Sunday, February 25, 2018 3:51:17 AM
When Will This Stop? 17 Shot Dead in Florida School Massacre, the 18th School Shooting of Year
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Democracy Now! [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzuqE7-t13O4NIDYJfakrhw / https://www.youtube.com/user/democracynow , https://www.youtube.com/user/democracynow/videos ]
In Parkland, Florida, 17 people died Wednesday in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. The massacre at the Stoneman Douglas High School was the 18th school shooting this year, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. This means there has been a school shooting on average every 60 hours so far this year. Police have identified the gunman as a 19-year-old former pupil named Nikolas Cruz. He was carrying an AR-15 with multiple magazines of ammunition. In addition to the 17 dead, 15 people were injured. We speak to Geraldine Thompson, a former Florida Democratic state senator. She represented the Orlando district where the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre took place.
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/2/15/when_will_this_stop_17_shot [with embedded video, and transcript]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAw_B0QgZu4 [with comments]
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Republican Lawmakers Refuse to Adopt Gun Control Despite 200 School Shootings Since Sandy Hook
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Democracy Now!
Since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, there have been 200 school shootings. But on Capitol Hill and in many state legislatures, Republican lawmakers have blocked efforts to enact gun control. Wednesday’s shooting in Florida comes just days after President Trump released his budget, which proposes cutting millions of dollars from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. We speak to Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. He is the co-author of “Guns, Democracy, and the Insurrectionist Idea.”
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/2/15/republican_lawmakers_refuse_to_adopt_gun [with embedded video, and transcript]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w7RCzVFdsI [with comments]
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Kept Out: Banks Across U.S. Caught Systematically Rejecting People of Color for Home Loans
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Democracy Now!
A shocking new investigation [ https://www.revealnews.org/topic/kept-out/ ] by Reveal and the Center for Investigative Reporting has uncovered evidence that African Americans and Latinos are continuing to be routinely denied conventional mortgage loans at rates far higher than their white counterparts across the country. Reveal based its report on a review of 31 million mortgage records filed with the federal government in 2015 and 2016. The Reveal investigation found the redlining occurring across the country, including in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, Philadelphia, St. Louis and San Antonio. We speak to Aaron Glantz, senior reporter at Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, and Rachelle Faroul, a 33-year-old African-American woman who was rejected twice by lenders when she tried to buy a brick row house in Philadelphia, where Reveal found African Americans were 2.7 times as likely as whites to be denied a conventional mortgage.
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/2/15/kept_out_banks_across_us_caught [with embedded video, and transcript]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHEc37I5pXM [with comments]
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Full Show - Tragedy, Heroism, SSRI Drugs & AR-15 - 02/15/2018
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Real News with David Knight [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC1L9FOMSaPgMyoLSnps47g , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC1L9FOMSaPgMyoLSnps47g/videos ]
Full Broadcast 15Feb18 Real News with David Knight
A mass shooting in a high school in Parkland, FL. David Knight looks at how media demonizes the AR-15 (used to STOP the Texas church shooter) and IGNORES the meds the alleged shooter was on. Callers break down SSRI effects and liberal use of drugs by schools to control students without discipline. And a student from the school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, says the Secret Service was at the school recently changing security protocols.
[from Alex Jones and his merry band of batshit bullshitters]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAIMoR4jPuU [with comments] [also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFWjMgL5Bfw (with comments)]
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The Dark Side of Infomercials
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Super Deluxe [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeJLx_Dy_icz3oDHhJeMe9g , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeJLx_Dy_icz3oDHhJeMe9g/videos ]
Vic Berger Presents: TV advertisements get pretty dark late at night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glIcOq3f-64 [with comments]
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Statement from the Press Secretary regarding the Schumer-Rounds-Collins Amendment
Issued on: February 15, 2018
The Administration strongly opposes passage of the Schumer-Rounds-Collins Amendment. This Amendment would drastically change our national immigration policy for the worse by weakening border security and undercutting existing immigration law. Specifically, preventing enforcement with respect to people who entered our country illegally before a date that is in the future would produce a flood of new illegal immigration in the coming months. The Amendment would undermine the safety and security of American families and impede economic growth for American workers.
The Administration continues to insist on a safe, modern, and legal immigration system for the benefit of the American people. The essential pillars of such a system are securing the border through building the physical border wall and closing legal loopholes, protecting the nuclear family by limiting sponsorships to spouses and children, cancelling the visa lottery, and implementing a lasting solution on DACA.
The Administration is committed to finding a permanent, fair, and legal solution for DACA. But this Amendment would only compound the problem by encouraging millions of additional minors to be smuggled into the United States. We need to solve the problem, not perpetuate it indefinitely.
The vitality of the American economy and the safety and security of the American people depend upon these reforms. The Administration cannot support the Schumer-Rounds-Collins Amendment because it is not only dangerous policy that will harm the Nation, but it also fails to deliver on the clear promise the Administration has made to the American people.
If the President were presented with an enrolled bill that includes the Amendment, his advisors would recommend that he veto it.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-regarding-schumer-rounds-collins-amendment/
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Susan B. Anthony Day, 2018
Issued on: February 15, 2018
Today, our Nation commemorates the birthday of an American hero, visionary, civil rights leader, and pioneer in the women’s suffrage movement—Susan B. Anthony.
Born in 1820, Susan B. Anthony lived during a time when women across our country were unable to fully enjoy the rights and blessings of America. In many States, women could not pursue higher education, own land, maintain control of their own earnings, or participate in one of the most basic demonstrations of our democracy—the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony, however, dared to envision a Nation where women’s voices would be given the same respect as those of their fathers, brothers, and spouses. She envisioned a Nation where “women helped make the laws and elect the lawmakers.” She envisioned a Nation that protected the rights and privileges of all Americans, regardless of skin color, sex, or any other physical characteristics.
Fighting inequality became one of Susan B. Anthony’s most passionate pursuits, as she paved the way for the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Her tireless efforts to rally and advocate for women’s rights helped change the course of human history. Her work helped our Nation to realize the egalitarian principles enshrined in the seminal Declaration of Sentiments of the Seneca Falls Convention—that all men and women are created equal by God.
Although she never saw the realization of her life’s work, she certainly left a lasting legacy, which has inspired many generations of Americans. More importantly, millions of women have been able to realize the fruits of her life’s work in every aspect of American life and every sector of American industry. She inspires us to continue to form a more perfect union, and she reminds us that securing equal rights for all people includes preserving and advocating for the preciousness and sanctity of all human life, including the unborn.
Today, many of our Nation’s leaders and thinkers are women—and we need more of them. They are essential to the success and greatness of America, and they continue to shatter barriers wherever they exist. On Susan B. Anthony Day, we reaffirm our Nation’s commitment to advancing equal opportunity for all Americans. And we pledge to ensure that young girls across our Nation will always be able to look to the future with the confidence that any dream is attainable.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/susan-b-anthony-day-2018/
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Ask an Atheist: Critiquing Donald Trump's Prayer Breakfast
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by FFRF [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC28jWiP7HV6mBBW3C8AXuEg / https://www.youtube.com/user/FFRForg , https://www.youtube.com/user/FFRForg/videos ]
FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker join Staff Attorney Sam Grover to critique Donald Trump's National Prayer Breakfast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIRdmPsTEGc [with comments] [and see also in particular (linked in) https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=3967329 and preceding and following, https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=39423407 and preceding and following, https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=54833454 and preceding and following, https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=136560385 and preceding and following (earlier this string), https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=138656749 and preceding and following (earlier this string), https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=138672441 and preceding and following (earlier this string)]
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President Trump Delivers Remarks on the Tragedy in Parkland, FL
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by The White House [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYxRlFDqcWM4y7FfpiAN3KQ / https://www.youtube.com/user/whitehouse , https://www.youtube.com/user/whitehouse/videos ]
The White House
Statement by President Trump on the Shooting in Parkland, Florida
Diplomatic Room
February 15, 2018
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-trump-shooting-parkland-florida/ [official transcript]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFHvpYbe41U [with comments]
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Full Show - Evidence Unraveling A Giant False Flag At Florida High School Shooting - 02/15/2018
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by The Alex Jones Channel [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvsye7V9psc-APX6wV1twLg / https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAlexJonesChannel , https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAlexJonesChannel/videos ]
Thursday, Feb. 15th 2018[, with appearances by Stoneman Douglas student Jalen Martin [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI1CSNT6oFmLhT7KtFq3XBw , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI1CSNT6oFmLhT7KtFq3XBw/videos ], Matt Bracken, and Roger Stone, and Anthony Cumia hosting the fourth hour]: FBI Warned About FL Shooter- The FBI was warned about the Florida high school shooter five months ago after he left a comment on the internet saying he was going to "be a professional school shooter." The left is viciously attacking the Second Amendment as expected following the tragic shooting. Also, President Trump addressed the nation about the Parkland, Florida massacre.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIebkbRZ8r8 [with comments] [also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm2FHL92moo (additional text adapted from; with comments)] [a must-watch]
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Florida massacre survivor demands leaders actually take action
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by mediamatters4america [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_70iWZ6ym2cglS_kv5YfmA / https://www.youtube.com/user/mediamatters4america , https://www.youtube.com/user/mediamatters4america/videos ]
A student who survived the Florida school massacre is demanding leaders actually take action. David Hogg survived the Parkland high school shooting. He's now going network to network telling leaders to stop just talking about "thoughts and prayers."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfnFMuvb8UY [with comments]
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RWW NEWS: Alex Jones Says Globalists Ordered Florida School Shooting Because FISA Memo Was Released
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by RWW Blog [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMXqRHe8n1TX5iDvkLS62rw / https://www.youtube.com/user/RWWBlog , https://www.youtube.com/user/RWWBlog/videos ]
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/alex-jones-says-globalists-ordered-florida-school-shooting-because-fisa-memo-was-released/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYh-IL9SKvw [with comments]
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Survivors of Parkland school massacre call for immediate action
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by ThinkProgress [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYdasX3ym3E5r1iozVllmzA , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYdasX3ym3E5r1iozVllmzA/videos ]
After the 18th school shooting this year, survivors of the Parkland school massacre call on lawmakers to take action on gun violence. Seventeen people were killed and at least 14 were injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVYGUUDlELI [with comments]
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Right-wing media: It's never the time to talk about gun violence
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by mediamatters4america
Another mass shooting and conservative media still won't talk about the gun problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8u7ZoWbbOU [with comments]
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RWW News: Rick Joyner Says Christians Can Close 'The Gates Of Hell' And End School Shootings
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by RWW Blog
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/rick-joyner-links-florida-shooting-to-end-of-school-prayer-opening-the-gate-of-hell/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNxieKFjte0 [with comments]
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Things Atheists Say That Make Theists Tune Out
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Godless Cranium [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCewUkuIHNuwuMNWMa96q9ZQ , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCewUkuIHNuwuMNWMa96q9ZQ/videos ]
Something a bit different today. A patron of this channel asked me to consider creating a video where theists tell me what they consider to be the most annoying saying/argument that they often hear from atheists.
I thought it was an intriguing idea and one that might help facilitate better conversation between atheists and the religious.
It's also in my best interest as someone who makes videos against religion to know what sorts of things will make theists tune out.
I approached several theists on Twitter and these were the ones who agreed to contribute.
Theists who contributed to this video:
Gnostic Mysticism: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJx0JIZTzs0shVvbDQc4tVQ
Philosophy Tiger: https://twitter.com/philotiger
Antonio Fletcher: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxQya2KNbp_eivkrk7BG15g
Classical Theist: https://www.youtube.com/user/ChairmanDrek757
Roaming Catholic: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYsH6llOMrkP4RJGEP_6SKg
Alias Jones: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC42xbNCy6d9XtLYcufOIUvA
Source:
LION vs TIGER: Battle Of The Big Cats | BBC Earth Unplugged
We visited the Wildlife Heritage Foundation in Kent which is home to some of the most endangered big cats in the world. Using enrichment techniques developed by the big cat keeper, we looked at the cats agility, intelligence and strength before crowning a winner.
We'd like to thank the WHF for their great work. You can find out more about the work they do to help big cats here: https://www.visitkent.co.uk/big-cat-sanctuary/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvID7SqH4wA [with (approaching 6,000) comments]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pee-fz49g_8 [with comments]
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Seth Andrews Google Hangout 2-15-18
Streamed live on Feb 15, 2018 by TheThinkingAtheist [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeYP27qLtfUMY1b1Cyy3WdQ / https://www.youtube.com/user/TheThinkingAtheist , https://www.youtube.com/user/TheThinkingAtheist/videos ]
Join Seth Andrews for a casual hangout where you pick the topic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLTDOXpbWY4 [with comments]
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Statement from the Press Secretary
Issued on: February 15, 2018
In June 2017, the Russian military launched the most destructive and costly cyber-attack in history.
The attack, dubbed “NotPetya,” quickly spread worldwide, causing billions of dollars in damage across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. It was part of the Kremlin’s ongoing effort to destabilize Ukraine and demonstrates ever more clearly Russia’s involvement in the ongoing conflict. This was also a reckless and indiscriminate cyber-attack that will be met with international consequences.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-25/
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Statement by the Press Secretary
Issued on: February 15, 2018
Senior Trump Administration officials yesterday hosted a meeting at the White House with a delegation of Mexican officials, led by Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray. The following officials represented the United States: Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, Senior Advisor Jared Kushner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan, and State Department official Brian Hook. The following officials represented Mexico: Secretary of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray, Undersecretary for North America Carlos Sada, Ambassador to the United States Geronimo Gutierrez, Chief of Staff Narciso Campos, and Communications Director Claudia Algorri. Secretary Videgaray also met briefly with Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, and later met briefly with Vice President Mike Pence.
The meeting furthered the work of both governments over the past year to establish comprehensive agreements on several issues, including economic cooperation and trade, security and law enforcement, energy, regional initiatives, and immigration.
Both delegations look forward to arranging a meeting, in the near future, which will provide President Donald J. Trump and President Enrique Peña Nieto with an opportunity to review the progress that has been made and to discuss various open issues to advance relations between the United States and Mexico.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-26/
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Statement from the Press Secretary
Issued on: February 15, 2018
Today, the Schumer Democrats in the Senate demonstrated again that they are not serious about DACA, they are not serious about immigration reform, and they are not serious about homeland security. They filibustered a proposal with an extremely generous path to citizenship because it also contained reforms that secured our border and secured our immigration system. The Grassley bill was a compromise bill—as demonstrated by the fact that some conservatives opposed its very generous DACA provisions. Yet, the Schumer Democrats chose to filibuster it because they are held hostage by the radical left in their party, which opposes any immigration control at all. Today, they sided with an extreme fringe over the hardworking men and women of the Department of Homeland Security. The Administration will continue advocating for an immigration package that includes border security, ending chain migration, cancelling the visa lottery, and a reasonable DACA solution—a proposal Americans support overwhelmingly. And while radical Schumer Democrats align themselves with the open border fringe, the Trump Administration will continue advocating for the American people. The next step will be for the House to continue advancing the proposal from Chairman Goodlatte and Chairman McCaul.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-27/
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RWW News: Who's Holding Up Protections For Dreamers?
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by RWW Blog
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/87-percent-of-americans-support-protecting-dreamers-so-whats-holding-it-up/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fht_INmvkFw [with comments]
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Full Show - Florida High School Shooter Confesses To 17 Accounts Of Premeditated Murder - 02/15/2018
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by War Room [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClsn7QZVdszxLlUs-GOG0Sg , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClsn7QZVdszxLlUs-GOG0Sg/videos ]
As new details continue to emerge from the Florida high school shooting, the suspect Nikolas Cruz has confessed to 17 accounts of pre-meditated murder. We take calls from people in the area of the shooting as well as a student at the high school who has been talking to other students who witnessed the event. Also, a train has derailed in New York and was on fire and George Soros influences American elections like you would never believe.
[from Alex Jones and his merry band of batshit bullshitters]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1czGE5dRsbA [with comments] [also, significantly edited, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5H918HFnnw (with comments)]
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What Life Is Like For Afghans Facing The Deadliest Taliban Yet: VICE on HBO, Full Episode
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by VICE News [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZaT_X_mc0BI-djXOlfhqWQ / https://www.youtube.com/user/vicenews , https://www.youtube.com/user/vicenews/videos ]
After more than 16 years of war, Afghan civilians live each day under constant threat, as U.S. forces and the Afghan government struggle to secure the country.
Despite hundreds of billions of dollars spent on the war since 2001, U.S. goals are far from within reach. Meanwhile, the Taliban has never been stronger, controlling more land than ever before and establishing footholds in nearly every province in Afghanistan.
President Donald Trump has vowed to undo some of the terror group’s grip on the country and force it back to the negotiating table. But his new strategy, which centers on thousands of additional U.S. troops and an intensification of airstrikes, has only just begun to produce gains.
The Taliban, facing renewed pressure, have increased terror attacks on major cities, striking at the heart of Kabul recently, in a series of devastating attacks that left hundreds of civilians dead in the span of a week.
VICE’s Ben Anderson travelled to Afghanistan in October 2016 as the Taliban were on the verge of retaking Helmand Province, once a crucial territory in the U.S. war. Reconnecting with families he’d visited years earlier, he saw just how little has been done to contain the Taliban’s influence across the country’s rural landscape, and the challenges that await Afghan and U.S. forces.
https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/59kdyn/what-life-is-like-for-afghans-facing-the-deadliest-taliban-yet
READ: U.S. troops will face the deadliest Taliban yet
https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/j5db78/u-s-troops-will-face-the-deadliest-taliban-yet
READ: Gruesome Kabul hotel attack shows ugly reality of Afghanistan’s endless war
https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/kzn9j3/gruesome-kabul-hotel-attack-shows-ugly-reality-of-afghanistans-endless-war
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xHSfcziIuo [with comments]
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Feingold to Speaker Ryan: “Have you no shame”
The Beat with Ari Melber
2/15/18
Former Senator Russ Feingold responds to Speaker Ryan saying it’s not time for “knee-jerk” reactions on gun control in the wake of the Parkland, Florida massacre.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/feingold-to-speaker-ryan-have-you-no-shame-1162817091860
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Survivor: All we heard was “shot after shot”
The Beat with Ari Melber
2/15/18
Parkland, Florida massacre survivor, Isabella Gomez, details the horror inside her school as shots rang out and why the tragedy is bringing the “community together.”
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/survivor-all-we-heard-was-shot-after-shot-1162825283507
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No, Trump’s lawyer did not admit to paying porn star himself
The Beat with Ari Melber
2/15/18
Stormy Daniels could tell-all after Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, breaks his silence on a $130,000 payoff to the adult film star weeks before the 2016 election. The lawyer who filed the FEC complaint leading to Cohen’s statement joins The Beat exclusively.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/no-trump-s-lawyer-did-not-admit-to-paying-porn-star-himself-1162818115973
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Revealed: How some Democrats aided the NRA-GOP agenda
The Beat with Ari Melber
2/15/18
Watch the controversial historical footage implicating key Democrats in the gun lobby efforts to stop any gun control in congress. Ari Melber’s special report on the bipartisan failures on gun violence.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/revealed-how-some-democrats-aided-the-nra-gop-agenda-1162821187690 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcmYCzsdRSU [with comments]
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Gov. Cuomo on [resistance to universal] background checks: “Bunch of boloney”
The Beat with Ari Melber
2/15/18
Watch a governor who passed gun control take on Trump and lawmakers refusing to take action on gun control.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/gov-cuomo-on-background-checks-bunch-of-boloney-1162823235887 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz8X07fZ39o [with comments]
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Overdose Crisis on the US-Canada Border: Steel Town Down
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by VICE [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8zNIfYAQNdrFRrr8oibKw / https://www.youtube.com/user/vice , https://www.youtube.com/user/vice/videos ]
Tens of thousands have died of opioid overdoses across the US and Canada in 2017, with the death count surpassing the peak of the AIDS epidemic. The weight of the crisis in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario falls on a handful of people struggling to keep their fellow community members alive, similar to countless towns in North America.
Steel Town Down is an intimate portrait of the only harm reduction worker in town and a family desperate to save their son from becoming another victim of the crisis.
WATCH NEXT: Fentanyl: The Drug Deadlier than Heroin
Fentanyl: The Drug Deadlier than Heroin
VICE presents an immersive and personal feature film about the fentanyl crisis in Canada told from the perspective of a community of drug users.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28rJqj-7pEY [with (nearly 14,000) comments]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2kqgX2KjTY [with comments]
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Will Bannon be held in contempt of Congress?
All In with Chris Hayes
2/15/18
After refusing to answer questions from the House Intelligence Committee and invoking a form of executive privilege, Bannon should be held in contempt, says committee member Rep. Eric Swalwell.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/will-bannon-be-held-in-contempt-of-congress-1162884163602
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Oregon passes bipartisan gun control bill
All In with Chris Hayes
2/15/18
A gun safety measure that closes the so-called 'boyfriend loophole' passed with overwhelming support from Democrats and three Republicans in the Oregon House of Representatives.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/oregon-passes-bipartisan-gun-control-bill-1162882627875
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Paul Ryan: No 'knee jerk' reactions on guns. Ever.
All In with Chris Hayes
2/15/18
House Speaker Paul Ryan likes to say the same thing after gun massacres. And then do virtually nothing.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/paul-ryan-no-knee-jerk-reactions-on-guns-ever-1162885187935 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2_7qEaD4WM [with comments]
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Broward Sheriff: Detain people over social media
All In with Chris Hayes
2/15/18
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel provides an update on the school shooting investigation - and says that he supports detaining people against their will based on their online posts.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/broward-sheriff-detain-people-over-social-media-1162887747675 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S1x7iY2FzI [with comments]
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White House works to sink bipartisan DACA plan
All In with Chris Hayes
2/15/18
The White House pulled out all the stops to sink a bipartisan DACA plan - including a veto threat, a presidential tweet and an anonymous background call.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/white-house-works-to-sink-bipartisan-daca-plan-1162886723885
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Trump's lawyer paid Stormy Daniels $130,000
All In with Chris Hayes
2/15/18
Donald Trump's lawyer says he 'facilitated' the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels from his 'own personal funds' and that neither the Trump campaign nor the Trump organization reimbursed him.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-s-lawyer-paid-stormy-daniels-130-000-1162896451528
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Trump words on gun tragedy ring hollow given past legislation
The Rachel Maddow Show
2/15/18
Rachel Maddow points out that the first significant piece of legislation Donald Trump signed was to give mentally ill people easier access to guns, so his concern that the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter was mentally ill and shouldn't have been allowed a gun doesn't carry much weight.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-words-on-gun-tragedy-ring-hollow-given-past-legislation-1162946115643 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZixsMbXXnbk [with comments]
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Trump team uses gun tragedy as cover, reveals financial documents
The Rachel Maddow Show
2/15/18
Rachel Maddow notes the particular timing of the Trump team's release of financial documents showing questionable use of tens of millions of dollars of campaign funds.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-team-uses-gun-tragedy-as-cover-reveals-financial-documents-1162949187611 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a54UVDf7ZaA [with comments]
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'Queen for a day' likely means another witness flip for Mueller
The Rachel Maddow Show
2/15/18
Barbara McQuade, former U.S. attorney, helps Rachel Maddow understand what it means that former Trump campaign staffer Rick Gates had a "Queen for a day" interview with Robert Mueller's team, and why Donald Trump should be worried.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-queen-for-a-day-likely-means-another-witness-flip-for-mueller-1162949187818
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When does a payment count as a campaign contribution?
The Rachel Maddow Show
2/15/18
Ellen Weintraub, vice chair of the Federal Election Commission, talks with Rachel Maddow about factors use by the FEC for assessing whether an individual's expenditure qualifies as a campaign contribution.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/when-does-a-payment-count-as-a-campaign-contribution-1165406275717
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No transparency required in how inauguration funds are spent
The Rachel Maddow Show
2/15/18
Ellen Weintraub, vice chair of the Federal Election Commission, talks with Rachel Maddow about why an inappropriate use of inauguration fund money might go unnoticed.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/no-transparency-required-in-how-inauguration-funds-are-spent-1165410371614
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VA Secretary Shulkin worsens scandal with dubious explanation
The Rachel Maddow Show
2/15/18
Rachel Maddow shares details of an inspector general report about VA Secretary David Shulkin using taxpayer money for personal travel with his wife, which he tried to explain away with the excuse that his staffer's computer was hacked.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/va-secretary-shulkin-worsens-scandal-with-dubious-explanation-1162938947547
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Lawrence: Mueller likely has a third cooperating witness
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell
2/15/18
A new report says ex-Trump adviser Rick Gates has likely struck a plea deal with Mueller and may cooperate with the Russia probe. Plus, Steve Bannon met with Mueller for 20+ hours. Lawrence O'Donnell discusses with John Heilemann, Jill Wine-Banks and Ron Klain.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/lawrence-mueller-likely-has-a-third-cooperating-witness-1162966595624 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH6c8z7uDC0 [with comments]
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Florida Democrat ready to fight NRA and Gov. Rick Scott
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell
2/15/18
Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee who is running for Governor of Florida against Gov. Rick Scott, tells Lawrence O'Donnell why gun reform is needed and why the young survivors of America's latest massacre might lead to change.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/florida-dem-ready-to-fight-nra-and-gov-rick-scott-1162970179873
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Trump speaks about school shooting, says nothing about gun laws
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell
2/15/18
Police released the names of the 17 students, faculty and staff who were shot and killed in a south Florida school on Wednesday. Lawrence O'Donnell honors each victim and shares their stories of tragedy and heroism.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/trump-speaks-about-school-shooting-says-nothing-about-gun-laws-1162966595697 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kAh5TGo8bM [with comments]
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Robert Mueller has now met repeatedly with Steve Bannon
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams
2/16/18
We've learned it's been a busy week for Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. What could it all mean for the Trump White House? Vivian Salama, Matthew Nussbaum, and Mieke Eoyang react.
©2018 NBCNews.com
[originally aired February 15, 2018]
http://www.msnbc.com/brian-williams/watch/robert-mueller-has-now-met-repeatedly-with-steve-bannon-1162999876001
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Trump responds to FL shooting without mentioning guns
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams
2/16/18
With the White House weathering multiple crises, Pres. Trump responds first on Twitter and then on-camera to the shooting at a Florida high school without even mentioning guns. Philip Rucker & Tamara Keith discuss.
©2018 NBCNews.com
[originally aired February 15, 2018]
http://www.msnbc.com/brian-williams/watch/trump-responds-to-fl-shooting-without-mentioning-guns-1163008579566 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OZqgsnvzv4 [with comments]
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Paper that endorsed Trump calls on him to enact gun control
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams
2/16/18
Even the conservative New York Post is calling on Trump for common sense gun control. David Jolly, former House Republican of Florida, joins to share his plan for sensible changes to current law.
©2018 NBCNews.com
[originally aired February 15, 2018]
http://www.msnbc.com/brian-williams/watch/paper-that-endorsed-trump-calls-on-him-to-enact-gun-control-1163010627758 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq7-XCSkMFM [with comments]
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Here's who in DC benefits from millions in NRA cash
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams
2/16/18
Many of the lawmakers offering words of comfort in the hours after the shooting at a Florida high school have benefited from millions in cash from the NRA.
©2018 NBCNews.com
[originally aired February 15, 2018]
http://www.msnbc.com/brian-williams/watch/here-s-who-in-dc-benefited-from-millions-in-nra-cash-1163011651884 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4OwdIHeOkM [with comments]
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Florida Shooting: Mike Explodes in Rage and Stops the Show
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Mike Malloy [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpU4j-LN_aibXA1gONvWzxw / https://www.youtube.com/user/hschulein , https://www.youtube.com/user/hschulein/videos ]
[originally aired February 14, 2018]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFanDTWuCPo [with comments]
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20 Signs of Impending Tyranny
Published on Feb 16, 2018 by Mike Malloy
As tyrants take control of democracies, they typically:
1. Demand personal loyalty from all appointees.
2. Organize military parades and other choreographed shows of force.
3. Threaten to fire independent prosecutors who get too close to the truth.
4. Spread conspiracy theories about "deep state" forces seeking to oust the tyrant.
5. Refer to top-ranking military leaders as "my" generals.
And 15 others...
6. Threaten to jail political opponents.
7. Claim to have won an election by a landslide even after losing the popular vote.
8. Stoke tensions abroad, even the specter of nuclear war, to distract from the tyrant's efforts to consolidate power at home.
9. Circumvent the independent press and communicate directly with followers.
10. Vilify legislators and judges who are critical of the regime.
11. Repeatedly claim massive voter fraud in the absence of any evidence, in order to restrict voting in subsequent elections.
12. Turn the public against journalists or media outlets that criticize the regime, calling them “deceitful” and “scum.”
13. Repeatedly tell big lies, causing the public to doubt the truth and to believe fictions that support the tyrants’ goals
14. Blame economic stresses on immigrants or racial or religious minorities, and foment public bias and hatred against them.
15. Threaten mass deportations, registries of religious minorities, and the banning of refugees.
16. Attribute acts of domestic violence to “enemies within,” and use such events as excuses to beef up internal security and limit civil liberties.
17. Appoint family members to high positions of authority.
18. Draw no distinction between personal property and public property, profiteering from public office.
19. Make personal alliances with foreign dictators, but express indifference if not defiance toward leaders of democracies.
20. Maintain a powerful propaganda arm that claims to be "fair and balanced" but only amplifies the tyrant's lies and accusations.
Full post: https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/posts/1854121851267069
[originally aired February 15, 2018]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYleY_474lg [with comments]
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Heroes of "The 15:17 to Paris" - Extended Interview: The Daily Show
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwWhs_6x42TyRM4Wstoq8HA , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwWhs_6x42TyRM4Wstoq8HA/videos ]
Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone discuss whether it was scarier to thwart a 2015 terrorist attack or portray themselves in the film "The 15:17 to Paris."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwvf9_XGHbE [with comments]
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At War with Machines - The Opposition w/ Jordan Klepper
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Comedy Central [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUsN5ZwHx2kILm84-jPDeXw / https://www.youtube.com/user/comedycentral , https://www.youtube.com/user/comedycentral/videos , https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD7nPL1U-R5r5XD8saDuOBVj1z69Y_4iK ]
Jordan sees a victory for humanity in a grocery store's decision to fire its robotic greeter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeN4zoz_ypI [with comments]
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Late Show's Alter Egos: Extra White House
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtFAi84ehTSYSE9XoHefig , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtFAi84ehTSYSE9XoHefig/videos ]
A helpful guide to who is in (and recently out) of the Trump White House.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivCYitolMGY [with comments]
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Drunk History - Gloria Steinem Goes Undercover at the Playboy Club
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Comedy Central [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUsN5ZwHx2kILm84-jPDeXw / https://www.youtube.com/user/comedycentral , https://www.youtube.com/user/comedycentral/videos , https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD7nPL1U-R5pSwKIcVaIQrG5BnGMbHI5H ]
In the 1960s, a young Gloria Steinem poses as a cocktail waitress at the Playboy Club to research an expose on its sexist work environment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi3Lgi4pNok [with comments]
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How to Kill the Morgellon Live Nanite Fibers (Part II) Bravo Von Muller Up-Date
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Bravo Alternative Media [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVV0_xnA_z-ALo6kZJz2WXA , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVV0_xnA_z-ALo6kZJz2WXA/videos ]
The Good news is we are still here, The Bad news is they are still spraying us ! How to Kill the Morgellon Live Nanite Fibers and remove from your Body (Part II) Bravo Von Muller 2 year up-date.
How to Kill Morgellon Fibers and remove from your Body
The Global Elite Money Changers call this "The Natural Trilateral Commission", it is a little inside joke they say among themselves. Now I will share with you, how THEY keep the evil living Morgellon Fibers out their bodies !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qP_zsTt3Lg [with comments (and currently 129,433 views)]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj4Cb4zVjSU [with comments]
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stashed February 15, 2018:
How a transgender woman breast-fed her baby - special for Alex Jones
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2018/02/14/how-a-transgender-woman-breast-fed-her-baby/
study http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/trgh.2017.0044
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dW8Rm3AJzu2KECMwKZ5SZH5uOGQ9M?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
UK blames Russia for 'malicious' NotPetya cyber-attack
The Russian military was directly behind a "malicious" cyber-attack on Ukraine last summer that spread across Europe, British ministers have said.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-43062113
Foreign Office Minister condemns Russia for NotPetya attacks
UK judges that the Russian government was responsible for the NotPetya cyber-attack of June 2017.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-office-minister-condemns-russia-for-notpetya-attacks
UK blames Russia for NotPetya cyber-attack last year
Defence secretary says Moscow ‘undermined democracy’ with attack that targeted Ukraine
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/15/uk-blames-russia-notpetya-cyber-attack-ukraine
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/duwpnl3LJTW7jOMzjuCF5InShmUEM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Priebus: Chaos reigned in early days of Trump White House
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/priebus-chaos-reigned-in-early-days-of-trump-white-house/
“Who Needs a Controversy Over the Inauguration?”: Reince Priebus Opens Up About His Six Months of Magical Thinking
Months after his chaotic resignation as chief of staff, and with his successor on the hot seat, Priebus comes clean about everything: the inauguration crowd-size fiasco, the decision to fire Comey, the Mooch, the tweets, how he helped saved Jeff Sessions’s job, and his mercurial former boss. “I still love the guy,” he says.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/02/reince-priebus-opens-up-about-his-six-months-of-magical-thinking
Trump Said Inauguration Crowd Numbers Were 'Bullshit' Says Reince Priebus In New Book
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-said-inauguration-crowd-numbers-were-bullshit-says-reince-priebus-new-807887
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dlI5wfYcjGLJ7YMfUMjXPZZai_CaM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Radio host Patrick Connor fired after Chloe Kim remark
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/winter-olympics-2018/2018/02/14/radio-host-fired-after-chloe-kim-remark-2018-winter-olympics/339288002/
Barstool Radio Host Can't Resist Calling 17-Year-Old Olympian Chloe Kim A "Little Hot Piece Of Ass" [Update]
https://deadspin.com/barstool-radio-host-cant-resist-calling-17-year-old-oly-1822974775
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/d6NdkjKkOfnxbKMThZhtLwgjaweLM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Riding an Untamed Horse: Priebus Opens Up on Serving Trump
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/14/us/politics/riding-an-untamed-horse-priebus-opens-up-on-serving-trump.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dPlP3ut2JIJ40_Mrw6sDq61ItKPZM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Ex-GOP lawmaker: Vote Republicans out of office if you want mass shootings stopped - Former Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/media/373983-ex-gop-lawmaker-vote-republicans-out-of-office-if-you-want-mass-shootings
How Republicans Have Been Making Gun Laws Worse Under Trump
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/02/every-attempt-to-change-gun-laws-under-trump.html
Florida shooting: Senators singled out over gun lobby funds
As the US reels over the latest shooting at a high school campus in Parkland, Florida - the 18th so far in 2018 - "thoughts and prayers" from public figures are not all being well received on social media.
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-43070480
Why Congress is hesitant to pass gun control, by the numbers
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/politics/congress-gun-control-unlikely-to-pass/index.html
Last February, Trump signed a bill making it easier for people with mental illness to buy guns
Republicans rolled back even the most modest gun regulations.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/15/17016036/trump-guns-mental-illness
You don't need a permit or license to buy a gun in Florida. (And you don't have to register your gun either)
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/us/florida-gun-laws-trnd/index.html
The NRA invested millions in these politicians in 2016
https://qz.com/1207851/parkland-shooting-the-nra-and-gun-lobby-invested-millions-in-trump-and-other-republicans-in-2016/
List of US politicians who receive millions from National Rifle Association
http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/15/list-us-politicians-receive-millions-national-rifle-association-7314597/
The NRA deleted a post encouraging people to buy guns for Valentines Day after Florida school shooting
The National Rifle Association (NRA) deleted a post encouraging citizens to buy guns for their loved ones on Valentines Day
The post was removed within hours of the Florida school shooting.
The NRA has been criticized for tone deaf posts in the past.
http://www.businessinsider.com/nra-valentines-day-gun-post-deleted-after-florida-school-shooting-2018-2
Retweet of Valentine's Day gun content disappears from NRA Twitter after Fla. shooting
https://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/NRA-Florida-school-shooting-valentines-gun-retweet-12614889.php
Why own an AR-15? Four Texans tell why they own the most popular gun in America
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/guns/2018/02/15/ar-15-four-texans-tell-popular-gun-america
The FBI Was Warned About A School Shooting Threat From A YouTube User Named Nikolas Cruz In September
In September, a YouTube user named Nikolas Cruz left a comment on a video stating, "I'm going to be a professional school shooter." The video's creator alerted both the FBI and YouTube.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/briannasacks/the-fbi-was-warned-about-a-school-shooting-threat-from
Here Are The Hoaxes Already Going Around About The Florida School Shooting
Most have focused on the identity of the shooter.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/janelytvynenko/florida-school-shooting-hoaxes
Another School Shooting—But Who’s Counting?
Seventeen people were killed in an attack on Wednesday. America’s inability to track gun violence is standing in the way of preventing the next one.
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/02/another-school-shootingbut-whos-counting/553412/
American Carnage
“Your child isn’t going to be shot,” Donald Trump vowed. It was a promise he could never have kept—but there’s no evidence he even tried.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/trump-carnage/553424/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dH1Lvks-54a7e1MEkXKAqn2qKfZFM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Stormy Daniels has a ‘Monica Lewinsky dress’ to test for Trump’s DNA, report [ https://theblast.com/stormy-daniels-dress-donald-trump-dna/ ] says
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/02/15/stormy-daniels-has-a-monica-lewinsky-dress-to-test-for-trumps-dna-report-says/
Scandal-Ridden Scoundrel
By Charles M. Blow
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/opinion/scandal-ridden-scoundrel.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dzp7l1G7NQOoFbMcw1g9HyHujjVRM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Riding an Untamed Horse: Priebus Opens Up on Serving Trump
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/14/us/politics/riding-an-untamed-horse-priebus-opens-up-on-serving-trump.html
Priebus reveals ugly new details about Trump’s fury over Russia probe
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/02/15/priebus-reveals-ugly-new-details-about-trumps-fury-over-russia-probe/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dPlP3ut2JIJ40_Mrw6sDq61ItKPZM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Donald Trump's Language Is Reshaping American Politics
Republicans—and some liberals—downplay the significance of the president’s outbursts. But his words are quietly radicalizing both the left and right, with untold consequences for the future of policy.
Do the president’s words matter?
In Donald Trump’s first year in office, there has been a surprisingly widespread effort to argue that they do not. Liberals and moderates occasionally insist that the media and the public should shift their attention from the president’s vulgar statements to the real policy work happening at federal agencies. Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, have repeatedly ignored and dismissed Trump’s most shocking comments; criticized the media for paying attention to his tweets; feigned forgetfulness of his vulgarities; and even made jokes about all that ignoring, dismissing, and forgetting.
The upshot seems to be: Ignore the words, heed the substance.
But Trump’s words are his substance. “Politics is persuasion as well as coercion,” the political scientist Jacob Levy wrote last week, rightly arguing that Trump has “changed what being a Republican means.” He has done so not through legislative coercion—indeed, he barely seems to understand the basics of American government—but through persuasive insistence. On issues as diverse as the alleged dangers of immigration and the nature of truth, Trump’s words have the power to cleave public opinion, turning nonpolitical issues into partisan maelstroms and turning partisan attitudes on their head. Trump’s rhetoric doesn’t produce the legislative artifacts that journalists typically use to analyze presidential power—it hasn’t translated to many actual laws passed. But the country is only just beginning to understand the scope of Trump’s lexical influence.
Let’s start with the obvious examples. Years ago (even months ago) it would have been absurd to imagine “law and order” Republicans souring on the FBI; or that the party of Reagan and Bush would turn on the NFL, America’s most orgiastically patriotic sport.
But that’s precisely what’s happened. In 2014, about 60 percent of both Republicans and Democrats said the FBI was doing an "excellent" or "good" job. Last year, their views forked: Republican approval of the agency fell by about 10 points, while Democratic opinion improved by a similar margin. The same thing happened with football: Less than 20 percent of Republicans said they had unfavorable views of the NFL in the summer of 2017. But their disapproval had more than tripled by October, after Trump blasted players for kneeling to protest police violence during the national anthem. One analysis determined that, following the anthem protests, the NFL—a $13 billion industry that is the linchpin of the massive pay-TV ecosystem—became one of the most polarizing brands in the country.
Trump’s words don’t just reshape Republican attitudes. Just as often they empower and radicalize his critics. One could say that, despite his fondness for gilded touches, Trump evinces not a Midas touch, but a Moses touch—an extraordinary talent for planting a stake in the ground and dividing the landscape before him.
This Moses effect is most evident when it comes to Russia and immigration. In mid-2016, 20 percent of both Republicans and Democrats considered Russia an “ally” or “friendly.” One year later, Republicans were more than twice as likely as Democrats to say the same. Immigration had for years been a marginal political topic, especially when compared with issues like jobs and terrorism. But Trump effectively recast immigration as a question of American identity and national security. The construction of a wall along the Mexican border, once a fringey scheme, became the centerpiece of the GOP presidential candidate’s agenda. Today, three-quarters of Trump supporters say that “building the wall” should be the highest priority of his presidency. And yet, because Democrats have become more pro-immigrant under Trump, a record-high share of Americans now say "immigrants strengthen the country.” Essentially, Trump has popularized the liberal position on immigration while radicalizing the right’s.
It's tempting to downplay the power of Trump's words by saying their influence is “merely” shifting public opinion. But that's not quite right. First, there’s nothing subtle about Republican voters clutching nativism, the far-right right clutching Nazism, or Democratic voters radicalizing in defiance of the president. The devoted rank-and-file play an outsized role in state primaries. Trump’s “mere” words could starve his party of moderate legislators, while encouraging Democratic candidates to embrace more liberal positions to distinguish themselves as distinctly anti-Trump. Second, Trump’s rhetorical posture has some real policy implications. Though he hasn’t yet signed any major legislation on immigration, his harsh stance on undocumented workers empowered the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to increase arrests by 40 percent in his first year, often to shocking effect. And his constant disparagement of experts who refuse to parrot his policies has sucked the talent out of several government agencies, notably the State Department.
Finally, Trump’s refusal to accept critical information as true—from his denial of Russian interference in the 2016 election to the “alternative facts” about his inauguration size—has demolished the right’s faith and trust in a free press. Three-quarters of the GOP now say that news organizations make up anti-Trump stories. Even worse, a January study found that nearly half of Republicans believe that accurate stories that “cast a politician or political group in a negative light” are “always” fake news. Trump, along with Fox News, has given his supporters the license to self-deport from reality.
Trump’s obsession with building and broadcasting an alternative ledger of facts has made epistemology the fundamental crisis of his term. In its first month, the administration invented or mainstreamed a new vocabulary of mendacity—e.g., fake news, alternative facts—and within 10 months, Trump made more than 1,500 false or misleading claims, according to The Washington Post. That’s roughly six lies, exaggerations, or omissions per day. Trump and Fox News have together formed an axis of epistemic insanity, encouraging base voters who crave conspiracy theories and dismiss all negative news stories. No legislation, no executive order, and no official speech has caused this shift. It is the president’s words, delivered often via Twitter and amplified on Fox News, that have exploded the very notion of a shared political truth.
Republican legislators will continue to insist that the president’s indecorous words don’t matter. This is a convenient argument. Trump has outsourced the work of his presidency to other Republicans, who are happy to accept the responsibility of running the country: Budget and economic policy has gone to Mick Mulvaney and Paul Ryan; immigration and criminal-justice policy to John Kelly, Jeff Sessions, and Stephen Miller. The insistence that Trump’s words don’t matter isn’t incidental to the GOP’s broader strategy. It is the strategy—to quarantine Trump’s most noxious rhetoric and proceed apace with traditional Republican governance.
It’s rich for Republicans to all of a sudden feign such ambivalence about the power of words. As Jacob Levy notes in his essay, Fox News devotes about approximately one-sixth of the year to demonizing a harmless phrase, “happy holidays,” and Republicans have long attached talismanic power to the term “radical Islamic terrorism.” The idea that a president’s words don’t matter is a deeply ahistorical position. And that’s particularly true for the GOP, whose three previous presidents distinguished themselves through phraseology: “morning in America,” “city on a hill,” “tear down this wall,” “new world order,” “thousand points of light,” “axis of evil,” “bigotry of low expectations.”
Perhaps Republicans don’t treat Trump as a typical Republican president because, in a very real sense, Trump is not really the president. Instead, he has become a kind of nationalist identity guru for the new American right. On Monday, an anonymous White House source all but acknowledged this strategy, telling Axios that the president would spend 2018 seeking “unexpected cultural flashpoints,” like the NFL’s kneeling controversy. The White House sees Trump’s principle talent as the ability to activate cultural resentment among his supporters, encouraging them to redefine their identity and values around a nativist anger. And Republicans benefit doubly: The president plays the part he knows best—hype man for the nativist base—and voters come away energized.
Politics is downstream from persuasion, and law is downstream from language. Trump has failed to perform the role of a diligent executive, reserving much of his day for television, personal calls, and cultural encyclicals on Twitter. But it would be a mistake to conflate Trump’s indolence for ineffectiveness. No matter how often journalists and politicians dismiss Trump’s words, the words matter.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/donald-trumps-language-is-reshaping-american-politics/553349/
Trump’s Inaugural Committee Paid $26 Million to Firm of First Lady’s Adviser
WASHINGTON — President Trump’s inaugural committee paid nearly $26 million to an event planning firm started by an adviser to the first lady, Melania Trump, while donating $5 million — less than expected — to charity, according to tax filings released on Thursday.
The nonprofit group that oversaw Mr. Trump’s inauguration and surrounding events in January 2017, the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee, had been under pressure from liberal government watchdog groups to reveal how it spent the record $107 million it had raised from wealthy donors and corporations.
Its chairman, Thomas J. Barrack Jr., a longtime friend of Mr. Trump, had pledged that the committee would be thrifty with its spending, and would donate leftover funds to charity.
But the mandatory tax return it filed with the Internal Revenue Service indicates that the group’s charitable donations included only an already publicized $3 million for hurricane relief, plus a total of $1.75 million to groups involved in decorating and maintaining the White House and the vice president’s residence.
The 116-page filing indicates that the overwhelming majority of the funds went toward expenses related to the inauguration, with the biggest share — nearly $51 million — split roughly evenly between two companies.
One of the companies, WIS Media Partners of Marina del Rey, California, was created by a longtime friend of Mrs. Trump, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, according to a person familiar with the firm. Records show that the firm was created in December 2016, but otherwise there is very little information available about it.
Ms. Winston Wolkoff made her name planning Manhattan society galas and has subsequently been brought on as a senior adviser to the first lady’s official government office.
Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Trump, said that the first lady “had no involvement” with the inaugural committee, “and had no knowledge of how funds were spent.”
Ms. Winston Wolkoff is not paid for her work in the first lady’s office, according to Ms. Grisham, who said Ms. Winston Wolkoff is classified as “a special government employee.”
Much of the money paid to Ms. Winston Wolkoff’s firm and other event production companies likely was passed through to other vendors who provided goods or services on a subcontractor basis.
Ms. Winston Wolkoff personally received $1.62 million for her work, according to one official from the inaugural committee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the details publicly. The official said that Ms. Winston Wolkoff’s firm paid the team used by Mark Burnett, the creator of “The Apprentice,” whose involvement in the inaugural festivities was requested by Mr. Trump.
Also reaping payments for event production services was Hargrove, Inc., of Lanham, Md., a company that plans trade shows and other events, which was paid $25 million. David Monn of New York, who also is known for orchestrating society events and planned a state dinner for former President Barack Obama, was paid $3.7 million, and a company called Production Resource Group of New Windsor, N.Y., was paid $2.7 million, according to the tax return.
Other expenses for which the committee paid directly included ticketing, on which it spent $4.1 million, and promotional gifts, on which it spent $560,000.
It also spent heavily on payroll and administrative expenses, including spending $9.4 million on travel, $4.6 million on salaries and benefits for its 208 employees, $500,000 on legal fees and $237,000 on fund-raising.
The inaugural committee official said that wrap-up costs were more significant than had been anticipated, and indicated that the committee’s finances were affected by the fact that it never struck a large deal for broadcast rights to the inaugural balls.
The $107 million raised by the committee was about twice as much as Mr. Obama’s inaugural committee raised for the festivities around his 2009 swearing-in.
Mr. Barrack, a California investor, in a statement released by the committee with the tax return, praised the committee for carrying out the inauguration and more than 20 related events with “elegance and seamless excellence without incident or interruption, befitting the legacy and tradition that has preceded us.”
The inaugural committee closed out October with $2.8 million in the bank, according to the tax filing. It indicated in the release that the remaining funds also would be donated to charity once remaining expenses are paid.
The tax return indicated that the committee already donated to six nonprofit groups, and inaugural officials pointed out that the $5 million in total charitable donations to those groups was more than Mr. Obama’s committee donated.
Among the recipients of charitable donations, the White House Historical Association received $1 million, while the Vice President’s Residence Foundation, which is devoted to decorating and furnishing the Vice President’s residence on the grounds of the Naval Observatory in Washington, received $750,000. The Smithsonian Institution received $250,000.
The American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Samaritan’s Purse, an evangelical group, received $1 million each. All three groups were involved in relief efforts after a string of hurricanes that ravaged the Gulf Coast, Florida and the Caribbean.
As questions mounted last summer about the inaugural committee’s finances and pledged charitable donations, Mr. Barrack released a statement promising that “millions of dollars of reserve funds will be allocated to various charities, institutions, and foundations in an amount that surely will exceed any previous inauguration.”
The inaugural committee split the costs of staging a range of festivities with the taxpayer-funded Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and various federal, state and local government agencies. Security costs alone were predicted to be upward of $100 million, which will eventually be paid for by the federal government.
Among the top donors to Mr. Trump’s inaugural committee were the Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon G. Adelson, who donated $5 million, and corporations including Chevron, Boeing, and AT&T.
The committee had previously filed a mandatory report with the Federal Election Commission listing its donors, and the donor names were redacted from the I.R.S. filing released Thursday. The bulk of the report — about 90 pages — was comprised of a list of donation amounts without the identities of the corresponding donors, including a page-and-a-half of in-kind donations, such as a musical performance valued at $729,000 and vehicle and equipment expenses valued at a total of $631,000.
It was not immediately clear who donated the musical performance or the other services.
The inaugural committee was criticized for staging an extravagant concert on the National Mall featuring performances by the country music star Toby Keith and the rock band Three Doors Down. The concert reportedly cost $25 million.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/us/politics/trumps-inaugural-committee-paid-26-million-to-first-ladys-friend.html
Florida’s Gun Law Sickness
Not only is there no law requiring the registration of handguns or rifles — the state has a law expressly prohibiting any such regulation.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/floridas-gun-law-sickness
After the Parkland shooting, let's call GOP hypocrisy on guns what it really is: complicity
By their own logic, the GOP and Trump are complicit in America's mass shooting epidemic.
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/after-parkland-shooting-let-s-call-gop-hypocrisy-guns-what-ncna848321
Campaign contributions aren’t the reason the gun debate is frozen - dubious piece
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/02/15/campaign-contributions-arent-the-reason-the-gun-debate-is-frozen/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dgj9XVABzFxHCCMWvs42nyRb6ZxFM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Jeff Sessions Is Putting Together a Group to Study Why We Have Mass Shootings, Which Ought to Do the Trick
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/02/jeff-sessions-says-hell-study-why-mass-shootings-take-place.html
Attorney General Sessions Delivers Remarks to the National Sheriffs’ Association
February 12, 2018
https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/attorney-general-sessions-delivers-remarks-national-sheriffs-association
Florida shooting suspect was part of white nationalist group, leader says = AP
Officials are focusing on mental health issues in the wake of the mass shooting
http://www.kcci.com/article/school-shooting-suspect-facing-17-charges-premeditated-murder/18192586
original:
School shooting suspect belonged to white nationalist group
https://www.apnews.com/a6fd450470d4464ab423b8b3a911b42d/School-shooting-suspect-belonged-to-white-nationalist-group
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/d69j2gskdEDrEfMQIT9HEdwVTKv2M?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Second appeals court rules against Trump travel ban 3.0
The decision has no immediate effect due to the Supreme Court action.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/15/trump-travel-ban-4th-circuit-413458
U.S. Court Says Trump Travel Ban Unlawfully Discriminates Against Muslims - Reuters
https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2018-02-15/us-court-says-trump-travel-ban-unlawfully-discriminates-against-muslims
original https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-immigration/u-s-court-says-trump-travel-ban-unlawfully-discriminates-against-muslims-idUSKCN1FZ23U
Trump Loses Another Appeals Court Ruling on His Travel Ban
http://time.com/5160742/trump-travel-ban-federal-appeal/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dwm_otREtV6FsVM7CKO7i7fhhfKBM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
F.C.C. Watchdog Looks Into Changes That Benefited Sinclair
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/technology/fcc-sinclair-ajit-pai.html
Ajit Pai faces investigation into moves that benefit Sinclair Broadcasting
IG examines whether Pai "improperly coordinated with Sinclair" on rule changes.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/02/ajit-pai-faces-investigation-into-moves-that-benefit-sinclair-broadcasting/
U.S. watchdog to probe chairman's decisions in broadcast deal: Democrat - Representative Frank Pallone
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-sinclair-ma-fcc/u-s-watchdog-to-probe-chairmans-decisions-in-broadcast-deal-democrat-idUSKCN1FZ27A
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dqTulgzbhDew3tMw77FAc0k7KAnOM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Steve Bannon met with Mueller multiple times over the past week - spent a total of some 20 hours in conversations with the team led by Mueller
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/steve-bannon-met-mueller-multiple-times-over-past-week-n848421
Bannon met with special counsel investigators two days this week
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-bannon/bannon-met-with-special-counsel-investigators-two-days-this-week-idUSKCN1FZ2JY
Bannon interviewed by Mueller in past week: report
http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/374079-bannon-interviewed-by-mueller-twice-in-past-week-report
White House "scripted" House's Russia questions for Bannon
The former Trump political adviser met with the House Intelligence Committee, and has also had multiple meetings with special counsel Robert Mueller in recent days.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/15/steve-bannon-scripted-questions-russia-probe-414755
more: https://www.google.com/search?q=bannon+mueller
Social media paints picture of racist 'professional school shooter'
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/14/us/nikolas-cruz-florida-shooting-suspect/index.html
The White Nationalists Who Claimed Ties to the Florida School Shooter Used Memes and Rap to Spread Hate Online [Updated] - further to https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=138585321
Speculation as to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz’s motivations began late yesterday as Instagram accounts and YouTube comments believed to be associated with him surfaced. Today the leader of a white nationalist fringe group claimed that Cruz was a member, and that his group had given Cruz training.
The Republic of Florida, as they’re called, are “a white civil rights organization fighting for white Identitarian politics, And (sic) the ultimate creation of a white ethnostate,” according to its website. The group—which is explicitly homophobic and antisemitic—encouraged its members to undergo “paramilitary training,” purchase knifes and firearms, and pledge their “willingness to wage battle.” In a since-deleted video uploaded by the group’s leader, Jordan Jereb, a masked man stands in front of a Republic of Florida banner and claims that “we’ve made rapid advancements in the stockpile of many supplies—not just food—and I’ll let you use your imagination.”
Jereb himself appear to have loose ties to the Traditionalist Worker Party, another ethno-nationalist fringe group you may recall from a controversial New York Times profile. That group’s leader, Matthew Heimbach, appears alongside Jereb in a YouTube video as both prepare for a League of the South conference.
[...]
https://gizmodo.com/the-white-nationalists-tied-to-the-florida-school-shoot-1823044091
We edited Trump’s condolence speech on America’s latest school shooting
https://qz.com/1208492/trumps-speech-about-parkland-floridas-school-shooting-attack-was-missing-key-facts/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dHO5nfbQ7A13M9MbD7hw4tdG7YdFM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Trump Is Looking in the Wrong Direction to Prevent Mass Shootings
The president called for increased vigilance on Thursday, but even when authorities know about troubled individuals that often isn’t enough to prevent massacres.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/what-is-to-be-done/553445/
School safety money would be slashed in Trump budget
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/15/school-safety-cuts-trump-administration-348968
How the Florida shooter escaped years of warnings
Although he was well known to local police, school and mental health officials, he legally purchased the AR-15 he used to gun down former classmates.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/15/florida-school-shooter-reported-behavior-trump-350072
Trump Calls For Mental Health Action After Shooting; His Budget Would Cut Programs
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/15/586095437/trump-calls-for-mental-health-action-after-shooting-his-budget-would-cut-program
Budget Undercuts Trump Focus on Mental Health, School Safety
Budget undercuts Trump's call for a focus on mental health and school safety in response to Florida shootings.
https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2018-02-15/budget-undercuts-trump-focus-on-mental-health-school-safety
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/duWfmAY7g27gKPMGGit63opZuSpTM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
There's a gun for every American. But less than a third own guns.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/politics/guns-dont-know-how-many-america/index.html
Trump Signs Bill Revoking Obama-Era Gun Checks for People With Mental Illnesses
Feb 28 2017
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-signs-bill-revoking-obama-era-gun-checks-people-mental-n727221
NRA's big spending pays off with clout and wins in Washington
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/15/nras-big-spending-pays-off-clout-and-wins-washington/341257002/
What Will It Take for Sensible Gun Control?
No amount of killing seems to be enough for Congress to take action
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/gun-control-what-will-it-take-w516785
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dIEUxuyds2DzurMPV6GNiJTHTyEBM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Treasury: Mnuchin doesn't support Congress examining new gun laws
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin appeared to stage a surprising break from the Trump White House on Thursday and endorsed congressional action on gun violence in the wake of the devastating school shooting in Florida that left 17 dead.
His office says that’s not so.
Instead, according to a Treasury official, Mnuchin was referring to whether there was money in the federal budget to examine the proliferation of mass shootings in the United States, not whether Congress should consider new gun control laws.
“Secretary Mnuchin was directly addressing Congressman [John] Lewis’ question about availability of funds in the budget to address the issue of gun violence. He also reflected the feelings shared by all Americans that yesterday’s school shooting was a profound tragedy,” said Treasury spokesman Tony Sayegh.
The controversy began Thursday morning when Mnuchin responded to a question from Rep. Lewis (D-Ga.) at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on whether there was money in the White House budget request to address gun violence.
[...]
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/15/steven-mnuchin-congress-gun-control-414314
Trump 'Strongly' Favors Imposing Online Sales Tax, Mnuchin Says
http://fortune.com/2018/02/15/donald-trump-online-sales-tax/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dcrh6E_A6q7lTKM8o8XnvccSnNYfM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
A would-be shooter tossed a coin to pick a school, police say. His grandmother foiled his plan.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/02/15/a-would-be-shooter-tossed-a-coin-to-pick-a-school-police-say-his-grandmother-foiled-his-plan/
A teen wrote about plans to shoot up his [state of] Washington high school. But his grandmother found his journal
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/us/grandmother-foils-school-shooting-plan-everett-trnd/index.html
Police: Everett teen plotted high school shooting, wrote 'I can't wait'
http://komonews.com/news/local/police-everett-teen-arrested-after-plotting-a-shooting-at-his-high-school
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dhEoTIPdjbksOQMf-Ei6IKJnghBiM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Twin brothers arrested in NYC on explosives charges after authorities find bomb-making materials
Twin brothers have been arrested in New York City on explosives charges for making a bomb, multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News.
The two arrests were made in The Bronx, the sources aid. Investigators recovered bomb-making materials as part of the investigation.
Christian and Tyler Toro were arrested in a joint counter-terrorism operation involving the FBI and the NYPD. The charges do not allege terror-related offenses only the explosives-related counts.
Christian Toro, a former teacher in The Bronx, is charged with his brother Tyler Toro with explosives-related charges. Court records said the brothers were paying minors to strip fireworks of their gunpowder so they could build a bomb.
Christian Toro and Tyler Toro "knowingly made firearms" and aided and abetted in the making of firearms at their home in the Bronx from about October 2017 to February of this year, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York.
Christian Toro is also accused of distributing explosive materials to two individuals under the age of 21 in the Bronx, according to the complaint.
On Dec. 4, 2017, a student was arrested after a bomb threat was called into a high school in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood, and Christian Toro resigned from his teaching position shortly after the arrest, the complaint states.
After the resignation, Tyler Toro returned Christian Toro's school-issued laptop, where a technical specialist found a copy of the "Explosives Book," a text that provides instructions for manufacturing explosive devices, according to the complaint.
On Feb. 8 of this year, multiple law enforcement agents interviewed Christian Toro, who stated that he "had not intentionally downloaded" the incriminating book into the laptop. Instead, Christian Toro stated that he had been researching the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and had come across a copy of the book.
Christian Toro also told investigators that he never built a bomb and had only looked at the book's table of contents.
On Wednesday, investigators interviewed multiple students at the school, who indicated that at least two students visited an apartment where Christian Toro would pay them $50 per hour to break apart fireworks and store the powder that came out of them in containers, the court document states. The students visited the apartment between October 2017 and January 2018, according to the complaint.
While serving a search warrant for the Bronx apartment, investigators found about 20 pounds of iron oxide, about 5 pounds of aluminum powder, about 5 pounds of potassium nitrate and about 2 pounds of confectioner's sugar located in the floor of a bedroom closet.
A glass jar containing a black powdery substance, later identified as explosive material, was also found on top of the closet shelf, the court document states. Another closet contained a cardboard box containing firecrackers, more containers full of varying substances and a bag containing varying sizes of metal spheres.
A diary containing writing that stated that it it were lost it should be returned to Tyler Toro was located on the kitchen table as well.
"WE ARE TWIN TOROS STRIKE US NOW, WE WILL RETURN WITH NANO THERMITE" the diary read, according to the complaint.
Both brothers occupy the back bedroom where several of the items were found, authorities said. They made an initial appearance in court, where a judge ordered them to be held with no objection from their defense attorneys.
Christian Toro and Tyler Toro both pleaded not guilty. Attorneys for the brothers were not immediately available for comment.
There is no current or active threat, according to law enforcement.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/brothers-arrested-nyc-terror-charges-authorities-find-bomb/story?id=53126254
NYPD arrests two for making bombs - video
The NYPD announces the arrest of two New York men who have been charged with manufacturing a destructive device and the distribution of explosive materials to a minor.
https://www.cnn.com/specials/live-video-2?adkey=bn
Twin brothers arrested in New York City for stockpiling bombmaking materials, authorities say
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/02/15/twin-brothers-arrested-in-new-york-city-for-stockpiling-bomb-making-materials-authorities-say/
Ex-teacher, twin brother arrested in NYC terror investigation involving bomb-making materials
http://abc7ny.com/ex-teacher-twin-brother-arrested-in-nyc-terror-investigation/3090692/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dlxBdzlgrQ1DRpMJntK45Vl_TcEyM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Immigration bills fail in Congress, leaving ‘dreamers’ in limbo
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/as-immigration-showdown-looms-in-senate-trump-administration-is-doing-everything-in-our-power-to-stop-bipartisan-plan-official-says/2018/02/15/e0cff9d0-1260-11e8-8ea1-c1d91fcec3fe_story.html
Senate Rejects Trump’s Immigration Plan
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/us/politics/immigration-senate-dreamers.html
House GOP pushes hardline immigration plan as Senate deals fail
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/374145-house-gop-pushes-hardline-immigration-plan-as-senate-deals-fail
No Room for Debate: Senate Floor Fight Over Immigration Is a Bust
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/us/politics/senate-immigration-debate.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dos8wzVX5TfWKDM7dX-RKygZ_3YzM?ned=us&hl=en&gl=US
GOP leaders consider steps, including contempt, after Bannon refuses most questions
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/bannon-returns-to-house-intelligence-committee-under-subpoena/2018/02/15/e2051a68-1267-11e8-9570-29c9830535e5_story.html
Bannon stonewalls House panel after WH advised him to invoke executive privilege
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/14/politics/bannon-contempt-hearing/index.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/d9wXT9DbJ9i_kFMvKQ9YX9xpMFadM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Exclusive: A top Trump campaign adviser close to plea deal with Mueller
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/politics/rick-gates-plea-deal-mueller-russia-investigation/index.html
Rick Gates is reportedly close to becoming Mueller’s third cooperating ex-Trump aide
CNN reports Gates is finalizing a plea deal with Mueller.
https://www.vox.com/2018/2/15/16955292/rick-gates-plea-deal
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dtjrUMD1ExT-acMfpuHtzRLTNaBsM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
U.S. Condemns Russia for Cyberattack, Showing Split in Stance on Putin
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/us/politics/russia-cyberattack.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/d6sHNsHOeDG9YgMzcW9RWL1kNmCrM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Trump's Inauguration: Record Spending Leaves Little For Charities
https://www.npr.org/2018/02/15/586116158/trumps-inauguration-record-spending-leaves-little-for-charities
The Tax Return For Donald Trump's Inaugural Committee
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4379460-The-Tax-Return-For-Donald-Trump-s-Inaugural.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dpI0HZUrKIITJpMkm-dc6cAGh-yAM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
ABC News, Joy Behar slammed for ‘The View’s’ attack on Mike Pence’s Christian faith
ABC is facing mounting criticism after its panelists on “The View” mocked Vice President Mike Pence’s Christian faith. Detractors of “The View” are focusing on the fact that ABC News, which claims to be an unbiased broadcast news operation, oversees such a nakedly partisan program with one “token” conservative.
The women of “The View” took a shot at Pence’s Christian faith on Tuesday, mocking the former governor of Indiana for talking to Jesus and even calling it a “mental illness.”
Sunny Hostin said it’s “interesting” that former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman recently said that Pence talks to Jesus and believes Jesus tells him things. Hostin said she is a “faithful” Catholic but doesn’t want her vice president “speaking in tongues.” Joy Behar then said, “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you… that’s called mental illness.”
ABC News paints itself as a fair news organization but its longtime slogan, “See the Whole Picture,” often doesn’t apply to “The View,” according to many critics.
“It has become jarring how fixated the show is on politics and how slanted the table is,” Mediaite columnist Joseph Wulfsohn told Fox News.
Wulfsohn said it’s ABC News’ prerogative if network executives decide that having four outspoken liberals and a single “token” conservative is “profitable” but the decision “does a great disservice” by marginalizing the view of roughly half the country.
The Hill media columnist Joe Concha thinks “it would be wise for ABC News to divorce itself” from “The View.”
“It's a pure opinion and infotainment program and therefore should be under its entertainment division,” Concha told Fox News.
Fox News’ Todd Starnes slammed Behar in a scathing op-ed, saying it’s “understandable that a Christophobe like Behar be dumbfounded by such a concept.”
Starnes added that “if hearing the voice (of) God means (you are) mentally insane” then he is crazy himself.
“If ABC News wants to employ an anti-Christian bigot – that is their business,” he wrote.
Pence himself didn’t appreciate the comments and slammed ABC News Wednesday on C-SPAN.
“To have ABC maintain a broadcast forum that compared Christianity to mental illness is just wrong,” Pence said. “It is simply wrong for ABC to have a television program that expresses that kind of religious intolerance.”
Jeffrey McCall, a media analyst and DePauw University professor, told Fox News that it is concerning that “The View” falls under ABC’s news division.
“It would seem the news division of a major broadcast network should not be programming content that is clearly partisan. The show should be exported to the entertainment division, if only to maintain some journalistic integrity for the news division,” McCall said.
Ironically, “The View” has emerged as the most prominent broadcast of ABC News, whose programming has otherwise been in steep decline, battling declining ratings and relevance. At the same time, ABC News’ oversight of “The View,” which it took over in 2014, has been criticized for “Keystone cops management,” according to one ABC insider, resulting in “Game of Thrones” style feuding between hosts, multiple firings and behind the scenes turmoil.
The Media Research Center emailed supporters on Thursday morning with a message titled, “Don't let ABC get away with this.” The email reiterates the offensive comments made by Behar and Hostin and states, “We need to stand up against these bullies and bigots and let them know that we will not stand for such disgraceful and prejudiced behavior.”
The MRC said that “religious bigotry and hypocrisy cannot and will not be tolerated” and even posted the phone number to contact ABC News executives with complaints.
“Take a minute and call ABC now and let them know that this anti-Christian bias is dangerous and deeply offensive,” the MRC told subscribers.
Meanwhile, the women of “The View” addressed the controversy on Thursday and Behar didn’t exactly apologize.
“I don’t mean to offend people but apparently I keep doing it,” she said. “It was a joke.”
ABC News, part of the reliably liberal Disney ABC Television Group, has been accused of veering left on a regular basis. ABC News reporter Brian Ross famously helped spur a 350-point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in December after he reported incorrectly on live television that fired National Security Adviser Michael Flynn would testify that Trump had ordered him to make contact with Russians about foreign policy while Trump was still a candidate.
Ross issued a correction, and was then suspended for a month without pay. He was later demoted to an unclear role at ABC News’ beleaguered Lincoln Square Productions. In fact, Concha pointed out that ABC News embarrassed Behar by having her read Ross’ report on the day of the error -- which he said is proof the two should be mutually exclusive.
“A floor director literally walked it out to Behar, who read the lead verbatim... the story blew up before being ‘clarified’ and eventually corrected. Joy looked foolish and was forced to apologize the next day,” Concha said.
Other examples of ABC News’ liberal bias include the fact the network’s chief anchor, former Bill Clinton communications director George Stephanopoulos, did not disclose a substantial donation to the Clinton Foundation in 2015 and was forced to recuse himself from moderating presidential debates.
ABC News did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/02/15/abc-news-slammed-for-joy-behar-s-attack-on-mike-pence-s-christian-faith.html
Mike Pence blasts ABC host for mocking his faith
https://www.axios.com/mike-pence-abc-joy-behar-christian-mental-illness-25b66c5b-6dde-435b-9d6f-49653e4a96af.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dXscR6yBBuYvW5MHTPa7s-DmLyQ4M?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Bad News for Buyers: U.S. Mortgage Rates Hit Highest Since 2014
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-15/bad-news-for-buyers-u-s-mortgage-rates-hit-highest-since-2014
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/d-2PBIWiXnnbMoMl6eDs379MuNYCM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Getty and Google Reach Settlement—Say Goodbye to ‘View image’ Button
http://resourcemagonline.com/2018/02/getty-and-google-reach-settlement-say-goodbye-to-view-image-button/85921/
Google Image Search removes View Image button and Search by Image feature
After making a deal with Getty Images, Google has revamped some of their image search features and user experience.
https://searchengineland.com/google-image-search-removes-view-image-button-search-image-feature-292183
Google removes ‘view image’ button from search results to make pics harder to steal
Better for websites and photographers but worse for users
https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/15/17017864/google-removes-view-image-button-from-search-results
Missing Google Images' "View Image" button? Use [search engine] Startpage [ https://www.startpage.com/ ] Image Search instead
[...]
Just visit the Startpage main website and enter a search term. You do need to switch to images on the results page to get a thumbnail view of images similar to the one that is provided by Google Images.
A click on an image displays options, and one of the options is view image. This, as you may have guessed already, opens the image directly. One of the added benefits of using Startpage Search for that is that the images are opened anonymously through a proxy so that your information does not leak to the site hosting it.
[...]
https://www.ghacks.net/2018/02/15/missing-google-images-view-image-button-use-startpage-image-search-instead/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dSX4yU6FhA_7ZsMlV8RiqERGG49qM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
White House officials are asked if they are vulnerable to blackmail
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/white-house-officials-are-asked-if-they-are-vulnerable-blackmail-n848456
Dozens of Vulnerable Trump Admin Officials Could Be Accessing Secrets Without Clearance, Say Democrats
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-officials-access-secrets-without-clearance-806530
more: https://www.google.com/search?q=white+house+officials+are+asked
Sanders pushes for Kelly to face the press over Porter scandal
Sarah Huckabee Sanders wants senior officials to brief reporters directly as the furor continues unabated.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/14/porter-scandal-white-house-sanders-trump-410797
more: https://www.google.com/search?q=sarah+huckabee+sanders
Ultra-processed foods 'linked to cancer'
A link between highly processed foods and cancer has been suggested by French researchers.
What counts as ultra-processed
Mass-produced packaged breads and buns
Sweet or savoury packaged snacks including crisps
Chocolate bars and sweets
Sodas and sweetened drinks
Meatballs, poultry and fish nuggets
Instant noodles and soups
Frozen or shelf-life ready meals
Foods made mostly or entirely from sugar, oils and fats
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-43064290
study http://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k322
Highly processed foods linked to cancer risk, study finds
Cheese, pasta, canned foods did not raise risk
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/highly-processed-foods-may-raise-cancer-risk-study-finds-n848186
Eating ultra-processed foods like chicken nuggets ‘linked to cancer,’ study says
A new study, published Wednesday in the British Medical Journal, found that a 10 percent increase in the amount of ultra-processed foods in a person's diet was linked to a 12 percent increase in cancers of some kind.
The kinds of "ultra-processed" foods associated with the increased risk of the disease included cakes, chicken nuggets, mass-produced bread, fizzy drinks, confectionery and processed meat.
The study has prompted health experts to urge caution at its findings, while also stressing a healthy and balanced diet is best.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/15/study-ultra-processed-foods-like-chicken-nuggets-linked-to-cancer.html
Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Increased Cancer Risk, New Study Shows
Soda, processed meats, packaged snack foods may all increase your risk. Here's how you can pare them from your diet.
https://www.consumerreports.org/packaged-processed-foods/ultra-processed-foods-linked-to-increased-cancer-risk-new-study-shows/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dbfTk9sflG-BVBMHf9JQX-moTGKKM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Musk's Tesla to stay in space for millions of years
The Tesla car that Elon Musk launched into space is likely to stay there for tens of millions of years before crashing into the Earth or Venus.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43063379
Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster will eventually crash in space — and scientists think they know where and by when
SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, recently launched the world's largest operational rocket on February 6.
Falcon Heavy's launch sent Musk's personal 2008 red Tesla Roadster on a voyage toward Mars orbit with a "Starman" dummy in the driver's seat.
Planetary scientists are concerned about bacterial contamination on Musk's car in case it crashes into Mars — a planet that may host alien microbes.
However, new calculations show the Tesla will most likely hit Earth, Venus, or the sun.
http://www.businessinsider.com/starman-elon-musk-car-orbit-collision-risk-calculations-2018-2
Astrophotographer Spots Elon Musk's Roadster Cruising Through Space (Video)
https://www.space.com/39699-astrophotographer-spots-elon-musks-roadster-in-space-video.html
Tesla’s China Dream Threatened by Standoff Over Shanghai Factory
Without a local partner, every Tesla sold in the world’s biggest EV market faces a steep import tax.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-14/tesla-s-china-dream-threatened-by-standoff-over-shanghai-factory
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/d8ky9nd8qaUr5sMrJcDxckFFO5yuM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Kepler Astronomers Discover Treasure Trove of New Exoplanets
https://gizmodo.com/kepler-astronomers-discover-treasure-trove-of-new-exopl-1823030963
Discovery alert! 95 new planets found with NASA telescope
https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/news/1485/discovery-alert-95-new-planets-found-with-nasa-telescope/
study http://outer.space.dtu.dk/awm/images/validationpaper.pdf
Exoplanets 101
https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/the-search-for-life/exoplanets-101/
NASA Kepler's K2 Mission Scientists Discover 95 New Planets Beyond Our Solar System
http://www.newsweek.com/nasa-keplers-k2-mission-95-new-planets-beyond-our-solar-system-808201
Discovery! Kepler Space Telescope Discovers 95 More Alien Planets
https://www.space.com/39703-kepler-telescope-discovers-95-exoplanets-more.html
Scientists have discovered nearly 100 new planets outside of our solar system
https://qz.com/1207878/scientists-have-discovered-nearly-100-new-planets-outside-of-our-solar-system/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/djNjEFu_RXf364MR4EWOyKui8n43M?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Andromeda Galaxy Brought Down To Size for Head-to-Head Collision With Milky Way - The Conversation
http://www.newsweek.com/milky-way-andromeda-galaxy-mass-collision-807849
original:
When galaxies collide, size matters if you want to know the fate of our Milky Way
https://theconversation.com/when-galaxies-collide-size-matters-if-you-want-to-know-the-fate-of-our-milky-way-91826
study https://arxiv.org/abs/1801.03949
PR https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-02/icfr-mwt021318.php
Milky Way ties with neighbour in galactic arms race
https://www.icrar.org/cosmic-collision/
Andromeda Galaxy Is The Same Size As Milky Way
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/221138/20180215/andromeda-galaxy-is-the-same-size-as-milky-way.htm
Just how big is the Andromeda galaxy?
Astronomers used to believe that the Andromeda galaxy, our nearest galactic neighbor, was three times the size of the Milky Way. Not anymore.
http://astronomy.com/news/magazine/2018/02/adromeda-is-the-same-size-as-the-milky-way
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dNuVppXHmbiBAhMcO4ZT196ziv48M?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
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Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Democracy Now! [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzuqE7-t13O4NIDYJfakrhw / https://www.youtube.com/user/democracynow , https://www.youtube.com/user/democracynow/videos ]
In Parkland, Florida, 17 people died Wednesday in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. The massacre at the Stoneman Douglas High School was the 18th school shooting this year, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. This means there has been a school shooting on average every 60 hours so far this year. Police have identified the gunman as a 19-year-old former pupil named Nikolas Cruz. He was carrying an AR-15 with multiple magazines of ammunition. In addition to the 17 dead, 15 people were injured. We speak to Geraldine Thompson, a former Florida Democratic state senator. She represented the Orlando district where the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre took place.
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/2/15/when_will_this_stop_17_shot [with embedded video, and transcript]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAw_B0QgZu4 [with comments]
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Republican Lawmakers Refuse to Adopt Gun Control Despite 200 School Shootings Since Sandy Hook
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Democracy Now!
Since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, there have been 200 school shootings. But on Capitol Hill and in many state legislatures, Republican lawmakers have blocked efforts to enact gun control. Wednesday’s shooting in Florida comes just days after President Trump released his budget, which proposes cutting millions of dollars from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. We speak to Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. He is the co-author of “Guns, Democracy, and the Insurrectionist Idea.”
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/2/15/republican_lawmakers_refuse_to_adopt_gun [with embedded video, and transcript]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w7RCzVFdsI [with comments]
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Kept Out: Banks Across U.S. Caught Systematically Rejecting People of Color for Home Loans
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Democracy Now!
A shocking new investigation [ https://www.revealnews.org/topic/kept-out/ ] by Reveal and the Center for Investigative Reporting has uncovered evidence that African Americans and Latinos are continuing to be routinely denied conventional mortgage loans at rates far higher than their white counterparts across the country. Reveal based its report on a review of 31 million mortgage records filed with the federal government in 2015 and 2016. The Reveal investigation found the redlining occurring across the country, including in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, Philadelphia, St. Louis and San Antonio. We speak to Aaron Glantz, senior reporter at Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, and Rachelle Faroul, a 33-year-old African-American woman who was rejected twice by lenders when she tried to buy a brick row house in Philadelphia, where Reveal found African Americans were 2.7 times as likely as whites to be denied a conventional mortgage.
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/2/15/kept_out_banks_across_us_caught [with embedded video, and transcript]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHEc37I5pXM [with comments]
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Full Show - Tragedy, Heroism, SSRI Drugs & AR-15 - 02/15/2018
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Real News with David Knight [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC1L9FOMSaPgMyoLSnps47g , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC1L9FOMSaPgMyoLSnps47g/videos ]
Full Broadcast 15Feb18 Real News with David Knight
A mass shooting in a high school in Parkland, FL. David Knight looks at how media demonizes the AR-15 (used to STOP the Texas church shooter) and IGNORES the meds the alleged shooter was on. Callers break down SSRI effects and liberal use of drugs by schools to control students without discipline. And a student from the school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, says the Secret Service was at the school recently changing security protocols.
[from Alex Jones and his merry band of batshit bullshitters]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAIMoR4jPuU [with comments] [also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFWjMgL5Bfw (with comments)]
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The Dark Side of Infomercials
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Super Deluxe [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeJLx_Dy_icz3oDHhJeMe9g , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeJLx_Dy_icz3oDHhJeMe9g/videos ]
Vic Berger Presents: TV advertisements get pretty dark late at night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glIcOq3f-64 [with comments]
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Statement from the Press Secretary regarding the Schumer-Rounds-Collins Amendment
Issued on: February 15, 2018
The Administration strongly opposes passage of the Schumer-Rounds-Collins Amendment. This Amendment would drastically change our national immigration policy for the worse by weakening border security and undercutting existing immigration law. Specifically, preventing enforcement with respect to people who entered our country illegally before a date that is in the future would produce a flood of new illegal immigration in the coming months. The Amendment would undermine the safety and security of American families and impede economic growth for American workers.
The Administration continues to insist on a safe, modern, and legal immigration system for the benefit of the American people. The essential pillars of such a system are securing the border through building the physical border wall and closing legal loopholes, protecting the nuclear family by limiting sponsorships to spouses and children, cancelling the visa lottery, and implementing a lasting solution on DACA.
The Administration is committed to finding a permanent, fair, and legal solution for DACA. But this Amendment would only compound the problem by encouraging millions of additional minors to be smuggled into the United States. We need to solve the problem, not perpetuate it indefinitely.
The vitality of the American economy and the safety and security of the American people depend upon these reforms. The Administration cannot support the Schumer-Rounds-Collins Amendment because it is not only dangerous policy that will harm the Nation, but it also fails to deliver on the clear promise the Administration has made to the American people.
If the President were presented with an enrolled bill that includes the Amendment, his advisors would recommend that he veto it.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-regarding-schumer-rounds-collins-amendment/
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Susan B. Anthony Day, 2018
Issued on: February 15, 2018
Today, our Nation commemorates the birthday of an American hero, visionary, civil rights leader, and pioneer in the women’s suffrage movement—Susan B. Anthony.
Born in 1820, Susan B. Anthony lived during a time when women across our country were unable to fully enjoy the rights and blessings of America. In many States, women could not pursue higher education, own land, maintain control of their own earnings, or participate in one of the most basic demonstrations of our democracy—the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony, however, dared to envision a Nation where women’s voices would be given the same respect as those of their fathers, brothers, and spouses. She envisioned a Nation where “women helped make the laws and elect the lawmakers.” She envisioned a Nation that protected the rights and privileges of all Americans, regardless of skin color, sex, or any other physical characteristics.
Fighting inequality became one of Susan B. Anthony’s most passionate pursuits, as she paved the way for the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Her tireless efforts to rally and advocate for women’s rights helped change the course of human history. Her work helped our Nation to realize the egalitarian principles enshrined in the seminal Declaration of Sentiments of the Seneca Falls Convention—that all men and women are created equal by God.
Although she never saw the realization of her life’s work, she certainly left a lasting legacy, which has inspired many generations of Americans. More importantly, millions of women have been able to realize the fruits of her life’s work in every aspect of American life and every sector of American industry. She inspires us to continue to form a more perfect union, and she reminds us that securing equal rights for all people includes preserving and advocating for the preciousness and sanctity of all human life, including the unborn.
Today, many of our Nation’s leaders and thinkers are women—and we need more of them. They are essential to the success and greatness of America, and they continue to shatter barriers wherever they exist. On Susan B. Anthony Day, we reaffirm our Nation’s commitment to advancing equal opportunity for all Americans. And we pledge to ensure that young girls across our Nation will always be able to look to the future with the confidence that any dream is attainable.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/susan-b-anthony-day-2018/
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Ask an Atheist: Critiquing Donald Trump's Prayer Breakfast
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by FFRF [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC28jWiP7HV6mBBW3C8AXuEg / https://www.youtube.com/user/FFRForg , https://www.youtube.com/user/FFRForg/videos ]
FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker join Staff Attorney Sam Grover to critique Donald Trump's National Prayer Breakfast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIRdmPsTEGc [with comments] [and see also in particular (linked in) https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=3967329 and preceding and following, https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=39423407 and preceding and following, https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=54833454 and preceding and following, https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=136560385 and preceding and following (earlier this string), https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=138656749 and preceding and following (earlier this string), https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=138672441 and preceding and following (earlier this string)]
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President Trump Delivers Remarks on the Tragedy in Parkland, FL
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by The White House [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYxRlFDqcWM4y7FfpiAN3KQ / https://www.youtube.com/user/whitehouse , https://www.youtube.com/user/whitehouse/videos ]
The White House
Statement by President Trump on the Shooting in Parkland, Florida
Diplomatic Room
February 15, 2018
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-trump-shooting-parkland-florida/ [official transcript]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFHvpYbe41U [with comments]
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Full Show - Evidence Unraveling A Giant False Flag At Florida High School Shooting - 02/15/2018
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by The Alex Jones Channel [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvsye7V9psc-APX6wV1twLg / https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAlexJonesChannel , https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAlexJonesChannel/videos ]
Thursday, Feb. 15th 2018[, with appearances by Stoneman Douglas student Jalen Martin [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI1CSNT6oFmLhT7KtFq3XBw , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI1CSNT6oFmLhT7KtFq3XBw/videos ], Matt Bracken, and Roger Stone, and Anthony Cumia hosting the fourth hour]: FBI Warned About FL Shooter- The FBI was warned about the Florida high school shooter five months ago after he left a comment on the internet saying he was going to "be a professional school shooter." The left is viciously attacking the Second Amendment as expected following the tragic shooting. Also, President Trump addressed the nation about the Parkland, Florida massacre.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIebkbRZ8r8 [with comments] [also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm2FHL92moo (additional text adapted from; with comments)] [a must-watch]
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Florida massacre survivor demands leaders actually take action
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by mediamatters4america [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_70iWZ6ym2cglS_kv5YfmA / https://www.youtube.com/user/mediamatters4america , https://www.youtube.com/user/mediamatters4america/videos ]
A student who survived the Florida school massacre is demanding leaders actually take action. David Hogg survived the Parkland high school shooting. He's now going network to network telling leaders to stop just talking about "thoughts and prayers."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfnFMuvb8UY [with comments]
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RWW NEWS: Alex Jones Says Globalists Ordered Florida School Shooting Because FISA Memo Was Released
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by RWW Blog [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMXqRHe8n1TX5iDvkLS62rw / https://www.youtube.com/user/RWWBlog , https://www.youtube.com/user/RWWBlog/videos ]
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/alex-jones-says-globalists-ordered-florida-school-shooting-because-fisa-memo-was-released/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYh-IL9SKvw [with comments]
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Survivors of Parkland school massacre call for immediate action
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by ThinkProgress [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYdasX3ym3E5r1iozVllmzA , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYdasX3ym3E5r1iozVllmzA/videos ]
After the 18th school shooting this year, survivors of the Parkland school massacre call on lawmakers to take action on gun violence. Seventeen people were killed and at least 14 were injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVYGUUDlELI [with comments]
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Right-wing media: It's never the time to talk about gun violence
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by mediamatters4america
Another mass shooting and conservative media still won't talk about the gun problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8u7ZoWbbOU [with comments]
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RWW News: Rick Joyner Says Christians Can Close 'The Gates Of Hell' And End School Shootings
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by RWW Blog
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/rick-joyner-links-florida-shooting-to-end-of-school-prayer-opening-the-gate-of-hell/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNxieKFjte0 [with comments]
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Things Atheists Say That Make Theists Tune Out
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Godless Cranium [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCewUkuIHNuwuMNWMa96q9ZQ , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCewUkuIHNuwuMNWMa96q9ZQ/videos ]
Something a bit different today. A patron of this channel asked me to consider creating a video where theists tell me what they consider to be the most annoying saying/argument that they often hear from atheists.
I thought it was an intriguing idea and one that might help facilitate better conversation between atheists and the religious.
It's also in my best interest as someone who makes videos against religion to know what sorts of things will make theists tune out.
I approached several theists on Twitter and these were the ones who agreed to contribute.
Theists who contributed to this video:
Gnostic Mysticism: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJx0JIZTzs0shVvbDQc4tVQ
Philosophy Tiger: https://twitter.com/philotiger
Antonio Fletcher: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxQya2KNbp_eivkrk7BG15g
Classical Theist: https://www.youtube.com/user/ChairmanDrek757
Roaming Catholic: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYsH6llOMrkP4RJGEP_6SKg
Alias Jones: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC42xbNCy6d9XtLYcufOIUvA
Source:
LION vs TIGER: Battle Of The Big Cats | BBC Earth Unplugged
Published on Aug 10, 2016 by BBC Earth Unplugged [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbwp5B-uDBy-fS4bDA0TEaw / https://www.youtube.com/user/EarthUnpluggedTV , https://www.youtube.com/user/EarthUnpluggedTV/videos ]
We visited the Wildlife Heritage Foundation in Kent which is home to some of the most endangered big cats in the world. Using enrichment techniques developed by the big cat keeper, we looked at the cats agility, intelligence and strength before crowning a winner.
We'd like to thank the WHF for their great work. You can find out more about the work they do to help big cats here: https://www.visitkent.co.uk/big-cat-sanctuary/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvID7SqH4wA [with (approaching 6,000) comments]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pee-fz49g_8 [with comments]
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Seth Andrews Google Hangout 2-15-18
Streamed live on Feb 15, 2018 by TheThinkingAtheist [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeYP27qLtfUMY1b1Cyy3WdQ / https://www.youtube.com/user/TheThinkingAtheist , https://www.youtube.com/user/TheThinkingAtheist/videos ]
Join Seth Andrews for a casual hangout where you pick the topic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLTDOXpbWY4 [with comments]
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Statement from the Press Secretary
Issued on: February 15, 2018
In June 2017, the Russian military launched the most destructive and costly cyber-attack in history.
The attack, dubbed “NotPetya,” quickly spread worldwide, causing billions of dollars in damage across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. It was part of the Kremlin’s ongoing effort to destabilize Ukraine and demonstrates ever more clearly Russia’s involvement in the ongoing conflict. This was also a reckless and indiscriminate cyber-attack that will be met with international consequences.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-25/
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Statement by the Press Secretary
Issued on: February 15, 2018
Senior Trump Administration officials yesterday hosted a meeting at the White House with a delegation of Mexican officials, led by Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray. The following officials represented the United States: Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, Senior Advisor Jared Kushner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan, and State Department official Brian Hook. The following officials represented Mexico: Secretary of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray, Undersecretary for North America Carlos Sada, Ambassador to the United States Geronimo Gutierrez, Chief of Staff Narciso Campos, and Communications Director Claudia Algorri. Secretary Videgaray also met briefly with Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, and later met briefly with Vice President Mike Pence.
The meeting furthered the work of both governments over the past year to establish comprehensive agreements on several issues, including economic cooperation and trade, security and law enforcement, energy, regional initiatives, and immigration.
Both delegations look forward to arranging a meeting, in the near future, which will provide President Donald J. Trump and President Enrique Peña Nieto with an opportunity to review the progress that has been made and to discuss various open issues to advance relations between the United States and Mexico.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-26/
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Statement from the Press Secretary
Issued on: February 15, 2018
Today, the Schumer Democrats in the Senate demonstrated again that they are not serious about DACA, they are not serious about immigration reform, and they are not serious about homeland security. They filibustered a proposal with an extremely generous path to citizenship because it also contained reforms that secured our border and secured our immigration system. The Grassley bill was a compromise bill—as demonstrated by the fact that some conservatives opposed its very generous DACA provisions. Yet, the Schumer Democrats chose to filibuster it because they are held hostage by the radical left in their party, which opposes any immigration control at all. Today, they sided with an extreme fringe over the hardworking men and women of the Department of Homeland Security. The Administration will continue advocating for an immigration package that includes border security, ending chain migration, cancelling the visa lottery, and a reasonable DACA solution—a proposal Americans support overwhelmingly. And while radical Schumer Democrats align themselves with the open border fringe, the Trump Administration will continue advocating for the American people. The next step will be for the House to continue advancing the proposal from Chairman Goodlatte and Chairman McCaul.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-27/
*
RWW News: Who's Holding Up Protections For Dreamers?
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by RWW Blog
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/87-percent-of-americans-support-protecting-dreamers-so-whats-holding-it-up/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fht_INmvkFw [with comments]
--
Full Show - Florida High School Shooter Confesses To 17 Accounts Of Premeditated Murder - 02/15/2018
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by War Room [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClsn7QZVdszxLlUs-GOG0Sg , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClsn7QZVdszxLlUs-GOG0Sg/videos ]
As new details continue to emerge from the Florida high school shooting, the suspect Nikolas Cruz has confessed to 17 accounts of pre-meditated murder. We take calls from people in the area of the shooting as well as a student at the high school who has been talking to other students who witnessed the event. Also, a train has derailed in New York and was on fire and George Soros influences American elections like you would never believe.
[from Alex Jones and his merry band of batshit bullshitters]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1czGE5dRsbA [with comments] [also, significantly edited, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5H918HFnnw (with comments)]
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What Life Is Like For Afghans Facing The Deadliest Taliban Yet: VICE on HBO, Full Episode
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by VICE News [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZaT_X_mc0BI-djXOlfhqWQ / https://www.youtube.com/user/vicenews , https://www.youtube.com/user/vicenews/videos ]
After more than 16 years of war, Afghan civilians live each day under constant threat, as U.S. forces and the Afghan government struggle to secure the country.
Despite hundreds of billions of dollars spent on the war since 2001, U.S. goals are far from within reach. Meanwhile, the Taliban has never been stronger, controlling more land than ever before and establishing footholds in nearly every province in Afghanistan.
President Donald Trump has vowed to undo some of the terror group’s grip on the country and force it back to the negotiating table. But his new strategy, which centers on thousands of additional U.S. troops and an intensification of airstrikes, has only just begun to produce gains.
The Taliban, facing renewed pressure, have increased terror attacks on major cities, striking at the heart of Kabul recently, in a series of devastating attacks that left hundreds of civilians dead in the span of a week.
VICE’s Ben Anderson travelled to Afghanistan in October 2016 as the Taliban were on the verge of retaking Helmand Province, once a crucial territory in the U.S. war. Reconnecting with families he’d visited years earlier, he saw just how little has been done to contain the Taliban’s influence across the country’s rural landscape, and the challenges that await Afghan and U.S. forces.
https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/59kdyn/what-life-is-like-for-afghans-facing-the-deadliest-taliban-yet
READ: U.S. troops will face the deadliest Taliban yet
https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/j5db78/u-s-troops-will-face-the-deadliest-taliban-yet
READ: Gruesome Kabul hotel attack shows ugly reality of Afghanistan’s endless war
https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/kzn9j3/gruesome-kabul-hotel-attack-shows-ugly-reality-of-afghanistans-endless-war
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xHSfcziIuo [with comments]
--
Feingold to Speaker Ryan: “Have you no shame”
The Beat with Ari Melber
2/15/18
Former Senator Russ Feingold responds to Speaker Ryan saying it’s not time for “knee-jerk” reactions on gun control in the wake of the Parkland, Florida massacre.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/feingold-to-speaker-ryan-have-you-no-shame-1162817091860
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Survivor: All we heard was “shot after shot”
The Beat with Ari Melber
2/15/18
Parkland, Florida massacre survivor, Isabella Gomez, details the horror inside her school as shots rang out and why the tragedy is bringing the “community together.”
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/survivor-all-we-heard-was-shot-after-shot-1162825283507
*
No, Trump’s lawyer did not admit to paying porn star himself
The Beat with Ari Melber
2/15/18
Stormy Daniels could tell-all after Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, breaks his silence on a $130,000 payoff to the adult film star weeks before the 2016 election. The lawyer who filed the FEC complaint leading to Cohen’s statement joins The Beat exclusively.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/no-trump-s-lawyer-did-not-admit-to-paying-porn-star-himself-1162818115973
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Revealed: How some Democrats aided the NRA-GOP agenda
The Beat with Ari Melber
2/15/18
Watch the controversial historical footage implicating key Democrats in the gun lobby efforts to stop any gun control in congress. Ari Melber’s special report on the bipartisan failures on gun violence.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/revealed-how-some-democrats-aided-the-nra-gop-agenda-1162821187690 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcmYCzsdRSU [with comments]
*
Gov. Cuomo on [resistance to universal] background checks: “Bunch of boloney”
The Beat with Ari Melber
2/15/18
Watch a governor who passed gun control take on Trump and lawmakers refusing to take action on gun control.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber/watch/gov-cuomo-on-background-checks-bunch-of-boloney-1162823235887 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz8X07fZ39o [with comments]
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Overdose Crisis on the US-Canada Border: Steel Town Down
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by VICE [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8zNIfYAQNdrFRrr8oibKw / https://www.youtube.com/user/vice , https://www.youtube.com/user/vice/videos ]
Tens of thousands have died of opioid overdoses across the US and Canada in 2017, with the death count surpassing the peak of the AIDS epidemic. The weight of the crisis in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario falls on a handful of people struggling to keep their fellow community members alive, similar to countless towns in North America.
Steel Town Down is an intimate portrait of the only harm reduction worker in town and a family desperate to save their son from becoming another victim of the crisis.
WATCH NEXT: Fentanyl: The Drug Deadlier than Heroin
Fentanyl: The Drug Deadlier than Heroin
Published on Jul 22, 2016 by VICE
VICE presents an immersive and personal feature film about the fentanyl crisis in Canada told from the perspective of a community of drug users.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28rJqj-7pEY [with (nearly 14,000) comments]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2kqgX2KjTY [with comments]
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Will Bannon be held in contempt of Congress?
All In with Chris Hayes
2/15/18
After refusing to answer questions from the House Intelligence Committee and invoking a form of executive privilege, Bannon should be held in contempt, says committee member Rep. Eric Swalwell.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/will-bannon-be-held-in-contempt-of-congress-1162884163602
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Oregon passes bipartisan gun control bill
All In with Chris Hayes
2/15/18
A gun safety measure that closes the so-called 'boyfriend loophole' passed with overwhelming support from Democrats and three Republicans in the Oregon House of Representatives.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/oregon-passes-bipartisan-gun-control-bill-1162882627875
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Paul Ryan: No 'knee jerk' reactions on guns. Ever.
All In with Chris Hayes
2/15/18
House Speaker Paul Ryan likes to say the same thing after gun massacres. And then do virtually nothing.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/paul-ryan-no-knee-jerk-reactions-on-guns-ever-1162885187935 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2_7qEaD4WM [with comments]
*
Broward Sheriff: Detain people over social media
All In with Chris Hayes
2/15/18
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel provides an update on the school shooting investigation - and says that he supports detaining people against their will based on their online posts.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/broward-sheriff-detain-people-over-social-media-1162887747675 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S1x7iY2FzI [with comments]
*
White House works to sink bipartisan DACA plan
All In with Chris Hayes
2/15/18
The White House pulled out all the stops to sink a bipartisan DACA plan - including a veto threat, a presidential tweet and an anonymous background call.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/white-house-works-to-sink-bipartisan-daca-plan-1162886723885
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Trump's lawyer paid Stormy Daniels $130,000
All In with Chris Hayes
2/15/18
Donald Trump's lawyer says he 'facilitated' the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels from his 'own personal funds' and that neither the Trump campaign nor the Trump organization reimbursed him.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-s-lawyer-paid-stormy-daniels-130-000-1162896451528
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Trump words on gun tragedy ring hollow given past legislation
The Rachel Maddow Show
2/15/18
Rachel Maddow points out that the first significant piece of legislation Donald Trump signed was to give mentally ill people easier access to guns, so his concern that the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter was mentally ill and shouldn't have been allowed a gun doesn't carry much weight.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-words-on-gun-tragedy-ring-hollow-given-past-legislation-1162946115643 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZixsMbXXnbk [with comments]
*
Trump team uses gun tragedy as cover, reveals financial documents
The Rachel Maddow Show
2/15/18
Rachel Maddow notes the particular timing of the Trump team's release of financial documents showing questionable use of tens of millions of dollars of campaign funds.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-team-uses-gun-tragedy-as-cover-reveals-financial-documents-1162949187611 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a54UVDf7ZaA [with comments]
*
'Queen for a day' likely means another witness flip for Mueller
The Rachel Maddow Show
2/15/18
Barbara McQuade, former U.S. attorney, helps Rachel Maddow understand what it means that former Trump campaign staffer Rick Gates had a "Queen for a day" interview with Robert Mueller's team, and why Donald Trump should be worried.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-queen-for-a-day-likely-means-another-witness-flip-for-mueller-1162949187818
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When does a payment count as a campaign contribution?
The Rachel Maddow Show
2/15/18
Ellen Weintraub, vice chair of the Federal Election Commission, talks with Rachel Maddow about factors use by the FEC for assessing whether an individual's expenditure qualifies as a campaign contribution.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/when-does-a-payment-count-as-a-campaign-contribution-1165406275717
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No transparency required in how inauguration funds are spent
The Rachel Maddow Show
2/15/18
Ellen Weintraub, vice chair of the Federal Election Commission, talks with Rachel Maddow about why an inappropriate use of inauguration fund money might go unnoticed.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/no-transparency-required-in-how-inauguration-funds-are-spent-1165410371614
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VA Secretary Shulkin worsens scandal with dubious explanation
The Rachel Maddow Show
2/15/18
Rachel Maddow shares details of an inspector general report about VA Secretary David Shulkin using taxpayer money for personal travel with his wife, which he tried to explain away with the excuse that his staffer's computer was hacked.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/va-secretary-shulkin-worsens-scandal-with-dubious-explanation-1162938947547
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Lawrence: Mueller likely has a third cooperating witness
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell
2/15/18
A new report says ex-Trump adviser Rick Gates has likely struck a plea deal with Mueller and may cooperate with the Russia probe. Plus, Steve Bannon met with Mueller for 20+ hours. Lawrence O'Donnell discusses with John Heilemann, Jill Wine-Banks and Ron Klain.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/lawrence-mueller-likely-has-a-third-cooperating-witness-1162966595624 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH6c8z7uDC0 [with comments]
*
Florida Democrat ready to fight NRA and Gov. Rick Scott
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell
2/15/18
Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee who is running for Governor of Florida against Gov. Rick Scott, tells Lawrence O'Donnell why gun reform is needed and why the young survivors of America's latest massacre might lead to change.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/florida-dem-ready-to-fight-nra-and-gov-rick-scott-1162970179873
*
Trump speaks about school shooting, says nothing about gun laws
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell
2/15/18
Police released the names of the 17 students, faculty and staff who were shot and killed in a south Florida school on Wednesday. Lawrence O'Donnell honors each victim and shares their stories of tragedy and heroism.
©2018 NBCNews.com
http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/trump-speaks-about-school-shooting-says-nothing-about-gun-laws-1162966595697 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kAh5TGo8bM [with comments]
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Robert Mueller has now met repeatedly with Steve Bannon
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams
2/16/18
We've learned it's been a busy week for Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. What could it all mean for the Trump White House? Vivian Salama, Matthew Nussbaum, and Mieke Eoyang react.
©2018 NBCNews.com
[originally aired February 15, 2018]
http://www.msnbc.com/brian-williams/watch/robert-mueller-has-now-met-repeatedly-with-steve-bannon-1162999876001
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Trump responds to FL shooting without mentioning guns
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams
2/16/18
With the White House weathering multiple crises, Pres. Trump responds first on Twitter and then on-camera to the shooting at a Florida high school without even mentioning guns. Philip Rucker & Tamara Keith discuss.
©2018 NBCNews.com
[originally aired February 15, 2018]
http://www.msnbc.com/brian-williams/watch/trump-responds-to-fl-shooting-without-mentioning-guns-1163008579566 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OZqgsnvzv4 [with comments]
*
Paper that endorsed Trump calls on him to enact gun control
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams
2/16/18
Even the conservative New York Post is calling on Trump for common sense gun control. David Jolly, former House Republican of Florida, joins to share his plan for sensible changes to current law.
©2018 NBCNews.com
[originally aired February 15, 2018]
http://www.msnbc.com/brian-williams/watch/paper-that-endorsed-trump-calls-on-him-to-enact-gun-control-1163010627758 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq7-XCSkMFM [with comments]
*
Here's who in DC benefits from millions in NRA cash
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams
2/16/18
Many of the lawmakers offering words of comfort in the hours after the shooting at a Florida high school have benefited from millions in cash from the NRA.
©2018 NBCNews.com
[originally aired February 15, 2018]
http://www.msnbc.com/brian-williams/watch/here-s-who-in-dc-benefited-from-millions-in-nra-cash-1163011651884 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4OwdIHeOkM [with comments]
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Florida Shooting: Mike Explodes in Rage and Stops the Show
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Mike Malloy [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpU4j-LN_aibXA1gONvWzxw / https://www.youtube.com/user/hschulein , https://www.youtube.com/user/hschulein/videos ]
[originally aired February 14, 2018]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFanDTWuCPo [with comments]
*
20 Signs of Impending Tyranny
Published on Feb 16, 2018 by Mike Malloy
As tyrants take control of democracies, they typically:
1. Demand personal loyalty from all appointees.
2. Organize military parades and other choreographed shows of force.
3. Threaten to fire independent prosecutors who get too close to the truth.
4. Spread conspiracy theories about "deep state" forces seeking to oust the tyrant.
5. Refer to top-ranking military leaders as "my" generals.
And 15 others...
6. Threaten to jail political opponents.
7. Claim to have won an election by a landslide even after losing the popular vote.
8. Stoke tensions abroad, even the specter of nuclear war, to distract from the tyrant's efforts to consolidate power at home.
9. Circumvent the independent press and communicate directly with followers.
10. Vilify legislators and judges who are critical of the regime.
11. Repeatedly claim massive voter fraud in the absence of any evidence, in order to restrict voting in subsequent elections.
12. Turn the public against journalists or media outlets that criticize the regime, calling them “deceitful” and “scum.”
13. Repeatedly tell big lies, causing the public to doubt the truth and to believe fictions that support the tyrants’ goals
14. Blame economic stresses on immigrants or racial or religious minorities, and foment public bias and hatred against them.
15. Threaten mass deportations, registries of religious minorities, and the banning of refugees.
16. Attribute acts of domestic violence to “enemies within,” and use such events as excuses to beef up internal security and limit civil liberties.
17. Appoint family members to high positions of authority.
18. Draw no distinction between personal property and public property, profiteering from public office.
19. Make personal alliances with foreign dictators, but express indifference if not defiance toward leaders of democracies.
20. Maintain a powerful propaganda arm that claims to be "fair and balanced" but only amplifies the tyrant's lies and accusations.
Full post: https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/posts/1854121851267069
[originally aired February 15, 2018]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYleY_474lg [with comments]
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Heroes of "The 15:17 to Paris" - Extended Interview: The Daily Show
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwWhs_6x42TyRM4Wstoq8HA , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwWhs_6x42TyRM4Wstoq8HA/videos ]
Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone discuss whether it was scarier to thwart a 2015 terrorist attack or portray themselves in the film "The 15:17 to Paris."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwvf9_XGHbE [with comments]
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At War with Machines - The Opposition w/ Jordan Klepper
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Comedy Central [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUsN5ZwHx2kILm84-jPDeXw / https://www.youtube.com/user/comedycentral , https://www.youtube.com/user/comedycentral/videos , https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD7nPL1U-R5r5XD8saDuOBVj1z69Y_4iK ]
Jordan sees a victory for humanity in a grocery store's decision to fire its robotic greeter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeN4zoz_ypI [with comments]
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Late Show's Alter Egos: Extra White House
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtFAi84ehTSYSE9XoHefig , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtFAi84ehTSYSE9XoHefig/videos ]
A helpful guide to who is in (and recently out) of the Trump White House.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivCYitolMGY [with comments]
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Drunk History - Gloria Steinem Goes Undercover at the Playboy Club
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Comedy Central [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUsN5ZwHx2kILm84-jPDeXw / https://www.youtube.com/user/comedycentral , https://www.youtube.com/user/comedycentral/videos , https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD7nPL1U-R5pSwKIcVaIQrG5BnGMbHI5H ]
In the 1960s, a young Gloria Steinem poses as a cocktail waitress at the Playboy Club to research an expose on its sexist work environment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi3Lgi4pNok [with comments]
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How to Kill the Morgellon Live Nanite Fibers (Part II) Bravo Von Muller Up-Date
Published on Feb 15, 2018 by Bravo Alternative Media [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVV0_xnA_z-ALo6kZJz2WXA , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVV0_xnA_z-ALo6kZJz2WXA/videos ]
The Good news is we are still here, The Bad news is they are still spraying us ! How to Kill the Morgellon Live Nanite Fibers and remove from your Body (Part II) Bravo Von Muller 2 year up-date.
How to Kill Morgellon Fibers and remove from your Body
Published on Nov 12, 2015 by Bravo Von Muller [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4G1zEStJMqN3mnEONXA7Mw , https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4G1zEStJMqN3mnEONXA7Mw/videos ]
The Global Elite Money Changers call this "The Natural Trilateral Commission", it is a little inside joke they say among themselves. Now I will share with you, how THEY keep the evil living Morgellon Fibers out their bodies !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qP_zsTt3Lg [with comments (and currently 129,433 views)]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj4Cb4zVjSU [with comments]
--
stashed February 15, 2018:
How a transgender woman breast-fed her baby - special for Alex Jones
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2018/02/14/how-a-transgender-woman-breast-fed-her-baby/
study http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/trgh.2017.0044
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dW8Rm3AJzu2KECMwKZ5SZH5uOGQ9M?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
UK blames Russia for 'malicious' NotPetya cyber-attack
The Russian military was directly behind a "malicious" cyber-attack on Ukraine last summer that spread across Europe, British ministers have said.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-43062113
Foreign Office Minister condemns Russia for NotPetya attacks
UK judges that the Russian government was responsible for the NotPetya cyber-attack of June 2017.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-office-minister-condemns-russia-for-notpetya-attacks
UK blames Russia for NotPetya cyber-attack last year
Defence secretary says Moscow ‘undermined democracy’ with attack that targeted Ukraine
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/15/uk-blames-russia-notpetya-cyber-attack-ukraine
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/duwpnl3LJTW7jOMzjuCF5InShmUEM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Priebus: Chaos reigned in early days of Trump White House
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/priebus-chaos-reigned-in-early-days-of-trump-white-house/
“Who Needs a Controversy Over the Inauguration?”: Reince Priebus Opens Up About His Six Months of Magical Thinking
Months after his chaotic resignation as chief of staff, and with his successor on the hot seat, Priebus comes clean about everything: the inauguration crowd-size fiasco, the decision to fire Comey, the Mooch, the tweets, how he helped saved Jeff Sessions’s job, and his mercurial former boss. “I still love the guy,” he says.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/02/reince-priebus-opens-up-about-his-six-months-of-magical-thinking
Trump Said Inauguration Crowd Numbers Were 'Bullshit' Says Reince Priebus In New Book
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-said-inauguration-crowd-numbers-were-bullshit-says-reince-priebus-new-807887
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dlI5wfYcjGLJ7YMfUMjXPZZai_CaM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Radio host Patrick Connor fired after Chloe Kim remark
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/winter-olympics-2018/2018/02/14/radio-host-fired-after-chloe-kim-remark-2018-winter-olympics/339288002/
Barstool Radio Host Can't Resist Calling 17-Year-Old Olympian Chloe Kim A "Little Hot Piece Of Ass" [Update]
https://deadspin.com/barstool-radio-host-cant-resist-calling-17-year-old-oly-1822974775
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/d6NdkjKkOfnxbKMThZhtLwgjaweLM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Riding an Untamed Horse: Priebus Opens Up on Serving Trump
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/14/us/politics/riding-an-untamed-horse-priebus-opens-up-on-serving-trump.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dPlP3ut2JIJ40_Mrw6sDq61ItKPZM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Ex-GOP lawmaker: Vote Republicans out of office if you want mass shootings stopped - Former Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/media/373983-ex-gop-lawmaker-vote-republicans-out-of-office-if-you-want-mass-shootings
How Republicans Have Been Making Gun Laws Worse Under Trump
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/02/every-attempt-to-change-gun-laws-under-trump.html
Florida shooting: Senators singled out over gun lobby funds
As the US reels over the latest shooting at a high school campus in Parkland, Florida - the 18th so far in 2018 - "thoughts and prayers" from public figures are not all being well received on social media.
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-43070480
Why Congress is hesitant to pass gun control, by the numbers
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/politics/congress-gun-control-unlikely-to-pass/index.html
Last February, Trump signed a bill making it easier for people with mental illness to buy guns
Republicans rolled back even the most modest gun regulations.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/15/17016036/trump-guns-mental-illness
You don't need a permit or license to buy a gun in Florida. (And you don't have to register your gun either)
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/us/florida-gun-laws-trnd/index.html
The NRA invested millions in these politicians in 2016
https://qz.com/1207851/parkland-shooting-the-nra-and-gun-lobby-invested-millions-in-trump-and-other-republicans-in-2016/
List of US politicians who receive millions from National Rifle Association
http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/15/list-us-politicians-receive-millions-national-rifle-association-7314597/
The NRA deleted a post encouraging people to buy guns for Valentines Day after Florida school shooting
The National Rifle Association (NRA) deleted a post encouraging citizens to buy guns for their loved ones on Valentines Day
The post was removed within hours of the Florida school shooting.
The NRA has been criticized for tone deaf posts in the past.
http://www.businessinsider.com/nra-valentines-day-gun-post-deleted-after-florida-school-shooting-2018-2
Retweet of Valentine's Day gun content disappears from NRA Twitter after Fla. shooting
https://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/NRA-Florida-school-shooting-valentines-gun-retweet-12614889.php
Why own an AR-15? Four Texans tell why they own the most popular gun in America
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/guns/2018/02/15/ar-15-four-texans-tell-popular-gun-america
The FBI Was Warned About A School Shooting Threat From A YouTube User Named Nikolas Cruz In September
In September, a YouTube user named Nikolas Cruz left a comment on a video stating, "I'm going to be a professional school shooter." The video's creator alerted both the FBI and YouTube.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/briannasacks/the-fbi-was-warned-about-a-school-shooting-threat-from
Here Are The Hoaxes Already Going Around About The Florida School Shooting
Most have focused on the identity of the shooter.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/janelytvynenko/florida-school-shooting-hoaxes
Another School Shooting—But Who’s Counting?
Seventeen people were killed in an attack on Wednesday. America’s inability to track gun violence is standing in the way of preventing the next one.
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/02/another-school-shootingbut-whos-counting/553412/
American Carnage
“Your child isn’t going to be shot,” Donald Trump vowed. It was a promise he could never have kept—but there’s no evidence he even tried.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/trump-carnage/553424/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dH1Lvks-54a7e1MEkXKAqn2qKfZFM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Stormy Daniels has a ‘Monica Lewinsky dress’ to test for Trump’s DNA, report [ https://theblast.com/stormy-daniels-dress-donald-trump-dna/ ] says
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/02/15/stormy-daniels-has-a-monica-lewinsky-dress-to-test-for-trumps-dna-report-says/
Scandal-Ridden Scoundrel
By Charles M. Blow
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/opinion/scandal-ridden-scoundrel.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dzp7l1G7NQOoFbMcw1g9HyHujjVRM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Riding an Untamed Horse: Priebus Opens Up on Serving Trump
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/14/us/politics/riding-an-untamed-horse-priebus-opens-up-on-serving-trump.html
Priebus reveals ugly new details about Trump’s fury over Russia probe
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/02/15/priebus-reveals-ugly-new-details-about-trumps-fury-over-russia-probe/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dPlP3ut2JIJ40_Mrw6sDq61ItKPZM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Donald Trump's Language Is Reshaping American Politics
Republicans—and some liberals—downplay the significance of the president’s outbursts. But his words are quietly radicalizing both the left and right, with untold consequences for the future of policy.
Do the president’s words matter?
In Donald Trump’s first year in office, there has been a surprisingly widespread effort to argue that they do not. Liberals and moderates occasionally insist that the media and the public should shift their attention from the president’s vulgar statements to the real policy work happening at federal agencies. Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, have repeatedly ignored and dismissed Trump’s most shocking comments; criticized the media for paying attention to his tweets; feigned forgetfulness of his vulgarities; and even made jokes about all that ignoring, dismissing, and forgetting.
The upshot seems to be: Ignore the words, heed the substance.
But Trump’s words are his substance. “Politics is persuasion as well as coercion,” the political scientist Jacob Levy wrote last week, rightly arguing that Trump has “changed what being a Republican means.” He has done so not through legislative coercion—indeed, he barely seems to understand the basics of American government—but through persuasive insistence. On issues as diverse as the alleged dangers of immigration and the nature of truth, Trump’s words have the power to cleave public opinion, turning nonpolitical issues into partisan maelstroms and turning partisan attitudes on their head. Trump’s rhetoric doesn’t produce the legislative artifacts that journalists typically use to analyze presidential power—it hasn’t translated to many actual laws passed. But the country is only just beginning to understand the scope of Trump’s lexical influence.
Let’s start with the obvious examples. Years ago (even months ago) it would have been absurd to imagine “law and order” Republicans souring on the FBI; or that the party of Reagan and Bush would turn on the NFL, America’s most orgiastically patriotic sport.
But that’s precisely what’s happened. In 2014, about 60 percent of both Republicans and Democrats said the FBI was doing an "excellent" or "good" job. Last year, their views forked: Republican approval of the agency fell by about 10 points, while Democratic opinion improved by a similar margin. The same thing happened with football: Less than 20 percent of Republicans said they had unfavorable views of the NFL in the summer of 2017. But their disapproval had more than tripled by October, after Trump blasted players for kneeling to protest police violence during the national anthem. One analysis determined that, following the anthem protests, the NFL—a $13 billion industry that is the linchpin of the massive pay-TV ecosystem—became one of the most polarizing brands in the country.
Trump’s words don’t just reshape Republican attitudes. Just as often they empower and radicalize his critics. One could say that, despite his fondness for gilded touches, Trump evinces not a Midas touch, but a Moses touch—an extraordinary talent for planting a stake in the ground and dividing the landscape before him.
This Moses effect is most evident when it comes to Russia and immigration. In mid-2016, 20 percent of both Republicans and Democrats considered Russia an “ally” or “friendly.” One year later, Republicans were more than twice as likely as Democrats to say the same. Immigration had for years been a marginal political topic, especially when compared with issues like jobs and terrorism. But Trump effectively recast immigration as a question of American identity and national security. The construction of a wall along the Mexican border, once a fringey scheme, became the centerpiece of the GOP presidential candidate’s agenda. Today, three-quarters of Trump supporters say that “building the wall” should be the highest priority of his presidency. And yet, because Democrats have become more pro-immigrant under Trump, a record-high share of Americans now say "immigrants strengthen the country.” Essentially, Trump has popularized the liberal position on immigration while radicalizing the right’s.
It's tempting to downplay the power of Trump's words by saying their influence is “merely” shifting public opinion. But that's not quite right. First, there’s nothing subtle about Republican voters clutching nativism, the far-right right clutching Nazism, or Democratic voters radicalizing in defiance of the president. The devoted rank-and-file play an outsized role in state primaries. Trump’s “mere” words could starve his party of moderate legislators, while encouraging Democratic candidates to embrace more liberal positions to distinguish themselves as distinctly anti-Trump. Second, Trump’s rhetorical posture has some real policy implications. Though he hasn’t yet signed any major legislation on immigration, his harsh stance on undocumented workers empowered the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to increase arrests by 40 percent in his first year, often to shocking effect. And his constant disparagement of experts who refuse to parrot his policies has sucked the talent out of several government agencies, notably the State Department.
Finally, Trump’s refusal to accept critical information as true—from his denial of Russian interference in the 2016 election to the “alternative facts” about his inauguration size—has demolished the right’s faith and trust in a free press. Three-quarters of the GOP now say that news organizations make up anti-Trump stories. Even worse, a January study found that nearly half of Republicans believe that accurate stories that “cast a politician or political group in a negative light” are “always” fake news. Trump, along with Fox News, has given his supporters the license to self-deport from reality.
Trump’s obsession with building and broadcasting an alternative ledger of facts has made epistemology the fundamental crisis of his term. In its first month, the administration invented or mainstreamed a new vocabulary of mendacity—e.g., fake news, alternative facts—and within 10 months, Trump made more than 1,500 false or misleading claims, according to The Washington Post. That’s roughly six lies, exaggerations, or omissions per day. Trump and Fox News have together formed an axis of epistemic insanity, encouraging base voters who crave conspiracy theories and dismiss all negative news stories. No legislation, no executive order, and no official speech has caused this shift. It is the president’s words, delivered often via Twitter and amplified on Fox News, that have exploded the very notion of a shared political truth.
Republican legislators will continue to insist that the president’s indecorous words don’t matter. This is a convenient argument. Trump has outsourced the work of his presidency to other Republicans, who are happy to accept the responsibility of running the country: Budget and economic policy has gone to Mick Mulvaney and Paul Ryan; immigration and criminal-justice policy to John Kelly, Jeff Sessions, and Stephen Miller. The insistence that Trump’s words don’t matter isn’t incidental to the GOP’s broader strategy. It is the strategy—to quarantine Trump’s most noxious rhetoric and proceed apace with traditional Republican governance.
It’s rich for Republicans to all of a sudden feign such ambivalence about the power of words. As Jacob Levy notes in his essay, Fox News devotes about approximately one-sixth of the year to demonizing a harmless phrase, “happy holidays,” and Republicans have long attached talismanic power to the term “radical Islamic terrorism.” The idea that a president’s words don’t matter is a deeply ahistorical position. And that’s particularly true for the GOP, whose three previous presidents distinguished themselves through phraseology: “morning in America,” “city on a hill,” “tear down this wall,” “new world order,” “thousand points of light,” “axis of evil,” “bigotry of low expectations.”
Perhaps Republicans don’t treat Trump as a typical Republican president because, in a very real sense, Trump is not really the president. Instead, he has become a kind of nationalist identity guru for the new American right. On Monday, an anonymous White House source all but acknowledged this strategy, telling Axios that the president would spend 2018 seeking “unexpected cultural flashpoints,” like the NFL’s kneeling controversy. The White House sees Trump’s principle talent as the ability to activate cultural resentment among his supporters, encouraging them to redefine their identity and values around a nativist anger. And Republicans benefit doubly: The president plays the part he knows best—hype man for the nativist base—and voters come away energized.
Politics is downstream from persuasion, and law is downstream from language. Trump has failed to perform the role of a diligent executive, reserving much of his day for television, personal calls, and cultural encyclicals on Twitter. But it would be a mistake to conflate Trump’s indolence for ineffectiveness. No matter how often journalists and politicians dismiss Trump’s words, the words matter.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/donald-trumps-language-is-reshaping-american-politics/553349/
Trump’s Inaugural Committee Paid $26 Million to Firm of First Lady’s Adviser
WASHINGTON — President Trump’s inaugural committee paid nearly $26 million to an event planning firm started by an adviser to the first lady, Melania Trump, while donating $5 million — less than expected — to charity, according to tax filings released on Thursday.
The nonprofit group that oversaw Mr. Trump’s inauguration and surrounding events in January 2017, the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee, had been under pressure from liberal government watchdog groups to reveal how it spent the record $107 million it had raised from wealthy donors and corporations.
Its chairman, Thomas J. Barrack Jr., a longtime friend of Mr. Trump, had pledged that the committee would be thrifty with its spending, and would donate leftover funds to charity.
But the mandatory tax return it filed with the Internal Revenue Service indicates that the group’s charitable donations included only an already publicized $3 million for hurricane relief, plus a total of $1.75 million to groups involved in decorating and maintaining the White House and the vice president’s residence.
The 116-page filing indicates that the overwhelming majority of the funds went toward expenses related to the inauguration, with the biggest share — nearly $51 million — split roughly evenly between two companies.
One of the companies, WIS Media Partners of Marina del Rey, California, was created by a longtime friend of Mrs. Trump, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, according to a person familiar with the firm. Records show that the firm was created in December 2016, but otherwise there is very little information available about it.
Ms. Winston Wolkoff made her name planning Manhattan society galas and has subsequently been brought on as a senior adviser to the first lady’s official government office.
Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Trump, said that the first lady “had no involvement” with the inaugural committee, “and had no knowledge of how funds were spent.”
Ms. Winston Wolkoff is not paid for her work in the first lady’s office, according to Ms. Grisham, who said Ms. Winston Wolkoff is classified as “a special government employee.”
Much of the money paid to Ms. Winston Wolkoff’s firm and other event production companies likely was passed through to other vendors who provided goods or services on a subcontractor basis.
Ms. Winston Wolkoff personally received $1.62 million for her work, according to one official from the inaugural committee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the details publicly. The official said that Ms. Winston Wolkoff’s firm paid the team used by Mark Burnett, the creator of “The Apprentice,” whose involvement in the inaugural festivities was requested by Mr. Trump.
Also reaping payments for event production services was Hargrove, Inc., of Lanham, Md., a company that plans trade shows and other events, which was paid $25 million. David Monn of New York, who also is known for orchestrating society events and planned a state dinner for former President Barack Obama, was paid $3.7 million, and a company called Production Resource Group of New Windsor, N.Y., was paid $2.7 million, according to the tax return.
Other expenses for which the committee paid directly included ticketing, on which it spent $4.1 million, and promotional gifts, on which it spent $560,000.
It also spent heavily on payroll and administrative expenses, including spending $9.4 million on travel, $4.6 million on salaries and benefits for its 208 employees, $500,000 on legal fees and $237,000 on fund-raising.
The inaugural committee official said that wrap-up costs were more significant than had been anticipated, and indicated that the committee’s finances were affected by the fact that it never struck a large deal for broadcast rights to the inaugural balls.
The $107 million raised by the committee was about twice as much as Mr. Obama’s inaugural committee raised for the festivities around his 2009 swearing-in.
Mr. Barrack, a California investor, in a statement released by the committee with the tax return, praised the committee for carrying out the inauguration and more than 20 related events with “elegance and seamless excellence without incident or interruption, befitting the legacy and tradition that has preceded us.”
The inaugural committee closed out October with $2.8 million in the bank, according to the tax filing. It indicated in the release that the remaining funds also would be donated to charity once remaining expenses are paid.
The tax return indicated that the committee already donated to six nonprofit groups, and inaugural officials pointed out that the $5 million in total charitable donations to those groups was more than Mr. Obama’s committee donated.
Among the recipients of charitable donations, the White House Historical Association received $1 million, while the Vice President’s Residence Foundation, which is devoted to decorating and furnishing the Vice President’s residence on the grounds of the Naval Observatory in Washington, received $750,000. The Smithsonian Institution received $250,000.
The American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Samaritan’s Purse, an evangelical group, received $1 million each. All three groups were involved in relief efforts after a string of hurricanes that ravaged the Gulf Coast, Florida and the Caribbean.
As questions mounted last summer about the inaugural committee’s finances and pledged charitable donations, Mr. Barrack released a statement promising that “millions of dollars of reserve funds will be allocated to various charities, institutions, and foundations in an amount that surely will exceed any previous inauguration.”
The inaugural committee split the costs of staging a range of festivities with the taxpayer-funded Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and various federal, state and local government agencies. Security costs alone were predicted to be upward of $100 million, which will eventually be paid for by the federal government.
Among the top donors to Mr. Trump’s inaugural committee were the Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon G. Adelson, who donated $5 million, and corporations including Chevron, Boeing, and AT&T.
The committee had previously filed a mandatory report with the Federal Election Commission listing its donors, and the donor names were redacted from the I.R.S. filing released Thursday. The bulk of the report — about 90 pages — was comprised of a list of donation amounts without the identities of the corresponding donors, including a page-and-a-half of in-kind donations, such as a musical performance valued at $729,000 and vehicle and equipment expenses valued at a total of $631,000.
It was not immediately clear who donated the musical performance or the other services.
The inaugural committee was criticized for staging an extravagant concert on the National Mall featuring performances by the country music star Toby Keith and the rock band Three Doors Down. The concert reportedly cost $25 million.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/us/politics/trumps-inaugural-committee-paid-26-million-to-first-ladys-friend.html
Florida’s Gun Law Sickness
Not only is there no law requiring the registration of handguns or rifles — the state has a law expressly prohibiting any such regulation.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/floridas-gun-law-sickness
After the Parkland shooting, let's call GOP hypocrisy on guns what it really is: complicity
By their own logic, the GOP and Trump are complicit in America's mass shooting epidemic.
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/after-parkland-shooting-let-s-call-gop-hypocrisy-guns-what-ncna848321
Campaign contributions aren’t the reason the gun debate is frozen - dubious piece
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/02/15/campaign-contributions-arent-the-reason-the-gun-debate-is-frozen/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dgj9XVABzFxHCCMWvs42nyRb6ZxFM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Jeff Sessions Is Putting Together a Group to Study Why We Have Mass Shootings, Which Ought to Do the Trick
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/02/jeff-sessions-says-hell-study-why-mass-shootings-take-place.html
Attorney General Sessions Delivers Remarks to the National Sheriffs’ Association
February 12, 2018
https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/attorney-general-sessions-delivers-remarks-national-sheriffs-association
Florida shooting suspect was part of white nationalist group, leader says = AP
Officials are focusing on mental health issues in the wake of the mass shooting
http://www.kcci.com/article/school-shooting-suspect-facing-17-charges-premeditated-murder/18192586
original:
School shooting suspect belonged to white nationalist group
https://www.apnews.com/a6fd450470d4464ab423b8b3a911b42d/School-shooting-suspect-belonged-to-white-nationalist-group
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/d69j2gskdEDrEfMQIT9HEdwVTKv2M?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Second appeals court rules against Trump travel ban 3.0
The decision has no immediate effect due to the Supreme Court action.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/15/trump-travel-ban-4th-circuit-413458
U.S. Court Says Trump Travel Ban Unlawfully Discriminates Against Muslims - Reuters
https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2018-02-15/us-court-says-trump-travel-ban-unlawfully-discriminates-against-muslims
original https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-immigration/u-s-court-says-trump-travel-ban-unlawfully-discriminates-against-muslims-idUSKCN1FZ23U
Trump Loses Another Appeals Court Ruling on His Travel Ban
http://time.com/5160742/trump-travel-ban-federal-appeal/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dwm_otREtV6FsVM7CKO7i7fhhfKBM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
F.C.C. Watchdog Looks Into Changes That Benefited Sinclair
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/technology/fcc-sinclair-ajit-pai.html
Ajit Pai faces investigation into moves that benefit Sinclair Broadcasting
IG examines whether Pai "improperly coordinated with Sinclair" on rule changes.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/02/ajit-pai-faces-investigation-into-moves-that-benefit-sinclair-broadcasting/
U.S. watchdog to probe chairman's decisions in broadcast deal: Democrat - Representative Frank Pallone
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-sinclair-ma-fcc/u-s-watchdog-to-probe-chairmans-decisions-in-broadcast-deal-democrat-idUSKCN1FZ27A
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dqTulgzbhDew3tMw77FAc0k7KAnOM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Steve Bannon met with Mueller multiple times over the past week - spent a total of some 20 hours in conversations with the team led by Mueller
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/steve-bannon-met-mueller-multiple-times-over-past-week-n848421
Bannon met with special counsel investigators two days this week
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-bannon/bannon-met-with-special-counsel-investigators-two-days-this-week-idUSKCN1FZ2JY
Bannon interviewed by Mueller in past week: report
http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/374079-bannon-interviewed-by-mueller-twice-in-past-week-report
White House "scripted" House's Russia questions for Bannon
The former Trump political adviser met with the House Intelligence Committee, and has also had multiple meetings with special counsel Robert Mueller in recent days.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/15/steve-bannon-scripted-questions-russia-probe-414755
more: https://www.google.com/search?q=bannon+mueller
Social media paints picture of racist 'professional school shooter'
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/14/us/nikolas-cruz-florida-shooting-suspect/index.html
The White Nationalists Who Claimed Ties to the Florida School Shooter Used Memes and Rap to Spread Hate Online [Updated] - further to https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=138585321
Speculation as to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz’s motivations began late yesterday as Instagram accounts and YouTube comments believed to be associated with him surfaced. Today the leader of a white nationalist fringe group claimed that Cruz was a member, and that his group had given Cruz training.
The Republic of Florida, as they’re called, are “a white civil rights organization fighting for white Identitarian politics, And (sic) the ultimate creation of a white ethnostate,” according to its website. The group—which is explicitly homophobic and antisemitic—encouraged its members to undergo “paramilitary training,” purchase knifes and firearms, and pledge their “willingness to wage battle.” In a since-deleted video uploaded by the group’s leader, Jordan Jereb, a masked man stands in front of a Republic of Florida banner and claims that “we’ve made rapid advancements in the stockpile of many supplies—not just food—and I’ll let you use your imagination.”
Jereb himself appear to have loose ties to the Traditionalist Worker Party, another ethno-nationalist fringe group you may recall from a controversial New York Times profile. That group’s leader, Matthew Heimbach, appears alongside Jereb in a YouTube video as both prepare for a League of the South conference.
[...]
https://gizmodo.com/the-white-nationalists-tied-to-the-florida-school-shoot-1823044091
We edited Trump’s condolence speech on America’s latest school shooting
https://qz.com/1208492/trumps-speech-about-parkland-floridas-school-shooting-attack-was-missing-key-facts/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dHO5nfbQ7A13M9MbD7hw4tdG7YdFM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Trump Is Looking in the Wrong Direction to Prevent Mass Shootings
The president called for increased vigilance on Thursday, but even when authorities know about troubled individuals that often isn’t enough to prevent massacres.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/what-is-to-be-done/553445/
School safety money would be slashed in Trump budget
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/15/school-safety-cuts-trump-administration-348968
How the Florida shooter escaped years of warnings
Although he was well known to local police, school and mental health officials, he legally purchased the AR-15 he used to gun down former classmates.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/15/florida-school-shooter-reported-behavior-trump-350072
Trump Calls For Mental Health Action After Shooting; His Budget Would Cut Programs
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/15/586095437/trump-calls-for-mental-health-action-after-shooting-his-budget-would-cut-program
Budget Undercuts Trump Focus on Mental Health, School Safety
Budget undercuts Trump's call for a focus on mental health and school safety in response to Florida shootings.
https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2018-02-15/budget-undercuts-trump-focus-on-mental-health-school-safety
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/duWfmAY7g27gKPMGGit63opZuSpTM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
There's a gun for every American. But less than a third own guns.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/politics/guns-dont-know-how-many-america/index.html
Trump Signs Bill Revoking Obama-Era Gun Checks for People With Mental Illnesses
Feb 28 2017
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-signs-bill-revoking-obama-era-gun-checks-people-mental-n727221
NRA's big spending pays off with clout and wins in Washington
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/15/nras-big-spending-pays-off-clout-and-wins-washington/341257002/
What Will It Take for Sensible Gun Control?
No amount of killing seems to be enough for Congress to take action
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/gun-control-what-will-it-take-w516785
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dIEUxuyds2DzurMPV6GNiJTHTyEBM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Treasury: Mnuchin doesn't support Congress examining new gun laws
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin appeared to stage a surprising break from the Trump White House on Thursday and endorsed congressional action on gun violence in the wake of the devastating school shooting in Florida that left 17 dead.
His office says that’s not so.
Instead, according to a Treasury official, Mnuchin was referring to whether there was money in the federal budget to examine the proliferation of mass shootings in the United States, not whether Congress should consider new gun control laws.
“Secretary Mnuchin was directly addressing Congressman [John] Lewis’ question about availability of funds in the budget to address the issue of gun violence. He also reflected the feelings shared by all Americans that yesterday’s school shooting was a profound tragedy,” said Treasury spokesman Tony Sayegh.
The controversy began Thursday morning when Mnuchin responded to a question from Rep. Lewis (D-Ga.) at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on whether there was money in the White House budget request to address gun violence.
[...]
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/15/steven-mnuchin-congress-gun-control-414314
Trump 'Strongly' Favors Imposing Online Sales Tax, Mnuchin Says
http://fortune.com/2018/02/15/donald-trump-online-sales-tax/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dcrh6E_A6q7lTKM8o8XnvccSnNYfM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
A would-be shooter tossed a coin to pick a school, police say. His grandmother foiled his plan.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/02/15/a-would-be-shooter-tossed-a-coin-to-pick-a-school-police-say-his-grandmother-foiled-his-plan/
A teen wrote about plans to shoot up his [state of] Washington high school. But his grandmother found his journal
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/us/grandmother-foils-school-shooting-plan-everett-trnd/index.html
Police: Everett teen plotted high school shooting, wrote 'I can't wait'
http://komonews.com/news/local/police-everett-teen-arrested-after-plotting-a-shooting-at-his-high-school
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dhEoTIPdjbksOQMf-Ei6IKJnghBiM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Twin brothers arrested in NYC on explosives charges after authorities find bomb-making materials
Twin brothers have been arrested in New York City on explosives charges for making a bomb, multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News.
The two arrests were made in The Bronx, the sources aid. Investigators recovered bomb-making materials as part of the investigation.
Christian and Tyler Toro were arrested in a joint counter-terrorism operation involving the FBI and the NYPD. The charges do not allege terror-related offenses only the explosives-related counts.
Christian Toro, a former teacher in The Bronx, is charged with his brother Tyler Toro with explosives-related charges. Court records said the brothers were paying minors to strip fireworks of their gunpowder so they could build a bomb.
Christian Toro and Tyler Toro "knowingly made firearms" and aided and abetted in the making of firearms at their home in the Bronx from about October 2017 to February of this year, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York.
Christian Toro is also accused of distributing explosive materials to two individuals under the age of 21 in the Bronx, according to the complaint.
On Dec. 4, 2017, a student was arrested after a bomb threat was called into a high school in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood, and Christian Toro resigned from his teaching position shortly after the arrest, the complaint states.
After the resignation, Tyler Toro returned Christian Toro's school-issued laptop, where a technical specialist found a copy of the "Explosives Book," a text that provides instructions for manufacturing explosive devices, according to the complaint.
On Feb. 8 of this year, multiple law enforcement agents interviewed Christian Toro, who stated that he "had not intentionally downloaded" the incriminating book into the laptop. Instead, Christian Toro stated that he had been researching the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and had come across a copy of the book.
Christian Toro also told investigators that he never built a bomb and had only looked at the book's table of contents.
On Wednesday, investigators interviewed multiple students at the school, who indicated that at least two students visited an apartment where Christian Toro would pay them $50 per hour to break apart fireworks and store the powder that came out of them in containers, the court document states. The students visited the apartment between October 2017 and January 2018, according to the complaint.
While serving a search warrant for the Bronx apartment, investigators found about 20 pounds of iron oxide, about 5 pounds of aluminum powder, about 5 pounds of potassium nitrate and about 2 pounds of confectioner's sugar located in the floor of a bedroom closet.
A glass jar containing a black powdery substance, later identified as explosive material, was also found on top of the closet shelf, the court document states. Another closet contained a cardboard box containing firecrackers, more containers full of varying substances and a bag containing varying sizes of metal spheres.
A diary containing writing that stated that it it were lost it should be returned to Tyler Toro was located on the kitchen table as well.
"WE ARE TWIN TOROS STRIKE US NOW, WE WILL RETURN WITH NANO THERMITE" the diary read, according to the complaint.
Both brothers occupy the back bedroom where several of the items were found, authorities said. They made an initial appearance in court, where a judge ordered them to be held with no objection from their defense attorneys.
Christian Toro and Tyler Toro both pleaded not guilty. Attorneys for the brothers were not immediately available for comment.
There is no current or active threat, according to law enforcement.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/brothers-arrested-nyc-terror-charges-authorities-find-bomb/story?id=53126254
NYPD arrests two for making bombs - video
The NYPD announces the arrest of two New York men who have been charged with manufacturing a destructive device and the distribution of explosive materials to a minor.
https://www.cnn.com/specials/live-video-2?adkey=bn
Twin brothers arrested in New York City for stockpiling bombmaking materials, authorities say
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/02/15/twin-brothers-arrested-in-new-york-city-for-stockpiling-bomb-making-materials-authorities-say/
Ex-teacher, twin brother arrested in NYC terror investigation involving bomb-making materials
http://abc7ny.com/ex-teacher-twin-brother-arrested-in-nyc-terror-investigation/3090692/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dlxBdzlgrQ1DRpMJntK45Vl_TcEyM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Immigration bills fail in Congress, leaving ‘dreamers’ in limbo
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/as-immigration-showdown-looms-in-senate-trump-administration-is-doing-everything-in-our-power-to-stop-bipartisan-plan-official-says/2018/02/15/e0cff9d0-1260-11e8-8ea1-c1d91fcec3fe_story.html
Senate Rejects Trump’s Immigration Plan
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/us/politics/immigration-senate-dreamers.html
House GOP pushes hardline immigration plan as Senate deals fail
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/374145-house-gop-pushes-hardline-immigration-plan-as-senate-deals-fail
No Room for Debate: Senate Floor Fight Over Immigration Is a Bust
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/us/politics/senate-immigration-debate.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dos8wzVX5TfWKDM7dX-RKygZ_3YzM?ned=us&hl=en&gl=US
GOP leaders consider steps, including contempt, after Bannon refuses most questions
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/bannon-returns-to-house-intelligence-committee-under-subpoena/2018/02/15/e2051a68-1267-11e8-9570-29c9830535e5_story.html
Bannon stonewalls House panel after WH advised him to invoke executive privilege
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/14/politics/bannon-contempt-hearing/index.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/d9wXT9DbJ9i_kFMvKQ9YX9xpMFadM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Exclusive: A top Trump campaign adviser close to plea deal with Mueller
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/politics/rick-gates-plea-deal-mueller-russia-investigation/index.html
Rick Gates is reportedly close to becoming Mueller’s third cooperating ex-Trump aide
CNN reports Gates is finalizing a plea deal with Mueller.
https://www.vox.com/2018/2/15/16955292/rick-gates-plea-deal
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dtjrUMD1ExT-acMfpuHtzRLTNaBsM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
U.S. Condemns Russia for Cyberattack, Showing Split in Stance on Putin
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/us/politics/russia-cyberattack.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/d6sHNsHOeDG9YgMzcW9RWL1kNmCrM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Trump's Inauguration: Record Spending Leaves Little For Charities
https://www.npr.org/2018/02/15/586116158/trumps-inauguration-record-spending-leaves-little-for-charities
The Tax Return For Donald Trump's Inaugural Committee
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4379460-The-Tax-Return-For-Donald-Trump-s-Inaugural.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dpI0HZUrKIITJpMkm-dc6cAGh-yAM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
ABC News, Joy Behar slammed for ‘The View’s’ attack on Mike Pence’s Christian faith
ABC is facing mounting criticism after its panelists on “The View” mocked Vice President Mike Pence’s Christian faith. Detractors of “The View” are focusing on the fact that ABC News, which claims to be an unbiased broadcast news operation, oversees such a nakedly partisan program with one “token” conservative.
The women of “The View” took a shot at Pence’s Christian faith on Tuesday, mocking the former governor of Indiana for talking to Jesus and even calling it a “mental illness.”
Sunny Hostin said it’s “interesting” that former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman recently said that Pence talks to Jesus and believes Jesus tells him things. Hostin said she is a “faithful” Catholic but doesn’t want her vice president “speaking in tongues.” Joy Behar then said, “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you… that’s called mental illness.”
ABC News paints itself as a fair news organization but its longtime slogan, “See the Whole Picture,” often doesn’t apply to “The View,” according to many critics.
“It has become jarring how fixated the show is on politics and how slanted the table is,” Mediaite columnist Joseph Wulfsohn told Fox News.
Wulfsohn said it’s ABC News’ prerogative if network executives decide that having four outspoken liberals and a single “token” conservative is “profitable” but the decision “does a great disservice” by marginalizing the view of roughly half the country.
The Hill media columnist Joe Concha thinks “it would be wise for ABC News to divorce itself” from “The View.”
“It's a pure opinion and infotainment program and therefore should be under its entertainment division,” Concha told Fox News.
Fox News’ Todd Starnes slammed Behar in a scathing op-ed, saying it’s “understandable that a Christophobe like Behar be dumbfounded by such a concept.”
Starnes added that “if hearing the voice (of) God means (you are) mentally insane” then he is crazy himself.
“If ABC News wants to employ an anti-Christian bigot – that is their business,” he wrote.
Pence himself didn’t appreciate the comments and slammed ABC News Wednesday on C-SPAN.
“To have ABC maintain a broadcast forum that compared Christianity to mental illness is just wrong,” Pence said. “It is simply wrong for ABC to have a television program that expresses that kind of religious intolerance.”
Jeffrey McCall, a media analyst and DePauw University professor, told Fox News that it is concerning that “The View” falls under ABC’s news division.
“It would seem the news division of a major broadcast network should not be programming content that is clearly partisan. The show should be exported to the entertainment division, if only to maintain some journalistic integrity for the news division,” McCall said.
Ironically, “The View” has emerged as the most prominent broadcast of ABC News, whose programming has otherwise been in steep decline, battling declining ratings and relevance. At the same time, ABC News’ oversight of “The View,” which it took over in 2014, has been criticized for “Keystone cops management,” according to one ABC insider, resulting in “Game of Thrones” style feuding between hosts, multiple firings and behind the scenes turmoil.
The Media Research Center emailed supporters on Thursday morning with a message titled, “Don't let ABC get away with this.” The email reiterates the offensive comments made by Behar and Hostin and states, “We need to stand up against these bullies and bigots and let them know that we will not stand for such disgraceful and prejudiced behavior.”
The MRC said that “religious bigotry and hypocrisy cannot and will not be tolerated” and even posted the phone number to contact ABC News executives with complaints.
“Take a minute and call ABC now and let them know that this anti-Christian bias is dangerous and deeply offensive,” the MRC told subscribers.
Meanwhile, the women of “The View” addressed the controversy on Thursday and Behar didn’t exactly apologize.
“I don’t mean to offend people but apparently I keep doing it,” she said. “It was a joke.”
ABC News, part of the reliably liberal Disney ABC Television Group, has been accused of veering left on a regular basis. ABC News reporter Brian Ross famously helped spur a 350-point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in December after he reported incorrectly on live television that fired National Security Adviser Michael Flynn would testify that Trump had ordered him to make contact with Russians about foreign policy while Trump was still a candidate.
Ross issued a correction, and was then suspended for a month without pay. He was later demoted to an unclear role at ABC News’ beleaguered Lincoln Square Productions. In fact, Concha pointed out that ABC News embarrassed Behar by having her read Ross’ report on the day of the error -- which he said is proof the two should be mutually exclusive.
“A floor director literally walked it out to Behar, who read the lead verbatim... the story blew up before being ‘clarified’ and eventually corrected. Joy looked foolish and was forced to apologize the next day,” Concha said.
Other examples of ABC News’ liberal bias include the fact the network’s chief anchor, former Bill Clinton communications director George Stephanopoulos, did not disclose a substantial donation to the Clinton Foundation in 2015 and was forced to recuse himself from moderating presidential debates.
ABC News did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/02/15/abc-news-slammed-for-joy-behar-s-attack-on-mike-pence-s-christian-faith.html
Mike Pence blasts ABC host for mocking his faith
https://www.axios.com/mike-pence-abc-joy-behar-christian-mental-illness-25b66c5b-6dde-435b-9d6f-49653e4a96af.html
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dXscR6yBBuYvW5MHTPa7s-DmLyQ4M?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Bad News for Buyers: U.S. Mortgage Rates Hit Highest Since 2014
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-15/bad-news-for-buyers-u-s-mortgage-rates-hit-highest-since-2014
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/d-2PBIWiXnnbMoMl6eDs379MuNYCM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Getty and Google Reach Settlement—Say Goodbye to ‘View image’ Button
http://resourcemagonline.com/2018/02/getty-and-google-reach-settlement-say-goodbye-to-view-image-button/85921/
Google Image Search removes View Image button and Search by Image feature
After making a deal with Getty Images, Google has revamped some of their image search features and user experience.
https://searchengineland.com/google-image-search-removes-view-image-button-search-image-feature-292183
Google removes ‘view image’ button from search results to make pics harder to steal
Better for websites and photographers but worse for users
https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/15/17017864/google-removes-view-image-button-from-search-results
Missing Google Images' "View Image" button? Use [search engine] Startpage [ https://www.startpage.com/ ] Image Search instead
[...]
Just visit the Startpage main website and enter a search term. You do need to switch to images on the results page to get a thumbnail view of images similar to the one that is provided by Google Images.
A click on an image displays options, and one of the options is view image. This, as you may have guessed already, opens the image directly. One of the added benefits of using Startpage Search for that is that the images are opened anonymously through a proxy so that your information does not leak to the site hosting it.
[...]
https://www.ghacks.net/2018/02/15/missing-google-images-view-image-button-use-startpage-image-search-instead/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dSX4yU6FhA_7ZsMlV8RiqERGG49qM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
White House officials are asked if they are vulnerable to blackmail
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/white-house-officials-are-asked-if-they-are-vulnerable-blackmail-n848456
Dozens of Vulnerable Trump Admin Officials Could Be Accessing Secrets Without Clearance, Say Democrats
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-officials-access-secrets-without-clearance-806530
more: https://www.google.com/search?q=white+house+officials+are+asked
Sanders pushes for Kelly to face the press over Porter scandal
Sarah Huckabee Sanders wants senior officials to brief reporters directly as the furor continues unabated.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/14/porter-scandal-white-house-sanders-trump-410797
more: https://www.google.com/search?q=sarah+huckabee+sanders
Ultra-processed foods 'linked to cancer'
A link between highly processed foods and cancer has been suggested by French researchers.
What counts as ultra-processed
Mass-produced packaged breads and buns
Sweet or savoury packaged snacks including crisps
Chocolate bars and sweets
Sodas and sweetened drinks
Meatballs, poultry and fish nuggets
Instant noodles and soups
Frozen or shelf-life ready meals
Foods made mostly or entirely from sugar, oils and fats
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-43064290
study http://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k322
Highly processed foods linked to cancer risk, study finds
Cheese, pasta, canned foods did not raise risk
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/highly-processed-foods-may-raise-cancer-risk-study-finds-n848186
Eating ultra-processed foods like chicken nuggets ‘linked to cancer,’ study says
A new study, published Wednesday in the British Medical Journal, found that a 10 percent increase in the amount of ultra-processed foods in a person's diet was linked to a 12 percent increase in cancers of some kind.
The kinds of "ultra-processed" foods associated with the increased risk of the disease included cakes, chicken nuggets, mass-produced bread, fizzy drinks, confectionery and processed meat.
The study has prompted health experts to urge caution at its findings, while also stressing a healthy and balanced diet is best.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/15/study-ultra-processed-foods-like-chicken-nuggets-linked-to-cancer.html
Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Increased Cancer Risk, New Study Shows
Soda, processed meats, packaged snack foods may all increase your risk. Here's how you can pare them from your diet.
https://www.consumerreports.org/packaged-processed-foods/ultra-processed-foods-linked-to-increased-cancer-risk-new-study-shows/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dbfTk9sflG-BVBMHf9JQX-moTGKKM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Musk's Tesla to stay in space for millions of years
The Tesla car that Elon Musk launched into space is likely to stay there for tens of millions of years before crashing into the Earth or Venus.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43063379
Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster will eventually crash in space — and scientists think they know where and by when
SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, recently launched the world's largest operational rocket on February 6.
Falcon Heavy's launch sent Musk's personal 2008 red Tesla Roadster on a voyage toward Mars orbit with a "Starman" dummy in the driver's seat.
Planetary scientists are concerned about bacterial contamination on Musk's car in case it crashes into Mars — a planet that may host alien microbes.
However, new calculations show the Tesla will most likely hit Earth, Venus, or the sun.
http://www.businessinsider.com/starman-elon-musk-car-orbit-collision-risk-calculations-2018-2
Astrophotographer Spots Elon Musk's Roadster Cruising Through Space (Video)
https://www.space.com/39699-astrophotographer-spots-elon-musks-roadster-in-space-video.html
Tesla’s China Dream Threatened by Standoff Over Shanghai Factory
Without a local partner, every Tesla sold in the world’s biggest EV market faces a steep import tax.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-14/tesla-s-china-dream-threatened-by-standoff-over-shanghai-factory
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/d8ky9nd8qaUr5sMrJcDxckFFO5yuM?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Kepler Astronomers Discover Treasure Trove of New Exoplanets
https://gizmodo.com/kepler-astronomers-discover-treasure-trove-of-new-exopl-1823030963
Discovery alert! 95 new planets found with NASA telescope
https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/news/1485/discovery-alert-95-new-planets-found-with-nasa-telescope/
study http://outer.space.dtu.dk/awm/images/validationpaper.pdf
Exoplanets 101
https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/the-search-for-life/exoplanets-101/
NASA Kepler's K2 Mission Scientists Discover 95 New Planets Beyond Our Solar System
http://www.newsweek.com/nasa-keplers-k2-mission-95-new-planets-beyond-our-solar-system-808201
Discovery! Kepler Space Telescope Discovers 95 More Alien Planets
https://www.space.com/39703-kepler-telescope-discovers-95-exoplanets-more.html
Scientists have discovered nearly 100 new planets outside of our solar system
https://qz.com/1207878/scientists-have-discovered-nearly-100-new-planets-outside-of-our-solar-system/
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/djNjEFu_RXf364MR4EWOyKui8n43M?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
Andromeda Galaxy Brought Down To Size for Head-to-Head Collision With Milky Way - The Conversation
http://www.newsweek.com/milky-way-andromeda-galaxy-mass-collision-807849
original:
When galaxies collide, size matters if you want to know the fate of our Milky Way
https://theconversation.com/when-galaxies-collide-size-matters-if-you-want-to-know-the-fate-of-our-milky-way-91826
study https://arxiv.org/abs/1801.03949
PR https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-02/icfr-mwt021318.php
Milky Way ties with neighbour in galactic arms race
https://www.icrar.org/cosmic-collision/
Andromeda Galaxy Is The Same Size As Milky Way
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/221138/20180215/andromeda-galaxy-is-the-same-size-as-milky-way.htm
Just how big is the Andromeda galaxy?
( https://youtu.be/fMNlt2FnHDg )
Astronomers used to believe that the Andromeda galaxy, our nearest galactic neighbor, was three times the size of the Milky Way. Not anymore.
http://astronomy.com/news/magazine/2018/02/adromeda-is-the-same-size-as-the-milky-way
more: https://news.google.com/news/story/dNuVppXHmbiBAhMcO4ZT196ziv48M?ned=us&gl=US&hl=en
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Greensburg, KS - 5/4/07
"Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty."
from John Philpot Curran, Speech
upon the Right of Election, 1790
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