Special counsel Robert Mueller has asked the White House to turn over all its documents related to Donald Trump Jr.’s initial statement on a meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower.
The statement, which was reportedly drafted on Air Force One and approved by President Trump, was later shown to be false after Trump Jr. released his email correspondence about setting up the meeting.
Mueller’s investigative team has taken a broad approach to the probe, requesting any and all documents related to the controversies that have cast a cloud over the Trump administration — namely the controversial meeting between Trump’s eldest son and a Russian lawyer who promised compromising information on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton ahead of the 2016 election.
Politico reported Thursday that phone records from Air Force One were included in the document request.
The request follows reports that Mueller hoped to interview White House staffers who were present at the time Trump dictated Trump Jr.’s initial statement.
Trump Jr. has become a key figure in the various Russia probes following reports of the meeting. He has repeatedly denied that he received any damaging information about Clinton.
Trump Jr. met with Senate investigators behind closed doors earlier this month.
Mueller’s investigation appears to be picking up steam as he continues to look into whether Trump campaign associates colluded with the Russians to sway the election in their favor.
https://twitter.com/TomPerez/status/911332070311555072
https://twitter.com/coalitionbuildr/status/911316816915521536
https://twitter.com/NBCPolitics/status/911330384897601536
https://twitter.com/RVAwonk/status/911351955095789569
Look at this, y’all. Something must be done. Police are a threat to all of us. Cop didn’t have to kill this young man. It’s so damn disturbing. 😢😢😢
https://twitter.com/NHFTHR/status/911339263228350464
Sen. Susan Collins:
http://www.kcra.com/article/gop-sen-collins-leaning-against-bill-dismantling-obamacare/12452624
Puerto Rico dam bursts in wake of Hurricane Maria
A dam has failed and caused “extremely dangerous” flooding on Puerto Rico’s Guajataca river in the wake of Hurricane Maria, authorities say.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said buses were “currently evacuating people from the area as quickly as they can”.
At least 13 people have died on the US territory since Maria ripped through Puerto Rico, devastating homes and knocking out the island’s electricity.
The island’s governor has called it the worst storm in a century.
Operators of the Guajataca Dam said the dam, located at the northern end of Lake Guajataca in northwest Puerto Rico, failed at 14:10 local time (18:10 GMT).
It sparked a flash flood emergency for Isabela and Quebradillas municipalities, the NWS said in a series of tweets.
The agency urged residents in the area to “move to higher ground now” in an alert posted on its website.
“This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order,” the alert said.
Oh no! Lord, please have mercy.
Excerpt from this link:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-john-mccain-health-care-bill-20170922-story.html
Call your senators NOW. Ask if they’ll join with John McCain and reject this bill. If you’re in Arizona, call and express your gratitude. https://t.co/wi0cHWsqT8
— Ben Wikler (@benwikler) September 22, 2017
McCain’s statement opens door for more Rs to vote No. It shows how hideously irresponsible voting Yes would be:https://t.co/hA8aSB3QPG pic.twitter.com/pEE5W3LHvm
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) September 22, 2017
Source: Facebook
John McCain — US Senator for Arizona
1 hr ·
As I have repeatedly stressed, health care reform legislation ought to be the product of regular order in the Senate. Committees of jurisdiction should mark up legislation with input from all committee members, and send their bill to the floor for debate and amendment. That is the only way we might achieve bipartisan consensus on lasting reform, without which a policy that affects one-fifth of our economy and every single American family will be subject to reversal with every change of administration and congressional majority.
I cannot in good conscience vote for the Graham-Cassidy proposal. I believe we could do better working together, Republicans and Democrats, and have not yet really tried. Nor could I support it without knowing how much it will cost, how it will affect insurance premiums, and how many people will be helped or hurt by it. Without a full CBO score, which won’t be available by the end of the month, we won’t have reliable answers to any of those questions.
McCain cannot ‘in good conscience’ vote for GOP repeal bill
09/22/17 02:20 PM
By Steve Benen
If Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) goal was to play a consequential role in the fight over health care, he’s succeeded beautifully.
Two months ago, it was the Arizona Republican who cast a dramatic deciding vote that derailed his party repeal push. Two weeks ago, it was McCain who seemed to throw a lifeline to the repeal crusade, telling reporters he was prepared to support the Graham-Cassidy proposal.
And this afternoon, it was the veteran lawmaker who announced his opposition to the Graham-Cassidy plan, effectively sealing its fate.
#GrahamCassidy is a long saught Republican wet dream to gut not only medicaid and health care for millions, but to punish blue states.
— Jeff Gauvin (@JeffersonObama) September 20, 2017
GOP ‘moderates’ give up on concessions they once deemed important
09/22/17 12:44 PM
By Steve Benen
Over the summer, during the various stages of the health care repeal fight, several Senate Republicans at least went through the motions. Unwilling to look like knee-jerk partisans, GOP senators like Ohio’s Rob Portman and West Virginia’s Shelley Moore Capito – sometimes labeled as “moderates” by news outlets – said they weren’t prepared to endorse the Republican plan because it was a Republican plan.
Instead, they had certain conditions. These senators said they wanted increased investments to address the opioid crisis, for example, and additional protections for Medicaid beneficiaries. Without some concessions from GOP leaders, these senators said, their support was in doubt.
Two months later, those same senators have apparently decided they no longer care about these conditions. Roll Call reported this week:
It’s almost as if many Senate Republicans weren’t especially serious about their stated principles. Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) said he opposed Medicaid cuts. Portman and Capito prioritized opioid investments. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he cared about a legitimate, thorough process – including a proper score from the Congressional Budget Office – and a lengthy policy debate.
A big chunk of the Republican Party, including Donald Trump himself, said protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions must be part of any GOP health care package.
And yet, here we are. Graham-Cassidy cuts Medicaid, ignores the opioid crisis, is advancing through a ridiculously truncated process, and eliminates guarantees for those with pre-existing conditions.
“How to Help Victims of Hurricane Maria”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/world/americas/hurricane-maria-donate-charity.html
https://youtu.be/m3hc85bitFQ
SEPTEMBER 26 ON NETFLIX, YA’LL1
TGIF, Everyone. I’ve been hunkered down with work projects!!! It’s all GOOD.
Enjoy your day and have a great weekend.
THE EVER LOVING PHUCK!!
Cassidy argues his bill protects people with preexisting conditions, because Trump tweeted it did
Citing Trump’s Twitter account as an authoritative source.
AARON RUPAR
SEP 22, 2017, 9:29 AM
During a radio interview on Thursday, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) made a case that the health care bill bearing his name must protect people with preexisting conditions, because President Trump said so in a tweet.
In response to host C.L. Bryant’s question about how the so-called Graham-Cassidy legislation will affect people with preexisting conditions, Cassidy’s immediately brought up a tweet Trump published Wednesday evening.
…………..
“We address the problem of preexisting conditions, indeed last night President Trump tweeted that he would not sign a bill that did not address the issue of preexisting conditions — really strong statement,” Cassidy said.
This can’t be real?
All just fun & games for these MOFOs. LIARS!
If you note…this is BELOW the 27% Crazyfication Factor.
Poll shows weak public support for latest Republican repeal plan
09/22/17 11:20 AM
By Steve Benen
There are literally no major health care institutions in the United States that believe the latest Republican health care plan is a good idea. From doctors to nurses, hospitals to insurers, patient advocates to state officials, the entire industry has scrutinized the Graham-Cassidy legislation and called for its swift defeat.
On this, GOP policymakers are completely alone. They’ve convinced themselves – and no one else.
But what about the public? There hasn’t been much in the way of polling – the legislation was only introduced last week – but Vox this morning highlighted what I believe is the first national survey on the pending proposal.
BREAKING: Avalere: Graham-Cassidy cuts Medicaid by $713 billion thru 2026. Over $1 TRILLION thru 2036 even if block grants are renewed. pic.twitter.com/oALzxrJ7H5
— Topher Spiro (@TopherSpiro) September 22, 2017
A GIF
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8692c52e79d37c5ebd93210fbee87b60b41a0e9c71f53d6c528e10333acb86e9.gif
LOL YEP
Nevada’s Dean Heller is at war with himself over health care
09/22/17 10:47 AM
By Steve Benen
Three months ago tomorrow, Sen. Dean Heller (R) of Nevada made a dramatic announcement. Standing alongside his home state’s Republican governor, Nevada’s Brian Sandoval, Heller became the first GOP senator to declare his opposition to his party’s health care repeal plan.
By any fair measure, it was a bold move, which changed the trajectory of the fight. After Heller broke ranks, citing the importance of protecting Medicaid beneficiaries, other Republican senators soon followed, and the initial plan crafted by the GOP leadership failed.
But as political pressure increased, Heller wavered. When it came time to consider the Republicans’ “skinny repeal” measure, for example, the Nevada senator toed the party line and voted with his party. Complicating matters, Heller soon after said he was “pleased” that the bill he voted for didn’t pass.
A couple of weeks later, Heller claimed credit for having protected Medicaid from his own party, only to turn around soon after and become a leading sponsor of the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson plan that would impose deep Medicaid cuts.
CNN reported yesterday:
Is anyone calling Klobucher and Bernie’s offices, asking why they’re doing this bullshyt thing on CNN?
This should be about killing TRUMPCARE.
This should be about shoring up Obamacare and saving healthcare for 32 million people.
Not some PHUCKING SINGLE PAYER FANTASY!
Daniel DaleVerified account @ddale8 2h2 hours ago
More
We’re on Trumpcare 4.0. He still has not been asked about, or addressed out loud, the promise-breaking Medicaid cuts in every version.
Graham-Cassidy cuts Medicaid. Reminders of what that’d mean…
for kids https://t.co/ImVha5aJqi
& for the disabled https://t.co/jim6J1l9uQ
— Jonathan Cohn (@CitizenCohn) September 22, 2017
Anna. The Kindergarten standout is using her best manners to urge @SenateGOP to stop #Tumpcare. Join this @LittleLobbyists 844-859-3118 pic.twitter.com/U8q9CPigYk
— MoveOn.org (@MoveOn) September 22, 2017
Governors become important foes of Republican repeal plan
09/22/17 10:14 AM
By Steve Benen
When four Republican senators unveiled the Graham-Cassidy health care plan last week – yes, it really was just last week – a reporter asked the quartet if they’d secured the support of governors who’d been skeptical of previous repeal plans. Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) replied that it was still a “work in progress.”
A week later, we can now say those efforts failed spectacularly. The Nevada Independent reported last night:
Sandoval is hardly alone. Even if we put aside criticism from Democratic governors – whom GOP senators are inclined to ignore – the number of Republican governors who are publicly opposed to the Graham-Cassidy plan continues to grow.
Shirley C @ghhshirley
McCain & Murkowski are taking all calls from anywhere. Spoke with both their staff.
35 replies 484 retweets 1,493 likes
uh huh
uh huh
THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 9/21/17
Grassley runs into conflict with Mueller investigation
Ron Weich, former assistant attorney general for legislative affairs, talks with Rachel Maddow about which investigation takes precedence when Congress conflicts with Robert Mueller.
THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 9/21/17
Trump finds others to pay family legal bills
Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist for Public Citizen, talks with Rachel Maddow the laws around how money raised for a presidential inauguration can be spent.
THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 9/21/17
Trump government hires based on politics, not qualifications
Rachel Maddow looks at the grifty nature of the Trump administration, from handing out government jobs to unqualified staffers as a political favor, to cabinet members using their office to increase their own wealth.
Even though we don’t have a CBO score on the latest version of the Legislative Evil known as Trumpcare, there are plenty of organizations that have stepped up to the plate to tell the truth about it:
……………………………….
Six Cassidy-Graham State Funds Flow Analyses
by David Anderson
at 7:56 am on September 22, 2017
The post below is an inventory of five separate analysis of the flow of funds between states under Cassidy-Graham-Heller-Johnson in 2026 compared to current law as projected by the Congressional Budget Office. I am collecting and collating the information.
A poster over at Balloon Juice had read this and had become concerned, and asked this great question (as if we needed anymore to be worried about with these heinous sociopaths):
This was the response by Mayhew at Balloon Juice:
The 2026 CBO landmine in Cassidy-Graham
by David Anderson
at 8:26 am on September 22, 2017
Trump aides ‘aren’t sure’ about real-world impact of repeal bill
09/22/17 09:20 AM
By Steve Benen
When House Republicans first tried to pass a far-right health care plan in the spring, it enjoyed Donald Trump’s enthusiastic support. When House GOP officials tried again two months later with a slightly different proposal, the president endorsed it, too.
In the Senate, Trump quickly threw his support behind the Republican leadership’s plan. When it failed, and Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) pushed an alternative approach, Trump endorsed it. When it failed to garner support, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) unveiled a related bill with several key changes, Trump endorsed it, too. When it fell short, and Republicans pursued “skinny repeal,” Trump, once again, backed the plan.
The various GOP health care proposals have varied in important ways, but they’ve all had one thing in common: the enthusiastic support of the Republican president who appears to be hopelessly lost about even the most rudimentary details in this debate.
Now, with congressional Republicans making one last regressive push to uproot the nation’s health care system, Trump has – you guessed it – endorsed the Graham-Cassidy plan. But as Politico noted, the White House has no idea what would happen to Americans if the proposal were actually imposed on the public.
At least we’ve achieved some degree of unanimity on this: congressional Republicans who are eager to pass the bill have no idea what would happen if it’s implemented, and the president who’s eager to sign the bill is similarly clueless. None of these GOP officials has the foggiest idea how many Americans would lose coverage, how unstable the markets would become, how states would respond, or how much more consumers would pay for care – but it might pass next week anyway.
GOP eyes special side deal to buy key senator’s health care vote
09/22/17 08:00 AM
By Steve Benen
……………………………………
The scheme has already received quite a few unflattering nicknames: “Alaska Purchase,” “Klondike Kickback,” and my personal favorite, “Polar Payoff.” Whatever you’re inclined to call it, the underlying idea appears to be a straightforward pitch to Murkowski: if she’ll vote with her party to repeal Obamacare, Republicans will let Alaska keep Obamacare. The irony of such a move, of course, appears to be lost on the idea’s proponents.
There’s a lot to this development, so let’s take the various elements one at a time:
1. Though the reports about this attempted pay-off have not yet been confirmed, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the lead architect of the Graham-Cassidy plan, didn’t exactly deny the reports’ accuracy. His spokesperson only said that “no changes of any kind have been finalized.”
2. As recently as June, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the other half of Graham-Cassidy, said that efforts to buy senators’ votes with side deals are “crap,” and if his party started going down this road, “they’re going to lose me.” Perhaps he’s changed his mind?
3. In July, there was related chatter about Republicans trying to effectively bribe Murkowski with a special side deal for Alaska, and at the time, she said she wasn’t interested. “Let’s just say that they do something that’s so Alaska-specific just to, quote, ‘get me,’” Murkowski said at the time. “Then you have a nationwide system that doesn’t work. That then comes crashing down and Alaska’s not able to kind of keep it together on its own.” If she hasn’t changed her mind, this new gambit will fail.
4. Creating a new, national law that exempts a handful of states may not be constitutional.
5. If Republicans are prepared to shield Alaska from the brutality of their own legislation, won’t other senators ask for similar deals for their own states?
It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that David Horowitz would espouse white supremacist sentiments.
Suggesting that African Americans should be grateful that, after almost 250 years and a Civil War, we finally ended slavery is bad enough. But think for a moment about who Horowitz credits for the brilliance of Coates’ writing, which is what brought him a modicum of fame and fortune…white America.
Let’s add this one to the list, “You might be a white supremacist if you think white people deserve credit for the achievements of black people.”
Anti Trumpcare Toolkit:
https://trumpcaretoolkit.org/
Quick Takes: How Do You Buy a Vote to Repeal Obamacare?
A roundup of news that caught my eye today.
by Nancy LeTourneau
September 21, 2017
Things must not be looking good for passage of the Graham-Cassidy bill because Republicans are apparently trying to buy Sen. Murkowski’s vote with these additions:
This pretty much nails what’s going on.
Who Is Telling the Truth About Pre-Existing Conditions?
by Nancy LeTourneau September 21, 2017
Since the day that a Republican first uttered the words, “repeal and replace” in reference to Obamacare, the party has been promising to keep the regulation that prohibited insurance companies from charging higher premiums to those with pre-existing conditions. The reason is, of course, because that is one of the most popular provisions in Obamacare. Does Graham-Cassidy keep that promise?
Obviously Jimmy Kimmel’s segment the other night, in which he made it clear that the answer to that question is “no,” had an impact. Yesterday morning Trump tweeted this:
One of the authors of the bill, Sen. Lindsay Graham, followed up with this:
What most Americans will hear is that Kimmel said the Republican bill will not protect those with pre-existing conditions while both the president and the author of the bill say that it will. That is a classic case of bothsiderism—which means that people will believe whoever it is that they trust.
This is precisely why Trump and Republicans have worked so hard to discredit the media. It allows them to suggest that any fact-checks on their claims can simply be called #FakeNews. It is also why we are beginning to see personal attacks on Jimmy Kimmel. Anything that goes contrary to their claims must be discredited.
For those who are actually interested in the facts, there are people like Sarah Kliff who have explained how Graham-Cassidy neuters the current protections for those with pre-existing conditions. But the truth is a bit complicated and most people won’t be willing to dig that hard to find it.
This provides us with a perfect example of how our culture feeds political polarization. But in this one instance, we have an interesting check on that. Take a look at what a company that would be perceived as the beneficiary of a rollback of these regulations had to say.
Yes, Roy Moore Hates the Gays
by Martin Longman
September 21, 2017
I am a little perplexed that people are focusing so much today on the fact that Roy Moore, an Alabama candidate for U.S. Senate, said back in 2015 that homosexuality ought to be illegal. I thought that this was a core belief of Moore’s that pretty much everyone who knew even a tiny bit about him already understood. I mean, isn’t the following the most basic biographical information about Moore?
Kimmel showed a ‘better grasp of health policy’ than GOP’s Cassidy
09/21/17 04:34 PM
By Steve Benen
It started in May. As regular readers know, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel spoke on the air about his young son’s heart surgery, and his belief that all Americans should have access to affordable, potentially life-saving, care.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) soon after began referencing the “Jimmy Kimmel Test”: for a health care proposal to have merit, the Louisiana Republican said, it should ensure families are covered regardless of income. Cassidy even appeared on Kimmel’s show, vowing to protect Americans who need protecting.
The GOP senator, however, changed quite dramatically, abandoned the “test,” and partnered with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on a radical, regressive proposal – which the ABC host shredded in a brutal monologue on Tuesday night. Cassidy, Kimmel said, “lied right to my face,” referencing an appearance the Republican made on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
The senator quickly defended himself, making a variety of television appearances in which he argued that Kimmel doesn’t know what he’s talking about. “I am sorry he does not understand,” the senator told CNN. “More people will have coverage, and we protect those with pre-existing conditions.”
So, who’s right? In reality, more people won’t have coverage, Cassidy isn’t protecting those with pre-existing conditions, and Politico published a piece quoting health care analysts who concluded that between the host and the senator, “the late-night host has the better grasp of health policy.”
THE LAST WORD WITH LAWRENCE O’DONNELL 9/21/17
Kimmel: these guys won’t tell the truth so I have to
Jimmy Kimmel spends a third night explaining why his health care fight is worth the risk and this time he takes on the President. Joy Reid, Eugene Robinson and Josh Earnest join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Ernest Green, one of the Little Rock Nine who in 1957 desegregated Little Rock Central High School, was born on this day, September 22, in 1941.
Video: “Ernest Green and the Little Rock Nine”
https://youtu.be/MijCzE9Y1DI&rel=0
Video: “The Little Rock Nine Remember the First Day of Desegregation | The Oprah”
Winfrey Show https://youtu.be/uzUTPanGNuA&rel=0
Spicer has diaries from his time at the WH.
BWA HA HA HA HA HA 😄😅😅
OOPS!
Good Morning,Everyone 😐😐😐
Good Morning, Rikyrah and Everyone
http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/134502-Good-Morning-Have-A-Lovely-Autumn-Day.jpg