News Dump

The president asked a foreign power to help him win an election. Again.
https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/1175057140261822465

Trump says 'it doesn't matter' if he asked Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/09/20/trump-said-doesnt-matter-if-he-asked-ukraine-investigate-biden/2383506001/

This story is stunning and should be shaking Washington right now—Donald Trump's moral vandalism disqualifies him from being president. As I've said before, it's time for impeachment proceedings.
https://twitter.com/CoryBooker/status/1175151995373740032

After the Mueller report, Congress had a duty to begin impeachment. By failing to act, Congress is complicit in Trump’s latest attempt to solicit foreign interference to aid him in US elections. Do your constitutional duty and impeach the president.
https://twitter.com/ewarren/status/1175192494734266369

A president is sitting in the Oval Office, right now, who continues to commit crimes. He continues because he knows his Justice Department won't act and believes Congress won’t either. Today’s news confirmed he thinks he’s above the law. If we do nothing, he’ll be right.
https://twitter.com/ewarren/status/1175192497083047937

Mitch McConnell is also complicit. The Senate must vote on the bill, already passed by the House, to help states and localities protect themselves from the foreign attacks on our elections that the President has previously welcomed.
https://twitter.com/ewarren/status/1175192498672742405

Trump would rather risk the lives of families who are seeking asylum than welcome them here. We need a president who honors our identity as a nation comprised of immigrants from the world over and recognizes they aren't a threat to our country, but the reason we are great.
https://twitter.com/BetoORourke/status/1175156790805389314

In 2016, President Trump asked Russia to interfere in our elections. In 2020, he's asking Ukraine to do the same. If no one is above the law, then we have no choice but to impeach this president. When will Congress have the courage to act?
https://twitter.com/BetoORourke/status/1175111419601309696

Harvey was Houston's third 500-year flood in 3 years. Now, the region is flooding again. Climate change isn't a distant threat, it's already here. Following the lead of students like @GretaThunberg who I will be striking in solidarity with today, we must do everything to end it.
https://twitter.com/BetoORourke/status/1175085440510111745

It's not complicated. If the executive really did abuse his power to push a foreign government to knock out his political rival before the next election, that's either too much for you or nothing ever will be. Don't need a statutory citation. We're a free republic or we're not.
https://twitter.com/waltshaub/status/1175191366147686401

Next up: "He abused the great power you entrusted to him and committed an act that threatens the very fabric of the republic by subverting the only thing that makes it a republic, but it's fine because you can't prove there was a quid pro quo." Pro tip: That's nonsense.
https://twitter.com/waltshaub/status/1175177965841334273

"No collusion" they cried.

"No collusion" they cried for 2½ years.

Now they cry, "So what if he colluded with a vulnerable foreign government by trying to strong-arm it into subverting the very electoral process that makes us a free country."

"So what" they cry.
https://twitter.com/waltshaub/status/1175176017427795968

It's also vaguely reminiscent of this 1977 OLC opinion on informal presidential advisors doing government work. It theorizes that, if they go far enough, they might be deemed govt officials (who are covered by the conflict of interest law).
https://twitter.com/waltshaub/status/1175154921882181632

I hadn’t seen this mural since early August. @manueloliver00, whose son Joaquin was killed at Parkland, painted it on the side of @LasAmericasIAC the day after the El Paso massacre. It’s beautiful and powerful.
https://twitter.com/BobMooreNews/status/1175172123779686400
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EE8M0EhVAAAamPc.jpg

Trump's "farmer" bailout is already more than twice as expensive as Obama's automaker bailout
https://theweek.com/speedreads/866567/trumps-farmer-bailout-already-more-than-twice-expensive-obamas-automaker-bailout

Australia banned from speaking at UN Climate Change Summit in unprecedented rebuke
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/australia-banned-from-speaking-at-un-climate-change-summit-in-unprecedented-rebuke

Sanders Vows, If Elected, to Pursue Criminal Charges Against Fossil Fuel CEOs for Knowingly 'Destroying the Planet'
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/20/sanders-vows-if-elected-pursue-criminal-charges-against-fossil-fuel-ceos-knowingly

U.S. Marine unit makes plans to illegally hold annual ball at Trump's Mar-A-Lago Resort amid controversy over spending at Trump venues
https://www.newsweek.com/us-marine-unit-makes-plans-hold-annual-ball-trumps-mar-lago-resort-amid-controversy-over-1460342

Chris Cuomo and Rudy Giuliani had a 28-minute shouting match over the whistleblower complaint, and Giuliani admitted he told Ukraine to investigate Biden
https://www.businessinsider.com/chris-cuomo-rudy-giuliani-shouting-match-cnn-ukraine-2019-9

Giuliani says 'of course' he asked Ukraine to look into Biden seconds after denying it (
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/462277-giuliani-says-of-course-he-asked-ukraine-to-look-into-biden-seconds
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/19/giuliani-biden-ukraine-trump-1506009
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/19/politics/rudy-giuliani-joe-biden-ukraine-cnntv/index.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/20/giuliani-admits-asking-ukraine-about-joe-biden-after-denying-it-seconds-earlier/

Whistleblower complaint about President Trump involves Ukraine, according to two people familiar with the matter
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/whistleblower-complaint-about-president-trump-involves-ukraine-according-to-two-people-familiar-with-the-matter/2019/09/19/07e33f0a-daf6-11e9-bfb1-849887369476_story.html

Trump Dismantling US Response to Russian Annexation of Crimea
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-dismantling-us-response-to-russian-annexation-of-crimea-68312645661

Trump to Ukraine: No Aid Unless You Smear Joe Biden
https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/09/trump-to-ukraine-no-aid-unless-you-smear-joe-biden/

Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw tries to hide in elevator while confronted by combat veterans over his support for Trump: 'Do your duty'
https://www.newsweek.com/gop-rep-dan-crenshaw-tries-hide-elevator-while-confronted-combat-veterans-over-his-support-1460313

Democrats target over 26,000 local races to unseat Republicans
https://www.axios.com/democrats-target-over-26000-local-races-to-unseat-republicans-771605f1-c5fb-49ff-bcd2-f3fcab22413d.html

US faces 'unacceptable risk' of exploding planes and crumbling buildings if Trump border wall funds not replaced, Pentagon warns
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-border-wall-pentagon-military-infrastructure-exploding-planes-a9112296.html

The Working Families Party calls out Berniebros for being white racist terrorists who frequently harass POC with violent racist threats
https://i.redd.it/rbfy75nq1nn31.jpg

Working Families Party Staffers Face Harassment After Warren Endorsement
https://time.com/5681261/working-families-party-harrassment/

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio ends his bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2019/09/20/new-york-mayor-bill-de-blasio-ends-his-bid-for-the-2020-democratic-presidential-nomination/

Iraqi Kids Test Positive for Depleted Uranium Remnants Near Former US Air Base
https://truthout.org/articles/iraqi-children-test-positive-for-depleted-uranium-near-former-us-air-base/

These Photos Show The Extent Of The Youth-Led Global Climate Strike
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zahrahirji/climate-strike-greta-thunberg-fridays-for-future?ref=bfnsplash

If Texas Is Going To Turn Blue, It Starts With This Special Election | But if she wins Texas' 28th Statehouse District in November, Eliz Markowitz could help change the course of U.S. politics for the next decade. | Ahead of the Nov. 5 contest, Markowitz is drawing the focus of nearly every Democratic group in the country whose mission it is to win down-ballot races. | They're sending strategic advice, voter data, targeting methods, email lists several hundred thousand-strong with small donors, and volunteers. Besides the O'Rourke campaign, Annie's List, a Texas version of EMILY's List that recruits and funds female Democratic candidates, is spending five figures to help her win, and the Texas Democratic Party is lavishing "a lot of resources," said Abhi Rahman, the group's spokesman. (Ahead of an October deadline to disclose its spending, groups are being cagey about precise figures.) | If none of the candidates win 50% of the vote, the top two advance to a runoff. The large slate of Republicans all but guarantees that Markowitz would make the runoff, and it essentially makes her the only candidate in the race who could win outright.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/texas-special-election-eliz-markowitz_n_5d7fa712e4b077dcbd61e2c6

Tensions rise in the Australian outback as Christian missionaries destroy sacred Aboriginal artefacts, claiming that Aboriginal culture is a form of devil worship.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-20/the-christian-converts-who-are-setting-fire-to-sacred-aboriginal/11527402

Bernie's press secretary is handling the racist abuse from Sanders supporters toward the WFP just as I expected her to...by saying other people are doing it too.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EE6hiiqU0AsT6nf.jpg

Thousands of Scientists From 40 Nations Join Global Climate Strike: "Students have led and we must follow—in defense of the scientific truths our colleagues have discovered over the decades, and of the planet we love."
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/19/students-have-led-and-we-must-follow-thousands-scientists-40-nations-join-global

LaMelo Ball put on a show for the 27 NBA scouts in Tasmania with 20 pts, 13 rebs, 7 assists. Showed terrific creativity w/both hands off a live dribble, made a bunch of deep 3s, and played solid D. Impressive stuff in a competitive overtime win against the reigning @NBL champs.
https://twitter.com/draftexpress/status/1174987784475435009?s=21

Antonio Brown has created more public relations problems for the Patriots in a week-and-a-half than he did in nine years for the Steelers.
https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/1175021614687227905


California Sues the Trump Administration in Its Escalating War Over Auto Emissions
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/climate/california-auto-emissions-lawsuit.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes

California files its 60th lawsuit against Trump. This time: protecting state’s clean-car rules
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article235299752.html

California, 22 other states sue U.S. over Trump auto emissions rules
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-emissions-lawsuit-idUSKBN1W51ZU

U.S. lifts tariffs on 400 Chinese products, Trump cites trade progress
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china/u-s-lifts-tariffs-on-400-chinese-products-trump-cites-trade-progress-idUSKBN1W51Z9?il=0

Gilbert Kaplan, the Commerce Department’s top trade enforcement official, resigned Thursday, further underscoring the turmoil that has gripped the agency under the leadership of Secretary Wilbur Ross.
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/20/top-commerce-trade-official-resigns-1506540

Trump, Carson reject California's request for federal help on homelessness
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-carson-reject-californias-request-federal-homelessness/story?id=65699983

Facebook revealed Friday that it had suspended “tens of thousands” of apps that may have mishandled users’ personal data, part of an investigation sparked by the social media giant’s entanglement with Cambridge Analytica.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/09/20/facebook-suspends-tens-thousands-apps-following-data-investigation/
https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2019/09/an-update-on-our-app-developer-investigation/

Ukrainian president to meet with Trump amid whistleblower probe
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukrainian-president-to-meet-with-donald-trump-amid-whistleblower-probe-director-of-national-intelligence-2019-09-20/

PA and WI Lost the Most Factory Jobs in Past Year
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-20/two-u-s-swing-states-lost-the-most-factory-jobs-in-past-year

Experts Sound the Alarm as Nuclear Power Regulators Ease Security: "The industry is under economic strain, so they're looking to cut wherever they possibly can, and this is one place that they've been harping on for a long time to cut,"
https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2019-09-20/nuclear-power-regulators-ease-security-and-experts-sound-the-alarm

Ask Chuck Schumer what he’s been able to get done,” O’Rourke told reporters in Aurora late Thursday. “We still don’t have [universal] background checks. Didn’t have them when he was in the majority, either....The game that he’s played, the politics that he’s pursued have given us absolutely nothing and have produced a situation where we lose nearly 40,000 of our fellow Americans every year.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/09/20/beto-orourkes-demand-for-gun-confiscation-sparks-feuds-with-trump-and-fellow-democrat-schumer/

The Hawks announce the signing of 42-year-old Vince Carter for his final season in the #NBA. When Carter appears in his first game in 2020, he will become the first NBA player to play in a game in four decades.
https://twitter.com/MarcJSpearsESPN/status/1175078331387015169?s=19

Chinese trade negotiators cancel US farm visit, cut trip short
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/20/chinese-trade-negotiators-cancels-us-farm-visit-cuts-trip-short.html

Trump is stressing our Republic to the breaking point. America will be unrecognizable if he remains in office.

Just a reminder that Al Gore immediately and voluntarily called the FBI when he was approached with information stolen from the Bush campaign.
https://www.justsecurity.org/60200/trumps-unlearned-lessons-chinas-clinton-gore-election-interference/

What's wild about prospect of Trump, whether explicitly or implicitly, holding foreign aid as leverage for Ukraine to investigate Biden: they're essentially asking Ukraine to investigate the very behavior they're engaging in.

That Trump felt emboldened enough to try to personally collude with a foreign government to shape the 2020 election *after* the Russia investigation is pretty good evidence that he believes there are literally no checks on him at all.
https://twitter.com/ezraklein/status/1175142534118424576

Remember when Bill Clinton speaking with Loretta Lynch for a few mins on a tarmac was an epic scandal? It was one of several things that cost Hillary the election.

Trump’s nominee to lead a federal media organization has been illegally funding his own private film company with donations from a nonprofit that he runs. Michael Pack, a conservative filmmaker, saw at least $1.6 million in donations from his nonprofit illegally sent into the coffers of his independent production company, Manifold Productions, according to disclosure forms reviewed by CNBC.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/20/trump-nominee-michael-pack-used-nonprofit-donations-to-fund-media-firm.html

Trump’s nominee to lead a federal media organization has been funding his own private film company with donations from a nonprofit that he runs.

New England Patriots release Antonio Brown amid rape allegations | The controversial wide receiver told his now-former team: "Thanks for the opportunity."
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/patriots-release-antonio-brown-after-amid-rape-allegations-n1057176

Had Antonio Brown not texted a person who has accused him, maybe the Patriots keep him. The difference between those texts and everything else is Brown sent them while he was on Patriots. Likely showed Belichick AB couldn't be trusted to follow team culture & not worth the chaos.
https://twitter.com/McCannSportsLaw/status/1175143940426780674

Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson is departing the State Department, per an official statement. The statement doesn't say where's she's off to next.
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2019/09/20/top-arms-control-weapon-sales-official-out-at-state/

Department of Homeland Security strategy adds white supremacy to list of threats | Recent mass shootings have "galvanized the Department of Homeland Security to expand its counterterrorism mission focus beyond terrorists operating aboard," acting DHS Sec. Kevin McAleenan.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/department-homeland-security-strategy-adds-white-supremacy-list-threats-n1057136

Judge orders President Trump to testify in 2015 lawsuit
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/judge-orders-president-trump-to-testify-in-2015-lawsuit/2019/09/20/caaf9026-dbd5-11e9-bfb1-849887369476_story.html

Christian activist group creates petition for criminal investigation into Jerry Falwell
http://wset.com/news/local/christian-activist-group-creates-petition-for-criminal-investigation-into-jerry-falwell

'Someone's Gotta Tell the Freakin' Truth': Jerry Falwell's Aides Break Their Silence | More than two dozen current and former Liberty University officials describe a culture of fear and self-dealing at the largest Christian college in the world.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/09/09/jerry-falwell-liberty-university-loans-227914

Republican senators have piled $96 million into stocks in companies they regulate
https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/51-senators-have-96-million-in-stocks-raising-conflicts-interest-2019-9-1028540803

Numerous States Sue Trump Admin, Elaine Chao Over Uniform Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rule
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/numerous-states-sue-trump-admin-elaine-chao-and-others-over-uniform-greenhouse-gas-emissions-rule/

Jeff Bezos unveils sweeping plan to tackle climate change. Bezos says Amazon is committed to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement 10 years early. Bezos expects 80% of Amazon’s energy use to come from renewable sources by 2024, before transitioning to zero emissions by 2030
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/19/jeff-bezos-speaks-about-amazon-sustainability-in-washington-dc.html

Trudeau vows to ban military-style assault rifles, including AR-15
https://globalnews.ca/news/5928779/justin-trudeau-assault-rifle-ban/

Adam Silver on tampering punishments: "Suspending executives...taking away draft picks....voiding contracts...All those provisions are on the table. The ultimate goal is compliance." Silver says fining teams can often be the least effective avenue to rules compliance.
http://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1175129579956187137

Trump threatens to release ISIS captives at European borders - "At some point, I'm going to have to say, 'I'm sorry, but you either take them back or we're going to let them go at your border,'"
https://www.france24.com/en/20190920-trump-threatens-to-release-is-captives-at-european-borders

Chinese journalists to be tested on loyalty to Xi Jinping - Exam will test journalists on president’s teachings on socialism and propaganda
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/20/chinese-journalists-to-be-tested-on-loyalty-to-xi-jinping

DNC approves Iowa's plan to hold 'satellite' caucuses in nursing homes, college campuses and more in 2020
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2019/09/20/dnc-approves-iowa-caucuses-satellite-location-plan-2020-democrats-democratic-party/2387347001/

500 million bees have died in Brazil in three months | Researchers have blamed the use of pesticides - chemical substances which are used to kill pests. | Bees have a really important role in the food chain - with around one-third of the food we eat relying on pollination mainly by bees. | The EU imposed an almost total ban on neonicotinoids last April because of the serious harm it could cause to bees. But in the same year Brazil lifted restrictions on pesticides - despite opposition from environmentalists who called it the "poison package". The use of pesticides in Brazil has increased, according to Greenpeace, with 193 products containing chemicals banned in the EU being registered in Brazil in the last three years.
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-49406369

If Tampa Bay does end up missing the playoffs, it would go down as one of the best teams ever to fit that criteria. Its current Elo rating of 1543 would tie last year’s Rays for the second-best among nonplayoff teams of the double-wild-card era (trailing only the 2012 Rays)
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-do-the-rays-have-to-do-to-make-the-playoffs/
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-red-sox-were-the-toast-of-baseball-last-year-now-theyre-just-toast/
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2019-mlb-predictions/

Senate panel delays confirmation hearing for ex-Rep. Issa, citing FBI background check
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-panel-delays-confirmation-hearing-for-ex-rep-issa-citing-fbi-background-check/2019/09/19/1e558fea-dafb-11e9-bfb1-849887369476_story.html