Tweet of the Day

Security concerns created by Trump's disclosure will delay Afghanistan trip, Pelosi says

A day after President Trump canceled military flights for a planned congressional trip to Afghanistan, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi abandoned her plans to travel instead on commercial flights due to security concerns.

Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Pelosi (D-Calif.), blamed the Trump administration in a written statement for disclosing news of the trip, which included several other House Democrats, and thus increasing the danger to lawmakers.

“After President Trump revoked the use of military aircraft to travel to Afghanistan, the delegation was prepared to fly commercially to proceed with this vital trip to meet with our commanders and troops on the front lines,” Hammill said.


Overnight, he added, a new State Department threat assessment indicated “that the President announcing this sensitive travel had significantly increased the danger to the delegation and to the troops, security, and other officials supporting the trip. .?.?. This morning, we learned that the Administration had leaked the commercial travel plans as well.”


https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/security-concerns-created-by-trumps-disclosure-will-delay-afghanistan-trip-pelosi-says/2019/01/18/b2d61536-1b2f-11e9-8813-cb9dec761e73_story.html?utm_term=.158601a7d870

Garbage - Thirteen (VIDEO)

PA-SD37: Six still in running for state Senate seat

With less than three months until the special election for the 37th state Senate district, the candidates are schmoozing, the nominating conventions are set and the field is thinning -- so much so that, in one instance, one hopeful dropped out to support another on the debate stage.

That's how the landscape sits before the April 2 election, where a once-massive field is now a group of six -- three candidates in each party -- who've spent their days trying to woo the party leaders who will choose the nominees two weeks from now.

The trio of Republican hopefuls -- Allegheny County Republican Committee chairman D. Raja, South Hills business owner and Marine veteran Devlin Robinson and North Fayette Supervisor Bob Doddato -- have been on the phone and meeting face-to-face with their party's conferees, who will convene Jan. 27 to choose the nominee.

The Democrats have been showcasing themselves in front of auditorium crowds,as on Saturday, when Women and Girls Foundation community engagement director Olivia Benson, former Navy officer Pam Iovino and emergency physician Bob Solomon debated in Moon.

Former state Rep. Martin Schmotzer also participated in the Democratic debate, but used his closing statement to drop out and throw his support behind Ms. Benson. It wasn't only theatrical, but indicative of the race at large: there will be much attention over who's supporting whom, and if Democrats will end up picking a candidate who has a shot to win in territory favorable to the GOP.

But all of the political posturing will have to conclude by Jan. 27, when the parties will hold their separate nominating events in lieu of traditional primary elections. At stake is the seat vacated by Republican Guy Reschenthaler, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and resigned his seat -- which represents communities in Allegheny County's western and southern suburbs and Peters in Washington County.


https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2019/01/12/6-still-in-running-for-state-Senate-seat/stories/201901120053

New Hampshire Democrats move aggressively to expand ballot access

Best House Freshman Class Ever

It's been a couple of weeks and our House Freshman made it clear they did not go to DC to fuck around. I've waited 30+ years to witness this.

Virginia governor announces bill to repeal voter ID requirement, allow no-excuse absentee voting

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) announced Monday that he is introducing a legislative package that would repeal voter identification requirements and implement no-excuse absentee voting.

The package also addresses campaign finance, proposing to limit large campaign contributions, ban contributions made directly by corporations and businesses and ban the use of campaign funds for personal use.

Northam said in a statement announcing the legislation that the package would "encourage every eligible voter to exercise" their right to vote.

“Participation makes our democracy strong — we should encourage every eligible voter to exercise this fundamental right, rather than creating unnecessary barriers that make getting to the ballot box difficult,” Northam said.


https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/424184-virginia-governor-announces-bill-to-repeal-voter-photo-id-requirement

Pelosi shuts critic out of Judiciary Committee in favor of Florida freshman.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi exacted revenge against one of her most outspoken detractors Tuesday night, blocking Rep. Kathleen Rice from landing a seat on the high-profile House Judiciary Committee.

Pelosi lobbied for other members to join the panel over Rice, leaving the third-term New York Democrat off a list of her preferred members for the committee during a tense closed-door meeting Tuesday night, according to multiple sources. The effort came despite a full-court push from the New York delegation to secure a spot for Rice, a former prosecutor, on the panel that oversees everything from impeachment to guns to immigration.

The push by Pelosi was seen as payback by many in the room after Rice was one of the main megaphones behind a campaign to block the California Democrat from becoming speaker again.....

Pelosi argued that New York was already well represented on the panel, both with its chairman, Rep. Jerry Nadler, and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries. But Rice backers point out that if that’s the case, why did Pelosi recommend Florida Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a freshman lawmaker with far less seniority than Rice, for the panel when two other Floridians, Reps. Ted Deutch and Val Demings, sit on the committee.


https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/15/pelosi-rice-judiciary-committee-1102772

Brexit deal fails by 230 votes

Per Sky News. Theresa May is toast.

Theresa May will lose Brexit vote by wide margin

Breaking via Sky News on my phone.