Day: March 3, 2017

Pence fought against releasing records as Indiana governor

Vice President Mike Pence repeatedly stonewalled media requests to view public records when he was Indiana’s governor, including emails about state business distributed from a private AOL account that was hacked last year. Revelations Pence used the account to discuss homeland security and other official matters, first reported Thursday by the Indianapolis Star, are just the latest in a series of transparency battles involving the Republican’s tenure as governor.

ICE Director Homan talks immigration enforcement, public relations

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Thomas Homan, a native of West Carthage, was named acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in January by President Donald Trump. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Thomas Homan, a native of West Carthage, was named acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in January by President Donald Trump.

In search of a grand bargain: Ways to bridge budget gap

As Oklahoma’s 2017 legislative session enters its fourth week, one thing is abundantly clear: Republicans, Democrats and Gov. Mary Fallin are nowhere close to a budget deal. The Legislature and governor’s office have until the end of May to sign off on a plan that closes an $878 million budget shortfall for the upcoming year.

Dear Republicans: About a special prosecutor . . .

Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events Some Republican lawmakers say a special prosecutor may be warranted, depending on what facts emerge regarding ties between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. They say evidence indicating that Trump advisers broke the law may necessitate special counsel – but so far nothing has reached that threshold.

Warrant for arrest of Stockton’s former Mayor

Former Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva, who was rejected by voters in a bid for re-election previous year, now is wanted by the county prosecutor, who has issued an arrest warrant. According to CBS13, two search warrants are being served by Stockton police – one at the Stockton Kids Club and one at former Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva’s house.

WH defends Pence’s use of private email while governor

To continue reading up to 10 premium articles, you must register , or sign up and take advantage of this exclusive offer: Vice President Mike Pence pauses while speaking before administering the oath of office to Energy Secretary Rick Perry, left, Thursday, March 2, 2017, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. WASHINGTON – A White House spokeswoman said Friday that Vice President Mike Pence “did everything to the letter of the law” after public records revealed that he used a private email account to conduct public business as Indiana’s governor.

A look at the threats, vandalism against Jewish institutions

Jewish community centers, schools and cemeteries have been dealing with waves of bomb threats and vandalism this year. Most of these crimes remain unsolved, though a man in St. Louis was charged Friday with eight of the threats made against Jewish institutions as well as a bomb threat to New York’s Anti-Defamation League.

Russia says US infighting on Sessions hampers mending ties

As the drama over Attorney General Jeff Sessions plays out in Washington, the Kremlin is watching with a mixture of frustration and regret how the uproar is blocking progress on pressing issues on the U.S.-Russian agenda. Despite the dashed hopes for a quick thaw, however, Moscow is voicing its readiness to wait as long as it takes.

Can the Democrats find something to build on in Georgia?

Patricia Murphy, pens stories for The Daily Beast as well as Roll Call, she is a very gifted and entertaining writer who we are happy to have as a guest on The Politically Incorrect Podcast. We talk about the rebuilding of the Democratic Party, the crazy happening on Capitol Hill and if starting with the Repealing and Replacing of Obamacare could be a hill the GOP might just die on.

Yelp to help customers find gender-neutral bathrooms

Yelp, the crowd-sourced company specializing in online reviews, is wading into the national debate over transgender people’s bathroom access with a new feature that will enable consumers to search for businesses offering gender-neutral restrooms. In a blog post on Friday , Yelp said it would collect information from both customers and business owners in order to add a “Gender Neutral Restrooms” category to its listings.

Pence used a private email account to conduct state business

Vice President Mike Pence used a private email account to conduct public business as Indiana’s governor, according to public records obtained by the Indianapolis Star. The newspaper reported Thursday that emails provided through a public records request show that Pence communicated with advisers through his personal AOL account on homeland security matters and security at the governor’s residence during his four years as governor.

Snap shares rise 44 percent on first trading day

All eyes were on Los Angeles-based Snap on Thursday as the parent company for social media sensation Snapchat made its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. A drone could go a long way toward Snap’s endeavors as a camera company, as it could allow users to take overhead photos and videos and Snap would greatly extend its visual data trove.

Pressure mounts as Sessions backs off from Russia probe

Attorney General Jeff Sessions may not have been clear about his contacts with Russian officials during the 2016 election, but this much is evident: The controversy over any Kremlin involvement in American politics is not going to fade away anytime soon. Sessions on Thursday became the second high-ranking member of the Trump administration to take a hit over conversations with Russia’s envoy to the U.S., recusing himself from any probe that examines communications between Trump aides and Moscow.

Top White House Aide Was Highly Critical of Donald Trump Throughout 2016 Campaign

Gorka made the comments despite being paid to advise the Trump campaign in 2015. “On the right the Republican side, we have the New York real estate mogul who’s very full of bluster, full of sturm und drang, makes lots of statements about how we’re going to win and how the US army is going to be undefeatable, but there’s no depth,” he said on the The Georgene Rice Show in April 2016.

Russian ambassador in eye of storm over Trump campaign ties

The Trump administration’s back-to-back controversies over its Russian ties now have at least one thing in common: Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Moscow’s top diplomat is a Washington fixture with a sprawling network, and he has emerged as the central figure in the investigations into Trump advisers’ connections with Russia.

Sessions steps aside from Russia probe under pressure

Under intensifying pressure, Attorney General Jeff Sessions abruptly agreed Thursday to recuse himself from any investigation into Russian meddling in America’s 2016 presidential election. He acted after revelations he twice spoke with the Russian ambassador during the campaign and failed to say so when pressed by Congress.

The field, a year out

Can it be that this far in advance, the main components of the 2018 governor’s race already are coming into view? Last week gave us some additional clarity, and at least a preliminary picture, enough to hang some thoughts around, is emerging. Last week, after all, was when three-term Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter confirmed he would not seek another term and would instead support his long-time lieutenant, Brad Little, for the job.

Russian FM calls Sessions uproar a replay of McCarthyism

Matryoshkas, traditional Russian wooden dolls, including a doll of U.S. President Donald Trump, top, are displayed for sale in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 2, 2017. Trump has repeatedly said that he aims to improve relations with Russia, but Moscow appears frustrated by the lack of visible progress as well as by support from Trump Administration officials for continuing sanctions imposed on Russia for its interference in Ukraine.

Mike Pence Used Private Email for State Business as Indiana Governor, and Got Hacked

Mike Pence used a private email account to conduct state business while Governor of Indiana, according to the Indy Star : Emails released to IndyStar in response to a public records request show Pence communicated via his personal AOL account with top advisers on topics ranging from security gates at the governor’s residence to the state’s response to terror attacks across the globe. In one email, Pence’s top state homeland security adviser relayed an update from the FBI regarding the arrests of several men on federal terror-related charges.

How much did Russian hacking affect congressional races? And how deeply was the GOP involved?

Why is the speaker so blasA about Russian meddling? Maybe because he knows it helped the GOP win close races If there’s one thing you can say about the Donald Trump presidency so far, it isn’t boring. From horror stories at the border to Trump’s semi-triumphant teleprompter speech to Attorney General Jeff Sessions being personally connected to the growing Russia scandal, this week has been a doozy.

Sound familiar? Mike Pence used a private email account for…

Vice President Mike Pence may have denounced Hillary Clinton’s private email server as “the kind of double standard that the American people are weary of,” but that didn’t stop him from using his own private email account for state business as governor of Indiana. A public records request revealed that Pence used his personal account for a number of sensitive governmental matters, from discussing security at the governor’s residence to being updated by his homeland security adviser on a federal terror-related case, according to the Indianapolis Star .

Sessions slams ‘unfair’ criticism of meetings with Russia

Attorney General Jeff Sessions portrayed himself as the victim in the controversy surrounding his contact with the Russian ambassador to the US , griping that criticism of him is “unfair,” and that it’s “sad to be attacked like that.” “I don’t believe anybody that was in that meeting would have seen or believed I said one thing that was improper or unwise,” Sessions said Thursday night on “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”

Editorial: Prison secrets

Canada’s prison system faces a barrage of lawsuits – enough, says the federal prison ombudsman, to keep an entire law firm busy. While that’s surely a burden to Correctional Service Canada and the Department of Justice, the mounting legal actions exact the biggest toll on those who want and deserve answers.

Blumenthal: Sessions Should Testify Under Oath About Meeting

Attorney General Jeff Sessions should be brought back to the Senate Judiciary Committee and testify again under oath about his meeting with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, as that’s the “only way he can really restore full trust and credibility” for the Justice Department, Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Friday. “He certainly made a seemingly false statement,” the Connecticut Democrat, a member of Judiciary Committee, told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program, after host Joe Scarborough asked him “point blank” if Sessions had lied to the committee.

Donors Worldwide Pledge Nearly $200M for Family Planning

Nations and philanthropists pledged close to $200 million Thursday for family planning at an international conference that aimed to make up for the gap left by President Donald Trump’s ban on U.S. funding to groups linked to abortion. In all, 57 nations attended the hastily convened one-day conference in Brussels and the funding drive was boosted by Sweden, Canada and Finland each promising $21 million.

Art of the parse: Politicians finely split rhetorical hairs

In this March 2, 2017, photo, Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington. Everyone splits rhetorical hairs from time to time, but politicians are especially adept at trying to dance their way out of a bind with carefully crafted explanations.