thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-09--GOP Strategist Rick Wilson Torches Republicans With Scathing Trump Loyalty Rules

Republican strategist Rick Wilson called out members of his own party on Wednesday for their blind fealty to President Donald Trump , and gave them a list of new rules to follow to prove their devotion .
“ This speech will be talked about long after his second term , ” Graham said on Fox News .
“ This is on par with ‘ tear down this wall , Mr. Gorbachev.
’ ” Wilson said that type of over-the-top praise was part of the “ Saddamification ” of his party .
Then , he proposed a set of new rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loyalty : 1/ The assertion by Lindsay Graham that today ’ s bizarre performance by Sniffles The Clown was on par with “ Tear Down This Wall ” is part of the Saddamification of the GOP .
What are the new rules ?
— Rick Wilson ( @ TheRickWilson ) January 9 , 2020 2/ - Never be the first guy to stop clapping when Trump speaks .
- It is always the Year Zero ; memory and consistency is the enemy of loyalty in the Trump world .
- Your superlatives are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new vocabulary of obsequiousness .
— Rick Wilson ( @ TheRickWilson ) January 9 , 2020 3/ - Your humiliation in his service will asymptotically approach infinity , with the pain and shame mounting but never reaching the sweet release of death .
- Never tell him the truth .
He is the tallest , most handsome , brilliant , and richest man in the room .
— Rick Wilson ( @ TheRickWilson ) January 9 , 2020 4/ - Even when he ’ s wrong ( and he ’ s almost always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cameras to proclaim that you and everyone else was simply unable to grasp the sublime complexity of his 47-dimensional chess game .
— Rick Wilson ( @ TheRickWilson ) January 9 , 2020 5/ - If he wants to mount your spouse , let him .
You let him screw your reputation , honor , dignity , principles , and political priors .
Why not your wife ?
- Always give the Trump Crime Family a cut of your consulting contracts for the campaign and the RNC .
— Rick Wilson ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He will let you die in prison , ” Wilson warned Republicans .
“ Prepare accordingly.
” Wilson is part of a group of prominent Republicans who are working against Trump ’ s reelection as part of the Lincoln Project super PAC .
In a recent editorial in The New York Times , Wilson joined conservative attorney George Conway and Republican strategists Steve Schmidt and John Weaver in declaring that Trumpism was “ an empty faith led by a bogus prophet .
”

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Republican strategist Rick Wilson called out members of his own party on Wednesday for their blind fealty to President Donald Trump, and gave them a list of new rules to follow to prove their devotion.
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“This speech will be talked about long after his second term,” Graham said on Fox News. “This is on par with ‘tear down this wall, Mr. Gorbachev.’”
Wilson said that type of over-the-top praise was part of the “Saddamification” of his party. Then, he proposed a set of new rules for Republicans to follow to show their loyalty:
1/ The assertion by Lindsay Graham that today’s bizarre performance by Sniffles The Clown was on par with “Tear Down This Wall” is part of the Saddamification of the GOP.
What are the new rules? — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 9, 2020
2/
- Never be the first guy to stop clapping when Trump speaks.
- It is always the Year Zero; memory and consistency is the enemy of loyalty in the Trump world.
- Your superlatives are insufficient. Praising Trump properly demands a new vocabulary of obsequiousness. — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 9, 2020
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3/ - Your humiliation in his service will asymptotically approach infinity, with the pain and shame mounting but never reaching the sweet release of death.
- Never tell him the truth. He is the tallest, most handsome, brilliant, and richest man in the room. — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 9, 2020
4/ - Even when he’s wrong (and he’s almost always wrong), race for the TV cameras to proclaim that you and everyone else was simply unable to grasp the sublime complexity of his 47-dimensional chess game. — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 9, 2020
5/ - If he wants to mount your spouse, let him. You let him screw your reputation, honor, dignity, principles, and political priors. Why not your wife?
- Always give the Trump Crime Family a cut of your consulting contracts for the campaign and the RNC. — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 9, 2020
“He will let you die in prison,” Wilson warned Republicans. “Prepare accordingly.”
Wilson is part of a group of prominent Republicans who are working against Trump’s reelection as part of the Lincoln Project super PAC. In a recent editorial in The New York Times, Wilson joined conservative attorney George Conway and Republican strategists Steve Schmidt and John Weaver in declaring that Trumpism was “an empty faith led by a bogus prophet.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-08--Appeals Court Blocks Enforcement Of Trump Effort To Limit Green Card Approvals

NEW YORK ( AP ) — A federal appeals court in New York on Wednesday rejected a motion from the Trump administration that would have allowed it to implement a policy connecting the use of public benefits with whether immigrants could become permanent residents .
The ruling from the 2nd U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals denied the administration ’ s motion to lift a temporary national injunction that had been issued by a New York district court in October after lawsuits had been filed against the new policy .
The new rule would potentially deny green cards to immigrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicaid , food stamps and housing vouchers , as well as other factors .
The New York injunction was one of several that were issued around the time the rule had been scheduled to go into effect in October .
But a regional injunction issued in California and another national injunction issued in Washington have already been lifted by other federal appeals courts .
That left New York ’ s as the only nationwide bar to the Trump administration putting the new rule into practice .
An injunction in Illinois also is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
The three-judge panel of the 2nd Circuit had heard arguments over the motion to lift the injunction on Tuesday .
Judges questioned the government ’ s attorney on the timing — why the injunction needed to be lifted at this point when the lawsuit itself would be heard by a judge in coming months .
Immigrants applying for permanent residency must show they wouldn ’ t be public charges , or burdens to the country .
The new policy significantly expands what factors would be considered to make that determination , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could potentially become public charges at any point in the future , that legal residency could be denied .
Roughly 544,000 people apply for green cards annually .
According to the government , 382,000 are in categories that would make them subject to the new review .
Immigrants make up a small portion of those getting public benefits , since many are ineligible to get them because of their immigration status .

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NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court in New York on Wednesday rejected a motion from the Trump administration that would have allowed it to implement a policy connecting the use of public benefits with whether immigrants could become permanent residents.
The ruling from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the administration’s motion to lift a temporary national injunction that had been issued by a New York district court in October after lawsuits had been filed against the new policy.
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The new rule would potentially deny green cards to immigrants over their use of public benefits including Medicaid, food stamps and housing vouchers, as well as other factors.
The New York injunction was one of several that were issued around the time the rule had been scheduled to go into effect in October.
But a regional injunction issued in California and another national injunction issued in Washington have already been lifted by other federal appeals courts. That left New York’s as the only nationwide bar to the Trump administration putting the new rule into practice. An injunction in Illinois also is in effect, but applies only to that state.
The three-judge panel of the 2nd Circuit had heard arguments over the motion to lift the injunction on Tuesday.
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Judges questioned the government’s attorney on the timing — why the injunction needed to be lifted at this point when the lawsuit itself would be heard by a judge in coming months.
Immigrants applying for permanent residency must show they wouldn’t be public charges, or burdens to the country.
The new policy significantly expands what factors would be considered to make that determination, and if it is decided that immigrants could potentially become public charges at any point in the future, that legal residency could be denied.
Roughly 544,000 people apply for green cards annually. According to the government, 382,000 are in categories that would make them subject to the new review.
Immigrants make up a small portion of those getting public benefits, since many are ineligible to get them because of their immigration status.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-09--Washington Post Editorial Board Explains Why It’s ‘Premature’ To Say Trump Won In Iran

The Washington Post editorial board on Wednesday warned of the dangers of declaring President Donald Trump triumphant in Iran after the pause of the escalation in tensions between the two nations .
In a new editorial , the newspaper ’ s board described Trump acolytes ’ boast that the president had “ eliminated the architect of Iran ’ s foreign adventurism ” ( top Gen. Qassem Soleimani ) while “ avoiding a more damaging response ” as “ premature and shortsighted.
” “ Iran ’ s strikes on U.S. interests and allies will almost certainly continue in the coming months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unless the Trump administration quickly steps up its diplomatic game , what Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called his ultimate aim — the removal of the United States from the Middle East — could soon be realized in Iraq and Syria.
” The editorial noted Trump still faced the thorny issues of Iran ’ s nuclear program and the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq .
Trump announced new sanctions on Iran as he addressed the nation on Wednesday .
The Post suggested the president “ embrace the pause in hostilities as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islamic republic.
” “ There was reason for relief Wednesday that the United States and Iran had avoided a plunge into full-scale war , ” the editorial concluded .
“ But Mr. Trump ’ s manifest lack of clear goals or strategy in the Middle East , combined with his readiness to launch strikes or order troop movements on impulse , is cause for continued alarm .
”

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The Washington Post editorial board on Wednesday warned of the dangers of declaring President Donald Trump triumphant in Iran after the pause of the escalation in tensions between the two nations.
In a new editorial, the newspaper’s board described Trump acolytes’ boast that the president had “eliminated the architect of Iran’s foreign adventurism” (top Gen. Qassem Soleimani) while “avoiding a more damaging response” as “premature and shortsighted.”
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“Iran’s strikes on U.S. interests and allies will almost certainly continue in the coming months,” the board wrote. “Unless the Trump administration quickly steps up its diplomatic game, what Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called his ultimate aim — the removal of the United States from the Middle East — could soon be realized in Iraq and Syria.”
The editorial noted Trump still faced the thorny issues of Iran’s nuclear program and the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq. Trump announced new sanctions on Iran as he addressed the nation on Wednesday.
The Post suggested the president “embrace the pause in hostilities as an opportunity to begin serious negotiations with the Islamic republic.”
“There was reason for relief Wednesday that the United States and Iran had avoided a plunge into full-scale war,” the editorial concluded. “But Mr. Trump’s manifest lack of clear goals or strategy in the Middle East, combined with his readiness to launch strikes or order troop movements on impulse, is cause for continued alarm.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-08--Ruth Bader Ginsburg Says She's Beginning The New Year Cancer-Free

In an interview with CNN published Wednesday , she said that her year was beginning on a positive note .
“ I ’ m cancer-free .
That ’ s good , ” said Ginsburg , 86 , the longest-serving member on the high court ’ s liberal side .
This time last year , Ginsburg had missed several weeks in court after recovering from lung cancer surgery in December 2018 .
That was the first time in her career on the Supreme Court that she had ever been absent from oral arguments .
She went back to work to hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to finish the term in June , only to later have doctors find a cancerous tumor on her pancreas .
The justice completed radiation treatment for the tumor in August 2019 and resumed her active schedule .
Ginsburg has been treated for cancer four times over her Supreme Court career .
Prior to the most recent bouts , she was diagnosed with colon cancer in September 1999 and finished radiation treatment in June 2000 .
During a routine examination in 2009 , she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent surgery to remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fractured two ribs in a fall in 2012 and underwent heart surgery in 2014 .
In November 2018 , she fractured three ribs after a fall , but staying true to form , she went back to work that week .
Ginsburg is known for regularly working out and continues to stay committed to her career and her health , despite those who wish her ill .
Her medical history and future at the court are significant because if her seat fell vacant , President Donald Trump would likely pick her successor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the court .
“ There was a senator , I think it was after my pancreatic cancer , who announced with great glee that I was going to be dead within six months , ” Ginsburg said to NPR in July of then-Sen. Jim Bunning ( R-Ky. ) .
“ That senator , whose name I have forgotten , is now himself dead , and I am very much alive.
” The justice has said that her career on the high court is a huge reason for her resilience .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job I ever had , and it ’ s what has kept me going through four cancer bouts , ” Ginsburg said in August during last year ’ s Library of Congress National Book Festival .
“ Instead of concentrating on my aches and pains , I just know I have to read this set of briefs , draft opinions .
So I have to surmount whatever is going on in my body and concentrate on the court ’ s work .
”

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Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Tuesday that she is starting 2020 “cancer-free” after dealing with a string of health problems in recent years.
In an interview with CNN published Wednesday, she said that her year was beginning on a positive note. “I’m cancer-free. That’s good,” said Ginsburg, 86, the longest-serving member on the high court’s liberal side.
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This time last year, Ginsburg had missed several weeks in court after recovering from lung cancer surgery in December 2018. That was the first time in her career on the Supreme Court that she had ever been absent from oral arguments.
She went back to work to hear oral arguments in February 2019 and managed to finish the term in June, only to later have doctors find a cancerous tumor on her pancreas. The justice completed radiation treatment for the tumor in August 2019 and resumed her active schedule.
Ginsburg has been treated for cancer four times over her Supreme Court career. Prior to the most recent bouts, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in September 1999 and finished radiation treatment in June 2000. During a routine examination in 2009, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent surgery to remove parts of that organ.
She also fractured two ribs in a fall in 2012 and underwent heart surgery in 2014. In November 2018, she fractured three ribs after a fall, but staying true to form, she went back to work that week.
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Ginsburg is known for regularly working out and continues to stay committed to her career and her health, despite those who wish her ill. Her medical history and future at the court are significant because if her seat fell vacant, President Donald Trump would likely pick her successor, widening what is already a conservative majority on the court.
“There was a senator, I think it was after my pancreatic cancer, who announced with great glee that I was going to be dead within six months,” Ginsburg said to NPR in July of then-Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.). “That senator, whose name I have forgotten, is now himself dead, and I am very much alive.”
The justice has said that her career on the high court is a huge reason for her resilience.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-08--No Surprise, 2019 Was The Second-Hottest Year On Record

European researchers on Wednesday said 2019 was the second-hottest year in recorded history , the latest bellwether as activists and scientists urge dramatic action to rein in carbon emissions and the fallout from climate change .
The findings , published by the Copernicus Climate Change Service ( C3S ) , a monitoring agency backed by the European Union , underscore a series of bleak reports published in recent months : The world is getting hotter , ice sheets are melting faster , oceans are rising more and animals are dying at a breakneck pace .
“ 2019 has been another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second warmest globally in our dataset , with many of the individual months breaking records , ” Carlo Buontempo , the head of C3S , said in a statement .
Only 2016 was hotter , but just by a razor-thin margin of 0.04 degree Celsius .
The 2010s were also the warmest decade on record , researchers noted .
The results come as another environmental tragedy , a string of severe bushfires in Australia , have cast a sharp lens on the effects of climate change not just decades in the future but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on fire for more than a month , scorching 12 million acres so far .
At least 24 people have been killed , more than 2,600 homes have been destroyed and some experts estimate more than a billion animals have perished in the blazes .
Though climate change doesn ’ t cause wildfires , it can exacerbate conditions , experts say .
This year ’ s fire season in Australia has been particularly hot and dry , and 2019 was the country ’ s hottest and driest on record .
( In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire season last year , and the state ’ s fire agency has said climate change is a “ key driver ” of a longer , more intense fire season . )
“ The past five years have been the five warmest on record [ globally ] ; the last decade has been the warmest on record : These are unquestionably alarming signs , ” Jean-Noël Thépaut , the director of ECMWF Copernicus , said in a statement .
But though scientists have been issuing increasingly bleak warnings about the rate of global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change , the planet has largely failed to rein in the burning of fossil fuels , the main driver of climate change .
Researchers released forecasts last month that the planet would release more carbon emissions than ever before in 2019 .
Officials have urged the world to wean itself off fossil fuels by 2050 in order to keep the planet from warming more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels , the threshold scientists say the planet must stay beneath to avert the worst effects of climate change .
Even at that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a slew of dramatic effects , including the deaths of 70 % to 90 %  of the planet ’ s coral reefs .
U.S. science agencies , including NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , will release their own detailed looks at the climate later this month .

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European researchers on Wednesday said 2019 was the second-hottest year in recorded history, the latest bellwether as activists and scientists urge dramatic action to rein in carbon emissions and the fallout from climate change.
The findings, published by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), a monitoring agency backed by the European Union, underscore a series of bleak reports published in recent months: The world is getting hotter, ice sheets are melting faster, oceans are rising more and animals are dying at a breakneck pace.
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“2019 has been another exceptionally warm year, in fact the second warmest globally in our dataset, with many of the individual months breaking records,” Carlo Buontempo, the head of C3S, said in a statement.
Only 2016 was hotter, but just by a razor-thin margin of 0.04 degree Celsius. The 2010s were also the warmest decade on record, researchers noted.
The results come as another environmental tragedy, a string of severe bushfires in Australia, have cast a sharp lens on the effects of climate change not just decades in the future but right now. The country has been on fire for more than a month, scorching 12 million acres so far. At least 24 people have been killed, more than 2,600 homes have been destroyed and some experts estimate more than a billion animals have perished in the blazes.
A series of catastrophic wildfires in Australia have prompted renewed calls for climate action throughout the country. Wolter Peeters/The Sydney Morning Herald via Getty Images
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Though climate change doesn’t cause wildfires, it can exacerbate conditions, experts say. This year’s fire season in Australia has been particularly hot and dry, and 2019 was the country’s hottest and driest on record. (In the U.S., California also experienced a devastating fire season last year, and the state’s fire agency has said climate change is a “key driver” of a longer, more intense fire season.)
“The past five years have been the five warmest on record [globally]; the last decade has been the warmest on record: These are unquestionably alarming signs,” Jean-Noël Thépaut, the director of ECMWF Copernicus, said in a statement.
But though scientists have been issuing increasingly bleak warnings about the rate of global carbon emissions and the pace of climate change, the planet has largely failed to rein in the burning of fossil fuels, the main driver of climate change.
Researchers released forecasts last month that the planet would release more carbon emissions than ever before in 2019. Officials have urged the world to wean itself off fossil fuels by 2050 in order to keep the planet from warming more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the threshold scientists say the planet must stay beneath to avert the worst effects of climate change.
Activists, such as Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, have called for dramatic action to scale back carbon emissions. Richard Drew/ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Even at that level of warming, the planet would see a slew of dramatic effects, including the deaths of 70% to 90% of the planet’s coral reefs.
Despite the bleak news, 2019 did bring renewed attention and demands that world leaders address climate change, including a worldwide series of demonstrations spearheaded by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-08--California Governor Establishes New Homelessness Fund By Executive Order

California Gov .
Gavin Newsom ( D ) signed an executive order on Wednesday that sets up a fund to combat homelessness in the state and orders state agencies to identify state land and property that can be used to provide temporary shelter for unhoused residents .
Newsom also previewed part of his budget proposal for 2020-2021 , which includes over $ 1 billion to address homelessness , with $ 750 million of that to go to the new fund .
The fund , which will also accept contributions from private and philanthropy sectors , aims to provide rental subsidies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing .
State lawmakers still have to approve the governor ’ s new budget ― the full version of which will be released by end of the week .
Newsom ’ s executive action gave state agencies an end-of-the-month deadline to identify the state land and property that can be used to provide shelter for unhoused residents ― including vacant hospitals and fairgrounds .
It also makes 100 travel trailers from the state fleet available to serve as emergency housing or to provide health and social services for homeless residents .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a real emergency ― because it is one , ” Newsom said .
“ That ’ s why we ’ re using every tool in the toolbox ― from proposing a massive new infusion of state dollars in the budget that goes directly to homeless individuals ’ emergency housing and treatment programs , to building short-term emergency housing on vacant state-owned land.
” In California ’ s 2019-2020 budget , Newsom proposed and the Legislature approved $ 1 billion to address homelessness ― doubling the amount called for by former Gov .
Jerry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office during the first week of 2019 .
On Wednesday , Newsom also said that final payments from the $ 650 million allocated for emergency aid to cities and counties to address homelessness had been sent to those jurisdictions .
The lack of affordable housing is a nationwide crisis , and California has one of the highest rates of homelessness .
On any given day in January 2018 , more than 500,000 people were homeless in the U.S. ― and nearly a quarter of these lived in California .
Homelessness rates have worsened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spike in the number of homeless residents in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Los Angeles over the past two years .
President Donald Trump has repeatedly spotlighted these high rates of homelessness in California , and particularly in San Francisco , in recent months ― using the problem to attack the Democratic officeholders who dominate the state ’ s politics .
At one point last year he said that homeless people living on the streets were ruining the “ prestige ” of Los Angeles and San Francisco .

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an executive order on Wednesday that sets up a fund to combat homelessness in the state and orders state agencies to identify state land and property that can be used to provide temporary shelter for unhoused residents.
Newsom also previewed part of his budget proposal for 2020-2021, which includes over $1 billion to address homelessness, with $750 million of that to go to the new fund. The fund, which will also accept contributions from private and philanthropy sectors, aims to provide rental subsidies for homeless residents and create more affordable housing.
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State lawmakers still have to approve the governor’s new budget ― the full version of which will be released by end of the week.
Newsom’s executive action gave state agencies an end-of-the-month deadline to identify the state land and property that can be used to provide shelter for unhoused residents ― including vacant hospitals and fairgrounds. It also makes 100 travel trailers from the state fleet available to serve as emergency housing or to provide health and social services for homeless residents.
“The State of California is treating homelessness as a real emergency ― because it is one,” Newsom said. “That’s why we’re using every tool in the toolbox ― from proposing a massive new infusion of state dollars in the budget that goes directly to homeless individuals’ emergency housing and treatment programs, to building short-term emergency housing on vacant state-owned land.”
CA is treating homelessness as a real emergency because it is one.@GavinNewsom is proposing over $1B in direct initiatives for housing, mental health services, substance abuse treatment & more. It’s all of the above. #CaliforniaForAll #CAbudget https://t.co/ABFHYSpmXg — Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) January 8, 2020
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In California’s 2019-2020 budget, Newsom proposed and the Legislature approved $1 billion to address homelessness ― doubling the amount called for by former Gov. Jerry Brown (D), who left office during the first week of 2019.
On Wednesday, Newsom also said that final payments from the $650 million allocated for emergency aid to cities and counties to address homelessness had been sent to those jurisdictions.
The lack of affordable housing is a nationwide crisis, and California has one of the highest rates of homelessness. On any given day in January 2018, more than 500,000 people were homeless in the U.S. ― and nearly a quarter of these lived in California.
Homelessness rates have worsened in California in recent years, with a spike in the number of homeless residents in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Los Angeles over the past two years.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly spotlighted these high rates of homelessness in California, and particularly in San Francisco, in recent months ― using the problem to attack the Democratic officeholders who dominate the state’s politics. At one point last year he said that homeless people living on the streets were ruining the “prestige” of Los Angeles and San Francisco.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-08--U.S. House Schedules Thursday Vote To Limit Trump's War Powers Amid Iran Conflict

Leah Millis / Reuters U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi answers questions from reporters after leaving a House Democratic caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington , U.S. , January 8 , 2020 .
REUTERS/Leah Millis WASHINGTON - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday the House would vote on a resolution intended to limit President Donald Trump ’ s military actions regarding Iran , stating that concerns about the administration ’ s strategy and decisions were not addressed in a briefing with lawmakers .
Pelosi said on Monday the House would vote on a war powers resolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote is scheduled for Thursday .
The resolution will likely sail through the House of Representatives , where the Democrats hold the majority , but its passage in the Senate , controlled by Trump ’ s fellow Republicans , is less assured .
“ Today , to honor our duty to keep the American people safe , the House will move forward with a War Powers Resolution to limit the President ’ s military actions regarding Iran , ” Pelosi said in a statement .
“ This resolution , which will be led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Rules Committee this evening and will be brought to the Floor tomorrow , ” she added .
Trump said in remarks earlier on Wednesday that the United States did not necessarily need to respond militarily to Iranian missile attacks on military bases in Iraq that host U.S. troops .
The comments stood in contrast to his fiery rhetoric in previous days .
On Saturday , he threatened to destroy Iranian cultural sites , before backtracking and saying he would obey international law on the issue .
The overnight strikes in Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani last week .
“ Members of Congress have serious , urgent concerns about theAdministration ’ s decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward , ” Pelosi said.Our concerns were not addressed by the President ’ s insufficientWar Powers Act notification and by the Administration ’ s briefing today .
”

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi answers questions from reporters after leaving a House Democratic caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 8, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis Leah Millis / Reuters
WASHINGTON - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday the House would vote on a resolution intended to limit President Donald Trump’s military actions regarding Iran, stating that concerns about the administration’s strategy and decisions were not addressed in a briefing with lawmakers.
Pelosi said on Monday the House would vote on a war powers resolution, and on Wednesday she announced the vote is scheduled for Thursday.
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The resolution will likely sail through the House of Representatives, where the Democrats hold the majority, but its passage in the Senate, controlled by Trump’s fellow Republicans, is less assured.
“Today, to honor our duty to keep the American people safe, the House will move forward with a War Powers Resolution to limit the President’s military actions regarding Iran,” Pelosi said in a statement.
“This resolution, which will be led by Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, will go to the Rules Committee this evening and will be brought to the Floor tomorrow,” she added.
Trump said in remarks earlier on Wednesday that the United States did not necessarily need to respond militarily to Iranian missile attacks on military bases in Iraq that host U.S. troops.
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The comments stood in contrast to his fiery rhetoric in previous days. On Saturday, he threatened to destroy Iranian cultural sites, before backtracking and saying he would obey international law on the issue.
The overnight strikes in Iraq were in retaliation for theU.S. killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani last week.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-08--House To Hold Symbolic Vote On Stopping Iran War

On Sunday night , House Democrats were resolute that they would vote on the war powers legislation this week .
By Wednesday morning , however , leadership hadn ’ t scheduled a vote , and there was talk that the House wouldn ’ t consider the resolution until next week .
During that meeting administration officials tried to justify Trump ’ s assassination of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani .
But Democrats emerged from the briefing skeptical about whether there had been any “ imminent ” threat to the United States as Trump claimed there had .
Unfortunately for Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit Trump .
For one , the legislation is a “ concurrent resolution , ” not a “ joint resolution , ” meaning it will not carry the force of law or go to Trump ’ s desk for his signature or veto .
Instead , adoption of the resolution will be more like issuing a formal press release .
It was always a long shot that this resolution would be adopted in the Senate .
Republicans in that chamber have not only shown their fealty to Trump , but they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Iran .
So the decision to go with a concurrent resolution is a recognition that this vote will likely be a partisan affair .
The resolution is still likely to get a procedural vote in the Senate , and that appears to be the reason Democrats went with a “ concurrent resolution.
” ( They were concerned that , if the legislation were a “ joint resolution , ” Republicans would offer a motion to recommit that would be adopted and strip the resolution of its privileged status . )
With a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be “ privileged ” in the Senate , meaning any senator can call it up in that chamber for a vote on the motion to proceed , but House Democrats won ’ t have to let Republicans offer a motion to recommit .
A privileged resolution in the Senate doesn ’ t exactly mean that much .
Even if any senator can call up the bill for a procedural vote , it ’ d still be a long ways from a final vote on adoption .
But again , even if it were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constrain the president .
Still , there were some cracks in the Senate GOP Wednesday .
Sen. Mike Lee ( R-Utah ) said the briefing he attended was “ probably the worst briefing , at least on a military issue , I ’ ve seen , ” calling it “ insulting ” and saying he now intended to vote for a similar war powers resolution in the Senate ― introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine ( D-Va. ) .
Sen. Rand Paul ( R-Ky. ) also said after the briefing that he would vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The best bet for actually adoption in the Senate seems to be relying on the Trump administration ’ s obfuscation in these classified briefings , because the restrictions that most Republicans would go along with likely would not be enough for many Democrats , who worry that Trump is blundering the United States into another Middle Eastern war .
But with the administration functionally telling lawmakers to just trust them on the intelligence , some Republicans could actually stand up for the rights of Congress .
Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Jayapal said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with leadership , and that her group was supportive of a “ strong ” war powers resolution .
“ We also want to see on repealing the 2002 AUMF , which has been used as the legal justification for this strike , we think erroneously , ” she said .
Her co-chair , Rep. Mark Pocan ( D-Wis. ) , added that the problem isn ’ t just that the president is reckless ― it ’ s that there aren ’ t enough limits on presidents in general .
“ Congress has given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power , and I think this is finally a moment maybe to wake everyone up and try to reclaim some of that power , ” Pocan said .

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WASHINGTON ― After a day of uncertainty, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Wednesday that the House would move forward with a vote on a resolution limiting the president’s war powers.
On Sunday night, House Democrats were resolute that they would vote on the war powers legislation this week. By Wednesday morning, however, leadership hadn’t scheduled a vote, and there was talk that the House wouldn’t consider the resolution until next week.
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But by late Wednesday afternoon, following a classified all-member briefing on Iraq and Iran, Pelosi announced that Democrats would vote Thursday.
“Last week, the Trump administration conducted a provocative and disproportionate military airstrike targeting high-level Iranian military officials,” Pelosi said in a statement.
She added that the president’s War Power Act notification to Congress was “insufficient,” and that Democrats’ concerns were “not addressed” by the briefing Wednesday.
During that meeting administration officials tried to justify Trump’s assassination of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani. But Democrats emerged from the briefing skeptical about whether there had been any “imminent” threat to the United States as Trump claimed there had.
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“In general, my colleagues seem unpersuaded that there was anything imminent,” Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) told HuffPost.
“There was no raw evidence presented that there was an imminent threat,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said at a press conference.
And House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) told HuffPost that the administration felt things had changed and they had to move. “Am I convinced of it?” Engel asked. “I’m not so sure.”
The resolution, by Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), orders Trump to terminate hostilities against Iran unless Congress declares war or there’s risk of an imminent attack on the U.S. or its armed forces.
Unfortunately for Democrats, the resolution will do little to limit Trump. For one, the legislation is a “concurrent resolution,” not a “joint resolution,” meaning it will not carry the force of law or go to Trump’s desk for his signature or veto. Instead, adoption of the resolution will be more like issuing a formal press release.
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It was always a long shot that this resolution would be adopted in the Senate. Republicans in that chamber have not only shown their fealty to Trump, but they’ve also displayed a yearslong thirst for war with Iran. So the decision to go with a concurrent resolution is a recognition that this vote will likely be a partisan affair.
The resolution is still likely to get a procedural vote in the Senate, and that appears to be the reason Democrats went with a “concurrent resolution.” (They were concerned that, if the legislation were a “joint resolution,” Republicans would offer a motion to recommit that would be adopted and strip the resolution of its privileged status.) With a concurrent resolution, the legislation will still be “privileged” in the Senate, meaning any senator can call it up in that chamber for a vote on the motion to proceed, but House Democrats won’t have to let Republicans offer a motion to recommit.
A privileged resolution in the Senate doesn’t exactly mean that much. Even if any senator can call up the bill for a procedural vote, it’d still be a long ways from a final vote on adoption. But again, even if it were adopted, it wouldn’t actually constrain the president.
Still, there were some cracks in the Senate GOP Wednesday. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said the briefing he attended was “probably the worst briefing, at least on a military issue, I’ve seen,” calling it “insulting” and saying he now intended to vote for a similar war powers resolution in the Senate ― introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) also said after the briefing that he would vote for Kaine’s resolution, too.
The best bet for actually adoption in the Senate seems to be relying on the Trump administration’s obfuscation in these classified briefings, because the restrictions that most Republicans would go along with likely would not be enough for many Democrats, who worry that Trump is blundering the United States into another Middle Eastern war. But with the administration functionally telling lawmakers to just trust them on the intelligence, some Republicans could actually stand up for the rights of Congress.
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Either way, however, the resolution won’t actually constrain Trump, and Pelosi instead ended up appeasing her caucus first.
Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Jayapal said Wednesday that the CPC had been working with leadership, and that her group was supportive of a “strong” war powers resolution. “We also want to see on repealing the 2002 AUMF, which has been used as the legal justification for this strike, we think erroneously,” she said.
Her co-chair, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), added that the problem isn’t just that the president is reckless ― it’s that there aren’t enough limits on presidents in general. “Congress has given up for decades too much of our power, and I think this is finally a moment maybe to wake everyone up and try to reclaim some of that power,” Pocan said.
Pelosi said in her statement Wednesday that Democrats may also consider additional legislation soon, mentioning Rep. Barbara Lee’s (D-Calif.) bill to repeal the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force, which was used to justify Soleimani’s killing in Iraq, and Rep. Ro Khanna’s (D-Calif.) bill to prohibit funding for offensive military action against Iran.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-09--More Than Half Of Puerto Ricans Without Power After Earthquakes

The earthquakes followed a series of natural and man-made disasters to afflict the U.S. territory in recent years .
The @ @ @ @ @ bankruptcy and its former governor resigned amid a political scandal and massive street protests last @ @ @ @ @ Trump on Tuesday declared an emergency in Puerto Rico and authorized the Federal Emergency Management @ @ @ @ @ with Puerto Rican officials .
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a @ @ @ @ @ island to ensure hospitals had funding to meet needs .
More than 500 tremors occurred @ @ @ @ @ island between Dec. 28 and Tuesday , including 32 greater than magnitude 4 .
The @ @ @ @ @ morning was the most powerful to hit Puerto Rico since 1918 , when a 7.3 @ @ @ @ @ 116 people , according to the Puerto Rican seismology institute , Red Sismica .
Puerto @ @ @ @ @ , but powerful quakes are rare .

PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
The earthquakes followed a series of natural and man-made disasters to afflict the U.S. territory in recent years. The island is also going through bankruptcy and its former governor resigned amid a political scandal and massive street protests last year.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared an emergency in Puerto Rico and authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief with Puerto Rican officials.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency on the island to ensure hospitals had funding to meet needs.
More than 500 tremors occurred in the south of the island between Dec. 28 and Tuesday, including 32 greater than magnitude 4.
The 6.4 magnitude quake on Tuesday morning was the most powerful to hit Puerto Rico since 1918, when a 7.3 magnitude quake and tsunami killed 116 people, according to the Puerto Rican seismology institute, Red Sismica.
Puerto Rico is accustomed to hurricanes, but powerful quakes are rare.
(Reporting by Ricardo Ortiz, Luis Valentin Ortiz, Marco Bello, Daniel Trotta and Andrew Hay Editing by Richard Chang, Robert Birsel)


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-09--Ex-RNC Chair Shows How Some Republicans Can Defy Donald Trump On Iran

Former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele has explained why he believes some Republicans may get away with breaking ranks with Donald Trump over a possible U.S. war with Iran .
“ Meet the Press Daily ” host Chuck Todd on Wednesday said “ 90 % of the time ” Trump ’ s base “ just basically says whatever he says and blindly follow.
” But not with regard to Trump ’ s now-paused escalation in tensions between the U.S. and Iran , he pointed out .
“ There is a split , ” said Todd , noting how Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mike Lee ( Utah ) and Rand Paul ( Ky. ) are among the prominent conservatives who have publicly opposed the president on the issue .
“ Yeah , you have the battle of the hawks versus the doves within the party itself , ” said Steele , who served as the RNC chair from 2009 to 2011 and has since become a fierce critic of Trump and his administration .
“ And so , yeah , they ’ re willing to step out there a little bit more and push up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Why ?
Because [ … ] they can take the president on with something like this without losing any points because they ’ ve always kind of occupied this space and everybody kind of bakes them into the narrative.
” Lee and Paul on Wednesday both blasted a classified Senate briefing on action against Iran , where the Trump administration reportedly told GOP lawmakers not to publicly debate the topic .
Both lawmakers subsequently vowed to support limiting Trump ’ s ability to take further military action without the approval of Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst briefing , at least on a military issue , I ’ ve seen in my nine years , ” adding the instruction to remain silent was “ insulting and demeaning.
” Fox ’ s Carlson , meanwhile , has repeatedly used his prime time show on the widely watched conservative network to rail against further U.S. military incursions in the Middle East .
Steele on Monday warned the GOP would end up owning any war with Iran , saying “ they need to be careful.
” “ You can cheerlead the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he wants to do here , in the middle of a 17-year narrative , and how it ’ ll play out ?
” Steele told The Washington Post .
“ No , you don ’ t .
”

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Former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele has explained why he believes some Republicans may get away with breaking ranks with Donald Trump over a possible U.S. war with Iran.
“Meet the Press Daily” host Chuck Todd on Wednesday said “90% of the time” Trump’s base “just basically says whatever he says and blindly follow.”
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But not with regard to Trump’s now-paused escalation in tensions between the U.S. and Iran, he pointed out.
“There is a split,” said Todd, noting how Fox News host Tucker Carlson and GOP Sens. Mike Lee (Utah) and Rand Paul (Ky.) are among the prominent conservatives who have publicly opposed the president on the issue.
“Yeah, you have the battle of the hawks versus the doves within the party itself,” said Steele, who served as the RNC chair from 2009 to 2011 and has since become a fierce critic of Trump and his administration.
“And so, yeah, they’re willing to step out there a little bit more and push up against that,” he said. “Why? Because […] they can take the president on with something like this without losing any points because they’ve always kind of occupied this space and everybody kind of bakes them into the narrative.”
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Lee and Paul on Wednesday both blasted a classified Senate briefing on action against Iran, where the Trump administration reportedly told GOP lawmakers not to publicly debate the topic.
Both lawmakers subsequently vowed to support limiting Trump’s ability to take further military action without the approval of Congress. Lee described it as “probably the worst briefing, at least on a military issue, I’ve seen in my nine years,” adding the instruction to remain silent was “insulting and demeaning.”
Fox’s Carlson, meanwhile, has repeatedly used his prime time show on the widely watched conservative network to rail against further U.S. military incursions in the Middle East.
Steele on Monday warned the GOP would end up owning any war with Iran, saying “they need to be careful.” “You can cheerlead the president, but do you really know what he wants to do here, in the middle of a 17-year narrative, and how it’ll play out?” Steele told The Washington Post. “No, you don’t.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-09--Lou Dobbs Flips Out, Compares GOP Lawmaker To America's Most Infamous Traitor

He also said the administration ’ s briefers told lawmakers not to debate the action .
That left Dobbs seething @ @ @ @ @ a “ snit fit , ” and compared him to Benedict Arnold , the Revolutionary @ @ @ @ @ by plotting to hand West Point over to the British .
Arnold defected when his @ @ @ @ @ against the colonists .

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Fox Business host Lou Dobbs has compared a Republican senator to the most infamous turncoat in American history.
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He also said the administration’s briefers told lawmakers not to debate the action.
“It’s un-American,” Lee said. “It’s unconstitutional and it’s wrong.”
That left Dobbs seething. He said Lee had a “snit fit,” and compared him to Benedict Arnold, the Revolutionary War general who committed treason by plotting to hand West Point over to the British. Arnold defected when his plot was exposed and fought against the colonists.
To Dobbs, criticizing an administration briefing was the same. His comments were posted online by Media Matters:
Lou Dobbs calls Senator Mike Lee's press conference earlier today a "snit fit," describes it as a "Benedict Arnold impression." pic.twitter.com/bzlk2nA2mA — nikki mccann ramírez (@NikkiMcR) January 9, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-09--Iran May Have Downed Passenger Plane Killing 176 People, U.S. Officials Say

U.S. officials believe that Iran shot down a Ukraine International Airlines passenger plane on Wednesday , according to CBS News , the Associated Press and multiple other news outlets citing anonymous government sources .
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson supported the assessment , saying evidence indicates an Iranian surface-to-air missile downed the plane .
He added that striking the plane may have been unintentional , and said it was too early to draw conclusions .
The Kyiv-bound plane crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran ’ s airport , killing all 176 people on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday morning , hours after Iran launched a series of missiles at Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops as a retaliation for the U.S. killing of top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani .
Iran and Ukraine launched a joint investigation into the crash following the disaster , but Iran has refused to provide the black boxes from the plane to either U.S. investigators or the plane ’ s manufacturer , Boeing .
Ukraine ’ s investigators announced they would be considering all causes of the attack , including looking into unverified social media reports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air defense missile .
The passengers were from several different countries and included 63 Canadians , many of whom were university students and professors returning after winter break .
Trudeau demanded that his government play a significant role in investigating the disaster , saying Thursday that both he and the families of victims needed answers .
President Donald Trump distanced the U.S. from the event and suggested it was possible Iran could have mistakenly downed the plane .
“ Somebody could have made a mistake on the other side … not our system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , ” Trump said .
“ It was flying in a pretty rough neighborhood .
They could ’ ve made a mistake.
” Ukraine ’ s President Volodymyr Zelensky had calls with the leaders of several countries affected by the disaster , and he asked for assistance from international partners in the investigation of the crash .
The reports that the plane was potentially hit with a projectile are a shocking turnaround after U.S. intelligence officials initially said that there was no immediate evidence that the flight was shot down .
Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plane may have been shot in the immediate aftermath of the disaster .
The plane allegedly climbed to 8,000 feet and then disappeared from radar systems , according to Iranian civil aviation officials .
The plane apparently never made a radio call for help and was attempting to turn back toward Tehran airport at the time it went down , an initial Iranian report stated .
Footage of the disaster appears to show a small projectile hitting the plane .
The aircraft then attempted to turn around before suffering an explosion and rapidly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The New York Times .
Some of Ukraine ’ s investigators also worked on the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 .
In that incident , investigators found that Russian-backed separatists fired a Russian-made BUK anti-aircraft missile that brought down the plane and killed all 298 passengers on board .
The attack led to widespread sanctions against Russia and a yearslong investigation into its causes .

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U.S. officials believe that Iran shot down a Ukraine International Airlines passenger plane on Wednesday, according to CBS News, the Associated Press and multiple other news outlets citing anonymous government sources.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson supported the assessment, saying evidence indicates an Iranian surface-to-air missile downed the plane. He added that striking the plane may have been unintentional, and said it was too early to draw conclusions.
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The Kyiv-bound plane crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran’s airport, killing all 176 people on board. The disaster took place early Wednesday morning, hours after Iran launched a series of missiles at Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops as a retaliation for the U.S. killing of top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
Iran’s alleged downing of the plane was likely accidental, officials told news outlets.
Iran and Ukraine launched a joint investigation into the crash following the disaster, but Iran has refused to provide the black boxes from the plane to either U.S. investigators or the plane’s manufacturer, Boeing.
Ali Abedzadeh, head of Iran’s national aviation department, gave a press conference Friday and denied that a missile had hit the plane. He also asked the U.S. and Canada to share any information they had, The Associated Press reported.
“What is obvious for us, and what we can say with certainty, is that no missile hit the plane,” he said.
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Hassan Rezaeifar, who is leading the Iranian investigation into the disaster, said it could take a month to extract black box data and that the investigation may continue into next year.
Ukraine’s investigators announced they would be considering all causes of the attack, including looking into unverified social media reports of fragments in the area from a Russian-made air defense missile.
The passengers were from several different countries and included 63 Canadians, many of whom were university students and professors returning after winter break. Trudeau demanded that his government play a significant role in investigating the disaster, saying Thursday that both he and the families of victims needed answers.
President Donald Trump distanced the U.S. from the event and suggested it was possible Iran could have mistakenly downed the plane. “Somebody could have made a mistake on the other side … not our system. It has nothing to do with us,” Trump said. “It was flying in a pretty rough neighborhood. They could’ve made a mistake.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had calls with the leaders of several countries affected by the disaster, and he asked for assistance from international partners in the investigation of the crash.
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The reports that the plane was potentially hit with a projectile are a shocking turnaround after U.S. intelligence officials initially said that there was no immediate evidence that the flight was shot down. Iranian officials had harshly rejected speculation that the plane may have been shot in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
“The rumors about the plane are completely false and no military or political expert has confirmed it,” Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman for Iran’s armed forces, told the country’s Fars News Agency on Wednesday.
The plane allegedly climbed to 8,000 feet and then disappeared from radar systems, according to Iranian civil aviation officials. The plane apparently never made a radio call for help and was attempting to turn back toward Tehran airport at the time it went down, an initial Iranian report stated.
Footage of the disaster appears to show a small projectile hitting the plane. The aircraft then attempted to turn around before suffering an explosion and rapidly descending, according to videos verified by The New York Times.
Some of Ukraine’s investigators also worked on the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014. In that incident, investigators found that Russian-backed separatists fired a Russian-made BUK anti-aircraft missile that brought down the plane and killed all 298 passengers on board. The attack led to widespread sanctions against Russia and a yearslong investigation into its causes.
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This article has been updated with more details about the disaster the world leaders’ reactions to it, and Iran’s denial.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-09--Trump's Latest Environmental Rollback Is A Middle Finger To Common Sense

The Trump administration on Thursday unveiled plans to gut one of America ’ s most important environmental laws ― a move experts say is as much of a handout to polluting industries as it is a slap in the face to science and local communities .
The proposed rules would change how the federal government implements the National Environmental Policy Act , a 50-year-old law that protects air , water and land by requiring federal agencies to conduct detailed environmental assessments of major infrastructure projects .
Agencies would no longer be required to consider climate change when evaluating the environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil and gas drilling , airports , highways and other development .
“ The United States will not be able to compete and prosper in the 21st century if we continue to allow a broken and outdated bureaucratic system hold us back from building what we need , ” he said .
The rules from the White House Council on Environmental Quality , which oversees NEPA , have been a long time coming .
They seek to codify what has become common practice since 2017 , when the White House rescinded Obama-era guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emissions and climate change in NEPA reviews .
The move will be the latest in a relentless deregulatory effort by the Trump administration that has largely benefited the fossil fuel industry .
The controversial overhaul is aimed at speeding up energy projects and other development by limiting the number of projects that require in-depth environmental review and expediting the process for those that do .
It would establish strict two-year limits for completing reviews on major projects and a one-year deadline for smaller projects .
Trump on Thursday highlighted a number of projects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get federal approval .
Most alarming to environmentalists is that the proposal would allow agencies to not only ignore a project ’ s vulnerability to climate change , but also its “ cumulative ” effects on global warming , which is already wreaking havoc around the world .
Christy Goldfuss , a former chair of the environmental council under President Barack Obama and current senior vice president for energy and environment policy at the left-leaning Center for American Progress , called the proposal “ the ultimate silencing of science and facts in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puts a huge amount of power in the hands of industry .
“ The oil and gas industry wins .
The American people lose , ” Goldfuss said .
“ The purpose of rewriting these regulations is to build new pipelines and more fossil fuel infrastructure .
You would not have to look at the cumulative impacts of a wind turbine or a solar panel because there is no long-term pollution .
This is about building towards the past and sticking our head in the sand about the impacts of dirty fossil fuels.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of industry groups , developers and Republican lawmakers who say it places unnecessary burdens on business and is used as a tool to block and delay fossil fuel projects .
Trump has prioritized advancing major pipeline projects like Keystone XL , a proposed 1,179-mile , $ 8.5 billion system that would transport some 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta , Canada , to Nebraska .
A federal judge halted construction of Keystone XL in 2018 , ruling that the Trump administration violated NEPA by approving a federal permit without taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change effects .
Trump called the judge ’ s decision “ a disgrace.
” And appeals court later lifted that injunction .
The American Petroleum Institute , the oil and gas industry ’ s leading lobbying group , declined to comment on the specifics of the upcoming NEPA changes but pointed to a November letter in which it called on the Trump administration to “ modernize ” a review and permitting process it said would reduce “ delays and uncertainties associated with infrastructure investment.
” Trump is an outspoken critic of the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential campaign to cut government red tape .
“ We built the Empire State Building in just one year , ” he said in his 2018 State of the Union address .
“ Isn ’ t it a disgrace that it can now take 10 years just to get a minor permit approved for the building of a simple road ?
” “ While the goals of NEPA remain the same as they did 50 years ago , the environmental review process designed to improve decision-making has become increasingly complex and difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulatory update , he added , would “ benefit our economy and environment ” and provide greater certainty to “ project sponsors and ordinary Americans seeking decisions on permits.
” If the proposed reforms take effect , taxpayers are likely to end up footing bigger bills for infrastructure damage from climate-linked environmental disasters , as agencies would no longer have to consider the threat that sea-level rise , flooding , wildfires or extreme weather pose to a project .
In the last decade , the U.S. experienced at least 119 climate and weather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each , more than double the number of billion-dollar disasters during the 2000s , according to a federal report released this week .
Costs from those disasters over the last 10 years exceeds $ 800 billion .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The Trump administration on Thursday unveiled plans to gut one of America’s most important environmental laws ― a move experts say is as much of a handout to polluting industries as it is a slap in the face to science and local communities.
The proposed rules would change how the federal government implements the National Environmental Policy Act, a 50-year-old law that protects air, water and land by requiring federal agencies to conduct detailed environmental assessments of major infrastructure projects. Agencies would no longer be required to consider climate change when evaluating the environmental effects of pipelines, power plants, oil and gas drilling, airports, highways and other development.
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President Donald Trump announced the reforms in a speech at the White House Thursday morning, saying the federal permitting process is “big government at its absolute worst.”
“The United States will not be able to compete and prosper in the 21st century if we continue to allow a broken and outdated bureaucratic system hold us back from building what we need,” he said.
The rules from the White House Council on Environmental Quality, which oversees NEPA, have been a long time coming. They seek to codify what has become common practice since 2017, when the White House rescinded Obama-era guidelines that tasked agencies with considering greenhouse gas emissions and climate change in NEPA reviews. The move is the latest in a relentless deregulatory effort by the Trump administration that has largely benefited the fossil fuel industry.
The controversial overhaul is aimed at speeding up energy projects and other development by limiting the number of projects that require in-depth environmental review and expediting the process for those that do. It would establish strict two-year limits for completing reviews on major projects and a one-year deadline for smaller projects. Trump on Thursday highlighted a number of projects that took a decade or longer to get federal approval.
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Most alarming to environmentalists is that the proposal would allow agencies to not only ignore a project’s vulnerability to climate change, but also its “cumulative” effects on global warming, which is already wreaking havoc around the world.
Christy Goldfuss, a former chair of the environmental council under President Barack Obama and current senior vice president for energy and environment policy at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, called the proposal “the ultimate silencing of science and facts in our policymaking around infrastructure.” She said it puts a huge amount of power in the hands of industry.
“The oil and gas industry wins. The American people lose,” Goldfuss said. “The purpose of rewriting these regulations is to build new pipelines and more fossil fuel infrastructure. You would not have to look at the cumulative impacts of a wind turbine or a solar panel because there is no long-term pollution. This is about building towards the past and sticking our head in the sand about the impacts of dirty fossil fuels.”
The proposal would be the first major update to the law in more than four decades. The rules are certain to face legal challenges.
Lengths of pipe wait to be laid in the ground along the Mountain Valley Pipeline near Elliston, Virginia, on Sept. 29. Charles Mostoller / Reuters
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NEPA has long been a target of industry groups, developers and Republican lawmakers who say it places unnecessary burdens on business and is used as a tool to block and delay fossil fuel projects. Trump has prioritized advancing major pipeline projects like Keystone XL, a proposed 1,179-mile, $8.5 billion system that would transport some 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta, Canada, to Nebraska. A federal judge halted construction of Keystone XL in 2018, ruling that the Trump administration violated NEPA by approving a federal permit without taking into account greenhouse gas emissions and climate change effects. Trump called the judge’s decision “a disgrace.” And appeals court later lifted that injunction.
The American Petroleum Institute, the oil and gas industry’s leading lobbying group, declined to comment on the specifics of the upcoming NEPA changes but pointed to a November letter in which it called on the Trump administration to “modernize” a review and permitting process it said would reduce “delays and uncertainties associated with infrastructure investment.”
Diane Katz, a senior research fellow at the right-wing Heritage Foundation, said “streamlining provisions” would help reduce the cost of roads, bridges and railways, but may not even go far enough.
“In fact, the NEPA is entirely out of sync with current environmental, political, social, and economic realities, and outright repeal would not make a whit of difference to the environment or public health,” she said by email.
Trump is an outspoken critic of the federal permitting process and vowed throughout his 2016 presidential campaign to cut government red tape. “We built the Empire State Building in just one year,” he said in his 2018 State of the Union address. “Isn’t it a disgrace that it can now take 10 years just to get a minor permit approved for the building of a simple road?”
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President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce proposed rollbacks to the National Environmental Policy Act regulations on Thursday. Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
On Jan. 1 ― NEPA’s 50th anniversary ― Trump issued a statement criticizing the law and foreshadowing Thursday’s announcement.
“While the goals of NEPA remain the same as they did 50 years ago, the environmental review process designed to improve decision-making has become increasingly complex and difficult to navigate,” he said. The regulatory update, he added, would “benefit our economy and environment” and provide greater certainty to “project sponsors and ordinary Americans seeking decisions on permits.”
But fewer projects requiring environmental review means fewer opportunities for the public to weigh in on potentially damaging construction.
“Trump’s gift to the fossil fuel industry and special interests will silence ordinary Americans while giving polluters a free pass to trash the environment, destroy public lands and kill wildlife,” Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement.
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If the proposed reforms take effect, taxpayers are likely to end up footing bigger bills for infrastructure damage from climate-linked environmental disasters, as agencies would no longer have to consider the threat that sea-level rise, flooding, wildfires or extreme weather pose to a project.
“We will now be building infrastructure with a blindfold at a time when we know extreme weather is just getting more and more extreme,” Goldfuss said.
In the last decade, the U.S. experienced at least 119 climate and weather disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion each, more than double the number of billion-dollar disasters during the 2000s, according to a federal report released this week. Costs from those disasters over the last 10 years exceeds $800 billion.
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, a former oil lobbyist, said Thursday at the White House news conference that he was “thrilled” by Trump’s decision. The reforms “will be the most significant deregulatory proposal” the president implements during his time in office, he said.
“This proposal affects virtually every significant decision made by the federal government that affects the environment,” Bernhardt added.
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Trump stressed the administration was just getting started.
“We will not stop until our nation’s gleaming new infrastructure has made America the envy of the world again,” he said. “It used to be the envy of the world, and now we’re like a third world country. It’s really sad.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-09--Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Adorable New Puppy Is Making Everyone Swoon

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) this week unveiled a brand new member of her family — an adorable puppy .
“ So we just did something big , ” the lawmaker revealed in an Instagram story on Monday .
She then introduced the cute canine , who is believed to be a French bulldog .
“ Hey boo boo .
Hi .
Welcome to our family , ” she said in the clip , above .
Ocasio-Cortez wrote she was thinking of naming the dog “ something Star Trek related or Bronx/Queens/NYC/social good related.
” On Twitter , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to be a community pup.
” “ Ideally we want to work to the point where he can enjoy town halls , be an Amtrak pup , come to the office , etc.
, ” Ocasio-Cortez added .
Yes !
🐶 the goal is to train him to be a community pup .
Ideally we want to work to the point where he can enjoy town halls , be an Amtrak pup , come to the office , etc .
But first , naps 😴 pic.twitter.com/ec8beJTrmZ — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( @ AOC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s unclear where Ocasio-Cortez got the dog .
Her office did not immediately reply to HuffPost ’ s request for further information .
The pooch received a warm welcome on social media , however , where many people responded by sharing snaps of their own pups : Welcome to the frenchie family .
All they do is nap nap nap .
pic.twitter.com/opxM5KDYdg — Andy Lo ( @ Gooner_Lopez ) January 8 , 2020 This is my guy Carter .
He ’ d be thrilled to join you guys for walks when yours is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ mxhrxd ) January 7 , 2020 OMG !
!
!
!
Gon na need to swing down to DC and get cuddles < 3 — Jess Newman 🌹🕊 ( @ OrganizerJess36 ) January 7 , 2020 He 's beautiful .
Congratulations on your new baby .
I have three dogs and two cats - all rescues .
They make life so much more enjoyable .
# RescueDogs # RescueCats pic.twitter.com/7bPpXj3fJQ — la résistance ( @ BamasLadyJ ) January 8 , 2020 My little guy is 7.5 years old now .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grain-free food , and , ideally , raw frozen - nothing but protein , vegetables , and vitamins .
Makes for a super healthy pup pic.twitter.com/O00vnLAD3l — William Middleton ( @ wfmiddleton ) January 8 , 2020

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) this week unveiled a brand new member of her family — an adorable puppy.
“So we just did something big,” the lawmaker revealed in an Instagram story on Monday. She then introduced the cute canine, who is believed to be a French bulldog. “Hey boo boo. Hi. Welcome to our family,” she said in the clip, above.
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Ocasio-Cortez wrote she was thinking of naming the dog “something Star Trek related or Bronx/Queens/NYC/social good related.”
On Twitter, she explained “the goal is to train him to be a community pup.”
“Ideally we want to work to the point where he can enjoy town halls, be an Amtrak pup, come to the office, etc.,” Ocasio-Cortez added.
Yes! 🐶 the goal is to train him to be a community pup. Ideally we want to work to the point where he can enjoy town halls, be an Amtrak pup, come to the office, etc.
But first, naps 😴 pic.twitter.com/ec8beJTrmZ — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 7, 2020
It’s unclear where Ocasio-Cortez got the dog. Her office did not immediately reply to HuffPost’s request for further information.
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The pooch received a warm welcome on social media, however, where many people responded by sharing snaps of their own pups:
he is perfect — Sam (@Samuel_Burnear) January 7, 2020
Welcome to the frenchie family. All they do is nap nap nap. pic.twitter.com/opxM5KDYdg — Andy Lo (@Gooner_Lopez) January 8, 2020
Adorable — No war with Iran (@bulerias128) January 7, 2020
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This is my guy Carter. He’d be thrilled to join you guys for walks when yours is ready to socialize. pic.twitter.com/NbQRM1coPv — mehrad (@mxhrxd) January 7, 2020
OMG!!!! Gonna need to swing down to DC and get cuddles <3 — Jess Newman 🌹🕊 (@OrganizerJess36) January 7, 2020
He is so precious pic.twitter.com/z3dDPxBX07 — Karla Ortiz (@kortizart) January 7, 2020
He's beautiful. Congratulations on your new baby. I have three dogs and two cats - all rescues. They make life so much more enjoyable. #RescueDogs #RescueCats pic.twitter.com/7bPpXj3fJQ — la résistance (@BamasLadyJ) January 8, 2020
Gorgeous. This is Bella the French bulldog. pic.twitter.com/bdFW9gPfyh — Gina Roberts 🌹💚 🌎🇪🇺 (@fbpe_gina) January 7, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-09--Army Says Text Messages About Iran War Draft Are Fake

After text messages claiming to be from the Army scared people across the country into thinking they ’ d been conscripted into fighting a war in Iran , the service released a statement declaring the texts fraudulent .
“ U.S .
Army Recruiting Command has received multiple calls and emails about these fake text messages and wants to ensure Americans understand these texts are false and were not initiated by this command or the U.S. Army , ” the U.S. Army Recruiting Command said in Tuesday ’ s statement .
Text messages trying to scare people into thinking they 'd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fake , the Army says .
The fake text messages landed amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran after the U.S. on Friday assassinated an Iranian military leader in a drone strike in Baghdad .
President Donald Trump then ordered nearly 3,000 additional soldiers to the Middle East .
Tehran retaliated Tuesday by firing a barrage of missiles at military bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces .
One of the phony texts tells the recipient to “ come to the nearest branch ... for immediate departure to Iran.
” It adds : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent to jail for a minimum 6 years if no reply , ” according to a screenshot obtained by NPR .
“ I spoke with a mom on Monday whose 14-year-old daughter had received the text and her friends had also received a text , ” Ferguson said .
“ We have no way of knowing , you know , why people are getting them or who ’ s being sent the text.
” Congress , which has the sole power to declare war under the Constitution , has not said that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , who famously received a medical draft deferment during the Vietnam War , signaled no immediate escalation to the hostilities in a televised address on Wednesday .
Earlier , he had threatened the U.S. “ will quickly & fully strike back , & perhaps in a disproportionate manner ” if Iran should “ strike any U.S. person or target.
” This Media Post will serve as a reminder that war powers reside in the Congress under the United States Constitution .
And that you should read the War Powers Act .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
https : //t.co/VTroMegWv0 — House Foreign Affairs Committee ( @ HouseForeign ) January 5 , 2020 The Selective Service System , which still requires men ages 18 to 25 to register with basic information , said earlier this month on Facebook that it ’ s “ conducting business as usual.
” The system , which would administer any draft , reminded people that reinstating a draft would be a decision for Congress .
The draft has not been in effect since 1973 .
Military service has been voluntary since .

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Everyone cool your jets. There is no military draft, the U.S. Army assures people.
After text messages claiming to be from the Army scared people across the country into thinking they’d been conscripted into fighting a war in Iran, the service released a statement declaring the texts fraudulent.
“U.S. Army Recruiting Command has received multiple calls and emails about these fake text messages and wants to ensure Americans understand these texts are false and were not initiated by this command or the U.S. Army,” the U.S. Army Recruiting Command said in Tuesday’s statement.
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Text messages trying to scare people into thinking they'd been drafted for an Iraq war are fake, the Army says. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The fake text messages landed amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran after the U.S. on Friday assassinated an Iranian military leader in a drone strike in Baghdad. President Donald Trump then ordered nearly 3,000 additional soldiers to the Middle East. Tehran retaliated Tuesday by firing a barrage of missiles at military bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces.
One of the phony texts tells the recipient to “come to the nearest branch ... for immediate departure to Iran.” It adds: “You’ll be fined and sent to jail for a minimum 6 years if no reply,” according to a screenshot obtained by NPR.
The messages appear to have targeted people randomly, Lisa Ferguson, media relations chief for U.S. Army Recruiting Command, told NPR.
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“I spoke with a mom on Monday whose 14-year-old daughter had received the text and her friends had also received a text,” Ferguson said. “We have no way of knowing, you know, why people are getting them or who’s being sent the text.”
Congress, which has the sole power to declare war under the Constitution, has not said that the U.S. is at war with Iran. Trump, who famously received a medical draft deferment during the Vietnam War, signaled no immediate escalation to the hostilities in a televised address on Wednesday. Earlier, he had threatened the U.S. “will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner” if Iran should “strike any U.S. person or target.”
This Media Post will serve as a reminder that war powers reside in the Congress under the United States Constitution. And that you should read the War Powers Act. And that you’re not a dictator. https://t.co/VTroMegWv0 — House Foreign Affairs Committee (@HouseForeign) January 5, 2020
The Selective Service System, which still requires men ages 18 to 25 to register with basic information, said earlier this month on Facebook that it’s “conducting business as usual.” The system, which would administer any draft, reminded people that reinstating a draft would be a decision for Congress.
Congress has declared war 11 times since 1812. Its last declaration was for WWII in 1942.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-09--Chris Cuomo Demolishes Donald Trump's Iran Address, Point By Point

CNN ’ s Chris Cuomo on Wednesday night dissected President Donald Trump ’ s televised address to the nation in which he attempted to present a pause in hostilities between the U.S. and Iran as a victory for himself .
Tensions escalated following the U.S. assassination of top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani .
Iran responded Tuesday with ballistic missile strikes at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. soldiers , causing no casualties .
Critics of a potential conflict feared America was on the brink of all-out war following the exchange .
Hours after Trump suggested to Americans he wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuomo Prime Time ” host argued there are “ three lessons that we must learn to avoid being here again this way.
” “ Lesson one , declaring victory because we just got bombed and nobody died , that is proof of no strategy , ” he said .
The second lesson was Trump “ has to own what he does , ” and the third was “ we have to trust our institutions.
” “ But we can ’ t .
Why ?
” Cuomo asked .
“ The president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency bashing the very intel agencies he now says are great and we must trust without proof.
” “ We kept warning that these self-serving attacks of his on truth and the institutions would come back to bite him , and now it has , ” Cuomo added .
“ And he ’ s got a lot of people in Congress and the country not behind what he did , not for good reason , but because they don ’ t have any reason .
But they have good reason not to trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

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CNN’s Chris Cuomo on Wednesday night dissected President Donald Trump’s televised address to the nation in which he attempted to present a pause in hostilities between the U.S. and Iran as a victory for himself.
Tensions escalated following the U.S. assassination of top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Iran responded Tuesday with ballistic missile strikes at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. soldiers, causing no casualties. Critics of a potential conflict feared America was on the brink of all-out war following the exchange.
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Hours after Trump suggested to Americans he wouldn’t immediately escalate hostilities further, the “Cuomo Prime Time” host argued there are “three lessons that we must learn to avoid being here again this way.”
“Lesson one, declaring victory because we just got bombed and nobody died, that is proof of no strategy,” he said. The second lesson was Trump “has to own what he does,” and the third was “we have to trust our institutions.”
“But we can’t. Why?” Cuomo asked. “The president’s a serial liar. He spent his presidency bashing the very intel agencies he now says are great and we must trust without proof.”
“We kept warning that these self-serving attacks of his on truth and the institutions would come back to bite him, and now it has,” Cuomo added. “And he’s got a lot of people in Congress and the country not behind what he did, not for good reason, but because they don’t have any reason. But they have good reason not to trust him and why he did it.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-09--Sunrise Movement Endorses Bernie Sanders

Sunrise Movement , the influential Green New Deal campaigners , endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) for president on Thursday , boosting the progressive ’ s credentials as the 2020 race ’ s leading candidate on climate change .
The endorsement followed a vote among Sunrise Movement ’ s rank-and-file about whether to back an individual candidate , and then another on whom to support .
After six weeks of deliberation , the organization voted by 76 % to back Sanders .
“ We know that no matter who the next President is , we will need to turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disrupt business as usual in order to win a Green New Deal , ” Sunrise Movement ’ s executive director , Varshini Prakash , and political director , Evan Weber , wrote in an email to supporters Thursday morning .
“ But our movement has spoken clearly.
” Sanders was the obvious favorite for the group ’ s endorsement .
Sunrise Movement , founded in 2017 , is among the many progressive newcomers that cropped up in the wake of Sanders ’ unsuccessful but historic 2016 presidential campaign .
The nonprofit ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who overwhelmingly support the Vermont senator , who has made an uber-ambitious , $ 16.3 trillion Green New Deal a central plank of his 2020 campaign .
Yet the outcome of Sunrise Movement ’ s vote is a stinging loss for progressive rival Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
, whose proposals for an ocean-focused “ Blue New Deal ” and endorsements from key figures in the Green New Deal movement place her close behind Sanders in green groups ’ ranking of climate plans .
Sanders has already received strong backing from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Climate Strike endorsed Sanders last month .
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) and Ilhan Omar ( D-Minn. ) , who both sponsored some of the first pieces of Green New Deal legislation last year , backed Sanders .
Explicitly backing Sanders , however , could undermine Sunrise Movement ’ s sway over the Democratic nominee if he doesn ’ t win , said Julian Brave NoiseCat , a Green New Deal policy expert at the unaligned , left-leaning think tank Data for Progress .
“ There ’ s a risk inherent in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of the announcement .
“ Regardless of who comes out ahead at the end of the primary season , we ’ re going to have to fight like hell to get something done on climate change .
”

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Sunrise Movement, the influential Green New Deal campaigners, endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for president on Thursday, boosting the progressive’s credentials as the 2020 race’s leading candidate on climate change.
The endorsement followed a vote among Sunrise Movement’s rank-and-file about whether to back an individual candidate, and then another on whom to support. After six weeks of deliberation, the organization voted by 76% to back Sanders.
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“We know that no matter who the next President is, we will need to turn millions of people into the streets and disrupt business as usual in order to win a Green New Deal,” Sunrise Movement’s executive director, Varshini Prakash, and political director, Evan Weber, wrote in an email to supporters Thursday morning. “But our movement has spoken clearly.”
Sanders was the obvious favorite for the group’s endorsement. Sunrise Movement, founded in 2017, is among the many progressive newcomers that cropped up in the wake of Sanders’ unsuccessful but historic 2016 presidential campaign. The nonprofit’s base is dominated by teenagers and 20-somethings who overwhelmingly support the Vermont senator, who has made an uber-ambitious, $16.3 trillion Green New Deal a central plank of his 2020 campaign.
Yet the outcome of Sunrise Movement’s vote is a stinging loss for progressive rival Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), whose proposals for an ocean-focused “Blue New Deal” and endorsements from key figures in the Green New Deal movement place her close behind Sanders in green groups’ ranking of climate plans.
Sanders has already received strong backing from climate advocates. The U.S. Youth Climate Strike endorsed Sanders last month. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who both sponsored some of the first pieces of Green New Deal legislation last year, backed Sanders.
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Explicitly backing Sanders, however, could undermine Sunrise Movement’s sway over the Democratic nominee if he doesn’t win, said Julian Brave NoiseCat, a Green New Deal policy expert at the unaligned, left-leaning think tank Data for Progress.
“There’s a risk inherent in endorsing anybody,” NoiseCat said Wednesday ahead of the announcement. “Regardless of who comes out ahead at the end of the primary season, we’re going to have to fight like hell to get something done on climate change.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-09--Arsonists Torch Controversial Donald Trump Statue In Melania Trump's Home Country

Arsonists in Slovenia , the home country of first lady Melania Trump , on Thursday torched a wooden sculpture of her husband , President Donald Trump .
The 26-foot Statue of Liberty-style work mocking the U.S. president by architect and artist Tomaz Schlegl is shown engulfed in flames in various photos and videos .
There were no immediate arrests .
Moravce Mayor Milan Balazic described the arson as a “ symbol of intolerance toward artistic projects in our society , ” reported The Associated Press .
Schlegl unveiled his sculpture in the village of Sela pri Kamniku in August .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the populist politics of some world leaders , including Trump .
“ For the first time since World War II populism is prevailing : look at [ British Prime Minister Boris ] Johnson , look at Trump , our president or [ Hungary ’ s Prime Minister Viktor ] Orban .
Where is this world heading ?
” Schlegl told Agence France-Presse at the time .
“ I believe these attacks are understandable bearing in mind what ’ s happening in the world , ” Schlegl told AFP on Thursday .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s request for comment on the arson .
The stature of Trump had split opinion among locals and had been the target of at least one previous arson attack .
A farmer attempted to drive a tractor into the piece .
Previous arsonists unsuccessfully tried to burn it down , reported Slovenia ’ s national broadcaster RTV Slovenija .
Someone also defaced it with an Adolf Hitler-esque mustache .
The statue was moved in December to the nearby village of Moravce , in a bid to boost visitors to the area , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Architect and artist Tomaz Schlegl unveiled his 26-foot-high Statue of Liberty-style depiction of the U.S. president in the village of Sela pri Kamniku in August .

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The 26-foot Statue of Liberty-style work mocking the U.S. president by architect and artist Tomaz Schlegl is shown engulfed in flames in various photos and videos. There were no immediate arrests.
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Moravce Mayor Milan Balazic described the arson as a “symbol of intolerance toward artistic projects in our society,” reported The Associated Press.
A wooden sculpture of Donald Trump was set alight in Slovenia early Thursday morning. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Schlegl unveiled his sculpture in the village of Sela pri Kamniku in August. He described the work as a swipe at the populist politics of some world leaders, including Trump.
“For the first time since World War II populism is prevailing: look at [British Prime Minister Boris] Johnson, look at Trump, our president or [Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor] Orban. Where is this world heading?” Schlegl told Agence France-Presse at the time.
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The artist earlier floated the idea of burning the piece on Halloween.
“I believe these attacks are understandable bearing in mind what’s happening in the world,” Schlegl told AFP on Thursday.
He did not immediately reply to HuffPost’s request for comment on the arson.
The stature of Trump had split opinion among locals and had been the target of at least one previous arson attack. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The artwork attracted tourists and divided opinion.
A farmer attempted to drive a tractor into the piece. Previous arsonists unsuccessfully tried to burn it down, reported Slovenia’s national broadcaster RTV Slovenija. Someone also defaced it with an Adolf Hitler-esque mustache.
The statue was moved in December to the nearby village of Moravce, in a bid to boost visitors to the area, where it was set alight early Thursday.
Local broadcasters shared video on YouTube of it burning:
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Here’s what it looked like before:
Architect and artist Tomaz Schlegl unveiled his 26-foot-high Statue of Liberty-style depiction of the U.S. president in the village of Sela pri Kamniku in August. JURE MAKOVEC via Getty Images
The sculpture was moved to another nearby village in December. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sculptor Ales “Maxi” Zupevc’s chainsaw-sculpted wooden statue of the first lady near Sevnica remains unharmed: