politicususa--2020-06-28--Vet Sen. Tammy Duckworth Demands Investigation Into Trump And Russia Bounty

Combat veteran Sen. Tammy Duckworth ( D-IL ) has demanded an investigation into Donald Trump ’ s non-response to Russia putting a bounty on US troops .
According to these reports , the IC briefed President Donald Trump on its conclusions that the GRU was secretly offering bounties for killing U.S. servicemembers and coalition forces .
A March 2020 interagency meeting was convened where Trump administration officials provided the White House with a “ menu of potential options – starting with making a diplomatic complaint to Moscow and a demand that it stop , along with an escalating series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most disturbing disclosure is that following the interagency meeting , President Trump failed to authorize any action in response to the GRU covertly offering bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing U.S. servicemembers in Afghanistan .
Far from punishing the Russian Federation , on June 3 , 2020 , President Trump confirmed that he wanted Vladimir Putin to attend the G7 summit later this year .
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces , military families and the American people deserve answers and accountability for President Trump ’ s outrageous failure of leadership and apparent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ask that SASC hold an open hearing to receive testimony from the Secretary of Defense , the Secretary of State , the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Commander of the Resolute Support Mission and United States Forces-Afghanistan .
SASC should also hold a closed hearing in a sensitive compartmented information facility to allow for discussion of classified information .
Thank you in advance for consideration of my urgent request .
Members of Congress have not been briefed by the White House on Bountygate , so Sen. Duckworth is correct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing and full investigation into what Trump knew and why he did not take action against Russia after they put a bounty on the heads of US troops in Afghanistan .
The House will almost certainly investigate and hold hearings , but it is up to the Senate to stop being Trump ’ s lapdog and for once stand up for the country .
Nobody has more moral standing on this issue than Sen. Duckworth , and Republicans would be wise to listen to her and hold a hearing ASAP because this story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is only going to get worse for Trump and the GOP .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Combat veteran Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) has demanded an investigation into Donald Trump’s non-response to Russia putting a bounty on US troops.
Duckworth wrote in a letter to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-OK):
According to these reports, the IC briefed President Donald Trump on its conclusions that the GRU was secretly offering bounties for killing U.S. servicemembers and coalition forces. A March 2020 interagency meeting was convened where Trump administration officials provided the White House with a “menu of potential options – starting with making a diplomatic complaint to Moscow and a demand that it stop, along with an escalating series of sanctions and other possible responses.” The most disturbing disclosure is that following the interagency meeting, President Trump failed to authorize any action in response to the GRU covertly offering bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing U.S. servicemembers in Afghanistan.
Far from punishing the Russian Federation, on June 3, 2020, President Trump confirmed that he wanted Vladimir Putin to attend the G7 summit later this year. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, military families and the American people deserve answers and accountability for President Trump’s outrageous failure of leadership and apparent betrayal of our troops.
Accordingly, I ask that SASC hold an open hearing to receive testimony from the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Commander of the Resolute Support Mission and United States Forces-Afghanistan. SASC should also hold a closed hearing in a sensitive compartmented information facility to allow for discussion of classified information. Thank you in advance for consideration of my urgent request.
Members of Congress have not been briefed by the White House on Bountygate, so Sen. Duckworth is correct. There needs to be an open hearing and full investigation into what Trump knew and why he did not take action against Russia after they put a bounty on the heads of US troops in Afghanistan.
The House will almost certainly investigate and hold hearings, but it is up to the Senate to stop being Trump’s lapdog and for once stand up for the country.
Nobody has more moral standing on this issue than Sen. Duckworth, and Republicans would be wise to listen to her and hold a hearing ASAP because this story isn’t going away and it is only going to get worse for Trump and the GOP.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-06-28--Trump Is Panicking And Trying To Find A New Nickname For Biden

Trump knows that he is losing and he thinks that the way to turn around his failing presidential campaign is a new nickname for Joe Biden .
An urgent task for Trump and his team , advisers say , is to find a way to negatively define Biden — transforming the election into a choice between the two men , rather than a referendum on Trump .
Trump has recently been asking advisers if he should stick with his current nickname for Biden — “ Sleepy Joe ” — or try to coin another moniker , such as “ Swampy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president is not convinced that “ Sleepy Joe ” is particularly damaging , and some of his advisers agree and have urged him to stop using the nickname .
In a tweet on Sunday , Trump tried out yet another variant : “ Corrupt Joe.
” One of the biggest mistakes that Trump and his campaign have continued to make is that they believe that they can make this election about Joe Biden .
This isn ’ t 2016 .
Donald Trump is the incumbent .
The election will turn on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in office .
The Trump campaign is wasting its time trying to negatively define Joe Biden when Trump has yet to give voters a reason why they should give him a second term .
A nickname for Joe Biden in the midst of a pandemic and economic response will only backfire on Trump , but his desperation to negatively define Biden shows that Trump knows he is losing , and he is having no success in trying to define Joe Biden .

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Trump knows that he is losing and he thinks that the way to turn around his failing presidential campaign is a new nickname for Joe Biden.
The Washington Post reported:
An urgent task for Trump and his team, advisers say, is to find a way to negatively define Biden — transforming the election into a choice between the two men, rather than a referendum on Trump.
Trump has recently been asking advisers if he should stick with his current nickname for Biden — “Sleepy Joe” — or try to coin another moniker, such as “Swampy Joe” or “Creepy Joe.” The president is not convinced that “Sleepy Joe” is particularly damaging, and some of his advisers agree and have urged him to stop using the nickname. In a tweet on Sunday, Trump tried out yet another variant: “Corrupt Joe.”
One of the biggest mistakes that Trump and his campaign have continued to make is that they believe that they can make this election about Joe Biden.
This isn’t 2016. Donald Trump is the incumbent. The election will turn on the question of giving Trump another four years in office. The Trump campaign is wasting its time trying to negatively define Joe Biden when Trump has yet to give voters a reason why they should give him a second term.
A nickname for Joe Biden in the midst of a pandemic and economic response will only backfire on Trump, but his desperation to negatively define Biden shows that Trump knows he is losing, and he is having no success in trying to define Joe Biden.


politicususa--2020-06-28--Mike Pence Praises Greg Abbott For Causing Texas Virus Surge

Vice President Mike Pence went to Texas to praise Gov .
Greg Abbott for actions that led to a surge in coronavirus cases .
I also want to commend the governor for — for your decisive action .
Reopening this economy , which began in early May , is a tribute to your leadership and the steady progress in — in putting Texas back to work .
It ’ s something every Texan can be proud of .
But with the development of these new cases — as you said , going from 2,000 a day to 5,000 a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent to 13 percent — we ’ re grateful , Governor , that you ’ ve taken the steps that you ’ ve taken to limit the kind of gatherings and meeting in certain places in communities that may well be contributing to the community spread that we ’ re seeing in Texas and in states like Arizona and Florida and California as well .
Abbott has closed down bars , but he hasn ’ t limited mass indoor gathers .
Abbott is not requiring masks in the states .
The actions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus surge in the state .
These two facts are not unrelated .
States that followed Trump and Pence ’ s lead and quickly reopened their economy are seeing a surge in virus cases .
The administration wants to pretend like the pandemic is over , but what Pence was really doing in Texas was praising the governor for putting politics over health and making more Texans sick .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Vice President Mike Pence went to Texas to praise Gov. Greg Abbott for actions that led to a surge in coronavirus cases.
Pence said:
I also want to commend the governor for — for your decisive action. Reopening this economy, which began in early May, is a tribute to your leadership and the steady progress in — in putting Texas back to work. It’s something every Texan can be proud of.
But with the development of these new cases — as you said, going from 2,000 a day to 5,000 a day; positivity rate going from roughly 4 percent to 13 percent — we’re grateful, Governor, that you’ve taken the steps that you’ve taken to limit the kind of gatherings and meeting in certain places in communities that may well be contributing to the community spread that we’re seeing in Texas and in states like Arizona and Florida and California as well.
Video:
"I want to commend the governor for your decisive action reopening this economy" — Pence lauds Greg Abbott for taking steps that contributed to state's huge coronavirus spike pic.twitter.com/CAPa9bdVjT — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 28, 2020
Abbott has closed down bars, but he hasn’t limited mass indoor gathers. Abbott is not requiring masks in the states. The actions that Pence praised are what contributed to the coronavirus surge in the state. These two facts are not unrelated. States that followed Trump and Pence’s lead and quickly reopened their economy are seeing a surge in virus cases.
The administration wants to pretend like the pandemic is over, but what Pence was really doing in Texas was praising the governor for putting politics over health and making more Texans sick.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-06-28--US Knew About Russia Bounty In January, But Trump Tried To Keep It Secret

US intelligence in Afghanistan alerted their superiors about the Russian bounty on US troops in January , but Trump tried to keep it secret .
Via The New York Times : United States intelligence officers and Special Operations forces in Afghanistan alerted their superiors as early as January to a suspected Russian plot to pay bounties to the Taliban to kill American troops in Afghanistan , according to officials briefed on the matter .
The officials briefed on the matter said the assessment had been treated as a closely held secret but that the administration expanded briefings about it over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it with the British government , whose forces were among those said to have been targeted .
A picture is coming into focus of a president who was briefed , but ignored the briefing , as his administration tried to keep the fact that the Russians who appear to have something on Trump put a bounty on the heads of US troops in Afghanistan a secret/ None of this is the behavior of an administration that is placing the security of the troops and the interests of the American people first .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Putin when they found out about the bounty , Trump tried to hide the news and prevent it from getting out .
All of this is consistent with the behavior of Trump and his administration over the last nearly four years .
Trump knew about the bounty , but instead of punishing Putin , he tried to hide information from the American people , which is why many say that Trump isn ’ t just working for Putin .
He is also working against the United States .
For more discussion about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MSNBC group .

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US intelligence in Afghanistan alerted their superiors about the Russian bounty on US troops in January, but Trump tried to keep it secret.
Via The New York Times:
United States intelligence officers and Special Operations forces in Afghanistan alerted their superiors as early as January to a suspected Russian plot to pay bounties to the Taliban to kill American troops in Afghanistan, according to officials briefed on the matter.
….
The officials briefed on the matter said the assessment had been treated as a closely held secret but that the administration expanded briefings about it over the last week — including sharing information about it with the British government, whose forces were among those said to have been targeted.
A picture is coming into focus of a president who was briefed, but ignored the briefing, as his administration tried to keep the fact that the Russians who appear to have something on Trump put a bounty on the heads of US troops in Afghanistan a secret/
None of this is the behavior of an administration that is placing the security of the troops and the interests of the American people first.
Instead of acting immediately and taking action against Putin when they found out about the bounty, Trump tried to hide the news and prevent it from getting out.
All of this is consistent with the behavior of Trump and his administration over the last nearly four years.
Trump knew about the bounty, but instead of punishing Putin, he tried to hide information from the American people, which is why many say that Trump isn’t just working for Putin. He is also working against the United States.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-06-28--Trump’s Russia Bounty Story Falls Apart As Military Tried To Protect Troops

It is being reported that even though Trump claims he wasn ’ t briefed , the US military tried to @ @ @ @ @ ’ s bounty .
As more outlets have confirmed the initial report that the Russians @ @ @ @ @ heads of US troops in Afghanistan , Trump ’ s claims of fake news are @ @ @ @ @ tried to claim that Trump wasn ’ t briefed , but the Office of the @ @ @ @ @ ’ t say whether or not Trump was given a written briefing that he ignored @ @ @ @ @ on US troops was “ fake news ” as the President claimed on Twitter , @ @ @ @ @ steps to try to protect US forces in Afghanistan ?
The bounty is real .
@ @ @ @ @ , and Donald Trump has done nothing to punish Putin for paying the Taliban to @ @ @ @ @ .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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It is being reported that even though Trump claims he wasn’t briefed, the US military tried to protect the troops from Russia’s bounty.
CNN reported:
New: @barbarastarrcnn reports there were some efforts at protecting US forces in Afghanistan because of the intelligence re Russian bounties. If the threat was serious enough to increase force protection, why wouldn’t the president be briefed? — Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) June 28, 2020
As more outlets have confirmed the initial report that the Russians placed a bounty on the heads of US troops in Afghanistan, Trump’s claims of fake news are collapsing. The White House tried to claim that Trump wasn’t briefed, but the Office of the Director of National Intelligence won’t say whether or not Trump was given a written briefing that he ignored.
If the Russian bounty on US troops was “fake news” as the President claimed on Twitter, why did the military take steps to try to protect US forces in Afghanistan?
The bounty is real. The administration knew about it, and Donald Trump has done nothing to punish Putin for paying the Taliban to kill US troops in Afghanistan.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-06-28--Trump Was Given Russia Bounty Briefing, But He Didn’t Read It

The DNI refused to answer when asked if Trump was briefed on Russia placing a bounty on US troops in his written daily briefing .
The White House is trying to claim Trump wasn ’ t briefed , but they won ’ t say if it was included in his daily briefing : The administration ’ s refusal to say whether or not the information was included in Trump ’ s written daily brief answers the question .
Trump was briefed .
He didn ’ t read it .
The White House ’ s idea that briefings only count if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through crayon drawings , or whatever method that the President ’ s four-second attention span can tolerate is absurd .
A president is supposed to read the daily intelligence briefing .
It is part of his/her job .
Trump ignored the information , which is not the same as not being briefed .
There are reports that Trump was briefing late March .
The administration has taken no action against Russia .
US troops are at risk because Donald Trump refuses to read .
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The DNI refused to answer when asked if Trump was briefed on Russia placing a bounty on US troops in his written daily briefing.
The White House is trying to claim Trump wasn’t briefed, but they won’t say if it was included in his daily briefing:
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which last night said Trump and Pence never got a briefing on Russia bounty intel, is declining this morning to say whether the intel was included in a written President's Daily Brief — Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) June 28, 2020
The administration’s refusal to say whether or not the information was included in Trump’s written daily brief answers the question. Trump was briefed. He didn’t read it.
The White House’s idea that briefings only count if they are communicated to Trump orally, through crayon drawings, or whatever method that the President’s four-second attention span can tolerate is absurd.
A president is supposed to read the daily intelligence briefing. It is part of his/her job. Trump ignored the information, which is not the same as not being briefed. There are reports that Trump was briefing late March. The administration has taken no action against Russia.
US troops are at risk because Donald Trump refuses to read.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-06-28--White House Defends Trump Tweeting White Power Video By Claiming He’s Deaf

The White House has a new excuse for Trump retweeting a video where one of his supporters shouts white power .
They claim that the president can ’ t hear .
Here is the video of senior citizens protesting against each other at The Villages in Florida : Trump wrote above his retweet of the video , “ Thank you to the great people of The Villages .
The Radical Left Do Nothing Democrats will Fall in the Fall .
Corrupt Joe [ Biden ] is shot .
See you soon !
!
!
” The White House responded with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear a man loud white power in the video : The Trump campaign wants to run against Joe Biden by claiming that he is too feeble to be president , but Trump has failed to walk down a ramp , drink water , get the correct word out of his mouth , and now the White House claims that he can ’ t hear .
The White House should just admit that Trump ’ s reelection strategy is based on dividing America with racism .
The excuses that they are offering are making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice for voters is to believe that Trump is either senile and unfit to be president , or Trump is a racist who is unfit to be president .
Either way , the conclusion is that Donald Trump should not be president .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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The White House has a new excuse for Trump retweeting a video where one of his supporters shouts white power. They claim that the president can’t hear.
Here is the video of senior citizens protesting against each other at The Villages in Florida:
Seniors from The Villages in Florida protesting against each other: pic.twitter.com/Q3GRJCTjEW — Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) June 27, 2020
Trump wrote above his retweet of the video, “Thank you to the great people of The Villages. The Radical Left Do Nothing Democrats will Fall in the Fall. Corrupt Joe [Biden] is shot. See you soon!!!”
The White House responded with the excuse that Trump didn’t hear a man loud white power in the video:
White House says Trump did not hear the “white power” shout near the beginning of the video he retweeted: "President Trump is a big fan of The Villages. He did not hear the one statement made on the video. What he did see was tremendous enthusiasm from his many supporters." — Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) June 28, 2020
The Trump campaign wants to run against Joe Biden by claiming that he is too feeble to be president, but Trump has failed to walk down a ramp, drink water, get the correct word out of his mouth, and now the White House claims that he can’t hear.
The White House should just admit that Trump’s reelection strategy is based on dividing America with racism. The excuses that they are offering are making Trump look feeble and senile.
The choice for voters is to believe that Trump is either senile and unfit to be president, or Trump is a racist who is unfit to be president.
Either way, the conclusion is that Donald Trump should not be president.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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T


politicususa--2020-06-28--Nancy Pelosi Says The Russians Have Something On Trump

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) suggested that the Russians have something on Trump , which is why he is ignoring Bounty Gate .
Transcript of Speaker Pelosi on ABC ’ s This Week : Q : You ’ ve raised that several times .
You don ’ t know what the Russians have on the president .
Do you believe they have something on him ?
Pelosi : How else would you explain his refusal to even — to ignore again and again the intelligence that puts right at the Russian doorstep the involvement into our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s saying this is fake news .
Why would he say that ?
Why wouldn ’ t he say , let ’ s look into it and see what this is , giving the money to Taliban , a bounty on the lives of our troops in Afghanistan .
How do you answer to the families of those — family members who are serving there and he ’ s engaged in peace negotiations with the Taliban and he ’ s kissing up to Putin in every way , saying they should be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crimea and caused death and destruction in Ukraine , so totally irresponsible .
Something is wrong with this picture .
But putting that aside for the moment , let ’ s dwell on this .
We hear also that the administration is considering diplomatic response to this , or sanctions to this , well , they either know about it or they don ’ t know about it .
The American people need to know what that is .
The White House ’ s claim that Trump wasn ’ t briefed on Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afghanistan is laughable , especially when US allies who also troops in Afghanistan confirmed that they were briefed on the bounty .
Trump wants the American people to believe that he doesn ’ t know what his happening when Putin puts a price on the heads of US troops .
The Russians do have something on Trump .
It doesn ’ t matter what it is , because the lives of US troops in Afghanistan are in jeopardy every minute that Trump remains in the White House .
or more discussion about this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group .

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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) suggested that the Russians have something on Trump, which is why he is ignoring Bounty Gate.
Transcript of Speaker Pelosi on ABC’s This Week:
Q: You’ve raised that several times. You don’t know what the Russians have on the president. Do you believe they have something on him?
Pelosi: How else would you explain his refusal to even — to ignore again and again the intelligence that puts right at the Russian doorstep the involvement into our elections for example. Now he’s saying this is fake news. Why would he say that? Why wouldn’t he say, let’s look into it and see what this is, giving the money to Taliban, a bounty on the lives of our troops in Afghanistan. How do you answer to the families of those — family members who are serving there and he’s engaged in peace negotiations with the Taliban and he’s kissing up to Putin in every way, saying they should be in the g-7, even though they annexed Crimea and caused death and destruction in Ukraine, so totally irresponsible.
Something is wrong with this picture. But putting that aside for the moment, let’s dwell on this. We hear also that the administration is considering diplomatic response to this, or sanctions to this, well, they either know about it or they don’t know about it. The American people need to know what that is.
Video:
Speaker Pelosi says the Russians must have something on Trump because that is the only explanation for his ignoring of #BountyGate pic.twitter.com/WRaUE9ZUdt — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) June 28, 2020
The White House’s claim that Trump wasn’t briefed on Putin placing a bounty on US troops in Afghanistan is laughable, especially when US allies who also troops in Afghanistan confirmed that they were briefed on the bounty.
Trump wants the American people to believe that he doesn’t know what his happening when Putin puts a price on the heads of US troops.
The Russians do have something on Trump. It doesn’t matter what it is, because the lives of US troops in Afghanistan are in jeopardy every minute that Trump remains in the White House.
or more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-06-28--Opinion: Will Trump’s Genocidal Administration Push Americans to Address History, Make All Lives Mat

Opinion: Will Trump’s Genocidal Administration Push Americans to Address History, Make All Lives Matter?

As many have pointed out , making Black lives matter is a precursor to making all lives matter .
To make all lives matter , we have to address the ways certain lives , particularly those of people of color in the United States , have been devalued .
Put another way , we can ’ t create a culture and society that values all lives unless we identify and root out the mechanisms and value systems that have been enabling the devaluation , the differential valuing , of particular groups ’ lives .
One of those key mechanisms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a behavior chiefly associated with the ideology of racism , it must be recognized , is genocide .
It must also be recognized that the development of the United States is grounded in the genocide of Native Americans , the foundational act of racist violence , murder , in this nation ’ s history .
While Donald Trump certainly stands in a long line of presidents who have participated in this ongoing genocidal practice characteristic of U.S. history , the flagrant way he disregards human life , takes shameless pride in his genocidal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push Americans to the point of addressing U.S. racism in this broader historical and cultural frame .
As I wrote about in PoliticusUsa last October when Trump facilitated the genocidal slaughter of Kurdish people in Northern Syria by the Turkey ’ s President Tayyip Erdogan , described by many as an “ ethnic cleansing , ” Trump ’ s behavior needs to be understood as nothing less than genocidal , worthy of being brought before the United Nations for adjudication .
At the time , he was also engaging in the caging of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also arguably an act on the genocidal spectrum as I wrote at the time , highlighting the continuity between his domestic and foreign policy , his genocides at home and abroad .
Trump ’ s response to the police murder of George Floyd , sparking mass protests generating broad multiracial support for the Black Lives Matters movement , constitutes one more piece in the puzzle of America ’ s genocidal history and culture which Trump celebrates and practices so proudly .
Trump had little to say in sympathy for Floyd or in recognition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence .
He did exploit Floyd when he reported better than expected unemployment numbers on June 6 , stating that Floyd must be looking down and smiling , that it was a good day for him .
Since then , Trump has largely pounded home again and again his “ law and order ” message , effectively endorsing the police ’ s participation in America ’ s ongoing genocide , particularly as he lambastes and threaten the protesters who continue to challenge racism .
His handling of the coronavirus pandemic reveals again this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tribes , for example , recently had to sue the Trump administration to release the COVID-19 relief funding designated for them .
Earlier this month a federal judge ordered Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to release $ 679 million slated for Native Americans , who have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic and also particularly neglected , their lives devalued along with those of other people of color in the United States .
The judge scolded the agency the “ irreparable harm ” caused by the months-long delay , writing in her decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an exceptional public health crisis is no longer acceptable.
” While we can see this neglect and delay in funding as part and parcel of Trump ’ s genocidal agenda—and the nation ’ s ongoing genocidal project—Americans also need to recognize how addressing this genocidal practice is key to making all lives matter and to improving the lives of all Americans by creating a more just and humane society and culture in America .
The genocidal attitude which especially targets—and has historically targeted–people of color in the United States , particularly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward American lives .
Trump ’ s refusal to address the coronavirus pandemic in a serious and coordinated way , with a national policy and support for states , should make clear to all Americans the way his racist disregard for the lives of people of color actually extends to all Americans .
His insistence on meat-processing workers returning to factories with no assurance of safety exemplifies this devaluation of human life .
White Americans , all Americans , need to understand the way racism and genocide , in enabling the devaluation or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own survival .
They need to see that they should not consider themselves simply allies in the anti-racist struggle but that they should consider the struggle as crucial to their own survival and well-being .
White America , America generally , must take its political lead from Native and African America .
Living in a genocidal culture , while racism has put people of color at the front of the line , it needs to be recognized that everybody is standing in line awaiting their destruction .
Consider as illustrative of this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory last March when a federal judge struck down a permit that would have allow the Dakota Access Pipeline be directed under the Missouri River upstream from the Standing Rock reservation , endangering their lives , and way of life , should an oil spill occur .
Many will remember the massive protests in 2016 at Standing Rock .
Well , the Sioux persisted beyond the publicity and finally won this verdict .
What is important to realize , however , is that this victory protects not just drinking water for the Standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are just experiencing this threat most immediately and visibly .
Undermining ecosystems is one part of a genocidal project , as we see with Standing Rock , but Trump has been assaulting the environment and enabling the pollution of water supplies since he took office , demonstrating again that the dehumanization of particular groups of people and the disregard for their lives that culturally underpin genocide finally extend beyond the limits of those groups ; they infuse the dominant culture at large .
As more Americans reflect on the recent protests and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will become increasingly important that they frame this moment in the context of the U.S. genocidal history to most lucidly grasp the cultural and historical dynamics endangering our lives and to understand how to create a culture and a society that truly value life .

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As many have pointed out, making Black lives matter is a precursor to making all lives matter. To make all lives matter, we have to address the ways certain lives, particularly those of people of color in the United States, have been devalued. Put another way, we can’t create a culture and society that values all lives unless we identify and root out the mechanisms and value systems that have been enabling the devaluation, the differential valuing, of particular groups’ lives.
One of those key mechanisms, of course, is racism. And a behavior chiefly associated with the ideology of racism, it must be recognized, is genocide. It must also be recognized that the development of the United States is grounded in the genocide of Native Americans, the foundational act of racist violence, murder, in this nation’s history.
While Donald Trump certainly stands in a long line of presidents who have participated in this ongoing genocidal practice characteristic of U.S. history, the flagrant way he disregards human life, takes shameless pride in his genocidal discourse and practice, may just finally push Americans to the point of addressing U.S. racism in this broader historical and cultural frame.
As I wrote about in PoliticusUsa last October when Trump facilitated the genocidal slaughter of Kurdish people in Northern Syria by the Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan, described by many as an “ethnic cleansing,” Trump’s behavior needs to be understood as nothing less than genocidal, worthy of being brought before the United Nations for adjudication. At the time, he was also engaging in the caging of Latin American people at the border, also arguably an act on the genocidal spectrum as I wrote at the time, highlighting the continuity between his domestic and foreign policy, his genocides at home and abroad.
Trump’s response to the police murder of George Floyd, sparking mass protests generating broad multiracial support for the Black Lives Matters movement, constitutes one more piece in the puzzle of America’s genocidal history and culture which Trump celebrates and practices so proudly. Trump had little to say in sympathy for Floyd or in recognition the larger epidemic of racism and police violence. He did exploit Floyd when he reported better than expected unemployment numbers on June 6, stating that Floyd must be looking down and smiling, that it was a good day for him. Since then, Trump has largely pounded home again and again his “law and order” message, effectively endorsing the police’s participation in America’s ongoing genocide, particularly as he lambastes and threaten the protesters who continue to challenge racism.
His handling of the coronavirus pandemic reveals again this pattern of genocidal behavior. Native American tribes, for example, recently had to sue the Trump administration to release the COVID-19 relief funding designated for them. Earlier this month a federal judge ordered Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to release $679 million slated for Native Americans, who have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic and also particularly neglected, their lives devalued along with those of other people of color in the United States. The judge scolded the agency the “irreparable harm” caused by the months-long delay, writing in her decision, “Continued delay in the face of an exceptional public health crisis is no longer acceptable.”
While we can see this neglect and delay in funding as part and parcel of Trump’s genocidal agenda—and the nation’s ongoing genocidal project—Americans also need to recognize how addressing this genocidal practice is key to making all lives matter and to improving the lives of all Americans by creating a more just and humane society and culture in America.
The genocidal attitude which especially targets—and has historically targeted–people of color in the United States, particularly, enables the more general devaluation and indifference toward American lives. Trump’s refusal to address the coronavirus pandemic in a serious and coordinated way, with a national policy and support for states, should make clear to all Americans the way his racist disregard for the lives of people of color actually extends to all Americans. His insistence on meat-processing workers returning to factories with no assurance of safety exemplifies this devaluation of human life.
White Americans, all Americans, need to understand the way racism and genocide, in enabling the devaluation or differential valuation of lives, threatens their own survival. They need to see that they should not consider themselves simply allies in the anti-racist struggle but that they should consider the struggle as crucial to their own survival and well-being. White America, America generally, must take its political lead from Native and African America.
Living in a genocidal culture, while racism has put people of color at the front of the line, it needs to be recognized that everybody is standing in line awaiting their destruction.
Consider as illustrative of this point the Standing Rock Sioux’s legal victory last March when a federal judge struck down a permit that would have allow the Dakota Access Pipeline be directed under the Missouri River upstream from the Standing Rock reservation, endangering their lives, and way of life, should an oil spill occur.
Many will remember the massive protests in 2016 at Standing Rock. Well, the Sioux persisted beyond the publicity and finally won this verdict.
What is important to realize, however, is that this victory protects not just drinking water for the Standing Rock Sioux, but for everybody. They are just experiencing this threat most immediately and visibly.
Undermining ecosystems is one part of a genocidal project, as we see with Standing Rock, but Trump has been assaulting the environment and enabling the pollution of water supplies since he took office, demonstrating again that the dehumanization of particular groups of people and the disregard for their lives that culturally underpin genocide finally extend beyond the limits of those groups; they infuse the dominant culture at large.
As more Americans reflect on the recent protests and the Black Lives Matter movement, it will become increasingly important that they frame this moment in the context of the U.S. genocidal history to most lucidly grasp the cultural and historical dynamics endangering our lives and to understand how to create a culture and a society that truly value life.


politicususa--2020-07-01--“Hundreds” of George W. Bush Officials Are Reportedly Set to Endorse Joe Biden

Hundreds of former officials who served under George W. Bush are about to endorse Joe Biden for president , according to new reporting from Reuters .
They would be the latest conservatives to do so .
Former officials who served under the Republican president from 2001 to 2009 have formed a political action committee called 43 for Alumni for Biden .
Forty-three refers to Bush , the 43rd president .
This group reportedly includes former cabinet secretaries and other senior administration officials .
The new Super PAC is set to launch on Wednesday , though some details aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the PAC who worked on Bush ’ s 2004 campaign , Jennifer Millikin , explained their rationale .
“ We know what is normal and what is abnormal , and what we are seeing is highly abnormal .
The president is a danger , ” she said .
Former Bush communications official Kristopher Purcell and 2000 campaign official Karen Kirksey spoke to Reuters about their decision to back Biden .
“ This November , we are choosing country over party , ” Purcell said .
“ We believe that a Biden administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and restore dignity and integrity to the White House.
” “ We really have had overwhelming support for our efforts , ” Kirksey said .
Their political activities will include testimonials arguing in favor of Biden .

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Hundreds of former officials who served under George W. Bush are about to endorse Joe Biden for president, according to new reporting from Reuters. They would be the latest conservatives to do so.
Former officials who served under the Republican president from 2001 to 2009 have formed a political action committee called 43 for Alumni for Biden. Forty-three refers to Bush, the 43rd president.
This group reportedly includes former cabinet secretaries and other senior administration officials. The new Super PAC is set to launch on Wednesday, though some details aren’t clear at the moment.
One member of the PAC who worked on Bush’s 2004 campaign, Jennifer Millikin, explained their rationale.
“We know what is normal and what is abnormal, and what we are seeing is highly abnormal. The president is a danger,” she said.
Former Bush communications official Kristopher Purcell and 2000 campaign official Karen Kirksey spoke to Reuters about their decision to back Biden.
“This November, we are choosing country over party,” Purcell said.
“We believe that a Biden administration will adhere to the rule of law… and restore dignity and integrity to the White House.”
“We really have had overwhelming support for our efforts,” Kirksey said.
Their political activities will include testimonials arguing in favor of Biden.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-01--Trump Calls Black Lives Matter a “Symbol of Hate”

Donald Trump has called Black Lives Matter a “ symbol of hate.
” The President took to Twitter to attack New York City and Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday .
“ NYC is cutting Police $ ’ s by ONE BILLION DOLLARS , and yet the NYC Mayor is going to paint a big , expensive , yellow Black Lives Matter sign on Fifth Avenue , denigrating this luxury Avenue , ” Trump wrote .
“ This will further antagonize New York ’ s Finest , who LOVE New York & vividly remember the horrible BLM chant , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Em Like Bacon ’ .
“ Trump has often referred to this chant , though it appears not to have featured in any of the recent protests .
Rather , it became a prominent news story more than five years ago .
“ Maybe our GREAT Police , who have been neutralized and scorned by a mayor who hates & disrespects them , won ’ t let this symbol of hate be affixed to New York ’ s greatest street , ” Trump went on .
The Black Lives Matter movement has suffered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this seems to be the first time he ’ s suggested the slogan is a form of hate speech .
By contrast , many of those protesting about the death of George Floyd and other African Americans considerate statues of slaveholders to be symbols of hate .
Trump has defended such monuments .

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Donald Trump has called Black Lives Matter a “symbol of hate.” The President took to Twitter to attack New York City and Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday.
“NYC is cutting Police $’s by ONE BILLION DOLLARS, and yet the NYC Mayor is going to paint a big, expensive, yellow Black Lives Matter sign on Fifth Avenue, denigrating this luxury Avenue,” Trump wrote.
….horrible BLM chant, “Pigs In A Blanket, Fry ‘Em Like Bacon”. Maybe our GREAT Police, who have been neutralized and scorned by a mayor who hates & disrespects them, won’t let this symbol of hate be affixed to New York’s greatest street. Spend this money fighting crime instead! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2020
“This will further antagonize New York’s Finest, who LOVE New York & vividly remember the horrible BLM chant, ‘Pigs In A Blanket, Fry ‘Em Like Bacon’. “
Trump has often referred to this chant, though it appears not to have featured in any of the recent protests. Rather, it became a prominent news story more than five years ago.
“Maybe our GREAT Police, who have been neutralized and scorned by a mayor who hates & disrespects them, won’t let this symbol of hate be affixed to New York’s greatest street,” Trump went on.
“Spend this money fighting crime instead!”
The Black Lives Matter movement has suffered sustained attacks from the President, but this seems to be the first time he’s suggested the slogan is a form of hate speech.
By contrast, many of those protesting about the death of George Floyd and other African Americans considerate statues of slaveholders to be symbols of hate. Trump has defended such monuments.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-01--Conservative Rick Wilson: People Will Piss on Trump’s Grave Because of His “Treason”

Rick Wilson is holding nothing back these days in his criticism of Donald Trump .
The former Republican political strategist openly accused the President of treason .
Wilson spoke to The Daily Beast ‘ s Molly Jong-Fast on Tuesday .
He was a guest on that news outlet ’ s New Abnormal podcast .
Wilson didn ’ t pull any punches .
“ The word traitor and the word treason in this country gets abused like crazy , ” Wilson said .
“ It ’ s true .
But sometimes by you , ” Jong-Fast said .
“ But in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an abuse of the word , ” Wilson replied .
Wilson is referring to reports that Trump knew perhaps as long ago as last year that Russia was offering bounties for the deaths of U.S. troops in Afghanistan .
“ He met the literal definition of treason .
He gave aid and comfort to the enemy and abetted the enemy .
He did not take action.
” He went on to suggest that Trump would end up being so disrespected that people would even target his final resting place .
“ This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the dustbin of history , ” Wilson said .
“ And now there ’ s going to be a line at his grave where they ’ re going to have to throw cat litter down .
Because people are gon na piss on it for all time , ” he said .
“ Wait , things got very dark , ” Jong-Fast said .
The President this morning claimed the story about Russian bounties was a hoax .

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Rick Wilson is holding nothing back these days in his criticism of Donald Trump. The former Republican political strategist openly accused the President of treason.
Wilson spoke to The Daily Beast‘s Molly Jong-Fast on Tuesday. He is a co-host for that news outlet’s New Abnormal podcast. Wilson didn’t pull any punches.
“The word traitor and the word treason in this country gets abused like crazy,” Wilson said.
“It’s true. But sometimes by you,” Jong-Fast said.
“But in this case, it’s not an abuse of the word,” Wilson replied.
Wilson is referring to reports that Trump knew perhaps as long ago as last year that Russia was offering bounties for the deaths of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
“He met the literal definition of treason. He gave aid and comfort to the enemy and abetted the enemy. He did not take action.”
He went on to suggest that Trump would end up being so disrespected that people would even target his final resting place.
“This is a guy who was already going down into the dustbin of history,” Wilson said.
“And now there’s going to be a line at his grave where they’re going to have to throw cat litter down. Because people are gonna piss on it for all time,” he said.
“Wait, things got very dark,” Jong-Fast said.
The President this morning claimed the story about Russian bounties was a hoax.
Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-01--Trump’s Immigrant Hate Backfires As For The First Time Ever More Americans Favor Increasing Immigrat

Trump’s Immigrant Hate Backfires As For The First Time Ever More Americans Favor Increasing Immigration

Trump ’ s attacks on immigrants have backfired as for the first time ever more Americans favor increasing immigration than favor decreasing it .
According to a new Gallup Poll : Thirty-four percent of Americans , up from 27 % a year ago , would prefer to see immigration to the U.S. increased .
This is the highest support for expanding immigration Gallup has found in its trend since 1965 .
Meanwhile , the percentage favoring decreased immigration has fallen to a new low of 28 % , while 36 % think it should stay at the present level .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s trend that the percentage wanting increased immigration has exceeded the percentage who want decreased immigration .
Support for increased immigration is at historic highs this year among both Democrats and political independents .
Republicans ’ views on increasing immigration have not changed much over the past decade .
In the short term , Trump ’ s appeals to racism and nativism are backfiring on him and the Republican Party as a political strategy .
The Gallup Poll is more circumstantial evidence that there aren ’ t enough white , mostly male @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extremist right-wing positions of Donald Trump popular .
Instead of expanding his electoral coalition , Trump is narrowing it with immigration policies that aren ’ t popular outside of his base .
The long term view is that the United States is demographically changing .
Positions that were popular in decades past are falling by the wayside as America is becoming a more diverse nation .
Increasingly , Americans want more immigration , not less , which places Trump on the wrong side of the issue as voters head to the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump’s attacks on immigrants have backfired as for the first time ever more Americans favor increasing immigration than favor decreasing it.
According to a new Gallup Poll:
Thirty-four percent of Americans, up from 27% a year ago, would prefer to see immigration to the U.S. increased. This is the highest support for expanding immigration Gallup has found in its trend since 1965. Meanwhile, the percentage favoring decreased immigration has fallen to a new low of 28%, while 36% think it should stay at the present level.
This marks the first time in Gallup’s trend that the percentage wanting increased immigration has exceeded the percentage who want decreased immigration.
…..
Support for increased immigration is at historic highs this year among both Democrats and political independents. Republicans’ views on increasing immigration have not changed much over the past decade.
In the short term, Trump’s appeals to racism and nativism are backfiring on him and the Republican Party as a political strategy. The Gallup Poll is more circumstantial evidence that there aren’t enough white, mostly male conservative voters in the country to make the extremist right-wing positions of Donald Trump popular.
Instead of expanding his electoral coalition, Trump is narrowing it with immigration policies that aren’t popular outside of his base.
The long term view is that the United States is demographically changing. Positions that were popular in decades past are falling by the wayside as America is becoming a more diverse nation.
Increasingly, Americans want more immigration, not less, which places Trump on the wrong side of the issue as voters head to the polls in the fall.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-07-01--Rand Paul Claims Experts Don’t Know Best About Coronavirus

Senator Rand Paul ( R-Ky. ) says the American public should not presume experts know best when it comes to handling the coronavirus pandemic .
Paul made the remarks during a hearing attended by the directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases as cases around the United States continue to spike .
“ It is a fatal conceit to believe any one person or small group of people has the knowledge necessary to direct an economy or dictate public health behavior , ” Paul said .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show caution in their prognostications .
It ’ s important to realize that if society meekly submits to an expert , and that expert is wrong , a great deal of harm may occur.
” Paul suggested experts “ might consider the undue fear they are instilling in teachers who are now afraid to go back to work .
We shouldn ’ t presume that a group of experts somehow knows what ’ s best for everyone.
” Paul ’ s remarks come after Dr. Anthony Fauci , the leading expert at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diseases and on the White House coronavirus task force , warned the United States is “ going in the wrong direction ” when it comes to the pandemic .
“ I ’ m not satisfied with what ’ s going on because we ’ re going in the wrong direction , ” he said .
“ We ’ ve really got to do something about that , and we need to do it quickly .
Clearly , we are not in total control right now.
” More than 130,000 Americans have died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on American soil was reported in February .

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Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) says the American public should not presume experts know best when it comes to handling the coronavirus pandemic. Paul made the remarks during a hearing attended by the directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases as cases around the United States continue to spike.
“It is a fatal conceit to believe any one person or small group of people has the knowledge necessary to direct an economy or dictate public health behavior,” Paul said. “I think government health experts during this pandemic need to show caution in their prognostications. It’s important to realize that if society meekly submits to an expert, and that expert is wrong, a great deal of harm may occur.”
Paul suggested experts “might consider the undue fear they are instilling in teachers who are now afraid to go back to work. We shouldn’t presume that a group of experts somehow knows what’s best for everyone.”
Paul’s remarks come after Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading expert at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and on the White House coronavirus task force, warned the United States is “going in the wrong direction” when it comes to the pandemic.
“I’m not satisfied with what’s going on because we’re going in the wrong direction,” he said. “We’ve really got to do something about that, and we need to do it quickly. Clearly, we are not in total control right now.”
More than 130,000 Americans have died from the novel coronavirus since the first death on American soil was reported in February.


politicususa--2020-07-01--Busted Trump Calls Russian Bounty Scandal A Fake News Media Hoax Made Up to Slander Him

President Donald Trump took to his Twitter account to insist reports that he ignored intelligence briefings about a Russian military agency putting a bounty on the heads of American troops are “ fake news.
” The president quoted a statement from the Department of Defense ( DOD ) released late Monday that it had not yet validated the reported intelligence and “ DOD has no corroborating evidence to validate the recent allegations found in open-source reports.
” “ Do people still not understand that this is all a made up Fake News Media Hoax started to slander me & the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I was never briefed because any info that they may have had did not rise to that level.
” The president ’ s tweet mirrors one he wrote earlier this week in which he claimed he was not briefed on the details of the intelligence .
He accused The New York Times of making up the story .
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the “ veracity ” of the reports “ continue to be evaluated , ” even after the president insisted that “ intel just reported to me they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and therefore didn ’ t report it to me.
” “ There is no consensus within the intelligence community on these allegations and in effect , there are dissenting opinions from some in the intelligence community with regards to the veracity of what ’ s being reported , and the veracity of the underlying allegations continue to be evaluated , ” she said .
Several sources within the intelligence community , including David Priess , a former CIA officer who authored The President ’ s Book of Secrets : The Untold Story of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have disputed that assertion .
“ This is exactly the kind of thing that the President ’ s Daily Brief was created for , to make sure that the President had the most up-to-date analysis and assessment of what is almost always uncertain intelligence .
You don ’ t put things in the President ’ s Daily Brief only when they are completely corroborated and verified , ” Priess told CNN .

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President Donald Trump took to his Twitter account to insist reports that he ignored intelligence briefings about a Russian military agency putting a bounty on the heads of American troops are “fake news.”
The president quoted a statement from the Department of Defense (DOD) released late Monday that it had not yet validated the reported intelligence and “DOD has no corroborating evidence to validate the recent allegations found in open-source reports.”
“Do people still not understand that this is all a made up Fake News Media Hoax started to slander me & the Republican Party,” he wrote. “I was never briefed because any info that they may have had did not rise to that level.”
“No corroborating evidence to back reports.” Department of Defense. Do people still not understand that this is all a made up Fake News Media Hoax started to slander me & the Republican Party. I was never briefed because any info that they may have had did not rise to that level — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2020
The president’s tweet mirrors one he wrote earlier this week in which he claimed he was not briefed on the details of the intelligence. He accused The New York Times of making up the story.
Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or @VP. Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax, maybe by the Fake News @nytimesbooks, wanting to make Republicans look bad!!! https://t.co/cowOmP7T1S — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2020
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the “veracity” of the reports “continue to be evaluated,” even after the president insisted that “intel just reported to me they did not find this info credible, and therefore didn’t report it to me.”
“There is no consensus within the intelligence community on these allegations and in effect, there are dissenting opinions from some in the intelligence community with regards to the veracity of what’s being reported, and the veracity of the underlying allegations continue to be evaluated,” she said.
Several sources within the intelligence community, including David Priess, a former CIA officer who authored The President’s Book of Secrets: The Untold Story of Intelligence Briefings to America’s Presidents, have disputed that assertion.
“This is exactly the kind of thing that the President’s Daily Brief was created for, to make sure that the President had the most up-to-date analysis and assessment of what is almost always uncertain intelligence. You don’t put things in the President’s Daily Brief only when they are completely corroborated and verified,” Priess told CNN.


politicususa--2020-07-01--Rachel Maddow Torches Trump For Turning America Into A Global Health Threat

Rachel Maddow tore into Donald Trump ’ s incompetent and chaotic response to the coronavirus on Tuesday , saying it has turned America into a global health threat .
What ’ s worse , according to the MSNBC host , is that the federal government ’ s response to this crisis isn ’ t getting any better – even after nearly six months of the virus being in the United States .
“ It ’ s not like we had some early problem and now we ’ re having a hard time getting over it , ” Maddow said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ She also blasted Trump for acting as if the virus isn ’ t even a threat anymore .
“ As the epidemic has started taking back off like a rocket , the president doesn ’ t even talk about coronavirus anymore , ” she said .
This is what it looks like when a country goes off the rails , right ?
All these nonsense decisions – turns out they add up .
I mean , this cumulatively is what the failed American response looks like right now , and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the absence of federal leadership , but what it adds up to now is 40,000 Americans getting newly infected every day now .
When the rest of our allies , the rest of the industrialized world has wrestled this thing to the ground , we are just making incredibly backward decisions every day that keep making it worse .
It ’ s not like we had some early problem and now we ’ re having a hard time getting over it .
Our bad decisions are now .
You look at us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yeah , it ’ s no surprise the EU today announced formally that it ’ s ready to open its borders to travelers again , except not to Americans .
Are you kidding ?
America ?
Look at the U.S. epidemic .
No way .
We are a threat .
We are perceived as a threat and in some ways we are a threat to the whole rest of the world .
As much as we are all a threat to each other now because of how disastrously this thing has been mismanaged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know , chaos , as much as anything .
There isn ’ t a federal response to speak of .
As the epidemic has started taking back off like a rocket , the president doesn ’ t even talk about coronavirus anymore .
I mean , he does occasionally criticize people for wearing masks .
He says that ’ s just people trying to make him look bad .
Trump ’ s ‘ ignorance is bliss ’ strategy has turned America into a global health threat Back when Donald Trump wanted to turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the president couldn ’ t seem to get enough of the virus .
But as his poll numbers quickly collapsed and millions of Americans started losing their jobs , Trump gave up and decided it ’ s a better strategy to just act as though the coronavirus outbreak isn ’ t even happening .
It ’ s why he refuses to wear a mask in public .
It ’ s why he explicitly told his staff to slow down testing .
It ’ s why , as Maddow pointed out on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the virus anymore .
But the president ’ s refusal to step up and lead during this health crisis hasn ’ t made the virus go away ; it has only helped it spread even more .
Donald Trump ’ s ‘ ignorance is bliss ’ coronavirus strategy has turned America into a global health threat .

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Rachel Maddow tore into Donald Trump’s incompetent and chaotic response to the coronavirus on Tuesday, saying it has turned America into a global health threat.
What’s worse, according to the MSNBC host, is that the federal government’s response to this crisis isn’t getting any better – even after nearly six months of the virus being in the United States.
“It’s not like we had some early problem and now we’re having a hard time getting over it,” Maddow said. “Our bad decisions are now.”
She also blasted Trump for acting as if the virus isn’t even a threat anymore.
“As the epidemic has started taking back off like a rocket, the president doesn’t even talk about coronavirus anymore,” she said.
Video:
“This is what it looks like when a country goes off the rails,” Maddow said of the worsening coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. #ctl #p2 #maddow pic.twitter.com/4EpSfU2HaE — PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) July 1, 2020
Maddow said:
This is what it looks like when a country goes off the rails, right? All these nonsense decisions – turns out they add up. I mean, this cumulatively is what the failed American response looks like right now, and it’s a million little decisions and it’s the absence of federal leadership, but what it adds up to now is 40,000 Americans getting newly infected every day now. When the rest of our allies, the rest of the industrialized world has wrestled this thing to the ground, we are just making incredibly backward decisions every day that keep making it worse. It’s not like we had some early problem and now we’re having a hard time getting over it. Our bad decisions are now. You look at us against France, Italy, Germany, yeah, it’s no surprise the EU today announced formally that it’s ready to open its borders to travelers again, except not to Americans. Are you kidding? America? Look at the U.S. epidemic. No way. We are a threat. We are perceived as a threat and in some ways we are a threat to the whole rest of the world. As much as we are all a threat to each other now because of how disastrously this thing has been mismanaged. And the mismanagement is, you know, chaos, as much as anything. There isn’t a federal response to speak of. As the epidemic has started taking back off like a rocket, the president doesn’t even talk about coronavirus anymore. I mean, he does occasionally criticize people for wearing masks. He says that’s just people trying to make him look bad.
Trump’s ‘ignorance is bliss’ strategy has turned America into a global health threat
Back when Donald Trump wanted to turn the pandemic into a reality TV series, the president couldn’t seem to get enough of the virus.
But as his poll numbers quickly collapsed and millions of Americans started losing their jobs, Trump gave up and decided it’s a better strategy to just act as though the coronavirus outbreak isn’t even happening.
It’s why he refuses to wear a mask in public. It’s why he explicitly told his staff to slow down testing. It’s why, as Maddow pointed out on Tuesday, he doesn’t even talk about the virus anymore.
But the president’s refusal to step up and lead during this health crisis hasn’t made the virus go away; it has only helped it spread even more.
Donald Trump’s ‘ignorance is bliss’ coronavirus strategy has turned America into a global health threat.
Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter


politicususa--2020-07-01--Trump Blames China For His 6-Month Failure To Contain The Coronavirus In America

Donald Trump expressed anger over the growing spread of the coronavirus nearly six months after America ’ s first reported case , apparently overlooking the fact that the U.S. is almost alone in its continued failure to contain the deadly virus .
In a tweet , Trump said he is “ angry ” about “ the tremendous damage [ the virus ] has done to the USA , ” blaming China and speaking as though he ’ s an outsider looking in .
Trump used the same rhetoric he has throughout this crisis , always trying to blame someone or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leads the world in coronavirus cases and deaths .
But as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) said in response to the president ’ s tweet , China didn ’ t force Trump to turn masks into a political issue or urge states to open too quickly or cause America ’ s coronavirus testing shortage .
The virus may have originated in China , but the way Donald Trump has bungled it has costs tens of thousands of Americans their lives and jobs .
Trump has completely given up Since day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump has either refused to accept that the coronavirus was a real threat , or he has simply denied any responsibility for his administration ’ s utter failure to contain it .
Now , as the virus surges in places that took his advice to reopen quickly , the president appears to have completely checked out of his job .
Instead of developing a national strategy to contain the virus as it spikes ( again ) , Trump is on social media blaming and complaining .
All of this is part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s campaign to pretend that somebody else is in charge of the country right now , and that the American people must elect Trump to fix it .
The only problem is that Trump has already been elected .
He ’ s no longer just a reality TV show host spewing nonsense on Twitter – he ’ s president .
He may not think the buck stops with him , but the American people know it does .

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Donald Trump expressed anger over the growing spread of the coronavirus nearly six months after America’s first reported case, apparently overlooking the fact that the U.S. is almost alone in its continued failure to contain the deadly virus.
In a tweet, Trump said he is “angry” about “the tremendous damage [the virus] has done to the USA,” blaming China and speaking as though he’s an outsider looking in.
As I watch the Pandemic spread its ugly face all across the world, including the tremendous damage it has done to the USA, I become more and more angry at China. People can see it, and I can feel it! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 30, 2020
Trump used the same rhetoric he has throughout this crisis, always trying to blame someone or something else for the fact that America leads the world in coronavirus cases and deaths.
But as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in response to the president’s tweet, China didn’t force Trump to turn masks into a political issue or urge states to open too quickly or cause America’s coronavirus testing shortage.
The virus may have originated in China, but the way Donald Trump has bungled it has costs tens of thousands of Americans their lives and jobs.
Trump has completely given up
Since day one of this public health emergency, Donald Trump has either refused to accept that the coronavirus was a real threat, or he has simply denied any responsibility for his administration’s utter failure to contain it.
Now, as the virus surges in places that took his advice to reopen quickly, the president appears to have completely checked out of his job. Instead of developing a national strategy to contain the virus as it spikes (again), Trump is on social media blaming and complaining.
All of this is part of a new strategy by the president’s campaign to pretend that somebody else is in charge of the country right now, and that the American people must elect Trump to fix it.
The only problem is that Trump has already been elected. He’s no longer just a reality TV show host spewing nonsense on Twitter – he’s president.
He may not think the buck stops with him, but the American people know it does.
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politicususa--2020-06-30--Trump Never Read February Briefing On Russian US Troops Bounty

The White House has admitted that Trump never read a February written briefing on the Russian bounties that were placed on US troops .
The New York Times reported that Trump was briefed on the bounties in February , “ The intercepts bolstered the findings gleaned from the interrogations , helping reduce an earlier disagreement among intelligence analysts and agencies over the reliability of the detainees .
The disclosures further undercut White House officials ’ claim that the intelligence was too uncertain to brief President Trump .
In fact , the information was provided to him in his daily written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have said.
” The White House admitted that Trump never read the original briefing : The latest revelations of Trump ’ s total neglect of his presidential duties led to the White House to defend him by proclaiming that Trump is the most informed person on Earth .
The information was given to Trump , but he didn ’ t bother to read it , because he is too busy tweeting , watching Fox News , and playing golf to be bothered with protecting the lives of US troops in Afghanistan from Taliban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans with Russian bounties .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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The White House has admitted that Trump never read a February written briefing on the Russian bounties that were placed on US troops.
The New York Times reported that Trump was briefed on the bounties in February, “The intercepts bolstered the findings gleaned from the interrogations, helping reduce an earlier disagreement among intelligence analysts and agencies over the reliability of the detainees. The disclosures further undercut White House officials’ claim that the intelligence was too uncertain to brief President Trump. In fact, the information was provided to him in his daily written brief in late February, two officials have said.”
The White House admitted that Trump never read the original briefing:
The White House says Trump has now been briefed on what was in his daily written intelligence briefing back in February, per the NYT. — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) June 30, 2020
The latest revelations of Trump’s total neglect of his presidential duties led to the White House to defend him by proclaiming that Trump is the most informed person on Earth.
The information was given to Trump, but he didn’t bother to read it, because he is too busy tweeting, watching Fox News, and playing golf to be bothered with protecting the lives of US troops in Afghanistan from Taliban fighters who have been incentivized to kill Americans with Russian bounties.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-06-30--Trump’s New Strategy Is To Pretend That He’s Not President

The Trump campaign ’ s brain trust had decided to ignore the fact that Trump is president and run the campaign like he is the challenger .
President Trump ’ s case for re-election reprises his pitch for a first term in office , as he and his team try to portray presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden as an incumbent while accentuating his own outsider credentials .
Overall , Mr. Trump ’ s advisers and key supporters want to avoid an election where the central question is a referendum on the Republican president , whose job approval rating in Wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 38 % and 47 % during his time in office .
Instead , the goal is to preserve the Washington outsider status that helped him win in 2016 , according to Trump advisers .
Jason Miller , a Trump campaign adviser , said the campaign plans to paint Mr. Biden as “ part of every job-killing , failed policy decision of the past 40 years.
” The campaign wants voters to see the race as a choice between “ President Trump ’ s record of success in less than four years versus Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 40 years.
” Trump ’ s campaign desperately needs a reboot , so what they have come up with is that they are going to pretend like Trump isn ’ t really the president , and we should all forget that he has trashed the economy and unleashed a pandemic that has killed nearly 130,000 Americans .
Presidential reelection campaigns are always centered the question of whether the incumbent deserves four more years .
Having seen the Trump campaign ads , I can say that they are terrible , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mention nothing about the pandemic or the economy .
The campaign has essentially swapped out Hillary Clinton ’ s name for Joe Biden .
The ads are a reflection of a campaign and a president that is completely out of touch with where the country is at this moment .
Donald Trump ’ s new strategy of pretending like he is president is destined to fail and could create a self-fulfilling prophecy that will put Joe Biden in the White House .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and @ @ @

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The Trump campaign’s brain trust had decided to ignore the fact that Trump is president and run the campaign like he is the challenger.
Via: The Wall Street Journal:
President Trump’s case for re-election reprises his pitch for a first term in office, as he and his team try to portray presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden as an incumbent while accentuating his own outsider credentials.
….
Overall, Mr. Trump’s advisers and key supporters want to avoid an election where the central question is a referendum on the Republican president, whose job approval rating in Wall Street Journal/NBC News polling has ranged between 38% and 47% during his time in office. Instead, the goal is to preserve the Washington outsider status that helped him win in 2016, according to Trump advisers.
….
Jason Miller, a Trump campaign adviser, said the campaign plans to paint Mr. Biden as “part of every job-killing, failed policy decision of the past 40 years.” The campaign wants voters to see the race as a choice between “President Trump’s record of success in less than four years versus Joe Biden’s record of failure over more than 40 years.”
Trump’s campaign desperately needs a reboot, so what they have come up with is that they are going to pretend like Trump isn’t really the president, and we should all forget that he has trashed the economy and unleashed a pandemic that has killed nearly 130,000 Americans.
Presidential reelection campaigns are always centered the question of whether the incumbent deserves four more years.
Having seen the Trump campaign ads, I can say that they are terrible, and they made me laugh out loud because they mention nothing about the pandemic or the economy. The campaign has essentially swapped out Hillary Clinton’s name for Joe Biden.
The ads are a reflection of a campaign and a president that is completely out of touch with where the country is at this moment.
Donald Trump’s new strategy of pretending like he is president is destined to fail and could create a self-fulfilling prophecy that will put Joe Biden in the White House.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-06-30--White House Declares Trump The Most Informed Person On Planet Earth

White House Press Secretary Kaleigh McEnany declared that Donald Trump is the most informed human being on planet Earth .
McEnany said , “ This president does read and he also consumes intelligence verbally .
This president and I ’ ll tell you , is the most informed person on planet Earth when it comes to the threats that we face .
You have Ambassador O ’ Brien who sees him in person twice a day , who sometimes takes upwards of half a dozen calls with this president .
He ’ s constantly being informed and briefed on intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to allow The New York Times to dictate when we give and when we don ’ t give top secret information.
” McEnany talked about Trump receiving oral briefing and taking phone calls , but she never mentioned that Trump read the President ’ s Daily Brief .
Joe Biden said that not reading the daily brief is a dereliction of duty .
The Trump administration can ’ t be taken seriously , because they always have to make insane and outrageous statements like Trump is the most informed person on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the White House blew up Trump ’ s defense that he had not briefed on the Russian bounty scandal .
If Trump is so well informed , then the only option is that he put the lives of US troops in jeopardy by getting the briefing and doing nothing about it .
Trump is busted a no amount of crazy lies and can get him out of Bountygate .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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White House Press Secretary Kaleigh McEnany declared that Donald Trump is the most informed human being on planet Earth.
McEnany said, “This president does read and he also consumes intelligence verbally. This president and I’ll tell you, is the most informed person on planet Earth when it comes to the threats that we face. You have Ambassador O’Brien who sees him in person twice a day, who sometimes takes upwards of half a dozen calls with this president. He’s constantly being informed and briefed on intelligence matters, but I’m not going to allow The New York Times to dictate when we give and when we don’t give top secret information.”
Video:
Kayleigh: The President does read and also consumes intelligence verbally. This President is the most informed person on the planet earth when it comes to the threats that we face pic.twitter.com/tr0e8MU0LN — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) June 30, 2020
McEnany talked about Trump receiving oral briefing and taking phone calls, but she never mentioned that Trump read the President’s Daily Brief. Joe Biden said that not reading the daily brief is a dereliction of duty.
The Trump administration can’t be taken seriously, because they always have to make insane and outrageous statements like Trump is the most informed person on the planet.
By defending Trump as informed, the White House blew up Trump’s defense that he had not briefed on the Russian bounty scandal.
If Trump is so well informed, then the only option is that he put the lives of US troops in jeopardy by getting the briefing and doing nothing about it.
Trump is busted a no amount of crazy lies and can get him out of Bountygate.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-06-30--Biden Says Trump Is Guilty Of Dereliction Of Duty If He Didn’t Read Russia Bounty Briefing

Joe Biden said that Trump was guilty of dereliction of duty if he was briefed on the Russian bounty , but didn ’ t read it .
But if what I have heard over the last week and the recent reporting that it was in the PDB , the Presidential Daily Brief , the presidential daily brief is something I read every single day as vice president .
The president read it every day .
I was briefed every morning before I got to the white house and then again .
So the idea that somehow he didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is a dereliction of duty if that ’ s the case .
And if he was briefed and nothing was done about this , that ’ s a dereliction of duty .
I guess the best way for me to end this is , I was talking to my wife Jill , and I don ’ t see her get outraged very often .
She started asking , Joe , what would you have done if Beau was still in harm ’ s way and this information came out and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m sorry .
I apologize .
He served in Iraq for a year in the army .
But if he ’ d been in Afghanistan , what are those parents thinking out there ?
What are those sons and daughters , husbands and wives thinking ?
It ’ s an absolute dereliction of duty if any of this is even remotely true .
The evidence and reports are mounting that Trump was briefed on the Russian bounty that was placed on US troops in Afghanistan .
The White House knew about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep it a secret .
Biden is right not reading the briefing is a dereliction of duty .
The president takes an oath to protect the country , and Trump violated his oath when he ignored intelligence that Russia had put a price on the heads of US troops .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Joe Biden said that Trump was guilty of dereliction of duty if he was briefed on the Russian bounty, but didn’t read it.
Biden said:
But if what I have heard over the last week and the recent reporting that it was in the PDB, the Presidential Daily Brief, the presidential daily brief is something I read every single day as vice president. The president read it every day. I was briefed every morning before I got to the white house and then again. So the idea that somehow he didn’t know or isn’t being briefed, it is a dereliction of duty if that’s the case. And if he was briefed and nothing was done about this, that’s a dereliction of duty.
I guess the best way for me to end this is, I was talking to my wife Jill, and I don’t see her get outraged very often. She started asking, Joe, what would you have done if Beau was still in harm’s way and this information came out and the president — Beau was my son. I’m sorry. I apologize. He served in Iraq for a year in the army. But if he’d been in Afghanistan, what are those parents thinking out there? What are those sons and daughters, husbands and wives thinking? It’s an absolute dereliction of duty if any of this is even remotely true.
Video:
Biden said he read the presidential daily brief every day as vice president, so if Trump didn't read the briefing it was a dereliction of duty. pic.twitter.com/SchrJvJHeo — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) June 30, 2020
The evidence and reports are mounting that Trump was briefed on the Russian bounty that was placed on US troops in Afghanistan. The White House knew about the bounty in 2019 and tried to keep it a secret. Biden is right not reading the briefing is a dereliction of duty. The president takes an oath to protect the country, and Trump violated his oath when he ignored intelligence that Russia had put a price on the heads of US troops.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-06-30--Biden Turns The Tables And Suggests Trump Has Memory Loss

Former Vice President Joe Biden talked about the Russian bounty scandal and suggested Trump might have memory loss if he doesn ’ t remember being briefed .
Biden said when asked about Trump being briefed on the Russian bounty scandal : As I was leaving , I had the television on as I put on my shirt , and I understand there ’ s even some more information that ’ s come out today about what was known .
One of two things .
This president is — he talks about cognitive capability .
He doesn ’ t seem to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on .
He either reads and/or gets briefed on important issues and he forgets it , or he doesn ’ t think it ’ s necessary that he need to know it .
But the fact is that at a minimum , at a minimum , the discrepancy allegedly between — within the intelligence community as reported , some thought it was more certain and others thought it was less that should be resolved .
The president should have , on day one , said , I want you to come before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the differences and discretion .
Who is saying what ?
Let ’ s get to the bottom of this .
Trump and the White House left the door wide open for Biden by claiming that Trump hadn ’ t been briefed .
The Trump campaign has been trying to make the case that Biden is too cognitively impaired to be president , but the White House is constantly coming up with excuses for Trump ’ s lack of action toward Russia that leave only two options .
Either Trump is mentally declining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden just turned the tables on Trump and turned used the facts of the situation to devastate the Trump campaign .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Former Vice President Joe Biden talked about the Russian bounty scandal and suggested Trump might have memory loss if he doesn’t remember being briefed.
Biden said when asked about Trump being briefed on the Russian bounty scandal:
As I was leaving, I had the television on as I put on my shirt, and I understand there’s even some more information that’s come out today about what was known.
One of two things. This president is — he talks about cognitive capability. He doesn’t seem to be cognitively aware of what’s going on. He either reads and/or gets briefed on important issues and he forgets it, or he doesn’t think it’s necessary that he need to know it. But the fact is that at a minimum, at a minimum, the discrepancy allegedly between — within the intelligence community as reported, some thought it was more certain and others thought it was less that should be resolved.
The president should have, on day one, said, I want you to come before me in the Situation Room and lay out the differences and discretion. Who is saying what? Let’s get to the bottom of this.
Video:
Biden suggests that Trump is either cognitively impaired, and suffering from memory loss, or ignoring information about the Russian bounty on US troops. pic.twitter.com/hbAGojGcrZ — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) June 30, 2020
Trump and the White House left the door wide open for Biden by claiming that Trump hadn’t been briefed. The Trump campaign has been trying to make the case that Biden is too cognitively impaired to be president, but the White House is constantly coming up with excuses for Trump’s lack of action toward Russia that leave only two options. Either Trump is mentally declining, or he is corrupt and compromised.
Biden just turned the tables on Trump and turned used the facts of the situation to devastate the Trump campaign.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-06-30--Adam Schiff Blasts Trump For Doing Nothing On Russia Bounty

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) blasted Trump for not saying that he will get to the bottom of Russian bounty allegations .
Chairman Schiff said after being briefed on the bounty allegations : I find it inexplicable in light of these very public allegations that the President hasn ’ t come before the country and assured the American people that he will get to the bottom of whether Russians are putting a bounty on the heads of American troops and that he will do everything in his power to make sure that we protect American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a moment why the President isn ’ t saying this to the American people right now and is relying on ‘ I don ’ t know , ’ ‘ I haven ’ t heard , ’ ‘ I haven ’ t been briefed.
’ That ’ s just not excusable .
His responsibilities as commander-in-chief is to protect our troops and I shared the concern at the White House today that I think many of us have , which is , there may be a reluctance to brief the President on things he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that may be more true with respect to Putin and Putin ’ s Russia than with respect to any other subject matter .
Many of us do not understand his affinity for that autocratic ruler who means our nation ill and so if there ’ s a problem with being willing to brief the president on intelligence he doesn ’ t want to hear that ’ s a problem for our entire nation ’ s security .
Chairman Schiff was correct .
Trump ’ s claim that he didn ’ t know about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t stop him from doing something about it right now .
No other president , Democratic or Republican would stand by with his hands in his pockets while the Russians put a price on heads of US troops as Trump has .
The White House has known about the bounty since 2019 and done nothing .
The fact that Trump won ’ t stand up to Putin shows that it is time to get rid of Trump .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) blasted Trump for not saying that he will get to the bottom of Russian bounty allegations.
Chairman Schiff said after being briefed on the bounty allegations:
I find it inexplicable in light of these very public allegations that the President hasn’t come before the country and assured the American people that he will get to the bottom of whether Russians are putting a bounty on the heads of American troops and that he will do everything in his power to make sure that we protect American troops.
I do not understand for a moment why the President isn’t saying this to the American people right now and is relying on ‘I don’t know,’ ‘I haven’t heard,’ ‘I haven’t been briefed.’ That’s just not excusable. His responsibilities as commander-in-chief is to protect our troops and I shared the concern at the White House today that I think many of us have, which is, there may be a reluctance to brief the President on things he doesn’t want to hear and that may be more true with respect to Putin and Putin’s Russia than with respect to any other subject matter. Many of us do not understand his affinity for that autocratic ruler who means our nation ill and so if there’s a problem with being willing to brief the president on intelligence he doesn’t want to hear that’s a problem for our entire nation’s security.
Video:
Adam Schiff points out that Trump has said nothing about getting to the bottom of Russia placing a bounty on US troops in Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/eSKd9BiH5B — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) June 30, 2020
Chairman Schiff was correct. Trump’s claim that he didn’t know about the Russian bounties on US troops doesn’t stop him from doing something about it right now.
No other president, Democratic or Republican would stand by with his hands in his pockets while the Russians put a price on heads of US troops as Trump has.
The White House has known about the bounty since 2019 and done nothing. The fact that Trump won’t stand up to Putin shows that it is time to get rid of Trump.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-06-30--Republican Senator Wants Trump to Wear a Mask: “The Stakes Are Too High”

A Republican senator is urging Donald Trump to wear a mask because of the ongoing threat from the Coronavirus pandemic .
Lamar Alexander wants to end partisan debate on the issue .
The Tennessee senator , who is chairman of the Senate Health Committee , said on Tuesday that he suggested wearing a mask to the President .
“ Unfortunately this simple lifesaving practice has become part of a political debate that says : If you ’ re for Trump , you don ’ t wear a mask .
If you ’ re against Trump , you do , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have suggested the president should occasionally wear a mask even though there are not many occasions when it is necessary for him to do so , ” he said .
“ The President has millions of admirers .
They would follow his lead .
It would help end this political debate .
The stakes are too high for it to continue.
” Alexander isn ’ t the first Republican to urge the wearing of masks .
On the Senate floor on Monday , Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made a similar plea .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ none — about wearing masks when we leave our homes and come near other people , ” McConnell said .
“ Wearing simple face coverings is not about protecting ourselves .
It is about protecting everyone we encounter , ” he said .
Senator Marco Rubio has also said people should “ just wear a damn mask.
” President Trump has so far refused to do so in public .

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A Republican senator is urging Donald Trump to wear a mask because of the ongoing threat from the Coronavirus pandemic. Lamar Alexander wants to end partisan debate on the issue.
The Tennessee senator, who is chairman of the Senate Health Committee, said on Tuesday that he suggested wearing a mask to the President.
“Unfortunately this simple lifesaving practice has become part of a political debate that says: If you’re for Trump, you don’t wear a mask. If you’re against Trump, you do,” Alexander explained.
“That is why I have suggested the president should occasionally wear a mask even though there are not many occasions when it is necessary for him to do so,” he said.
“The President has millions of admirers. They would follow his lead. It would help end this political debate. The stakes are too high for it to continue.”
Alexander isn’t the first Republican to urge the wearing of masks. On the Senate floor on Monday, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made a similar plea.
“We must have no stigma — none — about wearing masks when we leave our homes and come near other people,” McConnell said.
“Wearing simple face coverings is not about protecting ourselves. It is about protecting everyone we encounter,” he said.
Senator Marco Rubio has also said people should “just wear a damn mask.”
President Trump has so far refused to do so in public.
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