Huge influx of refugees expected to arrive in Bangladesh in coming days, with accusations of genocide in Rakhine state
Thousands of Rohingya flee Myanmar amid tales of ethnic cleansing | World news | The Guardian
Sigh….
Blackwater Founder Erik Prince Implicated in Murder, Weapons Smuggling, Attempted Genocide
A former Blackwater employee and an ex-US Marine who has worked as a security operative for the company have made a series of explosive allegations in sworn statements filed on August 3 in federal court in Virginia. The two men claim that the company’s owner, Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. The former employee also alleges that Prince “views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe,” and that Prince’s companies “encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life.”
In their testimony, both men also allege that Blackwater was smuggling weapons into Iraq. One of the men alleges that Prince turned a profit by transporting “illegal” or “unlawful” weapons into the country on Prince’s private planes. They also charge that Prince and other Blackwater executives destroyed incriminating videos, emails and other documents and have intentionally deceived the US State Department and other federal agencies. The identities of the two individuals were sealed out of concerns for their safety.
Blackwater Founder Erik Prince Implicated in Murder | The Nation
Tragically, this is not surprising at all.
I’m a black daughter of the Confederacy, and this is how we should deal with all those General Lees
Like millions of African Americans, I am the descendant of a Confederate soldier. Those bronzed soldiers on monuments to the Civil War are our forefathers too.
hmmm
Trump complained he’s reading fewer articles from right-wing sites
White House chief of staff John Kelly has severely cut down on the number of news articles President Trump receives from conservative-leaning and right-wing news organizations, according to a new report.
The New York Times reported Friday that Kelly has restricted what information ends up in Trump’s daily digest of articles. Because Trump does not have an Internet browser on his phone and doesn’t use a computer, he relies on hard copies of news articles.
…Soon after Kelly took the chief of staff job, reports indicated that he was vetting everything Trump sees before it gets to him, as well as restricting visits with Trump in the Oval Office.
Trump complained he’s reading fewer articles from right-wing sites: report | TheHill
hmmm
Special Counsel Mueller has Trump’s draft letter on reasons for firing FBI Director James Comey
Mueller’s team has a draft letter by Trump and an aide, laying out reasons for firing Comey, according to a person familiar with the probe.
…During a May weekend at the president’s New Jersey golf club, Trump asked White House aide Stephen Miller to draft a letter outlining a case for Comey’s firing, according to two people familiar with the situation. But the letter, which contained a rationale for the dismissal, was not sent after White House counsel Don McGahn objected, thinking some of its contents were problematic, according to one of the people familiar with the letter.
hmmmm
Longtime Trump aide Keith Schiller tells people he intends to leave – CNNPolitics
President Donald Trump’s longtime aide and current director of Oval Office operations Keith Schiller has told people he intends to leave the White House, three sources familiar with the decision told CNN.
…Now, Schiller’s potential departure will leave Trump without one of his most loyal and trusted aides at his side at a time of tumultuous change at the White House. Schiller has been a constant presence at Trump’s side for nearly two decades and was among a handful of aides from Trump’s previous life as a businessman to follow Trump onto the campaign trail and into the White House.
Longtime Trump aide Keith Schiller tells people he intends to leave – CNNPolitics
hmmmm
Ancient Rome: Sunken City Devastated by a Tsunami 1,600 Years Ago Discovered off Tunisian Coast
The discovery has revealed the Roman city of Neapolis, with its networks of submerged streets and monuments, was a crucial trading hub.
Ancient Rome: Sunken City Devastated by a Tsunami 1,600 Years Ago Discovered off Tunisian Coast
wild
Trump acknowledged Russia role in U.S. election hacking: aide
(Jan 2017) – Trump accepts the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia engaged in cyber attacks during the U.S. presidential election and may take action in response, his incoming chief of staff said on Sunday.
Reince Priebus said Trump believed Russia was behind the intrusions into the Democratic Party organizations, although Priebus did not clarify whether the president-elect agreed that the hacks were directed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“He accepts the fact that this particular case was entities in Russia, so that’s not the issue,” Priebus said on “Fox News Sunday.”
It was the first acknowledgment from a senior member of the Republican president-elect’s team that Trump had accepted that Russia directed the hacking and subsequent disclosure of Democratic emails during the 2016 presidential election.
Trump acknowledges Russia role in U.S. election hacking: aide
hmmm
Record-setting astronaut Peggy Whitson heads for home
Peggy Whitson, NASA’s most experienced astronaut, returns to Earth Saturday after extended mission
Record-setting astronaut Peggy Whitson heads for home – CBS News
Respect.
Russia promises ‘tough response’ to U.S. closure of San Francisco consulate
The forced closures are the latest in an intensifying exchange of diplomatic broadsides.
Russia promises ‘tough response’ to U.S. closure of San Francisco consulate | PBS NewsHour
hmmm
Trump taps Climate Science Denier with no experience to run NASA.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fl., the top Democrat on the Commerce, Science and Technology Committee that will handle Bridenstine’s confirmation, said appointing a member of Congress to run NASA could hurt the agency’s reputation as a non-political institution.
“The head of NASA ought to be a space professional, not a politician,” he said in a statement released by his office Saturday morning.
Democrats like Nelson also are likely to bring up Bridenstine’s dismissal of climate change and its link to human activity during a floor speech in 2013.“
Global temperatures stopped rising 10 years ago,” Bridenstine said, refuting the overwhelming conclusion of the scientific community. “Global temperature changes, when they exist, correlate with sun output and ocean cycles.”
Trump taps Bridenstine to run NASA. Some senators have reservations.
Sigh…
Mystery smoke at Russian consulate as staff leave
According to an Associated Press reporter at the scene, the firefighters were turned away by consulate officials on arrival.
People from inside the building were heard telling them that there was no problem and staff were burning items in a fireplace, the reporter said.
Mystery smoke at Russian consulate as staff leave
hmmm
AP EXCLUSIVE: Toxic waste sites flooded in Houston area, EPA not on the scene
Long a center of the nation’s petrochemical industry, the Houston metro area has more than a dozen Superfund sites, designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as being among America’s most intensely contaminated places. Many are now flooded, with the risk that waters were stirring dangerous sediment.
…The Associated Press surveyed seven Superfund sites in and around Houston during the flooding. All had been inundated with water, in some cases many feet deep.
…AP journalists used a boat to document the condition of one flooded Houston-area Superfund site, but accessed others with a vehicle or on foot. The EPA did not immediately respond to questions about why its personnel had not yet been able to do so.
AP EXCLUSIVE: Toxic waste sites flooded in Houston area – San Antonio Express-News
sighh….
F’ing toothless EPA
Justice Department: Zero Evidence Trump Tower Was Wiretapped
The Justice Department said in a court filing Friday evening that it has no evidence to support President Donald Trump’s assertion in March that his predecessor, Barack Obama, wiretapped the phones in Trump Tower before last year’s election.
…“Both FBI and NSD confirm that they have no records related to wiretaps as described by the March 4, 2017 tweets,” the department’s motion reads. NSD refers to the department’s national security division.
…Then-FBI Director James Comey told Congress in March there was no evidence to support the contention that Trump Tower had been wiretapped. “We have no information to support those tweets,” he said at a House intelligence committee hearing.
American Oversight said in a statement following the Justice Department’s motion: “The FBI and Department of Justice have now sided with former Director Comey and confirmed in writing that President Trump lied when he tweeted the former President Obama ‘wiretapped’ him at Trump Tower.”
Justice Department: No evidence Trump Tower was wiretapped – CNNPolitics
Cheetos’ pants on fire
Salt Lake City mayor, police chief apologize for officer who handcuffed nurse
Salt Lake City mayor, police chief apologize for officer who handcuffed nurse | TheHill
Stop apologizing. Start arresting, prosecuting, and jailing rogue cops.
Mnuchin’s Trip to Kentucky Is Being Reviewed by Treasury’s Watchdog
The U.S. Treasury Department’s watchdog has begun reviewing the circumstances of Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s trip to Kentucky with his wife last month, where he discussed tax plans at a public event and toured Fort Knox.
…“at times” Mnuchin used government aircraft to “facilitate his travel schedule” and to ensure he has access to secure communications, the spokesperson said.
…Past Treasury secretaries typically flew commercial airlines when they were available on domestic trips for official business, but occasionally used government aircraft when flying internationally.
Source: Mnuchin’s Trip to Kentucky Is Being Reviewed by Treasury’s Watchdog – Bloomberg
hmmm
Here are the questions that Sarah Sanders actually answered at today’s news briefing
In sum: We added three things to Trump’s calendar.
Democracy dies in darkness indeed.
Ivanka Trump Supports Stopping Obama’s Equal Pay Rule
The administration deemed it too “burdensome” to business.
: Ivanka Trump Supports Stopping Obama’s Equal Pay Rule | Fortune.com
Who the F’ care about what Trump Barbie thinks?
Ted Cruz’s claim that two-thirds of the Hurricane Sandy bill ‘had nothing to do with Sandy’ –
The Texas senator repeats myths about the funding for Sandy relief, which led him to oppose the 2013 bill.
Stupid is as stupid does.
The disaster in Crosby is purely man-made.
Explosions and flames erupted into the air at a chemical plant in Crosby very early Thursday morning. Floodwaters had knocked out the cooling system needed to prevent organic peroxides from breaking down, and also blocked any path for workers to get back to the site and prevent the disaster.
Now the surrounding residents, living 25 miles northeast of downtown Houston, have been instructed to shut their doors and windows, turn off air conditioners and do everything possible to avoid breathing in the acrid smoke and fumes pouring out of the plant owned by Arkema Inc.
…Exposure to the Arkema fire has sent 15 sheriff’s deputies to the hospital as of this writing, yet the company still won’t explain the specific sort of adverse health effects that people should expect from the emissions. The company also couldn’t answer pointed question by Dempsey about why volatile materials weren’t neutralized before workers fled the site.
The disaster in Crosby is purely man-made. – Houston Chronicle
A society that doesn’t hold those who injure others responsible doesn’t care about the welfare of its own people.
‘This is crazy,’ sobs Utah hospital nurse as cop roughs her up, arrests her for doing her job
Police video shows the moment Detective Jeff Payne snapped at nurse Alex Wubbels after she told him hospital policy barred him from collecting blood samples without a warrant or patient consent.
Until officers of the law are severely penalized for not abiding by the law (or even worse taking it into their own hands) this sort of lawless malfeasance will continue.
Justice would have the officer behind bars.
Robert Mueller Eliminates Trump’s Trump Card
The presidential pardon only applies to federal crimes. As NBC reported last night, it is possible for state governments to press charges in some of the alleged crimes committed by Trump’s cronies.
…Mueller is teaming up with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. “One of the people familiar with progress on the case said both Mueller’s and Schneiderman’s teams have collected evidence on financial crimes, including potential money laundering,” he notes.
Trump can pardon anybody facing charges from Mueller, but not from Schneiderman.
Robert Mueller Eliminates Trump’s Trump Card
hmmmm
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