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Meet The Cast Of KPOP THE MUSICAL, Beginning Previews Tonight https://digitalalaskanews.com/meet-the-cast-of-kpop-the-musical-beginning-previews-tonight/ KPOP the Musical begins previews tonight, October 13, with an opening night on Sunday, November 20, 2022. KPOP features Luna, in the starring role of MwE, along with Julia Abueva, BoHyung, Major Curda, Jinwoo Jung, Jiho Kang, Amy Keum, James Kho, Marina Kondo, Eddy Lee, Joshua Lee, Jully Lee, Lina Rose Lee, Timothy H. Lee, Abraham Lim, Min, Kate Mina Lin, Aubie Merrylees, Patrick Park, Zachary Noah Piser, Kevin Woo, and John Yi. As global superstars put everything on the line for a special one-night-only concert, they face struggles both cultural and personal that threaten to dismantle one of the industry’s hottest labels. Starring a cast of K-pop and musical theater stars, KPOP is a multimedia experience that explores the relentless discipline, raw talent, and commercial ambition behind the international sensation. Meet the cast bringing this show to life below! LUNA MwE Luna is a South Korean K-pop singer, musical actress and television presenter. She is best known as the main vocalist and lead dancer of the K-pop girl group f(x) who act as inspirational leaders of contemporary K-pop. Luna has also been in original and South Korean stage musicals of Legally Blonde (Elle Woods), In the Heights (Nina), Mamma Mia! (Sophie), Coyote Ugly (Violet Sanford), High School Musical on Stage! (Gabriella Montez), Rebecca (I), Gone with the Wind (Scarlett O’Hara), and Rudolf (Maria Vechera). She debuted as a solo artist in 2016 with her album Free Somebody and recently released a new single, “Madonna.” Instagram: @hermosavidaluna. JULIA ABUEVA Sonoma Julia Abueva made her NY stage debut originating the role of Sonoma at Ars Nova and is proud to be reprising the role in her Broadway debut. Off-Broadway: Superhero (2ST). West End: Miss Saigon (Kim u/s). Singapore: Next to Normal, Spring Awakening; Manila: Into the Woods, Aspects of Love, The Fantasticks, Cinderella. TV: “Everything’s Trash” (Freeform), “Making Friends” (Amazon), and the feature film Stella’s Last Weekend. BOHYUNG Tiny BoHyung is proud to be making her Broadway debut in KPOP. She is a veteran K-pop star, debuting as a member of SPICA as well as performing as a solo artist. She has performed at KCON LA, KCON Abu Dhabi, Rainbow Festival, Immortal Songs, King of Mask Singer, amongst others. Instagram: @bohyungkim MAJOR CURDA Camera Operator, u/s Harry, u/s Brad, u/s Danny, u/s Lex, u/s Jae Ik, u/s Wooyeon Major Curda is overjoyed to be making their return to Broadway with KPOP! Major is a multi-disciplinary storytelling artist with a love for reifying old stories and creating new ones. Special thanks to Mom, Dad, Riley, Piper, Glory, Saylor, and Leo. Select Credits: Dilton Doiley in CW’s Riverdale, Arlo in Netflix’s Atypical, Flounder in The Little Mermaid on Broadway. BFA Drama – Carnegie Mellon University. JINWOO JUNG Juny, u/s Jae Ik Miss Saigon (Broadway National Tour, Thuy). Off-Broadway: KPOP (A.R.T/NY, Oracle). Regional: La Cage Aux Folles (East West Players, Jean Michel) and The Christians (Mark Taper Forum, Choir). Film/TV/VO: Glass, Ghost in the Shell, The Interview, and more. MFA Acting: University of Southern California. @jinu108 JIHO KANG Lex Jiho Kang was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Seattle, Washington. He loves K-pop, singing, and, most recently, dancing. In his leisure, he enjoys cats, doing yoga, and playing League of Legends. He is grateful to everyone who enabled him to be here today. Much thanks to Nick and my families, both biological and chosen. @jihokang11. jihokang.com AMY KEUM Ivy, u/s MwE Broadway debut! Film/TV: Honor Society (Paramount+), The Kill Room (Yale Productions), “Evil” (CBS). Regional Theatre: Lizzie (Playhouse Square), Mamma Mia! (ISF/GLT), Popstar (NYC Workshop), Be More Chill (Playhouse Square). Proud graduate of BWMT and WATA. Many thanks to Tara Rubin Casting, A&R, MK, and all the friends and mentors who’ve supported me along the way. For Umma, Appa, Unnie, and God. 사랑해요! @amymkeum JAMES KHO Wooyeon James Kho is an actor, choreographer, and dancer based in NYC. He has had the privilege of working with artists and companies such as BTS, P Nation, and FM Entertainment. His recent theater appearances include Beyond Babel and Daydreamers. James thanks his family, friends, and the many trailblazing Asian artists before him for their constant support and inspiration. Maraming salamat. MARINA KONDO Swing, u/s MwE, u/s Ruby Marina Kondo is thrilled to be making her Broadway debut! National Tours: Disney’s Frozen (Original touring cast), Lincoln Center’s The King & I. Off-Broadway: Road Show (NYCC), KPOP (Ars Nova). Regional: The Muny. TV: Succession (HBO). Proud graduate of the University of Michigan (BFA). Endless love and gratitude to her teachers, family, friends, Nick, and BRS/Gage for making dreams come true. @marinakondo EDDY LEE Sky, u/s Juny, u/s Timmy X Eddy Lee is honored to be part of this historic show. Love, praise and respect to all who have contributed their essence to this piece. Endless gratitude to my loved ones who are my foundation. TV/Film: Big Sky; Tick, Tick… Boom! B’way: Hamilton (Swing/US Hamilton). Animation: Yu-Gi-Oh! (Soulburner), Pokémon(Gladion), Maquia. Member of TheBringAbout! T: @EddyTZenLee Insta: @edru00 MV3 JOSHUA LEE Timmy X Joshua Lee is a recent graduate from Harvard University where he received a B.A. in Computer Science. In college, Joshua was heavily involved in the dance and a cappella community and is delighted to be making his Broadway debut with KPOP. Outside of theater, he enjoys woodworking, piloting, and camping. JULLY LEE Ruby New York/Broadway debut! Jully is an Ovation-nominated actor and the Artistic Director of Cold Tofu Improv. Theatre: Joy Luck Club (first national tour), Hannah and the Dread Gazebo, tokyo fish story, Aubergine, Mexican Day. TV: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Young Sheldon, S.W.A.T., This Is Us, Jane the Virgin, Henry Danger. Much love to her Lee-Trujillo family, HH, NH, AK and her Vagabonds. jullylee.com LINA ROSE LEE Swing Lina Rose Lee is thrilled to make her Broadway debut! Most recently, she performed at MSMT in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Lina brings a burst of energy wherever she goes, and you can find her Times Square KPOP dance covers on her Youtube channel, “Lina Rose Lee”. Proudly born and raised in South Korea. All Glory to God. Love and thanks to 엄마, 아빠, 연진언니, 미스터덤보! Dreams do come true. @linarose.lee TIMOTHY H. LEE Swing Broadway debut! National Tour: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Regional: Newsies (Gateway), Mamma Mia!, Shrek the Musical (3DT), Evita (PVPA). Tim is a NYU Steinhardt MM Vocal Performance, CSU Fullerton BFA graduate. Endless thanks to DGRW agency, Tara Rubin Casting. Love Mom & Dad in South Korea. And as always… All the glory to God. IG: @Tim_haechanlee ABRAHAM LIM Jae Ik, u/s Jun Hyuk Born in Seoul, raised in New York, and a resident of Los Angeles, Abraham makes his Broadway debut in KPOP. Prior to KPOP, he appeared in television and film projects such as The Boys (Amazon) and Clickbait (Netflix). Immense gratitude for the cast, creatives and producers. 엄마 and 누나, I love you more than music. Aiden and Emma, 삼촌 did this for you. Christina Yuna Lee, I remember you. KATE MINA LIN Miyeon Youngest cast member I just graduated from high school and came to Broadway! I am a deferred student at USC in the Musical Theatre major. TV/Film: Amazon Prime’s Forever, Nickelodeon’s LSBS, Dirty John, Deadly Inn. Theatre: Tropical Angels, Footloose. 엄마 아빠 오빠, 살랑해요. 나는 당신을 자랑스럽게 만들기를 바랍니다. AUBIE MERRYLEES Harry Aubie Merrylees is honored to be a part of the KPOP family! Broadway: To Kill A Mockingbird (original cast). Off-Broadway/tours: Wolf Play (Soho Rep); Hamlet, Saint Joan (Bedlam). Regional includes Hand To God (Philadelphia Theatre Company); Caucasian Chalk Circle (Yale Rep); The Aliens (Theatre Exile); Stupid f-ing Bird, At The Old Place (Arden); The Liar (Lantern); The Vinegar Tree, End Days (People’s Light). Training: Brown University, Yale School of Drama. MIN Riya A K-pop artist hailing from South Korea, Min makes her Broadway debut in KPOP after a successful career as a member of the award-winning JYP girl group MISS A (Mnet Music Awards, Seoul Music Awards, etc). Her film & TV credits include Countdown and the upcoming “순이,” among others. Thank you to the KPOP cast, crew and producers. 할머니, 사랑해. 보고싶어. 열심히 하고 돌아갈게. Thank you, Minions! I love you. PATRICK PARK Swing, u/s Brad, u/s Harry Broadway debut! Regional: Mythic, Prom Queen (now titled The Louder We Get) (Segal Centre). TV/Film: Best Sellers, Appelles-Moi Si Tu Meurs, K-pop Star. Patrick is also a member of East2West, a dance group with a following of over 1 million subscribers on YouTube. So much gratitude to my family, friends, and the entire team at ART Agency! ZACHARY NOAH PISER Brad Broadway: Dear Evan Hansen‘s first Asian-American Evan Hansen, Wicked (Boq). Off-Broadway: Barrow Street’s West End transfer of Sweeney Todd (Tobias), Adventurephile (Keen Company), Mad Libs Live. Regional: world premieres of Row (Williamstown), The Heart of Rock & Roll (Old Globe). Bay Area native and proud Northwestern grad. Much love to team KPOP, A&R, Dave, Adam, Mom & Dad. @zach_piser KEVIN WOO Jun Hyuk Kevin Woo is honored to make his Broadway debut in KPOP! As a successful Korean-American singer-songwriter and former member of K-pop boy band U-KISS, he dedicates his performance to his South Korean heritage and its resilience. Much love to family, friends, KPOP team, and his fan club KLOVER for all the love and support. 사랑해요! IG: @kevinwoo_official JOHN YI Danny John has been with KPOP for eight years since the first workshop in 2014. In 2017, John originated the role of ‘Bobo’ in the Off-Broadway world premiere of KPOP at Ars Nova. This ...

Judge: Trump Must Sit For Deposition In Defamation Lawsuit https://digitalalaskanews.com/judge-trump-must-sit-for-deposition-in-defamation-lawsuit/ NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump will have to answer questions under oath next week in a defamation lawsuit lodged by a writer who says he raped her in the mid-1990s, a judge ruled Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rejected a request by Trump’s lawyers that the planned testimony be delayed. The deposition is now scheduled for Oct. 19. The decision came in a lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll, a longtime advice columnist for Elle magazine, who says Trump raped her in an upscale Manhattan department store’s dressing room. Trump has denied it. Carroll is scheduled to be deposed Friday. Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, said in a statement: “We look forward to establishing on the record that this case is, and always has been, entirely without merit.” Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s attorney, said she was pleased with the ruling and looked forward to filing the new claims next month “and moving forward to trial with all dispatch.” Trump’s legal team has tried various legal tactics to delay the lawsuit and prevent him from being questioned by Carroll’s attorneys, but Judge Kaplan wrote that it was time to move forward, especially given the “advanced age” of Carroll, 78, and Trump, 76, and perhaps other witnesses. “The defendant should not be permitted to run the clock out on plaintiff’s attempt to gain a remedy for what allegedly was a serious wrong,” he wrote. Carroll’s lawsuit claims that Trump damaged her reputation in 2019 when he denied raping her. Trump’s legal team has been trying to squash the suit by arguing that the Republican was just doing his job as president when he denied the allegations, including when he dismissed his accuser as “not my type.” That’s a key question because if Trump was acting within the scope of his duties as a federal employee, the U.S. government would become the defendant in the case. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a split decision last month that Trump was a federal employee when he commented on Carroll’s claims. But it asked another court in Washington to decide whether Trump’s public statements occurred during the scope of his employment. Kaplan, the judge, said Trump has repeatedly tried to delay the collection of evidence in the lawsuit. “Given his conduct so far in this case, Mr. Trump’s position regarding the burdens of discovery is inexcusable,” he wrote. “As this Court previously has observed, Mr. Trump has litigated this case since it began in 2019 with the effect and probably the purpose of delaying it.” The judge noted that the collection of evidence for the lawsuit to go to trial was virtually concluded, except for the depositions of Trump and Carroll. “Mr. Trump has conducted extensive discovery of the plaintiff, yet produced virtually none himself,” Kaplan said. “Completing these depositions — which already have been delayed for years — would impose no undue burden on Mr. Trump, let alone any irreparable injury.” The judge also said the deposition could be useful when Carroll’s lawyer next month files a new lawsuit under New York’s revival law, the Adult Survivors Act, allowing her to sue for damages for the alleged rape without the statute of limitations blocking it. Whether the rape occurred is central to the defamation claims, as well as the anticipated new lawsuit, the judge said. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More Here

Igor Danchenko Trial: Durham Hammers FBI Over Lack Of Corroboration Of Steele Dossier Used For FISA Warrant https://digitalalaskanews.com/igor-danchenko-trial-durham-hammers-fbi-over-lack-of-corroboration-of-steele-dossier-used-for-fisa-warrant/ Neither the FBI nor any other intelligence agency had any corroboration for allegations included in the anti-Trump dossier that was used to justify the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant and its renewals to monitor Trump campaign aide Carter Page, an FBI official testified on the second day of the Igor Danchenko trial. Special Counsel John Durham, who has been investigating the origins of the Trump-Russia probe since 2019, led questioning of FBI supervisory counterintelligence analyst Brian Auten on Tuesday, the first day of the trial, and continued on Wednesday. Russian national Igor Danchenko Auten was the first witness in the trial of Danchenko, the Russian national who served as the primary sub-source for ex-British Intelligence agent Christopher Steele’s anti-Trump dossier and has been charged with five counts of making false statements to the bureau. DURHAM PROBE: FBI OFFERED CHRISTOPHER STEELE $1 MILLION TO CORROBORATE TRUMP ALLEGATIONS IN DOSSIER When pressed on whether the FBI had any way to corroborate the salacious allegations against Trump and his campaign associates included in the dossier, Auten repeatedly said no. Durham hammered Auten Wednesday, questioning why he took information from the dossier, without corroboration, and included it in the FISA warrant for Page. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP “As an analyst, I’m not writing the application,”Auten testified. But Durham continued to press him, saying: “You and your colleagues took the information…and put it in the Carter Page FISA application.” “You didn’t have corroboration from FBI databases, from other intelligence community agencies, or from Christopher Steele and it still went into a FISA application?” Durham asked. “Correct,” Auten testified. The back-and-forth came after Auten’s testimony on Tuesday, when he revealed that he and a group of FBI agents went overseas in early October 2021 to speak with Steele about the dossier. DURHAM PROBE: GOVERNMENT SAYS US SURVEILLED CARTER PAGE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR BASED ON DANCHENKO LIES Auten said that during an overseas meeting, the FBI offered Steele $1 million if he could corroborate allegations in the dossier. Auten testified that Steele could not do so. Christopher Steele, a former British spy who wrote a 2016 dossier about alleged links between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, arrives at the High Court in London for a hearing in the libel case brought against him by Russian businessman Aleksej Gubarev. Auten also said Tuesday that the FBI had no corroboration of allegations in the dossier but nevertheless took that information and inserted it into the FISA warrant to surveil former Trump campaign aide Carter Page. “On October 21, 2016 [the date of the Carter Page FISA application], did you have any information to corroborate that information?” Durham asked. “No,” Auten said, confirming that the FBI began receiving Steele’s reports, later known as the dossier, on Sept. 19, 2016, and submitted its first FISA application on Page on Oct. 21, 2016. Sept. 19, 2016, was also the day that then-Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann brought white papers to a meeting at FBI headquarters with then-FBI General Counsel James Baker that alleged the Trump Organization was using a secret back channel to communicate with Kremlin-linked Alfa Bank in the weeks leading up to the presidential election. Sussmann was found not guilty of making a false statement to the FBI in June. Sussmann had allegedly brought the information to Baker on Sept. 19, 2016, and he allegedly claimed that he was not doing work on behalf of any client but rather bringing the data as a citizen concerned with national security. But the Steele dossier, which was commissioned by opposition research firm Fusion GPS and paid for by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee through Sussmann’s law firm Perkins Coie, served as the basis for the FISA warrants against Page. GRASSLEY, JOHNSON DEMAND ANSWERS ON WHY FBI PAID IGOR DANCHENKO AS A SOURCE DURING TRUMP-RUSSIA PROBE DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz in 2019 said the dossier was used to justify the initial FISA warrant and its three subsequent renewals. Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee first said that the dossier served as the basis for those warrants and surveillance of Page. The Justice Department admitted in 2020 that the FISA warrants to surveil Page, when stripped of the FBI’s misinformation, did not meet the necessary legal threshold and never should have been issued. DESPITE ACQUITTAL, DURHAM TRIAL OF SUSSMANN ADDED TO EVIDENCE CLINTON CAMPAIGN PLOTTED TO TIE TRUMP TO RUSSIA The charges against Danchenko stem from certain statements he made to the FBI relating to the sources he used in providing information to an investigative firm in the United Kingdom related to the dossier. Danchenko pleaded not guilty last year to lying about the source of information that he provided to Steele for the dossier, which contained salacious and now-debunked allegations against Trump. Durham, during questioning, pointed out that Auten’s role in the FBI’s original Trump-Russia investigation, known within the bureau as Crossfire Hurricane, landed him a suspension. “That’s under appeal,” Auten said. Fox News’ David Spunt and Niko Stines contributed to this report.  Read More Here

Mar-A-Lago Employee Tells Investigators Trump Directed Move Of Documents, Source Says – WSGW 790 AM & 100.5 FM https://digitalalaskanews.com/mar-a-lago-employee-tells-investigators-trump-directed-move-of-documents-source-says-wsgw-790-am-100-5-fm/ Washington – An individual who worked at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort has told investigators that the former president directed the individual to move boxes of sensitive documents – including those that might contain classified markings – to a different location as the federal investigation into Trump’s handling of certain records was already underway, according to a person familiar with the matter.  The employee is now a cooperating witness in the Justice Department’s probe – which escalated after the execution of a search warrant on Trump’s Florida residence in August – and has appeared before a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., CBS News has confirmed.  The news of a cooperating witness in the documents investigation with firsthand knowledge of the boxes being transferred was first reported by The Washington Post.  Video of the boxes being handled is now in the hands of investigators – evidence that contributed to the FBI’s decision to execute the court-authorized search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, a source with knowledge of the investigation says. Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Legacy Sports USA on October 09, 2022 in Mesa, Arizona. Trump was stumping for Arizona GOP candidates, including gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake, ahead of the midterm election on November 8. / Getty Images Trump’s battle with the federal government over White House records has spanned 18 months, since National Archives general counsel Gary Stern wrote to a group of Trump attorneys in May 2021 informing them that “roughly two dozen boxes of original Presidential records” from Trump’s time in office that were once kept in the White House residence had yet to be returned to the Archives.” Other missing records included letters between Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, according to a copy of the letter released by the Archives.  In January 2022, the National Archives collected 15 boxes of records at Mar-a-Lago and later referred Trump’s retention of the documents to the Justice Department for a criminal investigation after the Archives said they discovered “evidence that classified records had been stored” on the premises.  By May, a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. issued a subpoena “seeking documents bearing classification markings” at Trump’s Florida resort, according to unsealed court documents. Trump’s legal team is said to have accepted the service of the subpoena on May 11 and a subpoena for security camera footage from inside Mar-a-Lago was served in June. The footage showed the boxes of sensitive material being moved to a different location at Trump’s resort, and according to the source, the Mar-a-Lago employee told investigators the transfer was directed by Trump himself.  The Justice Department declined to comment.  Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing by claiming in part that he declassified the documents in question, and by labeling the investigation as politically-motivated.  In a statement, Taylor Budowich, a spokesperson for Trump told CBS News,”The Biden administration has weaponized law enforcement and fabricated a Document Hoax in a desperate attempt to retain political power. Every other President has been given time and deference regarding the administration of documents, as the President has the ultimate authority to categorize records, and what materials should be classified., The continued effort to leak misleading and false information to partisan allies in the Fake News is nothing more than dangerous political interference and unequal justice.” The National Archives pointed out Tuesday that any statements that presidential records “were in the possession of the former Presidents or their representatives, after they left office…are false and misleading.” The Archives said that it took “physical and legal custody of the Presidential Records” from the administrations of former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan when they left office.  The August execution of the search warrant at Trump’s residence yielded 33 boxes of material, according to court documents, from press clippings to clothes, and including 103 documents with classified markings – labeled either CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, or TOP SECRET. The boxes also contained nearly 50 empty folders with classified banners on them.  Prosecutors revealed in court documents and proceedings that they are undertaking a “national security” investigation into the matter and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is conducting a damage assessment as a result of the allegedly improperly stored documents.  Trump sued the Justice Department in the weeks after the search, alleging attorney-client and executive privileges were at stake and requesting the appointment of an independent third party to review the materials. A federal judge in Florida granted Trump’s request, paused the investigation, and appointed Judge Raymond Dearie as Special Master, a ruling that prosecutors have appealed to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. That same appeals court ruled the Justice Department could continue to use the 103 documents with classified markings in its investigation, but Trump’s legal team has since asked the Supreme Court to step in and allow the Special Master to review those more sensitive documents, too. The government has filed a response in opposition to Trump’ application with the Court.  Prosecutors also say they are investigating potential acts of obstruction by the Trump team after court documents revealed a representative for the former president gave a signed declaration to investigators in June claiming that after a “diligent search,” all documents with classified markings had been returned from Mar-a-Lago.  Jeff Pegues contributed to this report. Read More Here

WNCC Volleyball Tops McCook In Four Sets https://digitalalaskanews.com/wncc-volleyball-tops-mccook-in-four-sets/ MCCOOK – The 5th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team started slow but picked up steam behind a 16-kill performance from Jenna Curtis as the Cougars downed McCook Community College 23-25, 25-13, 25-15, 25-19 in a Region IX South Sub-Region contest Wednesday in McCook. The win was the 25th of the season for the 5th-ranked team in the country and it was the Cougars’ eighth straight win. The Cougars started slow in the first set by dropping the opener, but it wasn’t bad early on as the Cougars and the feisty Indians battled tooth and nail. WNCC led 14-12 on a Curtis kill, but a missed serve gave the service to the Indians and McCook went on a 9-1 run to lead 21-15. WNCC fought back behind two points from AK Chavez to bring the Cougars to within 21-23 and then an ace by Erica Fava tied the set at 23. McCook got the last two points for the 25-23 win. The second set saw WNCC race to an early lead as Chavez had three points for a 6-2 lead and then Fava had three for a 10-4 lead. Alex Hernandez widened the lead as the sophomore middle hitter had four points for a 17-6 lead. Later on, Hernandez closed out the second set with two points and the 25-13 win. The third set was identical to the first as both teams went back and forth early on. This time with the score tied at 9-9, Curtis got a kill and then had three points for a 14-9 lead. Shanelle Martinez later had two points for a 17-11 lead. McCook cut the lead to 21-15, but a Curtis kill gave the service to Ale Meoni and the sophomore had three points including an ace serve and the set-winning kill from Hernandez for the 25-15 win. Martinez started the fourth set with five straight points and a 5-0 lead. WNCC pushed the lead to 11-4 on a Meoni point and then Martinez had two more to go up 17-8. McCook sliced the lead to 21-15 and later to 23-18, but a sideout gave WNCC the match point and Chavez served the final point. WNCC finished the contest with a total of 58 kills as three were in double figures. Curtis led the way with 16 kills while also tallying eight digs, six points, and two aces. Fava had a double-double with 14 kills and 20 digs. Fava also had nine points, three aces, and a solo block. Emmalei Mapu also had double-figure kills with 10 along with two digs and two assisted blocks. Meoni had a near double-figure kill with nine while also getting six points, three digs, and two aces. Martinez had a triple-double of 38 set assists, 11 points, 10 digs, two aces and a kill. Chavez had 11 digs with eight points, two aces and three set assists, while Hernandez had seven points and seven kills. Also for the Cougars, Shae Hardy had six set assists with two digs and a point, while Lexi Keoho had six set assists with three digs and two points. Also seeing action in the game were Charli Blackman, Maya Angelova, Juliana Oliveira, Jayla Brehmer, Megan Bewley, and Paige Nakanelua. WNCC, 25-3, will be back in action Saturday when they travel to Lamar Community College for another conference game beginning at 2 p.m. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Read More Here

Moore And Cox Shake Hands, Then Gloves Come Off In Lone Debate https://digitalalaskanews.com/moore-and-cox-shake-hands-then-gloves-come-off-in-lone-debate/ Maryland gubernatorial hopefuls Wes Moore and Dan Cox put mutual contempt on display Wednesday in an hour-long debate that highlighted how the majority political parties developed radically different views of our country’s problems and where the nation should be headed. They clashed over each other’s credibility, the definition of freedom, and their stances on abortion, crime, election integrity, LGBTQ rights and the existence of a racial wealth gap. The sole scheduled confrontation in a lopsided campaign, the debate offered Cox a rare chance to pierce the air of inevitability around Moore. Moore, the Democratic nominee who is ahead in the polls by 32 percentage points, sought to motivate voters in the deeply blue state to show up and cast a ballot by painting Cox as extreme. Cox, a far-right, conservative state delegate endorsed by former president Donald Trump, had the most at stake heading into the exchange. Moore, a best-selling author and former head of one of the country’s largest poverty-fighting organizations, holds a commanding fundraising lead with four weeks remaining until Election Day. The debate, which began and ended with the two men shaking hands, was often contentious and at times aggressive. In a series of sharp exchanges, Cox called Moore’s efforts to close the racial wealth gap a “racist” transfer of resources, and Moore labeled Cox “an extremist election-denier.” Cox called Moore a “phony,” claiming that his book “The Other Wes Moore” was full of passages that were “completely false.” Moore has previously fended off claims he misconstrued whether he was born in Baltimore. He later said Cox, who has claimed the 2020 presidential election was “stolen,” was a candidate with “dangerous and divisive” policies. Some of the sharpest divisions came as the men discussed abortion: Moore said Maryland should be a “safe haven” for health-care decisions made between a woman and her doctor, and Cox said he was “pro-life” and would “ensure that everyone is safe and that women and children and the unborn all have equal protection and they are supported by our laws.” Both candidates tried to harness the popularity of Gov. Larry Hogan (R) by drawing favorable comparisons to the term-limited governor. Hogan has not given an endorsement in the race, but he has called Cox a “QAnon whack job” whom he doesn’t see fit to tour the governor’s office, let alone lead it. Yet Cox tried to align himself with Hogan during the debate, saying he’s worked on the governor’s crime task force and stood with him against tax increases. Asked by a moderator to give Hogan a letter grade, Cox awarded an “A,” with the exception of how the governor handled pandemic restrictions. Moore pointed out that Cox tried to impeach Hogan over those restrictions. “He stood alone,” Moore said. “Even his Republican colleagues did not do that.” Moore evaded the letter-grade question, offering Hogan an “incomplete” but praising him for “being so early and full-throated about the danger of this MAGA movement.” Moore went on to say that the economy has not improved fast enough for enough people. He said that as governor, he would try to make sure people have the right skills to apply for open jobs, to focus on public education that values more than college acceptance, and to expand access to affordable child care so that women who want to rejoin the workforce have an easier route. Cox shot back that Moore’s proposals are costly, predicting: “You are going to see tax increases like never before. The tolls are going to rise.” As he did several times during the hour-long debate, Moore responded, “That is not true.” Cox also accused Moore of supporting “transgender indoctrination in kindergarten,” which Moore said is not something he has ever said. Pressed by a moderator to explain what he thinks is happening in elementary schools, Cox said he believes kindergartners see a book called “Gender Queer” that depicts acts “so disgusting” he could not describe them on television. The book, which has become a target of the conservative-dominated parent’s rights movement across the country, is a memoir by Maia Kobabe about growing up asexual and nonbinary. Moore, in turn, went on to say Cox’s proposals to reduce income taxes and business taxes would eliminate the state’s prime source of revenue and bankrupt the state. “That’s not an ideological position,” he said. “That’s math.” Cox has not detailed the extent of his tax cuts, but he broadly proposed eliminating or reducing them. The candidates disagreed over issues as fundamental as the legacy of racism and wealth in this country. When a moderator asked the candidates about reparations and how to deal with the toll of inflation that, given the long-documented racial wealth gap, falls heavier on many Black families, Cox rejected the premise of the question and called his opponent “racist” for suggesting “reparative actions,” such as fixing the state’s procurement system and addressing discriminatory practices in home appraisals. Cox said the only wealth gap that deserves reparations is one that was created by lockdowns during the pandemic. He accused Moore, who has made equity a pillar of his campaign pitch, of “transferring wealth away from people because of their skin color. That is racist; it’s wrong.” Moore, who is Black and led a poverty-fighting nonprofit called the Robin Hood Foundation, shot back with a touch of exasperation. “The impacts of racial disparities did not start two years ago, Delegate Cox,” he said. “We are watching something that has been a long-term challenge that our state has got to wrestle with and address. The fact that we have an 8 to 1 racial wealth gap in our state is real. It’s not pretend, and it’s not because one group is working eight times harder.” Cox, who unsuccessfully challenged plans to count mail-in ballots early, again refused to say whether he planned to accept the results of the election in November, saying to do so would be akin to declaring a surgery a success before it has taken place. He noted that the state affords candidates the right to question an election and said he intended to uphold that process. Cox has struggled to pivot from the far-right stances that consolidated GOP support in the primary. Cross-party appeal is critical for Republicans in Maryland, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1. Meanwhile, Moore, who is making his first bid for public office, said after winning the primary that he wants general election voters not just to cast a ballot against Cox, but also to support Moore’s vision for the state. As a political newcomer, Moore is still introducing himself to voters — particularly the disaffected Republicans and independents he is wooing. He had accumulated $1.3 million in his coffers as of late August, outraising Cox by a 10-1 margin. Cox, who has criticized Moore for not agreeing to more debates, said after the debate that he hopes his opponent’s campaign will agree to more. Asked if he wished to share the stage with Cox again, Moore smiled and said: “I think I’m good.” Read More Here

Biden Administration To Offer Thousands Of Venezuelan Migrants Legal Path Into U.S. https://digitalalaskanews.com/biden-administration-to-offer-thousands-of-venezuelan-migrants-legal-path-into-u-s/ The humanitarian parole program would be available to up to 24,000 Venezuelans who have a U.S. sponsor. However, a pandemic-era rule will be extended to expel Venezuelans who enter the country illegally. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share. Migrants waiting to be transported to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility after crossing the Rio Grande into the United States.Credit…Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times Oct. 12, 2022Updated 10:51 p.m. ET WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will expand its use of a public health rule to start expelling to Mexico thousands of Venezuelans who illegally cross the U.S. border and announced a new humanitarian parole program to provide a narrow legal pathway to the United States for up to 24,000 Venezuelans. The administration hopes that Venezuelans will apply for the parole plan remotely and fly to the United States rather than making the dangerous trek to the southwest border. But the reliance on a Trump-era pandemic rule to deny entry to many others crystallized the Biden administration’s balancing act in both helping refugees and tightening border restrictions in the face of Republican attacks on President Biden’s immigration policy and record numbers of illegal border crossings. And there is no guarantee that just 27 days before the midterm elections, it will have the desired effect. Until now, the majority of Venezuelans who crossed into the United States have not been expelled under the public health authority, known as Title 42. Instead, they were screened and released into the country temporarily to face removal proceedings in immigration court, where they have the option to apply for asylum. Under the new plan released by the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday, Venezuelans who enter the United States illegally — as tens of thousands have been doing for months — will be expelled to Mexico. Venezuelans who apply for the humanitarian parole program must have someone in the United States who can show that they are able to financially support the migrant for up to two years. During the application process, the government will assess the sponsor’s finances and vet the applicants, who will also have to have certain vaccinations and comply with other public health requirements. Image Migrants from Venezuela wait to be apprehended by Border Patrol after crossing the Rio Grande into Texas. Venezuelans make up only a fraction of the migrants illegally entering the United States.Credit…Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times In addition, any Venezuelan who enters Mexico or Panama illegally or has permanent resident status, dual nationality or refugee status with another country is ineligible for the parole program. Venezuelans who have already been released in the United States to face removal proceedings and apply for asylum are not eligible to apply for the program either. Venezuelans who are granted the humanitarian parole will be allowed to work legally in the United States and have more stability than those who face removal proceedings. “These actions make clear that there is a lawful and orderly way for Venezuelans to enter the United States, and lawful entry is the only way,” Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the Homeland Security secretary, said in a statement on Wednesday. Announcing a new policy less than a month before the midterm elections is a calculated and political decision by the White House, John Thomas, a Republican strategist, said. How Times reporters cover politics. We rely on our journalists to be independent observers. So while Times staff members may vote, they are not allowed to endorse or campaign for candidates or political causes. This includes participating in marches or rallies in support of a movement or giving money to, or raising money for, any political candidate or election cause. “This is more of an effort to soften people’s anger on what’s happening on the southern border,” Mr. Thomas said. “It also gives the administration a talking point that they are ‘doing something.’” But it is not clear that the humanitarian parole and expansion of Title 42 will significantly stem the number of border crossings, as Venezuelans make up only a fraction of the migrants crossing illegally. Advocates for immigrant rights have been urging the White House to create a humanitarian parole program for migrants from particularly unstable countries, including Venezuela. But they are not supportive of a plan that ties humanitarian parole to expelling thousands of other Venezuelan migrants to the dangerous northern border region of Mexico. “It’s great to be expanding access to humanitarian parole, but it can’t come at the cost of additional harm to asylum seekers,” said Raha Wala, the deputy director for legislative advocacy for the National Immigration Law Center. “Title 42 is a cruel, Trump-era, anti-immigrant policy that deserves to be relegated to the dustbin of history, not expanded.” Image The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, bused Venezuelan migrants to Vice President Kamala Harris’s residence in Washington in September to protest the Biden administration’s immigration policy.Credit…Oliver Contreras for The New York Times Escaping poverty and political instability, more than 6.8 million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2015, according to the United Nations. Most went to other South American countries. But in the past year, more and more have been making their way to the United States. In August, Venezuelans made up about 12 percent of those who crossed the southwestern border illegally. While a majority of migrants who do so are expelled back to their country or to Mexico under the public health order, the U.S. government has not been able to repatriate Venezuelans because of minimal diplomatic relations between Washington and Caracas. And — until now — Mexico has not been willing to take in Venezuelans from the United States. The humanitarian parole program announced on Wednesday appears to be a much more limited version of earlier proposals. One under consideration as recently as last week included Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans, according to officials briefed on the discussions. It was not immediately clear why these nationalities were ultimately left out. Mr. Biden has overseen a record number of border crossings that is part of a global movement with more displaced people than ever before. Since he has been in office, the government has screened and released more than 1 million migrants who crossed the border illegally, giving them temporary permission to stay in the country until they face deportation proceedings in immigration court. The Biden administration has also expelled migrants more than 2 million times under the authority of the public health rule. The Biden administration tried to stop using the public health authority earlier this year, but a federal court stopped it from doing so. Now the administration has expanded the authority instead. But for vulnerable Democrats in border states, like Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, the ability to campaign on a recent expansion to Title 42 could prove helpful in a tight race, said Carl Fogliani, a Republican political strategist. “They would want them to be out there saying how wonderful a development this is,” Mr. Fogliani said of the White House and Democrats dealing with border issues. Read More Here

U.K Markets Whipsaw As Bank Of England Sets End To Bailout https://digitalalaskanews.com/u-k-markets-whipsaw-as-bank-of-england-sets-end-to-bailout/ DealBook Newsletter The central bank confirmed it will let a debt-buying program expire, worrying investors about the stability of the market for government bonds. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share. Oct. 12, 2022Updated 10:08 p.m. ET Image Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, was hit with a new bout of markets turmoil today.Credit…Yui Mok/Agence France-Presse, via Pool “You’ve got three days left.” The British pound whipsawed and selling of U.K. government bonds intensified on Wednesday after another head-snapping turn of events that left investors confused and worried about what’s coming next. Yields of 30-year government bonds, known as gilts, hit 5 percent, near the levels that forced the Bank of England to intervene in markets two weeks ago. The Bank of England muddied the waters. The central bank spent much of Tuesday trying to ease investors’ fears about the scheduled end on Friday of its bond-buying program, including by suggesting that it would continue to buy gilts beyond this week, according to The Financial Times. But then Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, warned in a speech — after the bond market had closed — that the gilt repurchase program would definitively end on Friday. He bluntly told British pension funds looking to sell gilt holdings to raise collateral, “You’ve got three days left.” (On Wednesday, the Bank of England firmly restated that the bond-buying operation will end on Friday. “The governor confirmed this position yesterday and it has been made absolutely clear in contact with the banks at senior levels,” the central bank said in a statement.) You can imagine what happened next. The pound sank immediately after his speech, falling below $1.10, though it recovered on Wednesday. Yields on 30-year U.K. debt shot up when trading opened, approaching the levels that prompted the Bank of England to gin up the bond-buying operation in the first place. The Bank of England’s credibility is now in question. Market commentators swiftly panned the comments by Bailey (who, in fairness, may not have been at his best — he said he had been up for over 24 hours watching the markets). John Authers of Bloomberg Opinion called it “an all-time central banking gaffe,” while the research group CrossBorder Capital tweeted that Bailey had just delivered the “shortest suicide note in history.” Any loss of confidence in the central bank removes yet another sliver of hope for British investors, who have already been bewildered by the government’s insistence on broad tax cuts to bolster economic growth. (The I.M.F. reiterated its concern that those unfunded cuts would juice inflation, forcing the Bank of England to keep raising interest rates.) And it comes as Britain’s economy continues to sputter. Britain’s woes are spilling over into other markets as well. The prices of bonds tied to collateralized loan obligations, investment vehicles that buy loans made to junk-rated corporate borrowers, have fallen in recent weeks as British pension funds sell off their holdings to raise cash. That is making life difficult for the likes of private equity firms, which rely on C.L.O.s to fund leveraged buyouts — and, investors worry, potentially other parts of the market that haven’t come to the fore just yet. HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING President Biden turns up the heat on Saudi Arabia. He vowed yesterday to impose “consequences” on the kingdom after it teamed up with Russia for a huge cut in oil production. That may mean reducing arms sales. It’s not clear that Riyadh is scared: Saudi Arabia reportedly went ahead with the cut despite private warnings from Washington, according to The Wall Street Journal. Gig workers could get a boost from the White House. The Labor Department proposed making it easier to classify a company’s workers as employees instead of independent contractors, potentially entitling them to a minimum wage and overtime. Shares in DoorDash, Lyft and Uber all fell on the news. Peloton’s ex-C.E.O. concedes pressure on his stock borrowing. John Foley, who left the embattled home-fitness company last month, faced margin calls from Goldman Sachs on loans he borrowed against his Peloton holdings, according to The Wall Street Journal. Foley didn’t elaborate on his borrowing but told The Journal, “This was not a fun personal balance-sheet reset.” TikTok faces questions over gifts meant for Syrian refugees. A BBC investigation into refugees begging for money on the video platform found that they received only around 30 percent of the money sent via the company’s gifts offering. TikTok said it would investigate “exploitative begging” but would not say what cut it takes of gifts. Musk vs. Bremmer Elon Musk found yet another adversary yesterday, this time in Ian Bremmer, the well-connected political scientist who has the ear of C.E.O.s and policymakers. Bremmer, the founder of the political risk firm Eurasia Group, wrote in his latest newsletter that Musk told him he’d spoken directly with President Vladimir Putin about what it would take to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. Musk denied Bremmer’s account, adding to the fireworks. What Bremmer initially published: According to Bremmer, Musk said Putin made three stipulations for ending the war: Crimea remains Russian; Ukraine accepts a form of neutrality and demilitarizes; and Ukraine recognizes Russia’s annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Musk posted a similar list on Twitter last week and was subsequently slammed by Ukrainian officials. Musk denied Bremmer’s account. “I have spoken to Putin only once and that was about 18 months ago. The subject matter was space,” he tweeted. Bremmer denied Musk’s denial. “elon musk told me he had spoken with putin and the kremlin directly about ukraine. he also told me what the kremlin’s red lines were,” Bremmer tweeted. Does it matter? Yes, Bremmer argued in his newsletter, where he also eschews capital letters: “given that elon musk now looks increasingly likely to buy twitter, at which point he’ll reinstate the former president, you’ll have those same views with trump and his full political base behind it, potentially leading the united states to become fundamentally divided on the issue.” Musk in his last tweet on the matter was a little more personal: “Nobody should trust Bremmer.” Blaming the Fed Top economic officials are gathering this week in Washington for the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Atop the agenda: How to bring down inflation and revive a slowing global economy to ensure the turmoil doesn’t mushroom into the next global financial crisis. Look for central banks, and specifically the Fed, to get some of the blame for economic volatility, which has spilled into the financial markets. Yesterday, economists at the I.M.F. said in its World Economic Outlook report that the Fed’s aggressive efforts to crush domestic inflation, primarily by rapidly raising interest rates, had turbocharged the dollar’s value, increasing the odds of an international debt crisis. That follows a United Nations agency warning that the Fed’s interest rate policy would ultimately deprive developing nations of $360 billion in “future income,” and “signal more trouble ahead.” Josep Borrell, a foreign policy chief for the E.U., was just as blunt, saying U.S. monetary policy risks creating “a world recession.” With criticism mounting, Vincent Reinhart, a former top Fed economist who is now at Dreyfus and Mellon, said “it’s very possible that the view that it’s all the Fed’s fault could emerge as the consensus by Friday.” The big worry: The Fed could be pressured to rein in its inflation-fighting efforts, even if tomorrow’s Consumer Price Index report shows tough measures are still needed to stabilize prices. It puts the Fed in a tough — and possibly misunderstood — spot, particularly as supply-chain disruptions and a global energy crisis continue to roil the global economy and undermine the Fed’s inflation-fighting efforts. “Central bankers around the globe have a huge set of headaches,” said David Wilcox, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute and the director of U.S. economic research at Bloomberg Economics. “But are those headaches substantially Fed-driven in origin? The answer to that is no.” “The way I think about labor hoarding is, it has option value.” — Benjamin Friedrich, an associate professor of strategy at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, on the phenomenon of labor hoarding, and why companies may be inclined to retain employees even if the economy falls into recession. Moving closer to global rules on crypto controls A group of financial regulators tasked with preventing globe-spanning financial crises laid out a new framework to regulate crypto yesterday, saying rapid adoption and the recent crash show more oversight is urgently needed. “Crypto-asset markets are fast evolving and could reach a point where they represent a threat to global financial stability due to their scale, structural vulnerabilities and increasing interconnectedness with the traditional financial system,” the Financial Stability Board, a group formed in 2009 in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, warned in its report to Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors. News that underscored the urgency soon followed. BNY Mellon — the U.S.’s oldest bank and one of 30 institutions deemed “global systemically important banks” by the F.S.B. — announced that it had begun acting as a crypto custodian for clients. It’s the first major U.S. bank to go into that business. But it probably won’t be the last, which is why authorities are scrambling to come up with a plan to mitigate r...

Up To A Foot Of Snow Predicted To Fall On The Alaska Highway https://digitalalaskanews.com/up-to-a-foot-of-snow-predicted-to-fall-on-the-alaska-highway/ The Tok area is under a winter storm warning with up to 12 inches of snow forecast through Thursday afternoon. The heaviest snow is anticipated to hit the Alaska Highway, according to the National Weather Service.  Contact staff writer Amanda Bohman at 907-459-7545, at abohman@newsminer.com or follow her at twitter.com/FDNMborough. Read More Here

DOJ Says More Than 21,000 Pages Were Seized In Mar-A-Lago Search, About One-Tenth Of What Trump Claimed | News Channel 3-12 https://digitalalaskanews.com/doj-says-more-than-21000-pages-were-seized-in-mar-a-lago-search-about-one-tenth-of-what-trump-claimed-news-channel-3-12/ By Katelyn Polantz, CNN Reporter, Crime and Justice The Justice Department says the seized documents taken from Mar-a-Lago during the FBI search in August amount to 21,792 pages, according to a court filing this week, far short of the 200,000 pages former President Donald Trump’s legal team had claimed. Trump’s defense team now has access to these records, the Justice Department told a federal court on Wednesday, as the review of the documents with a third-party special master kicks into gear. The number of pages that the team will review for possible confidentiality claims is 10 times smaller than what Trump’s team had previously claimed the number of pages was. The collection of nearly 22,000 pages of documents does not include materials seized by the FBI that have already been filtered out for privacy by a team within the Justice Department. The collection also excludes about 100 documents marked as classified found in the search. The number of pages has not previously been clear, though the Justice Department has maintained there are 11,000 separate documents. Trump’s team previously tried to say the large volume of seized materials was a reason there was a delay in finding a company to host the electronic data — keeping the special master review process in its nascent stage for weeks. Companies have since been selected. “The United States of America certifies that it has made available to Plaintiff all of the Seized Materials as required” by the federal district court, prosecutors wrote in a court filing on Wednesday. Even while the special master review moves forward, the Justice Department continues to challenge the review process in appeals, because it has become a way that Trump’s team has slowed down the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into the handling of records after his presidency and provides an avenue for Trump to try to keep evidence out of investigators’ hands. The-CNN-Wire & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Read More Here

DOJ Says More Than 21,000 Pages Were Seized In Mar-A-Lago Search, About One-Tenth Of What Trump Claimed – KVIA https://digitalalaskanews.com/doj-says-more-than-21000-pages-were-seized-in-mar-a-lago-search-about-one-tenth-of-what-trump-claimed-kvia/ By Katelyn Polantz, CNN Reporter, Crime and Justice The Justice Department says the seized documents taken from Mar-a-Lago during the FBI search in August amount to 21,792 pages, according to a court filing this week, far short of the 200,000 pages former President Donald Trump’s legal team had claimed. Trump’s defense team now has access to these records, the Justice Department told a federal court on Wednesday, as the review of the documents with a third-party special master kicks into gear. The number of pages that the team will review for possible confidentiality claims is 10 times smaller than what Trump’s team had previously claimed the number of pages was. The collection of nearly 22,000 pages of documents does not include materials seized by the FBI that have already been filtered out for privacy by a team within the Justice Department. The collection also excludes about 100 documents marked as classified found in the search. The number of pages has not previously been clear, though the Justice Department has maintained there are 11,000 separate documents. Trump’s team previously tried to say the large volume of seized materials was a reason there was a delay in finding a company to host the electronic data — keeping the special master review process in its nascent stage for weeks. Companies have since been selected. “The United States of America certifies that it has made available to Plaintiff all of the Seized Materials as required” by the federal district court, prosecutors wrote in a court filing on Wednesday. Even while the special master review moves forward, the Justice Department continues to challenge the review process in appeals, because it has become a way that Trump’s team has slowed down the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into the handling of records after his presidency and provides an avenue for Trump to try to keep evidence out of investigators’ hands. The-CNN-Wire & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Read More Here

January 6 Committee To Argue If Former President Trump Is A “danger” https://digitalalaskanews.com/january-6-committee-to-argue-if-former-president-trump-is-a-danger/ January 6 Committee to argue if former President Trump is a “danger”  WOAI Read More Here

FBI Supervisor Describes Learning He Was In Crosshairs Of Durham Probe https://digitalalaskanews.com/fbi-supervisor-describes-learning-he-was-in-crosshairs-of-durham-probe/ An FBI counterintelligence official testified Wednesday he was rattled when he learned he might be in the crosshairs of special counsel John Durham’s team as it investigated the bureau’s 2016 probe of links between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia. Brian Auten, the FBI official who supervised intelligence analysts in the 2016 Crossfire Hurricane investigation, said it was “scary” when he was told he was a “subject,” rather than a mere “witness,” in the case — which could mean potential exposure to criminal charges. Auten testified in federal court in Alexandria, Va., for a second day in the trial of Igor Danchenko. A private researcher based in Washington, Danchenko was hired by a former British spy, Christopher Steele, to gather information that eventually wound up in the “Steele dossier” of claims about Trump’s ties to Russia. Danchenko was indicted on charges of lying to the FBI during interviews in 2017 about the sources behind his research — which Durham contends affected the FBI’s work in the Russia probe. According to his testimony, Auten was a key figure in the 2016 investigation. He supervised FBI intelligence analysts on the case and met with Steele alongside other FBI officials, who offered the former spy up to $1 million for information that could corroborate his claims of a conspiracy between Trump and Russia in court. Steele could not do so, Auten testified. Auten also met with Danchenko over three days in January 2017 to judge his research and then helped to recruit Danchenko to be a paid confidential informant for the FBI, hoping to ferret out his sources and information, he testified. Under questioning from Danchenko defense attorney Danny Onorato, Auten said Durham was the first investigator to consider him a “subject” of a probe. The FBI counterintelligence supervisor said he previously had given voluntary accounts of the FBI’s 2016 Russia investigation to the Justice Department inspector general and the Senate Judiciary Committee and had prepared and signed a 100-page affidavit on the matter for the FBI’s internal affairs division. Durham was appointed by then-Attorney General William P. Barr during the Trump administration to dig into the origins of the FBI’s 2016 probe. Auten said in response to questions from Danchenko’s defense team that he retained two attorneys and met with Durham’s office in preparation for his trial testimony. On Durham’s first day of questioning Auten, the FBI official repeatedly confirmed he was involved in reviewing warrant applications seeking secret surveillance of a former Trump campaign adviser, Carter Page. The applications were based in part on an uncorroborated claim from Steele’s dossier that Trump was in “a well-developed conspiracy of cooperation” with Russia. In a 2019 report, the Justice Department inspector general criticized some of Auten’s actions in the Page matter, though the inspector general found no political bias in the FBI’s decision-making. On Wednesday, Auten testified that Danchenko never turned over emails to the FBI that might have shaped the bureau’s work. The emails show Danchenko reaching out, seemingly without any success or response, to Sergei Millian, the former president of the Russian American Chamber of Commerce. Prosecutors say Danchenko fabricated Millian as a source for some of the dossier claims, even though the two had never spoken. “All of those emails would be very helpful to understand the full extent of the communication between the parties,” Auten said, adding that they could have helped the FBI “evaluate the course of the information.” Auten also said Danchenko should have turned over email communications with Charles Dolan Jr. to the FBI in 2017. Prosecutors say Danchenko “concealed” Dolan, a longtime Washington public relations executive aligned with Democrats, as a source and never mentioned him to the FBI agents asking where he got his information. For Durham to win a conviction, the jury must find not only that Danchenko willfully deceived the FBI in 2017 but that the lies had a material effect on the agency’s investigation. Auten said the FBI’s investigative actions “possibly” would have been different had agents seen the emails with Danchenko’s outreach to Millian in 2017, to which Durham shot back, “Possibly?” Auten responded that FBI officials might have taken different investigative steps. Danchenko’s team has argued that he did not lie about Dolan to the FBI, because he was asked by agents whether he had “talked” to Dolan about material in the Steele dossier. The two had not spoken, only communicated via email, according to Danchenko’s defense. As for Millian, Danchenko’s team argued that he gave the FBI his best understanding of the facts at the time: An anonymous person had reached out in a phone call or via a phone chatting app with dirt on Trump and Russia, and Danchenko assumed it was Millian. “He never said with 100 percent certainty … that the anonymous caller was Sergei Millian?” Onorato asked Auten about the FBI’s three days of interviews with Danchenko in January 2017. “That’s correct,” Auten said. “We asked questions, and he answered those questions,” Auten said. Read More Here

UN Demands Russia Reverse 'illegal' Annexations In Ukraine https://digitalalaskanews.com/un-demands-russia-reverse-illegal-annexations-in-ukraine/ UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to condemn Russia’s “attempted illegal annexation” of four Ukrainian regions and demand its immediate reversal, a sign of strong global opposition to the seven-month war and Moscow’s attempt to grab its neighbor’s territory. The vote in the 193-member world body was 143-5 with 35 abstentions. It was the strongest support from the General Assembly for Ukraine and against Russia of the four resolutions it has approved since Russian troops invaded Ukraine Feb. 24. Ukraine’s U.N. ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, called the vote “amazing” and “a historic moment.” U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said supporters were “holding our breaths” and called it “a monumental day.” European Union Ambassador Olof Skoog called it “a great success” that sends “a resounding message to Russia that they are and remain isolated.” U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement that the vote demonstrated the world “is more united and more determined than ever to hold Russia accountable for its violations.” It is “a clear message” that “Russia cannot erase a sovereign state from the map” and it “cannot change borders by force,” he said. The Western-sponsored resolution was a response to Russia’s announced annexation last month of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Moscow acted following Kremlin-orchestrated “referendums” that the Ukrainian government and the West have dismissed as sham votes conducted on occupied land amid warfare and displacement. During two days of speeches at the assembly’s resumed emergency special session on Ukraine speaker after speaker accused Russia of violating key principles of the United Nations Charter — respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all U.N. member nations. There was intense lobbying by supporters of the EU-facilitated resolution ahead of Wednesday’s vote. U.S. envoy Thomas-Greenfield told the assembly before the vote that when the United Nations was established on the ashes of World War II it was built on an idea — “that never again would one country be allowed to take another’s territory by force.” Afterward, she told reporters the vote means “that in the eyes of the world and the United Nations, Ukraine’s borders remain the same.” “The resolution also sends an enormously important signal to Moscow and to everyone: It does not matter if you as a nation are big or small, rich or poor, old or new. If you are a U.N. member state, your borders are your own and are protected by international law,” Thomas-Greenfield said. “They cannot be redrawn by anyone else by force.” A key issue for the resolution’s Western backers was how many countries would support it, and the result went beyond their most optimistic expectations. The General Assembly voted 141-5 with 35 abstentions March 2 to demand an immediate Russian cease-fire, withdrawal of all its troops and protection for all civilians. On March 24, it voted 140-5 with 38 abstentions on a resolution blaming Russia for Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis and urging an immediate cease-fire and protection for millions of civilians and the homes, schools and hospitals critical to their survival. But the assembly voted by a far smaller margin April 7 to suspend Russia from the U.N.’s Geneva-based Human Rights Council over allegations Russian soldiers in Ukraine engaged in rights violations that the United States and Ukraine have called war crimes. That vote was 93-24 with 58 abstentions. A 2014 resolution affirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity and declaring the referendum that led to Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula illegal was adopted by a vote of 100-11 with 58 abstentions. Among the surprise supporters of Wednesday’s resolution were the “yes” votes from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council as well as Brazil. Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, had appealed to countries to vote against the resolution, calling it “a politicized and openly provocative document” and denouncing its sponsors as “unscrupulous Western blackmailers.” He expressed regret the vote was not by secret ballot, as Russia sought but the assembly rejected. Nebenzia reiterated Russia’s claims the referendums were valid, saying “the populations of these regions do not want to return to Ukraine.” The four countries that joined Russia in voting against the resolution were North Korea, Belarus, Syria and Nicaragua. Ukraine’s Kyslytsya expressed profound regret that the four countries made “the wrong choice against the U.N. Charter” and urged them to reconsider their commitment to the U.N.’s principles. Among the 35 countries that abstained, 19 were from Africa, including South Africa. China and India, the world’s two most populous countries, also abstained along with Pakistan and Cuba. The more powerful Security Council, whose resolutions are legally binding, has been stymied on taking action on Ukraine because of Russia’s veto power, which it used Sept. 29 to block condemnation of Russia’s attempts to annex Ukrainian territory. By contrast, the General Assembly, where there are no vetoes, has now approved four resolutions criticizing Russia over Ukraine. Its votes reflect world opinion but are not legally binding. The resolution adopted Wednesday declares that Moscow’s actions violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, are “inconsistent” with the principles of the U.N. Charter, and “have no validity under international law and do not form the basis for any alternation of the status of these regions of Ukraine.” It demands that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.” And it supports “the de-escalation of the current situation and a peaceful resolution of the conflict through political dialogue, negotiation, mediation and other peaceful means” that respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and internationally recognized borders. Many countries among the more than 70 speakers urged a negotiated end to the war. The EU’s Skoog called the appeal for a peaceful solution “very important,” but stressed it must be based on Ukraine’s territorial integrity. During Wednesday’s debate there was strong support for the resolution. Australian Ambassador Mitch Fifield called Russia’s attempted annexation “illegal and a dangerous escalation” and urged all countries to oppose acts of aggression. Ambassador Fergal Mythen of Ireland said voters in the “sham” referendums in the four regions “faced intimidation by the Russian military and Russia’s illegitimately appointed authorities.” Cambodian Ambassador Sovann Ke didn’t indicate how he would vote but said that “the forcible annexation of regions from a sovereign country is a flagrant violation of the U.N. Charter and international laws, which is not acceptable” and urged that internationally respected borders “be fully respected.” In the voting, Cambodia supported the resolution. South Korea’s ambassador, Hwang Joonkook, gave unequivocal support “to the sovereignty, political independence and the territorial integrity of Ukraine.” He said his country’s “own painful experiences” after the 1950-53 Korean War “can testify that any attempt to divide a nation in any form or method is merely the beginning of lasting very serious troubles, rather than a solution.” On the other side of that divide, North Korean Ambassador Kim Song supported the “self-determination” of the people in the four regions annexed by Russia as a right protected in the U.N. Charter and said the results must be respected. He accused the United States and Western countries of “brutally” violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya under “the pretext” of promoting international peace and security without ever having its actions called into question by the Security Council. He argued that U.S. interference in the internal affairs of countries is continuing in the 21st century. Syrian Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh accused the General Assembly of “being manipulated flagrantly by some Western countries for their own geopolitical interests” and urged countries to oppose efforts “to isolate Russia and to employ double standards.” Read More Here

Fairbanks Man Dies After Driving Vehicle Into Deep Water In Gravel Pit https://digitalalaskanews.com/fairbanks-man-dies-after-driving-vehicle-into-deep-water-in-gravel-pit/ FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU) – A man has died after driving a vehicle into a gravel pit with deep water in Fairbanks early Wednesday morning. Around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday a police officer attempted to stop a Toyota Corolla driven by 34-year-old Carl Ravenscroft near Airport Way and Market Street, according to a Fairbanks Police Department news release. Ravenscroft drove away from the officer attempting the traffic stop, and was believed by officers to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Officers followed the Corolla down Peger Road and an adjacent side road. Ravenscroft then drove the vehicle into gravel pit containing deep water. Ravenscroft initially got out of the vehicle and attempted to swim to shore, but went under the water. The Fairbanks and University Fire Departments attempted a recovery but had difficulty getting a boat into the gravel pit due to the steep decline from the roadway into the pit. Fairbanks Fire Department recovered Ravenscroft’s remains later that morning. The body was sent to the medical examiner’s office for a toxicology screening and an autopsy. Anyone information regarding this incident is asked to notify the Fairbanks Police Department at fpdinvestigations@fairbanks.us or call 907-450-6550. Copyright 2022 KTUU. All rights reserved. Read More Here

Jim Cramer Says To Avoid Stocks In The ‘house Of Pain’ Nasdaq 100 Index https://digitalalaskanews.com/jim-cramer-says-to-avoid-stocks-in-the-house-of-pain-nasdaq-100-index/ CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Wednesday warned investors to avoid the stocks in the Nasdaq 100 and highlighted the worst-performing stocks during the third quarter. “These seven biggest losers from the third quarter are simply representative of the House of Pain the index has become. By the way, if you’re living in a house of pain, you should move,” he said. Cramer acknowledged that there are a few stocks in the index that he believes are still great, but maintained that the index is ultimately filled with “woe and hurt.” Here are his quick takes on the index’s biggest losers: 1. Okta Cramer said that the current environment is “brutal” for the company, and he doesn’t believe that’ll change anytime soon. 2. Charter Communications He said on Tuesday that while the company is profitable, its lack of growth means that its stock is going nowhere. 3. Zoom Cramer said that the company’s earnings momentum is too low and the company’s market capitalization is too high. “You don’t pay $22 billion for a one-trick pony,” he said. 4. Match “Those guys suffer from an inability to forecast, a problem that seems to afflict the whole dating industry,” he said. 5. Intel The company is likely struggling with the slowing personal computer market, he said. 6. Comcast Cable companies are struggling because the market wants no part in it, Cramer said. 7. Adobe Cramer said that while he believes Adobe’s a “fantastic” company, the bears have no patience for software firms with slowing growth rates. Disclosure: CNBC is owned by Comcast’s NBCUniversal.  Jim Cramer’s Guide to Investing Click here to download Jim Cramer’s Guide to Investing at no cost to help you build long-term wealth and invest smarter. Read More Here

Ryder: Burglary Ring Targeted Hicksville-Area Indian Community https://digitalalaskanews.com/ryder-burglary-ring-targeted-hicksville-area-indian-community/ Nassau County police have arrested four members of an alleged Colombian burglary ring suspected of up to 30 heists targeting Indian-American communities in Hicksville and surrounding areas, Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said Wednesday. Investigators believe the group of Colombian immigrants, who are in the country illegally, would watch victims leave businesses in Hicksville, follow them home and return days later to conduct surveillance for burglaries, Ryder said at a news conference with County Executive Bruce Blakeman. Ryder did not provide additional information about what led investigators to suspect Indian-American communities were targeted. The suspects were taken into custody and charged Monday after detectives observed them in the process of burglarizing a residence on South Street in Hicksville, Ryder said. Members of the Burglary Pattern Team and the Bureau of Special Operations conducting surveillance on the home saw one of the defendants knock on the front door about 1 p.m., then walk away and circle the block several times after no one answered. Detectives then saw two other men, posing as construction workers and wearing yellow vests, enter the backyard of the residence, believing it to be empty, Ryder said.  The burglars broke a glass rear sliding door, fleeing when a woman screamed, according to police. The two men then jumped into a getaway car driven by a fourth suspect, police said. Police arrested the first suspect, Daniel Esteban Jimenez-Carrillo, 30, of South Ozone Park, then stopped a black 2020 Hyundai allegedly used as the getaway car, authorities said. Also arrested were Gleason Jhoan Hernandez-Gomez, 33, of College Point; and Justin Mora-Soto, 20, and Brayan Alexis Ortiz-Ramos, 20, both of South Ozone Park. All were charged with second-degree attempted burglary and fourth-degree conspiracy and were scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead. Updated information on their court appearances or whether the four have defense attorneys was not immediately available. Police said they recovered a stolen AK-47 loaded assault rifle, wrapped in a plastic bag and left in a wooded area across the street from the house. “Any child could have picked that gun up and shot someone,” Ryder said. “The recklessness of this group, besides the damage to the communities, targeting the Indian community in Hicksville.” Ryder said the group is suspected in 20 to  30 burglaries in Bethpage, Hicksville, Levittown and New Hyde Park but they have yet to be charged. By John Asbury and John Valenti Read More Here

Crowson Law Group Provides Competent Car Accident Attorneys In Anchorage – Digital Journal https://digitalalaskanews.com/crowson-law-group-provides-competent-car-accident-attorneys-in-anchorage-digital-journal/ Crowson Law Group, a reputable law personal injury, and accident law firm, provides top car accident attorneys in Anchorage, Alaska. Accident cases involving negligence are better handled by well-experienced attorneys, as such cases can involve various complex matters. In Alaska, Crowson Law Group is a trusted law firm specializing in accident and personal injury cases. The firm was established in 2011 by Attorney James Crowson; a dedicated personal injury lawyer focused on providing injured victims with the compensation they deserve. With their offices in Anchorage and Wasilla, they provide their clients with effective legal counsel and solutions any time they call. They have lawyers who are well-trained and skilled at protecting the rights of clients. Their lawyers also ensure to provide clients with legal advice that guides their decisions. The firm’s practice areas include nursing home negligence, life insurance denial, boating accidents, dog bites, automobile accidents, firearm accidents, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, bicycle accidents, toxic exposure, and wrongful death. In response to a query about their services, the spokesperson of Crowson Law Group commented, “Our firm was established by Attorney James Crowson. He began his career defending both healthcare practitioners and insurance companies against negligence claims. But, he, later on, grew a passion for enforcing and protecting the rights of injured persons. With his passion and vision came Crowson Law Group, and today we have grown into a team of dedicated and skilled attorneys. We have helped numerous people in Alaska with recovering compensation for their losses, injuries, and damages. You can count on us to provide you with standard services.” Crowson Law Group provides injured victims with effective legal representation. They ensure to work closely with clients so they can put together all the information they need concerning their cases. Their lawyers understand the pain and problems often encountered by accident victims, and this is why they ensure to provide them with full and fair compensation for their injuries and damages. There are car accidents that may cause minor injuries such that it only takes a few days for victims to recover, but where the injuries are rather severe, victims must reach out to a trusted personal injury firm. At Crowson Law Group, injured victims can hire a car accident attorney in Anchorage who is always available to attend to matters regarding their accident cases. The spokesperson added, “We always ensure to provide our clients with personalized services, as we also want them to feel comfortable and secure. Our lawyers are here to inform injured victims about their rights, and they ensure to provide them with all the legal assistance they would need to obtain sufficient settlements for their injuries. As a client-focused firm, we also do not demand payment from our clients until we have fully recovered the settlements they need to take care of themselves and their families.” At Crowson Law Group, they have skilled and highly efficient personal injury lawyers. Their attorneys for personal injury accident recover compensation for lost wages, loss of future income if clients are unable to work, future medical costs, and past medical costs. About Crowson Law Group: Crowson Law Group is a leading personal injury and accident law firm where people can hire an attorney in Anchorage, Alaska. Contact Information:   Crowson Law Group 637 A Street, Anchorage, AK 99501. Phone: (907) 677 9393 850 S. Roberts Street, Ste. 500, Wasilla, AK 99654 Phone: (907) 519 0193 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.crowsonlaw.com/ Media Contact Company Name: Crowson Law Group Contact Person: James Crowson Email: Send Email Phone: 907-677-9393 Address:637 A St. City: Anchorage State: AK 99501 Country: United States Website: https://www.crowsonlaw.com Read More Here

Former Trump Employee Tells FBI Trump Ordered Mar-A-Lago Boxes To Be Moved -Report https://digitalalaskanews.com/former-trump-employee-tells-fbi-trump-ordered-mar-a-lago-boxes-to-be-moved-report/ By Sarah N. Lynch and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A former employee of Donald Trump has told federal agents the former president asked for boxes of records to be moved within his Florida residence after receiving a government subpoena demanding their return, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday. The testimony of the key witness, coupled with surveillance footage the Justice Department also obtained, represent some of the strongest known evidence to date of possible obstruction of justice by the former Republican president. The FBI conducted a court-approved search on Aug. 8 at Trump’s home at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, seizing more than 11,000 documents including about 100 marked as classified. The employee who was working at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida was cooperating with the Justice Department and has been interviewed multiple times by federal agents, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the situation. The witness initially denied handling sensitive documents and in subsequent conversations with agents admitted to moving boxes at Trump’s request, the newspaper reported. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Trump spokesperson said the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden had “weaponized law enforcement.” “Every other President has been given time and deference regarding the administration of documents, as the President has the ultimate authority to categorize records, and what materials should be classified,” Trump spokesperson Taylor Budowich told the newspaper. Budowich accused the Justice Department of leaking “misleading and false information” to the media. The document investigation is one of several legal woes Trump is facing as he considers whether to run again for president in 2024. New York state’s attorney general recently filed a civil lawsuit accusing Trump and three of his adult children of fraud and misrepresentation in preparing financial statements from the family real estate company. The Trump Organization also is set to go on trial on Oct. 24 on New York state criminal tax fraud charges. Separately in Georgia, a grand jury in the Fulton County is probing efforts by Trump to overturn the former president’s 2020 election defeat. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Lincoln Feast) Read More Here

DHS Expands Trump-Era Policy To Venezuelans While Opening New Pathway To US https://digitalalaskanews.com/dhs-expands-trump-era-policy-to-venezuelans-while-opening-new-pathway-to-us/ FILE – A migrant family from Venezuela walks to a Border Patrol transport vehicle after they and other migrants crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and turned themselves in, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Del Rio, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday announced it would seek to block irregular migration from Venezuela by expanding a Trump-era policy and kicking off a new program for Venezuelans fleeing the country. The new program is modeled off of the Uniting for Ukraine program that allowed those in the U.S. to privately sponsor Ukrainians, in this case allowing just over 20,000 Venezuelans to secure a work authorization for up to two years. But along with the new program, the U.S. said it will now expel Venezuelans who cross the border from Mexico, extending the Title 42 program that allows U.S. officials to quickly expel foreign nationals crossing the border. Until the announcement, Venezuelans were not subject to Title 42 expulsions because neither their home country nor any other third country was willing to accept their return. In a parallel announcement, Mexican officials did not specify if they would implement a limit on Venezuelan Title 42 expulsions, instead touting the agreement which will allow Venezuelans currently in Mexico to apply for sponsorship to enter the United States. “The migrant persons that are in Mexican territory will have to prove they entered Mexico before [Wednesday] to be able to request their orderly access to the United States. Those persons who enter Mexico after [Wednesday] will not be able to present their application from our national territory,” read a press release by the Mexican Foreign Affairs Ministry. The announcement comes ahead of a meeting Thursday between Mexico’s top diplomatic, security and military cabinet officials and Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to discuss a broad shared agenda with deep political implications in both countries. The move comes as migration from Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua has accounted for an increasingly large share of migration at the border – roughly a third of those who crossed the border in August came from the trio of countries. DHS made a point of saying that “failing communist regimes in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba are driving a new wave of migration across the Western Hemisphere” when it announced the numbers shortly after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) made headlines after he flew a group of mainly Venezuelan migrants from the Texas border to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. But Cubans and Nicaraguans are not eligible for the new program, and only 24,000 Venezuelans can enter the U.S. through the process. “These actions make clear that there is a lawful and orderly way for Venezuelans to enter the United States, and lawful entry is the only way,” Mayorkas said in a release.  “Those who attempt to cross the southern border of the United States illegally will be returned to Mexico and will be ineligible for this process in the future. Those who follow the lawful process will have the opportunity to travel safely to the United States and become eligible to work here.” The bilateral migration agreement between the United States and Mexico will also include an expansion of the H2-B visa program. “In response to a request by Mexico, and a shared vision on labor mobility, the United States has announced it will grant 65,000 additional H2-B visas for non-agricultural temporary workers, 20,000 of which will be destined to people from Central America and Haiti,” read the Mexican government’s announcement. While the Uniting for Ukraine program on which the Venezuelan program is modeled has helped nearly 100,000 Ukrainians come to the U.S., some advocates have been concerned over the private sponsorship model, noting that many are not otherwise connected with anyone in the U.S. who could serve as their sponsor. That sponsor has to provide financial support. To be eligible for the program, Venezuelans cannot have been removed from the U.S. in the last five years or “irregularly entered Mexico or Panama.” Many Venezuelans have crossed into Central America through the Darién Gap, the roadless jungle territory connecting Panama and Colombia, Venezuela’s western neighbor. They also must complete security vetting. Read More Here

Live Updates: Ukraine Offensive Will Push Through Winter, U.S. Defense Chief Says https://digitalalaskanews.com/live-updates-ukraine-offensive-will-push-through-winter-u-s-defense-chief-says/ KYIV, Ukraine — Six and a half feet down a ladder inside a small shed at the back of Oleksandr Kadet’s home is an underground room with a cement hatch that he hopes he never has to use. For the past two weeks, Mr. Kadet, 32, said that he and his wife, who live outside the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, had been preparing for the possibility of a nuclear attack by stocking the room — an old well that they converted into a bunker — with bottled water, canned food, radios and power banks. “We are more anxious now, especially after yesterday’s attacks,” Mr. Kadet said on Tuesday, a day after a series of Russian missile attacks across Ukraine. “But we do think that in case of a nuclear explosion, we will be able to survive if we stay in the shelter for some time.” The fears of escalation rose on Saturday after an attack on the 12-mile Kerch Strait Bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Initially, Ukrainians celebrated, but that quickly gave way to worry that such a brazen assault on a symbol of President Vladimir V. Putin’s rule could prompt a severe retaliation. Even before these recent events, though, concerns about the potential for a nuclear disaster had increasingly been making their way into Ukraine’s national psyche. The fear is that Russia could either use tactical nuclear arms or launch a conventional attack on one of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. U.S. officials have said they think the chances of Russia’s using nuclear weapons are low, and senior American officials say they have seen no evidence that Mr. Putin is moving any of his nuclear assets. On Sunday, Mr. Putin called the assault on the bridge a “terrorist attack aimed at destroying the critically important civilian infrastructure of the Russian Federation.” But his spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, appeared to tamp down fears of a nuclear reprisal, saying that the attack on the bridge did not fall within the category under Russia’s defense doctrine that allowed for such a response. Last month, Mr. Putin raised fears that he could resort to nuclear weapons when he warned that he would “use all the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people,” if Russian-controlled territory was threatened. “This is not a bluff,” he said. Days later, Russia illegally annexed four Ukrainian territories. Mr. Kadet, who noted that he had begun preparing two weeks ago, said it felt better to have an action plan. “It’s psychologically easier because you know you are at least somehow prepared for it,” he said. “It’s not a guarantee it will save you, but at least you’re ready.” Residents of Kyiv said that they had felt wary even before the most recent missile strikes there on Monday. Immediately after the bridge attack, many Ukrainians had shared their glee on social media. They toasted triumphantly in the capital’s bars over the weekend, and posed for selfies in front of posters of the burning bridge. But the worry soon set in. “I feel this real fear about how the Russians will answer this,” said Krystina Gevorkova, 30, who was shopping with her friend in Kyiv on Sunday. “Earlier it had felt safer here,” she added. “Now, I have this feeling like something is going to happen.” Kyiv has for months been spared the worst of the Russian onslaught while Moscow focused its attention instead on southeastern Ukraine. But on Monday, a Russian missile struck just blocks away from where Ms. Gevorkova had spoken. She said that she had been reading up on how to stay safe during a nuclear war, but that she was skeptical that it would help. “We can’t really do anything,” she said. The war has felt far from Kyiv in recent months, as life’s rhythms return to a semblance of normalcy after Russian forces were ousted from parts of northeastern Ukraine. Nevertheless, the city has also been slowly preparing for a potential nuclear attack. The Kyiv City Council said on Friday that potassium iodide pills would be distributed to residents in case of a nuclear incident “based on medical recommendations,” adding that the pills were also available in city pharmacies. Potassium iodide is used to saturate a person’s thyroid with iodine so that radioactive iodine inhaled or ingested after exposure will not be retained by the gland. Alina Bozhedomova, 23, a pharmacist in Kyiv, said that customers were coming in daily looking for the pills, but added, “I haven’t seen people panicking about it.” Some elementary schools have advised parents to prepare emergency packs for their children to keep with them at school. Nadiia Stelmakh, 50, who works in a market selling home goods, said that one mother had come to her with a list from the school that included latex gloves, a poncho, boot covers, tissues, wet wipes and a flashlight. “People are really concerned right now,” she said. Her husband, Volodymyr Stelmakh, who has another stall nearby, agreed. “I have an emergency bag packed,” he said, “but I think if the nuclear threat is imminent, you will have no time to run away. After worries grew about the security of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the country’s southeast in recent weeks, Ukraine’s Ministry of Health issued guidance about how to respond to a nuclear incident. The risk of nuclear fallout can feel very real in Ukraine, a country that still bears the scars of the Chernobyl accident in 1986, one of the worst nuclear disasters in history. Chernobyl is only about 60 miles north of Kyiv. And some who experienced the life-threatening fallout firsthand say that they, possibly more than anyone, understand the full risk of nuclear exposure. Oleksandr, 55, who asked that his last name not be used, said that he and his family had fled Chernobyl for Kyiv immediately after the meltdown, when he was just 18. His family closely followed guidance to move south, as winds were pushing radioactive materials north, and he said that was the only reason they escaped unscathed. “Now, people here are really not ready. People don’t know what to do,” he said. “There is not enough information.” He owns a market stand that sells household necessities and said that more people had come in during the past two weeks preparing for a nuclear disaster, buying flashlights, batteries, knives, radios and small camp stoves. While some were preparing for the worst, others remained optimistic that Russia would never carry out such an extreme attack, which would draw international outrage. Dmytro Yastrub, 31, said he felt more concerned about Mr. Putin using conventional weapons to target Kyiv. “I presume something will happen” after the bridge attack, he said, standing outside a bar in the Kyiv city center on Sunday evening with a group of friends. But, he added, the risk of a nuclear attack was not weighing heavy on his mind. Svetlana Zozulia, 47, and her husband, Vladyslav Zozulia, 37, were walking in central Kyiv with their daughter, Anastasiia, 11, on Sunday night. Ms. Zozulia said she tried to remain optimistic and did not believe that Mr. Putin would launch a nuclear attack on Ukraine. But she did buy potassium iodide tablets just in case, she said. “I think our success disturbs him,” Ms. Zozulia said. “But there is also a threat for him if he chooses a nuclear attack.” Oleksandra Mykolyshyn contributed reporting Read More Here

Oath Keepers Jury Hears About Massive Weapon Cache On Jan. 6 https://digitalalaskanews.com/oath-keepers-jury-hears-about-massive-weapon-cache-on-jan-6/ By Lindsay Whitehurst | Associated Press WASHINGTON — A member of the Oath Keepers who traveled to Washington before the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol testified Wednesday about a massive cache of weapons the far-right extremist group stashed in a Virginia hotel room. Taking the stand in the seditious conspiracy case against Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and four associates, Terry Cummings showed jurors an AR-15 firearm and an orange box for ammunition that he contributed to the so-called quick reaction force the Oath Keepers had staged at the hotel outside of Washington in case they needed weapons. “I had not seen that many weapons in one location since I was in the military,” said Cummings, a veteran who joined the Oath Keepers in Florida in 2020. Prosecutors have said teams of Oath Keepers guarded the arsenal of firearms and were prepared to rush them into the hands of extremists in the capital if needed. The alleged teams and the cache of weapons are a central piece of the Department of Justice’s case against Rhodes and four associates charged with seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6 attack. Members of the Oath Keepers stashed the firearms just outside Washington district limits, given the capitol’s tougher gun laws. Authorities have alleged the teams and the stockpile of arms were designed to get weapons into Oath Keepers’ hands quickly if they were needed to support a plot to stop the transfer of power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden. Cummings’ testimony came in the second week of the trial that is expected to last several weeks. The others on trial are Thomas Caldwell of Berryville, Virginia; Kenneth Harrelson of Titusville, Florida; Jessica Watkins of Woodstock, Ohio; and Kelly Meggs of Dunnellon, Florida. Defense lawyers have not denied the existence of the quick reaction teams but noted that they were never deployed on Jan. 6. They have accused prosecutors of falsely portraying them as an invasion force. Defense lawyers have said the Oath Keepers often set up quick reaction forces for events, but insist they were defensive forces only to be used to protect against violence from antifa activists or in the event Trump invoked the Insurrection Act. They are not facing any gun charges for bringing the weapons to Virginia. Rhodes’ lawyers have said they will argue that cannot find him guilty of seditious conspiracy because all the actions he took before Jan. 6 were in preparation for orders he anticipated from Trump under the Insurrection Act, which gives presidents wide discretion to decide when military force is necessary. Cummings told jurors that he traveled to Washington on Jan. 6 with other Oath Keepers to be part of a VIP security detail for Trump’s rally at the Ellipse. He said he saw it as an opportunity to “express my First Amendment rights” and see a sitting president speak, which he had never done. Cummings said his understanding was the quick reaction forces “would potentially be used not as an offensive situation, but more as a show of force.” Cummings said he was part of a group that acted as a security team for a VIP at Trump’s rally before the riot. Cummings and other Oath Keepers left before Trump’s speech was finished and went toward the Capitol. He recalled Meggs talked about entering the Capitol – something Cummings didn’t think was a good idea. He then split off to find a bathroom, and when he returned the group was gone. The group entered the Capitol while he was away, he said. Up to an hour later, Cummings rejoined fellow Oath Keepers from Florida, and eventually Rhodes appeared as well. Cummings said he did not hear any talk about plans to storm or attack the Capitol, though he also said he wasn’t in a position of leadership. He has not faced criminal charges, was subpoenaed to testify for the government and acknowledged on the stand that he has contributed to the legal defense fund of some of the defendants. Authorities have said that Meggs and the Florida Oath Keepers on Jan. 5 brought gun boxes, rifle cases and suitcases filled with ammunition to the Virginia hotel that served as the home for the quick reaction force. Another team from Arizona brought weapons, ammunition, and supplies to last 30 days, according to court papers. A team from North Carolina had rifles in a vehicle parked in the hotel lot, prosecutors have said. Prosecutors have described surveillance footage that they say shows Oath Keepers rolling bags, large bins and what appears to be at least one rifle case into the hotel. Over several days in early January, Rhodes spent $15,500 on guns, including an AR-platform rifle, magazines, mounts, sights and other equipment, prosecutors have said. Caldwell, in one message, suggested getting a boat to ferry “heavy weapons” across the Potomac River into the Oath Keepers’ “waiting arms.” A former Oath Keeper from North Carolina last week described setting up a quick reaction force for the “Million MAGA March” in Washington on Nov. 14, 2020, in case Trump invoked the Insurrection Act. Thousands of Trump supporters that day gathered at Freedom Plaza along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington to rally behind Trump’s false election claims. The former Oath Keeper, John Zimmerman, told jurors that the Oath Keepers stashed at least a dozen rifles and several handguns in his van parked at Arlington National Cemetery to serve as the quick reaction force on that occasion. He said they never took the guns into Washington. Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston contributed to this report. Read More Here

Trump Worker Told FBI About Moving Mar-A-Lago Boxes On Ex-President’s Orders https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-worker-told-fbi-about-moving-mar-a-lago-boxes-on-ex-presidents-orders/ A Trump employee has told federal agents about moving boxes of documents at Mar-a-Lago at the specific direction of the former president, according to people familiar with the investigation, who say the witness account — combined with security-camera footage — offers key evidence of Donald Trump’s behavior as investigators sought the return of classified material. The witness description and footage described to The Washington Post offer the most direct account to date of Trump’s actions and instructions leading up to the FBI’s Aug. 8 search of the Florida residence and private club, in which agents were looking for evidence of potential crimes including obstruction, destruction of government records or mishandling classified information. The people familiar with the investigation said agents have gathered witness accounts indicating that, after Trump advisers received a subpoena in May for any classified documents that remained at Mar-a-Lago, Trump told people to move boxes to his residence at the property. That description of events was corroborated by the security-camera footage, which showed people moving the boxes, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. Spokespeople for the Justice Department and FBI declined to comment. Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich declined to answer detailed questions for this article. “The Biden administration has weaponized law enforcement and fabricated a Document Hoax in a desperate attempt to retain political power,” Budowich said in a statement. “Every other President has been given time and deference regarding the administration of documents, as the President has the ultimate authority to categorize records, and what materials should be classified.” The warrant authorizing the search of former president Donald Trump’s home said agents were seeking documents possessed in violation of the Espionage Act. (Video: Adriana Usero/The Washington Post) Budowich accused the Justice Department of a “continued effort to leak misleading and false information to partisan allies in the Fake News,” and said that to do so “is nothing more than dangerous political interference and unequal justice. Simply put, it’s un-American.” The employee who was working at Mar-a-Lago is cooperating with the Justice Department and has been interviewed multiple times by federal agents, according to the people familiar with the situation, who declined to identify the worker. In the first interview, these people said, the witness denied handling sensitive documents or the boxes that might contain such documents. As they gathered evidence, agents decided to re-interview the witness, and the witness’s story changed dramatically, these people said. In the second interview, the witness described moving boxes at Trump’s request. The witness is now considered a key part of the Mar-a-Lago investigation, these people said, offering details about the former president’s alleged actions and instructions to subordinates that could have been an attempt to thwart federal officials’ demands for the return of classified and government documents. Multiple witnesses have told the FBI they tried to talk Trump into cooperating with the National Archives and Records Administration and the Justice Department as those agencies for months sought the return of sensitive or historical government records, people familiar with the situation said. But entreaties from advisers and lawyers who pushed for Trump to hand the documents back fell on deaf ears with Trump, these people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. Trump grew angry this spring after a House Oversight Committee investigation was launched, telling aides they’d “screwed up” the situation, according to people who heard his comments. “They’re my documents,” Trump said, according to an aide who spoke to him. The details shared with The Post reveal two key parts of the criminal probe that until now had been shrouded in secrecy: an account from a witness who worked for and took directions from Trump, and the way that security footage from Mar-a-Lago has played an important role in buttressing witness accounts. Together, those pieces of evidence helped convince the FBI and Justice Department to seek the court-authorized search of Trump’s residence, office and a storage room at Mar-a-Lago, which resulted in the seizure of 103 documents that were marked classified and had not been turned over to the government in response to the May subpoena. Some of the documents detail top-secret U.S. operations so closely guarded that many senior national security officials are kept in the dark about them. The Aug. 8 search also yielded about 11,000 documents not marked classified. The failure or possible refusal to return the classified documents in response to the subpoena is at the heart of the Justice Department’s Mar-a-Lago investigation, which is one of several high-profile, ongoing probes involving Trump. The former president remains the most influential figure in the Republican Party and talks openly about running for the White House again in 2024. Within Trump’s orbit, there have been months of dueling accusations and theories about who may be cooperating with the federal government. Some of the former president’s closest aides have continued to work with Trump even as they have seen FBI agents show up at their houses to question them and serve subpoenas. Within the Justice Department and FBI, the witness’s account has been a closely held secret as agents continue to gather evidence in the high-stakes investigation. In addition to wanting to keep the information they have gathered so far under wraps, people familiar with the situation said, authorities are also concerned that if or when the witness’s identity eventually becomes public, that person could face harassment or threats from Trump supporters. In a filing to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Justice Department lawyers appeared to allude to witness accounts and the video footage when they wrote: “The FBI uncovered evidence that the response to the grand jury subpoena was incomplete, that additional classified documents likely remained at Mar-a-Lago, and that efforts had likely been taken to obstruct the investigation.” Since the Aug. 8 search, Trump has offered a number of public defenses of why documents with classified markings remained at Mar-a-Lago — saying he declassified the secret documents, suggesting that the FBI planted evidence during the search, and suggesting that as a former president he may have had a right to keep classified documents. National security law experts have overwhelmingly dismissed such claims, saying they range from far-fetched to nonsensical. Officials at the National Archives began seeking the return of documents last year, after they came to believe that some presidential records from the Trump administration — such as letters from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un — were unaccounted for, and perhaps in Trump’s possession. After months of back-and-forth, Trump agreed in January to turn over 15 boxes of material. When archivists examined the material, they found 184 documents marked classified, including 25 marked top secret, which were scattered throughout the boxes in no particular order, according to court filings. That discovery suggested to authorities that Trump had not turned over all the classified documents in his possession. In May, a grand jury subpoena demanded the return of classified documents with a wide variety of markings, including a category used for secrets about nuclear weapons. In response to that subpoena, Trump’s advisers met with government agents and prosecutors at Mar-a-Lago in early June, handing over a sealed envelope containing another 38 classified documents, including 17 marked top secret, according to court papers. According to government filings, Trump’s representatives claimed at the meeting that a diligent search had been conducted for all classified documents at the club. That meeting, which included a visit to the storage room where Trump’s advisers said the relevant boxes of documents were kept, did not satisfy investigators, who were not allowed to inspect the boxes they saw in the storage room, according to government court filings. Five days later, senior Justice Department official Jay Bratt wrote to Trump’s lawyers to remind them that Mar-a-Lago “does not include a secure location authorized for the storage of classified information.” Bratt wrote that it appears classified documents “have not been handled in an appropriate manner or stored in an appropriate location.” “Accordingly, we ask that the room at Mar-a-Lago where the documents had been stored be secured and that all of the boxes that were moved from the White House to Mar-a-Lago (along with any other items in that room) be preserved in that room in their current condition until further notice.” Agents continued to gather evidence that Trump was apparently not complying with either government requests or subpoena demands. After significant deliberation, aware that it would be highly unusual for federal agents to search a former president’s home, they decided to seek a judge’s approval to do so. That Aug. 8 search turned up, in a matter of hours, 103 documents marked classified, including 18 marked top secret, according to court papers. The stash included at least one document that described a foreign country’s military defenses, including its nuclear capabilities. Read More Here

WSJ News Exclusive | U.S. Suppliers Halt Operations At Top Chinese Memory Chip Maker https://digitalalaskanews.com/wsj-news-exclusive-u-s-suppliers-halt-operations-at-top-chinese-memory-chip-maker/ U.S. export control measures restrict companies sending chips and chip-making equipment to China.Photo: FLORENCE LO/REUTERS Updated Oct. 12, 2022 6:11 pm ET BEIJING–U.S. chip-equipment suppliers are pulling out staff based at China’s leading memory-chip maker and pausing business activities there, according to people familiar with the matter, as they grapple with the impact of Commerce Department semiconductor export restrictions. State-owned Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. is facing a freeze in support from key suppliers including KLA and Lam Research the people said. The suspensions follow last week’s sweeping curbs imposed by the U.S. on China’s chip sector, ostensibly to prevent American technology from advancing China’s military power, though the impact might reach further into the industry. Read More Here

Man Pleads Guilty To Faking https://digitalalaskanews.com/man-pleads-guilty-to-faking/ A Minnesota man who said his camper was lit on fire because it had a Trump 2020 flag on it pleaded guilty to starting the fire himself and then filing fraudulent insurance claims Tuesday, federal prosecutors announced.  In September 2020, Denis Vladmirovich Molla falsely reported to police that someone set his camper ablaze and vandalized his garage door with graffiti that said “BLM,” “Biden 2020” and an anarchy symbol associated with Antifa, U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said in a news release. Molla, 30, told authorities he saw three unknown males near his property when he heard an explosion.  Molla and his wife, Deana, previously told the Star Tribune that they were asleep in their home with their 2-year-old son and their 5-month-old daughter at the time of the incident. Emergency crews also helped rescue three dogs and four puppies from the home amid the fire, which burned down a detached garage and totaled three vehicles.   “In reality, Molla started his own property on fire and spray painted the graffiti on his own garage,” the news release said. Molla then submitted multiple insurance claims totaling $300,000 for damages caused to his property by the camper fire and vandalism. Some claims were denied, the U.S. Department of Justice said. He received $61,000 from his insurance company, and threatened to report the company to authorities when it denied some of his claims, the DOJ said.  Mar-a-Lago: DOJ urges Supreme Court to reject Trump request in Mar-a-Lago documents case He also deposited more than $17,000 into his bank account from a GoFundMe account called “Patriots for the Mollas,” according to the indictment filed in July. Molla also permitted others to set up another account to collect donations on his behalf, the DOJ said.  “The defendant provided written comments on both GoFundMe accounts documenting the property losses that he suffered, thanking the numerous donors,” the plea agreement filed Tuesday read.  Molla pleaded guilty to one of two counts of wire fraud. The DOJ agreed to drop the second charge as part of the plea deal, according to court documents. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000, according to the plea agreement. He also owes up $22,000 to GoFundMe donors, per the plea agreement.  Tips withheld: North Carolina restaurant that kept workers’ tips ordered to pay $157,000 “Mr. Molla was obviously remorseful during his federal plea hearing yesterday. He is a wonderful husband and father who made a mistake that he very much regrets,” Molla’s lawyer Ryan Garry, wrote in a statement to USA TODAY.  “He has accepted full responsibility for his actions and is sorry for what happened.” Contributing: Marina Pitofksy, USA TODAY Read More Here

Oath Keepers Jury Hears About Massive Weapons Cache On Jan. 6 – WABE https://digitalalaskanews.com/oath-keepers-jury-hears-about-massive-weapons-cache-on-jan-6-wabe/ A member of the Oath Keepers who traveled to Washington before the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol testified Wednesday about a massive cache of weapons the far-right extremist group stashed in a Virginia hotel room. Taking the stand in the seditious conspiracy case against Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and four associates, Terry Cummings showed jurors an AR-15 firearm and an orange box for ammunition that he contributed to the so-called quick reaction force the Oath Keepers had staged at the hotel outside of Washington in case they needed weapons. “I had not seen that many weapons in one location since I was in the military,” said Cummings, a veteran who joined the Oath Keepers in Florida in 2020. Prosecutors have said teams of Oath Keepers guarded the arsenal of firearms and were prepared to rush them into the hands of extremists in the capital if needed. The alleged teams and the cache of weapons are a central piece of the Department of Justice’s case against Rhodes and four associates charged with seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6 attack. Members of the Oath Keepers stashed the firearms just outside Washington district limits, given the capitol’s tougher gun laws. Authorities have alleged the teams and the stockpile of arms were designed to get weapons into Oath Keepers’ hands quickly if they were needed to support a plot to stop the transfer of power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden. Cummings’ testimony came in the second week of the trial that is expected to last several weeks. The others on trial are Thomas Caldwell of Berryville, Virginia; Kenneth Harrelson of Titusville, Florida; Jessica Watkins of Woodstock, Ohio; and Kelly Meggs of Dunnellon, Florida. Defense lawyers have not denied the existence of the quick reaction teams but noted that they were never deployed on Jan. 6. They have accused prosecutors of falsely portraying them as an invasion force. Defense lawyers have said the Oath Keepers often set up quick reaction forces for events, but insist they were defensive forces only to be used to protect against violence from antifa activists or in the event Trump invoked the Insurrection Act. They are not facing any gun charges for bringing the weapons to Virginia. Rhodes’ lawyers have said they will argue that cannot find him guilty of seditious conspiracy because all the actions he took before Jan. 6 were in preparation for orders he anticipated from Trump under the Insurrection Act, which gives presidents wide discretion to decide when military force is necessary. Cummings told jurors that he traveled to Washington on Jan. 6 with other Oath Keepers to be part of a VIP security detail for Trump’s rally at the Ellipse. He said he saw it as an opportunity to “express my First Amendment rights” and see a sitting president speak, which he had never done. Cummings said his understanding was the quick reaction forces “would potentially be used not as an offensive situation, but more as a show of force.” Cummings said he was part of a group that acted as a security team for a VIP at Trump’s rally before the riot. Cummings and other Oath Keepers left before Trump’s speech was finished and went toward the Capitol. He recalled Meggs talked about entering the Capitol – something Cummings didn’t think was a good idea. He then split off to find a bathroom, and when he returned the group was gone. The group entered the Capitol while he was away, he said. Up to an hour later, Cummings rejoined fellow Oath Keepers from Florida, and eventually Rhodes appeared as well. Cummings said he did not hear any talk about plans to storm or attack the Capitol, though he also said he wasn’t in a position of leadership. He has not faced criminal charges, was subpoenaed to testify for the government and acknowledged on the stand that he has contributed to the legal defense fund of some of the defendants. Authorities have said that Meggs and the Florida Oath Keepers on Jan. 5 brought gun boxes, rifle cases and suitcases filled with ammunition to the Virginia hotel that served as the home for the quick reaction force. Another team from Arizona brought weapons, ammunition, and supplies to last 30 days, according to court papers. A team from North Carolina had rifles in a vehicle parked in the hotel lot, prosecutors have said. Prosecutors have described surveillance footage that they say shows Oath Keepers rolling bags, large bins and what appears to be at least one rifle case into the hotel. Over several days in early January, Rhodes spent $15,500 on guns, including an AR-platform rifle, magazines, mounts, sights and other equipment, prosecutors have said. Caldwell, in one message, suggested getting a boat to ferry “heavy weapons” across the Potomac River into the Oath Keepers’ “waiting arms.” A former Oath Keeper from North Carolina last week described setting up a quick reaction force for the “Million MAGA March” in Washington on Nov. 14, 2020, in case Trump invoked the Insurrection Act. Thousands of Trump supporters that day gathered at Freedom Plaza along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington to rally behind Trump’s false election claims. The former Oath Keeper, John Zimmerman, told jurors that the Oath Keepers stashed at least a dozen rifles and several handguns in his van parked at Arlington National Cemetery to serve as the quick reaction force on that occasion. He said they never took the guns into Washington. Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston contributed to this report. Read More Here

Trump To Have Affect On US Senate Race With Ad Buy For Vance https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-to-have-affect-on-us-senate-race-with-ad-buy-for-vance/ Trump to have affect on US Senate race with ad buy for Vance  ABC6OnYourSide.com Read More Here

5 Things To Know About Alex Jones After CT Jury Awards Sandy Hook Families Nearly $1 Billion https://digitalalaskanews.com/5-things-to-know-about-alex-jones-after-ct-jury-awards-sandy-hook-families-nearly-1-billion/ The controversial Infowars host has a long history with violence and a contentious relationship with the truth. Oct. 12, 2022Updated: Oct. 12, 2022 4:14 p.m. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 1of8 Infowars founder Alex Jones appears in court to testify during the Sandy Hook defamation damages trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Conn. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less 2of8 Infowars host Alex Jones leaves after speaking to the media outside Connecticut Superior Court during the ongoing Sandy Hook defamation damages trial in Waterbury, Conn. Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less 3of8 4of8 Plaintiffs’ lawyer Chris Mattei, left, questions Alex Jones during testimony at a jury trial in Waterbury, Conn. The trial will determine how much he and his Infowars parent company should pay in damages for defaming and intentionally inflicting emotional distress on the families of some of the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting.  (Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less 5of8 Infowars host Alex Jones speaks to the media outside Connecticut Superior Court during the ongoing Sandy Hook defamation damages trial in Waterbury, Conn. Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less 6of8 7of8 Erica Lafferty wipes away a tear as she testifies during the Alex Jones Sandy Hook defamation damages trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Conn. Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Lafferty’s mother Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung was killed during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less 8of8 A Connecticut jury Wednesday awarded eight families of Sandy Hook victims and one former FBI agent nearly $1 billion in damages from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones for lies he spread that the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax and the families were actors.   The shooting claimed the lives of six adults and 20 children aged 6 and 7 on Dec. 14, 2012. Jones has pushed baseless conspiracy theories about the shooting for nearly a decade and must now pay for those lies.  Jones livestreamed the reading of the verdict during his Infowars show. He continued to mock the trial, remarking he was “happy to be here…laughing at this” and used the verdict to solicit donations to his company, saying “your pennies counter their millions.”   Here are five things to about Jones Who is Alex Jones? Infowars founder Alex Jones takes the witness stand to testify at the Sandy Hook defamation damages trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Conn. Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Alex Jones is a 48-year-old, right-wing conspiracy theorist who has amassed millions of dollars and followers by using conspiracy theories and vague, inflammatory language to drive viewers to his online store where they can purchase products to fend off some manufactured hysteria.   Jones got his start in Austin, Texas on public access shows in 1990s where he spewed conspiracy theories, including the 1993 Waco, Texas siege. That led to a talk radio gig he was ultimately fired from when conspiracy theories got too big.    Jones began broadcasting from home and distributing through Genesis Communications Network while still appearing on public access. He became an early adopter of blog and vlog platforms and before the sun had set on Sept. 11, 2001, he was accusing the federal government of being responsible for the tragedy.   Jones leaned into conspiracy theories and was soon producing films about those theories, while building a personal brand promising his audience he was the only one they could trust.   Jones uses visual styles and sets similar to television news programs to create the appearance of journalism. Corporate representative testified Jones has said internally that his company is not a news organization. Jones got his start in the same ‘Keep Austin Weird’ scene that produced Robert Rodriguez and Richard Linklater Director Robert Rodriguez went to St. Anthony High School in San Antonio.  Rick Kern/WireImage Jones isn’t the only marquee name to emerge from Channel Austin, the public access network where he first began peddling falsehoods. Richard Linklater, the celebrated writer/director behind groundbreaking films like “Boyhood” and “Waking Life” also got his start at Channel Austin.   Robert Rodriguez, who broke out in the mid-90s with action films like “From Dusk Till Dawn” and “Desperado” before venturing into more family friendly movies like the “Spy Kids” franchise also started there. He even borrowed equipment from the station to film “El Mariachi,” the film that got him his start and would eventually be remade into “Desperado.”   Jones became such an integral part of the burgeoning “Keep Austin Weird” scene that the Austin Chronicle voted him “Best Looking Crank” and best talk radio host. At the time, Jones wasn’t necessarily politically aligned, but pushed anti-government theories. He was a staunch critic of George W. Bush when he was governor of Texas and again as president. Infowars lies have led to real-world violence The lies and conspiracy theories Jones supports haven’t been relegated to harmless pontification.   Aside from the decade of harassment and threats Sandy Hook families have received, Jones’s other lies have led to people carrying out — or wishing to carry out — acts of violence.   In 2002, a 38-year-old former Marine who developed a superhero alter ego called the Phantom Patriot armed himself with a sword, shotgun, pistol and more weapons to invade the Bohemian Grove campground near San Francisco. The man believed it was the site of ritualistic child sacrifices because Jones made a documentary about it.   No one was killed, but the man burned down a banquet hall and had an armed conflict with a caretaker. Before heading to San Francisco from Austin, the man said he stopped by Jones’ studio and talked with him about the alleged sacrifices occurring at the campground.   Years later, another Jones-spread lie with a similar feel led to more violence. In 2016, a man armed with an AR 15-style rifle entered a Washington, D.C. pizzeria and fired three shots. The man had heard Democrat officials, including Hillary Clinton, were operating a child sex trafficking ring and engaging in ritualistic sacrifice in the pizzeria’s basement. The pizzeria doesn’t have a basement. Jones, accused of using Sandy Hook lies for profit, uses Sandy Hook trial for profit A photograph from evidence, showing Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis, that was posted on one of Infowars’ websites is displayed on a video screen during the Alex Jones Sandy Hook defamation damages trial in Superior Court in Waterbury, Connecticut, Friday, September 16, 2022. H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media.H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media Alex Jones has maintained his news operation is separate from his online store. However, corporate representative Brittany Paz testified that the purpose of any content Jones and Infowars creates has the express purpose of driving traffic to the store.   As the trial progresses, Jones has used it to plead for support from his audience and has created advertisements using clips of his own testimony to solicit cryptocurrency donations that go directly to his personal account. Leaning right Roger Stone, a confidant of President Donald Trump, left, and radio show host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, right, enter the House Judiciary Committee hearing room to hear testimony by Google CEO Sundar Pichai, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)J. Scott Applewhite Conspiracy theories surrounding illegal immigrants, the Clinton and Obama families, and more fueled a red wave that lifted both Jones and Donald Trump’s clout ahead of the 2016 election.   Prior to the 2016 election, Jones had been mostly egalitarian when it came to his anti-government conspiracy theories. But during the lead-up to the 2016 Presidential Election, CNN reported Jones was introduced to Trump ally Roger Stone, who in turn linked Jones and Trump. Both men had a history of disregarding truth for gain, and Jones celebrated Trump as a guest on his show. “The Trump-Jones union was mutually beneficial. For Jones, it was an opportunity to attach himself to a star with mainstream appeal. For Trump, the Infowars audience offered up a large, untapped reservoir of potential votes,” CNN reported. Jones leaned into leaning right. By the time Trump’s presidency came to an end, Jones was a staunch ally and many of the once far-out conspiracy theories he pushed — like misinformation about the LGBTQ community — became Republican platforms many nominees in the 2022 election style are campaigning on. GOP nominee for the Michigan Governorship Scott Jensen only days ago attempted to further the debunked notion that children who identified as cats were using litter boxes in school. Additionally, a number of candidates for positions that would have them overseeing state elections are believers of the lie the Donald Trump is the true winner of the 2020 presidential race. Jones pushed the “Stop the Steal” campaign in the lead up to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, and Jones plead the Fifth Amendment during his deposition with the committee investigating the insurrection. Cellphone records of Jones unearthed during his trial with Sandy Hook parents in Texas were turned over to the Jan. 6 committee.    Read More Here

Opinion | Now Elon Musk Thinks He’s Henry Kissinger https://digitalalaskanews.com/opinion-now-elon-musk-thinks-hes-henry-kissinger/ In addition to being the world’s wealthiest man, Elon Musk also seems to be exhibiting the symptoms of histrionic personality disorder. HPD, as it’s known in the psychiatric sciences, resides in the “Cluster B” garden of personality disorders and is associated with narcissism, attention-seeking behaviors and manipulation. HPDers tend to be charming and lively, often verging into flirtatiousness and excitability. Although the medical literature is silent on the subject of excessive procreation and HPD — Musk has birthed nine children in collaboration with four different uteruses (his wife’s, his girlfriend’s, a surrogate’s, and a senior employee’s) — the tycoon’s breeding tendencies are consistent with the erratic and volatile conduct of those who suffer with the disorder. This month, Musk dialed in additional attention to himself. Presumably, there haven’t been enough headlines about his on-again, off-again purchase of Twitter, his alleged romantic interludes, his dope smoking on Joe Rogan, his Tesla overpromising and all the other publicity stunts to stoke his sense of self-importance, so he’s drafted himself as a citizen-diplomat to end the Russian war on Ukraine. What better venue to promote his plan than on Twitter, where on Oct. 3 he proposed a 43-word peace plan that essentially sounded as if it had been scripted by Vladimir Putin, an HPD case if ever there was one, while sitting at his long table. Musk’s diplomatic foray earned him condemnation from Ukrainian and European leaders, as did a newsletter item by political consultant Ian Bremmer, alleging that Musk had told Bremmer that he had discussed terms of negotiation with Putin, a charge Musk denies, as does the Kremlin. Until Musk’s next act of grandstanding, pundits and comedians will be asking two questions: Have Musk’s HPD symptoms grown out of control? And, should citizens meddle in foreign policy? Oddly, nobody accused Musk of conducting his own foreign policy in late February when he tweeted the news that he had activated his Starlink satellite internet service over Ukraine. His peace plan, as naïve and toadying as it might be, killed nobody, whereas Starlink’s activation likely sent thousands of Russian soldiers to their graves by giving the Ukrainian military a decided advantage over its Russian invaders. By allowing reliable battlefield communications and the spotting and destruction of Russian targets, it has changed the course of the war. As Andrew S. Weiss of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace put it to me today, Starlink is “a massive force multiplier that gives them a true edge over the Russian where this war is actually being decided. It far outweighs the significance of any of Musk’s public utterances.” The governmental masters of foreign policy have always exhibited mixed feelings about citizen diplomacy. Officially, the U.S. government wants its citizens to act like diplomats. On this State Department page, the Foggy Bottom poohbahs exhort us all to conduct ourselves as citizen diplomats in our international interactions and to use travel and social media to advocate for our country. But our government also keeps on the books the Logan Act, which prohibits private citizens from corresponding with foreign governments over disputes with the United States unless officially authorized. Musk appears to have brushed up against — if not violated — the law if he did talk peace to Putin, as the United States has declared itself on Ukraine’s side. Luckily for Musk, the government almost never enforces the act. Even if Musk did engage in Loganspeak to Putin, his violation would put him in plentiful company. Sens. George McGovern and John Sparkman were accused of violating the act in the 1970s when they contacted the Cuban government. Jesse Jackson caught Logan Act hell several times in his career. Richard Nixon did, too, when it was learned that he told South Vietnam to spurn peace negotiations during his 1968 campaign for president, as did Jimmy Carter when he met with Syria’s Bashar al-Assad in 2008. Some also invoked the Logan Act after it was revealed that while working on the Trump presidential transition, Michael Flynn gave Russia foreign policy advice. The question of whether U.S. citizens should conduct foreign policy with U.S. adversaries has been mooted by the fact that the government consistently fails to enforce the act. The debate might slosh and lap around cable news for a couple of nights, the State Department might bare its hairy chest and growl at Musk, but nobody is going investigate him for breaking the law for issuing a peace tweet and allegedly talking about the war with Putin. What we can expect in the future from Musk, of course, will be more of the same — more assistance for Ukraine, more attempts at mediating the conflict and most of all, more spectacle. The mental scrapbook where he logs his publicity stunts contains an infinite number of blank pages, and he’s only started to stow his many narcissistic HPD memories. Like Donald Trump before him, he’s not happy unless we’re talking about him. And like Trump, he answers to nobody and can do whatever he wants. On Earth, in space, and maybe soon on Mars. ****** Disclosure: Andrew S. Weiss is a friend. Here’s an unpaid plug for his forthcoming book, Accidental Czar: The Life and Lies of Vladimir Putin. Send plugs to Shafer.Politico@gmail.com. No new email alert subscriptions are being honored at this time. My Twitter feed was cured of HPD. My RSS feed talks to Putin weekly. Read More Here

Analysis | 5 Big Questions Left For The Jan. 6 Committee https://digitalalaskanews.com/analysis-5-big-questions-left-for-the-jan-6-committee/ The House Jan. 6 select committee is set to hold what its members say is likely to be its final public hearing laying out new evidence Thursday. And given that, and the fact that it’s been nearly three months since the last one — time the committee had to chase down a series of leads crucial to the central questions of the probe — it could be a significant one. Below is some of the unfinished business the committee could explore — whether at the hearing or in its final report, which is due by the end of the year. 1. More detail on Trump’s early knowledge of violence The Washington Post reported Wednesday that Secret Service records are likely to be a significant focus for the committee Thursday. Carol D. Leonnig and Jacqueline Alemany reported that the committee will cite newly obtained records to show “how President Donald Trump was repeatedly alerted to brewing violence that day, and he still sought to stoke the conflict”: … Internal emails likely to be revealed at the hearing further buttress accounts about staff members warning Trump about the risk and then the reality of violence that day, as he continued to press nervous Secret Service agents to take him to the Capitol to join his supporters marching there, the three people said. After being alerted to violence erupting at the Capitol when he returned to the White House, Trump tweeted criticism of Vice President Mike Pence for not blocking the certification of the election, whipping up supporters who had already trampled over security barricades and were battling police to break into the halls of Congress. Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson has testified that Trump was aware that Jan. 6 could turn violent — that he was even told his rallygoers had weapons by a Secret Service agent — and that he still directed his supporters to march to the Capitol. Former White House counsel Pat Cipollone, meanwhile, testified about a concerted push inside the White House to get Trump to quell the violence even before the rioters entered the Capitol and more than two hours before Trump ultimately told people to go home. He even seemed to suggest that Trump might’ve wanted the rioters to be there. Asked by the committee whether Trump didn’t want the rioters to go home, he struggled with his answer before ultimately declining to comment, citing privileged conversations with Trump. Former White House counsel Pat Cipollone said he couldn’t reveal privileged communications when asked if President Donald Trump wanted Jan. 6 rioters to leave. (Video: The Washington Post) A crucial question when it comes to assessing new evidence: How much does it reinforce that Trump personally was warned about violence in advance, and was urged to do something about it early on? It has been evident for some time that Trump dithered on telling his supporters to go home — even as the scenes played out on cable news — but Hutchinson’s and Cipollone’s testimony indicated that the warnings came very early and that Trump had been confronted with them. 2. The other Secret Service issues After Hutchinson’s testimony, some anonymous sources close to the Secret Service called into question some of her claims. Specifically, it was her secondhand testimony about an altercation in the presidential vehicle after Trump’s speech on the Ellipse. We were told key figures would testify. But we’re still waiting on whatever became of that, and Leonnig and Alemany report that two key Secret Service figures — Anthony Ornato (who was also a top White House aide) and Robert Engel — have not yet re-interviewed with the committee. Ornato retired from the Secret Service in August. The Post’s Maria Sacchetti and Leonnig also reported in July that Secret Service texts from Jan. 5 and 6 had been deleted. And there’s still plenty to learn about a key event that committee member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) emphasized back in April: Vice President Mike Pence’s unwillingness to get into a Secret Service vehicle because he feared he would be whisked away and prevented from doing his job certifying the election results. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said recently that the committee has obtained 800,000 pages of material from the Secret Service, while emphasizing that the missing texts were still a significant hole. Separately, NBC News reported recently that the Secret Service handed over 24 cellphones to the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general, who is probing the missing texts. The committee’s previous hearings were perhaps most notable for things that we learned from two star witnesses: Hutchinson and Cipollone. The facets of the insurrection they spoke to — Trump’s prior knowledge that events could turn violent, and the concerted but failing efforts to get him to call off the dogs when they did — will be key to whatever results from the committee’s work. Cipollone’s further testimony to the committee also came after Hutchinson seemed to grease the skids for other witnesses to step forward and be more forthcoming. On Thursday, we could learn whether anybody else has emerged with more to say. Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) has promised “significant witness testimony” we haven’t seen before, but the committee has been tight-lipped about what that might be. The hearing is not expected to include in-person, live witnesses. (One witness we might not hear much about is Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s wife, who recently interviewed with the committee. A growing volume of evidence indicates that she was involved in efforts to overturn the election, including emailing with several key figures. But her interview was only transcribed — not videotaped — and over the weekend, committee member Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) downplayed what we should expect to hear about it.) 4. What Roger Stone knew — and did One person who should feature prominently at Thursday’s hearing is longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone. The Washington Post reported that Danish documentary filmmakers following Stone for the past three years have turned over footage to the committee, which aides intend to use at the hearing. The footage is expected to show Stone predicting violent clashes and alluding very early on to the idea that Trump would try to remain in power using armed guards and loyal judges. The committee will reportedly argue that this shows the plot to overturn the election on false pretenses was launched very early — even before the election was held. The Post previously reported that one clip showed Stone saying, as far back as July, that the armed guards would prevent electors from convening at the electoral college. In video filmed for the upcoming documentary “A Storm Foretold,” Roger Stone is seen discussing bringing back the “Stop the Steal” campaign on Jan. 6, 2021. (Video: “A Storm Foretold”) Particularly at issue are Stone’s and former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn’s interactions with extremist groups the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers; the latter group faces historic charges of seditious conspiracy, and a trial is underway. A federal judge said in February that “Stone’s connections to both the President and these groups in the days leading up to January 6th … might prove that connection to be an important one.” The question, as always with Stone, is how much his actions can be tied to Trump’s and how closely he was coordinating with the White House or Trump’s campaign. Stone has advised Trump for decades, but he’s also a fringe figure often lobbing rhetorical bombs from the sidelines. 5. ‘The cash and the potential coverup’ One issue on which the committee will presumably want to close the loop is Trump’s “Stop the Steal” fundraising. At the tail end of one of its June hearings, the committee played video of a Jan. 6 committee staff member saying Trump misled donors who contributed $250 million to an “Official Election Defense Fund.” But the fund didn’t technically exist, according to Trump aides, and the vast majority of the money went to Trump’s super PAC and wasn’t used to contest the election results. Lofgren said of the effort that “it’s clear that he intentionally misled his donors, asked them to donate to a fund that didn’t exist and used the money raised for something other than what it said.” She declined to pass judgment on whether it was illegal. But in late August, fellow committee member Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) suggested this could be a focal point moving forward, saying the committee’s work would focus on “the cash and the potential cover-up.” “It was all about just raising money, and people were abused that way, so there will be a lot more of that,” Kinzinger said. Shortly after Kinzinger’s comments, we learned that the committee had withdrawn its subpoena for records from the Republican National Committee and Salesforce, a software vendor, after the subpoena had been temporarily blocked. The committee had continued to seek information about these matters, but stated that it “no longer has a need to pursue the specific information requested.” Read More Here