California Passes Law to Allow College Athletes to Get Paid

CNBC

Content (11)

"California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Monday allowing college athletes to get paid for endorsement deals."

"This bill defied collegiate athletic leaders who say the change could upend amateur sports."

"'Colleges and universities reap billions from these student-athletes’ sacrifices and success but block them from earning a single dollar,' the Governor said in a statement. 'That’s a bankrupt model — one that puts institutions ahead of the students they are supposed to serve.'"

[NCAA] "…said in a statement that it agrees changes are needed but that improvement needs to happen on a national level."

" 'Unfortunately, this new law already is creating confusion for current and future student-athletes, coaches, administrators and campuses, and not just in California,' the NCAA said in the statement."

The NCAA Also said," '…We will consider next steps in California while our members move forward with ongoing efforts to make adjustments to NCAA name, image and likeness rules that are both realistic in modern society and tied to higher education.' "

"The organization’s Board of Governors sent a letter to Newsom earlier this month saying that the bill 'would upend level playing field for all student-athletes.' "

"The NCAA appointed a working group earlier this year to consider changes to its policy."

"The bill gained attention from celebrity athletes such as basketball player LeBron James, who was with the governor on an episode of HBO’s “The Shop: Uninterrupted” when he signed the bill."

"I’m so incredibly proud to share this moment with all of you. @gavinnewsom came to The Shop to do something that will change the lives for countless athletes who deserve it! @uninterrupted hosted the formal signing for SB 206 allowing college athletes to responsibly get paid. -LeBron James on Twitter."

" 'While our student-athletes struggle to get by with basic necessities such as food and clothing, universities and the NCAA make millions off of their talent and labor,” Bradford said in a statement. “College coaches are now some of the highest paid employees in the country because of the talented young men and women who play for them.' "

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/30/2019 01:05:00 pm

Date Accessed: 10/02/2019 10:04:00 pm

Article Author: Mallika Mitra

Click here to see the article

LA Daily News

Content (13)

[GOV] "…tweeted a video of himself signing a bill into law on an episode of HBO’s “The Shop: Uninterrupted.' "

[GOV] "…was seated in a barber’s chair next to NBA superstar LeBron James, chatting with a group of star college athletes about how many college presidents called him and urged him to veto the bill. They all laughed at that."

"But the NCAA’s threat to ban California schools from national competitions wasn’t credible to [GOV]."

“ 'I don’t see them doing that,' [GOV] told reporters. 'They can’t afford to do that. They can’t afford to lose the state of California.' The governor asserted, 'This is a national state, California. This is not a small, isolated state. This is a game changer.' "

"There are 1,100 schools in the NCAA and only 58 of them are in California, so we’ll see."

"Without any doubt, something needs to change in college sports. The NCAA had more than $1 billion in revenue in 2017, and that’s only the beginning. "

"From schools to TV networks to casinos to companies that make athletic gear, people are making mega-money off college athletics, while the athletes themselves get only scholarships and injuries."

"[GOV] said New York, South Carolina, Washington, and Colorado will likely follow California’s lead, but the NCAA warned that 'a patchwork of different laws from different states' will make it impossible to have a 'fair and level playing field for 1,100 campuses and nearly half a million student athletes nationwide.' "

"There could be federal legislation, which would solve the patchwork problem. One proposed bill from Rep. Matt Walker, R-North Carolina, would strip the NCAA’s tax-exempt status if it doesn’t allow players the right to profit from the use of their name, image and likeness."

"In May, the NCAA formed a working group to examine that issue."

"The board of the NCAA says the working group will not consider any type of payment for participation in college sports, but a change in the rules involving publicity rights could be recommended in the group’s report, which is due out this month."

"You’re paying the bill for this pseudo-secession in legal costs. California now has 60 lawsuits against the federal government, and just wait until the NCAA and the state’s universities and colleges start suing each other. We may have to import lawyers to handle the workload."

"So the NCAA might very well ban California schools from national competitions."

Opinion (5)

"The question is whether California is right to pass a law and try to dictate a new policy to the rest of the country."

"California didn’t have to pass a law in order to throw its weight around in this argument and lead the fight for amateur athletes to control and profit from their publicity rights. "

"Unfortunately, the state is so drunk on its own publicity that 'This is a national state' has become its mantra in everything from auto emissions standards to immigration policy, and now to the right to endorse shoes."

"The NCAA does have a point when it expresses concern about the new law’s effect on competition. Star athletes add to the excitement of the games, but if the competition itself isn’t exciting, then the sport will gradually decline in popularity and everybody loses."

"We’ll have to wait to see if California’s declaration of independence ends up hurting the very student athletes that it’s trying to protect. The issue is complicated, and it isn’t made easier when one state declares that it is a law unto itself."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 10/01/2019 11:43:00 pm

Date Accessed: 10/03/2019 11:00:00 pm

Article Author: Susan Shelly

Click here to see the article

Yahoo

Content (23)

"California [is] becoming the first state to enact a legal right for college athletes to gain compensation for the commercial use of their identities."

"Legislators in other states—including New York, Florida, and Illinois—have already proposed similar legislation while legislators in a half-dozen other states plan to do so as well."

"Meanwhile, members of Congress eye a federal statute as the more appropriate vehicle to address the commercial use of college players’ names, images, and likenesses."

"The sequence in which these complementary, yet also complicating, developments play out will have a significant impact on whether, and when, college athletes reap financial gains."

"As a starting point, California’s Fair Pay to Play Act is now law—and, to date (10/4/2019), the only law on this subject matter."

"The Act is closely inspired by the successful litigation of Ed O’Bannon, a former NBA player and UCLA basketball star. "

"O’Bannon proved that by denying DI men’s basketball and football players the commercial value of their identities, the NCAA violated federal antitrust law."

"For its part, the NCAA adamantly opposes the Act."

This new law effectively obligates California colleges to defy NCAA rules and puts those colleges at risk of expulsion from the NCAA.

"There are also important limitations to the Act, including that athletes lose the Act’s protections should they sign endorsement deals which conflict with school sponsorships or if they hire agents who aren’t licensed by the state."

"Also, the Act shouldn’t be confused or conflated with legal efforts to require colleges to pay their athletes—the Act is about contractual relationships between college athletes and companies that wish to use the players’ names, images, and likenesses."

"Big picture: college athletes in California will soon be able to be paid to sponsor summer camps, endorse local and national businesses and license their personas for the creation of “life-like” avatars in college sports video games."

"Recruiting advantages and other rationales for states to pursue Ed O’Bannon laws."

"If the NCAA permits California colleges to remain in the NCAA in 2023, those colleges would obtain a decisive advantage in recruiting. "

"Another reason is that legislators genuinely believe that college athletes should have some control over the use of their identities."

"Still another reason, as O’Bannon articulated in a recent Sports Illustrated commentary, is that African American college athletes are disproportionately represented in basketball and football, the two sports that generate most of the revenue in college sports."

"In New York, State Senator Kevin Parker (D) has introduced SB 6722A. This legislation, which is currently before the Senate Rules Committee, would take effect immediately if passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Anthony Cuomo (D) into law."

"Similar to California’s Act, Senator Parker’s bill proposes that New York college athletes be able to hire agents and gain compensation for their identity."

"Unlike the Act, the bill would also compel New York colleges to create and fund 'injured athlete' accounts that would provide financial benefits to athletes who suffer career-ending or long-term injuries."

"The legislation further mandates that these colleges set aside 15% of revenue from athletics ticket sales and divides that revenue among college athletes."

"In Florida, State Representative Kionne McGhee (D) has introduced HB 251."

" If the legislative branch passes HB 251 and if Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signs it into law, key provisions would go into effect on January 1, 2023."

"Representative McGhee’s bill is very similar to California’s Act. It instructs that a college athlete must be permitted to earn compensation from the use of their name, image or likeness without any impact on his or her scholarship eligibility. "

Opinion (4)

"The college sports industry is about to enter a volatile and transformative era."

"Their likely pitch to high school athletes: not only would you receive an athletic scholarship at our school, but, unlike at schools in other states, here you could be paid by companies with whom you sign identity-rights deals."

"That competitive advantage is likely one reason why legislators in other states are pursuing their own versions of the Act."

"Although California is first to pass an 'Ed O’Bannon law', it might not be the first to see such a law go into effect."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 10/04/2019 02:29:00 pm

Date Accessed: 10/04/2019 08:01:00 pm

Article Author: Michael McCann

Click here to see the article

Forbes

Content (12)

"California will let college athletes profit from endorsement deals and hire agents in a plan that could upend the business model of college sports and likely spur legal action. "

[GOV] "himself played baseball at a California university, and said he has 'strong opinions' on the subject."

"The [SB 206] would specifically keep the NCAA from barring a school or student athlete from sports competitions if the athletes are being paid from their names, images or likenesses."

"S[B 206] still prohibits universities from directly paying student-athletes."

" [SB 206] would allow players to not only sign major endorsement deals, but also earn money on the side from part-time jobs like coaching youth sports."

“This is a game changer for student athletes and for equity in sports,” said NBA star Lebron James, a long-time supporter of [SB 206].

"The NCAA has long defended their controversial policy of barring student athletes from being paid despite the big money stakes in college sports."

"In September (2019), the group’s board asked [GOV] to veto [SB 206], calling it unconstitutional."

[SB 206]"…would give California universities an unfair advantage in recruiting athletes, reps said, and could prompt the sports association to bar them from competing altogether."

"According to Forbes, American football’s 25 most valuable university programs earned an average of $1.5 billion in profit over the last three years. In 2017, the NCAA reported revenue of $1.1 billion."

"Democrat State Senator Nancy Skinner, who wrote the [SB 206], said she hopes more states follow California’s lead."

"A New York state senator has already introduced a similar bill, with a stipulation that athletic departments at universities must share 15% of ticket sale revenue with student athletes. "

Opinion (2)

“ 'Every single student in the university can market their name, image, and likeness; they can go and get a YouTube channel, and they can monetize that. The only group that can’t are athletes,' [GOV] said."

“Athletes at every level deserve to be empowered and to be fairly compensated for their work, especially in a system where so many are profiting off of their talents. Part of the reason I went to the NBA was to get my mom out of the situation she was in. I couldn’t have done that in college with the current rules in place.” -Lebron James.

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/30/2019 12:17:00 pm

Date Accessed: 10/04/2019 10:30:00 pm

Article Author: Carlie Porterfield

Click here to see the article

Hong Kong Protests Continue for 17th Straight Weekend

Reviews

PENDING An analytical view of the Hong Kong Protests. The Protests seem peaceful enough, but the Hong Kong police are responding with force. Although it did end up violent on the part of the protesters, it doesn't seem like that was the intent. Seventeen weeks in and it doesn't seem like these demonstrations will come to a smooth end.

Common Facts

Review Info (3)

First Published: 09/30/2019 12:50:55 am

Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

CNN

Content (16)

"Hong Kong police fired blue dye from a water cannon and rounds of tear gas as protesters threw petrol bombs and bricks in clashes ahead of the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China."

"Despite organizers not requesting permission from authorities, thousands of protesters marched in Hong Kong's usually busy shopping district on Sunday. "

"It was the 17th consecutive weekend of unrest in an ongoing protest movement that has seen both large-scale peaceful marches and violent clashes with the police."

"Hong Kong police fire a water cannon toward protesters gathered outside the central government offices after taking part in an unsanctioned march through Hong Kong on September 29 (2019)."

"The violence came two days before October 1 (2019), when the People's Republic of China will mark its 70th anniversary."

"Although Sunday's (9/29/2019) march drew thousands of peaceful protesters of all ages, it took an aggressive turn. Police and protesters clashed on Sunday afternoon, with protesters throwing bricks and petrol bombs and setting fires on the street."

"A pro-democracy protester throws a tear gas canister back at police amid clashes on Sunday." (9/29/2019)

"Police fired tear gas and pepper spray at protesters. Police also used a water cannon equipped with blue dye — aimed at staining protesters to make them easier to identify later — to clear people from the area around the Legislative Complex, an area that has often been a target during the ongoing demonstrations."

"On Saturday, (9/28/2019) protesters gathered to mark five years since the start of the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement that brought parts of the city to a standstill for 79 days."

"But Saturday's (9/28/2019) protests also ended in aggression, with protesters throwing bricks and petrol bombs at the government buildings, and police using water cannons on the activists."

"A pro-democracy protester burns a banner during a march in Hong Kong."

"As Hong Kong demonstrators continue to protest, mainland China is preparing to celebrate National Day."

"On Tuesday, (9/31/2019) President Xi Jinping will oversee a special National Day military parade in Beijing, featuring about 15,000 personnel, more than 160 aircraft and 580 pieces of weaponry and equipment."

"Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam will head to Beijing on Monday (9/30/2019) to take part."

"Back in Hong Kong, protesters are already gearing up for more demonstrations to coincide with National Day. Pressure will be on the Hong Kong authorities to ensure that the city's unrest does not overshadow Beijing's celebrations."

"Besides the anti-government unrest in Hong Kong, Xi is also facing other challenges, including the ongoing US-China trade war."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/29/2019 09:41:00 am

Date Accessed: 09/29/2019 09:33:00 pm

Article Author: Julia Hollingsworth

Click here to see the article

Content (20)

Some of Hong Kong’s busiest shopping districts have descended into chaos after police used teargas, rubber bullets, pepper spray and water cannon against protesters.

Activists hurled bricks and petrol bombs back at the police and started street fires on Sunday as demonstrations entered their 17th week in the city’s most serious political crisis in decades.

The protest, which was not sanctioned, was scheduled to start at 3pm local time (0800 BST) in the Causeway Bay shopping district, but dozens of riot police began guarding the area hours before. They stopped and searched a number of young people dressed in black.

The crowds chanted “Black cop! Black cop!” as they saw riot police. At about 2.20pm, before the march was due to start, officers fired several rounds of teargas at crowds congregating in front of the Sogo department store. Police had earlier subdued several protesters and angered the crowds.

Protesters targeted by teargas ran in panic, but many began marching along the scheduled route towards Admiralty, a business district where the government headquarters is located.

Some protesters regrouped outside the headquarters and threw bricks and petrol bombs at officers. Riot police later fired rounds of teargas at protesters outside an upmarket shopping centre in Admiralty and near the government headquarters. They also used water cannon to spray protesters with water mixed with blue dye and stinging chemicals.

Dozens of protesters were arrested after being chased by police, with many tackled to the ground and some left bleeding heavily. A number of protesters were also made to line up against the wall on the main road.

As activists retreated from Admiralty, some made makeshift barricades and set them ablaze. Street fires were also started in the Wan Chai district in an attempt to stop the police from approaching.

Some protesters later threw petrol bombs at police who had entered Wan Chai metro station, the public broadcaster RTHK reported. It also said undercover police wearing black clothing typical of protesters were seen retreating into the station with the help of uniformed officers. Police have admitted sending officers disguised as protesters to carry out operations during demonstrations.

A young man in full protective gear said: “I don’t want violence either, but the authorities are using hardline measures against us, so I’m fighting against them with my life.”

After dark, more clashes took place and police again fired multiple rounds of teargas. Large groups of riot police encroached on a diminishing group of protesters in Causeway Bay after a water cannon put out fires.

Dozens of protesters marched towards a large group of riot police, prompting officers to deploy teargas.

Later in the evening, police left the scene in vans as protesters jeered at them. Some activists threw sticks and bricks and a police vehicle stopped to fire two rounds of teargas. More teargas was fired late at night in Wan Chai, local media reported.

Earlier in the day, helicopters had hovered above the protest areas as demonstrators opened their umbrellas, saying they feared an unknown liquid was being sprayed at them.

A number of middle-aged people said they were there to protect young protesters.

“These kids feel hopeless and they’re willing to give their lives even – they need us to protect them,” said Vanita Chan, 55, who said she had bought supplies such as saline, goggles and raincoats to hand out to protesters.

A woman identified only as Mrs Lau, 56, said: “If we don’t speak up now there won’t be another opportunity, the Hong Kong and Chinese governments are cracking down on us already.

“We don’t want our next generation to lose our freedoms. We don’t accept one country, one system.” This was a reference to China’s agreement to give Hong Kong semi-autonomy – “one country, two systems” – after taking control of the city back from the UK in 1997.

Many shops in the area closed. Protesters spray-painted a closed Starbucks cafe in Wan Chai with messages calling on people to boycott it. The company that runs the cafe chain in Hong Kong is seen by protesters as being pro-Beijing.

Young protesters wearing black were digging up paving stones at a crossroads in Wan Chai while others smashed glass panels at a metro exit of Wan Chai station, which has been closed. The outer walls of the exit were also spray-painted with anti-police messages and “Free HK”, “Reclaim HK, revolution of our era”.

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/29/2019 01:18:00 pm

Date Accessed: 09/30/2019 12:00:00 am

Article Author: Verna Yu in Hong Kong Sun 29 Sep 2019 05.11 EDTLast modified on Sun 29 Sep 2019 13.18 EDT

Click here to see the article

Whistleblower Calls Out Trump

Reviews

CNN's news team brings forth Michael Atkinson the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community as their Grand Witness in the "whistleblower scandal." This article is about showing how trustworthy Atkinson is and why he should be trusted. What the whistleblowing is about isn't brought up in the first 750 words so it could be unclear to the casual reader.

Common Facts

Content (1)

CNN

The Gua.

Fox New.

The unnamed whistleblower is said to have seen or heard something that raised 'urgent concern'."

Definitions (3)

SPY: The intelligence agent who is the whistleblower and the subject of this article.

DNI: The acting Director of National Intelligence

ICWPA: Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act

Review Info (3)

First Published: 09/24/2019 02:02:47 am

Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

CNN

Content (14)

"When the whistleblower was announced, many who know the whistleblower said his reputation and credibility caused them to take his concerns seriously."

"Mary McCord the senior litigator from Practice at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection who worked with Atkinson at the US Attorney's Office and DOJ's National Security Division."

"Atkinson is widely regarded as a career non-partisan with little interest in the public limelight."

"Atkinson currently finds himself at the center of the high profile controversy related to whether the whistleblower complaint."

"But Atkinson has stood by his conclusion that the complaint indeed raises concerns that must be handed over to Congress in accordance with the law, despite clashing with his own boss, acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Joseph Maguire, over that determination."

"The House Intelligence Committee released a letter from Atkinson last week in which he wrote that he and Maguire, "are at an impasse" over that point, marking an unprecedented disagreement between the DNI and IC IG."

"Appointed as IC IG by Trump in 2018, Atkinson's long-standing reputation as a straight-shooter with professional integrity has bolstered the legitimacy of the whistleblower complaint despite the President's attempts to paint it as a partisan attack, multiple sources have told CNN."

"Prior to his Senate confirmation to become IC IG in 2018, Atkinson worked for the Justice Department for over 15 years, according to his biography on the ODNI website."

"From 2002 through 2006, Atkinson worked as a trial attorney in DOJ's Criminal Division, Fraud Section. He then served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 2006 through 2016, where he was the acting chief and deputy chief of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section."

"Atkinson brought several major cases to the US Attorney's Office that were 'the result of thorough, quiet investigation,' according to McCord."

"The inspector general for the intelligence community alerted lawmakers to a mysterious whistleblower complaint detailing allegations about President Donald Trump's conduct."

"Trump has continued to publicly question the whistleblower's motives for speaking out."

"Some are skeptical of the complaint."

"McCord served as the acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security at DOJ from 2016 to 2017 and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division from 2014 to 2016."

Opinion (11)

"'As soon as I saw that he had recommended it be sent to Congress, that's all I needed to know it was legit,' said Mary McCord."

"Several officials who acknowledged they are skeptical of the complaint told CNN the IC IG, Michael Atkinson, is a serious professional and that his recommendation gives them pause when they would have been inclined to dismiss the case otherwise."

"Atkinson's recomendation has fueled the escalating standoff between the director of national intelligence and Congress."

"'This (Allegations) involves something more sinister, something involving a serious or flagrant abuse or violation of law or misappropriation, and the IG underscored the seriousness of this, and also that this needs to be looked into. And right now, no one is looking into this,' House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said Friday."

"Some of Atkinson's former colleagues agreed that his credentials as a non-partisan and relative obscurity prior to becoming involved in the whistleblower case lend weight to the seriousness of the complaint."

"That quiet, non-partisan approach to his work is why McCord believed he would be a good fit for the IC IG role."

" 'The mere fact Atkinson was not on anyone's radar is points to the fact that his sense of urgency is credible,' McCord said."

"'You would not know which political party Atkinson favors by working with him. I worked with him for years. That's the other reason I feel he's so credible in this space,' McCord added."

"Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's National Security Division, John Carlin, told CNN that Atkinson is 'someone who is very deliberate, thoughtful and tries to carefully review facts … not someone who seeks attention.' "

"'So if Atkinson is in a situation where something needed to be referred that's because it was his best and informed view of what the law required,' Carlin said."

" 'People don't know who Atkinson is and that's because he does his job. He's the IG and most of that work is not in the public sphere.' McCord Said. "

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/23/2019 07:59:00 pm

Date Accessed: 09/28/2019 10:45:00 am

Article Author: Zachary Cohen

Click here to see the article

Content (22)

"Reports that he urged a foreign leader to investigate Joe Biden, seen as his main rival in the 2020 presidential election, have rocked Washington and intensified calls for Trump to be impeached."

"Trump is set to meet Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy in New York on Wednesday."

"Democrats on the House intelligence committee will grill Joseph Maguire, the acting director of national intelligence (DNI). "

"A whistleblower, working in US intelligence, filed a formal complaint in August (2019)."

"Reporting has since revealed that the complaint was based on a series of events, including a 25 July call between Trump and Zelenskiy."

"Numerous news outlets have reported that Trump pressured Zelenskiy to investigate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden."

"On Sunday, Trump confirmed he discussed the Bidens with Zelenskiy, and accused the pair – without offering any evidence – of corruption."

"There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Joe Biden or Hunter Biden."

"In 2016 the US and a number of other western countries pressured Ukraine to remove the prosecutor. Biden was vice-president at the time."

"Trump’s push for the Bidens to be investigated relates to the prosecutor’s removal."

"It is illegal for a political campaign to accept a “thing of value” from a foreign government. Democrats say an investigation into a political opponent – for which Trump appears to have been pushing – would amount to a thing of value."

"It has also been suggested that Trump may have threatened to withhold military aid to Ukraine."

"The following day, the president confirmed that he had withheld military aid – but claimed he did so over concerns the US was contributing more than its fair share compared with other countries."

"Amid the growing calls for an impeachment inquiry, Trump on Tuesday tweeted that he had ordered the release of an unredacted transcript of the call the following day."

"Democrats are arguing that in addition to the transcript of the call, the full whistleblower complaint should be released to Congress."

"The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, on Tuesday announced the US House of Representatives would begin a formal impeachment inquiry into the president."

"Maguire has refused to release details of a whistleblower’s complaint said to relate to a phone call between Trump and Zelenskiy, despite intensifying calls from Democrats and even some Republicans."

"Complaints of this nature are usually reported to Congress within seven days. Maguire, who was appointed by Trump, has refused to do so."

"Hunter Biden served on the board of a Ukrainian energy company."

"According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump asked Zelenskiy eight times to investigate Hunter Biden."

"The allegations relate to Biden Jr’s time on the board of a Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, which was owned by a businessman who was being investigated by Ukraine’s top prosecutor."

"About a month after the call, the US delayed $250m in such assistance. The money was released this month, after the existence of the whistleblower complaint became public."

Opinion (7)

"Donald Trump is facing on one of the most perilous periods of his historically perilous presidency."

"'The conversation I had was largely congratulatory, was largely corruption, all of the corruption taking place,' Trump said. 'Was largely the fact that we don’t want our people, like Vice-President Biden and his son, [contributing] to the corruption already in Ukraine.'"

"At the United Nations in New York, Trump said of the call: 'It’s very important to talk about corruption. If you don’t talk about corruption, why would you give money to a country that you think is corrupt? … It’s very important that on occasion you speak to somebody about corruption.' "

"Trump also continued to seek to cast doubt on the whistleblower’s motivations, tweeting: 'Who is this so-called ‘whistleblower’ who doesn’t know the correct facts. Is he on our country’s side. Where does he come from?' "

"Trump’s assertions appear to be politically motivated."

"Joe Biden is favorite to win the Democratic nomination for president and polls show him beating Trump comfortably."

"'The actions taken to date by the president have seriously violated the constitution,' Pelosi said in a formal address in Washington. 'The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law.'"

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/24/2019 08:30:00 pm

Date Accessed: 09/28/2019 07:11:00 pm

Article Author: Adam Gabbatt

Click here to see the article

Content (10)

"Who exactly is this unidentified 'whistleblower'? What is the specific nature of his or her 'urgent concern' complaint against the president?"

"Does this complaint really qualify under the [ICWPA]? These are just a few of the most fundamental questions that remain largely unknown."

SPY "is an unelected and inferior federal employee in the government hierarchy…"

"Article II of the Constitution gives the president sweeping power to conduct foreign affairs, negotiate with leaders of other nations, make demands or offer promises. "

"The Constitution does not grant the power of review, approval or disapproval to spies or other unelected officials in the executive branch. "

"The ICWPA law defines the parameters of an 'urgent concern' complaint as an abuse or violation of law 'relating to the funding, administration, or operations of an intelligence activity involving classified information, but does not include differences of opinions concerning public policy matters.' "

"It appears [DNI] … agrees with this assessment."

"The [DNI's] agency’s general counsel wrote a letter stating the complaint did not meet the ICWPA definition because it involved conduct 'from someone outside the intel community and did not relate to intelligence activity,' according to a report by Fox News. "

"To put this in plain language, a spy who allegedly spied on the president does not have a legitimate whistleblower complaint against that president under the law. "

"The ICWPA is a mechanism to report alleged misconduct by members within the intelligence community, of which the president is not. "

Opinion (12)

"The latest media mass hysteria over a whistleblower’s complaint that, according to FoxNews.com 'reportedly involved allegations President Trump made a troubling and unspecified ‘promise’ to a foreign leader,' is based on precious little information."

"That has not stopped journalists from convicting Trump in the court of public opinion and predicting his imminent demise."

"Despite the paucity of facts, some reasonable observations and conclusions can be drawn."

"It appears that an American spy in one of our intelligence agencies may have been spying on our own president."

"The complaint suggests that [SPY] was listening in on Trump’s conversation with a foreign leader. "

"Was [SPY] officially asked to listen to the conversation or was he or she secretly listening in? We don’t know."

SPY "…apparently believes that it is his/her job to second-guess the motivation behind the words of the elected president, who is the most superior officer in the U.S. government."

"The president’s conversation with a foreign leader does not seem to fall under this whistleblower definition. "

"This assessment is why the [DNI] refused to forward the complaint to Congress."

"Yes, the alphabet soup of intel agencies ultimately report to the president, but that does not make Trump a member of that community and subject to its rules of conduct."

"So, it turns out that the 'whistleblower' may not be a whistleblower at all. "

"But you will not hear that from the mainstream media. They are too busy lighting their own hair on fire."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/20/2019 12:00:00 am

Date Accessed: 09/29/2019 08:30:00 pm

Article Author: Gregg Jarrett

Click here to see the article

Democrat Representative Pushes for Impeachment of Justice Kavanaugh

Reviews

New York Post covers a rising story involving Justice Kavanaugh. He is being accused of sexually assaulting several women in his past. The details have been proven difficult to confirm in some cases, but it is a significant issue and should not be taken lightly. Whether true or not, the Democrats are taking this opportunity to stand up for those affected. Republicans have stood up for Kavanaugh in an attempt to save his name and his job.

Common Facts

Content (11)

New Yor.

Vox

The Gua.

Was. Tim.

"A new sexual misconduct allegation has surfaced against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh."

"On Saturday, the New York Times, a leading target for Trump’s ire, published an essay adapted from a new book by two of its reporters, Robin Pogrebin and Kate Kelly."

Ramirez’s claim surfaced during Kavanaugh’s stormy confirmation last year, though it did not attract as much attention as that of Dr Christine Blasey Ford, an academic who said Kavanaugh attempted to rape her at a high school party.

The reporters also said they had “uncovered a previously unreported story about Mr Kavanaugh in his freshman year that echoes Ms Ramirez’s allegation”.

"The Times said senators and the FBI were notified about that claim but it was not investigated."

"An excerpt from Pogrebin and Kelly's book details an incident similar to the one described by Kavanaugh’s former Yale classmate Deborah Ramirez. "

"Kavanaugh vehemently denied all allegations against him. "

"The opinion piece in The New York Times rehashed allegations that Deborah Ramirez made against Mr. Kavanaugh during the confirmation process — namely that he thrust his penis in her face at a party when they were both students at Yale University."

"Mr. Stier notified senators and the F.B.I. about this account, but the F.B.I. did not investigate and Mr. Stier has declined to discuss it publicly."

" Due to the latest revelation in the New York Times, 2020 Democratic candidates are, again, calling both Kavanaugh’s prior testimony (and his rushed confirmation) into question."

"Kamala Harris is a member of the judiciary committee."

Review Info (3)

First Published: 09/19/2019 02:46:47 am

Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

New York Post

Content (15)

"Robin Pogrebin and Kate Kelly helped in covering Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings."

"Pogrebin and Kelly wrote that they spent 10 months investigating the allegations of sexual misconduct and assault at the center of the hearings, "

"Senate investigators concluded at the time that Ms. Ramirez’s account lacked corroboration."

"Pogrebin and Kelly said at least seven people 'heard about the Yale incident long before Mr. Kavanaugh was a federal judge,' including Ms. Ramirez’s mother and two classmates who learned of it just days after the party."

"The two agents who interviewed Ms. Ramirez told her they found her 'credible,' the excerpt said."

"The excerpt from the book cites two unnamed officials who have communicated with Mr. Stier, who has declined to discuss the episode publicly. "

"The book reports that the female student declined to be interviewed and that friends say she does not recall the incident."

"Justice Kavanaugh has declined to answer questions about the incident involving Stier, according to the excerpt."

"At the center of Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing was the testimony of sexual misconduct allegations by Christine Blasey Ford, a California professor who had attended a Washington-area high school near his."

"She testified that when they were teenagers, he pinned her to a bed, groped her and tried to remove her clothes while covering her mouth."

"Several of the Democrats seeking their party’s presidential nomination weighed in on the new allegations."

"Julián Castro was housing secretary under President Barack Obama, and Bernie Sanders. He is now a senator from Vermont."

"Mr. Trump, who nominated Justice Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, defended him on Twitter. "

The women's book said that of the people that they submitted, the bureau interviewed none of them.

"Harris echoed the call for impeachment on Twitter."

Opinion (12)

"Republican leaders condemned the reports as irresponsible and defended him."

"President Trump on Twitter accused news outlets of trying to pressure the justice into taking more liberal positions and suggested, without elaborating, that the 'Justice Department should come to his rescue.' "

“ 'These newest revelations are disturbing,' Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts wrote on Twitter about The Times essay."

"Warren also said, 'Like the man who appointed him, Kavanaugh should be impeached.' "

" 'He (Kavanaugh) was put on the Court through a sham process and his place on the Court is an insult to the pursuit of truth and justice,' Harris wrote."

"Former Vice President Joe Biden called the revelations 'profoundly troubling' but stopped short of calling for Justice Kavanaugh’s impeachment."

"In a statement on Twitter, Biden called for an investigation into 'whether the Trump Administration and Senate Republicans pressured the F.B.I. to ignore evidence.' "

"Julián Castro also called for Kavanaugh's impeachment."

“He (Kavanaugh) is an innocent man who has been treated HORRIBLY,” Trump wrote. “Such lies about him. They want to scare him into turning Liberal!”

"In another tweet, the president suggested that Justice Kavanaugh should 'start suing people for libel, or the Justice Department should come to his rescue.' "

"The Senate Republican majority leader, Mitch McConnell, said on Twitter that the 'far left’s willingness to seize on completely uncorroborated and unsubstantiated allegations during last year’s confirmation process was a dark and embarrassing chapter for the Senate.' "

"Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, wrote on Twitter that 'The New York Times should be ashamed of this smear on Justice Kavanaugh.' "

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/15/2019 12:00:00 am

Date Accessed: 09/19/2019 10:32:00 pm

Article Author: Sandra E. Garcia

Click here to see the article

Vox

Content (10)

"Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro also pushed for Kavanaugh’s impeachment this weekend,"

"A classmate, Max Stier, saw Mr. Kavanaugh with his pants down at a different drunken dorm party, where friends pushed his penis into the hand of a female student. "

"Last fall, allegations of sexual misconduct threw Kavanaugh’s confirmation into doubt. "

"In the wake of Kavanaugh’s confirmation, talk of impeachment had already been floated both because of his testimony on sexual misconduct as well as comments he made about his work in the Bush administration, which some lawmakers saw as potential perjury. "

"Some 2020 Democratic presidential candidates are now once again launching calls for his impeachment."

"Amy Klobuchar also questioned Kavanaugh as part of the Judiciary Committee."

"Mr. Stier runs a nonprofit organization in Washington."

"We corroborated the story with two officials who have communicated with Mr. Stier."

"When asked about the new allegation by Pogrebin and Kelly, Kavanaugh declined to comment."

" Republicans, meanwhile, are firmly sticking by his side."

Opinion (8)

Harris said on Twitter, 'I sat through those hearings. Brett Kavanaugh lied to the U.S. Senate and most importantly to the American people. He was put on the Court through a sham process and his place on the Court is an insult to the pursuit of truth and justice. He must be impeached.'

Castro said on Twitter 'It’s more clear than ever that Brett Kavanaugh lied under oath. He should be impeached. And Congress should review the failure of the Department of Justice to properly investigate the matter.'

"Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Kavanaugh should be impeached just 'like the man who appointed him.' "

Warren said on Twitter 'Last year the Kavanaugh nomination was rammed through the Senate without a thorough examination of the allegations against him. Confirmation is not exoneration, and these newest revelations are disturbing.'

"Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke said on Twitter, 'Yesterday, we learned of another accusation against Brett Kavanaugh—one we didn't find out about before he was confirmed because the Senate forced the F.B.I. to rush its investigation to save his nomination. We know he lied under oath. He should be impeached.' "

"And on an appearance on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Sunday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar stopped short of suggesting impeachment but deemed his confirmation process a 'sham.' "

"Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Justice Brett Kavanaugh: 'I strongly opposed him, based on his views on executive power, which will continue to haunt our country, as well as how he behaved, including the allegations that we are hearing more about today.' "

"Harris argued that Kavanaugh lied to lawmakers and the American people, and he should be removed from the bench as a result."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/15/2019 03:29:00 pm

Date Accessed: 09/20/2019 10:29:00 pm

Article Author: Li Zhou

Click here to see the article

Content (9)

"Donald Trump came storming to the defence of Brett Kavanaugh on Sunday, after the publication of new allegations about the supreme court justice’s behaviour while he was a student at Yale led to renewed calls for his impeachment."

"In the extract from The Education of Brett Kavanaugh: an Investigation, Pogrebin and Kelly looked into the judge’s time at Yale in the 1980s."

"Pogrebin and Kelly wrote: 'While we found Dr Ford’s allegations credible during a 10-month investigation, Ms Ramirez’s story could be more fully corroborated.' "

"Pogrebin and Kelly’s book comes on the heels of another book by Times reporters, She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, about the investigation and downfall of Harvey Weinstein, which triggered the #MeToo movement."

"News of the new claim of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh and the investigation of the known one touched off a social media firestorm."

Calls for Kavanaugh’s impeachment have surfaced periodically.

Another candidate, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, was less direct.

"He was confirmed on a 50-48 vote, the narrowest for a supreme court pick in more than a century. "

"Trump duly fired back at the firestorm."

Opinion (13)

"Kamala Harris and Julían Castro were among Democrats leading the charge. Both called for impeachment,"

"Bernie Sanders added his shoulder to the wheel, saying he supported 'any appropriate constitutional mechanism to hold [Kavanaugh] accountable'."

"Trump tweeted: 'The Radical Left Democrats and their Partner, the LameStream Media, are after Brett Kavanaugh again.'"

"'Democrats and the media', he said, were 'talking loudly of their favorite word, impeachment. He is an innocent man who has been treated HORRIBLY. Such lies about him. They want to scare him into turning Liberal!'"

"On Saturday, Julían Castro tweeted: 'It’s more clear than ever that Brett Kavanaugh lied under oath. He should be impeached. And Congress should review the failure of the Department of Justice to properly investigate the matter.' "

"Kamala Harris, a California senator, and a top-five contender for the presidential nomination wrote: 'I sat through those hearings. Brett Kavanaugh lied to the US Senate and most importantly to the American people.' "

Harris said “He was put on the court through a sham process and his place on the court is an insult to the pursuit of truth and justice. He must be impeached.”

“I strongly oppose him,” Klobuchar told ABC’s This Week, “based on his views on the executive power which will continue to haunt our country, as well as how he behaved, including the allegations that we are hearing more about today. My concern here is that the [confirmation] process was a sham.”

From the House, Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar said on Twitter: “Nothing terrifies this corrupt president more than the idea of Congress upholding the rule of law. We must open impeachment inquiries against Trump and Kavanaugh immediately. It’s our constitutional duty.”

Trump said “Brett Kavanaugh should start suing people for liable [sic], or the justice department should come to his rescue. The lies being told about him are unbelievable. False accusations without recrimination. When does it stop? They are trying to influence his opinions. Can’t let that happen!”

"Harris saying Kavanaugh 'lied to the US Senate and most importantly to the American people'."

"Pogrebin and Kelly wrote ' During his Senate testimony, Mr Kavanaugh said that if the incident Ms Ramirez described had occurred, it would have been ‘the talk of campus’. Our reporting suggests that it was.'"

"As Trump’s second pick, he has tilted the court firmly to the right."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/15/2019 04:30:00 pm

Date Accessed: 09/21/2019 11:08:00 pm

Article Author: Martin Pengelly

Click here to see the article

Washington Times

Content (18)

"Democratic leaders are working overtime to stop the party from walking the plank by calling for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh,"

"It is not the first time that Democrats in Washington have rushed to embrace the most sordid storyline to try to curry favor with prized slices of the electorate."

"In 2017, Democrats sacrificed one of their own, Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota, when he was accused of sexual mischief."

"Sen. Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday that the Kavanaugh impeachment push isn’t going anywhere on Capitol Hill."

"Mr. Leahy was among the Democrats who demanded Mr. Franken’s resignation."

"Although he said he doesn’t “equate” the Franken and Kavanaugh episodes, others see parts of them through a similar lens."

"Justice Kavanaugh survived grueling confirmation hearings last year after a series of decades-old allegations of sexual assaults further polarized Washington and the nation."

"None of the accusations have been proved true."

"Lawrence R. Jacobs is the director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs,"

"Among the 2020 Democratic presidential contenders, Sen. Kamala D. Harris of California, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke of Texas have called for Justice Kavanaugh to be impeached."

"Rep. Jerrold Nadler, New York Democrat and House Judiciary Committee chairman, threw cold water on the idea by saying lawmakers are focused on their investigation into whether Mr. Trump should be impeached."

"Pressure continued to build Tuesday after Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, a member of the far-left 'Squad,' introduced a resolution calling on Mr. Nadler’s committee to investigate whether Justice Kavanaugh should be impeached."

"Ms. Harris also sent Mr. Nadler a letter urging him to open an investigation into the accusations laid out in the New York Times report and into 'how and why the FBI’s investigation was limited in scope.' "

"Republican leaders say the Ramirez accusations were thoroughly investigated."

"Republican leaders also say they didn’t know about a charge in The New York Times story about the future justice supposedly having his genitals shoved into a woman’s hands."

"The woman in question did not make that charge, and The New York Times later clarified in an “editor’s note” that she declined to be interviewed and didn’t remember the episode."

"The political saga raised questions about whether Ms. Harris and others talked too quickly about impeachment."

"In hindsight, though, Leahy said he wished he had let the Senate Select Committee on Ethics complete its investigation into the accusations. "

Opinion (10)

"Democratic rank-and-file members and 2020 presidential contenders can’t resist the impulse to try to score political points."

" 'Everybody knows that’s not going to happen,' he told The Washington Times, adding that lawmakers would be better off focusing on whether Senate Republicans rammed through the confirmation without carrying out a proper investigation."

“Do you think for one second that [Senate Republicans] will allow an impeachment vote on this?” Leahy said.

"Lawrence R. Jacobs said the sort of sober reflection that came out of the Franken scandal has been missing among the 2020 presidential candidates and left-wing activists."

"Jacobs explained that those groups, insist that Justice Kavanaugh is a liar and that he should be impeached in the wake of a New York Times story that rehashed unproven allegations against President Trump’s Supreme Court pick."

"'There was a learning, among some Democrats at least, that a rush to judgment on allegations of sexual harassment or abuse can lead to unfair treatment and maybe miscarried justice in terms of the penalty and whether it matches the crime,' Mr. Jacobs said."

"'I think the lessons that were learned by Democrats in the way Al Franken was treated are not appearing in the way that Kavanaugh is being treated,' Jacobs said."

“ 'Brett Kavanaugh lied to the U.S. Senate and most importantly to the American people,' Ms. Harris tweeted Sunday."

"The Times reporters knew about these facts, which were left out of the original story."

"Sen. Richard Burr, North Carolina Republican, said candidates would pay a political price for jumping onto the impeachment bandwagon.
'Let the elections play out, and you will see it live,' he said."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/17/2019 12:00:00 am

Date Accessed: 09/23/2019 09:36:00 pm

Article Author: By S.A. Miller and Seth McLaughlin

Click here to see the article

San Francisco Declares NRA Terrorists!

Reviews

The Guardian stays pretty impartial in this piece which is about the ongoing battle between members of the NRA and San Fransisco (SF) government officials. The Guardian brings forth the arguments from NRA members responding to SF's comments. SF's comments include saying that the NRA is a hazard to society as a whole and they even went so far as to call them a terrorist organization. The NRA's lawsuit seems a bit strong considering the situation, but they do have their rights.

Common Facts

Content (9)

The Gua.

New Yor.

Fox New.

"The National Rifle Association sued San Francisco on Monday over the city’s recent declaration that the gun rights lobby is a 'domestic terrorist organization.' "

"The lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Northern District of California, accuses city officials of violating the gun lobby’s free speech rights for political reasons and says the city is seeking to blacklist anyone associated with the NRA."

Brewer said 'There can be no place in our society for this manner of behavior by government officials.'

Brewer also said 'Fortunately, the NRA, like all US citizens, is protected by the First Amendment.'

"San Francisco’s resolution follows some recent high-profile shootings, including one in Gilroy, California, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco, where a gunman entered a festival with an AK-style long gun, killing three people and injuring 17 before killing himself. "

"Stefani is an attorney who has been involved for years in gun-control organizations,"

"San Francisco Supervisor Catherine Stefani said she drafted the resolution after the Gilroy shooting, driven in part by the vision of one of those killed while playing in a bouncy house at the festival. "

"Since that shooting on July 28, there have been at least three mass shootings — in El Paso, Texas; Dayton, Ohio; and in the West Texas towns of Odessa and Midland."

Some gun rights activists believe that its longtime CEO, Wayne LaPierre, and some of those in his inner circle have misspent hundreds of thousands of dollars on such things as expensive clothing, travel, housing and inflated salaries.

Review Info (3)

First Published: 09/13/2019 01:57:47 am

Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Content (6)

"Last week, the San Francisco board of supervisors passed a resolution calling the NRA a 'domestic terrorist organization',"

"Despite the troubling drumbeat of mass shootings across the country, the overall gun homicide rate in San Francisco has dropped 49% over the past decade, a much more dramatic decrease than in the country as a whole."

"In the past months, the NRA has been hobbled by money troubles and vicious internal infighting, including a bitter legal battle with its own longtime public relations firm Ackerman McQueen."

"The NRA’s Twitter feed has been full of updates on the lawsuit, along with videos from a diverse selection of NRA members, declaring, 'I am not a terrorist.'"

"The NRA’s powerful chief lobbyist, Chris Cox, left the organization in June (2019)."

"Cox was accused of conspiring against the NRA CEO, Wayne LaPierre."

Opinion (10)

"The NRA asks the court to step in 'to instruct elected officials that freedom of speech means you cannot silence or punish those with whom you disagree'."

“ 'They (NRA) continue to stand in the way of gun violence reform and people are dying because of it,' said Catherine Stefani, the San Francisco supervisor."

"But the lifesaving success of local gun violence prevention programs rarely gets much attention in America’s national gun debate, "

"'This action is an assault on all advocacy organizations across the country,' William A Brewer III, the NRA’s lawyer said."

"Stefani also criticized the NRA leadership for how it spends dues from its self-proclaimed 5 million members"

"Stefani told the AP that she believes the lawsuit is a 'desperate move by a very desperate organization', taking note of those allegations by some NRA members. 'I truly believe their time is up.' "

"San Francisco is contending that the group spreads propaganda that seeks to deceive the public about the dangers of gun violence."

"Debates about guns are driven more often by headline-grabbing confrontations between gun rights and gun control activists, like the one San Francisco’s board of supervisors kicked off last week."

"Stefani said the thought sickened her. 'I had enough,' she told the Associated Press."

"For the embattled gun-rights group, public condemnation from a group of liberal California lawmakers appears to have come as a welcome distraction."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/10/2019 02:34:00 pm

Date Accessed: 09/12/2019 10:32:00 pm

Article Author: Lois Beckett

Click here to see the article

New York Post

Content (10)

"The NRA has been battling a number of challenges to its operations in recent months,"

"There also have been internal battles over NRA leadership with the group’s then-president, Oliver North, and its top lobbyist, Chris Cox, stepping down,"

"Democratic leaders in Congress on Monday urged President Donald Trump, to push Republicans to agree to expand background checks, "

"LaPierre vowed to fight the move by city officials, saying in a statement: 'This lawsuit comes with a message to those who attack the NRA: We will never stop fighting for our law-abiding members and their constitutional freedoms.'"

"San Fransico contends that the group spreads propaganda that seeks to deceive the public about the dangers of gun violence."

Authorities are questioning whether the NRA's operations are in violation of its nonprofit status.

"President Donald Trump is a favorite of the NRA,"

"There have been efforts to make it easier to seize firearms at least temporarily from people who are exhibiting mental health issues."

LaPierre also said "Some politicians forget that all 5 million of us in the NRA stand for freedom and that we believe it is a cause worth fighting for. We will always confront illegal and discriminatory practices against our organization and the millions of members we serve.' "

"The NRA's issues include an investigation by the attorney general of New York, where its charter was formed, and the attorney general of Washington, DC, "

Opinion (9)

"'This action is an assault on all advocacy organizations across the country,' said William A. Brewer III, the NRA’s lawyer."

'They continue to stand in the way of gun violence reform and people are dying because of it,' Stefani said.

"Stefani also criticized NRA leadership for how it spends dues from its self-proclaimed 5 million members. "

"Stefani told the AP that she believes the lawsuit is a 'desperate move by a very desperate organization,' taking note of those allegations by some NRA members. 'I truly believe their time is up.' "

"The NRA would rather go to court than tackle the “epidemic” of gun violence in the US, said John Coté, San Francisco City Attorney’s Office spokesman."

“The American people would be better served if the NRA stopped trying to get weapons of war into our communities and instead actually did something about gun safety,” Coté said. “Common-sense safety measures like universal background checks, an assault weapons ban and restricting high-capacity magazines would be a good start.”

"San Fransico asks the court to step in 'to instruct elected officials that freedom of speech means you cannot silence or punish those with whom you disagree.' "

"Stefani said the thought sickened her. “I had enough,” she told the Associated Press."

Them stepping down gives some gun rights activists pause about the NRA’s ability to hold sway in the upcoming 2020 presidential elections.

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/10/2019 01:14:00 pm

Date Accessed: 09/14/2019 10:12:00 pm

Article Author: Associated Press

Click here to see the article

Content (4)

"Two columnists on opposite coasts didn’t mince words Thursday in disagreeing with a San Francisco Board of Supervisors resolution labeling the National Rifle Association a domestic terrorist organization."

"McGough added that it's also a First Amendment concern if officials try to blacklist contractors who work with the NRA."

"Olsen said that for the NRA is be a terrorist organization, it would have to 'intentionally encourage and support the use of violent attacks on U.S. citizens with the intent of creating general fear so as to force submission to its political agenda.' "

"Olsen wrote that Republicans are often asked to call out outrageous comments made by those on the right and now liberals must do the same."

Opinion (7)

"Los Angeles Times columnist Michael McGough said the label may be good politics but is 'irresponsible.' "

" 'It’s not the business of a county board of supervisors to designate terror organizations,' McGough wrote."

"Washington Post columnist Henry Olsen called the resolution 'McCarthyism: pure and simple.' "

" 'Words matter,' Olsen wrote, 'and there are few words that stigmatize a person faster than calling him or her a terrorist.' "

" 'The NRA clearly does not do that,' Olsen said, sarcastically adding, 'Congratulations, average NRA member: Your $30 one-year membership makes you a terrorist.' "

"Olsen called the resolution 'slanderous' and 'harmful' and said it worsens the already toxic political environment."

" 'Democrats should immediately denounce the San Francisco board for its insulting and unconstitutional resolution,' he said in closing."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/06/2019 12:00:00 am

Date Accessed: 09/16/2019 10:30:00 pm

Article Author: Brie Stimson

Click here to see the article

Netanyahu Land Grab to Hold Power

Reviews

Running in Israeli politics, Benjamin Netanyahu plans to occupy the Palestinian territory in the Jordan valley. The author is concerned that the Palestinians will be imprisoned under military rule, and will not be respected as a State. Because of these concerns, the author disagrees with Netanyahu, and with Trump, who supports him.

Common Facts

Review Info (3)

First Published: 09/16/2019 08:39:16 pm

Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Content (12)

Benjamin Netanyahu has plans to annex "Palestinian territory in the occupied West Bank."

Netanyahu could win the Israeli election next week.

Netanyahu is a Likud leader.

Israel exchanged rockets with two Hamas outposts.

The Israeli military is busy on Israel's western flank, not its eastern one.

Missiles can vault the Jordan valley.

In the 1967 war, Israel seized the West Bank from Jordan.

Knesset is the national legislature of Israel.

Mr. Netanyahu has Donald Trump's support.

Trump's key Middle East officials include his ambassador to Israel, son-in-law, and former special envoy.

The settler movement builds housing in the West Bank for Israeli Jews at odds with international law.

Israel ruled over Palestinians for 52 years.

Opinion (29)

Netanyahu wants to "seize the bread basket of the Jordan valley."

Netanyahu's annexing plans are illegal under international law.

If enacted, Netanyahu's plans would "make peace impossible in the Holy Land."

Netanyahu is unbothered by the illegality of his plans.

Netanyahu is unbothered by the lack of peace-seeking in his plans.

Netanyahu refuses to "recognize the Palestinian right to nation self-determination and statehood."

Netanyahu "framed his land grab as a defensive measure."

Because of this, the Jordan valley is not sufficient protection against an Arab invasion or guerrilla infiltration from the east.

In 2001, during peace talks with Palestinians, Israeli security officials suggested using the Jordan valley for offense.

These officials said that if Israel's peace treaty with Jordan was violated, the valley provided able means to "take action."

Israel's recent offensive strikes outside its borders might explain resurfacing security arguments.

Israel's politics have become so warped.

The perversion of Israel's politics is seen by how the two opposing parties – Blue and White – were incensed, not by the idea of taking the Jordan valley, but by Netanyahu not crediting them with thinking of it first.

"The Jordan valley may not be the strategic asset it once was."

However, it is an undisguised importance in Israeli politics.

"A Palestinian state was always thought to border Jordan."

The outcome of Netanyahu's election is immaterial since it is "hard to see a Knesset that would block a land grab."

Donald Trump has destroyed the United States' role as an impartial mediator.

Trump "rashly recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital."

Trump "endorsed the illegal seizure of the Golan Heights."

"Trump has cut off humanitarian aid to Palestinians."

Trump's key officials support the settler movement.

Like Trump, Netanyahu is prepared to "sacrifice almost anything on the altar of domestic politics."

Netanyahu dismissed this occupation as nonsense.

Consequently, millions of Palestinians will end up "in segregated enclaves in the middle of the West Bank."

These Palestinians will have no "real political rights" and be "under separate legal and education systems."

"They will be dirt poor and under military occupation, with their movements curbed."

"How would the country reconcile a permanent occupation with its democratic ideals?"

Israel would not be "building peace," but "constructing a giant open prison."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/11/2019 01:47:00 pm

Date Accessed: 09/13/2019 05:37:00 pm

Article Author: N/A

Click here to see the article

Al Jazeera

Content (43)

Jaffa is a Palestinian city in Israel.

Days before the national parliamentary vote, Jaffa was excited with "election fervor."

Jaffa was absorbed into Tel Aviv municipality after 1948.

The Arab Joint List is an electoral alliance of four Palestinian parties.

Campaign posters for the Joint List are seen across the city.

Joint List's main candidates "adorn street lamps and apartment buildings."

Joint List's slogan is "Our unity is our strength."

Joint List's slogan is "plastered across shop windows and balconies."

The state of affairs is now a far cry from six months ago.

Earlier, four parties were allies: Hadash, Taal, Balad, and the United Arab List.

Six months ago, this alliance broke into two competing blocs.

Both blocs of the alliance fared poorly in April's election.

The percentage of population that voted fell from 68% to 49.2% in April.

The upcoming election is on September 17, 2019.

However, the Joint List regrouped for the upcoming election.

Israel's Prime Minister is Benjamin Netanyahu, head of the rightwing Likud party.

Palestinians are citizens of Israel.

Ahmed al-Tibi is head of the Taal party.

Using his own nickname, Benjamin Netanyahu adopted the mantra "Bibi or Tibi."

However, no voter-fraud charges were brought against a party or individual.

Netanyahu tried and failed to pass a bill allowing cameras inside polling stations.

Aymen Odeh is head of the Hadash party.

Odeh is also a leader of the Joint List.

Odeh denounced Netanyahu's statements.

Amin is a 21-year-old student.

Amin also said, "Even if it doesn't succeed, at least we make our voice heard."

Sama is a medical student in Tel Aviv.

Even so, some Arab voters feel "disillusioned by the political process and may boycott the vote altogether."

Michel al-Rahib is a bookshop and cafe owner.

Rahib said he thought a lot about whether or not to vote.

Palestinian citizens of Israel include Muslims, Druze, and Christians.

Palestinians make up 20% of the population.

Palestinians compensate for more than 900,000 of nearly 6 million eligible Israeli voters.

Most Palestinians vote for the Joint List.

Sami Abu Shahadah is running Balad's slate.

Shahadah told Al Jazeera that Israel's society is almost divided in half.

Shahadah claims that if 65% of Palestinians vote, Netanyahu will be out of office.

Benny Gantz is Netanyahu's main challenger.

According to the latest opinion polls, Gantz will receive many Israelis' votes.

Gantz is leader of the centrist Blue and White party.

Gantz leads many other rival parties.

Gantz leads the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party.

Gantz leads the left-wing Democratic Camp party.

Opinion (21)

The fall in percentage explains why the blocs fared poorly in the election.

The Joint List hopes to replace Netanyahu with their own leaders on September 17.

Those behind the Joint List say Netanyahu's policies and incitement against Palestinians could encourage more people to vote.

This, Joint List says, would strengthen the alliance.

Tibi said, "Netanyahu's language [against Palestinian citizens of Israel] is unacceptable. It makes us – Arab parties and our voters – want to bring Netanyahu down."

Netanyahu used this mantra to discredit Jewish Israeli parties to the left of Likud by telling them to get along with Palestinian parties in order to govern in unity.

Recently, Netanyahu accused his rival party of significant voter fraud last election.

Netanyahu claimed Balad wouldn't have passed the "electoral threshold without fraud."

"Netanyahu also accused his rivals – including Palestinian parties – of trying to steal votes."

Netanyahu's Facebook page warned that "Arabs want to destroy us."

The bill allowing cameras inside polling stations is contentious.

Observers say Netanyahu's motive in this bill was to intimidate Palestinians and lower the voter turnout.

Odeh called for "an end to this racist and dangerous incitement … against the Arab population," the local media reported.

Some Palestinians, especially young people, say Netanyahu's "incitement" and "racist language," instead of intimidating them, has encouraged them to vote.

Amin said Netanyahu's racist speech provokes them to vote in order to resist him.

Sama, similar to Amin, says the List's reunification has "boosted her motivation to vote."

Sama said that when cameras were set up at the polling stations in April, she felt no point in voting.

However, Sama told Al Jazeera, this time it made her want to challenge Netanyahu and vote, though many were still disillusioned.

Rahib said he honestly thinks voting for the List does nothing for his community, but there's no alternative.

Therefore, the entire Palestinian vote could significantly effect the electoral outcome, providing they all participate.

Because of Israel's equal division, said Shahadah, they have a chance to "get rid of Netanyahu."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/13/2019 12:00:00 am

Date Accessed: 09/17/2019 12:00:00 am

Article Author: Arwa Ibrahim

Click here to see the article

Trump Fires National Security Adviser John Bolton

Reviews

This article is a straightforward relation of the events concerning the firing of John Bolton, the U.S National Security Adviser on Tuesday, September 10th. The reporting highlights the reasons for Bolton's release from service as a series of disagreements with the President over policy.

Common Facts

Content (5)

Fox New.

Was. Pos.

"Trump disclosed the departure in a terse Twitter message"

A new appointment for National Security Adviser could be made by next week.

Bolton was Trump's third National Security Adviser.

Trump's tweet on Tuesday, September 10th thanked Bolton for his service.

Bolton responded to the President's tweet saying that he offered Trump his resignation the previous evening.

Review Info (3)

First Published: 09/10/2019 05:53:41 pm

Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Content (6)

Trump announced a 4,000-troop increase to Afganistan in 2017.

"Some 14,000 U.S. troops have remained in Afghanistan, advising and assisting Afghan forces and conducting counterterrorism operations."

Bolton has previously worked for Fox News and Presidents Ronald Regan, George H.W Bush, and George W. Bush.

Bolton has also worked as a lawyer for Bush during the vote recount in Florida during the 2000 election.

"Bolton also served as a U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations from 2005 to 2006, and as an undersecretary of state for arms control and international security from 2001 to 2005."

"Prior to the president's tweets Tuesday morning, Bolton was expected to join a national security briefing with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin."

Opinion (11)

President Trump stated that he and others in the administration had disagreed with Bolton strongly on a variety of issues.

Bolton challenged Trump's version of events, saying that he had offered Trump his resignation.

Trump and Bolton "have had well-known disagreements on a range of hot-button national security issues, perhaps most significantly on plans for a troop drawdown in Afghanistan."

"Bolton's removal comes after he was reportedly sidelined from high-level discussions about military involvement in Afghanistan. "

Bolton was excluded from an important meeting about military involvement in Afganistan after disagreeing with diplomatic efforts there.

"The Post reported that his (Bolton's) opposition bothered Trump."

To try and ease the stalemate in Afganistan, Trump has moved toward a phased removal of troops in the region.

"Bolton also advocated caution on Trump's strategy with North Korea and against Trump's decision last year to pull U.S. troops out of Syria."

Along with others, Bolton had tried to convince the President to keep troops in Syria to counter ISIS and Iranian influence there.

"Bolton also told Fox News on Tuesday that he and the president were discussing Afghanistan on Monday evening, when he offered to resign."

"One source told Fox News Tuesday that many in the White House learned of Bolton's firing from the president's tweet Tuesday."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/10/2019 12:00:00 am

Date Accessed: 09/10/2019 02:00:00 pm

Article Author: Brooke Singman

Click here to see the article

Washington Post

Content (19)

"Potential candidates include at least two conservative foreign policy commentators who have appeared on Fox News"

Bolton's relationship with President Trump has deteriorated over political concerns "on North Korea, Iran and Afghanistan, among other issues."

Trump states that he asked Bolton for his resignation.

"I will have my say in due course. But I have given you the facts on the resignation. My sole concern is US national security.” said Bolton.

According to Bolton when he offered Trump his resignation, Trump said ‘Let’s talk about it tomorrow."

Pompeo said “the president’s entitled to the staff that he wants at any moment.”

Pompeo admitted to disagreements with Bolton.

Right before Trumps's tweet about Bolton"…the White House had listed Bolton as being scheduled to appear alongside Pompeo and Mnuchin at the same session. "

“He should have people that he trusts and values,” said Pompeo about Trump.

Trump had joked that his disagreements with Bolton were irrelevant since as president, he made the final decision.

"Trump is likely to consider Stephen Biegun, the lead envoy on North Korea" as a new national security adviser.

"Brian Hook, the administration’s point person on Iran" is also a possible replacement for national security adviser.

Other possible replacements for Bolton "include Douglas Macgregor, a retired Army officer whose conservative commentary has included praise for Trump’s approach on Iran, and Richard Grenell, the ambassador to Germany and a onetime Fox News contributor, current and former officials and outside Trump advisers said."

"Three other current administration figures are also in the mix, a senior White House official said: NSC officials Ricky Waddell and Matt Pottinger and Vice President Pence’s national security adviser, Keith Kellogg."

"Macgregor met recently with acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to discuss the potential of an administration job, two people familiar with the meeting said."

"Bolton and Trump had been at odds on issues of substance and style."

"Bolton did not like Trump’s repeated meetings with Kim Jong Un, administration officials said, and he had argued against directly meeting with Iranian officials."

Bolton disagreed with Trump's proposal of allowing Russia to rejoin the Group of Seven Nations.

"Trump regularly mocked Bolton as a warmonger, sometimes ticking off the names of countries and joking that Bolton would want to invade them, current and former senior administration officials said."

Opinion (7)

Bolton's time as National Security Adviser was "a stormy tenure marked by widening rifts between an unorthodox president seeking a foreign policy victory and an irascible foreign policy hawk who had been deeply skeptical of much of the president’s agenda."

Bolton has appeared on Fox News several years earlier where "Bolton’s fierce attacks on Democrats endeared him to Trump nearly two years ago."

"Trump also largely blamed his third national security adviser for overselling the strength of Venezuela’s political opposition earlier this year."

"The chaos and infighting that swirl around Trump’s White House was on immediate display."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was Bolton's "chief nemesis" in the Trump administration.

"Despite months of rumors about Bolton’s imminent ouster, the timing Tuesday appeared to take several senior White House officials and others by surprise."

"Trump himself had joked about the perception that Bolton was on thin ice, saying in May that he appreciated hearing Bolton’s views even though he often disagreed with them."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 09/10/2019 02:25:00 pm

Date Accessed: 09/13/2019 01:43:00 pm

Article Author: Anne Gearan, John Wagner and Robert Costa

Click here to see the article

Trump: Taliban Talks at Dead End

Reviews

The Wall Street Journal documents the fractures of consistent opinion between President Trump and senior officials concerning the now-canceled meeting of Taliban and Afgan leaders at Camp David. Trump, although previously in favor of the talks, now declares them to be irreversibly "dead" and reiterates previous threats of what the U.S military could do in Afganistan at the cost of millions of lives.

Meta Data

Review Info (3)

First Published: 09/10/2019 12:12:59 am

Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

WSJ

Content (12)

President Trump said talks between U.S and Taliban are "dead" on September 9th.

The U.S. has had18 year-long military involvement in Afganistan.

Zalmay Khalilzad is the U.S envoy to Afganistan.

Talks between U.S. and Taliban have been continuing for over a year.

A talk at Camp David was planned with Afgan and Taliban leaders.

Trump canceled Camp David talks with Afgan and Taliban leaders after a Taliban car bomb killed a U.S soldier.

“They’re dead. They’re dead. As far as I’m concerned, they’re dead,” President Trump said about Taliban discussions on September 9th.

The U.S State Department did not respond to questions about Khalilzad or Pompeo in regard to Taliban talks.

"Under proposed terms of a U.S.-Taliban agreement, the U.S. would withdraw about 5,000 troops within 135 days after completion of the deal."

"There are currently about 14,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan."

"U.S. officials on Monday said there are no immediate plans to decrease the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan."

On September 9th, Trump stated that he had not overridden his aides in planning meetings with the Taliban at Camp David.

Spin (12)

Trump told reporters that the U.S could take actions against Afgan insurgents that would end the war but cost millions of lives, which he does not want to do.

Khalilzad warned that a "threshold of agreement" between the U.S and the Taliban is in danger of disappearing.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo conveyed to reporters on Sunday, September 8th that he hoped Taliban talks would continue, but that it “..will ultimately be up to the Taliban.”

Mr. Trump’s pronouncement about Taliban talks appeared to contradict comments on Sunday by Mike Pompeo.

"Mr. Pompeo is among those who have proposed continuing talks with the Taliban, a person familiar with the administration deliberations said."

"Mr. Pompeo on Sunday said Mr. Khalilzad was being recalled to Washington “to chart the path forward,” indicating talks could resume."

Trump called off meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last year and threatened military action before reversing his decision and attending the summit.

"In July, Mr. Trump said, “If I wanted to win that war, Afghanistan would be wiped off the face of the Earth.” He added he wouldn’t take such a step because he didn’t want to kill 10 million people."

People familiar with the situation communicated that Vice President Pence and national security advisor John Bolton had told Trump that a summit with the Taliban at Camp David could be problematic.

"Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mr. Trump said he didn’t consult any advisers before canceling the meeting."

Pence and Bolton had tried to prevent the Taliban meeting from taking place because of political implications.

"Mr. Trump in a Twitter post Monday afternoon didn’t dispute the existence of opposition to his plan to hold Camp David talks, but he denied that the decision to try to go ahead with the meeting caused turmoil at the White House."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Date Accessed: 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Article Author: Vivian Salama and Michael C. Bender

Click here to see the article

Hurricane Dorian Approaching Florida

Reviews

As Hurricane Dorian roams the Atlantic, Brian Resnick reports its progress on Monday night. So far Dorian is threatening Florida's coast after devastating the Bahamas. Much useful information is included, both general and specific, with helpful tips regarding what to do next.

Common Facts

Review Info (3)

First Published: 09/03/2019 06:54:45 pm

Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Vox

Content (43)

Monday, Hurricane Dorian slammed the Abacos Islands in the Bahamas.

Dorian is a Category 5 hurricane.

Dorian had 185 mph winds and gusts up to 220 mph.

The storm brought a surge (coastal flooding) of 18-23 feet above normal tide.

Dorian is estimated the 2nd most powerful hurricane recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.

Dorian ties the record for "the most powerful storm" to make landfall, according to the National Weather Service.

"Preliminary reports from the Abacos Islands show extreme devastation."

Dorian weakened slightly, and slowly moved through Grand Bahama Island on Monday.

On Monday, Dorian's winds were gusting over 200 mph, with 18-23 feet of coastal flooding.

The storm nearly stopped, moving west at only 1 mph.

National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned of devastating winds and storm surge in Grand Bahama Island through Monday night.

NHC warned everyone to "take immediate shelter and not venture into the eye."

"On Monday evening, the storm was sustaining 145 mph winds."

These high winds make Dorian a dangerous Category 4 "major" hurricane.

"Major hurricanes are Category 3 and higher."

Winds near Category 3 and up have the power to strip off roofs, uproot trees, and destroy structures entirely.

After passing the Bahamas, Dorian's track becomes more uncertain.

Dorian is not currently expected to land in Florida, but to remain uncomfortably close offshore.

However, the NHC warns that even small forecast changes can bring "intensely dangerous conditions to the coast."

NHC reports that although Dorian's center is forecast to move near and parallel to Florida's east coast, a small deviation westward would bring the hurricane's core onshore.

Currently, almost all Florida's Atlantic coast is under a hurricane warning or watch, meaning imminent or expected hurricane conditions.

The hurricane is expected just offshore of Florida's coast by early Tuesday.

All of Georgia's coast is under a hurricane watch.

Most of South Carolina's coast is under a hurricane watch.

NHC expects life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds along portions of Florida's east coast and Georgia's coast, regardless of Dorian's exact center track.

Dorian staying off-coast would still be a dangerous situation.

Dorian's strong winds extend 45 miles out from its eye.

These far stretching winds bring rough surf, coastal flooding, high winds, and rain.

Tropical storm-winds extend 150 miles from the center.

It is possible Dorian could make landfall on the US East Coast.

In preparation, some counties along the Florida coast may be evacuated.

"Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has ordered evacuations for six coastal counties."

Evacuations have been ordered in South Carolina as well.

(Included hurricane track forecast map)

"As you can see, Dorian may impact Georgia and the Carolinas as a major hurricane" before proceeding up the coast.

Dorian could bring from 1-20 inches of rain for parts of Florida and the Southeast.

(Included rain forecast map)

"Storm surge is flooding caused by seawater pushed onshore by the hurricane's winds."

Currently, NHC is forecasting 4-7 feet of surge along the Florida coast.

(Included storm surge forecast map)

Large and destructive waves will accompany the surge, NHC warns.

Surge-related flooding depends on how close Dorian's center comes to Florida's east coast.

Surge-related flooding can vary greatly over short distances.

Opinion (6)

"The slower a storm moves, the more time it has to destroy communities in its path."

"It's a worst-case scenario for a hurricane."

NHC advise residents to listen to advice from local emergency officials.

Keep alert.

But a major hurricane's risks extend far beyond wind.

"The deadliest aspect of a hurricane tends to be the storm surge."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Date Accessed: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Article Author: Brian Resnick

Click here to see the article

CNN

Content (27)

"Dorian inched away from the northern Bahamas Tuesday."

Dorian had lingered over the Bahamas for days.

The hurricane left "catastrophic damage."

The hurricane left people stranded in flooded buildings.

Dorian dropped to a Category 2 storm Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesday afternoon, Dorian had maximum sustained winds of 110 mph.

Tuesday afternoon, Dorian was headed toward Florida's Atlantic coast.

Parts of Florida's Atlantic coast are expected to endure hurricane winds and storm surge for two days, even if the center stays offshore.

Dorian still wasted parts of Grand Bahama as it crawled away Tuesday.

Since it wrecked the Abaco Islands as a Category 5 on Sunday, it has knocked down homes and flooded streets in the northern Bahamas.

Dorian also claimed "the lives of at least five people since the weekend, including an 8-year-old boy."

"An untold number of people need rescuing, officials say."

Some are trapped on roofs around Freeport, Bahamian lawmaker Iram Lewis told CNN

"'Right now, (we're) taking a beating,' Lewis told CNN from Freeport late Tuesday morning."

Lewis said they need wheelchairs, hospital beds, and walkers.

"'Whatever you can send, we'll take it, because we are in trouble,' he said."

Dorian–the strongest hurricane to land in the Bahamas–moved only 30 miles in 30 hours from Monday into Tuesday.

By 2 p.m. ET Tuesday, Dorian was slowly heading northwest.

After the storm moves away, "parts of the Bahamas will have received more than 30 inches of rain, forecasters said."

From Tuesday to Wednesday, Dorian is projected to move dangerously close to Florida.

NHC predicts Dorian to pass near Georgia and South Carolina from Wednesday to Thursday.

Late Thursday, NHC predicts Dorian to roll near the North Carolina coast.

Dorian is no longer expected to land in Florida, but coastal residents will still feel its impact, said CNN meteorologist Robert Shackelford.

Far-reaching storm gusts, heavy rain, and heavy storm surge are expected on the Florida coast for a few days, said Shackelford.

Shackelford said these things can lead to power outage, flooding, and other disasters.

"Rains capable of flooding regions of US Southeast and lower mid-Atlantic will continue through Friday."

The weather service expects parts of Florida and Georgia's Atlantic coasts to receive 3-9 inches of rain.

Opinion (1)

Meanwhile, Dorian mercilessly raked the same areas with "destructive storm surge and winds."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Date Accessed: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Article Author: Jason Hanna & Christina Maxouris

Click here to see the article

Washington Post

Content (52)

Hurricane Dorian gradually leaves Florida Wednesday.

Dorian sets its sights on the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas.

These areas face "destructive winds, flooding rains, and life-threatening storm surges," according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Dorian passed Florida far enough to spare it from the hurricane's worst wrath.

Dorian is forecast to pass much closer to the Carolinas from Wednesday to Thursday.

Dorian could possibly make landfall in the Carolinas.

Consequently, impacts are expected to be more severe.

By Charleston, S.C., wind gusts could hit 80 mph.

Likewise, water levels could rank among the highest five recorded due to ocean surge and possibly 15 inches of rain.

"Higher wind gusts could lash N.C.'s Outer Banks, leading to power outages and damage."

Even the VA Tidewater and southern Delmarva Peninsula could endure tropical storm conditions by Friday.

Afterwards, the storm is expected to "race out to sea."

Hurricane Dorian is now a Category 2 storm.

Dorian has expanded in size since it hit the Bahamas.

This means its strong winds cover a larger area, capable of propelling giant waves and large amounts of water toward shore.

Dorian made signs Wednesday morning, attempting to intensify over the waters northeast of Florida.

Dorian threatened to build up a ring of thunderstorms around its center.

If this intensity trend continues, the Carolinas might have worse impacts.

Coastal flooding is a risk from northeastern Florida to the N.C. Outer Banks.

There, water levels could rise up to 7 feet above dry land; a condition of storm surge.

9 a.m. Wednesday, Dorian was 90 miles east-northeast of Dayton Beach, FL.

9 a.m. Wednesday, Dorian was moving north-northwest at 8 mph.

Dorian's peak sustaining winds were 105 mph, making it a high-end Category 2 storm.

"Dorian is expected to maintain its current intensity through Thursday."

Dorian has grown since the weekend.

"Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center."

"Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles."

Radar from central and northern Florida showed Dorian's outer rain bands turning inland.

This change in direction produced heavy rain and strong winds.

Very early Wednesday, wind gusts peaked from 50-70 mph in Volusia and Brevard counties.

"Remain cautious of strong wind gusts and brief bursts heavy rain in passing squalls," tweeted National Weather Service (NWS) in Melbourne, FL.

NWS pronounced beach conditions to be hazardous from Dorian.

NWS says surf is high and rough.

NWS reports threat of coastal flooding and beach erosion.

Deteriorated conditions are expected Wednesday morning in coastal Georgia.

Deteriorated conditions are expected late Wednesday in South Carolina.

In North Carolina, tropical storm conditions may commence as late as Thursday afternoon.

Most storm effects in southeastern Virginia should delay until Friday morning.

The severity of Dorian's effects will closely relate to the proximity of Dorian's track along the coast, and whether it makes landfall.

Most computer models forecast Dorian's center coming very close to S.C. and to make landfall in N.C.

N.C.'s highest chance of Dorian's landfall is over the Outer Banks.

Computer models generally predict Dorian's center to remain far enough from Georgia's coast to limit winds to tropical-storm force (39-73 mph).

Dorian's distance also limits rainfall to 3-6 inches.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect in Georgia.

The Carolinas are under a hurricane warning.

Sustained winds could reach 60-80 mph with high gusts, especially by N.C.'s Outer Banks.

Predicted rainfall is 5-10 inches.

Specific local totals exceed to 15 inches, meaning possible flash flooding

Because of the shoreline's shallow rise in Georgia and S.C., storm surge flooding is particularly expected.

"The surge could read 3-5 feet in Georgia."

The surge could reach 5-8 feet from the Isle of Palms to Myrtle Beach, S.C.

"From Cape Lookout to Duck, N.C., including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds and the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers. a surge of 4-6 feet is anticipated."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Date Accessed: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Article Author: Jason Samenow and Andrew Freedman

Click here to see the article

New Mexico Prepares to Seize Epstein Land

Reviews

There aren't many ways to spin this topic. You report the facts, and you move on. That was the approach here, and it worked well.

Common Facts

Content (6)

Ass. Pre.

The Dai.

Fox New.

"New Mexico officials are in the process of canceling state land leases for the Zorro Ranch owned by accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein."

"In a letter to Epstein’s company Cypress, Inc., the state’s commissioner of public lands said the leases would be canceled effective Oct. 4 for multiple reasons."

Epstein killed himself while in federal custody.

Epstein was awaiting trial on sex crimes charges.

Balderas said "The original leases to Epstein appear to have no beneficial use justification to the State, but rather appear to simply have been taken by him to increase privacy and the landmass surrounding his estate. This sweetheart deal must be canceled and reassigned to a New Mexico ranching family."

"Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia said Epstein’s ranch was also obstructing official access to state trust land, which set the cancelation in motion."

Review Info (3)

First Published: 09/09/2019 11:27:53 pm

Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Associated Press

Content (7)

"Included in the paperwork were accusations that former Epstein girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell made misrepresentations on lease application documents."

"A lawyer for Maxwell did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter."

"Maxwell has been accused by one victim of recruiting young women for Epstein’s sexual pleasure and taking part in the abuse."

Maxwell has denied the allegations.

"A portion of Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in central New Mexico extends across state trust land that was under a decades-old contract with Cypress for grazing livestock. The contract was renewed in 2017."

"Garcia Richard acknowledged there was a ranch manager and 'nominal cattle' at Zorro Ranch."

"A voicemail left for Karen Gordon, who has been identified as a Zorro Ranch manager, was not returned."

Opinion (1)

“ 'The fact that this particular individual was able to use the State Land Office and state trust land to create this veil of secrecy around his private property is something that disturbs me greatly,' Garcia Richard said at a news conference, in reference to Epstein."

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Date Accessed: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Article Author: Morgan Lee and Mary Hudetz

Click here to see the article

The Daily Beast

Content (2)

"New Mexico's attorney general concluded that the leases may have been obtained through 'illegitimate means for purposes other than ranching or agriculture.' "

“Moving forward, we will determine the best use of this land for the future.” Richard said

Opinion (2)

“This land was no doubt used to protect the privacy of Epstein and his co-conspirators, and today we took steps to take back this public land,” Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard said in a press release.

"Richard said some possibilities included leasing the land to a New Mexico ranching family or working to build a memorial to 'survivors of trafficking, assault, and other sex crimes.' "

Article Info (4)

Date Published: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Date Accessed: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am

Article Author: Julia Arciga

Click here to see the article