Daily News Dump – August 7

Administration refused DHS request to make domestic terrorism a priority

“White House officials rebuffed efforts by their colleagues at the Department of Homeland Security for more than a year to make combating domestic terror threats, such as those from white supremacists, a greater priority as specifically spelled out in the National Counterterrorism Strategy, current and former senior administration officials as well as other sources close to the Trump administration tell CNN.

“Homeland Security officials battled the White House for more than a year to get them to focus more on domestic terrorism,” one senior source close to the Trump administration tells CNN. “The White House wanted to focus only on the jihadist threat which, while serious, ignored the reality that racial supremacist violence was rising fast here at home. They had major ideological blinders on.” via CNN

Because of course they did. It’s much easier to fear monger and talk about the scary brown people than it is to focus on the real national security threats at home.

We should be able to walk and chew gum; jihadist remain a serious threat to national security, but lone wolf attacks are currently *the* most pressing danger to the United States mainland.

House Dems go to court over McGahn

“The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday filed suit to compel former White House counsel Don McGahn’s testimony, arguing that the committee needs to hear from him to determine whether it should consider articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

The lawsuit alleges that McGahn’s testimony is essential to the committee’s investigation, calling McGahn the “most important witness,” and it outlines exactly how the Judiciary Committee might use McGahn’s testimony in an impeachment proceeding.

“The Judiciary Committee is now determining whether to recommend articles of impeachment against the President based on the obstructive conduct described by the Special Counsel. But it cannot fulfill this most solemn constitutional responsibility without hearing testimony from a crucial witness to these events: former White House Counsel Donald F. McGahn II,” the lawsuit says.” via CNN

McGahn and Hope Hicks have been considered the most damning witnesses to the administration for quite awhile now. If they win this lawsuit – and they should – the road to impeachment grows immediately shorter.

Deported Iraqi man dies

“A 41-year-old Detroit man deported to Iraq in June died Tuesday, according to the American Civil Liberties Union and two people close the man’s family.

The man, Jimmy Aldaoud, spent most of his life in the U.S., but was swept up in President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts.

Edward Bajoka, an immigration attorney who described himself as close to Aldaoud’s family, wrote on Facebook that the death appeared to be linked to the man’s inability to obtain insulin in Baghdad to treat his diabetes.
Aldaoud was an Iraqi national, but he was born in Greece and came to the U.S. as a young child, his family friend said. He had never lived in Iraq and did not speak Arabic, according to Bajoka.” via Politico

The cruelty is the point. This man had lived in the US for decades, and was deported to a country he didn’t even know because he “wasn’t a US citizen.”

Now he’s dead because he couldn’t obtain the lifesaving medications that he became accustomed to in the US.

White House exploring solutions to social media “bias”

“The White House is circulating drafts of a proposed executive order that would address allegations of anti-conservative bias by social media companies, according to a White House official and two other people familiar with the matter — a month after President Donald Trump pledged to explore “all regulatory and legislative solutions” on the issue.

None of the three would describe the contents of the order, which one person cautioned has already taken many different forms and remains in flux. But its existence, and the deliberations surrounding it, are evidence that the administration is taking a serious look at wielding the federal government’s power against Silicon Valley.

“If the internet is going to be presented as this egalitarian platform and most of Twitter is liberal cesspools of venom, then at least the president wants some fairness in the system,” the White House official said. “But look, we also think that social media plays a vital role. They have a vital role and an increasing responsibility to the culture that has helped make them so profitable and so prominent.” via Politico

Translation: someone read Trump the 1984 SparkNotes and he wants to make that reality.

“Warren has built a monster”

“Kamala Harris hired a dream team of operatives. Joe Biden has solid establishment support. Bernie Sanders heads a volunteer army. And Julián Castro is seen as a “sleeper.”

“Elizabeth Warren just has a gigantic campaign,” said Laura Martin, executive director of the social justice organization Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. “There are counties all over rural areas where some campaigns are just doing tours, but she has staff there. And that was a strategy President Obama had in 2008 when he won Nevada.”

But of the two dozen Democrats running for president, none matches Elizabeth Warren when it comes to the size of her campaign operation, the crowds at her rallies and the buzz among activists and operatives in Nevada.

Another Democratic operative put it more bluntly: “Warren has built a monster.” via Politico

I’ve been really impressed with Warren’s campaign efforts so far. She’s building a massive apparatus – which is almost a necessity in today’s political climate – and she’s also doing really well on the debate stage.

It’s still early, but she’s definitely in my top 4 to watch. I can’t wait to see who (if anyone) Obama endorses for the primaries.

Tucker Carlson: White Supremacy a Hoax

As the country reels from a devastating weekend that left more than 30 dead in two separate mass shootings, white supremacy has again sparked conversation after one of the shooters allegedly published an anti-Hispanic screed. 

Fox News host Tucker Carlson addressed the subject during “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Tuesday, saying white supremacy is “not a real problem” in the United States.

“This is a hoax. Just like the Russia hoax, it’s a conspiracy theory used to divide the country and keep a hold on power,” the Fox News host said. via USA TODAY

I said it on Twitter, I’ll say it again here: if Trump wants to declare ANTIFA a terrorist organization, I’m all for it – as long as he does Fox News too.

It’s a real shame that their opinion crew is absolute racist garbage, because there are a few great, right down the middle REAL reporters on Fox.

The saddest thing I’ve ever read

Amnesty International issued a global warning to those traveling to the United States after violence left 31 people dead in two mass shootings last weekend.

The travel advisory, issued Wednesday afternoon, calls for visitors to “exercise caution and have an emergency contingency plan when traveling throughout the USA.”

It warns travelers to remain vigilant at all times and to avoid places where large groups congregate, including places of worship, schools or nightclubs, all locations that have been targeted recently. 

“Depending on the traveler’s gender identity, race, country of origin, ethnic background, or sexual orientation, they may be at higher risk of being targeted with gun violence, and should plan accordingly,” the advisory adds.

The human rights groups issued the travel warning in midst of “high levels of gun violence,” which Amnesty International referred to as a human rights crisis.” via USA Today

You certainly can’t blame them, but this is profoundly sad to me. The United States is usually the one issuing these kind of warnings, and they’re typically reserved for countries run by terrible despots.

Oh. Makes more sense, now.