Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Trump Just Torpedoed Obama's Signature Diplomatic Achievement, and Obama Just Responded
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a20527399/obama-response-iran-deal-trump/
"President Trump announced the United States was "pulling out" of the Iran nuclear agreement Tuesday. As many have pointed out, the more accurate language would be that the U.S. violated the agreement, since we abandoned it without cause. There is no evidence at this point that Iran was in violation of the agreement by restarting its nuclear program. Our closest European allies have said as much, denouncing Trump's decision and declaring they will remain in the accord."
"President Trump announced the United States was "pulling out" of the Iran nuclear agreement Tuesday. As many have pointed out, the more accurate language would be that the U.S. violated the agreement, since we abandoned it without cause. There is no evidence at this point that Iran was in violation of the agreement by restarting its nuclear program. Our closest European allies have said as much, denouncing Trump's decision and declaring they will remain in the accord."
Steve Schmidt Slams JCPOA Withdrawal As Foreign Policy 'Concocted In Fever Swamps Of Fox News'
Steve Schmidt Slams JCPOA Withdrawal As Foreign Policy 'Concocted In Fever Swamps Of Fox News':
"President Obama has condemned the action and offered some facts, but Trump doesn't need no stinkin' facts, and it is his fondest dream to piss on Obama and his legacy at every opportunity. Which brings me to MSNBC's panel on Nicolle Wallace's show, where Elise Jordan led things off by saying flatly that Trump was 'giving the middle finger to our closest allies.' Good call, Elise, and great lead-in to Steve Schmidt, who had a rant to offer. "With Donald Trump's unilateral abrogation of this international agreement he has achieved a remarkable result of giving the high ground on issues of national trust and credibility to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the world's number one leading exporter of terror, over the United States of America, isolating us from our allies on of all days V.E. day, the anniversary of the end of World War II," Schmidt thundered, "Where the United States in cooperation with its great allies saved the world from tyranny." Moving on to what Trump has done, he continued, "What he has shown is that the word of the United States in an international agreement means nothing. Secondly, the breaker of this agreement is not Iran, who has been compliant with it, but in fact our country, the United States of America." "And lastly, this moves the world closer to war," he warned. "This is what policy looks like when it's concocted in the fever swamps of Fox News and the alternate reality of Sinclair Broadcasting and the alternate reality of talk radio," he said. "Almost everything that the president represented was materially false." Everything Trump says is a lie. Everything he touches dies. Every Republican who still calls themselves a Republican is no better than the felon Don Blankenship, the p*ssygrabber Donald Trump, or the lying liars under indictment for selling our country out to Russians. And they can take their little dogs Fox News and Sinclair Broadcasting with them when we finally exile them to Gitmo."
"President Obama has condemned the action and offered some facts, but Trump doesn't need no stinkin' facts, and it is his fondest dream to piss on Obama and his legacy at every opportunity. Which brings me to MSNBC's panel on Nicolle Wallace's show, where Elise Jordan led things off by saying flatly that Trump was 'giving the middle finger to our closest allies.' Good call, Elise, and great lead-in to Steve Schmidt, who had a rant to offer. "With Donald Trump's unilateral abrogation of this international agreement he has achieved a remarkable result of giving the high ground on issues of national trust and credibility to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the world's number one leading exporter of terror, over the United States of America, isolating us from our allies on of all days V.E. day, the anniversary of the end of World War II," Schmidt thundered, "Where the United States in cooperation with its great allies saved the world from tyranny." Moving on to what Trump has done, he continued, "What he has shown is that the word of the United States in an international agreement means nothing. Secondly, the breaker of this agreement is not Iran, who has been compliant with it, but in fact our country, the United States of America." "And lastly, this moves the world closer to war," he warned. "This is what policy looks like when it's concocted in the fever swamps of Fox News and the alternate reality of Sinclair Broadcasting and the alternate reality of talk radio," he said. "Almost everything that the president represented was materially false." Everything Trump says is a lie. Everything he touches dies. Every Republican who still calls themselves a Republican is no better than the felon Don Blankenship, the p*ssygrabber Donald Trump, or the lying liars under indictment for selling our country out to Russians. And they can take their little dogs Fox News and Sinclair Broadcasting with them when we finally exile them to Gitmo."
'Worst Mistake I Ever Made': Union Support Nosedives as Workers Express Regret for Trump Votes
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/05/04/worst-mistake-i-ever-made-union-support-nosedives-workers-express-regret-trump-votes
"Many American union workers who voted for President Donald Trump in the 2016 election are increasingly beginning to regret their decision—and realize that Trump has been firmly on the side of the rich all along."
"Many American union workers who voted for President Donald Trump in the 2016 election are increasingly beginning to regret their decision—and realize that Trump has been firmly on the side of the rich all along."
The Art of the Regime Change
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/05/08/the-art-of-the-regime-change/
"As long expected, Donald Trump has bowed to his ego, his petulant envy of Barack Obama, his hard-line donors, his new set of hawkish advisors, and above all his own ignorance and walked away from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the international agreement that prevents Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Together with his foolish decision to abandon the Trans-Pacific Partnership, this is likely to be his most consequential foreign-policy blunder yet. It is important to understand what’s really going on here. Trump’s decision is not based on a desire to keep Iran from getting a nuclear bomb; if that were the case, it would make much more sense to stay firmly committed to the deal and eventually negotiate to make it permanent. After all, both the International Atomic Energy Agency (which monitors and inspects Iran’s facilities) and U.S. intelligence agree that Iran has been in full compliance with the JCPOA since it was signed. Indeed, as Peter Beinart points out, it is the United States that has arguably been failing to live up to its own commitments. Nor was Trump’s decision motivated by a desire to counter Iran’s various regional activities, such as its support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon. If that were his goal, the sensible course of action would have been to stay in the deal (which keeps Iran from going nuclear) and to line up other countries to join the United States and pressure Iran on these matters of concern. Not only will Trump find it impossible to assemble the same multinational coalition that produced the JCPOA, but Iran is going to be doubly reluctant to negotiate with the United States now that Trump has shown that America’s word simply cannot be trusted."
"As long expected, Donald Trump has bowed to his ego, his petulant envy of Barack Obama, his hard-line donors, his new set of hawkish advisors, and above all his own ignorance and walked away from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the international agreement that prevents Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Together with his foolish decision to abandon the Trans-Pacific Partnership, this is likely to be his most consequential foreign-policy blunder yet. It is important to understand what’s really going on here. Trump’s decision is not based on a desire to keep Iran from getting a nuclear bomb; if that were the case, it would make much more sense to stay firmly committed to the deal and eventually negotiate to make it permanent. After all, both the International Atomic Energy Agency (which monitors and inspects Iran’s facilities) and U.S. intelligence agree that Iran has been in full compliance with the JCPOA since it was signed. Indeed, as Peter Beinart points out, it is the United States that has arguably been failing to live up to its own commitments. Nor was Trump’s decision motivated by a desire to counter Iran’s various regional activities, such as its support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon. If that were his goal, the sensible course of action would have been to stay in the deal (which keeps Iran from going nuclear) and to line up other countries to join the United States and pressure Iran on these matters of concern. Not only will Trump find it impossible to assemble the same multinational coalition that produced the JCPOA, but Iran is going to be doubly reluctant to negotiate with the United States now that Trump has shown that America’s word simply cannot be trusted."
Franklin Graham’s Astonishing Ungodly Hypocrisy @alternet
Franklin Graham’s Astonishing Ungodly Hypocrisy @alternet:
"Franklin Graham in 1998 condemned President Bill Clinton's sins. In 2018, he's defending President Donald Trump's."
"Franklin Graham in 1998 condemned President Bill Clinton's sins. In 2018, he's defending President Donald Trump's."
The Financial Hardships of Trump’s Friends
The Financial Hardships of Trump’s Friends:
"In reality, Trumponomics is a thin veneer of an excuse for giving America’s rich—already richer than ever—whatever they want, while sticking it to everyone else."
"In reality, Trumponomics is a thin veneer of an excuse for giving America’s rich—already richer than ever—whatever they want, while sticking it to everyone else."
As Wisconsin’s and Minnesota’s lawmakers took divergent paths, so did their economies: Since 2010, Minnesota’s economy has performed far better for working families than Wisconsin’s
As Wisconsin’s and Minnesota’s lawmakers took divergent paths, so did their economies: Since 2010, Minnesota’s economy has performed far better for working families than Wisconsin’s:
"Since the 2010 election of Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin and Governor Mark Dayton in Minnesota, lawmakers in these two neighboring states have enacted vastly different policy agendas. Governor Walker and the Wisconsin state legislature have pursued a highly conservative agenda centered on cutting taxes, shrinking government, and weakening unions. In contrast, Minnesota under Governor Dayton has enacted a slate of progressive priorities: raising the minimum wage, strengthening safety net programs and labor standards, and boosting public investments in infrastructure and education, financed through higher taxes (largely on the wealthy). Because of the proximity and many similarities of these two states, comparing economic performance in the Badger State (WI) versus the Gopher State (MN) provides a compelling case study for assessing which agenda leads to better outcomes for working people and their families. Now, seven years removed from when each governor took office, there is ample data to assess which state’s economy—and by extension, which set of policies—delivered more for the welfare of its residents. The results could not be more clear: by virtually every available measure, Minnesota’s recovery has outperformed Wisconsin’s."
"Since the 2010 election of Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin and Governor Mark Dayton in Minnesota, lawmakers in these two neighboring states have enacted vastly different policy agendas. Governor Walker and the Wisconsin state legislature have pursued a highly conservative agenda centered on cutting taxes, shrinking government, and weakening unions. In contrast, Minnesota under Governor Dayton has enacted a slate of progressive priorities: raising the minimum wage, strengthening safety net programs and labor standards, and boosting public investments in infrastructure and education, financed through higher taxes (largely on the wealthy). Because of the proximity and many similarities of these two states, comparing economic performance in the Badger State (WI) versus the Gopher State (MN) provides a compelling case study for assessing which agenda leads to better outcomes for working people and their families. Now, seven years removed from when each governor took office, there is ample data to assess which state’s economy—and by extension, which set of policies—delivered more for the welfare of its residents. The results could not be more clear: by virtually every available measure, Minnesota’s recovery has outperformed Wisconsin’s."
The Supreme Court is poised to make forced arbitration nearly inescapable
The Supreme Court is poised to make forced arbitration nearly inescapable
"The Supreme Court will soon decide whether employers can lawfully require workers to sign mandatory arbitration agreements that include class and collective action waivers. A ruling in NLRB v. Murphy Oil USA, Inc., Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, and Ernst & Young LLP v. Morris will have significant impacts on working people. If the Court sides with employers and the Trump administration, it is likely that the majority of workers in this country will be required, as a condition of employment, to sign away their right to pursue workplace disputes on a collective or class basis. In fact, available data suggest that it may take only six years for more than 80 percent of workplaces to adopt mandatory arbitration with class and collective action waivers."
"The Supreme Court will soon decide whether employers can lawfully require workers to sign mandatory arbitration agreements that include class and collective action waivers. A ruling in NLRB v. Murphy Oil USA, Inc., Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, and Ernst & Young LLP v. Morris will have significant impacts on working people. If the Court sides with employers and the Trump administration, it is likely that the majority of workers in this country will be required, as a condition of employment, to sign away their right to pursue workplace disputes on a collective or class basis. In fact, available data suggest that it may take only six years for more than 80 percent of workplaces to adopt mandatory arbitration with class and collective action waivers."
Patience and Secrecy in the Kochs' Complex Conspiracy
Patience and Secrecy in the Kochs' Complex Conspiracy:
"In 1933, a handful of wealthy Wall Streeters were upset that the newly elected president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, had dared to tax the rich in order to fund programs to lessen the painful poverty people were experiencing due to the Great Depression. They were so upset that they came up with a ridiculous plan to overthrow Roosevelt and install a military government. Due to their own ineptitude and hubris, their plan failed, and important poverty-busting programs of the New Deal like Social Security, the Works Progress Administration and the Tennessee Valley Authority put people to work, pulled them out of desperate poverty and propelled the country into the 20th century. It's tempting to brush off 1933's bumbling fat cats — we can just picture them cloistered in their posh private club, smoking $100 cigars, grumping about Roosevelt and whispering about hiring a private army to overthrow the whole damn democratic process. However, our nation's common good is constantly under attack from plutocrats, kleptocrats and kakistocrats who want to line their pockets at the expense of workaday Americans. But while the 1933 plot was hairbrained, their plutocratic intent is no laughing matter. Their presumption of class privilege — the warped idea that their great wealth entitled them to rule over and even impoverish the many — is not unique. The Wall Street Putsch died and was buried in 1934, but it is just one manifestation of a deadly serious social disease that has infected the history of democratic struggles. And now, that sickness has grown more virulent, confronting us in the form of a complex, sophisticated web of efforts funded by brothers Charles and David Koch and their billionaire buddies who share the same set of extreme, kleptocratic beliefs that guided last century's class-war militants"
"In 1933, a handful of wealthy Wall Streeters were upset that the newly elected president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, had dared to tax the rich in order to fund programs to lessen the painful poverty people were experiencing due to the Great Depression. They were so upset that they came up with a ridiculous plan to overthrow Roosevelt and install a military government. Due to their own ineptitude and hubris, their plan failed, and important poverty-busting programs of the New Deal like Social Security, the Works Progress Administration and the Tennessee Valley Authority put people to work, pulled them out of desperate poverty and propelled the country into the 20th century. It's tempting to brush off 1933's bumbling fat cats — we can just picture them cloistered in their posh private club, smoking $100 cigars, grumping about Roosevelt and whispering about hiring a private army to overthrow the whole damn democratic process. However, our nation's common good is constantly under attack from plutocrats, kleptocrats and kakistocrats who want to line their pockets at the expense of workaday Americans. But while the 1933 plot was hairbrained, their plutocratic intent is no laughing matter. Their presumption of class privilege — the warped idea that their great wealth entitled them to rule over and even impoverish the many — is not unique. The Wall Street Putsch died and was buried in 1934, but it is just one manifestation of a deadly serious social disease that has infected the history of democratic struggles. And now, that sickness has grown more virulent, confronting us in the form of a complex, sophisticated web of efforts funded by brothers Charles and David Koch and their billionaire buddies who share the same set of extreme, kleptocratic beliefs that guided last century's class-war militants"
Friday, May 4, 2018
Trump’s lies about Stormy Daniels and his lawyers are a reminder: never trust this White House
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/5/3/17312558/trump-lie-stormy-daniels-cohen-giuliani
"Giuliani’s admission was shocking because it revealed the lie: Trump’s April claim that he knew nothing about Cohen’s $130,000 payment to Daniels. Compared to that revelation — which has obvious consequences for the ongoing legal battle between Daniels and Trump — the lawyer shake-up and the lies it revealed may seem like small ball. But that’s the point: The president and his administration lie about things big and small alike, simply because they can."
"Giuliani’s admission was shocking because it revealed the lie: Trump’s April claim that he knew nothing about Cohen’s $130,000 payment to Daniels. Compared to that revelation — which has obvious consequences for the ongoing legal battle between Daniels and Trump — the lawyer shake-up and the lies it revealed may seem like small ball. But that’s the point: The president and his administration lie about things big and small alike, simply because they can."
Donald Trump Has Managed To Tell 3,001 Lies As President. Here Are Five Of His Best
https://www.esquire.com/uk/latest-news/a20111768/donald-trump-has-managed-to-tell-3001-lies-as-president-here-are-five-of-his-best/
"he's managed to hit 3,000 false or misleading public statements in the 466 days since he took the oath of office! Congrats Donny. That faint popping sound you can hear is either congratulatory champagne corks or beleaguered political hacks' craniums exploding. That figure includes untrue statements, claims that aren't backed up by facts and changes of position on events or policies which aren't acknowledged as such. According to the Washington Post, which has been diligently noting down every single falsehood along with The Fact Checker's database, Trump's 3,001 untrue claims have come at a quicker rate lately. In the first 100 days, he told 4.9 lies, whereas in the last two months he's told an average of nine a day. It isn't just the frequency of his lying that's a surprise either - it's the repetition of old lies. The Washington Post found Trump repeated 113 untrue claims at least three times apiece."
"he's managed to hit 3,000 false or misleading public statements in the 466 days since he took the oath of office! Congrats Donny. That faint popping sound you can hear is either congratulatory champagne corks or beleaguered political hacks' craniums exploding. That figure includes untrue statements, claims that aren't backed up by facts and changes of position on events or policies which aren't acknowledged as such. According to the Washington Post, which has been diligently noting down every single falsehood along with The Fact Checker's database, Trump's 3,001 untrue claims have come at a quicker rate lately. In the first 100 days, he told 4.9 lies, whereas in the last two months he's told an average of nine a day. It isn't just the frequency of his lying that's a surprise either - it's the repetition of old lies. The Washington Post found Trump repeated 113 untrue claims at least three times apiece."
Paul Ryan warns that if Dems win, they’ll hold Trump accountable
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/paul-ryan-warns-if-dems-win-theyll-hold-trump-accountable
"House Speaker Paul Ryan warned that Democratic gains in November’s congressional elections could make it impossible to get anything accomplished and expose President Donald Trump’s administration to more aggressive oversight. Should Republicans lose control of either the House or Senate, “you’ll have gridlock, you’ll have subpoenas,” with the whole legislative system “shutting down,” Ryan said Wednesday in Beverly Hills, California, at the annual Milken Institute Global Conference. This is not a good argument. Just at face value, I don’t imagine many political observers would say the legislative process has worked efficiently and effectively since the GOP took control of the levers of federal power – they’ve passed one big bill, and they did so in a reckless way, rife with mistakes and abuses – which makes dire warnings about “gridlock” difficult to take seriously. For that matter, there have been plenty of times in American history in which the parties have shared power in D.C. For Ryan to assume that the entire system would “shut down” if Republicans had to compromise with Democrats is a mistake. But it’s use of the word “subpoenas” that jumped out at me. What the retiring House Speaker seemed to suggest was that Democrats, if given any meaningful authority in Congress, would take steps to hold the president accountable for his actions. Or put another way, Ryan wants voters to back Republican candidates in order to ensure that the pro-Trump cover-up can continue on Capitol Hill. “Vote GOP in 2018,” the slogan effectively goes, “We’re against oversight and accountability for Republican presidents"."
"House Speaker Paul Ryan warned that Democratic gains in November’s congressional elections could make it impossible to get anything accomplished and expose President Donald Trump’s administration to more aggressive oversight. Should Republicans lose control of either the House or Senate, “you’ll have gridlock, you’ll have subpoenas,” with the whole legislative system “shutting down,” Ryan said Wednesday in Beverly Hills, California, at the annual Milken Institute Global Conference. This is not a good argument. Just at face value, I don’t imagine many political observers would say the legislative process has worked efficiently and effectively since the GOP took control of the levers of federal power – they’ve passed one big bill, and they did so in a reckless way, rife with mistakes and abuses – which makes dire warnings about “gridlock” difficult to take seriously. For that matter, there have been plenty of times in American history in which the parties have shared power in D.C. For Ryan to assume that the entire system would “shut down” if Republicans had to compromise with Democrats is a mistake. But it’s use of the word “subpoenas” that jumped out at me. What the retiring House Speaker seemed to suggest was that Democrats, if given any meaningful authority in Congress, would take steps to hold the president accountable for his actions. Or put another way, Ryan wants voters to back Republican candidates in order to ensure that the pro-Trump cover-up can continue on Capitol Hill. “Vote GOP in 2018,” the slogan effectively goes, “We’re against oversight and accountability for Republican presidents"."
Watch: Supercut of all the times Sarah Sanders lied about Stormy Daniels hush-money payout
Watch: Supercut of all the times Sarah Sanders lied about Stormy Daniels hush-money payout:
"The jig is up, thanks to Rudy Giuliani. After months of lying about what the president knew and when he knew it with regards to the hush-money pay-out to Stormy Daniels, the president’s new lawyer went on Fox News last night and admitted that Trump knew about the payment by his attorney Michael Cohen to the porn star."
"The jig is up, thanks to Rudy Giuliani. After months of lying about what the president knew and when he knew it with regards to the hush-money pay-out to Stormy Daniels, the president’s new lawyer went on Fox News last night and admitted that Trump knew about the payment by his attorney Michael Cohen to the porn star."
White House spokesperson: 'We give the very best information that we have' (i.e. lies)
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/5/3/1761788/-White-House-spokesperson-We-give-the-very-best-information-that-we-have-i-e-lies
"So about all that lying: Reporters were curious why anyone should believe her or Trump for that matter, who totally lied aboard Air Force One in March when he said he knew nothing about the payment. "When the president, or the White House, shows what appears to be a blatant disregard for the truth, how are the American people to trust or believe what is said here or what is said by the president?" asked Jon Karl. Sanders again said: "We give the very best information that we have at the time." Apparently the "best information" is lot like Trump’s "best people," many of whom have turned out to be corrupt, power-hungry, incompetent, thieves. Of course, the president didn't give the best information on Air Force One. He lied. And when Sanders was asked directly about the lie Trump peddled on Air Force One that he didn't know about payments, Sanders appeared to lie again."
"So about all that lying: Reporters were curious why anyone should believe her or Trump for that matter, who totally lied aboard Air Force One in March when he said he knew nothing about the payment. "When the president, or the White House, shows what appears to be a blatant disregard for the truth, how are the American people to trust or believe what is said here or what is said by the president?" asked Jon Karl. Sanders again said: "We give the very best information that we have at the time." Apparently the "best information" is lot like Trump’s "best people," many of whom have turned out to be corrupt, power-hungry, incompetent, thieves. Of course, the president didn't give the best information on Air Force One. He lied. And when Sanders was asked directly about the lie Trump peddled on Air Force One that he didn't know about payments, Sanders appeared to lie again."
Health Policy Expert Says Republicans Have 'Secret' Plan to Repeal Obamacare @alternet
Health Policy Expert Says Republicans Have 'Secret' Plan to Repeal Obamacare @alternet:
"former Senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum is leading a group of lawmakers and donors to push for repeal."
"former Senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum is leading a group of lawmakers and donors to push for repeal."
McConnell remaking the judiciary in Trump's image for the next generation
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/4/27/1760412/-McConnell-remaking-the-judiciary-in-Trump-s-image-for-the-next-generation
"In addition to those 15 appeals court confirmations, McConnell's pushed through 17 to district courts. And, of course, Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court—all of them in the image of Antonin Scalia, or worse. Consider Wendy Vitter who seems to believe that birth control kills, abortion causes cancer, and that schools should not have been desegrated. In fact, four considered in committee this week—Alan D. Albright, Thomas S. Kleeh, Peter J. Phipps, and Michael J. Truncale—did not raise their hands when Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked which of them believe Brown v. Board of Education was correctly decided. Before leaving for the next week on Thursday, McConnell filed for cloture on six more nominees, all for appeals courts. These votes will occur soon after they return to work on May 7."
"In addition to those 15 appeals court confirmations, McConnell's pushed through 17 to district courts. And, of course, Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court—all of them in the image of Antonin Scalia, or worse. Consider Wendy Vitter who seems to believe that birth control kills, abortion causes cancer, and that schools should not have been desegrated. In fact, four considered in committee this week—Alan D. Albright, Thomas S. Kleeh, Peter J. Phipps, and Michael J. Truncale—did not raise their hands when Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked which of them believe Brown v. Board of Education was correctly decided. Before leaving for the next week on Thursday, McConnell filed for cloture on six more nominees, all for appeals courts. These votes will occur soon after they return to work on May 7."
Most Americans believe Russia has 'kompromat' on Trump
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/4/27/1760386/-Most-Americans-believe-Russia-has-kompromat-on-Trump
"Just think about that for a second: Most Americans now believe Russia has the type of damaging information, or 'kompromat,' that could be used to effectively turn Trump into a spy for them or, at the very least, get him to do their bidding. In other words, most Americans think Russia has the ability to potentially pressure the president of the United States to act against the best interests of the United States."
"Just think about that for a second: Most Americans now believe Russia has the type of damaging information, or 'kompromat,' that could be used to effectively turn Trump into a spy for them or, at the very least, get him to do their bidding. In other words, most Americans think Russia has the ability to potentially pressure the president of the United States to act against the best interests of the United States."
Before It Stopped Cooperating With Mueller, Ukraine Hired GOP Lobbyists. Hmm.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/05/ukraine-hired-gop-firm-obstructed-mueller-investigation.html
"(Ukraine had previously supplied investigators with important evidence, like incriminating details of Paul Manafort’s secret payments from a Russian-backed party.) The weapons sale was the stated reason for this turnabout. I suggested the weapons sale might have been, at least in part, a bribe intended to induce Ukraine to withhold cooperation from Mueller. Natasha Bertrand reports out more details on how the deal went down in Ukraine. The Ukrainians hired a Republican lobbying firm: The Ukrainian government hired Haley Barbour, former Republican National Committee chairman and founding partner of BGR Group, to lobby in the United States just after Trump was elected, according to foreign lobbying registration documents filed with the Justice Department. Ed Rogers, the chairman of BGR, was hired for the lobbying work, too. The firm has ties to this White House: The Trump transition team held meetings with lobbyists at BGR Group’s offices, according to the Washington Post. And Rogers is “as inner circle Jeff Sessions as they come,” a source with knowledge of their relationship told me on condition of anonymity, referring to Attorney General Jeff Sessions. (Both men are from Alabama.) BGR also worked with Corey Lewandowski. Ed Rogers! Readers of this space will recognize Rogers as America’s Worst Columnist. In addition to his inability either to present a coherent argument or to write passable prose, Rogers, who somehow has a perch at the Washington Post op-ed page, is also a working lobbyist who brings massive, undisclosed conflicts of interest to virtually every topic he attempts to cover. Rogers has repeatedly argued (or, to put it more accurately, asserted) that Trump has not colluded with the Russian government. I don’t recall any of his columns mentioning the fact that he was lobbying on behalf of the Ukrainian government. And of course, this relationship would seem to make it all the more likely that the arms deal involved a quid pro quo."
"(Ukraine had previously supplied investigators with important evidence, like incriminating details of Paul Manafort’s secret payments from a Russian-backed party.) The weapons sale was the stated reason for this turnabout. I suggested the weapons sale might have been, at least in part, a bribe intended to induce Ukraine to withhold cooperation from Mueller. Natasha Bertrand reports out more details on how the deal went down in Ukraine. The Ukrainians hired a Republican lobbying firm: The Ukrainian government hired Haley Barbour, former Republican National Committee chairman and founding partner of BGR Group, to lobby in the United States just after Trump was elected, according to foreign lobbying registration documents filed with the Justice Department. Ed Rogers, the chairman of BGR, was hired for the lobbying work, too. The firm has ties to this White House: The Trump transition team held meetings with lobbyists at BGR Group’s offices, according to the Washington Post. And Rogers is “as inner circle Jeff Sessions as they come,” a source with knowledge of their relationship told me on condition of anonymity, referring to Attorney General Jeff Sessions. (Both men are from Alabama.) BGR also worked with Corey Lewandowski. Ed Rogers! Readers of this space will recognize Rogers as America’s Worst Columnist. In addition to his inability either to present a coherent argument or to write passable prose, Rogers, who somehow has a perch at the Washington Post op-ed page, is also a working lobbyist who brings massive, undisclosed conflicts of interest to virtually every topic he attempts to cover. Rogers has repeatedly argued (or, to put it more accurately, asserted) that Trump has not colluded with the Russian government. I don’t recall any of his columns mentioning the fact that he was lobbying on behalf of the Ukrainian government. And of course, this relationship would seem to make it all the more likely that the arms deal involved a quid pro quo."
Recognizing Powerful Interests Running the Joint, More Than 75% of Americans Back Campaign Finance Reform
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/04/27/recognizing-powerful-interests-running-joint-more-75-americans-back-campaign-finance
"Amidst a widely-shared recognition that the country is effectively being run by powerful special interests, a new poll out Friday shows that more than 3 out of 4 Americans now support serious campaign finance reform as a way to mitigate the corrupting influence of money in the nation's democracy."
"Amidst a widely-shared recognition that the country is effectively being run by powerful special interests, a new poll out Friday shows that more than 3 out of 4 Americans now support serious campaign finance reform as a way to mitigate the corrupting influence of money in the nation's democracy."
After Mulvaney Admitted Selling Access to Lobbyists in Congress, Warren Wants to Know If He's Doing the Same at CFPB
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/04/27/after-mulvaney-admitted-selling-access-lobbyists-congress-warren-wants-know-if-hes
"White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney has already admitted that he sold access to lobbyists as a member of Congress, but now Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is demanding to know whether he's doing the same as acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), given that "almost every major decision he's made" at the agency has rewarded his campaign donors."
"White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney has already admitted that he sold access to lobbyists as a member of Congress, but now Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is demanding to know whether he's doing the same as acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), given that "almost every major decision he's made" at the agency has rewarded his campaign donors."
Sen. Warren grills Mulvaney on trading access for campaign cash
https://thinkprogress.org/warren-confronts-mulvaney-on-lobbyist-meetings-5e52fef49d1b/
"Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is demanding answers from the Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Mick Mulvaney. Mulvaney, who also serves as the Director of the Office of Budget and Management, has been under fire in recent days after it was reported he gave the swampiest speech imaginable before a group of banking executives Tuesday. “What you do here matters,” he said, speaking at the American Bankers Association conference in Washington, D.C. “We had a hierarchy in my office in Congress. If you were a lobbyist who never gave us money, I didn’t talk to you. If you were a lobbyist who gave us money, I might talk to you. If you came from back home and sat in my lobby, I talked to you without exception regardless of the financial contributions.” Yes, that is a former congressman and current member of the president’s Cabinet admitting that lobbyists who failed to donate to his campaign would have no chance of meeting with him."
"Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is demanding answers from the Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Mick Mulvaney. Mulvaney, who also serves as the Director of the Office of Budget and Management, has been under fire in recent days after it was reported he gave the swampiest speech imaginable before a group of banking executives Tuesday. “What you do here matters,” he said, speaking at the American Bankers Association conference in Washington, D.C. “We had a hierarchy in my office in Congress. If you were a lobbyist who never gave us money, I didn’t talk to you. If you were a lobbyist who gave us money, I might talk to you. If you came from back home and sat in my lobby, I talked to you without exception regardless of the financial contributions.” Yes, that is a former congressman and current member of the president’s Cabinet admitting that lobbyists who failed to donate to his campaign would have no chance of meeting with him."
Manafort just lost a case that would have undermined Mueller’s probe
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/4/27/17291900/manafort-mueller-civil-case-lose-berman-jackson
"Manafort still has to face 44 charges and a combined 305 years of jail time."
"Manafort still has to face 44 charges and a combined 305 years of jail time."
Turns out Don Jr.’s meeting at Trump Tower was with a Russian agent
https://thinkprogress.org/don-jr-met-with-russian-informant-1a0e83efc586/
"The Russian lawyer whom Donald Trump Jr. hosted during his infamous meeting at Trump Tower on June 9, 2016 — Natalia Veselnitskaya — has insisted she is not Kremlin spy. The Trump campaign’s allies bought this assertion hook, line, and sinker. But according to newly-released emails from a Russian watchdog group, as well as Veselnitskaya’s own admission in a forthcoming television interview, she has been an informant for the Russian government for years. “I am a lawyer, and I am an informant,” she said in an interview with NBC News to be broadcast on Friday, according to the New York Times. “Since 2013, I have been actively communicating with the office of the Russian prosecutor general"."
"The Russian lawyer whom Donald Trump Jr. hosted during his infamous meeting at Trump Tower on June 9, 2016 — Natalia Veselnitskaya — has insisted she is not Kremlin spy. The Trump campaign’s allies bought this assertion hook, line, and sinker. But according to newly-released emails from a Russian watchdog group, as well as Veselnitskaya’s own admission in a forthcoming television interview, she has been an informant for the Russian government for years. “I am a lawyer, and I am an informant,” she said in an interview with NBC News to be broadcast on Friday, according to the New York Times. “Since 2013, I have been actively communicating with the office of the Russian prosecutor general"."
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