NEW THINGS: @20:45, , 8/28/19

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1

Barr Plans to Throw $30,000 Holiday Party at the Trump Hotel in Washington

Katie Benner at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 30 minutes ago

The attorney general made his plans as the Justice Department defends President Trump in lawsuits accusing him of trying to profit from the presidency.

It could be worse.

2

Kirsten Gillibrand Drops Out of 2020 Democratic Presidential Race

Alexander Burns at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

The New York senator anchored her candidacy in issues of women’s equality, but she was unable to gain traction and her failure to qualify for the next debate convinced her to withdraw.

She will be needed in the senate.

3

Guantánamo Prison Commander Was Fired for Mishandling Classified Information

Carol Rosenberg at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

A prosecutor disclosed that the commander’s dismissal in April wasn’t related to his campaign to build a new prison for former C.I.A. detainees.

Prosecutors build convictions.

4

Boris Johnson Prorogues Parliament

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 3 hours ago

I wrote and published a piece briefly on this and realized I was wrong, so I took it down. Johnson has prorogued (suspended) Parliament from about the 11th of September. It’s clearly a maneuver intended to make Brexit more likely, and shady as hell. Under the Westminster tradition Parliament is supreme. Not the Prime Minister. […]

OK

5

The Queen Failed To Do Her Job By Approving Suspending Parliament: End The Monarchy

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 4 hours ago

I’m a royalist. Or, I was a royalist. I didn’t see any harm in having a monarchy with a few rights to review the actions of a democratic government. That took a hit some years ago in Canada, when, in order to avoid a vote of no-confidence he knew he’d lose, Prime Minister Harper pro-rogued […]

previous post is a cancelation of this one.

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6

Polling Picture Comes Into Focus: Biden Leads a 3-Way Race at the Top

Katie Glueck at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

New polls show Joseph R. Biden Jr. at the front of the Democratic race, and the director of a poll that showed him tied with Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders called those results an outlier.

7

Trump Tells Aides ‘Take the Land’ as Impatience Grows on Border Wall

Katie Rogers and Zolan Kanno-Youngs at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

An administration official said that the president was joking — “he winks when he does it” — when he suggested aides break the law to build his wall.

8

U.S. Cyberattack Hurt Iran’s Ability to Target Oil Tankers, Officials Say

Julian E. Barnes at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

The strike came on the same day that President Trump called off a retaliatory airstrike against Iran after it shot down an American drone.

9

The Amazon, Siberia, Indonesia: A World of Fire

NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

The growing intensity of wildfires and their spread to new corners of the globe raises fears that climate change is exacerbating the dangers.

10

Mattis Says U.S. Is Dividing Into ‘Hostile Tribes’ and Defends Importance of Allies

Thomas Gibbons-Neff at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

In an op-ed, Jim Mattis, the former defense secretary, delivered a harsher rebuke to the president’s leadership style than what he initially penned in his resignation letter.

11

Gregory Craig, Washington Lawyer on Trial, Says He Never Lied to Investigators

Sharon LaFraniere at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

Mr. Craig’s unusual case centers on whether he misrepresented his contacts with journalists for work his law firm did for the Ukrainian government.

12

Isakson to Resign From Senate, Citing Health Reasons

Emily Cochrane at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

Senator Johnny Isakson, Republican of Georgia, announced on Wednesday that he will resign from his seat at the end of the year.

13

Facebook Tightens Rules on Verifying Political Advertisers

Davey Alba at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 13 hours ago

Bracing for the 2020 U.S. presidential election, the company adds more steps for buyers of political ads. Disinformation experts aren’t sure it is enough.

14

The Tea Party Didn’t Get What It Wanted, but It Did Unleash the Politics of Anger

Jeremy W. Peters at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 15 hours ago

Ten years after a summer of rage over spending, trillion-dollar deficits are back.

15

On Politics: China Is Using LinkedIn to Recruit Spies

NYT > U.S. > Politics - 17 hours ago

Western intelligence officials say Chinese agents are contacting thousands of foreign citizens using LinkedIn, including former government officials.

16

Biden Extols His Black Support: ‘I Think They Know Me’

Astead W. Herndon at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 21 hours ago

In an interview with black journalists, the former vice president cited his support among black voters to push back on criticism of his candidacy as focused on the white working class.

17

Call Me Maybe? Conflicting Views Show Gap Between U.S. and China

Alan Rappeport at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

The two countries cannot even agree on whether they held trade negotiations by telephone over the weekend.

18

Steve King Back in Spotlight After Comments on Uighurs

Catie Edmondson at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

In discussing the mass detention and mistreatment of Uighurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group, Mr. King of Iowa seemingly joked that he supported Chinese efforts to “force them to eat pork.”

19

Joe Walsh Says Trump Is ‘Unfit’ to Be President. Some Say the Same About Him.

Matt Stevens and Annie Karni at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

Mr. Walsh announced on Sunday that he would seek the Republican nomination for president. His campaign is off to a rough start.

20

Russia Bars 2 U.S. Senators From Entering Country Ahead of Congressional Trip