Light News Dump

After Lucy McBath won one of the closest races in the country, she earned a seat on the House Judiciary Committee to press for gun control — her life's work after her teenage son, Jordan Davis, was shot and killed in 2012. The committee gives McBath a powerful perch to advocate for change from the inside after years of working as an activist. But it also puts her squarely in the middle of the partisan debate over whether to impeach President Donald Trump, forcing her to cast politically divisive votes on holding Attorney General Bill Barr in contempt and to question witnesses in high-profile hearings that Republicans have labeled as stunts. For Democrats hailing from more liberal parts of the country, that might be a welcome way to boost their anti-Trump bona-fides. But for McBath, the first Democrat in 40 years to represent her district in the affluent Atlanta suburbs, it's trouble. Although she has avoided talk of impeachment, choosing instead to focus on gun violence and more popular issues like health care, the question still follows her. At a town hall event with more than 300 people last weekend, one of her own supporters confronted her, saying she was concerned that McBath had not embraced launching an impeachment inquiry in the House. The woman's question— the second out of about a dozen that day — was interrupted by applause from the audience. McBath replied that she is "furious" about "the lack of accountability" from the Trump administration. But then, in a clear nod to her swing district, she said she did not enjoy the position the President's actions put her in. "I don't like having to do this," said McBath. "I don't want to have to say this about our President of the United States and the White House. I take no great joy in doing this."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/12/politics/lucy-mcbath-impeachment-pressure/index.html

Iowa voter: Trump's lies won't change my vote for him
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/06/11/iowa-voters-randi-kaye-intv-ac-360-vpx.cnn

Former Trump aide Hope Hicks agrees to closed-door interview with House Judiciary panel.
https://apnews.com/53d9cead092b40dfbe3c22a32f10565f

Trump asserts executive privilege to shield documents from House panel investigating decision to add citizenship question to census
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2019/06/12/trump-asserts-executive-privilege-to-shield-documents-from-house-panel-investigating-decision-to-add-citizenship-question-to-census/

At least 70 cases of rape and bodies 'thrown into the Nile' in Sudan after a protest in what some call an 'act of genocide'
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/11/sudan-troops-protesters-attack-sit-in-rape-khartoum-doctors-report

"I think I'd take it": In exclusive interview, Trump says he would listen if foreigners offered dirt on opponents.
 George: "The FBI director says you must turn over info foreign dirt to the FBI". Trump: "The FBI director is wrong"
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jun/12/donald-trump-george-stephanopoulos-interview-says-/

Oregon governor signs bill granting state's electoral votes to national popular vote winner
https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/12/politics/oregon-joins-national-popular-vote-compact/index.html
https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/state-status

After Dean Obeidallah wrote a Daily Beast article condemning President Trump’s approach to white supremacist terror in 2017, the neo-Nazi site The Daily Stormer website falsely accused Obeidallah of being behind an ISIS attack. Now The Daily Stormer’s founder is being forced to pay him millions for the smear.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/daily-beast-contributor-dean-obeidallah-wins-dollar41-million-from-neo-nazi-andrew-anglin-for-isis-smear/
https://www.thedailybeast.com/will-donald-trump-ever-say-the-words-white-supremacist-terrorism
https://www.thedailybeast.com/daily-stormer-framed-muslim-comedian-for-terror-attack-lawsuit-says

Duncan Hunter's Wife Margaret to Plead Guilty in Corruption Case
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-12/wife-of-congressman-hunter-to-plead-guilty-in-corruption-case

Trump International Hotel will host a climate denial conference
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-international-hotel-will-host-a-climate-denial-conference-5cf2c28b695d/

All-Repubublican Wisconsin Supreme Court reinstates illegally enacted Republican laws that strip Democratic governers of power. Current newly-elected Democrat Wisconsin governor will be stripped of almost all governor powers, governorship is over.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2019/06/11/lame-duck-laws-supreme-court-reinstates-legislation-eve-trial/1412600001/

Ocasio-Cortez: Why are Kobach’s ‘fingerprints’ on controversial Census question? Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., pointed to Kris Kobach’s involvement in adding a citizenship question to the Census during a contempt hearing for two top Trump administration officials.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article231472803.html

'This Is Sick': Horror as Trump Administration Plans to Detain Migrant Children at Former Japanese Internment Camp - "It feels as though history can't yell any louder than this."
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/12/sick-horror-trump-administration-plans-detain-migrant-children-former-japanese

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao still illegally holds construction co. stake she is legally obligated to divest
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/28/transportation-secy-chao-reportedly-retained-construction-co-stake-she-pledged-to-divest.html

Rachel Maddow Nails Why Democrats Must Stop Overthinking Donald Trump’s Impeachment
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rachel-maddow-donald-trump-impeachment-seth-meyers_n_5d00a6b7e4b075510399cb78

Trump's War on Science is Grounds to Impeach - There are fresh signs that the Trump Administration intends to actively interfere in research by federal scientists.
https://progressive.org/dispatches/trump-war-on-science-trump-impeach-sen-190612/

At Least 22 Foreign Governments Have Spent Cash at Trump Properties
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-at-least-22-foreign-governments-have-spent-cash-at-presidents-properties

Rural Voters ‘Tired and Frustrated’ With Trump But Sticking With Him And Republicans No Matter What
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-12/trump-s-rural-base-sticks-with-him-despite-discontent-on-trade

YouTube channels from prominent white supremacists, white nationalists, and neo-Nazis are still on YouTube, a week after it announced new hate speech policies
https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-videos-from-white-supremacists-nationalists-neo-nazis-remain-2019-6

In a landmark appointment for the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring University of California-Berkeley women’s head coach Lindsay Gottlieb to be an assistant coach on John Beilein’s staff, league sources tell ESPN.
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1138852267468238848

Gottlieb – a Final Four and seven-time NCAA Tournament head coach for Cal – is the first women’s collegiate head coach recruited to an NBA coaching staff
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1138852414348505088

YEP: Mark Cuban says NBA and NBPA should invest "in research into diagnostic tools that allow for proactive analysis of tendons and ligaments so that we can pre-empt the devastating injuries":     The take away from last nights finals gm should be that the @nba & PA invest in research into diagnostic tools that allow for proactive analysis of tendons and ligaments so that we can pre-empt the devastating injuries.     And so many others have experienced. The reality of sports medicine is that it is still as much art as science. However, technology is turning a corner and we can accelerate the advances through investment. Teams are investing anecdotally where we can,    But it’s now time to invest as a league, even if results may be 10 or 20 years away , we would benefit players who are coming into the league now. It’s our responsibility to the players who make this league so successful
https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1138553904025690112
https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1138553911827025920
https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1138553917439000576

Missile hits arrivals hall of Saudi Arabia airport, injuring 26, official says. A missile fired by Houthi rebels struck the arrivals hall of an airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, injuring 26 people, a Saudi official said. Eighteen people were treated at Abha International Airport for minor injuries and another eight were taken to hospital, Turki al-Malki, spokesman of the US-backed Saudi-led coalition battling rebels in Yemen, said in a statement published on Saudi state media.
"Three women, a Yemeni, an Indian and Saudi and two Saudi children were amongst those injured," al-Malki said, adding that "authorities are working on identifying the type of missile that was used in this terrorist attack."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/12/middleeast/saudi-airport-houthi-missile-intl/index.html

Jim Sciutto: As you watch the F-35 flyover today, remember China now has a virtually identical fighter jet in its J-31, the result of years of stealing US secrets. I dedicate a chapter of #TheShadowWar to this remarkable cyber theft. (H/t @PopMech for the photos) https://twitter.com/jimsciutto/status/1138883581827305472

Pompeo setting up panel to redefine human rights as based 'natural law' alarms many
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/state-dept-panel-redefine-human-rights-based-natural/story?id=63400485&

In March a trans lady asked Beto what he would do for the LGBT community, he asked for her guidance with any future proposals he would put forth. The policies he unveiled today were made with her input.
https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1108089004061310976

‘Obscenely lenient’: Outrage as huntsman who fed fox cubs to his hounds is not banned from keeping animals - A UK judge’s decision not to ban from keeping animals a huntsman and kennel maid who fed live fox cubs to hounds has prompted an outpouring of anger and calls for tougher laws.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/fox-cub-hunting-paul-oliver-hannah-rose-trial-sentence-animal-cruelty-a8953961.html

Throw Barr in jail. He is a criminal attacking America. He is not working for America. Investigate his Russian ties: Barr-Led Justice Department Team Trump Toadies intend to interview senior C.I.A. officers as they review the Russia investigation, according to people briefed on the matter, indicating they are focused partly on the intelligence agencies’ most explosive conclusion about the 2016 election: that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia intervened to benefit Donald J. Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/12/us/politics/russia-investigation-cia.html
#ImpeachBarrNow

Howard Schultz held a meeting with staff today and annonced he was essentially letting them all go (except those in senior leadership). He might relaunch his campaign after Super Tuesday too if Biden isn’t the nominee. It’s an interesting theory to believe that a Dem primary electorate who didn’t select Joe Biden as nominee would want Howard Schultz instead.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/howard-schultz-campaign_n_5d014bc4e4b0304a120909d6?klw

Iran village stages mock bombing of Israel, White House, as top generals watch
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-village-stages-mock-bombing-of-israel-white-house-as-top-generals-watch/

Balloon-borne bomb from Gaza explodes over Israeli town
https://www.timesofisrael.com/balloon-borne-bomb-from-gaza-explodes-over-israeli-town/

This viral Schwarzenegger deepfake isn't just entertaining. It's a warning. The emergence of fake videos have become a sort of test run and public service announcement, heightening public awareness of deepfake technology | The emergence of these videos has led to growing concern that they could be used to spread a new, powerful form of misinformation ahead of the 2020 elections. Videos of politicians could be easily manipulated to portray them as saying things they never really said. But the Hader-Schwarzenegger video, along with other celebrity-based videos, have become a sort of test run and public service announcement, heightening public awareness of deepfake technology and also making sure some deepfakes have trouble getting monetized. | On Thursday, the House Intelligence Committee will hold a hearing to examine what it calls “the national security threats posed by AI-enabled fake content, what can be done to detect and combat it, and what role the public sector, the private sector, and society as a whole should play to counter a potentially grim, ‘post-truth’ future.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/viral-schwarzenegger-deepfake-isn-t-just-entertaining-it-s-warning-n1016851

The helicopter that slammed the roof of a NYC skyscraper easily ventured into a tightly restricted no-fly zones, raising concerns about post-9/11 vulnerability,
https://apnews.com/dfbd1d85669a4431af3fcd8f9be81331