shakedown.social is one of the many independent Mastodon servers you can use to participate in the fediverse.
A community for live music fans with roots in the jam scene. Shakedown Social is run by a team of volunteers (led by @clifff and @sethadam1) and funded by donations.

Administered by:

Server stats:

279
active users

#rico

1 post1 participant0 posts today

“Some Republicans are concerned that Trump’s use of the WH to throw a lavish dinner for the memecoin holders personally enriching him may not be appropriate.”

“An INTL trucking logistics firm is buying as much as $20M worth of his memecoin to influence the admin’s trade policy.”

Finally, some pushback against Trump’s out-of-control corruption. The first act of his presidency was profiteering off his memecoin.
#Corruption #RICO #Emoluments #USPol
thedailybeast.com/even-republi
huffpost.com/entry/trump-coins

This photo illustration shows a representation of cryptocracy coins with the $Trump meme coin (collection coin) in Brussels, Belgium, on March 3, 2025.
The Daily Beast · Even Republicans are Raising Eyebrows Over Trump’s Exclusive Memecoin DinnerBy Jack Revell

"One major part of the deal with Bukele that’s gone under-discussed: Bukele managed to get the US to deport several MS13 leaders who could testify about deals he made with the gang before the State of Exception.

Now those allegations won’t be aired publicly in court."
-A Reichlin-Melnick

Bukele uses QPQ like Trump. They're mobsters -should've never been allowed serve in public office. R MOC are complicit in Trump/Bukele's #corruption.
#Deportations #Fascism #RICO #USPol dropsitenews.com/p/secret-buke

Trump's eldest son Donald Trump Jr has come up with a new bus venture & it's only meant for the super-rich. And it will not be in FL but at stone's throw from the WH -- an invite-only members club in DC. To become a member, you need to have 2 things. Only💰won't suffice as the membership is limited only to invitation.

The club will cater to business & tech moguls looking to cozy up to the Trump admin.

This is #corruption on steroids.

#TrumpRegime #RICO #Resist #USPol timesofindia.indiatimes.com/wo

The Times of IndiaDonald Trump Jr opens private, invite-only club for Washington's ultra-rich. Membership fee $500,000 per year - The Times of IndiaUS News: President Donald Trump's eldest son Donald Trump Jr has come up with a new business venture and it is only meant for the super-rich.
Continued thread

Sat Noon - #StopCopCity: Imaginary Crimes Tour @ North American Indian Center of #Boston, 12 pm

"ATLANTA, GA — Supporters of people facing racketeering charges in Georgia for their alleged involvement in protesting #CopCity are launching a public education tour this week to draw attention to the ongoing criminal cases and increased repression against social movements. The "Stop Cop City: Imaginary Crimes" tour starts in Atlanta on April 4 and will include events in over 60 cities across the country through April and May. The tour will feature panel discussions, anti-repression resources, and merchandise. The tour also aims to provide direct support to defendants by raising morale and much-needed funds.

Dozens of people arrested at various times and locations around #Atlanta since 2021 were indicted in August 2023 under the #Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. More than 17 months later, none of the 61 people charged with #RICO have been tried."

mailchi.mp/726b785d6da5/press-
#activism #BostonWeekend 35/x

"Holy crap. Here are🚨91 pages of letters that 14 House Dems just sent to the 9 law firms that have paid off Trump to not attack them.

Lots of Qs aimed at sorting out if they violated fed bribery/anti-fraud/racketeering laws.

This fresh round of Qs for these firms come after 2 other Dems, Rep Raskin & Sen Blumenthal, sent their own letters on Tues *more scathing.

"An illegal shakedown of the legal profession.”
-J Bendery

Letters⬇️

#RICO #USPol huffpost.com/entry/democrats-l

min.house.gov/sites/evo-subsit

HuffPost · Democrats Demand Answers From Top Law Firms That Caved To Trump's WishesBy Jennifer Bendery

There’s a cold logic behind these tech leaders holding their tongues in public—esp for those who sell hardware.

They’re simply lobbying behind the scenes on their own behalf. Most of the strategizing around trade rules -happening through back channels "A lot of personal dialing & trying to get deals done."

🚨Tech CEOs get deals with payola. We must amplify how Trump's criminal enterprise is destroying America in numerous nefarious ways.

#RICO #Corruption #Tariffs #USPol wired.com/story/plaintext-tech

WIRED · Where Were Big Tech’s CEOs on Tariffs?By Lauren Goode
Continued thread

State by State Pending and recently passed #AntiProtestLaws: #Oklahoma

HB 1674: Penalties for #protesters who block #traffic, immunity for drivers who hit protesters, and liability for organizations that work with protesters

**Note: Portions of HB1674 were preliminarily enjoined by a federal district judge on October 27, 2021, temporarily blocking enforcement of the law's 1) penalties for protesters who obstruct traffic, and 2) penalties for organizations that "conspire" with someone who is convicted of certain protest-related offenses.** Creates new penalties for protesters who obstruct traffic while participating in a "riot," and protects drivers who "unintentionally" hit them. Under the law, a person who participated in a "riot" and "obstructed" the "normal use" of a public street or highway, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison, a $5,000 fine, and restitution for any property damage that occurs. The law defines "obstruct" to include rendering the street or highway "unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous" for cars' passage, including by "standing" on the street or highway. "Riot" is broadly defined under existing Oklahoma law, to include a group of three or more people who make "any threat to use force." The new law also shields from liability a driver who injures or kills someone while "fleeing from a riot," as long as they did so "unintentionally," were "exercising due care," and held a "reasonable belief" that they needed to flee to protect themselves. Under the law, such a driver cannot be held civilly or criminally liable for the injuries or death they caused. Finally, the law provides that an organization found to have "conspired" with individuals who are found guilty of certain offenses--including "unlawful assembly," "riot," "incitement to riot," refusing to aid in the arrest of a "rioter," and remaining at the scene of a "riot" after being ordered to disperse--may be fined ten times the maximum amount of fine authorized for the individual's offense.

Read full text:
oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.asp

Status: enacted

Introduced 2 Feb 2021; Approved by House 10 March 2021; Approved by Senate 14 April 2021; Signed by Governor Stitt 21 April 2021

Issue(s): #ProtestSupporters or Funders, #DriverImmunity, Riot, #TrafficInterference

HB 2095: Racketeering penalties for those involved in "unlawful assemblies"

Adds "unlawful assemblies" to the offenses that can be prosecuted as "#racketeering activity" under Oklahoma's #RICO statute. As a result, an organization or individual found to have "attempted" or "conspired" with individuals to engage in or encourage a protest that is deemed an "unlawful assembly" can be prosecuted under RICO and subject to felony penalties. Oklahoma law broadly defines "unlawful assembly" to include a group of three or more people who gather without lawful authority in a manner "as is adapted to disturb the public peace."

Full text of bill:
oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.asp

Status: enacted

Introduced 1 Feb 2021; Approved by House 8 March 2021; Approved by Senate 21 April 2021; Signed by Governor Stitt 28 April 2021

Issue(s): Protest Supporters or Funders

HB 1123: New penalties for protests near #CriticalInfrastructure

Targets protests around certain public facilities by creating a new criminal offense for trespass onto property containing "critical infrastructure." The law's extensive list of "critical infrastructure" facilities ranges from a petroleum refinery to a telephone pole. Willfully entering onto property containing critical infrastructure without permission is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to $1,000 or six month in jail, or both. Evidence of intent to damage or otherwise harm the operations of the infrastructure facility would make the offence a felony, punishable by at least $10,000 (with no maximum provided) or imprisonment for one year, or both; actual damage or vandalizing of the facility is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Organizations found to have "conspired" with perpetrators are liable for up to $1,000,000. The sponsor of the law told a House of Representatives committee that it was prompted by the #DakotaAccessPipeline protests in North Dakota.

Full text of bill:
legiscan.com/OK/text/HB1123/20

Status: enacted

Introduced 6 Feb 2017; Signed into law 3 May 2017

Issue(s): Protest Supporters or Funders, Infrastructure, Trespass

HB 2128: Heightened penalties for protesters who #trespass onto private property

Increases the potential penalties levied on individuals who protest on private property without permission. The law allows prosecutors to hold anyone arrested for or convicted of trespass liable for any damages to personal or real property caused while# trespassing.

Status: enacted

Introduced 6 Feb 2017; Governor Fallin signed into law 15 May 2017

Issue(s): Trespass

SB 743: Ban on protests that disturb #worshippers

Would make it a serious criminal offense to protest in a way that disturbs people engaged in religious observation. Under the bill, someone who “willfully disturbs, interrupts, or disquiets” a group of “people met for religious worship” commits a misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail and $500, or a felony punishable by two years in prison and $1,000 for subsequent offenses. As written, the bill would seemingly allow anyone who was the target of a protest—for instance, lawmakers at the statehouse—to make a protest illegal simply by starting to pray. The prohibition extends to any unauthorized “protest [or] demonstration” within one mile of the individuals engaged in religious worship. “Disturb” and “disquiet” are not defined by the bill, such that even a #SilentDemonstration that was visible to people engaged in religious worship as far as one mile away could be prohibited. The bill was introduced as a substitute to SB 743 on March 25, 2025.

Full text of bill:
oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.asp

Status: pending

Introduced 25 Mar 2025; Approved by Senate 27 March 2025

SB 481: Restrictions on #PublicEmployees' ability to protest

Would broadly prohibit public employees from participating in protests during work hours in most situations. Under a committee substitute to the bill introduced on February 25, it would be unlawful for state or local government employees including public school teachers to “speak on or participate in a matter of public concern deemed a matter of larger societal significance” in “an organized form of protest” during their normal working hours. The bill would allow public employees to protest during working hours only if they were using annual leave and if their actions did not create “an undue burden on the employer’s interest in an efficient, disruptive-free workplace”—a vaguely worded condition that employers could abuse to restrict employees' participation in disfavored protests. The bill would also prohibit public employees from using publicly owned computers, transportation, or other equipment for conduct related to participation in protests.

Full text of bill:
oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.asp

Status: pending

Introduced 25 Feb 2025.

#FirstAmendment #CriminalizingDissent
#Authoritarianism #Fascism #Clampdown #CriminalizingProtest
#CharacteristicsOfFascism #USPol #AntiProtestLaws #PipelineProtests

Continued thread

#SCOTUS ruled that under #civil #RICO #law a plaintiff may seek treble damages for business or property loss even if the loss resulted from #PersonalInjury. It’s a win for truck driver Douglas Horn who was fired when he failed a drug test after taking a tincture that said it only contained #CBD.

Opinion from #AmyConeyBarrett, 5-4, in #MedicalMarijuana, Inc v Horn. #ClarenceThomas filed a dissent. Brett #Kavanaugh filed a dissent, joined by #JohnRoberts, & Samuel #Alito.

supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pd