thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-20--Hasidic And Black Leaders Celebrate Communal Ties On MLK Day

The event was designed to demonstrate intercommunal dialogue and solidarity following a wave of attacks against Hasidic Jews in the metropolitan New York City area .
The violence , which for months was limited to verbal and physical assaults , culminated in December with a deadly shooting targeting the small Hasidic community in Jersey City and a gruesome stabbing in the Rockland County suburb of Monsey .
“ We are bound to the Jewish people by our past .
We are bound by our present .
And we are also bound by our future , ” said Monrose , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers to a Christian congregation in Brooklyn ’ s East Flatbush neighborhood .
“ We are standing together in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters .
We are standing together because we are one.
” Assemblyman Ortiz , who recently returned from an aid trip to his home island of Puerto Rico , thanked Rapaport for his work organizing a charity drive for the U.S. territory .
That kind of assistance is in the spirit of King , Ortiz said .
“ It doesn ’ t matter ... where we come from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we speak , what have you ― we are humankind , ” Ortiz said .
“ And that is what Martin Luther King was trying to say.
” Chesky Deutsch , a leader of the Hasidic community in Jersey City , criticized news coverage for trying to create a narrative that pits African Americans against Jews .
He noted that in his Hasidic enclave in Jersey City , his wife relies on their Black neighbors to keep an eye on their kids .
Assemblyman Eichenstein , who has called for more state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hasidic neighborhoods like Borough Park , is eager to see what New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) allots in additional funds to protect institutions vulnerable to hate crimes when he announces his budget proposal on Tuesday .
Eichenstein thanked the governor for $ 45 million in state funds to protect such institutions , which was allotted in the budget passed last year , prior to the wave of attacks .
But he wants additional resources for vulnerable institutions , including schools and houses of worship , in light of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deutsch , the Jersey City Hasidic leader , sounded a harmonious note , a dispute transpired in the weeks after the attack over an anti-Semitic Facebook message posted by Jersey City Board of Education member Joan Terrell-Paige .
Terrell-Paige , who is Black , called Jews “ brutes ” in a since-deleted Facebook message , and suggested that observers should analyze the “ message ” of the assault on the kosher supermarket .
Although Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop ( D ) , who is Jewish , and New Jersey Gov .
Phil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Terrell-Paige ’ s resignation , she has defied the calls with help from supportive members of her Jersey City community .
Those community members argue that Terrell-Paige ’ s comments were a response to complaints about unscrupulous real estate speculators , some of whom are allegedly Jewish , and to concerns that the city is more responsive to Hasidic Jews than to African Americans .
“ I really don ’ t feel that it ’ s my place to come into something like that .
I don ’ t know anything about that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I do see that she ’ s well respected in the community .
And I ’ ve talked to numerous people who told me that she ’ s a really good person that maybe expressed herself wrong .
But my focus is on talking to people that would like to communicate.
” Ridley has met at least one Jersey City woman who recounted her confusion when Hasidic children did not respond to her kids in recreational settings .
The woman did not realize that Yiddish is the native tongue of many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be the reason for the children ’ s reticence , according to Ridley .

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NEW YORK ― Hasidic Jewish, Black and Latino elected officials, clergy and community activists gathered on Monday for a day of service to express their shared vigilance against anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred, invoking the humanistic message of Martin Luther King Jr.
Alex Rapaport, founder of Masbia, a kosher soup kitchen and food pantry in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Borough Park, convened the Martin Luther King Day gathering. Participants helped restock Masbia’s shelves and promoted a charity drive for survivors of the earthquake in Puerto Rico.
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Those in attendance included New York Assemblymen Simcha Eichenstein and Felix Ortiz; New York City Councilman Kalman Yeger; Jersey City Councilwoman Denise Ridley; Rockland County, New York, legislator Aron Wieder; Pastor Gil Monrose, head of faith affairs for the Brooklyn borough president; the New York Police Department’s deputy chief Charles Scholl; and Jonah Boyarin from the New York City Commission on Human Rights.
Rockland County legislator Aron Wieder, center, speaks at a Martin Luther King Day event in Brooklyn's Borough Park neighborhood. The event showcased Black-Jewish solidarity. Benjamin Kanter
The event was designed to demonstrate intercommunal dialogue and solidarity following a wave of attacks against Hasidic Jews in the metropolitan New York City area. The violence, which for months was limited to verbal and physical assaults, culminated in December with a deadly shooting targeting the small Hasidic community in Jersey City and a gruesome stabbing in the Rockland County suburb of Monsey.
The vast majority of the attacks, including the shooting and stabbing in December, have allegedly been perpetrated by residents of low-income, predominantly Black neighborhoods adjacent to Hasidic enclaves.
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As a result, participants in Monday’s MLK Day event were keen to emphasize positive bonds between the Black and Jewish communities and downplay divisions.
“We are bound to the Jewish people by our past. We are bound by our present. And we are also bound by our future,” said Monrose, a Black immigrant from the Virgin Islands who ministers to a Christian congregation in Brooklyn’s East Flatbush neighborhood. “We are standing together in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters. We are standing together because we are one.”
Several speakers cited King’s broad legacy of love for fellow human beings regardless of their backgrounds and commitment to combating intolerance and persecution of minorities of all kinds.
Assemblyman Ortiz, who recently returned from an aid trip to his home island of Puerto Rico, thanked Rapaport for his work organizing a charity drive for the U.S. territory. That kind of assistance is in the spirit of King, Ortiz said.
“It doesn’t matter ... where we come from, what we look like, how we speak, what have you ― we are humankind,” Ortiz said. “And that is what Martin Luther King was trying to say.”
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Chesky Deutsch, a leader of the Hasidic community in Jersey City, criticized news coverage for trying to create a narrative that pits African Americans against Jews. He noted that in his Hasidic enclave in Jersey City, his wife relies on their Black neighbors to keep an eye on their kids.
Rapaport interjected to affirm: “We look out for each other!”
As much as the event signaled a moment of healing and reconciliation after a violent December, some challenges lie ahead.
Assemblyman Eichenstein, who has called for more state and city resources to beef up security in Hasidic neighborhoods like Borough Park, is eager to see what New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) allots in additional funds to protect institutions vulnerable to hate crimes when he announces his budget proposal on Tuesday. Eichenstein thanked the governor for $45 million in state funds to protect such institutions, which was allotted in the budget passed last year, prior to the wave of attacks. But he wants additional resources for vulnerable institutions, including schools and houses of worship, in light of the recent anti-Semitic hate crimes.
“It doesn’t matter ... where we come from, what we look like, how we speak, what have you ― we are humankind.” - New York Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (D)
And though Deutsch, the Jersey City Hasidic leader, sounded a harmonious note, a dispute transpired in the weeks after the attack over an anti-Semitic Facebook message posted by Jersey City Board of Education member Joan Terrell-Paige. Terrell-Paige, who is Black, called Jews “brutes” in a since-deleted Facebook message, and suggested that observers should analyze the “message” of the assault on the kosher supermarket.
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Although Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop (D), who is Jewish, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), immediately demanded Terrell-Paige’s resignation, she has defied the calls with help from supportive members of her Jersey City community. Those community members argue that Terrell-Paige’s comments were a response to complaints about unscrupulous real estate speculators, some of whom are allegedly Jewish, and to concerns that the city is more responsive to Hasidic Jews than to African Americans.
Deutsch has decided that doubling down on calls for Terrell-Paige’s resignation would be counterproductive.
“I really don’t feel that it’s my place to come into something like that. I don’t know anything about that woman,” the Hasidic leader said. “I do see that she’s well respected in the community. And I’ve talked to numerous people who told me that she’s a really good person that maybe expressed herself wrong. But my focus is on talking to people that would like to communicate.”
City Councilwoman Ridley, who is Black, also said it was better to move forward with efforts to educate people like Terrell-Paige, rather than seek to force her resignation.
“[Former President Barack] Obama said it best: We have this culture now called cancel culture, and people making a mistake and we kind of discredit anything they’ve said in the past,” Ridley said.
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Referring to Terrell-Paige’s anti-Semitic comments and other prejudiced speech, Ridley added, “I definitely think there needs to be sensitivity training to understand that these things can’t happen that way.”
Ridley represents some of the estimated 75-100 Hasidic families who have moved into the Greenville section of Jersey City, which is predominantly African American. She has already made plans to convene an interfaith clergy meeting with the goal of increasing understanding between Black residents and Hasidic Jews.
Ridley has met at least one Jersey City woman who recounted her confusion when Hasidic children did not respond to her kids in recreational settings. The woman did not realize that Yiddish is the native tongue of many members of the Hasidic community, which may be the reason for the children’s reticence, according to Ridley.
Ultimately, Ridley believes that the two communities’ shared quest for economic security is the best basis for mutual understanding.
“We have the same needs: We want affordable housing, we want safe streets, and we have to join together on those things,” she said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Trump Mocked As ‘Space Farce’ After Saying America Is Number One In The Universe

We 're NUMBER ONE in the Universe , Y'all !
And it 's gon na keep on getting better !
@ @ @ @ @ Hundreds of Billions of Dollars back to the United States of America !
Then we @ @ @ @ @ the Meta-Universe and in God 's Kingdom too !
On # MLKDay Y'all .
The @ @ @ @ @ : //t.co/n1H2wcfdhp

We're NUMBER ONE in the Universe, Y'all! And it's gonna keep on getting better! He's gonna bring Hundreds of Billions of Dollars back to the United States of America!
Then we'll be NUMBER ONE in the Meta-Universe and in God's Kingdom too!
On #MLKDay Y'all. The man tweets this. https://t.co/n1H2wcfdhp


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Republicans Block Requests For New Evidence In Senate Impeachment Trial

WASHINGTON ― The Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump kicked off with a partisan brawl over the admission of new evidence and witness testimony during the proceedings , a sharp contrast to the unanimous 100-0 vote that set the rules for the trial of then-President Bill Clinton two decades ago .
After Democrats on Tuesday moved to subpoena key documents from the White House and State Department , including records about the administration ’ s decision to withhold military aid to Ukraine , every Senate Republican voted to kill the effort .
The procedural drama began after Senate Majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a resolution Monday evening laying out the rules of the trial that would have given each side 24 hours over just two days to present their arguments and would not guarantee any witness testimonies .
In a rare concession , however , McConnell made last-minute changes that track more closely with the Clinton trial by allowing more time for opening arguments after Democrats and several Republican senators objected to the original guidelines .
The new rules allow both sides 24 hours spread over three days ― not two ― to present their evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be admitted into the Senate record unless there ’ s an objection from Trump ’ s lawyers .
Schumer said that Republican senators “ felt the heat ” from Democrats and pushed for the last-minute changes .
“ It shows that they can make other changes , and that we can get documents and witnesses , ” Schumer said .
“ In other words , this idea that Mitch McConnell , whatever he does , every one of them will go along with , it doesn ’ t seem to be happening.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to call for witnesses only after opening arguments from both sides , but ensuring they actually testify will require at least 51 votes .
If the Senate doesn ’ t allow witnesses , the trial could be over by the end of next week .
“ There is no guarantee that Leader McConnell will allow these votes to take place later in the trial , so now , before any resolution passes , we must do it , ” Schumer said Tuesday .
Several Republican senators have indicated they are likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , including Sens .
Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah .
Democrats will need to convince at least four GOP senators to vote with them to subpoena their desired witnesses .
Romney said he was not bothered by the prospect of the trial proceeding deep into the night , comparing the situation to his role running the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City .
Trump is charged with abuse of power for his dealings with Ukraine and his efforts to block congressional investigations .
Given GOP control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ultimate votes on the two articles of impeachment are widely expected to fall far short of the required two-thirds margin required for removal from office .
The House impeachment managers launched into an aggressive argument on the Senate floor for ousting Trump from office on Tuesday , saying that he tried to “ cheat in the ( 2020 ) election ” by getting Ukraine to announce an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden , his possible Democratic opponent this November .
Rep. Adam Schiff ( D-Calif. ) , one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses , noting that Trump last month ― in a video clip Schiff played senators ― said he would “ love ” to have former administration officials testify in his Senate trial .

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WASHINGTON ― The Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump kicked off with a protracted, partisan brawl over the admission of new evidence and witness testimony during the proceedings, a sharp contrast to the unanimous 100-0 vote that set the rules for the trial of then-President Bill Clinton two decades ago.
After Democrats on Tuesday moved to subpoena key documents from the White House and State Department, including records about the administration’s decision to withhold military aid to Ukraine, every Senate Republican voted to kill the effort. GOP senators also rejected requests to subpoena testimony from acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who the White House had blocked from testifying during the House impeachment investigation, as well as former National Security Adviser John Bolton.
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“A trial without evidence is not a trial. It’s a cover-up,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a floor speech before voting began on the issues.
The fierce procedural drama began after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) unveiled a resolution Monday evening laying out the rules of the trial that would have given each side 24 hours over just two days to present their arguments and would not guarantee any witness testimonies.
In a rare concession, however, McConnell made last-minute changes that track more closely with the Clinton trial by allowing more time for opening arguments after Democrats and several Republican senators objected to the original guidelines. The new rules allow both sides 24 hours spread over three days ― not two ― to present their evidence.
Schumer said that Republican senators “felt the heat” from Democrats and pushed for the last-minute changes. “It shows that they can make other changes and that we can get documents and witnesses,” Schumer said. “In other words, this idea that Mitch McConnell, whatever he does, every one of them will go along with, it doesn’t seem to be happening.”
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Democrats initially blasted the rules package, accusing McConnell of orchestrating a quick trial that would keep the American people from seeing key evidence, with proceedings potentially running late into the night.
Under the rules authored by McConnell, senators will be able to call for witnesses only after opening arguments from both sides, but ensuring they actually testify will require at least 51 votes. If the Senate doesn’t allow witnesses, the trial could be over by the end of next week.
“There is no guarantee that Leader McConnell will allow these votes to take place later in the trial, so now, before any resolution passes, we must do it,” Schumer said Tuesday.
McConnell defended the rules, which the Senate adopted early Wednesday, saying in a floor speech a day prior that the Senate would “finally” receive “some fairness” in the impeachment process.
Several Republican senators have indicated they are likely to support calling witnesses later in the trial, however, including Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah. Democrats will need to convince at least four GOP senators to vote with them to subpoena their desired witnesses.
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“I will be in favor of witnesses, I presume, after hearing the opening arguments,” Romney said Tuesday.
Romney said he was not bothered by the prospect of the trial proceeding deep into the night, comparing the situation to his role running the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
The games were “on a time delay and people got to see” them, Romney said.
Trump is charged with abuse of power for his dealings with Ukraine and his efforts to block congressional investigations. Given GOP control of the Senate, the chamber’s ultimate votes on the two articles of impeachment are widely expected to fall far short of the required two-thirds margin required for removal from office.
The House impeachment managers launched into an aggressive argument on the Senate floor for ousting Trump from office on Tuesday, saying that he tried to “cheat in the (2020) election” by getting Ukraine to announce an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden, his possible Democratic opponent this November.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), one of the managers, pressed the case for additional witnesses, noting that Trump last month ― in a video clip Schiff played senators ― said he would “love” to have former administration officials testify in his Senate trial.
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“The Senate has an opportunity to take the president up on his offer to make his senior aides available,” Schiff said. “But now the president is changing his tune.”
Trump, speaking from the glitzy World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said Wednesday that he would still “love” to have Mulvaney and others testify, but would leave it up to the Senate to decide.
The president also said allowing Bolton to testify would be a “national security problem” ― a claim that echoes then-President Richard Nixon’s failed attempts to derail his own impeachment trial in the 1970s.
″He knows what I think about leaders,” Trump said of Bolton during a press conference in Davos. “What happens if he reveals what I think about a certain leader and it’s not very positive?”
“I don’t know if we left on the best of terms,” he added, referring to his decision to fire Bolton in September. “I would say probably not. So you don’t like people testifying when they didn’t leave on good terms.”
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Trump: I would “rather” have Bolton testify but “the problem with John is that it's a national security problem.” pic.twitter.com/EAVFVGwQxZ — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) January 22, 2020
Republicans ultimately rejected 11 Democratic amendments on Tuesday over nearly 13 hours of debate on the floor, including motions for subpoenas calling for witness testimony and other documents related to the Ukraine matter.
Senators grew weary of the proceedings late in the night, often ignoring chamber guidelines to remain quiet and in their seats. Both the House managers and Trump’s lawyers earned an admonishment from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts at one point early Wednesday, after a tense exchange that veered into personal attacks.
The trial will continue on Wednesday when the House impeachment managers officially begin their opening arguments in the case.
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) expressed skepticism that House managers would use all 24 hours of their allotted time this week, adding that a lot of their arguments presented Tuesday had been repetitive.
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“Adam Schiff standing up and saying the same thing five times straight I don’t think is having the impact here he wanted to have,” Blunt told reporters. “They may very well think ... this is the last time the general public will pay attention and they better drive it home.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Brazilian Prosecutors Charge Glenn Greenwald With Cybercrimes

Less than two months ago , after examining the same evidence cited today by Brazil ’ s Public Ministry , @ @ @ @ @ not only have I never committed any crimes in my contacts with our source , @ @ @ @ @ extreme caution as a journalist .
This new accusation — brought by the same prosecutor @ @ @ @ @ to criminally prosecute the head of the Brazilian Bar Association for criticizing Minister Moro — @ @ @ @ @ attack a free press in retaliation for the revelations we reported about Minister Moro and @ @ @ @

Less than two months ago, after examining the same evidence cited today by Brazil’s Public Ministry, the Federal Police stated that not only have I never committed any crimes in my contacts with our source, but also that I exercised extreme caution as a journalist. This new accusation — brought by the same prosecutor who just tried and failed to criminally prosecute the head of the Brazilian Bar Association for criticizing Minister Moro — is an obvious attempt to attack a free press in retaliation for the revelations we reported about Minister Moro and the Bolsonaro government.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Sacramento Bee Slams Devin Nunes In Scathing Editorial

The Sacramento Bee editorial board on Monday delivered a blistering critique of Rep. Devin Nunes ( R-Calif. ) , declaring in an editorial that voters in his congressional district “ deserve better.
” The newspaper ’ s board dissected new “ explosive allegations ” that Nunes ― the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee ― “ and his staff contacted shadowy Ukrainian figures in an effort to betray American democracy.
” “ Text messages released by the House Intelligence Committee last week reveal that a top Nunes aide named Derek Harvey – who served on Trump ’ s National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff – sought direct contact with Ukrainian officials in an effort to smear former Vice President Joe Biden , ” the editorial explained .
The editorial said Nunes “ knew the Ukraine allegations were true because his office was involved in the same plot .
But he used his position in Congress as a platform to spread lies and mislead the public ” by continually defending President Donald Trump , who the House last month impeached over the scandal .
“ Regardless of whether you lean Democratic or Republican , here ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the board wrote .
“ He lied to the American people and to his own constituents about the Ukraine allegations , dismissing them although he knew they were true.
” “ Devin Nunes has betrayed the truth , betrayed the trust of voters and , quite possibly , betrayed our country , ” the editorial concluded .
“ We don ’ t know exactly where this new evidence will lead , or what fate has in store for Nunes , but we do know this : The people of California ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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The Sacramento Bee editorial board on Monday delivered a blistering critique of Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), declaring in an editorial that voters in his congressional district “deserve better.”
The newspaper’s board dissected new “explosive allegations” that Nunes ― the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee ― “and his staff contacted shadowy Ukrainian figures in an effort to betray American democracy.”
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“Text messages released by the House Intelligence Committee last week reveal that a top Nunes aide named Derek Harvey – who served on Trump’s National Security Council before he joined Nunes’ staff – sought direct contact with Ukrainian officials in an effort to smear former Vice President Joe Biden,” the editorial explained.
The editorial said Nunes “knew the Ukraine allegations were true because his office was involved in the same plot. But he used his position in Congress as a platform to spread lies and mislead the public” by continually defending President Donald Trump, who the House last month impeached over the scandal.
“Regardless of whether you lean Democratic or Republican, here’s an undeniable fact: Nunes lied,” the board wrote. “He lied to the American people and to his own constituents about the Ukraine allegations, dismissing them although he knew they were true.”
“Devin Nunes has betrayed the truth, betrayed the trust of voters and, quite possibly, betrayed our country,” the editorial concluded. “We don’t know exactly where this new evidence will lead, or what fate has in store for Nunes, but we do know this: The people of California’s 22nd congressional district deserve better.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Hillary Clinton Candidly Criticizes Bernie Sanders In New Documentary

“ He was in Congress for years , ” she says of Sanders in the documentary , per an interview with THR published Tuesday .
“ He had one senator support him .
Nobody likes him , nobody wants to work with him , he got nothing done .
He was a career politician .
It ’ s all just baloney and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it.
” “ My focus today is on a monumental moment in American history : the impeachment trial of Donald Trump , ” he said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ go forward and defeat the most dangerous president in American history.
” In the interview , Clinton declined to say whether she would endorse and campaign for Sanders if he were to become the nominee .
Instead , she went on to criticize “ the culture around him , ” including the sexist verbal attacks that his supporters , often referred to as “ Bernie Bros , ” have launched on social media in the past .
Sanders condemned their comments at the time .
She also took aim at Sanders allegedly telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a 2018 meeting that he didn ’ t believe a woman could defeat President Donald Trump in 2020 .
Sanders has denied the exchange ever happened .
“ Well , number one , I think [ that sentiment ] is untrue , which we should all say loudly .
I mean , I did get more votes both in the primary , by about 4 million , and in the general election , by about 3 million , ” Clinton said , calling the alleged comments “ a very personal attack on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documentary series directed by Oscar nominee Nanette Burstein , which Clinton described as telling a “ larger story about women , ” reportedly makes gender in politics a central focus .
Clinton told THR she believes media coverage of the 2020 race has been “ reverting back to stereotypes , and many of those are highly genderized.
” She revealed that she has spoken to most of the 2020 contenders , including two of the remaining women in the race : Warren and Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) .
“ I always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ Look , you can run the best campaign , but you ’ re going to have to be even better than your best campaign to overcome some of the unfairness that will be directed at you as a woman , ’ ” Clinton said .
Clinton — who struggled with how pointedly she should have attacked Trump in 2016 , given the double standard often applied to women when they publicly express anger — said that bind still exists for the women in the 2020 race .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton said , though she praised Warren ’ s retort to Sanders at the Democratic presidential debate earlier this month , when Warren said , “ The only people on this stage who have won every one of their races are Amy and me.
” “ It ’ s really hard ever to score 100 when you ’ re trying to navigate gender expectations and barriers , ” she added .
“ Sometimes you really do want to let loose , and then you think , ‘ Oh , great , they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , so I ’ m getting angry.
’ Or they ’ ll say that I ’ m mad , and that that ’ s not a very attractive look .
So , it ’ s a constant evaluation about , how can I best convey who I am , what I believe , what I stand for and what I ’ m willing to fight for ?
”

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Hillary Clinton gives an unvarnished view of her 2016 Democratic presidential primary opponent Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in a Hulu documentary airing in March, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“He was in Congress for years,” she says of Sanders in the documentary, per an interview with THR published Tuesday. “He had one senator support him. Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done. He was a career politician. It’s all just baloney and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it.”
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The documentary is set to premiere this weekend at the Sundance Film Festival, before streaming on Hulu starting March 6.
When THR asked Clinton whether her criticism still stands, Clinton said, “Yes, it does.”
Sanders, now one of the 2020 Democratic presidential front-runners, on Tuesday declined to directly respond to Clinton’s remarks.
“My focus today is on a monumental moment in American history: the impeachment trial of Donald Trump,” he said in a statement. “Together, we are going to go forward and defeat the most dangerous president in American history.”
In the interview, Clinton declined to say whether she would endorse and campaign for Sanders if he were to become the nominee. Instead, she went on to criticize “the culture around him,” including the sexist verbal attacks that his supporters, often referred to as “Bernie Bros,” have launched on social media in the past. Sanders condemned their comments at the time.
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She also took aim at Sanders allegedly telling Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) during a 2018 meeting that he didn’t believe a woman could defeat President Donald Trump in 2020. Sanders has denied the exchange ever happened.
“Well, number one, I think [that sentiment] is untrue, which we should all say loudly. I mean, I did get more votes both in the primary, by about 4 million, and in the general election, by about 3 million,” Clinton said, calling the alleged comments “a very personal attack on [Warren].”
Clinton and Sanders campaigning together at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire, on Sept. 28, 2016. Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
The four-hour documentary series directed by Oscar nominee Nanette Burstein, which Clinton described as telling a “larger story about women,” reportedly makes gender in politics a central focus. Clinton told THR she believes media coverage of the 2020 race has been “reverting back to stereotypes, and many of those are highly genderized.”
She revealed that she has spoken to most of the 2020 contenders, including two of the remaining women in the race: Warren and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
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“I always say [to the female candidates], ‘Look, you can run the best campaign, but you’re going to have to be even better than your best campaign to overcome some of the unfairness that will be directed at you as a woman,’” Clinton said.
Clinton — who struggled with how pointedly she should have attacked Trump in 2016, given the double standard often applied to women when they publicly express anger — said that bind still exists for the women in the 2020 race.
“It’s hard still. Very hard,” Clinton said, though she praised Warren’s retort to Sanders at the Democratic presidential debate earlier this month, when Warren said, “The only people on this stage who have won every one of their races are Amy and me.”
“I thought that was clever. Some people loved it, some hated it,” Clinton said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Supreme Court Won't Rush Obamacare Case, Leaving Law In Limbo Past 2020 Election

The majority-Democrat House of Representatives and Democratic state attorneys general , who are defending the law against a group of Republican state officials and President Donald Trump ’ s Justice Department , asked the high court to expedite the case , known as Texas v. United States .
On Tuesday , the Supreme Court said it would not take up the case in its next session , all but erasing the possibility of an election-season ruling that would cause an estimated 20 million people to lose their health coverage .
The Urban Institute projects that 20 million people would lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which would end the law ’ s Medicaid expansion to poor adults and its subsidies on private health insurance for low- and middle-income families .
Because the GOP plaintiffs have sought to have the entire law overturned , the consequences would reach far beyond those who would find themselves immediately uninsured .
The Affordable Care Act ’ s guarantee that people with preexisting conditions can get coverage would go away .
Rules requiring insurance companies to cover the “ essential health benefits ” defined by the law , including prescription drugs , hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Without the Affordable Care Act , insurers also could resume setting dollar limits on annual and lifetime medical care for each policyholder .
Medicare beneficiaries would pay more for prescriptions because they would lose additional assistance provided by Obamacare .
A federal appeals court in New Orleans partly upheld that decision last month and sent the case back to O ’ Connor for further consideration .
The law remains in place while the case continues to work its way through the courts .
Given the stakes , it ’ s likely that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make a final decision on the lawsuit .
The state GOP officials brought the lawsuit shortly after Congress in 2017 eliminated the fines associated with the Affordable Care Act ’ s “ individual mandate ” that most U.S. residents have health coverage or pay tax penalties .
Citing a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that the mandate was a constitutional exercise in Congress ’ right to levy taxes , the plaintiffs contend that the lack of fines ― that is , taxes ― renders the mandate itself unconstitutional .
Furthermore , the Republicans cite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then-President Barack Obama that the mandate is so essential to the law ’ s functioning that the entire statute must be struck down if the mandate were .
Trump ’ s Justice Department declined to defend the Affordable Care Act in court , a break with standard practice when federal laws are subject to legal challenges .
Moreover , the Trump administration actually joined with its state counterparts in seeking to invalidate the law in June 2018 .
At first , the administration only sought to have the courts undo the Affordable Care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preexisting conditions and some related provisions , but later it signed on to the state officials ’ goal of eliminating the whole statute .
Immediately prior to the federal government abandoning its defense of the law , a trio of Justice Department lawyers removed their names from the government ’ s brief , and Joel McElvain , a 20-year veteran of the department , quit in protest .
Trump nominated the lead lawyer who remained , Chad Readler , for a federal judgeship the same day the department submitted its brief ; the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scholars from the left and right have derided the plaintiffs ’ legal arguments , but one federal circuit court judge and two appeals court jurists were unmoved by those criticisms so far .
These Republican-appointed judges also were unpersuaded by the Democratic defense of the law , including the assertion that Congress clearly didn ’ t intend to repeal the entire law when it eliminated the mandate fines in 2017 , as evidenced by the fact that Congress did not , in fact , vote to repeal the entire law .

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The Supreme Court almost certainly won’t take up a Republican lawsuit to eliminate the Affordable Care Act before the presidential election this year, justices announced Tuesday.
The majority-Democrat House of Representatives and Democratic state attorneys general, who are defending the law against a group of Republican state officials and President Donald Trump’s Justice Department, asked the high court to expedite the case, known as Texas v. United States. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court said it would not take up the case in its next session, all but erasing the possibility of an election-season ruling that would cause an estimated 20 million people to lose their health coverage.
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Whenever a ruling does come, it has the potential to invalidate the Affordable Care Act and wreak havoc on the U.S. health care system.
The Urban Institute projects that 20 million people would lose health coverage under such a decision, which would end the law’s Medicaid expansion to poor adults and its subsidies on private health insurance for low- and middle-income families.
Because the GOP plaintiffs have sought to have the entire law overturned, the consequences would reach far beyond those who would find themselves immediately uninsured.
The Affordable Care Act’s guarantee that people with preexisting conditions can get coverage would go away. Rules requiring insurance companies to cover the “essential health benefits” defined by the law, including prescription drugs, hospital care and preventive medicine, would disappear. Without the Affordable Care Act, insurers also could resume setting dollar limits on annual and lifetime medical care for each policyholder. Medicare beneficiaries would pay more for prescriptions because they would lose additional assistance provided by Obamacare.
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and a group of other state Republican officials filed their lawsuit in February 2018, and U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, ruled in their favor in December 2018.
A federal appeals court in New Orleans partly upheld that decision last month and sent the case back to O’Connor for further consideration. The law remains in place while the case continues to work its way through the courts. Given the stakes, it’s likely that the Supreme Court ultimately will have to make a final decision on the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs’ argument draws on two significant developments from the nearly decade-long history of the Affordable Care Act.
The state GOP officials brought the lawsuit shortly after Congress in 2017 eliminated the fines associated with the Affordable Care Act’s “individual mandate” that most U.S. residents have health coverage or pay tax penalties. Citing a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that the mandate was a constitutional exercise in Congress’ right to levy taxes, the plaintiffs contend that the lack of fines ― that is, taxes ― renders the mandate itself unconstitutional. Furthermore, the Republicans cite the Justice Department’s claims under then-President Barack Obama that the mandate is so essential to the law’s functioning that the entire statute must be struck down if the mandate were.
Trump’s Justice Department declined to defend the Affordable Care Act in court, a break with standard practice when federal laws are subject to legal challenges. Moreover, the Trump administration actually joined with its state counterparts in seeking to invalidate the law in June 2018. At first, the administration only sought to have the courts undo the Affordable Care Act’s protections for people with preexisting conditions and some related provisions, but later it signed on to the state officials’ goal of eliminating the whole statute.
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Immediately prior to the federal government abandoning its defense of the law, a trio of Justice Department lawyers removed their names from the government’s brief, and Joel McElvain, a 20-year veteran of the department, quit in protest. Trump nominated the lead lawyer who remained, Chad Readler, for a federal judgeship the same day the department submitted its brief; the Senate confirmed him last March.
Legal scholars from the left and right have derided the plaintiffs’ legal arguments, but one federal circuit court judge and two appeals court jurists were unmoved by those criticisms so far. These Republican-appointed judges also were unpersuaded by the Democratic defense of the law, including the assertion that Congress clearly didn’t intend to repeal the entire law when it eliminated the mandate fines in 2017, as evidenced by the fact that Congress did not, in fact, vote to repeal the entire law.
The plaintiffs in Texas v. U.S. are the GOP officials from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is leading the defense along with his counterparts from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington state and the District of Columbia. The Democratic-led House of Representatives joined the defense last February.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--The Colossal Gun Rally In Richmond Was Co-Opted By Extremists

Thousands filled the square around the Virginia state capitol on Monday , many of them with the goal of protesting gun control measures proposed by Democratic-led state lawmakers , including mandatory background checks and restrictions on gun purchases .
But the original point of the demonstrations got lost amid the threat of violence , posed days before the protest began .
Neo-Nazis had allegedly plotted to open fire at the rally , Gov .
Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency , and hundreds of gun-toting men from out of the area were bused in by the militia that hosted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a protest with a clear , pro-gun message , but a circus of ideas and characters from the far-right , many of them well outside of the pro-gun umbrella .
Everyday pro-gun protesters were flanked by an assortment of extremistists from the fringe : gun-toting militia members , conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones and QAnon , blathering neo-Nazi Jovi Val , punch-happy gangs Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys , and even an armed group formed on the internet , seeking to bring on a civil war .
The intended message was lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a real-life assemblage from a 4chan message board than a Second Amendment lobbying event .
That this group was able to gather without anyone getting shot or maimed became a celebratory note for conservative pundits .
The underlying issues surrounding guns ( there ’ s more than one mass shooting every day in America , for example ) weren ’ t really represented at all , as counterprotesters largely avoided the event on account of the violent threats .
Days before the rally , three suspected neo-Nazis planning to attend Monday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plot to open fire and sow chaos .
Some of those who did attend aren ’ t exactly known for taking up Second Amendment causes .
The Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer , for example , exist to fight counterprotesters in the street , and spend weeks plotting their attacks against them .
Alex Jones , the InfoWars host most famous for lying about the Sandy Hook school massacre , was seen cruising Richmond streets in a tacky armored truck , screaming into a megaphone to applause from the audience .
When a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his compatriots were , he suggested looking “ on the rooftops.
” It was an implicit threat referring to a 2018 incident in which members were found on the roof of Portland , Oregon , parking garage with a cache of weapons .
The makeup of the crowd was black mark for those citizens who said they had shown up with a genuine interest in fighting gun control .
Don Huttle , a Vietnam veteran and former police officer , drove all night from his home state of Indiana to demonstrate .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the government was “ overreaching ” by attempting to confiscate guns .
( No Virginia legislation proposes confiscating guns . )
“ Seizing weapons I feel is morally wrong and against constitutional rights , ” Huttle said .
When reminded that SB 16 ― a bill that sought to ban assault rifles in Virginia ― died last week , Huttle still expressed concern that gun owners could turn violent .
“ If it can be stopped here in mass protest , my hope is that it stops before there ’ s bloodshed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s too many people that are very angry about this.
” In the end , there was no bloodshed , in part because the threat of violence was so severe that the government declared a state of emergency .
But some of those carrying guns on Monday sure seemed like they wanted to use them .
“ This is peaceful civil disobedience , ” one protester named Michael ― who declined to give his last name ― told HuffPost .
“ We ’ re not here for a fight , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Those who showed up with their semiautomatic rifles , dressed up in full military garb , practicing war tactics , and some wearing patches celebrating fascist , murderous dictators and “ death squads , ” appeared to be salivating for violence , not the sanctity of the Second Amendment .
One man , who did not provide his name but said he was a gun seller based in New York , carried a Barrett .50-caliber sniper rifle capable of turning a human being into mist with one shot .

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RICHMOND, Va. ― Who would have guessed? A pro-gun rally was sullied by the threat of gun violence.
Thousands filled the square around the Virginia state capitol on Monday, many of them with the goal of protesting gun control measures proposed by Democratic-led state lawmakers, including mandatory background checks and restrictions on gun purchases.
But the original point of the demonstrations got lost amid the threat of violence, posed days before the protest began. Neo-Nazis had allegedly plotted to open fire at the rally, Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency, and hundreds of gun-toting men from out of the area were bused in by the militia that hosted the event.
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What resulted was not a protest with a clear, pro-gun message, but a circus of ideas and characters from the far-right, many of them well outside of the pro-gun umbrella. Everyday pro-gun protesters were flanked by an assortment of extremistists from the fringe: gun-toting militia members, conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones and QAnon, blathering neo-Nazi Jovi Val, punch-happy gangs Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys, and even an armed group formed on the internet, seeking to bring on a civil war.
Former Proud Boy, current Neo-Nazi Jovi Val is there wearing a swastika. Cops are trying to keep him separate from other pro-gun attendees. https://t.co/TQykB1GzUw — JJ MacNab (@jjmacnab) January 20, 2020
The intended message was lost in a crowd that often looked more like a real-life assemblage from a 4chan message board than a Second Amendment lobbying event. That this group was able to gather without anyone getting shot or maimed became a celebratory note for conservative pundits.
The underlying issues surrounding guns (there’s more than one mass shooting every day in America, for example) weren’t really represented at all, as counterprotesters largely avoided the event on account of the violent threats. Days before the rally, three suspected neo-Nazis planning to attend Monday’s demonstration were arrested amid an alleged plot to open fire and sow chaos.
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Some of those who did attend aren’t exactly known for taking up Second Amendment causes. The Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer, for example, exist to fight counterprotesters in the street, and spend weeks plotting their attacks against them. Alex Jones, the InfoWars host most famous for lying about the Sandy Hook school massacre, was seen cruising Richmond streets in a tacky armored truck, screaming into a megaphone to applause from the audience.
I asked Alex Jones how his Sandy Hook lawsuits are going. He’s being sued by multiple families for falsely claiming the shooting never happened. He did not respond to my questions. pic.twitter.com/pIPbjrUZQY — Sebastian Murdock (@SebastianMurdoc) January 20, 2020
When a reporter asked a Proud Boys member where his compatriots were, he suggested looking “on the rooftops.” It was an implicit threat referring to a 2018 incident in which members of Patriot Prayer ― a group aligned with Proud Boys and other violent extremists ― were found on the roof of a Portland, Oregon, parking garage with a cache of weapons.
The makeup of the crowd was black mark for those citizens who said they had shown up with a genuine interest in fighting gun control. Don Huttle, a Vietnam veteran and former police officer, drove all night from his home state of Indiana to demonstrate. He agreed with universal background checks, but said the government was “overreaching” by attempting to confiscate guns. (No Virginia legislation proposes confiscating guns.)
“Seizing weapons I feel is morally wrong and against constitutional rights,” Huttle said. When reminded that SB 16 ― a bill that sought to ban assault rifles in Virginia ― died last week, Huttle still expressed concern that gun owners could turn violent.
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“If it can be stopped here in mass protest, my hope is that it stops before there’s bloodshed,” he said. “Because there’s too many people that are very angry about this.”
In the end, there was no bloodshed, in part because the threat of violence was so severe that the government declared a state of emergency. But some of those carrying guns on Monday sure seemed like they wanted to use them.
“This is peaceful civil disobedience,” one protester named Michael ― who declined to give his last name ― told HuffPost. “We’re not here for a fight, but we’re ready if need be.”
Those who showed up with their semiautomatic rifles, dressed up in full military garb, practicing war tactics, and some wearing patches celebrating fascist, murderous dictators and “death squads,” appeared to be salivating for violence, not the sanctity of the Second Amendment. One man, who did not provide his name but said he was a gun seller based in New York, carried a Barrett .50-caliber sniper rifle capable of turning a human being into mist with one shot.
In the end, though, the soldier role-players didn’t appear to get what they wanted.
With no one to give into their confrontation, militia members were left practicing marching single-file down Main Street, past Richmond’s cute bars and diners, pretending to be the soldiers they aren’t.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Historic Senate Impeachment Trial Of President Donald Trump Begins

“ The Democrats have proven ... Trump ’ s innocence .
The only guy that ’ s been transparent during this is Trump , ” Sen. Rick Scott ( R-Fla. ) said in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt earlier this month , adding he would “ absolutely ” vote to acquit Trump .
The president blocked a number of key Trump administration officials from testifying during the House impeachment inquiry , including acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton .
Bolton has since offered to testify in the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to convince at least four GOP senators to vote with them to subpoena their desired witnesses .
Sen. Susan Collins ( R-Maine ) , a moderate , issued a statement last week clarifying that she is “ likely ” to support calling witnesses but only after the presentation of evidence by both the House managers and the president ’ s defense team .
Sens .
Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) , Lisa Murkowski ( R-Ala. ) , and Lamar Alexander ( R-Tenn. ) have also expressed openness to calling witnesses .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be helpful .
It is likely that I would support a motion to call witnesses at that point in the trial just as I did in 1999 , ” Collins said in the statement .
But many of her colleagues say they see no reason to call additional witnesses during the Senate trial , arguing House Democrats should have sought testimony from Mulvaney , Bolton and others by taking their case to court .
“ I don ’ t think we ’ re going to have any witnesses .
I think it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it ’ s going to be pretty fast , ” Scott said in the Hewitt interview .

“The Democrats have proven ... Trump’s innocence. The only guy that’s been transparent during this is Trump,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt earlier this month, adding he would “absolutely” vote to acquit Trump.
The president blocked a number of key Trump administration officials from testifying during the House impeachment inquiry, including acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton. Bolton has since offered to testify in the Senate trial if subpoenaed.
Democrats will need to convince at least four GOP senators to vote with them to subpoena their desired witnesses.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a moderate, issued a statement last week clarifying that she is “likely” to support calling witnesses but only after the presentation of evidence by both the House managers and the president’s defense team. Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.), and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) have also expressed openness to calling witnesses.
“I tend to believe having additional information would be helpful. It is likely that I would support a motion to call witnesses at that point in the trial just as I did in 1999,” Collins said in the statement.
But many of her colleagues say they see no reason to call additional witnesses during the Senate trial, arguing House Democrats should have sought testimony from Mulvaney, Bolton and others by taking their case to court.
“I don’t think we’re going to have any witnesses. I think it’ll be over right then. I think it’s going to be pretty fast,” Scott said in the Hewitt interview.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Trump's Chief Defender Argues Dems Have 'Absolutely No Case'

“ The only conclusion will be that the president has done absolutely nothing wrong , ” Cipollone said as he argued in favor of McConnell ’ s proposal to decide on whether to allow further witnesses or documents later in the trial .
Schiff said that although the evidence against Trump was “ already overwhelming , ” further witness testimony was necessary to show the full scope of the misconduct by the president and those around him .
“ For all of the name-calling and fingerpointing from the president ’ s counsel , we did not hear a single argument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be the documents and witnesses we requested in this trial , ” Schumer said .
That plan was changed to give each side three days of opening arguments over two 24-hour periods .
The rules also will allow the House ’ s record of the impeachment probe admitted as evidence in the trial , as Democrats had demanded .
Trump and his legal team say there was no pressure and that the Democrats ’ case is based on hearsay .
Cipollone has described the Ukraine investigation as an illegal attempt to remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-election .
Televised congressional testimony from a parade of current and former officials who spoke of a coordinated effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens has done little to change support for and against Trump ’ s impeachment .
Reuters/Ipsos polling since the inquiry began shows Democrats and Republicans responding largely along party lines .
According to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll conducted Jan. 13-14 , 39 % of U.S. adults approved of Trump ’ s job performance , while 56 % disapproved .
It also found 45 % of respondents said Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 % said the impeachment charges should be dismissed .
The trial of a U.S. president could be freighted with drama , huge political risk and the potential unraveling of a presidency .
But financial markets have shrugged it off , and the revelations in the months-long impeachment investigation thus far have done little to boost anti-Trump sentiment among undecided voters or shift away moderate Republican voters .

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial began in earnest in the Senate on Tuesday, with his chief legal defender attacking the case as baseless and a top Democratic lawmaker saying there was “overwhelming” evidence of wrongdoing.
Democrats have called on the Republican-controlled Senate to remove Trump from office for pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a political rival, and then impeding the inquiry into the matter.
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Trump, who was impeached last month by the Democratic-led House of Representatives on charges of abusing power and obstructing Congress, denies any wrongdoing and describes his impeachment as a partisan hoax to derail his 2020 re-election.
With the television cameras rolling, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts convened the proceedings and the two sides began squabbling over Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s proposed rules for the trial.
White House counsel Pat Cipollone, who is leading Trump’s defense, attacked the foundation of the charges against the Republican president and said Democrats had not come close to meeting the U.S. Constitution’s standard for impeachment.
“The only conclusion will be that the president has done absolutely nothing wrong,” Cipollone said as he argued in favor of McConnell’s proposal to decide on whether to allow further witnesses or documents later in the trial.
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“There is absolutely no case,” he said.
Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, who helped spearhead the House impeachment inquiry, summarized the charges against Trump and said the Republican president had committed a “trifecta of constitutional misconduct justifying impeachment.”
Schiff said that although the evidence against Trump was “already overwhelming,” further witness testimony was necessary to show the full scope of the misconduct by the president and those around him.
Democrats want a number of current and former Trump administration officials, including Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton to testify. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday offered an amendment to subpoena White House documents related to Trump’s dealings with Ukraine and vowed to push for the further witness testimony.
“For all of the name-calling and fingerpointing from the president’s counsel, we did not hear a single argument on the merits about why there should not be the documents and witnesses we requested in this trial,” Schumer said.
McConnell unveiled a plan on Monday for what would be a potentially quick trial without new testimony or evidence. It would have given Democratic prosecutors and Trump’s lawyers 48 hours, evenly split, to present their arguments over four days.
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That plan was changed to give each side three days of opening arguments over two 24-hour periods. The rules also will allow the House’s record of the impeachment probe admitted as evidence in the trial, as Democrats had demanded.
“We discussed it at lunch. It was pretty much a (Republican) conference consensus that that made a lot more sense,” Republican Senator Ron Johnson said.
Democrats had accused McConnell of trying to rig a trial with proposed rules that they said would prevent witnesses from testifying and bar evidence gathered by investigators.
McConnell has repeatedly said the rules would mirror those the Senate used in the 1999 impeachment of then-President Bill Clinton, a Democrat. Republican senators have not ruled out the possibility of further witness testimony and evidence.
Under McConnell’s plan, lawyers for Trump could move early in the proceedings to ask senators to dismiss all charges, according to a senior Republican leadership aide, a motion that would likely fall short of the support needed to succeed.
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Even if such a motion fails, Trump is almost certain to be acquitted by the 100-member chamber, where a two-thirds majority is needed to remove him from office.
But the impact of the trial on his re-election bid is far from clear.
TRUMP SUPPORT FIRM
Democrats accuse Trump of pressuring Ukraine, a vulnerable ally, to interfere in U.S. elections at the expense of American national security and say he is a danger to American democracy.
Trump and his legal team say there was no pressure and that the Democrats’ case is based on hearsay. Cipollone has described the Ukraine investigation as an illegal attempt to remove a democratically elected president and avert his re-election.
“They’re not here to steal one election, they’re here to steal two elections,” Cipollone said on Tuesday.
Cipollone also repeated a trope that Republicans were excluded from the secure facility where the initial depositions for the House impeachment hearings took place. In fact, Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee were not only present but questioned witnesses.
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The Senate trial is expected to continue six days a week, Monday through Saturday, until at least the end of January.
Trump has sought to rally his base with the impeachment issue, fund-raising off it. At raucous election rallies he has painted himself as the victim of a witch hunt.
Televised congressional testimony from a parade of current and former officials who spoke of a coordinated effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens has done little to change support for and against Trump’s impeachment. Reuters/Ipsos polling since the inquiry began shows Democrats and Republicans responding largely along party lines.
According to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll conducted Jan. 13-14, 39% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s job performance, while 56% disapproved. It also found 45% of respondents said Trump should be removed from office, while 31% said the impeachment charges should be dismissed.
The impeachment drama has consumed much of Trump’s attention even as the United States faces a series of international challenges, including tensions with Iran that nearly boiled over into open war and an on-again, off-again trade war with China.
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Trump is attending the annual gathering of world business leaders in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday to project an air of business as usual and tout the strength of the U.S. economy.
Asked whether Trump was planning to watch the trial from Davos, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said, “He has a full day here in Davos, but will be briefed by staff periodically.”
MARKETS SHRUG OFF TRIAL
The trial of a U.S. president could be freighted with drama, huge political risk and the potential unraveling of a presidency. But financial markets have shrugged it off, and the revelations in the months-long impeachment investigation thus far have done little to boost anti-Trump sentiment among undecided voters or shift away moderate Republican voters.
This is only the third impeachment trial in U.S. history. No president has ever been removed through impeachment, a mechanism the nation’s founders - worried about a monarch on American soil - devised to oust a president for “treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”
A pivotal event in the impeachment case is a July 25 phone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate the Bidens and a discredited theory that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 U.S. election.
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Hunter Biden had joined the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father was vice president. Trump has accused the Bidens of corruption without offering evidence. They have denied wrongdoing.
Democrats said Trump abused his power by initially withholding $391 million in Ukraine security aid intended to fight Russia-backed separatists, and a coveted White House meeting for Zelenskiy, to pressure Ukraine to announce the investigations of the Bidens. Trump’s legal team says there is no evidence that the aid was a condition for receiving help.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Sanders Apologizes For Surrogate's Op-Ed Claiming Biden Has 'Corruption Problem'

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) apologized for an opinion piece written by one of his campaign surrogates that accuses fellow Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden of having a “ big corruption problem.
” “ Joe Biden is a friend of mine , ” Sanders told CBS News on Monday .
“ I ’ ve known him for many , many years .
He ’ s a very decent guy .
And Joe and I have strong disagreements on a number of issues .
...
But it is absolutely not my view that Joe is corrupt in any way .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ op-ed appeared.
” The opinion piece , published in The Guardian on Monday , was authored by Zephyr Teachout , a prominent law professor and former New York state attorney general candidate who endorsed Sanders early on in the 2016 election cycle and announced her support for his 2020 bid last month .
She isn ’ t an official member of the Sanders campaign , but has stumped for him on the campaign trail .
Her piece , which argues that “ Biden has a big corruption problem and it makes him a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a newsletter curated by Sanders campaign adviser David Sirota .
Sanders has prided himself on refraining from attacking his fellow Democratic presidential hopefuls , so his campaign ’ s decision to promote the piece was surprising to some of his followers .
Critics also took notice of the timing of the piece ’ s publication : the day before the Senate is scheduled to kick off its impeachment trial , which largely focuses on President Donald Trump ’ s efforts to get Ukraine to investigate Biden .
Trump , who has denied any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the removal of Ukraine ’ s top prosecutor to impede an investigation into a Ukrainian gas company with ties to his son Hunter .
Ukrainian authorities have said Biden did nothing wrong .
What ’ s more , several world leaders and a bipartisan group of Congress members were also pushing for the prosecutor ’ s ouster at the time .
Teachout did not mention Biden ’ s vice presidential dealings with Ukraine in her opinion piece .
Instead , she accused the candidate of accepting hefty donations from corporations and pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Whether or not Biden is making choices to please donors , there is no doubt his record represents the transactional , grossly corrupt culture in Washington that long precedes Trump , ” Teachout wrote .
The opinion piece followed a tense back-and-forth between the two presidential campaigns earlier this month when Biden accused the Sanders campaign of sharing a “ fake ” video of him discussing Social Security and Medicare cuts at the Brookings Institution in 2018 .
In the short clip shared by Sanders ’ campaign , Biden appears to applaud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( R-Wis. ) to dismantle the programs .
However , Biden goes on to say that he wanted the programs protected .
There ’ s no evidence Sanders ’ campaign altered the video .
But the Sanders campaign did misrepresent Biden ’ s message by not including the candidate ’ s full remarks , according to PolitiFact , a nonprofit fact-checking website .

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) apologized for an opinion piece written by one of his campaign surrogates that accuses fellow Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden of having a “big corruption problem.”
“Joe Biden is a friend of mine,” Sanders told CBS News on Monday. “I’ve known him for many, many years. He’s a very decent guy. And Joe and I have strong disagreements on a number of issues. ... But it is absolutely not my view that Joe is corrupt in any way. And I’m sorry that that op-ed appeared.”
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In an exclusive interview with CBS News, Bernie Sanders pushed back against an op-ed claiming Joe Biden has a "big corruption problem." https://t.co/4FD1W9jCaK pic.twitter.com/10JhWhaiNo — CBS News (@CBSNews) January 21, 2020
The opinion piece, published in The Guardian on Monday, was authored by Zephyr Teachout, a prominent law professor and former New York state attorney general candidate who endorsed Sanders early on in the 2016 election cycle and announced her support for his 2020 bid last month.
She isn’t an official member of the Sanders campaign, but has stumped for him on the campaign trail. Her piece, which argues that “Biden has a big corruption problem and it makes him a weak candidate” was circulated Monday in a newsletter curated by Sanders campaign adviser David Sirota.
The newsletter featuring Teachout’s piece had been removed from the online archive by Tuesday morning.
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Sanders has prided himself on refraining from attacking his fellow Democratic presidential hopefuls, so his campaign’s decision to promote the piece was surprising to some of his followers.
The day before the Senate impeachment trial against Trump begins, the Bernie Sanders campaign circulates this op-ed attack on Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/ReEsU2Lkrn — Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) January 20, 2020
Critics also took notice of the timing of the piece’s publication: the day before the Senate is scheduled to kick off its impeachment trial, which largely focuses on President Donald Trump’s efforts to get Ukraine to investigate Biden.
Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, claims then-Vice President Biden pushed for the removal of Ukraine’s top prosecutor to impede an investigation into a Ukrainian gas company with ties to his son Hunter.
Ukrainian authorities have said Biden did nothing wrong. What’s more, several world leaders and a bipartisan group of Congress members were also pushing for the prosecutor’s ouster at the time.
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Teachout did not mention Biden’s vice presidential dealings with Ukraine in her opinion piece. Instead, she accused the candidate of accepting hefty donations from corporations and pushing for policies that protect their interests.
“Whether or not Biden is making choices to please donors, there is no doubt his record represents the transactional, grossly corrupt culture in Washington that long precedes Trump,” Teachout wrote.
Biden, in a tweet Monday, thanked Sanders for “acknowledging” the piece.
“These kinds of attacks have no place in this primary,” Biden wrote. “Let’s all keep our focus on making Donald Trump a one-term president.”
Thanks for acknowledging this, Bernie. These kinds of attacks have no place in this primary. Let’s all keep our focus on making Donald Trump a one-term president. https://t.co/tmFbLm98xd — Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) January 21, 2020
The opinion piece followed a tense back-and-forth between the two presidential campaigns earlier this month when Biden accused the Sanders campaign of sharing a “fake” video of him discussing Social Security and Medicare cuts at the Brookings Institution in 2018.
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In the short clip shared by Sanders’ campaign, Biden appears to applaud the efforts of then-House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to dismantle the programs. However, Biden goes on to say that he wanted the programs protected.
There’s no evidence Sanders’ campaign altered the video. But the Sanders campaign did misrepresent Biden’s message by not including the candidate’s full remarks, according to PolitiFact, a nonprofit fact-checking website.
Sanders hasn’t acknowledged PolitiFact’s findings. But Sirota, the Sanders campaign adviser, tweeted a different video Saturday that showed then-Sen. Biden suggesting in 1995 that Congress should freeze Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs.
Here’s the video @JoeBiden is desperate to hide. He’s trying to mislead voters and now Politico is calling him out for wildly lying: https://t.co/daC7sAKRA4
Don’t let him get away with it. Retweet this: #BidenSocialSecurityCuts ✂pic.twitter.com/MIAx4nO9Qa — David Sirota (@davidsirota) January 19, 2020
This article has been updated with more details on the Biden videos shared by the Sanders campaign.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Trump Mocked As ‘Space Farce’ After Saying America Is No. 1 In The Universe


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Greta Thurnberg Says Planting Trees Is Not Enough After Trump's Tree Pledge

DAVOS , Switzerland ― Greta Thunberg said planting trees was not enough to address climate change on Tuesday , in an apparent rebuke to a planting pledge in Davos by U.S. President Donald Trump .
“ Our house is still on fire , ” Thunberg said , repeating her remarks at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum a year ago .
“ Your inaction is fueling the flames , ” the teenage activist added , in the latest to-and-fro with the 73-year-old president .
Their ongoing debate around climate change appears as an attempt by both to frame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an immediate end to fossil fuel investments in front of a packed audience less than an hour after watching Trump make his keynote address in the Swiss ski resort .
Trump announced the U.S. would join an existing initiative to plant one trillion trees , but also spoke at length about the economic importance of oil and gas and called climate change activists “ pessimistic ” and the “ heirs of yesterday ’ s foolish fortune tellers.
” Panel members applaud for Greta Thunberg after she addressed guests at the forum 's 50th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thunberg called on world leaders to listen to young activists , who have followed her to Davos this year .
“ I ’ m not a person that can complain about not being heard , ” she said , prompting laughter from the audience on the first day of the annual WEF meeting .
“ The science and voice of young people is not the center of the conversation , but it needs to be.
” President Donald Trump also spoke at the annual meeting in Davos , telling attendees that the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one trillion trees .
Several young activists have traveled to the Swiss ski resort of Davos this year , following in Thunberg ’ s footsteps .
Among the “ climate heroes ” being celebrated by the WEF are Irish teen scientist Fionn Ferreira , who created a solution for preventing micro plastics from reaching oceans .
They also include South African climate activist Ayakha Melithafa , 17 , and Canadian Autum Peltier , who has been advocating for water conservation since she was 8 .

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DAVOS, Switzerland ― Greta Thunberg said planting trees was not enough to address climate change on Tuesday, in an apparent rebuke to a planting pledge in Davos by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Our house is still on fire,” Thunberg said, repeating her remarks at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum a year ago. “Your inaction is fueling the flames,” the teenage activist added, in the latest to-and-fro with the 73-year-old president.
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Their ongoing debate around climate change appears as an attempt by both to frame the argument, with Thunberg calling for an immediate end to fossil fuel investments in front of a packed audience less than an hour after watching Trump make his keynote address in the Swiss ski resort.
Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg addresses guests at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Trump announced the U.S. would join an existing initiative to plant one trillion trees, but also spoke at length about the economic importance of oil and gas and called climate change activists “pessimistic” and the “heirs of yesterday’s foolish fortune tellers.”
Thunberg responded by referring to “empty words and promises” by world leaders.
“You say children shouldn’t worry... don’t be so pessimistic and then, nothing, silence.”
Panel members applaud for Greta Thunberg after she addressed guests at the forum's 50th annual meeting in Davos. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Earlier, Thunberg called on world leaders to listen to young activists, who have followed her to Davos this year.
“I’m not a person that can complain about not being heard,” she said, prompting laughter from the audience on the first day of the annual WEF meeting.
“The science and voice of young people is not the center of the conversation, but it needs to be.”
President Donald Trump also spoke at the annual meeting in Davos, telling attendees that the U.S. would join an existing initiative to plant one trillion trees. FABRICE COFFRINI via Getty Images
Several young activists have traveled to the Swiss ski resort of Davos this year, following in Thunberg’s footsteps.
Among the “climate heroes” being celebrated by the WEF are Irish teen scientist Fionn Ferreira, who created a solution for preventing micro plastics from reaching oceans.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Elizabeth Warren Promises Half Her Cabinet Will Be Women

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday promised to appoint women or nonbinary people to at least half of the top positions in the executive branch if she wins the presidency .
The pledge comes as Warren , one of the three leading 2020 Democratic candidates in national polling , is seeking to consolidate and rally female voters ahead of crucial early primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire .
After New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and California Sen. Kamala Harris dropped out of the race , Warren and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar are the only major female candidates remaining in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can best serve the American public when they reflect the diversity of the country itself , ” Warren wrote in a Medium post outlining her plan to revitalize the executive branch following President Donald Trump ’ s administration .
“ The federal government does a dismal job on diversity and inclusion.
” Just four of the 23 members of Trump ’ s Cabinet – Labor Secretary Elaine Chao , Education Secretary Betsy Devos , CIA Director Gina Haspel and Small Business Administration head Jovita Carranza – are women .
At its peak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had eight female Cabinet members .
In recent days , Warren has increasingly worked to consolidate female voters , and to combat the idea that nominating a woman would put the Democratic Party in a weaker position to defeat Trump in November .
It ’ s been a major part of her back-and-forth with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders over whether Sanders told Warren a woman could not defeat Trump in 2020 .
( Warren says he did , Sanders says he did not . )
“ Since Donald Trump was elected , women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ races , ” Warren said during the Democratic debate in Des Moines , Iowa , last week .
“ And in 2018 , we took back the House ; we took back statehouses , because of women candidates and women voters.
” A 2020 rival , former Mayor Pete Buttigieg , said in October that he would nominate a Cabinet with at least half the members women .
Warren ’ s promise is just one provision in a broader plan .
She also vowed not to hire a single working lobbyist and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Obama or Trump administrations .
Former corporate lobbyists will only be considered if they have not lobbied for the past six years , and former lobbyists for other groups will be banned if they have lobbied in the past two years .
( Warren will also use a broader definition of lobbyist , encompassing “ anyone who is hired to influence government.
” ) “ My administration will adopt the strictest anti-corruption hiring rules of any administration in American history , ” Warren wrote .
“ And that starts by ending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lobbyists and government jobs.
” Noting that Trump administration took months to fill key government posts , Warren also promised to announce her Cabinet nominees by Dec. 1 , 2020 , and her picks for other top positions by Dec. 15 .
She pledged to fill all key posts in the White House by Inauguration Day .
Warren also said she would be aggressive in rooting out corruption from the Trump era , promising to create a special Justice Department task force to “ investigate violations by Trump administration officials of federal bribery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other anti-corruption and public integrity laws , and give that task force independent authority to pursue any substantiated criminal and civil violations .
”

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Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday promised to appoint women or nonbinary people to at least half of the top positions in the executive branch if she wins the presidency.
The pledge comes as Warren, one of the three leading 2020 Democratic candidates in national polling, is seeking to consolidate and rally female voters ahead of crucial early primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire. After New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and California Sen. Kamala Harris dropped out of the race, Warren and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar are the only major female candidates remaining in the presidential primary.
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“Our government officials can best serve the American public when they reflect the diversity of the country itself,” Warren wrote in a Medium post outlining her plan to revitalize the executive branch following President Donald Trump’s administration. “The federal government does a dismal job on diversity and inclusion.”
Just four of the 23 members of Trump’s Cabinet – Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Education Secretary Betsy Devos, CIA Director Gina Haspel and Small Business Administration head Jovita Carranza – are women. At its peak, the administration of former President Barack Obama had eight female Cabinet members.
In recent days, Warren has increasingly worked to consolidate female voters, and to combat the idea that nominating a woman would put the Democratic Party in a weaker position to defeat Trump in November. It’s been a major part of her back-and-forth with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders over whether Sanders told Warren a woman could not defeat Trump in 2020. (Warren says he did, Sanders says he did not.)
Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) takes the stage at a campaign town hall meeting in Grimes, Iowa, U.S., January 20, 2020. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Brian Snyder / Reuters
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“Since Donald Trump was elected, women candidates have out-performed men candidates in competitive races,” Warren said during the Democratic debate in Des Moines, Iowa, last week. “And in 2018, we took back the House; we took back statehouses, because of women candidates and women voters.”
A 2020 rival, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, said in October that he would nominate a Cabinet with at least half the members women.
Warren’s promise is just one provision in a broader plan. She also vowed not to hire a single working lobbyist and to implement a stricter ethics plan than either the Obama or Trump administrations. Former corporate lobbyists will only be considered if they have not lobbied for the past six years, and former lobbyists for other groups will be banned if they have lobbied in the past two years. (Warren will also use a broader definition of lobbyist, encompassing “anyone who is hired to influence government.”)
“My administration will adopt the strictest anti-corruption hiring rules of any administration in American history,” Warren wrote. “And that starts by ending the revolving door between big corporations and their lobbyists and government jobs.”
Noting that Trump administration took months to fill key government posts, Warren also promised to announce her Cabinet nominees by Dec. 1, 2020, and her picks for other top positions by Dec. 15. She pledged to fill all key posts in the White House by Inauguration Day.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Michelle Obama's New Workout Playlist Will Make You Hit The Gym Hard

Michelle Obama has revealed which songs give her “ that extra boost to get through my toughest workouts.
” The @ @ @ @ @ during her time in the White House pioneered the “ Let ’ s Move ” @ @ @ @ @ boot camps for her close friends ― published her “ 2020 Workout Playlist ” on @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a genre-spanning collection of tracks ― including contemporary hits from Ed Sheeran @ @ @ @ @ , Calvin Harris and Childish Gambino to classics by Destiny ’ s Child and Tony @ @ @ @ @ Check out the playlist here : And listen to all of the songs below .
@ @ @ @ @ Go .
BJ The Chicago Kid : Turnin Me Up .
Snoh Aalegra : I @ @ @ @

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Michelle Obama has revealed which songs give her “that extra boost to get through my toughest workouts.”
The former first lady ― who during her time in the White House pioneered the “Let’s Move” health initiative and also hosted boot camps for her close friends ― published her “2020 Workout Playlist” on social media Monday.
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And it’s a genre-spanning collection of tracks ― including contemporary hits from Ed Sheeran, Lizzo, Bruno Mars, Calvin Harris and Childish Gambino to classics by Destiny’s Child and Tony! Toni! Toné!
Check out the playlist here:
And listen to all of the songs below.
Kirk Franklin: A God Like You.
Childish Gambino: 3005.
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Lizzo: Soulmate.
Burna Baby: My Money, My Baby.
Anderson .Paak feat. Kendrick Lamar: TINTS.
Kanye West, JAY-Z, Big Sean: Clique.
Anderson .Paak - Come Down.
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Afro B: Drogba.
Jennifer Lopez feat. Fat Joe, Big Pun: Feelin’ So Good.
Cardi B: Press.
The Carters: Apeshit.
Destiny’s Child: Lose My Breath.
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Chuck Brown: Chuck Baby.
Nipsey Hussle: Hussle & Motivate.
2 Chainz feat. Ariana Grande: Rule The World.
Tony! Toni! Toné!: Feels Good.
Bruno Mars: Perm.
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Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa: One Kiss.
Bruno Mars, Cardi B: Finesse.
Beyoncé: Before I Let Go.
Eve: Tambourine.
Koffee: Toast.
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Calvin Harris feat. Frank Ocean, Migos: Slide.
Ed Sheeran feat. Chance the Rapper: Cross Me.
BJ The Chicago Kid: Turnin Me Up.
Ed Sheeran feat. Cardi B, Camila Cabello: South Of The Border.
Tobe Nwigwe feat. David Michael Wyatt: I’m Dope.
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Meek Mill feat. Ella Mai: 24/7.
The Bonfyre: Automatic.
Alicia Keys feat. Miguel: Show Me Love.
Snoh Aalegra: I Want You Around.
Pink Sweat$: Honesty.
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Sam Smith feat. John Legend: Lay Me Down.
Daniel Caesar: Blessed.
Frank Ocean: Godspeed.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Planned Parenthood Endorses Sara Gideon, One Of Susan Collins' Democratic Challengers

Planned Parenthood Action Fund , the reproductive health care organization ’ s political action committee , has endorsed Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon ( D ) in the race to unseat U.S. Sen. Susan Collins ( R-Maine ) in 2020 .
“ As speaker of the Maine House , Sara has been leading the charge for reproductive health care access in Maine , ” PPAF said in a press release announcing a wave of endorsements for Democratic Senate candidates .
PPAF acting President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson praised Gideon as “ an outspoken leader for the women , LGBTQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maine , and for sexual reproductive health and rights.
” “ We were once encouraged by Senator Collins ’ s support of reproductive rights , yet she has abandoned not only the people of Maine , but women across the country , ” she said in a statement .
The people of Maine deserve someone who will fiercely fight for their right to health care — not someone who puts their party ahead of their constituents .
That champion is @ SaraGideon , and @ PPact is proud to stand with her .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ alexismcgill ) January 21 , 2020 Though Collins has received Planned Parenthood ’ s backing in the past , the group ’ s support for the senator has significantly waned in recent years .
Collins , who bills herself as a pro-choice moderate , nabbed PPAF ’ s endorsement during her 2002 reelection campaign and was honored with the group ’ s Barry Goldwater Award in 2017 for being a Republican lawmaker who champions reproductive health care issues .
But her crucial vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his anti-abortion leanings , sparked outrage from her progressive constituency .
Her votes to pass Trump ’ s tax bill in 2017 and to confirm dozens of Trump ’ s conservative , anti-abortion federal judicial nominees have also mobilized efforts to unseat her .
“ It ’ s clear that she has turned her back on those she should be championing , ” McGill Johnson said in her statement .
“ Notably , Senator Collins has stood by as this administration continues to stack our federal court system with judges who oppose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that allow discrimination.
” PPAF initially stated in a press release Tuesday that Gideon was the first challenger to Collins it had endorsed .
In fact , the group endorsed then-Rep. Tom Allen ( D-Maine ) when he challenged Collins in 2008 .
“ I ’ m honored to receive [ PPAF ’ s ] endorsement ― in the face of attacks on reproductive rights across the country and threats to Roe v. Wade in Washington , there ’ s never been a more important time to stand up for reproductive rights , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m honored to receive @ PPact ’ s endorsement – in the face of attacks on reproductive rights across the country and threats to Roe v. Wade in Washington , there ’ s never been a more important time to stand up for reproductive rights .
pic.twitter.com/4lYEkz7ZSX — Sara Gideon ( @ SaraGideon ) January 21 , 2020 PPAF ’ s endorsement is another feather in Gideon ’ s cap after she gained the support of several high-profile groups , including the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee , EMILY ’ s List and NARAL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least eight challengers vying for Collins ’ seat in 2020 .
Betsy Sweet , a women ’ s rights advocate and former Maine gubernatorial candidate ; Ross LaJeunesse , a former Google executive ; attorney Bre Kidman ; and travel agent Michael Bunker are running as Democrats .
CORRECTION : An earlier version of this article , citing a PPAF press release , misstated that Gideon is the first Collins challenger to be endorsed by the group .
PPAF has since amended its statement to note that it ’ s the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The group endorsed then-Rep. Tom Allen ( D-Maine ) in 2008 .

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Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the reproductive health care organization’s political action committee, has endorsed Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon (D) in the race to unseat U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in 2020.
“As speaker of the Maine House, Sara has been leading the charge for reproductive health care access in Maine,” PPAF said in a press release announcing a wave of endorsements for Democratic Senate candidates.
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PPAF acting President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson praised Gideon as “an outspoken leader for the women, LGBTQ communities, and people of color of Maine, and for sexual reproductive health and rights.”
“We were once encouraged by Senator Collins’s support of reproductive rights, yet she has abandoned not only the people of Maine, but women across the country,” she said in a statement.
The people of Maine deserve someone who will fiercely fight for their right to health care — not someone who puts their party ahead of their constituents. That champion is @SaraGideon, and @PPact is proud to stand with her. pic.twitter.com/ovnuMV0xjw — Alexis McGill Johnson (@alexismcgill) January 21, 2020
Though Collins has received Planned Parenthood’s backing in the past, the group’s support for the senator has significantly waned in recent years.
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Collins, who bills herself as a pro-choice moderate, nabbed PPAF’s endorsement during her 2002 reelection campaign and was honored with the group’s Barry Goldwater Award in 2017 for being a Republican lawmaker who champions reproductive health care issues.
But her crucial vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018, despite sexual misconduct allegations against him and his anti-abortion leanings, sparked outrage from her progressive constituency.
Her votes to pass Trump’s tax bill in 2017 and to confirm dozens of Trump’s conservative, anti-abortion federal judicial nominees have also mobilized efforts to unseat her.
“It’s clear that she has turned her back on those she should be championing,” McGill Johnson said in her statement. “Notably, Senator Collins has stood by as this administration continues to stack our federal court system with judges who oppose safe, legal abortion and advances policies that allow discrimination.”
PPAF initially stated in a press release Tuesday that Gideon was the first challenger to Collins it had endorsed. In fact, the group endorsed then-Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine) when he challenged Collins in 2008.
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“I’m honored to receive [PPAF’s] endorsement ― in the face of attacks on reproductive rights across the country and threats to Roe v. Wade in Washington, there’s never been a more important time to stand up for reproductive rights,” Gideon tweeted Tuesday.
I’m honored to receive @PPact’s endorsement – in the face of attacks on reproductive rights across the country and threats to Roe v. Wade in Washington, there’s never been a more important time to stand up for reproductive rights. pic.twitter.com/4lYEkz7ZSX — Sara Gideon (@SaraGideon) January 21, 2020
PPAF’s endorsement is another feather in Gideon’s cap after she gained the support of several high-profile groups, including the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, EMILY’s List and NARAL Pro-Choice America.
Gideon is one of at least eight challengers vying for Collins’ seat in 2020. Betsy Sweet, a women’s rights advocate and former Maine gubernatorial candidate; Ross LaJeunesse, a former Google executive; attorney Bre Kidman; and travel agent Michael Bunker are running as Democrats.
Attorney Tiffany Bond and call center worker Danielle VanHelsing are running as independents while activist Lisa Savage is the Maine Green Independent Party’s candidate.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-21--Trump Confirms Plan To Add Countries To Travel Ban

Trump told The Wall Street Journal that he is seeking to expand the ban , but refused to reveal which countries would be targeted .
The statement corroborates several recent reports about a potential update to the ban , which currently suspends immigrant and nonimmigrant visas for applicants from five majority-Muslim nations — Iran , Libya , Somalia , Syria and Yemen — as well as Venezuela and North Korea .
The expanded list potentially may include U.S. allies that have failed to comply with certain security measures , The Associated Press reports .
The original ban , issued without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 , 2017 , suspended travel from Iraq , Iran , Libya , Somalia , Sudan and Yemen for 90 days , blocked refugee admissions for 120 days and suspended travel from Syria .
It sparked massive protests at airports across the country and resulted in months of contentious litigation from civil rights groups .
The ban has been updated several times , and the Supreme Court decided in June 2018 to uphold a watered-down , third iteration of it .
The majority of justices agreed there was a “ sufficient national security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice , the travel ban has prevented people from seeking needed medical treatment in the U.S. and separated thousands of families .
Waivers to the travel ban are notoriously hard to obtain , civil rights groups say .
The State Department rejected over 37,000 visa applications because of the travel ban in 2018 .
Some civil rights groups and Democratic politicians have been calling for a federal No Ban Act to be passed , which would repeal Trump ’ s travel ban , require specific reasons for any immigration restrictions and prohibit religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his base during the 2020 election by highlighting his anti-immigration agenda , which includes the ban and his efforts to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border .
Many Muslim activists still consider the travel ban to be a “ Muslim ban , ” tracing its roots back to Trump ’ s December 2015 call for a “ total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.
” “ Doubling down on it won ’ t make any of us safer but it will allow the president to continue using anti-Muslim hate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
“ The Muslim Ban is a grave insult to our nation ’ s founding commitments to religious freedom and equal treatment under the law .
Congress must do everything possible to end this cruelty right now .
”

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President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that his administration is working on adding countries to his controversial travel ban.
Trump told The Wall Street Journal that he is seeking to expand the ban, but refused to reveal which countries would be targeted.
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The statement corroborates several recent reports about a potential update to the ban, which currently suspends immigrant and nonimmigrant visas for applicants from five majority-Muslim nations — Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen — as well as Venezuela and North Korea.
The expanded list potentially may include U.S. allies that have failed to comply with certain security measures, The Associated Press reports.
The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s requests for comment.
President Donald Trump at a meeting at the 50th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday. Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
The original ban, issued without warning through an executive order on Jan. 27, 2017, suspended travel from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen for 90 days, blocked refugee admissions for 120 days and suspended travel from Syria. It sparked massive protests at airports across the country and resulted in months of contentious litigation from civil rights groups.
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The ban has been updated several times, and the Supreme Court decided in June 2018 to uphold a watered-down, third iteration of it. The majority of justices agreed there was a “sufficient national security justification” for the order.
Some civil rights groups and Democratic politicians have been calling for a federal No Ban Act to be passed, which would repeal Trump’s travel ban, require specific reasons for any immigration restrictions and prohibit religious discrimination.
Trump is expected to rally his base during the 2020 election by highlighting his anti-immigration agenda, which includes the ban and his efforts to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Many Muslim activists still consider the travel ban to be a “Muslim ban,” tracing its roots back to Trump’s December 2015 call for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.”
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Farhana Khera, executive director of Muslim Advocates, called Trump’s plan to expand the travel ban a “cowardly and reckless attempt to distract the country and sow anti-Muslim hate.”