This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/feb/07/donald-trump-latest-news-live-nancy-pelosi-shutdown
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 15 | Version 16 |
|---|---|
| Top Virginia Republican edited yearbook containing racial slurs – live | Top Virginia Republican edited yearbook containing racial slurs – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The New York Times is reporting that American intelligence agencies have evidence that Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman played a key role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and had voiced plans a year before the grisly killing took place. | |
| Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told a top aide in 2017 that he would use "a bullet" on Jamal Khashoggi if Khashoggi did not return to the kingdom and end his criticism of the Saudi government, current and former American and foreign officials tell NYT. https://t.co/dD8WQBAF4k | |
| Per the New York Times: | |
| The Saudi government has denied that the young crown prince played any role in the killing, and President Trump has publicly shown little interest in trying get the facts about who was responsible. Prince Mohammed, the next in line to the Saudi throne behind his ailing father, King Salman, has become the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia and a close ally of the Trump White House — especially Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser”. | |
| The White House has also weighed in on the Whitaker situation, framing Chairman Nadler’s inquiry as a political ploy. | |
| “The fact Chairman Nadler would try to force the public disclosure of private conversations that he knows are protected by law proves he only wants to play politics. The Chairman should focus on helping the American people, rather than wasting time playing pointless political games”, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. | |
| Nadler has made clear he wants to ask - whether Whitaker talked to Trump about decision not to recuse from Mueller probe - Whether he’s spoken with Trump, the WH or his legal team about his briefings on Mueller probe- Whether Trump spoke to Whitaker about Cohen guilty plea https://t.co/2tJ9KSS56X | |
| For more context about what this spat is all about, here’s a good explainer from Vox: | |
| On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee authorized a subpoena for Whitaker, which Chair Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said he would use only if Whitaker refused to answer the committee’s questions. | |
| But Whitaker fired back, saying through a letter from the Justice Department that he would not testify at all if the committee issued a subpoena. The DOJ demanded a response, in writing, by 6 pm Thursday... | |
| But Democrats still want to find out how — and why — Whitaker was appointed, and what conversations he’s had with the White House before and during his time as acting attorney general about the Mueller investigation. And they’re clearly prepared to use subpoena power if Whitaker doesn’t cooperate”. | |
| Representative Jerry Nadler, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has issued a response to acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker who refused to come to an oversight hearing scheduled tomorrow, unless he is guaranteed he won’t face a subpoena. | Representative Jerry Nadler, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has issued a response to acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker who refused to come to an oversight hearing scheduled tomorrow, unless he is guaranteed he won’t face a subpoena. |
| My response to Acting AG Whitaker regarding the use of a subpoena for tomorrow's @HouseJudiciary hearing. pic.twitter.com/x6whDtaVX8 | My response to Acting AG Whitaker regarding the use of a subpoena for tomorrow's @HouseJudiciary hearing. pic.twitter.com/x6whDtaVX8 |
| “If you appear before the Committee tomorrow morning and it fyou are prepared to respond to questions from our Members, then I assure you that there will be no need for the Committee to issue a subpoena on or before February 8” Nadler wrote. | “If you appear before the Committee tomorrow morning and it fyou are prepared to respond to questions from our Members, then I assure you that there will be no need for the Committee to issue a subpoena on or before February 8” Nadler wrote. |
| The Department of Justice has not yet responded to the letter. | The Department of Justice has not yet responded to the letter. |
| Gabrielle Canon here, taking over for Ben Jacobs for the afternoon. | Gabrielle Canon here, taking over for Ben Jacobs for the afternoon. |
| The Associated Press writes that a newly unsealed court transcript in Paul Manafort’s criminal case reveals details about an August 2016 meeting at the “heart” of the Russia investigation: | The Associated Press writes that a newly unsealed court transcript in Paul Manafort’s criminal case reveals details about an August 2016 meeting at the “heart” of the Russia investigation: |
| A prosecutor for special counsel Robert Mueller says the meeting between Manafort and Konstantin Kilimnik goes to the “larger view of what we think is going on” and what “we think the motive here is”. | A prosecutor for special counsel Robert Mueller says the meeting between Manafort and Konstantin Kilimnik goes to the “larger view of what we think is going on” and what “we think the motive here is”. |
| Previous court documents have revealed that one of the topics discussed by Manafort and Kilimnik was a possible peace plan to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict in Crimea. | Previous court documents have revealed that one of the topics discussed by Manafort and Kilimnik was a possible peace plan to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict in Crimea. |
| The comments came during a hearing over whether Manafort lied to investigators and violated the terms of his plea agreement. Many details from the transcript are blacked out”. | The comments came during a hearing over whether Manafort lied to investigators and violated the terms of his plea agreement. Many details from the transcript are blacked out”. |
| Emily Holden and Lauren Gambino report from DC: | Emily Holden and Lauren Gambino report from DC: |
| The Green New Deal pioneers on Capitol Hill insist they have support for the radical plan from Democratic leadership, despite comments from House Leader Nancy Pelosi calling it the “green dream” and noting that the sweeping plan is just one of many proposals for combating climate change. | The Green New Deal pioneers on Capitol Hill insist they have support for the radical plan from Democratic leadership, despite comments from House Leader Nancy Pelosi calling it the “green dream” and noting that the sweeping plan is just one of many proposals for combating climate change. |
| The resolution unveiled by New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts senator Ed Markey this morning has at least 60 co-sponsors in the House and around a dozen in the Senate, according to the authors. No Republicans are on board. | The resolution unveiled by New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts senator Ed Markey this morning has at least 60 co-sponsors in the House and around a dozen in the Senate, according to the authors. No Republicans are on board. |
| Supporters include a handful of presidential contenders, including Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren. Lawmakers were still signing on today. | Supporters include a handful of presidential contenders, including Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren. Lawmakers were still signing on today. |
| The plan calls for fighting inequity with a huge investment in cleaner energy and aims for a carbon-neutral economy within 10 years. | The plan calls for fighting inequity with a huge investment in cleaner energy and aims for a carbon-neutral economy within 10 years. |
| Asked at a crowded press conference about Pelosi’s comments that the resolution is a “green dream,” Ocasio-Cortez said it “is a green dream,” because it is so ambitious. Markey called Pelosi an original climate change champion. | Asked at a crowded press conference about Pelosi’s comments that the resolution is a “green dream,” Ocasio-Cortez said it “is a green dream,” because it is so ambitious. Markey called Pelosi an original climate change champion. |
| The speaker later said she was “very excited” about a Green New Deal and welcomed “all the enthusiasm” surrounding the proposal. | The speaker later said she was “very excited” about a Green New Deal and welcomed “all the enthusiasm” surrounding the proposal. |
| Pelosi has named members of a climate change select committee, and Ocasio-Cortez is not one of them, but she said that was by the freshman lawmaker’s choice. Ocasio-Cortez said the committee will investigate, while lawmakers on other panels will work on legislative solutions. | Pelosi has named members of a climate change select committee, and Ocasio-Cortez is not one of them, but she said that was by the freshman lawmaker’s choice. Ocasio-Cortez said the committee will investigate, while lawmakers on other panels will work on legislative solutions. |
| The US over time has contributed more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere than any other nation, and Ocasio-Cortez said it is obligated to lead on climate change. | The US over time has contributed more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere than any other nation, and Ocasio-Cortez said it is obligated to lead on climate change. |
| Senator John Barrasso, a Republican of Wyoming, called the plan a “socialist manifesto” that would “take our growing economy off the cliff and our nation into bankruptcy”. | Senator John Barrasso, a Republican of Wyoming, called the plan a “socialist manifesto” that would “take our growing economy off the cliff and our nation into bankruptcy”. |
| The official response from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) was simply: “LOL.” | The official response from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) was simply: “LOL.” |
| For more about the Green New Deal: | For more about the Green New Deal: |
| Green New Deal: Ocasio-Cortez unveils bold plan to fight climate change | Green New Deal: Ocasio-Cortez unveils bold plan to fight climate change |
| Virginia had yet another top politician in a blackface scandal when it was revealed that the state senate majority leader edited a yearbook with blackface pictures | Virginia had yet another top politician in a blackface scandal when it was revealed that the state senate majority leader edited a yearbook with blackface pictures |
| The outlines of the much touted “Green New Deal” were introduced on Capitol Hill today by a number of Democrats including freshman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez | The outlines of the much touted “Green New Deal” were introduced on Capitol Hill today by a number of Democrats including freshman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez |
| The nomination of William Barr to be Attorney General was advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee on a party line vote. | The nomination of William Barr to be Attorney General was advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee on a party line vote. |
| The Federal Election Commission announced today that the maximum contribution an individual could make to a candidate for federal office per election is now $2800, up from $2700 in the 2018 election cycle. This means the individual maximum for both a primary and general combined is $5600. | The Federal Election Commission announced today that the maximum contribution an individual could make to a candidate for federal office per election is now $2800, up from $2700 in the 2018 election cycle. This means the individual maximum for both a primary and general combined is $5600. |
| The Wall Street Journal reports that the United States has set an end of April deadline to pull all American forces out of Syria. | The Wall Street Journal reports that the United States has set an end of April deadline to pull all American forces out of Syria. |
| The planned withdrawal comes months after Trump announced his intention to pull out of Syria, which prompted the resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis. | The planned withdrawal comes months after Trump announced his intention to pull out of Syria, which prompted the resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis. |
| Per the WSJ: | Per the WSJ: |
| With U.S.-backed fighters poised to seize the final Syrian sanctuaries held by Islamic State in the coming days, the U.S. military is turning its attention toward a withdrawal of American forces in the coming weeks, these officials said on Thursday. | With U.S.-backed fighters poised to seize the final Syrian sanctuaries held by Islamic State in the coming days, the U.S. military is turning its attention toward a withdrawal of American forces in the coming weeks, these officials said on Thursday. |
| Unless the Trump administration alters course, the military plans to pull a significant portion of its forces out by mid-March, with a full withdrawal coming by the end of April, they said. | Unless the Trump administration alters course, the military plans to pull a significant portion of its forces out by mid-March, with a full withdrawal coming by the end of April, they said. |
| The military-planning process comes as the Trump administration is struggling to come up with an agreement to protect Kurdish allies from being attacked by Turkish forces when the U.S. leaves. | The military-planning process comes as the Trump administration is struggling to come up with an agreement to protect Kurdish allies from being attacked by Turkish forces when the U.S. leaves. |
| Not just politics but cocktail parties have been turned upside because of Donald Trump. His arrival in Washington has shaken up the elite social scene that defined “This Town. | Not just politics but cocktail parties have been turned upside because of Donald Trump. His arrival in Washington has shaken up the elite social scene that defined “This Town. |
| Ryan Lizza in Esquire reports: | Ryan Lizza in Esquire reports: |
| Meanwhile, the widely attended major events that once lubricated relations between various strata of official D. C.—Congress, the press, the White House, the ambassadorial class, the lobbying world—have been blown up by the Trumps. Two of the biggest annual nights in Washington, the White House Correspondents’ dinner and the Kennedy Center Honors, revolve around the president’s participation. In 2017, several reporters (I was one of them) publicly suggested that it wasn’t appropriate to toast a president who was vilifying us. Trump preemptively responded to the nascent revolt by announcing he wouldn’t come anyway. | Meanwhile, the widely attended major events that once lubricated relations between various strata of official D. C.—Congress, the press, the White House, the ambassadorial class, the lobbying world—have been blown up by the Trumps. Two of the biggest annual nights in Washington, the White House Correspondents’ dinner and the Kennedy Center Honors, revolve around the president’s participation. In 2017, several reporters (I was one of them) publicly suggested that it wasn’t appropriate to toast a president who was vilifying us. Trump preemptively responded to the nascent revolt by announcing he wouldn’t come anyway. |
| The same year, when some Kennedy honorees said they would boycott a White House reception, Trump canceled the event and refused to attend the gala at the Kennedy Center. Both weekends are now much more low-key affairs. In December, Trump called off the annual White House holiday party for the press. Fox News, which broke the story, pointed out that even Bill Clinton had hosted the event and posed for endless pictures just days after he was impeached in 1998. | The same year, when some Kennedy honorees said they would boycott a White House reception, Trump canceled the event and refused to attend the gala at the Kennedy Center. Both weekends are now much more low-key affairs. In December, Trump called off the annual White House holiday party for the press. Fox News, which broke the story, pointed out that even Bill Clinton had hosted the event and posed for endless pictures just days after he was impeached in 1998. |
| New surveillance video of Roger Stone’s arrest has just been released. And Stone, known for his strong views on fashion, is wearing a unique outfit; a shirt that says “Roger Stone did nothing wrong.” | New surveillance video of Roger Stone’s arrest has just been released. And Stone, known for his strong views on fashion, is wearing a unique outfit; a shirt that says “Roger Stone did nothing wrong.” |
| EXCLUSIVE: new surveillance video of Roger Stone’s arrest, *while* he’s wearing a “Roger Stone did nothing wrong” t-shirt. Follow me for more clips & see story below: https://t.co/96VhJoi3DY pic.twitter.com/v0CxJi4xO1 | EXCLUSIVE: new surveillance video of Roger Stone’s arrest, *while* he’s wearing a “Roger Stone did nothing wrong” t-shirt. Follow me for more clips & see story below: https://t.co/96VhJoi3DY pic.twitter.com/v0CxJi4xO1 |
| Kamala Harris has just unveiled a raft of endorsements in her home state of California. | Kamala Harris has just unveiled a raft of endorsements in her home state of California. |
| The 2020 Democratic presidential contender announced the endorsement of President Pro Tem of the State Senate, Toni Atkins and endorsement from 19 other of the 28 Democrats in the California state senate. She now has the support of 21 of the 28 Democrats in her home state’s upper chamber and has solidified her claim to be the favorite daughter of the state. | The 2020 Democratic presidential contender announced the endorsement of President Pro Tem of the State Senate, Toni Atkins and endorsement from 19 other of the 28 Democrats in the California state senate. She now has the support of 21 of the 28 Democrats in her home state’s upper chamber and has solidified her claim to be the favorite daughter of the state. |
| Jaime Harrison, the former chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, has officially started an exploratory committee to mount a Senate race against three-term Republican Lindsay Graham. | Jaime Harrison, the former chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, has officially started an exploratory committee to mount a Senate race against three-term Republican Lindsay Graham. |
| Harrison faces an uphill battle in a state that Trump won by a margin of 55%-40%. | Harrison faces an uphill battle in a state that Trump won by a margin of 55%-40%. |
| "Jaime Harrison for US Senate Exploratory Committee" created with FEC & can raise campaign money for potential @harrisonjaime (D-SC) bid vs Sen. @LindseyGrahamSC (R): https://t.co/9e2tuJhRR9 #scsen #scpol pic.twitter.com/pisC3TABKW | "Jaime Harrison for US Senate Exploratory Committee" created with FEC & can raise campaign money for potential @harrisonjaime (D-SC) bid vs Sen. @LindseyGrahamSC (R): https://t.co/9e2tuJhRR9 #scsen #scpol pic.twitter.com/pisC3TABKW |