Watch out, Michael Bennett!

Warren Fellowship Applicants: Campaign Program Was a 'Great Scam'

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has built much of her political career as a champion of workers and consumers against the deceptive and exploitative practices of corporations and employers.

But as she navigates the latest chapter of that career arc—a run for the Democratic nomination for the presidency—the Massachusetts Democrat faces criticism from several of her own supporters who said the lowest tier of her campaign structure doesn’t match the image she projects. 

Two early converts to Warren described the process for entry into her campaign’s volunteer fellowship program as deceptive and at times exploitative in interviews with The Daily Beast. They said they were pushed towards unpaid positions over paid ones, misled over the availability of financial assistance and asked to sign highly-restrictive nondisclosure agreements that worker advocacy groups concede are irregular.  Both applicants verified their accounts with emails and text messages from the Warren campaign.  

The complaints from those offered unpaid fellowships could raise new questions for Warren as she seeks to put her lengthy history advocating for consumer and worker rights at the center of her rising campaign. 

More: https://www.thedailybeast.com/sen-elizabeth-warren-fellowship-applicants-say-campaign-program-was-a-great-scam

Planned Parenthood president forced out after only 8 months

Source: ABC News

The president of Planned Parenthood, Dr. Leana Wen, was ousted Tuesday after just eight months on the job as the organization faced unprecedented challenges related to its role as the leading abortion provider in the U.S.

Wen, in a Twitter post, said she learned that Planned Parenthood's board "ended my employment at a secret meeting." She indicated the board wanted more emphasis on political advocacy, while she sought to prioritize Planned Parenthood's role as a provider of health care services ranging from birth control to cancer screenings.

"We were engaged in good faith negotiations about my departure based on philosophical differences over the direction and future of Planned Parenthood," Wen said. "I am stepping down sooner than I had hoped."

Her departure came as the Trump administration announced it would start enforcing new rules that ban taxpayer-funded family planning clinics referring women for abortions. Planned Parenthood, the largest recipient of those funds, says it will not abide by those rules.


Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/planned-parenthood-president-forced-months-64376851

R. Kelly arrested in Chicago on federal sex crime charges

Source: The Hill

Singer R. Kelly was again arrested on federal sex charges while in Chicago on Thursday night, months after he was released on bail for other sexual abuse charges.

Joseph Fitzpatrick, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, confirmed to the Associated Pressthat the R&B star was taken into custody by federal authorities while he was walking his dog.

His arrest came after a federal grand jury on Thursday indicted him on 13 counts including sex comes and obstruction of justice.

“The counts include child porn, enticement of a minor and obstruction of justice,” Fitzpatrick said.

Read more: https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/452755-r-kelly-arrested-in-chicago-on-federal-sex-crime-charges

CBC lawmakers rip Justice Democrats for targeting black lawmakers for primaries

Source: The Hill

Congressional Black Caucus members are furious at Justice Democrats, accusing the outside progressive group aligned with firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) of trying to oust lawmakers of color, specifically African-American lawmakers.

Justice Democrats is backing primary challengers to eight-term Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), a Hispanic Caucus member, and 10-term Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). The insurgent group also made noise this year about challenging Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), a CBC member seen as the heir apparent to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

And CBC leaders are fretting that Justice Democrats may target other black lawmakers in the coming weeks and months, including Reps. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Emanual Cleaver (D-Mo.) and Anthony Brown (D-Md.). Brown said the group has been making calls in his district, actively trying to recruit a challenger to run against him.

"It just seems strange that the social Democrats seem to be targeting members of the Congressional Black Caucus, individuals who have stood and fought to make sure that African Americans are included and part of this process," Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), a senior CBC member, told The Hill.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/452701-cbc-members-accuse-aoc-linked-justice-democrats-of-targeting-black?amp&__twitter_impression=true

Iran humiliated as 'five ships FAIL to seize British oil tanker in Persian Gulf standoff'

Source: UK Expresd

IRANIAN ships have failed to hijack a UK oil tanker in the Persian Gulf in a huge blow to Tehran on Thursday, according to reports.

According to Sky News the ships, thought to be Iranian, attempted to seize the British tanker as it skirted close to Iranian waters. The ship was ordered to change course before the alleged Revolutionary Guard ships tried to seize the tanker. The Royal Navy frigate, HMS Montrose had been escorting the ship.

When the Iranian boats demanded that it changed its course, the frigate turned its guns on them and issued a warning, according to reports. 

Upon issuing the warning, the Iranian ships retreated.

Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/news/world/1151881/Iran-news-latest-update-World-War-3-khamenei-Middle-east-UK-oil-tanker-persian-gulf-Trump/amp

McConnell's Democratic challenger says she likely would have voted for Kavanaugh

Source: The Hill

Amy McGrath, who announced this week she will challenge Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in 2020, says in a new interview that she would have likely voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

"I was very concerned about Judge Kavanaugh, what I felt like were the far-right stances that he had. However, there was nothing in his record that I think would disqualify him in any way," McGrath, a former Marine fighter pilot, told the Louisville Courier-Journal.

"And the fact is when you have the president and the Senate, this is our system and so I don't think there was anything that would have disqualified him in my mind," she said, adding when pressed on how she would have voted: "yeah, I probably would have voted for him."

Kavanaugh's nomination became a flashpoint after allegations of sexual assault from psychology professor and research psychologist Christine Blasey Ford, which he denied. Senators eventually voted 50-48 to confirm Kavanaugh, ending a rancorous debate over his nomination.

Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/senate/452524-mcconnells-democratic-challenger-says-she-likely-would-have-voted-for%3famp

McConnell says he and Obama are both 'descendants of slave holders'

Source: The Hill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) brushed off a question about an NBC News report that his great-great-grandfathers owned slaves, saying it puts him in the same camp as former President Barack Obama.

McConnell appeared to smile as a reporter asked him during a weekly press conference if he knew that his family once owned slaves, and if it changed his position on reparations for African Americans.

"You know I found myself once again in the same position as President Obama, we both oppose reparations and we both are the descendants of slave holders," McConnell told reporters.

NBC News reported Monday that McConnell's great-great-grandfathers, James McConnell and Richard Daley, owned a total of at least 14 slaves in Alabama.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/452241-mcconnell-says-he-and-obama-are-both-descendants-of-slave-holders?amp&__twitter_impression=true

Swalwell to become first Dem to drop out of presidential primary

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) is dropping out of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, according to a House Democratic lawmaker close to Swalwell.

The congressman is expected to make a formal announcement at a press conference this afternoon. 

Swalwell would be the first in the crowded Democratic field to drop out of the context. He took part in the first series of debates late last month. 

The Los Angeles Times reported on Monday that Swalwell, who is a close ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and a member of the House Intelligence Committee, is expected to announce he will launch a reelection bid for his fifth term in the lower chamber. 

More: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/451995-swalwell-to-drop-out-of-democratic-presidential-primary?amp&__twitter_impression=true

Governor Ducey to withdraw AZ Nike plant incentives amid Betsy Ross-Colin Kaepernick controversy

Source: ABC-15

In a series of tweets early Tuesday, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced that he has ordered the Arizona Commerce Authority to withdraw all financial incentive dollars to encourage Nike to add a manufacturing plant in the Valley.

Ducey's decision stems from a Wall Street Journal report that said former NFL quarterback-turned-social justice activist Colin Kaepernick convinced Nike to pull its sneakers featuring an early American flag
commonly known as the Betsy Ross flag. Kaepernick reportedly found the shoe to be offensive.

"Nike has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured an old version of the American flag," Nike said in a statement to CNN Business following the WSJ report.

Nike has planned a massive shoe manufacturing plant in Goodyear,
with an initial investment of $184.5 million. The plant would create over 500 full-time jobs

Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.abc15.com/sports/governor-ducey-to-withdraw-nike-az-plant-incentives-amid-betsy-ross-colin-kaepernick-controversy%3f_amp=true