Well, that's what happens when you set very bad precedents.
Trump era: Fascist dawn, or road to liberation?
- Thread starter Cosmos
- Start date
Well, that's what happens when you set very bad precedents.
angelburst29
The Living Force
A wise move by Egypt's President Sisi because it's aimed, if my understanding of the Alliance's proposals are in reason, it's to limit Iran's, as well as Russian and Chinese influence in trade and commerce, especially in the energy sector? Egypt has an established relationship and strong ties with Russia. And although Trump is trying to keep communications open with Egypt/Sisi - Pompeo is already at work to destroy any friendly relations with Egypt - if they don't tow the line!
Exclusive: Egypt withdraws from U.S.-led anti-Iran security initiative - sources
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
Egypt conveyed its decision to the United States and other participants in the proposed Middle East Strategic Alliance, or MESA, ahead of a meeting held Sunday in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, one source said.
Cairo did not send a delegation to the meeting, the latest gathering held to advance the U.S.-led effort to bind Sunni Muslim Arab allies into a security, political and economic pact to counter Shi’ite Iran, the source said.
The initiative, which Saudi Arabia first proposed in 2017, also is aimed at limiting the growing regional influence of Russia and China, according to a classified White House document reviewed by Reuters last year.
Al Sisi White House Visit: Egypt-US Relations “Never Been Better”
The much-anticipated meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and US President Donald Trump took place.
April 11, 2019 - US Pledges Sanctions on Egypt If Purchasing of Russian Fighter Jets Occurs
US Pledges Sanctions on Egypt If Purchasing of Russian Fighter Jets Occurs | Egyptian Streets
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged that the United States would impose sanctions on Egypt once it bought Russian S-35 fighter jets.
The U.S warning to Egypt came during a Senate budget hearing session, where Pompeo noted that Egypt would face sanctions if the Russian-made Su-35 role fighter aircraft arrived to the country, adding that U.S has received assurances from Egypt that Egyptian authorities are aware of these terms.
“We’ve made clear that if those systems were to be purchased, the CAATSA statute would require sanctions on the regime,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at a Senate budget hearing.
According to the U.S CAATSA act (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions) issued in 2017, Iran, North Korea and Russia are facing sanctions with the aim of combating those countries’ political, economic and military influences across the globe.
The rise of Egypt’s expected Su-35 deal with Russia during the Senate budget hearing session came after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s top Republican, Democrat and 15 of other senators sent a letter to Pompeo Monday highlighting issues related to Egypt, including Cairo’s decision to reportedly purchase 20 Russian Su-35 fighter jets.
Back-dated December 11, 2017 - Al-Sisi, Putin to Sign Contracts for Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in a Bilateral Summit in Egypt
Al-Sisi, Putin to Sign Contracts for Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in a Bilateral Summit in Egypt | Egyptian Streets
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Cairo on Monday to attend the final signing ceremony of Egypt’s first Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) of Dabaa upon a formal invitation by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The construction of the 4,800 megawatts (MW) plant to be built in Dabaa in Marsa Matrouh, located on the northern side of the country west of Alexandria, and to be completed within a period of seven years, reported Reuters citing anonymous sources.
In a previous phone call, the two sides also discussed ways to further strengthen their bilateral relations, especially in the military, commercial and transport fields and the construction of the nuclear plant at Gabaa.
anka
The Living Force
There seems to be a big push from Democrats in the US and leftists/neolibs in many European countries to lower minimum age for voting, obviously to gain votes of youth who are easily influenced by propaganda. Here's a nice 6-min video from March 20th of Candace Owens commenting on Nancy Pelosi. Will we also soon see a limit for a maximum possible age to vote because older people's experience and knowledge of old times would be considered as a 'danger to progress' and labelled as 'disability' to vote responsibly?
I wonder if they will apply that reasoning to the age of the elected congress. Nancy Pelosi is now 79. Maybe she is not even quite able to remember the "old times".
I skimmed through the Mueller report, and from what I saw it reads more like a fiction novel than a report of any kind. What's bugging me most, is how the majority of even the so called open minded peeps (who are not completely brain washed) miss completely the even bigger hoax of the whole thing – the claim that the Russian government tried to sabotage and influence the 2016 elections. They talk about Trump's innocence and all that, but take the 'Russian meddling' as granted. And the 'proof' the report offers is unbelievably stupid; GRU hacked this and that, Russian troll armies on social media, Sputnik, RT, campaigns supporting Trump etc. And GRU...that's a Soviet era organisation!
I don't know how Trump will come out of this, but one thing is certain...the news and analyses of the constant danger of Russian meddling in elections all over the world will continue on and on in the MSM. We can see, that they are again using this incredibly childish scare tactic to influence the upcoming EU elections. I'm soooo tired of this c*ap!
I don't know how Trump will come out of this, but one thing is certain...the news and analyses of the constant danger of Russian meddling in elections all over the world will continue on and on in the MSM. We can see, that they are again using this incredibly childish scare tactic to influence the upcoming EU elections. I'm soooo tired of this c*ap!
angelburst29
The Living Force
It would be interesting to see Barr and Rosenstein reactions (body language) after Russia releases it's counter-analysis of the Mueller report, which should be available shortly? Rosenstein will probably look like "a Deer in headlights"?
April 19. 2019 - Mueller report contains no evidence of Russian intervention in US election, says diplomat
© AP Photo/Jon Elswick
The published version of US special counsel Robert Mueller’s report contains not a single piece of evidence of Russia’s alleged intervention in the US election, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North America Department, Georgy Borisenko, told the media on Friday.
"The report confirms the absence of any arguments to the effect Russia allegedly intervened in the US election," he said. "Not a single piece of evidence is there. The authors of the report have in fact confessed they have nothing to report."
The US Department of Justice on Thursday published the final report of special counsel Robert Mueller who had probed into rumors over Moscow’s alleged intervention in the US presidential election of 2016. Mueller claims that Russia tried to exert influence on the 2016 presidential campaign. At the same time Mueller acknowledged that the probe unearthed no evidenced of President Donald Trump’s collusion with Moscow.
April 19, 2019 - Kremlin says Mueller’s report was waste of taxpayers’ money
© AP Photo/Cliff Owen
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov believes that US taxpayers have solid reasons to start asking questions why budget money was wasted on special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe.
"We regret the documents of this sort are causing direct influence on the development of Russian-US relations, whose condition leaves much to be desired," Peskov said.
"Speaking less seriously I should say that in a similar situation our Audit Chamber would’ve certainly probed into what the taxpayers’ money has been wasted on. Anyway, it’s up to the US taxpayers to ask such questions."
He stated that as before Moscow dismissed the charges of intervention in the US presidential election, because there was no such interference at all.
"The latest version of the Mueller report contains nothing new. All that information had been published by different sources and mass media earlier," Peskov stated.
"The report contains no proven evidence that Russia allegedly interfered in the election process in the United States," Peskov said. "As before, we do not accept such charges."
Peskov recalled that the Russian side kept saying from the very beginning of the Mueller-led probe "the investigators will not find any intervention however hard they may try."
He remarked that Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly commented on this theme, "because there was no such intervention."
"The publication of the Mueller report is fresh confirmation of this," Peskov said.
April 20, 2019 - Russian embassy prepares report on claims of Russia’s 2016 US election meddling
© AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
The Russian Embassy in the United States has released a 120-page report with examples of unfounded accusations of Moscow’s alleged interference into the 2016 US presidential elections, made by the US media and officials.
The document lists articles by New York Times, Washington Post, Politico, CNN and NBC, as well as examples of verbal attacks on the Russian embassy over alleged Russian cyberattacks worldwide.
The report also includes statements made by the US Department of Homeland Security, as well as government officials, Congress members and political experts.
It also gives a detailed account of efforts made by Russian diplomats to refute those claims.
~~~
Mexico warns of 'deep concern' over armed groups on U.S. border
Mexico said on Saturday it had "deep concern" about armed groups that intimidate and extort migrants on the border, shortly after the ACLU and Democratic senators called for a probe into such citizen efforts to block migrants from crossing.
FBI arrests leader of U.S. 'patriots' stopping migrants at border
The FBI on Saturday said it had arrested Larry Hopkins, the leader of an armed group who have been stopping migrants who illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico.
Trump will travel to Japan on May 25-28: White House
U.S. President Donald Trump will travel to Japan on May 25-28 for meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo, the White House said in a statement on Thursday.
angelburst29
The Living Force
The US is all about controlling the oil and gas market ...
April 19, 2019 - U.S. is brazenly meddling in Nord Stream 2 gas project: Russia
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov delivers a speech during a meeting with Arab League's officials in Moscow, Russia April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the United States on Friday of brazenly meddling in Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
The Nord Stream 2 project, which aims to pump Russian gas to Germany via a pipeline under the Baltic Sea, is led by Russian state energy firm Gazprom and fiercely opposed by the United States.
“Interference in the process of forming the Nord Stream 2 project is simply brazen - for instance look at the regular public statements by the U.S. ambassador in Berlin that simply demand that the German government change its position and go against its own interests,” Lavrov said.
April 20, 2019 - Trump Thanks Gen. Haftar For “Securing Libya’s Oil Resources” Amid Tripoli Fighting
Trump Thanks Gen. Haftar For "Securing Libya’s Oil Resources" Amid Tripoli Fighting - Global Research
Khalifa Haftar, center, leader of the Libyan National Army, via AFP/Getty
The White House statement said Trump “recognized Field Marshal Haftar’s significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya’s oil resources, and the two discussed a shared vision for Libya’s transition to a stable, democratic political system.”
The call took place on Monday, but was only revealed at the end of this week amid ongoing fighting in and around Tripoli, under assault for the past two weeks by Haftar’s forces, which early this month led to the withdrawal of a contingency of US Marines, citing the deteriorating security situation.
The White House readout said the two discussed “ongoing counterterrorism efforts and the need to achieve peace and stability in Libya.”
Interestingly in early April Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had urged in a statement for Haftar to halt his advance: “We have made clear that we oppose the military offensive by Khalifa Haftar’s forces and urge the immediate halt to these military operations against the Libyan capital,” Pompeo said at the time.
Haftar — who solidified control of Eastern Libya over the past two years and swept through the south in January, seeks to capture Tripoli and seize military control of the entire country, and has over the past weeks made inroads into the capital.
He’s long been described by many analysts as “the CIA’s man in Libya” — given he spent a couple decades living in exile a mere few minutes from CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia during Gaddafi’s rule.
On Thursday the US and Russia blocked a UN Security Council effort to call for a ceasefire in Libya — this as air power has recently been used during increasingly intense fighting in Tripoli. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fighting between the LNA and GNA has resulted in 205 deaths and 900 wounded, with about 20 civilians among the dead.
Given Trump’s praise of Haftar for “securing Libya’s oil resources” in the telephone call this week, it appears that the renegade Libyan general has indeed been “the CIA’s man in Libya” this whole time.
April 19, 2019 - U.S. is brazenly meddling in Nord Stream 2 gas project: Russia
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov delivers a speech during a meeting with Arab League's officials in Moscow, Russia April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the United States on Friday of brazenly meddling in Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
The Nord Stream 2 project, which aims to pump Russian gas to Germany via a pipeline under the Baltic Sea, is led by Russian state energy firm Gazprom and fiercely opposed by the United States.
“Interference in the process of forming the Nord Stream 2 project is simply brazen - for instance look at the regular public statements by the U.S. ambassador in Berlin that simply demand that the German government change its position and go against its own interests,” Lavrov said.
April 20, 2019 - Trump Thanks Gen. Haftar For “Securing Libya’s Oil Resources” Amid Tripoli Fighting
Trump Thanks Gen. Haftar For "Securing Libya’s Oil Resources" Amid Tripoli Fighting - Global Research
Khalifa Haftar, center, leader of the Libyan National Army, via AFP/Getty
The White House statement said Trump “recognized Field Marshal Haftar’s significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya’s oil resources, and the two discussed a shared vision for Libya’s transition to a stable, democratic political system.”
The call took place on Monday, but was only revealed at the end of this week amid ongoing fighting in and around Tripoli, under assault for the past two weeks by Haftar’s forces, which early this month led to the withdrawal of a contingency of US Marines, citing the deteriorating security situation.
The White House readout said the two discussed “ongoing counterterrorism efforts and the need to achieve peace and stability in Libya.”
Interestingly in early April Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had urged in a statement for Haftar to halt his advance: “We have made clear that we oppose the military offensive by Khalifa Haftar’s forces and urge the immediate halt to these military operations against the Libyan capital,” Pompeo said at the time.
Haftar — who solidified control of Eastern Libya over the past two years and swept through the south in January, seeks to capture Tripoli and seize military control of the entire country, and has over the past weeks made inroads into the capital.
He’s long been described by many analysts as “the CIA’s man in Libya” — given he spent a couple decades living in exile a mere few minutes from CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia during Gaddafi’s rule.
On Thursday the US and Russia blocked a UN Security Council effort to call for a ceasefire in Libya — this as air power has recently been used during increasingly intense fighting in Tripoli. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fighting between the LNA and GNA has resulted in 205 deaths and 900 wounded, with about 20 civilians among the dead.
Given Trump’s praise of Haftar for “securing Libya’s oil resources” in the telephone call this week, it appears that the renegade Libyan general has indeed been “the CIA’s man in Libya” this whole time.
So the question is, will the Deep State in it's desperation (and its controllers), pull a dirty nuke event in the states?
It seems that Psycho PTB, are perhaps setting up a fall guy? In which many question proof of life!
It seems that Psycho PTB, are perhaps setting up a fall guy? In which many question proof of life!
Listened to this Tony Shaeffer from the above video (not knowing much concerning him), and it was an interesting interview on a few levels (and it was not recent). Realized also that Tony is on Trump's 2020 (with his London Group) as an advisor on policy - he seems pretty smart. He offered a good take on the laws of all that has happened with the FBI at its top levels (corruption), not field levels, and he seemed to have good take on how analysts/lawyers can pollute field operations in swampish ways.
However, around 6:30 he discusses Russia, mentioning the concocted nonsense of the Russia collusion investigation (a poison pill, he says by "someone" in Russia), and he brings up that with either Trump or Clinton, he says the Russians would naturally try to upend the election whichever way it went on account of them being Russian (like that is just what they would do)...and if either had won the Russians would have undermined them in some way (again because they are Russians). I'll let that rest, yet that is what he was on about, and he avoids ever saying that this is exactly what we would do in other countries.
He gets on concerning China and lost American assets in China - connected with the email servers of Clinton whereby a post evaluation for risk damage (by ODNI) was not ever done - so it is still unclear what has been compromised.
Towards the end he discusses Venezuela, as he had advised (as of the time of interview) on preferred outcomes, preferred in terms of what works best for national security (economic security outcomes likely with oil the driver). Jumping ahead from the interview to this day, what is going on there can be seen (to the extent it can).
He is talking geopolitical and intelligence statecraft as policy, yet clearly his disdain (rightly so) for the "swamp" as he himself refers to that nucleolus, is referenced many times. Names are named.
He doesn't let the cat out of bag, as the current investigations of the DNC leaks are still unfolding.
The Russian involvement is a very deep rabbit hole, but has nothing to do with Putin! But with Ukraine, and it's involvement of attempted entrapment.
In fact it has been mentioned that Putin is well aware DNC cartel and may expose them if push comes to shove.
The rest is open for debate.
September 2, 2016,
angelburst29
The Living Force
April 29, 2019 - US commander overseeing Guantanamo Bay fired: Southern Command
US commander overseeing Guantanamo Bay fired: Southern Command
Rear-Admiral John Ring was removed from the post, the statement said, without giving details about why.PHOTO: NYTIMES
The admiral in charge of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba has been fired "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command", United States Southern Command said in a statement on Sunday (April 28).
Rear-Admiral John Ring was removed from the post last Saturday, the brief statement said, without giving details about why.
Mr Jose Ruiz, a spokesman for Southern Command, which oversees Guantanamo, told Reuters the decision was the result of a month-long investigation completed earlier in April, but declined to provide specifics.
The firing was first reported by The New York Times.
April 30, 2019 - US deputy attorney general Rosenstein who appointed Mueller resigns
US deputy attorney general Rosenstein who appointed Mueller resigns
Deputy US Attorney General Rod Rosenstein testifies to the House Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Justice Department on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, on Dec 13, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERs
US Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Special Counsel Robert Mueller in May 2017 to investigate links between the Russian government and President Donald Trump's campaign, said on Monday (April 29) he was resigning from his post.
In a letter to Mr Trump, Mr Rosenstein echoed two of Mr Trump's signature phrases, writing that he helped staff the department with officials "devoted to the values that make America great" and adding that "we always put America first".
Mr Rosenstein's departure had been expected since the beginning of the year, but the date was repeatedly pushed back as special counsel Mueller wound down his investigation and compiled a report detailing his findings.
Since his first days on the job, Mr Rosenstein's role in the Trump administration has been controversial, from the firing of then-FBI Director James Comey in May 2017 to the conclusion reached by Rosenstein and Attorney General William Barr that the president had not committed obstruction of justice.
May 1, 2019 - Trump slams Fed for 'incessantly' raising interest rates
Trump slams Fed for 'incessantly' raising interest rates
Trump (above) and his economic team have promised that tax cuts and deregulation will accelerate economic growth to three or even four per cent.PHOTO: EPA-EFE
President Donald Trump slammed the Federal Reserve on Tuesday (April 30) for "incessantly" raising interest rates and said cutting rates by a full point would make the economy surge.
In a Twitter outburst on the first day of a two-day central bank meeting to decide the course of monetary policy, Trump said, "We have the potential to go up like a rocket if we did some lowering of rates, like one point."
He said China is boosting its economy by keeping rates low, but "Our Federal Reserve has incessantly lifted interest rates, even though inflation is very low."
The Fed has not raised the key rate this year and in fact signaled clearly that it will hold off on any further moves while it evaluates the US economy and is widely expected to stand firm in its decision on Wednesday.
The central bank has tightened policy nine times since December 2015, moving from zero in the aftermath of the global financial crisis to the current range of 2.25 per cent to 2.5 per cent.
Trump has repeatedly ignored norms designed to protect the Fed's independence from political influence, which could undermine its credibility, although other White House officials have been more cautious.
"Yes, we are doing very well at 3.2% (first quarter) GDP, but with our wonderfully low inflation, we could be setting major records & at the same time make our National Debt start to look small!" Trump tweeted.
May 1, 2019 - US Attorney-General Barr defends clearing Trump on obstruction of justice, chides ‘snitty’ Mueller letter
US Attorney-General Barr defends clearing Trump on obstruction of justice, chides ‘snitty’ Mueller letter
Attorney-General William Barr on Wednesday (May 1) fended off Democratic criticism of his decision to clear US President Donald Trump of criminal obstruction of justice in the Russia inquiry and faulted Special Counsel Robert Mueller for not reaching a conclusion of his own on the issue.
In his first congressional testimony since releasing a redacted version of the report on April 18, Barr also dismissed Mueller’s complaints that he initially disclosed the special counsel’s conclusions on March 24 in an incomplete way that caused public confusion about critical aspects of the inquiry.
Illustrating tensions between the two men, Barr referred to as “a bit snitty” a March 27 letter from Mueller in which the special counsel urged him to release broader summaries of the findings to provide a fuller account – a step Barr rejected.
Trump seized on Barr’s March 24 letter to declare that he had been fully exonerated.
William Barr calls Mueller's letter to him 'snitty'
Published on May 1, 2019 (1:30 min.)
Possible FBI, Trump campaign 'spying' under review: William Barr
Published on May 1, 2019 (0:43 min.)
AG William Barr 'surprised' at Mueller's non-decision on Trump
Published on May 1, 2019 (2:12 min.)
AG William Barr arrives for hearing on Mueller report
Published on May 1, 2019 (0:46 min.)
May 1, 2019 - Defying Congress, US Attorney-General Barr to skip Mueller hearing
Defying Congress, US Attorney-General Barr to skip Mueller hearing
Committee Democrats have vowed to issue a subpoena in an effort to force Attorney-General William Barr to testify.PHOTO: NYTIMES
Defying the US Congress, Attorney-General William Barr will not attend a US House Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday (May 2) on his handling of the Mueller report, said committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, accusing Mr Barr of being afraid to testify.
"Barr has just informed us that he will not attend tomorrow's hearing," Mr Nadler, a Democrat, told reporters on Capitol Hill on Wednesday after a contentious Senate hearing earlier in the day where Mr Barr defended his handling of the report.
Mr Nadler also said the Justice Department had not complied with his subpoena for Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s full report on Russian meddling in the 2016 election and underlying evidence from the probe.
Committee Democrats vowed to issue a subpoena to force Mr Barr to testify, while Mr Nadler held out hope that the Attorney-General would reconsider and show up when the hearing convenes at 9am (1300 GMT) on Thursday.
"We plan on subpoenaing him if he decides not to show up. He can run but he can't hide,"Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries told reporters.
A Justice Department spokeswoman said in a statement that the panel had placed “unprecedented and unnecessary” conditions on Mr Barr’s testimony and called the questions posed by committee staff inappropriate.
US commander overseeing Guantanamo Bay fired: Southern Command
Rear-Admiral John Ring was removed from the post, the statement said, without giving details about why.PHOTO: NYTIMES
The admiral in charge of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba has been fired "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command", United States Southern Command said in a statement on Sunday (April 28).
Rear-Admiral John Ring was removed from the post last Saturday, the brief statement said, without giving details about why.
Mr Jose Ruiz, a spokesman for Southern Command, which oversees Guantanamo, told Reuters the decision was the result of a month-long investigation completed earlier in April, but declined to provide specifics.
The firing was first reported by The New York Times.
April 30, 2019 - US deputy attorney general Rosenstein who appointed Mueller resigns
US deputy attorney general Rosenstein who appointed Mueller resigns
Deputy US Attorney General Rod Rosenstein testifies to the House Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Justice Department on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, on Dec 13, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERs
US Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Special Counsel Robert Mueller in May 2017 to investigate links between the Russian government and President Donald Trump's campaign, said on Monday (April 29) he was resigning from his post.
In a letter to Mr Trump, Mr Rosenstein echoed two of Mr Trump's signature phrases, writing that he helped staff the department with officials "devoted to the values that make America great" and adding that "we always put America first".
Mr Rosenstein's departure had been expected since the beginning of the year, but the date was repeatedly pushed back as special counsel Mueller wound down his investigation and compiled a report detailing his findings.
Since his first days on the job, Mr Rosenstein's role in the Trump administration has been controversial, from the firing of then-FBI Director James Comey in May 2017 to the conclusion reached by Rosenstein and Attorney General William Barr that the president had not committed obstruction of justice.
May 1, 2019 - Trump slams Fed for 'incessantly' raising interest rates
Trump slams Fed for 'incessantly' raising interest rates
Trump (above) and his economic team have promised that tax cuts and deregulation will accelerate economic growth to three or even four per cent.PHOTO: EPA-EFE
President Donald Trump slammed the Federal Reserve on Tuesday (April 30) for "incessantly" raising interest rates and said cutting rates by a full point would make the economy surge.
In a Twitter outburst on the first day of a two-day central bank meeting to decide the course of monetary policy, Trump said, "We have the potential to go up like a rocket if we did some lowering of rates, like one point."
He said China is boosting its economy by keeping rates low, but "Our Federal Reserve has incessantly lifted interest rates, even though inflation is very low."
The Fed has not raised the key rate this year and in fact signaled clearly that it will hold off on any further moves while it evaluates the US economy and is widely expected to stand firm in its decision on Wednesday.
The central bank has tightened policy nine times since December 2015, moving from zero in the aftermath of the global financial crisis to the current range of 2.25 per cent to 2.5 per cent.
Trump has repeatedly ignored norms designed to protect the Fed's independence from political influence, which could undermine its credibility, although other White House officials have been more cautious.
"Yes, we are doing very well at 3.2% (first quarter) GDP, but with our wonderfully low inflation, we could be setting major records & at the same time make our National Debt start to look small!" Trump tweeted.
May 1, 2019 - US Attorney-General Barr defends clearing Trump on obstruction of justice, chides ‘snitty’ Mueller letter
US Attorney-General Barr defends clearing Trump on obstruction of justice, chides ‘snitty’ Mueller letter
Attorney-General William Barr on Wednesday (May 1) fended off Democratic criticism of his decision to clear US President Donald Trump of criminal obstruction of justice in the Russia inquiry and faulted Special Counsel Robert Mueller for not reaching a conclusion of his own on the issue.
In his first congressional testimony since releasing a redacted version of the report on April 18, Barr also dismissed Mueller’s complaints that he initially disclosed the special counsel’s conclusions on March 24 in an incomplete way that caused public confusion about critical aspects of the inquiry.
Illustrating tensions between the two men, Barr referred to as “a bit snitty” a March 27 letter from Mueller in which the special counsel urged him to release broader summaries of the findings to provide a fuller account – a step Barr rejected.
Trump seized on Barr’s March 24 letter to declare that he had been fully exonerated.
William Barr calls Mueller's letter to him 'snitty'
Possible FBI, Trump campaign 'spying' under review: William Barr
AG William Barr 'surprised' at Mueller's non-decision on Trump
AG William Barr arrives for hearing on Mueller report
May 1, 2019 - Defying Congress, US Attorney-General Barr to skip Mueller hearing
Defying Congress, US Attorney-General Barr to skip Mueller hearing
Committee Democrats have vowed to issue a subpoena in an effort to force Attorney-General William Barr to testify.PHOTO: NYTIMES
Defying the US Congress, Attorney-General William Barr will not attend a US House Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday (May 2) on his handling of the Mueller report, said committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, accusing Mr Barr of being afraid to testify.
"Barr has just informed us that he will not attend tomorrow's hearing," Mr Nadler, a Democrat, told reporters on Capitol Hill on Wednesday after a contentious Senate hearing earlier in the day where Mr Barr defended his handling of the report.
Mr Nadler also said the Justice Department had not complied with his subpoena for Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s full report on Russian meddling in the 2016 election and underlying evidence from the probe.
Committee Democrats vowed to issue a subpoena to force Mr Barr to testify, while Mr Nadler held out hope that the Attorney-General would reconsider and show up when the hearing convenes at 9am (1300 GMT) on Thursday.
"We plan on subpoenaing him if he decides not to show up. He can run but he can't hide,"Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries told reporters.
A Justice Department spokeswoman said in a statement that the panel had placed “unprecedented and unnecessary” conditions on Mr Barr’s testimony and called the questions posed by committee staff inappropriate.
Had a look around, nothing much up to date, yet there are a few words of his own from a year ago that one can tease out some reasons perhaps (mainstream news link).
Ring says this:
