| Trump and Kim Jong-un 'agree' Biden has a 'low IQ', White House says Posted: 26 May 2019 07:42 AM PDT  Sarah Sanders told Meet the Press the president's point of view was not guided by the North Korean leader Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 28 February. Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un "agree in their assessment" that former vice-president and 2020 Democratic candidate Joe Biden has a "low IQ", White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said. Speaking from Tokyo, where the president is on a state visit, Sanders told NBC's Meet the Press Trump's point of view was not guided by the North Korean dictator, whose state media this week attacked Biden as a "fool of low IQ". In a tweet on Saturday night, Trump called the former vice-president a "low IQ individual". He first misspelled Biden's name as "Bidan". "The president doesn't need somebody else to give him an assessment of Joe Biden," Sanders said. "He's given his own assessment a number of times. I think you've seen it. I'm sure you've covered it on your programme. The president watched him and his administration with President Obama fail for eight years." Sanders also rejected the contention that Americans should be "concerned that the president of United States is essentially siding with a murderous authoritarian dictator over a former vice-president in the United States". "The president's not siding with that," she said. "But I think they agree in their assessment of former vice-president Joe Biden." Trump caused familiar diplomatic consternation with his tweet, in which he also brushed off recent North Korean missile launches that were condemned by the UN and his own national security adviser, John Bolton. Bolton on Saturday told reporters he had "no doubt" the tests violated UN resolutions. A number of disagreements between Bolton and Trump have come to light, including over Venezuela and Iran. Bolton's comments on North Korea were nonetheless the first time a senior administration official has confirmed that the short-range ballistic missiles are in contravention of UN resolutions. One flew nearly 300 miles, making it a direct threat to South Korea, a US ally, if not to Japan. In the midst of Trump's visit to Tokyo, the president appeared to place confidence in his relationship with Kim ahead of US intelligence assessments. "North Korea fired off some small weapons," Trump tweeted, "which disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me. I have confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me [and] also smiled when he called Swampman Joe Biden a low IQ individual [and] worse. Perhaps that's sending me a signal?" A Biden campaign aide responded: "I would say the tweet speaks for itself, but it's so unhinged and erratic that I'm not sure anyone could even say that with a straight face." Trump has expressed belief that Kim may be sending him secret messages comes as the administration continues to defend the results of two high-profile summits aimed at convincing North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Asked if the missile tests were "bothering" Trump, Sanders said: "The president's focus in all of this process is on continuing the very good relationship that he has with Chairman Kim. And he feels good that the chairman will stay firm with the commitment that he made to the president and move towards denuclearization." Sanders continued: "The president still feels comfortable and confident in the relationship that he has with Chairman Kim and that he's going to stay true to the commitment that he made to the president." Sanders said it was "not true to say nothing's come of" the summits, which were held in Singapore in June 2018 and Hanoi in February this year. "There have been steps," she said, adding: "For a significant period of time there was no missile testing. We got hostages back home to the United States and remains of American war heroes. I don't know how you can say that that's nothing."
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| Police searching for missing 5-year-old Utah girl. Her uncle is in custody Posted: 27 May 2019 10:41 AM PDT  The Logan Police Department continued their search Sunday, alongside officials from the FBI, for Elizabeth Jessica Shelley, a missing 5-year-old girl.
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| Euro Rises as Mainstream Europe Holds Populist Parties at Bay Posted: 26 May 2019 02:46 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- The euro rose, reversing an earlier decline, as initial exit polls showed mainstream European Union parties held their ground against populists in elections for the bloc's Parliament.
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| U.S. ambassador urges China to talk to the Dalai Lama Posted: 25 May 2019 07:30 PM PDT ![U.S. ambassador urges China to talk to the Dalai Lama]( "U.S. ambassador urges China to talk to the Dalai Lama") China should hold talks with Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad told Chinese officials during a trip to the Himalayan region where he criticized Beijing for interfering in religious freedom. Branstad visited Tibet last week, the first such trip by a U.S. ambassador since 2015, amid escalating trade and diplomatic tension between the two countries.
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| When it comes to abortion, conservative women aren't a monolith Posted: 27 May 2019 10:58 AM PDT  Nearly one in four women in the USA will have an abortion by age 45 – obviously, not all of them share the same political views.
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| Climber reveals Everest 'carnage' as people step over dead bodies to reach summit Posted: 27 May 2019 05:27 PM PDT  A Canadian filmmaker has vowed never to return to Everest after describing the "carnage" at the top of the mountain this year, which included having to step over a dead body. Elia Saikaly climbed Everest for the third time this month as he filmed a documentary about four Arab women making the ascent but was shocked by the scenes at the summit. More than 800 people have reached the peak this year, with at least 10 fatalities. A photograph of the queue to reach the summit went viral last week. "Death. Carnage. Chaos," was how Mr Saikaly, an experienced mountain climber, summed up what he saw after setting off to summit Everest on May 22. In an interview with The Ottowan Citizen, the newspaper of his hometown, Mr Saikaly said that despite climbing the mountain three times he would not be returning again. "Do I think I'll go back? I don't think so. Not after this season… It was pretty horrific." Heavy traffic of mountain climbers lining up to stand at the summit of Mount Everest Credit: AFP Mr Saikaly told The Telegraph: "When we left at 9.30pm it was very alarming as within 20 minutes we saw two Sherpas had brought down a deceased climber. "Within 45 minutes an Indian climber was brought down who was delirious and screaming and yelling which are the signs of acute mountain sickness." Roughly three hours into the climb, his group was forced to walk over another dead mountaineer. "It was incredibly bizarre... every single climber making their way to the summit had to step over this person - absolutely devastating." With temperatures dropping to minus 30 degrees his group was then forced to wait in the 'death zone' to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain while "50 or 60" others at the top paused to take selfies. Elia Saikaly's photo shows the line of climbers on Everest Many were traumatised after passing another dead body near to the summit. "You are climbing this very famous iconic obstacle and just beneath you is a climber's body, lifeless and lying there and you don't know what to do or feel but you know you have to move or else you could be the next victim, " Mr Saikaly said. "This is your dream... and we all reached the summit and most of us didn't want to touch the highest point on earth because there were so many people up there." An American climber became the latest fatality on the mountain on Monday. Christopher Kulish, a 62-year-old Colorado lawyer , died at a camp below the summit during his descent. The cause isn't yet known, said his brother, Mark Kulish of Denver. Christopher Kulish beneath Mount Everest Credit: AP He had just reached the top of Everest with a small group after crowds of hundreds of climbers congested the 29,035-foot (8,850-meter) peak last week, his brother said. "He saw his last sunrise from the highest peak on Earth. At that instant, he became a member of the '7 Summit Club,' having scaled the highest peak on each continent," Mark Kulish said in a statement. He described his brother as a lawyer in his "day job" who was "an inveterate climber of peaks in Colorado, the West and the world over." "He passed away doing what he loved, after returning to the next camp below the peak," Mark Kulish said. A British climber Robin Hanes Fisher was also among those who died last week. The 44-year-old died on his descent after reaching the 8,850-metre (29,035 feet) summit of the world's highest mountain. He had admitted before setting off that he feared the dangers of overcrowding in the "death zone". The scale of the problem was revealed on Monday when local authorities retrieved four bodies and some ten tonnes of garbage. Nepali Army personnel collect waste from Mount Everest at Namche Bazar in Solukhumbu district Credit: AFP As this year's climbing season comes to an end, army helicopters and porters transported the refuse down to Namche Bazar, the last major town on the route to Mount Everest. Global warming means melting glaciers are revealing human remains and rubbish, which has gathered over decades of commercial mountaineering and as an increasing number of big-spending climbers who pay little attention to the ugly footprint they leave behind. The four bodies were brought down by helicopter last week according to media reports. The 14-strong team sent by the government spent about six weeks scouring for litter at base camp and at Camp 4 - nearly 8,000 metres up - scraping together empty cans, bottles, plastic and discarded climbing gear.
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| Farage claims pro-Brexit momentum after divisive UK vote Posted: 27 May 2019 12:23 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — British euroskeptic Nigel Farage said Monday that his new Brexit Party's victory in the European election should spur Britain to leave the European Union even without a divorce deal — a call echoed by many senior Conservatives, stung by their party's humiliating defeat.
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| Meet the 8-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez impersonator lighting up the Internet Posted: 25 May 2019 06:18 PM PDT  'Little AOC' Ava Martinez mocks the New York Democrat online.
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| EU Seeks to Break U.S. Stranglehold on WTO Posted: 27 May 2019 01:04 AM PDT ![EU Seeks to Break U.S. Stranglehold on WTO]( "EU Seeks to Break U.S. Stranglehold on WTO") Trade ministers from the 28-nation European Union are expected to start the process of negotiating an interim solution if the adjudicative body of the WTO becomes hamstrung, as is expected later this year, according to internal documents seen by Bloomberg. The U.S. is blocking new appointees to the seven-member WTO appellate body, which will lead to it being incapacitated in December because there won't be enough judges to issue rulings. The EU is seeking to implement an arbitration process that would continue the "essential principles and features'' of the appellate body, according to the memo.
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| US abortion laws: Rape survivors already unable to access terminations, say campaigners Posted: 26 May 2019 04:25 AM PDT  Rape survivors in the US are being denied abortions due to financial barriers, "invasive" police intervention and a dearth of abortion providers, campaigners have warned.Abortion rights activists argued that the procedure is already very difficult to access for huge numbers of Americans – particularly people of colour and those on a low wage.Abortion opponents across the US have become increasingly emboldened in their efforts to roll back women's reproductive rights since Donald Trump entered the White House in January 2016. Legislation to restrict abortion rights has been introduced in 16 states this year.Oriaku Njoku, the executive director of an organisation based in Georgia which helps low-income women access abortion, said the organisation had encountered women who were wanting to get their pregnancy terminated due to it being the product of rape."You can use medicated funds in cases rape and incest but there is a lot of bureaucracy so it is hard to get it. Most people opt not to do that. You have to have a police report. It is too complicated. People do not have time to wait for all this paperwork," said Ms Njoku, who is also the co-founder of Atlanta-based Access Reproductive Care-Southeast, which works in six different states in the south of America."After you have had an abortion, they test to see who the father is with DNA testing. It is a whole process. The police have to go to the hospital to get products of conception. It is really invasive. We come across people choosing not to do this a lot."There is also the problem that women who are rape survivors can't afford it and they do not know where to go. They could be living with their abuser or rapist. Or not feeling like they have the support. They could be talking to someone who has this twisted mindset. People are shamed or coerced into carrying their pregnancy to full term."Ms Njoku's comments came after Georgia governor Brian Kemp signed the controversial "heartbeat" abortion ban into law this month – giving the southern state one of the most restrictive laws in the US.The legislation, which has provoked outrage among women's rights groups, bans abortion once cardiac activity can be detected in an embryo. This can be as early as six weeks – at which point many women do not yet know they are pregnant. The bill imposes jail sentences for women found guilty of aborting or attempting to abort their pregnancies, with the potential for life imprisonment and the death penalty. It is not scheduled to come into effect until 1 January and is expected to face challenges in the courts – and potentially be postponed. Anti-abortion activists hope challenges will lead to the US Supreme Court reversing Roe vs Wade – the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalised abortion nationwide in 1973 – especially with new conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh sitting on the court.Ms Njoku argued that a lack of trust towards the police among black communities due to police brutality also led to people choosing not to report instances of sexual assault and therefore not being able to access abortion. She noted that some women might not even be able to access abortion, despite having become pregnant through incest.She said the cost of getting an abortion in the US – where healthcare is privatised and a national health service does not exist – varies from state to state but can quickly skyrocket the further a woman moves along in her pregnancy.Ms Njoku said: "It is about $500 for a first-trimester abortion but the price goes up every week. The most expensive I've seen is $22,000 for a later term abortion. She was around 24 weeks along. But people barely even have $500. Folks barely have savings when they are living paycheck to paycheck. There is also a pay gap between women of colour and white women."Roe v Wade made abortion legal but not acceptable for people in many communities in the US. Rural people, low-income people, and people of colour struggle to access abortion. They are struggling every day and then you add on the unexpected cost of an abortion. It's always been bad here. In Mississippi, there is only one abortion provider. There are three independent abortion providers in Alabama."We have been seeing independent abortion clinics closing every year due to a lack of funding and all the restrictions placed."The campaigner's organisation, Access Reproductive Care-Southeast, which carries out its work in Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, provides financial support, logistical help and advice around abortion."We drive them to get abortions, we help provide someone to watch their kids, we give them somewhere to stay out of state. We try to do what we can to eliminate barriers," she added.The campaigner said women who lived in rural communities often struggled to access abortions due to not having internet access or having a poor internet connection. This was often compounded, she said, by women not having any friends or family they can confide in who are in favour of abortion and therefore not having anyone who would be willing to drive them on what could be a four-hour journey to an abortion clinic or a two-hour drive to a bus stop. They came across a woman in the south of Georgia who was not able to get anyone she knew to drive her to Atlanta for an abortion due to them objecting to the procedure – with it taking her a total of two weeks to find childcare and a lift. She had already been to the coastal city of Savannah but had been refused an abortion due to being too far along.Ms Njoku said anti-abortion activists were "trying everything" to reverse women's abortions rights – adding that they were just "throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks". She added: "They feel emboldened because they feel they have support from administration. Even the fear that is being created is starting to be a barrier to care for people. People have been calling our hotline thinking they would have to travel from Georgia to another state. Some people are scared and ask if they should cancel their appointment. "We are reassuring people they can stay inside their home state. There is no other type of healthcare where people have to go through hoops and obstacles to access basic healthcare. If they are going to overturn Roe, abortions are not going to stop. No matter what, we are going to be here to provide for our community."Ms Njoku, whose organisation is run and led by black people living in the south, said she had encountered racism from anti-abortion activists while carrying out her work – with people asking "don't black lives matter" as she goes into clinics and offering to adopt women's babies.More than a dozen other states have passed or are considering versions of Georgia's law. Kentucky, Mississippi and Ohio have also approved bans on abortion once a foetal heartbeat is detected. Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer, said: "There are already large swathes of this country and thousands of people for whom the right to have an abortion is just an illusion. Since 2011, politicians have passed more than 400 medically unnecessary and politically motivated restrictions. These laws affect people of colour, people struggling financially and young people. It is important to keep the focus on what is the reality for women already."She will be challenging Alabama's new law mandating a near total ban on abortion which the governor signed into law last week. Under the law, doctors would face 10 years in prison for attempting to terminate a pregnancy and 99 years for carrying out the procedure. The abortion ban, which has been branded a "death sentence for women", would even criminalise performing abortions in cases of rape and incest.
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| Powerful EF3 tornado kills 2, injures 29 in Oklahoma town recovering from flooding Posted: 27 May 2019 11:09 AM PDT  A deadly tornado ripped through an Oklahoma City suburb Saturday night, destroying a motel and causing massive damage.
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| 'War-Monger': North Korea Reportedly Has Choice Words For John Bolton Posted: 27 May 2019 10:38 AM PDT  North Korea reportedly described national security advisor John Bolton as a "war monger" and "human defect" for his criticism of the state's latest missile tests.The comments came from an anonymous North Korean Foreign Ministry representative Monday after Bolton called the country's short-range missile testing a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, the Associated Press reported Monday."It will be fit to call Bolton not a security adviser striving for security but a security-destroying adviser who is wrecking peace and security," the spokesperson said, according to AP. "It is not at all strange that perverse words always come out from the mouth of a structurally defective guy, and such a human defect deserves an earlier vanishing." Bolton, accompanying President Donald Trump on his visit to Japan, told reporters Saturday that there is "no doubt" about the May 4 and 9 missile tests contravening the U.N. resolutions, according to AP. Bolton suggested the actions demonstrate that sanctions against North Korea should not be removed.But Trump seemed to take a different approach in his response to the missile launch, tweeting that "North Korea fired off some small weapons, which disturbed some people, and others, but not me."
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| Matteo Salvini triumphs in European elections, taking nearly 35 per cent of Italian vote Posted: 27 May 2019 01:49 AM PDT  As the full scale of his win in the European elections became apparent, a beaming Matteo Salvini sent out a photograph to his millions of supporters in Italy. Standing in his office, he held a handwritten placard that read "First party in Italy – thank you", a reference to the thumping win scored by the League, the hard-Right party he leads. But it was the objects arrayed behind him on a bookshelf that sent an equally important, if less obvious message, not just to voters in Italy but to the rest of the world. There was a baseball cap with the slogan Make America Great Again, a photograph of Vladimir Putin and behind it a book about the Russian president that bore his portrait. On the shelf below was a gold-framed icon of Christ, his head surrounded by a halo. The mise-en-scene put Mr Salvini squarely at the nexus of a populist movement that draws inspiration from Donald Trump, lauds Putin's strong man style of governance and obsesses over threats to Europe's Judeo-Christian roots. The pugnacious Italian interior minister is the poster boy for a nationalist, populist movement that is now vowing to radically change the EU from within and to take on the mainstream parties that have dominated Brussels for decades. Mr Salvini holds a crucifix as he talks to the press after the release of the election results Credit: Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters The League triumphed in the elections, winning 34 per cent of the vote in Italy. The results confirm Mr Salvini's status as one of the most influential politicians in Europe, as he seeks to forge a populist, nationalist bloc in the European Parliament. "Salvini has really established a connection with ordinary Italians who are worried about issues like unemployment and migration," said Lucia Annunziata, a political commentator and editorial director of the Italian edition of Huffington Post. "The Italian press, and other political parties, have been in denial about how well the League would do." By taking one-third of the Italian vote, the League is poised to become one of the biggest parties in the European parliament. Mr Salvini now hopes to ally with like-minded movements, including Nigel Farage's Brexit Party and Hungary's Fidesz, led by Viktor Orban, as well as populists in Denmark, Spain, Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic. The results from across the continent send a strong signal that "the European people are asking for a different Europe," Mr Salvini said. He forecast that populist and nationalist parties will control at least 150 seats in the new 751-seat European Parliament. "Not only is the League the first party in Italy, but also Marine Le Pen is the first party in France, Nigel Farage is the first party in the UK. Therefore, Italy, France, the UK - it is the sign of a Europe that is changing." He told supporters in Milan that the results demonstrated that "a new Europe has been born. And I say that to those who have sunk the European dream, transforming it into a nightmare, that I am proud that the League participated in this new rebirth of a sunken Europe." At one point Mr Salvini held up a crucifix and kissed it, glancing upwards and saying: "I thank whoever is up there." He was criticised by the Vatican and the Catholic establishment for brandishing a rosary and citing the names of various saints while up on stage in a big rally in Milan a week before the election. The League stormed to victory even in Riace, a town in the far south which has been held up as an example of how to integrate migrants, as well as in Capalbio on the coast north of Rome, traditionally seen as a holiday retreat for intellectuals and the Left. The Five Star Movement, the other half of the ruling coalition, were struggling to come to terms with a deeply disappointing result, taking just 17% of the vote – just under half that of the League. They came in as the third biggest party, beaten to second place by the pro-EU Democratic Party, Italy's centre-Left force, which won 22%. "We're back," said Nicola Zingaretti, the party's leader. The League's strong performance is likely to lead to jostling for greater power within the coalition and confirms Mr Salvini, who is interior minister and deputy prime minister, as by far the most powerful politician in Italy. The prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, is a largely powerless figurehead with the unenviable task of mediating between the fractious coalition partners, while Luigi Di Maio, the leader of Five Star, has seen his authority further diminished by the results. Five Star performed particularly poorly in the north of Italy, relegating them to a party with its support base largely in the south. The results will strengthen Mr Salvini's hand in his negotiations with Five Star over the many policies on which they have clashed in recent months, from migrants and tax cuts to big infrastructure projects and greater autonomy for regions in the north, the heartland of the League. For now, he has pledged to stick with Five Star in the coalition, rather than break up the government and press for fresh elections. The Five Star Movement, led by Luigi Di Maio, performed dismally, winning just 17% of the vote Credit: Reuters/Ciro De Luca "For the time being, it's convenient for Salvini to stay in the coalition because the Five Star Movement brings a lot of votes in parliament in Rome," said Ms Annunziata, the political commentator. The election results will also embolden Mr Salvini in his fight with Brussels over EU spending limits, as the government plans to splurge billions on tax reform and a costly rail link beneath the Alps between Turin and Lyon. At a press conference on Monday, he appeared in an open-necked shirt, with his sleeves rolled up, saying that he had had worked "18-hour days" for the last few months but was looking forward to a new phase in which the League will get its way more than in the past. The election outcome gave the government a mandate to change the EU's budget rules, he said. "I think that the Italian people have given a mandate to me and to the government to discuss revising these old, obsolete parameters," he said. Bringing in a two-tier flat tax was "a moral duty". The League's strong showing compares to the 17.4% it won at last year's general election and 6.2% at the last European ballot in 2014. Mr Salvini has transformed it from a weak, marginal party that once campaigned for secession for northern Italy from the rest of the country, into a formidable national force.
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| Kremlin rebuffs call to release Ukrainian sailors Posted: 27 May 2019 04:01 AM PDT ![Kremlin rebuffs call to release Ukrainian sailors]( "Kremlin rebuffs call to release Ukrainian sailors") The Kremlin on Monday rebuffed a call by an international maritime tribunal for Russia to release 24 Ukrainian sailors, saying the court had no jurisdiction over the strait where Russian security forces captured them. The Hamburg-based International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on Saturday said Moscow should release the sailors immediately and that both nations should refrain from taking any action that might aggravate the dispute. The Russian navy captured the Ukrainian sailors and their three vessels in the Kerch Strait, which links the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, on Nov. 25, 2018, after opening fire on them.
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| 4 suspects arrested after Lyon bomb attack that wounded 13 Posted: 27 May 2019 05:33 AM PDT  PARIS (AP) — French police have arrested four suspects following a blast in the city of Lyon that wounded 13 people last week, authorities said Monday.
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| Fiat Plans Merger With Renault in Latest Auto Industry Jolt Posted: 27 May 2019 07:04 AM PDT  The transaction would be structured as a 50-50 ownership through a Dutch holding company, Fiat said Monday. Renault shareholders, including the French government, would get an implied premium of about 10%. The carmakers are moving ahead without Renault's 20-year partner, Nissan Motor Co., and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., the other member of their troubled alliance.
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| Samsung may gain from Huawei's plight in ongoing trade war - Fitch Posted: 26 May 2019 08:39 PM PDT  Tech companies, including Google and SoftBank Group-owned chip designer ARM, have said they will cease supplies and updates to Huawei. The loss of access to Google's android system may hurt the smartphone sales of the Chinese technology company outside China, thereby giving Samsung a chance to improve its market share, Fitch Ratings said in a statement.
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| Impeachment talk is rising among Democrats. Nancy Pelosi is right to shut it down Posted: 27 May 2019 08:04 AM PDT  Opening an impeachment inquiry would start a process many Americans would see as an attempt to circumvent the 2020 election 'Attempting to short-circuit the 2020 election would harm America's democracy, not enhance it.' Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/APUpon taking control of Congress in 2006, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi declared that impeachment of then-President George W Bush was "off the table."Her remarks dismayed many critics of Bush, who continued to press Pelosi and other Democratic leaders to pursue impeachment against the Republican president. They pointed to the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance, the illegal war in Iraq, and the use of torture.Articles of impeachment were authored by Ohio Democratic Representative Dennis Kucinich, who netted a small group of co-sponsors for his resolution. But as we all know, no impeachment proceedings were ever launched against Bush, and the administration's officials escaped any accountability from its successors. President Obama famously said he preferred to "look forward as opposed to looking backwards" when it came to accountability on issues like torture and wiretapping.To many onlookers, the approach by Democratic leadership towards President Donald Trump seems to be a case of deja vu. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has repeatedly rebuffed calls to begin impeachment proceedings against the president. "I'm not for impeachment … Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there's something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don't think we should go down that path, because it divides the country. And he's just not worth it," she said in March.Compared to Bush, the logic of impeaching Trump is far less straightforward. There are real concerns about whether Trump is violating the emoluments clause and his contempt of Congress, but neither of these issues compare to Bush's illegal behavior, which severely violated the rights of millions of Americans and others. Although House Democrats are frustrated by Trump's attempt to block their subpoenas and investigations of his financial dealings across the world, they do not have a clear-cut case of high crimes and misdemeanors that could set the stage for a successful impeachment – the same way warrantless surveillance or waterboarding presented one.Impeachment is a sort of last resort the legislative branch has to deploy against a president who is acting outside the boundaries of the law. It is important for Congress to never declare that impeachment is off the table – as Pelosi did in 2006 – because it sends a message to the executive branch that its members cannot be held legally accountable. That sort of impunity would be antithetical to our system of checks and balances.But what Pelosi is arguing this time around is much more reasonable. She supports Congressional oversight and investigations into the Trump administration and the president's personal financial dealings as a way to expose possible wrongdoing. And she is leaving the door open to impeachment if the facts suggest that it is necessary.These investigations can inform the American public about the way Trump is choosing to govern and allow them to make an educated choice in the 2020 election, without setting off what could be an extremely polarizing and contentious impeachment proceeding that is unlikely to succeed.It is true that the president is stonewalling some of these investigations, and that's one reason some Democrats are warming to an impeachment inquiry that they believe would allow them to get at information they currently can't obtain.Yet within the halls of Congress, the votes don't seem to be there for an impeachment, according to the House's third-ranking Democrat, South Carolina's Jim Clyburn. Meanwhile, the US Senate is run by Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell, who would never go along with an effort to remove the president.Opening an impeachment inquiry would start a process many Americans would see as an attempt to circumvent the 2020 election – denying voters the ability to have the final say on Trump's conduct as president. Americans simply aren't ready for as divisive a process as trying to impeach the president; even many who are critical of Trump don't support impeaching him. A Washington Post/ABC News poll conducted in April found that only 37% of Americans support opening an impeachment inquiry.Perhaps what Pelosi understands is that what Americans want Congress to focus on is bread and butter issues and a forward-looking agenda. Gallup polling released in November of 2018 found that 80% of voters said health care was extremely or very important to their vote; the Russia investigation, the nexus of many of the impeachment calls against President Trump, was 12th among issues polled, sitting at just 45%.This doesn't mean that Congress shouldn't investigate the conduct of the Trump administration or the president's personal financial dealings as they relate to the public interest. It is important for the public to have all the relevant information in order to make educated choices in the upcoming election. And if Trump continues to stonewall these investigations, voters have every right to punish him for it.It is also well past time for Congress to pass reforms that could prevent abuses of presidential power in the future. While then-Judiciary Committee chair Michigan Democratic Representative John Conyers declined to start impeachment proceedings against Bush, he did introduce legislation to establish a commission on war powers and civil liberties; sadly, it did not go anywhere. If Pelosi is serious about investigating and holding the executive branch accountable, she could help set up a similar commission that could help create reforms in the law to rein in an unaccountable executive in the future.But ultimately it is voters who will decide President Trump's fate. The votes in Congress aren't there for impeachment, and Americans aren't convinced that it is justified based on the facts. Pelosi is wise to avoid invoking this nuclear option, which would only further polarize a country that is increasingly at odds with itself over political differences. We have a democratic process to empower Americans to choose their leaders. Attempting to short-circuit the 2020 election would harm America's democracy, not enhance it.
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| Meet the Tweel: The Tire That Never Goes Flat Posted: 26 May 2019 06:00 AM PDT  John Deere is using Michelin's airless tire-and-wheel, the Tweel. Go ahead, run over some nails.
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| Here are 5 steps China could take to hurt the US beyond more tariffs Posted: 27 May 2019 04:01 AM PDT ![Here are 5 steps China could take to hurt the US beyond more tariffs]( "Here are 5 steps China could take to hurt the US beyond more tariffs") China might take other measures beyond tariffs to strike back at the U.S. economy during the escalating trade war.
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| Is 'judge shopping' turning the border crisis into a constitutional crisis? Posted: 27 May 2019 03:09 AM PDT  Trump calls for an 'expedited appeal' after an Obama-appointed judge blocks the president from building sections of the border wall; reaction from political strategists Peter Van Voorhis and Mustafa Tameez.
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| EU elections primer: How they work, what happened Posted: 26 May 2019 02:27 PM PDT  BRUSSELS (AP) — European voters have turned out in record numbers to choose lawmakers to represent them at the European Parliament for the next five years.
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| Alibaba Weighs Raising $20 Billion Through A Second Listing Posted: 27 May 2019 09:46 AM PDT ![Alibaba Weighs Raising $20 Billion Through A Second Listing]( "Alibaba Weighs Raising $20 Billion Through A Second Listing") Alibaba is aiming to file a listing application in Hong Kong confidentially as early as the second half of 2019, the people said. Alibaba raised $25 billion selling shares on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014 in the world's largest first-time share sale, after struggling to persuade Hong Kong regulators to approve its proposed governance structure. Alibaba declined to comment.
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| People love Apple’s official saddle brown leather iPhone case, and it’s 40% off today on Amazon Posted: 27 May 2019 09:13 AM PDT ![People love Apple's official saddle brown leather iPhone case, and it's 40% off today on Amazon]( "People love Apple's official saddle brown leather iPhone case, and it's 40% off today on Amazon") Apple's official leather iPhone cases are two things: gorgeous, and expensive. There's usually no arguing with either, but today they can't really be called expensive. Amazon is running a great sale that slashes a whopping 40% off the price of the Apple Leather Case for iPhone XS and Apple Leather Case for iPhone XS Max, slashing either case to just $29.99. Oh, and the best part is this sale covers the most popular color in Apple's leather case lineup -- Saddle Brown!Here are the highlights from the product page: * These Apple-designed cases fit snugly over the curves of your iPhone without adding bulk. * They're made from specially tanned and finished European leather, so the outside feels soft to the touch and develops a natural patina over time. * The machined aluminum buttons match the finish of your leather case, while a microfiber lining inside helps protect your iPhone. * And you can keep it on all the time, even when you're charging wirelessly.
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| White House says U.S. president, N. Korean dictator 'agree' on 'low IQ' assessment of Joe Biden, continues downplaying N. Korea missile threat Posted: 26 May 2019 09:15 AM PDT  President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "agree" on an assessment of Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden as a "low IQ" person.
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| Glock Is a Legend (But These 5 Guns Might Be Way Better) Posted: 26 May 2019 08:00 PM PDT  The integration of red dot sights onto the slide is a particular area where the aftermarket has far eclipsed Glock's original offering. Custom slides let pistol red dots sit lower into the Glock slide, so they are lower profile and co-witnessing with iron sights is easier. Glock's own MOS system only allows red dots to sit relatively high on the slide, and is not preferred by most users of pistol red dots.While the Glock is the most popular modern pistol, it may not be the best gun for everyone's needs. Here are some alternatives to the Glock that could be better than it, and why.(This first appeared earlier in the month.)1\. STI 2011The STI 2011 is an updated, double-stack 1911 chambered in 9mm or .40 S&W.; Highly customized 2011s have dominated the American competition shooting scene due to their excellent single-action only triggers, high capacity and low recoil impulse.While triggers and upgrades exist that can get the striker-fired Glock near the level of the 2011, the superior shooting characteristics of the 2011 make it a far more popular choice in many competitive shooting divisions.However, 2011s are more expensive, require far more maintenance and are less reliable in adverse conditions than Glocks, so they are practically unseen in military service. For non-competitors, the Glock is almost always a better choice.2\. H&K; SFP9/VP9While H&K; released the first polymer-framed striker-fired pistol in the VP70, the SFP9 marked their first return to that market, almost thirty years after the release of the Glock.
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| Flying this summer? 8 things to know if you haven't been on a plane for a year Posted: 26 May 2019 05:52 PM PDT  Summer travelers can expect busier airports, higher bag fees and seat selection fees, more basic economy tickets and potentially longer TSA lines.
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| Israeli missile hits Quneitra, Syria reports casualties Posted: 27 May 2019 12:32 PM PDT  Syria said Israel carried out a missile attack that caused casualties on Monday, in what Israel's army said was a retaliatory strike. "An Israeli missile targeted Tel al-Shaar in Quneitra," the Syrian news agency said, adding a "military vehicle was targeted and there are wounded". The Israeli military confirmed it carried out an air strike in Syria in retaliation for what it said was anti-aircraft fire targeting one of its fighter jets.
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| UPDATE 1-Algeria to block Total from buying Anadarko's Algerian assets - minister Posted: 26 May 2019 03:35 PM PDT ![UPDATE 1-Algeria to block Total from buying Anadarko's Algerian assets - minister]( "UPDATE 1-Algeria to block Total from buying Anadarko's Algerian assets - minister") Algeria will block Total from acquiring Anadarko's assets in Algeria, energy minister Mohamed Arkab told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on Sunday. Occidental Petroleum has agreed to sell Anadarko Petroleum Corporation's assets in Algeria, Ghana, Mozambique and South Africa to Total for $8.8 billion if the U.S. oil company succeeds in completing its plan to take over Anadarko.
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| The Latest: European Election turnout is highest in 20 years Posted: 26 May 2019 11:14 AM PDT  BRUSSELS (AP) — The Latest on elections for the European Parliament (all times local):
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| You can actually get a 4K TV on Amazon right now for $199.99 Posted: 27 May 2019 11:00 AM PDT ![You can actually get a 4K TV on Amazon right now for $199.99]( "You can actually get a 4K TV on Amazon right now for $199.99") Last week, Amazon has a one-day Gold Box deal that slashed the price of the Insignia NS-43DF710NA19 43-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV HDR - Fire TV Edition to just $199.99. That's right, a penny under $200 for a top-rated 43-inch 4K TV with Amazon's beloved Fire TV software built right in! The deal must have done pretty well, because Amazon has already brought it back -- and the 50-inch and 55-inch models are both discounted, as well. There's no telling how long these deals will be around though, so get in on the action while you still can.Here are the bullet points from the product page: * Insignia 4K UHD Smart TV - Fire TV Edition delivers true-to-life 4K Ultra HD picture quality with over 8 million pixels for stunning clarity, deep contrast, and vivid colors. * With the Fire TV experience built-in, enjoy tens of thousands of channels, apps, and Alexa skills, including Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, and more. * Fire TV Edition seamlessly integrates live over-the-air TV and streaming channels on a unified home screen (HD antenna required). * Easily control your TV with the included Voice Remote with Alexa--plus, launch apps, search for titles, play music, switch inputs, control smart home devices, and more, using just your voice. * Dimensions (W x H x D): TV without stand: 38.2" x 22.5" x 3.2", TV with stand: 38.2" x 24.3" x 8.9". Multiple device input/output options: 3 HDMI including 1 with ARC, USB, composite input, antenna/cable input, digital output (optical), audio output, Ethernet.
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| Trump campaign: Federal prosecutors investigating large donation made by real estate mogul Posted: 27 May 2019 12:30 PM PDT  An investigation into the finances of Donald Trump's inaugural committee has drawn attention and scrutiny to a massive donation of $1m (£790,000). Real estate mogul Franklin Haney, a known political donor, gave the hefty sum to Mr Trump at the same time that the developer was seeking approval and government support in purchasing the Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant, which lies unfinished in Alabama.Mr Haney, two years later, has yet to close the deal.His donation to Mr Trump's inaugural committee is being investigated by federal prosecutors in New York, whose search is focused, in part, on if those who handed cash to the committee received any benefits in return.Prosecutors also are exploring if foreign nationals unlawfully donated funds to the committee. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan issued a subpoena last year demanding an array of financial records, including any "communications regarding or relating to the possibility of donations by foreign nationals."Mr Trump's inaugural committee has denied any wrongdoing and claims all funds are accounted for. The president's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, had allegedly given the prosecutors information on Mr Haney and his son and business associate, Frank Haney Jr, regarding the nuclear plant project, according to an anonymous source that spoke to ABC.Mr Haney had briefly hired Cohen, who is now serving a three year sentence for tax evasion, campaign finance violations and lying to congress, for his assistance in obtaining money for the power plant project from potential investors. This is not the first time Mr Haney, 79, has faced allegations his political donations were an attempt at gaining influence. Mr Haney has been investigated by the US House Republicans in the past for his donations and political influence on the Clinton Administration, which moved the Federal Communications Commission into a building that would benefit the businessman, but the Justice Department declined to pursue the matter. Mr Haney was charged in 1999 with funnelling about $100,000 in illegal contributions to President Bill Clinton, then-Vice President Al Gore and other politicians, but was ultimately acquitted.
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| Scouted: How to Get Better Sleep, From Mattresses to Sheets and Beyond Posted: 26 May 2019 09:00 AM PDT  Welcome to the Everything Guide to Getting Better Sleep. We've rounded up all of our best stories about everything bedroom related. We go in-depth with researching the best mattresses, the softest sheets, and the most comfortable pillows, and we've rounded them all up in this handy guide. We'll continue to update this as we learn more about the sleep space so keep this page bookmarked. Bedroom and sleep accessoriesThe nodpod Weighted Sleep Mask Is The One Thing That Helps Me Get a Good Night's SleepHow to Get a Good Night's Sleep (Even When Everything Is the Worst)4 Products That May Help You (Or Your Partner) To Stop Snoring and Get a Good Night's SleepThis CES Favorite Air Purifier Gave Me My Best Sleep So Far In 2019How to Get a Good Night's Sleep When You're a Light SleeperBlock Out Everything With These Sleep Masks'Sleep With Me' Podcast Host Drew Ackerman: Don't Neglect Your Bedroom Sheets, blankets, duvets, and comfortersYou Should Be Updating Your Sheets For The Season Like You Update Your WardrobeThe Best Thing I Did For Myself Was Upgrade My BeddingA Quilt Is No Longer OptionalKing-Sized Comforters That You Won't Want to Share (But Should)This Is The Best Looking Weighted Blanket Out ThereBearaby Launches the Tree Napper, a Weighted Blanket Made from Wood Pulp-Derived Fabric PillowsPluto Pillow Is a Truly Customizable PillowThe Night Pillow Is a Silk Pillowcase on SteroidsThis Memory Foam Pillow Stays Cool, Sans Flip Mattresses and bedsThese Bed Frame Styles Will Help You Kickstart Your Bedroom Makeover'Sleep Ambassador' Nancy Rothstein: '15 Minutes Isn't Enough' To Pick A MattressParachute Expands Its Bedroom Domination to MattressesThe Best Mattress of 2018 Is From Nectar SleepSleep Tech Now Lets You Regulate Body Temperature While You Sleep With The New Eight Sleep PodScouted is internet shopping with a pulse. Follow us on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter for even more recommendations and exclusive content. Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| On autopilot: 'Pilots are losing their basic flying skills,' some fear after Boeing 737 Max crashes Posted: 27 May 2019 01:20 PM PDT ![On autopilot: 'Pilots are losing their basic flying skills,' some fear after Boeing 737 Max crashes]( "On autopilot: 'Pilots are losing their basic flying skills,' some fear after Boeing 737 Max crashes") Two Boeing 737 Max crashes killed 346 people and grounded the jet, which experienced software problems. The incidents raise wider questions about flight automation.
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| Veterans Give Painfully Honest Answers After Army Asks 'How Has Serving Impacted You?' Posted: 27 May 2019 09:37 AM PDT  A tweet from the U.S. Army prompted an outpouring of grief and pain
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| Israel parliament takes first step to hold new elections due to deadlock Posted: 27 May 2019 09:44 AM PDT  Israel's parliament on Monday took a first step toward holding new elections due to deadlocked coalition negotiations following April polls, giving preliminary approval to a law to dissolve itself. Three more votes are required for final approval of the law, which would result in new elections being held. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been unable to reach a deal to form a governing coalition ahead of a Wednesday night deadline to do so.
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| 'We're trapped': Likely tornado rips through Oklahoma town Posted: 26 May 2019 04:20 AM PDT  The National Weather Service says a likely tornado has destroyed a motel and caused other damage in the Oklahoma City area.
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| From Poland to Portugal, election highlights across Europe Posted: 27 May 2019 08:56 AM PDT  BRUSSELS (AP) — Here's a brief look at the results of the European elections, country by country, arranged according to the number of seats they hold in the European Parliament:
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| Algeria to block Total from buying Anadarko’s Algerian assets - minister Posted: 26 May 2019 12:25 PM PDT ![Algeria to block Total from buying Anadarko's Algerian assets - minister]( "Algeria to block Total from buying Anadarko's Algerian assets - minister") Algeria will block Total from acquiring Anadarko's assets in Algeria, energy minister Mohamed Arkab told reporters on a sidelines of a conference on Sunday. Occidental Petroleum has agreed to sell Anadarko Petroleum Corporation's assets in Algeria, Ghana, Mozambique and South Africa to Total for $8.8 billion if the U.S. oil company succeeds in completing its plan to take over Anadarko.
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| Apple may release an iPhone SE 2 with a brand new design next year Posted: 27 May 2019 11:21 AM PDT ![Apple may release an iPhone SE 2 with a brand new design next year]( "Apple may release an iPhone SE 2 with a brand new design next year") The iPhone SE has long been a sleeper hit for Apple, with Tim Cook noting a few years ago that demand for the compact device was surprisingly strong and even higher than Apple's own internal projections."We're thrilled with the response that we've seen on it," Cook said during an earnings conference call in 2016. "It is clear that there is a demand there even much beyond what we thought. That is really why we have the constraint that we have."Hardly a surprise, the iPhone SE filled an important gap in the company's iPhone lineup to the extent that it offered users an affordable device with advanced features in a compact form factor. For as great as Apple's flagships are, the simple reality is that many people find Apple's latest iPhone models unwieldy. For example, the iPhone XR -- which is Apple's entry-level model this year -- is closer in size to the iPhone 6 Plus than it is to the iPhone 6.With that said, Apple unceremoniously discontinued the iPhone SE last year when it rolled out its 2018 iPhone lineup. The move was initially met with excitement as folks assumed that an iPhone SE successor was on the way. But as the weeks and months rolled on, word began to surface that Apple had no immediate plans to resurrect the beloved SE line.As it stands now, Apple offers up no options for users who prefer a smartphone with a small form factor. And even if you manage to pick up a used iPhone SE or a brand new one during an unexpected flash sale, the iPhone SE is more than three years old at this point and boasts hardware that initially debuted on the 2015 iPhone 6s.Put simply, it's time for Apple to release an iPhone SE 2.The good news is that Apple may not have forgotten about the iPhone SE line. According to a new investor note from Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis (via MacRumors), there's a chance that Apple will release an iPhone SE 2 with iPhone 8 internals sometime in early 2020. Curtis' remarks were based off of conversations he recently had with some of Apple's suppliers overseas.Notably, previous iPhone SE 2 rumors relayed that the device will abandon Touch ID and incorporate Face ID instead, all within an edgeless 4.8-inch display. To this point, the concept video below imagines what an iPhone SE with an iPhone X-inspired design would look like.https://youtu.be/M_i524zpCQs
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