thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-23--Greta Thunberg Rips Steve Mnuchin For Saying She Needs An Econ Degree Before He'll Listen

Teen environmental activist Greta Thunberg schooled Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Thursday after he said she needs a college degree in economics before he ’ ll condescend to take her seriously about climate change .
“ It doesn ’ t take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1,5° carbon budget and ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and investments don ’ t add up , ” Thunberg , 17 , tweeted in response to Mnuchin ’ s dig .
At the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland , Thunberg and other young climate activists called on corporate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exploration and extraction to save the planet .
“ Is she the chief economist or who is she ?
I ’ m confused , ” Mnuchin mocked Thunberg , later claiming he was joking and that it was “ funny.
” But he added : “ After she goes and studies economics in college she can come back and explain that to us.
” My gap year ends in August , but it doesn ’ t take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1,5° carbon budget and ongoing fossil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ add up .
1/3 pic.twitter.com/1virpuOyYG — Greta Thunberg ( @ GretaThunberg ) January 23 , 2020 So either you tell us how to achieve this mitigation or explain to future generations and those already affected by the climate emergency why we should abandon our climate commitments .
2/3 — Greta Thunberg ( @ GretaThunberg ) January 23 , 2020 Thunberg was hardly the only one to pile on Mnuchin after his smug remark .
Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman berated Mnuchin for so poorly understanding his own purported area of expertise — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration ’ s massive corporate tax cut would “ pay for itself , ” instead of breaking the U.S. budget , as it has .
The man who predicted that the Trump tax cut would pay for itself says Greta Thunberg needs lessons in economics 1/ https : //t.co/me4dhgNhzD — Paul Krugman ( @ paulkrugman ) January 23 , 2020 More generally , serious economic analysis says that large reductions in carbon emissions would have surprisingly low costs .
It 's the people insisting that protecting the planet is incompatible with growth who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Krugman ( @ paulkrugman ) January 23 , 2020 “ Haters gon na hate and deniers will deny ... logic , science and environmental consensus , ” tweeted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) , who has an economics degree , in Thunberg ’ s defense .
The Earth just suffered its hottest decade ever on record .
Yes , because we all know # Mnuchin went to school for climatology 😒 .
The `` economy '' is kind of dependent on us having a habitable planet to live on , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Climate Change like Fossil Fuels .
https : //t.co/dyqymiwUp8 — Kimberly Graham For US Senate ( IA ) ( @ KimberlyforIowa ) January 23 , 2020 Mnuchin goes after Greta Thunberg and says she should study economics Here 's what Mnuchin learned from economics studies : as the `` foreclosure king , '' he ran a company that booted elderly residents from their homes due to onerous loans and technicalities https : //t.co/NrlufW3ZoO — Chris Lu ( @ ChrisLu44 ) January 23 , 2020 I want to live in an America where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old lady 's homes to get richer is n't in a position of power where he can condescend to a teenage girl who is trying desperately to help save the world from the greed of people like him.
# Mnuchin — Joe Segal-Create Positive Progress ( @ joesegal ) January 23 , 2020 Oh , and I suppose sleazeball # Mnuchin has a degree in Climate Science too and wants us to ignore the 97 % of Climate Scientists who are predicting disaster if we keep pursuing his contemptuous disregard for future life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead when shit hits the fan for Greta .
— chaplinlives ( @ chaplinlives ) January 23 , 2020 Another grown ass man picking on a teenage girl , whose only crime is she wants to save the planet so that her generation has one to live on -- But hey @ FLOTUS it 's all about # BeBest right ?
!
!
# Mnuchin # GretaThunberg https : //t.co/OoMOEIRtWh — Sophia A. Nelson ( @ IAmSophiaNelson ) January 23 , 2020

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Teen environmental activist Greta Thunberg schooled Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Thursday after he said she needs a college degree in economics before he’ll condescend to take her seriously about climate change.
“It doesn’t take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1,5° carbon budget and ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and investments don’t add up,” Thunberg, 17, tweeted in response to Mnuchin’s dig.
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At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thunberg and other young climate activists called on corporate and world leaders to divest from fossil fuel exploration and extraction to save the planet.
“Is she the chief economist or who is she? I’m confused,” Mnuchin mocked Thunberg, later claiming he was joking and that it was “funny.” But he added: “After she goes and studies economics in college she can come back and explain that to us.”
Thunberg snapped back:
My gap year ends in August, but it doesn’t take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1,5° carbon budget and ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and investments don’t add up. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/1virpuOyYG — Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) January 23, 2020
So either you tell us how to achieve this mitigation or explain to future generations and those already affected by the climate emergency why we should abandon our climate commitments. 2/3 — Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) January 23, 2020
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Thunberg was hardly the only one to pile on Mnuchin after his smug remark. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman berated Mnuchin for so poorly understanding his own purported area of expertise — the economy — that he claimed the Trump administration’s massive corporate tax cut would “pay for itself,” instead of breaking the U.S. budget, as it has.
The man who predicted that the Trump tax cut would pay for itself says Greta Thunberg needs lessons in economics 1/ https://t.co/me4dhgNhzD — Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) January 23, 2020
More generally, serious economic analysis says that large reductions in carbon emissions would have surprisingly low costs. It's the people insisting that protecting the planet is incompatible with growth who don't know economics 2/ — Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) January 23, 2020
“Haters gonna hate and deniers will deny ... logic, science and environmental consensus,” tweeted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who has an economics degree, in Thunberg’s defense.
The Earth just suffered its hottest decade ever on record.
Yes, because we all know #Mnuchin went to school for climatology 😒.
The "economy" is kind of dependent on us having a habitable planet to live on, and we should be divesting from things that contribute to Climate Change like Fossil Fuels. https://t.co/dyqymiwUp8 — Kimberly Graham For US Senate (IA) (@KimberlyforIowa) January 23, 2020
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Mnuchin goes after Greta Thunberg and says she should study economics
Here's what Mnuchin learned from economics studies: as the "foreclosure king," he ran a company that booted elderly residents from their homes due to onerous loans and technicalities https://t.co/NrlufW3ZoO — Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) January 23, 2020
I want to live in an America where a guy famous for foreclosing on little old lady's homes to get richer isn't in a position of power where he can condescend to a teenage girl who is trying desperately to help save the world from the greed of people like him.#Mnuchin — Joe Segal-Create Positive Progress (@joesegal) January 23, 2020
Oh, and I suppose sleazeball #Mnuchin has a degree in Climate Science too and wants us to ignore the 97% of Climate Scientists who are predicting disaster if we keep pursuing his contemptuous disregard for future life on our planet. He'll be dead when shit hits the fan for Greta. — chaplinlives (@chaplinlives) January 23, 2020
Another grown ass man picking on a teenage girl, whose only crime is she wants to save the planet so that her generation has one to live on--But hey @FLOTUS it's all about #BeBest right?!! #Mnuchin #GretaThunberg https://t.co/OoMOEIRtWh — Sophia A. Nelson (@IAmSophiaNelson) January 23, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-24--'Masterful': Twitter Users Hail Adam Schiff's 'Powerful' Case For Trump's Removal

No constitution can protect us if right doesn ’ t matter anymore .
And you know you can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s right for this country .
You can trust he will do what @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
He ’ ll do it now .
He ’ s done it before @ @ @ @ @ it for the next several months .
He ’ ll do it in the election @ @ @ @ @ allowed to .

No constitution can protect us if right doesn’t matter anymore. And you know you can’t trust this president to do what’s right for this country. You can trust he will do what’s right for Donald Trump. He’ll do it now. He’s done it before. He’ll do it for the next several months. He’ll do it in the election, if he’s allowed to.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-23--U.S. Declines British Request To Extradite Diplomat's Wife Who Killed Teen

The United States government will not extradite a diplomat ’ s wife who killed a teenager while driving on the wrong side of the road in England , according to the State Department .
Anne Sacoolas and her family retreated to the U.S. from the United Kingdom just weeks after the Aug. 27 crash that left 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn dead .
She was charged last month in the U.K. with causing death by dangerous driving , which can only be prosecuted once she is extradited from the U.S .
The State Department said Thursday , however , that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s extradition request because Sacoolas , 42 , had “ immunity from criminal jurisdiction ” at the time the crash occurred and for the duration of her stay in England .
“ If the United States were to grant the U.K. ’ s extradition request , it would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and would set an extraordinarily troubling precedent , ” a spokesperson for the department said .
“ The United States has a history of close law enforcement cooperation with the United Kingdom , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States government again expresses its sincere condolences and sympathy to the Dunn family for the loss of their son.
” Public outrage in the U.K. over the diplomatic immunity claim led Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ask President Donald Trump to intervene .
Trump defended Sacoolas in October after Dunn ’ s parents came to the White House to plead with American officials to reconsider Sacoolas ’ s diplomatic immunity .
“ It was very sad , to be honest , ” Trump said in October .
“ They lost their son .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong way because that happens in Europe .
You go to Europe and the roads are opposite .
And it ’ s very tough if you ’ re from the U.S. … That happens to a lot of people , by the way.
” Pres .
Trump on Tuesday meeting with Harry Dunn 's family : `` It was very sad , to be honest .
They lost their son .
I believe it was going down the wrong way because that happens in Europe .
You go to Europe and the roads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pic.twitter.com/vpnCVkfyMk — CBS Evening News ( @ CBSEveningNews ) October 16 , 2019 Dunn ’ s grieving parents were unhappy with the White House visit , as Trump surprised them by revealing that Sacoolas was in the next room ready to apologize .
The parents said they would only meet her when she returns to the U.K. , and in December they welcomed the charge against Sacoolas .
“ We feel that we ’ ve taken a huge step in the start of achieving the promise to Harry that we made , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sacoolas told British police after the crash outside the military base , RAF Coughton , that she did not plan to leave the country .
British authorities were preparing to ask the State Department to waive Sacoolas ’ s diplomatic immunity when the family abruptly left for the U.S.
It ’ s unclear whether Sacoolas could be forced back to the U.K .
Under international law , diplomats and their families are immune from host country prosecution .
But British officials have alleged that Sacoolas ’ s husband , Jonathan Sacoolas , was @ @ @ @ @

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The United States government will not extradite a diplomat’s wife who killed a teenager while driving on the wrong side of the road in England, according to the State Department.
Anne Sacoolas and her family retreated to the U.S. from the United Kingdom just weeks after the Aug. 27 crash that left 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn dead. She was charged last month in the U.K. with causing death by dangerous driving, which can only be prosecuted once she is extradited from the U.S.
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The State Department said Thursday, however, that the U.S. government will not fulfill the U.K.’s extradition request because Sacoolas, 42, had “immunity from criminal jurisdiction” at the time the crash occurred and for the duration of her stay in England.
“If the United States were to grant the U.K.’s extradition request, it would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and would set an extraordinarily troubling precedent,” a spokesperson for the department said. “The United States has a history of close law enforcement cooperation with the United Kingdom, and we value that relationship.
“The United States government again expresses its sincere condolences and sympathy to the Dunn family for the loss of their son.”
Public outrage in the U.K. over the diplomatic immunity claim led Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ask President Donald Trump to intervene. Trump defended Sacoolas in October after Dunn’s parents came to the White House to plead with American officials to reconsider Sacoolas’s diplomatic immunity.
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“It was very sad, to be honest,” Trump said in October. “They lost their son. I believe it was going down the wrong way because that happens in Europe. You go to Europe and the roads are opposite. And it’s very tough if you’re from the U.S. … That happens to a lot of people, by the way.”
Pres. Trump on Tuesday meeting with Harry Dunn's family: "It was very sad, to be honest. They lost their son. I believe it was going down the wrong way because that happens in Europe. You go to Europe and the roads are opposite." https://t.co/PEqe7xDPl7 pic.twitter.com/vpnCVkfyMk — CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) October 16, 2019
Dunn’s grieving parents were unhappy with the White House visit, as Trump surprised them by revealing that Sacoolas was in the next room ready to apologize. The parents said they would only meet her when she returns to the U.K., and in December they welcomed the charge against Sacoolas.
“We feel that we’ve taken a huge step in the start of achieving the promise to Harry that we made,” said his mother, Charlotte Charles.
Sacoolas told British police after the crash outside the military base, RAF Coughton, that she did not plan to leave the country. British authorities were preparing to ask the State Department to waive Sacoolas’s diplomatic immunity when the family abruptly left for the U.S.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-23--Somali American Teens Held At Gunpoint By Cops Reach $170,000 Settlement

The families of four Somali American teens have reached a settlement with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board over an encounter with park police that the boys said left them terrified they were going to die .
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board agreed to pay $ 170,000 to settle a discrimination complaint filed with the state Department of Human Rights over a July 2018 incident in which officers held the boys at gunpoint but did not arrest them , according to the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations .
“ The families went through a lot and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot from this incident , ” CAIR-MN executive director Jaylani Hussein said at a press conference Wednesday .
“ We are happy today to report that this incident is behind them , but they are still traumatized from what took place.
” The court settlement was reportedly finalized in November and paid out soon after , according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune .
Each of the boys reportedly received $ 40,000 , while $ 10,000 went to CAIR for attorney services .
On July 10 , 2018 , Minneapolis Park Police officers Matthew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 911 call in which the caller claimed that four boys were holding knives and sticks in Minnehaha Park and that one had a gun in his backpack .
The caller also claimed the teens were assaulting her boyfriend .
When the officers arrived on the scene , Ryan drew his gun and yelled at the four teens to get on the ground , while Olson handcuffed and searched them , the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported .
The cops didn ’ t find weapons on the boys .
Bystanders told the officers that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened by someone else at the park .
They were placed in a squad car and later released without being charged .
During a press conference later that month , one of the teenagers said the incident started when a “ white kid came up to us saying racial slurs towards us.
” The board released footage from Olson and Ryan ’ s body cameras on Wednesday .
The video shows Ryan repeatedly shouting at the teens to quiet down , even as they tried to explain that someone else had pulled a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away .
On Wednesday , Hussein lauded the “ courageous , determined , and important ” work of the witnesses and bystanders who recorded the incident and stayed at the scene to speak out in support of the boys .
The Minneapolis Park Board launched an internal review of the incident in 2018 and held two listening sessions with residents .
Park police later concluded that Ryan was right to draw the gun , but his decision to scream at the boys was improper , the Star Tribune reports .
The Park Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ additional training.
” The board said that the settlement shouldn ’ t be taken as a sign that it is “ admitting to any discrimination or use of excessive force.
” “ We are committed to providing safe and welcoming parks for everyone , ” board superintendent Al Bangoura said in a statement to NBC affiliate KARE-11 .
“ We took the 2018 incident at Minnehaha Falls seriously and conducted an independent employment investigation of our officers ’ conduct .
With last year ’ s settlement , the juveniles , their families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We still deal with the fear and trauma of this incident , but part of that healing process is knowing that we ’ re getting justice , ” she said through a translator .
“ Moving forward , we want to make sure that this doesn ’ t happen to anyone else .
”

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The families of four Somali American teens have reached a settlement with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board over an encounter with park police that the boys said left them terrified they were going to die.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board agreed to pay $170,000 to settle a discrimination complaint filed with the state Department of Human Rights over a July 2018 incident in which officers held the boys at gunpoint but did not arrest them, according to the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
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“The families went through a lot and the young people also went through a lot from this incident,” CAIR-MN executive director Jaylani Hussein said at a press conference Wednesday. “We are happy today to report that this incident is behind them, but they are still traumatized from what took place.”
The court settlement was reportedly finalized in November and paid out soon after, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Each of the boys reportedly received $40,000, while $10,000 went to CAIR for attorney services.
On July 10, 2018, Minneapolis Park Police officers Matthew Ryan and Eric Olson responded to a 911 call in which the caller claimed that four boys were holding knives and sticks in Minnehaha Park and that one had a gun in his backpack. The caller also claimed the teens were assaulting her boyfriend.
When the officers arrived on the scene, Ryan drew his gun and yelled at the four teens to get on the ground, while Olson handcuffed and searched them, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
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The cops didn’t find weapons on the boys. Bystanders told the officers that the four were innocent and had actually been threatened by someone else at the park. They were placed in a squad car and later released without being charged.
The teens were between 13 and 16 years old at the time.
A viral video of the incident was captured by a bystander and posted to social media, resulting in a public outcry.
During a press conference later that month, one of the teenagers said the incident started when a “white kid came up to us saying racial slurs towards us.”
Another member of the group, Suhaib Ahmed, described being “slammed” to the ground by one of the cops.
“I was scared he was going to shoot me,” Ahmed said.
“I thought that would be my last day of this world,” another teen, Abdijabar Ahmed, said at the press conference.
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Halimo Sisse, mother of one of the victims, speaks at a press conference Wednesday during which the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced the settlement. Facebook / CAIR
The board released footage from Olson and Ryan’s body cameras on Wednesday. The video shows Ryan repeatedly shouting at the teens to quiet down, even as they tried to explain that someone else had pulled a knife out at them and was getting away.
On Wednesday, Hussein lauded the “courageous, determined, and important” work of the witnesses and bystanders who recorded the incident and stayed at the scene to speak out in support of the boys.
The Minneapolis Park Board launched an internal review of the incident in 2018 and held two listening sessions with residents. Park police later concluded that Ryan was right to draw the gun, but his decision to scream at the boys was improper, the Star Tribune reports.
The Park Board told the Tribune that Ryan has received “additional training.” The board said that the settlement shouldn’t be taken as a sign that it is “admitting to any discrimination or use of excessive force.”
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“We are committed to providing safe and welcoming parks for everyone,” board superintendent Al Bangoura said in a statement to NBC affiliate KARE-11. “We took the 2018 incident at Minnehaha Falls seriously and conducted an independent employment investigation of our officers’ conduct. With last year’s settlement, the juveniles, their families and the MPRB can move forward.”
Halimo Sisse, the mother of one of the victims, said at Wednesday’s press conference that it will take a long time for her family to heal from the incident.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-23--China Confirms 1st Coronavirus Death Outside Of Outbreak's Epicenter

Chinese authorities Thursday moved to lock down at least three cities with a combined population of more than 18 million in an unprecedented effort to contain the deadly new virus that has sickened hundreds of people and spread to other parts of the world during the busy Lunar New Year travel period .
The train station and airport in Wuhan , the epicenter of the outbreak , were shut down , and ferry , subway and bus service was halted .
Normally bustling streets , shopping malls , restaurants and other public spaces in the city of 11 million were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicles but did not close off the roads .
At least 17 people have died in the outbreak , all of them in and around Wuhan .
Close to 600 have been infected , the vast majority of them in Wuhan , and many countries have begun screening travelers from China for symptoms of the virus , which can cause fever , coughing , trouble breathing and pneumonia .
Meanwhile , the World Health Organization decided against declaring the outbreak a global emergency for now .
Such a declaration can bring more money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but can also trigger economically damaging restrictions on trade and travel in the affected countries , making the decision a politically fraught one .
The decision “ should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious or that we ’ re not taking it seriously .
Nothing could be further from the truth , ” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said .
“ WHO is following this outbreak every minute of every day.
” Chinese officials have not said how long the shutdowns will last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China ’ s communist government , large-scale quarantines are rare around the world , even in deadly epidemics , because of concerns about infringing on people ’ s liberties .
And the effectiveness of such measures is unclear .
“ To my knowledge , trying to contain a city of 11 million people is new to science , ” said Gauden Galea , the WHO″s representative in China .
“ It has not been tried before as a public health measure .
We can not at this stage say it will or it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that any such quarantine should be strictly time-limited .
He added : “ You have to make sure you communicate effectively about why this is being done .
Otherwise you will lose the goodwill of the people.
” Images from Wuhan showed long lines and empty shelves at supermarkets , as people stocked up for what could be weeks of isolation .
That appeared to be an over-reaction , since no restrictions were placed on trucks carrying supplies into the city , although many Chinese have strong memories of shortages in the years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boom .
“ Even if ( cases ) are in the thousands , this would not surprise us , ” the WHO ’ s Galea said , adding , however , that the number of infected is not an indicator of the outbreak ’ s severity so long as the death rate remains low .
The coronavirus family includes the common cold as well as viruses that cause more serious illnesses , such as the SARS outbreak that spread from China to more than a dozen countries in 2002-03 and killed about 800 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or MERS , which is thought to have originated from camels .
China is keen to avoid repeating mistakes with its handling of SARS .
For months , even after the illness had spread around the world , China parked patients in hotels and drove them around in ambulances to conceal the true number of cases and avoid WHO experts .
This time , China has been credited with sharing information rapidly , and President Xi Jinping has emphasized that as a priority .

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BEIJING (AP) — China’s National Health Commission says the number of cases of a new respiratory virus has risen to 830 with 25 deaths.
The update Friday morning also confirmed the first death outside the central province of Hubei.
The health commission in Hebei, a northern province bordering Beijing, said an 80-year-old man died after showing symptoms upon his return from a two-month stay in Wuhan to see relatives.
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Wuhan is the capital of Hubei and has been the epicenter of the outbreak of the coronavirus first detected last month.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story is below:
Chinese authorities Thursday moved to lock down at least three cities with a combined population of more than 18 million in an unprecedented effort to contain the deadly new virus that has sickened hundreds of people and spread to other parts of the world during the busy Lunar New Year travel period.
The open-ended lockdowns are unmatched in size, embracing more people than New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago put together.
The train station and airport in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, were shut down, and ferry, subway and bus service was halted. Normally bustling streets, shopping malls, restaurants and other public spaces in the city of 11 million were eerily quiet. Police checked all incoming vehicles but did not close off the roads.
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Authorities announced similar measures would take effect Friday in the nearby cities of Huanggang and Ezhou. In Huanggang, theaters, internet cafes and other entertainment centers were also ordered closed.
In the capital, Beijing, officials canceled major events indefinitely, including traditional temple fairs that are a staple of holiday celebrations, to help control the spread of the virus. The Forbidden City, the palace complex in Beijing that is now a museum, announced it will close indefinitely on Saturday.
At least 17 people have died in the outbreak, all of them in and around Wuhan. Close to 600 have been infected, the vast majority of them in Wuhan, and many countries have begun screening travelers from China for symptoms of the virus, which can cause fever, coughing, trouble breathing and pneumonia.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization decided against declaring the outbreak a global emergency for now. Such a declaration can bring more money and other resources to fight a threat but can also trigger economically damaging restrictions on trade and travel in the affected countries, making the decision a politically fraught one.
The decision “should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious or that we’re not taking it seriously. Nothing could be further from the truth,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “WHO is following this outbreak every minute of every day.”
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Chinese officials have not said how long the shutdowns will last. While sweeping measures are typical of China’s communist government, large-scale quarantines are rare around the world, even in deadly epidemics, because of concerns about infringing on people’s liberties. And the effectiveness of such measures is unclear.
“To my knowledge, trying to contain a city of 11 million people is new to science,” said Gauden Galea, the WHO″s representative in China. “It has not been tried before as a public health measure. We cannot at this stage say it will or it will not work.”
Jonathan Ball, a professor of virology at molecular virology at the University of Nottingham in Britain, said the lockdowns appear to be justified scientifically.
“Until there’s a better understanding of what the situation is, I think it’s not an unreasonable thing to do,” he said. “Anything that limits people’s travels during an outbreak would obviously work.”
But Ball cautioned that any such quarantine should be strictly time-limited. He added: “You have to make sure you communicate effectively about why this is being done. Otherwise you will lose the goodwill of the people.”
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During the devastating West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014, Sierra Leone imposed a national three-day quarantine as health workers went door to door, searching for hidden cases. Burial teams collecting corpses and people taking the sick to Ebola centers were the only ones allowed to move freely. Frustrated residents complained of food shortages.
In China, the illnesses from the newly identified coronavirus first appeared last month in Wuhan, an industrial and transportation hub in central China’s Hubei province. Other cases have been turned up in the United States, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong reported their first cases Thursday.
Most of the illnesses outside China involve people who were from Wuhan or had recently traveled there.
Images from Wuhan showed long lines and empty shelves at supermarkets, as people stocked up for what could be weeks of isolation. That appeared to be an over-reaction, since no restrictions were placed on trucks carrying supplies into the city, although many Chinese have strong memories of shortages in the years before the country’s recent economic boom.
Local authorities in Wuhan demanded all residents wear masks in public places. Police, SWAT teams and paramilitary troops guarded Wuhan’s train station.
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Liu Haihan left Wuhan last Friday after visiting her boyfriend there. She said everything was normal then, before person-to-person transmission of the virus was confirmed. But things had changed rapidly.
Her boyfriend “didn’t sleep much yesterday. He disinfected his house and stocked up on instant noodles,” Liu said. “He’s not really going out. If he does, he wears a mask.”
The sharp rise in illnesses comes as millions of Chinese travel for the Lunar New Year, one of the world’s largest annual migrations of people. Chinese are expected to take an estimated 3 billion trips during the 40-day spike in travel.
Analysts predicted cases will continue to multiply, although the jump in numbers is also attributable in part to increased monitoring.
“Even if (cases) are in the thousands, this would not surprise us,” the WHO’s Galea said, adding, however, that the number of infected is not an indicator of the outbreak’s severity so long as the death rate remains low.
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The coronavirus family includes the common cold as well as viruses that cause more serious illnesses, such as the SARS outbreak that spread from China to more than a dozen countries in 2002-03 and killed about 800 people, and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome, or MERS, which is thought to have originated from camels.
China is keen to avoid repeating mistakes with its handling of SARS. For months, even after the illness had spread around the world, China parked patients in hotels and drove them around in ambulances to conceal the true number of cases and avoid WHO experts. This time, China has been credited with sharing information rapidly, and President Xi Jinping has emphasized that as a priority.
Health authorities are taking extraordinary measures to prevent the spread of the virus, placing those believed infected in plastic tubes and wheeled boxes, with air passed through filters.
The first cases in the Wuhan outbreak were connected to people who worked at or visited a seafood market, now closed for an investigation. Experts suspect that the virus was first transmitted from wild animals but that it may also be mutating. Mutations can make it deadlier or more contagious.
WHO defines a global emergency as an “extraordinary event” that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response. Global emergencies were declared over the Zika virus in the Americas, the swine flu pandemic and polio.
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Countries typically resist the notion that they have a crisis within their borders and may argue strenuously for other control measures.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-23--George Soros Accuses Facebook Of Plotting To Get Trump Reelected

Billionaire philanthropist George Soros on Thursday lashed out at Facebook ’ s continued dissemination of disinformation and accused the company of plotting to get Donald Trump reelected in exchange for his protection .
“ I think there is a kind of informal mutual assistance operation or agreement developing between Trump and Facebook , ” Soros , 89 , said at the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland .
“ Facebook will work together to reelect Trump , and Trump will protect Facebook so that this situation ” — spreading disinformation — “ can not be changed.
” Soros added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the outcome for 2020.
” He offered no specific evidence .
Soros , known for supporting Democratic causes , accused Facebook of having “ one guiding principle : Maximize your profits , irrespective of what harm it may do to the world.
” Investor and philanthropist George Soros goes after Donald Trump and Facebook at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday .
Facebook has come under fire for its policy allowing political ads with false information on its platform .
Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has said that the company doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment rights and the free exchange of ideas — even if they are deliberately false or misleading .
He said it shouldn ’ t be up to Facebook to determine if political ads are accurate .
“ I don ’ t think that a private company should be censoring politicians or news , ” he said in an interview in December .
Facebook did little to nothing to stop Russian disinformation campaigns during the 2016 presidential campaign .
But it has since improved screening processes to block disinformation from the Kremlin .
House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week called Facebook “ shameful ” for being “ accomplices for misleading the American people , with money from God knows where.
” She added : “ All they want are their tax cuts and no antitrust action against them.
” Pelosi said she believes Facebook “ schmoozed ” the Trump administration to get favorable treatment .
Last year she attacked Facebook after it refused to remove a doctored video that made it appear she was slurring her words .
“ I think they have proven — by not taking down something they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing enablers of the Russian interference in our election , ” she said in May .
Pelosi on Facebook : '' They do n't care about the impact on children , they don ’ t care about truth … I think what they have said very blatantly , very clearly that they intend to be accomplices for misleading the American people … I think their behavior is shameful . ''
pic.twitter.com/FN6YytX34e — JM Rieger ( @ RiegerReport ) January 16 , 2020 Soros has attacked Facebook at Davos in previous years .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 , then CEO Sheryl Sandberg sicced staff members and a Republican opposition-research firm on Soros to discredit his Facebook criticisms and probe his finances , The New York Times reported .

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Billionaire philanthropist George Soros on Thursday lashed out at Facebook’s continued dissemination of disinformation and accused the company of plotting to get Donald Trump reelected in exchange for his protection.
“I think there is a kind of informal mutual assistance operation or agreement developing between Trump and Facebook,” Soros, 89, said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
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“Facebook will work together to reelect Trump, and Trump will protect Facebook so that this situation” — spreading disinformation — “cannot be changed.” Soros added: “It makes me very concerned about the outcome for 2020.” He offered no specific evidence.
Soros, known for supporting Democratic causes, accused Facebook of having “one guiding principle: Maximize your profits, irrespective of what harm it may do to the world.”
Facebook representative Andy Stone shot back in response to the “mutual assistance” allegation on Twitter: “This is just plain wrong.”
Investor and philanthropist George Soros goes after Donald Trump and Facebook at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday. FABRICE COFFRINI via Getty Images
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Facebook has come under fire for its policy allowing political ads with false information on its platform. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has said that the company doesn’t want to interfere with First Amendment rights and the free exchange of ideas — even if they are deliberately false or misleading. He said it shouldn’t be up to Facebook to determine if political ads are accurate. “I don’t think that a private company should be censoring politicians or news,” he said in an interview in December.
Facebook did little to nothing to stop Russian disinformation campaigns during the 2016 presidential campaign. But it has since improved screening processes to block disinformation from the Kremlin.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) last week called Facebook “shameful” for being “accomplices for misleading the American people, with money from God knows where.” She added: “All they want are their tax cuts and no antitrust action against them.” Pelosi said she believes Facebook “schmoozed” the Trump administration to get favorable treatment.
Last year she attacked Facebook after it refused to remove a doctored video that made it appear she was slurring her words. “I think they have proven — by not taking down something they know is false — that they were willing enablers of the Russian interference in our election,” she said in May.
Pelosi on Facebook:
"They don't care about the impact on children, they don’t care about truth … I think what they have said very blatantly, very clearly that they intend to be accomplices for misleading the American people … I think their behavior is shameful." pic.twitter.com/FN6YytX34e — JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) January 16, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-24--Trump Administration Reportedly Eliminates Opioid 'Emergency' By Dropping Designation

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services discovered one way to temporarily eliminate the nation ’ s opioid addiction and overdose crisis : forget to designate it as an “ emergency.
” According to Politico , HHS apparently forgot to renew the emergency designation that President Donald Trump first ordered in 2017 .
The designation was gone for nine days beginning last week , but now the opioid epidemic is reportedly back on as an official emergency .
“ This was a clerical error , ” an HHS representative told Politico .
“ The public health emergency for opioids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generic name for a range of opioid pain killing tablets .
During his first year in office , Trump ordered the HHS to designate the opioid epidemic as a public health emergency in order to direct more resources to tackle the problem .
More than 400,000 people died from opioid overdoses from 1999 to 2017 .
On average , 130 Americans a day die of opioid overdoses , according to the Centers for Disease Control .
Purdue Pharmacy , the maker of OxyContin , filed for bankruptcy protection last year as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments .
The proposed deal would involve paying some $ 12 billion to the plaintiffs and donating overdose and addiction recovery drugs to settle some 2,600 lawsuits .

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services discovered one way to temporarily eliminate the nation’s opioid addiction and overdose crisis: forget to designate it as an “emergency.”
According to Politico, HHS apparently forgot to renew the emergency designation that President Donald Trump first ordered in 2017. The designation was gone for nine days beginning last week, but now the opioid epidemic is reportedly back on as an official emergency.
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“This was a clerical error,” an HHS representative told Politico. “The public health emergency for opioids has been renewed.
Oxycodone is the generic name for a range of opioid pain killing tablets. BackyardProduction via Getty Images
During his first year in office, Trump ordered HHS to designate the opioid epidemic as a public health emergency in order to direct more resources to tackle the problem.
More than 400,000 people died from opioid overdoses from 1999 to 2017. On average, 130 Americans a day die of opioid overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-23--Senators Call For Review After Fewer Immigrants Naturalized For Military Service

Sens .
Tammy Duckworth ( D-Ill. ) , Dick Durbin ( D-Ill. ) and Mike Rounds ( R-S.D . )
sent a letter Thursday to the Government Accountability Office asking it to review federal pathways that allow those from other countries to become U.S. citizens if they enlist in the armed forces .
The U.S. has long relied on immigrant recruits to beef up the military , but the Trump administration has spent years rolling back such policies as part of the president ’ s broader effort to make it more difficult to enter the country .
“ Despite mounting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help noncitizen veterans and service members access the citizenship they earned , there has not been a review of the effectiveness of our military naturalization policies in nearly a decade , ” Duckworth , a combat veteran who served in Iraq , said in a statement to HuffPost .
“ Congress needs current data to better understand how we can make sure these brave men and women have the support they need throughout the naturalization process.
” The senator and her colleagues urged the GAO to investigate just how effective the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are , pointing to a dramatic reduction in the number of military naturalizations in recent years .
In 2010 , more than 11,200 immigrants were granted citizenship for their service , but that number shrank to about 4,100 in 2018 , a reduction of about 63 % .
At the same time , President Donald Trump has actively worked to restrict how and where many noncitizen military members can apply to become Americans .
In 2017 , the Pentagon changed a program that recruited highly trained immigrants for their language and medical skills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizenship .
More than 500 were abruptly discharged from the Army over a period of 12 months .
The Washington Post notes that serving in the military has long been a celebrated way to become a U.S. citizen that serves both immigrants hoping to come to the country and the American military ( around 65,000 immigrants are currently serving in the active-duty military ) .
Congress has also passed laws to expedite the pathway to citizenship for such recruits during periods of turmoil , including after the 9/11 terrorist attacks .
“ While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made policies to help noncitizen servicemembers naturalize in the past , we urge GAO to evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives , ” the group wrote , noting there hasn ’ t been a review of the program since 2010 .
Duckworth visited a group of veterans who were deported last November in Mexico , saying that , although the former service members were “ Americans all but on paper , ” many “ fell through the cracks ” and had been punished when they should have been rewarded .
“ I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation is treating the deported Veterans I met with , ” Duckworth said at the time .
“ I refuse to let them believe that everyone in government has forsaken them , and I want them to know that I haven ’ t — which is why I spent this Veterans Day at that makeshift refuge in Mexico , recognizing the sacrifices they made for the country they love.
” The lawmaker echoed those sentiments Thursday , saying she would “ keep working to make sure no one willing to wear our uniform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sacrificed to defend .
”

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A bipartisan group of senators called on the government to review a dramatic decline in the number of noncitizens who have become naturalized for their military service.
Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) sent a letter Thursday to the Government Accountability Office asking it to review federal pathways that allow those from other countries to become U.S. citizens if they enlist in the armed forces. The U.S. has long relied on immigrant recruits to beef up the military, but the Trump administration has spent years rolling back such policies as part of the president’s broader effort to make it more difficult to enter the country.
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“Despite mounting evidence showing that our nation is failing to help noncitizen veterans and service members access the citizenship they earned, there has not been a review of the effectiveness of our military naturalization policies in nearly a decade,” Duckworth, a combat veteran who served in Iraq, said in a statement to HuffPost. “Congress needs current data to better understand how we can make sure these brave men and women have the support they need throughout the naturalization process.”
The senator and her colleagues urged the GAO to investigate just how effective the government’s policies for noncitizen service members are, pointing to a dramatic reduction in the number of military naturalizations in recent years. In 2010, more than 11,200 immigrants were granted citizenship for their service, but that number shrank to about 4,100 in 2018, a reduction of about 63%.
At the same time, President Donald Trump has actively worked to restrict how and where many noncitizen military members can apply to become Americans. In 2017, the Pentagon changed a program that recruited highly trained immigrants for their language and medical skills with the promise of a fast-track to citizenship. More than 500 were abruptly discharged from the Army over a period of 12 months.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data also revealed this year that immigrants in the military are denied citizenship at a higher rate than foreign-born civilians.
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And last August, the White House tightened the rules that allow the children of Americans stationed abroad to qualify for automatic citizenship.
The Washington Post notes that serving in the military has long been a celebrated way to become a U.S. citizen that serves both immigrants hoping to come to the country and the American military (around 65,000 immigrants are currently serving in the active-duty military). Congress has also passed laws to expedite the pathway to citizenship for such recruits during periods of turmoil, including after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
In the letter Thursday, the senators said the recent policy changes had potentially affected how effective the government’s programs were for noncitizen service members.
“While [the Pentagon] and USCIS have made policies to help noncitizen servicemembers naturalize in the past, we urge GAO to evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives,” the group wrote, noting there hasn’t been a review of the program since 2010.
Duckworth visited a group of veterans who were deported last November in Mexico, saying that, although the former service members were “Americans all but on paper,” many “fell through the cracks” and had been punished when they should have been rewarded.
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“I am ashamed of and heartbroken by how our nation is treating the deported Veterans I met with,” Duckworth said at the time. “I refuse to let them believe that everyone in government has forsaken them, and I want them to know that I haven’t — which is why I spent this Veterans Day at that makeshift refuge in Mexico, recognizing the sacrifices they made for the country they love.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-23--Democrats Argue 'Bogus' Ukraine Theory Led To Trump Abuse Of Presidential Power

As the Democrats pressed their case for a second day before skeptical Republican Senate jurors , they displayed video images of the nation ’ s top FBI and Homeland Security officials warning the public off the theory that it was Ukraine , not Russia , that interfered in the 2016 election .
Trump is facing trial in the Senate after the House impeached him last month , accusing him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for the investigations while withholding the aid from a U.S. ally at war with bordering Russia .
Trump faces a second article of impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe .
Republicans , growing tired of the long hours of proceedings , have defended Trump ’ s actions as appropriate and cast the process as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in the midst of his reelection campaign .
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate , and acquittal is considered likely .
“ No president has ever used his office to compel a foreign nation to help him cheat in our elections , ” Rep. Jerrold Nadler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House Judiciary Committee , told the senators .
He said the nation ’ s founders would be shocked .
“ The president ’ s conduct is wrong .
It is illegal .
It is dangerous.
” It was Trump who engaged in a shocking abuse of power , not former Vice President Biden or other Trump foes , said Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas .
There is “ no evidence , nothing , nada ” ′ to suggest that Biden did anything improper in dealings with Ukraine , said the former judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceedings , Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri said the Democrats were putting forward “ admirable presentations.
” But he said , “ They ’ ve basically got about one hour of presentation , and they gave it six times on Tuesday and eight times yesterday .
There ’ s just not much new here.
” But Schumer said Schiff has been outlining a compelling case abou t Trump ’ s pressure on Ukraine and the scheme to cover up the charges and many Republicans are hearing it for only the first time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but be “ glued ” to his testimony .
Campaigning in Iowa , Biden said , “ People ask the question , ‘ Isn ’ t the president going to be stronger and harder to beat if he survives this ?
’ Yes , probably .
But Congress has no choice , ” He said senators must cast their votes and “ live with that in history.
” Each side has up to three days to present its case .
After the House prosecutors finish , likely Friday , the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours .
It ’ s unclear how much time they will actually take , but Trump ’ s team promises not only to defend the president but to take apart the Democrats ’ case .
The Senate is expected to take only Sunday off and push into next week .
Holding the room ’ s attentiion proved difficult for the Democrats Most senators sat at their desks throughout , as the rules stipulate , though some stretched their legs , standing behind the desks or against the back wall of the chamber .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ smirked .
A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed the public slightly more likely to say the Senate should convict and remove Trump from office than to say it should not , 45 % to 40 % .
But a sizable percentage , 14 % , said they didn ’ t know enough to have an opinion .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic House prosecutors argued Thursday in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial that the president was swept up by a “completely bogus” Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani and that led to his abuse of presidential power and then impeachment.
As the Democrats pressed their case for a second day before skeptical Republican Senate jurors, they displayed video images of the nation’s top FBI and Homeland Security officials warning the public off the theory that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election.
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“That’s what Donald Trump wanted investigated or announced — this completely bogus Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who is leading the prosecution.
Trump is accused of seeking the investigation — and probes of political foe Joe Biden and Biden’s son — for his own political benefit while holding back congressionally approved military aid as leverage. Schiff said, “You an imagine what a danger that presents to this country.”
Trump is facing trial in the Senate after the House impeached him last month, accusing him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for the investigations while withholding the aid from a U.S. ally at war with bordering Russia. Trump faces a second article of impeachment accusing him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe.
Republicans, growing tired of the long hours of proceedings, have defended Trump’s actions as appropriate and cast the process as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in the midst of his reelection campaign. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and acquittal is considered likely.
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The Democrats’ challenge is clear as they try to convince not just fidgety senators but an American public divided over the Republican president in an election year.
With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, Democrats argued on Thursday that Trump’s motives were clear.
“No president has ever used his office to compel a foreign nation to help him cheat in our elections,” Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, told the senators. He said the nation’s founders would be shocked. “The president’s conduct is wrong. It is illegal. It is dangerous.”
They scoffed at Trump’s claims that he had good reasons for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political foes.
It was Trump who engaged in a shocking abuse of power, not former Vice President Biden or other Trump foes, said Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas. There is “no evidence, nothing, nada”′ to suggest that Biden did anything improper in dealings with Ukraine, said the former judge.
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Trump, with Giuliani, pursued investigations of Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on a Ukrainian gas company’s board, sought the probe of debunked theories of what nation was guilty of interference in the 2016 U.S. election.
The president’s defense waited its turn, which may come on Saturday.
“We will be putting on a vigorous defense of both fact and rebutting what they said,” said attorney Jay Sekulow at the Capitol.
Ahead of the day’s proceedings, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri said the Democrats were putting forward “admirable presentations.” But he said, “They’ve basically got about one hour of presentation, and they gave it six times on Tuesday and eight times yesterday. There’s just not much new here.”
The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, acknowledged that many senators “really don’t want to be here.”
But Schumer said Schiff has been outlining a compelling case abou t Trump’s pressure on Ukraine and the scheme to cover up the charges and many Republicans are hearing it for only the first time. He contended they can’t help but be “glued” to his testimony.
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Once reluctant to take on impeachment during an election year, Democrats are now marching toward a decision by the Senate that the American public also will judge.
Trump blasted the proceedings in a Thursday morning tweet, declaring them the “Most unfair & corrupt hearing in Congressional history!”
Campaigning in Iowa, Biden said, “People ask the question, ‘Isn’t the president going to be stronger and harder to beat if he survives this?’ Yes, probably. But Congress has no choice,” He said senators must cast their votes and “live with that in history.”
Each side has up to three days to present its case. After the House prosecutors finish, likely Friday, the president’s lawyers will have as much as 24 hours. It’s unclear how much time they will actually take, but Trump’s team promises not only to defend the president but to take apart the Democrats’ case. The Senate is expected to take only Sunday off and push into next week.
After that senators will face the question of whether they do, or do not, want to call witnesses to testif y.
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Senators were permitted Thursday to review supplemental testimony submitted by an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, Jennifer Williams, who testified in the House impeachment inquiry. Democrats said the supplemental testimony, which is classified, bolsters their impeachment case. A lawyer for Williams declined to comment.
Holding the room’s attentiion proved difficult for the Democrats Most senators sat at their desks throughout, as the rules stipulate, though some stretched their legs, standing behind the desks or against the back wall of the chamber. Sometimes they yawned. Republicans sometimes quietly smirked.
The impeachment trial is set against the backdrop of the 2020 election. Four senators who are Democratic presidential candidates are off the campaign trail, seated as jurors.
A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed the public slightly more likely to say the Senate should convict and remove Trump from office than to say it should not, 45% to 40%. But a sizable percentage, 14%, said they didn’t know enough to have an opinion.
One issue with wide agreement: Trump should allow top aides to appear as witnesses at the trial. About 7 in 10 said so, including majorities of Republicans and Democrats, according to the poll.
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The strategy of more witnesses, though, seemed all but settled. Republicans rejected Democratic efforts to get Trump aides including former national security adviser John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, to testify in back-to-back votes earlier this week.
Senators were likely to repeat that rejection next week, shutting out any chance of new testimony.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-24--Recording Apparently Captures Trump Saying He Wanted Marie Yovanovitch Fired: Report

President Donald Trump apparently told his associates at a 2018 dinner to “ get rid ” of then-U.S .
Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch , according to an ABC News review of a recording of that dinner .
“ Get rid of her !
” a voice that appears to be Trump can be heard saying on the recording , ABC reported on Friday .
“ Get her out tomorrow .
I don ’ t care .
Get her out tomorrow .
Take her out .
Okay ?
Do it.
” During the April 30 , 2018 , dinner at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump can be heard making the comments after being told that Yovanovitch had been bad-mouthing him , ABC reported .
The Daily Beast reported Friday that Joseph Bondy , a lawyer for Parnas , said the recording was made by Igor Fruman , another associate of Giuliani ’ s .
Bondy said Parnas “ personally heard ” the recording “ last year , before he was arrested.
” “ We have hoped that , to the extent this recording still existed , it would be released to Congress for use in the impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beast .
Later on Friday , Bondy told The New York Times that Parnas had located the recording and turned it over to the House Intelligence Committee .
The committee ’ s chairman , Rep. Adam Schiff ( D-Calif. ) , is the Democrats ’ lead manager in Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
Also this month , Yovanovitch called for an investigation into whether she was surveilled in Ukraine after the House Intelligence Committee released a collection of documents obtained from Parnas .
Those documents included evidence that Yovanovitch was being tracked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Connecticut congressional candidate Robert Hyde , who had received details about Yovanovitch ’ s location in Ukraine last March .
Trump publicly attacked Yovanovitch in November as she testified during the House impeachment hearings .
Yovanovitch responded to Trump ’ s comments in real time and noted that she previously felt threatened by Trump .

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President Donald Trump apparently told his associates at a 2018 dinner to “get rid” of then-U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, according to an ABC News review of a recording of that dinner.
“Get rid of her!” a voice that appears to be Trump can be heard saying on the recording, ABC reported on Friday. “Get her out tomorrow. I don’t care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. Okay? Do it.”
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During the April 30, 2018, dinner at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, Trump can be heard making the comments after being told that Yovanovitch had been bad-mouthing him, ABC reported.
The report backs up claims made by Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.
The Daily Beast reported Friday that Joseph Bondy, a lawyer for Parnas, said the recording was made by Igor Fruman, another associate of Giuliani’s. Bondy said Parnas “personally heard” the recording “last year, before he was arrested.”
“We have hoped that, to the extent this recording still existed, it would be released to Congress for use in the impeachment trial,” Bondy told The Daily Beast.
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Later on Friday, Bondy told The New York Times that Parnas had located the recording and turned it over to the House Intelligence Committee. The committee’s chairman, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), is the Democrats’ lead manager in Trump’s impeachment trial.
Also this month, Yovanovitch called for an investigation into whether she was surveilled in Ukraine after the House Intelligence Committee released a collection of documents obtained from Parnas. Those documents included evidence that Yovanovitch was being tracked, including WhatsApp messages between Parnas and Connecticut congressional candidate Robert Hyde, who had received details about Yovanovitch’s location in Ukraine last March.
Trump publicly attacked Yovanovitch in November as she testified during the House impeachment hearings. Yovanovitch responded to Trump’s comments in real time and noted that she previously felt threatened by Trump.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-24--34 U.S. Troops Diagnosed With Traumatic Brain Injuries After Missile Strike: Pentagon

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Pentagon said Friday that 34 U.S. troops were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries suffered in this month ’ s Iranian missile strike on an Iraqi air base , and that half of the troops have returned to their military duties .
Seventeen of the 34 are still under medical observation , according to Jonathan Hoffman , the chief Pentagon spokesman .
President Donald Trump had initially said he was told that no troops had been injured in the Jan. 8 strike .
The military said symptoms were not immediately reported after the strike and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After the first reports that some soldiers had been hurt , Trump referred to them as “ headaches ” and said the cases were not as serious as injuries involving the loss of limbs .
Hoffman ’ s disclosure that 34 had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury , or TBI , was the first update on the number injured in Iran ’ s missile attack on Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq since the Pentagon said on Jan. 17 that 11 service members had been flown out of Iraq with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 34 with TBI , 18 were evacuated from Iraq to U.S. medical facilities in Germany and Kuwait , and 16 stayed in Iraq .
Seventeen of the 18 evacuees were sent to Germany , and nine remain there ; the other eight have been transported to the United States for continued observation or treatment .
The one American sent to Kuwait has since returned to duty .
All 16 of those who were diagnosed with TBI and remained in Iraq have since returned to duty , Hoffman said .
No one was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The strike was launched in retaliation for a U.S. drone missile strike that killed Qassem Soleimani , the most powerful military general in Iran , on Jan. 3 at Baghdad International Airport .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon said Friday that 34 U.S. troops were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries suffered in this month’s Iranian missile strike on an Iraqi air base, and that half of the troops have returned to their military duties.
Seventeen of the 34 are still under medical observation, according to Jonathan Hoffman, the chief Pentagon spokesman.
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President Donald Trump had initially said he was told that no troops had been injured in the Jan. 8 strike. The military said symptoms were not immediately reported after the strike and in some cases became known days later.
After the first reports that some soldiers had been hurt, Trump referred to them as “headaches” and said the cases were not as serious as injuries involving the loss of limbs.
Hoffman’s disclosure that 34 had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, or TBI, was the first update on the number injured in Iran’s missile attack on Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq since the Pentagon said on Jan. 17 that 11 service members had been flown out of Iraq with concussion-like symptoms.
Hoffman said that of the 34 with TBI, 18 were evacuated from Iraq to U.S. medical facilities in Germany and Kuwait, and 16 stayed in Iraq. Seventeen of the 18 evacuees were sent to Germany, and nine remain there; the other eight have been transported to the United States for continued observation or treatment.
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The one American sent to Kuwait has since returned to duty. All 16 of those who were diagnosed with TBI and remained in Iraq have since returned to duty, Hoffman said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-24--Live Updates From Final Day Of Democrats' Opening Arguments In Impeachment Trial

Buckle in for the third and final day of opening arguments in President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
@ @ @ @ @ Schiff ( D-Calif. ) , who is leading the team of impeachment managers in making @ @ @ @ @ , will likely focus most of his remarks on charges that Trump engaged in obstruction @ @ @ @ @ first two days of opening arguments , Schiff largely made arguments around another charge that @ @ @ @ @ pressuring Ukraine to investigate a political rival .
He also lambasted rules laid out by @ @ @ @ @ ( R-Ky. ) , blocking him from calling witnesses or subpoenaing documents .
Follow along @ @ @ @ @

Buckle in for the third and final day of opening arguments in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who is leading the team of impeachment managers in making a case before the Senate, will likely focus most of his remarks on charges that Trump engaged in obstruction of Congress.
Throughout the first two days of opening arguments, Schiff largely made arguments around another charge that Trump abused his powers by pressuring Ukraine to investigate a political rival.
He also lambasted rules laid out by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), blocking him from calling witnesses or subpoenaing documents.
Follow along with live updates below.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-24--Trump Turns The March For Life Into A Campaign Rally

Lincoln “ contended with the pro-choice arguments of his day .
They suggested that a state ’ s choice to @ @ @ @ @ free had no moral question in it , ” DeVos said .
“ Well , @ @ @ @ @ that is a vast portion of the American people that do not look upon that @ @ @ @ @ little thing .
They look upon it as a vast moral evil.
” Trump has @ @ @ @ @ GOP voters that he would appoint conservative judges to the nation ’ s courts — @ @ @ @ @ where Republicans have long hoped that a conservative majority would allow the dismantling of Roe @ @ @ @ @ 1973 ruling protecting a woman ’ s right to an abortion .
Underscoring the significance @ @ @ @ @ as a gathering for his base , Trump left the stage to the Rolling Stones @ @ @ @ @ t Always Get What You Want , ” a song that frequently plays at the @ @ @ @ @ .

Lincoln “contended with the pro-choice arguments of his day. They suggested that a state’s choice to be slave or to be free had no moral question in it,” DeVos said. “Well, President Lincoln reminded those pro-choicers that is a vast portion of the American people that do not look upon that matter as being this very little thing. They look upon it as a vast moral evil.”
Trump has carried out his promise to GOP voters that he would appoint conservative judges to the nation’s courts — including the Supreme Court, where Republicans have long hoped that a conservative majority would allow the dismantling of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling protecting a woman’s right to an abortion.
Underscoring the significance of Friday’s event as a gathering for his base, Trump left the stage to the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” a song that frequently plays at the end of his campaign rallies.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-24--Betsy DeVos Compares Ending Abortion With Ending Slavery

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told an audience of conservative Christians that their fight to restrict abortion was like President Abraham Lincoln ’ s quest to abolish slavery , and compared defenders of slavery with modern abortion rights activists .
Lincoln , “ too , contended with the pro-choice arguments of his day .
They suggested that a state ’ s choice to be slave or to be free had no moral question in it , ” DeVos said Wednesday at a dinner for Colorado Christian University , held at the Museum of the Bible in Washington .
“ Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vast portion of the American people that do not look upon that matter as being this very little thing .
They look upon it as a vast moral evil.
” Lincoln was right about the slavery choice then , and he would be right about the life choice today .
Because as it ’ s been said : Freedom is not about doing what we want .
Freedom is about having the right to do what we ought .
The event was closed to the press , but attended by the Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeVos ’ comments Thursday .
She also praised President Donald Trump for installing conservative judges on the nation ’ s courts — including the Supreme Court , where conservatives hope dismantling Roe v. Wade , the landmark 1973 decision ensuring a woman ’ s right to an abortion , will be on the table .
Trump on Friday is slated to become the first sitting president to in person address the March for Life , an annual gathering of anti-abortion proponents on the National Mall .
Trump has relied heavily on support from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used social issues like abortion to rally his base , even though some of his views and actions have not been consistent with those of conservatives .

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Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told an audience of conservative Christians that their fight to restrict abortion was like President Abraham Lincoln’s quest to abolish slavery, and compared defenders of slavery with modern abortion rights activists.
Lincoln, “too, contended with the pro-choice arguments of his day. They suggested that a state’s choice to be slave or to be free had no moral question in it,” DeVos said Wednesday at a dinner for Colorado Christian University, held at the Museum of the Bible in Washington. “Well, President Lincoln reminded those pro-choicers that is a vast portion of the American people that do not look upon that matter as being this very little thing. They look upon it as a vast moral evil.”
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She continued:
Lincoln was right about the slavery choice then, and he would be right about the life choice today. Because as it’s been said: Freedom is not about doing what we want. Freedom is about having the right to do what we ought.
The event was closed to the press, but attended by the Colorado Times Recorder, which first reported on DeVos’ comments Thursday.
DeVos told the audience she hopes to make abortion “unconstitutional” and “unthinkable.”
She also praised President Donald Trump for installing conservative judges on the nation’s courts — including the Supreme Court, where conservatives hope dismantling Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision ensuring a woman’s right to an abortion, will be on the table.
Trump on Friday is slated to become the first sitting president to in person address the March for Life, an annual gathering of anti-abortion proponents on the National Mall. Trump has relied heavily on support from conservatives and evangelical Christians, and has used social issues like abortion to rally his base, even though some of his views and actions have not been consistent with those of conservatives.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-24--About Half The Country Wants Trump Removed, But The RNC Is All Smiles

DORAL , Fla. — About half the country wants the impeached president removed from office , but Donald Trump ’ s Republican Party on Friday professed to see only sunny skies ahead .
“ There is a strong and growing outrage among the general public , ” Morton Blackwell , a longtime Republican National Committee member from Virginia , said at the group ’ s winter meeting .
He said the impeachment would “ boomerang ” against Democrats , just it did with Republicans who impeached President Bill Clinton in 1999 .
“ Clinton got more popular .
… I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dicke , an RNC member from Ohio , said he thought public opinion was turning against Democrats , putting Republicans in a good position to hold the White House and Senate and win back the House .
Why RNC members believe the public is on Trump ’ s side is unclear .
Recent polling , including the large sample survey by Pew Research , shows that just over half of Americans not only believe Trump did something wrong when he tried to coerce Ukraine ’ s president into investigating former U.S. Vice President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be removed from office for it .
At the president ’ s for-profit golf resort near the Miami airport , though , many of the 168 leaders of his party followed Trump ’ s lead in arguing that his behavior was completely above board .
Jonelle Fulmer , an RNC member from Arkansas , said Trump had every right to look into the “ corruption ” of Biden ’ s son Hunter .
Dicke agreed that Trump had done nothing wrong .
“ If a Democratic president did exactly the same thing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have any problem with it , ” he said .
Virginia ’ s Blackwell would not defend Trump ’ s actions , but he did say that removal from office was too harsh a penalty .
“ I might not like it , but it ’ s not an impeachable offense , ” he said , adding that he could not explain why Trump did what he did .
RNC officials did not respond to HuffPost queries about how much they are spending in total to host their three-day meeting .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resort $ 169,763 on Nov. 6 , 2019 , in advance of the meeting .
A similar meeting in May 2018 ended up costing the party $ 602,765 .
The RNC also paid Doral $ 84,822 to hold a lunch fundraiser there in June 2019 .
Trump is the sole beneficiary of the trust that owns the Trump Organization , and the Trump Organization owns his hotels and golf resorts — meaning that profits from the RNC ’ s use of his properties flow directly into his pocket .

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DORAL, Fla. — About half the country wants the impeached president removed from office, but Donald Trump’s Republican Party on Friday professed to see only sunny skies ahead.
“There is a strong and growing outrage among the general public,” Morton Blackwell, a longtime Republican National Committee member from Virginia, said at the group’s winter meeting. He said the impeachment would “boomerang” against Democrats, just it did with Republicans who impeached President Bill Clinton in 1999. “Clinton got more popular. … I think they made a mistake.”
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Jim Dicke, an RNC member from Ohio, said he thought public opinion was turning against Democrats, putting Republicans in a good position to hold the White House and Senate and win back the House.
“My gut tells me it will help us,” he said. “You’re not attending a doom-and-gloom RNC meeting.”
In this Dec. 2, 2017, photo, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel speaks at a fundraiser with President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) AP Photo/Susan Walsh
Why RNC members believe the public is on Trump’s side is unclear. Recent polling, including the large sample survey by Pew Research, shows that just over half of Americans not only believe Trump did something wrong when he tried to coerce Ukraine’s president into investigating former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, but that he should be removed from office for it.
At the president’s for-profit golf resort near the Miami airport, though, many of the 168 leaders of his party followed Trump’s lead in arguing that his behavior was completely above board.
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Jonelle Fulmer, an RNC member from Arkansas, said Trump had every right to look into the “corruption” of Biden’s son Hunter.
Dicke agreed that Trump had done nothing wrong. “If a Democratic president did exactly the same thing that Donald Trump did, I wouldn’t have any problem with it,” he said.
Virginia’s Blackwell would not defend Trump’s actions, but he did say that removal from office was too harsh a penalty. “I might not like it, but it’s not an impeachable offense,” he said, adding that he could not explain why Trump did what he did.
“He’s Donald Trump,” he said with a shrug.
RNC officials did not respond to HuffPost queries about how much they are spending in total to host their three-day meeting. The group paid the Trump National Doral Miami resort $169,763 on Nov. 6, 2019, in advance of the meeting.
A similar meeting in May 2018 ended up costing the party $602,765. The RNC also paid Doral $84,822 to hold a lunch fundraiser there in June 2019.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-24--Democrats Growing Nervous About Next Week's Vote On Trial Witnesses

WASHINGTON ― Impeachment managers this week have presented an “ overwhelming ” body of evidence on President Donald Trump ’ s pressure campaign against Ukraine , but as their opening arguments in Trump ’ s Senate trial come to a close , Democrats are growing increasingly anxious about winning enough Republican support to subpoena witnesses and other documents .
“ I ’ m less confident today than I was last week .
I feel like the walls are closing in on Republicans .
I don ’ t understand it .
I think they will rue the day they have turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Chris Murphy ( D-Conn. ) said Friday , the final day of presentations by House impeachment managers charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of congressional investigations .
“ I don ’ t know whether it ’ s having the same impact on my Republican colleagues as it is on me , ” Sen. Chris Coons ( D-Del . )
, who is friendly with senators on the other side of the aisle , added of the proceedings so far .
“ I haven ’ t seen or heard anything to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to subpoena new witnesses in the trial , Democrats need to convince at least four Republican senators to support an initial vote on including additional evidence next week .
Three GOP senators have expressed some level of interest in doing so and are considered the likeliest votes in favor : Susan Collins of Maine , Mitt Romney of Utah , and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska .
Finding at least one more Republican senator to join that effort will be difficult given broad opposition within the GOP to increasing the scope and length @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned their members that a subpoena for witness testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton or acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney could mean a protracted legal fight over executive privilege , dragging out the process for weeks or even months .
The North Carolina Republican , who is facing reelection this year , said that Democrats ’ rhetoric about how undeniable the case is against Trump has been “ somewhat discounted by how much time they ’ re spending singing about all the new information they need.
” One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , a quiet institutionalist with bipartisan credibility who is retiring this year .
Alexander is not close to Trump and doesn ’ t emulate the president ’ s rhetoric like some of his colleagues do .
But he is a close ally of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) , and he has rarely voted against the party line since Trump was inaugurated in 2017 ― save for a vote to revert the president ’ s national emergency on the border .
The Tennessee Republican was one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House managers more time to put on their case this week , contrary to the wishes of McConnell and Trump ’ s defense team .
While he has emphasized the need to give the public at least the appearance of a fair trial , Alexander has kept his thoughts about witnesses and evidence to himself , at least for now .
“ We ’ ve done a good job of letting the House managers present their case , ” Alexander told reporters on Thursday .
“ The managers have said they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so we have a lot to consider .
And I think if the American people are watching , they ’ ll see the Senate taking this very seriously , allowing a fair trial , and we ’ ll see what the result is at the end.
” The House impeachment team will conclude its case Friday evening , and Trump ’ s defense team will launch its defense during what is expected to be a short session on Saturday .
Following the conclusion of Trump ’ s defense next week , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both sides , the Senate will take a vote on whether to consider witnesses and other evidence .
Public polling is overwhelmingly on the side of Democrats as they press the need for witnesses .
Per a new ABC News/Washington Post poll released Friday , two-thirds of Americans said the Senate should do so , including 45 % of Republicans , and 65 % of independents .
“ Anyone who stakes a claim to being reasonable , moderate and open-minded is going to have a devil of a time explaining why this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack witnesses and documents , ” Schatz said Friday .
“ It ’ s not just that it will lack witnesses and documents , it ’ s that they ’ re affirmatively voting to shut it down without getting all of the information .
”

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WASHINGTON ― Impeachment managers this week have presented an “overwhelming” body of evidence on President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign against Ukraine, but as their opening arguments in Trump’s Senate trial come to a close, Democrats are growing increasingly anxious about winning enough Republican support to subpoena witnesses and other documents.
“I’m less confident today than I was last week. I feel like the walls are closing in on Republicans. I don’t understand it. I think they will rue the day they have turned this trial into a cover-up,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Friday, the final day of presentations by House impeachment managers charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of congressional investigations.
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“I don’t know whether it’s having the same impact on my Republican colleagues as it is on me,” Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who is friendly with senators on the other side of the aisle, added of the proceedings so far. “I haven’t seen or heard anything to me that suggests significant movement.”
In order to subpoena new witnesses in the trial, Democrats need to convince at least four Republican senators to support an initial vote on including additional evidence next week. Three GOP senators have expressed some level of interest in doing so and are considered the likeliest votes in favor: Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
Finding at least one more Republican senator to join that effort will be difficult given broad opposition within the GOP to increasing the scope and length of the trial. Republican leaders have warned their members that a subpoena for witness testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton or acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney could mean a protracted legal fight over executive privilege, dragging out the process for weeks or even months.
But Democrats maintain a dispute over executive privilege ― which Trump is expected to assert over witness testimony ― could be resolved relatively quickly given that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is presiding over the proceedings.
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“If it’s signed, the subpoena, by the chief justice, I think it’ll whip through the courts very, very quickly. Much different than the House situation,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Friday.
Still, Republicans are expressing confidence that they’ll prevail next week. Asked Friday how much support there is in his caucus at the moment for calling witnesses, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said, “Not a lot.”
The North Carolina Republican, who is facing reelection this year, said that Democrats’ rhetoric about how undeniable the case is against Trump has been “somewhat discounted by how much time they’re spending singing about all the new information they need.”
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) is thought to be one Republican who may be willing to vote in favor of subpoenaing witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. ASSOCIATED PRESS
One possible vote for calling witnesses could be Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, a quiet institutionalist with bipartisan credibility who is retiring this year. Alexander is not close to Trump and doesn’t emulate the president’s rhetoric like some of his colleagues do. But he is a close ally of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and he has rarely voted against the party line since Trump was inaugurated in 2017 ― save for a vote to revert the president’s national emergency on the border.
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The Tennessee Republican was one of several senators who pushed for giving the House managers more time to put on their case this week, contrary to the wishes of McConnell and Trump’s defense team. While he has emphasized the need to give the public at least the appearance of a fair trial, Alexander has kept his thoughts about witnesses and evidence to himself, at least for now.
“We’ve done a good job of letting the House managers present their case,” Alexander told reporters on Thursday. “The managers have said they’ve offered a mountain of overwhelming evidence, so we have a lot to consider. And I think if the American people are watching, they’ll see the Senate taking this very seriously, allowing a fair trial, and we’ll see what the result is at the end.”
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), who is also retiring this year, was also tight-lipped about the notion of including witnesses and new evidence.
“I’m just a juror trying to get all the facts that I can,” Roberts said Friday.
The House impeachment team will conclude its case Friday evening, and Trump’s defense team will launch its defense during what is expected to be a short session on Saturday. Following the conclusion of Trump’s defense next week, and a period of questioning by senators from both sides, the Senate will take a vote on whether to consider witnesses and other evidence.
Public polling is overwhelmingly on the side of Democrats as they press the need for witnesses. Per a new ABC News/Washington Post poll released Friday, two-thirds of Americans said the Senate should do so, including 45% of Republicans, and 65% of independents.
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Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), who observed on Twitter that Republicans looked “shook” by the House managers’ closing arguments Thursday, warned that senators who vote against including witnesses would have trouble explaining their vote to the American public.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-01-24--Chris Cuomo Explains Why He Keeps Letting Kellyanne Conway Spin Lies On His Show

Chris Cuomo has once again defended having White House counselor Kellyanne Conway as a guest on his prime time CNN show in spite of her penchant for spinning President Donald Trump ’ s lies .
“ I want her on television because she is very close to this president as an adviser , ” Cuomo explained on Thursday ’ s broadcast of “ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
” “ And what she says on TV is what he wants you to believe and I think that is of extraordinary value.
” He called Conway “ my friend.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often go viral , disputed Colbert ’ s suggestion that Conway often lies .
Instead , Cuomo said Conway was all about “ dissembling ” and “ spinning away ” from the questions she is asked .
“ A lie is something you say that is intentionally wrong and you know it and you do it for purposes of deception , ” Cuomo explained .
He added that Conway ( who he acknowledged hasn ’ t appeared much on his show recently ) is “ effective ” at what she does , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people nuts.
” “ I have her on the show because I think having the main adviser to the president of the United States is valuable to people , even if they oppose him , because it lets you see what you ’ re dealing with , what you ’ re up against with the reminder that it beat you the last time , ” said Cuomo , who has repeatedly drawn scorn for booking Conway from his CNN colleague Don Lemon .
“ She never answers a question .
She berates you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lemon told Cuomo last year .
“ For me , it feels beneath the dignity of this network to have someone on who constantly lies and misconstrues things.
” And listen to his take on the Senate impeachment trial of Trump here :

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Chris Cuomo has once again defended having White House counselor Kellyanne Conway as a guest on his prime time CNN show in spite of her penchant for spinning President Donald Trump’s lies.
“I want her on television because she is very close to this president as an adviser,” Cuomo explained on Thursday’s broadcast of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” “And what she says on TV is what he wants you to believe and I think that is of extraordinary value.” He called Conway “my friend.”
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Cuomo, whose off-the-rails interviews with Conway often go viral, disputed Colbert’s suggestion that Conway often lies. Instead, Cuomo said Conway was all about “dissembling” and “spinning away” from the questions she is asked.
“A lie is something you say that is intentionally wrong and you know it and you do it for purposes of deception,” Cuomo explained. He added that Conway (who he acknowledged hasn’t appeared much on his show recently) is “effective” at what she does, “which is what drives a lot of people nuts.”
“I have her on the show because I think having the main adviser to the president of the United States is valuable to people, even if they oppose him, because it lets you see what you’re dealing with, what you’re up against with the reminder that it beat you the last time,” said Cuomo, who has repeatedly drawn scorn for booking Conway from his CNN colleague Don Lemon.
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“She never answers a question. She berates you. She’s condescending,” Lemon told Cuomo last year. “For me, it feels beneath the dignity of this network to have someone on who constantly lies and misconstrues things.”
Check out Cuomo’s interview with Colbert here: