Kushner-backed health care project gets ‘devastating’ review
"Media Giant Sinclair, Under Fire for Forcing Anchors to Read Trumpian Screed, Is Rapidly Expanding"
The VA contract, originally pushed by Jared Kushner (pictured), has recently been delayed by concerns expressed by close friends of the president. | Al Drago-Pool/Getty Images
The Pentagon report could delay the VA’s plans to install the multibillion-dollar software project begun under Obama.
By ARTHUR ALLEN
05/11/2018 04:54 PM EDT
Updated 05/11/2018 07:13 PM EDT
The first stage of a multibillion-dollar military-VA digital health program championed by Jared Kushner has been riddled with problems so severe they could have led to patient deaths, according to a report obtained by POLITICO.
[...]
A White House spokesman noted Friday afternoon that Kushner had no involvement with DOD’s contract with Cerner. He did advise VA officials last year to contract with Cerner because the military was already using the vendor, and he argued the creation of a seamless, unified system would allow records to be shared between military and VA treatment centers.
"He still believes that the decision to move the VA to Cerner was the right one," the spokesman said, but noted that Kushner has advocated for “moving slowly, methodically and properly” with the VA contract to avoid the problems experienced by the military hospitals.
[...]
“You’ll continue to hear that they just made significant updates to the system, and that no one is saying to pull the plug on the program,” said the tester, who said he would be fired if his identity were released. “If DoD members, including all the healthcare professionals at those sites were actually able to freely speak, you would hear most of them calling for something else.”
Schools across Oklahoma are closed today for a third day as teachers continue their strike demanding more funding for education and increased pay. Oklahoma’s public education budget has been slashed more than any other state since the start of the recession in 2008, and its teachers are among the lowest paid in the nation. Scores of teachers are planning to begin a 123-mile protest march today from Tulsa to Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, thousands of teachers continue to protest in Kentucky, demanding a reversal to a provision in a recently passed bill about sewage treatment that gutted their pension benefits. On Monday, every school in the state was closed either due to spring break or in anticipation of a massive rally in the capital of Frankfort, where teachers filled the rotunda of the Kentucky state Capitol, chanting “Fund our schools!” This year’s wave of teacher rebellions began in West Virginia, where teachers won a 5 percent pay raise after a historic strike. We speak to four guests: Oklahoma teacher Andrea Thomas, Kentucky state lawmaker Attica Scott, retired Kentucky teacher Mikey McCoy and labor journalist Mike Elk. https://www.democracynow.org/2018/4/4/teachers_in_revolt_meet_the_educators[with embedded video, and transcript]
MLK’s Fight Against Racism, Militarism & Capitalism: Historian Taylor Branch on King’s Final Years
Published on Apr 4, 2018 by Democracy Now!
It was 50 years ago today when Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. He was just 39 years old. We turn now to a conversation Democracy Now! recently had with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Taylor Branch and writer Trey Ellis, who both worked on the new HBO documentary “King in the Wilderness,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The film recalls the last three years of King’s life, beginning after President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Despite passage of the monumental legislation, King set his eyes on new battles by launching a Poor People’s Campaign and campaigning to stop the Vietnam War. King’s decision to publicly oppose the war isolated him from many of his closest supporters. https://www.democracynow.org/2018/4/4/mlks_fight_against_racism_militarism_capitalism[with embedded video, and transcript]
King In The Wilderness Official Trailer (2018) | HBO
President Donald J. Trump Proclaims the 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Issued on: April 4, 2018
Fifty years ago today, on April 4, 1968, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was tragically assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Though he was taken from this earth unjustly, he left us with his legacy of justice and peace. In remembrance of his profound and inspirational virtues, we look to do as Dr. King did while this world was privileged enough to still have him. We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters lest we perish together as fools. We must embrace the sanctity of life and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. As a united people, we must see Dr. King’s life mission through and denounce racism, inhumanity, and all those things that seek to divide us.
It is not government that will achieve Dr. King’s ideals, but rather the people of this great country who will see to it that our Nation represents all that is good and true, and embodies unity, peace, and justice. We must actively aspire to secure the dream of living together as one people with a common purpose. President Abraham Lincoln sought to eradicate the senseless divisions of racial hierarchies when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Just over 100 years later, Dr. King continued this effort and called upon Americans to reject ugly impulses and prejudices, and to recognize the beauty and the humanity of all people, regardless of the color of their skin. Today, we remain steadfast in advancing their efforts, in hopes of hastening the day when all of God’s children will join hands in freedom forever.
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 April 4, 2018, to be a day to honor Dr. King’s legacy. I urge all Americans to do their part to make Dr. King’s dreams of peace, unity, and justice a reality.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of April, 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.
President Donald J. Trump Signs H.R. 4851 into Law
Issued on: April 4, 2018
On Wednesday, April 4, 2018, the President signed into law:
H.R. 4851, the “Kennedy-King National Commemorative Site Act,” which designates the Landmark for Peace Memorial, in Indianapolis, Indiana, as the Kennedy-King National Commemorative Site.
The “trade war” media & Wall Street talk about is not new — it’s been happening against us for over 40 years. As Trump takes measures against China for their theft of intellectual property & copyrights, China & its globalist allies in this country fight back. Then, Darrin McBreen joins David Knight to look at the bold, constitutional (and required) moves by Trump to protect the US border. And, YouTube attacked by radical, foreign, female vegan but the usual shills attack our liberty.
[from Alex Jones and his merry band of batshit bullshitters]
President Donald J. Trump Signs H.R. 3731, S. 2030, and S. 2040 into Law
Issued on: April 4, 2018
On Tuesday, April 3, 2018, the President signed into law:
H.R. 3731, the “Secret Service Recruitment and Retention Act of 2018,” which extends through 2018 the waiver that allows U.S. Secret Service employees performing protective services to receive premium pay up to level II of the Executive Schedule;
S. 2030, the “Ceiling Fan Energy Conservation Harmonization Act,” which harmonizes the date of compliance with energy conservation standards for ceiling fan light kits and ceiling fan motors; and
S. 2040, which designates a facility of the United States Postal Service located at 621 Kansas Avenue in Atchison, Kansas, as the Amelia Earhart Post Office Building.
A Declaration to Celebrate 100 Years of Independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and Renewed Partnership
Issued on: April 4, 2018
The United States of America, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, and the Republic of Lithuania,
Commemorating the centennial anniversary of independence of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in 2018,
Marking the beginning of diplomatic relations between the United States of America and Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on July 28, 1922,
Recalling the consistent recognition by the United States of America of the independence of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania including through the Welles Declaration of July 23, 1940,
Recalling the commitments made by the United States of America and Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania under the Charter of Partnership Among the United States of America and the Republic of Estonia, Republic of Latvia, and Republic of Lithuania of January 16, 1998,
Acknowledging the tremendous progress achieved by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in political stability, economic growth, and security cooperation and the contributions of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to European and international security and advancement of democratic values through their memberships in NATO and the European Union, Desiring to create a blueprint for expanding and strengthening cooperation between the United States of America and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,
Affirm the following principles and ideals to guide the further development of mutually beneficial relations:
Principles of Partnership
The United States of America and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania share the view that peace, security and prosperity depend on strong sovereign nations that respect their citizens at home and cooperate to promote peace abroad. The partnership between the United States of America and Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania is based on our joint dedication to the principles of democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law. We remain firmly committed to the principles of national sovereignty, the sanctity of borders, and the inviolable territorial integrity of all European nations.
Security Cooperation
The United States of America and Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania share a continued commitment to European security, and pledge to deepen our collaboration to confront forces threatening our common values, security interests, and shared vision. NATO, under the strong leadership of the United States, is the fundamental bedrock of transatlantic ties and the cornerstone of collective security. Together, we will continue to improve NATO’s ability to provide strong deterrence and defense. The United States of America and Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania reaffirm their ironclad commitment to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania will continue to modernize their armed forces to enhance interoperability with the United States and other NATO Allies, but also to build territorial defense capabilities in fulfillment of their Article 3 obligations. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania will work to further enhance regional infrastructure to support additional U.S. and NATO rotational deployments and exercises in the region. The United States of America commends Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for meeting their Wales Summit commitments on defense spending and taking a leadership role in the Alliance on burden sharing. The United States of America, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania will continue to support NATO activities in addressing hybrid threats, including through the NATO Centers of Excellence in the Baltic States.
In addition to cooperation within the NATO Alliance, the United States of America and Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania value their longstanding bilateral and regional security relationships, as exemplified inter alia by the State Partnership Programs begun in 1993 between Estonia and the Maryland National Guard, Latvia and the Michigan National Guard, and Lithuania and the Pennsylvania National Guard. The United States of America and Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania value their cooperation on the common fight against transnational terrorism, and pledge to strengthen cooperation in counterterrorism and cybersecurity, as well as in the fields of strategic communications, border security, and nuclear, safety, security and nonproliferation.
The United States of America intends to continue periodic deployment of forces to the Baltic States to strengthen deterrence and to catalyze the efforts of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to develop their national defense. The United States is determined to help Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to improve their military readiness and capabilities through sustained security assistance. We continue to explore new ideas and opportunities, including air defense, bilaterally and in NATO, to enhance deterrence across the region.
Economic Cooperation
The United States of America and Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania share a common interest in fair and reciprocal trade and investment among partners that provide economic benefits to all concerned. We will strengthen our cooperation to promote the rule of law and improve the security of financial markets. Working together, we will unlock the economic potential of citizens and businesses by promoting technological innovation and access to capital. We will encourage the exchange of investments, goods, and services between the United States of America and Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and will intensify the exchange of trade missions and business forums to support our economic growth.
The United States of America and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will partner to strengthen cooperation to enhance energy security and independence through diversification of sources, supplies and routes, to include U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas and other state-of-the art energy technologies. We will seek to bolster the individual and collective resilience of our critical infrastructure, including energy, through the development and enhancement of existing cross-border transmission routes, increased integration of regional energy markets, and continuous improvement of our cybersecurity capabilities. We will also continue to strengthen cooperation in the security and defense industries, to include procurement of each others’ technologies and equipment.
People to People Contacts
The United States of America and Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania share a desire to continue to increase and expand ties between and among communities and states. We celebrate the contributions of citizens of the Baltic States and Americans of Baltic heritage in the fields of politics, economics, culture and the arts, science and sports, and commit to continuing to encourage student and youth exchanges, scholarship programs, cooperation among universities, innovation and research, and support for tourism and private sector economic partnerships. The United States of America and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will continue to work together to support the development of independent, professionally strong and objective media and journalism, to promote critical thinking, media and information literacy.
Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate
Issued on: April 4, 2018
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days before the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13536 of April 12, 2010, with respect to Somalia, is to continue in effect beyond April 12, 2018.
The United States is strongly committed to Somalia’s stabilization, and it is important to maintain sanctions against persons undermining its stability. The situation with respect to Somalia continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13536 with respect to Somalia.
Notice Regarding the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Somalia
Issued on: April 4, 2018
On April 12, 2010, by Executive Order 13536, the President declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the deterioration of the security situation and the persistence of violence in Somalia, acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia — which have repeatedly been the subject of United Nations Security Council resolutions — and violations of the arms embargo imposed by the United Nations Security Council.
On July 20, 2012, the President issued Executive Order 13620 to take additional steps to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13536 in view of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2036 of February 22, 2012, and Resolution 2002 of July 29, 2011, and to address: exports of charcoal from Somalia, which generate significant revenue for al-Shabaab; the misappropriation of Somali public assets; and certain acts of violence committed against civilians in Somalia — all of which contribute to the deterioration of the security situation and the persistence of violence in Somalia.
The situation with respect to Somalia continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, the national emergency declared on April 12, 2010, and the measures adopted on that date and on July 20, 2012, to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond April 12, 2018. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13536.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.
Readout of President Donald J. Trump’s Call with President Emmanuel Macron of France
Issued on: April 4, 2018
President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Emmanuel Macron of France to discuss his upcoming state visit to Washington. The two leaders also discussed their commitment to ensure the total defeat of ISIS.
Readout of President Donald J. Trump’s Call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel
Issued on: April 4, 2018
President Donald J. Trump spoke today with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to address recent developments in the Middle East. President Trump reiterated the commitment of the United States to Israel’s security and the two leaders agreed to continue their close coordination on countering Iran’s malign influence and destabilizing activities.
Statement by the Press Secretary on the Houthi Commercial Maritime Attack
Issued on: April 4, 2018
The United States is very concerned about the Houthis’ latest attempt to escalate the war in Yemen, this time by attacking a commercial vessel while it transited one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, the Bab al-Mandab, in international waters. A significant portion of global trade moves through the Bab al-Mandab every day, including key energy and food supplies. In January, the Houthis publicly threatened to attack international commercial maritime traffic in the Red Sea, and launched this attack near the vital port of Hudaydah. Yesterday’s attack coincides with the UN’s High-Level Pledging Event in Geneva, where the Saudi-led Coalition’s contributed $930 million. In contrast, the Iranian regime continues to perpetuate the conflict and provide destabilizing weapons to the Houthis. We call on the Houthis to cease further escalation and demonstrate their commitment to a peace process by engaging in constructive dialogue.
Statement by the Press Secretary on the Anniversary of the April 4, 2017 Chemical Weapons Attack on Khan Shaykhun
Issued on: April 4, 2018
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Assad regime’s unconscionable sarin nerve gas attack on the town of Khan Shaykhun, which resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties. The women, children, and men who died at the hands of the Assad regime on April 4, 2017, deserve justice and we will not rest until the regime is held accountable. We expect all parties involved to live up to their promise in 2013 and to ensure that the Assad regime stops its senseless use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people.
The military mission to eradicate ISIS in Syria is coming to a rapid end, with ISIS being almost completely destroyed. The United States and our partners remain committed to eliminating the small ISIS presence in Syria that our forces have not already eradicated. We will continue to consult with our allies and friends regarding future plans. We expect countries in the region and beyond, plus the United Nations, to work toward peace and ensure that ISIS never re-emerges.
Wednesday, April 4th 2018[, with Roger Stone hosting the fourth hour]: Eagle vs. Dragon - China announced over 100 new tariffs in response to Trump putting America first. The president told the nation the so-called " trade war" was lost many years ago by our incompetent trade representatives. Also, a major announcement on border laws and immigration is expected from the White House. Today’s in-studio guest is NaturalNews.com’s Mike Adams discussing current developments in natural health and online censorship.
RWW News: Frank Amedia Credits POTUS Shield With Stopping The Austin Bomber
Published on Apr 4, 2018 by RWW Blog
Right Wing Watch reports on the extreme rhetoric and activities of key right-wing figures and organizations by showing their views in their own words. In this clip, Frank Amedia credits the prayers of his Prophetic Order of the United States (POTUS) Shield organization for ending the bombings in Austin. http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/frank-amedia-credits-potus-shield-with-stopping-the-austin-bomber/
RWW News: Frank Amedia Says God Is Using Trump To Sweep Clean The Federal Judiciary
Published on Apr 5, 2018 by RWW Blog
Right Wing Watch reports on the extreme rhetoric and activities of key right-wing figures and organizations by showing their views in their own words. In this clip, Frank Amedia had a vision of the hand of God sweeping the pillars of the Supreme Court while God declared that He's using Trump to sweep clean the federal judiciary. http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/frank-amedia-god-is-using-trump-to-sweep-clean-the-federal-judiciary/
FFRF is celebrating 40 years as a national nonprofit. We have been working diligently to keep state and church separate since 1978. Co-Presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor will talk about our organizations history and highlights.
Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence
Issued on: April 4, 2018
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
SUBJECT: Delegation of Authorities under Section 3136 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate to the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence, the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 3136 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91).
The delegations in this memorandum shall apply to any provisions of any future public law that are the same or substantially the same as the provision referenced in this memorandum.
The Secretary of Energy is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security
Issued on: April 4, 2018
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
SUBJECT: Securing the Southern Border of the United States
1. The security of the United States is imperiled by a drastic surge of illegal activity on the southern border. Large quantities of fentanyl, other opioids, and other dangerous and illicit drugs are flowing across our southern border and into our country at unprecedented levels, destroying the lives of our families and loved ones. Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and other deadly transnational gangs are systematically exploiting our unsecured southern border to enter our country and develop operational capacity in American communities throughout the country. The anticipated rapid rise in illegal crossings as we head into the spring and summer months threatens to overwhelm our Nation’s law enforcement capacities.
2. The combination of illegal drugs, dangerous gang activity, and extensive illegal immigration not only threatens our safety but also undermines the rule of law. Our American way of life hinges on our ability as a Nation to adequately and effectively enforce our laws and protect our borders. A key and undeniable attribute of a sovereign nation is the ability to control who and what enters its territory.
3. Our professional and dedicated U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and officers, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, and other Federal, State, and local law enforcement personnel work tirelessly to defend our homeland against these threats. They risk their lives daily to protect the people of this country. Theirs is a record of dedication and sacrifice, meriting the unwavering support of the entire United States Government.
4. The situation at the border has now reached a point of crisis. The lawlessness that continues at our southern border is fundamentally incompatible with the safety, security, and sovereignty of the American people. My Administration has no choice but to act.
5. The Department of Defense currently assists other nations in many respects, including assisting with border security, but the highest sovereign duty of the President is to defend this Nation, which includes the defense of our borders.
6. The President may assign a mission to the Secretary of Defense to support the operations of the Department of Homeland Security in securing our southern border, including by requesting use of the National Guard, and to take other necessary steps to stop the flow of deadly drugs and other contraband, gang members and other criminals, and illegal aliens into the country. The Secretary of Defense may use all available authorities as appropriate, including use of National Guard forces, to fulfill this mission. During the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, the National Guard provided support for efforts to secure our southern border. The crisis at our southern border once again calls for the National Guard to help secure our border and protect our homeland.
Therefore, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 502 of title 32, United States Code, and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby direct as follows:
Section 1. The Secretary of Defense shall support the Department of Homeland Security in securing the southern border and taking other necessary actions to stop the flow of deadly drugs and other contraband, gang members and other criminals, and illegal aliens into this country. The Secretary of Defense shall request use of National Guard personnel to assist in fulfilling this mission, pursuant to section 502 of title 32, United States Code, and may use such other authorities as appropriate and consistent with applicable law.
Sec. 2. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall work with the Secretary of Defense to provide any training or instruction necessary for any military personnel, including National Guard units, to effectively support Department of Homeland Security personnel in securing the border.
Sec. 3. The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, are directed to determine what other resources and actions are necessary to protect our southern border, including Federal law enforcement and United States military resources. Within 30 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall submit to the President a report detailing their findings and an action plan, including specific recommendations as to any other executive authorities that should be invoked to defend the border and security of the United States.
Sec. 4. Any provision of any previous proclamation, memorandum, or Executive Order that is inconsistent with the actions taken in this memorandum is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
Sec. 5. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum 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.
Donald Trump's personal security consultant Zimmer Ziezlow (Greg Hess) is here once again with the simple tricks he has picked up from Mr. Trump that help him identify dangerous skin colors in the latest episode of Trump Combat TV.
From pipeline deals and GOP fundraisers to private jets and pay raises, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt’s series of scandals has escalated. Most recently, news broke that Pruitt rented a luxury condo from a lobbyist friend’s wife for way (WAY) under market value. The deal really is too good to be true.
As President Trump's approval rating continues to rise, liberals claim the numbers are fake as they are in complete denial of the reality that befell them. Meanwhile, Robert Mueller has gone completely out of control, physically investigating Russian's electronic devices at a New York airport. Also, jobs numbers continue to shatter expectations as some states are experiencing dangerous levels of low unemployment, if you can believe that.
[from Alex Jones and his merry band of batshit bullshitters]
Boxer: “Outrageous" Scott Pruitt actions a “full-blown scandal"
The Beat with Ari Melber 4/4/18
Former California Senator Barbara Boxer says Trump EPA Chief Scott Pruitt is a “danger” after he is roasted over a series of potential ethics violations, including a $50 a day Condo deal with a lobbyist. Boxer reveals to Ari Melber that she lived in the same Condo building and tells Ari Melber it is “prime real estate” that “costs five thousand dollars a month”.
Former Clinton Counsel: Trump will testify before Mueller.
The Beat with Ari Melber 4/4/18
Special Counsel Mueller tells Trump he is under criminal investigation. Former White House Counsel to President Bill Clinton, who advised Clinton not to testify before the Grand Jury, tells Ari Melber he has “no doubt” Trump will testify in Mueller’s Russia probe.
Sharpton: Most of our leaders “got killed before they were 40"
The Beat with Ari Melber 4/4/18
In a Special Report, three generations of civil rights leaders discuss Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. Black Girls Rock’s Beverly Bond, Black Lives Matter’s Patrisse Cullors, activist DeRay McKesson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Marc Morial and member of the Little Rock 9, Melba Beals, join Ari Melber at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York.
Black Leaders debate tensions between Civil Rights activists
The Beat with Ari Melber 4/4/18
In a Special Report marking the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, three generations of civil rights leaders discuss how the movement for racial equality has changed. Black Girls Rock’s Beverly Bond, Black Lives Matter’s Patrisse Cullors, activist DeRay McKesson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Marc Morial and member of the Little Rock 9, Melba Beals, join Ari Melber at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York.
50 years on, Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy lives out loud
Published on Apr 4, 2018 by PBS NewsHour
On April 4, 1968, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. -- in Memphis, Tennessee, to support striking sanitation workers -- was shot to death on a hotel balcony. What followed was a national reckoning and the greatest wave of social unrest since the Civil War. Fifty years later, Americans are honor King’s sacrifice, in hopes of connecting his message to today’s struggles. Judy Woodruff reports.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s struggle for Americans' civil rights -- and his assassination 50 years ago in Memphis -- changed the world. Judy Woodruff sits down with civil rights activist Vernon Jordan, syndicated columnist Connie Schultz, Vann Newkirk of The Atlantic and Brittany Packnett, co-founder of Campaign Zero, to discuss the lessons King passed down to today’s activists and citizens.
Israeli troops shoot 750 Palestinians at Gaza border
All In with Chris Hayes 4/5/18
President Trump apparently said nothing about Israeli forces shooting 750 Palestinians at the Gaza border last week in a phone call to Prime Minister Netanyahu.
White House lawyers question Bolton about potential ethics issues
The Rachel Maddow Show 4/4/18
Incoming National Security Adviser, John Bolton, faces questions from White House lawyers over the connections between his PAC and Super PAC and Cambridge Analytica.
Former acting US Attorney gives first interview since leaving SDNY
The Rachel Maddow Show 4/4/18
Joon Kim, former acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, talks to Rachel about the firing of US Attorneys in March 2017 and procedures in the Mueller investigation.
How is a subject of an investigation different from a target?
The Rachel Maddow Show 4/4/18
Joon Kim, former acting U.S. attorney for SDNY, explains the difference between a subject and a target of an investigation and whether Donald Trump's lawyers will be informed if his status changes from one to the other.
Flint Rep. upset with Pruitt using Safe Drinking Water Act money to pay staffers
The Rachel Maddow Show 4/4/18
Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan talks to Rachel about EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt using funds from the Safe Drinking Water Act to give staffers raises and bring in lobbyists.
Lawrence O'Donnell looks at the New York Times report that a key cooperating witness in the Mueller probe has ties to Russia – and the special counsel's newest tactics to get information.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice-elect Rebecca Dallet joins Lawrence O'Donnell for an exclusive interview to talk about her victory last night, which led to Republican Governor Scott Walker sounding the alarm about the Blue Wave.
McConnell warns Cat 5 could hit GOP in November midterms
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell 4/4/18
Mitch McConnell admits a storm is brewing – and Scott Walker is frantically sounding the alarm after another big liberal win in Wisconsin. Lawrence O'Donnell discusses with John Nichols and Ruth Marcus.
White House on bombshell Mueller report: Nothing has changed
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams 4/5/18
The day following the bombshell Washington Post report stating Mueller told Trump's lawyers he is a subject of the Russia investigation, Trump stayed out of sight and the White House said the report was not a surprise. Our panel reacts.
Dems reportedly worried GOP will try to bury Mueller's report
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams 4/5/18
Senate Democrat Mazie Hirono joins the program and says the public deserves to know what will be in Robert Mueller's report on Pres. Trump in the Russia investigation.
Trump signs a proclamation sending National Guard to the border
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams 4/5/18
Trump has officially signed a proclamation sending National Guard troops to the border, but the White House denied questions on whether Trump got the idea from a FOX News segment. Our panel reacts.
Michael Kosta and Roy Wood Jr. break down the final matchup in the Bracket of Bullshit: Parkland "Crisis Actors Conspiracy" vs. Very Fine People on Both Sides.
P.K. Subban - From Homemade Ice Rinks to NHL All-Star | The Daily Show
Published on Apr 4, 2018 by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Pro hockey star P.K. Subban discusses his path from immigrant's son to captain of an NHL All-Star team and how a close friendship inspired a $10 million charitable gift.
Senator Cory Booker discusses how teens are creating meaningful change through activism and addresses the frustration over Congress's failure to address gun violence.
Seth takes a closer look at the Trump administration's plan to send the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border and the president's attacks on Amazon.
Ivanka Trump's Friends own quite a few cheap Motels across America and here is my American story of paying them $50.00 for the privilege of getting bedbugs and Yellow Water, we Americans should feel so Lucky, LoL. "Picking up Bedbugs at the Yellow Water Motel"
Roger Stone, on day he sent Assange dinner email, also said 'devastating' WikiLeaks were forthcoming (CNN) - Roger Stone appeared on the InfoWars radio show the same day he sent an email claiming he dined with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange -- and he predicted "devastating" upcoming disclosures about the Clinton Foundation. Stone's comments in his August 4, 2016, appearance are the earliest known time he claimed to know of forthcoming WikiLeaks documents. A CNN KFile timeline shows that on August 10, 2016, Stone claimed to have "actually communicated with Julian Assange." The comments also raise more questions about what Stone knew about WikiLeaks and about the veracity of his claims to have been in contact with Assange, which he now denies. On the August 4, 2016, InfoWars show, Stone described the soon-to-appear WikiLeaks disclosures. He also mentioned that he spoke with then-Republican nominee Donald Trump on August 3 -- the day before the interview. InfoWars is a fringe media outlet run by Alex Jones, who is known for spreading conspiracy theories. Stone wrote to former Trump adviser Sam Nunberg on August 4, 2016, that he had dinner with Assange the night before, according to a source familiar with the email exchange. The email was first reported by the Wall Street Journal on Monday. The Journal also reported that special counsel Robert Mueller is examining the exchange. Stone has said the email about the dinner was sent in jest and that he has never met or spoken with Assange. Stone further discussed the dinner with Nunberg over the phone, this source said. In that conversation, Stone told Nunberg that forthcoming leaks would be about the Clinton Foundation. In the interview with Jones on InfoWars, Stone said that he believed Assange had proof of wrongdoing at the Clinton Foundation. "The Clinton campaign narrative that the Russians favor Donald Trump and the Russians are leaking this information, this is inoculation because as you said earlier, they know what is coming and it is devastating," Stone said in the InfoWars interview. "Let's remember that their defense to all the Clinton Foundation scandals is not that 'we didn't do,' but 'you have no proof, yes but you have no proof.'" "I think Julian Assange has that proof and I think he is going to furnish it for the American people," Stone said. In an email to CNN, Stone again denied meeting with Assange. "Airline and credit card records establish that I flew on Jet Blue from NY to LA on August 1 and returned from LA to Miami on August 3. Credit card records show I stayed at the London hotel in West Hollywood on August 1st and 2nd. My passport shows I never left the country in 2016- never mind traveling to London. Even I have not perfected the ability to be two places at once," he wrote. Stone's statement matches what he said in the InfoWars interview in August 2016. He told Jones that had flown from Los Angeles to Miami that night. https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/04/politics/roger-stone-julian-assange-email-wikileaks/index.html
Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards: Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump offered a 'bribe' to stop abortions Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards wrote in her new memoir that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump offered her what she considered a "bribe" to halt abortion services, according to People magazine. Richards wrote that Kushner and Trump offered an increase in Planned Parenthood's federal funding if the organization stopped providing abortions. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/04/planned-parenthood-president-cecile-richards-jared-kushner-and-ivanka-trump-offered-a-bribe-to-stop-abortions.html
Facebook raises number of users affected by Cambridge Analytica scandal to 87 million The number of users whose information was improperly shared with research firm Cambridge Analytica was previously estimated to be 50 million. Facebook issued the updated number is a lengthy post by CTO Mike Schroepfer about its privacy changes, including restricting third party app access and deleting old logs of messages. Media reports last month alleged a UK-based researcher collected the data from Facebook users when just 270,000 users downloaded a psychology quiz app. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/04/facebook-updates-the-number-of-users-impacted-by-cambridge-analytica-leak-to-87-million-.html
Facebook scandal 'hit 87 million users' Facebook has said it now believes up to 87 million people's data was improperly shared with the political consultancy Cambridge Analytica - many more than previously disclosed. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43649018
Facebook is limiting developers' access to user data, following Cambridge Analytica scandal Facebook on Wednesday announced a slew of changes that will restrict the amount and kinds of information developers can access about the social network's users. Developers will no longer be able to ask users to see their religious and political views, for example, and apps that want to Facebook Pages will need Facebook's permission. The changes come in the wake of the uproar over Cambridge Analytica data leak, which Facebook warned Wednesday affected far more users than previously estimated. http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-api-changes-limited-access-user-data-2018-4
Facebook drops a bombshell and says most of its 2 billion users may have had their personal data scraped Facebook revealed Wednesday that "malicious actors" had scraped the personal data of most of its users by using a search feature to find their profile pages. The company also revealed that the Cambridge Analytica data leak was potentially much bigger than first estimated; the data firm may have gotten access to the data on up to 87 million users. The revelations come as the company is still reeling from and responding to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-87-million-cambridge-analytica-data-2018-4
Thousands of Google employees asked CEO Sundar Pichai to stop providing AI tech for the US military's drones Thousands of Google employees signed a letter to CEO Sundar Pichai urging the company to end a controversial contract with the US Department of Defense. The contract, which was first revealed in March, involves Google AI technology and military drones. Google has long avoided being part of the military industrial complex, to the point where it seems to have been an unofficial company policy. The contract with the Department of Defense has upset many employees. http://www.businessinsider.com/google-employees-letter-urges-sundar-pichai-end-pentagon-ai-contract-2018-4?r=UK&IR=T
Syria war: Trump 'persuaded not to pull out immediately' US officials say President Trump has been persuaded not to pull the military out of Syria immediately, despite his declaration last week that the US would "be coming out of Syria very soon". http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43644633
The Art of the Dunce: 15 Months Into His Presidency, Trump Can’t Negotiate His Way Out of a Paper Bag Any sort of policy requires some firsthand mastery of details. Trump, as we know, lacks this. So when he goes into meetings with Democrats and gives away the store, only to backpedal hours later and pretend he didn’t, his weakness as a negotiator is only one part of his vulnerability. The other, more brutal fact is that he simply doesn’t know what’s being discussed. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/03/trump-presidency-trump-cant-negotiate-his-way-out-of-a-paper-bag
John Bolton runs into potential ethics issues before he becomes Trump’s national security advisor John Bolton is continuing to meet with White House attorneys over possible conflicts of interest. Bolton is slated to take over as President Trump's national security advisor April 9. Bolton resigned from his foundation in March. His two political action committees have gone dormant, although both are currently holding on to money they raised. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/04/john-bolton-talks-with-white-house-attorneys-over-ethics-issues.html
Cambridge Analytica says no more than 30 million people impacted by leak - uh-huh, yah, sure The British political consulting firm at the center of Facebook's data scandal announced on Wednesday the Facebook data leak only affected 30 million users. Just hours prior, Facebook said up to 87 million users might be affected. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/04/cambridge-analytica-says-no-more-than-30-million-people-impacted.html
Fear of 'disastrous situation' in farm economy as China targets huge US soybean business America's $14 billion soybean trade with China is at risk after Beijing said Wednesday the commodity was on its list to get a new 25 percent tariff. Also targeted for possible retaliatory duties are American imports of beef, cotton, corn and wheat, among other products. China buys roughly half of the U.S. soybean exports and the Asian nation is the second-largest buyer of American cotton. The latest trade spat with China followed the Trump administration on Tuesday proposing duties on more than 1,300 imported products. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/04/uneasiness-spreads-in-farm-economy-with-china-targeting-us-soybeans.html
Too much trade rhetoric from White House, not enough practical experience: Former Bush advisor The U.S.-China trade conflict is now in the "escalation phase," warns John Rutledge, a former advisor to President George W. Bush. However, there is not a White House team that has practical experience in China, he says. "We've got too much rhetoric, too much ideology," he says. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/04/too-much-trade-rhetoric-from-white-house-former-bush-advisor-rutledge.html
White House Turf Battle Threatens to Delay Tax Law Rollout WASHINGTON - A power struggle between two of President Trump’s top cabinet members threatens to delay implementation of the new tax law and could give lobbyists and political hands in the White House greater ability to shape critical decisions about which types of businesses benefit from the law. The White House’s Office of Management and Budget, headed by Mick Mulvaney, and the Treasury Department, run by Steven Mnuchin, are at odds over whether to end Treasury’s traditional independence in writing tax regulations and to give the budget office more oversight of those rules. If an agreement is not reached soon, the president may have to weigh in and make the decision himself. The debate is more than just a West Wing turf war. How it plays out could affect several big decisions that will define the breadth and scope of the new tax law, including whether small businesses like veterinary clinics and dentists may claim a new 20 percent tax deduction, and to what degree multinational corporations such as Microsoft and Eli Lilly will be hit with a new minimum tax on the profits they earn overseas. Mr. Mnuchin and Mr. Mulvaney, who are among Mr. Trump’s top economic lieutenants, have largely been in sync on the shape and direction of the tax law. Both supported lowering corporate taxes and using the tax code to discourage companies from shifting operations overseas. Where they differ, however, is over who has the ultimate authority to interpret the many lingering questions that will need to be answered in the coming months and years, including which types of companies qualify as “pass-through” businesses eligible for the 20 percent deduction and how broadly the international tax provisions aimed at preventing profit shifting should apply. [...] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/us/politics/tax-law-regulations-omb-treasury.html also at https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/04/white-house-turf-battle-threatens-to-delay-tax-law-rollout.html
Trump’s easy campaign promises run into the difficulties of reality - still only one reality out there - as always An emboldened President Trump is discovering that the policies he once described as easy fixes for the nation are a lot more complicated in reality — creating backlash among allies, frustrating supporters and threatening the pocketbooks of many farming communities that helped get him elected. Freed from the caution of former advisers, Trump has spent recent weeks returning to the gut-level basics that got him elected: tough talk on China, a promise of an immigration crackdown and an isolationist approach to national security. Several people who have spoken to the president say he is telling advisers that he is finally expediting the policies that got him elected and is more comfortable without a number of aides around him who were tempering his instincts. And he often cites rising poll numbers in recent weeks as a reason he should do it his own way, these people said. But at every front he has faced resistance from within his own coalition. Immigration hawks have been infuriated by his inability to build the border wall with funding from either Mexico or U.S. taxpayers. Many military leaders and foreign policy strategists have been alarmed by his promise to remove troops from Syria. And Republicans on Capitol Hill have protested the rising signs of a trade war with China. The Dow Jones industrial average — once used by Trump as a symbol of his success in office — has fallen nearly 5 percent since he announced new tariffs on March 1. Commodities markets, which are more closely watched in rural communities, have also been under pressure as China has threatened to impose retaliatory taxes on U.S. products from pork to soybeans. Trump has closely watched the stock market gyrations, according to people close to him, and has grown frustrated that stocks have fallen. The president has told several people that he has been surprised by the backlash over tariffs but remains pleased he made the moves. He has routinely argued with White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly over trade, and also clashed on the issue with Gary Cohn, his former National Economic Council director. “Nothing is easy,” Trump said Monday at the White House, while discussing his efforts to close the trade deficit with China. It was a notable admission given that Trump had claimed the opposite in June 2016, during a major campaign speech on trade. “This is very easy. This is so easy,” he said then about tariffs on Chinese products. But there is little evidence that any of the resistance has caused Trump to rethink his decision to refocus his administration on the nationalist policies and priorities that electrified crowds during the campaign. “This is consistent with Trump’s populist movement that he was able to capture and lead in the last election,” said Ed Brookover, a former Trump campaign adviser. “What his base wanted him to do most of all is to fight for them, and the more Trump demonstrates he’s on their side, the more popular he is with them.” Aides say Trump is more confident in his job than at any other point in his 14 months as president and feels empowered to act upon things he has long wanted to do. He has been frustrated by the slow pace of governing, they said, and is seizing opportunities now to take action and see immediate results, as he did when he ran his real estate and branding empire in New York. “None of it comes as a surprise to anybody,” said one senior White House official. “He’s used to making a decision and it happens, it moves. Government doesn’t quite work that way. Some of this is his frustration of wanting to see things happen. Now he’s taking bold action to see things happen.” Trump has told several advisers that he wants to talk about immigration more and that the issue was the reason he won the election — along with trade. He has been incensed by stories noting that he has not gotten enough funding to build a border wall. He has told aides to prepare more executive orders, and on Wednesday the White House announced he would sign a proclamation aimed at sending National Guard troops to the southern border to work with Border Patrol agents. One longtime adviser said recent weeks have been reminiscent of Trump’s time as a businessman working out of Trump Tower and a departure from the more formal structure imposed by Kelly. This person said Trump has often reminded aides about what he said on the campaign trail — and the crowds that came to hear it. Trump has cut senior advisers, including Kelly, out of some personnel and policy moves, such as the recent hirings of top economic adviser Larry Kudlow and national security adviser John Bolton. A senior White House official said neither of the men had been vetted before their selections were announced. In recent weeks, Trump has also promised to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, vowed to confidants he would rip up the Iran deal, floated an Oval Office meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and announced the removal of troops from Syria. Around the same time, he fired his secretary of state via Twitter. According to those around him, Trump has increasingly struck a self-confident tone on foreign policy and has begun boasting about what he plans to accomplish. He brags about how he understands North Korea’s Kim and how his previous advisers and previous presidents were wrong, particularly mocking George W. Bush. “He sees all these opportunities on the horizon on national security,” said Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), who met with Trump at the White House last week. “I told him the way he’s handling himself has put him in a position to really change things, and he certainly agreed.” One person who has spoken to Trump said the president is frustrated at the foreign policy apparatus that is pushing back on his Syria move and thinks that rich Middle Eastern countries are ripping off the United States. Trump has reluctantly agreed to listen, this person said, “at least for now.” The political backlash to the escalating trade fight with China has been particularly intense. More than 100 Republican members of Congress and multiple GOP senators have written public letters to the White House asking him to pull back from the tariff brinkmanship, as China prepares retaliation squarely aimed at punishing American farmers and manufacturers. Business groups that are key parts of the Republican coalition have also condemned the moves. “I’m not a fan of tariffs, and I am nervous about what appears to be a growing trend in the administration to levy tariffs,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday. “This is a slippery slope, so my hope is that this will stop before it gets into a broader tit-for-tat that can’t be good for our country.” Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), who has been one of the most vocal critics of the escalating trade war, said that farmers in his heavily Republican district had not yet abandoned their support of Trump. “They are going to have some faith that he actually knows what he is doing until it hits their pocketbooks,” King said. “But they would like to see this emerging trade war ended. They are not as concerned about trade deficits as they are by this emerging trade war.” Other White House officials, if not Trump, have grown concerned with the backlash. Officials rushed to announce a trade deal with South Korea after being stung by criticism that Trump’s moves were ineffective, administration officials said. Other aides have privately suggested to allies on Capitol Hill that the tariffs may just be a negotiating position. The challenge for Trump of trying to deliver on rosy promises is not a new one. Until winning the White House, Trump’s greatest successes have come in arenas such as marketing, entertainment and the presidential campaign, where image is the primary product and big boasts can make the sale. Billy Bush, the former “Access Hollywood” host, who spent years interviewing Trump about his reality show, “The Apprentice,” recently recalled confronting Trump over his serial misrepresentations of that show’s ratings. “He said, ‘Billy, look, you just tell them and they believe it. That’s it,’ ” Bush recalled on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher.” The unilateral power of bold assertion, regardless of facts or nuance, has been a central theme of Trump’s presidency. While politicians typically overpromise during the campaign, Trump distinguished himself with the scale and scope of his vows. “I will give you everything,” he said at a campaign event in North Dakota in May 2016. “I’m the only one.” By this standard, the first year of his presidency was full of frustration. The promise of repealing President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act ran into the reality of a divided Republican Party. Trump’s initial team of advisers warned him against dramatic acts on trade, and he largely followed the advice of his military leaders, who called for intensifying American involvement in Syria. That era is now clearly over. “During the first year-plus of the Trump administration, the advisers dominated the process and succeeded in steering the president away from his most unfettered instincts,” said William A. Galston, a policy adviser in the Clinton White House and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. “The president is returning to a mind-set that’s closer to his campaign personality, one that he views as more likely to fulfill his promises and to resonate with the people who supported those promises most strongly.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-easy-campaign-promises-run-into-the-difficulties-of-reality/2018/04/04/410dcb3a-3820-11e8-acd5-35eac230e514_story.html
Trump pushes back on fears of a trade war with China President Trump showed no sign Wednesday of backing down from an escalating trade confrontation with China, even as financial markets wobbled and American farmers and manufacturers warned that he was inviting a damaging commercial clash. Hours after the Chinese government announced plans to match the president’s tariffs on $50 billion in imported Chinese goods with import levies on U.S. soybeans, cars and airplanes, Trump fired off a bellicose tweet. “When you’re already $500 Billion DOWN, you can’t lose!” the president wrote, in reference to the 2016 U.S. deficit in goods and services trade. Other administration officials hinted that the trade dispute ultimately may be settled at the bargaining table. [...] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-fires-back-at-trump-with-tariffs-on-106-us-products-including-soybeans-cars/2018/04/04/338134f4-37d8-11e8-b57c-9445cc4dfa5e_story.html
An airing of grievances: Trump spends days issuing a torrent of complaints against foes - just like Alex Jones President Trump spent nearly three minutes at a luncheon this week welcoming the presidents of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — whose difficult-to-pronounce names he never uttered publicly — and saying he should be given “credit” for pressuring countries like theirs to give more money to NATO. As he concluded, White House staffers began to shepherd a small group of journalists out of the room — but Trump was far from done sharing his complaints. As reporters shouted questions about the plunging stock market and the brewing trade war with China, Trump quickly engaged. “I have to say this,” Trump said during the appearance Tuesday afternoon, as Defense Secretary Jim Mattis unfurled a white napkin and placed it in his lap. “China. I have great respect for President Xi. Two of the most incredible days of my life were spent in China. .?.?. He’s a tremendous person. But we have a problem with China.” Over the next 15 minutes, White House staffers would try at least a half dozen more times to move reporters out of the room, only to have the president stop them with another gripe or plea for credit. Sometimes, the lead television camera would inch backward toward the door, as Trump grew smaller on the screen, just to be pushed back into place as the president leaped at another chance to defend himself and his presidency. Trump’s venting in recent days has seemed excessive, even for him. His grievances have come in torrents, littered with inaccuracies he continues to state as facts. The pattern continued Wednesday morning, as he tweeted about the trade fight with China and “very weak” border security laws. [...] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/an-airing-of-grievances-trump-spends-days-issuing-a-torrent-of-complaints-against-foes/2018/04/04/ecb3de42-3777-11e8-9c0a-85d477d9a226_story.html
Trump is sending National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it plans to send National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of a larger crackdown on illegal immigration that includes pressuring Congress to tighten laws. But the strategy will require cooperation with border-state governors who oversee their respective National Guard operations, giving them considerable power over the scope of the administration’s deployment plans. That means President Trump’s ambition to dispatch troops to the border could be constrained by the state of California, which has repeatedly clashed with the administration over immigration and the environment. Administration officials on Wednesday disclosed few specifics about the planned deployment — such as how many troops will be sent to the border, how long they will be stationed there and what their tasks will be — citing ongoing discussions with the states. “I don’t want to get ahead of the governors. This is a partnership with them,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who made the formal announcement Wednesday. “We are giving them the opportunity to review our suggestions of how the National Guard can support the Border Patrol.” [...] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-to-sign-proclamation-to-send-national-guard-troops-to-the-us-mexico-border/2018/04/04/9f9cd796-3838-11e8-acd5-35eac230e514_story.html
Trump's [Zinke's] pick to oversee wildlife policy has history of opposing Endangered Species Act A new political appointee picked by President Trump to oversee wildlife and parks at the Interior Department has a history of opposing endangered species protections. Susan Combs, who was recently appointed by Trump as acting assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks, has in the past compared the endangered species listings to “incoming Scud missiles.” In her previous post as Texas comptroller, Combs played a key role in wresting control of the endangered species program from the state’s Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Observer reported. [...] http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/381618-trump-appointee-to-oversee-wildlife-policy-has-history-of
Astronomers Creating First Large-Scale Age-Map of Milky Way’s Bulge A team of European Southern Observatory (ESO) astronomers looking to better understand the formation history of our Milky Way Galaxy has started creating the first age-map of the Galaxy’s bulge. Their current results show that a period of star formation lasting around 4 billion years created the complex structure in the bulge. http://www.sci-news.com/astronomy/age-map-milky-ways-bulge-05877.html
Brain back-up firm Nectome loses link to MIT A company attempting to map people's brains so their memories can be stored in computers has lost its link to one of the United States' top universities. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43642786
The rise of Candida auris embodies a serious and growing public health threat: drug-resistant germs.
VIDEO - Revenge of the Bacteria: Why We’re Losing the War .. embedded inside .. Bacteria are rebelling. They’re turning the tide against antibiotics by outsmarting our wonder drugs. This video explores the surprising reasons. Melissa Golden for The New York Times
By Matt Richtel and Andrew Jacobs
April 6, 2019
Last May, an elderly man was admitted to the Brooklyn branch of Mount Sinai Hospital for abdominal surgery. A blood test revealed that he was infected with a newly discovered germ as deadly as it was mysterious. Doctors swiftly isolated him in the intensive care unit.
[...]
For decades, public health experts have warned that the overuse of antibiotics was reducing the effectiveness of drugs that have lengthened life spans by curing bacterial infections once commonly fatal. But lately, there has been an explosion of resistant fungi as well, adding a new and frightening dimension to a phenomenon that is undermining a pillar of modern medicine.
“It’s an enormous problem,” said Matthew Fisher, a professor of fungal epidemiology at Imperial College London, who was a co-author of a recent scientific review .. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6390/739 .. on the rise of resistant fungi. “We depend on being able to treat those patients with antifungals.”
[...]
Scientists say that unless more effective new medicines are developed and unnecessary use of antimicrobial drugs is sharply curbed, risk will spread to healthier populations. A study the British government funded projects .. https://amr-review.org/ .. that if policies are not put in place to slow the rise of drug resistance, 10 million people could die worldwide of all such infections in 2050, eclipsing the eight million expected to die that year from cancer.
"Unbeatable" superbug fungus sickens hundreds across the U.S., CDC says
Updated on: April 8, 2019 / 4:26 PM / CBS News
VIDEO
A drug-resistant superbug fungus has sickened nearly 600 people across the United States in recent years, including more than 300 patients in New York State, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Candida auris, which preys on people with weakened immune systems, can be deadly.
CBS New York reports an elderly man died from the fungus last year at Mount Sinai Hospital following abdominal surgery.
"Most C. auris cases in the United States have been detected in the New York City area, New Jersey, and the Chicago area," the CDC said in a statement.
The fungus was seen in the U.S. for the first time in 2013. Dr. Lynn Sosa, Connecticut's deputy state epidemiologist, told The New York Times that she views she views Candida auris as "pretty much unbeatable and difficult to identify."
As of the end of February, a total of 587 cases had been confirmed across the country, most of them in New York State, where there were 309 cases. Illinois had 144 confirmed cases and New Jersey had 104.
Symptoms of Candida auris
According to the CDC, symptoms of the fungus may be difficult to detect because patients are often already sick and only a lab test can identify the superbug. Candida auris can cause different types of infections, including bloodstream infection, wound infection, and ear infection.
People who recently had surgery, live in nursing homes, or who have breathing tubes, feeding tubes or central venous catheters appear to be at highest risk.
"Based on information from a limited number of patients, 30–60% of people with C. auris infections have died. However, many of these people had other serious illnesses that also increased their risk of death," the CDC said.
Treating Candida auris
While most Candida auris infections are treatable with antifungal medications, the CDC says it's concerned that some have proven to be resistant to all three main classes of antifungal medications. "In this situation, multiple antifungal medications at high doses may be needed to treat the infection," the CDC said.
The CDC has more information available on its website.
Australian state reports its first case of superbug fungus
By ROD McGUIRK August 7, 2018
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian state on Tuesday reported its first case of a superbug in a hospital patient who likely picked up the drug-resistant fungus in Britain.
Victoria Deputy Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said health officials were taking a “search and destroy” approach to ensure the Candida auris fungus did not spread.
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