"While Nancy Pelosi calls this ‘crumbs,’ Lauren sees it as grocery shopping all year long. It’s a lot of money for Lauren and a lot of money for her family. It’s called living better.”
McCabe’s internal corruption of favoritism and patronage is exposed in an EEO lawsuit. But the outrage in Washington, DC speaks of the sense of entitlement and lifelong employment that runs throughout the bureaucracies from top to bottom. McCabe’s attempt to defend himself adds another charge of perjury to Comey. Then, President Trump ramps up the insane War on Drugs that has failed for half a century, there’s more to Facebook & Cambridge Analytica than the surface story, and William F Jasper joins to talk about China’s dictatorship, protected by globalists since Nixon.
[from Alex Jones and his merry band of batshit bullshitters]
Presidential Message to the Congress of the United States
Issued on: March 19, 2018
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), I hereby report that I have signed an Executive Order with respect to Venezuela that takes additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13692 of March 8, 2015, and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13808 of August 24, 2017. The Executive Order prohibits, as of its effective date, all transactions related to, provision of financing for, and other dealings in, by a United States person or within the United States, any digital currency, digital coin, or digital token, that was issued by, for, or on behalf of the Government of Venezuela on or after January 9, 2018.
I have authorized the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to take such actions, including promulgating rules and regulations and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the Executive Order.
I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued.
Executive Order on Taking Additional Steps to Address the Situation in Venezuela
Issued on: March 19, 2018
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,
I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13692 of March 8, 2015, and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13808 of August 24, 2017, and in light of recent actions taken by the Maduro regime to attempt to circumvent U.S. sanctions by issuing a digital currency in a process that Venezuela’s democratically elected National Assembly has denounced as unlawful, hereby order as follows:
Section 1. (a) All transactions related to, provision of financing for, and other dealings in, by a United States person or within the United States, any digital currency, digital coin, or digital token, that was issued by, for, or on behalf of the Government of Venezuela on or after January 9, 2018, are prohibited as of the effective date of this order.
(b) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted before the effective date of this order.
Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
Sec. 3. For the purposes of this order:
(a) the term “person” means an individual or entity;
(b) the term “entity” means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;
(c) the term “United States person” means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches of such entities), or any person within the United States; and
(d) the term “Government of Venezuela” means the Government of Venezuela, any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including the Central Bank of Venezuela and Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), and any person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, the Government of Venezuela.
Sec. 4. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including promulgating rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to implement this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may, consistent with applicable law, redelegate any of these functions to other officers and executive departments and agencies of the United States Government. All agencies of the United States Government shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order.
Sec. 5. For those persons whose property and interests in property are affected by this order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, I find that because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures taken pursuant to this order would render those measures ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13692, there need be no prior notice given for implementation of this order.
Sec. 6. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Sec. 7. This order is effective at 12:15 p.m. eastern daylight time on March 19, 2018.
President Donald J. Trump Proclaims March 20, 2018, as National Agriculture Day
Issued on: March 19, 2018
On National Agriculture Day, we acknowledge the tremendous work ethic, ingenuity, determination, and perseverance that define generations of American farmers. Because of their efforts, the United States produces an abundant supply of food, feed, and fuel for a growing global population. Our rich and abundant soil provides for more than just sustenance — it provides a beautiful and bountiful way of life for millions of Americans.
America’s strong agricultural sector is a key component of our Nation’s robust economy and trade. Every $1 of United States agricultural and food exports creates another $1.27 in business activity. Our country’s agriculture exports are valued at more than $100 billion, and every $1 billion in exports supports approximately 8,000 American jobs. Moreover, agriculture contributes to at least 8.6 percent of our gross domestic product. The economic boost from our agriculture reaches beyond the fields our farmers tend, with unrivaled skill and diligence, to communities all across America.
America’s farmers, growers, ranchers, foresters, and agricultural scientists and engineers are world-leading innovators, exploring new research and technologies like advancements in biotechnology and the use of automated vehicles that enable precision agriculture to maximize yields and minimize environmental impacts. My Administration proudly supports them in their pioneering endeavors. In this new era of American agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing in rural broadband access, roads, and bridges, and is supplying affordable, reliable power to those living on the outskirts of larger cities and towns. These investments in American infrastructure will improve the quality of life in rural America for years to come.
To help the American agricultural economy succeed in an increasingly competitive global market, I signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the largest tax cut and reform legislation in American history. This legislation is providing much needed relief to America’s farmers, who can now expense 100 percent of their capital investments, including expenditures for farm equipment, over the next 4 years. Additionally, under this new legislation, the vast majority of family farms will now be exempt from the death tax.
American agriculture is an integral part of our success as a Nation, uniquely tied to both our country’s culture and economy. Today, and every day, we cherish our Nation’s rich agricultural history and celebrate the greatness of the American farmer.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 20, 2018, as National Agriculture Day. I encourage all Americans to observe this day by recognizing the preeminent role that agriculture plays in our daily lives, acknowledging agriculture’s continuing importance to rural America and our country’s economy, and expressing our deep appreciation of farmers, growers, ranchers, producers, national forest system stewards, private agricultural stewards, and those who work in the agriculture sector across the Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.
Readout of National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster’s Meeting with National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong of the Republic of Korea and Secretary General of the National Security Secretariat Shotaro Yachi of Japan
Issued on: March 19, 2018
National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster of the United States, National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong of the Republic of Korea, and Secretary General of the National Security Secretariat Shotaro Yachi of Japan held a trilateral meeting on March 17 and 18 in San Francisco to discuss the permanent denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the planned inter-Korean summit and United States-Democratic People’s Republic of Korea summit. The three national security advisors committed to avoiding mistakes of the past and to continue coordinating closely in the weeks ahead.
Editor-in-chief Judd Legum sits down with ThinkProgress reporter Aaron Rupar to discuss the fallout over former CIA deputy director Andrew McCabe’s firing and how top republicans are coming forward to support Mueller's investigation.
I wish a beautiful and blessed Nowruz to the millions of people around the world who are celebrating the arrival of spring.
The history of Nowruz is rooted in Iran, where for millennia a proud nation has overcome great challenges by the strength of its culture and the resilience of its people. Today, the Iranian people face another challenge: rulers who serve themselves instead of serving the people.
Twenty-five centuries ago, Darius the Great asked God to protect Iran from three dangers: hostile armies, drought, and falsehood. Today, the Iranian regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) represents all three.
First, the IRGC is not Iranian in name or deed. It is a hostile army that brutalizes and steals from the Iranian people to fund terrorism abroad. Since 2012, the IRGC has spent more than $16 billion of Iran’s wealth to prop up the Assad regime and support militants and terrorists in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Meanwhile, the average Iranian family is 15 percent poorer today than it was 10 years ago, and nearly 30 percent of Iran’s youth are unemployed. Ordinary Iranians struggle economically and find it difficult to celebrate holidays like Nowruz.
Second, the IRGC’s corruption and mismanagement have exacerbated the effects of an on-going drought and created an ecological crisis. Unregulated dam construction by its companies like Khatam al-Anbia has dried rivers and lakes and helped create unprecedented dust storms that threaten Iranians’ jobs and lives.
Third, deceit has become official state policy. The IRGC employs propaganda and censorship to hide the fact that the Iranian regime plunders Iran’s wealth and abuses its people. To hide the truth, Iran’s rulers suppress their own citizens’ rights to free assembly, access to information, and equal opportunity.
Despite the oppression they face, Iranians are fighting to reclaim their rights. They long for a springtime of hope, and the United States stands with the Iranian people in their aspirations to connect to the wider world and have a responsible and accountable government that truly serves their nation’s interests.
For this reason, the Department of Treasury today is issuing guidance reaffirming America’s support for the free flow of information to the citizens of Iran. We also pledge to continue holding the IRGC and the Iranian regime accountable for conducting cyber-attacks abroad and for suppressing Iranian citizens who are protesting the oppression of their government at home.
On behalf of the American people, may light prevail over darkness in this New Year, and may the Iranian people soon enjoy a new day of peace, prosperity, and joy.
Maryam Namazie is an Iranian-born secularist and human rights activist, commentator and broadcaster. She is spokesperson for One Law for All, the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain and Fitnah. She hosts a weekly television program called "Bread and Roses."
She is on the International Advisory Board of the Raif Badawi Foundation for Freedom and Euromind; Humanist Laureate at the International Academy of Humanism; National Secular Society Honorary Associate; a member of the International Advisory Board of Feminist Dissent and a columnist for the Freethinker. Maryam and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain were featured in a 2016 film called "Islam's Non-Believers"; she was also a character in DV8 Physical Theatre's "Can We Talk About This?" which deals with freedom of speech, censorship and Islam.
The Islamic regime of Iran's media outlets have called Namazie "immoral and corrupt" and did an "exposé" on her entitled "Meet this anti-religion woman." In the past few years, she has been involved in nude protest in defense of women's rights in the Middle East and North Africa, initiated a Day to Stand with Bangladesh's Bloggers and Activists; an International Day to Defend Amina and the Nude Photo Revolutionary Calendar 2012-2013, founded Iran Solidarity, and helped launch the Manifesto for a Free and Secular Middle East and North Africa. She has spoken and written numerous articles on women's rights issues, free expression, Islamism, and secularism.
Previously, Namazie was the elected executive director of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees, a refugee-run organization with 60 branches in 15 countries worldwide for eight years; founded the Committee for Humanitarian Assistance to Iranian Refugees; and co-founded Human Rights Without Frontiers based in the Sudan, amongst others.
Monday, Mar. 19th 2018[, with Gerald Celente hosting the fourth hour]: Trump’s Twitter Diplomacy - In a series of tweets, President Trump reinforces there was no collusion between Russia and his campaign, but there was lying and corruption in the FBI, DOJ, and State Department. Also, Austin, Texas, is on edge after another bombing injured two people. This most recent device used a tripwire, making it more sophisticated than the previous incidents. Additionally, today’s special guests include geopolitical expert Michael Malice sharing his insight on the North Korean saga and other international happenings. Furthermore, Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne discusses the deep state initiative to "take out" Trump.
Ken Ham and his team have a bi-weekly "news" show, reacting to the news stories of the day from a Christian young-earth creation perspective from the Answers in Genesis staff at his Creation Museum.
Jon Perry and I join Ken Ham and Bodie Hodge as they discuss dinosaurs “too successful for their own good,” and more in this episode of Answers News hosted in front of a live audience at the Creation Museum.
On air, these propagandists play to Trump’s worst impulses, urging him to behave like an authoritarian by prosecuting his political foes and describing the Mueller probe as a “coup.” The ad hoc outside advisers from the president’s television screen include Hannity and Jeanine Pirro, who have led the pro-Trump media’s frequent calls for ending the Mueller investigation and “cleansing” the ranks of the Justice Department and FBI.
Here are some of the calls for the termination of the special counsel probe.
As we get more details on the fourth explosion in Austin, Texas, we are left with more questions than answers, as new details emerge on a possible trip wire being used, and the reward for information on the serial bomber has been increased to $115,000. Meanwhile, Trump is fighting back against the witch hunt against him that is the Mueller probe, and a group of liberals get a taste of reality on how gun control is a failed notion.
[from Alex Jones and his merry band of batshit bullshitters]
Your thoughts & prayers are USELESS. & I'm not for banning guns, I am pro responsible gun ownership, which includes having higher standards than any random (or "evil") dipshit.
Exposed: Trump digital firm caught on tape touting dirty tricks
The Beat with Ari Melber 3/19/18
Undercover camera catches an executive at the Trump digital firm, Cambridge Analytica, bragging about entrapping political rivals and using misinformation to win campaigns. Congressman Mike Quigley. a member of the House Intelligence Committee calls on Facebook to testify saying, “we need to ask Facebook…how did this happen?”
Tribe: Trump 'orchestrating a massive cover-up' worse than Nixon
The Beat with Ari Melber 3/19/18
Harvard impeachment expert Laurence Tribe says we are seeing a “slow-motion constitutional crisis” and calls the White House “cover-up more serious than that of Richard Nixon.” Tribe also explains why firing FBI official Andrew McCabe builds a “strong case for obstruction of justice.”
Stormy Daniels’ Lawyer Michael Avenatti joins Ari Melber revealing he hasn’t “received a single request” to appear on Fox News even after Trump revealed he is “David Dennison.” Avenatti also claims he has evidence to prove Trump knew about threats made against Stormy Daniels.
Russian President Vladmir Putin has been busy tightening his already strong grip on the country, which heads to the polls to vote for its next president on Sunday.
While the outcome of the election isn't really in doubt, Putin is ensuring that his influence extends well beyond the new six-year term he'll inevitably win. He's fired a record number of elected regional governors and replaced them with younger supporters that could stay in office even after he leaves.
Putin replaced a staggering 35 percent of the country's governors between 2016 and 2017. That's a big deal for modern Russia, which is a federation of 85 states, each with its own laws and customs, overseen by the regional governor. They appoint officials, control budgets, and even have the power to pardon criminals.
Are Police Courtesy Cards Really A Free Pass For Bad Behavior? (HBO)
Published on Mar 19, 2018 by VICE News
Last month, New York’s Police Officers union reportedly slashed the number of courtesy cards cops get. These so called “get out of jail free” cards sound like an urban myth, but they’re real, basically a fringe benefit for cops. But are they really a free pass for bad behavior?
Christopher Wylie: The Whistleblower Who Exposed Cambridge Analytica's Facebook Scam (HBO)
Published on Mar 19, 2018 by VICE News
LONDON — Christopher Wylie played a big role in building one of the most effective political weapons of the digital age. Now he’s trying to make amends.
The 28-year-old London-based Canadian is defying a non-disclosure agreement to blow the whistle on his former employer Cambridge Analytica, the controversial political analytics firm known for its work on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in the U.S. and Uhuru Kenyatta’s in Kenya. He says the U.K.-based company, which he helped found in 2013, has built a powerful software program to predict and influence the choices of voters by using data harvested from 50 million leaked Facebook profiles.
The data was collected by an app called thisisyourdigitallife, owned by the Cambridge-based academic Aleksandr Kogan, which was downloaded by about 270,000 people. Users were paid to take a personality test, which they were told would be used for academic research. They might not have known that it also harvested information on their Facebook friends, creating a vast data set that was ultimately sold by Kogan to Cambridge Analytica.
Facebook critics calling for regulation as stock falls
All In with Chris Hayes 3/19/18
Facebook stock plummeted on the news that the Trump campaign's big data company, Cambridge Analytica, allegedly harvested private information from more than 50 million Facebook users.
More than 3,100 school walkouts to protest gun violence were scheduled across the country, including elementary school students who had a press packet ready for reporters when they arrived.
Cynthia Nixon is the latest celebrity-turned-politico
All In with Chris Hayes 3/19/18
The Trump era has opened the floodgates for all sorts of personalities to run for office - and actress Cynthia Nixon is the latest to step into the fray with a run for governor of New York.
Digesting Felix Sater's conversation with Chris Hayes
All In with Chris Hayes 3/19/18
Jackie Speier, Natasha Bertrand, and James Henry join Chris Hayes to digest his conversation with one of the most fascinating figures in the Trump-Russia story, Felix Sater.
Cambridge Analytica scandal rocks already rattled Trump world
The Rachel Maddow Show 3/19/18
As Donald Trump's lawyers are desperately trying to protect him from a Robert Mueller interview and the top level firings keep piling up, Rachel Maddow looks at a whole new arena of scandal for the Trump team.
Democrats seek tech company probe as part of election protection
The Rachel Maddow Show 3/19/18
Senator Amy Klobuchar talks with Rachel Maddow about the need for tesimony and investigations into the abuse of American voters' personal information on social media sites vulnerable to unscrupulous bad actors.
Trump stirs obstruction case with attacks on Comey witnesses
The Rachel Maddow Show 3/19/18
Rachel Maddow reviews how Donald Trump has publicly targeted members of James Comey's inner circle who are likely corroborating witnesses to testimony Comey has given to Robert Mueller's investigation.
Trump corrupting Mueller probe by attacking witnesses, officials
The Rachel Maddow Show 3/19/18
Neal Katyal, former U.S. acting solicitor general, talks with Rachel Maddow about how out of line Donald Trump is with his attacks on law enforcement officials and witnesses in Robert Mueller's Trump Russia investigation.
Trump gets new lawyer as Mueller witness ugly past comes to light
The Rachel Maddow Show 3/19/18
Rachel Maddow shows where Donald Trump's new lawyer, Joe diGenova, intersects with the child porn problems of George Nader, a lobbyist who is reportedly cooperating with Robert Mueller's investigation, and wonders if the connection is why so much of Nader's past is becoming public now.
DC's Cherry Blossom Festival delayed for anti gun violence March
The Rachel Maddow Show 3/19/18
Rachel Maddow reports that the opening of Washington, D.C.'s famous Cheery Blossom Festival is being delayed a day to accommodate the expected crowds participating in the March For Our Lives protest for new laws to prevent gun violence.
Lawrence: Trump's staff is keeping tabs on their convos with him
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell 3/19/18
Trump doesn't realize it, but his staff is memorializing every conversation they have with him in the Oval Office, Lawrence O'Donnell says. It's the same step Andrew McCabe and James Comey took and will act as evidence of his efforts to possibly obstruct justice.
As the probe intensifies, Trump adds a new lawyer to his Russia team, Joe diGenova, who has a history of pushing conspiracies about the probe on right-wing media outlets. Lawrence O'Donnell discusses with Barbara McQuade, David Cay Johnston, and Michael Isikoff.
Trump lawyer's new interview about alleged Stormy Daniels threats
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell 3/19/18
In a new interview, Trump's attorney Michael Cohen responds to the alleged physical threats against Stormy Daniels. Lawrence O'Donnell reminds us of Cohen's long history of threatening people on behalf of Trump. David Cay Johnston and Kurt Andersen join.
Trump's legal team shake up and what it means for Mueller probe defense
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams 3/20/18
Late breaking reporting from the Washington Post and the New York Times on Donald Trump’s legal team moves, and what they might signal for the president’s legal strategy with special counsel Robert Mueller.
Despite West Wing chaos, Trump reportedly more comfortable in job
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams 3/20/18
President Trump is speaking out more and going with his gut on policy. Supporters say they’re finally getting the president they voted for, but what challenges do other Republicans face by association?
Former Andrew McCabe colleague criticizes Trump's attacks
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams 3/20/18
Former FBI Executive Assistant Director Robert Anderson, who’s known Andrew McCabe for two decades, weighs in on the president’s weekend Twitter tirade, and the damage to the bureau from Trump’s attacks on the FBI.
President Trump fires former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe days before his retirement in an alleged attempt to discredit the Mueller investigation.
Christiane Amanpour - An In-Depth Look at Passion and Intimacy on "Sex & Love Around the World"
Published on Mar 19, 2018 by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Christiane Amanpour chats about her CNN series "Sex & Love Around the World," which sheds light on how women across the globe are exploring and embracing their sexuality.
Tucker Carlson's Bad Take on Teen Activists & Trump's White House Purge | The Daily Show
Published on Mar 19, 2018 by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Fox News's Tucker Carlson lashes out at the students who participated in a walkout to protest gun violence, and President Trump goes on a wild and unpredictable firing spree.
[originally aired March 15, 2018; uploaded late/out of sequence]
Fox News pundit Laura Ingraham's concern for the offensive grammatical errors in activist David Hogg's anti-gun video prompts Jordan to give teens a grammar lesson.
Published on Mar 20, 2018 by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Want to know who won this weekend's presidential election in Russia? Click to find out! (This is a cliffhanger for the one internet user who doesn't understand Russia's politics.)
Facebook data - as scandalous as MPs’ expenses? The gathering storm over how millions of Facebook profiles were apparently exploited for political purposes raises all sorts of questions about how our data is used. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43458110
Roger McNamee: Users are recognizing Facebook is 'not the fun and games, innocent place they thought it was' The social media giant is coming off a rough weekend, after reports late Friday of a massive mishandling of data by conservative research firm Cambridge Analytica. The stock shed nearly 7 percent Monday. But the greater loss may be the trust of Facebook users, tech investor Roger McNamee told CNBC's "Squawk Alley." "There's been an increasing understanding that when you're using Facebook, a lot of bad things are going to happen to you, as a user," McNamee said. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/19/roger-mcnamee-facebook-is-losing-consumer-trust.html
Republican senator joins call for Facebook CEO to testify about data use - John Kennedy (La.) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Senator John Kennedy has joined his Democratic colleague Amy Klobuchar in calling on Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to testify before Congress following reports that a political consultancy gained inappropriate access to data on millions of Facebook users. In a joint letter, Kennedy and Klobuchar asked Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley to hold a hearing with Zuckerberg and the chief executives of Alphabet Inc’s Google and Twitter Inc, reflecting mounting bipartisan concern in Washington about how the companies share personal user data. “Facebook, Google, and Twitter have amassed unprecedented amounts of personal data and use this data when selling advertising, including political advertisements,” the senators wrote. “The lack of oversight on how data is stored and how political advertisements are sold raises concerns about the integrity of American elections as well as privacy rights.” The letter came after reports this weekend that Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy that worked on President Donald Trump’s campaign, gained inappropriate access to data on 50 million Facebook use. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-cambridge-analytica-congress/republican-senator-joins-call-for-facebook-ceo-to-testify-about-data-use-idUSKBN1GV1WR
Data leak 'another indication of systemic problems at Facebook' so sell the stock, analyst says Pivotal Research reaffirms its sell rating on Facebook shares, predicting more restrictions on consumer personal data use for advertising purposes. "Because regulators will apply more scrutiny on the use of data for targeting, it seems to us that there will be more scrutiny on Facebook products," analyst Brian Wieser writes. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/19/pivotal-research-data-leak-another-indication-of-systemic-problems-at-facebook.html
Exclusive: Scientist at center of Facebook-Cambridge Analytica controversy speaks The data scientist who gathered information on millions of Americans for Cambridge Analytica, the controversial data firm that worked for Donald Trump's presidential campaign, says he would be happy to testify before Congress and speak to the FBI about the work he did for the company. Aleksandr Kogan made the remarks in an email he sent to colleagues at Cambridge University this weekend that was obtained by CNN. http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/19/technology/cambridge-analytica-scientist-aleksandr-kogan/index.html
Cambridge Analytica whistleblower says company worked with Corey Lewandowski, Steve Bannon In a live interview with TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie, Christopher Wylie, a former employee of British company Cambridge Analytica, says the company misused personal Facebook data of some 50 million people to help influence the 2016 presidential election. Wylie says the company met with former Trump campaign manager (and current outside adviser) Corey Lewandowski, former chief strategist Steve Bannon as well as Russian oil companies. https://www.today.com/video/cambridge-analytica-whistleblower-says-the-company-worked-with-trump-campaign-strategist-and-steve-bannon-1189326915651
The Fake News is beside themselves that McCabe was caught, called out and fired. How many hundreds of thousands of dollars was given to wife’s campaign by Crooked H friend, Terry M, who was also under investigation? How many lies? How many leaks? Comey knew it all, and much more! https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/975062797162811394
The Mueller probe should never have been started in that there was no collusion and there was no crime. It was based on fraudulent activities and a Fake Dossier paid for by Crooked Hillary and the DNC, and improperly used in FISA COURT for surveillance of my campaign. WITCH HUNT! https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/975163071361683456
Trump to Hire Lawyer Who Has Pushed Theory That Justice Dept. Framed the President MANCHESTER, N.H. — President Trump has decided to hire the longtime Washington lawyer Joseph E. diGenova, who has pushed the theory on television that Mr. Trump was framed by F.B.I. and Justice Department officials, to bolster his legal team, according to three people told of the decision. Mr. diGenova is not expected to take a lead role but will instead serve as a more aggressive player on the president’s legal team. Mr. Trump broke over the weekend from the longstanding advice of some of his lawyers that he refrain from directly attacking the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, a sign of his growing unease with the investigation. The hire has not been announced, and Mr. Trump frequently changes his mind and sometimes adjusts his plans based on media coverage. It was not clear whether Mr. Trump planned to hire other lawyers. Mr. diGenova has endorsed the notion that a secretive group of F.B.I. agents concocted the Russia investigation as a way to keep Mr. Trump from becoming president. “There was a brazen plot to illegally exonerate Hillary Clinton and, if she didn’t win the election, to then frame Donald Trump with a falsely created crime,” he said on Fox News in January. He added, “Make no mistake about it: A group of F.B.I. and D.O.J. people were trying to frame Donald Trump of a falsely created crime.” Little evidence has emerged to support that theory. Mr. Trump’s legal team has been in tumult in recent weeks. On Saturday, Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, John Dowd, called on the Justice Department to end the special counsel investigation. Mr. Dowd said at the time that he was speaking for the president but later backtracked. According to two people briefed on the matter, he was in fact acting at the president’s urging to call for an end to the inquiry. Earlier this month, Mr. Trump did not tell his lawyers that he was in discussions with another Washington lawyer, Emmet T. Flood, about representing him. Mr. Flood represented former President Bill Clinton during his impeachment proceedings. Mr. diGenova did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mr. diGenova is law partners with his wife, Victoria Toensing. Ms. Toensing has also represented Sam Clovis, the former Trump campaign co-chairman, and Erik Prince, the founder of the security contractor Blackwater and an informal adviser to Mr. Trump. Mr. Prince attended a meeting in January 2017 with a Russian investor in the Seychelles that the special counsel is investigating. Mr. diGenova has worked in Washington legal circles for decades. He is a former Republican-appointed United States attorney for the District of Columbia. And he has served as an independent counsel in government waste, fraud and abuse investigations, notably a three-year criminal inquiry into whether officials in the George H.W. Bush administration broke any laws in their search for damaging information about then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton. In 1995, Mr. diGenova declared the investigation he led was “unnecessary.” And, he said, “a Kafkaesque journey for a group of innocent Americans comes to an end.” https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/us/politics/joseph-digenova-trump-lawyer.html
The problem with hindsight Over the weekend,President Donald Trump’s long-simmering feud with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election caught fire and this destructive blaze appears far from contained. Whether these flames die out or continue to consume Washington remains uncertain. And while much will depend on Mueller's progress and Trump's tolerance, for the foreseeable future, our politics will involve a fight over perception and plausible arguments. Both skeptics and believers will assert their theories about Trump's relationship with Russia, hoping they can persuade public opinion in advance of the 2018 midterm elections. For partisans, majority control of the Congress and future governing authority are what's at stake in this battle for perception. And since the majority of the public believes Mueller will conduct a fair investigation (61 percent), Republicans will wage this fight going uphill. In addition to the partisan broadsides, another debate has ensued among journalists, scholars and lawyers about whether or not Trump and his campaign engaged in a conspiracy, or actively colluded with Russian operatives before or after the presidential election. The stakes here are more about "getting it right, first," so as to burnish one's reputation as a political analyst or insightful observer. But there's a glaring problem with most of what has been written and said, whether by partisans or pundits, and it is this: Trump wasn't supposed to win the presidency. In other words, nearly all of the analyses that have been articulated have been bedeviled by the assumption that Trump and his team believed that Trump would become the president. We know this is not true. No one thought Trump would win — not even Trump. According to the book written by Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie, on election night, Trump said: "Dave, can you believe this? We just started this to have some fun." Let me repeat, Trump said: "to have some fun." He did not say: "to win." Trump likely also thought that running for president would be "fun" because a presidential campaign would provide him with the biggest platform he could imagine to enhance his celebrity and increase the value of his personal brand. And with these greatly improved assets, he would be able to make more money — after he lost. In essence, for Trump to maximize his future development opportunities and revive his business (and perhaps, even solve son-in-law Jared Kushner's serious debt problem on 666 Park Ave.), he needed to win the Republican nomination and lose the general election. Then, he'd own 2017. The glitch in this plan was that Trump won. That inconvenient and unintended outcome of his campaign appears to have transformed Trump's business development strategy (i.e., make foreign friends, build a hotel in Moscow, and cultivate investor relationships to repay debt in New York) into a possible illegal conspiracy with an unfriendly foreign power. Considering this from another angle, had Trump lost the presidency, does one believe that either he or his campaign would be receiving such scrutiny? No. But the answer is "no" not because partisans want to delegitimize his win (as he seems to believe) or because the "deep state" and "the elites" are repulsed by all he stands for (even if they are). The answer is "no" because if he had lost, he wouldn't have the enormous power of the presidency at his disposal. If he had lost, he would not be in a position to compromise the country's interests to a hostile foreign power. If he had lost, he would have been merely a famous loser. In our upside down world, where social media friends and name identification are valued as real assets and connote one's net worth, famous losers can make far more money than discreet winners. And while Trump’s team (namely, Paul Manafort and Rick Gates) may have found themselves in some legal trouble for campaign finance violations for receiving foreign donations, it is much more likely that had Trump lost, there would be a Justice Department investigation of President Hillary Clinton's role with the Clinton Foundation rather than one of Trump. This doesn't have to do with which politician did the worse thing, it has to do with who now has the power to do harm to the United States of America. At the moment, that individual is Trump, and not Clinton. Had Trump lost, it would be different. The other problem is that cover-ups to put past behavior into a less embarrassing light tend to look like conspiracies in hindsight. More often than not, the truth is simpler: people make bad decisions, and when they realize their bad decision will become public, they try to cover it up with new actions that will alter people’s perceptions. Typically, these cover-ups make things worse, not better, and people get caught — not necessarily for the bad decision or mistake they made, but for not admitting their error or wrongdoing, and trying to cover it up. Viewed through this lens, when Trump’s activities and decisions during the campaign — from not investing any real money in his campaign infrastructure to hiring Manafort in March 2016 when it looked like he might lose the nomination to Sen. Ted Cruz, to the several meetings his campaign advisors had with influential Russians — it seems clear that Trump was attempting to execute an ill-considered business development strategy, not trying to win the presidency. In short, he failed by winning. Now, just because Trump likely was coordinating with Russia for business and not politics, doesn't mean that he should get away with unscrupulous behavior. At this point, Mueller seems highly likely to catch him and his staff for having engaged in a cover-up (e.g., obstruction of justice, perjury, destruction of evidence, etc.). Still with respect to engaging in a treasonous conspiracy with Russia to subvert American democracy, it's probably best to remember what Eric Trump said about his father's nature: "My father sees only one color — green." Lara M. Brown is director of the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University. Follow her on Twitter @LaraMBrownPhD. http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/379084-the-problem-with-hindsight
Should Pro-Life Clinics Have to Post Information About Abortion? The Supreme Court will consider the rights of crisis pregnancy centers, which help women “imagine what the choice of life would be like.” Abortion is back in the Supreme Court this week. On Tuesday, the justices will hear a case on crisis pregnancy centers, the facilities established by pro-life organizations around the country to counsel women against abortion. In 2015, California passed the Reproductive FACT Act, requiring licensed clinics that provide certain services—including ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, and advice on birth control—to post information about affordable abortion and contraception services offered by the state. Unlicensed facilities that provide these services have to disclose their lack of medical certification. A network of crisis pregnancy centers, including the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), sued in response, arguing that the government is violating their right to free speech by forcing them to promote abortion. On a technical level, NIFLA v. Becerra is about the kind of speech the government is allowed to regulate. States can’t force citizens into making statements in support of a specific political position or candidate; compelling speech in that manner would violate the First Amendment. But states can regulate other kinds of speech, such as making sure doctors disclose important information before operating on a patient. Crisis pregnancy centers, known as CPCs, fall somewhere in the murky middle of the two categories. The justices must decide where, exactly, CPCs fit. [...] https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/03/nifla-becerra-crisis-pregnancy-centers-supreme-court/555887/
An Inside Look at Juvenile Detention ( https://youtu.be/-aq4sNlFdwk [since gone dark]) As recently as 2005, the state of Virginia had eight centers like Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Facility, housing more than 1,300 delinquent youth. But by 2017, after a series of reforms, that number had shrunk to one. “It's not that you can't do good work here,” said Andy Block, who, since 2014, has served as the juvenile-justice department’s director. “But the place itself and the design and the size and the location are barriers to doing good work.” Block and others are working to close Bon Air and replace it with something that reflects the juvenile justice reforms that have taken hold in Virginia and across the country—a system that once focused on confinement is now dedicated to rehabilitation. In recent years, more than 70 percent of Virginia's juvenile inmates were rearrested within three years of their release.* This documentary explores life inside Bon Air and the challenges facing reform efforts in Virginia. It is part of a larger reporting project on juvenile justice reform. Read more here [ https://www.theatlantic.com/projects/juvenile-justice/ ] and watch the VR series: Life Inside Maximum-Security Juvenile Detention
Russia election: Putin ready for 'constructive' dialogue Vladimir Putin has said he is open to "constructive" dialogue with other states after being re-elected president of Russia with an increased majority. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43461719
Pro-Bernie Sanders group cancels Hillary Clinton protest WASHINGTON - A pro-Bernie Sanders group has canceled an anti-Hillary Clinton protest, its organizer told NBC News on Monday. The event, created by the leader of a local chapter of Our Revolution, prompted backlash from Clinton allies, leading Sanders' top adviser to condemn it and disassociate his boss from the group, which grew out of Sanders presidential campaign. The episode shows that, two years later, Democrats still can’t quite shake the ghost of 2016 and the hard-fought presidential primary between Clinton and Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont. And it's another demonstration of the challenges Sanders faces in leading a movement that acts in his name but is often beyond his control — even as he reportedly prepares for a second presidential bid in 2020. Ellen Faden said she had no idea her protest would cause such an uproar. The founder of the Hazlet, New Jersey, chapter of Our Revolution objected to the fact that Rutgers University is paying Clinton $25,000 for an upcoming speech, so she thought she'd use the event to make a point about money in politics. Faden had organized a similar demonstration outside a Bill Clinton event in California, where she used to live, that drew little attention and attracted only about a dozen participants. So she expected similarly low turnout when she posted an event listing on Our Revolution's website inviting people to protest Clinton's Rutgers speech on March 29. “When I put it up, nothing happened for about a week or more. And then all of a sudden, I got one comment, and then it was like hundreds of comments," Faden said. “It did absolutely touch a sore spot with us, with Democrats, because I do consider myself a Democrat." Over the weekend, the event caught fire on Twitter among Clinton and Sanders supporters, who still regularly duke it out on social media. To Clinton allies, like her former spokesperson, Philippe Reines, who played Donald Trump in her debate prep sessions, it was evidence that Sanders and his supporters are obsessed with tearing Clinton down and dividing the party, even when it seems to play right into Trump's hands. "Bernie & donald sitting in a tree, o b s e s s i n g. Both pro-Russia. Both pro-guns. Both pro-faking party affiliation. Both pro-whining “Rigged!” Both pro-forgetting they lost by 6,576,985 votes. Both anti-HRC. Both on a 3rd party ticket: Trump-Sanders 2016 & 2020 https://twitter.com/hoarsewisperer/status/975518815114219520 " [ https://twitter.com/PhilippeReines/status/975558013288374272 ] "Our Revolution: Democrats need to stop being divisive! Also Our Revolution: Join us as we disrupt Hillary’s campus speech! These people are toxic AF." [ https://twitter.com/hoarsewisperer/status/975518815114219520 ] Democrats of all stripes called on Our Revolution to remove the event from the group's national website, saying progressives should be focused on fighting Republicans, not each other. The event listing remained online, but a disclaimer was appended reading: “Events are created by local grass-roots organizers and are not necessarily endorsed by Our Revolution National." In the past, Clinton has donated honorariums from public universities to charity, including the Clinton Foundation. A spokesperson for Clinton confirmed Monday that she will donate the honorarium for the Rutgers speech, as well. Late Sunday night, Sanders’ former campaign manager and current senior adviser, Jeff Weaver, entered the fray to make it clear that Sanders himself did not condone the event. “Our Revolution and Senator Sanders operate independently. Our Revolution has autonomous chapters all across the country," Weaver said in a statement. "That being said, this is no time to be protesting Hillary Clinton or any Democrat." On Monday morning, Our Revolution’s high command called Faden, who then told NBC News she would cancel the event and was working to remove it from the website and Facebook. "I’m still going to go myself, just as a private citizen, but with nothing whatsoever to do with Our Revolution," she said. "I don’t want to jeopardize anything with Our Revolution. I really didn’t expect this to happen." In a statement, Our Revolution President Nina Turner said the organization did not endorse the event, but that the decision to cancel it did not come from on high. "The Rutgers protest of Secretary Clinton was created by one local group, not an event endorsed by the national organization or myself," Turner said. "With almost 600 local groups, Our Revolution encourages a wide range of opinions and respects everyone's right to peaceful protest. This group has decided, on their own, to cancel this event. We are open to working with individuals and groups who believe in the founding principals of our Revolution." It’s not the first time Sanders has had to publicly distance himself from his own group. Our Revolution, which shares its name with Sanders’ book, spun directly out of his presidential campaign. Weaver initially helmed the organization before turning it over to Turner, a former Ohio state senator, and other Sanders surrogates. But campaign finance rules prohibit Sanders from exerting much influence over the group, which prides itself on bottom-up decision-making driven by grass-roots activists, who often chafe at pressure from above. Both Sanders and Our Revolution benefit from their perceived association, so neither is exactly keen to advertise their independence. But the status has created awkward situations where Sanders and Our Revolution have diverged. For instance, last month, Sanders was compelled to put out a statement breaking from Our Revolution after they endorsed former congressman Dennis Kucinich in the Ohio governor's race. "Our Revolution is doing a great job, but I am not involved with it, and it would be illegal for me to be involved. Let me be very clear: Bernie Sanders will make endorsements, and Our Revolution will make endorsements," Sanders said. "I’ve known Dennis Kucinich forever. I consider him a friend. But I am not making an endorsement there." It’s a similar situation to the one his fellow Vermonter, Howard Dean, found himself him in when the group that grew out of his 2004 presidential campaign, Democracy for America, endorsed Sanders while Dean himself backed Clinton. But as the 2018 midterms heat up, tensions may only become more apparent as Our Revolution and Sanders make more endorsements in competitive Democratic primaries across the country. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/democrats-vs-trump/pro-bernie-sanders-group-cancels-anti-hillary-clinton-protest-n857926
Saudi Arabia's heir to the throne talks to 60 Minutes In his first interview with an American television network, Mohammed bin Salman shared his thoughts on Iran, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, his country’s troubled past and its hopeful future https://www.cbsnews.com/news/saudi-crown-prince-talks-to-60-minutes/
Jim Carrey painted a picture of Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Her father doesn’t like it. Comedians often land in hot water because of their jokes, but for Jim Carrey, it’s his hobby that has earned him criticism. Over the weekend, the “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” actor tweeted [ https://twitter.com/JimCarrey/status/975123558803259392 ] an image of one of his paintings — this one an unflattering close-up portrait of a scowling woman who is believed to be White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders — and captioned it thusly: “This is the portrait of a so-called Christian whose only purpose in life is to lie for the wicked. Monstrous!” Reaction was swift — and harsh. Among those who slammed the painting was former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, Sanders’s father. On Monday morning, he tweeted a link to a “Fox and Friends” story about the painting and added his own commentary. “Pathetic BULLY, sexist, hater, bigot & ‘Christaphobe’ @jimcarrey attacks @PressSec for her faith; what would be hypocritical Hollywood reaction if he called someone a ‘so-called Muslim’ or ‘so-called Jew?’ #classlessCarrey,” Huckabee wrote [ https://twitter.com/GovMikeHuckabee/status/975705224479461376 ]. [...] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2018/03/19/jim-carrey-painted-a-picture-of-sarah-huckabee-sanders-her-father-doesnt-like-it/
Lawmaker sorry for spreading anti-Semitic weather conspiracy - D.C. Councilman Trayon White Sr - black Democrat A local lawmaker in Washington, DC, has apologised for sharing a video based on a conspiracy theory that Jewish financiers control the weather. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43460263
Cynthia Nixon Announces Run For New York Governor Nixon will be running against incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the state primary. Tony-award winning actress Cynthia Nixon announced on Monday through an ad on her Twitter account that she is running for New York state governor. Nixon, known for her role on HBO’s “Sex and the City,” will be running as a Democrat against incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) in the state’s primary election, set for September. The actress is a newcomer to campaigning, but has been involved in politics, especially education policy, for years. “We want our government to work again, on healthcare, ending mass incarceration, fixing our broken subway. We are sick of politicians who care more about headlines and power than they do about us,” Nixon said in her announcement. [...] https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cynthia-nixon-runs-new-york-governor_us_5a9ef285e4b0d4f5b66b1987
Hannibal Buress’ Mic Cut After Joking About Catholic Sex Abuse Jesuit-run Loyola University Chicago had warned the comedian he couldn’t make jokes “regarding rape, sexual assault, race and sexual orientation.” Comedian Hannibal Buress’ microphone reportedly was cut off during a weekend stand-up routine at Loyola University Chicago as he joked about the Catholic church’s history of child molestation and sex abuse. Buress opened his set at the Jesuit-run school’s Colossus event on Saturday by showing images of an email from the university detailing performance restrictions, according to the Loyola Phoenix, the school newspaper. The edict included a ban “on any content regarding rape, sexual assault, race and sexual orientation.” [...] https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hannibal-buress-mic-cut-after-joking-about-catholic-sex-abuse_us_5aafcc45e4b00549ac7d8185
The CEO of Cambridge Analytica was secretly filmed offering to entrap politicians with bribes and sex workers Channel 4 News secretly filmed Cambridge Analytica (CA) CEO Alexander Nix offering to entrap politicians with bribes and sex workers. The bombshell investigation also shows CA admitting to discreetly seeding compromising videos of politicians on the internet and helping them go viral. CA entirely refutes any allegation that it uses entrapment tactics. It comes just days after the company was suspended by Facebook over a huge data scandal. http://www.businessinsider.com/cambridge-analytica-secretly-filmed-by-channel-4-saying-it-can-entrap-politicians-2018-3
A 'huge clue' may reveal that Mueller's endgame is to nail Trump for obstruction The special counsel Robert Mueller is reportedly more interested in the activities of Donald Trump during his time as president than during his campaign activities. It suggests he's building a case that Trump obstructed justice by firing FBI Director James Comey. Trump went on a Twitter tirade against the FBI over the weekend after reports that Mueller had subpoenaed the Trump Organization for documents related to its efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Comey and Andrew McCabe, another recently fired top FBI official, kept detailed memos about their conversations with Trump and will most likely be critical witnesses in the obstruction investigation. http://www.businessinsider.com/huge-clue-may-reveal-muellers-endgameto-nail-trump-for-obsturction-fbi-2018-3
Stem cell transplant 'game changer' for MS patients Doctors say a stem cell transplant could be a "game changer" for many patients with multiple sclerosis. http://www.bbc.com/news/health-43435868
NASA plans giant spacecraft to defend Earth by nuking deadly asteroids Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists are part of a national planetary defense team that designed a conceptual spacecraft to deflect Earth-bound asteroids and evaluated whether it would be able to nudge a massive asteroid - which has a remote chance to hitting Earth in 2135 - off course. The design and case study are outlined in a paper published recently in Acta Astronautica (link is external). The 9-meter-tall, 8.8-ton spacecraft - dubbed HAMMER (Hypervelocity Asteroid Mitigation Mission for Emergency Response vehicle) - features a modular design that would enable it to serve as either a kinetic impactor, essentially a battering ram, or as a transport vehicle for a nuclear device. Its possible mission: deflect 101955 Bennu, a massive asteroid around 500 meters (more than five football fields) in diameter, weighing around 79 billion kilograms (1,664 times as heavy as the Titanic), circling the sun at around 63,000 miles per hour. Based on observation data available, Bennu has a 1 in 2,700-chance of striking Earth on Sept. 25, 2135, and it is estimated that the kinetic energy of this impact would be equivalent to 1,200 megatons (80,000 times the energy of the Hiroshima bomb). "The chance of an impact appears slim now, but the consequences would be dire," said Kirsten Howley, LLNL physicist and coauthor on the paper. "This study aims to help us shorten the response timeline when we do see a clear and present danger so we can have more options to deflect it. The ultimate goal is to be ready to protect life on Earth." The effort is part of a national planetary defense collaboration between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (link is external)(NASA) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (link is external) (NNSA), which includes LLNL and Los Alamos National Laboratory. (link is external)(LANL). Of the three prongs of planetary defense, NASA is responsible for the first, detecting asteroids with enough time to mitigate the risk. The LLNL planetary defense team is the technical lead on the second prong, mitigation of the threat. The LLNL team also supports the third prong, emergency response should mitigation fail. The preferred approach to mitigating an asteroid threat would be to deflect it by ramming a kinetic impactor into it, delivering a gentle nudge large enough and soon enough to slow it down and change its collision course with Earth, but not so large that the object breaks apart. This study helped quantify the threshold where a kinetic impactor would no longer be an effective deflection option. To evaluate this threshold, researchers focused on determining how many HAMMER impactors it would take to deflect Bennu. "The push you need to give it is very small if you deflect the asteroid 50 years out," Howley said. "But that far out, you're likely to think the percentage of being hit would be 1 percent. The probability of a Bennu impact may be 1 in 2,700 today, but that will almost certainly change - for better or worse - as we gather more data about its orbit. Delay is the greatest enemy of any asteroid deflection mission. That's why there's urgency in getting viable deflection platforms on the shelf today." If the decision was made to embark on a mission to deflect Bennu, researchers estimate that it would take a minimum of 7.4 years before an impulse could be delivered to the Earth-bound object. This includes the time it would take to build the spacecraft, plan the mission and travel to the object. Assuming the impactor successfully hits the asteroid, slowing it down slightly, it would take many years for the small change in speed to accumulate into a sufficient change in trajectory. The researchers evaluated a number of deflection scenarios in this study, ranging from launching 10 years before impact to 25 years before. In the 10-year scenarios, it was determined that it could take between 34 and 53 launches of the Delta IV Heavy rocket, each carrying a single HAMMER impactor, to make a Bennu-class asteroid miss the Earth. If there were a 25-year lead time, that number could be reduced to seven to 11 launches. The exact number would depend on the desired Earth-miss-distance and the impact conditions at the asteroid. "When many launches are required for a successful deflection, the mission success becomes more difficult, due to the failure rate associated with each individual launch," said Megan Bruck Syal, LLNL physicist and coauthor on the paper. "If we only had 10 years from launch, we would need to hit Bennu with hundreds of tons of HAMMER mass just to barely deflect it off of an Earth-impacting path, requiring dozens of successful launches and impact at the asteroid." Just how large an asteroid could a single impactor deflect? Researchers determined that a single HAMMER impactor could deflect an object 90 meters in diameter by around 1.4 Earth radii with 10 years of lead time - from the time of launch to anticipated Earth impact. If they needed less of a deflection, around a quarter of an Earth radii, a single impactor could be effective on an object as large as 152 meters in diameter in this same scenario. The paper concluded that using a single HAMMER spacecraft as a battering ram would prove inadequate for deflecting an object like Bennu. While recent simulations of nuclear deflection scenarios are not included in this paper - they will be included in a companion paper to be submitted for publication in the near future - the findings suggest that the nuclear option may be required with larger objects like Bennu. The nuclear approach carries the potential to deposit much more energy into an object like Bennu, causing a greater change in speed and trajectory. Unlike popular portrayals of a nuclear deflection mission - like the movie "Armageddon" - the nuclear deflection approach would consist of detonating a nuclear explosive some distance from the asteroid. This would flood one side of the asteroid with X-rays, vaporizing a layer of the surface, which would create rocket-like propulsion as vaporized material is ejected from the object. Unlike a kinetic impactor, the amount of energy deposited into an asteroid with a nuclear device could be tuned by adjusting how far it is from the asteroid when detonated. Because Bennu regularly passes close enough to Earth for radar observations, researchers are able to estimate its orbit with enough accuracy to give a few decades warning, if it's bound to impact the Earth. This near-Earth Bennu fly-by happens every six years. But for other objects that do not regularly pass close enough to Earth for radar observations, much more uncertainty exists. If limited to telescopic observations, it's possible that researchers may not be 100 percent certain of an impact until less than a year before collision. In a scenario where there is too little time to mount an effective deflection mission, the last option may be robust disruption via nuclear explosive, though the window of opportunity would be very tight. A robust disruption scenario would envision breaking the asteroid into a number of smaller pieces. "Successful disruption requires ensuring that the asteroid pieces are sufficiently small and well-dispersed, so that they pose a much-reduced threat to the Earth," Syal said. "Disruption carried out as late as tens of days before impact can still be very effective in reducing the total damage felt by Earth. Previous work by our research group has shown that the impacting debris is reduced to less than 1 percent of its initial mass by disrupting the asteroid, even at these late times." Bennu is one of more than 10,000 near-Earth objects found by NASA so far, and scientists estimate that this is just a fraction of the objects that come with about 28 million miles of Earth, close enough to where impact with Earth can't be precluded due to the uncertainty in the object's path The good news is that most of these objects are much smaller than Bennu. NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies lists just more than 2,500 near Earth objects discovered that are potentially as large as Bennu. This research is the first of three case studies to be published, each examining different mitigation scenarios. The following case studies examine deflection of Didymos B, the target of NASA's DART mission, and a scaled-down Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, which was visited by the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission in 2014 to 2016. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_plans_giant_spacecraft_to_defend_Earth_by_nuking_deadly_asteroids_999.html
Stephen Hawking's 'breathtaking' final multiverse theory completed two weeks before he died A final theory explaining how mankind might detect parallel universes was completed by Stephen Hawking shortly before he died, it has emerged. Colleagues have revealed the renowned theoretical physicist’s final academic work was to set out the groundbreaking mathematics needed for a spacecraft to find traces of multiple big bangs. Currently being reviewed by a leading scientific journal, the paper, named A Smooth Exit from Eternal Inflation, may turn out to be Hawking’s most important scientific legacy. Fellow researchers have said that if the evidence which the new theory promises had been discovered before Hawking died last week, it may have secured the Nobel Prize which had eluded him for so long. The new paper seeks to resolve an issue thrown up by Hawking’s 1983 “no-boundary” theory which described how the universe burst into existence with the big bang. According to that account, the universe instantaneously expanded from a tiny point into a prototype of what we live in today, a process known as inflation. But the theory also predicted an infinite number of big bangs, each creating their own universe, a “multiverse”, which presented a mathematical paradox because it is seemingly impossible to measure. Carlos Frenk, professor of cosmology at Durham University, told The Sunday Times: The intriguing idea in Hawking’s paper is that [the multiverse] left its imprint on the background radiation permeating our universe and we could measure it with a detector on a spaceship. “These ideas offer the breathtaking prospect of finding evidence for the existence of other universe.” Professor Thomas Hertog, from KU Leuven University in Belgium, worked with Hawking on the new theory and said he met the Cambridge scientist two weeks ago to discuss its final approval. “This was Stephen: to boldly go where Star Trek fears to tread,” he said. “He has often been nominated for the Nobel and should have won it. Now he never can.” Despite the hopeful promise of Hawking’s final work, it also comes with the depressing prediction that, ultimately, the universe will fade into blackness as stars simply run out of energy. [...] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/03/18/stephen-hawking-leaves-behind-breathtaking-final-multiverse/
Stephen Hawking submitted a final scientific paper 2 weeks before he died — and it could lead to the discovery of a parallel universe Hawking is named as co-author on a paper submitted on March 4 — ten days before he died. It sets out a way of testing whether other universes are real. Its mathematical theories could be tested with a deep-space probe. http://www.thisisinsider.com/stephen-hawking-paper-from-just-before-he-died-could-find-new-universe-2018-3
Two weeks before his death, Stephen Hawking predicted 'the end of the universe' The world-famous physicist, who died last Wednesday aged 76, was a co-author to a mathematical paper in which he sought to prove the so-called "multiverse" theory, according to a report by U.K. newspaper The Sunday Times. Hawking's final work — titled "A Smooth Exit From Eternal Inflation" — is being reviewed by a leading scientific journal. In it, he predicted how our universe would eventually fade to darkness as the stars run out of energy. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/19/stephen-hawking-physicist-predicted-end-of-the-universe-two-weeks-before-his-death.html
Simpsons cartoon tribute to Prof Stephen Hawking The creators of US cartoon series The Simpsons have paid tribute to Professor Stephen Hawking, who appeared several times in the show. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-43456626
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