@16:00, , 8/28/19

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1

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

Katie Glueck at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 16 minutes 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.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/ 

I am shocked.

2 

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

Katie Rogers and Zolan Kanno-Youngs at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 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.

The wall is not getting built.

3 

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

Julian E. Barnes at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 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.

That does not work.

The Strait of Hormuz is almost line of sight. 

Easy radar range.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz 

4 

The Amazon, Siberia, Indonesia: A World of Fire

NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 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.

Yes

I do not have a timing for the end of civilization

5 

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

Thomas Gibbons-Neff at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 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.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/jim-mattis-duty-democracy-and-the-threat-of-tribalism-11566984601

The problems are not yet terminal.
A civil war is not a good thing.

6  

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

Sharon LaFraniere at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 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.

The administration wants a kangaroo court.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_court

7 

Isakson to Resign From Senate, Citing Health Reasons

Emily Cochrane at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 4 hours ago

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

Often the plea is spending more time with family.

8 

Facebook Tightens Rules on Verifying Political Advertisers

Davey Alba at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 8 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.

pointless distraction.

9 

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 - 10 hours ago

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

Astroturf.

10 

On Politics: China Is Using LinkedIn to Recruit Spies

NYT > U.S. > Politics - 13 hours ago

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

China is a sovereign nation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_state

11 

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

Astead W. Herndon at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 17 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.

They may think so.
I will take him at his words.

12 

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

Alan Rappeport at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 21 hours ago

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

No change.

13 

Steve King Back in Spotlight After Comments on Uighurs

Catie Edmondson at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 21 hours 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.”

Send Steve King to a camp.

14 

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 - 21 hours ago

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

True.

15 

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

Catie Edmondson at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 23 hours ago

Two American senators critical of the Kremlin said that Russia had denied them visas to visit as part of a congressional delegation.

Russia is a sovereign state.

16 

How China Uses LinkedIn to Recruit Spies Abroad

Edward Wong at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

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

China is a sovereign state.

17 

Why This Joe Biden Health Care Ad Stands Out

Katie Glueck at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

It’s “personal to me,” the former vice president says in a new ad that features his own family losses to highlight the importance of health care.

There are no indispensable men.

18 

Farmers’ Frustration With Trump Grows as U.S. Escalates China Fight

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

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, a somewhat unlikely lieutenant in the president’s trade war, is tasked with fending off a revolt from the heart of the president’s base.

Good.

19 

Can $100 Million Buy a Spot at the Debate?

Shane Goldmacher at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

Tom Steyer, the billionaire former investor, is an unlikely populist. But he is poised to be a deeply disruptive figure in the Democratic primary race.

possibly.

20 

How ‘Medicare for All’ Went Mainstream

Robert Draper at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

In the last presidential election, the idea of abolishing private health insurance was confined to the far left of American politics. Now it’s the central argument of the Democratic primary race.

It doesn't matter.
 

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