@22:55, , 10/4/19

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1

2nd Official Is Weighing Whether to Blow the Whistle on Trump’s Ukraine Dealings

Michael S. Schmidt and Adam Goldman at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago

The official, a member of the intelligence community, was interviewed by the inspector general to corroborate the original whistle-blower’s account.

Better late  than never.

2 

Impeachment Investigators Subpoena White House and Ask Pence for Documents on Ukraine

Nicholas Fandos at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

House Democrats sent a subpoena to the White House requesting a vast range of documents about President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine and efforts to cover up his actions.

The documents will be produced.

3 

Facing Fresh Revelations, Republicans Struggle to Mount a Defense of Trump

Catie Edmondson at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

Top Republicans have labored to find a unified message to push back against the rapidly expanding inquiry and break through a cascade of damaging information.

Trump has said he did it.

4 

Bernie Sanders Had Heart Attack, His Doctors Say as He Leaves Hospital

Sydney Ember at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 4 hours ago

“After two and a half days in the hospital, I feel great, and after taking a short time off, I look forward to getting back to work,” Mr. Sanders said.

Vermont needs Sanders in the Senate.

5 

Saudi Arabia and Iran Make Quiet Openings to Head Off War

Farnaz Fassihi and Ben Hubbard at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 4 hours ago

Weeks after the Middle East seemed on the verge of war, Saudi Arabia and Iran are seeking ways to ease tensions. A warming relationship could have far-reaching consequences.

Interesting if true.

https://www.juancole.com/2019/09/houthis-captured-thousands.html

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/iran-open-starting-dialogue-saudi-arabia-speaker-191001142418111.html

It looks to be true.

6 

The Trump Impeachment Inquiry: What Happened Today

Noah Weiland at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 4 hours ago

House committees request documents from Vice President Pence. Plus, text messages raise questions of quid pro quo.

Quid pro quo is unquestionable.

7 

Elizabeth Warren Campaign Fires Staff Member for ‘Inappropriate Behavior’

Astead W. Herndon at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 4 hours ago

Richard McDaniel, Ms. Warren’s national organizing director, was let go from the campaign after it “determined that his reported conduct was inconsistent with its values.”

It does not make me happy.
I have no further facts.

8 

Trump Administration Unveils More Cuts to Food Stamp Program

Lola Fadulu at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 6 hours ago

The administration’s proposal, the third food-stamp rule change since December, would reduce spending by $4.5 billion over five years and cut benefits for one in five families.

The administration is determined to make people unhappy.

9 

Trump Claims Texts Prove No ‘Quid Pro Quos of Any Kind’ With Ukraine. But His Ambassador Suspected One. 

Annie Karni at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

Speaking to reporters, President Trump also said his requests for information on former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his son Hunter Biden don’t “pertain to anything but corruption.”

The evidence has been produced.

10 

Treasury Inspector General to Review Handling of Trump’s Tax Returns

Alan Rappeport at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

House Democrats requested an inquiry after a whistle-blower complaint from an Internal Revenue Service employee.

Congress has the right to know.

11 

The Simple Truth About Libya and Syria

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 7 hours ago

Whatever one thinks of the pre-war regimes of Assad and Qaddafi, the majority of people in Syria were better off before the wars. This so completely undeniable, that anyone who claims otherwise is delusional or a liar (and hopefully on a payroll.) War should have the highest bar of all because, as was noted at […]

Ian Welsh finds more low hanging fruit.

12 

Trump Denies Quid Pro Quo for Ukraine, but Envoys Had Their Doubts

Peter Baker at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

Trump is known to lie.

13

House Targets White House and Pence for Ukraine Documents as Impeachment Inquiry Grows

Nicholas Fandos at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

House Democrats sent a subpoena to the White House requesting a vast range of documents about President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine and efforts to cover up his actions.

It takes a little time to prepare subpoenas.

14 

Stunt Aimed at Ocasio-Cortez Over Climate Change: ‘Start Eating Babies’

Azi Paybarah at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

The congresswoman was criticized by President Trump and other Republicans for her measured response to a woman’s suggestion to “eat the children.”

Ocasio-Cortez handeled the stunt well.

15 

Trump, Facing Farmers’ Discontent, Plans Help for Ethanol

Lisa Friedman at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

Amid rising political pressure from trade-war fallout, the Trump administration is moving to increase purchases of domestic grain to make ethanol.

Drink will not pay the farmers bills.

16 

Sanders Said He Had a Common Heart Procedure. So Why the Mystery?

Lawrence K. Altman, M.D. at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

For three days, Mr. Sanders did not disclose pertinent health details, stirring questions about his condition. On Friday evening, doctors confirmed he had suffered a heart attack.

Scary talk.

17 

Volker Gives New Details on Giuliani’s Role in Ukraine Policy

Peter Baker at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

During private testimony, Kurt D. Volker, the special envoy, said Rudolph W. Giuliani rejected a generic anticorruption statement Ukraine planned to release.

Volker is the man who knows.

18 

Warren and Sanders, and Their Messages of Change, Dominate the Money Race

Thomas Kaplan at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago

Elizabeth Warren raised nearly as much money as Bernie Sanders over the past three months. They have both shunned wealthy donors, yet they are way ahead of everyone else.

I am pleased.

19 

What Was Gordon Sondland’s Mission to Ukraine for Trump All About?

Steven Erlanger and Matina Stevis-Gridneff at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago

The U.S. ambassador to the European Union says he was given a ‘‘special assignment’’ to handle Ukraine relations, a role now under scrutiny.

He will be asked.

20 

Trump Denies Quid Pro Quo for Ukraine, but Envoys Had Their Doubts

Peter Baker at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 12 hours ago

While President Trump has denied any quid pro quo in pushing Ukraine to investigate his foes, text messages indicate that his own team saw it otherwise.

Trump is known to lie.

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