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| 'A dynasty for decades': Trump aide stokes succession speculation – live | 'A dynasty for decades': Trump aide stokes succession speculation – live |
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| The Democratic lawmakers’ gun-control event has just ended, and they concluded by emphasizing it was the responsibility of Mitch McConnell and Trump to act. | |
| Chuck Schumer: "Two people in Washington can make sure the background checks bill passes: Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell. It is totally up to them...and it is on their shoulders. They can't escape that responsibility." https://t.co/OPbaCbe5LF pic.twitter.com/MHwONtwM59 | |
| “Our first job is to get Leader McConnell to put this on the floor,” Schumer said. | |
| Asked why he was confident that Congress could pass gun legislation now when it’s failed so many times before, Schumer replied that it was “a different era.” “Never have we had 93 percent of American people for background checks,” the Senate minority leader said of the strong public support for HR8. | |
| Schumer added that Trump has been “all over the lot” when it comes to whether he would support expanding background checks. “But the pressure is not going away,” Schumer said. | |
| Nancy Pelosi said Trump was initially enthusiastic about calling the Senate back to pass HR8, but she now fears that was just an attempt to “defang” the pressure around gun control after the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton. | |
| But the House speaker stressed: “We’re not going to let the subject be changed or diminished in any way.” | |
| Schumer noted that Trump initially told him he wanted the “strongest possible bill” after those mass shootings, a sentiment the president also apparently shared with senator Sherrod Brown. | |
| Veronica Escobar, the Democratic congresswoman who represents El Paso, said at the gun-control event that her constituents have asked her why leaders like Mitch McConnell have not “felt our pain.” | |
| Escobar angrily pointed out that the background checks bill, HR8, could have prevented another shooting in her home state, in Odessa, Texas. | |
| Senator Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat of Michigan, noted that it has been over six months since the House passed HR8, yet the Senate has not acted. | |
| Nancy Pelosi took the podium at the gun-control event, echoing Chuck Schumer’s demand that the Senate take up HR8, which would expand background checks to all gun sales. | |
| The House speaker then introduced the Democrats’ star guest, Dayton mayor Nan Whaley. | |
| Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley says shooting victim Monica Brickhouse’s mother texted her this morning: “Go get ‘em” upon hearing she was heading to Washington to push for background check legislation. pic.twitter.com/NaJvFgVFin | |
| Just a month after the tragic shooting in her city, Whaley listed the other shootings that have taken place across America since February. She then called on the Senate to take an up-or-down vote on the background checks bill. | |
| Before handing the microphone to senator Sherrod Brown, Whaley emphasized how many Americans support expanding background checks. “I don’t know anything that 9 out of 10 Americans agree on except HR8,” Whaley said. | |
| Democratic officials have started their event calling on the Senate to take up HR8, a bill that would enforce background checks for all gun purchases. | |
| “Enough is enough,” said Chuck Schumer, arguing that passing HR8 should be the first order of business in the Senate now that lawmakers have returned to Capitol Hill after the August recess. | |
| "Too many Americans are losing their lives to gun violence. Too many families are just weeping."Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer call for a vote on a background check bill in the Senate as Congress returns from August recess. https://t.co/SFQ2oZIeZZ pic.twitter.com/z5ZzWqA5t3 | |
| The Senate minority leader then directly called on Trump to back the bill, noting that Mitch McConnell has said he will not act until he has the president’s approval. | |
| “President Trump, this bill is common sense,” Schumer said. “The time to act is now.” | |
| Chopper talk strikes again! Leaving the White House to travel to North Carolina for his campaign rally, Trump said peace talks with the Taliban were “dead” after the secret Camp David plan fell apart. | Chopper talk strikes again! Leaving the White House to travel to North Carolina for his campaign rally, Trump said peace talks with the Taliban were “dead” after the secret Camp David plan fell apart. |
| Trump on Afghan peace talks: “As far as I’m concerned they’re dead.” pic.twitter.com/RKgEkZ2l52 | Trump on Afghan peace talks: “As far as I’m concerned they’re dead.” pic.twitter.com/RKgEkZ2l52 |
| The president specifically cited the recent death of an American solider in Afghanistan as a reason to distrust the Taliban. | The president specifically cited the recent death of an American solider in Afghanistan as a reason to distrust the Taliban. |
| The vice president has similarly slammed the media for reporting that he, along with Trump’s national security adviser, opposed the president’s secret plan to hold peace talks with the Taliban at Camp David. | The vice president has similarly slammed the media for reporting that he, along with Trump’s national security adviser, opposed the president’s secret plan to hold peace talks with the Taliban at Camp David. |
| That’s Absolutely Right Mr. President. More Fake News! The Dishonest Media never contacted our office before running with this story and if they had, we would have told them I FULLY support your decision. https://t.co/zjzro1fzSg | That’s Absolutely Right Mr. President. More Fake News! The Dishonest Media never contacted our office before running with this story and if they had, we would have told them I FULLY support your decision. https://t.co/zjzro1fzSg |
| A Washington Post reporter noted that the tweet was unusual for Pence, who generally avoids specifically calling out the media: | A Washington Post reporter noted that the tweet was unusual for Pence, who generally avoids specifically calling out the media: |
| Vice President Pence, who usually avoids echoing President Trump's attacks on the media and saying "fake news," uses the term today. https://t.co/NHXrlfITBk | Vice President Pence, who usually avoids echoing President Trump's attacks on the media and saying "fake news," uses the term today. https://t.co/NHXrlfITBk |
| But NBC News’ report on Pence’s opposition to the proposal did note that the vice president’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. | But NBC News’ report on Pence’s opposition to the proposal did note that the vice president’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. |
| Memo to United Nations: It’s just two weeks to the United National General Assembly at that body’s HQ in New York - the annual spectacle featuring world leaders doing sideline deals and taking it in turns to pontificate publicly in front of a weird green marble block. | Memo to United Nations: It’s just two weeks to the United National General Assembly at that body’s HQ in New York - the annual spectacle featuring world leaders doing sideline deals and taking it in turns to pontificate publicly in front of a weird green marble block. |
| UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, has installed a sobering reminder, as kids worldwide return to school after the summer, of the devastating scale of child deaths in conflict zones in 2018 - 3,758 backpacks stood in rows reminiscent of a cemetery, each one representing the loss of a young life to war. | UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, has installed a sobering reminder, as kids worldwide return to school after the summer, of the devastating scale of child deaths in conflict zones in 2018 - 3,758 backpacks stood in rows reminiscent of a cemetery, each one representing the loss of a young life to war. |
| The piece of political art was installed yesterday and runs through tomorrow, after which the backpacks will be used by children. | The piece of political art was installed yesterday and runs through tomorrow, after which the backpacks will be used by children. |
| “Unicef backpacks have always been a symbol of hope and childhood possibility,” said the agency’s Henrietta Fore in a media release. | “Unicef backpacks have always been a symbol of hope and childhood possibility,” said the agency’s Henrietta Fore in a media release. |
| “In just two weeks, world leaders gathering at the UN General Assembly will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This installation should remind them of the stakes.” | “In just two weeks, world leaders gathering at the UN General Assembly will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This installation should remind them of the stakes.” |
| According to the 2019 Annual Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict, more than 12,000 children were killed or maimed in conflict zones last year – the highest total since the UN started reporting the numbers. These only count verified incidents – the actual numbers are likely to be much higher, Unicef estimates, with more than a quarter of the total being killed. | According to the 2019 Annual Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict, more than 12,000 children were killed or maimed in conflict zones last year – the highest total since the UN started reporting the numbers. These only count verified incidents – the actual numbers are likely to be much higher, Unicef estimates, with more than a quarter of the total being killed. |
| Fall-out is ongoing today from Donald Trump’s revelation this weekend that he had been planning to talk to Taliban leaders face to face (oh, and as an apparent afterthought, also Afghanistan’s president Ashraf Ghani) at Camp David in a hitherto secret meeting - that was then canceled. So it will remain to be seen how that all plays at the UNGA. Afghan children have suffered terribly during the long conflict there. | Fall-out is ongoing today from Donald Trump’s revelation this weekend that he had been planning to talk to Taliban leaders face to face (oh, and as an apparent afterthought, also Afghanistan’s president Ashraf Ghani) at Camp David in a hitherto secret meeting - that was then canceled. So it will remain to be seen how that all plays at the UNGA. Afghan children have suffered terribly during the long conflict there. |
| Here’s Donald (again)… | Here’s Donald (again)… |
| The president is back online, with a tweeted repudiation of stories about how the plan to invite the Taliban to Camp David came about and fell apart, and therefore yet another taste of his oft-tweeted repudiation of the American mainstream press. Viz: | The president is back online, with a tweeted repudiation of stories about how the plan to invite the Taliban to Camp David came about and fell apart, and therefore yet another taste of his oft-tweeted repudiation of the American mainstream press. Viz: |
| As we noted earlier, NBC News reported today that Vice-President Mike Pence and national security adviser John Bolton, two key administration figures, were against the idea of inviting the Taliban for peace talks on US soil, particularly in the week of the anniversary of the attacks of 11 September 2001, in which the Taliban was complicit. | As we noted earlier, NBC News reported today that Vice-President Mike Pence and national security adviser John Bolton, two key administration figures, were against the idea of inviting the Taliban for peace talks on US soil, particularly in the week of the anniversary of the attacks of 11 September 2001, in which the Taliban was complicit. |
| Trump initially proceeded with the plan, before surprising the world by announcing its abandonment on Sunday. | Trump initially proceeded with the plan, before surprising the world by announcing its abandonment on Sunday. |
| Donald Trump's cancelled Taliban talks are typical of a president who blows hot and cold | Donald Trump's cancelled Taliban talks are typical of a president who blows hot and cold |
| Secretary of state Mike Pompeo spent Sunday morning defending the peace effort in Afghanistan on the talk shows, but said all such talks were off the table for now. | Secretary of state Mike Pompeo spent Sunday morning defending the peace effort in Afghanistan on the talk shows, but said all such talks were off the table for now. |
| On Monday, Trump duly had his own say, denying he overruled “the VP and various advisers on a potential Camp David meeting with the Taliban”. | On Monday, Trump duly had his own say, denying he overruled “the VP and various advisers on a potential Camp David meeting with the Taliban”. |
| Trump also called “much of the media … simply an arm of the Democrat party” and, of course, heralded his own leadership of a country in no way facing or worried about recession… | Trump also called “much of the media … simply an arm of the Democrat party” and, of course, heralded his own leadership of a country in no way facing or worried about recession… |
| ...the look of turmoil in the White House, of which there is none. I view much of the media as simply an arm of the Democrat Party. They are corrupt, and they are extremely upset at how well our Country is doing under MY Leadership, including... | ...the look of turmoil in the White House, of which there is none. I view much of the media as simply an arm of the Democrat Party. They are corrupt, and they are extremely upset at how well our Country is doing under MY Leadership, including... |
| ...the Economy, where there is NO Recession, much to the regret of the LameStream Media! They are working overtime to help the Democrats win in 2020, but that will NEVER HAPPEN, Americans are too smart! | ...the Economy, where there is NO Recession, much to the regret of the LameStream Media! They are working overtime to help the Democrats win in 2020, but that will NEVER HAPPEN, Americans are too smart! |
| Trump then saluted the efforts of US troops in Afghanistan, where they have been fighting since late 2001, and in there response to the death of an American soldier in Kabul last week, in a car bomb explosion. | Trump then saluted the efforts of US troops in Afghanistan, where they have been fighting since late 2001, and in there response to the death of an American soldier in Kabul last week, in a car bomb explosion. |
| We have been serving as policemen in Afghanistan, and that was not meant to be the job of our Great Soldiers, the finest on earth. Over the last four days, we have been hitting our Enemy harder than at any time in the last ten years! | We have been serving as policemen in Afghanistan, and that was not meant to be the job of our Great Soldiers, the finest on earth. Over the last four days, we have been hitting our Enemy harder than at any time in the last ten years! |
| Here’s world affairs editor Julian Borger’s more considered take on the affair of the Taliban talks that weren’t… | Here’s world affairs editor Julian Borger’s more considered take on the affair of the Taliban talks that weren’t… |
| Collapse of US-Taliban talks stokes fears of new round of pre-election violence | Collapse of US-Taliban talks stokes fears of new round of pre-election violence |
| Morgan’s press briefing has concluded. The acting Customs and Border Patrol chief touched on a variety of topics, from the possibility of offering Bahamians Temporary Protected Status to immigration apprehension numbers last month. | Morgan’s press briefing has concluded. The acting Customs and Border Patrol chief touched on a variety of topics, from the possibility of offering Bahamians Temporary Protected Status to immigration apprehension numbers last month. |
| He repeatedly echoed Trump’s talking points, such as arguing for the necessity of a border wall and slamming judges who have blocked some of his policies. | He repeatedly echoed Trump’s talking points, such as arguing for the necessity of a border wall and slamming judges who have blocked some of his policies. |
| Morgan clarified that there hasn’t been any “formal grant” of Temporary Protected Status for all Bahamians affected by Hurricane Dorian. | Morgan clarified that there hasn’t been any “formal grant” of Temporary Protected Status for all Bahamians affected by Hurricane Dorian. |
| He has instead emphasized that CBP would work to expedite Bahamians’ visa requests for humanitarian reasons. | He has instead emphasized that CBP would work to expedite Bahamians’ visa requests for humanitarian reasons. |
| On another note, Morgan appeared to dodge a question about whether he agrees with Trump’s reported preference to paint the wall black. | On another note, Morgan appeared to dodge a question about whether he agrees with Trump’s reported preference to paint the wall black. |
| Asked about WaPo story that Trump wants border wall painted black, CBP's Mark Morgan says that demand—and other anti-climbing features POTUS wants—will result in fewer miles of border wall. "We need to strike a balance," Morgan tells reporters. | Asked about WaPo story that Trump wants border wall painted black, CBP's Mark Morgan says that demand—and other anti-climbing features POTUS wants—will result in fewer miles of border wall. "We need to strike a balance," Morgan tells reporters. |