October 12, 2018

Andrew Gillum wants to pay starting teachers $50,000. Could that ever happen in Florida?

When Valerie Chuchman moved to Florida from Wisconsin eight years ago, her new principal joked that while she was taking a significant salary cut, she would be repaid in sunshine.

Unfortunately, the Riverview High School chemistry teacher said, sunshine doesn’t pay the bills. And if she’s still living paycheck to paycheck after 21 years, she can only imagine how tough it is for newer educators.

"You still need to attract and retain teachers," she said.

So Chuchman sees value in a proposal by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum to increase teachers’ starting salaries to $50,000 a year. But does she see it ever happening?

Tampa Bay Times

October 12, 2018

Keith Ellison says he is considering stepping down from the DNC

Washington (CNN)Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison is considering an exit from his position as deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee. His comments come as he continues to defend himself against allegations that he abused his former girlfriend, Karen Monahan.

Speaking to Minneapolis radio station WCCO, Ellison says he needs to focus on his current race to become Minnesota's attorney general, which is why he might leave the DNC post he has held since 2017.

"You know, I've been evaluating that recently so we'll see. I need to put 100% of my time, energy and resources into the race and my office, so it is something I am taking into consideration," Ellison said. The Minnesota lawmaker did not say whether his decision would be influenced by the abuse allegations -- which Ellison has denied.

The charges against Ellison surfaced in a Facebook post by Monahan's son, Austin. The son claimed he saw a video that allegedly showed Ellison cursing at his mother while trying to drag her off a bed. Ellison told WCCO, the video "couldn't possibly exist because what is alleged didn't happen."

CNN

October 12, 2018

Two years after 'trauma' of hack, DNC builds a tech team with a veteran bench

WASHINGTON
The digital operations team at the Democratic National Committee hit some dark days after Russian hackers mauled their networks in 2016, hijacking dozens of computers and pilfering tens of thousands of emails to hand over to WikiLeaks and onto the internet.

Remnants of that digital bruising linger.

“I feel like everyone’s still feeling, like, the PTSD from ’16,” said Raffi Krikorian, who now is the chief technology officer for a newly beefed-up unit of the Democratic National Committee, referring to post-traumatic stress disorder.

The mood today of the DNC’s tech security team is one of cautious vigilance. The unit has grown in size and now employs cybersecurity experts who have come from some of the biggest Silicon Valley companies. Every day, the security team spots anomalies and strange behavior that could indicate a new cyberattack.

McClatchy

October 11, 2018

Richard Pinedo becomes third person sentenced in Mueller probe

A cooperating witness in the Mueller probe, Pinedo schemed to sell fake online identities used by the 13 Russians indicted for 2016 election interference.

NBC

October 8, 2018

Uber and Lyft are offering free rides to the polls on election day

Uber follows Lyft, who in August also offered 50% discounts and free rides to the polls on Election Day to those in underserved communities that face significant obstacles to transportation. As Lyft pointed out in a blog post, an estimated 15 million people were registered but didn’t vote in 2016 because of transportation issues.

Fast Company

I'm not familiar with the Fast Company website. Thought this might be great info for people to know. I'm sure it's already been shared.

Thanks.

October 8, 2018

I put in fifty hours for Andrew Gillum last week.

Just sent him my paycheck from last week. He got every bit of it.

While it is going to hurt me financially, what the Republicans are doing to my state and country is unacceptable and is hurting us for generations to come. So I talked to my wife this morning and we decided to donate my pay from last week. We decided to keep it all in Florida and give it all to Gillum. I had previously donated $60 to more local candidates. Next week my wife and I plan on doing $60 more to three local candidates. That is all we can do this year.

I wish we had more time but my wife and I work our butts off to keep getting ahead. We never seem to actually get ahead. Our son is under two years old and we are as hands on as we can be. We spend the limited amount of time we have outside of work loving our child and teaching him.

Everyone has to do their part. If you have disposable time, use it politically over the next month. Disposable income, use it over the next month. Not much of either, do your best. Have respect for those who have neither disposable income or time. Try to steer them to vote. The structure of today's economy is crushing people and finding time for sleep alone can be extremely difficult. Just providing for yourself can be a herculean task.

GOTV!

October 6, 2018

Paul Manafort agrees to forfeit Trump Tower, Hamptons properties in Russia probe

The government has formally moved to seize several of Paul Manafort’s assets – including unit 43G in Trump Tower – after the onetime Trump campaign chairman agreed to forfeit various properties and bank accounts in a plea agreement signed last month with special counsel Robert Mueller.

In a court document filed on Friday, Mueller asked a federal judge in Washington, D.C., to grant the government “full and exclusive custody and control” over nine assets previously belonging to Manafort.

ABC

September 28, 2018

Forgiveness.

Overall, the citizens of the US are a compassionate group. We have been forced into positions where we have to work too hard and live with blinders on in order to focus on our immediate crisis.... Food, shelter, clothing, etc for ourselves and our families. That often draws a larger picture that we only care about ourselves but in my eyes it is an unfair painting. We are forced to do it. We are still compassionate.

In my own life I have completely forgiven people for some pretty heinous acts. I mean fully forgiven. What did each one of those people do? Admitted their sins, asked for forgiveness, and at least made an attempt to change.

Mr. Judge. Admit your sins and ask for forgiveness to those you have harmed. I’m sure through your treatment you have already seen an abundance of forgiveness. I think you will be surprised if you come clean, admit your sins, and ask for forgiveness. I will support you in that journey as will many of your loved ones.

Mr. Judge, a part of your hiding is probably based in feelings of guilt. That shows conscience, if I’m accurate. Give us the chance to forgive you. Put your demons to rest.

September 28, 2018

Rosenstein agrees to meet with Republican critics

Washington (CNN)Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has agreed to speak with House Republicans about his reported comments discussing wearing a wire to talk to President Donald Trump and recruiting Cabinet members to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from office, according to sources familiar with the matter.

House Republican leaders struck an agreement with House Freedom Caucus leaders for Rosenstein to appear to explain his comments, staving off a potential bid to try to force an impeachment vote against the deputy attorney general.

Politico first reported the plan to call Rosenstein in for a closed meeting.

The meeting with Rosenstein will not be a formal hearing with a transcribed interview, but a background meeting, according to a Justice Department official.

CNN