Dylann Roof’s death sentence this week for killing nine black church members ends one chapter in his case, but it’s far from over. Roof has indicated he will appeal his federal punishment and there are nine murder charges looming in state court.
Day: January 12, 2017
Trump defends L.L. Bean heiress over donations backing him
In this June 2012 photo, Linda Bean speaks to reporters outside the Cabinet Room after a meeting with Maine Gov. Paul LePage at the State House in Augusta, Maine. President-elect Donald Trump urged Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, for people to buy L.L. Bean products as the company faces calls for a boycott because of Linda Bean’s donations to his candidacy.
Manchin: Research showing repeal ofACA would cripple opioid epidemic fight –
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin and prominent organizations and healthcare service providers in West Virginia, announce research by Harvard and New York University that shows repealing the Affordable Care Act would cut $5.5 billion per year from the fight against the opioid epidemic.
Cubs to visit White House on Monday
The World Series champion Chicago Cubs will break from tradition and visit President Barack Obama on Monday during his last week in the White House. Normally, the World Series champions don’t make their traditional visit to the White House until the following season, but NBC Chicago reported that the Cubs wanted to make the trip before Obama left office.
Chuck Schumer opposes Jeff Sessions for AG
“After reviewing his record and giving careful consideration to his answers during the hearing, I am not confident in Senator Sessions’ ability to be a defender of the rights of all Americans, or to serve as an independent check on the incoming administration,” the New York Democrat said in a statement. “I am also deeply concerned by his views on immigration, which I saw firsthand during the push for comprehensive immigration reform.
Dem senator: ‘Very good chance’ we save ObamaCare
“I think we have a very good chance of keeping the [Affordable Care Act] in place,” he said on CNN’s “New Day” early Thursday. “The reason why is the basic elements.”
Don’t hate Jackie Evancho for plans to sing at Trump inauguration
Jackie Evancho has been receiving her fair share of hate ever since it was announced that she would perform the national anthem at Trump’s inauguration. The classical crossover singer has been getting trolled on the internet ever since she announced she would be performing at the inauguration of Donald Trump on Jan. 20. Evancho will sing the National Anthem – the original “Make America Great Again” theme song, not some newly christened Trump version – yet she’s been under constant attack.
Trumpa s pick for top diplomat breaks from him in many ways
At his confirmation hearing Wednesday, the former Exxon Mobil CEO selected by Trump for secretary of state called Russia a “danger” and vowed to protect America’s European allies. He rejected the idea of an immigration ban on Muslims.
Senate set to question Mattis, Trump’s Pentagon pick
Lawmakers will question President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be the next defense secretary, retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, on Thursday in a confirmation hearing expected to center on the threat from Iran and an intensifying American rivalry with Russia.
Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims mourn the end of the Obama era – and worry about Trump
Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims have been described as the most friendless people in the world. But for the past four years they had one powerful friend – and he lived in the White House.
Republican-led Senate takes first step to repeal ‘Obamacare’
The Senate early has passed a measure to take the first step forward on dismantling President Barack Obama’s health care law, responding to pressure to move quickly even as Republicans and President-elect Trump grapple with what to replace it with.
Justice Breyer, Lochner-phobe
In several of my academic articles about the Supreme Court’s infamous 1905 decision in Lochner v. New York , I’ve somewhat cheekily described the reflexive hostility that many jurists have to Lochner as “Lochnerphobia.”
8 interesting facts about past presidential inaugurations
With all of the pomp and circumstance surrounding a custom as proper and important as a presidential inauguration, you’d think it’d be a bit of a boring affair. Often, it’s anything but.
Former copyright office head to run publishing trade group
The former head of the U.S. Copyright Office, whose ouster last fall angered many in the arts world, has been chosen to lead the book publishers’ trade group. Maria A. Pallante will become president and CEO of the Association of American Publishers, beginning next Wednesday.
Rubio cannot back down now
Sen. Marco Rubio questions Rex Tillerson during his confirmation hearing for secretary of state on Wednesday in Washington. Sen. Marco Rubio was far and away the most effective questioner on the GOP side in yesterday’s confirmation hearing for Rex Tillerson for secretary of state.
Varoom! Veteran lawmaker turns primo Capitol office into car shrine
A lawmaker who’s collected cars and license plates for more than 40 years has turned his new Capitol office into an automotive shrine. A burgundy 1917 Model T touring car dominates the reception area.
Trump’s CIA choice to be questioned amid Russia hacking fury-Image1
Donald Trump’s pick to run the CIA faces a Senate confirmation hearing amid a testy standoff between the president-elect and the spy community. Rep. Mike Pompeo, a four-term conservative Kansas Republican, is a member of the House intelligence committee and also served on the partisan committee to investigate the deadly attack on a U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya.
US troops enter Poland, 1st deployment to Russia’s doorstep-Image7
American soldiers rolled into Poland on Thursday, fulfilling a dream Poles have had since the fall of communism in 1989 to have U.S. troops on their soil as a deterrent against Russia. Soldiers in camouflage with tanks and other vehicles crossed into southwestern Poland on Thursday morning from Germany and headed for Zagan, where they will be based.
Jimmy Fallon Lifts Michelle Obama’s Spirits With Some Good Ol’ Idol Worship
At lot of people are angry at Jimmy Fallon for normalizing Donald Trump – i.e., clowning around with the guy like any other guest, instead of screaming “Hitler!” in his face while a howling mob lowered him into a cauldron of boiling oil. If you’re one of those tormented souls who can’t believe that the clown you begged the GOP to nominate actually won , and you’re blaming Fallon for some unfathomable reason, he wants to make it up to you.
Petraeus Doesn’t Believe Trump Will Revive The Use Of Torture
Retired Army Gen. David Petraeus said Tuesday evening he doesn’t believe that GOP President-elect Donald Trump will revive the use of torture.
Trump’s Pick To Head DOT Punts On Questions About Transportation Funding
Mitch McConnell waves to supporters with his wife, former United States Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, at his midterm election night rally in Louisville, Kentucky, November 4, 2014. REUTERS/John Sommers II President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Transportation refused to answer questions about how the president elect would pay for his $1 trillion infrastructure proposal.
Woman In Wheelchair Lights Up A Blunt On Subway, Passengers Freak
A cell phone video went viral Tuesday that shows a woman in a wheelchair rolling up and smoking a blunt on an M train. The woman argues with a young male passenger before getting thrown off the train.
Garmin G1000 NXi Certified In Piper Piston Trainer Aircraft
Piper Aircraft has announced that certification on both the twin-engine Piper Seminole and single-engine Archer has been achieved and aircraft deliveries have begun. The University Of North Dakota John D. Odegard School Of Aerospace Sciences is the launch customer for the next generation Piper trainers.
Chao Coy On ATC Privatization During Confirmation Hearing
Transportation Secretary Designate Elaine Chao faced the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday for her confirmation hearing, giving few specifics on some pending aviation issues. The FAA’s spending authorization is set to expire on September 30, and the issue of ATC privatization is likely to come up again when Congress debates another long-term spending bill for the agency.
Ex-MI6 officer ‘compiled Trump dossier’
A former British intelligence officer has been identified in reports as the man behind an explosive dossier about US president-elect Donald Trump. Christopher Steele, 52, who runs London-based Orbis Business Intelligence, was named in reports as having compiled the file on Mr Trump.
Combative Trump concedes Russia’s role in election hacking
President-elect Donald Trump’s first news conference since winning the election was a combative and freewheeling affair, and the famously unconventional politician demonstrated he had not been changed by the weight of his victory. Trump said for the first time Wednesday that he accepts Russia was behind the election year hacking of Democrats that roiled the White House race.
Reason Podcast, 01/11/17
“A lot of people are unhappy these days, writes James Poulos in his brilliant new book, The Art of Being Free: How Alexis de Tocqueville Can Save Us from Ourselves . The hardest cases among us are invested deeply in politics, especially partisan politics.
A just conclusion in the Snowden case
“As we approach the end Barack Obama’s presidency, he, like other presidents before him, will have a final look at the possible use of clemency to correct past injustices. Recently, Obama pardoned 78 convicts, and commuted the sentences of 153 federal inmates, bringing the total to 1,324 – reportedly the largest number of commutations by any president in our history.
Trump’s choice for top US diplomat talks tough on China
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,, right, pats Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson , left, on the shoulder after his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, less Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,, right, pats Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson , left, on the shoulder after his testimony before the Senate Foreign … more Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. questions Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson during the committee’s confirmation hearing Tillerson, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson gets hearing for HUD chief
In this Dec. 8, 2016 file photo, Yale University alumnus Dr. Benjamin Carson, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, speaks at Yale, as a guest of the William F. Buckley Jr. Program, in New Haven, Conn. Carson is preparing to take lawmakers questions about his vision for the nation’s housing policies.
Newly leaked dossier on Trump circulated in DC for months
President-elect Donald Trump listens to a question during a news conference in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017. President-elect Donald Trump listens to a question during a news conference in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017.
Japan’s Abe starts 4-nation trip with visit to Philippines
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reaches out his hand beside his wife Aika as they arrive at Manila’s airport, Philippines, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. Abe is in the country for a two-day official visit.
Republican-led Senate takes first step to repeal ‘Obamacare’
In this Jan. 4, 2017 file photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. pauses during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Murkowski holds firm: Ethics review first, then hearing
No Cabinet nominee of President-elect Donald Trump’s will get a confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee without having a completed review by the Office of Government Ethics, a spokeswoman for Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the Alaska Republican who leads the committee, said.
Tokyo aims to boost Trump’s perception of Japan in bid to secure trade relations
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right center, speaks to members of the press after meeting with President-elect Donald Trump, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, in New York. Pic: AP.
Trumpa s CIA choice to be questioned amid Russia hacking fury
Donald Trump’s pick to run the CIA faces a Senate confirmation hearing amid a testy standoff between the president-elect and the spy community. Congressman Mike Pompeo is a member of the House intelligence committee and served on the committee to investigate the deadly attack on a U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya.
A farewell address, a news conference and White House change
The outgoing president somberly ruminated about the fragility of democracy and earnestly implored Americans to reject corrosive political dialogue. Fourteen hours later, the incoming president staged a defiant and frenetic news conference at his gilded New York City tower, dismissing critics, insulting reporters and likening the country’s intelligence officers to Nazis.
Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 12 Jan 2017
The former MI6 officer who, as a private intelligence contractor, wrote the dossier on Donald Trump’s alleged links to Moscow is “terrified” for his and his family’s safety, the Daily Telegraph claims. Christopher Steele, 52, fears a “prompt and dangerous backlash from Moscow” and went into hiding on Wednesday morning, the paper says.
Too many U.S. presidents and far too many tweets
It is the first time in the 240 years of American history that the United States seems to have two presidents at once – Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Mind you, one is for real, the other is not yet.
You have to see the trailer for new action comedy CHiPs
The trailer for cop comedy film CHiPs is out, and it is just what you need to brighten your day. Amid the hard-hitting – albeit excellent – titles that have been making headlines this awards season, this hilariously ridiculous action film is set to be one of your guilty pleasures of the year.