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BY BRIAN BEUTLER, PRIYANKA ARIBINDI & CROOKED MEDIA Tuesday, September 16, 2019 |
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| —Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) to Corey Lewandowski |
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| COREY ZOO-ANDOWSKI |
| The House Judiciary Committee held its first official impeachment hearing Tuesday with President Trump’s former campaign manager/inveterate sleaze Corey Lewandowski. He was…not cooperative. But he did confirm some of the most damning details in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report and incriminated Trump in other ways. Here’s a rundown.
Why did Democrats seek Lewandowksi’s testimony? Mainly because Trump pressured Lewandowski to help him obstruct Mueller’s investigation, and Democrats want to confirm Mueller’s obstruction findings. But also because Trump has attempted to obstruct Congress’s impeachment investigation, which is itself an impeachable offense. Lewandowski had a choice: testify about Trump’s criminal behavior, or refuse to testify and bolster the case that Trump should be impeached for obstructing Congress.
What actually happened? Lewandowski, with the support of the committee’s Republicans, behaved like a sneering asshole for hours and hours. But his testimony was useful at times:
Why does this matter? Because the obstruction of justice outlined in the Mueller report is impeachable, and, as Chairman Jerrold Nadler noted, “Article III of the Nixon impeachment was based on this kind of obstruction of Congress by President Nixon.”
What did we learn? If you watch mainstream news coverage of the hearing, you’ll learn that it was a “partisan” or “chaotic” spectacle. It’s depressing that many reporters will ignore substance and fixate on “optics,” even when the hearing pertains to potentially impeaching the president. But the hearing succeeded in establishing two impeachable offenses—including obstruction of Congress. Trump can only obstruct his way out of being impeached now if House Democrats ultimately decide that they are OK with his assault on their institution. |
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| The Trump administration will formally revoke California’s authority to set stricter limits on auto pollution than the federal government. California’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra says the state will defend its emissions standards.
Last summer, the Trump administration announced it would roll back Obama-era fuel economy standards, along with a waiver that has allowed California to set its own higher standards for decades. Thirteen other states have adopted California’s increased standards, and thissummer four major automakers signed a deal to comply with California’s standards even if the Trump administration rolls back the official limits. Tailpipe pollution is the country’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and the Trump administration couldn’t care less.
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| Lovett or Leave It is back in Los Angeles after an amazing show at Radio City, and guess what? It's only getting better, people. This week the show will come to you LIVE from a new venue—The Comedy Store—with guests Sasheer Zamata and Sean Rameswaram.
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| The Justice Department has sued Edward Snowden for violating non-disclosure agreements he signed with both the CIA and NSA in his new book. The government seeks to recover Snowden’s portion of the proceeds from the book, which will presumably be higher thanks to its lawsuit.
Experts believe GM’s profits will drop by $50-100 million per day as long as the United Auto Workers strike continues, and workers will only be paid $250 per week in strike wages until the strike is over.
Veteran journalist Cokie Roberts died at age 75 due to complications from breast cancer. She was a bestselling author, three-time Emmy Award winner, and was known for her work as a Washington reporter with NPR and later ABC News.
Over six percent of women age 18-44 say their first sexual experience was forced or coerced intercourse in their early teens, according to government health surveys conducted between 2011 and 2017. That means the data predates the #MeToo movement, which has had a profund impact on public perception of consent and sexual assault, suggesting the true numbers could be even higher.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) will endorse Marie Newman, a progressive candidate who has launched a primary against Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), a Blue Dog, conservative Democrat. He reacted to the development poorly!
Hong Kong asked eight different international public relations firms to help rehab its image after its citizens mounted months of pro-democracy protests. All of them said no.
Netflix will replace The Office and Friends with Seinfeld, starting in 2021. From Priyanka: Someone make a Seinfeld joke, I’m too young for this. ← From Brian: NO PAYCHECK FOR YOU! |
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| Several Democrats in North Carolina’s state Senate voted to approve the Republicans’ redrawn, still-too-gerrymandered legislative map on Monday. In the redrawn map, some Democrats were given favorable districts in order to protect neighboring Republican incumbents.
Because they voted to support it, state Republicans can now tell courts that the map passed with bipartisan support, despite the fact that it is still a partisan gerrymander that favors their party.
Note to North Carolina Democrats: Letting people pick their elected leaders is more important than making sure your particular legislative seats are protected.
Note to readers: If you want to help Democrats in other states establish fair maps, go here → http://votesaveamerica.com/gerry |
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| The University of California—the world’s largest public school system—has fully divested from fossil fuels. The school system’s chief investment officer/treasurer and the chairman of the Board of Regents’ Investments Committee contend they made the decision because fossil fuels pose financial risk, and “clean energy will fuel the world’s future.” |
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