Thursday, October 31, 2019

Anthony Scaramucci and Steve Bullock trade jabs over prank endorsement

Anthony Scaramucci and Steve Bullock trade jabs over prank endorsementAnthony Scaramucci, President Donald Trump’s former, short-lived White House communications director-turned-detractor, saw his fame exploited Thursday in a campaign stunt by a Democratic presidential candidate. The stunt unfolded on Twitter when Steve Bullock — Montana’s governor and a long-shot candidate who’s failed to qualify for all but one Democratic primary debate this year — posted a video recorded by “The Mooch” for the celebrity-shout-out site Cameo in which he appears to endorse Bullock’s campaign. “We support you, Steve B. I know you got a tough race ahead of you, but you’ve done this before,” Scaramucci says in the 19-second clip filmed from inside a moving car.




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Full coverage: House passes impeachment resolution

Full coverage: House passes impeachment resolutionThe House on Thursday voted to pass a historic resolution establishing formal procedures for the ongoing impeachment inquiry into President Trump. The 232-196 vote fell almost exclusively along party lines, with two moderate Democrats voting no.




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The Latest: Man accused of arson in California wildfire

The Latest: Man accused of arson in California wildfireAuthorities say a man was arrested and accused of arson after a crew responded to a report of a wildfire in Northern California. A CalFire statement said engine crews were able to quickly contain the small fire in the Sonoma County community of Geyserville and identified a potential suspect. Authorities reported progress Wednesday in battling the Kincade fire in Sonoma County that started last week outside of Geyserville and forced the evacuation of the entire community, home to about 900 people.




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UPDATE 2-American Airlines flight attendants stand up to Boeing CEO on 737 MAX

UPDATE 2-American Airlines flight attendants stand up to Boeing CEO on 737 MAXAmerican Airlines' flight attendants union still has safety concerns about the Boeing 737 MAX and is demanding an active role in the relaunch of the grounded aircraft, its president told Boeing Co's chief executive in a letter seen by Reuters. "The 28,000 flight attendants working for American Airlines refuse to walk onto a plane that may not be safe and are calling for the highest possible safety standards to avoid another tragedy," Association of Professional Flight Attendants President Lori Bassani said in the letter.




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Police say body of British tourist missing in Cambodia found

Police say body of British tourist missing in Cambodia foundThe body of a British backpacker missing for more than a week in Cambodia was found at sea Thursday about 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the island where she disappeared, officials said. The police chief for Preah Sihanouk province, Maj. Gen. Chuon Narin, said the body of 21-year-old Amelia Bambridge was discovered in the Gulf of Thailand northwest of Koh Rong, where she disappeared after attending a beach party on the night of Oct. 23. It was found near another island, Koh Chhlam, close to Cambodia's maritime border with Thailand.




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'Very sloppy': Rudy Giuliani, Trump's cybersecurity adviser, went to an Apple store to get his iPhone unlocked

'Very sloppy': Rudy Giuliani, Trump's cybersecurity adviser, went to an Apple store to get his iPhone unlockedCybersecurity experts told NBC that Giuliani going to a third-party location for technical help violated basic security protocols.




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Israel rearrests Palestinian MP, daughter says

Israel rearrests Palestinian MP, daughter saysIsraeli forces on Thursday rearrested a Palestinian lawmaker who was freed in February after being held without trial for 20 months over links to an outlawed leftist group, her daughter said. "My mother Khalida Jarrar was arrested from our house in Ramallah" at about 3:00 am (0100 GMT), Jarrar's daughter Yafa posted on Facebook. Spokespeople for Israel's Shin Bet security service, which generally directs such arrests, could not immediately be reached for comment.




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A California couple who was forced to evacuate their home and winery share what it's really like to endure the wildfires engulfing the state

A California couple who was forced to evacuate their home and winery share what it's really like to endure the wildfires engulfing the stateCalifornia's Sonoma wine country dealt with destructive wildfires in 2017. Here's how one winery is dealing with 2019's Kincade Fire.




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House Democrats are just trying to invalidate the 2016 election of President Donald Trump

House Democrats are just trying to invalidate the 2016 election of President Donald TrumpSpeaker Nancy Pelosi is subverting rule of law, write former acting U.S. Attorney General Matt Whitaker and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry.




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Mickey Rourke says he'll give Trump a 'left hook from hell'


Mickey Rourke says he'll give Trump a 'left hook from hell'



Much like his character in "The Wrestler," Mickey Rourke isn't holding his punches when it comes to his thoughts on President Trump. 

Gutfeld on the media falling for the dog meme


Gutfeld on the media falling for the dog meme



An obviously altered photo of President Trump and the dog involved in the raid against ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi got the media all worked up.

Gutfeld on the media falling for the dog meme


Gutfeld on the media falling for the dog meme



Media scrambles to fact check image of Trump and hero dog.

RNC Chair McDaniel: Democrats’ impeachment vote is baseless political vendetta – Trump did nothing wrong


RNC Chair McDaniel: Democrats’ impeachment vote is baseless political vendetta – Trump did nothing wrong



Democrats have rigged the impeachment process in favor of their highly partisan effort to overturn President Trump;s election.

Tom Del Beccaro: Trump impeachment hearings must include Obama, Bidens – Republicans do your job


Tom Del Beccaro: Trump impeachment hearings must include Obama, Bidens – Republicans do your job



Democrats are careening toward the impeachment of a president and dragging the American people along with them.

Islamic State vows revenge against U.S. for Baghdadi killing

Islamic State vows revenge against U.S. for Baghdadi killingIslamic State confirmed on Thursday that its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a weekend raid by U.S. special forces in northwestern Syria, and vowed revenge against the United States. The Iraqi rose from obscurity to lead the ultra-hardline group and declare himself "caliph" of all Muslims, holding sway over huge areas of Iraq and Syria from 2014-2017 before Islamic State's control disintegrated under U.S.-led attacks. The group confirmed his death in an audio tape posted online and said a successor, identified as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Quraishi, had been appointed.




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2 women have been criminally charged over their partners' suicides. Why do men escape the same blame?

2 women have been criminally charged over their partners' suicides. Why do men escape the same blame?Experts told Insider they could not recall a similar instance of a man being charged with manslaughter in connection with his partner's suicide.




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Graphic: Examining the weapons and tactics used by police and protesters in Hong Kong

Graphic: Examining the weapons and tactics used by police and protesters in Hong KongAs the showdown between police and protesters in Hong Kong has intensified, officers have used increasing force, deploying an arsenal of crowd-control weapons, including tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, sponge grenades and bean bag rounds. Protesters have also stepped up their actions, hurling petrol bombs, vandalizing mainland Chinese banks and businesses believed to be pro-Beijing, throwing bricks at police stations and battling officers in the streets, sometimes with metal bars. Reuters scrutinized hundreds of images of the protests, as well as dozens of police reports and video footage, and combined this research with reporting on the ground to document the weapons used by the police and protesters, and how the violence has increased from day to day.




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How The B-1 Lancer Went From A Nuclear Bomber To an ISIS Killer

How The B-1 Lancer Went From A Nuclear Bomber To an ISIS KillerPriorities and capabilities change with time.




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Putin faces Syria money crunch after U.S. keeps control of oil fields

Putin faces Syria money crunch after U.S. keeps control of oil fieldsRussian President Vladimir Putin is facing an unwelcome new financial challenge in Syria after the U.S. pullback enabled his ally Bashar Assad to reclaim the biggest chunk of territory in the country still outside his control.




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What Fiat Chrysler and PSA Peugeot Citroën Merger Will Mean for U.S. Car Buyers

What Fiat Chrysler and PSA Peugeot Citroën Merger Will Mean for U.S. Car BuyersNow that FCA and PSA confirm they're doing a 50/50 merger, we're more likely to see technology being shared than cars being added to the U.S. market.




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These Salvador Dali–Painted Tarot Cards Are as Spooky as You’d Imagine

These Salvador Dali–Painted Tarot Cards Are as Spooky as You’d Imagine




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Trump impeachment: Official says she was repeatedly urged to oust Ukraine ambassador by Republican lobbyist

Trump impeachment: Official says she was repeatedly urged to oust Ukraine ambassador by Republican lobbyistA US government official has reportedly told politicians leading the impeachment hearings against Donald Trump that she was urged by a Republican-linked lobbyist to remove the US ambassador to Ukraine from her post, as the president's allies launched a smear campaign against her.Catherine Croft, a Ukraine expert who worked at the US State Department, said she was repeatedly contacted by lobbyist Robert Livingston about ousting Marie Yovanovitch, according to prepared remarks obtained by NPR.




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Al-Baghdadi paid rival for protection but was betrayed by his own

Al-Baghdadi paid rival for protection but was betrayed by his ownIslamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was able to hide out in an unlikely part of Syria, the base of a rival group, because he was paying protection money to its members, according to receipts for the payments recovered by researchers. But he was ultimately betrayed by a close confidant, leading to his death in a raid by U.S. Special Operations forces last weekend.




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Wednesday, October 30, 2019

China releases controversial 'morality' guidelines


China releases controversial 'morality' guidelines



China has released new controversial "morality guidelines," the first since 2001, that its citizens are expected to adhere to for "comprehensive social progress and overall development of people," according to the communist government.

Turkish President Erdogan vows retaliation against defiant Kurds


Turkish President Erdogan vows retaliation against defiant Kurds



Fighting continues despite cease-fire; Benjamin Hall reports.

Activist Thunberg declines climate prize, urges more action

Activist Thunberg declines climate prize, urges more actionTwo fellow climate activists spoke on Thunberg's behalf at an award ceremony Tuesday in Stockholm for the regional inter-parliamentary Nordic Council's prizes, reading a statement thanking the group for the honor. Thunberg, 16, is currently in California.




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China pushes higher 'moral quality' for its citizens

China pushes higher 'moral quality' for its citizensFrom budgeting for rural weddings to dressing appropriately and avoiding online porn, China's Communist Party has issued new guidelines to improve the "moral quality" of its citizens. Officials have released several sets of guidelines this week alongside a secretive conclave of high-ranking officials in Beijing which discusses the country's future direction. Public institutions like libraries and youth centres must carry out "targeted moral education" to improve people's ideological awareness and moral standards, according to the rules.




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Man loses foot, another seriously injured in shark attack while snorkeling in Australia

Man loses foot, another seriously injured in shark attack while snorkeling in AustraliaThe shark attack occurred in Hook Passage in the Whitsunday Islands off Australia's Queensland coast, rescuers say.




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Exclusive: How Lebanon's Hariri defied Hezbollah

Exclusive: How Lebanon's Hariri defied HezbollahAfter hitting a dead end in efforts to defuse the crisis sweeping Lebanon, Saad al-Hariri informed a top Hezbollah official on Monday he had no choice but to quit as prime minister in defiance of the powerful Shi'ite group. The decision by the Sunni leader shocked Hussein al-Khalil, political advisor to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who advised him against giving in to protesters who wanted to see his coalition government toppled. The meeting described to Reuters by four senior sources from outside Hariri's Future Party captures a critical moment in the crisis that has swept Lebanon for the last two weeks as Hariri yielded to the massive street protests against the ruling elite.




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A California couple who was forced to evacuate their home and winery share what it's really like to endure the wildfires engulfing the state

A California couple who was forced to evacuate their home and winery share what it's really like to endure the wildfires engulfing the stateCalifornia's Sonoma wine country dealt with destructive wildfires in 2017. Here's how one winery is dealing with 2019's Kincade Fire.




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Ilhan Omar refuses to back vote recognising Armenian genocide

Ilhan Omar refuses to back vote recognising Armenian genocideIlhan Omar declined to vote in favour of a resolution recognising the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as a genocide, saying any "true acknowledgement" of such crimes must include other historical "mass slaughters".The Minnesota Democrat was one of just three House members to vote “present” on the resolution that passed in an overwhelming 405-11 vote.




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What Baghdadi’s Death Means for al Qaeda—and Why It Matters

What Baghdadi’s Death Means for al Qaeda—and Why It MattersSITE Intelligence GroupWith ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed one day and the group’s official spokesman Abu Hassan al-Muhajir the next, there’s a giant hole in the pseudo-Caliphate structure of the so-called Islamic State. The group must now, by its strict religious tenets, find a new (supposed) descendant of the Prophet Muhammed to fill the role of Caliph. But the deaths of those two are equally consequential for al-Qaeda, the bitter rival of ISIS for leadership of global jihad. Al-Qaeda has spent the last six years branding the Caliphate as illegitimate, too extreme, and ultimately harmful. When ISIS declared the establishment of its so-called Caliphate spanning territory in Syria and Iraq in 2014, al-Qaeda and its affiliates unanimously rejected it. To this day, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri’s speeches rarely come without some critique of the “epidemic” put forth by ISIS.Trump Officials Had No Clue Where He Got ‘Whimpering’ Detail in His Baghdadi Raid AccountOddly, Baghdadi was killed in Idlib, a haven of al-Qaeda-linked fighters and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a Syrian Islamist faction led by Abu Muhammad al-Julani, a former al-Qaeda comrade who had become one of Baghdadi's most bitter foes. There has been some speculation Baghdadi was not just hiding out but trying to recruit from the ranks of his enemies.Neither al-Qaeda Central nor its affiliates have commented on Baghdadi’s death as yet, but within hours after the news broke, al-Qaeda ideologues and supporters already were celebrating the event and discussing what it will mean for the future of jihad. In chat groups online, al-Qaeda supporters voiced resentment after years of bitter strife with the group, and the scale of these responses illustrates just how much of a big deal and opportunity they see with Baghdadi’s death.“Based on his orders, thousands of the mujahideen were killed,” one post read.“How thrilled were they every time leaders from al-Qaeda were martyred?” read another.Some wished Baghdadi the ultimate condemnation:  “May Allah send him to Hell.”Messages by others, however, particularly al-Qaeda-linked ideologues, balanced expressions of justice for the jihadi movement with restraint, making sure not to celebrate excessively the result of an operation by the United States.The tactful enthusiasm is calculated. Many ISIS fighters, much of its military infrastructure, many media officials, and supporters were pulled from al-Qaeda. Now, with ISIS’ “Caliph” dead and that Caliphate itself destroyed, al-Qaeda has been given its biggest opportunity yet to bring many of them back under its tent. SITE Intelligence GroupPerhaps the most profound instance of this outreach was a lengthy essay by “Adel Amin,” the pen name of a prominent ideologue linked to the Shabaab al-Mujahideen Movement, al-Qaeda’s branch in Somalia and most powerful affiliate. The message, disseminated widely across al-Qaeda-supporting channels and chat groups (many of which are also frequented by pro-ISIS users), demanded that ISIS supporters “return to the road of righteousness” after the Islamic State, in all of its excessive aggression and delusions of destiny, has proven itself a failure. Amin wrote:The situation here is not one in which to gloat. It is a situation for reminding and calling on those who remained in the ranks of al-Baghdadi, to reconsider… Indeed, we witnessed its back being broken, its leaders getting killed, and its banner falling, and we hope that we can witness whoever remains from its soldiers returning to righteousness.Statements by other ideologues and supporters voiced the same points. A statement by Sirajuddin Zurayqat, a former religious official in the now-defunct al-Qaeda-linked Brigades of Abdullah Azzam in Lebanon, urged: “Now [Baghdadi] is dead and there is not one from the Ummah grieving over him or giving condolences... Therefore, those who were deceived by him should reconsider before it is too late!”These messages echo the same calls heard from Zawahiri and al-Qaeda affiliates over the years calling on ISIS fighters to “repent” and leave the group. Yet despite these new circumstances, ISIS supporters will not easily be moved. Since the summer of 2016, the group’s followers have seen the loss of the major cities Mosul in Iraq and Raqqah in Syria as well as the death of revered ISIS figures like Omar Shishani, Abu Muhammad al-‘Adnani, and others. With the latest setbacks to its leadership, ISIS-linked accounts online already have poured out calls to stay steadfast and have even used Baghdadi’s death as a rallying point to carry out new attacks. Reinforcing this undeterred support is an ISIS military and media machine that has shown no sign of stopping in the last two days. While ISIS has not yet officially acknowledged the death of Baghdadi, it has continued reporting on day-to-day military activity across Iraq, Syria, and the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.ISIS' Yemen Province - AQAP Prisoners as Featured in the video “He Who Starts is More Unjust”SITE Intelligence GroupFurthermore, while al-Qaeda affiliates like the Shabaab serve as powerful representatives of the organization, al-Qaeda Central is weaker than it has ever been. These days, al-Qaeda Central’s role is largely symbolic, limited to leadership messages and other content while steering the big-picture ethos of the organization. Its attempts to bolster its image, already heavily weighed down by a less-than-charismatic leader in Zawahiri, were upended upon the death of Hamza bin Laden, the son of Osama, whom al-Qaeda likely was grooming for an eventual leadership position. These variables considered, al-Qaeda may not be the appealing alternative for jihadists that its supporters want it to seem. So, while some fighters might very well join the ranks of al-Qaeda affiliates in their region, we shouldn't expect to see any drastic migration from ISIS’ ranks into its rival’s.Despite any notions of good-riddance that al-Qaeda and its supporters attach to Baghdadi’s death, and for whatever number of defectors it may win over as a result of Baghdadi’s demise, ISIS is not going anywhere. The barriers between these terrorist organizations have only hardened over the years, fueling deadly clashes and jihadi PR wars. Baghdadi was not the sole barrier keeping ISIS members from joining al-Qaeda, and his death is unlikely to diminish existing disputes.How U.S. Commandos IDed a ‘Mutilated’ Baghdadi So QuicklyRead more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.




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Trump Administration Challenges California Sanctuary Law in Supreme Court

Trump Administration Challenges California Sanctuary Law in Supreme CourtThe Trump administration has petitioned the Supreme Court to strike down California's "sanctuary law," which hinders cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.The administration is challenging several provisions in the California Values Act, or S.B. 54. The law prohibits officials from sharing information with ICE about a suspect's release from custody, eliminating any opportunity for ICE agents to take illegal immigrants into custody before they are released from local jails. It also prohibits local law-enforcement officers from sharing physical descriptions of suspects with immigration authorities."The practical consequences of California’s obstruction are not theoretical; as a result of SB 54, criminal aliens have evaded the detention and removal that Congress prescribed, and have instead returned to the civilian population, where they are disproportionately likely to commit additional crimes," the Trump administration argued in its petition, which was filed Monday.While the provisions of S.B. 54 do not technically apply to suspects with a violent criminal history, since the law effectively prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE, immigration officials must stake out jails and police stations to await the release of non-citizen suspects from custody, and only then make arrests.Last week at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, ICE official Timothy Robbins claimed that the Los Angeles police department was releasing as many as 100 illegal immigrants per day from custody."Cooperation between ICE and state and local law enforcement agencies is critical to the agency’s efforts to identify and arrest removable aliens, and to protect the nation’s security,” Robbins said at the time. “Unfortunately, we are seeing more jurisdictions that refuse to work with our officers, or directly impede our public safety efforts."




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The Latest: Islamic State leader buried at sea, US says

The Latest: Islamic State leader buried at sea, US saysThe head of United States Central Command says Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was buried at sea after a weekend raid on his compound. Gen. Frank McKenzie told reporters Wednesday that al-Baghdadi died after he exploded a suicide vest just before U.S. troops were going to capture him. McKenzie says two children were killed in the explosion set off by the Islamic State leader.




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Disaster for Trump? What If the Philippines Became Russia's Ally?

Disaster for Trump? What If the Philippines Became Russia's Ally?How could that happen?




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Biden's communion denial highlights faith-politics conflict

Biden's communion denial highlights faith-politics conflictA Roman Catholic priest's denial of communion to Joe Biden in South Carolina on Sunday illustrates the fine line presidential candidates must walk as they talk about their faiths: balancing religious values with a campaign that asks them to choose a side in polarizing moral debates. The awkward moment for Biden came during a weekend campaign swing through South Carolina, a pivotal firewall in his hopes to claim the Democratic presidential nomination. The former vice president on Sunday visited St. Anthony Catholic Church in Florence, a midsize city in the state's largely rural northeast.




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Hume: Media under no obligation to withhold a whistleblower's name


Hume: Media under no obligation to withhold a whistleblower's name



Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume on Ukraine whistleblower allegedly being named in media reports.

Dems push impeachment rules over repeated GOP objections, as exasperation boils over


Dems push impeachment rules over repeated GOP objections, as exasperation boils over



In a contentious Rules Committee meeting on Wednesday, Democrats systematically rejected Republican attempts to alter the ground rules that lawmakers will use as they consider impeaching President Trump, even as Republicans argued that the proposed procedures are fundamentally unfair.

Lara Trump on campaign outreach to women voters


Lara Trump on campaign outreach to women voters



Trump 2020 campaign senior adviser Lara Trump addresses the president's approval rating among women.

Rep. Collins on impeachment vote, possibility of John Bolton testifying


Rep. Collins on impeachment vote, possibility of John Bolton testifying



John Bolton invited to testify in impeachment inquiry; House Judiciary Committee ranking member Doug Collins weighs in.

Pompeo: al-Baghdadi raid a 'remarkable undertaking'


Pompeo: al-Baghdadi raid a 'remarkable undertaking'



Secretary of State Mike Pompeo weighs in on ISIS raid, Ukraine call controversy on 'The Story.'

Top Arizona Dem blasted for claiming Trump 'aligned himself with ISIS'


Top Arizona Dem blasted for claiming Trump 'aligned himself with ISIS'



Talk about awkward timing-- hours before President Trump announced the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the chairwoman of the Arizona Democratic Party said publicly that Trump had aligned himself with the terrorist organization. 

US, Gulf allies sanction 25 targets affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Hezbollah


US, Gulf allies sanction 25 targets affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Hezbollah



The Treasury Department and six Persian Gulf nations announced Wednesday that they had jointly sanctioned 25 individuals, corporations and banks they say are affiliated with Iran's terror-supporting networks.

Obama lays into 'politically woke' call-out culture


Obama lays into 'politically woke' call-out culture



Former President Barack Obama offers words of wisdom to activists and candidates; Peter Doocy reports from Concord, New Hampshire.

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman reportedly raised concerns over gaps in Trump-Zelensky transcript


Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman reportedly raised concerns over gaps in Trump-Zelensky transcript



According to the New York Times, Vindman testified that crucial words and phrases were edited out of the final transcript of the July 25 call between President Trump and the Ukrainian president; chief White House correspondent John Roberts reports from the North Lawn.

Pompeo Holds Firm Amid Vindman’s Blockbuster Ukraine Testimony: Trump Handled Call Appropriately

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tonight dismissed the concerns raised by Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman about President Donald Trump‘s call with the president of Ukraine.

After discussing the successful raid that took out Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Fox News’ Martha MacCallum asked Pompeo about the “parade of State Department officials” testifying through Congress and the testimony yesterday from Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who reportedly testified that some key words and phrases were omitted from the Ukraine call transcript, including another reference to Joe Biden and a separate one to Burisma.

“I don’t know what any of the witnesses actually said,” Pompeo responded, “we’re reporting on leaks from Democrats who have a mission set to take down President Trump. What I know is I was on the call, I listened to the call. I thought the way the president handled it was appropriate. We were incredibly focused on a couple of simple things with respect to Ukraine strategy, we’ve executed on that.”

“I couldn’t tell you why, I couldn’t answer if it’s because of Hunter Biden that Barack Obama and Vice President Biden didn’t give defensive weapons systems to Ukraine, they’ll have to answer for that,” Pompeo continued. “Maybe I just don’t have the full story.”

MacCallum brought up concerns raised by a number of people within the State Department about feeling like there was a two-track policy on Ukraine.

“They sound very disappointed things got pulled away from them, they are all pointing to the common thread of Rudy Giuliani here,” she said.

“My understanding is that every one of these individuals had the same Ukrainian policy that President Trump had. This is a Ukraine policy that wanted to provide javelin weapon systems, we did that,” Pompeo said. “This is Ukraine policy that wanted to ensure Mr. Zelensky had resources he needed to push back against corruption we all know has existed in Ukraine. I actually think the policy every one of my officials was trying to achieve is same one President Trump and I were trying to get the outcome on.”

Bill Taylor testified in his opening statement that he was troubled by how, in addition to the formal channel of U.S. policy-making with respect to Ukraine, there was a second “irregular, informal channel.”

Taylor wrote, “When I first arrived in Kyiv, in June and July, the actions of both the regular and the irregular channels of foreign policy served the same goal — a strong U.S.-Ukraine partnership — but it became clear to me by August that the channels had diverged in their objectives. As this occurred, I became increasingly concerned.”

You can watch above, via Fox News.



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Tuesday, October 29, 2019

UPDATE 1-Iraq's Sadr calls on rival to join him in ousting PM

UPDATE 1-Iraq's Sadr calls on rival to join him in ousting PMPopulist Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has invited his biggest political rival to work with him on ousting the country's prime minister as thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets for a fifth day. In a statement on Tuesday Sadr, who leads parliament's largest bloc, asked Hadi al-Amiri, leader of the second-largest, to help him introduce a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi. "To answer brother Abdul Mahdi, I thought asking you to call an early election would preserve your dignity but as you have refused, I invite brother Amiri to work with me on withdrawing confidence from you immediately," he said.




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Schiff to handle impeachment witness testimony in break from precedent

Schiff to handle impeachment witness testimony in break from precedentUnder past precedent in 1974 and 1998 — the last two times the House conducted an impeachment inquiry — the House Judiciary Committee was the hub for investigations, hearings, and a committee vote on articles of impeachment.




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lhan Omar votes 'present' on bill condemning Armenian genocide, saying Congress should acknowledge other 'mass slaughters,' too


lhan Omar votes 'present' on bill condemning Armenian genocide, saying Congress should acknowledge other 'mass slaughters,' too



Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., on Tuesday refused to support a congressional resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide, saying it was important first to condemn the preceding "mass slaughter" of "hundreds of millions of indigenous people," as well as the "transatlantic slave trade."

Is America ready for a woman of color to be president?


Is America ready for a woman of color to be president?



Fox News contributor and former DNC chair Donna Brazile on presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris and the 2020 election.

U.S.'s Pompeo calls for new, efficient government in Lebanon

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday urged Lebanon's political leaders to help form a new government responsive to the needs of its people after Saad al-Hariri resigned as prime minister after huge protests against the ruling elite.


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