Thursday, October 24, 2019

Trump says we’ll be curing AIDS and childhood cancer soon. His administration cut $1 billion from global AIDS initiatives and proposed a $900M budget cut to the National Cancer Institute.


It's short on specifics, but it sounds like Homeland Security is going to act. Trump authorized yesterday’s breach and planned it with republican senators. This is another act of #ObstructionOfCongress and the offending senators should be released from their senate duties


“You’ve proven that we cannot trust you with our emails, with our phone numbers,” @AyannaPressley told Mark Zuckerberg during yesterday's hearing. “So why should we trust you with our hard-earned dollars?”


We took action to protect our elections from foreign interference. House Republicans, once again, voted against that — choosing instead to continue covering up for a president who abuses his power. It's outrageous.


NEW: President Erdogan has called on the U.S. to hand over the top Kurdish commander Mazloum Kobani Abdi, calling him a "wanted terrorist" with an Interpol red notice.


"I remember when Lindsey Graham still had credibility and respect in Washington, he has destroyed his credibility and respect by becoming this partisan attack dog."@MaxBoot responds to Graham's resolution condemning the House impeachment inquiry.


"Trump and his supporters are rattled, and for good reason. If this were an ordinary criminal trial, the lawyers for the defendant would be getting on the phone with the prosecutors and opening negotiations about a plea bargain."


Sen. Collins To Oppose Trump Judicial Nominee Seriously?


Rep. Peter DeFazio subpoenas the General Services Administration for documents related to the Trump International Hotel's federal lease after they weren't produced voluntarily


WATCH: Lindsey Graham blurts out profanity on live TV as he gets grilled over his anti-impeachment resolution


The majority of Senate republicans are supporting Sen Graham & McConnell’s impeachment resolution (Graham tweeted the 44 names below), here are the 9 GOP Senators who have not yet signed onto the resolution: Alexander Collins Enzi Gardner Isakson Murkowski Portman Romney Sullivan


White House delayed Ukraine trade decision in August, a signal that U.S. suspension of cooperation extended beyond security funds


Russian operatives sacrifice followers to stay under cover on Facebook


Breaking via WaPo: The White House's trade representative in late August withdrew a recommendation to restore some of Ukraine's trade privileges after John Bolton warned him that Trump probably would oppose any action that benefited the government in Kyiv.


One of the reasons Democrats are reluctant to set a deadline on impeachment: the evidence keeps piling up from unexpected places


Senator Graham & Leader McConnell are doing President Trump’s bidding & attempting to delegitimize & trivialize the impeachment process. If Articles are delivered to the Senate, all Senators have to uphold their constitutional duty to be a fair & impartial juror during a trial.


The Republicans’ ‘due process’ arguments are nonsense <-- yes and it is all they have


“The tax returns would provide the most solid blueprint for the case. They could potentially have irrefutable evidence that a crime was committed.”


SCALISE (Translated): "How can crooked Republicans tailor their testimony if we don't have access to what the witnesses are sayin'?"


Russia is revelling in making the United States look like imbeciles. The danger that the #MAGA & #KAG folks don't realize is this ; It's not enough to humiliate America, Putin wants to destroy her


NEW: Tim Ryan drops out of 2020 presidential race.


Speaker Pelosi on Elijah Cummings: "Elijah was truly a master of the House. He respected its history and in it, he helped shape America's future. I have called him our Northstar, our guide to a better future for our children."


“Not the most effective way to show respect for what your colleagues are doing?” Thank you, Captain Obvious.


President Kennedy addresses the nation on the Soviet Arms buildup in Cuba #otd in 1962


A top Democratic senator asks Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to share information about his relationships with Turkish officials


President Trump’s nominee to lead U.S. Strategic Command declined to endorse a U.S. exit from the Open Skies treaty, a multilateral arms control agreement to allow participants to fly surveillance flights over one another’s territory, @KatieBoWill reports.


House Republicans weaponized the lower chamber's rules during the Tea Party era. GOP gave themselves unilateral subpoena power to all 14 committee chairs & permission to take closed-door depositions. And it's right in Trump's face.


Trump campaign scoops up Biden's Latino voter web address, trolls his voter outreach


The guy appointed by Betsy DeVos to oversee the federal student loan system is resigning, says he now believes the government should cancel all student debt. "The time has come for us to end and stop the insanity."


Associates of Rudy Guiliani hoped to use a Russian financier's money to win over politicians and buy into the marijuana industry in Nevada, a federal indictment says. Investors from Russia are a growing part of cannabis financing in the U.S.


Meghan McCain shreds Matt Gaetz for his anti-impeachment stunt: ‘Get out of Congress — get a TV job!’


NEW — Two Democrats on the impeachment inquiry say they have evidence that witnesses are coordinating testimony.


Sondland now claims, through his attorney, that he can’t remember the key conversation he had with Taylor earlier this year.


Here's video of @jimsciutto asking Peter Navarro if political investigations about the Bidens have come up during China trade talks, and Navarro declining to answer.


GOP lawmakers scramble to backtrack after realizing their SCIF stunt broke security protocols


What a pathetic, pathetic embarrassment. It is one thing for the Administration (the Dept of Justice, even!) to be wandering around in a stupor and without its pants on here at home. But they’re trailing this nonsense all over the world...


Scoop: I obtained an internal Customs and Border Protection report that reveals criminal misconduct by CBP officers and Border Patrol agents is at a 5-year high. Charges range from fraud to sexual assault to capital murder


College students are voting at unprecedented rates, and like clockwork, Republican politicians are doing everything they can to keep them from the polls and stymie their ability to participate.


#Russia's state TV is laughing at the circus caused by the Republicans storming the most restricted area of the Capitol: "Those are the people who try to tell us how to conduct ourselves!" The host: "Poor things, they're so upset! Still—without us, they can’t elect a President."


Giuliani wasn’t the only Trump lawyer mixed up in US foreign policy. Jay Sekulow was involved in talks that seemed to link Turkey’s release of Pastor Andrew Brunson to the Justice Department backing off prosecution of Turkey’s national bank.


NEW: Hypocrite “MOSCOW MARSHA” Blocks Election Security Bills AGAIN, Paving Way for More Election Interference One bill would’ve required reporting foreign interference. As a reminder, the reported NRA-Kremlin ties had close links to @MarshaBlackburn


Why is @thehill giving a liar a platform for lying? The Republicans are given equal access to all the depositions and interviews. That’s well-known. This is @Jim_Jordan gaslighting to help @realDonaldTrump.


This is America and I Don’t need to go back anywhere because Im American. But what we have to do is to people like me and you talk more often. Hatred towards others has no space in our society. maybe Hard to accept change. But we must! @AmbroseLegion no religion supports it!


So it was bad enough when Russia deployed S-400s in a NATO country (Turkey) -- now they send them inside Europe, surrounded by EU territory. Even if temporary, this is a big deal. The Kremlin would throw a sh*tfit if we temporarily sent missile defense to Ukraine or Georgia.


Trump accuser Summer Zervos broke up with Gloria Allred and it's getting ugly: “I realize speaking publicly about Gloria Allred could make my case against Mr. Trump more difficult. But I can’t sit and watch her take on more victims and not say anything.”


Carly Simon’s hilarious anti-Trump ad lampooning his narcissism


Since Matt Gaetz is doing his thing this morning, we wanted to take a moment to introduce you to Phil Ehr - a retired US Navy commander who is challenging Gaetz in #FL01. If you’d like to boot Gaetz out of office, follow @PhilEhr and support his campaign!


"If it were not for Jill Stein, Trump might still be trying to make a reality TV comeback. A Gabbard candidacy could do the same for him in 2020. " Me on Trump's useful idiots - and how history tells Dems to fear spoilers from the left not the centre.


a small scoop in this thread on the reporting that ENRC CEO Felix Vulis loaned $100,000 to Parnas, Fruman, Correia company Global Energy Partners on Oct 1, 2018 A few days later on Oct 3, 2018 Vulis made a $10,000 contribution to Friends of Ron Desantis PAC


Analysis: Nine head-scratching moments from Trump’s Syria remarks at the White House


Donald Trump has made Putin Great Again. Consider how Putin has expanded and extended his influence, bending American policy and displacing us around the world:


Analysis: Trump's 'success' in Syria cedes region to Russia


Propublica found multiple Trump ethics pledge violations hidden in a little-noticed government report. They show inappropriate actions by government employees, lobbyists and former business clients.


Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, detained in Moscow on espionage charges since December, complains of human rights violations in jail


Matt GAETZ is an attorney in Florida! You can call the Florida Bar at 1-866-352-0707 to make a disciplinary complaint for felony witness tampering and obstruction of an investigation! His license # is 48962 and he violated code 18USC1512


The real threat to Trump isn’t Biden, Warren, or even impeachment. It’s the possibility of a recession


Paul Whelan: ‘Russia says it caught James Bond on a spy mission. In reality, they abducted Mr Bean on holiday’ He writes ‘I am innocent of a crime that never happened’


Cummings will be the first black lawmaker to lie in state in the Capitol, according to the Congressional Black Caucus


BREAKING: UK media: The 39 people found dead in a truck at an English port were from China.


If you’re a political journalist who has regular contact with people in power, and your analysis is always aligned with prevailing orthodoxy, then you’re not really a journalist, you’re a courtier.


Most states aren’t handing over driver’s license data to Census Bureau, as Trump wants


If you ever wanted to learn how political cynicism can facilitate crimes against humanity, John Cornyn is offering a master class


Harvard constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe suggested Democrats are now in possession of the “smoking Howitzer” with which to impeach Donald Trump.


Obama, Clintons, Pelosi to speak at late congressman Cummings' funeral


More than half of the world’s banks are too weak to survive a downturn, McKinsey says


Buried in this story on the Ukrainian grifters CNN reveals that the flight to Vienna was to meet with Shokin--for an INTERVIEW WITH HANNITY.


The Associated Press reported that months before his notorious July phone call with President Trump, Ukraine's president was "wary of Trump's push for an investigation into former Vice president Joe Biden and his son."


3 weeks ago our Kurdish allies were saying goodnight,tucking their kid’s in,planning for their future’s.Enjoying their hard won peace, security they’d earned by defeating ISIS losing 10,000 Kurd’s in the process. In one phone call,Trump’s betrayal ended all of that and far worse.


Senate Republicans block two election security bills


Trump was not kidding. Judge for yourself


When @realdonaldtrump made a side trip to his Irish golf club this summer, dozens of Irish cops were sent to protect him. Then Trump’s company charged the cops more than $100K for food and coffee. Here’s the bill:


Dem Rep on Taylor deposition: ‘If you're a patriotic American, it has to be a sad day’


Fmr. Undersecretary of State: Gordon Sondland ‘in great jeopardy’ after Taylor deposition


Wow. AG William Barr met in July with Dmytro Firtash's lawyers dIGenova/Toensing to discuss his case. That's roughly the same timeframe when Trump/Giuliani were asking Zelenskyy to work w Barr on conspiracy theories about Ukraine's role in the 2016 election and the Bidens


Rep. Katie Porter challenges Mark Zuckerberg to work as a content moderator and view the same violent, disturbing videos Facebook contractors do


Things are not looking good for Mike Pompeo.


Senior Infosec Staffer Resigns, Says White House On Track To Be Hacked Again


Laura Ingraham says State Department officials "are obligated to quit" if they don't support Trump


Ex-U.S. Marine accused of spying in Russia says guard threatened him with gun:


Some investors are striking a blow against climate change by getting rid of oil and coal stocks


House Republicans try and fail to prevent deposition to impeachment committees


“We’re in uncharted territory.” An explosion of purple sea urchins has spread from California to Oregon, decimating kelp forests that support fisheries.


A pretty serious accusation from Mike Flynn’s increasingly off-the-wall lawyer in this filing: “the government has continued to... hide evidence that it knows exonerates Mr. Flynn.” Seems to come right up to the line of withdrawing his guilty plea.


Analysis: A banner 24 hours for the GOP and the "rule of law"


The SEC is investigating the Kushner family's company over its use of a controversial visa program


#kincadefire rips along the ridge line north of the Geysers, Wednesday night above the Alexander Valley.


It's difficult for the Republicans to make the argument of due process when they're are deliberately obstructing it


In the wake of last week's indictment against Halkbank, essential reading here from @klasfeldreports Turkey’s Lobbyists Had Deep Access to Trump White House


Italian officials have lamented that the unusual requests by the Trump administration complicated what has been a long-lasting collaboration between allies on issues of justice and national security.


Mark Zuckerberg told Congress he became aware of Cambridge Analytica's role in the election in March 2018. So I guess I have astonishing preternatural insight... NO ONE could have discovered this information merely by doing a google search.


Cornyn says that it’s good American troops were gotten “out of harm’s way” if Turkey was planning to ethnically cleanse the Kurds?!?! This is one of the most amoral, reprehensible thing I’ve ever heard! TX, do something!!


As noted, Mike Pence’s brother is on the committee and has been part of the meetings. The brother of Donald Trump’s Vice President, leading sycophant, and someone who played a key role in the scandal is in the room. This Republican talking point is so ridiculous.


There is reporting that Turkey is using white phosphorus on civilians, burning children. This is a flat-out genocide, Trump PRAISED Erdogan “It’s a great day for civilization,” is his most chilling quote yet.


Giuliani henchmen caught on tape doing statewide tour for Indiana Republicans during 2018 election


Opinion｜Col. Jack Jacobs: Former generals under President Trump, from James Mattis to Joseph Votel, are sounding an unprecedented warning.


Trump lawyers keep musing about a Mike Pence indictment


House Republican SCIF stunt warrants admonition: Rep. Speier


Despite twists, Trump saga actually just one, big scandal


Trump lawyers argue his crimes can't be investigated, prosecuted


Despite Trump's disruption efforts, impeachment inquiry persists


This is Matt Gaetz’s Democratic Challenger. Follow @PhilEhr and retweet. He’s at 19,000 followers.


It’s been almost 6 months since I asked Barr this question: did the White House ever ask him to investigate anyone? Still no answer. That’s why today I filed a FOIA request demanding Barr hand over documents related to political interference from the White House—and Giuliani.


1. Matt Gaetz tweets he is inside SCIF 2. Matt Gaetz then tweets it was his staff who tweeted 3. Matt Gaetz then deletes both tweets 4. @mattgaetz is seriously one dumb fuck


Obama to deliver remarks at Cummings's funeral


Democrat Tom Malinowski earlier today, describing the scene in the SCIF: "A bunch of Freedom Caucus members having pizza around the conference table -- pretending to be brave."


Today, Laura Cooper did her lawful duty and answered questions from both parties. She did so notwithstanding efforts by the President to stop her, and when those failed, efforts by his GOP allies in Congress to do the same. We will not be deterred from revealing the truth.


How’s this for a reversal of fortune... 5 years ago, Putin was a global pariah, weakened by a recession at home. 3 years ago, Erdogan was nearly overthrown by a coup, FaceTiming into news networks for support. Today, they’ve effectively rolled the US.


In the lead-up to Zelenskyy's inauguration, Parnas and Fruman demanded a six-figure payment to secure a meeting between Zelenskyy and a delegation of American officials, including Mike Pence and Rick Perry.


Rudy Giuliani is looking for a defense attorney, sources say


Anyone have "circumcision loan" on their impeachment scandal bingo card?


.@Jim_Jordan you cannot intimidate the whistleblower. You cannot compel the whistleblower to out him/herself. The whistleblower is protected by federal law, and is entitled to anonymity. The whistleblower is not the story. Focus on the substance of the complaint.


Donald Trump will be impeached. And Republicans have no defense. Which is why a mob of elected Republicans broke into the private impeachment hearing and physically intimidated a witness. That’s crazy. But you know what’s crazier? Vladimir Putin helped make this all happen.


Why does Donald Trump's legal team keep bringing making the unprompted point that a vice president can totally be prosecuted while in office?! (...wonders Mike Pence, probably.)


NEW: Trump had advance knowledge and supported a protest by Republicans who told him they planned to barge into a secure hearing room on Capitol Hill where Democrats are holding impeachment testimonies, according to four people familiar with the matter.


Republicans tried to stop Laura Cooper from testifying by storming the SCIF. Secretary @EsperDoD tried to keep Cooper from testifying. They failed. The American people will see the transcript of Cooper. And the public will know why SecDef & GOP tried to suppress her story.


Hate when my tongue slips


Sondland discussed the possibility of William Barr coordinating a statement with the Ukrainians that would legitimize an effort to absolve Russia of its role in 2016' election interference.


Foxconn finally admits its empty Wisconsin ‘innovation centers’ aren’t being developed. This is going back to the Paul Ryan era.


This moron said it was OK to bring his phone in the SCIF because it was turned off. The fact that he thinks that would do anything to prevent a hacker from using it as a microphone is exactly why he isn’t allowed in the SCIF in the first place.


The NYC Bar Association just called on U.S. AG William Barr to stand down & recuse himself from any issues related to the Trump Administration’s massive & snowballing Ukraine scandal, arguing that Barr himself is implicated in the corruption allegations.


Barr making international fool of himself, Italy PM says he asked Italian intelligence what US intelligence did


As I have said on many occasions, the ghost of Cambridge Analytica will continue to haunt Mark Zuckerberg until he comes clean about it. At least we have elected representatives that won’t stop asking about it until he does.


"He affirmed that Facebook is committed to privacy yet couldn't explain then to me why his lawyers are arguing in federal court that Facebook has no duty to protect people's privacy," says Democratic Rep. Katie Porter on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's testimony to Congress today.


JUST IN: Marine Corps vet who served in Iraq deported to El Salvador, where he left at 3, his lawyer says


This moron said it was OK to bring his phone in the SCIF because it was turned off. The fact that he thinks that would do anything to prevent a hacker from using it as a microphone is exactly why he isn’t allowed in the SCIF in the first place.


Neither Trump nor his White House have come up with a strong counterargument to the potential smoking-gun testimony of the US' top diplomat in Ukraine


Among the sergeant at arms’ duties: He’s the “chief law enforcement and protocol officer of the House” and “coordinates extensively with the U.S. Capitol Police and various intelligence agencies to assess threats against Members of Congress and the Capitol complex.”


U.S. Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland disputes aspects of congressional testimony by the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine and he "does not recall" anything about threatening Ukraine over aid, his attorney tells the Washington Post


NEW for @CNN: Parnas and Fruman jetted around the world touting their connections to Giuliani and the Trump administration while pushing for business and favors—right up until the day they were arrested for conspiracy and campaign-finance related charges.


I think my favorite part is when the Pennsylvanians in attendance rise to their feet to give a standing ovation to the Colorado wall.


Did you know VP Pence’s brother is member of Congress? He’s sitting on the closed-door impeachment depositions. I wrote about it.


NOW confirmed by Obama spokeswoman: ‘Pres Obama will attend the funeral service for Rep. Elijah Cummings on Friday, where, at the request of Mrs. Rockeymoore-Cummings, he will deliver remarks about the remarkable life and legacy of one of this country’s finest public servants’


New: Source familiar w/ Cooper's deposition says a key testimony takeaway is her technical description of the 2 ways in which funding provided by Congress can be put on hold: Congressional rescission or a Dept reallocation. Source says neither were used in case of Ukraine aid.


Steve Scalise seems unaware that dozens of republicans sit on the “Democratic” impeachment committees and are welcome, and attend, the hearings he claims no Republicans are given access to. Nah, he’s aware. He’s just lying to the GOP base.


What do you know? More than half of the GOP "protesters" were free to attend impeachment deposition and, you know, ask questions! But imperiling national security by violating SCIF rules was more important.


This is a WILD exchange. The last two questions at the end made me gasp. @AOC: "So you would say that white supremacist tied publications meet a rigorous standard for fact checking?" Watch how Mark Zuckerberg responds


Trump’s Impeachment Will Be Trump’s Fault


Thug Life


This is very dangerous night for Northern California.


13 of the 41 Republicans that stormed the hearing today SIT ON THE COMMITTEES and have access to them, including Gym Jordan.


#BREAKING: Senate GOP blocks three election security bills for second day


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