News & Comment

Bolton and Mattis enraged as Trump ignores their advice and orders US troops out of Syria, ending Obama’s dual-track failures…--Kurdish militias who've been the only useful US proxy forces will be left to the mercy of Turkey, which appears to have none
--Russia, Turkey and Iran reach agreement to write new Syrian constitution
--hacked diplomatic cables reveal Chinese anger at Trump’s bullying on trade
--NY Times reveals how Facebook shared personal data with corporate partners, as PBC is blocked after accepting offer to “boost post” on Tuesday podcast

As “Gov. Moonbeam” ends historic 4th term, former governors urge him to clear Death Row, new report exposes energy giveaways….--6 former governors call on Brown to commute all death sentences
--new investigative report reveals how his former secretary became oil lobbyist, and prevailed on key bills affecting oil and gas interests

Two reports for Senate Intel claim St. Petersburg trolls targeted black voters, enabling Trump victory; they’re wildly out of context…--the reports link Russian propaganda to lower turnout, but ignore voter suppression, Trump’s $82 million online, and manipulation by Americans
--checkstand brainwashing: NY Times revisits 2016 coverage by National Enquirier

Bernie Sanders is leader of War Powers bill that curbs US role in Yemen; unanimous support for measure blaming MBS for Khashoggi assassination…--but no Pentagon funds were cut, no arms sales cancelled
--Sanders and Elizabeth Warren both say they’re probably running for president
--at The Intercept, Mehdi Hassan uses video to tell the truth about BDS
--after Trump blamed Cohen for helping him break the law, Cohen fires back

As Chuck and Nancy guest star on televised “Trump & Friends” at White House, Trump takes ownership of looming shutdown…--when “zero tolerance” divided families, 170 relatives who offered to take the kids were arrested in ICE crackdown
--in the Senate, McConnell will allow floor vote on modest bill for sentencing reform
--legal experts says courts will likely overturn lame duck moves by GOP in Wisconsin, Michigan
--in covering Supreme Court denial of appeals of cases about defunding Planned Parenthood, PBC may have overstated Kavanaugh’s role

--in surprise move, Brett Kavanaugh provides swing vote to uphold lower court rulings that derailed defunding moves by Kansas, Louisiana….--Trump boots John Kelly as Chief of Staff, then top replacement pick Nick Ayers declines the honor and resigns as VP’s chief of staff
--Mueller’s Friday filings related to Manafort and Cohen excite the media, but Dems continue to avoid impeachment

Ecuador says it has written agreement with Britain about extraditing Julian Assange, as former top embassy official denies Manafort visit….--as US rolls back access to contraception and abortion, Ireland makes abortion legal and free
--German conservatives pick likely successor to Angela Merkel, Annegret Kram-Karrenbauer
--in Afghanistan, election panel invalidates all votes in Kabul region in October election, but higher officials try to ignore their findings

Meng Wanzhou arrested in Vancouver about the time Trump dined with Xi in Buenos Aires; extradition to US is expected….--destabilizing tweets continue from our Stable Genius Tariff Man
--as Brexit vote looms Tuesday, PM May is said to be considering a second referendum
--Yemen’s warring factions are meeting in Stockholm, outcome uncertain
--AP reports Mueller team is focusing on lobby shops of Tony Podesta and Vin Weber, both were hired by Manafort to lobby for Ukraine

Special Counsel suggests little or no jail time for Mike Flynn, doesn’t charge him for his 2016 lobbying for Turkey….--lawsuit against Trump’s violations of Emoluments Clause move forward
--carbon emissions rose last year as oil consumption increases for 5th straight year
--ALEC works to increase emissions even more, pushing plans to kill electric vehicle subsidies
--in Georgia, nuclear power industry pumps cash into dark money campaign for state utility regulator board, aiming to stick ratepayers with nuke plant costs

CNN fired Prof. Marc Lamont Hill for pro-Palestinian speech at UN as senators move to pass anti-BDS bill despite opposition….--CNN refuses to explain termination of Hill, we cite strong commentary from Philip Giraldi and Cornel West