What the hell is going on? The Richard Engel report should be the number one news story.

[shockey80]

We are witnessing the biggest threat to our democracy since the civil war. This is a corrupt takeover of our democracy. We are about to get our asses kicked.

Trump believes America is stupid for not being corrupt. He believes corrupt nations are smart.

Engel put a lot of the pieces together. We now know why Trump is so nice with corrupt nations like Russia. He is involved with them in a world wide money laundering operation.

Trump does not care about our laws or our constitution. He thinks they are stupid. He ran for president to change them. The american people better wake the fuck up.

Trump voters can kiss my ass. They chant lock her up, about a women who has never been charged in her entire life with a crime and they voted for one of the most corrupt assholes in this country. What the fuck is going on?

The damage being done to our country right now is happening at every level. Our country is being dismantled and corruption is being put in its place. Oh well, lets talk about Trumps Tweets. Madness!

[kydo]

1. The hard line orange man supporters don't do math great or reading more then 140 letters.

So when you have something with lots of numbers and words containing more then 3 or 4 letters, it hurts their brains and they turn to snowflakes. That and they are too busy watching faux noise's story on frogs.

[SkyDaddy7]

41. Does anyone have a link...

To the story Engel did? I have not seen it.

[Duppers]

47. MSNBC expose on now w Richard Engel - Narco-a-lago: Money Laundering at the Trump Ocean Club Panama

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017467096

And THIS one especially...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029858179

[Achilleaze]

74. The republican Draft-Dodger in Chief and his republican spawn

exhibit the morals and ethics of stupendously slick & skanky republican skuzzballs.

[SkyDaddy7]

75. Thank-You!!

I'm going to watch & read them now!!

[Midnight Writer]

66. also search for Panama Papers. lots there.

[SkyDaddy7]

76. Thank-you!

I've definitely heard about the Panama Papers a while back...Now there is a whole new release called the "Paradise Papers" (I think) but there are so many that no one is sure what all is in them yet. I know Wilbur Ross, Trump's Commerce Secretary who had deep ties to Russian Oligarchs & the bank involved in money laundering before he was appointed by Trump is reportedly shown to have even deeper ties to Russia that basically connect him to Putin...If I'm not mistaken. I'll have to double check.

[GusBob]

2. I can't pay attention right now pal

Some comedian kissed some pin up girl in a skit.

It's so fucking juicy I feel like I am mainlining a Viagra/Cocaine solution

[blue cat]

6. Bwhahaha

[pandr32]

18. This!

[Heather MC]

51. So bad

[SunSeeker]

58. LOL

[D_Master81]

3. Because

Its not b/c it requires thought and connecting the dots. Plus money laundering isnt something most Americans understand and relate to. Sex scandals are juicy and people relate to.

[SCVDem]

23. But not all sex is a scandal.

It changes a bad kiss into rape when you add the word scandal.

That's the real scandal.

[FakeNoose]

4. Engel's feature story had top billing on the NBC flagship news

I saw it on Lester Holt's news show at 6:30 pm, but it was maybe an abbreviated version of the report he gave on MSNBC at 9 p.m. Other news networks will talk about it, I'm sure. But NBC is really hammering it right now.

I agree this is very important and it's not being ignored.
I just wish they were doing this BEFORE the election.

[mnmoderatedem]

5. I'm not surprised that it's not

hell trumpie's money laundering violations have been going on for years, and have been well documented. As with everything else, it's OK because it's trumpie.

[PatSeg]

9. That's the thing

that amazes me. Trump's corrupt business practices have been common knowledge for years, yet he went through an entire campaign with very little of it discussed by the media. It is not like it is some recent revelation. He knows this, so it is no wonder he feels he can do or say anything without repercussions.

[RKP5637]

27. If most people did these things they would be behind bars by now. If you have lots of money,

connections, etc., you sometimes get a free pass in the US ... with it's disaster capitalism. And this guy gets a free pass to become president. Is it all F'ed up or what.

[PatSeg]

43. Yep

Trump's idea of being a successful business man is to bully, threaten, lie, cheat, sue, and counter sue. That is the "art of the deal" - nice guys finish last and all is fair in the business world. Oh and be sure to get everyone to sign a confidentiality agreement. What a slime ball. He should have been brought down a long time ago, but the media has given him a public platform for decades, so he believes his own hype.

[quartz007]

69. Yap, tRump has money for good lawyers.

He has been swindling throughout his life and getting away with it due to all the lawyers on his staff.

[spanone]

7. K&R...

[zentrum]

8. After a year the Repugs

....won't care whether Trump is impeached or not because they will have staged the coup on our system that he enabled.

Huge numbers of judge ships will have been filled by corporate/racist judges. Gerrymandering will remain the law of the land. The regulatory agencies will have been undone from education to banking to big oil. Medicare and SS will be on the chopping block. The ACA will be essentially defunded. And the crown jewel will be a permanent tax restructuring. Democracy will be gone but we'll still fight over "kneeling".

The deep structural change will take a generation to undo. If ever.

[edhopper]

24. Yes, this

[RKP5637]

28. That's exactly where we're headed and I never cease to be amazed by how many want to destroy

the US, and those that sit on the sidelines ... and then those that are willing sheep. One huge problem is most Americans have not been devastated like some countries have in history by shenanigans like this, so generally they feel immune and like, well, that could never happen here. It is, and many still have blinders on to what is happening, falling for all of the RW propaganda.

[zentrum]

37. I have heard the

.....vast majority of Americans described as the sleepwalking Germans who didn't raise the alarm as the Nazi's undid the government.

The analysis goes on to say that when we ask the question---"Where were the other Germans as Hitler marched forward"---that we should look at ourselves and know this is how they were.

[RKP5637]

46. Exactly!!! And one can tell that to many Americans, and you just get

a "deer in the headlight look," totally clueless and DUH! Trump and is cohorts knew how ignorant and naive many Americans are, and they fully used it to get elected. ... IMO he never dreamed it would work so well and likely never expected to be elected.

[zentrum]

50. +++

[oberliner]

10. No one cares

Not a news story that interests people.

[RKP5637]

29. Amazing, isn't it, how many just don't give a F. n/t

[Fantastic Anarchist]

11. Trump is Russia's last laugh.

They say revenge is a dish best served cold.

Cold Duck L'Orange anyone?

[DonViejo]

12. DU'ers posted articles about it yesterday...

Engel's report wasn't a big scoop.

Ivanka and the fugitive from Panama
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141916519

Rob Goldstone ready to come to U.S. and talk to Mueller
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141916793

[Duppers]

49. And THIS one...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029858179

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. For people who don't think of stories by who wrote them, that's the Trump Panama tower story

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/panama-tower-carries-trump-s-name-ties-organized-crime-n821706

by AGGELOS PETROPOULOS and RICHARD ENGEL

and also the Reuters reporting on it:

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-trump-panama/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social

By NED PARKER, STEPHEN GREY, STEFANIE ESCHENBACHER, ROMAN ANIN, BRAD BROOKS and CHRISTINE MURRAY

[7962]

38. No reason to be front page news. There nothing tying trump to anything illegal.

The article states "The investigation revealed no indication that the Trump Organization or members of the Trump family engaged in any illegal activity, or knew of the criminal backgrounds of some of the project’s associates."

There are a lot better stories our there to track down.
This seems like much ado about nothing, related to trump anyway.

[Enoki33]

55. There is a message that is being lost here. Namely that dotard

and his organization targeted countries rife with corruption and money laundering to develop their business model. It is the investment climate there, complete with ruling kleptocrats, that is the magnet. It compels us to take a much harder look at what dotard is doing to our country in a similar quest.

[mucifer]

14. It's not even on the front page of WaPo or NYT !

[Laf.La.Dem.]

15. Who cares about all this -

Look - Look - see who is kissing who!

[RKP5637]

30. Sadly, that's what sells and fattens the bottom line. n/t

[Lonestarblue]

16. Todays media covers only the latest titillating story. Real journalism is almost dead.

I was amazed this past week at the various media stories on sexual assault. The media whipped the stories into a frenzy where most commentators were outraged about any perceived harrassment of a woman. Don’t get me wrong—I’m a woman and I know that sexual harrassment and sexual assault exist. But with the current media focus, I worry that by equating a prank (stupid as it was) with real sexual assault (like Roy Moore’s or actual rape), we risk an eventual backlash that once again says all these women crying foul is just overblown and a man can’t even wink at a woman without it being labeled harrassment. Most of the media outrage has been in perceived liberal media. Most left-wing media has either ignored the issue or, like Fox’s Hannity, just backed off after raising a bit of attention on the Moore story. Many Republicans obviously don’t care or don’t believe that sexual assault is all that serious or that most women who are assaulted just make bad decisions that let their assaulters have access to them.

And in some cases, women do make bad decisions. Bill Clinton’s alleged rape of Juanita Broaddick is once again being brought up in an effort to say “both sides do it.” I certainly don’t know what is true in that case, but having worked around lots of men, professionals mostly, I would never have gone to my hotel room with a male co-worker alone under any circumstances, as Broaddick did. Girls and women need to be taught that part of protecting themselves is not putting themselves in risky situations. Yes, women should have the right to go anywhere and do anything they want, but that is ignoring the real-world risks that exist in our society.

[dem4decades]

17. I disagree, I think this is the biggest threat to our democracy ever. The civil war was a threat to

our Union but at least our democracy was still intact in Washington. Am I being an idiot?

[Ligyron]

19. Don't worry, we'll get those bastards in the long run.

If not now then after we're swept into power in the mid-terms and beyond.

[maddiemom]

20. I don't beleive he ran with any such "lofty" (in a nefarious way) goal in mind.

He didn't really want the job, was too lazy and expected to lose. He thought his candidacy would give his failing businesses a boost. The Repug party, however,was quick to seize the advantages, but too slow in learning how to handle him.

[bucolic_frolic]

21. As usual

Last edited Sat Nov 18, 2017, 11:12 AM - Edit history (1)

half the media is probably on the take. It's a great way to win elections too. Lessons learned in NYC from the 1920s, the time of stock syndicates, investment pools, speakeasy's, bootleggers, and shady dealings. You can't say they didn't learn from that time period. You're either in with them, or you're on the outside.

[RKP5637]

32. Yep, SOS, now in the 21st century. n/t

[Mr. Ected]

22. You're preaching to the choir here

The question is why so many other Americans cannot see this man and his entourage for what they truly are: lifelong grifters, felons and con artists.

This is simply because he added "-R" to his name.

The Republicans will not allow attacks on one of their own.

They'll deny and deflect. They'll pose false equivalencies. They'll inundate the news and social media with misinformation.

But they won't admit that they've been had.

They assume all attacks on one of their own are political. They won't even consider the notion that the charges are legitimate and their man in office is a traitor to his country.

To them, it's got to be liberals vs. conservatives; Democrats vs. Republicans.

And when Mueller starts rolling out his dozens of indictments, including ones with the name Trump or Kushner as defendants, they won't believe it. They'll insist it's a witchhunt. They won't notice that millions of lifelong Republicans are in agreement with the charges.

What it all boils down to is that we get news; they get fantasy. They get their daily fix of indignancy and directed anger. We see indictments; they see Salem Witch Trials. We see justice; they see a basis for civil war.

Welcome to the 21st century of the US of A.

[RKP5637]

33. Agree!!! Well said!!! n/t

[Boomerproud]

48. Sadly you are 100% correct.

Move along...I think we are past the tipping point regarding ever being united against a common enemy, or doing social good, again. We are each others enemy.

[red dog 1]

63. + 1

My question is when will Mueller actually start "rolling out his dozens of indictments"?

[blueinredohio]

25. Sex sells so we're still stuck on Roy Moore

[shockey80]

26. I guess I should have been arrested when I was a teenager.

I took a girl to the drive in and I stole a kiss and played with her boobs. Bad boy, bad boy.

[RKP5637]

34. Yep, I remember my teen times too. I guess today some would see it as highly illegal and

criminal.

[Merlot]

72. "oh, look at what once seemed so innocent is now criminal!"

It's always a cute anecdote.

[Plucketeer]

31. I've read all the comments in this thread

And I'm befuddled that I didn't find an answer to my question. That question is; WHY was Engle's report NOT on at 9PM PST when it was listed on DirecTV's MSNBC lineup as the fare for that time. I had told the wife that I wanted to be sure to catch that feature when it came on at 9. So we turned on the TV at 8:55 and scrolled up the menu to the lineup for MSNBC. It clearly listed Richard Engle's report at 9PM. What we got was Chris Hayes' show with no explanation as to why we weren't seeing what the schedule said was going to be on at nine! WTF? Anybody else experience this? I mused that maybe word from "on high" had scuttled the second showing (it had been on at 6PM (or so I assume) but we were busy at that point in the day, so I figured we'd just catch it later. But, nope.

[Madam45for2923]

35. THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 11/17/17 [FULL] ON ASSIGNMENT WITH RICHARD ENGEL PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

[Plucketeer]

40. Thanks, but...

That doesn't tell me why it was scheduled for 9PM, our time - and we got Chris Hayes instead.

[spiderpig]

68. Are you in the Pacific Time Zone, Plucketeer?

The original broacast was 9 Eastern/6 Pacific - Rachel's timeslot - which I watched. It was scheduled to be rebroadcast at 9 Pacific (Rachel's repeat slot) and I set up the DVR so Mr. pig could view it. He got Chris Hayes instead, even though Comcast lineup had it listed as Richard Engel.

[DonViejo]

52. Sounds like a question that should be directed to

DirecTV. Unless, of course, one of its employees is a DU'er

[Madam45for2923]

36. THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 11/17/17 [FULL] ON ASSIGNMENT WITH RICHARD ENGEL PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

[bleedinglib]

65. So, they had to let

the bank robber go ? he claimed he didn't know it was illegal to rob banks ??
as with the rapist, the money launderers, drug dealers !! Our legal system has broken down & criminals are running the country??
Maybe we should buy several automatic weapons to defend ourselves ??

[Eyeball_Kid]

39. Mueller knows all about it. Trumpy will be indicted as a co-conspirator.

He'll be indicted on dozens, perhaps hundreds of counts. His money laundering footprints are everywhere. Trumpy is at the center of international crime and corruption. That's how he has his millions.

And as a secondary issue, Trumpy will also be indicted on human sex trafficking. We're just waiting for the 10 ton shoe to drop.

[Ilsa]

42. What is the link to human sex trafficking?

I certainly believe he is capable of it, but where is this coming from?

[csziggy]

44. Engels said the report was in cooperation with Reuters

If you go to the Reuters' page and scroll down to the section on The Trump Effect, they have several leads on Panama and Russian investments into Trump projects:

Ivanka and the fugitive from Panama
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-trump-panama/

Panama struggles to escape its reputation as a haven for fraud
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-trump-panama/#sidebar-graphic-panama

Russian elite invested nearly $100 million in Trump buildings
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-trump-property/

For those who missed the Engles report, here are segments from MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-panama-building-a-magnet-for-dirty-money-laundering-1098757699956

[Guilded Lilly]

45. The STUPID has been inbred into our society for decades...

The truly dumbass will always be dumbass, but the advent of Reality TV Stupid began the dumbing down of America on a massive scale.

The Republicans in particular embraced the dumbing down and destruction of education so they could forward their idiocy agendas. They use “Religion” as a shield against intelligence. Their holier than thou control is in perfect step with patriarchal religions filled with guilt and shaming, misogyny and judgment. Sex is the trigger for media obsession and ratings. Greed is the driving force. The STUPID are their ultimate puppets.

The Cretin is the epitome of all things stupid and uneducated, socially crude and oafish, bigoted and hateful, self serving and corrupt. But mostly dangerous to Democracy.
And apparently very hard to stop.

This is America’s biggest war to date and one we cannot lose.

[Duppers]

71. +100. But we cannot reason with them.

What the hell do we do?

[StarzGuy]

53. Damn Straight

I feel so scared that I can't see straight. Why can't there be a way to quickly remove the ass hole from office along with his entire crime family? Well, that is because the repuke party, that includes every member IS part of this crime family.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

54. People are too busy demanding Bill Clinton resign for his affair with Monica to notice.

I shit you not. It’s 1998 all over again.

[thbobby]

56. It's very simple

We live in a plutocracy. The media is motivated by revenue. Only the rich or those with rich supporters can be elected. All this horrendous bullshit we are witnessing now is simple to understand.

The rich control our government. The rich control our media. The rich control our lives.

French Revolution - American version anyone? I am at a loss as to how to return control of America to the citizens of America. It is a fundamental problem with our government. It is manifested by Trump, GOP, corruption, bigotry, misogyny, etc.

But still the fundamental problem is :

The rich control the government and media. American citizens are just their pawns.

[aeromanKC]

57. Mueller is on it

Muller is 2 months ahead of us.

[Vinca]

59. People are more concerned about Hillary's impeachment. LOL.

[Gothmog]

60. I miss living in a world where facts matter

[orangecrush]

61. Totally get it

This needs to be repeated often.


https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029860128

[elleng]

62. because trump's insulated himself from the crap,

they 'just' use/rent his name, he's not hand-on. (No pun intended.)

[red dog 1]

64. K&R

[grantcart]

67. What happened with the Wilbur Ross story

$ 100 million investment with Putin's son in law, one day and gone.

[raven mad]

70. Red herrings always work if you aim it at

a neanderthal, scum sucking idiot.

[DeminPennswoods]

73. The show's teasers promised more than it delivered

I watched Engel's whole show on MSNBC, but it just didn't deliver on the claims NBC made for it. There was really nothing concrete that tied Trump directly to money-laundering. Engel interviewed a federal prosecutor near the end and tried really hard to get him to say there's legal case against Trump, but couldn't.

[AntiFascist]

77. K&R, but...

Engel should have pointed out that this is not just a foreign phenomenon. There is plenty of Trump real-estate within the U.S. funded by money laundering schemes:

...

Trump’s partner in Sunny Isles is Dezer Development, which began buying up property in 1995 and now owns twenty-seven acres of oceanfront. According to company president Gil Dezer, his firm handles the due diligence on condo buyers. “We do make sure we know our customer by asking for personal information at the time of signing the contract,” Dezer wrote in an e-mail. “We also make sure that anyone buying with an LLC proves to us that they are the rightful owner of that LLC and we check again at closing to make sure that we are still dealing with the same person at the time of delivering title.”

Offshore entities are an especially bright red flag, but domestic LLCs offer a simple means of obscuring property ownership from tax and law enforcement agencies or an aggrieved business partner or spouse. Peter Zalewski, a consultant to real estate developers, told me that Pekhtin “was either naïve or cheap. If he’d just hired a local attorney, he could have structured things in a way that he never would have been caught.”

https://www.thenation.com/article/miami-where-luxury-real-estate-meets-dirty-money/