by "Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns" (themarvelous1310)
Published 01/28/2017 at 15:51
by "Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns" (themarvelous1310)
Published 01/28/2017 at 15:51
No Tags
STARS: 28
URGENT: If you are in America, read this NOW.
FOUR DAYS IN...
I don’t care who you voted for, or what party you’re in. I hope you’re ready to fight for this republic.
Those who study authoritarian regimes suggest keeping a list of abnormal events after a demagogue is elected, as a way to remind yourself that this isn’t normal and to keep from being overwhelmed into acceptance by the onslaught of attacks on our rights.
Here is a list below. We are 4 days in.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the DOJ’s Violence Against Women programs.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Minority Business Development Agency.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Economic Development Administration.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the International Trade Administration.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Legal Services Corporation.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the DOJ.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Office of Electricity Deliverability and Energy Reliability.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
* On January 19th, 2017, DT said that he would cut funding for the Office of Fossil Energy.
* On January 20th, 2017, DT ordered all regulatory powers of all federal agencies frozen.
* On January 20th, 2017, DT ordered the National Parks Service to stop using social media after RTing factual, side by side photos of the crowds for the 2009 and 2017 inaugurations.
* On January 20th, 2017, roughly 230 protestors were arrested in DC and face unprecedented felony riot charges. Among them were legal observers, journalists, and medics.
* On January 20th, 2017, a member of the International Workers of the World was shot in the stomach at an anti-fascist protest in Seattle. He remains in critical condition.
* On January 21st, 2017, DT brought a group of 40 cheerleaders to a meeting with the CIA to cheer for him during a speech that consisted almost entirely of framing himself as the victim of dishonest press.
* On January 21st, 2017, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer held a press conference largely to attack the press for accurately reporting the size of attendance at the inaugural festivities, saying that the inauguration had the largest audience of any in history, “period.”
* On January 22nd, 2017, White House advisor Kellyann Conway defended Spicer’s lies as “alternative facts” on national television news.
* On January 22nd, 2017, DT appeared to blow a kiss to director James Comey during a meeting with the FBI, and then opened his arms in a gesture of strange, paternal affection, before hugging him with a pat on the back.
* On January 23rd, 2017, DT reinstated the global gag order, which defunds international organizations that even mention abortion as a medical option.
* On January 23rd, 2017, Spicer said that the US will not tolerate China’s expansion onto islands in the South China Sea, essentially threatening war with China.
* On January 23rd, 2017, DT repeated the lie that 3-5 million people voted “illegally” thus costing him the popular vote.
* On January 23rd, 2017, it was announced that the man who shot the anti-fascist protester in Seattle was released without charges, despite turning himself in.
* On January 24th, 2017, Spicer reiterated the lie that 3-5 million people voted “illegally” thus costing DT the popular vote.
* On January 24th, 2017, DT tweeted a picture from his personal Twitter account of a photo he says depicts the crowd at his inauguration and will hang in the White House press room. The photo is of the 2009 inauguration of 44th President Barack Obama, and is curiously dated January 21st, 2017, the day AFTER the inauguration and the day of the Women’s March, the largest inauguration related protest in history.
* On January 24th, 2017, the EPA was ordered to stop communicating with the public through social media or the press and to freeze all grants and contracts.
* On January 24th, 2017, the USDA was ordered to stop communicating with the public through social media or the press and to stop publishing any papers or research. All communication with the press would also have to be authorized and vetted by the White House.
* On January 24th, 2017, HR7, a bill that would prohibit federal funding not only to abortion service providers, but to any insurance coverage, including Medicaid, that provides abortion coverage, went to the floor of the House for a vote.
* On January 24th, 2017, Director of the Department of Health and Human Service nominee Tom Price characterized federal guidelines on transgender equality as “absurd.”
* On January 24th, 2017, DT ordered the resumption of construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline, while the North Dakota state congress considers a bill that would legalize hitting and killing protestors with cars if they are on roadways.
* On January 24th, 2017, it was discovered that police officers had used confiscated cell phones to search the emails and messages of the 230 demonstrators now facing felony riot charges for protesting on January 20th, including lawyers and journalists whose email accounts contain privileged information of clients and sources. (from a friend)
As the author says, “when you see all of this in one list, it is easy to get overwhelmed, at first— it is also easy to see a pattern and to finally, finally recognize that none of this is normal, nor is it ok.”
Please share... If you want more people to actually read it, copy and paste. I still can’t believe what is on this list. Thank you for reading... It is long, but important...
"My hovercraft is full of eels" (my-hovercraft-is-full-of-eels)
01/28/2017 at 16:03, STARS: 3
I happen to live in a country where the leader is very fond of Putin. And it’s not good.
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
01/28/2017 at 16:04, STARS: 3
The Americans have been doing these widespread immigration pauses for several years now. It’s nice to see that people are starting to notice.
"BorkBorkBjork" (tbirdlemons)
01/28/2017 at 16:11, STARS: 14
"Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns" (themarvelous1310)
01/28/2017 at 16:13, STARS: 11
If you see any mistakes, you have this space to correct them. Otherwise, fold your sign and sit down.
"BorkBorkBjork" (tbirdlemons)
01/28/2017 at 16:25, STARS: 17
You’re the author, proper citation is your responsibility.
"Ready for an adventure!" (liljoe)
01/28/2017 at 16:25, STARS: 10
No, Goatboy does NOT need to check for mistakes. that is NOT how this works. When you present information to the world, YOU need to make sure it is ALL TRUE. THAT is how it works. otherwise, nobody will believe you if and when you are proven wrong. Nip it in the bud, Bud
"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
01/28/2017 at 16:33, STARS: 1
#tinyhandstyrant
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
01/28/2017 at 16:36, STARS: 27
If only we held the same standards to our Fuhrer President. :/
"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
01/28/2017 at 16:40, STARS: 0
So we, apparently.
"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
01/28/2017 at 16:47, STARS: 5
That’s not how this works. That’s how we end up with a President that believes in ‘alternate facts’
If you want to hold him to a high standard, as you should, hold yourself to a higher standard too.
"smobgirl" (smobgirl)
01/28/2017 at 16:51, STARS: 11
What frightens me more is that people who were here legally (students, green cards) and were out of the country when this was signed are now unable to re-enter.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
01/28/2017 at 16:57, STARS: 3
Sure. :)
Seems to all check out. It’s a left-leaning site, but all claims come with citations .
Oh, and The Heritage Foundation’s budget plan , which appears to be the direction our nation is headed.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
01/28/2017 at 17:00, STARS: 5
For those wanting to fact-check this, here’s a source . It is a left-leaning site, however there are citations to each claim, so the bias is less important here.
Much of Trump’s planning seems to be based on The Heritage Foundation’s budget plan , with some things authored by Priebus.
"Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap" (ddadragon)
01/28/2017 at 17:07, STARS: 13
Also, why in the hell is he chasing the popular vote. He won the electoral college fairly so why does he care. Because he’s a child. Immature and only concerned about the presidency because it feeds his already massive ego.
"yamahog" (yamahog)
01/28/2017 at 17:10, STARS: 9
Nope. For starters, during previous pauses green card holders were not barred reentry.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-immigration-greencard-idUSKBN15C0KX
And this has no direct relation to any investigation or homeland safety... in fact, DHS allegedly didn’t even get input this time.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
The TSA just started mindlessly following, asking detainees about their social media and opinions of Trump.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
"fintail" (fintail)
01/28/2017 at 17:10, STARS: 6
I notice a few blind calls for citations. Once citations have been made, I notice those parties are silent, as they should stay.
If only Cheetolini and his gang was held to the same level of accountability by either side of the aisle or by the idiotic press who helped to enable this disaster. Drain the swamp, sad so many rubes fell for it.
#maga !
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
01/28/2017 at 17:14, STARS: 0
Serious question. Wouldn’t a dictator increase funding and create new government organizations and regs as opposed to cutting them?
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
01/28/2017 at 17:16, STARS: 0
Bane jokes aside, I really want to see this alleged “power” that he’s giving back to the people. When do we vote?
"bhtooefr" (bhtooefr)
01/28/2017 at 17:22, STARS: 12
Let’s try to source all this.
All January 19 statements are things that The Hill had “learned” (in all likelihood, it’s accurate, but still), not direct statements by Trump, as far as I’m aware: http://thehill.com/policy/finance/314991-trump-team-prepares-dramatic-cuts Also, for readability, maybe combine those, or reformat those?
* On January 20th, 2017, DT ordered all regulatory powers of all federal agencies frozen.
The freeze on new regulations may be standard practice during a transition of power (although one has to be careful to verify media claims of that), and it was not all regulatory powers that were frozen: http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/20/politics/reince-priebus-regulations-memo/
* On January 20th, 2017, DT ordered the National Parks Service to stop using social media after RTing factual, side by side photos of the crowds for the 2009 and 2017 inaugurations.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/21/politics/trump-national-park-service-tweets/
* On January 20th, 2017, roughly 230 protestors were arrested in DC and face unprecedented felony riot charges. Among them were legal observers, journalists, and medics.
* On January 20th, 2017, a member of the International Workers of the World was shot in the stomach at an anti-fascist protest in Seattle. He remains in critical condition.
* On January 21st, 2017, DT brought a group of 40 cheerleaders to a meeting with the CIA to cheer for him during a speech that consisted almost entirely of framing himself as the victim of dishonest press.
* On January 22nd, 2017, White House advisor Kellyann Conway defended Spicer’s lies as “alternative facts” on national television news.
* On January 22nd, 2017, DT appeared to blow a kiss to director James Comey during a meeting with the FBI, and then opened his arms in a gesture of strange, paternal affection, before hugging him with a pat on the back.
This is kinda weak to include in this list... but here’s the source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-james-comey-air-kiss_us_58857527e4b096b4a232b942
* On January 23rd, 2017, DT reinstated the global gag order, which defunds international organizations that even mention abortion as a medical option.
While that’s normal, it’s usually only for family planning, whereas this is an expansion of the gag order: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/01/trump_s_global_gag_rule_is_even_worse_than_it_seemed.html
* On January 23rd, 2017, Spicer said that the US will not tolerate China’s expansion onto islands in the South China Sea, essentially threatening war with China.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/23/politics/sean-spicer-press-briefing-day-one/
* On January 23rd, 2017, DT repeated the lie that 3-5 million people voted “illegally” thus costing him the popular vote.
* On January 23rd, 2017, it was announced that the man who shot the anti-fascist protester in Seattle was released without charges, despite turning himself in.
Covered by an article above.
* On January 24th, 2017, Spicer reiterated the lie that 3-5 million people voted “illegally” thus costing DT the popular vote.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/24/politics/wh-trump-believes-millions-voted-illegally/
* On January 24th, 2017, DT tweeted a picture from his personal Twitter account of a photo he says depicts the crowd at his inauguration and will hang in the White House press room. The photo is of the 2009 inauguration of 44th President Barack Obama, and is curiously dated January 21st, 2017, the day AFTER the inauguration and the day of the Women’s March, the largest inauguration related protest in history.
Wrong date is here, but I’m 99.999% sure it’s a 2017 photo, not a 2009 photo: https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/823937936056008704
* On January 24th, 2017, the EPA was ordered to stop communicating with the public through social media or the press and to freeze all grants and contracts.
Except for pollution cleanup and infrastructure construction contracts, yes: https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2017/01/24/trump-bans-epa-employees-from-updating-public-via-press-social-media/Anr90pkwhavC2kzK8pwsyK/story.html
* On January 24th, 2017, the USDA was ordered to stop communicating with the public through social media or the press and to stop publishing any papers or research. All communication with the press would also have to be authorized and vetted by the White House.
Publishing papers and research was still allowed, and communication with the press would have to be vetted by the USDA’s communication office. Also, it may have only been the Agricultural Research Service: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/epa-agricultural-research-public-communications
* On January 24th, 2017, HR7, a bill that would prohibit federal funding not only to abortion service providers, but to any insurance coverage, including Medicaid, that provides abortion coverage, went to the floor of the House for a vote.
* On January 24th, 2017, DT ordered the resumption of construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline, while the North Dakota state congress considers a bill that would legalize hitting and killing protestors with cars if they are on roadways.
Re: resumption of DAPL: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/24/presidential-memorandum-regarding-construction-dakota-access-pipeline
Re: legal killing of protesters, that was actually January 16: http://www.startribune.com/north-dakota-bill-aimed-at-standing-rock-protest/410860535/
* On January 24th, 2017, Director of the Department of Health and Human Service nominee Tom Price characterized federal guidelines on transgender equality as “absurd.”
That was actually on May 14, 2016: https://www.facebook.com/reptomprice/posts/10154118633590421
* On January 24th, 2017, it was discovered that police officers had used confiscated cell phones to search the emails and messages of the 230 demonstrators now facing felony riot charges for protesting on January 20th, including lawyers and journalists whose email accounts contain privileged information of clients and sources. (from a friend)
This is fishy, and Betteridge’s law of headlines says that the answer is no (but it’s fishy in both directions): http://www.citylab.com/crime/2017/01/are-police-searching-inauguration-protesters-phones/514244/
(Edited because I missed three items.)
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
01/28/2017 at 17:25, STARS: 5
He’s got to fund his military build up. Even his own party is worried about how he’s going to pay for it. Apparently, he’s going to burn down all the social institutions that actually benefit the public.
For those of you hung up on citations, here you go: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/01/28/inside-the-gop-debate-over-strengthening-defense-spending-despite-the-cost/?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_pp-gopdefense-1235am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.c38a4387da7a
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
01/28/2017 at 17:25, STARS: 1
Two years, in the Congressional mid-terms.
"fintail" (fintail)
01/28/2017 at 17:29, STARS: 0
He’ll cut the ones he and/or his devotees dislike, and fund ones he and/or his devotees like. In other words, out with social goods, in with fundie idiocy and praetorian worship.
"jkm7680" (jkm7680)
01/28/2017 at 17:29, STARS: 1
This was a car website, not a political soapbox....
"Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns" (themarvelous1310)
01/28/2017 at 17:30, STARS: 2
"fintail" (fintail)
01/28/2017 at 17:30, STARS: 0
In a few years, Murka may resemble the Russian dashcam videos we all know and love.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
01/28/2017 at 17:31, STARS: 0
Your next chance might be local elections (my area has one in April), otherwise you’re going to have to wait until November 6th, 2018, when all seats in both the House and Senate are up, as well as 36 gubernatorial and additional district elections.
"Tazio, Count Fouroff" (tazio0625)
01/28/2017 at 17:39, STARS: 0
you post this as though it’s a *bad* thing
(the parts I’m familiar with enough to believe they’re more or less accurate, anyway...)
"Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ" (magooslaststand)
01/28/2017 at 17:48, STARS: 0
Crickets
"IanZ - limited-slip indifferential" (ianz-limited)
01/28/2017 at 17:55, STARS: 2
You always have the opportunity not to read.
"Berang" (berang)
01/28/2017 at 18:03, STARS: 4
Is your country worth two minutes of your time while you sit on your ass in comfort and all the info you could need will be provided if you just move your fingers around a little bit?
"Berang" (berang)
01/28/2017 at 18:05, STARS: 1
He has to have an excuse for fucking up voting more when he goes and does that.
"scoob" (scoobsti)
01/28/2017 at 18:05, STARS: 5
And Oppo is off topic.
"BorkBorkBjork" (tbirdlemons)
01/28/2017 at 18:06, STARS: 3
The very first claim:
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
The website you provided cited Mother Jones , who said:
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
“Might”
Mother Jones, other than citing a random Twitter user , cited The Hill , which said:
At the Department of Justice, the blueprint calls for eliminating the
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Violence Against Women
Grants and the Legal Services Corporation and for reducing funding for
its Civil Rights and its Environment and Natural Resources divisions.
The Hill cited... well, nobody, other than a year-old proposition from The Heritage Foundation (which you kindly provided).
The Heritage Foundation had an actual bibliography (See page 24 for the list). One of the citations was from the Goverment Accounting Office (the GAO) , which published a said:
Our in-depth review of the four impact evaluations that have progressed beyond the formative stage since fiscal year 1995 showed that only one of these, the evaluation of the Byrne Children at Risk (CAR) Program, was methodologically sound. The other three evaluations, all of which examined VAWO programs, had methodological problems that raise concerns about whether the evaluations will produce definitive results.
Yea.
Nowhere in the conversation (or the copy-paste spam post above) is mention of whether these programs actually help the people they claim to aid, or are effectively using the funds they are provided. It seems, in 2017, all you have to do is properly name your organization, and you can muster an army of Internet crusaders at first sight of criticism.
"Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap" (ddadragon)
01/28/2017 at 18:07, STARS: 0
Fair point.
"BorkBorkBjork" (tbirdlemons)
01/28/2017 at 18:09, STARS: 1
See below.
And I’ll take my damn time being thorough with my source checks, thank you very much. I’ve got an IMSA race on the TV and I’ve been hunting an Akula Class submarine all up and down the Atlantic Coast all friggin day (I found my old copy of Jane’s 688(i) Hunter/Killer, sooooo dope).
"Berang" (berang)
01/28/2017 at 18:17, STARS: 8
But you’ll be damned quick on the trigger to complain about it. Ok.
"Berang" (berang)
01/28/2017 at 18:18, STARS: 4
I see you’re finding the strawmen that’ll be easiest to knock down first. ;-)
"whoarder is tellurium" (whoarder)
01/28/2017 at 18:22, STARS: 0
No, I am not sharing.
We’re doing just fine.
"Berang" (berang)
01/28/2017 at 18:26, STARS: 5
Huh, I wonder if Trump will have to explain his Muslim ban on the basis that zero refugees since 9/11 have harmed an American in a terrorist plot. Or is he just counting on bloated, red-faced idiots to believe the threat exists and push the whims of morons and fear mongers on the whole country...
"Berang" (berang)
01/28/2017 at 18:37, STARS: 7
Read up, buttercup.
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/314991-trump-team-prepares-dramatic-cuts
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/01/20/americas-dismantling-begins-trump-heritage-blueprint.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/us/politics/federal-hiring-freeze.html
http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/21/media/sean-spicer-press-secretary-statement/
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sean-spicer-media-coverage-inauguration-crowd/
http://lgbtweekly.com/2017/01/19/house-lgbt-caucus-calls-on-senate-to-reject-tom-price-nomination/
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/illusion-chasers/the-delusion-of-alternative-facts/
A few minutes found me quite a lot of material, from many different sources. In a few more minutes I could find sources for the rest, but I think I’ve spent enough time doing other people’s work in educating themselves so far.
"fintail" (fintail)
01/28/2017 at 19:17, STARS: 6
I wonder if these people quickly demand sources when the orange one makes his claims (it took a mere 20 minutes in this case). I suspect they don’t. In fact, I’d wager an awful lot that they don’t.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
01/28/2017 at 20:23, STARS: 2
Nowhere in the conversation (or the copy-paste spam post above) is mention of whether these programs actually help the people they claim to aid...
Which could be solved with a simple Google Search. Here’s the Violence Against Women Act:
It also provides funding for efforts to prevent crime , like expanding youth education programs to teach kids about what constitutes dating violence, implementing safety measures on public transportation, and requiring the government to conduct more research into domestic violence.
As for its effect? Since its passage, domestic violence has dropped 64% (there have been a few studies about why, though the links linking to the whitehouse.gov pages are dead right now), we’ve trained police on how to treat for and watch out for domestic abuse, we’ve established abuse hotlines and mental aid, and we toughened punishments for sexual predators and domestic abusers.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
01/28/2017 at 22:06, STARS: 0
Thank you for this.
"BorkBorkBjork" (tbirdlemons)
01/29/2017 at 01:06, STARS: 0
Confounding variables.
ALL types of violence in the US have decreased in the time span you mentioned, how can you say that organization X is responsible?
And I do work for a youth charity that specializes in STEM education, and our research has shown that crappy after-school programs are actually worse than no program at all. So throwing money/time at the problem does basically nothing.
"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
01/29/2017 at 02:17, STARS: 4
I truly believe he was the worst person possible for President of the United States.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
01/29/2017 at 08:57, STARS: 1
Well, for the sake of the spirit of Oppo, we’re going to have to agree to disagree on that.
I can’t wait until they pass bathroom bills, or wipe my protections off the map.
Some of my girlfriend’s family friends (visa holders from one of the currently targeted countries) were turned back at BOS yesterday so, fun times ahead!
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
01/29/2017 at 09:02, STARS: 0
Yes, however before creating new regs and organizations, the dictator usually has to clean house of his predecessor first. Usually they’ll get rid of the rights of thousands while at the same time asserting that they’re making the people more free.
If the regime is allowed to last long enough, the oppression becomes the new normal.
"Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich)
01/30/2017 at 12:24, STARS: 1
“YOU need to make sure it is ALL TRUE.”
OH REALLY??? Well why don’t you tell that to Trump and his gang of liars and bigots.
You can start with asking him to check the facts on crowd sizes for his and past presidential inaugurations.
No. If you think something is incorrect, YOU say it’s incorrect and YOU support your view.
Otherwise, fuck off.
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
01/30/2017 at 14:30, STARS: 0
Yup, thank you for taking the time to plug in the sources and clarify items. Much appreciated.
"Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns" (themarvelous1310)
01/30/2017 at 16:49, STARS: 0
I say it’s not. I never claimed to be a news site.
"Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns" (themarvelous1310)
01/30/2017 at 16:51, STARS: 0
All done citing? That was fast.