News

The Hill reports: Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Americans to show more respect for their president in response to a question posed to him at the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi on Thursday. In his remarks, Putin called Americans’ disrespect for President Trump a “negative” feature of the American democratic system. “Inside the country, disrespect is shown for …

The BBC reports: Take a close look at this face. Who do you see? We’d call him a clean-cut, middle-aged white man. He looks like a John, a James, or a Robert. Perhaps you’ve met him once: the husband of a friend, or a former colleague. Or maybe you’ve only ever seen him on television – people who look like …

From a poll just published by Pew Research: Most U.S. adults now say it is not necessary to believe in God to be moral and have good values (56%), up from about half (49%) who expressed this view in 2011. This increase reflects the continued growth in the share of the population that has no religious affiliation, but it also …

The Washington Post reports: For the last nine years, George W. Bush has largely stayed out of presidential politics; he declined to criticize his successor, Barack Obama, and he chose not to endorse but largely ignored President Trump. While Mitt Romney and others spoke out publicly against Trump, Bush stayed above the fray. That changed in a big way Thursday. …

The Associated Press reports: The National Rifle Association is offering insurance for people who shoot someone, stirring criticism from gun-control advocates who say it could foster more violence and give gun owners a false sense of security to shoot first and ask questions later. Some are calling it “murder insurance,” and say that rather than promoting personal responsibility and protection, …

The New York Times reports: In a sign of mounting frustration among Republicans in Washington, Representative Pat Tiberi of Ohio, a senior lawmaker with close ties to his party’s leaders, is expected to resign and take up an executive post with a business group in his home state, according to three Republicans briefed on his plans. An abrupt departure by …

The Denver Post reports: Because of a lack of demand, the Colorado Republican Party is offering a Groupon-like deal to see Vice President Mike Pence. Pence is the headliner for a party fundraiser Oct. 26 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, where the lowest-priced tickets originally cost $275. The party announced the event weeks earlier but struggled to sell the …

Reuters reports: Former President Barack Obama returns to the campaign trail on Thursday for the first time since he left the White House, venturing out to support Democrats in two governor’s races that could offer a clue about the national mood before next year’s midterm elections. Obama, who has spoken at private party fundraisers but largely steered clear of electoral …

Politico reports: Mississippi GOP Sen. Thad Cochran insists that he is not retiring from Congress, despite widespread speculation about the veteran lawmaker’s health and political future. The 79-year-old Cochran appeared frail and at times disoriented during a brief hallway interview on Wednesday. He was unable to answer whether he would remain chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and at one point, …

I followed this account for months after seeing how many major right wingers were retweeting it. Eventually I was blocked but I never dreamed it was by Russians. Buzzfeed News reports: Twitter took 11 months to close a Russian troll account that claimed to speak for the Tennessee Republican Party even after that state’s real GOP notified the social media …

A new poll from Fox News: Republican Roy Moore, the anti-Republican establishment candidate, is tied at 42 percent apiece with Democrat Doug Jones in the U.S. Senate race in deep-red Alabama. A Fox News Poll also finds that among just the 53 percent of Alabama registered voters who are extremely or very interested in the race, Jones has a one-point …

CNN reports: Attorney General Jeff Sessions will once again be in the hot seat in front of his former colleagues Wednesday, when he testifies before the Senate judiciary committee. Wednesday’s hearing will be the Judiciary committee’s first turn to ask questions of Sessions since his confirmation hearing, a sore subject for committee Democrats who have pushed for a chance to …

The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports: A predominately black public school in Mississippi named after Jefferson Davis will have its Confederate tied namesake stripped next year and replaced with the title of another president whose character students, parents and teachers have said is more fitting— Barack Obama. Davis Magnet IB PTA President Janelle Jefferson announced at the Jackson Public Schools Board of …

The Washington Examiner reports: Almost half of US voters believe major news organizations make up stories about President Trump and his administration, according to a Morning Consult/Politico poll released Wednesday. The Oct. 12-16 survey found 46 percent of registered voters think large outlets fabricate news about Trump, while 37 percent disagree. Three-in-four Republicans think the media creates fake news about …

The Los Angeles Times reports: A federal judge in Hawaii on Tuesday issued an order blocking major parts of President Trump’s newest travel ban, suggesting it amounted to unconstitutional discrimination against Muslims and violated immigration law. The decision from U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson in Honolulu stops the administration’s travel restrictions nationwide before they were scheduled to take full effect …

CNBC reports: President Donald Trump on Tuesday held a press conference in the White House Rose Garden with visiting Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of Greece. This was the president’s second such media briefing in two days. On Monday, Trump held a previously unscheduled press event with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also in the Rose Garden. Trump on Tuesday …

Forbes reports: A tough New York real estate market, a costly lawsuit and an expensive presidential campaign all contributed to the declining fortune of the 45th president. After months of digging through financial disclosures and public property records and conducting dozens of interviews, Forbes now estimates POTUS’ net worth at $3.1 billion, down from $3.7 billion a year ago. He …

KTLA reports: A man accused of torturing his girlfriend’s 8-year-old son to death killed the child because he thought the boy was gay, a Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office prosecutor said during opening statements Monday. Aguirre, 32, is charged with murder with a special circumstance of torture. Prosecutor Jon Hatami detailed the acts allegedly committed by Aguirre and the …

After decades of decline mostly attributed to safer vehicles and stiffer DUI penalties, traffic deaths in the US have spiked by 14.4% over the last two years. The government has yet to formally blame the rise on smartphone use, but others are convinced. Bloomberg reports: There are three big clues, and they don’t rest along the highway. One, as you …

Variety reports: Cher has joined Universal’s “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!” The multi-hyphenate hinted at her appearance in the movie over the weekend in a tweet and Variety has confirmed that she has been cast in the film. Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, and Christine Baranski are returning, with Ol Parker writing and directing. The film goes back …