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| 'Unity, unity, unity': Pelosi insists Democrats will support nominee amid Sanders surge – live | 'Unity, unity, unity': Pelosi insists Democrats will support nominee amid Sanders surge – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| House speaker says party will ‘wholeheartedly’ support whoever earns the nomination: ‘We know how to win. We are all unified’ | House speaker says party will ‘wholeheartedly’ support whoever earns the nomination: ‘We know how to win. We are all unified’ |
| In more Donald Trump news, the president called the press pool for an unscheduled event, shortly after the Dow Jones index suffered its biggest points fall in history amid coronavirus fears. The president planned to discuss his “success in empowering members of the African-American community”, and included guests such as conservative commentator Candace Owens and media personalities Diamond and Silk. | |
| The event turned into an impromptu press conference, and Trump started to talk about the coronavirus outbreak. | |
| Donald Trump spent 45 minutes today meeting with the lead actors in a conservative play about “the Deep State”, the Daily Beast reports. | Donald Trump spent 45 minutes today meeting with the lead actors in a conservative play about “the Deep State”, the Daily Beast reports. |
| The play, FBI Lovebirds: Undercovers, is based on congressional testimony and text messages between former FBI agent Peter Strzok and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, who discussed the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s campaign and Russia while having an affair. | The play, FBI Lovebirds: Undercovers, is based on congressional testimony and text messages between former FBI agent Peter Strzok and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, who discussed the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s campaign and Russia while having an affair. |
| Trump and his allies have repeatedly pointed to Strzok and this affair as proof for their claim that the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election is a “witch-hunt”. | Trump and his allies have repeatedly pointed to Strzok and this affair as proof for their claim that the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election is a “witch-hunt”. |
| On Thursday, Trump hosted the play’s leads, Superman actor Dean Cain and former Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress Kristy Swanson, along with playwright Phelim McAleer and producer Ann McElhinney in the Oval Office. | On Thursday, Trump hosted the play’s leads, Superman actor Dean Cain and former Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress Kristy Swanson, along with playwright Phelim McAleer and producer Ann McElhinney in the Oval Office. |
| The meeting was supposed to last 15 minutes, McAleer told the Daily Beast. “We went for a 15 minute meeting that took 45 minutes,” McAleer said. “We were there for 45 minutes in the Oval Office, and he loves it, he loves the play.” | The meeting was supposed to last 15 minutes, McAleer told the Daily Beast. “We went for a 15 minute meeting that took 45 minutes,” McAleer said. “We were there for 45 minutes in the Oval Office, and he loves it, he loves the play.” |
| Speaking of Mike Bloomberg, here he is telling Kasie Hunt that he’s “in it to win it”. “Why would I spend all this money and all this time out of my life and all this wear and tear?” he asked. | Speaking of Mike Bloomberg, here he is telling Kasie Hunt that he’s “in it to win it”. “Why would I spend all this money and all this time out of my life and all this wear and tear?” he asked. |
| “I’m running a race and I’m behind with one lap to go, what am I’m going to do, quit?” Bloomberg said. “No, you run harder.” | “I’m running a race and I’m behind with one lap to go, what am I’m going to do, quit?” Bloomberg said. “No, you run harder.” |
| Mike Bloomberg had to apologize for his legacy of ‘stop-and-frisk’ as New York mayor before he launched his campaign in November. Now, with just days to go to Super Tuesday, he’s apologizing again, this time for referring to transgender people as “he, she, or it” and “some guy in a dress” who enters girls locker rooms. | Mike Bloomberg had to apologize for his legacy of ‘stop-and-frisk’ as New York mayor before he launched his campaign in November. Now, with just days to go to Super Tuesday, he’s apologizing again, this time for referring to transgender people as “he, she, or it” and “some guy in a dress” who enters girls locker rooms. |
| “It was a poor attempt to describe how some who oppose transgender equality think about this issue—and those words do not reflect my unwavering support for equality for transgender Americans,” Bloomberg said in an exclusive statement to NewNowNext. “I want to offer my sincerest apologies to the members of the transgender community.” | “It was a poor attempt to describe how some who oppose transgender equality think about this issue—and those words do not reflect my unwavering support for equality for transgender Americans,” Bloomberg said in an exclusive statement to NewNowNext. “I want to offer my sincerest apologies to the members of the transgender community.” |
| He purportedly spoke to some transgender leaders on a private call Thursday as well, but his campaign declined to name who those leaders were. | He purportedly spoke to some transgender leaders on a private call Thursday as well, but his campaign declined to name who those leaders were. |
| Hi all, Vivian Ho on the west coast here, taking over for Kenya Evelyn. Politics are happening. | Hi all, Vivian Ho on the west coast here, taking over for Kenya Evelyn. Politics are happening. |
| Bernie Sanders appears to have had an impressive past two days in fundraising, according to his campaign. | Bernie Sanders appears to have had an impressive past two days in fundraising, according to his campaign. |
| Elizabeth Warren announces plan for clemency board | Elizabeth Warren announces plan for clemency board |
| In a tweet thread Thursday, Massachusetts senator and presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren unveiled a plans to form a presidential clemency board “that will prioritize cases of older Americans incarcerated for unduly long sentences and establish a presumption of release.” | In a tweet thread Thursday, Massachusetts senator and presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren unveiled a plans to form a presidential clemency board “that will prioritize cases of older Americans incarcerated for unduly long sentences and establish a presumption of release.” |
| Warren acknowledged there will be some exceptions, including for people deemed a danger to society. She also took the time to thank fellow senator Cory Booker of New Jersey for “leading on criminal justice reform and consistently highlighting this issue,” leading to speculations of a possible Warren-Booker ticket. | Warren acknowledged there will be some exceptions, including for people deemed a danger to society. She also took the time to thank fellow senator Cory Booker of New Jersey for “leading on criminal justice reform and consistently highlighting this issue,” leading to speculations of a possible Warren-Booker ticket. |
| Sen. Booker dropped out of the presidential race in last month. | Sen. Booker dropped out of the presidential race in last month. |
| The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended nearly 1,200 points down Thursday. Investors continue to fear the potential impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the US economy. | The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended nearly 1,200 points down Thursday. Investors continue to fear the potential impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the US economy. |
| President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he had enlisted vice president Mike Pence to lead the nation’s efforts at combating the highly infectious virus. But as we reported earlier, those initial efforts appear to be limiting who can speak publicly about it. | President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he had enlisted vice president Mike Pence to lead the nation’s efforts at combating the highly infectious virus. But as we reported earlier, those initial efforts appear to be limiting who can speak publicly about it. |
| The Trump administration is clamping down on interviews discussing the coronavirus, even directing cabinet officials to go through US vice president Mike Pence. | The Trump administration is clamping down on interviews discussing the coronavirus, even directing cabinet officials to go through US vice president Mike Pence. |
| From the NY Times: | From the NY Times: |
| Pence is one of three people designated as the administration’s primary coronavirus official. Government workers, including health experts and scientists, must coordinate their statements with the vice president’s office. | Pence is one of three people designated as the administration’s primary coronavirus official. Government workers, including health experts and scientists, must coordinate their statements with the vice president’s office. |
| President Donald Trump garnered immediate backlash for tapping Pence to lead crisis re draw criticism nearly immediately after the press conference. Critics have pointed to Pence record as the governor of Indiana, when he gutted health spending budgets and delayed a rollout of needle exchanges. | President Donald Trump garnered immediate backlash for tapping Pence to lead crisis re draw criticism nearly immediately after the press conference. Critics have pointed to Pence record as the governor of Indiana, when he gutted health spending budgets and delayed a rollout of needle exchanges. |
| It enabled the state’s worst outbreak of HIV. | It enabled the state’s worst outbreak of HIV. |
| Conservatives declare war on socialism in CPAC battle cry | Conservatives declare war on socialism in CPAC battle cry |
| “America vs. Socialism” is the umbrella theme at the biggest annual gathering of conservatives under way at the National Harbor in Maryland. Many attendees are wearing “Make America great again” or “Keep America great” hats.The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) marketplace is as brash and unapologetic as ever. | “America vs. Socialism” is the umbrella theme at the biggest annual gathering of conservatives under way at the National Harbor in Maryland. Many attendees are wearing “Make America great again” or “Keep America great” hats.The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) marketplace is as brash and unapologetic as ever. |
| T-shirt legends include “God, guns, Trump 2020” and, in a parody of The Terminator film franchise, “Trumpinator. I’ll be back.” There are Trump novelty pens and socks. A blue full length dress proclaims “Make America great again.”Not invited this year is Utah Senator Mitt Romney, the sole Republican who voted for the president’s conviction at the impeachment trial. A placard with Romney’s face says: “Used Trump for political gain... and then stabs him in the back.” When Charlie Kirk of the pro-Trump student group Turning Point USA referred to Romney during a speech, the crowd booed and Kirk responded: “Correct. Every time his name is mentioned, you should react that way.”Once given the cold shoulder himself by CPAC, Donald Trump now enjoys a cult-like status here and is due to speak on Saturday. On Thursday, his deputy, Mike Pence, told the crowd: “I know you’re going to say yes to four more years of President Donald Trump in 2020.”There were chants of “Four more years!” and “USA! USA!”Trump won the Democratic debates “in a knockout”, the vice president declared. “The truth is today’s Democratic party has been taken over by radical leftists who want higher taxes, open borders and late term abortions.”He attacked frontrunner Bernie Sanders in particular but warned that “despite what the media tells you, there are no moderates in this Democratic field”.During Pence’s speech, a protester dressed as Trump was removed by security. | T-shirt legends include “God, guns, Trump 2020” and, in a parody of The Terminator film franchise, “Trumpinator. I’ll be back.” There are Trump novelty pens and socks. A blue full length dress proclaims “Make America great again.”Not invited this year is Utah Senator Mitt Romney, the sole Republican who voted for the president’s conviction at the impeachment trial. A placard with Romney’s face says: “Used Trump for political gain... and then stabs him in the back.” When Charlie Kirk of the pro-Trump student group Turning Point USA referred to Romney during a speech, the crowd booed and Kirk responded: “Correct. Every time his name is mentioned, you should react that way.”Once given the cold shoulder himself by CPAC, Donald Trump now enjoys a cult-like status here and is due to speak on Saturday. On Thursday, his deputy, Mike Pence, told the crowd: “I know you’re going to say yes to four more years of President Donald Trump in 2020.”There were chants of “Four more years!” and “USA! USA!”Trump won the Democratic debates “in a knockout”, the vice president declared. “The truth is today’s Democratic party has been taken over by radical leftists who want higher taxes, open borders and late term abortions.”He attacked frontrunner Bernie Sanders in particular but warned that “despite what the media tells you, there are no moderates in this Democratic field”.During Pence’s speech, a protester dressed as Trump was removed by security. |
| Georgia governor Brian Kemp mocked and dismissed the impact of voter suppression on residents as state officials misled the public about the ability to stop poll site closures, according to a new report by the US House. | Georgia governor Brian Kemp mocked and dismissed the impact of voter suppression on residents as state officials misled the public about the ability to stop poll site closures, according to a new report by the US House. |
| Kemp, a Republican, narrowly defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams in the 2018 gubernatorial race. Abrams went on to launch a national campaign to combat voter disenfranchisement. | Kemp, a Republican, narrowly defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams in the 2018 gubernatorial race. Abrams went on to launch a national campaign to combat voter disenfranchisement. |
| The Georgia Recorder first reported that Kemp, then state secretary, circulated news reports bout “problems with local officials’ attempts to challenge voter registrations.” | The Georgia Recorder first reported that Kemp, then state secretary, circulated news reports bout “problems with local officials’ attempts to challenge voter registrations.” |
| Kemp , along with aide David Dove, then responded with crying-laughing emojis. | Kemp , along with aide David Dove, then responded with crying-laughing emojis. |
| The report was released by the US House Oversight Committee into voter suppression in minority communities. Officials also uncovered what they called “concerning information about voter suppression in Georgia.” | The report was released by the US House Oversight Committee into voter suppression in minority communities. Officials also uncovered what they called “concerning information about voter suppression in Georgia.” |
| Former Baltimore mayor Catherine Pugh, 69, was sentenced to three years in federal prison on Thursday. | Former Baltimore mayor Catherine Pugh, 69, was sentenced to three years in federal prison on Thursday. |
| The disgraced politician pleaded guilty last year to tax evasion and conspiracy for arranging fraudulent sales of her self-published children’s book series to non-profit foundations. | The disgraced politician pleaded guilty last year to tax evasion and conspiracy for arranging fraudulent sales of her self-published children’s book series to non-profit foundations. |
| From the Baltimore Sun: | From the Baltimore Sun: |
| She initially faced a possible 4-5 years sentence. Attorneys for the former mayor called the judge’s ruling “very fair.” And those children’s books? Rather than donating them to local schools, prosecutors and Pugh agreed to destroy all those currently in government custody. | She initially faced a possible 4-5 years sentence. Attorneys for the former mayor called the judge’s ruling “very fair.” And those children’s books? Rather than donating them to local schools, prosecutors and Pugh agreed to destroy all those currently in government custody. |