PBC News & Comment: Hannity and Pruitt, Greedy and Secretive

Investigations reveal that Sean Hannity uses HUD financing in real estate empire, and EPA chief Scott Pruitt rewards Okie cronies….--following Michael Cohen disclosure, reporters find Hannity’s $90 million real estate portfolio, partly funded by HUD, secreted in shell companies
--as Pruitt faces at least 10 different investigations, NY Times exposes sweetheart deal with SBC lobbyist that involved Wagner and Kelly, now in top EPA jobs
--Dems bet it all on the Victim Card, as new DNC lawsuit against Trump, Russia and WikiLeaks blames 2016 loss on everyone but Clinton
--Glenn Greenwald and Trever Timm deride DNC lawsuit as serious threat to freedom of press
--in bizarre lament by Amy Chozick, NY Times reporter who covered Clinton campaign, we get election-night HRC fingering of unnamed “they”, Chozick's admission as Russian tool
--GOP extremists forced release of Comey notes, which has backfired and appears to have strengthened perceptions of Comey
--Dems could’ve blocked Pompeo confirmation, but Manchin, Donelly and Heitkamp defect in showing of cowardice and self-interest
--retired law professor Marjorie Cohn reviews new war powers bill, which appears to be worse than the status quo
--French President Emmanuel Macron gets the full Monty in state visit, will try to persuade Trump to stay in Iran deal
--as he hopes to scuttle Iran nuclear agreement, Trump is pumped by recent moves by Little Kim…but is he bluffing the world’s greatest dealmaker?
--14-year-old Palestinian boy among 4 killed by Israeli snipers Friday in Gaza
--actress Natalie Portman singles out Netanyahu in declining Genesis Prize, and says she doesn’t support BDS, even though she is B’ing in this case
--at ConsortiumNews, Gareth Porter posts part 2 on Skripal case
--Bernie Sanders introduces plan to guarantee jobs and health care for all Americans