theguardian--2020-01-10--Killing Iran general delivered 'American justice', Trump tells rally

President Donald Trump made the killing of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani a theme of his re-election campaign on Thursday , drawing cheers from thousands at a rally when he said the death saved lives and delivered “ American justice ” .
At the campaign rally in Toledo , Ohio , Trump spent a lengthy part of his stump speech defending his order to kill Suleimani and rejecting criticism from Democrats who say he overstepped his authority with the US military ’ s drone strike against the commander of Iran ’ s military al-Quds force at Baghdad airport a week ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests by Iran-backed groups at the US embassy in Baghdad earlier this month .
Trump , who frequently trumpets his support of the US military , said that if he had not sent US troops to protect the embassy , the demonstrators might have broken in and killed Americans or taken them hostage , a repeat of the 2011 storming of a US diplomatic facility in Benghazi , Libya , in which the US ambassador was killed .
“ Last week the United States once again took the bold and decisive action to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
Trump ’ s appearance at the arena in Toledo was his first campaign rally of the 2020 election year , a sign of how critical the state is to his winning a second four-year term in office next November .
Trump won Ohio in 2016 by 8 percentage points , flipping a state that had gone for Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 .
Trump and his top advisers have said Suleimani was masterminding “ imminent ” attacks against American targets in the Middle East , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detail to back up the claim .
“ Suleimani was actively planning new attacks and he was looking very seriously at our embassies , and not just the embassy in Baghdad , but we stopped him and we stopped him quickly and we stopped him cold , ” Trump said .
Trump placed Suleimani ’ s death a week ago as part of his tough-on-militants message and an example of what he said was a stronger military under his watch .
Suleimani ’ s death prompted an Iranian retaliatory missile strike on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalition troops in Iraq .
Trump said he had been ready to launch retaliatory strikes until he was told that no American casualties had resulted .
“ They hit us with 16 missiles and I said , ‘ How many ?
’ We were ready to go .
We were ready to go .
I said , ‘ How many ?
How many died ?
How many were wounded ?
’ ‘ Sir , none.
’ None .
Pretty good warning system .
None .
‘ How many were hurt ?
’ ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ So we didn ’ t do anything .
We were ready .
We were ready .
Not that I wanted to .
But we were ready , ” he said .
“ You have no idea .
A lot of people got very lucky.
” While tensions remain , a broad war between the US and Iran has not erupted and Democrats are battling to rein-in Trump ’ s ability to launch a new conflict in the Middle East .
The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed a resolution on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action against Iran .
Trump mocked Democrats who felt more information was needed on the imminent danger Suleimani posed .
He said he had to make a “ split-section ” decision and Democratic leaders would have dragged out the process and leaked to the US news media if he had given them a heads-up before the operation .
“ He was a bad guy , ” Trump said of Suleimani .
“ He was a blood-thirsty terror , and he ’ s no longer a terror , he ’ s dead .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have expressed outrage over the termination of this horrible terrorist .
”

President Donald Trump made the killing of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani a theme of his re-election campaign on Thursday, drawing cheers from thousands at a rally when he said the death saved lives and delivered “American justice”.
At the campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio, Trump spent a lengthy part of his stump speech defending his order to kill Suleimani and rejecting criticism from Democrats who say he overstepped his authority with the US military’s drone strike against the commander of Iran’s military al-Quds force at Baghdad airport a week ago.
He accused Suleimani of organising violent protests by Iran-backed groups at the US embassy in Baghdad earlier this month. Trump, who frequently trumpets his support of the US military, said that if he had not sent US troops to protect the embassy, the demonstrators might have broken in and killed Americans or taken them hostage, a repeat of the 2011 storming of a US diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya, in which the US ambassador was killed.
“Last week the United States once again took the bold and decisive action to save American lives and deliver American justice,” he said.
Trump’s appearance at the arena in Toledo was his first campaign rally of the 2020 election year, a sign of how critical the state is to his winning a second four-year term in office next November. Trump won Ohio in 2016 by 8 percentage points, flipping a state that had gone for Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.
Trump and his top advisers have said Suleimani was masterminding “imminent” attacks against American targets in the Middle East, but have drawn criticism for not providing more detail to back up the claim.
“Suleimani was actively planning new attacks and he was looking very seriously at our embassies, and not just the embassy in Baghdad, but we stopped him and we stopped him quickly and we stopped him cold,” Trump said.
03:40 Why did Trump order the killing of Iran's Qassem Suleimani? – video explainer
Trump placed Suleimani’s death a week ago as part of his tough-on-militants message and an example of what he said was a stronger military under his watch.
Suleimani’s death prompted an Iranian retaliatory missile strike on Tuesday night against two bases hosting US and coalition troops in Iraq. Trump said he had been ready to launch retaliatory strikes until he was told that no American casualties had resulted.
“They hit us with 16 missiles and I said, ‘How many?’ We were ready to go. We were ready to go. I said, ‘How many? How many died? How many were wounded?’ ‘Sir, none.’ None. Pretty good warning system. None. ‘How many were hurt?’ ‘None, sir,’” he said.
“So we didn’t do anything. We were ready. We were ready. Not that I wanted to. But we were ready,” he said. “You have no idea. A lot of people got very lucky.”
While tensions remain, a broad war between the US and Iran has not erupted and Democrats are battling to rein-in Trump’s ability to launch a new conflict in the Middle East.
The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed a resolution on Thursday to stop Trump carrying out further military action against Iran.
Trump mocked Democrats who felt more information was needed on the imminent danger Suleimani posed. He said he had to make a “split-section” decision and Democratic leaders would have dragged out the process and leaked to the US news media if he had given them a heads-up before the operation.
“He was a bad guy,” Trump said of Suleimani. “He was a blood-thirsty terror, and he’s no longer a terror, he’s dead. And yet now I see the radical-left Democrats have expressed outrage over the termination of this horrible terrorist.”


theguardian--2020-01-10--House votes to limit Donald Trump's war powers amid Iran crisis – as it happened

A Super Pac set up to help defeat the Senate majority leader , Mitch McConnell , is releasing its first attack ad against the top Kentucky Republican .
The 46-second web ad by the “ Fire Mitch .
Save America ” Super Pac is a compilation of clips of late night hosts lambasting McConnell .
It starts with Daily Show comedian Trevor Noah saying McConnell is “ truly the perfect movie villain ” while images of McConnell on the Senate floor and smiling directly into the camera .
The ad shows a clip of comedian Samantha Bee saying “ McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s like the kidney stone of the Senate.
” Thr MSNBC host Joe Scarborough ’ s voice then says “ keeps killing any bill that would protect American democracy ” before going back to Bee saying McConnell has been “ openly bragging about he how he stole a supreme court seat ” – a reference to McConnell ’ s refusal to hold hearings on Barack Obama ’ s nomination of Merrick Garland for the supreme court .
The ad then switches to a clip of McConnell saying “ think of me as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frames McConnell as a nefarious figure in the Senate , a common sentiment among Democrats .
“ Mitch McConnell is the most unpopular senator in the entire country and yet he has enormous power to block progress on so many issues important to all of our families , ” Democratic strategist Eric Hyers , the founder of the Super Pac , said in a statement .
“ He is fueling the cynicism and distrust of Washington and it ’ s time for him to go .
Kentucky and all Americans deserve better.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Super Pac and is set to air on multiple digital platforms .
It ’ s the latest example of Democrats ’ efforts to oust the longtime senator by painting him as a consummate Washington insider motivated by partisanship above all else .
McConnell is up for re-election in 2020 and multiple Democrats are running in the primary for the party nomination to face him .
But Democrat Amy McGrath , the former Democratic congressional candidate , is the heavy favorite .
The Super Pac plans to produce more content against McConnell .

Maanvi Singh in San Francisco (now) and Joan E Greve in Washington (earlier)

10 Jan 2020 01.48 GMT Summary The House voted to limit Donald Trump’s war powers . The measure compels the president to consult Congress before taking further action against Iran. As a “concurrent resolution”, the legislation doesn’t need to be ratified by Trump, but is not legally binding.
voted to limit Donald Trump’s . The measure compels the president to consult Congress before taking further action against Iran. As a “concurrent resolution”, the legislation doesn’t need to be ratified by Trump, but is not legally binding. Still, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi insisted the War Powers Resolution “has real teeth” because “it is a statement of the Congress of the United States”.
insisted the War Powers Resolution “has real teeth” because “it is a statement of the Congress of the United States”. At a rally in Ohio (which is still ondoing), Trump repeated a claim that he ordered a strike on Iranian general Quassem Suleimani because of a threat to the US embassy in Baghdad. The president also derided Congress’ War Powers resolution and implied it would have been impractical to coordinate schedules with lawmakers to discuss the strike before he ordered it.
because of a threat to the US embassy in Baghdad. The president also derided Congress’ War Powers resolution and implied it would have been impractical to coordinate schedules with lawmakers to discuss the strike before he ordered it. Pelosi said she won’t publicly set a deadline to send the articles of impeachment against Trump to the Senate, though Senate Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly expects them as early as tomorrow.
reportedly expects them as early as tomorrow. Western officials believe the Ukrainian airliner that crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran on Wednesday was caused by an Iranian missile. OF the 176 passengers who died, 63 were Canadian. Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau said his government “will not rest” until it got justice. House votes to curb Trump's powers to take military action against Iran Read more
10 Jan 2020 01.22 GMT LA mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed Joe Biden Joe Biden gained a high-profile supporter in Calfornia, ahead of the state’s March 3 primary. The Los Angeles mayor joined Dianne Feinstein, the state’s senior US senator, in endorsing Biden.
“We need Joe Biden to bring our nation and world together during these most divided and dangerous times,” Garcetti said in a statement. Although Biden is a front-runner in national polls, in California, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are neck and neck with the former vice president. Garcetti weighed entering the 2020 race himself but announced a year ago that he wouldn’t be running.
Updated at 01.23 GMT
10 Jan 2020 00.41 GMT The president is now addressing his order to kill Iranian general Qassem Suleimani without consulting Congress. Trump said he’s ended Suleimani’s “rampage though not only that part of the world” but also “other parts”, implying that Suleimani was targeting the US embassy in Baghdad and other embassies. “He’s no longer a terror — he’s dead,” Trump said.
He derided “Crazy Bernie” and Nancy Pelosi for criticizing his moves against Iran, and mocked Democrats who passed a War Powers Resolutions to prevent him from taking further action without consulting Congress, implying it would have been too difficult to coordinate schedules to discuss the “execution” of the Iranian general before ordering it. Earlier today, Trump claimed he ordered the killing of Suleimani to stop a plot to destroy the US embassy in Baghdad, though he didn’t provide any further details to reporters. The plot was “obvious,” he said, pointing to protesters who stormed the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. Democratic and Republican lawmakers have criticized the Trump administration’s refusal to provide more information on why, exactly, the Iranian general was targeted now.
Updated at 00.49 GMT
10 Jan 2020 00.33 GMT Donald Trump is speaking at a rally in Toledo, Ohio. An Ohio politics reporter fact-checks his claim that “Ohio just had the best year economically”. Trump: "Ohio just had the best year economically in the history of your state ... and this year's going to be even better." Not sure what data he's talking about... state is on track to lose jobs in 2019. — Liz Skalka (@lizskalka) January 10, 2020
10 Jan 2020 00.24 GMT Tom Steyer speaking to the press in the spin room after the sixth Democratic primary debate in December. Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images Steyer qualified for the debate after two Fox News polls released today showed Steyer polling double-digits in South Carolina and Nevada. He tied alongside Sen. Elizabeth Warren for third place in Nevada and landed in second place in South Carolina, with at 15%. Joe Biden took the lead spot in both polls. NEW @foxnewspoll places @TomSteyer in 2nd place in South Carolina pic.twitter.com/1SksqZ36bo — Sean Langille (@SeanLangille) January 9, 2020 The debate is scheduled for Jan 14 in Des Moines, Iowa. Along with Steyer, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, and Amy Klobuchar have also qualified. Cory Booker, Deval Patrick and Andrew Yang, the three remaining candidates of color have not yet qualified; they have through tomorrow to do so.
This post was amended on 10 January 2020. A previous version omitted Deval Patrick from the list of candidates of color.
Updated at 11.09 GMT
10 Jan 2020 00.02 GMT Having approved the war powers resolution, the House has now moved on to environmental policy. Members are debating legislation that would require the Environmental Protection Agency to designate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as hazardous. But Donald Trump – who today unveiled a plan to bypass environmental review of major infrastructure projects and has aggressively pursued cuts to environmental projection – insists he cares about the environment, too. Asked whether climate change was a hoax this morning, Trump told reporters “it’s a very serious subject” and he’s going to read a book about it. The New York Times’ Lisa Friedman followed up – and discovered the title of the book he intends to read: Donald J Trump: An Environmental Hero, by Ed Russo. White House confirmation - the book Trump intends to read is indeed 'Donald J. Trump: An Environmental Hero,' by Ed Russo https://t.co/BRkzI0rpC2 — Lisa Friedman (@LFFriedman) January 9, 2020 The book was self-published by Russo, who was an environmental advisor for the Trump Organization.
Updated at 00.20 GMT
9 Jan 2020 23.45 GMT Daniel Strauss A Super Pac set up to help defeat the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is releasing its first attack ad against the top Kentucky Republican. The 46-second web ad by the “Fire Mitch. Save America” Super Pac is a compilation of clips of late night hosts lambasting McConnell. It starts with Daily Show comedian Trevor Noah saying McConnell is “truly the perfect movie villain” while images of McConnell on the Senate floor and smiling directly into the camera. The ad shows a clip of comedian Samantha Bee saying “McConnell is so good at blocking things he’s like the kidney stone of the Senate.” Thr MSNBC host Joe Scarborough’s voice then says “keeps killing any bill that would protect American democracy” before going back to Bee saying McConnell has been “openly bragging about he how he stole a supreme court seat” – a reference to McConnell’s refusal to hold hearings on Barack Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland for the supreme court. The ad then switches to a clip of McConnell saying “think of me as the grim reaper”. The ad frames McConnell as a nefarious figure in the Senate, a common sentiment among Democrats. “Mitch McConnell is the most unpopular senator in the entire country and yet he has enormous power to block progress on so many issues important to all of our families,” Democratic strategist Eric Hyers, the founder of the Super Pac, said in a statement. “He is fueling the cynicism and distrust of Washington and it’s time for him to go. Kentucky and all Americans deserve better.” The ad is the first one by the Super Pac and is set to air on multiple digital platforms. It’s the latest example of Democrats’ efforts to oust the longtime senator by painting him as a consummate Washington insider motivated by partisanship above all else. McConnell is up for re-election in 2020 and multiple Democrats are running in the primary for the party nomination to face him. But Democrat Amy McGrath, the former Democratic congressional candidate, is the heavy favorite. The Super Pac plans to produce more content against McConnell.
Updated at 00.09 GMT
9 Jan 2020 23.33 GMT The House resolution came about after Donald Trump chose to take unilateral action last week to assassinate the senior Iranian general Qassem Suleimani without consulting or even notifying before Congress. To stop the president from taking further action against Iran without consulting them, House Democrats have invoked the War Powers Act of 1973, which draws out the parameters of presidential and congressional war powers. With the passage of an Authorization for Use of Military Force in 2001 to fight terrorism, and another AUMF in 2002 for the war in Iraq, Congress’ war powers have diminished since 9/11. Now many lawmakers – especially Democrats – are discussing how to rebalance war powers. In the Senate, a similar war powers proposal by Democrat Tim Kaine faces much slimmer odds of passing, though Republican Senator Todd Young, an ex-marine who represents Indiana, and two other Republicans indicated yesterday the would back the plan.
Updated at 00.16 GMT
9 Jan 2020 23.10 GMT Three Republicans voted for the resolution: Thomas Massie, Francis Rooney and Matt Gaetz. Eight Democrats voted against. This is a “concurrent resolution” – which doesn’t go to the president for a signature, and also isn’t usually legally binding. However, House Democrats are arguing that a concurrent resolution under the War Powers Act is a special case, and is binding. The debate over the implications of this resolution has gotten a bit... catty. Good one! Maybe if you were as good at passing legislation as you are at one-liners you would be Speaker of the House.
How embarrassing. https://t.co/glDXsInxNP — Bobby L. Rush (@RepBobbyRush) January 9, 2020
Updated at 00.17 GMT


theguardian--2020-01-10--House votes to curb Trump's powers to take military action against Iran

The US House of Representatives has approved a resolution asserting that Donald Trump must seek approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran , reigniting a debate over who has the power to declare war .
The war powers resolution is not binding on the president and would not require his signature .
But the House speaker , Nancy Pelosi , nonetheless insisted it “ has real teeth ” because “ it is a statement of the Congress of the United States ” .
The measure will “ protect American lives and values ” by limiting Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The administration must de-escalate and must prevent further violence.
” The Democratic-controlled House passed the measure on Thursday by a vote of 224-194 with just three Republicans voting in support .
Eight Democrats opposed the measure .
The House resolution came about after Trump chose to take unilateral action last week to assassinate the senior Iranian general Qassem Suleimani without consulting or even notifying Congress .
To stop the president from taking further action against Iran without consulting them , House Democrats have invoked the War Powers Act of 1973 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and congressional war powers .
With the passage of an Authorization for Use of Military Force ( AUMF ) in 2001 to fight terrorism , and another AUMF in 2002 for the war in Iraq , Congress ’ war powers have diminished since 9/11 .
Now many lawmakers – especially Democrats – are discussing how to rebalance such powers .
In the Senate , a similar war powers proposal by the Democrat Tim Kaine faces much slimmer odds of passing , though Republican Senator Todd Young , an ex-marine who represents Indiana , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would back the plan .
Pelosi , in announcing the House vote , called the killing of Suleimani “ provocative and disproportionate ” .
Republicans denounced the measure , with the Louisiana congressman Steve Scalise calling it little more than “ a press release designed to attack President Trump ” , while the House minority leader , Kevin McCarthy , called it a “ meaningless vote ” .
The House vote came a day after the Trump administration briefed lawmakers on its actions in Iran .
Democrats and several Republicans called the briefings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide enough details about why the attack was justified .
The vice-president , Mike Pence , said Thursday that Suleimani “ was traveling the region making plans to bring an attack against American personnel and American forces ” .
He said it was not possible to share full details of the intelligence with lawmakers .
“ When it comes to intelligence we have to protect sources and methods , there ’ s only a certain amount we can share with every member of Congress , ” Pence said on ABC ’ s Good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us who have seen all the evidence know that there was a compelling case of imminent threat against American personnel.
” Members of Congress have a constitutional responsibility to uphold in authorizing use of military force , Slotkin said , adding , “ We are owed concrete , specific details on strategy.
” Trump did not consult with congressional leaders ahead of the attack that killed the Iranian general and afterward sent Congress a notification explaining the rationale , but kept it classified .
Congress has allowed its war powers role to erode @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Military Force ( AUMF ) in 2001 to fight terrorism after the 9/11 attacks , and passage of another AUMF for the invasion of Iraq in 2002 .
Fallout from those votes deeply divided Congress and the nation , with many lawmakers , particularly Democrats , now saying they were mistakes .
Yet Congress has been paralyzed on the question of whether to repeal or change those authorities .

The US House of Representatives has approved a resolution asserting that Donald Trump must seek approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran, reigniting a debate over who has the power to declare war.
The war powers resolution is not binding on the president and would not require his signature. But the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, nonetheless insisted it “has real teeth” because “it is a statement of the Congress of the United States”.
The measure will “protect American lives and values” by limiting Trump’s military actions, Pelosi said. “The administration must de-escalate and must prevent further violence.”
The Democratic-controlled House passed the measure on Thursday by a vote of 224-194 with just three Republicans voting in support. Eight Democrats opposed the measure.
The House resolution came about after Trump chose to take unilateral action last week to assassinate the senior Iranian general Qassem Suleimani without consulting or even notifying Congress.
To stop the president from taking further action against Iran without consulting them, House Democrats have invoked the War Powers Act of 1973, which draws out the parameters of presidential and congressional war powers. With the passage of an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in 2001 to fight terrorism, and another AUMF in 2002 for the war in Iraq, Congress’ war powers have diminished since 9/11. Now many lawmakers – especially Democrats – are discussing how to rebalance such powers.
In the Senate, a similar war powers proposal by the Democrat Tim Kaine faces much slimmer odds of passing, though Republican Senator Todd Young, an ex-marine who represents Indiana, and two other Republicans indicated yesterday they would back the plan.
Pelosi, in announcing the House vote, called the killing of Suleimani “provocative and disproportionate”.
Republicans denounced the measure, with the Louisiana congressman Steve Scalise calling it little more than “a press release designed to attack President Trump”, while the House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, called it a “meaningless vote”.
The House vote came a day after the Trump administration briefed lawmakers on its actions in Iran. Democrats and several Republicans called the briefings inadequate, adding that officials did not provide enough details about why the attack was justified.
03:40 Why did Trump order the killing of Iran's Qassem Suleimani? – video explainer
The vice-president, Mike Pence, said Thursday that Suleimani “was traveling the region making plans to bring an attack against American personnel and American forces”. He said it was not possible to share full details of the intelligence with lawmakers.
“When it comes to intelligence we have to protect sources and methods, there’s only a certain amount we can share with every member of Congress,” Pence said on ABC’s Good Morning America. “But those of us who have seen all the evidence know that there was a compelling case of imminent threat against American personnel.”
Members of Congress have a constitutional responsibility to uphold in authorizing use of military force, Slotkin said, adding, “We are owed concrete, specific details on strategy.”
Trump did not consult with congressional leaders ahead of the attack that killed the Iranian general and afterward sent Congress a notification explaining the rationale, but kept it classified.
Congress has allowed its war powers role to erode since the passage of Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in 2001 to fight terrorism after the 9/11 attacks, and passage of another AUMF for the invasion of Iraq in 2002.
Fallout from those votes deeply divided Congress and the nation, with many lawmakers, particularly Democrats, now saying they were mistakes. Yet Congress has been paralyzed on the question of whether to repeal or change those authorities.


theguardian--2020-01-10--If you thought this was the decade Facebook would stop elevating rightwing demagogues, think again

In Silicon Valley , the first week of January is reliably bookmarked by two news stories : the latest absurd and amusing products at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas , and Mark Zuckerberg ’ s announcement of his New Year ’ s resolution , which he annoyingly persists in calling “ personal challenges ” .
Zuckerberg ’ s resolutions have evolved in tandem with Facebook itself , from the domestic and human-sized ( go running , eat less meat ) to the global and unwieldy ( “ fixing ” Facebook ) .
So it seems worth noting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zuckerberg is officially giving up .
It ’ s not just that Zuck announced that he is no longer going to announce new personal challenges every January ( and believe me , as someone who made it eight hours into the new year before I gave in and had a piece of toast , I feel him ) .
It ’ s that the longer-term goals that he outlined for 2030 represent a pivot away from the hard work of fixing Facebook before Facebook destroys liberal democracy .
After three years of at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook please do something about the way in which its products and staff have helped elevate rightwing demagogues into positions of power around the world , Zuckerberg appears to have decided enough is enough .
Facebook is not going to change , and he ’ s not going to pretend that he wants it to .
Instead , Zuckerberg wrote in a lengthy Facebook post , he plans to focus his efforts on five major areas in the next decade , in the hopes that by 2030 ( a year whose significance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his daughter will be attending high school , virtual reality tech will be really good and the average life expectancy will have increased by 2.5 years .
Three of the five areas of focus are simply to continue working on Facebook ’ s major business aims ( private messaging , e-commerce , and VR/AR ) ; the personal challenge version of deciding that , screw the diet-book industrial complex , you ’ re beautiful just as you are .
A fourth , entitled “ New forms of Governance ” is to continue working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook content moderation , another project already long in the works .
The fifth , which Zuckerberg entitled “ generational change ” appears to encapsulate his desire to see more millennials take positions of power in institutions over the next decade .
Considering that many millennials will be approaching their mid-40s by 2030 , this is the equivalent of resolving to experience the passage of time .
So no , if you thought that Zuckerberg was going to spend the next decade grappling with the question of what Donald Trump , Narendra Modi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ m sorry to disappoint you .
Please join me instead in imagining Zuck in his bathroom , crooning to himself in the mirror , “ You ’ re beautiful , you ’ re beautiful , you ’ re beautiful , it ’ s true.
” Zuckerberg ’ s decision to turn his attention away from the political problems his company has created was telegraphed throughout the week .
A pair of policy announcements epitomized the new take-me-as-I-am attitude : Facebook will only attempt to police doctored video designed to misinform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AI tools , and it will not reverse its decision to allow politicians to advertise lies , nor will it implement any new restrictions on micro-targeting for political advertisements .
Meanwhile , the timely leak of a 2,500 word “ memo ” by Facebook executive and Zuckerberg “ proxy ” Andrew Bosworth provided the less-varnished-than-Zuck-can-be explanation for the policy decisions .
In the extraordinary document , which Bosworth published to his internal Facebook page on 30 December , the executive who ran Facebook ’ s advertising business during the 2016 election asserted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reason Trump won the US presidency .
It wasn ’ t a question of Russian interference or Cambridge Analytica , Bosworth said .
“ Parscale and Trump just did unbelievable work .
They weren ’ t running misinformation or hoaxes .
They weren ’ t microtargeting or saying different things to different people .
They just used the tools we had to show the right creative to each person.
” From this basis , Bosworth draws the conclusion that it would be immoral to change any of Facebook ’ s rules to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 , a frankly astonishing feat of pseudo-intellectualized mental gymnastics .
Let ’ s just walk through this again .
Bosworth is a self-declared liberal and “ no fan of Trump ” who believes that Facebook ’ s tools were so powerful that they secured a long-shot victory for a presidential campaign that was principally animated by racist xenophobia .
And in reflecting on the machine that made that extremely unlikely outcome possible , Bosworth concluded not that it should be dismantled or radically reformed , but that the only “ moral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it intact .
“ If we change the outcomes without winning the minds of the people who will be ruled then we have a democracy in name only , ” he added , in a chilling impersonation of Donald Rumsfeld expressing dangerously misplaced confidence about the invasion of Iraq .
If there is any good news to be found in this ideologically bankrupt morass , it is that finally , the mask has dropped .
Facebook is done pretending to be a social good .
It ’ s just sugar , Bosworth wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good .
And while it will eventually kill you , it will be a slow death .
• None “ Technology in 2050 : will it save humanity – or destroy us ?
” by the Guardian ’ s Alex Hern • None “ Facebook Is Running Anti-Vax Ads , Despite Its Ban On Vaccine Misinformation , ” by BuzzFeed News ’ Caroline Haskins • None “ Major union launches campaign to organize video game and tech workers , ” by the Los Angeles Times ’ Sam Dean • None “ Scientists give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vision study , ” by the Guardian ’ s Ian Sample

In Silicon Valley, the first week of January is reliably bookmarked by two news stories: the latest absurd and amusing products at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement of his new year resolutions, which he annoyingly persists in calling “personal challenges”.
Zuckerberg’s resolutions have evolved in tandem with Facebook itself, from the domestic and human-sized (go running, eat less meat) to the global and unwieldy (“fixing” Facebook). So it seems worth noting that 2020 is apparently the year that Zuckerberg is officially giving up.
It’s not just that Zuck announced that he is no longer going to announce new personal challenges every January (and believe me, as someone who made it eight hours into the new year before I gave in and had a piece of toast, I feel him). It’s that the longer-term goals he outlined for 2030 represent a move away from the hard work of fixing Facebook before Facebook destroys liberal democracy.
After three years of at least paying lip service to demands that Facebook please do something about the way in which its products and staff have helped elevate rightwing demagogues into positions of power around the world, Zuckerberg appears to have decided enough is enough. Facebook is not going to change, and he’s not going to pretend that he wants it to.
Instead, Zuckerberg wrote in a lengthy Facebook post, he plans to focus his efforts on five major areas in the next decade, in the hopes that by 2030 (a year whose significance to impending climate catastrophe goes unmentioned), his daughter will be attending high school, virtual reality tech will be really good and the average life expectancy will have increased by two and a half years.
Three of the five areas of focus are simply to continue working on Facebook’s major business aims (private messaging, e-commerce, and VR/AR); the personal challenge version of deciding that, screw the diet-book industrial complex, you’re beautiful just as you are. A fourth, entitled “New forms of governance” is to continue working on the “supreme court” of Facebook content moderation, another project already long in the works.
The fifth, which Zuckerberg entitled “generational change”, appears to encapsulate his desire to see more millennials take positions of power in institutions over the next decade. Considering that many millennials will be approaching their mid-40s by 2030, this is the equivalent of resolving to experience the passage of time.
So no, if you thought that Zuckerberg was going to spend the next decade grappling with the question of what Donald Trump, Narendra Modi and Rodrigo Duterte have in common, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Please join me instead in imagining Zuck in his bathroom, crooning to himself in the mirror: “You’re beautiful, you’re beautiful, you’re beautiful, it’s true.”
Zuckerberg’s decision to turn his attention away from the political problems his company has created was telegraphed throughout the week. A pair of policy announcements epitomized the new take-me-as-I-am attitude: Facebook will only attempt to police doctored video designed to misinform voters if the video is manipulated with AI tools, and it will not reverse its decision to allow politicians to advertise lies, nor will it implement any new restrictions on micro-targeting for political advertisements.
Meanwhile, the timely leak of a 2,500 word “memo” by Facebook executive and Zuckerberg “proxy” Andrew Bosworth provided the less-varnished-than-Zuck-can-be explanation for the policy decisions. In the extraordinary document, which Bosworth published to his internal Facebook page on 30 December, the executive who ran Facebook’s advertising business during the 2016 election asserted that the company was, in fact, the reason Trump won the US presidency.
It wasn’t a question of Russian interference or Cambridge Analytica, Bosworth said. “Parscale and Trump just did unbelievable work. They weren’t running misinformation or hoaxes. They weren’t microtargeting or saying different things to different people. They just used the tools we had to show the right creative to each person.”
From this basis, Bosworth draws the conclusion that it would be immoral to change any of Facebook’s rules to make it harder for Trump to win in 2020, a frankly astonishing feat of pseudo-intellectualized mental gymnastics.
Let’s just walk through this again. Bosworth is a self-declared liberal and “no fan of Trump” who believes Facebook’s tools were so powerful that they secured a long-shot victory for a presidential campaign that was principally animated by racist xenophobia. And in reflecting on the machine that made that extremely unlikely outcome possible, Bosworth concluded not that it should be dismantled or radically reformed, but that the only “moral” course of action was to leave it intact.
“If we change the outcomes without winning the minds of the people who will be ruled then we have a democracy in name only,” he added, in a chilling impersonation of Donald Rumsfeld expressing dangerously misplaced confidence about the invasion of Iraq.
If there is any good news to be found in this ideologically bankrupt morass, it is that finally, the mask has dropped. Facebook is done pretending to be a social good. It’s just sugar, Bosworth wrote. It tastes good; really, really good. And while it will eventually kill you, it will be a slow death.
What I’m reading …


theguardian--2020-01-10--The Democrats must become a real anti-war party | Hamilton Nolan

Geopolitically speaking , we are the bad guys .
The United States government , that is .
The extent to which this is true fluctuates somewhat from administration to administration , but in the postwar decades it has been a fairly reliable judgment .
We sponsor coups , fund death squads , stage unjustified invasions and enable all manner of human rights violations in exchange for economic and political gain .
This is a fact that our political class has long deemed too unpleasant for the populace to swallow .
What should be an uncontroversial observation of reality is therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Democratic party has long participated in this jingoistic hologram-weaving almost as enthusiastically as Republicans have .
What we need are unapologetic soldiers for peace .
What we usually get instead is … Pete Buttigieg .
Donald Trump got mad watching cable news , impulsively assassinated a top Iranian military figure , and has brought us to the brink of an entirely needless war .
Unsurprising .
We knew he was a tantrum-prone child when we elected him .
We chose this incredibly stupid path .
Guns and the flag are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they will continue to feed these things to Americans as long as they continue to be an effective way to distract everyone from the fact that they are funneling all of your money to the rich .
The only hope of salvation from our B-movie nightmare lies in having an opposition party that actually opposes this stuff .
As long as the Democrats themselves remain dazzled by militarism like a bunch of eight-year-olds gaping at a cool fighter jet , we are doomed to debate only how fast our world-annihilating stockpile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pull of the US military and its more than $ 700bn budget warps our national politics like a black hole .
It is plainly insane .
It sucks up money that could be spent improving lives rather than planning to destroy them ; it sucks up human talent that could be put to more beneficial use than blowing things up ; and , like all bureaucracies , the military tends to create the conditions to sustain itself – in this case , a profusion of congressmen with military bases and defense contractors in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as useful employment boosters .
This structural danger has been apparent since the Eisenhower years , but our situation today – the most powerful army in history under the total control of the biggest idiot in history – is another fun legacy of the Clinton-era Democratic triangulation strategy , which holds that the path to Democratic power is to act more like Republicans .
It is this approach to politics that earned us enthusiastic bipartisan backing for the Iraq war , and it remains the guiding philosophy of politicians like Joe Biden and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea of joining the military reserve as a résumé line item right after joining McKinsey has a very strong Clinton-era vibe . )
These types of Democrats seek out veterans for the same reason that Republicans try to recruit black candidates : they see politics purely as an optics game , and they have an extremely low opinion of the voting public .
A Democrat with an M-16 or a black Republican are an idiot ’ s idea of a foolproof “ checkmate !
” moment in political debate .
Consequently , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed as foolish by the same political geniuses who transformed John Kerry , a veteran best known for being a peace activist , into a flag-saluting “ Reporting for duty !
” soldier man on stage at the Democratic convention .
Kerry lost to a Republican draft dodger .
Now we are ruled by another Republican draft-dodger .
Our military budget is still larger than those of the next seven countries combined .
We ’ re still starting new wars in the Middle East .
And other than Bernie Sanders , all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearly and without qualification that this is insane .
The vast military buildup that followed 9/11 did nothing to prevent the biggest economic collapse since the Great Depression .
The “ recovery ” decade after that has been accompanied by inequality that continues to rise to ludicrous levels .
From the perspective of a normal person , this has all been one long con .
This is how societies break down .
Trump ’ s election was a blind grasp for the most different thing .
Imagine if people were given the chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : peace .
Not the political talking point of “ peace through strength ” , but peace through justice , a genuine acknowledgment that our empire-building days need to end , because all they do is get poor people killed in exchange for making rich people richer .
Most Americans can ’ t name their own senator .
I ’ m quite sure they don ’ t know that the US sponsored a coup to overthrow the democratically elected leader of Iran in 1953 and strengthen an autocratic shah whose secret police oppressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is little wonder Iranians whose parents and grandparents had their fingernails extracted by force thanks to America ’ s desire for “ stability in the region ” might feel less than gracious towards America .
This is the sort of conversation we should be having in our country right now ; instead , we are treated to elected leaders competing to see who can best explain away our recent assassination of a Very , Very Bad Man .
For decades , voters have not had a real alternative to militarism .
The Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats were determined to show that they were too , like an undersized kid starting fights in a schoolyard .
Those few Democrats brave enough to call for peace as a real policy goal have long been marginalized and mocked .
But we live in a different time now .
In the same way that socialism has gone from a punchline to a platform , peace is ready for its turn in power .
And just like the old-school Democrats who hew to the failed centrist gospel of triangulation are being replaced with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who think that they need to strike muscular war poses for political reasons be pushed out of the party .
The Iraq war is their legacy , and they don ’ t deserve a chance to make the same mistake again .
Nothing requires less courage than letting yourself go along with a march towards war when you have the biggest military in the world .
Show me a candidate willing to fight for peace , and I ’ ll show you the future .

Geopolitically speaking, we are the bad guys. The United States government, that is. The extent to which this is true fluctuates somewhat from administration to administration, but in the postwar decades it has been a fairly reliable judgment. We sponsor coups, fund death squads, stage unjustified invasions and enable all manner of human rights violations in exchange for economic and political gain. This is a fact that our political class has long deemed too unpleasant for the populace to swallow. What should be an uncontroversial observation of reality is therefore considered a taboo in mainstream political discourse. The Democratic party has long participated in this jingoistic hologram-weaving almost as enthusiastically as Republicans have. What we need are unapologetic soldiers for peace. What we usually get instead is … Pete Buttigieg.
Donald Trump got mad watching cable news, impulsively assassinated a top Iranian military figure, and has brought us to the brink of an entirely needless war. Unsurprising. We knew he was a tantrum-prone child when we elected him. We chose this incredibly stupid path. Guns and the flag are the bread and butter of the Republican party, and they will continue to feed these things to Americans as long as they continue to be an effective way to distract everyone from the fact that they are funneling all of your money to the rich. The only hope of salvation from our B-movie nightmare lies in having an opposition party that actually opposes this stuff. As long as the Democrats themselves remain dazzled by militarism like a bunch of eight-year-olds gaping at a cool fighter jet, we are doomed to debate only how fast our world-annihilating stockpile of weapons should expand.
The gravitational pull of the US military and its more than $700bn budget warps our national politics like a black hole. It is plainly insane. It sucks up money that could be spent improving lives rather than planning to destroy them; it sucks up human talent that could be put to more beneficial use than blowing things up; and, like all bureaucracies, the military tends to create the conditions to sustain itself – in this case, a profusion of congressmen with military bases and defense contractors in their districts, who see forever wars as useful employment boosters.
This structural danger has been apparent since the Eisenhower years, but our situation today – the most powerful army in history under the total control of the biggest idiot in history – is another fun legacy of the Clinton-era Democratic triangulation strategy, which holds that the path to Democratic power is to act more like Republicans.
It is this approach to politics that earned us enthusiastic bipartisan backing for the Iraq war, and it remains the guiding philosophy of politicians like Joe Biden and his younger avatar Buttigieg. (The idea of joining the military reserve as a résumé line item right after joining McKinsey has a very strong Clinton-era vibe.) These types of Democrats seek out veterans for the same reason that Republicans try to recruit black candidates: they see politics purely as an optics game, and they have an extremely low opinion of the voting public. A Democrat with an M-16 or a black Republican are an idiot’s idea of a foolproof “checkmate!” moment in political debate.
Consequently, a substantive movement for peace has long been dismissed as foolish by the same political geniuses who transformed John Kerry, a veteran best known for being a peace activist, into a flag-saluting “Reporting for duty!” soldier man on stage at the Democratic convention. Kerry lost to a Republican draft dodger. Now we are ruled by another Republican draft-dodger. Our military budget is still larger than those of the next seven countries combined. We’re still starting new wars in the Middle East. And other than Bernie Sanders, all of the Democratic candidates seem incapable of saying clearly and without qualification that this is insane.
The vast military buildup that followed 9/11 did nothing to prevent the biggest economic collapse since the Great Depression. The “recovery” decade after that has been accompanied by inequality that continues to rise to ludicrous levels. From the perspective of a normal person, this has all been one long con. This is how societies break down. Trump’s election was a blind grasp for the most different thing. Imagine if people were given the chance to vote for something even more different: peace. Not the political talking point of “peace through strength”, but peace through justice, a genuine acknowledgment that our empire-building days need to end, because all they do is get poor people killed in exchange for making rich people richer.
Most Americans can’t name their own senator. I’m quite sure they don’t know that the US sponsored a coup to overthrow the democratically elected leader of Iran in 1953 and strengthen an autocratic shah whose secret police oppressed and tortured citizens for decades. It is little wonder Iranians whose parents and grandparents had their fingernails extracted by force thanks to America’s desire for “stability in the region” might feel less than gracious towards America. This is the sort of conversation we should be having in our country right now; instead, we are treated to elected leaders competing to see who can best explain away our recent assassination of a Very, Very Bad Man.
For decades, voters have not had a real alternative to militarism. The Republicans were all about it, and the Democrats were determined to show that they were too, like an undersized kid starting fights in a schoolyard. Those few Democrats brave enough to call for peace as a real policy goal have long been marginalized and mocked.
But we live in a different time now. In the same way that socialism has gone from a punchline to a platform, peace is ready for its turn in power. And just like the old-school Democrats who hew to the failed centrist gospel of triangulation are being replaced with a new generation, so too must those who think that they need to strike muscular war poses for political reasons be pushed out of the party. The Iraq war is their legacy, and they don’t deserve a chance to make the same mistake again.
Nothing requires less courage than letting yourself go along with a march towards war when you have the biggest military in the world. Show me a candidate willing to fight for peace, and I’ll show you the future.


theguardian--2020-01-10--Why did Trump order the killing of Iran's Qassem Suleimani? – video explainer

Qassem Suleimani , who was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad , was widely considered to be the @ @ @ @ @ after the supreme leader , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – and Iran 's leading military figure @ @ @ @ @ has plunged the Middle East into a crisis that seems likely to lead to further @ @ @ @ @ .
The Guardian 's Middle East correspondent Martin Chulov examines what motivated Donald Trump to @ @ @ @ @ : Trump sparked the Iran crisis .
Now he must walk away from the brink @ @

Martin Chulov, James MacWhirter, Alex Healey and Nikhita Chulani

Qassem Suleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad, was widely considered to be the most powerful man in Iran after the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – and Iran's leading military figure.
Suleimani’s assassination has plunged the Middle East into a crisis that seems likely to lead to further escalation between Washington and Tehran. The Guardian's Middle East correspondent Martin Chulov examines what motivated Donald Trump to order the assassination


theguardian--2020-01-10--Trump impeachment: Senator Collins working to allow witnesses at trial – live updates

Bernie Sanders is now in the lead candidate in Iowa as the Feb. 3 caucus vote there quickly approaches .
@ @ @ @ @ from Selzer & Co. showed the Vermont senator in the lead for the first time @ @ @ @ @ up five points to 20 % .
Meanwhile , 17 % of likely Democratic caucus @ @ @ @ @ as their first choice , 16 % cited Pete Buttigieg , and 15 % chose @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no denying that this is a good poll for Bernie Sanders ” , @ @ @ @ @ president of Selzer & Co. , which conducted the poll said according to the Des @ @ @ @ @ leads , but it ’ s not an uncontested lead .
He ’ s got @ @ @ @ @ supporters than the rest of his compatriots .
”

Lauren Gambino in Washington (earlier) and Kari Paul in San Francisco (now)

11 Jan 2020 01.25 GMT Evening Summary Kari Paul here, logging off for the weekend! Here is a summary of the key events of the last few hours: In a court filing on Friday, the Trump administration said it does not want the Supreme Court to hear its appeal of the Affordable Care Act any time soon, to give lower courts time to make rulings on it.
Bernie Sanders is leading the latest polls in Iowa, with 20% of the vote. Warren follows close behind at 17%.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defended her decision on Friday not to pay dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
Two parents who were separated from their children as a result of zero-tolerance immigration policies have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration alleging child abuse over family separations.
11 Jan 2020 00.53 GMT Lawsuit against Trump administration alleges child abuse over family separations Two parents whose children were separated from them as a result of the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” border policies are suing the federal government for $12m, claiming the children were subject to abuse and neglect while in federal custody. “The United States government tore these families apart pursuant to a cruel and unconstitutional policy: The government intended to inflict terror and harm on these small children and their fathers, as a means of deterring others from seeking to enter the United States”, said the lawsuit, which was filed Friday in U.S. District Court of Arizona. The families bringing the lawsuit said they were fleeing violence in Guatemala when they were detained in 2018 after crossing into the US border from Mexico. From the Hill: According to the lawsuit, the fathers were separated from their children for more than two months, and the federal government gave little, if any, information regarding the location and safety of the children. The families “suffered, and continue to suffer, physical, mental, and emotional harm,” the lawsuit states. More than a year after they were reunited, the lawsuit says the children exhibit symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. One of the plaintiffs, who is referred to in the lawsuit by the pseudonym Abel, described his ordeal in a statement released by the Southern Poverty Law Center. “We came looking for safety, and instead, we were caged like animals. [My son] was taken from me and I had no idea what was happening to him. When I learned that he was abused by other boys, I was sick with grief. No one deserves this cruelty,” Abel said.
11 Jan 2020 00.40 GMT Hollywood stars including activist and actor Jane Fonda and Joaquin Phoenix gathered at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Friday to demand action on climate change alongside other protesters.
“The climate crisis makes our nation and all nations less secure,” said Fonda. She referenced fires in Australia, which have ravaged tens of thousands of square miles of bushland and caused at least 27 deaths. The action Friday is part of Fonda’s ongoing climate crisis protest series in DC, which is in its 14th week and have been attended by everyone from Ted Danson to Iain Armitage.
Updated at 00.42 GMT
11 Jan 2020 00.25 GMT Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defended her decision on Friday not to pay dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), saying she donates “quite a bit” to fellow democrats in other ways. “DCCC made clear that they will blacklist any org that helps progressive candidates like me”, the New York representative wrote on Twitter. “I can choose not to fund that kind of exclusion”. Fox News reported Ocasio-Cortez was withholding $250,000 in dues from the DCCC. The group reported it raised $14.4m in Decemberto elect Democratic candidates.
Updated at 00.26 GMT
11 Jan 2020 00.18 GMT The number of Canadian passengers killed in the Ukrainian Airlines crash in Iran has been revised from 63 to 57, the Canada foreign minister announced on Friday. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran on Wednesday, killing 176 people total. Security officials believe it was shot down by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile on accident.
10 Jan 2020 23.11 GMT Bernie Sanders leads in Iowa, according to new polls Bernie Sanders is now in the lead candidate in Iowa as the Feb. 3 caucus vote there quickly approaches. New numbers out on Friday from Selzer & Co. showed the Vermont senator in the lead for the first time in the state, surging up five points to 20%. Meanwhile, 17% of likely Democratic caucus voters cited Senator Elizabeth Warren as their first choice, 16% cited Pete Buttigieg, and 15% chose Joe Biden. “There’s no denying that this is a good poll for Bernie Sanders”, pollster J. Ann Selzer, president of Selzer & Co., which conducted the poll said according to the Des Moines Register. “He leads, but it’s not an uncontested lead. He’s got a firmer grip on his supporters than the rest of his compatriots.”
10 Jan 2020 22.49 GMT In a court filing on Friday, the Trump administration said it does not want the Supreme Court to hear its appeal of the Affordable Care Act any time soon. That’s because the key issue at the heart of the case - how much of the law should remain in effect - is still being litigated, CNN reports. “As the case comes to this Court, no lower-court ruling exists on severability or the appropriate remedy. Far from being urgently needed, this Court’s review thus would be premature,” the filing stated. The Supreme Court generally does not hear cases unless they have made their way through lower courts first, but if a majority votes it can be expedited.
10 Jan 2020 22.30 GMT Singer Mandy Moore will join Pete Buttigieg at an Ames, Iowa town hall event on January 13, the campaign announced on Friday. Moore is perhaps best known for her 1999 hit Candy and is reigniting her career in recent months after coming forward with sexual harassment allegations against her ex husband Ryan Adams, whom she said prevented her from recording music. The pop star said in November she backs Buttigieg, saying “he is overwhelmingly qualified” and “brilliant”. “He’s my boy”, she said of the former South Bend mayor. Buttigieg is making a number of appearances in the state ahead of the caucuses there on Feb. 3.
Updated at 22.40 GMT
10 Jan 2020 22.20 GMT Hello, Kari Paul on the West Coast here, taking over the blog for the next few hours. Stay tuned for updates.
10 Jan 2020 21.57 GMT Afternoon in Washington It’s been a steady news day in Washington dominated by the “two Is” – impeachment and Iran. But there was plenty else to follow, even some Megxit news.
Pelosi announced she would hold a vote to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate next week after nearly a month-long standoff between the chambers over next steps.
The White House announced a fresh wave of sanctions against Iran, targeting key sectors – construction, manufacturing, textiles and mining – and eight top officials. The administration says the sanctions will “cut off billions of support to the Iranian regime.”
Author and spiritual guru Marianne Williamson ended her campaign for president, conceding that she did not have enough support to win the Democratic nomination.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo backed Trump’s assertion that the US was justified in killing Suleimani because of an “imminent threat” to American embassies and interests.
Republican senator Susan Collins says she is quietly working with colleagues to pave the way for witnesses in the chamber’s impeachment trial, which could begin as early as next week.
Trump is reportedly considering expanding his controversial travel ban to include additional countries, the Associated Press reports.
10 Jan 2020 21.45 GMT Texas to stop accepting new refugees in 2020 Texas governor Greg Abbott, a staunch ally of the president, said the state will no participate in the federal refugee resettlement program citing security concerns. Texas is the first state to reject refugees under the president’s new executive order requiring written consent before refugees are resettled in the state.
In a letter to Pompeo released on Friday, Abbott wrote that Texas “has been left by Congress to deal with disproportionate migration issues resulting from a broken federal immigration system.”
The state has long led the nation in refugee resettlement, a fact Abbott cites in the letter.
Texas, he wrote, has done “more than its share.” Texas congressman Joaquin Castro, a Democrat, called the move “disgraceful” and accused Abbot of “bigotry and xenophobia”.
This is a disgraceful move by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. He has completely submitted to bigotry and xenophobia. https://t.co/gbmtHWksId — Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) January 10, 2020
Updated at 21.59 GMT
10 Jan 2020 21.26 GMT Trump on #Megxit: 'I just have such respect for the Queen' Trump apparently covered a prolific number of topics in his sit down interview with Ingraham, which is due to air tonight. Among them, he was asked to weigh in on the “rouge royals” – namely, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – whose decision to step away from House Windsor stunned Buckingham Palace and divided the country, nay, the world.
In the interview, Trump appears torn. But his thoughts are with the Queen.
“I think it’s sad. I do. She’s a great woman. She’s never made a mistake, if you look. She’s had, like, a flawless time,” he said. “I just have such respect for the Queen. I don’t think this should be happening to her.”
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10 Jan 2020 21.07 GMT Report: US unsuccessfully targeted second Iranian military official The New York Times is reporting that the US failed an attempt to strike a top Iranian military official on the same day it killed Suleimani.
Citing American officials, the Times writes: The unsuccessful airstrike in Yemen was aimed at Abdul Reza Shahlai, an official with Iran’s Quds Force, a potent paramilitary organization. He was known as a key financier for Iran’s proxy wars. President Trump approved the strike against Mr. Shahlai at the same time as he authorized the strike against General Suleimani, although it is unclear if the American attack in Yemen occurred at precisely the same time. The report is yet another indication that the public’s understanding of a military strike that brought the US to the edge of war with Iran is far from complete. The administration is facing mounting questions about its justification for carrying out the drone strike, which triggered a retaliatory attack from Iran earlier this week.
Read the whole story here.


theguardian--2020-01-10--Pompeo has sealed his spot as 'Trump's whisperer' with his mission to beat Iran

When the US embassy in Baghdad was mobbed on the last day of 2019 , a rattled Donald Trump turned to his most hawkish aide , Mike Pompeo , and finally agreed to the extreme measure the secretary of state had long advocated : the assassination of Qassem Suleimani .
The drone strike on the Iranian general a week ago may well turn out to be one of the most consequential decisions of the Trump presidency .
It represented a significant victory for Pompeo , reflecting his ascendancy in foreign policy and national security spheres .
It also highlighted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for which confrontation with Iran has become , in the words of one European diplomat , “ the one central organising principle that everybody agrees on ” .
Rob Malley , a former senior official in the Obama national security council and now president of the International Crisis Group , said : “ What is clear is that Iran is a fixation and obsession for this administration .
And it certainly seems to be a fixation of Secretary Pompeo ’ s. ” “ Pompeo is an Iran hawk , and is more powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Kirsten Fontenrose , former director for the Gulf in Trump ’ s national security council ( NSC ) , who added that his clout far outweighed the relative newcomers , the defence secretary , Mark Esper , and national security adviser , Robert O ’ Brien .
“ Pompeo has the credibility of having been CIA director .
[ Gina ] Haspel is CIA director now , but Pompeo is the president ’ s whisperer .
He can say what the language [ in the president ’ s intelligence briefs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to him very closely .
He has an outsize influence.
” According to multiple reports , the killing of Suleimani had been presented to Trump as an option several days earlier , when a 27 December attack on an Iraqi military base by an Iranian-backed Shia militia killed an American contractor .
On that occasion the president ignored Pompeo ’ s lobbying and chosen a less escalatory reprisal : airstrikes against the militia , Kata ’ ib Hezbollah .
But that led to a counter-punch : Shia militiamen and their supporters rushed into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Green Zone , with no resistance from Iraqi checkpoints and overran the gates of the US embassy compound .
The rioters failed to breach the embassy building itself , Iraqi forces eventually arrived on the scene and the militiamen dispersed .
There were no US injuries .
But the incident unnerved the president .
According to an official quoted by CNN , it did not just remind Trump of the assault on the US consulate in Benghazi in 2012 when four Americans were killed , but also the 1979 seizure of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revolution , in which 52 US diplomats and staff were taken hostage .
The political lesson was clear .
The Iran hostage crisis proved fatal for Jimmy Carter ’ s presidency , while the Benghazi attack was used for years to lambast the secretary of state at the time , Hillary Clinton , most of all by then congressman Mike Pompeo .
Against that backdrop , Pompeo was pushing at an open door last week when he warned that of the risks of the showing weakness in the Oval Office .
It also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision was being made while Trump was on holiday at his Florida resort , Mar-a-Lago , without a full complement of national security staff around him .
John Gans , a former Pentagon speechwriter and author of a new book White House Warriors : How the National Security Council Transformed the American Way of War , said those circumstances allowed Pompeo to score “ an end run ” around the policymaking process .
“ It was very clear that this thing wasn ’ t staffed through , ” Gans said .
“ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you didn ’ t choose this option because people thought it was too aggressive earlier in the week , and then he sold him on it .
Trump launches , and here we are.
” Other former officials and analysts argue that Pompeo would have eventually got his way in any circumstances because of the departure over the past three years of voices of caution .
According to security analyst Peter Bergen in a recently published book , Trump and his Generals , the former defence secretary James Mattis refused to provide the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to a diplomatic source , the advice of the former chairman of the joint chiefs Gen Joseph Dunford was a key factor in Trump ’ s last-minute decision to call off airstrikes against Iran in June .
Their replacements , Esper , a former defence industry lobbyist , and Gen Mark Milley , have not played such a restraining role .
At the NSC , traditionally where decisions are debated , there is also no one with the experience and authority to second-guess Pompeo .
O ’ Brien is a lawyer with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Victoria Coates , who is also senior director for the Middle East , is trained as an art historian , and gained her foreign policy experience as an adviser to Senator Ted Cruz , another hardliner on Iran .
Below Coates , a former special forces officer , Rob Greenway , has been given an expanded role to manage policy across the Middle East .
“ He has taken over the whole region , and he has spread the lens of Iran over the whole region , ” said a former Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the job of coordinating an economic war against Iran , and for him , it is all about beating Iran in all these other theatres.
” According to Fontenrose , a major Yemen reconstruction initiative was sacrificed to the exclusive focus on Iran .
“ Part of that focus is appropriate , ” she said .
“ But unfortunately the full vision has been lost .
There is no nuance , no light and shade.
” Some analysts , however , pointed to some recent evolution from a purely Iran-centric view of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , the state department Iran envoy , Brian Hook , acknowledged that the Houthi movement in Yemen acted independently from Tehran , and was not just a proxy .
“ The administration ’ s policy focus extends far beyond the Iran file , ” a senior administration official said .
“ Other major priority areas include the Middle East Strategic Alliance , Libya , Israel , Yemen , Syria , Lebanon and Iraq , to name a few .
In fact , Victoria Coates is currently overseas meeting with Libyans to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which speaks to our versatility .
”

When the US embassy in Baghdad was mobbed on the last day of 2019, a rattled Donald Trump turned to his most hawkish aide, Mike Pompeo, and finally agreed to the extreme measure the secretary of state had long advocated: the assassination of Qassem Suleimani.
The drone strike on the Iranian general a week ago may well turn out to be one of the most consequential decisions of the Trump presidency. It represented a significant victory for Pompeo, reflecting his ascendancy in foreign policy and national security spheres.
It also highlighted the dwindling of restraining influences in an administration for which confrontation with Iran has become, in the words of one European diplomat, “the one central organising principle that everybody agrees on”.
Rob Malley, a former senior official in the Obama national security council and now president of the International Crisis Group, said: “What is clear is that Iran is a fixation and obsession for this administration. And it certainly seems to be a fixation of Secretary Pompeo’s.”
“Pompeo is an Iran hawk, and is more powerful than anyone else in the inner circle,” said Kirsten Fontenrose, former director for the Gulf in Trump’s national security council (NSC), who added that his clout far outweighed the relative newcomers, the defence secretary, Mark Esper, and national security adviser, Robert O’Brien.
“Pompeo has the credibility of having been CIA director. [Gina] Haspel is CIA director now, but Pompeo is the president’s whisperer. He can say what the language [in the president’s intelligence briefs] means, and the president listens to him very closely. He has an outsize influence.”
According to multiple reports, the killing of Suleimani had been presented to Trump as an option several days earlier, when a 27 December attack on an Iraqi military base by an Iranian-backed Shia militia killed an American contractor. On that occasion the president ignored Pompeo’s lobbying and chosen a less escalatory reprisal: airstrikes against the militia, Kata’ib Hezbollah.
But that led to a counter-punch: Shia militiamen and their supporters rushed into Baghdad’s fortified diplomatic quarter, the Green Zone, with no resistance from Iraqi checkpoints and overran the gates of the US embassy compound.
The rioters failed to breach the embassy building itself, Iraqi forces eventually arrived on the scene and the militiamen dispersed. There were no US injuries. But the incident unnerved the president. According to an official quoted by CNN, it did not just remind Trump of the assault on the US consulate in Benghazi in 2012 when four Americans were killed, but also the 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Tehran after the Iranian revolution, in which 52 US diplomats and staff were taken hostage.
The political lesson was clear. The Iran hostage crisis proved fatal for Jimmy Carter’s presidency, while the Benghazi attack was used for years to lambast the secretary of state at the time, Hillary Clinton, most of all by then congressman Mike Pompeo.
Against that backdrop, Pompeo was pushing at an open door last week when he warned that of the risks of the showing weakness in the Oval Office.
It also helped Pompeo’s cause that the decision was being made while Trump was on holiday at his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, without a full complement of national security staff around him.
John Gans, a former Pentagon speechwriter and author of a new book White House Warriors: How the National Security Council Transformed the American Way of War, said those circumstances allowed Pompeo to score “an end run” around the policymaking process.
“It was very clear that this thing wasn’t staffed through,” Gans said. “And Pompeo was able to say hey: you didn’t choose this option because people thought it was too aggressive earlier in the week, and then he sold him on it. Trump launches, and here we are.”
Other former officials and analysts argue that Pompeo would have eventually got his way in any circumstances because of the departure over the past three years of voices of caution. According to security analyst Peter Bergen in a recently published book, Trump and his Generals, the former defence secretary James Mattis refused to provide the White House aggressive options on Iran.
According to a diplomatic source, the advice of the former chairman of the joint chiefs Gen Joseph Dunford was a key factor in Trump’s last-minute decision to call off airstrikes against Iran in June. Their replacements, Esper, a former defence industry lobbyist, and Gen Mark Milley, have not played such a restraining role.
At the NSC, traditionally where decisions are debated, there is also no one with the experience and authority to second-guess Pompeo. O’Brien is a lawyer with little national security experience. His deputy, Victoria Coates, who is also senior director for the Middle East, is trained as an art historian, and gained her foreign policy experience as an adviser to Senator Ted Cruz, another hardliner on Iran.
03:40 Why did Trump order the killing of Iran's Qassem Suleimani? – video explainer
Below Coates, a former special forces officer, Rob Greenway, has been given an expanded role to manage policy across the Middle East.
“He has taken over the whole region, and he has spread the lens of Iran over the whole region,” said a former Trump official. “He has been given the job of coordinating an economic war against Iran, and for him, it is all about beating Iran in all these other theatres.”
According to Fontenrose, a major Yemen reconstruction initiative was sacrificed to the exclusive focus on Iran.
“Part of that focus is appropriate,” she said. “But unfortunately the full vision has been lost. There is no nuance, no light and shade.”
Some analysts, however, pointed to some recent evolution from a purely Iran-centric view of the Middle East. In a departure last month, the state department Iran envoy, Brian Hook, acknowledged that the Houthi movement in Yemen acted independently from Tehran, and was not just a proxy.
“The administration’s policy focus extends far beyond the Iran file,” a senior administration official said. “Other major priority areas include the Middle East Strategic Alliance, Libya, Israel, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, to name a few. In fact, Victoria Coates is currently overseas meeting with Libyans to help resolve the conflict in their country, which speaks to our versatility.”


theguardian--2020-01-10--Trump's travel ban may hit new countries as election looms

The White House is considering expanding its much-litigated travel ban to additional countries amid a renewed election-year focus on immigration issues by Donald Trump , according to four people familiar with the deliberations .
A document outlining the plans has been circulating the White House , but the countries that would be affected are blacked out , according to two of the people , who spoke on condition of anonymity because the measure has yet to be finalized .
The expanded ban could cover several countries that were included when Trump announced the first iteration of the ban by executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed amid rounds of litigation .
Iraq , Sudan and Chad , for instance , had originally been affected by the order ; the supreme court upheld a watered-down version of it by a 5-4 vote .
The most recent iteration of the ban includes restrictions on five majority-Muslim countries : Iran , Libya , Somalia , Syria and Yemen , as well as Venezuela and North Korea .
The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the effort , which appeared timed for release in conjunction with the third anniversary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , announced on 27 January 2017 .
That ban sparked an uproar , with huge protests across the country against what many derided as a Muslim ban and chaos at airports , where passengers were detained .
The latest deliberations come as the House speaker , Nancy Pelosi , prepares to transmit to the Senate the articles of impeachment the Democratic-led House passed against Trump late last year , launching a formal impeachment trial just as the 2020 election year gets under way .
Trump in December became just the third president in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Republican-controlled Senate is not expected to remove him from office .
Trump ran his 2016 campaign promising to crack down on illegal immigration and spent much of his first term fighting lawsuits trying to halt his push to build a wall along the southern border , prohibit the entry of citizens from several majority-Muslim countries and crack down on migrants seeking asylum in the US , amid other measures .
He is expected to press those efforts again this year as he ramps up his re-election campaign .

The White House is considering expanding its much-litigated travel ban to additional countries amid a renewed election-year focus on immigration issues by Donald Trump, according to four people familiar with the deliberations.
A document outlining the plans has been circulating the White House, but the countries that would be affected are blacked out, according to two of the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the measure has yet to be finalized.
The expanded ban could cover several countries that were included when Trump announced the first iteration of the ban by executive order in January 2017 but were later removed amid rounds of litigation. Iraq, Sudan and Chad, for instance, had originally been affected by the order; the supreme court upheld a watered-down version of it by a 5-4 vote.
The most recent iteration of the ban includes restrictions on five majority-Muslim countries: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, as well as Venezuela and North Korea.
The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the effort, which appeared timed for release in conjunction with the third anniversary of Trump’s first travel ban, announced on 27 January 2017.
That ban sparked an uproar, with huge protests across the country against what many derided as a Muslim ban and chaos at airports, where passengers were detained.
The latest deliberations come as the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, prepares to transmit to the Senate the articles of impeachment the Democratic-led House passed against Trump late last year, launching a formal impeachment trial just as the 2020 election year gets under way. Trump in December became just the third president in history to be impeached by the House. The Republican-controlled Senate is not expected to remove him from office.
Trump ran his 2016 campaign promising to crack down on illegal immigration and spent much of his first term fighting lawsuits trying to halt his push to build a wall along the southern border, prohibit the entry of citizens from several majority-Muslim countries and crack down on migrants seeking asylum in the US, amid other measures.
He is expected to press those efforts again this year as he ramps up his re-election campaign.


theguardian--2020-01-10--Marianne Williamson ends 2020 presidential campaign

Marianne Williamson , the bestselling self-help author who ran a year-long unusual presidential campaign with new age themes , dropped out of the race Friday , saying she did not want to “ get in the way of a progressive candidate winning ” the Democratic nomination .
“ I stayed in the race to take advantage of every possible opportunity to share our message , ” Williamson said in a message posted on her website .
“ With caucuses and primaries now about to begin , however , we will not be able to garner enough votes in the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is now.
” Williamson , 67 , arranged her electoral message around a hybrid of ’ 60s ideology passed through the filters of contemporary spiritualism and commercial pragmatism that resonated with some voters , through at 1 % in the polls not nearly enough to qualify for any Democratic debate stages since July .
She told voters , some of whom she termed her “ larger philosophical tribe ” , that only love could defeat Donald Trump , who she argued was a symptom of a spiritual disease in society .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other democrat candidates on a debate stage in Miami by speaking directly to Trump : “ Mr President , if you ’ re listening , I want you to hear me , please .
You have harnessed fear for political purposes , and only love can cast that out .
I ’ m going to harness love for political purposes .
I will meet you on that field , and sir , love will win.
” At its peak , her campaign employed about 45 staffers in the four early voting states but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New Hampshire reported she had let go of campaign staff .
The reports were later confirmed by her former national campaign manager , Patricia Ewing .
In many ways , Williamson ’ s campaign was a continuation of her career as a new age guru and bestselling author who counts Oprah Winfrey among her adherents .
Her presidential campaign , which was announced on 28 January last year , was her second attempt to win electoral office ; in 2014 , she was unsuccessful in a bid to win a California congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , she had vowed to continue : “ As long as I feel a connection with voters that gets to the heart of things , bringing forth the conversation that would win the 2020 election and help transform this country , I will remain in the race , ” she had said .
But as the first voting approaches in next month ’ s Iowa caucuses Williamson could not sustain her effort .
In a message to supporters Friday , Williamson said that she would support whomever won the Democratic nomination “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support ” .
“ Finally , these are not times to despair ; they are simply times to rise up .
Things are changing swiftly and dramatically in this country , and I have faith that something is awakening among us .
A politics of conscience is still yet possible .
And yes … love will prevail .
”

Marianne Williamson, the bestselling self-help author who ran a year-long unusual presidential campaign with new age themes, dropped out of the race Friday, saying she did not want to “get in the way of a progressive candidate winning” the Democratic nomination.
“I stayed in the race to take advantage of every possible opportunity to share our message,” Williamson said in a message posted on her website. “With caucuses and primaries now about to begin, however, we will not be able to garner enough votes in the election to elevate our conversation any more than it is now.”
Williamson, 67, arranged her electoral message around a hybrid of ’60s ideology passed through the filters of contemporary spiritualism and commercial pragmatism that resonated with some voters, through at 1% in the polls not nearly enough to qualify for any Democratic debate stages since July.
She told voters, some of whom she termed her “larger philosophical tribe”, that only love could defeat Donald Trump, who she argued was a symptom of a spiritual disease in society.
In June, she differentiated herself from ten other democrat candidates on a debate stage in Miami by speaking directly to Trump:
“Mr President, if you’re listening, I want you to hear me, please. You have harnessed fear for political purposes, and only love can cast that out. I’m going to harness love for political purposes. I will meet you on that field, and sir, love will win.”
At its peak, her campaign employed about 45 staffers in the four early voting states but on 2 January, WMUR television station in New Hampshire reported she had let go of campaign staff.
The reports were later confirmed by her former national campaign manager, Patricia Ewing.
In many ways, Williamson’s campaign was a continuation of her career as a new age guru and bestselling author who counts Oprah Winfrey among her adherents. Her presidential campaign, which was announced on 28 January last year, was her second attempt to win electoral office; in 2014, she was unsuccessful in a bid to win a California congressional seat.
But as recently as last week, she had vowed to continue: “As long as I feel a connection with voters that gets to the heart of things, bringing forth the conversation that would win the 2020 election and help transform this country, I will remain in the race,” she had said.
But as the first voting approaches in next month’s Iowa caucuses Williamson could not sustain her effort.
In a message to supporters Friday, Williamson said that she would support whomever won the Democratic nomination “with all my energy and in full support”.
“Finally, these are not times to despair; they are simply times to rise up. Things are changing swiftly and dramatically in this country, and I have faith that something is awakening among us. A politics of conscience is still yet possible. And yes … love will prevail.”


theguardian--2020-01-10--Trump impeachment trial to be set in motion next week, Pelosi indicates

An impeachment trial against Donald Trump will be set in motion in the Senate next week , according to a letter sent on Friday by the House speaker , Nancy Pelosi , to colleagues .
A two-thirds majority of senators voting to convict Trump on either of two articles of impeachment would result in his removal from office , although that is considered a long shot given the Republicans ’ firm control of the Senate .
“ I have asked judiciary committee chairman Jerry Nadler to be prepared to bring to the floor next week a resolution to appoint managers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate , ” Pelosi wrote in the letter .
Impeachment “ managers ” will prosecute the case against Trump in the Senate .
Last month the House approved two articles of impeachment against Trump , one for abuse of power and one for obstruction of Congress .
While Trump ’ s survival seemed assured , new signs of potential hazards in the process for Trump emerged on Friday , with the revelation by the Maine senator Susan Collins , a moderate Republican locked in a tough re-election fight , that she had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small group ” of fellow Republican senators to allow for witnesses at the trial .
“ We should be completely open to calling witnesses , ” Collins was quoted as saying by Bangor Daily News , which first published the report .
The Senate majority leader , Mitch McConnell , and other leading Republicans have stated categorically that no witnesses should be called in the trial , framing the impeachment as a “ sham ” and defending Trump ’ s conduct as irreproachable .
But just four Republicans would be needed to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic caucus , to force the appearance of witnesses and the inclusion of documents and other evidence in the trial .
After the articles are transmitted to the Senate , McConnell has signaled that he wishes to open and close a trial quickly , moving this week to settle on rules for the trial without any input from Democrats .
McConnell had accused Pelosi of delaying the transmission of the articles out of a sense of embarrassment on the part of Democrats , he said , in the weakness of the case .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new evidence to emerge since impeachment of a plot by Trump to extort Ukraine into making negative headlines about Joe Biden , his political rival .
The evidence included internal White House and Pentagon emails documenting the circumstances of the holdup in nearly $ 400m in aid to Ukraine .
Pelosi had said she was waiting to transmit the articles to the Senate until McConnell made clear the terms of a trial .
Republicans including McConnell have pre-emptively opposed hearing from witnesses and reviewing evidence at the trial , and said they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite an oath of impartiality they will be required under Senate rules to swear .
“ Yesterday , he [ McConnell ] showed his true colors and made his intentions to stonewall a fair trial even clearer by signing on to a resolution that would dismiss the charges .
A dismissal is a cover-up and deprives the American people of the truth , ” Pelosi wrote .
Pressure had been growing on Pelosi , including from other Democrats , to transmit the articles in the third week after impeachment .
The House returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the week .
The announcement appeared to set up a Senate trial to begin sometime after a Democratic debate scheduled for Tuesday night , which would include the participation of four senators running for president : Elizabeth Warren , Bernie Sanders , Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker .
Once the Senate trial begins , senators are required to be present in Washington for proceedings scheduled to run every day except Sunday until the trial is finished .
“ I will be consulting with you at our Tuesday House Democratic Caucus meeting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote to her colleagues .
“ In an impeachment trial , every Senator takes an oath to ‘ do impartial justice according to the constitution and laws ’ , ” Pelosi wrote .
“ Every senator now faces a choice : to be loyal to the president or the constitution .
”

An impeachment trial against Donald Trump will be set in motion in the Senate next week, according to a letter sent on Friday by the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to colleagues.
A two-thirds majority of senators voting to convict Trump on either of two articles of impeachment would result in his removal from office, although that is considered a long shot given the Republicans’ firm control of the Senate.
“I have asked judiciary committee chairman Jerry Nadler to be prepared to bring to the floor next week a resolution to appoint managers and transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate,” Pelosi wrote in the letter.
Impeachment “managers” will prosecute the case against Trump in the Senate. Last month the House approved two articles of impeachment against Trump, one for abuse of power and one for obstruction of Congress.
While Trump’s survival seemed assured, new signs of potential hazards in the process for Trump emerged on Friday, with the revelation by the Maine senator Susan Collins, a moderate Republican locked in a tough re-election fight, that she had been working all week with a “fairly small group” of fellow Republican senators to allow for witnesses at the trial.
“We should be completely open to calling witnesses,” Collins was quoted as saying by Bangor Daily News, which first published the report.
The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, and other leading Republicans have stated categorically that no witnesses should be called in the trial, framing the impeachment as a “sham” and defending Trump’s conduct as irreproachable.
But just four Republicans would be needed to create a simple majority, with the 47-member Democratic caucus, to force the appearance of witnesses and the inclusion of documents and other evidence in the trial.
After the articles are transmitted to the Senate, McConnell has signaled that he wishes to open and close a trial quickly, moving this week to settle on rules for the trial without any input from Democrats.
McConnell had accused Pelosi of delaying the transmission of the articles out of a sense of embarrassment on the part of Democrats, he said, in the weakness of the case.
But in her letter, Pelosi detailed new evidence to emerge since impeachment of a plot by Trump to extort Ukraine into making negative headlines about Joe Biden, his political rival. The evidence included internal White House and Pentagon emails documenting the circumstances of the holdup in nearly $400m in aid to Ukraine.
Pelosi had said she was waiting to transmit the articles to the Senate until McConnell made clear the terms of a trial. Republicans including McConnell have pre-emptively opposed hearing from witnesses and reviewing evidence at the trial, and said they would not act as “impartial jurors” despite an oath of impartiality they will be required under Senate rules to swear.
“Yesterday, he [McConnell] showed his true colors and made his intentions to stonewall a fair trial even clearer by signing on to a resolution that would dismiss the charges. A dismissal is a cover-up and deprives the American people of the truth,” Pelosi wrote.
Pressure had been growing on Pelosi, including from other Democrats, to transmit the articles in the third week after impeachment. The House returned from a holiday break at the start of the week.
The announcement appeared to set up a Senate trial to begin sometime after a Democratic debate scheduled for Tuesday night, which would include the participation of four senators running for president: Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker.
Once the Senate trial begins, senators are required to be present in Washington for proceedings scheduled to run every day except Sunday until the trial is finished.
“I will be consulting with you at our Tuesday House Democratic Caucus meeting on how we proceed further,” Pelosi wrote to her colleagues.
“In an impeachment trial, every Senator takes an oath to ‘do impartial justice according to the constitution and laws’,” Pelosi wrote. “Every senator now faces a choice: to be loyal to the president or the constitution.”