Light News Dump

Reminder: Trump visited Louisiana three times. It didn't help his pick for governor.

A shooting at a home in San Diego's Paradise Hills neighborhood on left five people dead, including three children and their mother, authorities said. | An apparent murder-suicide at a home in San Diego on Saturday morning left five people dead, including three young children and their mother, according to authorities, who believe the incident was sparked by a bitter divorce.
https://abc30.com/5-killed-including-3-children-in-shooting-at-san-diego-home/5701881/

‘Absolutely No Mercy’: Leaked Files Expose How China Organized Mass Detentions of Muslims | More than 400 pages of internal Chinese documents provide an unprecedented inside look at the crackdown on ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region. |  The students booked their tickets home at the end of the semester, hoping for a relaxing break after exams and a summer of happy reunions with family in China’s far west.
Instead, they would soon be told that their parents were gone, relatives had vanished and neighbors were missing — all of them locked up in an expanding network of detention camps built to hold Muslim ethnic minorities. The authorities in the Xinjiang region worried the situation was a powder keg. And so they prepared. The leadership distributed a classified directive advising local officials to corner returning students as soon as they arrived and keep them quiet. It included a chillingly bureaucratic guide for how to handle their anguished questions, beginning with the most obvious: Where is my family?
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/16/world/asia/china-xinjiang-documents.html

Hong Kong protesters shot arrows and hurled petrol bombs from barricaded university on Sunday at police who fired tear gas and water cannon. “We are not afraid,” said student Ah Long. “If we don’t persist, we will fail.” Civil engineer Joris, 23, told Reuters, “We are fighting for Hong Kong.”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-campus-protesters-fire-arrows-as-anti-government-unrest-spreads-idUSKBN1XQ0OJ

Every day it seems like there is something to add fuel to this fire.: Astros executive asked scouts for help stealing signs and suggested using cameras, email shows
https://theathletic.com/1374774/2019/11/16/astros-executive-asked-scouts-for-help-stealing-signs-and-suggested-using-cameras-email-shows/

OOOOOHHHHHH SO YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THE GUY VIDEOING OUR DUGOUT IN 2018 ALDS WASN’T JUST DOING THAT TO “PrOtEcT aGaInSt ThE iNdIAnS sTeAlInG sIgNs”!? WHO WOULD HAVE EVER GUESSED THAT HE WAS UP TO NO GOOD. WHAT A REVELATION...maybe @Mlb will do something about it this time but 🤷🏻‍♂️
https://twitter.com/BauerOutage/status/1195902624765104128?s=20
https://twitter.com/MarkSZaidEsq/status/1195509331535384576

This tweet is absolute LIE. No one on legal team has spoken to HPSCI Member or staff abt #whistleblower safety. We continue to receive daily threats & harassing comms that law enforcement takes seriously. Our last comm to HPSCI was to offer GOP written responses.

Denver talk radio host Craig Silverman fired mid-show after criticizing Trump
https://kdvr.com/2019/11/16/denver-talk-radio-host-craig-silverman-fired-mid-show-after-criticizing-trump/

‘I will not repent’: Australian MP refuses to back down on China after being told he would need to “repent” to visit the country
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/17/china-calls-on-liberal-mps-to-repent-after-beijing-study-tour-ban

Trump promised Wisconsin's farmers his trade wars would pay off. They're still waiting.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2019/11/16/trump-promised-wisconsin-farmers-his-trade-wars-would-pay-off-they-still-waiting/NOgsER1yUahLeHjOZKYRgL/story.html

Bolton and Trump Met Privately Over Withheld Aid, White House Official Testified | John R. Bolton, Trump’s national security adviser, met privately with the president in August as part of a bid to persuade Mr. Trump to release $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine, a senior National Security Council aide told House impeachment investigators last month. The meeting, which has not been previously reported, came as Mr. Bolton sought to marshal Mr. Trump’s cabinet secretaries and top national security advisers to convince the president that it was in the United States’ best interest to unfreeze the funds to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia. But Mr. Bolton emerged with Mr. Trump unmoved, and instructed the aide to look for new opportunities to get those officials in front of Mr. Trump. “The extent of my recollection is that Ambassador Bolton simply said he wasn’t ready to do it,” said the aide, Timothy Morrison, referring to Mr. Trump, according to a transcript of his testimony released by House Democrats on Saturday.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/16/us/politics/impeachment-trump.html
https://int.nyt.com/data/documenthelper/6462-transcript-timothy-morrison/28ccff272507ec0cdb11/optimized/full.pdf#page=1

Can We Finally Stop Calling the Ukraine Call Summary a Transcript Now? | “Read the transcript!” has been a mantra of Trump ever since he released a summary of his call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky over allegations he withheld aid to the nation unless its president agreed to manufacture dirt on the son of his political rival, Joe Biden. But, in fact, the summary of the call with Zelensky is not a transcript at all; it’s a summary with important facts withheld.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/jennifer-williams-tim-morrison-testimony-913686/

Gordon Sondland Spent Months Messaging Ukrainian Officials on WhatsApp Before July 25 Call
https://www.thedailybeast.com/gordon-sondland-spent-months-messaging-ukrainian-officials-on-whatsapp-before-july-25-call-wapo

The Senate has put a bill in support of Hong Kong protesters on fast-track. The White House may not back it.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/the-senate-has-put-a-bill-in-support-of-hong-kong-protesters-on-fast-track-the-white-house-may-not-back-it/2019/11/16/07c763f4-0713-11ea-9118-25d6bd37dfb1_story.html

Planned Parenthood wins $2m lawsuit against anti-abortion group behind fake videos and 'malicious campaign'
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/planned-parenthood-trial-lawsuit-anti-abortion-group-edited-fake-videos-profit-a9205886.html

The Suburban Backlash Against the GOP Is Growing
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/11/republican-party-suburbs-kentucky-virginia/601504

Trump AND REPUBLICANS once again bends over for a brutal dictator: US, South Korea cancel military exercise after criticism from North Korea
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/470808-us-south-korea-cancel-military-exercise-after-criticism-from-north-korea

FWIW, it looks like Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) will end up carrying 24/64 parishes en route to winning a runoff by almost exactly the same margin as Landrieu '02...
https://twitter.com/Redistrict/status/1195917932305506304

We all know major cities are trending blue, but Edwards (D) breaking 90% in Orleans Parish is still pretty breathtaking. #LAGOV
https://twitter.com/Redistrict/status/1195913294437068800

A 40,000 vote victory with a 2.6% margin is not a "razor-thin" victory.
https://twitter.com/robbysue1/status/1196106515943501825

Sweden's central bank has sold off bonds from parts of Australia and the oil-rich Canadian province of Alberta because it felt that greenhouse gas emissions in both countries were too high
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/sweden-dumps-aussie-bonds-as-country-not-known-for-good-climate-work-20191114-p53agw.html

Even before this latest round, Trump’s $28 billion farm program costs almost half as much as the entire SNAP nutrition assistance program for poor Americans
https://twitter.com/davidfrum/status/1196119880820514816

John Bel Edwards was the target of non-stop ads like this targeting him with Trumpist attacks on criminal justice and immigration. They didn’t work. And worth noting because JBE won because of both strong turnout by the Dem base AND crossover voting from Trump voters.
https://twitter.com/nickgourevitch/status/1196117780002721792

Trump campaigned in 3 conservative Southern states, aiming for a string of gov wins that would demonstrate his strength heading into impeachment and 2020 The plan backfired in dramatic fashion
https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/17/trump-suffers-louisiana-loss-071300

Trump Openly Cheers North Korean Dictator's Call To Murder Former VP and Current Presidential Candidate Joe Biden: Trump Replies ‘See You Soon’ After Kim Jong-un Calls for Biden to Be ‘Beaten to Death With a Stick’
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-kim-jong-un-biden-beaten-to-death-with-a-stick-913750/

This pipeline cuts across a reservation. Wisconsin might make tribal members felons for protesting it.
https://grist.org/article/this-pipeline-cuts-across-a-reservation-wisconsin-might-make-tribal-members-felons-for-protesting-it/

Fear Has Yet to Be Extinguished After Chemical Fire in France | For Rouen, Normandy’s ancient capital, the Lubrizol factory fire has become the disaster that won’t die.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/16/world/europe/france-rouen-chemical-fire.html

Muslim students in China returned home to find loved ones had vanished into camps for thinking ‘unhealthy thoughts’, leaked documents reveal. ‘Freedom is only possible when the ‘virus’ in their thinking is eradicated’.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/muslim-uighurs-china-detention-leaked-documents-new-york-times-unhealthy-thoughts-a9206216.html

 The Pentagon has failed a comprehensive audit for a second year, though an official said it has made progress toward fixing accounting discrepancies that could still take years to resolve. Last year, Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said the Pentagon had failed here its first-ever comprehensive audit, receiving an opinion of "disclaimer," a technical term used by auditors for findings that do not meet accounting standards.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-audit/pentagon-gets-failing-grade-in-its-second-audit-idUSKBN1XQ01D

Special California election to replace Katie Hill set for March 3 — Vote on same day as presidential primary could hurt GOP effort to take back seat
https://www.rollcall.com/news/campaigns/special-election-to-replace-california-rep-katie-hill-set-for-march-3rd

Lost in his 40 point headlines, James Harden is currently averaging the 3rd most points OF ALL TIME.

LOL Trump attacks Pence aide as "Never Trumper" after impeachment testimony
https://www.axios.com/trump-pence-aide-williams-ukraine-testimony-tweet-4c70b88c-c438-45f0-b9f4-e7ede2623913.html

Police confirm tear gas rounds fired may contain dioxin, a highly toxic component that can stay in human body for over 35 years
https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/police-confirm-tear-gas-rounds-fired-may-contain-dioxin-a-highly-toxic-component-that-can-stay-in-human-body-for-over-35-years/

The report that Boris Johnson is refusing to publish says it cannot rule out Russian interference in the Brexit referendum
https://www.businessinsider.com/report-russia-report-cannot-rule-out-interference-in-brexit-referendum-2019-11

Hong Kong police threaten to use live bullets if 'rioters' use lethal weapons
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hong-kong-protests-police-threat/hong-kong-police-threaten-to-use-live-bullets-if-rioters-use-lethal-weapons-idUSKBN1XR0MJ

125 Year Old Dairy Farm Oldest In California Goes Vegan
https://vegannewsnow.com/2019/11/17/victory-125-year-old-dairy-farm-oldest-in-california-goes-vegan/

China to take over Kenya's main port over unpaid huge Chinese Loan
https://www.africanstand.com/business/china-to-take-over-kenyas-main-port-over-unpaid-huge-chinese-loan/

A teenage girl fatally stabbed on a Queens streetcorner was an aspiring FBI agent determined to find justice for her slain 14-year-old cousin, who was killed by a stray bullet just three weeks ago, relatives said Sunday. Talasia Cuffie, 17, bled to death after she was stabbed multiple times on the sidewalk of 166th St. near Foch Blvd. in South Jamaica about 10 p.m. on Friday. Her cousin, 14-year-old Aamir Griffin, was slain by a stray slug while playing basketball outside the Baisley Park Houses in South Jamaica — just three blocks from where Talasia was killed — on Oct. 26. Police believe an ongoing gang war Aamir had no involvement in provoked the wild gunfire. Family members of the tight-knit teens told the Daily News they worry the killings are related, though police have yet to determine if there is a connection between the two deaths.
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-queens-teen-stabbed-cousin-20191117-uoypg43k6fdsdjwqtudgrsj7p4-story.html

Anthony Davis is allowing an absurdly low 29.8% shooting within 6 feet so far this season

E'Twaun Moore gets the steal, then does a behind-the-back between-the-legs dribble move for the tough layup
https://streamable.com/pxt4o

Montrezl Harrell rolls in the Clippers Hawks game with a full Rugrats outfit
https://streamable.com/h69ly

L2M Report ruled "Prior to the gather for the shot Hood (POR) extends his arm and makes contact with DeRozan's (SAS) face during the drive." Which is interesting because that play was challenged, reviewed and not only declined, but the refs changed their original charging call to a defensive foul on Derozen. How can the refs see so many things different when looking at the same replay as the L2M report.

Last night James Harden, who played 39 minutes, had more FG attempts (41), than his 4 fellow starters & 6 man, who combined for 40 FGA in 156 minutes.

“Sell the team” chants erupt at FedEx field (Washington Redskins)
https://streamable.com/t75j3

Kirk Cousins in the second half: 18 for 23, 261 yards, 3 TDs

Baltimore Ravens have scored 157 points in the last 4 games against Seahawks, Patriots, Bengals & Texans

Tom Brady threw 21 incomplete passes vs. Eagles. Before Sunday, Brady threw 21 or more incompletions in a regular-season game only 15 times in his career. Patriots were 4-11 in those games. Patriots were lucky to escape with win.”

We're just five weeks out from the end of fall, but it’s already feeling as brutally cold as the dead of winter in several locations across the United States. An Arctic blast shattered several record-low temperatures as it swept through the Midwestern and eastern portions of the country, and the South was not spared.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/icymi-cold-shatters-century-old-records-snow-creates-travel-chaos-as-fires-floods-turn-catastrophic-across-the-globe/628283
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/ruthless-cold-breaks-dozens-of-long-lasting-records-in-major-cities-throughout-the-east/627067

After Tony Grossi tweeted 'Lamar Jackson is still inaccurate,' Lamar Jackson completed 13 consecutive passes & added 4 TD passes... finished with a 139.2 rating w 9.25 yards/att.
https://twitter.com/patrickclaybon/status/1196167137171083264?s=21

Jimmy G Had Himself a Day w/ 424 Passing YDs & 4 TDs | NFL 2019 Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUIrIrd523Y

Trump's visit to Mississippi boosted GOP turnout in the region he visited by 5%, but boosted Democratic turnout by 12%. Jim Hood lost the gov race by 5.7 pts, but Dems ran up numbers in suburbs & won some counties for 1st time in decades.
https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/nov/18/trumps-tupelo-visit-helped-dems-more-gop-mississip/

The Supreme Court May Criminalize Immigrant Advocacy | The case could let the government prosecute people for routine legal work or even sympathetic tweets.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/11/supreme-court-criminalize-immigration-advocacy-sineneng-smith.html

Lady Colin Campbell defends Prince Andrew and claims ‘soliciting sex from minors is not paedophilia’
https://news.yahoo.com/lady-colin-campbell-defends-prince-andrew-soliciting-sex-paedophilia-110412505.html

Video sparks fears Hong Kong protesters being loaded on train to China
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3819595

Damian Lillard downplays the significance of his first game versus Russell Westbrook since the first round playoff series. “Neither one of us won the championship.”

SCOTUS Refuses to Take Up Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli’s Case | Shkreli was an overnight media villain; public outrage was ignited over Shkreli’s hiking the price of AIDS drugs, his patently smug testimony before Congress, and his offering money in exchange for someone to grab hair off of Hillary Clinton‘s head during her book tour (a remark that ultimately resulted in the revocation of Shkreli’s bail). Even the guy’s own lawyer seemed to lose patience with him – once saying that he wanted to punch Shkreli in the face.
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/scotus-refuses-to-take-up-pharma-bro-martin-shkrelis-case/

Impeachment is going to have company in December: Graham just announced Senate Judiciary will have a hearing on the 11th on the IG's forthcoming report on alleged FISA abuse & the origins of the Russia probe: Graham: “Mr. Horowitz will be appearing before the [Committee] on Dec. 11, where he will deliver a detailed report of what he found regarding his investigation, along with recommendations as to how to make our judicial and investigative systems better."
https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/rep/releases/chairman-graham-announces-hearing-on-doj-inspector-generals-report-on-fisa-abuse-investigation

During the height of the 2016 election, when FinCEN employees raised red flags about counterintelligence threats, employees warned abt their co-worker. The IG investigated and found he was a potential insider threat & sent the case to FBI counterespionage | A “Potential Insider Threat” Worked At The Treasury Department In 2016 — Just As Fellow Employees Warned | A memo by the Treasury Department’s inspector general confirms reporting by BuzzFeed News about a man who was working with sensitive financial documents without a security clearance.
https://twitter.com/JasonLeopold/status/1196554120091488256
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/potential-insider-threat-whistleblower-treasury-ukraine

Our story was based on thousands of pages of documents and the accounts of nearly a dozen brave whistleblowers who told us an unbelievable story
https://twitter.com/JasonLeopold/status/1196550991845322754
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/anthonycormier/russian-agents-sought-us-treasury-records-on-clinton-backers

Christine Blasey Ford made a rare public appearance to accept an ACLU award for courage. "When I came forward last September, I did not feel courageous," Ford said. "I was simply doing my duty as a citizen."
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/christine-blasey-ford-kavanaugh-aclu-courage_n_5dd24ddae4b02947481a1dd8

@StateDept issues travel warning after US decision on West Bank settlements: “Individuals and groups opposed to the Secretary of State’s recent announcement may target U.S. government facilities, U.S. private interests, and U.S. citizens.”
https://twitter.com/JoshNBCNews/status/1196550208693374977
https://il.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-jerusalem-november-18-2019/

State Department staffer resigns after allegations she inflated her resume | Mina Chang was accused of creating a fake Time magazine cover with her face on it, which she denies.
https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/18/state-department-chang-resigns-resume-071385