The congresswoman faced bad-faith claims of antisemitism at a time when Trump is making America more dangerous for Jews
Sign up for the Week in Patriarchy, a newsletter on feminism and sexism sent every Saturday.
Continue reading...Category Archives: US Congress
Bill Shine: ex-Fox News executive resigns as top Trump aide – live
- Shine to join Trump re-election campaign as senior adviser
- President tweets that Cohen ‘directly asked me for pardon’
- Sign up for the US briefing and get a new perspective
Donald Trump will host the president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, at the White House on 19 March, press secretary Sarah Sanders just announced.
The pair will discuss “how to build a more prosperous, secure and democratic Western Hemisphere,” according to the White House statement, as well as “opportunities for defense cooperation, pro-growth trade policies, combatting transnational crime and restoring democracy in Venezuela”.
"President Donald J. Trump will welcome President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil to the White House on Tuesday, March 19, 2019" pic.twitter.com/YIIwZc4axH
Senator Kamala Harris, a leading Democratic presidential candidate, weighed in on Paul Manafort’s controversial 47 month sentence while campaigning in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina today.
“We are looking at further evidence in America’s judicial system of absolute unfairness,” Harris said in video captured by CNN. “People who commit white collar crimes – they should be prepared to bring their tooth brush and spend as much time behind bars as anybody else.”
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris responds to Manafort sentencing: "Absolute unfairness" in the judicial system https://t.co/nMyXQjVbke pic.twitter.com/f2BpAB4ksz
Continue reading...John Kelly says working for Trump was his ‘least enjoyable job’ – live
- Ex-chief of staff said Mulvaney should tell president ‘what he needs to hear’
- Paul Manafort to be sentenced Thursday afternoon
- Sign up for the US briefing and get a new perspective
Here’s our man! Trump offers a stout defense of his repeated payments to Michael Cohen, made after the latter paid two women “hush” money to not talk about alleged affairs with Trump.
Cohen has already been convicted of violating campaign finance laws by paying off actor Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
It was not a campaign contribution, and there were no violations of the campaign finance laws by me. Fake News!
So Michael Cohen could have talked himself into trouble with that very definite “no pardon” statement to the House oversight committee last week.
During the hearing Cohen was asked if he had requested a pardon from Donald Trump.
I have never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from Mr Trump.
During that time period, he directed his attorney to explore possibilities of a pardon at one point with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani as well as other lawyers advising President Trump.
Continue reading...Michael Cohen gives new documents to House lawmakers
House intelligence chief hails ‘productive’ hearing as materials reportedly show edits by Trump’s legal team to Cohen’s past statement
Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer provided the US House intelligence committee with new documents and may hand over more, the panel’s chairman said after a day-long hearing behind closed doors.
The Democratic representative Adam Schiff told reporters that Michael Cohen was cooperative and the eight-hour hearing was “very productive”. He did not say what the new documents related to and declined to comment on the substance of Cohen’s testimony.
Continue reading...Antisemitism debate exposes new fault lines in US politics
The fallout from comments by Ilhan Omar spans identity politics, party politics, geopolitics and a generational divide
An Israeli prime minister who has embraced Donald Trump and taken rightwing populism from his playbook. And a group of fiery young Democrats unafraid to question their elders or challenge the status quo. Put together, the elements were bound to be explosive.
Democrats were expected to offer a resolution condemning antisemitism on the floor of the US House of Representatives on Thursday following the latest provocative comments by Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who in January became one of the first two Muslim women in Congress.
Continue reading...Democrats reject Fox News for 2020 debates over Trump relationship – as it happened
DNC chairman Tom Perez cited New Yorker exposé on depth of administration’s ‘inappropriate’ ties to news network
That’s all for today, folks. Thanks for sticking with us.
Leaked documents show that the US government established a secret database of advocates, attorneys, and journalists who were connected to or covered the caravan of immigrants from Central America who made their way north through Mexico to the United States southern border in 2018, NBC7 is reporting.
In some cases, those who were secretly tracked had alerts placed on their passports.
As the migrant caravan reached the San Ysidro Port of Entry in south San Diego County, so did journalists, attorneys, and advocates who were there to work and witness the events unfolding.
But in the months that followed, journalists who covered the caravan, as well as those who offered assistance to caravan members, said they felt they had become targets of intense inspections and scrutiny by border officials.
Continue reading...Senate set to reject Trump’s national emergency declaration
At least four Republicans say they will defy president’s move on the Mexican border designed to fund his wall
Donald Trump’s declaration of an emergency on the Mexican border will be rejected by the Senate, the most senior Republican in the US upper chamber has admitted.
The Democratic-controlled House has already voted to reject the national emergency declaration. A rejection in the Republican-controlled Senate would send a powerful signal that Trump’s control of his own party may be slipping.
Continue reading...Democrats target Trump Jr, Weisselberg and more as investigations grow
- Cohen hearing and co-operation turns up heat on Trump
- Nadler aims at ‘obstruction of justice’ and ‘abuse of power’
- If Trump loses, we know what to expect: anger, fear, disruption
Democrats in the House of Representatives are stepping up investigations into Donald Trump’s potentially impeachable acts of corruption, obstruction of justice and abuse of power.
Related: Democratic oversight is 'bullshit': Trump goes off-script at CPAC
Continue reading...Outrage over Trump siding with Kim Jong-un on death of Otto Warmbier – live updates
- Former Trump lawyer to testify before House intelligence committee
- Trump’s summit with Kim Jong-un collapses after negotiations fail
- Sign up to the US briefing and get a new perspective
Meanwhile, at CPAC, National Rifle Association president Ollie North is requesting thoughts and prayers for the multi-million dollar gun lobbying organization.
"I ask you to pray for the NRA," Ollie North says. He concludes: "The NRA is freedom's safest place."
Donald Trump has reacted to Michael Cohen’s testimony by claiming that Cohen lied about almost everything during yesterday’s congressional hearing – but told the truth by saying he had no evidence that Trump colluded with Russia, writes my colleague Jon Swaine:
Speaking in Vietnam after meeting the North Korean leader Kim Jong un, Trump said Cohen, his former legal fixer, lied “95% instead of 100%” of the time during a hearing of the House oversight committee on Wednesday. “I was impressed,” said Trump.
Trump falsely claimed several times that Cohen had testified that there had been “no collusion”. In fact, Cohen said he did not know any “direct evidence” of collusion. “But I have my suspicions,” he told members of congress.
Related: Trump says Cohen lied ‘95% instead of 100%’ in testimony to Congress
Continue reading...Jim Jordan: Congress’s bully-in-chief set Republican tone at Cohen hearing
Belligerent and dismissive, the ranking member of the House oversight committee took on a Trump-like role
From the first words of his opening statement, Jim Jordan, top Republican on the House oversight committee, set the tone for his party’s approach to Michael Cohen: belligerent, dismissive and utterly uninterested in anything Donald Trump’s private lawyer for the past decade had to say.
“Mr Chairman, here we go,” the congressman from Ohio spat out in front of a packed committee chamber, having stripped down to his white shirt and yellow tie to signal he meant business. “Your first big hearing, your first announced witness, Michael Cohen … a guy who is going to prison in two months for lying to Congress.”
Continue reading...Michael Cohen: ‘I appreciate the opportunity to clear the record’ – video
'I'm going to let the American people decide exactly who's telling the truth,' Donald Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen told reporters after giving testimony before a closed Senate intelligence committee. It was the first of three congressional appearances this week that are expected to contain explosive testimony about how Trump allegedly broke the law while in office. The public will hear from Cohen on Wednesday when he testifies before the House oversight and reform committee
Continue reading...Schiff threatens to call Mueller to testify if Trump-Russia report not made public
- Top Democrat will be watching Attorney General William Barr to see if he were ‘to try to bury any part of this report’
- Opinion: America has already terminated Trump
A top Democrat threatened on Sunday to call special counsel Robert Mueller to testify on Capitol Hill, subpoena documents and take the Trump administration to court if necessary, if the full report on the Russia investigation is not made public.
Related: Trump faces a legal reckoning – but are his worst troubles yet to come?
Continue reading...Dianne Feinstein rebuffs young climate activists’ calls for Green New Deal – video
The California senator has been criticised for her response to a group of children and teenagers asking her to support the Green New Deal. Video footage shows Feinstein flatly rejecting the activists’ request, telling them: 'I’ve been doing this for 30 years. I know what I’m doing'
Continue reading...‘You didn’t vote for me’: California senator responds to young activists on Green New Deal
Children and teenagers from Sunrise Movement say Dianne Feinstein reacted with ‘smugness + disrespect’
The California senator Dianne Feinstein is facing criticism over a video of her response to a group of children and teenagers asking her to support the Green New Deal.
The video clip shows parts of a Friday morning meeting between the Democrat and young activists from the Sunrise Movement. Founded in 2017, the group organizes young people to fight climate change and support the Green New Deal.
Continue reading...House Democrats to file measure aimed at blocking Trump’s emergency declaration
Lawmakers’ move, planned for Friday, sets up clash over presidential powers and immigration but is likely to fail
House Democrats will file a resolution Friday aimed at blocking the national emergency declaration that Donald Trump has issued to help finance his wall along the Southwest border, teeing up a clash over billions of dollars, immigration policy and the constitution’s separation of powers.
Though the effort seems almost certain to ultimately fall short – perhaps to a Trump veto – the resulting votes will let Democrats take a defiant stance against Trump that is sure to please liberal voters. They will also put some Republicans from swing districts and states in a difficult spot.
Continue reading...Trump-Russia: FBI had ‘backup plan’ to save investigation evidence – live
Plan created after Comey firing to ensure information would survive firings or reassignments of top officials
Attorneys for the Kentucky student filmed in an apparent confrontation with a Native American elder at the Lincoln Memorial filed a lawsuit against the Washington Post on Tuesday, accusing the news organization of engaging “in a modern-day form of McCarthyism.”
Here is the Complaint filed today against The Washington Post on behalf of Nick Sandmann. All members of the mainstream & social media mob of bullies who recklessly & viciously attacked Nick would be well-served to read it carefully. https://t.co/P3H4x0srlX
CNN hired a longtime Republican operative as the political editor charged with coordinating 2020 campaign coverage, Vox is reporting.
According to a CNN spokesperson, Isgur, who most recently worked as the Department of Justice’s main spokesperson under then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, will coordinate the network’s political coverage for the 2020 election cycle on TV and on CNN’s website. Isgur starts work next month, and will not be involved in coverage of DOJ. She will occasionally appear on TV.
Isgur’s LinkedIn page indicates she has no journalism experience. She has, however, worked for a variety of right-wing organizations and campaigns, including the Carly Fiorina and Mitt Romney presidential bids, the Republican National Committee, and a Ted Cruz US Senate campaign.
I've received a lot of partisan fundraising emails from Sarah Isgur Flores, who will reportedly "coordinate political coverage for the 2020 campaign at" CNN (https://t.co/WrQRFBZZFV), over the years. Here's one in Oct. 2014 in which she said Obama's policies would be "DOOMSDAY." pic.twitter.com/xUhXYYJMZf
CNN's new political editor, ex-flack for Carly Fiorina's campaign and the Sessions DOJ "has no experience in news but a long history as a political operative"
Lots and lots of experienced journos have lots their jobs in the last few months, just sayin'https://t.co/M5OymJoWgl
Trump ally Graham will subpoena McCabe and Rosenstein over ‘coup’
- Senate judiciary chair furious over 25th amendment claims
- The Threat: McCabe FBI memoir aims at ‘mob boss’ Trump
Trump ally Lindsey Graham has promised a Senate investigation into claims senior justice department officials discussed invoking the 25th amendment and removing the president from power.
Related: Andrew McCabe says officials discussed removing Trump after Comey firing
Continue reading...Trump declares national emergency to bypass Congress over border wall funds – live news
Trump announces emergency to bypass Congress and free up billions for long-promised border wall
- What is a national emergency – and what happens next?
- Sign up for the US morning briefing for a fresh perspective
Here’s Trump earlier, performing what is being referred to as both a “ditty” and a “sing-song”. The sound of the summer?
"We'll end up in the Supreme Court and hopefully get a fair shake and win in the Supreme Court just like the ban," said Trump, acknowledging his administration may get sued over the national emergency. https://t.co/rPePQTU8uT pic.twitter.com/QneaGmvvLv
A gag order for attorneys and witnesses has been issued in the case of Roger Stone by a federal judge in Washington DC.
Stone, a longtime friend and adviser to Donald Trump, was indicted last month on charges of lying to investigators, obstructing justice and witness tampering. He denies wrongdoing.
Continue reading...National emergency: Trump’s ‘clear abuse of power’ faces torrent of lawsuits
Declaration prompts dire warnings but fallout could be contained by successful legal challenge or resolution in Congress
As state attorneys general across the country threaten to sue the White House over Donald Trump’s declaration of a national immigration emergency on Friday, Democrats and Republicans insisted Trump was overstepping his powers, while legal analysts warned of a dangerous new phase of the Trump presidency.
Related: Trump declares national emergency to bypass Congress over border wall funds – live news
Continue reading...US lawmakers vote to end US support for war in Yemen
In rebuke of Trump’s alliance with Saudi Arabia, resolution would force administration to withdraw US troops
Asserting congressional authority over war-making powers, the US House of Representatives approved a resolution Wednesday that would force the Trump administration to withdraw US troops from involvement in Yemen, in a rebuke of Donald Trump’s alliance with the Saudi-led coalition behind the military intervention.
Lawmakers in both parties are increasingly uneasy over the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and are skeptical of the US partnership with that coalition, especially in light of Saudi Arabia’s role in the killing of the Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of the royal family.
Continue reading...