Monthly Archives: November 2018

#MAGAbomber Cesar Sayoc Pleads Not Guilty

The New York Daily News reports: The man suspected of mailing 16 pipe bombs to critics of President Donald Trump in October pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday. Florida resident Cesar Sayoc, 56, faces life in prison after a federal grand jury in New York indicted him on 30 charges for mailing bombs to billionaire George Soros, former Secretary …

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MONTANA: Nazi Loses Bid To Quash Harassment Suit

The Associated Press reports: A federal judge’s decision to allow a lawsuit to proceed against the publisher of a neo-Nazi website is “dangerous for free speech,” the publisher’s attorney said Thursday. Attorney Marc Randazza said he believes U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen made a legally flawed decision Wednesday in ruling the First Amendment does not shield Daily Stormer publisher Andrew …

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MAINE: Democrat Jared Golden Flips US House Seat

Bloomberg reports: Democrat Jared Golden, a U.S. Marine veteran, has defeated two-term Republican Representative Bruce Poliquin in Maine’s Second District, AP projects, as the state’s first use of ranked-choice balloting in a congressional race proved consequential. Poliquin, the incumbent, led after ballots were initially tabulated, though no candidate had an absolute majority. However, under ranked-choice voting, the lowest-choice candidates were …

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Feds Spent $100K To Guard Junior On Condo Sales Trip

The Washington Post reports: Donald Trump Jr.’s lavish trip to India to sell his family’s luxury condominium projects cost U.S. taxpayers nearly $100,000, documents obtained by The Washington Post show. The Department of Homeland Security, responding to a Freedom of Information request, released 47 pages of purchase orders, requisition forms and planning work sheets showing Trump Jr.’s February trip cost …

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Country Music Legend Roy Clark Dies At Age 85

Variety reports: Roy Clark, the legendary guitarist and singer, Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member, Grammy, ACM and CMA award winner and co-host of the “Hee Haw” television series, died today at the age of 85 due to complications from pneumonia at home in Tulsa, Okla. His 24-year stint on the at times deliberately corny “Hee …

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Elton John Stars In John Lewis Holiday Ad [VIDEO]

Yahoo News reports: It’s the most magical time of the year – or at least as far as television advertising goes – as the official John Lewis Christmas advert has been unveiled. And this year it’s gone in a completely new direction, by featuring a music icon. Elton John takes us on his musical career journey and reveals his most …

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Hair Furor Continues Freakout Over Mueller Probe

Deadline reports: President Donald Trump took a break from blaming GOP midterm losses on voter fraud perpetrated by hat-and-shirt-switching criminals, to rail about Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, reports his wife embarrassed him into dumping John Bolton’s Deputy National Security Adviser, and his plans to sack his Homeland Security chief. With midterm elections over, Mueller’s investigation has ramped back up. Trump, …

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US Sanctions 17 Saudi Officials (But Not Crown Prince)

Politico reports: The Trump administration on Thursday imposed sanctions targeting 17 Saudi Arabian officials — but not the powerful crown prince — over the death of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi more than a month after the Saudi critic went missing. The Treasury Department designated the officials for sanctions over what it called “serious human rights abuse,” freezing any U.S. …

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Human Rights Campaign Head Chad Griffin Steps Down

The Associated Press reports: Chad Griffin, the influential gay rights activist who helped turn the Human Rights Campaign into a powerful political force, announced Thursday that he is stepping down as the organization’s president. Griffin informed staff at HRC of his decision to step down Thursday. Griffin hasn’t said what he plans to do next. He is expected to stay …

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MAINE: Judge Denies Bid To Stop Ranked Vote Tally

But this isn’t over yet. Bangor’s CBS News affiliate reports: Judge denies Poliquin’s order for a temporary restraining order asking for the ranked-choice voting tabulation to stop. The tabulation process will continue at noon Thursday. Wednesday, a federal judge in Bangor heard from legal teams from both sides of the ballot. A lawyer representing incumbent congressman Bruce Poliquin wants the …

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FLORIDA: Court Extends Deadline, Scott Files Appeal

ABC News reports: U.S. Chief Judge Mark Walker issued a preliminary injunction this morning in a lawsuit filed by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson over ballots thrown out because of mismatched signatures — declaring a state law unconstitutional and offering a middle path to give voters a few days to correct their ballots. The ruling is a victory for Nelson as …

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Charges Filed In Viral $400,000 GoFundMe Campaign: Couple Conspired With Homeless Man To Invent Story

NBC News Philadelphia reports: A New Jersey couple accused of scamming a homeless good Samaritan out of hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of an online fundraiser that went viral a year ago had initially conspired with him to concoct a “fictitious story,” prosecutors allege. A complaint obtained by NBC Philadelphia says couple Mark D’Amico and Kate McClure made …

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PHILADELPHIA: Comcast Fires Proud Boys Member

Philadelphia Magazine reports: Comcast on Wednesday fired Andrew Kovalic, a 10-year employee who earlier this week became the target of a viral petition alleging that he is a member of a hate group. The petition that called for Kovalic’s termination, which had garnered 373 signatures by Wednesday morning, was created and sponsored by the Philadelphia-based nonprofit Media Mobilizing Project, which …

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BALTIMORE: Audience Panics After Man Shouts “Heil Hitler, Heil Trump” During Fiddler On The Roof [VIDEO]

The Baltimore Sun reports: A man shouted a pro-Nazi and pro-Trump salute during a performance of “Fiddler on the Roof” at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre on Wednesday night in an outburst that some audience members feared was the beginning of a shooting. Audience member Rich Scherr said the outburst happened during intermission. The man, who had been seated in the balcony, …

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Denmark Suspends $10 Million In Aid To Tanzania After “Unacceptable Homophobic Comments” By Politician

The BBC reports: Denmark is withholding 65m krone (£7.5m; $9.8m) in aid to Tanzania after “unacceptable homophobic comments” from a senior politician, a minister says. Development minister Ulla Tornaes did not name the official but said she was “very concerned” by the comments. Last month, Paul Makonda, commissioner for the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, called on the public to …

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NEW YORK CITY: Activists Confront Hate Group With “No Gays Allowed” Times Square Billboard [VIDEO]

NBC News reports: Surrounded by the skyscrapers that tower over Times Square, a new billboard went up this week that in large black letters reads: “NO GAYS ALLOWED.” Just below, a smaller message states: “STOP Alliance Defending Freedom. Learn more at NoGays.org.” The billboard is part of a new campaign that aims to draw attention to the conservative Christian legal …

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Avenatti Denies Charge: I Have Never Struck A Woman

The Associated Press reports: Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for Stormy Daniels, has denied allegations of domestic violence after his arrest near his ritzy Los Angeles skyscraper apartment. “I have never struck a woman, I never will strike a woman,” Avenatti told reporters Wednesday after being booked and posting $50,000 bail. Avenatti said he has been an advocate for women’s rights …

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Trump Rages About “Total Mess” Mueller Investigation

Axios reports: President Trump renewed his attacks on the credibility of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation in a series of Thursday morning tweets, using his oft-repeated refrain of “WITCH HUNT.” Now that the midterms are over, Mueller is again expected to begin filing indictments, according to CBS News. Roger Stone associate and former Infowars contributor Jerome Corsi said Monday he …

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TURMOIL: Ministers Quit Over PM May’s Brexit Draft

CBS News reports: The morning after the night before was a rough one for British Prime Minister Theresa May. On Wednesday night, she announced that she’d won her cabinet’s backing for her draft proposal on how the U.K. should pull out of the European Union. On Thursday morning, May’s Brexit secretary, the man who led her negotiating team in Brussels …

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Death Penalty Sought In Killing Of Saudi Journalist

The Guardian reports: Saudi Arabia’s top prosecutor is recommending the death penalty for five suspects charged with ordering and carrying out the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, in a move that appears designed to protect the country’s powerful crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. A spokesman for Saudi Al-Mojeb told journalists in a rare press conference in Riyadh on Thursday …

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