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| White House reportedly bids to purge 'Never Trumpers' from key roles – live | White House reportedly bids to purge 'Never Trumpers' from key roles – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Presidential loyalist reportedly identifying staff as anti-Trump and instructing officials to block them from promotions – follow the latest live | Presidential loyalist reportedly identifying staff as anti-Trump and instructing officials to block them from promotions – follow the latest live |
| A number of prominent Democrats offered birthday wishes to John Lewis, the congressman and civil rights icon who is turning 80 today. | |
| Lewis announced late last year that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer but said he would continue his work in Congress despite his illness. | |
| “I have been in some kind of fight -- for freedom, equality, basic human rights -- for nearly my entire life. I have never faced a fight quite like the one I have now,” Lewis, who marched alongside Martin Luther King, said at the time. | |
| “While I am clear-eyed about the prognosis, doctors have told me that recent medical advances have made this type of cancer treatable in many cases, that treatment options are no longer as debilitating as they once were, and that I have a fighting chance. ... I may miss a few votes during this period, but with God’s grace I will be back on the front lines soon.” | |
| All senators will reportedly receive a briefing on election security on March 10, after intelligence officials briefed the House intelligence committee last week. | |
| Following reports of intelligence officials telling commitee members Russia is interfering in the 2020 election, Nancy Pelosi announced last night that all House members would receive a similar briefing on March 10. | |
| Mike Bloomberg’s campaign is blaming some vandalism at their campaign offices on supporters of Bernie Sanders, despite lacking any proof. | Mike Bloomberg’s campaign is blaming some vandalism at their campaign offices on supporters of Bernie Sanders, despite lacking any proof. |
| “This latest incident at our Knoxville campaign office is exactly what we’ve been warning about,” Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said in a statement. “We don’t know who is responsible for this vandalism, but we do know it echoes language from the Sanders campaign and its supporters.” | “This latest incident at our Knoxville campaign office is exactly what we’ve been warning about,” Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said in a statement. “We don’t know who is responsible for this vandalism, but we do know it echoes language from the Sanders campaign and its supporters.” |
| Some of Sanders’ opponents have accused the frontrunner candidate of enabling online vitriol by not denouncing certain supporters’ behavior strongly enough. | Some of Sanders’ opponents have accused the frontrunner candidate of enabling online vitriol by not denouncing certain supporters’ behavior strongly enough. |
| After Nevada’s Culinary Union distributed a flier criticizing Sanders’ Medicare-for-all plan, union leaders said they were the subject of “vicious attacks” from the Vermont senator’s supporters. | After Nevada’s Culinary Union distributed a flier criticizing Sanders’ Medicare-for-all plan, union leaders said they were the subject of “vicious attacks” from the Vermont senator’s supporters. |
| Sanders condemned that behavior, but Pete Buttigieg raised the issue again during this week’s debate. | Sanders condemned that behavior, but Pete Buttigieg raised the issue again during this week’s debate. |
| “Leadership is about what you draw out of people,” the former Indiana mayor said. “It’s about how you inspire people to act.” | “Leadership is about what you draw out of people,” the former Indiana mayor said. “It’s about how you inspire people to act.” |
| But Sanders blamed the attacks on “a few people who make ugly remarks” and “are not part of our movement.” | But Sanders blamed the attacks on “a few people who make ugly remarks” and “are not part of our movement.” |
| Mike Bloomberg’s billboards denouncing Trump for, among other things, losing the popular vote and cheating at golf are clearly visible on the Strip in Las Vegas, where the president is campaigning today. | Mike Bloomberg’s billboards denouncing Trump for, among other things, losing the popular vote and cheating at golf are clearly visible on the Strip in Las Vegas, where the president is campaigning today. |
| Trump will hold a campaign rally in Las Vegas in about an hour and a half, and it seems likely the president will have some comments about “Mini Mike,” as he calls the former New York mayor. | Trump will hold a campaign rally in Las Vegas in about an hour and a half, and it seems likely the president will have some comments about “Mini Mike,” as he calls the former New York mayor. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| The White House is reportedly trying to identify “Never Trumpers” serving in the administration to block them from promotion. | The White House is reportedly trying to identify “Never Trumpers” serving in the administration to block them from promotion. |
| Trump dismissed reports of Russia’s preference for him in the 2020 race as a Democratic “misinformation campaign.” | Trump dismissed reports of Russia’s preference for him in the 2020 race as a Democratic “misinformation campaign.” |
| The president said he is considering four candidates for the role of director of national intelligence, although congressman Doug Collins said he would not take the job, despite Trump naming him as a possibility yesterday. | The president said he is considering four candidates for the role of director of national intelligence, although congressman Doug Collins said he would not take the job, despite Trump naming him as a possibility yesterday. |
| The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| Some government officials are blaming House intelligence commitee Democrats for asking “leading questions” during last week’s election security briefing in order to hear an assessment that Russia favors Trump in this year’s race. | Some government officials are blaming House intelligence commitee Democrats for asking “leading questions” during last week’s election security briefing in order to hear an assessment that Russia favors Trump in this year’s race. |
| Bloomberg News reports: | Bloomberg News reports: |
| It’s unclear which four candidates Trump is considering for the job of director of national intelligence, but one frontrunner for the role has already ruled it out. | It’s unclear which four candidates Trump is considering for the job of director of national intelligence, but one frontrunner for the role has already ruled it out. |
| The president told reporters yesterday that he was considering Doug Collins, the top Republican on the House judiciary commitee, for the job. | The president told reporters yesterday that he was considering Doug Collins, the top Republican on the House judiciary commitee, for the job. |
| But Collins, who is running for a Senate seat in Georgia, said he would not take the job in an interview this morning. | But Collins, who is running for a Senate seat in Georgia, said he would not take the job in an interview this morning. |
| “This is not a job that’s of interest to me at this time, and it’s not one that I’d accept,” Collins said. | “This is not a job that’s of interest to me at this time, and it’s not one that I’d accept,” Collins said. |
| “Everybody knows I’m a supporter of the president, they know how much I supported him through sham impeachment and everything else,” he added. “But I’m running against a senator who was just newly appointed who decided to support the president three weeks before she got the appointment.” | “Everybody knows I’m a supporter of the president, they know how much I supported him through sham impeachment and everything else,” he added. “But I’m running against a senator who was just newly appointed who decided to support the president three weeks before she got the appointment.” |
| Collins has launched a primary challenge to senator Kelly Loeffler, who was recently appointed to Georgia’s vacant seat and has since been backed by Senate Republicans’ campaign arm. | Collins has launched a primary challenge to senator Kelly Loeffler, who was recently appointed to Georgia’s vacant seat and has since been backed by Senate Republicans’ campaign arm. |
| After Trump dismissed reports of Russia’s preference for him in the 2020 race as a Democratic “misinformation campaign,” the former CIA chief of Russian operations tweeted this: | After Trump dismissed reports of Russia’s preference for him in the 2020 race as a Democratic “misinformation campaign,” the former CIA chief of Russian operations tweeted this: |
| House intelligence committee Republicans reportedly pushed back against intelligence officials’ conclusion that the Kremlin was interfering in the 2020 campaign to aid Trump, arguing the president has been tough on Russia. | House intelligence committee Republicans reportedly pushed back against intelligence officials’ conclusion that the Kremlin was interfering in the 2020 campaign to aid Trump, arguing the president has been tough on Russia. |
| But Trump has repeatedly cast doubt upon the intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia interfered with the 2016 race and has peddled the baselss claim that it was actually Ukraine who meddled in the election. | But Trump has repeatedly cast doubt upon the intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia interfered with the 2016 race and has peddled the baselss claim that it was actually Ukraine who meddled in the election. |
| In her testimony during the impeachement hearings, Fiona Hill, the White House’s former top Russia expert, called the accusation against Ukraine a “fictional narrative” pushed by Vladimir Putin’s government. | In her testimony during the impeachement hearings, Fiona Hill, the White House’s former top Russia expert, called the accusation against Ukraine a “fictional narrative” pushed by Vladimir Putin’s government. |
| Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced a round of congressional endorsements today through her Courage to Change political action committee, which she launched last month. | Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced a round of congressional endorsements today through her Courage to Change political action committee, which she launched last month. |
| The New York Times has more details on the initiative: | The New York Times has more details on the initiative: |
| Trump’s newly installed head of the Presidential Personnel Office, Johnny McEntee, is reportedly instructing administration officials to identify “Never Trumpers” and block them from promotion. | Trump’s newly installed head of the Presidential Personnel Office, Johnny McEntee, is reportedly instructing administration officials to identify “Never Trumpers” and block them from promotion. |
| Axios reports: | Axios reports: |
| As a reminder, McEntee was previously fired from the White House by former chief of staff John Kelly because he had been denied a security clearance, partly due to an online gambling problem. | As a reminder, McEntee was previously fired from the White House by former chief of staff John Kelly because he had been denied a security clearance, partly due to an online gambling problem. |
| Trump also said moments ago that his administration would continue offering subsidies to farmers until various trade deals “fully kick in.” | Trump also said moments ago that his administration would continue offering subsidies to farmers until various trade deals “fully kick in.” |
| Over the past two years, the Trump administration has spent $28 billion on subsidies to farmers harmed by the president’s trade wars. Last year marked a 14-year high in payments to the nation’s farmers. | Over the past two years, the Trump administration has spent $28 billion on subsidies to farmers harmed by the president’s trade wars. Last year marked a 14-year high in payments to the nation’s farmers. |
| Some critics of the policy have complained that the substantial funds are a means of appeasing some of the president’s supporters and that they come at the expense of other programs, like food stamps. | Some critics of the policy have complained that the substantial funds are a means of appeasing some of the president’s supporters and that they come at the expense of other programs, like food stamps. |
| Trump is on a tweeting streak, now saying he has “four great candidates” for the role of director of national intelligence. | Trump is on a tweeting streak, now saying he has “four great candidates” for the role of director of national intelligence. |
| Trump announced Wednesday that Richard Grenell, the US ambassador to Germany and one of the president’s most loyal allies, would replace Joseph Maguire as the acting director of national intelligence. | Trump announced Wednesday that Richard Grenell, the US ambassador to Germany and one of the president’s most loyal allies, would replace Joseph Maguire as the acting director of national intelligence. |
| Maguire had been considered a frontrunner for the permanent job, but Trump reportedly soured on that prospect after one of Maguire’s staffers briefed the House intelligence commitee on Russian election interference last week. | Maguire had been considered a frontrunner for the permanent job, but Trump reportedly soured on that prospect after one of Maguire’s staffers briefed the House intelligence commitee on Russian election interference last week. |
| Reacting to Russia’s alleged election interference in the 2020 campaign, Trump dismissed reports of the Kremlin’s preference for him as a Democratic “misinformation campaign.” | Reacting to Russia’s alleged election interference in the 2020 campaign, Trump dismissed reports of the Kremlin’s preference for him as a Democratic “misinformation campaign.” |
| The president had repeatedly cast doubt upon the intelligence community’s conclusion that the Kremlin interfered in the 2016 race to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton. | The president had repeatedly cast doubt upon the intelligence community’s conclusion that the Kremlin interfered in the 2016 race to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton. |
| During the impeachment inquiry and trial, the president and his allies repeatedly pushed the debunked claim that Ukraine was the one who had meddled in the 2016 race. | During the impeachment inquiry and trial, the president and his allies repeatedly pushed the debunked claim that Ukraine was the one who had meddled in the 2016 race. |
| It now appears Trump is looking to cast doubt upon the latest news of Russian election interference as well. | It now appears Trump is looking to cast doubt upon the latest news of Russian election interference as well. |
| Nancy Pelosi said last night that all House members would receive a briefing on election security following reports of Trump’s anger at intelligence officials for briefing lawmakers on Russian interference in the 2020 campaign. | Nancy Pelosi said last night that all House members would receive a briefing on election security following reports of Trump’s anger at intelligence officials for briefing lawmakers on Russian interference in the 2020 campaign. |
| Officials briefed the House intelligence commitee last week on Russia’s alleged attempts to sway the 2020 election in Trump’s favor, but this briefing would be for all members. | Officials briefed the House intelligence commitee last week on Russia’s alleged attempts to sway the 2020 election in Trump’s favor, but this briefing would be for all members. |