December 31, 2017

Ex-DNC chair: Biden would 'win overwhelmingly' against Trump in 2020

BY JOSH DELK - 12/31/17 07:01 AM EST

Former Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairman Ed Rendell says if former Vice President Joe Biden runs against President Trump in 2020 he would "win overwhelmingly."

In an interview with New York's AM 970 radio host John Catsimatidis, Rendell said Biden is the Democrats' "superstar" and has a real chance of winning in 2020.

"There's only one person I can say who will definitely win the election and has a superstar appeal in almost every state in the union, and that's Vice President Biden," Rendell said. "Of course, people say he's too old. But he's only a year and a half older than President Trump, and he's in infinitely better shape. I don't think age would be a factor in a Biden-Trump election. To me it's clear-cut - Joe Biden is our superstar. If he decides to run I think he will win overwhelmingly," he added.

Biden has become a frequent critic of Trump since his inauguration and many speculate he has his eyes on a presidential run. He has not officially thrown his hat in the ring, but has said he "may very well do it" if no one else runs that he thinks could win a general election.

more
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/366881-ex-dnc-chair-biden-would-win-overwhelmingly-against-trump-in-2020

December 31, 2017

2017: The Year America Abandoned Its Leadership Of The World

BY STEWART M. PATRICK AND ANNE SHANNON ON 12/31/17 AT 9:10 AM

This article first appeared on the Council on Foreign Relations site.

After President Donald J. Trump’s election last fall, many experts predicted that 2017 would be a tumultuous year for international cooperation.

During his campaign, Trump promised to “make America great again” by renegotiating or renouncing “bad” and “unfair” international agreements, and questioned the value of international institutions. Since January, Trump’s “America First” policies have seen the United States abdicate its global leadership role.

Yet, contrary to expectations, multilateral cooperation on pressing issues like climate change and migration has continued, as other states have stepped up to lead.

Despite all the tumult, the world has recorded several important achievements for multilateralism alongside the setbacks.

more
http://www.newsweek.com/2017-year-america-abandoned-its-leadership-world-766333

December 31, 2017

Anthony Scaramucci: Steve Bannon 'has been a force for good'

https://www.rawstory.com/2017/12/ex-trump-communications-director-anthony-scaramucci-steve-bannon-has-been-a-force-for-good/

December 31, 2017

Trump tells voters not to hand Congress to Dems: They will 'totally kill the great wealth' I create

Source: RawStory




DAVID EDWARDS
31 DEC 2017 AT 08:59 ET

President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested that he was concerned that Democrats could take control of Congress and “totally kill” the “great wealth” that his administration has taken credit for creating during its first year.

In a series of tweets, the president seemed to be responding to reports that Democrats have a decent chance to win control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the midterm elections.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/947458942719979520
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/947461470924820480

As The Washington Post recently noted, “the Dow actually did better” during President Barack Obama’s first year in office than it has done under Trump.

###

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/2017/12/trump-tells-voters-not-hand-congress-to-democrats-they-will-totally-kill-the-great-wealth-i-created/

December 31, 2017

Trump surrogate gets shut down for dredging up phony 'wiretap' claim

https://www.rawstory.com/2017/12/look-it-up-andre-trump-surrogate-gets-shut-down-hard-for-dredging-up-trumps-phony-wiretap-claim/

December 31, 2017

Ex-DHS official: Papadopoulos emails show Trump team knew about Russian attack on DNC & did nothing

https://www.rawstory.com/2017/12/ex-dhs-official-papadopoulos-emails-show-trump-team-knew-about-russian-attack-on-dnc-and-did-nothing/

December 30, 2017

Blumenthal: Trump's denial of Russia collusion 'rotten at core'

BY BRANDON CARTER - 12/30/17 05:25 PM EST

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) slammed President Trump on Saturday for his repeated denials of collusion between his presidential campaign and Russia.

https://twitter.com/SenBlumenthal/status/947221466344493056

Blumenthal’s remarks come on the heels of a new report detailing how the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election began.

The New York Times reported Saturday that former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos prompted the investigation by drunkenly revealing knowledge of Russian opposition research on then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

In May 2016, Papadopoulos allegedly revealed to Australian diplomat Alexander Downer that Russian officials were shopping possible damaging information on Clinton, likely implying that Russian officials were offering the information to the Trump campaign, the Times reported.

more
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/366890-blumenthal-trumps-denial-of-russia-collusion-rotten-at-core

December 30, 2017

Trump: I use social media to 'fight back' against media

Source: The Hill




BY MAX GREENWOOD - 12/30/17 05:44 PM EST

President Trump on Saturday cast his use of Twitter as a necessity to fight back against "dishonest and unfair" news coverage.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/947235015343202304

Trump has routinely clashed with the media since the early days of his presidential campaign, and has often reignited feuds with news outlets that cover his administration critically.

In particular, he's directed his ire at newspapers such as The Washington Post and The New York Times. He's also gone after networks, including CNN which he has derided as dishonest and partisan.

Trump has often attributed his Twitter use to a desire to push back against reporting he deems unfair or "fake news," and has said that the social media site allows him to communicate directly with supporters.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/366891-trump-i-use-social-media-to-fight-back-against-media

December 30, 2017

'The crime is conspiracy': Prosecutor explains that question of Trump collusion is now irrelevant

https://www.rawstory.com/2017/12/the-crime-is-conspiracy-prosecutor-explains-that-question-of-trump-collusion-is-now-irrelevant/

December 30, 2017

Federal court rules HS football player can't be forced to stand during anthem

Source: The Hill



BY JOHN BOWDEN - 12/30/17 04:05 PM EST

A federal court ruled Friday that a high school football player in California can't be forced by his school district to stand during the national anthem before football games, the LA Times reported.

The student, identified only as a Native American football player with the initials "V.A.," was emulating NFL players who protest police brutality and racism during the national anthem before games, according to court documents.

The San Pasqual Valley Unified School District passed rules banning protests during the anthem after students at a majority-white neighboring school yelled racial slurs at San Pasqual Valley High School students when members of the San Pasqual team knelt during the anthem before a game, according to the Times.

"We are pleased with this outcome," Katie Traverso, V.A.'s attorney, said in a news release. "Students like our client who conscientiously carry their values and ideals with them, cannot be silenced or directed on what to say or not say by their school in this manner.”



Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/366885-federal-court-rules-hs-football-player-cant-be-forced-to-stand