July 1, 2018

The One Area Where Trump Listens to Advisers

June 30, 2018 at 5:18 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard

Washington Post: “In most other realms, Trump is quick to reject norms and resist the established order. Where previous presidents zigged, the 45th almost always wants to zag. But not when it comes to the Supreme Court. So far, at least, Trump is taking direction from his counselors, including two with deep roots in Washington’s conservative network: McGahn and Leonard Leo, who is on leave from the Federalist Society to informally advise on judicial nominations.”

“Since before taking office, Trump has strategized with McGahn, Leo and others about aggressively filling federal court vacancies to permanently shift the judiciary to the right. The pace has been historic — and, for conservatives, the outcome has been an undeniable success.”

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https://politicalwire.com/2018/06/30/the-one-area-where-trump-listens-to-advisers/

July 1, 2018

North Korea working to conceal key aspects of its nuclear program, U.S. officials say

By Ellen Nakashima and Joby Warrick
June 30 at 7:32 PM

U.S. intelligence officials, citing newly obtained evidence, have concluded that North Korea does not intend to fully surrender its nuclear stockpile, and instead is considering ways to conceal the number of weapons it has and secret production facilities, according to U.S. officials.

The evidence, collected in the wake of the June 12 summit in Singapore, points to preparations to deceive the United States about the number of nuclear warheads in North Korea’s arsenal as well as the existence of undisclosed facilities used to make fissile material for nuclear bombs, the officials said.

The findings support a new, previously undisclosed Defense Intelligence Agency estimate that North Korea is unlikely to denuclearize.

The assessment stands in stark contrast to President Trump’s exuberant comments following the summit, when he declared on Twitter that “there is no longer a nuclear threat” from North Korea. At a recent rally, he also said he had “great success’’ with Pyongyang.

more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/north-korea-working-to-conceal-key-aspects-of-its-nuclear-program-us-officials-say/2018/06/30/deba64fa-7c82-11e8-93cc-6d3beccdd7a3_story.html

July 1, 2018

Head of Va GOP resigns rather than run 'vicious campaign' for Trump-loving pro-Confederate candidate

Head of Virginia GOP resigns rather than run ‘vicious campaign’ for Trump-loving pro-Confederate US senate candidate

The head of the Virginia Republican Party resigned Saturday amidst the rise of a Trumpian candidate for U.S. Senate.

John Whitbeck had led his state’s party since 2015, but quit just two weeks after the party’s primary was won by Corey Stewart, a Trump-loving ultra-Conservative who has advocated protecting the state’s Confederate monuments.

Stewart has promised to run a “vicious campaign” against incumbent Tim Kaine. Stewart was the chair of President Donald Trump’s 2016 Virginia campaign but was fired for an extremist protest outside the Republican Party’s headquarters in Washington. He is closely associated with white nationalist Jason Kessler, who organized the deadly Charlottesville rally. Stewart was last elected, at the county level, in 2003.

Whitbeck apparently wanted to part of it, as he is resigning to pursue “other opportunities.”

Virginia Republicans have not won a statewide election since 2009.

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https://www.rawstory.com/2018/06/head-virginia-gop-resigns-rather-run-vicious-campaign-trump-loving-pro-confederate-us-senate-candidate/

July 1, 2018

President Donald Trump: 'Our Laws are the Dumbest Anywhere in the World'

by Tamar Auber | 3:59 pm, June 30th, 2018

On the same day as immigration protests and marches were held throughout the nation, President Donald Trump called for those entering the country without proper paperwork to be immediately escorted “back out.”

“When people come into our Country illegally, we must IMMEDIATELY escort them back out without going through years of legal maneuvering,” Trump opined in a midafternoon tweet.

He then added this about U.S. law: “Our laws are the dumbest anywhere in the world. Republicans want Strong Borders and no Crime. Dems want Open Borders and are weak on Crime!”

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1013146187510243328

Trump’s tweet follows an earlier tweet where he claimed, “I never pushed the Republicans in the House to vote for the Immigration Bill.” Just a few days ago, however, he said just that.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1013139532290625538

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https://www.mediaite.com/trump/donald-trump-our-laws-are-the-dumbest-anywhere-in-the-world/