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| Top Virginia Republican edited yearbook containing racial slurs – live | Top Virginia Republican edited yearbook containing racial slurs – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Virginia’s congressional delegation is due to come out with a statement in support of state attorney general Mark Herring, who admitted earlier this week to appearing in blackface at a college party when he was 19-years-old. The state has been in crisis with all three of its top statewide elected official facing scandal, two of them blackface-related. | |
| New from @mkraju: VA Dem Rep. Donald McEachin says he expects a statement from the Virginia Congressional delegation expressing support for the Mark Herring. The delegation met today. He said the AG called him & was “on the verge of tears” in talking about the blackface episode. | |
| Although Virginia is still consumed with ongoing series of political scandals, Florida is still doing its best to be just as dysfunctional. | |
| Nancy Oakley, a city commissioner in Madeira Beach, resigned earlier this week after an ethics complaint was upheld that she had a “habit of licking men that either she was attracted to or thought that she had authority over.” | |
| Elizabeth Warren has made another tranche of key hires in Iowa ahead of her expected announcement on Saturday. | |
| The most notable is Jason Noble, the former chief politics reporter at the Des Moines Register to be her communications director. | |
| Noble had previously worked for Let America Vote, the voting rights non-profit led by former Missouri secretary of state Jason Kander. | |
| Vice President Mike Pence will visit the Port of Baltimore on Friday. It is one of the biggest ports in the country and will represent a rare visit by top Trump administration official to a major urban area. | Vice President Mike Pence will visit the Port of Baltimore on Friday. It is one of the biggest ports in the country and will represent a rare visit by top Trump administration official to a major urban area. |
| Trump had canceled a scheduled visit to Baltimore last month during the partial government shutdown. | Trump had canceled a scheduled visit to Baltimore last month during the partial government shutdown. |
| In light of the ongoing series of scandals in Virginia surrounding blackface, it’s worth noting that only 58% of Americans find it “unacceptable” to wear blackface. | In light of the ongoing series of scandals in Virginia surrounding blackface, it’s worth noting that only 58% of Americans find it “unacceptable” to wear blackface. |
| As the Washington Post reports: | As the Washington Post reports: |
| The poll, conducted Saturday through Tuesday by the firm YouGov, asked respondents: “Is it acceptable or unacceptable for a White person to wear blackface make up?” Although 58 percent said “unacceptable,” 16 percent said “acceptable” and 26 percent said that they were not sure. In other words, 42 percent of Americans either endorse blackface or do not have a clear opinion on it. | The poll, conducted Saturday through Tuesday by the firm YouGov, asked respondents: “Is it acceptable or unacceptable for a White person to wear blackface make up?” Although 58 percent said “unacceptable,” 16 percent said “acceptable” and 26 percent said that they were not sure. In other words, 42 percent of Americans either endorse blackface or do not have a clear opinion on it. |
| Perhaps, though, this finding isn’t that surprising. Earlier YouGov polls also revealed tolerance for blackface. A 2013 poll found 43 percent said it was acceptable for white people to wear blackface to dress up as a black person for Halloween. Only 37 percent opposed this. A 2015 poll found slightly more support for blackface costumes: 47 percent said it was acceptable. | Perhaps, though, this finding isn’t that surprising. Earlier YouGov polls also revealed tolerance for blackface. A 2013 poll found 43 percent said it was acceptable for white people to wear blackface to dress up as a black person for Halloween. Only 37 percent opposed this. A 2015 poll found slightly more support for blackface costumes: 47 percent said it was acceptable. |
| A Customs and Border Protection officer has been charged with illegally selling guns, the Los Angeles Times reports. | A Customs and Border Protection officer has been charged with illegally selling guns, the Los Angeles Times reports. |
| Wei Xu, a CBP watch commander, used his status as a law enforcement officer to buy handguns not available to the public and then sold them, authorities say. He was charged with selling or transferring at least 70 guns since 2014 without a license. | Wei Xu, a CBP watch commander, used his status as a law enforcement officer to buy handguns not available to the public and then sold them, authorities say. He was charged with selling or transferring at least 70 guns since 2014 without a license. |
| Senator John Barrasso, a Republican of Wyoming, called the Green New Deal plan released today 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 Green New Deal plan released today a “socialist manifesto” that would “take our growing economy off the cliff and our nation into bankruptcy”. |
| “It’s the first step down a dark path to socialism.” he warned in a statement. | “It’s the first step down a dark path to socialism.” he warned in a statement. |
| The official response from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) was simply “LOL”, which is internet slang stands for “laughing out loud”. A link in the statement directed viewers to a gif of actor Ryan Gosling laughing. | |
| In statements targeting moderate and swing state Democrats, Republicans dismissed the plan as “ridiculous” and asked whether this meant the Democrats supported banning air travel and eliminating all jobs in the energy industry. | |
| The NAACP is urging the Senate judiciary committee to reject judicial nominees who refused to say that Brown v Board of Education, the landmark supreme court case that ended segregation in schools, was rightly decided. | The NAACP is urging the Senate judiciary committee to reject judicial nominees who refused to say that Brown v Board of Education, the landmark supreme court case that ended segregation in schools, was rightly decided. |
| A number of Trump judicial nominees considered by Senate Judiciary Committee today refused to say Brown v. Board of Education was correctly decided. For us, that is disqualifying. We urge the Senate to vote NO. | A number of Trump judicial nominees considered by Senate Judiciary Committee today refused to say Brown v. Board of Education was correctly decided. For us, that is disqualifying. We urge the Senate to vote NO. |
| Georgia representative Rob Woodall will not seek re-election, per the Atlanta Journal Constitution. It’s a seat likely to be targeted by Democrats. | Georgia representative Rob Woodall will not seek re-election, per the Atlanta Journal Constitution. It’s a seat likely to be targeted by Democrats. |
| Breaking: #GA07 Rep. Rob Woodall (R), who won by just 419 votes last fall, to retire. Doesn't change @CookPolitical's Toss Up rating, but does vault #GA07 to the very top of Dems' list of pickup opportunities. https://t.co/XS4PeDhFrA | Breaking: #GA07 Rep. Rob Woodall (R), who won by just 419 votes last fall, to retire. Doesn't change @CookPolitical's Toss Up rating, but does vault #GA07 to the very top of Dems' list of pickup opportunities. https://t.co/XS4PeDhFrA |
| Another Virginia politician is in hot water over racist content in a yearbook. | Another Virginia politician is in hot water over racist content in a yearbook. |
| State senate majority leader Tommy Norment oversaw a yearbook at the Virginia Military Institute in 1968 that contains a host of racist photos and slurs, the Virginian-Pilot reports. They include photos of people wearing blackface. | State senate majority leader Tommy Norment oversaw a yearbook at the Virginia Military Institute in 1968 that contains a host of racist photos and slurs, the Virginian-Pilot reports. They include photos of people wearing blackface. |
| Norment, a Republican, was managing editor of the yearbook. It features a photo of a student in blackface at a costume party and another photo of two men in blackface holding a football. | Norment, a Republican, was managing editor of the yearbook. It features a photo of a student in blackface at a costume party and another photo of two men in blackface holding a football. |
| It gets worse: the yearbook uses the N-word at least once. It also uses the slurs “Chink” and “Jap” to refer to a student from Thailand. And another student is described as a “Barracks Jew” for his involvement in classmates’ financial affairs. | It gets worse: the yearbook uses the N-word at least once. It also uses the slurs “Chink” and “Jap” to refer to a student from Thailand. And another student is described as a “Barracks Jew” for his involvement in classmates’ financial affairs. |
| Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer will oppose William Barr’s nomination for attorney general, he says in a speech on the Senate floor. | Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer will oppose William Barr’s nomination for attorney general, he says in a speech on the Senate floor. |
| We need an Attorney General who can assure the Senate and the public that he will stand up to a president who believes the Justice Department exists to do his personal bidding and to protect his personal interests.I will oppose William Barr’s nomination. https://t.co/YYJHZxBaff | We need an Attorney General who can assure the Senate and the public that he will stand up to a president who believes the Justice Department exists to do his personal bidding and to protect his personal interests.I will oppose William Barr’s nomination. https://t.co/YYJHZxBaff |
| The Green New Deal released today by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has a notable omission: it does not contain any mention of legislative or regulatory restrictions on carbon emissions, a CNN reporter notes. | The Green New Deal released today by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has a notable omission: it does not contain any mention of legislative or regulatory restrictions on carbon emissions, a CNN reporter notes. |
| One thing that's missing: Any explicit mention of legislative or regulatory restrictions on emissions. If you read this, it sounds like they're going to transition to 100% clean/renewable energy by 2050 simply through new public infrastructure investment. | One thing that's missing: Any explicit mention of legislative or regulatory restrictions on emissions. If you read this, it sounds like they're going to transition to 100% clean/renewable energy by 2050 simply through new public infrastructure investment. |
| I'm no energy expert, but I'm pretty sure you're going to have to ban stuff in order to get where they want to go by the time they want to get there. That's less inspirational/unifying than talking about spending $$$ and giving everyone healthcare, jobs, affordable housing. | I'm no energy expert, but I'm pretty sure you're going to have to ban stuff in order to get where they want to go by the time they want to get there. That's less inspirational/unifying than talking about spending $$$ and giving everyone healthcare, jobs, affordable housing. |
| More optimism on a border security deal from Senator Richard Shelby after his budget meeting with Donald Trump. | More optimism on a border security deal from Senator Richard Shelby after his budget meeting with Donald Trump. |
| After meeting with Trump, Shelby says the president wants them to wrap up negotiations and the senator believes Trump is likely to accept what they come up. Said he’s feeling more positive than his ever felt and Trump didn’t draw a red line and threaten national emergency | After meeting with Trump, Shelby says the president wants them to wrap up negotiations and the senator believes Trump is likely to accept what they come up. Said he’s feeling more positive than his ever felt and Trump didn’t draw a red line and threaten national emergency |
| Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker issued a statement on his threat not to testify before the House Judiciary Committee. | Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker issued a statement on his threat not to testify before the House Judiciary Committee. |
| The committee “has deviated from historic practice and protocol and taken the unnecessary and premature step of authorizing a subpoena to the me, the Acting Attorney General, even though I had agreed to voluntarily appear,” Whitaker said, according to the Hill. | The committee “has deviated from historic practice and protocol and taken the unnecessary and premature step of authorizing a subpoena to the me, the Acting Attorney General, even though I had agreed to voluntarily appear,” Whitaker said, according to the Hill. |
| The committee voted earlier Thursday to authorize a subpoena of Whitaker, which could be used to compel him to answer certain questions if he refuses to answer them voluntarily. | The committee voted earlier Thursday to authorize a subpoena of Whitaker, which could be used to compel him to answer certain questions if he refuses to answer them voluntarily. |
| “Such unprecedented action breaches our prior agreement and circumvents the constitutionally required accommodation process. Based upon today’s action, it is apparent that the Committee’s true intention is not to discuss the great work of the Department of Justice, but to create a public spectacle. Political theater is not the purpose of an oversight hearing, and I will not allow that to be the case,” Whitaker said. “Consistent with longstanding practice, I remain willing to appear to testify tomorrow, provided that the Chairman assures me that the Committee will not issue a subpoena today or tomorrow, and that the Committee will engage in good faith negotiations before taking such a step down the road.” | “Such unprecedented action breaches our prior agreement and circumvents the constitutionally required accommodation process. Based upon today’s action, it is apparent that the Committee’s true intention is not to discuss the great work of the Department of Justice, but to create a public spectacle. Political theater is not the purpose of an oversight hearing, and I will not allow that to be the case,” Whitaker said. “Consistent with longstanding practice, I remain willing to appear to testify tomorrow, provided that the Chairman assures me that the Committee will not issue a subpoena today or tomorrow, and that the Committee will engage in good faith negotiations before taking such a step down the road.” |
| House speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed optimism Thursday over prospects of congressional negotiators hammering out a border security deal before a 15 February deadline, Reuters reports. | House speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed optimism Thursday over prospects of congressional negotiators hammering out a border security deal before a 15 February deadline, Reuters reports. |
| From Reuters: | From Reuters: |
| A bipartisan group of 17 members of the House of Representatives and Senate have been meeting behind closed doors to try to break an impasse over Trump’s demand for $5.7bn this year to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. | A bipartisan group of 17 members of the House of Representatives and Senate have been meeting behind closed doors to try to break an impasse over Trump’s demand for $5.7bn this year to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. |
| Pelosi, who says she will not meddle in the negotiations, had held a firm line against any money for building a wall, sparking a stand-off with Trump that resulted in a 35-day partial government shutdown that began on 22 December. | Pelosi, who says she will not meddle in the negotiations, had held a firm line against any money for building a wall, sparking a stand-off with Trump that resulted in a 35-day partial government shutdown that began on 22 December. |
| In her weekly press conference on Thursday, Pelosi told reporters: “Hopefully we will get some good news in a short period of time and certainly in time for the deadline of 15 February.” | In her weekly press conference on Thursday, Pelosi told reporters: “Hopefully we will get some good news in a short period of time and certainly in time for the deadline of 15 February.” |
| She did not provide any details what kind of border security measures might be funded in any deal to keep the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies operating through the end of this fiscal year on 30 September. | She did not provide any details what kind of border security measures might be funded in any deal to keep the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies operating through the end of this fiscal year on 30 September. |
| “Just let them do their work,” Pelosi said of the panel appointed to broker a border security funding agreement. | “Just let them do their work,” Pelosi said of the panel appointed to broker a border security funding agreement. |
| Negotiators have talked about a mix of border security tools, such as more law enforcement agents, procuring more high-tech devices to repel illegal drugs and undocumented immigrants from entering the United States and additional physical barriers. | Negotiators have talked about a mix of border security tools, such as more law enforcement agents, procuring more high-tech devices to repel illegal drugs and undocumented immigrants from entering the United States and additional physical barriers. |
| A lead negotiator, Senate appropriations committee chairman Richard Shelby, who is a Republican, met at the White House on Thursday morning to talk to Trump about the ongoing negotiations, according to a Senate aide. | A lead negotiator, Senate appropriations committee chairman Richard Shelby, who is a Republican, met at the White House on Thursday morning to talk to Trump about the ongoing negotiations, according to a Senate aide. |
| No further details on that meeting were immediately available. | No further details on that meeting were immediately available. |
| A group of Democratic lawmakers will visit the US-Mexico border this weekend, CNN reports. | A group of Democratic lawmakers will visit the US-Mexico border this weekend, CNN reports. |
| House majority leader Steny Hoyer will travel Saturday with a group of newly-elected congresswomen to Texas and New Mexico, where they will meet with US Customs and Border Protection and immigration advocates. | House majority leader Steny Hoyer will travel Saturday with a group of newly-elected congresswomen to Texas and New Mexico, where they will meet with US Customs and Border Protection and immigration advocates. |
| “Despite the president’s demagoguery over immigration, there is not a national emergency or a security crisis at the border that demands a wall,” Hoyer said Thursday, according to CNN. | “Despite the president’s demagoguery over immigration, there is not a national emergency or a security crisis at the border that demands a wall,” Hoyer said Thursday, according to CNN. |
| The trip comes as Democrats and Republicans are trying to work out a border security deal before government funding expires next week. | The trip comes as Democrats and Republicans are trying to work out a border security deal before government funding expires next week. |
| The Justice Department is saying that acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker will not testify before the House Judiciary Committee Friday unless he is assured he will not be subpoenaed to answer questions, according to journalist Shimon Prokupecz. | The Justice Department is saying that acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker will not testify before the House Judiciary Committee Friday unless he is assured he will not be subpoenaed to answer questions, according to journalist Shimon Prokupecz. |
| Justice Department says Whitaker won't testify tomorrow unless Nadler assures him no subpoena today or tomorrow | Justice Department says Whitaker won't testify tomorrow unless Nadler assures him no subpoena today or tomorrow |
| Earlier Thursday, the Judiciary Committee voted to authorize a subpoena of Whitaker. Committee chair Jerry Nadler says he hopes not to have to actually use the subpoena, but will do so if Whitaker refuses to answer certain questions about his conversations with the White House about the Russia investigation. | Earlier Thursday, the Judiciary Committee voted to authorize a subpoena of Whitaker. Committee chair Jerry Nadler says he hopes not to have to actually use the subpoena, but will do so if Whitaker refuses to answer certain questions about his conversations with the White House about the Russia investigation. |
| Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. | Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. |
| The committee voted 12-10 along party lines to approve the nomination of William Barr, Politico reports. | The committee voted 12-10 along party lines to approve the nomination of William Barr, Politico reports. |
| The full Senate could vote later this month. | The full Senate could vote later this month. |
| Senator Doug Jones said Thursday that he would vote for the nomination, becoming the first Democrat to do so, according to the Hill. | Senator Doug Jones said Thursday that he would vote for the nomination, becoming the first Democrat to do so, according to the Hill. |
| House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Thursday that Democrats will pursue Donald Trump’s tax returns. | House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Thursday that Democrats will pursue Donald Trump’s tax returns. |
| “I think overwhelmingly the public wants to see the president’s tax returns,” Pelosi said at a press conference when asked if she thinks it’s important for Congress to obtain the documents, the Hill reported. “They want to know the truth. They want to know the facts. And he has nothing to hide.” | “I think overwhelmingly the public wants to see the president’s tax returns,” Pelosi said at a press conference when asked if she thinks it’s important for Congress to obtain the documents, the Hill reported. “They want to know the truth. They want to know the facts. And he has nothing to hide.” |
| But Pelosi added Democrats have to be “very, very careful” in pursuing the taxes. The law gives the House the power to obtain any citizen’s tax returns from the IRS, but making them public may be a more complicated matter. | But Pelosi added Democrats have to be “very, very careful” in pursuing the taxes. The law gives the House the power to obtain any citizen’s tax returns from the IRS, but making them public may be a more complicated matter. |