“Imagine that Trump wasn’t on Twitter at all, but that everything we have learned from him on Twitter was material that a Watergate-like investigation uncovered on its own. We would be drawing up charges and indictments and articles of impeachment right now”
Month: August 2018
Trump slams ‘Russian hoax’ after admin says Russia meddling in midterms
‘President Donald Trump on Thursday defended his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month and decried the “Russian hoax,” speaking at a rally just hours removed from his top national security officials decrying Russian attempts to influence US elections.
During the rally in Pennsylvania on Thursday, Trump did not mention allegations of interference or attacks on the US democratic process.
“In Helsinki, I had a great meeting with Putin,” Trump said. “We discussed everything. … We got along really well. By the way, that’s a good thing, not a bad thing. Now we’re being hindered by the Russian hoax — it’s a hoax, OK?”‘
U.S. senator Paul to meet Russian lawmakers in Moscow on Aug. 6:…
Looks like Rand is heading back to HQ!
‘MOSCOW (Reuters) – U.S. Republican senator Rand Paul is due to lead a U.S. delegation to Moscow and will meet Russian members of parliament on Aug. 6, Russian agencies cited senior lawmaker Konstantin Kosachov as saying on Thursday.’
Exclusive: suspected Russian spy found working at US embassy in Moscow
‘US counter-intelligence investigators discovered a suspected Russian spy had been working undetected in the heart of the American embassy in Moscow for more than a decade, the Guardian has learned.
The Russian national had been hired by the US Secret Service and is understood to have had access to the agency’s intranet and email systems, which gave her a window into highly potentially confidential material including the schedules of the president and vice-president.’
Enemy of the people
Kyle Griffin on Twitter
twitter.com
‘Here’s the video. Sarah Sanders is asked multiple times if she believes the media is the enemy of the people. She refuses each time to respond. (via Yahoo)’
Obama dips into midterm election with first endorsements
“Today I’m proud to endorse such a wide and impressive array of Democratic candidates – leaders as diverse, patriotic, and big-hearted as the America they’re running to represent:
I’m confident that, together, they’ll strengthen this country we love by restoring opportunity, repairing our alliances and standing in the world, and upholding our fundamental commitment to justice, fairness, responsibility, and the rule of law. But first, they need our votes.”
Opinion | Another Gift for a Putin Buddy
Opinion | Another Gift for a Putin Buddy
nytimes.com
‘This week, the Trump administration further eased its pressure on Rusal, Russia’s largest aluminum company, less than four months after sanctions on it and its notorious leader were imposed. Even as the White House seems willing to inflict pain on American farmers and consumers with its trade wars, Russian aluminum workers are apparently worthy of special protection.’
Trump Unveils His Plan to Weaken Car Pollution Rules
‘The proposal would freeze rules requiring cleaner, more efficient cars and unravel one of President Obama’s signature policies to fight global warming.
It would also challenge the right of states to set their own, more stringent tailpipe pollution standards, setting the stage for a legal clash.’
The US is at Risk of Losing a Trade War with China | by Joseph E. Stiglitz
The US is at Risk of Losing a Trade War with China | by Joseph E. Stiglitz
project-syndicate.org
‘Beyond the true, but by now platitudinous, assertion that everyone will lose, what can we say about the possible outcomes of Trump’s trade war? First, macroeconomics always prevails: if the United States’ domestic investment continues to exceed its savings, it will have to import capital and have a large trade deficit. Worse, because of the tax cuts enacted at the end of last year, the US fiscal deficit is reaching new records – recently projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2020 – which means that the trade deficit almost surely will increase, whatever the outcome of the trade war. The only way that won’t happen is if Trump leads the US into a recession, with incomes declining so much that investment and imports plummet.’
Feds examining suspicious money movements linked to Russian Maria Butina, associates
Report: Butina Probe Predated Mueller, Grew Out Of Suspicious Money Transfers
‘The Tuesday report by McClatchy laid out the origins of the probe into possible Russian attempts to infiltrate and channel money to the National Rifle Association. According to McClatchy, the NRA probe predates President Trump’s January 2017 inauguration, and is being overseen by the U.S. attorney’s office for the District of Columbia, rather than Special Counsel Robert Mueller. ‘