Congressman votes to block release of Democrats' intel memo, calls it 'bipartisan transparency' -- ThinkProgress.org

A day after voting to release a classified memo about intelligence gathering authored by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) -- but against releasing a rebuttal from the committee's ranking minority member, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) -- one Congressman took to Fox News to pretend the majority had acted in a bipartisan and transparent fashion.....
https://thinkprogress.org/wenstrup-democrat-nunes-memo-e179d7f0a978/

5 things everyone should know about the Trump economy -- ThinkProgress.org

President Donald Trump will give his first official State of the Union address Tuesday night. And he will, no doubt, tout what he's seen as one of his biggest accomplishments since he took office: the economy. ....
https://thinkprogress.org/5-things-everyone-should-know-about-the-trump-economy-ce223b69a222/

McCaskill on Trump's refusal to follow the law and impose Russia sanctions: A constitutional crisis

Claire McCaskill is one of the most conservative Democratic senators, the farthest thing from a liberal firebrand, and she's up for re-election this year in a solid red state. Which makes it all the more striking that she is speaking out so forcefully....
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2018/1/30/1737223/-McCaskill-on-Trump-s-refusal-to-follow-the-law-and-impose-Russia-sanctions-A-constitutional-crisis

Republicans have to claim the 'harm and foul' they cause by taking sick people hostage

It's been 122 days since the Republican congress decided to take sick people hostage, and allowed funding for community health centers and the Children's Health Insurance Program to lapse. While they did eventually fund CHIP for six years in the last short-term budget agreement, plenty of the kids who are keeping their insurance will have no place to use it. Those kids, and 9 million veterans, are part of the 27 million people around the country who rely on community health.... centers.
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2018/1/30/1737284/-Republicans-have-to-claim-the-harm-and-foul-they-cause-by-taking-sick-people-hostage

Names of campaign donors to be flashed during live stream of Trump’s State of the Union speech - The Washington Post

President Trump is seeking to parlay his first State of the Union address Tuesday into cash for his reelection campaign by offering supporters a chance to see their name flashed on the campaign's website during the speech. In a fundraising solicitation Monday, Trump offered those willing to pay at least $35 the opportunity to see their name displayed during a live-streaming of the address on the website.....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2018/01/29/names-of-campaign-donors-to-be-flashed-during-live-stream-of-trumps-state-of-the-union-speech/

Did Trump Try to Obstruct the Obstruction of Justice Investigation?

https://youtu.be/yN0DQFv_-vI

Sen. Warner on McCabe shake-up: Getting close to Russia investigation bad for job security

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., says he is concerned about the news that FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe is stepping down in the wake of the past firing of former director James Comey. The vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee talks to Judy Woodruff about what he sees as efforts to impugn the FBI, the confidential Nunes memo and the state of the Russia investigation, one year in.....
Interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAYelijHg6I&feature=youtu.be

MSNBC Analyst John Heilemann Suggests Devin Nunes ‘Compromised’ by Russia -- The Daily Beast

On Tuesday's edition of Morning Joe, political analyst John Heilemann asked a question of Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) that he readily admitted "under almost any other circumstances would be ridiculous and absurd, but under these circumstances I think is actually warranted." ....
https://www.thedailybeast.com/msnbc-analyst-john-heilemann-suggests-devin-nunes-compromised-by-russia

White House to Congress: Russia sanctions not needed now -- POLITICO

The administration was facing a deadline for implementing sanctions imposed by Congress. ....
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/29/russia-sanctions-white-house-congress-376813

The Trump Administration Let a Russian Spy Chief Visit the US— Even Though He Was Legally Barred -- Mother Jones

The Trump administration allowed the head of Russia's foreign intelligence service, Sergey Naryshkin, to visit the United State last week, despite US sanctions that are supposed to bar Naryshkin from entering the country. ....
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/01/the-trump-administration-let-a-russian-spy-chief-visit-the-us-even-though-he-was-legally-barred/

There’s a second Trump-Russia dossier -- Vox

Conservatives aren't going to like this. ....
https://www.vox.com/world/2018/1/30/16951490/trump-russia-dossier-cody-shearer-memo-nunes

Tom Brokaw explains why he finally started believing Trump's Russia scandal was like Watergate – and it’s frightening -- Raw Story

Journalist Tom Brokaw, who covered the Watergate scandal as White House correspondent for NBC News, explained his change in thoughts on the similarities be that scandal and the Russian investigation of President Donald Trump. ....
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/01/tom-brokaw-explains-finally-started-believing-trumps-russia-scandal-like-watergate-frightening/

Outgoing Tea Party Gov. decries underfunded hospitals and prisons that he spent 7 years running into the ground -- Raw Story

Outgoing Republican Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, whose massive tax cuts starved the state of sufficient revenue throughout much of his term, is decrying the condition of several key facilities in the state this week. ....
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/01/outgoing-tea-party-gov-decries-underfunded-hospitals-prisons-spent-7-years-running-ground/

GOP strategist Steve Schmidt blasts 'Banana Republicans' like Devin Nunes who have 'aligned' with Russia -- Raw Story

Republican strategist Steve Schmidt blasted Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes (R-CA) for pushing conspiracy theories against the Federal Bureau of Investigation, during a Tuesday appearance on MSNBC's "Deadline: White House" with anchor Nicolle Wallace. ....
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/01/gop-strategist-steve-schmidt-blasts-banana-republicans-like-devin-nunes-aligned-russia/

A Third of Puerto Rico is Still Without Power, But FEMA Stops Delivering Food and Water Tomorrow -- Mother Jones

On Wednesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be "shutting off" food and water delivery in Puerto Rico despite protests from local authorities that thousands of people still rely on the deliveries more than four months after Hurricane Maria devastated the island.....
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/01/a-third-of-puerto-rico-is-still-without-power-but-fema-stops-delivering-food-and-water-tomorrow/

The 20-Week Abortion Ban Just Died in the Senate, But Pro-Lifers Will Still Celebrate Tonight -- Mother Jones

Senate Republicans couldn't overcome a Democratic filibuster of their 20-week abortion ban Monday night. The bill, the latest version of a ban pro-Lifers have been pushing for decades, failed a procedural vote 51-49, nine short of the 60 required for it to advance. ....
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/01/the-senate-wont-pass-a-20-week-abortion-ban-but-pro-lifers-will-still-celebrate-tonight-1/

House Republicans Use New FBI Investigation To Ignore FBI Concerns About Nunes Memo -- The Daily Beast

House intelligence committee Republicans have a new, secretive investigation into the FBI—and they're using it to justify freezing out the bureau from the release of a memo accusing it of abusing its power, The Daily Beast has learned. The memo mentions Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, as well as Andrew McCabe and James Comey—formerly the FBI's two most powerful officials—as The Daily Beast reported last week. ....
https://www.thedailybeast.com/house-republicans-use-new-fbi-investigation-to-ignore-fbi-concerns-about-nunes-memo

Trump Blew a Deadline to Impose New Russian Sanctions and Democrats Are Furious -- Mother Jones

On Monday, the Trump White House faced two key deadlines in connection with the new Russian sanctions law that the president grudgingly signed last August. The measure required the administration to impose new penalties on Russia's defense and intelligence sectors and to draft a "black list" of Putin-linked Russian oligarchs. ....
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/01/trump-blew-a-deadline-to-impose-new-russian-sanctions-and-democrats-are-furious/

The Trump administration’s weird explanation for withholding Russia sanctions - The Washington Post

After plenty of chatter, we may be wading into the first real constitutional dispute of the Trump administration: On Monday night, the State Department announced it would not impose Russia sanctions that Congress overwhelmingly passed in mid-2017. But its justification for doing so has some gaping logical holes.....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/01/30/the-trump-administrations-weird-explanation-for-withholding-russia-sanctions/

Republican Excuses for Firing Mueller Show How Dangerous the Party Has Become -- Slate

How far will the Republican Party go to defend Donald Trump? That's an open question as he accumulates power and insulates himself from accountability. In recent days, we've learned that last year, Trump didn't just fire FBI Director James Comey, who was leading the Russia investigation. Trump also told White House Counsel Don McGahn, a month later, to get rid of Robert Mueller....
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/01/republican-excuses-for-firing-mueller-show-how-dangerous-the-party-has-become.html

Trump upstages his State of the Union address with a meltdown over the Justice Department - The Washington Post

We’re not much further along than we were Monday in piecing together the explanation for former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe’s abrupt departure. Reports are disturbing insofar as they paint a picture of a vengeful president who is out of control and of a chief of staff, John F. Kelly, helping President Trump to muscle McCabe out of his post.....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/01/30/trump-upstages-his-state-of-the-union-address-with-a-meltdown-over-the-justice-department/

‘I don’t know what the hell happened’: Michael Steele on the GOP under Trump - The Washington Post

Given the state of American politics and the Republican Party, I had one question for Michael Steele: Why shouldn’t we blame him for the current condition of the country? After all, he was the chairman of the Republican National Committee who helped the tea party revolution take over the House in 2010.....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2018/01/30/i-dont-know-what-the-hell-happened-michael-steele-on-the-gop-under-trump/

Stephen Lie-Checks Trump's Climate Change Claim - YouTube

President Trump crammed an impressive amount of nonsense about climate change into a single run-on falsehood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQRL2kHygIs

The State Of Our Union Is... Misspelled - YouTube

In what might be a preview of his speech, tickets to Donald Trump's first State of the Union address feature a massive mistake....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtcBquWhjL0

Governor John Kasich Talks DACA - YouTube

Governor John Kasich explains his frustration with Congress' handling of DACA and other immigration policies....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnd-dyL5SIE

Interview:

Governor John Kasich Doesn't Want to Focus on Trump - YouTube

Governor John Kasich explains why he has hope in millennials and why you shouldn't focus on President Trump....
Interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ4sZY_RowM

FEMA To End Food And Water Aid For Puerto Rico -- NPR

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has delivered millions of meals and gallons of water since Hurricane Maria devastated the island. Four months later, it says that help is no longer needed. ...
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/01/29/581511023/fema-to-end-food-and-water-aid-for-puerto-rico

Air Pollution Is Killing Millions Around The Globe Each Year -- HuffPost

A thick smog settled over New Delhi as winter began in India last year, forcing medical professionals to declare a public health emergency. Residents swarmed local hospitals complaining of respiratory problems. ....
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/air-pollution-is-killing-millions-around-the-globe-each-year_us_5a1ed396e4b017a311eb9c5f

American religious groups vary widely in their views of abortion -- Pew Research Center

More than four decades after Roe v. Wade legalized abortion nationwide, most Americans (57%) are supportive of legal abortion, according to a 2017 Pew Research Center survey. But a substantial minority (40%) says abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, and within some U.S. denominations and religious groups, this figure is much higher. ....
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/01/22/american-religious-groups-vary-widely-in-their-views-of-abortion/

Pennsylvania Supreme Court strikes down Republican gerrymander, orders new maps for 2018 -- ThinkProgress.org

In brief order handed down on Monday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that that state's gerrymandered congressional maps violate the state constitution. That state's map is so aggressively gerrymandered that Republicans won 13 of the state's 18 congressional districts in 2012, despite the fact that Democrats won a majority of the popular vote ....
https://thinkprogress.org/breaking-pa-scotus-republican-gerrymander-671163474bb1/

Senior Kentucky police official instructed recruit to shoot black teens for smoking weed -- Raw Story

The former assistant police chief of Prospect, Kentucky once instructed a recruit to shoot black people if he caught them smoking marijuana. As Louisville's WDRB reported Friday, Todd Shaw, the ex-assistant police chief of the suburban Louisville police department, sent a number of "highly disturbing racist and threatening Facebook messages" to a recruit. ....
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/01/senior-kentucky-police-official-instructed-recruit-to-shoot-black-teens-for-smoking-weed/

Online Courses Are Harming the Students Who Need the Most Help - The New York Times

A single teacher can reach thousands of students in an online course, opening up a world of knowledge to anyone with an internet connection. This limitless reach also offers substantial benefits for school districts that need to save money, by reducing the number of teachers. But in high schools and colleges, there is mounting evidence that the growth of online education is hurting a critical group: the less proficient students who are precisely those most in need of skilled classroom teachers....

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/19/business/online-courses-are-harming-the-students-who-need-the-most-help.html

Alabama Republican Proposes Bill to Teach Biblical Creationism in Science Class – Friendly Atheist

Whenever state legislators want to push Creationism into public schools, they use coded language. At various times, they’ve talked about teaching “Intelligent Design” or “the strengths and weaknesses of evolution” or “the controversy.” It all means the same thing: They want to pretend there’s a legitimate second explanation for how we came to exist. ...

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2018/01/20/alabama-republican-proposes-bill-to-teach-biblical-creationism-in-science-class/

Let's call the pro-lifers what they are: pro-death | US news | The Guardian

On the 45th anniversary of Roe v Wade, it’s time to highlight a hidden truth: restricting abortion means more maternal deaths...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/22/abortion-lets-call-the-pro-lifers-what-they-are-pro-death

Oklahoma senator introduces bill to make state wildlife property of 'Almighty God' | News | oudaily.com

Oklahoma Sen. Nathan Dahm wrote SB 1457 to amend a clause related to Oklahoma's wildlife. Instead of saying that "all wildlife found in this state is the property of the state," the wording would be changed to say that "all wildlife found in this state is the property of Almighty God."

http://www.oudaily.com/news/oklahoma-senator-introduces-bill-to-make-state-wildlife-property-of/article_197c862a-fe13-11e7-9579-7f5f085acd0b.html

The World's Richest 1% Took Home 82% of Wealth Last Year, Oxfam Says -- FORTUNE

Four out of every five dollars of wealth generated in 2017 ended up in the pockets of the richest 1%, while the poorest half of humanity got nothing, a report published by Oxfam found on Monday....

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/world-apos-richest-1-took-023544282.html

The net neutrality app that Apple rejected is now available on the App Store -- BGR

With the Obama-era net neutrality rules on life support as Senate Democrats search for one more vote to potentially halt the repeal process, one mobile app is trying to hold carriers accountable for throttling certain services. Developed by Northeastern University researcher David Choffnes, Wehe runs tests on multiple popular streaming apps (YouTube, Amazon, NBCSports, Netflix,...
http://bgr.com/2018/01/19/net-neutrality-app-apple-app-store-available-now/

'I don’t know how they live with themselves' – artist Nan Goldin​ takes on the billionaire family behind OxyContin | Art and design | The Guardian

The photographer became an addict after getting hooked on a prescription opioid. Now clean, she is waging war on the art philanthropists who have profited from the crisis...

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/jan/22/nan-goldin-interview-us-opioid-epidemic-heroin-addict-oxycontin-sackler-family

PBS NewsHour: Trump says it will be hard to unify country without a 'major event'

President Donald Trump called for unity in an interview with broadcast journalists ahead of his State of the Union speech Tuesday night. ....
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-says-it-will-be-hard-to-unify-country-without-a-major-event

Top U.S. & World Headlines — January 30, 2018

Interview:
https://youtu.be/BnfEXmeOrJE

Michael Flynn Documents Reveal ‘Significant’ Revelations in Russia Probe: Report | Alternet

The walls are closing in on Trump every day.
https://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/michael-flynn-documents-reveal-significant-revelations-russia-probe-report

House Intelligence Republicans vote to release the Nunes memo, but block the Democratic memo

House Intelligence Republicans have voted on a party line to release their long-hyped controversial memo written by committee chair Devin Nunes while simultaneously blocking the release of a Democratic memo that was written in response to the GOP’s effort. The New York Times writes:....
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/29/1737009/-House-Intelligence-Republicans-vote-to-release-the-Nunes-memo-but-block-the-Democratic-memo

Republicans Vote To Release Nunes Memo, Open Probes Into DOJ And FBI -- TPM

TPM's Tierney Sneed contributed reporting. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, on Monday said that Republicans on the committee voted to release a memo by House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes (R-CA) against Democrats' objections....
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/republicans-vote-to-release-nunes-memo-open-doj-fbi-investigations

House Republican pushes his FBI conspiracy theory on Infowars -- ThinkProgress.org

On Monday afternoon, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) joined the show of America's foremost conspiracy theorist, Alex Jones, to tout a conspiracy theory about purported "deep state" efforts to undermine President Trump. ....
https://thinkprogress.org/matt-gaetz-alex-jones-infowars-fbi-conspiracy-theory-5d32c61e6ce7/

GOP goes on offense with 20-week abortion vote | TheHill

Anti-abortion activists celebrated when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced that a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks would be brought to the floor for a vote next week. With a slim Republican majority, the bill isn’t expected to pass — but that’s not the point.....
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/370992-gop-goes-on-offense-with-20-week-abortion-vote

Ex-FBI agent debunks ‘misleading’ GOP memo: Judge confirmed ‘valuable intel’ came from tapping Carter Page -- Raw Story

Former FBI Special Agent Asha Rangappa on Monday knocked down suggestions by Republican lawmakers that the Justice Department had acted improperly by extending surveillance on former Trump campaign operative Carter Page as a part of the Russia investigation. ....
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/01/ex-fbi-agent-debunks-misleading-gop-memo-judge-confirmed-valuable-intel-came-tapping-carter-page/

PolitiFact previews Donald Trump's State of the Union address -- PolitiFact

President Donald Trump delivers his first State of the Union address Tuesday night, and we'll be live fact-checking throughout the evening. Trump ran for office on revving up the economy, and we expect he'll shine a big spotlight on the gains the country has seen on his watch. ....
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2018/jan/29/previews-trump-state-union-address/

Leaked Documents Reveal the Trump Administration's Plan to Sell off Our Public Lands -- Mother Jones

President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke have repeatedly said they oppose selling off federal lands. ....
https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2018/01/leaked-documents-reveal-the-trump-administrations-plan-to-sell-off-our-public-lands/

Let Democrats Call Trump's Immigration Bluff on DACA -- Newsweek

Go ahead, Mr. President. See what happens when you deport Dreamers. ....
http://www.newsweek.com/let-democrats-call-trump-immigration-bluff-daca-794268

‘I’m just not qualified to speak’: Trump spokesman flops hard under questioning by CNN’s Chris Cuomo -- Raw Story

President Donald Trump's deputy press secretary Raj Shah didn't fare well during a Monday interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo. ....
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/01/cnns-chris-cuomo-hammers-trump-press-aide-claims-trump-trusts-intelligence-agencies-not-trusting/

Republicans won’t allow a Trump immigration deal -- Salon

President Donald Trump and leaders of both major parties have been negotiating over a possible deal on immigration, which would allow some sort of legal status for people currently protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. ....
https://www.salon.com/2018/01/29/republicans-wont-allow-a-trump-immigration-deal/

It’s Hard to Study if You’re Hungry - The New York Times

An estimated half of all college students struggle with food insecurity, even at elite flagship universities like the University of California, Berkeley, and selective private schools like Northwestern University. Former foster youth, L.G.B.T. students and students of color are at substantially increased risk. Food insecurity is strongly linked to lower graduation rates...
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/14/opinion/hunger-college-food-insecurity.html

There’s a Surprise in the Government Funding Bill: More Tax Cuts - The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Congress is apparently not done cutting taxes, even after passing a $1.5 trillion tax overhaul last year. The deal struck by Democrats and Republicans on Monday to end a brief government shutdown contains $31 billion in tax cuts, including a temporary delay in implementing three health care-related taxes...
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/22/us/politics/shutdown-spending-tax-cuts-obamacare.html

Lobbyist at Trump Campaign Meeting Has a Web of Russian Connections - The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Rinat Akhmetshin, a Russian immigrant who met last summer with senior Trump campaign officials, has often struck colleagues as a classic Washington mercenary — loyal to his wife, his daughter and his bank account. He avoided work that would antagonize Moscow, they suggested, only because he profited from his reputation as a man with valuable connections there. But interviews with his associates and documents reviewed by The New York Times indicate that Mr. Akhmetshin, who is under scrutiny by the special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, has much deeper ties to the Russian government and Kremlin-backed oligarchs than previously known...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/us/rinat-akhmetshin-russia-trump-meeting.html

I Was Tortured in Gay Conversion Therapy. And It’s Still Legal in 41 States. - The New York Times

Every prominent professional health association, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, opposes the use of conversion therapy on youth, calling it harmful and ineffective.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/opinion/gay-conversion-therapy-torture.html

Another Right-Wing Insurgency Is Gathering Force In The West -- BuzzFeed News

In the tiny town of Paradise, Montana, rancher Cliven Bundy offered few specifics as to the future of his movement. Instead, he preached his particular form of anti–federal government gospel — and readied his followers for whatever comes next.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/annehelenpetersen/another-right-wing-insurgency-is-gathering-force-in-the-west

2017 was among the planet's hottest years on record, NASA and NOAA scientists report - The Washington Post

2017 was among the hottest years ever recorded, government scientists reported Thursday. The year was the second-hottest in recorded history, NASA said, while scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported 2017 was the third-warmest they have ever recorded....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/01/18/2017-was-among-the-planets-hottest-years-on-record-government-scientists-report/

Chris Hedges 2018 (Update 01/20/2018) - [NEW] War on American Universities

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oquSAYDLOk&feature=youtu.be

Chris Hedges 2017 (Update 12/15/2017) - [NEW] On The Fall Of America

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ao86YEeQXk&feature=youtu.be

Trump's America is caving, as autocrats rise -- CNN

As Donald Trump enters the second year of his presidency, two new reports warn that even as the US has retreated from its role in defending democracy, the world's nations, as a whole, are becoming more autocratic, more dictatorial, less open, and more repressive, writes Frida Ghitis.. ...
http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/20/opinions/trumps-america-is-caving-as-autocrats-rise-ghitis/index.html