News & Comment

After 10-year legal battle, federal judge rejects repeated motions, sets trial date for CACI contractors who tortured Abu Ghraib prisoners…--Center for Constitutional Rights persisted in fight for accountability, reports Shadowproof
--in in-depth interview, Dr. Jeff Kaye confirms that CIA had 2 separate torture programs, and one involved human experimentation to refine torture tactics
--GOP wimps like Sen. Lamar Alexander raise objections to Trump’s emergency declaration, but will they actually vote against it?

Trump continues bromance with Kim Jong-un, but walks out of Hanoi talks with no new agreement with North Korea…--North Korea’s foreign minister gives rare news conference to clarify Kim was only seeking “partial” sanctions relief
--Pelosi gloats over Trump’s failure, continuing Democrats’ anti-Trump anti-peace posture
--The Nation’s Tim Shorrock pointed out the Dems’ position before the summit

Michael Cohen’s public testimony should lead to Trump’s impeachment, but Dems are content to just investigate him to the max…--at House Oversight hearing, Cohen adds new details about Trump’s crimes before and after he was installed, plenty of evidence of obstruction of justice
--after GOP members hammer Cohen as a liar, he says they’re doing what he used to do, protect Trump by lying about the Liar-in-chief

Michael Cohen, who lied to protect Trump, is hammered by Individual 1 and allies who call him “pathetic” before testimony….--due to Mueller investigation and other issues, his public testimony will be limited
--federal appeals court rules that Mueller probe is legit
--at WashPost, Jennifer Rubin airs out impeachment, and concludes it’s not a good idea; your humble host disagrees

Corporate media fudge timelines to declare “deadly clashes” over the weekend as “humanitarian” Trojan horse effort fails to divide military….--VP Mike Pence is in Bogota, meeting with US puppet Guaido and dispensing sanctions and US money for Guaido
--Max Blumenthal is on the ground, exposing media propaganda

US-backed “humanitarian” Trojan horses will attempt to breach Venezuelan borders from Brazil and Colombia this weekend, Maduro takedown underway….--corporate media play up border conflict, defection of former spy chief, and threats of epidemics to stoke made-for-TV uprising
--and for extra drama, Mike Pompeo links Iran and Hezbollah to Maduro
-- Abby Martin delivers great on the ground reporting

Rumors abound that Mueller will submit report to new AG Barr soon, but nobody seems to know what happens next….--Neal Katyal, who helped write the special counsel rules, says to expect brief report that can fuel congressional investigations or impeachment
--Rosen is nominated to replace Rosenstein as Deputy AG

CNN rolls out the gaslights to greet Bernie Sanders’ entry in 2020 race, as his base donates $6 million in first day…--CNN’s Chris Cillizza starts with 5 loaded questions about Bernie  and listener Fred notes that Wolf Blitzer will host town hall with Sanders
--CNN names GOP attack dog Sarah Isgur as “political editor”

PBC News & Comment: Dems Challenge Trump Emergency with Lawsuits and Investigations, But Not Impeachment
--16 states have already filed suit, and both houses must vote on Trump’s declaration within 14 days; but impeachment is the best response
--Obama silent after Trump’s rant that Obama would’ve attacked N. Korea, as he bags $10 million from Boeing for his presidential museum
--Andy McCabe’s 60 Minutes interview exposes the chaos after Comey was fired

Failing to bend Congress to his faux reality, Trump tramples the Constitution and makes up data to fund his wall….--Dems and others will sue to block it, but impeachment is the best response
--Yale law professor Peter Schuck excoriates Congress for the law that enables Trump’s scheme, and urges them to block it