July 1, 2018

Trump on Whether We Believe Kim Jong Un: 'I Shook Hands With Him, I Really Believe He Means It'

Trump on Whether We Believe Kim Jong Un: ‘I Shook Hands With Him, I Really Believe He Means It’

-snip-

Bartiromo asked him about the historic summit with Kim in Singapore just weeks ago, saying North Korea should be telling the U.S. “exactly where their facilities are” soon to see how serious Kim is.

“I think they’re very serious about it,” the President responded. “We had a very good chemistry.” He again talked about ending the “unbelievably expensive” “war games” and insisted, “We gave nothing.”

Trump said he got along very well with Kim before having this exchange with Bartiromo:



https://www.mediaite.com/tv/trump-on-whether-we-believe-kim-jong-un-i-shook-hands-with-him-i-really-believe-he-means-it/

July 1, 2018

Sen. Duckworth doesn't join Democrats' calls to abolish ICE

July 1, 2018

Michael Avenatti Says He Has 'ZERO Interest' in Running for Office

by Amy Russo | 12:01 pm, July 1st, 2018

In a set of tweets Sunday, Michael Avenatti announced he would not seek to enter politics despite the encouragement he’s received for a career change.

“I am extremely flattered by the suggestions that I attempt to become AG or run for the House or Senate but I have ZERO interest in those jobs,” he said, adding that he feels there are “too many” politicos already.

https://twitter.com/MichaelAvenatti/status/1013438856564097025

In a follow-up tweet, Avenatti affirmed his commitment to “exposing the truth about Mr. Trump’s conduct and fighting like hell for the principles that matter so the American people can decide what happens next.”

https://twitter.com/MichaelAvenatti/status/1013438863430189056

Avenatti entered the spotlight as the personal attorney for porn actress Stormy Daniels, who is waging a legal battle against President Donald Trump over a non-disclosure agreement regarding their alleged past affair.

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https://www.mediaite.com/online/michael-avenatti-says-he-has-zero-interest-in-running-for-office/

July 1, 2018

John Bolton: Putin Denied in Meeting There Was Any Election Meddling by the 'Russian State'

Source: Mediate

by Josh Feldman | 1:39 pm, July 1st, 2018

National Security Advisor John Bolton talked on Face the Nation this morning about his recent meeting with Vladimir Putin and the upcoming summit with President Donald Trump.

Margaret Brennan pressed him on the specifics of what Trump wants out of Putin. Bolton said that Trump will be raising issues like Syria, Ukraine, and 2016 election meddling.

At one point, Brennan brought up comments from Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats about continued Russian meddling efforts and whether Bolton brought it up in his meeting with Putin. Bolton confirmed, “The election meddling issue was definitely something we talked about.”

“And what President Putin said––through a translator of course, but what he said was there was no meddling in 2016 by the Russian state,” he added.

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/tv/john-bolton-putin-denied-in-meeting-there-was-any-election-meddling-by-the-russian-state/

July 1, 2018

Dem senator says Supreme Court vote could be 'career ending' for lawmakers

BY EMILY BIRNBAUM - 07/01/18 02:34 PM EDT

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) on Sunday said her colleagues' votes on President Trump's Supreme Court nominee could be a "career-ending move."

“I think that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle know that this vote could be one of the key votes of their entire career,” Cantwell said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “And they know that no matter what spin comes out of the White House, if they vote for somebody who’s going to change precedent, it could be a career-ending move."

Cantwell's speculation comes days after Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement from the bench at the end of next month. His retirement opens up an opportunity for Trump to nominate his second justice to the bench, potentially redefining the nation's highest court for generations to come.

“We’re a 51-49 Senate and if [Trump] wants to throw an extreme conservative who basically says, ‘I’m not going to follow precedent, I’m not going to follow these laws,’ then yes, that to me is a major change,” Cantwell said.

Cantwell expressed concern that Trump’s nominee would overturn the precedent set by Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that paved the way for legalized abortion nationwide. “You’re not just voting on if you think Trump should have his nominee,” Cantwell said. “You’re voting on whether that nominee is going to change precedent when it comes to a whole host of issues — a woman’s right to choose, your access to healthcare.”

more
http://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/395082-dem-senator-says-supreme-court-vote-could-be-career-ending

July 1, 2018

Trump doesn't intend to read Supreme Court pick's academic writing but wants to know it exists:...

Source: The Hill




Trump doesn't intend to read Supreme Court pick's academic writing but wants to know it exists: report

BY EMILY BIRNBAUM - 07/01/18 02:19 PM EDT

As President Trump searches for his nominee to the Supreme Court, he has told advisers he is looking for someone with a demonstrable history of academic writing — though he doesn't intend to read the writing himself, according to a Washington Post report.

Trump is searching for a nominee that is highly qualified, “not weak” and who will interpret the Constitution according to its original authors, an adviser to the president told the Post.

Trump is looking for a replacement for Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced his July 31 retirement earlier this week. Though he originally said he will select his nominee from a list of 25 candidates released in November, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said on Sunday he has added five new candidates to this list.

Trump said he will make his announcement on July 9.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/395083-trump-doesnt-intend-to-read-supreme-court-nominees-academic

July 1, 2018

After eyeing the exits, WH officials will likely stay through Supreme Court confirmation: Sources

Source: ABC News



By TARA PALMERI
Jul 1, 2018, 2:50 PM ET

Top White House officials worn out from the chaos of the Trump administration and eyeing the exits in the coming weeks are now considering staying on through the confirmation of a Supreme Court justice, three White House officials and two outside advisors tell ABC News.

White House counsel Don McGahn, Legislative Affairs director Marc Short and Domestic Policy director Andrew Bremberg have told colleagues in the days following Supreme Court Justice Kennedy's retirement announcement that they plan to stay on staff through the confirmation process.

McGahn, who has had a frayed relationship with the president and has signaled his desire to leave, told his staff last week that he plans to stay on through the midterm elections, according to two White House officials. His team will be taking the lead on the confirmation process, the sources said.

"He's excited for it. This is what he's been working for all along," said a senior White House official.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/eyeing-exits-white-house-officials-stay-supreme-court/story?id=56296560

July 1, 2018

Lindsey Graham: 'The Idea That Russia Did Not Meddle in Our Election Is Fake News'

by Amy Russo | 10:50 am, July 1st, 2018

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) hopes President Donald Trump will take a tough stance on election meddling as he prepares for his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling any claim to the contrary flat out false.

“I’m concerned when the president tweets, you know, Russia denies they meddled in our election,” Graham told NBC’s Chuck Todd Sunday on Meet the Press. “When they say they didn’t meddle, they’re lying, so I’m glad the president is going to confront Putin. Show him the evidence you got, Mr. President, because it’s overwhelming.”

Graham, who was being interviewed from Turkey, added that while the U.S. has taken punitive action against Russia for its behavior, he believes election interference will rear its head again during the midterms.

“In many ways this administration has been tough on Russia,” he told Todd. “We’ve armed the Ukraine, we’ve imposed sanctions, we’ve kicked out diplomats, but the idea that Russia did not meddle in our election is fake news. They did meddle in our election and they’re doing it again in 2018.”

more + video
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/lindsey-graham-the-idea-that-russia-did-not-meddle-in-our-election-is-fake-news/

July 1, 2018

Charlottesville 'Unite the Right' Organizer Wins $5 Dollars in Court Because Woman Called Him...

Charlottesville ‘Unite the Right’ Organizer Wins $5 Dollars in Court Because Woman Called Him ‘Crybaby’

by Alberto Luperon | 11:03 am, July 1st, 2018

Jason Kessler, who organized the bloody “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, won $5 in court Friday because an activist cursed him out, according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch. He actually wanted $500 dollars, but Judge Robert H. Downer Jr. determined that the plaintiff, who posted video of the incident online, wasn’t actually damaged in the exchange.

The lawsuit stems from a March 16 confrontation outside the Charlottesville District Court. There, DeAndre Harris, a black man brutally beaten amid the rally last August 12, stood trial for allegedly attacking a white nationalist (he was acquitted). Kessler said he showed up to the proceedings to report for an online publication, and cover protesters’ behavior. He got an earful from Donna Gasapo. She cursed him out, he said. “Crybaby Kessler,” “Asshole,” and repeated iterations of “Fuck you.” He showed video of her calling him “murderer.” Kessler said Gasapo was blaming him for the death of Heather Heyer last August 12 amid the rally. (James Alex Fields Jr., who prosecutors say is a white supremacist, is being charged in Charlottesville and federal courts for allegedly running his car into a crowd of anti-racist protesters, killing Heyer.)

Kessler said he sued to “bring civility back to our community.” The legal basis for his complaint: Virginia’s anti-dueling law. He argued that his character was damaged when he was called a murderer, and the other insults could’ve provoked him.

“There was a chance that I could respond violently and I don’t want that to happen,” he told the court, according to the outlet.

The U.S. Supreme Court determined in 1943 that so-called “fighting words” weren’t protected speech under the First Amendment.

more
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/charlottesville-unite-the-right-organizer-wins-5-dollars-in-court-because-woman-called-him-crybaby/

July 1, 2018

Bolton: 'We'll See' If Recognizing Russian Annexation Of Crimea Is On The Table

Source: Talking Points Memo



By Matt Shuham | July 1, 2018 12:07 pm

White House National Security Adviser John Bolton on Sunday would not commit, one way or the other, on President Donald Trump’s comments that “we’re going to have to see” if the United States eventually recognizes Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet on July 16.

“Is the U.S. endorsing the idea that international borders can be redrawn by force?” CBS News’ Margaret Brennan asked Bolton during an interview on “Face the Nation,” after referencing Trump’s Friday remark. “Is this actually a topic?”

“No, that’s not the position of the United States” Bolton said.

-snip-

https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1013434899112525824

Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/bolton-echoes-trump-well-see-if-u-s-recognizes-russian-annexation-of-crimea