All Purpose News and Politics Thread Part IV: The Center Cannot Hold

[Tami]

Trump Orders Cut to National Security Staff After Whistle-Blower

Trump orders 'substantial' cut in National Security Council staff: Bloomberg

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has asked for a substantial cut in the National Security Council staff, Bloomberg reported late on Friday, citing five people familiar with the plans.

The step was described by some sources cited in the report as part of an effort from the White House to make its foreign policy arm leaner.

Leaner? More like a starvation diet.

The request to do so was conveyed to officials in the agency by current White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien earlier this week, according to Bloomberg.

The reductions at the agency, in which currently 310 people work, will be carried out through attrition, Bloomberg reported. The report did not mention the exact number by which Trump is looking to cut the agency’s staff.

[Tami]

Scoop: Trump pins Ukraine call on Energy Secretary Rick Perry

President Trump told House Republicans that he made his now infamous phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the urging of Energy Secretary Rick Perry — a call Trump claimed he didn’t even want to make.

Behind the scenes: Trump made these comments during a conference call with House members on Friday, according to 3 sources on the call.

Per the sources, Trump rattled off the same things he has been saying publicly — that his call with Zelensky was "perfect"and he did nothing wrong.
But he then threw Perry into the mix and said something to the effect of: "Not a lot of people know this but, I didn't even want to make the call. The only reason I made the call was because Rick asked me to. Something about an LNG [liquified natural gas] plant," one source said, recalling the president's comments. 2 other sources confirmed the first source's recollection.

[4saken1]

US Customs Officer Harasses Defense One Journalist at Dulles Airport

What? A dumbfuck asswipe Trumptard abusing his power? Say it ain't so!!!!

[4saken1]

Trump Orders Cut to National Security Staff After Whistle-Blower

Trump orders 'substantial' cut in National Security Council staff: Bloomberg



Leaner? More like a starvation diet.

That's easier than just not doing illegal **** constantly, I guess.

[Astral Disaster]

That's easier than just not doing illegal **** constantly, I guess.

Easier for Trump apparently.

[Tami]

These Republicans May Not Endorse an Impeachment Inquiry. But They Aren’t Saying No.

RENO, Nev. — Representative Mark Amodei was not prepared for the backlash from his fellow Republicans when he said Congress needed to “follow the facts” and look into whether President Trump should be impeached.

Newspapers declared he was breaking ranks. Conservative constituents branded him a traitor: “I’m Brutus, and Trump’s Julius Caesar,” he said. In short order, he was forced to explain himself to the Trump campaign’s political director, top House Republicans and the acting White House chief of staff. All had the same question: “What the heck are you doing?”

As evidence mounts that Mr. Trump engaged in an intensive effort to pressure the leader of Ukraine to investigate a political rival, Mr. Amodei is one of a growing number of Republicans who, while not explicitly endorsing the Democrats’ impeachment inquiry, are at least indicating an openness to it. None have said Mr. Trump should be impeached. But neither are they defending him.

It is a politically delicate but increasingly common approach among independent-minded lawmakers like Mr. Amodei, who are working to balance their fear of inviting Mr. Trump’s wrath — and that of the party base — with a deep anxiety that there is more to be revealed about the president, some of it potentially indefensible, and the knowledge that history will hold them accountable for their words and actions.

In Michigan, Representative Fred Upton told an audience at the Detroit Economic Club that while he did not support an impeachment inquiry, “there are legitimate questions” about Mr. Trump’s interactions with Ukraine, and he had no problem with Democrats’ efforts to get more information.

“We need to know what the answers are,” he said.

In Texas, Representative Will Hurd — who is retiring, and therefore perhaps feeling liberated to speak his mind — has called on the House to investigate the “troubling” allegations against Mr. Trump, though he cautioned against a rush to impeachment. In Pennsylvania, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick said he thinks law enforcement should investigate. In Illinois, Representative Adam Kinzinger said, “I want to know what happened here.”

In Maine, Senator Susan Collins, a Republican whose seat is seen by Democrats as especially vulnerable, also criticized Mr. Trump’s decision to call on China to investigate a political rival. “It’s completely inappropriate,” she told the Bangor Daily News on Saturday.

And in Utah, Senator Mitt Romney, who has emerged as a lonely voice criticizing Mr. Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, and last week called the president’s appeal for foreign help investigating the Bidens “wrong and appalling,” appears to have company. Before a whistle-blower’s complaint against Mr. Trump was made public, a fellow Utahan, Representative John Curtis, introduced a resolution calling for the White House to release it, and he has said he is “closely monitoring the formal inquiry.”

On Saturday, in a warning shot to Republicans who might cross him, Mr. Trump lashed out at Mr. Romney on Twitter, calling him a “pompous ‘ass’ who has been fighting me from the beginning” and using the hashtag #IMPEACHMITTROMNEY.”

[Tendrin]

WPP might like this twitter thread:

https://twitter.com/JimSwiftDC/statu...93803287470082

[Tami]

WPP might like this twitter thread:

https://twitter.com/JimSwiftDC/statu...93803287470082

I just posted to it, guess which one is mine.

[Celgress]

interesting, and correct

[PaulBullion]

Not suspicious at all:

Botham Jean's neighbor, a key witness in Amber Guyger trial, shot to death in Dallas

A preliminary investigation shows Brown was shot in the back and thigh, a government official said on condition of anonymity.

Dallas County prosecutor Jason Hermus, the lead prosecutor in the Guyger case, said Saturday that Brown stood up at a time when others won't say what they know.

"He bravely came forward to testify when others wouldn't, " Hermus said. "If we had more people like him, we would have a better world."

[PaulBullion]

U.S., North Korea break off nuclear talks

Deals made: zero.

[jetengine]

U.S., North Korea break off nuclear talks

Deals made: zero.

So much winning

[kidfresh512]

Not suspicious at all:

Botham Jean's neighbor, a key witness in Amber Guyger trial, shot to death in Dallas

And I read the other witness who filmed the aftermath also got death threats and lost her job.
Crazy

[numberthirty]

-https://fox4kc.com/2019/10/06/9-shot...ty-kansas-bar/

Nine shot, four killed in Sunday morning shooting at Kansas City, Kansas bar

[PaulBullion]

I'm wondering how worried Biden is about Sanders' health.

If Bernard officially bows out before the first primary, beating Warren will be a huge task.