DonViejo

DonViejo's Journal

January 30, 2019

Oil Prices Edge Upward After U.S. Imposes Sanctions On Venezuela

Source: NPR

January 30, 20197:26 AM ET

MATTHEW S. SCHWARTZ

Oil prices are up more than 2 percent after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-run oil company known as PDVSA.

As of Tuesday night, International Brent crude oil futures had risen 2.32 percent to $61.32 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures went up 2.54 percent to $53.31 a barrel, Reuters reported. Prices continued their upswing early Wednesday.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions Monday that effectively halt U.S. purchases of oil from Venezuela, NPR reported. It's part of an effort to push out the country's president, Nicolás Maduro, in favor of his rival Juan Guaidó. About 40 percent of Venezuela's oil is sold to the United States.

"The U.S. claims that Maduro and his inner circle divert billions in PDVSA profits to their personal accounts and to pay off military officers said to be propping up Maduro's government," reported NPR's John Otis. Venezuelan economist Francisco Rodriguez told NPR that if Maduro remains in power, we can expect to see a 40 percent drop in Venezuelan oil production within the next few months. The U.S. is Venezuela's number one customer of oil, CNN reported.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2019/01/30/689854163/oil-prices-edge-upward-after-u-s-imposes-sanctions-on-venezuela?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news

January 30, 2019

Trump: Border security committee 'wasting their time' if not discussing a wall

Source: The Hill

BY TAL AXELROD - 01/30/19 07:44 AM EST

President Trump early Wednesday warned members of a bipartisan conference committee tasked with negotiating border security policy that they would be “wasting their time” if they did not consider his demand for a wall along the border with Mexico.

“If the committee of Republicans and Democrats now meeting on Border Security is not discussing or contemplating a Wall or Physical Barrier, they are Wasting their time!” the president tweeted Wednesday.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1090577726459838464

The warning raises the stakes for the negotiators, who meet for the first time on Wednesday. They have 16 days to reach an agreement before another partial government shutdown begins or the president decides to take other action to appropriate the funds for his border wall.

The last shutdown, which reached a record-long 35 days, largely revolved around a debate over the border wall, with Trump demanding $5.7 in funding for his key campaign promise. The Democratic majority in the House, however, refused to include the money in a spending bill.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/427593-trump-border-security-committee-wasting-their-time-if-not-discussing

January 30, 2019

Bill Clinton unveils projects to aid Puerto Rico, Caribbean in wake of deadly hurricanes

Source: CBS News

UPDATED ON: JANUARY 30, 2019 / 7:47 AM / AP

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton announced dozens of projects Tuesday aimed at helping Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands recover from a deadly 2017 hurricane season as part of a two-day conference in the U.S. territory organized by his foundation.

The announcement comes as the region struggles to rebuild more than a year after hurricanes Irma and Maria caused billions of dollars in damage in Puerto Rico, Dominica, Antigua, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other spots.

"Our work is far from over," Clinton said. "The work is not for those with short attention spans."

More than 550 people representing over 400 organizations attended the conference of the Clinton Global Initiative, which Clinton created to help raise attention and money for causes worldwide.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bill-clinton-unveils-projects-to-aid-puerto-rico-caribbean-in-wake-of-deadly-hurricanes/

January 30, 2019

Intelligence Officials Don't Mention 'Crisis' at Border

January 30, 2019 at 8:04 am EST By Taegan Goddard

The Washington Post has more on U.S. intelligence officials directly contradicting President Trump before Congress yesterday: “None of the officials said there is a security crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, where Trump has considered declaring a national emergency so that he can build a wall.”

Stripes: “Their analysis stands in sharp contrast to Trump’s almost singular focus on security gaps at the border as the biggest threat facing the United States.”

“The intelligence assessment, which is provided annually to Congress, made no mention of a crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, which Trump has asserted as the basis for his demand that Congress finance a border wall. The report predicted additional U.S.-bound migration from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, with migrants preferring to travel in caravans in hopes of a safer journey.”

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https://politicalwire.com/2019/01/30/intelligence-officials-dont-mention-crisis-at-border/

January 29, 2019

Kamala Harris's CNN Townhall Was Most Watched Ever for a Single Candidate

by Julio Rosas | Jan 29th, 2019, 3:57 pm

CNN says their Monday night townhall event with Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), and now 2020 presidential candidate, was the most watched cable news program for a single candidate.

“Monday night’s CNN Town Hall with Senator Kamala Harris was the most watched cable news single candidate election town hall ever,” CNN PR said in a statement. “The town hall averaged 712k among adults 25-54 from 10-11pm, easily topping all cable news competition. CNN was also #1 in prime time in the demos last night.”

“The Town Hall with Sen. Kamala Harris propelled CNN to 945k total day live starts across digital platforms on Monday, January 28. The day ranked #3 among Town Hall total day rankings on digital platforms. Monday also saw 23 million cross-platform unique visitors, 18 mm video starts and 84 mm page views for CNN Digital.” the network added, saying they had averaged 1.957 million viewers.

During her townhall, Harris said she would support the Green New Deal, wants to get rid of private insurance to have Medicare-for-All, and ban “assault weapons.”

Harris also said she would have members of Congress be locked in a room to look at the autopsy photographs of the Sandy Hook victims order for them to act on guns.

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https://www.mediaite.com/tv/kamala-harriss-cnn-townhall-was-most-watched-ever-for-a-single-candidate/

January 29, 2019

Federal Judge Orders Roger Stone to Fulfill Several Obligations if He Wants to Avoid Manafort's Fate

Source: Law & Crime

Federal Judge Orders Roger Stone to Fulfill Several Obligations if He Wants to Avoid Paul Manafort’s Fate

by Matt Naham | 2:17 pm, January 29th, 2019

-snip-

Stone came and went from the federal courthouse, and onlookers greeted him with “lock him up” chants. Like Paul Manafort, Stone’s former lobbying partner for decades, Stone is out of jail ahead of trial. Also like Paul Manafort, Stone is going to have to abide by a set of rules if he wishes for that to continue. Judge Robinson has set the conditions for Stone’s release, and there are several of them.

First and foremost, Stone can’t break the law. Second, he must supply a DNA sample if authorized. Third, Stone must “advise the cost or the pretrial services office or supervising officer in writing before making any change of residence or telephone number.” Fourth, Stone must appear in court as required. The next appearance has is scheduled to take place on February 1 before U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who happens to be presiding over Manafort’s cooperation breach dispute. Stone will also have to sign an appearance bond if he is ordered to do so.

Other requirements that were checked off: Stone must submit to supervision by DC Pretrial Services, hand in his passport, not get another passport or “international travel document,” and may only travel to Florida, New York, Washington, D.C. and the Eastern District of Virginia. He has to notify DC Pretrial Services before and after travel. Nor may Stone possess a firearm, “destructive device,” or “other weapon.”

Stone has been warned that if he does not comply with these conditions he will be eligible for specified sanctions, such as: the “immediate issuance of a warrant for [his] arrest,” “revocation of [his] release” and an “order of detention” (which is what happened to Manafort). Other penalties could include contempt of court, with possible imprisonment and/or a fine.

Read more: https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/federal-judge-orders-roger-stone-to-fulfill-several-obligations-if-he-wants-to-avoid-paul-manaforts-fate/

January 29, 2019

Chris Christie Tears Into Jared Kushner's Father: 'One of the Most Loathsome, Disgusting Crimes...

Chris Christie Tears Into Jared Kushner’s Father: ‘One of the Most Loathsome, Disgusting Crimes That I Prosecuted…’

by Josh Feldman | Jan 29th, 2019, 4:22 pm

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has a lot to say about Jared Kushner, but you may not know that Christie actually prosecuted his father, Charles Kushner, when he was a U.S. attorney.

On Firing Line, Margaret Hoover asked Christie about tension between him and the younger Kushner while they were both in Trumpworld. Christie ended up going on a tear against Kushner’s father and saying of course he has no regrets about going after him:

https://twitter.com/FiringLineShow/status/1090324102731182085

“Mr. Kushner pled guilty. He committed the crimes. And so what am I supposed to do as a prosecutor? I mean, if a guy hires a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law and videotapes it, and then sends the videotape to his sister, to attempt to intimidate her from testifying before a grand jury, do I really need any more justification than that? I mean, it’s one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney!”

“And I was U.S. attorney in New Jersey,” Christie added.

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https://www.mediaite.com/tv/chris-christie-tears-into-jared-kushners-father-one-of-the-most-loathsome-disgusting-crimes-that-i-prosecuted/

January 29, 2019

Paul Krugman in devastating 'nobody wants him' tweetstorm

January 29, 2019

Trump campaign preparing to sue ex-staffer who wrote tell-all book, official says

Source: The Hill

BY JUSTIN WISE - 01/29/19 09:52 AM EST

A top official for President Trump's 2020 campaign said Tuesday that the campaign was preparing to file a lawsuit against former White House communications aide Cliff Sims for violating a nondisclosure agreement (NDA).

"The Trump campaign is preparing to file suit against Cliff Sims for violating our NDA," Michael Glassner, chief operating officer of Donald J. Trump for President Inc., wrote on Twitter.

The remark came the same day Sims's tell-all book, "Team of Vipers," was published.

https://twitter.com/michaelglassner/status/1090249001746747392

Sims's memoir, released Tuesday, recounts his time working in the White House and reportedly details White House dysfunction and infighting.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/427417-top-official-says-trump-campaign-preparing-to-sue-ex-staffer-who-wrote-tell

January 29, 2019

Trump adviser Roger Stone pleads not guilty to obstruction, witness tampering in Russia probe

Source: USA Today

Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY Published 9:46 a.m. ET Jan. 29, 2019 | Updated 11:09 a.m. ET Jan. 29, 2019

WASHINGTON – Roger Stone, a flamboyant political operative and longtime confidant of President Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to seven criminal counts, including witness tampering and obstruction in a case that brings special counsel Robert Mueller deeper into the president's inner circle.

The 66-year-old self-described "dirty-trickster" also is accused of lying to congressional investigators about his alleged work to inform the Trump campaign about the timing of document releases by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks that would be damaging to Trump's then-Democrat opponent Hillary Clinton.

Stone's lawyers entered his not-guilty plea Tuesday morning.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson ordered Stone to return to court for another hearing on Friday afternoon. She ordered that Stone refrain from contact with witnesses in the case and check in with court authorities once each week.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/29/roger-stone-adviser-plea-arraignment/2699721002/

Profile Information

Name: Don
Gender: Male
Hometown: Massachusetts
Home country: United States
Member since: Sat Sep 1, 2012, 03:28 PM
Number of posts: 60,536

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