide in June of 2015, most likely due to the conditions of his detention. His case has been cited for criminal justice reform, especially solitary confinement.

The bill currently has four other cosponsors, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Richard Durbin (D-IL), James Lankford (R-OK), and Robert Casey (D-PA).

It is unknown what President Donald Trumps position is on solitary confinement. However, due to his administrations position on criminal justice reform is not wholly positive towards it, he might overturn Obamas executive orders on solitary confinement within federal prisons. Hence the bill.

AsJean Cassella and James Ridgeway write inSolitary Watch:

Trump has long denounced what he calls criminals rights. And more broadly, since the widespread use of solitary confinement is driven by mass incarceration, Trumps general law-and-order stance, which is inhospitable to such moves as sentencing reform, could add to the federal prison population.Sessions, who has a track record on these issueshevirulentlyopposedrecent bipartisan efforts at sentencing reform and wrongly believes that crime is skyrocketingwill certainly have Trumps back.

Cory BookerCriminal Justice ReformDonald TrumpJeff SessionsKalief Browderrand paulsolitary confinement

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Rand Paul Teams Up With Cory Booker To Place Restrictions on Solitary Confinement for Juveniles - The Libertarian Republic