Digital Alaska News

FBI Refused To Question Clinton Operative Linked To Anti-Trump Dossier During Russia Collusion Probe https://digitalalaskanews.com/fbi-refused-to-question-clinton-operative-linked-to-anti-trump-dossier-during-russia-collusion-probe/ An FBI agent who served on special counsel Robert Mueller’s team has revealed that her request to grill a Democratic operative involved in the anti-Trump dossier was scuttled by top officials at the bureau. The revelation came Friday when FBI agent Amy Anderson who took the stand Friday in the trial of Russian analyst Igor Danchenko for lying to the FBI about how he obtained information for British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s anti-Trump dossier. Ms. Anderson, who was part of Mr. Mueller’s team investigating purported Trump-Russia collusion, said she asked in 2017 to interview Democratic operative Charles Dolan about the dossier but her requests were ignored and then deep-sixed by FBI officials. “I wanted to look into him,” Ms. Anderson told the federal courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia. “The job at the time was to verify if statements in the dossier were valid or not, so if the witness had knowledge of those statements, that would have been an important part of the job.” She was the second witness Friday to testify that an FBI supervisor stymied efforts to look into Mr. Dolan, a longtime Democratic operative with close ties to Hillary Clinton. It was the latest evidence to emerge of the FBI’s failures to scrutinize claims of collusion when launching the probe targetting former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and then his presidency. The trial, however, is focused on the alleged dishonesty of Mr. Danchanko in what is likely the last act of special counsel John Durham’s three-year probe into the origins of the FBI’s hunt for Trump-Russia collusion. Earlier in the day, Brittany Hertzog, a former FBI intelligence analyst who also worked on Mr. Mueller’s probe, testified that she also pressed to interview Mr. Dolan and made that recommendation to both the FBI’s headquarters and Washington field office. “I believe it needed to be acted on,” Ms. Hertzog testified. Despite urging from Ms. Anderson and Ms. Hertzog to open up an investigation into Mr. Dolan, nothing ever happened, they said. They blamed the FBI’s chain of command, but did not provide further details. As Ms. Anderson tells it, her request to take “investigative steps” against Mr. Dolan sat around for three to four weeks before she deleted it from the FBI system. She said she erased the request because it couldn’t remain in the FBI’s computer system if no one was going to move on it. Investigative steps would include subpoenaing Mr. Dolan for testimony and executing a search warrant for his phone and email records. Ms. Anderson and Ms. Hertzog said they didn’t know why investigators ignored their requests. On Thursday, Mr. Dolan testified that he lied to Igor Danchenko in 2016 when he claimed to have information from a GOP insider about why Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort resigned from the campaign. That information, which had been pulled from a cable news talking head, made its way into the Steele report, a collection of unverified and salacious anti-Trump claims compiled by British ex-spy Christopher Steele. The accusations surrounding Mr. Manafort’s departure from the Trump campaign appear in the Steele dossier and are attributed to “an American political figure associated with Donald Trump.” That information came from Mr. Dolan, who said he learned it by having drinks with “a GOP friend who knows the players.” Under oath, Mr. Dolan testified that he never spoke with a Republican source and admitted the information came from an analyst on a cable news talk show. Ms. Anderson said they came across the possibility that Mr. Dolan contributed the Manafort information after traveling to Cypress and interviewing Olga Galkina, a childhood friend of Mr. Danchenko. “She was slightly hesitant. She asked me to remove my sunglasses so she could look me directly in the eye and confirmed it was Mr. Dolan,” Ms. Anderson said. She said Mr. Dolan would have been of interest to Mr. Mueller’s team because of his connections to the Russian government. Mr. Dolan had done public relations work for the Kremlin and developed a strong connection with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dimitri Peskov. “Anyone who had access to the Kremlin would have been very valuable,” she said. Read More Here

Former AG Loretta Lynch On Trump’s Legal Liability, The Supreme Court And Racial Equity Efforts https://digitalalaskanews.com/former-ag-loretta-lynch-on-trumps-legal-liability-the-supreme-court-and-racial-equity-efforts/ While some legal experts and political pundits predict legal consequences are just around the corner for former President Donald Trump’s actions related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch is waiting patiently for justice to be served. “It’s too early to make that determination,” she said about possible jail time for Trump. “If I was still sitting in the seat, I’d be doing what AG [Merrick] Garland is doing now, which is building cases against everyone involved,” Lynch continued. “But I’ll also be looking very carefully at the causes and instigators of that of that insurrection. And we’ve seen him do that.” In a wide-ranging interview with GBH News reporter Saraya Wintersmith, Lynch also shared her thoughts on Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court — a role then-Attorney General Lynch was poised to be nominated for following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016. “I think the right person is in that seat at the right time,” she said. “I look at Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, really, as this generation’s Thurgood Marshall. He was often in the minority. He was often in the dissent. But his voice still speaks loud today.” Wintersmith also asked Lynch about her position at the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, where she was involved in auditing major companies’ diversity, equity and inclusion practices — many of which were introduced following the murder of George Floyd. “Stakeholders in this process — you know, customers, employees, community members, shareholders — began to turn to companies and say, ‘Tell us how your programs are doing. Are you really having an impact?’” Lynch explained. “So we’re helping a number of companies really assess the impact of so much of the work they’ve been doing over the past few years. And that’s an important part of continuing that work and pushing that work forward.” Read More Here

Social Security COLA 2023, Live Online Today: Increase, Benefits And Adjustment | SSA Latest News https://digitalalaskanews.com/social-security-cola-2023-live-online-today-increase-benefits-and-adjustment-ssa-latest-news-2/ 2023 Social Security COLA live: latest news “The higher-than-expected COLA costs could have long term implications for Social Security solvency, and could potentially move the insolvency date, currently around 2034, forward.” “A recession would put additional strain on program solvency by reducing the payroll tax revenues received by the Trust Funds.” COLA announcement If you like to hear your communications straight from the financial benefits horse’s mouth, then here you go… “Medicare premiums are going down and Social Security benefits are going up in 2023, which will give seniors more peace of mind and breathing room. “This year’s substantial Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is the first time in over a decade that Medicare premiums are not rising and shows that we can provide more support to older Americans who count on the benefits they have earned.” White House highlights SS payments Earlier this morning the official White House twitter account shared information over the new payments being made to Americans. ‘Seniors are about to see their Social Security checks go up on average by $140 every month,” it wrote.  ‘And, for the first time in a decade, Medicare costs are going down as Social Security benefits are going up.’ Mixed bag of COLA across federal retirees For the second year in a row, federal retirees will see the largest annual increase in benefits payments in decades, as the Social Security Administration announced Thursday that the annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2023 will be 8.7%. Not all federal retirees will get the full 8.7%, however, prompting renewed calls for parity between the federal government’s retirement systems. Social Security cost-of-living increases are calculated based on the annual change in the third quarter consumer price index for workers. The Civil Service Retirement System also calculates enrollees’ annual annuity increases on that basis, meaning retirees enrolled in CSRS will see an 8.7% increase to their annuity payments in 2023, the largest COLA since 1981. Erich Wagner looks at the increase for Gov ex. How will I know that I have to pay social security? It’s a question that we’re hearing a lot. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will send a benefit statement each year in January to beneficiaries called Form SSA-1099. This form shows the total amount of benefits you received from Social Security in the previous year. With it, you will be able to “complete your federal income tax return to find out if your benefits are subject to tax.” Additionally, the SSA allows beneficiaries to report their incomes quarterly to avoid a surprise at the end of the year. This may be beneficial to those on a fixed income, as coming up with additional funds can be quite difficult. We bring you more on when social security becomes taxable and other useful info. SOCIAL SECURITY How can you check your COLA notice online and when will I see the increase in my Social Security checks? The Social Security Administration announces annually its cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to benefits so that they keep pace with inflation. With prices rising at a clip not seen in four decades many beneficiaries will be anxious to see what the boost to their monthly checks will be in 2023. While the agency mails out letters throughout the month of December, but they request not to contact them until January, the first month when beneficiaries will see payments with the higher amount, as the notice could take time to reach you. However, you may not need to wait for the mail to know how much your payments will increase based on the 2023 COLA. Most beneficiaries can access the notice online. Only three COLAs have been bigger than 2023’s Since it was first implemented in 1975, the Social Security Administrations’s cost-of-living adjustment has only been larger than in 2023 on three occasions, all over 40 years ago. In 1979, it was 9.9 percent; in 1980, a record 14.3; and in 1981, it was 11.2. You can take a look at each year’s COLA on the SSA website. MEDICARE PREMIUMS Medicare Premiums Part A: How much will it cost and what will be the impact of COLA 2023 on it? The Social Security Administration announced its fourth largest COLA increase since they began in 1975 increasing the average amount that a beneficiary receives each month by over $140. While inflation is still taking a bite out of household finances, Medicare premiums in general are set to decrease next year. While the vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries do not have to pay any premiums for Part A coverage, one of four parts of the government subsidized healthcare program, those that are required to pay will see a slight increase in 2023 to buy into this portion of Medicare. Deductibles and coinsurance amounts will also rise somewhat next year. Here’s a rundown the costs you can expect. 2023 COLA based on CPI-W beats inflation for index based on elederly spending habits There has been a push to change the way that the annual automatic increase, if any, is calculated through the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The Social Security Administration currently uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). This broad basket of goods and services that consumers spend their money on is said not to reflect properly what seniors are spending their money on and causing retirees to lose purchasing power.  There have been calls for the Consumer Price Index for Americans 62 years of age and older (CPI-E) to be used instead. While the data hasn’t been published yet, the 8.7 percent COLA announced Tuesday beat the August-to-August CPI-E by a full percentage point according to Jaime Hopkins from the Carson Group. Despite record 8.7% COLA for 2023, “Still more work to do to help seniors” The Social Security Administration announced a historic 8.7 percent COLA increase for benefits in 2023. The extra money each month will help recipients cope with inflation to a degree when it arrives with January’s payments. However, there are concerns that more needs to be done especially in the case of seniors to make the COLA more responsive to the expenses they face that aren’t used in the current calculation. The current COLA uses inflation figures from the CPI-W, a broad basket of consumer goods and services. There are calls to use the CPI-E which targets goods and services that “would more accurately measure spending patterns of seniors.” The Senior Citizens League reported recently that since the early 2000s, those on Social Security have lost forty percent of their purchasing power. Without SSA COLA beneficiaries would lose purchasing power Prices continually rise over time but Social Security benefits didn’t always adjust to the increased cost of living recipients faced on a daily basis. Prior to 1975 it took an Act of Congress to give benefits a boost. Since then monthly checks paid out by the Social Security Administration have been adjusted automatically each year to reflect general inflation being experienced by consumers for goods and services. Social Security Administration announces historic 8.7% COLA 2023 increase The Social Security Administration has announced a nearly 9% cost-of-living adjustment, the biggest increase since 1981, affecting the benefits received by over 70m Americans. Welcome to AS USA 2023 COLA increase updates Hello and welcome to AS USA’s live blog on the 2023 Social Security COLA increase for Friday, 14 October.  The Social Security Adminstration announced the 2023 Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for social security benefits, for programs like Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance. Other government pension and benefits programs will also be affected by the 8.7% increase. The COLA offered for next year is historic in size after inflation has plagued markets for basic commodities consumed by most households, including food, shelter, utilities, and gasoline.   Read More Here

Trump Won't Be The Republican Nominee In 2024, Ex-GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan Predicts https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-wont-be-the-republican-nominee-in-2024-ex-gop-house-speaker-paul-ryan-predicts/ Former President Donald Trump will not be the Republican Party’s White House nominee in the 2024 election, former GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan predicted. “He’s not going to be the nominee, I don’t think,” Ryan, a former presidential running mate, said in an interview with consulting firm Teneo. Ryan had a tumultuous relationship with Trump before and after his one term in the White House. Former President Donald Trump will not be the Republican Party’s White House nominee in the 2024 election, former GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan predicted. “Trump’s unelectability will be palpable by then,” Ryan said in an interview with consulting firm Teneo that aired Thursday. Ryan is vice chairman of the firm. “We all know that he’s much more likely to lose the White House than anybody else running for president on our side of the aisle, so why would we want to go with that?” the former lawmaker from Wisconsin said. “Whether he runs or not, I don’t really know if it matters,” Ryan added. “He’s not going to be the nominee, I don’t think.” Ryan, who was now-Utah Sen. Mitt Romney’s presidential running mate in 2012 and succeeded John Boehner as House Speaker in 2015, has worked in the private sector since leaving Congress in 2018. Ryan had a tumultuous relationship with Trump before and after his one term in the White House. Money Report As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump bombarded Ryan with insults, labeling him weak and disloyal. Ryan had refused to continue campaigning for Trump late in the election, following the release of an Access Hollywood recording from 2005 in which Trump is heard bragging about groping women. Since leaving elected office, Ryan has urged the GOP to ditch Trump, who remains the de facto leader of the party and the likeliest candidate to clinch the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. Trump has openly floated the possibility of launching another White House bid, though he has yet to make an official announcement. Trump lost to President Joe Biden in 2020, but never conceded the race and continues to falsely claim the election was rigged against him. Trump’s conspiracy claims before and after that election spurred thousands of supporters to swarm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when a joint session of Congress had convened to confirm Biden’s victory. Ryan said he “found himself sobbing” as he watched the Capitol riot unfold, according to a recent book. In his interview with Teneo, Ryan said the only reason Trump is still in power is because “everybody’s afraid of him.” “He’s going to try to intimidate people out of the race as long as he can,” Ryan said. That fear of Trump will cause other GOP presidential contenders to delay their decisions to run, waiting for “somebody else to take the first plunge,” Ryan predicted. After Trump attacks that first person, “they can follow in behind,” Ryan said, likening the situation to a “prisoner’s dilemma.” But that ultimately won’t stop would-be candidates from throwing their hats in the ring, he said. “The one inexhaustible power in politics is ambition, you can count on that. There’s a handful of people who are going to run because it’s really the only cycle they can run, and they can’t wait until 2028,” Ryan said. “They’ve got to go now if they’re ever going to go, and they don’t want to die not ever trying,” he added. “As soon as you get sort of the herd mentality going, it’s unstoppable. So I think the fact that he pulls so much poorer than anybody else running for president as a Republican against a Democrat is enough right there,” Ryan said. “He’s gonna know this, and so whether he runs or not, I don’t really know if it matters, he’s not going to be the nominee, I don’t think.” Read More Here

Russia's War In Ukraine | CNN https://digitalalaskanews.com/russias-war-in-ukraine-cnn-3/ See new ‘kamikaze’ drones used by Russia in attacks on Ukraine 02:41 – Source: CNN Russian forces have launched hundreds of missile strikes in Ukraine over the past week, most of them at civilian targets, a senior US military official said Friday. President Vladimir Putin said he has no regrets about the missile barrage. He added there was no need for more massive strikes “at least for now.” Russia’s Rostov region is to receive Kherson residents after Moscow announced evacuations from the occupied region in the face of Ukraine’s counteroffensive. Russia continues to face international backlash. European lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Thursday to declare Russia a “terrorist” regime. Meanwhile, a new intelligence analysis shows Western sanctions are hurting Russia’s ability to replenish military supplies in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces continue to advance in the north and have made some gains in the southern part of the country in Kherson, a senior US military official said Friday. “We have seen gains in the north now, really the line of advance for the Ukrainians, just north of the city of Mylove, and then extending essentially to the north and west with a number of small towns and villages that the Ukrainians have been able to clear of the Russians,” the official said. The US has also seen some “incremental gains” in the central part of the country, “so not a lot of advancement, but some,” the official said. “We’re talking kilometers.” Because Ukrainian forces have gotten closer to Russian forces along this central axis, they are relying less on guided multiple launch rocket systems, or GMLRs, to counter Russians, the official said. “It’s also placed a good portion of that battle space under standard artillery, not GMLRs,” the official continued. “They can range the Russian targets they want to hit with standard artillery.” Gains in Kherson prompt evacuations: Meanwhile, Russia said Thursday its forces would help evacuate residents of occupied Kherson to other areas. The announcement by Russia’s deputy prime minister came shortly after Moscow-backed officials in the region appealed for help moving residents out of harm’s way. It’s the latest indication that Russian forces are struggling in the face of Ukraine’s counteroffensive. Here’s a look at where things stand on the ground: President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on October 14. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters The Ukrainian military says it has destroyed a significant amount of Russian weaponry in a strike against a railway hub in the eastern region of Luhansk. It also said the Russian had suffered substantial losses in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk. But in its operational update Friday, the General Staff made no mention of fighting around Bakhmut in Donetsk, where Russian forces appear to have made some gains in recent days. But the General Staff did say that Russia “continues to focus its efforts on attempts to implement its plans to reach the administrative border of Donetsk region.” The General Staff said that “according to preliminary information, in the area of the railway station in the town of Antratsyt [Luhansk] our soldiers destroyed a significant part of the enemy’s weapons and military equipment transported by rail. The amount and nature of damage is being specified.” CNN is unable to confirm the attack. More on Ukraine’s counteroffensive: In recent weeks, Ukraine has targeted Russian supply lines in Luhansk as it seeks to build on its successful offensive in neighboring Kharkiv. In other areas, according to the General Staff, some 150 Russian soldiers had been killed and about 100 injured by Ukrainian attacks in Khlibodarivka (Donetsk region), Tokmak (Zaporizhzhia region) and Tokarivka (Kherson region). The General Staff claimed that in the city of Kherson, Russian forces had seized 13 barge-type vessels for the transportation of personnel and equipment across the Dnipro River. Ukrainian long-range rocket attacks have made most bridges across the river impassable.  It also claimed that three S-300 units had been destroyed. S-300 missiles have been causing devastating damage in central Ukraine, especially in Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv. A passenger train and cars travel on the Kerch bridge in Crimea, on October 9. (Alexey Pavlishak/Reuters) The Russian government has announced plans to complete repairs to the Crimea bridge by July 1, 2023, according to a decree published on the government’s portal. The road and rail bridge was badly damaged in an explosion last weekend. Russia has blamed Ukraine’s security services for the attack, allegedly carried out with a bomb concealed inside a truck. The decree, signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, states that the Nizhneangarsktransstroy Company has been appointed as the sole contractor for the restoration and reconstruction of the Crimean bridge. The decree said “the deadline for concluding state contracts for the performance of work specified [is] July 1, 2023,” Police officers and soldiers inspect a shopping area following a Russian missile attack on October 13, in Kupiansk, Ukraine. Carl Court/Getty Images Russian forces have launched hundreds of missile strikes in Ukraine over the past week, most of them at civilian targets, a senior US military official said Friday. “Since the attack at the Kerch Strait bridge last week, we’ve seen the Russians continue to retaliate. The use of precision guided munitions in a very imprecise way has continued over the course of the week,” the official said. “I think it’s fair to say we’re in the hundreds in terms of the number of missiles that the Russians have launched against Ukrainian targets.”  The official said Russians are mainly targeting civilians, especially civilian infrastructure including “electricity or bridges or otherwise.” “They have been used at civilian targets either indiscriminately or certainly in a deliberate way as it relates to infrastructure targets like electricity or bridges or otherwise,” the official said. A local resident cleans debris in his apartment after a residential building was hit by a missile strike in Konstantinovka, Ukraine, on October 14.  Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty Images Putin’s deadly onslaught: Viewed as retaliation for the bridge blast, the wave of deadly missile attacks began Monday and caused major damage to power systems across Ukraine, forcing people to reduce consumption to avoid blackouts. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that there is no need for more “massive” strikes against Ukraine “at least for now.” He also said he had no regrets for his actions. Russia continues to face international backlash for the war and global outrage at its targeting of civilians. European lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Thursday to declare Russia a “terrorist” regime. Russia is desperately searching for ways around Western sanctions in order to resupply its military, a top US official said in an exclusive CNN interview on Friday. Meanwhile, Russia’s stockpiles of advanced weapons are rapidly dwindling in Ukraine and it can’t secure the parts to replace them. Here’s what Wally Adeyemo, the deputy secretary of the US Treasury, told CNN’s Kevin Liptak: Russia’s equipment shortfalls are forcing Moscow’s battlefield decisions: “They have to make critical choices about what they can do on the battlefield because they don’t have the tanks they need, they don’t have the equipment they need to make helicopters, they don’t have the semiconductors they need to launch precision missiles into Ukraine.” Western sanctions have exacerbated problems for Russia’s troubled military: “Russia is running out of troops, they’re running out of ammunition. They’re running out of tanks and other materials.” The West’s sanctions and export controls “make it harder for them to reinforce their troops and to get the things they need,” he added. Moscow is using proxy companies and Russian elites to try to evade sanctions, but China isn’t much help: “China can’t provide Russia with what China doesn’t have. And China doesn’t produce the most advanced semiconductors. Those are produced by our allies and partners. So Russia is searching for these things. The reason they’re using their intelligence services and front companies to try and get them is because the countries they would naturally turn to don’t have them.” More background: CNN reported earlier Friday that Western sanctions have sharply curtailed Russia’s ability to replenish the munitions it is using in Ukraine, according to a new analysis from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The details of the analysis were shared in a presentation with senior finance officials from nearly 30 nations Friday, who gathered at the Treasury Department for an update from Adeyemo, among other US officials. The battlefield is “complicated but controlled” as Ukrainian forces push ahead with their counteroffensive to take back parts of the country seized by Russia in the early days of Moscow’s invasion, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi said Thursday. Take a look at where the state of control stands in Ukraine: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Moscow would shut down corridors established for the export of Ukrainian grain if they are used to carry out “terrorist attacks.” “If it turns out that humanitarian corridors are used for terrorist attacks, this will put the grain agreement into question,” Putin told reporters in the Kazakh capital of Astana.  Putin on Friday suggested a link between the safe corridors and the recent attack on the Kerch bridge in Crimea, claiming that it’s possible the explosives for the attack were sent by sea from Odesa. Some background on the grain deal: Since July, ships carrying grain from Ukrainian ports in Odesa have been allowed to navigate a safe corridor th...

Fact Check: Trump Responds To Jan. 6 Committee Subpoena With Usual Election Lies | CNN Politics https://digitalalaskanews.com/fact-check-trump-responds-to-jan-6-committee-subpoena-with-usual-election-lies-cnn-politics/ CNN  —  Former President Donald Trump was subpoenaed Thursday by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Trump’s response: his usual election lies. In a rambling 14-page letter to committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, Trump did not say whether he would comply with the subpoena. Instead, he repeated various long-debunked election claims. Here is a non-exhaustive fact check of some of Trump’s claims in the letter. Trump’s title on the document was this: “THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2020 WAS RIGGED AND STOLEN!” Facts First: This is false. The 2020 election was not rigged or stolen. Joe Biden was the legitimate winner, Trump the legitimate loser. There is no evidence, in any state, of fraud even close to sufficient to have changed the outcome. Trump listed purported evidence of wrongdoing in swing states he lost. One of his claims about Pennsylvania, which Biden won by more than 80,000 votes, was this: “In Pennsylvania, as of February 2021, there were 121,240 more votes than voters.” Facts First: This is false. Pennsylvania did not have more votes cast in the 2020 election than it had registered voters; the state had about 7 million votes cast and about 9 million registered voters, for a turnout of about 76.5%. And Trump was also wrong if he was repeating the claim that the state counted more votes in the 2020 election than it counted voters who participated in that election. This claim, which was based on a Republican state legislator’s misreading of state data that wasn’t complete at the time, was repeatedly debunked in 2020 and 2021. Trump made a dramatic claim about Arizona’s most populous county, Maricopa County, where Republicans conducted a sham partisan “audit” of the 2020 election. He wrote: “Maricopa County accepted at least 20,000 mail-in ballots after Election Day 2020, including 18,000 on November 4, 2020, picked up from the U.S. Postal Service—more than the entire Election margin of 10,457 ballots.” Facts First: This is false. As Reuters has reported, this claim, which has circulated among Trump supporters on social media, is based on a misinterpretation of a document that does not actually show that Maricopa County accepted any ballots after Election Day, let alone thousands of ballots. The document was a receipt for transfer of ballots to a company that scans the ballot envelopes, capturing voters’ signatures, as part of the process of the county verifying the signatures. Runbeck chief executive Jeff Ellington told Reuters in June: “These 18,000 ballots were received on Election Day prior to the deadline to cast a vote and delivered to Runbeck the next day for processing, following our standard operating procedure.” Trump returned to a favorite conspiracy theory about a particular county in Michigan, another swing state he lost to Biden. After claiming that one of his allies, Republican attorney general candidate Matthew DePerno, “found voting machines were subverted and accessed remotely,” Trump continued: “In Antrim County, 7,048 votes were changed in favor of Joe Biden.” Facts First: No votes were changed in Antrim County because of voting machines being subverted, and there is no evidence of any intentional wrongdoing of any kind in the county. Rather, the conservative county made a human error in readying its election technology. The error resulted in some votes for Trump being initially reported as votes for Biden in unofficial preliminary results. The error was rapidly corrected, long before any results were made official, and a Republican-led investigation of the 2020 election by a Michigan state Senate committee concluded that “that ideas and speculation that the Antrim County election workers or outside entities manipulated the vote by hand or electronically are indefensible.” As for DePerno’s efforts to prove something nefarious happened in Antrim County, the committee also wrote this in its section on the Antrim County situation: “The Committee closely followed Mr. DePerno’s efforts and can confidently conclude they are demonstrably false and based on misleading information and illogical conclusions.” DePerno and others are now under investigation by a special prosecutor over their own alleged efforts to gain access to election technology after the election; DePerno has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the accusations are politically motivated. Trump insinuated, as he has before, that he lost Georgia in part because of nefarious doings in Fulton County, home to Atlanta. He wrote that an investigator reported 1,200 ballots being “‘wheeled in through the back door’ days after Election Day, when President Trump’s massive lead ‘shrunk as more votes continue to be tallied in Fulton County.’” Facts First: This is deceptive. The independent monitor who was hired by the state election board to observe the election in Fulton County did not report any sign that these ballots were fraudulent; in fact, he wrote in his report that “at no time did I ever observe any conduct by Fulton County election officials that involved dishonesty, fraud, or intentional malfeasance,” though he did find sloppiness and other issues. Rather, he simply wrote that, although “it was a judgment call,” he thought the “optics” of bringing ballots through a back door two days after Election Day were poor and that this was “the wrong call for transparency purposes.” Also, contrary to the impression Trump left here, the monitor did not connect this particular group of ballots to Trump’s illusory lead in Georgia shrinking. The words “shrunk as more votes continue to be tallied in Fulton County” appear to be a quote from CNN – which explicitly pointed out at the time that Trump’s shrinking lead wasn’t the result of anything nefarious – and not the monitor himself. This story has been updated. Read More Here

Governor Ducey Appoints Jillian Francis, Charlene Jackson, James Knapp, And Sunita Krishna To The Maricopa County Superior Court https://digitalalaskanews.com/governor-ducey-appoints-jillian-francis-charlene-jackson-james-knapp-and-sunita-krishna-to-the-maricopa-county-superior-court/ PHOENIX – Governor Doug Ducey today announced the appointments of Jillian Francis, Charlene Jackson, James Knapp and Sunita Krishna to the Maricopa County Superior Court. These appointments are to fill vacancies created by the resignation of Judge James Smith and the retirement of Judges Margaret Mahoney, David Cunanan, and Sally Duncan. Jillian Francis is an Assistant Attorney General with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, where she has served in a variety of roles since 2014. She currently works in the Solicitor General’s Office on election matters and other high-profile litigation. She has represented the State of Arizona in special action proceedings in the Arizona Court of Appeals and drafted Attorney General Opinions. She has authored amicus briefs on behalf of the Arizona Attorney General on issues of statewide importance such as constitutional law, victims’ rights, and interpretation of Arizona’s drug laws. The bulk of Jillian’s work has been in the Criminal Appeals Section, representing the State of Arizona in non-capital felony appeals ranging from drug offenses to first-degree murder and dangerous crimes against children. Jillian is also tasked with representing the Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry in federal habeas proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona and in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jillian has also worked to protect Arizona’s children from abuse and neglect by representing the Department of Child Safety in protective services cases. “Jillian’s career has been devoted to selfless service. It’s my honor to appoint her to the Maricopa County Superior Court,” said Governor Ducey. Jillian received her bachelors degree in marketing from Arizona State University and her Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law. Charlene D. Jackson is a solo practitioner through her firm, the Jackson Law Firm, where her practice focuses on working with tribes and tribal organizations. She has represented tribes and tribal organizations in a multitude of issues including gaming, human resources and employment law, contract review, policy development, and business reorganization. Charlene has been admitted to practice the law in Arizona, the federal District Court of Arizona, the Ak-Chin Indian Community, and the Tohono O’odham Nation. In addition to practicing law, Charlene has served in several capacities as a judge already. In 2000, Charlene received her first judicial appointment, becoming a tribal court judge for the Ak-Chin Indian Community. Charlene was assigned to a juvenile docket. She believed this experience was extremely impactful by helping to encourage young people to move their lives in a positive direction. Additionally, she has served as an associate judge for the Town of Paradise Valley since 2009 where she handled civil traffic and town code violations including initial appearances, arraignments, pre-trials, and protective order hearings. She also has served as a judge pro tem for the Town of Gilbert, an appellate court judge for Wilton Rancheria, a judge pro tem for the Hoopa Valley Tribal Court, an appellate court justice with the Colorado River Indian Tribes Court of Appeals, and chief magistrate for the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe. Charlene has served as faculty for the National Tribal Judicial Center at the National Judicial College. She has also served as a consultant for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and the Tribal Law and Policy Institute. “Both as a solo practitioner and as a judge, Charlene has worked tirelessly to help improve her community. It’s clear that she will be a great addition to the Maricopa County Superior Court,” said Governor Ducey. Charlene received her associate degree from Dine College. She then went on to receive both her bachelors degree in psychology and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona. James “Jim” Knapp is currently an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, where he has worked since 2006. Jim was the section chief of Financial Crimes from August 2019 until February 2022, where he supervised a team of 10 tasked with overseeing federal criminal investigations and prosecuting fraud, money laundering, tax offenses and cybercrimes. Prior to that, he was chief of the General Crimes Section for more than four years, supervising assistant U.S. attorneys and support staff, prosecuting firearms, drug trafficking, and immigration offenses. Jim was also deputy chief of Border Crimes from August 2014 to January 2015. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jim was an attorney for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in San Francisco, where he handled removal proceedings before immigration judges. He also litigated administrative appeals and assisted with civil immigration matters. In his time with ICE, Jim helped draft proposed legislation, and has worked on federal rule making proceedings. Jim has drawn on his wealth of experience to train colleagues and prosecutors throughout the country and the world. He helped train Federal Bureau of Investigation computer forensics examiners and trained the U.S. Marshals Service on electronic surveillance laws. He also taught trial advocacy skills to prosecutors in Kingston, Jamaica, developed a cybercrime primer for judges in Tbilisi, Georgia, and was an instructor on trial advocacy for prosecutors in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “Jim’s work has had a positive impact throughout his community and even the world, and I am certain he’ll have that same impact on the Maricopa County Superior Court,” said Governor Ducey. Jim received both his bachelors degree in philosophy and his Juris Doctorate from Arizona State University. Sunita Krishna is currently an Assistant Attorney General with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Her cases involve healthcare professionals who have been implicated in a wide range of misconduct including sexual assault, theft, diversion of narcotics from healthcare facilities, and practicing below the standard of care. She has also handled special actions filed in superior court, as well as appeals before the Arizona Court of Appeals. In addition to the cases Sunita prosecutes on behalf of several health boards, she provides legal advice to those boards and other state agencies on issues of statutory construction, application of laws, and due process requirements during administrative hearings. She assists state agencies with answering subpoenas and motion practice in discovery disputes. Prior to assuming her position with the Attorney General’s Office, Sunita served as in-house attorney with Century Surety Company. She reviewed hundreds of incoming lawsuits for coverage involving commercial general liability policies in the areas of premises liability, assault and battery, products liability, motor vehicle accidents, and catastrophic injury. In addition, she also worked with Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, PLC, as an associate attorney in the areas of medical malpractice, construction defect, and ethics. “Sunita has a huge range of experience from civil litigation to administrative law. All of this experience makes her an excellent addition to the Maricopa County Superior Court,” said Governor Ducey. Sunita received both her bachelors degree in political science and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona. She also received a masters degree in government from Johns Hopkins University. ### Read More Here

ACLU Challenge Of Nevada Ballot Hand-Counting Dismissed https://digitalalaskanews.com/aclu-challenge-of-nevada-ballot-hand-counting-dismissed/ Associated Press  |  Associated Press RENO, Nev. (AP) — A Nye County District Court judge dismissed an emergency petition by the ACLU’s Nevada chapter attempting to stop the county from its plan to hand-count votes alongside a machine tabulator starting later this month. The plan was spurred by false claims of election fraud. In a ruling Wednesday, the case was dismissed mainly on technicalities. Fifth District Court Judge Kimberly Wanker said the ACLU did not provide a recording or transcript of the publicly available Nye County Board of Commissioners meeting referenced in the organization’s petition. The judge said it was unreasonable for the court to access the video and watch a 7-hour, 23-minute video to find a presentation on the plan. She also said there was no certificate of service in the file that indicated the respondents were served with an emergency petition. The ACLU will file a new petition Friday in the Nevada Supreme Court seeking to block hand-counting, executive director Athar Haseebullah said. Nye County is one of the first jurisdictions nationwide to act on election conspiracies related to mistrust in voting machines. The county plans to start hand-counting mail-in ballots two weeks before Election Day, which the ACLU said in its lawsuit risks public release of early voting results. It alleges that their method of using a touch-screen tabulator for people with “special needs” illegally allows election workers to ask about a voter’s disability or turn away otherwise eligible voters based on “arbitrary decision making,” and that Nye County’s wording of “special needs” is ambiguous. The organization also argues that the county’s “stringent signature verification,” which allows the clerk to require an ID card if a voter’s signature fails, violates state statute. Mark Kampf, the interim Nye County clerk who is implementing the hand-counting, declined to comment on the lawsuit or its dismissal. He said in an email that the county plans to go ahead with its hand count before Election Day. On Tuesday before the ruling, Nye County spokesman Arnold Knightly said the complaint distorted the county and Kampf’s election plans and that the county would mount a “vigorous legal defense that clarifies the misleading allegations and disposes of the legal action as swiftly as possible.” The county did not respond to additional questions. Nye County officials originally planned to use hand-counting as its primary counting method, but made it secondary to machine counting, which allows them to avoid new state regulations governing the practice. Kampf has called the Dominion voting machines it will use a “stop-gap” measure while the county decides how to handle tallies for future elections, potentially without machines at all. Several Nye County commissioners said a presentation by GOP secretary of state candidate Jim Marchant, a 2020 election denier, convinced them to request a hand-count of all mail-in ballots. Marchant is a member of the America First Secretary of State Coalition that peddles false claims of election fraud and advocates for voter ID, same-day voting, paper ballots and eliminating mail-in ballots. Standing next to former President Donald Trump at a rally in rural Nevada last week, Marchant said if his coalition is elected, “we’re going to fix the whole country. And President Trump is going to be president again in 2024.” Haseebullah said the ACLU will also file challenges on behalf of Nye County voters if any problems arise from the hand-counting — part of “an ongoing battle, probably for the next several years to come.” Read More Here

‘We All Saw It’: Anti-Xi Jinping Protest Electrifies Chinese Internet https://digitalalaskanews.com/we-all-saw-it-anti-xi-jinping-protest-electrifies-chinese-internet/ Chinese authorities have strictly censored discussion of a rare protest in Beijing on Thursday that saw large banners unfurled on a flyover calling for boycotts and the removal of Xi Jinping, just days before China’s most important event of its five-year political cycle. Photos and videos of the protest on the Sitong bridge emerged on social media on Thursday afternoon, also showing plumes of smoke billowing from the bridge over a major thoroughfare in the Haidian district of the capital. “We want food, not PCR tests. We want freedom, not lockdowns. We want respect, not lies. We want reform, not a Cultural Revolution. We want a vote, not a leader. We want to be citizens, not slaves,” said one banner, while a second called for a boycott of schools, strikes and the removal of Xi. The photos spread quickly on western social media but were quickly removed from platforms behind China’s internet “Great Firewall”. Posts containing the words “Beijing”, “bridge”, or “Haidian” were strictly controlled, and a song that shared the name of the bridge was taken down from streaming services, according to the Associated Press. On Twitter some users said their accounts had been temporarily disabled on another major Chinese platform, WeChat, after they shared photos of the protest. However, such a rare protest at a time of extreme political sensitivity caught attention. On Friday morning a Weibo hashtag “I saw it”, where people referenced the incident without referring to it, had been viewed more than 180,000 times before it too was deleted, and some posters had their accounts suspended for violating Weibo rules and regulations. “I saw it, we all saw it,” said one post. A reply asking what the hashtag referred to was answered by a user saying “go search on Twitter, sister, if you search for a certain capital, you can find everything”. Other commenters referenced the Les Miserables song Do you hear the people sing?, which was briefly censored in 2019 after it became a popular protest song in Hong Kong. Many comments alluded to a revolutionary saying made famous by Mao Zedong: “A tiny spark can set the prairie ablaze.” “#Seem suddenly less anxious# when I saw someone acted like a moth putting out a fire and sacrificing his life for righteousness,” one of them added to the Maoist metaphor. “One makes matters worse by attempting a cover-up,” added another. Some internet users claimed to have identified the protester, including the Chinese dissident and former CCP insider Cai Xia, who posted screenshots on her Twitter purporting to be days-old deleted tweets from the protester. Others shared photos purported to be of the protester on the bridge, disguised in a construction helmet and shirt. Fang Zhouzi, a US-based Chinese science writer, said the same slogans displayed on the bridge had days earlier been posted to his ResearchGate account by the man believed to be the protester. Fang said the posts had since been deleted, speculating police had done it after arresting him. “It’s good to know your identity, at least it won’t be evaporated from the world,” he said. Such an overt and publicised protest against Xi specifically would be significant at the best of times, but this occurred just days out from the ruling Communist party congress. Thousands of political delegates have descended on Beijing for a week of closed-door meetings and highly choreographed political talks that are expected to reappoint Xi for a precedent-breaking third term and further cement his power as China’s authoritarian leader. The actual protest appeared to be swiftly quashed on Thursday afternoon. Not long after the photos appeared online, there were no banners hanging from the roadway. A circular black scar was visible on the shoulder area where the fire would have been, and there was a heavy police presence, according to reporters on the scene. Officers entered stores, and stopped pedestrians for questioning. Associated Press journalists were questioned three times and asked to produce identification. Police denied anything unusual had happened in the area. Additional reporting by Chi Hui Lin and agencies Read More Here

Trump Trashes House Jan. 6 Committee ‘witch Hunt’ In 14-Page Memo, Mum On Subpoena https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-trashes-house-jan-6-committee-witch-hunt-in-14-page-memo-mum-on-subpoena/ Former President Donald Trump offered no response to the House Jan. 6 committee’s demands that he testify under oath in a 14-page memo Friday that sharply criticized the panel’s investigation as a “witch hunt of the highest level.” Mr. Trump addressed the memo to committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson, Mississippi Democrat, following the committee’s unanimous vote to issue a rare subpoena to a former president on Thursday in a final power play capping the panel’s swan-song hearing. In his memo, the former president doubles down on his claims that the 2020 election was “rigged and stolen,” and accuses the panel of “going after American Patriots who questioned it.” “This memo is being written to express our anger, disappointment and complaint that with all of the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on what many consider to be a Charade and Witch Hunt,” Mr. Trump wrote. “Despite strong and powerful requests, you have not spent even a short moment on examining the massive Election Fraud that took place during the 2020 Presidential Election, and have targeted only those who were, as concerned American Citizens, protesting the Fraud itself,” he wrote. After meeting mostly behind closed doors for nearly a year, the panel made up of seven Democrats and two Republicans hand-picked by Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a series of eight public meetings over the summer aiming to showcase what they call a “coordinated, multi-step effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and prevent the transfer of power.” The hearings featured live testimony from former White House and Justice Department aides, state elections officials, documentary filmmakers and Capitol Police officers caught up in the rioting at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The committee unveiled clips from closed depositions and snippets of text message chains and emails it had gathered throughout the investigation. They also built digital models of the White House and Capitol to reproduce key scenes from the riot. The hearings have been a highly produced rollout of evidence in which the committee highlighted the chaos at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and described what members said was Mr. Trump’s pressure campaign to overturn the presidential election. Republicans accuse the Democratic-led panel of weaponizing the events of Jan. 6 and using the committee to target them and the former president. On Thursday, the panel held what is expected to be its final hearing offering the lawmakers’ most direct attempt yet to lay the blame for the planning and execution of the riot on Mr. Trump, in a final pitch before voters head to the polls for next month’s midterm election. Members unveiled footage of lawmakers, including Mrs. Pelosi, of California, and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, of New York, reacting to the rioters as the Capitol and legislative chambers were being overrun. The committee laid out a case that Mr. Trump knew ahead of the riot and ignored warnings from the Secret Service about potential violence at the Capitol. Mr. Trump also wrote in his memo Friday that the panel overlooked his efforts to secure the Capitol and to increase security throughout Washington in advance of the Jan. 6, 2021, congressional votes to certify the election. Mr. Trump said he recommended and authorized “thousands of troops to be deployed to ensure that there was peace, safety and security” that day. “I knew, just based on instinct and what I was hearing, that the crowd coming to listen to my speech, and various others, would be a very big one, far bigger than anyone thought possible,” he wrote. He said his efforts to deploy the National Guard were rebuffed by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Capitol Police. “Why the failure to act or use this ready force?” he wrote. “Had even a small percentage of National Guard or fencing been there, there would have been no problem, January 6th would have been just another date. I did my job long ahead of schedule. Some people call it good instinct, but the troops were ready to go.” “Nancy Pelosi and Muriel Bowser didn’t do their job, they didn’t like the look of soldiers, and sadly your Committee refuses to say anything about it, because if they did, it would be clear that I did everything correctly, and that is not what the Committee wants to see,” he said. The panel capped its hearing Thursday with a dramatic vote on a resolution to issue a subpoena demanding that Mr. Trump testify under oath and turn over documents related to the riot. “We are obligated to seek answers directly from the man who set this all in motion. Every American is entitled to those answers, so we can act now to protect our republic,” said Ms. Cheney, who lost a Republican primary challenge in Wyoming because of her strong opposition to Mr. Trump. She also said the committee has sufficient evidence to make criminal referrals to the Justice Department. Mr. Trump mocked the subpoena vote, questioning why it came at the very end of the process. “Why did they wait until the very end, the final moments of their last meeting? Because the Committee is a total ‘BUST’ that has only served to further divide our Country which, by the way, is doing very badly,” he wrote on his Truth Social social media platform. But he gave no indication as to how he intends to respond to the demand to testify, pointing the looming midterm vote where many predict Republicans will reclaim control of the House. “The people of this Country will not stand for unequal justice under the law or Liberty and Justice for some. Election Day is coming,” Mr. Trump wrote. “We demand answers on the Crime of the Century.” – Mica Soellner contributed to this story. Read More Here

Dow Falls 200 Points To Cap Wild Market Week As Investors Brace For Earnings Ahead https://digitalalaskanews.com/dow-falls-200-points-to-cap-wild-market-week-as-investors-brace-for-earnings-ahead/ Markets may be heading for a relief rally, Hackett says Stocks have whiplashed in volatile trading this week as investors weigh new inflation data. The choppy movement may be a sign that a relief rally is in the works. “This week provided additional evidence that equity markets may be heading for a relief rally,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. “Thursday’s action was driven by a disappointing report on CPI, with an initial decline of more than 3% quickly reversed to finish the session with a gain of nearly 3%.” “Institutional investors remain extremely conservative, with Goldman Sachs data showing net equity positioning was at a five-year low ahead of the CPI report,” he added. “This, along with fund manager cash being at the highest since 2001, drove the sharp recovery, and reflect the potential for upside to expectations.” In addition, the Bank of America bull and bear indicator is flat for the fourth week, Hackett noted. That shows that retail investors are in buy the dip mode – funds have seen positive inflows for seven consecutive weeks. “Markets have attempted a rally several times in recent weeks with no success, though the impressive reversal on Thursday is an indication that a relief rally may be near given the excess degree of pessimism priced into markets,” he said. —Carmen Reinicke 10-year U.S. Treasury yield tops 4% The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond topped 4% for the second time in two days as traders weighed inflation data and a slump in UK gilts after the government pivoted yet again on parts of its budget. Yields on the 10-year gained seven basis points to trade at 4.025%. A day earlier, the yield briefly rose above the 4% level after a key consumer inflation report was hotter than expected. Bond yields move inverse to price and one basis point is equivalent to 0.01%. —Carmen Reinicke Traders see regulatory hurdles ahead for Albertsons-Kroger deal Kroger’s plans to buy Albertsons for $34.10 a share make a lot of sense strategically but it appears traders are anticipating pushback from regulators. Albertsons stock is trading down 7% at about $26.61. When the deal closes, shareholders will receive $6.85 as a special dividend. Even if you add that into the stock price, there’s still a wide gap, which is a telltale sign that investors a worried about the companies’ chances of sealing the deal. The grocery business is very fragmented. Walmart is the largest player with a market share of just over 20%, according to researcher Numerator. Kroger’s market share ranks next at just under 10%. Albertsons trails Costco, with a 5.7% share. But grocery prices have been soaring, and regulators might not like the optics of the combination. Ordinary people may assume that the merger will give the grocers too much control over the price of everyday necessities. —Christina Cheddar Berk Stocks on pace for negative week Despite Thursday’s historic rebound, stocks are still on pace to close in negative territory this week. Losses on Friday pushed all three major indices towards negative weekly closes. Nearing midday, the Nasdaq Composite is on pace to close down 1.64%. The Dow and the S&P 500 are also on pace for a negative week. The Dow is on pace to close nearly 2% lower, and the S&P is on track for a 0.50% lower close. —Carmen Reinicke Delta leads airlines higher after analyst upgrade Airlines outperformed Friday and led the transportation sector in the S&P 500 after Delta Air Lines received a big upgrade earlier in the morning. Cowen upgraded shares of Delta to outperform from market perform, citing increased business travel as a reason the stock will boom going forward. The firm also said that shares can surge another 80% from where they currently trade. Shares of the airline jumped more than 3% on the news. Other airlines followed Delta higher. American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest all gained more than 1%. Read more on CNBC Pro. —Carmen Reinicke, Samantha Subin Fed’s George notes risks around moving too quickly with rate hikes Kansas City Federal Reserve President Esther George expressed some caution Friday about the pace of interest rate increases. While she said she understands the need for higher rates to battle surging inflation, she said the Fed needs to be consistent with the pace and mindful of the lagged effects of tighter monetary policy. “I do see risks around moving too abruptly to this new higher level. Moving too fast can disrupt financial markets in the economy in a way that ultimately can be self defeating,” she told S&P Global Rankings in a webcast. George, a voting member this year of the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee, said the Fed’s policy poses risks to financial stability that should be monitored closely. “The pace at which that policy unfolds is going to need to be carefully balanced against the state of the economy and the condition of financial markets particularly at a time of heightened uncertainty,” she sad. The Fed has instituted a series of rate hikes totaling 3 percentage points, with markets expecting increases of 0.75 percentage points in both November and December. —Jeff Cox Inflation expectations rise among consumers The University of Michigan’s latest consumer sentiment report showed one-year inflation expectations rose to 5.1% from a previous reading of 4.7%. “Last month, long run inflation expectations fell below the narrow 2.9-3.1% range for the first time since July 2021, but since then expectations have returned to that range at 2.9%. After 3 months of expecting minimal increases in gas prices in the year ahead, both short and longer run expectations rebounded in October,” Surveys of Consumers director Joanne Hsu wrote. The overall consumer sentiment index rose slightly to 59.8 from 58.6 in September. However, the index of consumer expectations fell to 56.2 from 58. — Fred Imbert Stocks rise Friday, look to continue Thursday’s historic rebound Stocks opened higher Friday as the market looked to build on Thursday’s historic rebound rally. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 215 points, or 0.72%. The S&P 500 gained 0.63%, and the Nasdaq Composite ticked up 0.87%. The Nasdaq led gains, with the consumer staples sector outperforming. —Carmen Reinicke Citigroup shares rise despite profit decline Shares of Citigroup ticked up 1% in premarket trading after the bank’s third-quarter revenue topped analyst expectations. Profits, however, fell 25% year over year as Citigroup bulked up its credit loss provisions. It is unclear if Citi’s earnings per share of $1.63 was comparable to analyst estimates. The bank continued its restructuring under CEO Jane Fraser, with a gain on the sale of its Philippines consumer business a primary driver of revenue growth. Personal banking revenue also climbed 10% year over year. — Jesse Pound Stock futures rise ahead of market open Stock futures rose ahead of the market open Friday, after wavering on mixed bank earnings results. The move higher looks to continue a historic rebound rally that took place in markets Thursday. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 314 points, or 1.05%. S&P 500 futures gained 1.10%, and Nasdaq 100 futures ticked up 1.20%. —Carmen Reinicke Retail sales flat in September Retail sales in September were flat after ticking up 0.4% in August, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Friday. On the year, retail sales were up 8.2%. Stripping out the price of automobiles, the measure of consumer spending rose 0.1% in September, its first increase since June. “Bottom line, the strength in the US dollar is helping to keep import prices more subdued and as seen in yesterday’s CPI figure, the rate of price increase in core goods continues to moderate,” said Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Financial Group. “Yesterday’s figure was the lowest since May 2021. So, the inflation debate from here is how much quicker does this slow and how much is it offset by the continued acceleration in services prices, mostly led by rents.” —Carmen Reinicke Kwarteng fired as U.K.’s finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng was sacked as the United Kingdom’s finance minister on Friday after just six weeks in the role. “The economic environment has changed rapidly since we set out the Growth Plan on 23 September,” he wrote in his resignation letter, confirming that Prime Minister Liz Truss asked him to step down. “In response, together with the Bank of England and excellent officials at the Treasury we have responded to those events, and I commend my officials for their dedication.” The announcement came as Kwarteng made an early exit from the International Monetary Fund’s meetings held in Washington. Kwarteng has been criticized in recent weeks for his controversial mini-budget, which included a slew of unfunded tax cuts that rattled markets and pushed the British pound to hit a record low. It also sparked a sell-off of long-dated government bonds that forced the Bank of England to intervene with an emergency bond-buying plan to prevent pension funds from collapsing. The pound last traded down more than 1% against the dollar at $1.12 following news of the firing. — Elliot Smith, Samantha Subin Higher interest rates smack Wells Fargo mortgage business Wells Fargo said its home lending revenue fell 52% in the third quarter as the pace of mortgage originations slowed. Home lending originations were down 59% from the year-ago period to $21.5 billion. The Federal Reserve has been hiking interest rates in a bid to tame stubbornly high inflation. The effort has pushed the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate to a 20-year high of 6.92% — more than doubling in the past year. Wells Fargo is the most mortgag...

AP News Summary At 2:05 P.m. EDT https://digitalalaskanews.com/ap-news-summary-at-205-p-m-edt/ Jan. 6 panel subpoenas Trump, shows startling new video WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Jan. 6 committee has subpoenaed Donald Trump for his testimony about the 2021 Capitol attack. The panel voted unanimously Thursday to compel the former president to appear. Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, the panel’s vice-chair, says, “We must seek the testimony under oath of January 6th’s central player … the man who set this all in motion.” Earlier in Thursday’s hearing, the last before next month’s congressional elections, the panel presented vivid new video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional leaders pleading for help. And it outlined Trump’s multi-part plan to overturn his 2020 election loss. Police: Teen kills 2 in Raleigh neighborhood, 3 along trail RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Police say a 15-year-old boy fatally shot two people in the streets of a neighborhood in North Carolina’s capital city, then fled toward a walking trail, where he killed three more people and wounded two others. Raleigh police Chief Estella Patterson said Friday that the teen is hospitalized in critical condition following the shootings late Thursday afternoon. Those killed were of different races and ranged in age from 16 to their late 50s. The dead include off-duty Raleigh police Officer Gabriel Torres, who was on his way to work when the shooting began. The teen eluded officers for hours before he was cornered in a home and arrested. Authorities haven’t determined a motive. UK’s Truss drops tax cuts, axes Treasury chief amid turmoil LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Liz Truss has abandoned a planned cut to corporation tax, scrapping a key part of an economic plan that sparked weeks of market and political turmoil. Truss said at a hastily arranged news conference Friday that she was acting to “reassure the markets of our fiscal discipline.” Truss also fired Kwasi Kwarteng as Treasury chief on Friday, replacing him with former Cabinet minister Jeremy Hunt. Truss is trying to restore order after three weeks of turmoil sparked by the government’s tax-cutting “mini budget.” Truss vowed to press on with other aspects of her economic plan, saying “I want to deliver a low tax, high wage, high growth economy.” Putin: Call-up of Russian reservists to finish in 2 weeks KYIV, UKRAINE (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin says he thinks a mobilization of army reservists he ordered last month to bolster his country’s troops in Ukraine will to be completed in two weeks. Putin told reporters after attending a summit in Kazakhstan on Friday that 222,000 of the 300,000 reservists the Russian Defense Ministry said would get called up have been mobilized. A total of 33,000 of them are already in military units and 16,000 are involved in the military operation in Ukraine. The call-up, announced by Putin in September, has proved hugely unpopular in Russia, where almost all men under the age of 65 are registered as reservists. As the causes of US inflation grow, so do the dangers WASHINGTON (AP) — What keeps driving inflation so high? The answer, it seems, is nearly everything. Supply chain snarls and parts shortages inflated the cost of factory goods when the economy rocketed out of the pandemic recession two years ago. Then it was a surge in consumer spending fueled by federal stimulus checks. Then Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted gas and food supplies and sent those prices skyward. Since March, the Federal Reserve has been aggressively raising interest rates to try to cool the price spikes. So far, there’s little sign of progress. Thursday’s report on consumer prices in September came in hotter than expected. A GOP gov in liberal Oregon? Dems sound alarm on ‘spoiler’ SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon is typically known as a bastion of West Coast liberalism where Democrats are easily elected and a Republican hasn’t served as governor since the 1980s. But with an unusually competitive three-way contest this fall, the Democratic candidate doesn’t seem so assured of winning. Oregon is the unlikely site of one of one of the most competitive governor’s races in the country. The main reason for the race’s unpredictability is Betsy Johnson, a longtime former Democratic lawmaker who is running as an unaffiliated candidate. Democrats call her a spoiler who is taking votes from Tina Kotek. That could mean a victory for Republican Christine Drazan. President Joe Biden will campaign for Kotek on Friday. Mail-in ballots become available to voters next week. Official: Musk seeks US funding of Ukraine satellite network WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior U.S. official says the Defense Department has gotten a request from SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk to take over funding for his satellite network that has provided crucial battlefield communications for Ukrainian military forces during the war with Russia. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter not yet made public, said the issue has been discussed in meetings and senior leaders are weighing the matter. There have been no decisions. Musk’s Starlink system of more than 2,200 low-orbiting satellites has provided broadband internet to more than 150,000 Ukrainian ground stations. Early Friday, Musk tweeted that it was costing SpaceX $20 million a month to support Ukraine’s communications needs. 2 men get 40 years each for Malta reporter’s car-bomb murder VALLETTA, Malta (AP) — A judge in Malta has sentenced two brothers to 40 years in prison each after they pleaded guilty to the car-bomb murder of an anti-corruption journalist. Hours earlier at the start of the trial in a Valletta courthouse Friday, George Degiorgio, 59, and Alfred Degiorgio, 57, had entered not-guilty pleas. They were charged with having set the bomb that blew up Daphne Caruana Galizia’s car as she drove near her home on Oct. 16, 2017. Caruana Galizia investigated suspected corruption among political and business circles in the tiny European Union nation, which is a financial haven in the Mediterranean. Actor Robbie Coltrane, Harry Potter’s Hagrid, dies at 72 LONDON (AP) — Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane, who played a forensic psychologist on TV series “Cracker” and Hagrid in the “Harry Potter” movies, has died. He was 72. Coltrane’s agent Belinda Wright said he died Friday at a hospital in Scotland. She did not give a cause. Coltrane came to fame as a hard-bitten detective in the 1990s series “Cracker,” for which he won best actor at the British Academy Television Awards three years running. He played gentle half-giant Hagrid, a mentor to the boy wizard, in all eight Harry Potter films. Other roles include a Russian crime boss in the James Bond thrillers “GoldenEye” and “The World is Not Enough.” NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week Social media users shared a range of false claims this week. Here are the facts: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office was not destroyed by Russian missile strikes in Kyiv. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not purchase 10 million shares in a cannabis company, nor did Reuters report that. The Home Depot did not donate $1.75 million to the U.S. Senate campaign of Georgia Republican Hershel Walker. And Georgia’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Stacey Abrams, did not lobby for moving major events out of the state in response to voting and gun legislation backed by Republicans. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Read More Here

Swatting Attack Triggers High School Lockdowns Across NJ; Multiple Counties Affected https://digitalalaskanews.com/swatting-attack-triggers-high-school-lockdowns-across-nj-multiple-counties-affected/ A series of possible swatting incidents — hoax calls reporting serious crimes designed to draw large emergency responses to a single place — locked down high schools in at least a half-dozen New Jersey counties Friday within a half-hour span, law enforcement sources with knowledge of the case say, indicating a possible targeted attack. Police in Toms River tweeted that they got a call about a possible shooting at High School North around 11 a.m. and the school was locked down. Cops confirmed they were investigating the incident as a possible swatting case and said there was no active threat. Around the same time, emergency correspondence showed more than a half-dozen schools in at least five counties got similar calls. All of the affected buildings are high schools and they cover the length of the state, from Hamilton High in Mercer County to East Brunswick High School in Middlesex, Barnegat High School in Ocean and Weequihaic in Newark. Sussex and Monmouth counties reported similar calls. Emergency correspondence indicated all of the calls came in over roughly a half-hour span starting around 10:45 a.m. Swatting involves a fake emergency call about a series crime — an active shooter, in some cases — that forces a large-scale emergency response, directing police and other resources en masse. Similar incidents have been reported across the country in recent days, involving schools from California to Florida to South Carolina and other states. Chopper 4 was over the scene of a high school in Newark, New Jersey, one of many affected by an apparent swatting attack across the state Friday. The police chief in Jackson, New Jersey, where a high school was also locked down Friday, said his department was warned about the possible swatting attack a week or so ago. He said, “Everyone performed in a professional matter.” Another law enforcement source said an email went out to multiple law agencies advising the same. Details of the message, which the source said came from the state Department of Education, weren’t immediately clear. News 4 is reaching out to the department for comment. A short time ago Toms River Police dispatch received a phone call regarding a potential shooting at High School North. Officers responded and the school was locked down. The call was deemed unfounded and is being investigated as a swatting incident, there is no active threat. — TomsRiverPolice (@TomsRiverPolice) October 14, 2022 No further details were immediately available. More News Read More Here

W https://digitalalaskanews.com/w-8/ This is a press release from WalletHub. With the year-over-year inflation rate at 8.2% in September, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the Cities Where Inflation is Rising the Most, as well as accompanying videos and expert commentary. To determine the cities where inflation is rising the most – and thus is the biggest problem – WalletHub compared 23 major MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) across two key metrics involving the Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation. We compared the Consumer Price Index for the latest month for which BLS data is available to two months prior and one year prior to get a snapshot of how inflation has changed in the short and long term. Rising the Most/Rising the Least 1. Phoenix, AZ/19. Denver, CO 2. Atlanta, GA/20. New York, NY 3. Miami, FL/21. Washington, DC 4. Tampa, FL/22. San Francisco, CA 5. Baltimore, MD/23. Anchorage, AK To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/cities-inflation/107537 Read More Here

Pietila Breaks Shutout Record As MTU Hockey Defeats Alaska https://digitalalaskanews.com/pietila-breaks-shutout-record-as-mtu-hockey-defeats-alaska/ FAIRBANKS, AK (WLUC) – Michigan Tech picked up its first win of the season with a 2-0 shutout at Alaska on Thursday. Blake Pietila set the school record with his 11th career shutout, stopping 33 shots. “If we don’t have Blake back there it’s a different hockey game,” Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. “He made some big saves when he had to make them. “I’m extremely proud of the guys for the effort they gave. Every win feels like a win in the Stanley Cup. They’re hard to earn.” After a scoreless first period, Tech scored both of its goals in the second. Ryland Mosley buried a shorthanded tally 2:59 after intermission. He carried the puck up the wall in front of the Tech bench and patiently made a move to the middle of the ice, firing in his seventh career goal. Logan Pietila added to the lead at 12:19 of the second when he jammed in a rebound after a shot by Mosley. Kyle Kukkonen also assisted for his first official collegiate point on Pietila’s 22nd career goal. The Mosley, Pietila, Kukkonen line buzzed all night. Mosley thought he scored a goal in the first period but UAF challenged it, the officials reviewed and called the play offside. Mosley also hit the crossbar in the second period as the trio combined for 11 shots on goal in the game. Blake Pietila made history by stopping eight shots in the first period, 11 in the second, and 14 in the third. He entered the game tied with Volunteer Goaltender Coach Jamie Phillips for the career shutout record. Phillips had 10 shutouts from 2016-20. The Huskies were 3-for-3 on the penalty kill, including the shorthanded goal, and 0-for-2 on the power play. UAF held a 33-31 advantage in shots on goal. The two teams will wrap up the nonconference series on Friday at 11:07 p.m. back at the Carlson Center. Copyright 2022 WLUC. All rights reserved. Read More Here

AHFC: Energy Efficient Housing Data Now Readily Available For Alaska’s Housing Market https://digitalalaskanews.com/ahfc-energy-efficient-housing-data-now-readily-available-for-alaskas-housing-market/ Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – Rising interest rates and their impact is a big topic for Alaska homeowners and those looking to enter the housing market. Now, the most recent energy ratings for single-family homes for sale are readily accessible to real estate professionals and appraisers, empowering their borrowers to save money and make more educated purchasing decisions. Alaska Multiple Listing Service has integrated its database of homes for sale with Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s Alaska Retrofit Information Systems database, commonly known as ARIS. “Automated access to Alaska energy efficient housing data is a significant development and valuable resource available to communities as part of the home buying and selling process,” says Bryan Butcher, CEO/executive director of AHFC. AHFC and AK MLS have been working for several years to integrate their systems to speak the same technical language. ARIS was developed in 2008 by AHFC and stores data from energy ratings and building assessments when structures are evaluated for energy performance. The partnership with AK MLS provides real estate professionals the option to query ARIS for data points related to a home’s energy performance and share that data with prospective buyers. Higher energy ratings mean a more energy efficient home that can save homeowners hundreds of dollars each year. The integration aligns with the homebuilding industry’s standard for sharing housing energy data. The collaboration was consummated in March 2022 with energy information that includes; “Building Energy Efficiency Standard,” an energy rating that verifies compliance with AHFC’s building energy code that was established by the State of Alaska to prompt construction of energy efficient building; Date of the most recent energy rating from 1 – 6 stars, with 6 being the highest energy efficiency; As-Is Rating – an initial energy rating that establishes a baseline to track energy efficiency upgrades; Post Rating – a post energy rating that verifies energy efficiency upgrades complete; A point system from 1 – 100 that may include renewable energy systems; and Identification of organization/business that performed the home energy rating. “There are countless benefits that energy efficient homes offer – new or previously constructed,” says Butcher, “but challenges remain because comparable data has not been readily available to consider during the appraisal process.” “Interest in energy efficient homes is high but adoption can be cost-prohibitive for many Alaskans. The data integration fostered by the partnership between AHFC and AK MLS could help substantively change that dynamic, especially as more people begin to consider operating expenses as part of their annual housing costs,” added Butcher. To facilitate energy improvements, AHFC offers two options through its lending partners that may be included in an AHFC loan: Renovation option to help finance energy improvements and energy efficiency rate reduction to help homeowners reap the rewards of energy efficiency improvements through a lower interest rate “This is an exceptional asset for the Alaska real estate market,” says Connie Giddings, associate broker, RE/MAX Dynamic Properties and the only NAR GREEN Realtor in Anchorage. “The more information that can be provided to consumers looking to buy or sell a home the better, especially information related to saving money on utility costs with energy efficient features in the home. Being able to access past energy ratings from AHFC through the AK MLS will benefit both the buyer and the seller tremendously.” As part of its commitment to making this data readily available and to encourage more energy efficient homes for Alaskans new energy raters are actively being recruited, and AHFC has sponsored trainings across the state along with the National Appraisal Institute. The effort is designed to teach Alaska’s appraisers how to value energy efficiencies and interpret star ratings so that such evaluations are normalized. AHFC said the increased knowledge will advance the opportunity to develop a common valuation method that long term will align energy appraisals with the parameters set by lending institutions, and ultimately incentivize more efficient construction.   “The tie of energy efficiency to price is an important connection that is good for both homeowners and prospective buyers and is good for the state’s real estate infrastructure,” added Butcher. Alaska Supreme Court takes up union-dues argument advanced by former AG (Alaska Beacon) – Seeking to change the way public-employee unions work in Alaska, the State of Alaska attempted to convince skeptical state Supreme Court justices on Thursday that a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision requires union members to opt into their unions annually. Fall COVID-19 surge could happen in Pacific Northwest SEATTLE (AP) — Health officials in Washington and Oregon said Thursday that a fall and winter COVID surge is likely for the Pacific Northwest after months of relatively low case levels. Murkowski, Sullivan applaud broadband investment for Western and Southwestern Alaska Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan applauded the announcement of an additional $124.4 million in federal broadband grants for Western and Southwestern Alaska. Submissions sought for art show during Hummingbird Festival Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center and Ketchikan Visitors Bureau are seeking entrants for the juried art show at the 30th Annual Alaska Hummingbird Festival, which begins April 7, 2023, with an opening reception. Canadian, U.S. Coast Guard conduct Arctic search and rescue exercise Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – The crews of Coast Guard Cutter Stratton and Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier conducted a search-and-rescue exercise Wednesday near Point Hope. Peltola calls for preserving provisions of the Don Young Arctic Warrior Act in National Defense Authorization Act Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – This week, Representative Mary Sattler Peltola signed on to a letter urging colleagues in both chambers to retain funding aimed at helping improve the quality of life for service members stationed in Alaska as well as preventing suicide across the military in next year’s National Defense Authorization Act. Missing hunter in Sitka recovered by authorities, pronounced deceased by paramedics Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – A missing hunter was recovered in Sitka after authorities found him at the bottom of a 300 foot cliff. Pickrell chosen to fill vacancy at Ketchikan District Court Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – Governor Mike Dunleavy announced that Kristian Pickrell was appointed to the Ketchikan District Court. JEDC releases 2022 Juneau Economic report Juneau Alaska (KINY) – The 2022 Economic Indicator report for Juneau is out, providing a look at the average wage in Juneau, the median cost of a house, and overall employment in the capital city. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton crew visits Kaktovik during Arctic patrol Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – Crew members from Coast Guard Cutter Stratton met with key leaders on October 1 in Alaska’s most northeastern tribal community, while on a patrol in the Arctic Ocean. Social Security benefits to jump by 8.7% next year WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Social Security recipients will get an 8.7% boost in their benefits in 2023. Alaska Supreme Court reconsiders a ban on governors’ lawsuits against legislative branch (Alaska Beacon) – The Alaska Supreme Court is considering a case that could determine the timing of Alaska’s annual state budget and in the process redefine the limits of the executive branch’s ability to sue the legislative branch. Read More Here

The Left’s Obsession With Donald Trump https://digitalalaskanews.com/the-lefts-obsession-with-donald-trump/ Enough already. Seriously. The diagnosis: the left’s non-stop obsession with Donald Trump. Or honestly, whomever the Republican in charge is. For Democrats, it’s clearly a mental disorder with no cure, because we’re not rolling over, we’re not giving up, we’re not going to stop defending our way of life. In 2020, Democrats installed the dangerously incompetent and incapacitated career politician Joe Biden in the White House, what else do they want? Can you say ‘witch hunt?’ This January 6th investigation is a sham, manufactured by the left’s weaponization of federal government agencies to target American citizens who love and defend God, family, and country. Thanks to the deranged and defeated Liz Cheney, not only is the House select committee attempting to ensure that Donald Trump isn’t re-elected, their intention is to disqualify him from running for office ever again. Why? Because they realize his popularity and fear his effectiveness at governing and accomplishing the Republican principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Democrats would rather the wealthy Washington elite control our country while they continue to accumulate more wealth and seize more power from the American people. And the rest of us be damned in our struggle to survive their radical and destructive far-left policies. This is about Making America Great Again? Yes. Democrats don’t want America to be great. They wish misery on everyone. November 8th is coming. Don’t vote for Democrats. Read More Here

Donald Trump Told Us All *exactly* What He Was Going To Do In November 2020 | CNN Politics https://digitalalaskanews.com/donald-trump-told-us-all-exactly-what-he-was-going-to-do-in-november-2020-cnn-politics/ CNN  —  Say this for Donald Trump: He isn’t subtle. That lack of subtlety was on display during Thursday’s January 6 committee hearing, when evidence was presented – over and over again – suggesting that Trump had long planned to simply declare victory no matter what the results on Election Day 2020 actually were. “It was a premeditated plan by the President to declare victory no matter what the actual result was,” committee member Rep. Zoe Lofgren said during Thursday’s hearing. “We also interviewed Brad Parscale, President Trump’s former campaign manager. He told us he understood that President Trump planned as early as July that he would say he won the election, even if he lost.” Which, when you look back at what Trump was saying and doing in the summer and fall of 2020, should surprise exactly no one. He wasn’t keeping the plan he eventually executed – insisting the election was stolen – a big secret. Consider: * In a July 2020 interview with Fox News, Trump was asked directly whether he would accept the election results whether or not he won. “No. I have to see,” he responded. “Look you – I have to see. No, I’m not going to just say ‘yes.’ I’m not going to say ‘no.’ And I didn’t last time, either.” * At an August 2020 campaign rally, Trump said this: “So this is just a way they’re trying to steal the election, and everybody knows that. Because the only way they’re going to win is by a rigged election,” he said. * At a mid-September rally that year, Trump said this: “The Democrats are trying to rig this election because that’s the only way they’re going to win,” he said. * At a press conference later that month, Trump was asked directly whether he would ensure a peaceful transition of power if he lost. “Well, we’re going to have to see what happens,” he said. “You know that. I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster. … We want to have – get rid of the ballots and you’ll have a very … there won’t be a transfer, frankly. There’ll be a continuation. The ballots are out of control. You know it.” * Around that same time, Trump said this: “But in terms of time, we go to January 20. But I think it’s better if you go before the election because I think this – this scam that the Democrats are pulling – it’s a scam – this scam will be before the United States Supreme Court. And I think having a 4-4 situation is not a good situation, if you get that.” It’s all right there! The whole plan: 1) Declare victory no matter what. 2) Insist that fraud had been committed no matter what. 3) Force the matter into the courts no matter what. Which is exactly what happened – except that the Supreme Court didn’t side with Trump, refusing to even hear a challenge to the results. “Just fyi. POTUS is pissed – breaking news – Supreme Court denied his law suit. He is livid now,” a Secret Service message said, presented by Rep. Adam Kinzinger during Thursday’s January 6 committee hearing. In digging back through old quotes of Trump talking about the 2020 election, I came across a piece I wrote in May 2019 headlined: “What happens if Donald Trump refuses to admit he lost in 2020?” That piece includes these lines: “It’s not much of a stretch then to imagine that Trump, if he does come up short in the 2020 election, wouldn’t be willing to simply go quietly into that good night. For Trump, refusing to admit defeat and hand over power voluntarily would be the final sacred cow he could slaughter. He’s built a political career on a willingness to break with long-held traditions, the venerated elements of our capital “D” democracy that have long distinguished us from the rest of the world. Trump scoffs at all that sort of stuff, the trappings, he would argue, of an arcane system put in place by elites who can’t channel the will of the people like he can.” It was all right there, staring us in the face. We might not have wanted to believe that Trump would take it so far, but he was literally telling us not only that he would but how he would do it. We should have believed him the first time. Read More Here

League Of Women Voters To Host Two School Board Candidate Forums https://digitalalaskanews.com/league-of-women-voters-to-host-two-school-board-candidate-forums/ KSAZ Election 2022: Drama unfolds over Katie Hobbs interview The state’s Clean Elections Commission announced on Oct. 12 their decision to postpone an interview with GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, after the PBS station in Phoenix announced an interview with Katie Hobbs. FOX 10’s Irene Snyder has more on reactions to KAET’s decision. The Daily Beast Trump Is Going to Create Yet Another Constitutional Crisis Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/GettyThe Jan. 6 Committee’s issuing a subpoena to former President Donald Trump makes clear that our country is not on the brink of a Constitutional crisis—it’s already in a Constitutional crisis.The definition of just what is a Constitutional crisis may be debated, but in plain English it’s where the structure of our Constitution is stressed or broken.The Justice Department Needs to Get Out of Its Own Way in the Trump InvestigationsPresident The Hill Trump skirts testimony question in hostile 14-page Jan. 6 response Former President Trump on Friday skirted the question of whether he would testify under subpoena in a 14-page response to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, instead doubling down on his disproven claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Trump posted a letter to Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the… The Hill Arizona poll finds Kelly leads Masters for Senate, Lake ahead in governor’s race Democratic candidate Mark Kelly is leading in the race for Arizona’s Senate seat, while Republican nominee Kari Lake is ahead in the race for the governor’s mansion, according to a new poll released on Thursday. The InsiderAdvantage-Fox 10 poll showed both Kelly and Lake leading their opponents by about 4 points, with less than four weeks left… Reuters Explainer-Does Trump have to comply with the Jan. 6 committee subpoena? The congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol voted on Thursday to subpoena former President Donald Trump, who they say instigated the violence in an attempt to overturn his 2020 election defeat. Trump is not likely to cooperate with the committee’s demand to provide documents and testimony under oath, as he has fought similar demands in the past. Nevertheless, the subpoena will add to Trump’s growing list of legal woes. Bloomberg Warnock and Walker Face Off as Georgia Senate Race Deadlocked (Bloomberg) — Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock just can’t shake Republican challenger Herschel Walker, the Donald Trump-endorsed former football star, whose campaign has been rife with drama and controversy.Most Read from BloombergWorld Faces New Threats From Fast-Mutating Omicron VariantsStocks Surge in Wild Ride After CPI Data Selloff: Markets WrapKroger Wants to Merge With Albertsons to Create US Grocery GiantCore US Inflation Rises to 40-Year High, Securing Big Fed HikeHot Inflation Torch NextShark Jay Chen campaign fires back after Rep. Michelle Steel sends out fliers depicting him as a communist Amid the upcoming re-election for California’s 45th district, Democratic candidate Jay Chen fired back after GOP Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) distributed fliers that depicted Chen as a communist sympathizer. Last month, Steel’s campaign sent out red-baiting fliers to the Vietnamese American community in Orange County to highlight Chen’s support of the Confucius Institute, an education and cultural promotion organization backed by the People’s Republic of China. The flyers featured an altered image of Chen in a classroom holding Karl Marx’s “The Communist Manifesto.” Read More Here

Google Is Now Distributing Truth Social, Trump's Twitter Alternative https://digitalalaskanews.com/google-is-now-distributing-truth-social-trumps-twitter-alternative/ Google announced late Wednesday that it would permit the Trump-backed social media site Truth Social to be downloaded through its app store, making the service available to millions of new users. Mary Altaffer / AP Truth Social, the Twitter alternative backed by former President Donald Trump, is now available for download in the Google Play Store following months of being blocked over violent content. Google’s reversal indicates that it’s now satisfied that Truth Social can follow its guidelines. In a statement, Google said Trump’s app will remain accessible as long as it abides by rules “to effectively moderate user-generated content and remove objectionable posts such as those that incite violence.” On Truth Social, users compose “truths” much like tweets on Twitter. The platform is dominated by right-wing and conservative voices, with views that can quickly veer into conspiratorial territory. For months, the app has been available to download on iPhones and other Apple devices, but its appearance on Androids is a significant victory. Google’s operating system supports some 70% of smartphones worldwide. In the U.S., where iPhones dominate, about 44% of devices are Androids, according to market research firm StatCounter. While there are some ways to circumvent app stores, Google and Apple hold gatekeeper power over what apps people can download onto their smartphones. “With its inclusion in the Google Play Store, Truth Social can now be accessed across all devices in the United States,” said Devin Nunes, CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group, in statement. “Today marks a significant milestone in our mission to restore free speech online.” In August, Google said it would not distribute Truth Social on its app store until the platform took down posts that incite violence. The tech giant said the app lacked a system for policing the sort of content that violates Google’s terms of service. Google does not allow apps that contain posts that promote violence or incite hatred against individuals and groups, according to its content guidelines. In addition, Google bans apps that allow posts containing misleading health claims about things like vaccines and conversion therapy. It is unclear what exactly has changed about Truth Social since August. Trump and his allies have promoted Truth Social with mixed success since the former president was banned from major social media sites following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Upon its launch, Truth Social was one of the most downloaded free apps in Apple’s App Store, but interest has since declined. Problems plague Truth Social’s parent company Meanwhile, a special purpose acquisition company, also known as a SPAC, called Digital World Acquisition Corp., that is attempting to merge with Trump’s social media company continues to be plagued with investigations from regulators that may completely undo the deal. The merger now faces a Dec. 8 deadline to complete its stock market listing. If it is not met, Digital World is set to liquidate. The SPAC has been trying to gain the support of stockholders to extend the timeline to finalize the merger, but it so far has not done so. While Digital World landed some $1 billion in commitments, some investors have in recent weeks been spooked by the company’s misfortunes. In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing last month, the company said investors have pulled nearly $139 million out. Trump, who is under increasing legal pressure by state and federal prosecutors and lawmakers in Washington, has publicly suggested that he might run for president again in 2024. Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today. Donate Today   Read More Here

US Capitol Riot Probe Votes To Subpoena Trump To Testify https://digitalalaskanews.com/us-capitol-riot-probe-votes-to-subpoena-trump-to-testify/ In this file photo taken on Nov. 26, 2020 US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after participating in a Thanksgiving teleconference with members of the United States Military, at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO Washington, United States: Lawmakers probing the 2021 attack on the US Capitol voted Thursday (Friday in Manila) to subpoena former president Donald Trump to testify on his role in the violence, in a major escalation of the sprawling inquiry weeks before it is due to wind up. During what was expected to be its final hearing before the midterm elections, the House panel of seven Democrats and two Republicans agreed unanimously to compel Trump’s appearance before investigators. “We need to be fair and thorough and gain a full context for the evidence we’ve obtained. But the need for this committee to hear from Donald Trump goes beyond our fact-finding,” said Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the committee. “This is a question about accountability to the American people. He must be accountable. He is required to answer for his actions.” Subpoenas from the panel have proved difficult to enforce, with former White House aide Steve Bannon the only target yet convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to comply. Get the latest news delivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times’ daily newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Trump is notorious for his ability to run down the clock on congressional investigations and legal action, and it remains highly unlikely that he would agree to give evidence. “Why didn’t the Unselect Committee ask me to testify months ago? Why did they wait until the very end, the final moments of their last meeting?” thundered Trump, who has had a standing invitation to appear before the committee. Reacting on his right-wing Truth Social platform, Trump said the committee was a “total ‘BUST’ that has only served to further divide our Country.” Any subpoena would expire in any case with the new congressional term in January. Control of the House of Representatives is expected to flip after November elections to the Republicans, who plan to immediately end the investigation. But the move marks an aggressive escalation of the probe, which has issued more than 100 subpoenas and interviewed more than 1,000 people since its inception in 2021. While no sitting president has ever been forced to testify before Congress, lawmakers have summoned former presidents to discuss their conduct in office. ‘Clear and present’ threat Trump didn’t say whether he would testify, but if he refuses to comply, the full House can hold him in criminal contempt in a vote recommending him for prosecution. The vote came as a spectacular coda to an already stunning hearing in which the committee offered fresh evidence that Trump had planned to declare victory in the 2020 election — regardless of the outcome. Trump had a “premeditated plan” formulated months before the vote to claim he had won on election night, whatever the vote tally showed, panel member Zoe Lofgren told the hearing, citing evidence gathered by the committee. Across eight hearings in the summer the panel unveiled reams of evidence on the former president’s involvement in a labyrinthine series of connected schemes to overturn the election. The committee pressed its position on Thursday that Trump — who continues to be a wellspring of disinformation about the 2020 presidential election — remains a “clear and present” threat to democracy. Blockbuster witness testimony in June and July provided stunning examples of Trump and his allies pressuring election officials and trying to get lawfully-cast votes nullified in swing states, and of Trump’s inertia amid the mob uprising. Lawmakers plan to release a final report by the end of the year, although preliminary findings could be announced before November’s midterm elections. The committee has not announced formally whether it will make direct criminal referrals over January 6, although several members see the issue as moot, since the Justice Department is already investigating. ‘Right to the violence’ Thursday’s hearing featured new video footage from a Danish film crew shot for a documentary about longtime Trump ally Roger Stone. In one clip from the day before the 2020 election played to the packed hearing room, the notorious self-styled “dirty trickster” was seen telling the filmmakers he has no interest in waiting to contest the vote tally. “Let’s get right to the violence,” says the 70-year-old Republican operative, who has not been charged in connection with the riot. One of the most chilling moments came when the hearing room was shown footage of congressional leaders including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi desperately phoning officials to call for help as the Capitol was being ransacked around them. “They’re just breaking windows… they said somebody was shot. It’s just horrendous, and all at the instigation of the president of the United States,” Pelosi is pictured saying. The panel also unveiled evidence developed from nearly one million pages of documents surrendered by the Secret Service, as lawmakers seek to understand why certain agents’ text messages from the eve of the insurrection and the day itself went missing. Secret Service emails obtained by investigators confirm testimony from previous hearings that Trump wanted to join the mob at the Capitol — a move that would have escalated a riot into an attack by one branch of the government on another, potentially upending the republic. Trump, who urged his supporters in a fiery speech near the White House to “fight like hell,” was impeached for inciting the mob to storm Congress to halt the peaceful transfer of power to Joe Biden. Read More Here

High Court Rejects Donald Trump's Plea To Step Into Mar-A-Lago Case https://digitalalaskanews.com/high-court-rejects-donald-trumps-plea-to-step-into-mar-a-lago-case/ The U.S Supreme Court is seen, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected former President Donald Trump’s plea to step into the legal fight over the FBI search of his Florida estate. The justices did not otherwise comment on turning away Trump’s emergency appeal. Trump had pressed the court on an issue relating to classified documents seized in the search authorized by a federal judge of Mar-a-Lago. The Trump team was asking the justices to overturn a lower court ruling and permit an independent arbiter, or special master, to review the roughly 100 documents with classified markings that were taken in the August 8 search of Mar-a-Lago. The move Thursday appears to greatly reduce the potential impact of the special master process to the ongoing Justice Department criminal investigation into the classified documents. A federal appeals court had already restored the department’s access to the classified documents, which had been the investigators’ primary goal. And the Supreme Court’s decision to stay out of the fray ensures that the special master will not have access to those same records as the FBI and Justice Department evaluate if criminal charges are merited. A three-judge panel from the Atlanta-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit last month limited the special master’s review to the much larger tranche of non-classified documents. The judges, including two Trump appointees, sided with the Justice Department, which had argued there was no legal basis for the special master to conduct his own review of the classified records. But Trump’s lawyers said in their application to the Supreme Court that it was essential for the special master to have access to the classified records to “determine whether documents bearing classification markings are in fact classified, and regardless of classification, whether those records are personal records or Presidential records.” The Justice Department said in a Supreme Court filing that Trump’s request had no merit. The FBI says it seized roughly 11,000 documents, including about 100 with classification markings, during its search. The Trump team asked a judge in Florida, Aileen Cannon, to appoint a special master to do an independent review of the records. Cannon subsequently assigned a veteran Brooklyn judge, Raymond Dearie, to review the records and segregate those that may be protected by claims of attorney-client privilege and executive privilege. The Justice Department objected to Dearie’s ability to review the classified records, prompting the 11th Circuit to side with the department. The department also is appealing Cannon’s entire ruling to the 11th Circuit. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press. Read More Here

Social Security COLA 2023, Live Online Today: Increase, Benefits And Adjustment | SSA Latest News https://digitalalaskanews.com/social-security-cola-2023-live-online-today-increase-benefits-and-adjustment-ssa-latest-news/ Update: October 14th, 2022 10:26 EDT SOCIAL SECURITY How can you check your COLA notice online and when will I see the increase in my Social Security checks? The Social Security Administration announces annually its cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to benefits so that they keep pace with inflation. With prices rising at a clip not seen in four decades many beneficiaries will be anxious to see what the boost to their monthly checks will be in 2023. While the agency mails out letters throughout the month of December, but they request not to contact them until January, the first month when beneficiaries will see payments with the higher amount, as the notice could take time to reach you. However, you may not need to wait for the mail to know how much your payments will increase based on the 2023 COLA. Most beneficiaries can access the notice online. Only three COLAs have been bigger than 2023’s Since it was first implemented in 1975, the Social Security Administrations’s cost-of-living adjustment has only been larger than in 2023 on three occasions, all over 40 years ago. In 1979, it was 9.9 percent; in 1980, a record 14.3; and in 1981, it was 11.2. You can take a look at each year’s COLA on the SSA website. MEDICARE PREMIUMS Medicare Premiums Part A: How much will it cost and what will be the impact of COLA 2023 on it? The Social Security Administration announced its fourth largest COLA increase since they began in 1975 increasing the average amount that a beneficiary receives each month by over $140. While inflation is still taking a bite out of household finances, Medicare premiums in general are set to decrease next year. While the vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries do not have to pay any premiums for Part A coverage, one of four parts of the government subsidized healthcare program, those that are required to pay will see a slight increase in 2023 to buy into this portion of Medicare. Deductibles and coinsurance amounts will also rise somewhat next year. Here’s a rundown the costs you can expect. 2023 COLA based on CPI-W beats inflation for index based on elederly spending habits There has been a push to change the way that the annual automatic increase, if any, is calculated through the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The Social Security Administration currently uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). This broad basket of goods and services that consumers spend their money on is said not to reflect properly what seniors are spending their money on and causing retirees to lose purchasing power.  There have been calls for the Consumer Price Index for Americans 62 years of age and older (CPI-E) to be used instead. While the data hasn’t been published yet, the 8.7 percent COLA announced Tuesday beat the August-to-August CPI-E by a full percentage point according to Jaime Hopkins from the Carson Group. Despite record 8.7% COLA for 2023, “Still more work to do to help seniors” The Social Security Administration announced a historic 8.7 percent COLA increase for benefits in 2023. The extra money each month will help recipients cope with inflation to a degree when it arrives with January’s payments. However, there are concerns that more needs to be done especially in the case of seniors to make the COLA more responsive to the expenses they face that aren’t used in the current calculation. The current COLA uses inflation figures from the CPI-W, a broad basket of consumer goods and services. There are calls to use the CPI-E which targets goods and services that “would more accurately measure spending patterns of seniors.” The Senior Citizens League reported recently that since the early 2000s, those on Social Security have lost forty percent of their purchasing power. Without SSA COLA beneficiaries would lose purchasing power Prices continually rise over time but Social Security benefits didn’t always adjust to the increased cost of living recipients faced on a daily basis. Prior to 1975 it took an Act of Congress to give benefits a boost. Since then monthly checks paid out by the Social Security Administration have been adjusted automatically each year to reflect general inflation being experienced by consumers for goods and services. Social Security Administration announces historic 8.7% COLA 2023 increase The Social Security Administration has announced a nearly 9% cost-of-living adjustment, the biggest increase since 1981, affecting the benefits received by over 70m Americans. Welcome to AS USA 2023 COLA increase updates Hello and welcome to AS USA’s live blog on the 2023 Social Security COLA increase for Friday, 14 October.  The Social Security Adminstration announced the 2023 Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for social security benefits, for programs like Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance. Other government pension and benefits programs will also be affected by the 8.7% increase. The COLA offered for next year is historic in size after inflation has plagued markets for basic commodities consumed by most households, including food, shelter, utilities, and gasoline.   Tagged in: Seguridad Social Inflación Estados Unidos Pensión jubilación Ayuda económica Read More Here

Climate Protesters Throw Soup Over Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ https://digitalalaskanews.com/climate-protesters-throw-soup-over-van-goghs-sunflowers/ Art & Design|Climate Protesters Throw Soup Over van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/14/arts/design/soup-van-gogh-sunflowers-climate.html Two activists attacked the famous painting at the National Gallery, in London. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share. The protesters also smeared their hands in glue, and stuck them to the museum’s walls.Credit…Just Stop Oil, via Associated Press Oct. 14, 2022Updated 11:02 a.m. ET LONDON — Climate protesters across Europe have for months been gluing themselves to the frames of famous paintings in a series of attention-grabbing stunts. In Britain, activists have attached themselves to about half-a-dozen masterpieces including John Constable’s “The Hay Wain.” In Germany, protesters have stuck themselves to works including Rubens’s “Massacre of the Innocents,” which hangs in the Alte Pinakothek, in Munich. In Italy, works in the Uffizi, in Florence, and at the Vatican Museums have been targeted. Now, protesters in London have found a new way to focus attention on their cause: throwing cans of tomato soup at a masterpiece. At just after 11 a.m. on Friday, two members of Just Stop Oil, a group that seeks to stop oil and gas extraction in Britain, entered room 43 of the National Gallery in London, opened two tins of Heinz cream of tomato soup, and threw them at Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers,” one of the treasures of the museum’s collection. It is one of six surviving images of sunflowers that van Gogh made in 1888 and 1889. As the gloppy orange liquid dripped down the glazing that was protecting the painting, the pair smeared their hands with glue and stuck themselves to the wall beneath the work. In videos of the incident posted online, gallery visitors can be heard saying “Oh, my gosh!” and calling for security; one of the activists delivers a speech in which they ask visitors whether they “are more concerned about the protection of a painting, or the protection of our planet and people?” Within minutes, the stunt grabbed attention worldwide, and many social media users expressed concern for the painting’s condition. Yet the National Gallery said in an email statement that the work was unharmed aside from “some minor damage to the frame.” The activists had been arrested, the statement added. Mel Carrington, a spokeswoman for Just Stop Oil, said in a telephone interview that the group’s intention had been to generate publicity and to create debate around the climate crisis and the actions needed to stop it. Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” had nothing to do with climate change, she said. It was simply “an iconic painting, by an iconic painter” and an attack on it would generate headlines. But the choice of soup was more symbolic, Carrington said: In Britain, many householders were struggling to pay fuel and food bills because of soaring inflation, and some could not even afford to heat up a can of soup. The government should be helping ordinary people deal with “the cost of living crisis,” rather than enabling fossil fuel extraction, she added. Carrington said the activists had checked in advance that the work was glazed, so the soupy splattering would cause no damage and could simply be wiped away. And Just Stop Oil planned further actions, she added. Read More Here

3 Jurors Voted For Parkland School Shooter To Spend Life In Prison, Foreman Says https://digitalalaskanews.com/3-jurors-voted-for-parkland-school-shooter-to-spend-life-in-prison-foreman-says/ 3 jurors voted for Parkland school shooter to spend life in prison, foreman says FIGHTING BACK TEARS WHILE PLEADING FOR GUN VIOLENCE TO STOP. REPEATEDLY IN SOUTH FLORIDA TODAY. TONIGHT, FAMILIES GOING TO BED AND THIS MAY AND DISCUSSED. THE GUNMEN WAS SPARED FROM EXECUTION AND WILL SERVE A LIFE SENTENCE WITH NO PAROLE. I’M TODD MCDERMOTT. FELICIA: I’M FELICIA RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. DELIBERATIONS LASTED FOR ABOUT SEVEN HOURS THROUGH TWO DAYS. THE GRUESOME EVIDENCE OF THE DEADLIEST U.S. MASS SHOOTING TO EVER REACH A JURY. ONE BY ONE, THE NAMES OF THE 14 STUDENTS AND THREE STAFF MEMBERS WERE READ ALOUD BY THE JUDGE IN THE ORDER AS THEY WERE SHOT. TODD: THE JURY AGREED THE MASSACRE WAS HEINOUS, ATROCIOUS AND C COOL ENOUGH TO WARRANT A DEATH SENTENCE. BUT AT LEAST ONE JUROR THOUGHT THOSE FACTORS DID NOT OUTWEIGH WHAT THE DEFENSE PRESENTED, AND THEREFORE, THEY RECOMMENDED LIFE IN PRISON. WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE TONIGHT. WE BEGIN WITH ARI HAIT. OUTRAGE OF THE FAMILIES OF THOSE MURDERED. ARI: OUTRAGE FOR SURE. THE MOTHER OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS POINTED OUT TODAY THAT IT’S BEEN 1703 DAYS SINCE THE SHOOTING AT MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL. THAT’S 1703 DAYS THESE FAMILIES WAITED FOR JUSTICE. AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WERE ADAMANT THAT JUSTICE IS NOT WHAT THEY GOT. THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS MADE IT VERY CLEAR, THEY WANTED AND EXPECTED THE PARKLAND SHOOTER TO GET THE DEATH PENALTY, NOT LIFE IN PRISON. IT’S JUST A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE. IT’S JUST HEARTBREAKING. TODAY’S RULING WAS YET ANOTHER GUT PUNCH. WE CAME HERE SEEKING JUSTICE. WE WERE HOPING FOR JUSTICE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN’T GET IT TODAY. ARI: AFTER SITTING SILENTLY IN COURT FOR MONTHS DURING THE TRIAL, LISTENING TO VERY SPECIFIC DETAILS OF HOW THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SPOUSES WERE KILLED, THEY LET OUT THEIR ANGER AND FRUSTRATION ON THURSDAY. THEY ARE SUFFERING, AND THIS RESULT MADE THEM SUFFER EVEN MORE. NO EXCUSE FOR LETTING THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE BREATHE. HE’S A MONSTER. HE DOESN’T DESERVE, AS SHE SAID, GRACE AND MERCY. THIS JURY FAILED OUR FAMILIES TODAY. ARI: AND MANY OF THOSE FAMILIES BELIEVE THEY’RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO WERE FAILED. YOU SET A PRECEDENT TODAY. YOU SET A PRECEDENT FOR THE NEXT MASS KILLING THAT NOTHING HAPPENS TO YOU. YOU’LL GET LIFE IN JAIL. I’M SORRY, THAT IS NOT OK. RIGHT NOW, IT FEELS THAT HIS LIFE IS MORE VALUABLE THAN CHRISTOPHER’S, AND THAT IS NOT TRUE. IF THIS WAS NOT THE MOST PERFECT DEATH PENALTY CASE, THEN WHY DO WE HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY AT ALL? ARI: MANY FAMILY MEMBERS ASKED THAT SAME QUESTION, AND MANY EXPRESSED HOPE THAT LIFE IN PRISON WOULD ONLY MEAN A DIFFERENT KIND OF DEATH PENALTY. I HOPE AND PRAY HE RECEIVES THE KIND OF MERCY FROM PRISONERS THAT HE SHOWED TO MY DAUGHTER AND THE 16 OTHERS. I PRAY THAT THAT ANIMAL SUFFERS EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE IN JAIL, AND HE SHOULD HAVE A SHORT LIFE. I WAIT AND WELCOME THE DAY THAT I GET THAT CALL THAT TELLS ME THAT THAT MURDERER WAS MURDERED IN PRISON. THAT’S GOING TO BE A VERY HAPPY DAY IN MY LIFE. ARI: MANY OF THESE FAMILIES NOW SPEND THEIR TIME WORKING ON MAKING SCHOOLS SAFER. THEY ALL SAID TODAY THAT THIS VERDICT ONLY MAKES THEM WANT TO WORK HARDER, TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO MORE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, TO MAKE SURE NO OTHER FAMILIES HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT THEY’VE GONE THROUGH. REPORTING LIVE, ARI HAIT, WPBF 25 NEWS. FELICIA: THANK YOU. GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SAID THAT SHOOTER DESERVES A HARSHER SENTENCE, THE DEATH PENALTY. A STUDENT WHO SURVIVED THE SHOOTING DEGREES. ISABELLA BENJUMEA SAYS SHE WAS LOCKED INSIDE A CLASSROOM AT MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL WHEN THE GUNFIRE BEGAN. WHEN ASKED HER THOUGHT ON TODAY’S VERDICT, SHE SHARED THIS. IT WAS VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING KNOWING THAT EVEN THOUGH HE PLANNED EVERYTHING AND CALCULATED EVERYTHING, EVEN THOUGH HE KILLED 17 AND INJURED MORE, HE TRAUMATIZED THOUSANDS OF KIDS, THAT WASN’T ENOUGH FOR THE JURY TO DECIDE DEATH PENALTY. SO IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH, WHAT IS? FELICIA: SHE IS NOW A SECOND-YEAR STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA. SHE STILL FACES CHALLENGES FROM THE LIFE-ALTERING EXPERIENCE, BUT SAID SHE CAN’T IMAGINE THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES. TODD: UNDER FLORIDA LAW, A DEATH SENTENCE REQUIRES A UNANIMOUS VOTE. IT’S STILL UNCLEAR WHAT THE FINAL VOTE TOTAL WAS FOR THIS TRIAL. ONE OF THE JURORS WHO VOTED NOT TO SENTENCE THE PARKLAND SHOOTER TO DEATH DETAILED SOME OF THAT EXPERIENCE IN A HANDWRITTEN LETTER TO THE JUDGE AND DESCRIBED THE UPROAR FROM FELLOW JURORS. FELICIA: THIS LETTER READS, “YOUR HONOR, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTIFY YOU THAT ONE OF THE JURORS IN THIS CASE HEARD JURORS WHO VOTED FOR THE DEATH PENALTY STATING THAT I HAD ALREADY MADE UP MY MIND ON VOTING FOR LIFE BEFORE THE TRIAL STARTED. THIS ALLEGATION IS UNTRUE AND I MAINTAINED MY OATH TO THE COURT THAT I WOULD BE FAIR AND UNBIASED. THE DELIBERATIONS WERE VERY TENSE AND SOME JURORS BECAME EXTREMELY UNHAPPY ONCE I MENTIONED THAT I WOULD VOTE FOR LIFE.” TODD: A REACTION TO THAT. LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN INTERVIEW THE JUROR WHO MAY HAVE BEEN THREATENED BY A FELLOW JUROR DURING THOSE HEATED DELIBERATIONS. FELICIA: MOST OF THOSE JURORS DID NOT SPEAK AFTERWARD, BUT OUR TARA JAKEWAY DID CATCH UP WITH ONE OF THEM. TODD: SHE SHARES WHAT THAT JUROR HAVE TO SAY AND HAS MORE ON THE FAMILY MEMBERS EXPRESSING THEIR ANGER WITH THE JURY AND OUR LEGAL SYSTEM. TARA: WE CAUGHT UP WITH ONE OF THE JURORS ON HER WAY OUT BEING ESCORTED BY A SHERIFF’S DEPUTY. SHE SAYS SHE WAS BOTH HAPPY AND RELIEVED THE TRIAL WAS OVER. THE JURY FOREMAN SAID HE WAS ACTUALLY FEELING PHYSICAL PAIN AFTER THE VERDICT AND DID NOT AGREE WITH THE DECISION BUT THAT IT IS THE LAW. FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE VICTIMS SPEAKING TO EVERYONE ON THE PANEL, MOST SAYING THEY ARE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED. A VERY TOUGH, VERY TOUGH CASE. I’M FEELING ANXIOUS, NERVOUS. TARA: ARE YOU HAPPY THAT IT’S OVER? VERY HAPPY THAT’S OVER. TARA: WHAT LED YOU TO THE DECISION? I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. TARA: ANY WORDS FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS? I AM VERY, VERY SORRY FOR THEIR LOSSES. I DONT KNOW IF YOU COULD SEE MY FACE, BUT IT HURTS, IT HURTS. I FEEL BAD FOR THEM. IT HURTS. THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN DO. IT’S THE WAY THE LAW IS AND THAT’S HOW WE VOTED. YOU LISTEN TO ALL THE EVIDENCE AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT HE DID. TO MURDER GOING UP AND DOWN ALL THOSE THREE FLOORS OF STAIRS AND HUNTING DOWN ALL OF HIS VICTIMS, SHOOTING THEM FROM DOWN THE HALL AND THEN GOING OVER AND EXECUTING THEM AT POINT BLANK RANGE. HOW COULD YOU — HOW COULD YOU NOT GIVE HIM THE DEATH PENALTY? AND I THINK THAT THAT ONE JUROR THAT VOTED FOR LIFE WILL LIVE TO REGRET THAT FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. TARA: ONE FAMILY MEMBER LIKENED HEARING THE VERDICT TO GETTING PUNCHED IN THE STOMACH. ANOTHER SAID THEY FOUND SOME SOLACE,VERY LITTLE IN THE FACT THAT CRUZ WILL HAVE TO SPEND THE REST OF HIS DAYS THINKING ABOUT WHAT HE HAD DONE BEHIND PRISON BARS. ANOTHER JUST SAID THAT JUSTICE HERE WAS NOT DONE. TARA JAKEWAY, WPBF 25 NEWS. TODD: THANK YOU. WE TALKED WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY DAVE ARONBERG AS WELL AS CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY MARC SHINER REGARDING THEIR REACTIONS TO THE VERDICT. THEY SAY THEY WERE A BIT SURPRISED BY THE VERDICT, BUT ALSO EMPHASIZED HOW RARE THE DEATH PENALTY IS HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. STATE ATTORNEY ARONBERG TELLS US FOR EXAMPLE HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, THEY HAD ONE DEATH PENALTY VERDICT IN THE PAST 20 YEARS. I RESPECT THE JURY’S VERDICT. THEY WERE THERE EVERY DAY LISTENING TO THE EVIDENCE, BUT THE DEATH PENALTY IS THE LAW OF THE LAND IN FLORIDA, AND IF IT DOESN’T APPLY TO SOMEONE WHO SLAUGHTERS 17 INNOCENTS, NEARLY ALL OF THEM CHILDREN, THEN WHEN DOES IT EVER APPLY? IT’LL GIVE EVERYONE CLOSURE. MAYBE NOT THE CLOSURE THAT THE PUBLIC OR THE COMMUNITY WANTED, BUT IT’S GOING TO BE CLOSED NOW FOREVER. TODD: MARC SHINER TOLD ME PREVIOUSLY THIS WOULD BE A VERY TOUGH JOB FOR PROSECUTORS. AGAIN, ALL IT TAKES IS ONE JUROR OUT OF THE 12 TO SAY THAT MITIGATING FACTORS OUTWEIGHED THE AGGRAVATORS TO NOT IMPOSE THE DEATH SENTENCE. FELICIA: IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THIS MOMENT. THE TRIAL KEPT GETTING DELAYED IN PART DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND ARGUMENTS OVER WHAT EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY COULD BE USED. JURY SELECTION BEGAN IN APRIL. TWO WEEKS INTO IT, THE JUDGE ORDERED TO RESTART THE PROCESS BECAUSE OF A PROCEDURAL ISSUE REGARDING A GROUP OF POTENTIAL JURORS. IN JUNE, SEVEN MEN AND FIVE WOMEN WERE SWORN IN FOR THE PENALTY TRIAL WHICH STARTED IN JULY. SINCE THEN, WE’VE HEARD FROM SURVIVORS, PARENTS, AND MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS, AND SEEN NEW VIDEOS FROM THE DAY OF THE MASSACRE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF A SCHOOL SHOOTING TRIAL, JURORS WALKED THROUGH THE EXACT BUILDING WHERE THE CRIME HAPPENED. BOTH SIDES MADE THEIR FINAL CASE TUESDAY AND THE VERDICT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY. TODD: SO, WHAT COMES NEXT? THE JUDGE WILL ISSUE HER FORMAL RULING ON THAT SENTENCE ON NOVEMBER 1. AFTER A FULL SENTENCING HEARING TO ALLOW THE RELATIVES OF THE MURDER VICTIMS TO SPEAK, UNDER FLORIDA LAW, THE JUDGE CANNOT DEPART FROM THE JURY’S RECOMMENDATION OF LIFE. FELICIA: IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO NOT FORGET THE VICTIMS. THE 14 STUDENTS AND THREE STAFF MEMBERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES FOUR YEARS AGO. TODD: THEIR FACES, NAMES, SMILES, AND LAUGHS WILL FOREVER BE IMPRINTED IN OUR MEMORIES OF WHO THEY WERE BEFORE THEY BECAME VICTIMS OF SUCH CRUELTY. THERE ARE 17 VICTIMS WHO DID NOT RECEIVE JUSTICE TODAY. MY DAUGHTER WAS THE 16TH OF THE 17 TO BE READ TODAY. WE STILL HAVE TO GO THE CEMETERY TO GO SEE OUR DAUGHTER. OUR FAMILY IS NOT WHOLE ANYMORE AND WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HOW WE GET THROUGH EACH DAY. I SEE MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER’S FACE AROUND OUR HOME, IN MY DREAMS, AND I MISS HER VERY MUCH. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. IT LEAVES ME WITH ANGER, SADNESS, AND EMPTINESS TO KNOW THAT NON...

Synovia Pharma Brings ERTU To Reduce Diabetic Patients’ Kidney, Heart Failure https://digitalalaskanews.com/synovia-pharma-brings-ertu-to-reduce-diabetic-patients-kidney-heart-failure/ Synovia Pharma high officials along with guests pose for a photo at the ERTU launching ceremony, recently. – Press release photo. Synovia Pharma, previously known as Sanofi Bangladesh brings in the latest SGLT2 inhibitor ERTU to achieve more efficient glycemic control in Type 2 diabetic patients, since they promised to bring breakthrough new and innovative solutions to cater to the unmet needs of Bangladeshi patients, said a press release on Thursday. National professor and president of the Diabetes Association of Bangladesh eminent physician professor AK Azad Khan graced the launching event of ERTU as the chief guest. BIRDEM General Hospital professor of Endocrinology Md Faruque Pathan chaired the program where Bangladesh Endocrine Society professor and president SM Ashrafuzzaman was present as the special guest. In the scientific part of the program, Dhaka Medical College Hospital professor and head of Endocrinology Indrajit Prasad, National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology professor Shamim Ahmed presented on ‘Diabetes Management Focusing on Renal Protection,’ the release added. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital professor and chairman of Nephrology department Md Nazrul Islam, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases professor and director Mir Jamal Uddin, United Hospital professor Md Hafizur Rahman, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine, and Metabolic Disorders professor and head of Endocrinology Feroz Amin presented their expert opinion as the panel of experts. SM Ashrafuzzaman said, ‘As per VERTIS- CV trial of SGLT2 inhibitor evaluated medication’s cardiovascular safety in patients with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor ertugliflozin does not impact the likelihood of heart attack, stroke, or cardiac death in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease.’ Md Faruque Pathan said, ‘Research also showed the rate of hospitalization for heart failure was lower among study participants treated with ertugliflozin. The study was highlighted during the ‘Results of the evaluation of ERTugliflozin Efficacy and Safety CardioVascular Outcomes Trial symposium at the American Diabetes Association’s 80th Virtual Scientific Sessions.’ A K Azad Khan said, ‘Diabetes has become an epidemic in the world. Moreover, once someone is diagnosed with this disease, it remains for life. However, if kept under complete control this disease can’t harm much and one can live a healthy, normal, and active life by avoiding all kinds of physical complications. There have been many scientific advances in the treatment of diabetes in recent times. In this regard, SGLT2 inhibitor group of drugs are worth mentioning.’ The welcome address of the event was presented by Synovia Pharma General Manager of Sales, AKM Rafique. Read More Here

Trump Responds To Jan. 6 Committee Chairman Following Subpoena https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-responds-to-jan-6-committee-chairman-following-subpoena/ Former President Donald Trump responded to the House committee investigating the attacks on the U.S. Capitol after it voted to subpoena him on Thursday. In a letter to Chairman Bennie Thompson, Trump repeats baseless allegations about widespread voter fraud and asks why the committee didn’t look into his allegation. He adds that the people who went to the Capitol on Jan. 6 were “concerned American Citizens, protesting the Fraud itself.” He goes on to call them “Great American Patriots.” “These people have had their lives ruined as your Committee sits back and basks in the glow,” Trump states in the letter. During Thursday’s public hearing, the committee said it decided to subpoena Trump because more than 30 witnesses invoked their Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination. The committee said those witnesses pleaded the Fifth when asked about conversations with the president. Trump doesn’t specifically state whether he will comply with the subpoena. However, it’s clear he believes the committee is illegitimate. The committee is working on its final report as it could be dissolved if Republicans win control of the House in the midterm elections. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sign up for the Breaking News Newsletter and receive up to date information. Read More Here

Supreme Court Rejects Trump Appeal Over Classified Documents At Mar-A-Lago https://digitalalaskanews.com/supreme-court-rejects-trump-appeal-over-classified-documents-at-mar-a-lago/ Free speech is democracy’s last line of defense. In these times of war, climate chaos, mass shootings, attacks on abortion rights, economic and racial injustice and threats to our democracy, we’re committed to shining a spotlight on abuses of power and amplifying the voices of the movement leaders, organizers and everyday people who are working to change the world. But we can’t do it alone. We count on you to make all of our coverage possible. Can you donate $10 per month to support Democracy Now!’s independent journalism all year long? Right now, a generous donor will DOUBLE your gift, which means your $10 donation this month will be worth $20 to Democracy Now! Please do your part right now. Every dollar counts. Thank you so much. -Amy Goodman We rely on contributions from you, our viewers and listeners to do our work. If you visit us daily or weekly or even just once a month, now is a great time to make your monthly contribution. Please do your part today. Read More Here

Trump Reportedly Wants To Testify Before January 6 Committee – Live https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-reportedly-wants-to-testify-before-january-6-committee-live/ There are plenty of instances of former presidents testifying before congress, and in fact, even sitting presidents have done so, according to the US Senate. But such an appearance hasn’t been made in a while. The last former president to answer questions on Capitol Hill was Gerald Ford, who appeared before a Senate subcommittee on the constitution in 1983. He was also the last president in office to testify, during a 1974 House subcommittee hearing about his decision to pardon former president Richard Nixon for various charges related to the Watergate scandal. Up until January 6, historians viewed Watergate as perhaps the worst political scandal in American history. But the insurrection at the Capitol may well have eclipsed that – and Trump could follow in the footsteps of his predecessors and appear before lawmakers to discuss his role in it. “,”elementId”:”85d6ae77-ca8a-4e06-a29f-15b5e6aec717″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” Here’s a look at what else is happening today: “,”elementId”:”7e28cec9-e902-45b6-8830-ba1771744617″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:” n Liz Cheney, the Republican vice-chair of the January 6 committee, will talk about defending democracy at Notre Dame University at 2.30pm eastern time. n Washington’s fury towards Saudi Arabia will be the subject when Democratic representative Ro Khanna, an advocate of cracking down on Riyadh over its backing of the recent Opec+ oil production cut, speaks with the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft at 12pm eastern time. n Joe Biden is continuing his trip out west with a speech in Orange county, California, about “lowering costs for American families” and a stop in Oregon. There, the president will campaign for the state’s Democratic candidate for governor, who appears to be struggling polls. n “,”elementId”:”2313d713-eab1-4c57-a962-4f470c5505c2″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1665752350000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.59 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1665752129000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”08.55 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1665752350000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.59 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.59″,”title”:”Testify before January 6 committee? Trump would do it, reports say”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 14 Oct 2022 10.04 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 14 Oct 2022 08.59 EDT”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”format”:{“display”:0,”theme”:0,”design”:10},”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”}” Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature A new books argues that the way Democrats handled Trump’s first impeachment in 2019 laid the groundwork for the lawless streak he exhibited when he tried to overturn the following year’s elections, Politico reports. In “Unchecked,” written by Politico reporter Rachael Bade and Washington Post reporter Karoun Demirjian, House speaker Nancy Pelosi is shown as being caught between two wings of the Democratic party as it weighs how to respond to Trump’s pressuring of Ukraine’s government to investigate Joe Biden. One group, composed mostly of progressives, wanted a sprawling inquiry into all of the then-president’s alleged misdeeds, while another, made up of Democrats in vulnerable seats, wanted a narrowly tailored investigation into the Ukraine affair that wouldn’t take too long. The latter group won out, but according to the book, Pelosi missed opportunities to wrangle some Republicans into supporting Trump’s impeachment – though the book concedes the effort may well have been a long shot, even if she tried. The Senate ultimately acquitted Trump, and the book finds that decision emboldened Trump to attempt further schemes – like his plot to overturn the 2020 election. Here’s how Politico puts it: In the end, one political truism superseded all the others: What happens in January of an election year will be ancient history by the time voters cast ballots. This was especially true in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic seemed to emerge just as Democrats were licking their wounds from the impeachment trial acquittal. Soon after, Trump would begin sowing the seeds of what would become his effort to overturn defeat in the presidential election, and by November, impeachment seemed an asterisk in a year that had become chaotic for many other reasons. Ultimately, Democrats took the White House, even though Pelosi’s House majority shrank slightly after 2020. House managers of Trump’s first impeachment have insisted to this day that their existential warnings played a role in voters deeming him unfit for a second term. His actions to subvert his 2020 loss, they argue, were evidence that Republicans’ decision to acquit him had left him feeling unchecked. Trump hasn’t yet publicly said if he’d testify before the January 6 committee, as their subpoena compels him to. But his political action committee has today distributed to reporters this letter, dated yesterday and addressed to the committee’s chair. The 14-page epistle is mostly a rehash of his baseless theories that the 2020 election was stolen from him, and a defense of his conduct on January 6. It opens with this line: “THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2020 WAS RIGGED AND STOLEN!” It’s unclear if Trump himself wrote it, but based on the prose, it’s difficult not to imagine his voice when reading it. Consider the second sentence: The same group of Radical Left Democrats who utilized their Majority position in Congress to create the fiction of Russia, Russia, Russia, Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax #2, the $48 Million Mueller Report (which ended in No Collusion!), Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine, the atrocious and illegal Spying on my Campaign, and so much more, are the people who created this Committee of highly partisan political Hacks and Thugs whose sole function is to destroy the lives of many hard-working American Patriots, whose records in life have been unblemished until this point of attempted ruination. There are plenty of instances of former presidents testifying before congress, and in fact, even sitting presidents have done so, according to the US Senate. But such an appearance hasn’t been made in a while. The last former president to answer questions on Capitol Hill was Gerald Ford, who appeared before a Senate subcommittee on the constitution in 1983. He was also the last president in office to testify, during a 1974 House subcommittee hearing about his decision to pardon former president Richard Nixon for various charges related to the Watergate scandal. Up until January 6, historians viewed Watergate as perhaps the worst political scandal in American history. But the insurrection at the Capitol may well have eclipsed that – and Trump could follow in the footsteps of his predecessors and appear before lawmakers to discuss his role in it. Testify before January 6 committee? Trump would do it, reports say Good morning, US politics blog readers. Yesterday’s big news was that the January 6 committee had issued a subpoena to Donald Trump, in an attempt to compel the testimony of a man they say was responsible above all others for the deadly insurrection at the Capitol. You’d be right not to get your hopes up that the former president would honor their summons – he’s stymied various attempts to compel his behavior or hold him accountable over the years with lengthy court challenges, and the congressional subpoena seems like it could meet the same fate. But media outlets including the New York Times and Fox News report that Trump actually would like to speak to lawmakers – assuming he can do so live. We may hear from him today on what course of action he’s decided to take. Here’s a look at what else is happening today: Liz Cheney, the Republican vice-chair of the January 6 committee, will talk about defending democracy at Notre Dame University at 2.30pm eastern time. Washington’s fury towards Saudi Arabia will be the subject when Democratic representative Ro Khanna, an advocate of cracking down on Riyadh over its backing of the recent Opec+ oil production cut, speaks with the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft at 12pm eastern time. Joe Biden is continuing his trip out west with a speech in Orange county, California, about “lowering costs for American families” and a stop in Oregon. There, the president will campaign for the state’s Democratic candidate for governor, who appears to be struggling polls. Read More Here

Jan. 6 Committee Votes To Subpoena Former President Donald Trump To Testify Under Oath About Capitol Riot https://digitalalaskanews.com/jan-6-committee-votes-to-subpoena-former-president-donald-trump-to-testify-under-oath-about-capitol-riot/ During Thursday’s public hearing, the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot unanimously voted to subpoena former President Donald Trump about his actions surrounding the insurrection. The committee has been tasked with probing the facts and causes of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, when a violent mob of Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol and forced lawmakers to flee their chambers for safety. Trump has repeatedly and falsely claimed that his victory was stolen through widespread voter fraud, and never officially conceded the election to Biden. Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said before the vote that “It is our obligation to seek Donald Trump’s testimony,” and Vice Chair Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. said it is a “key task” of the committee to compel the testimony of “January 6th’s central player.” Cheney noted that out of roughly 30 witnesses who have invoked the 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination during their testimony,  many did so directly in response to questions about their dealings with Trump. Those witnesses include former Trump Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, former national security advisor Michael Flynn, and Republican political operative Roger Stone. Just before the hearing adjourned, the nine-member panel voted unanimously to direct Thompson to issue the subpoena for Trump. The bipartisan panel has so far issued more than 100 subpoenas and interviewed more than 1,000 people over the course of its investigation, and most of those witnesses have complied with the committee’s requests. However, it is expected that Trump may be unlikely to willingly cooperate with the panel, which he has repeatedly decried as a politically motivated witch hunt. Editorial credit: bgrocker / Shutterstock.com Read More Here