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State of the Union 2019: Ruth Bader Ginsburg will not attend Trump's address – live | State of the Union 2019: Ruth Bader Ginsburg will not attend Trump's address – live |
(35 minutes later) | |
CNN reports that President Donald Trump met with contractors at the White House on Monday to discuss building a border wall. | |
The meeting comes less than two weeks before the next government funding deadline. Trump has long insisted that he won’t sign a bill to fund the government that doesn’t include wall funding. Democrats won’t support a bill that funds a wall. The resulting impasse led to a five week shutdown in December and January before a temporary compromise was reached. | |
CNN reports one unique detail from the meeting: | |
The President is so fixated on building the wall that he told a group of political allies on Monday that he wants to paint a section of current border fencing where it meets the ocean in San Diego, a person familiar with the exchange told CNN’s Jim Acosta. Trump complained he was told by a general that painting that area could harm the environment. | |
At least four Democrats are boycotting the State of the Union tonight. | |
John Lewis, a veteran congressman from Georgia and civil rights hero is boycotting as are Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, Steve Cohen of Tennessee and Lewis’s fellow Georgian, Hank Johnson. | |
I'll be joining @RepJohnLewis and others in boycotting the #SOTU. I’ll come to the House Chamber for the State of the Union when I can hear from a president who will tell the #Truth. I’ll watch on TV, Trump’s preferred medium, although I won’t be his audience, his believing base. https://t.co/ZC6coCNpHl | |
Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard received the endorsement of former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke on Tuesday. | Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard received the endorsement of former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke on Tuesday. |
Gabbard, who is mounting a longshot bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, was praised by Duke as “a candidate who will actually put America First rather than Israel First.” The Hawaii Democrat repudiated the endorsement. | Gabbard, who is mounting a longshot bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, was praised by Duke as “a candidate who will actually put America First rather than Israel First.” The Hawaii Democrat repudiated the endorsement. |
However, the endorsement is likely particularly unwanted as Gabbard is already facing scrutiny for her visit to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2017 as well as past homophobic comments. | However, the endorsement is likely particularly unwanted as Gabbard is already facing scrutiny for her visit to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2017 as well as past homophobic comments. |
In a preview of the speech given to influential Republicans at the White House yesterday, Trump said much of the speech would be about foreign policy. However, it doesn’t appear the deficit will come up as White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney says “nobody cares” about the growing deficit. Mulvaney was an ardent fiscal hawk while serving as a Republican member of Congress. | In a preview of the speech given to influential Republicans at the White House yesterday, Trump said much of the speech would be about foreign policy. However, it doesn’t appear the deficit will come up as White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney says “nobody cares” about the growing deficit. Mulvaney was an ardent fiscal hawk while serving as a Republican member of Congress. |
Trump told supporters 40-50% of speech will be about foreign policy. When asked if the deficit will be mentioned in #SOTU speech, chief of staff Mulvaney said “nobody cares,” per attendee https://t.co/YeBTSdF3HX | Trump told supporters 40-50% of speech will be about foreign policy. When asked if the deficit will be mentioned in #SOTU speech, chief of staff Mulvaney said “nobody cares,” per attendee https://t.co/YeBTSdF3HX |
Politico reports White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney has invited a bipartisan group of lawmakers to Camp David on Friday. | Politico reports White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney has invited a bipartisan group of lawmakers to Camp David on Friday. |
The invitation marks rare outreach across the aisle by the Trump White House which has struggled to build relationships with Democrats, particularly in the wake of the president’s inflammatory rhetoric. | The invitation marks rare outreach across the aisle by the Trump White House which has struggled to build relationships with Democrats, particularly in the wake of the president’s inflammatory rhetoric. |
Trump will not be attending. | Trump will not be attending. |
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the former Texas congressman said he will decide on a presidential bid by the February. O’Rourke, who narrowly lost a Senate race to Ted Cruz, has been contemplating a White House bid and went a much publicized road trip in Feburary that he chronicled in posts on the website Medium. | In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the former Texas congressman said he will decide on a presidential bid by the February. O’Rourke, who narrowly lost a Senate race to Ted Cruz, has been contemplating a White House bid and went a much publicized road trip in Feburary that he chronicled in posts on the website Medium. |
Beto says decision will come before the end of the month | Beto says decision will come before the end of the month |
The Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) apologized to a Buzzfeed reporter after an agent quizzed extensively about the website’s reporting at JFK Airport. | The Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) apologized to a Buzzfeed reporter after an agent quizzed extensively about the website’s reporting at JFK Airport. |
After Mack, an Australian citizen, was returning to the United States after getting his visa renewed, he was asked a torrent of questions by an agent at passport control about Buzzfeed’s reporting on Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. | After Mack, an Australian citizen, was returning to the United States after getting his visa renewed, he was asked a torrent of questions by an agent at passport control about Buzzfeed’s reporting on Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. |
In a statement to Buzzfeed, CBP Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs Andrew Meehan said: | In a statement to Buzzfeed, CBP Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs Andrew Meehan said: |
“On behalf of the agency, I would like to extend our apologies to Mr. David Mack for the inappropriate remarks made to him during his CBP processing upon his arrival to the United States. The officer’s comments do not reflect CBP’s commitment to integrity and professionalism of its workforce. In response to this incident, CBP immediately reviewed the event and has initiated the appropriate personnel inquiry and action.” | “On behalf of the agency, I would like to extend our apologies to Mr. David Mack for the inappropriate remarks made to him during his CBP processing upon his arrival to the United States. The officer’s comments do not reflect CBP’s commitment to integrity and professionalism of its workforce. In response to this incident, CBP immediately reviewed the event and has initiated the appropriate personnel inquiry and action.” |
Elizabeth Warren and her husband Bruce have a net worth somewhere between $4 and $11 million and she received a book advance worth $300,000 last year. | Elizabeth Warren and her husband Bruce have a net worth somewhere between $4 and $11 million and she received a book advance worth $300,000 last year. |
The Massachusetts senator outlined her assets in financial disclosures filed Tuesday. She and her husband have previously disclosed their tax returns and had a gross income of $913,000 in 2017. | The Massachusetts senator outlined her assets in financial disclosures filed Tuesday. She and her husband have previously disclosed their tax returns and had a gross income of $913,000 in 2017. |
Warren is the first 2020 presidential candidate to release their financial disclosure. | Warren is the first 2020 presidential candidate to release their financial disclosure. |
NEW: @SenWarren, D-Mass., has filed her presidential candidate personal financial disclosure. We have the document. Read it here, along with lots of other facts about her political and personal finances. https://t.co/p1WGb4bytv | NEW: @SenWarren, D-Mass., has filed her presidential candidate personal financial disclosure. We have the document. Read it here, along with lots of other facts about her political and personal finances. https://t.co/p1WGb4bytv |
Only four of the nine Justices on the United States Supreme Court are expected to attend tonight’s State of the Union. Attendance by the Court has become increasingly spotty since Obama directly criticized the Court’s ruling in Citizens United during his 2010 speech. Justice Samuel Alito responded by mouthing “not true.” | Only four of the nine Justices on the United States Supreme Court are expected to attend tonight’s State of the Union. Attendance by the Court has become increasingly spotty since Obama directly criticized the Court’s ruling in Citizens United during his 2010 speech. Justice Samuel Alito responded by mouthing “not true.” |
Among the five not attending is Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who had cancer surgery in December. Ginsburg made her first public appearance yesterday since the surgery at a concert in Washington. | Among the five not attending is Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who had cancer surgery in December. Ginsburg made her first public appearance yesterday since the surgery at a concert in Washington. |
Supreme Court justices expected to attend State of the Union:Chief Justice RobertsJustice KaganJustice GorsuchJustice Kavanaugh | Supreme Court justices expected to attend State of the Union:Chief Justice RobertsJustice KaganJustice GorsuchJustice Kavanaugh |
A group of “MAGA all-stars” are seeking ways to privately fund a wall on the United States’s southern border. | A group of “MAGA all-stars” are seeking ways to privately fund a wall on the United States’s southern border. |
Last week in McAllen, Texas, an assortment of Trumpists met to discuss building a wall even if Trump can’t. It included Steve Bannon, baseball great Curt Schilling, former Colorado congressman and presidential candidate Tom Tancredo and Kris Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state. | Last week in McAllen, Texas, an assortment of Trumpists met to discuss building a wall even if Trump can’t. It included Steve Bannon, baseball great Curt Schilling, former Colorado congressman and presidential candidate Tom Tancredo and Kris Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state. |
As Politico reports: | As Politico reports: |
The idea, which began in December as a Florida man’s quixotic online crowdfunding campaign, is becoming something more, well, concrete. Big name Trump supporters like Bannon, a former Trump campaign and White House strategist, have flocked to the project. And they have initiated talks with the Israeli firm that constructed that country’s border fence with Gaza, the group told POLITICO. They expect to hold a town hall in Tucson, Arizona, as soon as Friday and to visit the border in Laredo, Texas, next week . . . | The idea, which began in December as a Florida man’s quixotic online crowdfunding campaign, is becoming something more, well, concrete. Big name Trump supporters like Bannon, a former Trump campaign and White House strategist, have flocked to the project. And they have initiated talks with the Israeli firm that constructed that country’s border fence with Gaza, the group told POLITICO. They expect to hold a town hall in Tucson, Arizona, as soon as Friday and to visit the border in Laredo, Texas, next week . . . |
Bannon told POLITICO that his team is studying whether their wall could be constructed from the hemp-based building material hempcrete. “Do you understand the irony of using hempcrete to keep out marijuana?” Bannon said. The group has already entered into a partnership with the Kansas-based America’s Hemp Academy to supply the material if it is ultimately selected for use, according to organizers. | Bannon told POLITICO that his team is studying whether their wall could be constructed from the hemp-based building material hempcrete. “Do you understand the irony of using hempcrete to keep out marijuana?” Bannon said. The group has already entered into a partnership with the Kansas-based America’s Hemp Academy to supply the material if it is ultimately selected for use, according to organizers. |
Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota is visiting Iowa later this month as she explores a presidential bid. | Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota is visiting Iowa later this month as she explores a presidential bid. |
Klobuchar, a three-term Democrat first elected in 2006, has long been considered a potential presidential prospect and has occasionally made trips to Iowa, a state that is on Minnesota’s southern border. | Klobuchar, a three-term Democrat first elected in 2006, has long been considered a potential presidential prospect and has occasionally made trips to Iowa, a state that is on Minnesota’s southern border. |
As Politico reports: | As Politico reports: |
A December poll shows Klobuchar could be well positioned in her neighboring Iowa, where at 10 percent, she placed fourth in a crowded Democratic presidential field. She headlined several events throughout the fall in the state, stumping for Iowa Reps. Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne in the runup to the midterms. | A December poll shows Klobuchar could be well positioned in her neighboring Iowa, where at 10 percent, she placed fourth in a crowded Democratic presidential field. She headlined several events throughout the fall in the state, stumping for Iowa Reps. Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne in the runup to the midterms. |
If Klobuchar enters the fray, she would become the first official candidate who hails from the Midwest, a critical battleground region in the 2020 map. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown — who is also considering a presidential run, but hasn’t formally launched — held events throughout Iowa last week, as he kicked off his ‘Dignity of Work’ listening tour. | If Klobuchar enters the fray, she would become the first official candidate who hails from the Midwest, a critical battleground region in the 2020 map. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown — who is also considering a presidential run, but hasn’t formally launched — held events throughout Iowa last week, as he kicked off his ‘Dignity of Work’ listening tour. |
Klobuchar has frequently said that the eventual 2020 Democratic nominee must focus on Midwestern voters, bringing “an understanding of those voices that weren’t heard in 2016 from the Midwest and really from the middle of the country.” | Klobuchar has frequently said that the eventual 2020 Democratic nominee must focus on Midwestern voters, bringing “an understanding of those voices that weren’t heard in 2016 from the Midwest and really from the middle of the country.” |