Wednesday, October 16, 2019

In extraordinary letter, Trump threatened Erdogan, taunted him not to be a ‘tough guy’


Speaker Pelosi says she had to stop White House meeting because Trump was too ‘shaken’ by GOP criticism


Maj. Leader Hoyer after meeting with Trump about Syria: "I have served with six presidents. I have been in many, many, many meetings like this. Never have I seen a president treat so disrespectfully a coequal branch of the government of the United States."


Pelosi explained to Trump that Russia has always wanted a “foothold in the Middle East,” and now it has one with the U.S. withdrawal. “All roads with you lead to Putin,” the speaker said. That's when Trump unraveled and went into a full-blown meltdown


Schumer and Hoyer are apoplectic about how Trump just treated Pelosi in the Oval, calling her a "third rate politician" and suggesting that she sides with ISIS because they are socialists. Does Nancy look too worried about what Trump thinks about her?


The Speaker of the House is saying the president is mentally ill.


Mr. President, Turkey’s offensive in Syria has a lot to do with us, since it was prompted by your decision to withdraw our troops. The slaughter of our Kurdish allies, the release of ISIS fighters and the risk that ISIS resurges are grave threats to American national security.


This is the letter @GOPLeader just described as “very strong.”


“The counterintelligence part of the investigation indicates that FBI and criminal prosecutors in Manhattan are looking at a broader set of issues related to Giuliani... than has been previously reported.”


I am telling you, I whiff the reek of Steve Bannon in all this language Trump is using. Likely via the backchannel he has with Miller and Julia Hahn. It smells like a hobo pissed himself and then rolled around in mildewed diapers.


Just so we're perfectly clear: Donald Trump's phrase "we're the boss" is demonstrably untrue. Donald Trump, Commander In Chief, is a submissive, groveling cur to every third-world strongman. He's a eunuch. He's a patsy. He's a credulous boob led by his ego and his dick.


Michael McKinley, Pompeo's former senior adviser until his sudden resignation last week, will tell House impeachment investigators Wednesday that career diplomats were mistreated during his tenure and some had their careers derailed for political reasons


It’s bad that Trump blindly regurgitates whatever lies and propaganda his dictator buddies tell him, like this, but he’s also doing what they tell him to do, which is far worse.


"David who? never met him"


Trump doubles down on the ‘Kurds are no angels’ line And says Russians are ‘welcome to it’ coming in to Syria. Republicans, your thoughts?


The Pentagon is refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena. If you’re waiting for a crisis, what else do you need to see


These quotes are from Trump, moments ago, but they mirror talking points from Erdogan, Putin and Assad. "The PKK... is probably worse at terror and more of a terrorist threat in many ways than ISIS." "Russia hates ISIS as much as the United States does." "Syria hates ISIS."


JUST IN: David Correia, 1 of the 4 people indicted in an alleged scheme to funnel foreign money and violate FEC laws was taken into custody at New York's JFK airport this morning; the case includes Giuliani associates Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman -


Breaking via NYT: Fiona Hill told impeachment investigators she viewed Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the E.U., as a potential national security risk because he was so unprepared for his job, according to two people familiar with her testimony


JUST NOW: After @GOPLeader suggested that the Russia investigation concerning the Trump campaign was started in Ukraine to damage @realDonaldTrump (not true) I asked him if he was suggesting that Paul Manafort, who was tried/convicted in a US court, was framed. He was not happy.


#BREAKING: I just signed legislation closing New York's double jeopardy loophole, authorizing the state to prosecute individuals pardoned by a president. No one is above the law and New York will not turn a blind eye to criminality, no matter who seeks to protect them.


So there was no Cold War after all? The USSR just decided to "downsize"? That's what "the best schools" taught Trump? How embarrassing


This is, to put it mildly, a gigantic pack of a historical horseshit. The Soviet collapse at the end of the Cold War was hardly a "downsizing.


Trump is slurring badly, couldn't pronounce "reception." Then said US-Italy ties go back to ancient Rome.


Trump on Turkey's invasion of Syria: "It's not our problem."


Rep. Andy Biggs, chairman of House Freedom Caucus who is pushing a resolution to censure Schiff, announces he plans to walk into SCIF and demand to see Kurt Volker transcript, where he will likely be denied because he doesn’t sit on the relevant committees conducting the intvw.


25 states have put in place new voting restrictions since 2010, when state lawmakers nationwide started introducing hundreds of bills restricting access to the ballot.


Gulnur Aybet, a Senior Adviser to the Turkish President Erdogan told @camanpour last week that “President Trump and President Erdogan have reached an understanding over precisely what this operation is… He knows what the scope of the scope of this operation is.”


Analysis: For the first time, workers are paying a higher tax rate than investors and owners


Update: Kurt Volker, former special U.S. envoy to Ukraine, has returned to the Hill today complete his prior testimony, NBC reports.


⁉️WHAT⁉️@SenatorWicker’s office says after 18 mo it has gotten NO answer from DOJ on why Ukrainian oligarch Dmitry Firtash—who bankrolled Paul Manafort & Giuliani’s #Ukrainegate henchmen—has not been extradited to the US to face federal #bribery charges


The Senate's schedule today: judges, judges, and hey, more judges


What happened to the Grand Old Party? Republicans are paying Trump’s sexual harassment lawyer fees — so far, $718,621 in campaign dollars


This isn’t ancient history. This is tax fraud or bank fraud Trump and his sons committed, in part, while he was the sitting President.


The Manhattan D.A. revealed "confidential informants" are part of his probe involving Trump's tax returns. "The criminal investigation is proceeding based upon information derived from public sources, confidential informants, and the grand jury process."


The Office of Management and Budget, State Department and the DOD have failed to comply with Congressional subpoenas. Despite this unprecedented obstruction, we’ve uncovered significant evidence of Trump’s abuse of power. And we’ll continue to expose the truth.


Top Trump economic adviser Peter Navarro made up an economist he has quoted regularly in his books named Ron Vara, per the Chronicle of Higher Education. Ron Vara happens to be an anagram of Navarro's last name


Remember the years 2009-16 when congressional republicans lied every day that America looked weak? Incompetent, corrupt trump has actually done it. And congressional republicans won’t say a word.


Trump still has an invite to Erdogan to visit the White House. Erdogan is pulling a Kim - only agreeing to speak 1:1 with Trump to isolate him from his home team. It's worked for Kim Jong Un, and Trump still has an invite out to Erdogan to visit the WH.


Morning. A president cannot run a shadow foreign policy operation designed to get foreign nations to destroy his election opponents. That’s not allowed in a democracy. Period. Stop


Twitter is seeking to clarify its rules for politicians after coming under pressure from Sen. Kamala Harris, a Democratic presidential candidate, to suspend President Trump's account


Tax fraud or bank fraud? Fun times ahead.


A U.S. senator's office says after 18 months it has still received no answer from the Justice Dept. about why a Ukrainian oligarch linked to Manafort and the men who worked with Giuliani has not been extradited to the U.S. to face federal bribery charges


"A dozen real estate professionals told ProPublica they saw no clear explanation for multiple inconsistencies in the documents..."


NEW: @propublica's @hvogell dug up Trump tax documents and compared them to Trump loan documents. Guess what? They **should** match. But they don't.


Has Trump played into Moscow's hands in Syria? Russian papers today: “Trump's mistake is an unexpected lottery win for Russia" "Trump's reckless actions strengthened Moscow’s position in Middle East" “The oversized giant, America, lost its way in broad daylight"


.@SpeakerPelosi rightly said “We're not here to call bluffs. We're here to find the truth, to uphold the Constitution of the United States. . . . This is not a game for us, this is deadly serious." A floor vote would’ve been fine. But none was needed.


Republican senators need to make Rudy Giuliani an offer he can't refuse, says @karlbykarlsmith: Either testify now or face a formal investigation


Fighting with Russia and its separatist proxies continues in E Ukraine after a failed disengagement in two frontline towns as part of a fresh push for peace. Kyiv reports two soldiers killed by snipers overnight, including a woman whose father had also been killed in the war.


Erdogan owns Trump. MBS owns Trump. Putin owns Trump. American needs a new kind of Independence Day.


Oddly, Giuliani has been attacking Hunter Biden for what Giuliani does. “President Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, was paid $500,000 for work he did for a company co-founded by the Ukrainian-American businessman arrested last week”


Former counsel to Pres Clinton and AAG Lanny Breuer explains that Trump’s wholesale refusal to comply with House subpoenas in impeachment inquiry violates the Constitution.


Amid the Syria mess, don’t sleep on fact that the Pentagon this morning refused to comply with a Congressional subpoena.


Former Pompeo aide to testify in impeachment inquiry


The Ukrainian prosecutor who compiled the seven-page dossier that accused Hunter Biden of corruption has been indicted three times on corruption charges and accused of bringing politically motivated criminal cases against his opponents, NYT reports.


Top Texas Republican says Trump is "killing us" ahead of 2020 elections in secretly recorded audio


Here’s chart I published in 2017 of Trump’s two main creditors Deutsche & Ladder Capital Finance - including 40 Wall St and Trump Intl Tower & Hotel I’ve been perplexed since at how little coverage has been done on Ladder given their leverage over Trump


At almost every turn in the Ukraine plot, WH chief of staff Mulvaney was there — secret convos with Sondland, cutting out NSC, putting a halt to the aid.


Dear Canada, the last thing the world needs is another Trump.


Why should he? He already made Trump his bitch.


We have 50+ nuclear weapons in Turkey. Trump has created a dangerous security situation with his foreign policy driven by personal interest, in addition to the crisis he’s forced onto our former allies, the Kurds.


It's an interesting question there doesn't seem to be an easy answer to. McConnell says he will put it up for a vote if the house impeaches, but he doesn't say how long he'll drag out the process. It seems to be within his discretion, which is unfortunate.


The July 25 phone call was just one part of a months long, coordinated effort by Trump, Pence, and Giuliani to pressure and coerce Ukraine to interfere in U.S. elections for Trump's benefit. It was an extortion scam preying on a vulnerable nation in crisis


“A brief order set oral arguments before a full panel of judges for Dec. 12 and essentially gives the lawsuit, which tests the anti-corruption emoluments provisions of the Constitution, a second chance.”


Nevada gaming regulators move to ban casino mogul Steve Wynn


Right-wing billionaires are out there building the most effective propaganda machine in history while progressive billionaires are throwing money away on a primary they’ll never win.


Current and former officials said Mick Mulvaney contributed substantially to the unfolding political crisis with Ukraine, both through his connection to key events related to the attempt to pressure Kiev and his general approach to the chief of staff job.


High-profile trial over who should pay for the opioid crisis begins Wednesday


Happening today in the impeachment inquiry: - Former State Dept. Sr. Advisor Michael McKinley expected to appear in closed session - Subpoena deadlines for Giuliani associates Lev Parnas & Igor Fruman, both of whom are in detention in Virginia until they each secure $1M bond


Erdogan: “When Trump comes here I will talk to him” Turkey’s president says while snubbing Pence and Pompeo


Erdogan to Sky News, saying he’ll refuse to meet with Pence and let his #2 have the conversation: “When Trump comes here, I'll be talking.”


Impeachment is not illegal, and you can't simply render the political opposition illegitimate by force of tweet, criminal.


U.S. security chief 'heaped pain' on grieving parents of UK teen: lawyer


Betrayed, & left to be slaughtered: “We ran into some Kurdish villagers and they asked us 'who are you?' We say we're from American television, and they say oh Americans, cowards... I think it gives a fair reflection on the way the Kurds feel right now"


Erdogan said a ceasefire was off the table and isn’t concerned about sanctions. Your move, GOP.


Me Next


Just in: Senior US official confirms what Kurdish sources have been telling me - that Turkey is advancing on the border town of Kobani, which Erdogan promised Trump he would not attack.


We should not have to question whether the president made an unprecedented policy decision because of his financial interests in another country. But President Trump didn’t divest from his businesses, so that’s exactly what we have to do.


Jury awards Sandy Hook father $450,000 for defamation by local conspiracy theorist


The world needs an American president. It does not have one right now.


Analysis: There's a new frontrunner in the 2020 Democratic field following Tuesday's debate - Elizabeth Warren


Erdogan says Turkey will never declare ceasefire in northern Syria


Imagine telling the IRS that you will not participate in its “illegitimate” tax collection or a court in its “baseless” trial.


I will outwork, out-organize, and outlast anyone—and that means Donald Trump, Mike Pence, or whoever the Republicans get stuck with. We can’t nibble around the edges. Democrats win when we call out what’s broken, and when we give people a reason to get in the fight.


This is a huge deal. Flynn and Ghouliani both worked for Turkey.


So Rudy was lobbyin’ for Erdogan and Trump was happy to help? And now Trump jumps when Erdogan demands the U.S. betray the Kurds? These two couldn’t betray our country fast enough. There’s got to be a massive payback for these criminals.


Opinion: Can you take four more years of this?


President Trump has increased U.S. forces in the Middle East by about 14,000 since May. He’s not bringing them home; he’s sending them there.


"Not…one word with all of these discussions about health care, on women's access to reproductive health care. It's outrageous," Kamala Harris said, adding, "People need to keep their hands off of women's bodies and let women make the decisions about their own lives."


NEW from @rebeccaballhaus: Ex-Rep. Pete Sessions has been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors in New York as part of their Giuliani inquiry.


"Donald Trump Promised to Eliminate the Deficit in 8 Years. So far, he has increased it by 68%" The headline speaks for itself


Welcome to Coffeyville, Kansas, where the judge has no law degree, debt collectors get a cut of the bail and Americans are watching their lives — and liberty — disappear in the pursuit of medical debt collection.


"The Constitution doesn’t indicate that removal from office requires two-thirds of the Senate. It requires two-thirds of senators present for the proceedings." This might give some Republican Senators an out on the impeachment vote. Just don't be there.


Mulvaney, who has sought to stay out of the Ukraine spotlight, has more of a role than is known. He met regularly with Sondland. He approved aid being blocked & staying blocked.


A British family has filed a complaint with the the Department of Homeland Security over their detention by US immigration officials after crossing the US border while vacationing in Canada


Here's why Democrats aren't holding an impeachment inquiry vote -- yet


Turkey calls on Kurdish fighters to leave designated border zone in Syria by "tonight" in order to end Turkish offensive.


The enthusiasm with which two people with long careers in public service, Flynn and Giuliani, embraced the idea of rousting a cleric out of his home in the Poconos and sending him off to his death makes me wonder if America ever was what I thought it was.


Trump has for weeks sought to unmask the whistle-blower...But instead aides have fixated on one another: Advisers began a fact-finding review that some fear is a hunt for a scapegoat, according to White House aides and other people familiar with it.


Giuliani "brought up Gulen so frequently with Trump during visits to the W.H. that one former official described the subject as Giuliani's 'hobby horse.' He was so focused on the issue ... W.H. aides worried that Giuliani was making the case on behalf of the Turkish government."


BREAKING: The full Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has agreed to rehear DC & MD's challenge to President Trump's violations of the Emoluments Clauses. The panel ruling dismissing that case is now vacated.


Never-Before-Seen Trump Tax Documents Show Major Inconsistencies https://t.co/TXwgXQZhuw BTW differences between *Trump Numbers* are purpose. Less value for property tax, IRS. More value for bank loans, Forbes. Problem, it's FRAUD. I've been saying this litetally for years.


Pro-tip: The House can impeach a Vice President for obstruction, too.


.@SykesCharlie notes that in 1980 the question was: “Are you better off than you were 4 years ago?” In 2020 it will be: “Can you take another 4 years of this?” I can’t even take another week like last week—much less 4 more years.


China threatens to retaliate if U.S. passes Hong Kong bill


For someone who describes himself as a “God-fearing man,” @VP Mike Pence sure does lie his ass off


Newly unearthed Trump tax documents are said to show wild inconsistencies in reported profits


“...Maxwell and fellow Epstein associate Jean-Luc Brunel may have both been at the Infinity Blue Resort and Spa in Santa Catarina at the same time. Brunel ran modeling agencies and also allegedly procured victims for Epstein.”


Holy crap... OMB/Mulvaney are defying today's subpoena deadline!


CNN's @jaketapper calls out Republican lawmakers for reversing their views on oversight over the executive branch. “If you only apply constitutional standards to the other political party and not to your own, then those aren’t principles, they’re tactics.”


Not only is the administration profoundly crooked, but it is also so hopelessly inept that it’s unable to keep its machinations secret. It’s as if the Three Stooges starred in a sequel to “Breaking Bad.”


Looks like https://t.co/YjhDcYa8gW has updated their website with actual content. Remember https://t.co/YjhDcYa8gW is a Cambridge Analytica employee spinoff. Repeat, Clear Artificial Intelligence Ltd. is a budding head of the Cambridge Analytica hydra/syndicate/cabal.


Is matt gaetz involved in human trafficking?


The Kremlin just now: Putin has invited Erdogan to Moscow to talk #Syria, and he’ll come this month. Russia is emerging as *the* central player in the war:


A scathing new Pentagon report blames Trump for the return of ISIS in Syria and Iraq


The fascinating story of Paul Whelan, arrested in Moscow several months ago on espionage charges. @sarahrainsford has been looking into what really happened:


Vice President Mike Pence doesn’t think that Congress or the American people deserve to know if he was involved in the effort to ask Ukraine to interfere in our elections. There is no privilege that allows anyone in the WH to cover up wrongdoing.


The White House meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky still "hasn’t been scheduled." That meeting is a continuing source of leverage over Zelensky, an explicit part of the quid pro quo in Volker, Sondland, Taylor text messages


Giuliani says he is dropping his lawyer because it is "silly to have a lawyer when I don’t need one”


Erdogan: I'll invade Syria Trump: Go ahead, I'll withdraw US troops Liz Cheney: Democrats are responsible for the invasion


NEW: Giuliani pushed Trump to extradite a Muslim cleric, a top priority of Erdogan. Trump repeatedly wanted to do it, but other advisers were appalled & blocked. Aides worried Giuliani was doing Turkey’s bidding.


Tulsi Gabbard calls The New York Times and CNN — the hosts of the debate — "completely despicable" for alleging she is a Russian asset and Assad apologist.


Mulvaney emerges as a key facilitator of the campaign to pressure Ukraine


Average Trump voter is too dumb to see when US troops tuck tail and run? I don't know #LaraTrump ... I think they can see an act of cowardice.


House investigators say they have begun receiving data from big tech firms


How odd to listen to Tulsi Gabbard mouthing Syrian and Russian talking points on the Democratic debate stage...sorry but no one thinks US troops withdrawn by Trump were there as part of a 'regime change war' by the US. It's as untruthful as anything from POTUS.


Russian mercenaries give video tour of abandoned US base in Northern Syria, laughing at the hasty US retreat, showing unfinished meals on dining tables and heavy military equipment left behind. A Russian propaganda coup


Tulsi Gabbard’s Financial Disclosures Leave Out Ties To Koch-Funded Think Tank


Turkey's Erdogan may visit Russia by end of October: RIA citing Kremlin


Pence tells House committees he will not cooperate in impeachment inquiry


The four smug boys of the religious mafia, Pence, Pompeo, Barr, Mulvaney may all be subpoenaed by House Dems – and might also be impeached says David Jolly.


New: The president’s businesses made themselves appear more profitable to lenders and less profitable to tax officials. One expert calls the differing numbers “versions of fraud.”


Jim Jordan


New filing in United States v. Mike Flynn: Compel


Congressman Duncan Hunter has been charged with 60 criminal counts for using campaign funds for personal expenses including several family vacations, following several @CREWcrew complaints. He's still running for reelection


Trump just vetoed the Senate bill that would end his emergency declaration to get money to build his wall.


Exclusive: Giuliani pressed Trump to eject Muslim cleric from U.S., a top priority of Turkish president, former officials say


Left in a hurry: RT films inside abandoned US military base at Manbij, Syria


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