Monday, December 31, 2018

Trump goes off in an all-caps New Year's Eve Twitter meltdown: 'MEXICO IS PAYING FOR THE WALL'


Nothing like harboring a fugitive at Mar-A-Lago. At least the @FBI knows where he’s at. Odd Mr. Trump doesn’t have ICE deporting him though. Bad look for @POTUS on many scores.


NARRATOR: There are in fact no "heads of countries" calling asking why Sen. Schumer is not approving "otherwise approved Ambassadors." The heads of other countries know that McConnell, not Schumer, is majority leader, and that there is only a 50-vote threshold for confirmations.


"I suspect that most Republicans, and most people in general, haven’t the slightest idea of how bad things may well get for the GOP. We could witness a schism over Trump that ultimately leads to the downfall of the party, akin to the Whigs of the 1850s"


Rep. Debbie Dingell: "Right now, we have a Republican President, Republican House, Republican Senate. They're in control."


BREAKING: US stocks suffer worst year since 2008 financial crisis; S&P 500 sees 6.2 percent annual drop, Dow falls 5.6 percent.


China 'releases' Canadian teacher Sarah McIver


For now, the fate of LGBT workplace rights lies in Mitch McConnell's hands


Trump claims there’s a 10-foot wall around the Obamas’ D.C. home. He is wrong.


Syrian President Bashar Assad authorizes Iraqi forces to strike the Islamic State group


Israel's Netanyahu said would not resign during possible indictment hearing


Trump to appear on Fox News for New Year's Eve special


Elizabeth Warren said her 2020 campaign's central issue is the skyrocketing costs of housing, healthcare and education. "It has been decades in which profits have gone through the roof and workers' incomes have stayed flat," she continued


#Russia's state TV, July 2018: Lawmaker Leonid Kalashnikov re: Maria #Butina's arrest: "Let's arrest an American here and that's it... They arrested Butina, let's immediately arrest some Amerikashka here."


Interesting update - Sam Patten knows a lot Patten worked with Konstantin Kilimnik and Paul Manafort, was a consultant for Cambridge Analytica, worked on mayoral campaign of Vitalii Klitschko who had also been supported by Dmitry Firtash and Rudy Giuliani & knew Rinat Akhmetshin


Trump-Pelosi showdown over shutdown the first battle of new era:


At midnight, the military-industrial complex about which Dwight Eisenhower warned 58 years ago will be fully realized. A 31-year employee of Boeing—who joined Trump’s team with no military or foreign policy experience—will take charge of the Pentagon


Interesting. Government just filed a joint status report under seal for Sam Patten, a Manafort/Kilimnik associate who pleaded guilty in August to failing to register as a foreign agent and admitted to steering foreign funds to Trump's inaugural. He's been cooperating ever since.


From the Editorial Board: Is Russia about to invade Ukraine again? That may depend on Trump.


Trump: I Should Be a ‘National Hero’


#TeamPatriot knows #WeStandWithCanada and Xi and all his regime should understand what happened to their APT10 hackers can happen to them - individually tracked, named, sanctioned and worse, if they touch a hair on the head of Canadian civilians


Larry Behrendt, who practiced law for more than 30 years in New York and California, filed one of the 83 misconduct complaints against Brett Kavanaugh. Writing for The Post, he says they should not have been dismissed.


State Dept. Was Granted $120 Million to Fight Russian Meddling. It Has Spent $0. - The New York Times


the president just tweeted that he was in the oval, but no marine outside the west wing


Mom, Billy’s Dad is here to pick me up..


Twenty Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Bernie Sanders


Republicans are celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Trump tax cuts. They shouldnt be.


Walmart gains patent to eavesdrop on shoppers and employees in stores


Russian ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky tells me: “Ukraine is our territory, part of our country.” Easy to dismiss as populist rant, but a recent poll found Zhirinovsky to be Russia’s 2nd most trusted politician. His party is very much part of Russia’s political system.


The Day Trump Never Stopped Tweeting


Gen. @MarkHertling: "You combine not only Stanley McChrystal but Bill McCraven, Secretary Mattis, John Kelly and you say well a lot of people are saying not only is there a leadership void, but there's also a lack of understanding of the intellectual requirements of the job"


Week 84: This Was the Year Mueller Made the Liars Writhe


With the standoff over the shutdown lengthening, early polling shows that Trump is paying a political price


.@realDonaldTrump is an angry, emotional, unstable man who shut down the government because he is scared of folks like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh. 800K+ Americans lost their paychecks over the holidays because Trump is a weak man who’s unfit to serve.


"This is James Mattis' last day on the job," reports @barbarastarrcnn. "At midnight tonight there will be a phone call initiated by the Pentagon Communications team... and there will be that transfer of power"


Trump’s presidential legacy is already etched in dirty air and rancid rivers


Russia's detention of U.S. citizen comes amid intensifying tensions


The suddenness and ferocity for which the Bernie-left attacked Joe Biden and Beto O’Rourke recently— backed by bots and Russian trolls— shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s 2015-2016 all over again with the sabotaging of Democratic candidates who can win nationally.


Canada stood up for the rule of law. If China thinks they can bully them into submission, then it’s time to remind Beijing that #WeStandWithCanada. Let’s ensure they get the message, patriots. The rule of law and our shared values are worth defending.


You know what? I’m thinking China might not so boldly trumpet this strategy if MBS hasn’t been given the enthusiastic murder/torture green light by Trump & henchmen.


Kellyanne Conway criticized @NancyPelosi for visiting Hawaii during the shutdown, while chillin’ in Florida waiting for Trump’s NYE party. Classic @GOP hypocrisy


Leg-breaking Russian thugs: Paul Manafort pressured by Russians to pay back debt while Trump's campaign chair, Time magazine says


John Kelly was known to tell aides that he had the "worst job in the world," and frequently told people that Donald Trump was not up to role of president, two former administration officials said


Today was cool. We stopped at Jeffrey Epstein’s house.


Identity of Russian ex-spy who served as Manafort's main foreign contact during 2016 election revealed as Viktor Boyakin


Written with my friend & former senior DoD official Mike Vickers. We’re not arguing for a best way to keep the pressure on, just that we do so. Having said that, it would be wise for the President to rethink the troop withdrawals from Syria & Afghanistan.


Russia’s FSB has detained a U.S. citizen, Paul Whelan, on espionage charges


Opinion: We are living in a new gilded age. 2018 proves it.


Last surviving prosecutor at Nuremberg trials says Trump's family separation policy is ‘crime against humanity’


President Trump's acting secretary of defense will step into the role with no foreign policy or military experience


Lindsey Graham: "To my Democratic friends, there will never be a deal without wall funding and many Republicans are going to offer something as an incentive to vote for wall funding that you have supported in the past."


Belarus warns Putin is destroying countries to re-create Soviet bloc under Russian flag


2018: The Year in Trump Lies


Lindsey Graham has turned into a total buffoon. "I learned a lot from President Trump" has never been uttered by anyone....until now.


"Snowflake is a word used by sociopaths in an attempt to discredit the notion of empathy." - John Cleese


Russia Detains U.S. Citizen in Moscow on Suspicion of Espionage. Looks like Putin wants a hostage for leverage purposes. Generally countries kick out suspected foreign spies, not arrest them


China could execute a Canadian for drug smuggling -- in escalation of Huawei dispute.

ICYMI

Chief of Staff John Kelly to leave White House by end of month, Trump says. In recent times, the president has often spent only 6 or 7 hrs in the Oval Office daily. Kelly told others that the less time Trump spent in the Oval Office, the better


House Dems are scooping up staff and lawyers to power Trump investigations. One job posting asked for counsels with a variety of expertise: "criminal law, immigration law, constitutional law, intellectual property law, commercial and administrative law."


Mar a Lago WIFI by Cloud4 - a major partner with Russia's biggest mobile/cell network.


Report: Alabama sheriff pocketed $1.5 million for jailing ICE detainees


Guns are the second leading killer of U.S. kids, after car crashes, according to a new report


A Holiday Mystery: Why Did John Roberts Intervene in the Mueller Probe?


Bernie alumni seek meeting to address 'sexual violence' on ‘16 campaign


Clarence Thomas's wife facing scrutiny for spreading far-right stances on social media


Trump tweeted this 2 years ago right now, during a transition period in which his incoming national security adviser was having secret conversations with the Russian ambassador that he later lied to FBI agents about.


Manhunt underway in Texas for man who gunned down 7-year-old girl


So are we staying? Or are we still going? Kind of both? Maybe neither? Is Lindsey now Secretary of State? American foreign policy = dumpster fire


Trump's lies sometimes seem strategic. But polls shows that most Americans see right through it & realize he's untrustworthy.


Congratulations @SpeakerRyan on your retirement. Please take with you the knowledge that when you left, the government was shutdown, an incompetent traitor was president, the country’s debt was higher than its ever been, & you did nothing. You were the worst Speaker in history.


So totalitarian dictatorship China thinks it’s a good idea to execute Canadian citizens in retaliation for the lawful prosecution of their ‘agent’ and Huawei Executive, Meng Wazhou. It isn’t. If China crosses that line, they will regret it.


John Kelly, who is leaving the White House imminently, occasionally told others that the less time Trump spent in the Oval the better, and that the president did not really understand how the government worked.


Half of residents in 11 Southern states believe that the US was founded as an explicitly Christian nation The view is a crux of Christian Nationalism, a belief system that supports the idea the US should be governed as an explicitly Christian nation


Judge says Affordable Care Act can remain law while his ruling that its unconstitutional is appealed


His disorders are acute. He's very dangerous. Mad with fear. Legal and criminal exposure. A lifetime of lies. A malignant narcissist will fight, distract, double down. His mental state NEEDS to be discussed by experts. #UNFIT. Click, watch trailer, support


A former NSA contractor's Twitter messages played a role in the NSA hacking-tools leak probe, according to a federal judge


Sunday, December 30, 2018

Dear Trump Voters: As 2018 comes to a close, here's an updated list of Trump's 30 biggest broken promises. Don't keep falling for his lies in the new year.


John Kelly paints yet another dim portrait of Trump.


At Epstein’s place.


We are now using Mar a Lago’s WiFi. It’s totally unsecured.


They'll tell you, if it's just the two of you, you know, 'The guy (Trump) is nuts, he doesn't have a grasp of the issues — he's making rash decisions, he's not listening to the people who know the subject matter,'" McCaskill says


Chaos on @FoxNews when host bucks Lying Trump and says Dems are not killing migrant kids at the border


House Republicans revealed in a letter to top Justice Department officials that they are closing their investigation into the how the FBI and DOJ handled their probes into Hillary Clinton and the Trump campaign


Dave Barry’s Year in Review 2018: You thought 2016 and 2017 were bad? Let’s look back at this past year.


Trump is billing US taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars for parties at Mar-A-Lago while Americans serving in agencies he shut down protect our country without pay


Whitaker’s role in 2006 immigration raid foreshadowed aggressive stance as acting attorney general


39% of the U.S. prison population — 576,000 people — are behind bars with no compelling public safety reason.


Lindsey Graham and the other Republicans literally voted for a deal without wall funding right before the holiday.


Conservative health care experiment leads to thousands losing coverage. 'I have pre-existing conditions. But all they could tell me was, 'sorry, you didn’t comply,'' said one Arkansan who lost coverage.


FBI collecting evidence of undocumented immigrants who claim they worked at Trump golf course


Seattle's $15 minimum wage was supposed to crush hiring. Look at what happened instead


Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Kevin McAleenan tells @MarthaRaddatz that the United States needs to “invest in Central America,” which is at odds with a tweet from President Trump saying he would cut off aid to those countries


The Pentagon announced Friday that Boeing was awarded a $400 million defense contract, just days after the company’s former top executive Patrick Shanahan was tapped by President Trump to be acting Secretary of Defense


As of the start of FY2018, only 15% of federal government employees were located in the Washington, DC area.


Even Trump’s team now admits a wall isn’t the smart way to do border security!


Ret. Gen. Stanley McChrystal says, if asked, he wouldn't join the Trump admin because "it's important for me to work for people" who are "basically honest." Raddatz: "Is Trump immoral in your view?" McChrystal: "I think he is."


And, yet again, Trump is going after #LisaPage, who had investigated Russian crime boss Semion #Mogilevich.


VIDEO: Staffers caught dragging, slapping, & pushing migrant children at a detention facility operated by Southwest Key (a nonprofit whose CEO makes millions on the backs of undocumented children). Full video as obtained by the Arizona Republic:


Outgoing White House Chief of Staff John Kelly says President Trump's border wall is "not a wall," and the idea was abandoned "early on" in the administration


To over simplify this #TrumpsShutdown , which is the 3rd shutdown in 11 months. The Senate Agreed to the House Amendments The House specifically the wankers in the @freedomcaucus convinced Trump to reverse course Literally @SpeakerRyan has ZERO control over the PITA Tea Baggers


Kelly says Sessions "surprised" White House with child separation policy


No, Mr. Trump, the Press Is Only the Enemy of Lies


Trump Lies Again About 19,000 ‘Deleted’ FBI Text Messages


Kelly blames Sessions for Trump family separation policy


John Kelly: judge me on what Trump didn't do while I was chief of staff


Once more: your son, your son-in-law, & your campaign chair signaled to Moscow your campaign approved of Kremlin efforts to intervene in the election, and *you* collaborated with Putin’s disinformation op by echoing his false denials. You aided and abetted the Russian attack.


March/April ‘16 #FSG CEO (Smith) and lead Director (Adm Fallon) notified through “back channels” that the DOJ would NOT pursue the matter until AFTER the 2016 election. #ErikPrince is aware that if HRC is elected, her DOJ will likely pursue an investigation.


EXCLUSIVE: Outgoing White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly defends his rocky tenure - “A bone-crushing hard job, but you do it.”


#UNFIT-a new film where leading mental health pros go on camera for the first time about Trump’s behavior, disorders, instability. Important film to change public narrative.


ICYMI: From popular prince to virtual pariah, @ewither recaps Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's year


Eyeing end of Netanyahu era, Bennett and Shaked are ditching the settlers


Montenegro. Erik Prince associates and former CIA Joe and Mary Assad accused of working with Netanyahu's Israeli political operative for Russians. Is anybody playing it straight in the Balkans?


Mick Mulvaney: "We will not be weaponizing the shutdown in order to make it hard on people like we believe the previous administration does but we could be in this for the long haul."


Putin, in New Year letter to Trump, says Moscow is open for dialogue


Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy under scrutiny over alleged deal with sanctioned Russian bank VTB.


Barak is deep into the Israeli tech community - Black Cube and the like - he also has been transferring Israeli tech to China vis Kuantan’s Chi HKSE:0439 He is a dual Israeli and US citizen and Mueller ought to chat with him on his next trip into the US.


On shutdown, White House wants Trump’s tweets to do the talking


Rep. Steny Hoyer: "We had a deal here. We weren't flapping around. We had an understanding. The Senate passed a bill."


Searching for Boris Birshtein


Donald Trump Can Be Indicted While President, Says Bill Clinton Special Prosecutor Ken Starr


Conservative outlet BlazeTV dropped from Verizon channel package


More bad news for American farmers as new 11-nation treaty leaves them out of the deal Trump nixed


Hey @realDonaldTrump, perhaps this map may help you understand just how stupid a person has to be to think that your wall will change anything.


Young Republican women are aggrieved, outnumbered, defiant. And they aren’t going to apologize for loving the guy in the White House.


Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: some ignorant twatwaffle inexplicably blaming the minority party for deaths that happened during two years of complete GOP control of the government.


How far will Trump go to appease Erdogan & Putin?


Has Putin lost his mojo? Signs point to yes.


FUN FACT: Donald Trump is under 17 separate criminal investigations.


It's almost like Paulie Walnuts had a longstanding clandestine relationship with Kremlin spies or something


Paul Manafort pressured by Russians to pay back debt while Trump's campaign chair, Time magazine says


Cyberattack from outside the U.S. hits newspapers across the country, preventing distribution


Is there no one who cares enough about grandpa to put him to bed? Good grief.


Trumps descent into madness


Facebook temporarily banned evangelist Franklin Graham


Trump ditched the TPP. Now it's going into effect without the US


My interview with the other #GRU spy - Viktor Suvorov talks #Putin, novichok, Brexit, and why his old service will never forgive him. On Salisbury: “Of course it was the GRU”


"He's trapped," Republican strategist Mike Murphy said of Trump. "He's playing poker holding two threes and suddenly putting all of his chips in. It's pure emotion, the mark of a panicking amateur."


My head hurts thinking about #ErikPrince world-I spent much time with Joe and Michelle(not Mary)-we used the same office in Erik’s villa in Abu Dhabi - I’d joke with Joe that it was his job to dump the server into the Arabian Sea if we got a knock on the door, no joke now