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Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen faces sentencing in New York – live Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen faces sentencing in New York – live
(35 minutes later)
A Republican state senator in Kansas has switched parties after being punished for endorsing Democratic candidates during the 2018 midterms.
Barbara Bollier will now be the 10th Democrat in the 40 member Kansas state senate after changing her affiliation. She represents prosperous Kansas City suburbs.
Michael Cohen’s lawyer is praising him right now before the sentencing.
Petrillo says Cohen "came forward to offer evidence against the most powerful person in our country." "The SCO's investigation is of utmost national significance, no less than seen 40 years ago in Watergate," Petrillo says.
Louisiana Republican John Kennedy thinks Congress will stay in over the holidays as a government funding fight looms.
From colleague Caroline McKee. Sen John Kennedy (R-LA) thinks Trump is “serious as four heart attacks and a stroke” that he’s not bluffing about shutting down the government. Kennedy believes Congress will be in session over the holidays.
Castro’s main competition (at least until everyone else gets in the race) has already responded to his announcement.Castro’s main competition (at least until everyone else gets in the race) has already responded to his announcement.
John Davis, senior advisor to John Delaney, tells me of Julian Castro's announcement: “We are excited for him to join the race”John Davis, senior advisor to John Delaney, tells me of Julian Castro's announcement: “We are excited for him to join the race”
Julian Castro has a full video out now about his exploratory committeeJulian Castro has a full video out now about his exploratory committee
As a kid growing up on the west side of San Antonio, I never thought that I’d one day be making this announcement: https://t.co/2NAIFEsCFh I’m exploring a candidacy for President of the United States in 2020 to renew the promise of this country for all. https://t.co/9jOBdjHcLOAs a kid growing up on the west side of San Antonio, I never thought that I’d one day be making this announcement: https://t.co/2NAIFEsCFh I’m exploring a candidacy for President of the United States in 2020 to renew the promise of this country for all. https://t.co/9jOBdjHcLO
Michael Cohen is seated in the courtroom in New York where there are apparently several overflow rooms set up for interested press and spectators.Michael Cohen is seated in the courtroom in New York where there are apparently several overflow rooms set up for interested press and spectators.
Michael Cohen is seated in the courtroom between two of his attorneys. SDNY prosecutors have also arrived at the sentencing.Michael Cohen is seated in the courtroom between two of his attorneys. SDNY prosecutors have also arrived at the sentencing.
Former HUD Secretary Julian Castro has formed an exploratory committee, the first step towards running for president.Former HUD Secretary Julian Castro has formed an exploratory committee, the first step towards running for president.
Prior to joining the Obama administration as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in 2014, Castro served five years as mayor of San Antonio. His twin brother Joaquin serves in Congress.Prior to joining the Obama administration as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in 2014, Castro served five years as mayor of San Antonio. His twin brother Joaquin serves in Congress.
He told the Associated Press that he’ll announce a formal decision on a run on January 12.He told the Associated Press that he’ll announce a formal decision on a run on January 12.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — APNewsBreak: Ex-Obama housing chief Julian Castro takes step toward 2020 White House run, forms exploratory committee.SAN ANTONIO (AP) — APNewsBreak: Ex-Obama housing chief Julian Castro takes step toward 2020 White House run, forms exploratory committee.
An interesting project ranks American counties by how representative of the country they were.An interesting project ranks American counties by how representative of the country they were.
The gold medal goes to Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, home of the state’s capital Harrisburg.The gold medal goes to Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, home of the state’s capital Harrisburg.
Fellow members of the Nerd Tribe, we have something new for you this morning! It's @EchelonInsights Middle America Project - which ranks every county on how representative it is of the U.S. as a whole. https://t.co/9hsZ02RAdH #ExploretheMAPFellow members of the Nerd Tribe, we have something new for you this morning! It's @EchelonInsights Middle America Project - which ranks every county on how representative it is of the U.S. as a whole. https://t.co/9hsZ02RAdH #ExploretheMAP
Dana Rohrabacher, the pro Putin Republican who lost his bid for re-election in November, is apparently moving to Maine.Dana Rohrabacher, the pro Putin Republican who lost his bid for re-election in November, is apparently moving to Maine.
Rohrabacher, who represented Orange County, California for decades on Capitol Hill, is considering setting up a lobbying shop in the Pine Tree State.Rohrabacher, who represented Orange County, California for decades on Capitol Hill, is considering setting up a lobbying shop in the Pine Tree State.
Defeated Republican Rep. Rohrabacher has been telling senior staff that he’s going to form consulting shop R&B Strategies with his top aide Paul Behrends. His spokesman said his only definite plans are that he’s moving to Maine. https://t.co/QqBlJ2KYlRDefeated Republican Rep. Rohrabacher has been telling senior staff that he’s going to form consulting shop R&B Strategies with his top aide Paul Behrends. His spokesman said his only definite plans are that he’s moving to Maine. https://t.co/QqBlJ2KYlR
Michael Cohen just entered the federal courts building in New York with his family. Cohen did not speak to reporters.Michael Cohen just entered the federal courts building in New York with his family. Cohen did not speak to reporters.
Incoming New York state attorney general Tish James is planning to investigate Donald Trump and his family upon taking office next year.
“We want to investigate anyone in his orbit who has, in fact, violated the law” she told NBC News.
The range of potential investigations include Trump’s real estate holdings, the Trump Foundation, Emoluments Clause violations and even the infamous 2016 Trump Tower meeting.
If you plan your vacations around the congressional calendar, now is the time to get going.
Roll Call just published the full congressional calendar for 2019 as of right now.
Nancy Pelosi has gotten even closer to a deal with rebels over term limits for Democratic leaders that would seal her election on the floor in January.
Politico reports:
Under the tentative terms of the deal, the top Democratic leaders would be allowed to serve for only three terms. If any leader wanted to exceed that limit by one term, he or she would need a two-thirds majority in the Democratic Caucus. They currently need only a simple majority to do so. After this time frame, the lawmaker would need to run for another position or vacate leadership altogether.
Most important, Pelosi’s agreement with rebels, the deal would be retroactive. That means Pelosi, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) would already be entering their third term in leadership during the next Congress. They would need two-thirds approval from the caucus to serve beyond 2020 — and the longest they could remain in place in their current jobs is four years.
Michael Avenatti has showed up at the sentencing for Michael Cohen today.
-- > @ABC @AaronKatersky reports Michael Avenatti just showed up to federal court where Michael Cohen is about to be sentenced. He declined to say why he was here.
If you’re looking to work for a Democratic presidential campaign based on the West Coast, someone is hiring.
An unnamed campaign has job listings posted in Nevada, South Carolina and New Hampshire.
Maryland’s Republican governor Larry Hogan has been negotiating with the federal government over a land deal for a new stadium for the Washington Redskins.
The negotiations come as Republicans are trying to slip language in a government funding bill to allow the NFL team to return to Washington, DC and play on the site of federally owned RFK Stadium. However, it faces a tight timeline as Democrats have concerns about turning over public land to a private entity as well as over the team’s name.
President Donald Trump is doing a rare interview on daytime cable news tomorrow.
Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner interviewing President Trump tomorrow, airing on “Outnumbered Overtime” at 1pm.
House Republicans are using a parliamentary maneuver to block any votes on a Yemen resolution.
They inserted language into the “rule” setting up the parameters for debate on the Farm Bill, which passed the Senate by an overwhelming margin Tuesday. In order to start debate on the popular bipartisan legislation, lawmakers would have to approve language stripping the Yemen resolution of its privilege and allowing it to be bottled up by Republican leadership.
Rules are almost always party line votes.
Trump talked to Reuters about Michael Cohen and the Russia investigation yesterday.
Michael Cohen is a lawyer. I assume he would know what he’s doing,” Trump said when asked if he had discussed campaign finance laws with Cohen.
“Number one, it wasn’t a campaign contribution. If it were, it’s only civil, and even if it’s only civil, there was no violation based on what we did. OK?”
Good morning
Michael Cohen will be sentenced in New York today, the Senate will vote on limiting US support for the Saudi-backed coalition in Yemen and we are nine days away from a partial government shutdown.
It’s Wednesday in American politics.