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| White House to hold first press briefing in nearly a month – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A political organization backed by Democrat Stacey Abrams filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging the way Georgia’s elections are run, the Associated Press reports. | |
| The suit fulfills a pledge Abrams made when she conceded in the race for governor. From AP: | |
| The lawsuit was filed in Atlanta by Fair Fight Action against interim Secretary of State Robyn Crittenden and state election board members. It asks a judge to correct problems with the state’s elections system. | |
| In a fiery speech ending her campaign Nov. 16, Abrams announced that a lawsuit would be filed against Georgia “for the gross mismanagement of this election and to protect future elections from unconstitutional actions.” | |
| As secretary of state, Abrams’ opponent, Republican Gov.-elect Brian Kemp, was the top elections official until he declared himself the winner and resigned two days after the election. On the campaign trail, Abrams repeatedly called Kemp “an architect of suppression.” | |
| Flanked by Democratic state lawmakers at the Georgia Capitol earlier this month, Abrams’ campaign manager who’s now CEO of Fair Fight Action, Lauren Groh-Wargo, said the campaign believed Kemp “mismanaged this election to sway it in his favor.” | |
| New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he has ruled out running for president in 2020. | |
| .@NYGovCuomo to @BrianLehrer on the potential for a Cuomo 2020 run:“I am ruling it out. I ran for governor, I have a full plate, I have many projects – I’m going to be here doing the job of governor.” | |
| One of the editors of the Trump administration’s dire new climate report hit the administration for releasing it in a way akin to “burning it and burying it in the backyard.” | One of the editors of the Trump administration’s dire new climate report hit the administration for releasing it in a way akin to “burning it and burying it in the backyard.” |
| The report was released the day after Thanksgiving, and Donald Trump has said he does not believe its findings. | The report was released the day after Thanksgiving, and Donald Trump has said he does not believe its findings. |
| “They dropped the report on Black Friday, and you know it’s the press who calls releasing anything on a Friday afternoon ‘taking out the trash’ — this was burning it and burying it in the backyard, so it’s one of the worst possible days you could pick,” Andrew Light, a former climate change advisor under the Obama administration, told the Hill. | “They dropped the report on Black Friday, and you know it’s the press who calls releasing anything on a Friday afternoon ‘taking out the trash’ — this was burning it and burying it in the backyard, so it’s one of the worst possible days you could pick,” Andrew Light, a former climate change advisor under the Obama administration, told the Hill. |
| “I’m not going to try to ascribe any kind of motivations to anyone in the administration for this but it’s just not the responsible thing to do when you’ve got a report that’s talking about the welfare of Americans.” | “I’m not going to try to ascribe any kind of motivations to anyone in the administration for this but it’s just not the responsible thing to do when you’ve got a report that’s talking about the welfare of Americans.” |
| Mississippi Democratic Senate candidate Mike Espy said Tuesday he’ll need support from a significant number of white voters in order to prevail. | Mississippi Democratic Senate candidate Mike Espy said Tuesday he’ll need support from a significant number of white voters in order to prevail. |
| “If only African Americans come out to vote for me, and even if they come out in record numbers, I won’t win. I know that. I’ve known that all the time, and I’ve known that throughout my career,” he said, according to video of his remarks to reporters aired by CNN. | “If only African Americans come out to vote for me, and even if they come out in record numbers, I won’t win. I know that. I’ve known that all the time, and I’ve known that throughout my career,” he said, according to video of his remarks to reporters aired by CNN. |
| “So we have to have a good number of crossovers.” | “So we have to have a good number of crossovers.” |
| Espy is up against Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in a runoff race that has been roiled by racial controversies. The Republican is favored in a deeply red state but has suffered a series of missteps. | Espy is up against Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in a runoff race that has been roiled by racial controversies. The Republican is favored in a deeply red state but has suffered a series of missteps. |
| White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Tuesday that Donald Trump is not to blame for General Motors’ plan to close four US plants and lay off thousands of workers. | White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Tuesday that Donald Trump is not to blame for General Motors’ plan to close four US plants and lay off thousands of workers. |
| “The president doesn’t run GM. He runs the country’s economy,” Conway said outside the White House. “That’s why the confidence and optimism numbers are up, the growth numbers are up, the unemployment is way down.” | “The president doesn’t run GM. He runs the country’s economy,” Conway said outside the White House. “That’s why the confidence and optimism numbers are up, the growth numbers are up, the unemployment is way down.” |
| Trump campaigned on the promise to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States, a prospect many economists think is unrealistic. | Trump campaigned on the promise to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States, a prospect many economists think is unrealistic. |
| Conway cited Trump’s comments condemning GM’s move, and insisted laid off workers would fare better with Trump in the White House. “The message to them is that this president has created an economy where their skill sets can thrive,” she said. | Conway cited Trump’s comments condemning GM’s move, and insisted laid off workers would fare better with Trump in the White House. “The message to them is that this president has created an economy where their skill sets can thrive,” she said. |
| Pop star Cher says the United States may never be great again in her lifetime because of the damage done by Donald Trump. | Pop star Cher says the United States may never be great again in her lifetime because of the damage done by Donald Trump. |
| In an interview with the Washington Post published Tuesday, Cher said she is heartened by young people she meets who don’t care about things like race or sexual orientation. | In an interview with the Washington Post published Tuesday, Cher said she is heartened by young people she meets who don’t care about things like race or sexual orientation. |
| “The more we get mixed, the more we are tolerant. Eventually, it’s going to be great,” she said. “But I don’t know if I’ll see it in my lifetime, because Trump has done so much damage and I’m not sure people really understand how deep the damage goes.” | “The more we get mixed, the more we are tolerant. Eventually, it’s going to be great,” she said. “But I don’t know if I’ll see it in my lifetime, because Trump has done so much damage and I’m not sure people really understand how deep the damage goes.” |
| The musician took note of the popular line that after a nuclear war, the only thing left alive would be “cockroaches and Cher.” | The musician took note of the popular line that after a nuclear war, the only thing left alive would be “cockroaches and Cher.” |
| “Not this one. I wouldn’t last through what [Trump] could do. There’s no lasting. Not even me. Not even cockroaches,” she said. | “Not this one. I wouldn’t last through what [Trump] could do. There’s no lasting. Not even me. Not even cockroaches,” she said. |
| The House Judiciary Committee will investigate the rise of white nationalism in the United States when Democrats take over in January, its incoming chairman said. | The House Judiciary Committee will investigate the rise of white nationalism in the United States when Democrats take over in January, its incoming chairman said. |
| Rep. Jerry Nadler, a New York Democrat expected to take over the committee, wrote to federal law enforcement officials asking for information about the increasing number of hate crimes, the targeted surveillance of minority communities, and the growing threat of white supremacy and right wing extremism. The questions have been submitted previously by Democrats but answers have not been provided, he said. | Rep. Jerry Nadler, a New York Democrat expected to take over the committee, wrote to federal law enforcement officials asking for information about the increasing number of hate crimes, the targeted surveillance of minority communities, and the growing threat of white supremacy and right wing extremism. The questions have been submitted previously by Democrats but answers have not been provided, he said. |
| The letter went to acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray. | The letter went to acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray. |
| Nadler wrote: “In the next Congress, this Committee will likely examine the causes of racial and religious violence, assess the adequacy of federal hate crimes statutes, and scrutinize targeted domestic surveillance of specific groups. We need to work together to study the disturbingly increasing number of hate crimes, the growing threat of far right and right wing extremism, and the disparate treatment of minority communities in terrorism investigations. The horrific massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, the murder of an African-American couple in a Kentucky grocery store and Indian engineers in a Kansas bar, and the package bombs sent to Trump opposition figures are only the most recent reminders of the ever-present threat of extremism in our country.” | Nadler wrote: “In the next Congress, this Committee will likely examine the causes of racial and religious violence, assess the adequacy of federal hate crimes statutes, and scrutinize targeted domestic surveillance of specific groups. We need to work together to study the disturbingly increasing number of hate crimes, the growing threat of far right and right wing extremism, and the disparate treatment of minority communities in terrorism investigations. The horrific massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, the murder of an African-American couple in a Kentucky grocery store and Indian engineers in a Kansas bar, and the package bombs sent to Trump opposition figures are only the most recent reminders of the ever-present threat of extremism in our country.” |
| Senate Republicans are considering holding a floor vote on a bill to protect the job of special counsel Robert Mueller, the Senate’s number two Republican said Tuesday. | Senate Republicans are considering holding a floor vote on a bill to protect the job of special counsel Robert Mueller, the Senate’s number two Republican said Tuesday. |
| “We’re whipping that to see where people are. I think the leader needs that information to decide how to manage all the competing demands on our time,” said Texas Sen, John Cornyn, the Hill reported. | “We’re whipping that to see where people are. I think the leader needs that information to decide how to manage all the competing demands on our time,” said Texas Sen, John Cornyn, the Hill reported. |
| Arizona Republican Jeff Flake has vowed to block judicial nominees until a vote on the legislation is allowed. | Arizona Republican Jeff Flake has vowed to block judicial nominees until a vote on the legislation is allowed. |
| Cornyn said Republicans were willing to hold a vote on the legislation “if that’s what it’s going to take” to move nominees, according to the Hill. | Cornyn said Republicans were willing to hold a vote on the legislation “if that’s what it’s going to take” to move nominees, according to the Hill. |
| The legislation would require that a special counsel be fired only for cause, and allow a judge to review firings. Only a Senate-confirmed official could fire a special counsel under the bill - which would exclude acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. | The legislation would require that a special counsel be fired only for cause, and allow a judge to review firings. Only a Senate-confirmed official could fire a special counsel under the bill - which would exclude acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. |
| A federal appeals court on Tuesday threw out some of the convictions against two former aides to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal, the Associated Press reported. | A federal appeals court on Tuesday threw out some of the convictions against two former aides to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal, the Associated Press reported. |
| From the AP: | From the AP: |
| Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni were convicted in 2016 in the alleged plot to cause traffic jams to punish a mayor for not endorsing Christie’s re-election bid. | Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni were convicted in 2016 in the alleged plot to cause traffic jams to punish a mayor for not endorsing Christie’s re-election bid. |
| The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia dismissed a count of civil rights conspiracy for each defendant. It upheld convictions for wire fraud and misapplying property of an organization receiving federal funds. | The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia dismissed a count of civil rights conspiracy for each defendant. It upheld convictions for wire fraud and misapplying property of an organization receiving federal funds. |
| Baroni and Kelly had sought to have all counts dismissed. | Baroni and Kelly had sought to have all counts dismissed. |
| Both are expected to be resentenced. Kelly currently faces an 18-month sentence, while Baroni faces 24 months. They also could request to have the full 3rd Circuit hear the case. | Both are expected to be resentenced. Kelly currently faces an 18-month sentence, while Baroni faces 24 months. They also could request to have the full 3rd Circuit hear the case. |
| Their attorneys didn’t immediately comment on Tuesday’s ruling. | Their attorneys didn’t immediately comment on Tuesday’s ruling. |
| In their court filings, the lawyers for Kelly and Baroni had argued their convictions on the civil rights charges were based on a right to intrastate travel that has not been recognized by the Supreme Court. | In their court filings, the lawyers for Kelly and Baroni had argued their convictions on the civil rights charges were based on a right to intrastate travel that has not been recognized by the Supreme Court. |
| Kelly was the author of the infamous “time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee” email a month before three access lanes to the bridge were reduced to one, without warning to local authorities. | Kelly was the author of the infamous “time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee” email a month before three access lanes to the bridge were reduced to one, without warning to local authorities. |
| The massive gridlock over four days and part of a fifth in September 2013 mushroomed into a scandal dubbed “Bridgegate” that dragged down Christie’s presidential aspirations and, Christie later conceded, played a role in then-Republican nominee Donald Trump’s decision not to name him as his running mate. | The massive gridlock over four days and part of a fifth in September 2013 mushroomed into a scandal dubbed “Bridgegate” that dragged down Christie’s presidential aspirations and, Christie later conceded, played a role in then-Republican nominee Donald Trump’s decision not to name him as his running mate. |
| Reactions are pouring in on social media to the Guardian’s report that Paul Manafort secretly met with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange during the 2016 campaign. | Reactions are pouring in on social media to the Guardian’s report that Paul Manafort secretly met with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange during the 2016 campaign. |
| Jennifer Palmieri, the communications director for Hillary Clinton’s campaign, called it “more evidence of collusion.” | Jennifer Palmieri, the communications director for Hillary Clinton’s campaign, called it “more evidence of collusion.” |
| She said the revelation is “not surprising” in light of “how strategically timed” Wikileaks’ releases of hacked Democratic emails were. | She said the revelation is “not surprising” in light of “how strategically timed” Wikileaks’ releases of hacked Democratic emails were. |
| Annoyed by all the “wow” tweets about this story as if it’s surprising. It’s not. It’s serious, & more evidence of collusion, but - if you were paying attention in real time to how strategically timed the Wikileaks were - this news is not surprising. https://t.co/YA8dvESNW6 | Annoyed by all the “wow” tweets about this story as if it’s surprising. It’s not. It’s serious, & more evidence of collusion, but - if you were paying attention in real time to how strategically timed the Wikileaks were - this news is not surprising. https://t.co/YA8dvESNW6 |
| Bill Kristol, editor of the conservative Weekly Standard, mocked Donald Trump’s frequent claim that there was “no collusion” between his campaign and Russia. “What campaign chair hasn’t held secret talks with Julian Assange in the Ecuadoran embassy in London?” he said. | Bill Kristol, editor of the conservative Weekly Standard, mocked Donald Trump’s frequent claim that there was “no collusion” between his campaign and Russia. “What campaign chair hasn’t held secret talks with Julian Assange in the Ecuadoran embassy in London?” he said. |
| What campaign chair hasn’t held secret talks with Julian Assange in the Ecuadoran embassy in London?“NO COLLUSION!” https://t.co/DDOHI9ZMWx | What campaign chair hasn’t held secret talks with Julian Assange in the Ecuadoran embassy in London?“NO COLLUSION!” https://t.co/DDOHI9ZMWx |
| Wikileaks denied the report, saying it is “willing to bet the Guardian a million dollars and its editor’s head that Manafort never met Assange.” | Wikileaks denied the report, saying it is “willing to bet the Guardian a million dollars and its editor’s head that Manafort never met Assange.” |
| Remember this day when the Guardian permitted a serial fabricator to totally destroy the paper's reputation. @WikiLeaks is willing to bet the Guardian a million dollars and its editor's head that Manafort never met Assange. https://t.co/R2Qn6rLQjn | Remember this day when the Guardian permitted a serial fabricator to totally destroy the paper's reputation. @WikiLeaks is willing to bet the Guardian a million dollars and its editor's head that Manafort never met Assange. https://t.co/R2Qn6rLQjn |
| This is going to be one of the most infamous news disasters since Stern published the "Hitler Diaries". | This is going to be one of the most infamous news disasters since Stern published the "Hitler Diaries". |
| But many others pointed to the report as a potential indication of collusion between Trump’s campaign and the Russian hacking effort. | But many others pointed to the report as a potential indication of collusion between Trump’s campaign and the Russian hacking effort. |
| 🎶It’s beginning to look a lot like collusion... everywhere you go...🎶 https://t.co/rQKMvHjd64 | 🎶It’s beginning to look a lot like collusion... everywhere you go...🎶 https://t.co/rQKMvHjd64 |
| Huge if true: Manafort held secret talks with Assange in Ecuadorian embassy—our report explains the COLLUSION liability that follows: https://t.co/wrVFmmmrvB https://t.co/lG33gZSc6d | Huge if true: Manafort held secret talks with Assange in Ecuadorian embassy—our report explains the COLLUSION liability that follows: https://t.co/wrVFmmmrvB https://t.co/lG33gZSc6d |
| Now, what could Manafort have been doing visiting Wikileaks' Julian Assange in Ecaudor in 2016? What possibly could he have been interested in? But "no collusion!" lololololol https://t.co/DezMgKbD9q | Now, what could Manafort have been doing visiting Wikileaks' Julian Assange in Ecaudor in 2016? What possibly could he have been interested in? But "no collusion!" lololololol https://t.co/DezMgKbD9q |
| So let me get this straight:Manafort joins Trump campaign March 2016Manafort secretly visits Wikileaks Assange in Ecuador, spring 2016Trump elevates Manafort to Campaign Manager June 2016In June and July 2016, Wikileaks releases Democratic emailsBut...no collusion? | So let me get this straight:Manafort joins Trump campaign March 2016Manafort secretly visits Wikileaks Assange in Ecuador, spring 2016Trump elevates Manafort to Campaign Manager June 2016In June and July 2016, Wikileaks releases Democratic emailsBut...no collusion? |
| WOW: We're learning a lot more about how the #TrumpRussia treason operation worked. Manafort held secret talks with Julian Assange inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, and visited around the time he joined Trump’s campaign.#ProtectMueller #TrumpRussia https://t.co/6WbybAQK70 | WOW: We're learning a lot more about how the #TrumpRussia treason operation worked. Manafort held secret talks with Julian Assange inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, and visited around the time he joined Trump’s campaign.#ProtectMueller #TrumpRussia https://t.co/6WbybAQK70 |
| THREAD: What does today's news that Manafort held a secret meeting with Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in spring 2016 tell us? | THREAD: What does today's news that Manafort held a secret meeting with Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in spring 2016 tell us? |
| Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke called for a Confederate plaque to be removed from the Texas state capitol. | Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke called for a Confederate plaque to be removed from the Texas state capitol. |
| “Take it down today,” the Democrat and former Senate candidate said in a tweet Tuesday. | “Take it down today,” the Democrat and former Senate candidate said in a tweet Tuesday. |
| State officials are reviewing procedures that could potentially be used to remove the marker, according to the Dallas News. The plaque features the “Children of the Confederacy Creed,” which expresses the “desire to perpetuate...the heroic deeds of those who enlisted in the Confederate army” and claims that the Civil War “was not a rebellion, nor was its underlying cause to sustain slavery.” | State officials are reviewing procedures that could potentially be used to remove the marker, according to the Dallas News. The plaque features the “Children of the Confederacy Creed,” which expresses the “desire to perpetuate...the heroic deeds of those who enlisted in the Confederate army” and claims that the Civil War “was not a rebellion, nor was its underlying cause to sustain slavery.” |
| It sits across the hall from the office of state Rep. Eric Johnson, who has pushed for it to be removed. Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion saying that several people have the authority to remove it, according to the Dallas News. | It sits across the hall from the office of state Rep. Eric Johnson, who has pushed for it to be removed. Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion saying that several people have the authority to remove it, according to the Dallas News. |
| “The AG has spoken. The Capitol curator can unilaterally remove the plaque. No need to politicize this issue or bog down the 86th #TxLege. Remove it and let’s move on,” Johnson tweeted. | “The AG has spoken. The Capitol curator can unilaterally remove the plaque. No need to politicize this issue or bog down the 86th #TxLege. Remove it and let’s move on,” Johnson tweeted. |
| O’Rourke retweeted his message with his own endorsement Tuesday, saying, “I’m with Eric on this one.” | O’Rourke retweeted his message with his own endorsement Tuesday, saying, “I’m with Eric on this one.” |