Trump Administration

Trump Nominates Rick Perry’s Deputy To Succeed Him

The Hill reports: President Trump announced Friday that he plans to nominate Deputy Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette to replace outgoing Energy Secretary Rick Perry. In a series of tweets, Trump described Brouillette as a “total professional” and said his experience in the energy sector is “unparalleled.” Trump also praised Perry for doing an “outstanding job” and said he would leave …

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Turkey Continues Attack Despite Pence’s “Ceasefire”

The Guardian reports: Fighting is continuing on the border between Syria and Turkey, according to witnesses, despite an announcement from the US vice-president, Mike Pence, that Ankara had agreed to a five-day ceasefire to allow the US supervision of the withdrawal of Kurdish forces from the area. Intermittent artillery fire and ground clashes continued in the border town of Ras …

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Perry Formally Notifies Trump Of Impending Resignation

Bloomberg reports: Energy Secretary Rick Perry notified President Donald Trump Thursday that he will soon be leaving the post, according to two people familiar with the matter. Perry, one of the administration’s original cabinet secretaries, enjoyed good rapport with Trump. The former Texas governor has recently come under scrutiny in the House impeachment inquiry over his discussions with Ukraine. Perry’s …

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Kushner To Meet With Netanyahu And Benny Gantz

Axios reports: Jared Kushner will travel to Israel during the last week of October, Israeli officials tell me. He is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as Benny Gantz, the man seeking to replace Netanyahu as prime minister. Why it matters: Kushner knows Netanyahu well after their many meetings, but this will be his first meeting with …

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Kudlow: The Federal Reserve Is Part Of The Deep State

CNBC reports: White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Thursday took a shot at members of the Federal Reserve board as part of the “deep state.” “I don’t want to get into a lot of Fed bashing,” Kudlow told CNBC in an interview from the White House lawn. “They do the best they can. Their models are highly flawed. The …

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Pence: Turkey Agreed To Temporary Ceasefire In Syria

ABC News reports: Turkey has agreed to a ceasefire in northern Syria between its forces and their allied rebels and U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds, Vice President Mike Pence announced. Pence met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Thursday to push for a ceasefire. Erdogan had repeatedly rejected the idea, saying his government would not negotiate with what it considers a terrorist …

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Former Pompeo Advisor: I Quit Over Trump’s Attacks

Politico reports: A former top adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told House impeachment investigators on Wednesday that he abruptly resigned last week because of President Donald Trump’s attacks on the ousted U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and the State Department’s unwillingness to protect career diplomats from political pressure, according to two people familiar with the testimony. Michael McKinley, a …

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Trump Education Board Pick Writes “Illuminati” Books

The Denver Post reports: A Colorado Springs lawyer appointed by President Donald Trump to a federal education board is a prolific author of self-help Illuminati books whose education company has been accused of handing out certificates to undeserving applicants. The White House announced last week that Trump had nominated George Mentz to the Commission on Presidential Scholars. His nomination does …

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Cuomo Signs Bill That Closes Trump Pardon Loophole

NBC News reports: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a measure Wednesday that would allow the state to pursue charges against people who have received a presidential pardon — a law seen as a direct shot at President Donald Trump. Multiple ex-Trump aides or associates are imprisoned or facing legal scrutiny in New York. The president, whose business and campaign …

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Erdogan Refuses To Meet With Pence And Pompeo

NBC News reports: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will refuse to meet with Vice President Mike Pence, who is due to travel to Turkey to argue for a ceasefire in the ongoing Syria conflict. “I’m not going to talk to them. They will be talking to their counterparts. When Trump comes here, I’ll be talking,” he said …

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SWAMPITY: Trump Has So Far Hired 281 Lobbyists

Pro Publica reports: At the halfway mark of President Donald Trump’s first term, his administration has hired a lobbyist for every 14 political appointments made, welcoming a total of 281 lobbyists on board, a ProPublica and Columbia Journalism Investigations analysis shows. With a combination of weakened rules and loose enforcement easing the transition to government and back to K Street, …

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Right Wingers Push Cuccinelli For Homeland Security

From the Conservative Partnership Institute: Conservatives unequivocally support Ken Cuccinelli for the position of Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. As acting head of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Cuccinelli has proven himself exceptionally capable of executing the president’s agenda on complex and sensitive issues. Rather than backing away from a media that is at times overtly …

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Pompeo Proselytizes On Official State Dept Website

Newsweek reports: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a speech on Friday to the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) at its 2019 world conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Outlining “what it means to be a Christian leader,” Pompeo described how he applies his religious faith to government administration. Titled “Being a Christian Leader” and promoted in his official government capacity …

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Mnuchin Warns Of Tariffs Hike If China Deal Fails

ABC News reports: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned of a coming tariff hike if China does not finalize the specifics of a newly negotiated partial trade deal announced by President Donald Trump last week. The tariffs on 15% of $160 billion worth of Chinese goods impacting consumer electronics– cellphones, laptops, toys–would go into effect by Dec. 15. It was previously …

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Pro-Trump Conference At Trump Resort Shows Video Depicting Trump Murdering Journalists And Opponents

The New York Times reports: A video depicting a macabre scene of a fake President Trump shooting, stabbing and brutally assaulting members of the news media and his political opponents was shown at a conference for his supporters at his Miami resort last week, according to footage obtained by The New York Times. Several of Mr. Trump’s top surrogates — …

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Pompeo Evasive On Meeting Giuliani Overseas [VIDEO]

Law & Crime reports: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gritted his teeth through a strained response when NBC Nashville reporter Nancy Amons grilled him on whether he had met with Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani during an overseas trip in February. Pompeo was hostile and evasive throughout the interview, at one point accusing Amons of “working at least in part for …

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Dem Rep Wants Probe Of Barr/Murdoch Meeting

Mediaite reports: California Democratic Congressman Harley Rouda — who sits on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform — told SiriusXM host Dean Obeidallah that his committee should investigate the meeting between Trump Attorney General Bill Barr and Fox Chairman Rupert Murdoch, which was followed quickly by the resignation of anchor Shepard Smith. Rouda said, “What the hell is the …

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Yet Another Homeland Security Chief Hits The Exit

From a story published earlier this week: Nearly six months after taking over the Department of Homeland Security as acting secretary, Kevin McAleenan has guided the United States out of a crisis at the southern border, but he also says he has lost command of the public messaging from his department and lacks some of the authority he was promised …

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Dems Accidentally Get Ukraine Talking Points AGAIN

The Hill reports: The White House accidentally sent Democrats a list of talking points related to ex-Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch’s Friday House deposition, two sources with knowledge of the email told The Hill, the second time in a month the administration has sent its Ukraine talking points to Democrats. The email included guidance for Republicans seeking to defend the president …

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Trump Cult Gets Scalp: Shep Smith Leaving Fox News

From the Hollywood Reporter: Shepard Smith is stepping away from his longtime role at Fox News and leaving the network, Fox News said on Friday. “Recently I asked the company to allow me to leave Fox News and begin a new chapter,” Smith said in a statement. “After requesting that I stay, they graciously obliged. The opportunities afforded this guy …

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