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'Sharpiegate' controversy deepens as inspector general reportedly launches inquiry – live
'Sharpiegate' controversy deepens as inspector general reportedly launches inquiry – live
(about 1 hour later)
The US secretary of commerce, Wilbur Ross, is facing calls for his resignation after it was reported that he had threatened to fire senior staff at a federal agency unless they sided publicly with Donald Trump in the rumbling dispute dubbed “Sharpiegate”.
The New York Times, citing three anonymous officials, reported that Ross had called Neil Jacobs, the acting administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), last Friday and warned that heads would roll unless the agency’s disagreement with the US president over the path of Hurricane Dorian was smoothed over.
Wilbur Ross faces calls to resign after report he threatened firings over 'Sharpiegate'
Trump’s comment about needing an extra term came as he was discussing the World Cup.
Trump: "Under the normal rules," he'll be out in 2024, before the 2026 World Cup, "so we may have to go for an extra term." There are cheers. He says people are "going crazy" over this, and are going to say "he's a dictator," but "I'm only kidding."
Trump told his supporters at a rally in North Carolina that he might need an extra term as president, then mocked the idea that news headlines tomorrow will announce that he said he wants an extra term.
“We told you he’s a dictator, we told you,” Trump said, impersonating his critics.
“I’m only kidding,” he said. “I’m only kidding.”
Just as a Republican congressional candidate had started to speak, Trump paused the rally for several minutes and repeatedly said “thank you” to a doctor presumably assisting an audience member who was unwell.
Just as a Republican congressional candidate had started to speak, Trump paused the rally for several minutes and repeatedly said “thank you” to a doctor presumably assisting an audience member who was unwell.
Then the president quipped, “I guess Dan’s speech wasn’t so good,” referring to Dan Bishop, a Republican congressional candidate the president had flown to North Carolina to support.
Then the president quipped, “I guess Dan’s speech wasn’t so good,” referring to Dan Bishop, a Republican congressional candidate the president had flown to North Carolina to support.
Congressional candidate Dan Bishop started to speak after Trump, but as stopped speaking as members of the crowd started calling for a doctor to help someone in the audience who is unwell. President Trump also echoed their calls for a doctor.
Congressional candidate Dan Bishop started to speak after Trump, but as stopped speaking as members of the crowd started calling for a doctor to help someone in the audience who is unwell. President Trump also echoed their calls for a doctor.
“Four more years!” Trump supporters are chanting as the President speaks in North Carolina to support Republican Congressional candidate Dan Bishop in advance of a special election tomorrow.
“Four more years!” Trump supporters are chanting as the President speaks in North Carolina to support Republican Congressional candidate Dan Bishop in advance of a special election tomorrow.
Trump’s speech revisited familiar themes: the idea that the news media and the Democratic party are both enemies that he has to fight, the strength of the economy, the necessity of building a wall on the United States’ border with Mexico, and the supposed dangers of “sanctuary city” policies.
Trump’s speech revisited familiar themes: the idea that the news media and the Democratic party are both enemies that he has to fight, the strength of the economy, the necessity of building a wall on the United States’ border with Mexico, and the supposed dangers of “sanctuary city” policies.
“The state should be a sanctuary for law-abiding Americans, not for criminal aliens,” Trump said.
“The state should be a sanctuary for law-abiding Americans, not for criminal aliens,” Trump said.
The Commerce Department’s inspector general is now looking int a statement NOAA put out last week in the midst of a controversy over President Trump’s hurricane tweet, the New York Times is reporting.
The Commerce Department’s inspector general is now looking int a statement NOAA put out last week in the midst of a controversy over President Trump’s hurricane tweet, the New York Times is reporting.
Earlier, the Commerce Department made a statement denying that commerce secretary Wilbur Ross threatened to fire NOAA officials, as the Times had reported.
Earlier, the Commerce Department made a statement denying that commerce secretary Wilbur Ross threatened to fire NOAA officials, as the Times had reported.
This big scoop from earlier today now contains a SECOND SCOOP:The Inspector General is looking into the mess at NOAA and Trump's hurricane tweet. By @cflav, @LFFriedman + @peterbakernyt https://t.co/rV7SUkKIw0
This big scoop from earlier today now contains a SECOND SCOOP:The Inspector General is looking into the mess at NOAA and Trump's hurricane tweet. By @cflav, @LFFriedman + @peterbakernyt https://t.co/rV7SUkKIw0
Trump just said there are people in line for his rally and "they are soaking wet." Per CNN's @betsy_klein, "it is 88 and sunny here in Fayetteville. It has not rained here today."
Trump just said there are people in line for his rally and "they are soaking wet." Per CNN's @betsy_klein, "it is 88 and sunny here in Fayetteville. It has not rained here today."
I’m still listening to 2020 Democratic candidate and Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan’s newly-launched “policy album” on Spotify. On track 7 now. There is no music, there are not even any sound effects. It’s just Ryan’s voice, for “track” after “track.”
I’m still listening to 2020 Democratic candidate and Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan’s newly-launched “policy album” on Spotify. On track 7 now. There is no music, there are not even any sound effects. It’s just Ryan’s voice, for “track” after “track.”
Why.
Why.
Update: I could not force myself to listen to this entire “album.”
Update: I could not force myself to listen to this entire “album.”
I stopped after “Track 8: Gun Control,” in which Ryan described himself as a “leader” on gun violence prevention (he is not), but did not mention his previous A rating from the National Rifle Association, or his decision in 2017 to give roughly $20,000, the amount he received in political contributions from the NRA, to gun control groups.
I stopped after “Track 8: Gun Control,” in which Ryan described himself as a “leader” on gun violence prevention (he is not), but did not mention his previous A rating from the National Rifle Association, or his decision in 2017 to give roughly $20,000, the amount he received in political contributions from the NRA, to gun control groups.
The US Air Force is officially announcing a review of where it places air crews during overnight stop overs, following questions about stop overs at a Trump-owned luxury resort in Scotland, the New York Times’ Eric Lipton reports.
The US Air Force is officially announcing a review of where it places air crews during overnight stop overs, following questions about stop overs at a Trump-owned luxury resort in Scotland, the New York Times’ Eric Lipton reports.
US Air Force puts out this memo today, officially announcing review of policies related to where it is placing air crews during overnight stop overs, after questions about stay at Trump Turnberry resort in Scotland. pic.twitter.com/yum2udstKw
US Air Force puts out this memo today, officially announcing review of policies related to where it is placing air crews during overnight stop overs, after questions about stay at Trump Turnberry resort in Scotland. pic.twitter.com/yum2udstKw
Tim Ryan, a Democratic congressman from Ohio and 2020 presidential primary contender, has released a “policy album” on Spotify with ten “tracks.”
1. Intro2. Education3. Climate Change4. Regenerative Agriculture5. Healthcare6. College Affordability7. New Industrial Policy8. Gun Control9. Immigration10. Outro
I am listening to these “tracks,” and I will let you know if I hear any music, or anything other than Tim Ryan talking which is....not an album.
Track 2, education, includes Ryan talking about the way that childhood trauma affects kids’ brains and their ability to learn.
Ryan, who is married to an elementary school teacher, also says that he wants a salad bar and a garden in every school in America.
The Commerce Department is denying a New York Times report that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross threatened to fire top employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week in the midst of the “Sharpiegate” controversy.
Ross’s threat to fire officials at NOAA, which is a division of the Commerce Department, came after the agency’s Birmingham office publicly contradicted President Trump’s claim that Hurricane Dorian might hit Alabama, the Times reported, citing “three people familiar with the discussion.”
JUST IN: @CommerceGov responds to @nytimes report that @SecretaryRoss threatened to fire top @NOAA employees over Trump Dorian forecast drama: pic.twitter.com/ixShtjrCDQ
Meanwhile, citing the New York Times report, the Sierra Club is calling on Ross to resign.
“This shameless abuse of power could have devastating results now and in the future, demonstrating that Ross is unfit to continue in the cabinet and that he does not care that he is supposed to represent the American public above Trump’s fragile ego,” Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, said in a statement, The Hill reported.
#BREAKING: Sierra Club calls for Trump's Commerce Secretary to resign https://t.co/vnXdMz418j pic.twitter.com/8NSYv8XqIO
What gun control measures might President Trump actually support? Republican Congressional leaders will discuss this with him tomorrow, NBC News reports:
Trump is scheduled to meet tomorrow afternoon w/ cong GOP leaders: Leader McCarthy and Whip Scalise; Leader McConnell and Whip Thune, per @HallieJackson, @AlexNBCNews, @HansNichols & myself.McConnell said last week he hopes to hear what Trump will support on Gun Legislation.
This is Lois Beckett in our west coast office picking up our live politics coverage.
Donald Trump is en route to a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he is expected to speak after 7pm Eastern Time.
If you need a brief break from American political news today, I recommend my colleague Vivian Ho’s feature on the Internet’s obsession with “chonky cats”, and the subsequent anxiety about the health of these Insta-famous feline chonk stars. Should all the chonky cats really be on diets?
Chonky, fluffy, thicc: inside the internet's obsession with fat cats on diets
Watching my colleague factcheck the chonkiness of the cats she was profiling was a master class in journalistic excellence. As Vivian put it:
Always verify the chonk!
That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Lois Beckett, will take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
Trump dismissed Afghanistan peace talks as “dead” after he scrapped a secret (and controversial) plan to meet with Taliban leaders at Camp David.
The president cautioned that the United States must be “very careful” about allowing Bahamians affected by Hurricane Dorian into the country, echoing concerns voiced by a senior immigration official earlier today.
Those two comments came as part of Trump’s “chopper talk” before departing for North Carolina, where he is holding a campaign rally for the special congressional race happening there tomorrow.
Trump’s commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, reportedly threatened firings at a government agency that contradicted the president’s false claim about Hurricane Dorian potentially hitting Alabama.
Democratic officials called on Mitch McConnell to take up a bill expanding background checks that has already passed the House.
The US government chose to extract a high-level source in the Russian government in 2017 over concerns that Trump or his administration may compromise the source’s identity, CNN reported.
Trump’s campaign manager, Brad Parscale, predicted over the weekend that the president’s family would become “a dynasty that will last for decades”.
Lois will have more on the news of the day, so stay tuned.
The husband of Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice presidential candidate, appears to be seeking a divorce.
The AP reports:
The papers, which provide only initials, were filed Friday by TMP against SLP. Todd Palin’s middle name is Mitchell and Sarah Palin’s middle name is Louise.
The documents say the couple married on 29 August 1988 – the same as the Palins. Birthdates for the two also correspond.
The documents say the couple has a minor child identified as TPVP who was born 18 April 2008. The Palins’ youngest child, Trig Paxson Van Palin, was born that day.
Palin ran alongside the late senator John McCain in 2008, but the pair lost to Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The former Alaska governor later became one of Trump’s first major endorsers in 2016.
More from that “chopper talk” a bit ago: Trump waved away reports that officials like Mike Pence and John Bolton had advised him against holding Taliban peace talks at Camp David.
“I took my own advice,” Trump said of scrapping the secret plan. “We had a meeting scheduled. It was my idea, and it was my idea to terminate it. I didn’t even ... I didn’t discuss it with anybody else.”
Asked if his advisers talked him out of meeting with the Taliban, the President says he took his own advice pic.twitter.com/4uYERBwg1q
Trump added he had unilaterally decided to cancel the talks after an American soldier was killed by a Taliban suicide bomb last week. He declared the peace talks to be now “dead.”
The president has often bristled at any suggestion that a member of his administration, even the vice president, may know better than him. But it would be pretty remarkable if he consulted with no one before canceling the unprecedented talks.
Eight Democratic presidential candidates, including Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren, appeared in a video for the gun-control group Giffords.
The group is launching a video series it’s calling the Gun Safety President campaign to highlight candidates’ stances on the issue.
“We can continue with the corrupt leadership of Donald Trump, who has taken millions from the NRA while opposing gun safety policies — or we can forge a new path and elect a gun safety president who’s willing to stand up to the gun lobby and protect our kids and communities from gun violence,” said former representative Gabby Giffords, the group’s namesake who was shot at a constituent event in 2011.
The video was released the same day that Democratic lawmakers held an event calling on the Senate to pass a bill expanding background checks to all gun purchases.
Just when we thought we could put Sharpiegate behind us, a report has emerged that Trump’s commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, threatened firings at the NOAA after the agency contradicted the president’s false claim that Hurricane Dorian might hit Alabama.
The New York Times reports:
That threat led to an unusual, unsigned statement later that Friday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration disavowing the office’s own position that Alabama was not at risk. The reversal caused widespread anger within the agency and drew criticism from the scientific community that NOAA, a division of the Commerce Department, had been bent to political purposes. ...
Mr. Ross phoned Neil Jacobs, the acting administrator of NOAA, from Greece where the secretary was traveling for meetings and instructed Dr. Jacobs to fix the agency’s perceived contradiction of the president.
Dr. Jacobs objected to the demand and was told that the political staff at NOAA would be fired if the situation was not fixed, according to the three individuals, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the episode.
More from Trump’s “chopper talk” before leaving for his North Carolina rally: the president warned that the US must be “very careful” about allowing Bahamians affected by Hurricane Dorian into the country.
Pres. Trump on hurricane survivors trying to leave the Bahamas: "We have to be very careful. Everyone needs totally proper documentation...I don't want to allow people who weren't supposed to be in the Bahamas to come into the United States, including some very bad people." pic.twitter.com/NK66ftrC6o
“We have to be very careful,” Trump said. “Everyone needs totally proper documentation...I don’t want to allow people who weren’t supposed to be in the Bahamas to come into the United States, including some very bad people.”
Trump’s acting Customs and Border Patrol chief, Mark Morgan, was vague earlier today when asked about admitting Bahamians into the country. He said the administration would work to expedite humanitarian entry requests from those affected by the hurricane but seemed hesitant about granting Bahamians Temporary Protected Status.
Morgan’s comments came after dozens of Bahamians were reportedly kicked off a Florida-bound ferry because they didn’t have proper visas to visit the United States.
