thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Architecture for the unawed

Architecture for the unawed

President Trump is set to direct all new federal buildings in Washington , D.C. , to be constructed in the classical style .
The architectural community has been buzzing with outrage since an executive order leaked in early February , with reams of online articles ( re ) announcing the arrival of fascism going live as quickly as they could be uploaded .
The order , titled “ Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again , ” was supported by the National Civic Art Society , a small and pugnacious Washington nonprofit organization that advocates for traditionalist public architecture .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ architect Frank Gehry ’ s design for the Eisenhower Memorial .
When I heard about this compulsory new crop of classical buildings , the word `` kitsch '' shot immediately into my mind , followed by a mental slideshow from history : There was Albert Speer ’ s Nazi neoclassicism , an architecture of rigid manliness as imagined by a fragile teenage boy ; the Venetian hotel in Vegas , with its campy faux-opulence , halfheartedly aping a decadent kind of Roman grandeur ; and finally , in a similar vein , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of marble and gold paint , crowded with gaudy columns and frilly little ornaments , seemingly designed to announce the owner ’ s wealth , insecurity , and lack of taste .
My first reaction was : Is this where we are as a country ?
Do we really want to eliminate our ability to innovate , to think and make and love new things ?
Are we doomed to stale , soulless repetition ?
If so , how terrible .
How sad !
But such doom-saying is too quick and tidy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ myriad revivals over the past two millennia , and some of them have produced buildings of incredible beauty and vitality .
Classical proportion and scale , symmetry and balance , fluted columns , domes , and arches — these have provided the grammar for a number of fluent architectural vernaculars .
The Romans themselves , for one , were emulators of what was , to them , ancient Greece .
A millennium and a half later , the Italian Renaissance left behind astonishing architectural accomplishments , which are artifacts of renaissance in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rebirth of classical culture .
I don ’ t know if there are humans who enter St. Peter ’ s Basilica ( completed in 1590 ) and find it gaudy , overblown , derivative , boring , etc .
Probably there are , but I , for one , have no choice but to agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson , who called the neoclassical St. Peter ’ s `` an ornament of the earth ... the sublime of the beautiful . ''
“ Sublime ” is indeed the right word .
Sublimity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s smallness .
Standing beneath the cupola of St. Peter ’ s , one feels absolutely minuscule , overshadowed by an irresistible grandeur .
Great classical architecture is expert at inducing a sense of peaceful awe at the hierarchy of being , a feeling that this hierarchy is good and beautiful and that we should be happy with our place in it .
There are other kinds of awe that architecture can inspire .
In the executive order , Trump sets up classicism as the white-hatted foe of brutalism and postmodernism .
Brutalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very nonclassical species of awe .
Its raw , massive concrete forms overawe the viewer with simple stony mass .
You are small , once again , but the hierarchy here , the thing you stand in awe of , is neither beneficent nor comforting .
With some notable exceptions , brutalism tends toward the cold , the inhumane , and the ruthless .
Most people would prefer not to look .
Yet our choice is not necessarily between brutalism and classicism .
According to Joshua Rubbelke , a Washington architect familiar with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are shaped by massive artistic or intellectual ambition .
Most are more pedestrian efforts to meet a large raft of pragmatic demands while complying with a significant battery of regulations under conditions of budgetary austerity .
Gigantic , terrifying chunks of raw concrete that showcase our cosmic insignificance ?
In this economy ?
The real-life opponent of Trump ’ s new classicism isn ’ t evil , glowering brutalism — it ’ s office park banality .
It ’ s sustainable , livable boxes that allow for efficient workflow and don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s less Great Man architects such as Gehry and more Friedrich Nietzsche ’ s last man , with nothing left to care about and nothing to stand in awe of .
If this is our choice , then the choice is clear .
Let ’ s have inspiration , grandeur , national aspiration .
The Italian Renaissance was neither the first nor the last significant rebirth of Greek architecture , and probably there will be yet more in the future .
Classicism is a wonderful style , responsive to many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there is reason to doubt that Trump is signing such a rebirth into being .
Greek architecture developed through the building of temples .
St. Peter ’ s is a church .
The stateliness , the quiet little miracles of classical logic and form , can find a wide array of applications , but classical architecture is at its strongest when serving as a vehicle for awe , which is ultimately directed above and beyond the arches and domes of the physical building .
Without this , attempts at classical grandeur collapse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What , exactly , do we as a nation stand in awe of in 2020 ?
When he was still running for president , Trump was asked by Barbara Walters to describe his desired legacy in a single word .
He chose “ victory.
” When she asked Bernie Sanders the same question , he picked “ compassion.
” These are compelling things in their different ways .
Groups can gather around these flags .
But is either one of them a god who could hover over the top of a temple , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and happy in its shade ?
Or is there something else we have to be in awe of ?
Our laws ?
Our principles ?
Our ideals ?
I don ’ t know right now ; again , I have my doubts .
If there are seasons when one of these can inspire awe in a nation of serious people , 2020 doesn ’ t seem to be one of them .
Maybe this is the product of long-running mismanagement and corruption on the part of our elites .
Maybe they have besmirched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ ll see .
But if there isn ’ t anything that we can together stand in awe of , we might be in for a long , difficult time .
If so , there isn ’ t a quantity or quality of columns , pilasters , domes , or plinths that can birth an American renaissance worth having .
Ian Marcus Corbin is a writer , academic , and entrepreneur in Cambridge , Massachusetts .

President Trump is set to direct all new federal buildings in Washington, D.C., to be constructed in the classical style. The architectural community has been buzzing with outrage since an executive order leaked in early February, with reams of online articles (re)announcing the arrival of fascism going live as quickly as they could be uploaded. The order, titled “Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again,” was supported by the National Civic Art Society, a small and pugnacious Washington nonprofit organization that advocates for traditionalist public architecture. It is most famous for lobbying against the celebrity architect Frank Gehry’s design for the Eisenhower Memorial.
When I heard about this compulsory new crop of classical buildings, the word "kitsch" shot immediately into my mind, followed by a mental slideshow from history: There was Albert Speer’s Nazi neoclassicism, an architecture of rigid manliness as imagined by a fragile teenage boy; the Venetian hotel in Vegas, with its campy faux-opulence, halfheartedly aping a decadent kind of Roman grandeur; and finally, in a similar vein, Trump’s Manhattan penthouse — three floors of marble and gold paint, crowded with gaudy columns and frilly little ornaments, seemingly designed to announce the owner’s wealth, insecurity, and lack of taste.
My first reaction was: Is this where we are as a country? Do we really want to eliminate our ability to innovate, to think and make and love new things? Are we doomed to stale, soulless repetition? If so, how terrible. How sad! But such doom-saying is too quick and tidy. The tradition of classical architecture has had myriad revivals over the past two millennia, and some of them have produced buildings of incredible beauty and vitality. Classical proportion and scale, symmetry and balance, fluted columns, domes, and arches — these have provided the grammar for a number of fluent architectural vernaculars.
The Romans themselves, for one, were emulators of what was, to them, ancient Greece. A millennium and a half later, the Italian Renaissance left behind astonishing architectural accomplishments, which are artifacts of renaissance in the literal sense, a self-conscious push for the rebirth of classical culture. I don’t know if there are humans who enter St. Peter’s Basilica (completed in 1590) and find it gaudy, overblown, derivative, boring, etc. Probably there are, but I, for one, have no choice but to agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson, who called the neoclassical St. Peter’s "an ornament of the earth ... the sublime of the beautiful."
“Sublime” is indeed the right word. Sublimity is a not-unpleasurable reminder of one’s smallness. Standing beneath the cupola of St. Peter’s, one feels absolutely minuscule, overshadowed by an irresistible grandeur. Great classical architecture is expert at inducing a sense of peaceful awe at the hierarchy of being, a feeling that this hierarchy is good and beautiful and that we should be happy with our place in it.
There are other kinds of awe that architecture can inspire. In the executive order, Trump sets up classicism as the white-hatted foe of brutalism and postmodernism. Brutalism, in particular, traffics in a very nonclassical species of awe. Its raw, massive concrete forms overawe the viewer with simple stony mass. You are small, once again, but the hierarchy here, the thing you stand in awe of, is neither beneficent nor comforting. With some notable exceptions, brutalism tends toward the cold, the inhumane, and the ruthless. Most people would prefer not to look.
Yet our choice is not necessarily between brutalism and classicism. According to Joshua Rubbelke, a Washington architect familiar with federal projects, very few such projects are shaped by massive artistic or intellectual ambition. Most are more pedestrian efforts to meet a large raft of pragmatic demands while complying with a significant battery of regulations under conditions of budgetary austerity. Gigantic, terrifying chunks of raw concrete that showcase our cosmic insignificance? In this economy?
The real-life opponent of Trump’s new classicism isn’t evil, glowering brutalism — it’s office park banality. It’s sustainable, livable boxes that allow for efficient workflow and don’t strike the paying public as too opulent. It’s less Great Man architects such as Gehry and more Friedrich Nietzsche’s last man, with nothing left to care about and nothing to stand in awe of.
If this is our choice, then the choice is clear. Let’s have inspiration, grandeur, national aspiration. The Italian Renaissance was neither the first nor the last significant rebirth of Greek architecture, and probably there will be yet more in the future. Classicism is a wonderful style, responsive to many deep human desires and needs. Unfortunately, there is reason to doubt that Trump is signing such a rebirth into being.
Greek architecture developed through the building of temples. St. Peter’s is a church. The stateliness, the quiet little miracles of classical logic and form, can find a wide array of applications, but classical architecture is at its strongest when serving as a vehicle for awe, which is ultimately directed above and beyond the arches and domes of the physical building. Without this, attempts at classical grandeur collapse into kitsch. The question is: What, exactly, do we as a nation stand in awe of in 2020?
When he was still running for president, Trump was asked by Barbara Walters to describe his desired legacy in a single word. He chose “victory.” When she asked Bernie Sanders the same question, he picked “compassion.” These are compelling things in their different ways. Groups can gather around these flags. But is either one of them a god who could hover over the top of a temple, making it holy, making us small and happy in its shade? Or is there something else we have to be in awe of? Our laws? Our principles? Our ideals?
I don’t know right now; again, I have my doubts. If there are seasons when one of these can inspire awe in a nation of serious people, 2020 doesn’t seem to be one of them. Maybe this is the product of long-running mismanagement and corruption on the part of our elites. Maybe they have besmirched our ideals. Maybe it will pass. We’ll see. But if there isn’t anything that we can together stand in awe of, we might be in for a long, difficult time. If so, there isn’t a quantity or quality of columns, pilasters, domes, or plinths that can birth an American renaissance worth having.
Ian Marcus Corbin is a writer, academic, and entrepreneur in Cambridge, Massachusetts.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Politics or principle? Inside Trump's Venezuela push

First came meetings with allies , including Britain 's foreign secretary and the European Union 's foreign policy chief .
Then came the made-for-TV moment with President Trump introducing Juan Guaido as the `` true and legitimate president of Venezuela '' during his State of the Union address .
It was part of a policy rollout that included an Oval Office meeting , in which Guaido was told he could expect more U.S. pressure within 30 days to remove President Nicolas Maduro .
It ended with sanctions being imposed on the state airline a couple of days later .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and substance .
For a White House where policy announcements frequently arrive in the form of a tweet , the push came in a surprisingly conventional manner .
It signaled a willingness to topple a foreign dictator despite Trump 's opposition to deeper overseas commitments .
`` He 's no fan of foreign deployments , '' said a senior administration official .
`` It 's absolutely clear that he has a very different view of our hemisphere . ''
So , although his administration is inching toward a deal with the Taliban in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regimes with problematic human rights records or expansionist intent ( think Saudi Arabia or Vladimir Putin 's Russia ) , the calculus changes nearer to home .
Venezuela has been wracked by economic and political crises that forced 5 million people to flee .
Guaido rose to prominence last year as head of the country 's congress , leading demonstrations and claiming presidential powers because Maduro had retained power in fraudulent elections .
He has won the backing of more than 50 nations , including the United States .
The reasoning was spelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior administration official who appealed to a 19th-century view of the world .
`` I would say the Trump Doctrine is a rebirth of the Monroe Doctrine , in the sense of sending a signal to external … to extracontinental actors that the United States will remain , and should remain , the partner of choice in the Western Hemisphere , '' he said .
As such , Trump 's position is a modern iteration of the idea , named for President James Monroe , that the New World and the Old World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lanes : America is for the Americans .
Back then , it was taken as an assertion of Washington 's right to apply gunboat diplomacy ; today , it is frequently accompanied by quiet assurances that `` all options are on the table . ''
And where once it was intended as a warning to France , Spain , and Britain to stay out of the region , today it is a new generation of powers that stand accused of bringing trouble to the neighborhood .
`` We believe that we share principles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood , '' said the official .
`` And these extracontinental actors , whether it 's the Russians , the Chinese , and through their proxies in Cuba and others , are subverting those values and those principles . ''
Simple proximity is a reason to treat Maduro differently to Kim Jong Un or Bashar Assad , runs the argument .
Which is how it was that Trump welcomed Guaido to the State of the Union and sent him home with a message that people in the U.S. were united behind him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` But always remember : Freedom unifies the soul . ''
Geoff Ramsey , director for Venezuela at the Washington Office on Latin America , said it was right that the White House was focused on the most significant humanitarian emergency in the hemisphere .
But he added that such Cold War rhetoric risked allowing Maduro to dismiss opponents as Washington stooges .
`` I think there 's a real danger that the closer we get to elections , the less Venezuela policy has anything to do with the facts on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Trump campaign in Florida , '' he said .
There are an estimated 200,000 Venezuelan voters in Florida , enough to decide the fate of the state in the presidential election .
Add in the million voters of Cuban origin , some of whom have swung back behind the Republican Party because of Trump 's tougher line on Havana , and the anti-socialist rhetoric makes sense .
Either way , officials say there will be a further toughening in the month ahead of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela .
`` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Trump as he welcomed the president of Ecuador to the White House .

First came meetings with allies, including Britain's foreign secretary and the European Union's foreign policy chief. Then came the made-for-TV moment with President Trump introducing Juan Guaido as the "true and legitimate president of Venezuela" during his State of the Union address.
It was part of a policy rollout that included an Oval Office meeting, in which Guaido was told he could expect more U.S. pressure within 30 days to remove President Nicolas Maduro. It ended with sanctions being imposed on the state airline a couple of days later.
It was an unusual message in both style and substance. For a White House where policy announcements frequently arrive in the form of a tweet, the push came in a surprisingly conventional manner. It signaled a willingness to topple a foreign dictator despite Trump's opposition to deeper overseas commitments.
"He's no fan of foreign deployments," said a senior administration official. "It's absolutely clear that he has a very different view of our hemisphere."
So, although his administration is inching toward a deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan and has built close relationships with regimes with problematic human rights records or expansionist intent (think Saudi Arabia or Vladimir Putin's Russia), the calculus changes nearer to home.
Venezuela has been wracked by economic and political crises that forced 5 million people to flee. Guaido rose to prominence last year as head of the country's congress, leading demonstrations and claiming presidential powers because Maduro had retained power in fraudulent elections.
He has won the backing of more than 50 nations, including the United States. The reasoning was spelled out during the Guaido visit by a senior administration official who appealed to a 19th-century view of the world.
"I would say the Trump Doctrine is a rebirth of the Monroe Doctrine, in the sense of sending a signal to external … to extracontinental actors that the United States will remain, and should remain, the partner of choice in the Western Hemisphere," he said.
As such, Trump's position is a modern iteration of the idea, named for President James Monroe, that the New World and the Old World should stay out of each other's lanes: America is for the Americans. Back then, it was taken as an assertion of Washington's right to apply gunboat diplomacy; today, it is frequently accompanied by quiet assurances that "all options are on the table."
And where once it was intended as a warning to France, Spain, and Britain to stay out of the region, today it is a new generation of powers that stand accused of bringing trouble to the neighborhood.
"We believe that we share principles and values with our neighbors in our neighborhood," said the official. "And these extracontinental actors, whether it's the Russians, the Chinese, and through their proxies in Cuba and others, are subverting those values and those principles."
Simple proximity is a reason to treat Maduro differently to Kim Jong Un or Bashar Assad, runs the argument. Which is how it was that Trump welcomed Guaido to the State of the Union and sent him home with a message that people in the U.S. were united behind him.
"Socialism destroys nations," he said. "But always remember: Freedom unifies the soul."
Geoff Ramsey, director for Venezuela at the Washington Office on Latin America, said it was right that the White House was focused on the most significant humanitarian emergency in the hemisphere. But he added that such Cold War rhetoric risked allowing Maduro to dismiss opponents as Washington stooges.
The messages revealed an ulterior motive.
"I think there's a real danger that the closer we get to elections, the less Venezuela policy has anything to do with the facts on the ground and more will be related to the Trump campaign in Florida," he said.
There are an estimated 200,000 Venezuelan voters in Florida, enough to decide the fate of the state in the presidential election. Add in the million voters of Cuban origin, some of whom have swung back behind the Republican Party because of Trump's tougher line on Havana, and the anti-socialist rhetoric makes sense.
Either way, officials say there will be a further toughening in the month ahead of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela.
"It's always close to our heart," said Trump as he welcomed the president of Ecuador to the White House.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Senate proposal on child exploitation fuels fears of encryption regulation

Privacy advocates fear that a new Senate proposal aimed at combating the exploitation of children would lead to new government rules that weaken encryption protections for internet users .
The Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act , draft legislation circulated by Sens .
Lindsey Graham , a South Carolina Republican , and Richard Blumenthal , a Democrat from Connecticut , would establish the National Commission on Online Child Exploitation Prevention to develop best practices for preventing online child pornography .
The proposal would encourage websites to follow these best practices by weakening a 24-year-old law that generally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted by their users .
The EARN IT Act would require that online services comply with best practices developed by the commission or risk expanded legal liability under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 .
Section 230 protects sites from lawsuits for user-generated content accused of defamation , breach of contract , and other violations .
Section 230 protects not only video-hosting sites such as YouTube and social media providers such as Facebook and Twitter but also any website that allows users to post comments , including many news sites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ websites have to do with encryption ?
The head of the new best practices commission would be the U.S. attorney general , and current officeholder William Barr has long called for device-makers and web services to give law enforcement agencies access to users ’ encrypted data via a backdoor mechanism .
Barr and other critics of robust encryption services argue that they protect criminals , including those who exploit children .
Groups such as the Center for Democracy and Technology and the Electronic Frontier Foundation say it ’ s not hard to imagine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the best practices developed by the EARN IT commission .
The draft version of the EARN IT Act gives the attorney general the authority to “ unilaterally modify ” the best practices developed by the full commission and launch investigations against online services if he has “ reason to believe ” they have made a false certification , wrote Emma Llanso , director of CDT ’ s Free Expression Project .
There is little evidence that Section 230 legal protections hinder law enforcement investigations into the online exploitation of children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Preventing the exploitation of children is an unquestionably important aim , ” she added .
But the EARN IT proposal “ would give the Attorney General significant and unaccountable power to regulate speech , control online services , and undermine the privacy and security of all of our communications.
” A spokesman for Graham noted that the EARN IT Act is only a draft proposal at this point .
The draft does not mention encryption back doors as a potential tool for the commission to consider , and “ with respect to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liability would be for violations of child pornography law , ” the spokesman added .
The EFF , however , called the EARN IT Act a “ serious threat to your free speech and security online.
” Barr could use the power given to him in the proposal to “ break encryption , ” the group said in a blog post .
Barr has said “ over and over that he thinks the ‘ best practice ’ is to weaken secure messaging systems to give law enforcement access to our private conversations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Graham-Blumenthal bill would finally give Barr the power to demand that tech companies obey him or face overwhelming liability from lawsuits based on their users ’ activities.
” It isn ’ t the first time in recent months that lawmakers have proposed changes to Section 230 , which is widely credited with fueling the growth of websites with user-based content during the past two decades .
In June , Sen. Josh Hawley , a Missouri Republican , introduced legislation that would remove Section 230 ’ s legal protections from websites accused of anti-conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Censorship Act would eliminate the legal immunity from websites unless they submit to an external audit “ that proves by clear and convincing evidence that their algorithms and content-removal practices are politically neutral , ” according to the senator ’ s office .
Hawley ’ s bill has stalled in the Senate .

Privacy advocates fear that a new Senate proposal aimed at combating the exploitation of children would lead to new government rules that weaken encryption protections for internet users.
The Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act, draft legislation circulated by Sens. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, and Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, would establish the National Commission on Online Child Exploitation Prevention to develop best practices for preventing online child pornography. The proposal would encourage websites to follow these best practices by weakening a 24-year-old law that generally protects websites from lawsuits related to content posted by their users.
The EARN IT Act would require that online services comply with best practices developed by the commission or risk expanded legal liability under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. Section 230 protects sites from lawsuits for user-generated content accused of defamation, breach of contract, and other violations.
Section 230 protects not only video-hosting sites such as YouTube and social media providers such as Facebook and Twitter but also any website that allows users to post comments, including many news sites.
So what do lawsuit protections for websites have to do with encryption? The head of the new best practices commission would be the U.S. attorney general, and current officeholder William Barr has long called for device-makers and web services to give law enforcement agencies access to users’ encrypted data via a backdoor mechanism. Barr and other critics of robust encryption services argue that they protect criminals, including those who exploit children.
Groups such as the Center for Democracy and Technology and the Electronic Frontier Foundation say it’s not hard to imagine Barr pushing for encryption back doors as part of the best practices developed by the EARN IT commission.
The draft version of the EARN IT Act gives the attorney general the authority to “unilaterally modify” the best practices developed by the full commission and launch investigations against online services if he has “reason to believe” they have made a false certification, wrote Emma Llanso, director of CDT’s Free Expression Project.
There is little evidence that Section 230 legal protections hinder law enforcement investigations into the online exploitation of children, she added in a blog post.
“Preventing the exploitation of children is an unquestionably important aim,” she added. But the EARN IT proposal “would give the Attorney General significant and unaccountable power to regulate speech, control online services, and undermine the privacy and security of all of our communications.”
A spokesman for Graham noted that the EARN IT Act is only a draft proposal at this point. The draft does not mention encryption back doors as a potential tool for the commission to consider, and “with respect to Section 230, the only potential for liability would be for violations of child pornography law,” the spokesman added.
The EFF, however, called the EARN IT Act a “serious threat to your free speech and security online.” Barr could use the power given to him in the proposal to “break encryption,” the group said in a blog post.
Barr has said “over and over that he thinks the ‘best practice’ is to weaken secure messaging systems to give law enforcement access to our private conversations,” the EFF added. “The Graham-Blumenthal bill would finally give Barr the power to demand that tech companies obey him or face overwhelming liability from lawsuits based on their users’ activities.”
It isn’t the first time in recent months that lawmakers have proposed changes to Section 230, which is widely credited with fueling the growth of websites with user-based content during the past two decades.
In June, Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, introduced legislation that would remove Section 230’s legal protections from websites accused of anti-conservative bias. His Ending Support for Internet Censorship Act would eliminate the legal immunity from websites unless they submit to an external audit “that proves by clear and convincing evidence that their algorithms and content-removal practices are politically neutral,” according to the senator’s office.
Hawley’s bill has stalled in the Senate.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Then and Now: Influencers

Then and Now: Influencers

Michael Bloomberg , the billionaire former mayor of New York City currently surging to top-tier status among the Democratic presidential primary candidates , has found something new to spend his money on .
According to the New York Times , the diminutive sugar hater “ has contracted some of the biggest meme-makers on the internet to post sponsored content on Instagram promoting his presidential campaign.
” It ’ s an abundantly silly story , filled with nonsense words and phrases such as “ primary liaison with the meme community , ” “ grapejuiceboys , ” and “ a powerful force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aside , employing people among the hoi polloi to spread positive words about you to the great unwashed is a time-honored tradition among the rich .
In medieval England , criers ( or “ bellmen ” ) were tasked with spreading word of royal proclamations .
“ Don ’ t shoot the messenger ” carried the force of law .
The town crier draws on an even earlier method of promulgation , the bardic tradition .
Lords across Europe and beyond paid bards to tell great tales and poems of their goodness and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mighty victories and military prowess .
Think Paul Bettany ’ s medieval hype-man character of Geoffrey Chaucer in A Knight ’ s Tale or the minstrel Jaskier singing the exploits of Geralt of Rivia in Netflix ’ s The Witcher .
These bards were also routinely employed to slander opposing lords and patrons .
During the early 17th century , following the Tudor conquest of Ireland , the petty , polemical back-and-forth between Irish court bards escalated to a yearslong controversy known as “ the Contention of the Bards , ” or Iomarbhágh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The disputation and its players are too intricate to recount here , but imagine an ancestral family feud in the form of a Gaelic rap battle . )
Kings and patrons also hired historians and men of letters to write hagiographic histories favorable to their rule or lineage .
Niccolo Machiavelli , for instance , wrote his Florentine Histories at the behest of Cardinal Giulio de ’ Medici , who commissioned the work and expected an account favorable of his family ’ s deeds .
As such , Machiavelli was forced to employ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family that had deprived his native city of its liberty , damning with faint praise and putting condemnations into others ’ mouths and contexts .
Sure beats memes .

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York City currently surging to top-tier status among the Democratic presidential primary candidates, has found something new to spend his money on. According to the New York Times, the diminutive sugar hater “has contracted some of the biggest meme-makers on the internet to post sponsored content on Instagram promoting his presidential campaign.” It’s an abundantly silly story, filled with nonsense words and phrases such as “primary liaison with the meme community,” “grapejuiceboys,” and “a powerful force in the influencer economy.”
Stupid neologisms aside, employing people among the hoi polloi to spread positive words about you to the great unwashed is a time-honored tradition among the rich. In medieval England, criers (or “bellmen”) were tasked with spreading word of royal proclamations. “Don’t shoot the messenger” carried the force of law.
The town crier draws on an even earlier method of promulgation, the bardic tradition. Lords across Europe and beyond paid bards to tell great tales and poems of their goodness and mercy or to sing songs of their mighty victories and military prowess. Think Paul Bettany’s medieval hype-man character of Geoffrey Chaucer in A Knight’s Tale or the minstrel Jaskier singing the exploits of Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s The Witcher.
These bards were also routinely employed to slander opposing lords and patrons. During the early 17th century, following the Tudor conquest of Ireland, the petty, polemical back-and-forth between Irish court bards escalated to a yearslong controversy known as “the Contention of the Bards,” or Iomarbhágh na bhFileadh, in Irish. (The disputation and its players are too intricate to recount here, but imagine an ancestral family feud in the form of a Gaelic rap battle.)
Kings and patrons also hired historians and men of letters to write hagiographic histories favorable to their rule or lineage. Niccolo Machiavelli, for instance, wrote his Florentine Histories at the behest of Cardinal Giulio de’ Medici, who commissioned the work and expected an account favorable of his family’s deeds. As such, Machiavelli was forced to employ a cunning rhetorical strategy to critique the family that had deprived his native city of its liberty, damning with faint praise and putting condemnations into others’ mouths and contexts. Sure beats memes.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Medicare for All would provide far more benefits than universal healthcare in other countries

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders frequently points to success stories in other developed countries when pushing for his Medicare for All healthcare plan .
`` I want to end the international embarrassment of the United States of America being the only major country on Earth that does n't guarantee healthcare to all people as a right , not a privilege , '' Sanders has said frequently on the campaign trail .
But if his Medicare for All Act were to become law as written , then the U.S. government would cover more services than governments anywhere else in the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their citizens omit government coverage for some medical goods and services , and many of them tap private health insurance or patient fees to help fill the gaps .
`` I do n't know what the constraints are that are built into the Medicare for All spending , and without constraints , Medicare for All becomes unmanageable , '' said Dr. Ashish Jha , the director of Harvard 's Global Health Institute who is doing a large project on universal health systems around the world .
`` There are no countries that do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything is covered for everyone is unprecedented . ''
Canada 's national government plan excludes coverage for prescription drugs , dental , vision , and long-term care .
The United Kingdom turns down treatments if they 're too expensive or if they do n't extend longevity and quality of life .
People on Australia 's public system have to get private coverage for dental and vision .
In Singapore , patients can pay more to receive deluxe care , and everyone has a savings account to help pay for medical services .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are known to provide `` universal healthcare , '' a term that generally refers to countries where everyone 's medical care is covered .
The United States is n't on the list because it has nearly 30 million uninsured .
It also pays more for prescription drugs and medical services than anywhere else in the world .
Each country with universal healthcare has a different approach .
`` It 's a little bit of a misnomer or misunderstanding to think about countries ' health systems as uniform , '' said Roosa Tikkanen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's International Program in Health Policy and Practice Innovations .
Countries ' systems vary significantly even within their own borders , she explained .
Some regions step up above what national plans offer .
Other countries omit services for most people but then do cover those services for children or the poor .
`` It 's not that everything is covered for free for everyone , much like the Bernie Sanders plan , '' Tikkanen said .
Sanders 's Medicare for All Act does n't have much precedent in other countries .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance in favor of enrolling everyone in a government plan .
It also comes with a high price tag .
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget puts estimates for the cost of Sanders 's plan at an additional $ 28 trillion over 10 years .
The new government plan would pay for a sweeping array of medical benefits that are seen in other similar countries , including coverage for hospitals , doctors , and emergency services .
It would pay for lab tests , prevention , maternity care , and mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than $ 200 a year for prescriptions .
But it would also provide benefits that are n't common for governments to cover in other developed countries , including vision and dental .
And in the latest iteration of the Medicare for All Act , Sanders added coverage for long-term care .
That 's a massive cost frequently left out of other national service plans — with few exceptions , as in Japan .
There , the country offers a robust long-term care benefit that focuses on helping people age at home .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not universally at the national level .
For instance , France does n't offer vision and dental to everyone but does set up free coverage for low-income people .
In Denmark , different regions organize and finance home care and hospice .
There are n't many services left out of the Medicare for All Act .
Sanders cited cosmetic surgery as one service that private health insurance might have a role in providing , even though coverage for cosmetic procedures does n't currently exist .
Other services not included in Medicare for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseas military , and treatments for foreign visitors who come to the U.S. , according to an analysis by the left-leaning Urban Institute .
But if Medicare for All becomes law , that list would likely grow .
Jodi Liu , who studies healthcare financing at the RAND Corporation , said there would still be many decisions that would fall to government officials or a panel appointed by the government about what gets covered , a common practice in other nations .
`` This is such a large sweeping change that there would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determined not in the legislation but through implementation and executive offices , '' Liu said .
`` There is no way the legislation could lay out all those pieces . ''
Gerard Anderson , a professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , noted that countries also control costs through delays in care or delays in approving new treatments .
`` That 's the major mechanism they use as opposed to not providing as many benefits , '' he said .
Debates over how the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with backlash by American lawmakers .
A now-defunct part of Obamacare that drew outcry by conservatives would have allowed the government to set up a board of experts to find ways to slow the growth in Medicare spending .
The panel raised concerns among critics that Medicare would get cut through rationing , and accusations the law established `` death panels '' ensued .
Dr. Krishna Udayakumar , founding director of the Duke Global Health Innovation Center , noted that setting up a universal healthcare system would require not just looking at what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much gets paid into the system .
Other tools that countries use include higher taxes , imposing small fees on patients , and paying doctors and nurses less to control costs .
Different cultures make such decisions differently according to their values , Udayakumar said .
`` The whole concept of universal health coverage is complex because of all of those [ factors ] , '' he said .

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders frequently points to success stories in other developed countries when pushing for his Medicare for All healthcare plan.
"I want to end the international embarrassment of the United States of America being the only major country on Earth that doesn't guarantee healthcare to all people as a right, not a privilege," Sanders has said frequently on the campaign trail.
But if his Medicare for All Act were to become law as written, then the U.S. government would cover more services than governments anywhere else in the world. Other countries that guarantee coverage to their citizens omit government coverage for some medical goods and services, and many of them tap private health insurance or patient fees to help fill the gaps.
"I don't know what the constraints are that are built into the Medicare for All spending, and without constraints, Medicare for All becomes unmanageable," said Dr. Ashish Jha, the director of Harvard's Global Health Institute who is doing a large project on universal health systems around the world. "There are no countries that don't have constraints. The idea that everything is covered for everyone is unprecedented."
Canada's national government plan excludes coverage for prescription drugs, dental, vision, and long-term care. The United Kingdom turns down treatments if they're too expensive or if they don't extend longevity and quality of life. People on Australia's public system have to get private coverage for dental and vision. In Singapore, patients can pay more to receive deluxe care, and everyone has a savings account to help pay for medical services.
Despite some gaps, all of these places are known to provide "universal healthcare," a term that generally refers to countries where everyone's medical care is covered. The United States isn't on the list because it has nearly 30 million uninsured. It also pays more for prescription drugs and medical services than anywhere else in the world.
Each country with universal healthcare has a different approach.
"It's a little bit of a misnomer or misunderstanding to think about countries' health systems as uniform," said Roosa Tikkanen, a research associate at the Commonwealth Fund's International Program in Health Policy and Practice Innovations. Countries' systems vary significantly even within their own borders, she explained. Some regions step up above what national plans offer. Other countries omit services for most people but then do cover those services for children or the poor.
"It's not that everything is covered for free for everyone, much like the Bernie Sanders plan," Tikkanen said.
Sanders's Medicare for All Act doesn't have much precedent in other countries. It would throw out nearly all private health insurance in favor of enrolling everyone in a government plan. It also comes with a high price tag. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget puts estimates for the cost of Sanders's plan at an additional $28 trillion over 10 years.
The new government plan would pay for a sweeping array of medical benefits that are seen in other similar countries, including coverage for hospitals, doctors, and emergency services. It would pay for lab tests, prevention, maternity care, and mental health, and people would pay no more than $200 a year for prescriptions.
But it would also provide benefits that aren't common for governments to cover in other developed countries, including vision and dental. And in the latest iteration of the Medicare for All Act, Sanders added coverage for long-term care. That's a massive cost frequently left out of other national service plans — with few exceptions, as in Japan. There, the country offers a robust long-term care benefit that focuses on helping people age at home.
In some countries, the government provides benefits but not universally at the national level. For instance, France doesn't offer vision and dental to everyone but does set up free coverage for low-income people. In Denmark, different regions organize and finance home care and hospice.
There aren't many services left out of the Medicare for All Act. Sanders cited cosmetic surgery as one service that private health insurance might have a role in providing, even though coverage for cosmetic procedures doesn't currently exist.
Other services not included in Medicare for All are institutional care, healthcare for overseas military, and treatments for foreign visitors who come to the U.S., according to an analysis by the left-leaning Urban Institute.
But if Medicare for All becomes law, that list would likely grow. Jodi Liu, who studies healthcare financing at the RAND Corporation, said there would still be many decisions that would fall to government officials or a panel appointed by the government about what gets covered, a common practice in other nations.
"This is such a large sweeping change that there would be so many things that would be determined not in the legislation but through implementation and executive offices," Liu said. "There is no way the legislation could lay out all those pieces."
Gerard Anderson, a professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, noted that countries also control costs through delays in care or delays in approving new treatments.
"That's the major mechanism they use as opposed to not providing as many benefits," he said.
Debates over how the government should control healthcare costs often get met with backlash by American lawmakers. A now-defunct part of Obamacare that drew outcry by conservatives would have allowed the government to set up a board of experts to find ways to slow the growth in Medicare spending. The panel raised concerns among critics that Medicare would get cut through rationing, and accusations the law established "death panels" ensued.
Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, founding director of the Duke Global Health Innovation Center, noted that setting up a universal healthcare system would require not just looking at what is covered but deciding who and how much gets paid into the system. Other tools that countries use include higher taxes, imposing small fees on patients, and paying doctors and nurses less to control costs. Different cultures make such decisions differently according to their values, Udayakumar said.
"The whole concept of universal health coverage is complex because of all of those [factors]," he said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--White House Weekly: Feb. 14, 2020

White House Weekly: Feb. 14, 2020

President Trump took vengeance after impeachment , went on to win the New Hampshire primary , and weighed in on the Roger Stone case , causing upheaval at the Department of Justice .
Here 's what happened during the week of Feb. 14 , 2020 .
Two days after being acquitted by the Senate in his impeachment trial , Trump took retribution against two of the three government officials who testified against him .
On Feb. 7 , Trump removed Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , who testified as a witness in the House impeachment investigation , as well as his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Security Council .
On the same day , U.S .
Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland , who gave testimony that Democrats considered to be the linchpin in the Trump-Ukraine scandal , was fired from his post .
Next up , Trump held a rally in New Hampshire the night before the primary election .
To absolutely no one ’ s surprise , he won the Republican primary held on Tuesday , gaining the state 's 22 delegates on almost 130,000 votes .
Even though the nomination is basically a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly a boon for him to have such high turnout for a primary that doesn ’ t even matter .
Finally , Trump weighed in on the legal case against his old buddy Roger Stone .
After federal prosecutors on Monday recommended that Stone be sentenced for seven to nine years in prison for crimes including obstruction of justice and witness tampering , Trump tweeted the next morning , “ This is a horrible and very unfair situation .
The real crimes were on the other side , as nothing happens to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice . ''
As a result of Trump ’ s tweet , the DOJ pushed back on the original sentencing request , causing all four prosecutors involved in Stone ’ s case to resign .
While Trump denied any involvement in the sentencing revision , his critics lambasted Trump and the DOJ for politicizing the justice system , claiming it as a move toward authoritarianism .

President Trump took vengeance after impeachment, went on to win the New Hampshire primary, and weighed in on the Roger Stone case, causing upheaval at the Department of Justice. Here's what happened during the week of Feb. 14, 2020.
Two days after being acquitted by the Senate in his impeachment trial, Trump took retribution against two of the three government officials who testified against him.
On Feb. 7, Trump removed Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who testified as a witness in the House impeachment investigation, as well as his twin brother Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman from the National Security Council. On the same day, U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, who gave testimony that Democrats considered to be the linchpin in the Trump-Ukraine scandal, was fired from his post.
Next up, Trump held a rally in New Hampshire the night before the primary election.
To absolutely no one’s surprise, he won the Republican primary held on Tuesday, gaining the state's 22 delegates on almost 130,000 votes. Even though the nomination is basically a wrap for Trump, it’s certainly a boon for him to have such high turnout for a primary that doesn’t even matter.
Finally, Trump weighed in on the legal case against his old buddy Roger Stone.
After federal prosecutors on Monday recommended that Stone be sentenced for seven to nine years in prison for crimes including obstruction of justice and witness tampering, Trump tweeted the next morning, “This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice."
This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice! https://t.co/rHPfYX6Vbv — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 11, 2020
As a result of Trump’s tweet, the DOJ pushed back on the original sentencing request, causing all four prosecutors involved in Stone’s case to resign.
While Trump denied any involvement in the sentencing revision, his critics lambasted Trump and the DOJ for politicizing the justice system, claiming it as a move toward authoritarianism.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--'Doing great damage': Trump trade czar calls for Amazon CEO to testify on counterfeit goods

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro urged lawmakers probing Big Tech monopolies to call on billionaire e-commerce CEO Jeff Bezos to testify before the House Judiciary Committee .
President Trump , Navarro told the Hill , `` made it clear to me '' that internet companies such as Amazon should be held to account for `` the damage they are doing to consumers , workers , and even our national security . ''
The administration claims that sales of counterfeit goods on the e-commerce platform harm consumers and businesses and pose a risk to national security when counterfeit products are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secure systems .
`` E-commerce platforms , absent market power , are doing great damage , '' Navarro said .
`` When you add the market power of the Amazons and eBays of this world to the mix , it ’ s counterfeiting danger on steroids . ''
Judiciary Committee Chairman David Cicilline of Rhode Island , a Democrat , has called for public testimony from tech executives previously , including Bezos , Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg , Apple CEO Tim Cook , and Google CEO Sundar Pichai .
The committee has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook , Google , Apple , or Amazon for testimony or to share documents in the investigation .
Republicans have been notably wary , with ranking member Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia and ranking Antitrust Subcommittee member Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin expressing reservations in the past .
Just one Republican involved in the investigation has said publicly he would support subpoenas : Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz , a vocal Trump ally .
But in an about-face at the meeting Wednesday , Collins told Navarro they would be happy to help .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you need , '' he said .
Collins has announced a run for Senate and must leave his position on the Judiciary Committee by March 12 .
It is not clear if Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan , tapped to replace him , will agree to the position .

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro urged lawmakers probing Big Tech monopolies to call on billionaire e-commerce CEO Jeff Bezos to testify before the House Judiciary Committee.
President Trump, Navarro told the Hill, "made it clear to me" that internet companies such as Amazon should be held to account for "the damage they are doing to consumers, workers, and even our national security." The administration claims that sales of counterfeit goods on the e-commerce platform harm consumers and businesses and pose a risk to national security when counterfeit products are used by defense employees or contractors in secure systems.
"E-commerce platforms, absent market power, are doing great damage," Navarro said. "When you add the market power of the Amazons and eBays of this world to the mix, it’s counterfeiting danger on steroids."
Judiciary Committee Chairman David Cicilline of Rhode Island, a Democrat, has called for public testimony from tech executives previously, including Bezos, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. The committee has not publicly said whether it intends to subpoena Facebook, Google, Apple, or Amazon for testimony or to share documents in the investigation.
Republicans have been notably wary, with ranking member Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia and ranking Antitrust Subcommittee member Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin expressing reservations in the past. Just one Republican involved in the investigation has said publicly he would support subpoenas: Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, a vocal Trump ally.
But in an about-face at the meeting Wednesday, Collins told Navarro they would be happy to help. "We’re on this. Anything you need," he said.
Collins has announced a run for Senate and must leave his position on the Judiciary Committee by March 12. It is not clear if Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, tapped to replace him, will agree to the position.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Boris Johnson postpones White House visit after nasty phone spat with Trump over Huawei

Boris Johnson postponed a White House visit planned for next week after a furious phone call during which President Trump accused the British prime minister of betraying him over Huawei .
It is the latest sign of a tense relationship between two leaders many thought would forge an easy , populist , transatlantic alliance .
However , two sources told the Washington Examiner that Johnson ’ s plans for a visit at the end of next week , when the British Parliament is in recess , were shelved after a contentious telephone call last week .
It is understood that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson of “ betrayal ” for ignoring American warnings and pushing ahead with allowing Chinese tech giant Huawai to take a role in the United Kingdom ’ s 5G phone network .
It is one of a number of issues that have soured relations , including Washington ’ s refusal to extradite Anne Sacoolas , accused of killing a British teenager in a road accident .
White House officials said the meeting had never been scheduled , while British officials tried to downplay any suggestion of a snub .
It means their first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election is expected to be at the G-7 summit at Camp David in June .
A No .
10 source used a Lord of the Rings reference to an all-seeing figure to say the prime minister wanted to focus on domestic issues .
“ When the Eye of Sauron is off the Whitehall machine , things stop working , ” an official told the Sun newspaper .
“ That is why he has stripped down all his foreign travel this year to get his agenda done.
” Whitehall is where British ministries and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite the blowup , a British official said the visit would occur at a later date .
“ The PM looks forward to visiting the U.S. and will remain in touch with the administration , ” he said .
Johnson won a surprisingly robust majority in December ’ s British election .
Striking a free trade deal with Washington is an important priority as Britain finds its place in the world after leaving the European Union .

Boris Johnson postponed a White House visit planned for next week after a furious phone call during which President Trump accused the British prime minister of betraying him over Huawei.
It is the latest sign of a tense relationship between two leaders many thought would forge an easy, populist, transatlantic alliance.
However, two sources told the Washington Examiner that Johnson’s plans for a visit at the end of next week, when the British Parliament is in recess, were shelved after a contentious telephone call last week.
It is understood that Trump abruptly ended the call after accusing Johnson of “betrayal” for ignoring American warnings and pushing ahead with allowing Chinese tech giant Huawai to take a role in the United Kingdom’s 5G phone network.
It is one of a number of issues that have soured relations, including Washington’s refusal to extradite Anne Sacoolas, accused of killing a British teenager in a road accident.
White House officials said the meeting had never been scheduled, while British officials tried to downplay any suggestion of a snub.
It means their first meeting since last year's British general election is expected to be at the G-7 summit at Camp David in June.
A No. 10 source used a Lord of the Rings reference to an all-seeing figure to say the prime minister wanted to focus on domestic issues.
“When the Eye of Sauron is off the Whitehall machine, things stop working,” an official told the Sun newspaper. “That is why he has stripped down all his foreign travel this year to get his agenda done.”
Whitehall is where British ministries and the prime minister's residence are located.
Despite the blowup, a British official said the visit would occur at a later date.
“The PM looks forward to visiting the U.S. and will remain in touch with the administration,” he said.
Johnson won a surprisingly robust majority in December’s British election. Striking a free trade deal with Washington is an important priority as Britain finds its place in the world after leaving the European Union.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Melania Trump reunites with child who gave her necklace on Valentine’s Day

BETHESDA , Maryland — First lady Melania Trump spent Valentine ’ s Day morning with several children , including a Kenyan boy who gifted her a necklace last year .
The president ’ s wife visited the Children ’ s Inn at the National Institutes of Health on Friday to make valentines-themed crafts with patients and their siblings .
When Trump greeted 14-year-old Amani Kadu , she complimented his shirt and tie after giving him a hug .
“ You look so sharp !
I love your tie , ” Trump said .
Last year , Kadu gave Trump a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ hope.
” Kadu had a bracelet to match the necklace he gave Trump .
“ You look very strong .
You look fantastic , ” Trump told Kadu , who was born with sickle cell disease and had a bone marrow transplant .
Kadu ’ s 9-year-old sister Amana , who also met the first lady , donated bone marrow and Kadu has since been cured of sickle cell disease .
It is Trump ’ s third year visiting sick children on the holiday .
She brought the children cards and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

BETHESDA, Maryland — First lady Melania Trump spent Valentine’s Day morning with several children, including a Kenyan boy who gifted her a necklace last year.
The president’s wife visited the Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health on Friday to make valentines-themed crafts with patients and their siblings.
When Trump greeted 14-year-old Amani Kadu, she complimented his shirt and tie after giving him a hug.
“You look so sharp! I love your tie,” Trump said.
Last year, Kadu gave Trump a silver necklace inscribed with “faith” and “hope.” Kadu had a bracelet to match the necklace he gave Trump.
“You look very strong. You look fantastic,” Trump told Kadu, who was born with sickle cell disease and had a bone marrow transplant.
Kadu’s 9-year-old sister Amana, who also met the first lady, donated bone marrow and Kadu has since been cured of sickle cell disease.
It is Trump’s third year visiting sick children on the holiday. She brought the children cards and decorated cookies and heart wreaths with them.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Trump considers banning aides from calls with foreign leaders

President Trump said that with impeachment over , he may ban aides from listening to his phone conversations with foreign leaders following the whistleblower complaint of a phone conversation with the leader of Ukraine that led to his impeachment .
A July 25 Trump phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky became the subject of the president 's impeachment in the House after a whistleblower complaint alleged that the president was withholding military aid to secure an investigation into political rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden .
`` When you call a foreign leader , people listen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rivera in a radio interview Thursday , referencing the White House and National Security Council staff who are on the line .
`` I may end the practice entirely .
I may end it entirely . ''
At times , 25 people are on the line , he said .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was among the Zelensky call 's listeners .
Trump said he felt Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman 's actions were `` insubordinate '' and that `` many people in the building started applauding '' as he was escorted from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security adviser Robert O'Brien cut 70 positions since the president 's acquittal last week , which were described as holdovers from the Obama administration .
One was Vindman , a Ukraine expert at the NSC who was returned to the Pentagon .
`` You want to give people chances , '' Trump said in reference to the cuts .
`` The fact that they come from Obama or they are Never Trumpers from Bush or whoever they may be .
You want to give people time . ''
Trump suggested that impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
`` I 'm so busy that it made my job so much busier , '' Trump told Rivera .

President Trump said that with impeachment over, he may ban aides from listening to his phone conversations with foreign leaders following the whistleblower complaint of a phone conversation with the leader of Ukraine that led to his impeachment.
A July 25 Trump phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky became the subject of the president's impeachment in the House after a whistleblower complaint alleged that the president was withholding military aid to secure an investigation into political rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
"When you call a foreign leader, people listen," Trump told Fox News personality Geraldo Rivera in a radio interview Thursday, referencing the White House and National Security Council staff who are on the line. "I may end the practice entirely. I may end it entirely."
At times, 25 people are on the line, he said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was among the Zelensky call's listeners.
Trump said he felt Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman's actions were "insubordinate" and that "many people in the building started applauding" as he was escorted from the White House Friday.
Trump and national security adviser Robert O'Brien cut 70 positions since the president's acquittal last week, which were described as holdovers from the Obama administration. One was Vindman, a Ukraine expert at the NSC who was returned to the Pentagon.
"You want to give people chances," Trump said in reference to the cuts. "The fact that they come from Obama or they are Never Trumpers from Bush or whoever they may be. You want to give people time."
Trump suggested that impeachment detracted from his ability to do his work. "I'm so busy that it made my job so much busier," Trump told Rivera.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Democrats introduce resolution seeking resignation of White House adviser Stephen Miller

Two Democratic lawmakers took action calling for the resignation of White House adviser Stephen Miller .
California Sen. Kamala Harris and Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro introduced a resolution on Thursday after emails emerged of Miller sharing articles from white nationalist media outlets , seemingly using them as justification for his immigration stances .
“ Stephen Miller is the hateful force behind the cruel and xenophobic policies that have defined the Trump administration .
His white supremacist , anti-immigrant ideology has no place in our country , let alone the White House , ” said Harris in a statement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on behalf of immigrant families in California and throughout the country.
” “ It is unacceptable for the Trump Administration to knowingly install a known white nationalist and believer of white supremacist ideology in a position of power and influence over federal policy .
Stephen Miller ’ s presence in the Trump White House has allowed him to sow hate into federal policy , grind our immigration system to a halt , and encourage the President ’ s own xenophobic beliefs , ” Castro said in a statement .
Harris was a candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropped out in December .
Castro 's twin brother , Julian Castro also ran and dropped out .
The resolution has been sponsored by several members of Congress , including Sens .
Ed Markey of Massachusetts , Ron Wyden of Oregon , Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota , and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut .
In the House , Reps. Judy Chu of California , Karen Bass of California , Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida , and Brad Schneider of Illinois .
Harris sent a letter to the White House in December regarding the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Recent reports confirm that he advanced white nationalist , anti-immigrant ideologies .
Continuing to employ him as the senior architect of your immigration policies ensures that those policies discriminate against individuals of color to advance white nationalist ideals .
He must be removed , '' Harris wrote , along with 27 other Democrats .
The White House defended Miller against the accusations in early December , calling the Southern Poverty Law Center , the group which obtained the emails , `` discredited . ''

Two Democratic lawmakers took action calling for the resignation of White House adviser Stephen Miller.
California Sen. Kamala Harris and Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro introduced a resolution on Thursday after emails emerged of Miller sharing articles from white nationalist media outlets, seemingly using them as justification for his immigration stances.
“Stephen Miller is the hateful force behind the cruel and xenophobic policies that have defined the Trump administration. His white supremacist, anti-immigrant ideology has no place in our country, let alone the White House,” said Harris in a statement. “I'm proud to lead this effort on behalf of immigrant families in California and throughout the country.”
“It is unacceptable for the Trump Administration to knowingly install a known white nationalist and believer of white supremacist ideology in a position of power and influence over federal policy. Stephen Miller’s presence in the Trump White House has allowed him to sow hate into federal policy, grind our immigration system to a halt, and encourage the President’s own xenophobic beliefs,” Castro said in a statement.
Harris was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, but dropped out in December. Castro's twin brother, Julian Castro also ran and dropped out.
The resolution has been sponsored by several members of Congress, including Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. In the House, Reps. Judy Chu of California, Karen Bass of California, Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, and Brad Schneider of Illinois.
Harris sent a letter to the White House in December regarding the issue, calling for Miller to be fired. "Recent reports confirm that he advanced white nationalist, anti-immigrant ideologies. Continuing to employ him as the senior architect of your immigration policies ensures that those policies discriminate against individuals of color to advance white nationalist ideals. He must be removed," Harris wrote, along with 27 other Democrats.
The White House defended Miller against the accusations in early December, calling the Southern Poverty Law Center, the group which obtained the emails, "discredited."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Trump tweets about Barr after attorney general complains about Twitter needling

President Trump tweeted about Attorney General William Barr one day after the top law enforcement official said Trump 's social media commentary about the Justice Department hurts his ability to do the job .
`` 'The President has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case , ' '' Trump said Friday on Twitter , quoting Barr .
`` This doesn ’ t mean that I do not have , as President , the legal right to do so , I do , but I have so far chosen not to ! ''
Barr told ABC News on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him to do his job with Trump tweeting about the Justice Department , and requested the social media missives about criminal cases would stop .
This came after Trump criticized federal prosecutors for recommending a seven-to-nine-year sentence for his longtime friend Roger Stone , who was convicted for lying to Congress and witness tampering .
After Trump called the recommendation a “ miscarriage of justice , ” the Justice Department scaled back the guidance .
Both Trump and Barr deny the president played a role in the Justice Department 's intervention in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department had determined it would recommend a lighter sentence before Trump 's criticism .
The prosecutors on the case who made the recommendation have since quit the case .
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said the president `` was n't bothered '' by Barr condemning his tweets .
`` The president has full faith and confidence in Attorney General Barr to do his job and uphold the law , '' she said in a statement Thursday .

President Trump tweeted about Attorney General William Barr one day after the top law enforcement official said Trump's social media commentary about the Justice Department hurts his ability to do the job.
"'The President has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case,'" Trump said Friday on Twitter, quoting Barr. "This doesn’t mean that I do not have, as President, the legal right to do so, I do, but I have so far chosen not to!"
“The President has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case.” A.G. Barr This doesn’t mean that I do not have, as President, the legal right to do so, I do, but I have so far chosen not to! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2020
Barr told ABC News on Thursday that it is "impossible" for him to do his job with Trump tweeting about the Justice Department, and requested the social media missives about criminal cases would stop.
This came after Trump criticized federal prosecutors for recommending a seven-to-nine-year sentence for his longtime friend Roger Stone, who was convicted for lying to Congress and witness tampering. After Trump called the recommendation a “miscarriage of justice,” the Justice Department scaled back the guidance.
Both Trump and Barr deny the president played a role in the Justice Department's intervention in the Stone case. Barr claimed the department had determined it would recommend a lighter sentence before Trump's criticism. The prosecutors on the case who made the recommendation have since quit the case.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said the president "wasn't bothered" by Barr condemning his tweets.
"The president has full faith and confidence in Attorney General Barr to do his job and uphold the law," she said in a statement Thursday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Trump shook White House with furious swearing after Justice Department declined to prosecute Comey

President Trump 's angry swearing after the Justice Department declined to charge former FBI Director James Comey with a crime last year was reportedly the talk of the White House for days .
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz referred Comey for possible criminal prosecution after an investigation into the former FBI chief 's handling of his memos , after which the agency quickly determined there was little on which to build a case .
Upon hearing the news , Trump spiraled into frequent tirades , raising his voice and swearing in the Oval Office , according to the Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] believe they didn ’ t charge him ?
” Trump said the night of the decision .
Aides were said to have talked about the outbursts for days .
Comey has become a vocal Trump critic since being fired in May 2017 , appears to be the subject of another leak investigation into a dubious Russian intelligence document that factored into how he handled the FBI investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 's email server .
Trump also has complained about FBI Director Christopher Wray in recent months and believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy , Andrew McCabe , has not been charged with a crime .
McCabe was fired in March 2018 , less than two days before he was set to retire , prompted by a DOJ watchdog investigation that found he lied to investigators about his role in authorizing leaks to the media .
The Justice Department denied McCabe 's appeal to avoid criminal charges , but the case still appears to be in limbo despite a judge 's protestation .
McCabe sued the Justice Department for wrongful termination in August .
More recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney Jessie Liu , whose office in Washington handled cases related to Comey and other FBI officials .
He pulled her nomination to a Treasury Department post this week .
Trump often openly attacks perceived rivals such as Comey and McCabe , but his Twitter missives in recent days about the Roger Stone case prompted a backlash from Attorney General William Barr .
Barr told ABC News on Thursday that Trump ’ s constant public commentary on the Justice Department makes “ it impossible for me to do my job ” and claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s political desires .
Barr ’ s gripes about Trump followed the president criticizing prosecutors ' initial seven-to-nine-year sentencing recommendation for Stone , his longtime friend who was convicted of witness tampering and lying to Congress .
Trump denied his tweets , which called the guidance a “ miscarriage of justice , ” were interfering in the case .
Barr has also claimed the decision to scale back Stone ’ s sentencing recommendation was made before Trump slammed the guidance .
The four prosecutors who made the initial recommendation dropped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intervened .

President Trump's angry swearing after the Justice Department declined to charge former FBI Director James Comey with a crime last year was reportedly the talk of the White House for days.
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz referred Comey for possible criminal prosecution after an investigation into the former FBI chief's handling of his memos, after which the agency quickly determined there was little on which to build a case.
Upon hearing the news, Trump spiraled into frequent tirades, raising his voice and swearing in the Oval Office, according to the Washington Post. "Can you [expletive] believe they didn’t charge him?” Trump said the night of the decision.
Aides were said to have talked about the outbursts for days.
Comey has become a vocal Trump critic since being fired in May 2017, appears to be the subject of another leak investigation into a dubious Russian intelligence document that factored into how he handled the FBI investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's email server.
Trump also has complained about FBI Director Christopher Wray in recent months and believes it was unacceptable that Comey's former deputy, Andrew McCabe, has not been charged with a crime.
McCabe was fired in March 2018, less than two days before he was set to retire, prompted by a DOJ watchdog investigation that found he lied to investigators about his role in authorizing leaks to the media. The Justice Department denied McCabe's appeal to avoid criminal charges, but the case still appears to be in limbo despite a judge's protestation. McCabe sued the Justice Department for wrongful termination in August.
More recently, Trump got frustrated with former U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu, whose office in Washington handled cases related to Comey and other FBI officials. He pulled her nomination to a Treasury Department post this week.
Trump often openly attacks perceived rivals such as Comey and McCabe, but his Twitter missives in recent days about the Roger Stone case prompted a backlash from Attorney General William Barr.
Barr told ABC News on Thursday that Trump’s constant public commentary on the Justice Department makes “it impossible for me to do my job” and claimed that his work would remain independent from the president’s political desires.
Barr’s gripes about Trump followed the president criticizing prosecutors' initial seven-to-nine-year sentencing recommendation for Stone, his longtime friend who was convicted of witness tampering and lying to Congress.
Trump denied his tweets, which called the guidance a “miscarriage of justice,” were interfering in the case. Barr has also claimed the decision to scale back Stone’s sentencing recommendation was made before Trump slammed the guidance. The four prosecutors who made the initial recommendation dropped from the case after the Justice Department intervened.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Rudy Giuliani: Democrats 'want to kill' me

President Trump ’ s personal attorney , Rudy Giuliani , insisted Democrats are out to get him for the unverified claims he is pushing about Ukraine and the Bidens .
Giuliani said Democrats frustrated with his work are trying to `` kill '' him during an appearance on Fox Business on Thursday .
“ It ’ s not just Biden , a bunch of Democrats .
And that 's why they ’ re so , they ’ re so crazy on the subject of Ukraine and why they want to kill — literally kill me , ” he claimed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ into alleged corruption in Ukraine and how it was tied to the Obama administration , aiding Trump in his pressure campaign to get the country to investigate his political rival former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter .
The younger Biden was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company while his father was leading the Obama administration ’ s efforts to tackle corruption in the country .
The revelation of efforts to get Ukraine to help investigate the Bidens led to Trump ’ s impeachment in the Democratic-led House on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Congress .
Trump was acquitted earlier this month by the GOP-controlled Senate .
Trump , Giuliani , and their allies often point to a video of the elder Biden in 2018 bragging about threatening to withhold $ 1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees if Ukraine did not remove prosecutor Viktor Shokin from office .
Shokin was removed in 2016 amid international pressure , and has since claimed he was ousted because he was investigating the gas company Biden ’ s son worked for and the vice president wanted to protect his son @

President Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, insisted Democrats are out to get him for the unverified claims he is pushing about Ukraine and the Bidens.
Giuliani said Democrats frustrated with his work are trying to "kill" him during an appearance on Fox Business on Thursday.
“It’s not just Biden, a bunch of Democrats. And that's why they’re so, they’re so crazy on the subject of Ukraine and why they want to kill — literally kill me,” he claimed.
Giuliani has been conducting his own investigations into alleged corruption in Ukraine and how it was tied to the Obama administration, aiding Trump in his pressure campaign to get the country to investigate his political rival former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. The younger Biden was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company while his father was leading the Obama administration’s efforts to tackle corruption in the country.
The revelation of efforts to get Ukraine to help investigate the Bidens led to Trump’s impeachment in the Democratic-led House on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Trump was acquitted earlier this month by the GOP-controlled Senate.
Trump, Giuliani, and their allies often point to a video of the elder Biden in 2018 bragging about threatening to withhold $1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees if Ukraine did not remove prosecutor Viktor Shokin from office. Shokin was removed in 2016 amid international pressure, and has since claimed he was ousted because he was investigating the gas company Biden’s son worked for and the vice president wanted to protect his son.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Trump 'wasn't bothered' by Barr criticism of tweets

President Trump was not upset about Attorney General William Barr condemning his tweets , according to the White House .
“ The president was n't bothered by the comments at all and he has the right , just like any American citizen to publicly offer his opinions , ” White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement Thursday .
“ The president has full faith and confidence in Attorney General Barr to do his job and uphold the law.
” Barr said earlier in the day that Trump ’ s constant public commentary on the Justice Department makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my job ” and claimed that his work would remain independent from the president ’ s political desires .
“ I ’ m gon na do what I think is right .
… I can not do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me , '' Barr told ABC News .
Barr ’ s gripes about Trump followed the president criticizing prosecutors ' initial seven-to-nine-year sentencing recommendation for his longtime ally Roger Stone , who was convicted of witness tampering and lying to Congress .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance a “ miscarriage of justice , ” were interfering in the case .
Barr has also claimed the decision to scale back Stone ’ s sentencing recommendation was made before Trump slammed the guidance .
The four prosecutors who made the initial recommendation dropped from the case after the Justice Department intervened .

President Trump was not upset about Attorney General William Barr condemning his tweets, according to the White House.
“The president wasn't bothered by the comments at all and he has the right, just like any American citizen to publicly offer his opinions,” White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement Thursday. “The president has full faith and confidence in Attorney General Barr to do his job and uphold the law.”
Barr said earlier in the day that Trump’s constant public commentary on the Justice Department makes “it impossible for me to do my job” and claimed that his work would remain independent from the president’s political desires.
“I’m gonna do what I think is right. … I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me," Barr told ABC News.
Barr’s gripes about Trump followed the president criticizing prosecutors' initial seven-to-nine-year sentencing recommendation for his longtime ally Roger Stone, who was convicted of witness tampering and lying to Congress.
Trump denied his tweets, which called the guidance a “miscarriage of justice,” were interfering in the case. Barr has also claimed the decision to scale back Stone’s sentencing recommendation was made before Trump slammed the guidance. The four prosecutors who made the initial recommendation dropped from the case after the Justice Department intervened.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-14--Lindsey Graham will call four Carter Page FISA signers to testify before the Senate

The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman promised to call four signers of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants targeting Carter Page to testify in the wake of the Justice Department watchdog ’ s report on FISA abuse .
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told CBS News that he would seek private depositions and public testimony from former FBI Director James Comey , former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe , former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates , and former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein .
The Republican committee leader also plans to call current FBI Director Christopher Wray , who took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 and wasn ’ t involved in approving FISA applications on former Trump associate Page .
Graham told CBS ’ s Catherine Herridge he planned to deliver a witness list for the FISA hearings to the Justice Department shortly and indicated weeks of FISA witness hearings might begin as soon as late February or early March .
“ What I will do is I will get to the bottom of how the FISA warrant system failed and make sure we reform it , and it does n't happen again , ” Graham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday .
The DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz ’ s December report on FISA abuse concluded that the FBI ’ s investigation was filled with serious missteps and concealed exculpatory information from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court .
Horowitz said at least 17 `` significant errors and omissions '' were discovered in the Page FISA applications spanning from fall 2016 to summer 2017 .
The FISA filings relied upon a salacious and unverified dossier compiled by British ex-spy Christopher Steele , who ’ d been hired by Fusion GPS , which in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign and the Democratic National Committee through the Perkins Coie law firm .
Wray , who called the FISA findings “ utterly unacceptable ” during House testimony last week , concurred with the DOJ ’ s conclusions that at least two of the four FISA warrants against Page amounted to illegal surveillance .
Wray said the bureau was working to “ claw back ” any intelligence gleaned through the Page FISAs .
A total of four FISA applications and renewals against Page were signed off on by FBI and DOJ leadership and approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Comey and the DOJ 's Yates greenlighted the initial October 2016 FISA application as well as the January 2017 FISA warrant renewal .
Comey signed the April 2017 FISA renewal for the FBI .
The DOJ ’ s signatory that time was Dana Boente , who was the acting attorney general following Yates 's firing in late January 2017 and then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions 's recusal from Russia-related investigative matters .
Yates tweeted “ to the career men and women of DOJ ” this week that “ you are both the backbone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He tweeted that “ your noble dedication to the rule of law is the foundation of our republic ” in the wake of the DOJ reversing its prison sentence recommendation for Trump associate Roger Stone .
Boente is the only signatory remaining in active government service — Wray picked him to be the FBI ’ s general counsel in January 2018 .
Boente replaced Jim Baker , who has said he was personally involved in the approval of at least the first FISA warrant against Page and who repeatedly defended the FBI ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Graham did not say he planned to call Boente or Baker .
McCabe approved the fourth and final FISA warrant for the FBI in June 2017 after Comey was fired that May .
McCabe himself was fired in March 2018 after Horowitz concluded he “ lacked candor ” with investigators .
The U.S. Attorney ’ s Office in Washington , D.C. , also handling Stone ’ s case , was weighing criminal charges against McCabe , but informed McCabe on Friday that `` the government has decided not to pursue criminal charges '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed . ''
McCabe previously sued the FBI and the DOJ , claiming wrongful termination .
Rosenstein , whose memo on Comey was used by President Trump to justify Comey ’ s firing and who appointed special counsel Robert Mueller in May 2017 , signed off on the June 2017 FISA request for the DOJ .
Comey tweeted this week that the Stone saga “ is dangerous territory for the rule of law.
” Horowitz previously condemned Comey for the “ unauthorized disclosure of sensitive investigative information … in order to achieve a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his memos to prompt a special counsel .
“ Certain former FBI employees who agreed to interviews , including Comey and Baker , chose not to request that their security clearances be reinstated for their OIG interviews , ” Horowitz ’ s FISA report noted .
“ Therefore , we were unable to provide classified information or documents to them during their interviews to develop their testimony , or to assist their recollections of relevant events.
” When asked about Graham ’ s plans for the FISA witnesses , his communications director , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Stay tuned !
”

The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman promised to call four signers of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants targeting Carter Page to testify in the wake of the Justice Department watchdog’s report on FISA abuse.
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told CBS News that he would seek private depositions and public testimony from former FBI Director James Comey, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, and former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
The Republican committee leader also plans to call current FBI Director Christopher Wray, who took over the bureau after Comey was fired in 2017 and wasn’t involved in approving FISA applications on former Trump associate Page.
Graham told CBS’s Catherine Herridge he planned to deliver a witness list for the FISA hearings to the Justice Department shortly and indicated weeks of FISA witness hearings might begin as soon as late February or early March.
“What I will do is I will get to the bottom of how the FISA warrant system failed and make sure we reform it, and it doesn't happen again,” Graham told Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation on Sunday.
The DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s December report on FISA abuse concluded that the FBI’s investigation was filled with serious missteps and concealed exculpatory information from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Horowitz said at least 17 "significant errors and omissions" were discovered in the Page FISA applications spanning from fall 2016 to summer 2017.
The FISA filings relied upon a salacious and unverified dossier compiled by British ex-spy Christopher Steele, who’d been hired by Fusion GPS, which in turn was hired by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee through the Perkins Coie law firm.
Wray, who called the FISA findings “utterly unacceptable” during House testimony last week, concurred with the DOJ’s conclusions that at least two of the four FISA warrants against Page amounted to illegal surveillance. Wray said the bureau was working to “claw back” any intelligence gleaned through the Page FISAs.
A total of four FISA applications and renewals against Page were signed off on by FBI and DOJ leadership and approved by the FISA court.
The FBI's Comey and the DOJ's Yates greenlighted the initial October 2016 FISA application as well as the January 2017 FISA warrant renewal.
Comey signed the April 2017 FISA renewal for the FBI. The DOJ’s signatory that time was Dana Boente, who was the acting attorney general following Yates's firing in late January 2017 and then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions's recusal from Russia-related investigative matters.
Yates tweeted “to the career men and women of DOJ” this week that “you are both the backbone and the heart of the Department.” He tweeted that “your noble dedication to the rule of law is the foundation of our republic” in the wake of the DOJ reversing its prison sentence recommendation for Trump associate Roger Stone.
Boente is the only signatory remaining in active government service — Wray picked him to be the FBI’s general counsel in January 2018. Boente replaced Jim Baker, who has said he was personally involved in the approval of at least the first FISA warrant against Page and who repeatedly defended the FBI’s handling of the Steele dossier.
Graham did not say he planned to call Boente or Baker.
McCabe approved the fourth and final FISA warrant for the FBI in June 2017 after Comey was fired that May. McCabe himself was fired in March 2018 after Horowitz concluded he “lacked candor” with investigators. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., also handling Stone’s case, was weighing criminal charges against McCabe, but informed McCabe on Friday that "the government has decided not to pursue criminal charges" and that "we consider the matter closed." McCabe previously sued the FBI and the DOJ, claiming wrongful termination.
Rosenstein, whose memo on Comey was used by President Trump to justify Comey’s firing and who appointed special counsel Robert Mueller in May 2017, signed off on the June 2017 FISA request for the DOJ.
Comey tweeted this week that the Stone saga “is dangerous territory for the rule of law.”
Horowitz previously condemned Comey for the “unauthorized disclosure of sensitive investigative information … in order to achieve a personally desired outcome” when he leaked his memos to prompt a special counsel.
“Certain former FBI employees who agreed to interviews, including Comey and Baker, chose not to request that their security clearances be reinstated for their OIG interviews,” Horowitz’s FISA report noted. “Therefore, we were unable to provide classified information or documents to them during their interviews to develop their testimony, or to assist their recollections of relevant events.”
When asked about Graham’s plans for the FISA witnesses, his communications director, Kevin Bishop, told the Washington Examiner: “Stay tuned!”