Monday, August 31, 2020

Called out @kaitlancollins about whether he would condemn violence by his supporters. Trump bafflingly says that paint is not dangerous.Then he referred to the rioters as “your supporters” - meaning Collins. Wow.


Trump said he wouldn't speak with the family of Jacob Blake: "I thought it would be better not to do anything where there are lawyers involved. They want me to speak but they wanted to have lawyers involved ... They did have a lawyer that wanted to be on the phone and I said no."


Update: The book says nothing about a “cerebral event.” It just says that Pence was on standby if they needed to anesthetize Trump for a procedure.


NEW: in paperwork filed minutes ago, USPS Board of Governors Chairman Robert M. Duncan is listed as Director of Mitch McConnell's $130M super PAC, Senate Leadership Fund


A top vaccine expert says the idea the U.S. could wait for the coronavirus to burn out through herd immunity is ‘fanciful, it's never happened before with any virus, and it's not going to happen with this virus.’


Trump’s New Hampshire speech in 104 seconds


This is another example of how prosecutors cover up police violence: smearing the victim of their violence, threatening people who weren’t involved, and foreclosing chances of a lawsuit that would hold them accountable. This is why we need truly progressive prosecutors


Biden: “I want to be very clear about all of this: Rioting is not protesting. Looting is not protesting. Setting fires is not protesting. It’s lawlessness, plain and simple. And those who do it should be prosecuted.”


Three others charged with Steve Bannon plead not guilty


Renowned inventor Walter Hutchins has voted in every presidential election since 1952. This year, as many states stopped sending teams to help seniors vote, his nursing home was on coronavirus lockdown and his streak was in jeopardy.


WH Press Sec. Kayleigh McEnany says the Trump has "not seen" the video of his supporters shooting paintballs at protesters in Portland. Trump retweeted the video in question


NY Times reporter Michael Schmidt's dropping his new book which includes the revelation that Pence was "on standby" during Trump's sudden emergency visit to Walter Reade for a 'cerebral event'. In other words, a stroke. And I'm just 1 of many folks saying he's been having them.


Liberty University says it is opening an independent investigation into Jerry Falwell Jr.’s tenure as president, covering financial and other matters. Falwell has said he welcomes an inquiry and has "nothing to hide."h


The simple truth is Donald Trump failed to protect America. So now, he’s trying to scare America. — Joe Biden


Joe Biden: "Donald Trump has been a toxic presence in our nation for four years. Poisoning how we talk to one another. Poisoning how we treat one another. Poisoning the values this nation has always held dear. Poisoning our very democracy."


NOW: In a second bombshell ruling from the D.C. Circuit this morning a three-judge panel ruled the House can't go to court to enforce subpoenas, without a statute giving it the authority, in an opinion in the case to enforce a subpoena to former WH counsel Don McGahn.


Donald Trump keeps telling us if he was president, you'd feel safe. Well, he is president — whether he knows it or not.


Seventeen year old boys can't vote, can't serve in the military, can't buy alcohol or cigarettes, but, sure, let's pretend they have the depth of decision-making to carry an AR-15 and "maintain order".



Inbox: Pelosi says the House will immediately pursue an en banc rehearing of the D.C. Circuit decision in McGahn passed down today.


Inherent contempt. Use it.


You spent four years defending the indefensible, You invented “alternate facts,” And you enabled a corrupt president who preaches hatred and bigotry. But seriously, best of luck after the White House, Kellyanne. Try to get reacquainted with the truth.


Pelosi on McGahn decision: “If allowed to stand, this wrong-headed Court of Appeals panel ruling threatens to strike a grave blow to one of the most fundamental Constitutional roles of the Congress.”


TERRIBLE—WH’s pandemic advisor is telling Trump to go w/ Swedish 🇸🇪 “herd immunity” (plow thru) approach, to lift restrictions so the healthy can just get infected, instead of limiting social & business interactions to prevent virus spread.


That is a MASSIVE lead for @JoeBiden @KamalaHarris among active military who are naturally conservative voters. It might be unprecedented in terms of D leading R in the military


The Columbia, South Carolina, Police Department has suspended a white officer who was recorded on video repeating a racial slur to people who repeatedly asked him to stop.


Things will get so much better when @realDonaldTrump is president.


But didn't he just d— Never mind


John Oliver explains what I have been stressing for months: the only way to create real change is to vote for progressive candidates down ballot to keep the House and take the majority in the Senate-we are stuck without it.


"After his acquittal in the Senate, Donald Trump has internalized just how much the American constitutional order runs on the honor system. And Donald Trump couldn’t care less about honor. So he’s willing to torch...liberal democracy to get reelected."


Rent is due tomorrow. And while millions of Americans are once again scrambling to keep a roof over their heads, critical rent relief funds included in the #HeroesAct are STILL sitting on McConnell’s desk in the Senate. The Senate needs to pass the #HeroesAct


“Unqualified right wing radiologist now White House pandemic expert advances theory to infect and kill more people.”


Breaking: Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, sent a memorandum notifying all Committee Members of her intent to issue a subpoena to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy for documents he has been withholding from Congress.


BREAKING: The House Oversight Committee will be issuing a subpoena to Postmaster DeJoy for refusing to provide follow-up documents related to his drastic USPS changes. Per @CNN, DeJoy has formally told the committee his testimony constitutes the extent of what he will submit.


Letter carriers like Arthur work hard to serve our communities every single day. Without them and the @USPS, Maine people, and businesses—especially in rural areas—will suffer. We must protect the Postal Service.


BREAKING: D.C. Circuit DENIES Michael Flynn's petition to force the federal judge on his case to grant DOJ's motion to dismiss the prosecution, in a reversal of the initial three-judge panel ruling in Flynn's favor.


No reason to belabor this. Any journalist who reports that he's "running a law and order campaign," and accepts that phrase as a good descriptor, is failing at his or her job. https://t.co/raEaWzSs9q You cannot abstract out "the messaging" and characterize his campaign as that.


We are facing so many crises under Donald Trump: COVID. Economic devastation. Unwarranted police violence. Emboldened white nationalists. A reckoning on race. Declining faith in a bright American future. The common thread? A president who makes things worse — not better.


Anatomy of a Trump smear: Trump makes a false claim without evidence. Right wing outlets promote it. The media legitimize it by asking for comment. Then Trump targets someone else. Meanwhile all the attacks distract the public from the fact: Over 180,000 Americans have died.


Just Security: "Cy Vance Jr., the Manhattan District Attorney, may have already obtained the pertinent New York state tax returns for the Trump Organization and its executives, including Trump and his family."


Asked whether Trump has spoken to Jacob Blake's family, Kayleigh McEnany says, "We are efforting outreach, have not been able to connect yet." But, Blake family lawyer @AttorneyCrump tells @HallieJackson @MSNBC: “My office has received no calls to set up any kind of meeting.”


We know who is to blame for the death and destruction


The wrong question: “can’t written information can leak too??” The right question: “does the intelligence community still have everything it needs to track, map, monitor, disrupt, and retaliate against foreign intelligence attacks on our elections?” — Molly McKew


Joe Biden: Acceptable under the circumstances. A DNC biopic narrated by Steve Buscemi


Holy shit, this clip


A group of Republicans dedicated to defeating Trump is going on the attack on Florida—preparing a multimillion-dollar ad campaign to undercut Trump with moderates and independents. Republican Voters Against Trump dubbed the campaign "Project Orange Crush."


New covid voice in White House casts himself as 'anti-Fauci', has no background in infectious diseases, and is pushing 'herd immunity' strategy that would mean far higher death toll.


Utah, which has been voting by mail for years, has gotten used to not knowing the outcome of tight elections for several days. Utah’s Republican LG tells me the rest of the country needs that “paradigm shift.”


WCK is still looking for volunteers in Lake Charles, Louisiana and Beaumont, Texas. Join us in preparing and serving fresh, nourishing meals to families affected by Hurricane


Let's just say it: Trump, McConnell and Rubio have invited Russia to hack our election.


Trump Virus Continues to Rage out of Control


New: A DC federal judge granted a prelim. injunction blocking a Trump admin. policy that delegated authority to Customs and Border Protection agents to do credible fear interviews for asylum seekers — judge found it likely violates US immigration law


John Oliver on Kenosha shooting suspect Kyle Rittenhouse: "Let’s be clear: a 17-year-old vigilante with a rifle cannot maintain order, because a 17-year-old vigilante with a rifle trying to maintain order is himself the definition of disorder"


Because trump decided to reopen schools and now kids are getting sick. This is not rocket science but it is science.


This week trump will go to Kenosha & light a match. He will put civilians & law enforcement at risk. Why? Watch this video. Have you heard him say anything about this. Everything happening leads back to Russia. Before it's too late, vote @JoeBiden.


An executive from a scandal-scarred, COVID-19-ravaged meat-processing giant has been named to a federal oversight panel on the meat-packing industry


Before you turn in for the night, you should open this picture of Trump.


Today marks 27 years since the last occupant Soviet soldier left Lithuania. Since 2004 #Lithuania 🇱🇹 is a proud member of the greatest defence Alliance in world's history


Former Chief of Staff to Senator Olympia Snowe: "I can no longer support Senator Susan Collins. She has proven unwilling to stand up to the President and too enamored of political power to speak up for the good people of Maine."


NEW: Rittenhouse's militia contingent in Kenosha included a man named Ryan Balch. Balch shared Nazi, white nationalist, boogaloo and Pro-Trump propaganda online:


An FBI investigation into Kushner's background apparently revealed intelligence so damning that Don McGahn and John Kelly downgraded Kushner's security clearance. Trump bypassed all of them and gave Kushner his top-secret clearance anyway.


Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Sunday, asking the the president to reconsider his planned visit to Kenosha on Tuesday.


Former acting FBI director Andrew McCabe said in response to my reporting that had he known Mueller was not conducting the counterintelligence investigation into Trump, he would have pushed for the FBI to do it. He gave me this statement.


It turns out that Rod Rosenstein undermines the core Trump investigation: “Within days, Rosenstein curtailed the investigation without telling the bureau, all but ensuring it would go nowhere.”


Sen. Ron Johnson just said he supports “citizen soldiers” in Kenosha. Kyle Rittenhouse, who murdered 2 people, is a citizen soldier.


Trump was installed to destroy us.


Four years ago, Trump promised this: "We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation." None of that happened. 0. Judge leaders by their accomplishments, not their words.


For those confused about the whole trump-Russia thing, I shall now provide the universal decoder: THEY’RE ALL A BUNCH OF MOBSTERS AND SPIES! EVERYONE WHO EVER PUT AWAY MOBSTERS & SPIES KNEW IT IN 2016 & KNOWS IT NOW. AND NOT A ONE OF THEM IS BRAVE ENOUGH TO JUST FUCKING SAY IT.


GOP’s Steve Scalise may be in ethics trouble for violating rules of not posting ‘deep fake’ videos


Imagine you’re so hungry for power that you’re willing to alter the computer voice of an ALS patient to win.


"A stunning debacle for the FDA, shaking its professional staff to the core and undermining its credibility as it approaches one of the most important and fraught decisions in its history — deciding when a coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective."


WARNING TO YOUNG ADULTS: Your parents may be moving in with you soon unless you get out and VOTE DEMOCRATIC. The republicans plan to cut social security and MEDICARE after the election.


"He has an opportunity to bring us together and help us move through this difficult situation in our nation's history, but instead he chooses to play petty politics and divide us. I'd appreciate it if the president would support us, or stay the hell out of the way."


Nixon telegram to JFK after he was hospitalized with knee injury—JFK had informed him that he would not campaign until Nixon recovered—60 years ago today:


Statement from @JoeBiden: “I condemn this violence unequivocally. I condemn violence of every kind by anyone, whether on the left or the right. And I challenge Donald Trump to do the same.”


BREAKING: the DoJ took step in 2017 to NARROW THE SCOPE of the Mueller investigation. Rosenstein CURTAILED the breadth of the investigation into trump/Russia. Hey, Q-Anon, the apology line forms to the left


Twitter took down a tweet containing a false claim about the CDC’s coronavirus death statistics -- a post that President Donald Trump had retweeted earlier in the day.


A Kenosha Militia Facebook Event Asking Attendees To Bring Weapons Was Reported 455 Times. Moderators Said It Didn’t Violate Any Rules


Leading Hong Kong activist @nathanlawkc calls for German leadership on Europe-China relations in a letter to Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. The letter asks for protection to activists fleeing Hong Kong and a values oriented trade policy towards Beijing.


You don’t need to be black to be outraged. You need to be American and be outraged.


Mitch McConnell has been blocking legislation passed by House to prevent foreign election interference (SHIELD Act) for 311 days


BREAKING: the DoJ took step in 2017 to NARROW THE SCOPE of the Mueller investigation. Rosenstein CURTAILED the breadth of the investigation into trump/Russia. Hey, Q-Anon, the apology line forms to the left.


Republican Steve Scalise caught doctoring video of a disabled man with ALS to attack Joe Biden


Sunday, August 30, 2020

DAMN! This @ProjectLincoln ad is something special


It's a message. Not a love letter. The Russian navy has conducted major war games near Alaska involving dozens of ships & aircraft, the biggest such drills in the area since the Soviet times that included the Omsk nuclear submarine surfacing near Alaska.


Will Trump Be Meeting With His Counterpart — Or His Handler? A plausible theory of mind-boggling collusion. By Jonathan Cha


France: senior military officer suspected of spying for Russia


'It's you who have created the hate': Portland mayor blasts Trump


Michael Schmidt's book: White House counsel McGahn had to write a memo to Trump telling him to stop pressing the Justice Department to prosecute Hillary Clinton. I would like to see this memo


“Mine is legitimate back channel.” Disgraced Republican financier Elliott Broidy is accused of secretly lobbying for China in a filing related to an expected guilty plea Monday by one of his partners in a complicated and, allegedly, super corrupt scheme.


NYPD has stopped sharing a wide variety of paper records and has been redacting the names of potential witnesses without explanation. It has allowed officers to refuse to be interviewed by investigators. It often doesn’t produce body-worn camera footage.


"Are you complicit or will you act to correct your mistake? America is at stake."


We Don’t Know How to Warn You Any Harder. America is Dying.


During its search for a new postmaster general, the USPS Board of Governors was presented with 53 candidates. Not on the list: Louis DeJoy. DeJoy's name was added by a board member acting on behalf of the board's chairman, a former RNC chairman.


Gut punching—Univ of Alabama⁩ has 1,200 students who have tested positive for #Covid19. Over 1000 of which were in last 2 weeks since campus reopened for fall semester. Leadership? President of @UofAlabama recommended masks in letter on Wed. #COVID19


I'll never get used to telling an elected official in real time that the President of the United States is spending his day watching cable news and live-tweeting hot takes in response to what he's just seen on his TV


Leaked McGahn memo reveals alarms about Kushner's security clearance


Wisconsin governor to President Trump in letter: “I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing. I am concerned your presence will only delay our work to overcome division and move forward together.


President Trump posted 89 (!) tweets or retweets between midnight and 8:04 am DC time this morning


Trump offered FBI director job to John Kelly, asked for loyalty


EXCLUSIVE: From my new book .. DOJ in '17 secretly curtailed FBI counterintel investigation of Trump financial/personal ties to Russia. DOJ concealed this from FBI at time, leaving FBI w/ impression Mueller would do it. But Mueller ultimately didn't


The date was June 7, 2017 - a day before Comey told the world about his firing. Kamala Harris tried to secure absolute independence for Mueller from Rod Rosenstein. She was protecting America - from traitors.


Trump & Co are like the villains in movies who helpfully explain their plots to the audience. Thus @KellyannePolls: “The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on who’s best on public safety.”


Stop with the moral equivalency. The choice is clear. Biden condemns violence. Trump incites it.


Mueller apparently didn’t tell McCabe about Rosenstein’s order, either...”I expected that issue and issues related to it would be fully examined by the special counsel team. If a decision was made not to investigate those issues, I am surprised and disappointed. I was not aware”


Mike Pompeo is the worst secretary of state in history


How many good Americans had Rosenstein's back while he was quietly puttin' a knife in theirs?


That’s a very very good question — Gen Michael Hayden


Twitter has taken down a tweet containing a false claim about coronavirus death statistics that was made by a supporter of the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory — a post that President Trump retweeted earlier in the day


"this is a company that facilitated an attack on a US election by a foreign power, that live-streamed a massacre then broadcast it to millions around the world, and helped incite a genocide"


“But when will republicans condemn the violence by their supporters?” asks no one


Will the FBI Director, CIA Director, NSA Director, and DIA Director all uphold the DNI's ban on live briefings on election interference to the Congress? Are they loyal to Trump or to the Constitution? Congress should compel them to speak and find out.


When a coronavirus vaccine comes on the market, people will likely need two doses, not just one — and that could cause real problems


Inbox: On Monday, August 31, Joe Biden will travel to southwestern Pennsylvania to lay out a core question voters face in this election: are you safe in Donald Trump's America?


I join @JoeBiden in condemning this violence. This can not—and must not—be who we are. Americans deserve a president who will heal our country and bring people together—not fan the flames of hate and division.


“LAW & ORDER!!!” said the president from his golf cart.


The deadly violence we saw overnight in Portland is unacceptable. Shooting in the streets of a great American city is unacceptable. I condemn violence of every kind by anyone, whether on the left or the right. And I challenge Donald Trump to do the same.


The same folks who brought you #pizzagate are inciting violence in Portland. Shocking, isn’t it?


From the man that literally visited Russia on the 4th of July.


“Specifically, the special counsel’s report addressed conspiracy and obstruction of justice but did not discuss related counterintelligence issues. Schmidt reveals that we can blame that on Rod Rosenstein, then deputy attorney general.”


Florida shows 947.9% increase in COVID-19 cases since DeSantis reopened state


ABC will air “Black Panther” commercial-free as a tribute to its star, Chadwick Boseman, followed by a special about the actor, who died Friday at age 43 after a battle with colon cancer.


“Because this is a company that facilitated an attack on a US election by a foreign power, that live-streamed a massacre then broadcast it to millions around the world, and helped incite a genocide. I’ll say that again. It helped incite a genocide.”


I Was a U.S. Diplomat. Customs and Border Protection Only Cared That I Was Black


Information warfare. Please use #TrumpRiots when describing the riots. Hashtag every post. It’s Trump’s fault, let’s stick it to him


Three Afghans accused of links to insider attacks killing US troops among Taliban prisoners up for release, but no protests from Washington, unlike France and Australia. Meanwhile UK refusing to say if any on the list killed Brits.


When a political leader convinces his followers that they are victims and the real enemy is their neighbors, expect the worst


Is this the equivalent of the Trump administration pleading the 5th on election crimes?


Update: Rubio has issued a statement


For those wondering, I have not seen any response from @senatemajldr @GOPLeader @marcorubio or @RepDevinNunes to the news the ODNI is ending in-person briefings for Congress on election interference ... If I do, will share. — Jake Tapper


As usual, President Trump is lying and projecting. Trump fired the last DNI for briefing Congress on Russian efforts to help his campaign. Now he’s ending briefings altogether. Trump doesn’t want the American people to know about Russia’s efforts to aid his re-election.


A former paramedic in St. Paul, Minnesota, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit claiming that police pressured him to administer ketamine, a sedative, during an arrest. He claims that the incident is part of a larger trend among the region’s law enforcement.


New leaked audio of Trump's sister: Ivanka is a mini-Donald


Powerful


College Democrats of Massachusetts sent Morse a letter of apology for the politically-motivated smear attempt:


“That damn Ivanka puts this picture of the ‘Madonna and child’ on Instagram when the big news of the day was how kids are being ripped from their families,” Barry is heard saying


POTUS stokes the energy of conflict and potential violence instead of pulling it back, and yet you will mostly hear over and over “has biden condemned the rioters and looters enough times?”


“But when will republicans condemn the violence by their supporters?” asks no one


Is this noncompliance? We were told, noncompliance is a death sentence. I need an explanation.


Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance's office told a federal court that President Trump's effort to block a subpoena for years of his financial records is based only on "repackaging" arguments previously rejected by the courts


The American people have both the right and the need to know that another nation, Russia, is trying to help decide who their president should be. Read my statement with @RepAdamSchiff


That’s amazing. But it’s par for the course. I am afraid for my country. — Gen Michael Hayden


“Cohen’s estate now joins the estate of Tom Petty, Rihanna, Elton John, Adele, Guns N Roses, Pharrell, Queen, the estate of Prince, Aerosmith, Earth Wind and Fire, The Rolling Stones, & Neil Young in making public their unhappiness with Trump's campaign.”


The Trump administration blocked my bipartisan election security bill. Now they are denying me the information I need to do my job. Why? This plays right into Russia’s hands. As Speaker Pelosi once said, with President Trump, “all roads lead to Putin.”