Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
real Cannabis calm
real Cannabis calm's Journal
real Cannabis calm's Journal
May 31, 2019
Kamala Harris "THAT'S NOT OUR AMERICA" speech...
May 30, 2019
By Alex Marquardt and Zachary Cohen, CNN
Updated 4:58 AM ET, Thu May 30, 2019
Washington (CNN)Key allies who share intelligence with the United States could soon be dragged into the middle of Attorney General Bill Barr's politically-charged Justice Department review of how the Russia investigation began.
President Donald Trump has said he wants Barr to look into the role key intelligence partners, including the United Kingdom and Australia... Trump told reporters, "I hope he looks at the UK and I hope he looks at Australia and I hope he looks at Ukraine."
For now, those allies are trying to stay out of the fray, arguing it's a domestic issue. But the President has granted Barr -- not the intelligence community -- sweeping powers to decide what intelligence can be declassified.
That means Barr could potentially reveal intelligence shared with the US by other countries related to Russian election meddling and, in the process, risk damaging those critical relationships with foreign partners.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/30/politics/barr-intelligence-review-allies-reaction/index.html?cid=web-alerts&nsid=81664128
At least the Criminal-in-Chief has found a friend (or lover) in North Korea
(BBC) Trump on Kim Jong-un: 'We fell in love'
The US president told a rally in Wheeling, West Virginia that the North Korean leader had sent him "beautiful" letters...
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-45696420/trump-on-kim-jong-un-we-fell-in-love
Has the Criminal-In-Chief broken a record for US presidential meetings with a North Korean leader?
How many "summits" has Trump had with Kim Jong - a monstrous tyrant, who continues to test nuclear missiles that threaten the USA and MANY other nations?
And, in this VERY recent photo, why is the idiot saluting a North Korean military leader, who was only planning to shake his hand?
Breaking News - Trump plans threaten important, foreign intelligence partners...
US intelligence partners wary of Barr's Russia reviewBy Alex Marquardt and Zachary Cohen, CNN
Updated 4:58 AM ET, Thu May 30, 2019
Washington (CNN)Key allies who share intelligence with the United States could soon be dragged into the middle of Attorney General Bill Barr's politically-charged Justice Department review of how the Russia investigation began.
President Donald Trump has said he wants Barr to look into the role key intelligence partners, including the United Kingdom and Australia... Trump told reporters, "I hope he looks at the UK and I hope he looks at Australia and I hope he looks at Ukraine."
For now, those allies are trying to stay out of the fray, arguing it's a domestic issue. But the President has granted Barr -- not the intelligence community -- sweeping powers to decide what intelligence can be declassified.
That means Barr could potentially reveal intelligence shared with the US by other countries related to Russian election meddling and, in the process, risk damaging those critical relationships with foreign partners.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/30/politics/barr-intelligence-review-allies-reaction/index.html?cid=web-alerts&nsid=81664128
At least the Criminal-in-Chief has found a friend (or lover) in North Korea
(BBC) Trump on Kim Jong-un: 'We fell in love'
The US president told a rally in Wheeling, West Virginia that the North Korean leader had sent him "beautiful" letters...
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-45696420/trump-on-kim-jong-un-we-fell-in-love
Has the Criminal-In-Chief broken a record for US presidential meetings with a North Korean leader?
How many "summits" has Trump had with Kim Jong - a monstrous tyrant, who continues to test nuclear missiles that threaten the USA and MANY other nations?
And, in this VERY recent photo, why is the idiot saluting a North Korean military leader, who was only planning to shake his hand?
May 30, 2019
May 29 at 6:21 PM
Mueller’s statement highlights key differences with Barr on investigation of President Trump
By Devlin Barrett
Reporter focusing on national security and law enforcement
Departing special counsel Robert S. Mueller III finally spoke publicly Wednesday, and his carefully chosen comments highlight the ways in which he disagrees with his boss, Attorney General William P. Barr, about the facts and the law surrounding the investigation into President Trump.
“If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so,” Mueller said Wednesday.
[Mueller complained to Barr about his characterization of investigation findings]
Since filing their 448-page report, Mueller and his team have been frustrated by what they perceive as a lack of public understanding about this point...
The president was pleased that Mueller does not want to testify, an aide said...
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said Mueller’s comments undercut Barr’s past claims.
Congressional Democrats must decide what, if anything, to do with Mueller’s evidence against President Trump, which detailed potential obstruction of justice. (Taylor Turner/The Washington Post)
At some point, Jeffries insisted, "Mueller is going to tell the whole story.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/muellers-statement-highlights-key-differences-with-barr-on-investigation-of-president-trump/2019/05/29/7ea33408-8243-11e9-bce7-40b4105f7ca0_story.html?utm_term=.f0b2018654d9
In other N.Y.T. news:
Mueller, in First Comments on Russia Inquiry, Declines to Clear Trump
The New York Times-13 hours ago
WASHINGTON — Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, declined on Wednesday to clear President Trump of obstruction of justice...
MUELLER BREAKS FROM BARR ON TRUMP INVESTIGATION!!!
National Security [section] New York TimesMay 29 at 6:21 PM
Mueller’s statement highlights key differences with Barr on investigation of President Trump
By Devlin Barrett
Reporter focusing on national security and law enforcement
Departing special counsel Robert S. Mueller III finally spoke publicly Wednesday, and his carefully chosen comments highlight the ways in which he disagrees with his boss, Attorney General William P. Barr, about the facts and the law surrounding the investigation into President Trump.
“If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so,” Mueller said Wednesday.
[Mueller complained to Barr about his characterization of investigation findings]
Since filing their 448-page report, Mueller and his team have been frustrated by what they perceive as a lack of public understanding about this point...
The president was pleased that Mueller does not want to testify, an aide said...
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said Mueller’s comments undercut Barr’s past claims.
Congressional Democrats must decide what, if anything, to do with Mueller’s evidence against President Trump, which detailed potential obstruction of justice. (Taylor Turner/The Washington Post)
At some point, Jeffries insisted, "Mueller is going to tell the whole story.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/muellers-statement-highlights-key-differences-with-barr-on-investigation-of-president-trump/2019/05/29/7ea33408-8243-11e9-bce7-40b4105f7ca0_story.html?utm_term=.f0b2018654d9
In other N.Y.T. news:
Mueller, in First Comments on Russia Inquiry, Declines to Clear Trump
The New York Times-13 hours ago
WASHINGTON — Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, declined on Wednesday to clear President Trump of obstruction of justice...
May 30, 2019
N.Y.T. briefing: "covering... abortion & rare string of tornadoes"
John Bolton, Tornadoes, Abortion: Your Wednesday Briefing
by Chris Stanford
"We’re covering an apparent divide between President Trump and his national security adviser, a rare string of tornadoes, and the unusual things that New Yorkers take on the subway."
Developing
Robert Mueller, the special counsel, today characterized for the first time his investigation of whether President Trump obstructed justice, saying “if we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so.”
A disconnect on foreign policy
President Trump split from his national security adviser, John Bolton, during their Japan trip that ended on Tuesday, saying that, unlike Mr. Bolton, he was not seeking regime change in Iran. Mr. Trump also contradicted Mr. Bolton by asserting that recent North Korean missile tests had not violated United Nations resolutions.
Background: Mr. Trump chose Mr. Bolton, known for his hawkish foreign policy views, last year as his third national security adviser. Mr. Bolton has learned to brief Mr. Trump effectively, but the two have never bonded on a personal level, according to administration officials.
Related: Mr. Bolton left Japan for the United Arab Emirates, where today he blamed Iran for reported attacks on oil tankers.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/briefing/john-bolton-tornadoes-abortion.html
WHO THE FUC$K CARE'S ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE vs HUMANS AND OTHER LIVING ENTITIES ON EARTH?
By Coral Davenport and Mark Landler
May 27, 2019
WASHINGTON — President Trump has rolled back environmental regulations, pulled the United States out of the Paris climate accord, brushed aside dire predictions about the effects of climate change, and turned the term “global warming” into a punch line rather than a prognosis.
And, in what could be Mr. Trump’s most consequential action yet, his administration will seek to undermine the very science on which climate change policy rests.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/27/us/politics/trump-climate-science.html
May 28, 2019
By Coral Davenport and Mark Landler
May 27, 2019
WASHINGTON — President Trump has rolled back environmental regulations, pulled the United States out of the Paris climate accord, brushed aside dire predictions about the effects of climate change, and turned the term “global warming” into a punch line rather than a prognosis.
Now, after two years spent unraveling the policies of his predecessors, Mr. Trump and his political appointees are launching a new assault.
In the next few months, the White House will complete the rollback of the most significant federal effort to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, initiated during the Obama administration. It will expand its efforts to impose Mr. Trump’s hard-line views on other nations, building on his retreat from the Paris accord and his recent refusal to sign a communiqué to protect the rapidly melting Arctic region unless it was stripped of any references to climate change.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/27/us/politics/trump-climate-science.html?module=inline
And, in what could be Mr. Trump’s most consequential action yet, his administration will seek to undermine the very science on which climate change policy rests.
Trump rolls back environmental regulations and turns "global warming into a punchline."
Trump Administration Hardens Its Attack on Climate ScienceBy Coral Davenport and Mark Landler
May 27, 2019
WASHINGTON — President Trump has rolled back environmental regulations, pulled the United States out of the Paris climate accord, brushed aside dire predictions about the effects of climate change, and turned the term “global warming” into a punch line rather than a prognosis.
Now, after two years spent unraveling the policies of his predecessors, Mr. Trump and his political appointees are launching a new assault.
In the next few months, the White House will complete the rollback of the most significant federal effort to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, initiated during the Obama administration. It will expand its efforts to impose Mr. Trump’s hard-line views on other nations, building on his retreat from the Paris accord and his recent refusal to sign a communiqué to protect the rapidly melting Arctic region unless it was stripped of any references to climate change.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/27/us/politics/trump-climate-science.html?module=inline
And, in what could be Mr. Trump’s most consequential action yet, his administration will seek to undermine the very science on which climate change policy rests.
May 26, 2019
By RENATO MARIOTTI May 26, 2019
Renato Mariotti is the Legal Affairs Columnist for POLITICO Magazine. He is a former federal prosecutor and host of the “On Topic” podcast.
In the space of three days this week, two federal judges ruled decisively in favor of Congress’ right to subpoena President Donald Trump’s personal financial and business records... More importantly, it suggests that Trump’s strategy of categorically fighting all congressional subpoenas will undermine his ability to stonewall Congress in subsequent cases.
On Monday, federal Judge Amit Mehta issued a sweeping decision rejecting Trump’s personal challenge to a House Oversight Committee subpoena of his financial records from an accounting firm... The main argument Trump advanced was that there was no legislative purpose for the subpoena.
Trump’s argument went further, claiming that Congress is engaging in “law enforcement” and that corrupt behavior by the president is not a “proper subject of investigation.” Mehta cited Watergate as an obvious rebuttal.
Trump’s argument is doomed to fail in the courts because the Constitution gives the House the “full power of impeachment” and it could not exercise that authority without investigating presidential wrongdoing.
Wednesday’s ruling by Judge Edgardo Ramos made equally quick work of Trump’s argument that subpoenas to Deutsche Bank and Capital One for his records lacked a “legitimate legislative purpose.” He found that argument “unpersuasive,” finding that it was “not the role of the judicial branch to question [Congress’] motives.” He denied every one of Trump’s requests.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/05/26/trump-tax-returns-subpoena-226987
8 hrs ago: "Why Trump's Stonewalling Legal Strategy Will Keep Failing"
If he’s trying to run out the clock on the subpoenas, the weakness of his strategy might actually be speeding things upBy RENATO MARIOTTI May 26, 2019
Renato Mariotti is the Legal Affairs Columnist for POLITICO Magazine. He is a former federal prosecutor and host of the “On Topic” podcast.
In the space of three days this week, two federal judges ruled decisively in favor of Congress’ right to subpoena President Donald Trump’s personal financial and business records... More importantly, it suggests that Trump’s strategy of categorically fighting all congressional subpoenas will undermine his ability to stonewall Congress in subsequent cases.
On Monday, federal Judge Amit Mehta issued a sweeping decision rejecting Trump’s personal challenge to a House Oversight Committee subpoena of his financial records from an accounting firm... The main argument Trump advanced was that there was no legislative purpose for the subpoena.
Trump’s argument went further, claiming that Congress is engaging in “law enforcement” and that corrupt behavior by the president is not a “proper subject of investigation.” Mehta cited Watergate as an obvious rebuttal.
Trump’s argument is doomed to fail in the courts because the Constitution gives the House the “full power of impeachment” and it could not exercise that authority without investigating presidential wrongdoing.
Wednesday’s ruling by Judge Edgardo Ramos made equally quick work of Trump’s argument that subpoenas to Deutsche Bank and Capital One for his records lacked a “legitimate legislative purpose.” He found that argument “unpersuasive,” finding that it was “not the role of the judicial branch to question [Congress’] motives.” He denied every one of Trump’s requests.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/05/26/trump-tax-returns-subpoena-226987
May 25, 2019
Hundreds protest outside Homestead detention center
Hundreds protest outside Homestead detention center on Mother’s Day
BY MONIQUE O. MADAN
More than 300 people flooded the streets Sunday outside the Homestead detention center for migrant children.
The Homestead shelter, the only facility for migrant children operated by a for-profit [highly profitable] corporation, has been shrouded in secrecy and cloaked in controversy from the moment it was reactivated in February 2018.
Lawmakers scornful of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies have been blocked from visiting. Because it sits on federal land, Florida’s child welfare agency is barred from investigating allegations of abuse.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article230274999.html
BY MONIQUE O. MADAN
More than 300 people flooded the streets Sunday outside the Homestead detention center for migrant children.
The Homestead shelter, the only facility for migrant children operated by a for-profit [highly profitable] corporation, has been shrouded in secrecy and cloaked in controversy from the moment it was reactivated in February 2018.
Lawmakers scornful of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies have been blocked from visiting. Because it sits on federal land, Florida’s child welfare agency is barred from investigating allegations of abuse.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article230274999.html
May 25, 2019
The ultimate hypocrisy:
While Trump refuses to reveal his tax-returns and the complete Mueller report, he is planning to reveal top-secrets of not only the CIA but also many other U.S. intelligence agencies.
Breaking News about Trump's "ultimate hypocrisy" I.M.H.O.
Trump’s Targeting of Intelligence Agencies Gains a Harder Edge
By Michael S. Schmidt and Julian E. Barnes
May 25, 2019
WASHINGTON — President Trump tried somewhat clumsily last year to revoke the security clearance of the former C.I.A. director who played a role in opening the Russia investigation. He then wanted to release classified documents to prove he was the target of a “witch hunt.”
Both attempts petered out, hampered by aides who slow-rolled the president and Justice Department officials who fought Mr. Trump, warning he was jeopardizing national security.
Mr. Trump took the highly unusual step on Thursday of granting Mr. Barr the power to declassify the most closely guarded secrets of the C.I.A. and the country’s 15 other intelligence agencies. Mr. Barr had asked for the authority to facilitate his review of the intelligence agencies’ involvement in the early stages of the Russia investigation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/25/us/politics/trump-intelligence-agencies.html
By Michael S. Schmidt and Julian E. Barnes
May 25, 2019
WASHINGTON — President Trump tried somewhat clumsily last year to revoke the security clearance of the former C.I.A. director who played a role in opening the Russia investigation. He then wanted to release classified documents to prove he was the target of a “witch hunt.”
Both attempts petered out, hampered by aides who slow-rolled the president and Justice Department officials who fought Mr. Trump, warning he was jeopardizing national security.
Mr. Trump took the highly unusual step on Thursday of granting Mr. Barr the power to declassify the most closely guarded secrets of the C.I.A. and the country’s 15 other intelligence agencies. Mr. Barr had asked for the authority to facilitate his review of the intelligence agencies’ involvement in the early stages of the Russia investigation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/25/us/politics/trump-intelligence-agencies.html
The ultimate hypocrisy:
While Trump refuses to reveal his tax-returns and the complete Mueller report, he is planning to reveal top-secrets of not only the CIA but also many other U.S. intelligence agencies.
May 25, 2019
The FAKE video, which slowed Nancy Pelosi comments down to make her appear drunk "has racked up millions of views, with Facebook refusing to remove it."
Instead, Facebook finally "downgraded the video's visibility and included a link to a fact-checking website, pointing out that the footage is misleading."
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/real-v-fake-edited-nancy-pelosi-clip-goes-viral-1.3904642
In other recent news:
Facebook Removed Nearly 3.4 Billion Fake Accounts In 6 Months
May 23, 20196:58 PM ET
Facebook says it removed 3.39 billion fake accounts from October to March. That's twice the number of fraudulent accounts deleted in the previous six-month period.
In the company's latest Community Standards Enforcement Report, released Thursday, Facebook said nearly all of the fake accounts were caught by artificial intelligence and more human monitoring. They also attributed the skyrocketing number to "automated attacks by bad actors who attempt to create large volumes of accounts at one time."
The fake accounts are roughly a billion more than the 2.4 billion actual people on Facebook worldwide, according to the company's own count.
"Most of these accounts were blocked within minutes of their creation before they could do any harm," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told reporters in a call on Thursday.
https://www.npr.org/2019/05/23/726353723/facebook-removed-nearly-3-2-billion-fake-accounts-in-last-six-months
"REAL VS. FAKE"
Real v fake: edited Nancy Pelosi clip goes viralThe FAKE video, which slowed Nancy Pelosi comments down to make her appear drunk "has racked up millions of views, with Facebook refusing to remove it."
Instead, Facebook finally "downgraded the video's visibility and included a link to a fact-checking website, pointing out that the footage is misleading."
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/real-v-fake-edited-nancy-pelosi-clip-goes-viral-1.3904642
In other recent news:
Facebook Removed Nearly 3.4 Billion Fake Accounts In 6 Months
May 23, 20196:58 PM ET
Facebook says it removed 3.39 billion fake accounts from October to March. That's twice the number of fraudulent accounts deleted in the previous six-month period.
In the company's latest Community Standards Enforcement Report, released Thursday, Facebook said nearly all of the fake accounts were caught by artificial intelligence and more human monitoring. They also attributed the skyrocketing number to "automated attacks by bad actors who attempt to create large volumes of accounts at one time."
The fake accounts are roughly a billion more than the 2.4 billion actual people on Facebook worldwide, according to the company's own count.
"Most of these accounts were blocked within minutes of their creation before they could do any harm," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told reporters in a call on Thursday.
https://www.npr.org/2019/05/23/726353723/facebook-removed-nearly-3-2-billion-fake-accounts-in-last-six-months
May 22, 2019
By Kevin Liptak
Updated 11:57 AM ET, Wed May 22, 2019
Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump said in impromptu remarks Wednesday that he told Democrats at the White House he couldn't work with them while they were pursuing investigations into him and his administration.
The Rose Garden speech came after an abbreviated meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer who were there to discuss a bipartisan infrastructure spending package.
He said during the meeting with Democrats that he couldn't work with them until their investigations are over.
Earlier Wednesday, Pelosi had told reporters Trump was engaged in a "cover-up."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/22/politics/donald-trump-democrats-mueller-russia-feud/index.html?cid=web-alerts&nsid=68484876
BREAKING NEWS: Trump says he refuses to work with Democrats until investigations halt.
CNNBy Kevin Liptak
Updated 11:57 AM ET, Wed May 22, 2019
Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump said in impromptu remarks Wednesday that he told Democrats at the White House he couldn't work with them while they were pursuing investigations into him and his administration.
The Rose Garden speech came after an abbreviated meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer who were there to discuss a bipartisan infrastructure spending package.
He said during the meeting with Democrats that he couldn't work with them until their investigations are over.
Earlier Wednesday, Pelosi had told reporters Trump was engaged in a "cover-up."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/22/politics/donald-trump-democrats-mueller-russia-feud/index.html?cid=web-alerts&nsid=68484876
Profile Information
Name: NMIGender: Do not display
Current location: Albuquerque, NM
Member since: Fri Mar 1, 2019, 01:36 AM
Number of posts: 1,124
