A DANGEROUS NATIONAL THREAT POLITICIZED
- Democrats go it alone on Russia probe after partisan breakdowns (WaPo) "Democrats are striking out on their own this week over all but one of the congressional investigations into Russian meddling, independently releasing reports and transcripts, and attacking Republicans they accuse of intentionally undermining active probes in deference to President Trump. In the House, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) endorsed a letter sent Tuesday to Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), accusing him of orchestrating a campaign to bury a congressional probe into Trump’s alleged ties to the Russian government and defame the agencies investigating those matters. Increasingly, Democrats see Republicans as dedicating more energy to attacking federal law enforcement than seriously investigating the allegations that have been unearthed."
- Never before has a president ignored such a clear national security threat (WaPo) "For the better part of 20 years, Russian President Vladimir Putin has engaged in a relentless assault against democratic institutions abroad, universal values and the rule of law. He has carried out these attacks with an asymmetric arsenal: cyberattacks; disinformation; support for fringe political groups; the weaponization of energy resources, organized crime and corruption; and even military aggression. While our European partners have taken steps to better defend themselves, the United States has done little to protect its institutions. Despite the efforts of some in national security leadership, as well as dedicated career public servants across the executive branch, one person is preventing a strong, government-wide response that holds Russia accountable for its destabilizing activities: the president of the United States."
- Who Will Listen to Democrats’ Warning on Russia? (NYT) "In the face of complacency from Republicans fearful of what attention to these intrigues might reveal about the Trump campaign’s dealings with Russia, Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have issued a report that appears to be the most comprehensive public accounting of Russia’s war on the West. It drives home the point that the 2016 election, which every American intelligence agency has said involved Russian interference to help elect Donald Trump, is part of a pattern in which Mr. Putin has worked to erode Western institutions and undermine faith in democratic practices. The report was produced without Republican input, which gives it a partisan cast it does not deserve, especially since it acknowledges that the threat posed by Mr. Putin existed before the current administration came to office."
- Democrats go it alone on Russia probe after partisan breakdowns (WaPo) "Democrats are striking out on their own this week over all but one of the congressional investigations into Russian meddling, independently releasing reports and transcripts, and attacking Republicans they accuse of intentionally undermining active probes in deference to President Trump. In the House, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) endorsed a letter sent Tuesday to Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), accusing him of orchestrating a campaign to bury a congressional probe into Trump’s alleged ties to the Russian government and defame the agencies investigating those matters. Increasingly, Democrats see Republicans as dedicating more energy to attacking federal law enforcement than seriously investigating the allegations that have been unearthed."
- Never before has a president ignored such a clear national security threat (WaPo) "For the better part of 20 years, Russian President Vladimir Putin has engaged in a relentless assault against democratic institutions abroad, universal values and the rule of law. He has carried out these attacks with an asymmetric arsenal: cyberattacks; disinformation; support for fringe political groups; the weaponization of energy resources, organized crime and corruption; and even military aggression. While our European partners have taken steps to better defend themselves, the United States has done little to protect its institutions. Despite the efforts of some in national security leadership, as well as dedicated career public servants across the executive branch, one person is preventing a strong, government-wide response that holds Russia accountable for its destabilizing activities: the president of the United States."
- Who Will Listen to Democrats’ Warning on Russia? (NYT) "In the face of complacency from Republicans fearful of what attention to these intrigues might reveal about the Trump campaign’s dealings with Russia, Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have issued a report that appears to be the most comprehensive public accounting of Russia’s war on the West. It drives home the point that the 2016 election, which every American intelligence agency has said involved Russian interference to help elect Donald Trump, is part of a pattern in which Mr. Putin has worked to erode Western institutions and undermine faith in democratic practices. The report was produced without Republican input, which gives it a partisan cast it does not deserve, especially since it acknowledges that the threat posed by Mr. Putin existed before the current administration came to office."
- Retirements of veteran Republicans fuel GOP fears of losing House majority (WaPo) "The number of House Republicans planning to forgo reelection bids this year is on track to outpace majority-party retirements in any recent election where control of the chamber flipped — an ominous sign fueling GOP fears of a political wave that could shift power to Democrats in November’s midterm elections. At least 29 House seats held by Republicans will be open in November; only 22 GOP seats were open in 2006, and 19 Democratic seats in 2010. The 1994 'Republican revolution' that swept the GOP into power after decades of Democratic rule saw 27 Democratic retirements. Republicans are at less risk of losing the Senate, where only a few GOP incumbents are vulnerable and many Democrats are seeking reelection in states Trump won in 2016. But the decision of Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) to retire and the surprise victory of Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) in a special election last month offered Democrats a plausible, if improbable, path to the majority."
BUSINESS:
- Trump Administration Seeks to Change Rules on Bank Lending to the Poor (WSJ - Paywall) "The Trump administration plans to unveil a major revision to decades-old banking rules that mandate lending to poor borrowers. Changes to the regulations of the Community Reinvestment Act--a law first enacted in 1977--could potentially transform the way banks make billions of dollars in loans, investments and donations to poorer customers. In all, they could make it easier for banks to meet certain lending requirements and lower penalties for compliance problems. Community groups that support the law fear that any rollback could mean poorer people over time would have less access to loans and banking services. In recent years, for example, some lenders have focused on serving more affluent customers. The CRA, though, generally has prevented banks from focusing only on the wealthy."
- Wal-Mart to Raise Minimum U.S. Wage to $11 an Hour (WSJ-Paywall) "Wal-Mart said it would raise its minimum wage to $11 per hour for all its U.S. employees and hand out one-time bonuses as competition for low-wage workers intensifies and new tax legislation will add billions its profits. The retailer, which had nearly $500 billion in global revenue last year, is expected to get billions in savings from the tax overhaul, which lowers the U.S. corporate rate to 21% from 35%. Wal-Mart is the largest private employer in the world, with 2.2 million employees, including more than 1.5 million in the U.S."
- Canada increasingly convinced Trump will pull out of NAFTA (Reuters) "Royal Bank of Canada’s Chief Executive Dave McKay said on Tuesday he believed there was now a greater chance that NAFTA could be scrapped."
NEWS:
- Take a deal for the dreamers. Build the wall. (WaPo) "His [Trump's] price, and that of many Republicans, is up to $33 billion in border-security measures, including Mr. Trump’s 'beautiful' wall. If that’s the deal...Democrats should take it. The wall is a dumb idea. But consider how rare it is that a dumb idea in Congress actually buys something smart in return. In this case, the return on that dumb idea would be huge. If a few billion dollars annually is the trade-off that provides certainty...for nearly 700,000 young immigrants brought to this country as children by their parents, it’s worth it."
- ‘Trump Effect’ Wears Off as Migrants Resume Their Northward Push (NYT) "Just months after border apprehensions hit a 17-year low, which administration officials proudly celebrated as a “Trump effect,” the number of migrants trying to enter the United States has been surging, surpassing 40,000 along the Southwest border last month, more than double the springtime numbers, according to new data from the Homeland Security Department. Many factors, including the Central American economy and gang violence, play a role in migration patterns. But it also appears that any deterrent effect of Mr. Trump’s tough talk and ramped-up immigration enforcement has begun to wane."
- North Carolina Is Ordered to Redraw Its Congressional Map (NYT) "A panel of federal judges struck down North Carolina’s congressional map...declaring it unconstitutionally gerrymandered and demanding that the Republican-controlled General Assembly redraw district lines before this year’s midterm elections. The ruling was the first time that a federal court had blocked a congressional map because the judges believed it to be a partisan gerrymander..."
- Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens admits extramarital affair but denies reports he blackmailed woman with nude photo (WaPo) "The story originated with the spurned ex-husband, who told KMOV that the relationship between Greitens and the man’s then-wife led to the breakup of their marriage. Afterward, the ex-husband went on social media calling Greitens a 'homewrecker,' according to KMOV. He then tried to go public with his story and with the recording."
TECHNOLOGY:
- Chinese Workers Abandon Silicon Valley for Riches Back Home (Bloomberg) "U.S.-trained Chinese-born talent is becoming a key force in driving Chinese companies’ global expansion and the country’s efforts to dominate next-generation technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning. Where college graduates once coveted a prestigious overseas job and foreign citizenship, many today gravitate toward career opportunities at home, where venture capital is now plentiful and the government dangles financial incentives for cutting-edge research."
- Facebook’s “people you may know” suggestions are a black box. This tool might help (Fast Company) "Gizmodo has released a tool that lets people track their PYMK suggestions. Every six hours it records who the PYMK suggestions are, as a way to help people figure out what data Facebook is mining to come to these conclusions. At the very least, the tool can help you understand what you may be unknowingly sharing with the social juggernaut."
BOTTOM OF THE NEWS:
- 13,000 Tourists Stranded in a Swiss Ski Resort for 2 Days (NYT) "'Even if you can’t ski, there is always something to do, like eating fondue or chocolate in the village' one visitor reported."
TODAY'S SONG:
- 2 Heads (Coleman Hell)
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