Monday, July 13, 2020

Robert Mueller contemplated publicly defending his investigation for weeks--especially after DOJ's reversal on Flynn. The White House statement about Roger Stone on Friday finally pushed him to break his silence


A NY judge has lifted the restraining order that barred Mary Trump from speaking publicly about her new book, per her attorney @BoutrousTed. He says the First Amendment "forbids prior restraints because they are intolerable infringements on the right to participate in democracy."


Under repeated questioning from Castor, BERMAN repeatedly declines to answer whether he has concerns about Barr's integrity.


Sec Pompeo, in a phone call with Russian FM Lavrov today, raises big issues including Afghanistan & election security, per the readout. It is not clear if the Russian bounties offered to the Taliban to kill US soldiers in Afghanistan was particularly broached.


“No comments on it," Sen. Tim Scott just said when I asked if he had any concerns about Trump's move to commute Roger Stone’s sentence. Most Republicans have been quiet about it, especially those up for reelection, including Sen. Susan Collins. Senate is on recess til next week


BREAKING: President Trump hints that he is blackmailing a U.S. Senator


The mothers of #AhmaudArbery #BreonnaTaylor #BothamJean #EricGarner #TamirRice #AntwonRose & #TrayvonMartin came together for a powerful interview on @GMA with @DebRobertsABC! They've experienced something no parent should!


BERMAN said he was particularly alarmed by Barr's plan to install an outsider to run SDNY when that hadn't happened in at least 70 years. That would have caused disruption and delay, he said.


Breaking News: About 5.4 million Americans lost health insurance in the pandemic, more than have ever lost coverage through job losses in a year, an analysis found


NEW—Last week Attorney General Bill Barr described Roger Stone’s sentence as “fair”. Just now he had no comment on the President’s decision to commute Stone:


Brilliantly described by @edyong209 It’s not the scientific question of when vaccine will arrive. It’s a socio-political question: will U.S. have competent leadership—unlike what we’ve seen in past 7 months—to get vaccine to people to save maximum lives?


Fmr. Education Secretary Arne Duncan: "There is no body count high enough for the president to actually pay attention to science. We could lose another 10,000, 50,000, 100,000 ⁠— nothing would compel him to listen to Dr. Fauci and others who are fighting to save lives.


NEW: The Biden campaign has issued a statement slamming Trump for reportedly seeking to discredit Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious-diseases expert, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage in the U.S


"Biden & Obama stopped their testing ... I'm sure you don't want to report it" - Trump absurdly tries to blame Obama for problems w/ testing for Covid-19, which didn't exist until nearly 3 years after he left office. He then falsely suggests the 1918 flu pandemic started in 1917.


NEW: Trump is planting his own direct lines into battleground states in end-run around Kushner as the president takes the reins of his embattled campaign


The truth is coming. Trump says here that he is talking about a Democrat but he knows (and I know) he was talking about a particular Republican Senator.


When this Administration disregards the guidance of scientists about how to get a handle on the #coronavirus and threatens the most vulnerable students, you have to wonder what it is they are fighting for and what they believe in – if anything.


Ghislaine Maxwell lived on a million-dollar property she bought via an anonymous LLC, had a cell phone wrapped in tin foil -apparently to avoid it being tracked - and had round-the-clock security made up of former U.K. military personnel paid by the LLC


Analysis: How problematic is Trump’s Roger Stone commutation? Just ask William Barr.


Two weeks ago Senate Democrats pressed Senate Republicans to expand access to food assistance for vulnerable families and children. Mitch McConnell refused.


Two weeks ago Senate Democrats pressed Senate Republicans to expand access to food assistance for vulnerable families and children. Mitch McConnell refused.


NEW: DOJ's Office of the Pardon Attorney has posted Trump's clemency order for Roger Stone, dated Friday. The commutation wipes away the two years of supervised release and the $20K fine along with the 40 months in prison.


Barr: First let me say what an honor it is for me to serve under a president who is such a strong supporter of law enforcement


UPDATED: Fire Fight Intensifies on USS Bonhomme Richard, 5 Sailors Still Hospitalized


One or more of Jeffrey Epstein's victims plan to testify at his associate's bail hearing this week in New York, prosecutors say. Ghislaine Maxwell is charged with recruiting teenage girls for Epstein to sexually abuse; she has denied the allegations.


Obama and Biden stopped testing for the Covid-19 ? 19! 19! 19! Does he really not know what the “19” means? Does he really believe that Americans don’t know either?


Dr. John Gartner: "Trump is the most successful bio-terrorist in human history"...Psychologist and former Johns Hopkins professor on Trump's pandemic conduct: "He is a first-degree mass murderer"


Not ONE SINGLE MAJOR U.S. MEDIA OUTLET is covering the fact the Roger Stone's "commutation" has been questioned by Judge Berman Jackson. NOT. ONE


Trump's campaign is spending 13% of its Facebook digital advertising budget on Texas.


I Was a Counterterrorism Chief. Trump Knew What Russia Was Doing. Of course he did!


California's two largest public school districts — Los Angeles and San Diego — have said that instruction will be remote-only in the fall, citing concerns that surging coronavirus infections in their areas pose too dire a risk for students and teachers.


NEW: Mark Meadows is telling ppl he is struggling w/ the chief job, if Trump wins a 2nd term, he would not stay for more than a year...WH morale is low, staff now young and inexperienced. But he & POTUS still appear to have a solid relationship


When announcing charges against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, SDNY U.S. Attorneys solicited tips to 1-800-CALL-FBI. That call has been fruitful again, prosecutors reveal in a footnote of their new memo.


It pains me that it's come to this, but you can't separate the damage Trump is doing to the country from Republican senators' almost unanimous refusal to even hear witnesses before acquitting him of clearly dangerous corruption in February. They too own what has followed since.


The White House has taken the unusual step of attacking a member of its coronavirus task force, by providing a document to several media outlets that contains a list of comments made by Dr. Anthony Fauci in an effort to damage his reputation.


Top Mueller prosecutor: 'We could have done more' in Russia investigation


This situation with Michael Cohen — who's now back behind bars — and his book deserves more attention.


Nothing is more important than the safety of our children. In the middle of the #coronavirus crisis, we can ensure that America’s children will be safe with an actionable plan – not magical thinking.


Movement on the #RogerStone docket: judge wants to know if Trump commuting his longtime ally's sentence includes the parole sentence along with the term of incarceration.


Latest update about the fire aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard highlights a situation much more challenging than initially thought. Fifty-seven people have been treated for minor injuries, heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. The fire could go on for days, Navy said yesterday.


#TrumpDeathToll135K and he takes ‘no responsibility at all


The Republicans Who Want to Destroy Trump


Judge Amy Berman Jackson wants a copy of Trump's executive order commuting Roger Stone's sentence by tomorrow.


Former White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney says COVID testing difficulties/delays experienced by his daughter and son are "simply inexcusable"


As even Nixon’s DOJ recognized, "the Constitution does not allow a...self-pardon. [This] points to our reading of the pardon power, which limits the supposed prerogative of impeached presidents to pardon co-conspirators connected to their impeachment."


NEW: A McClatchy/Miami Herald investigation - Devastating report of unbridled sexual harassment, hazing, bullying, humiliation and hostility against women in the U.S. Coast Guard.


Must-see monologue from @brianstelter about how to handle Trump's overwhelming dishonesty, and its impact on politics and media. For one, "In this truth emergency, we have to appreciate the difference between those who are trying to get it right, and those who do not care.”


As expected, the Justice Dept. has immediately appealed this morning's order blocking federal executions from going forward while litigation challenging the new lethal injection protocol continues


Ted Cruz flew on an @AmericanAir commercial flight yesterday and refused to wear a mask. And American Airlines let him violate their own rules, and put all of its passengers’ lives in danger.


1919


Why did Jared Kushner ask OGE to withdraw his certificate of divestiture from Cadre? We have never seen anything like this before, and we have seen a lot


Opinion: Republicans are endangering their own supporters and destroying Trump’s electoral map


Brad Parscale increasingly finds himself out of favor with Trump and hemmed in by staff. Parscale lives in Florida, the campaign's in Virginia. Staff say he's often by his pool. "You can't have a campaign manager who isn't even around the campaign."


Ron Cameron gave millions to Trump’s campaigns, $327 million to his own foundation, The Jesus Fund, and a $1 raise to poultry workers facing COVID which he took back: How Trump Is Helping Tycoons Exploit the Pandemic


The White House counsel's office has "determined that good cause exists" to delay the president's personal financial disclosure filing until next month


Interesting article by two respected New York criminal law practitioners -- one a leader of the defense bar and the other a former ADA -- about a potential legal angle for New York state-level prosecutors to charge Roger Stone.


The remainder of the crew is accounted for. We are grateful for the quick and immediate response of local, base, and shipboard firefighters aboard BHR. Our thoughts and prayers are with our BHR Sailors, their families, and our emergency responders who continue to fight the fire.


Trump is now warning TV networks that a Biden presidency would be boring and bad for their ratings.


President Trump now claims this privately funded border wall — touted as the “Lamborghini” of fences — was built to “make me look bad,” even though the project’s builder and funders are Trump supporters.


Despite the covid outbreak in the Sun Belt and cases on the rise nationally, Trump begins the work week retweeting a tweet that says “everyone is lying” about the virus: “The CDC, Media, Democrats, our Doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust.”


New from me: How Trump Is Helping Tycoons Exploit the Pandemic


A neo-Nazi group that was led by a 13-year-old boy from Estonia is to be outlawed in the UK as a terrorist organisation, the government has announced. The Home Office said that Feuerkrieg Division advocated violence and mass murder in pursuit of an "apocalyptic race war"


The question is not whether Barr is tampering with “equal justice under law”--but how often he has done so


Hong Kong migration to UK could hit 200,000


Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Sunday that he will grant a longtime Democratic request to have former special counsel Robert Mueller testify before the committee.


This is an important error lest people start listening to @BlazerLegacy again - McCabe’s investigation of @realDonaldTrump was criminal, not counterintelligence, a word CvZ doesn’t understand


Five point lead for Joe Biden over @realDonaldTrump in Texas, home state of @Parscale


COMRADES! Here is latest glorious ad from @ProjectLincoln. Share with enthusiasm or be sent to Siberia #TrumpTraitor

ICYMI

Florida’s surgeon general is Dr. Scott Rivkees. We should be hearing from him every day. He should tell us what he’s telling the Governor about the virus He should tell us whether he’s even speaking with the governor. And he should tell us on Monday.


This is a badass ad.


Republican Senators are silent in the face of Trump’s clemency for Stone, who lied to them under oath and obstructed their investigation into Russia’s attack on our election. The complicity and treachery are breathtaking.


Today, 7/13 should have been Jaime’s 17th Birthday. There is nothing we want more than to celebrate with her. Instead, we honor her spirit & keep her legacy burning bright. Please donate to the campaign we have set up in her honor.


Redskins to retire team name Monday; new name to be revealed later


The data for Paycheck Protection Program loans totaling more than $521 billion are riddled with anomalies, a Bloomberg review finds


“It is imperative that he be held accountable. The president must explain to the American people, and especially to those who risk their lives for their country and our families, why he continues to abide Russian threats to our troops, our security and our democracy.”


“It is easy to get lost in the fog of Mr. Trump’s continuing and calculated war of denial and deception. But he has still, despite weeks of public debate over Russian bounties, not offered a clear and unambiguous condemnation of such Russian aggression.”


Police beat-up and tasered this BLM protester in Bay Ridge Brooklyn today...


"If a conspiracy exists to obstruct an investigation, and part of that obstruction involves pardoning someone who hid evidence or lied to investigators, then the pardon itself is a continuation of the conspiracy." Read @SamBerger_DC on Roger Stone pardon


Michael Bloomberg reportedly spent $1 billion to finance his own brief presidential campaign. He said he would spend another $1 billion to insure the Democratic candidate beat Trump. Will he do it? Not much evidence so far.


Republicans in 2009: Obama is going to create death panels Republicans in 2020: We are the death panel


Three LAPD officers face felony charges for falsely labeling people as gang members. According to a 59-count criminal complaint, the three officers were charged with conspiracy, filing false reports, and prepping fraudulent documents for court.


this gentleman appears to be wearing a QAnon shirt


It’s like we flattened the curve just to build momentum for Trumps next wave.


These re-infection reports worrisome. Re-infection should be unlikely. Yet lots of reports mounting. I’m holding out judgement, but this article worth sharing. One thing I will say - “herd immunity” without vaccine was never any option. Period.


Polish President Andrzej Duda, who ran a divisive campaign with homophobic and anti-Semitic overtones, narrowly wins a second term in office


Covering Russia and the west: 'Putin's goal is to make the truth unknowable'


The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh District issued a ruling Sunday which will allow for the first federal prisoner to be executed in 17 years on Monday, pending an appeal to the US Supreme Court


"People who never thought they'd experience food insecurity are now seeking food assistance," said Luis Guardia, president of the nonprofit Food Research & Action Center.


Tucson Clergy: Release migrants from Eloy Detention Center's dangerous conditions now


Jordan Sekulow goes on Fox News looking for clients to represent so they can sue local school districts


JUST IN: Zindzi Mandela, daughter of Nelson Mandela who served as ambassador to Denmark, dies aged 59


Nancy Pelosi reacts to Betsy DeVos: "I think what we heard from the secretary was malfeasance & dereliction of duty. They are messing with the health of our children ... they ignore science & they ignore governance."


"Swegle is the U.S. Navy's first known Black female TACAIR pilot and will receive her Wings of Gold later this month." After nearly 110 years of naval aviation, the US Navy has welcomed its first Black female tactical jet pilot.


rump knew about coronavirus and did nothing. And now he wants *us* to live with it.


White House chief of staff Mark Meadows reportedly has informed several staffers that he has been feeding specific bits of information to certain members of staff suspected of leaking information


Jeanine says people who were at her children’s weddings won’t talk to her anymore


I'd love to argue for a Romney exception. But when the GOP acts like a parliamentary party instead of a separate branch of government, you have to treat it like one. But if Romney's going to keep voting to keep McConnell in power in the Senate...well, whaddayagonna do.


And for those who won’t actually take the time to read the story, the person was caught, arrested, charged in federal court, and pled guilty. That means the system WORKED!


Judge rejects Ponzi king Madoff’s bid for early release


“Test results for the novel coronavirus are taking so long to come back that experts say the results across the United States are often proving useless in the campaign to control the deadly disease.”


“Trump is also galled by Fauci’s approval ratings. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll showed that 67 percent of voters trusted Fauci for information on the coronavirus, compared with 26 percent who trusted Trump.”


Tom Brady--who has earned a paltry $300 million from playing football--needed a PPP loan of up to $1 million to keep his company TB12 afloat. TB12 makes and sells mainly baseball hats and other merchandise celebrating Brady in some way. Isn't that just precious?


Disney’s theme parks boss says he’s “pretty pleased” with demand. The company has begun reopening its resorts in Florida


Kelly Preston dies at 57 after battle with breast cancer, husband John Travolta confirms


Three and a half years as POTUS. A whopping three miles of new border wall, and they can't even get that right. What an absolute disaster this administration is. Eroding Private Border Wall To Get an Engineering Inspection Just Months After Completion


I've known #DrFauci for 30 years, I've protested him, criticized him when he's been wrong. But no one knows more about infectious diseases in the US, has done more to protect Americans from pandemics past and present. The attacks on him are scurrilous, vile and desperate.


New Zealand lifts all Covid restrictions, declaring the nation virus-free


I’m struck both by the president’s vigorous exercise and his warm relations with the hired laborer.


A who’s who of the Canadian establishment told Trudeau to send Huawei’s CFO home in exchange for two detainees. Their push only hardened his line on China


Looks like the genius strategy of @realDonaldTrump to double down on racism; double down on coddling Vladimir Putin; and double down on ignoring medical experts in the middle of a pandemic is not doing so great in Texas. Or any swing state.


Even if we act now, July and August will be hell.


This new study is troubling. It indicates that the majority of new cases are tied SILENT transmission from a combination of the presymptomatic stage and asymptomatic infections. Ie. NOT from people showing overt symptoms! What does this mean? Thread


Not sure which is more troubling: the mistake on the cover in the first place or the many overconfident twitter scolds who insist that "DEMOCRATS" doesn't need an apostrophe at all. Perhaps Betsy DeVos should make this school year The Year of Plural vs. Possessive.


While America is ravaged by a deadly pandemic and unemployment is in double digits, Rep. Jim Jordan claims that "the number one question I get from people" is about "when somebody is going to jail" for the investigation of the Trump campaign's dealings with Russia


China prepares for more flooding amid torrential rain that’s lasted over a month and caused billions of yuan in economic damage


Bill Barr


US military personnel on the Japanese island of Okinawa are mostly confined to their bases after multiple cases of coronavirus emerged


WATCH: @JoeNBC uncovered a 1992 video of president Trump partying at Mar-a Lago with pedophile Jeffery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell (seen behind Trump from 9 seconds in, wearing all white)

ICYMI

An overhaul of Hong Kong's education system is under way. Protest slogans are banned, while teachers are advised to call the police if anyone insults the national anthem. “Will our kids be able to think critically when they grow up?” one teacher says.


"Hong Kong people have demonstrated to the world, and also to the authorities, that we have not given up to strive for democracy." Hundreds of thousands of Hong Kongers took part in a primary election for the city's democratic opposition over the weekend.


Today's Russian papers on the Khabarovsk street protests: "Far Eastern revolutionary situation" & “The main source of political instability in Russia are the authorities, who’ve forgotten how to listen to the people.”


Imagine how bad this must have been for Mueller to break his silence


Texas is a swing state in 2020, new polls reveal


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