deerstalker

https://www.essence.com/news/michelle-obama-reveals-melania-trump-gift-inauguration

Remember Melania Trump’s awkward gift exchange with Michelle Obama on Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day? Well, the former first lady has finally revealed what was inside that Tiffany & Co. box. If you recall, the already clumsy greeting between the Trumps and Obamas that morning was made even more uncomfortable when Trump presented Obama with the blue present. At the time, Mrs. Obama’s face was all of us, and the meme-able moment quickly went viral. via GIPHY During an appearance on Ellen — Mrs. Obama's first TV interview since leaving the White House — she opened up about the story behind the meme. “It was a lovely frame,” Obama tells DeGeneres in the preview clip of their sit-down interview set to air on Thursday (Feb. 1). So what was going through Obama’s mind when Mrs. Trump, who was noticeably a few paces behind her husband, presented her the blue box? [brightcove id=5689544782001] “Well, there’s all this protocol,” she explains. “I mean, this is like a state visit, so they tell you that you’re going to do this, they’re going to stand here. Never before do you get this gift, so I’m sort of like, ‘Okay, what am I supposed to do with this gift?’” Thankfully, Barack Obama helped to calm the cringeworthy hand-off. “And then my husband saved the day – see he grabbed the box and took it back inside.”

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2018/01/healthy-snack-valentine-printables/

There’s enough candy on Valentine’s Day! Make quick and easy healthy valentine snacks for your kids to give out in class. Here are some Free printables for apple sauce squeeze pouches, oranges, and juice boxes.

To make them:

Download the free printable, print it out on your printer.

Cut out the labels to fit your healthy snacks. then attach with double-sided tape.

EASY!

The post Healthy Snack Valentine Printables appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

https://www.themarysue.com/dems-boycott-sotu/

Members are wearing black to tonight’s #SOTU to say #TimesUp on sexual harassment. #SOTUBlackout pic.twitter.com/SuQNL4VWf2

— House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats) January 30, 2018

Tonight, Donald Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address. As of now, 13 Democrats are planning to boycott. According to CNN, that’s the largest-ever boycott of its type. Previously, the largest number of lawmakers to ever skip the SOTU was 12, in 1971, when the entire Congressional Black Caucus did not attend after Richard Nixon reportedly refused a meeting with them.

But boycotts of the SOTU are rare. Here are the twelve lawmakers planning to make a statement with their absence tonight:

John Lewis

Lewis told MSNBC, “At this junction, I do not plan to attend the State of the Union.” After Trump’s reported “shithole countries” remarks regarding immigration from African nations as well as countries like El Salvador and Haiti, Lewis said, “I cannot in all good conscience be in a room with what he has said about so many Americans. I just cannot do it. I wouldn’t be honest with myself.”

Rep. Maxine Waters

Speaking to @JoyAnnReid on @allinwithchris, Rep. Maxine Waters says she will not be attending Pres. Trump’s State of the Union address this month. https://t.co/sy8e66fFEl #inners #11MSNBC pic.twitter.com/pzhO0OWjlz

— 11th Hour (@11thHour) January 13, 2018

Waters says Trump does not deserve her attention. “Why would I take my time to go and sit and listen to a liar?”

Rep. Frederica Wilson

Wilson also referenced Trump’s racist comments in explaining her reasons for boycotting.

I cannot in good consciousness attend the #SOTU address after the president went so low in his remarks about Haiti & African nations. It would be hypocrisy to go to an event at which he is honored.

— Rep Frederica Wilson (@RepWilson) January 16, 2018

Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Rather than listening to another destructive, divisive speech by Trump, I will not attend this year’s annual address to Congress. Instead, like I did during his inauguration, I'll be working at home listening to Oregonians about what they think about the State of the Union! #SOTU

— Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) January 5, 2018

Blumenauer will be sending Aldo Solano, a DACA recipient, in his place.

I am delighted to send Aldo Solano to attend Trump's State of the Union address in my place. Trump's disastrous policies have destroyed lives and impact real people who call our country home. We can't let Aldo down. pic.twitter.com/GkSvmUKH0z

— Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) January 26, 2018

Many other lawmakers are bringing Dreamers as their guest to the event, prompting Arizona’s Rep. Paul Gosar to call for the arrest and deportation of any undocumented immigrants in attendance.

Rep. Gregory W. Meeks

ICYMI: I announced I will not attend Trump’s State of the Union.

He does not respect me or the communities I represent, so I cannot in good conscience sit idly on the House floor and listen to his scripted speech. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/7fDrnB9Mfj

— Gregory Meeks (@RepGregoryMeeks) January 29, 2018

Rep. Jan Schakowsky

I refuse to normalize President Donald Trump and his loathsome language and actions. https://t.co/MpFhxZzXSj

— Jan Schakowsky (@RepSchakowsky) January 27, 2018

Rep. Bobby L. Rush

.@RepBobbyRush to boycott Trump’s State of the Union speech because his presidency is “built on racism, stupidity, and lies.” https://t.co/LOpXhIrOHz pic.twitter.com/0q2PzQpLGE

— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) January 29, 2018

Rep. Pramila Jayapa

If I felt that attending @realDonaldTrump‘s State of the Union advanced the interests of Washington’s 7th District, the United States, or the global community to which we are so interconnected, I would be there.

But it doesn’t. Here is why. https://t.co/XvUlUHdgmX

— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) January 17, 2018

Rep. Danny K. Davis

I will be meeting with constituents tomorrow…here’s why.
REP. DAVIS NOT ATTENDING THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS https://t.co/gQrl7FNTDz

— Rep. Danny K. Davis (@RepDannyDavis) January 29, 2018

Rep. Steve Cohen

“I hope he says ‘I resign'” — in response to a question from @FOX13Memphis‘s @DoreyScheimer, asking what I’d like to hear from #Trump in tonight’s #SOTU @funder #StateOfTheUnion #womenssotu #ImpeachTrump

— Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) January 30, 2018

Albio Sires

Tonight I will be on @NJTVNews @Telemundo @News12NJ & @CNNEspanol discussing my decision to not attend the State of the Union. I hope the President comes to understand that we want a leader who stands up for every American.

— Albio Sires (@RepSires) January 30, 2018

Re. Juan Vargas

.@POTUS continues to disrespect women, insult people of color, and attack our immigrant communities. I will not be attending the State of the Union—I stand in solidarity with all the people he has and continues to disrespect. #SOTU

— Rep. Juan Vargas (@RepJuanVargas) January 29, 2018

Rep. Barbara Lee

Since my election to Congress, I’ve attended every #SOTU because I respect the office of the Presidency. This year, I will not attend. President Trump has dishonored the Oval Office. Read my full statement ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/2t4NsmIPaq

— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) January 30, 2018

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will also be skipping Trump’s speech. (Although the late Justice Antonin Scalia had not attended a SOTU address in nearly 20 years.)

Other lawmakers are choosing alternate forms of protest while still attending the event. Joe Kennedy will be bringing as his guest Army Staff Sgt. Patricia King, a transgender soldier.

We’re cheering on Army Staff Sgt. Patricia King—a #Massachusetts native and openly #trans soldier—who will be attending tomorrow’s #SOTU with @joekennedy: https://t.co/7urFYi0CoI #MAPoli #TransLawMA pic.twitter.com/JQ8H3DjQyW

— Freedom for All MA (@Freedom_Mass) January 29, 2018

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is bringing San Juan’s mayor, Carmen Yulin Cruz.

It is an honor to announce that Mayor @CarmenYulinCruz of San Juan, Puerto Rico will join me at the #SOTU. Throughout the crisis in Puerto Rico, Mayor Cruz has shown extraordinary leadership and fearless advocacy for her city.

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) January 29, 2018

I hope Mayor Cruz’s presence at #SOTU will remind the president and my colleagues in Congress of our urgent responsibility to help Puerto Rico fully recover and rebuild. Our fellow citizens must not be forgotten or left behind.

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) January 29, 2018

An honor to represent thousands in San Juan and more in Puerto Rico who still have no electricity and fight everyday for a better today.

— Carmen Yulín Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) January 29, 2018

Many female Democrats are choosing to bring survivors of sexual assault, including Chessy Prout (a guest of Rep. Anne McLane Kuster), the teenage victim of the Owen Labrie prep school rape case, as well as Rose Gunter (guest of Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman), the niece of Recy Taylor.

Many others are choosing to simply wear black as a form of silent protest.

I wore black today to stand with workers demanding dignified, equal workplaces free of harassment across all industries. #SOTUBLACKOUT pic.twitter.com/xbUtX6k9N9

— Rep Frederica Wilson (@RepWilson) January 30, 2018

Some of these female lawmakers, along with a number of other activists including Ai-jen Poo, Tarana Burke, and Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards, will be hosting an alternate event, dubbed The State of OUR Union.

I was invited to attend the State of the Union address by @JackieSpeier – who I respect, but had to decline. My fellow Movement sisters @aijenpoo & @monica_promumi were also invited and declined. Instead we are hosting the State of OUR Union. Join us: https://t.co/gqIjUbOV4m

— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) January 29, 2018

You can live stream that event at TheStateofOurUnion.org.

(image: Shutterstock)

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https://www.essence.com/news/cbc-members-kente-cloth-trump-sotu

President Donald Trump addressed the nation Tuesday night in his very first State of the Union since taking office last year, standing in front of a divided Congress to deliver a speech that touched on unemployment, immigration reform and the economy. While many Democrats and Congressional leaders decided to sit this one out, others attended the address with the sole purpose of delivering a message. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus wore Kente cloth in different fashions to protest Trump's "shithole" comments about African nations and Haiti, which many Democratic leaders believed to be anti-Black and racist.   The result was a powerful moment that called on the beauty of the African Diaspora and the richness of African nations. Not to mention, a serious nod to anyone looking for Black Panther inspiration. Members also donned red pins emblazoned with Recy Taylor's name, the late anti-rape activists who, in 1944, was raped and assaulted by six white men, sparking nationwide outrage. She died in December 2017. Taylor's decision to dedicate her life to speaking out against sexual assault was recently highlighted in today's #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. Oprah Winfrey even referenced Taylor's fight and tenacity in her Golden Globes Speech, calling on an end to the miscarriage of justice for victims. "For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power to those men, but their time is up. Their time is up!" Winfrey said in her speech. "I just hope that Recy Taylor died knowing... her truth, even now, goes marching on."