Day: March 9, 2017

Noel J. Francisco, Trump’s solicitor general pick, fought Obama on recess appointments

President Trump ‘s pick for solicitor general – the government’s chief lawyer to the Supreme Court – has been there before. Noel J. Francisco won a 9-0 spanking of President Obama over his illegal recess appointments, fought the administration to a draw on the Obamacare contraceptive mandate and won the release of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell after convincing the justices that the corruption charges were bogus.

China Says It Followed the Law in Approving 38 Trump Trademarks In ‘Unusually Quick’ Fashion

China on Thursday defended its handling of 38 trademarks it recently approved provisionally for President Donald Trump, saying it followed the law in processing the applications at a pace that some experts view as unusually quick. Democrats in Congress were critical of Trump after The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the potentially valuable trademarks had been granted, raising questions of conflict of interest and political favoritism.

Tillerson steps away from possible pipeline decisions

Secretary of State designate Rex Tillerson pauses during a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 4, 2017. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson , who previously served as the CEO of oil and gas giant ExxonMobil , has recused himself from any decisions regarding the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Denver FBI honors youth program partly funded by pot taxes

The Denver FBI honored a youth dropout prevention group Thursday, apparently without realizing it is partially funded with taxes from the marijuana industry. The U.S. Justice Department, the FBI’s parent agency, considers the marijuana industry operating in Colorado and other states illegal, and new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has indicated he wants stronger enforcement of federal law.

Marijuana crackdown is so yesterday

We’re disappointed that White House press secretary Sean Spicer recently said “greater enforcement” of federal drug laws, including prohibition of marijuana, is coming. “There’s a federal law that we need to abide by when it comes to recreational marijuana and other drugs of that nature,” he said.

ACLU Proves (Again) They Are Partisan Left-Wing Hacks

Jeff Sessions gave answers in his confirmation hearing some people do not like. Senator Al Franken, who is more comfortable writing scripts, didn’t ask the right questions and Sessions responses in context were about contacts with Russian officials about matters of the Presidential campaign.

Rex Tillerson recuses himself from Keystone pipeline decision

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has recused himself from TransCanada’s application for a presidential permit for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, the State Department says. President Donald Trump signed executive orders on Tuesday to advance the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Keystone Pipeline.

China says it followed law in approving 38 Trump trademarks

China on Thursday defended its handling of 38 trademarks it recently approved provisionally for President Donald Trump, saying it followed the law in processing the applications at a pace that some experts view as unusually quick. Democrats in Congress were critical of Trump after The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the potentially valuable trademarks had been granted, raising questions of conflict of interest and political Trump has sometimes struggled to win trademarks from China; he secured one recently after a 10-year fight that turned his way only after he declared his candidacy for the presidency.

Rep. Eric Swalwell posts website on Trump-Russia connection

Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell has launched a website to document the personal, social and business connections between the Russian government and members of the Trump administration – and the threats of such links to U.S. interests. In an interview Thursday, the East Bay congressman called it a “living, breathing guide to what is happening” and noted that the site is evolving along with the story.

Son of Muhammad Ali tells lawmakers about detention

Muhammad Ali Jr., son of the late boxing legend Muhammad Ali, arrives for a forum on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 9, 2017, on the consequences of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, sponsored by House House Judiciary Committee members Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., a leading advocate in the House for comprehensive immigration reform. WASHINGTON – The son of the late boxing champion Muhammad Ali told members of Congress Thursday he believes his recent detention for extended questioning at a Florida airport shows the need for legislation to end racial profiling.

GOP leaders claim momentum as health bill clears hurdles

Republican leaders drove their long-promised legislation to dismantle Barack Obama’s health care law over its first big hurdles in the House on Thursday, claiming fresh momentum despite cries of protest from right, left and After grueling all-night sessions, the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees both approved their portions of the bill along party-line votes. The legislation, strongly supported by President Donald Trump, would eliminate the unpopular tax penalties for the uninsured under the Affordable Care Act, replacing Obama’s law with a conservative blueprint likely to cover far fewer people but – Republicans hope – increase choice.

More

The mayor of the Mississippi city where a train hit a bus, killing four Texas tourists, is vowing to close some railroad crossings and make others safer. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s new deputy governor is scheduled to receive half of her pay out of an employee health care account that is more than $4 billion behind on its bills due to the state’s budget crisis.

Feminist: Girls Shouldn’t Read Any Books by Men

Caitlin Moran, the widely-celebrated feminist author and columnist, has called for girls to avoid reading any books with male authors until they are grown women. Moran, a Times of London columnist behind the best-selling How to Be a Woman, argued that reading great works by males will make young women cripplingly insecure.

Trump tests dealmaker image to sell healthcare bill

President Donald Trump has launched a charm offensive of the type not seen before in his brief and chaotic tenure, forcefully rallying behind legislation to repeal the Obamacare healthcare law while trying to placate the bill’s opponents. U.S. President Donald Trump walks from Marine One as he returns to the White House in Washington, U.S., March 5, 2017.

Besides the whole killing people thing, Trumpcare has a potentially fatal flaw

Donald Trump has won the presidency after narrowly carrying a few states to put him above 270 electoral votes. But… At his Senate confirmation hearing, Attorney General Jeff Sessions lied under oath that he had never had contact with the… Despite promising to release his tax returns in a televised debate with Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump continues to show that… There are lots of things brewing in the House’s version of Trumpcare, which has now passed out of both the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees, that are going to be a big problem for the Senate.

In Syria, our troops try to keep our allies from killing each other. What’s the long-term plan?

Donald Trump has won the presidency after narrowly carrying a few states to put him above 270 electoral votes. But… At his Senate confirmation hearing, Attorney General Jeff Sessions lied under oath that he had never had contact with the… Despite promising to release his tax returns in a televised debate with Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump continues to show that… We still don’t know what the Trump administration’s intentions in Syria are.

Fearing deportation, undocumented domestic violence victims are abandoning claims against abusers

Donald Trump has won the presidency after narrowly carrying a few states to put him above 270 electoral votes. But… At his Senate confirmation hearing, Attorney General Jeff Sessions lied under oath that he had never had contact with the… Despite promising to release his tax returns in a televised debate with Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump continues to show that… Fearing Donald Trump’s Deportation Force, four undocumented domestic violence victims in Denver have abandoned their claims against their abusers.

Gov. Sandoval Signs Letter to Pres. Trump Requesting Emergency Assistance for Northern Nevada

Governor Brian Sandoval today announced he has signed a letter to President Donald Trump respectfully requesting a major disaster declaration for Northern Nevada following the February weather event and sent a formal communication to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for assistance specific to Lemmon Valley in Washoe Valley. “I was grateful for the three-day approval for the funds related to the January event but even at that time, we knew the sustained weather event would likely require a second request from our federal partners,” said Governor Brian Sandoval.

More

House Energy and Commerce Committee member Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., left, and Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., pause as members of the committee argue the details of the GOP’s “Obamacare” replacement bill after working all… . After working through the night, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., is seen on a TV monitor as Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., seated at center, and Rep. Ryan Costello, R-Pa., listen to deba… WASHINGTON – The sun rose Thursday on a House committee’s marathon debate of the Republican health care bill as one lawmaker made a novel offer to mercifully end the session – the promise of food.

.com | Assange accuses CIA of ‘devastating incompetence’

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Thursday accused the CIA of “devastating incompetence” for keeping hacking secrets in one place and said he would work with tech giants to develop fixes after he leaked them. “This is a historic act of devastating incompetence, to have created such an arsenal and then stored it all in one place,” Assange told a press conference streamed live from Ecuador’s embassy in London, where he has been living as a fugitive from justice since 2012.

Transgender families press education secretary on rights

A little girl in bronze defiantly facing Wall Street’s mammoth Charging Bull didn’t appear suddenly or spontaneously in Manhattan’s financial district in the middle of the night. Washington state’s attorney general is asking a federal judge to affirm that an order blocking President Donald Trump’s first travel ban will also apply to a revised travel ban.

The Latest: Source says Jags to spend big to improve defense

A little girl in bronze defiantly facing Wall Street’s mammoth Charging Bull didn’t appear suddenly or spontaneously in Manhattan’s financial district in the middle of the night. A little girl in bronze defiantly facing Wall Street’s mammoth Charging Bull didn’t appear suddenly or spontaneously in Manhattan’s financial district in the middle of the night.

SEC nominee reveals possible Wall Street conflicts

The Wall Street attorney chosen by President Donald Trump to head the Securities and Exchange Commission has worked on many of the kinds of deals the agency regulates and represented some of the biggest financial firms. A financial disclosure report Jay Clayton filed with the government reveals clients that pose potential conflicts of interest for the SEC job.

The Latest: Source says Osweiler and picks to Browns

Republicans on a pivotal House committee are nearing an initial triumph in their effort to scuttle former President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. Republicans on a pivotal House committee are nearing an initial triumph in their effort to scuttle former President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

After 27-hour Hill debate, second House committee OKs Obamacare repeal

A second House committee approved the Republican Party’s Obamacare repeal bill Thursday, as President Donald Trump flexed his deal-making skills to build momentum behind the legislation amid growing concern among prominent GOP figures that fast-tracking the measure could backfire. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to move the bill to the House floor after a marathon hearing lasting 27 hours and 18 minutes, hours after the Ways and Means panel registered the first milestone for the American Health Care Act, endorsing it after their own 18-hour session.

FBI Director James Comey meets with Congress ‘Gang of Eight’

FBI Director James Comey went to Capitol Hill on Thursday to meet with eight members of Congress who represent those who have access to the most highly classified intelligence information, a source told CNN. In the Senate, that includes Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Intelligence committee, Republican Sen. Richard Burr and Democrat Mark Warner respectively.

6 days later, no more clarity from Trump on wiretapping claims

Six days after he accused his Oval Office predecessor of wiretapping him, President Donald Trump on Thursday again avoided questions about the charge, leaving his aides and allies still-struggling to explain his Saturday-morning broadside. Trump was initially scheduled to come before cameras twice in the Roosevelt Room Thursday.

Son of former boxing champ tells lawmakers about detention

Muhammad Ali Jr., son of the late boxing legend Muhammad Ali, arrives for a forum on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 9, 2017, on the consequences of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, sponsored by House House Judiciary Committee members Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., a leading advocate in the House for comprehensive immigration reform.

Doug Chin

In this Feb. 3, 2017, file photo, Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin speaks at a news conference in Honolulu announcing the state of Hawaii has filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s travel ban. The state of Hawaii has become the first state to sue to stop Trump’s revised travel ban.

Ex-Trump adviser Carter Page at center of Russia storm

In this Friday, July 8, 2016, file photo, Carter Page, then adviser to U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, speaks at the graduation ceremony for the New Economic School in Moscow, Russia. Page, once a little-known investment banker-turned-adviser in the outer circle of the improbable Trump campaign, is emerging as a central figure in the controversy surrounding campaign connections to Russia.

Lawmakers call plan to raise sales tax for roads a hard sell

Democratic Rep. Diane Mitsch Busch, left with Democratic House Speaker Crisanta Duran, second from left, and Republican Senate President Kevin Granthamm second from right, and Republican Sen. Randy Baumgartner, right, discuss a bipartisan transportation funding bill at the state Capitol in Denver on Thursday, March 9, 2017. Their bill would ask voters to approve a state sales tax hike and $3.5 million in bonds to fund roads and other transit needs over the next 20 years.

When Discussing Trump’s Muslim Ban 2.0, Cable News Largely Excluded Muslim Guests Again

Cable news once again virtually ignored Muslim voices when hosting guests to discuss President Donald Trump’s revised Muslim ban that now blocks migrants from six majority-Muslim nations , a pattern which has been consistent in cable news reporting since the election of Trump. On March 6, Trump signed a new executive order temporarily banning U.S. entry for immigrants and refugees from six majority-Muslim countries.