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Republican Senate candidate pictured wearing Confederate cap – live Republican senator condemns Trump's Khashoggi statement as 'Saudi Arabia first' – live
(35 minutes later)
If you’re a fan of pro Trump paintings, there is a new one out depicting him as a football player running towards the end zone while Democrats lag behind in an attempt to tackle him.
No one can stop our President! My new painting, see a list of who's in the painting here: https://t.co/DWQWjjoUQN pic.twitter.com/UYGiKY8VuC
Trump defends Cindy Hyde-Smith and goes further in apologizing on her behalf for her public hanging gaffe that she has.
“She made a statement that I know she feels very bad about it,” says Trump.
Trump insists to reporters that his approach to Saudi Arabia is “Make America Great Again and America First.”
Trump says “the written answers” are finished for special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation or “the witch hunt” as he called it. Trump says he finished them yesterday.
Trump strikes a different tone on Saudi Arabia now than he did early in his candidacy while talking to reporters.
Trump just now: “I don’t make deals with Saudi Arabia. I don’t have money from Saudi Arabia. I have nothing to do with Saudi Arabia.”Trump in August 2015: “Saudi Arabia, I get along with all of them. They buy apartments from me. They spend $40 million, $50 million.”
Rand Paul has harsh criticism for Trump’s approach to Saudi Arabia.
I’m pretty sure this statement is Saudi Arabia First, not America First. I’m also pretty sure John Bolton wrote it.
The President has followed up his statement while talking to reporters at the White House.
“It is what it is,” Potus says of Khashoggi killing and Saudi Arabia while leaving the White House.
Former President Barack Obama declined to answer today when asked if he could beat Donald Trump if he was a candidate in the 2020 presidential election.Former President Barack Obama declined to answer today when asked if he could beat Donald Trump if he was a candidate in the 2020 presidential election.
.@davidaxelrod: “you think if you were on the ballot in 2020, that you would defeat President Trump?” @BarackObama: [long smiling pause]: “I will not answer that direct question, for obvious reasons.”.@davidaxelrod: “you think if you were on the ballot in 2020, that you would defeat President Trump?” @BarackObama: [long smiling pause]: “I will not answer that direct question, for obvious reasons.”
The Washington Post has released a statement on Trump’s comments today about Saudi Arabia.The Washington Post has released a statement on Trump’s comments today about Saudi Arabia.
Statement from Wash Post Publisher Fred Ryan: “President Trump’s response to the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is a betrayal of long-established American values of respect for human rights and the expectation of trust and honesty in our strategic relationships.”Statement from Wash Post Publisher Fred Ryan: “President Trump’s response to the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is a betrayal of long-established American values of respect for human rights and the expectation of trust and honesty in our strategic relationships.”
Appointed Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith has made a number of demands in advance of tonight’s debate in the runoff in Mississippi’s special election for U.S. Senate.Appointed Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith has made a number of demands in advance of tonight’s debate in the runoff in Mississippi’s special election for U.S. Senate.
These apparently include no media or audience allowed in the room as well as the ability for her to bring notes on stage with her.These apparently include no media or audience allowed in the room as well as the ability for her to bring notes on stage with her.
As more results come in, the Democratic lead in the midterms is growing. Democrats now have an 8 point lead in the national congressional vote.As more results come in, the Democratic lead in the midterms is growing. Democrats now have an 8 point lead in the national congressional vote.
Per @Redistrict, Democrats' lead in the House popular vote is now approaching 8 points https://t.co/WgNET0DZdpFor perspective, here are the other recent wave elections:1994: R+72006: D+6.42010: R+6.62014: R+5.1Per @Redistrict, Democrats' lead in the House popular vote is now approaching 8 points https://t.co/WgNET0DZdpFor perspective, here are the other recent wave elections:1994: R+72006: D+6.42010: R+6.62014: R+5.1
We may get another recount.We may get another recount.
Democrat Carolyn Bordeaux is asking for recount in her race against incumbent Republican Rob Woodall in Georgia’s seventh congressional district. Woodall leads by 419 votes.Democrat Carolyn Bordeaux is asking for recount in her race against incumbent Republican Rob Woodall in Georgia’s seventh congressional district. Woodall leads by 419 votes.
Democrat Carolyn Bourdeaux is asking for a manual recount of provisional and absentee ballots in #GA07. Incumbent Republican Rob Woodall edged her out by 419 votes earlier this week #gapol pic.twitter.com/3txJ2ZKg5bDemocrat Carolyn Bourdeaux is asking for a manual recount of provisional and absentee ballots in #GA07. Incumbent Republican Rob Woodall edged her out by 419 votes earlier this week #gapol pic.twitter.com/3txJ2ZKg5b
When asked about Trump’s statement on Saudi Arabia by reporters at the state department, Mike Pompeo said: “It is a mean, nasty world out there.”When asked about Trump’s statement on Saudi Arabia by reporters at the state department, Mike Pompeo said: “It is a mean, nasty world out there.”
New York has long had some of the most restrictive election laws in the country. However, they are expected to change next year with the new Democratic majority in the state senate. Currently the state does not have absentee voting and voters wishing to change their party registration have to do so a year before a party primary in order to vote in it.
New York has some of the worst, most bizarre Tammany-era election laws in the country. Dems plan to change those laws next year - https://t.co/33SqiQycHV
Donald Trump has his highest marks yet on his handing of the economy according to a new poll from Quinnipiac University. 53% of Americans approve.
"American voters approve 53-42% of the way President Donald Trump is handling the economy, his highest grade ever on this issue."https://t.co/jczx2Jhqa8 pic.twitter.com/XKNSzAwvE0
However, 54% don’t approve of how the president is doing his job overall and 58% think he is not honest and 63% believe he is not level headed.
The Buffalo News has a detailed account of Democrat Nate McMurray’s likely unsuccessful campaign for Congress against Chris Collins, a Republican incumbent under indictment, and how chaos at the top of the campaign may have doomed it. The race has not yet been called but Collins is considered likely to win re-election.
Quinnipiac University has a poll of Democrats that has a majority of Democrats and Democrat leaners supporting Pelosi to be Speaker.
Quinnipiac University poll of Democrats and Democrat-leaning voters53% want Pelosi to be the next speaker27% do not want Pelosi to be the next speakerhttps://t.co/9xlcpULvYM pic.twitter.com/oF6WCbCztd
The Guardian has a live stream of Trump’s forthcoming turkey pardoning which is available below.
A Facebook post has surfaced of Cindy Hyde-Smith, the appointed incumbent in the Mississippi Senate runoff, wearing a Confederate hat. The picture was taken during a 2014 visit to the Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library in the state with the caption “Mississippi history at its best”
Hyde-Smith has faced controversy in recent days over comments about public hanging that have been seen as racially loaded in light of Mississippi’s fraught history.
She faces off against Democrat Mike Espy next week
In the aftermath of the murder of the Washington Post’s Jamal Khashoggi, the White House has released a statement from the president where he expresses his support for continued close ties with the Saudis.
The full letter which starts “the world is a very dangerous place” is below. This is a key excerpt.
The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone. Indeed, we have taken strong action against those already known to have participated in the murder. After great independent research, we now know many details of this horrible crime. We have already sanctioned 17 Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Mr Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body.
Representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an “enemy of the state” and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that – this is an unacceptable and horrible crime. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr Khashoggi. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!
That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world!
INBOX: Statement from President Donald J. Trump on Standing with Saudi Arabia pic.twitter.com/kqpbzhzuiH
Jerry Nadler of New York, who will lead the House judiciary committee next year, has written several cabinet members to notify them that his committee will investigate the Trump administration’s immigration and family detention policies next year.
JUST IN: Nadler tells Whitaker, Nielsen, and Azar that House Judiciary will be looking into immigration, detention, family separation issues come January: https://t.co/WdQj7LI91Q pic.twitter.com/STUyQ1dr8s
Conservatives are pressuring Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on the criminal justice reform bill backed by Donald Trump before the end of the lame duck session of Congress.
The bill has bipartisan backing but is strongly opposed by a cadre of Republicans led by Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas.
Acting attorney general Matt Whitaker’s financial disclosure forms are expected to be released as soon as today.
Acting AG Whitaker’s financial disclosure forms expected to be made public as soon as today; am told that Whitaker did, in fact, file an initial disclosure form, but it has undergone revisions