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| Beto O'Rourke dropping out of 2020 presidential race – live | Beto O'Rourke dropping out of 2020 presidential race – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Here’s a recap of today: | |
| Beto O’Rourke dropped out of the 2020 primary race. The former Texas congressman was trailing in polls and lacked funding. | |
| Elizabeth Warren unveiled a $20.5tn plan to fund Medicare for all, without a middle-class tax hike. She figures the money can be raised through higher levies on capital gains and other investments and new taxes on the wealthiest 1% of Americans, among other things. | |
| Joe Biden criticized the plan, saying that Warren is “making it up,” | |
| Biden slipped to fourth in Iowa — the first caucus state — trailing Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg. | |
| The Democratic candidates have all converged in Des Moines for a party fundraising dinner that has become known as a launching pad for winning candidates. | |
| Nancy Pelosi predicted public impeachment hearings would begin this month, but the House speaker emphasized that any case against Trump would have to be “ironclad”. | |
| Donald Trump said that Chad Wolf was the new acting DHS secretary. A DHS spokesperson said Wolf is not the acting secretary. Confusion ensued. | |
| Trump is holding a “Keep America Great” rally in Mississippi, after initially telling Louisiana “I’ll see you tonight.” | |
| National security officer Lt Col Alexander Vindman, reportedly told impeachment investigators that he told by a White House lawyer to keep quiet about Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president. | |
| But the energy secretary may not show up to his deposition. | But the energy secretary may not show up to his deposition. |
| According to CNN: | According to CNN: |
| Department of Energy spokesperson Shaylyn Hynes said Perry will not participate in the closed-door deposition. | Department of Energy spokesperson Shaylyn Hynes said Perry will not participate in the closed-door deposition. |
| “The secretary will not partake in a secret star chamber inquisition where agency counsel is forbidden to be present,” Hynes said. “If the committee is interested in conducting a serious proceeding they are welcome to send for the secretary’s consideration an invitation to participate in an open hearing where the Department’s counsel can be present and the American people can witness.” | “The secretary will not partake in a secret star chamber inquisition where agency counsel is forbidden to be present,” Hynes said. “If the committee is interested in conducting a serious proceeding they are welcome to send for the secretary’s consideration an invitation to participate in an open hearing where the Department’s counsel can be present and the American people can witness.” |
| Rick Perry, the energy secretary, is scheduled to testify on Wednesday, according to reports. | |
| Perry resigned in October amid the Ukraine scandal. He has said that he urged Donald Trump to make the phone call at the center of the impeachment inquiry to offer Ukraine “an alternative to Russian gas” – saying the whole affair had nothing to do with Joe Biden or his son Hunter. | |
| Fox has learned the deposition schedule for Wednesday, November 6. Most-prominent officials yet: Acting OMB Director Russell Vought. State Department Counselor T. Ulrich Brechbuhl. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale. | Fox has learned the deposition schedule for Wednesday, November 6. Most-prominent officials yet: Acting OMB Director Russell Vought. State Department Counselor T. Ulrich Brechbuhl. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale. |
| Maybe Chad Wolf isn’t DHS acting secretary after all... | Maybe Chad Wolf isn’t DHS acting secretary after all... |
| According to the White House Pool reporters, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson contradicted Donald Trump’s assertion that Chad Wolf is “right now acting” secretary. | According to the White House Pool reporters, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson contradicted Donald Trump’s assertion that Chad Wolf is “right now acting” secretary. |
| Kevin McAleenan remains the acting secretary and Wolf is the acting undersecretary for policy, the spokesperson reportedly said. | Kevin McAleenan remains the acting secretary and Wolf is the acting undersecretary for policy, the spokesperson reportedly said. |
| Is it too much to expect that the president and his administration would be on the same page on who’s in charge of a major cabinet department responsible for keeping Americans safe? https://t.co/qUMDWgQ2Rr | Is it too much to expect that the president and his administration would be on the same page on who’s in charge of a major cabinet department responsible for keeping Americans safe? https://t.co/qUMDWgQ2Rr |
| Stay tuned as we attempt to clarify. | Stay tuned as we attempt to clarify. |
| National Security official testified that he was asked to keep mum | National Security official testified that he was asked to keep mum |
| A White House lawyer instructed national security official Alexander Vindman not to discuss he concerns over Donald Trump’s conversations with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy with anyone outside the White House, the Washington Post reports: | A White House lawyer instructed national security official Alexander Vindman not to discuss he concerns over Donald Trump’s conversations with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy with anyone outside the White House, the Washington Post reports: |
| Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman testified that he received this instruction from John Eisenberg, the top legal adviser for the National Security Council, after White House lawyers learned July 29 that a CIA employee had anonymously raised concerns about the Trump phone call, the sources said. | Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman testified that he received this instruction from John Eisenberg, the top legal adviser for the National Security Council, after White House lawyers learned July 29 that a CIA employee had anonymously raised concerns about the Trump phone call, the sources said. |
| The directive from Eisenberg adds to an expanding list of moves by senior White House officials to contain, if not conceal, possible evidence of Trump’s attempt to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to provide information that could be damaging to former vice president Joe Biden. | The directive from Eisenberg adds to an expanding list of moves by senior White House officials to contain, if not conceal, possible evidence of Trump’s attempt to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to provide information that could be damaging to former vice president Joe Biden. |
| Alexander Vindman's Trump-Ukraine testimony: five key takeaways | Alexander Vindman's Trump-Ukraine testimony: five key takeaways |
| 2020 candidates thank Beto O’Rourke for his gun control advocacy | 2020 candidates thank Beto O’Rourke for his gun control advocacy |
| Thank you, @BetoORourke. Your commitment to ending gun violence and uplifting the voices of the victims and their families has made this presidential race—and our country—stronger. I look forward to working together in the fight to end gun violence. | Thank you, @BetoORourke. Your commitment to ending gun violence and uplifting the voices of the victims and their families has made this presidential race—and our country—stronger. I look forward to working together in the fight to end gun violence. |
| After a gunman opened fire at a Walmart in O’Rourke’s hometown of El Paso, Texas, and killed 22 people, the former congressman redoubled his commitment to ending gun violence. | After a gunman opened fire at a Walmart in O’Rourke’s hometown of El Paso, Texas, and killed 22 people, the former congressman redoubled his commitment to ending gun violence. |
| Thank you @BetoORourke for running a campaign to bring millions of people together, fight for justice for all and end gun violence in America. We are grateful for your leadership. | Thank you @BetoORourke for running a campaign to bring millions of people together, fight for justice for all and end gun violence in America. We are grateful for your leadership. |
| Thank you, @BetoORourke, for running the race you did and for always speaking from the heart. Your passion for your community and conviction to create a future free from gun violence have enriched this campaign and shown us the leader you are. pic.twitter.com/HdQ81WYs1S | Thank you, @BetoORourke, for running the race you did and for always speaking from the heart. Your passion for your community and conviction to create a future free from gun violence have enriched this campaign and shown us the leader you are. pic.twitter.com/HdQ81WYs1S |
| During his campaign, O’Rourke found himself at odds with some of his running mates. Fellow Texan Julián Castro criticized O’Rouke’s immigration policies, sparring with him during a June debate. “I think you should do your homework on this issue,” Castro told O’Rourke. | During his campaign, O’Rourke found himself at odds with some of his running mates. Fellow Texan Julián Castro criticized O’Rouke’s immigration policies, sparring with him during a June debate. “I think you should do your homework on this issue,” Castro told O’Rourke. |
| Beto has inspired millions of Americans all over our country, and rallied Texans and El Pasoans after the tragedy that struck his hometown.I am thankful for his voice and his continued leadership, and I look forward to working together in whatever he chooses to do next. https://t.co/Csz4xqTKYF | Beto has inspired millions of Americans all over our country, and rallied Texans and El Pasoans after the tragedy that struck his hometown.I am thankful for his voice and his continued leadership, and I look forward to working together in whatever he chooses to do next. https://t.co/Csz4xqTKYF |
| O’Rourke has not endorsed any of the other candidates. “I can tell you firsthand from having the chance to know the candidates, we will be well served by any one of them, and I’m going to be proud to support whoever that nominee is,” he said in a statement. | O’Rourke has not endorsed any of the other candidates. “I can tell you firsthand from having the chance to know the candidates, we will be well served by any one of them, and I’m going to be proud to support whoever that nominee is,” he said in a statement. |
| Wolf will be the fifth person to lead the department since Donald Trump took office. Trump announced recently that acting DHS secretary Kevin McAleenan was leaving his post. | Wolf will be the fifth person to lead the department since Donald Trump took office. Trump announced recently that acting DHS secretary Kevin McAleenan was leaving his post. |
| This news was first reported by Politico, and confirmed by NPR. Trump confirmed that Wolf could take the position. According to White House pool reporters, the president said: “Well he’s right now acting and we’ll see what happens. We have great people in there.” | This news was first reported by Politico, and confirmed by NPR. Trump confirmed that Wolf could take the position. According to White House pool reporters, the president said: “Well he’s right now acting and we’ll see what happens. We have great people in there.” |
| Per NPR: | Per NPR: |
| Wolf would seem to be a less controversial choice than others, in that he has not publicly espoused the hard-line views on immigration that the acting head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli has, for instance. | Wolf would seem to be a less controversial choice than others, in that he has not publicly espoused the hard-line views on immigration that the acting head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli has, for instance. |
| Some advocates for immigration restrictions have raised concerns about Wolf’s prior work as a lobbyist on H-1B and other employment visas - programs that Trump has opposed. Wolf would become the latest person in charge at DHS “who is not completely on board” with Trump’s immigration agenda, said RJ Hauman, head of government relations at the Federation for American Immigration Reform. | Some advocates for immigration restrictions have raised concerns about Wolf’s prior work as a lobbyist on H-1B and other employment visas - programs that Trump has opposed. Wolf would become the latest person in charge at DHS “who is not completely on board” with Trump’s immigration agenda, said RJ Hauman, head of government relations at the Federation for American Immigration Reform. |
| “If officially named, Wolf must recuse himself from work on all guest worker related issues, not just H-1B and L-1,” Hauman said. | “If officially named, Wolf must recuse himself from work on all guest worker related issues, not just H-1B and L-1,” Hauman said. |
| Beto O’Rourke was once a front runner in the Democratic primaries, who raised huge amounts of money from small donors across the country. | Beto O’Rourke was once a front runner in the Democratic primaries, who raised huge amounts of money from small donors across the country. |
| When he ran for US senator, he earned an endorsement of Barack Obama and energized the democratic base before he narrowly lost to incumbent Ted Cruz in the Republican stronghold of Texas. But O’Rourke is not expected to run for the Senate again. It’s unclear what his political future holds. | When he ran for US senator, he earned an endorsement of Barack Obama and energized the democratic base before he narrowly lost to incumbent Ted Cruz in the Republican stronghold of Texas. But O’Rourke is not expected to run for the Senate again. It’s unclear what his political future holds. |
| Beto O'Rourke withdraws from Democratic race to face Trump | Beto O'Rourke withdraws from Democratic race to face Trump |
| Following in the footsteps of Joan Didion, and Meghan Daum and Luc Sante – Donald Trump has penned his own version of the “Goodbye New York” essay after announcing yesterday that he had changed his primary residence from Manhattan to Mar-a-lago. | Following in the footsteps of Joan Didion, and Meghan Daum and Luc Sante – Donald Trump has penned his own version of the “Goodbye New York” essay after announcing yesterday that he had changed his primary residence from Manhattan to Mar-a-lago. |
| “I love New York, but New York can never be great again,” he begins. Like so many bigly figures in the literary world, Trump has written about that bittersweet feeling of leaving the iconic city. | “I love New York, but New York can never be great again,” he begins. Like so many bigly figures in the literary world, Trump has written about that bittersweet feeling of leaving the iconic city. |
| I love New York, but New York can never be great again under the current leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo (the brother of Fredo), or Mayor Bill DeBlasio. Cuomo has weaponized the prosecutors to do his dirty work (and to keep him out of jams), a reason some don’t want to be... | I love New York, but New York can never be great again under the current leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo (the brother of Fredo), or Mayor Bill DeBlasio. Cuomo has weaponized the prosecutors to do his dirty work (and to keep him out of jams), a reason some don’t want to be... |
| For Trump, the decision to leave stems, he writes, from his disappointment with the “current leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo (the brother of Fredo), or Mayor Bill DeBlasio”. | For Trump, the decision to leave stems, he writes, from his disappointment with the “current leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo (the brother of Fredo), or Mayor Bill DeBlasio”. |
| Moreover, Trump continued, “Upstate is being allowed to die as other nearby states frack & drill for Gold (oil) while reducing taxes & creating jobs by the thousands.” He lamented, “NYC is getting dirty & unsafe again.” | Moreover, Trump continued, “Upstate is being allowed to die as other nearby states frack & drill for Gold (oil) while reducing taxes & creating jobs by the thousands.” He lamented, “NYC is getting dirty & unsafe again.” |
| Echoing Didion, who described the city as “an infinitely romantic notion, the mysterious nexus of all love and money and power, the shining and perishable dream itself”, Trump concluded that he wants this “wonerful (sic) City and State to flourish and thrive.” | Echoing Didion, who described the city as “an infinitely romantic notion, the mysterious nexus of all love and money and power, the shining and perishable dream itself”, Trump concluded that he wants this “wonerful (sic) City and State to flourish and thrive.” |
| “I Love New York!” Trump said. | “I Love New York!” Trump said. |
| “I am announcing that my service to the country will not be as a candidate or as the nominee,” he said in a statement. | “I am announcing that my service to the country will not be as a candidate or as the nominee,” he said in a statement. |
| The former Texas congressman has suffered low polling numbers and his campaign has been under financial strain. “Though it is difficult to accept, it is clear to me now that this campaign does not have the means to move forward successfully,” O’Rourke said. | The former Texas congressman has suffered low polling numbers and his campaign has been under financial strain. “Though it is difficult to accept, it is clear to me now that this campaign does not have the means to move forward successfully,” O’Rourke said. |
| He had not met the thresholds for participating in the upcoming debates in November and December. | He had not met the thresholds for participating in the upcoming debates in November and December. |
| Our campaign has always been about seeing clearly, speaking honestly, and acting decisively. In that spirit: I am announcing that my service to the country will not be as a candidate or as the nominee. https://t.co/8jrBPGuX4t | Our campaign has always been about seeing clearly, speaking honestly, and acting decisively. In that spirit: I am announcing that my service to the country will not be as a candidate or as the nominee. https://t.co/8jrBPGuX4t |
| That’s it from me this week. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours. | That’s it from me this week. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| Joe Biden attacked Elizabeth Warren following the release of her $20.5tn plan to fund Medicare for all, claiming the Massachusetts senator was “making it up” on the cost estimate of the proposal. | Joe Biden attacked Elizabeth Warren following the release of her $20.5tn plan to fund Medicare for all, claiming the Massachusetts senator was “making it up” on the cost estimate of the proposal. |
| A new poll showed Biden slipping to fourth in Iowa – narrowly trailing Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg in the first caucus state. | A new poll showed Biden slipping to fourth in Iowa – narrowly trailing Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg in the first caucus state. |
| Nancy Pelosi predicted public impeachment hearings would begin this month, but the House speaker emphasized that any case against Trump would have to be “ironclad”. | Nancy Pelosi predicted public impeachment hearings would begin this month, but the House speaker emphasized that any case against Trump would have to be “ironclad”. |
| Lt Col Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine expert on the national security council, reportedly told impeachment investigators that he was instructed by a White House lawyer not to discuss Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president. | Lt Col Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine expert on the national security council, reportedly told impeachment investigators that he was instructed by a White House lawyer not to discuss Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president. |
| Maanvi will have plenty more on the news of the day, so stay tuned. Some of my Guardian colleagues will be anchoring the blog next week as I travel to Iowa to report on the Democratic presidential primary, so enjoy their coverage – and have a wonderful weekend! | Maanvi will have plenty more on the news of the day, so stay tuned. Some of my Guardian colleagues will be anchoring the blog next week as I travel to Iowa to report on the Democratic presidential primary, so enjoy their coverage – and have a wonderful weekend! |
| Joe Biden has now personally weighed in on the release of Elizabeth Warren’s $20.5 trillion plan to fund her Medicare for all proposal, and his response boils down to: you’re full of it. | Joe Biden has now personally weighed in on the release of Elizabeth Warren’s $20.5 trillion plan to fund her Medicare for all proposal, and his response boils down to: you’re full of it. |
| “She’s making it up,” Biden told PBS NewsHour. “Nobody thinks it’s $20 trillion. It’s between $30 and $40 trillion.” | “She’s making it up,” Biden told PBS NewsHour. “Nobody thinks it’s $20 trillion. It’s between $30 and $40 trillion.” |
| WATCH: Elizabeth Warren is "making it up" on how she would pay for "Medicare For All" in the U.S., @JoeBiden tells @JudyWoodruff.See more of the interview at 6 p.m. Eastern on our site: https://t.co/H64jnTmSs7. pic.twitter.com/SDmt1kyKXG | WATCH: Elizabeth Warren is "making it up" on how she would pay for "Medicare For All" in the U.S., @JoeBiden tells @JudyWoodruff.See more of the interview at 6 p.m. Eastern on our site: https://t.co/H64jnTmSs7. pic.twitter.com/SDmt1kyKXG |
| The former vice president once again offered Bernie Sanders the backhanded compliment of recognizing that Medicare for all would require tax increases on the middle class. | The former vice president once again offered Bernie Sanders the backhanded compliment of recognizing that Medicare for all would require tax increases on the middle class. |
| “Look, we don’t have to go that route,” Biden added. “All we have to do is go back, restore Obamacare, provide a public option.” | “Look, we don’t have to go that route,” Biden added. “All we have to do is go back, restore Obamacare, provide a public option.” |
| Biden noted that his plan could be implemented immediately if passed, while Warren and Sanders have proposed transitional periods to shift to a single-payer system. | Biden noted that his plan could be implemented immediately if passed, while Warren and Sanders have proposed transitional periods to shift to a single-payer system. |