Category: Domestic Affairs,

Mike Flynn, the Logan Act, and Russia’s Influence on the United States 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

Flynn is the third Trump associate to resign because of the revelation of close connections to the Russian state: Paul Manafort and Carter Page preceded him. Will more follow?

The question here is not about the Logan Act: “Did Flynn conduct U.S. foreign policy in a too hasty way, without waiting for his formal swearing in?”

The question is whether a senior American official was compromised by his relationship with a foreign government. And, even more troublingly: Are there others? And even more urgently: How high up the chain of command does Russia’s influence go?

Mike Flynn, the Logan Act, and Russia’s Influence on the United States – The Atlantic

hmmm

Exclusive: U.S. arrests Mexican immigrant in Seattle covered by Obama program 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Race,Leave a comment

U.S. authorities have arrested an immigrant from Mexico who was brought to the United States illegally as a child and later given a work permit during the Obama administration in what could be the first detention of its kind under President Donald Trump.Daniel Ramirez Medina, a 23-year-old with no criminal record, was taken into custody last week at his father’s home in Seattle by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

…Ramirez, now in custody in Tacoma, Washington, was granted temporary permission to live and work legally in the United States under a program called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, established in 2012 by Democratic President Obama, according to a court filing.

Exclusive: U.S. arrests Mexican immigrant in Seattle covered by Obama program | Reuters

Because racism. (Duh!)
…And the little fact that the only actual laws this administration respects are the fantasy ones in their own tiny little minds.

Mrs. Trump says she’ll keep White House gardens 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

While the West Wing might be busy revoking many of former President Barack Obama’s policies, the East Wing is extending at least one significant legacy from the former presidency – the White House Kitchen Garden. After touring the Morikami Museum and its six Japanese-inspired gardens in Delray Beach with Akie Abe, wife of Japanese Prime Minister, Melania Trump on Saturday signaled that she will continue and preserve both the Kitchen Garden and the Rose Garden in the Oval Office.

Melania Trump says she will make Michelle Obama’s White House garden her own

Oh, she won’t the Rose Garden? How f’ing big of her.

Crossing the border: US migrants seek refugee status in Canada 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Africa,, Domestic Affairs,, The Americas,Leave a comment

“We’ve always had people jumping the borders, for, I don’t know, 30, 40, 50 years. Back then, it was people running away from something – usually the law,” says town official Greg Janzen.

But in recent years it has been mostly asylum seekers, hailing mainly from Somalia but also Ghana, Djibouti, and Ethiopia, who are finding their way across. Community workers say most have been denied refugee status in the US.

Many have been met with generosity.

….Mohammed says he once viewed the US as a beacon for human rights and a place that welcomed newcomers but “when we came, we didn’t see that”.

 

Crossing the border: US migrants seek refugee status in Canada – BBC News

Sigh….

White House posts wrong versions of Trump’s orders on its website

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Education,Leave a comment

WASHINGTON — The White House has posted inaccurate texts of President Trump’s own executive orders on the White House website, raising further questions about how thorough the Trump administration has been in drafting some of his most controversial actions.

A USA TODAY review of presidential documents found at least five cases where the version posted on the White House website doesn’t match the official version sent to the Federal Register. The differences include minor grammatical changes, missing words and paragraph renumbering — but also two cases where the original text referred to inaccurate or non-existent provisions of law.

White House posts wrong versions of Trump’s orders on its website

hmmmm

Photos Appear To Show Donald Trump Reviewing Sensitive Intelligence On The Mar-A-Lago Patio 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Military,Leave a comment

They reveal how careless the president was about sensitive information this weekend.

...Richard DeAgazio, a relatively new member of the Mar-a-Lago club, took a number of the photos and posted them on his Facebook page ― including two photos of a presidential aide carrying the “nuclear football,” the nickname of a briefcase containing nuclear launch codes that is kept within reach of the president of the United States at all times.

…DeAgazio also took photos of Trump and Abe reviewing proposed responses to North Korea’s test under the moonlight as staffers used their cell phones to make the intelligence recommendations readable. 

…Trump’s willingness to discuss a sensitive global security issue like the North Korean test in an unsecured location represented an extraordinary break with diplomatic and security protocol, which demands that sensitive intelligence matters be discussed only in rooms that are designated as Secure Compartmentalized Information Facilities, known as SCIFs (pronounced “skiffs”).

For American president to hold a conversation with serious national security implications outside of a SCIF, as Trump appears to have done, is unprecedented in modern times. 

Photos Appear To Show Donald Trump Reviewing Sensitive Intelligence On The Mar-A-Lago Patio | The Huffington Post

What an ignorant class-less loser this guy is.

Edward Snowden may head to U.S., jail 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Central Northern Asia and The Caucasus,, Domestic Affairs,, Privacy,Leave a comment

Moscow is reportedly toying with the idea of handing NSA leaker Edward Snowden over to President Trump as a housewarming gift after the whistleblow and alleged spy spent four years hiding in Russia.

The Kremlin’s ploy emerged from intelligence reports that outlined Russian talks about ways to “curry favor” with the Trump administration, according to an NBC News report citing two unnamed U.S. officials.

…Trump has called Snowden a “terrible traitor” and “a spy who should be executed.”

Boston University professor and longtime CIA officer Joseph Wippl said gift-wrapping Snowden and forcing him on a plane to U.S. “wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense.”

…On Twitter, Snowden hailed the rumor as “irrefutable evidence that I never cooperated with Russian intel.”

“No country trades away spies, as the rest would fear they’re next,” his tweet read.

Edward Snowden may head to U.S., jail | Boston Herald

hmmmm

In despotic declaration, Trump senior advisor says Trump’s power “will not be questioned” 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

Miller explicitly told Face the Nation’s John Dickerson that Trump’s power exceeds that of the judiciary, the people of the United States, the free press, or anyone else.

“….the powers of the president to protect our country are very substantial, and will not be questioned.”

: In despotic declaration, Trump senior advisor says Trump’s power “will not be questioned” – Shareblue

Not questioned? What country do they think they are in? Does Trump think he is a leader in Russia???

Trump aide says NH voter fraud claims in Election 2016 bigger news than travel ban 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Granite State,Leave a comment

“You can start by providing evidence to back up your claims. Thanks for joining us this morning,” Stephanopoulos said.

Trump aide says NH voter fraud claims in Election 2016 bigger news than travel ban – Manchester Ink LinkManchester Ink Link

Zero evidence of this exists. Zilch.

The aides proverbial pants are undoubtedly on fire.

Elizabeth Warren breaks down the biggest Trump scandal you haven’t heard about

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Money, Class, and Poverty,Leave a comment

What Donald Trump wants to do is fire one of the most important financial cops and then say to the American people, you keep walking down this dark alley and, you know, what happens is what happens,” Warren revealed.

The cop in question is Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Richard Cordray. Cordray’s term ends in July 2018, but Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, is encouraging Trump to “immediately fire” the director.“

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which didn’t even exist before the financial crisis [prevents Americans from being] cheated on mortgages and credit cards and] the things that ultimately blew up our economy,” Warren explained.

The CFPD was created by the Dodd-Frank financial reform act and specifically helped combat home mortgage scams. Now that Trump wants to scrap the legislation, Republicans such as Rep. Hensarling along with Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska say Cordray must go.

Elizabeth Warren breaks down the biggest Trump scandal you haven’t heard about

hmmmm

The Imperial Wizard of the KKK was just found dead near Missouri river bank

On By peanutgallerynhIn Local Interest,, Race,Leave a comment

A Ku Klux Klan leader missing since Wednesday was found dead by a river near his home in Missouri on Saturday morning. Frank Ancona called himself the imperial wizard of the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and went missing Wednesday. 

The Imperial Wizard of the KKK was just found dead near Missouri river bank (Details)

hmmmm