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Can Newhouse Hold On To Washington's Most Conservative Congressional District In Test Of Republicans' Willingness To Forgive Trump Impeachment Vote? https://digitalalaskanews.com/can-newhouse-hold-on-to-washingtons-most-conservative-congressional-district-in-test-of-republicans-willingness-to-forgive-trump-impeachment-vote/ Oct. 10—WASHINGTON — In his nearly eight years representing central Washington in the House, Dan Newhouse has fended off challengers from across the political spectrum and carved out a niche as a pragmatic lawmaker more interested in policy than bluster. But this year’s general election presents the Republican from Sunnyside with a new kind of challenge: convincing voters in the state’s reddest district to look past his vote to impeach former President Donald Trump and give him the support they largely withheld in the August primary. Newhouse and his Democratic opponent, Yakima businessman Doug White, each received roughly 25% of votes in the primary, enough to advance from the top-two contest only because six other GOP candidates who aligned themselves with Trump split the remaining half of votes. What that pro-Trump voting bloc does in the general election will play a big role in determining the outcome. “It’s the most conservative district in the state of Washington,” Newhouse said in an interview, “so my strategy and my message has been to appeal to those people that have supported me in the past and to remind them that I’m still the same conservative Republican that I’ve always been.” The Cook Political Report rates Washington’s 4th Congressional District “R+11,” meaning Republican candidates are expected to perform 11 percentage points better than the national average and making it the most heavily GOP-leaning district in the state. Newhouse bested Democratic challengers in 2018 and 2020 by a roughly 2-to-1 margin while his closest races came in 2014 and 2016 against fellow Republican Clint Didier, now a Franklin County commissioner. But White, a first-time candidate who returned home to Yakima after a 20-year career in international business, thinks right-wing voters’ lingering resentment toward Newhouse makes the incumbent vulnerable. Pitching himself as a solutions-oriented moderate, White said in an interview he hopes to assemble a coalition of reliable Democratic voters, independents and conservatives who want to see Newhouse gone. “Obviously, it’s an uphill battle,” White said, before citing a recent internal poll his campaign commissioned that makes him optimistic. The survey’s most important finding, he said, is that 40% of Republicans in the district “would vote for a Democrat if that Democrat had the profile that I do.” “This is a completely different game,” White said. “We’ve literally never seen this in this district before. My message is resonating well with people. They’re fed up with Dan Newhouse and we’re going to see a change.” A spokesman for the White campaign, John Wyble, declined to share the full poll results but said it shows that Newhouse is “a divisive figure,” even among Republicans, and the race narrows to within the margin of error “after voters hear about Doug White.” There has been no independent polling this year in the district, which national political analysts consider safely in GOP hands. But White isn’t the only one who thinks the pro-Trump electorate could throw a wrench in Newhouse’s re-election bid. “I’ve heard a lot of people say that they’re going to vote for White because they cannot get over what Newhouse did, and I’ve heard a lot of people say they’re not going to vote at all,” said Teagan Levine, chair of the Okanogan County GOP. Levine said when she has told those voters to “take Newhouse’s name out of it” and “look at the bigger picture,” they have usually agreed to vote for the Republican, but she is concerned that not every disaffected voter in the district will get that message before casting their ballots. If GOP voters can’t get over Newhouse’s impeachment vote, Levine said, she worries they will jeopardize the party’s chances of taking control of the House — and in turn the odds of a Republican winning the presidency in 2024. None of the Republicans Newhouse bested in the primary have formally endorsed the incumbent although some said they plan to vote for him. “Newhouse is in trouble, for sure, just talking to people,” said Jerrod Sessler, a former NASCAR driver from Prosser who took 12.3% of votes in the primary, adding that he has encouraged others to vote for Newhouse. “There’s a lot of people voting for Doug White, or they’re going to abstain.” Jacek Kobiesa, an engineer from Pasco who entered the race late and received just 490 votes, called the race “a huge mess” but said he would vote for Newhouse. Corey Gibson, a marketing entrepreneur from Selah who won 3.4% of votes, said he has received “so many calls” from conservatives who say they are considering voting for White, “not because they align with him, but because there’s this energy out there of wanting to be heard, wanting to be able to show that people want something different.” Gibson said he expects Newhouse to win the general election, but said he worries having such a “wildly unpopular” candidate could depress voter turnout in the district and hurt other Republicans, like Senate candidate Tiffany Smiley. Loren Culp, a former Republic police chief who won Trump’s endorsement and 21.6% of votes in the primary, said he doesn’t plan to vote for either Newhouse or White. “They’re both Democrats,” Culp said. “One of them just lies to us and tells us he’s a Republican.” One issue that gives voters a clear choice between the two men is abortion access. While Newhouse touts an “A” rating from the antiabortion Susan B. Anthony List, White talks about the right to terminate a pregnancy as a matter of individual liberty. The Democrat hopes the Supreme Court’s June ruling that overturned a federal right to abortion will drive abortion-rights supporters to turn out and support him. With the 50% of primary voters who backed neither Newhouse nor White theoretically up for grabs, there is a potential opening for a write-in candidate to enter the race. State law prevents a losing primary candidate from running a write-in campaign for the same office, but some voters have encouraged Didier, the Franklin County commissioner who ran for the seat in 2014 and 2016, to mount a write-in campaign. In a text message, Didier confirmed he has had “an incredible amount of people want me to run as a write in,” but said he had no plans to do so. Mike Massey, chair of the Benton County GOP, said he estimates as many as one-third of conservatives “can’t put the clothes pin over their nose” and vote for Newhouse. “I’m going to vote for Dan because I have learned in the past that if you don’t support your party, it can really damage things,” Massey said, recalling how he voted in the 1992 presidential race for independent Ross Perot, whose candidacy helped Democrat Bill Clinton defeat Republican George H.W. Bush. Mike McKee, chair of the Grant County GOP, said he expects Newhouse to prevail but also worries many Republicans will not vote for him. “I just tell them, ‘Dan may not have been your first, second, third or fourth selection, but he’s won fair and square and now it’s time to fire (House speaker Nancy) Pelosi,'” McKee said, adding with a chuckle, “I can guarantee that Dan Newhouse is not going to vote to impeach another Republican president in the next two years.” The Washington State Republican Party didn’t endorse a candidate ahead of the August primary, but officially “nominated” him as the party’s candidate after he won the primary, party spokesman Ben Gonzalez said. For his part, Newhouse is counting on most of the district’s Republican-leaning voters forgiving him for the impeachment vote. In an interview, he alluded to a quote attributed to conservative icon Ronald Reagan, who reportedly said, “The person who agrees with you 80% of the time is a friend and an ally, not a 20% traitor.” In that spirit, Newhouse said, he hopes his conservative constituents who have supported him in the past will see the race against White as a clear choice between Republican and Democratic platforms. “I think if they sit down and think about that, even though they’re angry with me for one vote, that’s still better than the other choice that they have in front of them,” he said. “So we’re doing the best that we can to communicate that message.” When a new Congress is sworn in at the start of 2023, Newhouse may be the only remaining member of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The only other pro-impeachment Republican who survived the primaries, Rep. David Valadao of California, is in a tight race the Cook Political Report rates as a toss-up. He will also be among a dwindling number of House Republicans who are interested in working with Democrats on bipartisan legislation as the GOP conference is increasingly dominated by hardline members who say their top priority in the next two years is investigating and even impeaching members of the Biden administration. Newhouse, a third-generation Yakima Valley farmer, is one of the leading advocates for bipartisan immigration reform to create a reliable, legal supply of U.S. agricultural workers, about half of whom are unauthorized immigrants, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That effort has drawn the ire of anti-immigration hardliners, but Newhouse said he believes 4th District voters want solutions to problems that affect the region. “The fact that I’m pragmatic, solutions-oriented, willing to work with people on both sides of the aisle in order to find those solutions, I don’t see that as a negative,” he said. “I think that’s what people expect of me.” As chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, a group of House Republicans focuse...

What Is A Filibuster And How Does It Work? https://digitalalaskanews.com/what-is-a-filibuster-and-how-does-it-work/ The filibuster is a term used frequently by people in Washington, but few Americans understand it, at least according to recent polling. The procedural tactic has been used by Democrats and Republicans at key moments in modern U.S. history to prevent legislation from being considered in the Senate. In popular culture, the most famous example of a filibuster came from Hollywood, when fictional Sen. Jefferson Smith, played by Jimmy Stewart, staged one in the 1939 film, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” That was the traditional filibuster, in which a senator monopolizes the floor for as long as he or she can talk while standing. A sympathetic Senate colleague might give the filibustering senator some relief by asking the senator to pause for a question, enabling the filibusterer to make a quick run to the bathroom. Sen. Huey P. Long of Louisiana filibustered several times in the 1930s over economic matters, and Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina famously staged one for 24 hours and 18 minutes — still the record — against civil rights legislation in 1957. The filibuster is grounded in the tradition of unlimited debate, the basis of the U.S. Senate’s  claim to being “the world’s greatest deliberative body.” Its defenders note that the ability to talk at length is designed to protect minorities from potential overreach of the majority, or to at least slow down consideration of sweeping legislation. It could ostensibly also give parties time to forge a compromise, though the most prominent recent example of this is probably also fictional — from the second season of “The West Wing” (it has a terrific explanation of the filibuster). In this Aug. 29, 1957, file photo, Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., waves as he leaves the Senate chamber at end of his 24 hour, 18 minute filibuster against the Civil rights Act. / Credit: / AP Trying to cut off unlimited debate was a real issue back in the 19th and early 20th centuries. At different times, senators sought to prolong debate indefinitely — over establishing a national bank, or ratifying treaties, or, perhaps most famously, over civil rights legislation in the 1950s and 1960s — in order to prevent those measures from becoming law. In 1917, frustrated by the extended debate of several issues, senators took steps to stop filibusters by passing a rule allowing two-thirds of members to invoke “cloture,” which would bring an end to debate and allow a bill to receive a Senate vote. But frustrations persisted because it was so difficult to get that many senators to agree to end debate, so in 1972, senators voted again to lower the threshold to three-fifths of all senators — 60 out of 100. That’s why there’s so much talk about a “super majority” and the need to secure 60 votes to pass certain pieces of legislation and why in the modern era, having 50 senators plus the vice president’s tie-breaking vote — as Democrats currently do — isn’t nearly enough to achieve certain legislative goals. The rise of the silent filibuster You won’t see much actual filibustering on the Senate floor anymore, thanks to a 1972 rule instituted by the Senate that made filibustering far easier: the two-track system. This enabled senators to filibuster while considering other legislation, ushering in what’s known as the “silent” filibuster. Instead of talking on the floor for hours on end, a senator may stop a bill from being considered merely by notifying Senate leaders that he or she intends to block a vote — with the support of at least 40 other senators. That rule remains in effect today. In more recent times, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas held the Senate floor for hours at a time in opposition to budget legislation, but it was not considered a formal filibuster, since he didn’t have the support to stop the bill from passing — eventually. And in 2013, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and others held the floor for a day over concerns over the use of unmanned aerial drones. Can a filibuster be used to block presidential nominees? Not anymore. A series of rules changes adopted in the 2010s allow a simple majority of senators to end debate on legislative and judicial nominees. That takes much of the political drama out of fights over Cabinet or U.S. Supreme Court nominees — if the party that controls the White House also controls the Senate. What happens when the White House and Senate are controlled by different parties? Ask Attorney General Merrick Garland. After the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in Feb. 2016, Garland, then the chief judge on the D.C. Court of Appeals, was nominated to the Supreme Court by Democratic President Barack Obama. At the time, the Senate was controlled by Republicans, and GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell was majority leader. He never allowed Garland to receive a confirmation vote, arguing at the time that the American people should weigh in on the next Supreme Court justice.  The seat remained open until then-President Donald Trump selected Judge Neil Gorsuch to fill the vacancy. Who supports a filibuster? Who doesn’t? Most Democrats say they’d end it, as a general matter, according to a CBS News poll from Jan. 2022. Two-thirds of Republicans say they’d keep it. But the partisan split appears strongly connected to more immediate policy concerns. Of the Democrats who feel it’s very important to pass a federal voting rights bill, an even higher portion, seven in 10, would generally end the filibuster. That, of course, is the measure over which some Democratic leaders have discussed ending it. President Joe Biden has called on the Senate to make an exception to its filibuster rules to allow Congress to codify abortion protections and privacy rights previously afforded under Roe v. Wade. In March, he voiced his support for temporarily changing Senate rules to allow a simple majority to pass the bill, something he generally opposes. “The most important thing to be clear about is, we have to change — I believe we codify Roe v. Wade in the law, and the way to do that is to make sure Congress votes to do that,” Mr. Biden told reporters at a news conference at the NATO conference in Madrid. “And if the filibuster gets in the way, it’s like voting rights, it should be — we provide an exception for this. We require an exception to the filibuster for this action.”  But there appear not to be enough votes in the Senate to allow for such a rule exception.  Do most Americans even know what a filibuster is? Well, it isn’t exactly on every American’s mind: Our January poll found a third of Americans haven’t heard enough about it to say whether it should be kept or ended.  That shouldn’t be surprising, since outside of the most politically engaged, most Americans don’t closely follow Senate procedure. Younger people under 30 are the most likely to have not heard enough about it to offer an opinion; older Americans mainly have, the poll found. By the way, where does the word filibuster come from? According to the Senate Historian’s Office, the term began appearing in American legislative debates in the 1850s. It’s derived from the Dutch word for “freebooter” and the Spanish word “filibusteros,” pirates who raided Caribbean islands.  The historian notes one early usage of the term by Mississippi Senator Albert Brown, in 1853, who observed “my friend standing on the other side of the House filibustering.” National Air and Space Museum to reopen after makeover U.S. airport websites knocked offline by cyberattacks William Shatner says trip to space filled him with “overwhelming sadness” Read More Here

Trump’s Arizona Rally ‘could Make The Difference’ In Midterm Elections https://digitalalaskanews.com/trumps-arizona-rally-could-make-the-difference-in-midterm-elections/ Former president Donald Trump has held a ‘Save America’ rally in Arizona, where he promoted his preferred candidates ahead of next month’s midterm elections. Mr Trump criticised Democratic policy, saying Republicans are the only ones to save ‘the American Dream’. Former White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney says the reason for Trump doing this now is “to get his people to show up to vote”. “Another 10,000 people showing up to vote because they saw Donald Trump at a rally actually could make the difference in more than one of these races,” he told Sky News Australia. Read More Here

US Forecast https://digitalalaskanews.com/us-forecast-127/ City/Town, State;Yesterday’s High Temp (F);Yesterday’s Low Temp (F);Today’s High Temp (F);Today’s Low Temp (F);Weather Condition;Wind Direction;Wind Speed (MPH);Humidity (%);Chance of Precip. (%);UV Index Albany, NY;60;39;66;47;Sunshine;SSE;6;59%;2%;4 Albuquerque, NM;69;51;73;51;Partly sunny, nice;SW;8;45%;0%;5 Anchorage, AK;40;27;41;27;Rather cloudy;ENE;5;65%;31%;1 Asheville, NC;69;44;69;53;Nice with some sun;SE;7;67%;17%;4 Atlanta, GA;75;53;76;61;Partly sunny;ESE;7;63%;26%;3 Atlantic City, NJ;68;50;71;53;Mostly sunny;SW;9;54%;2%;4 Austin, TX;90;66;89;68;Warm with sunshine;S;6;57%;3%;5 Baltimore, MD;70;49;73;52;Sunny and pleasant;S;5;48%;1%;4 Baton Rouge, LA;85;56;85;65;Plenty of sun;ESE;7;47%;58%;5 Billings, MT;78;51;64;45;Cooler;WSW;11;44%;65%;3 Birmingham, AL;76;49;82;63;Plenty of sunshine;SE;7;55%;12%;5 Bismarck, ND;75;43;66;38;Partly sunny, windy;W;17;52%;50%;2 Boise, ID;78;49;75;45;Sunny and pleasant;NNE;10;30%;0%;4 Boston, MA;64;47;65;50;Sunny;SSW;6;52%;1%;4 Bridgeport, CT;67;46;68;49;Plenty of sun;SW;6;55%;4%;4 Buffalo, NY;61;45;69;53;Breezy in the p.m.;S;11;52%;29%;4 Burlington, VT;56;36;62;47;Mostly sunny;SSE;9;53%;7%;3 Caribou, ME;52;29;57;35;Partly sunny;SW;8;54%;7%;3 Casper, WY;74;45;63;36;Cooler;SSW;15;39%;71%;4 Charleston, SC;81;65;75;67;Humid with a shower;ENE;11;74%;55%;2 Charleston, WV;70;41;75;51;Partly sunny, nice;SE;5;58%;1%;4 Charlotte, NC;72;48;74;56;Nice with some sun;ESE;6;58%;17%;4 Cheyenne, WY;73;46;66;38;Breezy, not as warm;NNW;17;29%;54%;3 Chicago, IL;71;55;71;58;Windy and warm;S;19;64%;89%;3 Cleveland, OH;63;53;72;58;Mostly sunny;S;10;50%;81%;4 Columbia, SC;71;57;74;62;Periods of sun, nice;ENE;6;67%;27%;2 Columbus, OH;71;45;73;53;Partly sunny, nice;SSE;8;49%;26%;4 Concord, NH;55;34;63;39;Sunny and milder;SW;7;56%;2%;4 Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX;87;68;86;70;Mostly sunny, warm;S;12;51%;30%;5 Denver, CO;78;49;77;44;Mostly sunny;NNE;9;22%;12%;4 Des Moines, IA;78;57;77;53;Partly sunny, windy;SSW;18;65%;96%;4 Detroit, MI;67;49;73;56;Breezy in the p.m.;S;11;51%;84%;4 Dodge City, KS;81;55;86;48;Mostly sunny, windy;SSW;24;47%;55%;4 Duluth, MN;55;46;71;51;A p.m. thunderstorm;SW;11;66%;91%;3 El Paso, TX;75;56;79;57;Partly sunny;W;6;53%;0%;5 Fairbanks, AK;37;19;33;20;An afternoon flurry;S;5;73%;66%;0 Fargo, ND;68;49;77;41;A stray p.m. shower;WNW;15;45%;55%;3 Grand Junction, CO;74;48;77;45;Mostly sunny, nice;N;10;32%;0%;4 Grand Rapids, MI;68;45;74;58;Windy and warm;S;18;58%;91%;4 Hartford, CT;68;44;67;47;Plenty of sunshine;S;5;57%;3%;4 Helena, MT;73;48;64;44;Cooler;WSW;9;51%;57%;3 Honolulu, HI;86;74;85;73;A couple of showers;E;6;78%;99%;2 Houston, TX;85;65;86;70;Mostly sunny;SE;8;62%;17%;5 Indianapolis, IN;74;49;72;59;Partly sunny, warm;SSE;8;53%;44%;3 Jackson, MS;82;53;84;60;Mostly sunny;SE;6;41%;11%;5 Jacksonville, FL;84;68;83;71;A stray shower;NE;10;74%;55%;4 Juneau, AK;48;46;52;47;A couple of showers;SSW;9;84%;98%;0 Kansas City, MO;82;62;77;58;Windy;SSW;19;65%;99%;2 Knoxville, TN;73;45;77;55;Partly sunny;ESE;4;55%;8%;5 Las Vegas, NV;89;64;92;65;Mostly sunny;NNW;6;27%;0%;5 Lexington, KY;72;45;76;56;Partly sunny, warm;SSE;8;52%;5%;4 Little Rock, AR;85;59;86;60;Partial sunshine;S;8;51%;13%;5 Long Beach, CA;77;65;75;65;Partly sunny;WSW;6;72%;25%;4 Los Angeles, CA;77;63;77;63;Partly sunny, nice;SW;7;80%;23%;4 Louisville, KY;75;48;79;61;Partly sunny, warm;SSE;7;47%;5%;4 Madison, WI;67;47;74;57;Windy;S;18;61%;86%;3 Memphis, TN;84;60;84;62;Partly sunny, warm;SSE;8;42%;11%;5 Miami, FL;88;79;88;79;A t-storm in spots;ENE;10;72%;69%;3 Milwaukee, WI;62;49;72;60;Windy;S;18;66%;40%;4 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN;71;53;80;50;A p.m. thunderstorm;SW;17;52%;91%;3 Mobile, AL;81;54;84;69;Sunny and pleasant;SE;7;51%;59%;5 Montgomery, AL;78;50;82;62;Partly sunny;ESE;7;59%;17%;5 Mt. Washington, NH;30;22;36;33;Very windy;WNW;33;62%;7%;4 Nashville, TN;75;46;82;60;Partly sunny;SSE;7;45%;7%;4 New Orleans, LA;81;64;83;71;Mostly sunny;ESE;10;49%;57%;5 New York, NY;68;51;70;54;Abundant sunshine;SW;7;48%;3%;4 Newark, NJ;69;46;71;49;Sunny and nice;SW;6;51%;4%;4 Norfolk, VA;72;49;71;52;Mostly sunny;SE;6;54%;0%;4 Oklahoma City, OK;76;61;78;63;Increasingly windy;S;16;71%;55%;4 Olympia, WA;72;44;68;41;Turning sunny, nice;NNE;5;66%;5%;3 Omaha, NE;80;57;83;50;Partly sunny, warm;WSW;19;55%;83%;4 Orlando, FL;87;73;87;74;A stray t-shower;E;7;75%;49%;3 Philadelphia, PA;69;49;72;51;Abundant sunshine;SW;6;49%;4%;4 Phoenix, AZ;91;71;92;70;Partly sunny;NNE;5;32%;0%;5 Pittsburgh, PA;69;45;72;51;Sun, some clouds;SE;6;51%;2%;4 Portland, ME;53;38;60;42;Mostly sunny;SW;7;59%;1%;4 Portland, OR;74;49;72;47;Nice with sunshine;N;6;62%;5%;3 Providence, RI;66;43;66;47;Sunny;SSW;5;54%;1%;4 Raleigh, NC;72;46;74;50;Periods of sun, nice;ESE;5;56%;1%;5 Reno, NV;80;46;82;45;Sunny and warm;W;5;27%;0%;4 Richmond, VA;69;42;73;48;Mostly sunny;SSE;5;52%;0%;4 Roswell, NM;71;53;81;54;Partly sunny, warmer;W;7;54%;3%;5 Sacramento, CA;91;55;89;55;Sunshine;S;5;44%;1%;4 Salt Lake City, UT;80;54;78;49;Sunshine and warm;ESE;8;26%;0%;4 San Antonio, TX;88;66;89;69;Clouds and sun, warm;SSE;7;60%;3%;6 San Diego, CA;71;66;73;66;Partly sunny, nice;NW;8;79%;17%;4 San Francisco, CA;64;55;67;55;Some sun;WSW;10;69%;1%;4 Savannah, GA;81;65;77;69;Humid with a shower;NE;9;83%;56%;2 Seattle-Tacoma, WA;69;51;68;50;Turning sunny;NNE;8;60%;6%;3 Sioux Falls, SD;80;54;83;44;Winds subsiding;NW;16;46%;17%;4 Spokane, WA;75;46;72;41;Sunny and nice;SSW;7;48%;1%;3 Springfield, IL;79;56;67;60;Showers, not as warm;S;14;76%;99%;1 St. Louis, MO;81;58;70;59;Showers, not as warm;S;7;74%;99%;1 Tampa, FL;91;72;89;74;A t-storm around;ENE;7;76%;48%;4 Toledo, OH;69;49;74;57;Partly sunny, warm;SSW;9;50%;64%;4 Tucson, AZ;84;62;86;63;Partly sunny;E;6;41%;0%;5 Tulsa, OK;73;63;79;64;A shower in spots;S;11;66%;65%;2 Vero Beach, FL;89;73;87;75;A t-shower in spots;E;8;75%;49%;5 Washington, DC;70;47;73;51;Mostly sunny;S;6;51%;0%;4 Wichita, KS;81;61;84;55;Windy;S;20;61%;88%;4 Wilmington, DE;69;46;72;48;Sunny and pleasant;SSW;7;54%;3%;4 _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Read More Here

The Time For Humoring The Liar-And-Thief Should Be Over https://digitalalaskanews.com/the-time-for-humoring-the-liar-and-thief-should-be-over/ Ummm … No! Throw the book at him instead — This former federal prosecutor has a point — at least 55 of them. Enough with giving the former guy the “benefit of the doubt” — that is something he no longer is owed.  Trump Playing Legal ‘Games,’ DOJ Should ‘Indict Him’: Glenn Kirschner Former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Sunday to stop playing “games” with Donald Trump and to criminally indict him. […] “When has Trump’s strategy of delaying the legal process not worked? Not won him enough time, sometimes to run out the clock,” Kirschner said. “I do wish the Department of Justice would stop playing Donald Trump’s reindeer games, stop playing on Donald Trump’s playing field, because civil litigation is Donald Trump’s playing field. It’s where he can best weaponize the delay that is inherent in the civil litigation process. You know how DOJ can put an end to all of that: indict him.“ Kirschner added that once someone is indicted criminally, “the delays, the ability to appeal things in a piecemeal fashion is over. Because then, virtually the only time you get to appeal anything is after you’ve gone to trial, been convicted, been sentenced and then the appeals begin.” [Emphasis added] — The longer this Serial Liar is allowed to keep making a mockery of the Justice system, the longer he will keep stirring up his gun-toting followers with more lies and fury … as demonstrated at a weekend rally .. “I had a small number of boxes in storage. There is no crime. They should give me immediately back everything they have taken from me because it’s mine,” Trump said. He went on to accuse the FBI of planting evidence, and alluded to reports that documents containing nuclear secrets had been seized in the raid. “They plant documents. Let’s see, is there a book on nuclear destruction or building of a nuclear weapon, let’s put that book in with Trump,” the former president told supporters, appearing to paraphrase those plotting against him. — from BusinessInsider, via news.yahoo.com — 10/10/22 — — There was a Reporter from MSNBC who was covering the Arizona Trump Rally, who explained to Nicole Wallace today, on Deadline White House: Event participant:  You seem like a nice enough guy, but you should probably leave. Reporter:   Why is that? Event participant:  Because when things get serious, you reporters are going to be among the first. Reporter:   Among the first what? Event participant:   The first to die. THIS is what humoring the career criminal, who conned his way into office and rallied a mob to keep him there, has led to. This guy routinely calls the Corporate Media the enemy, as he riles up his personal backyard militia, who hinge on his every word.  It is starting to get dangerous, even more so than usual. The right-wing chatter on “civil war” is at record levels … Jan 6th was the warm-up act.  2022 Elections will be their next targets of ire — IF they don’t win. THIS is what humoring the Electoral Loser of the 2020 Election has led to. — That doesn’t sound fair … Guess what, it’s NOT.   That’s the point. The longer this Thief of Classified Documents is allowed to keep making a mockery of the Justice system, the longer he will keep stirring up his gun-toting followers with more lies and fury …    “You know how DOJ can put an end to all of that: indict him,” so says Glenn Kirschner, former federal prosecutor. Any one of us would already be behind bars, if we had done even a quarter of what Trump has done … and continues to do.    Indict him now.  Let him play his “reindeer games” as he is facing a grand jury, for his known crimes. — — The “fun and games” should be over — the events of Jan 6th, 2021 should have made that perfectly clear.  The stakes were drawn then, and yet here we still are now,  Read More Here

Rep. Tim Ryan, Author JD Vance Hold US Senate Debate In Ohio https://digitalalaskanews.com/rep-tim-ryan-author-jd-vance-hold-us-senate-debate-in-ohio/ COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and Republican JD Vance meet Monday in Cleveland for the first of two scheduled debates in their closely watched race for Ohio’s open U.S. Senate seat. Ryan, a 10-term congressman from the blue-collar Youngstown area, and Vance, a venture capitalist and author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” a memoir of his upbringing in Appalachian Ohio and Kentucky, are vying for the seat held by retiring GOP Sen. Rob Portman. Democrats view the Nov. 8 race as among their best chances nationally to flip a seat. Ryan has significantly outraised Vance in an increasingly Republican-leaning state that twice voted for Donald Trump for president. Ryan ended the last fundraising period that ended June 30 with $3.6 million in the bank, compared to Vance’s $630,000. Last week, the Ryan campaign reported raising $17.2 million between July 1 and the end of September. Vance, who received help in the primary from billionaire tech investor Peter Thiel, has not reported his latest totals. Former President Donald Trump’s last-minute endorsement in the combative Republican primary helped carry Vance to a win in May amid the crowded field, which included a former state Republican Party chair and a former state treasurer. Both Vance and Ryan appealed to moderates and members of the opposite party in their victory speeches. Ryan has sought at times to distance himself from President Joe Biden, including by speaking out against his recent student loan forgiveness proposal — though Vance is likely to link the two in Monday’s debate. Meanwhile, Vance now embraces and has campaigned with Trump, though he blasted the then-president in 2016. Those earlier statements prompted some Ohio Republicans to try to talk Trump out of his endorsement. (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) Sign up for What Happened Now? – a daily email newsletter spotlighting the top news in the Cleveland area each day. Read More Here

Tim Ryan And JD Vance Trade Insults In Bitter Ohio Senate Debate https://digitalalaskanews.com/tim-ryan-and-jd-vance-trade-insults-in-bitter-ohio-senate-debate/ Getty At a debate in Cleveland Monday night, two middle-aged white guys with varying degrees of gray hair, wearing nearly identical outfits—blue suits, white shirts and red ties—made a clear play to court voters in the political center. But even in all their commonalities, the dueling candidates—Rep. Tim Ryan (D) and businessman J.D. Vance—wasted no time in trying to tear each other apart. Ryan bucked Democratic-Party leadership at almost every opportunity, including by saying Vice President Kamala Harris was “absolutely wrong” to suggest the border is secure, that President Joe Biden shouldn’t run in 2024, touting areas where he agreed with former President Donald Trump, saying “everybody’s to blame” for inflation, and bragging about being a “pain in the rear end” to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). He tore into Vance his views on abortion, stating, “We can’t ignore the level of extremism that we’re hearing from JD Vance on this position.” Vance, who had dodged questions about his position on Sen. Lindsey Graham’s 15-week federal abortion ban on the campaign trail, said he supports “some minimum national standard” on abortion but also would have supported abortion access for the viral case of a 10-year-old Ohio girl who became pregnant after being raped. He then pivoted, ripping Ryan for his position on immigration, noting that the man who had raped the Ohio girl was in the country illegally. “If you had done your job she would’ve never been raped in the first place.” The Republican hopeful on multiple occasions accused Ryan of dodging questions while framing the congressman as a Washington insider. He said marijuana is a state’s issue but said he “doesn’t want “anybody going to prison for smoking a joint.” And though he said he wouldn’t support the Senate’s same-sex marriage bill because of concerns over religious liberty, he said access to same-sex marriage is the law of the land, stating, “I’m not trying to do anything to change that.” Yet between all of the political positioning, mud was slung, with quips like, “shameful,” “ridiculous,” “dishonest” and “failure of accomplishment” flying through the room. Ryan, for one, hammered Vance on a comment from Trump at a recent Ohio rally suggesting Vance was kissing the former-president’s ass in exchange for MAGA support. “Ohio needs an ass-kicker not an ass-kisser,” Ryan said. J.D. Vance Quietly Supports Bill His GOP Allies Hate—and His Opponent Sponsored “I don’t know anybody I grew up with… that would allow somebody to take their dignity like that and then get back up on stage,” Ryan said. After Ryan suggested Vance had invested in a company that shipped jobs off to China, Vance argued back that the narrative was false, pushing Ryan to say what the name of the company was. When Ryan could not come up with the name, Vance attacked. “So your consultants gave you this line and you don’t actually know it?” he said. The raucous debate is emblematic of the larger state of the race. Ryan and Vance are neck-and-neck in the contest for the Ohio Senate seat, which went up for grabs after Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) announced in 2021 that he would retire after his current term. Portman has endorsed Vance—and Democrats have rallied around Ryan, though they’ve not invested as much money in Ohio as they have other Senate races like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Ryan is a former 2020 presidential contender and has served in the House since 2003. He’s built a reputation as a moderate among Democrats—and has been among the most President-Biden-averse Democrats running this cycle, repeatedly suggesting he would not welcome a Biden visit on the campaign trail and touting times he’s broken with his party leader. Vance, an author and former President Trump’s primary pick, has sparked worry among conservative operatives for not spending enough time in Ohio and allegedly running a sub-par campaign. FiveThirtyEight’s polling aggregates show Ryan ahead by approximately .3 points. But even as the race looks tight, both candidates promised they will accept the results of the election, whatever they may be. Ryan gave a firm “yes,” and Vance, in a position of walking the line between his MAGA allegiance and swing-state constituency, said simply, “Of course.” Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast’s biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast’s unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Read More Here

Merced Kidnapping: Charges Filed Against Suspect Arrested In Kidnapping, Murder Of Central CA Family https://digitalalaskanews.com/merced-kidnapping-charges-filed-against-suspect-arrested-in-kidnapping-murder-of-central-ca-family/ MERCED, Calif. — Charges were filed Monday against the primary suspect in the kidnapping and murder of a Merced family. His brother, who has also been arrested, is also expected to be charged. Jesus Salgado and his brother Alberto Salgado are accused in the death of 36-year-old Jasdeep Singh, 27-year-old Jasleen Kaur, their eight-month-old child Aroohi Dheri and the baby’s uncle, 39-year-old Amandeep Singh. The family of four was found dead last Wednesday in Merced County. The Merced County District Attorney’s office has charged Jesus with four counts of murder. He is expected to appear in court on Monday afternoon to be arraigned on those charges. Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke says the bodies of all four family members were found Wednesday evening in an orchard. A family spokesperson tells Action News the primary suspect in the kidnapping and murder, Jesus Salgado, is a former employee who used to drive for the victim’s trucking company. They had a disagreement and parted ways. Jesus was officially booked into the Merced County Jail on four counts of kidnapping and four counts of murder Thursday evening. Deputies say he tried killing himself before being taken into custody on Tuesday. A series of four candlelight vigils were held late last week and over the weekend to remember the family. Alberto is expected to be charged with criminal conspiracy, accessory, and destroying evidence. Copyright © 2022 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved. Read More Here

Winter Holiday Travel: Pounce Now On Flights Or Roll The Dice? https://digitalalaskanews.com/winter-holiday-travel-pounce-now-on-flights-or-roll-the-dice/ (CNN) — The high prices, the canceled flights, the booked-up lodging and rental cars. The summer of travel chaos still seems hot and fresh somehow. But it’s time to look forward, for there’s another crunch time looming less than two months away: the 2022 winter holiday travel season. So put away your T-shirts, break out your sweaters and get ready for the winter holidays. Here’s what to know: When should I buy tickets for winter holiday flights? Decision-making on when to buy airline tickets seems more complicated that ever. Prices change daily, even hourly. The staffing and capacity ramifications of the pandemic are still being felt. But October is probably the best window of opportunity. In other words, NOW. “Typically … travelers tend to start planning their holiday travel too late, and they miss out on some of the best prices available,” said Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, the planning and booking travel app. And she told CNN Travel she is seeing people waiting later than ever to seal the deal during the pandemic rebound. “For the holidays in particular, that’s a real problem because now is actually the best time to be booking your Thanksgiving and Christmas travel,” Berg said. Hopper suggested in an email to wait no later than mid-October. It’s not just a pricing issue, Berg said. She also noted another risk by waiting: “Flights may be sold out completely on the dates you want to fly.” The worst time to book? ‘The last minute’ Scott Keyes, the founder of flight deals and travel advice site Scott’s Cheap Flights, told CNN Travel the very best deals were actually this past summer (remember that for 2023). But don’t be discouraged this year, he said. “The second best time to be booking your flights is now — because the worst time to book them is to wait until the last minute,” Keyes said. “If you haven’t booked those flights already and you’re really hoping to travel over the winter holidays, try to get it booked in the next week or two.” Keyes thinks air fares are likely to get more expensive, not less, as we get closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Phil Dengler, a co-owner of the travel resource The Vacationer, uses a popular fall holiday as his guide. “I view Halloween as the cutoff date for getting a reasonable price on a Thanksgiving flight, but aim to get booked before then,” Dengler said in an email interview. “After Halloween, prices will increase considerably as Thanksgiving gets closer. For Christmas flights, you should really book before Thanksgiving, but the best deals are between now and Halloween.” An Alaska Airlines flight arrives at Los Angeles International Airport on October 2. How you time your ticket purchase can depend on a lot of personal factors in addition to airline prices. AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images The auto and travel club AAA had different pricing data for Thanksgiving air fares. Based on booking data from 2019, 2021 and 2022 so far, AAA found the lowest average fares just seven to 14 days before Thanksgiving, with the highest prices 28 to 60 days before the holiday. However, the data also showed prices rising in the last seven days before the holiday. So should you wait? A lot depends on personal circumstances such as your budget and how flexible you are with your flying plans, AAA told CNN Travel. If you don’t have a lot of wiggle room, it might not be worth the risk to wait for a chance at a lower fare. “Airlines have fewer flights than they did in 2019, which means fewer options for consumers,” said AAA’s Paula Twidale, senior vice president of travel. “With staff shortages and capacity being at its peak, you run the risk of being delayed or even missing flights, particularly if weather plays into the equation.” What are the best days to fly for Thanksgiving? Expedia shared some insights on when to travel for Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 24): To save money, the travel company suggested waiting until Monday (November 21) to depart instead of Saturday (November 19) and Sunday (November 20), “as the weekend is the most expensive time to start your Thanksgiving week trip.” Average ticket prices for Monday are more than 30% lower than Saturday and nearly 15% cheaper than Wednesday (November 23), it said. As for returns, Expedia said Friday (November 25) is the cheapest date. Coming back Monday (November 28) instead of Sunday (November 27) could save from 5% to 10%. Hopper also suggests flying Thanksgiving Day if you can, offering savings of around $100 off peak prices. Plus planes should be less crowded. Keyes said the Thanksgiving weekend comes with a bonus. “Thanksgiving is the hidden best week for international travel,” Keyes said. Why is that? Christmas and New Year’s are celebrated worldwide and thus come with global demand, but Thanksgiving is just a US holiday, he said. Domestic flights are pricey, but not international ones. “You find some incredible deals all throughout Europe over Thanksgiving week.” He said that on one price check this week, he found cheaper fare from New York City to Lisbon, Portugal ($429 round-trip, than to Cedar Rapids, Iowa ($567 round-trip). What are the best days to fly for Christmas? Hopper had advice on when to travel for Christmas (Sunday, December 25): For departure, it said travelers can save $120 off peak prices by departing the Monday (December 19) or Tuesday (December 20) before Christmas. Leaving on Christmas Eve could save people about $100 this year, Hopper estimated. The site said avoid flying out Thursday (December 22) or Friday (December 23), as those will be the most expensive travel days. For returns, the Tuesday (December 27) or Wednesday (December 28) after Christmas Day could save you $40 per ticket. It said avoid coming back on Monday (December 26), New Year’s Day or January 2, the most expensive return dates. Some other tips from the experts Have your ducks in a row: “Preparation is the best way to reduce stress when flying over Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Dengler said. “If possible, book a nonstop flight early in the morning” on a lower-volume travel day. He also advised not checking a bag if possible. Treat yourself: If you fly several times a year or more and value a low stress level, Keyes suggested getting a credit card that includes “compelling perks.” That includes access to special airport lounges that get you away from the crowds and offer free food, drinks and even massages. Avoid the rush: If you’re driving, Twidale said leave early in the morning before rush hour or after 8 p.m. If you need a rental car, reserve it early to lock into the rate and pay in advance to save money. If you’re flying but driving to the airport, book parking spaces. She also suggested enrolling in TSA Pre-check to bypass long security lines. Hotels: Berg said if you’re headed to a big city (think New York, Chicago, etc.), you are likely to get a better deal if you wait until just a few days before your arrival date to book the room. The caveats: This is for people who aren’t dead set on a certain hotel or specific neighborhood. And for smaller cities, she said people should still book earlier as choices are limited. Top image: The United Airlines ticket counter at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia on Christmas Eve 2021. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Read More Here

Russia Rains Missiles Down On Ukraine https://digitalalaskanews.com/russia-rains-missiles-down-on-ukraine/ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that people were killed and injured in multiple missile strikes across Ukraine, including the first bombardment of the capital, Kyiv, in months. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Charlie D’Agata said the strikes, which could signal a major escalation in the eight-month-old war, appeared to be entirely punitive — retaliation meant to terrorize Ukrainian civilians in densely-populated urban neighborhoods, close to government buildings, with one even hitting a children’s playground. The lethal barrage smashed into civilian areas, knocking out power and water, shattering buildings and killing at least 14 people. The bombardment came two days after Russia suffered a serious blow with the bombing that damaged its sole bridge to Crimea. Ukraine’s Emergency Service said nearly 100 people were wounded in the morning rush hour attacks that Russia launched from the air, sea and land against at least 14 regions, spanning from Lviv in the west to Kharkiv in the east. Many of the attacks occurred far from the war’s front lines. Though Russia said missiles targeted military and energy facilities, some struck civilian areas while people were heading to work and school. One hit a playground in downtown Kyiv and another struck a university. Rescue workers survey the scene of a Russian attack on Kyiv, Ukraine on Oct. 10, 2022. Several explosions rocked the city early in the morning following months of relative calm in the Ukrainian capital. Adam Schreck / AP The attacks plunged much of the country into a blackout, depriving hundreds of thousands of people of electricity and creating a shortage so severe Ukrainian authorities announced they would have to stop power exports to Europe starting Tuesday. Power outages also often deprive residents of water, given the system’s reliance on electricity to run pumps and other equipment. The head of Ukraine’s law enforcement said Monday’s attacks damaged 70 infrastructure sites, of which 29 are critical. Zelenskyy said that of the 84 cruise missiles and 24 drones Russia fired, Ukrainian forces shot down 56. Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the strikes had no “practical military sense” and that Russia’s goal was to cause a “humanitarian catastrophe.” Russian President Vladimir Putin said his forces used “precision weapons” to target key energy infrastructure and military command facilities in retaliation for Kyiv’s “terrorist” actions — a reference to Ukraine’s attempts to repel Moscow’s invasion forces, including an attack Saturday on a key bridge between Russia and the annexed Crimean Peninsula that Putin called a “terrorist act” masterminded by Ukrainian special services. Putin vowed a “tough” and “proportionate” response should Ukraine carry out further attacks that threaten Russia’s security. “No one should have any doubts about it,” he told Russia’s Security Council by video. The explosions in Kyiv and other cities came just a day after Putin blamed Kyiv for the massive explosion on a 12-mile bridge connecting Crimea with Russia. Crimea is a large Ukrainian peninsula that Russia occupied and then unilaterally annexed eight years ago during a previous invasion. The annexation of that territory, like Putin’s recent land grab of four Ukrainian regions that he declared Russian soil last week, have been condemned as illegitimate and illegal by Ukraine, the United Nations, the U.S. and other countries. The blast that hit the bridge sparked celebrations among Ukrainians and others on social media — but officials in Kyiv have made no direct claim of responsibility. Crimea bridge, key supply route in Russia’s war in Ukraine, destroyed 02:38 The Russian president has been under intense domestic pressure to take more aggressive action to stop a largely successful Ukrainian counteroffensive and to react forcefully to Saturday’s attack on the Kerch bridge, whose construction he used to cement his 2014 annexation of Crimea. Putin’s increasingly frequent descriptions of Ukraine’s actions as terrorist could portend even more bold and draconian actions. But in Monday’s speech, Putin — whose partial troop mobilization order last month triggered an exodus of hundreds of thousands of men of fighting age from Russia — stopped short of an expected escalation from what he calls a “special military operation” to a counterterrorism campaign or martial law. Zelenskyy has repeatedly called on world leaders to declare Russia a terrorist state because of its attacks on civilians and alleged war crimes. Zelenskyy emerged onto a street in Kyiv on Monday to record a selfie video with a message to his people and the world, denouncing Russia for the barrage of missiles which he said had targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and its civilians. Zelenskyy’s wife, Olena, posted a video showing people sheltering on the stairs of a Kyiv subway station singing a Ukrainian folk song, “In a Cherry Garden,” whose final lines are: “My dear mother, you are old and I’m happy and young. I want to live, to love.” Police experts examine destroyed cars in the center of Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv after several Russian missile strikes, October 10, 2022, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. SERGEI CHUZAVKOV/AFP/Getty “They have specifically chosen such a time and such targets to cause as much damage as possible,” the president said. “But we Ukrainians, we help each other, believe in ourselves, rebuild everything. Now the shortages of electricity may occur, but not the shortage of our defiance and our confidence in our victory.”    The strikes sent residents of Ukraine’s two largest cities — Kyiv and Kharkiv — into bomb shelters, including subway stations. While air raid sirens have continued throughout the war in cities across the country, in Kyiv and elsewhere many Ukrainians had begun to ignore their warnings after months of calm. Just as traffic was picking up Monday morning, a commuter minibus was struck near Kyiv National University. Nearby, at least one strike landed in Shevchenko Park, leaving a large hole near a children’s playground. Another target was the Klitschko pedestrian bridge — a landmark in central Kyiv with glass panels. Closed-circuit video footage showed a huge explosion under the bridge, with smoke rising, and a man running away after the blast, apparently unhurt. No significant damage to the bridge was immediately apparent. Air raid sirens sounded in every region of Ukraine except Russia-annexed Crimea for four straight hours.  Videos posted on social media showed black smoke rising above several areas of the city. Russia’s last strike on the capital was on June 26. Russia launches deadly strikes in Ukraine after battlefield setbacks 02:40 Associated Press journalists saw multiple bodies at an industrial site on the outskirts of Dnipro. Four people were killed and 19 injured in the city, officials said. Witnesses said one missile landed in front of a bus during the morning rush hour, damaging the vehicle but not killing any passengers. Kharkiv was hit three times, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. The strikes knocked out the electricity and water supply. Energy infrastructure was also hit in Lviv, regional Gov. Maksym Kozytskyi said. Three cruise missiles launched against Ukraine from Russian ships in the Black Sea crossed Moldova’s airspace, said the country’s foreign affairs minister, Nicu Popescu. As the European Union condemned Russia’s attack and said the targeting of civilians amounted to “a war crime,” Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the “massive strike with long-range precision weapons.” It claimed the missiles had targeted “objects of the military command and control, communications and energy systems of Ukraine” and that “all assigned objects were hit.” CBS News United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “deeply shocked by today’s large-scale missile attacks” on Ukraine, his spokesman said in a statement, adding that the strike “constitutes another unacceptable escalation of the war and, as always, civilians are paying the highest price.” Some feared Monday’s attacks may just be the first salvo in a renewed Russian offensive. As a precautionary measure, Ukraine switched all schools to online learning until at least the end of this week. In an ominous move, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced Monday that he and Putin have agreed to create a joint “regional grouping of troops.” He offered no details. Lukashenko repeated his claims that Ukraine is plotting an attack on Belarus, sparking fears he would take preemptive action. His defense minister, Viktor Khrenin, later issued a video warning Ukraine not to provoke Belarus, but added, “We don’t want to fight.” CBS News correspondent Pamela Falk contributed to this report. In: War Ukraine Russia Missile Launch Vladimir Putin Kyiv Read More Here

Trump: 'Obama, Clinton, Bush Took SCI Docs' https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-obama-clinton-bush-took-sci-docs/ Trump: ‘Obama, Clinton, Bush took SCI Docs’ Newslooks- (AP) At a rally for Nevada Republicans on Saturday, former President Donald Trump argued against the federal probe into the storage of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate by falsely suggesting that past presidents did the same thing. Trump claimed that Barack Obama moved “truckloads” of documents to a former furniture store in Chicago, that Bill Clinton carted records “from the White House to a former car dealership in Arkansas,” and that George H.W. Bush “took millions of documents to a former bowling alley and a former Chinese restaurant where they combined them.” In reality, National Archives and Records Administration staff, not the former presidents, transported presidential records to these facilities for temporary sorting and storage, following security protocols in the process, NARA statements and Associated Press reporting show. That’s very different from Trump harboring classified documents from his own presidency in various storage areas at his Florida estate, said Timothy Naftali, a professor of public service and history at New York University. “Obviously, it takes time to build a presidential library. During that period of time, the National Archives has to put these presidential records somewhere safe,” Naftali said. “They are not put in closets in public clubs.” A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Here’s a closer look at the facts. TRUMP: Bush “took millions of documents to a former bowling alley and a former Chinese restaurant where they combined them. So they’re in a bowling alley slash Chinese restaurant.” THE FACTS: While the idea of the elder Bush sneaking documents to a combination bowling alley and Chinese restaurant inspired colorful internet reactions, it’s not accurate. NARA archivists, not Bush, transported the documents to what had once been Chimney Hill Bowl in College Station, Texas, according to AP reporting at the time. They converted it into a warehouse, swapping bowling lanes for shelved storage where they could store the boxes of documents. To fit everything, they also co-opted a former Chinese restaurant next door. Under the Presidential Records Act, NARA has custody of all presidential records from former administrations. The agency is responsible for sorting through the documents and storing them securely until a presidential library can be built to house them. In the case of Bush’s documents, the temporary storage facility NARA archivists used was protected by guards, television monitors and electronic detectors while documents were sorted, the AP reported at the time. They were later moved to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, also in College Station, where they reside today. Trump’s comments aimed to diminish the fact that he held classified documents in Mar-a-Lago by saying Bush held his own documents in an old bowling alley, Naftali said. “But that’s complete nonsense,” he said. “These are buildings National Archives took over, renovated to meet archival standards and security, and then they put the materials there.” Benjamin Hufbauer, a professor at the University of Louisville who researches presidential libraries, agreed Trump’s claim was not correct. “It’s really an apples to oranges kind of thing,” he said. ___ TRUMP: Clinton “took millions of documents from the White House to a former car dealership in Arkansas.” THE FACTS: Clinton didn’t take documents to an ex-car dealership, NARA did. NARA announced in May 2000 that it would be transporting documents from Clinton’s presidency to a Little Rock, Arkansas, storage facility that used to be the Balch Motor Company. The facility, which NARA rented, was less than 2 miles from what later became the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, where the documents are stored today. ___ TRUMP: Obama “moved more than 20 truckloads, over 33 million pages of documents, both classified and unclassified, to a poorly-built and totally unsafe former furniture store located in a rather bad neighborhood in Chicago with no security, by the way.” THE FACTS: Again, NARA, not Obama, transported these documents — and followed its own storage standards in the process, the agency said. Roughly 30 million unclassified Obama administration documents reside in a Chicago-area building that at one point belonged to the Plunkett furniture company, according to county and local government records. These documents are stored in accordance with the agency’s archival storage standards, according to NARA. Those standards include things like fire safety, pest management and security guidelines for certain types of documents. Comments a NARA official gave to the city’s zoning commission prior to the end of Obama’s term also stipulated that the facility would be guarded overnight. The administration’s classified documents are stored in separate secure locations in the Washington, D.C., area. Read more U.S. news Read More Here

Tim Ryan Says Biden Shouldn’t Run In 2024 https://digitalalaskanews.com/tim-ryan-says-biden-shouldnt-run-in-2024/ Greg Nash Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) speaks to a reporter as he arrives to the Capitol for a series of votes on Wednesday, September 14, 2022. Democratic Ohio Senate candidate Rep. Tim Ryan reiterated at a televised debate on Monday that he does not believe that President Biden should run for reelection in 2024.  “No, I’ve been very clear. I’d like to see a generational change,” Ryan said at a debate hosted by The Hill’s parent company Nexstar in Cleveland.  “Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump, the president, everybody,” he continued. “We need a new generation of leadership.”  Last month, Ryan made headlines when he suggested that Biden should not run for another term, citing generational change.  “The environment politically across the country is poisonous, and people I think want some change,” the congressman told WFMJ-TV in Youngstown, Ohio. “It’s important for us, in both parties, these leaders who have been around for a while, I think it’s time for some generational change.” And last week, Ryan told Fox News he was not inviting Biden onto the campaign trail with him, adding that “I’m really not inviting anybody.”  A Spectrum News-Siena College poll released late last month shows Biden with a 41 percent approval rating in the Buckeye State.  Ryan’s comments come as his Republican opponent J.D. Vance works to tie him to the sitting president, mirroring a strategy seen in other contentious midterm races across the country.  The state’s Senate race appears to be narrowing, with the Real Clear Politics polling average showing Vance leading Ryan by just 1.4 points. The Cook Political Report has labeled the race as “lean Republican.”  Read More Here

Trump's Faulty 'Double Standard' Document Claim – FactCheck.org https://digitalalaskanews.com/trumps-faulty-double-standard-document-claim-factcheck-org/ Former President Donald Trump made a series of faulty comparisons to other past presidents to argue that he was being held to a double standard regarding the FBI’s pursuit of his presidential documents. Trump accused several of his presidential predecessors of storing White House documents, including ones that were classified, in unsecured warehouse spaces. But all of the examples Trump mentioned were cases of the National Archives and Records Administration — not the former presidents themselves — storing documents in secure facilities, while permanent presidential libraries were being built. For example, Trump said, “George H.W. Bush took millions and millions of documents to a former bowling alley pieced together with what was then an old and broken Chinese restaurant, they put them together. And it had a broken front door and broken windows. Other than that it was quite secure. And there was no security.” That drew a bewildered response from the late George H.W. Bush’s son and Trump nemesis, Jeb Bush, who tweeted a link to a clip of Trump’s rally in Arizona on Oct. 9 and commented, “I am so confused. My dad enjoyed a good Chinese meal and enjoyed the challenge of 7 10 split. What the heck is up with you?” Documents and artifacts from the elder Bush’s time in the presidency were kept for several years in a former bowling alley in the mid-1990s, while the permanent George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum was under construction on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. The delay gave archivists time to curate some 40,000 objects, such as gifts from foreign dignitaries, and 36 million pages of official records and personal papers. It was so much stuff that some of it had to be stored next door “in what used to be the kitchen of a Chinese restaurant,” according to an Associated Press story in 1994. “Some printed material is classified and will remain so for years; it is open only to those with top-secret clearances,” the AP said. But contrary to Trump’s claim that there was “no security” at the building, AP wrote: “Uniformed guards patrol the premises. There are closed-circuit television monitors and sophisticated electronic detectors along walls and doors.” Dr. Robert Holzweiss, deputy director of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, told People magazine in February, “When I got involved the temporary facility for the Bush museum was in College Station, Texas, in an old bowling alley. Without the alleys it was perfect, it was like a warehouse. They just built a secure space within to house the classified material.” Note that he says the classified materials were held in a “secure space” built by NARA. And in any case, none of the presidential records, including classified documents, were in Bush’s possession or in his personal residence, as was the case with documents seized from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago in Florida. In a timeline of the FBI’s investigation of Trump’s handling of highly classified documents, we detailed the numerous steps NARA and the Department of Justice took in an effort to retrieve government records from Trump after he left office — including numerous formal requests, a grand jury subpoena and a court-approved search warrant. On Aug. 8, the Justice Department seized 13 boxes that contained numerous documents, many highly classified or top secret. But at the rally on Oct. 9, Trump brought up several former presidents in an attempt to make the case that he was unfairly being singled out by federal authorities over presidential records. “We have a weaponized Department of Justice and FBI and everything including, of course, the break-in of my home,” Trump said. “[W]e could call it the warehouse case because many other presidents stored their millions of pages of stuff in unsecured warehouses, some of them without front doors that worked properly. Just look at how every other president has been treated when they left office. They’ve been treated beautifully. … They’ve been given the time needed and complete deference when it came to their documents and to their papers. There was no criminality.” Trump then talked about the handling of presidential documents by some of his predecessors to claim that he is being held to a “double standard.” Obama’s Records Trump falsely said that Barack Obama “moved more than 20 truckloads, over 33 million pages of documents, both classified and unclassified, to a poorly built and totally unsafe former furniture store located in a rather bad neighborhood in Chicago,” claiming, “They just found that out.” No one “just found that out.” NARA moved and controlled records from the Obama administration after he left office. In the days after the FBI executed a search warrant at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property on Aug. 8, Trump repeatedly raised questions about Obama’s handling of presidential records. On Sept. 23, NARA released a statement contradicting Trump’s account. NARA statement, Sept. 23: The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) administers the Barack Obama Presidential Library, located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The library holds records from the Obama presidential administration and is leased, controlled, managed, and used exclusively by NARA. The Obama Foundation, an independent entity, has never had control over the records in Hoffman Estates. All records in that facility are stored and managed by NARA in accordance with archival storage standards, and all classified records were stored in an appropriately secured compartment within the facility. NARA moved these records at the end of the Obama administration to the Hoffman Estates facility under the assumption that former President Obama and his Foundation would be building and transferring to NARA a traditional, physical Presidential Library in the Chicago area. When former President Obama decided that he would not build a physical, NARA-operated Presidential Library, NARA transported the classified records back to secure locations in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. The Obama Foundation provided NARA with funds to help convert the Hoffman Estates facility and to cover some of the expenses of moving the classified records, but the foundation has never had possession or control over the records. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter Trump also misleadingly claimed that President George W. Bush “stored 68 million pages in a warehouse in Texas,” and that Bill Clinton “took millions of documents from the White House to a former car dealership in Arkansas.” In both cases, NARA controlled the documents at temporary facilities (a warehouse in Bush’s case and a former car dealership in Clinton’s case) before the presidential libraries were constructed. A Jan. 15, 2009, NARA media alert said that once Bush left office a few days later on Jan. 20, “his official records and gifts received on behalf of the U.S. Government become the property of the National Archives and Records Administration,” which was transferring the material to “a temporary Library facility in Lewisville Texas approximately 20 miles from the permanent Library site on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas.” At the end of that year, a Washington Post article described the facility as a “warehouse,” reporting that “68 million pages of documents,” along with 175 million emails and many other objects and artifacts from Bush’s years in the White House had been “meticulously catalogued, wrapped, stored and guarded in the climate-controlled warehouse” managed by NARA in Lewisville. “It will all eventually move to the $300 million George W. Bush Presidential Library opening at Southern Methodist University in 2013.” Similarly, in 2000, NARA leased a 42,000-square-foot facility, “formerly the Balch Motor Company,” a NARA press release said, in Little Rock, Arkansas, until the Clinton Presidential Library could be built.  There’s nothing unusual about NARA using converted facilities to temporarily store presidential records and artifacts while until a permanent presidential library is built. According to NARA, “Repurposed storage facilities are a trademark of temporary library locations. The records from the Reagan administration were housed in a converted pasta factory. For the records of the George H. W. Bush administration, a bowling alley and an adjacent Chinese restaurant were combined to provide space for the records. A former car dealership housed the Clinton records in Little Rock.” Tapes, Emails and Nuclear Codes Trump made a few other false and misleading claims about George W. Bush, Clinton and Carter. He said that Clinton “kept classified recordings in his sock. … They say he left the White House with recordings in his sock, and they found them in his sock drawer.” These were not “classified recordings.” Instead, they were tapes of Clinton’s conversations with author Taylor Branch, and, according to one 2007 news report, Clinton later used these oral history recordings to write his autobiography. The CBS News report said that Clinton “kept the tapes in a sock drawer.”” Branch also wrote a book, published in 2009, based on the tapes, called “The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President.” The next year, the conservative group Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit asking a court to require NARA to take custody of the tapes, but NARA said these were “personal records” per the Presidential Records Act. In 2012, a District Court judge dismissed the suit. Trump said that Bush “lost 22 million White House emails covering the Iraq invasion. … They’re still looking for those 22 million pages.” It’s true that the Bush administration failed to archive millions of emails, though the 22 million messages were recovered by computer specialists. A CNN sto...

FEMA Inspectors Arriving In Western Alaska To Assist Residents With Aid Applications https://digitalalaskanews.com/fema-inspectors-arriving-in-western-alaska-to-assist-residents-with-aid-applications/ ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Federal Emergency Management Agency housing inspectors will be coming to Western Alaska starting Monday to help survivors of the severe mid-September storm apply for assistance. FEMA teams are arriving in Kipnuk and Kotlik on Monday and will be in Toksook Bay and Koyuk on Tuesday, according to a release from the agency. Teams will inspect houses and help residents who experienced damage from the storms register for FEMA assistance. Residents may also register with FEMA field specialists by calling1-866-342-1699, or register online at disasterassistance.gov. If residents require an accommodation — such as spoken language resources, mobility assistance, or sign language interpreting services — they can call or text 907-727-6221 or email FEMA-language-access-request@fema.dhs.gov. If residents feel they have experienced discrimination, they can call the FEMA Civil Rights Resource at 833-285-7448 or 800-462-7585 (TTY/TDD), or email FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov. Inspectors will have appropriate federal identification and will never charge for assistance. More information is also available about FEMA support at FEMA Disaster Site, and updates from FEMA Region 10 are available on the agency’s Twitter page. Copyright 2022 KTUU. All rights reserved. Read More Here

Patty Jenkins Finishes WW3 Script; Teases 'More' | Cosmic Book News https://digitalalaskanews.com/patty-jenkins-finishes-ww3-script-teases-more-cosmic-book-news/ Patty Jenkins reveals she finished the script for Wonder Woman 3 and teases possibly more to come. While there have been rumors that Jenkins would not write Wonder Woman 3 and also not direct the third film due to the failure of Wonder Woman 1984, those all appear to be rumors right now. “So I found myself hooked,” she said (via Twitter). “So whereas I said I was only going to do one, then I said ‘oh, my god I have to do two’ and then I found myself saying ‘oh my god I am ancy to do three,’ and so even now I say that’s it because I always planned a three-movie arc.” Jenkins continued, “So there is a story that goes through the three different movies as a whole, but even now I just wrote last week the final scene for Wonder Woman 3 and I thought I would be interested to see what happened next so you never know.” Jenkins also adds that Warner Bros. Discovery has asked her to do more surrounding Wonder Woman, which we can guess could be Wonder Woman 4 and/or spinoffs as at one time Amazon spinoffs were supposed to happen. “They have asked us to think of ways to do more and it accidentally happens but you never know,” she said. “I have a lot of other films I am excited to do as well.” Gal Gadot in ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Wonder Woman 1984 is a huge disappointment Regarding Wonder Woman 1984 being a big-time failure, it was a huge bust not only at the box office but also for the HBO Max streaming service. At the time, Warner Bros. released Wonder Woman 1984 and a slew of additional movies on the HBO Max streaming service at the same time as in theaters with the hopes it would build HBO Max subscribers, but that didn’t happen. WB has since announced they are going back to releasing movies exclusively in theaters (worth a mention is that Jenkins and Gadot were paid as of WW84 made a billion). It has also been reported half of the WW84 subscribers left. Rumors have also offered Jenkins butted heads with Zack Snyder over Wonder Woman, and following the first movie being such a huge success, Jenkins got her wish (ironically considering the plot of the sequel) to be completely in charge of WW84 which saw her make the movie a woke, anti-Trump flick with lackluster villains and an ending, which backfired completely with critics and fans alike. Wonder Woman 1984 has a Rotten Tomatoes Score of only a Rotten 58% and an Audience Score of 73%. The first Wonder Woman that Zack Snyder was involved with, including his VFX and stunt team as well as the writer (Snyder came up with the story), has a much better Rotten Tomatoes Score of 93% and an Audience Score of 83%. IMDb is more of the same as the 2017 film has a rating of 7.4 out of 10, while the free-to-watch on HBO Max WW84 has a rating of only a 5.4. Let’s hope Patty Jenkins learned her lesson from WW84 and vastly improves Wonder Woman 3, which seems to be the case as rumors offer Wonder Woman 3 is going a route similar to Zack Snyder’s ideas with a god as the villain, said to be Circe (Geoff Johns revealed the original plan for WW84 was to feature a god as a villain). What’s pretty funny is that Wonder Woman 3 probably will be released to coincide with the Trump election campaign in 2024/5, and worth a note is that “WW3” has been trending due to Biden and Putin (WW84 was released just prior to the Capitol Hill “riot” where ’84 had similar scenes). Wonder Woman 1984 being such a disappointment is also thought why Disney has put the breaks on Jenkins’ Star Wars movie as it has been recently taken off the release schedule. Jenkins was also supposed to direct Gal Gadot in Cleopatra but that isn’t happening either. Rumors offer Gal Gadot will appear in Shazam! 2 and Gadot has also confirmed The Flash. Read More Here

Major Pro-O’Dea Donor, Heir To A Gilded Age Banking Fortune, Wrote Of ‘slavery Redux’ – Colorado Newsline https://digitalalaskanews.com/major-pro-odea-donor-heir-to-a-gilded-age-banking-fortune-wrote-of-slavery-redux-colorado-newsline/ Election 2022 Timothy Mellon, whose self-published 2015 book used racist stereotypes, backs Colorado GOP Senate hopeful with $4 million donation Facing an uphill battle to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Republican Senate hopeful Joe O’Dea has received little help to date from deep-pocketed national GOP campaign groups. But as Election Day approaches, he’s getting a big boost from a megadonor closer to home: the Wyoming-based heir to a 19th-century banking fortune who wrote in a self-published autobiography that Black people are “belligerent” and “unwilling to pitch in to improve their own situations.” Timothy Mellon, the grandson of banking tycoon Andrew Mellon, donated $4 million to American Policy Fund, a super PAC that has spent heavily throughout the year on ads supporting O’Dea and attacking his opponents, according to Federal Election Commission reports. Super PACs are allowed to accept unlimited contributions from individuals and corporations but are barred from coordinating with candidates or their campaigns. GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Mellon’s $4 million is the largest single contribution in support of O’Dea’s candidacy to date. It exceeds both the $2.6 million that the Denver construction CEO has donated or loaned to his own campaign since announcing his run last year, and the $1.25 million that he Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC affiliated with Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, said that it had donated to American Policy Fund on Monday. The 80-year-old Mellon has been a prolific donor to conservative causes, donating more than $90 million to Republican political campaigns since 2018, FEC records show. Last year, he donated more than $53 million in stock to a fund set up by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to finance the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. O’Dea’s campaign did not respond to questions about O’Dea’s relationship with Mellon or whether he shares Mellon’s view of Black Americans. In the closing chapters of his self-published 2015 autobiography, Mellon attacked the federal government’s “lavish spending” and the “Medicare fiscal black hole,” blaming the “liberal onslaught” of social safety net programs in the 1960s for what he called “slavery redux.” The book’s contents were first reported by the Washington Post in 2020. “Black people, in spite of heroic efforts by the ‘Establishment’ to right the wrongs of the past, became even more belligerent and unwilling to pitch in to improve their own situations,” Mellon wrote. “The likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton pandered endlessly to fan the flames.” Last month’s $4 million contribution to American Policy Fund is the second-largest donation Mellon has ever made in support of a single candidate, topped only by the $30 million he donated to a super PAC supporting former President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign in 2020, according to FEC records. In a statement, Colorado Democratic Party spokesperson Nico Delgado said Mellon’s contribution proves O’Dea would be “a rubber stamp for the MAGA agenda.” “Joe O’Dea would vote for Trump in 2024, he thinks Trump bears no blame for January 6th, and now he’s being backed by a racist Trump megadonor who is responsible for funding Trump’s medieval border wall,” Delgado said. ‘The Mellons have never been richer’ After taking over the Pittsburgh bank founded by his father in the 1870s, Andrew Mellon built a monopolistic industrial empire and gradually amassed one of the Gilded Age’s largest fortunes. He later served as the U.S. treasury secretary under three Republican presidents, a tenure that ended with the stock market crash of 1929 and the onset of the Great Depression. Andrew Mellon died in 1937, but the family’s riches have only continued to grow. A 2014 Forbes magazine headline proclaimed that “175 years later, the Mellons have never been richer.” Timothy Mellon’s largest political contributions to Trump and congressional Republicans followed the passage of a $1.5 trillion package of tax cuts by the GOP-controlled Congress in 2017. Shortly after the bill became law, Mellon’s company announced a one-time employee bonus of $1,100 to highlight what a press release called the “downstream effects of expanding and creating wealth among all citizens.” Mellon’s 116-page autobiography features recollections of a childhood spent flying to and from boarding school on his father’s private jet and a visit by Queen Elizabeth II to the family’s farm in Virginia. In the 1980s, he became an investor in several railroad and aviation companies, though his best-known venture, a resurrection of the Pan Am airline brand, ended in failure in the 2000s. In a chapter titled “Slavery Redux,” Mellon draws on racist stereotypes about social welfare programs and attacks liberals for what he describes as “encouraging people to remain on the government teat.” “They have become slaves of a new Master, Uncle Sam,” Mellon wrote. “For delivering their votes in the Federal Elections, they are awarded with yet more and more freebies: food stamps, cell phones, WIC payments, Obamacare, and on, and on, and on. The largess is funded by the hardworking folks, fewer and fewer in number, who are too honest or too proud to allow themselves to sink into this morass.” Attack ads With his $4 million contribution to American Policy Fund on Sept. 15, Mellon more than tripled the super PAC’s previous budget. Within days, the group reported that it had reserved more than $2.4 million in TV ads attacking Bennet, and has followed that up with another $1.2 million spent this month. The ads blast Bennet over inflation, arguing that Democrats under President Joe Biden have fueled rising costs with “bigger government and more spending.” O’Dea has pitched himself to voters as a moderate, especially on social issues, and told an interviewer last week that “I don’t see color.” But his views on work and social spending — including exhortations to “get (workers) off the couch” — align with much of the makers-and-takers rhetoric in Mellon’s book. “I want to defend working Americans,” O’Dea said at a gathering of Denver Republicans ahead of the GOP’s June primary. “When I’m talking about working Americans, I’m talking about middle class, small businesses, single parents, retirees — those of us that play by the rules. We have some things in common. We contribute. We produce.” “We’re the ones that are paying for this tax-and-spend spree that Washington has been on for far too long,” he added. “We’re the ones they extract money from to make these wild policies.” Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. Read More Here

Former Prosecutor Says Trump Has Given Damning Evidence Against Himself That Makes It Easier To Prosecute – The Bharat Express News https://digitalalaskanews.com/former-prosecutor-says-trump-has-given-damning-evidence-against-himself-that-makes-it-easier-to-prosecute-the-bharat-express-news/ Former District Attorney Andrew Weissmann said Donald Trump provided damning evidence against himself this weekend that will make it easier for the DOJ to prosecute him. Video: Weissmann said on MSNBC’s TBEN: White House: I look at this with my former accuser’s hat on, and Mike and Maggie Haberman’s reporting and the speech you spoke of that he gave this weekend is really damning evidence, because the typical defense for someone like Donald Trump is what a CEO states that I did not know the details, I have no knowledge or intention to have broken the law. That means I didn’t know what was in Mar-a-Lago. I did not know the contents of what was in Mar-a-Lago, so I had no intention of illegally taking or storing these documents. That’s what a CEO would probably argue and is typical of what we see in CEO cases. The trick is always how you show that someone like Donald Trump knew what was in Mar-a-Lago, and that it wasn’t just his lawyers or subordinates who knew the details? Well, that he’s trying to do the art of the deal regarding classified documents, and he says these documents were all mine, those are incredibly damning statements that go straight to knowledge and intent, and you can bet that the DOJ prosecutors do what I do, which is listen to this turn of events, this makes it much easier to prove the one element that could really make the Justice Department difficult to file a case against the Mar- a- Lago documents. Trump admitted at a rally that he had government documents in Mar-a-Lago, but claimed they were his. Donald Trump has admitted to the crime, meaning, as Weissmann noted, there is no denial. Trump cannot claim that he did not know the documents were there because he was publicly aware of them. Donald Trump went back to the rally stage and continued to talk. His statements make it much easier for the DOJ to prosecute him. Mr Easley is the editor in chief. He is also a White House Press Pool and a congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a bachelor’s degree in political science. His graduation work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements. Awards and Professional Memberships Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Political Science Association Read More Here

Los Angeles City Council President Steps Down From Leadership Role After Leak Of Racist Comments https://digitalalaskanews.com/los-angeles-city-council-president-steps-down-from-leadership-role-after-leak-of-racist-comments/ The president of the Los Angeles City Council stepped down from her leadership role Monday after an audio recording of racist remarks surfaced. Nury Martinez apologized in a statement while announcing her resignation. “I take responsibility for what I said and there are no excuses for those comments. I’m so sorry,” she said. Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez at City Hall on April 1.Damian Dovarganes / AP file In comments during a meeting last year, Martinez likened a colleague’s son, Black and 2 years old at the time, to an animal and seemed to imply that the county’s progressive district attorney shouldn’t be supported because he may be popular with Black Angelenos. The 2021 audio from a political strategy meeting attended by a handful of Latino Democrats on the council was first reported Sunday by the Los Angeles Times. Martinez said in the statement: “As someone who believes deeply in the empowerment of communities of color, I recognize my comments undercut that goal. Going forward, reconciliation will be my priority. I have already reached out to many of my Black colleagues and other Black leaders to express my regret in order for us to heal.” “I ask for forgiveness from my colleagues and from the residents of this city that I love so much. In the end, it is not my apologies that matter most; it will be the actions I take from this day forward. I hope that you will give me the opportunity to make amends,” she added. “Therefore, effective immediately I am resigning as President of the Los Angeles City Council,” she said. The statement did not say Martinez resigned from the council. A representative was not immediately reached Monday. The audio had surfaced on a Reddit discussion board this month but was deleted. The source of the recording is unknown, and NBC News hasn’t determined whether it has been edited. News of the racist comments caused politicians to weigh in throughout The Golden State. In a Monday statement about the remarks, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said “racist language can do real harm.” “I’m encouraged that those involved in this have apologized and begun to take responsibility for their actions,” Newsom said. “These comments have no place in our state, or in our politics, and we must all model better behavior to live the values that so many of us fight every day to protect.” U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat representing California and himself a former president of the Los Angeles City Council, said in a statement the comments were “racist” and “dehumanizing.” “At a time when our nation is grappling with a rise in hate speech and hate crimes, these racist comments have deepened the pain that our communities have endured. Los Angeles deserves better,” Padilla said. The controversy has also become a hot topic among mayoral candidates U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, a Democrat, and her opponent, billionaire and former Republican Rick Caruso. They are competing to replace Mayor Eric Garcetti. Bass said in a statement: “Los Angeles must move in a new direction, and that is not possible unless the four individuals caught on tape resign from their offices immediately.” Caruso also called on Martinez, de León and “my friend” Cedillo to resign in a statement, calling the remarks “racist and deeply offensive.” “This is a heartbreaking day for our proud, diverse city,” Caruso said. “I do believe that in their hearts they are better people than the vile comments we heard on that tape. But they also know they are role models and they have let our city down.” The meeting, apparently about political strategy and redistricting, was attended by Martinez and council members Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León, as well as Ron Herrera, the president of the powerful Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. All are Latino Democrats. The remarks about the child, the son of departing council member Mike Bonin, concerned his behavior at a parade in 2017, when he was 2. Martinez used a Spanish term to refer to the boy as an animal. Martinez also dismissed Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, a justice reform advocate who is reviled by law-and-order politicians and has survived two Republican-led recall attempts, as unworthy of the support of the people in the room. “F— that guy. He’s with the Blacks,” she said. Also on the recording, De León called Bonin, who is white, the 15-seat council’s “fourth Black member.” De León said Bonin doesn’t support Latinos — that he has never said “a peep” about them. Martinez asked why Bonin allegedly thinks he’s Black, and De León responded, “His kid is.” De León — a San Diego-raised politician who rose to statewide prominence as a legislator and then unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Los Angeles — suggested his treated his son like a fashion accessory, a handbag. Herrera didn’t appear to utter any racist remarks. He did say the group’s support for a leader to take over the seat for a traditionally Black district should be someone who would be an ally on Latino interests. Bonin has called for Martinez, De León and Herrera to resign and said the episode points to deep fissures in the city’s population. The statement characterized Martinez’s comments about the son as “dehumanizing” and said, “It is painful to know he will someday read these comments.” The Bonin family statement said only Cedillo couldn’t be implicated in making or supporting racist views, but it expressed disappointment, saying his apparent silence was “tacit acceptance of those remarks.” All four have apologized in statements. Read More Here

Why Gas Prices Are Going Back Up After Nearly 100 Days Of Declines https://digitalalaskanews.com/why-gas-prices-are-going-back-up-after-nearly-100-days-of-declines/ It was the longest losing streak for gasoline prices since the early months of the pandemic: For 98-consecutive days this summer, American drivers experienced declining gas prices thanks in part to a slower worldwide demand for oil. Now, a cut in oil production signaled by the OPEC+ group last week has sent global crude prices higher, pushing prices back up at the pump. According to AAA, the national average price of a gallon of gas climbed to $3.92 on Monday. Prices are likely to keep going higher from here as oil prices climb, according to Patrick De Haan, chief petroleum analyst at the gas price tracking group GasBuddy.com. “With OPEC+ deciding to cut oil production by two million barrels a day, we’ve seen oil prices surge 20%, which is the primary factor in the national average rising for the third straight week,” he said in a blog post Monday. For the rest of the country, De Haan said he expects prices to rise as much as $0.30 from their September lows, which would put them at around $4 a gallon. In a note to clients Monday, Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates LLC consultancy, said he also expects gasoline prices to rise to as high as $4. Lipow also noted gasoline inventories have plummeted across much of the U.S. because the previously lower pump prices increased demand among drivers, which caused prices to climb. The low inventories have prompted the Biden administration to consider banning exports of refined products out of the U.S., though no official announcement on that has been made yet. Analysts say such a ban would hurt European allies at a time when their energy prices are accelerating thanks to the war in Ukraine. If there is any relief, it will be for drivers in the West Coast and in the Midwest. Refineries there have been offline in recent weeks, but are now set to resume operations. Once they do, prices there — now the highest in the country — are likely to come down, De Haan said. Finding refuge at Costco Consumers at warehouse buying clubs like Costco, too, may see more price stability. On the company’s second-quarter earnings call last month, Costco CFO Richard Galanti explained that the company’s gasoline purchasing policy allows it to hold prices steady when costs go up at stations elsewhere. Galanti said this is the case even if the company temporarily loses money, because it has more certainty with its members seeking out Costco gas compared to other stations that must buy gasoline in advance and charge a mark-up to boost their profits. “When prices are going up each day, when spot prices are going up each day, it’s costing us a little more because we bought it today at the highest price versus four days ago,” Galanti said. But for De Haan at GasBuddy.com, he believes the current gas price pinch is going to hurt for now: “I don’t expect much improvement in prices for most of the country.” Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital. Read More Here

Watauga, Avery Obituaries – Oct. 10, 2022 https://digitalalaskanews.com/watauga-avery-obituaries-oct-10-2022/ The following are recent obituary notices from Austin & Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland. . . Roberta Jones Austin Wednesday, September 21, 2022 Roberta Jones Austin, 92, died peacefully at home in Boone, NC on September 21, 2022. She was born July 28, 1930 in Pinellas County, FL, and grew up in Bartow and Ocala. She traveled to Boone in 1952 to appear in the first production of “Horn in the West” and married Ned Austin, who played Daniel Boone. The couple moved to New York City, returning to Boone in the summers of 1953 and 1954 to appear again in the outdoor drama. The family moved to Denver, CO and lived there 20 years. In addition to raising six children, Mrs. Austin also taught school, sang as a folk singer and in choirs and musicals, and taught piano. The family returned to Boone, where she taught at Hardin Park Elementary School, earned a master’s degree at ASU, and retired in 1996 after 23 years of teaching. In 1992 she was selected NC Teacher of the World and won a trip to Russia, taking with her two of her grandsons, Grant and Jordan Austin. Roberta was a member of Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for many years. She was also co-president of PFLAG of Boone, and a volunteer instructor of English as a Second Language with High Country Amigos. With a passion for music, teaching, and learning, she saw greatness in every student she taught. With her eldest son’s assistance, at the age of 89 she self-published “Granddaddy’s Memoirs,” and her own memoir, “Are We There Yet?” In her final week of life, she declared, “I want to write more.” She left behind notes for her next book, “We’re ON Our Way!” Roberta is survived by children, David Austin (PerrI), Robin Austin (Ann, Deceased), (Luanne Fleming), Sam Austin *Berry Fecarotta), Frances Austin (Ray Davis), Genevieve Austin, and Laura Bryant (Thomas, deceased) (Jeff Hanna). She is also survived by sister-in-law, Elaine Jones. Gifted with twelve grandchildren: Grant Austin (Joie), Jordan Austin (deceased), Noelle Brown (Sam), James Austin (Silver), Corwin Henville (Victoria Crutchfield), Adah Henville, and twin sister Sarah Henville (deceased), Austin Bryant, Champ Bryant (fiancée Lauren Engley), Edward Austin, Clara Austin, and Tristan Russell. She was blessed with six great-grandchildren, Noa Grace Hoffman, Connor and Jasper O’Brien, Daisy and Sam Austin and Annie Rose Brown. Also surviving are many beloved maternal and paternal nieces and nephews. . . Catherine Johnson Lee 1941 – 2022 Catherine “Cathy” Johnson Lee, 81, of Oak Island, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at Glenbridge Health & Rehab in Boone, NC on 09/21/2022. She was born to parents Emanuel “Lefty” Johnson and Marianna B. Johnson, on 08/02/1941 in Washington, DC. She graduated from Atlantic City High School in 1959. She went on to study Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She worked as a NICU Nurse for over 40 years, spending most of her career at Charlotte Memorial Hospital in Charlotte, NC, now named Atrium Health Carolinas Medical, and then the final part of her career at New Hanover Hospital in Wilmington, NC., where she retired in 2006. She enjoyed fishing, traveling whether it was alone or with her two sisters to go on shopping sprees in Charleston and Pigeon Forge, bird watching, was a volunteer at the Cape Lookout lighthouse, and most of all loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, Nicky, Gabbie, and Xander. Her family has many fond memories of her and will miss her beautiful smile, unconditional love, tender soul, and infectious laugh. She raised her children, Donnie and Kim, on her own and they will tell you that they are the people and parents they are today, because of her and the example she lived by. From taking them out in the rain to go on walks, to traveling on spur-of-the-moment weekend trips, to being there for them no matter the reason. Her grandchildren were the joy that filled her heart. If you were to ask her what she loved most, she would tell you it was her grandchildren. She enjoyed all her time with them from fishing, watching soccer, baseball, or basketball games, to baking and decorating for Christmas. The family will tell you their hearts are full because of her. Cathy is survived by son Donnie and his wife Heidi Lee, of Newport, NC, and daughter Kim, and her husband Tommy Havelos of Todd, NC; her three grandchildren Nicky Lee, Gabbie Lee, and Xander Havelos; her two sisters Chris and her husband, Richard Noecker, of Southport NC, and Vicki Duncan of Southport, NC; and her many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Emanuel and Marianna Johnson, sister Mare Johnson, and her brother-in-law Terry Duncan. The family has entrusted Austin and Barnes of Boone, NC with the arrangements. A Memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday, October 22, 2022, at 2:00 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 215 Ann St, Beaufort, NC 28516. A reception of light snacks for all will follow immediately after the service in the parish hall of the church. Mother Tammy Lee will officiate the ceremony. Cremation and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Cathy’s name to Medi Home Health & Hospice of Boone, NC, or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Beaufort NC. Online condolences may be shared at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com . . Arlis Carson Tester 1927 – 2022 Mr. Arlis Carson Tester, age 95, of Vilas, went to heaven peacefully on September 22, 2022 at the Life Care Center in Banner Elk. He was born on April 18, 1927, in Watauga County and graduated from Bethel High School. After earning his diploma, he enlisted in the US Army in 1945. He served in Germany at the end of World War II. Upon his return from the service, he became well known in the community as the owner of Tester’s Service Station in Vilas for over 45 years. Arlis retired for one year before re-entering the work force and delivered auto parts for Advance Auto Parts and Charlie’s Auto Parts in Boone until the age of 84 because he missed being around people and helping others. He was an avid gardener and spend many hours tending and cultivating his crops. His specialty was tomatoes and green beans. Arlis loved being outside soaking up the sunshine and God’s wonderful creation and in his latter years spent countless hours sitting on his front porch.  He was always lending aid to anyone who needed it. He was the embodiment of Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves”.  Arlis was a man of unwavering faith and love. He was always the first to greet anyone with a wide smile. He worked hard and when he was not working, he was volunteering his time and talents to better everyone’s lives. After his retirement he was often seen in the halls of local nursing homes and assisted living facilities visiting family and friends and caring for them. He was a charter member of the Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department, a consistent volunteer for Operation Christmas Child at Samaritan’s Purse, a member of Alliance Bible Fellowship, and a frequent blood donor to the American Red Cross. He consistently gave blood at every opportunity until his physician ordered him to stop in his late 80’s.  He is preceded in death by his son, Larry Kent Tester. He is survived by his loving wife of 74 years, Bina Mast Tester, of Vilas, two sons, Duane and Laurie Tester of Cary, NC, and Wayne and Esther Tester of Anchorage, AK. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Carson Stahlsmith (Zachary) of Holly Springs, NC, Katherine Abernethy (Cameron) of Sanford, NC, Stephen Tester II of Cary, NC, Bradley Tester (Emily) of Madison, AL, Brandon Tester of Johnson City, TN, Shannon Hammond (Chase) of Virginia Beach, VA, Amy Lewis (Brad) of West Jefferson, NC, and Derek Tester of Vilas, NC. The Tester Family would like to express their profound appreciation for the nurses and staff of Watauga Medical Center 3rd Floor, Life Care Center in Banner Elk, and Amorem Hospice for their exceptional care of Arlis during his final days on earth.  In lieu of flowers or food, the family respectfully requests that donations be made in his honor to Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000 Boone, NC 28607.  Funeral services for Mr. Arlis Carson Tester will be conducted Sunday afternoon, September 25, 2022 at 2pm at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home in Boone. Officiating will be Pastor Doug Cheshier and Pastor Scott Andrews of Alliance Bible Fellowship. Graveside services will be held immediately after at Cove Creek Baptist Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion, Boone, NC and the National Guard. Austin and Barnes Funeral Home is Serving the Tester Family. Online condolences may be shared at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com . . Ella Mae Ward 1932 – 2022 Ella Mae Ward, 90, of Newland, NC passed away September 24, 2022 at her residence. She is the daughter of the late Jonah Harmon and Hannah Presnell. Ms. Ward worked for a garment manufacturing company for 30 years before retiring. She is preceded in death by her first husband, James Lester and second husband, Blaine Wilson Ward as well as her parents Jonah Harmon and Hannah Presnell. Ms. Ward loved to work in her garden and go to the lake. The family of Ella Ward respectfully requests that donations be made to hospice, dementia, and Alzheimer’s organizations. Thank you for your love and prayers. Entrusted to serve the family is Austin and Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory. . . William Aaron Hodges 1974 – 2022 Mr. William Aaron Hodges, age 47, of Vilas, NC passed away on September 24, 2022. He was born on on September 26, 1974 to Wava Yarber Hodges and Oscar Hodges. Surviving are M...

U.N. Publicly Rejects Russia's Call For Secret Vote On Ukraine https://digitalalaskanews.com/u-n-publicly-rejects-russias-call-for-secret-vote-on-ukraine/ UNITED NATIONS, Oct 10 (Reuters) – The United Nations General Assembly voted on Monday to reject Russia’s call for the 193-member body to hold a secret ballot later this week on whether to condemn Moscow’s move to annex four partially occupied regions in Ukraine. The General Assembly decided, with 107 votes in favor, that it would hold a public vote – not a secret ballot – on a draft resolution that condemns Russia’s “illegal so-called referenda” and the “attempted illegal annexation.” Diplomats said the vote on the resolution would likely be on Wednesday or Thursday. Only 13 countries on Monday opposed holding a public vote on the draft resolution, another 39 countries abstained and the remaining countries – including Russia and China – did not vote. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Russia had argued that Western lobbying meant that “it may be very difficult if positions are expressed publicly.” During the meeting on Monday Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia questioned the push to condemn Moscow. “What does this have to do with peace and security or trying to settle conflicts?” said Nebenzia, describing it as “yet one more step towards division and escalation, which I’m sure is not something the absolute majority of states in this room need.” After the General Assembly decided on Monday that it would hold a public vote on the draft resolution, Russia immediately tried to get the body to reconsider the issue, but it overwhelmingly failed. Moscow has moved to annex four partially occupied regions in Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia – after staging what it called referendums. Ukraine and allies have denounced the votes as illegal and coercive. The draft U.N. General Assembly resolution calls on states not to recognize Russia’s move and reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The United Nations headquarters building is pictured with a UN logo in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo ‘TRAIL OF BLOOD’ Ukraine’s U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya called on countries to defend the principles of the founding U.N. Charter. “A trail of blood is left behind the Russian delegation when it enters the General Assembly and the hall is filled up with the smell of smoldering human flesh. That’s what we have tolerated in Syria. That’s what is happening today in Ukraine,” he told the General Assembly on Monday. Russia rained cruise missiles on busy Ukrainian cities on Monday in what the United States called “horrific strikes”, killing civilians and knocking out power and heat with its most widespread air attacks since the start of the war more than seven months ago. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed the international community earlier on Monday to make clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions were “completely unacceptable.” “Now is the time to speak out in support for Ukraine; it is not the time for abstentions, placating words, or equivocations under claims of neutrality. The core principles of the U.N. Charter are at stake,” Blinken said in a statement. Russia vetoed a similar resolution in the 15-member Security Council last month. It has been trying to chip away at its international isolation after nearly three-quarters of the General Assembly reprimanded Moscow and demanded it withdraw its troops within a week of its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. The moves at the United Nations mirror what happened in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea. At the Security Council Russia vetoed a draft resolution that opposed a referendum on the status of Crimea and urged countries not to recognize it. The General Assembly then adopted a resolution declaring the referendum invalid with 100 votes in favor, 11 against and 58 formal abstentions, while two dozen countries didn’t take part. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Alistair Bell and Rosalba O’Brien Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here

Trump Lawyer Who Said No More Docs At Mar-A-Lago Reportedly Cooperating With Feds And Named Names https://digitalalaskanews.com/trump-lawyer-who-said-no-more-docs-at-mar-a-lago-reportedly-cooperating-with-feds-and-named-names/ Former OAN host and attorney for former President Donald Trump, Christina Bobb, reportedly spoke with federal investigators on Friday and worked to clarify her role in signing a letter declaring Trump had no more documents at his Florida home – which turned out to be false. Bobb signed the certified statement on June 3rd, two months before the FBI searched Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate with a search warrant and seized 11,000 documents wrongfully taken to the former president’s residence. NBC’s Marc Caputo reported Bobb “named two other Trump attorneys involved with the case.” Bobb reportedly told investigators that the letter she signed was drafted by Evan Corcoran, who was Trump’s “lead lawyer” at the time. “Bobb also spoke to investigators about Trump legal adviser Boris Epshteyn, who she said did not help draft the statement but was minimally involved in discussions about the records, according to the sources,” Caputo added. Caputo also reported some bombshell statements from sources close to Bobb who said she insisted the letter be written with “a disclaimer.” Bobb would only sign a certification that read it was “based upon the information that has been provided to me.” Bobb identified Corcoran as the individual who provided that “information” to her, Caputo reported, adding: “She had to insist on that disclaimer twice before she signed it,” said one source who spoke with Bobb about what she told investigators. “She is not criminally liable,” the source said. “She is not going to be charged. She is not pointing fingers. She is simply a witness for the truth.” “People made [Bobb] the fall guy — or fall gal, for what it’s worth — and it’s wrong,” the source added. “Yes, she signed the declaration. No one disputes that. But what she signed is technically accurate… The people who told her to sign it should know better.” The Washington Post reported in late September Bobb had hired her own lawyer. Bobb retained Florida-based former prosecutor John Lauro and “made it known to Trump allies that she is willing to cooperate and be interviewed by the Justice Department,” noted the Post at the time. Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com Read More Here

Johnson Has $30 Million Year And Growing In LIV Golf https://digitalalaskanews.com/johnson-has-30-million-year-and-growing-in-liv-golf/ Dustin Johnson needed only six events to have a $30 million year, and he still has two events left with Saudi-funded LIV Golf. Even though he failed to finish in the top 10 for the first time, Johnson clinched the inaugural LIV Golf Individual Championship. The two-time major champion already has earned $12,758,600 — $3 million of that from four team victories in the LIV Golf Invitational series — with one individual title. Winning the season points title comes with an $18 million bonus. Johnson has 121 points going into the LIV Golf Invitational-Jeddah event this week in Saudi Arabia. He has a 42-point lead over Branden Grace, who had to withdraw last week because of an injury. The winner of each event gets 40 points. Johnson was the most significant player Greg Norman signed for the rival league. He held the No. 1 ranking longer than any other player since Tiger Woods and had said in February he would stick with the PGA Tour until changing his mind in June. The $30 million is in addition to the signing fee to join LIV Golf, which The Daily Telegraph reported to be about $125 million over four years. Johnson won the Boston event in a playoff. He tied for second in the LIV events at Trump Bedminster in New Jersey and outside Chicago. The LIV Golf events feature $25 million in total prize money — $20 million for the individual competition, with the winner getting $4 million. Johnson’s most lucrative year on the course on the PGA Tour was in 2020, when he captured the FedEx Cup and its $15 million bonus and earned just over $5 million in regular prize money. He played 14 times that season, which lost nearly three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Greg Norman, the CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf, referred to the 38-year-old Johnson as the “cornerstone” of the league. “He has more than lived up to his billing,” Norman said. After the seventh event in Saudi Arabia, LIV Golf wraps up its season with a $50 million bonanza at Trump Doral near Miami for team competition. Each player on the winning team gets $4 million. Johnson earned nearly $75 million, not including FedEx Cup bonuses, in his 15 years on the PGA Tour before resigning his membership to join LIV Golf. LIV Golf is funded by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. ___ More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Read More Here

Ron Johnson Laments https://digitalalaskanews.com/ron-johnson-laments/ October 10, 2022 05:07 PM MUSKEGO, Wisconsin — Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) frets about the “anger and division” roiling American politics. How much? Everywhere Johnson goes while campaigning for reelection against Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (D), he raises the topic, unprompted, and declares his commitment to “unifying and healing” the nation. “Aren’t you getting tired of the anger and division? I certainly am,” the Republican senator told a crowd of 500 college students on a recent weekday morning. A few hours later, it was more of the same during a town hall meeting with workers on a factory floor. “I’m dedicated to unifying and healing this nation. I truly am,” Johnson said. “That’s my promise to you.” But Johnson doesn’t spread the blame equally among Democrats and Republicans when it comes to which party, or which party’s leaders, are responsible for the anger and division that has him so concerned. President Joe Biden might have failed to honor the promise of his inaugural address. But is unity and healing, possible with former President Donald Trump, also stoking discord? “I can only speak for myself,” Johnson insisted Saturday during an interview with the Washington Examiner after being mobbed by voters with handshakes, selfie requests, and well-wishes for success in the midterm elections while visiting an annual Oktoberfest gathering at a moose lodge in Muskego, an exurb community in the Republican stronghold of Waukesha County. “But again, I want you to understand the role the media has played in this, how divisive the media has been,” Johnson said. Remember half the population did not accept Donald Trump as the legitimate president — and that was all OK.” The senator wasn’t finished. “From a conservative’s perspective, we see the, again, grotesque unfairness, grotesque bias in the media,” he said. “Fast-forward, where there are definitely irregularities in the 2020 election … because of COVID, we doubled the number of absentee ballots,” Johnson continued. “Where fraud can occur is primarily absentee ballots. So, we doubled them, and here in Wisconsin, we relaxed all kinds of controls over them. Oh, nothing to see here.” Neither is Johnson, 67 and up for a third Senate term on Nov. 8, necessarily calling for a ceasefire. “What I think we need to heal this nation is, first, the truth — acknowledge the truth,” he said. “It’s the bias in the media that is, from my standpoint, driving so much of the division and anger on our side.” REP. SLOTKIN URGES DEMOCRATS TO SEEK ‘NEW BLOOD’ IN 2024 Johnson-Barnes is a close race, befitting Wisconsin, a state that has seesawed between Democrats and Republicans over the past dozen years, reflecting the direction of national political winds. But after trailing his 35-year-old Democratic challenger late in the summer, Johnson has led in the polls for nearly four consecutive weeks with political tailwinds, voters’ priorities, skyrocketing inflation, rising crime, and Biden’s low job approval ratings all pointing toward victory. Crime, particularly, might be a bigger problem in Wisconsin than inflation. And as the face of bail reform in the Badger State, and a past critic of police practices, Barnes has been feeling the heat — at least enough that he worked to undo the damage in his first debate with Johnson. But the senator is not coasting, having assembled what his campaign describes as the largest nonpresidential voter turnout operation in Wisconsin history. The effort includes more than 90 paid political and field staff, 1,000 unpaid volunteers described as “actively engaged,” 64 field offices across the state, and additional “pop-up” field officers. Among the 64 permanent headquarters are three field offices in Milwaukee, including one each in primarily black and Hispanic neighborhoods. The campaign boasts of knocking on 300,000 doors since Sept. 1. and could be a difference-maker. The senator is under pressure for his opposition to abortion rights in the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, and he is also facing questions for his habit of downplaying the severity of the Jan. 6 ransacking of the U.S. Capitol. Indeed, the first question he received during a Q&A with students at Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, Wisconsin, was on this very topic. Democrats in Wisconsin argue these problems are energizing their voters and keeping Barnes in contention despite obvious political challenges — and history: Typically, the party in power in the White House loses an average of 25 House seats and four Senate seats in midterm elections. “People are getting fired up,” Calena Roberts, field director for the Service Employees International Union, said while attending a rally for Barnes in Milwaukee. “Don’t count us out.” Johnson responds to Democratic attacks on abortion by hammering Barnes for opposing all government restrictions on access to the procedure, including late in pregnancy when the fetus is clearly viable. This counterpunch could prove politically potent, with polls showing a majority of voters oppose late-term abortions. Meanwhile, the senator seems visibly frustrated by the lingering criticism regarding his comments on Jan. 6, an event nearly two years old. “As soon as I saw the violence … I condemned it immediately; I condemned it forcefully — I’ve condemned it repeatedly. I always have. We all do,” Johnson told the Washington Examiner. But he added: “To me, an insurrection is something that’s pre-planned with volumes of people that can actually carry it out. This was some kind of ragtag operation from some groups agitating, creating the violence, which I have repeatedly condemned.” Johnson rode the Tea Party wave to an unexpected victory in 2010 over then-Sen. Russ Feingold (D). Six years later, Johnson surprised the political handicappers again, beating Feingold in a rematch after many political insiders in his own party had left the senator for dead (Johnson outperformed Trump in that race). Asked to compare those campaigns to the political atmosphere of 2022, Johnson said this contest feels palpably different. “Republican voters view participating in this fall’s election as a more urgent task than 12 years ago when they were galvanized by opposition to Obamacare and anxiety about an economy that had not recovered from a devastating recession. People are thinking, ‘Our country’s in jeopardy. We need to save this country,’” Johnson said. “That wasn’t like that in 2010.” CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The senator’s assessment was bolstered by the affection he was showered with as he made his way through the Oktoberfest gathering here in Muskego. Even before Johnson could introduce himself and ask for their vote, attendees put their beer and bratwurst aside to greet the senator and thank him for representing their interests in Washington and, importantly, promise him he has their vote in November. Interviews with more than a half-dozen of them revealed a pattern of loyalty Johnson has cultivated among Republican voters. “He’s with the people, speaks for the people, and he works for us and he’s willing to come out and do things like this, and he actually listens to us,” Patrick Panka, 44 and a craftsman, said, after shaking hands with Johnson. Donna Labisch, 51, relaxing on a high top near the bar just after posing for a picture with the senator, said: “He’s a genuine person that cares about the community; he cares about the people.” Read More Here

Ex-White House Aide Cassidy Hutchinson Cooperating With Georgia Election Investigation: Report https://digitalalaskanews.com/ex-white-house-aide-cassidy-hutchinson-cooperating-with-georgia-election-investigation-report/ October 10, 2022 03:15 PM Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson is cooperating with a Georgia investigation into former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state, according to reports. Hutchinson, who rose to fame after becoming a star witness for the Jan. 6 committee earlier this summer, could offer investigators information on what was happening behind closed doors inside the White House as Trump sought to reverse his election loss to President Joe Biden, according to CNN. Hutchinson has already been cooperating with the Department of Justice in its separate efforts to investigate Trump’s efforts to overturn election results. TRUMP DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER EXPECTED TO COOPERATE WITH FULTON COUNTY INVESTIGATION: REPORT Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, speaks at a hearing with the House select committee on the Jan. 6 riot. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner) Hutchinson’s involvement with the Georgia investigation was not previously known. The Fulton County investigation centers on a call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger after the election asking him to “find” the 11,780 votes needed to flip the state in his favor. Trump has maintained it was a “perfect call” and that he did nothing wrong. A documentary filmmaker who had access to Trump in the days following the 2020 election is also expected to cooperate with Fulton County prosecutors, CNN reported in June. Fulton County officials are seeking footage filmmaker Alex Holder has of Trump, particularly of any comments he made about Gov. Brian Kemp and Raffensperger, both of whom refused the former president’s efforts to overturn election results in the state. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER During her time in the White House, Hutchinson served as a top aide to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, whom Georgia prosecutors have also sought for testimony, according to CNN. Investigators have not yet secured cooperation from Meadows on the matter. The revelation of Hutchinson’s involvement comes as Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has suggested investigators will begin taking on a quieter appearance in order to avoid suggestions they are influencing voter opinions before the midterm elections. Willis is reportedly aiming to conclude the investigation and begin issuing indictments before the end of the year. Read More Here

Jeb Bush Fires Back After Trump Attacks His Father https://digitalalaskanews.com/jeb-bush-fires-back-after-trump-attacks-his-father/ Read More Here

Cassidy Hutchinson To Cooperate With Atlanta-Area Probe Of Trump: CNN https://digitalalaskanews.com/cassidy-hutchinson-to-cooperate-with-atlanta-area-probe-of-trump-cnn/ Peter Afriyie Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, answers questions during a House Jan. 6 committee to hearing on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson is reportedly cooperating with an Atlanta district attorney’s probe of former President Trump, his allies and their efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported on Monday that Hutchinson — who served as a special assistant to former Trump White House chief-of-staff Mark Meadows — is cooperating with the probe led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Hutchinson was a key witness for the House select committee’s Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, relaying information about what occurred at the White House in the lead-up to and on the day of the Capitol riot. She testified with the panel behind closed doors and during a live, public hearing, where she delivered a number of explosive accounts. Multiple news outlets reported in July that Hutchinson was cooperating with the Justice Department’s probe of Jan. 6. The Hill has reached out to Hutchinson’s attorney and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for comment. News of Hutchinson’s reported cooperation in the Peach State comes after Willis in August filed petitions for Meadows to testify before a special grand jury. The prosecutor also requested testimony from pro-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell and James “Phil” Waldron, who met with Meadows. The Fulton County District Attorney’s investigation into Trump and his allies was sparked by the January 2021 call that the then-president placed to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger asking that he “find” the number of votes needed to give Trump a win in the state. Meadows was present on the call. The probe, however, has since grown in scope, including baseless claims of election fraud, fake elector plots, attempts by individuals to get a hold of voting machines in a county in the state, and threatening remarks targeting election workers, according to CNN. Meadows visited Cobb County, Ga., in December 2020 when a review of absentee ballots was underway. Hutchinson spoke about the trip with the House committee behind closed doors. “The primary purpose of this trip was to visit family. His son lives in Georgia, and they went down to see his son for Christmas. Conveniently, his son lives in close proximity to Cobb County, and Mr. Meadows had discussed at length coordinating any visits with Georgia State officials during this trip,” she said. “Now, there was a point where I was going to go with him because he was going to conduct a few more meetings, but then it was decided that he would make it a little bit more informal and casual, which is when he decided to go watch the ballots being counted,” she added. CNN reported last week that Willis is looking to conclude her investigation after the November midterm elections, and could start indicting individuals in December, according to sources familiar with the situation. She has said the probe will enter a quiet period this month to steer clear of the impression that the investigation is attempting to sway the midterms, according to CNN. Read More Here

Newly Released Emails Debunk Trump And Allies' Attempts To Blame The GSA For Packing Boxes That Ended Up In Mar-A-Lago | CNN Politics https://digitalalaskanews.com/newly-released-emails-debunk-trump-and-allies-attempts-to-blame-the-gsa-for-packing-boxes-that-ended-up-in-mar-a-lago-cnn-politics-2/ 06:31 – Source: CNN Trump asks Supreme Court to intervene in the Mar-a-Lago documents fight Washington CNN  —  When the General Services Administration prepared to ship pallets of material to Florida for former President Donald Trump in July 2021, the federal agency asked Trump aide Beau Harrison to affirm what was in the boxes being shipped. Harrison, Trump’s former assistant for operations, was asked to affirm that everything packed and shipped to Florida was either “required to wind down the office of the Former President or are items that are property of the Federal Government,” so it could be covered by transition funding. Former presidents are allowed to take certain government materials and office equipment required to set up a permanent office away from the White House. But that does not include the sort of classified documents Trump took to Mar-a-Lago – which are at the center of an ongoing Justice Department criminal probe. Harrison, one of the handful of aides interviewed by federal investigators in the spring as they sought information on presidential records, returned a letter on “The Office of Donald J. Trump” letterhead stating what was in the boxes. The email exchange between GSA officials and Harrison is one of more than 100 pages of emails and documents newly released by the GSA that debunk claims from Trump and his allies that the government agency is to blame for packing the boxes containing classified documents that were later recovered by the FBI during the search of his Mar-a-Lago resort in August. The newly released emails also provide new details underscoring the rushed, chaotic nature of Trump’s transition after he spent two months exhausting numerous avenues trying to overturn the 2020 election. The emails make clear that the boxes had already been packed and sat shrink-wrapped in an empty office space in Arlington, Virginia, as GSA officials planned logistics to ship the five pallets of boxes – including 30 banker boxes similar to those recovered by the FBI at Mar-a-Lago – to Florida. The released communications, which were first reported by Bloomberg News, outline how boxes, including 1,400 pounds of “document boxes,” traveled from the White House to Florida, from inventories of the purchase of boxes and shipping materials to photos of the new office space Trump’s team would inhabit. It remains unclear whether anything in the boxes that GSA shipped contained the government documents in the 15 boxes sent to the National Archives in January or the tens of thousands of documents the FBI retrieved in August – materials now at the heart of the criminal investigation into the classified material found at Mar-a-Lago. But the new cache of email adds new detail showing how documents from the Trump administration made their way to Florida – and directly debunks attempts Trump and his allies have made to defend the former President by blaming GSA. In an interview on Fox News on August 12, four days after the FBI search, former Trump defense official Kash Patel claimed the GSA was responsible for the documents being at Trump’s Florida home. “Even if (the documents were) classified … they’ll never meet the burden of intent because the president didn’t pack it up and take it out himself, the GSA has said they did it and they made a mistake,” Patel said. The GSA has never said they packed the boxes. “They packed them,” Trump said in an interview with Sean Hannity on September 23. A spokesman for Trump did not directly address how these emails dispute claims made by the former president and allies, and instead attacked the Biden administration. “A routine and necessary process has been leveraged by power-hungry partisan bureaucrats to intimidate and silence those who have dared to support President Trump and his America First agenda,” said Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich. “Why? Because Democrats have done nothing to deliver for the American people and they are left scrambling to fabricate a new witch-hunt to distract from their abject failures.” In emails throughout 2021, however, career officials at the GSA outlined to Trump’s aides what could and could not be included in the shipments GSA would send to Florida – underscoring that the federal agency was relying on Trump’s aides to assess the contents being shipped. While the transition team worked with the GSA to facilitate the move, concern inside the National Archives over missing presidential documents was growing. The National Archives alerted Trump’s lawyers in May 2021 that Trump’s letters with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un – and two dozen boxes of records – were missing. But documents were never raised in the logistics email exchanges. Instead, they focused at times on what items could and could not be shipped to Florida on the federal government’s dime. In particular, a 300-pound portrait of Trump that had been gifted to the former President led to multiple rounds of back and forth, with the GSA ultimately declining to ship the item, deeming it “personal property.” At one point, the GSA outgoing transition director sent the Trump aides guidance on what was allowed to be sent. “If the item is considered property of the Former President then it should not be shipped using Transition Funds. If the item is considered property of the Federal Government then it should go to NARA or GSA,” Kathy Geisler wrote in an email and attached the guidance on gifts. “I just wanted to make sure we had an understanding of what you are allowed to ship using Transition funds.” The gigantic portrait was sent to an aide’s home to eventually ship to the former President’s resort. In the email exchange, Trump’s director of correspondence Desiree Thompson Sayle asked Geisler to point out where in the federal code she was referring to. “I want to ensure that we are in compliance, and the attached appears to be general guidance on what gifts (foreign and domestic) can be accepted by a government employee or elected official,” she wrote. “Working with NARA and GSA, I am in full compliance with the final disposition of gifts. So much so, we are loading the large portrait received after the 21st on a Penske truck to transport to my house so I can put it on my moving van,” Sayle added. It wasn’t until mid-January – just nine days before President Joe Biden’s inauguration – that Trump’s staff began setting up a post presidential life for the former President following a plan signed off on by former chief of staff Mark Meadows. Following the same pattern of past presidential transitions, GSA would provide the funds and support to help with the transition and setting up a post-presidential office. Around the time Meadows signed the plan, White House aides described a chaotic and unsure environment with a President more focused on overturning the 2020 election than beginning his next chapter. These circumstances lead to a delayed, unorganized and nontraditional transition, made apparent in the trove of emails. The chaotic environment continued after Trump vacated the White House. In July 2021, a flurry of late-night emails show staff scrambling unsuccessfully to get the boxes sent off on the final night the outgoing team would be allowed to use transition funds to assist the move, eventually having to use other resources. After the boxes were to be picked up and Trump’s team had long gone to Florida, there was yet another snag in August – one pallet was the wrong size and couldn’t fit on the freight elevator. The event delayed the delivery again, the emails show, and resulted in an intern being flown back from the Sunshine State to repack the pallets and prepare them to be sent to Mar-a-Lago, where they finally arrived mid-September. “My intern is flying back to DC tomorrow, and he can repack the pallets in Crystal City,” Sayle wrote to GSA. “Before I send him to pick up a roll of shrink wrap from Uhaul and plan to head over, can you tell me if there is AC on the 12th floor?” CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correctly reference the General Services Administration. Read More Here

Rivian Shares Skid After EV Maker Recalls Nearly All Vehicles https://digitalalaskanews.com/rivian-shares-skid-after-ev-maker-recalls-nearly-all-vehicles/ Oct 10 (Reuters) – Shares of Rivian Automotive Inc (RIVN.O) fell about 9% on Monday after the electric-vehicle maker recalled nearly all its vehicles, exacerbating investor concerns that the company may not be able to meet its 2023 production target. The Amazon.com Inc-backed (AMZN.O) firm on Friday recalled about 13,000 vehicles due to a possible loose fastener that could cause the driver to lose steering control. Rivian started selling its EVs in the third quarter of last year, and has so far delivered 13,198 vehicles. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com “We have greater concerns on 2023 production expectations,” RBC Capital Markets said in a note on Monday. The addition of battery packs and motors as well as downtime required at the plant to ramp up capacity could derail Rivian’s pace of production, it said. While the broad recall could hurt the brand and cause lingering credibility issues for future production, Wedbush Securities said in a note, it does not believe the recall would impact Rivian’s production or delivery goals for the year. Shares of the company fell to $30.79 in early trading – the lowest in over a month. They have fallen 67.3% this year due to a selloff in equities driven by an uncertain macro-economic environment and a production forecast cut. The company in March cut its 2022 production forecast in half to 25,000 due to sticky supply-chain issues. read more Wall Street expects Rivian to make 23,590 vehicles this year, according to Visible Alpha. Reuters Graphics A local court in Georgia, where Rivian is building its $5-billion manufacturing plant, last week rejected a joint proposal by the state’s Department of Economic Development and the company to secure local incentives for its project in the state. The local development authority had said in May the company would gain incentives of $1.5 billion from the state. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Akash Sriram and Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Read More Here