thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-09--'Not my impression': Bernie Sanders says Iowa caucus 'embarrassment' not intended to 'hurt' his camp

'Not my impression': Bernie Sanders says Iowa caucus 'embarrassment' not intended to 'hurt' his campaign

Bernie Sanders slammed the Iowa Democratic Party for botching the first-in-the-nation Democratic presidential contest last week but stopped short of saying the debacle was intended to `` hurt '' his candidacy .
The Vermont senator appeared on CNN 's State of the Union Sunday to discuss his 2020 White House bid , and the Democratic Party ’ s national embarrassment after its Iowa arm took days to name a winner after its Monday caucuses .
Sanders said he does not suspect that Iowa ’ s fumble is part of a larger scheme by the Democratic National Committee to sink his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his campaign surrogates .
`` All I can say about Iowa is it was an embarrassment .
It was a disgrace to the good people of Iowa , who take their responsibilities in the caucuses very seriously .
They screwed it up badly is what the Iowa Democratic Party did , '' Sanders said .
DNC Chairman Tom Perez called for Iowa ’ s caucus results to be recanvassed on Thursday , three days after the caucus took place .
Former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner , co-chairwoman of Sanders ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looked `` fairly intentional . ''
`` I find it ironic he wants to recanvass .
Where was he days and days before that ?
Nowhere to be found , '' Turner said .
On CNN , Sanders shied away from Turner ’ s comments , saying that it is `` not my impression '' that the DNC was attempting to tank his presidential run .
`` We ’ re taking on Trump and the Republican establishment , and there are a lot in the Democratic establishment who are not , to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Sanders said .
`` But I ’ m not casting any aspersions — any political aspersions .
The incompetence in Iowa was extraordinary . ''
Former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Peter Buttigieg was eventually named winner of the Iowa caucuses with a razor-thin lead over Sanders .

Bernie Sanders slammed the Iowa Democratic Party for botching the first-in-the-nation Democratic presidential contest last week but stopped short of saying the debacle was intended to "hurt" his candidacy.
The Vermont senator appeared on CNN's State of the Union Sunday to discuss his 2020 White House bid, and the Democratic Party’s national embarrassment after its Iowa arm took days to name a winner after its Monday caucuses. Sanders said he does not suspect that Iowa’s fumble is part of a larger scheme by the Democratic National Committee to sink his candidacy, despite the suggestions of some of his campaign surrogates.
"All I can say about Iowa is it was an embarrassment. It was a disgrace to the good people of Iowa, who take their responsibilities in the caucuses very seriously. They screwed it up badly is what the Iowa Democratic Party did," Sanders said.
DNC Chairman Tom Perez called for Iowa’s caucus results to be recanvassed on Thursday, three days after the caucus took place. Former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner, co-chairwoman of Sanders’s campaign, said Perez’s announcement looked "fairly intentional."
"I find it ironic he wants to recanvass. Where was he days and days before that? Nowhere to be found," Turner said.
On CNN, Sanders shied away from Turner’s comments, saying that it is "not my impression" that the DNC was attempting to tank his presidential run.
"We’re taking on Trump and the Republican establishment, and there are a lot in the Democratic establishment who are not, to say the least, enthusiastic about Bernie Sanders," Sanders said. "But I’m not casting any aspersions — any political aspersions. The incompetence in Iowa was extraordinary."
Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Peter Buttigieg was eventually named winner of the Iowa caucuses with a razor-thin lead over Sanders.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-09--'Neither is he': Buttigieg turns Biden 'not a Barack Obama' jab around on him

Pete Buttigieg took Joe Biden 's criticism that he is not a transformative candidate , such as Barack Obama , and turned it back on him .
The former South Bend , Indiana , mayor was asked to respond to a comment the former vice president made when a reporter pointed out that he attacked Obama on his lack of experience in the 2008 campaign , similar to how he is casting doubt on Buttigieg 's experience .
`` This guy 's not a Barack Obama , '' Biden , 77 , said Saturday .
`` Well , he 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neither is he , '' Buttigieg , 38 , said Sunday on CNN 's State of the Union .
`` Neither is any of us running for president .
And this is n't 2008 ; it 's 2020 . ''
He continued with a common retort casting Biden as representing the politics of the past , saying , `` We are facing the most disruptive president in modern times , and I do n't think the same playbook that helped us get here is going to work against him . ''
Several 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have leaned on connections to Obama when pitching their campaigns to voters .
Earlier on Saturday , Biden debuted a negative digital ad that compared his experience to that of the former mayor .
`` Joe Biden helped lead the passage of the Affordable Care Act , which gave healthcare to 20 million people .
And when parkgoers called on Pete Buttigieg , he installed decorative lights under bridges , '' a narrator in a portion of the ad said .
Buttigieg addressed the ad in the CNN interview .
`` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's too bad , because , you know , so many communities — communities like mine in South Bend — we know that we might look small from the perspective of Washington , but to us , it 's what 's going on in Washington that looks so small and small-minded , '' he said .

Pete Buttigieg took Joe Biden's criticism that he is not a transformative candidate, such as Barack Obama, and turned it back on him.
The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor was asked to respond to a comment the former vice president made when a reporter pointed out that he attacked Obama on his lack of experience in the 2008 campaign, similar to how he is casting doubt on Buttigieg's experience.
"This guy's not a Barack Obama," Biden, 77, said Saturday.
"Well, he's right; I'm not. And neither is he," Buttigieg, 38, said Sunday on CNN's State of the Union. "Neither is any of us running for president. And this isn't 2008; it's 2020."
He continued with a common retort casting Biden as representing the politics of the past, saying, "We are facing the most disruptive president in modern times, and I don't think the same playbook that helped us get here is going to work against him."
Several 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls, particularly Biden, have leaned on connections to Obama when pitching their campaigns to voters.
Earlier on Saturday, Biden debuted a negative digital ad that compared his experience to that of the former mayor.
"Joe Biden helped lead the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which gave healthcare to 20 million people. And when parkgoers called on Pete Buttigieg, he installed decorative lights under bridges," a narrator in a portion of the ad said.
Former Mayor Pete doesn’t think very highly of the Obama-Biden record. Let’s compare. pic.twitter.com/132TB7MHaq — Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) February 8, 2020
Buttigieg addressed the ad in the CNN interview.
"It's a typical political attack, and it's too bad, because, you know, so many communities — communities like mine in South Bend — we know that we might look small from the perspective of Washington, but to us, it's what's going on in Washington that looks so small and small-minded," he said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-09--Sanders fans try to drown out Buttigieg with 'Wall Street Pete' chants at New Hampshire fundraiser

MANCHESTER , New Hampshire — Supporters of Bernie Sanders booed and shouted over Pete Buttigieg after the 2020 Democratic White House hopeful took a swing at their candidate .
Buttigieg , 38 , during his address at the storied New Hampshire Democratic Party 's McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Event , ventured into a revised section of his stump speech debuted last week in Iowa in which he dug at the Vermont senator , 78 , for his call for revolution .
But the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana 's rhetoric earned jeers of `` Wall Street Pete ! ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Manchester 's Southern New Hampshire University Arena , who gave the more center-left contender a frosty reception from the start .
Supporters of the mayor countered with cheers of `` We need Pete . ''
Buttigieg also took a jab at former Vice President Joe Biden , 77 , after the pair spent the day exchanging blows on the campaign trail .
Delaware 's former senator for 36 years delivered the first direct hit Saturday morning by releasing a digital ad painting Buttigieg as a small-town mayor .
`` Some are asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bend have seeking the highest office of the land ?
” Buttigieg indirectly responded .
He added , `` Americans in small rural towns , in industrial communities , and yes in pockets of our country 's biggest cities , are tired of being reduced to a punchline by Washington politicians and ready for somebody to take their voice to the American capital . ''
Buttigieg , fresh off a better-than-expected finish in Iowa 's Monday caucuses after essentially tying with Sanders , is now a front-runner for New Hampshire 's primary this @ @

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — Supporters of Bernie Sanders booed and shouted over Pete Buttigieg after the 2020 Democratic White House hopeful took a swing at their candidate.
Buttigieg, 38, during his address at the storied New Hampshire Democratic Party's McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Event, ventured into a revised section of his stump speech debuted last week in Iowa in which he dug at the Vermont senator, 78, for his call for revolution.
But the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana's rhetoric earned jeers of "Wall Street Pete!" from those in the socialist's section of Manchester's Southern New Hampshire University Arena, who gave the more center-left contender a frosty reception from the start. Supporters of the mayor countered with cheers of "We need Pete."
Buttigieg also took a jab at former Vice President Joe Biden, 77, after the pair spent the day exchanging blows on the campaign trail. Delaware's former senator for 36 years delivered the first direct hit Saturday morning by releasing a digital ad painting Buttigieg as a small-town mayor.
"Some are asking what business does the mayor of South Bend have seeking the highest office of the land?” Buttigieg indirectly responded.
He added, "Americans in small rural towns, in industrial communities, and yes in pockets of our country's biggest cities, are tired of being reduced to a punchline by Washington politicians and ready for somebody to take their voice to the American capital."
Buttigieg, fresh off a better-than-expected finish in Iowa's Monday caucuses after essentially tying with Sanders, is now a front-runner for New Hampshire's primary this Tuesday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--Yes, Pete Buttigieg won Iowa

Yes, Pete Buttigieg won Iowa

Five days after the doors closed on the Iowa caucuses , 100 % of precincts have finally posted their polling , and the results are in .
With 14 national delegates , Pete Buttigieg won the first state in the Democratic presidential primary , followed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders with 12 delegates , Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren with eight , Joe Biden with six , and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar with just one .
As a matter of absolute importance , Iowa comprises a mere 1 % of national delegates .
But there 's no question that the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the masses follow , and Buttigieg 's vindication may just pave his way to dominate New Hampshire .
Unlike the Iowa caucuses , which both exclude non-Democrats and entail a great deal of effort to participate , Tuesday 's New Hampshire primary is open to Republican voters and requires a simple ballot .
Hence , unconventional candidates such as Andrew Yang and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard have exerted disproportionate amounts of their early state campaigning in the Granite State , and newcomers may have a better chance .
Bernie bros spent a week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory , but it 's clear that the former South Bend , Indiana , mayor is thoroughly vindicated .
Buttigieg did n't win the popular vote , and he never claimed to .
He campaigned like a candidate wishing to win the only game that matters , and his delegate count reflects his success .
A general election Democrat does n't need to win college towns ; President Trump will ensure that for them .
But Buttigieg won the delegate count by dominating an overwhelming majority of Obama-to-Trump counties .
For a neophyte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign is ready for prime time .

Five days after the doors closed on the Iowa caucuses, 100% of precincts have finally posted their polling, and the results are in. With 14 national delegates, Pete Buttigieg won the first state in the Democratic presidential primary season, followed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders with 12 delegates, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren with eight, Joe Biden with six, and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar with just one.
As a matter of absolute importance, Iowa comprises a mere 1% of national delegates. But there's no question that the state determines donation flows and the media narrative the masses follow, and Buttigieg's vindication may just pave his way to dominate New Hampshire.
Unlike the Iowa caucuses, which both exclude non-Democrats and entail a great deal of effort to participate, Tuesday's New Hampshire primary is open to Republican voters and requires a simple ballot. Hence, unconventional candidates such as Andrew Yang and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard have exerted disproportionate amounts of their early state campaigning in the Granite State, and newcomers may have a better chance.
Bernie Bros spent a week lambasting Buttigieg for his preemptive declaration of victory, but it's clear that the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor is thoroughly vindicated. Buttigieg didn't win the popular vote, and he never claimed to. He campaigned like a candidate wishing to win the only game that matters, and his delegate count reflects his success. A general-election Democrat doesn't need to win college towns; President Trump will ensure that for them. But Buttigieg won the delegate count by dominating an overwhelming majority of Obama-to-Trump counties. For a neophyte candidate, he's proving that his campaign is ready for prime time.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--'Fight for every delegate': Sanders campaign plans to ask for Iowa recanvass before deadline

Sen. Bernie Sanders 's 2020 presidential campaign plans to file a request to recanvass some Iowa precincts following a debacle last week that resulted in delayed results from the first-in-the-nation caucuses .
The Iowa Democratic Party on Sunday allocated its delegate count , nearly a week after the state 's caucuses took place .
The results were delayed for days because of a “ coding issue ” with an app used to report the numbers , but the latest data showed Pete Buttigieg edging out Sanders for delegates , bringing in 14 delegates to the Vermont senator 's 12 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ EST on Monday to ask for a recanvass , which is essentially double-checking the results .
Joining CNN Sunday evening , Sanders 's campaign manager Faiz Shakir revealed that his team would do so .
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez had previously called for a recanvass following `` inconsistencies . ''
`` You can expect us to be asking the Iowa Democratic Party for a recanvass of the discrepancies that we have identified and found for them , '' Shakir announced .
`` We will be searching for and identifying even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from our perspective , and we will be asking them to look at some of these obvious discrepancies that have affected our count .
And I think after it is all said and done , it should be the case that we have the same number of national delegates as Pete Buttigieg .
`` So we ’ ll see how this plays out , Ryan .
But you can expect some action from the Sanders campaign tomorrow , '' he said , later continuing , `` The truth of the matter is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for every delegate this campaign has earned , and if we feel like we have been wrongly stopped from earning those delegates , we ’ re gon na fight for them , and that 's our job . ''
Buttigieg , 38 , declared victory early on Monday night based on his campaign 's internal figures , peeving his rivals .
After more than two days of partial results trickling in , Sanders also declared victory , citing his lead in the raw vote total .
However , the final results released Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition to delegates , at 564.302 compared to 561.528 for Sanders .
With Iowa nearly in the rear-view mirror , most 2020 Democrats have turned their attention to New Hampshire , where the first-in-the-nation primary is set to be held on Feb. 11 .

Sen. Bernie Sanders's 2020 presidential campaign plans to file a request to recanvass some Iowa precincts following a debacle last week that resulted in delayed results from the first-in-the-nation caucuses.
The Iowa Democratic Party on Sunday allocated its delegate count, nearly a week after the state's caucuses took place. The results were delayed for days because of a “coding issue” with an app used to report the numbers, but the latest data showed Pete Buttigieg edging out Sanders for delegates, bringing in 14 delegates to the Vermont senator's 12.
However, campaigns have until 1 p.m. EST on Monday to ask for a recanvass, which is essentially double-checking the results. Joining CNN Sunday evening, Sanders's campaign manager Faiz Shakir revealed that his team would do so. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez had previously called for a recanvass following "inconsistencies."
"You can expect us to be asking the Iowa Democratic Party for a recanvass of the discrepancies that we have identified and found for them," Shakir announced. "We will be searching for and identifying even more. It's been handled incompetently, from our perspective, and we will be asking them to look at some of these obvious discrepancies that have affected our count. And I think after it is all said and done, it should be the case that we have the same number of national delegates as Pete Buttigieg.
"So we’ll see how this plays out, Ryan. But you can expect some action from the Sanders campaign tomorrow," he said, later continuing, "The truth of the matter is, Ryan, that we want to fight for every delegate this campaign has earned, and if we feel like we have been wrongly stopped from earning those delegates, we’re gonna fight for them, and that's our job."
Buttigieg, 38, declared victory early on Monday night based on his campaign's internal figures, peeving his rivals. After more than two days of partial results trickling in, Sanders also declared victory, citing his lead in the raw vote total. However, the final results released Sunday gave Buttigieg the raw vote lead in addition to delegates, at 564.302 compared to 561.528 for Sanders.
With Iowa nearly in the rear-view mirror, most 2020 Democrats have turned their attention to New Hampshire, where the first-in-the-nation primary is set to be held on Feb. 11.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--'Open door': Justice Department would examine Ukraine information from Giuliani, Barr says

Attorney General William Barr confirmed that the Justice Department theoretically would assess information from Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani ’ s Ukraine-related investigations into Joe and Hunter Biden .
“ We had established an intake process in the field so that any information coming in about Ukraine could be carefully scrutinized by the department and its intelligence community partners so that we could assess its provenance and its credibility , ” Barr said during a Justice Department press conference on Monday .
“ That is true for any information that comes to the department related to the Ukraine , including any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s comments came after Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham announced on Sunday that Barr told him he was “ receiving information coming out of Ukraine '' from Giuliani and that DOJ `` would see if it ’ s verified.
” The South Carolina Republican said he ’ d spoken with Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr and Barr about how to handle Giuliani ’ s foray into Ukraine , which was a part of the recent impeachment effort against President Trump .
Graham said the two men told him to `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Ukraine against anybody . ''
Giuliani has said he is “ ramping up ” his investigations into the Bidens following Trump ’ s acquittal by the Senate .
In January , the DOJ rejected as “ 100 % false ” allegations made by Lev Parnas , an indicted associate of Giuliani , that Barr was `` absolutely '' involved in Giuliani ’ s Ukraine scheme .
Last month , DOJ spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said the department ’ s position “ has not changed ” since September , when the Ukraine controversy broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department emphatically distanced itself from Giuliani ’ s efforts .
A DOJ official confirmed with the Washington Examiner on Monday that the department stood by its September statement .
The DOJ official said a process had been set up outside of DOJ headquarters to determine the accuracy of any information Giuliani or others might obtain from Ukraine .
`` The President has not spoken with the Attorney General about having Ukraine investigate anything relating to former Vice President Biden or his son , and the President has not asked the Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any other matter , '' the DOJ said last year .
`` The Attorney General has not communicated with Ukraine — on this or any other subject .
Nor has the Attorney General discussed this matter , or anything relating to Ukraine , with Rudy Giuliani . ''
During a Monday press conference announcing indictments against Chinese military hackers , Barr said he was open to receiving information from Ukraine but would be careful to ensure it was n't disinformation .
“ The DOJ has the obligation to have an open door to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they think is relevant .
But as I did say to Sen. Graham , we have to be very careful with respect to any information coming from the Ukraine , ” Barr said .
“ There are a lot of agendas in the Ukraine , a lot of cross-currents , and we can ’ t take anything we receive from the Ukraine at face value.
” Barr was reportedly dismayed to discover Trump grouped him in with Giuliani during a controversial phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country investigate the Bidens .
“ I will have Mr. Giuliani give you a call , and I am also going to have Attorney General Barr call , and we will get to the bottom of it , '' Trump told Zelensky .
In the call , immediately after Zelensky expressed interest in purchasing anti-tank weaponry known as Javelins , Trump asked Zelensky `` to do us a favor though , ” to look into a CrowdStrike conspiracy theory and possible Ukrainian election interference in 2016 .
Trump later urged Zelensky to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to allegations of corruption related to the Bidens .
The FBI 's Deputy Director David Bowdich was pressed on Monday about how the DOJ receiving information from Giuliani was different from it receiving information from British ex-spy Christopher Steele , whose unverified dossier was used in Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants targeting Trump campaign associate Carter Page .
The former MI6 agent was paid by the opposition research firm Fusion GPS , which had been hired by the Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee through an intermediary .
“ I will stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer , ” Bowdich said .
“ We ’ re taking information as we would in any case .
We will evaluate it appropriately.
” “ I ’ m not going to be the Republican Christopher Steele , ” Graham said on Sunday .
When asked if the FBI was investigating the Bidens , the FBI deputy director declined to say .
Last week , a memo from Barr made it clear that the FBI must obtain the attorney general ’ s signoff before investigating any 2020 candidates or campaigns .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any investigation , as I never would .
We don ’ t talk about open investigations , ” Bowdich said .

Attorney General William Barr confirmed that the Justice Department theoretically would assess information from Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s Ukraine-related investigations into Joe and Hunter Biden.
“We had established an intake process in the field so that any information coming in about Ukraine could be carefully scrutinized by the department and its intelligence community partners so that we could assess its provenance and its credibility,” Barr said during a Justice Department press conference on Monday. “That is true for any information that comes to the department related to the Ukraine, including any information Mr. Giuliani might provide.”
Barr’s comments came after Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham announced on Sunday that Barr told him he was “receiving information coming out of Ukraine" from Giuliani and that DOJ "would see if it’s verified.”
The South Carolina Republican said he’d spoken with Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr and Barr about how to handle Giuliani’s foray into Ukraine, which was a part of the recent impeachment effort against President Trump. Graham said the two men told him to "take very cautiously anything coming out of the Ukraine against anybody."
Giuliani has said he is “ramping up” his investigations into the Bidens following Trump’s acquittal by the Senate.
In January, the DOJ rejected as “100% false” allegations made by Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Giuliani, that Barr was "absolutely" involved in Giuliani’s Ukraine scheme. Last month, DOJ spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said the department’s position “has not changed” since September, when the Ukraine controversy broke via an anonymous whistleblower complaint, and the department emphatically distanced itself from Giuliani’s efforts.
A DOJ official confirmed with the Washington Examiner on Monday that the department stood by its September statement. The DOJ official said a process had been set up outside of DOJ headquarters to determine the accuracy of any information Giuliani or others might obtain from Ukraine.
"The President has not spoken with the Attorney General about having Ukraine investigate anything relating to former Vice President Biden or his son, and the President has not asked the Attorney General to contact Ukraine — on this or any other matter," the DOJ said last year. "The Attorney General has not communicated with Ukraine — on this or any other subject. Nor has the Attorney General discussed this matter, or anything relating to Ukraine, with Rudy Giuliani."
During a Monday press conference announcing indictments against Chinese military hackers, Barr said he was open to receiving information from Ukraine but would be careful to ensure it wasn't disinformation.
“The DOJ has the obligation to have an open door to anybody who wishes to provide us information that they think is relevant. But as I did say to Sen. Graham, we have to be very careful with respect to any information coming from the Ukraine,” Barr said. “There are a lot of agendas in the Ukraine, a lot of cross-currents, and we can’t take anything we receive from the Ukraine at face value.”
Barr was reportedly dismayed to discover Trump grouped him in with Giuliani during a controversial phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July. A transcript showed Trump saying Giuliani could help the country investigate the Bidens.
“I will have Mr. Giuliani give you a call, and I am also going to have Attorney General Barr call, and we will get to the bottom of it," Trump told Zelensky.
In the call, immediately after Zelensky expressed interest in purchasing anti-tank weaponry known as Javelins, Trump asked Zelensky "to do us a favor though,” to look into a CrowdStrike conspiracy theory and possible Ukrainian election interference in 2016. Trump later urged Zelensky to investigate “the other thing,” referring to allegations of corruption related to the Bidens.
The FBI's Deputy Director David Bowdich was pressed on Monday about how the DOJ receiving information from Giuliani was different from it receiving information from British ex-spy Christopher Steele, whose unverified dossier was used in Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants targeting Trump campaign associate Carter Page. The former MI6 agent was paid by the opposition research firm Fusion GPS, which had been hired by the Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee through an intermediary.
“I will stand on the attorney general’s previous answer,” Bowdich said. “We’re taking information as we would in any case. We will evaluate it appropriately.”
“I’m not going to be the Republican Christopher Steele,” Graham said on Sunday.
When asked if the FBI was investigating the Bidens, the FBI deputy director declined to say. Last week, a memo from Barr made it clear that the FBI must obtain the attorney general’s signoff before investigating any 2020 candidates or campaigns.
“I’m not going to talk about any investigation, as I never would. We don’t talk about open investigations,” Bowdich said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--'The scale of the theft was staggering': Justice Department indicts Chinese military hackers who sto

'The scale of the theft was staggering': Justice Department indicts Chinese military hackers who stole Equifax data

Attorney General William Barr announced the indictment of four members of the Chinese military for their role in the massive 2017 Equifax hacking that breached sensitive personal data on an estimated 145 million people in the United States .
The nine-count indictment announced during a Justice Department press conference on Monday morning , charged Wu Zhiyong , Wang Qian , Xu Ke , and Liu Lei , of the People ’ s Liberation Army ’ s 54th Research Institute .
They allegedly conspired to hack into Equifax ’ s computer networks and stole massive amounts of information from the consumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deliberate and sweeping intrusion into the private information of the American people , ” Barr said .
“ Today , we hold PLA hackers accountable for their criminal actions , and we remind the Chinese government that we have the capability to remove the internet ’ s cloak of anonymity and find the hackers that nation repeatedly deploys against us.
” “ This was one of the largest data breaches in history … The scale of the theft was staggering , ” Barr said .
“ The hackers obtained the names , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security numbers of nearly 150 million Americans and the driver ’ s licenses of at least 10 million Americans.
” The Chinese hackers stole credit card numbers and other such personally identifiable information from another 200,000 people in the U.S. Barr said the nine-count indictment handed down by an Atlanta grand jury came as a result of a two-year investigation , which discovered the Chinese hackers performed at least 9,000 queries within Equifax ’ s systems as they stole data from nearly half of all people in the U.S .
The Chinese hackers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across nearly 20 countries to conceal their location , disguised their actions using encrypted communications within the Equifax network , and deleted and wiped logs in an unsuccessful attempt to hide their own identities .
Barr said the hack “ fits a disturbing and unacceptable pattern of state-sponsored computer intrusions and thefts by China , ” and said it showed the “ voracious appetite ” the Chinese government has for stolen personal data from Americans .
The attorney pointed to the previous 2014 Chinese hacking of the Office of Personnel Management , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 21 million people , as well as more recent massive breaches against Marriott , stealing data from an estimated 500 million guests worldwide , and Anthem Health , where Chinese hackers purloined data from 80 million people .
The attorney general said this stolen information had “ economic value ” and could “ feed ” China ’ s artificial intelligence tools and the creation of intelligence targeting .
“ This is the largest theft of sensitive , personally identifiable information by state sponsors ever recorded , ” FBI Deputy Director David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the FBI , we ’ ve been saying for years that the Chinese government will do anything it can to replace the United States as the leading superpower.
” Last week , at a DOJ event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies , FBI Director Christopher Wray said China was “ a threat not just to our economic security , but by extension to our national security.
” “ From my lens , having been FBI director for over two years now , and after having to confront what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ array of challenging threats , this one , to me , really stands out as the greatest long-term threat to our nation ’ s information and intellectual property and to our economic vitality , ” Wray said .
Barr said last week that China “ has emerged as the United States ’ top geopolitical adversary ” and “ remains a dictatorship under which the Communist Party elite jealously guard their monopoly on power.
” Barr highlighted the DOJ ’ s China initiative , launched in 2018 , which aims to combat both Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology theft , and its Thousand Talents Program aimed at stealing research .
He said the annual cost to the U.S. economy from Chinese malfeasance could be as high as $ 600 billion .
“ In the past , prior administrations and many in the private sector have too often been willing to countenance China ’ s hardball tactics , and it has been this administration that has finally moved to confront and counteract China ’ s playbook , ” Barr said .
The DOJ has increased its scrutiny of China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased number of espionage cases , cracking down on China-based hacking schemes , prosecuting Chinese efforts to steal trade secrets , and more .

Attorney General William Barr announced the indictment of four members of the Chinese military for their role in the massive 2017 Equifax hacking that breached sensitive personal data on an estimated 145 million people in the United States.
The nine-count indictment announced during a Justice Department press conference on Monday morning, charged Wu Zhiyong, Wang Qian, Xu Ke, and Liu Lei, of the People’s Liberation Army’s 54th Research Institute. They allegedly conspired to hack into Equifax’s computer networks and stole massive amounts of information from the consumer credit reporting agency.
“This was a deliberate and sweeping intrusion into the private information of the American people,” Barr said. “Today, we hold PLA hackers accountable for their criminal actions, and we remind the Chinese government that we have the capability to remove the internet’s cloak of anonymity and find the hackers that nation repeatedly deploys against us.”
“This was one of the largest data breaches in history … The scale of the theft was staggering,” Barr said. “The hackers obtained the names, the birth dates, and the Social Security numbers of nearly 150 million Americans and the driver’s licenses of at least 10 million Americans.”
The Chinese hackers stole credit card numbers and other such personally identifiable information from another 200,000 people in the U.S.
Barr said the nine-count indictment handed down by an Atlanta grand jury came as a result of a two-year investigation, which discovered the Chinese hackers performed at least 9,000 queries within Equifax’s systems as they stole data from nearly half of all people in the U.S.
The Chinese hackers routed traffic through nearly three dozen servers across nearly 20 countries to conceal their location, disguised their actions using encrypted communications within the Equifax network, and deleted and wiped logs in an unsuccessful attempt to hide their own identities.
Barr said the hack “fits a disturbing and unacceptable pattern of state-sponsored computer intrusions and thefts by China,” and said it showed the “voracious appetite” the Chinese government has for stolen personal data from Americans.
The attorney pointed to the previous 2014 Chinese hacking of the Office of Personnel Management, which resulted in the theft of data from at least 21 million people, as well as more recent massive breaches against Marriott, stealing data from an estimated 500 million guests worldwide, and Anthem Health, where Chinese hackers purloined data from 80 million people.
The attorney general said this stolen information had “economic value” and could “feed” China’s artificial intelligence tools and the creation of intelligence targeting.
“This is the largest theft of sensitive, personally identifiable information by state sponsors ever recorded,” FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich said today, adding, “At the FBI, we’ve been saying for years that the Chinese government will do anything it can to replace the United States as the leading superpower.”
Last week, at a DOJ event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, FBI Director Christopher Wray said China was “a threat not just to our economic security, but by extension to our national security.”
“From my lens, having been FBI director for over two years now, and after having to confront what I would argue is a wider than ever array of challenging threats, this one, to me, really stands out as the greatest long-term threat to our nation’s information and intellectual property and to our economic vitality,” Wray said.
Barr said last week that China “has emerged as the United States’ top geopolitical adversary” and “remains a dictatorship under which the Communist Party elite jealously guard their monopoly on power.”
Barr highlighted the DOJ’s China initiative, launched in 2018, which aims to combat both Chinese malign influence, ranging from cyber-espionage to technology theft, and its Thousand Talents Program aimed at stealing research. He said the annual cost to the U.S. economy from Chinese malfeasance could be as high as $600 billion.
“In the past, prior administrations and many in the private sector have too often been willing to countenance China’s hardball tactics, and it has been this administration that has finally moved to confront and counteract China’s playbook,” Barr said.
The DOJ has increased its scrutiny of China’s activities in recent years, charging an increased number of espionage cases, cracking down on China-based hacking schemes, prosecuting Chinese efforts to steal trade secrets, and more.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--'One-stop shop' for school safety: Trump administration unveils new website

The Trump administration debuted a website that it says will serve as a `` one-stop shop '' for information parents , students , and educators can use to enhance safety at schools nationwide .
“ All students deserve a safe learning environment , and the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse is an essential resource for information and best practices , ” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos , chairwoman of the Federal Commission on School Safety , said in a statement .
“ Because every school community has its own unique needs , SchoolSafety.gov equips decision makers with resources for developing , customizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Departments of Education , Health and Human Services , Homeland Security , and Justice launched the site Monday to commemorate the second anniversary this week of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland , Florida .
“ School safety is the number one priority of parents across the country , which is why the President directed DHS and other federal agencies to form a taskforce and provide schools , teachers , parents , and law enforcement with resources to identify , prepare for , respond to , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chad Wolf said in a statement .
The website hosts information on emergency planning , threat assessments , physical security , mental health services in schools , and more .
Fourteen students were killed at the Parkland shooting on Feb. 14 , 2018 .
In March 2018 , President Trump created a commission to come up with a plan to improve safety at schools .
Last February , Democrats in Congress renewed calls for laws that make it more difficult for people to obtain guns , saying it would prevent dangerous people from @ @ @

The Trump administration debuted a website that it says will serve as a "one-stop shop" for information parents, students, and educators can use to enhance safety at schools nationwide.
“All students deserve a safe learning environment, and the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse is an essential resource for information and best practices,” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, chairwoman of the Federal Commission on School Safety, said in a statement. “Because every school community has its own unique needs, SchoolSafety.gov equips decision makers with resources for developing, customizing, and implementing actionable school safety plans.”
The Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Justice launched the site Monday to commemorate the second anniversary this week of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
“School safety is the number one priority of parents across the country, which is why the President directed DHS and other federal agencies to form a taskforce and provide schools, teachers, parents, and law enforcement with resources to identify, prepare for, respond to, and mitigate threats,“ acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said in a statement.
The website hosts information on emergency planning, threat assessments, physical security, mental health services in schools, and more.
Fourteen students were killed at the Parkland shooting on Feb. 14, 2018. In March 2018, President Trump created a commission to come up with a plan to improve safety at schools. Last February, Democrats in Congress renewed calls for laws that make it more difficult for people to obtain guns, saying it would prevent dangerous people from obstaining them.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--'Anonymous' author identified as White House official and will be promptly removed, Joe diGenova say

'Anonymous' author identified as White House official and will be promptly removed, Joe diGenova says

The White House has identified the Trump administration official behind the anonymous tell-all book and critical New York Times opinion piece about the White House and will part ways with that person , according to former U.S. Attorney Joe diGenova .
DiGenova , a lawyer whose work has been caught up in the Ukraine-impeachment controversy , said on Monday that he and his wife , Victoria Toensing , were told by `` a senior government official '' that `` Anonymous '' had been identified as an official working in the White House and would be removed `` soon . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interview with WMAL ’ s Mornings on the Mall , but his comments come days after the White House dismissed Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , an impeachment witness , and his identical twin brother from the National Security Council .
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this report .
DiGenova declined to comment to the Washington Examiner .
DiGenova has been in the news lately as details emerged about his and Toensing 's work with President Trump 's lawyer , Rudy Giuliani , to uncover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held up to $ 1 billion in loan guarantees from Ukraine to help his son escape a potential corruption investigation .
Trump pressing Ukraine to announce investigations into his political rivals , including the Bidens , was the subject of impeachment , which ended in an acquittal of the president in the Senate last week .
The publicly unknown administration official first made him or herself known in September 2018 when the New York Times published an anonymous opinion piece by a senior member of the Trump administration , explaining that there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials working to stymie the president 's worst inclinations .
Following the publication of the New York Times piece , a multitude of Trump administration officials denied being the author amid feverish speculation , including Vice President Mike Pence , former U.N .
Ambassador Nikki Haley , and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
Trump labeled the author `` gutless '' and questioned whether a `` so-called 'senior administration official ' '' even existed .
There were several explosive claims in the book , including one alleging that a group of White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members who they believed would support the use of the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office .
Another section of the book talks about how a group of senior Trump administration officials considered a `` midnight self-massacre '' in which they would resign together .

The White House has identified the Trump administration official behind the anonymous tell-all book and critical New York Times opinion piece about the White House and will part ways with that person, according to former U.S. Attorney Joe diGenova.
DiGenova, a lawyer whose work has been caught up in the Ukraine-impeachment controversy, said on Monday that he and his wife, Victoria Toensing, were told by "a senior government official" that "Anonymous" had been identified as an official working in the White House and would be removed "soon."
DiGenova declined to reveal more details in an interview with WMAL’s Mornings on the Mall, but his comments come days after the White House dismissed Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, an impeachment witness, and his identical twin brother from the National Security Council.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this report. DiGenova declined to comment to the Washington Examiner.
DiGenova has been in the news lately as details emerged about his and Toensing's work with President Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, to uncover evidence that former Vice President Joe Biden held up to $1 billion in loan guarantees from Ukraine to help his son escape a potential corruption investigation. Trump pressing Ukraine to announce investigations into his political rivals, including the Bidens, was the subject of impeachment, which ended in an acquittal of the president in the Senate last week.
The publicly unknown administration official first made him or herself known in September 2018 when the New York Times published an anonymous opinion piece by a senior member of the Trump administration, explaining that there is an internal "resistance" group of officials working to stymie the president's worst inclinations.
Following the publication of the New York Times piece, a multitude of Trump administration officials denied being the author amid feverish speculation, including Vice President Mike Pence, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Trump labeled the author "gutless" and questioned whether a "so-called 'senior administration official'" even existed.
"Anonymous" published a book titled A Warning last November.
There were several explosive claims in the book, including one alleging that a group of White House aides put together a tally of Cabinet members who they believed would support the use of the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. Another section of the book talks about how a group of senior Trump administration officials considered a "midnight self-massacre" in which they would resign together.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--White House requests just $2B for border wall this year but will take $7.2B from military

The White House is poised to request billions of dollars less for southern border wall construction projects in this year ’ s budget compared to previous years , a senior Department of Homeland Security official confirmed .
President Trump will request Congress include $ 2 billion in its 2021 fiscal budget for an undisclosed amount of steel fence on the U.S.-Mexico border , down 60 % from the $ 5 billion the White House sought ahead of fiscal 2020 , the Wall Street Journal first reported .
Trump also asked for $ 3.6 billion to repay the Pentagon for money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When Congress only allocated $ 1.375 billion last year , Trump diverted a total of $ 6.7 billion in military and treasury funds to its border projects .
The White House will copy its 2019 playbook again this year and divert $ 7.2 billion in Defense Department funding for border wall construction .
The difference this year is the White House will not ask Congress to replenish the military funding , roughly 1 % of its $ 700 billion proposed budget .
Trump said , in January 2018 , his administration needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miles of barrier by 2027 .
As of this new request , the Trump administration will have been given or seized $ 18.4 billion for the wall .
It is enough to put up 885 miles of fence at various parts of the 2,000-mile border that do not have a barrier , that have dilapidated or insufficient fences , or need a “ secondary ” wall to go behind the first as a duplicate layer .
Another change this year is that the White House is proposing less funding for technology on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who spoke with the Washington Examiner .
The move could upset Democrats who may demand the Trump administration ’ s physical security projects include more nonphysical measures .
“ In an election year , this budget proposal is even more dead than a normal one , ” the official said in a phone call .
The proposed budget asks for $ 182 million to hire 750 Border Patrol agents and 300 staff for Border Patrol detainee processing centers on the southern border , as well as $ 83 million for 600 Customs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In addition , Immigration and Customs Enforcement wants $ 544 million to hire more than 4,600 officers , prosecuting attorneys , and critical support staff .
The White House also asked for a record-high $ 3.1 billion to cover 60,000 federal detention center beds for illegal immigrants .

The White House is poised to request billions of dollars less for southern border wall construction projects in this year’s budget compared to previous years, a senior Department of Homeland Security official confirmed.
President Trump will request Congress include $2 billion in its 2021 fiscal budget for an undisclosed amount of steel fence on the U.S.-Mexico border, down 60% from the $5 billion the White House sought ahead of fiscal 2020, the Wall Street Journal first reported. Trump also asked for $3.6 billion to repay the Pentagon for money taken from its accounts for the wall. When Congress only allocated $1.375 billion last year, Trump diverted a total of $6.7 billion in military and treasury funds to its border projects.
The White House will copy its 2019 playbook again this year and divert $7.2 billion in Defense Department funding for border wall construction. The difference this year is the White House will not ask Congress to replenish the military funding, roughly 1% of its $700 billion proposed budget.
Trump said, in January 2018, his administration needed $18 billion to put up 970 miles of barrier by 2027. As of this new request, the Trump administration will have been given or seized $18.4 billion for the wall. It is enough to put up 885 miles of fence at various parts of the 2,000-mile border that do not have a barrier, that have dilapidated or insufficient fences, or need a “secondary” wall to go behind the first as a duplicate layer.
Another change this year is that the White House is proposing less funding for technology on the southern border, according to an official who spoke with the Washington Examiner. The move could upset Democrats who may demand the Trump administration’s physical security projects include more nonphysical measures.
“In an election year, this budget proposal is even more dead than a normal one,” the official said in a phone call.
The proposed budget asks for $182 million to hire 750 Border Patrol agents and 300 staff for Border Patrol detainee processing centers on the southern border, as well as $83 million for 600 Customs and Border Protection port of entry officers; . In addition, Immigration and Customs Enforcement wants $544 million to hire more than 4,600 officers, prosecuting attorneys, and critical support staff.
The White House also asked for a record-high $3.1 billion to cover 60,000 federal detention center beds for illegal immigrants.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--Democrats denounce 'devastating cuts' in Trump budget plan

President Trump ’ s 2021 budget proposal prompted immediate opposition from House and Senate Democrats , who condemned the plan ’ s 6 % cut to nondefense spending and its provisions to slow the growth of entitlements .
“ With his latest budget proposal , it ’ s hard to imagine that President Trump could do any more to double-cross the very American workers and middle-class families he promised to help just last week in his State of the Union address , ” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , a New York Democrat , said Monday .
“ As typical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his State of the Union address was lie upon lie to the American people.
” Senate Republicans greeted the plan with muted praise , pointing to elements of the proposal they favored .
Sen. Lamar Alexander , a Tennessee Republican , praised the proposed education tax credit scholarship that would help low-income families escape failing public schools .
Alexander also praised the budget ’ s $ 1 billion proposed increase for career and technical education .
Congress is unlikely to adopt Trump ’ s $ 4.8 trillion budget proposal , but some elements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in spending legislation adopted in the GOP-led Senate .
The budget includes $ 1 trillion for infrastructure , which could serve as a starting point for negotiations with Democrats , for example .
Trump ’ s budget sets defense spending at $ 740.5 billion , a less than 0.5 % increase over fiscal 2020 spending .
It requests $ 590 billion for nondefense spending , a 5 % reduction the Trump administration said “ reflects restraint , ” that , combined with the 2017 tax cuts , “ will keep the U.S. economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come.
” Democrats said the cuts and cost controls implemented in the budget would hurt the very people Trump sought to appeal to in his State of the Union address last week .
“ Year after year , President Trump ’ s budgets have sought to inflict devastating cuts to critical lifelines that millions of Americans rely on , ” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , a California Democrat , said .
“ Less than a week after promising to protect families ’ healthcare in his State of the Union address , the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Medicare and Medicaid — at the same time that he is fighting in federal court to destroy protections for people with preexisting conditions and dismantle every other protection and benefit of the Affordable Care Act.
” The Trump administration budget includes work requirements for some food stamp recipients , and it projects Medicare savings in the hundreds of millions by cutting waste and altering payment systems for uncompensated care and rehabilitative care .
Presidential budgets are almost always rejected by Congress .
Lawmakers prefer to set their own spending levels and negotiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each of the one dozen federal budgets .
Trump ’ s proposal slashes many of those budgets well below what either party would accept .
Health and Human Services , for example , would see a 10 % budget reduction , while the Environmental Protection Agency budget would be slashed by 26 % from 2020 levels .

President Trump’s 2021 budget proposal prompted immediate opposition from House and Senate Democrats, who condemned the plan’s 6% cut to nondefense spending and its provisions to slow the growth of entitlements.
“With his latest budget proposal, it’s hard to imagine that President Trump could do any more to double-cross the very American workers and middle-class families he promised to help just last week in his State of the Union address,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said Monday. “As typical, President Trump’s budget shows his State of the Union address was lie upon lie to the American people.”
Senate Republicans greeted the plan with muted praise, pointing to elements of the proposal they favored.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, praised the proposed education tax credit scholarship that would help low-income families escape failing public schools.
Alexander also praised the budget’s $1 billion proposed increase for career and technical education.
Congress is unlikely to adopt Trump’s $4.8 trillion budget proposal, but some elements of the plan will likely be incorporated in spending legislation adopted in the GOP-led Senate.
The budget includes $1 trillion for infrastructure, which could serve as a starting point for negotiations with Democrats, for example.
Trump’s budget sets defense spending at $740.5 billion, a less than 0.5% increase over fiscal 2020 spending.
It requests $590 billion for nondefense spending, a 5% reduction the Trump administration said “reflects restraint,” that, combined with the 2017 tax cuts, “will keep the U.S. economy thriving and America prosperous for generations to come.”
Democrats said the cuts and cost controls implemented in the budget would hurt the very people Trump sought to appeal to in his State of the Union address last week.
“Year after year, President Trump’s budgets have sought to inflict devastating cuts to critical lifelines that millions of Americans rely on,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said.
“Less than a week after promising to protect families’ healthcare in his State of the Union address, the president is now brazenly inflicting savage multibillion-dollar cuts to Medicare and Medicaid — at the same time that he is fighting in federal court to destroy protections for people with preexisting conditions and dismantle every other protection and benefit of the Affordable Care Act.”
The Trump administration budget includes work requirements for some food stamp recipients, and it projects Medicare savings in the hundreds of millions by cutting waste and altering payment systems for uncompensated care and rehabilitative care.
Presidential budgets are almost always rejected by Congress. Lawmakers prefer to set their own spending levels and negotiate between the parties on final numbers for each of the one dozen federal budgets.
Trump’s proposal slashes many of those budgets well below what either party would accept.
Health and Human Services, for example, would see a 10% budget reduction, while the Environmental Protection Agency budget would be slashed by 26% from 2020 levels.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--Coronavirus expected to lower economic growth to 1.2% for first quarter of 2020

Economic damage from the coronavirus outbreak is expected to lower gross domestic product growth to a 1.2 % rate in the first quarter , according to 11 forecasters surveyed by CNBC , down from 2.1 % in the fourth quarter of 2019 .
The forecast comes on the heels of a jobs report showing signs of a robust economy .
On Friday , the Labor Department announced that 225,000 workers were added to payrolls in January , beating expectations that 160,000 new jobs would be created .
Also , Michelle Bowman , a member of the Federal Reserve ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Community Bankers on Monday that economic conditions are favorable toward growth .
“ My outlook for the U.S. economy is for continued growth at a moderate pace , with the unemployment rate , which is the lowest it has been in 50 years , remaining low … on the whole , the national economic backdrop looks very favorable , ” she said .
Still , the Federal Reserve noted in its monetary policy report on Friday that the virus “ could lead to disruptions in China that spill over to the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ possible spillovers from the effects of the coronavirus in China have presented a new risk to the outlook.
” The virus could disrupt international supply chains , which means products could become scarce .
Smartphone chip manufacturer Qualcomm recently warned that the outbreak had caused uncertainty regarding production and demand for their products .
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will testify before congressional committees in the House and Senate on Tuesday and Wednesday , respectively , on the monetary report .

Economic damage from the coronavirus outbreak is expected to lower gross domestic product growth to a 1.2% rate in the first quarter, according to 11 forecasters surveyed by CNBC, down from 2.1% in the fourth quarter of 2019.
The forecast comes on the heels of a jobs report showing signs of a robust economy. On Friday, the Labor Department announced that 225,000 workers were added to payrolls in January, beating expectations that 160,000 new jobs would be created. Also, Michelle Bowman, a member of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, told the Conference for Community Bankers on Monday that economic conditions are favorable toward growth.
“My outlook for the U.S. economy is for continued growth at a moderate pace, with the unemployment rate, which is the lowest it has been in 50 years, remaining low … on the whole, the national economic backdrop looks very favorable,” she said.
Still, the Federal Reserve noted in its monetary policy report on Friday that the virus “could lead to disruptions in China that spill over to the rest of the global economy” and that “possible spillovers from the effects of the coronavirus in China have presented a new risk to the outlook.”
The virus could disrupt international supply chains, which means products could become scarce. Smartphone chip manufacturer Qualcomm recently warned that the outbreak had caused uncertainty regarding production and demand for their products.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will testify before congressional committees in the House and Senate on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, on the monetary report.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--The nanny state comes for menthol cigarettes

With Congress and President Trump having recently raised the tobacco age to 21 and banned various flavored nicotine products , the nanny state ’ s new target is menthol-flavored cigarettes .
Few products are as loathed by public health campaigners as menthol cigarettes , and not without cause .
Just like regular cigarettes , if used as intended , menthol smokers risk cancer and early death .
As a result , Rep. Frank Pallone is now on the sale of all flavored tobacco products , including smokeless tobacco , e-cigarettes , cigars , and , of course , menthol cigarettes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposal would amount to the most sweeping prohibition in 100 years .
But the traditional arguments for menthol prohibition are themselves a relic of a bygone era when smoking rates were high , cigarette prices were low , and tobacco advertising was ubiquitous .
The most common claim made against menthol is that it appeals to supposedly naive young people in a way that regular cigarettes do n't — by masking the harsh taste of tobacco smoke .
Critics claim menthol is even more addictive than regular cigarettes , thus posing a potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child and adult smoking rates alike .
Our shows this is not the case .
Using data from the federal National Survey on Drug Use and Health and industry distribution figures , we examined data from all 50 states and Washington , D.C. , for the years 2008 to 2018 to determine if there was a strong positive relationship between the distribution of menthol cigarettes and youth smoking .
What we discovered is that states with a bigger proportion of menthol cigarette distribution relative to non-menthol actually had lower rates of child smoking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels of distribution of all types of cigarettes had higher rates of both adult and child smoking on average .
The only predictive relationship we found is in line with what the public health literature has shown for decades : Children learn from the adults in their lives , so the more adults who smoke , the more children also smoke .
Consequently , the best way to lower the youth smoking rate is not to ban menthol cigarettes but to help their parents and adults in their lives quit smoking .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevalence of menthol has changed dramatically over the last decade .
According to an of the National Youth Tobacco Survey data conducted by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the percentage of high school smokers using menthol cigarettes fell from 54.5 % in 2014 to 46.1 % in 2018 .
And in 2019 , just of young people were smoking — a record low .
Many menthol opponents will ask about smoking rates among African Americans , since the majority of black people who smoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest CDC data , just 3.2 % of African American teens are smokers , one-third the smoking rate of white teens .
African American youth are , in fact , the least likely to smoke cigarettes of any teen group .
As for African American adults , they smoke at the same rates as white adults .
Several exhaustive have shown menthol cigarettes to be no more dangerous than regular cigarettes , with menthol smokers tending to live longer on average than non-menthol smokers .
This is not because menthol is healthier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per day , according to our analysis .
African American adults who smoke are much more likely to smoke menthol , so a major concern is that a menthol ban could lead to black markets , as well as significant discrimination and an increase in law enforcement officers targeting African American communities .
History shows that banning a product such as menthol cigarettes disproportionately harms racial minorities as law enforcement targets the people buying and selling them .
Rather than implementing an unnecessary ban that would deliver numerous negative consequences , lawmakers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is already on the decline and setting record lows without any government intervention .
To further improve public health , they should promote adult smoking cessation and approve products that offer safer alternatives to smoking .
Guy Bentley ( @ gbentley1 ) is director of consumer freedom at Reason Foundation , where Jacob James Rich ( @ jacobjamesrich ) is a policy analyst .

With Congress and President Trump having recently raised the tobacco age to 21 and banned various flavored nicotine products, the nanny state’s new target is menthol-flavored cigarettes.
Few products are as loathed by public health campaigners as menthol cigarettes, and not without cause. Just like regular cigarettes, if used as intended, menthol smokers risk cancer and early death. As a result, Rep. Frank Pallone is now pushing for a ban on the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes, cigars, and, of course, menthol cigarettes.
The New Jersey Democrat’s proposal would amount to the most sweeping prohibition in 100 years. But the traditional arguments for menthol prohibition are themselves a relic of a bygone era when smoking rates were high, cigarette prices were low, and tobacco advertising was ubiquitous.
The most common claim made against menthol is that it appeals to supposedly naive young people in a way that regular cigarettes don't — by masking the harsh taste of tobacco smoke. Critics claim menthol is even more addictive than regular cigarettes, thus posing a potentially greater health risk to users and increasing child and adult smoking rates alike.
Our new study shows this is not the case.
Using data from the federal National Survey on Drug Use and Health and industry distribution figures, we examined data from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., for the years 2008 to 2018 to determine if there was a strong positive relationship between the distribution of menthol cigarettes and youth smoking.
What we discovered is that states with a bigger proportion of menthol cigarette distribution relative to non-menthol actually had lower rates of child smoking on average. States with the highest levels of distribution of all types of cigarettes had higher rates of both adult and child smoking on average.
The only predictive relationship we found is in line with what the public health literature has shown for decades: Children learn from the adults in their lives, so the more adults who smoke, the more children also smoke. Consequently, the best way to lower the youth smoking rate is not to ban menthol cigarettes but to help their parents and adults in their lives quit smoking.
The results should not be surprising since the prevalence of menthol has changed dramatically over the last decade. According to an analysis of the National Youth Tobacco Survey data conducted by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of high school smokers using menthol cigarettes fell from 54.5% in 2014 to 46.1% in 2018. And in 2019, just 5.8% of young people were smoking — a record low.
Many menthol opponents will ask about smoking rates among African Americans, since the majority of black people who smoke use menthol products. But according to the latest CDC data, just 3.2% of African American teens are smokers, one-third the smoking rate of white teens. African American youth are, in fact, the least likely to smoke cigarettes of any teen group.
As for African American adults, they smoke at the same rates as white adults.
Several exhaustive studies have shown menthol cigarettes to be no more dangerous than regular cigarettes, with menthol smokers tending to live longer on average than non-menthol smokers. This is not because menthol is healthier, but because they smoke fewer cigarettes per day, according to our analysis.
African American adults who smoke are much more likely to smoke menthol, so a major concern is that a menthol ban could lead to black markets, as well as significant discrimination and an increase in law enforcement officers targeting African American communities. History shows that banning a product such as menthol cigarettes disproportionately harms racial minorities as law enforcement targets the people buying and selling them.
Rather than implementing an unnecessary ban that would deliver numerous negative consequences, lawmakers and public health officials should recognize youth smoking is already on the decline and setting record lows without any government intervention. To further improve public health, they should promote adult smoking cessation and approve products that offer safer alternatives to smoking.
Guy Bentley (@gbentley1) is director of consumer freedom at Reason Foundation, where Jacob James Rich (@jacobjamesrich) is a policy analyst.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--Threat to Romney in Senate, not Trump, his proposals 'will be killed'

Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney won ’ t have to look over his shoulder for any White House efforts to @ @ @ @ @ convict President Trump on an impeachment charge .
That ’ s because the payback is @ @ @ @ @ from fellow GOP senators who are considering holding up any Romney initiatives , we hear @ @ @ @ @ it is .
Romney brought this on himself .
It was sour grapes for Trump @ @ @ @ @ not , ” said a Senate insider .
`` Any Romney proposal will be killed @ @ @ @ @ .
Still , with the GOP majority slim , others are urging that the party @ @ @ @ @ his vote will be needed to push through conservative programs and judges .
“ Right @ @ @ @ @ so , planning how to get Romney back and they are angry .
But from @ @ @ @ @ still need him in the tent , ” said a Senate aide .
The aide @ @ @ @ @ need to confirm the president 's nominees . ''

Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney won’t have to look over his shoulder for any White House efforts to punish him for voting to convict President Trump on an impeachment charge.
That’s because the payback is much more likely to come from fellow GOP senators who are considering holding up any Romney initiatives, we hear.
“It is what it is. Romney brought this on himself. It was sour grapes for Trump winning the presidency and him not,” said a Senate insider. "Any Romney proposal will be killed," said the source.
Still, with the GOP majority slim, others are urging the party move past its rage because his vote will be needed to push through conservative programs and judges. “Right now, folks are, rightly so, planning how to get Romney back, and they are angry. But from a vote perspective, we still need him in the tent,” said a Senate aide.
The aide added, "We still need to confirm the president's nominees."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--Schumer asks watchdogs to investigate whistleblower retaliation after Trump purges impeachment witne

Schumer asks watchdogs to investigate whistleblower retaliation after Trump purges impeachment witnesses

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is imploring dozens of inspectors general to investigate whistleblower retaliation in the Trump administration after last week 's purge of two impeachment witnesses .
The New York Democrat sent letters on Monday to 74 independent watchdogs , asking that they look into the treatment of government whistleblowers following the removal of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council and U.S .
Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland 's sudden recall from his post .
Schumer argued that President Trump ’ s decision to jettison Vindman and his identical twin brother Lt. Col. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ part of a dangerous , growing pattern . ''
`` Although LTC Vindman lived up to his oath to protect and defend our Constitution by bravely stepping forward to tell the truth , he has been viciously attacked by the President and forced to endure threats to his and his family ’ s safety , '' Schumer wrote .
`` These attacks are part of a dangerous , growing pattern of retaliation against those who report wrongdoing only to find themselves targeted by the President and subject to his wrath and vindictiveness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identify the anonymous whistleblower who used the proper legal channels to initially report the President ’ s attempts to compromise our national security for his personal benefit . ''
Schumer said , `` The retaliation against LTC Vindman , the anonymous whistleblower , and others like them shameful , it is also illegal . ''
During the impeachment inquiry , the Democratic leader urged the Army secretary , the Army 's chief of staff , and Defense Secretary Mark Esper to ensure that both Vindmans are protected `` professionally and personally . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s acting Inspector General Glenn Fine , Schumer asked for documentation about when employees were last reminded of their protections as a whistleblower and demanded that Fine reassure Congress that future whistleblowers are protected when they come forward .
“ Without the courage of whistleblowers and the role of Inspectors General , the American people may never have known how the President abused his power in the Ukraine scandal , ” Schumer wrote .
“ It is incumbent on you that whistleblowers like LTC Vindman — and others who put their lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — are protected for doing what we hope and expect those who serve our country will do when called : tell the truth.
” Trump of the Vindmans from the National Security Council , likely sending them back to roles within the Pentagon .
Both of the brothers are still on active duty in the military .
The president claimed Alexander Vindman , who was an impeachment witness against Trump , had and needed to be removed .
In his impeachment testimony , Vindman said he was told by his superiors to he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 phone call with Ukraine 's president .
Details about this conversation , in which Trump pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his political rivals , first appeared in a whistleblower complaint that sparked impeachment proceedings .
The identity of this whistleblower , known only to be a CIA analyst , is not publicly known , but Republican allies of the president have called for this person to come forward to answer for what they claim to be a sham impeachment .
Trump was acquitted of two charges in the Senate on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witness , was as ambassador to the EU on Friday .
In his testimony , Sondland said there was no quid pro quo , but that he presumed Trump ’ s decision to withhold military aid from Ukraine was tied to the “ anti-corruption statement ” about the Bidens .
that Trump not remove Sondland , but the president moved ahead with the decision anyway .

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is imploring dozens of inspectors general to investigate whistleblower retaliation in the Trump administration after last week's purge of two impeachment witnesses.
The New York Democrat sent letters on Monday to 74 independent watchdogs, asking that they look into the treatment of government whistleblowers following the removal of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council and U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland's sudden recall from his post.
Schumer argued that President Trump’s decision to jettison Vindman and his identical twin brother Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman from the White House was “part of a dangerous, growing pattern."
"Although LTC Vindman lived up to his oath to protect and defend our Constitution by bravely stepping forward to tell the truth, he has been viciously attacked by the President and forced to endure threats to his and his family’s safety," Schumer wrote. "These attacks are part of a dangerous, growing pattern of retaliation against those who report wrongdoing only to find themselves targeted by the President and subject to his wrath and vindictiveness. They also include attempts to publicly identify the anonymous whistleblower who used the proper legal channels to initially report the President’s attempts to compromise our national security for his personal benefit."
Schumer said, "The retaliation against LTC Vindman, the anonymous whistleblower, and others like them shameful, it is also illegal."
During the impeachment inquiry, the Democratic leader urged the Army secretary, the Army's chief of staff, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper to ensure that both Vindmans are protected "professionally and personally."
In his letter to the Defense Department’s acting Inspector General Glenn Fine, Schumer asked for documentation about when employees were last reminded of their protections as a whistleblower and demanded that Fine reassure Congress that future whistleblowers are protected when they come forward.
“Without the courage of whistleblowers and the role of Inspectors General, the American people may never have known how the President abused his power in the Ukraine scandal,” Schumer wrote. “It is incumbent on you that whistleblowers like LTC Vindman — and others who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms — are protected for doing what we hope and expect those who serve our country will do when called: tell the truth.”
Trump ordered the removal of the Vindmans from the National Security Council, likely sending them back to roles within the Pentagon. Both of the brothers are still on active duty in the military. The president claimed Alexander Vindman, who was an impeachment witness against Trump, had “problems with judgment” and needed to be removed. In his impeachment testimony, Vindman said he was told by his superiors to stay quiet about concerns he had related to Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukraine's president.
Details about this conversation, in which Trump pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his political rivals, first appeared in a whistleblower complaint that sparked impeachment proceedings. The identity of this whistleblower, known only to be a CIA analyst, is not publicly known, but Republican allies of the president have called for this person to come forward to answer for what they claim to be a sham impeachment. Trump was acquitted of two charges in the Senate on Wednesday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--Liberal Media Scream: Morning Joe show says Trump ‘is now us.' Oh, the horrors

This week ’ s Liberal Media Scream features longtime Morning Joe contributor Mike Barnicle shuddering at the thought that some Americans have become like their president .
On Monday ’ s MSNBC show , from a hotel restaurant in Manchester , New Hampshire , Barnicle despaired that the “ horrendous things [ President Trump ] says and does ” have been normalized and now , “ That ’ s the United States of America.
” The dismissive Barnicle said , “ That ’ s why this vote this year in every state is the most important ballot anyone will ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s campaign event Monday : “ You know what we ’ re talking about here , what the president will speak about tonight , what all the candidates speak about at their different rallies in different towns and hamlets here in New Hampshire points to the obvious , that this is indeed the most important presidential election in the history of this country .
“ All the distortions that we ’ re talking about , the jammed phone lines , the dishonesty , the corruption within the administration , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald John Trump , unfortunately , has been normalized .
And people shrug their shoulders now at the most obscene elements of government , the most horrendous things he says and does .
‘ Oh , that ’ s just Trump.
’ No , that ’ s not just Trump .
That ’ s now us .
That ’ s the United States of America .
And that ’ s why this vote this year in every state is the most important ballot anyone will ever cast.
” Brent Baker , Media Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our weekly pick : “ Trump is ‘ now us.
’ The horror !
The realization by Barnicle that so many don ’ t share his fear that Trump is an existential threat to the nation has sent him into a panic , declaring that since Trump must be replaced , this election is the most important ever .
One can only presume it ’ s a view shared by much of the press corps , meaning an even more dire tone ahead toward Trump.
” Rating : Four out of five screams @

This week’s Liberal Media Scream features longtime Morning Joe contributor Mike Barnicle shuddering at the thought that some Americans have become like their president.
On Monday’s MSNBC show, from a hotel restaurant in Manchester, New Hampshire, Barnicle despaired that the “horrendous things [President Trump] says and does” have been normalized and now, “That’s the United States of America.”
The dismissive Barnicle said, “That’s why this vote this year in every state is the most important ballot anyone will ever cast.”
Barnicle talking about Trump and the president’s campaign event Monday:
“You know what we’re talking about here, what the president will speak about tonight, what all the candidates speak about at their different rallies in different towns and hamlets here in New Hampshire points to the obvious, that this is indeed the most important presidential election in the history of this country.
AMAZING! It's 35° and Raining in New Hampshire But That Doesn't Stop Trump Supporters from LINING UP 2 DAYS EARLY for Manchester Rally! https://t.co/aPXtluhbIh via @gatewaypundit — Jim Hoft (@gatewaypundit) February 10, 2020
“All the distortions that we’re talking about, the jammed phone lines, the dishonesty, the corruption within the administration, all of that in a sense, through Donald John Trump, unfortunately, has been normalized. And people shrug their shoulders now at the most obscene elements of government, the most horrendous things he says and does. ‘Oh, that’s just Trump.’ No, that’s not just Trump. That’s now us. That’s the United States of America. And that’s why this vote this year in every state is the most important ballot anyone will ever cast.”
Brent Baker, Media Research Center vice president of research, explains our weekly pick: “Trump is ‘now us.’ The horror! The realization by Barnicle that so many don’t share his fear that Trump is an existential threat to the nation has sent him into a panic, declaring that since Trump must be replaced, this election is the most important ever. One can only presume it’s a view shared by much of the press corps, meaning an even more dire tone ahead toward Trump.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--Bigger than Vindman: Trump scrubs 70 Obama holdovers from NSC

President Trump is making good on his promises to “ drain the swamp ” and cut Obama-era holdovers from his staffs , especially the critical and recently controversial National Security Council .
Officials confirmed that Trump and national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien have cut 70 positions inherited from former President Barack Obama , who had fattened the staff to 200 .
Many were loaners from other agencies and have been sent back .
Others left government work .
The NSC , which is the president ’ s personal staff , was rocked when a “ whistleblower ” leveled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment .
Last week , one key official who testified against Trump at a House hearing on the Ukraine affair that led to impeachment was sent packing .
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was returned to the Pentagon .
His twin brother , Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman , was also given the boot .
Trump had expressed displeasure that Alexander Vindman had testified against him when the Ukraine specialist said he did not like the phone conversation between the president and a newly elected president of Ukraine .
Since entering the White House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous administrations and has noted how prior presidents had a much smaller NSC team .
O ’ Brien recently said that former President George W. Bush handled the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with 100 NSC aides , a model he is instituting .
“ This month , we will complete the right-sizing goal Ambassador O ’ Brien outlined in October , and in fact , may exceed that target by drawing down even more positions , ” John Ullyot , the NSC ’ s senior director for strategic communications , told Secrets @

President Trump is making good on his promises to “drain the swamp” and cut Obama-era holdovers from his staffs, especially the critical and recently controversial National Security Council.
Officials confirmed that Trump and national security adviser Robert O’Brien have cut 70 positions inherited from former President Barack Obama, who had fattened the staff to 200.
Many were loaners from other agencies and have been sent back. Others left government work.
The NSC, which is the president’s personal staff, was rocked when a “whistleblower” leveled charges that led to Trump’s impeachment.
....was given a horrendous report by his superior, the man he reported to, who publicly stated that Vindman had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information. In other words, “OUT”. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2020
Last week, one key official who testified against Trump at a House hearing on the Ukraine affair that led to impeachment was sent packing. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was returned to the Pentagon. His twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, was also given the boot. Trump had expressed displeasure that Alexander Vindman had testified against him when the Ukraine specialist said he did not like the phone conversation between the president and a newly elected president of Ukraine.
Since entering the White House, Trump has relied on staffs smaller than previous administrations and has noted how prior presidents had a much smaller NSC team.
O’Brien recently said that former President George W. Bush handled the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with 100 NSC aides, a model he is instituting.
“This month, we will complete the right-sizing goal Ambassador O’Brien outlined in October, and in fact, may exceed that target by drawing down even more positions,” John Ullyot, the NSC’s senior director for strategic communications, told Secrets.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--Liberal group MoveOn declines to 'move on' from Trump impeachment

MoveOn , the liberal activist group launched to counter GOP efforts to impeach President Bill Clinton , is keeping the impeachment of President Trump alive with a series of attack ads targeting vulnerable Senate Republicans .
Two days after all but one Senate Republican , Mitt Romney of Utah , voted to acquit Trump on two articles of impeachment , MoveOn took aim at Sens .
Susan Collins of Maine , Cory Gardner of Colorado , and Martha McSally of Arizona .
According to independent expenditure disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission , the group is running spots on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican senators .
“ We will hold Senate Republicans accountable for choosing party over constituents and Constitution , ” MoveOn executive director Rahna Epting said in a lengthy statement announcing the group ’ s $ 20 million campaign to defeat Trump and boost congressional Democrats in the 2020 elections .
For more than two decades , MoveOn.org has been dedicated to electing Democrats and advancing liberal causes .
However , MoveOn was founded in 1998 as an online petition under the headline : “ Censure President Clinton and Move On to Pressing Issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ censuring Clinton and impeached him instead .
But they now like the message .
“ It ’ s time to move on , ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky told reporters during a news conference immediately following Trump ’ s acquittal .
With the Republicans clinging to a three-seat majority , Democrats are targeting Republican-held seats in Arizona , Colorado , and Maine , as well as a couple of others , to try and win back the Senate .
Arizona is an emerging swing state , and Colorado increasingly behaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted for Democrat presidents since 1992 , although Trump won the state ’ s 2nd Congressional District in 2016 .
MoveOn ’ s investment is part of a broader attempt by liberal groups to break the Republican grip on the Senate by putting vulnerable incumbents in 2020 battlegrounds on the defensive over impeachment .
`` Need to Impeach , '' backed by billionaire Democratic presidential contender Tom Steyer , fomented support for removing Trump from office in key states long before House Democrats kicked off the impeachment process in late September .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Democratic Party affiliates in the targeted states , has been active on the front since then , pushing messaging that has been picked up by local media outlets .
To undermine Collins in Maine , the DSCC unveiled “ WhatChangedSusan.com .
”

MoveOn, the liberal activist group launched to counter GOP efforts to impeach President Bill Clinton, is keeping the impeachment of President Trump alive with a series of attack ads targeting vulnerable Senate Republicans.
Two days after all but one Senate Republican, Mitt Romney of Utah, voted to acquit Trump on two articles of impeachment, MoveOn took aim at Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Cory Gardner of Colorado, and Martha McSally of Arizona. According to independent expenditure disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission, the group is running spots on television and Facebook against the three endangered Republican senators.
“We will hold Senate Republicans accountable for choosing party over constituents and Constitution,” MoveOn executive director Rahna Epting said in a lengthy statement announcing the group’s $20 million campaign to defeat Trump and boost congressional Democrats in the 2020 elections.
For more than two decades, MoveOn.org has been dedicated to electing Democrats and advancing liberal causes. However, MoveOn was founded in 1998 as an online petition under the headline: “Censure President Clinton and Move On to Pressing Issues Facing the Nation.” Republicans never supported censuring Clinton and impeached him instead. But they now like the message.
“It’s time to move on,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky told reporters during a news conference immediately following Trump’s acquittal.
With the Republicans clinging to a three-seat majority, Democrats are targeting Republican-held seats in Arizona, Colorado, and Maine, as well as a couple of others, to try and win back the Senate. Arizona is an emerging swing state, and Colorado increasingly behaves like a blue state. Maine has voted for Democrat presidents since 1992, although Trump won the state’s 2nd Congressional District in 2016.
MoveOn’s investment is part of a broader attempt by liberal groups to break the Republican grip on the Senate by putting vulnerable incumbents in 2020 battlegrounds on the defensive over impeachment. "Need to Impeach," backed by billionaire Democratic presidential contender Tom Steyer, fomented support for removing Trump from office in key states long before House Democrats kicked off the impeachment process in late September.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, in conjunction with Democratic Party affiliates in the targeted states, has been active on the front since then, pushing messaging that has been picked up by local media outlets. To undermine Collins in Maine, the DSCC unveiled “WhatChangedSusan.com.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-10--'It was a joke': Biden spokeswoman downplays 'lying, dog-faced pony soldier' remark to voter

A spokesperson for Joe Biden 's presidential campaign dismissed backlash after the former vice president called a voter a `` lying , dog-faced pony soldier . ''
Madison Moore , a 21-year-old college student at Mercer University , attended a Biden rally on Sunday in Hampton , New Hampshire , and asked why Democrats should feel confident supporting him after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses .
Biden 's response was to name-call Moore after saying she lied about previously attending a caucus .
Symone Sanders , a senior campaign adviser , sought to minimize the interaction during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday .
`` It was a joke , '' she explained .
`` Many people in the room laughed .
Many people in the room laughed .
And it was a line he has actually used frequently , which is from a John Wayne movie .
But look , Andrea , I think the reality here is there is not a better retail politician than Joe Biden .
I think his ability to reconnect with folks was frankly on display last Wednesday at a town hall on another network .
His empathy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in as he talked about his struggles with a stutter as a young child and how he helps young children now and other individuals and keeps in touch with them . ''
Biden 's remark appears to be a reference to the 1953 John Wayne movie Hondo .
`` A lot of what he ’ s saying seems to be really sad , '' Moore said about the interaction to Fox News .
`` We had heard a lot about deaths and cancer and people losing their jobs , and to me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solution-oriented . ''
The interaction took place days before the New Hampshire primary , which is scheduled for Tuesday .

A spokesperson for Joe Biden's presidential campaign dismissed backlash after the former vice president called a voter a "lying, dog-faced pony soldier."
Madison Moore, a 21-year-old college student at Mercer University, attended a Biden rally on Sunday in Hampton, New Hampshire, and asked why Democrats should feel confident supporting him after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. Biden's response was to name-call Moore after saying she lied about previously attending a caucus.
Symone Sanders, a senior campaign adviser, sought to minimize the interaction during an MSNBC interview on Andrea Mitchell Reports on Monday.
"It was a joke," she explained. "Many people in the room laughed. Many people in the room laughed. And it was a line he has actually used frequently, which is from a John Wayne movie. But look, Andrea, I think the reality here is there is not a better retail politician than Joe Biden. I think his ability to reconnect with folks was frankly on display last Wednesday at a town hall on another network. His empathy emanated from him. People were drawn in as he talked about his struggles with a stutter as a young child and how he helps young children now and other individuals and keeps in touch with them."
Biden's remark appears to be a reference to the 1953 John Wayne movie Hondo.
"A lot of what he’s saying seems to be really sad," Moore said about the interaction to Fox News. "We had heard a lot about deaths and cancer and people losing their jobs, and to me, he doesn’t really seem very solution-oriented."
The interaction took place days before the New Hampshire primary, which is scheduled for Tuesday.