What goes through my my mind when I read the news with my morning coffee. …Or for the Simon's Rockers in the group, this is my response journal.
The ruling is the latest in a series of decisions against the excessive use of race in redistricting. The court has said Republican lawmakers have gone too far in packing black voters into some districts.
Supreme Court ruling wipes out Republican-drawn House districts in N.C.
hmmm
A Mississippi lawmaker recommended lynching over the weekend for New Orleans’ leaders who have had four Confederate monuments dismantled.
…In a Saturday Facebook post, state Rep. Karl Oliver, a Republican from Winona, also compared the actions of Crescent City officials to Nazis.
Confederate monuments’ removal bring cry to lynch Louisiana officials
What a psycho. Clearly his true colors have shown themselves.
Turkey has summoned the US ambassador in the aftermath of last week’s brawl in Washington DC which left nine people hospitalized by Turkish Security forces in an unprovoked attack.
Turkey summons US ambassador over Washington brawl – CNNPolitics.com
Dive on in through the looking glass… The fact that this story even happened is a pretty damn good indicator both of the Cheetos in Cheif and his team’s incompetence and the fact that they are puppets in the pocket of foreign leaders.
President Trump’s fired aide reportedly plans to invoke his right against self-incrimination.
…The committee issued a subpoena – a legal summons – two weeks ago to obtain the documents.
The FBI and two congressional committees are investigating claims that Russian hackers tried to help Mr Trump win last November’s presidential election, and that members of his election campaign colluded with the alleged Kremlin conspiracy.
My Flynn’s lawyer has previously demanded immunity from “unfair prosecution” in order to co-operate with the committee.
…Mr Flynn is also being investigated by the Department of Defense, after it was revealed that he received payments from Russia and Turkey shortly after leaving the Pentagon.
…Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been forced to recuse himself from that investigation after he neglected to tell senators about his meeting with Mr Kislyak during his confirmation hearings.
If Mr Flynn continues to refuse to comply with Senate investigators, it is thought they could vote to hold him in contempt of Congress, or even refer his case for possible criminal charges.
Ex-national security adviser ‘to defy Senate Russia inquiry’ – BBC News
hmmm
Chaffetz is the [now inert] chair of the House Oversight Committee.
Republican Jason Chaffetz Just Made A Controversial Announcement, And People Are Calling Him Out
sighhh
On Wednesday, US forces carried out more unauthorized airstrikes on pro-government forces in Syria. Though the Constitution explicitly states that the legislative branch, not the executive, has the power to initiate new military actions, Trump has steered the United States deeper into the Syrian conflict.
issued a statement:
For the second time in as many months, the US military has conducted airstrikes against pro-Assad forces in Syria. The Trump Administration does not have congressional authorization to carry out military strikes against the Assad regime. Furthermore, the situation that led to today’s strike is precisely why I warned against getting further entangled in the Syrian civil war without a clear strategy. President Trump needs to explain his plan for Syria to Congress and the American people.
Donald Trump Committed Another Impeachable Offense This Week | The Nation
hmmm
A Chinese immigration firm is reportedly touting its work with the real estate company owned by the family of President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner to reassure clients that their U.S. visas will be approved.
…In Qiaowai’s case, it has boasted about its political connections and promised clients that Trump would make sure their visas get approved, according to the Times, which viewed text messages and emails the firm sent to clients.
…Kushner Companies’ representatives in China have touted the firm’s ties to Trump, and Jared Kushner’s sister Nicole Meyer came under fire earlier this month for allegedly using her brother’s role in the Trump administration to attract investors.
Chinese firm promises Trump approved green cards on behalf of Kushner company: report | TheHill
hmmmm
The incident is under investigation.
Man subdued after incident on American Airlines flight to Honolulu – ABC News
hmmm
The deal is meant to strengthen the U.S.-Saudi alliance against ISIS on the president’s first foreign trip
Trump signs $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia – CBS News
Hmmm
The law enforcement investigation into possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign has identified a current White House official as a significant person of interest, showing that the probe is reaching into the highest levels of government, according to people familiar with the matter.
The senior White House adviser under scrutiny by investigators is someone close to the president, according to these people, who would not further identify the official.
The revelation comes as the investigation appears to be entering a more overtly active phase, with investigators shifting from work that has remained largely hidden from the public to conducting interviews and using a grand jury to issue subpoenas. The intensity of the probe is expected to accelerate in the coming weeks, the people said.
hmmmm
President Donald Trump is facing new pressure over his decision to abruptly fire FBI Director James Comey after The New York Times revealed on Friday that the president told Russian officials in the Oval Office last week that Comey’s ouster takes “great pressure” off him.
Meanwhile, the federal investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia has tagged a current White House official as a “significant person of interest,” The Washington Post reported on Friday.
Trump hit by twin Russia bombshells as he departs for foreign trip – POLITICO
Oy….
Rep Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) is introducing the Stop Waste and Misuse by the President Act.
…The Stop Waste and Misuse by the President (SWAMP) Act states that Trump’s visits to his own properties “results in the American taxpayer effectively subsidizing the president’s businesses.”
The bill would mandate that Trump and other high-ranking officials receiving Secret Service protection pay back costs stemming from visits to properties they own.
Dem unveils bill to make Trump refund travel costs | TheHill
Heh, SWAMP act.
“In terms of potential criminal activity, it’s amateur night at the White House,” Gomez told The Daily Beast. “These guys—and Trump especially—don’t know how to not implicate themselves.”
Trump Officials: ‘He Looks More and More Like a Complete Moron’
hmmmm
Rosenstein told members of Congress that he wrote the memo knowing the president had already decided to fire Comey. In his remarks, he tried to explain his role in the firing, which is widely suspected to be an effort on the president’s part to stop the Russia investigation. Rosenstein has drawn fire for appearing to provide Justice Department cover for an incredibly controversial, political move.
…“I wrote a brief memorandum to the Attorney General summarizing my longstanding concerns about Director Comey’s public statements concerning the Secretary Clinton email investigation,” he continued. “I chose the issues to include in my memorandum.”
He also reiterated his blistering criticism of Comey.
“It was not just an isolated mistake,” he said. “The series of public statements about the email investigation, in my opinion, departed from the proper role of the FBI Director and damaged public confidence in the Bureau and the Department.”
Rosenstein to Congress: My Memo Didn’t Tell Trump To Fire Comey
hmmmm
Leaders of the G.O.P. clearly know that they are defending the increasingly indefensible.
Paul Ryan Keeps It All in the Family – The New Yorker
hmmm
The rising prevalence and cost of Type 2 diabetes has doctors at Geisinger Health System turning to food as a form of medicine. They’re prescribing free, fresh food to low-income patients.
…Over the past year, he and about 180 patients with Type 2 diabetes have been participating in a pilot program aimed at getting them to change their diets and lose weight. They receive free groceries of healthy foods every week.
Shicowich has lost about 45 pounds, and he is now much more active.
The Geisinger Fresh Food Pharmacy is stocked with healthy pantry staples, like oatmeal and peanut butter, as well as fresh produce.
Each week, Shicowich and the other participants come to the food pharmacy. In its new incarnation, it looks more like a grocery, with neatly stocked shelves filled with healthy staples such as whole grain pasta and beans. The refrigerators are full of fresh produce, greens, low-fat dairy, lean meats and fish.
The participants meet one-on-one with a registered dietitian. They’re given recipes and hands-on instruction on how to prepare healthy meals. Then, they go home with a very different kind of prescription: five days’ worth of free, fresh food.
…Shicowich’s health has improved. His blood sugar and blood pressure have dropped so much that if he keeps on track, his doctors say they will reduce his medications.
…the costs associated with diabetes in the U.S. now exceed $240 billion a year.
Once you consider that price tag, Geisinger’s program can look like a bargain. Over the course of a year, the company will spend about $1,000 on each Fresh Food Pharmacy patient. All of the participants in the program are low-income, so the gift of the food eliminated a key obstacle to eating well.
…It’s still early days, and the team plans to fully analyze its first year of data. But here’s what it estimates so far: “A decrease in hemoglobin A1C of 1 point saves us [about] $8,000,” Feinberg says.
And many of the participants have seen a decline in hemoglobin A1C of about 3 points. “So that’s [about] $24,000 we’re saving in health care costs,” Feinberg says. “It’s a really good value.” Geisinger is now in the process of expanding the program to new locations within Pennsylvania.
cool.
Former first lady says people should question motives behind Trump administration delaying federal rules aimed at healthier school lunches.
The school meal changes reflect suggestions from the School Nutrition Association, which represents school nutrition directors and companies that sell food to schools. The group often battled with the Obama administration, which phased in the healthier school meal rules starting in 2012.
Michelle Obama criticizes Trump school lunch decision – CBS News
Sigh…
In a week dominated by President Trump’s firing of FBI director James Comey, you could be forgiven for missing the imminent departure of another, less prominent federal official.
…The results of the decennial Census—the next will be in 2020—will determine how state and federal political districts are drawn; which Americans are “counted” for representation; and how federal dollars, many of which are allocated on a per capita basis, are spent.
…”It is vital, it is critical, that the public has confidence in the integrity of the process and faith in the results,” said Lowenthal. “Anything that compromises that, compromises the whole mission.”
Prewitt warned that if the agency doesn’t receive the funds or political support it needs, it could force a public crisis. “If you underfund the census, you get an undercount,” he said. “And if you don’t count people, they are politically invisible, in effect.” If the 2020 Census appears to undercount certain populations or demographics in certain cities or states, he said, that could discredit the agency’s perceived competency.
…The public could also lose faith in the legitimacy of the Census results if they are seen to be politicized, Lowenthal said.
…It has happened before. After the 1920 Census, members of Congress refused to accept data showing the increasing urbanization of the country, and voted not to reallocate seats based on that supposedly flawed data.
The Head of the Census Resigned. It Could Be as Serious as James Comey | Time.com
hmmm
Sources say the president’s own frustration is at a high point. He is doubting his top advisers, even son-in-law Jared Kushner, who supported firing FBI Director James Comey despite the ongoing Russia investigation.
The White House is also trying to contain fallout from Mr. Trump’s decision to share classified intelligence with top Russian diplomats.
On Wednesday in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the scandal as “political schizophrenia.” Putin even said he would share transcripts of the president’s comments with the U.S. Congress, if the White House approved.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said he was unaware of any Russian recording of the meeting.
Trump defiant, doubting top advisers as White House in turmoil, sources say – CBS News
Yeah, well, this is why you don’t hire your son-in-law to do a job he has no experience for. Man, are they ever incompetent. Is there one thing the Cheeto in Chief criticized HRC that he hasn’t then turned around and donw 1000x worse? What a bozo.
Turkish security was seen coming out of the Turkish ambassador’s residence in Washington and assaulted the ‘anti’ demonstration protestors Tuesday, two law enforcement sources told CNN.
Turkish security involved in DC protester assault – CNNPolitics.com
A real President would have addressed and condemned this right away. Trump is probably off somewhere sucking the Turkish leader’s dick.
Last night, President Trump spoke with Lester Holt in an interview for NBC News. It’s truly a jaw-dropping conversation for a number of reasons, but there’s one important lie that everyone seems to have missed. Trump said that he didn’t know Michael Flynn in 2015. This simply isn’t true.
…Trump first met with Michael Flynn in August of 2015, just two months after Trump announced he’d be running for president. But you don’t have to take my word for it. We know Trump met with Flynn in August of 2015 because Flynn told us.
Trump Says He Didn’t Know Michael Flynn in 2015, Which Is a Big Fucking Lie
hmmm
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