Melania's jacket cost $4275 less than the 2015 median American family income.

First lady Melania Trump made a mega-colorful debut on a Sicily street Friday in a Dolce & Gabbana floral jacket worth a mind-blowing $51,500.

The silk jacket by the Italian fashion house, plastered with large 3D flowers, was featured on a Dolce & Gabbana runway just months ago.

But Americans appeared to be buzzing more about the cost than the fashion. A number of news reports compared the price to an entire year’s salary for many jobs in the U.S. — even the cost of a house in some areas. The median American family income in 2015, according to government statistics, was $55,775.

The first lady’s style choice wasn’t quite a “let them eat cake moment.” Cake would be way more affordable.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/melania-51500-jacket_us_5928b758e4b0df57cbfbd18c?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

Russian banker Kushner met with in December is Putin crony, graduate of 'finishing school" for spies

Russian banker Kushner met with in December is Putin crony and graduate of ‘finishing school’ for spies

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/russian-banker-kushner-met-with-in-december-is-graduate-of-finishing-school-for-spies-report/

A Russian banker who met with President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is a graduate of what is described as Russia’s top “finishing schools” for spies, NBC is reporting.

According to the report, Sergey Gorkov, 48, is a graduate of the FSB Academy, chartered in 1994 to educate Russian Intelligence personnel.

The report also notes that Gorkov is a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Recently, Putin chose Gorkov to head the state-owned VneshEconomBank (VEB).

Kushner is currently under fire for reportedly proposing setting up secret back-channel communications with the Kremlin in a conservation with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

The three most BEAUTIFUL words I've read this morning are "Is Pence Next?"

Is Pence next? A timeline of the Vice President’s role in Trump’s Russia-related mess provides some clues

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/is-pence-next-a-timeline-of-the-vice-presidents-role-in-trumps-russia-related-mess-provides-some-clues/



Pre-Pence Primer on Flynn

Late summer 2015: A member of Trump’s campaign staff calls retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn to ask if he’s willing to meet with Trump. Flynn agrees.
Dec. 10, 2015: At the 10th anniversary gala of Russia’s state-owned television propaganda network, RT, Flynn sits at Putin’s table. For his appearance on the network, he nets $33,500 of the $45,000 paid to his speakers’ bureau. For all of 2015, Flynn receives more than $65,000 from companies linked to Russia.
Mid-January 2016: Flynn applies for a five-year renewal of his security clearance. [Added May 25, 2017]
Feb. 11, 2016: According to a May 22, 2017 letter from Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), investigators meet with Flynn to discuss his security clearance application. When asked about his Moscow appearance, Flynn reportedly says, “I didn’t take any money from Russia, if that’s what you’re asking me.” [Added May 25, 2017]
March 14, 2016: Investigators issue a report on Flynn’s security clearance application. According to the summary in Rep. Cummings’ May 22 letter, Flynn told investigators he was paid by “US companies” when he traveled to Moscow in December 2015. The report also says that Flynn told investigators he had not received any benefit from a foreign country
Cover-up #1: Pence, Flynn, and Turkey

BREAKING: SNAP benefits to be replaced by free field goal kicks to the scrotum from Greg Gianforte

Do I really need a "SATIRE" flag on this? Ok, here is the satire flag. I wrote this. There is no link, because...well, I wrote it, and it's satire.



CNN MONTANA - Newly elected Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte, at the request of Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, will accept a unique responsibility when seated in Congress. He will be responsible for enforcing the new distribution of SNAP Benefits, also known as Food Stamps, under President Trump's new "Taxpayers First" budget. Written almost exclusively by Budget Office Director Mick Mulvaney. The Trump plan calls for widespread reduction or elimination of SNAP benefits, hitting states that swayed heavily for Trump in November 2016 the hardest. When he learned of the developments, Gianforte felt especially moved and approached Speaker Ryan to see what he could do to help those in need.



"This isn't just a job to me," stated Gianforte. "This is a unique opportunity for me to give back directly to the people who voted for me, and to every other hard-working man and woman in the United States who is struggling to put food on the table. I want to show them exactly what their votes mean to me."

Gianforte continued: "When I brought my concerns to Speaker Ryan, he smiled and asked "Are YOU ready to get off the sidelines and get into the game? Are YOU ready, Greg?" I replied "Yes, SIR, just tell me what you need." I will meet personally with every family that has been displaced from this program, many of whom have no other means to put food on the table. I will listen carefully to their stories, and as soon as they finish telling them, I will haul off and kick the men as hard as I can in the nuts. While they are on the ground, I will yell at them and chide them and on occasion, will spit on them as well, then break into a loud, cackling laugh similar to Heath Ledger in that Batman movie."

When asked about Trump's guidelines for women, Gianforte stated "Speaker Ryan is still drafting his plan for women, but rest assured, it will be as compassionate and all-encompassing as his plan for men. We take this very seriously. President Trump has given us his approval and blessings on this, and we have no intention of letting him down."

Speaker Ryan could not be reached for comment.

Trump forms new SUPERGROUP! Kushner, Bannon and LEWANDOWSKI in his Russia "War Room." WOW!

REPORT: Trump To Set Up ‘War Room’ To Repel Russia Probe Attacks
It’s his most aggressive effort yet to push back against allegations involving Russia and his campaign.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-war-russia-probe_us_5928a335e4b0df57cbfbcecb?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

Jared Kushner, a senior adviser to Trump, will be involved in the new strategic messaging operation, as will Steve Bannon, another top adviser who specializes in managing Trump’s populist appeal and shaping his political image, the sources said. Bannon and Trump’s chief of staff, Reince Priebus, have been laying the groundwork for the plan this week, they added.

On Thursday, NBC News and the Washington Post reported that Kushner, who held several meetings with Russian officials following the election, is a focus of the probe, making him the first current White House official to be caught up in it, although Kushner, who is Trump’s son-in-law, has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager, is also expected to be part of the effort. Lewandowski, who has been seen in the White House recently, could join the administration as early as next week, a source close to him said.

Lewandowski was fired by Trump in June 2016 over concerns that he was not experienced enough to oversee the general election fight against Democrat Hillary Clinton, but has remained a trusted adviser to Trump and a steadfast defender of the president on news programs.

SWEET JESUS! It's an effing FRIDAY NIGHT FLOOD of NEW Russia headlines on the Raw Story home page.

‘Game-changer’: MSNBC panelists explain magnitude of ‘devastating’ Kushner revelations

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/game-changer-msnbc-panelists-explain-magnitude-of-devastating-kushner-revelations/

Former Russian Trump aid seeks immunity deal to testify before Congress: NYT

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/former-russian-trump-aid-seeks-immunity-deal-to-testify-before-congress-nyt/

Senate intelligence panel requests Trump campaign documents: Washington Post

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/senate-intelligence-panel-requests-trump-campaign-documents-washington-post/

Russian ambassador told Moscow that Kushner sought secret communications channel with Kremlin: WaPo

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/russian-ambassador-told-moscow-that-kushner-sought-secret-communications-channel-with-kremlin-wapo/

Rumsfeld: Trump has a style that is unusual, but he wasn't hostile at NATO. Cut him some slack!

Obama at NATO, 2012.

"Its my only income": Trump voter shocked after learning he plans to cut key program she needs

‘It’s my only income’: Trump voter shocked after learning he plans to cut key program she needs



http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/its-my-only-income-trump-voter-shocked-after-learning-he-plans-to-cut-key-program-she-needs/

Krista Shockey, a Trump voter who relies on the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to survive, reacted with shock this week after CNN told her that President Donald Trump’s budget proposes massive cuts to the program.

In an interview with CNN’s Heather Long, Shockey explained that there is simply no way she’ll be able to find work if her SSI payments get reduced or even eliminated.

“There’s no way I could go back to work,” Shockey explained. “I’ve got a lot of problems. I’m crippled in my feet, knees, back, hands.”

CNN first interviewed Shockey this past fall, when she explained that she was a “life-long Democrat” who was voting for Trump in the fall. At the time, Shockey said that there was no way she could possibly live without SSI payments.

“It’s my only income,” she told the network.

Trump In The Wild: A Nature Documentary