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soothsayer
soothsayer's Journal
soothsayer's Journal
May 1, 2021
Travis Akers
@travisakers
·
Apr 30, 2021
Acting @USNavy Secretary Thomas Harker has released a new directive that allows all Sailors and Marines who are vaccinated to return to HPCON B, regardless of their installation’s status.
A reward in loosened restrictions for those who took the vaccine. https://mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/ALNAV/ALN2021/ALN21032.txt?ver=GUY4vHJwDeP8QQt2GGasQQ%3d%3d…
Travis Akers
@travisakers
Effective immediately from @SECNAV
Sailors and Marines who are vaccinated to return to HPCON B, regardless of their installation's sta
https://twitter.com/travisakers/status/1388270112592089088?s=21Travis Akers
@travisakers
·
Apr 30, 2021
Acting @USNavy Secretary Thomas Harker has released a new directive that allows all Sailors and Marines who are vaccinated to return to HPCON B, regardless of their installation’s status.
A reward in loosened restrictions for those who took the vaccine. https://mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/ALNAV/ALN2021/ALN21032.txt?ver=GUY4vHJwDeP8QQt2GGasQQ%3d%3d…
Travis Akers
@travisakers
Effective immediately from @SECNAV
May 1, 2021
Travis Akers
@travisakers
History was made on Friday with the first ever all gay @USNavy helicopter crew.
History was made on Friday with the first ever all gay @USNavy helicopter crew.
https://twitter.com/travisakers/status/1388485151018061827?s=21Travis Akers
@travisakers
History was made on Friday with the first ever all gay @USNavy helicopter crew.
May 1, 2021
Asha Rangappa
@AshaRangappa_
THREAD. I just explained on @wolfblitzer why the FBI giving a warning to Giuliani that he was being targeted by foreign intelligence is significant. But I want to explain why a FARA violation generally, especially in this context, is especially serious
2. People tend to poo-poo FARA because they think it's just "lobbying" -- and for better or worse, we just expect lobbying to be a part of our process. But when a foreign country directly targets *elected officials*, it's more than "lobbying," it's a distortion of our democracy
Asha Rangappa
@AshaRangappa_
3. When foreign governments try to coopt members of Congress, it's bad, because they are publicly claiming to be furthering U.S. interests, when they are actually furthering a foreign country's. Even then though, the effect may be diluted: It takes a lot of MOCs to affect policy
4. But when you are talking about someone who has the ear of the *President*, the effect is direct. The President has almost unfettered discretion in the area of foreign affairs. He can unilaterally take powerful and symbolic actions, like recognizing a foreign government
Asha Rangappa
@AshaRangappa_
5. Or, as we have seen, take military action or withdraw troops where the U.S. has a stake. In other words, it is paramount, for our relationship with the rest of the world, that the President, most of all, always use foreign policy to further the interests of the U.S.
6. The issue at stake here is that if Giuliani was taking maskings and requests from Russian-backed Ukrainian oligarchs to fire a *U.S. Ambassador* -- who was officially implementing U.S. foreign policy adverse to Russia -- to get personal political gain
Asha Rangappa
@AshaRangappa_
7. then this means that there were foreign, and adverse, interests calling the shots in what should be a completely domestic decision -- all unbeknownst to the American people (and to significant personal detriment of our own country's representative)
8. That is bad, no matter how you slice it. And it's something the FBI should be investigating, and should punish, even if that is the "only" charge they are investigating. Whether Trump knew we don't know, but he has an Art. II defense, bc these decisions are totally up to him!
Asha Rangappa
@AshaRangappa_
9. It's true that FARA violations have traditionally not been enforced aggressively. That's for two reasons. One is that the bar is high: If you just register, you won't be prosecuted. The other is that bc it overlaps with CI issues, DOJ may not want to reveal what it knows
10. But for what it's worth, DOJ beefed up its FARA enforcement division in 2019, presumably because the threat posed by foreign influence and foreign intelligence directly to our elected officials was too great. And that was under AG Bill Barr. END
Asha Rangappa
@AshaRangappa_
P.S. People warned by the FBI they were being targeted by foreign interests: Carter Page (2013), Trump campaign (2016), Ron Johnson (2020). People with FARA violations: Manafort (Ukraine), Flynn (Turkey). Foreign intel targets ppl they believe are 1) vulnerable and 2) receptive
🧵 I just explained on @wolfblitzer why the FBI giving a warning to Giuliani that he was being target
https://twitter.com/asharangappa_/status/1388263978346811392?s=21Asha Rangappa
@AshaRangappa_
THREAD. I just explained on @wolfblitzer why the FBI giving a warning to Giuliani that he was being targeted by foreign intelligence is significant. But I want to explain why a FARA violation generally, especially in this context, is especially serious
2. People tend to poo-poo FARA because they think it's just "lobbying" -- and for better or worse, we just expect lobbying to be a part of our process. But when a foreign country directly targets *elected officials*, it's more than "lobbying," it's a distortion of our democracy
Asha Rangappa
@AshaRangappa_
3. When foreign governments try to coopt members of Congress, it's bad, because they are publicly claiming to be furthering U.S. interests, when they are actually furthering a foreign country's. Even then though, the effect may be diluted: It takes a lot of MOCs to affect policy
4. But when you are talking about someone who has the ear of the *President*, the effect is direct. The President has almost unfettered discretion in the area of foreign affairs. He can unilaterally take powerful and symbolic actions, like recognizing a foreign government
Asha Rangappa
@AshaRangappa_
5. Or, as we have seen, take military action or withdraw troops where the U.S. has a stake. In other words, it is paramount, for our relationship with the rest of the world, that the President, most of all, always use foreign policy to further the interests of the U.S.
6. The issue at stake here is that if Giuliani was taking maskings and requests from Russian-backed Ukrainian oligarchs to fire a *U.S. Ambassador* -- who was officially implementing U.S. foreign policy adverse to Russia -- to get personal political gain
Asha Rangappa
@AshaRangappa_
7. then this means that there were foreign, and adverse, interests calling the shots in what should be a completely domestic decision -- all unbeknownst to the American people (and to significant personal detriment of our own country's representative)
8. That is bad, no matter how you slice it. And it's something the FBI should be investigating, and should punish, even if that is the "only" charge they are investigating. Whether Trump knew we don't know, but he has an Art. II defense, bc these decisions are totally up to him!
Asha Rangappa
@AshaRangappa_
9. It's true that FARA violations have traditionally not been enforced aggressively. That's for two reasons. One is that the bar is high: If you just register, you won't be prosecuted. The other is that bc it overlaps with CI issues, DOJ may not want to reveal what it knows
10. But for what it's worth, DOJ beefed up its FARA enforcement division in 2019, presumably because the threat posed by foreign influence and foreign intelligence directly to our elected officials was too great. And that was under AG Bill Barr. END
Asha Rangappa
@AshaRangappa_
P.S. People warned by the FBI they were being targeted by foreign interests: Carter Page (2013), Trump campaign (2016), Ron Johnson (2020). People with FARA violations: Manafort (Ukraine), Flynn (Turkey). Foreign intel targets ppl they believe are 1) vulnerable and 2) receptive
April 30, 2021
President Biden
@POTUS
United States government official
This week, I introduced the American Families Plan. It’s a historic bill that will make transformational investments in families and rebuild the backbone of this country — the middle class. I asked Susan Rice, Domestic Policy Advisor, to explain more:
Joe: This week, I introduced the American Families Plan. It's a historic bill that will make transfo
https://twitter.com/potus/status/1388130944473776133?s=21President Biden
@POTUS
United States government official
This week, I introduced the American Families Plan. It’s a historic bill that will make transformational investments in families and rebuild the backbone of this country — the middle class. I asked Susan Rice, Domestic Policy Advisor, to explain more:
April 30, 2021
President Biden
@POTUS
United States government official
This is a birthday I certainly wouldn’t miss.
Looking forward to celebrating Amtrak’s 50th in Philadelphia later today.
Joe: This is a birthday I certainly wouldn't miss.
https://twitter.com/potus/status/1388147224849358848?s=21President Biden
@POTUS
United States government official
This is a birthday I certainly wouldn’t miss.
Looking forward to celebrating Amtrak’s 50th in Philadelphia later today.
April 29, 2021
The White House
@WhiteHouse
United States government organization
It’s official: Today marks 100 days since President Biden took office. Here’s a look at his historic accomplishments over the last three months:
WH: It's official: Today marks 100 days since President Biden took office. Here's a look at his hist
https://twitter.com/whitehouse/status/1387746122186252291?s=21The White House
@WhiteHouse
United States government organization
It’s official: Today marks 100 days since President Biden took office. Here’s a look at his historic accomplishments over the last three months:
April 29, 2021
Marc E. Elias
@marceelias
"What I heard those table monitors say several times was, 'Speed is more important than accuracy.'"👀
'I left horrified': Arizona audit observer says ballot counter instructions were for 'speed, not...
12news.com
https://t.co/TFXl0ZR7yq
'I left horrified': Arizona audit observer says ballot counter instructions were for 'speed, not...
https://twitter.com/marceelias/status/1387829118830526466?s=21Marc E. Elias
@marceelias
"What I heard those table monitors say several times was, 'Speed is more important than accuracy.'"👀
'I left horrified': Arizona audit observer says ballot counter instructions were for 'speed, not...
12news.com
https://t.co/TFXl0ZR7yq
April 29, 2021
The White House
@WhiteHouse
United States government organization
Today we’re launching a brand new White House Photo Office Instagram with the top photos from our first 100 days. Check out a few of our favorite moments below, and then head to the new account to see the full batch: http://Instagram.com/WHPhotoOffice
WH: Today we're launching a brand new White House Photo Office Instagram with the top photos from ou
https://twitter.com/whitehouse/status/1387849374512910340?s=21The White House
@WhiteHouse
United States government organization
Today we’re launching a brand new White House Photo Office Instagram with the top photos from our first 100 days. Check out a few of our favorite moments below, and then head to the new account to see the full batch: http://Instagram.com/WHPhotoOffice
April 29, 2021
Universe Today
@universetoday
Ingenuity Completes a Huge 50-Meter Flight on Mars - Universe Today https://universetoday.com/151014/ingenuity-completes-a-huge-50-meter-flight-on-mars/… @universetoday @storybywill
Ingenuity Completes a Huge 50-Meter Flight on Mars
https://twitter.com/universetoday/status/1387815455163834370?s=21Universe Today
@universetoday
Ingenuity Completes a Huge 50-Meter Flight on Mars - Universe Today https://universetoday.com/151014/ingenuity-completes-a-huge-50-meter-flight-on-mars/… @universetoday @storybywill
April 29, 2021
Chuck Schumer
@SenSchumer
President Biden—unlike his predecessor—laid out the facts and appealed to our better angels.
That’s what the Senate Democratic Majority has been working with him to do over these past 100 days:
Restore effective, truthful, responsive government.
And it matters.
#JointAddress
Chuck Schumer: President Biden--unlike his predecessor--laid out the facts and appealed to our better
https://twitter.com/senschumer/status/1387597657905012744?s=21Chuck Schumer
@SenSchumer
President Biden—unlike his predecessor—laid out the facts and appealed to our better angels.
That’s what the Senate Democratic Majority has been working with him to do over these past 100 days:
Restore effective, truthful, responsive government.
And it matters.
#JointAddress
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