PBC News & Comment: Trump’s Ignorance on Display From France to California

In France, Trump’s behavior and tweets embarrass US, again; his comments on California’s devastating wildfires expose his willful ignorance, again….--these wildfires aren’t forest fires, but Trump blames forest management in lame effort to divert attention from climate change
--Camp Fire that destroyed Paradise appears to be caused by utility; Woolsey Fire that rages in Malibu reportedly started at federal nuke/rocket site
--armchair experts resurface to deny climate change, and blame firestorms on geoengineering and direct energy weapons
--in France, Trump bailed on visit to WWI cemetery to avoid bad hair day, and blasts Macron for his comments about nationalism
--last Friday, there were signs of reduced tensions, but Israel sent a covert team into Gaza Sunday night, triggering rocket fire and Israeli retaliation
--UN reports that Iran is in compliance with nuclear deal
--federal judge in Atlanta orders Georgia to delay certification and resolve issues over provisional ballots and absentee ballots invalidated over minor issues
--before that order, 12 Georgia counties rushed to certify results that are, at least, incomplete
--WhoWhatWhy says it’s a matter of which votes won’t be counted
--Trump and media allies are furiously lying about voter fraud and other claims, want to lock in election night numbers
--Florida judge finds zero evidence of fraud, tells GOP to back off from unfounded claims
--House Dems have gained 32 seats for sure, could reach 40
--most-watched freshman Ocasio-Cortez joins climate activists in Pelosi’s office—was it a protest, or support for Pelosi?
--Dem Senate leader Schumer timidly talks of “constitutional crisis” in Whitaker AG appointment
--SF city attorney and Maryland AG both file challenges to Whitaker appointment
--attempted border crossings reach new peak, and Trump gets ready to fire DHS boss Nielsen….is Kris Kobach angling for the gig?
--as Turkey offers proof that KSM was alerted when Khashoggi was dead, US is not persuaded
--in UK, Brexit heads to showdown
--Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal runs blockbuster that shows that Trump was directly managing hush money deals
--Tom Steyer renews call for impeachment
--White House is adjusting the narrative on the lockout of CNN’s Acosta
--hate crime reports jumped 17% during 2017