FBI visits home and business of Robert Hyde in Connecticut, a senior law enforcement official says; move comes after release of Hyde's texts to Giuliani associate Lev Parnas about former Amb. Yovanovitch.
https://twitter.com/NBCPolitics/status/1217862562613792775
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/fbi-visits-robert-hyde-s-home-office-after-he-s-n1117181?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_np
US Government Accountability Office finds Trump administration violated the law by freezing Ukraine aid | Today, the US Government Accountability Office issued a legal decision concluding that the Office of Management and Budget violated the law when it withheld approximately $214 million appropriated to DOD for security assistance to Ukraine. The President has narrow, limited authority to withhold appropriations under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. OMB told GAO that it withheld the funds to ensure that they were not spent "in a manner that could conflict with the President’s foreign policy." The law does not permit OMB to withhold funds for policy reasons.
https://www.gao.gov/about/press-center/press-releases/press-statement-b-331564-omb-ukraine.htm
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2020/01/16/trump-administration-violated-the-law-by-withholding-ukraine-security-aid-government-accountability-office-finds/
Carlos Beltran is out as New York Mets manager due to his involvement in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, sources tell ESPN. He is the third manager to lose his job in the fallout.
Amazing that Beltran's two most memorable moments in a Mets uniform involve doing nothing. Mets were in a tough spot, not really of their own doing. But it would have been very difficult starting a new regime with an ethical issue hanging over the manager’s head. This was the only way to go. This is the second time Carlos Beltran getting caught looking has ruined the Mets.
“We disagree with GAO's opinion," OMB spokesperson Rachel Semmel said. "OMB uses its apportionment authority to ensure taxpayer dollars are properly spent consistent with the president's priorities and with the law."...........Really? Didn't Donald Trump sign the funding for Ukraine? If it was inconsistent with the President's priorities, why did he sign it?! Why didn't he veto it citing concerns with how taxpayer dollars are being spent? Because Trump and Republicans are PURE FUCKING EVIL TERRORISTS. That's why.
Officials from ODNI, on behalf of the larger clandestine community, don’t want agency chiefs to be seen on-camera as disagreeing with the president on big issues such as Iran, Russia or North Korea. | The U.S. intel community is trying to persuade lawmakers to drop the public portion of an annual briefing on the globe’s greatest security threats — a move inspired after last year’s session provoked an angry outburst from President Trump.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/15/intel-agencies-threats-hearing-trump-099494
"In the summer of 2019, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) withheld from obligation funds appropriated to the Department of Defense (DOD) for security assistance to Ukraine. In order to withhold the funds, OMB issued a series of nine apportionment schedules with footnotes that made all unobligated balances unavailable for obligation. Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law. OMB withheld funds for a policy reason, which is not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act (ICA). The withholding was not a programmatic delay. Therefore, we conclude that OMB violated the ICA."
“Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law,” the decision states. “OMB withheld funds for a policy reason, which is not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act.”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_office_of_the_President_of_the_United_States
The President shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Two_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Clause_3:_Convening_and_adjourning_of_Congress
F.B.I. Arrests Suspected Members of Neo-Nazi Group Before Virginia Gun Rally — The three men had obtained guns and discussed traveling to Virginia for protests against new gun control measures, officials said.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/16/us/politics/fbi-arrest-virginia-gun-rally.html
Republicans threatened 25% tariffs on European cars if Britain, Germany, and France didn't publically state Iran broke the nuclear deal
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-threatened-tariffs-european-cars-report-no-iran-action-2020-1
Marcus Johnson: “Any scenario where the delegate plurality winner, with the backing of a majority of Black voters, is overruled by a minority of the white left, will be immediately declared a racist process. This talk from progressive groups is dangerous and undemocratic.”
https://twitter.com/marcushjohnson/status/1217868885183037443?s=21
Swiss Stock Exchange reveals 80% of traders influenced by Trump tweets
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/16/swiss-stock-exchange-reveals-80percent-of-traders-influenced-by-trump-tweets.html
Citing Threat From Armed Groups, Virginia Gov. Declares Emergency and Bans Guns at State Capitol | "This isn't about the Second Amendment," said activist Molly Conger, "this is about threats of terrorism."
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/01/15/citing-threat-armed-groups-virginia-gov-declares-emergency-and-bans-guns-state
Wisconsin pastor worries some congregation members worship Trump more than Jesus
https://theweek.com/speedreads/889815/wisconsin-pastor-worries-some-congregation-members-worship-trump-more-than-jesus
Patrick Mahomes is absolutely unstoppable when his team is behind. With a 0-20% chance at win, Mahomes only needs *20* drop backs to complete the comeback (based on avg WPA at that Win Probability). The next best? Russell Wilson at over 50.
https://twitter.com/chiefsanalytics/status/1217461862436044800?s=21
Devin Nunes now remembers talking to Giuliani associate Lev Parnas after previously saying he couldn't recall his name
https://www.newsweek.com/devin-nunes-remembers-talking-lev-parnas-1482480
Ukraine opens probe into possible surveillance of former U.S. ambassador Marie Yovanovitch
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/world/wp/2020/01/16/ukraine-opens-probe-into-possible-surveillance-of-former-u-s-ambassador-marie-yovanovitch/
Ukraine asks FBI for help to probe suspected Russian hack of Burisma
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment-ukraine-idUSKBN1ZF1KL
Democrats can get witnesses with 50 votes if Roberts does his job
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/01/14/democrats-can-get-witnesses-with-50-votes-if-roberts-does-his-job/
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Movement Is About a Lot More Than Just Congress - Activists from AOC’s congressional campaign are taking on the nation’s biggest public housing system.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/01/alexandria-ocasio-cortezs-movement-is-about-a-lot-more-than-just-congress/
The Senate officially receives the articles of impeachment against President Trump from House managers
https://twitter.com/axios/status/1217856766404366336
Fox, CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NBC all airing Schiff reading the articles of impeachment from the Senate floor.
Schiff: "In the history of the Republic, no president has ever ordered the complete defiance of an impeachment inquiry, or sought to obstruct and impede so comprehensively the ability of the House of Representatives to investigate high crimes and misdemeanors." Via ABC
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1217861596409712646
In non-impeachment news, the White House announces support for the Secret Service, currently a division of DHS, going back to being a part of the Treasury Department.
https://twitter.com/kathrynw5/status/1217862036006297600
Politics is in parallel universes now in which a Sanders/Warren argument over a dinner conversation is legit one of the most dramatic moments on the D side, while on the R side the president's allies are being implicated in an alleged plot to stalk a US ambassador mid-impeachment
An important reminder that you don't always know what people are going through behind the scenes: Rep. @AyannaPressley reveals beautiful bald head and discusses alopecia for the first time. Read more here about her decision to go public and how alopecia areata affects black women: https://theglowup.theroot.com/exclusive-rep-ayanna-pressley-reveals-beautiful-bald-1841039847
Mike Fiers could have easily done this anonymously, then it only would have been a column and likely ended there because good reporters don't give up sources. He put his name on it and the game is better today because of it. He's not a target, he's to be commended.
https://twitter.com/CJNitkowski/status/1217834428581498880
Titans haven’t tried a field goal since Week 15
Titans' scoring over their last 10 games: TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, FG, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD. K Greg Joseph was signed in Week 16 and hasn't tried a FG.
https://twitter.com/fieldyates/status/1217811862617763842?s=21
Sigh.... NOPD issues simple battery warrant for Odell Beckham Jr., sources say | Three sources said the New Orleans Police Department has obtained a warrant for the arrest of Odell Beckham Jr. in connection to alleged contact he made with a security guard in the locker room after Monday’s national championship game. A law enforcement source said the simple battery warrant was signed by a judge Thursday morning. News of the warrant comes after video surfaced showing the New Orleans native, former LSU and current Cleveland Browns wide receiver appearing to touch the backside of a police officer in the LSU team’s locker room at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. TMZ and other outlets posted the video, which TMZ described as showing Beckham “smacking” the officers’ behind.
https://twitter.com/wdsu/status/1217846240534310921
https://twitter.com/wannabjoyful/status/1217183135886123008
Both OBJ and the cop displayed dumbassery. Beckham is a dumbass for smacking a cop on the ass. Is that really worth getting a warrant and charging him with an actual crime? Seems pretty petty to me.
I'm losing IQ listening to these Trump supporters
The CSPAN guy just needs to ask these callers is that If Trump is so innocent why not let everyone testify, then listen to all the callers stumble.
Connecticut GOP chair calls for Robert Hyde to drop out of House race
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/16/politics/robert-hyde-campaign-republicans-call-drop-out/
Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate implications
https://thehill.com/policy/international/trade/478596-schumer-wont-support-usmca-citing-climate-implications
MLB teams managed to dump 3 managers - two recent World Series winners - in the middle of January. 3 managers in a 4-day span. Managers per year might be a new stat to show up on BBref.
Biden tells the @dallasnews he’s spoken to @BetoORourke and @JulianCastro about VP slot/cabinet positions “I would consider either or both of them. I’ve spoken to each of them. My plea to both of them is that they stay engaged. They are talented...”
https://twitter.com/JTHVerhovek/status/1217851802940510208
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/01/16/joe-biden-says-hell-commit-resources-needed-to-win-texas/
A federal judge Thursday agreed to postpone Michael Flynn’s sentencing for another month while he considers the former Trump national security adviser’s recent request to withdraw his guilty plea over false statements to the FBI.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/16/michael-flynn-sentencing-delayed-099796
Ordinary Americans do not get to avoid being sentenced for years like this? Our criminal justice system is rigged for the rich and powerful.
Read @JasonLeopold + my deep dive on Sean Hannity’s appearances in the interview summaries that informed the Mueller report: Key Witnesses In The Mueller Probe Told Investigators How Sean Hannity Advised Trump's Closest Aides
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emmaloop/sean-hannity-trump-allies-mueller-memos-fox-news
This @jessmendoza @espn pro-cheating takes is probably the wildest sports take I've ever seen in my life. I can't believe someone would openly say this. This cheating scandal is the worst case scenario for the @MLB. Worse than the steroid era, and much worse than Pete Rose.
https://twitter.com/xDUMPWEEDx/status/1217853211177967617
Pitchers and catchers start reporting to spring training in 27 days. The Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets don’t have managers. The size, scope and fallout of this scandal is staggering.
After McConnell criticized Democrats for having gold pens when signing the articles of impeachment, it’s quite fitting to have John Roberts arrive with his gold sleeves. Do you think McConnell will say anything?
Once Solidly Republican, Texas’ 22nd Congressional District Is Now A Toss-Up
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/in-depth/2020/01/15/357415/once-solidly-republican-tx-22-now-a-toss-up/
California, 13 other states sue to stop Trump's food stamp cuts
https://calmatters.org/poverty/2020/01/california-sues-trump-food-stamp-cuts-abawd/
"The phone call was perfect. They made up the call. I released the transcript of the made up call."
The commentary on Fox today from Andy McCarthy was that there’s no way to have a fair trial if more incriminating evidence keeps emerging during the trial. Trump needs a mistrial because there keeps being more evidence of his guilt.
https://twitter.com/joshtpm/status/1217887830938177536
Always fun to watch the very stable president rant and rave in front of a group of children.
Spotted on the resolute desk in the Oval Office during the President’s event on school prayer: a map of 2016 election results by county
https://twitter.com/betsy_klein/status/1217907254688657414
Canadian conservatives, who plan to eliminate 10,000 teaching jobs over 3 years, say they want Canadian education to follow Alabama's example
https://pressprogress.ca/doug-ford-wants-education-in-ontario-to-be-more-like-education-in-alabama-heres-why-thats-a-bad-idea/
HIV infections among gay and bi men fall 73% in UK
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51122979
Māori water rights case aims to stop water bottlers
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/407280/maori-water-rights-case-aims-to-stop-water-bottlers
Rizzo said “100 percent” teams were sign stealing on the Cubs but didn’t know how far it went and also said teams would sometimes make sounds as a decoy to make it look like they were stealing. Couldn’t say for sure anything about the Astros based on the 3 games there last season
https://twitter.com/espnchicubs/status/1217872216085467137?s=21
Astronomers found a potentially habitable planet called Proxima b around the star Proxima Centauri, which is only 4.2 light-years from Earth.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/15/world/proxima-centauri-second-planet-scn/index.html
YouTube ads of 100 top brands fund climate misinformation – study | Some of the biggest companies in the world are funding climate misinformation by advertising on YouTube, according to a study - firms are unaware commercials being played alongside misleading videos
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/16/youtube-ads-of-100-top-brands-fund-climate-misinformation-study
Turkey ends Wikipedia ban after nearly 1,000 days
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51133804
From November 2019: 'MLB execs reportedly think buzzing bandages may have been used to relay pitches to Astros hitters'
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/astros-sign-stealing-scandal-mlb-execs-reportedly-think-buzzing-bandages-may-have-been-used-to-relay-pitches/
Lev Parnas says Mike Pence was tasked with getting Ukraine president to announce investigation into Bidens: "Everybody was in the loop"
https://www.newsweek.com/lev-parnas-says-mike-pence-was-tasked-getting-ukraine-president-announce-investigation-bidens-1482456
'It’s not safe at all': Iran harassing families of plane crash victims
https://nationalpost.com/news/its-not-safe-at-all-iran-harassing-families-of-plane-crash-victims-sources-say
Under Mounting Pressure, Trump Administration Finally Releases Disaster Aid to Puerto Rico
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/under-pressure-trump-administration-finally-releases-disaster-aid-to-puerto-rico-938848/
Parnas Alleges White House Deal To Free Ukrainian Mobster In Exchange For Trump Legal Help | Trump and his legal team offered to have federal foreign bribery charges against Firtash dropped if the oligarch, described by federal prosecutors as an “upper-echelon” associate of the Russian mafia, helped Trump discredit the Mueller investigation and Joe Biden.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/parnas-alleges-white-house-deal-to-free-ukrainian-mobster-in-exchange-for-trump-legal-help
After Kellyanne Conway Says She Does Not Know Lev Parnas, Photo of them together resurfaces
https://www.newsweek.com/kellyanne-conway-says-does-not-know-lev-parnas-photo-resurfaces-1482584
A London mosque will host an exhibition on the Holocaust that another Muslim house of worship declined to hold amid protests by worshipers
https://www.timesofisrael.com/london-mosque-agrees-to-host-nixed-holocaust-exhibit/
China's Mysterious Pneumonia-Like Virus Is Now Spreading to Other Countries
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/xgqd4k/chinas-mysterious-pneumonia-like-virus-is-now-spreading-to-other-countries
Iran is enriching more uranium now than before the nuclear deal
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/16/middleeast/rouhani-iran-uranium-enrichment-intl/index.html
'It's heart-wrenching': 80% of Blue Mountains and 50% of Gondwana rainforests burn in bushfires Environment
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/17/its-heart-wrenching-80-of-blue-mountains-and-50-of-gondwana-rainforests-burn-in-bushfires
McSally is getting significantly outraised by Democratic challenger Mark Kelly. Getting a fundraising boost from the party after she called a CNN reporter a "liberal hack" this morning.
https://twitter.com/JamesArkin/status/1217856920616361984
The Virginia Senate passes universal background checks 23 to 17 with 2 Republican senators joining the Democrats in voting YES.
https://twitter.com/Politidope/status/1217898632193757186
Trump's tax cut handed a $32 billion windfall to America's top banks
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-16/trump-tax-cut-hands-32-billion-windfall-to-america-s-top-banks
ICYMI: Sierra Club/@weareoversight FOIA documents expose ANOTHER corrupt Trump official. READ: Former Dow chemical lobbyist helped speed controversial approvals at @USDA Via @emilyhholden and @derekkravitz
https://twitter.com/SierraClub/status/1217923727779860481
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/14/trump-agriculture-department-rebekah-adcock-dow
Microsoft plans to eliminate all the carbon emissions it has ever produced since its founding in 1975
https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-raises-stakes-in-corporate-climate-pledge-race-11579195800
Police reveal new crime scene evidence (belt they believe belong to the LISK perpetrator; they say the belt was handled by the LISK perpetrator, which means the belt has dna evidence.....) in Long Island serial killer case | They will be using genetic genealogy to identify the unidentified victims. Unknown how long this process will take | They will be starting a website called (I think) Gilgonews.com to share new information and make it easier for the public to submit tips
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/long-island-serial-killer-case-new-evidence-crime-scene-belt-with-initials-latest-updates-today-2020-01-16/
https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/5855901_011620-wabc-gilgo-beach-new-evidence-img.jpg?w=1280&r=16%3A9
FBI will now notify state election officials about cyber breaches to election systems in their jurisdictions, even those that only affect a single county, federal officials say.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/fbi-will-now-notify-state-election-officials-when-any-part-n1117321?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_np
Parnas' attorney posted this video after Trump said he didn't know him
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/01/16/lev-parnas-president-trump-video-tsr-sot-vpx.cnn
Not only has Trump met the guy, he's letting Parnas introduce him to people. Dude has his hand on Trump's back saying, "here, meet this guy.": Here’s the “I don’t know him at all, don’t know what he’s about, don’t know where he comes from, know nothing about him” guy, w Lev Parnas & Roman Nasirov, former head of Ukrainian Fiscal Service, at Mar-a-Lago 12/16. @POTUS .@realDonaldTrump @Acosta #LevRemembers #LetLevSpeak
https://twitter.com/josephabondy/status/1217932038260625410
Pence denies Parnas allegations: 'I don't know the guy' even though he knows the guy:
https://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/styles/scale_w1024/s3/static/D8Image/2020/01/16/parnas-trump-pence.jpg?
https://i2.wp.com/www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Pence-McCarthy.png
https://i0.wp.com/www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/McCarthy-Parnas-Fruman_Crop.jpg
https://i0.wp.com/rantt.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Pence_Fruman_Parnas_Trump_Giuliani.jpeg
Does anyone in the administration know ANYBODY in the administration?
Trump claims he didn't know about Giuliani letter to Zelensky, but if the letter exists, it's not a big deal: "I didn't know about the specific letter, but if he wrote a letter it wouldn't have been a big deal."
https://www.axios.com/trump-giuliani-letter-zelensky-ukraine-parnas-405ba89d-8538-4d8a-902d-a6ad0c228522.html
He doesn't know about a letter that literally says: In my capacity as personal counsel to President Trump and with his knowledge and consent, I request a meeting with you on this upcoming Monday, May 13th or Tuesday, May 14th.
Before Mike Fiers stepped up, the Oakland A's reported their suspicions to MLB...and nothing happened
https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-red-sox-warned-indians-astros-attempting-steal-signs-information-032027336.html
A judge has upheld Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's decision to temporarily ban firearms and other weapons on state Capitol grounds in Richmond ahead of a gun rights rally
https://twitter.com/cnnbrk/status/1217967612237434881
Trump: "I never met the guy."
photo of Trump and Parnas released
Nunes: "I don't remember any call with Parnas"
call record released
McCarthy: "There’s nothing wrong that Devin has done except once again to get accused of something”
photo of Parnas and McCarthy released
Conway: "I don't know Lev Parnas. What documents?"
photo of Parnas and Conway released
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