PBC News & Comment: Mueller Indictment of Russians Is A Dud

Mueller indicts 13 Russians and St. Petersburg troll farm for pro-Trump social media activity, promoting false hope for Russiagate fans….--the indictment doesn’t name any government agencies or officials, and it’s highly doubtful that any trial will ever happen
--we get comment from Yasha Levine, author of Surveillance Valley
--at The Intercept, James Risen goes deep on Russiagate, asking “Is Donald Trump a Traitor?”
--Steve Bannon has been meeting with Mueller investigators, and refused to answer most questions at House Intel interview
--Senate majority played Dems on immigration after Schumer decoupled budget from DACA, and the Dreamers remain hostage to Washington gridlock
--in Israel, Netanyahu’s politics of division intensifies as Bibi faces corruption charges, and uses African refugees like Trump uses Dreamers
--Trump has not defended Netanyahu in corruption probe, and smacked him in interview with Israeli newspaper
--despite hush money payments, Trump’s harlots are telling their stories
--FBI now admits it failed to follow up on 2 explicit warnings about Nikolas Cruz
--new book shares the story of Trump’s first chief of staff, Reince Priebus
--in the Senate, immigration session is hampered by Trump White House
--Travel ban 3.0 is blocked by another appeals court
--Trump inaugural committee made some big paydays for cronies
--VA chief David Shulkin and EPA wrecker Scott Pruitt explain travel expenses
--FCC inspector general is investigating rule change that allows right-wing Sinclair to own more TV stations
Empire notes:
--Trump hates foreign aid, but Rexxon Tillerson just gave Jordan a raise
-US watches as other nations pledge $30 billion to rebuild Iraq
--Pakistan asks Trump to pay for 1,800 mile wall on border with Afghanistan