Friday, January 24, 2020

Look it was inevitable and we could do worse than emulating Starfleet


Sen. Angus King, who shares his Maine constituents with Susan Collins, tells @DanaBashCNN that 90% of calls into his office are in support of calling witnesses


The Emerging Risk of Virtual Societal Warfare Social Manipulation in a Changing Information Environment


Trump wants you to think "everyone does it." No, they don’t


New court documents reveal corruption at the Trump inaugural fund went to the very top


People make tough decisions all the time when they’re in office. @RepAdamSchiff’s plea to our Republican colleagues was that right matters, truth matters. You're in the Senate because you're supposed to protect our Constitution.


"Last year, before he was arrested, Mr. Parnas personally heard a recording of his April 30, 2018 dinner with the president and others, made by Mr. Fruman, at which the subject of Ambassador Yovanovitch was discussed," Lev Parnas lawyer Joseph Bondy said.


Please Continue calling your Senators at (202) 224-3121 and tell them to vote for a fair trial You can do it!


BREAKING: House impeachment managers continue opening arguments outlining obstruction charge against Pres. Trump.


Rep. Adam Schiff calls Pres. Trump's bilateral press conference in Helsinki with Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin a "breathtaking success of Russian intelligence." "Whatever profile Russia did of our president, boy did they have him spot on."


Oh, John.


The Trump admin wants to eliminate a law requiring federal agencies to consider how federal projects like highways or bridges could impact #climatechange. We need to #ProtectNEPA – this dangerous proposal must be stopped.


President Trump not only broke the law when he held up critical security assistance to Ukraine, he also broke a commitment to a key partner. “If our allies can’t trust us to stand behind them in a time of need, we will soon not have a single ally left.”


Neo-Nazi Rinaldo Nazzaro running US militant group The Base from Russia


Cruz, a juror in the impeachment trial, tells @hughhewitt he’s providing Trump’s defense team w legal advice: “I actually spent a fair amount of time last night after the trial talking w the President’s lawyers & urging them, number 1, focus on substance more and process less.”


Jake Tapper: You think Trump is actually concerned about corruption? GOP Sen. James Lankford: Yes, I do. Tapper: Can you provide me any examples of Trump expressing concern about corruption? Lankford: You're trying to put me on the spot!


OMG. The evidence keeps pouring out, in real time. Trump recorded ordering Ambassador fired with Giuliani’s mugs present


His best defense so far is that “Take her out” meant fire her. He literally made a career out of saying “You’re fired,” but he couldn’t think to use those words...


True patriots come forward when they have something to say. Cowards wait for their books to publish.


Schiff: "A former mayor of New York persuaded a president of the United States to sacrifice all of that for a cheap shot at his political opponent, for a smear ... Was it worth it? I hope it was worth it for the president. Because it certainly wasn't worth it for the U.S."


ABC News obtains potential smoking gun tape of Trump demanding the firing of Marie Yovanovich


Schiff: "I don't know if there's ever been a greater success of Russian intel. Whatever profile Russia did of our president, boy, did they have him spot on. Flattery and propaganda. Flattery and propaganda is all Russia needed ...This is just the most incredible propaganda coup."


Listen to this. It's less than a minute. Seriously -- just check this out


Rep. Hakeem Jeffries: "Why did the call record remain on the classified server even after the so-called error was discovered? Who ordered the cover-up of the call record? Who ordered the cover-up of the call record? The American people deserve to know."


All joking aside, I spoke out about Trump’s drug addiction and sexual assaults and the complicity of his kids in all of this because the guy I knew would blow up the world without a second thought. He is literally insane, and his kids cheer him on. It’s a family of psychopaths.


Let them speak: Most Americans want witnesses in Trump impeachment trial - Reuters/Ipsos poll


BREAKING: 'Take her out': Recording appears to capture Trump at private dinner saying he wants Ukraine ambassador fired.


The Wuhan virus has turned up in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam and the United States. Investigators in other countries, including Mexico and Saudi Arabia, are evaluating possible cases. Here's what we know.


Americans under the age of 30 support removing Trump from office by a nearly 3-to-1 ratio


Over the years we've seen many signs that Fox is a propaganda house. The clearest one yet came last night. They cut away from the impeachment hearings while the House managers were making their case. Think about that. Don't tell me it's news, but with a different POV. It's not.


Why is it so hard to sell houses near Mar-a-Lago? Palm Beach real estate is booming, but 10 mansions sit unsold within a half-mile of the President's primary residence


The men and women of our military are some of the bravest, most patriotic, and most honorable people in this country. They deserve better from the president. When our president disrespects our military, he disrespects America.


A new virus that originated in China has the markings of a global crisis: It emerged suddenly and can kill people. It has crossed borders easily. But the World Health Organization is split on if it should declare an international public health emergency


Shanghai Disneyland closes indefinitely to halt spread of virus that has killed 26 and sickened 881


U.S. denied Britain's extradition request for diplomat’s wife Anne Sacoolas, who was involved in a car crash that killed a British teenager last year


100’s of thousands protest in Baghdad, calling for all US troops to leave Iraq, close all bases & embassies, if they don’t they will be considered an occupying force.


#Russia's war against #Ukraine killed 110 soldiers in 2019, and 10 soldiers in 2020 alone. The Kyiv Post has put together a list of those known to have been killed in action from September until January


In opening statements, House managers examined the debunked conspiracy theories invoked by Pres. Trump. A @POTUS confidant tells CBS News that GOP senators were warned: “vote against the president & your head will be on a pike.”


Republican senators are lying when they say they are bored. They are terrified. They are terrified of Trump & terrified of Trump voters. They are terrified of the vast majority of Americans who want witnesses & the majority of voters who want Trump convicted & removed.


Check out this commercial to oust Susan Collins. “You work for Maine, not Mitch McConnell.”


Brilliant Schiff!!!! Thank you, sir!


WATCH: Video shows the situation at a hospital at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak; it has now been removed from China's social media platform


President Trump believed Russian propaganda against the advice of all his advisers, Rep. Adam Schiff said at Trump's Senate impeachment trial


A new study of America’s tap water has found extremely high levels of toxic 'forever chemicals' (PFAS), in drinking water throughout US. Reuters says Trump & the EPA tried to stop the publication of the report, & were enraged it was released


I write about dictatorships across the world. This is how dictators in those countries operate. And no, it is not acceptable. Not in America where #RightMatters


By stating that privilege is paramount to withholding the withold of funds to Ukraine documents, they are stating that this puts the President at the core of withholding these funds. They are saying he did it. Otherwise there would be no need for executive privilege.


Veteran newscaster Jim Lehrer, the face of PBS NewsHour for 36 years, has died


The list includes cancelling existing security agreements, closing U.S. military bases, ending the work of American security companies and closing off access to Iraqi airspace.


'No, No America': Thousands of Iraqis rally against U.S. military presence


UPDATE: China orders all travel agencies to suspend sales of domestic and international tours to contain the spread of the coronavirus


The Staggering (and Uncovered) Legal Bills Facing Impeachment Witnesses


Parnas attorney Joseph Bondy comes out swinging tonight:


Protector Of N.H. Primary Claims 'You Can't Hack This Pencil,' But Worries Persist


During Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial, @LindseyGrahamSC argued that a high crime "doesn’t even have to be a crime. It’s just when you start using your office, and you’re acting in a way that hurts people."@RepJerryNadler played that clip on the Senate floor today.


None of this aid was withheld because Obama wanted to cheat in an election by blackmailing a foreign country. They also notified Congress of the national security justification, consistent with the law. Wasn't a cover-up and they didn't break the law, unlike this administration.


“The agony of the senator-jurors had begun to show...” *agony* To quote my editor at Random House, Kate Medina: “No whining on the yacht.” There are only 100 of you in the entire country. Earn the privilege, daily.


Carter's impeachment advice to Trump: 'Tell the truth...for a change'


Jury tampering.


In light of new derogatory remarks about Vindman today, reupping: "Alexander Vindman should be celebrated, not smeared." Senators, please stop. We can be better than this. You can support Trump without disrespecting and slandering other fellow Americans


With due respect to the admonishment of the Chief Justice, “the world's most elaborative body" should be earned not merely bestowed by history. We see any pretense for deliberation from the GOP readily sacrificed in service to a president who doesn't care for democratic norms.


on @MSNBC, @SenSchumer says "the phones are good. Not overwhelming. Not like they were for health care." We need this. We NEED the health care level of mobilization. Maybe if people would stop acting so FATALISTIC about this whole thing, we could get there.#ImpeachmentTrial


NEWS: House Dems just now point the US Court of Appeals DC Circuit to the arguments President Trump's lawyers made in the Senate impeachment trial that the proper venue for fighting a subpoena is in court, contradicting DOJ's stance in a lawsuit to hear testimony from Don McGahn.


A wide-ranging domestic terrorism investigation of "The Base," a militant neo-Nazi group, culminates in arrests of seven alleged members—and provides extensive details about an organization authorities say advocates for the overthrow the U.S. government.


3 years ago the US withdrew from the TPP. US exporters have lost markets, & we lost an effective way to confront China over its trade practices. Meanwhile, much of the USMCA @realDonaldTrump brags about borrows from the TPP text. None of this makes any strategic or economic sense


Almutairi joins a growing list of Saudi dissidents targeted by the regime. Carrying out such a mission on US soil would mark a new level of Saudi brazenness



Taylor Swift finds her voice and dunks on Trump in new Netflix doc "Miss Americana"


.@RepAdamSchiff: "We believe we will have made the case overwhelmingly of the President's guilt. He has done what he's charged with... but I want to address one other thing tonight. Okay he's guilty, does he really need to be removed?" Watch full


Wow. Powerful ad.


Schiff is bursting bubble of claim that info is "not new." As excellent prosecutor, Schiff is showing how evidence fits into theory of the case—including fresh Parnas documentary evidence, Putin's "Thank God, no one is accusing us of interfering in the US elections anymore" etc.


Another NEW piece of evidence from Schiff: The signed Giuliani letter to Zelenskyy (as part of Parnas trove of documents, which became available after impeachment vote). Top Mueller prosecutor Andrew Weissmann called Giuliani letter a "real smoking gun."


I don’t know if @realDonaldTrump is a thug. But his team sure act like thugs. Also, threatening senators is a very condescending move. As if #GOP Senators will simply kneel before Trump. Oh wait, they repeatedly have. That’s why they are being threatened.


NEW: The House has filed a letter with the Appeals Court arguing that Trump's impeachment lawyers have completely contradicted their arguments in the McGahn case.


NEW: The House has filed a letter with the Appeals Court arguing that Trump's impeachment lawyers have completely contradicted their arguments in the McGahn case.


WHOA he threatened to put their heads on pikes!!!!


The White House refused to provide documents to a nonpartisan congressional watchdog investigating President Donald Trump's decision to withhold US security aid to Ukraine


If Democrats went to court and waited on that process, their inquiry wouldn’t have been completed until after the 2020 election.


A party that revered Slovakia's Nazi puppet state is second in the polls before an election next month


More offended than you were by the threat of pikes?


CBS News reports that GOP Senators have been warned by Trump team: "Vote against the president, and your head will be on a pike." How is this acceptable?


Cruz mocks the impeachment process but won’t answer a straight question—was Trump’s conduct wrongful?


I say again: only slavery was slavery. @BetsyDeVosED tried to turn Abraham Lincoln into an avatar for the anti-abortion right, likening Confederate state’s “choices” to enslave black people to pro-choicers. This is utterly deranged, and she should resign.


Fact Check: President Zelensky still has not visited the White House.


"The President's conduct is wrong. It is illegal. It is dangerous. And it captures the worst fears of our Founders and the Framers of our Constitution... This conduct is not 'America First,' it is Donald Trump First."


Vindman attorney responds: “That a member of the Senate – at a moment when the Senate is undertaking its most solemn responsibility – would choose to take to Twitter to spread slander about a member of the military is a testament to cowardice.”


He just said he would cut entitlements YESTERDAY.


“Our nation is indeed at a crossroads. Will we pursue the search for truth, or will we dodge, weave and evade the truth? ... ascertaining the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the unqualified, unevasive truth is absolutely critical.” —Sen. Mitch McConnell, February 1998


China confirms 830 coronavirus cases, with 25 deaths


Jim Lehrer's final interview, with @brianstelter, Dec. 15


So the @guardian has unmasked the leader of a US neo-Nazi terror group and — lookee here — "there is evidence supporting his claims of being based in Russia, where he lives with his Russian wife."


EXCLUSIVE: FBI foiled an alleged Saudi plot to kidnap a regime critic ***on U.S. soil***


Vindman attorney Michael Volkov: “Senator Blackburn’s renewed attack on Lt. Col. Vindman reveals her true character — she has failed to follow her oath of impartiality while serving as a juror...


Trump just gave away the Republican game on Social Security and Medicare


69% of republicans is a lot


John Roberts comes face to face with the mess he made - perhpas it will help.


Wikileaks Russian Ties: Julian Assange’s Forgotten Trips To Moscow


Senator @MarshaBlackburn, I served with Lt. Col. Vindman in Russia, where he served with honor and great distinction. His commanding officer completely agrees with me. Please provide evidence to back up your claim. Otherwise, stop slandering a US soldier serving our great nation.


This is insane. We have seen video, documents, WhatsApp messages, witnesses, a GAO report establishing it happened. We have video of the president’s chief of staff admitting it happened. I don’t want to live in a fucking Orwellian dictatorship where those things don’t matter.


"The founders in fact wanted the chief justice to be much more than a ceremonial officer or a potted plant ... Roberts has a substantive role ... in deciding the admissibility and relevance of evidence in Trump’s trial, including the calling of witnesses."


Judge Andrew Napolitano of Fox News: "What is required for removal of the president? A demonstration of presidential commission of high crimes and misdemeanors, of which in Trump's case the evidence is ample and uncontradicted."


To not have a fair trial, To have no evidence from the people who actually saw what happened, Because President Trump is blocking witnesses and documents, And because Senator McConnell is blocking witnesses and documents, It is wrong.


Schiff on the whistleblower complaint: "What does Bill Barr's Justice Dept. do ...? They say don't turn it over to Congress. You don't have to turn it over to Congress. I know what the law says. It says you shall. Doesn't say you may. Doesn't say you might ... It says you shall."


Warren on Trump administration: Corruption. No other word for it.


Schumer praises Schiff for holding GOP rapt, convincing public


Schiff hit on points that are really, really hard to deny: Tester


House impeachment managers look ahead rebutting White House case


Schiff: ‘If right doesn’t matter, we’re lost’