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Donald Trump Taps Ben Carson to Be Housing Secretary; Fake News Draws Real Gunfire Donald Trump Taps Ben Carson to Be Housing Secretary; Fake News Draws Real Gunfire
(about 1 hour later)
President-elect Donald J. Trump on Monday chose the retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson to be his housing secretary and is set to formally select the retired general James N. Mattis to be his defense secretary. A fake news story saying that Hillary Clinton had a child sex trafficking ring in the back of a pizza parlor turned into a very real scare.President-elect Donald J. Trump on Monday chose the retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson to be his housing secretary and is set to formally select the retired general James N. Mattis to be his defense secretary. A fake news story saying that Hillary Clinton had a child sex trafficking ring in the back of a pizza parlor turned into a very real scare.
Mr. Trump selected Mr. Carson, a formal rival for the Republican presidential nomination, to be his secretary of housing and urban development, despite Mr. Carson’s lack of experience in housing policy.Mr. Trump selected Mr. Carson, a formal rival for the Republican presidential nomination, to be his secretary of housing and urban development, despite Mr. Carson’s lack of experience in housing policy.
The president-elect said:The president-elect said:
The housing mortgage market has been largely under federal control since the Great Recession and the collapse of the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which have been under federal receivership for nearly a decade.The housing mortgage market has been largely under federal control since the Great Recession and the collapse of the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which have been under federal receivership for nearly a decade.
Mr. Trump said during the campaign that America’s inner cities were wastelands of violence and depravity. Mr. Carson, if confirmed, will have his work cut out for him.Mr. Trump said during the campaign that America’s inner cities were wastelands of violence and depravity. Mr. Carson, if confirmed, will have his work cut out for him.
Mr. Carson’s spokesman has said that the former neurosurgeon did not have the management experience to run an entire federal agency.Mr. Carson’s spokesman has said that the former neurosurgeon did not have the management experience to run an entire federal agency.
Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the minority leader, was not pleased with news of the appointment:
A gunman entered a popular Washington pizza restaurant that had been the target of harassment after a fake news article said it was the base of a child abuse ring, firing his weapon before being arrested on Sunday and escalating fear in what is normally a quiet neighborhood.A gunman entered a popular Washington pizza restaurant that had been the target of harassment after a fake news article said it was the base of a child abuse ring, firing his weapon before being arrested on Sunday and escalating fear in what is normally a quiet neighborhood.
The episode at Comet Ping Pong in northwest Washington severely escalated what had already been a tense period after false rumors began to spread that the restaurant was somehow tied to a child abuse ring run by Mrs. Clinton and her campaign chairman, John D. Podesta.The episode at Comet Ping Pong in northwest Washington severely escalated what had already been a tense period after false rumors began to spread that the restaurant was somehow tied to a child abuse ring run by Mrs. Clinton and her campaign chairman, John D. Podesta.
That might sound far-fetched, but it led to dozens of threats against its employees by email and on social media.That might sound far-fetched, but it led to dozens of threats against its employees by email and on social media.
Even the son of retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, picked to be Mr. Trump’s national security adviser, was still trafficking in the so-called Pizzagate conspiracy theory Sunday night.Even the son of retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, picked to be Mr. Trump’s national security adviser, was still trafficking in the so-called Pizzagate conspiracy theory Sunday night.
The virtual threats turned much more menacing on Sunday when Edgar M. Welch, 28, of Salisbury, N.C., arrived at Comet to “self-investigate” the online conspiracy theory, the police said.The virtual threats turned much more menacing on Sunday when Edgar M. Welch, 28, of Salisbury, N.C., arrived at Comet to “self-investigate” the online conspiracy theory, the police said.
In a statement, Comet Ping Pong’s owner, James Alefantis, condemned those who had spread the bogus reports about child abuse.In a statement, Comet Ping Pong’s owner, James Alefantis, condemned those who had spread the bogus reports about child abuse.
“What happened today demonstrates that promoting false and reckless conspiracy theories comes with consequences,” he said. “I hope that those involved in fanning these flames will take a moment to contemplate what happened here today and stop promoting these falsehoods right away.”“What happened today demonstrates that promoting false and reckless conspiracy theories comes with consequences,” he said. “I hope that those involved in fanning these flames will take a moment to contemplate what happened here today and stop promoting these falsehoods right away.”
Sabrina Ousmaal, the owner of the French restaurant Terasol, across the street from Comet, was furious:Sabrina Ousmaal, the owner of the French restaurant Terasol, across the street from Comet, was furious:
“I hope you never EVER have to live the day, the minute, the second your heart stops and your body goes in trance because you just received an email from your 20-year-old who came to surprise you this weekend saying there is a shooter outside and that she is in lockdown,” she wrote in an email. “I hope you never ever have to live the day, the minute, the second your heart stops and your body goes in trance because you just received an email from your 20-year-old who came to surprise you this weekend saying there is a shooter outside and that she is in lockdown,” she wrote in an email.
Jill Stein, the Green Party presidential candidate struggling to get traction for the recounts she is pressing in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, will hold a protest across the street from Trump Tower at 10 a.m. Monday.Jill Stein, the Green Party presidential candidate struggling to get traction for the recounts she is pressing in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, will hold a protest across the street from Trump Tower at 10 a.m. Monday.
Mr. Trump let the world know what he thought of Ms. Stein and her efforts on Sunday when he thought she was dropping her Pennsylvania push.Mr. Trump let the world know what he thought of Ms. Stein and her efforts on Sunday when he thought she was dropping her Pennsylvania push.
That only egged on Ms. Stein to change her mind and press legal action to get a recount started in the Keystone State.That only egged on Ms. Stein to change her mind and press legal action to get a recount started in the Keystone State.
And if you’re still counting, Mrs. Clinton’s popular vote lead over Mr. Trump climbed to 2,597,156 over the weekend, a flat 2 percentage points. That brings her lead even with Jimmy Carter’s victory spread over Gerald Ford in 1976.
On Tuesday, House Democrats will convene a forum on “The Electoral College and the Future of American Democracy.” No word on whether they will be picking up the tab to move Californians to Florida and Ohio.
Several groups who favor limiting immigration are voicing their opposition to Representative Michael McCaul as a potential secretary of homeland security, saying the Texas Republican has been weak on border security.Several groups who favor limiting immigration are voicing their opposition to Representative Michael McCaul as a potential secretary of homeland security, saying the Texas Republican has been weak on border security.
Mr. McCaul, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has been a frequent critic of what he says is the Obama administration’s failure to adequately combat the Islamic State.Mr. McCaul, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has been a frequent critic of what he says is the Obama administration’s failure to adequately combat the Islamic State.
But groups like the Center for Immigration Studies say Mr. McCaul’s efforts on border security and immigration have been weak and counterproductive.But groups like the Center for Immigration Studies say Mr. McCaul’s efforts on border security and immigration have been weak and counterproductive.
“He’s been the chairman of this critical committee and never tried to push through legislation that adequately addresses border security, immigration and homeland security,” said Jessica M. Vaughan, the director of policy studies at the center.“He’s been the chairman of this critical committee and never tried to push through legislation that adequately addresses border security, immigration and homeland security,” said Jessica M. Vaughan, the director of policy studies at the center.
The real aim may be less about opposing Mr. McCaul than opening a lane for the group’s homeland security chief of choice: Mr. Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state.The real aim may be less about opposing Mr. McCaul than opening a lane for the group’s homeland security chief of choice: Mr. Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform did not directly oppose Mr. McCaul but said the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security needed to be someone who would implement real border and immigration security.The Federation for American Immigration Reform did not directly oppose Mr. McCaul but said the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security needed to be someone who would implement real border and immigration security.
“If Representative McCaul is chosen to head D.H.S., he will need to take a much more expansive view of border and immigration enforcement than he has in the past,” said Dan Stein, the president of the federation.“If Representative McCaul is chosen to head D.H.S., he will need to take a much more expansive view of border and immigration enforcement than he has in the past,” said Dan Stein, the president of the federation.
Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. will be in the Senate chamber on Monday for an important procedural vote on a $6.3 billion disease research bill that is close to becoming law.Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. will be in the Senate chamber on Monday for an important procedural vote on a $6.3 billion disease research bill that is close to becoming law.
The Senate will vote on whether to cut off debate and move to a final vote later in the week. If the bill gets the 60 votes it needs on Monday, the final tally will be pro forma.The Senate will vote on whether to cut off debate and move to a final vote later in the week. If the bill gets the 60 votes it needs on Monday, the final tally will be pro forma.
The bill, although opposed by Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, means a lot to the vice president. It will fund the cancer “moonshot” called for by President Obama in this year’s State of the Union address and inspired by the death of Mr. Biden’s son, Beau, last year.The bill, although opposed by Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, means a lot to the vice president. It will fund the cancer “moonshot” called for by President Obama in this year’s State of the Union address and inspired by the death of Mr. Biden’s son, Beau, last year.
For all their differences during the campaign, Mr. Trump and the speaker of the House, Paul D. Ryan, now talk more or less daily, by Mr. Ryan’s account.For all their differences during the campaign, Mr. Trump and the speaker of the House, Paul D. Ryan, now talk more or less daily, by Mr. Ryan’s account.
And neither man seems eager to get off the phone. Their calls last 20 to 45 minutes, Mr. Ryan said in an interview on “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday.And neither man seems eager to get off the phone. Their calls last 20 to 45 minutes, Mr. Ryan said in an interview on “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday.
The logistics are straightforward enough. “He answers his cellphone,” Mr. Ryan said.The logistics are straightforward enough. “He answers his cellphone,” Mr. Ryan said.
“He’s a pretty casual guy,” Mr. Ryan added of the president-elect. “He calls me Paul.” Mr. Ryan, citing his “reverence for the office,” said he opts for “Mr. President-elect.”“He’s a pretty casual guy,” Mr. Ryan added of the president-elect. “He calls me Paul.” Mr. Ryan, citing his “reverence for the office,” said he opts for “Mr. President-elect.”