Politics

National Enquirer Paid Doorman To Quash Rumor That Trump Fathered Child With Staffer At Trump Building

The Associated Press reports: Eight months before the company that owns the National Enquirer paid $150,000 to a former Playboy Playmate who claimed she’d had an affair with Donald Trump, the tabloid’s parent made a $30,000 payment to a less famous individual: a former doorman at one of the real estate mogul’s New York City buildings. As it did with …

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MISSOURI: Impeachment Looms For GOP Gov After Release Of Graphic Details On Incident With Mistress

Talking Points Memo reports: A woman who carried out a 2015 affair with Gov. Eric Greitens (R) accused him of coercing her into unwanted sexual contact while she wept on the floor of his basement, according to testimony included in a highly-anticipated Missouri House committee report released Wednesday evening. The 25-page report includes graphic, disturbing claims about a March 2015 …

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Trump Appears To Walk Back Syria Missile Threat

Yahoo News reports: Donald Trump has backpedaled on earlier warlike statements about missile strikes in Syria – with a new Tweet where he says an attack may happen ‘not so soon at all’. His new statement may perplex allies, as it comes as British ministers consider the possibility of backing military action in the region. Theresa May is believed to …

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Bannon Pitches White House On Blocking Mueller Probe

The Washington Post reports: Stephen K. Bannon, who was ousted as White House chief strategist last summer but has remained in touch with some members of President Trump’s circle, is pitching a plan to West Wing aides and congressional allies to cripple the federal probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to four people familiar with the discussions. …

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SURVEY: America’s Most-Admired Man Is Barack Obama

The Hill reports: Barack and Michelle Obama are the most admired people in the U.S., according to a YouGov survey of admired figures across the globe. The former president and first lady also landed second place for the most admired people in the world. President Trump was the second-most admired man in the U.S., but only gained an admiration score …

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Missouri GOP Gov Refuses To Resign Ahead Of Revenge Porn Trial, Says Mistress Might Have Dreamed It All

CBS News reports: Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens admitted to an extramarital affair but defiantly refused to resign in a statement issued ahead of a special legislative committee issuing an investigative report related to an extramarital affair the Republican engaged in before his election. “I will continue to work for the people of Missouri every day,” Greitens said. Greitens called the …

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Trump Seeks To Drug-Test Food Stamp Recipients

The Associated Press reports: The Trump administration is considering a plan that would allow states to require certain food stamp recipients to undergo drug testing, handing a win to conservatives who’ve long sought ways to curb the safety net program. The proposal under review would be narrowly targeted, applying mostly to people who are able-bodied, without dependents and applying for …

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Republican Group Runs “Protect Mueller” Ad During Fox & Friends While Trump Was Likely Watching [VIDEO]

Talking Points Memo reports: On Wednesday morning, a commercial bolstering Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s credentials and advocating that he complete his Russia investigation aired during Fox and Friends in the Washington D.C. market. The ad came from a group called Republicans for the Rule of Law led by Bill Kristol, editor at large at the Weekly Standard. The group’s website …

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Cambridge Analytica Threatens Journalists

Law & Crime reports: Cambridge Analytica is threatening legal action against journalists who report unfavorable information regarding the controversial big data-mining firm. Perhaps the embattled firm is frightened by the swelling amount of attention due to Mark Zuckerberg‘s two days worth of congressional testimony. In any event, Cambridge Analytica has shifted its denial strategy to issuing vague threats of litigation …

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Zuckerberg: Cambridge Analytica Got My Own Data Too

USA Today reports: Mark Zuckerberg says his data was exposed in the Cambridge Analytica leak. The Facebook CEO made the admission during questioning on Capitol Hill Wednesday. The hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee was his second appearance before lawmakers in as many days. He took questions on privacy practices, foreign interference in U.S. elections and whether Facebook …

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FLORIDA: 41st GOP US House Rep Hits The Exit

The Tampa Bay Times reports: Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, told his staff this morning he is retiring. “Eight years takes its time on you. … There’s got to be an exit strategy at some point,” Ross said in an interview, noting he planned on serving 10 years, or five terms. “My wife and I decided this is a good time.” …

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LIVE VIDEO: Speaker Paul Ryan Announces Retirement

CNBC reports: House Republicans are scheduled to take reporters’ questions on Wednesday, shortly following the announcement from Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., that he won’t seek re-election in 2018. The speaker himself is expected to discuss his decision at the press conference, said Ryan’s counselor Brendan Buck, who confirmed a wave of reports in a statement on Wednesday morning. “This morning …

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John Boehner Joins Board Of Marijuana Company

Bloomberg reports: The U.S. marijuana industry has a new spokesman: John Boehner. The Republican former Speaker of the House has joined the advisory board of Acreage Holdings, a company that cultivates, processes and dispenses cannabis in 11 U.S. states. Boehner’s endorsement, after saying nine years ago he was “unalterably opposed” to legalization, could be considered a watershed event: Marijuana has …

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BREAKING: House Speaker Paul Ryan To Retire

CNBC reports: House Speaker Paul Ryan has privately told confidants he does not plan to run for re-election this year, multiple reports said Wednesday. The Wisconsin Republican could announce his decision “soon,” according to the news outlet. The GOP faces a tough fight to hold on to a House majority in November amid Democratic enthusiasm and opposition to some policies …

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Bipartisan Senate Bill To Protect Mueller Due Today

Politico reports: A combined version of two bipartisan Senate bills designed to protect special counsel Robert Mueller’s job is set to be released Wednesday, marking lawmakers’ latest political warning shot to President Donald Trump as he entertains firing the man investigating him. The new Senate legislation is the product of months-long talks among Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), …

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Comey Compares Trump To A Mob Boss [VIDEO]

Axios reports: A source present at the taping says James Comey’s interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, airing Sunday at 10 p.m. as a “20/20” special, is “going to shock the president and his team.” In an ABC promo, Stephanopoulos says Comey compared Trump to a mob boss. According to the source, the Comey interview left people in the room stunned …

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Trump Warns Russia: Our Missiles Are Coming

Reuters reports: Russia has warned that any U.S. missiles fired at Syria over a suspected chemical weapons attack on a rebel enclave would be shot down and the launch sites targeted, raising the possibility of a U.S.-Russian confrontation. Issuing the warning on Tuesday evening, the Russian ambassador to Lebanon also said such a clash should be avoided and Moscow was …

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Stormy Cooperating With Feds, Locks Twitter Account

NBC News reports: Adult film actress Stormy Daniels is cooperating with federal investigators looking into a $130,000 payment she received from President Donald Trump’s personal attorney, multiple sources familiar with the proceedings told NBC News. The cooperation is in connection with a broader federal probe of the attorney, Michael Cohen, which triggered a raid on his office and hotel room …

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Zuckerberg: We’re Working With Mueller [VIDEO]

CNBC reports: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified to a joint hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees Tuesday that Facebook is cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. “I know we are working with them,” Zuckerberg said during the hearing. When asked by Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont about Facebook’s involvement with Mueller’s investigation, Zuckerberg confirmed the cooperation but …

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BRITAIN: No Royal Wedding Invite For Trump

CNN reports: US President Donald Trump and his predecessor Barack Obama will not attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, White House and royal sources told CNN on Tuesday. A Kensington Palace spokesman said world leaders and political figures would not be invited in their official capacities. Trump and first lady Melania were not invited, nor were any …

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