v Tesla sues California county over plant shutdown By www.nbcnews.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 00:22:27 GMT Alameda County ordered the facility closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus and said it was working with Elon Musk's electric car company to resolve the issue. Full Article
v Man who recorded video in Ahmaud Arbery killing is receiving threats, lawyer says By www.nbcnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 21:03:00 GMT William "Roddie" Bryan is simply a "witness to the tragic shooting," his lawyer said. He is "not now, and never has been, a vigilante." Full Article
v 'We are so lucky to have had him': Michelle Obama, others honor Little Richard By www.nbcnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 19:55:24 GMT "With his exuberance, his creativity, and his refusal to be anything other than himself, Little Richard laid the foundation for generations of artists to follow," Michelle Obama tweeted. Full Article
v The right to worship: Church and state clash over religious services in the coronavirus era By www.nbcnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 19:07:00 GMT Just this week, the Justice Department got behind a rural Virginia church's claim that the state improperly discriminated against it by limiting its gatherings. Full Article
v Alec Baldwin's Trump congratulates 'class of COVID-19' on 'SNL' season finale By www.nbcnews.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 05:40:00 GMT "I'm so honored to be your validictator," he says. Full Article
v Pink: Battling COVID-19 with my son was terrifying. But my experience isn't unique. By www.nbcnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 12:39:00 GMT I know you would do anything to protect your own child, so let’s make sure every mama has the same opportunity and resources to protect theirs. Full Article
v Warm weather won't kill off coronavirus, study finds By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 17:02:19 GMT Summer may not provide the kind of relief from the coronavirus that many hoped it would. Full Article c1c01845-9d93-5e42-9f56-b6ef3ad4845c fox-news/health/infectious-disease/coronavirus fox-news/science fox-news/health fnc fnc/science article Fox News Peter Aitken
v Iceland uses coronavirus stimulus money to fight climate change By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 21:22:04 GMT Last week, the Icelandic government rolled out several new environmental policies and proposals addressing climate change as part of the country's second COVID-19 economic stimulus package. Full Article 6c7676f9-61c3-5a55-b235-37aed2cac81c fox-news/science fox-news/science/natural-science fox-news/us/environment fox-news/us/environment/climate-change fox-news/world/environment/climate-change fox-news/science/planet-earth/climate fox-news/health/infectious-disease/coronavirus fox-news/us/economy fox-news/politics/finance fox-news/us/energy fox-news/science/planet-earth/energy fox-news/world/united-nations fox-news/world/environment/forests fnc fnc/science article Fox News Julia Musto
v Obama says coronavirus response has been a ‘chaotic disaster,' blames ‘selfish’ mindset By feeds.foxnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 15:56:19 GMT Former President Barack Obama on Friday said that the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has been an “absolute chaotic disaster” and blamed it on a “selfish” and “tribal” mindset that has become operationalized in government. Full Article c2250188-c3bd-5972-8c83-dbd2c87d56f1 fox-news/health/infectious-disease/coronavirus fox-news/person/barack-obama fox-news/person/joe-biden fox-news/person/donald-trump fnc fnc/politics article Fox News Adam Shaw
v US spars with China over pro-WHO language in UN Security Council ceasefire resolution By feeds.foxnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 17:32:00 GMT A Chinese push to include support for the World Health Organization in a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a global ceasefire is putting the entire text in limbo – after strong U.S. opposition to the Beijing effort. Full Article 1388fe2e-387e-594c-8cfe-bce0c059aef3 fox-news/world/united-nations fox-news/world/world-health-organization fox-news/world/world-regions/china fox-news/health/infectious-disease/coronavirus fnc fnc/politics article Fox News Ben Evansky Adam Shaw
v Pelosi suggests moving DNC convention to 'gigantic' stadium By feeds.foxnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 17:32:38 GMT House Speaker Nancy Pelosi thinks the Democratic National Convention should be moved to a much bigger stadium so party faithful have space to social distance for Joe Biden's nomination. Full Article 4a52ab97-19b1-5127-ac70-ce42ed198592 fox-news/person/nancy-pelosi fox-news/politics/elections/democrats fox-news/politics/house-of-representatives/democrats fox-news/person/joe-biden fox-news/politics/elections/democratic-convention fox-news/politics/2020-presidential-election fnc fnc/politics article Fox News Marisa Schultz
v Georgia reports lowest number of COVID patients in a month By feeds.foxnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 22:49:52 GMT Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Saturday that the state had the lowest number of hospitalized coronavirus patients it has seen in just over a month. Full Article 3e75149b-194f-55a5-a777-0e3395b484b1 fox-news/health/infectious-disease/coronavirus fox-news/us/us-regions/southeast/georgia fox-news/health fox-news/politics fox-news/politics/elections/republicans fox-news/good-news fox-news/person/donald-trump fnc fnc/politics article Fox News Nick Givas
v Dr. Fauci plans to attend Senate hearing Tuesday amid 'modified' coronavirus quarantine By feeds.foxnews.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 01:41:01 GMT Dr. Anthony Fauci will testify at the Senate Health Committee Tuesday, Fox News has learned, while two other White House coronavirus task force members will attend the hearing via video conference after placing themselves in quarantine. Full Article 7d227cb0-6757-5932-b1d6-9db34e7de9a4 fox-news/person/anthony-fauci fox-news/health/infectious-disease/coronavirus fox-news/politics/executive/white-house fox-news/person/donald-trump fox-news/person/mike-pence fox-news/us/congress fnc fnc/politics article Fox News Melissa Leon Chad Pergram
v South Dakota Gov. Noem clashes with Sioux tribes over coronavirus checkpoints By feeds.foxnews.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 06:11:45 GMT South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has warned two tribal leaders she will take “necessary” legal action if the tribes don’t remove coronavirus checkpoints on their reservations. Full Article 467ba0be-d237-50b9-93f6-8aa2ab0f323d fox-news/person/kristi-noem fox-news/us/us-regions/midwest/south-dakota fox-news/health/infectious-disease/coronavirus fox-news/politics/state-and-local/governors fox-news/politics/state-and-local fox-news/us/personal-freedoms fnc fnc/politics article Fox News Brie Stimson
v Obama White House may have seen 'opportunity to disrupt' Flynn, ex-FBI official says By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 02:22:00 GMT It would be "abominable" if the Obama White House was behind the FBI's controversial interview of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, a former assistant director of intelligence for the bureau said Friday night. Full Article 96b4f08d-9e3c-50bc-b7fd-4484dafb61a3 fox-news/shows/ingraham-angle fox-news/media/fox-news-flash fox-news/media fox-news/tech/topics/fbi fox-news/person/barack-obama fox-news/news-events/russia-investigation fox-news/person/donald-trump fox-news/politics/executive/national-security fnc fnc/media article Fox News Victor Garcia
v Hannity blasts Obama, Schiff over Russia probe, Flynn case: 'This can't happen in America' By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 03:19:45 GMT Sean Hannity blasted the Obama administration and Democrats on Saturday night for the Russia investigation and targeting of former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn. Full Article 071b10e8-91b4-502f-b671-14527d239f5a fox-news/shows/watters-world fox-news/media/fox-news-flash fox-news/media fox-news/shows/hannity fox-news/news-events/russia-investigation fox-news/person/barack-obama fox-news/person/adam-schiff fnc fnc/media article Fox News Victor Garcia
v South Dakota Gov. Noem clashes with Sioux tribes over coronavirus checkpoints By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 06:11:45 GMT South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has warned two tribal leaders she will take “necessary” legal action if the tribes don’t remove coronavirus checkpoints on their reservations. Full Article 467ba0be-d237-50b9-93f6-8aa2ab0f323d fox-news/person/kristi-noem fox-news/us/us-regions/midwest/south-dakota fox-news/health/infectious-disease/coronavirus fox-news/politics/state-and-local/governors fox-news/politics/state-and-local fox-news/us/personal-freedoms fnc fnc/politics article Fox News Brie Stimson
v Mike Rowe says many Americans workers feel labeled 'nonessential' by coronavirus lockdowns By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 06:51:51 GMT The U.S. response to the coronavirus outbreak has led to "unintended consequences" -- including lost pride for many American workers, TV host Mike Rowe said Saturday night. Full Article d7a9bbc8-3739-5fa0-a1bc-5877509f226d fox-news/shows/watters-world fox-news/topic/fox-news-flash fox-news/media fnc fnc/media article Fox News Victor Garcia
v Global coronavirus infections top 4 million, US death toll passes 78,000 By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 08:21:43 GMT State leaders across the U.S. moved to expand testing for the new coronavirus, while lifting some restrictions on travel and business that have crippled the nation’s economy. Full Article c9ccc993-3d1a-51e6-a9df-f63f958b00e4 fox-news/health/infectious-disease/coronavirus fox-news/us/us-regions/northeast/new-york fox-news/us/us-regions/northeast/delaware fox-news/us/us-regions/northeast/connecticut fox-news/person/andrew-cuomo fox-news/politics/state-and-local/governors fox-news/newsedge/business fox-news/us/economy fnc fnc/health article The Wall Street Journal Ben Chapman Frances Yoon Nick Kostov
v Covid-19: आरोग्य सेतु एप दफ्तर जाने वालों के लिए है अनिवार्य By www.amarujala.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 12:52:22 +0530 केंद्रीय गृह मंत्रालय के एक वरिष्ठ अधिकारी ने शनिवार को कहा कि लॉकडाउन दिशानिर्देशों के अनुसार आरोग्य सेतु ऐप का उपयोग केवल सरकारी एवं निजी कर्मचारियों के लिए अनिवार्य किया गया है न कि घरेलू मदद के लिए। Full Article
v Vivo V19 स्मार्टफोन इस दिन भारतीय बाजार में लेगी एंट्री, जानें कीमत और फीचर्स By www.amarujala.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 09:26:51 +0530 चीनी स्मार्टफोन निर्माता कंपनी वीवो (Vivo) अपने लेटेस्ट डिवाइस वी19 (Vivo V19) को भारत में लॉन्च करने जा रही है। कंपनी के मुताबिक, इस स्मार्टफोन को 12 मई के दिन भारतीय बाजार में उतारा जाएगा। Full Article
v NBA's Adam Silver addresses resuming play, possibility of no fans into next season: report By feeds.foxnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 16:50:13 GMT NBA commissioner Adam Silver is cautiously optimistic about finishing out the season in a two-site plan which will likely not include fans -- a condition that may carry into next season. Full Article 93bf42c4-88c6-5721-ab76-9e0a99ea89f7 fox-news/sports/nba fox-news/health/infectious-disease/coronavirus fnc fnc/sports article Fox News Paulina Dedaj
v NHL possibly holding early draft leaves mixed feelings around hockey world By feeds.foxnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 20:21:53 GMT The NFL's successful virtual draft and uncertainty surrounding the resumption of hockey this season have raised the possibility of an NHL draft held before the Stanley Cup Final. Full Article 13b3ed9f-0f46-533f-b52a-1f45ea413b32 fox-news/sports/nhl fnc fnc/sports article Associated Press
v Falcons' Ricardo Allen says idea of practice is 'nerve-racking' By feeds.foxnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 20:36:36 GMT Ricardo Allen didn't budge when Georgia was one of the first states to open businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Full Article 6385a607-8dab-5af9-8c1f-921bdf533eed fox-news/sports/nfl/atlanta-falcons fnc fnc/sports article Associated Press
v Cavs' Kevin Love opens up about returning to training facility for the first time since coronavirus: report By feeds.foxnews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 21:09:47 GMT Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kevin Love was one of the few players to enter a training facility Friday as the NBA slowly begins its path back to normalcy but the five-time All-Star described his first day back on the court in almost two months as any but normal. Full Article 53b9b527-b49e-56b1-94b4-df048336b902 fox-news/sports/nba/cleveland-cavaliers fox-news/sports/nba fox-news/health/infectious-disease/coronavirus fnc fnc/sports article Fox News Paulina Dedaj
v California Democrat reacts to Tesla lawsuit, pullout plan over coronavirus rules: ‘F--- Elon Musk’ By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 04:35:17 GMT A California Democrat seemed less than upset Saturday night at the news that entrepreneur Elon Musk planned to pull much of his company Tesla – along with an unspecified number of jobs -- out of the state over coronavirus shutdown rules that have stalled the automaker's operations. Full Article 2ede860a-ff97-568d-ab27-452ebab73d33 fox-news/auto/make/tesla fox-news/person/elon-musk fox-news/us/us-regions/west/california fox-news/health/infectious-disease/coronavirus fox-news/politics/state-and-local fox-news/auto fox-news/us/economy/jobs fox-news/us/economy fox-news/newsedge/business fnc fnc/tech article Fox News Dom Calicchio
v Kitchen gadgets, safe sanitizing, COVID news and more: Tech Q&A By www.foxnews.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 08:00:59 GMT Each week, I receive tons of questions from my listeners about tech concerns, new products, and all things digital. Sometimes, choosing the most interesting questions to highlight is the best part of my job. Do you have a question you’d like to ask me? Full Article 445c87d9-5b5e-59ed-a0e0-2a39c1fb61ee fnc fnc/tech article The Kim Komando Show Kim Komando
v Coronavirus: हॉटस्पॉट में नहीं थमा संक्रमण, छह और पॉजीटिव, साइंलेंट करियर फैला रहे संक्रमण By www.amarujala.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 12:59:12 +0530 कानपुर के हॉट स्पॉट में कोरोना संक्रमण की चेन नहीं टूट रही है। साइलेंट करियर के संपर्क में आने से लोगों को कोरोना संक्रमण मिल रहा है। शनिवार को छह और रोगी कोरोना की चपेट में आ गए हैं। Full Article
v Shani Vakri 2020: 11 मई से शनि की उल्टी चाल से किस राशि पर कैसा पड़ेगा असर, जानें यहां By www.amarujala.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 12:16:48 +0530 शनि 11 मई, सोमवार से अगले 142 दिनों के लिए मार्गी से वक्री होने जा रहे हैं। Full Article
v Coronavirus in up: बांदा में कोरोना के दो नए मामले सामने आए, संक्रमितों की संख्या 23 हुई By www.amarujala.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 10:29:19 +0530 कोरोना संक्रमितों की संख्या तेजी से बढ़ती ही जा रही है। रविवार को पांच नमूनों की रिपोर्ट आई। जिसमें कोरोना के दो नए पॉजिटिव मामले सामने आए हैं। Full Article
v Coronavirus in up: उन्नाव में कोरोना का एक और मरीज मिला, मुंबई से आया था युवक, संक्रमितों की संख्या पांच हुई By www.amarujala.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 10:59:33 +0530 कोरोना वायरस देश भर में तेजी से पांव पसार रहा है। कोरोना मरीजों की संख्या लगातार बढ़ती ही जा रही है। यूपी के उन्नाव जिले में कोरोना का एक और मरीज मिला है। युवक नवाबगंज ब्लॉक के मिर्जापुर गांव का रहने वाला है। Full Article
v Coronavirus in UP: अहमदाबाद से आया इंजीनियर कोरोना पॉजिटिव निकला, फर्रुखाबाद में संक्रमितों की संख्या दो हुई By www.amarujala.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 12:07:34 +0530 फर्रुखाबाद जिले में एक और कोरोना पॉजिटिव केस सामने आया है। फतेहगढ़ के मोहल्ला भोलेपुर बेवर रोड बगिया निवासी इंजीनियर अहमदाबाद में टेक्सटाइल कंपनी में काम करते थे। वहां से वह चार मई को वापस आए थे। Full Article
v यूपी में कोरोना LIVE: झांसी में चार नए मरीज मिले, प्रदेश में कुल 3384 संक्रमित By www.amarujala.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 01:20:19 +0530 उत्तर प्रदेश में कोरोना संक्रमितों की संख्या लगातार बढ़ती जा रही है। Full Article
v All the Live Events, Movie Releases, and Productions Affected by the Coronavirus By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 15:15:00 -0400 A long list of broken dreams. Full Article coronavirus music tv movies gaming cancellations coronavirus news
v The Eddy Recap: Leaving on a Jet Plane? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 16:00:30 -0400 Elliot might be there, but he’s not there for Maja, at least not in the ways she needs him to be. Full Article tv tv recaps overnights recaps the eddy
v The 40 Best Horror Movies on Hulu Right Now By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 17:00:00 -0400 From Annihilation to The Conjuring to Tragedy Girls. Full Article movies horror horror movies hulu now streaming vulture picks vulture lists
v The Online By Jeeves Is Lousy, and Still Reminded Me How Much I Miss Theater By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 21:55:48 -0400 It made me realize I’ve even missed the eat-your-spinach parts of being a critic. Full Article theater streaming theater livestreams review theater review andrew lloyd webber by jeeves streaming theater review
v Kate McKinnon’s Zoom Graduation Ceremony Is a Virtual Hell in SNL Cold Open By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 00:14:06 -0400 You’ll never guess their keynote speaker. Full Article last night on late night comedy saturday night live snl cold open kate mckinnon alec baldwin coronavirus tv
v Learn How to Pick the Perfect Suit With Melissa Villaseñor’s John Mulaney on SNL By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 01:34:45 -0400 The MasterClass of our dreams. Full Article last night on late night comedy saturday night live snl tv chloe fineman melissa villaseñor john mulaney
v Dan Harmon Sort of Maybe Confirmed That a Community Movie Is in the Works By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 02:21:51 -0400 “Conversations are happening that people would want to be happening.” Full Article hello! let's celebrate that community six seasons and a move to netflix dan harmon netflix movies comedy
v Every Opinion on Adele’s Weight Loss Is Trash. Including This One. By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 16:05:14 GMT ReutersThis is a preview of our pop culture newsletter The Daily Beast’s Obsessed, written by senior entertainment reporter Kevin Fallon. To receive the full newsletter in your inbox each week, sign up for it here. This week: Adele shocked the world when she posted a photo on her birthday thanking fans for their nice messages and also taking the opportunity to honor front-line workers. In the photo, she had lost a significant amount of weight, and looked great. As if it was going to be left at that.Read more at The Daily Beast. Full Article Entertainment
v Lockdown Mutiny Brews in California After Guv Blames Nail Salon for Spreading COVID-19 By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 19:00:07 GMT Sergio Flores/AFP via GettyOn Thursday, the Professional Beauty Federation of California published a press release to the “Hot Topics” section of their website. It was titled: “Time to Sue Governor Newsom.” The release came in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement that the following morning, California would officially enter “Phase Two” of the “Safer at Home” order. Select businesses, from florists to clothing retailers to toy stores, would be able to resume operations in a limited capacity. But absent from the list of acceptable businesses: beauty salons. Newsom placed businesses like nail salons and barbershops in “Phase Three”—a stage he believes to be “months, not weeks” away. “This whole thing spread in the state of California—the first community spread—was in a nail salon,” Newsom said in a press conference last week, without providing details about the date or location of the case. “Many of the practices that you would otherwise expect of a modification were already in play in many of these salons, with people that had procedure masks on, were using gloves, and were advancing higher levels of sanitation.”Read more at The Daily Beast. Full Article U.S. News
v The Washington Post Just Published an Explosive Report About Jared Kushner and Russia By www.motherjones.com Published On :: Fri, 26 May 2017 23:30:24 +0000 Shoes continue to drop in the investigation into the Trump campaign's possible connections to Russia. Yesterday, speculation that the FBI was looking into the Trump family was confirmed by reports that Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and senior advisor, is under scrutiny. More details are emerging about the investigation. Enter the Washington Post: Jared Kushner and Russia’s ambassador to Washington discussed the possibility of setting up a secret and secure communications channel between Trump’s transition team and the Kremlin, using Russian diplomatic facilities in an apparent move to shield their pre-inauguration discussions from monitoring, according to U.S. officials briefed on intelligence reports. Ambassador Sergei Kislyak reported to his superiors in Moscow that Kushner, then President-elect Trump’s son-in-law and confidant, made the proposal during a meeting on Dec. 1 or 2 at Trump Tower, according to intercepts of Russian communications that were reviewed by U.S. officials. Kislyak said Kushner suggested using Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States for the communications. The meeting also was attended by Michael Flynn, Trump’s first national security adviser. This story hasn't been confirmed by other publications, so take it with the weight of a single report based on anonymous sources, but having said that: Yikes. Go read the whole thing. Full Article Politics
v Reuters: Jared Kushner Had Undisclosed Contact With Russian Envoy, Say Sources By www.motherjones.com Published On :: Sat, 27 May 2017 01:10:38 +0000 By Ned Parker and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and close adviser, Jared Kushner, had at least three previously undisclosed contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States during and after the 2016 presidential campaign, seven current and former U.S. officials told Reuters. Those contacts included two phone calls between April and November last year, two of the sources said. By early this year, Kushner had become a focus of the FBI investigation into whether there was any collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, said two other sources - one current and one former law enforcement official. Kushner initially had come to the attention of FBI investigators last year as they began scrutinizing former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s connections with Russian officials, the two sources said. While the FBI is investigating Kushner’s contacts with Russia, he is not currently a target of that investigation, the current law enforcement official said. The new information about the two calls as well as other details uncovered by Reuters shed light on when and why Kushner first attracted FBI attention and show that his contacts with Russian envoy Sergei Kislyak were more extensive than the White House has acknowledged. NBC News reported on Thursday that Kushner was under scrutiny by the FBI, in the first sign that the investigation, which began last July, has reached the president’s inner circle. The FBI declined to comment, while the Russian embassy said it was policy not to comment on individual diplomatic contacts. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Multiple attempts to obtain comment from Kushner or his representatives were unsuccessful. In March, the White House said that Kushner and Flynn had met Kislyak at Trump Tower in December to establish “a line of communication.” Kislyak also attended a Trump campaign speech in Washington in April 2016 that Kushner attended. The White House did not acknowledge any other contacts between Kushner and Russian officials. BACK CHANNEL Before the election, Kislyak’s undisclosed discussions with Kushner and Flynn focused on fighting terrorism and improving U.S.-Russian economic relations, six of the sources said. Former President Barack Obama imposed sanctions on Russia after it seized Crimea and started supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014. After the Nov. 8 election, Kushner and Flynn also discussed with Kislyak the idea of creating a back channel between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that could have bypassed diplomats and intelligence agencies, two of the sources said. Reuters was unable to determine how those discussions were conducted or exactly when they took place. Reuters was first to report last week that a proposal for a back channel was discussed between Flynn and Kislyak as Trump prepared to take office. The Washington Post was first to report on Friday that Kushner participated in that conversation. Separately, there were at least 18 undisclosed calls and emails between Trump associates and Kremlin-linked people in the seven months before the Nov. 8 presidential election, including six calls with Kislyak, sources told Reuters earlier this month. . Two people familiar with those 18 contacts said Flynn and Kushner were among the Trump associates who spoke to the ambassador by telephone. Reuters previously reported only Flynn’s involvement in those discussions. Six of the sources said there were multiple contacts between Kushner and Kislyak but declined to give details beyond the two phone calls between April and November and the post-election conversation about setting up a back channel. It is also not clear whether Kushner engaged with Kislyak on his own or with other Trump aides. HOW KUSHNER CAME UNDER SCRUTINY FBI scrutiny of Kushner began when intelligence reports of Flynn’s contacts with Russians included mentions of U.S. citizens, whose names were redacted because of U.S. privacy laws. This prompted investigators to ask U.S. intelligence agencies to reveal the names of the Americans, the current U.S. law enforcement official said. Kushner’s was one of the names that was revealed, the official said, prompting a closer look at the president’s son-in-law’s dealings with Kislyak and other Russians. FBI investigators are examining whether Russians suggested to Kushner or other Trump aides that relaxing economic sanctions would allow Russian banks to offer financing to people with ties to Trump, said the current U.S. law enforcement official. The head of Russian state-owned Vnesheconombank, Sergei Nikolaevich Gorkov, a trained intelligence officer whom Putin appointed, met Kushner at Trump Tower in December. The bank is under U.S. sanctions and was implicated in a 2015 espionage case in which one of its New York executives pleaded guilty to spying and was jailed. The bank said in a statement in March that it had met with Kushner along with other representatives of U.S. banks and business as part of preparing a new corporate strategy. Officials familiar with intelligence on contacts between the Russians and Trump advisers said that so far they have not seen evidence of any wrongdoing or collusion between the Trump camp and the Kremlin. Moreover, they said, nothing found so far indicates that Trump authorized, or was even aware of, the contacts. There may not have been anything improper about the contacts, the current law enforcement official stressed. Kushner offered in March to be interviewed by the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is also investigating Russia’s attempts to interfere in last year’s election. The contacts between Trump campaign associates and Russian officials during the presidential campaign coincided with what U.S. intelligence agencies concluded was a Kremlin effort through computer hacking, fake news and propaganda to boost Trump’s chances of winning the White House and damage his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. (Reporting by Ned Parker and Jonathan Landay; Additional reporting by John Walcott, Warren Strobel and Phil Stewart in Washington; Editing by Kevin Krolicki and Ross Colvin) Full Article Politics
v Darrell Issa Appears to Flee to Building Roof to Avoid Protesters By www.motherjones.com Published On :: Tue, 30 May 2017 19:26:46 +0000 Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) was seen taking refuge on the roof of his office building in Vista, California, Tuesday, taking photos of angry constituents who had gathered below to protest the congressman's voting record. The incident comes before a much-anticipated town hall meeting this Saturday at San Juan Hills High School, where the nine-term congressman is expected to face a hostile crowd because of his support for various Trump administration policies, including the Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare. Democrat Mike Levin, an environmental lawyer who recently announced his bid to challenge Issa in 2018, shared an image of the congressman appearing to avoid demonstrators on social media, where it was roundly mocked. Yes, this is really @DarrellIssa on the roof of his district office building. Too afraid to come speak with assembled constituents below. pic.twitter.com/wCYRjO8Ev8 — Mike Levin (@MikeLevinCA) May 30, 2017 Others saw his retreating to a rooftop as reminiscent of Michael Scott, Steve Carrell's character in The Office who memorably took to the roof in the episode titled "Safety Training." Sean Spicer: I hid in the bushes to avoid people! No one can top that! Darrell Issa: Hold my beer. https://t.co/txY2wpKBKI — Lily Herman (@lkherman) May 30, 2017 @MikeLevinCA @DarrellIssa You have to treat him like Michael Scott and tell him you have a present for him if he comes down. pic.twitter.com/SBkznuHDZ1 — JeremiahOrtega (@jortega8) May 30, 2017 Issa, on the other hand, described his trip to the roof a bit differently. Shortly after the criticism, he took to Twitter to offer this narrative. We recommend zooming in to take a closer look at the signs: Spent the morning talking with constituents gathered outside the office today, then popped upstairs to take a quick pic! pic.twitter.com/K2CFdenOIj — Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) May 30, 2017 For more on Levin and the fight to defeat Issa, the richest man in Congress, head to our profile here. Full Article Politics Congress Donald Trump
v A Federal Judge Slams Trump: "Even the 'Good Hombres' Are Not Safe" By www.motherjones.com Published On :: Tue, 30 May 2017 22:19:51 +0000 Today, a federal appeals court judge in California rebuked the Trump administration for its zealous deportation policy and for "ripping apart a family." Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that he had no power to stop the removal of Andres Magana Ortiz, but nevertheless took the time to write a short opinion blasting his deportation as "inhumane." "We are unable to prevent Magana Ortiz's removal, yet it is contrary to the values of this nation and its legal system," Reinhardt wrote in a six-page concurring opinion. "Indeed, the government's decision to remove Magana Ortiz diminishes not only our country but our courts, which are supposedly dedicated to the pursuit of justice…I concur as a judge, but as a citizen I do not." As Reinhardt detailed in his opinion, Magana Ortiz came to the United States from Mexico 28 years ago, built a family and a career, and paid his taxes. His wife and three children are American citizens. His only legal transgressions were two DUIs, the last one 14 years ago. "[E]ven the government conceded during the immigration proceedings that there was no question as to Magana Ortiz's good moral character," Reinhardt noted. Nonetheless, in March the government decided to deny Magana Ortiz's application for a stay of removal while he applied for legal residency status, a process that is still underway, and moved to deport him to Mexico. Reinhardt took particular aim at the fact, demonstrated repeatedly in the first months of Donald Trump's presidency, that the administration's immigration crackdown is not only targeting violent criminals. "President Trump has claimed that his immigration policies would target the 'bad hombres,'" he wrote. "The government's decision to remove Magana Ortiz shows that even the 'good hombres' are not safe. Magana Ortiz is by all accounts a pillar of his community and a devoted father and husband. It is difficult to see how the government's decision to expel him is consistent with the President's promise of an immigration system with 'a lot of heart.' I find no such compassion in the government's choice to deport Magana Ortiz." Read the full opinion below. Full Article Politics Donald Trump Immigration
v Nearly 8,000 New Voters Registered Ahead of Georgia Special Election By www.motherjones.com Published On :: Wed, 31 May 2017 17:11:23 +0000 A last-minute push to register voters in Georgia's 6th Congressional District before the June 20 special election has resulted in nearly 8,000 new voters in the district as of Tuesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. That's a big enough number to swing a close election, and polls thus far show the race within the margin of error. It's also an encouraging sign for Democrat Jon Ossoff, the insurgent candidate who topped the first round of voting in the solidly Republican district and is hoping that new voters can put him on top in the June 20 runoff. The election between Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel has been widely portrayed as a test of the Democratic resistance to President Donald Trump. In the conservative district, Ossoff is trying to peel off Republican voters disenchanted with Trump, particularly white women. But in order to win, Ossoff also needs strong support from the Democratic base and new voters. So when a federal judge reopened voter registration in the district through May 21, groups that target young, poor, and minority voters rushed into the district to register eligible voters. The 7,942 new voters include new registrants and people who moved into the district after the primary and transferred their registration. The district has more than 521,000 registered voters, so it's unclear whether another 7,942—or about 1.5 percent of that total—will make a difference. Ossoff fell 3,700 votes short of winning an outright majority in the primary on April 18. If the runoff remains a toss-up, these new voters could determine the winner. Full Article Politics Congress Donald Trump
v Trump Is Waiving His Own Ethics Rules to Allow Lobbyists to Make Policy By www.motherjones.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 22:26:21 +0000 It seems clear now why the Trump administration fought so hard to avoid making public the details of the waivers it granted to White House staffers who might otherwise have been in violation of the president's self-imposed ethics rules. They show that President Donald Trump, who made "drain the swamp" a campaign battle cry, has enlisted numerous swamp-dwellers—former lobbyists, consultants, corporate executives—to staff key positions in his White House and has granted them broad exemptions to work on issues directly related to their former jobs and clients. After repeatedly slamming DC lobbyists during the campaign, Trump used one of his first executive orders to lay out ethics rules for his new administration. The January 28 order barred Trump officials from working on issues related to their former employers for at least two years, and these rules applied not only to lobbyists, but to anyone who worked for a business or organization potentially affected by federal policy decisions. The prohibitions were not absolute: Waivers would be available in certain cases. The Trump administration initially balked when the Office of Government Ethics demanded the White House hand over the waivers it had granted. But after a standoff the administration relented late Wednesday and released about 14 waivers covering White House staffers. They make clear that Trump's ethics rules are remarkably flexible and that his top staffers don't need to worry too much about staying on the right side of them. On paper, Trump's rules are similar to those imposed by President Barack Obama, but it appears that Trump is far more willing to hand out exemptions. At this point in the Obama administration, just three White House staffers had been granted ethics waivers. So far, Trump has granted 14, including several that apply to multiple people. White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and adviser Kellyanne Conway were both granted waivers to deal with issues involving their previous employers. In the case of Priebus, this narrowly applies to the Republican National Committee. But Conway is now free to work on issues involving her ex-clients from her previous life as an operative and pollster—clients that included political campaigns, nonprofit activist groups, and corporations. Conway's relationships with these clients were murky to begin with; she was never required to disclose who she worked for. We do know that she repped virulently anti-immigration and anti-Muslim groups. The names of some of her corporate clients also have trickled out, including Major League Baseball, Hasbro, American Express, and Boeing. The waiver may have been granted to help smooth the way for Conway after evidence emerged that she continued to operate own her polling and consulting company even after she'd gone to work in the White House—a possible violation of conflict-of-interest laws that drew the attention of congressional Democrats who have begun probing her relationship with the company. Conway's waiver was not retroactive, but there is another that specifically allows White House employees to communicate freely with former employers and coworkers at media organizations—and applies back to January 20. Trump's executive order didn't simply prohibit any of his hires from working on matters relating to a former employer—it specifically covered "any meeting or communication relating to the performance of one's official duties." This means at least two of Trump's top aides, former Breitbart News chairman Steve Bannon and his assistant Julia Hahn, would be prohibited from chatting with their former colleagues at Breitbart about anything work-related—a rule that Bannon appears not to have followed. While not named, it seems likely that protecting the Breitbart alums from ethics complaints was the aim. Another takeaway from Trump's waivers is that they appear to be far less restrictive than Obama administration waivers. Many Obama waivers (there were only 10 total granted to White House employees during his administration) were very narrowly tailored. For example, James Jones, Obama's national security adviser, was granted a waiver to allow him to introduce Bill Clinton at an event for the Atlantic Council, even though Jones had previously worked for the group. John Brennan, at the time one of Obama's deputy national security advisers, had previously worked for The Analysis Company, and he was granted a waiver to use the company's data while investigating the so-called "Underwear Bomber" incident. Brennan was not cleared to talk to any of the company's employees, however. Trump's waivers, on the other hand, are broad. For instance, Trump granted a waiver to Michael Catanzaro, who is the president's most senior energy policy aide, allowing him to work freely on "broad policy matters and particular matters of general applicability relating to the Clean Power Plan, the WOTUS [Waters of the United States] rule, and methane regulations." Catanzaro worked as a registered lobbyist for several oil and gas companies as recently as January, which made the waiver necessary. On his most recent lobbying disclosure form—filed on behalf of one of his clients, natural gas company Noble Energy—Catanzaro wrote that he was working on "EPA and BLM's proposed and final regulations covering methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas facilities." Nearly identical language appears in his most recent lobbying disclosure on behalf of another natural gas company, Encana. In other words, Catanzaro is now making policy on the very issues he was paid by corporations to lobby on. There are no restrictions in Catanzaro's waiver relating to his previous clients. Another lobbyist turned Trump aide is Shahira Knight, who was previously employed as vice president of public policy for mutual fund giant Fidelity and now serves as Trump's special assistant for tax and retirement policy. Her waiver grants her permission to work on "matters of general applicability relating to tax, retirement and financial services issues." Fidelity's most recent lobbying report—filed while Knight ran its lobbying shop—lists the main issue areas targeted by the company's lobbyists: finance, retirement, banking, and taxes. While the Obama administration reluctantly granted waivers for narrow sets of circumstances, the Trump waivers appear to be written to carefully exempt the previous lobbying work done by White House aides. And this is just the beginning. The administration released only the waivers granted to White House employees—the release does not include waivers granted to administration officials who work for federal agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency or the Treasury Department. The White House will turn those waivers over to the Office of Government Ethics on Thursday, but it's not clear when they will be made public. Full Article Politics Donald Trump
v Democrats Are Setting Their Sights on "Putin's Favorite Congressman" By www.motherjones.com Published On :: Sat, 03 Jun 2017 10:00:08 +0000 Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) won his first election to the House of Representatives in 1988 with 64 percent of the vote. He's been reelected 13 times since then. And even though he walloped his most recent challenger by nearly 17 percentage points, some Democrats now think that this could be the final term for the Southern California conservative Politico has dubbed "Putin's favorite congressman." Protesters, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, assemble outside Rohrabacher's office every Tuesday at 1 p.m. "He has been our congressman for a long time," laments Diana Carey, vice chair of the Democratic Party of Orange County. "But because the district was predominantly Republican, my view is he's been on cruise control." Thanks to changing demographics in Orange County and newly fired-up liberal voters, Carey doesn't think Rohrabacher's seat is safe anymore. Recently, Rohrabacher has been swept up in the scandal over the possible collusion between President Donald Trump's campaign and Russia. Like Trump, Rohrabacher, who claims to once have lost a drunken arm-wrestling match with Vladimir Putin in the 1990s, believes the Russian government is being unfairly demonized. (During the 1980s, Rohrabacher was a staunch anti-communist who hung out with the anti-Soviet mujahedeen in Afghanistan.) He has shrugged off allegations of Moscow's meddling in the 2016 presidential election by pointing out that the United States is guilty of similar actions. In May, the New York Times reported that in 2012 the FBI warned Rohrabacher that Russian spies were trying to recruit him. Two days earlier, the Washington Post reported on a recording from June 2016 in which House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said, "There's two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump." (McCarthy assured Rohrabacher the remarks were meant as a joke.) In a 2016 conversation with Republican House members, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said, "There's two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump." Washington Post But of all the issues where Rohrabacher and Trump align, Russia may be the least pressing concern for the constituents who are rallying against him. So far, Rohrabacher has voted in line with Trump's positions more than 93 percent of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight, including voting in favor of the GOP health care bill that would effectively end Obamacare. Rohrabacher pushed hard for the bill, warning his GOP colleagues that letting Trump's first major legislative effort die would stunt the president's momentum. "If this goes down," he said in March, "we're going to be neutering our President Trump. You don't cut the balls off your bull and expect that's he's going to go out and get the job done." Health care is a hot-button issue in the 48th District, Carey says. "I've had conversations with people who are absolutely beside themselves, scared that they're going to lose coverage." While Rohrabacher won his last race in a near-landslide, his district went for Hillary Clinton in the presidential election. She won by a slim margin, but it was enough for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) to flag the district as a top target to flip in 2018. If the Democrats hope to best Rohrabacher in the midterms, they have a lot of work to do, says Justin Wallin, an Orange County-based pollster who runs an opinion research firm. "I don't think Dana has carved out a position as a fire-breathing supporter for any political personality except for Ronald Reagan," says Wallin, referring to Rohrabacher's early days working in the Reagan White House. "He tends to align quite naturally with that district in his perspectives, his persona, and his political views. His district views him as being independent, and when Dana takes a position on something that seems to be outside the mainstream, that can actually buttress his favorable regard." Two Democrats have announced bids to run against Rohrabacher. One is first-time candidate Harley Rouda, a businessman and attorney who gave $9,200 to Republican congressional candidates and nothing to Democrats between 1993 and 2007. The other is Boyd Roberts, a Laguna Beach real estate broker who has vowed to work to impeach Trump and who finished last among five candidates running for a school board seat in Hemet, California, in 2012. Both are attacking Rohrabacher over his sympathetic stance toward Russia. "The district will vote [Rohrabacher] out because i think there is something with the Russia thing. I think I can raise money off it," Roberts told the Los Angeles Times. In an online ad, Rouda calls Rohrabacher "one of the most entrenched members of Washington's establishment" and vows to get "tough on Russia" if he is elected. "They're both kind of waving the flag of the Russia thing, and I just don't think that's gonna get them over the line," says Wallin. Carey declined to comment on either candidate, though she says a third challenger will be announcing a bid this summer. Meanwhile, the DCCC hasn't thrown its backing behind anyone yet. "Barring something dramatic happening, I'd say he is far more safe than a number of other districts in the area," says Wallin. Yet Carey thinks that so long as the Democrats continue organizing with the same intensity they've shown so far, they can turn the district blue. "We have a lot of folks who said they never paid attention before, a lot of no-party-preference people who are really concerned about democracy," she says. When asked whether people in the district continue to be engaged, she responds, "So far I think the energy is staying. I tell people, 'This is not a sprint, it's a marathon.' But I think as long as Trump keeps tweeting, we'll keep having interest!" Full Article Politics Congress Donald Trump
v In 3 Months, 3 Immigrants Have Died at a Private Detention Center in California By www.motherjones.com Published On :: Fri, 02 Jun 2017 22:32:25 +0000 A Honduran immigrant held at a troubled detention center in California's high desert died Wednesday night while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Vincente Caceres-Maradiaga, 46, was receiving treatment for multiple medical conditions while waiting for an immigration court to decide whether to deport him, according an ICE statement. He collapsed as he was playing soccer at the detention facility and died while en route to a local hospital. Caceres-Maradiaga's death is the latest in a string of fatalities among detainees held at the Adelanto Detention Facility, which is operated by the GEO Group, the country's largest private prison company. Three people held at the facility have died in the last three months, including Osmar Epifanio Gonzalez-Gadba, a 32-year-old Nicaraguan found hanging in his cell on March 22, and Sergio Alonso Lopez, a Mexican man who died of internal bleeding on April 13 after spending more than two months in custody. Since it opened in 2011, Adelanto has faced accusations of insufficient medical care and poor conditions. In July 2015, 29 members of Congress sent a letter to ICE and federal inspectors requesting an investigation into health and safety concerns at the facility. They cited the 2012 death of Fernando Dominguez at the facility, saying it was the result of "egregious errors" by the center's medical staff, who did not give him proper medical examinations or allow him to receive timely off-site treatment. In November 2015, 400 detainees began a hunger strike, demanding better medical and dental care along with other reforms. Yet last year, the city of Adelanto, acting as a middleman between ICE and GEO, made a deal to extend the company's contract until 2021. The federal government guarantees GEO that a minimum of 975 immigrants will be held at the facility and pays $111 per detainee per day, according to California state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), who has fought to curtail private immigration detention. After that point, ICE only has to pay $50 per detainee per day—an incentive to fill more beds. Of California's four privately run immigration detention centers, three use local governments as intermediaries between ICE and private prison companies. On Tuesday, the California senate voted 26-13 to ban such contracts, supporting a bill that could potentially close Adelanto when its contract runs out in 2021. The Dignity Not Detention Act, authored by Lara, would prevent local governments from signing or extending contracts with private prison companies to detain immigrants starting in 2019. The bill would also require all in-state facilities that hold ICE detainees, including both private detention centers and public jails, to meet national standards for detention conditions—empowering state prosecutors to hold detention center operators accountable for poor conditions inside their facilities. An identical bill passed last year but was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown. "I have been troubled by recent reports detailing unsatisfactory conditions and limited access to counsel in private immigration detention facilities," Brown wrote in his veto message last September. But he deferred to the Department of Homeland Security, which was then reviewing its use of for-profit immigration detention. In that review, the Homeland Security Advisory Council rejected the ongoing use of private prison companies to detain immigrants, citing the "inferiority of the private prison model." Yet since President Donald Trump took office, the federal government has moved to expand private immigration detention, signing a $110 million deal with GEO in April to build the first new immigration detention center under Trump. Nine people have died in ICE custody in fiscal year 2017, which began October 1. Meanwhile, private prison stocks have nearly doubled in value since Election Day. Full Article Politics Immigration Prisons