Alec Baldwin's 'black people love me' remark draws Twitter comparisons to President Trump

1Alec Baldwin says he’d beat Donald Trump in the 2020 election! Rob Smith (@robsmithonline) has all the details. Buzz60

The Twitterverse is wondering if Alec Baldwin has spent too much time portraying President Donald Trump on "Saturday Night Live."

In an interview published Wednesday, Baldwin, 60, told the Hollywood Reporter that "ever since I played Trump, black people love me." 

The actor continued: "I think it's because they're most afraid of Trump. I'm not going to paint every African-American person with the same brush, but a significant number of them are sitting there going, 'This is going to be bad for black folks.'"

His comments did not sit well with some social media users, who drew a starky comparison between Baldwin and the presidential character he portrays on "SNL."

"Predator" star Olivia Munn asked Baldwin for the "receipts."

"I need evidence of this. There are a lot of innocent black people you’re calling out and you shouldn’t be able to do it without receipts," she tweeted Wednesday. 

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Donald Trump knows nothing about Medicare, health care or Democrats: Talker

'Trump and his party are on a wildly unpopular mission to gut Medicare and protections for pre-existing conditions.'

USA TODAY Opinion published a column by President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressing his opposition to "Medicare for All" and Democrats' plans on health care. A roundup of reaction:

Trump, Republicans just hate Medicare

President Donald Trump’s column attacking "Medicare for All" was filled with falsehoods to distract voters from the truth: He and his party are on a wildly unpopular mission to gut Medicare and protections for pre-existing conditions.  

This year, House Republicans proposed to cut Medicare spending by $537 billion over the next 10 years. For many years, they have proposed to radically privatize Medicare into a voucher system, shifting costs to beneficiaries.

Immediately after passing trillions in tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, House Speaker Paul Ryan and the White House set their sights on Medicare. Last month, Trump’s National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said, "As far as the larger entitlements, I think everybody is going to look at that probably next year."

Trump also lied about protecting people with pre-existing conditions and lowering Obamacare premiums. The Trump administration sided with Republican state attorneys general in their lawsuit to strike down the core protections. The Republican repeal bill would have decimated these protections by causing millions to lose coverage altogether; eliminating the federal guarantee of essential benefits such as prescription drug coverage; and allowing insurance companies to charge sicker and older people much higher premiums.

Related: Cuts in Social Security and Medicare are inevitable. Delaying reform will make it worse.

More: Half of America skimps to pay for health care. The only fix is to cut waste.

Senate Republicans have just voted down a Democratic bill that would have reversed the administration’s rollback of consumer protections. Trump’s "junk" plans — the Trump University of health insurance — can deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, leaving them behind in a sicker insurance pool with higher premiums. Together with repeal of the individual mandate, nonpartisan experts estimate that these policies result in premiums that are much higher than they would be otherwise.

Far from harming Medicare beneficiaries, "Medicare for All" proposals represent the greatest advancement in financial security for seniors since Medicare was enacted in 1965. Whether everyone is enrolled in Medicare or Medicare is a guaranteed choice for all, these proposals enhance benefits for seniors, adding vision, dental and hearing benefits. They also lower drug prices and eliminate or dramatically reduce premiums and out-of-pocket costs for seniors.

Trump claims that Medicare for All would ration care and centralize health care decisions. This attack is absurd on its face: The current Medicare program is highly popular, and extending it to all would be no different. If Trump hates Medicare for All, the only logical conclusion is that he must hate Medicare itself.

Topher Spiro is the vice president for Health Policy at the Center for American Progress. You can follow him on Twitter: @TopherSpiro.

What our readers are saying

Comments from USA TODAY's Facebook group "Across the Aisle, Across the Nation":

As usual, President Donald Trump is lying in his column. He has done nothing to save our health care system and takes every opportunity to tear down Medicare. The health plan that he wanted the Republicans to pass would have us go back in time before Obamacare — including doing away with coverage of pre-existing conditions. 

— Diane Seligmann

Trump knows nothing about the working man or senior citizens' struggles. Here in Tennessee, his followers are mostly poor, uneducated people who don't even know what the Republican Party stands for. They are on welfare, get food stamps, Medicaid, but by God they are going to follow Trump! It blows my mind. 

— Susan Long Kuehl

First observation is that Trump is not intelligent enough to pen his own column. Second, nothing he spews at this point is believable. Third, he has polarized the health care debate and is out of touch with what would benefit the average American. Trump is so invested in making health care a commodity that he will never do the right thing.

— Brandi Stern

Total baloney. Universal health care works in every other modern nation. Trump is in bed with Big Pharma, the medical and insurance industries.

— John Steven Smith

Letter to the editor

President Donald Trump’s recent column attacking "Medicare for All" is laughable and riddled with "alternative facts."

Here are the real facts: Since taking office, Trump has done everything in his power to strip health care from millions of hardworking American families and seniors.

Unlike Trump, I’ve actually worked in health care. I know what happens when people go without care. Still today, I see cancer patients — including children — struggling to get the care they need. I’ve watched seniors take food out of their shopping carts because they couldn’t afford it and their prescriptions. And when it comes to health policy, that’s the lens that my Democratic colleagues and I use.

Sadly, for my Republican colleagues, it’s a lens of profits. They are wholly committed to making the most money possible off the sick and dying. That’s just wrong.

Trump’s "think piece" is nothing more than a sad attempt to rebrand his and congressional Republicans cruel and repeated attempts to take health care away from the American people. It won’t work. Seniors and American families are smart; they know who is on their side.

Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust; Washington, D.C.

What others are saying

James Freeman,  The Wall Street Journal: "Just like the Senate plan offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the House measure, which is indeed co-sponsored by most House Democrats, does not allow capitalism in the health care industry. 'No institution may be a participating provider unless it is a public or not-for-profit institution,' says the plain language of H.R. 676. And how can we be sure that it replaces Medicare rather than leaving it alone? The official summary of the bill makes clear that Medicare money will be redirected to finance the new program. ... Health care is the must-win issue for Democrats. Now President Donald Trump is correctly explaining why SandersCare would be a loser for patients and taxpayers."

Paul Waldman,  The Washington Post: "Trump and the Republicans will defend Medicare from Democrats! If you believe that, you’ll hire an arsonist to protect your house from the fire department. The strangeness of this argument highlights a fundamental problem Republicans can’t get away from: They hate Medicare, but the American public loves Medicare. ... Because Medicare works extremely well and provides a valued benefit to tens of millions of politically potent citizens, it is impossible for them to unwind it as they would like to do. So every election, Democrats accuse them of wanting to destroy the program, which requires them to pretend that they actually love it and want to defend it."

Matthew Yglesias,  Vox: "This is the core lie of Trump’s op-ed. It is 100 percent true that the left wing of the Democratic Party is pushing a substantial change to the American health care system, and there are many legitimate qualms one might have with that change. But the proposal is to make Medicare more generous, not stingier, as Trump wants senior citizens to believe. Meanwhile, even though Trump himself maintains that he wants to avoid cuts to Medicare and Social Security, key members of his party — including senior figures in his own administration — keep pushing for cuts."

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Mother of three in debt after father abandons family

Dubai resident embroiled in legal cases and left with dues over Dh400,000

Dubai: A mother of three has been left with huge debts and unpaid bills of over Dh400,000 when her husband abandoned the family and returned to his home country.

Algerian-American Mouna Laouar, 48, who has lived in Dubai since 2012 has been struggling to keep her family afloat ever since her Algerian husband disappeared in 2016 while she was at work.

Soon after he left, Laouar discovered that he had failed to pay rent, school fees, bank loans and debts for over a year, leaving her heavily in debt with multiple legal actions against her.

Now, Laouar is unemployed with two of her three children unable to attend school due to outstanding fees.

“I went to jail, I had to leave my kids for several days and I have lost three jobs. But what’s hurting me most is that they are at home and not going to school,” Laouar said.

 I came to Dubai on a work visa a few months before the rest of my family, so the apartment lease was in my name. Bank loans and credit cards were also taken in my name as I had a stable salary. I didn’t think much of it as he was my husband.”

How it all started

Laouar told Gulf News, her husband used to work in the real estate sector where he did not maintain a stable income, and relied on commissions.

“I had first come to Dubai a few months before the rest of my family on a work visa, so the apartment lease was in my name. After that, bank loans and credit cards were taken under my name since I had a stable salary. I didn’t think much of it at the time, since he was my husband,” she said.

However, Laouar said her “gut feeling” told her something was seriously wrong and that she couldn’t help but sense that he would run away one day.

She was proved right as the man indeed ran away leaving her to raise the three children who are 15, 11 and eight years-old. Laouar’s life began to crash before her eyes starting with a notice from the land department ordering her to vacate her home immediately.

“The landlord had taken the cheques to the police and the final judgement from the land department to vacate was issued with the order to pay the full outstanding amount, which was over Dh140,000,” said Laouar.

Several months after Laouar vacated the property and moved into a smaller apartment, she was escorted from her workplace by police and was kept at the police station for four days for her outstanding rent payments.

After a court case ruled Laouar could be released when 10 per cent of her dues were paid to her previous landlord, she was supported by her colleagues who had raised money to help her.

“I had to leave the kids with the maid, and told them I had a health problem and had to remain in hospital for several days. They were already dealing with being abandoned by their dad and I could not make things worse,” she said.

However, soon after, Laouar was laid off by her employer.

A constant struggle

Desperately searching for job in administration, things finally started to look up for Laouar when she landed a good-paying job at a reputable company in Dubai.

“I started paying off what I could such as late school fees, bus fees and some of the loans to the banks, also with the help of my father, who was living back in Algeria. He did the best he could considering the difference in currency and was a great support emotionally,” she explained.

However, her bad luck did not end there. After five short months, Laouar was suddenly dismissed by her employer.

“When I was asked about my husband, I did not want to disclose my personal issues to any employer but as soon as they found out I was laid off. My situation had cost me my job again,” she said.

Just before Ramadan 2018, Laouar managed to find another job, which was also unfortunately short-lived.

“I worked longer hours than others and took my job very seriously — I hate to be absent or late, and I always tried to detach from my problems — but they were digging into my personal business and when they found out, I was dismissed again on the spot,” she said.

After losing her third job in August 2018, Laouar was left with nothing but her faith.

“If the most powerful people tell me they will help me, I would just ask for a job that is stable. One who helps with money can do it once or twice, but one who gives you a job can help you sustain your life for a long time,” she said.

The mother of three has managed to transfer sponsorship for two of her children, however, one remains illegal due to outstanding cases against her.

Still, Laouar has not given up and is till eager to find a job in order to make ends meet for her children’s sake.

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UAE Consulate issues warning to citizens

Emiratis in Florida were warned to evacuate ahead of lethal hurricane expected to hit the US Gulf Coast

Dubai: The UAE Consulate in New York City issued a weather alert to citizens over the Category 3 hurricane that is likely to hit the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday.

UAE authorities warned Emiratis to follow evacuation procedures, and urged citizens to contact the consulate in the event of an emergency. 

On its Twitter page, the UAE Consulate in New York City, said: “Attention: UAE citizens in Florida, Hurricane Michael is strengthening and expected to make landfall in the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday. Stay tuned to local news for safety instructions and evacuation procedures. For emergencies, please call 911 and do not hesitate to call the consulate at +1 646 630 2575 for further assistance.” 

On Monday night, the hurricane was nearing in on Cuba and forecast to push through the Gulf of Mexico before moving inland over the northern Gulf Coast of Florida, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said.

The Category 1 hurricane is expected to turn into a violent Category 3 hurricane — with the power to uproot trees, block roads and knock out power for days — by the time it hits Florida on Wednesday, before moving across the southeastern United States through Thursday.

When a hurricane is approaching, many people prepare based on previous experience.

But they’re not always right.https://t.co/YHOQ2ietbC#HurricaneMichael #Michael pic.twitter.com/l6GZekbclG— NWS (@NWS) October 9, 2018

The US National Hurricane Centre warned residents in Florida’s Gulf Coast to prepare for “life-threatening” winds, and said that Hurricane Michael is likely to produce heavy rain and flash floods in parts of western Cuba and northeastern Mexico during the next few days.

Hurricane #Michael continues to strengthen over the southern Gulf of Mexico. Here are the updated 10 PM CDT Key Messages for Hurricane #Michael. https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/6x3a1wjqfi— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 9, 2018

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Has vengeance unseated idealism and integrity in naya Pakistan?

These are interesting times in Pakistan. There is a giddy round of constant entertainment in the form of high profile arrests, a reformist setup and the rosy-hued civilian-military honeymoon the whole country is basking in.

Unfortunately, as is wont of all honeymoons, these end and reality and egos can shatter the glass ceilings of any perfect setup.

Reality is almost always hard-nosed and grim, and those basking in illusions sweeter than saccharine should realise that sooner rather than later."

The only thing that remains is integrity, which is critical for the perpetuity of any ideals, or survival in the cesspool we call politics. And while integrity and politics are often not in tandem, these together could ultimately serve a higher cause, both of survival and perpetuity of ideals.

Hasty arrests

But first, let us recoup and review the seismic or ordinary (based on one’s perception) recent event - the arrest of Pakistan’s opposition leader and former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif days before the coming by-elections. The timing of this could not have been worse. It could have definitely been scheduled till after the elections and thus dispelled the opposition’s claims of misuse of force and victimisation attempts to affect the outcome or the morale of Sharif’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, PML-N.

Shahbaz Sharif

It was hardly likely that Shahbaz would have turned absconder and slipped out of the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) grasp.  The NAB, which is now beginning to resemble the inquisition, for some, has so far obtained a reputation of biased persecution, especially, in arresting Shahbaz for corruption and misuse of authority as the chief minister in two cases without solid evidence justifying arrest and allowing him any recourse to answer charges against him.

The hasty arrest is bound to backfire on Prime Minister Imran Khan. What is worse is that such measures do not bode well for political stability or inspiring confidence in democracy and judicious accountability.

The way arrests were undertaken of Sharif now and his brother, the former premier Nawaz Sharif, and his daughter, Maryam, before the general elections in July this year has confirmed for those on the other side of the fence that a troika comprising the military, judiciary and PTI is out for vendetta.

Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz

The alleged massive and systematic rigging eclipsing the 2018 election ferociously divided opinion and polarised society. Similarly, the challenges being thrown to the established political and social system has ignited a tussle between the old guard and the new aspirants for power.

Is 'naya' Pakistan on its way yet?

For now, Pakistan’s naya (new) image is being cultivated as a game changing moment of its existence. Fed up by allegedly corrupt regimes, the people voted in Imran Khan-led populist party, the PTI, in July this year and lo behold, we had a reinvigorated country raring to go about its reformist agenda. Populist sentiments buoyed by over-enthusiastic and blinkered PTI supporters on twitter hailed these superfluous measures introduced by the premier himself, whose zeal and tenacity must be admired.

But therein lies the bite. Targeting elite structures and the old-world order is in itself debatable as the PTI’s top guard, besides a handful of socialist-minded office holders, themselves belong to Pakistan’s entrenched elite. It is thus highly ironic though that the new power structure emerging is being carried on the shoulders of the same elite it rallied against. 

The opening of state houses, including governor houses to the public and decisions pertaining the conversion of the Prime Minister house into a world class university - which incidentally would again have children and youth from moneyed backgrounds studying there - is simply hogwash.

The economy is adrift, literally, with the finance minister increasingly displaying ineptitude at being able to steer his way out in any direction. The only policy changes one glimpses are those pertaining taxation, which are retracted and reissued to and fro.  What is seriously upsetting is the lack of effort to build confidence amongst the business community. Also, the lack of interest in the agricultural economy, the country’s mainstay, simply underlines the new government’s lack of comprehension in understanding its immense potential. What Pakistan’s agricultural sector desperately needs is technology and resources to harness its true worth.

'Naya' Pakistan

But these are early days and Khan’s government has a lot to learn. It is only hoped that it would rise above vengeance and pettiness and value integrity. After all, PTI was voted in for its idealism, a promise to end corruption and to enable Pakistan to stand tall in the comity of nations for its values. May we please see those values enshrined in policy and behaviour at home first?

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#MeToo Vinta Nanda accuses Alok Nath of rape, CINTAA to send him notice

Mumbai Vinta Nanda, a veteran writer-producer of the avant-garde 1990s' show "Tara" fame, has accused actor Alok Nath -- known for his "sanskaari" on-screen image -- of sexually violating her almost two decades ago. The Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) has decided to send him a show-cause notice.

"I have waited for this moment to come for 19 years," Nanda wrote in a long, heart-wrenching Facebook post, referring to the "predator in question" as "the actor par excellence who is known as the most 'sanskaari' (cultured) person in the film and television industry".

Her suggestive remarks like "sanskaari" and that the person concerned was the "lead actor" and a "television star of that decade" were good enough to make out that Nanda was indeed pointing the finger at Alok.

Later, confirming the same to IANS via SMS, Nanda said: "It is Alok Nath. I thought saying 'sanskaari' would do the needful."

CINTAA General Secretary Sushant Singh has said a show-cause notice will be sent to Alok. He urged Nanda to file a complaint against "this vile creature", and added: "We extend you full support".

Alok Nath's response: "It was me who made her what she is"

ABPLive reported Alok Nath as saying, “Neither I am denying this nor I would agree with it. It [rape] must have happened, but someone else would have done it. Well, I do not want to talk much about it as for the matter if it has come out, it will be stretched.”

Speaking about how fans have been reacting to the allegations and about it affecting his image, he said, “What do I have to do with people? People will say anything to spoil the image. Leave my image, whatever has been said, it is absurd.”

He added, “At one time she used to be such a good friend... today she said such a big thing. In a way, it was me who made her what she is. It is useless to react on the allegations as in today's world whatever a woman says, only that will be considered. In such a situation, it would be wrong to say anything.”

Alok is known for his roles as a stereotypical Indian father, personifying religious traditions and moral values in films and TV shows.

It is the escalating voices against sexual harassment across the world as part of the #MeToo wave that gave Nanda the courage to pen down the experiences which had left her "shattered".

Nanda's account of the events

"He was an alcoholic, shameless and obnoxious but he was also the television star of that decade, so not only was he forgiven for all his bad behaviour, many of the guys would also egg him on to be his worst," Nanda wrote, adding that he even harassed the show's lead actress who was not interested in him.

Sharing the "worst" that happened, Nanda recounted the incidents that followed after she left a party at Alok's house at 2 a.m. She says her drinks were mixed.

"I started to walk home on the empty streets... Midway I was accosted by this man who was driving his own car and he asked me to sit in it and said he would drop me home. I trusted him and sat in his car.

"I have faint memory after that. I can remember more liquor being poured into my mouth and I remember being violated endlessly. When I woke up the next afternoon, I was in pain. I hadn't just been raped, I was taken to my own house and had been brutalised.

"I couldn't get up for my bed. I told some of my friends but everybody advised me to forget about it and move on."

Later, she got a job to write and direct a series for Plus Channel, and again her paths crossed with Alok.

"The man found his way through the casting route and became one of the lead actors on the show. He created an environment in which I was made to feel threatened, so I asked the producers to release me from directing the series because I didn't want to be around where he was.

"I continued to write the show."

The "most difficult part" and the "main reason" why Nanda took so long to come out with the truth was because while she was working on this new series, she says, "he asked me to come to his house again and I went to allow him to violate me".

"I needed the job and didn't want to leave it as I needed the money. It was after this that I quit."

Nanda has urged people "who have suffered at the hands of predators, to come out and say it aloud".

"Don't hold yourselves back. This is a moment for change, so your silence will only hold barriers to its evolution. Speak out. Shout out from the top of the roof."

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