#Searles Freedom Trust

[republicansaredomesticterrorists]

Click on the Source Watch link above and look at the mind numbing list of far right organizations that the Searle Freedom Trust has funded with hundreds of millions in dark money donations. This is just a fraction of the vast right-wing conspiracy that the right-wing Republicans once denied. Right-wing oligarchs have spent billions since the 1960’s to take away your vote, persecute marginalized people, let businesses operate without restrictions, and impose a white Christo-Fascist authoritarian government on us.

This is real. Look at those organizations and how they have worked to replace democracy with corporate/oligarch fascism.

Boycott oligarch companies, vote Democratic, become an activist, resist however you can before Trump can impose Project 2025 on us.

[tomorrowusa]

A rich guy who died 17 years ago is still funding rightwing causes. The only good news is that the money runs out in 2025.

From the Ambien and Dramamine in millions of bathroom medicine cabinets, to the sugar substitute that makes diet sodas sweet, to the first-ever birth control pill, some of America’s most common medicines and supplements can be traced back to the G.D. Searle pharmaceutical company. Now, more than a century after the company’s founding, the massive family fortune built from those scientific advances has emerged as a major benefactor of the right, mostly out of the public eye. The Searle Freedom Trust, a foundation funded by the company’s former chairman, has doled out more than $200 million in grants over the last decade, sending more money to conservative nonprofits than nearly any other private foundation in recent years, according to a CNN analysis. This year, the Searle trust is poised to play an even bigger role as it empties out its coffers. Following the wishes of its founder, the late Daniel C. Searle, the trust is closing down in 2025 and planning to award most of its last major grants in 2024. That means a potential windfall during a key election year for groups that push conservative policies: as of the beginning of 2023, according to its most recent tax return, the trust had more than $59 million left to spend.

Thanks to the Republican Supreme Court, the filthy rich can shit money into the coffers of rightwing causes and candidates.

“The fact that our political system works in a way where wealthy people who died years ago can continue to have such profound influence over our politics and our beliefs about science and the world is just incredibly damaging,” said Galen Hall, a University of Michigan researcher who’s studied the flow of money from foundations like the Searle trust to climate change denial groups. “It’s one of the key aspects of American politics that makes positive change on issues like climate change so difficult.” [ ... ] The Searle trust is one of the most prolific funders of conservative groups among all private foundations, according to a CNN analysis of nonprofit tax data. From 2020 through 2022, it has given a total of more than $29 million to a selection of conservative nonprofits identified by CNN. Only one other private foundation, the Sarah Scaife Foundation, reported giving more to the groups over the same time period, based on data from hundreds of thousands of public tax filings. The analysis only included publicly reported donations, so it may be missing some foundations that donated through donor-advised funds, which help conceal the path of their money.

The billionaires and their poorer multimillionaire buddies know that liberals tend to overlook state governments. So they focus disproportionately on controlling state legislatures and passing reactionary laws. The late Daniel C. Searle was no exception.

The trust has also given more than $2.75 million to the American Legislative Exchange Council, which over the years has written cookie-cutter model legislation that has inspired conservative bills around the US – including laws that expanded the use of private prisons, restricted the ability of state pension funds to consider environmental risks when making investments, and limited local governments’ ability to restrict firearms. The Searle trust has “been a key financial driver of the development of right-wing political infrastructure,” said Brendan Fischer, the deputy executive director of the progressive watchdog group Documented. “They’ve had a pretty successful track record in areas including attacks on workers’ rights, the freedom to vote, state efforts to thwart action on climate change.”

We can no longer afford to be slackers when it comes to state politics. Increasingly we need to give extremist Republicans more pushback in state capitals.

Take more interest in legislative matters in your state. Let news outlets know you want more coverage of what legislatures are up to. Support outlets which already do provide such coverage.

And find out who exactly is representing you in the legislature. If it's MAGA Republicans who get loads of campaign contributions from billionaire sugar daddies, work for their defeat in the next state election.

Find Your Legislators Look your legislators up by address or use your current location.

This is a Substack about state politics by the idiosyncratic Carolyn Fiddler. It looks at state politics from a national and Democratic perspective. It's worth subscribing to.

This Week in Statehouse Action

It's good though it isn't a substitute for a news source for your specific state's politics.

Filthy rich rightwingers can be stopped if we get involved and remain focused. Winners in politics are not people with short attention spans.

[aic-european]

The Banks of the River Durance at Saint Paul, Paul Camille Guigou, 1864, Art Institute of Chicago: European Painting and Sculpture

Jointly acquired by The Art Institute of Chicago, through the Searle Freedom Trust Size: 24 1/2 × 58 1/4 in. (62 × 148 cm) Medium: Oil on canvas

https://www.artic.edu/artworks/109693/

[titleknown]

Logan brings X-Men characters in the real world. Once everyone is bleeding and suffering and dealing with trauma, we are in the real world. This world. And in this world, I’m watching black and brown people get killed every day. I’m watching white killers get away with their crimes and the government looking the other way. I’m watching racism, anti-Semitism and sexism rising in the White House, endangering people in our entire country. Zander Rice (Richard E. Grant) instructing an entire army to retain and kill young black and brown children under the guise of power, money, authority and whiteness does not look like fantasy to me. Watching these parentless, troubled children journey across the border to fend for themselves once their white protector is dead does not fill me any hope or joy. I feel dread, and I can’t help but think about the real life children in America fending for themselves because our government does not care for their safety. The children who never had any sort of powerful savior to look out for them. And what message does the film leave us with? Things are going to get much, much worse? We will have to fight for our freedom all over again. We will die all over again. The government will always get back around to killing us, even if we’re safe for a short while. Even after overcoming certain differences, there will always be more differences. There will always be more barriers. And despite all this, we must continue to open our hearts and love again. Trust again. Even if it will all go to shit soon enough. Logan reminds us that at the end of the day safety is an illusion of time. This is not a fact black and brown people need to be reminded of. We already know that.

Jourdain Searles, “The Thoughtless Diversity of Logan”

While the rest of the article is alright, I think this bit really hits home specifically on how the grimdark-n-gritty narrative aesthetic is more of a way of re-enforcing dominant narratives and the hopelessness of changing them, and is a message I think more people should take to heart.

I might as well mention this writer, who I was introduced to via @actuallykylekallgren‘s latest video, has a site, and a good article on a similar vein relating to the film Mother, excellently dissecting critical snobbishness relating to this, and a very uncomfortable to read but important, scathing article on complacency I think everyone should read...

[mrhenryharrell]

RT @JuddLegum: 7. The Daily Caller's fact check operation is funded by the Searle Freedom Trust, a major funder of organizations that push climate disinformation and other right-wing causes https://t.co/AoMU8uhDR8

RT @JuddLegum: 7. The Daily Caller's fact check operation is funded by the Searle Freedom Trust, a major funder of organizations that push climate disinformation and other right-wing causes https://popular.info/p/the-daily-caller-uses-status-as-facebook from @gueringreen - twitter https://twitter.com/GuerinGreen/status/1234857119297556486

[ltlredx]

via Twitter https://twitter.com/LiberalFenix

[allspark]

It’s time for our weekly Diamond Comics Shipping List! Check out some great titles IDW has in store for us this coming week like Lost Light, Scarlett’s Strike Force, Jem & the Holograms Dimensions, My Little Pony Legends of Magic, Samurai Jack and more! All coming your way for December 27th!

LOST LIGHT #12

James Roberts (A/CVR A) Jack Lawrence (CVR B) Nick Roche (CVR C) Alex Milne

NO TURNING BACK! Getaway has crossed one too many lines and made one too many enemies. Hunted down on his own ship, the master manipulator has one last trick of his sleeve-something so shocking, so audacious, that it would put the most evil Decepticon to shame. No one is safe as the Mutineers Trilogy reaches its jaw-dropping climax.

TRANSFORMERS AUTOCRACY TRILOGY TP

Chris Metzen, Flint Dille (A/CVR) Livio Ramondelli

Before Optimus became a Prime he fought for order. Before Megatron became a conqueror he fought for freedom. In the early days of the war on Cybertron, two leaders-one Autobot, the other Decepticon-start down their own paths towards destiny. Collects the Autocracy, Monstrosity, and Primacy series into one collection.

TRANSFORMERS DRIFT ORIGINS & EMPIRES TP

Shane McCarthy (A) Alex Milne, Guido Guidi, Marcelo Ferreira (CVR) Livio Ramondelli

Repentant villain Drift roams the galaxy, waging a solitary war on his former allies, delivering swift justice to any Decepticons that cross his path. But with many Autobots refusing to trust him, and many Decepticons sure he’s pulling a scheme, walking the straight and narrow path won’t be easy, and Drift-previously known as Deadlock-must repeatedly face the consequences of his past mistakes. Collects Transformers Spotlight: Drift, Transformers: Drift #1-4, and Transformers Drift: Empire of Stone #1-4.

TRANSFORMERS VS GI JOE QUINTESSENTIAL COLL HC

Tom Scioli, John Barber (A/CVR) Tom Scioli

Earth makes contact with an alien race-and G.I. JOE is on the front lines! But, when the Transformers arrive-well, let’s just say you’ve never seen Transformers vs G.I. JOE like this! This oversized deluxe hardcover collects all 13 issues, including commentary and extras by creators Tom Scioli and John Barber! What happens if you let Tom Scioli design a massive hardcover collection of his insane, genre-bending, license-smashing, Hasbro-blessed epic? Buy and find out.

SCARLETT’S STRIKE FORCE #1

Aubrey Sitterson (A) Nelson Daniel (CVR A) Harvey Tolibao

They’ve fought back invasions from home and afar-now, they’re back on Earth, and ready to take on the wildest, weirdest threats out there! It’s Scarlett’s G.I. Joe team, the Strike Force, against a brand-new Cobra Commander, a revitalized Cobra, and everyone else trying to conquer Earth… or destroy it! Aubrey Sitterson (G.I. Joe, Street Fighter x G.I. Joe) is joined by superstar artist Nelson Daniel (Clue, Dungeons & Dragons) in The Best Action Comic Ever! •   Featuring all-stars of the Hasbro line as M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand and the Transformers join G.I. Joe in the fight against Cobra!

JEM & THE HOLOGRAMS DIMENSIONS #2

Sarah Winifred Searle, Sarah Kuhn (A/CVR B) Sarah Winifred Searle (A/CVR A) Siobhan Keenan

In our first story by Sarah Winifred Searle, Shana takes center stage her fashion design final is coming up, but when disaster strikes, will she use Synergy to “cheat” her way through?! And in the second story by Sarah Kuhn and Siobhan Keenan, you only need to know two words: KARAOKE. BATTLE. •   This anthology book features 2 self-contained stories in each issue! Double the rock-n-roll fun! •   Featuring the work of Sarah Winifred Searle, whose comics have been featured by Fresh Romance, The Nib, Iron Circus, and Faith! •   Second story by Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex, Heroine Worship), and Siobhan Keenan (Clueless).

BACK TO THE FUTURE TIME TRAIN #1

Bob Gale, John Barber (A/CVR A) Megan Levens (CVR B) Philip Murphy

It’s 1893 and at last, Doc Brown fulfills his promise to Clara as he’s completed the project he’s been working on: the Time Train! But where in time and space will the Brown family go on their inaugural trip? And what could possibly go wrong if and when they get there? Lots! Join Gale, Barber, and Megan Levens as they kick off the newest Back to the Future series! •   Finally! Find out what happens to Doc, Clara, and the whole family after the end of the third film! •   Part of IDW’s Artist’s Edition Cover Month!

MICKEY & DONALD CHRISTMAS PARADE #3

Francesco Artibani, Thad Komorowski, Joe Torcivia (A) Silvio Camboni, Giovan Carpi (CVR A) Andrea Freccero (CVR B) Daniel Branca

In “The Secret Santa Spell,” Magica De Spell hijacks some North Pole magic to clobber Scrooge and Donald on Christmas Eve! And while Magica’s got the Ducks tied up… in “The Case of the Scrambled Formula,” there’s no one left to battle the Beagle Boys but Mickey Mouse and Goofy! •   Beloved DuckTales bad girl Magica De Spell steals Christmas this issue… bringing her whole clan along for a legendary battle with Donald and Scrooge! •   64 pages of wild winter tales to celebrate the holiday season!

MICKEY MOUSE THE MAGNIFICENT DOUBLEJOKE TP

Andrea Castellan, Jonathan H. Gray, Massimo De Vita, Thad Komorowski, Noel Van Horn (A) Andrea Castellan, Massimo De Vita, Thad Komorowski, Noel Van Horn (A/CVR) Jonathan H. Gray

When a bizarrely trollish crimefighter hits Mouseton, neither Mickey nor Pegleg Pete know what to expect-except one crook-smashing practical joke after another! Then Mickey and Eega Beeva meet “The Clones of Channel 3000″…and further battles are joined with ever-greasy Mortimer and a most peculiar mousenapper! Collects IDW’s Mickey Mouse issues #19-21. •   “This series is fantastic for all ages.”-Bleeding Cool •   Advance solicited for December release!

MY LITTLE PONY LEGENDS OF MAGIC #9

Jeremy Whitley (A/CVR A) Tony Fleecs

Tensions between new allies could unravel the great quest before it begins!

SAMURAI JACK QUANTUM JACK #4

Fabian, Jr. Rangel (A/CVR B) Warwick J. Cadwell (CVR A) Michael Avon Oeming

Still lost in time and without his memories, Jack has survived a biker gang, a horde of Lucha Libre wrestlers, and a giant sea monster! But can the wandering Samurai overcome… a desk job? Jack has swapped out his sword for a suit, a tie and a cubicle. But everything isn’t as it appears, and the biggest surprise of all may be waiting for him at home…

STAR WARS ADVENTURES #5

Landry Quinn Walker (A/CVR A) Eric Jones (CVR B) Arianna Florean

With their diplomatic mission turned into a debacle, can Leia and Luke possibly salvage the situation? We hope so because the future of the Rebel Alliance may depend on it! Plus an exciting new Tales of Wildspace!

STAR TREK BOLDLY GO #15

Mike Johnson (A) Tana Ford (CA) Angel Hernandez

“I.D.I.C.” Part 3 of 6! The 6-part epic adventure “I.D.I.C.” continues, as the mastermind behind the colliding realities is revealed! Can the multiple Kirks and their crews unite in time to save all of their universes?

STAR TREK DISCOVERY #2

Mike Johnson, Kirsten Beyer (A/CVR A) Tony Shasteen

The STAR TREK event of 2017 continues with this exclusive tie-in comic to the blockbuster new television series! Secrets are revealed that will change the course of the galaxy forever! •   Co-written by Discovery writer and Trek novelist Kirsten Beyer and longtime Trek comic book writer Mike Johnson! •   Art by Star Trek comic book veteran and fan-favorite Tony Shasteen, of the hit series, Boldly Go! •   Explore the strange new worlds and new civilizations of Discovery each month! •   Each issue features a “ships of the line” cover by Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire! A great first look at the new ships of Discovery!

UNCLE SCROOGE #33

Carlo Chendi, Jonathan Gray (A/CVR B) Giorgio Cavazzano (A) Bas Heymans (CVR A) Jonathan Gray

“The Big Blast-Off Blowout!” When a giant satellite plummets to earth at light speed, the McDuck Money Bin lies right in its path! Can Scrooge dodge a crash course… or will the Beagle Boys make this space chase scarier? •   Uncle Scrooge’s solo book joins IDW’s DuckTales for a double-McDuck punch! •   Blast off with master Disney artist Giorgio Cavazzano for a wild space saga-featuring the return of interstellar whacko O.K. Quack!

IDW Comics Shipping List for December 27th! It's time for our weekly Diamond Comics Shipping List! Check out some great titles IDW has in store for us this coming week like…

[jackpwrightuk]

AA mortgages unveils 1.08% 2-year fix

AA Mortgages has launched a 2-year fix at 1.08% to 75% loan-to-value with a £1,495 product fee.

The product comes with standard legal fees for remortgages and standard valuation fees.

David Searle, the AA’s financial services director, said: “For those thinking of moving or remortgaging, this is a compelling fix from one of the UK’s most trusted providers.

Mark Carney hints at rate rise

“Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said this morning that the base rate could rise soon, saying: ‘If the economy continues on this track it may be appropriate to raise interest rates’.

“So this might be a very good time to take advantage of low fixed-rate mortgage offers such as this.

“Customers will have the freedom to use their mortgage to move or improve, or simply change to a better rate.

“Furthermore, our award-winning online application service makes it even easier for customers to manage the whole application themselves.”

The AA entered the mortgage market in partnership with Bank of Ireland UK in 2016.

Go to Source

The post AA mortgages unveils 1.08% 2-year fix appeared first on Trusted Mortgage Brokers - Find A Local Mortgage Adviser Today.

from https://www.trustedmortgagebrokers.co.uk/aa-mortgages-unveils-1-08-2-year-fix/

from Trusted Mortgages Brokers - Blog http://trustedmortgagebrokers.weebly.com/blog/aa-mortgages-unveils-108-2-year-fix

[trustedmortgagebrokers]

AA mortgages unveils 1.08% 2-year fix

AA Mortgages has launched a 2-year fix at 1.08% to 75% loan-to-value with a £1,495 product fee.

The product comes with standard legal fees for remortgages and standard valuation fees.

David Searle, the AA’s financial services director, said: “For those thinking of moving or remortgaging, this is a compelling fix from one of the UK’s most trusted providers.

Mark Carney hints at rate rise

“Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said this morning that the base rate could rise soon, saying: ‘If the economy continues on this track it may be appropriate to raise interest rates’.

“So this might be a very good time to take advantage of low fixed-rate mortgage offers such as this.

“Customers will have the freedom to use their mortgage to move or improve, or simply change to a better rate.

“Furthermore, our award-winning online application service makes it even easier for customers to manage the whole application themselves.”

The AA entered the mortgage market in partnership with Bank of Ireland UK in 2016.

Go to Source

The post AA mortgages unveils 1.08% 2-year fix appeared first on Trusted Mortgage Brokers - Find A Local Mortgage Adviser Today.

from Trusted Mortgage Brokers – Find A Local Mortgage Adviser Today https://www.trustedmortgagebrokers.co.uk/aa-mortgages-unveils-1-08-2-year-fix/

[lonnysapotheek]

Imported Medications From Credentialed Online Pharmacies Are “So Safe”

Getting the truth about Online Pharmacies

The economist and drug safety expert Roger Bate, PhD, affiliated with the American Enterprise Institute, published a short article this week, the title of which says it all: “Credentialed online pharmacies are so safe that peer review literature is no longer interested in results showing it.” The gist is that he and colleagues have been testing medications for several years, since 2008, as mystery shoppers ordering online domestically here in the U.S. and internationally for import. The research shreds the myths of the drug companies by presenting peer-reviewed data to derive what are called “facts” about the Internet and importation. The main fact proved is that importing medications, ones ordered online, can be equally safe as U.S. pharmacies.

In the studies from 2008-2016, 822 online medication orders were tested: 275 medications from 22 international online pharmacies verified by PharmacyChecker.com (12 of which are also verified by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association); 127 medications from eight U.S.-only online pharmacies verified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and/or LegitScript.com, and the rest from websites with no verification.

Verified U.S. pharmacies sold zero counterfeits but one (out of 127) order of generic Cipro was substandard. Verified international pharmacies sold zero counterfeits but one (out of 275) order of generic Cipro was substandard. On a percentage basis, the PharmacyChecker.com-verified websites performed best (but that’s nitpicking). And for those of you thinking, well, one was substandard…that same medication is available at your local Walgreens or CVS. Read the research.

In contrast, online pharmacies with no verification (Dr. Bate calls it “credentialing”) sold eight counterfeits and 16 substandard drugs (out of 332 tested).

How about prices? When it came to brand name drug prices, the studies showed that credentialed international pharmacies were about 60% cheaper.

These results do confirm FDA warnings about online pharmacies, a majority being foreign sites, but they also confirm that warning Americans never to buy medication internationally over the Internet is really bad advice, which is what FDA advises. In fact, the research is so convincing that academic journals are not interested in continuing to publish new results, which is why Dr. Bate refers to buying medications over the Internet from credentialed international pharmacies as “so safe.”

Who funded this research? Foundations and think-tanks generally viewed (wrongly or rightly) as supportive of the pharmaceutical industry’s positions.

The Searle Freedom Trust and Legatum Institute through grants to the American Enterprise Institute funded:

2008 (results published in 2010). Bate, Roger; Kimberly Hess. (2010) Assessing Website Pharmacy Drug Quality: Safer Than You Think? PLoS ONE 5(8): e12199. See http://ift.tt/2uOxklB.

2010-2011 (results published in 2012, 2013). Bate, Roger; Ginger Zhe Jin; Aparna Mathur. (2013) In Whom We Trust: The Role of Certification Agencies in Online Drug Markets. NBER Working Paper No. 17955 March 2012, Revised January 2013, Revised July 2013.

American Enterprise Institute funded

2016 (not published in an academic journal but reported by Bate). Bate, Roger. (2016) The risks and benefits of the Online Pharmacy Market. See http://ift.tt/2iEWNrB.

2017 (results published in 2017). Bate, Roger. (2017) Web pharmacies: A field study of ciprofloxacin and atorvastatin. Safe Medicines Coalition website. See http://ift.tt/2pGEaUf.

In his post, Dr. Bate say’s that “insiders” in the Trump Administration and FDA say the pharmaceutical companies believe the studies’ sample sizes are too small. He concludes: “Essentially, the medical and economic literature broadly accepts that credentialed pharmacies are safe, but politically this is irrelevant.”

Have a good weekend.

  The post Imported Medications From Credentialed Online Pharmacies Are “So Safe” appeared first on PharmacyChecker Blog.

from PharmacyChecker Blog http://ift.tt/2uF2nj3 via IFTTT

[aic-european]

The Banks of the River Durance at Saint Paul, Paul Camille Guigou, 1864, Art Institute of Chicago: European Painting and Sculpture

Jointly acquired by The Art Institute of Chicago, through the Searle Freedom Trust Size: 24 1/2 × 58 1/4 in. (62 × 148 cm) Medium: Oil on canvas

https://www.artic.edu/artworks/109693/

[aic-european]

The Banks of the River Durance at Saint Paul, Paul Camille Guigou, 1864, Art Institute of Chicago: European Painting and Sculpture

Jointly acquired by The Art Institute of Chicago, through the Searle Freedom Trust Size: 24 1/2 × 58 1/4 in. (62 × 148 cm) Medium: Oil on canvas

https://www.artic.edu/artworks/109693/

[aic-european]

The Banks of the River Durance at Saint Paul, Paul Camille Guigou, 1864, Art Institute of Chicago: European Painting and Sculpture

Jointly acquired by The Art Institute of Chicago, through the Searle Freedom Trust Size: 24 1/2 × 58 1/4 in. (62 × 148 cm) Medium: Oil on canvas

https://www.artic.edu/artworks/109693/

[aic-european]

The Banks of the River Durance at Saint Paul, Paul Camille Guigou, 1864, Art Institute of Chicago: European Painting and Sculpture

Jointly acquired by The Art Institute of Chicago, through the Searle Freedom Trust Size: 24 1/2 × 58 1/4 in. (62 × 148 cm) Medium: Oil on canvas

https://www.artic.edu/artworks/109693/

[aic-european]

The Banks of the River Durance at Saint Paul, Paul Camille Guigou, 1864, Art Institute of Chicago: European Painting and Sculpture

Jointly acquired by The Art Institute of Chicago, through the Searle Freedom Trust Size: 24 1/2 × 58 1/4 in. (62 × 148 cm) Medium: Oil on canvas

https://www.artic.edu/artworks/109693/

[ltlredx]

via Twitter https://twitter.com/LiberalFenix