Australian diplomat’s tip a factor in FBI’s Russia probe

An Australian diplomat's tip, and not a ,dirty dossier, from a former MI6 spy, appears to have triggered FBI probe into Russian meddling in the US election In May 2016, Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos met an Australian diplomat for a night of heavy drinking at a London bar He told Alexander Downer, the Australian high commissioner to the United Kingdom, that Russia had obtained dirt on Hillary Clinton Trump backers have alleged the Russia probe was ignited by a salacious dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele An Australian diplomat's tip, and not a 'dirty dossier' from a former MI6 spy, appears to have helped persuade the FBI to investigate Russian meddling in the US election.

NYT: Former Trump campaign adviser told Australian diplomat Russia had dirt on Clinton

George Papadopoulos told an Australian diplomat that Russia had "political dirt" on Hillary Clinton in May of last year, a conversation that might have played a role in the FBI's decision to open an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, according to a report published Saturday. The New York Times reported that Papadopoulos, then a foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump's campaign, was drinking at an upscale London bar when he told Australia's top diplomat in Britain, Alexander Downer, that Russia had political information on Clinton.

FBI Russia probe helped by Australian diplomat tip-off – NYT

WASHINGTON: Former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos told an Australian diplomat in May 2016 that Russia had political dirt on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the New York Times reported on Saturday. The conversation between Papadopoulos and the diplomat, Alexander Downer, in London was a driving factor behind the FBI's decision to open a counter-intelligence investigation of Moscow's contacts with the Trump campaign, the Times reported.

Franken vows to not give up his ‘voice’ after he resigns

Sen. Al Franken vowed that he is "not giving up my voice" in his first public appearance in his home state of Minnesota since announcing plans to resign amid sexual misconduct accusations. "Here's my promise to you," he told about 300 supporters, family members and friends gathered Thursday night at the Machine Shop event space in northeast Minneapolis, according to the Star Tribune.

NYT Gushes Over Prince Harry’s Old Obama Chat: Things ‘Important to Him Have Not Changed’

New York Times reporter Ceylan Yeginsu filed breaking news from London: A three-month old interview with a former president! Prince Harry interviewed Barack Obama in Toronto in September, and the interview aired on BBC's Radio 4: " A Prince and a President: BBC's Obama Interview ." The online headline was cornier: "When Harry Met Barry: The BBC Obama Interview": It was a case of the famous interviewing the famous.

Will top-two – jungle primary’ aid Dianne Feinstein?

Strong irony is in the air as California heads into the hot political year of 2018, with an initiative to end the state's "top two" primary election system in play just as top two, also known as the "jungle primary," may be about to accomplish its central purpose. That aim was to allow voters in the minority party to influence elections and elect more moderate members of the larger party when their own party either has no candidate in a race or fields a sure loser.

Media Coverage In 2017 Marked By Bombshells That Weren’t

Establishment journalists claim that the Trump era has produced a "golden age" of journalism, but media coverage in 2017 was plagued with errors and "bombshells" that turned out to be anything but. CNN botched a major story in December when they alleged that Donald Trump Jr. was colluding with Wikileaks over stolen documents.

From North Korea to ISIS: the biggest international stories of 2017

President Donald Trump projected a policy of "America First" as he ceded the United States' leadership on climate change, blasted international agreements and demanded more of U.S. allies. The world banded together to fight climate change, while humanitarian crises unfolded in Yemen and Myanmar.

NYT: Trump Said in June Haitians ‘All Have AIDS,’ Nigerians Live in ‘Huts’

An explosive report from The New York Times seemed to confirm the worst fears of many about Donald Trump - that he's a xenophobic racist with a deep resentments against those of African origin. In an Oval Office meeting in June regarding his failed immigration bans, an incensed Trump lashed out at Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and other top aides.

Mother, 28, donates her breast milk to dozens of families

Trump secures major victory as Senate Republicans pass $1.5 trillion tax cut bill despite Democrats warning they'll 'rue this day' and protesters screaming 'don't kill us' - paving the way for a final House vote today after earlier hiccup Trump: I'm a tax LOSER! White House says president will pay more under his plan - but admits his businesses will gain California, New Jersey and New York Republicans vote AGAINST tax bill over deductions for state and local taxes - and Trump fails to convince a single Democrat to back it Catt Sadler leaves E! News following 10 years at the network after learning her male co-host Jason Kennedy earns almost DOUBLE her salary Tis' the season for shopping stress - particularly if you're older! People over the age of 50 have even MORE anxiety about Christmas gifting than anyone younger Matt Damon backs out of Downsizing premiere after his latest remarks ... (more)

Gabrielle Maston: Do slimming teas help with weight loss?

Trump secures major victory as Senate Republicans pass $1.5 trillion tax cut bill despite Democrats warning they'll 'rue this day' and protesters screaming 'don't kill us' - paving the way for a final House vote today after earlier hiccup California, New Jersey and New York Republicans vote AGAINST tax bill over deductions for state and local taxes - and Trump fails to convince a single Democrat to back it Trump: I'm a tax LOSER! White House says president will pay more under his plan - but admits his businesses will gain Catt Sadler leaves E! News following 10 years at the network after learning her male co-host Jason Kennedy earns almost DOUBLE her salary Amtrak didn't wait for crucial speed-control technology that could have prevented deaths on high speed train and driver never manually hit the emergency brake Matt Damon backs out of Downsizing premiere after his latest remarks about ... (more)

Court of Appeals Sides With Songwriters, Publishers on Fractionalized …

As the music industry heads into the holiday season, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals just gave songwriters and music publishers a gift with its decision that the consent decree allows fractionalized licensing. Fractionalized licensing means that in cases of songs written by multiple songwriters music users need to get a license from all of the songwriters, or their representatives.

U.S. Accuses North Korea of Mounting WannaCry Cyberattack

The Trump administration formally accused North Korea on Monday night of creating the WannaCry cyberattack that briefly paralyzed the British health system and placed ransomware on computers in dozens of countries around the world. President Trump's homeland security adviser, Thomas P. Bossert, wrote in an op-ed published in T he Wall Street Journal that the conclusion was "based on evidence" that he did not disclose.

On the lines, Double proposal; KCRA 3 Morning News Brief 12/18

Thousands of firefighters tried Sunday to shield coastal communities from one of the biggest wildfires in California history while a funeral procession rolled past burn-scarred hillsides in honor of one of their colleagues who was killed battling the flames. Crews cleared brush and dug containment lines above hillside neighborhoods in Santa Barbara County, taking advantage of slightly calmer winds a day after gusts fanned a flare-up that prompted more evacuations.

How Fox News and President Trump create an anti-Mueller ‘feedback loop’

An anti-Robert Mueller, anti-FBI fervor is intensifying among Trump supporters -- partly thanks to a campaign by Fox News and other conservative media sources. The right-wing commentary and President Trump's criticism of the FBI are part of a vicious circle.

How Dare The New York Times Highlight Campus Insanity

Frank Bruni, by all accounts a standard liberal, noted in a Sunday column how universities are increasingly promoting a disturbing animus for white people, taking as his inspiration a recent op-ed by a Texas State University student that garnered national attention. "It used to be that when someone called me an abomination, I was in the presence of a homophobe," Bruni began his Times column.

Nikki Haley on Trump accusers: Women who accuse anyone ‘should be…

Donald Trump, Roy Moore, and the Degradation of the G.O.P. - In less than a year, the President, with help from the Alabama Senate candidate, has so damaged the Party that it may never recover. - When Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House spokeswoman, was explaining last week Alabama Sen. Shelby: 'I couldn't vote for Roy Moore' - STORY HIGHLIGHTS - Washington Sen. Richard Shelby says he wants a Republican elected to the Senate on Tuesday to represent Alabama, but that he didn't vote for GOP candidate Roy Moore in the special election.